University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XXII.

Antar, having finished, shouted at the Chief Hidjar
and rushed upon him; Hidjar met him, and
these two obstinate heroes began the combat and
the contest; the thrust, the blow, the give and take,
now in sport, now in earnest; the approach and retreat,
till the warriors were amazed at their manœuvres.
Fatigue at length fell on the arms of
Hidjar, for he saw that Antar was an irresistible
hero, and he repented of his expedition into that
land. Antar, perceiving his situation, closed upon
him till stirrup clashed against stirrup, and grasping
him by the rings of his armour and his corslet, he
yelled in his face, O by Abs, I will not be controlled;
I am the lover of Ibla; I will not be restrained. He
seized him in his hand as if he were a sparrow, and
dashed him on the ground. Shiboob pounced upon
him, and having bound fast his shoulders and his
arms to his sides, drove him away to the tribe of
Abs. And as he looked at Hidjar he saw he was in
tears like a woman. Eh! O Hidjar, said he, what
is it that thus distresses thee? God curse thy father
and thy mother! What, wilt engage in hostilities,
and now that thy turn of fortune has caught thee
dost weep like a woman? O Shiboob, said he, my

tears flow not from my fear of death, or at the occurrence
of misfortunes; but as I reflect on the revolutions
of Fortune and rapid execution of her revenge,
I weep. To no one is she constant: she
never beautifies but she deforms, and she never
causes a smile but she accompanies it with a tear.
How is that, O Hidjar? said Shiboob. Know then,
O Absian, he replied, I had demanded some time
ago in marriage the daughter of the Lord of Houran,
and on her account I had exposed my life to
every difficulty and danger; but he would not affiance
me to her but through the intercession of
King Numan, and just as I was about to be married,
King Numan wrote to me ordering me to march
against your brother Antar when he was in the
mountains of Radm. So I went against him—but
that is all over; and when Numan made peace with
him he released me, having first cut off my hair. I
returned to my family, and asked my uncle to perform
the marriage ceremony, but he said to me,
Antar has taken you a prisoner, and I will never
marry you to my daughter till you take vengeance
on Antar. About that time came the news of the
seizure of King Numan, and a letter from Prince
Aswad ordering me again on a hostile expedition
against your brother Antar. I set out against him
in the full expectation of accomplishing my vengeance;
but I have fallen a second time into his
hands, and shame is increased on shame.

Well! O Chief Hidjar, said Shiboob, will you, instead

of serving Aswad, go with my brother and aid
him in releasing King Numan? Then will your
business succeed to your wishes, and you will be
raised to the highest dignities, for truly King Numan
has been ill requited, and he has fallen into captivity
and disgrace. Now, O Shiboob, said Hidjar, I do
intreat you to intercede for me this once with your
brother, and preserve me from his grasp, then will
I, by the faith of an Arab, submit to him, both
myself, and my people, and my tribe, even until
death; and if after this I ever betray him, may
the mother of Hidjar be no more a freeborn woman!
O Hidjar, replied Shiboob, I will engage for you,
and I will ensure you my brother's protection. But
I require of you to swear to me by Him who rendered
the lofty mountains immovable; the Giver of
life and death; that you will never betray us either
in word or deed. And Hidjar took the oath required
by Shiboob, an oath very binding among the
Arabs at that period; and it is said that if a man
ever swore that oath, and afterwards perjured himself,
the evening would not shine on him before he
would bark like a dog, and the flesh would drop off
his bones, and he would die.

Now Shiboob having bound Hidjar by this oath,
set him at liberty; he restored to him his arms and
armour, and produced his horse. Hidjar mounted,
and returned to the scene of contention.

As soon as the Kendehans saw their chief at
liberty, they rushed upon Antar from all sides and

directions, and the Absians also attacked; men met
men, and heroes heroes. At that moment King
Zoheir beheld Hidjar, and supposing he had escaped
by force from Shiboob, he called out to his attendants
to seize Hidjar, and drag him back into captivity and
disgrace. But Hidjar dismounted from his horse,
and running towards King Zoheir, he kissed his
feet in the stirrup, relating to him all that had
passed with Shiboob, and saying, Wait, O king, I
will show you what I will do; and Hidjar again
mounted, crying out in a loud voice, My cousins,
hold back your hands from the blow of the sword,
for I have sworn to the Absians to be one of Antar's
friends for ever, in order to release King Numan.
The tribe of Kendeh no sooner heard the voice of
their chief than they withdrew from the contest,
and were rejoiced at their deliverance from the presence
of Antar. They turned upon the tribes of
Fazarah and Zeead, destroying them with the
sword, and the thrust of the tall spear. As to Antar,
he was hewing down the heroes with his falchion,
and revolving in his mind Hidjar's treachery,
when he saw him perform these acts, and as he perceived
his party annihilating the tribes of Fazarah
and Zeead, he was delighted at this alliance with the
chief, who no sooner beheld him than he dismounted,
and attempted to kiss Antar's feet in the stirrup,
saying, O Aboolfawaris, let the blood shed between
us be forgiven! God knows all hearts, and may he
curse the father of Hidjar if after this he assists the
foe against you, or ever again harbours evil against
you! Antar thanked him for his kindness, and
having vowed eternal friendship, they assaulted the
remainder of the tribes of Zeead and Fazarah, and
pierced them as they fled with their long spears, and
cut them down with their sharp swords; and they
did not stop driving them away till they had forced
them back on their tents, when they returned to
the scattered horses and dispersed arms, and set out
on their way back to Aja and Selma, Hidjar riding
by the side of Antar, and rejoicing in his society.

