Ode IX: Zunaibah has severed the bond that

Zunaibah has severed the bond that joined her to one who, for his part, cuts not the bonds that bind him to those he loves ; and truly, sore is the wound she deals to good faith !

And in sooth I yearned for a little kindness from her on that day of parting : but [all that I gained was] her eyes swimming in tears unshed.

Cut then thy bonds, O Zunaibah : as for me, I have been singled out to suffer from a tie to one who is wont to break all ties.

Yea, in sooth I cut the bond on the day when no hope was left for it more — and he who comes to a quick decision in affairs is the man of purpose and resolve —

With a fleet she-camel, strong and sturdy, whose hump is like a castle raised high, built by Nabataeans working briskly thereon.

She spent the summer in Uthal as far as al-Mala, and the spring she passed in the rugged Highland, grazing far afield, becoming plump and round, laid aside from all work ;

Until, when she became with foal, and there had grown up upon her a hump covered with matted wool, the steepness of which made the raven fear to alight thereon,

I brought her near to the saddle, what time there came upon me a journey I needs must make, and a fixed purpose to fulfil ;

Then thou wouldst have thought her, after long weary travel through the night, a strong wild-ass, by whose side gallops, vying with him, a shy she-ass, with marks of pregnancy plain in her.

He keeps her away from her foal, and she keeps him off from herself : verily, the orphan is thrust from one to another !

Day-long he watches over her like a scout, erect, upstanding, on the top of a rising-ground, and hardly does he graze at all ;

Till at last she is driven down to water, on the evening of the fourth day, by a stout sturdy mate speeding on behind her.

He gallops, while his lusty mate races with him over the broken mountainous ground, shooting ahead as the well-bucket darts downwards when its rope is frayed through and gives way.

When at last the two come down to the springs, .over which are tangles of long reeds, some shooting up, and others trampled down,

He lights upon Safwan crouching down by the side of the pool, in his hunter's shelter, all intent on a quarry.

Then the man shot at the she-ass, and missed her: the arrow struck upon a stone, and its point was broken and its shaft splintered.

When she turned in terror, her mate, braying loudly, made swiftly for her, to shield her rear from danger, as a valiant warrior plunges into the fight in defence of his kin ;

Then she smites him on the throat with her hoof and with the hard stones [cast backwards as she flies], and gallops away without restraint.

There is nothing that matches his handling of her, when he mounts her back, and his head reaches forward over her.

Yea, and oft-times have I gone forth in the morning to hunt, my comrade a steed stout in the sides, a pourer-forth of running, of mighty frame,

With bushy hair in his forelock and tail, as though he shook in the air a bunch of moist swamp-grass as often as he is checked in his gallop,

Full of keenness when thou lettest him go, throwing himself forward, eager to run heat after heat whenever he is reined in.

When he gallops in the race past the shouting groups of men, stretching his neck and reaching forward his head, he is like an oryx beset on both sides by dogs, bending down his head [to pierce them with his horns].

I trained him and fed him up with all possible care, and I gave him as much attention as a wealthy man gives to his dearest friend.

He gets the collected milk of many she-camels whose milk [through pregnancy] has become scanty — all but a small residue; and his blanket is not taken off while he is carefully tended in the tent.

Then, when we race our horses together, he is always the first, out-stripping all : his rider goes proudly when he is started in every contest.

Yea, many the day we have appointed the stakes he has won to be spent in gifts and loans for life to friends, and so have we been profitable to them.

And oft-times have I been beforehand with the railing women by draining a deep draught of wine in the morning, while my wine-jug was large and brimming —

A growth of black grapes, pure in colour, deep red like the blood of a victim of sacrifice when it is poured forth, mixed with water ;

I rejoice therein on a day, and I bring joy to a band of friends, causing them to forget their troubles what time they have been wrapped up and hooded therein.

Woe 's me for the long-maned creature, with tufts of hair on her neck, that comes to me limping on three legs !

She watches me through the day and looks about her : the spark of life that is left in me gives her pause, but it is I she craves for ;

She will spend the day tearing me to pieces and feeding her cubs with my flesh, in the midst of her covert — and no living soul will lift a hand to drive her off.

If only my sword were in my hand, I would smite her with it and repel her, so that I should not be devoured by her while I lie defenceless :

Yea, time was when I smote with it, and my stroke used to strike off the hands of the warriors as though they were stems of soft wood.

This it is to perish [ — not the wasting of my goods] ! Therefore, O railer, if I cut off my hand with a knife, say — ' What he does is well done !'

And oft was I envied for a season for the good luck that was my lot — and then again follows thereon a day that is hateful :

But after those have gone that Nusaibah bore shall I complain of the shears of Doom, or be seen lamenting what needs must be ?

And of a truth I know — and there is no averting it — that I am destined to be the sport of Fate : but dost thou see me wailing thereat ?

Fate brought to nought 'Ad, then the race of Muharriq, and has left them, and all that they brought together, a bare, desolate plain :

Yea, Destiny has destroyed both the Hariths, and has reft away the Tubba', the master of great fortresses.

I too count my ancestors back to the root of the Earth : and I summon them, but I know that they will not hear.

They have gone their way, and I cannot overtake them : Destruction has called them, and they have betaken themselves to her, and the broad Way that all must tread.

There is no escape from the stroke of Doom : await it then ; whether in the land of thine own people or in another thou shalt be laid low ;

And in due time shall come upon thee a day when there shall be weeping over thee, while thou liest in thy shroud and hearest not.