University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XXXVII.

As to Harith, when he fled from the tribe of Fazarah,
he could find no asylum but at Mecca, for
there every wanderer was secure. There he remained,
and connected himself with his grandfather,
who was called Marah, son of Luvee. Now one
day when Antar was sitting alone in his tent, there
came to him a man from Mecca, one of the hermits
of the tribe of Abs that seldom quitted the sacred
shrine. Antar inquired of Harith. I saw him, said
he, in the sacred place established, eating and drinking,
enjoying the property he had plundered; but
in his heart there is a flame blazing against you. I
beheld in him what I never beheld in any human
being. What hast thou seen in him? said Antar.
My cousin, said he, Harith was one day walking
round the sacred shrine, his sword slung over his
shoulders, when a man called Amroo, son of Atnabah,
the Yathrabite, stared at him. He inquired who
he was? they told him it was Harith, son of Zalim.
How! this must be the man, said the Yathrabite,
who slew Khalid, son of Giafer, when he was asleep;
and is his murderer now alive? O Arab, cried Harith,
overhearing him, how art thou called among
horsemen? I am called Amroo, son of Atnabah.
Yathrab is my place of abode and birth, said he.

What mean you by your question? You have
abused me, said Harith, for murdering Khalid in
his sleep; perhaps I may meet you when you are
awake. Again the Yathrabite began to satirize
Harith in the following manner:

"O my friends, soothe me with pleasures, and
make me drink of the wine of enjoyment. Let
me hear the damsels strike the cymbals at the
time of joy and relaxation, when every new moon
sparkles before me, and every true lover passes
the evening with his mistress. I belong to a noble
tribe, but that is not my boast; their parentage
is known by the purity of their faith. My kindred
is a branch of the race of Adnan, brilliant and
resplendent with virtues. I am a knight, whom
the sword and lance obey when the spears are interwoven.
My companion and my aid in calamities
is my sword, whose edge I adore. Tell
Harith, son of Zalim, that I have spoken of him
the words of a true reporter, and that no one but
a coward kills a man asleep, and no one but a
hero can kill a man when awake."

When Amroo, son of Atnabah, had finished his
verses, he set out on his return to Medina Yathrab,
his heart boiling against Harith, for he dared not
lay his hand upon him in the sacred shrine. Harith,
learning from his spies and emissaries that
Amroo had quitted Mecca on his way to Medina,
followed him till Amroo entered his own dwelling.
Waiting till night, he repaired to his house, and
knocked at his door. Who art thou? said Amroo.

A suppliant for protection, said Harith. I will
protect thee, said Amroo, by the faith of an Arab,
were even Harith, son of Zalim, thy foe. If thou
wilt aid me, added Harith, come not forth but
merged in armour. Upon that, Amroo put on his
arms, and plunged himself into his coat of mail; but
his wife hung about him, saying, I smell blood in
the voice of this caller; but he tore himself away
from her, and paid no attention to her words. He
went forth to the suppliant, and followed him; and
when they had passed the palm-trees of Yathrab, O
Amroo, cried Harith, turning round upon him, I
am Harith, of whom you said he could only murder
the sleeping. Thou art prepared, awake, clad in
thy armour, and mounted on thy horse; now be on
thy guard. Amroo was astonished, but resolved to
fight him; he brandished his spear, and roared
and bellowed. Son of Zalim, verily thou hast acted
fairly, he cried, as he rushed at him. Harith met
him, and the two engaged under the veil of obscurity,
and continued to combat till the greatest part of the
night was passed. Being now tired and exhausted,
each stood apart from his antagonist; but Harith
had again recourse to his artifices and perfidy:
What say you, said he to Amroo, to cancelling the
contract and abandoning the contest? Sheath thy
sword, that I may also sheath mine. I heard your
verses concerning me at Mecca, where you abused
me for my conduct; they surprised me. I am desirous
therefore to reply to them. Amroo sheathed
his sword, and leaned against his spear, saying,
Well then, O Harith, let me hear what you have on
your mind. And Harith thus recited:

"Supply me, dearest friends, with pleasures, before
my situation becomes too severe. Let not
the railers glut themselves upon me, or see me a
prey to sorrow. I care not when I wake on
Tuesday whether they call me upright or a profligate.
Ever let me replenish the ewers with
excellent wine morning and evening. Moreover,
never have I betrayed my engagement to God in
my life; but a story from my enemies has reached
me that would make the heart forget the cruellest
disease, that no one but a coward slays a man
asleep, and no one slays one awake but a hero.
So I have traversed the deserts on my black steed,
resembling the obscurity of night, anxious to engage
in combat with the youth of Yathrab, that
virtue may not appear like vice. I visited him
when darkness had spread out its foot: he was
like a full moon in the cup of the Pleiades. I
challenged, and swift as a lion he welcomed me as
soon as he saw me. I challenged him, and I beheld
a hero mighty in the contest; a knight, at
whom knights might quake with horror when he
shakes swords or Semherian spears."