But the chiefs of Fazarah, with Rebia, were remaining
quietly before their tents expecting Hidjar
would return to them with Antar as a prisoner, when
lo! their companions arrived, routed and in flight;
they shuddered. Rebia was in great consternation.
Alas! said he, sons of my uncle, what has befallen
ye? What has happened? And they related the
whole: that Antar had taken Hidjar prisoner, and
that he had become one of his companions. Rebia
was horror-struck; he shuddered and fled, fearful
of death and extinction. But as to Amarah, he
flung his spear away out of his left hand, and went
off at a full gallop, looking behind, terrified at Antar,
exclaiming as he went, O that I had indeed
kept myself clear of this party!

As to Antar, when he returned from the pursuit
his heart was at ease with respect to the tribes of
Fazarah and Zeead, for he had obtained of them all
he wished and desired. He set out on his return to

the mountains, and as he meditated on the horrors
he had endured, he thus expressed himself:

"Ah! O Ibla, keep thy engagement; the past
is past; it is enough to be kept apart from thee!
Youth is not faded, and we are not yet become
old. Fortune has not vanquished our youth;
our sharp scimitars have not failed; our iron
fingers can still wield them! Ask the Fazareans
of us when we assuaged our hearts among their
warriors. We let alone their women, but they
were disordered; and before dawn they were
tearing their cheeks with their hands. We have
filled their country with alarm, and the two tribes
are become our slaves. We have mounted above
the Pleiades in their sublimity, and our valour
cannot be increased; and when our babes are
weaned as infants, our enemies shall bow down to
them in subjection. He who would attempt to
oppress us shall see in us the obstinacy of lions;
we will surround them with the thrusts of the
lengthened spear when battle rages in our hearts.
We will kindle our flames in every contest till
their bones and their flesh shall melt. We will
shoe our horses in every land with their ensanguined
bones and their dried skins. Our millstones
shall grind down the tribes. We have
left their cultivated lands a barren waste. But on
the day of generosity we have given away all we
possessed, and have filled the country with our
liberality and kindness. Who is there to give information

of us to Numan that soon his deliverance
will arrive? Behold the Persians have returned
discomfited; they have fled with subverted
standards; the spear's barb laboured in their rear,
and they float in blood like the human hearts.
They shall exalt him as their king, and Chosroe
shall fall; he shall endure what Themood suffered.
I am the slave that encounters deaths; in
truth, the knight of the noble steeds. In my ambition
I will exalt myself to the Pleiades by my
never-failing fortune and illustrious deeds. I am
Antar, and my name shall for ages be celebrated
for sound policy. Mine is a happy star from
God, who created all mankind his slaves."

As Antar stopped, King Zoheir and his brave
companions, and the hardy Kendehans, expressed
their delight; but the Chief Hidjar, quite amazed,
looked in Antar's face: O Aboolfawaris, said he,
God has truly combined in you all intrepidity,
liberality, and eloquence, and every noble quality,
and has closed them upon the Arab and the Persian.
And he who can recollect these verses will never
require a companion at night or a friend by day.
And these verses were called by the Arabs "convivial,
social;" and they are among the chosen
pieces of Antar, the lord of battle.

As to Maadi Kereb and the tribe of Zebeed, as
soon as they heard of the departure of Khodawend
and Aswad against Antar, and that King Numan
was in durance, he summoned five thousand of his

tribe, and having written to the Chief Hidjar, ordering
him to join him in the land of Abs, he himself
hastened away to Direed and Sebeea, to demand
their aid and assistance. And when Maadi Kereb
alighted at Direed's, and had related all that had
happened to King Numan, and the departure of
Khodawend and Prince Aswad with the Persians and
the Arabs against the tribe of Abs and Adnan, the
light became dark in the eyes of Direed; and turning
towards Maadi Kereb, If this system, said he, should
really be persevered in against the Arabs, those
filthy Persians will soon overpower us, and our
women will be sold in the cities of Turcomania and
Dilem. As to me, I will never encourage this conduct
against the Arabs; for I will address the tribes
in writing, and inform them so. I will not move
hence till I hear what has passed among the tribe of
Abs and Adnan, and the account of King Zoheir's
admittance of Antar to their connexion, for by the
faith of an Arab, were not Antar among the Absians,
I would instantly proceed myself to assist
them against the invasion of the Persians. But
I am afraid of the upbraidings of the Arabs, that
they will say, Direed, son of Samah, lord of the
tribe of Howazin, entered the service of Antar, who
was a slave and a shepherd. But as to you, Maadi
Kereb, I cannot possibly march with you, now that
the Persians have seized the person of King Numan.
I will not violate the sanctity of the sacred shrine;
for I know that Prince Aswad will not enjoy his
dominion long, and never will they prosper who
submit to him; and moreover, between me and
King Numan there is an engagement which I cannot
falsify.

