University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XXX.

When Antar fell a prisoner into the hands of the
tribe of Khoolan, they took him to their own
country, where Moshajaa confined him between four
iron stakes, and stationed over him a party of slaves,
saying to his companions, My cousins, this will we
continue to do until we receive from our master the
reward of our pains, and then we will deliver him
up to him, that he may do what he pleases with
him. And he instantly set out to King Safwan to
congratulate him on the fall of Antar. But the
women of the tribe of Khoolan having heard Antar's
story, and learnt his punishment, and having
marked the immensity of his bulk, and the horror
of his form, went to look at him; but the last that
entered was a very old woman, a stranger in that
land, and as soon as she saw Antar she recognised
him. She threw herself at his feet and kissed them,
saying, May this accident be the cause of joy to me,
O Aboolfawaris! How is it that the nocturnal wanderers
of evil have surprised you, and cast you into
prison and infamy? The women, on hearing these
words, and seeing her kiss Antar's feet, were much
astonished. Old woman, said Moshajaa's wife, who
is this black slave, that you kiss his feet? May

God be with you, noble ladies, said she, call him
not a black slave. By the faith of noble Arabs,
men of truth, and honour, there is not on the face
of the earth a braver man than this great warrior;
nor among the Arab chiefs, or the most illustrious
princes, is there one whose munificence is more unbounded,
or whose benevolence is more exalted. As
to his courage, said the women, we have heard of
it; it was clear and evident: but what hast thou
seen of his generosity, that thou shouldst thus praise
him? I will tell you, said she, and I will relate an
instance of his liberality. You all know my son;
well! once on a time he surprised some she camels
belonging to this young man, and took away about
a thousand of them; but as he was returning home
to be married to one of his cousins (it was his intention
to make these camels her marriage dower),
this man, black in skin, but fair in deeds and qualities,
overtook him, and rescued his camels, and
took my son prisoner, and went away with him to
the tribe of Abs; and just as he was going to put
him to death, he asked my son about his situation
in life, and his Arab descent, and on what account
he had plundered his camels. So my son told him
he was in love with his cousin, and that it was only
on her account he had seized the cattle. Upon this,
he ran towards him, and released him, and gave him
the thousand camels which he had plundered, and
presented him, over and above, three hundred more,
saying, When the property you have now in hand
fails come hither to me. My son returned delighted
and happy; and soon after married his cousin, and
all his sorrows were removed. And now we are
living under the aid of God and this youth, and
there is not a tribe in the desert but is sensible of
his liberality. The women being much astonished
at the narrative of the old woman concerning Antar's
generosity and benevolence, greatly extolled
and honoured him, and then quitted him. They
reposed in peace that night, but the next morning
the tribe was invaded by a predatory party of horse,
consisting of five hundred horsemen, all in coats of
mail, and clothed in armour, with a warrior of the
haughty tyrants of Arabia, called Mobadir. These
warriors and horsemen rushed upon the tribe of
Khoolan, whilst Mobadir cried out in a loud voice,
O Mavia, for such a day as this have I been
anxiously waiting on thy account; and he rushed forward
at the head of his heroes, pouncing down like
the rush of a torrent. He attacked the tents, and
brought down captivity among the dwellings. The
cause of his arrival was this: he had long demanded
in marriage the daughter of the chief of the tribe,
who would not consent to marry her to him; so he
watched her father, till having heard that he was
gone to King Safwan, he collected these heroes and
horsemen, and came to seize her as his captive from
beneath the glittering sabres. When the women
were aware of this event, they trembled at captivity
and infamy; screams and shrieks arose; but the
most dreadful calamity was in the dwellings of Moshajaa,
for they had invaded it by force, and surrounded
it with misery. There stood Mavia exclaiming,
Alas! alas! captivity! Alas! alas!
separation from home! This day the foe has vanquished
us, and we are for ever clothed in shame.
O noble ladies, said the old woman who had described
Antar, in this catastrophe there is nothing
to be done but to go to Antar and ask his aid, and
demand his protection: he is able to destroy your
enemies were they as numerous as the sands of the
desert. To this they assented, and screaming aloud,
went to the place where was Antar, the lord of
battles. Among the first was Mavia, and as they
threw themselves at his feet, O Aboolfawaris, they
exclaimed, we are under thy protection, and the
protection of Ibla, daughter of Malik: we have indeed
heard that thou art noble-hearted towards
women and maidens.

