 | CHAPTER V. Antar : |  |
CHAPTER V.
Now then, said Amarah to Rebia, when they had
retired, now that Antar has vanquished me, and has
taken Ibla by force, I can no longer remain in this
country; I must go and roam about the wilds
and deserts. Cheer up, Amarah, said Rebia; let us
still contrive the means to overthrow him, and to
make him drink of the cup of destruction and
death. Rebia left Amarah and went home, and
sent for Malik and Amroo; and when they arrived
he said unto Malik, Pretend to be good friends
with Antar; appear very kind to him, and do not
prevent his entering your tents. Sooth him with
gentle words, and when he comes to you, ask him
about the dower for Ibla; then he will say—what
do you wish? tell him you only demand a thousand
Asafeer[15]
camels, that your daughter may pride
herself in them above the high and low.
Know then, Malik, that these camels are in the
possession of Monzar, son of Massema[16]
, the King of
the Arabs, and the lieutenant of Nushirvan; and I
know that Antar, in the greatness of his courage,
and he will expose his life to danger and death, and
you will never see him again. Malik eagerly listened
to his advice; and it happened on that day that Antar
was out hunting; and when he returned in the
evening, his uncle gave him the kindest reception,
and ordered a slave to take away what he had
brought in: he introduced him into his house, and
gave him meat to eat, and wine to drink, and he
spent part of the night in his company. Antar was
much pleased at this reception and kind treatment,
and thought that his wishes with respect to Ibla
would be accomplished, for he knew not the plot
conceived against him. So they continued to show
these civilities to Antar, and he was in raptures
in the enjoyment of Ibla's conversation for ten
days.
On the night of the eleventh day, Malik was
more than usually kind to him; and when the noble
warriors had separated for the night, and Shedad
had gone home, and also Zakhmetulgiwad and the
rest of the tribe of Carad, and no one remained
but Antar, his uncle Malik, Amroo, and Shereeah,
Malik's wife, and Ibla, their daughter, Malik plied
Antar with wine till he made him drunk, when he
addressed him and said; Tell me, I pray you, what
you wish to be done for my daughter Ibla: you
have prohibited all suitors; and do you intend to
take her by force, without any marriage gift or
every part of the world? That can never be, said
Antar, were I even to drink of the cup of death and
condemnation. God forbid that this guarded pearl
and this concealed jewel should be thus sold to the
highest bidder. I am only waiting orders—tell me
what you demand, ask whatever you choose, that
I may grant her what will give her reason to pride
herself above the chiefs of the earth. Nephew,
said Malik, I will not make you engage for what is
beyond your power, and I will not demand of you
but what an Arab would demand; such as he and
she camels. I ask of you then a thousand Asafeer
camels, that my daughter may boast of them; for
in our tribe there are none; nor are there any like
them in Cahtan. Then will you and I obtain all
our wishes and our desires, and we shall destroy our
enemies and those that envy us,—this is all I ask
of you, and then will I make your marriage feast
out of my own property, and will give you whatever
may be required of my own he and she camels;
all our possessions shall be united, and we will live
in perpetual felicity. Malik continued talking with
Antar in this manner till he gave way and consented;
and he knew not that the camels were in the kingdom
of Monzar, the King of the Princes of the
Arabs, and the lieuteuant of Chosroe Nushirvan,
whose armies were innumerable.
Uncle, said he, I will give you these camels
me your hand, and betroth me to your daughter,
and thus show me the purity of your intentions. So
Malik gave him his hand, and a fire blazed in his
heart. Antar's joy was excessive, his bosom heaved,
and he was all delight—he started on his feet—
he took off his clothes, and put them on his uncle;
and Ibla saw Antar's arms, and smiled. What art
thou smiling at, fair damsel? said Antar. At those
wounds, she replied; for were they on the body of
any other person, he would have died, and drank the
cup of death and annihilation: but thou art unhurt
by them. Her words descended to his heart cooler
than the purest water, and he thus addressed her:
"The pretty Ibla laughed when she saw that I
was black, and that my ribs were scratched with
the spears. Do not laugh nor be astonished when
the horsemen and armies surround me. The
spear-barb is like death in my hand, and on it are
various figures traced in blood. I am indeed
surprised how any one can see my form in the day
of contests, and survive."
He then departed to his mother's tent, for he
was restless, and the words of Ibla were as a
blazing fire in his heart. He wakened his brother
Shiboob, and told him to get ready his horse
Abjer—he did as he was bid; Antar clothed himself
in armour, and stood like a tower. Where art
thou going? said Shiboob, that I may show thee
the nearest roads. Well, said Antar, tell me the
Arabs in that country, and their property and
camels very abundant; with them is my object, and
what my uncle has demanded.
Shiboob trembled and was confounded at this
intelligence, for he knew the country. Why not
stop till morning, said he, that thou mayst acquaint
King Zoheir and Prince Malik? for they may perhaps
be able to assist thee in this affair. Return,
my brother, and expose not thy life to difficulties
and dangers. Away! away! cried Antar; not a
word; none but the Creator of mankind can aid
me; I must destroy my accursed enemies. Mine
be the dark and nightly course, after the manner
of mighty heroes; for if I travel by day they
will lay plots against me. Shiboob was convinced
he was right, and conducted him to the land of
Irak. And they continued their way over the
wilds and the deserts till the third hour, when
on a sudden there arose a great dust, and there
appeared a troop of horsemen like eagles. As soon
as they saw Antar, they closed their vizors and
waved their lances, and slackened their bridles and
fixed their spears: and when they came near to him
they cried out, Down, down, from that steed, thou
dastard; strip off those accoutrements of war and
armour, or we annihilate thee! whither art thou
going over the plain? Here we have remained in
expectation of thee. As soon as Antar heard these
words, he shook his spear in his hand, rushed onward,
with a heart fearless of death and danger,—thus
speaking:—
"Fortune insults me as if I were day and night
her foe; the enemy seek me in every peril, and
imagine I am unable to fight; but were they to
present to me the form of death itself as an antatagonist,
I would imbrue its hands in the blood
of its own wounds."
He attacked them, and his assault was like the
assault of the most furious lion: he rushed upon
their chief, when lo! he let fall his vizor from his
face and cried out, Check thine arm, O Knight of
the age! sufficient is the mischief and danger, for
I am thy friend Harith, son of King Zoheir. Antar
threw down his spear, dismounted, and ran towards
him, and kissed his hand.
Now Harith was an undaunted warrior, in the
prime of youth, and eloquent in speech; he loved
Antar, and was much interested about him, like
his brother Malik; and the cause of his meeting
Antar in the deserts was, that he had been invited
to a feast by the tribe of Ghiftan, and was returning.
He met Antar, and the above passed. And when
he saw that death was hurrying from the ends of
his fingers, and that destruction was stamped upon
his spear, he let down his vizor, and Antar recognized
him, and dismounted and saluted him.
Why, my lord, said he, why hast thou acted thus?
that were with thee. Harith smiled, and was surprised
at his humility, after such proof of his superiority
over him. God prosper thee, O Aboolfawaris,
said he, jewel of the multitude! whither art
thou bound, and what great expedition hast thou
undertaken? He who wishes, replied Antar, that
his nuptial ceremony should be performed, must
expose his life to danger. Thou knowest what dangers
and what disgraces I have submitted to on account
of my cousin Ibla, in order that her father
might give her to me. He has demanded of me a
marriage dower, and a settlement, and I must bring
what he requires from Irak.
Terrified at Antar's words, cried Harith, What
is it thou sayest, Aboolfawaris? For God's sake return
with me; trouble not thyself about such matters,
and do not banish thyself from amongst us: our
property is not so small; and verily I am astonished
how my father and brother could let thee depart
alone. I told no one of my departure, said Antar:
my lord, my uncle demands of me camels that we
have not, and are not in our tribe, and I have engaged
to procure them, and I have said yes: and
he thus continued.
"Say not no, after thou hast said yes, for thou
wilt be clothed in shame, and repent. Truly, no,
after yes, is foul; and base is the word no, after
yes. When thou wouldst have a friend, associate
and liberal; and when he says no to a thing, do
thou also say no, and when thou sayest yes, let
him also say yes."
Harith was surprised at Antar's eloquence and
virtuous mind, and his admiration of him increased.
If such is thy business, said he, I will accompany
thee and assist thee in all thy difficulties. I cannot
possibly consent to that, replied Antar; return with
thy warriors to thine own country. So Antar bade
him farewell and departed over the wilds and deserts,
and Harith and his people returned, praising Antar's
intrepidity and eloquence. Antar and Shiboob
proceeded on their journey, Shiboob ever showing
the way, till evening coming on, they sought a pool
of water where they might repose from their fatigues,
and at length they reached a tent pitched
near a spring; and behold there was an old Sheikh,
with his back bent. They made towards him.
"An old man was walking along the ground,
and his face almost touched his knees. So I said
to him, Why art thou thus stooping? He said, as
he his waved hands towards me, My youth is lost
somewhere on the ground, and I am stooping in
search of it."
He welcomed them, and brought them a cup of
milk, cooled in the wind: Antar took the milk and
drank, and gave some to his brother, and came to
for them, and presented viands, receiving them in
the most hospitable manner. And when they had
finished eating, the Sheikh made bold to ask Antar
his adventures, and why he was travelling. So he
related to him all that had passed with his uncle
Malik, and what he had demanded as a marriage
dower.
May God disgrace and overthrow and destroy thy
uncle, and not save him! exclaimed the old man;
for his only object in making this demand of thee
is to annihilate and ruin thee. How is that, said
Antar, how so? Know, Aboolfawaris, replied he,
that these Asafeer camels are only to be found
among a tribe called the tribe of Shiban, and their
chief is King Monzar, son of Massema, the lieutenant
of King Chosroe, whose armies are innumerable,
whose power is irresistible, and he rules all
the Arabs of the wilds and the deserts; and if thou
wert to carry off these camels, who is able to protect
thee from King Monzar, or shelter thee? My
advice is, that thou shouldst return home, and not
expose thy life to dangers and death.
Antar remained that night in the tent, and the
next day mounted his Abjer, bade the Sheikh farewell,
and thanked him. Shiboob attended him by
his side, and they set out in quest of the land of
Hirah; and when they had advanced some distance,
her, and what he had suffered for her, and thus
spoke:
"In the land of Shurebah are defiles and valleys;
I have quitted them, and its inhabitants live in
my heart: fixed are they therein, and in my
eyes; and even when they are absent from me,
they dwell in the black of mine eye; and when the
lightning flashes from their land, I shed tears of
blood, and pass the night leagued with sleeplessness.
The breeze of the fragrant plants makes
me remember the luscious balmy airs of the
Zatool-irsad. O Ibla, let thy visionary phantom
appear to me, and infuse soft slumbers over my
distracted heart! O Ibla, were it not for my love
of thee, I would not be with so few friends and so
many enemies! I am departing, and the back of
my horse shall be my resting-place; and my
sword and mail my pillow, till I trample down
the lands of Irak, and destroy their deserts and
their cities. When the market for the sale of
lives is established, and they cry out, and the
criers proclaim the goods, and I behold the troops
stirring up the war-dust with the thrusts of spears
and sharp scimitars—then will I disperse their
horsemen, and the foe shall be cut down deprived
of their hands. The eyes of the envious shall
watch, but the eyes of the pure and the faithful
shall sleep; and I will return with numerous
Shiboob be my guide."
As soon as he had finished, his tears flowed
abundantly. They travelled on till they reached
the land of Hirah, where they saw populous towns,
plains abounding in flowing streams, date trees and
warbling birds, and sweetly smelling flowers; and
the country appeared like a blessing to enliven the
sorrowing heart; and the camels were grazing, and
straying about the land; and they were of various
colours, like the flowers of a garden; and there
were she camels, and young camels, and slaves and
attendants. And as soon as he saw them he was all
anxiety, quite out of breath with eagerness. And
he felt that his uncle had sent him on this commission
to insure his death and destruction, unless
his intrepidity should guide him through.
Ebe Reeah, said he to Shiboob, I well know that
this is a land great in power, and in no region is
there one to be compared to it. We have nothing
for it but prudence and daring fortitude in danger,
and a timely submission to power, that we may obtain
what we are in search of, and return rejoicing
and successful. Hasten then, son of my mother,
and look after these Asafeer camels, and mark them,
whilst I let my horse Abjer rest himself. Shiboob
consented to what he directed, and leaving his
bow and quiver, disguised himself in the clothes of
a slave, and feigned himself sick. Thus he went
young brides; and when the slaves marked Shiboob,
they sprang towards him, welcomed him, and made
him sit down, and took out some of their provisions,
and made him eat, asking him whence he came, and
what had happened to him.
I am a slave of the tribe of Zebeed, said he, and
Shedad is my master's name; and he is a stubborn,
cruel man, and had no compassion for his slaves,
male or female. So I have run away and have left
him, and my wish is to meet some one who will
protect me from him. Remain with us as long as
thou pleasest, my cousin, said the slaves, pitying
him, and be welcome! and thy time shall pass
pleasantly enough.
Very thankful was he, and remained with them
the rest of the day, and he told them all manner of
lies and deceitful tales till he had marked out the
Asafeer camels, and he saw they were the miracles
of the age; and when evening came on, the slaves
and attendants drove away the camels, and sought
their habitations and homes, and Shiboob went with
them. But when they came nigh to the tents, it
being now dark, he separated from them and gave
his feet to the wind, seeking the plain till he
was in the presence of Antar, who sprang up to
meet him, exclaiming—Tell me, O Ebe Reeah,
what news hast thou? Nothing, said Shiboob, but
that we are in a dangerous position, and under fate
defender and protector.
O Shiboob, said Antar, is it not well known that
when a slave exposes his life to the abyss of danger,
he is exalted to the height of glory? They then
concealed themselves till morning dawned, when
Antar clad and incased himself in armour till he
appeared like a tower, or a fragment rent from a
mountain; and he went forward till he reached the
pastures, crouching along as a wolf after a sheep.
And when it was day, the Asafeer camels were
driven to graze, and behind every thousand she
camels were ten slaves to attend them, that the
males might not annoy them. The she camels
ranged about grazing, and the slaves began to amuse
themselves; for they were slaves of the King of
the Arab chiefs, and knew not what it was to be
attacked.
These are the Asafeer camels, said Shiboob, so
make thy plan, and act as it seems best to thee. Run
on, said Antar, and occupy the road to Hirah, so that
their cries be not raised against us, ere we be far
away out of this country. As thou pleasest, brother,
said Shiboob. And he moved along on tiptoe over
the plain, till he came in the rear of the slaves, when
he seated himself on his knees, and emptying his
quiver of arrows before him, waited their attack. As
to Antar, he urged on Abjer, and plunged amongst
the he and she camels, and cut off a thousand of the
slaves—Ye base born, drive away these camels, and
on before me! or my sword will be stained with
your blood.
When the slaves heard Antar, they were terrified
at his enormous bulk and gigantic shape, and the
rolling of his eyes, and the weight of his arms
They drove the camels before him, and goaded them
on with the points of their spears, and they fled
away before them like eagles. And thus they proceeded
till about the third hour, when behold a
great dust arose and darkened the land; and when
it dispersed there appeared a party of Arabs of the
tribe of Zakhm and Juzam, about twelve thousand
horsemen; all hardy warriors, armed with sharp
swords and long spears, screaming out—Whither
are ye going, ye dastards—hence is there no escape
out of this land!
Now the cause of the arrival of this troop of
horsemen was as follows—The slaves that had
escaped from Antar and Shiboob sought their homes
and habitations, and it happened that they encountered
the train and equipage of Monzar on a hunting
party, attended by his warriors and his troops; who,
turning towards his son Numan—Speed your horse
on a little, my son, said he, and bring me intelligence
of these shepherds. Now Numan was his
eldest son. So Numan directed his horse towards
the slaves, and inquired whither they came. O
on a black steed, and whose voice is the roar of a
lion, darted down upon us and seized a thousand of
the Asafeer camels, and carried them off.
No sooner had Numan heard this account of the
shepherds than he cried out to the men and the
warriors that accompanied him, and slackening
his horse's bridle, galloped after Antar, and twelve
thousand in number were the lion heroes that followed
him. And they halted not till they overtook
Antar, as we mentioned, and cried out as we
described.
When Antar saw them, he smiled, for battle was
his joy and delight. O! thou black born, said
he to Shiboob, I want thee to guard the camels,
whilst I show thee a day of horrors among these
miscreants. He then turned the camels into a
mountain cave, and received the warriors as the
parched-up earth receives the first of the rain; and
he penetrated through the thick dust with blows
irresistible and never failing. Whatever he struck,
he slew, and wherever he thrust, he hurled down;
and for one hour he overwhelmed them in death
and perdition; and the foremost shrunk back upon
the rear, crying out at him from a distance, for no
one dared to approach the spot where he was. As
to Shiboob, the slaves betrayed him, and refused to
drive on the camels.
But when Numan saw that his troops and men
them in the combat, his mind and senses were
greatly agitated, and he cried out to them—May
God disgrace you among the Arabs!—are you
reduced to this by a single black slave, a mean,
paltry herdsman? The horsemen took courage, and
poured down upon Antar from all sides, but Antar
continually slaughtered them, always gaining upon
them, never flinching, though their numbers were
immense. Thus was he in the midst of dangers, when
lo! his horse stumbled, and throwing him on the
ground, rushed from out the thick dust and tumult,
his saddle unoccupied by his master Antar. Shiboob
thought he was killed and trampled to death;
the tears flowed from his eyes, he gave his feet to
the winds, and he sought the wide desert, whilst
the slaves and shepherds cried out to the horsemen
and warriors, who pursued Shiboob from all
quarters; and they were seventy in number, all
after Shiboob, who depended on the power of his
muscles. The horses were straining themselves to
catch him, but they could not pass him, or come
up with him, from the grey dawn of day till the
sun became tinged with yellow. But when evening
came on, woe and dismay fell upon him, and just
as he was convinced of his ruin and death, he
reached a cavern in the hollow of a mountain, and
near it stood a swarthy youth tending sheep; before
him was a fire blazing; and he was sitting down
in front of him. As soon as Shiboob saw him, he
made towards him: Young man, he cried, help
me—I put myself under thy protection, for I am
a stranger, and I am exposed to peril and danger
in this land. I am nearly dead, and my enemies
have already slain my brother. Yes, by thy father,
said the youth (for his heart had compassion on
him), I will indeed protect thee, and I will not
deliver thee up till I am myself slain. Enter the
cavern, and consider thyself secure from the deceits
of the wicked.
Shiboob entered the cave, where he had scarcely
concealed himself, when the horsemen arrived, fleet
as eagles, shouting aloud—Boy, son of a cuckold,
bring out to us that devil who has slain our horsemen
and staggered our senses, that we may tear
his body in pieces with the points of the spear, and
hack him with the blades of our scimitars. God
curse him who gave him birth! how strong are
his muscles!
Arabs, said the shepherd, grant him to me, I
pray ye, and accept of my guarantee for him, for I
have protected him, knowing nothing about you; he
is under my security and protection. Thine is not
and never shall be any protection, cried they, so
bring him out, or we will slay thee together with
him for; his brother has destroyed three thousand
of our famed horsemen; he is indeed a very devil,
saw even from the Genii.
When the peasant heard them he was fearfully
alarmed, for were he to oppose them, they would
soon destroy him. O Arabs, said he, do but remove
about seventy paces from the cavern door, that I
may enter and bring him out of my protection.
Do so, said they; and they retired from the cavern,
and the shepherd entered, and found Shiboob
trembling for his life. You have heard, young
man, said the shepherd, what has passed between
me and these men. My vows have been overruled,
and I have exposed myself to death and
annihilation. I can do nothing towards your
escape, but at the hazard of my own life; yet will
I not forfeit my protection. Had I but ten horsemen
of the tribe of Asad, they should not approach
you, no not one of them; but I am alone in this
wilderness and desert. So throw off your clothes,
and put on mine; take these provisions and this
wallet, sling it over your shoulder, and with my
staff in your hand hasten out of the cavern, and
drive away the sheep, and when you come up to
them, say—Arabs, I went into the cave, in order to
bring him out, but he will not stir, so come along,
and I will show him to you—they will dismount
and enter the cavern, and then do you look after
yourself.
Shiboob thanked him from his heart for his kind
assistance: he slung on the wallet, and took the staff
in his hand, and went out of the cavern, and the
darkness of night concealed him from the eyes
of observers; and when he came up to them he
spoke to them as the shepherd had directed him:
they immediately dismounted and went towards the
cavern; but Shiboob gave his feet to the wind, and
traversed the rocky crags until he was far off among
the wilds and the deserts: and thus he secured his
life, and sought relief from the contents of the wallet.
In the mean time the Shibanians entered the
cave, and dragged out the shepherd, thinking it
was Shiboob; they looked at him by the light of
the fire, and they saw it was the shepherd dressed
in Shiboob's clothes; for he had preferred to expose
his life to death and torture, rather than discredit
his protection. Why hast thou done this deed, cried
they, and given up thy life to death and perdition
for the sake of a stranger?
Arabs, replied the shepherd, he sought my protection,
and I protected him. You came in search
of him; you would not accept my proposal, and I
was not able to drive you away. But if I have
enraged you, kill me at once, and I shall have rescued
him by the sacrifice of my life and existence, and
shall not have forfeited my word, or broken my
faith. Moreover between you and me there is no
power: but if you will release me, I will thank you
in every part of the world; otherwise do as you list,
and decide as you judge best.
The Shibanians were astonished, and they could
not find it in their hearts to kill him. He indeed rejoiced
in his friendly act, and the preservation of
his duty; so they let him go, and returned vexed
and dispirited. As to Shiboob, as soon as he was
safe, he travelled on till morning, passing over plains
and deserts; but what was most grievous to him
was the thought of returning to the tribe of Abs,
and the triumph of his foes and the envious;
particularly the family of Zeead, and the ruffian
Amarah, and Shas and Rebia: then he wept for
his brother Antar, in these verses.
"O Knight of the Horse, why, alas, has the steed
to mourn thee? why, alas, has the barb of the
spear to announce thy death in wailings? O that
the day had never been, that I saw thee felled
to the earth, cut down—stretched out—and the
points of the lances aimed at thee! Could the
vicissitudes of fortune accept of any ransom, oh!
I would have redeemed thee from the calamities
of fortune! Thine uncle has in his wiles and
frauds made thee drink of the cup. But may
thy cup-bearer, O son of my mother, never taste
of the moisture of dew! and thy cousin will
mourn thee, and she belongs to thy foe, whose
of the Horse, I have no strength of mind—I
have not a heart that can ever feel consolation for
thee in my sorrows! and the war-steed amongst
the troopers as he neighs will turn towards thee,
mourning for thee, like a childless woman in
despair."
And Shiboob went on, passing over deserts and
wilds, seeking the tribe of Abs and Adnan, whilst
his tears flowed in streams. But as to Antar, when
his horse stumbled beneath him, he started on his
legs, brandished his sword in his right, supported
his shield on his left, and made towards the warriors
—he slew them till he made mounds of dead, he
overwhelmed them with his shouts, bellowing out—
O Ibla, by thine eyes, will I slay this day these
horsemen! and he rushed upon them like a furious
lion, till the blood flowed from all parts of his body.
And in the thickest of the battle he happened to
step on a skull, and his feet slipping from under him,
he fell down at his full length. And they gave him
not time to rise ere they bound fast his shoulders,
his arms, and his ribs and his feet, and brought him
before Numan.
The Chief was all astonishment at the horror of
his make, at the immensity of his stature, and the
agitation of his eyes. He ordered them to tie him
across the back of his horse and convey him to the
King, that he might do what he thought proper with
the back of Abjer, and they all returned to the
land of Hirah. At the moment of their arrival,
King Monzar returned from hunting. When, be
hold there appeared against them a lion of the lions
of Khifan. Now the wild beasts of Khifan were
proverbial; and he came upon them with a loud
roar, and the fierce warriors attacked him. Numan
presented Antar to his father, and when he looked
at him, he was terrified and confounded.
What Arab art thou? said he. My lord, replied
Antar, I am of the tribe of the noble Abs. One of
its warriors, demanded Monzar, or one of its slaves?
Nobility, my lord, said Antar, amongst liberal
men, is the thrust of the spear, the blow of the
sword, and patience beneath the battle dust. I am
the physician of the tribe of Abs when they are in
sickness, their protector in disgrace, the defender of
their wives when they are in trouble, and their
horseman when they are in glory, and their sword
when they rush to arms.
Monzar was astonished at his fluency of speech,
his magnanimity and his intrepidity, for he was
then in the dishonourable state of a prisoner, and
force had overpowered him. What urged thee to
this violence on my property, added Monzar, and
seizure of my camels? My lord, said Antar, the
tyranny of my uncle obliged me to this act: for I
was brought up with his daughter, and I had
me demand her in marriage, he asked of me as a
marriage dower, a thousand Asafeer camels. I was
ignorant, and knew nothing about them; so I consented
to his demand, and set out in quest of them;
I have outraged you, and am consequently reduced
to this miserable state.
Hast thou then, said Monzar, with all this fortitude
and eloquence, and propriety of manners,
exposed thy life to the sea of death, and endangered
thine existence for the sake of an Arab girl? Yes,
my lord, said Antar; it is love that emboldens man
to encounter dangers and horrors; and no lover is
excusable but he who tastes the bitterness of absence
after the sweetness of enjoyment; and there is no
peril to be apprehended, but from a look from
beneath the corner of a veil; and what misfortune
can drive man to his destruction, but a woman who
is the root and branch of it! Then tears filled his
eyes, and sighs burst from his sorrowing heart, as he
thus exclaimed:
"The eyelashes of the songstress from the corner
of the veil are more cutting than the edge of the
cleaving scimitars; and when they wound the
brave are humbled, and the corners of their eyes
are flooded with tears. May God cause my uncle
to drink of the draught of death at my hand!
may his hand be withered, and his fingers palsied!
for how could he drive one like me to destruction
the completion of his avaricious projects? Truly
Ibla, on the day of departure, bade me adieu,
and said I should never return. O lightnings!
waft my salutation to her, and to all the places
and pastures where she dwells. O ye dwellers
in the forests of Tamarisks, if I die, mourn for
me when my eyes are plucked out by the hungry
fowls of the air. O ye steeds, mourn for a
Knight who could engage the lions of death in
the field of battle. Alas, I am an outcast, and
in sorrow. I am humbled into galling fetters,
fetters that cut to my soul."
When Antar had finished, Monzar was surprised
at his eloquence and fortitude, and strength of mind
and virtue. Now Monzar himself was one of the
most eloquent of Arabs, and he was convinced that
Antar was sincere in his grief; but he knew not
the story of his life. Whilst Antar and Monzar
were conversing, behold the people ran away from
their presence. On inquiring what was the matter,
O victorious and irresistible monarch, they exclaimed,
a savage lion has appeared among us, is
destroying the horsemen, and dispersing the brave
heroes. Spears make no impression on his carcass,
and no one dares to attack him. Assault him,
cried the King, before he takes refuge in the forest,
and cuts off the road of the travellers, and renders
the ways unsafe, and we therefore be dishonoured.
relieved. Tell your people to expose me to this
lion, said he to the King, and if he should destroy
me, you will be amply revenged, and your dishonour
be cleared up: for I have slaughtered your
troops, and destroyed your warriors; but should
I slay the lion, reward me as I deserve, and do
not refuse me justice. The King ordered the cords
to be loosened: the guards came up to him and
untied his hands, and were about to untie his feet
also; but he cried out, Loosen only my hands,
leave my feet bound as they are, that there may be
no retreat from the lion. He grasped his sword and
his shield, and jumping along in his fetters, he thus
exclaimed.
"Come on, thou dog of the forests and the hills!
this day at my hand will I make thee drink of
death. Soon wilt thou meet a Knight, a lion warrior,
a chief tried in battle. O then, attack not one
like me, for I am a chosen hero. Attack the
horsemen, thou dog of the waste, but whither
wilt thou escape from me this day? Take this
from my cleaving sword, that deals sorrows,
deaths, and pestilence from the slave of a tribe,
that braves death and woe, and never fails."
Monzar was much astonished at his address to
the lion, and he advanced with his attendants, to
behold what Antar might do. And when they
came near him, they perceived it was an immense
long claws; his face was wide, and ghastly was his
form; his strength swelling; he grinned with his
teeth clenched like a vice, and the corners of his jaws
were like grappling irons. When the lion beheld
Antar in his fetters, he crouched to the ground, and
extended himself out; his mane bristled up; he
made a spring at him: and as he approached,
Antar met him with his sword, which entered by his
forehead, and penetrated through him, issuing out
at the extremity of his back bone. O by Abs and
Adnan! cried Antar, I will ever be the lover of Ibla.
And the lion fell down, cut in twain, and cleft into
two equal portions; for the spring of the lion, and
the force of the arm of the glorious warrior, just met.
Then, wiping his sword on the lion, he thus spoke.
"Wilt thou ever know, O Ibla, the perils I have
encountered in the land of Irak? My uncle has
beguiled me with his hypocrisy and artifice, and
has acted barbarously towards me in demanding
the marriage dower. I plunged myself into a sea
of deaths, and repaired to Irak, without friends.
I drove away the camels and the herdsmen single
handed; and I was returning home burning with
the flame of anxious love. I quitted them not
till there arose behind me the dust of the hoofs of
the high mettled steeds. I encountered on every
side the war dust, and illumined it with my thin
bladed falchion, whilst the horsemen clamoured
loose its uproars. As I retired, I found that my
uncle had deceived me with his frauds and stratagems.
But I did not fail till my horse was exhausted,
and faltered in the charge, and the
crush of combats. Then I dismounted and drove
away whole armies with my sword, as I would
have driven away the camels. I rushed upon the
horsemen that fiercely scoured the plain, piercing
chests and eyeballs; but at the close of the day
I was wearied and made captive; for my elbows
and my legs were deprived of all strength. They
dragged me to a noble prince, high and magnificent—May
his glory endure! Then too I
engaged a lion, fierce in the onset, and harsh of
heart, with a face like the circumference of a
shield, whose eyeballs flashed fire like hot coals.
I rushed at him with my sword. I met him in
my fetters, so that Monzar might bestow on me
what might gratify my uncle, and favour me with
the desired camels."
Monzar heard him, and beheld his acts. This is
verily a miracle of the time, and the wonder of the
age and world, said he to his attendants; his mtrepidity
and eloquence and perseverance are enough
to confound the universe; with him I will effect
with Chosroe what is the object of my wishes, and
I will establish the superiority of the Arabs over the
Persians.
Now Monzar was an intelligent man, and very
regular in the administration of justice, and prudent
in policy. For this reason Chosroe had appointed
him King over the Arabs; and when he was present
in the palace of Chosroe, he enjoyed superior dignities,
and he was never styled but as King of the
Arabs. And Chosroe used to treat him as a friend,
and to eat and drink with him; and when they were
busy in conversation, Monzar used to describe to
him the peculiarities of Mecca and the sacred shrine,
and their glory over the Deelimites and the Persians,
and used to recite to him the verses of the eloquent
men. And Chosroe, in his impartiality, was pleased
with him, and enjoyed his society, and loved to dignify
him with presents of gold and silver; for the
Chosroes of Persia were renowned for their love of
justice and impartiality, and abhorred oppression and
violence, ruling mankind with liberality and generosity.
He had over his head a bell of red gold,
and a chain attached to it on the outside of the
palace; and whenever he touched the bell, the attendants
went out and complainants entered his
presence; and he decided such matters himself.
Now it happened that Monzar, previous to Antar's
falling into his hands, had visited Modayin,
and presented himself to Chosroe, and staid with
him some days, and he was honoured with a rich
robe and various presents. One of the officers
envied him, and when he was alone with the King,
this wild Bedoween, this worshipper of stone, and
raise his dignity so high? Whether he is absent
or present, he is a poor despicable wretch; for all
the Arabs are but shepherds, and worshippers of
images: there is no religion, no faith, among them;
and they are only ennobled by theft and cunning,
and robberies and rogueries.
This officer thus became jealous of the honours
enjoyed by Monzar, and his heart was estranged
from him. And he was one of the warriors of
Deelim, and was a leader of twenty thousand Persians,
and he was called Khosrewan, the son of Jorham.
He was always talking contemptuously of
the Arabs, repeating falsehoods of them, till at last
he effected a change in the heart of the just King.
If, O King, said he, as he ended the conversation,
thou art desirous of thoroughly understanding this
man whom thou hast appointed over the Arabs,
and of having a proof of his ignorance and ill-breeding,
ask him to come and eat meat and dates; order
the servants to give him dates from which the
stones are not extracted, and to place before you
dates ready stoned; and let there be instead of
stones, almonds, sugar-plums, and skinned nuts,
and see what he will do. Chosroe complied, and
invited Monzar to eat meat and dates; and he ordered
the servants to do as Khosrewan had recommended.
So after dinner, the servants produced
away and swallowed them, for there were no stones
to throw aside. Monzar looked at them, and
thought within himself—Most certainly to-day
is a festival with them, for they are worshippers
of fire; so I must eat like them, and must fashion
my manners to theirs. So Monzar ate, and swallowed
the stones; but one sadly puzzled him, so the
attendants burst out into a loud laugh; and Chosroe
also laughed. And Monzar was abashed at their
pleasantry. May your glory last for ever, O King
of the world, said he. But the wrath and indignation
of Monzar increased. What makes your attendants
laugh? said he. You have eaten dates and
swallowed the stones, said Chosroe; 'tis for that
we are laughing at you. I, O King, said Monzar,
imitated you and your companions, and I ate as you
ate, for I perceived you eating the dates and swallowing
the stones, and I wished to do as you had done.
Our dates, said Chosroe, are without stones; and
instead of stones there are almonds and sugar-plums
and peeled nuts, so that we eat them without trouble
or annoyance. Why, said Monzar, did you not give
me some of what you eat yourself? Still I am your
guest. Yet this is a proof that I am an object of
ridicule to you, and you have only invited me that
you and your companions might expose me. But
I am still at all times your slave, and indebted to
your bounty for whatever you have thought proper
to do unto me.
He remained some time longer with Chosroe, and
then returned to the land of Hirah, having asked
permission to revisit his family and native country.
And when he reached his capital, he wrote letters
to the tribes of Wayil and Bekir and Jelhema, and
he said in the letters—Attack Modayin, plunder the
people and the inhabitants, lay waste the villages, and
put to the sword the merchants of Persia, and plunder
the property of Deelim. Be afraid of no man,
should any oppose you; but slaughter them and
seize their property, and plunder them.
When these letters, in which the whole circumstance
was described, reached the different tribes,
they were greatly incensed, and sent Sewid the son
of Amil to plunder the inhabitants. And Handala
ransacked the stores and granaries, and seized the
property of the travellers; and Harith the son of
Joshem plundered the lands of Zilah, sparing neither
high nor low. After this, confusion and rebellion
rose up in the villages, and the whole country
dreaded the Arabs. Many of the Persians were cut
off, and the Persian merchants cried out from all
quarters against Chosroe. The day of judgment
seemed to have come upon him, and he was overwhelmed
with shame. He desired his minister Mubidan
to write to Monzar an account of all that had
passed, and that he should punish the Arab tribes,
or he would disperse them among the plains and
the deserts.
So the minister wrote to Monzar a letter, in which
the Arabs! Truly the heart of the just King is
greatly irritated against you, on account of the depredations
committed by the Arabs on his subjects.
You must slay the rebels and offenders, and chastise
those that have oppressed the weak, if you are obedient
to the Persian government, and attend to the
orders of the imperial monarch; and peace be with
you from the protecting fire!" He folded up the
letter and sealed it and sent it to Monzar, and when
it reached him, he opened it and read it, and wrote
in answer to it these words:
"To him whom we recognise as the just King!
Truly my character is despised amongst the Arabs,
my reputation is on the decline, my authority
amongst them is weakened, and my honour is considerably
discredited, since they heard what you did
to me about eating the dates. My power is at an
end, because they think I am an object of ridicule
with you; therefore have they renounced their allegiance
to me, and have separated themselves from
my dominion. Such are the acts they have committed,
and they will not obey my commands. You
must look after your own country, and mind your
own administration."
When Chosroe received this answer, he read it,
and understood its contents. Verily, said he, these
vagabond Arabs have a design upon me, and this dog
of dogs would trample upon me. But if I do not
age.
Who, O King of the age, said the satrap Khosrewan,
the original cause of all this trouble, is this
Monzar, that you should trouble yourself about him?
By your life, I am able to take him prisoner; I will
slay his horsemen, and will destroy his allies. I will
bring him and his children to you, bound with cords;
and if you order me, I will kill them all, and will
bring you his sons and his daughters, and most costly
plunder.
Khosrewan, said Chosroe, you are the only
person for this expedition, for it is all your doing;
so prepare, and march with the troops under your
command; and if you conquer the King of the
Arabs, kill him not, but bring him to me a prisoner,
that I may disgrace and punish him, and let him
feel his situation; and afterwards I will grant him
his life. Khosrewan accordingly made his preparations
in three days, and set out with twenty
thousand horsemen, armed with gilded shields and
cleaving swords; and Khosrewan was at their head,
like a lion.
But King Monzar, as soon as he observed Antar's
blow at the lion, and remarked his eloquence and his
poetry, felt assured that he was a distinguished hero
and warrior, and he thought it prudent to spare
his life, and not put him to death: but for the
ends of justice he determined to keep him a prisoner.
of an Arab, I will not proceed to extremities with
respect to this black warrior, for his equal is not to
be found in the whole world. Guard this horseman,
said he to his sons, until an answer reach us to
our letter from the Persian King; and we will then
persuade him that it is this wretch who has plundered
the cities and killed his subjects, and who has
excited against us the Arab hordes. This will give
a good colour to our excuses in all points, and thus
we shall gain our objects upon our enemies. So
Antar remained with the King imprisoned and
chained; and Monzar entered Hirah and awaited
the answer.
It was about the beginning of the day when
Monzar mounted his horse, and rode out to inhale
the news; when lo! a dust from the direction of
Persia appeared, and the whole country was blackened
and darkened, and from beneath it came forth
Persian horsemen, and the armies of Deelim. Take
your implements of war, cried Monzar, ply the
blow and the thrust, and protect the families and
the women, or eternal will be your disgrace; for
truly the offences against propriety in conversation,
and the blunders of the tongue, are the calamities of
man. And he sent for all the clans of the tribe of
Shiban, and all the Arab hordes; and the Persian
troops gave them no rest, but poised their spears,
and grasped their swords. The two parties met,
fixed, and were scared. Khosrewan advanced: he
assailed the tribes of Arabia, and his heart was
overjoyed; he dashed towards the standard of Monzar;
he overset them, and he destroyed the horsemen,
and annihilated them.
Now Monzar had encountered the Persians with
only twelve thousand men, and the evening did not
close before four thousand of them were slaughtered,
and the remainder returned, seeking safety in
flight; the Persians pursuing them until the shades
of night surrounded them; when the Persians
dismounting to repose themselves, Khosrewan also
halted and shouted aloud; and when they had
pitched their tents and lighted their fires, he ordered
his satraps and generals to surround the whole
city of Hirah, and to guard the roads and highways.
But Monzar, who entered Hirah routed and
discomfited, gnawed his hands from shame, and was
quite bewildered and beside himself. He sat down
attended by his three sons, Numan, Aswad, and
Amroo; and whilst they were consulting and debating,
in rushed a slave—O my lord, cried he, that
Absian warrior who is in my custody, when he
heard the uproar in the morning, asked me what was
the matter? We informed him what had happened;
then, said he, Conduct me to your King,
that I may point out to him the means of destroying
sands of the desert. Produce him, said Monzar; let
us hear what he has to say, and let us release him
from his fetters. But Antar was that day thinking
of his cousin, and of his expedition to procure her
dower, and to seize the Asafeer camels, and his
falling into captivity, and his failure. Then, as he
sighed from his overcharged heart, he thus recited:
"Tell Zoheir and Malik of me, tell Ibla of me,
in unvarnished language, that I seized the camels
flaunting over the plains, and that I felled down
the armies on the day of terrors; say that I was
marching away with the property and the beauteous
camels, when the stern-faced horsemen of
Sakhm forced them from me. My steed hurled
me on the battle field, and betrayed me, and subjected
me to the thrusts of every shield-armed
hero. Then I retired as a hostage, in chains: and
I have merited them; and I moved along in them,
like one overwhelmed with confusion. Had it not
been for the assault of the lion among them, and
their cry to me—Aid us, O Antar! when I met
him, fettered as I was—they never would have
acknowledged that I was the slayer of armies.
When the furious beast flew at me, I feared not.
My sword cleaved the body of the lion, and I
forced it out through his thighs in an instant, and
I wiped it on his skin. They cast me indeed into
tumbled him down like one precipitated from a
mountain's height."
We have told King Monzar, said the attendant
as he entered Antar's prison; he now demands you,
in order to hear your proposal. Antar arose, and
went with them into the presence of the King, who
ordered the fetters to be taken off from his feet, and
the cords to be cut that bound his hands. Then he
sighed, and thus spoke.
"May God forgive me that my soul is hardened,
for my uncle beguiled me and exposed me to perils,
and in his vile artifices has cast me into an abyss
of fire, whose flames encompass me. I am become
tortured of heart, fettered, my fingers and hands
bound round my neck. Few are there like me in the
day of the wood-entangled spears, when heroes contend
in the fierce charge: O King of the world, thy
sea is expansive as the glittering sword among men
and dæmons. When the warriors charge—then expose
me to them, and try my assault—my battle
among them. Be thou victorious, with Antar's aid,
and convert, my lord, thy fears into security. Protect
but my rear with a thousand lion heroes, and
thou shalt view the wonders of my sword and my
spear. Thou shalt see a lion driving away the horsemen
with a scimitar that surpasses the lightning's
flash in brilliancy. Grant me the dower for my
me to this enterprise. O Ibla, fear not the foe
on my account, when they crowd about me, and
the war horses charge; for death is but my own
form—my own qualities, and there is no prosperity
but what is attached to my bridle. I am
the youth that fells the horsemen in my strength
—a youth whose equal exists not on earth. O
breezes! I implore ye by the pillars at Mecca, by
Zemzem—by the sacred plains and Mesdelifa[17] ,—
when ye pass the land of Shurebah, waft my
salutation to Zoheir and his royal sons, and say
to the sorrowing Shiboob, hast thou forgotten
my faith—renounced my vows? for thou art my
foster brother, my stay, my support when my
friends betray me and persecute me—O Shiboob,
haste then, my brother, haste that thou mayst see
what I have suffered, and what has befallen me
—that thou mayst see a battle that will make
thee forget the past, and that thou mayst see,
O Shiboob, the boundless height of my glory.
For my ambition soars above the Pleiades, and
my fortunate star sparkles with brilliant rays."
The King was again surprised at Antar's bursts
of poetry and strength of mind; and he was convinced
of victory with his sword and spear. O
Absian, said he, what is this I have heard of you today,
when you heard the shouts and the attack of
gall was nearly bursting when I heard that you had
been obliged to fly from these caldrons of dogs:
this disgrace can never be erased from the Arabs.
What can men do, said Monzar, when double their
numbers attack them? and they are overwhelmed
by those who do not fear their carnage? Man, said
Antar, must patiently resist, and drink of the cup
of death as he drinks the purest water, and not fly
or run away. I am now in your power, and I demand
of you the marriage dower of Ibla, my uncle's
daughter; restore me my sword, my cuirass, my
arms, and my horse, and give me a thousand men
to defend my rear; and you shall see what my
courage and force will effect against your foes.
By the virtue of the Caaba, said Monzar, O
Absian, if you perform what you state, and destroy
this army—all my property, my he and she camels
are all at your disposal. Not one of us shall remain
behind the tent wall, but we will exert our
utmost energies against the foe, and we will strike
with our swords, and thrust with our spears. And
he ordered his horse and his arms and his cuirass to
be restored. And early on the morrow, a loud shout
arose from amongst the Persians, eager to plunder
the property, and capture the women and the children:
but the Arabs went forth against them, and
at their head was Antar, the hero of conquest; and
he cried out—Your hopes have failed, you caldron
nations shall record. Then he cried, O by thy
eyes, O Ibla, and thus repeated:
"On the day of battle exquisite is the carnage.—
Come forth then against me, ye men of abomina-tion—in
me ye shall meet a Knight whose blow
strikes life dead. I am the Antar of horsemen in
the contest, that makes armies and warriors drink
of ignominy, a draught from his hand with the
polished sword that glides through the neck, in
the battle field. Soon will I plunge into the war
dust till I encounter Khosrewan, and make him
drink of the cup of death: I will make him taste
from my sword a draught, after which he shall
never taste of pure water. Ye shall see the horse
scattered over the wastes—the Himyarite chiefs
shall be bound on their saddles. I am the lion,
foremost in war, and mine arm is the horror of
warriors. Mine is honour and good fortune and
glory, and my star is high above the brilliant
Arcturus."
He then received the attack of the horse as the
parched up ground the first of the rain; and his
thrusts were the thrusts that blinded vision, and
equalled fate and destiny. He overthrew heroes
and destroyed warriors, and in an hour blood was
flowing and streaming, and bowels were ripped open.
When the Persians observed these dreadful deeds,
they advanced from all quarters. The voice of
more rapid than the flash of the lightning; and the
Arab warriors, encouraged at his steadiness, felt
convinced of victory after defeat; but as soon as
the Persians saw these descending misfortunes, their
hearts regretted what had passed, and the land and
the region appeared too confined for them. The
whole country was blackened in their eyes; their
avidity was frustrated in the capture of the sons and
daughters.
Affairs continued in this position till mid-day,
and they toiled in the battle fiercer than a blaze of
fire. And when the heat oppressed the warriors,
the Persians gave way, and sought refuge in their
tents, and gave a loose to their despair. Many
were the horses deprived of their riders. Their
chief, Khosrewan, stood under the standards, and
the delay seemed tedious, for he was expecting that
his companions would return with the captives and
the spoil; when, lo! they indeed returned, but
in flight. O my lord, they cried, in reply to his
questions, the Arabs have vanquished us—we have
seen a prodigy among them—and if you do not
come down upon that chosen horseman, not a head
or tail of us will survive; for he fails not where he
aims; he succeeds in all he undertakes; and if he
attacks a whole troop, he disperses it; if he assaults
a horseman, he overthrows him, and his voice
is like the crash of thunder; the moment a man
lion when he assaults, and he drives away the warriors
before him like a flock of sheep.
As Khosrewan heard this he was greatly enraged,
and fire flashed from his eyes. Whence comes this
horseman, he exclaimed, to this country? and to
what Arabs is he related? Then starting from
beneath the standards he sought the place of
slaughter, and the scene of attack. In his hand
he bore a long mace, with which he assailed the
troops; he dived through the dust, and the heroes
trembled at his mace, as the dust rolled over his
horse.
Now Monzar was directing his sons to move beyond
the precincts of Hirah, when the form of
victory and triumph appeared to him in the odour
of that black lion. He sat down in his tent, and
seated Antar by him, for he was dearer to him than
all his family and relations; he congratulated him,
and gave him to eat, and there was no end to his
attentions and kindness; and as he engaged to him
every favour, he said, If I knew your heart would
be gratified by remaining with me, I would send a
messenger to your King, and would offer him my
friendship, and I would direct him to take Ibla
from her father, and send her to us, whether he
will or not. But I fear you will not allow me to
do what your heart would not sanction.
I cannot possibly remain here, replied Antar;
every day appears a thousand years to me; but I
swear by all your munificence towards me, were even
my heart to burst with the fierceness of my love and
passion, I will not quit this country till I have accomplished
your wishes in destroying your foul
enemies: to-morrow, by the grace of God, I will
rout their army. To-morrow I will go out to the
field of battle: I will challenge Khosrewan, and I
will invite him to terminate the affair; and if he engages
me, I will make him drink of the cup of death;
and afterwards I will put to flight these troops of
horse over the plains and the deserts. When they
had finished eating and drinking, and their conversation
about the battle and the contest, they retired
to rest and sleep. As soon as the morning
dawned with a smile, the horsemen rushed on,
anxious for the fight and the conflict; and as Khosrewan
was preparing to proceed to the field, lo! from
the Arab army there came forth a man between the
two ranks, and stood conspicuous amidst the two
armies, and both parties gazed at him. He was like
a strong battlement, immersed in steel; in his hand
was a sparkling blade; he had a long spear slung over
him, and under him was a steed of the colour of gold,
indefatigable in labour, as an Arab poet has described.
"Praise a yellow steed of the colour of gold, for
he is of the horses noblest in pedigree; his rider
shape and paces. He may be in the evening at
Tekmet, and in the morning at Aleppo."
And he galloped over the plain to and fro, and
he disclosed a countenance like that of a Ghoul;
the warriors and heroes marked him: and lo! it
was the illustrious chieftain and intrepid warrior,
Aboolfawaris, Antar, the son of Shedad; and he
came forth to put an end to the Persian contest,
and to slay their general; and thus return to his
family and country with wealth and riches. He
dashed into the centre of the army; he disdained
the common herd, and would not condescend to
challenge them. He burst on the right, and discomfited
it; and slew threescore and ten—he rushed
on to the left, and forced it in confusion on the
right; he returned again to the centre, seeking carnage
and bloodshed. He was mounted on a mare,
for his horse Abjer, wounded the day before, was
still unfit for the day of encounter. And when he
was in the centre between the two armies, he thus
spoke:
"Relieve my pains—ease my sorrows. Sally
forth, ay, every lion warrior. Taste a draught
at the edge of my sword, more bitter than the
cups of Absynth. When death appears in the
crowded ranks, then challenge me to the meeting
of armies. Ye Persians, I heed ye not, I
heed ye not. Where is he who wishes to fight
death? Bring him forth; let him see what he will
meet from my spear under the shades of the war-dust.
