University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XXIII.

This day is thus described:

"A day alone in the revolutions of time to be recorded
in the tales of the historian. Wars commenced,
and every evil fell upon the Persian and
the Arab. The army of Persia came with their
horses, and the troops filled the whole country to
destroy the Arabs, and all the inhabitants of the
barren wastes. The Absians, and the armies
of the conquering Zebeedians, met them. The
horses of death rushed among them, and the
herald of fate vociferated aloud. Dust rose upon
every side; and the brave heroes vanished from
the contest. The lightning of the scimitars flashed
like the stars in the obscurity of night. The blows
of the sword were heard like thunder roaring in
the rolling clouds. The thrust of the spear rent
open every bosom, and wrenched out the eyes.
The knights bellowed in the contest like the lions
of the deserts. They galloped over the plain,
and exhibited their enmity to their foes. The
youths of war raved in the battle—men, endued
with every martial quality. They rejoiced in
hearing the sounds issuing from the stringed instruments
of the combatants. Brides seemed to

stand among them, sparkling with every exquisite
beauty: as their forms appeared brilliant before
the combatants, heads flew off as offerings, and
the men were hacked to pieces by the overwhelming
spear. The blades and lances played a tune,
and the dancers moved to the clash of the edged
sword. They were delighted in listening with ecstasy.
They danced, and could not be quiet. The
cups of death passed round with wine of the liquor
of perils: it intoxicated them, and carried them
off speedily; and whilst they were singing they
were dispersed. The falchions clashed, and again
they returned to the destruction of dearly-prized
lives. Where they fought, there fell the requisite
punishments upon them for drinking the prohibited
draught. He who could see them fell, or was
trampled under the noble steeds. He who could
see them threw himself dismounted on the ground,
and there sought the plains and the deserts. Of
one were the limbs hewn off; of another was
pierced the heart with the thrust of the spear.
They remained with their faces upon the earth,
and they drank of the wine of perdition. The
ravens made their complaints among them, as the
owl mourns in its notes. The horses of death
were eager among them, and the carcasses of the
Persians were crushed under them. They were
exhausted with the contest, and the horses of death
galloped over them."

Thus they continued to fight, and thus were they

annihilated in battle. The two armies continued
the contest of blows and thrusts till the day closed,
when they separated, the whole country being filled
with the dead. But, on the return of dawn, they
again started for the combat, and the hundreds and
thousands being drawn up, and the ranks being arranged,
Antar stood forth, and appeared on the
back of Abjer, and he was like a strong tower, or a
block of iron. King Zoheir, and his sons, and the
other horsemen and troops followed him; his father
Shedad, and the family of Carad, preceding him.
The tribe of Ghiftan thundered behind, and then
came all the warriors and knights. O Aboolfawaris,
said King Zoheir, numbers and an immense multitude
oppose us! What say you? O King, said Antar,
by the faith of an Arab, I will verily show you
this day a battle and a contest future ages shall record.
I will exterminate the boldest of these heroes.
And Antar began to encourage his heart with these
verses:

"I am the Absian, the slayer of cowards. In war
is the time of my glory. I remember my Ibla in
the hour of battle, and love of her inspires my
heart. I have assaulted the foe with the chest of
my charger in the day of battle, at the hour of
the concussion of multitudes. I have broken down
their tribes with the edge of my sword, and their
blood has flowed like pouring clouds. Never have
I turned away the chest of my steed from them.
My dependence is on Ibla, and my noble passion.

I said to her, turn thee away, and depart, for the
destruction of troops is my duty. When the
movers of terror come down upon us, and the armies
assail in quest of death, and the troops of
Arabia and Persia crowd round the great King,
it is then my noble steed with its hoof of rock
drives against them; and his rider is a youth of
the race of Abs, whose father and mother are descended
from Ham. The horse rush upon the
stern intrepid warriors, the harbingers of terror,
like male ostriches; in their hands are Indian
blades and spears: then bursts forth a blaze of
light, and it is the lightning flash in the thunder
cloud. They press on, they present the dreadful
combat; and then glows a flame like a burning
fire. I have slain Wirdishan, and he was a stout
warrior, bold in the encounter on the day of assault.
I have left his women to mourn him in
misery, and he is weltering in blood on the plain.
This day too will I slay the son of Chosroe, and
with him Aswad, thou son of a coward. I am
Antar, and my reputation is known far and wide,
as I tear open heads with the rage of my scimitar."

