University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XXXII.

Five days after, came Khemisah, Ibla's handmaiden,
to Antar (he was at his mother's). O my
lord, said she, be on your guard against your uncle
Malik and his son Amroo; be not deceived by
their words and promises, for he has broken his
engagements. Now just about that time a messenger
came to him from Hadifah and Rebia, desiring
him to entice Antar out to the lake of Zat-ul-irsad,
by professing great love and affection for
him. There we will suddenly surprise him, and
put him to death, and thus be relieved from his
persecutions. We will just give you some slight
wounds; so that when you return home, and King
Cais questions you about the circumstance, you
may say, some predatory horse surprised us; and
as we were intoxicated, they treated us as you see;
and thus you will remove this dishonour from your
daughter! I have learnt this, continued Khemisah,
from one of Rebia's slaves, called Maktoom, who
loves me with the most faithful attachment. He
communicated to me this plot. The maiden quitted
Antar, whilst he formed his conjectures about
what she had told him.

Now Rebia wrote to King Numan to inform him
about Harith, and that he was with the tribe of
Abs and Adnan, who had resolved to defend him
against the world, and that Antar had also given
him his protection. He also imparted to Malik,
Ibla's father, what he had done. Antar continued
in his doubts and his fears, till one day his cousin
Amroo came to him, saying, O Aboolfawaris, my
father invites you to a feast at the lake of Zatoolirsad.
On hearing this, Antar entered his tent,
and put on his most magnificent robes, under which
he still kept on his coat of mail and breastplate;
and as an additional precaution, in consequence of
Khemisah's warning, he also girded on his famed
Dhami; and Shiboob brought him Abjer. Antar
mounted, and, together with his brother, proceeded
to the lake of Zatoolirsad, where he found Malik
expecting him, and his slaves were standing in front
of him. He advanced, and received him kindly.
Antar thanked him; but they had not been seated
long, when they brought dinner, and afterwards
the wine; and in the course of conversation, said
Malik to Antar, I wish you would send to your
friends, and invite all your associates, as many as
you please, that we may decide on the marriage-feasts,
and complete all your wishes: it is my intention
not to leave out any one, high or low, but
to have them all at the banquet, there to clothe
the widows and orphans, that your name may be

celebrated: so do just what you please. Antar's
heart was comforted at these words, and his mind
felt quite at ease.

After this conversation they pushed about the
wine-goblets; the damsels sung, and the time passed
agreeably away, whilst Malik kept turning about to
the right and left; and, as he cast his eyes towards
the plains and the sand-hills, he continued coaxing
Antar, and making him drink, till Antar perceived
the slaves winking at each other: at this he was
roused, and on his guard; and Khemisah's words
were verified. Shiboob stood by him with Abjer's
bridle in his hand, sometimes keeping close to them,
sometimes walking round them, when lo!
he saw
the slaves encircling Antar, and Amroo clapping
his hand on his sword, waiting the signal from his
father. Shiboob set up the roar of a lion; Rise! rise,
son of my mother! he exclaimed; quit these foul
villains, for in their hearts are nought but intrigue
and guile. Antar started up; he drew his sword,
and was about to ply it among the slaves, when lo!
the horsemen of Fazarah appeared, headed by Hadifah
and Rebia, exclaiming, Rush on him on all
sides; make at him with spears and scimitars!
Antar on hearing this prepared to mount Abjer,
when cried out Malik to his son, Smite him with
the polished sword, and prevent him from mounting,
thou poltroon! Accordingly, Amroo struck Antar
about the waist, and cut through his clothes, and
reached the coat of mail, which we before mentioned;

so his attempt was foiled, and his expectations were
frustrated. Already was Antar on the back of Abjer;
he grasped his destructive spear, and made
towards the troopers, before they could attack him,
cursing his uncle, and upbraiding him. He met
the warriors, and Shiboob flew before him, like a
fawn; his bow was in his hand, and his quiver full
of arrows. Antar pierced their chests with his spear,
and Shiboob hurled them over with his shafts
through their eyeballs and their throats. As to
Jareer, he was quite frantic. Your projects, ye
sons of adultresses and whoremongers, have failed
in the chase of the devouring eagle, he exclaimed.

The day was nearly spent; but the obscurity did
not come on before Antar had overthrown the horsemen,
and had dispersed them; and the plain and
the desert seemed too confined for them; they felt
the blows and thrusts that hewed their armour: had
a lion heard them, he would have fallen or fled. The
warriors were scattered over the wastes, and they
felt assured of destruction and calamities. But Antar
overtook Hadifah, and as he was about to pierce
him with his spear, Shiboob anticipated him, and
smote Hadifah's horse with an arrow; he stumbled,
and Hadifah fell. Antar dashed at him, and struck
him the blow of high indignation, and cut through
the two coats of mail, which enveloped him with its
closely knitted rings, and the sword penetrated to
his joints. Quitting him, he rushed at Rebia, and
shouted at him; but he wheeled round in flight,

and endeavoured to avoid him, for, seeing his attacks
that terrified him, and his blows that made him
shudder, he cried out, What mean these assaults of
drunkards? these blows of intoxication? this slave
can never fight but death is at hand; and every
achievement becomes easy to him. And he sought
the tribe of Fazarah; and those who wished to
escape followed him; but those who remained Antar
left stretched upon the ground. Haml returned for
his brother, who was lying on the earth; he dismounted,
and fastening him on the back of his own
horse, carried him off, following Rebia, whilst Antar's
sword still played amongst those that lagged
behind. At last retiring, he thus exclaimed:

