Ode II: Yea, if thou escapest from her

Yea, if thou escapest from her, O Hazimah son of Tariq, at least she has left thee bare of all things behind thy back !

The Crier of our tribe shouted — ' The enemy are upon you ' : that moment my mare had drunk the whole of a water-skin.

I called to Ka's — 'Bridle her quick!' for in sooth I came to dwell on the hill of Zarud for nought else but to render help at need.

The arrows that stuck in the sides of her neck and about her throat were like stalks of leeks pulled up from a level sandy plain.

Then lameness beset my Locust, and wrecked her reserve of speed, when already a finger's breadth only parted Hazimah from me.

I gave you my orders there where the failing sand-edge curves : but no authority rests with him who is disobeyed.

Yea, when a man faces not boldly the ugly things that come, the cords of quietness soon will snap, and his peace decay.