 | CHAPTER THE EIGHTH. Antar : |  |
CHAPTER THE EIGHTH.
Amroo cried out; he screamed; he wept; he sharply
questioned Antar. Alas! said he, from the moment
I parted from her I know not what has happened.
The women and slaves were instantly sent
for:—not one could give any information respecting
Ibla. Then was Antar's grief and anguish
most severe—his tears flowed rapidly down his
cheek. But the heart of her father was replete
with gladness; and all Antar's enemies exulted in
secret. King Zoheir and his son Malik soon learned
what had happened, and their hearts felt what the
heart of man never felt before. This event lay
heavy on them all. The horsemen mounted their
steeds, and scoured the country in every direction,
till, darkness coming on, they returned without
gaining any intelligence. Be comforted, be consoled,
clear up this mystery. O King, continued Antar,
I am alone to blame, for I left her with those who
knew not her worth. I was induced too hastily to
come and meet you, fearful that the dust of the
horsemen would distress her. After this, he repaired
to the habitation of his mother, who threw
herself into his arms and wept for joy.
But Oorwah and his companions, on their return
home with Malik, Ibla's father, acquainted
Rebia with all that had happened to Amarah—
how Antar had rescued him and his comrades from
captivity and disgrace. Our grand object, said
Rebia, is the destruction of Antar; and all my
exertions shall be directed to that point. I will
demand of no one but of King Zoheir himself vengeance
for my brother's untimely fate: he shall
deliver Antar over to me, that I may kill him and
bring down perdition on him, for he must have
been the cause of Amarah's death. The next day,
as King Zoheir and his sons were sitting in their
tents, Rebia presented himself, accompanied by his
brothers. Having kissed the ground and made
obeisance, he explained the extraordinary disappearance
of his brother when in company with
Antar; saying, No one, O King, slew him but
Antar. I therefore demand of you his person,
that I may kill him with my own hand. King
Zoheir was convinced that this representation was
only founded in fraud and hypocrisy. Cousin, he
under great affliction for the loss of his uncle's
daughter. But if his guilt on this subject should
be ascertained, I will either deliver him over to you,
or I will slay him with my own hand. When Rebia
heard this, he departed overwhelmed with shame.
The cause of Ibla's disappearance was the following.—Soon
after Antar had quitted Ibla in the
morning, in order to meet King Zoheir, sleep came
upon her by the visitation of Fate and Destiny:
in the same manner, too, the women and slaves all
fell asleep on the backs of the camels. Ibla awoke,
and, finding herself in the midst of an extensive
plain, she said to her female attendants, Let me
alight and relieve the weariness of my limbs. The
slaves assisted her to descend, and over their eyes
immediately fell a heavy sleep: the camels passed
on, and they left her behind. But, whilst Ibla remained
thus abandoned, lo! a horseman rode down
towards her, exclaiming, "Hurrah! by the Arabs!
Fortune has at length awakened from her sleep,
and is recovered from her supineness—she has
given me what no human power could command."
This horseman was Amarah: for when he beheld
Ibla clothed in all those rich robes and garments,
he roamed among the rocks and the plains; and as
he continued straying, sometimes to the right, sometimes
to the left, he thus exclaimed:
"I wander, and my heart is the captive of
arduous. I weep for my dishonour, yet am I a
noble chief, and warriors consult me. Were
it not for the vicissitudes of Fortune, Fate would
not have distressed me—a slave would not have
succeeded, and a Chief be humiliated. O daughter
of Malik! my love draws me towards thee
with strong ties, and I am thy captive; I madden,
and I complain of my passion in the deserts;
and within my ribs is a raging flame at this
separation."
Thus Amarah raved till he came near home,
when his agony and anxiety became intense. In
the night he chanced to pass over the track of the
camels, and thus he discovered Ibla. As soon as
he saw her, he recognised her; and he felt as if all
his hopes were accomplished. But still fearing that
Antar would annihilate his existence, in a moment
he snatched her up violently from the ground, and,
placing her behind him on his horse, he launched
into the deserts. What! Amarah, thou mine of
filth and infamy, cried Ibla, dost thou dare to
make the daughter of thy cousin a prisoner? thou
foul-mustachioed wretch! I have caught thee, he
replied; and now I shall not perish in the sea of
love for thee. By the faith of an Arab, never, as
long as I breathe, shall Antar see thee more. All
his wishes and desires being thus realised, he urged
on his steed, and sought the land of Yemen, the
protection of Meljem the son of Handala, King of
the tribe of Tey, and remain under his shadow.
He had travelled on till mid-day, when, lo! a
dust arose, and thirty horsemen appeared, who, as
soon as they drew nigh, surrounded Amarah. This
party was of the tribe of Tey, and their Chief, a
noble horseman, called Moofrij, son of Hamam.
And as they closed on Amarah they perceived a
damsel weeping and wailing, and most sumptuously
attired. Congratulate yourselves on this plunder
and spoil, said their leader to his comrades; doubtless
this damsel is a daughter of some great King,
and this miserable fellow has carried her off. Come
on—let us rescue her: if he resists you, kill him.
