University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER III.

Now Shedad exceedingly gloried in Antar; aware
that he had acquired new lustre by his actions, and
not one remained to complain of him or abuse him.
He ran up to Antar, and kissed him between the
eyes. But Antar kissed his feet, and he appeared
like the flower of the Judas tree,[6] so completely
was he smeared with the blood of the combatants.
Shedad's affection for him increased, and he said to
his brother Zakmet-ool Jewad, By the faith of an
Arab, our education has not been lost upon Antar.
How should he not be noble, he replied, you being
the cause of his existence? and the Cadi of the Arabs
decreed him to you, and told you he was of your
loins: do not reject him, for he truly belongs to you.

Antar, as well as Shedad, heard these words, and
he kept them secret in his heart; and he said not a
word to any one; but in a short time, when they all
repaired to their own tents, and separated each to
his own family, and each collected his own party,
Antar also retired to the house of his mother, and
Shiboob was driving before him what came to his
share of the plunder. And when the time of rest

drew near, he became sad and sorrowful, and the
house being entirely empty of people and neighbours,
O my mother, said he, I have heard words to-day,
the meaning of which I cannot comprehend; I wish
you would explain them to me, and tell me who is
my father, that I may know who brought me up. I
will inform you of all that, said she; so she then
told him how Shedad had met her in the desert,
and how all the ten had sought for her, and how he
had repulsed them, and made them agree to give her
to him, as his share: how they afterwards quarrelled
about him, and went before the Cadi of the Arabs,
who had decided that he belonged to Shedad. Well
then, said he to her, O mother, if the Cadi decided
that I was his son, and the ten have also agreed
that I was sprung from his loins, why does he not
call me his son, as every one else does? This would
cost him dear, said she, and he cannot resolve on
that, because he says you are a base-born; and he is
afraid of the disgrace he should incur by giving you
the rank and honours of a son; and the Arabs would
not consent to it.

I would not permit that to be the case, he replied,
for whoever would bring shame upon him, I
would soon reduce to annihilation. But if Shedad
still denies me my right and rank, I will use my
sword and spear upon him; and should I perceive
that the tribe dare despise me, I will level my scimitar
at the whole of them, and I will go to another tribe,

who may better understand my value; for how often
have I rescued them from their dangers, and
liberated them from perils! I will begin by striking
off the head of Shedad, if he does not acknowledge
my rank and condition; and so will I treat also
my uncle, if he does not give me Ibla in marriage;
him too will I make to drink the wine of disgrace.
For Heaven's sake, said his mother, do nothing of
the kind, for they will only hate you the more, and
you will gain nothing: but the men and women
love you, I perceive, on account of your noble
deeds, therefore proceed to no extremities, otherwise
you will increase their hatred and enmity against
you. But, my mother, added Antar, my aunt has
once promised to give Ibla to me in marriage,
and has engaged herself by contract to that purpose.
Hush! said Zebeeba, talk not of impossibilities;
this will never happen: how can a slave, without
connexion or rank, aspire to marriage with an Arab
woman; particularly as you were brought up tending
the sheep and the camels? O mother, said Antar,
I will show thee wonders: my soul pants for honour
and dignity, and with my sword will I dishonour
the necks of the Arab chieftains.

Thus they continued to talk till morning dawned,
when King Zoheir returned. He could scarcely
believe that his family were preserved safe from
ignominy, for he had heard that Mooteghetris had
passed him on the road; and severe indeed was his

anxiety and affliction at having thus missed his foes.
He marched, therefore, day and night, till he reached
his own country, and found all his people happy
and secure.

But when the tribe of Abs saw their king returning
with all his army and troops, the chiefs and
nobles went out to meet him, and having congratulated
him and prayed for his long life, they explained
to him the destruction of his enemies, and all the
heroic acts of Antar; how he had slain Mooteghetris,
and what noble feats he had performed. Verily,
said King Zoheir, we are ennobled in him above
all Arabs: we have not appreciated his worth, and
have not properly understood his greatness. Truly,
he will become the champion of this whole nation, if
he live long, and all the horsemen will be under his
authority and command.

King Zoheir proceeded to his own tents, and
found his women exulting in the deeds of Antar:
he afterwards entered his wife Temadhur's apartments,
and found her also praising Antar in heart
and speech, as she exclaimed, O King, it is not
Antar, but a noble warrior; for he has done the
deeds of a hero. Thus was Antar's dignity raised
in the eyes of King Zoheir. Were we to decree to
him our lives and our property, said he, it would
still be a small return for such exalted acts. He
soon after ordered some sheep and fat cattle to be
killed, and having directed the meat to be served

up, and the wine to flow, he went out into the
middle of the camp, and there erected a large tent of
velvet and silk, and placed in the centre a throne of
ivory, inlaid with burnished gold. The horsemen
then presented themselves: Rebia and his brother
attended, and each seated himself according to his
rank; Shedad also came, and all his valiant dependants;
Antar too entered, and kissed the ground, and
made obeisance, and prayed for a continuance of
Zoheir's glory. He was going to sit down amongst
the slaves, but King Zoheir said to him, By the
Mover of the heavens, no one shall be my companion
to-day but you, and no one shall eat and drink but
I and you. And he made Antar come towards
him. O King, said Antar, as he kissed his hand,
I am but your slave. Then King Zoheir got up
from his throne, and seated him by his side, and
talked to him: and all present had their eyes upon
him, and all his friends rejoiced; but Rebia and
Shas, and his uncle Malik, were bursting with rage,
when they saw Antar raised to such honour, never
conferred on any one before.

Now the cups of wine were handed round, and
the delicacies were eaten with joy and pleasure;
and they appeared secure from the vicissitudes of
fortune, whilst King Zoheir conversed familiarly
with Antar, and joked with him: he placed him by
his side, and made him drink. And they continued
in this manner till the wine sported with the senses

of the guests, and all of them, and Antar too, stood
up, but the King prevented him; and when they
wished to depart, the King gave Antar a beautiful
robe, and mounted him on an Arab horse, and a
necklace of burnished gold, studded with pearls and
jewels; he presented him also with an excellent
sword; and Antar quitted the tents of King Zoheir
clothed in that superb robe and cloak, and mounted
on the Arab horse. But he soon dismounted, and
walked by the side of his father; and when they
entered the tent, Antar kissed his father's feet: O
master, said he, why do you not grant me my due,
as others far and near have done? or bestow on me
what I so much desire? Tell me, said Shedad, what
you want, make known what you wish, that I may
be kind to you; I will not avariciously refuse you.
Now Shedad thought he wanted a camel to ride, or
a tent to live in, or a female slave to attend him.
But Antar replied, I request of you, O master, that
the rank and dignity of an Arab be appropriated to
me; and that you would acknowledge me as your
son, and yourself as my father, so that my rank may
be made known, and I become a chief; and in truth,
I will reward you as no one else can. I will reduce
the Arab princes themselves to your obedience,
through fear of my sword and my spear.

When Antar had finished speaking, Shedad's
eyes started into the crown of his head, his affections
cooled, and his disorder of mind increased. Thou

base-born! he cried, hast thou forgotten that thou
hast tended the camels and the sheep, and collected
the ordure of beasts amongst the mountains? Thou
son of a slave, verily, the robe of King Zoheir plays
about thy loins, and his words float upon thine ears;
thou hast indeed made a demand, and hast raised
thyself on high; and thou wouldst make me a byword
with every one that should hear thee: nothing
have I for thee but a sword, and I will cut off thy
head. Upon this, Shedad drew his sword, as soon
as he had finished, and rushed at him, and all the
slaves ran away from him.

Now Semeeah, Shedad's wife, overheard the dispute,
and came out of her tent, crying and lamenting.
She rushed instantly towards her husband, and
kissed his bosom, and took his sword out of his hand,
as she exclaimed—Never shall you slay him; me
shall you destroy before him. I have not forgotten
his virtues and noble deeds. Excess of wine must
have urged him to this fancy: therefore do not
punish him for what he has said. Semeeah did not
desist till she had soothed his anger, and he retired
to his tent.