O Aboolfawaris, cried Mavia, kissing his hands,
a calamity has overtaken us, and we implore thy
assistance. And she related to Antar all that
Mobadir had done to them, from first to last; and
when, added she, he understood my father was absent,
he came in order to seize me by the force of
the cleaving scimitar; and now, O Aboolfawaris,
we are between two perilous circumstances, and two
deadly calamities; for we fear if we release you,
you will avail yourself of the opportunity, and
plunder our property, as well as that of the foe, and

then you will seek your own home, and no doubt
you will be excused in doing so; for indeed you
are near your death and every evil; but if we now
quit you, this tyrant will destroy us, both us and
you too. O Mavia, said Antar, console thy heart
and brighten thine eye, I will rout these cowardly
foes for thee, and I will disperse them among the
wastes and the wilds, and I will then return to my
fetters and my chains; and I will not depart hence
but by the mutual consent of all your men and
women; for generous men are not ungrateful, and
they do not abuse fortune for exciting troubles
against them. Know too that my captivity was
only the effect of fate and destiny, from which no
creature can escape or fly.

As soon as Mavia and the women heard this,
they were convinced of victory and conquest. They
ran towards him, and released him from his chains
and fetters, and brought him his weapons for battle
and carnage; As to your horse, said they, not one
of us can venture to approach him. Release my
brother Shiboob, said Antar, he is accustomed to
him: (Shiboob had been bound close to him), so
they set him at liberty. He went up to Abjer and
saddled him and brought him to his brother Antar,
who sprung from the ground on his back, after he
had clothed himself in iron, and a magnificent coat of
mail, in which he appeared like a strong battlement.
And he assailed the foe with a heart undaunted at
death and extinction: he shouted with his well

known shout in his wrath, Ignoble dastards, I am
Antar, son of Shedad; quit the women and the
children! and he attacked and transfixed the horsemen,
and drove them round the skirts of the dwellings:
at his second attack he repulsed them from
the walls, and slew twenty of them, overwhelming
them with shame and disgrace; he charged them
like a trampling lion, fearless of multitudes, and
thus expressed himself:

"Whenever I go as a guest to a tribe, and they
be alarmed by their enemies, may I never grasp
a spear-staff in my hand, may sleep never seal up
my eyes! My captivity by the Shrine of God is
no fault; for I have been proved in the day of
battles. I was made prisoner by stratagem and
the destiny of God, whose power is infinite over
his slaves, whom he drives, in despite of every opposition,
into bondage, either for their advantage or
destruction."

As soon as Antar had finished, he assaulted the
party, and dispersed their united bands, and routed
the horsemen, and destroyed their warriors. When
the chief saw Antar's exploits: Eh, bastard! said
he, what Arab slave art thou? tell me before I cut
off thy head, and extinguish thy life for thy opposition
to the depredations of the warriors of the
age. Mobadir had almost gained possession of the
whole clan, and was pillaging the property. Baseborn,
cried Antar, knowest thou me not? and what
noble hero I am? I am Antar, son of Shedad, the

conqueror of hardy warriors! Away to thy home!
for as to the booty, I have rescued it from thy
power; and if thou doubtest my word, come on—
on to the plain—that I may make thee drink of the
cup of infamy. Mobadir only laughed, and smiling,
said, They say too, that thou art a man that deals
fairly, but this day I see thou movest on the road
of oppression. I am, said Antar, just what they say
of me; but what is it thou requirest that I should
do thee justice? Know then, said Mobadir, that
I had nearly gained possession of the clan, and
seized my beloved; but thou hast interrupted the
accomplishment of my desires. Thou bastard, said
Antar, thou hast demanded a man's daughter in
marriage, but he will not accept thee for a husband;
thou hast staid quiet till he was absent on some
business, and now hast come in his absence to take
her captive from beneath the glittering scimitars;
and this is the justice with which thou hast acted
towards him. Mobadir rushed at him, and wanted
to charge in front of him, and gallop about; but
Antar would not permit him even to wheel round,
before he attacked him and stopped him in his
charge, and checked him in his martial display, and
aimed at him with Dhami between his eyes. Mobadir
received the blow on his shield, but it cleft it
in twain, and his casque it hewed in two, and the
sabre still continued its course down to his thighs,
even to the back of his horse, seven spans into the
ground: thus he hurled him and his horse to the
ground in four equal divisions. Alas! alas! cried
Mobadir's companions at the sight of this blow, this
furious warrior must be one of the genii; so saying,
they fled, throwing away all the property they had
acquired, and calling out to Antar, May God curse
thy flat-nosed father and thy harlot mother! how
hard are thy blows! how penetrating is thy thrust,
and how fierce is thy assault! Antar pursued them
till he drove them out of that country, and afterwards
returned to collect the scattered horses and
dispersed arms. Shiboob attended him like one of
the rebellious fiends till they reached the tribe of
Khoolan.

