University of Virginia Library

LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF ANTAR.

CHAPTER XVII.

ANTAR remained in the tents till King Zoheir sent
a messenger after him, saying, Your presence is required
by King Zoheir, Aboolfawaris, that he may
execute his agreement with you. As soon as he
reached King Zoheir's dwellings, he smiled upon
him, and seated him among his sons. Welcome, he
cried; I greet thee, Champion of the Absians, on
the day of battle; protector of their wives and
children—And he felicitated him on the safety of
Ibla.

My expedition, said Antar, was only on her account,
in order that I might rescue her from one
who plotted her death and annihilation; and thus
he continued in verse:

"O King of noble mind; O most renowned for
every virtue and high qualification—give up your
ears to attend to my discourse. However difficult

of attainment, no one should dread any enterprise;
and when resolved on revenge, he should defy all
fears. If fortune deserts me, my hand is my hope,
and it will succeed; and glory shall raise me above
mankind. I only fear you, whom no one shall
afflict with pain; and I respect only women. I
have that dependance on you, that with it I brave
all evils; and in you I only acknowledge one that
preserves his protection. So seize what is my due,
and aid me against a man who is a foul wretch,
degraded and unrespected."

When Antar had terminated his verses, he related
to King Zoheir all that had happened to him, and he
was exceedingly surprised at such events. Ibla
then, said he, is among the living. Yes, my lord,
replied Antar; she is at her father's: but, O King,
all is past that befel her; I would indeed have
striven to release her, had even mountains opposed
me in the form of men.

O Antar, said King Zoheir, you and Rebia will
not cease quarrelling till you have opened upon us
a door that will never close. You would have done
right to have informed me of this important point,
and I would have despatched a messenger to King
Numan, and have explained the business: Numan
would have released Ibla from the tribe of Shiban;
you too would not have gone away and taken the
property of Mooferridj, who is absent in the service
of the King of Persia; and we should then have
had no farther negotiation with him.

My lord, said Antar, had I acquainted you with
it, Rebia would have heard of it; he would have
mounted, or sent word to have her killed; but now
the charge against him is established by her appearance;
but as to the tribe of Shiban, I will soon
show you what I will do with them, that they may
restore Ibla's tiara and property. May God destroy
Rebia! cried King Zoheir, and send him on the path
of death for his insidious practices, in carrying off
by force the daughter of his uncle, and delivering
her up to a tribe that was not of her species. For
this, may God punish him in his property and his
person!

King Zoheir related to Antar all that happened
to Rebia at Rikaya Beni Malik during the night
attack—and the misery he had endured. When the
news of Ibla became public, all the women and
noble ladies assembled round her, congratulating
her on her safety, and the same evening the intelligence
reached the tribe of Fazarah, and Rebia
heard it. His soul melted within him, and his gall
burst, as he said to his brothers, What say you to
this? Did you not tell me, said they, that you did
not leave Shiban till you had actually accomplished
the death of Ibla? I am quite bewildered, said
Rebia, at this circumstance; for certainly I did not
even go to King Numan till Ibla was buried in the
sand, and with my own eyes I saw her blood on the
hands of a slave whom we ordered to kill her: but,

indeed, should the slave have betrayed us—And he
sent for the man who brought the news, and asked
him how Ibla had been rescued. My lord, he answered,
I have not heard the particulars, but I saw
Antar on his return, and with him were some companions
and property that filled the whole land, and
by his side was a swarthy slave, tall in stature, beautiful
of countenance. I inquired about him, for
his extraordinary beauty surprised me. They told
me it was Basharah, and that he was the person who
had rescued Ibla from Rebia, and had taken away
all the wealth of his master, being desirous to
fix himself among the tribe of Abs and Adnan, on
account of a young girl who lived with Antar,
named Rabiat, to whom he had been long attached.

This explained the whole business, and he said
to himself, This is indeed what never entered into
my calculation; but, continued Rebia, let King Zoheir
do me justice, otherwise I will stir up dissensions
between him and King Numan, whom I will
urge to invade him with the Persians and the Arabs;
and I will say to him, When I asked his daughter
in marriage for him, he answered, I have no daughter
that can do for King Numan. This was Rebia's
situation: but Antar in a subsequent conversation
said to King Zoheir, I request permission to send to
Rebia, in order to demand restitution of Ibla's property.
Should he confess it, and say the devil
tempted me, and it was taken from me on the night

attack, I will pardon him; but should he deny it, I
will punish him as he deserves. And he rose up
and went home.

Now Cais, King Zoheir's son, was not easy about
Rebia, so he would not venture to give any answer
to Antar, for he dreaded the prospect of any disturbances
among the Arabs; and all were interested
in the elucidation of this dreadful business. Basharah
was all this time devoting himself to Rabiat.

At dawn, Antar told his uncle Malik and his son
Amroo to go to King Zoheir, and not to quit him till
he should send to Rebia and demand Ibla's property.
They accordingly departed, and said, O
King, our daughter has been captured in her own
country, and carried by force to Shiban: you yourself
are witness to this. Ibla's property has been
plundered, and you are the King of the time. We
cannot either forget the stratagem of Amarah, who
also took her prisoner, and exposed her among the
tribe of Cahtan; and now Rebia has endeavoured
to put her to death after having violated her reputation
among the Arabs. But that is now past;
what I demand is Rebia's punishment for his treachery;
otherwise, my nephew Antar will use violent
measures, and release our property from him by the
sword.

This discourse alarmed King Zoheir, as to the
troubles and dissensions that might arise in consequence,
so he sent for his son Cais. Know, said he,
that Rebia has brought disgrace upon this tribe, and

his crime is made clear by Ibla's re-appearance. I
wish, my son, you would go to him, and order him
to make restitution of the property, and not thwart
these people any more, before I let them requite
him for his misdeeds.

Prince Cais set off with five horsemen, and when
he came nigh to the tribe of Fazarah, he sent on a
man to apprise Rebia of his arrival. Rebia and
Amarah, and Hadifah, came out to meet him and
saluted him. For what purpose are you come? said
Hadifah. O Cais, is it for the chase in our country,
or on a visit, that we may enjoy your society? I
have only come, said Cais, on account of this man,
who has behaved ill to the tribe, and has abandoned
his friends to be insulted by his enemies. He related
to Rebia all that had happened, and demanded all
Ibla's property.

Well, said Rebia to Hadifah, did ever the like of
what I have endured from my tribe befal any human
being? Is there in the world a severer distress
than mine? Have I indeed usurped to myself wealth
not even all the kings of the Arabs could supply?
Had not my brothers overtaken me, the wild beasts
might have eaten my carcase; and after all, they
accuse me of this infamous transaction, and King
Zoheir believes, to my discredit, all that worthless
insignificant slave can state to my prejudice. I never
set eyes upon Ibla, neither on a journey, nor in society.
I never took from her a single robe or jewel,
and all the world knows I used to rail at my brother

Amarah on her account, and dissuaded him from
pursuing her; and truly I have been as much affected
by this cruel event—yes, just as much as her
own father. Perhaps it was some Irak horsemen
that chanced to meet her, and carried her as a prisoner
away from home, and now have released her;
for I have just heard she has returned to the tribe
of Abs, and that God has restored all her charms
to her family. She's an honest girl, and speaks the
truth; but did she see me the night she was carried
off so Shiban? and did she ever set eyes on me when
in that country? Ascertain this point, and let
Antar trust in what she says; and if Ibla absolves
me in her answer, let them demand her property
from the tribe of Shiban, where she was disgraced
and dishonoured, but that tribe will never let Antar
possess himself of their property, or their maiden
Rabiat. But truly their horsemen and their armies
will fall upon you; their dust will rise over you,
and perhaps King Numan will assist them with the
warriors of Lakhm and Juzam, all noble people; and
will make your father repent when repentance will
not avail him; but now he is warned, and let him
look to his own affairs.

Prince Cais listened, and he hesitated what to believe.
Cousin, said he, you have spoken the truth;
I know Antar is a wretch, and that he has offended
you in this business. Now that, O Cais, you are
well acquainted with this circumstance, said Hadifah,
why do you not put to death this cursed slave?

Prince Cais wheeled about, and returned with his
associates to inform his father of Rebia's answer.
They continued till they came near home, when he
saw his father, and his brothers, and the heroes of
the tribe all assembled at the lake of Zat ul irsad;
he looked at them as some one thus repeated—

"Behold our spacious residence sweetly flowered,
it combines every pleasure of life. On the projections
of our dwellings is the narcissus, lovely
in its sword-blades enveloped in green armour.
Mark how the edge of the scimitar and the point
of the spear surround the fair and the swarthy.
The men are like lions when they protect their
young, yea, even like rapacious lions. Their
women are like fawns, and their children like the
glittering planet Venus. The modest women
dance in security with the men, and in the enjoyments
of life there is no molestation. There is
only among them the lion of the tribe, their chief,
and he is Antar."

After Cais' departure for the tribe of Fazarah,
Hatal, and a party from the tribe of Ghiftan, came
to visit King Zoheir, and he gave them a feast at
the lake. When Cais arrived they all stood up;
he mentioned Rebia's answer, and how he depended
on Ibla's testimony. Antar was seated there, and
when he heard Cais' narrative, May God curse that
Rebia! he exclaimed. Restrain yourself, said King
Zoheir, O Aboolfawaris, and let Ibla be questioned.
I will go and interrogate her, said her father. So

he rose and went to his daughter. Questioning her,
Ibla replied, May God curse falsehood and liars! I
saw not Rebia the night they carried me off from
the lake, and I saw him not in Shiban. Malik returned
and told King Zoheir: Well, said he, there
is nothing then to be said against Rebia. But Basharah
happened to be present, and as soon as he
heard Malik's and King Zoheir's remarks, O mighty
king, he exclaimed, what is all this artifice? Was
Ibla present among the men when Rebia and my
master divided her property? But when I returned
and told them Ibla was killed and under the sand,
then Rebia danced and capered for joy, and presented
me his own inner garment and turban. Basharah
disappeared for a short time, and quickly
returned, bringing with him the garment, turban,
and poniard, with which Rebia had bribed him; he
placed them before King Zoheir: This is what
Rebia gave me, said he, for the murder of Ibla.
When the chiefs of Abs saw this, they all exclaimed
against the nefarious and infamous conduct of Rebia,
and they wanted to have him seized.

When Cais heard the disgrace of Rebia, his indignation
and rage increased. He immediately
mounted his horse again, and said, By the faith of
an Arab, never will I sit down till I have elucidated
this affair that will burst my gall. He
hastened back to the tribe of Fazarah, and when
Rebia saw him, he was in great consternation and
amazed at his speedy return; and to his inquiries,

Cais related the story of Basharah. When Rebia
heard this he burst into a laugh, but it was the
laugh of conscious shame: in his heart there blazed
a fire of rage; he clapped his hands and appeared
much pleased. Now, said he, by the faith of an
Arab, my property that was taken from me at Rikaya
Beni Malik will come to light, for that garment,
turban, and poniard were taken during that night-attack;
and now, indeed, I have no enemy but
Antar.

Cais was confused and astonished at the words of
Rebia. He remained that night, and did nothing
but consult about the destruction of Antar till
morning dawned, when Cais mounted and returned
home.

Well, said Rebia to his brother, what did you
think of the answer which I made to Cais? God
prosper you, said his brother, how you lied and
managed to confirm falsehoods, artifice, and villany,
and fraud!

Cais went home, and met his father at the lake,
and told him all Rebia had stated in reply, and
that the garment and turban were taken from him
during the night-attack, and that he has no other
enemy but Antar. Indeed, my son, said King
Zoheir, I am quite bewildered about the families of
Carad and Zeead; however, put this business off
till to-morrow, when these guests will go away, and
the contest between Rebia and Basharah shall be
decided. The next day the Ghiftanians having departed

home, King Zoheir sent after Antar and
his uncles, ordering them to bring Basharah, that
Rebia might be confronted.

My lord, said Antar, when they were all assembled,
what is Rebia's answer? Aboolfawaris, said
King Zoheir, Rebia says that you have the property
that was taken from him at Rikaya Beni Malik,
amongst which was this garment and turban; but
bring Basharah here that we may understand what
he has to say, and then the offender shall be
punished according to his acts. Antar jumped up
and went to the tents in search of Basharah, but he
could not find him. He asked Rabiat about him,
but she said, O my lord, since that time he was with
you at the lake I have not seen him, and he never
returned. Antar shuddered, and was amazed. He
went back and told King Zoheir, who said, He
would not have disappeared had he not been a liar,
and doubtless you are concerned in this business,
and this is not an affair becoming an Arab chief:
and King Zoheir expressed his wrath. The warriors
of the family of Carad retired, and their shame
was great. Antar also returned, saying, I will not
quit this country till I have rescued my property
with the sword, and he thus repeated:

"Greatness has excited jealousy, and I am
avoided; did not passion influence me, love
should not master me to such a degree. I would
possess myself by force of what I obtained from
fortune, doubly armed and powerful as she is;

but should my hand be broken its power would
not be obeyed, for I have a heart that spurns at
fortune. There is a time for compassion and
likewise for ignorance, but, O tribe, I am more
inclined towards mercy. I cling to my kindred
and honour them, and conquerors are the objects
of my respect, and I admire them. But here
they remark my forbearance, and my weakness
inflames them with hope; but I shall not be vanquished.
I shrink from the base-minded, for I
know avarice should be avoided, and generosity
sought after. It is ascertained that liberality is a
quality in man that is talked of by the good, and
subdues all dispositions. Ambition I have, and
its mansion is above Arcturus, and my residence
is exalted to the skies."

O my son, said Shedad, we are with thee, and
whithersoever thou goest we will accompany thee.
We will not remain in a spot where thou art despised
and ill treated. But stop till we obtain some
intelligence of Basharah, and let us observe the
conclusion of our adventure with Rebia. Antar
staid quietly three days, but on the fourth night,
when Antar was sitting alone, a black slave introduced
himself, and said, O Aboolfawaris, protect me
and realize my wishes, and I will give you good
tidings. What are your tidings? asked Antar. My
lord, he cried, haste to your friend Basharah, and
release him from the power of Rebia. And how,
exclaimed Antar, came he into his power? Master,

cried the slave, thus it is: When Basharah gave
evidence against Rebia, and made the affair public,
he said to his brother, What think you of this slave
Basharah, who has received our bribes in Shiban,
and is now come to witness against us here? He
then called to one of his slaves, called Marzook, and
said, Well, Marzook, you are ever talking of your
zeal, but till now I have never had occasion for your
services. What do you want, my lord? asked the
slave. What I want of you, said Rebia, is that you
go to the tents of the tribe of Abs, and bring me
Basharah, that I may expose him to the cruelest
tortures. The slave took with him four others, and
set out for the Absian tents, and secreted himself
in a valley near the habitations, seeking the
lake of Zat ul irsad. Here Marzook and his
comrades remained concealed till Basharah rose
up; he was intoxicated; and as he strayed to
some distance from the tents, Marzook plunged
upon him like a vulture, and rolling him up in a
sack, carried him off to the valley, and thence they
all repaired with him to the tribe of Fazarah. As
soon as they came into the presence of Rebia, Now,
he cried, are all my wishes fulfilled. He dug a deep
pit, and threw him into it, covering it with branches
and cameldorsers, and stationed over him a slave-girl,
called Yamama, beautiful in face and form, and much
in favour with Rebia. Early in the morning, when
Rebia went out to the chase with his brother, the
damsel came to Basharah, and as soon as she beheld
him, love for him struck into her heart, and entered
deep into her senses and her soul. How is it that
these wretches have thus ill-used you? she cried.
With whom am I? fair maid, he asked. With the
family of Zeead, she replied. Then can I never
escape, he added. You may escape, said she; if you
will sincerely engage yourself with me, and swear to
me you will be my lover, I will release you from
this peril, and supply you with provisions. Now
she had a brother called Masrook, who was attached
to a maiden whose master was one of Oorwah's
men. So she said to him, What will you say to one
who will bring you to your dear Wirdeh? How
can that be? said he. Instantly run, said she, to
Antar, son of Shedad, and give him intelligence of
Basharah, and say to him, Master, bring me and my
beloved together, and I will give you information
about the designs of Rebia towards Basharah; and
she told him all his distresses. The slave instantly
departed, and coming to Antar's tents, he introduced
himself, and related all the above. Antar was overjoyed
at this news, and immediately sent for the
master of the girl Wirdeh, and demanded her of
him; he not only surrendered her, but gave her
also a string of good he and she camels, and afterwards
they all went to King Zoheir, to whom Antar
explained all that had passed. King Zoheir was
agitated and amazed: And what do you intend to
do? said he to Antar. I am determined, he replied,
to proceed to the tribe of Fazarah and release
this foreigner. O King, exclaimed Shas and Malik,
we will also go and settle this business. Go, said
their father; and Antar departed with the princes,
but first said to Oorwah, O Ebeool Ebyez, mount
your men, and tell them to conceal themselves in the
valley of Yaamoora. Oorwah having executed his
commands, they all proceeded till they reached the
tribe of Fazarah, who, on seeing a dust arise, mounted,
as also Rebia and Hadifah, to meet Antar and King
Zoheir's sons. What! my cousin, said Rebia to
Antar, art thou come to oppose us, or dost thou repent
of thy obstinacy? O Rebia, said Antar, let
him repent who has acted ill, and let him be ashamed
of his disgraceful deeds. Produce Basharah, said
Rebia, who said I bribed him to murder Ibla; let
him confront me in the presence of these Arab
chieftains. Be witnesses, ye that are present, exclaimed
Antar. Drawing forth his invincible Dhami
and urging on Abjer till he came up to the pit, he
cried out to Shiboob, Bring forth this foreigner, and
immediately Shiboob descended (O friends!) and
brought out Basharah from the pit, from underneath
the pack-saddles and camel-cloths. Ah! exclaimed
Rebia in despair: and Hadifah said to him, I will
stir up a battle between you and Antar; cry out in
my name, and see what I will do. Upon this he
shouted out, O Ebe Hidjar! Dost thou not mark
this treacherous slave? And the men encountered
each other, and the warriors engaged, and limbs
were hewn off. Antar dispersed the people, and
penetrated towards Hadifah in the field of battle;
he perceived him exciting his men to the contest;
he engaged him, and struck the head of his mare,
and hewed it off. Hadifah was in a most deplorable
state, and his ribs were all dislocated. Then he
met Rebia and Amarah, and took them prisoners,
and despatched them with Shiboob and Basharah
to the dwellings of the Absian chiefs. But when
the sons of King Zoheir saw this terrible affair, and
ascertained the treachery of Rebia, and that all he
said was false and deceitful, they wheeled round
their horses' heads, and went home to inform their
father of the circumstance. But the chief Beder,
when the account of what Antar had done reached
him, mounted his horse, and came forwards in order
to extinguish this dissension; he saw his son Hadifah
on his return in a most shattered condition,
who, on being questioned, related all that had
passed, and how Antar had slain his mare and his
men. By the truth of the pillar of stone of Mecca,
he exclaimed, Antar must have had some consideration
for you, or he would have left you dead,
for he came to rescue his guest, and you irritated
him. He galloped on to overtake Antar, as he saw
him overthrowing his people. O Aboolfawaris, said
he, we have always heard you were a most impartial
man, but to-day we perceive you are inclined to
violence and oppression. My lord, said Antar, I
came here to release my friend from captivity, but
your people stirred up this commotion and sought
to fight me, so to defend my own life was my
bounden duty. O Aboolfawaris, said Beder, grant
me this day this proof of your generosity, and Antar
instantly ordered his men to depart; they desisted
and went home. On the way they passed by
the valley of Yaamoora, where they joined Basharah
and Shiboob and their prisoners, Rebia and the
wretch Amarah. Basharah came forward, and kissing
Antar's hand, O Aboolfawaris, he cried, by the
life of Ibla's two eyes, give me authority over Rebia
and Amarah that I may parade them among the
tribe of Abs. Do as you like, said Antar, for I
know King Zoheir will not keep on good terms with
me. And he thus expressed himself:

"O Ibla, thou art the light of my eyes: so command
my existence, and rule me, thou, my ultimate
hope. If thou quittest the tribe of Abs,
reside not in the mansions of degradation, and
listen not to the railers, for the land after our departure
will remain without any celebrated defender
or hero. Ask of Fazarah concerning my
deeds when they poured down upon me like a
deluging cloud. They brandished their barbed
spears in rage against me, but they beheld the
refulgence of my dazzling scimitar. Let Beder,
son of Amroo, inform you what a warrior am I;
how I meet armies with a heart hard as a fragment
of a mountain. I engaged their horsemen
and they were dispersed, and my thrusts came
upon them quicker than death. My steed bore

me away; and as he went he slipped among the
skulls scattered by the sword and spear. I took
prisoners the chiefs of that mighty tribe, and I
returned overjoyed, like one intoxicated. O separation!
my heart trembles at separation, but I
weep not for the separation from friends and
native land, but for the separation from her, in
whose eyes is my malady, and truly this pains me
and increases all my vexations. I move in terror,
fearful of separation, as my enemies move trembling
through fear of me."

Oorwah felt aware he had spoken only the truth
about the tribe of Abs. Then they all marched on
till they came near home, when lo! there arose a
great dust, and under it appeared some noble Absians
on full gallop, and their spears pointed.
These were King Zoheir and his sons, and his
nobles with their standards over their heads, and
horses scattered about. The reason of it was this:
when Princes Shas and Malik returned home they
made a great uproar among the tents, and related
the fray that had taken place between Antar and
the tribe of Fazarah; their father was much vexed.
I was convinced, said he, this dispute between
Antar and Rebia would not be decided amicably,
and having inquired the particulars and its origin,
Before we could reach them, said his sons, blood
had flowed, and bodies were dead. Every one now
mounted and came forth from the tents, and the
people were all in confusion, and the families of Carad

were in great tumult, and the women were abusing
Antar. As soon as Antar saw King Zoheir and
his sons, he dismounted and hastened forward,
anxious to kiss his hand. King Zoheir stooped
down and kissed him between the eyes, and ordered
him to mount, and as they all departed home, Antar
told King Zoheir about Rebia, and how he had
taken him and his brother Amarah prisoners. But
how is it, said King Zoheir, that I see them not
with you? My uncle Malik, said Antar, has taken
them home, who said, These fellows shall remain in
bondage with me, till they restore the property they
took from my daughter. Yes, indeed, said King
Zoheir, your uncle shall do such a deed as this,
when I am asleep and under the sand; but as long
as I am on the back of my stallion, I will not permit
an Arab to aggrandize you and degrade me.
And King Zoheir evinced great wrath in his countenance
till they reached the tents, and behold there
came some fugitives, and behind them a horseman
with a drawn sword in his hand. They contemplated
the fugitives, and lo! they were Shedad and
his brother. Now when Basharah took away Amarah
and Rebia, and brought them to the Carad tents, he
mounted them on two stripped camels, and placed
them tail foremost, and proceeded crying them out
through the tents, saying, This is the punishment,
the lightest punishment for those who carry off
their country women to the Arab tribes. All the
women of the tribe of Abs and Carad came to enjoy
the sight, and Ibla stood with her companions: she
was superbly dressed, and all her sorrows had
vanished. She was conversing and saying (whilst
Amarah heard her), This is indeed but a small chastisement
for you. You stole my property—you
wanted to murder me—you made a pretty business
of it—but God has requited you speedily. Amarah
gazed at her, whilst she was glancing from right to
left, and flaunting about in the most beautiful fascinating
manner, and her words sank into his heart
cooler than the purest water: he screamed, Alas!
alas! for thee, O daughter of Malik! Oh! Oh!
for the hour of possession! Be silent, thou dolt!
said Rebia, for all this has happened to us on account
of thy love, and never wilt thou desist from
thy perverseness, till every vestige of us is rooted
out. Now Cais, King Zoheir's son, had been left
behind in the tents, and when the news reached
him of what had happened to his friends, Rebia
and Amarah, his pride was roused; he mounted
and rode towards the Carad tents, bellowing like a
lion, and the foam issuing from the corners of his
lips; and when he saw Rebia, he wept, and raised
his voice, and exclaimed: Alas! the disgrace of
this violence from those bastards! Where is the
respect of kinsmen? Sons of my uncle! where is
the noble pride of illustrious Arabs? But Rebia
continued in this abject state till Cais was quite
shocked, and the whole country seemed obscured in
his eyes. So he rushed upon Basharah, and struck
him with his sword; he cut him across the shoulders,
and left him sprawling. He cried out to
Antar's father and uncles, and they instantly disappeared
from his presence, alarmed at his high
rank and dignity, but not afraid of his prowess.
And when they all left him, he untied Rebia and
his brother; Go to our tents, said he; and he himself
galloped after the family of Carad, till they
launched out into the desert, where, perceiving the
troops of King Zoheir returning with Antar, they
speeded towards them: My son, cried King Zoheir,
what is this affair? What stupidity has succeeded
to modesty and good sense? He stopped and said,
What discretion is there in man, when he sees the
chiefs of his tribe degraded? And he related the
story of Rebia, and the indignities Basharah had
made him suffer, and finally said, O my father, I
will never rest in this spot till I have satiated my
vengeance against the family of Carad, and have
put Antar to death. King Zoheir was distressed,
and felt assured the sword must fall upon his tribe,
and would disperse his people among the hills and
plains; for the animosity between the families of
Carad and Zeead could not be tranquillised: O
Aboolfawaris, said he to Antar, depart with your
party from this country, for these people will not
let you alone, and you will not submit to any indignity,
and this disturbance cannot terminate satisfactorily.
So depart from us, and do what you please.

Antar expressed his obedience and submission; I

will instantly depart, said he, with my party, and
if I am able, I will rescue my property, or will die
in the attempt. Then he addressed himself to King
Zoheir, and thus:

"Am I injured? and my spear and sword are
my defence, and the guide to glory is attached to
my bit. I have a two-armed power that can
struggle with lions and defend me. I am honoured
wherever I go. My person is respected,
and my station is not easily attained. I will
abandon these noble dwellings; but the lustre of
swords shall urge me on in the obscurity of the
dust. Cups of wine are at my disposal, but I
desire only the blaze in the fiery contest. I will
soon quit you; I want not your country, but I
will attack you on the wings of darkness. I will
seek my enemies with my lion-associates, each a
lion in the battle and the contest: I abandon
sleep, unless I can kindle a blaze at night-fall
that will involve my foes in a blast of fire. My
hand falls upon their heads like torrents of flakes
of fire in the dead of the night. Death they shall
behold exterminating their friends, and far shall
fly their heads hewn off by my sword. My comrades
shall shake their spears in their hands, and
infuse death into the entrails of their opponents.
The brilliancy of their swords in the clouds of
dust shall be like the beauteous rays of the sun
through the rain. You have renounced my deeds,
but my power is my companion, and the blow of

my Indian blade among the tents. I will abandon
the base and the dastardly, and I have drawn
my sword for an ungrateful prince. O songstress!
be thy song the neigh! for that is my music, and
streams of blood my wine. Towards Ramda be
my journey, for that is my abode, and the place
for my tents. Speak not to me of the pleasures
of life, for the attainment of my high ambition is
my health and my sickness. In glory is the delight
of every one anxious for renown, not in
drinking nor in eating. Shall I disgrace myself
by submitting to dishonour, when my sword falls
on the necks like an ostrich?"

Prince Cais cut short his verses; Hey, bastard!
he exclaimed, you found Ibla in Shiban, and you
come to claim her property from the tribe of Abs
and Adnan. You should demand her goods from
the people where you found her. My lord, said
Antar, put not yourself into a passion, I am going
to leave you, and shall look after my own affairs;
but my adventures and my deeds shall soon reach
you: you shall hear how I will rescue my property;
but as to your expression of bastard, no one but
yourself had ventured to make use of such language,
or his death would have been at hand, and his exit
from this world instantaneous. Then he addressed
him, saying,

"I had made of thee a strong breast-plate to
ward off from me the arrows of my foes, but it is
thou that hast thrown them. In thee I placed

my strong hold when ignominy should assail me
on all sides; but if thou canst not preserve thy
friendship as a protection for me, be then neither
for me nor against me, at least, keep aside and
be impartial, and let my enemies hurl their darts
at me. From how many foes have I drawn blood,
and from how many men have I desired to be removed!
I dread not disgrace when alone, even
when the battle destroys the horses and the horsemen.
There are people who must either live
great and renowned, or must hide their fall under
the earth."

As soon as Antar had finished his verses, Strike
the tents, he cried to his father and his uncles, and
prepare for departure, that the heart of King Zoheir
may be at ease, and my lord Cais have all his wishes
fulfilled. They did as he directed, and they separated
from the troops in order to seek the tents,
when lo! loud screams arose, and plunder and
pillage commenced among their dwellings; they
hastened on their horses to ascertain what was the
matter, indignation blazing in the heart of Antar:
Verily our tribe have evinced their hatred towards
us, he exclaimed, and he drew forth his sword, and
threw himself among the tents. The cause of this
was the family of Zeead; for they, as soon as
Prince Cais had liberated them, and had set out to
meet Antar, sought the Carad tents. Amarah entered
the dwelling of Malik with the view of obtaining
a look at Ibla; but Rebia wanted some

horse trappings, when lo! he saw the chests Antar
had taken from him on the night-surprise, when he
was wounded at Rikaya beni Malik: there he also
found all the precious goods King Numan had
given him: he recognised the whole. Hola! hola!
he cried out, this is the property Antar took from
me by force; it was he who wounded me, and he
nearly killed me. Now when Cais had mounted in
order to liberate Rebia, a crowd of slaves had followed
him; This is all my property, said he to
them, that I brought from King Numan: I have
now found it at Antar's, so carry it away to your
master's, Prince Cais, and I will give you a good
share of it. As soon as the slaves entered the
habitations to plunder the goods, the women began
to scream out; but they seized the chests and all that
was hung upon cords; so the maids and the slaves
made an uproar, shoving each other upon the ground.
When Antar heard these screams, he entered the
tents, resolved to ply his sword among both chieftains
and slaves. But King Zoheir seeing the affair
become more serious, and the disturbances more
furious, began to be much alarmed, and as it was
near the close of the day, he cried out to his son
Cais, Take away your friend Rebia, and order him
to depart from us, and to go down to the barren
desert: let him not kindle dissensions among the
Arabs, and make us to become a common proverb.
Do you too, Shas, go to Antar, and send him away
without delay, and let there be no more said to us
on the subject. Cais repaired to the tents, and
checking Rebia, prohibited any further tumult.
So likewise did Shas and Malik; they sought the
hero Antar, and when they joined him, they saw
death glancing from his eyes: they stopped him
with gentle expressions. O Aboolfawaris, said Shas,
truly your separation from us is like the separation
of souls from bodies, but no one can avert the
decrees of the Almighty, his orders must be obeyed.
Emigration is the most advisable plan for you:
bear this event patiently, and act honourably. Do
not be too much distressed, my cousin; all you
desire in this world is Ibla, and she will be with
you. My father will certainly repent of this deed,
and calamities and horrors will descend upon him;
and as to this property Rebia has taken away, it
will revert to you after kissing your feet and your
hands; for they will all stand in need of you. Had
I known, said Antar, that this business between us
would have come to this pass, I would have put
Rebia to death, and had succeeded in all my wishes;
but now his property has come to light, and he has
it, and out of respect to you, I have not been able
to do him any harm.

Antar took leave of Shas and Malik, his distress
and agitation being extreme. He ordered the slaves
to fasten the howdahs on the camels; they did all
he told them, and they loaded them with the baggage
and the families, and they left not a halter
behind. They then departed, traversing the wilds

and the wastes, the plains and the mountains,
amounting in all to two hundred and fifty famed
warriors, one hundred and fifty belonging to the
Carad division, and one hundred forming the party
of Oorwah. As to Basharah, they bound up his
wounds, and raised him on a tall camel, whilst
Rabiat accompanied the women. The party proceeded
till midnight, when Antar, Oorwah, and
fifty horsemen alighted, saying to his father and his
uncles, Do you go on ahead with the women. But
he and Oorwah mounted at daylight and galloped
over the plains till they came to the pastures of
the tribe of Fazarah: the sun was just risen, and
the cattle were grazing. Antar rushed upon them,
and drove away all the he and she camels, and the
high-priced horses that belonged to the tribes of
Fazarah and Zeead, and when they had launched
into the desert, Send on the plunder with thirty
horsemen, said Antar to Oorwah; do you stay with
me, that we may encounter the troops that will
come upon us, with these twenty men. Oorwah did
accordingly; the thirty went forward with the
plunder, Antar and Oorwah slowly following them.
As soon as the intelligence of the seizure of their
cattle reached the tribe of Fazarah, they all mounted,
but Hadifah was still weak from his fall, and was
incapable of riding. The troop marched off in
number five hundred, and with them four of Rebia's
brothers. They went on till they overtook Antar,
who, when he saw the horsemen, and heard their
shouts, turned upon them, and met them, and in less
than an hour he had slain numbers of them, and
wounded all four brothers. Oorwah and his people
also slew those who were destined to die that day,
piercing their chests with the points of the spear;
extinction and perdition fell on the tribe of Fazarah.
Antar smote off heads and skulls, and despatched
the horsemen to the mansions of annihilation, crying
out: Ye filthy Arabs, wherever ye go, Antar is behind
ye: we are the persons who have taken the property
of our enemies; who will now deliver you from
our attack? Know, my cousins, said Haml, there is
between Antar and the family of Zeead a most implacable
animosity, and every one that interferes in it
is destroyed and slain; and had I been aware that
it was Antar who had seized the cattle, I would not
on any account have gone out against him. So he
turned his horse about, and he and the rest returned
home, abandoning the family of Zeead.
When Antar had taken possession of as many baggage-camels
as he desired, he drove them on before
him, and they all proceeded together till they overtook
the cattle, and pursued the journey to Rikaya
beni Malik, where the family of Carad had alighted,
who, when they saw Antar's dust, mounted and
saluted him, and seeing all the he and she camels
he brought with him, they were greatly delighted.
Here they halted to repose from their fatigues, and
consult about the spot where they should fix their
residence. I must, said Antar, go to the land of
Irak, and must labour in the utter destruction of
the tribe of Shiban. But, said Shedad, O my son,
do you not fear King Numan? No! exclaimed
Antar, by the faith of an Arab, nor even the King
of Persia, the lord of the balcony. O my brother,
said Shiboob, if you wish to effect so much, and to
battle with kings, come with me, and I will conduct
you to the mountains of Radm and the valley
of Raml, where ten men can defend themselves
against the universe; and when we are in those
mountains, you may engage warriors as many as
you please, and the women will be secure. This is
a most judicious arrangement, said Shedad, and a
measure that cannot be found fault with; for I
have heard of that spot, that the most timid can
defend it, and its inhabitants must be safe. So
they all agreed upon this point, and they reposed
till the night was nearly passed, when they departed
for that country.

Now this mountain was on the borders of Hidjaz,
in the direction of Irak; it was stupendously lofty,
and he who would look at it would imagine it was
connected with the clouds; its summits rose so high
towards the heavens, the sun could almost burn it
with excess of heat and light: on its sides were
caverns and caves, and trees, and fruits, and forests,
the haunts of wild beasts and lions, and serpents.
There was not a single road but windings and
labyrinths that would bewilder the mind of man.
It was like a strong fortress, and were ten men to

stand firm at the mouth of the defile, they would
prevent the whole universe from reaching them; for
there was no other path but by that gorge and
defile, and between it and the tribe of Shiban they
were seven days journey.

When Antar heard this description from Shiboob,
he immediately assented to his proposal, and they
set off traversing the wilds and the wastes; and he
thus sang to them:

"Where is there a friend of sound judgment and
faith, now that the greatest part of mankind are
false? Fortune has betrayed me even where I
had most trusted it! And can my efforts now
avert calamities from me? One day they demand
my exertions in the field of battle, and one day
they complain of my excesses. If the foe pursued
me, I liberated myself, however impetuous
was his pursuit; and when my spear chooses, it
impedes every assault, and fate and my steed extricate
me from every danger. But now, O heavens!
shall I succeed? or will the enmity of my
adversaries prevail? My horse, when the dust of
battle inclosed him on all sides, sprang against
the thrusts of the tribes. I will haste in pursuit
of the chase, though the parched earth should
rise in waves, or the onset of combatants environ
me. A party of Absians accompanies me, whose
high celebrity is extended over the deserts; they
are beautiful, like lions in every spot, when the
blood of their enemies is clotted over their jaws."

They continued their journey, travelling night
and day, till they reached the mountain. The women
alighted from the camels, and Antar entered the
defile, accompanied by his father Shedad, his uncles,
Oorwah and his companions; and when they had
passed the entrance they perceived an intricate
passage, and a valley abounding in forests, and they
heard the roaring of wild beasts and the lions. It
is impossible, said Antar, to dwell in this valley unless
we burn down its sides with fire, otherwise there
will be no security for our women against danger.
So he ordered the slaves to light a fire in the forests,
and they did so: and before evening the flames
played in all quarters: the wild beasts were frightened
and fled away, and dispersed. This continued
for five days, and the snakes and the serpents were
burnt. On the sixth day the flames ceased to blaze,
and they entered the valley, and all danger was removed
from them. Before sunset the tents were
extended out, and the women and families entered:
the mountains re-echoed their voices. And they
soon became familiarized to their new abode, forgetting
their native home, and their former friends
and neighbours. Three days after, said Antar to
his father, now that our property and families are
in security, and that we have no occasion to harbour
any fear of the Arabs, I am anxious to proceed
against the tribe of Shiban, and punish them for
their conduct: I must drive away their cattle, and
take their families captive. We are few in number,

my son, said Shedad, and far away from home, and
if we separate from our wives and families we cannot
secure them from our foul foes. This is not to be
dreaded, said Antar, for all our enemies are ahead
of us, and we are in quest of them, they are not
seeking us. My son, said Shedad, with how many
horsemen do you intend to go against Shiban? A
hundred brave fellows will be sufficient, replied
Antar; the remainder I will leave with you. That
is not right, said Oorwah, for the Shibanians are
very numerous, particularly when Mooferridj shall
return. That tribe cannot consist of less than five
thousand bridles, besides confederates and neighbours;
my opinion is we should set out from hence
with one hundred and fifty men, leaving one hundred
behind, and with this indeed we shall be undertaking
a hazardous enterprise. Antar left with
the families a hundred horsemen under the command
of his father, and recommending them to be
careful and vigilant, he and Oorwah departed with
a hundred and fifty, fearless of the approach of
death, and undaunted at fate even when it descends,
for they were all bold intrepid fellows, and were
also of the tribe of Abs and Adnan; and when
Antar stopped on the road, his heart recollecting all
his anxieties, he burst out thus:

"Calamities extend their arms against me; they
oppose me, but I have resisted them. Vicissitudes
of fortune stop and slumber, for my courage has
drawn aside their mantle. Contend not with a

man whose deeds the boldest warriors have experienced
in the contest; whose steed has stamped
over the land of his enemies when he drenched
their dwellings with blood. Woe to the tribe of
Shiban! I have visited it, and dearly purchased
war stretched out its arm. Dust rose on high,
and its ocean swelled, and the bickering blade
darted forth its lightnings. My spear plunged
into their entrails, and burst through their armour
and their ribs. Their women arose in lamentations
for their husbands, who groaned in the agonies of
death. O Ibla! for love of thee I feel a kindling
flame; I have its anguish in the very folds of my
bowels. On the day of my separation the fire of
my spirit burst out, rocks even would have feared
it. O Ibla, oft as the raven of the desert pours
its plaintive note, to hear it in the dead of night
fills my heart with sadness. I have quitted my
home, and there are my neighbours, but their
cupidity has cut off my society from them. Soon
shall they see infamy when the horses of death
rush out upon them. I am the son of Shedad
who covets exaltation, and my ambition soars
above them. Soon shall my lasting celebrity be
sung, and in its report shall warriors feel the
highest pleasure."

Antar continued his verses till Oorwah and his
people were greatly pleased, and Oorwah was all
astonishment. They travelled on towards Shiban,
and death appeared easy and insignificant to them.

But Mooferridj, when he returned from his services
in Persia, was very happy; he brought with him
wealth fire could not have consumed. On his way
home he stopped with King Numan, and staid as
his guest for three days, and he related to him all
that had happened to him in the cities of Khorasan.
On the fourth day Mooferridj departed, seeking the
land of Shiban, very anxious to revisit his native
land; and when he reached his country, and his
uncle Malik, son of Hosan, knew of his arrival, he
went out to meet him, and congratulated him on his
safety. Mooferridj alighted, quite delighted at his
return home, and before even inquiring about his
wife, he asked for Basharah. O my cousin, said
Malik, son of Hosan, Basharah has reverted to his
base origin, and he has done a deed no one ever
did before. What has he done, my cousin? demanded
Mooferridj. Know then, my cousin, said
Malik, that your slave Basharah did not remain
above twenty days after your departure, when he
feigned having received a letter from you, stating,
O Basharah, take away all my property and my
treasures, and deposit them in the mountain of
Radm and the valley of Raml, for I have suffered
insupportable distresses in the service of the Persian
monarch, and I am in the most deplorable condition.
It is my intention to escape by flight if I find an
opportunity. So he loaded every article in the magazines
on the backs of the camels, and since then
I have heard nothing of him, and I have had no
traces of him till lately, when a messenger came to
me from Rebia, saying, Your slave Basharah is
with Antar, and has restored to him his cousin Ibla.
Antar has realized all his expectations, and has delivered
over to him all the property he took away.
He is now established with Antar in perfect happiness
and contentment of heart, and he has done
all this on account of his beloved Rabiat, a base-born
girl. I am going to King Numan, and I shall acquaint
him with this circumstance; but now here
you are, so do what you deem best. At hearing
this the eyes of Mooferridj turned red, and he
clasped his hands one within the other in excess of
rage and passion, exclaiming, O Malik, did we not
murder Ibla, and did not the slave conceal her in
the desert? How then has she appeared amongst
the tribe of Abs and Adnan? As to that, said Malik,
I comprehend it not. But Sinan, son of Abdoolazi,
happened to be present; he was a knight
of Shiban, and their champion when they were surprised
by assaults night or day; Know, said he, O
Mooferridj, that your slave Basharah did not slay
Ibla as you ordered him, but he deceived you by
his tale; he waited till the coast was clear for him,
when he seized all your property, and repaired to
the slave, a bastard like himself, where he leads a
life of ease and comfort. Basharah shall do such
deeds as this, exclaimed Mooferridj, when I am
asleep or swathed in my winding-sheet, but as long
as I can mount on the back of a steed and have
about me five thousand horsemen of Shiban, and
behind me one like King Numan, my property shall
not be pillaged; no one shall venture to dishonour
my family. Send for your allies, cried Sinan, and
those in whom you confide in your difficulties and
your relaxations; lead us to the tribe of Abs that
we may extirpate every vestige of them, and ravage
their country, and level their boundary-marks with
the ground, and leave not one of them to report the
news, having first put to death their slave Antar.
This would not be proper, said Mooferridj, for
King Numan wishes to connect himself by marriage
to the tribe of Abs and Adnan, and to wed Mootedjerede,
King Zoheir's daughter; he has demanded
her, and if we proceed against them without his
orders, and execute such deeds upon them, he may
blame us and be angry. But my opinion is that I
should go to Numan and acquaint him with all these
circumstances, and then he will send a message and
liberate my property for me, my he camels and my
she camels, and will give me directions to march
against my enemies. Thus will we depart under
his commands, and will slay Zoheir, and Antar his
slave; we will exterminate his horsemen and his
troops, we will capture every thing, and make prisoners
the high and low, and we will not suffer our
property to be plundered, or that slave Basharah to
triumph over us. Do as you please, said Sinan;
lead us whithersoever you choose, and we will gratify
your wishes.

Each returned home and renewed his vows to
his wife and family. But Mooferridj was so irritated
at what had happened he could not stop longer
than that day. He returned to King Numan, and
in his heart there blazed a fire of rage against Basharah,
and when he reached Hirah he rushed into
the presence of King Numan like one frantic, on
account of the loss of his property. But Numan
was amazed at his speedy return. Is it well with
you, Mooferridj? said he. No! he replied, infamy
and misery! And he told him what had happened
to him through his slave Basharah during his absence,
and how he had seized all his property and
possessions, and had repaired to the tribe of Abs
and Adnan, and was now established with Antar,
son of Shedad. Did not you and Rebia, exclaimed
Numan, inform me that you had assassinated Ibla, and had divided her property? Yes, said he, but
we were not witnesses to her murder. We delivered
her over to Basharah, and ordered him to
put her to death, and bury her in the sand, and
since that we knew nothing about it. Do not distress
yourself, said Numan, for all you possessed
shall revert to you, and the man who protected your
slave shall be brought bound before you, for I am
at this moment resolved on sending to King Zoheir
to demand his daughter in marriage, and
truly Rebia promised me to do so for me, but now
indeed the affair is more serious in consequence of
what has happened to you. At the instant he wrote

a letter to King Zoheir couched in these terms:
Know, O King Zoheir, head of the tribes, that it is
incumbent on us to improve the state of the Arabs
It has reached me that your slave Antar has quitted
the condition of servitude, and that you have extended
to him your protection, and that you style
him as you style your cousins. It would be advisable
for you to pursue the established customs of
the Arabs, and not bring down upon yourself destruction.
You must order Antar to restore Mooferridj
his slave, and all his property, and arrange
this affair with him to our satisfaction, otherwise we
shall punish him according to his acts, and shall
send him back to tend camels and sheep. After
this demand the marriage-settlement of your daughter
Mootejerede as much as you please, that we may
send it to you. Do not send this messenger back
but with a suitable reply, and act like a wise, prudent
man, or you may repent of what you do.

He despatched his letter with a courier, who traversed
the wilds and the sand-hills till he reached
the tribe of the noble Abs, and he happened to arrive
just two days after Antar's departure, so he
came to King Zoheir, and saluting him, delivered
to him the letter. He opened it and read it, and
understood its contents. O Arab, he replied, your
master mentions something about taking from Antar
the property belonging to the tribe of Shiban. That
man is no longer under my subjection that I can
command him on any point; for between him and

us there have arisen troubles and dissensions. He
quitted us two days ago, he and his uncles, and all
the tribe that was connected with him. We have
heard he has taken the road to Irak; had he remained,
the two tribes would have been annihilated.
In a short time he will be a neighbour of King
Numan's in some direction, so let him gain information
of him, and let him do as he pleases with
him. But, moreover, we have no daughter fit for
marriage; and had I a daughter I should not send
her into a foreign land, and I shall not let any one
have authority over her; and with this answer there
is no occasion for a letter.