At the word, they made towards Amarah. Dismount,
young man, they exclaimed, and wait on
this noble horseman, Moofrij, son of Hamam. This
order soon convinced Amarah that he had fallen
into a scrape; and though he was willing to secure
himself, and bargain for his life with the property,
yet his love for Ibla checked him. "Daughter of
Malik, said he to her, dismount, that I may drive
these antagonists away from thee, even though I
may drink of the cup of death. But if this should
prove the termination of thy meeting with me, I
swear by the God that created and beautified thee
that no human being after me shall possess thee."
Amarah, cried Ibla, may God never let thy native
soil flourish, nor suffer thee to escape from the
Ibla had not finished her speech before the horsemen
surrounded them on all sides; and Moofrij
attacked at their head. Ibla looked round to the
right and to the left, shooting arrows from her eyelashes.
Moofrij marked the beauties of her form:
his heart throbbed. But one of the horsemen
assaulted Amarah, and, wounding him, took him
prisoner, and secured him with cords, a miserable,
contemptible wretch! What Arab art thou? thou
foul-mustachioed fellow! he exclaimed. I am the
Chief Amarah, the brother of Rebia son of Zeead,
of the noble race of Abs, he replied. As Moofrij
listened to this, his senses fled away with joy. Woe
unto thee, that wanderest over these deserts, thou
son of infamy and disgrace! he cried; for between
us there exists an ancient feud. So he
fastened him across his horse, and carried him
away towards his own country. My cousins, said
he to his friends, a rich spoil is fallen to my share,
namely, this damsel; but the ransom that may
arise from the captive, that be yours. It is for you
to command, O noble Chief, they replied. They
travelled on till it was dark; and when they had
dismounted to repose and sleep, Moofrij demanded
of Ibla what man demands of woman. She repulsed
and reviled him. Keep off, touch me not,
cried she, or thou diest, as many others before thee
have done; for my husband is a man men cannot
resist—a warrior warriors cannot withstand; and
whom dost thou allude, unhappy girl? said he. I
mean, replied Ibla, Antar, the son of Shedad. As
soon as he heard this, his indignation redoubled;
he seized on a whip, and beat her till he made
her groan with pain. He left her; and, having
reposed till morning, he resumed his journey: and
in a few days they reached their own country, and
their families rejoiced at their return. Moofrij delivered
Ibla over to his mother. As to Amarah,
he handcuffed and fettered him, and beat him
with a stick three times a day—morning, mid-day,
and sunset; saying, Ransom thyself, thou filth!
Moofrij was continually with Ibla, importuning
her to marry him; but she ever rejected his proposals,
weeping and shrieking at him: and, as this
continued a long time, he became greatly enraged
at her, and beat her with a stick till the blood
came; when his mother, hearing her screams, ran
in and took her away from him. "O my son, said
she, you torment yourself about one that regards
you not, and you have given your heart to one
who will not keep it. Apply to the daughters of
your uncles, and fix not your affections on one
who has no inclination for you. Let her be your
menial servant—for there are certain people who
will not give way but when they are disgraced:
others there are, who, being nobly born, yield to
mild treatment." His mother's remonstrance had
its effect. He complied; and, stripping her of her
leather: and Ibla became his mother's slave-girl by
day and by night, and her employment was to draw
off the milk and to milk the buffaloes. The old
woman also always spoke to her in the harshest
manner, that she might stand in greater awe of her
son. Thus Ibla passed her days in such servile
offices, and her nights in weeping and wailing, and
interrupting the repose of the house, and ever calling
on Antar. The ruffian Amarah often heard her,
and his heart was rent with anguish—anticipating
death and every thing dreadful. Now Amarah
had despatched one of Moofrij's slaves to his brother
Rebia, to tell him what had happened; and
the slave hastened away till he reached the dwellings
of Abs and Adnan. But Rebia had about
that time gone down to the valley of Thaklan, in
consequence of King Zoheir's having said to him,
You can establish no charge against Antar; so depart,
make inquiries, investigate the affair of Ibla's
disappearance, and we will punish the criminal according
to his actions: for I will not deliver Antar
up to you—I will not leave him to your discretion.