These words created great distress in Maadi
Kereb's mind, and his resolution wavered. But in
three days he departed, and having assembled ten
thousand horsemen, he set out to attack the tribe of
Abs and Antar; but in his way he passed through
the territories of Hidjar, where he heard of his expedition
against the Absians, and that he had been
joined by the tribes of Fazarah and Zeead; and we
have learnt, they added, that the tribe of Abs has
fled to the mountains of Adjà and Selma; for as
soon as they understood the Chief Hidjar had
marched against them, Antar and King Zoheir set
out with two thousand horsemen, with the design
to surprise the tribe of Fazarah and the Chief Hidjar;
therefore in the mountains there only remains
Prince Cais with one thousand warriors to protect
the women. This intelligence delighted Maadi
Kereb. Oh! exquisite! he cried; and turning to
his companions, he added, Truly all I wished and
expected has succeeded: and he congratulated them
on the plunder and the accomplishment of their desires;
and they instantly departed, traversing the
plains and the wastes till they came near the mountains.

Prince Cais had stationed scouts on the summits
of the heights and defiles, and as soon as they saw

the dust, they immediately gave him notice; and
he ordered all the warriors to mount—they obeyed;
and with Cais at their head, they hurried to the
mouth of the pass like lions in a den, where, perceiving
the desert waving like the sea with troops
and armies, Prince Cais despatched an Absian horseman
to inquire the news. He spurred on his horse
till he came among them, and cried out in a loud
voice, Tell me, O Arabs, who ye are before the
battle rage between us. O Absian, said Maadi
Kereb, advancing, ye are of little shame that have
admitted to your connexion the offspring of a slave-woman.
Verily your destruction is at hand, the
Arab and the Persian are in quest of you, and my
advice is that ye surrender yourselves to me without
fighting. But as to your question about our rank,
we are the tribe of Zebeed, and I am Maadi Kereb.
I have stirred up against you all who have blood or
vengeance to demand of ye.

The Absian on hearing this returned to Cais, and
reported the circumstance. Rage was kindled in
the countenance of Cais; he thundered from the
mountains, and behind him followed the noble
Absians whose intrepidity was proverbial. They
shouted so that the mountains were in convulsion,
the universe was agitated at their roars, and the
face of day was blackened. The blasts of death
were blowing with tempestuous gusts—the army
of Maadi Kereb rushed upon the Absians—men
met men, and heroes heroes. Blood streamed and

flowed—limbs were hewn off—horrors increased.
Maadi Kereb penetrated through the Absians, for
he was one of the thousand tyrants of that age of
ignorance; he dashed down heads under his feet, he
cut off wrists and fingers, and performed deeds that
confounded the reason. The Absians were engaged
in a sacred war, and they preferred death to flight,
and would not live objects of shame among the
Arabs. For in those days the Absians were the
firebrands of war in bravery and undaunted spirit;
they dreaded ignominy. The day seemed closed
upon them, and the land was obscured in their eyes.
They continued the engagement till the day fled,
and darkness came on with thick obscurity, when
they returned to the mountains, and Maadi Kereb
halted at the entrance.

Cais assembled the Chiefs; Cousins, said he, my
advice is that we continue the fight till my father
and Antar return. They approved, and kept on
the defensive till daylight appearing and the stars
vanishing, the enemy arose up against them. Maadi
Kereb advanced in front, and wishing to exhibit his
courage, Hola! tribe of Abs! he cried, where is your
black slave, whose aid you seek, and of whose force
ye boast? Let him stand forth this day, and protect
the women, and by the truth of Him who orders
the rain to fall, and the desert to be clothed in green,
I will leave for myself and ye too a tale to be recorded,
and an example to be cited for ages. And
he twisted and tossed about his spear in a style to

amaze the stoutest heart. But Cais observing
Maadi Kereb's excessive vanity, Desist from the
fight, he said to the Absians, whilst I go forth against
this coxcomb, that prides himself above his fellows.
And he urged on his horse till he stood before
Maadi Kereb; How long this presumption? he
shouted out, for thou art the very person our champion
took prisoner: he reduced thee to disgrace,
and was so kind as to set thee at liberty, having first
cut off thy hair; he treated thee nobly, but his
generosity was thrown away on thee, and thou hast
acted like a low-born coward. Were Antar here,
he would fight thee, and would tear out thy life from
between thy sides; and though he is absent to-day,
he will not be long absent; to-morrow he will come,
and thou shalt see the calamities he will bring upon
thee, and how he will punish thee, for truly thou
hast sinned against courtesy; that is, if thou escapest
safe from my presence, and thou bearest no marks
of my spear. Cais thus continued in verse:

"Had you any generosity, O Maadi, you would
not have come with horses and horsemen to attack
us. Our Knight took you prisoner; he pardoned
you, and thought you sincere, ingrate as you
are. You are returned; all kindness was thrown
away on you, for when a dastard is trusted, he
becomes a traitor. We are Princes, and you perceive
the rest of the world in the blow of the sword
are comparatively but slaves. God has favoured
the Absians, and has ennobled them with the

honours of crowns and tiaras: had he granted us
the power, the land should flow with beneficence,
so that Noah would imagine he had given us the
flood. Even Chosroe lives in fears at our greatness;
he dreads us, and the princes of the earth
tremble at us."