He gave him a robe of honour, and sent him to
a house of entertainment. But the messenger declined,
and retraced his steps in a great rage, and
he did not stop traversing the deserts till he reached
Hirah. He came before the king, and told him
what had passed. His wrath and indignation were
extreme; his passion blazed and flamed. If I do
not degrade him, he cried, may I never possess his
daughter! I must positively slay every one of them:
I will destroy the whole tribe, every warrior of
them. As to Antar, he must be heard of in some
of the lands, and he sent the Arab and the Persian
in quest of him. He afterwards requested his brother's
attendance, whose name was Mozeed, but the
Arabs surnamed him Prince Aswad (black prince).
He was a shedder of blood; of excessive pride and
arrogance; immense in form and bulk. He was

like a strong tower, and could receive on his chest a
thousand horsemen in the field; and when he appeared
before King Numan, the latter informed him
of the news he had received, and communicated
King Zoheir's answer, and that he had refused him
his daughter in marriage. Aswad smiled—the smile
of fury and indignation. O King, he cried, you are
too mild and easy with your foes, and you excite
the Arabs against you. A king must keep up the
respect and awe of his station, or his supremacy will
be subverted. It would be right to send me against
King Zoheir, to devastate his country, and overthrow
his troops and armies, and capture his wife
and sons, and I will bring the whole with me into
your presence, that you may have them at your
disposal; otherwise you will be an object of shame
far and near, and the Arabs will say King Numan
demanded in marriage King Zoheir's daughter, who
would not give his consent to his being her husband.
This representation increased Numan's anger and
wrath, and immediately he equipped his brother
with ten thousand horsemen of the tribes of Lakhm
and Djuzam, and directed him to set out. As
soon as Aswad had departed, King Numan cared
no more about searching for Antar, but continued
every day to ride round the town with his attendants,
and the chiefs of his government, together with
Mooferridj.

CHAPTER XVIII.

It was on the fourth morning after Aswad's departure,
they roamed far into the desert, when lo!
a dust arose, rolling from the direction of Shiban.
In an hour the dust was divided and split, and its
blackness was converted to a piebald hue, and under
it appeared a troop of horse in full retreat, and horsemen
scattered about in great disorder. At this, King
Numan's alarms gave way to security; for they
were shouting out, Save us! save us! King of the
age: protect us from this calamity of day and night.

Mooferridj advanced to ascertain who they were,
and lo! they were his own horsemen—his own
cousins, and his own tribe. What has befallen you?
said he; and what mortal has thrown you into this
confusion? Antar, cried they all, came down upon
us; last night he surprised us in the tents; he made
our wives widows, and our children orphans; he
seized what he pleased, and left what he pleased.

Mooferridj dashed his fists against his forehead;
all patience, and even his senses, vanished. Well!
at last he cried, with how many horsemen did he
come against you, that he has treated you in this
manner? O Chief, they replied, we only saw him
with a few attendants.

Then said King Numan, whilst the world seemed
obscure in his eyes, Tell us by what road he is gone.
By God, said they, O King, we were like drunken
men, and had not the senses of women. We should
say he was actually in our rear, and that he was
pursuing our very footsteps; but should not assistance
reach us by the close of the day, indeed it
will be evident, that Antar has captured all our
families, and has taken the road of the mountains of
Radm, and the valley of Raml. By the faith of an
Arab, cried Numan, I will seek him out, were he
even to mount up to the skies; and I will abandon
all the free-born women of Abs to be purchased as
slaves. But, to soothe the heart of Mooferridj, he
continued, do not be uneasy at what has happened.
Set out to-morrow for the mountains with the Shibanians,
and take as many Arabs as you please;
but if you vanquish this accursed slave, do not put
him to death, bring him to me, him and his uncles,
that I may hang them all at the gate of the city.
Sinan was present: O King, by thy munificence,
he cried, were I and Mooferridj not afraid of your
reproaches, we had not brought this event upon
ourselves.

They returned to Hirah, and having consulted
about this important crisis till morning dawned,
Mooferridj assembled the fugitives and his companions,
amounting in all to a thousand horsemen,
with whom he set out for their own country, whilst
a flame was raging in his heart against Antar. Numan

also was desirous of going with them, with the
horsemen of Lakhm and Juzam. No, no! said
Mooferridj, it is not an affair to require your interference;
and when he reached his own home, he
saw the whole country ruined and plundered, and
some few tents on the summits of the hills, and the
women weeping and wailing. At this catastrophe
his anguish increased: he inquired for his own wife
and family, but could find no one to give him any
information about them. Thus was his calamity
heightened, and his misfortune increased, and so
great was his affliction, he could not remain there
above an hour, but set out with his brave army for
the mountains of Radm, following Antar's track.

But Antar, having quitted the mountains as we
described, continued his journey over the wilds and
wastes, till he came near to the tribe of Shiban. He
arrived early in the morning, and alighting at some
retired spot, he sent Shiboob to gain intelligence.

Shiboob darted forth as a bird on the wing, and
returned about mid-day, saying, O son of my mother,
there are not in the dwellings more than a thousand
horsemen. How is that? said Antar. Mooferridj,
replied Shiboob, returned from the King of Persia
full of joy and delight; but when he heard that Basharah
had seized his property (for his cousin Malik,
son of Hosan, had given him every information in
consequence of Rebia having acquainted him by a
message, that you had regained Ibla, and that all
his property was in your hands); he suffered what

never happened to any one before. He instantly
returned to King Numan to report this intelligence,
and to consult about an expedition against the tribe
of Abs, and to take vengeance on them. In the
excess of his resentment occasioned by this catastrophe,
he said to his cousin, Never will I drink of
wine, till I can assuage my heart on that base-born
Antar; and truly that tribe since his departure are
all quite at a loss what to do, they seem careless of
misfortunes, and are asleep, and feel secure from
every calamity. The most advisable plan is, that
you should rush upon the Shibanians under the
cover of the night; and when you are near the tents,
divide into three bodies, and trample down the whole
tribe under the hoofs of your steeds. Thus will
you attain your ends; thus will you succeed in all
your projects.

By the faith of an Arab, exclaimed Antar, you
have advised well. So he immediately mounted,
followed by his men, and Shiboob preceded them
like the northern blast till the day was spent, and
night came on with impenetrable obscurity. The
lights of the tribe shone upon them; but the night
was utter darkness as it vaulted over the two horizons.
They formed into three divisions, and shouted
out in every direction: they poured down among the
tents and dwellings, and plied their spears and their
swords among the Shibanians. The east and the
west were in commotion. The whole region was in
convulsion; the country trembled beneath them;

the warriors started from their pillows; the hearts
of the maidens palpitated; the virgins were made
captives, and the horsemen expected to become
prisoners. The darkness and obscurity stupefied
their senses; all their movements and attempts were
thwarted. The coward found no hole to creep out
at: the horsemen sought relief from the pressure of
the field of battle: the King of Death was firm in
grasping souls. The sword continued its execution till
the night became illumined, and the morning dawned
in its brilliancy: the Absians were still engaged;
their garments were as if painted with blood.

It had been indeed a most dreadful night: but
Antar acquired all the glory and the honour; and
he arose lord of the land of Shiban, master of their
property and their women. He repaired to the
habitations of their chiefs, such as Mooferridj, and
Sinan, and Malik, and all the head men of the tribe;
where he captured their wives, and drove away their
daughters and children, slaying their cuckolded husbands.
He took three of Mooferridj's wives prisoners,
and four of his cousin's daughters, all of whom
were most accomplished females. Oorwah and his
people, and the family of Carad, obtained all the
noble steeds and camels, and they departed for the
mountains of Radm, leaving their enemy's country
ruined, and all its vicinity destroyed; and they continued
their march till between them and their friends
there was only one day's journey.

So in the morning they came near the country

whose mountain sides had been burnt; when Antar
spied out ahead a tremendous dust increasing upon
them, and a lofty cloud of sand rising over them.
Do you see that dust? said Antar to Oorwah, what
can there be beneath it? Oorwah extended his ken
towards it, and he perceived a dust approaching,
rising to an immense height; it augmented, and the
black column was advancing upon them. O Champion
of the Absians! said Oorwah, I do indeed perceive
a towering dust coming towards you. I think
it must be some booty that God has sent to you.
Let the horses be rested, said Antar, after their hot
march. So they rested them, whilst the men prepared
their warlike weapons, and fixed their spears.
Antar stationed forty to take charge of the property,
and the remainder advanced like stern lions, in
number one hundred and ten horsemen. They
marched on till the dust came near to them, when
they heard issuing from it loud screams and tumultuous
shrieks, every thing proving some dreadful
disaster and calamity; and the general cry was, O
by Abs! O by Adnan! who will protect the Absian
women? who will release their captive females?

As soon as Antar heard these clamorous voices,
he shuddered. We are ruined, O Ebe ool Ebyez!
he cried; good God! what Arabs can have overpowered
us, and brought this misfortune upon us?
Who can have dared to insult us, lions of the dens as
we are?

Now the cause of all this was Rebia, who as soon

as he returned to the tribe of Fazarah, and heard
that Antar had plundered his property, and had
driven away his horses and camels, went to Hadifah,
gnawing his hands from very passion. O Ebe
Hidjar! said he, how careless you have been of us
this time! and how you have failed in protecting
us! and we are your neighbours. O Rebia, said
Hadifah, had I not been much debilitated by the
effects of the fall, I would not have failed in protecting
your property in this emergency. I did not
know it was Antar that had made this predatory
assault, or I would not have been kept away from
him, even had my life tasted of horrors; but I
imagined they were some rapacious Arabs; so my
brother and yours went out, and with them a body
of horsemen, whom I enjoined to make every exertion
in settling the business, and to bring back the
horses and property; but they returned routed and
disgraced, and when I learnt this circumstance, I
became as if drunk without wine: but if I do not
overtake that Antar, and gratify my hatred in his
death, I shall die without the affliction of any disease.
O my cousin, said Rebia, I cannot possibly
remain here after this degradation.

So they all made preparations from that day,
amounting in all to seven hundred horsemen, all
well-trained warriors, and they set out in pursuit of
Antar, in despite of the prohibitions of the Sheikh
Beder, for they would not listen to him, but traversed
the barren wastes and wilds. Know that we

are proceeding against the consent of our father,
said Haml to Hadifah, and we have rebelled against
the Sheikhs of our tribe. I fear this expedition will
terminate ill, so that we shall incur the reproaches
of our countrymen, and not one of us will be able
to reside among them. My advice is, that we should
pass in our way to the tribe of Marah, our ally, in
which we confide in our difficulties and our relaxations,
and take with us their champion Zalim, son of
Harith, with a party from their clan and noble warriors.
Then indeed we shall succeed in our projects
and attempts, and shall take our vengeance on that
Antar, even had he with him the tribes of Themood
and Aad. This would be a great disgrace
said Hadifah, that we, who boast of our descent and
rank—that we, exalted among the Arab chieftains,
should not be able to redeem our rights from a
wretch of a slave, but must incite against him the
horsemen of other tribes.

Haml had been induced to address his brother on
this subject on account of the dread he felt in his
heart of Antar. Rebia joined him, for he knew that
this knight whom Haml had mentioned would accomplish
all their desires. Now this Zalim was a
knight of the tribes of Marah and Dibyan, and he
was a great object of astonishment in those days;
and in addition to the superiority he assumed over
the other Arab chiefs, on account of his extreme intrepidity,
he boasted of a sword he had inherited
from his father and ancestors. It was called Zoolhyyat

(endued with life), for when it was unsheathed,
it was impossible for any one to fix his eyes on it, on
account of the extraordinary effect and imaginary
sensations it produced. It was said that it had
been the sword of the great Jobaa, son of King
Himyar, who was formerly monarch of the universe:
and when it fell upon a rock, it would cleave it in
two; and did it encounter steel, it shattered it; and
when it moved, it glittered and sparkled, and over
its sides there crept the wavy forms of biting snakes.
Zalim was so delighted with it, that when he went
to bed, he had it within his arms, and by day he was
never apart from it. It is thus described in this
distich:

"In no trouble, in no adversity do I fear death,
when it confronts me; for how can I dread the assaults
of death, and Zoolhyyat is glittering in my
right hand?"

So when Haml mentioned Zalim, Rebia immemediately
coincided with him. At last they brought
over Hadifah to their views, and travelled on till
they reached the tribe of Marah. There they
alighted, and were hospitably received. Rebia informed
Zalim of the circumstance of Antar, and
the troubles they had endured. In the excess of
his pride, Zalim smiled; By the faith of an Arab,
said he, the tribe of Abs deserves to be degraded on
account of their conduct towards this despicable, insignificant
slave, and all the disgraceful events that
have befallen you are owing to your Chief Zoheir.

It was he who admitted him to the rank and consideration
of an Arab. I am not unwilling to attend
you on this expedition, neither does the danger
or trouble annoy me. I am only distressed on account
of my sword Zoolhyyat, that it should be
contaminated with the blood of slaves, the offspring
of carcasses.

Then having entertained them for three days, he
set out with them, accompanied by five hundred
noble horsemen on celebrated steeds, eagerly pursuing
Antar, and continually demanding intelligence
of him in the deserts and the cities, till they heard
that he was in the mountains of Radm, and the
valley of Raml. May God curse the father of his
beard, and may he be afflicted with unspeakable
calamities! Does he think thus, exclaimed Zalim,
that mountains can protect him from me, or that
the defile can defend him? By the faith of an Arab,
verily will I make him taste of the wine of misfortunes.
They proceeded in the right direction, having
obtained a trusty guide. But as to Amarah,
the world could not contain him, for now he felt secure
that Antar would at any rate be slain, and
that Ibla would console him for all his sorrows; and
when they came near to the valley and the two
mountains (there being only two days between
them), a slave belonging to Rebia met them as he
was seeking the land of Hidjaz. My masters, said
the slave, in answer to their inquiries, know that
Antar is gone against the Shibanians, with one

hundred and fifty brave fellows: and there only
remain one hundred more to protect the wives and
women; and had not he and Shiboob been absent,
I could not have escaped.

When they heard this, they were much delighted:
Truly, said Hadifah, the business has turned out as
you wished, and every difficulty has been rendered
easy. Arabs, cried Zalim, how have we gained our
point, if Antar does not fall, and is not vanquished?
By the faith of an Arab, our trouble is misspent, and
our pains are only increased. O Chief, said Hadifah,
we will content ourselves with capturing their wives,
and we will return home: Antar indeed will be safe,
but if we do not kill him, we shall kill many of his
party. O Hadifah, said Rebia, let us first carry off
the goods and families we shall find in the mountains,
and then continue the pursuit of Antar, where-ever
he may be, and when we have extirpated him,
we will go to King Numan, and will represent to
him the necessity of his sending his brother Aswad
to King Zoheir, to drive him into his presence,
and force him to give his daughter to him. I
will give Ibla in marriage to my brother Amarah,
and will make a marriage-feast, the equal of
which no chiefs ever prepared: then we will return
home, and be quiet and comfortable. Truly,
said Amarah, I am of your opinion on this point,
O Rebia; for I am quite sure Ibla was only created
for me, and her charms will only coalesce with
mine.

They continued their journey without delay till
they reached the mountain, and the dust they occasioned
appeared like the black shades of night.
The Absians that were reconnoitring soon discovered
them, and immediately gave notice of the circumstance
to the horsemen, and shouted through
the mountains. Shedad and his brothers mounted
with the hundred horsemen, and the whole land
was in confusion with the screams of the women
and maidens, whilst the men hurried out to the
defile and pass, having first enveloped themselves in
steel.

The horsemen of Fazarah soon came in sight, the
troops divided, and they all made one universal
shout, making the whole country tremble. They
attacked the Absians like tall furious sea-monsters,
headed by Zalim, as he poured forth the bellow of
devouring lions, and drew out his Zoolhyyat. In a
moment the parties encountered, and they exhibited
their fury, shouting in the name of their fathers and
ancestors, and struggling in the battle and the contest;
the sharp-edged scimitars and long spears
laboured among them, and foes and enemies exulted
over them; but numbers multiplied upon
the Caradians after they had engaged at the entrance
of the strait, like brave men, who fear disgrace;
and though difficulties increased upon this
small party, they preserved the head of the defile,
and plied the thrust and the blow. But when
Zalim perceived that their courage still protected

them in that spot, he dismounted with a party of
horsemen, and penetrated through the defile. There
the battle began to rage—blood was spilt, and the
fire of contention blazed till Zalim had slain seven
of the Absians, and had driven the remainder into
the valley.

Rebia and Hadifah, seeing what Zalim had
done, also dismounted, followed by their party, and
thus occupied the defile. But when the women
perceived this calamity, they uncovered their heads
and let fall their hair, and there was not one but
was convinced of captivity and misfortune; and
about mid-day the tribe of Fazarah effected their
entrance; they bound the Absians as prisoners,
and took possession of their women and property.
They drove away the camels, and they all issued
forth from the mountains. Basharah fell into the
hands of Rebia, who gave him a cruel beating.
Amarah reproached Malik, Ibla's father. You
abandoned your family and your clan, said he, and
you have followed the advice of this black slave,
and these are some of his blessings that have now
happened to you, and he will most certainly drown
you in a sea of calamities.

Shedad heard this speech. O son of Zeead, he
cried, let it suffice that you can abuse my son in his
absence, for he would have brought down on you
his severest punishments, and know that nothing
will last, and he will assuredly come in this direction.
Every one of ye will feel his frown—and

every one of ye will repent of this deed. This
passed; they pursued the tract of Antar, the women
and children going before them, but Zalim staid
behind with the chieftains of the tribes of Marah,
and boasting of his arts, he thus exclaimed:

"Is it thy teeth, O lovely girl, that smile, or is
it the lightning that draws its sword before me?
Is it thy form, or the branch of the palm, that
waves to the zephyr, as it resembles the date-tree?
O daughter of Aamir, do not disdain the
dust whose brightness gives brilliancy in the dead
of the night. If thou art ignorant of me, ask the
tribe of Abs, when I brandished my scimitar;
I surprised their horsemen in the defile, my sword
cleft their flesh and their bones—I drove away
their women when I had reduced their virgins
to consternation and mourning. How should a
worthless slave protect the wives of the noble, or
be able to preserve his engagements? He shall
soon see, if he comes alive, that my sword can
act when death even is still: it is the destiny of
the world when crowds rush round our dwellings.
But what glory is there in this contest, that my
sword should descend upon a dastard slave!
Where in the combat is there one like me when
my scimitar flashes its fires? All mankind lie
beneath my sword, and with me right and wrong
are confounded."

When Zalim had finished his verses, the horsemen
were delighted at his poetry and prose, and

extravagantly was he flattered by Rebia and the
wretched Amarah. They continued their journey
till the next day, about three hours after sunrise,
when they met the hero Antar. Amarah happened
to be in the van, looking at the women, and surrounded
by a body of the tribe of Fazarah and
Marah, and talking to Malik, son of Carad, till
eyes fell upon eyes, and Antar's slaves shouted out
on his arrival; he heard the screams of the women,
and his indignation became most violent: he attacked
the family of Zeead, and pierced the first
through his chest, and the barb started out between
his shoulders; he urged on, and struck the second,
and he rolled him over in the sand. As soon as
the horsemen saw this accident, their reason deserted
them, and they felt assured this must be
Antar. So they shrunk to the rear, the despairing
Amarah at their head, crying out, Fly, my cousins!
The slaves of the family of Carad crowded together
upon them, and plied their sharp swords among
them, shouting out, Hey! Antar is come against
ye, and to-day will he requite you for your deeds towards
the women and children. In a short time
the men were all released from captivity. Antar
advanced towards Ibla, and saluted her; he also
ordered Shiboob to release his father's women and
his uncle's, whilst he and Oorwah went forwards
with one hundred horsemen to meet the foe, leaving
the remainder to protect the females.

Amarah came up to his brother Rebia and Hadifah,

and meeting the troops, exclaimed as above,
and the whole desert was in confusion. What is the
matter with thee? asked Rebia. What has happened
to thee? What has appeared unto thee under the black
of the dust? Antar has appeared against us, they
cried out, he is slaying our brothers and our cousins,
and has come up with the women and the children,
and taken the property, the camels, and the infants,
and had he not been occupied with Ibla, he would
not have left one of us alive, not a white or a black.
Prepare your warlike weapons, cried Rebia, and be
ready for the conflict. Zalim rejoiced in the news,
and he was much delighted at Antar's arrival; he
gave the reins to his horse, and he galloped after
the horsemen, the heroes and warriors following
him. When lo! Antar appeared before them like
a lion in armour, and as his companions followed
him, he cried, Ye sons of ordure, you have pursued
us from your homes, and have gained over to
fight against me the tribes of Marah and Dibyan,
and you conceive yourselves secure from the calamities
of day and night. He instantly unsheathed
his sword and assaulted—the desert was in tumult—
all promiscuously crowded—attack and defence was
the word—swords made hot work—the coward
sought to fly, but found no way to escape. The irresistible
brave stood firm, and the scimitars neither
spared friend nor foe. The blows of Antar fell
more powerful than the stones of an engine; he dispersed
whole troops, and mangled them dreadfully;
he encountered Zalim and Hadifah in the middle
of the field of carnage, and they were also eager in
quest of him; but Hadifah being the nearest to
Antar, thrust at him with his spear, saying with
a loud voice, Take that, thou son of a slave,
I am Hadifah, the son of a free-born woman.
When Antar perceived the thrust directed towards
him, he parried it off very skilfully; he roared at
Hadifah, and turning round the barb of his spear,
he struck him with the butt end, and sent him
rolling over on his head. He then sought Zalim,
and wanted to treat him as he had done Hadifah,
but Zalim smote Antar's spear and broke it, and
just as he attempted to close with him, Antar
howled, and he was horror-struck; he smote him
with the remnant of the spear on his chest, and it
palsied him, the end of the spear grazed on Zalim's
elbow-bone; it paralysed every nerve, and forced
him to let go his sword; Antar rushed upon him,
he grappled him, and seized him by the rings of his
corslet, clung to him, and took him prisoner, and
gave him over to his comrades, wretched and degraded!
That is right, cried Shiboob, seize these
cuckolds, that I may bind them fast; come on!
now to the others. Antar commenced the conflict,
and he pierced the chests of the combatants; he
exhibited all his powers, and he extended the heroes
right and left. Shiboob in the mean time had secured
Zalim and Hadifah. Oorwah and his people,
with his uncles who had been released, accompanied
Antar. Rebia being alarmed, lest he should be
disgraced and overwhelmed, had nothing for it but
to scamper off and escape. Antar made hot work
in their rear, and the brave were irresistible in their
assaults. Only one hundred escaped out of the
thousand, and they were mounted on swift steeds.
The tribe of Abs returned, and darkness obscured
the land, whilst Antar stood before them, as if
bathed in a sea of blood. Having collected the
booty, they passed on, and early in the night they
came near to the mountains, and by day-break they
entered with the prisoners of Fazarah, and those
of Marah and Dibyan, all bound fast with cords.
The slave-women preceded them with the cymbals
and dulcimers, and joy was universal among them.
Early in the day they entered, and it was a most
glorious morning for them; they pitched the tents
and pavilions, and stretched the tent-ropes; but the
happiest of the party was Basharah, whom Antar
had released from the power of Rebia. But they
had only been established one day in that valley,
when the next morning the dust of the tribe of
Shiban, with Mooferridj, arose upon them. The
troops were extended right and left, and the warriors
and heroes came forth. The Absians, as soon
as they saw them, prepared for the engagement; the
polished steel glittered in their hands, and the burnished
armour flashed with the brilliancy of lightning.
They rushed out of the defiles and pressed
forward for the battle and the contest. When the
Shibanians saw them advancing, Do you see that
black slave? exclaimed Mooferridj; how his presumption
has overpowered his reason? he has even
quitted the mountain, and intends to attack the
tribe of Shiban and its five thousand warriors, and
he has scarcely two hundred and fifty vagabond
horsemen. The fault is not his, but the fault is
with him who has obliged us to fight him, and that
is Rebia, who was the cause of all this disturbance.
Be not surprised at what Antar is doing, said Sinan,
for truly he is anxious for the carnage of death. It
happened that Rebia had decided on escaping at
the first onset, so he fled till he reached the
tribe of Shiban, and as soon as they recognised
him, they asked what was the matter; he informed
them of all that happened, and wept at
the severity of his misfortunes. Comfort your
mind and brighten up your eye, cried Mooferridj,
for we are marching in quest of Antar, and we
shall certainly overwhelm him, and reduce him to
distress in his property and family. Mooferridj related
to him the affair of Prince Aswad and his expedition
against the tribe of Abs and Adnan, and
all the arrangements of his brother King Numan.
So Rebia was consoled with this intelligence, and
he returned with them that he might enjoy the
spectacle of Antar's destruction, and release his
brother Amarah from misery. For he saw their
number amounted to five thousand, all warriors,
brave and intrepid, and with them was their celebrated
knight Sinan, and they were marching under
the orders of King Numan. By the faith of an
Arab, said he to himself, Antar cannot escape this
time. Thus they eagerly pressed their march till
they approached the mountains of Radm, as we
have mentioned, and Antar went out to meet them,
as we have described. And Sinan said to Mooferridj,
that Antar would certainly seek the contest.
O Sinan, said Rebia, Antar is never fatigued, never
harassed, and in his heart he is only anxious to meet
you, and succeed in his attempts against you, and
were you even to fill the plains and the mountains,
he would still come out against you, and be only
the more eager to encounter you, for he would be
saying in his soul, that he would annihilate ye all,
high and low, and that he would carry off your
property and your plunder. When Sinan heard
this, he roared and started forth in quest of Antar,
thus exclaiming:

"Hast thou captured my women and seized my
property, bastard slave, thou camel-driver! Shall
I remain dispirited and in disgrace, and my sword
sparkle, brilliant and polished? My spear, when
I brandish it in the palm of my hand, will dive
through the strong-ribbed mountain. Shame, O
Fortune! that a slave should conquer, and the
chiefs and lords be discomfited! Were she impartial,
this scum of men would not stride the

noble steeds. But, O daughter of my uncle,
grieve no more, though the nocturnal vicissitudes
have separated us! As to fortune, it is two days
sweet and one bitter; and among men there are
two sorts, the base and the noble. How many
exalted tribes have I overwhelmed! I have returned,
and their warriors in captivity; and how
many flames of fire have I kindled with the edge
of my sword on the chests of the noble combatants!"

When the Shibanians heard Sinan's harangue, and
perceived that he was preparing for the slaughter,
his men galloped forward, most desirous to release
their wives and families, directing their spear
points towards Antar, and one thousand were the
number that followed him. Antar, being aware
of their intent, took with him his father Shedad
and his uncles Malik and Zakhmetuljewad, and
Amroo, Ibla's brother, and altogether thirty of the
family of Carad. Stay here, said he to Oorwah,
with these hundred horsemen and occupy Sinan,
whilst I repulse the troop that accompanies him,
and I will soon return to you. Antar made the
attack against the thousand horsemen, and rushed
down upon them, impetuous as a torrent; he
charged among them east and west, and overwhelmed
them with thrusts and blows; and he never dashed
into a division, but he dispersed it, nor a troop but
he crushed it; and thus also acted his brother
Shiboob, the dust-coloured dragon. He never separated

from his horse Abjer, but protected him
from the blows of the warriors; whilst his father
Shedad and the horsemen kept up a fierce conflict,
and in less than an hour the troop retreated from
the dust and the darkness, a hundred of them being
slain, and more wounded. By the faith of an
Arab, said Mooferridj, we have fallen into a most
dreadful misfortune, we did not lay our account
to this; in fact, thirty horsemen have been able
to effect all this destruction, and the party, though
only consisting of two hundred and fifty, will at this
rate be equal to ten thousand, and we consist of
only five thousand, and the remainder, how shall we
answer them? My advice, cried Rebia, is, that
you should attack with the tribe of Shiban, and
overpower them with the horsemen, otherwise we
cannot succeed; overtake your cousin Sinan, that
Antar may not kill him in the field of battle.
Mooferridj shouted out to his men, and they instantly
unsheathed their swords, and brandished
their spears, and the universe was in convulsion at
their shouts. Above three thousand joined them
in the assault, and in a formidable charge sought
the defile and the mountain. At that time Antar
had returned to his companions, and he found
Sinan coming back with the tribe of Shiban, and
with them Oorwah as his prisoner: a numerous
host surrounded them. Now Sinan, when Antar
left him, attacked the hundred horsemen, and assailed
them with his sword; he routed them, and
made them retreat into the mountains, having slain
thirty. He also resolved on penetrating into the
defile, and releasing the women of Shiban; but
Oorwah again assailed him, and prevented him;
they fought for an hour, but Sinan saw his companions
were cut up, and that only five hundred
stood firm with him, the remainder having taken to
flight, whilst others checked him from coming up
with Antar. Aware of this disaster, and seeing
how the shouts arose over him, his passion and fury
increased; so he closed with Oorwah and grappled
him, stopping all means of escape, and extending
towards him his mighty arm, he seized him by the
rings of his armour, and held him fast. Thus
having taken him prisoner, and delivered him over
to some of his men, he turned about to attack
Antar, who was also in quest of him. He dispersed
his horsemen and his troops, and as Sinan
stretched out his spear at him, and cried out at
him, and thrust at him, Antar smote the spear and
shivered it: thus parrying him off till he came
close to him, he pressed on him, and struck him
with the flat of his sword, and tumbled him off his
horse. Shiboob pounced on him and bound him
fast, and tied his arms and his sides. As soon as
the Shibanians saw this terrible event, they abandoned
Oorwah cast upon the sand, and escaped by
flight towards Mooferridj; the troops were all
scattered and discomfited. Shouts arose on all
sides, and the dust thickened to the east and to the
west. Antar cried out to the noble Absians; they
were on the alert, and brandished their spears and
their swords; the thrusts were incessant and overpowering,
and the voice of the speaker was silenced:
they seized each other by the chin and the throats,
and every path and road was choked up with the
warriors. But God prospered Antar and the wonders
he did that day, as also his horsemen and
tribe, and his father Shedad and his uncles.

Oorwah soon sprung again on the back of his
horse, and allayed his heart upon the tribe of Shiban.
The scimitar continued to cleave, and blood
to flow, and men to rave and fall, till the day
closed and was obscured, and night coming on,
each division retired and separated. The tribe of
Abs alighted at the entrance of the defile to guard
it against invasion or surprise; but Antar ordered
Shiboob to take Sinan to the valley, and tie him up
with the other prisoners. The tribe of Shiban also
alighted, and their ruin and rout was evident.
Mooferridj endured more than ever went to the
heart of man, on account of the capture of his
cousin Sinan, and the destruction of so many of his
horsemen. Thou mine of fraud and deceit, roared
he at Rebia, by the faith of an Arab, had I thrust
at Sinan my cousin for a whole day, I should never
have gained my point against him, and never should
I have been able to touch him, ere fatigue had enervated
my arm; but this infernal slave has taken
him prisoner in an instant, and truly I shall pass

this night in a state of stupefaction; for if I go out
against him, I shall become a scandal among the
Arabs; and if I do not attack him, we shall not
succeed in our expectations. Take my advice, said
Rebia, clothe yourself in brilliant steel to-morrow
morning, and march your troops against him, and
let not one of your companions remain behind;
smite their horsemen and warriors with the sword,
till you drive them to the defile, and then enter
after them; thus will you succeed in your hopes;
and should every one of them slay ten of yours,
and even more, you will then even have the advantage
with the remainder. This, Rebia, is advice
becoming you! he replied, this is your sagacity!
your wit! how! shall we hasten the men upon
Antar, and leave him to charge upon our flanks,
and play upon us with his sword and his spear?
By the faith of an Arab, had not the day closed
upon us, not a spot of ground would have been
left for any one, but had turned his face to the
desert and the waste. Thus they continued wrangling
till the armies of obscurity departed. And as
soon as it was day, the Shibanians started up ready
for the fight and the contest; they fixed their spears
and prepared to exterminate lives. But the first
who shone on the plain and the scene of blows and
thrusts was Antar. He galloped and charged, and
urged his Abjer to the theatre of contention, and
thus expressed himself:

"The morning of thrusts in the field of battle

(where wine is not put round in glasses), is dearer
to me than the varied amusements with the cup,
and the ewer, and the flowers. My wine is indeed
that which gushes about the spear's point,
when the war-steeds trample. I am the slave, of
whom it shall be reported that I encountered a
thousand free-born heroes: my heart was created
harder than steel, how then can I fear sword or
spear? I have met the chargers, and I cared
not: I am raised above Arcturus, and the Lyre
or the Eagle: when the warrior beholds me, he
avoids me, his courage fails, and he flies. Ye
have indulged, ye people of Shiban, a thought,
but my horse and my perseverance have thwarted
your imagination. Ask Rebia of me when he
came against me with the chiefs of Beder. I
took their chiefs prisoners, and only quitted them
when I had dispersed them over every desert.
Here now I again come forth, and in you will I
appease my heart and allay my bosom; I will
seize the property of Ibla with my sword, and
the lord of the balcony shall acknowledge my
power."

As soon as Antar had terminated this address, he
sought the contest, and the flame was kindled afresh
in his bosom. Mooferridj sprang on his horse's
back, and being cased in his armour, he thundered
down to the field of battle, and charging to and
fro, exclaimed: Thou vile slave, it is disgraceful,
infamous, and ignominious, to fight with thee!

But Antar sent forth a shout at him that would
have split a stone. Mooferridj received him as the
parched earth the first of the rain. They gave two
yells, that excoriated the ears of their horses, and
made every limb of the horsemen tremble. They
commenced the engagement. Rebia was much
alarmed for Mooferridj, that Antar should overpower
him. It was not judicious in Mooferridj to
go out against this devil, said he, and I fear some
accident will happen to him. To which Malik, son
of Hosan, replied, By the faith of an Arab, this
calamity was all owing to you. Son of Zeead, had
it not been for you, we should never have known
this Antar, neither would our wives and children
have been made captives; and as he was preparing
to make an assault, lo! a yell arose from under the
dust, and some one cried out, O by Abs! O by
Adnan! I am the lover of Ibla, and I stand alone
in the world! They all eagerly gazed at the dust,
and behold Antar, who had taken Mooferridj prisoner,
driving him as he would a camel. He gave
him over to Shiboob, who bound him fast by the
shoulders, and took him away to the other prisoners.
Antar perceived that the Shibanians had
dismounted, and were waving their spears and unsheathing
their swords; but he was not to be intimidated
at this. By the faith of an Arab, he exclaimed,
I will put them all to the rout, and will
not leave one to know whither he is going. Then
shouting out to Oorwah and his father Shedad, he
selected fifty brave horsemen. Guard the entrance
of the pass and defile, he cried, and he roared out
to the troop that was with him, and they split the
enemies troops into two parts, and made them drink
of death. The horror and distress were excessive,
and the day became like the night. They continued
to plunge through the Shibanians till they came into
their rear, where Antar, perceiving the horses running
loose without their riders, said to his comrades,
Collect them from right and left, and turn their
faces towards their owners, then goad them on with
the points of the spears, and they will trample down
their own masters. So they separated towards the
horses, and collected them all into one body, and
sending forth a tremendous shout at them, goaded
them with the points of their spears. A black cloud
of dust arose; they plunged among the men on
foot, and trod them down with the stamp of a
camel, whilst the Absians roared at them from
the interior of the valley. None escaped but those
whose lives God had lengthened. Lucky was he
whose horse speeded away with him and rushed
over the waste and plains.

Malik, son of Hosan, was one of those who
escaped, and also Rebia secured himself with a party
of his people, and he was gnawing his hands through
mortification and shame. O my cousins, all this
has happened to us on account of this dog-devil,
cried Malik to the Shibanians, pointing at Rebia;
had it not been for him we had never known Antar

nor Ibla, nor one of the race of Abs. So come on
and have at him. Thus saying, he made towards
him, as Rebia also advanced to congratulate him on
his safety, but Malik struck him with his spear
through the shoulder, and it came out under his
armpit, and hurled him off his horse on the
ground, weltering in his blood, and he thought he
had slain him. Thou son of a foul mother, cried
he, all our misfortunes originate in your hatred
towards that bastard slave. Moreover, the Shibanians
put twenty of Rebia's party to death, and the
remainder fled over the country. But as to Antar,
he ordered them to open a way for the horse to the
mountains, whilst he pursued the race of Shiban till
he came up with Rebia. O Ebeool Ebyez, said he
to Oorwah, dismount, go to him and bind him:
truly his treachery has reverted on himself. Oorwah
alighted and tied his arms, and as he was going to
raise him on a horse, he opened his eyes, and recovering
his senses, he saw Antar standing over his
head. O my noble cousin, exclaimed the wretch,
have some consideration for the relationship between
you and me. Bind up my wounds, but tie not up
my arms. I am almost dead, and indeed I sorely
repent of all I have done to you. By the faith of
an Arab, said Antar, you shall never be in a
situation to repent the foul deeds you have already
done towards me. You only call me cousin when
you have tumbled into some intolerable calamity.
So they all returned to the mountains, and all the
party was relieved from sorrow, for their evening
was more propitious than the morning. He placed
Shiboob, and Jareer, and Basharah, as guards over
the prisoners; and those that were most grievously
afflicted and distressed were Mooferridj and Sinan,
for Basharah was stationed to torment them.

Antar reposed that night in the most perfect delight
with his friends and troops, till the obscurity
being nearly dissolved, he assembled the chiefs,
and as they were consulting, said Shedad to Antar,
O my son, what have you resolved on doing with
your prisoners? As to Zalim, and Mooferridj, and
Sinan, I shall hang them; but as to Rebia, and the
wretch Amarah, I shall detain them in bondage
till they restore the property they took from Ibla.
He arose instantly, intoxicated as he was; his head
rested on Oorwah's shoulder, and he came to the
door of the cavern where the prisoners were confined,
and said to Shiboob, Raise up this cuckold,
that I may hang him up on the summit of the
mountains, and range these other fellows by his side.
When the party heard this they felt certain of death.
As to Amarah, he was almost dead already, and he
remained fixed in stupefaction, for when he looked
at Antar he saw his eyes red as coals. O Aboolfawaris,
said Mooferridj, delay your work, for the
end of violence is never praiseworthy. As to us,
you first took our property, captured our families,
slew our men, and devastated our country; what,
therefore, is our crime that we have merited death

and hanging? And what crime, said Antar, can be
more enormous than this? you seized my property,
you captured the daughter of my uncle, you even
attempted to slay her, so I must absolutely extirpate
the tribe of Shiban. It was your cousin Rebia,
said Mooferridj, who told me to do so, and am I to
be adjudged deserving of extermination, root and
branch? But know that the property that I took
from your uncle's daughter is now with King
Numan: truly the affair is well known, and the
secret now quite public, for Rebia sold the tiara and
turban for he and she camels, and I placed my slave
in deposit in the land of Irak. It will be well for
you not to be too hasty with me, that I may contrive
some means to liberate it, and restore it all to
you; and thus I may rescue my person and my
wife out of your hands. Do what you please with
your cousin Rebia, and if you have any doubts as
to what I have said, and think I am deceiving you,
I can tell you still further particulars. On what
subject can you give me any intelligence? demanded
Antar. Know, O Aboolfawaris, said Mooferridj,
that King Numan has sent his brother Prince Aswad
against King Zoheir with ten thousand horsemen,
and he has engaged to drag before him King
Zoheir in his grasp on account of us, and on account
of his daughter Mootegerede. I am convinced
King Zoheir must fall, and will abandon his
country to destruction. But if you proceed to
violent measures with us, King Numan wiil hear of
it; he will march against you with troops and
armies, and will make you food for the birds and
beasts. As soon as Antar heard this he changed
his resolution; And when did Aswad set out on his
expedition? asked he. About five days before our
departure, said Mooferridj, and doubtless now he
is in your country. At hearing this the light became
dark in his eyes. Alas! then the tribe of Abs is
disgraced among the Arabs, he cried: I must and
will root out every vestige of that King Numan. I
have not forgotten King Zoheir's kindnesses, said
he to Oorwah, and I must expose my existence for
his sake, for I bear him no grudge. O Champion
of the Absians, said Basharah, by the faith of an
Arab, with respect to Prince Cais and his brothers,
and their father King Zoheir, you are considered as
much as his eldest son Shas; but no one estranged
his heart against you but Amarah, and that ordureborn
Rebia. May God curse your father and mother,
said Amarah, how often do you talk to him of
us, and make him think of us? Let him alone; let
his intoxication pass off, and may his person and the
sight of him ever be absent from us! Hey! O
Amarah, said Antar, he who wishes to be Ibla's
husband should not be a coward like you, and one
that fears death and affliction. Who is he, exclaimed
Amarah, that wishes for Ibla, or to hear her
mentioned? and he who has heard of her would
stop his hearing for ever. Now, said Antar, that
would not be right; but when I have returned with
that Aswad a prisoner, and have released King Zoheir
and his sons from infamy and ignominy, I will requite
ye all according to your deserts, and I will slay you
all, high and low: and thus saying he quitted them.
O comrades, cried Sinan, this black slave must be
perfectly frantic, his senses must be disordered, to
march from hence and meet with one hundred
horsemen Prince Aswad with ten thousand warriors,
all armed with spears! I never in my life, said
Mooferridj, saw a more fortunate fellow than this
black slave, nor a more expert spearsman. By the
faith of an Arab, said Amarah, should Antar meet
Prince Aswad he will ride him the ride of a lion.
Were his armies as numerous as the sands and the
locusts, he will most assuredly bring him here
pinioned.

But Antar, when he returned home, assembled
the chiefs, and informed them of Aswad's expedition;
and I am resolved to go to King Zoheir's assistance,
he added. O my son, said his father, we are here
but two hundred and fifty men, and shall one like
King Numan be our foe and antagonist! How can
we proceed against ten thousand horsemen, and
abandon our wives and families? As to our women,
said Antar, there is no alarm about them; no one
will venture to approach this spot before the fugitives
of the Shibanians reach King Numan, and inform
him of what has happened to them; he must then
address the Arabs by letter, and we shall return
hither before all that can have taken place. But I

have not come to this place, or rebelled against King
Numan, but on having formed a proper estimate of
mankind. I do not fear even the monarch of Persia,
the lord of the balcony; therefore, how shall I
fear ten thousand horse, or even a hundred thousand
of the bravest? And he sent for Shiboob
and said, Son of my mother, how many roads are
there hence to our country? There are three, replied
Shiboob. Where do they meet? said Antar.
By the waters of the tribe of Akhrem and the great
lake. Upon that he selected a hundred and fifty of
the noblest Absians, and left one hundred to protect
the property and the families, and recommending
his uncle Malik and his son Amroo to take care of
the prisoners, and to be on the alert night and day,
he set out over the plains and deserts, Shiboob preceding
him showing the way. Antar had his heart
full of King Zoheir and the Absians, and as the
journey lengthened, he thus expressed himself:

"He who is ambitious of honour bears no malice,
and no exalted sentiments can exist in the mind
of the passionate. He who is a slave of a tribe
must not contradict them; he must endeavour to
soothe them and conciliate them when they are
angry. Formerly indeed I tended their camels,
but now I protect them when they are in affliction.
God has ennobled the tribe of Abs, and has endowed
them with virtues the Arabs possess not in
their nature. Their slave has left the warriors
overthrown in the dust, all in consternation and

in disgrace. Were I not to rescue them in
their adversities, I myself should not be safe, and
misfortune would not always fail me. If you
think, O Numan, my arm cannot reach you, fortune
then has changed. There are serpents, and
their touch is soft in moving them round, but in
their fangs is death. To-day, O Numan, you
shall know what a youth will trample down thy
brother whom falsehood has encouraged. A youth
that plunges into the dust of battle with smiles,
and when he retires his spear's point is dyed with
blood. If he draws the sword to enforce his
blows, the atmosphere is illumined, and the clouds
are rent asunder. The steeds are witness for me
how I dive among them, and that my thrusts are
like the sparks of a blazing fire. May God never
remove from my eyes the noble youths; warriors
when they alight, ennobled when they mount!
Lions of the den, but no fangs have they but their
barbs and the edge of their swords. Their fiery
steeds rise with them, and round their necks are
circles of buds like the basilflower. Ever will I
encounter the chests of the chargers, fierce in look,
with the spear, till their very saddles and housings
cry out. He is blind within whose ken appears my
form; he is deaf at whose mouth I raise my shout.
The troops shall witness for me in the day of battle,
the sword, and the spear, and the pens, and the
records. My star shines far raised on high, above
Arcturus, above the sun, above the clouds. I am
the son of Shedad, through the sublimity of his
virtues, in glory, in honour, in liberality, and in
courtesy!"

When Antar had finished his verses the men and
the chiefs were delighted. For four days they traversed
the deserts and the sands, and their anxiety
was excessive; and when they reached the great
lake, O my brother, said Shiboob, lay in a provision
of this water, for there is no more ahead of you.
Now was I well assured that you were sufficiently
strong to prevent Aswad from coming to this water,
I would secrete you in this spot, for when he and
his army come here they will be almost dead with
thirst. O Ebe-reah, said Antar, by the faith of an
Arab, if every human being on the face of the
earth, long and wide as it is, were to come here, I
will not let one of them wet his fingers in this water
till the sword has cleaved my heart, and my sight
be blinded. If so, said Shiboob, stay here, possess
yourself of this spot, whilst I go and obtain some intelligence
of this Aswad. And he set out traversing
the barren waste; but Antar and his brave associates
alighted at the head of the water, and concealed
themselves in the mountains. The next day
early, behold Shiboob appeared. Glorious morning!
cried Antar, come, tell me what is your news.
O Ebe-reah! My brother, said Shiboob, I have
seen Prince Aswad and his armies, like the rolling
sea, and King Zoheir, and his sons, and the Absians
all in captivity, for Aswad surprised them in

the morning. They fought for three days, and on
the fourth day came the tribe of Fazarah, and with
them the tribe of Marah, and the armies attacked
them in all directions; so they plundered the dwellings
and property, and made the women and families
captives. Aswad is now returning on his way to his
brother King Numan, overjoyed at what has happened.
I heard all this from your friend Prince
Malik, for when I separated from you I did not
stop in my journey over the wastes till I met the
armies, and mingled with them in the dead of
the night, when I heard Prince Malik thus complaining:

"We have drunk of fears after our security; we
have been thoughtless of the adversities of fortune;
we have tasted of ignominy now that the raiser of
the dust of the tumultuous contest has disappeared
from us. In his absence we have been
destroyed by the oppressor, and the horses of the
rebellious with slackened reins have trampled
over us. Our families were protected by his long
spear, but its point is now broken. O hero of the
tribe of Carad, assist us with the edge of thy
sword from the rage of the Yemenites. Let not
the accursed tribe exult over us. Our wives have
been taken captives like harlots. Thou art our
refuge at all times when the horses of death trouble
us. Thou hast familiarized us to glory and
honour, do not break us down, for thou wert the
builder. Our wives and our virgins are driven

away, and they beckon to thy noble person with
their fingers. Tears flow from every brilliant eye
over the cheeks, blushing like the judas tree.
They cry out in their sorrows, O by Abs, O assist
us, (sufficient are the pains we now suffer,)
against our foes that have driven us into the
desert, and let the birds of Yemen mourn over
them."

Shiboob repeated these verses in the language of
Prince Malik, and whilst Antar shed tears at the
recital, Shiboob continued, O my brother, as soon as
I had heard these verses, I advanced towards the
Prince, and saluted him. He related to me all that
had happened. I consoled his heart, and soon after
I drew out my dagger, and I cut in pieces all the
water-bags belonging to Prince Aswad, and now
they will find no water before them but in this place,
and in three days they will reach you.