This was the cause of Rebia's removal from the
tribe of Abs; and he set out with his brothers in
high dudgeon, his heart greatly inflamed against
Antar. He came and settled in that spot, and two
hundred tents of the tribe followed him: but they
were scarcely established when Moofrij's slave arrived
and informed Rebia of his brother Amarah's
he flew into a violent passion. He instantly
assembled his brothers and adherents, to whom he
related the whole story, explaining the cruel predicament
in which Amarah was placed. Verily,
said he, we shall be disgraced amongst all the
Arabs on account of my brother's affair with Ibla;
for it is an unheard-of injury. But, should we
decide on ransoming him with our property, this
disgrace will for ever cling to us; and it will be
said, the family of Zeead, unable to liberate their
brother by force of arms, ransomed him with money
and effects. It is my opinion we should set out
with these two hundred horsemen, and cast ourselves
amongst the hot coals of the Teyans. Let
us exercise every energy, that our enterprise may
succeed; and if we can lay hands on any of Moofrij's
property we will seize it, and rescue my brother
from his misery: but if we cannot thus effect
our purpose, we will secrete ourselves in the country;
there we will watch him day and night, until
some one may fall into our clutches with whom
we may procure his exchange. However, let all
this be kept concealed from King Zoheir; for
should he hear it, he may bring charges against
us, saying, your brother has offered violence to the
wife of a man and the daughter of his uncle, and
you dared to demand reparation for his blood. It
is, indeed, a severe calamity that Amarah has
brought down upon us. Most true, said one of
think best; consult on the state of our affairs;
haste away before the transaction become publicly
known, and we become a tale in the mouths of men
and women. Upon this they secured the slave, the
bearer of the intelligence, and quitted their homes,
seeking the mountains of Aja and Selma and the
habitations of the Teyans. Oorwah was of the
party. And they pursued their journey, traversing
the plains and the wilds.
But Antar had despatched Shiboob to gain some
authentic information about Ibla. He remained in
anxious expectation of his return, whilst a flame
of fire blazed in his heart, as he frequently exclaimed,
Alas, alas! I feel a grief that cauterizes
my very soul. Oh for some news! Oh that I could
enjoy one look at her face! And, as his afflictions
completely subdued him, he sighed and groaned,
and thus spoke:
"My tears stand in drops on my eyelids, and
short is the sleep of my eyes. For love there is
no rest—no comfort when the railers advise. We
met—but our meeting quenched not the flame.
No! it did not cool the boiling heat. How long
shall I mourn for the mate that grieves me?
Tears and lamentations avail not. I have implored
a peaceable life from Fortune, but her
favours to me are like the boons of a miser. I
am dying, and the most extraordinary forbearance
aids me not in my calamities."
Thus Antar passed a long time in the greatest
agony and affliction, never eating or drinking, except
in the society of King Zoheir, till Shiboob
returned. Antar, the instant he saw him, started
up. My soul is on fire at your long absence, he
cried. Have you gained any information of Ibla?
or, after this long absence, have you returned in
vain? O my brother, replied Shiboob, I am not
come without intelligence: I have news for you
that would cure even the deepest buried disease of
the heart. After I had passed through various cities
of Yemen, I came to Sana and Aden, and encountered
numerous difficulties until I reached the tribe
of Tey. It was there I found Ibla in the power
of Moofrij: there she attends on the camels and
the sheep. He has clothed her in garments of raw
leather, and makes her serve in the meanest offices
day and night. His mother too threatens her, and
treats her harshly in her speech: so that she weeps
both when she rises and lies down. She calls on
your name, and seeks her wonted succour from you
both night and day. Antar listened, and trembled.
He shook with fear, and the tears gushed from his
eyes. Well, Shibbob, said he; but what was the
cause of her falling into the power of Moofrij?
How came he, of all people, to obtain possession of
her? Son of my mother, replied Shiboob, the cause
of all this is Amarah; in whose mind are ever harboured
evil and deceit. Shiboob then related all Amarah's
contrivances. His envy at last overpowered
you had with you. He turned aside into the desert;
but his love for Ibla was so violent, that he
followed your traces, and watched her after you
had quitted her in the morning. Fate and destiny
overcame her. He seized her; and though he was
desirous to vanquish her, Moofrij overtook him in
the desert. He tore her away from him, and reduced
him to a most pitiable state. Antar's heart
was almost bursting as he listened to this narrative.
Brother, said he, how did you obtain this information?
Know, continued Shiboob, that when I
quitted you, I made the circuit of every tribe and
horde, and made inquiries of every one I met,
whether on horseback or on foot, until I came to
Aja and Selma and the waters of the tribe of Tey.
With every family I passed one night, saying to
myself peradventure I may learn something. On
the last night of my stay I slept in the dwelling of
Moofrij, and my place of rest was close to that of
one of his slaves called Moobshir. He invited me
to converse with him, and was very kind to me;
and to his questions about my connexions, Son of
my aunt, I replied, I am of the tribe of Jalhema,
of the family of Saad, son of Khoozrej—and this
is the family of Hatim Tey. So he complimented
me. But when all was still and quiet, and every
one asleep, the voice of Ibla struck upon my ears.
She was loudly wailing, and exclaiming through
the calmness of the night, Oh for the joys of Mount
expressing her regrets at being separated from her
native soil, and her loss of friends; adding, O protector
of the tribe of Abs, how often have I called
on thee! Where is the path by which I can give
thee news of myself and meet thee, O son of my
uncle? for torments distract me. My eyes are
ulcered with weeping, O son of my uncle! Thy
foes triumph, and watchful are the eyes of thy
enemies. It was the very moment of meeting,
when separation closely followed its traces; and
thou hadst but just arrived from Irak, when we
were again scattered over the globe. Woe to me!
my lot is nothing but tears and sighs. What a
misery it is to put on raw leather for a garment!
