Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 9.djvu/272

256 And we made the earth burst forth in springs, and the waters met at a bidding already decreed.

But we bore him on the thing of planks and nails ; sailing on beneath our eyes, a reward for him who had been disbelieved !

And we left it a sign; — but is there any one who will mind ?

ʿÂd called the apostles liars, and how was my punishment and my warning ?

Verily, we sent on them a cold storm wind on a day of continuous ill-luck!

It reft men away as though they had been palm stumps torn up!

We have made the Qurʼân easy as a reminder — but is there any one who will mind ?

Thamûd called the warnings lies, and said, ‘ A mortal, one of us, alone, shall we follow him ? then indeed were we in error and excitement !

‘ Is the warning cast on him alone among us ? nay, he is an insolent liar !

‘ They shall know to-morrow about the insolent liar !

‘ Verily, we are about to send the she-camel as a trial for them, then watch them and have patience ! and inform them that the water is shared between them (and her); each draught shall be sought by turns.’

Then they called their companion, and he plied (a knife) and hamstrung her.

Then how was my punishment and my warning ? Verily, we sent against them one noise, and they were like the dry sticks of him who builds a fold.