When Cais had finished his verses, Maadi Kereb
vociferated at him, and attacked him. Cais received
him as the parched up earth the first of the
rain. The contest raged between them in the thrust
and the blow; horrors and dreadful acts took place
between them. But Cais was no match for Maadi
Kereb in skill and prowess, and when the Absians
saw the situation of their Prince, they resolved on
making the assault, and by their aid to deliver him
from his foe, when lo! the Zebeed warriors attacked
at once, and endeavoured to finish the affair, and
accomplish their hopes, and plunder the property;
but the Absian heroes also assailed, and they were
in one promiscuous confusion on the plain of battle:
the penetrating spear was at work, and also
the Indian blades. Calamity was thus removed
from Cais, for he was near his destruction and death.
He escaped from his antagonist, but not by flight.
Maadi Kereb had wounded Cais in two places; but
when the armies rushed upon one another, Maadi
Kereb's attention was called off from him, and he
routed the warriors till he drove them back to their
mountains, having slain upwards of two hundred
men. Still the Absians stood firm at the entrance; the

two armies continued to fight and smite till evening
came on, when Maadi Kereb returning with his associates,
reproached them for having made the attack.
They alighted, and reposed till morning:
Come on, cried Maadi, come on; plunder the Absians,
before any Arabs arrive to prevent you.

At the word the horsemen mounted, and prepared
for the battle of swords and spears; and as soon as
day dawned on the Absians, there burst upon them
the united cries of women and children: they unsheathed
their swords, they shook their spears, and
resigned themselves to death.

When Maadi Kereb observed the conduct of the
Absians, he dismounted, and his warriors did so likewise.
The Absians too followed their example, and
every hope, every expectation was extinct. Grief
fell upon the brave; the dust rose, and clouded
over them; the party became quite a proverb; and
they continued in this state till evening.

But Antar and Hidjar returned to the mountains.
Antar was overjoyed in the society of Hidjar,
and when they approached, O Aboolfawaris, said
Hidjar, it occurs to me that I ought to precede you,
because I had engaged myself with Maadi Kereb,
to make a joint attack on your country with him,
and Direed, and Zoolkhimar. I fear, he may have
taken his road by the mountains: now I think, it
would be advisable to send on Shiboob to see what
is going on, and let him return quick.

Antar immediately ordered Shiboob to advance

towards the mountains, which he instantly did: he
gave his feet to the winds, and sought the wide desert
till he reached the mountains, where he heard
the cries of the Absians, and Maadi Kereb shouting
to his people, "to-morrow, ye shall plunder the
enemy!" As soon as Shiboob had recognised Maadi
Kereb, he hastened back to his brother. Know, son
of my mother, he cried, Hidjar was correct in his
supposition—our friends are reduced to extremities,
and there only now remains to drag them out from
between the mountains. Eh! Ebe-reah! said Antar,
who has done this? Maadi Kereb, he replied,
and with a world like the sands: and when I approached
the mountains, I saw Maadi Kereb going
his rounds, promising his people the pillage of all
the property of the tribe of Abs! At hearing this,
the light became dark in the eyes of Antar. O, by
the Arabs, he cried, it is absolutely my bounden
duty to make an example of that Maadi Kereb, and
those Zebeedians, for those who will benefit by the
warning.

He was about to put his horse on a full gallop,
but the Chief Hidjar prevented him. Whither art
thou going, O Aboolfawaris? he cried. To fight
with Maadi Kereb, said Antar. I request of you,
O Aboolfawaris, said Hidjar, by the life of Ibla's
two eyes, that you will let me only march against
him. I will requite him for his deeds; I will
frighten him with your strength, and the greatness
of your power. If you approve of this, it will be

the best plan, and I will bring him to you a prisoner.
Do as you please, said Antar.

Upon that, the Chief Hidjar set out with his
noble Kendehans, and he travelled from midnight
till the dawn of day, when he reached the mountains,
and perceived the engagement. Woes of battle be
on you, O Maadi, exclaimed Hidjar; misery to you,
and to yours, henceforward. Could Antar come
and behold the state of his cousins, he would not
leave a Zebeedian alive: and he galloped down from
the end of the desert, and the tribe of Kendeh followed
eagerly, seeking the scene of contest.

When Maadi Kereb saw the armies advance, he
thought they were of the tribe of Abs. He called
out to his nearest attendants, and rushed towards
the approaching forces; and behold! he saw the
Chief Hidjar. No harm to ye! he exclaimed; for
this is the Chief Hidjar, and I have been expecting
him, that we may totally exterminate the tribe of
Abs. He urged on his horse, and his heart was
filled with joy. Welcome, I greet thee, my dearest
brother, my truest friend, he cried. By the faith of
an Arab, thou art come exactly in time to take thy
share of the plunder.

The Chief Hidjar smiled: Your design is frustrated,
O Maadi, said he; truly, you imagine my
extraction different from my father's and grandfather's,
for liberality should not be lost on mankind;
and he who is nobly born and connected,
does not act like a base coward. How is this, said

Maadi Kereb, you are bound to me, O Hidjar, by
an ancient covenant. Ay, said Hidjar, by the lord
of Zemzem, and the sacred wall, if you listen to my
advice; otherwise, I must fight you with my sword
and my spear. Maadi Kereb stared in amazement
in Hidjar's face, for he knew not what had happened.
But the Chief Hidjar related every circumstance
about Antar, describing his liberality and
courage, and how he had taken him prisoner, and
delivered him over to Shiboob, and how he had set
him at liberty on his taking the oath, and I assure
you, continued he, O Maadi, were Antar to give me
this day his camels, I would tend them; and were
even mountains to turn on me I would encounter
them; and if, O Maadi, you can submit yourself to
what I have submitted, make a contract with me on
this point, and be one of Antar's adherents, else,
come on to the fight and the combat, and away with
all dissimulation.