But Antar was in the greatest agony; he was
ashamed that the day should dawn upon him, or
that he should remain any longer in the country;
or that he should again look his father in the face.
He accordingly went out, and sought the residence
of Malik, the King's son: his clothes trailed upon
the ground through shame, and his tears flowed

from the excessive pain he endured, for intoxication
had overpowered his judgment. So he sought Prince
Malik, who was just then returned from his father's,
and quite rejoiced at what had passed with respect to
Antar, and the robes and presents he had received.
At this moment a slave came in, and said, Antar
wishes to be admitted into your presence. Let him
in, said Malik; and when he was introduced, Prince
Malik looked at him, and saw his tears flowing from
his tortured heart. He seated him by him, and
talked familiarly with him, and asked him what was
the matter, and what had happened to him. O my
lord, he replied, I demanded of my father the rank
and honour of an Arab; but he has abused me, and
beaten me, and wished to kill me, and has made
me a laughing-stock among the Arab chiefs.

You have been wrong, said Malik to Antar, in
this sad affair; you have done that which would not,
at any rate, have induced him to acknowledge you.
Do not, my lord, continued Antar, reprove my
ambition, which often robs me of my wits and discretion;
but had I not been blinded with wine, this
would not have happened, and I should have concealed
my wishes, and submitted patiently to my
misfortunes, till death had overtaken me. But in
all circumstances thou art ever my master. Ah!
my lord, continued he, how often have I relieved
them from their foes, and no one ever assisted me!
Know too, that I love Ibla, the daughter of my uncle
Malik; and she drives away the sleep from my eye

lids, and in my sleepless nights I am united to her;
but my father Shedad has cut off all my hope, and
misfortunes upon misfortunes overpower me. I only
demanded to be recognized as his son, that I might be
united to her; but truly all hopes of her are completely
destroyed. No joy now remains for me, and
the light of the day is the darkness of night in my
eyes. I have no home but among the wild beasts and
the reptiles. His agony increased, and he wept, and
complained bitterly. Sorrows and afflictions were
multiplied upon him, and the tears rushed into his
eyes, as he expressed his anguish and passion.

Had you informed me of your situation before,
said Malik, greatly distressed, and pitying him, I
would have sacrificed my person and property to
remedy it. But what was easy has now become
difficult; Ibla will be concealed from you from this
day forward. I fear also that your father will contrive
to kill you, and that no one will be able to
relieve you. But stay here whilst I tell all this to
my father. O my lord, said Antar, the only place
of rest for me is on the highways; and I must roam
about the whole day and the live-long night; for
men have conspired to destroy me, such as Rebia
and your brother Shas. He passed the whole night
with Malik, and at the dawn of day Antar mounted
his horse, and put on his armour and his cuirass.
He travelled on till he was far from the tents, and
he knew not whither he was going: sometimes he

took the left and sometimes the right, and again he
struck into the wilds and deserts, till it became
broad day. There he wandered about the rocks
and mountains, and accusing fate, he thus expressed
himself:

"I rail against fortune, that relents to no upbraider,
and I demand security from the cruelties
of fortune. She one day promises fair, and excites
my pride; but truly I know all her promises are
false. I have served man, and I have taken my
relations as protectors against fortune; but they
have acted like scorpions. Amongst themselves
they call me the son of Zebeeba, but in the
tumultuous rush of horsemen, I am the son of
nobles. Were it not for my love, one like me
would not humble himself to such as they; and
the lion of the waste would not fear the foxes.
Quickly my tribe will remember me, when the
horsemen come charging amongst the warriors
with their sword-blows. O that thy phantom
would visit me, O Ibla; it would see the torrents
of tears that stream from my eyelids. But I will
forbear, that my railers may have pity on me, and
that my patience may soften their hearts. Thy
station is a post in the centre of heaven, but my
hand fails in attaining the stars."

Thus he roamed from the high road without
friend or companion. The next day the tribe heard
all that had passed between Antar and his father:

and early in the morning Prince Malik sent for
Antar; but he was not to be found: he supposed
he would return by the evening: still he came not.
Now Prince Malik was sincerely attached to Antar;
he was sorely grieved, and he did all he could to
find him. He then acquainted his father with what
had passed. As soon as the King heard the account
from his son, he was much vexed, and reproached
him. O my son, said he, why did you not immediately
tell me of this, that I might have arranged
the business? I concealed it, said he, in order not
to occasion any disturbance, and for fear of exciting
your indignation, for I have long seen my brother
Shas hates him as the vilest of men; and Rebia
will not raise his head towards him; and I see also
that many of their friends detest him. But you
love him, and are interested about him; and I could
not possibly tell you what you would not have
approved. In the meantime Antar continued to
wander over the plains of the desert, until the day
shone, when, behold! there arose a great cloud of
dust, that darkened the country. Antar contemplated
it for some time, and then perceived forty
horsemen, each bearing a quivering spear, and a
dazzling scimitar. He directed his horse towards
them, and they proved to be of the noble tribe of
Abs, and Gheyadh, the son of Nasshib, was their
leader. When Antar saw them, he saluted them,
and they returned the salutation: O thou son of
Zebeebah said they, why art thou straying here?
I was hunting game, he replied, and when I saw
you, I made towards you, in order to bear you company.
And we, said Gheyadh, have always distinguished
you from the other slaves, and have
always considered you in the light of a valiant
knight; and if you will join us, we will agree to
your sharing with us as a noble warrior. But how
can that be? said Antar. Know that a slave, said
Gheyadh, enjoys a half share with his masters. But,
said one of them, Antar truly deserves more than
two-thirds, and happen what will, he is a knight;
and indeed not every one that is called a knight is a
knight. They at length agreed that they would
surrender to the slave a fourth of whatever plunder
they might take.

In this manner they proceeded till they approached
the land of the tribe of Cahtan, where they saw
a great quantity of cattle, with some high-raised tents
and lofty pavilions; many horses running about,
and camels grazing, and the people unsuspicious
of a reverse of fortune. Here, my cousins, said
Gheyadh, is a rich tribe, and the people few in
number: let us attack and despoil them whilst it is
dark, and we will quit their country in safety; before
morning we shall be far away among the
wastes. They instantly shook their lances in their
hands, and drew their brilliant falchions; and as
they drove the camels and the horses from the tents

and the habitations, the men mounted to keep them
off from the women and families. But the sons of
Abs forced them back towards the tents, and trampled
them down upon the ground, seizing their property
and spoil. Antar rushed down upon them, and
obliged them to fly. Do you, said Gheyadh to
Antar, drive away the cattle, and we will repulse
all that dare pursue them.

Antar drove away the cattle, and had proceeded
some way, when lo! a knight rushed out from the
ravines in the rocks, mounted on a dark-coloured
colt, beautiful and compact, and it was of a race
much prized among the Arabs: his hoofs were as
flat as the beaten coin; when he neighed, he seemed
as if about to speak, and his ears like quills; his sire
was Wasil, and his dam Hemama. When Antar
cast his eyes upon the horse, and observed his speed
and his paces, and his uncommon beauty, he felt
that no horse could surpass them, so his whole
heart and soul longed for it. The Absians, indeed,
had plundered the horde and the country, but Antar's
mind was occupied with the horse, so he galloped on
till he approached the horseman; and when the
knight perceived that Antar was making towards
him, he spurred his horse, and it fled beneath
him; for this was a renowned horseman, called
Harith, the son of Obad, and he was a valiant hero.

Antar galloped after him till sunset, and he found
himself far separated from his party. Harith then

turned about to him; and when he was quite close,
said Antar to him, O young man, by the faith you
profess and believe, will you not wait for me a while,
and grant me a favour? for I see you are a noble
horseman. Hear what I have to say, and give me
an answer: I will be answerable for thy security.