At hearing the words of Shiboob, Antar's cares
and sorrows dissolved. Thou hast done admirably
well, O Ebe-reah, said he, and Antar felt assured
of the discomfiture of the Prince's army. He then
commanded his warriors to conceal themselves among
the mountains and the sand-hills, and Shiboob stationed
himself as their scout, gazing over the desert
to the right and left. But as to Aswad, he marched
on, the remainder of the night, till early next day,
when he demanded of one of his slaves some water
after he had eaten his meal. The slaves stared
at each other; they turned pale, and looked towards

the ground. What is the matter with ye?
said the Prince; and what has happened to you? O
Prince, they replied, as soon as morning dawned,
we saw all our water-bags and sacks were rent open.
On hearing this, the light became darkness in the
eyes of the Prince. And who has done this deed?
cried he. We know not, most dreaded sire, said
they. He immediately ordered his messengers to proceed
to the great lake and bring water. They obeyed
his directions, and the messengers set out with the
water-bags and sacks, forming one hundred brave
fellows; and the army continued their march that
day and night, and the next day, but as there was
no news of the messengers, the Prince and his chiefs
marched forward in quest of them, and to procure
some water.

As we before mentioned, Antar had stationed
Shiboob to look out; so when the messengers advanced,
he informed Antar of it. They attempted
to fill their bags, and turned towards the water. In
an instant sixty were made prisoners, and forty were
slain. The messengers and their bags were seized,
and to Antar's question about the Prince and his
army, they said, They will be with you this day; we
quitted them in the most dreadful suspense, and if
they wait for us to return with water for them, the
whole army must expire of thirst.

O my brother, said Shiboob, give me fifty horsemen
of Oorwah's, and I will fill these bags and return
to the army, and will supply with drink all the

Absians, and will release them from captivity and
bondage; for know that Aswad's troops will not be
in a state even to look at one another. Do as you
please, son of my mother, said Antar: and immediately
Shiboob took away the water-bags and sacks,
and selecting fifty horsemen, he departed, passing
over roads the accursed devil himself would never
have discovered, till mixing with them, he perceived
brother knew not his brother, neither a son his
father.

The Prince in the mean time had set out in quest
of water, and a large portion of his troops had followed
him, all most anxiously seized with the desire
of drinking. They advanced towards the vicinity
of the lake, where they saw their messengers all
slain. He was confounded, and whilst they were
in this state of horror, Antar assaulted him, and
shouted, and terrified him. He smote him with
Dhami a blow on the joints of his neck, and he
hurled him at his full length on the ground. He
dismounted to pinion him, and having bound him
fast by the arms, he made towards his army that was
dotted about the desert in tens and twenties. Antar
and his party appeared against them: all that surrendered
he made prisoners, but those that defended
themselves he left dead, whilst they cried out to him,
O son of Shedad, only give us some water, and take
us prisoners.

Antar listened to none of their speeches, neither
did he make any answer, even till the remainder of

the army arrived—the whole twenty thousand hustling
in crowds towards the water. Antar raved even
like a furious camel; he dashed down the warriors;
when lo! a troop of horse appeared, amounting
to three thousand, all crying out, O by Abs! O
by Adnan! and at their head was King Zoheir and
his brave sons. Shiboob had effected their escape;
for when he departed with the water-bags, filled
with water, he continued his journey till he reached
the Absian prisoners. Seeing the army each interested
in his personal wants, he penetrated through them,
and supplied the Absians with water, and ordered
Oorwah's people to release them. In an hour all were
at liberty, and took their horses as they were by
their sides. They carried off armour and accoutrements,
and corslets, and in less than an hour
they were mounted, and became illustrious horsemen.
Join my brother Antar at the great lake, cried
Shiboob.

Upon this King Zoheir cried out to his people,
Come on, my cousins, to the assistance of the man
who has raised us from the dead, and has protected
our wives and our daughters. He galloped on, and
the Absian warriors followed him till they came up
with Antar, and they all in one voice shouted O
by Abs! O by Adnan! and they made a general
attack on the army.

Antar was rejoiced at seeing the Absians at liberty,
and he rushed amongst the enemy. King Zoheir

and his associates performed deeds that would have
amazed the bravest of warriors. Thus they continued
till the day fled, and the army of the Prince
was entirely routed, and dispersed over the desert
and waste, Antar and the Absians pursuing
them till they drove them out of that country, and
then returning to the scattered horses and dispersed
plunder, they took possession of the tents, and
baggage, and cattle. Aswad was their prisoner,
with seven thousand of the tribes of Lakhm and
Juzam; more than four thousand were slain, the
remainder escaped by flight. But Antar turned
towards King Zoheir, and he appeared as if plunged
in a sea of blood. The King dismounted, and ran
towards him, and folding him to his bosom, kissed
him between the eyes, thanking him, and extolling
him. The same did all King Zoheir's sons; they
advanced and saluted Antar, and thanked him for
what he had done; whilst the Absians prayed for
him, and lauded his deeds. They reposed that night;
but the next day they set out for the mountains of
Radm, and the valley of Raml.

They continued their march night and day till
they reached the mountain, and they found it
totally unoccupied. Antar shuddered, and was
amazed. Shiboob gazed, and he saw Basharah hung
upon the top of the mountain. Shiboob wept bitterly;
Antar grieved for Ibla, and his tears streamed
in torrents.

CHAPTER XIX.

When Antar departed in quest of Prince Aswad,
he deputed his uncle Malik and his son, and a party
of Oorwah's people, to take charge of the prisoners,
and to protect the place. But as soon as he was
gone, Amroo entered unto the prisoners, and began
to abuse them, demanding restitution of the property
they had taken from Ibla. Alas, O Amroo!
said Rebia, art thou not ashamed of this discourse,
and art not thou, as well as thy father, utterly disgraced
by following this cursed and perfidious slave?
Thinkest thou, O Amroo, that Antar can resist the
Arab and the Persian, when King Numan shall
send for him? What will ye do then? And moreover,
O Amroo, how canst thou reconcile it to
thy heart to marry thy sister to one, who used to
tend her camels and her flocks? Rejoice then in
the certainty that Antar will never return; for
he is gone to fight with twenty thousand horsemen.
My opinion is, thou shouldst persuade thy
father to avail himself of this opportunity before he
repents.

These words entered deep into Amroo's ears;
Rebia's wily ways had their effect; and he felt

ashamed on the subject of his sister. But how can
we manage to escape? said he. My advice is, said
Rebia, that you refer your business to this noble
hero Mooferridj, he will take you with him to King
Numan, and will secure his protection for you, and
when we arrive at Hirah, and shall see Prince
Aswad on his return, with King Zoheir, a prisoner,
and all the tribe of Abs, we will mediate
for King Zoheir, and will marry his daughter to
King Numan, and marry Ibla to this valiant Chief
Amarah; then we will return all together home to
our families and friends. God bless you for this
contrivance! said Amarah.

As soon as Amroo heard this, he was convinced.
So he quitted the prisoners, and repaired to his
father Malik, and related all that Rebia had mentioned.
All this is perfectly correct, said his father,
but I fear the good fortune of Antar: for we have
never attempted to oppose him, but we have fallen
into most grievous calamities; but have patience
with me till I have decided on the plan. They
waited till night came on with its obscurity. Arise,
said Malik to his son, seek the prisoners, that is,
release them.

Amroo instantly arose, and went to the prisoners,
and unbound them, and informed them of what his
father had planned. He delivered to them their
arms and accoutrements, and their horses; and
as we have said, they were the tyrants of warriors.

So when they gained possession of their arms
and armour, each sprang forth a lion. They assaulted
the mountain; they seized the men, and
bound them fast by the shoulders. They made the
women and families captive, and plundered the stores
and cattle; and by morning they were masters of
every thing. But the first thing Mooferridj and
Rebia did was to hang Basharah on the mountain
top. They set their wives at liberty, and bound
the women of the family of Carad, and Ibla was
treated in the most ignominious manner, in contempt
towards Antar. They drove away the cattle,
and issued from the monntains, seeking the land of
King Numan.

Amarah was in ecstacy, and kept trotting round
the howdah in which was Ibla, brandishing his spear
in his left hand. They continued their journey that
day and night, but on the next day, soon after sunrise,
there arose a dust: they halted, it cleared away,
and there appeared five thousand horse, preceded
by a knight, like a huge fragment of a mountain,
or one of the remnants of the tribe of Aad. His
feet drew deep lines over the land, such was the
length of his body.

As soon as Mooferridj saw him, Fly, my cousins,
fly, he cried; this is the Chief Maadi Kereb, and
he wheeled round and fled, Sinan and Rebia following
him. How can we fly, exclaimed Amarah,
and abandon Ibla, and not fight a little at any rate,

that she may view the intrepid conduct of the fierce
Amarah? O thou defiled mustachioed fool! follow
me, and give us none of your bark-husks[1] , cried
Rebia. Upon this, he threw away his spear and
fled.

When Zalim saw what the family of Zeead had
done, May God disgrace you among men, he cried;
you that cannot protect your women, or repulse an
enemy or foe. Then he also took to flight, and
escaped.

This warrior that met them was a sturdy hero,
and an undaunted lion, one of the thousand tyrants;
his stature equalled the tallest trees, when he stood
still and when he moved; in his hand he bore a
thundering spear, and he was the dread of all warriors.

When Antar had taken Jayda captive, and had
slain her cousin Khalid, Jayda obtained her liberty
and fled, and in grief at what had befallen her,
she clothed herself in black, and wept and mourned
incessantly. And Maadi Kereb, when drinking,
found his pleasures so disturbed by her lamentations
and plaints, that he resolved on an expedition, when
lo! a messenger came towards him, and saluting
him, informed him of all Antar had done, and that
he was gone down to the mountains of Radm, and
that King Numan had sent twenty thousand horsemen
against him.

When Maadi Kereb heard this, he was delighted;
he sent for Jayda. Be comforted in the
death of Antar, as a compensation for your cousin,
said he. Let us, cried Jayda, undertake the destruction
of this perfidious slave, and let us avenge
ourselves.

On hearing this, Maadi Kereb ordered the tribes
of Morad and Zebeed to prepare their warlike
weapons. He selected five thousand horsemen, and
resolved on departing. Jayda too was overjoyed at
this expedition to engage Antar, for she was filled
with the notion that she should kill him, and take
vengeance for the loss of her cousin Khalid; and
when they were at some distance from the tribe of
Zebeed, Jayda thus expressed herself:

"My life is wasting, but my grief passes not
away. My courage is diminished, and my soul is
exhausted. My tears flow abundantly, and my
eyelids are ulcered; any sleep, now Khalid is
gone, is my oppression. Alas! alas! O my regrets
for him who defended us with his Indian
blade! But a slave of the tribe of Carad has afflicted
us; whose arm is fate and approaching
death. Were there not such vicissitudes of
fortune, honours would not be granted to the
base-born slaves. O sons of my uncle! rouse the
dust of battle against the country of Abs and its
regions. Drive away all their virgins with the
point of the spear, to their infamy and disgrace.

My fury can never be appeased without the
piercing spear that raises the dust of contention,
or the blow from the sharp-edged scimitar,
that makes the bravest gnaw their fingers with
rage."

When Jayda had finished her verses, pride burst
like a hurricane through the heads of her warriors,
and they continued their course till they met Mooferridj,
and all his people fled.

When Maadi Kereb marked Mooferridj and his
flight, See these wretches, daughter of my uncle!
he cried to Jayda, when the wolf snuffs the smell of
a lion, he flies and runs in terror away. But as soon
as he saw Malik, Ibla's father, he recognised him,
and also his son Amroo, and the whole body of Caradians.
Know, said he to Jayda, these are our
enemies, and Malik, son of Carad, who sent Antar to
our country to slay your cousin. Thou old wretch,
thou perfidious dog, bellowed he at Malik, we have
heard the tribe of Shiban were your captives; how
is it we see you with them in captivity and bondage?
And truly they have carried off your property and
families, and this is indeed a most curious affair. O
warrior, said Malik, all you have heard is true, and
we are ourselves the cause of this calamity; for we
have abandoned truth, and have followed fraud and
deceit; and we have been betrayed by those in
whom we confided. He then informed him all
about Antar, and how he had delivered the prisoners

over to them, and was gone to meet Prince
Aswad, and we, he continued, have set them at
liberty, and this fatality is now come upon us. Maadi
Kereb was amazed at this recital. You have indeed
rewarded Antar most infamously, said he; but you
know that it is Antar who has made you the common
talk among the Arabs; and truly you have
acted in the basest manner. And he fell upon him
and his son Amroo with a whip he had in his hand,
till he made their blood stream upon the ground
from the violence of his blows.

After this, Maadi Kereb and Jayda, with their
troops, returned, seeking their own country, taking
with them the property of the family of Carad,
their women and children. Ibla wept night and
day for her cousin, the magnanimous conqueror
Antar. But Jayda had ever in her mind the words
of Malik to Antar, viz.—I will not marry my daughter
to you, till you bring me Jayda to hold the bridle
of her camel on the marriage night. So she went
aside to him and his son, and beat them violently,
till their blood trickled upon the earth, and they
were nearly lifeless from excessive torture. Thus
they indeed repented of their behaviour to Antar.
But as to the Shibanians that fled from Antar
when he took their Chief Mooferridj prisoner, they
continued their hasty course till they came to
King Numan, and related what Antar had done
to them. On hearing this, the light became darkness

in the eyes of Numan, and he was amazed
at Antar's good fortune. Well, said he to his attendants,
entertain them till Prince Aswad arrives
with his prisoner King Zoheir, and the whole Absian
tribe; and then I will send all my armies and
troops against Antar, and will order them to bring
him to my presence, that I may inflict on him
the severest torments, and feed the dogs on his
flesh.

He remained quiet for seven days, when the
Chief Mooferridj arrived, together with Rebia, and
the warriors, and there was not one but wept and
shed torrents of tears in detailing his condition and
his adventures, and when King Numan heard the
occasion of this disaster, wrath was kindled in his
countenance—he made them repeat their story.
And Antar has proceeded against your brother the
Prince, they added, with one hundred and fifty
horsemen. Verily, exclaimed King Numan, this
circumstance deserves to be recorded and inscribed,
particularly if Antar should rout my brother and
his army; then indeed there will be no resource but
for me to deliver up the kingdom of the Arabs
to Antar, and put myself to no further trouble
about it.

King Numan waited patiently in expectation of
his brother's arrival, his heart all the time enduring
unknown tortures. In a few days the army that
fled from the great lake arrived, all cut to pieces—

wandering over the wilds—not one daring to look
behind him—each ignorant of the fate of his companions—till
they presented themselves before King
Numan, all exclaiming, What terrors! what dreadful
events! King Numan, on seeing them in this
condition, felt his heart on fire, and his distraction
was insupportable. What! has Antar vanquished
you? he cried. Yes, they exclaimed; he has rooted
out every vestige of us, and has not left of us even
one to fight, nor a banner to wave.

Yet he would not have succeeded in his attempts
but by thirst and drought, they added; for he met
us at the great lake. He took your brother prisoner,
with seven thousand of his horsemen, of
the tribes of Lakhm and Juzam, and four thousand
were slain in the dust; the remainder fled
over the wilds, and this is our fate. As to those
four thousand, exclaimed Numan, who have been
killed, how shall we be revenged on that sturdy
slave, and how shall we take his blood, in compensation
for the chieftains of Lakhm and Juzam? For
truly, if this news reaches Chosroe, we shall be no
longer considered or respected by him. I am quite
distracted, and know not how to extricate myself
from these difficulties.

O King, said Rebia, write to the Arabs who are
under your dominion, and I will also write to the
tribe of Fazarah. We will all go against Antar, and
tear up every vestige of him. Thou Sheikh of

iniquity, exclaimed Numan, turning upon him; by
the faith of an Arab, thou hast indeed opened an
unfortunate door with these Arab dogs, and thou
for this disturbance deservest nought but to have
your chin shaved, and the cruelest tortures, thou
ordure of Arabs and men! But Numan ordered
letters to be written to all the Arab tribes, both near
and distant, requiring them to repair to him with
all speed, and the Vizier Amroo, son of Nefilah,
wrote accordingly to the Arabs, and amongst others
to Maadi Kereb, the Zebeedian, ordering him to
come with his troops, and he also was directed
to release the Shibanian women, and to restore
to Mooferridj the property he had captured, and
to take care of Ibla, and the family of Carad he
had with him, until the differences with Antar
should be arranged; and we, it was said in conclusion,
will give you half the spoil, when Antar is
dead.

As soon as this letter reached Maadi Kereb, he
was greatly astonished. What extraordinary times,
what wonderful events are these! he exclaimed.
This slave must be endued with the most admirable
qualities; and the proof is, that he has taken Prince
Aswad prisoner; and truly by this his name will be
recorded for ages: in fact, at first it was a disgrace
and a dishonour to fight with Antar, but now it will
be a glory and a boast, now that he has vanquished
kings, and overcome the bravest. But I am anxious

to outstrip the armies of King Numan, and succeed
in putting this black wittol to death. He inquired
intelligence of the messengers about Antar, and they
informed him that he was gone down to the mountains
of Radm.

On hearing this, he sent for Jayda, and related to
her Antar's adventures; and now, he added, Numan
has ordered me to attack him, and to restore Mooferridj's
property. And what have you resolved on
doing? asked Jayda. As to his orders, replied
Maadi Kereb, about the restitution of Mooferridj's
property, I must obey; but as to his directions
about my repairing to him, that I will not do; but
I will collect my troops, and will go against Antar
myself. I will not trouble King Numan, but will
accomplish his wishes, and I will not proceed to
King Numan, but with all the tribe of Abs driven
ahead of me, with ropes round their necks, and
Antar's head raised high on one of my longest
spears. And who, said Jayda, must go with
Mooferridj's property? You; said Maadi Kereb.
But then, said she, I must have with me the family
of Carad, and their property, that I may
not be slack in torturing that Malik, and his son
Amroo.

Jayda remained that night, but the next day she
mounted her steed, and taking away with her Mooferridj's
property, the family of Carad, and their
goods, she set out on her way to Irak. Maadi

Kereb, too, mounted with five thousand stout Zebeedians,
and went to engage Antar. He marched
at the head of his warriors like a strong tower, thus
reciting:

"The lions of the desert are my delight and
my companions; they see in me their fellow and
ally. Behold, the dwellings of the family of Carad
are near their final doom. In the combat I
have overwhelmed their horsemen on account of
their slave, surnamed the accursed. I will destroy
their chiefs with the thrust of the spear
through their bowels and their waists. You shall
be satiated with their blood, after ye have eaten
your fill, ye wild beasts—so thank me—I am
Maadi Kereb, the chief of the Zebeedians, and
every Arab horseman is my inferior. Every
warrior humbles himself before me, struck with
fear when I brandish my sword in my hand.
Mine is the universe, and every slave therein in
the castles and the fortresses. My force is the
force of the lion; they fear my-power, and approach
me not. I heed them not. I care not
for them when they oppose me; and were it not
a heinous sin, I would say to the whole earth,
my right hand and my left hand should subvert
it."

These verses proceeded from that extreme ignorance
of the Arabs, for when any one of them
mounted a horse, he used to say, the earth tottered

in affright at him, and that all the bravest warriors
were within his grasp, and thus Maadi Kereb
sought the mountains. But as to Antar, when he returned
to the mountains, and saw that whole country
destroyed, and Basharah hung up and the birds
feeding on him, he was as no one had ever been
before him, such was his distress at the loss of Ibla;
yet he concealed his grief, and in appearance was
patient and resigned. O my brother, said Shiboob,
by the faith of an Arab, no one but your uncle
Malik and his son Amroo have released the prisoners;
indeed I was never comfortable at leaving
them behind us in the mountains, for treachery is
their nature, and iniquity can never be extracted
from their hearts; but their perfidy will certainly
fall upon them.

Antar and the Absians alighted in the mountains;
they pitched their tents, and raised their
standards, and crammed the caverns full with
the prisoners; and whilst Shiboob and a party
of slaves were stationed guard over them, Antar
remained quiet; but in his heart was the flame
of anxiety to learn some intelligence, and though
in company with King Zoheir he evinced the
most perfect courage and forbearance, yet when
alone he thought only of Ibla; his grief then became
extreme; he wept immoderately, and thus
spoke:

"Who is it by whom the lands of the valley of

Raml are laid waste? Where are his traces, O
northern blasts? Here I stand, and my tears
flood my eyes at the inutility of my demand.
Should I ask of the damsels of Carad and of her
companions for that beauty, how deceitful would
be the reply! how irrelevant to my question! At
the voice of the raven I am melancholy, and my
tears flow like pearls. O raven, wherefore dost
thou call all the day long on my right hand and
on my left? thou communicatest to me every
species of grief, and tellest of separation after enjoyment,
as if I had sacrificed thy young with the
edge of my sword, and had laid snares for thee.
By the virtue of thy parent, rather soothe the
wounds of my heart, and quench the flame of my
soul with thy song. Speak to me of my Ibla, tell
me where she is, and what the hands of darkness
are doing to her. My heart roams distracted over
the earth, marking the traces of her camel's footsteps.
My body is cast among the mountains of
Radm, and my imagination is haunted with
phantoms. In the valley the bird flits on the
branches, and its complaints are in the extreme of
bitterness. I say to it whilst it continues its sorrows,
complain no more; is thy condition like
mine? As for me, my tears flow, and thou
mournest also, but without tears; and that is the
just explanation of my state. May God execrate
separation and respect it not; how oft has my
heart been shivered with its arrows! I have engaged
every hardy obstinate warrior, but absence
kills me without a contest. I am truly called the
Antar of horsemen, and the animated leader in
every affair of importance and peril!"

Antar indulged in incessant grief and lamentation
morning and evening till the arrival of his brother
Jareer; his coming was indeed like a festival, for he
informed him of all that had happened; and Maadi
Kereb, he added, is marching against you with five
thousand warriors, all immersed in steel and refulgent
armour. Jareer had been taken prisoner
with Ibla, and was unable to effect his escape till
Jayda set out to go to King Numan. Jayda indeed
did not know him, or that he was Antar's brother,
or she would have treated him ill; for among the
Arabs it was not generally understood that Antar
had any brother but Shiboob.

Antar conducted him to King Zoheir, to whom he
related all he had heard. O Aboolfawaris, said he,
as to this knight that is coming against us, all the
warriors are unanimous in their opinion that he is a
tyrant fire even cannot overcome; and now what are
your intentions, and what is your advice? None but
to meet this Maadi Kereb, exclaimed Antar, and all
his host. Afterwards I will engage King Numan, and
will extirpate all the Arabs he has assembled round
him. I will raise thee to his station: then will I go
to Moodayin, and will put Chosroes Nushirvan to
death. I will exterminate all the armies of Persia,

and will not leave one of them to wag a leg; then
will I become lord of the balcony, and will rule over
the Persian and the Arab, for I know when death
is protracted, the sharpest scimitar cannot avail, and
man can effect what he pleases and desires, were he
even the most contemptible of slaves. When King
Zoheir heard Antar's discourse he was amazed at
his intrepidity, and the little account he made of the
Arabs. Do as you please, he said, for we will be
guided by your actions. If you engage, we will
engage; if you fight, we will fight; if you die, we
will die. Yours is our property, and yours is all
we possess. Console your heart and brighten up
your eye, said Antar, for by the faith of an Arab,
I must absolutely put you in possession of King
Numan's station, had he even with him men and
demons, and the fiends that rebelled against our
Lord Soliman. I will strike off the head of my
uncle Malik and his son Amroo. Thus saying, he
started out of King Zoheir's presence, and every
night he kept the watch, but on the third night the
Absians searched for Antar, but could not find him.
King Zoheir was greatly agitated, and he said, Antar
is surely gone to encounter Maadi Kereb and
the tribe of Zebeed; never will he let them reach
this desert.

As to Maadi Kereb, he marched on till he came
into the vicinity of the mountains, when he halted
at one of the lakes, where assembling his people
about him, O my cousins, said he, I am sure when

Antar hears of our expedition, he will either not
dare to appear without the mountains, or he will
intercept our road, or he will run away when he
hears of us, and will not venture to establish himself
in this country. But I am desirous of executing a
plan, which is this: I will take with me ten warriors,
and will set out and surprise the defile at day-break
before they have any information of us. I will ply
the sword well among them, and will allay my heart
with them till you come up and facilitate the business
for us, and make the affair easy. We shall
gain a great reputation by this enterprise, for a well-contrived
plan is more creditable than engaging in
a battle. Do as you please, they said. He reposed
till the greater part of the night was passed; he
then mounted his horse, and took with him ten
horsemen, whose firmness in the most imminent
perils he well knew, and he set out for the mountains.
He travelled on till day-break, when he
heard something ahead of him, and saw a man on
foot skulking before them. Go, said Maadi Kereb
to one of his horsemen, and bring me news of this
fellow on foot. But he observed them as soon as
they observed him. Hey! young man, cried the
Zebeedian, who art thou? whence comest thou?
and whither art thou going? I am a Zebeedian,
said the man on foot, and my master Maadi
Kereb has sent me to obtain intelligence of Antar.
Thou liest, said the Zebeedian, thou ordure-born
wretch, we are the tribe of Zebeed marching to engage
Antar, and no human being has been sent
before us. And he fixed his spear in his hand, and
was about to drive him into Maadi Kereb's presence,
but the man on foot had already drawn out an
arrow from his quiver, and fixed it on the handle of
his bow, and shot the Zebeedian with it on the chest,
and the arrow pierced him quivering through his
back; he gave a scream, and fell dead. My cousins,
cried out Maadi Kereb, this fellow on foot has slain
our cousin; come on, on to him: and the nine
crowded after him, and shouted out, and sought
him in all directions. But when the man on foot
saw the troop in quest of him, he fled out of their
sight in less than the twinkling of an eye, and they
could perceive no trace of him. The Zebeedians
were amazed at his agility: This can be no human
being, said they. He had not disappeared long
when he returned, and with him a knight on a black
steed. Ye ignoble dastards, he cried, I am Antar,
son of Shedad, the vanquisher of heroes.

Now Antar, after what had occurred in the presence
of King Zoheir, kept watch; but on the third
night, said Antar to Shiboob, Let us, son of my
mother, go to some distance from the mountains;
perhaps we may come upon Maadi Kereb, and I
will show him what will surprise him, for the king
has been crying up his intrepidity. Do what you
please, said Shiboob. So they marched on till they
met Maadi Kereb and his party. Shiboob slew the
horseman, and returned to acquaint his brother with

what had passed. Antar was delighted, and congratulated
himself, and assaulted the Zebeed heroes;
he slew five of them, and Shiboob three with his
arrows, and only one escaped, no more, who returned
to Maadi Kereb, and told him what Antar
had done to his comrades. When Maadi Kereb
heard this, the light became dark in his eyes, and
without saying a word he rushed upon Antar like a
furious lion. Antar also received him as the parched
up ground the first of the rain, and descended upon
him like the descent of fate and destiny. They engaged
till the very tears gushed from their eyes,
and darkness involved them in shades of night.
Thrusts fell at random, and the blood flowed from
their bodies upon the surface of the earth. It
was a moment the horrors of which turned youth
to age. They continued the fight and the conflict
till the morning rose upon them, and in
their hands only remained the stumps of their
spears. They threw them away, and unsheathed
their scimitars, more ready instruments of death;
they smote each other with their swords against
their shields till the whole country was illumined
by their flashes. The sweat streamed from their
bodies, and both wished they had never been born;
they rushed at each other with the fury of lions, so
that their feet ground down even the stones and the
rocks. Shiboob was also occupied with the horseman
who had escaped out of the ten; neither did
he discontinue his wiles and tricks till he had slain
his horse, and he became a man of foot like himself.
It was then he attacked him with his arrows, but
could make no impression on him on account of the
steel and coat of mail he had on him. The conflict
continued between Antar and Maadi Kereb like a
sparkling fire till Maadi Kereb was fatigued and
exhausted, and disgrace followed glory; for he observed
in Antar something on which he had not
calculated. So he was overwhelmed with shame
and repentance, for he had not suspected that he
should meet with such a reception from Antar, or
be subject to such difficulties with him. They flung
away their swords out of their hands, and slung
their shields behind their shoulders; the two approached
with their horses, and wrestled on their
backs with their whole power and force till their
horses sunk beneath them, and both fell to the
ground. During this they both bellowed like the
roar of lions, and their feet pounded the stones and
the rocks whilst they wrestled and struggled, and
the sweat poured down from their bodies like the
froth of caldrons, and their feet stamped up furrows
like graves. But Maadi Kereb was worn
out and exhausted, and observing how Antar engaged,
the tears started from his eyes from excess
of rage. Antar roared at him in a voice like thunder
in the clouds, and extending at him his arm
like the neck of a black camel, he grasped him
by the rings of his corslet and his coat of mail,
and cried out, O by Abs, I will not be controlled,
I am the lover of Ibla; I will not be restrained!
and he tore him up from the ground, took him
prisoner, and dashing him again on the earth, bound
fast his shoulders. But when the Zebeedian saw
Maadi Kereb in Antar's power he attempted to
escape by flight from the presence of Shiboob, but
he overtook him like a blast of wind, and as he
raised his hand with his dagger, the other begged
for quarter, and delivered himself up to Shiboob,
who pinioned his arms, and went with him to his
brother Antar. As soon as he came before him,
Hey! we are on a par in intrepidity this night, said
he, for you have taken prisoner a knight and I also.
By the truth of Him who distinguishes between
morning and evening, no woman will ever bring
forth another such man as Maadi Kereb, unless indeed
it should be the express will and pleasure of
the God of old, said Antar. By the faith of noble
Arabs, who preserve inviolate their faith and protection,
exclaimed Maadi Kereb, all skill fails when
you are present in the field, and even the boldest is
but a coward before you. At that period knights
did justice to each other in their conversation, and
no one amongst them forfeited the consideration of
a hero.

Antar bound Maadi Kereb on the back of a
horse as he said to Shiboob, Make fast also your
prisoner, and return with me to the tribe that we
may see how this business will terminate, for it is
my wish to ransom Maadi Kereb for Ibla and all

our prisoners in the power of King Numan, otherwise
I will strike off the head of his brother Prince
Aswad, and all the prisoners of the tribes of Lakhm
and Juzam; and I will release my own people with
the edge of my sword, were they even on the back
of the clouds. O Aboolfawaris, said Maadi Kereb,
there is no occasion for these threats, for Ibla shall
be at liberty, and so shall all the women, men and
children with her, and their property, and there
shall not be lost of all that belonged to you the
value of a halter; and if you will but confide in my
word, and release me from bondage, I will restore
your family to you, and will intercede for a termination
of this difference. Then will I take you
as my master and friend for ever, and perhaps I
shall be able to mediate between you and King
Numan before he marches the Arabs against you,
and a host numerous as the sands attack you; and
should you then wish for a conference it will not be
granted, for intrepidity avails not with numbers, and
good counsel is preferable to exposure to dangers.
But now you are apprised of the whole business, so
consider your own safety. O Maadi, I am aware of
all you have said, replied Antar; but know I have
not undertaken this enterprise or opposed King
Numan but in order to erase from me the name of
servitude, and to attain high honours; and my mind
assures me I shall subvert governments, and my
name become celebrated among the mountains and
the plains. It is only on this account I expose my
person to perils, and in this crisis I must seat myself
in the very station of Chosroe Nushirvan, the
lord of the tiara and the balcony. Maadi Kereb
was amazed at the strength of his heart, and he was
convinced he must be a most potent warrior and of
no soft mould.

Antar had not advanced far when the Zebeedian
army approached, that filled the whole surrounding
region. Maadi Kereb told Antar what he had done,
and that his tribe was advancing on no other account;
but, said he to Shiboob, go you away with
the prisoners, and let me attack this army alone, and
let me destroy them with the force of my arm and
my elbow. Shiboob proceeded with the prisoners;
but Maadi Kereb shuddered, and was stupefied at
Antar's expressions, seeing a single knight prepare
to engage five thousand horsemen. Thou brave
slave, he exclaimed, fire even cannot harm thee.
The Zebeedians soon reached the field of battle;
they saw the carcasses of their companions stretched
on the ground, and knowing they were those who
had accompanied Maadi Kereb, they cried out,
Misery and ruin! They looked round to the right
and left, searching out some one of whom to inquire
who had done this deed: they saw no one but
Antar stalking towards them, when one cried out,
Come on, here is a knight, I will ask him; but if it
is he that has acted thus to our comrades, cut him
in pieces with your swords; and they crowded on
till they came near to him. Hey, foul-born! they

cried, who has executed this deed on our companions?
Where is our chief Maadi Kereb?

Antar's answer was that of a ferocious lion; he
roared, and he bellowed, and shouted: Ye sons of
harlots, as to your chief, I have taken him prisoner;
and as to you, ye shall drink of disgrace and misery;
and as to myself, I am Antar, son of Shedad, the
destroyer of heroes. He had no sooner spoken than
he rushed upon them; he pierced the first and
hurled him over; the second he disgraced; a third
he annihilated his existence; and so likewise with a
fourth and a fifth; and in less than an hour the
whole five thousand halted, and the foremost fell
back upon the hindmost, shouting at him from a
distance, not one of them venturing to come near
the spot where he stood, for if they approached, he
slew them instantly, and he killed above two hundred.
The remainder were seized with panic and alarm,
and when they saw the calamity that was falling upon
them, they divided into five parties, and surrounding
Antar on all sides, the men made at him with their
spears and their swords, but Antar uncovered his
head and assaulted them, raving like a furious
camel; his eyeballs flashed fire, and the foam poured
from the corners of his lips. He shouted forth:
O by Abs! O by Adnan! By thine eyes, O Ibla,
this day will I slay these horsemen. The Zebeedians
were in the utmost consternation as they said
to each other: Fly not, or ye will remain a foul
disgrace among the Arabs; they hemmed him in,

and drew blood from his body; his horse Abjer was
giving way, and there was not space for him to advance
or retreat. Antar wanted to dismount, when
lo! a dust arose, and discovered King Zoheir and
five hundred Absian horsemen, preceded by Shiboob
like a wolf, and when they came up they attacked
and shouted, men met men, and heroes encountered
heroes. Antar recovered his power. The
cause of King Zoheir's arrival was this: being exceedingly
distressed at the disappearance of Antar,
he sent for Jareer and asked him, how long ago it
was that he had quitted Maadi Kereb? My lord,
he replied, I only left him behind two nights.
Then, said King Zoheir, Antar is only gone with a
view to finish their business, but it will be as well
for us to join him and assist him: And I will go,
said Oorwah, with my men to his aid; and I, said
Shedad, I will accompany you, and thus said
Zakhmetuljewad, and all the Carad horsemen. And
I will also go myself, said King Zoheir, I will not
be backward in aiding our protector Antar, the
overwhelming knight. So he took in all five hundred
horse as we mentioned, and followed the traces
of Antar. About midday they met Shiboob, and
with him Maadi Kereb and his associates, and their
hearts were at ease, particularly when they saw his
prisoners. They saluted him, and asked him what
had happened to them. He related all that had
passed about Maadi Kereb: Overtake my brother,
he added, for he is in trouble; the Zebeedian troops
have attacked him alone, and he is now in the midst
of an army of five thousand men.

Shiboob gave over Maadi Kereb and his companion
to ten horsemen, and directed them to go
with them to the mountains, and returned at the
head of the horse like an antelope, till they came up
with Antar, and attacked the tribe of Zebeed. By
their assault, the horsemen were drawn off from
Antar, and he rushed among the warriors. The
Zebeedians, perceiving the destructive force of Antar
and the Absians, turned away in flight, and departed
in haste and confusion. In an hour a thousand
of them were slain, and they said to each
other, We, when Antar was even alone, could
make no impression upon him; how can we succeed
now that he has five hundred horsemen with him?
and they wheeled about their horses' heads, and
sought their own country. But Antar and the
Absians pursued them till they drove them out of
that land, and then returned to the scattered horses
and dispersed armour, and having collected all the
spoil, they set out for the mountains; Antar going
ahead, as if he had been immersed in a sea of blood.
When they reached the mountains, they assembled
the women and families, and all were in high spirits
at this event. They reposed that night, rejoicing
in victory and triumph, and extolling Antar till daybreak;
when Antar mounted and repaired to King
Zoheir. As soon as he appeared, the king sprang
on his legs and met him, and seating him in the

most honourable place, O Aboolfawaris, said he,
you expose your person to great hazards, and I
fear some dreadful accident will happen to you, and
you will leave us to regret you for ages. O noble
king, said Antar, by the faith of an Arab, verily all
these events do not hasten death, and do not avert
misfortune. King Zoheir was amazed at his words,
(and it was on this account that all the Arab horsemen
were so brave). Antar having ended his discourse,
directed Shiboob to produce Maadi Kereb,
and when he was in his presence: O Maadi Kereb,
said he, write to Jayda and Numan, and demand
your ransom of them. He agreed to the propriety
of the proposal, and immediately wrote to Jayda,
and thus expressed himself:

You, whom I acknowledge as the daughter of
my uncle, know that fortune is treacherous, and the
wise are not always secure from adversity, and he
who says no one can slay me, errs in his speech. I
indeed have acted like a fool, and was not aware of
the vicissitudes of fortune. I have fallen into the
power of the knight of Abs and Adnan. Then he
explained in his letter all that happened with Antar:
he recommended her to restore all the Carad women,
adding, Treat Ibla kindly, and her father also, and
make your excuses to them; do not detain any
particle of their property; but be quick, be quick!
before death arrives.

He despatched it by a Zebeedian horseman, and
ordered him to return with all speed. But as to

Jayda, after she had separated from Maadi Kereb,
she eagerly pursued her course, taking with her the
women of Carad, and their property and children,
till she arrived in the lank of Irak, where she saw
the numerous assembled tribes. She presented
herself to King Numan, and saluting him, delivered
to him the women of the tribe of Carad and their
property. Numan was much pleased, and to his
inquiries about Maadi Kereb, she told him he was
gone to meet Antar: By the faith of a noble Arab,
said he, if Maadi Kereb effects this, and vanquishes
the tribe of Abs and Antar, I will make him ruler
over all the Arab tribes of the desert. Rebia looked
at Ibla, and her father, and her brother, and observing
how tortures had altered their condition,
his heart grieved for them.

CHAPTER XX.

King Numan stationed a guard over the family of
Carad, vowing he would not hang Ibla, but by the
side of Antar, and that he would not leave a single
Absian alive. In the meantime he assembled his
clans, amounting to forty thousand men. The last
party that arrived were the tribe of Kendeh, commanded
by Hidjar, son of Aamir, the Kendehan,
a man of severe morose disposition and harsh manners,
but whose name was celebrated for bravery,
and general excellence in arms; for he was also one
of the thousand tyrants in that age of ignorance.
King Numan went out to meet him, and treated
him and his companions with every mark of honour
and respect. O king of the world, said Hidjar,
why have you assembled all these armies? Who is
he among the Arab kings that has rebelled against
you? O chief Hidjar, replied Numan, no king has
rebelled against us. But it is that slave Antar,
that black robber, whom fortune has favoured to
our prejudice, he has destroyed our armies, and
defeated our horsemen; he has acquired glory—
ay, and such glory! At hearing this, the light
became dark in the eyes of Hidjar. O king, he
cried, who is this Antar, this camel-driver, that
you should on his account assemble these armies

and warriors? For I myself, by the life of your
head, am able to take that Antar prisoner with ten
men on foot. I will bring him to you in a state of
infamy, and also all the tribe of Abs bound with
cords, and among the first shall be King Zoheir
and his sons. We well know, said Numan, that
you are able to do what you say, but all I desire of
you is, to bring me Antar prisoner, that I may
inflict on him the cruelest torments. Hidjar returned
to his party, biting his hands in regret that
he had not previously attacked Antar.

On that day arrived Maadi Kereb's requisition
to Jayda, demanding of her his ransom in cattle;
and as soon as she had read it, she instantly repaired
to King Numan, and presented him the
letter. He took it and read it; rage and indignation
possessed him; he summoned his ministers, and
consulted them about what he should do. But as
they all remained silent, Numan addressed them
(and their silence increased his passion), I must absolutely
march against him with the whole force of
Arabs now assembled, or never shall I succeed. O
dreaded king, said his vizier Amroo, son of Nefeela,
I cannot approve of such a plan; for if you march
against Antar with all these Arabs and Persians,
perceiving himself thus reduced to a state of utter
desolation, he will say to you, If thou dost not leave
me quiet, I will cut off thy brother's head, and the
heads of all those I have in my power: but, O
noble king, ponder well this very important affair;

and purchase the blood of seven thousand of your
countrymen with the blood of that worthless Antar.
But what is your advice? said Numan. My advice,
replied he, is that you should immediately release
your prisoners; but if you vanquish him, treat him as
you please. Send him an answer to this effect. I will
exchange your uncle for Maadi Kereb; but if you
wish to ransom Ibla and the other women, release
my brother and his companions, or I will send you
her head, and will slay all the families with her.
And know, O King, were the whole universe in his
power, and demanded for Ibla, he would set the
whole at liberty. Numan, feeling convinced of the
propriety of his vizier's advice, ordered him to
write the letter to that effect. He gave it to one of
his attendants, whom he honoured with standards
and ensigns, appointing also an escort of twenty
horsemen, and ordering him to proceed by the
shortest road. When the Satrap approached the
mountains, he attempted to enter the valley, but
the slaves checked him: Stay where you are, son of a
coward, said they, till we obtain permission for your
further progress from Antar, son of Shedad. The
Satrap stopped, and his heart trembled within him
as he said to himself, Verily Antar is like Chosroe
Nushirvan himself. On the representation of the
slaves, Antar granted the Satrap permission to enter
within the mountains; and desiring King Zoheir to
sit down, he stood over his head, grasping his sword
Dhami unsheathed in his hand, and deaths were
glaring from his eyes. As the Satrap entered, and
beheld Antar, he shuddered and was stupefied,
and in the excess of his terror, he kissed the ground
in the presence of King Zoheir and Antar. He
then presented the letter to King Zoheir, who took
it and read it, and explained to Antar the threats
and conditions it contained. But Antar's eyes
glowed fiercely like burning coals; he roared at
the Satrap in a voice that made the barren wastes
shake to their very foundation. The Satrap trembled
and shrunk back. Heh! thou bastard, exclaimed
Antar, by the faith of noble Arabs, wert
thou not in the presence of this awe-inspiring king,
I would cut off thy head, and I would leave thee
lifeless, my first victim; away! disgrace and infamy
be on the mother of Numan and the mother
of Chosroe Nushirvan. Dares Numan threaten one
like me with his wild Arabs? Would he frighten
me with his bombastical nonsense? By the faith of
an Arab, were it not for the respect due to King
Zoheir, I would make thee drink of the cup of
death; as to his demand of his brother Prince
Aswad, and the prisoners, and Maadi Kereb, I will
release them all, that it may not be said that I fear
them. But I will not release the captives, unless,
together with my cousin Ibla, be delivered up
Chosroe's tiara, and all the property that was taken
from her by Rebia and Mooferridj; and let not the
value of a halter be missing of Ibla's property. On
hearing Antar's determination, the Satrap retired,
and mounting instantly, returned to King Numan,
before whom he repeated what Antar had said. King
Zoheir then, said Numan, made no reply. No, said
the Satrap, by the life of your head, my lord, he dared
not open his mouth in the presence of Antar, but
seemed bridled and bitted. But what was it that
produced in thee such fear and horror? asked
Numan. O King, said he, you have never seen
Antar, and have never seen his eyes like balls of
burning coal. Take your own measures upon this
point, said Numan to his vizier, send away the
women of the Carad family with their property and
their husbands. He also ordered Ibla's property
to be taken out of the magazines, so that not
an article was left to the value of a halter; he delivered
up the whole.

Take your property, said the vizier Amroo to
Malik, Ibla's father, and his son Amroo: Away to
Antar your cousin. When Malik heard the vizier
say your cousin, his rage became exceedingly great;
and he turned towards Rebia, saying, O my cousin,
let me remain a thousand years in prison, but let me
not return again to behold the face of that bastard
Antar: but, by the faith of an Arab, I must contrive
his death; I must destroy him by my artifices
and stratagems. Thus the chiefs of the Carad
family marched away with their wives and children,
and all their property, and the slaves proceeded
ahead, driving on the cattle and the camels, till
they reached the mountains, when they raised loud

shouts, and prayed for Antar the unconquerable
knight. Antar and the chiefs of the tribe of Abs
being apprised of their arrival, they went out to
meet them, accompanied by King Zoheir and his
sons, who were delighted at their safety and the
restitution of their goods. Antar embraced his
uncle Malik and his son Amroo, saying, No evil
or calamity, my uncle, shall overtake you whilst
your slave Antar exists. O my son, replied Malik,
may you ever live to insure our prosperity, and to
protect us from all disgrace! Malik told him what
Jayda had done to him, and concluded by saying,
O my nephew, your brother Jareer was the
only cause of all our misfortunes; for he, in his
wit, was cajoling Rebia till he released them from
bondage; and we were not at all aware of our danger,
till the party pounced on our heads, and twisted
their cords round our arms, and had you not taken
Maadi Kereb prisoner, never should we have been
released. You are right, my uncle, said Antar, and
I have reproved my brother for his behaviour.
Antar returned to Ibla, and asked about her property:
O my cousin, she replied, I have not lost
even the value of a halter. By the life of thine
eyes, exclaimed Antar, had Numan even detained
the value of a single dirhem, I would have hung his
brother Aswad, and have put to death the seven
thousand prisoners. I would have pulled down
Hirah on Numan's head, and would have slain
every Arab he has assembled—I would have
marched to Modayin—I would have slain Chosroe,
and made his balcony totter over his head.

Having now entered the mountains, Antar ordered
Shiboob to set at liberty Prince Aswad and
his people. Shiboob released them. But Antar
cut off Maadi Kereb's hair with his own hand, saying,
O Maadi Kereb, I have cut off your hair in
revenge for Jayda's insults towards my cousin Ibla;
and he ordered the slaves and attendants to turn
out the prisoners bare-footed and naked, and bareheaded;
and as they were executing Antar's commands,
Art thou not ashamed, O son of Shedad,
cried Aswad, to drive us away in this condition?
We have not a horse to ride on! we have nothing to
eat or drink! By the faith of an Arab, said Antar, reproach
me not for my conduct towards any one of
ye, for you are all going to assemble in a body
against me, and you will return a second time to
fight me, and the horses I should give you, verily I
shall have to fight you for them; as to eatables,
you will find on your way green weeds that you may
graze on, and drink out of the puddles; but we
at all events are a tribe entrenched within the
mountains, and in the day of battle a small supply
will feed us: ay, and most of ye say of me that
Antar is a black slave and a bastard. These are
the expressions you and others make use of towards
me, and would do so were I to release you a thousand
times: my best plan would be to kill ye all at
once; thank God you are alive. Do not act thus,

O Aboolfawaris, said Aswad, for indeed I cannot
walk on foot, no, not a quarter of a mile, so do
give me something to carry me, or put me instantly
to death, and deliver me from this ignominy.
Hola! Ebe Reah, said Antar to Shiboob, bring
here a she-camel, let him mount it and quit my
presence, or I shall never be able to keep my sword
off his neck. So Shiboob ran off, and with his usual
ingenuity and sagacity, he chose out a she-camel,
foundered and quite worn out—born lame and
blind—weazy and broken-winded—grunting, loose-lipped,
and toothless—crop-eared and spavined.
When it was presented to the Prince, his soul was
most indignant. Come, Prince, cried Shiboob,
mount, whilst I hold the bridle, for I am terribly
afraid it will fly away, for indeed it is one of that
celebrated breed of Asafeer camels. May God
curse the bowels that bore thee! cried the Prince;
away with it, for I want it not; and he rushed out
from the mountains blaspheming the fire. So they
travelled in the most pitiable plight, feeding on the
weeds of the earth, and drinking of the puddles,
till they came nigh unto Hirah; and as the Arabs,
whom King Numan had assembled, observed them,
they eagerly ran towards them, inquiring what was
the matter, so they related all that had happened
to them with Antar. The news soon reached King
Numan, who immediately hastened to meet his
brother, and when he saw him in this plight, his
gall was near bursting with rage and indignation.
He sent a noble steed for him, and mounting him
on it, took him by his side, and questioned him
about his adventures.

