Ode CXXIII: Is it of set purpose that

Is it of set purpose that thou approachest not, nor visitest, [the scene of former loves] ? And already the curtained litters have passed on, carrying your [hearts in] pledge.

On the backs of the male camels are women like antelopes of Qaww crouching in their holes, with the curtains of the litters not large enough to hide them,

And delicately-nurtured maidens, up to whom there bore me a great she-camel, of mighty frame, only half trained.

Then, when we had journeyed along together a little way, inclining towards us they gave ear to our talk.

Long ago I admonished Rib'i my son : — ' What time affairs suddenly beset thy tribe with trouble,

' See that thou pull not down what we have striven to build up— and the maintenance of the highest pre-eminence is a heavy task !

['Verily the beginning of glory is a difficult thing to achieve, and the way to bring it on is by generosity and well-doing :

' Never wilt thou attain to glory until thou give liberally of that which the heart most clings to —

' Thy life or thy wealth — in affairs which the indolent slothful man fears to undertake.]

' Do no despite to my protected stranger and my guest, what time the camel-saddle is set down behind the tent :

'He comes to thee at nightfall with dishevelled hair, stripped bare by repeated strokes of calamities which no slackening holds back ;

' Visit him with generosity, and guard him well from harm at thy charge : for surely his report will travel abroad.

' And I have seen hatred flash forth against thee from a friend — of a truth I am a man with keen eyes

'To probe the failings of men when we meet together, and that which their breasts hide of spite and hate.

'And if men raise the reins [to urge on the steed], raise thou them too, in striving for high things, for thou art a man capable of them ;

' And if they press hard upon thee, fear them not, but return their pressure, what time the pins in the mail-coat grow hot with the strife.

' And if they aim at the bitter right, aim thou too at it : and if they turn aside from the path [of justice], turn thou aside, until they return thereto.

' Yea, many the folk that looked at me askance, with their eyes blinded by hatred,

' Have I aimed at with an ode that brought upon them shame, while the people listened intent, and thou mightest have heard the slightest sound !

'And in how many a summer halting-place hast thou not seen me resting in the latter part of the night, while the burning wind scorched me,

' By the saddle-trees of a fleet-footed she-camel : when she became weak and worn out, another, lean from constant work, sped evenly along with me ?

' And if I had chosen, I could have sheltered my body from hardship, and there had been meat, roast or seethed, for my breakfast ;

' And there had toyed with me, on rugs strewn within the tent, dark-lipped damsels clad in saffron shifts and silk :

' But I reach up to the inheritance of a folk who were chiefs, and noble, and seas of generosity—

'Sumayy and al-Ashadd, they ennobled my stock, and my ancestor al-Ahtam, the faithful, the protector of all his clients :

' On the day when Tamlm had a mind to perish by mutual slaughter, and the distance became short between the opposing hosts,

' In a valley of Dariyah, where there came upon him a day whereof the stars were seen at noon-tide :

' Then did he make peace between them in their contest, and save them from that which threatened them — a trusty brother, and a bold ! '