12 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
4G 
47 
48 
49 
50 
51 
52 
53 
54 
55 
56 
57 
C. J. Lyall— The Mo 1 aliaqah of Zuheyr. [No. 1, 
They led through their midst the Dooms : then they drove them forth 
again 
to the pasture rank and heavy, till their thirst should grow anew. 
But their lances—by thy life ! were guilty of none that fell: 
Nehik’s son died not by them, nor by them el-Muthellem’s slain ; 
Nor had they in Naufal’s death part or share, nor by their hand 
did Wahab lie slain, nor by them fell el-Mukhazzem’s son. 
Yet for each of those that died did they pay the price of blood— 
good camels unblemished that climb in a row by the upland road 
To where dwells a kin great of heart, whose word is enough to shield 
whom they shelter when peril comes in a night of fierce strife and 
storm ; 
Yea, noble are they ! the seeker of vengeance gains not from them 
the blood of his foe, nor is he that wrongs them left without help. 
YI. 
Aweary am I of life’s toil and travail: he who like me 
has seen pass of years fourscore, well may he be sick of life ! 
I know what To-day unfolds, what before it was Yesterday ; 
but blind do I stand before the knowledge To-morrow brings. 
I have seen the Dooms trample men as a blind beast at random treads 
—whom they smote, he died : whom they missed, he lived on to 
strengthless eld. 
Who gathers not friends by help in many a case of need 
is torn by the blind beast’s teeth, or trodden beneath its foot. 
And he who his honour shields by the doing of kindly deed 
grows richer : who shuts not the mouth of reviling, it lights on him. 
And he who is lord of wealth and is niggardly with his hoard 
alone is he left by his kin : nought have they for him but blame. 
Who keeps faith, no blame he earns : and that man whose heart is led 
to goodness unmixed with guile gains freedom and peace of soul. 
Who trembles before the Dooms, yea, him shall they surely seize, 
albeit he set in his dread a ladder to climb the sky. 
Who spends on unworthy men his kindness with lavish hand, 
no praise does he earn, but blame, and repentance the end thereof. 
Who will not yield to the spears when their feet turn to him in peace 
shall yield to the points thereof, and the long flashing blades of 
steel. 
Who holds not his foe away from his cistern with sword and spear, 
it is broken and spoiled: who uses not roughness, him shall men 
wrong. 
