twain, and its friendship sunk in blood. Ye healed ʿAbs' and Dubyân's breach when the twain were well-nigh spent, and between them the deadly perfume of Menshim[1] was working hate. Ye said, 'If we set our hands to Peace, base it broad and firm by the giving of gifts and fair words of friendship, all will be well.' … The wounds of the kindred were healed with hundreds of camels good; he paid them forth, troop by troop, who had no part in the crime. Kin paid them forth to kin as a debt due from friend to friend, and they spilt not between them as much as a cupper's cupful of blood."
Then the tribes are exhorted to keep faithfully their pact of peace. "Ho! carry my message true to the tribesmen together leagued and Dubyân—Have ye sworn all that ye took upon you to swear? War is not aught but what ye know well and have tasted oft; not of her are the tales ye tell a doubtful or idle thing. … She will grind you as grist of the mill that falls on the skin beneath; year by year her womb conceive, and the fruit thereof shall be twins." After this reference to the deadly nature of tribal feud the poet tells the deed of Hoseyn, son of Damdam, how he slew his foe while the kins were making peace. "Yea, verily good is the kin and unmeet the deed of wrong Hoseyn, son of Damdam, wrought against them, a murder foul! He hid deep within his heart his bloody intent, nor told to any his purpose till the moment to do was come. … So he slew; no alarm he raised where the tents stood peacefully, though there in their midst the Vulture-mother[2] had entered in to dwell with a lion fierce, a bulwark for
