1881.] 
C. J. Lyall —Translations from the Hamaseh. 
137 
Marib is the name of the famous dyke in el-Yemen, the bursting of 
which caused the dispersion northwards of all the tribes who dwelt in its 
neighbourhood. This dyke was built by Luqman, king of the second ‘Ad 
(that is, the remnant which remained on the destruction of the first ‘Ad 
with their city Irem of the Pillars), and on it depended for its irrigation 
a vast tract of country. Its remains are still visible, and have been visited 
by European travellers (C. de Perceval, Essai, i. p. 17). Luqman and his 
family, after a rule which the Arabs say lasted a thousand years, was 
overthrown by Ya‘rub, son of Qahtan, who founded a new empire which 
afterwards became that of the Himyerite kings. ‘Abd-Shems Seba, father 
of Himyer, made Marib his capital, and repaired and completed the dyke. 
The bursting of the dyke is placed by C. de Perceval in 120 A. D., and 
the dispersion which followed it is proverbial in Arab history. To this 
event the dynasties of Ghassan and el-Hireh owed their origin, and by reason 
of it the north and centre of Arabia became peopled by numerous tribes from 
el-Yemen, quite distinct from the race of Nizar or Ma‘add. 
Luqman is the king of the second ‘Ad just mentioned. Et-Tuqun is the 
plural of et-Tiqn, a name borne by two men in old Arab legend, ‘Amr son 
of Tiqn, a famous archer in the days of Luqman of ‘Ad, and Ka‘b son of 
Tiqn, mentioned by el-Meydani. “ A better archer than ibn-Tiqn” is given 
as an ancient proverb in the collection of the last named author (i. 278). 
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Mali7c son of Harim el-llemdcmi. 
Yea, knowledge I have from Time, the best of all counsellors, 
the passing of days that brings to light wealth of hidden lore : 
I know how the Rich is served by riches, how fair the praise 
they gather with cunning hands, whatso be the blame his due; 