O young man, said Harith, trusting to his promise,
what do you want? I see you also are a valiant
knight. Will you sell me this horse you are
riding, asked Antar, or will you give it me, if you
are the owner of it? By heavens, young man, said
Harith smiling, had you so accosted me at first, I
would have given him to you, with some camels
also, and you need not have acted thus; but, Arab,
did you ever see any one surrender his horse and
his armour in a plain like this, alone and a stranger?
and particularly a horse like mine, whose lineage is
as well known as that of the noblest warriors; for
should his master be in difficulties, he will liberate
him; he moves and flies without wings; and if you
have not heard of his fame, I will tell you—he is
called Abjer, whom Chosroe and the Grecian emperors
and the princes of the tribe of Asfar[7] have anxiously wished to possess. I was angry with my
own people, and repaired to this noble tribe. I ate
with them, and remained with them a long time. It
costs me much to part with this horse, but my heart

is attached to this tribe, and is greatly distressed
about them. I am no coward in the assault of
heroes; but I was afraid lest this horse might receive
a blow that should injure him, and I therefore
only followed you, in order to draw off your
attention till the men of the tribe might overtake
you, and pursue you over the hills and the wilds,
and that I might point out to them your course;
for you have invaded a tribe where there are only
women, and but a few men, unable to encounter so
fierce a foe; and I do not perceive there is a single
feeling heart among you all.

Harith having ceased speaking, I much wish you
would sell me this horse, said Antar; demand what
you please from me, for I must be the purchaser of
it. O young man, said Harith, if you are indeed
desirous of a horse, that is in this age beyond all
value, I will not sell it but for all your booty; and
then be assured you will not lose by the bargain.
I swear by the God who knows all secrets, I do
not avoid fighting you from the fear of death, for
I am a warrior, and can defend myself; but I
feared this horse would be injured. If you, young
man, wish to strike a bargain, and act like a man of
honour, as I am a guest of this tribe, and have eaten
with them, my wish is to ransom their property with
my horse; and had it not been for this misfortune,
I never would have parted with such an animal.

When Antar heard these words, he felt certain

that Harith was a liberal minded man, and therefore,
wishing to be on a par with him in respect to
his honourable and generous conduct: Well, said
he, I will purchase of you this horse for this booty;
and I shall be moreover exceedingly obliged: here
is my hand in faith and sincerity.

Harith dismounted from the back of his noble
steed, and gave him to Antar, who mounted him
like a king of the land far and wide; and he told
the slaves to conduct the cattle and women and
servants to their own country. Harith took them,
and went his way.

Now Antar upon Abjer watched them till they
had disappeared among the deserts; and just then
came up the Absian horsemen, and Gheyadh at
their head, who, seeing Antar standing alone in the
plain, without any of the booty, cried out, Thou son
of a base slave woman, where is the plunder? I
bought with it this horse, he replied, and I have
established your honour and credit in the land of
the tribe; because I saw the owner was a man
of worth, and jealous of the honour of women,
gracious and liberal minded: I was therefore
anxious to equal him in propriety of conduct, and
would not leave behind us in this land the remembrance
of a foul action, and be a scandal
amongst Arabs. It is the most ignominious of deeds
to take prisoners free born women; and besides
this, the spacious plain is open before us, and the

Lord God is the bestower of all things, and the
taker away; he is the distributer of every thing;
and God forbid he should send us back without a
reward.

Thou base born, cried Gheyadh, in reply to
Antar the lion-hero, we consigned them over to
your care, but you have been buying, bartering,
and selling, without asking our leave. What is
done is done, said Antar; I will make it good to
you elsewhere, if the Creator of all things pleases,
and you agree to the protection I have granted: but
if you wish to quarrel with me, I will protect my life
with the force of this sword, and this well proportioned
spear, and I will not live to forfeit my word.

Come on to this wretch, said Gheyadh, inflamed
with rage, to his companions; cut him in pieces
with your cleaving scimitars, and make him drink
of the cup of death and annihilation.

Upon that, Antar went to a little distance from
them, and dismounting from Abjer, tightened his
girths, and then mounting again, galloped and
charged about, crying out to them, You base born
wretches, to-day will I show you how I fight and
thrust. Away, away, to shame and disgrace—this
day you shall behold the furious lion. He thought
of his beloved, and thus exclaimed:

"I abuse fortune, that never softens at the voice
of the counsellor. I conceal my passion in my
heart, but my tears disclose it. My tribe is leagued

with fortune to seek my blood, and they assault
me with sword and spear. They have driven me
from the mistress I love, and I am plunged into
the well of the water of banishment. To expose my
cherished life is indifferent to me; and though I am
separated from her, my heart clings to her. O my
God, let not my life be a life of ignominy! let not
my death, O God, be among the weeping crowd!
but my corpse! let the birds hover over it, and
let the crows of the desert drink of my wounds.
God regards the man who is hospitable to his
tribe, and who becomes among them a chief in
authority. But when they see us invade their
dwellings, every warrior on a swift-paced steed,
they promise us riches, and high-bosomed damsels
with well formed hips, and beautifully-shaped
haunches. I will seize them on my horse, whose
like exists not; ay, and the youth sold it like a
man of honour. Whoever of ye, oh tribe of Abs,
wishes my death, I will appear before him in the
plain of battle, and I will charge among ye on my
stern-faced steed, and I will rush at ye as the
lion of the wilds."

When the Absians heard Antar's discourse, they
all shrunk from the conflict, and consulting with
each other, said, Gheyadh, What stops you? and
what occasions this fear and consternation at this
black slave? O Gheyadh, said they, you have
advised us to make the attack, and still you hold

back from the assault and the combat; you are our
superior and our adviser, so come on. O my cousins,
said Gheyadh, much troubled, wise is the man between
whom and Antar there is no contention. Explain
this, said they, ere we endanger our lives in
a contest with him. I observed, said he, when he
dismounted to tighten his girths, his gigantic mien,
his brawny arms, his full-formed legs, and his cool
undaunted eye. And I, said another, saw something
more extraordinary than that. What's that?
said they. One day King Zoheir gave him one of his
finest horses; he went up to it to put on the bridle;
the horse would not take it, but was riotous, and
reared at him. At the instant Antar lifted him off
the ground up to the top of his head, and dashed
him on the earth, and smashed his bones. When
they heard this account of Antar, they trembled, and
were afraid. Do you go up to him, said they,
addressing Gheyadh, give him the plunder, and do
not make it appear that we are afraid of him, that
his avidity may not increase to our detriment, and
he say, I will not quit one of ye till I have slain
him and taken his spoil.

So Gheyadh went up to him; O my cousin, said
he, are you not ashamed to engage in battle against
your cousins, when they were only joking and
making merry? My cousins, said Antar, convinced
they were afraid of him, I would not do any thing
that could be thought wrong, but I have purchased

this horse, who will carry me against your enemies;
and you know that when a person seeks to destroy
another, it is necessary to defend one's self. Gheyadh
continued to speak flatteringly to Antar, till he
softened him and cajoled him. O Arab Chieftains,
said Antar, I have not forgotten your kindness, and
I am but your slave. I am grateful for all you
have done for me, and had it not been for you, I
should not be known among the Arabs.

It was not fear that dictated these words, but in
order to observe their sentiments towards him.

He has indeed purchased this horse, said Gheyadh
to his comrades, in order to destroy our enemies;
let us therefore grant it him. Be it so, said they
all. Thus Antar became possessed of Abjer, whose
equal no prince or emperor possessed. By way of
precaution, Antar kept aloof from Gheyadh and his
companions, who went on talking to each other.
How that base-born has succeeded to his wish, said
they, for verily that horse is worth his weight in
gold; we shall indeed be disgraced among the
Arabs! Antar proceeded on before them, and heard
all they said.

Now they continued their march till evening,
when they reached a spot abounding in trees and
streams; wide and extensive were the surrounding
plains. They dismounted and let their horses graze,
and seated themselves, whilst Antar stood watch over
them, for their and his own safety. They did not

move from this spot till morning dawned, when they
mounted their horses and marched till evening;
when suddenly from the upper part of the desert
a great dust appeared, and through it they distinguished
a lofty howdah, and on its top there
was a crescent of gold. The howdah was richly
ornamented with velvet; in front were damsels and
slaves, and they wore robes of divers colours, and
behind were horsemen mounted on steeds all of
different colours. No sooner saw they this procession
and these fine garments, than they were
sure it was a bride in the howdah; but they knew
not her husband, nor any one connected with her.
This is our plunder, said they; God has sent it to
us in recompense for what has befallen us. They
instantly bent their heads over their saddle-bows,
and violently assaulted the party, and got possession
of the howdah and all its accompaniments. But
when the horsemen that attended the howdah beheld
them, they attacked them, and man met man,
and hero assaulted hero; blood was shed and spilt,
and the horror was great: and in a moment the
Absians were assisted by the deeds of Antar, the
devouring lion, for his attack was the attack of an
overpowering warrior. And three score and ten
were the horsemen that accompanied the bride: he
destroyed sixty of them; and the rest fled, five to
the right and five to the left.

