University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XXVI.

The Absians were returning home, when, said
King Zoheir to his son Cais, Fetch me hither your
mother, that we may visit the holy Shrine, and pass
these days there: and thence I will return to these
dastards, and will extirpate them with the sword.
Cais accordingly departed, and went home. King
Zoheir afterwards repaired to Mecca, after having
waited for the arrival of his wife, and a party of female
attendants; and they halted in a part of the
sacred valley, which had been the quarter of the
Absians for ages; for the Arabs had ever possessed
there each their respective abode.

At this time also the Chief Khalid returned from
his visit to his niece, and as he was passing with his
followers by the sacred Shrine, he sought the fulfilment
of his religious duties, previous to his proceeding
home. So he made also a pilgrimage with
a party of Aamirites, and amongst them was the
Brandisher of Spears. They all met Khalid, and
informed him what had passed, and the plans they
had adopted; how King Zoheir had invaded them,
to seek vengeance for his son Shas, and the numbers
he had slain.

At this recital Khalid's eyes became like fire:

Woe, woe unto thee, O Zoheir, son of Jazeemah!
he cried. Alas! that I was not present when thou
didst perpetrate that villanous deed. Truly thou
hast taken advantage of my absence, and hast slain
some of my family and my tribe; but if I do not
requite thee for thy acts in the dusty fight, I am not
of the loins of Giafer. He reposed, and at dawn of
day he went round the Shrine and the portico, and
met King Zoheir in the circuit. He no sooner beheld
him than his very entrails were on fire. Zoheir,
he exclaimed, thou hast indeed accomplished
thy iniquitous projects against the tribe of Aamir;
thou hast availed thyself of the inferior numbers of
their troops. Thou hast violated our wives, and
our noble matrons. Truly, I have had my revenge,
replied Zoheir, and I have quenched my fury: had
it not been for this sacred month, I would not have
left among you either an old or a young one, and
I must root out every vestige as soon as these days
are expired. Dost thou not fear, said Khalid, that
the vicissitudes of fortune may turn against thee, and
against thy family, and that thy vestiges may be
rooted out as those of thy predecessors?

Then went Khalid towards the Caaba, and prayed,
O Thou, who hast raised these columns, and hast
consecrated the glory of this place, and hast made it
a sanctuary for the Arabs, let not this year pass
away before my hand rest on the neck of Zoheir;
grant me but to reach him, and through thee I will
vanquish him. But Zoheir, in the excess of his

presumption, thus said, O Lord, let not this year
pass before thou grantest me the accomplishment of
my designs. Let my hand rest on the neck of
Khalid, and no assistance do I require against him.

Now, as he spoke, there was a crowd of Arabs
around him, and as soon as they heard these words,
they kissed the columns of the sacred shrine, and
turning towards King Zoheir, In this very year
thou wilt expiate with thy life the words thou hast
spoken, cried they all. Did I not respect these
days, said Zoheir to them, I would drink of the
blood of Khalid, as guests drink of wine. And
Khalid turned away from him, and all the Arabs
separated. Khalid, after remaining at Mecca three
more days, set out to his own country with his tribe,
and thus exclaimed in verse—

"Prepare, O Zoheir—come to the field—let our
blood flow—let the forbidden now become legal.
O tribe of Aamir, brandish with me the arbed
spear, and unsheath the sword. Incur not disgrace
in the day of attack; sell your lives, and die
honourably. If infamy establish itself in our
dwellings, haste away and quit the tents. O tribe
of Aamir, the time is eventful; raise the sword
against your foes. Lay low Zoheir and his sons,
when they quit Zemzem and the shrine. Draw
upon them the sharp scimitar, tear off their flesh
and their bones, that we may destroy the supports
of Abs, as our brother laid low Shas. Let
us make their wives widows, and by the death

of their heroes let us make their children orphans."

When Khalid had finished his verses, he pressed forward
his march, his heart boiling with a blazing flame
against Zoheir, and with him was the Brandisher of
Spears and ten horsemen. On reaching home, they
perceived that their families had come down from
the mountains, and had pitched their tents on account
of the sacred month. But in many of the
dwellings there were wailings and lamentation for
the horsemen that had been slain. Khalid went
down among them and consoled them. On that
very day he assembled the three tribes, and informed
them what had passed with Zoheir in the
land of Mecca; and I am resolved, he said, to attack
the tribe of Abs, and I will not stop till I have
succeeded in my project, and when I have slain
Zoheir, I will repair to their lands, and I will exterminate
their families and their tribe; for Antar is
absent, and they seem fearless of calamities.