Amroo dismounted from his horse, and hastened
in the fullest security of mind to embrace him, and
to adjure him to enter Medina Yathrab with him.
But Harith, as he saw Amroo approaching him, extended
his arm, and opened wide his elbow, and
stretching forth his spear more rapid than lightning,

he pierced Amroo through the chest, and drove it
sparkling through his back, and hurled him down
dead. He ran at him; he carried away his horse,
and spoiling him of his arms, abandoned him cast
down on the desert.

When Antar heard this account of Harith, the
fire was kindled in his heart, and he placed spies and
scouts over him. But Harith, after he had slain
Amroo, and left him on the waste, returned to
Mecca, and sold Amroo's arms and horse in his
fears, saying to himself, There is nothing now to be
done but to go to Aswad, and request of him to
make peace between me and his brother King Numan,
and to secure his protection for me. He set
out in the night, and travelled on till he reached
Hirah, where he saw multitudes and armies like the
rolling ocean.

Now Prince Aswad, on being released by Abdulmotalleb,
repaired to his brother, to whom he related
what had happened to him with the Absians
and Antar, and the arrival of Abdulmotalleb, who
had adjusted the disputes between the tribes of Abs
and Fazarah. O my brother, he added, he is a wise
man, between whom and the Absians there is no altercation,
as long as Antar the violent death is
among them, for he fears not whole hosts, and no
power alarms him. As soon as he encountered us,
he only made one dash at us; he defeated us; he
made his way right through us; and there was not
one of us left in his senses. If matters are as you,
my brother, represent them, said Numan, consider

what must be done. By the faith of an Arab, added
he, I am aware of, and I have proved Antar's superior
intrepidity, and so has every army you have
sent against him and the Absians; for there was no
warrior that engaged him, the lord of battles, but
he discomfited him were he even attacked ten times
over. Verily, I have beheld in Antar what I never
saw in any mortal man before. If matters stand
thus, continued Numan, where shall we meet a warrior
that can cope with Antar in the field, and make
him drink of the cup of death? O my brother, replied
Aswad, if you are desirous of Antar's death,
there is no one but Harith, son of Zalim; for he
nears him in courage and resolution, and general
excellence, and in fraud and deceit he is the most
subtle of men. As to Harith, said Numan, who
knows where he is that we may send for him, and
offer him wealth and property? I will bring him to
you, said Aswad. Equip an army for him against
the Absians, and see what he will do; and every
one he may slay of them it will be so much gained
for you. Do whatever you please, my brother, said
Numan.

Aswad returned home, and found Harith in his
house, who sprang up towards him, and kissed his
hands. The prince, much pleased, and feeling assured
that Antar would at any rate be slain this
time, received him with every attention and kindness,
and told him what had passed with his brother.
Early next day Numan's messenger entered to
order Prince Aswad into his presence. Return, said

he, to my brother, and tell him I have a guest, and
he is afraid of him.

The messenger returned and told him, and Numan
gave him a mantle of security, with which the
messenger went back to the prince, saying, Your
brother sends his compliments, and says, Bring me
your guest; and if it be even Harith, son of Zalim,
this is a mantle of security. Upon this, Harith
started up together with the prince, and proceeded
to the presence of Numan, where they saw a numerous
assemblage of chiefs, and horsemen, and
warriors; and when Harith's eyes fell on Numan,
he kissed the ground in fear and terror: he kissed
his hand, piteously stating his apprehensions
and dread, and the grievances and evils he had
endured; and whilst they were eating, and the cups
of wine were circling among them, the conversation
fell upon the horsemen and warriors of the age;
they also mentioned Harith, and how he had by
stratagem contrived to wound Antar. O cousins,
said Numan, a man's subtlety and stratagem for
conquest are the perfection of the art of war; and
were not a knight to be subtle as well as expert in
arms, he would not be called brave, and he would
not be talked of by the heroes for his battles and
his contests. And as the turn came to Harith, Numan
continued, saying, Tell us something of your
treacheries and artifices. On condition, said he, that
you will permit me to relate what happened to me
the other day. Well, let us hear it, said Numan.

O king of the age, began Harith, know that the

knights of the age, men of faith, are seven, viz. Direed,
son of Samah; Amroo, son of Wad, the Aamirite;
Amroo, son of Maadi Kereb, the Zebeedian;
Zoolkhimar, the Himyarite; Aamir, son of Tofeil;
the Brandisher of Spears; and the Chief Antar, son
of Shedad. The impostors are also seven, viz. Cadmoos,
son of Majid; Marah, son of Abdulazee;
Jareer, son of Mubadir; the Knight Awis; Amroo,
the Kelbian; Saleek, son of Selikah; and he was
silent. And you are the seventh? said Numan. Yes,
said he.