The Absians having taken possession of the howdah

and the property, with the dispersed cattle, and
a vast quantity of articles besides, asked the slaves
about the bride, who was her husband, and who
her father? Arabs, said they, she is called Amima,
the daughter of Yezid, the son of Handhalah, surnamed
the Blood-drinker, the chief of all the princes
of Tey; and her husband, to whom she is going,
is called Nakid, the son of Jellah, a warlike and
bold horseman, the protector of the race of Marah;
and you have executed this villanous act of violence
upon us, and have ventured on this hazardous
enterprise!

They proceeded, and passed over the deserts and
the wilds, the lady weeping and lamenting at the
misfortune that had overwhelmed her. But when
Antar heard from the slave this account of her
father and her husband, he was convinced he would
come down on her account, and that a great battle
and slaughter would ensue between them, and he
wished the Absians should feel his power and weight,
for what he had heard them say about himself. So
he came toward them. God has granted you victory
and safety, said he: And thou too, they answered;
he has also given thee cause to rejoice. You
are aware, said Antar, that this plunder is much
more valuable and precious than the former; let us
put it out in lots and divide it, and let us give to
each his portion, that he may defend it with his
soul and body.

You, Antar, took the first plunder for yourself
alone, said one, and do you demand your share of
the second? With respect to the first plunder, O
my cousins, said Antar, did you not give it me?
and it is not customary with chiefs to take back
their donations. The fellow, said Gheyadh, is right
in what he says; divide the spoil, and give him half
of one of your shares. Arabs, treat me fairly, cried
Antar, and speak the truth. Gheyadh got into a
passion; What do you mean? said he. According
to our agreement, said Antar, which was settled between
you and me, of all the plunder we should
take, I was to have one half of the whole; and all
of you the other half.

Rage filled the heart of Gheyadh. Thou son of
Zebeeba, thy avarice demands impossibilities; thou
art indeed mad, and a villain. Verily thou hast
not kept thy word; and O, had the day never
come that we met thee in this road! No one, said
Antar, is mad, but he who keeps company with
you, and agrees to your demands; for ye are a set
of fellows of little justice, and great oppression and
violence: the fact is, I will not take a jot less than
one half of the plunder, even were my soul to drink
of the cup of death. Come on, on to this black
slave, cried Gheyadh to his friends, who rebels,
and outrages us. Upon this they all jumped up,
and cried out against Antar, resolved to kill him,
and make him drink of the cup of perdition. Antar

went apart from them for a while into the rocky
plain, then galloped, and challenged them to the
contest, thus addressing them:—

"When my foe sues me for a debt, I settle the
debt with the Redeinian spear[8] : my scimitar's
edge shall extirpate ye all, and shall justly decide
between you and me. I am exalted by my
sword and spear far above the minutest stars and
the two bears. Foul wretches! ye know not my
power, but the inhabitants of the two hemispheres
shall feel it. The grasp of fortune has not destroyed
my strength, and the fingers of time have
not been stretched out against me. Many a
horseman have I left sprawling, his cheeks groveling,
his hands dyed in blood, whilst the birds
of death hover round him, and the magpies
assemble over his corpse."

His verses finished, he was about to attack them,
when, lo! a dust arose and covered the whole
country. In a short time the cloud opened and
discovered three hundred horsemen, all clad in steel,
and the father of the damsel, the Blood-drinker,
appeared in front of them. He roared like a lion;
his sword was an Indian blade. Whither would
ye flee, O ye base-born? he cried out—I am he, surnamed
the Blood-drinker, the Cahtanian.

Now the cause of the arrival of these men was

this: out of the ten that escaped by flight from the
combat, five went to the father of the damsel, the
lion of the land, and five went to Nakid, the son of
Jellah; but the residence of her father happened to
be the nearest. So he set off with three hundred
men, all stern lions, and he galloped on till he overtook
the Absians, as we have mentioned; and it was
he who prevented the combat between the Absians
and Antar.

When Antar saw the father of the damsel coming
on—See where the heroes advance, he cried: now
protect your plunder, if ye are men of valour: no
portion is mine, neither great nor small, not a camel
or a sheep. I will quit you, and will neither be with
you nor against you. He spurred away his Abjer
from them, and mounted to the top of a high hill;
he took his feet out of the stirrups, and sat cross-legged
upon the neck of his horse, resting on his
dreadful spear, and there he remained contemplating
the terrors of the approaching conflict.

The Blood-drinker cried aloud to his warriors;
and they rushed down upon the Absians, and men
encountered men, heroes heroes; and blood was
spilt and shed. In a moment swords clashed, every
heart and feeling were roused; heads flew off like
balls, and hands like leaves of trees. The Teyans
rushed upon the race of Abs; also the Blood-drinker
assailed them in his courage, and released his
daughter. The Absians quitted their plunder, for

their souls could not stand firm; and they fled over
the wilds.

Now when Antar perceived this defeat, he replaced
his feet in the stirrups, and raising his spear
from the ground, pounced down from the height
like an eagle, or a wild beast when it rushes from
its den; and he roared out to them in a loud voice
that made the mountains rebellow—O ye ignoble
dastards, I am Antar, the son of Shedad! And
he urged on Abjer, who started under him like
a flash of lightning, or a tearing arrow: his eyeballs
turned red, and foam issued from his lips: he
shrieked aloud in front of the horses, and immediately
they shrunk back on their haunches, and
hurled their riders from their backs: and the heroes
were scattered over the desert and the wilderness.
In less than an hour he drove them from the plunder.
As soon as the Absians heard the sound of
Antar from under the cloud of dust,—Verily, Antar,
the magnanimous warrior, will overcome them, said
they; may God assist him! This is indeed true
intrepidity, and he deserves half the spoil; for if
the heroes drink the cup of death, the greatest
share will fall to him, for verily the eye of the sun
cannot be concealed. Thus their hearts were purified
towards Antar, and they all returned to fight by
his side.

When the Blood-drinker saw the Absians resume
the contest, he said to the people about him, The

horsemen of Abs and Adnan are coming down, and
this day will they bring death and destruction upon
us; and he let the reins hang loose, and fled. The
Teyans spread themselves over the plains and the
desert, following him in every direction, whilst Antar,
having already slain about eighty men, approached
the plunder; and when all were fled, the
Absian horsemen came up, and there was not one
but praised and thanked him. So they took up the
spoil, and the property, and the prisoners, and the
bride, and departed, seeking the land of the tribe
of Abs, and rejoicing in their victory and triumph;
every one in astonishment at Antar's intrepidity.