The Aamirites assented, and prepared for the
march, amounting to five thousand brave horsemen.
And when there was only a short space of the sacred
month remaining, they terminated all their preparations
in seven days and departed, Khalid having
first sent different parties by different routes, and
appointed a leader to each. Haste then, said he, on
this expedition, and let us all meet in the land of
Howazin. So they separated, and set off for the
spot he had pointed out to them, where they concealed

themselves, and remained in anxious expectation
of the event. But as to King Zoheir, the
pilgrimage being now over, he returned with his
followers, and his heart was boiling with rage against
Khalid. He continued his march till he reached
the market of Ocadh, where he halted among the
Arabs, who entertained him for three days; and
quitting them in security, he pressed on under the
influence of Fate, till he came to the land of Howazin,
where he halted at the waters about the evening.
He took his repast, and did not repose till
night. O my father, said Prince Cais, march with
us during the night; perhaps we may avoid the tribe
of Aamir, for you indeed have stamped on them the
foulest disgrace, and I fear for your sake their Chief
Khalid. King Zoheir, on hearing these words, exclaimed,
What sayest thou, O Cais? Who are these
vile Aamirites, or Khalid, or all the inhabitants of
the barren waste? By the faith of an Arab, I will not
stir hence for three days. Cais, when he heard this,
felt aware that death was at hand. But he roused
his companions for the contest, obliged as he was to
yield to his father's authority.

At the dawn of day, whilst King Zoheir was sitting
among his tribe, behold a horseman advanced
in haste from the quarter of the tribe of Aamir,
and that horseman was the brother of Temadhur,
King Zoheir's wife, and he was come as a spy from
the tribe of Aamir. He had long since established
himself among them, and married one of their

women; for he detested King Zoheir, because he
had banished him from the country; and had not
his sister Temadhur been present, Zoheir would
have put him instantly to death. So when King
Zoheir drove him away, he took refuge among the
tribe of Aamir, and settling himself among them,
married there, and adopted all their habits, never
ceasing to abuse King Zoheir. We have mentioned
that Khalid was waiting in ambush for Zoheir;
O my cousins, said he to his comrades, who
of ye will go to the waters of the land of Howazin,
and procure intelligence for us of Zoheir, son of
Jazeemah, so that our labours may not be lost, nor
our projects fail? O Khalid, they replied, for such
an expedition you need no one but Amroo, son of
Shireed, for he is a relative of that tribe, and one
of them; and he is the only person that can procure
intelligence for us: he has a very good excuse when
he sees them that can give no umbrage, for he can
say to them, I am come to congratulate my sister
on her return from Mecca. Thus he may observe
where they have halted, and tell us of their march.
But I fear, said Khalid, he may betray us, and impart
to his tribe all we have done. Upon that score
there is no fear, said they; his hatred to King Zoheir
is unquestionable. On this, he ordered him to his
presence, and telling him what he wanted, Amroo
thanked him, and assented, saying, I will bring you
the required news, provided you will make this
condition with me—it shall be a covenant between
me and you, and for it I must take the firmest
engagement and promise. They agreed to his proposal,
saying, Explain to us your demands.—When
you have slain King Zoheir, said he, and you have
succeeded in your wishes, capture not my sister
Temadhur, and slay not one of her sons.—Let this
be a sacred covenant between you and us, said
Khalid; and he promised all he required, requesting
his aid in the accomplishment of their hopes.

Amroo quitted them about midnight, and in the
morning he reached the waters of Howazin; and
as soon as King Zoheir saw him, he recognized
him. Father, this is my uncle, said Cais; he is
hastening towards us; I am convinced he is a spy
from the tribe of Aamir.

And before Cais had finished, Amroo arrived,
and congratulated King Zoheir on his pilgrimage:
he then repaired to his sister, and saluting her,
seated himself. O uncle, said Cais, what has brought
you here?—I am come on a visit to you, said Amroo,
and to congratulate you on your pilgrimage.
I have also some news for you; which is, that
Khalid son of Giafer, on his return from Mecca,
assembled all the Aamirite chieftains, and related
to them what happened with your father at the
sacred shrine: he wept torrents of tears before
them: revenge and rage rose in tumults in their
hearts, and they have combined against your wicked
and iniquitous designs. Unanimous in their resolution
to waylay you on your return from the

sacred shrine, they marched out some days ago,
and are five thousand in number. They heard of
your having halted at the market of Ocadh; and
out of my alarms for you I am come to congratulate
you, and give you this information.

Well, Amroo, said King Zoheir, what have we
to fear? We are able to meet our enemies; and if
they have sent you as a spy, return and tell them
that I will not move hence till I meet them and
destroy them, high and low.—Great King, said
Amroo, you still hate me; your detestation is not
yet extinct. So I have lost my pains, though I
was willing to make peace, and even my kindness
to you is received as an act of baseness. I have
only been induced to this deed by my fears for my
sister, that she should be made captive, and infamy
be heaped on me, east and west: but now that I
have seen her my heart is at ease, and if I again
return to you pardon not my offence. He then
moved towards his horse, in order to mount and
return. Cais would not permit him to execute his
purpose; but he sprung at him like a hissing serpent,
and threw him under him, and secured his
arms. Uncle, he cried, I will not let thee go from
us, and I will not let thee escape out of our power,
till we have passed over this country, and we approach
our own land.—What is this, my son? said
his mother. Why hast thou seized the person of
thy uncle, and thus repaid him for his visit to us?
O mother, said Cais, let me alone in this affair; do

not question me. I will not release him till he
gives me the promise of God and his engagement
that he will not mention us to any human being,
and will not give any information of us either to
man or woman.—My brother, said Temadhur, give
the required promise to my son Cais. Upon this
Amroo, having sworn and bound himself by oaths
that for three days he would not mention any one
of them, Cais untied the ropes, and granted him
his liberty: but he requested of his sister Temadhur
some provisions, to feed him till he reached home.
She gave him some bread and milk, and he mounted
his horse and departed.