Antar no sooner dismounted from Abjer than the
women surrounded him, and kissed his hands and
feet. Noble ladies, said Antar, return me now to
my chains and fetters. But they said, By the
faith of an Arab, nothing shall touch thy feet, instead
of fetters, but the blessings of cheeks. By
the faith of an Arab, said Antar, that must never
be, were I even to drink of the cup of death and
perdition. Eh! son of my mother, cried he to Shiboob,
return me to my chains and fetters; let it not be
said that I have falsified my word. What! said
Shiboob, thou art surely mad. What! now thou
art at liberty, and hast vanquished thy captors,
wilt thou again cast thyself into chains and fetters,
and wait till some one comes to slay thee? Yes!
said Antar, let me not sin against my oath; let not
a falsehood approach me. Shiboob, on hearing

this, was more and more enraged, and in a great
passion came up to Antar, and fastened the weighty
fetters on his feet. Well then, said he to him, lie
there in base imprisonment, that thou mayest
not sin against thine oath! But Antar did not
remain in captivity longer than that night; for
on the next day the Chief Moshajaa returned
with his warriors, and as they came near to
the tents, they saw the dead piled up among the
dwellings and habitations. Moshajaa also beheld
Mobadir's head fixed on the point of one of the
tallest spears by the side of his tent. On inquiring
about this, they told him what Antar had done.
Moshajaa and his warriors were fixed in astonishment.
By the faith of noble Arabs, said he, we
shall never be able to requite this man by all we
can do for him; for whilst we went to demand his
death, he has done this deed for us; he has protected
our wives and families, and has even returned
himself to chains and fetters. Thus saying, they
ran towards Antar, the lion warrior, and set him at
liberty. Moshajaa fell down and kissed his feet,
and bringing him into the middle of the tent, they
clothed him in robes of honour, and presented him
with riches, and begged his pardon for what they
had done. O Chief, said one to Moshajaa, what
answer will you make to King Safwan, to whom
you have pledged your word? Cousin, said Moshajaa,
where can there be a more complete excuse
than this? Here is one who protected our wives
in our absence, and has done a deed no human
being ever did before. After this they made preparations
to accompany Antar, and to depart to the
land of Abs. Moshajaa mounted with five hundred
horsemen of the chiefs of his tribe.

Antar also set out on his way to the land of
Shooreba and Mount Saadi, greatly pleased at the
union with the tribe of Khoolan; and as he marched
at their head in great spirits, he thus recited:

"Where is my love? my sport? my song? Begone,
my failings of my early youth! What was
expanded is now folded up. The matrons and the
large-eyed damsels shall keep me in remembrance;
torture has not relaxed my powers in the battle,
and the lion stands in awe of me on the plain and
the mountain. It has not enervated me, and I
will not mourn in tears at home and my native
lands. In horses and black coursers is my delight;
love and wine are no more my occupations.
How can ambition raise any one to glorious eminence,
whose post is in talking of sports and
songs? My failing is in horses; my boast is in their
hoofs; when the lion hero moves on them, despair
moves with him. My Abjer blusters with
me on the day he bears me: is there a hero that
escapes me? or can a warrior touch me? How
many warriors have I put to flight in confusion,
meeting every form of death like a roaring torrent!
As to the dust, I have plunged into it,
high and low, with sword blows, and spear

thrusts, among scimitars and lances. I do not
intend that the tribe shall get drunk with my blood:
am I not their superior both in word and deed?
Let no one drink blood but who has a forfeit due;
and let him not repose, whose neighbour is in
trouble. The enemy cannot repel him with their
thrusts; he is replete with virtue, joyous with
wine. Were not Cais my King, and did I not
obey him, I would have drank of blood sweeter
than honey from Rebia and the wretch who resists
me on account of Ibla; still I am in anxious
fears about her; I am of the noble and illustrious
ones, ever renowned over the plains and the hills.
I wish to exterminate them, but my tenderness
prevents me, and I check my impatience. He
who wishes to be honoured as I am honoured,
let him pierce the warriors, or challenge the
heroes."

The chieftains were astonished at his eloquence,
and expressed the gratification they felt. May God
never abandon thee! may no one ever harm thee! O
knight of the age, and the result of the time and
the period! cried Moshajaa, for thou hast not left
for any one either a word to speak or a deed to do.
Thus they continued their march till they came
near to the tribe of Abs. Antar led them on like a
furious lion; he uncovered his head, and received
the horsemen of Aamir as the parched up land receives
the first of the rain, with resistless and never-failing
blows, as also the warriors of Khoolan, for

they were undaunted heroes, they penetrated through
the ranks of the foe, and made them drink of the
cups of death and perdition, scattering them over
the plain and the waste.