O King, cried out all the chiefs, lead us away
to fight this Antar. Prepare then, said he, your
warlike implements, let us depart. Who is this
Antar, cried Hidjar, that you in person must
march against him? Is there no one whom you
can depute against Antar with one hundred men,
to subdue his power and quench his iniquity?
By the faith of an Arab, exclaimed King Numan,
I myself will march against him; yet he, who shall
do the deed in my presence, shall be distinguished
and rewarded with the highest favours. This intelligence
will soon reach Chosroe; he will hear of
what Antar has done to me, and I fear he will think
meanly of me, and will consign the dominion of the
Arabs to some one else: but in three days have all
your weapons of war ready. Whilst the warriors
were preparing, said Hidjar to his people, Were I
not afraid of rebelling against Numan, I would
myself march to fight with Antar alone, and thus
put a stop to all further trouble. Let us prepare
and depart.

The above events were soon reported to Chosroe
by the enemies of Numan, who, as soon as Antar
first settled in the mountains of Radm, wrote to
Chosroe to inform him that he had taken Prince
Aswad prisoner and seven thousand men. Antar's

power, indeed, must have greatly augmented, cried
Chosroe, thus to compass such deeds; he has forgotten
what formerly happened to him when he was
made captive by Monzar, and when he slew my
Satrap Khosrewan. We accepted his excuses, and
rewarded him with favours—we gave him a tiara
and a turban—we sent him back to his tribe—and
we thought he would be a firm friend of our government,
but he has reverted to the foulness of his
origin; he has even assaulted Numan, and the only
remedy is at once to tear out his lips, and destroy
all his race, or the vagabond Arabs will pretend to
predatory incursions even upon us.

Chosroe waited patiently till he heard of the captivity
of Maadi Kereb, and that Antar had released
his women and families from the power of King
Numan, and all the property of his cousin Ibla, and
the precious jewels, in exchange for Prince Aswad,
and the seven thousand men of the tribe of Lakhm.
At this Chosroe's indignation was kindled, and he
swore by the fire that he would slay Antar. He
ordered his vizier Mubidan to levy twenty thousand
men from Khorasan, and twenty thousand from
Dilem, and he appointed to the command a Satrap
named Wirdishan, and this Wirdishan was a proud
haughty man, whom fire even could not subdue;
and he gave the expedition in charge to him, because
he could not confide in the Arab hordes,
saying, Be you their leader; exert yourself nobly,

that our power may be respected. Wirdishan
mounted, and over his head were raised the standards
and dragons of Persia. He marched night
and day till he came nigh unto Hirah, where he
was greatly surprised at seeing the immense multitude
assembled.

Now that was the very day fixed on for the
march against Antar, and all the troops were ready
to the number of seventy thousand. Numan went
forth to meet the Persians, and saluted Wirdishan,
saying, What has so agitated the heart of the just
King, that he should put in motion one like you to
engage the Arab hordes? Numan, said Wirdishan,
accounts of your enfeebled state have frequently
been made to him, and he has heard of what Antar
has done to you; that he took your brother prisoner,
and that you ransomed him with cattle.
This has disturbed him, and he has sent me to
you to remove this trouble from you. Verily he
has lied, who has told this of me, exclaimed Numan;
I have assembled these armies, and this is the day
appointed for the march against him, and I will
tear his life out from his sides. This is a proof of
your weakness, said Wirdishan, for you are resolved
on marching with seventy thousand men
against only four thousand.

After a repose of two days at Hirah, he departed
for the mountains of Radm, not mingling
with Numan's troops, on the contrary, reviling and
reproaching them.

Now Antar had despatched his brother Jareer to
the land of Hirah. Return not, said he, till you
have ascertained what King Numan is about.
Jareer departed, habited as a slave, and reached
Hirah, where he sojourned till the arrival of
the Satrap Wirdishan; and when the armies set
out, he made all haste back to the mountains,
and came to his brother, to whom he related
the intelligence concerning the march of the numerous
host against him. My brother, said he, I
never beheld a haughtier fellow than that Wirdishan;
for he has no regard, no consideration for
any one. But Antar on hearing this gave a roar
that terrified him, saying, What a bother you make
about all this, you bastard. By the faith of an
Arab, I will not leave one of them to guide them in
their flight, were they even as numerous as the sands
in the valley of Cornelians!

And as he consulted with King Zoheir about
what was to be done, Son of my uncle, replied Zoheir,
we have no other resource but the stroke of
the cleaving scimitars, and patience under the dark
clouds of dust. We will fight in your presence
with the drawn sword, till not one of us, not a living
soul remains. We will defend our wives and families,
till the horses sport with our skulls in the battle.
O King, eminent in virtue, said Antar, affairs
have almost arrived at that pass indeed. But do
not you or your sons join to the fight till the enemy
has hacked my body with their long spears. My

wish is to take with me one thousand warriors, and
march against these advancing armies. I will not
permit them to reach this spot, but after spear
thrusts that shall make the stoutest quake. Son of
my mother, said Shiboob, I also will go with you,
but on condition that you attend to my counsel and
my advice; for an affair conducted with skill is more
efficacious than the boldest feats of arms.

Why should I not listen to your suggestions, said
Antar, when I see they are judicious? so speak;
what is your wish, O Ebe Reah? My advice, O my
brother, said he, is, that you march as you have
said, with one thousand horsemen. I will conduct
you, and conceal you in the valley of Torrents,
through which the hostile armies must pass; and
where they will be greatly crowded. When they
alight, do you rush out upon them, and shout at
them, particularly if they should halt there in the
night; for then indeed you will see wonders in the
blood that will flow and stream, and then will necks
be hacked off in the contest. By the faith of an
Arab, said Antar, your advice, Shiboob, is excellent,
and the plan infallible. And immediately
setting off with a thousand horsemen of the tribe of
Carad, and Oorwah's men, he continued his march
till he reached the valley, which not being far from
the mountains of Radm, Antar anticipated the armies
of Numan by half a day; and whilst he concealed
his men in the ravines, Shiboob ascended the
loftiest mountain, and stationed himself as their

look-out, casting his eyes to the south and to the
north.

About mid-day there arose a dust that obscured
the whole region. In an hour the dust opened, and
discovered armies like the rolling waves in a tempest.
Shiboob shouted to his brother Antar—Son of my
mother, be on your guard: prepare for the conflict,
for your enemies will arrive by evening; and this
night chiefs will purchase life by the exertion of
slaves; and it shall be a night, the horrors of which
will turn a new-born child gray.

Antar hastened away with his associates, and all
being mounted, and armed with spears, and clad in
steel and polished corslets, they stood firm, expecting
the arrival of the armies; and the warriors were like
lions concealed in a thicket.

King Numan and his brother Aswad were in the
rear of the army as we observed, and he was greatly
hurt at the words of Wirdishan. When the armies
reached the valley of Torrents, King Numan
halted without the valley, alarmed at the embarrassment
of the defile, and the length of the pass. The
Persians marched on, headed by the Satrap Wirdishan,
like the most rebellious of the fiends; and
he was in the utmost anxiety to cast his eyes on
Antar; equally so was Hidjar; but they did not
enter the valley till night had obscured it with
darkness, and had thrown a gloom over all the
country.

It was at that moment the horse thundered down

with their riders: the dust and the clouds of sand
thickened. The darkness of the night was rendered
more frightful by a tremendous storm of wind, that
blinded the sight. The sand arose against their
faces; and the whole region was in tumult and confusion,
from the right to the left. The Arab and
the Persian were promiscuously crowded together.
The spot being narrow and confined, all were huddled
into one mass. At that instant out rushed Antar
with his troops of Absians, fearless of death, undaunted
in peril. He vociferated in the front of the
troops—the mountains rebounded, and the whole
valley tottered. The Absians replied with a similar
shout, whilst Antar still roared—Ye black kettles
of Persians! I am Antar, the cleaver of skulls.
The foe heard Antar's yell, and every limb quivered.
The Persians muttered out abuse; but their voices
faltered; they imagined the valley was going to
crush them, and that they saw death in the spot
whence Antar issued. He roared, and horror fell
upon every horseman: lives were torn from the
indistinct forms; horsemen unsheathed the scimitar;
and the black gloom of the night became
darker still. The mind was in despair; troops disappeared;
designs were glorified; falchions glittered,
and blood ran down the sides of the valley.
Every one doubted whether the heavens had
not been precipitated on the earth; they imagined
the valley was filled with swords plundering their
existence, and spears spoiling them of their lives.
Friend feared for friend; foes were appeased; and
relations grieved. Cowards wished they had wings
with which to escape by flight; and the water-mills
of war turned round. Blood gushed from jugular
veins; shrieks and screams re-echoed; blood burst
from wounds, and crowds waved like the sea. The
east and west were in obscurity; skulls were hewn
off from necks; and the thrust of the spear fell at
random. Blood streamed upon the ground and
earth; and from the terrors of that night youth became
gray-haired—torments descended upon them.

In an hour the Persian troopers retreated on their
rear; and the Chief Hidjar exclaimed, O my cousins,
let us seek the spot whence we came; truly we
have erred, in not halting with King Numan: and
thus saying, he retired.

But as to Antar, he was hard labouring in the
cause of destruction and carnage; he left them
wielding their swords one against the other, and
sought the extremity of the valley, accompanied
with Oorwah's men, and his uncle Zakhmet Uljewad,
and his father Shedad, and a party of the tribe of
Carad; all were directing themselves against the
Persians, to overwhelm them with insupportable
calamities. They smote off the heads of every opponent,
and left them dead.

They were in this situation when the Chief Hidjar
came ambling on the back of his horse, waving in
his hand a falchion, sparkling through the intense
obscurity of the night. I am the Chief Hidjar, he

cried; but he had not time to finish his harangue,
for Shiboob had drawn an arrow from his quiver,
and had fixed it on his bow. He shot it at Hidjar,
and the arrow pierced a mortal part of his horse,
which stumbled, and hurled him with the crown of
his head on the ground; and as he endeavoured to
spring on his feet, lo! the Chief Shedad rushed upon
him, and wounded him in the arm with his sword;
and when he attempted to seize him—No, no! I
am Hidjar, the son of Aamir, he cried. Worthless
art thou, exclaimed Shedad—unavailing are thy
words; neither is there any glory in whom thou
dost boast: and he dismounted and bound fast his
arms.

Rebia and Amarah were behind him, and when
they saw what had befallen the Chief Hidjar, and
heard Antar's yells, they trembled for their lives.
Fly, my gallant brother, fly! cried Rebia to Amarah—or
Antar will make us drink of the cup of
death, and extermination. So they fled, and Hadifah
with them, for Antar had not recognised them.

The battle raged till midnight; the horses sported
with the skulls of the horsemen, and the valley of
Torrents being too confined for the multitudes, the
Persians were routed in the presence of the Arabs.
Scimitars were plied among them; spears plundered
them of their lives. At that moment advanced
Wirdishan in front of the Persians, surrounded
with a body of his host. In his hand he
wielded an immense mace, and he came on bellowing

like a lion; and in the excess of his alarms and
horrors, he scowled round to the right and to the
left. On that night were slain only five Absians.
Wirdishan having resolved on flight, Antar pounced
down upon him, and drove his spear through his
right side, and it issued out through his left, and
hurled him on the ground. When the Persians beheld
the fate of their Chief, they wheeled about
their horses and fled.

Now when the darkness became illumined, and
the day dawned on the survivors, the foe, horse and
foot, rushed out of the valley, whilst Shiboob overthrew
them with his arrows, and Oorwah with his
people pierced them with their spears till their
numbers were diminished, and all hope of relief
cut off.

Antar and his warriors returned to the valley of
Torrents, where they saw the blood flowing as if in
large rivers, and as to the groans of the dying and
wounded—no one pitied them. The whole valley
was full, crammed with the wounded, and the overthrown,
and the lifeless carcasses. Away with the
spoils of the dead, said Antar; and depart, and drive
the prisoners to the mountains; for this night may be
reckoned a night indeed—for by the faith of noble
Arabs who keep their promises and engagements,
were I not afraid that King Zoheir might be uneasy
at our absence, I would attack King Numan
here also, and would not leave one alive in this desert,
were even Chosroe Nushirvan himself with

them. It will be better for us to fight in the mountains,
said Oorwah.

On that night they had made eight hundred prisoners;
and when they had collected the scattered
horses and dispersed arms, they returned seeking
the mountains. Antar was overjoyed at what had
passed, and he meditated on the horrors he had endured.
Oorwah being by his side, he addressed him
thus:

"Hail, O Oorwah! O valley of Torrents, hail—
hail, for ever hail, my cousin! How many are
the youths, whose heads on that night became
grey, beardless as they were! How many heroes
saw the horrors of death, who hoped to see the
morrow's dawn! Death served them with the
cup of absinth, with my sword, and then said,
Much good may it do you. O what a night I
passed with those who beheld death with pride,
Absian heroes, who when they are ranked—their
rank degrades all that is most high and eminent.
When their steeds were spurred over the plain, a
peal of thunder was in their movement. Shouldst
thou ask of me, O Ibla, thou wouldst hear intelligence
that would cure even an unknown malady.
I drove away thy foes when they came, all haughty
warriors, seeking my destruction. I assuaged
my heart among the Persians, and I have slain
that imperial Wirdishan. I have tempered my
sword with the blood of glory, that flowed like a

torrent through the valley. Tell Numan, I am a
lion, with my sword and my spear. My drink is
of the blood of warriors, when their horsemen
have drank of the cup of extinction. Demand
justice on the day of battle. Should the foe outrage,
I will redress the wrong. Verily, glory is
in the day of contention. When my thrust overwhelms
the assaulting tribes, I glut the birds with
their carcasses, as I destroy them with the edge
of my scimitar. I am appointed for the welfare
of the tribe of Abs, their glory is mine—their
honour is mine."

As to King Numan, he had halted as we mentioned,
on the outside of the valley with his Arabs,
resolved to move in the morning and join the Persians,
when lo! the fugitives from the valley of
Torrents rapidly advanced, exclaiming, Misery!
woe and destruction! Instantly the horsemen sprung
towards their horses, and inquired the news. They
related what Antar had done to the Persian forces,
that he had slain Wirdishan, and had routed his
whole army of Arabs and Persians. Struck with
dismay at this news, Numan's forces determined on
immediate flight, fearful of death and annihilation.
He himself also mounted, alarmed that his troops
should run away in disorder: and the horsemen
having remained on the backs of their horses quaking
through fear of Antar, the irresistible hero, till
morning dawned, Numan ordered them to march;

so they proceeded, headed by Prince Aswad, at
whose side rode Maadi Kereb. Enter not the valley
but with great caution, said Numan, for I calculate
something of this kind may still happen to you.

On this account they halted at the head of the
valley, and made the Arab tribes march in first,
who went forwards brandishing their swords in their
hands, but in the greatest terror of Antar, son of
Shedad. They entered the valley, and heard the
groans of the dying, and saw the torrents of blood;
and they were astonished at Antar's masterly contrivance;
and though there was not one but was in
the utmost consternation, affection for Antar sunk
deep into the heart of Numan, and he felt very desirous
of the marriage with the daughter of his king
Motegeredeh (he had once demanded her, but his
messenger had been sent back unsuccessful); for
he thought within himself, were I related by marriage
to this tribe, my power would be strengthened,
and my influence increased.

He thus marched on till he approached the
mountains, but Antar had reached them first, with
his prisoners and plunder. All exulted in his exploits;
the delight was universal; and their hearts
were quite merry at the result of the engagement.

Antar advanced towards King Zoheir, and kissing
his hand, related what he had done to the Persians,
and how many he had slain, and how many he
had captured. King Zoheir was highly gratified.
O King, said Antar, it is still our duty to prepare

to engage the armies of Numan, and protect our
women and families.

So Jareer was directed to order the Absians to
take their arms, and issue out into the open space in
front of the mountains, ready for action. Let the
slaves, said Antar, be divided on the two sides of
the defile, and order them to collect a great quantity
of stones, and every one they see going forth to
fight, they may let pass; but those they see returning,
they must stone to death: and if they should
see that we are all crowded promiscuously with the
enemy, and that we are retreating, then too they
must hurl at us the largest fragments of rocks, and
prevent us from re-entering the defile.

Jareer having communicated Antar's orders,
they prepared for battle, and issued from the valley
into the open space, like wild beasts starting from
their dens. They mounted their horses armed for
the conflict, having slung on their long spears, and
girded on their polished scimitars. The slaves also
came forth, and stood at the entrance of the defile,
and the head of the pass of the mountain, armed
with bows and arrows, fierce as male camels. King
Zoheir and his sons also mounted, and over his head
floated the eagle standard. The battalions advanced,
and the squadrons were drawn up. The
race of Carad stood forth, and at their head was
Antar, like a lion on horseback.

It was scarcely mid-day when the army of King
Numan approached like the billows of the tempestuous

ocean. Numan advanced, and over his
head waved the ensigns and banners; and as he was
about to halt, the drums were sounded, and the
earth trembled far and wide. As soon as they came
up to the mountain, they vociferated in one universal
shout, that deafened the hearing, and made
the hearts of the timid quake. The Absians answered
them with a still louder shout, and dashed
their spear-heads against the ground.

King Numan's pavilion was pitched just opposite
the mouth of the mountain. Mooferridj also halted
with the Shibanians on the right of Numan; the
tribes of Zebeed, and Khitaam, and Morad; and
on the left were the tribes of Zeead and Fazarah;
and on their left were the four thousand Kendehan
troopers, whose hearts were greatly exasperated at
the capture of their Chief Hidjar.

Antar stood in front of the Absians like a ferocious
lion. He took his feet out of his stirrups, and
crossed them over the neck of Abjer: he leant upon
his tall spear armed with death, for he was entirely
unconcerned at the multitude of the advancing forces.
He smiled, and seemed exulting on the back of his
horse. His father Shedad was on his right, and
Oorwah on his left, and the race of Carad behind
him. No sooner did the tribe of Kendeh see him
than their rage increased; they advanced, and the
tribe of Shiban, and his furious adversaries to the
number of five hundred followed; all rushed upon
Antar, seeking him with their spears and their

swords. On to the fight, O Ebeool ebyez! cried
Antar to Oorwah, do you and your men trample
down these paltry fellows.

Oorwah did as he directed, and met them with
one hundred of his men, and they commenced the
battle and the conflict. They thrust at each other
with the barbs of their long spears; the dust rose
and thickened, but as the numbers increased against
Oorwah's people, Antar strengthened them with a
hundred more horsemen of the Caradians, with
whom went his uncle and his father. Now was
their fury let loose; the horses dashed against each
other, and skulls flew off from bodies. Antar stood
behind his men, and whenever he marked any of
them falter, he assaulted the foe like a lion in
armour; neither did he desist till he had driven
away the enemy, when he returned to his post again
to watch over the safety of his friends. Swords
continued to labour, and blood to be spilt, and men
to fight, and the flame of war to blaze, till the day
closed, when the tribe of Kendeh were completely
broken, and were in the greatest alarm and distress;
many of them escaped by flight, Oorwah and his
men having vanquished them by the encouragement
of Antar. More than seven hundred of the Kendehans
were killed, but only twenty of Oorwah's
brave spear-armed heroes.

On their return Antar met them and congratulated
them on their success. You know, my
cousins, he cried, you cannot rise to honours but by

patience in adversity; and now indeed this day you
are clothed in robes of fresh glory, and only those
friends have been slain whose deaths could not be
deferred: it is not the steel that decides in such
points. O Aboolfawaris, said Oorwah, we could not
have routed the foe but by your aid; this affair is
all owing to your intrepidity and your good fortune,
for in our troubles we had recourse to you,
and your arm would have prevailed had even mountains
moved against us. Antar thanked him for his
compliment, and they all returned to the mountains
As to King Zoheir, he felt himself emboldened by
the events of that day, and rejoiced in the victory
over his foes. He bestowed abundant praises and
thanks on Antar, meeting him with joy and congratulation.
O Aboolfawaris, said he, we shall never
doubt about the discomfiture of our enemies as long
as you live for us; whilst you exist we shall never
experience adversity or calamity. Antar dismounted
from Abjer, and wished to kiss King Zoheir's hand,
but the king bent down towards him and kissed
him between the eyes. Know, O king, said Antar,
that I have made a calculation of our forces and
that of the enemy, and we are superior to them in
numbers. King Numan's army consists of seventy
thousand bridles, and we amount to four thousand,
but every one of our men can trample down a thousand
of Numan's, so by this calculation we are even
numerically superior to them. O Aboolfawaris,
you are right, said King Zoheir, for where in all
Numan's thousands is there a knight like you to
encounter and destroy?

In the meantime King Numan had alighted in
his magnificent pavilion, and was in consternation
at the deeds of the Absians and their hero Antar.
This is a fortunate man, he said to himself, for he
has made war his habit, his meat, and drink. They
reposed that night till morning, when the men arose
for the battle and the combat. King Numan
mounted, and he placed on his right his brother
Prince Aswad, and Maadi Kereb and Jayda, with
twenty thousand horsemen, and on his left were
Mooferridj, and Rebia and his brother, with the
tribe of Fazarah, with twenty thousand more, and
he himself stood in the centre with the remainder of
the army. Antar also drew up the Absians right
and left, centre and flanks. He stationed Oorwah
and his men on the right, and with him one thousand
horsemen; and on his left were his father Shedad
and his uncle Zakhmet ul Jewad, to whom he added
one thousand horse. He himself advanced, and
with him were one thousand also: he went round
to all the heroes, exclaiming that he would lead
them to the contest.

When all the forces were drawn up, and every
one was in his place, behold the chief Amarah
urged his piebald steed between the two armies, and
exclaimed in a loud voice, What is it, my cousins,

that drives you on to your own destruction? What
have you seen in this black slave that you dare the
enmity of King Numan on his account, and have
even roused the anger of Chosroe against you? Do
you think that this perfidious slave is able to defend
you against all these armies that are assembled
against you? And you, O King Zoheir, who call
yourself the king of the tribes Abs and Adnan, of
Fazarah and Ghiftan, of Marah and Dibyan, have
you deigned to ask assistance of a black slave, a fellow
so worthless and mean? By the faith of an Arab
you have clothed us in shame: you had best deliberate
again on the state of your affairs. Avert
your decided fate; separate yourself from Antar;
seize the bastard, and deliver him to me that I may
make him over to King Numan, and secure his
protection for you. Then let us all join in one
party, and return all of us to our native land, and
we will wed Ibla to him whose rank equals hers,
and whose connexion equals hers—the great chief
Amarah for instance, whom all the Arabs know;
and thus you, Zoheir and your tribe, will be saved
from perdition and destruction. Amarah had not
finished his harangue when up came Shedad, and
exclaimed, May thy mother soon mourn for thee!
may thy family and all thy tribe witness thy annihilation!
thou foul coward! thou son of a two-thousand-horned-cuckold!
thou Amarah. How oft
has he defended thy women from the sharp sword
and lacerating spear! But the best thing we can do
is, to ply our edged swords and tall spears till either
these Arabs slaughter us or we slaughter them; till
either you exterminate us or we exterminate you.
Ay, and they will do it too, my brother, cried
Amarah to Rebia; by the faith of an Arab, I
heartily wish I had not come out into the plain, and
had not ventured on a word, for I cannot possibly
stand this battle and this contest. So he threw
away his spear out of his hand, and shrunk back
amidst the shouts from the tribe of Carad. Antar
longed to fall upon him, but his father prevented
him, saying, O my son, it would be an indignity to
yourself to stir a step against this cuckold.

They were thus engaged in conversation, when,
lo! Jayda appeared in the midst of the plain like a
strong tower immersed in steel; her heart and soul
ulcered with anguish. She was robed in garments
of black on account of Khalid; and when she was
between the two ranks, she thus expressed herself:

"O by my tribe, tears have festered my cheeks,
and in the greatness of my agony sleep has
abandoned me. These mourning garments have
debilitated my energies, and sickness has weakened
my bones and my skin; for I had a hero whom
a black slave by his oppression and violence made
to drink of death. The full moon indeed fell to
the earth when the arrow was aimed at him, sped
from the hand of the slave. Now he is gone: I
am left to my afflictions and griefs, and I endure
my distresses in solitude. The sword mourns

him, now he is gone, and in the sheath it bewails
its condition. O thou dead! mourners have wept
him in the mountains of Fala and the land of
Nedjd. He was like a branch in form—the revolutions
of fortune cut him off—alas! how cut
him off! O by my tribe, who will assuage my
sorrows, and will regard his engagements with
me, now Khalid is gone?"

Jayda had scarcely finished, when the tribes of
Zebeed sent forth one general shout that made the
mountains tremble; they remembered the death of
their chief Khalid; they poured down upon Antar,
uncovering their heads and lightening their garments,
to the number of five thousand, and about
two thousand of the tribes of Lakhm and Juzam
followed them; they all attacked, led on by Maadi
Kereb bellowing like a lion. Antar observed their
assault: he took with him three hundred horsemen
of the tribes of Abs and Carad, and met the seven
thousand; and whatever he smote he cleft in twain,
and wherever he thrust he slew. The horses closed
upon him; he yelled at them, and they dispersed,
hurling off their riders. He raved as raves a camel;
his eyeballs were fiery red; foam swelled from the
corners of his lips, so that every one that beheld him
exclaimed, God! how dreadful! They were now
in the fiercest of the contest, when Jayda excited
the warriors against him, and rallied the men back
to the conflict. He rushed upon her like a ghoul
or a hungry wild beast, and descended upon her like

the descent of the most voracious lion. Jayda would
have fled, but he overtook her, and pierced her
through the sides; he broke two of her ribs, having
burst through her double armour. In her love of
life she threw her arms round her horse's neck, and
sprang beyond the dust. When Maadi Kereb saw
Antar and what he had done to Jayda, he shouted
at him, and rushed upon him, exclaiming, Hola!
thou bastard, dost think thy every attempt will
succeed? This day I will take my vengeance of
thee, and will in thy death wipe out my disgrace.
But Antar met him and roared at him; he hemmed
him in, and closing all means of escape, he drew
forth Dhami, and struck Maadi Kereb a dreadful
blow. The sword fell on Maadi Kereb's helmet
and cleft it, and also the wadding and the edge of
the sword even reached Maadi Kereb's head, and
wounded him severely, and nearly killed him. At
last he threw his arms round his horse and fled, the
blood streaming down his face. As soon as Prince
Aswad saw what Antar had done, he made an
attack against Oorwah with his twenty thousand,
which Antar perceiving, he said to Shiboob, Go to
King Zoheir, and tell him not to quit the mouth of
the defile, but to send me one thousand of his warriors
that I may meet King Numan and his whole
army. Antar shouted on Abjer; he encountered
the horses' chests, and poured down on them like
the rush of a torrent; he slew the men; he destroyed
the warriors, and overwhelmed them with
his shouts and his roars in disgrace and ruin, hacking
their joints. But when the thousand arrived
they made one universal shout of O by Abs, O by
Adnan! They assailed the armies and the horsemen;
men encountered men, and heroes heroes;
blood flowed and streamed; the long spears laboured
and also the polished falchions. None were to be
seen but the slayers and the slain; the destroyers
and the destroyed. Every horseman roared in terrors,
and the king of death despatched his messengers
to grasp lives. In a short time every resource
was resorted to. Every sharp sword continued
its blows till the heart and mind were bewildered,
and the earth rocked under the weight of
the armies, and the undaunted heroes of Aboolfawaris
Antar.

This continued till evening came on, when of the
Princes' army were slain an innumerable and incalculable
host; the remainder took to flight, for in the
contest with Antar they beheld death and perdition.
The Absians returned exulting in their victory and
triumph, and extolling Antar till they came to King
Zoheir, when Antar dismounted, and wished to kiss
the king's hand, but he had also dismounted, and
meeting him, kissed him between the eyes, saying,
Admirable are thy deeds, O protector of Abs and
Adnan, thou hero of the age! By the faith of noble
Arabs, you have this day appeased all my sorrows.
By the life of thy head, O king of the age, said

Antar, I must absolutely drag that King Numan
from beneath his ensigns and standards, and must
make you reign in his stead over all the Arabs!
After this they entered the mountains, and reposed
with their wives and families.

CHAPTER XXI.

After the retreat of the army, Numan summoned
to his presence Amroo, son of Nefeela, and consulted
with him about making peace with the Absians.
My advice, replied he, is, that to-morrow morning
you repeat the attack; perhaps they will be discomfited,
and will demand peace, and that would be
more suitable to your dignity. Numan approved
of his vizier's counsel. The next day both armies
started up, eager for the combat. King Numan
mounted and arranged the standards over his head.
Thus also did the Absians, headed by Antar, the
lord of battles. The ranks being drawn up, Antar
was anxious to exhibit himself in the field of
battle, when lo! a dust arose, and veiling the land,
seemed suspended over every quarter of the atmosphere;
and there came forth a renowned warrior of
immense bulk, like an elephant or a towering palm-tree.
The combatants gazed at him in amazement,
for he was a victorious warrior, one of the haughty
tyrants of Arabia; his name was Ghasik, son of Ashab;
and he was followed by twenty thousand
horsemen. King Numan had long been accustomed
to make him presents, and previous to his expedition
against the Absians he had sent to Ghasik to request

his assistance. Now Ghasik was one of the thousand
proud tyrants in that age of ignorance, and
his form was one of the wonders of that period. He
fought with various weapons as a horseman and on
foot, and when he ran on foot he would outstrip the
snorting steeds. His countries were Tahl and Zal,
and he and his tribe worshipped the great dogstar.
When Numan's letter reached him he read it, and
having understood it, he called out to his people,
and instantly set out for the land of Hirah. On his
arrival he was told that Numan had already marched,
so he proceeded after him till he came up, as we
have described; and when Numan knew of his arrival,
he went out to meet him, and told him all
that had happened: how the tribe of Abs had defeated
his armies and horsemen. O king of the
age, said Ghasik, this day will I make the Absians
mark the horrors I will perform. He dismounted
from his horse, and threw off his armour and his
coat of mail, till he remained only in his common
clothes, his head uncovered and his feet bare. He
snatched up two darts that were like sparks of fire;
he stood forth between the two ranks on foot and
unarmed; and as he approached the hostile armies,
O tribe of Abs, he cried, stand forth knight to
knight, or ten to a knight, or a hundred to a knight,
or a thousand to a knight; and if you still desire
less odds, attack me with your whole force that I
may encounter ye all alone, and may repulse ye
with the force of my single arm and my single
elbow. And here I am, without armour or polished
mail, for I know that where death is protracted,
armour avails not. When he had thus spoken; he
swaggered over the plain of heroes till the senses of
the wisest and the oldest, as well as of the youngest,
were confounded, and thus spoke:

"Armour repels not the javelin of death; so
stand forth, O noble heroes; stand forth, and behold
the battle of a youthful hero, firm and resolute
in the scene of contention."

King Zoheir was stupefied and amazed at Ghasik's
deeds and heroism; but Antar, perceiving the
state of King Zoheir's mind, exclaimed, O king,
what means this apprehension and alarm? Calm
your mind; brighten your eye; for by the protection
of an Arab, I will put to the rout the whole of
this army, were they even as numerous as the scattered
locusts; and were I conscious that my single
arm would not suffice, I would take ten warriors,
with whom I would dash into the midst of King
Numan's forces, and I would drag him away either
alive or dead, prisoner or a carcass. These words
comforted the heart of King Zoheir, and he recovered
from his fears and his consternation; and
just as Antar was about to dart forward against
Ghasik, a horseman anticipated him, and attacked
him. He was a celebrated one among the bravest
Absians, and one of their most illustrious knights.
He rushed upon Ghasik and attempted to charge
him, but Ghasik gave him not time to wheel round;

he shouted at him, and smote him with one of his
javelins; it fell between the paps and issued out
between the shoulders. The two armies were
astounded at the blow, for the weapon passed through
the horseman and the steel armour he wore. A
second stood forth against Ghasik, but he overthrew
him; a third, he deprived him of life; a fourth, he
united him to his comrades; and a fifth, he left him
despairing of existence: and thus he continued till
he had slain twenty horsemen. But Antar was
afraid that were he now to oppose him the Arabs
would say, Antar stood forth against a knight without
armour or polished mail; or Ghasik might
even say, he attacked me when I was fatigued.
Whilst Antar was reflecting on this dreadful affair,
lo! his father Shedad stood forth. Ghasik permitted
him not to charge, but took him prisoner instantly.
No sooner saw Antar the fate of his father
than a fire blazed in his heart, and he resolved on
the attack, but Oorwah anticipated him. Ghasik
had now called for his armour, in which having clad
himself, he met Oorwah and assaulted him; he
soon wearied him, and thwarted all his efforts, and
stretching out his arm like the neck of a black
camel, he seized him by the rings of his armour,
and grasping him in his hand as if he were a sparrow,
he threw him to his slaves to secure with cords,
and they placed him by the side of Shedad. Fired
by this double calamity, Antar rushed upon Ghasik
like a devouring lion. Ghasik received him as the
parched up land the first of the rain. These sturdy
warriors fought like ravenous wild beasts; they
began the blow and the clash, the retreat and the
advance, till the senses and the minds of all present
were bewildered. They continued till mid-day,
when Ghasik repented of his rash expedition, and
of his combat with Antar.

I have no other resource, said he to himself, but
to practise a stratagem on him; so, desisting from
the conflict: Holà! O Antar, he cried, I have
heard that you are one of those knights that love
fair play, but this day I perceive you act not impartially
towards me. Eh! what justice do you
want? demanded Antar. You have engaged me,
said Ghasik, when I was fatigued, and I now wish
to return and change my horse, then will I come
back to attack you, and I will not quit you till this
affair be decided. You shall not escape, said Antar,
if you wish it: surrender yourself, that you may be
a ransom for the warriors you have already taken;
or by the faith of an Arab, and by the life of Ibla's
two eyes, with me the most sacred of oaths, I will
make you a proverb among men! What! cried
Ghasik, shall I surrender myself to you without
fighting? Will not the Arabs say, May God curse
the father and mother of Ghasik—what did he see
in Antar that he surrendered himself without a
blow? But if you are one of the horsemen that
love justice, draw the spike out of your spear,
and I will take off the spike out of mine; then let us

engage in the field of battle, and he who touches his
antagonist three times, let him do what he pleases
with him. Antar thought him sincere. Just as
you please, said he. Ghasik took off the spike
from his spear, and Antar did so likewise, believing
he should thus be on a par with him. Thus was
Ghasik strengthened in his courage, and he again
had recourse to his stratagems; he snatched from
under his thigh a javelin, and shook it till it coiled
round his hand; he aimed it at Antar, saying, Take
that, thou slave! thou wretch! As soon as Antar
perceived Ghasik had deceived him, he tried to
avoid the javelin, but he could not; it struck him
on the shoulder between the armour and clothes.
Antar was severely wounded; he roared out at
Ghasik in a voice that made the mountains totter:
Thy blow has failed; now prepare, coward, for the
blow of the voracious lion. He assailed him, and
pierced him with the spikeless spear he held in his
hand, and he drove it right through his back quivering;
and Ghasik fell dead.

When Numan saw what Antar had done, and
how he had pierced Ghasik with a mere staff through
the chest, driving it out at his back, rending the
steel and the corslet, he said to his attendants:
Verily, such a thrust no one could drive—no,
neither man nor demon, not even the fiends who
rebelled against our lord Soliman. Our character
is blasted by this knight, whose equal the age cannot
produce: Now is the time to order a general

assault, cried they all, now that Antar is wounded.
King Numan did so, and the twenty thousand made
the attack as if in one body. But when Antar
reached the mountains, King Zoheir came up to
him and kissed him between the eyes, thanking and
extolling him. He entered the valley, having first
recommended King Zoheir and the Absians to stand
firm at the entrance of the defile till his wound was
dressed; then will I return to the contest, he added;
and he entered the tents, and extracting the javelin,
cauterised the wound. In the mean time Ghasik's
army had assailed the Absians with a force amounting
to twenty thousand bridles. The Absians received
them with undaunted hearts and Arabian
courage. Men met men, and heroes heroes—blood
streamed and flowed—joints were hewn asunder.
Numan, perceiving the steadiness of the Absians,
commanded his left, to the number of twenty thousand,
to join him. They made an attack like the
attack of a single individual. Soon the numbers
increased upon the Absians, and their cries for assistance
became louder; but as they were in the
thickest of the fight, the chief Antar appeared,
shouting in a voice that made the mountains tremble,
and the hollows resound: Worthless dastards!
Antar, the son of Shedad, is coming. For when
his wound was dressing, Ibla came to him; she
bound it up, and wept over him. Weep not, said
he, for by the life of thine eyes, and the black of
thine eyebrows, I care not for those wounds; to me
they are sweeter than the draught of wine: but, for
thy sake, I will put to confusion the armies of King
Numan, had he even with him all mankind, and the
fiends to boot. He and Ibla were thus conversing,
when lo! Shiboob appeared like a male ostrich:
Hola! son of my mother, he cried, join the Absians,
for King Numan has ordered all his armies
to attack them on every side and direction. Antar
bellowed and roared; he started from the ground
on to the back of his Abjer, and sprang forth seeking
the engagement, till he reached the scene of
horrors, and joined the Absians, who were worsted
in the presence of that immense concourse of warriors.
So he shouted as we have mentioned; and
he assaulted the enemy with a heart that bounded
at encountering dangers: at his attack, sorrows were
erased from the heart of the Absians; and as they
heard his roar, their souls revived; their courage
was renovated, and they fought in a manner to
startle the boldest. As to Antar, where he struck
he cleft asunder; and where he thrust, he destroyed;
and when the heroes resisted him, he
yelled at them, and made them shrink back in
horror. He wrested a horseman from the back of
his horse; he raised him in his hand like a pole, and
whirling him round as a sling, he struck a second
with him down; he precipitated the two, and made
them drink of the cups of death. The warriors fled
in dismay before him, and every one was horror-struck
at his strength.

When Numan saw how Antar and the Absians
had routed his army, he ordered his right to attack,
and they also amounted to twenty thousand. This
mighty host, calculated at sixty thousand, assailed
the Absians, King Zoheir always assisting them
with a hundred after hundred, till not a single one
remained. But their hearts were encouraged by
Antar, for they knew he was a resistless hero and a
dreadnought lion. At that period the tribe of Abs
was the most renowned among the Arabs for courage;
and at that moment they were fighting the
battle of life and death, and they encountered the
forces of King Numan with hearts to which death
was sweet and easy. The two armies were mingled
together; the sword and spear laboured among
heads and carcasses; blood flowed like lakes; God
glorified that awful, dreadful day! where the steel
armour alone defended bodies, and God prospered
what Antar performed in his intrepidity; he overwhelmed
them in disgrace and ruin, and executed
deeds that will be commemorated for ages, for
deaths were at hand, predestined by the will of the
God of good and evil. The battle continued to
rage between the two armies till the day fled with
the light, and night came on in obscurity, and the
warriors were separated, after they had filled the
earth with the dead.

Numan descended to his pavilions, as he said to
himself, Were I related to the Absians, every one on
whom the sun shines would stand in awe of me; and

Numan had scarcely alighted when the Arab chiefs,
and Prince Aswad at their head, came unto him:
O King of the world, said they, our opinion is, that
you put to death these two fellows we have in our
power (they were Shedad and Oorwah); I will
slay them to-morrow, said he, and Prince Aswad
rushed from Numan's presence in a great passion;
but when they were gone, he sent for his vizier
Amroo, son of Nefilah, and imparted to him all the
love he felt in his heart for Mootegeredeh, King
Zoheir's daughter. What do you wish? said the
vizier. To marry Mootegeredeh, and make peace
with the Absians; he replied, for were I assisted by
such a tribe as this, or a hero like Antar, I should
by their means strengthen myself against the deserts
and the cities. O King, said the vizier, with respect
to the marriage rely on me; but on condition, that
you order into your presence Shedad and Oorwah,
robe them in garments of honour, and treat them
kindly. I will then lead them to King Zoheir, and
will demand his daughter for you, and I will not
return till all matters are arranged. Numan approved
of his vizier's advice, and he reposed that
night in tranquillity, for his heart was at ease.

As to the tribe of Abs, when they returned to
the mountain; Console your heart and brighten
your eye, O King, said Antar, by the life of your
head, to-morrow I will decide their fate: I will
disperse this army were it as numerous as the sands;
and King Zoheir was comforted.

Thus they entered the mountains, and slept that
night till morning, when the chiefs of the Absians
mounted, brandishing their sharp-edged swords
and slinging on their lances. King Zoheir and his
sons also mounted, and over his head floated the
eagle standard: they were drawn up in front of the
mountains like lions of the cavern, and before them
stood Antar like a rock. He seated his body on
the back of his horse, and drawing his feet out of
the stirrups, he folded them over the neck of Abjer.
King Numan, as soon as it was day, prohibited any
further hostilities; he sent for Shedad and Oorwah,
and investing them with robes of honour, he presented
them some fine steeds with housings of gold;
and as he imparted to them his love for Mootegeredeh,
he required them to assist his vizier Amroo;
and when they had promised to do so, he directed
his vizier to accompany them. The vizier accordingly
set out with Shedad and Oorwah, and repaired
to the tribe of Abs.

When Prince Aswad saw what King Numan had
done, how he had released Shedad and Oorwah, and
had sent his vizier to the tribe of Abs to negotiate
a peace, he was highly enraged and indignant, and
he said to the Arab chiefs, Be calm, till I see what
more passes between them. If he makes peace with
them, I will write to King Chosroe, and communicate
what my brother Numan has done, that
he has made peace with the tribe of Abs, and connected
himself with them by marriage, though their

slave was wounded, and they had retired to the
mountains, and there was nothing more to be done
but to take them prisoners. My brother has acted
most shamefully, and he has betrayed the imperial
government on account of his worldly lusts. I am
now convinced it was Numan himself who ordered
the Absians to lie concealed in the valley of Torrents;
and it was he who plotted the death of Wirdishan:
never will I rest till I have contrived his
death, and I myself rule over the Arabs, and then
will I search out the Absians under every stone and
every clod of earth. But the vizier Amroo continued
his way with Shedad and Oorwah, till they
approached the tribe of Abs, who, on seeing them,
advanced towards the vizier and saluted him: he
presented them the robes of honour, and the noble
horses for King Zoheir, saying, King Numan salutes
you, and demands your daughter Mootegeredeh in
marriage, so that the two tribes may be only as one
tribe: he desires you to demand as much as you
please of cattle and he and she camels, &c. King
Zoheir made no reply, but turned towards Antar;
What is your opinion? said he. O King, he replied,
the man has released my father and my
friend, and has subdued my pride by his liberality.
As to your daughter, she must marry some one,
and she cannot find a nobler match than King
Numan, for he is the Vicegerent of King Chosroe
Nushirvan.

In conformity with Antar's opinion, King Zoheir

gave his daughter in marriage to King Numan,
saying to the vizier, I accede to King Numan's
wishes out of respect to Antar the victorious lion.
The vizier, much delighted that Mootegeredeh's
marriage was settled (and from that day love for
Antar entered into his heart), returned to King
Numan, and told him the whole affair was arranged
to his satisfaction.

When the prisoners on both sides were restored,
Antar sent for the chief, Hidjar, and having cut his
hair off, released him. But when the tribes of
Lakhm and Juzam and the Arab chiefs saw what
Numan had done, they first complained of it to his
brother Aswad, and then returned home. After
this the tribe of Abs quitted the mountains with
King Zoheir and Antar, and the chiefs, and all repaired
to King Numan, who sprang up on his feet,
and received them in the most distinguished manner,
investing them with beautiful robes. Prince
Aswad marked all this, And I, said he, I will connect
myself to the tribe of Fazarah. So he demanded
Hadifah's sister, for he was much attached
to that tribe, and he acted towards them as his
brother had acted towards the Absians; he clothed
them in robes of honour, made them presents, and
distributed gold and silver. They remained seven
days in that spot, feasting and carousing; when
Numan having made a hollow peace between the
tribes of Abs and Fazarah, he ordered the march,
recommending the speedy conclusion of the affair

with Zoheir's daughter; and Prince Aswad having
also enjoined the same to Hadifah. The tribes of
Abs and Fazarah set out for their respective homes
and deserts; and King Numan also departed, and
when he had reached the throne of his glory, he
thought no more of the calamities of fortune. But
the Persian troops that Antar had routed in the
valley of Torrents, and whose chief, Wirdishan, he
had slain, did not stop in their flight till they came
to Chosroe, and related to him all that Antar had
done to them; how he had slain their chief, Wirdishan.
We fled and sought protection, they added,
in the tents of Numan, but he ordered us to be
driven out, and we have heard that it was he who
sent to Antar, and recommended him to lie in ambush
for us in the valley of Torrents, and not a
creature has ever given us any advice but Prince
Aswad.

This account excited Chosroe's rage and indignation,
and he swore he would absolutely put
Antar to death and all the tribe of Abs, and that
he would not leave a head or a tail of them. They
were thus conversing, when despatches were brought
in by Mubidan from Prince Aswad. Chosroe ordered
them to be read; and as soon as he had
heard their contents, the light became dark in his
eyes. He turned to the eldest of his sons, whose
name was Khodawend, and ordered him to mount
with a hundred and fifty thousand horsemen, Persians,
Turkomans, and Dilemites: March, cried he,

to the land of Hirah; seize Numan and all the
grandees of his government, and appoint his brother
Aswad to the viceregency over the Arabs; and
after that, he continued, march against the tribe of
Abs and Adnan. Bring me all their men—all their
property—all their women—that I may hang every
one of them on the tower of the palace, and in front
of them all shall be the slave called Antar. Khodawend
expressed his submission, and immediately
rose up and gave orders to the resolute knight, the
undaunted warrior, named Zerkemal, the brother
of Wirdishan, whom Antar had slain: but he,
when the news of his brother's death arrived, cut off
his hair and took refuge in the mansions of fire;
and on this day Khodawend ordered him to select
the horsemen for him, and in less than three days
he chose out one hundred and fifty thousand horsemen,
Persians and Dilemites, every one like a lion
when he springs; and on the fourth day the
standards of Khorasan and the imperial eagles
waved over his head. Chosroe came out to bid him
farewell: and having given instructions for his conduct,
sent with him his chief minister Buzurjmihr.
They continued their march till they came nigh
unto Hirah. Numan went out to meet them; but
at the sight of the troops he was confounded, and
he was certain it was the army of resentment. He
had no other resource but to dismount in the presence
of Khodawend; and as he kissed the ground
and did homage, Khodawend ordered him to be
seized, and also a number of warriors his relations.
He appointed his brother in his place, and having
encircled his brows with one of the imperial tiaras,
he made him King over the Arabs, saying, Know
that the just King has heard that you are a faithful
adviser of the imperial government, so he has made
you ruler over all the Arabs of the desert. Therefore,
instantly address in writing all the tribes, both
distant and near, and observe who obeys you, and
who rebels against you. Those that submit I will
favour; but as to those who rebel, I will march
against them, and will tear their lives out of their
bodies, and then we will proceed against the tribe
of Abs and Adnan, and will not leave a man alive
among them.

