1877.] life of the poet as given in the Kitab-el-Aghani. 8fl 
73 And many the camel, prize of the gamers, to whose slaying I have called 
my fellows with the gaming arrows, all alike in length : 
74 I call them to the slaying of a barren she-camel, or one with young,. 
and her flesh has been given freely to all my neighbours ; 
75 And the guest and the stranger from afar were in my tent 
as though they had come down into Tebaleh with its meadows of 
[rich grass. 
76 There sought refuge by my tent-ropes every wretched one 
clad in scanty rags and wasted like the camel by her master’s 
[grave. 
77 And they fill brimful with meat, when the winds are blowing shrill, 
great bowls of broth, to which their fatherless ones come to drink. 
78 Verily we of ‘ Amir, when the Tribes are met together, 
there wants not of us a Chief to lead in the doing of a noble deed, 
79 Or a Divider to portion out to the Tribe its due, 
or a Prince to give less or more as he deems right and good 
80 In his headship : or a generous man who helps men with his bounty 
free-handed, a gainer of all good gifts and one who takes them by 
[force. 
81 For he comes of a Stock to whom their Fathers laid down the way 
—and every people has its own way and its leader therein. 
82 If there comes an alarm, thou shalt find among them the helmets of 
[mail, 
and the hawberks of woven mail the rings of which shine like stars : 
83 They will not be craven, nor shall their deeds fall without fruit, 
for their hearts are firm and waver not with vain desire. 
84 Be content with that which the King has allotted to thee as a portion: 
for verily One who knows has portioned out the tempers of men. 
85 And when faithfulness was dealt out among the Tribes of men, 
the Dealer gave to us a full and abundant share ; 
86 And He built for us a house of glory with lofty roof 
and our greybeards and our young men have risen to the height 
[thereof. 
87 They are the Leaders in work when mishap befalls the Tribe, 
and they are its good Knights and they are its Lawgivers ; 
88 And they are a fair Spring-tide to him who seeks their shelter, 
and to the widows, when their year of widowhood lengthens out; 
89 And they are the men to see that no Tribesman holds back in malice, 
and that no vile betrayer goes over to the foe. 
M 