When Antar had finished his verses, he rushed
upon the Persians, and roared; he assaulted, and
with his shouts he made the deserts and the sandhills
rock, and the country trembled at the howl of
the ferocious lion. That day Antar rushed upon
the Persians, and as he vociferated, the mountains
resounded, and hollows re-echoed. The horses

started back in confusion, and hurled their riders off
their seats. In fact, the whole country was obscured;
and the dust overshadowed the land: men
burst down on one another; skulls were hewn off;
bowels were wrenched out, spears were shivered,
and swords were shattered. Blood deluged; lives
were plundered; horsemen conversed in various
tongues; darts were sped with rapidity. The noble-born
were in their glory; the base retreated; the
brave advanced: heads flew off; the dead were
tossed about. On that day the very breathing was
checked, and the scene exceeded all calculation. They
continued to fight and to contend, to thrust and to
smite, till God permitted the day to depart, and the
night to throw around its veil of obscurity. Then
the two armies separated, for they were exhausted
with striking and piercing.

The tribe of Abs returned, and Antar at their
head, like the flower of the Judas tree, from the
blood of the horsemen that streamed down him.
King Zoheir, and his sons, and the tribe of Abs in
general, could utter no other word but the "Great
Antar," and the victory and triumph were attributed
to him.

The two armies reposed that night till morning
dawned, when the Persians leaped on their horses'
backs, and were drawn up in the left, and right, and
centre, and flanks. The tribe of Abs also issued
from the mountains, and the men hastened to their
posts, when lo! Antar burst forth to the contest,

on his horse Abjer, like a savage lion, or a wave of
the sea in a tempest. He rushed against the right
of the Persians, and overwhelmed it with disgrace
and infamy, and again he returned to the plain,
when lo! a knight of Dilem came down upon him
like a roaring lion; but Antar only said, accursed
be your mother and the mothers of all who
worship fire! and he struck him on the jugular
vein, and separated his head from his shoulders.
Again he galloped and charged, demanding an antagonist:
a second stood forth, he slew him—a third,
he hurled him over—a fourth, he soon despatched—
and they continued in this state till the sun being
about to set, he turned away from the field of battle,
after he had slain about two hundred and fifty horsemen,
and taken seventy prisoners: and as he exulted
in what he had done, he thus expressed himself:

"When I wish, I steep my lance in the dye of
vermilion; and I overthrow the vehement horsemen
with my spear. I am the son of the noblest
of men to the east or to the west; by my strength
I conquer in battle, and in the attack. I am the
knight of war that never flinches. I hew off the
heads of the armed men, and am filled with glory.
I am a knight whose equal the age will not behold,
unrivalled for my feats, my conquests, and my
liberality. I am the wished-for knight, the shouter,
the vociferator; I am the piercer of the brave in
the day of assault. I am the object of horrors in
every fight: I am the grasper of souls, the dissolver

of every enchantment. I am the destroyer
of heroes in every dust; I am he that makes the
warriors drink of the poison of serpents: I am
the knight of knights, my ambition soars on high,
and it is elevated to the sun of Paradise. O Ibla,
I am the furious horseman, the vanquisher of the
powerful, the stern and the intrepid. I swear
by the procession, by the pillar, by the stone, by
the temples, and by their supports, and Zemzem,
that I will raise the war in the field of contention,
and that I will annihilate heroes, piercing them
with my tall spear. I will raise the glory of Abs
above all mankind, by my generosity, by my ambition,
and my resolution. When the warriors
cry out in the battle, who is there? I cry out, I!
and death is hurled against death. Should the
circumference of the world assemble against them,
I would meet it on that day, as if the earth were
but the circumference of a dirhem. Truly, in the
battle of bitterness there is a lion of the tribe, and
when I am engaged, the valour of the most forward
is conspicuous. I am the lion, but I am not to
be trifled with; I am the sea, but I am not to be
tasted. I am he who encounters deaths laughing,
whilst my foe meets me with not even a smile.
Not every one whom a steed ennobles is a knight;
not every polished two-edged instrument is a
scimitar. Rise, my Ibla, and behold thy Antar
this day—the lion, when all the armed multitudes
rush upon him. O Khodawend, return,
expose not your life to dangers with the champion
of women, or you will repent. I am Antar the
Absian, the knight of his clan; I destroy in my
assault the pillars of the tribes."

At hearing these verses, the Absians with one acclaim
cried out, May God never split your mouth,
and may there be never one to harm you! Antar
thanked them, and dismounted. They entered the
tents, and remained on the watch till next day, when
the warriors again mounted. The men were drawn
up, and as Khodawend, mounted on his most valuable
steed, stood observing the Absians, lo! Antar
started forth between the two armies, exclaiming,
Where is the combatant? Who is the champion?
This day is the day of universal agitation; this is
the day for the elevation of funerals! Will no one
dare to meet me? Ye caldrons of cowardly Persians!
Be not afraid; come forth—one knight to
one knight—ten to one—hundred to one—thousand
to one: and if you think it but little odds, come all
of ye, attack me, that I may encounter ye all with a
staff with which I used to tend the he and she
camels; and I will disperse ye among the wastes
and the sand-hills.