Aswad was overjoyed, and exulted at the good
news. He wrote letters to the Arab tribes, ordering
them to appear at Hirah for the purpose of joining
in the warlike expedition against the tribe of Abs
and Adnan. Among those to whom he sent was
Maadi Kereb, the Zebeedian; and he said to him
in his letter, If you wish to be revenged on the lion
Antar—to arms! to arms! He moreover informed
him of all that had happened to his brother Numan
at the hands of Khodawend, the son of Chosroe.
This letter he sent by one of his carriers, and then
he applied himself to the execution of his duties
towards Khodawend.

During all this time Maadi Kereb in his heart
had endured what no man ever suffered before. All

the Arabs derided him, and praised Antar, and he
made a secret vow in his own mind never to mount
a horse, and never to appear in battle, till he should
take vengeance of Antar, son of Shedad. Amongst
the many others who came to him and reproached
him, was one called Direed, son of Samah, and his
relation Sebeea, son of Harith, surnamed Zoolkhimar.
Direed had lived four hundred years, and he
survived even to the coming of our Lord Mohammed,
shaded in clouds, on whom be the greatest of
blessings and most perfect happiness! Old as Direed
was, he was strong-limbed—fierce in battle—patient
in difficulties, and on this account the Arabs called
him Rihat-ool Harb (millstone of war). When he
presented himself to Maadi Kereb with Zoolkhimar
(lover of the veil tied round his sword-hilt), he assigned
him a dwelling; he slaughtered camels for
him and his comrades, and he ate and drank with
him.

On the third day Direed being in high spirits with
wine, and singing, he began to banter Maadi Kereb,
jeering and taunting him in the grossest terms for
having been taken prisoner by Antar, and he thus
expressed himself in verses:

"Those, whose protector you were, O Maadi,
are now disgraced; their hopes are disappointed;
their wives are covered with shame: for should
he not blush who has aimed at glory, and has
fought with a slave who has captured him?
Abandon the scimitar, you cannot wield it; talk

no more of the honours you once recorded: it is
not for every one who brandishes a sword in his
hand to enjoy a high reputation, or to inspire fear
in his attacks. There is not death in the barb of
the spear, but its employers must instruct it in
the plunder of souls. Die then of grief, or live in
disgrace and despair! Watch no more the nights
you have watched. If you are still noble-minded
and high-spirited, march against the demon of
Hidjaz, and assault him. Fear not the warriors
when they come. Besides him, there is no one
against whom any precautions are necessary. If
you fear, demand succour of Sebeea, and you
will see a lion in war with blood-dyed talons, who,
when he draws his sword, its edge rends the
earth; with it he bears down souls, and it defends
those that seek its aid."

On hearing these verses, the heart of Maadi
Kereb melted like lead, and he began excusing himself
to Direed; he told him what Antar had done
to Hidjar, and spoke of the armies and the warriors
he had destroyed; how he had slain Ghasik and
Wirdishan, and had surprised by night the troops
of Numan. Zoolkhimar smiled; O Maadi Kereb,
said he, all this proceeds from your inability and
your fears, and is the consequence of your alarms
and your terrors. You console yourself with the fate
of others. May God curse him who cannot reduce
Antar to disgrace, or scatter his limbs over the
barren waste! By all that will succeed, or have

preceded him, O Maadi, you must unavoidably
wash off this garment of disgrace and ignominy,
otherwise your affairs cannot be retrieved, and you
will be exposed to most galling difficulties; but if
you wish, I will go with you, and you shall see
how I will treat him, and how I will scatter his
limbs over the hills and the plains.

Having remained five days with him, they returned
to their own country; and soon after Maadi
Kereb wrote to the chief Hidjar an account of all
these circumstances, and they all swore they would
root out the tribe of Abs and annihilate them.

About that time arrived letters from Prince
Aswad; so they departed, revenge their sole object;
and being greatly pleased at the captivity of
King Numan, and the expedition of the Persians
under Khodawend, they quitted their native land,
and set out for the tribe of Abs and Adnan. But
the first that commenced his journey was Hidjar,
for he was resolved to be beforehand with the troops
of Chosroe, so that he might acquire high glory to
the exclusion of others. In the mean time the
Absians, having thus connected themselves by marriage
with King Numan, returned home; and as
they consulted about the state of their affairs, they
augmented their stock of he and she camels, and
lived in security with their property and families.
Now Antar had recovered from his wound; one day
Oorwah came to him with some other noble horsemen,
and said, O Aboolfawaris, arise and demand

Ibla in marriage, and let this trouble be removed
from our hearts, for now there can be no opposition
to your wedding. I will not do that, said Antar,
and I will not wed my cousin till Numan weds
Mootegeredeh, and when King Numan's happiness
is complete, then consult about me as you please, so
that the freeborn and the slaves may all rejoice. They
were thus conversing and deliberating about such
matters, unsuspicious of the circumstances that had
happened to King Numan, when in a few days arrived
a messenger from Amroo, Numan's minister,
with a letter acquainting them with the circumstances,
how the dominion of the Arabs had been
conferred on Prince Aswad; how he had written
to Chosroe, and had given him information unknown
to his brother Numan; and how Khodawend
had marched, and had seized Numan.

This news excited great consternation among the
Absians, and as a confirmation of this intelligence,
letters to the same effect reached the tribe of Fazarah,
who were in transports of joy, and passed
their time in feasting, and drinking evening and
morning. Now that Aswad is our relation by marriage,
observed Hadifah, he will certainly avenge
us: now shall we extirpate every trace of the tribe
of Abs and Adnan; now will we plunder and ravage
their lands, and now will we slay them young
and old. Rebia happened to be with them; O my
cousins, said he, all are preparing for war; and
whatever tribe comes first, do you join them. Occupy

every road against the Absians; surprise them
before the Persians can come up with you; and
seize upon their lands and their pastures.

King Zoheir sent for his son Cais, and having
assembled the whole tribe, Know, said he, that the
Vizier Amroo has informed us that the son of Chosroe
is marching against us with the forces of the
world. Our departure from the mountains, said
Antar, was not a wise measure. Our only resource
is to retire to a spot where we may protect our
women and families. Then will I encounter the
Arab, the Persian, and the Turk, and the Dilemite,
till I have exterminated them; and I will show you
what I will do with this new upstart king; and soon
will I commute the purity of his enjoyments into
affliction. My advice, said Shiboob, is, that you
depart for the mountains of Adja and Selma, for
they are even more inaccessible and stronger than
the mountains of Radm: and when you are there,
no evil can affect you.

The Absians approved of Shiboob's advice, and
as they were all unanimous for a removal—Tomorrow
night we will depart, said King Zoheir.
The next day the Absians struck their tents, and
having raised the howdahs on the camels, they drove
away the cattle; and they departed traversing the
wastes and the sand-hills. But Antar ordered two
of his slaves to proceed to the land of the tribe of
Fazarah, and directed them not to quit their country
till they perceived what new plans they were adopting.

The slaves set out accordingly, and the Absians
sought the mountains, where they pitched
their tents, and soon familiarised themselves to that
country.

The slaves soon reached the land of Fazarah, and
they found the whole tribe shouting with joy, for
on that day a letter had arrived by a messenger
from Prince Aswad, informing them of the march
of Khodawend, and the armies of Persia; and now
you may gratify your revenge against the Absians,
he added.

As soon as they heard this intelligence, they sent
to inquire news of the Absians; but finding they
had already removed to the mountains of Adja and
Selma, My idea, said Rebia (that mine of treachery,
fraud, and deceit), to Hadifah, is that you should
acquaint your relation Aswad with their flight; and
let us join the very first that arrives here, and
march against them.

They were thus deliberating, when lo! a dust
arose and darkened the whole land, and there appeared
the Chief Hidjar, and with him ten thousand
of the tribe of Kendeh. The tribes of Fazarah and
Zeead went out to meet them, and accommodated
them with habitations, and treated them in the
most distinguished manner. Hidjar questioned
them about the Absians, and when they informed
him of their flight to the mountains of Adja and
Selma, he expressed his regrets at not meeting them
in their own country. Be not afflicted, O Chief

Hidjar, said Rebia; we will march with you, and
we will assist you in taking vengeance; for the Arab
and the Persian are coming against them in every direction,
and they cannot possibly escape death and destruction.
We must now exert ourselves to extirpate
every vestige of them, and to ravage their lands;
and every tribe that comes to us we will join. O
Rebia, said Hidjar, we want not the assistance of
the tribes, for we have a party sufficiently strong;
and soon will arrive Maadi Kereb, the Zebeedian,
and with him Direed, son of Samah, the Djeshmean;
and Zoolkhimar, the Himyarite, accompanied with
intrepid armies.

Rebia and the tribe of Fazarah were rejoiced at
this news, and the Chief Amarah rubbed his hands
in the excess of his joy. O my brother, said he,
now indeed this black bastard cannot escape; and I
shall now obtain Ibla, and shall be made happy;
for really she cannot suit any one but me; and her
charms are only to be compared with mine. Rebia
laughed at him; O Amarah, said he, my heart tells
me Antar will put to the rout all these armies, and
he will not even let the first fall back upon the last;
for I know of Antar what no one but myself knows.

Now the slaves whom Antar had sent to the land
of Fazarah, when they saw the Chief Hidjar and
his companions, and heard all their discourse about
the Absians, set out for the mountains to join
Antar, to whom they communicated what had happened,
and all the plans of the enemy.

Antar on hearing this intelligence instantly arose,
his courage all on fire, and repaired to King Zoheir,
and informed him of all he had heard of Hidjar and
the tribe of Fazarah. O Aboolfawaris, said he, we
must now indeed make peace with them: but what
is your opinion? O King, said Antar, we will leave
here one thousand horsemen, with your son Cais, to
defend the women and families; we will march with
the remainder, and will surprise the tribe of Fazarah
and Hidjar, and will soon overthrow all their
iniquitous projects. That would be well, said King
Zoheir; and they immediately put themselves in
readiness, and marched with three thousand men,
leaving Cais, with one thousand, enjoining them to
be on the alert, and on their guard.

Antar rode by the side of King Zoheir with
Oorwah and his people, and his uncle Zakhmet Uljewad;
and when they were at some distance from
the mountains, Antar reflected on what had occurred
to him, and thus expressed himself:

"Our country is laid waste, and our lands despoiled:
our homes are ravaged, and our plains are
devastated. Let us halt, let us mourn for them;
for there is no friend in that quarter, and the
country is ruined. Fate has fallen upon our companions,
and they are dispersed as if they had
never alighted at their tents. In sportive merriment
they tucked up the garments of joy, and
their spears were spread along their tents. The
wand of happiness was waving over us, as if fortune

had been favourable, and our enemies thought
not of us. O Ibla, my heart is rent with anguish
on thy account: my patience is fled to the wastes.
Oh Hidjar! Hey, I will teach thee my station;
thou shalt not dare to fight me—disgraced as thou
art. Hast thou forgotten in the vale of Torrents
the deeds of my valour, and how I overthrew the
armies, undaunted as they were? I precipitated
them with the thrust, and I abandoned them and
their carcasses to be trampled on by the wild
beasts? Shall I not behold thee in anguish tomorrow?—Ay;
thou shalt not escape from me
to the arms of thy beloved. I will leave the brutes
of the desert to stamp over thee, and the eagles
and the ghouls shall mangle thee. I am Antar,
the most valiant of knights—ay, of them all; and
every warrior can prove my words. If you have
a milch-camel, milk her; for thou knowest not to
whom its young may belong."

When Antar had finished, they continued their
march till they came within two parasangs of Fazarah,
when Shiboob directed them to dismount, whilst
he himself set out for the land of Fazarah. Returning
at midnight, he told his brother Antar and
King Zoheir that the enemy had quitted their tents,
and were assembled to the number of twenty-five
thousand horsemen, under Hidjar, their guide and
counsellor: and their plan, he continued, is to extirpate
you, and ravage your country; and by morning
they will meet you.

Antar selected one thousand Absian horsemen.
Go, said he to his uncles and his father Shedad;
go by night with King Zoheir, by this road to the
right, and surprise the enemy. He also gave Shas
a thousand men, and sent him by the left, he himself
proceeding with the remainder by the direct
road, till they all approached the hostile army, and
perceived their multitudes that filled the whole desert.
They were in perfect ease and security,
and never calculated on the possibility of an attack
from the Absians, till the shouts came upon them
from all directions, and the herald of calamities cried
out over the whole land. They started from
their tents, and sprang on their horses' backs, many
of them without arms. They scarcely knew with
whom they were fighting, with whom they were
engaging, or with whom they were talking. But
in their fears of Antar, they all drew their swords,
and fell upon one another, and soon also laboured
the swords of the Absians upon their shoulders.

When the Chief Hidjar heard the voice of Antar,
he knew him, and cried out to the Kendehans, O
my cousins, stand firm against this bold black slave,
for he has only a small body of men with him; and
he thinks he will serve us in the same manner he
did in the valley of Torrents. But I am aware,
that the battle turns one day for you, and one day
against you: you have only to resist steadily this
black slave, that we may put him to death, and our
name be for ever renowned. The dust in the mean

time increased, and the horses trampled over the
bodies. It was a night to them abounding in sorrows
and tumults.

The three parties of Absians cried out, O by
Abs! O by Adnan! they drove frightful thrusts till
the horses were unable to charge from fatigue, and
dawn was nearly rising on the tribes. But Antar
did not discontinue the contest, assisted by the Absians,
till morning dawned. Great part of the Fazarah
army fled and retired, horror-struck at the
blows of the lion-warrior Antar. Still Hadifah and
Rebia remained with a few Kendehans, who stood
firm, encouraged by their Chief Hidjar. Above
three thousand of the tribes of Fazarah and Kendeh
were already slain, and only thirty horsemen
of the tribe of Abs.

By daybreak the two armies having separated
from each other, and the troops having alighted,
Hidjar advanced in front of his people, and exclaimed,
I must defy Antar to the contest, or shame,
disgrace, and infamy will overwhelm me. He waited
till the meridian heat was abated, when he mounted
his horse, and stood forth between the two armies,
and every eye was directed towards him as he thus
expressed himself:

"It is only the thrust with the spear that can
relieve my affliction, and the blow of the scimitar
on the chest, and the skull. When the mind can
submit to infamy, words are only words without
deeds. Fortune consists of two days; this is the

coloquintida of sorrow; the next its food is sweeter
than honey. You dastard, you have clothed me
in shame; but had you done me justice, you
would have trembled before me, and have prostrated
yourself in disgrace. To-day your chiefs
shall bear witness to my superiority, when I make
you drink of the cups of extinction. You made
me captive in the dark confusion of night, in the
valley of Torrents, by fraud and deceit. Come
forth—let alone nocturnal stratagems—give me
fair play. Now I am on the alert, I will be a lion
without his equal—ay! a lion, a deluge, a sea,
to whose shore there are no bounds; and mine is
a youthful heart hewn out of a mountain."

When the Chief Hidjar had finished, he sought
the combat. O King, said Antar, as he stood by
the side of King Zoheir, verily I must settle this
affair with Hidjar; for without his death, his army
will never be routed. And he started out against
Hidjar, his head uncovered, and on his body only
his ordinary garments. He had thrown aside his
armour, and his polished corslet, in contempt of
Hidjar. He called out, Eh! thou hast abused me
for treachery and stratagem; truly such is the natural
disposition of thyself, and thine own tribe; for
thou didst come against us with the Arab and the
Persian. It was only the judgment-sword of heaven
that overtook thee in that plain and waste; and
now thou art come against me with the tribe of Fazarah,
and hast assembled against me a countless

host; but I have surprised thee, that I may extirpate
thee root and branch; then will I return to
engage the rest, numerous as is the host that seeks
us, and though our party is but small. Thou art
clothed in armour, and I am in these simple clothes;
my head uncovered, and bare my feet. And thus
he continued—

"Verily, thou hast falsely accused me of deceit
and of treachery in word and deed. Thou art
now on the alert; meet me; thou shalt see a warrior
firm and resolute, fearless of peril. I am he
before whom the lion of the den humbles himself,
in fear of whom Chosroe himself trembles. I showed
thee in the valley of Torrents what my sword
could execute on the chests and the skulls. Wirdishan
was there; and the sons of horsemen followed
him like a deluging rain. The horses
quaked under their saddles, and they drank of
death from the velocity of my spear. And thou
shalt be driven into disgrace and calamity without
a friend to aid either in word or deed."

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.

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.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Numan now exerted himself to liberate Prince Aswad,
and when they had released him, he kissed his
brother's hand, and apologised for his conduct. Numan
also made peace between him and the Absians,
and the tribe of Fazarah, and Antar, and also Rebia,
and Amarah, saying, O Aboolfawaris, peace
between cousins is the best of proceedings; and now
nothing remains but to settle your own private affairs.
O King, said he, I will not consent to marry
the daughter of my uncle till after your own nuptials,
no, not till your wishes are accomplished, and
your festival completed, and Chosroe be reconciled
to you without any ill will. But should not all these
events be satisfactorily terminated, I will make his
very balcony totter over his head. I will slay all
that dwell in Khorasan, and I will make you in his
stead king of the age and the time.

Numan expressed his thanks to Antar, and they
all remained together three days, but on the fourth
day they prepared for departure, when, said Numan
to Zoheir, Depart home, and make ready for your
daughter's marriage till my messenger arrives. Do
you too, said Prince Aswad to Hadifah, go home,
and prepare for your sister's marriage.

Khodawend then marched with the armies till they
reached Hirah, Antar riding by his side. Numan
alighted at his palace, and his family were delighted
at seeing him. He gave a magnificent entertainment
to Khodawend, who two days after
departed for Modayin, and his heart, after all his
fears, felt secure.

Now Antar and his companions remained with
King Numan fifteen days, but on the sixteenth day
came the presents, and valuable goods, and articles
beyond all calculation or description. For Khodawend,
when he came unto his father, found him in
the greatest anxiety for intelligence. Know, O my
father, said he, we have injuriously treated King
Numan, and we have listened to the suggestions of the
treacherous, and rebels, and of his enemies: for his
connexion with the Absians was a proceeding highly
judicious and commendable; and King Numan is
the only one that consults the good of our government,
for he has a most correct judgment; and
likewise Antar, son of Shedad, whose equal is not
to be found: and my desire is, O my father, that
you would send him a magnificent honorary robe, if
you wish for the stability of the imperial government.

Thus he informed him of all the circumstances of
the battles. Mubidan also seconded him in this
affair, for the loved King Numan. So Khodawend
did not cease importuning his father till the business
was settled; and being pacified, though at first he

was vehemently enraged, he sent the articles by Mubidan,
who repaired to Numan, who met him with
all his warriors, and prayed for the imperial government:
he detained him seven days at Hirah. The
greatest part of the presents were for Antar, and
also for Oorwah and Hidjar; and when all these
favours flowed upon Numan, he felt secure, great
as had been his former fears.

Antar soon after asked permission to return home.
O Aboolfawaris, said Numan, your departure from
me is like the separation of father and son: but I
cannot detain you from home on account of your
love for Ibla. So he granted him leave to go, after
he had conferred on him presents no words can describe.

Antar set out with his companions, seeking the
land of Hidjaz; and they continued their journey
till they reached the first country of Hidjaz, where
they halted for the night, at a water called Kywam.
And though Antar was desirous of taking the night-watch,
Oorwah would not let him. O Aboolfawaris,
said he, I will take that duty from you to-night in
this desert. Antar assented, and Oorwah having
selected five of his own horsemen, marched out
when it was quite dark. They roamed to some
distance in the wastes, and went their rounds till the
night was quiet, and all was in repose: and as the
fresh breezes blew upon them, drowsiness overpowered
their senses. They all fell asleep, and not
one of them wagged his head till day dawned and

shone, when they returned to their companions, and
roused them from their slumbers. They arose, and
prepared for departure, but they could not find a
single horse. Alas! alas! exclaimed Antar, we
have been surprised in the obscurity of the night,
and have been robbed of our horses: he questioned
Oorwah about what had happened to him during
the night; but Oorwah was confounded, and hung
his head down to the ground through exceeding
shame. O, said Antar, this affair would not even
disconcert a woman; and I feel perfectly easy and
unconcerned about finding my horse Abjer. So he
turned to his brother Jareer; Hie thee away into
this barren wild, son of my mother, said he; and
return not till you have discovered their track, and
if in your way you chance to meet some Arab horde,
ask them for a horse for me, that I may mount—
(Shiboob was absent when this event occurred, for
Antar had sent him home with the women, and
gave him charge of Ibla, being alarmed about her
on account of that vile family of Zeead).

As Jareer was about to follow the track, the
neigh of Abjer was heard, in his movements outstripping
the northern blast. As soon as Antar saw
him, he was delighted, and cried out, What joy!
He shouted towards him, and he replied with a
neigh, gratified at his master's voice. Immediately
he fastened the housings on him and mounted, saying
to Oorwah, Do you and your men mount on
these camels, and drive on till we have developed

this affair. And they travelled on till the heat
exhausted them, and the desert seemed on fire.
Antar was about to halt, when lo! a man on foot
appeared from the midst of the defiles, speeding
away like a cloud in a storm, although both his
hands were tied; about his neck was a long rope,
and behind galloped a troop of twenty horse, and
he appeared bewildered, like one afflicted with a
sudden calamity.

When Antar perceived the man on foot bounding
along like a fawn, he bent his course towards him.
Come, come to me, O Aboolfawaris, exclaimed the
unhappy wretch, I am your brother Shiboob, and
what has happened to me would even melt the
stoutest heart.

At this Antar's heart quaked; he was greatly
agitated, and his two eyes appeared like horse-leeches,
till he came up with him. He instantly
loosened the cords, and untied the rope about his
neck. O my brother, he cried, no Arab shall ever
live to enslave thee. Nothing of that has happened,
said Shiboob; but both your story and mine are
very extraordinary. Thank God, who has sent you
to this spot, or I and Harith, King Zoheir's son,
must have drank of the cup of death; for he is a
prisoner too, and I am dreadfully alarmed about
him. I have left him with the companions of these
horsemen, but I cannot possibly tell you any thing
till I am perfectly convinced of security.

Antar was confounded, and turning his eyes at

the advancing horsemen, he gave a shout at them.
He attacked them like a lion, and pierced them with
his spear: he soon laid low sixteen of them, and the
other four escaped by the speed of their horses. He
returned, and asked Shiboob what it was all about.
My narrative will be very long, said Shiboob, if you
do not first tell me who is with you in this country.
Son of my mother, said Antar, Oorwah and his men
are with me. So he informed him of all that had
occurred; how they had quitted King Numan, and
had come down to this spot, and how their horses
had been stolen. Son of my mother, said Shiboob,
this circumstance of the robbery of your horses has
been the means of our salvation; for the fellows
that stole them are forty thieves who followed you
from the land of Irak, and their chief is the nuisance
of the Arabs; he is quite an insufferable fellow. I
could recognise him amongst the whole race of man;
he is called Awis, son of Saala, the robber. This
morning the tribe of Zohran, with whom I have
been a prisoner, encountered them: they slew thirty
of them, the remainder fled; and whilst the tribe
was occupied with them, I ran away into this desert,
till you came up to my assistance. Now, as
to the robbers, they had followed Antar and his
comrades from the land of Irak; and when Antar
was returning with all that wealth, Awis, son of
Saala, happening to have a glimpse of it, assembled
forty robbers. Well! said he to them, if you are
indeed desirous of wealth, and the accomplishment
of your wishes, let us follow this black slave; let
us expose our lives against him, and let us exert
ourselves to obtain this vast property.

That night therefore Awis approached with his
associates. How long, said he, must we be traversing
these wastes? we cannot bother ourselves any longer.
Upon that one of them advanced towards Antar
and his companions, and found them all asleep.
Much pleased at this, he returned to give information
to Awis. My opinion, said he, is, we should
content ourselves with their horses, and leave their
men alone, and not bring a war dust upon us. They
all agreed to his advice, and finding the horses
grazing, they mounted some, and drove away the
others; but they had not quitted the desert ere
daylight shone, when Abjer, not knowing these fellows,
and missing his master, burst loose from the
person who led him, and galloped over the plain;
the men hastened after him till he came nigh unto
Antar.

My brother, said Shiboob, it would be well to let
Abjer rest a little till Oorwah and his men come up
here, that they may mount these horses that we
have gained, for the enemy will of course follow me
over the desert. Antar approved of the plan, and
he let Abjer graze in the desert, and as he was
quite amazed at Shiboob's narrative, he directed
him to state how he and Harith were made prisoners.
Theirs was a wonderful adventure; for when the
Absians returned home, they waited in expectation

of Antar's joining them from the country of King
Numan, and a great dread of the tribe of Abs had
made its way into the hearts of the Arabs. Now it
happened that one day Prince Harith went out to
the chase, and with him a party of Absians. They
had wandered away to some distance from the land
of Shurebah in search of game. And as they
roamed about the wastes and wilds, east and west,
they came to a valley called the valley of Sandhills,
where they beheld a large party of the tribe of
Zohran. Harith questioned a slave; My lord,
said he, we are of the tribe of Zohran, and our chief
is Bekir, son of Moatemid, and whilst Harith was
in conversation with the slave, a fawn fled away
before him. Harith called out to his horse, and he
made towards it; but having missed it, he passed
by a lake where there was a party of the Zohran
women. Now the cause of their removal from home
was this. This chief Bekir had a daughter called
Labna, and she was more beautiful and lovely than
the full moon; her suitors were numerous, and
many demanded her of her father, but he would not
bestow her on any one. She had a cousin, who
was Jareer, son of Cadim. Labna detested him on
account of his harsh manners, although he was
brave in the field. He demanded her of her father,
but he refused; and there arose such an hostility
between them, that their removal was absolutely
necessary. So they traversed the wilds and the
deserts till they reached the land of the tribe of Abs
and Adnan, and asked the protection of King
Zoheir, which he readily granted. The damsel
Labna, on the day Harith passed by the lake, was
in company with her maidens. Harith beheld her,
and became enamoured; and she likewise saw him,
and all her limbs were in a tremor, and her agitation
was great. So she addressed her maidens to
take off their attention, exclaiming in verse:

"O truly mine eye has had a glance of the
youth who has passed me, employed in the chase
of the fawns;—he is gone, but his charms have
captivated my heart;—he is gone, and my heart
still burns the more."

When Harith heard this, he looked behind him,
and love for her took possession of his whole frame.
His companions, as soon as they perceived how he
was affected, checked him: O Prince, said they, we
observe you are discomposed and dejected. Yes,
said he, I wish to return home; and when he reached
his dwelling, his mother came to him and said, My
son, what has distressed you? I went to bed last night,
said he, a little indisposed, and what is come to me
no one but the Searcher of all secrets knows. But
when his mother had quitted him, he sent for his
nurse, and informed her of his situation. She
listened, and promising to assist him in his troubles,
she set out for the valley of Sandhills, where she
saw the tents, and introducing herself among the
women, she feigned being on a visit to them. At
length she came up to Labna, and addressing her,

acquainted her with the state of Harith. She
started up on hearing this, and also imparted her
situation to the nurse, who said, I wish you would
come to-morrow night to the lake. Labna expressed
her thanks, and the old woman departed home to
Harith, who was most anxiously expecting her.
She informed him all about Labna, and the love she
felt for him. This relieved Harith's anguish, and at
the close of the day he took the old woman with
him and set out; and when they reached the valley,
he secreted himself among the Erak[2] trees. Labna
too waited till evening, and then with one of her
maidens went away to the lake, where she found
Harith, and threw herself into his arms. They remained
till daylight, and this became the spot of
their future assignations, till one day he happened
to ride out towards the valley of Sandhills, but he
perceived no vestige of the tribe. In the greatest
agitation and astonishment he returned home, and
he became like a living corpse. The cause of this
removal was a messenger, who came to them from
their chief, reproaching them for their migration,
and he was called As-hath, son of Dharnah. Not
being aware of their total removal from their
country, he waited for some time till he heard
they had gone down to the tribe of Abs and
Adnan. So he sent after them, saying, As to
Jareer, son of Cadim, I have seized his person on
your account, and I desire you will return to your
native land.

Labna's father, hearing this message, was delighted
to revisit his home, and his rage was quenched.
But when their departure was ascertained by Harith,
he informed Shiboob of all that had happened,
and of his present situation. Shiboob pitied him.
They waited till it was dark; Harith saddled his
horse, and enveloped himself in his armour and
rich corslet, according to his custom. Shiboob too
grasped his bow and quiver, and filled his portmanteau
with arrows, and they both set out for the
land of the tribe of Zohran; and on their arrival,
said Shiboob to Harith, Do you lie concealed here.
But he himself departed for the tents, clothed like
a poor infirm beggar; and he disguised his designs
very cunningly till reaching the tent of Labna's
father, O mistress! he exclaimed to an old woman,
have you any victuals? Yes; wait for me a little,
said she. She came out and said, Here, take these
bean-shells, you famished fellow, and pray to the
mistress of joys for a happy meeting of lovers; perhaps
your prayers may be accepted. Are you a
stranger in this land? said Shiboob. No, said she;
but my mistress has a lover with the tribe of Abs,
and she is out of all patience on his account. Is
it not Harith, son of King Zoheir? said Shiboob.
Yes, answered she, and I see you know him. Yes,
he returned, for he is my master; so he told her all
the story, and of Harith's arrival. Let him stay

where he is, said she, for her father has resolved on
marrying her to Kheitaoor, who has even sent the
whole of the marriage dower to her father, and there
are only three days now to the wedding. The maid
ran to Labna in haste, and told her of her conversation.
Return, said she, and tell him to go
back to his master; assure him that I will join him,
and that he must take me away with him. She
arose as soon as it was dark, and all the family were
asleep, and went to Shiboob, taking her she-camel
with her, on which he loaded all she possessed.
Lead this camel, said she, and go with it to your
master. Away went Shiboob, and Labna followed
him till they met Harith. Come with me, cried
Shiboob to them. Labna mounted her camel, and
Harith his horse, whilst Shiboob held the camel's
bridle, and they set out traversing the wastes.

But Labna's father and mother, when morning
dawned, sought for Labna, but she was not to be
found. They raised a hue and cry, and informed
Kheitaoor, who mounted with a party of his warriors,
and questioned Labna's father about the circumstance.
My lord, said he, I heard on my return
from the tribe of Abs, that Harith, the son of King
Zoheir, was in love with her, and he must have carried
her off. By the faith of an Arab, cried Kheitaoor,
I will overtake him by sunrise, and will slay Harith
and all the tribe of Abs. Having stationed some
troops in different places, he himself set out with
five hundred stout horsemen.

But as to Shiboob, and Harith, and Labna, they
travelled under the veil of the night till morning
dawned in smiles, when they reached the vale of
Fawns and the mountain of precipices; this was a
lofty mountain, and perfectly inaccessible but by
one road. Arrived at the meadow beneath, they
were desirous of alighting near it, when lo! ten
slaves came towards them from the mountain's side,
shouting and running impetuously. In front of
them was a black slave like a lion. These slaves
had occupied this mountain as a refuge and a safe
retreat in their escapes after the perpetration of
murders; and when they were hard pressed they
climbed up the mountain, and defended themselves
on its summits. Their chief was called Habis, and
as soon as they saw Shiboob, and Labna, and
Harith, they made at them, calculating that the
horseman would escape by flight; that they should
put the man on foot to death, seize the camels, and
enjoy the damsel. But they knew not that this
man on foot was a blaze of fire and a crashing
thunderbolt: for as soon as Shiboob perceived them
hastening from the mountain top, he met them resolutely,
and smote their chief with an arrow on
the chest, forcing it out quivering through his back.
The slaves, seeing their chief dead, shouted at Shiboob,
and all their wrath was excited against him.
Harith galloped after him to assist him, but an
arrow fell on the chest of his horse, and down
he fell. Harith instantly sprung on his feet and

exerted himself to the utmost behind Shiboob on foot,
whilst Shiboob practised all his arts, hurling them
over with his arrows, and slaying them one after the
other till six of them were killed, and only four survived.
They made bitter reflections to themselves.
I cannot think this can be a mortal man, said one,
he must be indeed a devil, and he dwells hereabouts;
for our chief used often to say he had seen a ghoul
in the plain, and we ever bantered him about it.
Talk not now of that, said another, let us escape in
haste to the top of the mountain, and they fled;
but they soon perceived that Shiboob had arrived
before them at the head of the pass: Ye dastardly
Arabs, he cried out, whither would ye fly? Your
death is at hand. The first he struck down with
an arrow on the chest, and it issued out through his
back: he came up with a second, rushed upon him,
and smote him with his dagger through the heart,
and laid him prostrate; but the other two fled over
the barren waste: so Shiboob returned to Harith,
who thanked him for his exertions. O Ebe-reah,
said he, I am now left on foot in this desert, and
the way is long.

They were thus conversing together, when lo! a
troop of horsemen appeared, headed by Kheitaoor,
and he was like a tower or a fragment rent from the
mountain's side, and Labna's father was riding by
his side. When Labna saw this, she was in despair.
Here then is certain death, said Harith, and we
have no other resource but this mountain where

these slaves retired; for if we were at its summit, we
should be secure. And I, said Shiboob, will empty
my quiver before me, and will show you a little
of my skill, and I will defend you against the inhabitants
of the whole world, wide and long as it is.
I will disperse this party over the sand-hills. Let
us only ask for succour from the Lord of the Fountain
Zemzem, and the Shrine. Do as you please,
said Harith, but how shall we ascend this mountain?
and will not our fears and terrors enfeeble our
exertions? Be sure of success, said Shiboob, and he
went up to Labna and took her upon his shoulders,
and went off with her on foot, till he reached the
skirt of the mountain, whence he clambered up
with her till he was on the heights. Harith followed
him.

But when Labna's father and his party saw that
Shiboob was like a bird, they were amazed, for he
ascended the mountain till e approached the summit.
The party in pursuit overtook Harith on the
mountain's skirts, for he was weighed down by his
armour. He defended himself, and exhibited his
prowess till numbers thronged upon him, so they
took him prisoner, and Shiboob was in the deepest
affliction. The troops alighted in the meadow
under the mountain, and afterwards rushed one
after the other to ascend, in order to accomplish
their hopes with respect to Labna and Shiboob.
But Shiboob overthrew them with his arrows till
darkness came on, when they returned, thwarted in

all their attempts, many of them wounded. Upon
this Kheitaoor and Labna's father halted, in the
greatest alarm at Shiboob's arrows. We are indeed
quite nonplused by this devil, said Kheitaoor, all
we have for it is by daybreak to seize hold of
Harith and prepare for hanging and torturing him;
and we will say to Shiboob, if you do not surrender
our daughter to us, we will hang Harith, and make
his dwelling in the tomb. Here we will besiege you
till we catch you, and we will take your life from
between your sides. So they bound Harith fast,
and stationed over him two black slaves.

Harith laid himself down, suffering the acutest
grief and affliction. But Shiboob returned to Labna
and comforted her heart, vowing to her he would
ransom him with his own existence; and he remained
quiet, till being convinced that the influence
of sleep prevailed over the party below, he descended,
sliding down on his back till he was at the bottom
of the heights, where, having recourse to his stratagems,
he made a minute scrutiny right and left,
and at last perceiving the slaves were asleep, he
approached them and despatched them all. Continuing
the enterprise on which he was bound, he
crawled along on his hands and feet till he entered
the tents, where he heard Harith thus speaking:

"O my tribe, the fetters of captivity have bound
me fast; there is no escape for me from these galling
chains. They pounced down on me early in
the morning, or their thin blades would soon have

despoiled my life. O my cousins, I had not congratulated
myself on a day's meeting, when separation
befel me. Fortune has overthrown me
with a deadly arrow, and for its sting there is
no panacea. O my cousins, seek to revenge me
when I am gone, where the high-spirited steeds
charge. Tell Antar, the son of Shedad, that I
cannot escape from their hell-flames; he will be
a match for the foe with his irresistible sword, to
him all lovers weep their sorrows. Alas! for
Labna! what anguish must she endure in my absence
when separation shall afflict her! I imagined
we should all live happily together in security,
and all our flames would be quenched.
But Fortune has tormented us with separation;
there is no faith, no covenant with Fortune."

When Shiboob heard these verses repeated by
Harith, he knew that he felt assured of death and
perdition; his heart grieved for him; he advanced
towards him—he found him tied down—the slaves
about him were asleep—he came closer—he rent the
fetters from his feet, and cut away the handcuffs—
he calmed his apprehensions. Follow me, said he,
and do as I do; and he went crawling along on his
hands and feet: they continued stepping over the
fellows asleep, till they were beyond the tents, and
then they pursued their way in the greatest haste
till they reached the summit of the mountain. As
soon as Labna saw Shiboob and Harith with him, she
was delighted at his contrivance. Shiboob took out

some victuals, and they reposed in comfort and happiness
till the day dawned, when Kheitaoor starting
up from his pillow, sought Harith, but he could
not find him; he only saw the handcuffs cut away,
and the slaves murdered and lying dead on the
ground. Eh! ye wretches, he cried to his people,
behold the prisoner was fast bound, and a single
person has released him from the midst of ye, and
yesterday he destroyed your bravest warriors; how
will you now defend yourselves or your chief? This
is all your doing, and he resolved on putting to
death the other guards; but Labna's father prevented
him. These men are not to blame in this
business, said he; we were in fault, that we did not
station a guard over the mountain's side. We shall
never succeed in seizing him, if we do not all mount
against him, and slay this devil, for he has already
killed fifty of our men, and we shall be a disgrace
to the end of time. They set out with the whole
party, who were ordered to ascend the mountain; they
accordingly began to climb, shouting, but alarmed.
When Shiboob saw this, he emptied his quiver
before him, and strung his bow; he bent down on
one knee, and shot his arrows against their chests
and their necks; the men fell down like leaves.
Harith quitted Labna, and threw immense stones
down upon them from the top of the precipice; in
a short time fifty were killed. So Kheitaoor retired
in despair and disgrace, writhing in agonies of
terror. The tribe of Zohran, he exclaimed, is
rendered infamous among the Arabs. By the faith
of an Arab, were I to encounter a thousand horsemen
in the field, it would be an easier task for me
than this devil. And he turned towards the warriors,
and told them they must struggle in the contest.
They continued in this state till darkness
came on.

On that day all Shiboob's arrows were expended
by the number he had shot, and the men and chiefs
he had slain. Kheitaoor stationed ten horsemen on
the skirt of the mountain, whom he ordered to lie
concealed among the rocks, saying in the height of
his passion, Whoever shall sleep, him will I destroy.
I will be near you, for I am convinced that this
devil has expended all his arrows: however, he will
not abandon his design; he will therefore come
down this night against you when the people are
asleep, and will steal away your arrows. I expect
therefore you will watch him till he descends, then
seize him. But beware, should he escape from you,
I will strike off all your heads; for in his speed he
will outstrip the winds, and I have not a horse that
could overtake him.

Thus he stationed the men, and enjoined them to
be on their guard. As to Shiboob, he was all
anxiety till night came on in obscurity, when he
started on his legs, and hastened down the mountain
till he reached the bottom of the heights; but
he had scarcely recovered his breath, when the men
sprung upon him, and surrounded him on all sides.

He rushed against them like a lion when he terrifies,
and in his hand he held his dagger; and though he
slew numbers of them, they at length took him prisoner.

The intelligence soon reached Kheitaoor: the
whole party arose and struck lights. Thou art
fallen at last, thou devil, said Kheitaoor: and having
ordered his shoulders to be tied well down,
Labna's father and the rest started away for the
mountain.

Harith saw all this, and he was convinced of disgrace
and misery. He immediately drew his sword
out of the sheath, and fought as long as he had
powers and strength, till he had slain ten slaves, and
brought down perdition upon them, and also two of
the Arab chiefs. At length numbers overpowered
him, and they took him prisoner, and they bound
him miserable and dejected. Bekir advanced towards
his daughter, who was trembling like a reed;
he dragged her by the hair to the bottom of the
heights, and would have slain her, had not Kheitaoor
prevented him.

They halted in that place till day dawned, when
they lashed Harith to the back of a horse, and
fastened a long rope round Shiboob's neck, and
stationed a slave over him to haul him along. He
endured it all very patiently, till coming close to
him, he gave him a kick on the stomach, and dashed
out his bowels. He darted forth into the deserts,
and they all endeavoured to gallop after him in a

body, till the robbers rushed upon them from the
barren waste, and with them Antar's horses. Having
slain them and carried away their horses,
Kheitaoor and his companions returned in pursuit of
Shiboob till they met Antar. As soon as Kheitaoor's
eyes fell on Antar, he attacked him; galloping and
charging he sought the contest, and thus addressed
him:

"Lord of the noble black steed, and the sword,
and the penetrating spear, if you indeed succeed
in destroying any of our horsemen, fortune must
have betrayed the invincible lion. When she
offers a slave the cup of sweetness, she errs, in
giving him to drink any thing but coloquintida.
Tell me what you have seen; and know that
mine is a never-failing scimitar in the revolutions
of fortune. In every land I have left for the wild
beasts and the birds a sea of blood shed by my
sword. When I am present in the fight on the
day of battle I exterminate every lion-warrior;
when I even retreat the foe trembles in horror;
and you might see the whole earth in the circumference
of a dirhem. So have recourse to some
subterfuge that you may escape by it, for apologies
cancel even the most heinous offences."

Antar heard Kheitaoor's address, and laughed
exceedingly, and thus replied in verse:

"Verily I say I will slay your horsemen, and I
will leave their flesh as carrion for wild beasts,
for my spear indeed complains of the inconvenience

of thirst; but now I have met a day when
it shall be moistened with blood. What! have
you not known my power? truly, the warriors of
all the cities of Persia confess it; and the heroes
of war on the day of battle die at the mention of
my intrepidity and liberality. When I lose my
way over the desert in my nocturnal solitude, my
only company is my sword, resembling inevitable
fate. It is never drawn but on its separation
from the sheath a sea of blood gushes from its
edge. My piebald steed has a white crescent on
its forehead, like the dawn of day, and its black
is like the sable raven. These two are my support
on the day of contention; and the barb of
my spear sparkles like a speckled serpent. How
many heroes have I abandoned as food for the
wild beasts and every ravenous lion."

Antar had not finished his verses when he rushed
upon Kheitaoor, and frightened him; he shouted
at him, and made him tremble; he pierced him
with his spear between the paps, and drove it out
through his back, and Kheitaoor fell dead weltering
in his blood. When his companions perceived what
calamity had overtaken him, they rushed on from
all sides; Antar met them with a frightful assault,
and laboured among them like a blazing fire. In
an hour forty of them were slain, the remainder
fled and sought Labna's father. But Antar returned
like a raving lion to his brother Shiboob,
and his object was accomplished upon his enemies.

Just at that time came up Oorwah and his men.
They were greatly surprised at seeing the scattered
horses of the enemy, and were exceedingly rejoiced.
O Aboolfawaris, said Oorwah to Antar,
whence are these horses you have obtained? Antar
related the adventures of Shiboob and Prince
Harith's captivity. On hearing this they alighted
from their camels' backs, and having mounted the
high-blooded horses, they went up to Shiboob, and
saluted him.

But as to the fugitives, they continued to flee
away over the desert from Antar till they reached
Beker, son of Moatemed, to whom they announced
Kheitaoor's death, detailing every circumstance,
and the destruction made among the horsemen.
Eh! and who, said he, is the warrior; who is the
dreadful lion that has slain him? A black knight,
said they, mounted on a black steed, as if hewn out
of a black rock, and in his hand is an Indian blade;
and we heard him, as he fought among the horses,
crying out, Ye base cowards, I am Antar, the son
of Shedad. May God curse your fathers above all
men! exclaimed Labna's father. What! has all
this happened to you by a single knight, and he a
black slave, powerless and insignificant? Know,
said one of them, that this is the knight whom horsemen
have described as overthrowing alone a thousand
warriors in the plain, vanquishing them by his
intrepidity and superiority. Labna's father shuddered.
What sayst thou? he cried. Who ever beheld

a single horseman attack a numerous host?
Return with me, and I will show thee what I will
do. Mount these steeds, he cried to his horsemen,
and make towards this slave with your scimitars and
your spears.

And they put their horses on their speed, and
followed him, when behold, the dust of the Absians
sprung up, and their shouts arose, and they ad
vanced like fate and destiny. It is my opinion,
said one called Jifal to Labna's father, that you
should let me pass over the desert, taking ten
horsemen with me, that I may bear away Harith
and your daughter, and convey them home; and
do you attack Antar with the remainder. Take
as many men as you please with you, said the
other.

On that Jifal returned, and with ten horsemen
departed, travelling on till they reached the place
where they had left Harith and Labna; but they
could see nothing of them, and no appearance of
their track. We are indeed disappointed in our
pursuit, said Jifal, and Labna has escaped us.

They passed on, when lo! shouts arose in their
rear. They turned about to see the cause of this
uproar, and behold their own horsemen and Arabs,
all seeking flight, pursued by the tribe of Abs and
Adnan. Jifal struck his horse's rump, and fled towards
his own country, followed by his companions.
The fugitives were scattered in tens and twenties,
and they continued in this state till night advanced,

when Antar coming up with the Absians, What
think you of this affair? said he to Oorwah; we
have routed the foe, and have succeeded in our attempts;
but we have not released either Harith or
Labna, and I am afraid they have carried them
away, and have sought their own country, and if
Harith should be delivered to As-hath, the business
will become desperate, and he will be put to death
for Kheitaoor: Shiboob indeed is gone on before
us, and till he returns this is a serious affair; for if
I pursue these fellows till I destroy them, I shall be
separated from my brother Shiboob; and if I stay
here till I have some intelligence of him, I fear
Harith will be exposed to peril, and every vestige of
him erased.

Whilst they were thus conversing, they heard
some men shouting from the mountain, and saying,
Come hither, O Aboolfawaris, for we have found
Harith, and he is indeed despairing of life. Antar,
on hearing this, took Oorwah with him, and having
ascended the mountain, Antar called out to Harith,
who opened his eyes, and mourned his sad state,
relating what had happened to him. The cause of
it was this: when the fugitives came groaning to
Labna's father, and related Kheitaoor's death, Bekir
mounted, and sought the contest with his companions,
having left his nephew Jireer with Harith
and Labna, and two stout slaves. Instantly, Jireer
unsheathed his sword, and making at the slaves,
smote them with his cleaving scimitar, and slew

them all. He sprung at Harith also, and struck
him with his sword, and dreadfully wounded him;
and then mounting Labna on one of the fine horses
(thinking Harith was dead), he abandoned him, and
rode away on his own high-mettled steed, with the
design of going with Labna to some of the noble
Arab kings, and to defend himself against accidents
under his protection. In vain Labna shrieked
aloud, and looked about to the right and left, praying
for succour.