Cruel is this grievous state. Hasten then, son of
my uncle, thy arrival; rescue me by thy exertions,
that laid low the lions of the caverns. Let me hear
thy shouts in the tumult of spearsmen and swordsmen.
After this doleful effusion, my brother, she
sobbed and sighed so bitterly, it might almost be
said that she was dead, and that her soul had departed.
Again she sighed from her sorrowing
heart, and thus spoke:
"My anxious love is vehement, and my tears
flow profusely, and they ease the anguish of my
pains in my frame. Ask my burning sighs, that
mount on high—they will tell you of the flaming
passion in my liver. By your violence you overpower
my weakness: I have not forbearance or
all the livelong night, drooping, he mourns
for his mate that is gone and returns not. This
is thy sorrow, and to-morrow thou art relieved:
but, alas, what is the state of the captive of love
and anguish! O western breeze, blow to my
country, and give information of me to the fierce
lion, the hero of Abs, and their champion when
start forth the foreheads of the horse and warriors
in multitudes! How oft has he protected
me with the edge of his sword—he, the refuge
of mothers fearful of being bereft of their children!
Here I dwell, hoping for a relief from
my agonies at his hand: to no other will I complain."
(As Shiboob repeated these verses, streams flowed
from the eyes of Antar.) I immediately turned,
continued Shiboob, towards the slave near whom I
was lying; Son of my aunt, said I, why is this
damsel grieving? does she not sleep? does she pass
her nights generally thus? Young man, replied
the slave, she is a foreigner, and she is a captive:
it is thus she passes her mornings and her evenings.
Her name is Ibla, daughter of Malik, the Absian.
I soon contrived to draw from him the whole story:
how Moofrij happened to meet Amarah and her:
how he took Amarah prisoner, and carried her
home; and when he demanded of her what man
demands of woman, how she used the most opprobrious
expressions towards him—threatening him
from the state of a slave to that of a Chief:
how Moofrij upon this treated her most vilely—
stripping her of her clothes, and overwhelming her
with cruelties: how also he behaved in the same
manner to Amarah—handcuffing and fettering him
until he should ransom himself with money and
camels; and that he had sent to Rebia to rescue
him from misery. At hearing this, O son of my
mother, sweet sleep abandoned my eyes, and I
anxiously waited for the dawn of day, that I might
hasten to you, and return with my intelligence.
But on my way I met the family of Zeead, travelling
towards that tribe. I turned out of the road,
so that they did not see me: and this is what I have
seen and heard during my absence. Antar listened
to all these details. At last he swooned, and though
alive he seemed lost to all feeling, so violent was
his rage against Amarah—so vast his love for Ibla.
I must be revenged, he cried, on that family of
Zeead: I will deprive them of their sweet slumbers.
He instantly summoned his father and mother;
and as he informed them of all these extraordinary
events, they began to weep and wail; and soon was
the circumstance known among all the family of
Carad. The next day Antar hastened to Prince
Malik, and informed him of the discovery of Ibla:
upon which he conducted him to the tents of King
Zoheir. O my lord, exclaimed Antar, bursting into
tears in his presence, let this be a judgment on
their brother's blood, after I had kindly liberated
him from that Nocturnal Evil and the Depredator
of the Age. When King Zoheir had heard all this
infamous transaction, greatly exasperated against
Amarah and Rebia, he exclaimed, May God curse
the family of Zeead! Truly have they committed
a most dastardly act; for their brother has carried
off Ibla, the daughter of their uncle by birth, and
has brought indelible disgrace upon her, according
to the usages of Arabia. They even dared to demand
vengeance of me upon Antar, guiltless and
nowise implicated. O Aboolfawaris, he added, do
what you please. Observe what will be their fate.
The Lord God has driven them to their ruin. I
am convinced they will be subdued by their foes,
and that not one of them will return home. I will
stop till I hear of them: then let us all march together,
and let us ease our hearts upon them; and
never will I trace my way back till I have rescued
Ibla with the sword, and have slain Moofrij, son of
Hamam. Antar thanked him for his kind intentions.
O Aboolfawaris, said Prince Malik as they
were returning, what have you resolved on doing
after this conversation? My lord, replied Antar,
I cannot wait here after what I have heard of my
cousin Ibla; I must absolutely be gone in quest of
her, were I even to die on her account. It is
my determination to set out this very night: but,
as I do not wish to impose difficulties on any
myself. I will not put the King to any trouble,
nor harass him by an expedition with me. I request,
therefore, you will keep this affair secret.
No, Aboolfawaris, cried the Prince, I will not suffer
you to go on this adventure alone. I will accompany
you. I too will expose my life in the liberation
of Ibla. All I beseech of you, by my life that
is yours, is to wait a little; perhaps my father will
go forth to the chase, and leave the tents unoccupied:
then let us avail ourselves of the opportunity,
and consult what measures should be taken, so that
my father may not impede us, or prevent our departure.
Antar assented to his wishes. He went
to bed, but his eyes were suffused in tears, watching
till the day dawned; when in rushed Prince Malik.