When the Persian army and Khodawend heard
Antar's harangue, amazement and terror fell upon
them. This, said Khodawend, is the grossest indignity:
when lo! one of the priests of fire advanced
towards Khodawend, and kissing his hand, O Prince,
said he, do not despise this hero, whose intrepidity

is quite proverbial. Take my advice, and rush upon
him with all your armies, Persian and Arab, or this
swarthy knight will exterminate us all.

Upon this, Khodawend ordered the whole army to
attack, and they, after the manner of their forefathers,
made the assault as if one man, Arab and
Persian, Turcoman and Dilemite. But Antar met
them with blows irresistible and infallible, like a
voracious lion, when he roars and bellows.

When King Zoheir saw the attack of the armies,
and how they surrounded Antar on all sides, he
ordered the tribes of Abs, and Kendeh, and Zebeed,
to the assault. They altogether made a rush at the
Persians, and the ocean of death waved and dashed
till the hair on the head and the locks below the
ears turned grey. The valiant heroes fought, the
cowards were in dismay and fled; beards were
dyed with crimson blood; lords became slaves; and
there passed among them what no pen can describe.
The supports of life snapped, and were thrown
down: the day darkened over them, and blinded
them; the heroes roared and bellowed; wrists and
heads were hewn off.

Khodawend beheld in the tribe of Abs and its
swarthy horsemen a fury of battle he had never observed
neither in Arab or Persian. The conflict
continued to rage, blood to be spilt—the flame of
war to sparkle, and men to slay, till night coming
on, the armies separated, and the surface of the land
was covered with the dead: for on that day above

ten thousand Persians were killed. Khodawend retired,
surrounded by his warriors of Dilem. The
tribe of Abs also returned with more than two
thousand prisoners. Khodawend ordered his Satraps
to take care of the Absian prisoners, amounting to
about one thousand. Thus they reposed, anxious
for the dawn of day. But Antar on quitting the
battle was like the Judas flower; and as the tribe
of Abs preceded him, he thus spoke:

"O my Ibla, heed not the calamities of night,
and let not nocturnal disasters afflict thee. Fear
not death, for it is overpowered by the command
of him who ordains every act. By thy life, wert
thou to behold the foes that charge upon me, O
thou essence of loveliness, as they empty their
quivers, and rush on with every lion-hearted,
long-mustachioed warrior, as they rave whilst my
Abjer, in the midst of their hell-flames, outstrips
the winds in the season of the northern blasts;
and as they roll on in waves like the ocean around
me—and as they attack brandishing their spears,
then am I the undaunted lion. I fear them not—
I heed them not—and when thou seest the lightning
of death flashing from the blade of my
polished scimitar, and cups of death circling
round from the barb of my well-proportioned
spear, Antar, under the shadow of the dust, will
cleave off the warriors' heads with his sword, and
when the pointed lances goad him, he will fight
on the right and on the left. I am the death

that overthrows mankind! the rock-ribbed mountains
yield to my impetuosity. Let the Imperials
come with all their armies, broad-chinned, and
their mustachioes plucked out, we will charge
among them with our hard-flanked, high-blooded
steeds. We will encounter their fronts
with the thrust whose fall would level the towers
of mountains. I am Antar, in form like a lion,
and I dread not the utmost fury of my foes."

As soon as Antar had finished, King Zoheir
hastened towards him, and kissed him between the
eyes, and thanked him, (for on that day he never
expected to see him escape alive from the arrows of
the Persians). He afterwards sought his sons, and
perceived three of them were wounded, and Warcah's
eye had been grazed. Warriors, said Antar, had
they not fought with arrows, we would have exterminated
their hosts, and we would have left
them as a warning to all beholders. When they
had secured their prisoners with cords, and brought
them into the mountains, By the faith of an Arab,
cried Antar, in revenge for Warcah, I will verily
take Khodawend's life. To-morrow will I attack
him under his banners and his standards, and I will
either take him prisoner, or leave him abject and
degraded. They retired to their tents and lighted
their fires, and the two armies were on the watch.

Khodawend ordered the Satraps to examine the
troops, and when it was ascertained that ten thousand
had been slain, and two thousand made prisoners,

