MAOULS,
Reading edition
Or Popular Romances of the Modern Arabs; extracted from a Collection entitled, “A Miscellany of French and Oriental Literature,” by J. Augoub.
Now that thy stature, like the young shoot of a palm, is slender and graceful, grant me thy caresses. O my best beloved, let us make use of time as it flies! Close not against love the avenue to thy favour. Believe me, beauty is evanescent; its empire has never yet been prolonged for a mortal.
They have compared thee to the queen of the nightly firmament; but how greatly do they err in their language! Has the moon those beautiful black eyes, with their sparkling pupils? The rushes bend and sway before the gentlest breath of the zephyr; thou, who resemblest them by thy slight figure—thou seest all men bend before thee!
If the torment of my heart causes happiness to thine, torment me; for my happiness is bound up in thine,—if, indeed, thine is not far dearer to me than my own. If thou wishest to take my life—if the sacrifice of it is necessary to thee—take it, O thou who alone art my life, and incense not thyself against me!
What harm would it be, young beauty, if thou shouldest treat me with more justice? Thou wouldest cure my grievous malady by a remedy which would relieve me from the necessity of having recourse to the Canon of Avicene.[V] Whenever I contemplate thy beautiful eyebrows, I recognize in them the graceful contour of the houn;[W] and thy voice is sweeter to my ear than the sound of the harp and the cithern.[X]
When my best beloved passed by, the branch of the neighbouring willow was jealous of her delicate figure; the rose bent her head for shame when she saw the bright colour of her cheek; and I exclaimed,—O thou who beyond recovery hast captivated my soul, the glance of thine eye has opened a wound in my bosom which will not be cured to the end of my life!
I love, I love an adolescent, and my passion burns like a flame at the bottom of my heart. When love glided into my bosom, scarcely did the tender down shade the cheek of my lover. Oh, I love! and it is for thee, my well-beloved, that my tears flow; and I swear by Him who created love, that my heart has never known tenderness but for thee! I offer to thee my first flame.
When the night deepens its shadows, it is to imitate the blackness of thy curling locks; when the day shines in its purest splendour, it is to recall to mind the dazzling brightness of thy countenance: the exhalations of the aloes are less sweet than the perfume of thy breath; and the lover, enamoured of thy charms, shall pass his life in recounting thy praises.
My best-beloved comes forth, but her countenance is veiled; yet at sight of her all minds are bewildered. The slender branch in the Valley of Camels becomes jealous of her flexible and attractive form. Suddenly she raises her hand and removes the curious veil which concealed her, and the inhabitants of the land utter cries of surprise. Is it a flash of lightning, say they, which illuminates our dwellings? or have the Arabs lighted fires in the desert?
Number Probable
Names Names of Commanders of Tents Number of
of Tribes. of Tribes. in each Persons in
Tribe. each Tribe.
El-Ammour Soultan El-Brrak 500 5,000
El-Hassné Mehamma El Fadel Eben Melhgem 1,500 15,000
Would Aly Douhi Eben Sammir 5,000 50,000
El-Serhaan Adgham Eben Ali 1,200 12,000
El-Sarddié Fedghem Eben Sarraage 1,800 18,000
Benni Sakhrer Sellamé Eben Fakhrer 2,700 27,000
El-Doualla Drayhy Eben Chahllan 5,000 50,000
El-Harba Fares El-Harba 4,000 40,000
El-Suallemè Auad Eben Giandal 1,500 15,000
El-Ollama Taffaissan Eben Sarraage 1,400 14,000
Abdellé Selam Eben Mehgiel 1,200 12,000
El-Refacha Zarrak 800 8,000
El-Wualdè Giandal El-Mehidi 1,600 16,000
El-Mofanfakhr Hammoud El-Tammer 5,000 50,000
El-Cherarah Abedd Eben Sobaihi 2,300 23,000
El-Achgaha Dehass Eben Ali 2,000 20,000
El-Salca Giassem Eben Geraimess 3,000 30,000
El-Giomllan Zarrak Ebn Fakhrer 1,200 12,000
El-Giahma Giarah Eben Mehgiel 1,500 15,000
El-Ballahiss Ghaleb Eben Ramdoun 1,400 14,000
El-Maslekhr Faress Eben Nadjed 2,000 20,000
El-Khrassa Zehayran Eben Houad 2,000 20,000
El-Mahlac Nabec Eben Habed 3,000 30,000
El-Merackhrat Roudan Eben Soultan 1,500 15,000
El-Zeker Motlac Eben Fayhan 800 8,000
El-Bechakez Faress Eben Aggib 500 5,000
El-Chiamssi Cassem El-Wukban 1,000 10,000
El-Fuaher Sallamé El-Nahessan 600 6,000
El-Salba Mehanna El-Saneh 800 8,000
El-Fedhan Douackhry Eben Ghabiaïn 5,000 50,000
El-Salkeh Ali Eben Geraimess 3,000 30,000
El-Messahid Nehaiman Eben Fehed 3,500 35,000
El-Sabha Mohdi Eben Heïd 4,000 40,000
Benni Dehabb Chatti Eben Harab 5,000 50,000
El-Fekaka Astaoui Eben Tayar 1,500 15,000
El-Hamamid Chatti Eben Faress 1,500 15,000
El-Daffir Auad Eben Motlac 2,300 23,000
El-Hegiager Sellamé Eben Barac 800 8,000
El-Khrezahel Khrenkiar El-Alimy 3,000 30,000
Benni Tay Hamdi Eben Tamer 4,000 40,000
El-Huarig Habac Eben Mahdan 3,500 35,000
El-Mehazez Redaini Eben Khronkiar 6,000 60,000
El-Berkazè Sahdoun Eben Wuali 1,300 13,000
El-Nahimm Faheh Eben Saleh 300 3,000
Bouharba Alyan Eben Nadjed 500 5,000
———— ————
102,000 1,020,000
THE END.