As soon as Amroo was gone, and vanished among
the sand-hills and the mountains, Zoheir turned
towards his son, to rebuke him. What is this thou
hast done with thy uncle? cried he; this is all
through fear of death or the foe.—Yes, my father,
said Cais; for when a wise man has an enemy, he
sleeps not by night. His father's expressions convinced
Cais that death was at hand; so he went out
with the horsemen, and stationed himself on the
look-out for the enemy.

But as to Amroo, he urged on his march incessantly
till he reached the tribe of Aamir. They
mounted, and met him; as also did Khalid, though
he believed he should never see him again. And
when he came up to him, he asked him how he
was: he gave no answer; but turning aside towards
some erak trees, he alighted beneath them, and

placed down on the ground before him the bottle
that contained the milk. Amroo pointed to the
trees with his hand, and thus addressed them:
Thou form, that canst return no reply, and understandest
not what is said, and canst not distinguish
between right and wrong, truly I have been provided
with milk from a hated tribe. I wish thou
wouldst taste thereof, that no harm may come to
me from drinking it. O my cousins, said Khalid,
the man has fallen among the tribe: afraid of him,
they have bound him by oaths that he will not
speak of them, nor give any human being information
of them: he has thus engaged himself by
oath, and had it not been so, he could not have
escaped from them. The wisest plan is for you to
taste this milk, and try his food; if it be sweet, it
is fresh milk, and Zoheir is near us; if it be sour,
and the victuals tainted, then the party is distant
in the barren wastes. Accordingly, some of the
horsemen approached and drank of the milk, and
it was fresh camels' milk. They informed Khalid:
You have proved the fact, said he, and I am convinced
Amroo only left them in the land of Howazin;
and it is my advice that we march against them
instantly. Let us seek them, and disperse ourselves
over the desert in search of them; and if we fall
upon them in this desert, we will bring down death
and extinction upon them; and if we do not meet
them, we will return to the high road, where we
must find them halting somewhere to repose.

Thus Khalid formed his plans for the execution
of his purpose, and urged on over the plains and
wastes till it was night; when they returned to the
high road, and continued their march till they
reached the waters of Howazin by morning.

Cais was stationed as the scout; and as soon as
he saw the dust of the tribe as it drew nigh, he
returned to his father. Be on your guard, O father,
he cried, for there approaches what you cannot overcome.—What
is the matter? said Zoheir. The
dust of the foe is at hand, said Cais; there is the
tribe of Aamir, and Khalid son of Giafer: and his
tears burst forth in torrents as he spoke. But his
father mounted his horse, having first clothed himself
in armour, to meet his foes and his enemies.
Welcome, welcome to Khalid, the son of Giafer the
Aamirite, he cried, and galloped forward on his
horse Caasa, followed by his sons and his troops.

When Khalid saw this formidable array, he called
out to the tribe of Aamir, and excited their energies
for the stroke of the cleaving swords. Upon
this, shouts were raised, swords were drawn, spears
were extended; all shouted, and attacked, and exclaimed,
and vociferated. Fury boiled in every
bosom; patience and perseverance were evinced by
all. The scene was dreadful; multitudes crowded
promiscuously; discourse was at an end. The
cowards fled; round them revolved the cup of
perdition. The dust thickened like clouds. Zoheir
roared and bellowed: he gave vent to all his feelings,

and poured forth his fury and his pride: he assailed
them, and exposed himself to dangers. But before
mid-day the Aamirites resolved on flight, for
they saw in the Absians what amazed their senses.
Not one of the Aamirites could stand firm in that
terrific hour but the Chief Khalid, son of Giafer;
for he preferred death to flight.

At that moment arrived another division of the
tribe of Aamir, every one of them eager for the
battle; and as soon as they appeared their hearts
were comforted, and they attacked: for among
them were Knights whose equals the age could not
produce, Rebia, son of Ocail, and Jandah, son of
Beka, and their companions were the champions of
the tribes. Upon this, they made an assault from
every direction; their shouts arose on high; numbers
increased against the Absians, whose difficulties
augmented; patience and perseverance were exhausted,
for they did not consist of more than one
hundred men, and their enemies were five thousand
warriors, all armed with spears.

But King Zoheir, when he was aware that there
was no reprieve from death, and evidently beheld
his destruction, resolutely encountered the barbs of
the spears that goaded him on all sides; and he
made assaults such as after ages never witnessed.
Khalid marked his exploits, and threw himself upon
him, anxious for a personal contest; at the same
time thinking that though he might kill him, he
should also be slain himself. They shouted and

roared aloud till they distinguished death and an
eternal blindness; the earth and sky vanished from
them.