his bosom was violently oppressed, and he
was in the greatest consternation. The fire is enraged
at you all, said he, and you have merited this
disgrace. What! has this catastrophe befallen you,
you so superior in numbers? By this calculation, had
they even amounted to one-fourth of your force,
they would not have left one of ye alive. By daylight,
the two armies being drawn up in order of
battle, a knight came forth from the Persian army
like a fragment of a cloud, mounted on a close-haired
charger: from his neck hung an Indian
sabre, and a thin spear was slung over his shoulders,
and he wore a defensive coat of mail, short-sleeved;
and he came on in a most impetuous style, till he
had reached the middle of the plain, when Maadi
Kereb rushed down upon him, and not permitting
him even to gallop or charge once, he smote him
with his sword, and left him dead. A second
started forth, he slew him—a third, he hurled him
headlong—a fourth he crippled, and a fifth, he accelerated
his departure from the world; and so on,
till he had killed fifty horsemen, when the sun inclining
to the westward, the two armies separated,
and sought their tents, and the picquets protected
the sleepers till the day dawned in smiles, and the
two armies prepared to renew the fight and the conflict.
The ranks were drawn up, and the thousands
were disposed opposite each other. When lo! a
horseman appeared on a bright roan horse, and
sought the contest. Antar stood forth against him,
but Maadi Kereb anticipated him: this knight was
the brother of Wirdishan, whom Antar had slain
in the valley of Torrents. Ocab saw him, and he
went up to Antar; O my lord, said he, this is indeed
a mighty Satrap! Maadi Kereb attacked him;
they both assaulted and struck; they retired, and
they closed, and they continued the combat, till the
day closing in, they were about to separate unhurt,
after they had fought a battle that would have
turned infants grey.

Zerkemal was full of rage in his heart, that he
had not accomplished his wish against his foe; and
as Maadi Kereb was returning towards the Arab
army, the Satrap remained quiet till he had turned
his back upon him, when he proved his perfidy, for
he shouted and hurled at him a penetrating javelin,
convinced it would overthrow him. But Maadi
Kereb, hearing his shout, quickly turned his shield
over his back, and the javelin fell upon it more fatal
than the fall of a thunderbolt; it pierced right
through to his body and wounded him. Maadi
Kereb fainted and fell on the ground. The Satrap
was in the act of dismounting, when lo! a yell
struck him like the crushing thunder: he turned
behind him to meet the knight, and as he advanced
he shouted at him; but the other again roared so
that he blinded him; he poured down upon him,
and frightened him, and pierced him. The spear
stuck in his ribs, he fell to the earth weltering in his
blood. This was the swarthy knight—the skilful

combatant—the roaring lion—the captain of knights
—the chief Antar, son of Shedad. For when he
saw Maadi Kereb thus betrayed, he resolved on
punishing the Satrap for his deed. He hastened
towards Maadi Kereb, and having extracted the
javelin out of his back, he bound up his wound,
and placed him on his horse, and gave him over to his
companions. It was now dark, and Antar returned
to the tents, his grief excessive on account of Maadi
Kereb. But as to Khodawend, his rage and indignation
increased to such a degree, his passion
nearly choked him.

O Prince, said Aswad, this is not the plan by
which the government will last long in your hands.
The warriors of Hidjaz are at all times of very inferior
numbers, but every one of their knights will
overthrow a whole tribe; and if you do not permit
us to attack them in all directions, we shall never
gain our object. I will not attack them, said Khodawend,
but with knight to knight, and if you cannot
bring me them one after the other, I do not
want any assistance of you. All this, said Rebia, proceeds
from Antar's good luck, so that at last he will
vanquish us.

They reposed till the dawn of day, when the
horsemen started on their horses' backs; the chiefs
advanced, and Antar stood forth on his horse Abjer
like a resolute lion. Shiboob had told him all that
had passed between Khodawend and Aswad; for
he had insinuated himself among the Persian troops,

and having obtained intelligence, he returned to his
brother. By the faith of an Arab, said Antar, I
will exterminate the tribe of Fazarah, and the
armies of Persia, were they as numerous as the
sands of the desert, and I will slay that cuckold
Aswad and all his troops with the weight of my
scimitar. I will restore Numan to his dominions—
I will destroy all the inhabitants of Khorasan: And
he hastened away to the plain, King Zoheir and his
sons, and his father Shedad, and his uncles, following
him, and also the tribe of Ghiftan galloped
forwards: the tribe of Abs amounted to five thousand,
and the tribe of Ghiftan to three thousand,
and the whole of the army consisted of eight thousand,
all sturdy lions. But Antar made his well
known assault, and poured out his usual roar. The
battle began to rage, and blood to be spilt, and men
to be slain—and the flame of war to blaze—and
the world to be obscured—and heroes to dash
against each other—and skulls to be dispersed—
and spears to be shivered—and swords to be shattered—and
blood to stream in torrents—and lives
to be plundered—and fires to burn—and horsemen
to pierce—and the brave to be exalted in glory—
and the base to retreat—and the Persians to be pre-cipitated—and
hands to fly off—and the dead to be
kicked about—and the horses to charge in succession—and
the enemy to be routed—and on that
day the consternation was universal, and the battle
put at nought all calculation—the combat was furious;
calamities and misfortunes were innumerable;
the easy became difficult. Antar pierced right and
left, and filled the land and the sands with carcasses:
he drove right through the army, and slew numbers
of their heroes, and he never relaxed. King Zoheir
also attacked with his sons, and they penetrated
through the left. Antar's uncles triumphed on the
right: thus they continued till night brought on
darkness; and as Aswad retired, he took no notice
of any one, for he was intent on horrors and vengeance,
and so it was also with Khodawend, for he
was quite stupefied at the fury of the contest, and
he shuddered in terror. As soon as the armies
alighted at the tents, they ate their dinner and reposed
till day shone.