Come, Aboolfawaris, he cried, prepare for the journey;
acquaint the family of Carad; take with you
your uncle Malik and your father Shedad. Shiboob
was accordingly despatched to summon Shedad and
Malik, with his son Amroo, whom he desired to
make ready for an expedition, as they had been all
insulted; whilst the Prince hurried to his own tents,
and ordered the slaves to call out the horsemen and
his adherents. And the day was not illumined, or
the sun risen high, before the horsemen started from
their dwellings, and assembled, to the number of
two hundred noble warriors, clothed in steel, in
front of whom stood Antar, on Abjer; and Shiboob
went ahead. But Antar's imagination was totally
name, and he was in the severest inquietude about
her. I am at hand, he cried, O daughter of my
uncle, I am at hand. I have heard your cry. I
am going to annihilate your enemies. And turning
to Prince Malik, Truly, my lord, he said, it is very
absurd in me to set out to the assistance of my
foes. This is the most grievous circumstance of
all; for I am aware, that though they become victorious
by my means, they will not let me be quiet.
But it is on Ibla's account I act thus. Some poet
has observed, "Had I a heart of pity and compassion
for myself, I would not pass the night
grieving in the agony of love. It is extraordinary,
that from thine eyes I feel no arrow, but
still my heart is pierced with shafts. I am kind
to thy friends in my love, though they are my
foes; and on account of two eyes, a thousand
eyes are respected." Again turning to Prince
Malik, he said, On Ibla's account I will submit to
these pains. And thus he continued:
"I endure torments from my relations that fatigue
me, and I conceal from them my passion
and my transports. When they question me, I
say, Kill me, for I am an oppressive tyrant.
They insult me, and seek to separate me from
my beloved; and she is my hope and my object.
They long for my death. It is their sole wish to
see me felled to the ground in the day of battle.
But when the foe comes upon them, they entreat
patience till I obtain my desire, and I will punish
the enemy by my resignation to insults."
May God never abandon thy mouth! exclaimed
the young Prince, highly gratified at these verses;
may no one ever harm thee! Thus they travelled
on, traversing the deserts and the rocks on the
backs of their horses.
In the mean time, Moofrij was expecting the
ransom, and importuning Ibla morning and evening.
It so happened, that the story of Amarah and Ibla
became so well known throughout the tribe of Tey,
that Selma the mother of Vachid at last heard it.
(Now she was clothed in mourning for the death of
her son.) She no sooner learnt the captivity of
Amarah, than she mounted her camel, and took
with her a party of slaves, bent on revenge, that
the flame now blazing in her heart might be appeased.
On reaching the tents of Moofrij, she presented
herself to him. She blushed, and wept. She
demanded of him vengeance for her son, requesting
him to deliver Amarah over to her, that she might
slaughter him with her own hand, and drink his
blood—that perchance the fire in her entrails might
be quenched. O aunt, he replied, I will have vengeance
for your son. But I will not have done
with these boors of Absians till I have received
their ransom, and taken their Chiefs, and have
massacred them all at the tomb of thy son, that his
grave may be watered with their blood. I will also
me to punish him as it may please thee, and
make him drink of the cup of perdition. As to this
Amarah, I have only demanded his ransom as a
stratagem. Some one of his brothers will probably
come with the ransom, accompanied with a party
of their Chiefs: I will seize them all. Their black
slave will hear of it, and he will haste to rescue
them: him too will I capture, and deliver over to
you. The heart of Selma was overjoyed. Oh,
cried she, I long to torment this prisoner we have
already in our power, until the others arrive, and
fall into our hands. Do as you please, said he.
At the word, she started up like a lioness, and
snatching up a whip, she went to Amarah. She
beat him like a fury, and in her madness tore off
his skin with her teeth. O mother of men, cried
Amarah, I have ransomed myself with money and
camels. How, cried she, you filth, how have you
ransomed yourself? do you imagine that you will
be delivered from death and destruction? By the
faith of an Arab, were all the wealth of the whole
tribe of Abs to be proffered, it should not release
you from your tortures: I will positively slaughter
you as I would a sheep. She then discovered to
him who she was, and what had befallen her son.
And as to the slave Moofrij has despatched to bring
the ransom, she added, it is all a trick and stratagem,
that he may seize your property, and lay his
hands on your friends. Amarah was thus convinced
impossible it was to escape from immediate dissolution;
and he repented sorely of what he had
done. Ah! I never indeed laid my account to this,
groaned he to himself; never more shall I taste of
food or wine: unless Antar come in quest of Ibla,
never shall I be liberated. Thus Amarah endured
his sorrows. Moofrij, in the mean time, was expecting
of Ibla the completion of his hopes; and
thus was he occupied.
