16
The first one said: “My husband is like the stringy meat of a camel perched on the summit of a rugged mountain: it is neither easy enough to climb up to, nor fat enough to be worth carrying down.”
The second one said: “I will not stir up talk about my husband, for I fear I would leave nothing unsaid; were I to describe him, I would have to lay bare all his lumps and flaws.”
The third one said: “My husband is al-ʿashannaq (tall and lanky); if I speak….” ⦗135⦘
(فَقَالَتِ الْأُولَى)
: زَوْجِي لَحْمُ جَمَلٍ غَثٍّ عَلَى رَأْسِ جَبَلٍ وَعْرٍ لَا سَهْلٌ فَيُرْتَقَى وَلَا سَمِينٌ فَيُنْتَقَلُ
(قَالَتِ الثَّانِيَةُ) : زَوْجِي لَا أثير خَبَرَهُ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ لَا أَذَرَهُ إِنْ أَذْكُرْهُ أَذْكُرْ عُجَرَهُ وَبُجَرَهُ
(قَالَتِ الثَّالِثَةُ) : زَوْجِي الْعَشَنَّقُ إِنْ أَنْطِقْ
[١٣٥]