The first that stood forth in the plain was the
knight of the swarthy Abs, and challenged to the
combat; but as no one sallied out against him, he
rushed upon the Persian right, and hacked among
them with his scimitar; he raved, and he issued
from the dust, having slain seventy brave horsemen.
Again he returned to the conflict and carnage, and
assailed the heroes with the thrust of his spear.
Come forth, ye caldrons of Khorasan! he cried,
aim your swords and your spears at me; and
though the horsemen rushed upon him with the
utmost impetuosity, he plundered them of their
lives, and stretched their carcasses upon the ground;
and he ceased not to thrust at them till they all
shrunk back, when he rushed against the left,

where fought the Arab tribes. He dealt death and
perdition among them, and slew them till the day
closed, and he only quitted them after he had assuaged
his soul among them; and Shiboob, like an
unavoidable calamity, always preceded Antar, the
springing lion; but they all returned from the field
of battle towards the tents as night was coming on.
The two armies reposed, keeping on the watch;
but the day dawning, Antar came forth into the
plain, and thus spoke:

"Question the mountaineers of me, O Ibla! ask
of them what the Persians have suffered from me.
I have destroyed the multitudes that came upon
me with billows of troops, men and demons.
They wished to devour us, hungry as they were;
but we have glutted them with blows and thrusts.
We have eaten, but they have not eaten; for they
came against us seeking death at our hands. We
have dispersed their troops from the women more
beautiful than seraphs. How many horsemen
have I laid low with my sword, and their hands
were stained, but not with henna! How many
warriors have I abandoned, whose wives must
mourn in tears their dissolution! How many valiant
heroes have beheld my thrust, and have
cried out, Hold, O son of Shedad! My heart has
been created harder than iron. Mountains may
pass away, but I shall not pass away. I am the
strong bulwark for the race of Abs when their
enemies erect their fortresses. My complexion,

it is true, resembles the night, but my deeds are
more brilliant than the rays of the sun. Among
the horsemen there is not my equal; how then can
I fear man or demon? My dark complexion is my
parentage; my father and my mother are my sword
and my spear when my genealogy is required."

When Antar had finished his verses, behold Aswad
in front of the Arab army ready to attack him;
and as they assaulted him, Go to King Zoheir, said
Antar to Shiboob, with my compliments: demand
of him one hundred horsemen, that with them I
may cut down the enemy, and disperse them among
the deserts; but let him not stir from the entrance
of the valley. Shiboob departed to execute his
orders, whilst Antar assaulted the armies: horsemen
engaged horsemen; the equals in glory contended;
the shouts were dreadful among them; spears laboured
against hearts and lives; the blades of the
swords clashed; slaughter and wounds were incalculable;
exertion was roused, and all jest was at
end; the cowards mourned for themselves, and
wept; and the eyeballs of those in health sunk deep
into their sockets; the brave cried out, Flinch not!
Whilst they were in this tumult, behold from the
quarter of the desert there appeared a dust, which
filled the whole region; the armies stared at it with
attentive gaze to discover what it might be: when,
lo! it was Aboolfawaris Antar, and in his hand was
a prisoner like a camel, and behind him was Shiboob
the subtle lion. The horsemen all looked at the

prisoner on whom this infamy had fallen, and behold,
it was Prince Aswad; for he was the first that
attacked in front of the Arabs, and rushed upon
Antar with the view to make him drink of the cup
of perdition, but Antar frustrated his intention by
his impetuosity, and he assailed him, bearing his
shield over his bosom. He hurled him on his back,
but the Arabs rushed on, anxious to rescue him;
still Antar engaged them till Shiboob returning, he
gave him over to him, and he drove him before him
till he brought him clear beyond the scene of battle.
Antar ordered Shiboob to bind down his arms, and
drive him on to the mountains, whilst he himself returned
to the havoc and the destruction of heroes.

Maadi Kereb had continued ill with the pain of
his wound till this day. He now mounted his
steed, and plunged into the dust, exciting his cousins
to the contest, and to follow Antar, the son of
Shedad.