But as soon as the other five that fled informed
Nakid, the husband of the bride, the light became
dark in his eyes, and he shouted out to the tribe of
Maan—To horse! to horse! and ere an hour had
passed, five thousand valiant horsemen were mounted;
and he marched at the head of them, in hopes of
overtaking the race of Abs, and of overwhelming
them in perdition and death, and of rooting out
every vestige of them, so that not a record of them
should exist. For indeed he was a warrior ferocious
as a lion, one of the thousand heroes in those days
of darkness. He travelled on night and day, that
he might overtake the tribe of Abs before they could
reach their own country. Meanwhile they pursued
their journey, seeking their own lands, when a dust

arose behind them, and darkened the whole region:
it opened, and discovered the Maanites headed by
Nakid. At this sight they were convinced of their
destruction and death, as they said one to another,
Verily the tribe of Maan have overtaken us! They
looked towards Antar, and they perceived him
smiling and rejoicing at the arrival of the warriors.
Verily, said they, O my cousin, the foe is come up
with us, and to-day will our booty be torn away,
and our skulls will fly off. Know, my cousins, said
Antar, that death will not be wanting, neither will
it increase; but I have long wished for such a day
as this, for I have not given up the tribe of Abs:
my heart is fixed on returning home; and this fortunate
circumstance has happened to us by the
will of Him who disposes life and death. Now is
the flame of war at hand, and sorrow and anguish
are approaching. Whoever amongst you is ready
to fight, let him fight; whoever wishes to fly, let
him fly; but for me, I will drink of their cups; I
will contend with their heroes: and thus he continued
in verse:

"This day the race of Abs shall behold my combat,
and my actions in the contest when I charge.
I will seize their property: ay, and the double of
it with my supple, quick-moving, death-bearing
spear. I will destroy the brave in war with my Indian
blade, and I will drive down among them like
a devouring lion. I will rave among their horsemen

with my unconquered courage, and I will
charge, and I will rush over them in the battle.
I am the Knight of Knights, the lion whom none
can withstand. The lions in their dens tremble
at me, and in the day of battle the ghouls fly
from me."

When Antar had finished, he encountered the warriors
with penetrating thrusts and rending blows.
The Absians were obliged to endure it with him,
and to assist him in the horrors. The messengers
of death were distributed amongst the conquerors
and the conquered; the sharp-edged swords came in
contact with them, and the straight lances glided
through them. The Absians repented of their firmness,
and fled over the plains, whilst alone Antar
encountered the whole calamity; and he stood firm,
like one resolved to avert shame and disgrace. He
aimed at the breasts of the heroes with overpowering
assaults and thrusts, that would have made the
deep-rooted mountains totter.

When Nakid saw the battle of Antar, and how
alone he stood against five thousand, and was making
them drink of the cup of death and perdition, be
was overwhelmed with astonishment at his deeds.
Thou valiant slave, he cried, how potent is thine
arm—how strong is thy wrist! And he rushed down
upon Antar, that his bride might behold a proof of
his courage: and Antar, seeing that he was making
at him, presented himself before him, for he was all
anxiety to meet him. O thou base-born, cried Nakid,

son of an uncircumcised mother! But Antar
permitted him not to finish his speech, before he assaulted
him with the assault of a lion, and roared at
him: he was horrified and paralysed at the sight of
Antar. Antar attacked him, scared and petrified,
and struck him with his sword on the head, and
cleft him down to the back, and he fell, cut in twain,
from the horse, and he was split in two as if by
a scale; and as Antar dealt the blow, he cried
out, O by Abs! O by Adnan! I am the lover of
Ibla.

No sooner did the tribe of Maan behold Antar's
blow, than every one was seized with fear and dismay.
The whole five thousand made an attack like
the attack of a single man; but Antar received them
as the parched ground receives the first of the rain,
exhibiting to them his power and his courage. His
eyeballs were fiery red, and foam issued from the
corners of his lips; wherever he smote, he cleft the
head; every warrior he assailed he annihilated; and
as the warriors still pressed on him, he tore a rider
from the back of his horse, he heaved him on high,
and whirling him in the air, struck down a second
with him, and the two instantly expired. By thine
eyes, O Ibla, he cried, to-day will I destroy this
whole race. Thus he proceeded until he terrified
the warriors, and hurled them into woe and disgrace,
hewing off their arms and their joints. At length
the five thousand retreated from the combat, for fear
and terror had completely shaken them, and more

than nine hundred horsemen he had slain, and
gained an entire victory over them.

Just as Antar had nearly annihilated them, there
appeared a dust that darkened the whole land. In
an hour it was cleared, and there came forth a troop
of heroes; at their head was a horseman like an
eagle, mounted on a horse that moved like a cloud.
The rider was handsome, in the bloom of youth,
and every tongue cried out, O by Abs! O by Adnan!
Now this knight was Malik, King Zoheir's
son. And he was coming in search of Antar, in consequence
of the affair that took place between Antar
and his father, who, when he demanded the rank
and consideration of a son, wished to put him to
death. Now Malik was expecting Antar the next
day, but as he came not, he went and acquainted
his father the King with all that had happened.
Zoheir instantly sent for Shedad, who kissed the
ground. Why do you not grant Antar's request,
and call him your son, as every one else does? asked
King Zoheir: Think you, Shedad, that amongst the
tribes of Cahtan and Adnan there is a more intrepid
warrior than your son Antar, or a bolder heart than
his? O my Lord, answered Shedad, he is indeed
my son, and a part of my heart; but my brother
Malik said to me, If you acknowledge Antar as your
son, I will abandon myself to the Arab tribes; therefore,
on account of my brother Malik, I have renounced
him. Well, then, said Zoheir, I will have
him return to his country in spite of his foes. And

he despatched a slave to gain information, and to
follow him. He waited until the slave returned,
and told him that Antar had associated himself with
Gheyadh, the son of Nashid, and at that moment
he was, single-handed, engaged with five thousand
horsemen, and Nakid, the son of Jellah. Malik
wept. May God, said he, prosper him, for he has
devoted himself to death and destruction; never will
he fly or retreat: but by the life of my father, King
Zoheir, I must aid him; and if he is dead, never will
I return till I have taken vengeance on his foes, and
made his murderers drink of the loathsome cup. He
set out, and appeared as we have just mentioned, and
rushed forward with his troops as we have described.

But as soon as Malik and his people came forward,
and the men had recognised each other, Antar felt
his power expanded, for at that moment the enemy
had resolved to slay his heroes. But at the sight of
his friend Malik and his warriors, his heart revived,
and he exhibited the whole courage of his soul; he
again made a most desperate attack upon his antagonists,
and overwhelmed them in total ruin.

When the tribe of Maan saw Antar's destructive
force, and his sweeping blows, and that the Absians
were come to his assistance, their only resource was
flight, and retreat over the plains and wilds; for
they said to each other, When Antar was alone, we
could not resist him; what shall we do now, that the
tribe of Abs and Adnan are come to his aid? So
they took to flight, and ran away in confusion; whilst

Antar and the tribe of Abs having pursued them
for three parasangs, returned for the scattered cattle
and dispersed horses. Antar dismounted from Abjer,
and running up to his friend Malik, wished to
kiss his feet in the stirrup, but Malik would not
permit him, and kissed him between the eyes, and
rejoiced in his safety. And there was not one of the
Absians but came up to Antar, and congratulated
him on his victory and triumph. Antar thanked
them. They halted there that night, and the next
day they set out seeking their own country: Antar
riding by the side of Malik, and relating to him all
his adventures with Gheyadh and his companions,
and how he obtained his horse Abjer. Malik informed
him of all that had passed between him and
King Zoheir, how he had sent after his father Shedad,
and had threatened him. Antar was glad, and
foreboded well, and felt convinced that his marriage
might take place as long as King Zoheir was on his
side: so that his love for Ibla increased. They thus
proceeded on their journey till they came near to
their homes; when Antar's passion seizing him, he
thus exclaimed:

"When the breezes blow from Mount Saadi,
their freshness calms the fire of my love and transports.
Let my tribe remember I have preserved
their faith; but they feel not my worth, and preserve
not their engagements with me. Were there
not a maid settled in the tents, why should I prefer

their society to absence? Slimly made is she, and
the magic influence of her eye preserves the bones
of a corpse from entering the tomb. The sun, as
it sets, turns towards her, and says, Darkness ohscures
the land; do thou rise in my absence: and
the brilliant moon calls out to her, Come forth, for
thy face is like me when I am at the full, and in
all my glory! The Tamarisk trees complain of
her in the morn and the eve, and say, Away, thou
waning beauty, thou form of the laurel! She
turns away abashed, and throws aside her veil, and
the roses are scattered from her soft fresh checks.
She draws her sword from the glances of her eyelashes,
sharp and penetrating as the blade of her
forefathers, and with it her eyes commit murder,
though it be sheathed: is it not surprising that a
sheathed sword should be so sharp against its victims?
Graceful is every limb, slender her waist,
love-beaning are her glances, waving is her form
The damsel passes the night with musk under her
veil, and its fragrance is increased by the still
fresher essence of her breath. The lustre of day
sparkles from her forehead, and by the dark shades
of her curling ringlets night itself is driven away.
When she smiles, between her teeth is a moisture
composed of wine, of rain, and of honey. Her throat
complains of the darkness of her necklaces. Alas!
alas! the effects of that throat and that necklace!
Will fortune ever, O daughter of Malik,
ever bless me with thy embrace, that would cure
my heart of the sorrows of love? If my eye could
see her baggage camels, and her family, I would
rub my cheeks on the hoofs of her camels. I will
kiss the earth where thou art; mayhap the fire
of my love and ecstasy may be quenched. Shall
thou and I ever meet as formerly on Mount
Saadi? or will the messenger com from thee to
announce thy meeting, or will he relate that thou
art in the land of Nejd? Shall we meet in the
land of Shooreba and Hima, and shall we live in
joy and in happiness? I am the well known Antar,
the chief of his tribe, and I shall die: but when
I am gone, history shall tell of me."