Heaven protect us from the unenlightened persons
of that period of Arabian ignorance, particularly
from such as these two warriors renowned in
battle, namely, King Zoheir, and Khalid, son of
Giafer!

They continued now to close, now to start asunder;
and a combat and contest arose between them
that would have turned infants gray. They persisted
in driving at each other till their spears were
shivered: they flung them on the ground, and drew
their swords: they did not desist from smiting each
other with their sabres till their arms were quite
exhausted. Throwing these likewise away, they
grasped each other on their horses till their wrists
were quite numbed, and continued in this position
till they both fell at once on the sand; but Khalid
fell uppermost, upon King Zoheir, on account of
his arrogant speech at Mecca.

Khalid attempted to draw his sword, but he
could not quit the hold of his antagonist; upon
which King Zoheir cried out to the Absians, Come
to me, and assist me against Khalid; and if ye cannot
succeed against him, then slay him and slay me
too. At that moment his son Warca stood near
him, and the instant he heard his father call out,
being beneath Khalid, O my father! he exclaimed,
and he threw himself towards him, and dispersing

the Aamirites, struck Khalid a blow on the shoulder.
But the sword turned round in his hand, and slipped
aside, and he could not relieve his father from the
power and oppression of the foe. Then came up
Jandah, son of Beka, and heaved up his arm with
his sword, and struck King Zoheir on the crown of
the head; and his brains dropped out from his
head, for the blow fell right against his temples:
he heard his sword grate and rattle against Zoheir's
skull. Convinced that the blow had made its way
into Zoheir, and had slain him, Arise now, my
cousin, he cried to Khalid, for it is all over with
him; and Khalid sprung up off his chest, and his
project was completed. He seated himself again
on his horse's back, as he cried out to his cousins
and troops, saying, O my cousins, retire from these
dastards, for my purpose has succeeded, and God
has listened to my prayer.—What has this to do
with us? said Rebia, son of Ocail. I swore to Amroo,
said Khalid, by him who hath spread out the
earth and the canopy of the skies, that I would not
take his sister Temadhur captive, and that I would
not slay one of her sons; and now that we have
accomplished our designs against Zoheir, I wish to
fulfil my promise and engagement with Amroo.
Thus commanding his horsemen to withdraw their
hands from the blow and the thrust, he departed,
seeking his family and home, having first taken
possession of King Zoheir's sword, Zinoor, and his
charger, Caasa; and as they were traversing the
plain and the waste, Khalid turned towards Jandah,
and said, Well then, the blow you struck Zoheir
was mortal? Eh! for I have sworn by the sacred
shrine, that if we met we should not part but in
death.—I struck him such a blow, said Jandah,
were even assistance to come from Hibel for him,
never will he revive to snuff the air of heaven; for
my arm is powerful, and my sword sharp; it would
cleave even iron. And when I heard the rattle and
grating of my sword against Zoheir's skull, something
issued like the oil of jessamin. I tasted it with
my tongue, and I perceived it salt, so I was convinced
it was the juice of his brains, and that his
career was closed. Upon that Khalid smiled, and
thanked him for his deed.

But as to King Zoheir's sons and his people,
when they knew of his death, they feared for their
own destruction: they gave their horses their heads,
and fled away, till all pursuit eing cut off, they
halted. And as they expressed their regrets for
King Zoheir, said Cais to his uncles and brothers,
Return with me to my father, that we may carry
him away with us; for if there is a breath of life,
we will cure him, and if he is dead, we will dig a
grave for him, and bury him; for the enemy has
given us up, and something has called away their
attention from us.

He accordingly returned with them to his father,
whom they found in agonies. He dismounted, and
spoke to him: he opened his eyes. What dost thou
want of me, my son? said he, in a faltering voice;

depart, for thou art my successor, and only seek to
avenge me on Khalid, son of Giafer; there is no
occasion for me to recommend to thee thy cousin
Antar. With this last injunction he again fainted.
All present burst into tears and lamentations; they
let loose their turbans about their necks. Their
clamorous grief recalled Zoheir to life. Shall we
not carry thee home with us? said Cais. No, said
he; do not move me, my son. Trouble not thyself,
for the blow on my head has inflicted its death
on my heart, and I must inevitably die. A corpse
is but dust; only just let it be concealed from the
wild beasts and the wolves. Here his speech failed,
and he expired.

