Fate frights us when the thing is past and gone; ✿ Weeping is not for form or face alone[[366]]:
What ails the Nights?[[367]] Allah blot out our sin, ✿ And be the Nights by other hand undone!
Ere this Zubayr-son[[368]] felt their spiteful hate, ✿ Who fled for refuge to the House and Stone:
Would that when Khárijah was for Amru slain[[369]] ✿ They had ransomed Ali with all men they own.
Then, with cheeks stained by tears down railing he recited also these verses:—
In sooth the Nights and Days are charactered ✿ By traitor falsehood and as knaves they lie;
The Desert-reek[[370]] recalls their teeth that shine; ✿ All horrid blackness is their Kohl of eye:
My sin anent the world which I abhor ✿ Is sin of sword when sworders fighting hie.
Then his sobs waxed louder and he said:—
O thou who woost a World[[371]] unworthy, learn ✿ 'Tis house of evils, 'tis Perdition's net: