University of Virginia Library

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.