But when the Absians heard Antar's shout, their
souls revived, and they seemed to live again. Ay!
my cousins, exclaimed Cais, now take retaliation on
the foe, and cast off this dishonour, for this is our
champion Antar that is arrived; now destroy your
enemies over the plain and the mountain; and he
who will not exert himself in the battle, may he
never have a legitimate child! The Absians roused
all their energy and spirit for the contest. But
when Khalid saw Antar approach, he felt aware
that he was able to annihilate his whole force, were
they even double their numbers, and that he would
disperse them over the desert and the sand-hills.
So he called out to the Aamirites, and drew them
off; they hesitated not, but dispersed themselves
over the wilds and the wastes. Now I have nothing
to do, said Khalid, but to go to the tents and kill
all my Absian prisoners. When lo! they appeared
before him, mounted on high-blooded steeds, with
Shiboob hardly touching the earth with his feet.
For Shiboob, on the arrival of his brother Antar,
seeing how eager the enemy was in the contest, felt
assured that there must be some Absian prisoners
among them; so he set out for the tents of Aamir,
where meeting Shedad and Oorwah, and the other
prisoners, he hasted towards them, and released

them, and brought them horses, and weapons, and
corslets, and armour, and they became warriors
again. As soon as Khalid saw them thus rescued
from imprisonment and danger, he had no other
resource but to wheel round his horse, and fly to
the land of the tribe of Fazarah. After him also
fled the Brandisher of Spears; the standards and
ensigns were upset, and the whole army was scattered
over the plain and the waste, pursued by
Antar and the tribes of Abs and Khoolan, till they
expelled them out of the country, when they returned
to their dispersed horses and scattered arms;
and having collected their property and baggage,
they set out for the tents, Antar at the head of
them, like a noble lion. King Cais kissed him
between the eyes, and congratulated him on his
escape, and inquired what had happened. Antar
related how Rebia and his brother Amarah had
mediated his death, and every circumstance relative
to his imprisonment and liberation.

On hearing this, King Cais execrated Rebia and
his brother, and all the race of Zeead, saying, O
Aboolfawaris, be not distressed, for by the faith
of an Arab, I must punish the race of Zeead for
their conduct; but some one says:

"We acted kindly, and we were rewarded by
the reverse, and such is the conduct of worthless
traitors: those who act kindly to persons of a
different nature, are required as one who assisted
a hyena was requited."

O Aboolfawaris, added Cais, it is, however, incumbent
on me to repay the tribe of Khoolan, by all
the favours and benefits in our power, and that we
consider them among our friends and allies. But
we had better go first to the tribe of Fazarah, for
I fear their chief must be reduced to extremities,
and that we shall have some difficulty in delivering
him. Do, O king, as you please, said Antar, for I
will not oppose you; but here let us repose. Having
halted at the tents, the slaves brought them their
dinner, and they treated the tribe of Khoolan with
every distinction. They slept that night till dawn
of day, when they set out for the land of the tribe
of Fazarah, Antar marching ahead, and thus reciting:

"I am going to assist Rebia and his tribe; never
can I sit quiet when the dust of war is roused;
were it not for thee, O Cais, I would not go to
them; but thou art my glory and my protector.
Fazarah every day opposes me, but they are, in
the contest, ever under alarms. All the kings of
the earth fear my blows, and I have an impetuous
action in the battle, no other knight possesses my
ambition! Its seat is above the Pisces, and, in the
combat, my strength is like that of a trampling
lion. Although my complexion is black, my deeds
are the dawn of day, and fear of me is in the hearts
of the most valiant; for I thicken my spear-thrust
in every region, and I cry out in the heat of the
carnage, where is my opponent? I am the bold

lion and hero, as they call on me in the day of the
crash of multitudes. The kings of the earth are
sensible of the terror of my power. In the slaughter
I encounter the vagabond warriors, and my sword,
when the dust mounts on high, cries to me, steep
me in wine, the blood of horsemen; and when my
spear quivers on the deadly day, its barb is like a
kindling flash of fire. For love of thee, O daughter
of Malik, I am a lion hero. O thou ornament of
women in the assemblies! O Ibla, wert thou to see
my deeds and exploits, when the black columns
rise up on the desert, like the darkness of night,
thou wouldst see me rush into it with a violence
and vehemence, no one, either naked or clothed,
can surpass."

The warriors and chiefs, in astonishment at such
eloquence, pursued their journey till, as they approached
the tribe of Fazarah, they saw that the
enemy had surrounded them on all sides; their
voices were enfeebled—they were fighting among the
tents, and the power of utterance had almost expired.
For Harith, son of Zalim, who was with them, as
we before stated, seeing the party discomfited, said
to himself, Why should I thus presumingly interfere,
till I die slaughtered? Accordingly, about evening,
he took his men away, and seeking the pastures of
the tribe of Fazarah, he carried off five thousand he
and she camels; and saying, This is the reward of
my trouble, he set out for his own country. But,
in his absence, the sword played among the tribe of

