Ode CVI: Of a truth the Chiefs of

Of a truth the Chiefs of Hawazin know well that I am the knight who defends the cause of the House of Ja'far ;

And al-Maznuq too knows well that I urged him again and again against the enemy's host, as one puts back into the bag again and again the blank arrow, denounced by the gamers.

When he flinched and turned aside from the thrust of the spears, I pressed him onwards and said — ' Get thee on, straight forward — never turn thy back ! '

And I admonished him that to fly were a disgrace for a man so long as he has not put forth his utmost strength and done all possible to him :

' Seest thou not that their spears are all couched straight at me ? and thou art a charger of noble stock : so bear it bravely ! '

I desired that God might know that I endured patiently : and in truth I dreaded a day like the Day of al-Mushaqqar !

By my life ! — and my life is no light thing to me — verily the spear-thrust of Mus-hir has spoiled the beauty of my face !

And a wretched man shall I be if I be one-eyed, unsteady on my legs, a coward — and what shall be my excuse in all assemblies ?

And sooth, they know full well that I dashed again and again against them, on the evening of Faif ar-Rih, as one circles time after time the standing Pillar ;

And I ceased not until my throat and my charger's breast were covered with streaming blood, like the fringe of a striped silken cloth.

I say to a soul the like of which is not poured forth [in death]: 'Cut short thine exulting ! verily I fail not in carrying out my purpose :

'Yea, if they had been a host like ourselves in number, we had not cared for them : but there came upon us an overwhelming mass, full of boastful words —

'They came upon us with the cavalry of all the broad plain, and the whole of Aklub, clad in leather cuirasses.'