As to the subtle Shiboob, he set out in quest of
Harith, and did not stop his progress till he came
to that spot, where he saw no human being, but the
slaves murdered. Advancing towards them, he also
perceived Harith lying between them, groaning
piteously. At this sight Shiboob stood aghast with
horror: O my lord, said he, who has done this?
Harith's heart was strengthened at seeing Shiboob;
so he told him what Jireer, Labna's cousin, had
done. Shiboob took him in his arms, and ascending
the mountain with him, on the summit he found
a ravine, in which he laid him down, placing him
in security: Shiboob then questioned Harith about
Jireer; What road has he taken? he asked. He
directed him to the quarter, and immediately Shiboob
left him in the mountain, and let loose his feet,
seeking the barren waste, and following the tracks
of Jireer. He continued his course till he overtook
him by break of day, and heard Labna's screams;
she was weeping, and in the greatest affliction.

Shiboob was delighted at seeing them; he hasted
towards them, swift as the twinkling of the eye, and
smote his horse on a vital part. The horse plunged
with him, and threw him on his head. Shiboob
sprung upon him, and stamping on his chest, stabbed
him with his dagger, scattering wide his entrails,
and annihilated his existence.

Labna, in the excess of her terrors, was bewildered;
and when Shiboob came up to her, she exclaimed,
Who art thou, O Arab? I am Shiboob,
said he; and he gave her an account of Harith, and
soothed her heart. He returned with her till he
joined his brother Antar, whom he found just as he
had brought away Harith from the mountain. On
seeing Shiboob they were in ecstasies of joy, and
grief and sorrow quitted them. Labna ran up to
Harith, whose life, as soon as he saw her, returned
to him; and thus reunited to her, his happiness was
complete, and he forgot in her society all the pain
of his wounds.

Antar remained the rest of the day in that spot
in security, and by dawn of day he departed with
his horsemen, seeking the land of the tribe of Abs
and Adnan. But, as his love for Ibla burst upon
him, he thus rhapsodised:

"Oh! is it the fragrance of musk? is it itr[3] ? is
it a voice, or the breeze warbling over the desert,
that sings of her? Is it a flash of lightning? or

is it her teeth in the wastes, resembling the full
moon when it rises? Is it the branch of the tamarisk
that sweetly waves in the wilds? Is it the
stem of the spear, or her form? Is it the narcissus
of the gardens, endued with visual powers, or
her cheek, like the untouched apple? I rave
through love of her; but let my railers see the
torrents of my tears, to which there is no end!
O Ibla, my heart for love of thee suffers tortures;
this frequent separation, and these echoes, fill me
with grief. O Ibla, fear not thy enemies, for
against the destiny of God there is no opposition."

When Antar had finished, the horsemen expressed
their delight at his prose and verses; they
travelled before him, traversing the wastes, till there
only remaining one day between them and the land
of Abs, Antar sent on Shiboob to give notice to
King Zoheir of the safety of his son Harith. Shiboob
set out by dawn of day, and about midday he
returned. It is impossible that you can have returned,
having ever reached home, said Antar. O
my brother, said Shiboob, I reached home, and
saw all the horsemen dispersed about the country,
mounted on their steeds. I inquired what was the
matter of one of them, and he informed me that
King Zoheir rode out with his son to congratulate
and meet his brother Asyed, on his arrival from
Mecca on a visit; and we have now heard, he
added, that they have been taken captives. On this

account, the horsemen have mounted in order to
release them; and he who has plundered them is a
notorious knight, and an obstinate warrior, accompanied
by a troop of noble horsemen. And hast
thou heard, said Antar, in what country they were
detained prisoners? Yes, said he; the troop came
upon them in the valley of Irak trees. This is a
most extraordinary circumstance, said Antar, that
our Princes should be taken prisoners, and perdition
come upon them. Certainly, no one has ventured
on such a deed but one fearless of mankind, and
unintimidated at death.

Antar sent Harith and Labna with twenty warriors
to the dwellings and homes; but he himself
with his men set out for the valley of Irak trees,
preceded by Shiboob.

CHAPTER XXV.

When King Zoheir missed his son Harith, he sent
out his slaves in every direction, and he remained
anxiously expecting their return till the happy
tidings of his brother's arrival reached him. Asyed
was one of King Jazeema's sons. He was a learned
man in that age of ignorance, and he generally passed
his time at the sacred shrine and Zemzem. He
was full of virtue and liberality, loving justice and
equity, and detesting violence and oppression. He
every year paid a visit to the tribe of Abs, teaching
them the distinctions between right and wrong, and
arranging their affairs, and when he arrived this
time, he sent forward to King Zoheir to announce
his approach. His brother went forth to meet him
with three hundred horsemen, all like stern-faced
lions, and all his relations and uncles, for King Zoheir
was the father of ten, the brother of ten, the
paternal uncle of ten, and the maternal uncle of ten.
They continued driving away the wild animals over
the wastes and the sands till evening came on, when
having halted in a valley till day dawned, King Zoheir
marched on without any apprehensions, till
meeting his brother Asyed in the sandhills of Erak,
he and his attendants dismounted and saluted

him. My love and affection for you, said Asyed,
have exceedingly distressed me, otherwise I should
not have quitted the fountain of Zemzem, and the
holy mansion, and the sacred shrine. They proceeded
towards the middle of a valley, which was called
the valley of Tamarisks. The wild beasts and the
deer fled before them. King Zoheir looked about
and observed his brother Asyed, who was pointing
with his hands towards the trees, and the tears were
streaming from his eyes; burning sighs burst from
his heart, and as he poured forth the groans of a
woman deprived of her children, he thus addressed
the trees:

"O trees of the Tamarisks, where do ye behold
them? Do the people of my vows dwell in your
neighbourhood? I look all around, but the hand
of ravage has destroyed them; yet never have I
broken my former protestations, I have not betrayed
them; my vows were made to one like the
full moon, resembling the branches and boughs
of the Tamarisk,—but I am alone and solitary,
though once we met, and here, now they are gone,
are only the owl and the raven. O trees of the
Tamarisk, whither are they gone? They are
gone, and in my heart passion has left a burning
flame. If ye ever, after being watered, complain
of drought, my tears to-day shall form a lake
around ye."

When Asyed had finished his verses, his sighs
became more frequent, his countenance changed, and

his agony increased; his brother advanced towards
him, having heard his discourse, and asked what was
the matter, but he observed him still pointing to
the trees, and thus exclaiming:

"O trees of the Tamarisk, in the name of God,
tell me what ye know, for I am overwhelmed with
inquietude. Pity the tears of a distracted lover,
whose eyes weep over these devastated plains.
The valley is abandoned; but there was an inhabitant
like the fawn, richly robed. Speak to me
of Selima, of Robab, of Zineb, and those, resembling
brides, in the sand-hills. They have abandoned
me in misery—they are gone, and I weep
over the remains of these desolated scenes. The
raven moans over the vestiges of these spots,
where no more are seen the tents of my mistress
and the horsemen. Take then, ye boughs of the
Tamarisk, my tears, that flowing would moisten
the saturated as well as the parched up soil. Although
the covenant between us is dissolved, yet
my love for thee bids me not despair; I live in
hope that God will make us meet in joy, as if we
had never been parted."

King Zoheir was so struck by his grief, that he
ran up to his brother Asyed, and interrupted his
speech, saying; I cannot permit you to finish these
verses, till you inform me what affliction has befallen
you. I conjure you, by the sacred shrine, to tell me
what this means. O brother, said Asyed, if I tell
you my story, you will have an indifferent opinion

of my discretion and honour; but indeed I am not
much to blame, as I did it in the days of my youth.
Know then, my brother, that the year our father,
King Jazeema, made his pilgrimage, I accompanied
him, and when our pilgrimage was expired, as we
were on our way home, we happened to pass by this
place, in which I saw a vast quantity of wild beasts
and deer. My father rode on and went home, but
I remained for the sake of the chase. Thus occupied,
I remained till the meridian heat overpowered
me, and the sultry air became so excessive I returned
also, seeking the track of my father; but I
chanced to pass by this tree, and when I reached it
I saw a very old Sheikh beneath it, and with him an
immense quantity of camels, and also his daughter,
who was tending them at the pasture. She was the
most beautiful and most elegant of forms, and as
soon as I came up to him I saluted him. What do
you want, young man? said he. I only said, Will
you accept of a guest when he comes? Welcome, said
he, to me, in winter and in summer. But, young
man, every one according to his means On hearing
this, I resolved on alighting at the lake, in order
to drink and water my horse. But the Sheikh prevented
me, and called out to his daughter, who
brought me some fresh camel's milk and gave me to
drink, and also watered my horse. I remarked the
beauty of the maiden, and I perceived her moving
in the plains of loveliness. Her father, too, observing
the symmetry of my horse and my rich garments,
brought me some victuals. Excuse my scanty
offering, said he, for I am a poor man, and the liberal
pardon when they see the apology is sincere. O
Sheikh, said I, this is the greatest charity; but if
you will accede to my wishes, I would request you
to accept my proposal, and gratify my desire with
regard to your daughter, and you shall then go with
me to my tribe. I am anxious you would receive
me as her husband, and I will take you to my land
and family; speak to me and bestow her. By Him
who has created her and fashioned her, I added,
take all I have about me as part of her marriage
dower; and I took off my sword belt and my horse
trappings, which were all of gold. The Sheikh at the
sight of this was much surprised and delighted, and
came towards me without hesitation, and giving me
his hand for the marriage, drove away the camels
and cattle, and went to his own dwelling, and I accompanied
him; and on our arrival he slaughtered
all the sheep he possessed and some she camels, and
rejoiced in me as no one ever rejoiced before, and
married his daughter to me that night. I tarried
with them three days, and afterwards I informed
them who I was. I staid some time longer, and
quitted them, bearing in my heart the greatest attachment
for them, and intending to return to them
with abundant wealth. Having reached home and
joined my family, I despatched a slave to conduct
my wife to me, and sent with him a great quantity
of camels and sheep to this valley and desert. I remained,
anxiously expecting them, till my slave returned
in despair, and brought back all my property.
I asked him what was the matter? I have seen no
one there, my lord, said he. I staid some time quiet,
and despatched emissaries to all the Arab tribes, and
expended amongst them much gold and silver, but
I never could obtain any intelligence of her. And
even now, my brother, I bear her in my memory.
It was on her account I attached myself to
Mecca and the sacred shrine, till I this day beheld
these remembrances of her, and now all my sorrows
come upon me anew; and whilst I meditated on the
past, I was anxious that you should come with me
to this spot, that I might renew the vows made so
many years ago. King Zoheir, on hearing this narrative,
was amazed at the revolutions of the days and
nights. He dismounted, and ordered the slaves to
clear away that spot, and spread carpets for them
under the tamarisk trees, and the horsemen soon returning
from the chase, bringing with them hares and
deer, they made a sumptuous feast, and expressed
great delight in the presence of King Zoheir and
his brother Asyed, making the time pass pleasantly
for them, and availing themselves of the delicious
hours in joy and delight; and they kept carousing
till the cups of wine overpowered them, and darkness
came on, and there was not one but fell asleep,
in which state they remained till the nocturnal wanderers
on the watch surprised them. A troop of
horses came upon them about the break of day, and
perceiving the spoil, and no one to protect it, they
surrounded them on all sides, and took them prisoners.
Now these horsemen belonged to the tribe
of Cahtan, and were called among the Arabs the
race of Cayan, and their chief was a brave knight,
an intrepid warrior, well skilled in the art of war
and battle, named the Chief Nazih. As soon as
these horsemen had fallen into their power, they
returned home, and none escaped of all King Zoheir's
sons and brothers but Zambaa and Warca with
three slaves, who made their way home, and raised
an uproar among the dwellings, and instantly the
horsemen mounted, all seeking the valley of Tamarisks.
The whole tribe were involved in universal
mourning, and loud were the groans and lamentations;
it was at that crisis that Shiboob arrived,
when he found them oppressed with affliction, and
the horsemen already on their way to the valley of
Tamarisks.

On Shiboob's inquiring what was the matter,
they informed him of all that had passed, and what
were their plans. He immediately returned and told
his brother Antar, the lion hero, who sent Harith
and Labna home, whilst he himself with his companions
departed in order to release King Zoheir.

But as to the tribe of Cayan, they continued
traversing the deserts till the forenoon, when the
meridian heat oppressing them, they halted to

repose by the side of a lake called the Lake of the
Waste. Here King Zoheir recovered from his intoxication,
and also his sons and brothers, and the
other horsemen, but they found themselves in fetters
and disgrace. What horseman art thou? said King
Zoheir, turning towards the knight of Cayan, and
to what Arabs art thou connected, that thou hast
braved the princes of the tribe of Abs and Adnan?
By the future and the past, we have not fallen into
your power but by the will of fate and destiny, so
we will ransom our lives with whatever thou pleasest,
and we will thank thee; avail thyself of the friendship
of such as us.

Nazih, at hearing this, started on his saddle and
swaggered about: O God, thanks be unto thee! he
exclaimed, I did not know that you were of the
tribe of Abs till this moment. With you will I terminate
all my sorrows. At last fortune has had
pity on me. Youth, cried Asyed, surprised at these
expressions, what have we to do with such language?
Hast thou any revenge against us thou
must satisfy? I have no debt, no retaliation against
you, said Nazih, but I will proceed with you to one
who is your enemy and foe. He is my lord Obad,
son of Temeem, with whom I was brought up an
orphan till I attained this high station. I am enamoured
of his daughter Dhimya, and am wrecked
in the sea of love for her. On her account I endure
battles and perils, and have exhibited my

prowess against the inhabitants of Sana and Aden.
Besides you, I have found no opposition; but he
is most anxious to have hold of one of ye. Yet I
have always heard every one say, Beware, approach
not the tribe of Abs; but now ye have fallen into
my hands, and I will through ye succeed in my
designs. Conduct us out of the road, cried he to his
comrades, that neither friend nor foe may meet us.
So they did as he directed, and Nazih was overjoyed,
marching in front of the horsemen, till darkness
overspread the land, when they halted by the
waters of the tribe Akhrem; and as they were near
home, they imagined their important concerns would
succeed, for King Zoheir despaired of safety, and
so did his brothers and his associates. At daybreak
Nazih set out, passing over the barren waste
till the forenoon, when lo! a dust appeared in front
of them that involved the whole region for an hour.
Soon after the dust opened, and there appeared
underneath it a man on foot like a bird when it
flies, like a leopard when it maddens. Behind him
were horsemen clad in iron, like the calamities of
extermination. Ahead of them was a black knight
on a black steed; he was girt with a well-proportioned
spear, and his roar was like the roar of a
lion. He was the knight of the swarthy Abs, and
their brightest ornament—the serpent of the bowels
of the desert—the chief Antar, son of Shedad.
How is it, exclaimed Nazih, that this party has
been directed to this spot? They seem but a small
number of horsemen, their fate has driven them to
death and perdition.

The guide who had conducted them through
these ways was called Aboolgharat, son of Aboolfita,
the most intelligent man of the time for traversing
the wastes and barren wilds. O Nazih, cried he,
our hopes are frustrated—our pains are baffled—
our object has failed—we have forfeited the aid of
heaven, and we have encountered here the slave of
the tribe of Abs, and not one of us will effect his
escape; but as to your expressions, of how this
party was directed to this place, I know that Antar
has a brother called Shiboob, by his mother Zebeeba,
and he is the calamity of calamities; the
misfortune of misfortunes; for when he departed with
his brother from the land of Irak at the beginning
of the night, he did not halt with him in the morning
but in the land of Syria. As to me, I know
the roads and the ways no one of all the tribes but
myself ever knew; and I am well aware, from my
own feelings, when I am in company with any one
that can puzzle me, or distract or confuse me in the
wilds. But after all, my advice is, that you release
the tribe of Abs from bondage, and relieve us from
battle and contest, first securing protection from
them: do not engage this great warrior, for he is
not like those horsemen you have hitherto encountered.
Nazih bellowed and foamed: What mean
these words? said he, am I with a hundred horsemen

of the tribe of Cayan, and they Himyarites
and brave heroes, and shall I fear the contest with
this black devil? This day shalt thou see how I
will bring destruction upon him. I will make an
example of him amongst mankind. And he rushed
towards Antar, galloping and charging to and fro;
he thus burst out:

"Away! ye that reprove me, I will not listen to
ye, my railers, I will not answer either by word
or deed. Let me die young; the swords of India
that tear out life are preferable to a life of dishonour
and infamy. It is not the approach of
the day of battle that alarms me; it is not flight
that shall rescue me from death. Who is he that
avoids it, though death should encounter him?
Death is sweeter to my heart than honey. I
have indeed taken captives the chiefs of a powerful
tribe. I am a knight, and the world can
testify it."

Nazih having finished his verses, Antar commenced
his attack upon him, and as he charged
him, he thus expressed himself:

"O antagonist, that wouldst desire a contest
with me in the battle, and wouldst aim at me in
the confusion of spears! How many armies, how
many camps have I routed! and have assaulted
when the water-mills of war were revolving!
The lightning of my sword flashes through the
dust, and its brilliancy sickens the eyes of all beholders.
The barb of my spear falls on the chests

of the east and west, till they are all mangled, and
I will defend the tribe of Abs for ever till I die,
and their name through me shall be renowned."

Antar again turned upon Nazih, and attacking
him, exclaimed, Eh! what a coxcomb art thou
amongst thy fellows! thou must be frantic! What
Arab art thou? But this day I will silence thy
presumption; I will make thee an inhabitant of the
tomb, and I will make thee feel the ill-luck of thy
resistance against the tribe of Abs and Adnan, and
of thy daring violence against the prince of the
age.

By the faith of an Arab, said Nazih, I have obtained
unbounded good from the tribe of Abs, and
I have captured every one of their chiefs and
princes, and soon will I bring down annihilation on
thee. At hearing this, Antar's passion increased,
and he rushed upon him, eager for his death. Nazih
met him and fought him; they engaged till their
limbs were powerless, and the perspiration streamed
down their bodies, and the blood flowed from their
wounds. Indignation seized the heart of Nazih;
he rushed at Antar and thrust at him, quick as the
twinkling of the eye, aiming at Antar's chest; but
in this thrust the spear came short, and as it was
falling between the eyes of Abjer, Antar warded it
off with his shield, but it wounded him in the thigh;
then indeed was his wrath roused; he pounced
down upon Nazih, and struggling with him till he
quite exhausted him, he stretched forth his arm

towards the belt of his armour, and dragged him
off the seat of his saddle, and took him prisoner.
Shiboob ran up to him and received Nazih from his
hands; he bound fast his shoulders, and tied down
his arms and his sides, whilst Antar shouted out
to his horsemen, and ordered them to strike and
thrust. So they attacked the tribe of Cayan, and
plied their swords and their spears among them;
and the dust arose over their heads. Perdition
fell upon the horsemen of Cayan, and the horsemen
of Yemen, and they were overwhelmed
with perils. The Absians slew thirty of them,
and took seventy prisoners. In the mean time
Shiboob, seeing them all occupied, hurried towards
King Zoheir and his associates, and released
them, slackening away from them the tightness of
the bow-string. Antar also soon came up with
his comrades and saluted King Zoheir, who told
him what had passed. O King of the time, said
Antar, it is incumbent on every one to give way to
the changes of fortune, for it is ever treacherous.
But pour forth your thanks to the great God for
your deliverance, and your release from this perilous
situation. Antar also related all that had happened
to him in the land of Irak, and how his horses had
been stolen from him on the road, and how he met
Shiboob, and Harith, and Labna, and the tribe of
Zohran; how he released them all, and slew Kheitaoor.
O Aboolfawaris, said King Zoheir, my son
Harith lives then? Yes, said Antar, and is now
with his family and relations. Glorious indeed are
thy works, O Aboolfawaris, said King Zoheir, for
I had despaired of my son. But now conduct us
home. King of the age, said Antar, it will first be
advisable to cut the throats of these dogs. So
Shiboob went up to Nazih first of all, who was in
the greatest agony; he stripped him of his clothes,
and his body appeared whiter than hail, and above
his wrist was a bracelet of cornelian, and on it were
shaped two images of burnished gold in the form of
Lat and Uzza. As soon as Asyed saw this bracelet
he recognised it, and perfectly recollected it; and
as Shiboob was proceeding to despatch Nazih,
Hold, my cousin, he exclaimed, a little for me, and
he advanced towards Nazih; his agony of mind increased;
he took the bracelet in his hand, he kissed
it and wept over it; he sighed and sorrowed.
Whence had you this bracelet, young man? he
quickly asked. Nazih shed a torrent of tears;
Know, my lord, said he, I was brought up an
orphan among the tribe of Cayan. Who was your
father? demanded Asyed. O my dread lord, said
Nazih, I never knew who was my father; neither
do I know of what Arab tribe he was. I was
brought up as a poor fatherless orphan by the
charity of my master Obad, son of Temeem. He
has a daughter called Dhimya, and I have loved
her from the days of childhood. On her account I
have engaged my equals, and have subdued horsemen,
and although I am mad to demand her in
marriage, modesty has prevented me; and oft I say to
myself, I shall be this evening in his tent, then it
shall be done; and again, to-day I will demand his
daughter, but I have never ventured yet, and were
I to drink of the draught of death and perdition, I
shall never approach him, however great my influence
is over him, and however serviceable I have
been to him. But in my heart I conceal my love
for his daughter, and it is only to my mother I
complain when my sorrows oppress me; and my
mother, she sometimes says to me, O my son, you
can never find any relief for this passion till
you make an attack upon the tribe of Abs and
Adnan, and are roused to seize some of their chiefs
and bring them here, then may your plans succeed.
For, O my son, your master Obad has an old vengeance
against them; and if you do not march
against that country, you will never gain your
point. Mother, I said to her, I hear every one
extol the tribe of Abs for their irresistible steadiness
in the day of battle, and they are the knights of
extermination and of instant death. But my mother
still would say, good luck is oft in penury, and
victory comes from God; and moreover, if you
have fears, you must ever live a trifler. But take
with you this bracelet, on which is the name of the
Lord of heaven and earth; your father gave it me,
alas! alas! on the night he was wedded to me—
and he said to me, Preserve it! So if you succeed
in your wishes, praise be to the God of Zemzem
and the shrine; and should you be taken prisoner,
this will liberate you from bondage and infamy.
I took it from my mother and bound it on my arm,
and I set out on an expedition against the vagrant
tribes with these hundred men, and I did not discontinue
my journey over the deserts till I came to
the spot, the valley of Tamarisks, where we overcame
you and succeeded in our attempts. There
indeed shone clear the proof of my mother's sayings,
and with you I was traversing the wilds and
the wastes till I encountered this black, this dreadful
warrior, and infamy fell upon me, and now you are
come to cut off my head.

As Asyed listened to this tale, a shuddering came
over him; he gazed at Nazih very minutely, and
tracing the well-known features, he clasped him to
his bosom, and kissed him between the eyes, exclaiming
by the truth of the sacred Shrine, Thou
art my son!—thou art a part of my heart! I gave
this bracelet to thy mother Selma, and my name is
inscribed thereon, and thy mother only sent thee to
this land to gain authentic intelligence of us. O
my brother, added he to Zoheir, the times have
changed and turned round, and what was lost is
come back to me: it was of this young man's mother
that I spoke to you. All that were present, when
they heard this story, were in amazement. But Antar
dismounted and received Nazih with great kindness,
and kissed him between the eyes, for he was a true
lion warrior, and a noble knight. Nazih was much
pleased: O tribe of Abs, said he, indeed you are

the mine of liberality and generosity, and he who is
connected by birth to you can never care for death.
I indeed rejoice in your parentage, and in my union
with your lineage, and I will be as a slave among
you. Yet must I interrogate my mother about my
father, that the truth may be fully proved, and I
realise all my expectations.

Make no such delays, O Nazih, said Aboolgharat,
you have no occasion to inquire of your mother on
this subject, for I am better acquainted with it than
any one. I was the person who conducted your
master Obad to this country; he invaded it, and
took your mother captive. We returned home immediately
under alarm that the tribe of Abs and
Adnan might overtake us, and on our arrival we
divided the spoil, and your mother fell to the lot of
your master Obad; and as soon as her pregnancy
became evident, he questioned her about her situation,
and who was her husband. My husband was
slain in the valley, said she. Thus she concealed
her story, and never revealed the secret to any one,
fearful of death and perdition. This man is your
father, and you are his son; but this is no time for
talking at length, for we are about to have our
heads cut off. At hearing this the noble Nazih
smiled, and his heart pitied his people when they
communicated to him his real situation; but Asyed
hastened and untied his handcuffs, and did the same
to the others, and mounted them on horses, and
they all set out for the land of the tribe of Abs,

Nazih travelling by the side of his father Asyed,
who talked pleasantly with him, and gave him accounts
of his mother. Now that it is certain that
you are my father, said Nazih, I have no more
anxiety on your account; but I must bring my mother
here. I am, however, distressed when thinking
how I shall remain with you among the tribe of
Abs and Adnan, and my mother in the tribe of
Cayan will suffer death and infamy; particularly
when Obad hears I am an Absian he will not let
my mother survive a day, and I shall die of sorrows
for her, and regret for his daughter Dhimya. O
my son, said Asyed, it appears as if I must either
abandon your mother in the hands of foes, or you
drive Dhimya from your heart: but let us say no
more till we reach home and join our tribe. Thus
they travelled on, highly gratified, till evening, when
they halted at the waters, and waited whilst the
horses were refreshed. They took their dinner,
and again mounted their steeds, and passed on
during the darkness of the night till morning shone,
when they reached the valley of Tamarisks; but as
soon as the sun rose they perceived the camp of the
tribe of Abs, who were hasting over the desert in
pursuit of King Zoheir, for every family was in
movement. And as King Zoheir and his party approached,
the first that espied them was Rebia; he
had also set out on that expedition, hoping that King
Zoheir would receive his deliverance at his hands,
and thus would his past actions be erased from his
heart: but he was disappointed. The tribe advanced
and saluted King Zoheir, and inquired the
cause of his captivity, and how it had happened. He
related the whole to them, and also the story of
Nazih, at which they were in astonishment. Rebia
came up to Antar, jealous that King Zoheir had
been released by him, and said, O Aboolfawaris,
there is no day but we see you in it, for you are indeed
the daily food of friends. May no evil, no
harm ever reach you! for you are our polished
sword and our long spear. Antar thanked him.
About evening they set off: they crossed over the
desert, and reposed that night in the valley of
Erak. In the morning they resolved on pursuing
their way: O king, said Asyed, I will go with you
to the tents, and thence I will proceed to liberate
my wife Selma, and will gratify my son's designs
upon Dhimya, for unless I effect this he will never
feel happy in staying with us. If such is the case,
said King Zoheir, we will all proceed to the cities
of Yemen with our warriors and armies, and we
will not return till we have accomplished our purpose.
No, said Antar, by the faith of an Arab no
one but myself shall proceed on this expedition, for
I do not see the necessity of your taking all that
trouble and anxiety. On hearing this, Rebia
thanked him for the loyalty of his spirit. Admirable!
my cousin, said he; and I and my brother also, we
will go with you, and will expose our lives on this
occasion.

Now this speech was only meant to excite Antar
to the expedition, for he was vexed at him, as all
his plans had failed through him; so he wished him
to expose himself among the cities of Yemen, in the
full expectation that the calamities of fortune and
perils would put an end to him. Antar thanked
him for his speech, though well aware of his malice
and insidious motives.

We cannot agree with you in this respect, said
King Zoheir, we will not let you go into Yemen to
endanger yourself on our private necessities with
only one hundred horsemen: take with you a thousand
of the most tried warriors, that our hearts may
be at ease about you. O great king, said Antar,
were I even going to the conquest of the cities of
Syria, or to fight with the Chosroe of Persia, I
would not take so many as a thousand horsemen. I
do wish it may be publicly announced that your
slave Antar invaded the cities of Yemen, and those
countries, with only one hundred horsemen, every
one indeed a hardy warrior; and that he executed
his objects, and returned with affluence and plunder.
But my heart does not feel happy that I should undertake
this expedition before my Lord Harith has
wedded his bride Labna.

Now Harith was recovered of the wounds he had
received; he was quite well and in good health. They
continued till they reached their native land, and
universal joy and delight was the result of their ar
rival. They made entertainments and feasts, and perfect

happiness and felicity dwelt among them. They
slaughtered cattle for the banquets; the liquor and
the wine went round; the damsels beat the dulcimers;
and the high and low were in full glee.
Labna was married to Harith; he entered unto her,
and he was happy. After feasting seven days, Antar
prepared for his expedition and passage over
the desert, in order to finish the affair so interesting
to Asyed and his son Nazih. He took with him
his father Shedad, and three hundred horsemen of
the race of Carad; Asyed also went with him, determined
on success. King Zoheir accompanied
them to take leave, and when they reached the valley
of Erak they left King Zoheir behind, and
quitted him there. He returned home, and Antar
departed for the cities of Yemen.

But as to King Zoheir, he had not rested two
days after Antar's departure when Numan's messenger
arrived, and with him innumerable camels,
and robes, that amazed the eye, and also a thousand
Asafeer camels. When King Zoheir learnt
the arrival of the messenger, he went out to meet
him, and welcoming him to his dwelling, made him
dismount, and treating him hospitably, inquired
about King Numan's health. And when he had
described to him all the goods and presents destined
for him (and indeed the quantity was immense),
King Numan, he added, salutes you, and desires
you to send him your daughter, merely herself;
but not a single article of your own property, for he

does not require of you either goods or presents.
King Zoheir upon this made a long panegyric on
King Numan.

Aswad's messenger also arrived about the same
time at the tribe of Fazarah, who did the same towards
him as King Zoheir had done with regard to
King Numan's. The cymbals were struck up in
the hands of the damsels, and they remained in this
state seven days. On the eighth day the howdahs
were raised on the backs of the camels, decorated
with splendid velvet. The ladies were lifted in, accommodated
on silken cushions and couches. The
standards and ensigns were unfurled, and the men
rode round them like lions. Hadifah accompanied
his sister with one hundred horsemen, and King
Zoheir sent his son Shas with his daughter; and they
continued traversing the deserts, the Arabs treating
them as they passed, till they reached Hirah. And
when Numan heard of their approach he went out
to meet them, his brother riding by his side, and
surrounded by troops; the drums were beaten on
all sides, and this was a day of joy and pleasure, the
like of which was never known in the whole world;
for Numan gave away alms, made presents, distributed
gold and silver, prepared magnificent entertainments,
and had tables covered with meat. This
continued in the same manner for ten days, and
Mootegeredeh was married to King Numan, and
the hour and the time were most propitious; and
Maria was also married to his brother Aswad, and

theirs was a state of happiness never experienced
before by man; each realised his hopes, and all
their friends and well-wishers rejoiced. In three
days the Arabs separated, and every one took his
own road, and every chief sought his own clan.
Aswad invested Hadifah with an honorary robe,
and also the chiefs of the tribe of Fazarah. So also
did King Numan towards Shas; he bestowed on
him rich presents, and gave him splendid robes, and
treated him in the most distinguished manner.

When Shas saw this, and all the rich presents
that were produced before him, O king, said he, do
not bestow on me any article of your property, not
even to the value of a halter. We only coveted
your connexion on account of your glory, and the
honour of your name. Numan thanked him; and
having loaded the she camel that had conveyed his
bride with aloes, and amber, and musk, and perfumes,
he also wished to send with him an escort of
troops to attend on him and protect him. But, said
he, are you not my relation? King Zoheir my father?
the tribe of Abs my countrymen? and the
protector of our lands and our property, the Chief
Antar, son of Shedad? and shall I go with an escort?
No! by the faith of an Arab! So he bade
them farewell, and departed in company with Hadifah
and the tribe of Fazarah.

Now Shas had no one with him but the slave that
drove his camel; and when they were at some
distance from Kufah they began to converse about

the weddings and the feasts, and each of them
talked about his connexion, and what had occurred
during the entertainments. Hadifah was quite extravagant
in his eulogium of Prince Aswad, extolling
him greatly, and preferring him to Numan.
Shas was now aware that they wished to irritate him
by their discourse; but as he was anxious to put a
stop to any enmity or ill will between them, he separated
from them, feigning a desire to indulge in
the hunt and chase. As soon as Hadifah saw this,
he said to his cousins, Let us away over the wastes
and the wilds, and let us escape from danger and
destruction; perhaps some one may fall upon him
who will cut off his head, and will take his horse
and his armour, for he is also one of Antar's friends.
Thus they passed over the deserts, and Shas followed
behind, who being thus separated from Hadifah,
travelled alone, amusing himself on the skirts
of the waste, and rejoicing at having avoided their
misconduct, till he reached the waters of the tribe
of Aamir, where he arrived in the obscurity of the
night, and as he was exceedingly thirsty, he was
much troubled. By the side of the lake there was
a huntsman chasing the wild animals as they passed
to and fro; he was called Thalaba, the son of Aaridj.
He was extending out his nets, and fixing them by
the water-side, and as Shas came up, the wild animals
being frightened away, the huntsman was
much annoyed, and he cried out to Shas, Who art
thou? thou hast spoiled my sport, and hast driven
away the beasts from me. Fear not, young man,
said Shas, for I will reward you for what you lose.
But have you a drink of water, that I may quench
my thirst? Ay! you shall have water from me,
said the huntsman, but not water that shall moisten
your thirst or relieve your entrails. Shas, on hearing
this, was very angry, for he was a prince and
the son of a prince. You dog of the tribe of Aamir,
said he, were you not a poor miserable fellow I
would punish you in the manner that kings punish.
But the huntsman immediately drew an arrow from
his quiver, and fixing it on the centre of his bow,
aimed it at Shas by the sound of his voice, and it
struck him through the heart, and it hurled him
dead off his horse. The slave, when he saw his
master fall headlong, left him there, and departed
home to the tribe of Abs, making all speed in his
flight. Then came up the huntsman, and examined
him, and looked at his horse, and lo! its trappings
were of gold; and perceiving the garments of a
mighty prince upon him, he was in the greatest
agitation. He dug a hole for him in the sand, and
buried him; but he took away the horse and the
camel, and hastened home, and when he came to
his wife he acquainted her with the circumstance,
and directed her not to discover it to any one. He
slaughtered the camel, and distributed the meat,
concealing the property and perfumes, and the fine
horse. And thus it was all over with Shas.

In the meantime Hadifah reached the tribe of

Fazarah, and the whole universe could not contain
him, so excessive was his joy. King Zoheir heard
of his arrival, and his heart was in a flame about his
son Shas, till the slave also came back and informed
King Zoheir of the murder of his son. Great indeed
was this affliction. His tears, his lamentations
were incessant; he tore off all his clothes. The
news soon reached his mother, and his brothers, and
his comrades, and their distress equalled his. The
whole clan was absorbed in tears, and sobs, and
groans. The next day arrived Rebia; and in three
days more King Zoheir assembled in haste all his
lion warriors, and prepared two thousand horsemen
that would have infused fears even into the genii
and the fiends. And they departed, traversing the
burning sands, seeking the land of the tribe of
Aamir; and at their head rode King Zoheir, his
heart ulcered with grief, and by his side was Rebia;
and they continued their successive marches till they
drew nigh to the land of the tribe of Aamir; and
when their dust appeared, Ghasham[4] , son of Malik,
mounted, and went out with a party of his people
to meet King Zoheir, and saluting him, O great
king, said he, art thou come to our land to take your
pleasure with us, and to hunt in the vicinity? O
Ghashm, said King Zoheir, we are not come on a
visit or as guests. We are come with no other purpose
but to extirpate you with the sword. What,
said the Brandisher of Spears, has produced this
enmity between us, that we should deserve such
violent measures at your hands after such friendship?
Ay, said King Zoheir, for my son Shas, on
his return from his relation, King Numan, was
slain at your waters. O king, said Ghashm, who
told you this? The slave that accompanied him,
said King Zoheir, informed me of his murder and
his destruction. And would you, O great king,
added Ghashm, take away a man in health for one in
sickness? and have you believed a base slave to our
prejudice? and had even the slave told the truth,
how many thieves and robbers are there in our
neighbourhood! But if, notwithstanding this, you
are resolved on shedding blood, God forbid that
hostility should arise between us! But if you will
not assent to my proposal, and you are certainly a
man of honour, at least have pity on the widows and
the infirm. King Zoheir, on hearing this address,
returned, alarmed at the consequences of violence
and oppression. He hastened his march till he
reached home. But his son Cais was extremely afflicted,
and wept bitterly, saying, I will not permit
the blood of my brother to pass away in vain. I
myself will undertake this business. It happened
that this was a year of drought and scarcity, and
the people were in total want of every thing. So
Cais selected two she camels, and loading them with
dried dates, and wheat, and butter, sent for an old,
grey-headed woman, from whom there was no sort
of deceit concealed. Take these two camels, said he
to her, and go to the land of the tribe of Aamir, but
take special care not to discover yourself; buy nothing
in exchange but rarities and valuable articles,
and when any perfumes fall in your way, inquire
whence they were imported.

As soon as the old woman heard Cais's instruction,
she understood the whole affair, and she departed
with a heart proof against all perils. He, however,
sent with her some one to conduct her to the tribe
of Aamir, and when she reached the dwellings, she
roamed about and offered for sale her stock of wheat,
inquiring for excellent perfumes in exchange. They
produced all the perfumes they had, till she came, in
her rounds, to the families of Ghani and Kellab;
and, moreover, she importuned the whole tribe of
Aamir till she reached the house of Thalaba, son of
Aaridj, the huntsman. He himself was, at that
period, away from his wife, who, in his absence,
being in want of provisions, and seeing this stock
brought by the old woman, cried out to her to come
into her tent; she conducted her in, and offered
her for sale some aloe wood, and musk, and amber,
and as she inhaled the fragrance of them, the barren
waste was scented with their odour. The old
woman was quite amazed at the extraordinary qualities
of these perfumes, and their fragrance quite
intoxicated her. O my mistress, said she, this is
indeed a rarity not to be purchased with wheat.
The God of old knows my intention, and may I

never lose my daughter! For God's sake, do now
take all my stock, and relieve me from any further
trouble and delay. But tell me whence was this
perfume brought you, for in no place whatever have
I ever seen any thing like it; such as this is not to
be found at any merchant's or perfumer's. I will
not inform you on this point, said Thalaba's wife,
and I will not reveal the business to you unless you
promise me, by him who fashioned the human frame,
that this affair shall not proceed from you to any
human being, and that you will not acknowledge it
to any one, man or woman. The old woman acceded
to her proposition. O aunt, said she, my
husband is called Thalaba, the son of Aaridj, the
huntsman, and he gained, in this pitiful business,
what no one of the servants of God ever gained before,
for one day he was by the side of the lake
hunting. It was night, when a youth called Shas,
son of King Zoheir, passing by, frightened away the
wild beasts, at which my husband was very angry
and abused him; the youth spoke in terms that irritated
him, so my husband struck him with an arrow
and slew him, and when the business was over
my husband went towards him and perceived the
whole catastrophe. A slave had accompanied Shas,
and there was also a black-eyed camel, laden entirely
with these perfumes. The slave, on seeing what
had happened, fled away, and my husband, having
first buried Shas in the sand, immediately came
home, and with him the horse and camel; he is now
gone to sell the horse and the trappings in some of
the Arab hordes, and will bring me back some gold
and silver. Now, were you not a foreign woman I
should not have informed you of this extraordinary
story. But still I will not let you go after this meeting,
till you have given me your promise not to tell
any one. I am a foreign woman, said the other, and
am very old, and I live in the land of Yemen, and
I have never heard any one mention the tribe of
Abs or their king's son, Shas. So she made the required
promise, and took away all her perfumes, and
put them on the two camels; and, bidding her adieu,
she departed much pleased at what she had done.
She instantly set out for the land of Abs, and she
thought she should never reach home, so eager was
she to execute Cais's commission, and inform King
Zoheir of his son's death, till she actually arrived
and related the surprising circumstances that had
occurred to her. Now, do what you please, said
she, and make whatever arrangements you choose.
And what man slew him? said he. Thalaba, the
huntsman, said she; and she informed him what
Cais had done in his ingenuity, and showed him the
perfumes. King Zoheir wept and sobbed, the tears
streamed and flowed, whilst he thus gave vent to his
grief in verse:

"The vicissitudes of fortune have thrown me
into misery and wretchedness, and fortune has
ever evinced its treacherous disposition. I am involved
in affliction by it, as if I were the friend of

intoxication, produced by excess of wine. It has
left me in solitude; I have no one to assist me.
O that I were with him; united to him in the
tomb. When the messenger of Shas's death arrived,
grief took possession of me, and I am
bewildered. O Shas, thou hast cast a grief into
my heart that will not pass away, were even my
life to pass away. Think not, O vengeance, that
thou shalt sleep, now that he is gone. Let not the
goose imagine it shall escape the vulture. Soon
shalt thou see the Absian warriors plunge into
deaths, and seas, and horrors. The kings of the
earth shall see that we are able to take vengeance
on their boldest heroes."

To arms! to arms! cried King Zoheir to those
that were about him, and he mounted that very day,
accompanied by all the chiefs and Rebia, who thus
exclaimed, in verses:

"I was heedless of the nocturnal depredators, and
my heart is insensible to joy. A calamity has
befallen me that has taught me afflictions, and the
heaviest sorrows. O my tears, flow fast from your
stores for the loss of our hero. O my tribe, I have
lost one who was my sword, and my right hand,
and left hand, in the battle. He was a crown on
the heads of the tribe of Abs, brilliant as the full
moon; but that moon is on the wane and is lost,
now that the hostile hand has aimed at him the
fatal arrow. O tribe of Aamir, do ye not dread
the assault, that would even endanger the summits

of the caverned mountains. O land, now Shas is
gone, what can protect thee? Will the heavens
shadow thee from destruction? Our steeds are
fearless in the contest, and our swords are death's
harbingers in the battle. The barbs of our spears
bear witness that the heights of glory are our
mansions of honour. The kings of the universe
are our slaves. They serve us, and we are the
lords. Shall they venture to oppose us? and we
are on our thin-flanked coursers, like dragons."

When King Zoheir looked round at his sons and
saw not Shas, he wept bitterly. They hastened
their march, and a burning flame was concealed in
their breasts, till they reached the tribe of Aamir.
Their chief and ruler was called Khalid, son of
Giafir, and their knight that protected them in the
days of trouble was the Brandisher of Spears,
Ghashm, son of Malik. The family of Ghani had
also a skilful warrior whose name was Rebia, son of
Ocail, and the family of Kellab had also a horseman
called Jandah, son of Beka. These three tribes
resided in one land, and their waters approximated,
and they were nearly related. But at that time the
chief, Khalid, was absent with Prince Aswad, in the
land of Irak, who had also married the daughter of
his brother, Akhwas, and her name was Saad; and
when Khalid heard of Aswad's marriage with Hadifah's
sister, he took with him some of the chiefs of
the tribe of Aamir to visit him, and when he was
about to return, his niece would not let him go. O

my uncle, said she, stay with me till I see how I like
my situation; for, indeed, if I am annoyed, I will
return to my own country and my family. So he
staid some time with her, and it was during his
absence these events occurred, and King Zoheir
invaded the tribe of Aamir, where he found the
dwellings without their warriors, and there was no
one but the Brandisher of Swords with a few men.
Now, when they saw King Zoheir return, they rode
out to meet him, and made a very humble address
to him, inquiring the cause of his return. He informed
them of the stratagem Cais had adopted, in
order to succeed in his object; he also told them
that Thalaba, the huntsman, had slain his son Shas.
On hearing this, and ascertaining it to be true, they
searched for Thalaba, but could not find him. Upon
this they sent for his wife, and ordered her to confess;
she acknowledged what her husband had done,
and produced all the perfumes she still had. King
Zoheir was highly incensed, and his eyeballs started
into the crown of his head. O tribe of Aamir, cried
he, I demand of you one of three conditions. First,
that you return me my son as he was; but if you
cannot effect that, fill then my outer cloak with the
constellations of heaven; and if you cannot effect
that, I demand of you the whole tribe of Ghani, that
I may sacrifice all their children and their parents.
O my lord, said they, verily you insult and outrage
us, and demand of us impossibilities; for he who
requests what no human being can perform, oppresses
and tyrannizes. It is impossible for any one to
revive the dead or kill the living, but Him who outspread
the earth and vaulted the skies; but as to
your proposal of delivering over to you all the tribe
of Ghani, it is a thing you in your senses could
never suppose we should do, for you are a generous
king, therefore do not exact the living for the dead.
But as to exciting war and dissensions among us,
heaven forbid that we should ever have recourse to
such a proceeding, and that we should exchange our
security for alarms and fears. But we will pay you
ten times[5] the price of blood, and we beg of you to
set at liberty our women and our daughters. Thus
the tribe continued till King Zoheir was duped and
relented. Consulting with Rebia about the abandonment
of retaliation and their return home, O king,
said Rebia, what is this you say? How can we raise
our heads among the Arabs, if we permit the blood
of Shas to pass unrevenged? And, unsheathing his
sword, To arms! to arms! he exclaimed, and rushed
with his drawn sabre among the tribe of Aamir,
whilst the sons of King Zoheir, also joining in a
similar shout, extended their spears and plied their
scimitars among them. The shouts arose on all
sides; the tribe of Aamir put on their arms and
defended themselves; the battle became furious, and
many were slain and wounded. Blood flowed and
streamed, and the dust uprose and sickened the eyeballs
of the shouters. Heads were severed from
bodies; the tribe of Aamir just kept off the contest
from their children, but were reduced to great distress
as the confusion and uproar increased. The
tribe of Abs cut through them by the force of their
steeds, and slaughtered numbers of their horsemen
and troops. On that day the only one that could
fight on the offensive, and repel the attack, was the
Brandisher of Spears, for he was one of the renowned
heroes and celebrated warriors; but observing the
tribe of Abs, how they overpowered him, and the
numbers of his own party, how they were cut up,
and alarmed for their total annihilation, and the
destruction of his country, he took with him a party
of his tribe, all noble horsemen, and repaired to
King Zoheir, who was under the standards; he
dismounted and paid obeisance, and kissing his hand,
O dreaded king, said he, do not the deeds of a
coward, for you are a great prince. Draw back your
swords from us, that we may extract this tribe for
you from the midst of us, and may separate from
them and deliver them over to you. Do not destroy
us for the crimes of others, leave us quiet in our
lands and territory. All I request of you is, to
delay for the remainder of this day, and to-morrow
morning come on and the tribe shall be yours. He
continued to engage his compassion in this proposal,
and so humiliated himself, that King Zoheir was
induced to agree to his request. I grant you, said
King Zoheir, the term of this day, so that no blame
or reproach may attach to us. And he immediately
directed his slaves to order back the troops from the
contest. The Brandisher of Spears returned to his
tribe: Now then, said he, entrench your women and
families on the summits of the mountains, for I have
circumvented King Zoheir in my discourse. Let us
occupy a strong post for some days, till the sacred
moon shine upon us, when battle and contention
must be stopped, and these unexpected oppressors
must depart. Moreover too, our Chief Khalid may
arrive from the land of Irak, and he will avert from
us this insupportable calamity.

The tribe of Aamir, on hearing this, were convinced
of the expediency of the measure. So they
all hastened away, and struck their tents and dwellings,
every one carrying away his property, and
placing his family in security among the mountains.
Before daylight, the whole country was abandoned,
and they moved like waves towards the hills.

