At three score ten few shall seek her house ✿ Age-threadbare made till afresh she rise:
The fourscore dame hath a bunchy back ✿ From mischievous eld whom perforce Love flies:
And the crone of ninety hath palsied head ✿ And lies wakeful o’nights and in watchful guise;
And with ten years added would Heaven she bide ✿ Shrouded in sea with a shark for guide!”
Hereupon Al-Hajjaj laughed aloud and all who were with him in assembly; and presently he resumed, “O youth, tell me concerning the first man who spake in verse[[96]] and that was our common sire, Adam (The Peace be upon him!) what time Kábíl[[97]] slew Hábíl his brother when our forefather improvised these lines:—
“Changed I see my country and all thereon; ✿ Earth is now a blackavice, ugly grown:
The hue and flavour of food is fled ✿ And cheer is fainting from fair face flown.
An thou, O Abel, be slain this day ✿ Thy death I bemourn with heart tornand lone.
Weep these eyes and ’sooth they have right to weep ✿ Their tears are as rills flowing hills adown.
Kábil slew Hábil—did his brother dead; ✿ Oh my woe for that lovely face, ochone!”[[98]]