{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_57857/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_57857","id":"gutenberg_57857","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57857","summary":null,"tags":["Antarah ibn Shaddad, active 6th century -- Legends","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Novels","Category: Romance"],"text":"Produced by Fritz Ohrenschall and the Online Distributed\nProofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                                 ANTAR,\n                           A BEDOUEEN ROMANCE.\n\n                       TRANSLATED FROM THE ARABIC.\n\n                        BY TERRICK HAMILTON, ESQ.\n                ORIENTAL SECRETARY TO THE BRITISH EMBASSY\n                           AT CONSTANTINOPLE.\n\n                                 LONDON:\n                     JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET.\n                                  1819.\n\n                  London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co.\n                       Cleveland Row, St. James\u2019s.\n\n\n\n\nINTRODUCTION.\n\n\nThe Translator of \u201cThe History of Antar\u201d being out of England, it is not\nin the Editor\u2019s power to give to the reader much preliminary information\non the contents or nature of the Epic Tale, which is now for the first\ntime in part submitted to the European Public.\n\nAntar is no imaginary personage. He was the son of an Arab Prince of\nthe tribe of Abs, by a black woman, whom his father had made captive in\na predatory excursion: and he raised himself by the heroic qualities\nwhich he displayed from his earliest youth, and by his extraordinary\ngenius for poetry, from the state of slavery in which he was born, to\nthe confidence of his king, and to a preeminence above all the Chiefs of\nArabia. He flourished during the close of the sixth, and the early part\nof the seventh century, of the Christian \u00e6ra; there is, consequently,\nlittle or no allusion to the customs or institutions of Islamism\nthroughout the work; though the Hero is frequently designated as \u201cHe by\nwhom God organized the earth and the world for the appearance of the Lord\nof slaves.\u201d\n\nThe following Romance, as it may be called, was first put together,\nprobably from traditionary tales current at the time, by Osmay, one of\nthe eminent scholars, who adorned the courts of Haroun-al-Raschid, and\nof his two learned successors, Al-Amyn, and Al-Mamoun; and it still\ncontinues to be the principal source whence the story-tellers of the\ncoffee-houses in Egypt, Syria, and Arabia, draw their most interesting\ntales: but, notwithstanding, its general circulation in the Levant, the\nname of Antar is hitherto only known to us in Europe, as that of the\nAuthor of one of the seven poems, suspended in the temple of Mecca, and\nfrom that circumstance called, _The Moallakat_.\n\nThe Author of this poem, and the Hero of our history, are identified, as\nwell by the similar names which occur; in both; as by the insertion of\nthe poem itself in the body of the history, when, after much persecution\nand opposition, Antar at length succeeds in suspending the poem within\nthe Holy Sanctuary which surrounds the Kaaba.\n\nThere is reason to believe that this is the first attempt to transpose\ninto an European language, a real Arabian story, depicting the original\nmanners of the Arabs of the desert, uncorrupted by the artificial and\nrefined customs of the neighbouring cities in Syria, Egypt, and Persia.\n\nThe characteristics of the real Arabs or Bedowins are here presented\nin their native simplicity. An eager desire for the property of\ntheir neighbour; an unconquerable fondness for strife and battle; a\nsingular combination of profuse hospitality, with narrow economy\u2014quick\nperception\u2014deep cunning\u2014great personal courage, a keen sense of honour,\nrespect for their women, and a warm admiration and ready use of the\npoetical beauties of their unrivalled language.\n\nThe supposition of the learned orientalist Mons. Langl\u00e8s, that the\nThousand and One Nights were originally composed in the Pehlevi, or the\nold Persian, and from that language translated into Arabic, appears\nstill more probable, when we observe the rich and gorgeous descriptions\nof the works of art and nature which abound in them, their enchanted\npalaces\u2014their sultans and viziers, and all the attendant magnificence of\na court; their genii and magicians\u2014their want of individual character\nin the leading personages;\u2014and when we contrast with those details the\nsimple manners of the Kings and Chieftains of the desert, pourtrayed\nin this Romance; their rude tents; the familiarity with which they\nlive amongst each other, controuled only by the rules of patriarchal\nauthority; the almost total absence of supernatural agents; and above\nall, the striking distinctions of character, which mark the whole\nprogress of the story. In this work indeed, The Subordination of the\nwarriors and others, whether of high or low rank, to the irresistible\nAntar; in undaunted courage; in active prowess; in intellectual\nacquirements; in public spirit; in the ardour of his love; in the\nexcellence of his poetry; and in acts of private generosity and\nbenevolence, is strictly consistent with the best rules which the Critics\nhave derived from the Homeric writings, for the conduct of the Heroic\npoem.\n\nIn an adherence to these rules indeed, the early European writers of\nRomantic Adventures, who followed the age of Charlemagne, and to whom,\nperhaps, Antar was better known than to their successors, did not\nfollow the steps of their prototype. But whether he really deserve that\nappellation, that is, whether from the frequent intercourse between the\nEastern and Western kingdoms of the Roman world, in the 8th, 9th and 10th\ncenturies, our Romance writers imbibed their taste for the adventures of\nChivalry from this singular Tale, is a question, to the solution of which\nwe may look forward, when the whole of it shall be before the public.\nIt may be observed, however, that little more was wanting in order to\ncompose the Romances of the middle age, than to engraft on the war,\nlove, and courtesy of the Arabs, the splendid and soft luxuries of the\nother countries of the East, the witchcraft of Africa, the religious\nfervour of the South of Europe, and the gloomy superstitions of the North.\n\nThe Editor abstains from adding any further observations at present\nupon this subject. It had been his intention to request the indulgence\nof the reader for the oriental phraseology which frequently occurs in\nthe following pages; but he prefers leaving the public to form their\nown opinion, how far the Translator has rightly judged, in presenting a\nliteral translation of his original, by which the Arabic idioms might be\nbest preserved, rather than (by giving to it a strictly English dress,\nand thereby destroying its native freshness,) to have been led into\nan indulgence of ornament, which would have been equally remote from\nthe nice refinement of the languages of Europe, and from the copious\nsimplicity of that of the desert.\n\n\n\n\nLIFE AND ADVENTURES OF ANTAR.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n\nIshmael, son of Abraham, was the father of Adnan, who had a son called\nMaad; and Maad was the father of Nizar, whose four sons, Rebeeah, Medher,\nAyad, and Anmar, reigned over the Arabs in great glory for many years,\nand their descendants continued to flourish and multiply till they\namounted to twenty thousand horsemen, when disturbances arising among\nthem, they separated and migrated from the valley of Mecca and the holy\nsanctuary, and many of them settled in a spot called Ibreem-oob-mootemim,\nwhich was the furthermost point of Hijaz, and the first in the land of\nYemen. And they had a king called Rebeeah, a man much respected and\nfeared, and he was of the tribe of Medher, a fair-raced people; and\nhe had five sons, the eldest was called Nayil, the second, Taweed, the\nthird, Mohelhil, the fourth, Medher, and the fifth, Adee; and their\nfather was a stout and intrepid warrior, he conquered the whole country\nby his bravery, and ruled over the wilds and the deserts.\n\nAgain the Arabs disagreed amongst themselves and dispersed, and every\ndivision had its chief and its leader. They carried away their property\nand their camels, and among them was Harith, son of Obad the Yashkirite,\nwith the tribe of Yashkir, and the chief Dibyan with the tribe of Dibyan,\nand the chief Abd Shems with his tribe, and Jazeemah with the tribe of\nAbs and Adnan, and Bahiej with the tribe of Ghiftan; and it was Jazeemah,\nKing of the tribe of Abs and Adnan that attacked Rebeeah, and having\nslain him, appointed Mohelhil to succeed his father. But on the death of\nMohelhil all his cousins went away with their property and camels, afraid\nof the surrounding Arabs, and settled with the tribe of Abs and Adnan,\nand their chief Jazeemah; and among all the Arabs there was no government\nbetter regulated than his, for he was experienced in all affairs, and\nhad ten sons who were all hardy lions, bold, endued with great bodily\nstrength, and in war they were unrivalled; they courted battles and\nplunged into slaughter, and their reputation was spread among the Arabs,\nand among them were Amroo and Jancah, and Asyed and Zoheir, and the\nrest of the ten brothers. But Amroo was the eldest, and King Jazeemah\nhoped that Amroo would reign at his death. But one day Amroo went to the\nlake Zatool Irsad, early in the morning, and with him was a slave called\nNizah; and Amroo had round his neck a chain of gold studded with jewels\nand diamonds; and when he came to the lake he stripped off his clothes,\nand took off the string of jewels from his neck, and then going down into\nthe lake left them all with his slave. When he sprang into the water and\nplunged in, his body disappeared, and was borne away.\n\nThe slave perceiving that his master remained too long under water, felt\nassured that his breath was extinct; so he ran away to Jazeemah, and told\nhim of this dreadful catastrophe. He was in the deepest grief, and he\ndashed his fist against his face for the loss of his son Amroo. Over the\nwhole tribe the dismay was general, the affliction was universal, and the\nlamentations deep. Many days and nights they remained in this state, when\nat last King Jazeemah, wishing to relieve his mind from his anguish, went\nout to the chase, and whilst he was thus occupied, lo! there appeared\na fawn, which he eagerly pursued; but as it launched into the waste in\nfull flight, he could not catch it. Still he hoped to succeed; but at\nlast it entered a forest abounding in trees, and waters, and thickets,\nand Jazeemah still pursued it. And whilst he was struggling through\nthe branches, behold a man quite naked stood before him! He fled away\nin terror, fancying that it was a d\u00e6mon; O King! exclaimed the man, be\nnot afraid, for I am thy son Amroo! If thou art my son, cried the King,\nfollow me and quit this spot. Jazeemah issued from the forest, and the\nman coming up with him, he gazed at him, and lo! he was his son! He was\ngreatly rejoiced, and running up to him, O my son, said he, what has\nhappened to thee! who brought thee to this place? and thou art naked! So\nhe explained all that had occurred to him, and the cause of his being\nsnatched away from the lake was a d\u00e6mon, who bore him to this place. His\nfather joyed in seeing him, and clothed him in some of his own garments,\nand returned with him to his tribe and companions, and unbounded was the\ndelight and satisfaction at the return of Amroo. Acclamations were loud,\nand the time passed happily away, and they forgot the evils of fortune.\n\nAll the Arabs took refuge with King Jazeemah, and paid him taxes and\ntribute, and there was not one but obeyed him and submitted, save a\nsingle Queen, who was called Robab. And this Queen was very powerful, and\nhad numerous armies and slaves. She had subdued the heroes, and humbled\nthe bravest, and her tribe, was the most intrepid of the Arabs, and they\nwere called the tribe of Reeyan. And when they heard that King Jazeemah\nwas become powerful and had extended his influence, and that the Arabs\ngave him tribute in cattle and camels; We, said they, will not give any\none even a rope\u2019s end, and whoever demand goods of us, nothing will we\ngive them but blows and battle.\n\nUpon hearing this, Jazeemah assembled his armies and warriors, and the\nArabs came to him from all the vallies and the waters, and he marched\naway with them in quest of the tribe of Reeyan, and their Queen Robab,\nthat he might send down destruction and torments upon them, and leave\ntheir property to be pillaged by the Arabs. Now when the tribe of Reeyan\nsaw those armies that were advancing upon them, they set up a loud shout,\nand they thronged in haste from all quarters, and the mountains trembled\nat the uproar. This tribe was exceedingly numerous, and moreover, they\nhad been joined by a great multitude who came to them and settled round\nthem, to be under the protection of that tribe and their Queen Robab; so\ngreat was her reputation, and so far famed her name.\n\nAnd when the armies arrived and were all established about her, they\nwaited in anxious expectation of the event. So the Queen summoned one\nof her tribe, a man of great consequence, and said to him\u2014I wish thou\nwouldst go to these advancing people, and see what they are resolved to\ndo, what place they come from, and what they want. The man went away; and\nwhen he came up with the troops, they stopped. Whither in such haste?\nthey cried; speak ere thou art a lost man! Arabs, said he, I am come as a\nmessenger to ye; I want to see your chief. Tell me what is your object;\nwho are you? how are you called? We are the noble tribe of Abs, said\nthey; and we are come to devastate your lands, and plunder your property,\nand capture your wives and families. Arab Chiefs, he replied, shew me\nyour King, lead me to him, that I speak with him about the object of this\nexpedition. They accordingly introduced him to the King, and he kissed\nthe ground before him. Jazeemah asked what he wanted, and what brought\nhim there. So he told him that Robab had sent him. O King! he continued,\nwhat has brought thee forth from thy country? What is the cause of thy\ndeparture from home? He then informed him that he was come to slay the\npeople, and to plunder their property. Mighty King! said the other,\nmay God for ever confirm thee in thy possessions! Why wouldst thou act\nthus towards us? On account of your refractory conduct towards me, said\nJazeemah, and the language I have heard; for all the Arabs have submitted\nto my rule, and obeyed my call, and give me tribute and taxes, all but\nyou, ye cowards! and I have heard of your base designs. But I must assail\nyou without further preparation, and I shall command these armies,\nnumerous as the locusts, to assault you, and to grind you like grain, and\nto ride you like lions. Return then to her who sent thee, and tell her\nwhat I have said to thee.\n\nSo the messenger returned with this answer; and when he reached Robab,\nhe communicated all he had heard to her. Away back to him, said she, and\ntell him to-morrow morning to sally forth into the plain, and to meet me\nin the field of battle before these horsemen. If he subdues me, I will\nsubmit to him and pay him tribute; but if I vanquish him, I will grant\nhim his life, and take his ransom, and by this means we shall spare the\nlives of the people, and be released from war and carnage, and then\nreturn home to our country.\n\nThe messenger returned to King Jazeemah, and informed him of the\nconditions Robab had proposed. He agreed, and consented, and immediately\nhe came down to the field, and he was like a furious lion; he galloped\nand charged before the warriors, and rushed in to the scene of blows and\nthrusts. Queen Robab dashed down on him, mounted on a raven-coloured\nsteed, strong-sinewed. She charged with him over the plain till the\nhorsemen were amazed. Then they began the storm and bluster, the sport\nand exertion, the give and take, the struggle and the wrestle, and\nevery eye gazed intently on them, and every neck was stretched out at\nthem. Just then passed between them two matchless spear-thrusts. King\nJazeemah\u2019s was the first, so roused was he by the terrors and calamities\nthat threatened him. But when Robab beheld the spear-thrust coming upon\nher, and that death was in it, she bent herself forward till her breast\ntouched the horse, and the well-aimed thrust passed without effect. She\nthen replaced herself on her saddle, and dashed furiously at him, and\nattacked him; she struck him with horror, and drove the spear through\nhis chest, and forced out the point sparkling at his back. He tottered\nfrom his horse, and his senses were annihilated. Then the Arabs assailed\none another, and the earth shook beneath them. Blows fell right and\nwrong, necks were hewn off, and hoary beards were stained with blood.\nThe struggle was intense; and all the Arabs in those vallies were in\nuniversal commotion, like so many Genii.\n\nSoon fled the tribe of Abs and Adnan and all their allies, and sought\ntheir homes and abodes in fear of death and annihilation; neither did\nthey halt in their flight and rout till they reached their own camp;\nand when they learnt the extent of their misfortune, and how many kings\nand chiefs had been slain, the lamentations were general. Calamities\nstruck them all; they threw down their tents and pavilions; and thus\nthey continued seven days and nights, when King Amroo seated himself\non the throne of his father, and the Arabs came to condole with him,\nand congratulated him on his kingdom. But he lived only a short time,\nand when he died his brother Zoheir succeeded him, and reigned in\nglory and power. His authority was universally acknowledged, and the\nArabian tribes, far and near, obeyed and feared him. His subjects were\nhappy under his dominion, on account of his great influence, and chiefs\nhastened to testify their allegiance. As soon as he was established on\nhis throne he resolved on taking his revenge, and for this purpose he\nassembled his armies and auxiliaries, and demanded the presence of all\nthe Arabian princes.\n\nIn a short time his troops were all prepared, and immediately he set\nout on his expedition against the hostile tribe of Reeyan and their\nQueen Robab. He stopped not till he entered their country. As soon as\nthe Princess was informed of this invasion, she called together her\nadherents, who came from all parts and from the mountains; but they\nfeared for their families, and their wives, and their cattle and camels.\nThey marched eagerly to the conflict, and delayed not a moment till they\nattacked the tribe of Abs: they rushed forwards with the intention to\ndestroy them. The two tribes soon engaged. Fierce was the combat and\nloud the clamour on all sides. The battle raged; dreadful were the blows\nof the sabre, and frequent the rush of darts and javelins; numbers were\nwounded; every warrior stood firm; but the cowards fled: patient were\nthe noble hearted, but the weak sought safety in flight. Many drank the\nbitter poison of death. King Zoheir encountered the queen of Reeyan on\nthe field of battle, whilst she was encouraging her troops. The King\nfuriously assaulted her, and exclaimed, \u201cRevenge for King Jazeemah.\u201d He\nthen hurled his lance and struck her on the chest, and forced out the\nweapon between her shoulders, and again cried out\u2014O by the noble Arabs!\nTheir only reply was a loud scream, and the battle still continued. But\nwhen the tribe of Reeyan saw the Princess dead, and perceived their\nattempts were frustrated, they were alarmed. Then rushed forward the\ntribe of Abs, and attacked them with renewed violence. The Reeyanians\nwere routed, and fled towards their habitations;\u2014the Absians pursued\nthem, and spread desolation among them; slew them with their swords,\nand dispersed them amongst their wilds and deserts, until they reached\ntheir country, where they took possession of their tents and plundered\ntheir property. Zoheir returned home and rejoiced in the execution of his\nvengeance. He divided the wealth and lands of all that belonged to his\nenemies among his own people, and all the spoil was given to the rich and\npoor, to his slaves and his chiefs. Many of the hostile leaders were put\nto death: all the Arabs far and near were terrified at the extent of his\ndominion, and the power of his arm.\n\nAt this period the Caaba and the holy Mecca were visited, as at this\nday. Numerous were the pilgrims at the shrine of Abraham. Sacred were\nthe months of pilgrimage; and had a man even killed his father at that\nperiod, his crime was never mentioned. Zoheir, after he had accomplished\nthese glorious deeds, wished to make a pilgrimage; which he executed,\nattended by all the chiefs of his tribe. His admiration was great in\nperforming the ceremony of walking round the Caaba, and in kissing the\nsacred stone. On his return home, he was anxious to erect a building\nsimilar to the sacred altar, whither pilgrims should resort, where\ntravellers might be entertained, and the hungry fed, and the fearful be\nin security; in whose precincts no beasts of prey should be chased; no\nblood should be shed; and a transgressor of my law shall be instantly put\nto death with this sword, he exclaimed. These sentiments he expressed to\nhis tribe assembled in council. All were in dismay at this resolution,\nbut no one dared to disapprove or make any answer. But an old Shiekh,\nwho had passed all his days in perusing ancient chronicles, and was well\nacquainted with all the sayings of the wise men, who acknowledged the\nunity of God, the maker of the heavens and the earth, ventured forth,\nand expostulated with Zoheir, telling him the Caaba was the mansion of\nthe blessed Abraham, and were he to presume to imitate it, a cruel death\nwould avenge the insult; and thus he addressed him:\u2014\n\n\u201cO great King, O Son of noble chiefs! hold and listen to my words, and\nrenounce the habits of the ignobly born. Mount not the horse of Outrage,\nfor it will not rescue thee from the messengers of Death: and soon mayest\nthou expect him, should\u2019st thou erect in the desert a mansion like the\nsacred shrine of the Caaba shouldst thou establish similar rites and\nceremonies and resemblances to Menah and Zengein and the temple. Away,\naway, their land is the land of a tribe superior to all mankind; and from\nthem shall appear a noted man, the prophet of God, the torch of darkness,\nwhose faith shall extend east and west with the death bearing-sword of\na noble warrior. Away with what thou hast said, for thy God is swift of\nvengeance.\u201d\n\nThe King was not easily dissuaded, but at last gave way to the argument\nof the Chief, and no longer persisted in his resolution: he was moreover\ninduced to resign his plan in compliance with all his Chiefs, who\nseconded the word of the Shiekh. In this situation remained King Zoheir\nfor some years; when he became anxious to marry, and to take a wife\neminent for her beauty, and elegance of form, and of a noble family. He\nmade all enquiries on the subject, and at last heard there was an Arab,\nstrong and mighty in arms, and a famous horseman, called Amroo, son of\nShedeed, and he had a daughter whose name was Temadhur, whose equal was\nto be found neither in the plains nor in the cities. Her father was a\nsevere man, and would let no one address her, saying his daughter would\nnot marry. When Zoheir heard this, he longed for her as a thirsty man\nwishes to have water. He pictured to himself her perfections, before\nhe had ascertained her worth by enquiries. However, he did not send to\ndemand her in marriage, but made her father some handsome presents, and\nevinced the greatest fondness for him, making him one of his particular\ncompanions, and thus gained his affections. He then persuaded him to come\nand settle in his country expressing his great love for him; and thus he\nnever ate or drank but in his society.\n\nThe excess of his passion increased daily, to such a degree, that he\nresolved to assemble a party of his followers called the tribe of\nGhorab, and instruct them to attack the family of Amroo, and plunder\nhis property, but not to kill any one, or do any personal injury. So by\nthis stratagem he expected to discover Temadhur among his prisoners, and\nthen have an opportunity of speaking to her. The tribe of Ghorab were\naccordingly ordered on this expedition, and instantly they set out, in\nnumber five hundred. Without difficulty they seized the property, took\nAmroo prisoner with his wife and family, and plundered his camels and\ncattle, but refrained from slaying any one. When the King heard what\nhad happened, he mounted his horse in order to behold what he anxiously\ndesired. He found them in dismay, expecting assistance from the tribe\nof Abs. The family were looking at their flocks dispersed about, but\nTemadhur was standing at the door of the tent, blooming as the dawning\nsun, and her forehead bright as its rays, and her cheeks were red as the\npiony, her hair dishevelled, black as night. When Zoheir saw this, his\npassion greatly increased; he cried out, and instantly his people rushed\nforward and furiously attacked the tribe of Ghorab: the women fled, but\nZoheir ordered Rebia, son of Jead, to hide Temadhur under her veil, which\nwas accordingly done.\n\nThirty prisoners were secured belonging to the tribe of Ghorab; they and\ntheir property were delivered up; and when quiet was restored, the King\nordered a magnificent feast to be prepared, that he might make merry with\nhis tribe and followers. They and the father of Temadhur soon assembled\ntogether, and in less than an hour grief was converted into joy; the wine\nwas plentifully distributed, and the uproar was great. The King soon\nbecame intoxicated, and launched out into violent praise of Amroo the son\nof Shedeed; and he ceased not to extol and laud his deeds till the tears\ncame into his eyes, and the wine disordered his senses. Then Amroo got on\nhis legs and addressed Zoheir:\u2014O mighty and magnanimous King, I am your\nslave. My tongue fails in description of your virtues. God has given me\nnothing that I prize but my daughter Temadhur, from whom I have kept all\nsuitors. I request of ye, assembled Chiefs, that he may accept her as his\nhandmaiden.\n\nAs soon as Zoheir heard this, he rejoiced and was glad; and the Absians\nanswered, and we too will beg King Zoheir to accept her, and to cause\nthe daughters of noble chiefs to wait on her. As soon as Zoheir heard\nthese words, he leaped up, and taking the old man by the hand, most\nearnestly entreated him to consent. He richly clothed him, and made him\nhandsome presents, and then said, She shall be, O Chief, equal to the\nmost elevated in rank, and highest in dignity. The marriage canopy was\ninstantly pitched, and there was no further demur. The damsels advanced\nconducting the concealed treasure. Her approach was at that moment\nsweeter to him than sleep to the wearied eyelids, and he beheld in her\nthe stem of a tall reed, and the rose of the soul. They were immediately\nunited; on the second day Zoheir arose and thanked his fortune, irritated\nas he had been. He made presents, and distributed the gold and silver,\nand he made Amroo\u2019s people remain with him, that he might treat them for\nseven days, when he made the marriage-feast, slaughtering camels and\nsheep.\n\nThe King\u2019s surprise and delight made him so vain and conceited, that at\nlast he imparted to his wife the stratagem by which he had obtained her\nwithout a dower or settlement. When she heard this, her soul revolted\nat the act. She was a shrewd sensible woman, but she said nothing to him\nabout it all the next day; when intoxicated, he wished to caress her,\nshe repulsed him, and turning away from him, said\u2014Are you not ashamed of\nwhat you have done? Do you pretend to liberality and generosity, and thus\nseize the daughters of brave men by force, and refuse them a dower?\n\nThese words irritated the Chief greatly, and he answered, I have not been\nso avaricious; I had recourse to this violent act, because your father\nyielded not to my proposals, and repulsed all suitors from you. I had\ntherefore no other means of dealing with him but by this outrage; and you\nknow, that had your father accepted my proposals for marriage at first,\nthen you would have seen what I would have given you, and the dower I\nwould have presented. You have confessed the deed, she replied, and you\nhave won me by force; this is the work of violence; but we are indeed\nmore cunning than you.\n\nAs soon as Zoheir heard these words he was greatly enraged, and his anger\nexceeded all bounds: he rose from his bed and exclaimed, Where have you\nseen any folly in me? and where, as you say, are you more sagacious than\nI am? Be not angry, O King, said she; know that he who speaks too freely\nwill often have a bitter reply, and he who contemptuously treats women,\nwill get into difficulties. Know then that I am the sister of that woman\nyou beheld, so beautiful and fair; you have not succeeded with her, and\nhave not obtained possession of her charms. She is more beautiful than\nthe sun and moon. I am not worthy to be her handmaid; I do not possess a\nparticle of her charms. On the face of the earth there is not her equal:\namongst the daughters of Arabia there is not her like. By your show of\nliberality you deceived my father; he gave me to you; but my sister\u2019s\nname is Temadhur, at the sight of whom every beholder is amazed, and\nevery heart is in raptures. But I am called Khidaa; and between her and\nme there is a vast distance, both in beauty and disposition; but it is\nnow too late: had you not done this, I would not have informed you of\nwhat has passed.\n\nThe pleasing dream fled. How can I believe you? said the King. If, said\nshe, you wish to prove my words, you have only to order some old woman\nto go and look at my sister behind her veil, and then the truth and\nmistake will be evident. No human being can behold your sister, added\nhe, but a merchant, or a blacksmith, or an astrologer, or a perfumer.\nYou are right, she replied, for the daughters of Arabia value the goods\nof a merchant, a blacksmith, an astrologer, and a perfumer. Then, said\nthe King, there is no intelligence like the eyes, and no sight like the\nhearing of the ears. I am myself an Arab, and I must undertake the\nbusiness myself. I will execute all that is necessary, and will go to\nyour house in the form of a perfumer.\n\nHe slept till the day dawned, when he said to his attendants, If any one\nshould demand admittance to me to-morrow, say You cannot enter to day. He\nundressed himself and took off his royal robes, and habited himself as a\npoor man, and took with him some perfumes and drugs; for he was greatly\nvexed at what had passed. He departed from his tent, his loins girt\nround, and his feet naked, and when he was at some distance he quickened\nhis pace.\n\nBut his wife Temadhur, as soon as the King was gone, also rose, and\nthrew off her veil, and putting on the cloak of her husband, dressed\nherself as a man, and leaving the tent, sought the tent of her family.\nWhen she reached it she sent for her mother, and her father, and her\nbrothers, and told them all she had heard from the King her husband. When\nher father and brothers heard this, they were greatly surprised at her\ncunning and her disguise. She kissed her father, and said to him, Do you\nand my brothers withdraw instantly and conceal yourselves close at hand;\nand when King Zoheir arrives and comes towards us, with his cloak-bag\nover his shoulders, we will let him in and detain him; do you also rush\nin, and instantly lay hold of him, keep him fast, and do not let him go\nuntil he makes good the marriage dower; or we shall be a scandal among\nthe Arabs. And if he abuses you for this, tell him it is a return for\nhis acts towards us, and the disgraces his stratagem has brought on your\ndaughter. On this, they retired, armed themselves with swords, and lay\nconcealed. Temadhur took off her man\u2019s attire, and put on the robes of\na secluded female, and drew her veil over her eyes, and blackened her\neyelids with antimony, and sat down, expecting Zoheir would arrive,\nconversing in the mean time with her mother.\n\nZoheir soon appeared from amongst the tents, and his eyes were like the\neyes of a fox. Temadhur\u2019s mother cried out, Enter, merchant; have you\nany perfumes that will suit my daughter? He entered, and throwing down\nhis cloak-bag off his shoulders, and looking towards his wife, said, Are\nthe perfumes for this damsel? Yes, said she. He was much confounded, but\nasked her name. She said, Temadhur. He then asked, Have you any other\ndaughter? Yes, said she, her sister, whose name is Khidaa; but when King\nZoheir demanded her in marriage, we did not consent to it, and so gave\nhim her sister. He knows nothing about it, but we hope to marry her to\none of the noblest chiefs.\n\nThe light became darkness in his eyes. He thought within himself, verily\nI will carry off this damsel, and her father and brothers shall die with\nrage. And when he wished that they would choose some of his drugs, that\nhe might return, the father and brothers rushed upon him like lions,\nseized him, and bound him hand and foot. His wife stood before him, and\nthrew off her veil, and rejoicing in her heart, O King, said she, what\nthink you of your situation and your artifices? Who of us is the most\ncunning?\n\nThe King was in despair, and considered himself as dead; but when he saw\nhis wife, his life and spirits revived. Well, said he, what do you intend\nby this? Your disgrace for your acts towards us, replied she, and your\nboast in having got possession of me by fraud and deceit; and we swear by\nGod and Abraham, we will not let you go, neither shall you see me yield\nto you, or listen to you, or obey you, until you grant me a favour, and\nswear by the Holy Zemzem that you will give to my father and brethren\nyour protection, and confirm my marriage with a grant of camels and other\nbeasts. Do this immediately, or you shall for ever remain in durance.\n\nWhen Zoheir heard what she said, he smiled at what she had done, and was\nashamed of his own deeds. I will give you, said he, five hundred camels;\nso now let me go. It is not enough for one hour that I have been your\nwife, said she. I will moreover, continued he, add five hundred high\npriced camels. That, said she, will be even little for a single day. If,\nO Temadhur, cried Zoheir, you must reckon up every hour of each night,\nand each day, and buy them as at a market, you will take from me all my\nproperty, both my he-camels and she-camels. Upon that she smiled, and let\nhim loose, and they settled the business between them, _viz._ that he\nshould give them a thousand he and she-camels, twenty horses, fifty male\nslaves, and fifty female. To this he swore by the God of the holy shrine\nof Zemzem and Mekam. They then went to dinner, and he remained with them\nuntil dark, when he returned with his wife, her father and brothers in\ncompany until they came to his tent; there they separated, King Zoheir\nretiring to his wife; and as his love for her greatly increased by reason\nof her conduct, he gave her vast possessions; but no one knew what had\nhappened to him, and things remained in this state until she brought\nforth ten sons, all like lions; of whom were Shas, Keseer, Cais, Nakshel,\nMalik, Nooful, Harith, Khidash, Warcah, Gandil, and afterwards one\ndaughter, who was Mootejeredah.\n\nAnd it was a custom among the Arabs, that when a woman brought forth\nten male children, she should be called Moonejeba, i.e. ennobled, and\nher name be published amongst the Arabs; and they used to say that the\nwife of such a one is ennobled. Now Mootejeredah, the daughter of King\nZoheir, was the beauty of the age, and in wit and sense surpassed all\nthe daughters of Arabia. And Fatima, the daughter of Hewseb, was also\na Moonejeba, the wife of Zeead, the son of Abdallah, and she also\nbrought forth ten sons; they were called Rebia, Amarah, Ans, Hafiz,\nTalib, Ghalib, Dinrak, Amroo, and Zitak. Thus the children of Zoheir,\nand Carad, and Zeead, became the chiefs of the tribe of Abs, and their\nnoble leaders, particularly the family of Carad, who consisted of Shedad,\nMalek, and Zakmet-ool Jewad, who were all illustrious warriors. King\nZoheir was established in his dominions, and all the Arabs and Kings of\nthe age obeyed him, and sent him presents from every quarter. And the\ntribe of Abs passed their time in plundering and killing the chieftains,\ntill all Arabia was overawed by their power, and all the dwellers of the\ndeserts feared them.\n\nNow the narrators of this History, Asmael, and Zoheinah, and Aboo Obeidah\nstate, that ten horsemen of the family of Carad quitted the country to\nseek their fortunes, and among them was Shedad the son of Carad, and he\nwas called the Knight of Jirwet, for his mare was called Jirwet, whose\nlike was unknown. Kings negotiated with him for her, but he would not\npart with her, and would accept of no offer or bribe for her; and thus he\nused to talk of her in his verses:\n\n\u201cSeek not to purchase my horse, for Jirwet is not to be bought or\nborrowed. I am a strong castle on her back, and in her bounds is glory\nand greatness. I would not part with her were strings of camels to come\nto me with their shepherds following them. She flies with the wind\nwithout wings, and tears up the waste and the desert. I will keep her for\nthe day of calamities, and she will rescue me when the battle-dust rises.\u201d\n\nThe party set out from the land of Shuerebah; the ten were all reputed\nwarriors and famed horsemen; they were all clothed in iron armour and\nbrilliant cuirasses; their object was to obtain horses and camels. They\ncontinued their journey till they entered the country of Cahtan: they lay\nconcealed all day, and only travelled by night. At length they reached\nthe mountains of Aja and Selma; and there, between two hills, they\ndiscovered a wealthy tribe, possessed of considerable property and great\nriches; they were called the tribe of Jezeela. Numerous were their tents,\nand their dwellings, and their warlike weapons, &c., and the camp was\nlike the boisterous sea dashing its waves, so numerous were their slaves,\nand attendants, and their horses of various colours. It was a tribe under\nno apprehension from the changes of fortune.\n\nAnd when the Absians perceived their vast wealth and prosperous\nsituation, they feared to attack them, so they accordingly quitted them\nand made for their pasture ground, where they perceived a thousand\ncamels grazing, there being much grass in that spot, and with them was\na black woman, who was watching them. She was uncommonly beautiful and\nwell-shaped; her appearance was elegant and striking; and with her\nwere two children, looking after the camels and running about. As soon\nas the Absians saw the camels, they attacked them, and hunted them like\nhares with their spears, then drove them away, together with the woman\nand children; yet keeping in the rear, ready to attack whoever might\novertake them; and they had not gone far ere the people came after\nthem, crying out, Whither would flight secure you, you wretches? here\nare we in pursuit of you. Verily your feet have borne you to your ruin\nand destruction. Upon this the Absians fixed their spears, and gave the\nreins to their horses, and met their assailants, pouncing down on them\nlike falcons. They stood firm of soul, and plied their lances among\nthem: blood flowed, and the horsemen were stretched on the earth, where\nthey left them as carrion for the wild beasts of the desert. The tribe\nof Jezeela fled, unable to resist the foe, and retreated to their own\ncountry, their heroes being slain and their property captured.\n\nThe Absians drove away the camels and cattle, and returning home, they\nhalted by the side of a stream, in order to divide the property. But the\nwoman who was carried off with the camels had made a great impression\non the heart of Shedad, and he longed for her in his soul; her form\nwas delicate, her eye inspired love, her smile was enchanting, and her\ngestures graceful. As the poet has said, \u201cIn blackness there is some\nvirtue, if you observe its beauty well, thy eyes do not regard the white\nor red. Were it not for the black of the mole on a fair cheek, how would\nlovers feel the value of its brilliancy. Were not musk black, it would\nnot be precious. Were it not for the black of night, the dawn would not\nrise. Were it not for the black of the eye, where would be its beauty?\nand thus it is, that the black ambergris has the purest fragrance.\u201d\nHe therefore took the woman, and gave them the booty, that they might\nrenounce her. So he kept her to himself.\n\nThis woman\u2019s name was Zebeeba, and the two children were hers; the eldest\nwas called Jereer, and the youngest Shiboob. He remained with the woman\nin the field, and the children tended the flocks. Shedad visited her\nmorning and evening; and thus matters continued till she became pregnant;\nand when her time came, she brought forth a boy, black and swarthy like\nan elephant, flat nosed, blear eyed, harsh featured, shaggy haired;\nthe corners of his lips hanging down, and the inner angles of his eyes\nbloated; strong boned, long footed; he was like a fragment of a cloud,\nhis ears immensely long, and with eyes whence flashed sparks of fire. His\nshape, limbs, form, and make resembled Shedad; and Shedad was overjoyed\nat seeing him, and called him Antar, and for many days he continued\nto gaze on him with delight. But when Zebeeba wished to wean him, he\ngrumbled and growled exceedingly, and the corners of his eyes became\nfiery red, so that he appeared like a mass of crimson blood; and this was\nhis condition till he was weaned. And he grew up, and his name became\nknown; but those who had accompanied Shedad in the expedition, having\nheard of him, all wanted to claim him as theirs. So they all assembled\nand hastened to him, each imagining he belonged to him, and gave him\nhis name; till at last they disputed about him, and almost drew their\nswords, and would have fought, had not respect for King Zoheir prevented\nthem. The circumstance soon reached the King, who ordered them to his\npresence; and it happened on that day that he had many guests with him at\ndinner; and whilst they were sitting down, Shedad and his companions came\nand kissed the ground in the presence of the King. He asked them what\nhad happened, and what was the cause of the quarrel. They then informed\nhim, and related all that had passed between Shedad and the woman in\ntheir excursion; how he had taken her to himself, and had given them the\nplunder; how she bare him a son, whose shape and appearance resembled a\nnegro, and how they now all claimed the child as their slave, because he\nwas very stout and strong.\n\nWhen Zoheir heard this adventure he was greatly surprised, and he said to\nShedad, I wish you would produce the young slave that is the object of\ncontention, that I may see him. Upon that, Shedad departed and brought\nAntar before him; and the King beheld him, and lo! he was like a lion\nwhen he roars. As soon as he saw him he gave a loud scream, and threw\na piece of meat at him; but a dog that was there got before him, and\nsnatched up the meat like a hawk, and ran away. But Antar followed him\ntill he came up with him; he was greatly enraged, and seized hold of him\nwith all his strength. He wrenched open his jaws, and tore them in twain\neven to the shoulders, and snatched the meat out of his mouth. When the\nKing saw this, he was astonished, and the Arab chiefs that were present\nwere amazed; and exclaimed, what ingenuity, what power, strength, and\nability! O my friends, said King Zoheir, contend no more about such a\nwretch as this! but if it is absolutely necessary that this business\nshould be decided, I must refer you to the Cadi Bashar, son of Codha\u2019ah\nthe Fazarean, let him give sentence on this point, and settle to whom\nthis slave belongs. Tell him the story, for he is the Cadi of the Arabs.\n\nWhen they heard King Zoheir\u2019s remarks, they instantly withdrew their\nhands from their swords, and mounting their horses, went before the Cadi,\nto whom they explained what had happened. In fine, the Cadi decided that\nthe child should be the property of Shedad; for he was their leader,\nand no one but him had any connexion with the woman. You agreed to the\npartition, said he, and he affixed his name to him; you have therefore\nresigned the woman, and you took your share of the spoil and plunder;\nbesides, the child resembles Shedad. Contend and be at variance no more,\nbut return in peace and quietness. Thus, as soon as the Arab chiefs heard\nthe Cadi\u2019s sentence, they yielded; and when they reached their homes,\nthey passed their time in friendship and comfort. Soon after, Shedad made\na separate house for Zebeeba and her children, and he gave her whatever\nshe wanted, and consigned over to her charge her two children, and also\ngave her particular injunction about her youngest son called Antar.\n\nNow Antar was becoming a big boy, and grew up, and used to accompany his\nmother to the pastures, and he watched the cattle; and this he continued\nto do till he increased in stature. He used to walk and run about to\nharden himself, till at length his muscles were strengthened, his frame\naltogether more robust, and his bones more firm and solid, and his\nspeech correct. He then began to tyrannize over boys of the same age,\nand beat his brothers; and when he returned from the pastures he amused\nhimself with the servants and women, and he would eat nothing but what\nhe liked; and whoever offended him he would thrash with a stick; till\nhe tortured him, and all the tribe were his enemies. He used to employ\nhimself in tending the flocks, and as he conducted them, he wandered\nabout the deserts and plains, and loved solitude and retirement. His\ndays were passed in roaming about the mountains sides, sometimes riding\nupon the dogs, by which he acquired courage and intrepidity; and thus he\nwent on till he attained his tenth year. One day he was wandering over\nthe deserts with the flocks, and when the sun was burning hot, he left\nhis people and climbed up a tree and took shelter from the heat, whilst\nthe flocks grazed, and he watched them; when lo! a wolf started from\nbehind the trees, and dispersed them. But Antar seeing how the animal had\ndispersed the herds, he descended and ran after him till he overtook him,\nand struck him with his staff between the eyes; he made the oil of his\nbrains fly out from between his ears, and slew him; he then cut off his\nhead and his legs, and returned growling like an angry lion. And so thou\nwouldst devour Antar\u2019s flocks? cried he, addressing himself to the dead\nwolf; but thou dost not know that he is a savage lion. He put the head\nand legs into the scrip he had with him; leaving the carcase, he returned\nto the flocks, and thus spoke.