"See what the foe has done; but I am the conqueror
over every rebellious unlamented enemy.
I have a sword whose brilliancy flashes like lightning,
and when my hand wields it, it sparkles
like the shooting stars. I have a spear whose barb
exterminates the foe, and leaves him dead on the
dusty earth. Whoever wishes to meet me, to him
I exhibit death how easy, and life how difficult.
They wished to destroy me; but my firmly-grasped
sword is in my hand, and the genii of the
earth dread my blows. I am the Antar of horsemen
in the field of battle. I pounce down upon
the heroes, and they are satiated with my thrusts."

He then returned in quest of his uncle Malik
and his son at the lake; but he could find nothing
of them (the fact is, he determined first to bind up

his wounds, and then to confine Ibla, and absent
himself from the tribe). They must have returned
to the tents, said Shiboob, and to-morrow there will
be a deal of talking and disturbance. They set
out for the dwellings, and reposed till morning,
when Antar, being recovered from his intoxication,
sent for Shiboob, of whom he inquired what had
actually occurred. He accordingly detailed every
circumstance; in confirmation of which he also produced
his corslet, and lo! it was dyed in blood.
Just then came in Khemisa in haste; O Aboolfawaris,
said she, my mistress Ibla sends her compliments,
and informs you that her father and
brother have fled, vowing that they will never dwell
with the tribe whilst you are in the country.

The cause of this, and the disgrace of Ibla's father
was, that, having failed in his plan to destroy Antar,
he was ashamed to return to the tents and habitations.
Here we can no longer remain, said he to his
son; I am resolved to repair to King Numan, and demand
his assistance to soothe the sufferings I endure
from this slave-demon. I will also inform him, that
Harith is with the tribe of Abs, and that they have
protected him; and this deed will be the cause of
their total extirpation: and if Antar should be slain,
against whom we have laid so many snares, then
indeed all will end well; we will marry your sister
to some one, under whose benignity we may live,
and under whose awful influence we may be secure.
Away! continued he to his slaves, seek the pastures;

tell Ibla, that I am become a wretched wanderer in
the desert through fear of her infamy, and if she
wishes to preserve her honour inviolate from the
talk of the slanderers, let her seek refuge with my
brother Shedad, for there Antar will never presume
to wound her modesty. Upon this, he set out with
his son early in the night, and travelled with all
speed, on horseback; but the slaves returned, and
informed Ibla and her mother of what had passed.
I will not go, said Ibla, to the dwelling of my uncle:
I will not stir from my mother's side. I have no
suspicion of my cousin; for he will protect me from
both strangers and relations; and never shall I be
a captive whilst he resides among the tents. Having
reposed till morning, she desired Khemisa to go to
her cousin Antar's, as we have already observed.

Antar's heart burst; he felt as if his soul had
quitted his body; and whilst he was in a state of
profound melancholy, Oorwah and Harith visited
him, and as they bantered him for his being so retired,
he related what had occurred with the tribe
of Fazarah, and that Rebia had sent to inform
Numan of all that had passed; and, added he, between
him and us enmity and war must unavoidably
arise. As to King Numan, said Harith, trouble
not yourself about him; for if I hear that he is
marching against us, I will only take ten horsemen,
with whom I will set out, and destroy his armies
and camps. As to your uncle, O Aboolfawaris, it
would be better to seek him: take with you one of

King Cais's brothers; follow him, conciliate him,
and bring him back to the tribe on account of his
daughter; for some one thus says, "the sorrow is
relieved, and the pain diminished that inflames a
love-sick youth, particularly when he complains of
his misfortunes to a compassionate heart."

As Antar listened to Harith the tears gushed
from his eyes, and his phrenzy became more violent.
Just then entered a messenger from King Cais,
saying, O Aboolfawaris, my lord King Cais summons
you to his presence, for a messenger from
Hadifah is arrived, stating, that he has a grievous
complaint against you. Upon this Antar mounted,
and repaired to King Cais, before whom he dismounted,
and saluted him. O Aboolfawaris, said
Cais, what is the meaning of this affair? how could
you drink to such excess as to commit so outrageous
an act? O King, said Antar, what have I done to
deserve such a reproof? Hadifah's messenger has
just arrived, said Cais, and he states that in consequence
of your blows he has been nearly reduced to
an untimely death; and he has couched his message
thus—O Cais, I rode out one day with a hundred
of my noble horsemen, and my cousin Rebia was
also of the party. We passed your way, that we
might congratulate you on your safety, and make
our apologies for not joining your expedition, or
assisting you against the enemies that had rebelled
against you (the truth is, we had then a large body
of horse in Yemen, which is but just now returned