As to Khodawend, his bosom was stifled, and he
said to his satraps, Let not the Persians fight in
company with the Arabs. The armies continued
to advance and engage, and the sword and spear
laboured among them till the day fled. Discomfiture
fell on the Arabs, and they returned to their
tents, pursued by the thrusts of Antar, for they
were indeed annihilated, and their old and young
were in amazement. The Absians and the Zebeedians
retired, and they had filled the land and the
desert with the dead. As Khodawend marked the

catastrophe that had befallen him, Now, indeed,
said he, the imperial government is mangled. Now
the Persian warriors are disgraced, and after this
event I cannot blame Numan who connected himself
by marriage with this tribe. O prince, said one
of his satraps, attack them with your whole army,
so that we may engage them with darts and arrows,
and pen them up in the mountains, otherwise they
will bring down infamy and disgrace upon us, were
we to be assisted even by the whole force of Khorasan.
Upon this he ordered his officers to instruct
all the warriors on this point, and to direct them to
exert their united powers in the battle. Having
reposed, they prepared their arms and their weapons,
till the morning appearing, they started for the contest
and carnage. Khodawend mounted, and he
gave a shout that made the deserts ring. They
waved on to the right and left, and prostrating
themselves before the sun at its rising over the summits
of the mountains, they blasphemed the great
Creator, and then advanced with their bows and
arrows, and unsheathed their polished scimitars.
The Absians arose that morning, exulting in their
victory which Aboolfawaris Antar had gained for
them; they were all ready to mount, and attack
with their spears, but Antar prohibited them, saying,
O my cousins, this day will not be like other
days. Assemble and stand firm at the entrance of
the defile, and beware of separation or dispersion,
but bear with perseverance the moment of the
onset. Engage them fiercely this day, and be not
as they imagine you are, though the Persians drive
against your horses, and seek to destroy you. Just
then the armies of horsemen rolled upon them like
the billows of the ocean, and the commotion was
terrific among them. The day became like a night
of total darkness; the horsemen were mixed confusedly,
singly, and in pairs; the arrows struck the
jugular veins of the steeds. (Asmaee reports, I have
heard from one of the Arab chiefs in whom confidence
may be placed, that this day was such that
no one before him or after him ever saw its like,
for they fought till their bodies fell dead; the blast
of death withered them; the heads of the slain were
dispersed.) But Antar having selected one thousand
horse, pursued the conflict, and encountered
horrors, till he drove away the troops from the Absians,
and scattered them among the wilds and the
wastes. When he shouted they were dispersed far
and wide; and when he attacked they were put to
the rout; and thus he continued his dreadful deeds
in front of that valiant army till consternation falling
upon them all, he dismounted from the back of his
horse, and rushed rapidly towards the Arabs with
sword and shield. The tyrants of Persia shouted
round him, and the whole atmosphere resounded.
The scene bade defiance to the description of the
most acute. The high-blooded chargers pranced
over skulls and necks; the swift-sped darts, and
the thin-bladed scimitars and the quivering lances
penetrated through the tribes of Zebeed and Kendeh;
and they endured intolerable horrors in the
combat with the Persians. They tasted the bitterest
draughts; and the swords continued to play
till the sun disappearing in the west, and the night
coming on with impenetrable obscurity, the armies
retired from the field.

On that day the Persians lost twice as many as
the Arabs, but still this diminution was scarcely apparent,
so vast was their host. As to the tribe of
Kendeh, they were quite cut up, for they were without
their chief, and his substitute was obliged to
fly; so likewise the tribe of Zebeed, they were not
in good spirits on account of the wound of their
knight; even Maadi Kereb had determined on
flight, fearful of death and perdition. As to Rebia,
he was congratulating Hadifah on their victory,
saying, If the like of this day occurs again to the
Absians, every vestige of them will be eradicated.
O Rebia, said Hadifah, they are indeed invincible
warriors. Never will they be vanquished whilst
this slave remains alive among them.

The tribe of Abs thus returned, but in a most
deplorable condition; many of their men were
wounded. King Zoheir consulted Antar about entering
the mountains, and fighting by their wives
and families, but Antar swore he would not move
till he had conquered those foul wretches; For if,
said he, a thousand horsemen will stand with me I
will defend this spot, were even man and demon to