\u2014\n\n\u201cOh thou wolf, eager for death, I have left thee wallowing in dust, and\nspoiled of life, thou wouldst have the run of my flocks, but I have left\nthee dyed with blood\u2014thou wouldst disperse my sheep, and thou knowest I\nam a lion that never fears. This is the way I treat thee, thou dog of the\ndesert. Hast ever before seen battle and wars?\u201d\n\nAbout evening Antar reached his dwelling; his mother took the basket\nfrom him, and there she saw the wolf\u2019s head and legs. She was quite\nconfounded, but said nothing. She presented them to Shedad, who only\ndesired her not to let him stray about. Do thou and he mind the cattle,\nand go not far into the wilds, lest some foe meet thee. Zebeeba promised\nobedience to the words of her lord, and the next day she departed with\nher three children to the pastures, whither they drove the herds to graze\namong the plains and the hills. But Antar rode about the country on the\nhorses, and obtained strength and agility by the exercise; he drove them\nover the steeps, hurling his reed spear at the trunks of the trees; and\nhis mother concealed these circumstances from his father, fearing he\nwould beat him or kill him. It was thus he became bold and hardy; his\nlimbs were robust, his bodily powers increased, and his mind was improved\nby courage and intrepidity. And when a camel would stray away, he would\ncry out and make it stop, and he would struggle with and subdue the\nmightiest of the herds; and when he seized one by the tail, he tore it\noff; and when they resisted him, he would strike them on the back of the\nhead, or tear open their mouths; and, thus he continued his feats till\nall the servants were afraid of him, and every one far and near dreaded\nhim.\n\nNow King Zoheir had two hundred slaves that tended his herds of he and\nshe-camels, and all his sons had the same. Shas was the eldest of his\nsons, and heir to his possessions, and Shas had a slave whose name was\nDaji, and he was a great bully. Shas was very fond of him on account of\nhis vast bodily strength; and there was not a slave but feared him and\ntrembled before him: Antar however made no account of him, and did not\ncare for him. One day the poor men, and widows, and orphans met together\nand were driving their camels and their flocks to drink, and were all\nstanding by the water side. Daji came up and stopped them all, and took\npossession of the water for his master\u2019s cattle. Just then an old woman\nbelonging to the tribe of Abs came up to him, and accosted him in a\nsuppliant manner, saying, Be so good, master Daji, as to let my cattle\ndrink; they are all the property I possess, and I live by their milk.\nPity my flock and cover my nakedness; have compassion on me and grant\nmy request, and let them drink. But he paid no attention to her demand,\nand abused her. She was greatly distressed and shrunk back. Then came\nanother old woman and addressed him, O master Daji, I am a poor weak old\nwoman, as you see; time has dealt hardly with me, it has aimed its arrows\nat me; and its daily and nightly calamities have destroyed all my men.\nI have lost my children and my husband, and since then I have been in\ngreat distress; these sheep are all I possess; let them drink, for I live\non the milk they produce. Pity my forlorn state; I have no one to tend\nthem, therefore grant my request, and be so kind as to let them drink.\n\nAs soon as Daji heard these words, and perceived the crowd of women and\nmen, his pride increased, and his obstinacy was not to be moved, but he\nstruck the woman on the stomach, and threw her down on her back, and\nuncovered her nakedness, whilst all the slaves laughed at her. When\nAntar perceived what had occurred, his pagan pride played throughout all\nhis limbs, and he could not endure the sight. He ran up to the slave,\nand calling out to him, You bastard, said he, what mean you by this\ndisgusting action? Do you dare to violate an Arab woman? May God destroy\nyour limbs, and all that consented to this act.\n\nWhen the slave heard what Antar said, he almost fainted from indignation;\nhe met him, and struck him a blow over the face that nearly knocked out\nhis eyes. Antar waited till he had recovered from the blow, and his\nsenses returned; he then ran at the slave, and seizing him by one of\nthe legs, threw him on his back. He thrust one hand under his thighs,\nand with the other he grasped his neck, and raising him by the force of\nhis arm, he dashed him against the ground. And his length and breadth\nwere all one mass. When the deed was done his fury was unbounded, and\nhe roared aloud even as a lion. And when the slaves perceived the fate\nof Daji, they shrieked out to Antar, saying, You have slain the slave\nof Prince Shas! What man on earth can now protect you? They attacked him\nwith staves and stones, but he resisted them all; he rushed with a loud\nyell upon them, and proved himself a hardy warrior, and dealt among them\nwith his stick as a hero with his sword.\n\nNow among the sons of Zoheir there was one whose name was Malik, and\nbecause he was of a mild and gentle disposition, he was beloved of men\nand women; and his father Zoheir adored him for the sweetness of his\ntemper, and gentleness of his conduct. It so happened that on this day\nhe went out with a numerous train to hunt, and passing that way he\nheard some confused cries, and perceived a great dust. On approaching\nthe place, he observed a number of slaves surrounding one man, whom\nhe discovered to be Antar; the blood streamed from all parts of his\nbody from the blows they struck him with sticks and stones; yet he was\ndetermined to die sooner than give way. When the Prince saw this, his\neyes filled with tears, and in pity he cried out, God prosper thee for\na noble slave; how hard are thy blows, how vast thy power! and then,\naddressing the slaves, he said, Accursed be your fathers, and your\nabandoned mothers! Do you not fear the punishment and condemnation of\nevery one far and near? Why have you collected in such numbers, and all\nconspired against one poor fellow, and thus to vent your fury on one\nmuch younger than yourselves? Away, or I will destroy you all, both high\nand low, with this sword. He then went to Antar, to learn what was the\nmatter, and he heard him growling like a furious lion, and repeating\nthese verses.\n\n\u201cO my soul! strive not to fly, thou cans\u2019t not escape when death seeks\nthee; death is predestined; it will come in some shape or other. Endure\nthen with the patience of one nobly born. Fly not from the fears of\ndeath, or thou wilt remain scorned among the Arab chiefs.\u201d\n\nThe Prince desired Antar to explain the business, which he did, and told\nhim all that had happened between Daji and the old woman; how he had\nstruck her, and thrown her on her back; how he had uncovered her person,\nand made the people laugh at her. I then came up to prevent him; he\nstruck me in the eye and nearly killed me; but I seized him with my hand,\nand dashed him against the ground. I broke his bones, and then his slaves\nattacked me, and wanted to seize me in revenge; but I thought proper to\ndefend myself: had you not arrived I should have been killed.\n\nWhen Prince Malik heard this, his admiration of Antar increased, and he\nwas convinced he was a hero, and that there was not such another alive.\nWalk by my side, said he, I will protect you against every one that\nexists under the heavens, against all who eat bread and drink water.\nAntar bowed down before him and kissed his feet in his stirrup, and\nwalked on with the slaves. But when they came nigh the tents, there\nappeared his brother Shas; in his hand was a flaming sword, and under him\na steed swifter than a cloud when it rains, and his bosom was charged\nwith fury and indignation, and he was about to slay Antar. When his\nbrother Malik saw him, he was aware if he did not keep him away from\nAntar, he would injure him. How is it I see thee so disturbed? said he.\nKnow, said Shas, this accursed Antar has killed my servant, and I am come\nto cut his body in pieces with this sword. You must not touch him, said\nMalik; he who dares to oppose him is a dead man. I have given him my\nprotection; I will not be separated from him; sooner will I forfeit my\nhead.\n\nShas took no notice; but fixed his eyes on Antar, who was walking by the\nside of his brother. He no longer heeded his brother; but ran at Antar,\nthat he might put him to death with tortures. Then too, Prince Malik\nwas enraged; he drew his sword from the scabbard; the two brothers soon\nbecame so violent that their disputes would have ended in a battle, had\nnot King Zoheir, who had been informed of what was passing, instantly\njoined them. Malik was abashed in the presence of his father, and Shas\nalso quitted his brother. O my son, said Zoheir, give this slave to\nme and to your brother Malik, and I will in lieu of him give you ten\nof mine. Upon that, Shas retreated in shame from the presence of his\nfather. Why did you kill my son\u2019s servant, said Zoheir to Antar, and\nthus disgrace him? and Antar wept at these words: he related what had\noccurred, how the servant had thrown the woman on her back, and rendered\nher an object of derision among the servants. The King assured him he\napproved of his conduct, and turning towards the Chiefs about him, This\nvaliant fellow, said he, has defended the honour of women; he will shine\na noble warrior, and destroy his opponents; and then looking at Shedad,\nyour son\u2019s conduct reflects credit on you; he added, his behaviour will\nremain as a memorial to all generations; he has loathed oppression and\nviolence, and has followed the path of propriety and virtue.\n\nShedad on that day, when in the presence of the King, was much alarmed\nabout his slave Antar, because he was considered as compromising all\nabout him. Take away your son, said Zoheir to him, I give him to you;\ntake care of him until I demand him of you again, and be not at all\nannoyed. From that day both King Zoheir and his son Malik conceived a\ngreat affection for Antar, and as Antar returned home, the women and\ntheir daughters all collected round him to ask him what had happened;\namongst them were his aunts, and his cousin, whose name was Ibla.\n\nNow Ibla was younger than Antar, and a merry lass; she was lovely as the\nfull moon, and perfectly beautiful and elegant. She frequently joked\nwith Antar, and was very familiar with him, as he was her servant. As\nsoon as she came up to him on that day, O you base-born, she cried, why\ndidst thou kill the slave of Prince Shas? who can now protect thee from\nhim? Indeed, my mistress, he replied, I did no more than he deserved, for\nhe had insulted a poor woman; he threw her down, and made the servants\nlaugh at her. Thou hast acted most properly, said Ibla, smiling, and we\nare rejoiced that thou art safe, for thou knowest our mothers consider\nthee as their son, and we look on thee as a brother, on account of thy\nservices. On this the women and girls left him.\n\nNow it was always Antar\u2019s business to wait upon all the women of the\nfamily of Carad, after he had finished his duty towards Semeeah, his\nfather Shedad\u2019s wife, whose attendant he was. It was a custom among\nthe Arab women at that period, to drink camel\u2019s milk both morning and\nevening; it was the servant\u2019s office to milk it, and cool it in the\nwind. Now Antar always performed this office for Semeeah, Shedad\u2019s wife\nfirst, and then for his aunts, the wives of his uncles Zakmet-ool Jewad\nand Malik, and for Ibla, the daughter of the latter. He continued to\nexecute this service for a long time; but one day he entered the house\nof his uncle Malik, and found his aunt combing his cousin Ibla\u2019s hair,\nwhich flowed down her back, dark as the shades of night. Antar was quite\nsurprised, but Ibla ran away as soon as Antar had entered and seen her,\nas her sable locks waved to the ground behind her. This increased Antar\u2019s\nastonishment; he was greatly agitated, and could pay no attention to any\nthing; he was anxious and thoughtful, and when by himself burst forth\ninto the following strains,\n\n\u201cThat fair maid lets down her ringlets, and she is completely hid in her\nhair, which appears like the dark shades of night. It is as if she were\nthe brilliant day, and as if the night had enveloped her in obscurity. It\nis as if the full moon was shining in its splendour, and all the stars\nwere concealed by its lustre. Her charms bewitch all around her, and\nall are anxious to offer their services; they live in her beauties and\nloveliness, and they are imbued with sweetness from her perfections, and\nreceive new spirit from her graces. Revile me not for my love of her, for\nI am distracted for her, and live but as the victim of my love. I will\nconceal my affection in my soul till I can see that I am sufficiently\nfortunate one day to serve her.\u201d\n\nAntar\u2019s anguish daily became more oppressive. It now happened to be the\ntime of the pilgrimage to the holy shrine, and the worship of their\nidols; and the women and children being left behind in the camp, the\nwarriors and chiefs came out for the feast at a spot called Zatool Irsad,\nwhence they departed for the sacred place. Accordingly they all met, and\nthe children sung and danced. Ibla was amongst them, richly dressed,\nplaying and singing amongst her companions. She was decorated with\nnecklaces and jewels, and her countenance was brilliant and blooming\u2014more\ndazzling than the rays of the sun. When Antar saw her in all her beauty\nand loveliness, he was overwhelmed with surprise, his tears flowed, and\nhe thus addressed her in verse:\n\n\u201cThe lovely virgin has struck my heart with the arrow of a glance,\nfor which there is no cure. Sometimes she wishes for a feast in the\nsand-hills, like a fawn whose eyes are full of magic. My disease preys\non me, it is in my entrails. I conceal it; but its very concealment\ndiscloses it. She moves; I should say it was the branch of the Tamarisk\nthat waves its branches to the southern breeze. She approaches; I should\nsay it was the frightened fawn, when a calamity alarms it in the waste.\nShe walks away\u2014I should say her face was truly the sun when its lustre\ndazzles the beholders. She gazes\u2014I should say it was the full moon of the\nnight when Orion girds it with its stars. She smiles, and the pearls of\nher teeth sparkle, in which there is the cure for the sickness of lovers.\nShe prostrates herself in reverence towards her God; and the greatest\nof men bow down to her beauties. O Ibla! when I most despair, love for\nthee and all its weaknesses are my only hope. Should fortune or my father\nassist me, I will requite myself for its vicissitudes by my fearless\nspirit.\u201d\n\nWhen Ibla heard from Antar this description of her charms, she was in\nastonishment; yet she still continued to amuse herself and converse with\nher companions. Before the feast was over he was violently in love with\nher, and his affection completely overpowered him. On the next day he\ncame as usual with the milk; but his heart and soul were so pre-occupied\nand troubled, that he offered it to Ibla before Semeeah, his father\u2019s\nwife; for his feet went where his heart was interested. Ibla took the cup\nfrom him and fascinated him by her charms. Semeeah was very angry, and\ndetermined to complain of him to his father; but Antar continued in this\nstate for days and nights, his love and anguish ever increasing.\n\nA short time after, a slave called Zajir, who belonged to Rebia, the\nson of Zeead, came to Shedad; O master, said he, your slave Antar does\nnothing but injure your property: he ranges about the country, and all\nday long he keeps the cattle away from the water and the pastures, riding\nand driving them about, and reducing their flesh by incessant exercise,\nand injuring the trees by spearing them; and when I order him not to\ndo so, he abuses me and beats me, and were I to go near him he would\nkill me. This made Shedad very angry. You tell me the truth, my boy, he\nreplied, for from the time I have directed him to tend my herds, they\ndo not get fat, but have ulcers in their feet; and this is a proof that\nhe rides them and drives them about the rocky places, and thus they lose\ntheir flesh.\n\nAs soon as Semeeah heard this, she sought to punish Antar, and told\nShedad what had occurred; and complained that Antar had offered the milk\nto Ibla before her. This added to the anger which Shedad already felt in\nhis heart, but he waited patiently till Antar returned from the pasture;\nhe then seized fast hold of him, tied him up, and beat him with a stick\ntill he took the skin off. His mother saw all this, but did not dare\nto speak to her master, not knowing the cause of this cruel treatment,\nbut she afterwards enquired of other women, who told her that Zajir had\ncomplained of him, and that Semeeah also had complained of his having\nserved the milk to Ibla before her. Zebeebah treasured up all this in\nher mind till the morning, when she went to Antar, and told him the\nwhole matter, how Zajir had complained of him, and that Semeeah had\nstated that she had been served with milk after Ibla. O my son, said\nshe, henceforward take care not to offend her, but execute the office\nproperly; and moreover, do not cast thine eyes on Ibla, for she will be\nthy ruin. No sooner had Antar heard this than he struggled with the cords\nthat bound him, and bursting them, started forward like a lion, and in\nwrath exclaimed in verse:\n\n\u201cThis day will I slay Zajir, the accursed infamous slave. I will leave\nhim in the middle of the waste, a prey for the devouring beasts. When he\nis gone, my heart will be at rest, and my soul will be appeased. Who told\nhim to trouble himself about this business, and to endanger me? If I do\nnot haste to the desert to slay him, my heart will never be at rest, nor\nmy eyes ever sleep.\u201d\n\nThen went he forth in search of Zajir; he found him in the pastures. Thou\nbase-born, he cried, thou son of an uncircumcised mother thou instigated\nmy master to beat me. He said no more, but seizing him by the small part\nof his belly, raised him up, and dashing him on the ground, smashed his\nbones to pieces. When he beheld him dead, he recovered himself, and\nbegan to be alarmed; so he went to the house of his friend Malik, the\nPrince who relieved him when he slew the slave of his brother Shas, and\ninformed him of what had passed. The prince was astonished, but quieted\nhis fears, promising to get him out of the scrape. He left him sitting\nin the tent, and went to the habitation of Rebia. On his arrival he only\nfound the women of the family; he enquired for Rebia; they answered\u2014He\nis gone by invitation to your father\u2019s. Immediately he repaired to his\nfather\u2019s house, and the matter was just as he wished; for on his entering\nhe observed the Chiefs of the Absian tribe, all seated, and the family of\nZeead and Rebia standing with their slaves and attendants close to King\nZoheir. He entered, and made his salutation; and as no one was seated,\nbut all standing, Rebia said to him, sit down in your place, for we are\nall standing up because you continue so. Do you wish I should sit down?\nsaid Malik; and do you love me? Yes, said Rebia, by the lives of all\nthat are present. Then, replied Malik, I will not sit down till you have\ngiven me your slave Zajir. What makes you so anxious, said Rebia, to have\nhim? Because, said Malik, I have observed him to be a good hard-working\nslave, and very laborious in doing his duty. Sit down then, said Rebia,\nI will give him to you, and if you wish, two more with him. Let all\nthese assembled Chiefs be witnesses to what you say, said Malik. Yes,\nsaid Rebia, let the God who raised the vaulted heavens, and levelled the\nexpanded earth, witness my grant to you, and that I will never tell you\nof the favour rendered. Be witness to it, O ye that are present, said\nMalik. Know then, O Rebia, that Antar has killed your slave, and has\nsought my protection; do not therefore seek his life.\n\nWhen Rebia heard this, his affection was cooled, and he was very\nindignant; he hid his head, and felt ashamed before his assembled\nassociates: great was his wrath; and from that moment he cherished in\nhis heart a violent hatred against Antar. King Zoheir then asked his son\nwhat had induced Antar to kill the slave, and what was his intention and\nobject? Malik related all that had passed. The King smiled, and soothing\nthe heart of Rebia, gave him two strong healthy slaves, and he was\npacified.\n\nWhen the slaves heard what Antar had done, there was not one but feared\nhim; and as soon as the assembly had eaten and drank, they departed, and\nin the evening Malik returned home rejoicing in the good tidings that he\nbrought. He filled the heart of Antar with gladness, and placed victuals\nbefore him; they slept the whole night together, and Antar repeated the\nfollowing lines in praise of the Prince.\n\n\u201cO thou, on whose lofty spirit, my hope, to the exclusion of all the\nuniverse, depends! My anxieties have weighed on thee, and my troubles\nhave been a burthen to thy noble mind! Thou hast granted me favours\u2014thou\nart my only refuge. O thou who hast rescued me from my death, and my\nperdition, all my life will I thank thee, till my bones disappear in the\nearth.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n\nThus matters proceeded with Antar and Prince Malik; but the anger of\nShedad was only augmented; at last he complained to his brothers Malik,\nand Zakmet-ool Jewad, saying, O sons of my father, and mother, my soul\nis greatly vexed, and my anxiety is redoubled, and I know not what to\ndo, or what will be the consequence of the actions of this black slave.\nI fear that to-morrow he will destroy some one of rank and power, and\nsome disturbance arise throughout the whole tribe, and our blood will\nbe demanded and our persons pay the forfeit. O my brother, said his\nbrother Zakmet-ool Jewad, thou hast hit the mark, and if thou dost not\ntake measures to put this slave to death, he will certainly endanger\nour lives. However wise a man may be, he is no match for him; but after\nwhat has happened, we can never let him take our camels and cattle to\nthe pasture; we must, waylay him and kill him, and thus let us relieve\nourselves from this misery. Let us wait till he goes to the meadows, and\nthere let us destroy him in some secret spot; and when we have effected\nour purpose, we will return. Shedad approved his brother\u2019s advice, and\nresolved to execute it. In the morning Prince Malik came to the tent of\nShedad, and interceded for Antar; Shedad acquiesced, and let him tend the\ncattle in the meadows; and forgot him for a time.\n\nBut one morning Antar went as usual with the cattle to the pastures,\nand they followed his steps, seeking to kill and destroy him. On that\nday Antar was riding about in the wide plains and deserts, and finding\nhimself alone, he recited some verses in praise of Ibla; he wandered far\nfrom the habitations, and thought of his misfortunes; fast flowed his\ntears, for the night before he had dreamt of Ibla, and that he had kissed\nher within her veil. He then addressed her in these verses:\n\n\u201cIbla\u2019s spirit appeared to me in my sleep, and thrice I kissed her within\nher veil. It bade me adieu, but it deposited in me a flame that I feel\nburning through my bones. Were I not left in solitude alone, and could I\nnot quench the fire of my passion with tears, my heart would melt. But I\ndo not complain, though all my fears are on thy account, O thou perfect\nfull moon! O daughter of Malik, how can I be consoled, since my love\nfor thee originated from the time I was weaned? but how can I ever hope\nto approach thee, whilst the lions of the forest guard thy tent! By the\ntruth of my love for thee, my heart can never be cured but by patience.\nO thou noble maid! till I exalt myself to the heights of glory with the\nthrusts of my spear, and the blows of my sword, I will expose myself to\nevery peril wherever the spears clash in the battle dust\u2014then I shall be\neither tossed upon the spear heads, or be numbered among the noble.\u201d\n\nHe went galloping in different directions till he came to a plain called\nthe plain of lions, and here were many ferocious animals and wild beasts.\nHere he let the cattle graze, and Antar only came to this valley, because\nhe knew there was in it abundance of grass of the height of a man. Now\nnot a servant of the whole tribe of Abs would ever enter or approach this\nvalley, because it was very extensive, and filled with lions and tigers.\nAs soon as Antar found himself in it, he said to himself, perhaps I\nshall now find a lion, and I will slay him. Thus, whilst the cattle were\nfeeding, and he from a mound was looking round on all sides, behold, a\nlion appeared in the middle of the valley; he stalked about, and roared\naloud: wide were his nostrils, and fire flashed from his eyes: the whole\nvalley trembled at every gnash of his fangs\u2014he was a calamity, and his\nclaws more terrific than the deadliest catastrophe\u2014thunder pealed as he\nroared\u2014vast was his strength, and his force dreadful\u2014broad were his paws,\nand his head immense. As soon as he appeared in the valley, the cattle\nscented him and fled away in terror, and the camels were dispersed to\nthe right and the left. No sooner did Antar perceive this extraordinary\nmovement, than he descended into the valley that he might observe what\nwas the matter, brandishing his sword. He there saw the lion, terrible\nin his strength, and lashing his sides with his tail. Antar cried out\nto him, and the mountains re-echoed to the cry. Welcome, thou father\nof lions\u2014thou dog of the plains\u2014thou foulest of the wild beasts of the\ndeserts. Now then, thou wilt exert thy power and thy might, and thou wilt\npride thyself in thy roar; for no doubt, thou art the monarch and ruler\nof the brute creation, and all obey thy commands\u2014but, return to filth and\ncontempt, thou meetest now no ordinary man. I deal death to the bravest,\nand render children orphans. Dost thou think, foul-mouthed beast, now\nabout to die, that thou canst frighten me with thy roar or alarm me with\nthy bellow? I will not condescend to slay thee with an arrow or a sword,\nbut I will make thee drink of the cup of death from my single arm; and as\nhe rushed towards him, he addressed him in verse.\n\n\u201cI am the far-famed lion, the warrior whose exploits every one fears on\nthe day of wars. I save, I protect the property of my father Shedad,\nand I punish the foe with the edge of my sword. When my hand wields the\nscimitar on the day of battle, every heart of the horsemen throbs with\nfear. Now will I meet thee in the waste, and make thee drink a cup of\nthe vicissitudes of fortune. I heed not death when I meet him, and I\ncomprehend what every tongue can express. Now then I will throw my sword\nout of my hand\u2014away then with thee\u2014and I will destroy thee, thou dog of\nthe desert, with my hands alone.\u201d\n\nJust at that moment Shedad and his brothers came up to kill Antar. They\nsaw him address the lion, and heard what he repeated: he sprung forward,\nand fell on him like a hail storm, and hissed at him like a black\nserpent\u2014he met the lion as he sprang, and outroared his bellow; then,\ngiving a dreadful shriek, he seized hold of his mouth with his hand, and\nwrenched it open to his shoulders, and he shouted aloud\u2014the valley and\nthe country round echoed back the war: he stuck to him until he was dead,\nand then dragged him by the legs without the valley; and having cut down\nsome wood, he took out his Zanad (wood to make a light with), struck a\nlight, and made a fire. He waited until it blazed; he then ripped up the\nlion, took out the entrails, and cut off his four legs, and threw them\ninto the fire; and when he perceived they were roasted, he took them out\nand ate thereof till he finished it; he then ran to a fountain and drank\ntill he was satisfied; and having washed his mouth and hands, he went to\na shady tree, where he put the lion\u2019s head under his own as a pillow,\nand wrapping up his head in a part of his sleeve, he fell asleep. His\nfather and uncles were observing him and his actions, and as they saw all\nhe did, they were quite terrified and scared. Verily this slave, said\nZakmet-ool Jewad, has not his equal; no one in his senses would engage\nhim. Malik also trembled. What shall we do with this wretch? said he.\nGreat indeed has been the deed he has done; none of us can harm him; he\nwould soon destroy us and tear out our entrails, or do as he has done\nwith the lion. Let us return home, said Shedad, our honour still remains\nsafe, we must find some other means to kill him and accomplish our wishes.\n\nThus Shedad and his brothers returned home, all in astonishment at\nAntar, and the wonders he had performed. In the evening, when Antar came\nwith the flocks and the camels, Shedad smiled upon him and gave him a\ncordial welcome, and made him sit down with him at dinner, whilst the\nother slaves stood up. And whilst they were all talking, there came a\nmessenger from King Zoheir to Shedad. King Zoheir demands your presence,\nO Chief, he cried; he has sent me to require you to take with you your\nwarlike weapons, and your brothers, for he is engaged in a business of\nimportance, and wishes to attack the tribe of Temeem, and has resolved\non invading their country and destroying their territory. Shedad on\nhearing this immediately complied, and having assembled his brothers\nand all their dependants he turned towards Antar. To-morrow, said he,\nthe warriors and horsemen are going to march, and no troops will remain\nin our habitations, therefore I consign over to you our houses and our\nwomen; but take care when you go to the pastures not to wander far in the\nmountains. Be perfectly easy, my master, replied Antar, about whatever\nyou leave in my charge; should the smallest thing be missing, let me, for\nthe remainder of my life, be kept in chains and bondage! Shedad thanked\nhim, and promised when he returned from the expedition, to give him a\nfine horse to ride. In the morning the warriors mounted and prepared\nfor the engagement, and slung on their swords and their javelins; they\ndeparted from their habitations, and among the first shone King Zoheir,\nlike a noble lion.\n\nThe horsemen being now absent, the children, and women, and slaves,\nmale and female, were left behind. Semeeah, the wife of Shedad, gave\na magnificent entertainment at the lake of Zatool Irsad. Sheep were\nslaughtered, and wine flowed, and the girls carried their instruments.\nAntar stood amongst the attendants, and was in transports on seeing Ibla\nappear with the other women. She was indeed like an amorous fawn; she\nwas decorated with variegated necklaces; and when Antar was attending\nher, he was overwhelmed in the ocean of his love, and became the slave of\nher sable tresses. They sat down to eat, and the wine cups went merrily\nround. It was the spring of the year, when the whole land shone in all\nits glory; the vines hung luxuriantly in the arbours; the flowers, shed\naround ambrosial fragrance; every hillock sparkled in the beauty of its\ncolours; the birds in responsive melody sang sweetly from each bush, and\nharmony issued from their throats; every ear was enchanted; the ground\nwas covered with flowers and herbs; whilst the nightingales filled the\nair with their softest notes. Then the damsels beat the cymbal, and\nrecited the following verses:\n\n\u201cThe shades have spread their canopy, and the flowers spread their\npillows; the streams roll along their shores of flowers, some white, some\nred, some yellow, some sweet-scented. See the waters gliding through the\ngardens, and the trees and their fruits resemble bracelets and chaplets:\nthe birds sing melodiously upon them in every variety of note, the\nnightingale and the dove pour their plaintive strain, and make every\nlover weep; the gentle zephyrs whisper along, and the branches move in\nsoftest measure. The boughs dance in the groves, among the trees, in the\ngraceful movement; the dew drops fall, and the flowers and the trees\nare studded with its pearls. The season is delightful; let it pass in\nenjoyment, and misfortunes begone! the opportunity is delicious, let us\ngrasp in haste its sweets. Be merry, and wild with joy, and let not a day\npass without amusement.\u201d\n\nThen another set took the musical instruments, and beating the cymbals\nwith their hands, thus sang:\n\n\u201cThe gardens sparkle with all they boast of lovely damsels; every\nsportive virgin is possessed of languishing glances, and enchanting\nmovements; their beauty is perfection, they are loveliness itself; their\nelegant shapes glance like the well-proportioned spears; their tresses\nfloat down their backs, like branches of the grape-vine; they are slayers\nand piercers with their arrows and their darts; archers and strikers, the\nenchantresses of men.\u201d\n\nThey now formed a dance and took off their robes: the damsels danced\nwhilst the servants sang, and carried round the goblets of wine. Roses\nwere spread over their cheeks, and their bosoms heaved. And Ibla joined\nher associates in the dance, and exhibited her charms, and laughed. Fire\nshot from their eyes, and the cups of wine were united to the honey of\ntheir mouths. The imagination of Antar was inflamed and overpowered in\nthe sea of anxiety; he hesitated whether he should violate the modesty\nof love by the fingers of passion, when lo! on a sudden there appeared a\ncloud of dust; and a vast clamour arose, and in a moment there came forth\na troop of horses and their riders, about seventy in number, armed with\ncuirasses and coats of mail, and Aadite helmets, crying out, O by Cahtan!\nand rushed towards the women. At the instant joy was converted into\ngrief, and smiles into tears: in a moment they seized the women and the\nvirgins, made them prisoners, and placed them on their horses behind them.\n\nBut when Antar saw this disaster, and perceived that a horseman had\ncarried off Ibla, and observed her weep, and her cheeks turn from red to\na deadly pale, the world seemed contracted about him, and as he reflected\nthat he had no arms with which to fight, he was greatly alarmed, but\ntrusted to his feet. He overtook the horseman in a moment who had seized\nIbla, for he happened to be in the rear; he sprung upon him like a wild\nbeast in its utmost fury, and clung to him, and overpowering him, threw\nhim upon his head and broke his neck. Silent was the warrior\u2019s heart,\nfor Antar had annihilated him, and he took possession of his armour and\nhis steed. He mounted, and pursued the horsemen, rushing down upon them\nlike a torrent, and assailing them with the most abusive and contemptuous\nlanguage. Hear, ye dastards! I am Antar the son of Shedad\u2014abandon your\nprisoners and the children, or I will attack and destroy you. Return\nto your tribe of Cahtan in disgrace and despair, or by the father of\nmankind, by him who made man to speak with lips and tongue, I will\nmake your heads trunkless. He soon came up with those in the rear, and\nslew twenty of them; and when the remaining horsemen perceived what\nhad happened, fifty more returned at a full gallop, pouncing down\nlike eagles; they saw their companions stretched upon the sand, and\nimmediately attacked him, but he met them, fierce as a devouring lion.\n\n\u201cHere am I in the boisterous battle, and my power is well known; my sword\nand my deeds testify to those that see me, that I pierce my antagonist,\nwatchful as he may be. My shield, and then my spear, and my sword of\nIndian temper, were with me in my cradle, my two bosom friends; and\nthe earth where I stand reddens like crimson leather, and blood flows\nthereon, its colour a deep scarlet. Give me pure wine to drink, or let\nit be mixed; give it me old, that I may imagine it was made before the\nworld. She comes and offers me to drink in mantles of Judas flower. Give\nme to drink, and let me hear the song that delights me. The sweetest of\nsounds to me is the rattle of the Indian blades, and the clash of lances\nin the battle, on the day of spear-thrusts, when the parties shout, and\nwarriors are adjudged to death: but the dearest of all my projects, the\ndarling object of all my desires of fortune, is, that I may behold Ibla\nat my disposal in happiness and security.\u201d\n\nHe rushed forwards to meet them, and harder than flint was his heart,\nand in his attack was their fate and destiny; he assailed the boldest\nof his opponents, and his assault was the assault of the most obstinate\nwarrior. As soon as he distinguished the chief of the party, he\napproached him, he plunged at him\u2014he grappled with him\u2014his shout struck\nhim with horror. He pierced his bosom with his spear, and forced it out\nthrough his back. When his companions saw the effect produced, every\nheart quaked with fear, and felt convinced that death and destruction\nwere at hand; and they said one to another, it is a mere slave that has\nbrought this confusion upon us, a wretch, mean and worthless; what will\nbe our condition then if the warriors come to his assistance? Let us\nfly, otherwise our ruin and annihilation are certain. So they joined the\nothers, and fled away in disorder, abandoning the women, and retreating\nin disgrace and despair. Antar, as soon as they were dispersed, collected\nthe scattered horses, and a vast quantity of arms, &c. He returned home,\nand the women and families being all safe, thus he exclaimed.\n\n\u201cThese are my exploits when I stalk against the foe, and they abuse me\nfor my black complexion, which is my glory. I drive away the troops and\nthe noble warriors, and my colt as he rushes on plunges into the battle.\nAs to those who envy me like fools, every one knows that virtue is ever\nthe object of jealousy. I am the offspring of my day, the sword is my\nfather, in it is my glory, the one may be denied, the other is a fact.\nNever will I cease to hew down the troops in bodies, till every opponent\nis annihilated.\u201d\n\nHe returned home, taking with him twenty-five horses and all the women\nand children. Now the hatred of Semeeah was converted into love and\ntenderness, and he became dearer to her than sleep. They all came home,\nbut Semeeah enjoined all the women not to disclose this event to any one,\nlest their husbands should blame them. Antar also kept it all a profound\nsecret. In a short time King Zoheir returned from his victory over the\ntribe of Temeen, and brought with him an immense booty; and both those\nthat went and those that staid were greatly rejoiced.\n\nThe next day in the morning, Shedad went out on horseback and sought his\nherds and flocks; he perceived amongst his horses some strange ones, and\nalso saw Antar riding upon a black mare. Whence, cried he, came these\nanimals? and whence got you this mare, that excites my wonder? Now the\nmare Antar was riding belonged to the chief of the Cahtanians, and the\nother horses were those the horsemen rode whom he had slain; the spoil\nand all he had collected were concealed at his mother\u2019s. O master,\nhe replied, as I was tending the flocks yesterday, there came some\nCahtanians, and with them an immense quantity of cattle; they were much\nfatigued and moreover frightened at the Arab horsemen. I followed them,\nand finding these horses separated from the rest, I took them and brought\nthem back. Thou wicked slave, said Shedad, these are no horses strayed\nfrom their owners, thou hast carried them off from beneath their riders;\nit is on this account thou wanderest alone in these wilds and rocks, and\nevery Arab thou canst meet thou killest him, and thou carest not whether\nhe is of the tribe of Cahtan or Adnan. Never wilt thou leave off this\nconduct till thou hast excited feuds among the Arabs, and slain heroes\nand horsemen!\n\nNow in that age the Arabs were of two classes; from Yemen to India they\nwere called the tribe of Cahtan; and in Mecca and Hijaz they were called\nthe tribe of Adnan. Shedad laid hold of Antar, and bound him with a rope.\nHere, said Shedad, thou shalt remain tied up. Never again will I let thee\ntake my cattle to the pasture; and he beat him with the whip he had in\nhis hand; and as he continued to lash and thrash him, no good will come\nof thee, said he; evil and abominations are rooted in thee; thou wilt\nbreed dissensions among the Arab tribes, and thou wilt make us a common\ntale among nations. His father still beat him and abused him, and he bore\nit all.\n\nAt last Semeeah came out, and seeing what was going on, she wept\nbitterly. She sprang forwards and threw herself on his breast,\nexclaiming, sooner shalt thou beat me than him; he does not deserve\nsuch ill treatment, O Shedad. But Shedad became very angry with her,\nand shoving her away, threw her down on her back. She rose up and cast\nherself into Antar\u2019s arms, uncovering her head, and letting her hair\nflow down her shoulders. This excited Shedad\u2019s surprise. What has\nhappened to this wretch, he exclaimed, that you feel so much affection\nand tenderness, after having expressed so much anger and indignation?\nLoose his bands, said Semeeah, and I will relate the whole story to you.\nTell me, said he, and I will release him. Then she told Shedad all that\nAntar had done; how he alone had attacked seventy horsemen, and had\ndriven them back in confusion and despair, and had secured in safety all\ntheir families and children. Then Semeeah repeated these verses:\n\n\u201cO Shedad, hadst thou seen me, my face uncovered, and my person carried\noff behind the warriors, and the women of Prince Cais in dismay, no\nresource at hand, and their veils trailing on the surface of the earth.\nIbla too! they mounted her behind a warrior, whilst her tears streamed\ndown her cheeks. The slaves whom I encouraged, fled; every one fled, all\ntrembling in affright. Our families surrounded us weeping in anguish and\nin misery. Our camels were driven away, and every heart was distracted.\nThen Antar plunged into the midst of them; into the black rolling dust;\nthe atmosphere was involved in darkness, and the birds sunk motionless;\ntheir horsemen fled through fear: this one was slain, that made captive;\nhe protected us. After he had comforted us all, he pursued them, and the\nhonour of them all was destroyed. O it is right I should respect him;\nprotect him; my honour he protected, and he preserved the honour of us\nall.\u201d\n\nSemeeah\u2019s account of Antar\u2019s actions astonished Shedad, and he rejoiced\nand was glad. It is surprising, said he to himself, he kept all this\nsecret, and his submission to be bound by me! \u2019tis most wonderful! Antar\nstood unconcerned, and listened to Semeeah\u2019s acknowledgments; he bore no\nresentment, and praised her in these verses:\n\n\u201cOh! is it from Semeeah that these tears flow in anguish, and from\na heart in flames? Shall her form shadow me? can blows harm me, and\nshall tears burst in torrents from her eyelids? When her tresses hang\ndishevelled; she is like the rising full moon, veiled in the darkness of\nnight. The property is thy property, the slave thy slave: and life, and\nevery sense shall be exerted to save thee. Oh! when the troopers start\nforth, harsh-countenanced, and the black dust rolls over them; then make\nuse of me. If I do not disperse them in the clash of contending spears,\nmay I never be permitted to drink! may the rain-drop never moisten me!\nThe sword is in my hand, whose blows fetch blood; but the swords of\nothers have no power in their edge. Men are of two kinds; one whose heart\nis of brittle glass\u2014the other whose heart is of rock.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar had finished his verses, Shedad came up to him, and released\nhim, and begged his pardon, for he was convinced that such wit expressed\nin verse and prose, could not proceed but from an exalted warrior. At\nthat moment came a servant from King Zoheir, who saluted Shedad. The\nKing, O Chief, said he, sends his salutation in to you, and requests you\nwill attend a feast he has prepared. Shedad took Antar with him and went\nto the feast, and the slave followed him till he reached Zoheir\u2019s tents,\nwhich he found resounding with cymbals, and other musical instruments,\nand the victims were slaughtered: and there were assembled the race of\nAbs and Adnan, and all the valiant heroes attached to them. Shedad seated\nhimself amidst the noblest chieftains, but Antar sat down among the\nslaves; and when they had eaten meat, and drank wine, they conversed,\nand related all the circumstances of the late affair. Antar heard all\nthey said, and Shedad praised his son Antar, informing the king of all\nhe had done, and all he had composed in prose and verse, and related the\nwhole story. All this, cried the King, greatly rejoiced at the courage\nand eloquence of Antar, I anticipated at the time he slew the slave of\nmy son Shas; I knew he would be the refuge of every petitioner. Who can\nexecute such deeds or perform such acts! doubtless he will rise superior\nto all his contemporaries. And he called out to him, and ordered him into\nhis presence. Antar kissed his hands, and presented him the cup, and\nhis heart was overpowered with joy and delight. O Antar, exclaimed his\nfriend Malik, the King\u2019s son\u2014at your commands, said Antar, thou moon of\nthis assembly. I wish, said Malik, thou wouldst recite to us some of thy\nverses. Willingly, my lord, said Antar; and he thus continued:\n\n\u201cGlory is bound to the back of the steeds; victory on the day of\nhorrors, lives in the sword; never rises the battle dust on the day\nof fight, but my pliant spear assists me. How many sand-clouds have I\npenetrated, fearless of calamities, when the faces of black and white\nswoon in terror! How many horsemen fly from the encounter of arms when\nthe war-dust rises; they fly and are repulsed: then rush I into the\nclanging war: my heart and my chest are hewn out of the solid rock. O\nthou lion-king, have thine eyes beheld the exploits of the horsemen of\nthe desert, when the foe attacked us to spoil us of our cattle? then I\ncut down their chief on the desert: I raised him up on my nobly-serving\nsword: he was dashed from his saddle, and his cheeks crushed on the\nearth. I am thine, O thou King of all the earth, and thy fame shall be\nspread over every land. Ye are the Princes of Jezeemah, and whoever\npresumes to resist ye, shall quickly be destroyed and be dismissed from\nthis world. Come on then\u2014it is the lion who never drew his sword, but\nthat every hero dreaded its encounter. The lions fear, and in their\ndens tremble at him; man also dreads him, and the d\u00e6mons of the waste.