in safety). We went to make our compliments,
but Antar started up against us, when he was at
the lake of Zatoolirsad; he was intoxicated; he
slew my men, and overthrew my heroes, neither did
he desist till he met me. But I imagine that when
he saw me he was ashamed, for he instantly lifted
up his arm with his sword and struck me, intending
to murder me; and had not his uncle kept him off
from me he would have followed us even into our
country.—Great King, said Antar, by the truth
of him who rooted firm the lofty mountains, and has
the power of life and death, and makes the rain to
fall in his bounty and munificence, verily all this is
false; they only came to assist my uncle to destroy
me, and to shed my blood. And Antar related
every circumstance to the King, from beginning to
end, adding, My uncle has quitted the country, and
fled; there is no occasion for me to appeal against
them, for their enmity towards me has been evinced
a thousand times, and whenever my uncle appears
a little inclined towards me, Rebia communicates
with him, and estranges his heart from me: but as
to what they say about the party of horse in the
cities of Yemen, they tell the truth; for Hadifah
and Rebia, when they knew that I was gone to release
my nephew Hatal, sent after me one hundred
horsemen, promising them cattle in recompense for
my death. But Locait fell upon them, and slew
most of them. All this has befallen me, and I concealed
it from you, for fear they should say, Antar
commits violences and outrages; but I will soon
show them the consequences of tyranny and oppression
when the enemy returns and disgraces them.

King Cais easily distinguished the truth from the
falsehood; for he was now put into the direct,
straight-forward road. Return to Hadifah, said
Cais to the messenger, and tell him, Cais says, by
the faith of an Arab, there is no truth in thy words;
Antar is right, and his evidence unquestionable.
Moreover, every one that advises me to banish Antar
from the tribe only wishes my destruction, and annihilation,
for I am a man with many foes, and few allies.
How often has Antar rescued your wives and families
from infamy and disgrace; and moreover, I will
not interfere between Antar and the tribe of Fazarah,
for they have provoked him a thousand times.
Thus he sent back Hadifah's messenger, and took
Antar to the tents, where he learnt all his sorrows
and the outrages he had endured.

Antar had remained in this way five days, without
relishing his meals, or sleep, when Ibla and her
mother sent for him. Know, my cousin, said Ibla,
that your uncle and his son have turned their faces
to the desert and the wilds; it would be advisable
for you to go after them, and pursue their track,
for this has happened to them by the advice of
Rebia; so be kind to my father on my account.
Antar's heart was instantly calmed. Returning
home, he sent for Oorwah, and his father Shedad,
and summoned Harith, and his uncle Zakhmet-al-jewad,

to whom he related the conversation that had
passed with Ibla and her mother. I am resolved,
added he, to follow my uncle, when it is dark. I
will punish him for his conduct towards me in
thus listening to the advice of those accursed enemies.
I have only sent for you to ask your advice
on this point, and to recommend Ibla to your kindness,
for I fear my expedition will be long. As to
Ibla, said Shedad, she shall not stir from my dwellings,
and she shall be kept for you till your return.
See how it has turned out, just as I before mentioned,
said Harith; let us two go together. By the
faith of an Arab, said Oorwah, I will not remain
apart from you. I must be of your party, for when
you are away from the tribe, all the country is black
as night, in my eyes. Antar expressed his thanks,
they made every preparation, till the gloom of night
coming on, they mounted, having first drowned
themselves in armour, and mailed themselves in
corslets, and girded themselves with scimitars, and
slung their spears over their shoulders. Shiboob
went ahead, like a male ostrich, and when they
were at some distance, said Antar to Shiboob, Conduct
us by a road where we may meet neither friend
nor foe. Come then with me, said Shiboob, and
see the miracles I will perform; and when I have
brought you out of this land, I will arrange every
thing to your satisfaction. Thus they hastened over
the wilds and the sandhills, under the night, till they
came nigh to the land of the tribe of Aamir, where
Shiboob having concealed them, said to Antar, It
will be well for me to go forward, and bring you
some news. Away then, said Antar. Shiboob put
on the clothes of a pauper of Yemen, and set out
traversing the countries and plains, whilst they remained
in anxious expectation of his return all that
day and night, till the morning, when Shiboob appeared
like an ostrich, and with him a slave, as black
as a thunder-cloud, whom he was dragging along
with a rope round his neck, and when he stopped,
he shouted at him, and pulled him with all his force.
Antar was amazed; Who is this slave, Ebereah?
said he. This is the slave of Ramih, son of Sabah,
said Shiboob, and from him I have had some news
of your uncle and his son; he has informed me, that
they are with his master in torments, and disgrace,
and his master is the chief Ramih, the lord of the
tribe of Jibhan, and he is threatening them with
death, morning and evening; for when I quitted
you yesterday evening, I penetrated into the land of
the Aamirites, and there this slave met me, advancing
from the quarter of the valley of Zorood. Who
art thou, wandering in the obscurity of the dark
night? said he to me. Of the tribe of Aamir, said
I, and what dost thou want? Son of my aunt, I am
of the tribe of Jibhan, replied he, and my master
has sent me to Akhwedh, son of Giafer, and the
Brandisher of Spears, to congratulate them on the
fall of Malik, son of Carad, and his son, into troubles
and difficulties with my master Ramih; so that
they may come to him, and witness their death, for
they are their enemies. At hearing this my reason
fled, and my distress increased. Come along with
me, said I to him, that I may conduct you to the
tents of Akhwedh, son of Giafer, for he is my master.
So he went along with me, my hand locked in his,
whilst I continued to question him about the circumstances
of Malik and his son's accident, and kept
occupying his attention, till the wings of darkness
were spread out, when I gave him a cut over the
shoulder with my dagger, and having mastered him,
I bound him fast, and here he is. At this, Antar's
wrath was kindled into a burning flame. He went
up to the slave, Whence art thou coming? said he.
From the land of Aniziteen, my lord, replied he. And
how was it your master obtained possession of that
Absian and his son? asked Antar. Know, my lord,
added the slave, that my master, Ramih, was returning
from a feast, to which he had been invited, and
with him was his wife, Daad-ool-aamiriya, and also
a horseman called Abd Minah, who is the champion
of our country, and the knight of our tribe, and as
they came nigh home, they met this Absian and his
son, travelling over the sands; so he took them
prisoners, and returned to his own country, where
he chastised them in the severest manner, chaining
them up with the dogs. On this, Harith ran up
to the slave, and, raising his sword in his hand,
smote him, and severed his head from his body,
saying, O Aboolfawaris, it is my opinion, we should
traverse the land, and perhaps we may overtake your
uncle, and rescue him from torture; and I am convinced
that, after this affair, he will be like a slave
to thee. O Harith, said Antar, were I to perform
every act the tenderest friendship could imagine, it
would only increase his hatred and obstinacy; but
with me he has a powerful intercessor, and that is
his daughter Ibla, for whom my heart is cauterized,
and "she is the life that animates me, and for one
eye let a thousand eyes be protected."