Maadi Kereb was in great consternation, and his
rage blazed the more. Eh, then, O Hidjar, he cried;
hast thou entirely disgraced all thy race on account
of Antar? Away with such folly, said Hidjar, for
I will not permit you to speak thus of Antar; he is
superior to all mankind, male and female, and in this
age is Antar unequalled; for, to engage a thousand
horsemen, or ten thousand horsemen, or a single one,
is all the same to him; and his soul aspires to nothing
but conquest over all the Arab warriors. I used
to think myself the knight of the universe till I engaged

him; but in him I perceived prodigies; and
as soon as he made me prisoner, Shiboob gave me
protection, and assured me of security, and Antar
set me at liberty, as if I had never entertained any
evil intention against him. When I perceived this,
my soul was subdued. I became one of his comrades.
So, Maadi, think no more of assisting the
Persians, but eagerly seize this opportunity, for I
have left Antar behind; King Zoheir and all the
tribe of Abs are coming after me. He then told
him that Antar had sent on Shiboob to observe
what they were doing, and he returned, continued
Hidjar, giving us an account of all you had done to
his cousins. Antar wished to march against you,
but I dissuaded him out of regard for you. So
adopt this plan before death be at hand; do not
expose your life to dangers and perdition.

On hearing all this, Maadi Kereb recollected the
words of Direed, and he knew this would be his
advice: O Hidjar, said he, how can you soften the
hearts of the Absians towards me, after all I have
done just now? That business, said Hidjar, will
not tell against you, for I will be a mediator in this
affair, and you will moreover be a strong support of
this tribe, particularly when we have released King
Numan, you and your party will seize the property
of the Persians, and will hew off their heads, and
you will become also a champion of the sacred
shrine. Hidjar continued to urge Maadi Kereb on
this subject, till he gained him over, and he consented,

and he swore by the oath by which the
Arabs swore.

Maadi Kereb returned towards his tribe, and acquainted
them with the event, and they were greatly
delighted. But the auxiliary Arabs that were with
him dispersed and sought their homes, fearful that
Antar would put them to death. Thus the tribe of
Kendeh joined the tribe of Zebeed.

Prince Cais and the Absians were in the greatest
distress at the arrival of Hidjar, for they thought
he would assist Maadi Kereb. Their shouts and
screams increased, but Hidjar sent a horseman to
inform them, and quiet their alarms, and by evening
arrived the tribe of Abs with King Zoheir and
Antar. The chief Hidjar met them with Maadi
Kereb, and informed them of his adhesion. Maadi
Kereb advanced and kissed Antar's and King
Zoheir's hand, saying, O Aboolfawaris, all blood
between us is forgiven, and the merciful God knows
all hearts. O Arabs, said Antar, we have only
acted thus out of our partiality for King Numan,
and on account of the sacred shrine, for if the Persians
possess themselves of it, they will root out
every vestige of the Arabs from every region. All
present agreed in the truth of this observation, and
thanked him for his conduct. He clothed them all
with honorary robes, and the tribes being mixed together,
they entered the mountains, amounting
to fifteen thousand warriors, proverbial for their
prowess. They reposed that night, and in the

morning they slaughtered he and she camels, and
made entertainments and feasts for seven days. On
the eighth day came Jareer from the land of Hirah,
and told his brother Antar about the armies of
Arabia and Persia, describing to him the various
tribes and nations that were assembled. Well,
Jareer, said Antar, who are those who have submitted
to Prince Aswad, and with how many thousand
has he set out? O son of my mother, he replied,
those who have submitted to Aswad are all
those with whom there is blood and vengeance against
you, and those who hate King Numan. But he
did not form any regular plan till Rebia came to
him with Hadifah and the tribes of Zeead and
Fazarah, and those who accompanied them were in
tears in the presence of Aswad, and demanded his
immediate departure to extirpate every trace of ye,
and to ravage your country. He assented, and
swore that he would not leave an individual alive in
your country, not even a fire-blower. Khodawend
had determined on dividing his forces into two
armies, one against you, and the second against
Mecca. But when Rebia and the tribe of Fazarah
arrived and acquainted him of Hidjar's having
made peace with you, they advised the Prince to
march his whole army against you at once; And
let us take, said he, all the tribe of Abs prisoners
in disgrace and misery. Khodawend approved of his
proposal, and ordered the army to march. They
have only left one thousand Persians in Hirah as a
guard over King Numan and the few horsemen
who remain his friends. I did not quit them till
the universe was in confusion with the glitter of
arms, and swords, and corslets.

Antar shouted at Jareer, Eh! enough of your
description of those greasy caldrons and Persians,
he cried; by the faith of an Arab, I will disperse
their armies; I will not even let the first join his
nearest neighbour. And he proceeded to King
Zoheir, and informed him of the news. War;
war alone must be our object, said the King, we
must defend our women and our families; but we
do not know whether these who have associated
with us will fight with us cordially, or whether
they be false companions. O King, said Antar, by
the faith of an Arab, let us but exchange a single
look, and should only ten horsemen of ours be
killed, then will they seek each other's blood in
revenge and slaughter.