\nHe shrinks not from the warriors, numerous as they are. I plunge into\nthe war-dust, and the warriors charge against the combatants with swords\nthat pierce through the throats. I swerve not from my purpose when I am\nresolved on it, till I accomplish every wish of my heart. I am indeed\nyour slave, named Antar; to him the horrors of battle are welcome; he\nnever faulters. Mayest thou, O King, live for ever! His like is not\namong the kings of the earth or the desert. May God ever preserve for\nme my father Shedad, for he is a support for me\u2014nothing existing could\nrecompense me for his loss, for he is my lord and chief. His glory is\nfrom the race of Abs, the seat of all honour and liberality.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar had finished his verses, King Zoheir and all present expressed\nthe greatest pleasure. The King called him to him, and giving him a robe,\nthanked him. In the evening he returned with his father Shedad, and his\nheart bounded with exultation at the honours with which he had been\nfavoured. And his passion for Ibla increased.\n\nOne day Antar rode out on one of the horses, in company with his\nbrothers; they drove the herds till they came to the pastures, and there\nAntar remained to protect and tend them. Now Shiboob was an active\nsagacious fellow, and had a persuasive tongue, but he was the devil in\nthe form of a man. In running he would outstrip a deer, and when he ran\nafter a horse, he soon left it behind among the rocks.\n\nAntar had great confidence in him at all times, and feared him more than\nany human being. Now it happened that the sons of Zoheir were assembled\ntogether at the invitation of their uncle Asyed the son of Zezimah, for\nin those days, people that loved each other frequently met, and shunned\nthose they disliked. The Princes were riding out, and made choice of an\neminence, where they halted and pitched their tents, and conversed till\ndinner was ready. They ate, drank, and laughed and sung, and joked away\nthe time, whilst some of the damsels sang the following strain:\n\n\u201cMix thy water in the cup of thy wine, and give me to drink, for truly\nI have mixed my tears with my blood. Let me drink of wine in the flower\ngardens to drive away sorrow, and quicken my joys. Every charm is\ncombined in her form that lives like the soul that flows through my\nlimbs; and whilst she bears the cup in her hand, she appears kindling\nthe flame of my love. In the noon-tide sun she dances, and her face is\nspotted like the full moon of night with the star of the Gemini.\u201d\n\nThey were seated and drinking: they were all much amused and pleased,\nand the old wine had its sway. Just then, Malik turned round his head\nand saw Antar and his brothers feeding the flocks and camels on a rising\nground. Behold my friend Antar, honoured amongst the inhabitants of\ndeserts and cities, said he to his brother, and he called to one of his\nslaves. Go to Antar, said he, and invite him to our party, that we may\nhear his discourse, and our enjoyment be complete. \u201cHow can you look upon\nthis savage? exclaimed Shas, and think of such an ungracious wretch, and\nthus raise him amongst the chieftains of the tribe? On account of his\nverses, his consequence and power are extolled, and you bestow on him the\nhighest dignity. But indeed, I feel inclined to rush at him, and tear his\nlife out of his body, were I not afraid of the reproaches and reprimands\nof my tribe; and moreover, I should be sorry to interrupt the amusement\nof my brothers and companions. Indeed, my brother, your repeated\nadmiration of him augments my aversion to him.\u201d\n\nThus were they talking together, when on a sudden, a dust like a cloud\narose among them, and there appeared three hundred valiant horsemen, like\nlions of the forest; and under them were steeds swifter than death. They\nwere of the tribe of Cahtan, on a marauding party, to plunder the tribe\nof Adnan. And when they found these persons seated and drinking among the\nhills, they said one to another, Let us attack this party, that we may\ncapture them in an instant, and convey them away to our country, for it\nis a wealthy tribe. Then bending their heads over their saddle-bows, they\ngallopped among them, shouting and hallooing\u2014O by Cahtan!\n\nWhen the sons of Zoheir saw this, they were surprised; they hastened\nto mount their horses and to gird on their swords. The foe poured down\nfrom the summit of the hill; they all at once shouted aloud\u2014they rushed\nforward and plunged through the dust, assailing the horsemen of Yemen,\nlike the ocean when it bursts and retreats. And when Antar heard their\nyells and screams, he feared lest the enemy would destroy them with their\nspears; and greatly was he alarmed for Malik and his brothers. He called\nout towards his own brothers, and went towards the party, among whom was\na horseman whose name was Zatik, son of Maboob. Antar pounced down upon\nhim, and piercing him, left him weltering in his gore. He then assailed\nhis companions, and gave a shout like thunder when it roars. And there\nwas not one that could see or hear; fear and trembling seized them; they\nbeheld only Antar the lion! They fled, and the whole troop was dispersed\nand routed, till they all disappeared over the extended plains.\n\nAntar returned to the princes, and shouted out to the horsemen that\nstill remained assailing them; and as soon as they looked on Antar, an\nuniversal terror shook their frames, and their colour instantly changed;\nfor they had seen him scatter heroes like seeds of rue, and trample\ncarcases under his feet, leaving numbers dashed to the earth; and none\ncould oppose but those accustomed to plunge into the battle dust. And as\nhe engaged them he roared out these verses.\n\n\u201cThe heights of glory are not attained but at the point of the spear, and\npatience in the day of battle through the heaviest difficulties, and the\nchallenge of every lion-hero, and long-bearded warrior. Ask my horse of\nme, when flashes of fire fly from his hoofs. I have a spear-thrust that\ndeals the most excruciating pain, and raises me above all competitors;\nand my Indian blade cuts through the nocturnal calamities whenever I draw\nit. I am the son of the black faced Zebeebah that tends the camels. I am\na slave, but my fury o\u2019erwhelms the lordly chiefs in the battle. As to\ndeath, should I meet him, I will not shrink from him when he appears to\nme\u2014it is a draught I must inevitably take when the day of my dissolution\narrives.\u201d\n\nThen, diving through the dust, he overthrew the horsemen singly, and in\npairs, and infused the most violent commotions into the hearts of the\ncombatants. Thus, having driven away by his assaults the fury of war,\nfrom the sons of Zoheir, they felt relieved from their distresses. In\nthe mean time a slave had informed the King, who instantly mounted and\ndeparted with his horsemen and troops; but the news did not reach him\ntill Antar had completed the business, and had put his enemies to flight\nto the right and left; and many were the brave that remained on the\nfield. The princes returned to their tents, Antar preceding them like a\nlion, repeating these verses:\n\n\u201cI will not cease to exalt myself by my deeds, till I reach Orion in my\nambitious projects. Here I care not for those who abuse me, fearful of\ndeath and separation from life. But I will reduce my foes and my railers\nby force, and I will be patient under sufferings and in praise. I will\nstrive to attain what I desire, till death snatch me away. I will arm\nmy mind against worldly lusts, that I may be considered noble-minded\nand faithful. Whoever would check me, let him look to himself, where\u2019er\nhe may be concealed. My complexion is no injury to me, nor the name of\nZebeebah, when I exercise my courage amongst the foe. I will work wonders\nand marvels; and I will protect myself from the tongues of the wicked.\u201d\n\nWhen Zoheir heard Antar\u2019s verses, he thanked him for his noble conduct,\nand joyed in the safety of his sons and his people, expressing the\nwarmest attachment and affection for Antar. He then demanded of the\nprisoners, of what country they were; they replied that they belonged to\nthe furthest lands of Yemen.\n\nKing Zoheir soon after gave an entertainment in his tents, rejoicing in\nthe escape of his sons. He sent for Antar and set him down by his side,\nand gave him to drink of his most delicious wines, and placed him high\namongst all his comrades, investing him with a superb robe, worked in\ngold, and girding him on a trusty sword, and mounting him on one of his\nfinest Arab horses. He took pleasure in seeing him, and called him the\nChampion of the Absians. From this day forward, said he to Shedad, I will\nnot permit him to attend your flocks; now that he has thus distinguished\nhimself by such glorious deeds; let him now run the career of victory\nwith the warriors of his country. He was thus separated from the\nservants, and attacked the tribes and made predatory excursions against\nthem. And his brother Shiboob pointed out to him the hordes, and places\nof resort, and the fountains; and he never went on any expedition but\nhe succeeded, and returned full of joy and content; so that his father\nShedad became enriched, and all the noblest chieftains delighted in him.\n\nHe had now many friends, and many jealous enemies; amongst the latter\nwere prince Shas, and Rebia. And when they saw what great things Antar\nhad done, their indignation against him increased, and they resolved on\nhis destruction. In every society, the people, assembled round their\nwine, repeated Antar\u2019s verses, mentioned his actions, and talked of his\nlove for Ibla, and his discourses. This continued some time, till at\nlength it reached the ears of Ibla\u2019s father and mother, and when they\nheard Antar\u2019s amorous poetry repeated, they ridiculed it, and would not\nreceive him on friendly terms; but shewed their aversion to him, in every\nway, and made him perform every menial office; for Antar, in their eyes,\nwas only considered as a slave. But when the talk about Ibla gained\nground, her mother ordered Ibla into the presence of her father, and sent\nalso for Antar. So, you love my daughter Ibla, said she, and make verses\nupon her, and cannot conceal your feelings. Ibla was standing by her\nmother, and when she heard her speak to Antar, she smiled. This increased\nAntar\u2019s confusion, and he was much disordered, as it called forth all his\nlove.\n\nO mistress, said he, did you ever see any one who hated his mistress,\nparticularly when his life and death were in her hands! verily, I do\nlove her, and my only wish in this world is to be near her: her form is\never before me, her name is ever in my heart and soul: and I exalt in my\nverses, all that God has granted her of beauty and loveliness.\n\nWhen Ibla heard Antar speak in her praise, her surprise increased, and\nAntar made great progress in her heart. If, said her mother to Antar, you\nare in earnest in what you say, let us hear some of your verses in praise\nof her charms. Upon this, Antar hung down his head, and thus spoke:\n\n\u201cI love thee with the love of a noble born hero; and I am content with\nthy imaginary phantom. Thou art my sovereign in my very blood; and my\nmistress; and in thee is all my confidence. O Ibla, my description cannot\npourtray thee, for thou comprehendest every perfection. Were I to say thy\nface is like the full moon of heaven, where in that full moon, is the\neye of the antelope? Were I to say thy shape is like the branch of the\nErak tree; O thou shamest it in the grace of thy form. In thy forehead\nis my guide to truth; and in the night of thy tresses I wander astray.\nThy teeth resemble stringed jewels; but how can I liken them to lifeless\npearls? Thy bosom is created as an enchantment. O may God protect it ever\nin that perfection! To be connected with thee, is to be connected with\nevery joy, but separated from all my world is the bond of thy connexion.\nUnder thy veil is the rosebud of my life, and thine eyes are guarded with\na multitude of arrows; round thy tent is a lion warrior, the sword\u2019s\nedge, and the spear\u2019s point. O thy face is like the full moon of heaven,\nallied to light, but far from my hopes.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar ceased, Ibla and her mother were astonished, and their dislike\ntowards him diminished; and Ibla regarded him with affection. And Ibla\u2019s\nmother said to Antar\u2014I had no idea that you could talk after this style,\nand speak with so much elegance and propriety: by the faith of a noble\nArab, you are endowed with high and noble qualities. I intend to night to\nspeak to my husband, that he may marry you to Khemisa, Ibla\u2019s servant;\nwho is the prettiest of all the girls of the place. Never, said Antar,\nwill I be united to a woman who is a slave, and not free born; and never\nbut with her my soul adores. May God, said Ibla, accomplish thy wishes;\nand may he grant thee the woman thou lovest, and may thou live in peace\nand happiness! Amen, Amen, Amen, replied Antar.\n\nThese verses were soon published amongst the whole tribe, and men and\nwomen sang and repeated them. It happened about this time that Rebia gave\nan entertainment, to which he invited Shas, and Malik, Ibla\u2019s father\nand his son Amroo to come and eat, and drink wine, and when they became\nmerry, the girls began to sing these verses. Do you not see how that\nslave is talked of? exclaimed Shas, how his name is renowned, and his\ncharacter and fame are celebrated?\n\nThus they went on talking till Amroo became exceedingly angry. Death,\nO Chief, said he to Rebia, would be more tolerable to us than such\nproceedings. I have frequently spoken to my father to cast off this\nslave; but he says, the fellow is a slave, and the son of a slave, he\nis of no consequence; and were we to drive him out of our tents, King\nZoheir would take him, and encourage him against us, and then his\navidity would only increase, and we should injure ourselves; for how\ncan we presume to oppose King Zoheir? And then again, he enrages us by\nhis verses. I have longed to kill him from the moment I heard that he\nmentioned my sister in his rhymes, let happen what may.\n\nWe have not invited you, said Rebia, to do any thing of this kind; who\nis this slave, that you should stain your sword with his blood? Let us\nconsult on other means of killing him. I will to-morrow conceal twenty\nof the stoutest of my slaves, and will order them to kill him in the\nrocky precipices. My slave Bazam is the brother of Zajir, and he has\nlong wished to kill him; but I would not let him do it, for fear of the\nreproaches of King Zoheir; but now that his son Shas is with us, and\ntakes a part in the affair, we shall be secure from blame. Then said\nShas, I will assist you in word or deed, were even my father and brother\nand cousins to oppose me; and I will persevere in this enterprize, even\nif I were obliged to take a personal part in it; and I too will engage\ntwenty of my slaves in it, to kill him by the cruellest death, and\nmake an example of him. They did not break up the entertainment till\nShas, Rebia, and Amroo had all three bound themselves by oath; and they\narranged the forty slaves, all strong as lions, twenty from Shas, and\ntwenty from Rebia.\n\nNow Shedad had a daughter, and her name was Merweh, but not by Semeah;\nand she was married to a man called Jahjah, one of the tribe of Ghiftan,\nand he was a celebrated warrior. It happened that Jahjah had married\nhis sister to one Magid, son of Leith, also one of the Ghiftan tribe;\nand when the bridal festival was preparing amongst the Ghiftanians,\nMerweh came to the tribe of Abs and Adnan, with a party of women, to\ninvite the females belonging to her father, and her uncles Malik and\nZakmet-ool Jewad, and their relations amongst the tribe of Carad, to\nthe feast. They accordingly obtained their husbands\u2019 permission to make\nthe visit, and their husbands went with them. In front of the howdahs\nthey sounded the cymbals, and the servants brandished their swords; and\nAntar was among them, in attendance on Ibla and Semeah, and the wives\nof his uncles. And when he assisted her to alight and mount the howdah,\nhe used to gratify himself in talking to her, and was mad in gazing on\nher charms; and he was in hopes the journey would be long. Ibla\u2019s mother\nlaughed at him, when she saw him assiduously attending on her daughter.\nVerily, said she, you love my daughter so much as to compose verses on\nher, and in description of her beauties. Yes, said Antar, by the God that\nhas decorated the heavens, and raised them on high, and has adorned them\nwith stars, were I able, I would make my eye her resting-place. They\njourneyed on, and Antar walked before the howdah of Ibla, repeating\nthese verses.\n\n\u201cMarch the way of security. O thou, all my hope, proceed, for he who\nencompasses thee is an intrepid warrior, that smites with his sword when\nthe battle clashes. O Ibla, one look from the veil of thy eyelids is\nsufficient. Should I never attain my object in this world, the extended\nplains and mountains must press upon me.\u201d\n\nThus they proceeded on their journey; singing and playing, till the day\nwas spent and darkness came on, when they dismounted in a spacious plain\nnear a pool of water. They ate and drank, and remained in that spot\ntill it was day; and just as Antar was ordering the slaves to raise the\nhowdahs on the camels backs, lo! a great dust arose, spreading rapidly\nover the valleys and the mountains. In an instant there came forth a\nhundred slaves on horseback, and Arabs; at their head was a horseman like\nan eagle, crying out,\n\n\u201cThis day will I be revenged; verily I am the conqueror, and I will\nsettle the business with my sword and my spear, on a slave of a tribe\nwhom the Absians regard not, but who listens not to one that chides him.\nHow many men have I trampled down in the dust. I am a valiant one, like\nwhom there is no hero.\u201d\n\nAs was before stated, Shas and Rebia had sworn to destroy Antar, and\nhaving placed their spies and scouts for that purpose, they stationed\nthe forty slaves, putting Basam at their head, just at the time that\nMerweh, the daughter of Shedad, happened to come by, and was returning\nhome. The slave, with his comrades of the tribe of Ham, followed the\nparty until they came to the valley of Ghifal, where they resolved to\nlie in ambush for Antar: when lo! the sound of horses\u2019 hoofs alarmed\nthem, and heroes rushed upon them, crying out\u2014\u201cStop where ye are, or your\nsculls shall fly. Tell us who ye are, and of what tribe of Arabs, before\nwe pour down destruction upon ye.\u201d On hearing this, Basam prepared his\npeople for the attack; O Arabs, he replied, we are of the tribe of Abs,\ninhabitants of this country; but who are you, and why are ye halting in\nthis place? Slaves of a coward race, cried the chief, we are in search of\nyou, for amongst you is that accursed slave Antar, the son of Shedad.\n\nNow these were Arabs and horsemen of the tribe of Moostalik, and their\nchief was called Vethab; he happened to be out of the way when Antar\nslew his brother, some time before; but when he returned, they informed\nhim of it. He went forth to be revenged, exclaiming, Verily, a slave of\nthe tribe of Abs has slain my brother, but I will destroy none but their\nKing, and not return but with Antar\u2019s head. He thus met Basam, and all\nthis occurred. And after some explanation; know, O noble Sir, said Basam,\nour masters have sent us in search of you, that we may together hasten to\nkill this slave, and waylay him: here he has halted this night. If ye\nwish, we will slay him, said Vethab, and we will give you his head; but\nif you please, do you kill him, and give us his head. But swear you will\nnot betray us.\n\nUpon that, they promised and swore, and took engagements from one\nanother. But Basam turned towards his comrades. Let us hide ourselves\nhere, said he; but if ye perceive that they commit any injury to the\nproperty and families, we must then assail them too, till some people\ncome to our aid, and thus we obtain our end in the death of Antar.\nHowever, we must in the attack remain in the rear, so that the women may\nnot distinguish us, and know that we are amongst the enemy. Do what you\nplease, said the slaves, and when the shades of night were dissolving,\nthe party under Vethab poured down upon Antar like a cloud of waves,\nshouting out, To arms! to arms!\n\nThen began the women to scream and weep. Antar cast his eyes towards\nIbla, and she was bathed in tears: he looked at her mother, and her grief\nwas great. Antar smiled, and presented himself before Ibla\u2019s mother.\nO mistress, said he, what think you of these our enemies? verily they\nare eager for their prey. O Antar, said she, my force and spirits are\nexhausted; in a moment we shall be the prisoners of our enemies, and they\nwill scatter us over this desert. O my mistress, said Antar, give Ibla\nto me in marriage, and I will disperse your enemies at a single onset.\nI will reduce them to annihilation; and I will give you their horses and\ntheir armour as a dower. This is no time for merriment, said she. No,\ncried Antar, By the God of day, and the animator of souls: he that is\nGod the merciful, and the Lord of victory, if you promise to marry her\nto me, I will make over to you these horses, and slay their masters.\nDefend her, said she, and she is yours. At the instant, he turned round\nto Shiboob\u2014Protect my rear, he cried, this day. Be of good cheer,\nthou black-born, exclaimed Shiboob, for I will bear two-thirds of thy\ntroubles. Antar rushed forward and assaulted them; roaring and shouting\naloud, and again he attacked them, and roared out. He encountered the\nfirst ranks, and met them with all-potent thrusts; he struck them in\ntheir chests, and in their eyes. He slew the first, second, third,\nfourth, and fifth; and behold, a horseman came down upon Antar from\nbehind. As he was blustering over the plain, and just as he was about to\ntransfix Antar with his spear, lo! an arrow pierced his heart, and threw\nhim from his horse. The terrible Shiboob dealt the deadly blow. When the\nparty saw the state of the battle, they retreated from before him; but he\nmarking how the enemy were dispersed, came up to the women, and said to\nIbla, Check thy tears, thou light of my eyes, the man lives not that has\nharmed thee! and thus he spoke in verse:\n\n\u201cCheck thy tears, for if thy heart is distressed, the noble lion of the\nden will protect thee. O Ibla, fear not, indulge no alarms, for my whole\nframe is labouring under the burden of its love; and I am a lion to whom\nthe warriors in the day of contention bow in submission, and whom the\ncowards dread. O Ibla, if persecution and absence must kill me, O that\nthe bonds of meeting were loosened for ever. Verily, I will defend thee\nthis day, O thou my only hope, for I have a sword whose blade cleaves the\nsculls. O Ibla, arise\u2014behold my actions, and my deeds under the battle\ndust, when every man is cut to pieces. Behold my exploits when they\nattack and come on, and the supports of their tribe are destroyed. The\nfoe wishes to take thee captive, O thou my only hope. O Ibla, palsied is\nthe hand that would take thee prisoner. I will steep my sword in their\nblood, and I will glut the birds, and the wolves, and the Ghuols, with\ntheir carcases. Here let all the world know that every foe of mine shall\nbe overthrown under the dust of the battle.\u201d\n\nWhen Ibla heard Antar address her, she smiled with teeth more brilliant,\nand whiter than pearls, for she felt assured of his victory and conquest.\nAgain he returned towards the foe, like a lion, and attacked them on the\nfield of battle, scattering them to the right and to the left. Shiboob\nassisted him in the rear with his arrows, and the dust rose and filled\nthe plain on all sides. The women were praying for Antar, and invoking\nthe God of heaven. He was eagerly assailing the foe, like a lion, and\nslew thirty of their horsemen. His horse being completely exhausted,\nhe dismounted and vaulted on another charger; and whilst all this was\npassing the slaves of the tribe of Abs looked on and gazed in wild dismay\nand astonishment; but the chief Vethab, when he perceived his companions\nand those that were overthrown, cried out to the survivors, I alone am\nhis match; and he rode away to the field of battle, clothed in brilliant\narmour, a splendid sword on his loins, and a spear in his hand, and he\nthus exclaimed:\n\n\u201cThe vicissitudes of fortune, from the height of their mutability are\nlaunched against me, and every companion has abandoned me. The death of\nmy tribe is at hand, from the arm of a slave who disregards his fate. It\nis no wonder when fortune raises up a poor wretch, that she should leave\nhim in his infirmities a prey to the lions. O thou vile slave, that hast\noutstepped thy sphere, a warrior, one whom no words can describe, is come\nagainst thee. Away then with thy blind follies, thou son of Zebeebah; for\nhow many heroes have I destroyed at the moment of their attack.\u201d\n\nHe had scarcely finished his verses when Antar answered him:\n\n\u201cThou wouldst abuse me, vile wretch, for that I am the colour of that\nnight, whose dangers I dare. If I am a slave, I have slain thy chiefs,\nand I have overwhelmed them with the vicissitudes of fortune. I am the\nassaulting lion: in the field of battle I rush impetuously when the\ncoward turns away in flight. The firm-rooted mountains are up-rooted at\nmy vehemence, and let every one who dares to resist me, be certain of\ndeath. How many heroes are punished as soon as the lustre of my horse\u2019s\nfront shines in the plain of war! their hands instantly relinquish their\narms, and they tumble on the surface of the earth, struggling with their\nlimbs. How many warriors have I left stretched dead, gored with the spear\nthrusts! If thou art desirous to fight me, come on boldly to the hero who\nwill make thee taste the food of death even from the tip of his fingers.\u201d\n\nHe instantly assailed him, and struck him on the breast, and driving\nout his spear between his shoulders, he rushed among his comrades like\nunto a valiant lion, and gored their sides and their bosoms: and when\nthey perceived that his assault was like a vivid flame of fire, they\nfled over the plains and the rocks. In the mean time, the slaves of Shas\nand Rebia, seeing what Antar had done to the tribe of Moostalik, and\nhow he was coming down upon them with a loud shout, and also Shiboob,\nquick as the flash of lightning, in his rear; they turned their backs\nand fled. Antar returned, the blood streaming from his spear. The women\njoined him, thanking and praising him: and Ibla also came up to him\nand smiled upon him. God protect thee, said she, thou black in face,\nbut fair in deeds\u2014thou ornament of men. He expressed his gratitude, and\nhaving replaced her on the howdah, and ordered the slaves to collect the\nscattered horses and dispersed cattle, and the spoils of the slain, he\ntravelled on with the women till they reached the tribe of Ghiftan, and\ninformed Shedad of all that had occurred with the enemy. Shedad gave him\nthanks, and kissed him between the eyes; he took him by the hand, and\nhis anger was soothed. And when they were at the feast, Shedad wished to\nplace him among the chiefs; but Antar would not consent; and he went away\nand joined the slaves; and all the chiefs were astonished at his modesty.\nThey stood in awe of him, and raised his dignity; however, all the elders\nand the youth came up to him, and made him sit down with them to drink\nwine, and treated him with all manner of kindness, and in return, he\nrecited various pieces of poetry, and they were greatly delighted; and\nfor seven days they continued this civility and honour, and not a day\npassed but the families made their acknowledgements to Antar.\n\nAnd the feast being concluded, the tribe of Abs sought their homes and\ntheir own habitations, and travelled till they reached the land of\nSheerebah and Mount Saadi. When lo! loud cries and increasing shouts,\nand shrill screams and clouds of dust, from all directions assailed\nthem. What misfortune, cried Shedad, what disasters have befallen us?\nThey hastened away on their Arab steeds, and found their wives prisoners,\nand their daughters dishonoured. Loud and confused were their shrieks,\nand through the dust glared the dazzling brightness of swords: and the\nuproar of men was like the crash of thunder: and there was no one in the\ntents but a few men and the sons of King Zoheir, all covered with wounds;\nand though they were still defending the property, they felt certain of\ndrinking the cup of death.\n\nNow the cause of this terrible event was, that King Zoheir had gone\nforth, accompanied by his warriors, against the land of Cahtan; for he\nwas informed that Mooteghetris was coming down upon him with all his\ntribe; and it was Zoheir\u2019s intention to meet him at some distance, out of\nhis own territories, and thus to prevent him from invading his country,\nand laying waste his lands. So he left his brother Zembaa with a small\nbody of men and departed; but chancing to miss the enemy on the road,\nMooteghetris reached the country of Zoheir in safety, where he found the\ntents unprotected by warriors. He rushed against them, and the noble\nAbsians rose to arms; and violent was the contention between them, and\nmany brave men were left dead upon the plain, and the brightness of the\nday became black. Numbers thickened upon the Absians; loud and piercing\nwere the shrieks of the women, and slavery seemed their undoubted fate.\nTemadhur was taken prisoner, and also Modehilah and Mekdada and Jemana,\nand they were overwhelmed in misery and disgrace. At that hour arrived\nAntar and Shedad, and the horsemen of Carad; and they amounted in all to\nforty warriors.\n\nCousins, cried Shedad, come on to these dastards! then those brave\nfellows rushed forward, leaving the slaves with the women and children. O\nson of Zebeebah, cried Shedad to Antar, I wish to day to see thee fight,\nthat I may express my gratitude for thy noble deeds. O master, soon shalt\nthou observe what I do: he replied, Doubtless the chief of the tribe is\nhere. Thou art right, said Shedad. They sought the enemy, and the whole\nplain trembled at their shouts: they shook their lances, and the women\nand servants shouted aloud, when they knew they were Absians coming to\nprotect them. They attacked the right, and drove their left, and Antar\nassaulted the centre, plunging through confusion and horrors; and thus he\nexclaimed:\n\n\u201cThis day will I raise a battle, that shall humble the warriors of ages\nlong past. I will make the blood to stream from their joints, when the\nsculls of the warriors leap from the blow of my sword. How many chiefs,\nwhen they see me eager in the fight, throw away their arms, and save\nthemselves by flight! I am the bold one. As to the fire of war, I kindle\nit, and hurl the tribes into punishments and death. Death, in the direful\ncombat, fears me, when the battle-dust rises; and the sand-cloud is\nlike a blazing fire. My joy is in the encounter of heroes, when spears\nand swords clash in my grasp. How many battle-dusts have I dived into,\nfearless of calamities! The joy of contests is my object; it is all my\ndesire. Verily, deeds will I perform unrivalled; deeds that shall be\nrecorded on leaves and books. I will raise the tumultuous din, and seas\nof blood: \u2019tis in their crimson billows that my gladness abounds. I will\nmake the atmosphere like the sable night, when the dust clouds roll over\nthe regions like a veil. No companion have I in battle but my horse and\nmy sword; and they complain of my fury; they exalt me; they subject death\nto me; and I am exalted above all mankind in my father. My ambition soars\nabove Pisces; and my determination raises me above the Arab and the\nPersian.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar had ended, he shouted aloud to the combatants, and rushed\nmadly into the midst of the enemy, and overthrew them; he drove them\nbefore him over the plain; and the same did Shedad and his brothers\non the left, and made them retreat in a shameful manner. After the\nflight, the Absians returned, and among the first was Zembaa, the son of\nJazeemah; they raised their terrible shout, and they gladdened in the\ndestruction of souls; they pointed their lances, they cried out to their\nnoble steeds\u2014spears clashed against spears. Antar alone broke through\nthe right, whilst Shedad and the Absians destroyed the left; then the\nhorsemen again retired in disgrace, and the plain seemed too confined for\nthem. Mooteghetris beheld his horsemen in confusion and discomfited, and\nthe left wing intermixed with the right; that they were driven by Antar\nlike a herd of grazing camels, and that he was roaring in their rear like\nthe crash of thunder. Alarmed at this state of affairs, he poured down\nfrom an eminence with the people that remained with him, assaulting Antar\nwith his warriors; and they all bore patiently this dreadful encounter.\n\nNow Basam, the servant of Rebia, who had followed Antar that he might\ndestroy him on his way to the tribe of Ghiftan, perceiving how he had\nslain the tribe of Moostalik, and also their chief, returned with his\ncompanions upon the day of this battle; and as he marked Antar\u2019s prowess\non that occasion, he envied him in his heart, and, secretly designing to\nmurder him, he assailed him, together with the party of Mooteghetris.\n\nAntar encountered the enemy, and flinched not; and his assault was the\nassault of a ferocious lion. The storm of dust thickened, so that a\nfather could not distinguish his son. Just then, Basam aimed his spear,\nand violently attacked Antar; for his accursed spirit was aware how\nmuch credit he should gain by slaying him. He approached him, and was\neagerly watching his opportunity, when lo! an arrow shot through the\nback of Basam, and passed out by his chest; and he who slew Basam, and\nmade him drink the cup of death, was the dreadful Shiboob. Now Antar had\nrecommended Shiboob to protect Ibla: nor did he ever quit her till he\nperceived Basam issuing from the tents, followed by some Absians, whilst\nhis brother was labouring to attain the standards. Shiboob was alarmed,\nand quitted Ibla, and ran after him. But, Antar knew nothing of all this,\nand when he saw Basam, he was just about to do the deed, at the moment\nthe arrow struck him dead.\n\nNow Antar was occupied in destroying the enemy, and he stopped not till\nhe came up to Mooteghetris in the fury of the fight; and he saw him\ndriving back the troops, and beckoning with his lance to those who were\nflying from Antar like a flock of sheep. His soul would not submit to\nflight; but he shouted, and rushed forward like the sea when it roars.\nAnd Antar received him as the parched up ground receives the first of the\nrain: he challenged him in a tremendous voice, and addressed him in the\nharshest terms; he pressed upon Mooteghetris, and closed upon him, and\nblocking up all means of escape, he thrust his spear through his bowels,\nand tore out his entrails; and when the horsemen saw that he was dead,\nthey were disordered and took to flight; and the spears of the Absians\nplayed upon the fugitives till the evening, when they returned and\ncollected the spoil of the cattle. Every where the victory was celebrated\nwith triumph, and all united in praising Antar, and describing his heroic\ndeeds; how he had slain Mooteghetris, and had annihilated his troops.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n\nNow Shedad exceedingly gloried in Antar; aware that he had acquired new\nlustre by his actions, and not a person remained to complain of him or\nabuse him. He ran up to Antar and kissed him between the eyes. But Antar\nkissed his feet, and he appeared like the flower of the Judas tree,[1]\nso completely was he smeared with the blood of the combatants. Shedad\u2019s\naffection for him increased, and he said to his brother Zakmet-ool Jewad,\nBy the faith of an Arab, our education has not been lost upon Antar. How\nshould he not be noble, he replied, you being the cause of his existence?\nand the Arab Cadi decreed him to you, and told you he was of your loins;\ndo not reject him, for he truly belongs to you.\n\nAntar, as well as Shedad, heard these words, and he kept them secret\nin his heart; and he said not a word to any one; but in a short time,\nwhen they all repaired to their own tents, and separated each to his own\nfamily, and each collected his own party, Antar also retired to the house\nof his mother, and Shiboob was driving before him what came to his share\nof the plunder. And when the time of rest drew near, he became sad and\nsorrowful, and the house being entirely empty of people and neighbours,\nO my mother, said he, I have heard words to day, the meaning of which I\ncannot comprehend; I wish you would explain them to me, and tell me who\nis my father, that I may know who brought me up. I will inform you of\nall that, said she; so she then told him how Shedad had met her in the\ndesert, and how all the ten had sought for her, and how he had repulsed\nthem, and made them agree to give her to him, as his share: how they\nafterwards quarrelled about him, and went before the Arab Cadi, who had\ndecided that he belonged to Shedad. Well then, said he to her, O mother,\nif the Arab Cadi decided that I was his son, and the ten have also agreed\nthat I was sprung from his loins; why does he not call me his son, as\nevery one else does? This would cost him dear, said she, and he cannot\nresolve on that, because he says you are a base-born; and he is afraid of\nthe disgrace he should incur by giving you the rank and honours of a son;\nand the Arabs would not consent to it.\n\n\u201cI would not permit that to be the case, he replied, for whoever would\nbring shame upon him, I would soon reduce to annihilation. But if Shedad\nstill denies me my right and rank, I will use my sword and spear upon\nhim; and should I perceive that the tribe dare despise me, I will level\nmy scimitar at the whole of them, and I will go to another tribe,\nwho may better understand my value; for how often have I rescued them\nfrom their dangers; and liberated them from perils! I will begin by\nstriking off the head of Shedad, if he does not acknowledge my rank and\ncondition; and so will I treat also my uncle, if he does not give me Ibla\nin marriage; him too will I make to drink the wine of disgrace.\u201d For\nheaven\u2019s sake, said his mother, do nothing of the kind, for they will\nonly hate you the more, and you will gain nothing: but the men and women\nlove you, I perceive, on account of your noble deeds, therefore proceed\nto no extremities, otherwise you will increase their hatred and enmity\nagainst you. But, my mother, added Antar, my aunt has once promised to\ngive Ibla to me in marriage, and has engaged herself by contract to that\npurpose. Hush! said Zebeebah, talk not of impossibilities; this will\nnever happen: how can a slave, without connexion or rank, aspire to\nmarriage with an Arab woman? particularly as you were brought up tending\nthe sheep and the camels! O mother, said Antar, I\u2019ll shew thee wonders;\nmy soul pants for honour and dignity, and with my sword will I dishonour\nthe necks of the Arab chieftains.\n\nThus they continued to talk till morning dawned, when King Zoheir\nreturned. He could scarcely believe that his family were preserved safe\nfrom ignominy, for he had heard that Mooteghetris had passed him on the\nroad; and severe indeed was his anxiety and affliction at having thus\nmissed his foes. He marched therefore day and night till he reached his\nown country, and found all his people happy and secure.\n\nBut when the tribe of Abs saw their king returning with all his army\nand troops, the chiefs and nobles went out to meet him, and having\ncongratulated him and prayed for his long life, they explained to him\nthe destruction of his enemies, and all the heroic acts of Antar; how he\nhad slain Mooteghetris, and what noble feats he had performed. Verily,\nsaid King Zoheir, we are ennobled in him above all Arabs; we have not\nappreciated his worth, and have not properly understood his greatness.\nTruly he will become the champion of this whole nation, if he live long,\nand all the horsemen will be under his authority and command.\n\nKing Zoheir proceeded to his own tents, and found his women exulting in\nthe deeds of Antar; he afterwards entered his wife Temadhur\u2019s apartments,\nand found her also praising Antar in heart and speech, as she exclaimed,\nO King, it is not Antar, but a noble warrior; for he has done the deeds\nof a hero. Thus was Antar\u2019s dignity raised in the eyes of King Zoheir.\nWere we to decree to him our lives and our property, said he, it would\nstill be a small return for such exalted acts. He soon after ordered some\nsheep and fat cattle to be killed, and having directed the meat to be\nserved up and the wine to flow, he went out into the middle of the camp,\nand there erected a large tent of velvet and silk, and placed in the\ncentre a throne of ivory inlaid with burnished gold. The horsemen then\npresented themselves; Rebia and his brother attended, and each seated\nhimself according to his rank: Shedad also came, and all his valiant\ndependants; Antar too entered, and kissed the ground, and made obeisance,\nand prayed for a continuance of Zoheir\u2019s glory. He was going to sit down\namongst the slaves, but King Zoheir said to him, By the Mover of the\nheavens, no one shall be my companion to day but you, and no one shall\neat and drink but I and you. And he made Antar come towards him. O King,\nsaid Antar, as he kissed his hand, I am but your slave. Then King Zoheir\ngot up from his throne, and seated him by his side, and talked to him:\nand all present had their eyes upon him, and all his friends rejoiced;\nbut Rebia and Shas, and his uncle Malik were bursting with rage, when\nthey saw Antar raised to such honour, never conferred on any one before.\n\nNow the cups of wine were handed round, and the delicacies were eaten\nwith joy and pleasure; and they appeared secure from the vicissitudes of\nfortune, whilst King Zoheir conversed familiarly with Antar, and joked\nwith him; he made him drink, and kept him by him. And they continued in\nthis manner till the wine sported with the senses of the guests, and all\nof them, and Antar too, stood up, but the King prevented him; and when\nthey wished to depart, the King gave Antar a beautiful robe, and mounted\nhim on an Arab horse, and a necklace of burnished gold, studded with\npearls and jewels; he presented him also with an excellent sword; and\nAntar quitted the tents of King Zoheir clothed in that superb robe and\ncloak, and mounted on the Arab horse. But he soon dismounted, and walked\nby the side of his father; and when they entered the tent, Antar kissed\nhis father\u2019s feet, O master, said he, why do you not grant me my due, as\nothers far and near have done? or bestow on me what I so much desire?\nTell me, said Shedad, what you want, make known what you wish, that I may\nbe kind to you; I will not avariciously refuse you. Now Shedad thought he\nwanted a camel to ride, or a tent to live in; or a female slave to attend\nhim. But Antar replied, I request of you, O master, that the rank and\ndignity of an Arab be appropriated to me; and that you would acknowledge\nme as your son, and yourself as my father, so that my rank may be made\nknown, and I become a chief; and in truth, I will reward you as no one\nelse can. I will reduce the Arab princes themselves to your obedience,\nthrough fear of my sword and my spear.\n\nWhen Antar had finished speaking, Shedad\u2019s eyes started into the crown\nof his head, his affections cooled, and his disorder of mind increased.\nThou base-born! he cried, hast thou forgotten that thou hast tended the\ncamels and the sheep, and collected the ordure of beasts amongst the\nmountains? Thou son of a slave, verily, the robe of King Zoheir plays\nabout thy loins, and his words float upon thine ears; thou hast indeed\nmade a demand, and hast raised thyself on high; and thou wouldst make me\na byword with every one that should hear thee: nothing have I for thee\nbut a sword, and I will cut off thy head. Upon this, Shedad drew his\nsword, as soon as he had finished, and rushed at him, and all the slaves\nran away from him.\n\nNow Semeeah, Shedad\u2019s wife, overheard the dispute, and came out of her\ntent, crying and lamenting. She rushed instantly towards her husband,\nand kissed his bosom, and took his sword out of his hand, as she\nexclaimed\u2014Never shall you slay him; me shall you destroy before him.\nI have not forgotten his virtues and noble deeds. Excess of wine must\nhave urged him to this fancy: therefore do not punish him for what he\nhas said. Semeeah did not desist till she had soothed his anger, and he\nretired to his tent.\n\nBut Antar was in the greatest agony; he was ashamed that the day should\ndawn upon him, or that he should remain any longer in the country; or\nthat he should again look his father in the face. He accordingly went\nout, and sought the residence of Malik, the King\u2019s son: his clothes\ntrailed upon the ground through shame, and his tears flowed from the\nexcessive pain he endured, for intoxication had overpowered his\njudgment. So he sought prince Malik, who was just then returned from his\nfather\u2019s, and quite rejoiced at what had passed with respect to Antar,\nand the robes and presents he had received. At this moment a slave came\nin, and said, Antar wishes to be admitted into your presence. Let him\nin, said Malik; and when he was introduced, Prince Malik looked at him,\nand saw his tears flowing from his tortured heart. He seated him by him,\nand talked familiarly with him, and asked him what was the matter, and\nwhat had happened to him. O my lord, he replied, I demanded of my father\nthe rank and honour of an Arab; but he has abused me, and beaten me, and\nwished to kill me, and has made me a laughing stock among the Arab chiefs.\n\nYou have been wrong, said Malik to Antar, in this sad affair; you have\ndone that which would not, at any rate, have induced him to acknowledge\nyou. \u201cDo not, my lord, continued Antar, reprove my ambition, which often\nrobs me of my wits and discretion; but had I not been intoxicated, this\nwould not have happened, and I should have concealed my wishes, and\nsubmitted patiently to my misfortunes, till death had overtaken me. But\nin all circumstances thou art my master. Ah! my lord, continued he, how\noften have I relieved them from their foes, and no one ever assisted\nme! Know too, that I love Ibla, the daughter of my uncle Malik; and\nshe drives away the sleep from my eyelids, and in my sleepless nights\nI am united to her; but my father Shedad has cut off all my hope,\nand misfortunes upon misfortunes overpower me. I only demanded to be\nrecognized as his son, that I might be united to her; but truly all hopes\nof her are completely destroyed. No joy now remains for me, and the light\nof the day is the darkness of night in my eyes. I have no home but among\nthe wild beasts and the reptiles.