They continued on the road towards the land of
Aniziteen, and Shiboob conducted them across the
wastes, followed by Antar and his comrades. As
Antar thought of what his enemies had made him
suffer, and how he had submitted to be subdued,
he thus recited:

"The revolutions of the world are easy to me;
its inhabitants are of no account to me, and they
are of little value. In every scene of war there
is a report of me; whenever they hear that
warriors were disgraced in it, I raise the dusty
storm, and the steeds charge, weighed down with
the indefatigable horsemen. I do deeds no one
else can do; were other horsemen to do so, they
would be exhausted. I consent to be degraded
among men. I respect them, but my death they
esteem lawful. I am patient, on account of my
beloved, though they outrage me. I cannot relinquish
my passion, but no pity do I find. Perhaps
fortune will favour me with possession; for

after the bitterness of absence, how sweet will be
enjoyment! I am the Antar of the Absians, and
my name fills the atmosphere, hill, and dale. I
thirst for the blows of the flaming sword, and the
brave are rendered infamous through me. I send
them back, and they fly light and swift, and complain
of the spear-thrusts of which they are
wearied."

Harith was much pleased at his expressions, and
his eloquence, and being much surprised at his
generosity, O Aboolfawaris, said he, had any part
of what has happened to you happened to me, I
should have slain my uncle, and every one that depended
on him. I should have plundered his property,
and have taken away his daughter, and made
his wife a captive. That, O Harith, is what I will
never do, said Antar, were I to drink of the cup of
death, for could they even make me quaff of perdition,
I can never do but what they please. I well
know that what is fated must come to pass. Thus
they travelled on over the wilds, till they reached
the haunt of lions, near which was the abode of the
tribe of Jibhan. Here they arrived about evening,
and, halting in a by-place, they began to consult.
Say not a word, said Shiboob, till I enter
among the tents, and see how many horsemen are
gone away from the tribe. O Shiboob, said Antar,
we are four of us, and we disregard numbers, great
or small, for victory is from God, and by the faith
of an Arab, no one shall enter the tents, but you and

I, for I am very desirous this time to see my uncle,
whilst he is suffering these tortures; perhaps it
may appease the fury in my heart. How can that
be? said Shiboob, you have such a particular way
with you, and I fear they may discover us, and
then we shall be killed, and we shall spoil all our
good luck. What say you, you base-born fellow?
said Antar; were the tribe as numerous as the sands
of the desert, I will not permit any one to touch you,
not an old one or a young one; and if the alarm
should be given, I will show you what you may
remember in your heart for ever. If it must be so,
said Shiboob, and you are resolved upon it, off then
with these arms; and Shiboob put him on a disguise,
and took him away to the haunt of lions, where they
cut two bundles of wood, which might be of use to
them in the adventure. Each took up a bundle and
proceeded. It was almost dark when they entered
the tents, through which they continued to pass,
attentively observing every thing, till they came to
the tents of Ramih, where they saw Malik, and his
son in extreme misery, tied up with the dogs. Behold
your uncle, said Shiboob, let your grief be now
assuaged. Antar threw his bundle of wood off his
head, and Shiboob did the same; but they did
not stop till Ramih, who was the chief of the
Jibhanians, came out, attended by a troop of slaves,
who laid out a sofa for him to sit on. He then
began to talk to his shepherds, who were parading
before him his horses and his cattle: and he inquired
of them about the pastures and the grain.
O my lord, said one of the slaves, I beheld a most
extraordinary sight this day; for whilst I was in
the valley of meadows, tending the flocks, I came
upon the high road, where, behold! was a knight
hunting the fawns. He was mounted on a black
steed, and in front of the knight was a man on foot
girded with an Arabian bow, and round his waist
was a quiver, full of arrows, and both were in pursuit
of a fawn, endeavouring to catch it. I stopped
to look at them, when lo! the man on foot outstripped
the knight. He seized the fawn by the left
horn, and the knight, catching it by its right horn,
and gazing in its face, thus in poetry exclaimed:

