began sounding their lutes, and sang the song which begins—
May God reward the companions with whom
I consorted in early days in Gillik[1]
until it says:
Sons of Gáfnah around the grave of their father,
The grave of the generous, the excellent son of Marîyah;
They gave to drink to their cup companions
Ice-cold drinks mixed with the sweetest wine.
And when Jábalah heard this, he laughed until his eye-teeth appeared, and asked me, "Do you know who composed that?" I replied, "No." He said, "Hásan-ibn-Thâbit,[2] the Prophet's poet."
Then he made a sign to the slave-girls upon his left hand, and said, "Make us weep." So they burst into song, striking their lutes, and recited this poetry:
By whom were desolated the homes in Maʾaân,
Between the heights of Yermûk and Khimân?
until the song runs:
'Twas a dwelling for the tribe of Gáfnah for a time,
But now a place for tales in future ages.
Verily they regarded me there as of authority awhile,
With the master of a crown was my resting and dwelling-place.