I swear, O Ibla, he shall eat of death. By
thy teeth, luscious to the kiss, and by thine eyes,
and all the pangs of their enchantment, and their
beauty, were thy nightly visionary form not to
appear to me, never should I taste of sleep. O
thou my hope! O may the western breeze tell
thee of my ardent wish to return home! May
it waft thee my salutation, when the sparkling
dawn bursts the veil of night! May God
moisten thy nights, and bedew thee with his
rain-charged clouds! May peace dwell with thee
as long as the western and northern breeze shall
blow!"
When Antar had finished—behold Khosrewan—
he appeared on the plain, and he was mounted on
a long-tailed steed, marked with the new moon on
his forehead, and on his body was a strong coat of
mail well knit together, the workmanship of David;
and armed with an imperial casque and a glittering
sword; and under his thighs were four small darts,
each like a blazing flame. And when he came
forth on the field of battle he roared aloud, and contemptuously
of the Arabs. Antar assailed him:
high arose the dust about them, so that they were
hid from the sight. They exhibited most extraordinary
prowess: they separated—they clung to each
they gave and took—they were close, they were
apart, until it was mid-day, and both had severely
toiled. But whenever Khosrewan attempted to assail
Antar and strike him with his mace, he ever
found him vigilant and on his guard, and aware of
his intent. So he darted away from him in order to
gallop over the field, and would exhibit all his manœuvres
and stratagems; but Antar kept him employed,
and wearied him, and prevented his executing
his designs, so that the chieftain's wrath became
intense. He snatched up one of his darts, and shook
it and hurled it at him—it flew from his hand like
the blinding lightning or descending fate. Antar
stood firm, and when it came near him, he met it,
and dexterously turning it off by his shield, it
bounded away, and fell upon the ground far off.
Khosrewan snatched out a second dart, and levelled
it at him; but Antar sprang out of its way, and it
passed harmless. He aimed a third, but Antar rendered
it fruitless by his dexterity and his persevering
activity. He hurled the fourth, but it shared
the same fate as the others.
When Khosrewan saw how Antar had parried
the darts, his indignation was extreme. Again he
took up his mace, and he roared even as a lion roars
—then stretching himself out with it, he hurled it,
backing it with a howl that made the plains and the
air rebellow. Antar threw away his spear, and met
air; then, aiming it at Khosrewan, he cried out,
Take that, thou son of a two thousand horned
cuckold! I am the lover of Ibla, and am alone—
the Phœnix of the world. Khosrewan saw him
grasp the mace in the air, and was horrified, for his
strength and force were exhausted. He retreated,
and attempted to fly from his antagonist, for he
was now convinced of his destruction. He moved
round his shield between his shoulders; but he felt
that his fate was nigh at hand, for the mace fell
upon his shield more forcibly than the stone of a
sling; furiously it rattled on the Persian chief, and
hurled him off his saddle to the distance of twelve
cubits, and broke his ribs and snapped his spine.
Every warrior was intensely agitated at this surprising
deed; and when the Persians saw it, they
were bewildered; they rushed upon Antar, agonized
as they were at this calamity, and exposed their
lives to certain death. The Arabs received them
with undaunted courage at the points of their spears;
and their spirit was exhilarated by the acts of Antar.
The two armies assailed, and the earth was
pounded under the trampling of the horses. The
horsemen and the clans encountered—clouds of dust
thickened over their heads: and their fury increased,
till they were like the waves of the boisterous
ocean. Spears penetrated through hearts
and waists, heads were flying off, blood was boiling,
the King of Death circled round the cup of mortality;
and the commands of the Most High were
executed upon them[18] .
Antar, the ferocious lion, felt his heart assuaged
in the midst of slaughter, and in the concussion of
heroes and warriors. He exhibited terrors amidst
the concourse of heroes, and scattered whole armies
over the plains and the mountains. King Monzar
cried out aloud to his troops, and they exposed
themselves to the enemy: roused afresh was the
flame of war; it fiercely raged, and its sparks flashed;
the dust blackened the whole land, so that both
earth and heaven were veiled. The ground tottered
under the hoofs of the noble steeds, until
the sweat even moistened their entrails. Blood
flowed from the throats of the chiefs. Antar strewed
the brave on the earth, and souls complained of
their sufferings to him who knows the secrets of the
world. Heads were hewn from the branches of
their bodies; and the Persians saw in the deeds of
Antar that day what terrified them, and magnified
their horror. They fell back in flight upon the
plains in agony at their dispersion and discomfiture,
and complaining of what had befallen their nobles
and their chiefs. The Arabs in their rear drove
them on to their fate, and truly their desires and
wishes were accomplished. As they exulted in the
crowded round Antar to thank and praise him, and
he stood before them like one immersed in a sea of
blood. Then, as he recollected the horrors he had
suffered, these verses boiled in his heart, and he thus
exclaimed:—
"Ask, O Absian maid, my spear and my sword
what they did on the day of the battle of the Persians.
I steeped them, whilst the spear gored
through the horse, in the blood of the foe mixed
with bitter Absynth. I dispersed the army that
bellowed out their thunders, and beneath it flashed
the lightning of their swords, mounted as I was
on a noble Arab charger, that flies when the
sword blades crash in the fight; he neighs for joy
whilst the spears are directed at him, that vibrate
like speckled serpents. I urged him into the sea
of deaths; he snorted, and plunged into the tempestuously
roaring waves. How many horsemen,
O Ibla, at the edge of my falchion have torn
their hands with their teeth in repentance! but I
felled them down on the battle plain, that the
wild beasts and eagles and hovering vultures
might drink of their blood. I must love the tribe
of Abs, were they even to shed my blood unrevenged,—such
is my love for thee, thou daughter
of noble chiefs! I will endure the burthen of
grievances, and sorrows, and captivity, and show
that I am a warrior and the son of a warrior.
will I come to thee with my trophies!"
Antar having finished these verses, the chiefs and
the warriors were astonished at his eloquence, and
they repaired with the spoil and plunder to the presence
of King Monzar, who started up to meet Antar,
kissed him between the eyes, and could only
congratulate him on his safety, for he was confounded
at such instances of his bravery. Horseman
of the day, he cried, protector of Abs and
Adnan! all that the Persians have left this day be
thine, O Knight of the time and age! for thou hast
earned it by thy sword and thy spear. Thou hast
brought peace and comfort to the Arabs. Let this
plunder be a grant from me to thee, together with
the Asafeer camels; and moreover, out of mine own
will I bestow immense wealth on thee; but I cannot
permit thee to wed the daughter of thy uncle
any where but here with me in this land, and I will
fulfil all thy wishes and thy desires; for I am resolved
to send letters to the tribes, and to assemble
the hordes from the waters and the springs, and
make ready for war against the just King.
O my lord, expel that thought from your mind,
cried Antar, for by the life of the eyes of Ibla, to
me the strongest of oaths, I alone will stand thee in
stead of the whole race of Arabs—never will I cease
from the blows of my Indian sword till I have not
left in your presence one of your enemies alive,
to put you in possession of the throne of Nushirvan.
Monzar expressed his thanks, for he knew he could
perform what he promised, from what he had observed
of his intrepidity in the black rolling dust.
Thus they entered Hirah, and rejoiced in their
victory and triumph; and Antar went to the habitation
that was prepared for him. Monzar retired
to rest; but he was greatly disquieted, and
feared Chosroe and his stratagems.
| CHAPTER V. Antar : | |