But Rebia was hastening with his hardy warriors,
passing many a horde, till he reached the
tribe of Tey. Know, said he to his comrades, we
are now in the land of the Teyans, our enemies;
our object is the deliverance of my brother. Nothing
is required in this affair but prudence in our
plans, that they may be surprised, and we attack
them to advantage. Let us therefore detain the
slave, and despatch one of our own people to Moofrij
as a decoy: let him say to him, Mount your horse,
O Chief, the Absians are arrived with only ten
horsemen, to escort the ransom money; they met
some travellers in your country, whom they have
plundered. They are now in your territories with
their booty, which of right belongs to you: meet
them, and rescue your property from the foe, or
eternal will be your disgrace. Now I am sure, sons
of my uncle, he will come down upon us with a few
attendants, in the height of his folly and intrepidity.
But let us disperse ourselves, whilst ten are stationed
us all rush out on him; let us take him prisoner;
and having ransomed our brother with his own person,
let us return home safe; thus converting our
afflictions into honour and glory. Rebia's plan and
stratagem amazed them, and they felt certain of
their brother's deliverance. (We have already mentioned
that Rebia was a great adept in every fraud
and artifice.) They reposed till morning, when his
brother Anis was sent on to Moofrij, with every
requisite direction. He set out, and reached the
tents of Moofrij. At that time Selma, Vachid's
mother, was with him, and they were in deep conversation.
The fumes of wine were still working
on him, when one of his attendants came in, and
said, Master, at the door of the tent stands a
stranger, inquiring for your tents. Moofrij went
forth, and beheld Anis, on horseback. God preserve
you, O Arab, said he; what do you want?
Anis repeated to him what Rebia had instructed
him to say, adding, Overtake the Absians before
blood be shed, and the property be lost that is now
at your disposal. Moofrij turned back into his
tent, roaring like a lion, and in great wrath. He
put on his breast-plate, and girded on his sword,
and ordered his slave to prepare his black steed;
but he said not a word to any one of his family.
Selma heard all that was passing, and saw the confusion
in which he was. Son of my uncle, said
she, what is the matter? what have you heard from
Let me hear it; and be not too precipitate, lest
you fall into trouble. He accordingly explained to
her all he had learnt from Anis, and his eyes were
like two balls of burning coals. Now Selma was
one of the most subtle women in all Arabia—very
cunning and clever in every act. Lion-warrior, she
cried, this is all false. He is come to deceive you,
in order to entice you out: they will overpower
you with numbers, take you prisoner, and ransom
their brother from bondage with you. This is a
common trick among such fellows. I am fully persuaded
you ought not to go forth with less than
two hundred horsemen; for undoubtedly they are
lying in ambush for you, and waiting for you.
Moreover, the proof of there being some fraud intended
is, that the slave whom you sent has not
returned; so look to what you are about. Moofrij
was astonished. How must this business be arranged?
said he. The best plan, she replied, is to
seize this horseman, who has come on this errand:
imprison him, and chain him to his countryman.
Then take with you some of your warriors, in whom
you can confide in difficulties. Set out all at once,
and let your meeting be the assault of the cleaving
scimitar; and thus take them all prisoners. Moofrij
approved of this advice; and instantly rushing out,
pulled Anis off his horse, and pinioned him, saying
to a slave, Carry him to his countryman, and torture
him: soon will I cut off their heads, and march
two hundred horsemen, he departed, traversing the
plains and the wilds. The slave dragged Anis to
Amarah, and threw him down opposite to him.
Oh, my brother, said Amarah, truly I am quite
bewildered and confounded; for what has happened
to me never befel any human being before, so vast
are the horrors I have endured; and I am expecting
my ransom of you and Rebia. Anis upon this
acquainted him with Rebia's stratagem, and how
Selma had discovered it all to Moofrij, advising
him to seize him. Amarah burst into tears. Alas!
said he, this is a sad affair—a most deplorable expedition:
every vestige of the family of Zeead will
be effaced. All this, added Anis, is owing to thee,
O Amarah. Thou hast brought us into this scrape
by thy villany. We warned thee against Ibla, but
thou wouldst not be dissuaded; and thou hast continued
thy violent proceedings till misfortunes have
overwhelmed us all: and if the family of Zeead be
destroyed, it will be owing to thy obstinacy and ill
luck. It is very true, my brother, cried Amarah;
but still I wish that Ibla was in my power, and
then I should not care what happened.
When Rebia had despatched Anis, he divided
his people into three parties, leaving ten to keep a
look out; and saying to them, As soon as you observe
Moofrij and his horsemen, with my brother
Anis, ride up to him. Salute him, and say, O Chief,
we are the persons come to ransom our brother from
horsemen, who carried off the cattle we had with
us. We have been sent on to inform you, that
you may come and rescue your property; for we
are now in your country, and under your protection.
Contrive to conduct him among the ravines:
then the ambuscade shall rush out. We
will overpower him; for I know he will only come
slightly attended, on account of his confidence in
his superior gallantry and prowess. The party lay
concealed, and the ten were looking out, when lo!
Moofrij appeared, accompanied with a troop of
warriors; and they no sooner came up with the
Absians, than they plied their swords among them,
and split open their skulls. Grief and dismay fell
upon them, and their consternation was great. In
a moment seven were slain; three fled towards the
concealed party, and communicated the event. The
ambuscade being now brought to light, and all their
artifices being made manifest, Moofrij saw that Selma's
hint was correct. The whole plot was now
discovered. He rushed down upon them like a
lion in his wrath, and shaved off their heads from
their bodies. Cousins, exclaimed Rebia, our stratagem
cannot succeed, unless it is well supported.