"Depart, and, ever in the protection of God,
may no evil e'er overtake thee! for thou resemblest
my love in her eyes, and her beauty, so depart in
security. Although thy form resembles the damsel,
no imagination can comprehend the virtues
of her mind."

As soon as the knight had finished his verses, my
lord, he let the fawn go out of his hand, and it went
off skipping over the barren waste, when soon two
more knights joined them. And what is there so
wonderful in all this? said Ramih; I suppose they
are of the tribe of Cahtan, and that the evening has
surprised them, and consequently they must repose
in my land, and will quit it in the morning. Antar
was much astonished at the fellow's having remembered
his verses (for it was he and Shiboob who

had chased the fawn). But Ibla's father, Malik,
having also overheard this account, was convinced
the man on foot must be the dusky Shiboob, and
the knight Antar, so he said to his son, Should this
be my nephew, on his way to release us from these
dreadful tortures, never will I again harbour evil
against him, never will I again listen to his foes.
It is long, that I am without news of my slave, that
I sent to Locait, said Ramih, addressing his slaves
and troops, that surrounded him, and I am very
anxious to put these two Absians to death; I am
quite tired of keeping them night and day. It will
be as well to wait, said one of his cousins, till they
come to enjoy the spectacle, so that they may not
blame you. Now Malik and his son heard this
discourse, and they felt sure of death and perdition;
but Antar and Shiboob were standing without,
each leaning against his bundle of wood, the night
covering them with its obscurity. Ramih having
terminated his discourse, arose to go to the tents,
and as he went by Malik and his son, he stood
over their heads, and beat them over their noses
with a whip, saying, May God curse the family
to which you belong, for you are full of perverseness
and iniquity, fellows of little generosity
and justice, ever celebrated for perfidy amongst
men, and falsehood is your clothing. Then addressing
Malik, he said, So thou art one of the Absian
sheiks, and a black slave has a thousand times done
thee kindness, and has rescued thy daughter from
captivity and disgrace, and he is Antar, son of
Shedad; thou hast also taken from him a splendid
dower in cattle, and hast affianced to him thy daughter;
but thou hast ever lied: may God curse that
hideous face of thine, and all thy infamous transactions!
I will indeed cast thy flesh to the dogs, for
thou art a lying sheikh: and Ramih went off to bed.
Antar raised up the bundle of wood, and flung it
on the fire; he drew his sharp scimitar, making
towards the dwelling where was his uncle, Malik.
Shiboob followed his example. The slaves, who had
charge of Malik and his son, were three; they were
stretched out in sleep. Antar put them to the
sword, and not one of them stirred. Shiboob
entered the habitation; he was like a great camel;
he broke off the fetters from Malik and his son,
saying, Take each of ye one of the swords of these
slaves, and trot on before me, that my brother may
defend ye with his sword, Dhami; be grateful for
his deed, and don't be niggardly of his bride, Ibla.
Accordingly, they did as he desired them, and
hastened away. But Antar, the illustrious warrior;
he stood near Ramih's tent, when lo! Ramih issued
forth, alarmed by the noise. Antar smote him, and
made his head fly from off his shoulders; then
followed his brother, terrified on his account. The
wood blazed, and the flames were furious, and the
fire was extending among the tents. The dogs
barked, and the warriors started forth, and they
were all horror-struck; every one drew his sword,
eager to discover what was the matter. The night
became bright as day, from the blaze of the fire,
whilst Shiboob continued to urge on Malik and his
son, and quickly passed through the tents. Antar
followed them, wielding his sword. They proceeded
into the desert, till terror fell on the inhabitants;
when Antar, his uncle Malik, and Amroo, having
mounted some of the scattered horses, Shiboob wished
them to seek the haunt of lions, and escape from this
terrible scene. But Oorwah and Harith joined them;
for having heard the alarm, they determined to assist
Antar, and accordingly brought his horse and
his arms. He put on his breastplate and his girdle,
he mounted his steed, and grasped his spear. Let
us begone, said he, whilst they are occupied about
the death of their chief.

And as they urged on their journey, Harith turned
towards Malik to abuse him, saying, Who is like
this noble lion, to whom every lion humbles himself
or flies? How then could you hate and avoid him by
flight? O Harith, cried Malik, I am a man whose
eyes have been in a swoon, and those ever err whose
errors are predestined by the God of old.