Antar's eloquence and greatness of soul made the
Prince's heart bound with joy, for not an Arab
amongst the neighbouring or distant tribes could
equal him. Verily, said Malik, the spirit of God
animates you, and inspires your mind; for you
have attained the full expression of words, and are
perfect in rhymes. They went on, passing over the
wilds and the deserts, until they approached their
own country, when Malik sent forward one of his
men to give notice of his coming. The messenger
preceded them, and informed King Zoheir of the
approach of his son, and of Antar the bold warrior;
at which being greatly rejoiced, he went out with all
his noble comrades, except Rabia and Shas, to meet
them: for these two were not pleased at the return
of Antar; and Malik also, the father of Ibla, would

not congratulate him. But Shedad mounted with
King Zoheir, and went to meet Antar, for his heart
yearned after him. Thus they proceeded, and did
not stop till they met the Prince and Antar; and
when they came near, Antar dismounted, and hastening
towards him, kissed the hand of King Zoheir.
But the King bent down towards him and kissed him
between the eyes, and congratulated him on his
safety. Think you, O Antar, said he, that we have
forgotten you since you quitted us in anger?
Could our homes give us any pleasure when thou
wert absent, and hadst abandoned thy country?

O King, replied Antar, having kissed the King's
feet, thou whose command is obeyed among the
whole nation of Arabs, O high minded Prince! I
swear by your unbounded generosity and your noble
mind, my departure was not the effect of passion:
I am but a lowly slave and dependant: I did indeed
depart the night I had been with your majesty, for
my tongue had swerved from the road of propriety
towards my father; my ambition aimed at impossibilities,
and I demanded what in fact only a fool
would have demanded. As soon as I was safe
from his vengeance, and his kindness and favour
were withdrawn from me, I could not, after such a
fault, do otherwise than change my home; till at
last my lord Malik interested himself so much about
me, and delivered me from death and perdition; he
has also informed me what interest you have taken
in me: so that my situation is improved, and I am

reconciled to my master Shedad; and you have
loaded me with obligations mountains could not
sustain. May you ever be under the protection of
God! Thus Antar went on talking with the King,
when Shedad coming up to him, Antar ran towards
him and kissed his feet in the stirrup, thus saying:

"O my Lord, I am come begging forgiveness;
the slave is come like a criminal; the sword and
war-horse would fail, should presumption ever
bear sway."

When Shedad heard these words, and saw his
humility, and considered all he had done, and his
wonderful intrepidity, and truly Arabian nobleness
of soul, all his affections were excited; and his eyes
almost shed tears as he said in his heart, May God
curse every one who from this day forward would
renounce him, and may the sword despoil his life
He kissed him between the eyes, and Antar walked
before his father, after he had saluted his uncles,
and his relations. The whole tribe of Abs were
astonished at his noble conduct and courage, and
they said one to another, No one possesses what his
masters possess.

Now Antar felt no unworthy thought of fear
respecting his father or his uncles, and only the
passion that humbles warriors humbled him. Malik
presented the plunder to his father, and pressed him
to accept it; and he divided the cuirasses, and armour,
and horses, and coats of mail among the tribe
of Abs who were with him at first. But King Zoheir

took Amima to his own tent, saying, This is a Princess,
and the daughter of a King; it is not proper that
she should be bought and sold. Thus they all departed
home after the King had made up matters
between Antar and his family and relations, and
recommended him to their kindness. The King soon
after heard from Antar an account of all his adventures,
and how he had obtained his horse Abjer.
And when he looked at him he was more and more
surprised at his qualities; and he said to his son
Malik, This horse has been made for no one but
Antar. And from that day he was surnamed Aboolfawaris[9] .

Now Ibla's father addressed his son, saying, My
son, verily death would be preferable to this state of
things: how is it that this slave of ours, one whom
we employed in tending our flocks, is now raised far
in dignity above us with our King? And this it is
that makes him so presumptuous with us and your
sister Ibla, and thus will our honour be debased.
There is nothing else to be done, said Amroo, but to
marry my sister Ibla to one who can protect her
against him, and then let us depart from this land;
for King Zoheir and his sons are strong in his favour.
But, said his father, O my son, must we leave this
slave safe and well? No, by the faith of an Arab, we
must contrive his death. So they all retired to their
tents, and were united to their families.

Now Antar came to his mother Zebeeba. Why,
my son, said she, do you not by my side tend the
flocks and the camels? It would be more agreeable
to my heart than all this intrepidity and boldness,
which every day expose your life to perils and
dangers. Antar smiled at her sayings; O mother,
he replied, thou shalt see in thy son Antar what
shall be registered and recorded.

Antar gave away to his father and his uncles all
the plunder he had obtained; though this was not
his own idea, but at the instigation of Prince Malik.
This Prince, when they were all established in
their tents, related to his father and his brothers all
he had seen Antar perform, and his undaunted
conduct. The King took great pleasure in what he
told of Antar, and being very desirous of hearing
all he said both in verse and prose, ordered Antar
into his presence, who, as soon as he arrived, made
obeisance, and prayed for a continuance of the
King's power and beneficence. Zoheir and his sons
welcomed him, and the King made him sit down
by him, and supplied him with wine; and his kindness
for him increased. Aboolfawaris, said he,
I wish to hear from yourself the account of your
expedition, and what happened to you, with your
comrades, for my son Malik has related some of
your hardy deeds, and has repeated some of your
poetry; but there is no reporter of words and acts
like the actor himself. Upon that, Antar commenced,
and told them all that occurred with Gheyadh and

his comrades; how he happened to associate with
them, and how he agreed to their proposal of giving
him half of all they should gain, and how they
wished to kill him for buying the horse Abjer, and
how they gave up their design on hearing his
verses and discourse. Will you, said King Zoheir,
let us hear the verses you made on your mistress
Ibla, when you came nigh home?

"When the breezes blow from Mount Saadi,
their freshness cools the fire of my love and my
transport." And he continued the repetition, till
he came to this part, "She is elegantly formed,
and the soft magic of her eyes would arrest the
bones of a corpse from entering the tomb."

When Antar had finished, the King's astonishment
and delight were unbounded at his eloquence;
and he turned towards his brother Asyed, and said,
O my brother, I wish you would pay attention to
Antar, and write down all he says, that we may
be reckoned amongst the most eloquent Arabs for
poetry and propriety of conduct. They continued to
drink their wine, and the hours passed in mirth and
pleasure. But when Shas saw that his father became
so exceedingly kind to Antar, his agony and distress
of mind increased, and from the excess of his
indignation his heart was near bursting; however,
he resisted till Antar accidentally left the tent for a
while. When Shas being alone, turned round to
his father; Indeed, my father, said he, this black
slave, this base-born, has brought indelible shame

upon us, and it is all on account of his love of
Ibla, the daughter of Malik; and you also approve his
conduct; but verily the whole tribe will be shocked
with his presumption when they hear his verses.

