بَطَلٍ كَأَنَّ ثِيَابَهُ فِي سَرْحَةٍ يُحْذَى نِعَالَ السِّبْتِ لَيْسَ بِتَوْأَمِ
He was a tall champion, as though his clothes hung upon a great tree; he wore sandals of well-cured leather, and was not one of twins.
Sarḥah is a large tree used to evoke imposing stature. Niʿāl al-sibt are sandals of prepared leather; laysa bi-tawʾam literally says he was not a twin. These details elevate the opponent’s standing and physique instead of treating him as insignificant.
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ʿAntarah ibn Shaddād: Cavalry Witnesses, Courage, Restraint and Duels (verses 43–56)
بَطَلٍ كَأَنَّ ثِيَابَهُ فِي سَرْحَةٍ يُحْذَى نِعَالَ السِّبْتِ لَيْسَ بِتَوْأَمِ
He was a tall champion, as though his clothes hung upon a great tree; he wore sandals of well-cured leather, and was not one of twins.
Sarḥah is a large tree used to evoke imposing stature. Niʿāl al-sibt are sandals of prepared leather; laysa bi-tawʾam literally says he was not a twin. These details elevate the opponent’s standing and physique instead of treating him as insignificant.