assemble against me. They talked all night, but
with the first rays of light the horsemen marched
rapidly to the contest. They put on their instruments
of war, and made a most formidable attack,
at which the mountains resounded. The Arabs attacked;
the chief Antar was at their head. They
commenced the blow and the thrust; horsemen
were slain; flames blazed; the multitudes mixed
promiscuously; they fought with sword and spear;
anxiety fell upon all; the eyeballs rolled round;
in every spot they sought for refuge and retreat;
spears scooped out the eyeballs, and the scimitars
flew against necks; the sabres of death flashed and
sparkled like lightning; sword blades and shields
were cleft in pieces. Now, they continued in this
frightful state for seven days entire; on the eighth
day the Absians were unable to contend in open
field, though they engaged still among the sand
hills and defiles, and their destruction seemed inevitable.
Antar was wounded in three places; still
he protected the tribe and repulsed the foe, till
afflictions falling heavily upon them, the women
screamed, and tears burst from their eyes in copious
streams, for the oceans of Persia were rushing upon
them from every quarter, whilst Rebia shouted to
his Arabs in a voice every one might hear, Eh!
come on! he exclaimed. Plunder the goods; capture
the damsels, all like rising full moons; cut in
pieces that Antar with the edge of the cleaving
scimitar; tear his carcass with the barbs of the
quivering spears; and as he cried out, he just turned
his head round, and lo! he perceived a cloud of
dust encompassing the whole region, approaching
swifter than instant death. Rebia was quite confounded
at the sight, and said to Hadifah, Doubtless
this is the dust of Chosroe, who is coming with all
his host, as he has been long without news of his
son; the evil destiny of the tribe of Abs is at hand,
and every vestige of them will be rooted out. But
whilst he endeavoured to ascertain what the dust
really meant, it opened, and behold there was a valiant
army like the waves of the ocean, headed by
King Numan, and by his side rode the Chief Hidjar
and Oorwah; and soon after the army galloped
forwards, crying out, O by Lakhm, O by Juzam!
your misery and destruction are at hand, ye Persians!
for King Numan is come. Rebia heard this
exclamation; amazement fell upon him; all the
joy he felt fled, and misery and grief were let loose
upon him. He looked at Hadifah, and he too was in
the greatest consternation: They have set at liberty
King Numan at last, he cried; and they are come
with him to assist the tribe of Abs and Adnan, and
I am convinced no one can have released him but the
Chief Hidjar. Soon will he reproach us for our conduct
towards him; he will indeed requite us, and
say to us, As soon as you knew of my confinement
and my downfall, you assisted my brother, and you
fought against my friends: so now we have nothing
for it but to conciliate him as well as we can, or
death and destruction will overwhelm us. Stand off
from the contest of blows and thrusts, he added,
addressing the Arab tribes, for truly King Numan
is arrived; he has been released from fetters and
chains; he is come in spite of the power of his
enemies and his haters. The Arabs listened to this
harangue, and looking at the army that filled the
desert, they informed each other of the state of the
case, and retired from the combat, crying out to
King Numan, O thou triumphant!

But as to the rescue of King Numan, it was effected
by Hidjar and Oorwah. As we before mentioned,
they travelled with two hundred men till
they reached Hirah, when they plunged their
swords into the necks of the slaves and the shepherds,
who screamed and shouted; upon which
sallied forth the horsemen of Khorasan, wit the
satrap whom Khodawend had left to guard Numan,
and with him were one thousand Persians. They
commenced the engagement, headed by the satrap;
but Hidjar encountered him, and heard him muttering
in his Persian dialect; he understood him
not, neither did he make him any answer, but he
pierced him through the chest, and the barb issued
sparkling through his back. Oorwah struck the
second horseman, and levelled him with the earth.
The tribes of Abs and Kendeh shouted out their
distinct patronymics as they transfixed the Persians
through their chests and their ribs. Hidjar fell
impetuously upon them, and destroyed them with

the blows of his sharp scimitar. The riders were
hurled off their horses; and the Persians saw the
descent of calamities. Their numbers were soon
diminished, and their strength and energy failed.
A few of them fled; most of them were slain; and
Hidjar entered Hirah with his troops, and releasing
Numan from captivity, related to him what the
tribe of Abs had done for him. Numan thanked
Hidjar, as he said to himself, I was persuaded no
one would release me but the Absians and Antar.
They set at liberty also the thousand horsemen
that were imprisoned with him; and on that very
day having sent a messenger to his friends, and
written letters to his allies, he waited a little to arrange
his affairs, rejoicing at his deliverance from
bondage; but on the second day by sunrise armies
advanced like the rolling ocean, and in an hour
more he had an army collected of seven thousand
brave horsemen, with whom he instantly departed,
traversing the wastes and the deserts, alarmed for
the virtuous Absians, till they reached Adja and
Selma. And when Numan arrived he had not less
than twenty thousand men with him.

We have mentioned the event, and how the
Arabs returned to their allegiance. Rebia too advanced
towards him, and, kissing the ground, made
his excuses; so did Hadifah and the tribe of Fazarah,
for they feared some direful misfortune would
overtake them.

As to Khodawend, he expected his death, and

retreated from the contest, as soon as he saw what
had happened. The Persians, too, being alarmed
lest Khodawend should be murdered, surrounded
him on all sides through fear of the Arab king, for
Khodawend's force was now reduced to fifty thousand
worshippers of fire, the remainder having
drank of the cups of extinction.

