I marched against him under the wing of the night, and flames were
lighted in the sheepfolds.
He sent against me Hassan the Hilali, I went to meet him and said, 'Seize
this wretched dog.' These are the words of the Zoght Dyab
ben Ghanem and the fire of illness was lighted in his
breast."[10]


[10] R. Basset. Un Episode d'une chanson de geste Arabe sur la seconde
conquête de l'Afrique Septentrionale par les Mussulmans. Bulletin de
Correspondence Africaine, p. 147. Alger, 1885, in 8vo. See also Stemme.
Tripolitanisches Bederinenlieder. Leipzig, 1804, in 8vo.

The second style of modern Arabic poetry is the "Kelamel hazel." It
comprises the pieces which treat of wine, women, and pleasures; and, in
general, on all subjects considered light and unworthy of a serious mind.
One may find an example in the piece of "Said and Hyza," and in different
works of Mr. Stemme cited above. It is particularly among the nomad Arabs
that this style is found, even more than the dwellers in cities, on whom
rests the reproach of composing verses where the study and sometimes the
singularity of expression cannot replace the inspiration, the energy, and
even the delicacy of sentiment often found among the nomads:

"The country remains a desert, the days of heat are ended, the trees of
our land have borne the attack of Summer, that is my grief.
After it was so magnificent to behold, its leaves are fallen, one by one,
before my eyes.
But I do not covet the verdure of a cypress; my sorrow has for its cause
a woman, whose heart has captivated mine.
I will describe her clearly; you will know who she is; since she has gone