\u201d His agony increased, and he wept,\nand complained bitterly. Sorrows and afflictions were multiplied upon\nhim, and the tears rushed into his eyes, as he expressed his anguish and\npassion.\n\nHad you informed me of your situation before, said Malik, greatly\ndistressed, and pitying him, I would have sacrificed my person and\nproperty to remedy it. But what was easy, has now become difficult; Ibla\nwill be concealed from you from this day forward. I fear also that your\nfather will contrive to kill you, and that no one will be able to relieve\nyou. But stay here whilst I tell all this to my father. O my lord, said\nAntar, the only place of rest for me is on the highways; and I must roam\nabout the whole day and the live long night; for men have conspired to\ndestroy me, such as Rebia and your brother Shas. He passed the whole\nnight with Malik, and at the dawn of day Antar mounted his horse, and\nput on his armour and his cuirass. He travelled on till he was far from\nthe tents, and he knew not whither he was going: sometimes he took the\nleft and sometimes the right, and again he struck into the wilds and\ndeserts, till it became broad day. There he wandered about the rocks and\nmountains, and accusing fate, he thus expressed himself.\n\n\u201cI rail against fortune that relents to no upbraider, and I demand\nsecurity from the cruelties of fortune. She one day promises fair and\nexcites my pride, but truly I know all her promises are false. I have\nserved man, and I have taken my relations as protectors against fortune;\nbut they have acted like scorpions. Amongst themselves they call me the\nson of Zebeebah, but in the tumultuous rush of horsemen, I am the son of\nnobles. Were it not for my love, one like me would not humble himself to\nsuch as they; and the lion of the waste would not fear the foxes. Quickly\nmy tribe will remember me, when the horsemen come charging amongst the\nwarriors with their sword-blows. O that thy phantom would visit me, O\nIbla, it would see the torrents of tears that stream from my eyelids. But\nI will forbear, that my railers may have pity on me; and that my patience\nmay soften their hearts. Thy station is a post in the centre of heaven,\nbut my hand fails in attaining the stars.\u201d\n\nThus he roamed from the high road without friend or companion. The next\nday the tribe heard all that had passed between Antar and his father.\nAnd early in the morning Prince Malik sent for Antar; but he was not\nto be found: he supposed he would return by the evening: still he came\nnot. Now Prince Malik was sincerely attached to Antar; he was greatly\ndistressed, and he did all he could to find him. He then acquainted his\nfather with what had passed. As soon as the King heard the account from\nhis son, he was much vexed, and reproached him. O my son, said he, why\ndid you not immediately tell me of this, that I might have arranged\nthe business? I concealed it, said he, in order not to occasion any\ndisturbance, and for fear of exciting your indignation, for I have long\nseen my brother Shas hates him as the vilest of men; and Rebia will not\nraise his head towards him; and I see also that many of their friends\ndetest him. But you love him and are interested about him; and I could\nnot possibly tell you an affair you would not have approved. In the mean\ntime Antar continued to wander over the plains of the desert, until the\nday shone, when behold! there arose, a great cloud of dust, that darkened\nthe country. Antar contemplated it for some time, and then perceived\nforty horsemen, each bearing a quivering spear, and a dazzling scimitar.\nHe directed his horse towards them, and they proved to be of the noble\ntribe of Abs, and Ghegadh the son of Nasshib was their leader. When Antar\nsaw them he saluted them, and they returned the salutation; O thou son\nof Zebeebah, said they, why art thou straying here? I was hunting game,\nhe replied, and when I saw you, I made towards you in order to bear you\ncompany. And we, said Ghegadh, have always distinguished you from the\nother slaves, and have always considered you in the light of a valiant\nknight: and if you will join us, we will agree to your sharing with us as\na noble warrior. But how can that be? said Antar. Know that a slave, said\nGhegadh, enjoys a half share with his masters. But, said one of them,\nAntar truly deserves more than two-thirds, and happen what will, he is\na knight; and indeed not every one that is called a knight is a knight.\nThey at length agreed that they would surrender to the slave a fourth of\nwhatever plunder they might take.\n\nIn this manner they proceeded till they approached the land of the\ntribe of Cahtan, where they saw a great quantity of cattle, with some\nhigh-raised tents and lofty pavilions; many horses running about and\ncamels grazing, and the people unsuspicious of a reverse of fortune.\nHere, my cousins, said Ghegadh, is a rich tribe, and the people few in\nnumber; let us attack and despoil them whilst it is dark, and we will\nquit their country in safety; before morning we shall be far away among\nthe wastes. They instantly shook their lances in their hands, and drew\ntheir brilliant faulchions; and as they drove the camels and the horses\nfrom the tents and the habitations, the men mounted to keep them off\nfrom the women and families. But the sons of Abs forced them back towards\nthe tents and trampled them down upon the ground, seizing their property\nand spoil. Antar rushed down upon them, and obliged them to fly. Do you,\nsaid Ghegadh to Antar, drive away the cattle, and we will repulse all\nthat dare pursue them.\n\nAntar drove away the cattle, and had proceeded some way, when lo! a\nknight rushed out from the ravines in the rocks, mounted on a dark\ncoloured colt, beautiful and compact, and it was of a race much prized\namong the Arabs; his hoofs were as flat as the beaten coin; when he\nneighed, he seemed as if about to speak, and his ears like quills; his\nsire was Wasil, and his dam Hemama. When Antar cast his eyes upon the\nhorse, and observed his speed and his paces, and his uncommon beauty, he\nfelt that no horse could surpass them, so his whole heart and soul longed\nfor it. The Absians, indeed, had plundered the horde and the country,\nbut Antar\u2019s mind was occupied with the horse, so he galloped on till he\napproached the horseman; and when the knight perceived that Antar was\nmaking towards him, he spurred his horse, and it fled beneath him; for\nthis was a renowned horseman called Harith, the son of Obad, and he was a\nvaliant hero.\n\nAntar galloped after him till sunset, and he found himself far separated\nfrom his party. Harith then turned about to him; and when he was quite\nclose, said Antar to him, O young man, by the faith you profess and\nbelieve, will you not wait for me awhile and grant me a favour? for I see\nyou are a noble horseman. Hear what I have to say, and give me an answer;\nI will be answerable for thy security.\n\nO young man, said Harith, trusting to his promise, what do you want? I\nsee you also are a valiant knight. Will you sell me this horse you are\nriding, asked Antar, or will you give it me if you are the owner of it?\nBy heavens, young man, said Harith smiling, had you accosted me thus at\nfirst, I would have given him to you, with some camels also, and you\nneed not have acted thus; but, Arab, did you ever see any one surrender\nhis horse and his armour in a plain like this, alone and a stranger? and\nparticularly a horse like this, whose lineage is as well known as that\nof the noblest warriors; for should his master be in difficulties, he\nwill liberate him; he moves and flies without wings; and if you have not\nheard of his fame, I will tell you\u2014he is called Abjer, whom Chosroe and\nthe Grecian Emperors and the princes of the tribe of Asfar have anxiously\nwished to possess. I was angry with my own people, and repaired to\nthis noble tribe. I ate with them, and remained with them a long time.\nIt costs me much to part with this horse, but my heart is attached to\nthis tribe, and is greatly distressed about them. I am no coward in the\nassault of heroes; but I was afraid lest this horse might receive a\nblow that should injure him, and I therefore only followed you, in order\nto draw off your attention till the men of the tribe might overtake you\nand pursue you over the hills and the wilds, and that I might point out\nto them your course; for you have invaded a tribe where there are only\nwomen, and but a few men, unable to encounter so fierce a foe; and I do\nnot perceive there is a single feeling heart among you all.\n\nHarith having ceased speaking, I much wish you would sell me this\nhorse, said Antar; demand what you please from me, for I must be the\npurchaser of it. O young man, said Harith, if you are indeed desirous of\na horse, that is in this age quite invaluable, I will not sell it but in\nrestitution of all this booty; and then do not imagine you will lose by\nyour bargain. I swear by the God who knows all secrets, I do not avoid\nfighting you from the fear of death, for I am a warrior, and can defend\nmyself; but I feared this horse would be injured. If you, young man, wish\nto strike a bargain, and act like a man of honour, as I am a guest of\nthis tribe, and have eaten with them, my wish is to ransom their property\nwith this horse; and had it not been for this misfortune, I never would\nhave parted with such an animal.\n\nWhen Antar heard these words, he felt certain that Harith was a liberal\nminded man, and therefore, wishing to be on a par with him in respect\nto his honourable and generous conduct: Well! said he, I will purchase\nof you this horse for this booty; and I shall be moreover exceedingly\nobliged: here is my hand in faith and sincerity.\n\nHarith dismounted from the back of his noble steed, and gave him to\nAntar, who mounted him like a king of the land far and wide; and he told\nthe slaves to conduct the cattle and women and servants to their own\ncountry. Harith took them, and went his way.\n\nNow Antar upon Abjer watched them till they had disappeared among the\ndeserts; and just then came up the Absian horsemen, and Ghegadh at their\nhead, who, seeing Antar standing alone in the plain, without any of the\nbooty, cried out, thou son of a base slave woman, where is the plunder? I\nbought with it this horse, he replied, and I have established your honour\nand credit in the land of the tribe; because I saw the owner was a man of\nworth, and jealous of the honour of women, gracious and liberal minded:\nI was therefore anxious to equal him in propriety of conduct, and would\nnot leave behind us in this land, the remembrance of a foul action, and\nbe a scandal amongst Arabs. It is the most ignominious of deeds to take\nprisoners free born women; and besides this, the spacious plain is open\nbefore us, and the Lord God is the bestower of all things, and the taker\naway; he is the distributor of every thing, and God forbid he should\nsend us back without a reward.\n\nThou base born, cried Ghegadh, in reply to Antar the lion-hero, We\nconsigned them over to your care, but you have been buying, bartering,\nand selling, without asking our leave. What is done is done, said Antar;\nI will make it good to you elsewhere, if the Creator of all things\npleases, and you agree to the protection I have granted: but if you wish\nto quarrel with me, I will protect my life with the force of this sword,\nand this well proportioned spear, and I will not live to forfeit my word.\n\nCome on to this wretch, said Ghegadh inflamed with rage, to his\ncompanions; cut him in pieces with your cleaving scimitars, and make him\ndrink of the cup of death and annihilation.\n\nUpon that, Antar went to a little distance from them, and dismounting\nfrom Abjer, tightened his girths, and then mounting again, galloped and\ncharged about, crying out to them, you base born wretches, to day will I\nshew you how I fight and thrust. Away, away, to shame and disgrace\u2014this\nday you shall behold the furious lion. He thought of his beloved, and\nthus exclaimed:\n\n\u201cI abuse fortune, that never softens at the voice of the counsellor. I\nconceal my passion in my heart, but my tears disclose it. My tribe is\nleagued with fortune to seek my blood, and they assault me with sword\nand spear. They have driven me from the mistress I love, and I am plunged\ninto the well of the water of banishment. To expose my cherished life is\nindifferent to me; and though I am separated from her, my heart clings to\nher. O my God, let not my life be a life of ignominy! let not my death, O\nGod, be among the weeping crowd! but my corpse! let the birds hover over\nit, and let the crows of the desert drink of my wounds. God regards the\nman who is hospitable to his tribe, and who becomes among them a chief\nin authority. But when they see us invade their dwellings, every warrior\non a swift-paced steed, they promise us riches, and high-bosomed damsels\nwith well formed hips, and beautifully-shaped haunches. I will seize them\non my horse, whose like exists not; aye, and the youth sold it like a\nman of honour. Whoever of ye, oh tribe of Abs, wishes my death, I will\nappear before him in the plain of battle, and I will charge among ye on\nmy stern-faced steed, and I will rush at ye as the lion of the wilds.\u201d\n\nWhen the Absians heard Antar\u2019s discourse, they all shrunk from the\nconflict, and consulting with each other, said, Ghegadh, what stops you?\nand what occasions this fear and consternation at this black slave? O\nGhegadh, said they, you have advised us to make the attack, and still\nyou hold back from the assault and the combat; you are our superior and\nour adviser, so come on. O my cousin, said Ghegadh, much troubled, wise\nis the man between whom and Antar there is no contention. Explain this,\nsaid they, ere we endanger our lives in a contest with him. I observed,\nsaid he, when he dismounted to tighten his girths, his gigantic mien,\nhis brawny arms, his full formed legs, and his cool undaunted eye. And\nI, said another, saw something more extraordinary than that. What\u2019s\nthat? said they. One day King Zoheir gave him one of his finest horses;\nhe went up to it to put on the bridle; the horse would not take it, but\nwas riotous, and reared at him. At the instant Antar lifted him off\nthe ground up to the top of his head, and dashed him on the earth, and\nsmashed his bones. When they heard this account of Antar, they trembled,\nand were afraid. Do you go up to him, said they, addressing Ghegadh, give\nhim the plunder, and do not make it appear that we are afraid of him,\nthat his avidity may not increase to our detriment, and he say, \u201cI will\nnot quit one of ye till I have slain him and taken his spoil.\u201d\n\nSo Ghegadh went up to him, O my cousin, said he, are you not ashamed to\nengage in battle against your cousins, when they were only joking and\nmaking merry? O my cousins, said Antar, convinced they were afraid of\nhim, I would not do any thing that could be thought wrong, but I have\npurchased this horse, who will carry me against your enemies; and you\nknow that when a person seeks to destroy another, it is necessary to\ndefend one\u2019s self. Ghegadh continued to speak flatteringly to Antar, till\nhe softened him and cajoled him. O Arab Chieftains, said Antar, I have\nnot forgotten your kindness, and I am but your slave. I am grateful for\nall you have done for me, and had it not been for you, I should not be\nknown among the Arabs.\n\nIt was not fear that dictated these words, but in order to observe their\nsentiments towards him.\n\nHe has indeed purchased this horse, said Ghegadh to his comrades, in\norder to destroy our enemies, let us therefore grant it him. Be it so,\nsaid they all. Thus Antar became possessed of Abjer, whose equal no\nprince or emperor possessed. By way of precaution, Antar kept away from\nGhegadh and his companions, who went on talking to each other. How that\nbase-born has succeeded to his wish, said they, for verily that horse was\nworth his weight in gold; we shall indeed be disgraced among the Arabs!\nAntar proceeded on before them and heard all they said.\n\nNow they continued their march till evening, when they reached a spot\nabounding in trees and streams; wide and extensive were the surrounding\nplains. They dismounted and let their horses graze, and seated themselves\nwhilst Antar stood watch over them, for their and his own safety. They\ndid not move from this spot till morning dawned, when they mounted their\nhorses and marched till evening; when suddenly from the upper part of\nthe desert a great dust appeared, and through it they distinguished a\nlofty howdah, and on its top there was a crescent of gold. The howdah\nwas richly ornamented with velvet; in front were damsels and slaves, and\nthey wore robes of divers colours, and behind were horsemen mounted on\nsteeds all of different colours. No sooner saw they this procession and\nthese fine garments, than they were sure it was a bride in the howdah;\nbut they knew not her husband, nor any one connected with her. This is\nour plunder, said they; God has sent it to us in recompense for what has\nbefallen us. They instantly bent their heads over their saddle-bows, and\nviolently assaulted the party, and got possession of the howdah and all\nits accompaniments. But when the horsemen that attended the howdah beheld\nthem, they attacked them, and man met man, and hero assaulted hero; blood\nwas shed and spilt, and the horror was great: and in a moment the Absians\nwere assisted by the deeds of Antar, the devouring lion, for his attack\nwas the attack of an overpowering warrior. And three score and ten were\nthe horsemen that accompanied the bride: he destroyed sixty of them; and\nthe rest fled, five to the right and five to the left.\n\nThe Absians having taken possession of the howdah and the property with\nthe dispersed cattle, and a vast quantity of articles besides, asked\nthe slaves about the bride, who was her husband, and who her father?\nArabs, said they, she is called Aminah, the daughter of Yezid, the son of\nHandhalah, surnamed the Blood-drinker, the chief of all the princes of\nTey; and her husband, to whom she is going, is called Nakid, the son of\nJellah, a warlike and bold horseman, the protector of the race of Marah;\nand you have executed this villainous act of violence upon us, and have\nventured on this hazardous enterprize!!\n\nThey proceeded, and passed over the deserts and the wilds, the lady\nweeping and lamenting at the misfortune that had overwhelmed her. But\nwhen Antar heard from the slave this account of her father and her\nhusband, he was convinced he would come down on her account, and that a\ngreat battle and slaughter would ensue between them, and he wished the\nAbsians should feel his power and weight, for what he had heard them say\nabout himself. So he came toward them. God has granted you victory and\nsafety, said he: and thou too, they answered, he has also given thee\ncause to rejoice. You are aware, said Antar, that this plunder is much\nmore valuable and precious than the former; let us put it out in lots and\ndivide it, and let us give to each his portion, that he may defend it\nwith his soul and body.\n\nYou, Antar, took the first plunder for yourself alone, said one, and do\nyou demand your share of the second? With respect to the first plunder, O\nmy cousins, said Antar, did you not give it me? and it is not customary\nwith chiefs to take back their donations. The fellow, said Ghegadh, is\nright in what he says; divide the spoil, and give him half of one of\nyour shares. Arabs, treat me fairly, cried Antar, and speak the truth.\nGhegadh got into a passion, What do you mean? said he. According to our\nagreement, said Antar, which was settled between you and me, of all the\nplunder we should take, I was to have one half of the whole; and all of\nyou the other half.\n\nRage filled the heart of Ghegadh. Thou son of Zebeebah, thy avarice\ndemands impossibilities; thou art indeed mad, and a villain. Verily thou\nhast not kept thy word; and O, had the day never come that we met thee\nin this road! No one, said Antar, is mad, but he who keeps company with\nyou, and agrees to your demands; for ye are a set of fellows of little\njustice, and great oppression and violence; the fact is, I will not take\na jot less than one half of the plunder, even were my soul to drink of\nthe cup of death. Come on, on to this black slave, cried Ghegadh to his\nfriends, who rebels, and outrages us. Upon this they all jumped up, and\ncried out against Antar, resolved to kill him, and make him drink of the\ncup of annihilation. Antar went apart from them for a while into the\nrocky plain, then galloped, and challenged them to the contest, thus\naddressing them;\u2014\n\n\u201cWhen my foe sues me for a debt, I settle the debt with the Redeinian\nspear:[2] my scimitar\u2019s edge shall extirpate ye all, and shall justly\ndecide between you and me. I am exalted by my sword and spear far above\nthe minutest stars and the two bears. Foul wretches! ye know not my\npower, but the inhabitants of the two hemispheres shall feel it. The\ngrasp of fortune has not destroyed my strength, and the fingers of time\nhave not been stretched out against me. Many a horseman have I left\nsprawling, his cheeks grovelling, his hands dyed in blood, whilst the\nbirds of death hover round him, and the magpies assemble over his corpse.\u201d\n\nHis verses finished, he was about to attack them, when lo! a dust arose\nand covered the whole country. In a short time the cloud opened and\ndiscovered three hundred horsemen, all clad in steel, and the father\nof the damsel, the Blood-drinker, appeared in front of them. He roared\nlike a lion; his sword was an Indian blade. Whither would ye flee, O\nye base-born, he cried out\u2014I am he, surnamed the Blood-drinker, the\nCahtanian.\n\nNow the cause of the arrival of these men was this: out of the ten that\nescaped by flight from the combat, five went to the father of the damsel,\nthe lion of the land, and five went to Nakid the son of Jellah; but the\nresidence of her father happened to be the nearest. So he set off with\nthree hundred men, all stern lions, and he galloped on till he overtook\nthe Absians, as we have mentioned; and it was he who prevented the combat\nbetween the Absians and Antar.\n\nWhen Antar saw the father of the damsel coming on\u2014See where the heroes\nadvance, he cried; now protect your plunder, if ye are men of valour\u2014no\nportion is mine, neither great nor small, not a camel or a sheep. I will\nquit you, and will neither be with you nor against you. He spurred away\nhis Abjer from them, and mounted to the top of a high hill; he took his\nfeet out of the stirrups, and sat cross-legged upon the neck of his\nhorse, resting on his dreadful spear, and there he remained contemplating\nthe terrors of the approaching conflict.\n\nThe Blood-drinker cried aloud to his warriors; and they rushed down\nupon the Absians, and men encountered men, heroes heroes; and blood was\nspilt and shed. In a moment swords clashed, every heart and feeling were\nroused; heads flew off like balls, and hands like leaves of trees. The\nTeyans rushed upon the race of Abs; also the Blood-drinker assailed them\nin his courage, and released his daughter. The Absians quitted their\nplunder, for their souls could not stand firm; and they fled over the\nwilds.\n\nNow when Antar perceived this defeat, he replaced his feet in the\nstirrups, and raising his spear from the ground, pounced down from the\nheight like an eagle, or a wild beast when it rushes from its den; and he\nroared out to them in a loud voice that made the mountains rebellow. O ye\nignoble dastards, I am Antar, the son of Shedad! And he urged on Abjer,\nwho started under him like a flash of lightning, or a tearing arrow: his\neye-balls turned red, and foam issued from his lips: he shrieked aloud in\nfront of the horses, and immediately they shrunk back on their haunches,\nand hurled their riders from their backs: and the heroes were scattered\nover the desert and the wilderness. In less than an hour he drove them\nfrom the plunder. As soon as the Absians heard the sound of Antar from\nunder the cloud of dust,\u2014Verily, Antar, the magnanimous warrior, will\novercome them, said they; may God assist him! This is indeed true\nintrepidity, and he deserves half the spoil; for if the heroes drink the\ncup of death, the greatest share will fall to him, for verily the eye\nof the sun cannot be concealed. Thus their hearts were purified towards\nAntar, and they all returned to his assistance.\n\nWhen the Blood-drinker saw the Absians resume the contest, he said to\nthe people about him, The horseman of Abs and Adnan are coming down,\nand this day will they bring death and destruction upon us; and he let\nthe reins hang loose and fled. The Teyans spread themselves over the\nplains and the desert, following him in every direction, whilst Antar,\nhaving already slain about eighty men, approached the plunder; and when\nall were fled, the Absian horsemen came up, and there was not one but\npraised and thanked him. So they took up the spoil, and the property,\nand the prisoners, and the bride, and departed, seeking the land of the\ntribe of Abs, and rejoicing in their victory and triumph; every one in\nastonishment at Antar\u2019s intrepidity.\n\nBut as soon as the other five that fled informed Nakid, the husband of\nthe bride, the light became dark in his eyes, and he shouted out to\nthe tribe of Maan\u2014To horse! to horse! and ere an hour had passed, five\nthousand valiant horsemen were ready, and he marched at the head of them\nin hopes of overtaking the race of Abs, and of overwhelming them in\nperdition and death, and of rooting out every vestige of them, so that\nnot a record of them should exist. For indeed he was a warrior ferocious\nas a lion, one of the thousand heroes in those days of darkness. He\ntravelled on night and day that he might overtake the tribe of Abs before\nthey could reach their own country. Meanwhile they pursued their journey,\nseeking their own lands, when a dust arose behind them, and darkened the\nwhole region: it opened, and discovered the Maanites headed by Nakid. At\nthis sight they were convinced of their destruction and death, as they\nsaid one to another, Verily the tribe of Maan have overtaken us! They\nlooked towards Antar, and they perceived him smiling and rejoicing at the\narrival of the warriors. Verily, said they, O my cousin, the foe is come\nup with us, and to day will our booty be torn away, and our sculls will\nfly off. Know, my cousins, said Antar, that death will not be wanting,\nneither will it increase; but I have long wished for such a day as this,\nfor I have not given up the tribe of Abs; my heart is fixed on returning\nhome; and this fortuitous circumstance has happened to us by the will\nof Him who disposes life and death. Now is the flame of war at hand,\nand sorrow and anguish are approaching. Whoever among you is ready to\nfight, let him fight; whoever wishes to fly, let him fly; but for me, I\nwill drink of their cups, I will contend with their heroes; and thus he\ncontinued in verse:\n\n\u201cThis day the race of Abs shall behold my combat, and my actions in\nthe contest when I charge. I will seize their property: aye, and the\ndouble of it with my supple, quick-moving, death-bearing spear. I will\ndestroy the brave in war with my Indian blade, and I will drive down\namong them like a devouring lion. I will rave among their horsemen with\nmy determined courage, and I will charge, and I will rush over them in\nthe battle. I am the Knight of Knights, the lion whom no human being\ncan withstand. The lions in their dens tremble at me, and in the day of\nbattle the Ghuols fly from me.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar had finished, he encountered the warriors with most\npenetrating thrusts and rending blows. The Absians were obliged to\nendure it with him, and to assist him in the horrors. The messengers of\ndeath were distributed amongst the conquerors and the conquered; the\nsharp-edged swords came in contact with them, and the straight lances\nglided through them. The Absians repented of their firmness and fled over\nthe plains, whilst alone Antar encountered the whole calamity; and he\nstood firm, like one resolved to avert shame and disgrace. He aimed at\nthe breasts of the heroes with overpowering assaults and thrusts, that\nwould have made the deep-rooted mountains totter.\n\nWhen Nakid saw the battle of Antar, and how alone he stood against five\nthousand, and was making them drink of the cup of death and perdition,\nhe was overwhelmed with astonishment at his deeds. Thou valiant slave,\nhe cried, how potent is thine arm\u2014how strong is thy wrist! And he rushed\ndown upon Antar, that his bride might behold a proof of his courage: and\nAntar, seeing that he was making at him, presented himself before him,\nfor he was all anxiety to meet him. O thou base-born, cried Nakid, son\nof an uncircumcised mother! But Antar permitted him not to finish his\nspeech, before he assaulted him with the assault of a lion, and roared at\nhim: he was horrified and paralyzed at the sight of Antar. Antar attacked\nhim thus scared and petrified, and struck him with his sword on the head,\nand cleft him down to the back, and he fell, cut in twain, from the\nhorse, and he was split in two as if by a scale; and as Antar dealt the\nblow, he cried out \u201cO by Abs! O by Adnan! I am ever the lover of Ibla.\u201d\n\nNo sooner did the tribe of Maan behold Antar\u2019s blow, than every one was\nseized with fear and dismay. The whole five thousand made an attack\nlike the attack of a single man; but Antar received them as the parched\nground receives the first of the rain, exhibiting to them his power\nand his courage. His eye-balls were fiery red, and foam issued from\nthe corners of his lips; wherever he smote, he cleft the head; every\nwarrior he assailed he annihilated; and as the warriors still pressed\non him, he tore a rider from the back of his horse, he heaved him on\nhigh, and whirling him in the air, struck down a second with him, and\nthe two instantly expired. \u201cBy thine eyes, O Ibla,\u201d he cried, \u201cto-day\nwill I destroy all this race.\u201d Thus he proceeded until he terrified the\nwarriors, and hurled them into woe and disgrace, hewing off their arms\nand their joints. At length the five thousand retreated from the combat,\nfor fear and terror had completely shaken them, and more than nine\nhundred horsemen he had slain, and gained an entire victory over them.\n\nJust as Antar had nearly annihilated them, there appeared a dust that\ndarkened the whole land. In an hour it was cleared, and there came forth\na troop of heroes; at their head was an horseman like an eagle, mounted\non an horse that moved like a cloud. The rider was handsome, in the\nbloom of youth, and every tongue cried out, O by Abs! O by Adnan! Now\nthis knight was Malik, King Zoheir\u2019s son. And he was coming in search of\nAntar, in consequence of the affair that took place between Antar and his\nfather, who, when he demanded the rank and consideration of a son, wished\nto put him to death. Now Malik was expecting Antar the next day, but as\nhe came not, he went and acquainted his father the King with all that had\nhappened. Zoheir instantly sent for Shedad, who kissed the ground. Why do\nyou not grant Antar\u2019s request, and call him your son, as every one else\ndoes? asked King Zoheir: Think you, Shedad, that amongst the tribes of\nCahtan and Adnan there is a more intrepid warrior than your son Antar,\nor a bolder heart than his? O my Lord, answered Shedad, he is indeed my\nson, and a part of my heart; but my brother Malik said to me, if you\nacknowledge Antar as your son, I will abandon myself to the Arab tribes;\ntherefore, on account of my brother Malik, I have renounced him. Well,\nthen, said Zoheir, I will have him return to his country in spite of his\nfoes. And he dispatched a slave to gain information and to follow him. He\nwaited until the slave returned, and told him that Antar had associated\nhimself with Ghegadh, the son of Nashid, and at that moment he was,\nsingle handed, engaged with five thousand horsemen, and Nakid the son of\nJellah. Malik wept. May God, said he, prosper him, for he has devoted\nhimself to death and destruction; never will he fly or retreat; but by\nthe life of my father King Zoheir, I must aid him, and if he is dead,\nnever will I return till I have taken vengeance on his foes, and made his\nmurderers drink of the loathsome cup. He set out, and appeared as we have\njust mentioned, and rushed forward with his troops as we have described.\n\nBut as soon as Malik and his people came forward, and the men had\nrecognized each other, Antar felt his power expanded, for at that moment\nthe enemy had resolved to slay his heroes. But at the sight of his\nfriend Malik and his warriors, his heart revived, and he exhibited the\nwhole courage of his soul; and he made a most desperate attack upon his\nantagonists, and overwhelmed them in total ruin.\n\nWhen the tribe of Maan saw Antar\u2019s destructive force, and his sweeping\nblows, and that the Absians were come to his assistance, their only\nresource was flight, and retreat over the plains and wilds; for they\nsaid to each other, When Antar was alone, we could not resist him, What\nshall we do now, that the tribe of Abs and Adnan are come to his aid?\nSo they took to flight and ran away in confusion, whilst Antar and the\ntribe of Abs having pursued them for three parasangs, returned for the\nscattered cattle and dispersed horses. Antar dismounted from Abjer, and\nrunning up to his friend Malik, wished to kiss his feet in the stirrup,\nbut Malik would not permit him, and kissed him between the eyes, and\nrejoiced in his safety. And there was not one of the Absians but came up\nto Antar, and congratulated him on his victory and triumph. Antar thanked\nthem. They halted there that night, and the next day they set out seeking\ntheir own country: Antar riding by the side of Malik, and relating to him\nall his adventures with Ghegadh and his companions, and how he obtained\nhis horse Abjer. Malik informed him of all that had passed between\nhim and King Zoheir, how he had sent after his father Shedad, and had\nthreatened him. Antar was glad, and foreboded well, and felt convinced\nthat his marriage might take place as long as King Zoheir was on his\nside: so that his love for Ibla increased. They thus proceeded on their\njourney till they came near to their homes; when Antar\u2019s passion seizing\nhim, he thus exclaimed:\n\n\u201cWhen the breezes blow from Mount Saadi, their freshness calms the fire\nof my love and transports. Let my tribe remember I have preserved their\nfaith; but they feel not my worth, and preserve not their engagements\nwith me. Were there not a maid settled in the tents, why should I prefer\ntheir society to absence? Slimly made is she, and the magic influence\nof her eye preserves the bones of a corpse from entering the tomb. The\nsun as it sets, turns towards her, and says, Darkness obscures the land,\ndo thou rise in my absence; and the brilliant moon calls out to her,\nCome forth, for thy face is like me when I am at the full, and in all\nmy glory! The Tamarisk trees complain of her in the morn and the eve,\nand say, Away, thou waning beauty, thou form of the laurel! She turns\naway abashed and throws aside her veil, and the roses are scattered\nfrom her soft fresh cheeks. She draws her sword from the glances of\nher eye-lashes, sharp and penetrating as the blade of her forefathers,\nand with it her eyes commit murder, though it be sheathed: is it not\nsurprising that a sheathed sword should be so sharp against its victims!\nGraceful is every limb, slender her waist, love-beaming are her glances,\nwaving is her form. The damsel passes the night with musk under her\nveil, and its fragrance is increased by the still fresher essence of her\nbreath. The lustre of day sparkles from her forehead, and by the dark\nshades of her curling ringlets, night itself is driven away. When she\nsmiles, between her teeth is a moisture composed of wine, of rain, and\nof honey. Her throat complains of the darkness of her necklaces. Alas!\nalas! the effects of that throat and that necklace! Will fortune ever,\nO daughter of Malik, ever bless me with thy embrace, that would cure my\nheart of the sorrows of love? If my eye could see her baggage camels, and\nher family, I would rub my cheeks on the hoofs of her camels. I will kiss\nthe earth where thou art; mayhap the fire of my love and extacy may be\nquenched. Shall thou and I ever meet as formerly on Mount Saadi? or will\nthe messenger come from thee to announce thy meeting, or will he relate\nthat thou art in the land of Nejd? Shall we meet in the land of Shureba\nand Hima, and shall we live in joy and in happiness? I am the well known\nAntar, the chief of his tribe, and I shall die: but when I am gone,\nhistory shall tell of me.\u201d\n\nAntar\u2019s eloquence and intrepidity made the Prince\u2019s heart bound with joy,\nfor not an Arab amongst the neighbouring or distant tribes could equal\nhim. Verily, said Malik, the spirit of God animates you, and inspires\nyour mind; for you have attained the full expression of words, and are\nperfect in rhymes. They went on, passing over the wilds and the deserts,\nuntil they approached their own country, when Malik sent forward one\nof his men to give notice of his coming. The messenger preceded them,\nand informed King Zoheir of the approach of his son, and of Antar the\nbold warrior, at which being greatly rejoiced, he went out with all his\nnoble comrades, except Rebia and Shas, to meet them: for these two were\nnot pleased at the return of Antar; and Malik also, the father of Ibla,\nwould not congratulate him. But Shedad mounted with King Zoheir, and went\nto meet Antar, for his entrails yearned after him. They went out thus,\nand did not stop till they met the Prince and Antar; and when they came\nnear, Antar dismounted, and hastening towards him, kissed the hand of\nKing Zoheir. But the King bent down towards him and kissed him between\nthe eyes, and congratulated him on his safety. Think you, O Antar, said\nhe, that we have forgotten you since you quitted us in anger? Could our\nhomes give us any pleasure when thou wert absent, and hadst abandoned thy\ncountry?\n\nO King, replied Antar, having kissed the King\u2019s feet, thou whose command\nis obeyed among the whole nation of Arabs, O high minded Prince! I swear\nby your unbounded generosity and your noble mind, my departure was not\nthe effect of passion; I am but a lowly slave and dependant; I did\nindeed depart the night I had been with your majesty, for my tongue had\nswerved from the road of propriety with my father; my ambition aimed at\nimpossibilities, and I demanded what in fact only a fool would have\ndemanded. As soon as I was safe from his vengeance, and his kindness\nand favour were withdrawn from me, I could not, after such a fault, do\notherwise than change my home; till at last my lord Malik interested\nhimself so much about me, and delivered me from death and perdition;\nhe has also informed me what interest you have taken in me: so that my\nsituation is improved, and I am reconciled to my master Shedad; and you\nhave loaded me with obligations, mountains could not sustain. May you\never be under the protection of God! Thus Antar went on talking with the\nKing, when, Shedad coming up to him, Antar ran towards him and kissed his\nfeet in the stirrup, thus saying;\n\n\u201cO my Lord, I am come begging forgiveness; the slave is come like a\ncriminal; the sword and warhorse would fail, should presumption ever bear\nsway.\u201d\n\nWhen Shedad heard these words, and saw his humility, and considered all\nhe had done, and his wonderful intrepidity, and truly Arabian nobleness\nof soul; all his affections were excited, and his eyes almost shed\ntears as he said in his heart, may God curse every one who from this\nday forward would renounce him, and may the sword despoil his life! He\nkissed him between the eyes, and Antar walked before his father, after\nhe had saluted his uncles, and his relations. The whole tribe of Abs\nwere astonished at his noble conduct and courage, and they said one to\nanother, No one possesses what his masters possess.\n\nNow Antar felt no unworthy thought of fear respecting his father or his\nuncles, and only the passion that humbles warriors, humbled him. Malik\npresented the plunder to his father, and pressed him to accept it; and\nhe divided the cuirasses, and armour, and horses, and coats of mail\namong the tribe of Abs who were with him at first. But King Zoheir took\nAminia to his own tent, saying, This is a Princess, and the daughter of\na King, it is not proper that she should be bought and sold. Thus they\nall departed home after the King had made up matters between Antar and\nhis family and relations, and recommended him to their kindness. The King\nsoon after heard from Antar an account of all his adventures, and how\nhe had obtained his horse Abjer. And when he looked at him he was quite\nsurprised at his qualities, and he said to his son Malik, This horse\nhas been made for no one but Antar. And from that day he was surnamed\nAboolfawaris.\n\nNow Ibla\u2019s father addressed his son, saying; My son, verily death would\nbe preferable to this state of things; how is it that this slave of ours,\none whom we employed in tending our flocks, is now raised far in dignity\nabove us with our King? And this it is that makes him so presumptuous\nwith us and your sister Ibla, and thus will our honour be debased. There\nis nothing else to be done, said Amroo, but to marry my sister Ibla to\none who can protect her against him, and then let us depart from this\nland; for King Zoheir and his sons are strong in his favour. But, said\nhis father, O my son, must we leave this slave safe and well? No, by the\nfaith of an Arab we must contrive his death. So they all retired to their\ntents, and were united to their families.\n\nNow Antar came to his mother Zebeeba. Why, my son, said she, do you not\nby my side tend the flocks and the camels? It would be more agreeable to\nmy heart than all this intrepidity and boldness, which every day expose\nyour life to perils and dangers. Antar smiled at her sayings; O mother,\nhe replied, thou shalt see in thy son Antar what shall be registered and\nrecorded.\n\nAntar gave away to his father and his uncles all the plunder he had\nobtained; though this was not his own idea, but at the instigation of\nPrince Malik. This Prince, when they were all established in their\ntents, related to his father and his brothers all he had seen Antar\nperform, and his undaunted conduct. The King took great pleasure in what\nhe told of Antar, and being very desirous of hearing all he said both\nin verse and prose, ordered Antar into his presence, and as soon as he\narrived, he made obeisance, and prayed for a continuance of his power\nand beneficence. Zoheir and his sons welcomed him, and the King made\nhim sit down by him, and supplied him with wine; and his kindness for\nhim increased. Aboolfawaris, said he, I wish to hear from yourself, the\naccount of your expedition, and what happened to you, with your comrades,\nfor my son Malik has related some of your hardy deeds, and has repeated\nsome of your poetry; but there is no reporter of words and acts like the\nactor himself. Upon that, Antar commenced and told them all that occurred\nwith Ghegadh and his comrades, how he happened to associate with them,\nand how he agreed to their proposal of giving him half of all they should\ngain, and how they wished to kill him for buying the horse Abjer, and how\nthey gave up their design on hearing his verses and discourse. Will you,\nsaid King Zoheir, let us hear the verses you made on your mistress Ibla,\nwhen you came nigh home?\n\n\u201cWhen the breezes blow from Mount Saadi, their freshness cools the fire\nof my love and my transport.\u201d And he continued the repetition, till he\ncame to this part, \u201cShe is elegantly formed, and the soft magic of her\neyes would arrest the bones of a corpse from entering the tomb.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar had finished, the King\u2019s astonishment and delight were\nunbounded at his eloquence; and he turned towards his brother Asyed, and\nsaid, O my brother, I wish you would pay attention to Antar, and write\ndown all he says, that we may be reckoned amongst the most eloquent\nArabs for poetry and propriety of conduct. They continued to drink their\nwine, and the hours passed in mirth and pleasure. But when Shas saw that\nhis father became so exceedingly kind to Antar, his agony and distress of\nmind increased, and from the excess of his indignation his heart was near\nbursting; however he resisted till Antar accidentally left the tent for\na while. When Shas being alone, turned round to his father; indeed, my\nfather, said he, this black slave, this base-born, has brought indelible\nshame upon us, and it is all on account of his love of Ibla, the daughter\nof Malik; and you also approve his conduct; but verily the whole tribe\nwill be shocked with his wickedness when they hear his verses.\n\nThe King was exceedingly angry, and wrath appeared in his countenance.\nMy son, said he, what say\u2019st thou? Who is able to thwart the decrees\nof Providence? Perhaps God has resolved to testify in him his divine\nfavours! And know, my son, the most ignorant of men is an envious\nman. Now Antar just then entered, and as he had overheard all their\nconversation, he thus spoke:\u2014\n\n\u201cThis flame is for Ibla, O my friend, her lustre illumines the darkest\nnight. She blazes\u2014her form is in my heart, and the fire of love is in\nmy soul. Her gently waving form has kindled it like the branches whose\nmotion refreshes the breeze. Her breath diffuses a lively odour, and in\nher perfumes I pass the night in paradise. She is a maid whose breath\nis sweeter than honey, whenever she sips the juice of the grape. When\nI taste a coolness from her lips, she leaves in my mouth a hot burning\nflame. The moon has stolen her charms, and the antelope has borrowed the\nmagic of her eyes. O grant me thy embrace, O light of my eyes, and save\nme from thy absence, and mine own griefs. Be just, if thou wishest, or\npersecute me; for in thee is my paradise, and in thee is my hell. No\nhappiness is there for me in my troubles, but my lord, who is called\nthe generous Zoheir. Wherever he goes, death anticipates him; and he\ndestroys his foes before he meets them. Let them not abuse him if he aid\na solitary creature, who spends the live-long night without sleep, and\nin tears. He is my support and stay against those who, when they see my\nexaltation, would trouble me the more. He is a King to whose name Princes\nshall bow, and shall point at him to pay their homage. He is the asylum\nof all who refer to him to dissipate their sorrows, as he relieves my\ngriefs. May fortune never deprive me of my King! May he ever live in the\npurest joy and felicity!