Fazarah, and Abdallah, Direed's brother, fell upon
them unawares, with his troops. Khalid too, in his
fears, repaired to them, and told them the loss he
had sustained. Abdallah's alarms were awakened
at hearing this account of Antar and the Absians,
being certain they would not leave him quiet.
Anxious, therefore, to avail himself of the opportunity,
and pillage the property of Fazarah, and
wishing to retire before the arrival of Antar, he
called out to his warriors, and as he encouraged them
to the contest, they exposed their lives to death and
perdition; and making an assault on the tribe of
Fazarah, like voracious lions, they devastated the
country, and overwhelmed them with their triumphant
superiority. Just as they were resolved on
flight, all but Rebia, and the chieftains of Fazarah,
and Zeead, and as the wretch Amarah was trembling
in despair, with the women, arrived the tribes of Abs
and Ghiftan, and the warriors of Khoolan, and Antar,
the destroyer of horsemen. With one universal
shout of, O by Abs! O by Adnan! they rushed
down on the foe with hearts to which death was
sweet and easy, and in less than an hour they drove
them far from the tents, Antar exhibiting all his
horrors, and performing deeds that would turn
infants grey; and so astonished was the tribe of
Khoolan, at Antar's exploits, that they wished him
to return with them, that they might make him the
champion of their lands and territory. Before midday,
the army fled in disgrace, and Abdallah, giving
the reins to his horse, escaped. After this, the Arab
horses were dispersed, and Khalid also fled, and
sought the barren waste, alarmed at the chief Antar.
The horsemen were scattered over the plains and
sand-hills, and before evening, there not being one
left, Antar conducted his people, and the tribe of
Khoolan, back, and departed for the land of Abs
and Adnan. But King Cais halted with the tribe
of Fazarah, on account of Rebia, and congratulated
him on his safety. Ah, O Cais, where, indeed, is
our safety? said Hadifah; but that is of no consequence
to thee, that does not interest thee. King
Cais concealed these expressions in his heart; he
remained that night with them, and departed the
next day. But Antar, whilst he was marching with
the tribe of Khoolan, meditated on the circumstances
that had occurred to him among the tyrants of Arabia,
and he thus recited:

"Question my scimitar about my deeds on the
day of battle, and my blows amongst the kidnies
and the joints. Ask my whizzing spear, in the
sand-cloud, how many throats of noblest heroes
I have pierced. How many columns of dust I
have rushed through on my steed, crying out,
with a loud shout, Where is my antagonist? Whenever
Death sees me, he flies away in terror, frightened
at my Indian blade and spear. How many
warriors have I laid low with my sabre? whilst
the black blood rolled in waves from the breasts
of the combatants. I have routed, in the fiery

field, the sons of Aamir, on the backs of their
snorting chargers. They roam in flight, distracted
over the desert, horror-struck at my strength, and
the magnitude of my achievements. Learn, O
Ibla, how many warriors I have destroyed, how
many knights, on the day of carnage, I have
captured, and have then set at liberty, after lacerating
their joints. How many heroes have sought
to slay me, but have not succeeded in their
attempts, and their every machination has been
frustrated. I have left Khalid, son of Moharib,
mangled, stretched out on the stones, and the
rocks; and as to his ill-starred tribe, I have made
them drink of death with the wine of absinth.
Also, in the valley of Torrents, I annihilated their
crowds, and made Wirdishan drink of the cups of
the grave. I seized all the wealth of Irak, and
Chosroe himself arose, bewildered and aghast.
Verily, I slew Badhramoot in my strength, against
whom the lions of armies could not prevail. I
carried off the Asafeer camels for thee, and the
diadem of Chosroe, unequalled in the world. I
am the Antar of horsemen—the knight of the tribe
—merciful and clement—black in complexion—
intrepid. I am the dauntless hero in every fight;
I am the knight of the fiery contest of illustrious
chieftains. Though, my cousin, my complexion
is black, yet my deeds are fair offsprings of munificence.
I have that ambition, whose seat is above
Pisces, and my success and prosperity are the consummation
of all good fortune. Mine is perfect
liberality and purest love, and my mansion is the
resort of every guest. All the kings of the earth
dread my power, and my renown is spread throughout
every tribe. My spear-thrust appears in death
and perdition, wherever life pervades the muscles
of man. Death is terrified at me, and even when
he wishes to escape me, I goad him on to speedier
flight with my iron fingers."

The warriors and chiefs having thanked him, they
continued their march till they reached home, when
Antar alighted and conducted the tribe of Khoolan
to the tents. The next day came King Cais, and
the Absian chiefs. Antar rode out to meet them
and saluted them; and, to his inquiries concerning
the race of Zeead, By the faith of an Arab, my
cousin, said Cais, had you yourself even fallen upon
Rebia, and his brother, you would not have given
them bitterer wounds. They now made feasts and
entertainments for the tribe of Khoolan, and treated
them with every honour and distinction. King Cais
presented them with the most beautiful of his horses,
the finest of his spears, and the most brilliant of his
swords. Antar did the same as King Cais, and gave
their chief a string of Asafeer camels, and presented
him with five hundred of the she camels of the Volcano
Mountain. Thus, the tribe of Khoolan, much
gratified at the friendship of Antar, and the tribe of
Abs and Adnan, sought their own country and lands.
The Absians remained quiet at home; and the state

