Page 918 of 1116

[FN#61] Lit. "he began to say (or speak) poetry," such

improvising being still common amongst the Badawin as I shall

afterwards note. And although Mohammed severely censured profane

poets, who "rove as bereft of their senses through every valley"

and were directly inspired by devils (Koran xxvi.), it is not a

little curious to note that he himself spoke in "Rajaz" (which

see) and that the four first Caliphs all "spoke poetry." In early

ages the verse would not be written, if written at all, till

after the maker's death. I translate "inshad" by "versifying" or

"repeating" or "reciting," leaving it doubtful if the composition

be or be not original. In places, however, it is clearly

improvised and then as a rule it is model doggrel.