\u201d\n\nThe King was so pleased with Antar, that he said, O Aboolfawaris,\nwhatever I can give you for your poetry will be an insufficient return;\neven were I to give all I possess; for my property will pass away as if\nit had never been, but thy praises will endure for ever. So he presented\nhim two virgin slaves, beautiful as moons, and two rows of large jewels,\nand some perfumes, saying, Aboolfawaris, you have often mentioned me in\nyour poetry; it would be disgraceful in me to let you go away from me\nunrewarded, so calm thy heart and cheer thine eye; for by the faith of\nan Arab, I will not be separated from you until you obtain every thing\nyou wish, and accomplish all your desires. Did you belong to me, I would\nadmit you to my rank and connections, in spite of the blame the Arabs\nmight heap on me.\n\nShas could not endure this, and rose up and quitted the place, but Antar\nremained drinking with the King till the evening, when he arose, and\nhis hand was in the hand of Prince Malik; and they all departed from\nthe tents, and went their way each to his own dwelling. Antar did not\nstop till he reached the habitations of the family of Carad, where he\nperceived a very strong light: he understood it not, but he went towards\nit and entered his mother\u2019s tent, and asked what was the reason of this\nlight at such an hour. Know, my son, said she, the men of the camp are\nabsent; they are gone with your master Shedad, and with him are also ten\nhorsemen after the cattle, in order that they may release them from some\nArabs; and the women are watching to this hour in the expectation of\nseeing you, that you may relate to them all that has happened to you in\nyour expeditions; and Ibla the daughter of Malik is more delighted than\nany of them.\n\nWhen Antar heard the words of his mother, he joyed in his heart, and a\nsmile lighted up his countenance. So he immediately arose and sought the\ndwellings of his uncles, and entered the women\u2019s apartments. As soon as\nthey saw him they arose and received him, and saluted him. Semeeah kissed\nhim. O Antar, said she, you have been with the King from the beginning\nof the day, and we are sitting up on your account. O my mistress, said\nAntar, I knew nothing of it, but had I known it, I would not have\ntarried, had my legs been even tied and fettered; and he thus addressed\nthem:\n\n\u201cDarkness hovers over, and my tears stream down in copious torrents. I\nconceal my love and complain to no one. I pass the night, regarding the\nstars of night in my distraction, and the tears rush violently from my\neyes like a hail storm. Ask the night of me, and it will tell thee that\nI am indeed the ally of sorrow and anguish. I live desolate, there is\nno one like me; a lover without friends or a companion! I am the friend\nof sorrow and desire. I am o\u2019erwhelmed by them, and I am worn out with\npatience and trials in my grief. I complain to God of my afflictions and\nmy love; and to no one else do I complain.\u201d\n\nIbla heard these verses, and perceived his tears and distress and his\nsorrow; she pitied him; and as she remarked the violence of his tears,\nthey interceded greatly for him, for she loved him for his courage and\nhis eloquence; and as she noticed him with the flattering soothing\nexpressions,\u2014Where, said she, is my share of the plunder; or am I now of\nno consequence or value to thee? At these words the sight of her beauty\nand loveliness overpowered him. O my mistress, cried he, by the light\nof thine eyes and the black of thine eyebrows, to me the most sacred of\noaths, thy slave Antar has obtained of plunder neither a small nor a\nlarge portion, but the whole I have given to thy father and thy uncles.\nSo he presented her the two slave girls and the two strings of jewels\nthat King Zoheir had given him; and he added\u2014the perfumes thou hast no\noccasion for; thy breath is more delicious and more heavenly; thy perfume\nis sweeter and more luscious. So he divided the perfumes between the\nwives of his father and his uncles. And to his questions about his father\nand his uncles, whither they were gone?\n\n\u201cKnow, Antar, said Semeeah, that your master told us that there is a\nhorseman of Yemen, called Kais, the son of Dibgan, and he is a horseman\nof the land of Yemen, and under his subjection are the lands of Senaa and\nAden; he has at this time invaded the land of Hejaz with forty horsemen:\nhe is now on his return, and with him an immense plunder, and he is\nseeking his own country. Shedad enquired of the peasants who gave him\nthis information, where Kais was to rest this night and sleep: they told\nhim at the lake of Jaree, in the country of Doom. Then said Shedad, by\nthe faith of an Arab, I will go against him in the dark, and will attack\nhim and take his plunder from him, and will reduce him to shame and\ndisgrace; and if there should be a thousand horsemen, I will not permit\nthe tribe of Cahtan to escape with plunder taken from the land of Abs and\nAdnan. He accordingly mounted, and took with him ten horsemen, and he set\nout to follow their track.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar heard this, he got up without delay, and kissing the mother\nof Ibla, and also Ibla between the eyes\u2014this is the kiss of farewell,\nsaid he, for I know not when we shall meet again: and having eased his\nheart by gazing upon her, he returned to his mother, and put on his\narmour and his cuirass: he mounted his horse, and taking Shiboob with\nhim, he departed in quest of his father and his uncles. And when they\nhad advanced some way, said Shiboob to him\u2014O my brother, a female slave\nof my master Shedad said to me\u2014\u201cTell your brother Antar to be on his\nguard against his father Shedad and his uncles, for they have resolved\non putting him to death. This Ibla heard from her brother Amroo and her\nfather Malik, and told Semeeah, and directed her to warn you of it: now\nI have told you be or your guard.\u201d Run on, father of the winds! was\nAntar\u2019s reply. He urged forward Abjer and they went on for some time till\nit became very hot, when a horseman met them coming from the centre of\nthe plain. Antar marked him, and behold he was one of the men that had\naccompanied Shedad, and he was covered with wounds. When they came nearer\nto him, said Antar, Where is the plunder? O Aboolfawaris, he replied,\nI have got these wounds which you see in my body on account of it, for\ntruly we sallied out with your master Shedad at night-fall, that we might\novertake Kais, the son of Dibgan, and when we came up with him, we saw\nhim carefully guarding his spoil. As soon as he perceived us he started\nup, he shouted out and assaulted us with the vehemence of a lion; first\nhe speared me, then after me your father Shedad; I have returned to seek\nyou and bring you; so if you wish to overtake them, make haste, and if\nyou rescue them \u2019twill be noble of you.\n\nBy the faith of an Arab, exclaimed Antar, never will I return till I have\ndestroyed the whole party with my sword, and have liberated my father\nand my uncles; and I will not return but with the whole plunder before\nme; so away home, and I will revenge you. Aboolfawaris, he replied, I\nam not able to retain my seat on the back of my horse. So Antar ordered\nShiboob to place him by the side of a pool of water. Shiboob came to\nhim and placed him by the side of the lake, and tied up his horse, where\nthey quitted him, and proceeded over the plains and deserts until the\nday closed, when they came up with Kais and his prisoners that were\nmarching before him, Kais following them with his comrades. As soon as\nAntar saw his father and his uncles tied across their horses, he indeed\nknew not then the heavens from the earth, and he gave a shout that made\nthe mountains tremble. \u201cYe ignoble dastards! Quit your plunder. Come on!\nSlaughter is the word!\u201d\n\nNo sooner heard Kais the shout of Antar, than he was alarmed and\nconfounded; he pricked on his horse, and turned round upon Antar; but\nAntar cried out to him\u2014Son of Dibgan, who hast urged thee against the\nwarriors of Abs and Adnan, whom none shall attack but the eagles shall\ndevour his flesh? Thou vilest of Negroes, cried Kais, thou shalt soon see\nthat I am a man not to be wearied in the contest of spears; and as he\nfell on Antar like the fall of fate and destiny, he thus burst forth\u2014\n\n\u201cI am renowned in every nation for the thrust of the spear and the blow\nof the sword. I am the destroyer of horsemen with the lance, when the\nspears are interwoven under the dust. How many contests have I waged on\nthe day of battle, whose terrors would turn grey the head of infants!\nLong-ago have I drunk the blood of horsemen, with which they fed me\nbefore I was weaned. This day will I prove my words when the blood\nstreams from my sword. This foul wretch I will slay with the edge of my\nsword, that cleaves through the flesh before the bones. His dwellings\nshall this eve be found waste and desolate, and I will not swerve from\nmy word: his body shall lie on the deserts, cut down, and his face thou\nmay\u2019st see grovelling in the dust.\u201d\n\nAs soon as Antar heard this speech of Kais, son of Dibgan, Silence, said\nhe, may thy mother bewail thee! and thus he replied to him.\n\n\u201cVerily, thy spirit has urged thee to abuse me, and thou hast spoken\nthe words of a vile dastard: thou art ignorant of my exploits in every\nbattle, from the land of Irak to the sacred shrine: thou shalt have no\ntime to reply, no justice but the sword; for ignorance among mankind is\na trait that conducts the ignorant to their death. This is the scene of\nconflict, and in it doubtless will be proved the skill of the coward and\nthe base-born. Let him repent who has only shewn his vanity, and let him\nprefer flight to resistance. I am Antar, and my name is far spread for\nthe thrust of my spear and the blow of my sword.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar had finished, equally impetuous was his assault: he drew forth\nhis scimitar, and struck him between the eyes, and split his helmet and\nwadding, and his sword worked down to his thighs, down even to the back\nof the horse; and he cried out\u2014Thou wretch, I will not be controuled\u2014I am\nstill the lover of Ibla. Thus Kais and his horse fell down, cut into four\npieces!\n\nWhen Shedad and Malik and his son Amroo saw what Antar had done, they\ntrembled and were afraid, and from that day a dread of Antar filled their\nhearts. But Antar rushed amongst the remainder like a devouring lion.\nWhen the tribe of Dibgan perceived the force of Antar\u2019s blows, and how he\noverthrew their chief, and split him and his horse into four pieces, they\nwheeled about their horses and fled. Antar pursued them, and having slain\ntwenty of their men, returned. He roared even as a lion in his wrath;\u2014he\ntook possession of the plunder; he released his father, his uncles, and\nthe other horsemen, and they all rejoiced in their delivery, except\nMalik and Amroo his son, who said: \u2014Oh! that we had fallen by the sword,\nrather than be rescued by Antar, the slave of Shedad! But they concealed\ntheir anguish, and appeared to be stout of heart, and thankful to Antar,\nthough, in fact, their galls burst with spite. They drove forward the\nplunder, and returned seeking their own country, whilst Antar embraced\nhis father and uncles, and thus spoke.\n\n\u201cAs I approach my friends, my transports increase, and on their account\nmy cheeks are bedewed with tears. This day I march towards them, and I\nam surrounded by the chiefs of my tribe. I have slain the son of Dibgan,\na lion in battle, and with my Indian scimitar I have cured my pains.\nI have engaged to cleanse their hearts from sorrow. I have rescued my\ntribe, and that is my dearest reward. My companion, whenever I march by\nnight, is my sword and my spear; and the D\u00e6mons of the earth dread my\nvehemence. O Ibla, how many horsemen have I raised up on my double-edged\ncleaving scimitar in my strength! O Ibla, how many horsemen, in the midst\nof the war throng, as soon as I come, fling away their arms in fear, of\nme! Ask every lion hero of my exploits; they will tell thee every lion\nis terrified at my violence. My tribe abuse me that I am black; but my\ndeeds in battle are fairer than the dawn. If I wish, I will seize whole\ncountries and subjugate them, and all the princes of the earth are within\nmy grasp.\u201d\n\nThus they travelled on till they came to the pool near which Shiboob\nleft the wounded man, and they perceived that he was dead; they were\nexceedingly vexed. Verily, said Shedad, we have lost horsemen more\nvaluable than the plunder!\n\nNow that plain was very extensive, and as evening was advancing, they\nhalted till midnight, and then departed, seeking their own country,\nwhere they arrived in the morning: and they met King Zoheir at the lake\nof Zatool-irsad, and with him were his sons, and Rebia son of Zeead.\nAs soon as they saw the King, they hastened to him, and saluting him,\nlaid the plunder before him, and told him what Antar had done, how he\nhad joined them, and liberated them from misery and destruction, and had\nslain Kais, and dispersed part of the tribe of Cahtan. Confer this great\nobligation then, on thy son, he so longs for, said Zoheir to Shedad, that\nyou may be rewarded by his great actions, and be ennobled by his sword to\nafter generations.\n\nRebia, Shas, and Malik, Ibla\u2019s father, and his son Amroo, were greatly\nenraged at this; but Prince Malik, the friend of Antar, rejoiced.\n\nHe then divided the spoil in equal portions, but out of respect for\nAntar would not take even a halter. And Antar immediately presented the\nwhole of it to his father and his uncles; and all the tribe of Abs were\nastonished at his noble conduct and filial love. Zoheir sacrificed camels\nand sheep, and ordered a feast to be prepared, and as they ate and drank,\nKing Zoheir turned towards Antar and said, recite, Aboolfawaris, some of\nthy verses; and he thus complied.\n\n\u201cMay fortune bring thee every wish of thy heart, live in peace, for\nevery result will secure thy comfort! This is the lake whose residence\nthou hast sweetened; and were it not for thee, its rain fraught with\nexhalations would not fall upon us. Thou art present, and all its herbs\nare green or yellow, and all their wonders and charms are expanded\nbefore us. The breeze of musk wafts the essence of its flowers, and it\nsmiles from east to west. O then, let us do it ample justice with wine;\nlet us mix it till its banks o\u2019erflow. Let us drink with thee out of cups\nof joy, and let us hold up thy train, thou lord of honor! Thy countenance\nis decked in smiles, laughter lives in thy teeth, and there is a sword\nwhose blows draw the blood of thy foes. O do not then reproach me if I\nweep for Hima, when I call to mind the friends that dwell there, and its\nneighbours. In my heart is an ever burning flame, but I am ever in alarm\nabout these dear warriors and these tents. Over the extent of the waste\nare marvellously rich canopies, and the whole is ornamented with fine\ncurtains of Grecian velvet, painted with every surprising form, that I\nam amazed at their starry brilliancy. My heart was in agony the day they\nquitted Hima, but it soon returned to hail its royal master. Should it\nbe said amongst the people\u2014Who is the most determined hero? What youth\nis ennobled high o\u2019er the rest? We will say it is Zoheir, illustrious in\nhis birth, towering above all men, who can never attain his eminence.\nHis exploits avert from us the obscurity of night, and all is luminous,\nso that his star is one mass of onyx. May he ever succeed in every\nenterprize; may death ever march wherever his armies march.\u201d\n\nThese verses delighted the King. May God never renounce thy mouth, or\nman do thee harm, said he. By the faith of an Arab, thou art one of the\nwonders of the world; and he continued to praise and thank him; when lo!\na great dust arose, and there appeared a hundred horsemen, all clothed\nin steel, headed by a Knight like a lofty date tree on an elephant, on\nhis head was a turban of Kufian cloth, and over him a painted mantle of\nGrecian fabric; beneath him was an Arabian steed; they came down towards\nthe lake, and when they reached it, the foremost rank stopped short, and\ntheir leader dismounted, and presented himself before King Zoheir, bowing\nbefore him. His tears began to flow, and with a heart rent with anguish\nhe thus addressed him.\n\n\u201cO thou, the defender and protector, be my defence and support against\nmine enemies. Thou art the defender of orphans, and thy beneficence heals\nthe wounded spirit. Fortune has overwhelmed me, my bosom bursts, and my\nsoul is full of grief. A perfidious minded oppressor has overpowered us\nwith his strength, and has violated our virgins. Wherever he goes, death\nprecedes him, so he destroys his foes before he presents himself. Protect\nus from his violence before all our women are dragged prisoners by their\nhair.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV\n\n\nThe suppliant had not finished his intreaties, ere Prince Malik sprung\ntowards him, and throwing his arms round his neck, O my brother, said he,\nmay God never permit thy eyes to weep! What is it that has called forth\nthy grief? Now this suppliant was Prince Malik\u2019s foster-brother, and his\nname was Hassan the Mazinite. The King had taken the mother of this youth\na prisoner from the tribe of Mazin; he was an infant at her breast, and\nas his father was slain in the affair, King Zoheir carried her away, and\nas Temadhur had just then brought forth Prince Malik, she consigned her\nchild to her, desiring her to suckle the infant with her own child. So\nshe remained with her a long time, and suckled and weaned her son and\nPrince Malik together, till her sister, who had heard of her, came to\nher and pressed her exceedingly to return home. She asked permission of\nTemadhur, who granted it, and gave her and her sister many very valuable\npresents. She then departed with her sister for her native land, and\nemployed herself in educating her son Hassan, until he grew up and his\nlimbs strengthened, for in him was the essence of the noble tribe of\nMazin. And he became a blazing flame, and a fiery thunderbolt, and the\ntribe of Mazin loved him for his courage, and they made him the protector\nof their land.\n\nAnd Hassan\u2019s sudden arrival at King Zoheir\u2019s tent was occasioned by\nthe following circumstance. Hassan had a maternal uncle, whose name\nwas Nedjem the Mazinite, and he had a daughter perfectly beautiful and\nlovely, and her form was symmetry itself. Hassan was in love with her,\nbut he was never able to address her, till a man of the name of Awef\nthe son of Alkem, of the tribe of Terjem, presented himself one day to\nhis uncle. He was also a renowned horseman, and a valiant hero, rich in\nproperty and cattle. And when he came, his uncle invited him to a feast,\nand slew camels and sheep, and poured out wine for him; and when the\nliquor began to play about the head of Awef, he threw himself at his\nfeet, and demanded his daughter, and won him by his wealth and riches.\nHassan was present, and when he perceived that if he remained silent,\nhis cousin would be betrothed to another, he started up and eagerly\nexclaimed: O my uncle, do not marry thy daughter to this man, for I am\nto be preferred to him on account of my rank and consideration: never\nwill I permit the daughter of my uncle to quit her tent for a stranger\u2019s,\nwere my limbs to be torn asunder! Ignoble wretch, cried Awef, canst thou\npresume to address, where I have already put in a claim? for thou art\nnumbered amongst the herd of orphans.[3]\n\nWert thou not in mine uncle\u2019s tent, replied Hassan, I would soon tear\noff thy head, and silence thy existence. And if thou wouldst boast of\nthy wealth, know, that all the property of the Arabs is mine, and in the\ngrasp of my hand; and if thou wouldst domineer over me with thy courage,\ncome, let us to the field! that I may make an example of thee amongst the\nhorsemen.\n\nAt these words the light became dark in the eyes of Awef; he instantly\nsprang on his horse\u2019s back, and Hassan did the same; and they both\nrushed to the plain; and dashed at each other, and the earth quivered\nunder the feet of their horses, and all the tribe of Mazin sallied out\nin order to see what might be the result of the battle and contention.\nNaeema, the daughter of Nedjim, was there with many other women. And when\nHassan observed his cousin, and that she was viewing the engagement, he\ninstantly seized his antagonist and grappled him, and pressing him hard,\nstopped all means of escape; then catching hold of the rings of his coat\nof mail, he made him his prisoner, dashed him on the ground, and almost\nsmashed him to atoms. He instantly dismounted to cut off his head; but\nhis uncle sprang towards him, saying, O my son let him go, accept of my\nintercession, for he has eaten of my meat and been under my protection.\nSo Hassan admitted his uncle\u2019s interference, and pardoned him. Awef\nquitted the tribe of Mazin, for shame and mortification overwhelmed him;\nand the event was spread among the Arab tribes, and every one stood in\nawe of Hassan.\n\nAbout that time a female slave came to Hassan. Your uncle, said she, has\nbeen just saying to his wife, Verily Hassan is a valiant and a brave\nfellow, but he has not wherewithal to keep up an establishment, and I\nfear, should I give him my daughter, she will be reduced to penury and\ndifficulties with him. As soon as Hassan heard this, he assembled all the\nmen in whom he could confide, and took them away, and he went in search\nof plunder from some of the Arab hordes.\n\nNow, among the Arab tribes of Cahtan, there was a King whose name\nwas Oosak, and he was one of the thousand warriors of that period of\nignorance, who could engage a thousand heroes at once. He had at his\ncommand an intrepid army; but a famine having wasted his lands, he\ndeparted with his troops and his armies, and attacked the land of the\ntribe of Mazin, amongst whom he settled. And it happened that as he rode\nout one day, and was amusing himself by the streams and the fountains,\nhe rode on till he came to a pool of water, when it happened by fate\nand destiny, from which there is for man no retreat or escape, that in\nthat day Naeema, the daughter of Hassan\u2019s uncle (who with her friends\nwas gone to procure a dower for her) came also to the lake. Oosak, as he\nlooked at her and the young girls employed in their games and amusements,\ndistinguished Naeema, for her face was brilliant like the moon when it\nis full; and as she was smiling, with her teeth like rows of pearls, and\nas the weight of her haunches prevented her from standing up, Oosak was\nquite surprised, and his senses failed him. But the women turning towards\nhim perceived Oosak looking at them, so they all surrounded Naeema. O\nbrother Arab, they exclaimed, are you not ashamed of this action, thus to\ncome and stare at the daughters of warriors?\n\nOosak smiled and laughed at what they said, and called out to an old\nwoman who was with them, and asked her about the damsel. Whose daughter\nis she? Whether she was a virgin or a married woman? This is Naeema, the\ndaughter of Nedjim, said she, and is unmarried. When Oosak heard this,\nhis love and passion increased. He staid quiet that night, but as soon\nas the day dawned, he sent to Nedjim to demand his daughter in marriage.\nBut Nedjim refused him, saying;\u2014Verily, I have but one daughter, and have\naffianced her to my nephew Hassan, who is now on an expedition, seeking a\ndower for her. I cannot therefore dispose of her, for he is a horseman\nthat would not put up with such an affront, and also a man of a harsh\ndisposition. The messenger reported this to Oosak, who swore in his wrath\nthat he would not take her but as a captive, and that he would pour down\ndeath and destruction on the whole tribe of Mazin.\n\nAbout that time arrived Hassan, bringing with him immense wealth; and\nas soon as he approached the dwelling, he gave his uncle the marriage\npresent for his daughter. He also made a partition amongst the warriors\nof the tribe, and put aside five hundred camels for the marriage feast,\nand besought his uncle to have the ceremony performed. His uncle then\ninformed him what Oosak had done, how he had demanded his daughter, and\nhow he had refused him. On hearing this the light became dark in the\neyes of Hassan. If Oosak dares to molest me, said he, I will tear out\nhis lips and crush him to pieces, and I will drive him out of our land,\neven against his will. I will repair to King Zoheir, and will relate the\naffair to him, and then will I come upon him with the warriors of the\ntribes of Abs and Adnan, who heed not even Chosroe Nushirvan.\n\nThus Hassan calmed the mind of his uncle, and they made ready the\nmarriage ceremony, and sacrificed the camels and the sheep, and poured\nout the wine; and seven days they continued in mirth and jollity; but on\nthe eighth day, as they were adorning the bride with jewels and robes,\nand were about to wed her to Hassan, intelligence reached them that Oosak\nhad resolved to make all the women his slaves, plunder their property,\nand slay the men.\n\nOn hearing this, Hassan stood in front of his party, as they were\nconsulting what was to be done. Hassan, said they, we are not able to\ncontend with Oosak, for he has assembled all the tribe of Cahtan, and\nthere comes with him the tribe of Zerker, and the tribe of Anka; and he\nhas sent to Masood, the son of Moosad the Kelbian, and with him also is\nAwef, whom you made prisoner, and whose hair you cut off; and we have not\nthat confidence in ourselves to suppose that our means can resist such\naccumulated forces. Upon this Hassan went to his uncle. Uncle, said he,\nhave patience with me for ten days, and I will shew you what I will do\nwith those haughty boasters.\n\nSo he took with him an hundred horsemen, and went his way till he reached\nthe lake of Zatool Irsad, and on seeing King Zoheir, he told him what\nwe have now related as the cause of his coming. Antar was present and\nheard all that had happened to Hassan, and being much interested about\nhim, he instantly arose and kissing the King\u2019s hand\u2014O my lord, he cried,\nlet me be deputed by you for this service; let me go with Hassan, and\nI will destroy his enemy. Go, my son, cried Zoheir to Malik,\u2014go to the\nassistance of your brother, and take with you whomever you please of our\nwarriors, and Antar among the rest, and return not till you have blotted\nout every vestige of Oosak.\n\nThe King then ordered the dinner to be prepared for Hassan and his\ncompanions, whilst Malik was employed in getting ready for the\nexpedition, and chose from the tribe a thousand experienced warriors;\nand in three days Hassan and his associates all mounted their horses\nwith Prince Malik, and Antar the impetuous horseman, and Shiboob as his\nattendant; and Hassan was the happiest of men in the assistance of the\ntribe of Abs. Thus they marched on, clad in steel, and their bright\ncuirasses sparkled on their bodies. And as they rode, said Malik to\nAntar\u2014O Aboolfawaris, recite to us some of thy verses. Willingly, my\nLord, he replied; and thus spoke:\u2014\n\n\u201cI lust after the blows of the cleaving scimitars, and I idolize the\nthrusts of the well made spears. I long for the cups of death, when they\nare pure, and they circle round the heads of the illustrious brave. It is\nthe blow and the thrust when the horses stumble among the death-bearing\nlances, and the armies are in confusion, that please me under the shades\nof the dust, like the wings of darkness, as the coursers storm over the\nearth, the barbs of the lances plunge into obscurity, and start from it\nlike the sparkling stars. Faulchions, gleam in it in every direction,\nlike the flashes of lightning in the darkness of night. O by thy life,\nhonour and glory, and eminence, and the accomplishment of hopes, and\nexaltation of fame are for him who rushes into the combat magnanimously,\nwhere alone in the height of glory are the highest honours. Let him\nthrust among the warriors and the chiefs with a heart unmoved in the\nfall of sword blows. Let him brandish furiously his sabre and spear in\nthe boldness of his spirit, undaunted at calamities. Let him do justice\nto the lance of Cahtan in the contest, and let him stretch forth proudly\nhis shoulders with the edge of the scimitar. Otherwise, let him lead a\ncontemptible life in ignominy, and when he dies, his friends will not\nmourn over him. The beauteous virgins will not weep in anguish for any\nbut the horsemen noble in the hour of trial. I am the hero well known\nin the field of battle, and I am the eager knight amongst my relations.\nI am the assaulting lion, and the hero who defends their dwellings and\nhabitations.\u201d\n\nO Aboolfawaris, said Hassan, verily you surpass all the horsemen of the\nage in eloquence and courage, and generosity and nobleness of mind.\nYou are in truth the jewel of the times. Antar thanked him, and they\ntravelled on for three days, and on the fourth day (for the Lord of\nHeaven had decreed the glory of Antar, and that no one should exceed\nhim in prosperity) Antar happening to stray a little out of the way,\ndescended into a deep valley: and lo! there were two horsemen engaged\nin desperate combat. Antar urged on his steed, and coming up to them,\nStop, ye Arabs, he cried, and tell me the cause of your quarrel. At the\ninstant one of them stepped aside, and came up to Antar. Noble horseman\nof the desert and the town, said he, I refer myself to you, for you are\nable to protect me. I will take your part, said Antar, I will protect\nyou, I pledge myself to you but acquaint me with your story, and what has\nrendered necessary this combat between you.\n\nKnow then, noblest knight of the age, said the youth, that I and this\nhorseman are brothers, of the same father and the same mother; he is\nthe eldest, and I am the youngest; and our father was one of the Arab\nchieftains, and he was called Amroo, the son of Harith, the son of Teba,\nand Teba was our ancestor; and one day as he was sitting down, his flocks\nstrayed away, and one of his camels was lost, and as he was very partial\nto it, he questioned some of the herdsmen about it. One of them said,\nKnow, my Lord, yesterday this camel strayed away from the pasture; I\nfollowed behind it, and it still continued to run away, and I after it,\ntill I became tired, and perceiving that it lagged behind, I stretched\nout my hand and took up a stone, black in appearance, like a hard rock,\nbrilliant and sparkling. I struck the camel with it, and it hit the\ncamel on the right side and issued out on the left, and the camel fell to\nthe ground dead. On coming up to it I found the stone by its side, and\nthe camel was weltering in its blood.\n\nOn hearing this, my ancestor mounted his horse, and taking the peasant\nwith him, went to find out the pasture. They passed on till they came\nto the camel, which they found dead, and the stone lying near it. My\nancestor took it in his hand, and considered it very attentively, and\nhe knew it was a thunderbolt; so he carried it away and returned home.\nHe gave it to a blacksmith, and ordered him to make a sword of it. He\nobeyed, and took it and went his way; and in three days he returned to\nmy ancestor with a sword two cubits long and two spans wide. My ancestor\nreceived it, and was greatly pleased when he saw it, and turned towards\nthe blacksmith and said, What name have you given it? So the blacksmith\nrepeated this distich: \u201cThe sword is sharp, O son of the tribe of Ghalib,\nsharp indeed, but where is the striker for the sword?\u201d And my ancestor\nwaved the sword with his hand, and said, As to the smiter, I am the\nsmiter; and struck off the head of the blacksmith, and separated it from\nhis body. He then cased it with gold, and called it Dhami, on account of\nits sharpness. He laid it by amongst his treasures, and when he died it\ncame in succession to my father, with the rest of the arms, and when my\nfather perceived his death was at hand, he called me to him privately.\nO my son, said he, I know your brother is of a tyrannical obstinate\ndisposition, one that likes violence and hates justice, and I am aware\nthat at my death he will usurp my property. What measures shall I take?\nsaid I. He answered, take this sword and conceal it, and let no one know\nany thing about it; and when you see that he takes forcible possession\nof all my property, cattle and wealth, do you be content, my son, with\nthis sword, for it will be of great benefit to you, for if you present it\nto Nushirvan, King of Persia, he will exalt you with his liberality and\nfavours, and if you present it to the Emperor of Europe, he will enrich\nyou with gold and silver.\n\nWhen I heard these words, I consented to what he demanded, and took it\nout, in the darkness of the night, and having buried it in this place, I\nreturned to my father and stayed with him till he died. We buried him,\nand returned home; but my brother took possession of all my father had,\nand gave me nothing, not a rope\u2019s end; and when he searched for the arms,\nand saw not the Dhami, he asked me for it. I denied knowing any thing\nabout it; he gave me the lie, and abused me most violently; at last I\nconfessed, and told him I had buried it in such a spot; so he came with\nme hither, and searched for it, but could not find it. Again he asked me\nwhere I had buried it; and when he saw me roaming about from place to\nplace, he rushed upon me, and cried out, saying\u2014Vile wretch! you know\nwhere the sword is, and act thus to deceive me. He attacked me, and\nsought to slay me, I defended myself until you arrived, and now I demand\nyour protection.\n\nWhen Antar heard this, his heart pitied him; he left the youth, and\nturning to his brother, said, Why do you tyrannize over your brother? and\ndo not divide with him the property your father left? Base slave, cried\nhe, highly incensed, look to yourself, and interfere not so arrogantly;\nand he turned upon Antar, thinking him a common man; but Antar gave him\nno time to wheel, or direct his reins, ere he pierced him through the\nchest with his spear, and thrust it ten spans through his back, and threw\nhim down dead. And now, young man, said he, to the other, return to your\nfamily, and assume the rank of your father, and should any one molest\nyou, send and inform me; I will come and tear his life out of his sides.\nThe youth thanked him and expressed his gratitude. Now my brother is no\nmore, said he, I have no other enemy: and he departed home. But Antar\nfixed his spear in the ground, and dismounted from Abjer, and sat down to\nrest himself; and as he was moving the sand with his fingers, he touched\na stone; on removing what was about it, behold! the sword the youth had\nbeen seeking. He still cleared away, and drew it forth, and seized hold\nof it, and it was a sword two cubits in length, and two spans wide, of\nthe metal of Amalec, like a thunderbolt. And Antar was convinced of his\ngood fortune, and that everything began and ended in the most high God.\n\nAntar mounted and pursued his comrades and Prince Malik, bearing the\nsword in his hand. He shewed it to Malik, and told him all about the\nyouth and his brother, and the sword; of his having buried it, and all\nthat passed between them; and Malik was greatly astonished, saying, This\nis a gift sent you by the Lord of Heaven.\n\nThey marched forward, passing over the wilds and the deserts that day and\nnight; and the next day at dawn, behold there was great dust, and when\ndispersed, five hundred horsemen appeared all clothed in steel. Go and\nlearn for us, said Antar to Shiboob, what means this dust, and what news\nthere is beneath it. Shiboob quitted them, and returned as quick as a\nbird on the wing, O son of my mother, cried he, these are your enemies,\nthe army of Gheidac. But the circumstance that occasioned the approach of\nthis horseman was this: it happened that Oosak had demanded assistance of\nGheidac, in his meditated attack on the tribe of Mazin.\n\nNow there was blood revenge between Gheidac and Antar, because Antar had\nkilled his father, and he had been brought up an orphan, but when he grew\nup he became a valiant horseman, and destroyed his opponents; and he\nwas a blazing thunderbolt, and overthrew knights and slew warriors. And\nwhen his name was spread abroad among the tribes, they gave him supreme\ncommand, and he sat in the place of his father. He became proud, and\nbehaved haughtily to his people.\n\nNow there was a man in the tribe called Codh\u00e0ah, and he hated Gheidac.\nO Gheidac, said he one day, thou art a marked man; it does not become\nthee to behave so haughtily towards the horsemen, when thou hast not yet\nrevenged the murder of thy father: how canst thou presume to boast over\nthe brave and the valiant? And Gheidac said, Who is the stout king on\nwhom I am to be avenged? Thy revenge is on Antar, son of Shedad, said\nhe. Then the light became darkness in his eyes, and he cried out to the\nhorsemen of his tribe, and he ordered them to prepare for an expedition\nto attack the tribe of Abs, and he swore he would slay Antar, and make\nhim drink the cup of perdition, and destroy the whole tribe of Abs and\nAdnan. The tribe assented to his directions, and took with them all their\nwarlike instruments for the expedition.\n\nJust at that time arrived Oosak\u2019s messenger to request Gheidac\u2019s\nassistance against the tribe of Mazin. So Gheidac gave up his former\nintention, and went with the messenger of Oosak to perform what he\nrequired of him, and he was marching on this object when he met Antar\nand the Absians, and Antar dispatched Shiboob, as we before stated.\nThis day, said Antar, I will unite Gheidac to his father; I will curse\nhis family and his relations. As soon as Gheidac saw the tribe of Abs,\nand Antar the destroyer of horsemen, his heart was overjoyed, and he\ncried out to his party\u2014This is a glorious morning; to day will I take\nmy revenge, and wipe out my disgrace. So he assailed the tribe of Abs\nand Adnan, and his people attacked in his rear like a cloud when it\npours forth water and rains. And the Knight of Abs, Antar, assaulted\nthem likewise, anxious to try his sword, the famous Dhami. They all\nrushed forward, and horsemen encountered horsemen. Cowards fled, and the\nweak-hearted were disgraced; but the bold were firm in the assault, and\nthe equals in courage met each other in the field. The earth trembled\nunder trampling of the horses,\u2014the heavens were obscured with the clouds\nof dust,\u2014the warriors were covered with wounds, and the swords laboured\nin the cause of death; exertion was alive, and all jest was at an end.\nThus they continued fighting till mid-day; and the impetuosity of Antar\nwas the impetuosity of a resolute hero. When Gheidac observed the deeds\nof Antar, the bold warrior, he roared like a lion in his den, and he\nrushed down upon the lion Antar, who met him, his heart undaunted in\nthe midst of terrors, and occupied him in the contest, and continually\ndrew him on, as a lion draws on weaker cubs, until having wearied him,\nhe shouted at him and struck him with horror; then assailed him so that\nstirrup grated stirrup; and he struck him on the head with Dhami. He\ncleft his vizor and wadding, and his sword played away between the eyes,\npassing through his shoulders down to the back of the horse, even to\nthe ground: and he and his horse made four pieces; and to the strictest\nobserver, it would appear that he had divided them with scales.\n\nGheidac\u2019s companions beheld their chief, and that he was dead; and\nthey said one to another\u2014Never did we see such a blow; were not this\nslave endued with the whole power of courage, he could not at one blow\nhave thus destroyed our chief. So they took to flight and ran away,\nexclaiming\u2014May God curse thy harlot mother! how fierce is thy blow! how\npiercing is thy thrust!\n\nAntar and the horsemen soon returned from the pursuit, having filled the\nearth with the dead, and having collected the scattered horses, and all\nthe booty and plunder from the plains and deserts; as they prosecuted\ntheir journey towards the tribe of Mazin, Antar preceded the troops of\nwarriors like a noble lion, and thus addressed them.\n\n\u201cI am he that makes the warriors drink of the cups of death with the\nsharp-bladed glittering Indian scimitar. I am the raiser of their dust,\nand the atmosphere is thick and darkly turbid with blows at which\ncowards are humbled and terrified. I am the death that never rushes\ninto the fiery day of battle without a tongue to speak. I have slain\nGheidac, because he was oppressive and insulted me, and soon will I send\nOosak after him. I charge right and left through their horsemen, and\ndash through the midst of them. I cut down to the ground the warriors\nin the fight, whilst the horses stumble and slip over their heads. O\nIbla, though they abuse me for my blackness, yet the fairness of my\nexploits shines and flashes. O Ibla, the men of my tribe have witnessed\nmy spear-thrust and sword-blow raging among the sculls. I destroy the\nheroes of war with my scimitar, and whole armies are extirpated at the\nedge of my sword. How many horsemen throw away their arms in terror of\nme, when they behold me robed in black gore. My ambition is raised above\nthe Pleiades, and the fortune of my star is suspended from heaven.\u201d\n\nThey marched forward without delay, until they reached the tribe of\nMazin, where they perceived the glittering of spears, the glare of\narmour, the flash of swords, and warriors engaged round the tents whilst\nthe women were earnestly encouraging them to the contest and battle. Who\nis it that fights with children and women? and who is it that shrinks\nfrom his enemy and foes? cried the heroes. When Antar saw and heard the\ncries of the women, and the screams of the children from the crowd (for\nhe was particularly solicitous in the cause of women), the light was\ndarkened in his eyes, and he knew not the right from the left. Do you\ntake your warriors towards the quarter of the women, cried he to Malik,\nand I will attack these horsemen who have taken their property, and have\ndispersed them in the plains and wilds. And he shouted forth in his well\nknown voice when incensed\u2014Ignoble dastards, he roared, I am Antar, the\nson of Shedad! He attacked, and at his assault the mountains tottered.\nHe rushed down upon the enemy, and at once overpowered the warriors and\ndestroyed the heroes, driving away the enemy out of their tents; and at\nhis second attack all the scene of action was expanded; he shouted in\nfront of the horses and forced them back upon their haunches; and when\nthe horsemen crowded about him, he snatched hold of one from the back\nof his horse, and grasping him by his feet, and whirling him round as a\nsling, with him he struck down a second, and the two instantly fell dead.\nThus the battle was raging among them, when Antar heard the voice of\nPrince Malik, crying out, O son of Shedad, haste to my assistance.\n\nNow the Prince was engaged with the party of Moosad, the lord of the\nwaters of Traeer; he had dispersed them, and was about to repeat his\nattack, when Moosad came upon him roaring like a lion. He was an\nexperienced horseman: he attacked Prince Malik, and pressed him hard;\nand when Malik saw that his life was in danger he cried for Antar\u2019s aid;\nwho no sooner heard him than he turned Abjer round, and like a ferocious\nlion rushed down upon Moosad, who was about to gallop around and charge\nat him; but Antar gave him no time. Come on! he cried: and he terrified\nhim, and struck him with Dhami on the chest, and he divided him down\nto the girdle of his back, and hurled him down, hewn in two. He then\nassailed the army of Oosak, his heart undaunted at death.\n\nAnd when the tribe of Mazin saw Antar\u2019s prowess, the hearts of the\nheroes were encouraged, and they hastened to the combat; men met men,\nand heroes heroes; blood flowed and streamed, scimitars glittered, and\nspears goaded; armour was riven; lives were plundered; the ground was\ndiscoloured with blood; the warriors were covered with glory; the flames\nof war greatly raged; innumerable were the blows and the thrusts, and\nthe easy became difficult: the battle field boiled like the boiling of\ncauldrons; mighty was every act, and fate descended amongst them. The\neagles and vultures hovered round; cowards were overthrown, and the brave\nwere overwhelmed: heroes were slain on both sides. The horror of the\nscene was tremendous, the universal cry among them, was Death! Hands and\narms were torn asunder. Antar cut through the troops, and made heads fly\noff like balls, and hands like leaves of trees. The van cried out to the\nrear; they roared against Antar from afar; but not one dared to approach\nthe spot where he fought.\n\nAntar eagerly sought after the plume that floated above the head of\nOosak, and he stopped not in his attack until he was beneath the standard\nwhere Oosak was waiting for his people to bring him his beloved Naeema:\nneither could he be roused till Antar came before him and encountered\nhim. Then ensued a dreadful engagement. The combat lasted an hour; when\nnerveless sunk the arm of Oosak. Antar seeing the state he was in, clung\nto him and grappled him; and drawing his sword from his scabbard, he\naimed a blow at his head, but Oosak received it on his shield. The sword\nof Antar came down upon it and shivered it in two, and split his vizor\nin twain, and it penetrated even to his thighs, down to the back of the\nhorse; and the rider and the horse fell in four parts; and he cried out\u2014O\nby Abs! I am the lover of Ibla; never will I be controuled! I will not be\nrestrained!\n\nWhen the troops of Oosak saw this deed, they were bewildered; they became\nconfounded; and they said to one another, this is no human being,\u2014every\none that comes before him drinks of the cup of death. So they wheeled\nabout their horses and retreated into the rocky deserts, whilst Antar and\nthe tribe of Abs and Mazin pursued them, and having driven them away out\nof that land, they returned to the scattered cattle and dispersed horses;\nand as they all came back to the tents, the tribe of Mazin dismounted,\nand met Antar, and marched by the side of his stirrup, celebrating his\nvictory and triumph till they reached their camp, where the women and\nthe men came out, and the tribe of Abs were accommodated with the best\nspots. Hassan was the happiest of them all with Antar and the Absians. He\nprepared feasts and festivals and entertainments, which lasted for seven\ndays; and on the eighth night Naeema was married to Hassan.