So they dug a grave for him, and having buried
his dust therein, they returned home, their tears
streaming copiously. But Warca was more grieved
and afflicted than any one, and his mind was in the
greatest agony on account of his blow at Khalid,
when the sword turned round in his hand, for he
knew the Arabs would shame him on account of
such a blow. He evidently wished for death in the
excess of his anguish and the calamity he endured,
and he thus mourned his father:

"I beheld my father under the breast of Khalid,
and all my happy prospect died in him. He cried
out to us—O by Abs, turn towards me, for my
eyes are overpowered by Khalid. I rushed upon
him, and the horse shook their quivering spears,
and death closed up every passage. But my

sword turned round in my hand and betrayed
me, and the God of heaven's canopy palsied my
hand and my arm: O that before I had struck at
Khalid I had drunk the cup of the poison of
venomous beasts! O that before I rushed on,
the pangs of death had seized me in the contest!
My mother Temadhur will not be congratulated,
as she was once congratulated by illustrious heroes
at my birth. She indeed depended on me, and
she prayed for my success; but her hopes have
been disappointed in the hour of tribulation. I
am become a common tale, after this blow at
Khalid; I shall be spurned by foes and enemies.
O that I had been laid low in the dark desert,
and that the birds were devouring me! O son of
Giafer, may the God of the canopy make thee
drink of the cup of extinction, and of death, hot
and cold! May the Omnipotent God, the universal
Ruler, destroy thee, and mayest thou feel
the direst evils of fortune, O Khalid! Soon ye
shall see horsemen brandishing death on their
spears and their arms. Alas! O tribe of Abs and
Adnan, rush to the fight, and come to me with
your illustrious heroes. O Absian Antar, Champion
of the tribe, thou sympathisest with them
in the hour of battle and adversities. Come on,
O tribe, to revenge; haste—for the foe and our
rivals have triumphed over us. May the Lord
steep their land in blood; may it be a den of lions,
and may the birds never fly over it! The enemy
reposes on the couch of gratulation in the murder
of Zoheir, and Khalid's heart is exulting. Alas!
O my cousins, rush on to the sea of death with
your spears and your arms. Let us slay every
one of their chiefs; let us take their women captives
in fetters and chains; let us destroy the Kelabians,
with the tribes of Ghani and Aamir; and
let us extirpate a thousand knights for one. Alas!
alas! how the foe laid him low; and the hand of
the antagonist and the hater has stretched him on
the ground. My dependance was on him: I even
thought fortune feared his might, and would demand
pardon of him in adversities. Oh! I shall
weep for him as long as I live with ulcerated eyes,
whose lids no rest shall visit. Since it is my doom
to be cast down in misery, I will mourn in flowing
tears that shall never be stayed."

Then, as they pursued their journey homewards,
Temadhur dashed her fists against her cheeks, ever
casting her eyes behind her: she anxiously wished
to destroy herself, yet her better reason checked her,
for she was one of the most sensible of women: still
she was reduced to misery and ignominy. But as
to the tribe of Aamir, when they reached their own
country, the Brandisher of Spears came forth with
his suite to meet Khalid, saluting him, and inquiring
about all that had passed. Khalid informed
him of the victory and triumph, at which the Brandisher
of Spears was happy and delighted, until he
heard of the safety of King Zoheir's sons, at which

"father, and tell him I died by treachery in the
"meshes of a net."

As soon as the youth, O King, had finished his
verses, he came towards me with a resolute heart.
Thou motherless coward, he cried, come on to the
fight, that I may show thee horrors. Seeing that he
was determined to fight, and that he would slay the
first that should go out against him, Go thou forth,
said I to one of my comrades; and at the word, my
companion rushed at him. The youth cried out,
What is thy name? for I have sworn by an oath,
that I will not fight with one whose name is like the
name of my father. My name, said the other, is
Nabish[6] . Ay, said he, and the gnawers shall gnaw
thy flesh; and thus he addressed him:

"Whoever covets a girl, or a horse and spoil, for
him there is a sword that deals death, and a knight
like a lion, of Arab race, who, were he to see
death distinctly, would not fly."

Thus saying, he rushed down upon my comrade
like a driving cloud, and shouted at him like a roaring
lion, and pierced him between the paps, thrusting
his spear out between his shoulders. When I saw
my companion fall dead, I said to his brother, Away
now with thee, and retaliate for thy brother; and
he sallied forth, but he slew him. Thus I sent one
after the other, but the youth slew them, till my
nine comrades were all killed, and I remained alone.
The youth must be fatigued and exhausted in the

field, said I to myself; now I will stand forth against
him, and will slay him, and enjoy the spoil and the
damsel. I sprang at him like a lion of the forest.
What! said he to me, dost thou wish that I should
sin against my oath? and he attacked me. I met
him, and there ensued between us a contest in blows
and thrusts, that would have stupefied the eyeballs,
and amazed the stoutest warriors.

We continued the engagement till it was dark,
when crying out at me, Thou son of accursed parents!
he assaulted like a lion, darting at his prey.
He drew his scimitar from its scabbard, and I saw
death sparkling from the lustre of his sword. But I
dismounted quicker than respiration. I threw myself
under the belly of his horse; Save me, O brother
of the tribe of Aamir, I cried. Come forth,
said he, thou art under my protection. And he immediately
dismounted, and taking me by the hand,
led me into the tent.

