[311]. In text “’Alá Yadín;” for which vulgarism see vol. iii. 51.
[312]. Elephants are usually, as Cuvier said of the (Christian) “Devil” after a look at his horns and hoofs, vegetarians.
[313]. [The MS. has “yughaffiru wa yuzaghdimu.” The former stands probably for “yu’affíru,” for which see supra p. 262, note 2. The writing is, however, so indistinct that possibly “yufaghghiru” is intended, which means he opened his mouth wide. “Yuzaghdimu” is one of those quadriliterals which are formed by blending two tri-literals in one verb, in order to intensify the idea. “Zaghada” and “Zaghama” mean both “he roared,” more especially applied to a camel, and by joining the “d” of the one with the “m” of the other, we obtain “Zaghdama,” he roared fiercely.—St.]
[314]. [Sára’a-hu wa láwa’a-hu = he rushed upon him and worried him. The root law’ means to enfeeble, render sick, especially applied to love-sickness (Lau’ah). The present 3rd form is rarely used, but here and in a later passage, Night cdxlv., the context bears out the sense of harassing.—St.]
[315]. In text “Zaghárit” plur. of Zaghrútah: see vol. ii. p. 80.
[316]. [Yá walad al-Halál. I would translate: “O! son of a lawful wedlock,” simply meaning that he takes him to be a decent fellow, not a scamp or Walad al-Harám.—St.]
[317]. The repetition is a sign of kindness and friendliness; see vol. vi. 370.
[318]. This Arabian “Sattár” corresponds passing well with “Jupiter Servator.”
[319]. “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.” Matt. xxi. 16. The idea is not less Moslem than Christian.
[320]. [I read “Sarkhah adwat la-há al-Saráyah” = a cry to which the palace-women raised an echo, a cry re-echoed by the palace-women. “Adwà” is the fourth form of “Dawiya,” to hum or buzz, to produce an indistinct noise, and it is vulgarly used in the above sense, like the substantive “Dawi,” an echo. Al-Saráyah is perhaps only an Arabized form of the Persian Saráy, and the sentence might be, to which the palace resounded.—St.]