\n\nEarly the next morning all the Arabs went to their respective countries\nand homes, and the tribe of Abs also departed; but all the tribe of\nMazin, in order to take leave of them, accompanied them a whole day\u2019s\njourney, when Antar besought them to return home, and he and Malik\npursued their journey towards their own country, over wilds and plains.\nAnd when they were nigh, Prince Malik sent on a messenger to announce\ntheir approach. All the tribe of Abs were extremely anxious about that\nexpedition, particularly King Zoheir, with respect to Antar; because his\nenemies, and those that envied him, exceeded his friends and well-wishers.\n\nNow Rebia the son of Zeead had a brother whose name was Amarah: he was\none of the nobles, but a great coxcomb, was very particular in his\ndress, fond of perfumes, and always keeping company with the women and\nyoung girls. About that period, happening to hear much said about Ibla,\nand what Antar had reported of her, and repeated of her in his verses,\na passion was kindled in his heart, and from hearsay, he conceived\na violent love for her; and as Poets term it, his ears fell in love\nbefore his eyes. Amarah sent for one of his female slaves, and said\nto her, Go to the habitations of the tribe of Carad, and obtain some\naccount of Ibla for me, and, learn if what Antar says of her be true, or\ndisbelieved amongst the people, for if she has all the beauty and charms\nthat are attributed to her, I shall demand her in marriage, and will\nbe lawfully wedded to her. She promised to obey him, and departed. She\ncame to the habitations of the tribe of Carad, and presented herself to\nIbla, pretending to come on a visit; so Ibla gave her a kind reception.\nThus the slave girl ascertained the point about Ibla, and found her a\nperfect miracle of beauty and loveliness. She remained about an hour,\nand returned to Amarah. Blessed be God, how great is his power, and how\nfair are his works, cried she, as she entered the tents, and in Amarah\u2019s\nhearing; and he asked her what had occasioned her so much astonishment.\nO, said she, it is that damsel, whose equal exists not; for the most high\nGod has granted to her such beauty, and such charms, as he has never yet\nbestowed on any one of the daughters of the greatest Kings.\n\nAt this his heart fluttered, he was agitated, he instantly leaped up,\nand put on his best clothes, and perfumed himself all over, and let his\nhair float down his shoulders, and mounted a white-faced horse, and set\nout for the habitations of the tribe of Carad. He happened to meet Malik,\nIbla\u2019s father, and his son Amroo, on the road. Amarah saluted them,\nand said to Malik\u2014Come along with me, my uncle, for I have something\nparticular to communicate. If you have any business with me, replied\nMalik, you might have sent a servant to me, and I would have waited on\nyou. What I want of you, said Amarah, must be done personally between us.\nI wish to be nearly related to you, and am most anxious to be connected\nwith you. I am a suitor with you, and am desirous of wedding your\ndaughter; and I have only done this out of my anxiety for her on account\nof her shepherd, who has disgraced her among the Arabs of the desert.\n\nThus Amarah continued his talk, till Malik\u2019s eyes wept tears of joy:\nhis bosom was elated and transported with delight. O chief, said he, my\ndaughter is your slave, and I and my son Amroo are the most obedient\nof you servants\u2014and he stretched out his hand to Amarah, and promised\nhis daughter to him; and when they all returned home, Amarah informed\nhis brother Rebia of all that had passed between him and Malik, son of\nCarad, I shall not permit thee thus to connect thyself, said Rebia; have\nnothing to do with such fellows; for if Antar hears it, he will not leave\na single man alive of all the tribe of Zeead. And pray who\u2019s Antar? asked\nAmarah\u2014have I not a thousand slaves like him? and if the foul wretch\npresume to interfere with me, I will shew him the valour of Amarah the\nmunificent; I\u2019ll shew him what I\u2019ll do with him. If you can effect the\nmarriage to-morrow morning early, said Rebia, give her father the dower\nand marriage presents without delay, and introduce yourself to her in\nthe absence of Antar; for he is an uncontroulable horseman, and a man\nrough and harsh in his manners; but if you can gain her whilst he\u2019s away,\nthere will be an end of it. Amarah assented to the proposal of Rebia, and\nthought his advice prudent; for he feared Antar would kill him and make\nhim drink of the cup of death and dissolution.\n\nSo the next day Amarah mounted his horse and went to Malik to give\nhim the dower and marriage presents; and just at that moment arrived\na messenger at the tents of the tribe of Abs, announcing the approach\nof Prince Malik son of Zoheir, and Antar son of Shedad, and all the\nnoble warriors in their suite. Every one mounted his steed to go and\nmeet them. And friends saluted friends. Antar went home, and entered\nhis aunt\u2019s apartments, and staid till morning with his mother, whom he\nquestioned about Ibla, enquiring whether she had mentioned him during\nhis absence? God be with thee, my son, said his mother; talk no more\nabout Ibla, and that lovely form\u2014if thou art asleep, awake! Antar upon\nthis instantly jumped up\u2014What king or prince, exclaimed he, has taken her\naway! The chief Amarah, said his mother, has taken her. Every thing is\ncompleted but the giving of the dower and marriage presents. By the faith\nof a noble and faithful Arab, cried Antar, to morrow will I slay that\nAmarah, were he even concealed within the chambers of Nushirvan, king of\nPersia; to-morrow will I tell the whole affair to my friend Prince Malik,\nand ask his counsel.\n\nHe remained at home that night, but early in the morning, he repaired\nto the habitations of the Prince; he entered his tent, and kissed his\nhand. Malik received him kindly, seated him by his side, saying\u2014how hast\nthou passed the night, Aboolfawaris? My night was the night of thy most\naccursed foe, replied Antar. What means this? said Malik, inform me\nwhat\u2019s the matter, and be sure of success and triumph. Antar told him\nwhat Malik had done, and how he had betrothed his daughter to Amarah; but\nmy lord, I must indeed slay that Amarah, and the whole race of Zeead,\nand I will depart from this land and country. But why quit this land?\nsaid Malik, greatly disturbed; I am a foe to those who are thy foes, and\na friend of those who are thy friends; have patience until we go out to\nthe chase, and then will I speak to thy father Shedad, and will urge him\nto acknowledge thee as his son, and that thou art a part of his heart.\nThen take Ibla from her father; and if he does not assent, I will put my\nname on her; and will keep off any suitor or wooer till the ceremony is\nperformed, and thou art in possession of thy wife.\n\nAt this, Antar\u2019s grief and anguish were appeased. So they mounted their\nhorses and sought the habitation of King Zoheir, whence they all went\nout on a hunting party. And Amarah rode by the side of Ibla\u2019s father: he\nwas dressed out in his finest raiments, and his limbs were perfumed and\nscented, and his hair flowed down his shoulders. Go, Aboolfawaris, to\nmy tent, said Malik to Antar, that I may speak with thy father Shedad.\nAntar departed, and Prince Malik riding up to Shedad, said\u2014How long will\nyou reject your son Antar? does not your heart lean towards him? and do\nyou not yearn after him? all the horde envies you on his account. Grant\nme this request, Shedad, and let me make a noble entertainment, and let\nme raise his head above a state of servitude, and you will see what he\nwill do in return for such a favour. Who, answered Shedad, whilst his\nwrath was evident in his features, who is the Arab that ever did such\na deed before me? Do you wish that it should be said of me that Shedad\nwas captivated with a Negro woman, even to desire to marry her, and she\nbore him a son, and he acknowledged him as such because he became a great\nwarrior, and a destroying hero. And who is he, said Malik, that having\na son that resembles your son Antar would deny him, even were swords to\ncut his body in pieces?\u2014According to my opinion, you should glory in him.\nLet the Arabs follow your example.\u2014Good practices are to be admired,\neven though they be new. My lord, we\u2019ll consult about this, said Shedad;\nand he went his way home; Prince Malik also returning unsuccessful,\nfound Antar in the greatest anxiety\u2014he required what had passed with his\nfather\u2014Malik told him.\n\nAntar remained that night with Prince Malik, but early next morning he\nmounted his horse and went towards his mother\u2019s tent, and as he was\npassing along the road, he met Amarah in the quarter of the tribe of\nCarad. He had been that night consulting with Malik, Ibla\u2019s father, about\nthe marriage, and in the morning he was returning home followed by his\nattendants. He was riding in a most affected, coxcomical manner; and as\nsoon as he saw Antar he trembled, and was in great dismay; however, he\nplucked up courage, and let his tongue run glibly on. Son of Shedad, said\nhe, where wert thou last night? thy masters were seeking thee; for I was\nthere with them, and having heard of thy talent for eloquence, it was my\nintention to give thee a robe suitable to such as thou art.\n\nOn hearing this, the light became dark in Antar\u2019s eyes; he came up to\nhim\u2014Amarah, he exclaimed, I am not worthy of receiving a robe or present\nfrom thee; but when thou enterest unto my mistress Ibla, the daughter of\nMalik, verily, vile wretch, I will wrench thy neck off thy shoulders; I\nwill curse thy family and thy parents, and I will make thine the most\nfatal of marriages; and Antar ran close up to Amarah, and seized him by\nthe waist, heaved him up in his hand till he had raised him above his\nhead, and then dashed him on the ground, and almost smashed his bones.\nAmarah fainted with fright, and gave unfeigned signs of cowardice and\nalarm.\n\nImmediately there arose an uproar among the tribes of Abs and Zeead, and\nsoon appeared Prince Malik at full speed; for as soon as he heard the\nnews, he was afraid some mischief would befall his friend. He came up\nwith his drawn sword and joined Antar, who stood firm, with his trusty\nDhami in his hand. By the faith of an Arab of Medder, said Malik, verily\nAntar in the tribe of Carad, is like a rare onyx amongst people who know\nnot its value or worth. Come on, Aboolfawaris, he continued, now for the\nfamily of Zeead! and he plied his sword among them. Were the tribe of\nZeead in any other place, cried Antar, hastening towards him, and kissing\nhis hand, I would shew thee what I would do with them in battle and war;\nbut I am afraid of blame and reproaches; and least the noble Arabs should\nsay, that a slave of the tribe of Carad put his cousins to the sword.\nMalik was amazed at Antar, and his magnanimity; and just then Rebia came\nup at full speed with the intention of killing Antar the lion-hearted\nhero, for he too had heard of the event: so he mounted his horse, and\ncame greatly alarmed lest his brother should be killed and buried; for\nhe had previously told his brother that he did not wish him to interfere\nwith Ibla, or expose himself and family to danger with the slave Antar.\nHe rushed upon Antar, eager to destroy him. Stop, Rebia, cried Malik, or\nby the faith of an Arab I will not spare one of your people or warriors.\nMatters were in this state, when lo! King Zoheir arrived, with all his\nheroes of the tribe of Abs and Adnan. The attendants cried out, hold!\nstop! fight not! ye have put in motion King Zoheir, the ruler of the age.\n\nNow on that day King Zoheir had received intelligence that the tribe of\nTey were coming down upon him on account of Aminah, the daughter of the\nBlood-drinker, and with them were twelve thousand horsemen. King Zoheir\nwas therefore troubled in his heart, and he kept it secret, for he feared\nthat death and ruin were coming upon the tribe of Abs. At that moment\nalso reached him the account of Amarah and Antar; and he was greatly\nalarmed that dissentions should arise amongst the tribes: so he mounted\nhis horse and came to them. As soon as King Zoheir arrived, they held\nback from the fray, and they presented themselves, both Amarah and his\nbrother, whilst all the people cried out unanimously\u2014O great King, there\nis no security for us in your country unless you permit us to slay this\ndiabolical black slave, Antar; for he rebels and revolts, and no one but\nyou can restrain him. O my cousins, said Zoheir, tell me what is the\nmatter, what has Antar done?\n\nRebia came forward and told him that Amarah had demanded in marriage\nIbla, the daughter of Malik, and what Antar had done to him. So the King\nknew that Antar had been ill-used, and that what they had told him about\nthe marriage of Ibla was only to deceive him: but observing how many\ncomplained of Antar, he said, tell me what is your intention, or what\nshall I do to him. O King, said they, either kill him, or banish him\nfrom our country, or send him back to tend the sheep and the camels. As\nto killing him, replied the King, I cannot submit to you, because he\nhas eaten of our meat, and our protection is on him; and as to banishing\nhim or sending him back to tend the camels and the sheep, that does not\ndepend upon me\u2014it is Shedad\u2019s affair.\n\nSo the King sent for Shedad; and when he came\u2014these people are much\nexasperated against your son, said Zoheir, but you have the entire\ndisposal of him, therefore do with him what you please, and I will\nbe witness for you. I am quite bewildered and distressed about this\nbusiness, replied Shedad, but my opinion is that he should return to the\ncare of the sheep and the camels, and repent of his conduct. Call Antar\nhere, cried Zoheir, and make the compact with him in my presence. Shedad\ncalled for Antar, and he came. Thou wicked slave, said his master, it\nis my determination that thou return to the care of the sheep and the\ncamels, for I will not irritate the whole tribe, and submit to thee. I\nwill not molest my brother Malik, and obey thee.\n\nWhen Antar heard his father\u2019s orders, the tears rushed from his eyes, and\nhe regretted greatly what had passed. Do, said Antar, what you please,\nfor I am one of your servants, and a slave has only to obey his master,\nthough he torment and afflict him every day of his life: and from this\nday will I never mount a horse, and will never be present in battle nor\ngo anywhere but by your permission. And King Zoheir and others witnessed\nfor Antar, and for his promise; and this flame that had blazed was\nextinguished; and they all returned to their tents; and his enemies, and\nthose that envied him, exulted over Antar, particularly the family of\nZeead.\n\nAnd Now, my cousins, cried Zoheir, prepare your warlike instruments\nthis instant, to fight the tribe of Tey, for they are coming down upon\nus with twelve thousand horsemen, on account of Aminah, the daughter of\nthe Blood-drinker, in order to release her from slavery and indignity.\nThey all assented, and separated to prepare immediately. But Antar was\nrejoiced and glad at hearing this intelligence, for he knew the tribe of\nAbs would be beaten and routed, and that they would be in want of him. So\nhe went home and entered his mother\u2019s apartment, and asked about Ibla.\nIbla was with me just now, said she; and she said, soothe the heart of my\ncousin Antar, and tell him from me that if my father even makes my grave\nmy resting place, none but him do I desire, none but him will I choose.\n\nAntar\u2019s heart rejoiced and gladdened when he heard what Ibla had said of\nhim. He staid at home that night, and the next day he took his brothers\nJereer and Shiboob, and went to the pasture, driving the cattle and the\ncamels before him.\n\nAnd King Zoheir mounted his horse with all his warriors of the tribe of\nAbs, in number four thousand, all armed and accoutered, and set out to\nmeet the tribe of Tey, leaving in the tents for the protection of the\nproperty, three hundred horsemen, with the sons of Shas and Cais, and\nRebia the son of Zeead. He traversed the deserts: and the tribe of Abs\nremained in safety one night; the next day Antar conducted the cattle\nand camels to the pasture, and Shiboob and Jereer went out also with the\ncattle and the sheep, seeking the pastures. No sooner had they quitted\nthe tents, but a dust arose that darkened the whole country. It was a\nparty of the tribe of Tey, who had passed King Zoheir on the road, and\nreached the land of Sharebah like a blazing flame.\n\nWhat is your counsel now? O Ebereah, said Antar to Shiboob. If you listen\nto my advice, said his brother, to-day you will obtain all you wish and\ndesire, and you will become the noblest of the tribe of Abs, and be\nadmitted to the rank and consideration of an Arab, and be reckoned one\nof the horsemen of Arabia. My opinion is, you should take the camels and\nthe cattle, and ascend this eminence towards Mount Saadi; I will bring\nyou your horse and your armour: for I know that the tribe of Abs will be\nrouted, and will stand in need of you; and they will come to you, and\nwill intreat you: but do not mount your horse, do not take part in the\ncontest till your father admits you to his own rank, and acknowledges\nyou as a son, and as a part of his heart, and your uncle gives you his\ndaughter in marriage, and makes you a partner in his wealth\u2014then descend\nand destroy your enemies and those that envy you; and thus, my brother,\nyou will attain the object of your wishes.\n\nAntar heard this advice of Shiboob; and he drove away the cattle and the\ncamels, and ascended the hill of Mount Saadi; whilst Shiboob went and\nbrought him his horse and his armour, and they all three sat down to\nwatch the result of the contest between the tribes of Abs and Tey: but\nthe Teyans attacked the pastures of the Absians, and carried off their\ncamels and their cattle, with their shepherds; and the whole country and\nvicinity were filled with them. Many of the herdsmen returned in flight,\nand spread alarm among the tents, informing the Absians of the arrival of\nthe Teyans, and of their attack upon them, and that their army was like\nthe tempestuous sea. They were amazed, and confounded; for they knew that\nKing Zoheir must have missed them on the road.\n\nShas called out to the warriors, and assembled the men. Come on, my\ncousins, cried he, behold the enemy, let us fight for our women and our\ntents, and let us infuse fear and terror into their hearts, or they will\ncut in among ye, and nothing will secure us against the cup of death, but\nthe blows with the sword. They all mounted, the men were encouraged, and\nrushed on to the combat; man opposed man, and hero encountered heroes;\nblood flowed and streamed, limbs were hewn off, and horrors were spread\namong them for an hour; when at length the noble Absians were so hard\npressed, that the Teyans overwhelmed them, for there were twelve thousand\nof these, and the Absians only three hundred. Shas and Rebia and Amarah\nwere wounded, and nearly dead. The Absians abandoned their property\nand families, and sought the wilds and the deserts, and the enemy took\npossession of their country and lands.\n\nAlas! said Ibla\u2019s father to Shedad, O my brother, where is thy son? Let\nhim come to us in such a dreadful day as this, and liberate us from\ndeath and misery. We cannot raise our heads towards Antar, said Shedad;\nbut were he present, our condition would indeed be the reverse of this.\nShedad raised his eyes towards the hill, and he saw Shiboob and Jereer\nand Antar seated on the ground and contemplating the tribe of Abs, and\ntheir defeat. So he ran towards them, and his brother Malik followed\nhim\u2014Canst thou, in an hour like this, said Shedad, employ thyself in\ntending the cattle and the camels? Behold! the enemy have succeeded in\ntheir attempts, and have plundered our property and slain our horsemen,\nand have threatened to capture our women and our families.\n\nWhat dost wish me to do? said Antar; I am indeed grieved at thy distress.\nO that I could rescue thee from destruction and defeat; but I am a\nslave, and am not capable of doing any thing, and am not worthy your\nconsideration; I am indeed a poor slave, and one who conducts cattle and\ncamels to the pastures, and one employed in milking, and picking up wood,\nand tending cattle and sheep\u2014am I not for this contemptible and despised?\nAnd he quitted his father and his uncle Malik where they stood, and went\naway from them.\n\nShedad was vexed at his conduct. What means this indifference about us,\nsaid he? What do you want of me? Said Antar\u2014Hast ever heard of any one\nasking protection and countenance from a slave? And abandoning noble\nprinces? Mount, descend, and destroy the enemy, Antar! cried Shedad, and\nI will grant thee all thy wishes and hopes, and I will raise thee to the\nrank and honour of an Arab. But what will be this rank and honour? said\nAntar. I will, said Shedad, recognize you as my son, and as a part of my\nheart. O my nephew, descend and drive away the enemy from us! exclaimed\nMalik, and I will acknowledge thee of our family.\n\nWhilst all this was going on between Antar, Shedad, and Malik, the Teyans\nattacked the tents, and plundered the property and goods, and captured\nthe women and families, even the females of King Zoheir\u2019s family; and his\ndaughter Mootejeredah and his wife Temadhur were both taken prisoners;\nand they seized Ibla, and Shereeah and Semeeah; and dreadful was the\nwailing of Ibla when they threw down their dwellings to their very\nfoundations, and they left nothing worth a halter; for they were Arabs,\nand greedy of plunder, and only conquered for spoil; and there were men\namong them who loaded their horses, and loaded themselves with a good\nhorse load besides; and in a short time they left the whole country a\nbarren waste, driving away with them the females and the families, as\nthey departed over the hills and the deserts.\n\nMalik, Ibla\u2019s father, looked towards the women, and seeing Ibla was a\ncaptive among the warriors, O my nephew, cried he to Antar, dost thou\nnot see thy beloved Ibla, and wilt thou not defend and protect her? If\nI mount this instant, Malik, said Antar, and destroy this party, and\nrelease Ibla from her affliction, wilt thou give her to me in marriage?\nYes, said Malik, by the God that created her and beautified her. And he\nextended his hand towards Antar, and swore by the God of mankind, and\nsaid, If thou dost liberate Ibla, she shall be thy wife for ever: and\nShedad admitted his pretentions to honour and rank, and swore he would\nnot deny him again, were the foe to tear his body to pieces.\n\nShedad and Malik having finished speaking, and Antar having made them\nconfirm their oaths, Shiboob brought him his horse Abjer. Now mount, O\nmy brother, said he, for thou hast no more to say to thy father and thy\nuncle\u2014Put to the rout these hateful foes. Antar clad himself in armour,\nand encased himself in arms \u2019till he was like a tower, or a mass rent\nfrom the mountain\u2019s side. He rushed impetuously down from the height like\na tremendous lion, his heart harder than stone, and his soul more buoyant\nthan the waves of the sea when it roars. He shouted with a voice so loud\nthat the whole country and vallies trembled at the shock\u2014Ye ignoble\ndastards, I am Antar the son of Shedad! and he thus spoke:\n\n\u201cSoon shall ye behold my deeds this day with the foe in the field of\nspear-thrusts, and the battle fire; and my furious courage amongst the\ntribes; so that in my sublimity, I will mount above the Pisces. I plunge\ninto the flames of war with the cleaving scimitar, and I extirpate them\nwith the goring lance. I drive back the horses on their haunches from\nthe lofty seat of my thin-flanked Abjer, and with the blade of my sword\nDhami, at whose edge flow the waves of death over the enemy. This day\nwill I exhibit my ardent soul with my Indian sword, and I will meet the\nchests of the horse with my thrusts. I will establish the market of war\nin its field on the top of my steed, in the protection of my country. My\nsword is my father, and the spear in my hand is my father\u2019s brother; and\nI am the son of my day in the heights of the deserts.\u201d\n\nHe bent his head over the saddle-bow, and made his attack. First, he\nsought the horseman who had captured Ibla; he was in the rear, and his\nassault was the assault of fate and destiny. He wished to pierce him\nthrough the chest, but he feared the point might touch Ibla, and she be\nslain with him: so he wheeled his horse on one side, and came upon his\nright like a ferocious lion, and shouted out in a voice like thunder when\nit bellows, and pierced with his spear his right side; the point issued\nout on his left, and he hurled him down dead, weltering in his blood.\nIbla was terrified at the thrust of the spear, but she was unhurt. Antar\ndismounted and came to Ibla. \u201cFear not, thou light of my eyes, said he,\nthou shalt behold thy Antar perform to day, deeds that shall be narrated\nand recorded.\u201d\n\nAgain he rushed upon the enemy like an outrageous lion; and Shiboob\nattended him shooting his arrows, with which he transfixed the hearts of\nthe warriors. At the first attack he dispersed the troops from the tents,\nand in the second he laid bare the whole plain. He poured down upon them\nand he destroyed them, and overwhelmed them with shouts, and horror and\ndeath. He hewed off their arms and their limbs, and put to flight both\nthe right and the left. And God prospered him in all he did, so that he\nslew all he aimed at, and overthrew all he touched. How numerous were\nthe heroes he terrified! and at his shouts all the land trembled.\n\nNow the tribe of Abs distinguished his voice through the confusion and\nthick dust, and they said to one another, \u201che has indeed routed them.\u201d\nThey returned from the mountains and ravines, and joined the battle, and\ntheir hearts gained courage at the sight of Antar, the lord of war. But\nwhen Shas saw how Antar moved amongst the enemy, and how he overwhelmed\nthem in slaughter and destruction, his gall burst, and his hatred\nincreased. He turned towards his brother Cais, and said\u2014dost not behold\nthe deeds of that foul Black, how he cuts down the enemy with his sword?\nVerily, he has discomfited them, and dispersed them among the wilds and\nthe plains, and his greatness will raise him above us all. But I wish,\nmy brother, to take him unawares and kill him whilst he is engaged in\nthe conflict, and make him drink of the cup of perdition, that we may be\nrelieved from his foul influence; and it will be said that the Teyans\nhave slain him.\n\nWhat mean\u2019st thou, O Shas! replied Cais; does Antar deserve this of us,\nafter having defended our wives and our families? How can we be guilty\nof such an act? Had it not been for Antar\u2019s sword, the enemy would not\nhave left one of us alive\u2014not one to tell the tale. My advice is that we\nshould aid him in the conflict, and drive away from us these warriors,\nor we shall become a common proverb. Cais continued to make such\nrepresentations to Shas, till he dissuaded him from his project. The\nwhole tribe of Abs then collected together, and made one united effort\nagainst the enemy; and men encountered men, and heroes heroes, blood\nflowed, limbs were hewn off, and the Absians exerted all their powers\nto join the lion warrior; but it was impossible at that time, for Antar\nhad plunged into the midst of the Teyans, on account of their horseman\nwhose name was Rebeeah, who was the leader of the troops. He was eminent\nfor his bravery, and it was he who had wounded Shas, and had destroyed\nmany Absians, and had dispersed them among the mountain sides. And Antar\ncontinued slaughtering, and searching him until he overtook him, and did\nnot give him time to turn or move his bridle, \u2019ere he struck him with\nDhami upon his breast, dividing him down to the thong that encircled his\nback, and he tumbled over cut in twain.\n\nWhen the Blood-drinker saw Antar smite the warrior, he was terrified and\nconfounded, and said to his troops about him, this is no mortal man; all\nthat have dared him, have drank of the cup of perdition. And as soon as\nhe had released his daughter, he placed her behind him, and sought the\nwilds and the deserts, followed by the tribe of Tey and all the troops\nthat had survived. And they fled to the mountains and the rocks, their\nstandards reversed. But the tribe of Abs pursued and drove them before\nthem full three parasangs from their country, and then returned for the\ndispersed horses and the scattered property. And they went back to their\nown tents, Antar at their head, like the flower of the Judas tree, thus\nexclaiming:\n\n\u201cI have abused fortune, but how can she humiliate such as me! I too that\nhave a spirit would cut down mountains. I am the warrior of whom it is\nsaid, he tended the he and she camels of his tribe. When I assaulted\nKendeh and Tey, their hands brandishing the long spears, with armies,\nthat when I thought of them I imagined the whole earth filled with men;\nand as their hardy steeds trampled our lands, whilst you might see them\ntalking and exulting, \u2019twas then their steeds fled away horrified at me,\nand the redoubled thrusts that gored them as they sought the fight. The\nnoble hero feels no fatigue; him no challenger need call to the combat.\nIt was the slave alone that drove back the horsemen whilst the flame\nof battle was blazing,\u2014then speeded away their troops in terror of my\narm,\u2014light they fled, burthened though they had been. Crushing were the\nstamps and tramplings on their necks, and the horse shoes dashed and\npounded their skulls. How many warriors were laid low by my sword, whilst\nthey tore, in very rage, their hands with their teeth. I rescued the\nmaidens and virgins, and not one did I leave but bereft of sense. Mine\nis a spirit for every enterprize, high is my fame, exalted is my glory.\u201d\n\nThese verses excited surprize and admiration among the chiefs, and they\nthanked him. But Malik, Ibla\u2019s father, and Shas and Rebia, and the\ntribe of Zeead, cherished a flame in their hearts; they thanked him in\nappearance, but in their soul their gall was burst. When they approached\nthe tents the women came out to meet them, beating the cymbals, and the\nslaves brandishing their swords; and Ibla stood in front of them like a\nfull moon when it shines, as she cried out\u2014May I never lose thee, O thou\ndefender of women, and destroyer of every foe and enemy. At these words,\nAntar\u2019s grief and anguish vanished, and he thought that in her presence\nhe could slay a host of enemies. The warriors then went down to their\ntents, and no one but talked of Antar, how he slew, and fought with the\ninvaders; and they passed a night of joy, glorying in the deeds of Antar\nthe invincible hero.\n\nThe next day arrived in haste King Zoheir with his companions, for he had\nheard that his foe had passed him on the road: he feared his family might\nbe destroyed and cut off; and he could scarcely believe he should find\nhis family safe from the treacheries of the times; and as he approached\nthe tents he saw dead bodies scattered about, broken scimitars and\nshattered spears, and his heart misgave him. But when he reached the\ntents, the chiefs came out to meet him: they saluted him, and related\nwhat Antar had done. And when King Zoheir heard this of the great Antar,\nhe said to his surrounding heroes\u2014Verily by the faith of an Arab, we are\nglorified in Antar above all that inhabit the wilds. And Antar came out\nto meet him; the King approached him, and kissed him between the eyes\u2014O\nAboolfawaris, said he, we are unable to reward thee for this act, even\nwere we to give thee all we possess in dominions and property.\n\nThen the warriors went to their tents, and the King to his own pavilion.\nAnd his wife, Temadhur, came up to him, and kissing his hands\u2014O King,\nsaid she, if you are wise and good, be kind to Antar; for it is he that\nhas protected your wife and children. Thus was his joy in the deeds of\nAntar augmented, and he slept at ease until the morning dawned, when he\nordered the sheep and camels to be slain, and a feast to be prepared, and\na magnificent entertainment to be made ready for all the tribe of Abs and\nAdnan. The most highly honoured were Antar and the horsemen of the tribe\nof Carad. After dinner they began conversing, and Shedad related to the\nKing all his son Antar had done: how he himself having acknowledged his\nrelationship and connexion, and his brother Malik having promised him\nto Ibla, he mounted his horse and routed the enemy, and dispersed them\namongst the wilds and the deserts.\n\nThis struck to the heart of Shas, and his soul was filled with\nindignation and rage, and his whole frame was ready to burst. Shedad,\nsaid he, how could you take upon yourself to introduce Antar, the son of\na slave, to our tribe, and admit him to our rank and our consequence? Now\nwe shall become a shame amongst the Arabs to the end of time, and they\nwill say the tribe of Abs has associated itself with black slaves.\n\nO Shas, said Cais, give up this envious disposition, in which no one\npartakes with you. And King Zoheir turned also towards his son Shas, and\nrebuked him. O my lord, exclaimed Antar, standing up, the heart of Prince\nShas is not inclined towards me, I will therefore retire from you to\nanother tribe. Tears flowed from the eyes of Antar, and King Zoheir and\nthe tribe of Carad gazed at him in astonishment; when at length the King\narose, and having kissed Antar between the eyes, he thanked and praised\nhim. Then turning towards the warriors of Abs, he cried out\u2014\u201cO ye tribes\nof Abs and Adnan, and all ye that are here assembled, ye all know the\npurity of my connexion and rank, and my father and my mother, yet let\nAntar be called as I am called, for he is, by the faith of an Arab, my\ncousin, the antidote to all my sorrow and my grief, and he who honours\nhim, honours me; and he who despises him, despises me,\u2014and he cried\nout\u2014Welcome, welcome to my cousin, thou reliever of sorrow!\u201d\n\nAmong the first who succeeded Zoheir was Prince Malik; he sprang towards\nAntar, and embraced him and kissed him between the eyes; and he likewise\ncried out\u2014Welcome, welcome to my cousin, the reliever of sorrow! When\nthe horsemen saw what King Zoheir and his son had done, they could not\navoid following the example; so they sprang towards Antar and embraced\nhim, and kissed him between the eyes, and admitted him to the honour\nand rank of an Arab, and all cried out\u2014Welcome, welcome to my cousin!\nBut Shas was violently enraged; he was nearly bursting with passion;\nhe arose hastily and went to his tent. But the warriors sat down and\nbegan talking and jesting, anxiety and sorrow left them, and they were\nall joy and merriment; they ate meat and drank wine till night brought\non the darkness; and at the termination of the feast the King clothed\nAntar in a robe worked with red gold, and girded on a trusty sword, and\ngave him a pike of Khata, and mounted him on an Arab horse, and called\nhim the Champion of the tribes of Abs and Adnan. And Antar returned with\nhis father and his uncles towards the tents, and his glory and honour\nwere exalted among all the horsemen; the warriors of the tribe of Carad\nrejoiced, but his enemies and the envious were grieved, particularly the\nfamily of Zeead.\n\nAmarah went home, and his regret and affliction increased; he laid\nhimself down at full length, and a fever and trembling attacked him,\nand his knees and legs pained him, and he was fearfully indisposed. He\nsent for his brother Rebia, and wept before him; O brother, said he,\nif Ibla escape me, I shall die of grief, and no one will know of my\ndeath. Amarah, said Rebia, verily you have done a deed you ought not\nto have done. We must now consider this slave as our equal. From the\nfirst, I never wished you to interfere with Ibla, or connect yourself\nwith the tribe of Carad; and now that this vile slave has liberated her\nfrom slavery we can do nothing with her, and cannot succeed, unless her\nfather indeed be inclined towards you. To morrow I will go and see about\nyour business, and if I find that he still wishes for you, it may be\naccomplished: otherwise make your heart easy, Amarah; for if he inclines\ntowards Antar on account of his courage, we will consult how to destroy\nhim, and annihilate his life ere he actually obtain her.\n\nThus were his alarms and jealousies in part relieved. He waited patiently\ntill the next day, when he dressed himself in fine clothes, and perfumed\nhimself, and sent for Malik and his son Amroo, who attended him and\ncomplimented him; and instantly Amarah arose and received them with all\ndue courtesy. And Malik said to Amarah, what do you wish of us? Most\nnoble and excellent sir, I only invited you to day, he replied, that I\nmight see whether your heart was pleased in marrying that guarded pearl\nand concealed jewel to that black slave, that feeder of camels and sheep,\nwhom the horsemen have preferred to their rank and condition. Thus will\nyour daughter be disgraced amongst the noble Arabs. If indeed you do such\na deed, it will be impossible for us to remain in this land. We only\npromised so to Antar, and only admitted him to our relationship and rank,\nsaid Malik, when he assisted us in the battle and conflict; but we never\nthought he could escape safe out of those perils, and rout such armies.\n\nWell, said Amarah, to morrow when we repair to King Zoheir, and when we\nare in full assembly, I will demand your daughter; do you assent and\nsettle the amount of the dower, and when once the dower is decided on,\nneither King Zoheir or any one else can say any thing to the contrary:\nand I promise you that the dower shall be a thousand he and she camels,\nand a thousand head of sheep, and twenty Ooshareeyi camels, and twenty\nhorses of the noblest breed, and a hundred silk robes, and fifty satin\ngarments spangled rich in gold, and twenty strings of the finest jewels,\nand a hundred skins of wine for the marriage feast, and a hundred male,\nand as many female slaves.\n\nMalik overjoyed, agreed to this proposal; Amarah too, flattered himself\nhe should succeed in his expectations; and soon after Malik and his son\nwent home and tarried there till the morning. The next day King Zoheir\nwas sitting in his tent, surrounded by the nobles of the tribe of Abs,\nwhen Amarah and the family of Zeead presented themselves before him; they\nhad greatly enlarged their turbans, and seated themselves according to\ntheir rank on the left of the King, and Antar and the Carad tribe were\non the right, and the horsemen took their places. O Chief, said Amarah,\nturning towards Malik, do you think my rank mean, or my connexion low?\nAre you not, said Malik, one of our illustrious horsemen? We are now in\nthe presence of King Zoheir, continued Amarah, and I come to you as a\nsuitor to your daughter, and I am solicitous for your favour; therefore\ndecide on the marriage dower and donation, and demand even what the\nprinces of the universe would fail in giving.\n\nAll this passed, and Antar sat still and heard it and observed; and he\nwas convinced his uncle Malik favoured the Zeead family, and he feared\nthat if his uncle should decide on fixing the marriage donation with\nAmarah, and should confirm it, Ibla would pass out of his hands, and he\nwould have no more to say\u2014in vain he would reproach and revile. Thus\nroused by the urgency of the moment, he started up, and turning towards\nAmarah, exclaimed, \u201cthou he goat of a man\u2014thou refuse!\u2014thou villain! Dost\nthou at such a time as this demand Ibla in marriage?\u2014thou coward, did\nnot I demand her when she was in the midst of twelve thousand warriors,\nwaving their bone-cleaving swords, and thou and thy brother were flying\namong the rocks and the wilds? I then descended\u2014I exposed my life in her\ndangers, and liberated her from the man that had captured her; but, now\nthat she is in the tent of her father and mother, thou wouldst demand\nher! By the faith of an illustrious Arab, thou, dastard, if thou dost not\ngive up thy pretentions to Ibla, I will bring down perdition upon thee,\nand I will curse thy relations and thy parents, and I will make the hour\nof thy wedding, an hour of evil tiding to thyself and thy posterity!\u201d\n\nO Antar, said Amroo, Ibla is our daughter, and it is for us to command;\nno prince or chief is empowered to oblige us to marry her to any one but\nwhom we choose and approve.\n\nAt these words the light became dark in his eyes\u2014his hand hurried to his\nirresistible Dhami\u2014he sprang from the ground on the back of his Abjer,\nresolved to put Malik and his son Amroo to death, and Rebia and Amarah\ntoo, and the whole family of Zeead; and to carry off Ibla, and live\nwith her in the mountains; but he thought of King Zoheir\u2019s kindness, and\nhow he had transferred him from servitude to honour and freedom; so he\nimmediately changed his mind, and thus addressed the Absians:\n\n\u201cWhen the family of Carad are ungrateful, and the family of Zeead are\nviolent in their acts, then there is no blame or reproach to me, if\nI protect mine own honour and rights by arms or by stratagem. Is not\nfire kindled from a Zanad when the stone is rubbed against the Zanad?\nEnjoyment is ever desired after absence, and approximation is wished for\nafter separation. I have been merciful to those who are not aware of the\nvalue of my mercy, and my friendship has not been properly appreciated.\nBut after this forbearance I shall act in another manner, till the towns\nand deserts shall flow with my blood, and my sword shall complain of\nfatigue in my hand, and my joints shall murmur at the burthen of my belt.\nYe observed me well the day of Tey, and my deeds with my Indian spear;\nand had my lance a tongue, it would tell ye of the splitting of ribs in\nthe battle. How many challengers called to me on the day of conflict,\nand hailed me, and I answered each antagonist. O family of Zeead, ye\nhave opposed a noble lion that never flinches from the fight\u2014artless in\nspeech and deeds\u2014with a sword that cleaves heads and arms. Be on thy\nguard then, O Amroo, on thy guard against him. Let not thine eyelids be\nweighed down with sleep. But had I not a chief who commands me, liberal\nin speech, and exalted in power, I would do myself justice with my sword,\nand soon would I shew the difference between virtue and outrage.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar had finished, the chiefs admired his eloquence: King Zoheir\nwent up to him, and made him dismount. May God never renounce thy mouth!\nsaid he: may no one ever harm thee, O thou protector of the tribes! And\nthen turning towards Malik, Ibla\u2019s father, he said\u2014How is it that you\nwill not marry your daughter to a hero? You engaged her to him when he\nliberated her from her perilous situation! My lord, my daughter is in\nmy tent, said Malik, you may command her, and marry her to whom you\nplease; I will not oppose your directions, and I will not swerve from\nyour orders. Then said King Zoheir, Ibla can belong to no one but our\ndefender, the brave Antar. So they sat down and ate, and thus they\nremained till dark, when they went home, each to his tent.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\n\nNow then, said Amarah to Rebia, when they had retired, now that Antar has\nvanquished me, and has taken Ibla by force, I can no longer remain in\nthis country; I must go and roam about the wilds and deserts. Cheer up,\nAmarah, said Rebia, let us still contrive the means to overthrow him, and\nto make him drink of the cup of destruction and death. Rebia left Amarah\nand went home, and sent for Malik and Amroo, and when they arrived he\nsaid unto Malik, pretend to be good friends with Antar; appear very kind\nto him, and do not prevent his entering your tents. Sooth him with gentle\nwords, and when he comes to you, ask him about the dower for Ibla; then\nhe will say\u2014what do you wish? tell him you only demand a thousand Asafeer\ncamels, that your daughter may pride herself in them above the high and\nlow.\n\nKnow then, Malik, that these camels are in the possession of Monzar son\nof Massema, the King of the Arabs, and the lieutenant of Nushirvan; and\nI know that Antar in the greatness of his courage, will go in search of\nthem among the tribe of Shiban, and he will expose his life to danger and\ndeath, and you will never see him again. Malik eagerly listened to his\nadvice; and it happened on that day that Antar was out hunting; and when\nhe returned in the evening, his uncle gave him the kindest reception,\nand ordered a slave to take away what he had brought in; he introduced\nhim into his house, and gave him meat to eat, and wine to drink, and he\nspent part of the night in his company. Antar was much pleased at this\nreception and kind treatment, and thought that his wishes with respect to\nIbla would be accomplished, for he knew not the plot conceived against\nhim. So they continued to shew these civilities to Antar, and he was in\nraptures in the enjoyment of Ibla\u2019s conversation for ten whole days.\n\nOn the night of the eleventh, Malik was more than usually kind to\nhim, and when the noble warriors had all separated for the night, and\nShedad had gone home, and also Zakhmetulgiwad and the rest of the tribe\nof Carad: and no one remained but Antar, his uncle Malik, Amroo, and\nShereeah, Malik\u2019s wife, and Ibla, their daughter, Malik plied Antar\nwith wine till he made him drunk, when he addressed him and said; Tell\nme, I pray you, what you wish to be done for my daughter Ibla; you have\nprohibited all suitors; and do you intend to take her by force without\nany marriage gift or dower, and will you bring disgrace upon us in every\npart of the world? That can never be, said Antar, were I even to drink\nof the cup of death and condemnation. God forbid that this guarded pearl\nand this concealed jewel should be thus sold to the highest bidder. I am\nonly waiting orders\u2014tell me what you demand, ask whatever you choose,\nthat I may grant her what will give her reason to pride herself above the\nchiefs of the earth. Nephew, said Malik, I will not make you engage for\nwhat is beyond your power, and I will not demand of you but what an Arab\nwould demand; such as he and she camels. I ask of you then a thousand\nAsafeer camels, that my daughter may boast of them; for in our tribe\nthere are none; nor are there any like them in Cahtan. Then will you and\nI obtain all our wishes and our desires, and we shall destroy our enemies\nand those that envy us,\u2014this is all I ask of you, and then will I make\nyour marriage feast out of my own property, and will give you whatever\nmay be required of my own he and she camels; all our possessions shall be\nunited, and we will live in perpetual felicity. Malik continued talking\nwith Antar in this manner till he gave way and consented; and he knew not\nthat the camels were in the kingdom of Monzar, the King of the Princes\nof the Arabs, and the lieutenant of Chosroe Nushirvan, whose armies were\ninnumerable.