They have compared thee to the queen of the nightly firmament; but how greatly do they err in their language! Has the moon those beautiful black eyes, with their sparkling pupils? The rushes bend and sway before the gentlest breath of the zephyr; thou, who resemblest them by thy slight figure—thou seest all men bend before thee!
If the torment of my heart causes happiness to thine, torment me; for my happiness is bound up in thine,—if, indeed, thine is not far dearer to me than my own. If thou wishest to take my life—if the sacrifice of it is necessary to thee—take it, O thou who alone art my life, and incense not thyself against me!
What harm would it be, young beauty, if thou shouldest treat me with more justice? Thou wouldest cure my grievous malady by a remedy which would relieve me from the necessity of having recourse to the Canon of Avicene.[V] Whenever I contemplate thy beautiful eyebrows, I recognize in them the graceful contour of the houn;[W] and thy voice is sweeter to my ear than the sound of the harp and the cithern.[X]
When my best beloved passed by, the branch of the neighbouring willow was jealous of her delicate figure; the rose bent her head for shame when she saw the bright colour of her cheek; and I exclaimed,—O thou who beyond recovery hast captivated my soul, the glance of thine eye has opened a wound in my bosom which will not be cured to the end of my life!
I love, I love an adolescent, and my passion burns like a flame at the bottom of my heart. When love glided into my bosom, scarcely did the tender down shade the cheek of my lover. Oh, I love! and it is for thee, my well-beloved, that my tears flow; and I swear by Him who created love, that my heart has never known tenderness but for thee! I offer to thee my first flame.
When the night deepens its shadows, it is to imitate the blackness of thy curling locks; when the day shines in its purest splendour, it is to recall to mind the dazzling brightness of thy countenance: the exhalations of the aloes are less sweet than the perfume of thy breath; and the lover, enamoured of thy charms, shall pass his life in recounting thy praises.
My best-beloved comes forth, but her countenance is veiled; yet at sight of her all minds are bewildered. The slender branch in the Valley of Camels becomes jealous of her flexible and attractive form. Suddenly she raises her hand and removes the curious veil which concealed her, and the inhabitants of the land utter cries of surprise. Is it a flash of lightning, say they, which illuminates our dwellings? or have the Arabs lighted fires in the desert?
| Number | Probable | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Names | Names of Commanders | of Tents | Number of |
| of Tribes. | of Tribes. | in each | Persons in |
| Tribe. | each Tribe. | ||
| El-Ammour | Soultan El-Brrak | 500 | 5,000 |
| El-Hassné | Mehamma El Fadel Eben Melhgem | 1,500 | 15,000 |
| Would Aly | Douhi Eben Sammir | 5,000 | 50,000 |
| El-Serhaan | Adgham Eben Ali | 1,200 | 12,000 |
| El-Sarddié | Fedghem Eben Sarraage | 1,800 | 18,000 |
| Benni Sakhrer | Sellamé Eben Fakhrer | 2,700 | 27,000 |
| El-Doualla | Drayhy Eben Chahllan | 5,000 | 50,000 |
| El-Harba | Fares El-Harba | 4,000 | 40,000 |
| El-Suallemè | Auad Eben Giandal | 1,500 | 15,000 |
| El-Ollama | Taffaissan Eben Sarraage | 1,400 | 14,000 |
| Abdellé | Selam Eben Mehgiel | 1,200 | 12,000 |
| El-Refacha | Zarrak | 800 | 8,000 |
| El-Wualdè | Giandal El-Mehidi | 1,600 | 16,000 |
| El-Mofanfakhr | Hammoud El-Tammer | 5,000 | 50,000 |
| El-Cherarah | Abedd Eben Sobaihi | 2,300 | 23,000 |
| El-Achgaha | Dehass Eben Ali | 2,000 | 20,000 |
| El-Salca | Giassem Eben Geraimess | 3,000 | 30,000 |
| El-Giomllan | Zarrak Ebn Fakhrer | 1,200 | 12,000 |
| El-Giahma | Giarah Eben Mehgiel | 1,500 | 15,000 |
| El-Ballahiss | Ghaleb Eben Ramdoun | 1,400 | 14,000 |
| El-Maslekhr | Faress Eben Nadjed | 2,000 | 20,000 |
| El-Khrassa | Zehayran Eben Houad | 2,000 | 20,000 |
| El-Mahlac | Nabec Eben Habed | 3,000 | 30,000 |
| El-Merackhrat | Roudan Eben Soultan | 1,500 | 15,000 |
| El-Zeker | Motlac Eben Fayhan | 800 | 8,000 |
| El-Bechakez | Faress Eben Aggib | 500 | 5,000 |
| El-Chiamssi | Cassem El-Wukban | 1,000 | 10,000 |
| El-Fuaher | Sallamé El-Nahessan | 600 | 6,000 |
| El-Salba | Mehanna El-Saneh | 800 | 8,000 |
| El-Fedhan | Douackhry Eben Ghabiaïn | 5,000 | 50,000 |
| El-Salkeh | Ali Eben Geraimess | 3,000 | 30,000 |
| El-Messahid | Nehaiman Eben Fehed | 3,500 | 35,000 |
| El-Sabha | Mohdi Eben Heïd | 4,000 | 40,000 |
| Benni Dehabb | Chatti Eben Harab | 5,000 | 50,000 |
| El-Fekaka | Astaoui Eben Tayar | 1,500 | 15,000 |
| El-Hamamid | Chatti Eben Faress | 1,500 | 15,000 |
| El-Daffir | Auad Eben Motlac | 2,300 | 23,000 |
| El-Hegiager | Sellamé Eben Barac | 800 | 8,000 |
| El-Khrezahel | Khrenkiar El-Alimy | 3,000 | 30,000 |
| Benni Tay | Hamdi Eben Tamer | 4,000 | 40,000 |
| El-Huarig | Habac Eben Mahdan | 3,500 | 35,000 |
| El-Mehazez | Redaini Eben Khronkiar | 6,000 | 60,000 |
| El-Berkazè | Sahdoun Eben Wuali | 1,300 | 13,000 |
| El-Nahimm | Faheh Eben Saleh | 300 | 3,000 |
| Bouharba | Alyan Eben Nadjed | 500 | 5,000 |
| ———— | ———— | ||
| 102,000 | 1,020,000 |
THE END.