I strongly suspect he has seized my brother Anis,
and is now come to fight us; so that we have no
means of escape but our sharp swords and our long
spears: otherwise we shall be destroyed in this land,
and Antar will exult over us. He spoke, and assailed
sword among them. The confusion was universal.
Cowards sought the mountains: but the bold
plunged into a sea of distress, and patiently submitted
to calamities. They desisted not from fighting
until the day closed, when they quitted the
contest. The family of Zeead took refuge under
the sand-hills; fifty being killed, and many wounded.
Moofrij returned to his tents, and congratulated
his friends on the termination of their difficulties,
saying, Truly was Selma's advice perfectly
correct. Having reposed till morning, the two parties
mounted their hard-hoofed steeds, slung on their
spears, girded on their swords, and sought the field
of battle. Moofrij started out between the two
parties, and appeared between the two corps, exclaiming,
O family of Zeead, we understood you
were coming with camels, but ye are come with
troops and warriors. You imagined you would
succeed against us: but now only anticipate the
devastation of your lands, and the extirpation of
your families. Come on—to the battle—the thrust
and the blow! Him whom you came to rescue you
shall never reach, and him whom you sent I have
seized; and thus he continued in verse:
"The snort of the war-horse, with the pliant
spear, and the blow of the sabre on the thin
casques, are sweeter to me than gaming over cups
and the goblets, and the cupbearer. Ye think,
O Absians, that I am dead, and that your slave
made him a captive, and he is in chains. Ye
have perfidiously deceived me, and this is one of
the results of treachery. I imagined the party
were come light, only leading baggage and camels;
but they came heavy-armed and laden,
tight-waisted, girthed for the chase. But I have
sworn that I will disperse your numbers in the
day of encounter, and I will steep my lance in
the blood of horsemen as it streams at my feet
and legs."
Rebia came down upon him; but Cais, urging
on his horse, engaged him first. The dust arose
between them: the horsemen approached the scene
of uproar, and extended their necks, with anxious
looks. A general shout, "O by the valiant Cahtan,"
arose from the midst of the black dust-cloud!
and lo! Moofrij had taken Cais prisoner, and bound
him with cords, a miserable wretch! And he instantly
returned to the contest and clamour. Rebia
was confounded, and repented of what he had done.
Alas, he cried, we have fallen into misfortune; we
shall be totally annihilated by our enmity towards
Antar. Could I but feel certain that we should
escape safe out of this conflict, I would send to
King Zoheir and make our excuses for our base
and improper conduct; I would beg him to despatch
our countryman and defender, Antar, to
rescue us from perils. He had scarcely spoken
these words when a shout from Moofrij and another
and, lo! he had taken a third brother prisoner.
Rebia screamed out in horror of his situation, and he
resolved on attacking him; but Oorwah anticipated
him. He was a lion-like horseman; and he rushed
against Moofrij, thus reciting:
"Away with boasting, for Fortune builds up
and throws down. She is impartial or oppressive
unintentionally, and elevates to glory him who
has passed a life in ignominy. She makes the
afflicted smile—now giving, now denying. To
him who lives in the glories of the world the day
sometimes brings joy that turns to bitterness.
May I forfeit the high-bred steed if I do not
plunge with him into seas of death and the overshadowing
dust. I will smite every warrior with
my Indian blade, that rebounds from the fracture
and is not blunted. I will sacrifice myself
for the tribes with my long spear until it be honoured
and respected."
But Moofrij soon interrupted him and assailed
him. A dreadful conflict ensued between them;
till Moofrij, rushing furiously at Oorwah, overwhelmed
him, and, assaulting him with the vehemence
of a lion, grasped him by the throat: he
clung to him and made him his captive. The
Absians raised vast shouts. The Teyans attacked
them from all quarters: and the contest was so
fierce, that, the noise of it being soon spread
throughout the whole clan, both riders and pedestrians
till it was dark. Rebia now saw death and destruction
were at hand. Accompanied by his party,
he took refuge among the sand-hills; and there
were only seventy remaining out of the two hundred.
Thirty were prisoners, fifteen had fled, the
rest were slain, and all were wounded with the
points of the arrows. Distracted and bewildered
as they were, thirst augmented their anguish.
Well, said they to Rebia, what is your plan now?
what is your advice? Sons of my uncle, he replied,
we have indeed fallen into the sea of Destiny
and Fatality—we can find no favour with any
one; and all these calamities are owing to my brother
Amarah and that black slave. We have no
other resource but to send to Moofrij and demand
his protection; here to remain with him in bondage
until we can redeem our lives by our property.