\n\nUncle, said he, I will give you these camels loaded with the treasures of\ntheir masters; but give me your hand, and betroth me to your daughter,\nand thus shew me the purity of your intentions. So Malik gave him his\nhand, and a fire blazed in his heart. Antar\u2019s joy was excessive, his\nbosom heaved, and he was all delight\u2014he started on his feet\u2014he took off\nhis clothes, and put them on his uncle; and Ibla saw Antar\u2019s arms, and\nsmiled. What art thou smiling at, fair damsel? said Antar. At those\nwounds, she replied, for were they on the body of any other person, he\nwould have died, and drank the cup of death and annihilation: but thou\nart unhurt by them. Her words descended to his heart cooler than the\npurest water, and he thus addressed her:\n\n\u201cThe pretty Ibla laughed when she saw that I was black, and that my ribs\nwere scratched with the spears. Do not laugh nor be astonished when the\nhorsemen and armies surround me. The spear barb is like death in my hand,\nand on it are various figures traced in blood. I am indeed surprised how\nany one can see my form in the day of contests, and survive.\u201d\n\nHe then departed to his mother\u2019s tent, for he was restless, and the words\nof Ibla were as a blazing fire in his heart. He wakened his brother\nShiboob, and told him to get ready his horse Abjer\u2014he did as he was bid;\nAntar clothed himself in armour, and stood like a tower. Where art thou\ngoing? said Shiboob, that I may shew thee the nearest roads. Well, said\nAntar, tell me the nearest road to the land of Irak, for there are many\nArabs in that country, and their property and camels very abundant; with\nthem is my object, and what my uncle has demanded.\n\nShiboob trembled and was confounded at this intelligence, for he knew the\ncountry. Why not stop till morning, said he, that thou mayst acquaint\nKing Zoheir and Prince Malik? for they may perhaps be able to assist\nthee in this affair. Return my brother, and expose not thy life to\ndifficulties and dangers. Away! away! cried Antar; not a word; none but\nthe Creator of mankind can aid me; I must destroy my accursed enemies.\nMine be the dark and nightly course, after the manner of mighty heroes;\nfor if I travel by day they will lay plots against me. Shiboob was\nconvinced he was right, and conducted him to the land of Irak. And they\ncontinued their way over the wilds and the deserts till the third hour,\nwhen on a sudden there arose a great dust, and there appeared a troop\nof horsemen like eagles. As soon as they saw Antar, they closed their\nvizors and waved their lances, and slackened their bridles and fixed\ntheir spears: and when they came near to him they cried out, down, down,\nfrom that steed, thou dastard, strip off those accoutrements of war and\narmour, or we annihilate thee! whither art thou going over the plain?\nHere we have remained in expectation of thee. As soon as Antar heard\nthese words, he shook his spear in his hand, rushed on, and roared\nlike a lion, and darted towards them with a heart fearless of death and\ndanger,\u2014thus speaking:\u2014\n\n\u201cFortune insults me as if I were day and night her foe, the enemy seek\nme in every peril, and imagine I am unable to fight; but were they to\npresent to me the form of death itself as an antagonist, I would imbrue\nits hands in the blood of its own wounds.\u201d\n\nHe attacked them, and his assault was like the assault of the most\nfurious lion: he rushed upon their chief, when lo! he let fall his vizor\nfrom his face and cried out, check thine arm, O Knight of the age!\nsufficient is the mischief and danger, for I am thy friend Harith, son of\nKing Zoheir. Antar threw down his spear, dismounted, and ran towards him,\nand kissed his hand.\n\nNow Harith was an undaunted warrior, in the prime of youth, and eloquent\nin speech; he loved Antar, and was much interested about him, like his\nbrother Malik; and the cause of his meeting Antar in the deserts was,\nthat he had been invited to a feast by the tribe of Ghiftan, and was\nreturning. He met Antar, and the above passed. And when he saw that death\nwas hurrying from the ends of his fingers, and that destruction was\nstamped upon his spear, he let down his vizor, and Antar recognized him,\nand dismounted and saluted him.\n\nWhy, my lord, said he, why hast thou acted thus? Thou hast endangered\nthine own life, and those that were with thee. Harith smiled, and was\nsurprised at his humility, after such proof of his superiority over\nhim. God prosper thee, O Aboolfawaris, said he, jewel of the multitude!\nwhither art thou bound, and what great expedition hast thou undertaken?\nHe who wishes, replied Antar, that his nuptial ceremony should be\nperformed, must expose his life to danger. Thou knowest what dangers and\nwhat disgraces I have submitted to on account of my cousin Ibla, in order\nthat her father might give her to me. He has demanded of me a marriage\ndower, and a settlement, and I must bring what he requires from Irak.\n\nTerrified at Antar\u2019s words cried Harith, what is it thou sayst,\nAboolfawaris? For God\u2019s sake return with me, trouble not thyself about\nsuch matters, and do not banish thyself from amongst us; our property is\nnot so small; and verily I am astonished how my father and brother could\nlet thee depart alone. I told no one of my departure, said Antar; My lord\nmy uncle demands of me camels that we have not, and are not in our tribe,\nand I have engaged to procure them, and I have said yes: and he thus\ncontinued.\n\n\u201cSay not no, after thou hast said yes, for thou wilt be clothed in shame,\nand repent. Truly, no, after yes, is foul; and base is the word, no after\nyes. When thou wouldst have a friend, associate with a noble person, one\nwho is chaste, modest, and liberal; and when he says no to a thing, do\nthou also say no, and when thou sayest yes, let him also say yes.\u201d\n\nHarith was surprised at his eloquence and virtuous mind, and his\nadmiration of him increased. If such is thy business, said he, I will\naccompany thee and assist thee in all thy difficulties. I cannot possibly\nconsent to that, replied Antar; return with thy warriors to thine own\ncountry. So Antar bade him farewell and departed over the wilds and\ndeserts, and Harith and his people returned, praising Antar\u2019s intrepidity\nand eloquence. Antar and Shiboob proceeded on their journey, Shiboob ever\nshewing the way, till evening coming on, they sought a pool of water\nwhere they might repose from their fatigues, and at length they reached a\ntent pitched near a spring; and behold there was an old Shiekh, with his\nback bent. They made towards him.\n\n\u201cAn old man was walking along the ground, and his face almost touched his\nknees. So I said to him, why art thou thus stooping? He said, as he waved\nhis hands towards me, my youth is lost somewhere on the ground, and I am\nstooping in search of it.\u201d\n\nHe welcomed them, and brought them a cup of milk, cooled in the wind;\nAntar took the milk and drank, and gave some to his brother, and came to\nthe door of the tent. The old Shiekh laid pillows for them, and presented\nviands, receiving them in the most hospitable manner. And when they had\nfinished eating, the Shiekh made bold to ask Antar his adventures, and\nwhy he was travelling. So he related to him all that had passed with his\nuncle Malik, and what he had demanded as a marriage dower.\n\nMay God disgrace and overthrow and destroy thy uncle, and not save him!\nexclaimed the old man; for his only object in making this demand of\nthee, is to annihilate and ruin thee. How is that, said Antar, how so?\nKnow, Aboolfawaris, replied he, that these Asafeer camels are only to be\nfound among a tribe called the tribe of Shiban, and their chief is King\nMonzar, son of Massema, the lieutenant of King Chosroe, whose armies are\ninnumerable, whose power is irresistible, and he rules all the Arabs of\nthe wilds and the deserts; and if thou wert to carry off these camels,\nwho is able to protect thee from King Monzar, or shelter thee? My advice\nis, that thou shouldest return home, and not expose thy life to dangers\nand death.\n\nAntar remained that night in the tent, and the next day mounted his\nAbjer, bade the Shiekh farewell, and thanked him. Shiboob attended him by\nhis side, and they sat out in quest of the land of Hirah, and when they\nhad advanced some distance, Antar thought of Ibla, and his absence from\nher, and what he had suffered for her, and thus spoke:\n\n\u201cIn the land of Shurebah are defiles and valleys; I have quitted them,\nand its inhabitants live in my heart: fixed are they therein, and in my\neyes; and even when they are absent from me, they dwell in the black of\nmine eye; and when the lightning flashes from their land, I shed tears\nof blood, and pass the night leagued with sleeplessness. The breeze of\nthe fragrant plants makes me remember the luscious balmy airs of the\nZatool-irsad. O Ibla, let thy visionary phantom appear to me, and infuse\nsoft slumbers over my distracted heart! O Ibla, were it not for my love\nof thee, I would not be with so few friends and so many enemies! I am\ndeparting, and the back of my horse shall be my resting place; and my\nsword and mail my pillow, till I trample down the lands of Irak, and\ndestroy their deserts and their cities. When the market for the sale\nof lives is established, and they cry out, and the criers proclaim the\ngoods, and I behold the troops stirring up the war-dust with the thrusts\nof spear and sharp scimitars\u2014then will I disperse their horsemen, and the\nfoe shall be cut down deprived of their hands. The eyes of the envious\nshall watch; but the eyes of the pure and the faithful shall sleep; and I\nwill return with numerous Asafeer camels that my love shall procure, and\nShiboob be my guide.\u201d\n\nAs soon as he had finished, his tears flowed abundantly. They travelled\non till they reached the land of Hirah, where they saw populous towns,\nplains abounding in flowing streams, date trees and warbling birds, and\nsweetly smelling flowers; and the country appeared like a blessing to\nenliven the sorrowing heart; and the camels were grazing, and straying\nabout the land: and they were of various colours, like the flowers of\na garden; and there were she camels, and young camels, and slaves and\nattendants. And as soon as he saw them he was all anxiety, quite out of\nbreath with eagerness. And he felt that his uncle had sent him on this\ncommission to insure his death and destruction, unless his intrepidity\nshould guide him through.\n\nEbe Reeah, said he to Shiboob, I well know that this is a land great\nin power, and in no region is there one to be compared to it. We have\nnothing for it but prudence and daring fortitude in danger, and a timely\nsubmission to power, that we may obtain what we are in search of, and\nreturn rejoicing and successful. Hasten then, son of my mother, and look\nafter these Asafeer camels, and mark them, whilst I let my horse Abjer\nrest himself. Shiboob consented to what he directed, and leaving his\nbow and quiver, disguised himself in the clothes of a slave and feigned\nhimself sick. Thus he went towards the pastures, where he saw the camels\nlike young brides; and when the slaves marked Shiboob, they sprang\ntowards him, welcomed him, and made him sit down, and took out some of\ntheir provisions, and made him eat, asking him whence he came, and what\nhad happened to him.\n\nI am a slave of the tribe of Zebeed, said he, and Shedad is my master\u2019s\nname; and he is a stubborn cruel man, and had no compassion for his\nslaves, male or female. So I have run away and have left him, and my wish\nis to meet some one who will protect me from him. Remain with us as long\nas thou pleasest then, my cousin, said the slaves pitying him, and be\nwelcome! and thy time shall pass pleasantly enough.\n\nVery thankful was he, and remained with them the rest of the day, and he\ntold them all manner of lies and deceitful tales till he had marked out\nthe Asafeer camels, and he saw they were the miracles of the age; and\nwhen evening came on, the slaves and attendants drove away the camels,\nand sought their habitations and homes, and Shiboob went with them. But\nwhen they came nigh to the tents, it being now dark, he separated from\nthem and gave his feet to the wind, seeking the plain till he was in the\npresence of Antar, who sprang up to meet him, exclaiming\u2014Tell me, O Ebe\nReeah, what news hast thou! Nothing, said Shiboob, but that we are in\na dangerous position, and under fate and destiny, unless the Lord of\nHeaven is our defender and protector.\n\nO Shiboob, said Antar, is it not well known that when a slave exposes\nhis life to the abyss of danger, he is exalted to the height of glory?\nThey then concealed themselves till morning dawned, when Antar clad and\nincased himself in armour till he appeared like a tower, or a fragment\nrent from a mountain; and he went forward till he reached the pastures,\ncrouching along as a wolf after a sheep.\n\nAnd when it was day, the Asafeer camels were driven to graze, and behind\nevery thousand she camels were ten slaves to attend them, that the males\nmight not annoy them. The she camels ranged about grazing, and the slaves\nbegan to amuse themselves; for they were slaves of the King of the Arab\nchiefs, and knew not what it was to be attacked.\n\nThese are the Asafeer camels, said Shiboob, so make thy plan, and act as\nit seems best to thee. Run on, said Antar, and occupy the road to Hirah,\nso that their cries be not raised against us, ere we be far away out of\nthis country. As thou pleasest, brother, said Shiboob. And he moved along\non tiptoe over the plain, till he came in the rear of the slaves, when\nhe seated himself on his knees, and emptying his quiver of arrows before\nhim, waited their attack. As to Antar, he urged on Abjer, and plunged\namongst the he and she camels, and cut off a thousand of the Asafeer\ncamels with his spear, crying out to the slaves\u2014Ye base born, drive away\nthese camels, and on before me! or my sword will be stained with your\nblood.\n\nWhen the slaves heard Antar, they were terrified at his enormous bulk and\ngigantic shape, and the rolling of his eyes, and the weight of his arms.\nThey drove the camels before him, and goaded them on with the points\nof their spears, and they fled away before them like eagles. And thus\nthey proceeded till about the third hour, when behold a great dust arose\nand darkened the land; and when it dispersed there appeared a party of\nArabs of the tribe of Zakhim and Juzam, about twelve thousand horsemen;\nall hardy warriors armed with sharp swords and long spears, screaming\nout\u2014Whither are ye going, ye dastards\u2014hence is there no escape out of\nthis land!\n\nNow the cause of the arrival of this troop of horsemen was as follows\u2014The\nslaves that had escaped from Antar and Shiboob sought their homes and\nhabitations, and it happened that they encountered the train and equipage\nof Monzar on a hunting party, attended by his warriors and his troops;\nwho, turning towards his son Numan\u2014Speed your horse on a little, my son,\nsaid he, and bring me intelligence of these shepherds. Now Numan was his\neldest son. So Numan directed his horse towards the slaves, and enquired\nwhither they came. O Prince, said the shepherds, a black Knight, mounted\non a black steed, and whose voice is the roar of a lion, darted down upon\nus and seized a thousand of the Asafeer camels, and carried them off.\n\nNo sooner had Numan heard this account of the shepherds, than he cried\nout to the men and the warriors that accompanied him, and slackening his\nhorse\u2019s bridle, galloped after Antar, and twelve thousand in number were\nthe lion heroes that followed him. And they halted not till they overtook\nAntar, as we mentioned, and cried out as we described.\n\nWhen Antar saw them, he smiled, for battle was his joy and delight. O!\nthou black born, said he to Shiboob, I want thee to guard the camels,\nwhilst I shew thee a day of horrors among these miscreants. He then\nturned the camels into a mountain cave, and received the warriors as\nthe parched-up earth receives the first of the rain; and he penetrated\nthrough the thick dust with blows irresistible and never failing.\nWhatever he struck, he slew, and wherever he thrust, he hurled down; and\nfor one hour he overwhelmed them in death and perdition; and the foremost\nshrunk back upon the rear, crying out at him from a distance, for no\none dared to approach the spot where he was. As to Shiboob, the slaves\nbetrayed him, and refused to drive on the camels.\n\nBut when Numan saw that his troops and men fell back, and perceived\nhow Antar was handling them in the combat, his mind and senses were\ngreatly agitated, and he cried out to them\u2014May God disgrace you among the\nArabs!\u2014are you reduced to this by a single black slave, a mean, paltry\nherdsman? The horsemen took courage, and poured down upon Antar from all\nsides, but Antar continually slaughtered them, always gaining upon them,\nnever flinching, though their numbers were immense. Thus was he in the\nmidst of dangers, when lo! his horse stumbled, and throwing him on the\nground, rushed from out the thick dust and tumult, his saddle unoccupied\nby his master Antar. Shiboob thought he was killed and trampled to death!\nthe tears flowed from his eyes, he gave his feet to the winds, and he\nsought the wide desert, whilst the slaves and shepherds cried out to the\nhorsemen and warriors, who pursued Shiboob from all quarters; and they\nwere seventy in number, all after Shiboob, who depended on the power\nof his muscles. The horses were straining themselves to catch him, but\nthey could not pass him, or come up with him, from the grey dawn of day\ntill the sun became tinged with yellow. But when evening came on, woe\nand dismay fell upon him, and just as he was convinced of his ruin and\ndeath, he reached a cavern in the hollow of a mountain, and near it stood\na swarthy youth tending sheep; before him was a fire blazing; and he was\nsitting down preparing his dinner, and his sheep were grazing in front\nof him. As soon as Shiboob saw him, he made towards him, O young man, he\ncried, help me\u2014I put myself under thy protection, for I am a stranger,\nand I am exposed to peril and danger in this land. I am nearly dead, and\nmy enemies have already slain my brother. Yes, by thy father, said the\nyouth (for his heart had compassion on him.) I will indeed protect thee,\nand I will not deliver thee up till I am myself slain. Enter the cavern,\nand consider thyself secure from the deceits of the wicked.\n\nShiboob entered the cave, where he had scarcely concealed himself, when\nthe horsemen also arrived, fleet as eagles, shouting aloud\u2014Boy, son of\na two thousand horned cuckold, bring out to us that devil who has slain\nour horsemen, and staggered our senses, that we may tear his body in\npieces with the points of the spear, and hack him with the blades of our\nscimitars. God curse him who gave him birth! how strong are his muscles!\n\nO Arabs, said the shepherd, grant him to me, I pray ye, and accept of my\nguarantee for him, for I have protected him, knowing nothing about you;\nhe is under my security and protection. Thine is not and never shall\nbe any protection, cried they, so bring him out, or we will slay thee\ntogether with him; for his brother has destroyed three thousand of our\nfamed horsemen; he is indeed a very devil, and we have experienced from\nhim what we never even saw from the Genii.[4]\n\nWhen the peasant heard them he was fearfully alarmed, for were he to\noppose them, they would soon destroy him. O Arabs, said he, do but remove\nabout seventy paces from the cavern door, that I may enter and bring him\nout of my protection. Do so, said they; and they retired from the cavern,\nand the shepherd entered, and perceived Shiboob trembling for his life.\nYou have heard, young man, said the shepherd, what has passed between me\nand these men. My vows have been overruled, and I have exposed myself to\ndeath and annihilation. I can do nothing towards your escape, but at the\nhazard of my own life; yet will I not forfeit my protection. Had I but\nten horsemen of the tribe of Asad, they should not approach you, no not\none of them; but I am alone in this wilderness and desert. So throw off\nyour clothes, and put on mine; take these provisions and this wallet,\nsling it over your shoulder, and with my staff in your hand, hasten out\nof the cavern, and drive away the sheep, and when you come up to them,\nsay\u2014O Arabs, I went into the cave, in order to bring him out, but he will\nnot stir, so come along, and I will shew him to you\u2014they will dismount\nand enter the cavern, and then do you look after yourself.\n\nShiboob thanked him from his heart for his kind assistance: he slung on\nthe wallet, and took the staff in his hand, and went out of the cavern,\nand the darkness of night concealed him from the eyes of observers; and\nwhen he came up to them he spoke to them as the shepherd had directed\nhim: they immediately dismounted and went towards the cavern; but Shiboob\ngave his feet to the wind, and traversed the rocky crags until he was far\noff among the wilds and the deserts: and thus he secured his life from\ndeath and destruction, and sought relief from the contents of the wallet.\n\nIn the mean time the Shibanians entered the cave, and dragged out the\nshepherd, thinking it was Shiboob; they looked at him by the light of the\nfire, and they saw it was the shepherd dressed in Shiboob\u2019s clothes; for\nhe had preferred to expose his life to death and torture, rather than\ndiscredit his protection. Why hast thou done this deed, cried they, and\ngiven up thy life to death and perdition for the sake of a stranger?\n\nArabs, replied the shepherd, he sought my protection, and I protected\nhim. You came in search of him; you would not accept my proposal, and\nI was not able to drive you away. But if I have enraged you, kill me\nat once, and I shall have rescued him by the sacrifice of my life and\nexistence, and shall not have forfeited my word, or broken my faith.\nMoreover between you and me, there is no blood or revenge. I have indeed\nfallen into your power; but if you will have the kindness to release me,\nI will thank you in every part of the world, otherwise do as you list,\nand decide as you judge best.\n\nThe Shibanians were astonished, and they could not find it in their\nhearts to kill him. He indeed rejoiced in his friendly act, and the\npreservation of his duty; so they let him go, and returned vexed and\ndispirited. As to Shiboob, as soon as he was safe, he travelled on till\nmorning, passing over plains and deserts; but what was most grievous to\nhim was the thought of returning to the tribe of Abs, and the triumph\nof his foes, and the envious; particularly the family of Zeead, and the\nruffian Amarah, and Shas and Rebia; then he wept for his brother Antar,\nin these verses.\n\n\u201cO Knight of the Horse, why, alas, has the steed to mourn thee? why,\nalas, has the barb of the spear to announce thy death in wailings? O\nthat the day had never been, that I saw thee felled to the earth, cut\ndown\u2014stretched out\u2014and the points of the lances aimed at thee! Could\nthe vicissitudes of fortune accept of any ransom, oh. I would have\nredeemed thee from the calamities of fortune! Thine uncle has in his\nwiles and frauds made thee drink of the cup. But may thy cup-bearer, O\nson of my mother, ne\u2019er taste of the moisture of dew! and thy cousin will\nmourn thee, and she belongs to thy foe, whose slave thou wouldst never\nconsent to be. O Knight of the Horse, I have no strength of mind\u2014I have\nnot a heart that can ever feel consolation for thee in my sorrows! and\nthe war-steed amongst the troopers as he neighs will turn towards thee,\nmourning for thee, like a childless woman in despair.\u201d\n\nWhen Shiboob had finished these verses, he went on passing over deserts\nand wilds, seeking the tribe of Abs and Adnan, whilst his tears flowed in\nstreams. But as to Antar, when his horse stumbled beneath him, he started\non his legs, he brandished his sword in his right, and supported his\nshield on his left, and he made towards the warriors\u2014he slew them till\nhe made mounds of dead, he overwhelmed them with his shouts, bellowing\nout\u2014\u201cO Ibla, by thine eyes, will I slay this day these horsemen!\u201d and\nhe rushed upon them like a furious lion, till the blood flowed from all\nparts of his body. And in the thickest of the battle he happened to step\non a skull, and his feet slipping from under him, he fell down at his\nfull length. And they gave him not time to rise ere they bound fast his\nshoulders, his arms, and his ribs and his feet, and brought him before\nNuman.\n\nHe was all astonishment at the horror of his make, at the immensity of\nhis stature, and the agitation of his eyes. Numan ordered them to tie him\nacross the back of his horse and convey him to the King; that he might do\nwhat he thought proper with him. They obeyed his orders, and bound him\non the back of Abjer, and they all returned to the land of Hirah. At the\nmoment of their arrival, King Monzar returned from hunting. When, behold\nthere appeared against them a lion of the lions of Khifan. Now the wild\nbeasts of Khifan were proverbial; and he came upon them with a loud roar,\nand the fierce warriors attacked him. Numan presented Antar to his father\nand when he looked at him, he was terrified and confounded.\n\nWhat Arab art thou? said he. My lord, replied Antar, I am of the tribe\nof the noble Abs. One of its warriors, demanded Monzar, or one of its\nslaves?\u2014\u201cNobility, my lord, said Antar, amongst liberal men, is the\nthrust of the spear, the blow of the sword, and patience beneath the\nbattle dust. I am the physician of the tribe of Abs when they are in\nsickness, their protector in disgrace, the defender of their wives when\nthey are in trouble, and their horseman when they are in glory, and their\nsword when they rush to arms.\u201d\n\nMonzar was astonished at his fluency of speech, his magnanimity and his\nintrepidity, for he was then in the dishonourable state of a prisoner,\nand force had overpowered him. What urged thee to this violence on my\nproperty, added Monzar, and seizure of my camels? My lord, said Antar,\nthe tyranny of my uncle obliged me to this act: for I was brought up\nwith his daughter, and I had passed my life in her service. And when\nhe saw me demand her in marriage, he asked of me as a marriage dower, a\nthousand Asafeer camels. I was ignorant, and knew nothing about them; so\nI consented to his demand, and set out in quest of them; I have outraged\nyou, and am consequently reduced to this miserable state.\n\nHast thou then, said Monzar, with all this fortitude and eloquence,\nand propriety of manners, exposed thy life to the sea of death, and\nendangered thine existence for the sake of an Arab girl? \u201cYes, my lord,\nsaid Antar; it is love that emboldens man to encounter dangers and\nhorrors; and no lover is excusable but he who tastes the bitterness of\nabsence after the sweetness of enjoyment; and there is no peril to be\napprehended, but from a look from beneath the corner of a veil: and what\nmisfortune can drive man to his destruction, but a woman who is the root\nand branch of it!\u201d Then tears filled his eyes, and sighs burst from his\nsorrowing heart, as he thus exclaimed:\n\n\u201cThe eye-lashes of the songstress from the corner of the veil, are more\ncutting than the edge of the cleaving scimitars; and when they wound the\nbrave are humbled, and the corners of their eyes are flooded with tears.\nMay God cause my uncle to drink of the draught of death at my hand! may\nhis hand be withered, and his fingers palsied! for how could he drive\none like me to destruction by his arts, and make my hopes depend on\nthe completion of his avaricious projects. Truly Ibla, on the day of\ndeparture, bade me adieu, and said I should never return. O lightnings!\nwaft my salutation to her, and to all the places and pastures where she\ndwells. O ye dwellers in the forests of Tamarisks, if I die, mourn for me\nwhen my eyes are plucked out by the hungry fowls of the air. O ye steeds,\nmourn for a Knight who could engage the lions of death in the field of\nbattle. Alas, I am an outcast, and in sorrow. I am humbled into galling\nfetters, fetters that cut to my soul.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar had finished, Monzar was surprized at his eloquence and\nfortitude, and strength of mind and virtue. Now Monzar himself was one of\nthe most eloquent of Arabs, and he was convinced that Antar was sincere\nin his grief; but he knew not the story of his life. Whilst Antar and\nMonzar were conversing, behold the people ran away from their presence.\nOn inquiring what was the matter, O victorious and irresistible monarch,\nthey exclaimed, a savage lion has appeared among us, is destroying the\nhorsemen, and dispersing the brave heroes. Spears make no impression\non his carcase, and no one dares to attack him. Assault him, cried\nthe King, before he takes refuge in the forest, and cuts off the road\nof the travellers, and renders the ways unsafe, and we therefore be\ndishonoured. As soon as Antar heard this, his afflictions were relieved.\nTell your people to expose me to this lion, said he to the King, and if\nhe should destroy me, you will be amply revenged, and your dishonour\nbe cleared up: for I have slaughtered your troops, and destroyed your\nwarriors; but should I slay the lion, reward me as I deserve, and do not\nrefuse me justice. The King ordered the cords to be loosened: the guards\ncame up to him and untied his hands, and were about to untie his feet\nalso; but he cried out, Loosen only my hands, leave my feet bound as they\nare, that there may be no retreat from the lion. He grasped his sword and\nhis shield, and jumping along in his fetters, he thus exclaimed.\n\n\u201cCome on, thou dog of the forests and the hills! this day at my hand\nwill I make thee drink of death. Soon wilt thou meet a Knight, a lion\nwarrior, a chief tried in battle. O then, attack not one like me, for I\nam a chosen hero. Attack the horsemen, thou dog of the waste, but whither\nwilt thou escape from me this day? Take this from my cleaving sword, that\ndeals sorrows, deaths and pestilence from the slave of a tribe, that\nbraves death and woe, and never fails.\u201d\n\nMonzar was much astonished at his address to the lion, and he advanced\nwith his attendants, to behold what Antar might do. And when they came\nnear him, they perceived it was an immense lion, of the size of a camel,\nwith broad nostrils and long claws, his face was wide, and ghastly was\nhis form; his strength swelling; he grinned with his teeth clenched like\na vice, and the corners of his jaws were like grappling irons. When the\nlion beheld Antar in his fetters, he crouched to the ground, and extended\nhimself out; his mane bristled up; he made a spring at him: and as he\napproached, Antar met him with his sword, which entered by his forehead,\nand penetrated through him, issuing out at the extremity of his back\nbone. O by Abs and Adnan! cried Antar, I will ever be the lover of Ibla.\nAnd the lion fell down, cut in twain, and cleft into two equal portions;\nfor the spring of the lion, and the force of the arm of the glorious\nwarrior, just met. Then, wiping his sword on the lion, he thus spoke.\n\n\u201cWilt thou e\u2019er know, O Ibla, the perils I have encountered in the land\nof Irak? My uncle has beguiled me with his hypocrisy and artifice,\nand has acted barbarously towards me in demanding the marriage dower.\nI plunged myself into a sea of deaths, and repaired to Irak, without\nfriends. I drove away the camels and the shepherds single handed; and I\nwas returning home burning with the flame of anxious love. I quitted them\nnot till there arose behind me the dust of the hoofs of the high mettled\nsteeds. I encountered on every side the war dust, and illumined it with\nmy thin bladed faulchion, whilst the horsemen clamoured beneath it, so\nthat I thought the thunder had let loose its uproars. As I retired, I\nfound that my uncle had deceived me with his frauds and stratagems. But\nI did not fail till my horse was exhausted, and faultered in the charge,\nand the crush of combats. Then I dismounted and drove away whole armies\nwith my sword, as I would have driven away the camels. I rushed upon the\nhorsemen that fiercely scoured the plain, piercing chests and eye balls;\nbut at the close of the day I was wearied and made captive; for my elbows\nand my legs were deprived of all strength. They dragged me to a noble\nprince, high and magnificent\u2014May his glory endure! Then too, I engaged\na lion, fierce in the onset, and harsh of heart, with a face like the\ncircumference of a shield, whose eye balls flashed fire like hot coals.\nI rushed at him with my sword. I met him in my fetters, so that Monzar\nmight bestow on me what might gratify my uncle, and favor me with the\ndesired camels.\u201d\n\nMonzar heard him, and beheld his acts. This is verily a miracle of the\ntime, and the wonder of the age and world, said he to his attendants;\nhis intrepidity and eloquence and perseverance are enough to confound\nthe universe; with him I will effect with Chosroe what is the object of\nmy wishes, and I will establish the superiority of the Arabs over the\nPersians.\n\nNow Monzar was an intelligent man, and very regular in the administration\nof justice, and prudent in policy. For this reason Chosroe had appointed\nhim King over the Arabs; and when he was present in the palace of\nChosroe, he enjoyed superior dignities, and he was never stiled but as\nKing of the Arabs. And Chosroe used to treat him as a friend, and to eat\nand drink with him; and when they were busy in conversation, Monzar used\nto describe to him the peculiarities of Mecca and the sacred shrine, and\ntheir glory over the Deelimites and the Persians, and used to recite to\nhim the verses of the eloquent men. And Chosroe, in his impartiality, was\npleased with him, and enjoyed his society, and loved to dignify him with\npresents of gold and silver, for the Chosroes of Persia were renowned\nfor their love of justice and impartiality, and abhorred oppression and\nviolence, ruling mankind with liberality and generosity. He had over his\nhead a bell of red gold, and a chain attached to it on the outside of the\npalace; and whenever he touched the bell, the attendants went out and\ncomplainants entered his presence; and he decided such matters himself.\n\nNow it happened that Monzar, previous to Antar\u2019s falling into his hands,\nhad visited Modayin, and presented himself to Chosroe, and staid with\nhim some days, and he was honored with a rich robe and various presents.\nOne of the officers envied him, and when he was alone with the King,\nhe ventured to say, Why do you so honour, O King, this wild Bedoween,\nthis worshipper of stone, and raise his dignity so high? Whether he is\nabsent or present, he is a poor despicable wretch; for all the Arabs are\nbut shepherds, and worshippers of images; there is no religion and no\nfaith among them, and they are only ennobled by theft and cunning, and\nrobberies and rogueries.\n\nThis officer thus became jealous of the honours enjoyed by Monzar, and\nhis heart was estranged from him. And he was one of the warriors of\nDeelim, and was a leader of twenty thousand Persians, and he was called\nKhosrewan, the son of Jorham. He was always talking contemptuously of the\nArabs, repeating falsehoods of them, till at last he effected a change in\nthe heart of the just King.\n\nIf, O King, said he, as he ended the conversation, thou art desirous\nof thoroughly understanding this man whom thou hast appointed over the\nArabs, and of having a proof of his ignorance and ill-breeding, ask him\nto come and eat meat and dates; order the servants to give him dates\nfrom which the stones are not extracted, and to place before you dates\nready stoned; and let there be instead of stones, almonds, sugar plumbs,\nand skinned nuts, and see what he will do. Chosroe complied, and invited\nMonzar to eat meat and dates; and he ordered the servants to do as\nKhosrewan had recommended. So after dinner, the servants produced the\nplates of dates. Chosroe and the Persians ate away and swallowed them,\nfor there were no stones to throw aside. Monzar looked at them, and\nthought within himself\u2014Most certainly to day is a festival with them, for\nthey are worshippers of fire; so I must eat like them, and must fashion\nmy manners to theirs. So Monzar ate, and swallowed the stones; but one\nsadly puzzled him, so the attendants burst out into a loud laugh; and\nChosroe also laughed. And Monzar was abashed at their pleasantry. May\nyour glory last for ever, O King of the world, said he. But the wrath\nand indignation of Monzar increased. What makes your attendants laugh?\nsaid he; You have eaten dates and swallowed the stones, said Chosroe;\n\u2019tis for that we are laughing at you. I, O King, said Monzar, imitated\nyou and your companions, and I ate as you ate, for I perceived you eating\nthe dates and swallowing the stones, and I wished to do as you had done.\nOur dates, said Chosroe, are without stones; and instead of stones there\nare almonds and sugar plums and peeled nuts, so that we eat them without\ntrouble or annoyance. Why, said Monzar, did you not give me some of what\nyou eat yourself? Still I am your guest. Yet this is a proof that I am an\nobject of ridicule to you, and you have only invited me that you and your\ncompanions might expose me. But I am still at all times your slave, and\nindebted to your bounty for whatever you have thought proper to do unto\nme.\n\nHe remained some time longer with Chosroe, and then returned to the\nland of Hirah, having asked permission to revisit his family and native\ncountry. And when he reached his capital, he wrote letters to the tribes\nof Wayil and Bekir and Jelhema, and he said in the letters\u2014Attack\nModayin, plunder the people and the inhabitants, lay waste the villages,\nand put to the sword the merchants of Persia, and plunder the property of\nDeelem. Be afraid of no man should any oppose you; but slaughter them and\nseize their property, and plunder them.\n\nWhen these letters, in which the whole circumstance was described reached\nthe different tribes, they were greatly incensed, and sent Sewid the son\nof Amil to plunder the inhabitants. And Handala ransacked the stores and\ngranaries, and seized the property of the travellers; and Harith the son\nof Joshem plundered the lands of Zilah, sparing neither high nor low.\nAfter this, confusion and rebellion rose up in the villages, and the\nwhole country dreaded the Arabs. Many of the Persians were beheaded, and\nthe Persian merchants cried out from all quarters against Chosroe. The\nday of judgment seemed to have come upon him, and he was overwhelmed with\nshame. He desired his minister Mubidan to write to Monzar an account of\nall that had passed, and that he should punish the Arab tribes, or he\nwould disperse them among the plains and the deserts.\n\nSo the minister wrote to Monzar a letter, in which he said \u201cTo him, whom\nwe recognise as King of the Arabs! Truly the heart of the just King is\ngreatly irritated against you, on account of the depredations committed\nby the Arabs on his subjects. You must slay the rebels and offenders, and\nchastise those that have oppressed the weak, if you are obedient to the\nPersian government, and attend to the orders of the imperial monarch; and\npeace be with you from the protecting fire!\u201d He folded up the letter and\nsealed it and sent it to Monzar, and when it reached him he opened it and\nread it, and wrote in answer to it these words:\n\n\u201cTo him whom we recognise as the just King! Truly my character is\ndespised amongst the Arabs, my reputation is on the decline, my authority\namongst them is weakened, and my honour is considerably discredited,\nsince they heard what you did to me about eating the dates. My power is\nat an end, because they think I am an object of ridicule with you; so\nthey have therefore renounced their allegiance to me, and have separated\nthemselves from my dominion. Such are the acts they have committed, and\nthey will not obey my commands. You must look after your own country, and\nmind your own administration.\u201d\n\nWhen Chosroe received this answer, he read it, and understood its\ncontents. Verily, said he, these vagabond Arabs have a design upon me,\nand this dog of dogs would trample upon me. But if I do not degrade and\nhumble him, I am not the King of the age.\n\nWho, O King of the age, said the satrap Khosrewan, the original cause\nof all this trouble, is this Monzar, that you should trouble yourself\nabout him? By your life, I am able to take him prisoner, I will slay his\nhorsemen, and will destroy his allies. I will bring him and his children\nto you, all bound with cords; and if you order me, I will kill them all,\nand will bring you his sons and his daughters, and most costly plunder.\n\nKhosrewan, said Chosroe, you are the only person for this expedition,\nfor it is all your doing; so prepare, and march with the troops under\nyour command; and if you conquer the King of the Arabs, kill him not,\nbut bring him to me a prisoner, that I may disgrace him and punish him,\nand let him feel his own situation; and afterwards I will grant him his\nlife. Khosrewan accordingly made his preparations in three days, and set\nout with twenty thousand horsemen, armed with gilded shields and cleaving\nswords; and Khosrewan was at their head, like a lion.\n\nBut King Monzar, as soon as he observed Antar\u2019s blow at the lion, and\nremarked his eloquence and his poetry, felt assured that he was a\ndistinguished hero and warrior, and he thought it wiser to spare his\nlife, and not put him to death: but for the ends of justice he determined\nto keep him a prisoner. So he detained him in custody; saying, by the\nfaith of an Arab, I will not proceed to extremities with respect to this\nblack warrior, for his equal is not to be found in the whole world. Guard\nthis horseman, said he to his sons, until an answer reach us to our\nletter from the Persian King; and we will then persuade him that it is\nthis wretch who has plundered the cities and killed his subjects, and who\nhas excited against us the Arab hordes. This will give a strong colour\nto our excuses in all points, and thus we shall gain our objects upon\nour enemies. So Antar remained with the King imprisoned and chained; and\nMonzar entered Hirah and awaited the answer.\n\nIt was about the beginning of the day when Monzar mounted his horse and\nrode out to inhale the news; when lo! a dust from the direction of Persia\nappeared, and the whole country was blackened and darkened, and from\nbeneath it came forth Persian horsemen, and the armies of Deelem. Take\nyour implements of war, cried Monzar, ply the blow and the thrust, and\nprotect the families and the women, or eternal will be your disgrace; for\ntruly the offences against propriety in conversation, and the blunders of\nthe tongue are the calamities of man. And he sent for all the clans of\nthe tribe of Shiban, and all the Arab hordes; and the Persian troops gave\nthem no rest, but poised their spears, and grasped their swords. The two\nparties met, and attacked: blood abundantly flowed, eyes were fixed, and\nwere scared. Khosrewan advanced: he assailed the tribes of Arabia and his\nheart was overjoyed; he dashed towards the standard of Monzar; he overset\nthem, and he destroyed the horsemen, and annihilated them.\n\nNow Monzar had encountered the Persians with only twelve thousand\nmen; and the evening did not close before four thousand of them were\nslaughtered, and the remainder returned, seeking safety in flight; the\nPersians pursuing them until the shades of night surrounded them; when\nthe Persians dismounting to repose themselves, Khosrewan also halted and\nshouted aloud; and when they had pitched their tents and lighted their\nfires, he ordered his satraps and generals to surround the whole city of\nHirah, and to guard the roads and highways.\n\nBut Monzar, who entered Hirah routed and discomfited, gnawed his hands\nfrom shame, and was quite bewildered and beside himself. He sat down\nattended by his three sons, Numan, Aswad, and Amroo; and whilst they were\nconsulting and debating, in rushed a slave\u2014O my lord, cried he, that\nAbsian warrior who is in my custody, when he heard the uproar in the\nmorning, asked me what was the matter? We informed him what had happened;\nthen, said he, Conduct me to your King, that I may point out to him the\nmeans of destroying his enemies, even were they as numerous as the sand\nof the desert. Produce him, said Monzar, let us hear what he has to say,\nand let us release him from his fetters. But Antar was that day thinking\nof his cousin, and of his expedition to procure her dower, and to seize\nthe Asafeer camels, and his falling into captivity, and his failure.\nThen, as he sighed from his overcharged heart, he thus recited:\n\n\u201cTell Zoheir and Malik of me, tell Ibla of me in unvarnished language,\nthat I seized the camels flaunting over the plains, and that I felled\ndown the armies on the day of terrors; say that I was marching away with\nthe property and the beauteous camels, when the stern faced horsemen\nof Sakim forced them from me. My steed hurled me on the battle field,\nand betrayed me, and subjected me to the thrusts of every shield-armed\nhero. Then I retired as a hostage, in chains: and I have merited them;\nand I moved along in them, like one overwhelmed with confusion. Had it\nnot been for the assault of the lion among them, and their cry to me\u2014Aid\nus, O Antar! when I met him, fettered as I was\u2014they never would have\nacknowledged that I was the slayer of armies. When the furious beast flew\nat me, I feared not. My sword cleaved the body of the lion, and I forced\nit out through his thighs in an instant, and I wiped it on his skin.\nThey have cast me into a sea of deaths, anxious for my destruction, but I\ntumbled him down like one precipitated from a mountain\u2019s height.