affairs of King Cais were well arranged under the
terror of Antar, son of Shedad; yet he always kept
himself informed of Khalid's movements, that he
might still have his revenge on him. But Khalid,
when he fled, sought the land of Aamir, and though
his party had preceded him, and had given the intelligence
of their defeat, on his arrival the crisis
appeared more disastrous. He assembled the chiefs
that very day, and he debated about an expedition
to the land of Irak, in order to complain of their
situation to Prince Aswad, his near relation. They
acquiesced in his wishes, and after they had secured
their property and families on the mountain tops,
they left the Brandisher of Spears to protect them,
together with a small body of men, and departed
for the land of Irak. Now Harith, when he quitted
the land of Fazarah, immediately conducted his
people to their own country, and then hastened with
all expedition to the land of Irak, wishing to avert
the calamities of the time, and to see how the business
would terminate, for he had a sister in Hirah,
married to a man called Sinan, son of Ebe Harithah;
she was usually employed in suckling King Numan's
children, and at that time she was nursing one of
his infants, called Shirjibeel. Harith alighted at
his sister Selma's, with the view of relating to King
Numan what the tribe of Abs and Adnan had
suffered from the brave Aamirites, as perhaps he
would send some aid to the Absians, and appoint
him to command it. The next day, he presented
himself to King Numan, and stated the case of the
Absians, and what the tribe of Fazarah had also
suffered from Abdallah, son of Samah. King
Numan was much mortified, as was also Prince
Aswad, on account of the tribe of Fazarah. Numan
even wished to despatch that very day a messenger
to the Arab hordes, and assemble an army to the
assistance of the tribe of Abs and Adnan; but, in
the course of the day, arrived Khalid and some of
the Aamirite chiefs, who repaired to Aswad with
their turbans hanging loose round their neck, and
howling in tears, and lamentations, and complaining
of the disasters they had endured at the hands of
the Absians. What! said Aswad, O Khalid, Harith
has just told us, that you had assembled an army
against the Absians, and had left them, like many
others, the prey of your sword, and my brother
Numan has resolved on writing to the Arabs, and
to send them to the tribe of Adnan, but now 'tis you
yourself that complain of them. Harith was right in
what he said, returned Khalid, but he knew not
what happened to us afterwards. But we, O prince,
were the first aggrieved by the Absians; for King
Zoheir falsely accused us of the blood of his son
Shas, and outraged us—he slew our warriors; but
when I overcame him, and put him to death, I
pardoned his wife and progeny. When Cais conquered
us, we secured ourselves in the mountains,
but they killed twelve hundred of our heroes in one
day, as Antar has described in his verses, where he
says:

"We slew of them two hundred and one thousand
freeborn in the defiles and deserts."

When we heard of Nacmah's death we threw
ourselves upon Direed, and set out to engage them,
and when we had reduced them to the last extremity,
their slave Antar came up, and with him a
party of Arab warriors: he defeated our armies,
and dispersed us. We are therefore come hither
that you may make peace between us and them,
and for every price of blood we will give ten; only
let them set at liberty our women. On hearing
Khalid's discourse, Aswad pitied him in his heart;
and engaging to accommodate matters, he went to
his brother Numan, and related all the transactions
between the Absians and Aamirites, and also Khalid's
arrival, and that he was anxious to make peace
with the Absians. As King Numan thought nothing
was more desirable than harmony among the
Arabs, he told his brother to introduce Khalid and
his chiefs. Aswad introduced them, and King Numan
arranged an impartial peace, neither prejudicial
nor too advantageous. He also gave them a splendid
entertainment; and thus that day passed till evening,
when they mutually communicated the various
events and circumstances that had happened to
them. Soon after, the horsemen having dispersed
and quitted King Numan's assembly, Harith, whose

envy of Antar was greatly increased by what he had
heard from Khalid, resolved to put Khalid to death,
even under the sacred hospitality of Numan. Fixed
in his determination, and only waiting till every one
was asleep, he sprung up, and cautiously moved
towards the tent where Khalid slept. He entered,
and finding him asleep, he smote him with Zoolhyyat,
and severed his head from his body. He was
departing, but it still occurred to his mind that
perhaps his blow had not had its effect, and recollecting
Warca's blow at Khalid on a former occasion,
he returned and placed the edge of his sword
against Khalid's chest, and leaned with all his
weight upon it, till he plunged it deep through his
body two spans into the earth[2] . Now being convinced
he had finished him, he hastened away for
his horse; he mounted, and quitted Hirah by night,
distraction in his countenance; sometimes turning
to the right, sometimes to the left, till the day dawned.
At that time Akhwedh arose to seek his brother,
but he saw him dead. He shrieked in his horror:
he ran to Aswad, and communicated the fate of his
brother. Aswad ordered Harith's men to be seized,
and they were instantly cast into chains and fetters.
Thence he went to his brother Numan, and related
what Harith had done. At this the light became
dark in the eyes of Numan, and he swore he would
put Harith to death.

