God’s water they held back from God. Monopolists!
Thus Sālih’s camel, as of saint the fleshly form,
Became an ambush;—sinners’ ruin thence would storm!
Upon that sinning race what dreadful judgment fell!
“God’s camel and her drink”[303] the text is, us to tell.270
God’s vengeance, as pursuer, sought from that vile crew
The price of her shed blood, a country’s whole space through.
The soul to Sālih’s like; his camel is the flesh;
The soul communes with God; the flesh pines in want’s mesh.
Good Sālih’s soul was safe from effort of their whim;