And now, continued Numan, tell us some of your
perfidious acts, and what stratagem you lately practised.
O King, said Harith, my story is extraordinary,
and it ought to be recorded after my death.
It is thus: after my adventure with Antar, I left
the Fazareans, taking with me ten of the noble
Arab horsemen; and when we had travelled half
way, we stopped in a country called Mancabit ool
Mesalik; we became very hungry, so much so, that
we were reduced to infinite distress and perplexity,
when lo! we saw a hovel built of straw, and a small
tent pitched, at the entrance of which was a well-proportioned
spear, and a sword suspended, and a
horse saddled, and a youth of the dimensions of a
lion, cooking his victuals on the desert. We galloped
up to him; Young man, said we, is there any
Arab horde near you? The youth raised up his
head, and smiling at us, said, Why ask ye for villages
and hordes? These victuals are enough.
Know, O Arabs, victuals were only formed to be

eaten, and property was only created to be spent.
Liberal men are only esteemed by the wise; and the
niggard is only fit to be killed: and ye are now entitled
to honour and every attention.

When, O King, we heard this, we were surprised
at the elegance of his mind: he immediately entered
the tent, and returned bringing with him a large dish
full of camel's milk, and mixed with the honey of
bees cooled in the wind; and we drank of something
sweeter than the purest water. We then let our
horses loose to graze, and sat down.

As we were examining the young man's tent, and
his arms, and his armour, and were wondering at his
solitary life in the barren waste, I happened to turn
round; my eyes fell on a damsel more lovely than
the refulgent sun. Look, said I to my comrades,
at that damsel, who is linked to the seat of my reason
and my heart. She must be mine, were even
this youth to give me to eat all the bread and salt
in the universe. We therefore laid our plans to
violate his faith, and to destroy his life; and whilst
he was cooking victuals for us till all was ready, we
were meditating villany and perfidy.

At last the youth entered the tent, and brought
out a great quantity of Indian corn, which he put
into a dish, and mixing it up with some meat and
wine, he took up the dish by the handles, and placed
it before us, saying, Advance, noble Arabs, come
on; here are some victuals. So we ate till we were
satisfied, and the youth stood waiting on us. And
when he was about to take away the dish, I said,

What is this damsel to you? What mean you by
that question? replied he. Know, O youth, I added,
that your property is sacred to us, but we are a gang
of Arab depredators, who admit of no faith; we
acknowledge no sect; and every one that receives
us kindly, we outrage. But as to you, we will spare
you on account of your hospitality, as we have eaten
your victuals. Take whatever horse you please of
ours, escape, and leave the damsel, and your horse,
and your tent, and say no more about it.

At hearing this, the light became dark in the eyes
of the youth. This damsel, said he, who is in the
tent, is my sister; and out of my great anxiety about
her, I have secluded myself in this barren waste;
but between you and me, there is a sacred respect
and engagement, as you have eaten and drunk with
me; and I wish you would leave us in peace. Know
then, youth, said I, I must carry away this damsel
and horse, were they even surrounded by a thousand
of the noblest heroes: make no more noise about it,
or I shall leave some food for the beasts and birds
of prey. If it be so, said the youth, and you will
not quit this desert, wait a little for me, that I may
bid my sister farewell, and give her my last exhortation.
That you may do, said I. And he repaired
to his sister, and found her in tears, as she thus
spoke:

"Never be the day that the troops mounted on
roan steeds should see us prisoners. They desire thy
death, my brother, maliciously; before this never
knew I of sorrow or guilt. Fight then for thy

sister, who depends on thee; thou art her brother,
thou art her father. Let not these wretches possess
themselves of my person, or seize me by force,
whilst I am with thee; for shame would fall on
thee, son of my father, and the horsemen and
west would reproach thee. Fear not death, sped
by the hand of man: no one dreads it but a heartless
coward."

When the youth heard his sister speak thus, O
King, he repeated these verses:

"Take thy farewell of me, O maiden, before I die;
aid me with thy prayers against the foe. Perhaps
the Creator of heaven and earth may preserve
thy brother from death. A perfidious party
has fallen upon us; in them there is no warmth
of heart to pity thy sorrows. They have broken
the sacred rights of hospitality; they have betrayed
us, and they consider as lawful my blood,
and the dishonour of thy protector. Follow me,
and behold my exploits, when the steeds charge,
assaulting thy dwelling; weep for me with the
sorrowing matrons, should I, after my combat, be
left dead. And when the dove mourns on the
Erak, O dove of the Erak, then aid me with thy
plaints. O daughter of Aamir, if they give me
fair play in the contest, I will destroy them for
love of thee; but if the party outrage me,
and play me foul in the fight, my life will be
thy ransom. Alas! alas! should I die in my
transport, and the foe, when thy protector is no
more, take thee captive, O send my adieu to my

he was grieved and distressed. O Khalid, said he,
what thou hast done is wrong; had I been with
thee, by the faith of an Arab, I would not have left
a head or tail of them; for when a man undertakes
an affair, he should finish it, and should not leave
any thing to be done.