They reposed, waiting for the day-light; and it
was scarcely dawn when Rebia despatched a man
to Moofrij, saying, Noble warrior! lion-hero! Arabs
do not pride themselves over the Persians but on
the sanctity of their protection and hospitality. We
demand protection of you, that we may surrender
ourselves to you and procure our ransom: but if
you will not abstain from shedding blood, at least
let us be supplied with water. Be just to us in the
conflict—come out against us with equal numbers,
that we may exert ourselves and die under our
standards and our ensigns. When the messenger
What consideration is due to you, he cried, now
that you have falsified your word? By the faith
of an Arab, you have no refuge against death unless
you throw away your arms, and all of you
come dismounted before me, that I may shave off
your beards and cut off your noses and your ears.
On this condition you shall be furnished with
water. Then will I hang ye all, by Lat and
Uzza! My lord, said the messenger, whose name
was Jemeel, and he was a celebrated orator, here I
stand in your presence: take my horse and my
arms; cut off my ears, if you please; shave off
my beard; but, oh! let me moisten my heart and
soul with one drop of water. Moofrij was softened:
he accorded him his protection and allowed him
some water, saying, You are now under my protection,
but not so your companions. On you I
have had compassion on account of your speech:
so go your way, and interfere no more; otherwise
I will leave you a corpse. As to your comrades,
their death is resolved on. And if they keep themselves
on the defensive, and do not descend from
the sand-hills, I will torture them with hunger and
thirst till they be all stupified: then will I take
them prisoners, and hang them all on one day.
Jemeel returned back to Rebia; and, having told
them what had passed, the consternation was universal.
Should he cut off our noses and our ears,
eternal will be our disgrace and infamy. But, said
thus informing them that he had obtained the protection
of Moofrij for himself, he turned away his
horse and sought his own safety. Rebia and his
friends descended, and commenced another attack.
The Teyans assailed them right and left, and drove
upon them with their long spears. Before mid-day
they were all in the wildest confusion: thirst reduced
them to the state of drunkards, and they
were all made prisoners. Moofrij carried them, all
bound with cords, to his tents. They preceded
him, overwhelmed in disgrace and infamy. Selma
was more overjoyed than any one: she abused the
Absians to their faces, crying out, You filthy
Arabs, I must absolutely drink of your blood till I
am gorged. Moofrij ordered them all to be cast
into the same place with Amarah: and he sent
word to the tribe of Jalhema, and to King Maljem,
son of Handhala, and his brother the Blood-drinker,
congratulating them on the misery that had befallen
the family of Zeead, and requesting their attendance
to see them all hanged.
Now Ibla was rejoicing at the downfall of her
enemies—very glad was she that they were thus
chained and fettered, and reduced to such wretchedness
and misery. Many of her sorrows were
soothed—for she still expected the arrival of her
cousin. The night was not far spent when Moofrij
became intoxicated. The people had departed to
their respective tents, and every one was asleep,
he was considering how he should complete his
gratification, he repaired to his mother, and said, I
wish you would bring me that Absian damsel, that
I may enjoy her this night. If she will not consent,
I will use her most cruelly; I will multiply
her distresses and slay all her countrymen. Away
hastened his mother to Ibla. Go to your master
instantly, said she, that he may show some kindness
to you and your countrymen; but, if you still obstinately
refuse to yield to him, dread his violence.
Barbarian, vile hag, exclaimed Ibla, were your son
even to hack my limbs with the sword, or to massacre
the whole tribe of Abs and all that the sun
rises upon, never would he see me his property,
never see me yield or submit to him. Wishes he
my death? I will kill myself with mine own hand.
Accursed wretch! cried the old woman. She
struck her with her fist, and ordered the slave-girls
to drag her forth, as she screamed out, O by Abs!
O by Adnan! who can now save me? who can
assist me? who can redeem me from this captivity?
Alas! is there any one to deliver me from this
distress? She continued shrieking and screaming
till even the family of Zeead heard her cries in the
stillness of the night. What is the matter with the
daughter of our uncle, that she screams and cries
so loud? asked they of their guards; who informed
them of what had passed between her and
Moofrij—how he had sworn and confirmed his
he would not leave one of them alive. Be satisfied,
said Oorwah; I will request of the Almighty that
she may irritate him still more, so that his cruelty
may be sharpened, and he strike off our heads at
once: but if Moofrij will listen to me, he will have
nothing to do with her, for she brings ill luck on
every one that demands her—lucky is he who lets
her alone. Oorwah had hardly done speaking when
loud screams and shouts were heard. Every one in
the tents was in confusion and in motion, sword in
hand. It is well, said Oorwah, it is God's work;
and to-night will Moofrij be slain, were he even
the horseman of the plains and the mountains.
The shouts and the uproar became more distinct,
and the roars of, O by Abs, O by Adnan, were
echoing loud; but the howl of Antar overpowered
them all. Dreadful misfortunes overwhelmed the
tribe of Tey. Scimitars were labouring in every
hand: blood flowed in torrents: men were slain:
many were hewn in pieces. The Teyans were
rushing upon one another: some sought flight.
The camels were dispersed over the plains and the
deserts. But the cause of this confusion was as
follows.
| CHAPTER THE EIGHTH. Antar : | |