The tribe of Abs issued from the defiles like lions
of the den, and in front of them stood Antar, the invincible
hero. The Absians looked about in alarm
at the horsemen and their numbers, fearful they
would want to plunder their property and goods;
but King Numan prohibited them from doing so.
After this he proceeded to seek Khodawend, accompanied
only by Hidjar and Oorwah. Fear not,
most revered prince, said he, any hostile movement
against you with these nations, for we are indeed
the slaves of the imperial government, and the servants
of the Persian kings. As to myself, O prince,
I cannot see in me that crime that you should seize
my person, except indeed my connexion with this
Absian tribe; and have you not seen in their contest
during these days something to confound mankind?
It is on that account I have sought their alliance,
for not one of them can be slain without the
destruction of a whole body of heroes, and I never
intended by means of this tribe to endanger the
other tribes of Arabia; but I acted like a provident
man, and I had arranged matters in the best manner
in my fears for your safety. Your father has

listened to the words of my enemies, and seized me
on account of a transaction on which he was misinformed.
I have only rescued myself, and am come
here, urged by my fears lest the Arabs should harm
you, for they are a people that comprehend not the
value of kings; but now what is past is past; and
the sight of the eye is better than the hearing of the
ear. Let your mercy and the mercy of your father
be not denied me, for I cannot acknowledge in myself
any crime that has merited such severity. Be you
reconciled to me, and I will be the protector and
defender of your government, otherwise the desert
before me is extensive and wide. At any rate I will
not separate from you till I have dispersed from
you these armies; and I will attend you to your
father in the firmest confidence. Khodawend, on
hearing this address, meditated, and hung down his
head towards the ground in excess of shame, for he
was a rare and noble youth, as indeed were all the
Chosroes, for they were the monarchs of the world
from the beginning of time till now.

Khodawend dismounted, and affairs being amicably
arranged, his alarms were converted into security.
I will not move, said he to Numan, but
with my stirrup against your stirrup: and when I
reach my father's presence you shall see what I will
do with you and your associates, for I never understood
your worth till I felt your power. But I desire
of you to bring me Antar here, that I may
overwhelm him with my kindnesses and bounty,

and make of him my coat of mail against the calamities
of fortune.

Numan turned towards Oorwah, and having informed
him of all the circumstances, ordered him to
go to Antar, and bring him, with King Zoheir, and
all his warriors. Congratulate yourself, O Aboolfawaris,
said Oorwah, on the most exalted honours,
and the highest glory; for Prince Khodawend requests
you will attend him. The Absians had restrained
themselves from the contest as soon as Numan
appeared, and they were in that uncertain state
when Oorwah came and announced the event. Praise
be to God, said Zoheir, who is the cause of our deliverance
from death and destruction! We must
now indeed go to Khodawend; perhaps this business
may be arranged after all these dissensions, and evil
and wickedness vanish. What say you, O Aboolfawaris?
O King, said he, to my taste there is nothing
more advisable than the slaughter of Khodawend
by the sword, and the massacre of all his
Persians. However, O King of the time, I will not
thwart the general opinion on the subject; and not
to distress your royal bosom at such a moment as
this, I will reply with obedience and submission.

Then King Zoheir took him and departed, accompanied
with his sons, and in all one hundred
horsemen, whilst Oorwah, going ahead, related all
the circumstances that had passed, and how Numan
had been liberated. But Antar went on like one
going to give false evidence; and when they reached

the Persian armies, the Satraps and the Dilemites
stared at Antar as he burst asunder the troops in
front of King Zoheir and his sons; and his spear
was slung across his shoulders.

They continued in procession till they came up
to Khodawend, when they dismounted and saluted
him. Khodawend was astonished at such behaviour.
O noble Arabs, said he, reproaches at such a crisis
would only produce irritation, and the mention of
what is passed would occasion animosities. I have
only sent for you, to pardon you the blood of my
troops, and to ask also of you a remission for all my
past deeds. I accept you as supports and friends;
and he ordered his slaves to bring forth some high-mettled
steeds, which they soon introduced, with
also a great quantity of honorary robes and presents.
The flames of their hearts were extinguished, and
distresses were cleared away; for the Ruler of the
World is awful, and his bounties eagerly desired.

O munificent Prince, said King Zoheir, we are
indeed the slaves of your government, now and of
old; but when a man sees his disgrace before him,
it is incumbent on him to cast it off from his person
by the exertions of mind and body.

Khodawend presented Antar his own sword, that
was one of the swords of Chosroe, and was worth
the capitation-tax of Egypt and Irak, when well cultivated
and populous. He ordered him also five
high-blooded horses, with housings of gold, and
turning towards Numan, he said, Take Antar with

us to our throne; for I wish to satiate myself with
looking at him, and hearing his discourse.

Numan expressed his submission, and he was
overjoyed at this fortunate event, for he was still
afraid of Chosroe, and he wished to take Antar with
him to his city. So the business fell out just as he
had wished, and before night every thing was peaceably
settled; they prepared feasts, and their joy was
complete.