The King was exceedingly angry, and wrath appeared
in his countenance. My son, said he, what
sayst thou? Who is able to thwart the decrees of
Providence? Perhaps God has resolved to testify
in him his divine favours! And know, my son, the
most ignorant of men is an envious man. Now
Antar just then entered, and as he had overheard
all their conversation, he thus spoke :—

"This flame is for Ibla, O my friend, her lustre
illumines the darkest night. She blazes—her
form is in my heart, and the fire of love is in my
soul. Her gently waving form has kindled it,
like the branches whose motion refreshes the
breeze. Her breath diffuses a lively odour, and
in her perfumes I pass the night in paradise.
She is a maid whose breath is sweeter than
honey, whenever she sips the juice of the grape.
When I taste a coolness from her lips, she leaves
in my mouth a hot burning flame. The moon
has stolen her charms, and the antelope has borrowed
the magic of her eyes. O grant me thy
embrace, O light of my eyes, and save me from
thy absence, and mine own griefs. Be just, if thou
wishest, or persecute me; for in thee is my paradise,
and in thee is my hell. No happiness is
there for me in my troubles, but my lord, who is

called the generous Zoheir. Wherever he goes,
death anticipates him; and he destroys his foes
before he meets them. Let them not abuse him if
he aid a solitary creature, who spends the live-long
night without sleep, and in tears. He is my support
and stay against those who, when they see
my exaltation, would trouble me the more. He
is a King to whose name Princes shall bow, and
shall point at him to pay their homage. He is the
asylum of all who refer to him to dissipate their
sorrows, as he relieves my griefs. May fortune
never deprive me of my King! May he ever live
in the purest joy and felicity!"

The King was so pleased with Antar, that he said,
O Aboolfawaris, whatever I can give you for your
poetry will be an insufficient return; even were I to
give all I possess; for my property will pass away
as if it had never been, but thy praises will endure
for ever. And as he presented him two virgin slaves,
beautiful as moons, and two rows of large jewels,
and some perfumes, he added, Aboolfawaris, you
have often mentioned me in your poetry; it would
be disgraceful in me to let you go away from me
unrewarded, so calm thy heart and cheer thine eye;
for by the faith of an Arab, I will not be separated
from you until you obtain every thing you wish,
and accomplish all your desires. Did you belong to
me, I would admit you to my rank and connexions,
in spite of the blame the Arabs might heap on me.

Shas could not endure this, and rose up and

quitted the place, but Antar remained drinking with
the King till the evening, when he arose, and his
hand was in the hand of Prince Malik; and they all
departed from the tents, and went their way each to
his own dwelling. Antar did not stop till he reached
the habitations of the family of Carad, where he
perceived a very strong light: he understood it not,
but he went towards it and entered his mother's
tent, and asked what was the reason of this light at
such an hour. Know, my son, said she, the men of
the camp are absent; they are gone with your master
Shedad, and with him are also ten horsemen after
the cattle, in order that they may release them from
some Arabs; and the women are watching to this
hour in the expectation of seeing you, that you
may relate to them what has happened to you in
your expeditions; and Ibla the daughter of Malik
is more delighted than any of them.

When Antar heard the words of his mother, he
joyed in his heart, and a smile lighted up his countenance.
So he immediately arose and sought the
dwellings of his uncles, and entered the women's
apartments. As soon as they saw him they arose
and received him, and saluted him. Semeeah kissed
him. O Antar, said she, you have been with the
King from the beginning of the day, and we are
sitting up on your account. O my mistress, said
Antar, I knew nothing of it, but had I known it, I
would not have tarried, had my legs been even tied
and fettered; and he thus addressed them:

"Darkness hovers over, and my tears stream down
in copious torrents. I conceal my love, and complain
to no one. I pass the night, regarding the
stars of night in my distraction, and the tears rush
violently from my eyes like a hail-storm. Ask
the night of me, and it will tell thee that I am
indeed the ally of sorrow and anguish. I live
desolate, there is no one like me; a lover without
friends or a companion! I am the friend of sorrow
and desire. I am o'erwhelmed by them, and
I am worn out with patience and trials in my
grief. I complain to God of my afflictions and
my love; and to no one else do I complain."

Ibla heard these verses, and perceived his tears
and distress and his sorrow: she pitied him; and as
she remarked the violence of his tears, they interceded
greatly for him, for she loved him for his
courage and his eloquence; and as she noticed him
with the flattering soothing expressions,—Where,
said she, is my share of the plunder; or am I now
of no consequence or value to thee? At these words
the sight of her beauty and loveliness overpowered
him. O my mistress, cried he, by the light of thine
eyes and the black of thine eyebrows, to me the
most sacred of oaths, thy slave Antar has obtained
of plunder neither a small nor a large portion, but
the whole I have given to thy father and thy uncles.
So he presented her the two slave girls and the two
strings of jewels that King Zoheir had given him;
and he added—The perfumes thou hast no occasion

for; thy breath is more delicious and more heavenly;
thy perfume is sweeter and more luscious. So he
divided the perfumes between the wives of his father
and his uncles. And to his questions about his father
and his uncles, whither they were gone?

Know, Antar, said Semeeah, that your master
told us that there is a horseman of Yemen, called
Kais, the son of Dibgan, and under his subjection
are the lands of Senaa and Aden; he has at this
time invaded the land of Hejaz with forty horsemen:
he is now on his return, and with him an
immense plunder, and he is seeking his own country.
Shedad inquired of the peasants who gave him this
information, where Kais was to rest this night and
sleep: they told him at the lake of Jaree, in the
country of Doom. Then said Shedad, By the faith
of an Arab, I will go against him in the dark, and
will attack him and take his plunder from him, and
will reduce him to shame and disgrace; and if there
should be a thousand horsemen, I will not permit
the tribe of Cahtan to escape with plunder taken
from the land of Abs and Adnan. He accordingly
mounted, and took with him ten horsemen, and he
set out to follow their track.

When Antar heard this, he got up without delay,
and kissing the mother of Ibla, and also Ibla between
the eyes—This is the kiss of farewell, said he,
for I know not when we shall meet again: and having
eased his heart by gazing upon her, he returned to
his mother, and put on his armour and his cuirass:

he mounted his horse, and taking Shiboob with
him, he departed in quest of his father and his
uncles. And when they had advanced some way,
said Shiboob to him—O my brother, a female
slave of my master Shedad said to me—Tell your
brother Antar to be on his guard against his father
Shedad and his uncles, for they have resolved on
putting him to death. This Ibla heard from her
brother Amroo and her father Malik, and told
Semeeah, and directed her to warn you of it: now
I have told you, be on your guard. Run on, O
Ebe reah[10] ! was Antar's reply. He urged forward
Abjer, and they went on for some time till
it became very hot, when a horseman met them
coming from the centre of the plain. Antar marked
him, and behold he was one of the men that had
accompanied Shedad, and he was covered with
wounds. When they came nearer to him, said
Antar, Where is the plunder? O Aboolfawaris,
he replied, I have received these wounds which you
see in my body on account of it, for truly we sallied
out with your master Shedad at night-fall, that we
might overtake Kais, the son of Dibgan, and when
we came up with him, we saw him carefully
guarding his spoil. As soon as he perceived us
he started up, he shouted out and assaulted us with
the vehemence of a lion; first he speared me, then
after me your father Shedad: I have returned to
seek you and bring you; so if you wish to overtake
them, make haste, and if you rescue them 'twill be
nobly done.

By the faith of an Arab, exclaimed Antar, never
will I return till I have destroyed the whole party
with my sword, and have liberated my father and
my uncles; and I will drive the whole plunder
before me: so away home, and I will revenge you.
Aboolfawaris, he replied, I am not able to retain
my seat on the back of my horse. So Antar ordered
Shiboob to place him by the side of a pool
of water. Shiboob came to him and placed him
by the side of the lake, and tied up his horse, where
they quitted him, and proceeded over the plains
and deserts until the day closed, when they came
up with Kais and his prisoners that were marching
before him, Kais following them with his comrades.
As soon as Antar saw his father and his uncles
tied across their horses, he indeed knew not then
the heavens from the earth, and he gave a shout
that made the mountains tremble. Ye ignoble
dastards! Quit your plunder. Come on! Slaughter
is the word!