As to Harith, after he had slain Khalid, he repented
of the deed, and feeling assured he must die,
he resolved to repair to the mountains and defend
himself there till overtaken by death. But how
can I be at ease? he said to himself; my cousins
will be all murdered. He therefore set out on his
return to Hirah, concealing himself among the
mountains and the sand-hills till evening, when he
reached Hirah, having first secreted his horse in
some by-place. He then sought the spot where his
companions were confined; perceiving their guards
drowned in the sea of sleep, he grasped Zoolhyyat,
and slaughtered them to the number of fity. Hie
to the tribe of Abs, he cried to his friends, and demand
protection of King Cais, son of Zoheir, and
of Antar, son of Shedad; but as for me, it is impossible
for any one of the subjects of King Numan
to protect me, for he is the king of the Arabs, but
I am resolved on taking retaliation before I am slain:
thus saying, he quitted them, and death became easy
to him, till he entered his sister Selma's dwelling: and
as soon as she saw him she saluted him. O my brother,
said she, what has brought you back, safe as
you were? I want thee, said Harith, to give me
Numan's young son Shirjibeel, that I may meet his
father with him to-morrow. I will request him to

forgive me this blood and this crime; and as I was intoxicated
when I murdered Khalid, perhaps he may
pardon me on account of his child, and then I care
not if the whole tribe of Aamir assemble against me.

His sister saw the propriety of this observation;
but she knew not the fraud and odious designs he
harboured; so she made over Numan's child to him
in her fears for her brother. Harith carried him
off, and hastened to the passage out of the city,
where he remained near his horse till the city gates
being opened, and the inhabitants coming forth, he
cried out in a loud voice. The people stopped when
they saw Harith, and hearing his shout, they stood
staring at him as he tossed Numan's child up in the
air, and as he fell he caught him on the point of his
sword; and the child fell, cut in two, on the spot;
and it was a lovely infant! On beholding this, the
people ran back to the city, and informed King
Numan of the death of his child by the hand of
Harith. On hearing the murder of his infant, a
flame was kindled in his heart. He ordered his
armies to march; and there went forth about twelve
hundred men in the pursuit of Harith. But he, as
soon as he had slaughtered Shirjibeel, mounted his
horse, and made towards the boundless desert; and
whilst he was travelling with all expedition, behold!
armies, like the rolling seas, appeared. He turned
upon them as a lion would do, and shouted; they
were dismayed. He shouted again in the faces of