Upon this they mounted, and quitting the tents,
informed their allies of the advancing armies,
and that two hundred thousand horsemen were
marching against them. Great indeed would be
the disgrace, said he to Hidjar, should we permit
these Persians to trample down our land under the
hoofs of their horses, and King Numan not regain
his dominions. What is your determination, O
Aboolfawaris? said the chiefs. My determination is
to meet them, said he. But, said Prince Cais,
Jareer has informed us, their armies are most

numerous, and Khodawend is on his way against us;
and when he quitted Hirah, there were only one
thousand Persian horsemen left behind; now it
strikes me, that about one hundred of our horsemen,
mounted on swift strong horses, should be detached;
let them march to Hirah, where they may put the
Persians to the sword, and release King Numan;
thus shall we succeed in our views, for this army
cannot reach us for some days, and should it arrive,
we shall be able to cope with them till King Numan
returns, when many of the tribes will join him. All
present highly approved of this proposal. God be
with you and your father, and may Lat and Uzza
bless you! cried they all. It will do, said Antar,
I will myself undertake it with ten horsemen! O
my cousin, said King Zoheir, your departure from
the Absians at this moment would be very unadvisable,
particularly as Hirah is very distant, and
we are but a small party. No one but myself, said
Hidjar, shall go to King Numan. Antar thanked
him: that will do, said he, you ought to go. Take
Oorwah and his men with you. Hidjar assented,
and made ready that very day with one hundred of
his own tribe, and he also took Oorwah and his
people, who being mounted on swift noble steeds,
departed for the land of Hirah; and when they
were gone, Antar, accompanied with Maadi Kereb
and two hundred horsemen, daily roamed away
from the mountains, to ascertain what was going
on. They continued thus for ten days; but on
the eleventh day, behold a dust arose that closed
up the whole region. There appeared five thousand
horsemen, the advanced guard of the Persian
army, with a knight called Shahmerd, and he was
an irresistible tyrant, and an untractable devil.
This, said Maadi Kereb to Antar, must be the advance
of the Persians. My advice is, said Antar,
that we make a dash at them, and so saying, he
urged on his horse Abjer, and drew up his men.
Maadi Kereb did so likewise. The Persian chief
saw them advance, and he could not make them
out; as he said to his people, I cannot imagine what
this small party can mean, for if it is the advance of
their forces, whence can they have heard of us?
They must be coming to demand our protection.
However, let one of ye go forward and inquire.
The Persians still advanced to the number of one
thousand. Maadi Kereb shouted to his hundred men,
and wished to assault them. But, said Antar, no,
my brother, be not off your guard, and do nothing
that may prove disadvantageous. How is that?
said Maadi Kereb. Ay, said Antar, for if you
deign to meet a thousand Persians with a hundred
Arabs, our reputation will be lost amongst those
greasy kettles: let you and I attack this thousand
with ten men alone, and destroy them in the desert;
let us fill their hearts with terrors. I will attack
them alone, said Maadi Kereb, and will disperse
them with my arm and my wrist. Antar attacked
the right, and Maadi Kereb the left, and they were
immersed in dust; they both roared out like lions;
all eyes were fixed upon them. The right was
driven in confusion upon the left. The Persian
leader, observing the two knights attack the thousand,
was amazed and startled; he instantly dismounted,
and worshipped the sun in blasphemy
and pride, saying, Let I and you laud the unity of
God! Do you see, said he to his companions,
these two knights of the sheep-drivers, engaging the
thousand Persian horsemen? This is the stupidity
of the Arabs, said his comrades; soon will you see
their heads laid low.

He remained gazing for an hour, when lo! the
Persians rushed out from beneath the dust, flying
away, pursued by the roars of Antar and Maadi
Kereb, like peals of thunder in a cloud; and they
continued their flight till they stopped before their
chief. Eh! how is it, he cried, that two horsemen
of the shepherd Arabs have attacked a thousand
knights of Persia, and have routed them as a wolf
the sheep? He shouted to his five thousand, and
they rushed upon Antar and Maadi Kereb, who
received them as the parched up earth the first of
the rain. Joined by the Absians and Zebeedians,
Maadi Kereb exhibited in the contest such intrepidity,
that Antar was greatly astonished; for
he only looked on and encouraged the warriors.
He was, however, on the watch for Shahmerd,
whom he saw brandishing a mace in his hand as he
invoked the fire. Antar shouted at him—he bellowed

at him—he made him quake, and terrified
him—he drove his spear through his chest. The
spear penetrated through him ten joints of a reed
out at his back, and hurled him dead to the earth.
But when the Persians saw their chief a corpse, they
wheeled round in flight, and retired in haste, and
escaped, whilst Antar and Maadi Kereb returned
with their comrades to the scattered horses and dispersed
arms, and property and baggage.