The youth stood up, and took off his armour and
his other garments, as he said to his sister, Lay out
thy knees for me that I may sleep. And he slept
on his sister's knees, whilst she kept her eyes fixed
on him. At last a drowsiness came over her also.
I gazed at them till a third of the night was passed.
On a sudden I jumped up, and unsheathed my
Zoolhyyat in my right hand; I smote him on the
chest, and divided him down to his girdle. The
damsel, when she felt the blood of her brother, and
heard the blow, opened her eyes, and seeing her
brother dead, she rolled herself in his blood, and

drew a dagger from his waist, and placing it against
her bosom, she leant upon it, and it issued out
through her back. Then, O King, I grieved for
her, and repented of what I had done. So I seized
the youth's spoils, his sword, and his horse, his arms,
and the clothes of the damsel, and all the property
of my comrades, their horses, and their arms; leaving
their carcasses stretched out on the waste, not
even covering one of them with earth: and this is
the end of my tale, and its consummation.

No sooner had Harith finished, when lo! an old
man started up; Art thou not ashamed, O Harith,
he cried, to lie in the presence of this King? I know
those people. If thou hast spoken the truth, show
me some proof of it. Here is this ring, said Harith.
Alas! my children, he cried. O King, this youth
and damsel were my children, and Harith has murdered
them; I must slay him: this is the ring of
my son—read it. Numan took the ring, and read
it, and lo! there was written thereon—Amroo, son
of Harith. My vengeance is even more urgent than
thy vengeance, said Numan to the old man; my
fury is fiercer than thy fury: and he commanded
his attendants to seize Harith. They accordingly
seized him, and cast him into the dungeon of wrath.
And the old man, the father of the youth, thus recited
in the hearing of Numan:

"It is thus fortune acts with the great, and performs
the deeds of revolving calamities; it gives
all mankind sweets to drink at first, but its end
is bitter as the meal of gall; it permits them to

enjoy themselves, and become intoxicated with
pleasure, but afterwards precipitates them into the
grave. I have seen how the world betrays its
inhabitants, for it has outraged me inwardly and
outwardly. O King of the Universe, listen to my
tale. I had a son, a knight among the tribes, and
he had a sister like the full moon when it rises, of
beautiful aspect, and of elegantly-shaped hands.
During my whole life I never possessed but them;
but the revolutions of the age quickened its treacheries
against me; a violent death has destroyed
them in the middle of the desert, and annihilated
them with the cleaving scimitars. If I live with
man, I will seek retaliation. The son of Zalim I
have met in the presence of Numan: he related
the story true and authentic, and confirmed by
the assertions of the actor. O King, this day wreak
vengeance on him, and slay him, who has made
my tears to flow in waves. Truly, my son was
asleep, and thou hast betrayed him: this is a fact,
for Harith was awake. Had it not been so, and
had he been mounted on the back of his colt,
that outstrips the blustering tempest, he had been
his match, fearless of the assaults of the Arab or
the Persian. Hadst thou not betrayed him, thou
coward born, he would have shown thee a blow
in the midday heat. But 'tis the decree of the
All-Merciful, who acts thus with all mankind;
'tis predestined fate. How many monarchs have
been annihilated! How many warriors destroyed!
But the God of the celestial vault still endures, to
whom all secrets are known. My peace be with
the world, since my only one lies dead, felled by
the vilest of the tribes."

When the old man had finished, and Numan had
heard his tale, astonished at his eloquence, he thus
replied:

"Let the heart, O old man, give way to its sorrows;
for in the murder of Shirjibeel, I have been
heir to woe. The great God has decreed against
me the severest pains in grief and affliction, and
the loss of his society: O fortune, aid me with
tears and lamentations for the loss of a chief that
would have been the champion of the tribe; had
he lived, he would have relieved the poor every
hour, and would have struck his antagonist with
the Yemen sword. But this cursed wretch hastened
him away with his perfidy, and made him, guiltless
as he was, drink of the cup of death. O that
the whole tribe in a body had ransomed him with
my life and my property, and then my friends
and my family! But the decree of the All-Merciful
has separated us with the cup of division.
His will has decided: be patient, submit to fate,
in the dispersion of friendship, and the absence of
my beloved. Though Harith has overwhelmed
us with his perfidy, soon shall the people see him
an object of vengeance. We will hang him by his
hair, after torturing him, and we will abandon
him on the gate of the city. O that Shirjibeel
were present on such a day, and could ease the
pangs of his bosom from all fear; O that on this

day he could understand what is said of him, and
hear the words of my prayer! but, O son of
Zalim, we will open his tomb and uncover the
recesses of his grave."