their horses; he forced them back on their haunches,
and they cast their riders off their backs. We have
already mentioned Harith's superior prowess and
intrepidity. He was one of the thousand tyrants:
and he did not desist fighting from the forenoon
even till the sun turned pale, by which time he had
slain about seven hundred horsemen. But by the
evening he was almost dead; yet he did not so much
grieve for himself as he grieved for his sword, and
that the foe should possess it when he was no more;
so he went up to an immense rock that grew hard
by, and heaving up his arm with Zoolhyyat, he extended
his elbow, and smote the rock, wishing to
shiver the weapon by the blow, that it might not
fall into the enemy's possession, but it split the rock
in two, and he continued his flight. When King
Numan's troops came to the side of the rock and
beheld Harith's blow, their senses were startled;
they stopped short, and not one of them dared to
pursue him a span's length, saying to one another,
By the faith of an Arab, no one will pursue him but
he who bids adieu to life, and hails his death! for
when he saw no one before him to smite, he smote
this rock; but had this blow fallen on one of us,
what would have become of him? The twelve hundred
being thus routed, returned to Hirah, and told
Numan that Harith had escaped in safety. Numan
instantly sent for Sinan. Thou vile old man, said
he, thou perfidious dog! No one but thou has murdered
my son; it was through thee I knew that
Harith, son of Zalim. No one shall ever rescue
thee from hanging, unless he give security for thee
as responsible for Harith. Sinan gave security for
himself that he would produce Harith, were it possible,
and if not, he would be his substitute in captivity
and disgrace; and this the whole body of
King Numan's satraps guaranteed. But what happened
to Harith? When he had delivered himself
from the army of King Numan, he turned his face
towards the wastes and the wilds, and worked hard
to make himself a resting-place on the mountain
top, eating the herbs of the earth, and drinking of
the rain-puddles. As to his companions, whom he
had released from Numan's dungeons, and ordered
to repair to the tribe of Abs and Adnan, they
speeded away till they came to King Cais, and told
him how Harith had murdered Khalid. At hearing
this from the horsemen of Marah, King Cais was in
a transport of delight, and he invested them with
honorary robes. The Chief Antar also heard the
news, and was overjoyed, though he wished Khalid's
death had been the work of his own hand.
By the faith of an Arab, said he, if Harith comes
to me I will protect him from King Numan, from
Chosroe Nushirvan, and from every one that dwells
in the wilds and the deserts. King Cais too ordered
splendid feasts and entertainments; but as he
looked at Antar, he perceived that he eat and drank
but little, and did not partake in the pleasures and
amusements: so his brothers said to Cais, Outrage
not Antar's heart, but order his uncle Malik to
marry Ibla to him, that our joy may be complete.
King Cais accordingly sent for Malik, and taking
him aside, said, Why do you not wed Ibla to
her cousin Antar? is she not his affianced wife?
and have you not taken her marriage portion? Yes,
O king, said Malik; Ibla, and her mother, and her
father, and her brother, are his slaves at his service;
and if you wish it, to-night before to-morrow's dawn
I will marry her to him. In three days I desire,
said King Cais, that our joys may be complete and
our enemies be vexed. Malik acquiesced, and stood
up to go away after having kissed his hand; and
when they separated, Malik went home, and being
alone with his wife, he sent Ibla to her uncle's, and
as he wept before her mother, What's the matter?
said she to him. One has used me ill, said he, out
of whose influence I cannot withdraw myself; for
his heart is now relieved from the affliction of his
enemies, and Antar is even in greater favour with
him than with his father. He has obliged me to
marry Ibla to him; but by the faith of an Arab,
were the head of this vile slave to mount to heaven
itself, my heart could never submit to yield him my
daughter. Now Ibla's mother felt convinced that her
daughter could be matched to no one but Antar,
because he had ever protected her. As to Antar,
he returned home quite rejoiced at the order for his
marriage, and he wanted to mount his horse, and go
to his uncle's, when lo! his brother Shiboob came
up to him, distressed and melancholy. What's the
news? said Antar; what has happened? Know, son
of my mother, said Shiboob, that your sister Merwah
is come from the dwellings of the tribe of Ghiftan,
and she is in a violent passion, and probably
angry with her husband; but she wishes to see you.
Antar immediately went to see what was the matter.
This Merwah was the daughter of Shedad, and
married in the tribe of Ghiftan to a man called Jahjah;
and she had a son, whose name was Hatal,
who used to mount the horses, practise horsemanship,
and was habituated to nocturnal expeditions.
His uncle Antar was very fond of him; but when
he heard of the arrival of his sister, he hastened to
her: she sprung up towards him, and kissing his
hand, O my brother, said she, my son Hatal! the
heroes of Ghiftan have bewildered his mind: they
ordered him to join them, and took him away with
them to gain some cattle and plunder. But some
nights ago I saw a dream, and there were my son
and his companions in a forest all entangled with
trees, and over their legs chains and fetters of fire;
and at the mouth of the forest there was a ferocious
lion that threatened to devour them night and day.
I awoke; but I was terribly frightened. I rushed
out of the tents, and lo! I beheld a black slave at
the door in the garb of a beggar. I went in again,
and I brought him out some bean husks, which I
gave him, saying, Take these, O stranger! and
pray for the return of my absent son. Is not thy
son Hatal? said he. Yes, I replied; and I perceive
you know him. Know then, said he, your son has
fallen a prisoner into the power of Locait, son of
Zararah, and with him twelve warriors of his tribe,
and I am come as a messenger from him to you,
and he begs you will hasten to his uncle Antar.
And now, my brother, I am come to you, and my
object is to obtain my son's deliverance through
you. Antar was confounded at this interruption of
his happiness. Return home, my sister, said he,
and calm your mind, for I will go and release your
son. I will soon come to you with him and all his
property. Thus having appeased her mind, and
relieved her of her sorrows, he sent for Oorwah,
and told him what had happened; he ordered him
and his noble comrades to march, and recommended
his father Shedad to keep the affair secret, that
King Cais's heart might not be harassed. He took
away his brothers Shiboob and Jareer, and his
father Shedad, and the Carad horsemen, and his
uncle Zakhmetuljewad.

As to Ibla's father, he was rejoiced when he heard
this, for he had resolved either to inform Rebia, or
to escape by flight into the desert. So the business
turned out just as he wished, and his situation was
improved after all his discomposure; but when he
saw Antar mounted, he said in his perfidy and iniquity,
O my nephew, truly Hatal's mother has
spoiled all our pleasures by this untoward interruption.
Uncle, said Antar, there is a prescribed time

for every thing, and all that is predestined must
take place. And he quitted him; and finding his
people waiting anxiously for him, he departed with
one hundred of Oorwah's men, and two hundred of
the race of Carad, whilst Shiboob started ahead of
the horse on the road to the land of the tribe of
Darem.