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THE TARJUMAN AL-ASHWAQ (XLI, XLIl) 127
happens in those Traditions whiclx attribute limnan qualities
to God, although in reality He is the eternal source of such
qualities and therefore incomparable.

XLII
1. O men of intelligence and understanding, I am distraught
between the sun and the gazelles.
2. He who forgets Sulul is not forgetful, but he who forgets
the sun is forgetful.
3. Let him offer himseli' to his herd, for gifts open the
mouth to utter praise.
4 Verily, she is an Arab girl, belonging bj'^ origin to the
daughtei's of Persia, yea, verily.
5. Beauty strung for her a row of fine pearly teeth, white
and pure as crystal.
6. I boded ill from her unveiling, and at that moment her
loveliness and splendour affrighted me.
7. From those twain I sufiered two deaths: thus hath the
Koran revealed her.
8. I said, ‘ Wherefore did thy unveiling affright me ? ’
(She answered), ‘ Thy foes have trysted to attack thee
W'hen the sun shines,’
9. I said, ‘ I am in a guarded demesne of black hair that
hides thee : let it fall at their coming.’
10. This poem of mine is without- rhj-me: I intend by it
only Her.
11. The word ‘ Her’ is my aim, and for Her sake I am not
(Jm iva-hd)} C o m m e n ta ry
fond of bai'tering except (with) ‘ Give and take ’
' ‘

1. ‘ Between the sun and the gazelles,’ referrins: to
O
Kor. Ixv, 12: ‘ I'lte Divine command deftrendcih between
them ’ (viz. the heavens and the eai-th).
2. The heedless man is not he xvho neglects what is

' The meaning of tl>e last hemistich is obscure. Possibly Us, Us> wa.s
a formula used in completing a bargain.