Ode LXXXVII: Who will carry this message for

Who will carry this message for me to the young men of Yashkur, that I see coming upon us a time that will give many occasions for stout endurance ?

And I counsel you in respect of the tribe of Shaiban — verily they are a people who build up great deeds to boast of :

In spite of that Qais said, Qais son of Khalid — ' Verily Yashkur is sweeter to eat than dates, if we should encounter them ! '

I saw thee, when thou didst recognize our faces, turn away and become content in spirit, O Qais, in respect of 'Amr ;

Thou didst consider the blood which our spears had spilt mere gushes of spring showers, or like purple dye about the throat ;

And we brought thee to a bed whereon thou layest all the summer long, with thy wounds tended within the curtain by thy women.

Think not that we and our company are like the 'Amrs — nay, we, by the House of God ! are nearer to Bakr than ye,

The whole body of us, and we are not — well thou knowest — a mixed crowd, but are far removed from base qualities and treachery.