1. Imprisoned, she said - her husband had shut
The house’s eyes on her from every view -

2. “By my life, a stranger has slaked his lust
And drunk, in a borrowed robe, unpure brew!

3. You have gorged the ravening packs of Nashel
And made bare each maiden pressed for you;

4. Had you been gently bred you had never helled
The flesh of free women nor tax levied new.

5. Know you not, vile Nashshar’s son, they steel
Their souls for death should dishonor ensue?

6. I keep flocks for the Lord, shy from men and hole,
Warm goats in winter’s dearth for wealth accrue;

7. My stakes firm planted since the day they stole
Me at Sawâr, though now my ribs askew

8. And I bear between my burdens twain a sword
And reins controlled by hands all blood imbrue.

9. Should she but breathe one day the death afford
You would see her broadsword fleshed on each subdue;

10. And she has power to quit this prison gored
And meet her kin, and where the speakers mew

11. At the Hallowed Place. No camels ever pined
More for their calves or for the tribal view

12. Than she, who better knows the thing refined,
When the clans join at Holy Rendezvous.

13. She wakes some theme in all of generous mind
That spreads and blossoms into fame anew.”