By the dawn of day King Zoheir mounted, and
when he saw what they had done, he was aware that
the Brandisher of Spears had deceived him. He
was furious with passion, and marched in haste
against the Aamirites, with his men, and besieged
them in the mountains. All that fell into
his hands he made to drink of the cup of death and
extinction, for the troops were greatly exasperated.
They continued in this state for five days, and then
arose the sacred moon. It was the month of Redjeb,
which the ignorance of the Arabs sanctified. War

ceased during that time, and had it happened that
any one had killed his father or his brother, it was
never spoken of to him, and he could not be brought
to trial. The Arabs went every where unarmed; and
for that reason it was called the deaf and dumb
month, for the ears were insensible therein, and the
Arabs, laying aside their arms, repaired to the holy
Shrine, and made a pilgrimage, demanding forgiveness
of sins.

When King Zoheir perceived the rising of the
moon, and that the month of Redjeb had commenced,
his heart was in flames, and burned with
rage. He abandoned the contest, not to give an
evil example among the Arabs.

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.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Now it happened soon after, that Talib, Rebia's brother,
went out to the pastures with the camels, and
was sitting under an Erak-tree, drinking and singing;
and whilst he was thus occupied, lo! a horseman of
the tribe of Fazarah passed by, called Hasein, son
of Dhemdhem-ul-Meree (this warrior was the son
of Hadifah's sister). Observing Talib sitting down
in a state of intoxication, he went up to him; Son
of Zeead, said he, you are singing here very jolly
and merry, under no apprehension of the Arab
warriors. Eh! O Hasein, said Talib, is there any
security but in our land? Victory is on our banners,
every good is in our merriment, and evil dwells in
the country of our foes; for our swords are sharp,
our spears long, and our arms strong and vigorous.
Talib had not finished his reply, when Hasein
rushed upon him, and shaking his spear in his face
pierced him through the chest, driving the barb out
through his back, and threw him down dead, weltering
in his blood. He fled instantly to the tribe of
Fazarah, and presenting himself to his maternal
uncle, Hadifah, he told him what had happened.
At which being much pleased, he, with a smile, told
the warriors of Fazarah to repose under arms that
night. But Talib's slaves and shepherds, when they

saw the fate of their master, placed him on his horse,
and returned to the dwellings of the tribe of Abs,
where they proclaimed the murder of Talib, and
that Hasein was his murdered. At this, the family
of Zeead knocked down their tents, and cut off the
tails of their horses. May God destroy the tribe of
Fazarah! cried Cais, much distressed; how infamous
are their frauds! And they all began to weep and
wail in grief, men and women.

King Cais summoned the family of Zeead and
the noble Absians, and sent to order Hadifah to
give up Hasein; but when the messenger arrived,
and communicated his orders, Hadifah ordered him
away: Tell Cais, said he, my nephew was intoxicated;
and, besides, I am not a man to give up my
sister's son to any king of the earth: but if you wish
for the compensation, I will give you ten times the
price of blood, so that the engagements between us
may not be broken. The messenger returned, and
reported Hadifah's answer. Rage and resentment
took possession of King Cais; he shouted to the
Absians, and ordered them to mount, and instantly
the warriors and the heroes were ready; and no one
remained behind but Antar and the family of Carad,
it being only an affair of retaliation for the family of
Zeead.

King Cais had just cleared the tents, and the
eagle banners were just fixed over his head, and all
were eager to march to the fight against the Fazareans,
when lo! a special messenger appeared, advancing
over the desert. King Cais halted, and the

Chieftains stared; the messenger dismounted from
his camel, and hastening towards King Cais, he
kissed his feet in the stirrup: and behold it was
one of Mootegeredah's slaves. What's the matter,
worthy slave? said Cais. O my lord, replied he,
there are advancing in my rear armies like the swoln
ocean, and with them a giant-knight and an intrepid
lion, called Mocri-ul-wahsh, the knight of the
tribe of Ghasan, the destroyer of the brave; be on
your guard against death and destruction, for the
armies in less than three days will be in this country:
prepare, therefore, your implements of war against
slaughter and ruin. At hearing this, the light became
dark in the eyes of Cais. And why did not
your mistress, said he, inform us before the enemy
marched against us, that we might have written to
our allies, and those in whom we trust in our
troubles and our relaxations? My mistress, added
the slave, could not do so till the armies had departed;
no one was permitted to stir out, for Numan
had stationed guards over all the horse-roads till
the moment the troops marched; then my mistress
ordered me to set out with the news; so make your
preparations, ere death overtake you. Cais's heart
was greatly perplexed at these occurrences. He
instantly sent for Antar, and told him what was
planning, and that Numan was on his way with
armies and Mocri-ul-wahsh, the knight of Syria.
This is all owing to your temporizing conduct, said
Antar; had you permitted me to strike off Aswad's
head, and slay his companions, many of these
troubles would have been avoided. My opinion is,
we should march first against the tribe of Fazarah,
and put them all to the sword, and leave them not
a tent standing; then we will meet the armies of
King Numan, were there even with him man and
genii, and the fiends that rebelled against our Lord
Soliman. O Aboolfawaris, said Cais, the foe is nigh
at hand; and if we go against the Fazareans, we
cannot reach them till evening; we must there repose
till the morning; and certainly in two or three days
we shall not be relieved of them; and I fear these
foreign Arabs may reach our country whilst our
property is unprotected, and thus succeed in their
projects against us, and our troubles be prolonged.
It will be more expedient for us to remain here and
prepare to encounter the foe. My lord, said the
slave who brought the news, the carnage amongst
you will be trifling, but the prisoners numerous;
for Numan has prohibited them from slaying, and
has recommended them only to make prisoners, and
for that purpose he has sent a number of his satraps,
with Mocri-ul-wahsh, who, however, has engaged to
slay Antar, the subtle hero, and has demanded as a
reward a thousand Asafeer camels. Evil be his fate!
false are all his hopes, said Antar, for by the faith of
an Arab, I will have no knight of camels in our
country, but hung to a gibbet. Do not consider us,
cousin, said Cais to Rebia, as he retired, as neglectful
of your retaliation; but when we have defeated
Numan's armies, we will return upon the tribe of
Fazarah, and will destroy their land, otherwise we
shall never be quiet. Thus the heart of Rebia was
consoled; and the Absians alighted at their tents,
preparing for the slaughter and the battle.

As to Hadifah, he was expecting the attack of the
Absians, in retaliation for the son of Zeead, that
he might raise a war against them, and appease
his heart. The news reached him that Cais had
mounted, and that his march was only interrupted
by the arrival of a messenger, bringing news of
Numan's approach with his armies. Hadifah was
overjoyed, for he now anticipated the total destruction
of the Absians, and he ordered the tribe to
prepare for battle. As soon as day dawned Hadifah
mounted Ghabra, and the horsemen followed him.
As to Cais and Antar, they reposed that night,
when lo! the next day the desert was filled with
armies, and horsemen, and troops, like the swoln
ocean, till the whole region was crowded, and the
waste and wild appeared too confined for the multitude
of banners and standards. Antar shouted to
the warriors, and they mounted their chargers, whilst
the weeping was loud among the women, alarmed
at captivity and dispersion. Well, my cousin, said
Ibla to Antar, this day the foe will take us captive.
At this word the light became dark in Antar's eyes.
Daughter of my uncle, he exclaimed, at thy captivity
there will be the violent death, and the blow that is
irresistible and unfailing. Antar uncovered his head
and attacked, and his assault made the valleys and
the mountains tremble. Now Antar had a shout of
wrath, that made the mountains shake and the

hollows resound; it drove back the horses in affright,
and they hurled off their riders in the excess of their
agitation, and trampled down each other. Antar
shouted to the attack in the presence of Ibla, and
assaulted the armies with a heart resolute in dangers.
The Absian warriors attacked in his rear, all lighthearted
in the intrepidity of Antar and his nephew
Hatal: they met the armies of Numan with cleaving
sword-blows that even Davidian corslets could not
repel. Antar poured forth roars like crashes of
thunder, whilst the Absian women encouraged the
men to the carnage, crying out, Where is he who
protects the women and the maidens? Thus the
Absians were engaged in the war of life and death,
till they drove back the enemy from their tents by
main force.

As to the Fazareans, Hadifah ordered them to
the fight; they assailed the Absians on all sides.
Calamities thickened upon them, and misfortunes
and catastrophes multiplied upon them; and had
not Antar been a dreadnought hero, the Absian
tribe could not have survived that day, for the
armies that attacked them consisted of fifty thousand
bold horsemen; and the tribes of Abs and Ghiftan
amounted even to less than six thousand, and this
proportion is wide of any proportion by which any
calculation can be made. But in less than three
hours horror of Antar pervaded the hearts of Numan's
army, and the foremost shrunk back upon the
rear, shouting at Antar from a distance, but not
daring to approach the spot, where stood Antar, the

violent death. Mocri-ul-wahsh was highly incensed
at the armies having commenced the attack without
his permission, and at the assault of the Fazareans.
Had I wished to destroy them, said he to his comrades,
I would not have left them a spot to stand
on: but Prince Aswad sent with me these foreign
Arabs, that they might settle in their country, and
be neighbours to the tribe of Fazarah. At last he
resolved to attack Antar, the object of his amazement,
saying, By the truth of the Messiah, this slave
is a brave knight and a sturdy warrior. Should I
vanquish him in the combat, I may boast over all
the dwellers on earth. In the meantime Antar was
in the fiercest of the fight, and the hottest of the
thrusts and blows, raving like a camel, when lo!
Hasein, son of Dhemdhem, treacherously came behind,
and raising his spear in his hand aimed a
dreadful thrust at him, crying out, Take this, thou
ordure-born, at the hand of Hasein, son of Dhemdhem-ul-meree,
the vanquisher of heroes. Antar
turned round to see what was the matter, and the
barb of the spear fell on the circle of the eye, and
wounded him. Born of filth, thy blow has failed,
he cried; a warrior is proof against the blows of
such a poltroon. And he aimed his spear at him;
but when Hasein saw this, he gave the reins to his
horse and fled, and sought the tribe of Fazarah,
where he related to his uncle Hadifah how he had
deceived Antar and wounded him. Hadifah rejoiced:
God prosper thee, O Hasein, said he, for
what thou hast done to this son of a coward; hadst
thou slain him, thou wouldst have been exalted
above all mankind. After this wound Antar kept
a wary eye on the tribe of Fazarah, slaying an innumerable,
incalculable number of them, till evening.

Numan's army retired and halted, in the greatest
astonishment at the prowess of Antar, and the generous
Absians. As to Antar, he retired at the
head of his comrades, like a Judas tree, so great
was the quantity of blood that streamed over him.
King Cais met him, and saluting him kissed him
between the eyes, and inquired about his wound.
My wound, O King, said Antar, is quite well.
To-morrow I will challenge Mocri-ul-wahsh to the
combat; if he accepts it, all further trouble will be
prevented. We will not permit you, O uncle, said
Hatal, to engage in the contest whilst you are in
this condition: depute me on this affair. O Hatal,
said Antar, thou art indeed a noble fellow in the
battle, but thy name is not Antar, son of Shedad.
I know also, O Hatal, that the Absians besides Antar
have no strong support, and to-morrow were I
not to be present in the field, their women would
be made captives, and their children orphans. O
cousin, said Cais, may God never deprive me of thy
exalted courage! Thus they separated, having first
stationed the night-patroles; and when the men had
quitted Antar, his uncle's women and Ibla came to
him, and congratulated him on his safety. Ibla advanced,
and bound up his wound and wept. Check
thy tears, said Antar to her; he lives not who can
harm thee.

Early next day they mounted, with Antar at their
head like a devouring lion and a ferocious tiger.
He had tied bandages round his head in order to
excite Hasein against him, that perhaps he might
challenge him. Numan's troops also mounted with
Mocri-ul-wahsh, the knight of Syria, as did also the
tribe of Fazarah; but the satraps of Numan ordered
them back. Hasein ran up to Hadifah;
Uncle, said he, what means this? no one can comply
with such orders. Can I too, I, who wounded Antar,
son of Shedad, and left him nearly dead? Shall
I leave to-day another to enjoy his death in the
battle and contest? That shall never be, were I to
drink of the cup of perdition. And he rushed into
the field, and galloped and charged, challenging to
the contest; and as he directed himself against the
family of Carad, he thus addressed them:

"O my mother, sleep, be satisfied, and rejoice;
this day will I relieve my thirst with Antar.
When thou seest the birds mangle his carcass
under the dust, then extol me and thank me.
The slave—I left him with a spear-thrust over
the face, the mark of which will ever endure as a
frightful eye-sore. The top of my spear-barb
tore out his eye, and I left him like a blind
camel. This day I will leave him on the face of
the earth, where he shall lie dead on the barren
waste. I will make him taste thrusts from my spearhead,
and I will smite him with my never-failing
highly-polished scimitar. I will leave the beasts
of the desert to run at him, and prowl round him

on the wings of the turbid night. I will wipe out
my shame with my sword and spear, and I will
wreak my vengeance on the swarthy slave. I will
destroy the Antar of Abs in the day of battle with
my sabre, my lance, and my spear. When he is
no more, the land of the Absians will soon remain
an abandoned waste, like the barren desert; and
all the slender maidens, like the sun whose glory
is opposed to Jupiter, shall tremble."

When Hasein had finished, Hatal longed to engage
him, but his uncle would not permit him: he
returned his feet into the stirrups, and snatching up
his spear off the ground, he rushed upon Hasein
like a lion darting from the forest, and as he assaulted
him in a tremendous manner, he thus
answered:

"O Ibla, grieve not for my wound. Rejoice in
the victory of the scimitar of the swarthy youth.
O Ibla, fear not for me the foe, but fill thy eyes with
sleep, and watch not. O Ibla, round thy dwelling
in the blackness of the night I am a man
fiercer than the ravenous lion. Check thy plaints,
for thy tears pierce sharper through my entrails
than the barb of the Semherian spear. Wouldst
thou ask the horse of me? O daughter of Malik
(if thou art watching, why dost thou not see me?)
he would tell thee of him who plunges into the
dust, and that I have dispersed the whole army
on my Abjer. I have scattered afar the tribe of
Fazarah over the wastes, trembling through fear
of Antar. As to the heroes of the age, I will annihilate

them with the sword, and the lance, and
the spear. Pride not thyself, thou coward-born,
on my wound; thou wouldst say, thou hadst
riven a rock-bound veil. Verily the wound of a
hero is in the face, but thy wound in the day of
battle is in thy back. I am the son of Shedad,
whose fame is on high, mounting till it approaches
the sphere of Jupiter."

Antar shouted at Hasein, and rushed onward.
Hasein was filled with exultation when he saw the
bandages on Antar's head; so he thought that he
would soon fall within his grasp. But as Antar
made that assault he was aghast and stupefied, and
repented of having ventured against him; yet no
longer able to fly, he began to engage Antar, an
charged him. Mocri-ul-wahsh could not view this
event with indifference. This tribe of Fazarah is a
treacherous tribe, said he, as he resolved to attack
Antar; but he saw him a mountain, mountains
could not overpower, and a sea visited by no calm,
and a measure for which there was no standard.
Antar continued to engage Hasein till he had fatigued
and tired him; he closed on him, and hemmed
him in, and stopping every means of escape, he
stood up on his stirrups, and stretching out on his
saddle, he struck at Hasein with Dhami between
the eyes. Hasein received the blow on his shield,
but Antar's sword split it in two, even dividing his
helmet in twain, and continuing its course down between
the thighs even through the belly of the horse
down into the ground, and Hasein and his horse

fell cleft in four parts, and Antar cried out, O by
Abs! I will not be controlled. I am the lover
of Ibla, I will not be restrained! Numan's armies
were startled; the Fazareans were eager to assault
him, but Numan's satraps ordering them back, out
started Mocri-ul-wahsh between the ranks, and he
appeared in front of the two armies, till standing in
the presence of Antar: Eh! O Antar, he cried, by
the truth of the Messiah, my compassion for thee
and thy tribe induces me to save you from death
and total extirpation, for ye are indeed the horsemen
of death; but ye have destroyed yourselves by
incurring the hostility of King Numan, which you
cannot possibly resist. It is my opinion you should
surrender yourself to me immediately, and I will
swear to you by the cross to engage Numan's protection:
I will receive you as my friend and companion
for ever and ever. Trouble not yourself to fight with
me now you are in such a condition. Return in order
to bring about an amicable arrangement, so that
you may not be talked of, and your glory defaced
amongst men, and let not your foes and enemies
exult over you. Eh! thou son of a cuckold, cried
Antar, away with thy nonsense. What! shall I
surrender myself to thee without fighting? I, whom
the lions of the forest dread? Come on; on to the
plain, that I may tear out such absurdities from thy
brain. As he spoke, he shouted at Mocri-ul-wahsh,
and rushed upon him; but he also received him as the
parched earth the first of the rain. Now these two
giants met like two ferocious lions, and sent forth
hideous yells that seared their horses' ears; the
limbs of their warriors quaked with horror, and
those present imagined the very heavens were rent
asunder, and that the day of judgment was at hand;
the mountains were convulsed, and the earth trembled.
After these shouts, they dashed against each
other like butting rams; and as they rebounded
they wielded their spears, and kept up a fierce contest
till the eyeballs of the spectators sickened, and
the whole country shook. They exhibited a combat
replete with terrors, and every horror was redoubled:
they retired; they advanced, ready with
the draught of instant death. The two armies were
amazed, and widened the scene of battle for their
efforts, whilst the heroes charged. They continued
in this state, calamitous and terrifying, till the evening
came on, when they both separated in security,
neither having been able to vanquish his antagonist
either in blows or manœuvres. Mocri-ul-wahsh
sought his own horsemen, almost at his last gasp at
what he had endured in the combat with Antar.
Antar also retired, and the bandages of his wound
were loosened; the blood trickled down his face,
and he returned in a condition not to give pleasure
to his friends. The tribe of Abs and Adnan met
him with King Cais; they saluted him, and inquired
about his adversary. My cousins, said he, he is
indeed a valiant knight, and a stout warrior in the
contest; but to-morrow, God willing, I will make
it a decided business. And as he dismounted from
Abjer, Ibla met him, and stanching the blood,
bound up his wound.

As to Mocri-ul-wahsh, he went back to his
people, where Hadifah met him. O knight of Syria,
said he, grieve not thy heart, for know, wert thou
not the paragon of the age, thou wouldst not have
returned in safety from the presence of Antar; for,
in his life, he never engaged a knight and quitted
him without deciding the combat, or accomplishing
his hopes. O Hadifah, said Mocri-ul-wahsh, never
in my life did I behold a more valiant fellow than
that Antar; but to-morrow I will make it a business
of certainty. He passed that night vexed and uneasy
that he had not succeeded against Antar. It was
scarcely morning when he mounted his horse, and
the armies of Numan were also ready. Thus too
the tribe of Abs and Adnan sought the theatre of
war. Antar remained behind, for feeling somewhat
tired in the morning, he said to his brother Shiboob,
As soon as you see Mocri-ul-wahsh start forth into
the plain inform me, that I may sally out to fight
him. When the troops were drawn up, Mocri-ul-wahsh
appeared on the plain; and as he galloped
and charged, challenging to the engagement, he
called to mind his beloved Maseeka, and his separation
from her, and thus he spoke:

"Sweet to me is the zephyr, O land of Syria; it
is sweet when my disorder afflicts me. Blow, then;
perhaps the breath of Maseeka may meet thee,
and her breath convert thee into perfume. The

maiden! musk dwells under her veil, and when
impregnated with the moisture of her mouth becomes
most fragrant. When she moves, the elegance
of her shape waves like the reed agitated
by the northern breeze. Wert thou to see her
thou wouldst behold the eye of the fawn, whose
heart is fluttering at the wolf in the evening. O
Mocri-ul-wahsh, said she (and I was preparing
for departure, whilst my tears streamed down my
cheeks like a river of blood), wilt thou not return?
My return is at hand, said I: she bade me adieu.
My heart pants for her society for ever; and
when she calls on her lover he will answer her. I
went to King Numan—where is the cloud that
has not descended on him? I engaged the horsemen
that were dear to him; I returned, and my
spear was dyed in blood. He gave me property,
and camels, and presents: the gift was noble—
noble was the donor. He sent me with his armies
against a knight whom all knights acknowledge;
and he is generous. I have engaged him with
the spear-thrust; then I knew him. I had
wronged him, but excellence is in him. I struggled
with him in the contest and in the plain; I
saw in him most wonderful deeds: but if this day
I destroy not their support with my sword, my
heart will not be glad in the enjoyment of my
beloved."

Mocri-ul-wahsh had not finished his verses when
Hatal stood before him, for Antar had staid behind,
and his heart was wearied with passion. Youth,

cried Mocri-ul-wahsh, where is Antar the great?
If his wounds prevent him from mounting, he is not
to be blamed. I gave him a lesson yesterday, and
have rendered him unequal to the fight. Let him
not be brow-beaten by me, but let him mount with
me the road of ignominy. Eh! shall he acknowledge
himself disqualified from fighting thee? said
Hatal. Thy death is at hand; and as to what thou
sayest about his not coming forth against thee, that
is out of contempt for thee and thy like. I adjured
him by the most serious of oaths to permit me to
sally forth to the contest; so come on, fight! and
he shouted at Mocri-ul-wahsh, thus reciting:

"The breeze, O land of Hijaz, is fragrant to me;
blow then in the face of my amorous adversary.
Tell Mocri-ul-wahsh to return in safety home, or
he will return spoiled. If Maseeka be thy final
object and desire, how has fortune cast thee afflicted
amongst us? Thou speakest and repeatest
her beauties and charms, and on that point thou
art in distress. O my friend, sing to me of the
fame of chieftains; talk not to me of every rosebud
and perfume. The sighs of love are a disgrace
among men, particularly when wars are accumulated
upon thee. If thou art indeed sick
with love, the sword of my maternal uncle is a
doctor and a physician. How many noble horsemen
like thee has he sought, and they have remained
dyed in the gore of wounds! Let not his
wound over the face inspirit thee; it was fate,
whose changes are ever predestined. He is the

lion of every sand-hill and battle; he is the
greatest of heroes and princes. Antar, my uncle,
is the bravest of men, the most valiant of all the
dwellers on earth without contradiction."

The knight of Syria was highly incensed: Thou
art, then, said he, the son of the sister of that Antar,
that black cuckold! and he rushed at him, and addressed
him:

"Thou hast abused me for my weakness, thou
foulest Arab; thou art a coward, not akin to war.
The Absian Antar is linked to Ibla, and through
love of her a flame blazes in his heart. A man indeed
weeps for the loss of his life, and mourns and
laments at the loss of his love. Who am I, that
thou shouldst censure me, son of a dastard! and
my heart is cauterised with absence, and opposition,
and anguish. By the truth of the Messiah,
the purest of every living thing, who created a
bird out of clay with his miraculous breath, and
recalled life into the corpse when it was shrouded
and delivered to the bowels of the grave deprived
of life, I will stretch ye both on the centre of your
land, and I will lead your weeping damsels captive,
and I will cry out with a loud voice in the
plain of war, Come forth towards me, behold
wonders in me. If Antar indeed is exhausted
with the wounds, I must not then annihilate him.
Let the Arabs laugh him to scorn. I will leave
the land a desert; and as to its inhabitants, their
blood shall stream over the country. I will fight
Antar; then will I dash him to the earth. I will

make him drink the cup of death, and bring down
perdition upon him."

Mocri-ul-wahsh having finished, he shouted at
Hatal, and resolved to overwhelm him in death,
on account of the foul expressions he had addressed
to him. Hatal met him, and there ensued between
them the contest of spears and swords, that amazed
the warriors, and startled the sturdy heroes for two
hours. At last exhaustion fell on the shoulders of
Hatal, for he was no match for him, nor accounted
among his equals. Mocri-ul-wahsh perceiving his
situation, determined to destroy him, as he knew
Antar was his uncle; again he assailed him, and
was about to put an end to him, when lo! a roar
that made the mountains shake, and the hollows reecho,
and some one exclaimed, Away, thou knight
of Syria, pride not thyself in the slaughter of striplings.
Turn on one who will speedily give thee
thy death and extinction. The warriors awhile considered
who could have sent forth that tremendous
shout, when lo! it was the noble warrior—the destroyer
of stout heroes, Aboolfawaris—the chief
Antar, son of Shedad. He delivered Hatal from
Mocri-ul-wahsh, and then attacked him. The
cause of Antar's coming was Shiboob, who, on seeing
Hatal nearly overcome, quitted the field, and
informed his brother. Come to thy nephew, Hatal,
said he, or Mocri-ul-wahsh will slay him. Bring
me Abjer, said Antar, and he sprang from the
ground on his back, like an eagle, without putting
his foot into the stirrup, and equipped himself in his

armour and his shining corslet. He attacked, and
dismissed his nephew from the scene of contention,
thus addressing Mocri-ul-wahsh. Eh! thou bastard,
wouldst pride thyself in slaying children? As
to me, by the faith of a noble Arab, had I enemies
as numerous as the sands, like this youth, I'd heed
them not. I am he, who will give thee enough of
spear-thrusts and sword-blows; for the slaughter of
this youth could have been no advantage to thee,
neither could the extinction of his name have been
any glory to thee. Thou art only come to seek me:
come on, then; fight: perhaps thou mayest succeed.
Shouldst thou take me a captive or slay me, the
tribe of Abs will be unprotected, and from thy
sword every calamity may overwhelm them; for
when I am no more, there will not be a horseman
to contend with thee in all this country. Now
be just, and give up all outrage and foul play;
and Antar rushed at Mocri-ul-wahsh, thus reciting:

"Hola! O Ibla, arise and behold me; see in me
truth without guile. Arise, and behold my blow
and thrust, like a flame, that burns in flashes.
Mourn not for my wound, it is only like the rent
in a man's garment. The thrust of man wounds
not, it is only like the bore in the ear of a woman.
But if my spear and my sword have sway, the
skull and heaviest leathern mail are cleft. This
day thou shalt see the descents of my sword, and
the thrusts of my spear. Hey! O Mocri-ul-wahsh,
return thee home, before thou remainest

emboweled, I will soon relieve the Arabs from thee,
and truly Maseeka shall remain my wife. I will
plunder her property and slay her father, and I
will leave her abode a desert, with my sword.
My name is well known, east and west, and every
horseman dreads a contest with me."

At hearing these verses, Mocri-ul-wahsh was
enraged and indignant. Eh! thou coward-born,
said he, is it consistent with thy greatness to address
me in such language, and I the knight of Syria?
and as he rushed upon Antar, he thus spoke:

"Hola! man of wily words, forth to the combat,
and establish my fortune. Hola! race of Abs,
ye shall acknowledge me. I am Mocri-ul-wahsh
over the mountains. Soon will I slay Antar with
the sword of conquest, and I will leave him dead
on the sand. I will seize Ibla, and return home,
and she shall serve my wife as her mistress. I
will take Numan's camels, and will, in happy
mood, return towards Maseeka. I am ever the
knight of knights, and this day will I consummate
my glory. This day Numan's armies shall
route these troops, bewildered and powerless.
The Arabs shall be left ague-struck at my prowess,
and truly the warriors have already witnessed it.
I am the hero of Syria, and of every land, and
this day my exploits shall be renowned."

He had no sooner finished, than Antar shouted
and rushed upon him; and they began a contest of
swords and spears, at which the warriors were confounded,
and the valiant heroes cried out, Heaven

protect us! The blow and the thrust, the struggle
and assault, and the draughts of sudden death continued;
their blows anticipated the messengers of
death, and their shouts were like the thunder-crash
in a cloud. Both combatants were nearly dead.
Mocri-ul-wahsh was stupefied at Antar's prowess,
and repented. Still he exhibited all his steadiness,
and concealed the anguish and regret he felt. They
persisted in these perils and horrors till the day
departed: they were tired and exhausted; but debility
had fallen on the shoulders of Mocri-ul-wahsh,
for Antar had wounded him in two places.
He desisted from the fight, and requested Antar to
stop. No, said Antar, by the truth of Him who
firmly rooted the mountains, there is no termination
for thee but in success and the approach of death.
He was aghast, and shuddered. O Aboolfawaris,
he added, no one can resist my thrusts but you;
but you have wronged me in breaking my spear:
all I ask of you is to wait for me, whilst I repair to
my party and take another spear; then will I return
to you, and will not separate from you, till the affair
be decided. I'll not let thee stir, continued Antar,
and he assailed him, and recommenced the contest.
But the troops crowded upon them, and drew their
swords round them, each party forming conjectures
of its lord. They continued in this state till midnight.
Mocri-ul-wahsh felt assured of destruction, and
knowing that Antar would not quit him but in
death, he slackened his mare's bridle and fled,
lanching into the waste and desert. Eh! O Ebe
Reeah, cried out Antar to Shiboob, overtake him
before he roams wide over the waste: and Shiboob
let out his feet. Antar followed him, and they were
cut off from the army. In the meantime, Hadifah
(that man of deceit and guile), as soon as the sound
of Antar and Mocri-ul-wahsh was far distant from
the scene of contention, cried out to his tribe and the
surrounding horsemen, Come on, come on, now relieve
the mind of the lord of empire, King Numan.
Now cut off that black wittol, Antar. Thus the
tribe of Fazarah outraged the tribe of Abs and
Adnan, and attacked them on all quarters. The
Absians shouted at the Fazareans, and descended
upon them like a fall of rain under the night. Men
met men, and heroes heroes—blood flowed and
streamed—limbs were hacked off—men were knocked
down on the plain—the armies of Numan also
attacked—the mountains and the deserts were
agitated, till brother knew not brother, and son
recognised not his father. They continued plundering
each others lives from the beginning of the night
till the white streak of the dawn brightened, when
every friend knew his comrade, and the foe was
distinguished from the ally. King Cais looked round,
north and south, but saw nothing of Antar. He
was amazed and alarmed. The armies had occupied
every road against them, and raised shouts at them
in every direction. Apprehensive that the Absians
would be dispersed over the barren waste, he had
no other measure to adopt, but to cry out to them,
O cousins, follow me to the sand-hills, and Mount
Saadi; it is impossible any longer to resist the shock
of these armies. At hearing this, they followed
him, abandoning their property and their families;
and they assembled on the top of the sand-hill and
Mount Saadi. The troops assaulted their tents, and
plundered their property, and captured their wives
and families; even captivity fell on the families of
King Cais, and Modelilah, and Jemanah, and Ibla,
and Shereehah, and Semiah were taken prisoners.
Above all the women, most poignant was the grief
and anguish of Ibla, Malik's daughter. The
Arabs of Yemen threw down the dwellings of the
Absians to their very foundations, and did not leave
them the value of a halter, for some of them loaded
their horses, and each person, too, carried away a
horse-load besides; and in less than an hour they
left the country a waste, and set out for the deserts
and sand-hills; whilst the Absians remained looking
at their wives driven away in bondage. No good
can ever visit us now, said they to Cais, not a head
will be raised up towards us, now that our wives and
families are enslaved. O cousins, replied Cais, I
had only recourse to this act, as I knew you were
unable to continue the combat. Behold our property
and our families driven away by the foe; come on
now with me. And King Cais bared his head and
made the attack; the Absians did the same; they
precipitated themselves from the mountain-top,
crying out, O by Abs! O by Adnan! and rushed
down upon the armies of Numan. This was the
calamitous and desperate state of the Absians, when
said Amarah to Rebia, Let us make our attack in
the direction where Ibla is; perhaps we may rescue
her from captivity and infamy, and love for Amarah,
to the exclusion of other horsemen, infuse itself into
her heart. Thou poltroon, thou driveller, said
Rebia, dost not see thy mother and thy sister and
thy brothers' wives are all prisoners, and that our
property is pillaged, and that we are degraded before
the world? By the faith of a generous Arab, were
Antar but present in the contest, not one of all these
disasters would have befallen us. It happened that
Haml, son of Beder, had taken King Cais's mother,
Temadhur, prisoner, and conducted her to a valley.
Eh! son of Beder, cried Temadhur, for what purpose
hast thou brought me down to this valley?
That the Arabs may indulge foul suspicions of me?
And that our hearts be pained and never at rest?
My purpose, said Haml, is to ravish thee, and
murder thy children on thy bosom. At this, death
became easy to Temadhur. Alas! alas! she cried,
woe to the small number of horsemen! On thee, O
Cais, and thy brothers, be thy mother's blessing!
At the word, she threw herself off the camel on the
ground; she fell on her head, and her neck was
broken; she instantly expired, whilst her maidens
wept around her. During all this, the Absians were
in the fiercest of the carnage, and the hottest of the
combat of spears and swords: nearly destroyed and
annihilated, they had resolved either to fly and seek
the desert, or demand quarter and surrender themselves
to King Numan, when lo! shouts arose in
front of the armies, and yells that convulsed the
neighbouring wilds. King Cais and his warriors
stopped awhile in suspense, conjecturing whence
could issue these tremendous sounds. At that instant,
the chief Antar, the generous hero, started
forth in front of King Numan's army, and repulsed
them over the wilderness; and with him was Mocri-ul-wahsh,
the knight of Syria, fighting by Antar's
side, and dealing blows like descending thunderbolts.
The souls of the Absians revived, and their
spirits recovered. Hey! cousins, said King Cais,
here is our champion, Antar, and Mocri-ul-wahsh
is our friend. Now, then, take courage for retaliation,
and remove away your disgrace, and he who
takes not kindly to the fight is no legitimate-born.
Upon this, all the fire of the Absians was roused,
and they returned to the combat of the foe, like tall
sea-monsters. When Numan's armies beheld Antar
return safe, and Mocri-ul-wahsh in his company,
dealing blows Davidian corslets could not repel, and
Shiboob occupying the way before them, they saw no
expedient but in flight and escape; so they threw
away all their booty, and lanched into the wilds and
the wastes.

As soon as Mocri-ul-wahsh fled, under the night,
Shiboob shot forth in pursuit of him, followed by Antar,
and they continued to drive him over the desert,
till morning dawned, when Mocri-ul-wahsh perceiving
his life was in imminent danger, and that he could
not escape, halted at once, saying, O Arab, thou wilt
kill me, and thou hast destroyed thyself with fatigue.

I have no property to plunder, neither hast thou any
retaliation to demand of me; neither can thy heart
harbour any resentment against me. I never insulted
thy cousin Ibla. I have nothing with me but my horse
and my arms, that are dearer to me than life. Take
them and forgive me, Aboolfawaris. I covet not
thy mare, said Antar, my only object is to take thy
life; for thou appearest a brave fellow and a valiant
knight. Then will I return to these troops, and will
not permit the first of them to join the last. O
Aboolfawaris, continued Mocri-ul-wahsh, now I
am aware that I was a fool among horsemen; never
henceforward will I mount a stallion; never again
will I be present in a battle, but I will seek the
church of Bekhran, there to settle among the hermits,
and I will renounce my projects on my bride
Maseeka, daughter of the King of Hooran. O
Mocri-ul-wahsh, said Antar, if such be thy story,
I will wipe away that trouble from thy heart; I
will go with thee to the land of Syria, and will seize
thy bride for thee, were she even on the back of the
clouds. O Aboolfawaris, said Mocri-ul-wahsh, all
my hopes are centered in thee, that thou wouldst
accept me as thy horseman, and receive me as thy
slave. I will be thy ally in all thy calamities; and
he dismounted from the back of his mare and
hastened towards Antar, and kissed his feet in the
stirrup. Antar also jumped off his Abjer; he
embraced Mocri-ul-wahsh, and kissed him between
the eyes, and having both vowed to preserve a
mutual affection, and to plunder and spoil the
generous Arabs together, they mounted and returned,
as we described, and attacked the armies as
we mentioned. This therefore was the cause of
the friendship of Antar and Mocri-ul-wahsh, and
now let us return to our original story.

After the flight of Numan's forces, King Cais went
up to Antar, and kissed him between the eyes. The
Absians also being collected, they searched for their
property and families, and they found Temadhur
dead, and her damsels round her. On King Cais's
demanding, who did this deed? they told him
Haml, son of Beder. The light became dark in the
eyes of the sons of Zoheir, and they swore they
would not leave the Fazareans a tent to shelter them;
not even a man to blow a fire. King Cais ordered
the Absians to collect the property and return to
the dwellings, whilst he mounted with half his warriors,
and took to the right hand road, saying to
Antar, Cousin, take thou the other half, and go the
left, for I know the Fazarean horse must be somewhere
here, and I should say they have not quitted
the well of Hebat, and have not yet entered the
wilds and the wastes. Antar acquiesced in King
Cais's orders, and departed in company with Mocri-ul-wahsh,
and the family of Carad. King Cais also
departed, and as he wept for his mother, he thus
recited:

"Alas! O eyes, weep torrents this day, over my
cheeks copiously, and abundantly. Alas! O eyes,
weep with me for Zoheir, and his son Malik; now
their glory is past. Alas! O eyes, announce

their death in agonies of grief; the heart cannot
longer bear it. Alas! O eyes, weep the loss of
Shas, but yesterday reduced to dust after all his
greatness. Calamities beguiled them; misfortune
overwhelmed them; violence destroyed them.
Ah! O race of Beder, ye have done a deed of
universally acknowledged outrage in the murder
of my mother; ye imagined ye would this day
escape, and would be excited with glory and
happiness; but the revolutions of death shall
requite ye; we will come upon ye openly with
our swords. Antar will come upon ye; he lusts
to meet ye, were ye even far distant from him over
the waste; were even the Emperor of Rome and
Greece with ye, or the inhabitants of Syria and of
verdant Europe. Were ye to come with all the
dwellers on earth; were even Chosroe, King of
Persia, to come with ye, we will meet ye with our
sharp-edged scimitars, on our well-trained roan
steeds. Sons of Beder! verily ye have outraged
us, but we would have abandoned the contest.
Cousins, this was not my intention; it was not
in my heart, that this war should take place. It
was ye that commenced; this calamity and oppression
ever originated in ye. Alas! alas! my
grief for thee, O Temadhur! that accursed Haml,
son of Beder, murdered thee. Soon will I extirpate
them all with my avenging sword; I will
make their blood flow like a sea; I will retaliate
on them, and they shall remain a tale for ages, as
long as the world endures."

Having finished his verses, he went on till being
at some distance from that land, he beheld the impression
of Ghabra's hoof, Hadifah's mare; for
when he fled with the tribe of Fazarah, the girths of
his horse being loose, he dismounted, and tightened
them; and the impression of Hadifah's feet remained
also by the side of his mare's. King Cais recognised
the impression.

Now Hadifah in his flight galloped on till he came
to the well of Hebat. He had a son named Husn,
who was at that time along with him, and he was a
rare child. Hadifah pressed him to his bosom, and
kissed him between the eyes, saying, O Husn, this
is the kiss of farewell. My sole request of you, my
son, is this; if you die after me, and have power
over the Absians, murder their infants, enslave their
women and families; let not a vestige remain of them;
and know, O my son, that I am quitting this world,
and have no other regret in my heart, but that fortune
gave me not the means to exterminate their warriors,
to enslave their wives and families, and to destroy
their land and country. Thus saying, he threw
himself down by the side of the well, with his warrior
companions; and they were insensible to every thing
till King Cais and his companions encompassed them.

Hadifah started up with the Fazareans; they attempted
to mount their horses and fly, when lo!
Antar and the Carad horsemen rushed between
them and their steeds, then seized them all, and
pinioned them. Antar and his companions retired
to a different quarter, whilst King Cais advancing

with his brothers, cried out, Ah! ye sons of Beder,
how oft have I had mercy on you, but you have
ever betrayed me! How oft have I believed you,
but you have falsified yourselves! I should like to
see who will this day rescue you from death. Who
will avert from you our cleaving sabres, and our
sparkling spears? As to thee, Hadifah, remember
what thy hands have done: may God curse thy
father and thy mother! Remember the murder of
the infants with thy arrows. As to thee, Haml, remember
thy words to my mother—"My purpose
is to ravish thee, and assassinate thy children on
thy bosom."

On hearing this, Hadifah turned towards Cais,
saying, Eh! son of Zoheir, why dost thou upbraid
me with thy words? Cease these reproaches and
reproofs, for I, by the faith of an Arab, had I sworn
to thee a thousand times a day, I would have betrayed
thee; and had I been able to murder thee,
and murder thy brothers, never would I have pardoned.
Now then do as thou listeth, act as thou
wilt; leave not one of us to root out thy every vestige.
As to me, before thou camest, I had proposed
that we should slay each other; for we covet not
life, whilst thou art on the face of the earth. But
O my cousins, by the consanguinity of wombs that
exists between us, do not bring us face to face—to
confront each other is hard indeed: to catch each
other's eye at such an hour is the severest of pangs.
And Hadifah hung his head towards the ground,

and wept. Retaliation for children! cried Cais:
come on, cousins, retaliate!

At the word, his brother Harith dismounted from
his horse, and pierced Hadifah with his spear through
the back, and the barb issued glittering through his
bosom. He cut off his head, and remounted his
horse, exclaiming, O retaliation for Malik! and thus
he spoke:

"Dig up the grave of our brother; let him see
our exploits, when we grieve no more. O that
the earth were riven over him, that Malik might
see the deeds of men. We have left the chiefs
of Beder at Hebat, spouting out death at our
spear points. Hadifah and Haml, sons of Beder
and Jabir, with Yezid and Betal, them have we
left dead round the well, slain by our sharp Indian
blades. We have slaughtered them, but it
was a cruel day to us, when death sped from
their arrows. They were the chieftains of men
wherever they went, and the lions of war in every
combat. They wronged us, and perfidy leaves
every land a desert, deprived of its inhabitants."

When Rebia saw what Harith, son of Zoheir, had
done, he also dismounted, and crying out, O for retaliation
for my brother Talib! he pierced Haml
with his spear between the shoulders, and drove it
out through his paps: then he pounced upon him,
and cut off his head, and thus spoke:

"We have made the chiefs of Beder drink of the
cups of death with sword and spear at Hebat.

We have encircled them with calamities, and they
staggered over the plain, but not intoxicated with
wine. In power they were the most puissant of
the two tribes, and in every undertaking their
resolution was abundant. When they mounted
their generous steeds, their horses stirred up the
dusty cloud in every desert. When they even gave
away a little in their bounty, the country was filled
with the land and sea of their liberality. Had
they no heirs, I should ever weep at what has
befallen them for their iniquity. But the youth
Haml, son of Beder, betrayed us, and treachery
roots out every recollection. How oft I warned
them, but they sinned again, and they have died
against my will. Fortune beguiled them; they
deceived us; but the revolutions of fortune deceive
every one. We are the losers by what we
have done. Alas! alas! to the sons of Beder!
By destroying their horsemen, we have cut off our
support, but I have eased the anguish of my heart
among them."

When Rebia had finished his verses, the retaliators
followed him, and cut off the heads of the
tribe of Fazarah, and left them convulsed in death
on the banks of the well. King Cais observed the
catastrophe, and his heart was appeased, till he repented
of having slaughtered them, for they were
his cousins. He wept bitterly over them, and at
their miseries in the wild and waste, and thus he
mourned their death:

"Truly the day of Hebat has brought evil upon

us, and the oppressor has become the oppressed.
This is the day of my losing the chiefs of the sons
of Beder, and they were stars in the eyes of all
beholders. I slew them because they wronged
me, and for their former perfidy. They smote
Dahis, and he was a generous steed: they murdered
Malik, and he was a noble youth. I have
slain them all, and I have assuaged the fire of my
heart; but still the poisonous blast will increase it.
O that before I had slain them, I had been slain,
or had lost all my sense of joy. By their perfidy,
they injured us: we have oppressed the whole
body, but their day was fixed by fate. My anguish
increased when I heard their cries, and
when we are no more, who will defend our
women[8] ?"

When King Cais had finished his verses, the
Absians shed torrents of tears. Just then, Husn,
son of Hadifah, presented himself to the King, and
kissed the ground. Then drawing his sword, he
surrendered it to Cais, and wept as he stood before
him, saying, If it will appease thy heart, slaughter
me thyself. But King Cais burst into tears, and
said, O Husn, hadst thou done this before, I should
have stretched out my hand against thee, but the
business has been pushed too far already. Thou
shalt lord over these people in the place of thy father;
I will protect thee, and respect thee.

And King Cais remained there that night till the
morning lustre shone, when he set out for the land
of Abs. But they had scarcely left that spot, when
lo! a dust arose. See, what means this dust? cried
Cais. The horsemen moved on, and returning, informed
him that it was the dust of the women of
Fazarah, with their daughters and infants, who were
coming to take retaliation for their husbands. They
are right, said Cais, for we have tortured them in
their husbands. But turning towards Husn, he
added, O my son, keep them off; let them bury their
dead, and let them demand the aid of God in their
distresses. Upon this Husn returned, and sent away
the women, whilst King Cais continued his journey
home, full of woe and anguish, and thus he gave
vent to his sorrows:

"I am returning, but the sleep of my eyes will
torment me. My resolution is diminished; my
courage is languid, at what the sons of Beder, son
of Amroo, have suffered of infamy at the well of
Hebat. We have tainted the water with the
blood of the tribe, and its colour has appeared
like the Judas tree. I have appeased my spirit
on Haml, son of Beder, and my sword has assuaged
me on Hadifah. They were of our family,
but they acted perfidiously to us, and the
perfidy of relatives can never be forgiven. They
excited the war of enmity and aggression in the
horse-race; on the day of the match they were
obstinate in their hostility to us. So they have
suffered as the family of Abdul Modan suffered.

Had they asked for mercy, I should have forgiven
them; but they persisted, and their death was at
hand. Though I have relieved my anguish with
them, still I have cut off my own support, and
my own strength."

As King Cais spoke, tears streamed from the eyes
of all the warriors. They continued their journey
till they reached the dwellings, and alighted at the
tents; and when they were quietly established, the
warriors came to King Cais to condole with him
about the tribe of Fazarah, and to congratulate him
on his victory and triumph for seven days.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

On the eighth day came Antar and Mocri-ul-wahsh
unto Cais, accompanied by the Absian chieftains.
O King, said they, how long these tears, and this
affliction? The catastrophe of thy foes proceeds
from thy good fortune. It is over: it is now incumbent
on thee to make feasts and entertainments,
and take advantage of this period of festivity.

Thus they continued till they made him drink
some wine; and on the second day he gave a magnificent
feast at the lake of Zat-ul-irsad, where the
whole tribe of Abs was collected; and when they
had eaten, the wine was brought to them, and they
conversed about their battles, commemorating their
victories. O my cousins, said King Cais, that was
our severest day, when we engaged the tribe of Fazarah;
for on that day also drew near the armies of
King Numan, with Mocri-ul-wahsh, the Knight of
Syria, and no one relieved us from disasters, but our
cousin Antar, and Mocri-ul-wahsh, on the day he
became Antar's friend; for then he performed deeds
to be recorded. Mocri-ul-wahsh, on hearing this,
started on his legs, and kissing the King's hand, O
King, said he, I used formerly to reckon myself
amongst the valiant in war, and in the charge, till I
was overpowered by this swarthy knight, and this

lion of death; but when I tasted of his combat, I
knew my opinion of horsemen was false, and that I
was a fool among the brave; for bravery is divided
into two sorts: the first belongs to all mankind, the
second is exclusively Antar's.

