ألا أيها المثري المزجى — عدي بن زيد

O wealthy man, borne along in ease!

Have you not heard of the calamity of those of old?

One day at al-Baqqah, he summoned the princes—

Jadhīmah, when he conferred with them in groups.

He saw no alternative to what they had agreed upon,

And the travelers tightened the girth for his saddle.

So he obeyed their counsel and disobeyed Qaṣīr,

And he would say: if only he had followed what was certain

Concerning his intended bride, who betrayed and broke faith!

And they harbor deadly guile—may they be cursed!

And she insinuated in her letter to him

That he might possess her in marriage, and she submit to him.

So she brought him to ruin; the soul's greed brings ruin,

And shows a man his unmistakable doom.

And al-ʿAṣā brought tidings of him,

And I have never seen a baseborn man like her rider.

Then he came suddenly upon her, when she had mustered hosts

At the gates of a fortress, with swords drawn.

And she laid out the hide for the veins of his forearms,

And he found her words lies and falsehood.

And for fear of reproaches and disgraces—

And they bring shame upon those they befall—

Qaṣīr brought the razor close to his nose

To cut it off, though he had cherished it.

Then he brought it down upon his nose-tip, and became,

In pursuit of vengeance, noseless and disfigured.

And she encountered a man, never fearing

His deadly wiles; her trusted man was not trustworthy.

Then, when he returned from him, he returned firm of purpose,

Dragging wealth along, and a breast full of rancor.

The pale camels came to her, bearing what brought her ruin,

And he concealed the armored men in haircloth.

And he secretly sent ʿAmr against her over the sand-dunes,

In his battle gear; she feared no ambush.

Then he struck her with a keen blade bearing ancient marks,

Making it ring against her brows and forehead.

Then, [apparently from] her treasuries, she became as though

Zabbāʾ had never carried a child in her womb.

And calamities and death laid her bare;

And what long-lived man do they not put to the test?

If they give respite to one of mighty fortune,

They turn upon him again, even in the folds of time.

Have you not seen that Time's calamities overcome

The man of valor and the well-fortified stronghold?

And I have not found a man taking delight in anything,

Even if he grew wealthy, and even if he begot sons.