Malik dismounted, and, advancing towards Antar,
humbled himself before him, saying, By the faith
of a noble Arab, if I betray thee again, let me not
be a man, and let me not be akin to the tribe of Abs
and Adnan; for thou hast in this instance done a
deed we never can forget, and thou hast resuscitated
our lives after their extinction: comfort thy heart,

and let thy mind be at rest, for Ibla can suit no one
but thee.

At hearing this, Antar's sorrows were relieved,
and his afflictions were removed; he dismounted,
and having embraced his uncle, they traversed the
desert and the hills, till the obscurity was illumined,
when lo! some Jibhanian horsemen overtook them.
The cause of their arrival was, that when they heard
the alarm, every one rushed out of his tent, inquiring
what was the matter. The women told them what
had happened to Ramih; so they re-entered their
tents, and put on their arms, and galloped over the
wilds; and amongst them was the knight of Jibhan,
Abd Minah. He mounted with the other heroes,
and sought the lands of Abs and Adnan, hastening
over the wilds till they overtook Antar. O Ebe
'ool Ebyez, said Antar, perceiving that the horse
had overtaken them, take my uncle, and his son, and
Harith with you, and march over the desert whilst
I keep off the foe. No, by thy life, Aboolfawaris,
said Oorwah; we will not return but altogether;
so also said Harith: but his uncle Malik, when he
saw the troops making towards them with spears,
and swords, was dreadfully alarmed; O Aboolfawaris,
cried he, thou art our stay; 'tis thou must
ward off from us peril after peril; on such a day as
this I must remember thee.

Whilst they were thus talking, lo! another dust
arose from the quarter of the tribe of Darem, and
there appeared beneath it a troop of one hundred

horsemen, spear-armed, and headed by Locait, who
was coming to assuage his heart in the murder of
Malik and his son; and when they saw the Jibhanians,
they raised their shouts till they came up
with them, who acquainted Locait with what had
happened to their Chief Ramih, and told them how
Malik and his son had been released. This, said
Locait, must be the act of that cunning Shiboob;
for in the same manner he rescued Hatal, and then
they plundered my property, and slew our slaves;
but now they shall not escape me: attack them
boldly, but do not despise them on account of their
small number. Assault them with spears and swords,
and particularly if Harith be with them. Thus he
attacked with his men, and the desert was in commotion
with the glitter of spear-barbs: they slackened
their horses' bridles, whilst shouts and clamours
arose. It was a frightful scene for Malik and his
son; they both cried out in the name of Antar, and
they were in a dreadful plight.

Antar was quite overjoyed, for he felt assured his
uncle's perfidy was converted into sincerity; Which
wouldst thou prefer, said he to Oorwah, their right
or their left? or wouldst thou attack Locait? But
Harith urged on his steed, and made against Locait,
without noticing Antar, or speaking to him. Antar
marked his actions, and followed him much delighted
at his uncle's promises; and as he attacked, he thus
burst out—

"Rancour has quitted my uncle's heart; it has

vanished. When he saw what was just, he renounced
his malice: my heart rejoices in his words;
how should it not, when I see his actions? But
if he falsifies his promise, I will deliver him over
to Him who sees us, and who firmly rooted the
mountains. Away with the man, who, whenever
I humiliated myself to him, failed me, and grieved
me. On the day of the thrust of the spear, I am
to him the noblest of knights by my maternal and
paternal uncle; but when he is safe with his family,
I am the son of Zebeebah, the tender of
camels. O sword, be thou the judge between us;
when we are present in the battle, and when they
fly, and when the spear-thrust exhausts the foe,
tell them the messengers of death are here to multiply
the afflictions. What is passed, fate has determined;
and he who fights obtains glory. I am
the Antar of War in the day of contests; these are
my acts in pure truth."

As Oorwah assaulted and heard his verses, he was
amazed at his eloquence, as also were Malik, and
his son, who thought it necessary to engage in company
with him. Thus they attacked as the horsemen
came upon them in every direction. The shouts
mounted on high, and were loud; the brave became
proverbial; the spear-barb drank of the blood of
kidnies. Harith and Locait fought as no former
tyrants ever fought; whilst Antar dispersed the
horsemen over hill and dale, filling all hearts with
fear and dismay.

At the close of the day Antar had diminished
their numbers; and having left the Jibhanians
stretched out on the rocks and stones, he turned to
Harith, and saw him still with Locait, and the tribe
of Darem, engaged in a furious contest of fierce
spear-thrusts. They had slain his horse; he had
fallen to the ground. Locait shouted, and rushed
at him; but Antar, who saw this calamity, roared
and assailed like a shower of rain, when it deluges;
he sought Locait and Harith in the most determined
manner, dispersing the horsemen with his well-tempered
blade. Oorwah also rushed towards Locait,
and pierced him with his spear, penetrating his
thigh even to the horse's back, and halted near
Harith, till he had mounted him on one of the
scattered horses, and then attacked the remaining
Daremites. Remove this disgrace from me, my
cousins, and fly not, cried Locait; soon will I bind
up my wound, and return to the contest, and I will
not have it said we fled from only four men.

