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

ties of society which he sneeringly scorns. The spirit of independence is so predominant in his character that it is even betrayed in his language and diction, which often make attempts at breaking through the bounds of conventional laws of diction. He lacks much in gravity and sobriety. He has, however, many good traits of character to redeem his weak parts. Though on the dangerous verge of turning out a corrupt and vicious debauchee, he is luckily more than saved by a naturally philosophic turn of mind, which, together with his keen observation of human nature, causes him to derive such practical and useful morals for himself as to help him to turn his vices into virtues and give him a place among the distinguished people of his time.

His images are derived from domestic sights, nomadic life, and sylvan scenes, and are well chosen to give proper force and effect to the pictures he portrays.

POEM III.

The poet begins by complaining of the strange changes, which are brought on the ruined abodes of his lady-love, since they were deserted and came to be inhabited by wild beasts, and which have been so complete that the poet could hardly recognise them except after a long and thoughtful consideration. In a high strain of poetic reveries his fancy sees a party of ladies, his former acquaintances, march before his view, leaving him alone lamenting for their departure. He then praises Haram and Hárith, the two chiefs of the tribe of Muzainah, who, by their generous intercession and their magnanimously undertaking to pay the blood mulct blood-money or compensation paid to the family of a victim, have brought about a perfect peace between the tribes of 'Abs and Zubyân, after it had been disturbed by the cowardly behaviour of Husain, son of Zamzam, who, to avenge the death of his brother, killed one of the tribe of Banî 'Abs in cold blood. The poem then concludes with a