Cousin, said Khalid, I was afraid the same misfortune
would befal me as King Zoheir. But now,
he added, I wish you would execute an act that
will make you renowned indeed. Take with you
one thousand horsemen, and proceed to the defiles
between us and Yemen: conceal yourself there till
Antar returns, and do with him as I have already
done with Zoheir, for I have heard that Antar is in
the land of Yemen, and with him a party of horse
that despise the calamities of the times. If you can
slay them, we shall succeed in all our attempts, and
by killing them, we shall destroy the strong defence
of the Absians.

When Gheshm heard Khalid's advice, his pride
and vanity were shocked, and he was greatly annoyed,
for he was a puissant horseman, and a stout
hardy warrior. Hast thou not found for me any
greater honour, said he to Khalid, than to detach
me against a baseborn slave? Let me protect our
property and families. I will assemble for them
the troops and the heroes; go thou thyself on this
expedition thou hast planned, and relieve me from
the life of Antar. He then despatched horsemen
in every direction, and ordered every one to assemble

who had blood or vengeance against the
Absians. In three days Khalid had equipped one
thousand brave horsemen, amongst whom were
Jandah and Rebia, son of Ocail, with whom he set
out towards the defiles, saying to his cousins, We
are engaged in an affair whose knot cannot be well
tied, till we have completed it, and have executed
the most difficult part of it. We have indeed cut
off the serpent's head, but the tail remains.

The defiles where Khalid was going were on the
road by which every traveller must pass, and the
Arabs called them the defiles of Mesarih. Khalid
had taken to himself King Zoheir's horse Caasa,
and made it his own charger, and also his sword
Zeenoor. They continued their march till they
reached the defiles, where he halted with his party
in the meadows and ravines. Now, as to Aboolfawaris
Antar, he set out with Asyed and his son
Nazih, as we before mentioned, and entered the
land of Yemen, in order to rescue Selma, Asyed's
wife, and to assist his son, Nazih with respect to
Dhymia, the daughter of Obad. They continued
traversing the wastes till they came night unto the
land of the tribe of Cayan. But Nazih perceiving
on a sudden birds flying about and scimitars flashing,
shouts and battles, and armies and camps,
Alas! said he to his comrades, we have fallen on
what we did not expect. Compose your heart and
brighten your eye, said Antar; proceed on forward
with your party, and ascertain what is the matter,

that we may take measures accordingly. Nazih
slackened his bridle, and galloped up to the tents of
the tribe of Cayan, where were the women in the
greatest affliction, and the young damsels in tears.
He beheld his chief Obad, and he was one mass
of wounds. Dhymia was weeping among the women,
and still exciting the horsemen to the combat,
and rallying the troops to face the contest. At the
sight of his mother Selma, he was quite distracted,
as she was crying out: O my son Nazih, from what
quarter can I call thee? and in what land shall I
meet thee? Congratulate yourself, exclaimed Nazih,
advancing towards Obad, victory and conquest are at
hand; but what's this misfortune? O my son, he
replied, are we involved in this calamity, and you
among the living still? Where have you been, and
what has happened to you and to your comrades?
O my lord, said Nazih, mine is too long a tale to
relate now; but inform me what has happened to
you, and congratulate yourself on the fulfilment of
every hope. For with me are horsemen, were they
to assault the ocean, they would disperse its waves;
were they to strike the mountains, they would rend
open their sides. But who are these foes? O my
son, said Obad, after your departure from hence,
Nacmah, son of Ashter, King of the land of Sawdah
and the mountain of Ghemam, sent and demanded
my daughter Dhymia in marriage, but I refused her,
and rejected his suit, sending back his messenger
in despair. He repeated his offer, but I still denied
him, till his rage and indignation became excessive,
and he ordered against me his armies, with his son
Kelboon, and a contest took place between us.

Nazih listened, and the light became dark in his
eyes; he hastened back to Antar, and told him
what had happened. But Antar soothed his heart,
and dividing his troops into three bodies, ordered
them to make a general assault. Oorwah and his
men he stationed on the right, and Nazih and a
hundred men to the left, and he himself stood with
a hundred horsemen in the centre. Asyed also
stopped on a rising ground with ten horsemen, resolved
also to fight; but Antar would not permit him:
This is not right, said he, think not of exposing
yourself among this tribe of dogs; stand firm at
your post with this standard, that our foes may
know we have also a knight-chief. Antar shouted
out to the Absians, and leading the attack, thus
expressed himself:

"When the dawn shines from the east, and the
birds sing and mourn on the entangled trees, my
sword flutters in my scabbard, and cries out that
it longs for the contest. My spear quivers when it
sees the experienced warriors brandish their lances.
My horse aids me on the day of the spear-thrust;
when it moves, the winds even are dead. Behold
a true-hearted warrior, when the horsemen see him
they fling away their arms. O cup-bearer of death,
prepare the glass for us, for I am resolved on departure.
Give us to drink nought but the drops

of blood, when the people drink of water and
wine! Let the skulls be our apples, and spears
in the battle our fragrant flowers! Sing to my
distracted heart of my love for the beauteous Ibla,
adorned with jewels. Be patient under the dark
shadows of the battle and the harsh din of the
combat, if thou art enamoured of lovely woman.
I am Antar, like the lion of the tomb, I destroy
enemies with the blow of my scimitar!"