On their way back to the mountains, exulting in
their success, Antar thanked Maadi Kereb for his
part in the combat, saying, By the faith of an Arab,
had we informed our friends, and waited for them
here, never would we have quitted the field till we
had made a more serious impression on the foe. O
Aboolfawaris, said Maadi Kereb, our fighting before
the mountains will be more judicious; (and
Maadi Kereb was afraid that Antar would remain
in that spot with only two hundred opposed to two
hundred and fifty thousand warriors, all armed with
spears). Antar assented; and he travelled on, thus
expressing himself:

"Stop at home, if thou art in sorrow about
its lands, then perhaps thine eyes may weep in
tears. Ask of the baggage-camels, when they departed,
and when they will return! Dwelling of
Ibla! She is far away from thee! She sighs, and
my eyes are in agony at her sorrows. O land of
Shoorebah! may the clouds moisten thee!—May
the pouring rain bedew thy soil!—May the

spring clothe thy lands in robes of flowers!—
May the country be perfumed with their fragrance!
How often have I embraced in thee the
lovely virgin, whose companion was revived in
the obscurity. The sun, when it rose in splendour,
worshipped her charms, and her appearance illuminated
the darkness. Death, daughter of the
noble-born! is like a garden, and my spear is its
branches and its roots. To-morrow there shall
pass from my hand to the Persians a cup more
bitter than the poisons of medicines. I will make
them taste of thrusts that shall disgrace their
chiefs, and shall make unweaned infants turn
grey. When the armies of Chosroe pour down
upon me, thou shalt see what will become of their
limbs. I will fight them till they, high and low,
shall be exhausted, and shall complain of the horrors
of the dust. I will leave their flesh for the
ravenous lion, and their horses and their armour
for my comrades. O Ibla! were Death a substance,
it should bend and bow down before me."

As soon as Antar had finished his verses, Maadi
Kereb was in amazement at his courage and his
eloquence. May God never abandon your mouth,
said he, and may no one ever harm you! And they
continued seeking the mountains till night had
darkened the land.

Now as they had been a long time absent, King
Zoheir and the Absian chiefs mounted, and went
in quest of them till they met them. And Antar

related to King Zoheir how they had treated the
advance of the Persian army, and how they had
routed them, and that he had slain Shahmerd. To
rout the advance, said King Zoheir, is an indication
of victory and conquest, and we ought to offer our
thanksgiving to the God of Old, the Creator of
mankind. They entered the mountains, and told
the horsemen what had happened, and the Absians
were delighted; they reposed that night till
daybreak, when they rushed out, demanding the
combat and the conflict, and lo! the Persian armies
appeared, and their dust rose on high till the
whole country was obscured. The wild beasts fled
from their dens, and the standards appeared. Today,
said Antar to his associates, will the glories of
warriors be conspicuous. He stationed over every
troop a knight, whilst he superintended them all
like a lion.

When the Persians advanced and saw the small
numbers of the Absians (but they were like ferocious
wild beasts), they poured down upon them
like a deluging rain. The Absians received them
with blows that stupefied hearts, and thrusts that
blinded the vision. Antar stood apart from the
scene of battle protecting his men; sometimes he
rushed to the right, now to the left, and having
overthrown the heroes, he retired to his post. And
whenever he perceived his party hard pressed, he
was ready to assist them. Maadi Kereb observing
this, acted in the same manner. The battle continued

thus till mid-day. Consternation fell upon
the Persians, when, lo! Khodawend approached with
the great body of the army, and seeing the conflict
raging, he called out to Zerkemal to withdraw the
army from the contest, saying, We will establish
ourselves here, and despatch a messenger to the
Absians, for they have always paid us great respect;
and perhaps now they have repented of their conduct,
they will probably return to their allegiance,
and seize the person of that slave, the worthless
Antar. Upon this Zerkemal called off the army
from the Absians. And the Persians alighted in
their tents, and the land and the desert were filled,
and whilst they were reposing, Khodawend ordered
a letter to be written to the tribe of Abs commanding
them to submit; and let it be mentioned that in
that case I will stand as mediator between them and
my father, but if they resist I will not spare one of
them either high or low. Accordingly the vizier
wrote a letter to King Zoheir to the above effect,
stating,—Khodawend is advised to destroy you, but
he has had compassion on you; he has resolved on
acknowledging you the supports of his government,
and the abettors of its greatness. Feel therefore
the value of this intention, and presume not to
thwart the imperial government.

Having folded the letter, he gave it to a satrap,
and ordered him to depart. He also honoured him
with ensigns and standards, and gave him an escort
of twenty Persian horsemen, with an interpreter

called Ocab, son of Terdjem. The tribe of Abs
had alighted, and not one remained on horseback
but Antar and Maadi Kereb, who on observing the
satrap, Antar said to Maadi Kereb, O chief, verily
there is a satrap advancing towards us, he probably
wants us to surrender ourselves to him that he may
take us and hang us on the balcony; I rather wish
to begin with them before they commence with us.
They were in conversation, when lo! the satrap
came up to them; he did not salute them, but
asked for King Zoheir. He inquires for King Zoheir,
said the interpreter, for he has a letter from
Khodawend for him. We, O Arab, said Antar, have
read your letter before its arrival; in it your prince
orders us to surrender ourselves without fighting or
contending. Pull that satrap off the back of his
horse, said he to Shiboob; ay, and the rest too.
Seize all their property; and if any one dares
struggle with you, treat him thus—and at the word
he expanded his arm, and pierced the satrap through
the chest, forcing the spear out quivering through
his back, and he hurled him down dead. When
his comrades saw what Antar had done, they cried
out for quarter, and surrendered themselves to Shiboob,
who bound them fast by the shoulders. As
to the interpreter, he shuddered. May God requite
you well, said he, for you have answered us before
even reading the letter. If this indeed is the
honorary robe for a satrap, let it not be so for an
interpreter; for I have children and a family, and
I am but a poor fellow. I only followed these Persians,
but with the prospect of gaining some miserable
trifle. I never calculated on being hung; and
my children when I am gone will remain orphans.
So he wept, and groaned, and complained, thus
expressing himself:

"O knight of the horses of warriors that overthrow;
their lion, resembling the roaring ocean.
By your awful appearance you have disgraced
heroes, and reduced them to despair. As soon as
the Persian sees you he is dishonoured; if they
approach you, and extend their spears against
your glory, they must retreat, or there is no security.
Have compassion then on your victim, a
person of little worth, whose family will be in
misery when he is gone. Not the thrust of the
spear or battle are among my qualifications. I
profess no fighting; I have no cleaving scimitar.
My name is Ocab: but indeed I am no fighting
man, and the sword in the palm of my hand only
chases pelicans."