When Numan had finished, he ordered the herald
to proclaim in Hirah, that every one who wished
to see the spectacle of Harith's execution, should be
present the next day early at the centre gate. At
hearing this, the people were delighted, and reposed.
Early next day King Numan ordered a
huge camel to be brought; they then produced
Harith, and stripping him of his clothes, they nailed
his hands to a long pole, and lighted candles of napht
on his shoulders, his chest, and his back, and having
mounted him on the camel, they paraded him
round Hirah, that every one might behold him:
this was a great day, the like of which never occurred
in any other realm. When Harith perceived
his fate, he repented of having come to
Numan, and thus he spoke:

"Am I then Harith the lion of the valley, the
man renowned for iniquity? The murder of warriors
by treachery was my glory, but I never fled
from the fiercest combat. How many women
have I captured from the tribes who never found
ransom from torture! My boast was to slay
sleepers in the night, and to capture women and
children. Atrocity is my nature; deceit my disposition;
and I slay those that are present, and
those that are advancing. I knew not for what
I was coming, and that death without a guide was

driving me along; they have mounted me on a
huge camel, and have lighted candles over my
hands. Alas! how foul is this death in which
my foes and my haters triumph. There is no
means to escape after all this; no ransom can
release me out of their power. I could wish for
one day of life, and to be possessed of my sword
and horse: I would cut down the skulls with the
decisive blow, till my wrist and hand were exhausted.
I would scatter far and wide every
combination with my shout, that should make
every heart quake with horror. I would take
vengeance on them with my arm. I would charge
them like the lion of the valley. I would slay
Numan and the old man who said, I am Harith,
the father of the children. I would destroy all
the horsemen in the battle with a sword of fire
without a firestick. I would capture their women,
and then violate them, and would relieve my
heart of every sorrow. I am Harith, son of
Zalim, the destroyer, one who never acknowledged
the sacred rights of hospitality."

Harith having finished these atrocious expressions,
all the mob cursed him and reviled him; they dragged
him off the camel, and nailed him against the
city-gate, and shot at him with arrows till he was
like a hedgehog, and pelted him with stones. After
that they dug a pit for him and kindled a fire, and
burnt him. And may God never have mercy on
the mound of his tomb, or the tomb of his father!
King Numan retired to his palace and held a council,

when lo! the messenger of Mocri-ul-wahsh[7]
presented himself to give him joy on his arrival.
And who is Mocri-ul-wahsh? said Numan. O
King of the age, said one of his attendants, this
knight is from the land of Syria; he has vanquished
horsemen and warriors, and wishes to exhibit
his prowess in your presence: he states that
he demands no property, no favours of you, till he
has proved his superiority over armies and heroes.
At hearing this, Numan was rejoiced, and smiled:
By the faith of an Arab, said he, if this knight
fulfils his promise, I will give him whatever he demands,
and I will send him to fight Antar, son of
Shedad; for a wary knight takes advantage of
every thing. He then directed Mocri-ul-wahsh into
his presence, and received him in the most honourable
manner. Now this Mocri-ul-wahsh was a
horseman and a valiant hero; he had overcome all
the armies of Syria; neither high nor low were
able to cope with him. The reason of his coming
to Hirah was, that he was enamoured of a damsel
called Maseeka, the daughter of the King of
Hooran. He had demanded her of her father,
whose name was Majeer, son of Sahl, and he betrothed
her to him, but required an immense
quantity of cattle, and amongst other things, a
thousand Asafeer camels. Mocri-ul-wahsh assenting
to his request, made preparations that very day,
and taking with him fifty horsemen of his tribe, he
sought the land of Irak, when presenting himself to
Numan, he told him what we have stated, and King
Numan was amazed at his conversation and the
immensity of his stature, and the thickness of his
arms, and the agitation of his eyes. He took him
by his side, and saluting him, called for dinner, and
when it was brought, O knight of Syria, said he,
know that I have a foe in the land of Hijaz, against
whom all the armies and warriors have failed: all I
demand of you is to vanquish him in the combat.
O King, said Mocri-ul-wahsh, this is exactly what
I wished and desired. Show me this knight who
vanquishes armies and disgraces heroes; I will let
you see what I will do with him in the field of
battle, and with all his tribe and his warriors. By
the faith of an Arab of Medher, said Numan, if
you will but vanquish this Antar, and bring him a
prisoner before me, I will not let you return home,
but as a great king, with all the Asafeer camels.
Mocri-ul-wahsh reposed for three days in the plenitude
of enjoyment and noble hospitality; but on
the fourth day Numan directed his men to order
the armies to mount, that he might behold the
prowess of Mocri-ul-wahsh. King Numan's troops
being mounted to the number of twenty thousand,
he himself also mounted, and the standards
and banners were fixed over his head. Then
mounted Mocri-ul-wahsh, the knight of Syria.
They beat the drums, and the cymbals, and the
trumpets sounded. Upon this the horsemen started
forth and charged. Soon after, Mocri-ul-wahsh,
the horseman of the tribe of Ghasan, came forth
flourishing his spear on the plain, to the amazement
of all the horsemen; and as he thought of his beloved
Meseeka, he thus spoke:

"I am the Feeder of wild beasts in every desert,
and their provisioner in the flesh of every hero.
I am the Feeder of wild beasts in every battle; I
destroy the foes with the sharp-edged scimitar.
I am the Feeder of wild beasts; that is my name
and title. I destroy enemies and noble lion-heroes.
I am the Feeder of wild beasts in every
city, and I am the assaulting lion with warriors.
The inhabitants of Coori and Syria well know
that I destroy the Arab and the Persian. This
day, O King, thou shalt see that I am the knight
of knights with the spear-staff. If I do not
destroy Antar and his tribe, may my hand never
bear a lance or a sword. I will leave the country
of his tribe a waste, and I will drag its inhabitants
along in fetters like wild beasts. Alas! O Maseeka,
keep thy engagement with me, and listen
not to the words of my bantering foes. I will
soon cast down the kings of the earth, east and
west, and I will sheathe my sword in the necks of
the Persians; otherwise I shall never succeed in
my wishes, and I shall never accomplish what my
heart so ardently desires."