As soon as Antar had finished his verses, he received
the whole tribe of Arcat as the parched earth
receives the first of the rain, with blows that would
cleave a rock, and blind the vision, and stupefy the
senses. The tribe of Arcat was the most potent of
all the tribes of the land of Yemen, so also was
their king pre-eminent above all the kings of those
regions, the most arrogant and most powerful of all
their ignorant and blasphemous race; addicted to
debauchery among the maidens and the matrons
of Arabia, for whom beldams in his employment
searched amongst the tribes, and whenever they
happened to find a beautiful maiden or lovely
damsel, they came to him and informed him; then
would he send to her father to demand her in marriage,
and if her father assented, it was all well; but
if he refused, Nacmah would mount against him
with his armies and his bravoes, and would subdue
him with the sword-blow and the spear-thrusts, and
seizing her by force, he would keep her as his slave,
till he should hear of some other, when he would

make her over to his servants, and take another,
with whom he would act as with the first. About
this time he heard of the beauty of Dhymia, the
daughter of Obad, and he sent to make his proposals,
as we mentioned. But Obad sent his messenger
disappointed away, saying, I will not marry
my daughter to an ignorant tyrant.

As soon as Nacmah heard this reply, he was in a
violent rage. He forgot it for a short time, and repeated
his message, but still Obad rejected him.
Now, said Nacmah, I must reduce him to disgrace,
and subdue him by force, and he instantly sent for
his son, whose name was Kelboon, a brave man,
and a sturdy warrior; him he ordered to mount,
and proceed against the tribe of Cayan, and bring
with him his beloved Dhymia. His son Kelboon
obeyed his orders and mounted, speeding to the
tribe of Cayan; when he arrived, he attacked them
without any excuse, or previous notice, or explanation:
for the tribe of Arcat acknowledged no law
or compact; they worshipped the moon, and prostrated
themselves before it when new, and when at
the full, at its renewal, and its completion; and on
the fourteenth night they demanded of it all their
wants and exigencies, renouncing him who spread
out the earth and raised up the skies. In every
month they had a festival, and they rejoiced at the
rise of the new moon. Kelboon plied among the
tribe of Cayan the blow of the deadly sword without
any cause assigned, or previous warning. The

earnage lasted three days; but on the fourth day
arrived Antar, and Nazih, and Asyed, and found
the tribe of Cayan reduced to great straits and
difficulties, all huddled together in their tents, and
disasters were falling heavy on them.

Antar divided his troops into three corps: they
rushed upon the encampment, and trampled down
the foe from every quarter; for Antar's rage and
fury were at their height. He shouted at the horsemen
of Arcat—he dispersed them—he drowned
them in their own blood—he mangled the foe as he
cut through them—he gored their breasts with his
spear—he crushed their ribs—he dragged forth
their lives—he spoiled them of their existence—he
dyed their carcasses in blood, and painted them
with gore—he dashed down their skulls, and tossed
them about—he vociferated at the foe, and the Absians
answered to his shout. The enemy were only
anxious to escape by flight, for the tribe of Arcat
saw death was come upon them, and they fled.
Antar's yell was heard again, and the whole country
was in convulsions. Then retreated the tribe of
Arcat from the tents, as they still saw horsemen
gathering upon them, and warriors assailing them:
back they turned, but death was ever before their
eyes. They dispersed like wild beasts, every one
felt the certainty of his fate; to every one this truth
was unquestionably manifested.

Their Chief Kelboon was stationed beyond the
field of battle and carnage, and with him a body of

warriors. He was expecting the prisoners to be
brought to him, for he had seen the party of Absians
when they attacked and plunged into the fight,
but he despised them on account of their inferior
numbers. He knew not they were the horsemen of
fate, and of instant death. But when he perceived
his comrades scattered right and left, he shuddered,
crying out at them, What means this abandonment
of the contest? He himself then attacked the Absians,
and he found in them warriors who regarded
not wealth, who wished not for life, who never
thought of flight, who feared not the storm of fire,
but whose assault was like the assault of hungry
lions, and whose spear-thrusts pierced the breasts
and the ribs. Then was the calamity frightful, and
awful the catastrophe. The arrows of destruction
were sped, and the warriors shrunk away terrified
at death, and at the circling cups of perdition, and
the furious steeds of annihilation. Some rushed
upon their fate, some sought safety in flight. They
demanded succour of Kelboon. We advise you,
cried they, to fly, before this knight comes down
upon you, and tears off your head from your shoulders.
He was highly indignant at such a suggestion,
and sparks of fire shot from his eyes. He
drew his sword, and smote his companions; five of
them he slew. Eh! he cried, what is there more
intolerable than this? How? what? can a thousand
horsemen of Arcat fly from one hundred only, many
of whom are slain too? By the truth of the rays of
the new moon and the full, and by the night when
it is dark and obscure, I will show you what I will
do with this horseman; and he darted from beneath
the standards, and with him five hundred men,
brave warriors, in whom he could confide, and every
one almost his equal in skill at arms.