Antar laughed at Ocab's verses. O Aboolfawaris,
said Maadi Kereb, it would be foul indeed to
hang this fellow. He has confessed his crime. Antar
let him go. Return to your family, said he,
and go no more to the Persian, or you will be in
danger; for when they see you safe they will accuse
you, and perhaps will put you to death. You are
very right, my lord, said he: by the faith of an
Arab, had I known these Persians would have been

thus worsted I would not have quitted you; and
probably I might have managed to secure some of
their goods, and have returned with it to my family.
Sheikh, said Maadi Kereb, this business has failed:
but, come, take the spoils of this satrap, and return
to your family, and pass not your evening a
dead man. Ay, my lord, said Ocab, he is a wise
fellow who returns safe to his friends. So he ran up
to the satrap, and despoiled him. Round his waist
was a girdle and a sword, and when Ocab saw all
that wealth he was bewildered; and having completely
rifled him, O my lord, said he to Antar, I
will never separate from you again. I wish you
would present me to your king, that I may kiss his
hand, and offer him my services: then indeed I will
for ever cleave to your party, and whenever you
slay a satrap I will plunder him. Antar laughed
heartily: But, said Maadi Kereb, O Aboolfawaris,
you have slain the satrap, and now King Zoheir
cannot consult with him. O Maadi, said Antar,
whenever any one comes to order us to surrender
ourselves to him we will hang him, and not parley
with him. Antar joined King Zoheir, and gave
him the letter; he read it, and was much agitated.
My lord, said Antar, what is the answer? Hanging
and beheading must be the answer, said
King Zoheir, so that Khodawend may send us no
more of his satraps. I have done so, said Antar;
and going out he saw that Shiboob had hung most
of them; only three remained. He ordered him to
shave their beards, and cut off their ears, and sling
the heads of those he had hung round their necks,
and send them back to their prince. Shiboob did
as his brother ordered: one of them died on the
road; two arrived, and their clothes were of the
cornelian dyes; and when they stood in the presence
of Zerkemal they grunted and blasphemed, saying,
the fault is Khodawend's, who condescends to negotiate
with these Arabs. Zerkemal introduced them to
the prince, and informed him what had passed. Khodawend,
on hearing this, swore by the fire that they
must bring before him every Arab fettered, with
their hands bound round their necks, or he would
put to death every Persian he had with him. He
passed that night in great anxiety for the appearance
of day; and soon the men shouted among the
troops; the horsemen mounted; the two armies
prepared; the dust arose and obscured the land;
the trumpets resounded, and shouts were raised;
the imperial standards advanced; the Arab horse
pranced, and the tribe of Abs also were eager for
the contest in defence of their women and families,
but they did not move far from the entrance of the
mountains. Antar attacked the Persian, and scattered
away their skulls. He wished on that day to
keep off the Persians from the assault, but the
armies could not be controlled; they shouted in their
jargons, and raised their voices; but Khodawend
prevented his Arabs from attacking with the Persians.
Prince Aswad came forth, and also Rebia
and Hadifah, and they stood just without the scene
of battle, enjoying the spectacle of the contest between
the Absians and Persians. The universe
was in convulsions. The sun, with the violence of
the dust, was veiled; the earth shook; lives were
plundered; men were bewildered; swords clashed;
the senses fled; blood flowed; the land was in
tumults; the dust rose in clouds; the dead were
trampled on with fury; the brave advanced, the cowards
shrunk away. Antar and Maadi exhibited all
their powers on that day. Khodawend was amazed.
And they continued in that perilous confusion till
the day fled, and the night came on in obscurity.
The whole country was crammed with the dead.
The armies of Khodawend alighted at their tents,
whilst Antar and Maadi Kereb returned in front of
their troops, resembling the flowers of the Judas
tree, so smeared were they with the blood of the
horsemen. They remained on guard till daylight,
when the armies drew up for the battle and the
contest. The Absians stood forth, and in front
were Antar and Maadi Kereb like the lions of the
waste. Khodawend commanded the Persians to make
the attack against the Absians. Instantly the complexion
of the beautiful changed; the cries were incessant;
the gates of success were closed upon the
Persians; the battle raged; shouts were vehement.
The coward thought of his life, and screamed.
Skulls were chopped off by the sword; the king of
death was eager in the pursuit of souls; energy was
excited; all sport was at an end. The horses were
drenched in perspiration; great was the agitation;
heads were smote and were cleft in twain. The
stumbling and slipping were universal; swords and
shields were shattered; hands and necks were
clipped off; spears dashed through the eyes; and
the heart of Amarah burst.