Upon that his horsemen resisted, and extended their
long spears: it was an hour to them that would turn
warriors grey. They continued in this state till the
day fled, and the night came on with its veil of obscurity;
then fled the horsemen of Darem, Antar
setting them on fire with unremitted thrusts. None
escaped but those whose deaths were postponed, or
whose bodies bore marks of Antar's spear.

Locait wished to persist in the combat, but he was
incapacitated by the anguish of his wounds: he was

safe personally, but in his heart was a raging flame
at having suffered this disgrace from five horsemen.

Antar retired, the blood trickling from his sleeves;
and his uncle could not cease praising him whilst he
traversed the desert. But Antar was not tranquil
or at ease till they came near to the land of Shoorebah
and Mount Saadi, bearing with them immense
property; for they had plundered every horde
through which they had passed; and just as they
were going to send on Shiboob before them to inform
the tribe of their approach, lo! one of King
Cais's slaves met them; O by the Arabs, he cried,
how lucky to meet you on the road! Antar was
startled: What more have you to say? he exclaimed.
What has brought you here? O Aboolfawaris, said
the slave, I am now in pursuit of you, for my lord
Cais has been much agitated since your departure;
the loss of you has distressed him. Your father told
him you were gone to seek your uncle, but did not
know whither you had directed your course. The
King was greatly afflicted, and despatched slaves
one after another, who returned all disappointed;
but I set out last night—No more of this talk, said
Antar; what news have you of my father Shedad,
and of the family of Carad? O Aboolfawaris, replied
the slave, the tribe of Abs is in the greatest
trouble and tribulation, on account of the rise of
dissensions, and the devastation of the country; for
you, my lord, know that Hadifah is a most perfidious
fellow; his head is full of absurdities, and he cannot

bear to see any one possessed of a he or a she
camel, particularly whilst that Rebia is with him,
instigating him with all his art and deceit: and now
too there is between Hadifah and my Lord Cais a
controversy and a wager about the speed of their
horses, and the people are alarmed at death and
misery.

Now it happened that when King Cais sent his
slaves after Antar, one of them returned and said,
My lord, as to Antar, I can hear nothing of him;
but on my way home, I passed by the land of the
tribe of Temeem, and I slept in the dwellings of a
clan called the tribe of Riyah, where I saw a colt
amongst the colts most remarkable for their beauty.
It belonged to a man called Jabir, son of Awef: my
eye never beheld the like of this colt, and never did
I mark one of equal velocity in the race-course.
Cais's heart was captivated at the account of this
colt, and his anxiety was very great. Now this colt
was one of the miracles of the age, and the most
beautiful animal the noble Arabs had ever brought
up. It was the most illustrious of all the Arab steeds
in birth and pedigree, for its sire was called Ocab
by the Arabs, and its dam Helwee, whose rapidity
the lightning even envied. Nations were enraptured
at her form, and the tribe of Riyah had long exulted
among the Arabs on account of this mare and stallion.
Now the sire of this colt was returning home
with Jabir's daughter by the side of a lake (it was
just then the time of meridian heat): it was there he

beheld the mare Helwee standing by her master's
tent: he neighed, and burst his halter. The damsel
was abashed, and let him go, and hastily took
refuge in one of the tents out of her extreme modesty
and bashfulness. There the stallion remained
till the damsel again came forth, and caught him by
the halter, and led him to the stable; but her father
seeing her disorder, that could not be concealed,
questioned her: so she told him what had passed.
At this, the sparks flashed from his eyes, for he was
an ill-conditioned fellow; and he immediately ran to
the middle of the dwellings, and raising up his turban,
cried out, O by Riyah, O by Riyah! and instantly
the Arabs collected round him, to whom he
related the whole affair, saying, My cousins, I will
not leave the seed of my horse in the womb of
Helwee, neither will I sell it for cattle or camels;
and if they will not let me extract the fœtus out of
her, I will commission some one to kill her. Come
on, do what you please, they all cried; for we will
not oppose you (now it was the custom of the Arabs
to act after this manner in those days). So they
brought him the mare, and tied her down before
him; he sprung up, and turning up his sleeves to
his shoulders, he brought a bowl of water, and
wetting his hand in the water, he mixed up some
clay, and thrust it up the mare's belly, with a view to
destroy what was originally ordained by God to exist.
But the mare became with foal without any harm, and
the fellow returned, his passion being now cooled.
And there was only wanting a few days of the year
when the mare brought forth a perfect colt; and as
the owner of the mare beheld it, he was greatly
pleased, and all his apprehensions were at an end.
He called it Dahis (thruster), in allusion to what
Jabir had done.

The colt turned out more beautiful than its sire,
Ocab; broad-chested, long-necked, hard-hoofed,
open-nostriled, its tail sweeping the ground, sweet-tempered,
and, in short, the most extraordinary
animal that ever was. They brought it up, and it
increased in size for a long space of time, and it became
like an arch of a palace, till one day its dam
going out to the lake, followed by its colt, Jabir,
the owner of Ocab, chanced to see it; he rushed
towards it, and carried it off, leaving its dam to bewail
its loss; and saying, at the same time, This is
my colt, and I have a greater right to it than any
one else.