When Antar had eased his fury, and routed all
that came before him, he turned towards his heroic
Absians, and saw them fiercely engaged with two
thousand horsemen: he was alarmed for his comrades,
on account of those fellows who rolled on like
the salt sea. He was also much afraid for Nazih,
and these circumstances creating great disquietude
in his mind, he sent them out of his hundred men
thirty horsemen, and then galloped forward with the
remaining seventy, to seek the King's son's standard,
whom he observed hastening towards him, attended
by his five hundred; and as he approached
Antar, Advance, he cried to his people, towards
this demon, and ask him of what Arab tribe he is
So they charged upon him; but one anticipated the
rest, and he was a spear-armed warrior. What Arab
art thou? cried he; whence comest thou, frantic as
thou seemest? But Antar, though he heard this
speech, condescended not to reply. He attacked
him, and made at him; he pierced him through the
chest, and hurled him over. He also slew the one
who came up next, and again sent to join them a
third brother, goring the remainder with thrusts in

their sides, till they retired on their rear, and hurried
towards Kelboon to demand his assistance.

When Kelboon saw this dreadful event, he rushed
upon Antar. He galloped, charged, and assaulted;
soon laboured amongst them the blow, and the
thrust from the sword and the spear. At this moment
the thousand opposed to Nazih were routed,
for Antar's reinforcement reached him in good time,
and strengthened his courage and resolution. We
have already mentioned all he felt in his heart for
his dear Dhymia. So he scattered heads like balls,
and hands like leaves of trees, and by mid-day he
had dispersed them over the barren waste. Next
were repulsed the troops that were opposed to Oorwah;
they too were dispersed over the land, death
and destruction came upon them.

Now then, cried Obad to his tribe, now congratulate
yourselves on victory, in the arrival of your
Knight Nazih, accompanied by this Absian party.
Now turn again upon the foe with firm purpose, and
protect your women from every foreign invader.

All the horsemen gave an universal shout, and
the freeborn and the slaves attacked, and made
great havoc and slaughter. The sword ceased not
to act, nor blood to flow, nor men to fight, nor the
flame of battle to rage, till the tribe of Arcat was
completely cut up, when Nazih and his comrades
sought the tents with Oorwah, where they were all
crowded together; and thus they continued their

work of death. But Antar and Kelboon were occupied
in the thrust, and the assault, and the skull-cleaving
blow.

Antar, being anxious speedily to conclude this
difficult affair, pretended being exhausted. This
increased Kelboon's fury, and he thrust at him with
his spear, in the hope of annihilating him. Antar
waited patiently till the spear came close to his
chest, when he shivered it with his sword, and
rushing upon Kelboon, struck him on the side of
the neck, and his sword issued quivering through
the joints. Upon this the tribe of Arcat assailed
Antar from all sides, shouting, Alas! alas! Kelboon!
But Antar also cried out to his men, and
he encountered them, piercing their chests and their
eyes, and making their blood stream down with his
spear. Asyed perceived him; the pride of glory
was roused in him; his joy and delight were complete,
and seeing that the business was now rendered
easy, he attacked with the remaining horsemen, and
plunged among the foe with his sword and spear.
Now fled the tribe of Arcat, and Antar in pursuit
like an overwhelming destruction, the blood trickling
from his scimitar and lance.

Shiboob caught up the head of Kelboon, and
stuck it on a tall spear, and ran on till he came
near the tribe of Arcat. For whom would ye now
remain to fight? he exclaimed; Behold the head
of your Chief Kelboon! With that he mounted the
head on high towards them, and when they recognised

it they dispersed over the wastes and the wilds.
And God made security succeed to fears with the
tribe of Cayan. They all dismounted before Antar,
and walked towards him. Nazih also dismounted,
and pressed Obad to mount, but he refused, saying,
O my son, who are these noble people? My Lord,
said Nazih, these are of the tribe of Abs, whom the
Arabs call the Knights of death and instant destruction,
and the cause of my acquaintance with them
is an extraordinary event; for their Prince is my
father, and their parentage is mine.

Thus he related to him all that had happened
to him on his expedition. Obad was exceedingly
surprised: By the faith of an Arab, said he, this is
indeed a story unequalled in the world; and truly I
hated the Absians on account of what my father
told me of them, but now, my son, it is incumbent
on us that our men become their slaves, and our
women their handmaidens; but which of them is
your father? Nazih pointed to Asyed—he who
has the standard over his head, he replied; the lord
of the embroidered robe. Obad ran eagerly up to
Asyed, and kissed his foot in the stirrup: Had I
known this youth, who is among us, I would have
made him lord over the tribe of Cayan; but He who
is unseen is wonderful, and is the Author of all
things. You alone deserve well of me and my companions,
replied Asyed, kissing his head, and we
must partake in all your disgraces and your honours;
and had we done for you two-fold of what we have

effected, we could not have requited you for your
acts in educating my son among the Arabs; but we
request of you to marry him to your daughter
Dhymia, that we may be allied and connected, for
you are an eminent chieftain, and we are the princes
of the Arabs; and all of us are men of high renown
and degree. One like me, returned Obad, expressing
his obedience, must be honoured with such good
fortune. Asyed thanked him.