Antar sprang up, and kissing him between the
eyes, exclaimed, Witness for me, ye chiefs of Abs
and Adnan, and all ye here present, that I am for
ever the slave of this hero, and all the wealth and
property my power shall obtain shall be made over
to him; let no one interfere on this point, and verily,
I have engaged on my existence, that I will effect
his union with his bride Maseeka, daughter of the
King of Hooran. To-morrow will I commence this
undertaking; for ye all know, that I ever assist the
union of absent lovers, and how anxious I am to
relieve the afflictions of those who sigh for each
other; thus, perhaps, the Lord Creator may facilitate
my business; but I do not speak thus in the
way of complaint or opposition to fate; for that time
will come, sooner or later, either by death or by a
meeting and realization of hopes. And as he spoke,
he wept. When Malik, his uncle, beheld his grief,
O son of my brother, he cried, running towards him
in the excess of his malice and guile, by the faith of
an Arab, were I not afraid of interrupting the feast,
I would wed my daughter, Ibla, to thee before tomorrow.
But when the feasts of King Cais are
concluded, we will consult about our affairs, and the
cup of joys shall draw nigh. Thou knowest, O
Aboolfawaris, thou art our protector in every peril,

and from every foe. Moreover, we would have
already terminated this business, and consummated
all thy hopes, had it not been for the arrival of King
Numan's troops, and the convulsions of the times.
But now our troubles are removed from us, and
by thy sword every opponent, every enemy, has been
put to death, and there remains no one, black or
white, to thwart our wishes. No! no! exclaimed
King Cais, turning towards him, these excuses I will
no longer admit or endure. As he spoke, he gave
the cup to his wine-bearer, adding, listen to the
words I now say. O Wine-bearer! lock up this
cup, and keep it, for, by the faith of an Arab, I
will not again drink of wine, or interest myself in
any one affair, till my cousin, Antar, be wedded
unto his cousin, and his affliction be removed. All
the he and she camels I possess shall be supplied for
seven days, as also fodder for the horses. Arise this
moment, he added, addressing Malik, and prepare
thy daughter. Malik quitted the presence of King
Cais, expressing his obedience and submission; and
the whole assembly dispersed, Antar's friends rejoicing,
and his enemies sorrowing. When the
family of Carad heard of Ibla's marriage, they were
delighted, men and women, daughters and sons;
they commenced their merry-making and joys,
and grief was banished. Malik knew not what to
do, and he felt aware his perfidy and machinations
could avail him nought; for should he resist, the
morrow would see him dead; so he repaired to his
wife. Mother of Amroo, said he, prepare for thy
daughter's wedding, for she, in a few days, will be
married to her cousin, Antar. I verily blush before
him, for he has acted so generously towards us; but
I have requited him with evil, and particularly at
this time, when he has repulsed King Numan's
armies; for had it not been for Antar's sword, we
should all have been dispersed over the wilds and
the wastes. When Ibla's mother heard this from
her husband, she rejoiced on her daughter's account,
for she loved Antar exceedingly for his intrepidity
and superior excellence; she was, moreover, convinced
that Ibla could suit no one but Antar, for he
alone could protect her. Bring Antar to me, said
Malik to his son. Amroo went forth and told Antar
his father wanted him. So Antar sprang up and
put on his finest clothes, and departing with Amroo,
presented himself to his uncle, who arose and
embraced him, treating him with great distinction,
and saying, Nephew, invite thy friends, and thy
comrades, and thy associates, that we may prepare
thy wedding, and accomplish thy wishes. At these
expressions, Antar's bosom dilated, and he was full
of joy. He instantly started forth, and returning
home, sent for Oorwah. O Ebe-ool-Ebyez, said
Antar, my uncle has consented to my marriage, and
has directed me to invite my friends and confederates,
and in three days he will acquiesce in my
desires, but I would put it off for ten days. O
Aboolfawaris, said Oorwah, take advantage of the
opportunity, and let our hearts be relieved of this
anxiety. O Ebe-ool-Ebyez, continued Antar, I
wish to send to all my friends, as I fear they may
otherwise reproach us, particularly the chief Bostam;
for he suffered much with us, in the affairs of the
Kendehans. The least, said Oorwah, that you can
wish to slaughter on your marriage, will be ten thousand
he and she camels, for thy guests will be numerous.
O Ebe-ool-Ebyez, said Antar, ten thousand
shall not suffice for the slaves alone; the least
that I shall slaughter will be twenty thousand she
camels, and twenty thousand he camels; twenty
thousand sheep, and twenty thousand goats, and
a thousand lions, for my guests will be many. I
wish to make at Ibla's wedding five separate feasts;
I will feed the birds and the beasts, the men and
the women, the girls and boys, and not a single
person shall remain in the whole country but shall
eat at Ibla's marriage festival. Well, do as you
please, Aboolfawaris, said Oorwah. Now write,
added Antar, to the chief Bostam, a letter, with my
good wishes, to request his company, with all the
warriors of the tribe of Shiban; and a second to
Hassan, the Mazinite; and a third to the chief
Hijar, son of Aamir, the Kendehan; and a fourth
to Maadi Kereb, the Zebeedian; and a fifth to the
chief Moshajaa, son of Hosan, the Khoolamian;
and a sixth to King Niamet, son of Ashtar, lord of
the land of Sawdah, and the volcano mountain.
Thus he wrote numerous letters to all the Arab
tribes, and the number of letters he despatched to
the tribes was three hundred and sixty, to the
three hundred and sixty tribes of Arabs of the
cultivated and uncultivated plains; and whilst he
was making preparations, O Ebe-ool-Ebyez, said
he to Oorwah, I wish you would go to the land of
Syria, and procure some wine for us. Oorwah expressed
his obedience, and mounting with his men,
set out for the land of Syria, till he reached Azeilem,
now called Mazeireeb, where he staid with his people,
expecting the wine merchants. As to King Cais,
he ordered his slaves to bring forth his tents, and
pitch the canopies and standards, and thus the whole
tribe of Abs exhibited all their riches; and it was
a wonderful day in the display of the quantity of
different coloured tents and decorated dwellings.
The tents for the men were put on one side; on the
other were the tents for the women; and they felt
secure from the night depredators of the time, and
the revolutions of events. Antar was at the summit
of his happiness and delight, congratulating himself
on his good fortune and perfect felicity, all trouble
and anxiety being now banished from his heart.
Praise be to God, the dispenser of all grief from the
hearts of virtuous men! Antar every day mounted
his horse, and roamed over the mountains and the
hollows, hunting lions and tigers, till he had taken
seven hundred lions and two hundred tigers, which
he secured in a valley, and he stationed a number of
slaves over them to feed them. He then exhibited
the pavilion which he had brought with him from
Chosroe, and ordered his slaves to pitch it for Ibla;
and when spread out, it occupied half the land of
Shurebah, for it was the load of forty camels; and
there was an awning at the door of the pavilion,
under which four thousand of the Absian horse could
skirmish. It was embroidered with burnished gold,
studded with precious stones and diamonds, interspersed
with rubies, and emeralds set with rows of
pearls, and there was painted thereon a specimen of
every created thing, birds, and trees, and towns, and
cities, and seas, and continents, and beasts, and
reptiles; and whoever looked at it was confounded
by the variety of the representations, and by the
brilliancy of the silver and gold; and so magnificent
was the whole, that when the pavilion was pitched,
the land of Shurebah and Mount Saadi were illuminated
by its splendor. The Absians produced
their richest stores; in short, the dwellings appeared
like a flower-garden; the whole country was in
agitation; and the sun shone with reflected rays.
The happiest of all, at Antar's marriage-feast, were
King Cais and his brothers, and also the family of
Carad; for these days were like so many holidays
to them. As to the family of Zeead, their hearts
were bursting. Oorwah was not absent more than
three days, and on the fourth day he appeared, and
with him abundance of wine; and whilst they were
in this state, behold, some she camels advanced,
and he camels came forward from the valleys and
the mountains, amounting to sixty thousand she
camels, and sixty thousand he camels; and Antar
ordered Shiboob to conduct three thousand of
them to the mountains, there to slaughter them, and
skin them, and feed the birds. Shiboob obeyed,
and went to the mountains, where he slaughtered
the camels; and as the slaves flayed them of their
hides, Shiboob ascended the highest mountain, and
cried out in a loud voice, O ye birds of prey, ye
vultures of death! come down and eat of Antar's
marriage-feast; he this day invites ye all. The
next day, he took two thousand more, and slaughtered
them on the mountain-tops, crying out, O ye
voracious lions, ye mighty tigers, all of ye come
down and eat of the marriage-feast of Antar, son of
Shedad, for he this day invites ye all. After this,
Antar ordered the butchers to slaughter he and
she camels, and sheep, and fattened deer, and to
prepare every species of viand, and to make the wine
to flow, and to decorate the dwellings of his guests
and friends for four days, when lo! there appeared
a dust. Antar and the Absians mounted to meet it,
and the dust opened and discovered the chief
Bostam, accompanied by a thousand horsemen of
the tribe of Shiban. Antar saluted him and his
comrades, and conducted them to a magnificent
tent, and they presented them meat of the flesh of
sheep and deer. The next day, also, was seen advancing
towards them a cloud of dust, which the
Absians went out to meet, when lo! it discovered
Hassan the Mazinite, Prince Malik's foster brother,
and in his rear were seven thousand horsemen, all
mailed and armed. Antar received them, and conducted
them to a magnificent tent, supplying them
abundantly with meat and wine. They reposed till
morning, when lo! a dust again arose: Antar and
the Absians went out to meet it, and Maadi Kereb,
the Zebeedian, appeared, accompanied with nine
thousand horsemen of the tribes of Zebeed, Khitaam,
and Morad. Antar received and accommodated
them with a superb dwelling: he treated them most
hospitably, and supplied them with abundance of
wine. They passed a night of joy and festivity;
and in the morning there appeared another dust,
and it discovered a knight close-visored and perfectly
formed. The warriors marked him, and behold
it was the chief Hijar, son of Aamir, the Kendehan,
accompanied with eight thousand heroes of
Kendeh, all famed for their bravery and firmness.
The Absians and Antar received them, and saluting
them, conducted them to a magnificent mansion, and
presented them meat and wine, paying them every
attention. On the next day there was seen another
dust, and it cleared away from the chief Moshajaa,
son of Hosan, the Khoolanian, attended by seven
thousand horsemen of the tribe of Khoolan. The
tribe of Abs and Adnan received him, and made
him alight at a splendid tent, overwhelming them
with meat and wine. Antar was delighted at their
arrival, and treated them all with distinguished
hospitality. The Absians continued in this state of
mirth and merriment, receiving in succession all the
Arab tribes of Adnan and Cahtan. (Were I to
write down, says Asmaee, all the Arab tribes that
assisted at Antar's nuptials, the tongue would fail,
and the hearer be wearied, and the book be filled;
so we have abridged the account.)

The Arabs continued to flock into the land of the
tribe of Abs and Adnan, till the wilderness and desert
were crammed, as also the mountains and sandhills.
Praise be to God, the enricher of mankind!
Antar ordered the butchers to slaughter night and
day, and the cooks to cook day and night, and the
slaves to prepare bread and pastry: and all the
tribe of Abs stood waiting in attendance on the Arab
chiefs, and inhabitants of the wilds and wastes, even
to King Cais himself and all his brothers. There
were reckoned, by one who was present at Antar's
marriage, one hundred and forty-five thousand warriors,
lords of the sword-blow and spear-thrust;
and the total of those who were present, men and
women, amounted to three hundred thousand.
Power is with the only God, great and munificent!
On this account, Antar's wedding was known far
and wide in those days; and when these tribes
were assembled, the country was too confined for
them; so that brother could not see his brother, nor
son distinguish where stood his father. Antar
ordered the chamberlains to spread carpets, that the
victuals might not spoil, and that they might eat
walking, eat standing, eat on horseback, eat sitting,
and eat in their sleep: and there was not one but
was satisfied with every variety of meat. (Whereas,
says Asmaee, I was at Mecca when I heard of Antar's
nuptials; I hastened to the land of Shurebah,
that I might be an eye-witness, and write down
what I saw; and when I arrived, I perceived an
infinity of things that had never been mentioned

before; and I reckoned that Antar had expended
in barley, and wheat, and millet, and other grain,
seven hundred and seventy Irdebbs[9] .)

They thus continued in constant enjoyment: the
horsemen every morning mounted their steeds,
flourishing their arms and tilting on the plains, till
the heat became too powerful, when they returned
to the tents, where they found provisions prepared,
minced meats served up, and victuals all ready and
cooked. They ate, and the wine-bearers supplied
them with generous old wine; and thus they went on
seven days and nights. On the eighth day, the
chief Bostam sprang up on his legs, and kissing the
ground before Antar, presented him the presents
he had brought with him, consisting of one hundred
of the finest horses, with their accoutrements and
armour; fifty balls of the most fragrant musk; fifty
dishes of ambergris, and a hundred chains of the
purest gold; a hundred robes of velvet, two thousand
she camels, and two thousand he camels, with
one hundred female slaves; and thus he addressed
him:

"May heroes rejoice in the continuance of thy
glory, and the noble witness the abundance of thy
greatness! may every day be renewed to thee in
life, and every joy be in its return more plentiful!
Thine is a palm for mankind, that gives comfort
with wealth, and every bounty; thy hand is well

known, and its celebrated munificence testifies it.
May the generosity of thy right hand never fail,
as my heart will never fail in its love for thee:
may this wedding be propitious to thee amongst
men. O knight of knights, and of noble heroes,
accept the presents of one most grateful to thee.
O Aboolfawaris, thou most merciful of warriors,
mayest thou never fail in thy beneficence! may
thy joys abound to thy gratification, and may thy
abundance ever increase."

Antar accepted his presents, and seated him according
to his rank. Then the chief Maadi Kereb
advanced, and kissing the ground, presented one
thousand she camels, and one thousand he camels;
five hundred horses, with their accoutrements and
armour; one hundred robes of crimson silk;
twenty strings of jewels; twenty dishes of ambergris;
twenty balls of the most precious musk; one
hundred male slaves, and as many female slaves;
and as he requested Antar's acceptance, he thus
spoke:

"This day, its light is illumined by thy nuptials,
and the glory of its lustre is raised by thy happy
star. O Antar of horsemen, rejoice in the accomplishment
of every hope and wish. The
night, whenever thou comest, loses its obscurity;
and the desert, wherever thou art, loses its barrenness!
Glory, then, above all men, in thy prosperity;
all confess thy greatness is their greatness.
In thy beneficence accept, my lord, a present

from one, whose possessions are all thine. Kindly
regard thy slave, who is come to thee, and
shouldst thou refuse him, it will prove his ruin."

Antar thanked him for his verses, and accepting
his present, seated him according to his rank. Then
came forward the Chief Hidjar, son of Aamir, the
Kendehan, and kissing the ground before Antar, he
presented one thousand she camels, and two thousand
he camels; five hundred horses, with their
accoutrements and armour; five strings of jewels;
one hundred robes of twisted velvet; twenty balls
of musk; five thousand sheep; one hundred male
slaves, and a hundred female; and thus he spoke:

"The generosity of all generosity is seen, when
thou advancest with a shout; and mankind has
proved it at the time thou chargest in the field.
Thou art extolled on high, at the moment when
every great man, noble as he is, cries out to thee
for aid. Thou art celebrated for thy liberality in
the eloquence of Persia, for the hand of the most
bountiful is found niggardly by thee. Thou art
a youth whose every thought, disposition, word,
and act are magnificent, in spite of thy malicious
foes. Thou art a youth that hast mounted to the
summit of praise, lofty as it is; and must bear its
accumulated weight, heavy as it is. O Knight of
Battle, may thy nuptials be propitious to thee!
thou paragon of horsemen, at the moment thou
leadest the charge! Accept, I conjure thee, this
present from me, and excuse its insufficiency, O
my lord and my friend!"

Antar thanked him for his address, and accepting
his present, seated him according to his rank. Then
advanced Hassan, the Mazinite, who kissed the
ground, and presented seven hundred horses, with
their accoutrements and armour; and three thousand
he and she camels; two thousand goats, and two
thousand sheep; twenty velvet garments; twenty
necklaces; twenty balls of musk, and twenty dishes
of ambergris; with a hundred male slaves, and as
many female; and thus he spoke:

"Shall others congratulate thee? but I will never
cease to felicitate thee. O Knight of Knights, in
the day of horrors thou art the lion, and the vanquisher
of the brave. The chiefs have accorded
thee the inheritance of eloquence; 'tis well, for
thou art wiser than Sohban[10] himself: accept these
presents of one bound in gratitude to thee, O thou
my refuge, my crown, and my defender!"

Antar thanked him for his address, and accepting
his presents, seated him according to his rank. Then
sprang forward Moshajaa, Chief of the tribe of
Khoolan, and presenting a thousand horses, with all
their accoutrements, and four thousand he and she
camels; ten thousand sheep; ten silk cushions; a
hundred velvet robes; fifty balls of musk, and fifty
dishes of ambergris—he requested his acceptance,
and thus addressed him:

"Hail to thy hand, that has no bounds! Prose
and rhyme fail to express my thanks. How can

gratitude be conveyed to the noble hero, when the
Pisces and the Lyra fall short of it? He possesses
those virtues of liberality, could I describe
them, the age would be adorned, and fortune
would boast thereof. His fingers are the dew, and
his munificence the falling shower: his virtues a
garden, and his words flowers. Rejoice in the
happiness that may bring thee glory; and nuptials
that may produce festivity and triumph! Accept,
then, I beseech thee, of me, this present; and extend
thy pardon, my lord, for its insufficiency."

Antar accepted his presents, and seated him
according to his rank; when up sprang the Chief
Obad, and presenting five hundred horses with their
housings and armour; three thousand he and she
camels; five thousand goats; two thousand sheep;
two hundred dishes of ambergris; two hundred balls
of precious musk, and a thousand robes of crimson
silk; with one hundred male slaves, and as many
female; he thus expressed his admiration of Antar:

"Is there for judgment any justice-throne but
thine? Beyond thy court is there any hope amongst
man? Had a man wished to express praise or
gratitude before this, rhymes would have failed.
O, by the Lord of Heaven, were all languages to
be heaped together, poetry would fall short of
what I feel. Thou art the man, were it not for
whose sword, there would be no refuge for the
hopes of mortals. Marriage is noble among men,
and truly in thee is proved what futurity will never
produce. Thy success is peculiarly thine own;

no scene of glory is there, but thine arm was there
seen extended—munificence, resolution, and convincing
wisdom! What is the ram? or the lion?
or the sword? the hero of horsemen, when the
armies close; the lion of armies, when the armies
close. As to his virtues, their liberality every petitioner
has witnessed; but on the day of battle,
they are absynth. He protects those who beg
his mercy; his benignity enriches before they even
ask. Accept then the presents of one, who is come
to thee in joy—whose power truly depends on
thee. Never will I praise any one but thee; for
in the qualities of thy glory I shall cite proverbs
among men. O thou, my friend, my associate!
may nothing ever disturb or taint thy happiness!"

Antar expressed his thanks, and congratulated
him, and accepting his presents, seated him according
to his rank. Then came forward Niamet, son
of Ashtar, who presented a thousand horses, with
their accoutrements and armour; and a hundred
necklaces of jewels, and a thousand crimson silk
robes; five thousand he and she camels; twenty
thousand sheep; two hundred male slaves, and as
many female; one hundred balls of precious musk;
one hundred dishes of ambergris. And as he requested
Antar's acceptance, he thus honoured him:

"To describe thee would require all we can say
or write. It is no wonder that we are prolix or
flowery. Thy deeds and thy greatness must ever
be known: why should we not detail thy eulogy,
and compose verses on thee? If indeed there be

no end to words, there is also no term to thy virtues.
Should glory itself aim at thy height, exceeding
the distance of the stars, it might approach
thee; and should it not reach so high, thou hast
attained that supremacy we cannot describe, however
we extend our expressions and our rhymes.
Man is totally unable to praise the worth of a
hero, who puts at nought every eulogist, and
every admirer. As to his actions, his bounty to
his foes is cited from east to west. Pens of spears
have inscribed his generosity, and tongues of Indian
swords have spoken of him in the East. His
scimitar has raised him to a pinnacle of glory, on
the very extremity of fame, far and near. He rides a
high-mettled steed that never falters, and deals out
death to the enemy. May this marriage be auspicious
to thee, thou Knight of war, and mayst
thou succeed in every attempt! May the world
be ever a garden under thy command, and by thy
bounty may it be refreshed with showers! Accept
from me a present that I offer thee, for thou
art skilled and daring in every deed. May thy
existence never fail us! thou art our object, and
we consider thy generosity as the utmost boundary
of our wishes."

The heroes and warriors were much delighted.
Antar thanked him for his address, and accepting
his presents, seated him according to his rank.

Now when all the Arab chiefs had presented their
offerings, each according to his circumstances, Antar
rose, and called out to Mocri-ul-wahsh; O Knight

of Syria, said he, let all the he and she camels, high
priced horses, and all the various rarities I have received
this day, be a present from me to you. But
the perfumes of ambergris, and fragrant musk, belong
to my cousin Ibla; and the slaves shall form
my army and troops. (The number of slaves Antar
received that day amounted to two thousand five
hundred; to whom he gave as many horses, and as
many damsels, and also arms and weapons; and they
all mounted when he rode out, and halted when he
halted.)

When the Arab chiefs heard Antar's harangue,
and how he had given away all his property, they
marvelled at his generosity; and they requested him
to terminate his nuptials, fearful of any treachery
or opposition. O Arabs, said King Cais, your
earnestness shall not be thrown away upon us,
nor your visit to us be unavailing; for ye are the
horsemen of magnanimity, and joy should ever succeed
to difficulties. It was the justice of fortune that
released Antar from the bonds of servitude, and endued
him with liberality, intrepidity, and boldness
in arms; and he is become our champion, and the
remover of all our pains and sorrows.

Rebia was highly indignant at this speech; and
as King Cais observed him, O Rebia, he added,
verily Antar deserves even more than this, for he has
been patient, and has never failed us; he has protected
our wives and our families; and there is nothing
to be done but to conclude the marriage.

And when the Arabs heard this, they kissed the

ground before him. Bravo! exclaimed Antar,
springing forward from behind them. All ye that
are present here, know that I am the slave of this
Absian tribe; I will redeem it with my life and my
property from every distress, and every calamity;
from every misfortune and every adversity: if they
marry my cousin to me, I consent; if they still resist,
I will have patience; if they wish to delay me,
it is for them to command; but whatever they do,
I shall still be the object of insult and envy. O
Aboolfawaris, exclaimed they all, there is no opposition
to the nuptials—thou art our knight and our
champion. Upon which Antar ordered ten thousand
he and she camels to be slaughtered that day,
and also twenty thousand sheep, and twenty thousand
goats, and a thousand lions and lionesses.

Then mounted the Chief Bostam, with the tribe
of Shiban, and the Chief Hijar, with the people of
Kendeh; and Maadi Kereb, with the tribe of Zebeed;
and Moshajaa, with the tribe of Khoolan; and Hatal,
with the tribe of Ghiftan; and also King Cais,
with the tribe of Abs and Adnan; and Hassan, the
Mazinite; and Rowdhah, son of Meneea; and King
Niamet, son of Ashtar; and Rebia, son of Zeead;
and also all the horsemen: and the whole desert was
illumined with the flash of helmets, and armour, and
corslets. They gave the bridles to their horses, and
titled and jousted with each other with barbless
spears, till mid-day. (It was now the season of the
spring, and the country was enamelled with the lustre
of the new-born flowerets.)

And the sun being risen to the meridian vault of
heaven, the warriors returned to their tents and the
dwellings that were fixed for them: there the dinner
was already served up for them, and there was not
one but found before him a portion of the lion's flesh,
of which the men ate till they were satisfied, and
then came the wine-bearers round with cups and
goblets.

Afterwards, Antar directed them to lay out a second
range of tables, covered with victuals for the
poor, and the orphans, and the widows. His orders
were obeyed; and the herald proclaimed, Whoever
wants meat and provisions, let him repair to the
kitchen of Antar, son of Shedad. So all the girls
and boys, women and children, advanced; and Antar
stood up with his brothers, waiting on all the noble
guests amongst the slaves and attendants: but King
Cais prohibited Antar from serving in such menial
offices.

Now there was a curious custom current among
the Arabs at that period. The night on which a
bridegroom should wed his wife, they brought a
quantity of camel packsaddles, and heaped them one
upon the other, decorating them with magnificent
garments. Here they conducted the bride, and
having seated her on high, they said to the bridegroom,
Come on, now for thy bride! And the
bridegroom rushed forward to carry her off, whilst
the youths of the tribe drawn up in line, right and
left, with staves and stones in their hands, as soon
as the bridegroom rushed forwards, began beating

and pelting him, and doing their utmost to prevent
his reaching his wife. If a rib or so were broken in
the affair, it was well for him; were he killed, it was
his destiny. But should he reach his wife in safety,
the people quitted him, and no one attempted to approach
him. (I inquired about this circumstance,
says Asmaee, and what it was they were about.
Asmaee, they answered, the meaning of this is to
exhibit the bride to the warriors, that should her
husband die, any one else might take a fancy to
her, and take her off.)

At this period, as Antar's nuptials were began,
King Cais assembled his brothers; Know, sons of
my father and my mother, said he, this night is the
night of Ibla's appearing in state to Antar; and I
fear that some enemy of his may betray him: but
this custom has prevailed for ages past. My opinion,
said Harith, is, that this custom should be abolished
with respect to Antar, and renewed with every one
else.

King Cais saw the expediency of such advice,
and accordingly ordered the herald to proclaim to
the assembled nations, that King Cais, King of the
tribe of Abs and Adnan, ordains that every one
who attends Antar's nuptials with a sword, or staff,
or any instrument, shall be put to death, and his
property be given to Antar: and I will excuse, says
the King, those who make offerings, and I will be
impartial to those who take warning: for I have
abolished this custom at the nuptials of Antar; but
I shall reinforce it on every future occasion. Thus

proclaimed the herald throughout the tents of the
tribe of Abs and Adnan. The Arabs heard it, and
all Antar's friends were exceedingly pleased at the
precaution thus taken.

Now when Amarah heard that Antar was about
to consummate his marriage with Ibla, he was seized
with a violent fever, and an ague-fit suddenly fell
upon his whole body. He sent for forty of his
slaves, and exciting their avarice, ordered them to
be on the watch the night of Ibla's marriage with
Antar, that they should rush unawares upon him,
and put him to death. They went away in order
to execute Amarah's commands; but hearing the
proclamations among the tents, that no one should
attend Antar's wedding with arms, they returned,
and told Amarah of the circumstance. Then his
heart burst—he started up, and ran to his brother
Rebia, exclaiming, O my brother, I am dying.
What's the matter now, my fine fellow? said Rebia.
Amarah related his disappointment; but added to
Rebia, You have frequented the privacies of kings,
and have travelled over lands and countries: so explain
to me some deadly herb, that I may give it
this slave in such a manner that no one may know
any thing about it. Amarah, said Rebia, I know
of an electuary, which one of King Numan's confidants
explained to me, saying, Rebia, this is an
electuary; should any one eat thereof, it will extinguish
the burning warmth of his body; and, for one
day and night, should it circulate through his frame,
he will sink into a state of inanition and lethargy.

Brother, said Amarah, give me some of this electuary,
that I may give it this black Antar to eat.
And who will give it Antar to eat? said Rebia. My
female slave Kehla, said Amarah; Khemisa, Ibla's
handmaiden, is very found of her, and this day, very
early, she will go to assist her. Upon this Rebia
gave Amarah the electuary, which he took, and
returned home.

Now this slave-girl Kehla was in high favour with
Amarah, for she was in lieu of Ibla to him, and
when he came home he sent for her. Kehla, said
he, I have an important affair for you, and I cannot
trust its execution to any hands but yours. What's
this mighty affair, my lord? said Kehla. I want
you, continued Amarah, to take this electuary with
you, when Khemisa invites you to the feast, and
take special care to mix it with Antar's meat, that
he may eat of it. But, my lord, said Kehla, what
are the effects of this medicine, should any one eat
it? It is not deadly? I should never escape out of
the hands of the family of Carad. No, no! O Kehla,
said Amarah, it is not deadly; it is a drug to excite
hatred, and you well know what I have suffered on
account of Ibla, and now at last Antar has got the
better of me; he has taken her by force, and all my
wish is, that he may eat this drug, so that he may
hate her. Kehla expressed her obedience to his
commands, and Amarah was all joy and delight,
recommending her to keep the affair secret.

Kehla took the drug, and set out for Antar's

feast; and when she arrived, she saw one of the
Carad slaves, called Naeem, standing in attendance
amongst the other slaves; round his head was a
crimson turban, and he wore one of Antar's honorary
robes. Kehla was passionately in love with him;
and when she saw him so fine, she said to herself,
'Tis true Amarah loves me, but he will not let me
go out to the pastures and meet my beloved—he
says this medicine is good to produce hatred, so the
best thing I can do will be to give it my master,
Amarah, himself to eat, that he may hate me, and
let me go out to the pastures; and I will let Antar
be happy. So she went to Khemisa, Ibla's handmaiden,
and related what had occurred with Amarah;
and giving her the medicine, Khemisa, said
she, there is nothing to be done but for you to infuse
this drug into the meat, and take it to my master,
Amarah; for he will not refuse it from your hands.
Khemisa acquiesced, and taking the drug from her,
put it into a platter full of meat, smothered with
saffron and gravy; and having thus melted the drug
in the meat, she carried away the dish, and went in
search of the Chief Amarah, before whom she placed
it. As soon as he saw Khemisa, he asked her about
Kehla. My lord, she replied, I left her waiting on
my master, Antar; and I have brought you this
meat. Amarah was highly pleased, and said, Let
not Kehla delay giving Antar the medicine to eat;
and let the slave be a Black greasy Pot, as Rebia
has said. And he ate up the whole meat; in the
excess of his joy licking the very dish with his
tongue. However the meat was not long settled in
his stomach before he felt the effects of the drug.

And now when the Arabs assembled for Antar's marriage had eaten their dinner, the cups of wine
were brought round to them; the men and women
were promiscuously moving together; the girls came
forth, and the slave-women were amusing themselves,
enjoying the happy moments. Hola! cried
the matrons and the virgins, we will not remain
covered on Antar's marriage. And they threw aside
their veils, and the full moons appeared in all their
lustre; and they flaunted the branches of their forms
in the excess of their delight; and it was a famous
day for them. By the faith of an Arab, said the
matrons and virgins, we will not remain thus concealed
behind these curtains; the doors shall not be
shut upon us; we will see Ibla in her magnificence,
and we will walk in her train, and make our offerings
to her and Antar, and we will not keep a dirhem
or a dinar to ourselves; for a happier night
than this can never be, and no one but a madman
would miss it.

When the women of the tribe of Carad heard this,
they were alarmed for the scandal and censure that
would thus be occasioned: so they resolved to finish
Ibla's ceremony. They clothed her in the most
magnificent robes and Chosroweean garments, and
superb necklaces; they placed the coronet of Chosroe
on her head, and tiaras round her forehead. Ibla
was remarkable for her beauty and loveliness: the

tirewomen surrounded her, and they requested Antar
to let her come forth in state. He gave them
permission, whilst his brothers and slaves stood
round the pavilion with their swords, and javelins,
and weapons. He ordered them to place a lofty
throne for Ibla in front of the pavilion. They executed
his commands—they lighted brilliant and scented candles before her, and spread afar the odour
of aloes and camphor, and scattered the perfumes
of ambergris and musk—the lights were fixed in
candlesticks of gold and silver—the torches blazed—
and whilst the women shouted and raised their voices
to whistles and screams, Ibla came forth in state.
In her hand she bore a drawn sword, whose lustre
dazzled the eyesight. All present gave a shout;
whilst the malicious and ill natured cried aloud,
What a pity that one so beautiful and fair should
be wedded to one so black! As to the Chief Amarah,
he felt that his life had quitted his body, and
the universe appeared all darkened to him; he was
stupefied, and in the greatest consternation; and
though he wished to stand up, he fell down, for an
arrow from Ibla's eyes shot him, and he was upset.
I know, said he to himself, this black slave will be
happy with Ibla; but I must put a stop to this
business; so he ran home, and took two necklaces
of jewels, and went with them to Simiah, Shedad's
wife. O Simiah, said he, I have a particular favour
to beg of you; I wish you would fulfil it, and take
these two necklaces of jewels. What is it you want,
my lord? said Simiah. What I want of you, said
Amarah, is to say to Zebeeba, Antar's mother,
God forbid you should do such an act, O Zebeeba!
If she asks you what you mean by this speech, tell
her, Your son Antar has endured much vexation;
but his trouble is not lost, for Ibla, after having
been his foster-sister, is now become his wife. Zebeeba
is but of little wit, so she will perhaps tell her
son Antar; and should she say, I nursed Ibla with
your milk, may be his high spirit will mount up,
and he will not venture near his bride. Amarah's
intention was to stop Antar's marriage that night,
that the medicine might have its full effect upon
him, ignorant, as he was, that the drug was in his
own bowels. Simiah agreed to his proposal, for she
much coveted the necklaces. Amarah departed, his
heart full of joy. Simiah turned towards the pavilion,
and met an immense concourse of people, all
huddled one upon another. The candles were
burning, and the torches were waving—Ibla came
forth in state, looking about right and left, and as
some one has described:

"She exhibited the play of her charms in her
features and her form, as her elegant shape moved
about. She looked and shot arrows from her eyelashes,
and threw amongst us penetrating darts.
The beauties of her face exclaimed to her admirers,
Be not ignorant, and attach yourselves to her
charms. Every charm was united in her that
could captivate the senses, when she either sat still
or moved."

When Ibla had appeared in state amongst the
people, her mother took the sword out of her hand,
and wished to dress her a second time; but fire and
animation seized Antar; urged by his pride, he
darted at Ibla, and snatched her off the throne of
state like a sparrow, and entered the pavilion with
her, leaving pain and regret in the hearts of all the
bystanders: but Shiboob and Jareer remained at
the door of the pavilion, protecting their brother
from every harm.

Simiah, Shedad's wife, imparted to Zebeeba what
Amarah had instructed her to say; and as Zebeeba
was very deficient in sense, and not a little careless,
she let her son alone till he had entered the tent
with his cousin Ibla, when she went to him, and
seating herself by his side, congratulated him on his
marriage. O my son, said she, thanks be to God
that thy trouble has not been thrown away, for Ibla,
after having been thy sister, is become thy bride.
But, my son, do not tell any one of this. At these
words the light became dark in his eyes. What is
this you say, my mother? he cried. Know, my son,
said his mother, that I frequently suckled Ibla with
thy milk. And why did you not inform me of this
circumstance before now? asked Antar. Because,
replied Zebeeba, I never thought you would obtain
her. But now I tell you; so do as you please.
And away she went. Antar was bewildered at the
vicissitudes of fortune; he did not approach Ibla,
but passed the night reflecting on the misfortunes
directed against him from all quarters.

As to Amarah, he returned home, and sent for
Kehla: when she came, he ordered her to bring him
cups and goblets, which she did; and when he
had drunk three cups of wine with her, and was
caressing her, he fell almost senseless. Amarah was
startled, and in despair; Surely, said he to her, you
have not made any mistake with the drugs! What's
that you say? cried Kehla; it is all your aversion
for me that makes you speak thus: you saw Ibla
this evening, and have been looking at her charms.
Amarah remained doubtful, whether to believe it or
not; sometimes talking of the drugs, and sometimes
of the wine, till he perceived a lethargy come over
his limbs and senses; and he was in a dreadful state
of confusion.

As to Antar, he remained, as we said, till day
dawned, when Ibla's mother came in, with the
women of the Carad family, to congratulate her on
her marriage, as was customary. They entered;
but seeing her exceedingly distressed, her mother
asked, What was the matter? O my mother, said
Ibla, my cousin loves me not; and says he has
heard something that must part us for ever.

At hearing this, her mother was greatly exasperated.
She sent for Antar; What have you done
here? cried she. You black! you cuckold! do you
wish to make us a scandal among the Arabs? What
has happened? What's the matter? my mistress,
said Antar. You have taken my daughter by force,
said Shereeha, and have kept off all suitors and
lovers from her; and now she is yours, you have

cast her from your heart, and don't care about her.
I desire you will tell me what this means, for never
will I quit you till it is cleared up. I will take away
my daughter, if you don't want her; but if you are
a nasty greasy pot, I will put you on woman's
clothes, and give you a hurdy-gurdy or a dulcimer,
you filthy fellow! O my mistress, replied Antar,
didst ever see any one approach his sister, or consider
her as his wife? Who's your sister? said Shereeha.
Ibla, replied Antar; and then he told her
what his mother Zebeeba had related to him.
Whither and how? cried Shereeha: I was not big
with Ibla till you were ten years old, and you were
constantly roaming about the wilds and mountains,
tending camels and sheep; and she immediately
sent for Antar's mother: Zebeeba, said she, hast
thou at any time suckled Ibla with Antar's milk?
I don't understand you; I know nothing about it,
said Zebeeba. My mistress Simiah desired me to
say all this to my son Antar. O my mistress, one
night I was in a deal of trouble; I lay down, and
I was terribly agitated about this sad affair: I was
so confused that I said to myself, Which is tallest,
I or my son? and when I stood by him, I perceived
that I did not come up to his knees; then I thought
he was my father, and that I was his daughter.
When Ibla's mother and the other women heard
this, they all laughed; but as Shereeha wished to
know the truth of it, What could you mean by
these suggestions? said she to Simiah; thus to
disturb the happiness of my daughter and her
cousin! O Shereeha, said Simiah, know then, that
Amarah gave me this diamond necklace, and made
me swear to instruct Zebeeba thus; but though I
was aware no one could possibly prove the fact, I
could not reconcile myself to the loss of this necklace
merely for a word or so, feeling assured that
for this night my son would bear with me. Antar's
countenance now brightened with joy, and his bosom
expanded with delight. Away, then, said he to the
women, you have finished your congratulations.
He went to Ibla, and as he looked at her, he
thought of Zebeeba's expressions, and all she had
said to procrastinate his happiness, and thus he
spoke:

"Zebeeba thought Ibla was her daughter; Zebeeba
lied, and she too who instructed her. Zebeeba
is like the obscurity when it rises; the
night is in her, and is as if she were fraternised to
it. But the sweet Ibla is like the morning, and
her charms are pre-eminent. Who would draw a
parallel between the owl and the dove? and who
would find fault with the sun at noon-day? My
mother came with a horrible story; she came with
an insidious falsehood in her speech."

When he had recited his verses, he quitted Ibla,
scented as he was with musk and ambergris. The
shouts arose, and the slave-girls whirled the cymbals
in every direction; but the happiest of all were
King Cais and his brothers; and as Antar came to
him with the Arab chiefs, Cais congratulated him
on his nuptials, as did every one else, kissing him

between the eyes. King Cais having invested him
with an honorary robe, and also all the Arab chiefs
present on the occasion of Antar's marriage, questioned
him as to his heart's contentment. O, my
lord, replied Antar, I have succeeded in obtaining
my cousin only by your noble firmness, and the decision
of your character; and thus Antar addressed
him:

"I swear by thee that I have passed a time of
happiness, and I enjoyed the most perfect delight
in her society till dawn. As Ibla lay, musk spread
delicious fragrance from her person, and her
breath to me is more delicious than oil of roses.
I kissed her bosom and her cheeks, ornamented
with precious jewels, and the flush of wine. I
grasped in her the branch of the tamarisk, steeped
in clouds of beauty from the distilling rain; she
leant on me with her hand, her elbow, and her
wrist. We were cheek to cheek and neck to neck.
Never did I behold amongst the human race any
thing like Ibla; lovelier and more beautiful than
the sun and moon. When she stirs, her graceful
movements resemble the wave of the branch with
its green leaves. O, I vow no other charms will
I ever love in my life; never, whilst the world
endures, will I ever fail in my fondness for her.
Ibla is indeed a matchless nymph; thin loined,
and delicate waisted. Love for her penetrates my
heart and my entrails: it is as if the tears that
flow down my cheeks should flow in blood. Away,
away, never will I forget her love; no, never till

I rest in my grave. She is my object and desire
in every desert; never will I abandon her till the
day of judgment."

King Cais and all present were in admiration of
his eloquence, saying, God be praised, that has endued
thee with intrepidity and skill in arms, and
fluency of speech! Thus they continued feasting
and enjoying themselves for seven days successively,
and after that the Arabs separated for their respective
homes, surprised at the marriage, and the
quantity of wealth expended at it.

When the Arabs were gone, the Absians remained
two days quietly in their tents, but on the
third day King Cais gave a splendid feast at the
lake of Zat-ul-irsad to the tribe of Abs, in honour
of Antar's nuptials; and when they had eaten their
dinner, the wine circled among them, and as they
were thus occupied, behold a dust like smoke arose.
Antar and Mocri-ul-wahsh mounted with the Absian
chiefs to meet it, in order to see what it meant,
and lo! it discovered a close-vizored knight, followed
by ten thousand horsemen clad in armour
and steel. This warrior was called Awtaban, son
of Semaamaa, and the reason of his coming into the
land of Abs was this: As he was on a predatory
excursion against the property of the Arabs, he
quitted the land of Yemen, his own country, and
continued his expedition through the land of Cahtan,
and entered the country of the tribes of Adnan,
where meeting the Arabs who were separating from
Antar's nuptials, he inquired about their movements,

and they told him all about Antar's marriage, and
the wealth and cattle he had expended on that occasion.
At this description of Antar, he was highly
incensed and indignant, for he was also one of the
famed giants in those days of ignorance. We must
now proceed, said he to his heroes, to plunder the
goods of the Absians, and kill their men, and slay
Antar, whose name is thus famed and celebrated.
I will take his cousin Ibla captive, and make her
my concubine; and he hastened on till he came
nigh unto the Absians.

When Antar saw the armies and horsemen, he
turned towards the tribe of Abs to consult with
them on what they should do in this affair. Beholding
their countenances turn pale from fear, Cousins,
said he, banish these terrors and alarms; comfort
yourselves, and rejoice in the defeat of your
foes; and he attacked in front of the Absians.
Ibla, with the other women, came out to see what
was going on; and as Antar beheld Ibla as she
stood among the women without the tents, he was
afraid she would look upon him with the eye of
inferiority, so he rushed upon Awtaban's troops.
Hola! O Arabs, he cried, tell me whence ye are,
and what has brought ye hither? He had scarcely
finished when Awtaban stood before him; Eh! black
wretch, coward, poltroon, cried he, what slave of
the tribe of Abs and Adnan art thou? Thou son
of a base coward, said Antar, I am the vanquisher
of heroes; I am he who enjoys with my sword the
tribute of all these countries. I am the Chief Antar,

son of the Chief Shedad. And I am come in
quest of thee, said Awtaban in answer: this day I
must slay thee, and take captive thy cousin Ibla;
and if thou dost not know me, thou son of a poltroon,
I am Awtaban, the knight of Yemen, and in
my tribute are the lands of Senaa and Aden. He
had not finished when Antar shouted at him and
attacked. Awtaban met him, and addressed him
in these lines:

"O Chief Antar, a hero has come against thee,
whose power in the girded sword is to be dreaded:
it cleaves the neck of the horsemen and the foe,
and lays them low at every stroke. How many
knights have I slain in the plain of battle, where
they fall on their cheeks, and struggle with their
hands! Come on, then; in me is an impetuous
knight, whose ambition soars above every hero."

May thy mother forfeit thee, and may thy family
and tribe be deprived of thee! replied Antar. This
day will I make the last of thy days; and he thus
answered:

"Thou liest, by the shrine of God! thou most
ignorant of men, thou son of a coward, thou
vilest of wretches! Come on to the fight! Soon
thou wilt meet a lion whose power is a match for
every antagonist; whose Absian, Antarian vehemence
overthrows the firmest of the foes with his
mangling thrusts, and hurls down dead the warrior-enemy
with his sword, and leaves them slain
like camels gasping in death, abundant as carrion

for the wild beasts—food for the birds of the
deserts, and the hawks."

Thus saying, Antar rushed upon Awtaban. Awtaban
received him with a heart like a rock; and
between them there ensued the battle of swords and
spears, that turned infants grey, and sickened the
eyes. They continued in this state, plying the
sword-blow and the spear-thrust, till all the warriors
shuddered at their exploits. Antar looked at Awtaban,
and saw he was a mailed lion, and a terrific
warrior. They continued to fight, to give and take,
to sport, to exert themselves, to advance and retire,
till Antar perceiving that Awtaban was exhausted
and tired, hemmed him in, and clung to him; then
closing every means of escape, he grasped his dreadful
Dhami, irresistible and never-failing, and smote
Awtaban on the head, covered as he was with his
shield, but Antar's sword cut it in two, and cleft
his helmet, and the chains, and the wadding, and
still continued its sway till it issued through his
thighs to the back of his horse, and Awtaban fell,
he and his horse, cut in four; and at the effects of
his blow he shouted out, O by Abs! O by Adnan!
I will ever be the lover of Ibla. All the Absians
gave an universal shout, May thy hand be never
palsied! may no foe ever triumph over thee! may
no one ever harm thee! thou knight of the age;
thou champion of the tribe of Abs and Adnan!

As to Awtaban's troops, when they saw that Antar
had felled their chief, they attacked with all

their ten thousand like one man, crying out, O thou
black! thou wretch! thou coward! thou poltroon!
thou hast slain a knight whose equal the age will
never produce. Antar received them on the chest
of his horse Abjer, whilst the Absians also assaulted
to assist him; men met men, and heroes heroes;
blood flowed and streamed; limbs were hewn off;
the Absians exerted all their powers in the presence
of their wives and families, and destroyed the foe
with their force and vigour. As to Antar, he exposed
himself to death and destruction, for he knew
Ibla was looking at him. Mocri-ul-wahsh performed
in the presence of Antar deeds to be recorded, and
in less than two hours Awtaban's troops fled; but
the Absians and Antar pursued them closely, till
having driven them out of the country, they returned
to their scattered horses and dispersed armies;
and having collected their property, they
went home, Antar at their head, as if drowned in a
sea of blood; and thus he spoke:

"My heart is at rest; it is recovered from its intoxication.
Sleep has calmed my eyelids, and
relieved them. Fortune has aided me, and my
prosperity cleaves the veil of night, and the seven
orders of heaven. I am the slave that encounters
death on the day of terrors, and fears not destruction.
I have slain Awtaban, and he was a knight
stout armed and bitter palated; I hurled him to
the ground, laid low by my sword, his feet and
legs wallowing in blood. I have made the horsemen
drink of the cup of death mixed with tortures,

at my scimitar's edge. I am the man from whom
they experience on the day of fears insufferable
justice: a youth that fells the horsemen on the
day of battle, and dreads not the thin edge of the
sabre. Ah! O Ibla, if thou hadst beheld my
deeds, and my thrusts with the straight spear,
thy love for me would increase, and thou wouldst
truly applaud my acts as long as people walk or
move on the earth. My glory is on high, in the
towers of the Pleiades, and my ambition rends the
seven ranges of heaven."

When Antar had finished, the heroes and warriors
were astonished at his eloquence; they retired
home, and dividing the horses and the spoil amongst
the horsemen, they renewed their feasts, and entertainments,
and sports, at the lake of Zat ul irsad
and the purling streams, the slave-women beating
the cymbals, and the men flourishing their swords.