Sol 6.1

  1. The campfolk departed al-Thaghra’ at evening, or set out at dawn,

    And made good what they had spoken of the day before.

  2. I, when all the allies of al-Ghalba’

    are around me, with Bakr, ‘Abd al-Qays, and al-Namir,

  3. am the mightiest of all the children Eve has borne.

    Indeed, preeminence is theirs, and glory if they boast.

  4. O Kalb, if you have no zeal to defend your honor,

    There is no refuge in Quda‘a, nor prestige.

  5. Is it a slave of Baghid’s house—may you have no father!—

    of ‘Abs whom you fear, though the ‘Absi is despised?

  6. The generosity of ‘Abs of the Hijaz was never hoped for, nor

    was the muster of the sons of ‘Abs feared when they rallied.

  7. Nor does anyone pray over their dead,

    Nor does God’s earth accept what they have buried.

  8. When they make their sacrificial offerings kneel for slaughter,

    They are more astray than the sacrificial camels they slaughtered.

  9. So Glory swore concerning them never to ally itself with them,

    Until hair allies itself with the palm of the hand.

Sol 6.1