Now when they came nigh to the dwellings, the
women and slaves met them. Nazih's mother had
heard of her son's return, and observed him engaged
with the enemy. She could scarcely believe he was
come back. She kissed him, and inquired how he
was. He acquainted her with his having discovered
his father. The Almighty God has restored him
to us; a tribe of Absians is come with me, and it is
by them that this affliction has been removed. Then
was her joy increased, and all sorrow and grief
were dead within her heart. She looked upon her
husband Asyed, and immediately recognising him,
she walked up to him, and tendered her services;
and when he saw her, he dismounted and embraced
her. Every one of them was now united to his
friends; they wept and talked over the horrors they
had endured, and wept again.

Before evening the tribe of Abs had pitched their
tents, and wine and meat were served up to them.
The tribe of Cayan treated them very hospitably,
and in the morning some slaves came from Obad to

Asyed with generous steeds, and horses, and spears,
and scimitars; he also sent to Nazih's mother fifty
party-coloured robes, and also fifty maidens, bearing
valuable jewels in their hands; and before the day
was passed and the night came on in obscurity, Nazih's
mother had absolute command over the tribe
of Cayan, after all the afflictions and ignominy she
had suffered among them. Soon after Asyed prepared
a magnificent entertainment, and assembled
all the tribe and families. The tribes of Abs and
Cayan made obeisance to Antar, and thanked him
for what he had done present or absent. The
feast lasted three days, and then Asyed requested
Obad to marry his daughter to his son; he assented.
My daughter will indeed execute her part, said he,
but my heart is under severe apprehensions on account
of this tyrant whose son you have slain; for
I am well aware the flame will not be quenohed in
him, and he will not submit; and as soon as the
fugitives arrive, and notify his son's death, he will
march against us with incalculable numbers, for his
armies are like the seas, and his country is the most
savage of countries; and if he comes he will leave
our habitations a desert wild. O Obad, said Antar,
we will not quit this country till we have bound this
tyrant by the neck for you, and I will make every
one in the whole country subject to you. So enjoy
your present happiness, and let it not be tainted
with sorrow, whilst I go with one hundred men and
annihilate Nacmah, son of Ashter, for not one will
I leave alive of his tribe. O Aboolfawaris, exclaimed
Obad, in amazement at Antar's expressions,
these are not like the people you have hitherto engaged;
their country is most extensive, and they
are as numerous as the sands. I had better write
to my confederates. Let us all march together to
the mountain of the Volcano; there let us exert
our endeavours to extirpate this monster; for if he
demands the ransom of his son, he must prevail.
What say you, Obad? said Antar: by the truth of
Him who created mankind, and infused life into our
bodies, I will not march but with two hundred
horsemen of the tribe of Carad, and no one shall
accompany me but Oorwah and my father Shedad,
let them be as numerous as Themood and Aad.
Heaven protect us! ejaculated Asyed and Obad.
At such imprecations they were stupefied, and no
one could venture a reply. At last, said Asyed, O
knight of the age, verily thou hast sworn by an oath
that was not required; and if indeed we are able to
accomplish this, we will not acquiesce in thy proposal.
But, O my cousin, if it must be so, let it
be; do as thou wilt; march to-morrow, and we will
join thee in two or three days, for we cannot permit
thee to enter a country of which thou art ignorant
with this small body. It is for thee to command,
said Antar, but I had much rather execute this
business without them; and I trust you will not
join me till I have performed my engagement. This
passed in the evening, and the people retired to their
tents. As soon as the darkness had passed away,
Antar sent Shiboob for his father Shedad, and
Oorwah, and selecting from the Absians two hundred
horsemen, he bade adieu to Asyed and Nazih, traversing
the plains and the deserts; and when Antar
was alone, he thought of Ibla. It was now a long
time that he had not seen her in his sleep, at which
he was nearly dead through grief; he was exceedingly
distressed, and in his passion he thus spoke:

"My virtues are enemies to the world, and my
actions are faults and disgraces. My lot is eternal
separation from my love, but the lot of others is
to approach her. Every day the world renews its
reproaches on account of my fondness, and I have
no physician for my body. The world is enamoured
of my mistress, as if I were its rival. If my imagination,
O Ibla, has deceived me, let my heart
die insulted, for death is sweeter to me than life,
when it is my beloved that oppresses me. How
can I go or pass the deserts, when the west and the
south winds contend to check me? O breeze of
Hidjaz, if thou dost not quench the fire of my
heart, my frame must melt with the heat. Truly
the dove mourns on the bough, and its plaints
and murmurs distress me; it remains wailing its
separation from its mate, and laments itself as a
lonely stranger. But I pour forth sighs from my
burthened heart, that even the most wretched cries
at it, `Heaven protect me!' O dove of the bough,
if thou wert like me, thou wouldst not rest under

the green branches. Leave their love and passion
for the real lover, whose heart is ever in torment,
whom fortune punishes every day, when any one
addresses him. O anguish interminable! O calamity
that will never cease! Ask the herald concerning
me. O Ibla, ask the brave man, grown
gray in battle. He will tell thee, that on the edge
of my sword sits the king of death, ever present
and never absent. My spear, on the day of thrusts,
knows me. Ask it then, what will joy thy heart,
how many warriors approached me, each crying
out, O by my tribe, I am a noble hero! but he
never returned, but he bit the ground, and his
garments were rent from him. My sword laughs
in my hand, but in another's grasp it would weep.
In the dark shadow of my spear is my parentage;
and my black complexion, when it is questioned,
gives the reply. It protects me in the day of spear-thrusts,
as one noble-born defends his fellow. They
forbid me from drinking cups of wine, with damsels
scented with musk and perfumes; they compel
me to hold up the skirt of glory, what even the
contemptible coward would renounce."

As soon as Antar had finished his verses, his
father's heart pitied him, and compassionated his
situation, and so also did Oorwah and his people.
They urged on their march, till they reached the
land of the tribe of Arcat. As to Nacmah, after he
had despatched his son, Kelboon, he remained expecting
news of him, and hoping that he would soon

return with Dhymia, Obad's daughter, but he was
not aware that fortune had belied her former habits
with him, and had, instead of her, sent Antar.
Thus it continued with him, till the fugitives arrived
and announced his son's death. Accursed! ye
wretches! he roared out, ye went with seven thousand
horsemen, and has this calamity befallen you
at the hands of the tribe of Cayan? And have ye
left my son dead on the desert? My lord, one
named Masrook ventured to say, by your life, this
did not come upon us from the tribe of Cayan. We
had nearly effected their destruction, and had driven
them to their tents, but three hundred horsemen of
Hidjaz rushed upon us, on whose spears sat death,
and with them was a black knight like a thundercloud;
he understood no address; he made no reply;
but he thrust his spear through chests and ribs; he
wrenched out eyes, tore out entrails, and repelled
affliction from the tribe of Cayan, and he gored us
in our rear, till he drove us far away, and I should
say that he was even now at our heels. Nacmah
permitted him not to finish his tale, before he smote
him with his sword, and off flew his head. Bring
before me these fugitives, he cried to his attendants,
and they accordingly seized them, and dragged them
before him, and he struck off their heads till the
strength of both his arms was exhausted. Now he
had a brother whose name was Niamet, and when he
saw his brother's outrageous conduct, he advanced
towards him; he took the sword out of his hand,
and calmed his rage and fury. This Niamet was
the reverse of his brother, he was a kind-hearted
man, and one to whom people referred in their
troubles; hating oppression and violence. He was
ever checking his brother, and requesting him to
abstain from his hateful acts towards his people, and
to be just to his subjects, warning him of the consequences.
But Nacmah would never listen to his
discourse, and would not even deign an answer; and
on this day, when he prevented him from slaying
his companion, and took the sword out of his hand,
saying, How oft have I checked you, and you still
indulge in this fury? And now fortune has struck
you with affliction, with respect to your son Kelboon"—Nacmah
was confounded with horror, and
his eyeballs started into the crown of his head;
every one that saw him shuddered. Well, how oft
wilt thou reprove me for my actions, cried he to his
brother, and oppose the accomplishment of my desires?
I am the king of the universe, and I will indulge
the lust of my heart; if thou darest again to
come into my sight, I will despoil thee of thy life,
and I will strike off thy head. Upon this, Niamet
mounted his horse and went home, and his heart was
full of grief at what had happened with his brother.
In that quarter, he had with him three thousand
heroes, the best of the tribe, all obeying his orders,
and detesting his brother Nacmah, on account of his
insolent pride. As soon as Niamet returned to them,
he told them what his brother had done to him, and
how he had struck off the heads of the fugitives.
Never return to him, cried they all, highly incensed;
raise not up your head to him again, consider him
no longer as a human being. I must, said Niamet,
destroy this monster. I will depart into the interior,
and will collect all the Arabs whose daughters he has
seized, and will excite the horsemen against him,
and I will not desist till I have destroyed him, and
I am relieved from this infamy and contempt. First
of all, I will try these Absians who slew his son
Kelboon; for I have heard they have a knight as
good as a thousand, and that the warriors of the
earth cannot stand before him, and I will ask their
aid against this dæmon. It is expedient that you
let us march this very night, said one, and let it not
be morning before we have traversed the wastes
and the wilds. He instantly ordered his slaves to
move off; he struck his tents, and so did his cousins,
and it was not night before they were all on horseback,
and were traversing the deserts under the
shades of darkness.