Ode LII: There has reached me the message

There has reached me the message of the Sons of 'Amir, and its news has cleared away dimness from my sight —

How that the children of al-Wakhm went forth together, with a host like the shining stars of the morning,

All mounted on stout mares, swift to gallop through the night, and bay steeds, tall, with a blaze on the forehead.

And the tribe [they beset] knew nought of their coming, until they saw the peaked helmets' sheen over the horses' blaze.

The cavalry came upon them from the front, then assailed them from behind : and they left them and returned before they had time to be sated [with slaughter].

Ah many the mangled corse of a noble man they left lying there, in the place of the foot-fight or where the horses charged !

And many another with staring eyes, whose skin thou mayst see swollen like the bark of the tragacanth after rain !

How many were there in Jumran of men slain on the spot, bodies lying with their faces covered with dust !