No sooner heard Kais the shout of Antar, than
he was alarmed and confounded; he pricked on his
horse, and turned round upon Antar; but Antar
cried out to him—Son of Dibgan, who has urged
thee against the warriors of Abs and Adnan, whom
none shall attack but the eagles shall devour his

flesh? Thou vilest of Negroes, cried Kais, thou
shalt soon see that I am a man not to be wearied in
the contest of spears; and as he fell on Antar like
the fall of fate and destiny, he thus burst forth:

"I am renowned in every nation for the thrust
of the spear and the blow of the sword. I am the
destroyer of horsemen with the lance, when the
spears are interwoven under the dust. How
many contests have I waged on the day of battle,
whose terrors would turn grey the head of infants!
Long ago have I drank the blood of horsemen,
with which they fed me before I was weaned.
This day will I prove my words when the blood
streams from my sword. This foul wretch I will
slay with the edge of my sword, that cleaves
through the flesh before the bones. His dwellings
shall this eve be found waste and desolate,
and I will not swerve from my word: his body
shall lie on the deserts, cut down, and his face
thou mayst see groveling in the dust."

As soon as Antar heard this speech of Kais,
son of Dibgan, Silence, said he; may thy mother
bewail thee! and thus he replied to him:

"Verily, thy spirit has urged thee to abuse me,
and thou hast spoken the words of a vile dastard:
thou art ignorant of my exploits in every battle,
from the land of Irak to the sacred shrine: thou
shalt have no time to reply, no justice but the
sword; for ignorance among mankind is a trait
that conducts the ignorant to their death. This

is the scene of conflict, and in it doubtless will be
proved the skill of the coward and the base-born.
Let him repent who has only shown his vanity,
and let him prefer flight to resistance. I am
Antar, and my name is far spread for the thrust
of my spear and the blow of my sword."

When Antar had finished, equally impetuous was
his assault: he drew forth his scimitar, and struck
him between the eyes, and split his helmet and wadding,
and his sword worked down to his thighs,
down even to the back of the horse; and he cried
out—Thou wretch, I will not be controlled—I am
the lover of Ibla. Thus Kais and his horse fell
down, cut into four pieces!

When Shedad and Malik and his son Amroo
saw what Antar had done, they trembled and
were afraid, and from that day a dread of Antar
filled their hearts. But Antar rushed amongst the
remainder like a devouring lion. When the tribe
of Dibgan perceived the force of Antar's blows, and
how he overthrew their chief, and split him and his
horse into four pieces, they wheeled about their
horses and fled. Antar pursued them, and having
slain twenty of their men, returned. He roared
even as a lion in his wrath;—he took possession of
the plunder; he released his father, his uncles, and
the other horsemen, and they all rejoiced in their
delivery, except Malik and Amroo his son, who said:
—Oh! that we had fallen by the sword, rather
than be rescued by Antar, the slave of Shedad!

But they concealed their anguish, and appeared to
be stout of heart, and thankful to Antar, though, in
fact, their galls burst with spite. They drove forward
the plunder, and returned seeking their own
country, whilst Antar embraced his father and
uncles, and thus spoke:

"As I approach my friends, my transports increase,
and on their account my cheeks are
bedewed with tears. This day I march towards
them, and I am surrounded by the chiefs of my
tribe. I have slain the son of Dibgan, a lion in
battle, and with my Indian scimitar I have cured
my pains. I have engaged to cleanse their hearts
from sorrow. I have rescued my tribe, and that
is my dearest reward. My companions, whenever
I march by night, are my sword and my spear; and
the dæmons of the earth dread my vehemence.
O Ibla, how many horsemen have I raised up on
my double-edged cleaving scimitar in my strength!
O Ibla, how many horsemen, in the midst of the
war throng, as soon as I come, fling away their
arms in fear of me! Ask every lion hero of my
exploits; they will tell thee every lion is terrified
at my violence. My tribe abuse me that I am
black; but my deeds in battle are fairer than the
dawn. If I wish, I will seize whole countries
and subjugate them, and all the princes of the
earth are within my grasp."

Thus they travelled on till they came to the pool
near which Shiboob left the wounded man, and they

saw that he was dead; they were exceedingly grieved.
Verily, said Shedad, we have lost horsemen more
valuable than the plunder!

Now that plain was very extensive, and as evening
was advancing, they halted till midnight, and
then departed, seeking their own country, where
they arrived in the morning: and they met King
Zoheir at the lake of Zatool-irsad, and with him
were his sons, and Rebia, son of Zeead. As soon
as they saw the King, they hastened to him, and
saluting him, laid the plunder before him, and told
him what Antar had done, how he had joined them,
and liberated them from misery and destruction, and
had slain Kais, and dispersed part of the tribe of
Cahtan. Confer this great obligation then, on thy
son, he so longs for, said Zoheir to Shedad, that
you may be rewarded by his great actions, and be
ennobled by his sword to after gerneations.

Rebia, Shas, and Malik, Ibla's father, and his son
Amroo, were greatly enraged at this proposal; but
Prince Malik, the friend of Antar, rejoiced.

He then divided the spoil in equal portions, but
out of respect for Antar would not take even a
halter. And Antar immediately presented the
whole of it to his father and his uncles; and all the
tribe of Abs were astonished at his noble conduct
and filial love. Zoheir sacrificed camels and sheep,
and ordered a feast to be prepared, and as they ate
and drank, King Zoheir turned towards Antar and

said, recite, Aboolfawaris, some of thy verses; and
he thus complied:

"May fortune bring thee every wish of thy heart,
live in peace, for every result will secure thy
comfort! This is the lake whose residence thou
hast sweetened; and were it not for thee, its
rain fraught with exhalations would not fall upon
us. Thou art present, and all its herbs are
green or yellow, and all their wonders and charms
are expanded before us. The breeze of musk
wafts the essence of its flowers, and it smiles from
east to west. O then, let us do it ample justice
with wine; let us mix it till its banks o'erflow.
Let us drink with thee out of cups of joy, and
let us hold up thy train, thou lord of honour!
Thy countenance is decked in smiles, laughter
lives in thy teeth, and there is a sword whose
blows draw the blood of thy foes. O do not
then reproach me if I weep for Hima, when I
call to mind the friends that dwell there, and its
neighbours. In my heart is an ever burning
flame, but I am ever in alarm about these dear
warriors and these tents. Over the extent of the
waste are marvellously rich canopies, and the
whole is ornamented with fine curtains of Grecian
velvet, painted with every surprising form, that I
am amazed at their starry brilliancy. My heart
was in agony the day they quitted Hima, but it
soon returned to hail its royal master. Should it

be said amongst the people—Who is the most
determined hero? What youth is ennobled high
o'er the rest? We will say it is Zoheir, illustrious
in his birth, towering above all men, who can
never attain his eminence. His exploits avert
from us the obscurity of night, and all is luminous,
and his star is one mass of onyx. May he
ever succeed in every enterprise; may death ever
march wherever his armies march."

These verses delighted the King. May God
never renounce thy mouth, or man do thee harm,
said he. By the faith of an Arab, thou art one of
the wonders of the world; and he continued to
praise and thank him; when lo! a great dust arose,
and there appeared a hundred horsemen, all clothed
in steel, headed by a Knight like a lofty date tree
on an elephant; on his head was a turban of Kufian
cloth, and over his shoulders a painted mantle of
Grecian fabric; beneath him was an Arabian steed;
they came down towards the lake, and when they
reached it, the foremost rank stopped short, and
their leader dismounted, and presented himself
before King Zoheir, bowing before him. His tears
began to flow, and with a heart rent with anguish
he thus addressed him:

"O thou, the defender and protector, be my
"defence and support against mine enemies. Thou
"art the defender of orphans, and thy beneficence
"heals the wounded spirit. Fortune has over"whelmed
me, my bosom bursts, and my soul is

full of grief. A perfidious-minded oppressor has
overpowered us with his strength, and has
violated our virgins. Wherever he goes, death
precedes him, so he destroys his foes before he
presents himself. Protect us from his violence
before all our women are dragged prisoners by
their hair."