المعلقات السبع (The Seven Suspended Odes — Arabic text with English)

and recalling to mind in vivid language the departure of his lady-love, of whom he gives a short description. Here the attention of the poet is, however, abruptly drawn by more serious affairs to travelling on a noble and fast-travelling she-camel, described at length and in minute details concerning her make, form and constitution. Then taking a short review of his past life, he tells us of his good position in the tribe, of his adventurous travels, and of his early habits of dissipation and drinking, which caused him to be forsaken by the tribe, whom he, however, little cares for, being as he is endeared to all by his kindliness to the poor and his politeness to the rich. Moralising then on the unstability and frailty of human life, he remonstrates with his reproachers against their disapproval of his liberality and of his dissipated life; and with his cousin against betraying him in the time of his need, at whose disposal he is, however, ready to place his best services when required.

Here in a strain of egotism, he speaks of the many virtues that more than redeem his weak points of character, his active and vigilant habits, his undaunted courage, his unflinching fortitude, his hospitable attention to strangers, and his readiness to serve his friends in time of need. As an instance, he tells us how, in order to entertain his guests, he once unscrupulously offended his old father by slaughtering one of his best camels. He then concludes the poem with a few moral lessons which he has learnt from his experience of the world.

Here we see an interesting picture of the wayward and unruly disposition of a reckless youth of tender age, who has never known the superior control, either of a parent or of a preceptor. He sets out on his worldly journey without the advantage of experience or support, but with a full confidence in his poetic powers, which stand him in good stead under all circumstances, win for him his desires and even gain him admittance to the presence of the chieftains and the kings of the time. He has a spirit too haughty to stoop to any formali-