When Mocri-ul-wahsh had finished, he galloped
and charged and played with his spear over the
plain, challenging his antagonists. (There were
twenty thousand that day on the plain.) A knight

of the tribe of Wayil started forth, in whom shone
every proof of courage, but Mocri-ul-wahsh stopped
him short, as he was closing on him, and taking his
foot out of his stirrup, he kicked him; and he fell
headlong on the ground, he and his horse. A second,
of the tribe of Lakhan, sallied out. He rushed at
Mocri-ul-wahsh, and drawing his sword, he was
about to smite him; but as he raised his hand with
his sword, Mocri-ul-wahsh pierced him with a pike
under the armpit, and threw him off his horse on
the ground. A third, of the tribe of Shiban, then
came out and assailed, but Mocri-ul-wahsh permitted
him not to charge over the plain before he
cast his pike out of his hand, and grasping him by
his rings and his corslet, he dragged him off his
saddle, and hurled him to the distance of twelve
yards. They now came forward in tens, and twen
ties, and thirties. The business pleased him; and
as he tossed up his head he attacked and assaulted
the horsemen, and scattered them about, far superior
to all the heroes. He continued thus till the day
departed, and he had overcome five hundred lion-horsemen;
but when Numan saw the intrepidity of
Mocri-ul-wahsh, he was amazed at his force and
skill: convinced he would vanquish Antar, he sent
for him into his presence, and treating him with
distinction, he gave him an honorary robe; he took
him by his side, and returned with him to Hirah.

On the next day King Numan again mounted;
the horsemen were drawn up in ranks, and Mocri-ul-wahsh,
the horseman of the tribe of Ghasan,

advanced: he sent for a basin full of saffron, and
fastened at the head of his spear a wadding steeped
in the mixture, instead of a barb, in order to mark
the horsemen with it, saying, That any one who
could vanquish him in the charge might kill him,
and should not be responsible for his blood; but
that every one, whom he should mark, should retire
from the field. Upon this, one thousand horsemen
assaulted him—he met them and shouted in their
faces—the horses reared up their heads, and calamities
fell upon the riders—he rushed upon them
—the dust encompassed them up to their bridles—
till the sun was about to set, when Mocri-ul-wahsh
had marked the thousand horsemen. King Numan
ordered them to introduce Mocri-ul-wahsh to him;
so the horsemen surrounded him, and conducted
him to Numan, who gave him an honorary robe,
and set aside some generous steeds, and treated him
with all respect and attention, fixing over his head
the standards and ensigns; he thus preferred him
above the thousand brave knights, and also gave
him tents, and pavilions, and banners; and Mocri-ul-wahsh
became one of the princes of the age. I
shall not deserve these honours and attentions, said
he to Numan, unless I throw down before you the
head of Antar, son of Shedad. Numan's heart was
gladdened, and he wrote to all the Arab tribes.

About that time, the death of Harith, son of Zalim,
was made known in every place, till the account
reached the tribe of Abs and Adnan; and they were
highly pleased at it, for they now knew that the

prop of the tribe of Fazarah was cast down. The
heart of Hadifah was reconciled to Antar and King
Cais, and they passed much of their time together,
as also the other horsemen of the two tribes, till at
last the Absians began to consult about Antar's
nuptials: for King Cais had persuaded Malik, Ibla's
father, to consent. About that time came a letter
to Hadifah from his brother-in-law Aswad, telling
him of Mocri-ul-wahsh, and saying, Rejoice, O Hadifah,
in what will please you with respect to the
Absians, for their total ruin is at hand; a horseman
of the tribe of Ghasan is come to my brother, and
he is now advancing towards you with armies like
the swoln sea, and with them the Knight of the tribe
of Ghasan. Rejoice in the completion of your wishes,
and in the death of Antar, son of Shedad! On
reading this letter, Hadifah was highly delighted,
and he anticipated every good; but this news he
kept secret. At the feast there was to be no one
present but Rebia, of the family of Zeead, for he
was the cleverest of them all; he was assiduous in
his attendance on King Cais, and rejoiced in his
joys, and in the security of his brothers, who were
dispersed among the pastures, amusing themselves
in the wilds and wastes with the slaves and shepherds,
that they might not be eye-witnesses of
Antar's marriage-feast, and not join in the general
satisfaction.