1. The life that lasts with lengthening ages,
The life that elates with sheer joy,

2. My days of glory and command unceasing,
Those are the days I count my life's employ.

3. How prosperity has wronged its people!
How time has favoured whom it specifies!

4. Had I the wish from little I've diminished
I could count up bright days of joy that rise

5. One day I lived in Syria rapturous,
Of all my days the most delicious prize

6. At dawn I summoned up my fowler boldly
To choose from his large stock the best supplies

7. Choose seven fully-grown and noble hawks, I said,
Let two for hares and small game suffice,

8. The other five release in pairs alternate
To course the gazelle over plains and rise

9. Send not too soon my hounds that hunt fox slyly
They are death's heralds to the antelopes' demise.

10. Then to my cooks I went inspecting gladly
My Greyhound sniffed, attendants girt their thighs

11. Five birds, I said, will sate expected clusters
So save the surplus and curtail supplies

12. Make haste with sauce and soups and serving swiftly,
Offering a feast that will not agonize

13. You makers of sherbets with scent enticing!
Prepare refreshments easy to devise

14. I charge you load no heavy victuals on us
Avoid excess, leave nothing to despise

15. Leave such a man behind and take another,
But let your catch be surety for your prize

16. At length I chose, what time they stood expectant,
Some twenty men or somewhat less suffice

17. A band I honoured for their grace and breeding
Known for desert and noble enterprise.

18. Then to `Ayn Qasir's pool, famed hunting waters,
Haunt of all beasts the knowing recognize

19. We came what time the sun slanted to westward
In gorgeous raiment gold embroideries,

20. The francolins were calling one another
And sand grouse nestled under sheltering guise

21. All heedless of our band they cried unguarded
While we had destined them for sacrifice

22. That game-bird warbling to the dawn was turning
Not witting death's approach with day's sunrise

23. When I sensed morning drawing to full light
I roused the men: Bestir! the time to rise!

24.
To prayers, and let our chargers be caparisoned

25. And all our hounds and dogs equipped likewise!
I told my fowler: On ahead! Seek lonely

26. Shout if you start some gazelles for our enterprise
He ranged not distant, following as we cantered

27. Whatever fled before us, he made his prize
I rode amidst our horsemen close irankéd

28. As we advanced in order for the fight.
We had not long descended to the hollows

29. When a francolin rose from neighbouring height
Back came my scout reporting he had started it,

30. If what he saw is true, I said, that's right.
I rode up to the spot, and there lay crouching

31. What seemed awake, yet sleeping was from fright.
Then arrows chose I from my quiver handily

32. And circled it twice round nor spent them quite
Until I made my kill and missed no merit

33. For each event has causes for the slight.

34. Loosed were my hounds with cries the cliffs repeating
To course their quarry relentlessly in flight

35. I cheered the black dogs on like swooping eagles
No white dog these, nor brindled ones, for might,

36. Who'll try a contest with this airy wrestler?
I asked, and from the band stepped forth a wight

37. I'll show you sport, he said, if you've the power for 't!
Then go, I said, and take the left, I'll right.

38. They freed a crane, each loosed his bird competing,
The hawks struck true and grappled them in flight

39. Clutched fast, they fluttered, weapons interlacing,
The cranes and hawks contested in fair fight

40. Till by main force the hawks had pinned them under
Three green, one piebald crane, an equal sight.

41. We slaughtered them, and both the hawks unhampered
On easy quarry loosed afresh in flight

42. Now circulating high, now swooping downward,
Like horsemen who encounter and alight

43. They brought down two more cranes, then came another
That honking fled them with alarmed affright

44. I cried the hawks have struck, by God who reigneth
Over His House! and we couched in hollows tight

45. The falcon struck, but rose again unequal
While the cranes honked and wheeled in scornful flight

46. What, said I, is this hubbub and confusion?
Call they such sport as this unlucky plight?

47. Nothing abroad, the falconer said, stops her flight
Except she's gripped, wing-weary from the fight

48. The dog has foiled your hawk, dub him fair champion!
He cried, while she flames hotter than a fire-brand

49. Crane after crane the hawks brought in among us
Till all were keen to loose and lief to fly

50. Then to the knacker: Since your work's accomplished
Dismount and bring what ready dishes lie!

51. He brought roast birds and birds yet hotly hissing
Francolin, sand grouse, crammed in savoury pie.

52. We ate without dismounting, loath to light down,
Lest appetite be quenched before supply.

53. Goblets were filled and cups of wine appearing,
Then serve it round, I said, to each ally!

54.
This day contents and joy suffuse among us,

55. Enough's my portion though I drink or die!
Thereon we turned and sought the open desert,

56. Scouring the hills and dales for game to ply.
A passing herd before us down the valley

57. A herd that browsed about the tufted rill
Fresh from a spring whose rain incessant watered

58. Hill-pasturage with lavish drink its fill.
No shepherd there, no protector hovered o'er them

59. They cropped at will the meadows green distil
A raincloud visiting had newly bathed them

60. With copious showers and drenched them at its will.
Seeing us draw near they turned their heads unheeding

61. With necks at stretch unhasting and secure
Nor left their easy quiet life to spur them,

62. Until our evil fortune brought them lure.
My falconers and hounds outwent and turned them

63. To their ill-omened goal by destiny sure.
The hounds pulled down the big horned stag selecting

64. And pinned him while he bellowed death's presage obscure.
Another brought to bay a wild cow driving

65. Who cropped around the pool her life's sequel
Then with our birds we charged the herd and bundled them

66. Driving them where the dogs leapt at their heels
Till of the cows we culled a scanty dozen

67. And all the rest fled to the further hills.
Thereon we travelled to the mountain country,

68. Seeking the mountain goats and zebras still.
My hounds, my horses never left pursuing

69. Till the last remnants fled beyond our will.
Homeward our heavily laden camels fared

70. While daybreak through the murk shone soft distil
Reached we our camp by night, the horses foremost,

71. There cast our catch and found them ninety kill.
We cooked and grilled them, searching all the pans there,

72. Yet woke no taste, for sport had banked the grill.
Unreckoned draughts we drank with wine competing

73. From jars lovesick and jugs of limpid rill
In seven nights of halting there we feasted,

74. Then off and away as fortune led, to fulfil!