The news soon reached its master, who immediately
assembled the chiefs of his tribe, and after
he had told them what had happened, they repaired
to Jabir, and reproached him, saying, O Jabir, you
had your will of your cousin's mare at first, and had
your due, and we decided that point for you. But
now you wish to seize his property and outrage him.
No more talk, said Jabir, none of your abuse; for,
by the faith of an Arab, I will not surrender it to
him till you put me to death, or take it from me by
force; and I will stir up a war against you. Now

the tribe was unwilling to excite dissensions. We
like you too much for that, said they, on account of
the kindred between us. We will not fight you for
it, were it even an idol of gold. Now the owner of
the mare and colt was called Kereem, son of Wahab,
a man peculiarly famed for his liberality and generosity
among the Arabs; and when he perceived
Jabir's obstinacy, O my cousin, said he, as to the
colt it is yours, and it belongs to you; and as to the
mare, here she is before you, and let her be a present
from me to you, in order that the colt and its dam
may not be separated; and let me not appear a person
capable of defrauding his cousin of his property.
He then turned away, and made over the colt and
its dam to Jabir. The tribe highly applauded his
action; but Jabir was so abashed at his kindness to
himself, that he returned the dam and colt back to
him, and with them a handsome string of he and she
camels. Dahis turned out a most perfect animal in
every respect; and when his master wished to race
him against another he rode him himself, and would
say to his antagonist, Precede me an arrow's shot,
that I may overtake you and pass you; and he not
only came up with him, but outstripped him far;
and to any one that saw him he appeared like an
arrow in its most rapid flight, or a star sped with
calamities. When Cais heard of this he was quite
beside himself, and he could not sleep. He sent to
its master, Kereem, saying, Sell me this colt for
whatever you choose of gold and silver, that I may
send it you without delay, and there be no room for
reproach. Kereem was highly incensed and indignant
at this message. Cais must be a dolt or an
ill-bred fellow, said he. What! does he suppose that
I am a merchant to sell my horses, or that I am
unable to ride this horse myself? By the faith of
an Arab, had he sent to request Dahis, as a present,
I would have sent it to him immediately, and with
him a string of he and she camels; but in the way
of traffic this can never be, were I even to be made
to drink of death.

The messenger returned to Cais, and told him
Kereem's answer, at which Cais was exceedingly
enraged. Am I the King of the tribes of Abs and
Adnan and Fazarah and Dibyan, said he, and shall
a foul Arab presume to contradict me? And he
called out to his men and warriors; instantly armour
and coats of mail sparkled, swords and helmets glittered,
the bold heroes mounted their hard-hoofed
steeds, they slung on their spears, and set out for
the land of the tribe of Riyah; and as soon as they
came nigh they rushed upon the pastures in the
morning, and carried off an immense quantity of
cattle, which Cais surrendered to his noble cousins.
After this he invaded the tents and dwellings, for
the inhabitants were perfectly unprepared for any
such catastrophe. Kereem also being absent on
some military excursion with his men and chiefs,
the Absians attacked the habitations, and captured
the wives and daughters. Now Dahis was tied

amongst the tent ropes, for Kereem never rode him
in battle, fearful of death, or some accident; and
one of the slaves, who was in the dwellings, happening
to perceive the invading host, went up to Dahis,
intending to burst the heel-ropes by which he was
tied; but he was totally unequal to that difficult task.
However he mounted him, tied as he was, and struck
his sides with his heels, and he flew away with the slave
in the excess of his high spirit, and continued springing
and skipping like a fawn till he reached the desert;
and though the Absian horsemen galloped after
him, they could not even overtake his dust. As
soon as Cais saw Dahis, he recognized him, and his
anxiety to possess him increased; he advanced towards
his rider, whilst his regret was exceedingly
violent, because he was aware that if he pursued
him he should never succeed in his hopes, however
eagerly he might follow him. The slave, being now
at some distance from the Absians, dismounted from
the horse, and having united the heel-ropes from his
feet, again mounted, King Cais still pursuing him;
and when he came nigh, Stop, O Arab, he cried,
you have my protection and security, by the faith
of a noble Arab! At this the slave halted. Have
you a mind to sell that horse? asked King Cais, for
you have fallen on a purchaser the most wistful of
all the Arab warriors. I will not sell him, my lord,
said the Arab, but for the restitution of all this
plunder; and it will reflect some honour on me that
I shall have made him of so much value and consequence.
I will buy him, Arab, of you, added
Cais, and here is my hand in confirmation of my
engagement and bargain. The slave instantly
agreed, and dismounting from the colt, delivered
it over to King Cais, who mounted in the fulfilment
of his hopes, ordering the Absians to restore the
cattle they had taken; and they did so, not detaining
even the value of a halter. Thus King Cais
possessed himself of the horse, and being overjoyed
at his success, returned home. As soon as they were
established, Cais, out of his great fondness for Dahis,
used to feed and rub him down with his own hands.
And soon the account of Dahis reached the tribe of
Fazarah; and in the heart of Rebia the flame of
envy was kindled. Hadifah also was in a similar
state, and they wished to contrive his death. My
opinion, said Rebia, is that you have patience for
some time, till Cais cool in his passion for him, for
he is now completely devoted to the horse[4] .