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

with the unyielding spirit of the poet, who is the chieftain of a powerful tribe, and perhaps their only champion, and the advocate of their rights before the tribunal of a despotic ruler. He is an ardent and passionate lover, meek enough to yield to the powers of love, but a brave and unyielding hero in wars; gentle and polite in society, but stern and rough in court debates. He is a frank and open-hearted warrior, free from guile and malice, who openly demands his due, freely pleads his cause, cares little for the intrigues of his rivals, and hates to gain any favour by any undue or underhand influence. He tries to carry his object with the king by the force of his martial prowess rather than by the dint of any cogent argument.

The poem has very few similes, but many images and figures, all of which, derived as they are from martial objects, are grand, sublime, and apt to well produce the force they are meant to give effect to.

POEM VI.

Here the poet is introduced to us as standing at the old and long deserted abodes of his beloved, which for her sake he salutes with deep reverence. He deeply regrets her being removed too far to be within easy reach, and feels much dejected at the grave obstacle he finds in the way of his union and marriage with her, consequent on her belonging to a hostile tribe. He gives her very strong assurances of being devotedly true to his love, which he earnestly solicits may be requited by her. He recollects how carefully she tried to evade his notice on the occasion of her departure, but he being too clever for her got scent of it and paid her a farewell visit. The poet then describes her numerous beauties displayed to him on that occasion. Since her departure he has been leading an adventurous life, keeping always in his saddle. Though removed to a very distant country, he does not give up his