\u201d\n\nWe have told King Monzar, said the attendant as he entered Antar\u2019s\nprison; he now demands you, in order to hear your proposal. Antar got up\nand went with them into the presence of the King, who ordered the fetters\nto be taken off from his feet, and the cords to be cut that bound his\nhands. Then he sighed, and thus spoke.\n\n\u201cMay God forgive me that my soul is hardened, for my uncle beguiled me\nand exposed me to perils, and in his vile artifices has cast me into\nan abyss of fire, whose flames encompass me. I am become tortured of\nheart, fettered, my fingers and hands bound round my neck. Few are there\nlike me in the day of the wood-entangled spears, when heroes contend\nin the fierce charge: O King of the world, thy sea is expansive as the\nglittering sword among men and d\u00e6mons. When the warriors charge\u2014then\nexpose me to them and try my assault\u2014my battle among them. Be thou\nvictorious, with Antar\u2019s aid, and convert, my lord, thy fears into\nsecurity. Protect but my rear with a thousand lion heroes, and thou shalt\nview the wonders of my sword and my spear. Thou shalt see a lion driving\naway the horsemen with a scimitar that surpasses the lightning\u2019s flash\nin brilliancy. Grant me the dower for my beloved Ibla, of the thousand\ncamels, that have excited me to this enterprize. O Ibla, fear not the foe\non my account, when they crowd about me, and the war horses charge: for\ndeath is but my own form\u2014my own qualities, and there is no prosperity but\nwhat is attached to my bridle. I am the youth that fells the horsemen\nin my strength\u2014a youth whose equal exists not on earth. O breezes! I\nimplore ye by the pillars at Mecca, by Zemzem\u2014by the sacred plains and\nMesdelifa,\u2014when ye pass the land of Sheerebah, waft my salutation to\nZoheir and his royal sons, and say to the sorrowing Shiboob, hast thou\nforgotten my faith\u2014renounced my vows? for thou art my foster brother, my\nstay, my support when my friends betray me and persecute me\u2014O Shiboob,\nhaste then, my brother, haste that thou mayst see what I have suffered,\nand what has befallen me\u2014that thou mayst see a battle that will make thee\nforget the past, and that thou mayst see, O Shiboob, the boundless height\nof my glory; For my ambition soars above the Pleiades, and my fortunate\nstar sparkles with brilliant rays.\u201d\n\nThe King was exceedingly surprised at Antar\u2019s bursts of poetry and\nstrength of mind; and he was convinced of victory with his sword and\nspear. O Absian, said he, what is this I have heard of you to day, when\nyou heard the shouts and the attack of the enemy? Truly, my lord, replied\nAntar, my gall was nearly bursting when I heard that you had been\nobliged to fly from these cauldrons of dogs; this disgrace can never be\nerased from the Arabs. What can men do, said Monzar, when double their\nnumbers attack them? and they are overwhelmed by those who do not fear\ntheir carnage? Man, said Antar, must patiently resist, and drink of the\ncup of death as he drinks the purest water, and not fly or run away. I\nam now in your power, and I demand of you the marriage dower of Ibla, my\nuncle\u2019s daughter; restore me my sword, my cuirass, my arms, and my horse,\nand give me a thousand men to defend my rear; and you shall see what my\ncourage and force will effect against your foes.\n\nBy the virtue of the Kaaba, said Monzar, O Absian, if you perform what\nyou state, and destroy this army\u2014all my property, my he and she camels\nare all at your disposal. Not one of us shall remain behind the tent\nwall, but we will exert our utmost energies against the foe, and we\nwill strike with our swords, and thrust with our spears. And he ordered\nhis horse and his arms and his cuirass to be restored. And early on the\nmorrow, a loud shout arose from amongst the Persians, eager to plunder\nthe property and capture the women and the children; but the Arabs went\nforth against them, and at their head was Antar, the hero of conquest;\nand he cried out\u2014Your hopes have failed, you cauldron of dogs, you shall\nthis day see Antar perform what nations shall record. Then he cried, O by\nthy eyes, O Ibla, and thus repeated:\n\n\u201cOn the day of battle exquisite is the carnage.\u2014Come forth then against\nme, ye men of abomination\u2014in me ye shall meet a Knight whose blow strikes\nlife dead. I am the Antar of horsemen in the contest, that makes armies\nand warriors drink of ignominy, a draught from his hand with the polished\nsword that glides through the neck, in the battle field. Soon will I\nplunge into the war dust till I encounter Khosrewan, and make him drink\nof the cup of death; I will make him taste from my sword a draught,\nafter which he shall never taste of pure water. Ye shall see the horse\nscattered o\u2019er the wastes\u2014the Himyarite chiefs shall be bound on their\nsaddles. I am the lion, foremost in war, and mine arm is the horror of\nwarriors. Mine is honour and good fortune and glory, and my star is high\nabove the brilliant Arcturus.\u201d\n\nHe then received the attack of the horse as the parched up ground\nthe first of the rain; and his thrusts were the thrusts that blinded\nvision, and equalled fate and destiny. He overthrew heroes and destroyed\nwarriors, and in an hour blood was flowing and streaming, and bowels\nwere ripped open. When the Persians observed these dreadful deeds they\nadvanced from all quarters. The voice, of Antar was like the thunder\u2019s\npeal, and his thrusts more rapid than the flash of the lightning; and\nthe Arab warriors, encouraged at his steadiness, felt convinced of\nvictory after defeat; but as soon as the Persians saw these descending\nmisfortunes, their hearts regretted what had passed, and the land and the\nregion appeared too confined for them. The whole country was blackened in\ntheir eyes, their avidity was frustrated in the capture of the sons and\ndaughters.\n\nAffairs continued in this position till mid-day, and they toiled in the\nbattle fiercer than a blaze of fire. And when the heat oppressed the\nwarriors, the Persians gave way, and sought refuge in their tents, and\ngave a loose to their despair. Many were the horses deprived of their\nriders. Their chief, Khosrewan, stood under the standards, and the delay\nseemed tedious, for he was expecting that his companions would return\nwith the captives and the spoil; when, lo! they indeed returned, but in\nflight. O my lord, they cried in reply to his questions, the Arabs have\nvanquished us\u2014we have seen a prodigy among them\u2014and if you do not come\ndown upon that chosen horseman, not a head or tail of us will survive;\nfor he fails not where he aims; he succeeds in whatever he undertakes;\nand if he attacks a whole troop, he disperses it; if he assaults a\nhorseman, he overthrows him, and his voice is like a crash of thunder;\nthe moment a man hears it a universal ague seizes him; and he is like a\nlion when he assaults, and he drives away the warriors before him like a\nflock of sheep.\n\nAs Khosrewan heard this he was greatly enraged, and fire flashed from\nhis eyes. Whence comes this horseman, he exclaimed, to this country? and\nto what Arabs is he related? Then starting from beneath the standards he\nsought the place of slaughter, and the scene of attack. In his hand he\nbore a long mace with which he assailed the troops; he dived through the\ndust, and the heroes trembled at his mace, as the dust rolled over his\nhorse.\n\nNow Monzar was directing his sons to move beyond the precincts of Hirah,\nwhen the form of victory and triumph appeared to him in the odour of that\nblack lion. He sat down in his tent, and seated Antar by him, for he was\ndearer to him than all his family and relations; he congratulated him,\nand gave him to eat, and there was no end to his attentions and kindness;\nand as he engaged to him every favour, he said, if I knew your heart\nwould be gratified by remaining with me, I would send a messenger to your\nKing, and would offer him my friendship, and I would direct him to take\nIbla from her father and send her to us, whether he will or not. But I\nfear you will not allow me to do, what your heart would not sanction.\n\nI cannot possibly remain here, replied Antar; every day appears a\nthousand years to me; but I swear by all your munificence towards me,\nwere even my heart to burst with the fierceness of my love and passion,\nI will not quit this country till I have accomplished your wishes in\ndestroying your foul enemies: to-morrow, by the grace of God, I will\nrout their army. To-morrow I will go out to the field of battle; I will\nchallenge Khosrewan; and I will invite him to terminate the affair,\nand if he engages me, I will make him drink of the cup of death; and\nafterwards I will put to flight these troops of horse over the plains\nand the deserts. When they had finished eating and drinking, and their\nconversation about the battle and the contest, they retired to rest and\nsleep. As soon as the morning dawned with a smile, the horsemen rushed on\nanxious for the fight and the conflict; and as Khosrewan was preparing\nto proceed to the field, lo! from the Arab army there came forth a man\nbetween the two ranks, and stood conspicuous amidst the two armies,\nand both parties gazed at him. He was like a strong battlement, quite\nimmersed in steel; in his hand was a sparkling blade, and he had a long\nspear slung over him, and under him was a steed of the colour of gold,\nindefatigable in labour, as an Arab poet has described.\n\n\u201cPraise a yellow steed of the colour of gold, for he is of the horses\nnoblest in pedigree; his rider shall outstrip every warrior in the\nbeauty of his shape and paces. He may be in the evening at Tekmet, and in\nthe morning at Aleppo.\u201d\n\nAnd he gallopped over the plain to and fro, and he disclosed a\ncountenance like that of a Ghoul; the warriors and heroes marked him: and\nlo! it was the illustrious chieftain and intrepid warrior, Aboolfawaris,\nAntar the son of Shedad; and he came forth to put an end to the Persian\ncontest and to slay their general; and thus return to his family and\ncountry with wealth and riches. He dashed into the centre of the army;\nhe disdained the common herd, and would not condescend to challenge\nthem. He burst on the right, and discomfited it; and slew threescore and\nten\u2014he rushed on to the left, and forced it in confusion on the right;\nhe returned again to the centre, seeking carnage and bloodshed. He was\nmounted on a mare, for his horse Abjer, wounded the day before, was still\nunfit for the day of encounter. And when he was in the centre, between\nthe two armies\u2014he thus spoke.\n\n\u201cRelieve my pains\u2014ease my sorrows. Sally forth, aye, every lion warrior.\nTaste a draught at the edge of my sword, more bitter than the cups of\nAbsynth. When death appears in the crowded ranks, then challenge me to\nthe meeting of armies. Ye Persians, I heed ye not, I heed ye not. Where\nis he who wishes to fight me, and wants to make me drink the liquor of\ndeath. Bring him forth, let him see what he will meet from my spear under\nthe shades of the war-dust. I swear, O Ibla, he shall eat of death. By\nthy teeth, luscious to the kiss, and by thine eyes, and all the pangs of\ntheir enchantment, and their beauty, were thy nightly visionary form not\nto appear to me, never should I taste of sleep. O thou my hope! O may the\nwestern breeze tell thee of my ardent wish to return home. May it waft\nthee my salutation, when the sparkling dawn bursts the veil of night. May\nGod moisten thy nights, and bedew thee with his rain-charged clouds. May\npeace dwell with thee as long as the western and northern breeze shall\nblow.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar had finished\u2014behold Khosrewan\u2014he appeared on the plain, and\nhe was mounted on a long tailed steed, marked with the new moon on his\nforehead, and on his body was a strong coat of mail well knit together,\nthe workmanship of David; and armed with an imperial casque and a\nglittering sword; and under his thighs were four small darts, each like\na blazing flame. And when he came forth on the field of battle he roared\naloud, and contemptuously of the Arabs. Antar assailed him: high arose\nthe dust about them, so that they were hid from the sight. They exhibited\nmost extraordinary prowess; they separated, they clung to each other,\nnow they sported, now they were in earnest; they gave and took, they\nwere close, they were apart, until it was mid-day, and both had severely\ntoiled. But whenever Khosrewan attempted to assail Antar and strike him\nwith his mace, he ever found him vigilant and on his guard, and aware\nof his intent. So he darted away from him in order to gallop over the\nfield, and would exhibit all his man\u0153uvres and stratagems; but Antar kept\nhim employed, and wearied him, and prevented his executing his designs,\nso that the chieftain\u2019s wrath became intense. He snatched up one of his\ndarts, and shook it and hurled it at him\u2014it flew from his hand like the\nblinding lightning, or descending fate. Antar stood firm, and when it\ncame near him, he met it, and dexterously turning it off by his shield,\nit bounded away, and fell upon the ground far off. Khosrewan snatched out\na second dart and levelled if at him; but Antar sprang out of its way,\nand it passed harmless. He aimed a third; but Antar rendered it fruitless\nby his dexterity and his persevering activity. He hurled the fourth, but\nit shared the same fate as the others.\n\nWhen Khosrewan saw how Antar had parried the darts, his indignation\nwas extreme. Again he took up his mace, and he roared even as a lion\nroars\u2014then stretching himself out with it, he hurled it, backing it with\na howl that made the plains and the air rebellow. Antar threw away his\nspear and met the mace and caught it with his right hand in the air;\nthen, aiming it at Khosrewan, he cried out, take that, thou son of a\ntwo thousand horned cuckold! I am the lover of Ibla, and am alone\u2014the\nPh\u0153nix of the world. Khosrewan saw him grasp the mace in the air, and was\nhorrified, for his strength and force were exhausted. He retreated, and\nattempted to fly from his antagonist, for he was now convinced of his\ndestruction. He moved round his shield between his shoulders; but he felt\nthat his fate was nigh at hand, for the mace fell upon his shield more\nforcible than the stone of a sling; furiously it rattled on the Persian\nchief, and hurled him off his saddle to the distance of twelve cubits,\nand broke his ribs and snapped his spine.\n\nEvery warrior was intensely agitated at this surprizing deed; and when\nthe Persians saw it they were bewildered; they rushed upon Antar,\nagonized as they were at this calamity, and exposed their lives to\ncertain death. The Arabs received them with undaunted courage at the\npoints of their spears; and their spirit was exhilarated by the acts\nof Antar. The two armies assailed, and the earth was pounded under the\ntrampling of the horses. The horsemen and the clans encountered, clouds\nof dust thickened over their heads. And their fury increased, till they\nwere like the waves of the boisterous ocean. Spears penetrated through\nhearts and waists, heads were flying off, blood was boiling, cowards\nwere scared, the courageous full of fire; the King of Death circled round\nthe cup of mortality; and the commands of the Most High were executed\nupon them.[5]\n\nAntar, the ferocious lion, felt his heart assuaged in the midst of\nslaughter, and in the concussion of heroes and warriors. He exhibited\nterrors amidst the concourse of heroes, and scattered whole armies over\nthe plains and the mountains. King Monzar cried out aloud to his troops,\nand they exposed themselves to the enemy: roused afresh was the flame\nof war; it fiercely raged, and its sparks flashed; the dust blackened\nthe whole land, so that both earth and heaven were veiled. The ground\ntottered under the hoofs of the noble steeds, until the sweat even\nmoistened their entrails. Blood flowed from the throats of the chiefs.\nAntar strewed the brave on the earth, and souls complained of their\nsufferings to him who knows the secrets of the world. Heads were hewn\nfrom the branches of their bodies; and the Persians saw in the deeds of\nAntar that day, what terrified them, and magnified their horror. They\nfell back in flight upon the plains in agony at their dispersion and\ndiscomfiture, and complaining of what had befallen their nobles and\ntheir chiefs. The Arabs in their rear drove them on to their fate, and\ntruly their desires and wishes were accomplished. As they exulted in the\nrealization of their hopes and expectations, they crowded round Antar\nto thank and praise him, and he stood before them like one immersed in a\nsea of blood. Then as he recollected the horrors he had suffered, these\nverses boiled in his heart, and he thus exclaimed:\u2014\n\n\u201cAsk, O Absian maid, my spear and my sword what they did on the day\nof the battle of the Persians. I steeped them, whilst the spear gored\nthrough the horse, in the blood of the foe mixed with bitter Absynth.\nI dispersed the army that bellowed out their thunders, and beneath it\nflashed the lightning of their swords, mounted as I was on a noble\nArab charger, that flies when the sword blades crash in the fight; he\nneighs for joy whilst the spears are directed at him, that vibrate like\nspeckled serpents. I urged him into the sea of deaths; he snorted,\nand plunged into the tempestuously roaring waves. How many horsemen,\nO Ibla, at the edge of my faulchion have torn their hands with their\nteeth in repentance! but I felled them down on the battle plain, that\nthe wild beasts and eagles and hovering vultures might drink of their\nblood. I must love the tribe of Abs, were they even to shed my blood\nunrevenged,\u2014such is my love for thee, thou daughter of noble chiefs! I\nwill endure the burthen of grievances, and sorrows, and captivity, and\nshew that I am a warrior and the son of a warrior May the peace of God\nbe with thee, O Ibla\u2014soon will I come to thee with my trophies!\u201d\n\nAntar having finished these verses, the chiefs and the warriors were\nastonished at his eloquence, and they repaired with the spoil and plunder\nto the presence of King Monzar, who started up to meet Antar, kissed him\nbetween the eyes, and could only congratulate him on his safety, for he\nwas confounded at such instances of his bravery. Horseman of the day,\nhe cried, protector of Abs and Adnan! all that the Persians have left\nthis day be thine, O Knight of the time and age! for thou hast earned\nit by thy sword and thy spear. Thou hast brought peace and comfort to\nthe Arabs. Let this plunder be a grant from me to thee, together with\nthe Asafeer camels; and moreover, out of mine own will I bestow immense\nwealth on thee; but I cannot permit thee to wed the daughter of thy uncle\nany where but here with me in this land, and I will fulfil all thy wishes\nand thy desires; for I am resolved to send letters to the tribes, and to\nassemble the hordes from the waters and the springs, and make ready for\nwar against the just King.\n\nO my lord, expel that thought from your mind, cried Antar, for by the\nlife of the eyes of Ibla, to me the strongest of oaths, I alone will\nstand thee in stead of the whole race of Arabs\u2014never will I cease from\nthe blows of my Indian sword till I have not left in your presence one of\nyour enemies alive, not a cuckold of them. Moreover, \u2019tis my intention\nto put you in possession of the throne of Nushirvan. Monzar expressed his\nthanks, for he knew he could perform what he promised, from what he had\nobserved of his intrepidity in the black rolling dust.\n\nThus they entered Hirah, and rejoiced in their victory and triumph; and\nAntar went to the habitation that was prepared for him. Monzar retired\nto rest; but he was greatly disquieted, and feared Chosroe and his\nstratagems.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n\nOn the next day when Monzar was seated on the throne of his kingdom, and\nthe horsemen of his clan were around him, they consulted and deliberated,\nand they were unanimous that the Arabs should be written to, and\nprecautions be taken against Nushirvan. And when they had come to this\nresolution, an attendant entered, and kissing the ground, said\u2014O King,\nexcellent tidings for you in the arrival of your Vizier Amroo, the son of\nNeefeela! Now this vizier was one of the oldest men of the age, for he\nwas four hundred years old; he was well versed in history, and acquainted\nwith every event, and he was one of the wise men who had predicted the\nmission of Mohammed the seal of Prophets and delegates; and he generally\nresided at Mecca, expecting his appearance, that he might be directed by\nhis light.\n\nWhen Monzar heard of his arrival, he was rejoiced and delighted at the\ngood news. In a short time he presented himself, and saluted him. Monzar\nsprang up to meet him, congratulated him, and saluted him. O Chief, said\nhe, you are come just at the very moment you are required, for I am\noverwhelmed with anxiety; and for its removal I depend first on God, and\nthen on you. I am quite disconsolate at the state of my affairs, and I\nhave repented of what I have done, and I wish for you, O Vizier, to bear\nsome of my burthens.\n\nAnd when he had informed him of all that had passed between him and\nChosroe\u2014You have indeed acted wrong, O King, said Amroo, in this\nbusiness; verily as soon as I heard the news, I came as fast as I could\nfrom the land of Mecca and the sacred shrine, fearful lest your country\nshould be laid waste, and the Arab chiefs destroyed by the hands of the\nworshippers of fire, and you would be thus involved in disgrace and in\nmisery. Indeed, I have recommended to you a thousand times not to make\nthe fire-worshippers your enemies, until you should hear that Mecca is\nilluminated with the light and appearance of the chosen Prophet to be\nsent from Adnan, for then will the temples of fire be extinguished, and\nthe palace be rent: but now you have only to bend to error, and take care\nto obey the orders of this monarch, even should he outrage you. For you\nhave slain his satrap and cut up his horsemen; so beware of his deceits.\nModeration is now most advisable; renounce writing to the Arabs, but have\npatience till I go to Modayin, and observe its inhabitants, and mark the\nstate of affairs. I will visit their minister, Mubidan, and request him\nto give up this point, and direct him to avert from us the ill-will of\nNushirvan.\n\nYour advice is most judicious, said Monzar; act, O Vizier, as it seems\nfit to you; I will oppose nothing you say. So Amroo went to repose\nhimself; and then Monzar reported to him the deeds of Antar, how he had\nslain Khosrewan, and destroyed an army of twenty thousand horse, and had\ngiven victory to the Arab warriors after their defeat and flight; the\nVizier was astonished at Antar\u2019s acts, and intrepidity, so superior were\nthey to any thing hitherto known in deserts or towns.\n\nOn the third day the Vizier Amroo mounted his horse and repaired to\nModayin, having first recommended Monzar to treat Antar with attention\nand kindness, and to prevent him from returning to his own country. He\ntraversed the deserts and cultivated places till he reached Modayin,\nwhen he presented himself to Mubidan, the Cazi of the worshippers of\nfire, without ceremony and without permission. Mubidan rose up in haste\nto meet him, and received him with the highest honour and distinction;\nhe made him sit by him, and spoke to him in the most friendly manner,\nsaying,\u2014What has induced you to visit me? What has made you trouble\nyourself about me? I was not at hand when these events took place, said\nthe Vizier, and I was not present at these occurrences; I was at Mecca,\nand in those parts; but as soon as the news reached me, and I heard how\nKing Monzar had eaten the dates with the stones, I was convinced that\ntroubles would arise between them. I came at full speed, for I feared\nsome great disaster, and I wished to settle the business ere I died. But\nI did not arrive till all was over; so I have hurried to you, in order\nto arrange matters, fearing that these human considerations would bring\nabout unnecessarily disagreeable consequences. Therefore, O Chief, be\nbenevolent as long as kindness is in your power, and be not revengeful on\naccount of a difference in religion.\n\nMubidan was pleased from his heart, and the flame of his anger was\nextinguished. O Amroo, said he, before you arrived, I had resolved to\narrange this business: the army has returned routed, and its chief has\nbeen slain; but I have not reported this circumstance to the just King,\nfearful that blood would be shed, and men be slaughtered. I have also my\nanxiety about events which have lately occurred, and I wish to relieve\nthe heart of the King of some of his burthens; for governments sicken as\nmen sicken, and they have no other physician but their Viziers; and these\nare acquainted with the evils and the remedies.\n\nWhat is it, cried Amroo, that has troubled the heart of the just King;\nfor he is the ruler of all the tribes! You know that the Emperor of\nGreece, answered Mubidan, has always been accustomed to send to Chosroe\na vast quantity of goods, and precious stones and metals and jewels,\nand male and female European slaves, and other objects, in short, that\nthe tongue fails in describing. At this present time a Grecian chief is\ncome with the treasure, and in his suite are five hundred horsemen of\nhis nation, and ten priests, and five monks; he presented himself before\nChosroe in his palace, and spoke to him by an interpreter saying\u2014O mighty\nKing, I am indeed come with the wealth and jewels and rich presents, such\nas fire cannot consume, and beautiful virgins and slaves; but I must\nmake one stipulation with you, viz. that I will not deliver them to you,\nunless you have a horseman that can vanquish me in the field of battle.\n\nNow the cause of the arrival of this Chief, continued Mubidan, and of\nhis appearance before Chosroe, was this extraordinary circumstance.\u2014He\nhad quitted the Isles of the Sea, in order to visit the holy shrine\nat Jerusalem, and the fountain of peace; and when his pilgrimage was\nterminated, he heard a good report of the cities of Syria, so he\nrepaired thither, and resided there some time; and one day being in the\npresence of Harith, in the course, he exhibited his horsemanship and\nintrepidity, far superior to the other horsemen. Harith having remarked\nhis extraordinary prowess, sent for him and presented him with a robe,\nand exalted him in rank above the nobles of his court, accommodated him\nin a house suitable to his station, and supplied him with provisions.\n\nAnd Harith for a long time engaged him against the warriors, and he\novercame every antagonist in force and ability, and in course of time\nhe conquered all the armies of Syria, who acknowledged his intrepidity\nand superiority, and yielded to him the highest honours, so that Harith\ngreatly rejoiced in him; and he said, this is indeed the sword of Jesus;\nand he resolved to present him to the Roman Emperor. So he wrote to the\nEmperor, and mentioned what feats this Chief had performed. Keep him with\nyou, said he in his letter, and prevent his returning to the Isles of the\nSea, in order that you may obtain, through him, what you wish and desire\nfrom the Arabs and the worshippers of fire; and he sent his letter by a\nmessenger.\n\nOn the next day Harith dispatched the Chief with a party of his\nattendants to wait on the Emperor. The messenger travelled with the\nletter till he reached Antioch, and being admitted to the presence, he\ndelivered him the letter, which he took and read, and having understood\nits secret meaning, was rejoiced in the Chief. He even went out to meet\nhim with all the nobles of his court, and ministers of the kingdom. So\nwhen the Chief reached the suburbs, he was greatly surprised, as were\nall his companions, for he thought this meeting of the Emperor was\naccidental, not being aware of the letter Harith had sent forward. The\nChief dismounted and crossing his face before he spoke, kissed the earth\nin the presence of the Emperor, who, much surprised at the courtesy\nof his manners, desired him to remount his horse, and taking him by\nhis side, they all returned together to Antioch, every one gazing on\nthe Chief, and astonished at his gigantic shape and stature, till they\narrived at the city, when all their anxiety and trouble being at an end,\nevery one returned home. And there being no one present, the Emperor sat\ndown, and made the Chief do so likewise by his side, and invited him to\ntell his adventures, and offered him riches and possessions.\n\nO most beneficent monarch, said the Chief, I left not my country in\nsearch of wealth, but the reason of my departure was to seek the reward\nof virtue and meritorious acts, I have reached your presence, and my wish\nis to exhibit my prowess before the inhabitants of this land, that I may\nattain the object of my desires. The Emperor showed the warrior every\npossible attention.\n\nNow the name of this Chief was Badhramoot; he remained three days as the\nEmperor\u2019s guest, on the third he appeared on the plain, and the horsemen\ncame out against him; but they retreated from before him in shame and\ndisgrace, and he remained galloping about like a d\u00e6mon. For three days he\ncontinually exhibited himself on the course, till he had marked all the\ntroops of the Emperor in the combat; and when the Emperor perceived his\nsuperior skill, he was much surprised, and wished to detain him with him,\nthat he might, through him, be victorious over his enemies; and amongst\nother things he thought of marrying him to his daughter, and of sharing\nwith him his dominions.\n\nOne day Badhramoot came to the Emperor and found him sitting down, and\nall his treasures before him; he was selecting the best metals and\njewels, and was putting them in cups, and was sealing them up, and was\npacking them up in boxes, and was preparing them for a long journey by\nland. Badhramoot was much agitated and surprised at this. To whom do you\nintend sending this treasure? he asked. To Chosroe Nushirvan, the lord of\nthe crown and palace, replied the Emperor, for he is the King of Persia\nand Deelem, and the ruler of nations, O monarch, this King, is he not of\nthe religion of Jesus the son of Mary? the chief asked. He is the great\nKing, he replied, and he worships fire; and he has armies and allies\nwhose numbers are incalculable, and on this account I send him tribute,\nand keep him away from my own country.\n\nAt these words the light became darkness in Badhramoot\u2019s eyes. By your\nexistence, O King, said he, I cannot allow any one to adore aught but the\nMessiah, in this world. We must wage a sacred war, and have a crusade\nagainst the inhabitants of that land and those cities. How can you submit\nto this disgrace and indignity, and humble yourself to a worshipper of\nfire; you who are the Emperor of the religion of the Cross, and the\nPriest\u2019s gown? I swear by him who withdrew a dead body from the earth,\nand breathed into clay, and there came forth birds and beasts, I will not\npermit you to send these goods and presents, unless I go also against\nthose people, and fight them with the sword\u2019s edge. I will engage the\narmies of Chosroe, and exert my strength against them; if I am slain,\nthen you may stand to your covenant.\n\nRid us of this affair, exclaimed the Emperor; avert and withdraw from us\nthe supremacy of Chosroe and his armies; but do not open upon us a gate\nwhich we shall not be able to close: and if you wish to make a journey\nto the land of the King, go with these presents, and when you are in his\npresence, tell him your own story\u2014examine the extent of his dominion, and\nhis horsemen, and the number of his troops, and his allies. Ask him to\nlet you fight his bold warriors\u2014whatever you desire, he will grant you;\nand when you have engaged the horsemen and succeeded in your attempt,\nthen inform me, that I may shew you what I can do. But if you find that\nhis power is too great, conjure him to spare this land and realm.\n\nBadhramoot agreed to this proposal, and he departed with the presents,\nand he arrived at Modayin, his heart free from fear. He went to Chosroe\nand presented his letter, and said through an interpreter, O most\nglorious King, you know that Kings will not submit to tribute until they\nhave been vanquished in battle. I am now come with all this property as\npresents to you; but I wish to avert this disgrace from the Christians,\nand I will engage your warriors in your presence. If they slay me in the\ncombat, my blood is rightfully your\u2019s; but if I am superior to all your\nheroes and combatants, then relieve us from tribute, and do not expose\nmankind to difficulties and hardships, for in all religions it is tyranny\nand oppression to shed blood.\n\nAll this being interpreted to Chosroe, his anger and indignation, though\nconsiderably excited, were softened by the mildness of the Chieftain\u2019s\nrepresentations. He pondered the subject some time, and then, being\nconvinced that he had only made a reasonable demand, he turned towards\nhis satraps and said\u2014Take this Chieftain, and conduct him to a mansion\nsuitable to his rank, with his suite, and provide them with every thing\nto eat and drink, that we may comply with his requests; let the property\nbe left with him, that we may likewise fulfil his intention: to-morrow we\nwill go to the plain to view the combat of the horsemen, and we will not\nreceive the presents but on your terms.\n\nAccordingly the satraps conducted the Chief and his suite to a spacious\nmansion, and left all the property with them. The next day the armies\nmounted and repaired to the plain, and all being assembled, Chosroe\nmounted his horse, surrounded by the standards and ensigns; and when the\ntwo parties were drawn up, the Chief came forward like a huge camel, his\npriests and monks attending him; he urged on his horse into the field of\ncontention, and the brave heroes were rushing upon him from all sides;\nbut Chosroe issued orders to his people that they should draw lots, and\nthus proceed in rotation against him, and whoever should conquer him\nshould receive all the presents he brought with him.\n\nWhen the combatants heard this, they retired from the scene of combat\nand drew lots, and the lot fell upon the first of the generals named\nShirkan, son of Tirkan. He sallied out against the Chief; but the Grecian\nwarrior waiting till he came close to him, drew his foot out of his\nstirrup, struck him on the breast with his foot, and hurled him on the\nground. The whole body of horsemen were confounded, and their limbs\ntrembled within them. Again they drew lots, and the lot fell upon a\nsturdy warrior, one of the worshippers of fire: he fought with various\narms, and he was indefatigable in the combat: he rushed at him armed\nwith a mace, roaring like a lion; he opened wide his arm as he came near\nto him, and endeavoured to strike him and knock him down; but the Chief\nstruck him with the but-end of his spear, and dashed him to the earth;\nhe had already drawn out the barb from his spear; and there was not a\ncombatant that came forward but he stretched him on the ground: and\nbefore the close of the day he had vanquished a hundred valiant warriors.\nThen Chosroe sent for him, and received him kindly, and gave him a robe.\nBy the burning of fire and its flames, said he, you have earned all this\nproperty from these vile miscreants.\n\nChosroe then returned, and he was greatly enraged with his own troops;\nbut the Chieftain was rejoiced, and he reposed that night in security.\nThe next day he returned to the contest, and Nushirvan also mounted his\nhorse, and the combat was the same as the first day; and the Grecian\nquitted not the scene of action till he had overcome more than a hundred\nwarriors, many with their ribs broken, suffering the pangs of death and\nperdition. And Chosroe was exceedingly wrath with his troops.\n\nThus continued the Chief to engage the heroes of Persia for fifteen days,\nand he excelled them all; and the armies of Chosroe were disgraced.\nIn affliction he passed the night, and he rose up to grief and gloom.\nMatters were in this situation, when lo! Mubidan entered. O Vizier, cried\nChosroe, watch over us in this important affair; behold what is befalling\nus with respect to this experienced Greek, for verily, he will tear our\nempire in pieces with his intrepidity; and we are unable to rid ourselves\nof his power. I wish to write to Khosrewan, to come to us with his\nhorsemen against this Grecian devil.\n\nRefrain from such expressions, O King, said Mubidan, for you may still\naccomplish your wish, and degrade and hold in contempt this Chieftain,\nand the affair terminate to your glory and success. How can that be?\nsaid the King, and what do you propose? My opinion is, said he, that you\nwrite to your Lieutenant, King Monzar, the ruler of the Arabs, under\nwhose command are all the tribes, and order him to send you a few of\nhis slaves, and they will subjugate for you this obstinate Chief, and\nwill accomplish what you covet and desire; for the Arab horsemen are the\nhorsemen of victory and conquest; they only are brought up in plains and\nrocks, in battle and slaughter; in such emergencies the horsemen of Hijaz\nare most renowned; but our horsemen, O King of the world, are only famed\nfor magnificent entertainments.\n\nThe King laughed, and said\u2014How can this be brought about, Mubidan? Monzar\nis irritated against us by what has happened between me and him, owing\nto the satrap Khosrewan, who is now gone against him with his troops and\nforces, and I have no intelligence of him. Live for ever, O King of the\nworld, said Mubidan; but for your Satrap, the fire has received his soul,\nand its smoke and its flames have consumed him. His army is returning\nrouted and beaten. I have kept this circumstance a secret from you, but\nnow the fire has made me think it proper to disclose it to you.\n\nO Vizier, said Chosroe, greatly distressed\u2014In this extremity, what is\nyour plan; how can I possibly send to Monzar, now that he has rent in\npieces my honour, and slain a satrap of my government?\n\nO King, said the Vizier, the honor of your Empire is in his hands\u2014he\nalone can save it; for he possesses a warrior of the race of Adnan, who\nwould encounter every horseman and hero you possess. Then informing\nhim of all that concerned Antar from beginning to end\u2014It would, in my\nopinion, be right, added he, to send to King Monzar a robe and presents,\nand direct him to produce before you this lion horseman, for he will\nsurely destroy yon Chief, and will remove this distress and affliction\nfrom your heart. But, said Chosroe, I fear Monzar will not obey my\norders, and he will suppose that dismay has stricken us.\n\nBe assured, O great King, said Mubidan, that Monzar is terrified at your\nwrath and your vengeance, and just now his Vizier Amroo, the son of\nNefeelah, came to me, and asked me to intercede with you, and request\nyou would pass over what he has done, and forgive his improper conduct.\nWell, said Chosroe, do what you think proper; perhaps the difficulty may\nbe removed. Order this horseman into our presence, and promise him on our\npart all manner of riches. So Mubidan departed, and having acquainted the\nVizier Amroo with what had occurred on this important point, he desired\nhim to write to Monzar, and tell him what had passed, ordering him to\nbring Antar into the presence of the King at Modayin.\n\nThe Vizier wrote the letter, as follows\u2014\u201cTo him whom we acknowledge as\nKing Monzar, King of the Arabs, Ruler of the tribes Lakhm and Juzam\nand Shiban! Know, O King, that the business on which I came has been\neffected, and all your projects are accomplished. Moreover, I have\npromised Chosroe, the monarch of the world, that Antar shall overcome\nthis Grecian Chief, and shall relieve his heart from his present distress\nand affliction; come therefore hither without delay, and be there no\nother answer to this letter but placing your foot in the stirrup.\u201d\u2014He\nfolded and sealed the letter, and dispatched it under the wings of a\nbird, and they remained expecting the result. But the Chief, as soon\nas the day dawned, sent some of his people and horsemen to demand of\nChosroe permission to go out to the plain that he might again engage in\nhis presence his armies and his warriors. So Chosroe mounted, and all his\npeople and horsemen also came forth: and the Greek overpowered the heroes\nof Persia, who combatted with him even to the close of the day, when they\nreturned; and the glory and honour of the Persians were tarnished.\n\nThe next day the two parties mounted and were drawn up in order; and the\nGrecian fought, and galloped, and charged, and sought for the combatants\nand antagonists, when lo! a horseman from Deelem, Bahram by name, the son\nof Johram, engaged him, and he was a warrior rapid as a burning flame,\nand he fought with different sorts of arms, indefatigable in war. He was\nthe son of the uncle of that Khosrewan whom Antar had slain, Antar, the\ndestroyer of horsemen! On that day he fought on the plain, and he wore a\nDavidean cuirass, solid and firm, that blunted the javelin\u2019s point, and\nin his hand he bore a pike with which he gave the blow of death. He was\nalso girt with a cleaving faulchion, and under his thighs were four short\njavelins. He assaulted the Chief with all his force, and engaged with him\nin the combat.\n\nTheir engagement at first was sport and play, but it ended in impetuosity\nand fury. They continued their labours and exertions till mid-day, and\nthe Greek having experienced Bahram\u2019s might and strength, at length put\nforth all his powers and energies in the contest; and the pike of the\nChief was without a barb, as he had agreed on in the presence of Chosroe\nNushirvan. But he stretched his hand over the pommel of his saddle, and\nplucked out a barb like the tongue of a serpent and fastened it on the\nend of his pike, and rushed upon Bahram in his rage; he extended the\nbarb towards his chest, and he gave a loud shout; but Bahram struck\nit with his sword and clipped it off. The Greek threw away his pike,\nand drew forth his sword from the scabbard, and they engaged with their\nsabres till both were near partaking of the draught of death. Then the\nranks closed upon them, and the Deelemites rejoiced in their warrior, and\ntheir expectations were raised high. The warriors ceased not the battle\nand the contest till the end of the day, when they separated unhurt; and\nneither had marked his adversary. So they retired, and each related to\nhis companions the circumstances of the conflict. Chosroe sent for Bahram\nand gave him a robe.\n\nEarly next day Chosroe mounted, attended by the Persians, and Turcomans,\nand Deelemites, drawn up in ranks on the plain of battle. The Grecian\nChief came with all his suite, and charged and galloped over the plain.\nBahram came down upon him, and they dashed at each other and charged to\nand fro, and ranged over the plain, extending their long spears till\nevery eye was sickened: then they commenced the battle, and continued\ntill sunset, when they again separated unhurt. But Chosroe was greatly\ndistressed, and he ordered the Magi to make a circuit of the fire in his\npresence, and to throw aloe of Comorin into it, praising the unity of\nthe adored King: so they did as he ordered. And the Chief performed the\nsame ceremony, and his priests and monks recited the Gospel, and marked\nthemselves with the Cross, and both parties reposed in blasphemy and\nheresy.\n\nThe next day at dawn the horsemen were ready for the contest, when lo!\na dust arose and obscured the land; and there appeared coming forth a\nhundred horsemen, all sturdy Arabs, armed with long spears and sharp\nswords, mounted on noble coursers. King Monzar headed them, and by his\nside was Antar. The Vizier and Mubidan went out to meet them with a party\nof satraps and horsemen, and the troops on all sides crowded to look at\nthem. Mubidan related to Antar all that had passed between the Grecian\nand Bahrain.\n\nO Vizier, said the lion Antar, assure the just King, whose beneficence\nand liberality are well known, that I will encounter this Grecian, and\nBahram, and all the warriors of Persia, Turkistan and Deelem, and will\nnot leave a man in Modayin. Mubidan smiled, for he was convinced he could\nexecute what he said, observing the immensity of his bulk, and the horror\nof his form, and the rolling of his eyes, and the muscular powers of his\narms.\n\nO Horseman of the age, said he, should you not execute your engagement,\nand not slay this hero of the Cross?\u2014If I do not fulfil my agreement,\ncried Antar, drag me by my feet through the temple of fire, and make a\nsacrifice of me. Mubidan smiled, and he introduced him to the officers\nof Government who wore golden bracelets on their arms, and afterwards\nto those who wore crowns on their heads. King Monzar dismounted, and\nall his horsemen, and then entered the apartments of the Nobles, and\nthe Viziers, and Satraps, and Grandees, and Dignitaries. Antar was in\namazement at what he saw, and the people also stared and gazed at him;\nand this continued till they came before Chosroe. Monzar stepped forward\nand saluted him, and prayed for a continuance of his glory and power.\nThen Antar too paid his homage, and thus spoke:\n\n\u201cMay God avert from thee the evils of fortune, and mays\u2019t thou live\nsecure from calamities! May thy star be ever brilliant in progressive\nprosperity, and increase in glory! May thy sword be ever sharp, and\ncleave the necks of thy foes, O thou King of the age! May thy renown be\never celebrated in every land, for thou art just and beneficent. So mayst\nthou ever live a Sovereign in glory, as long as the dove pours forth its\nplaintive note.\u201d\n\nChosroe was astonished at Antar\u2019s eloquence, and was confounded at the\nheight of his person, and his prodigious form, and the rolling of his\neyes, and the strength of his arms. O King of the world, said Mubidan,\nthis is he who has slain your satrap Khosrewan, and destroyed his army\nof twenty thousand bridles, and he is come now to take away the life of\nthis Greek, and to remove every grief and sorrow from your heart, and no\ndoubt he wilt slay all that are with him. Should this be the case, said\nthe Monarch, we will pardon his fault, and ennoble him with gifts. Let\nthem repose: treat them with all kindness and hospitality. And he sent\nfor King Monzar, and gave him a robe. O King of the Arabs, said he, the\nerror was mine at first, and his who raised this rebellion amongst you;\nbut the fire has destroyed him in your presence. The heart of Monzar was\ndelighted at these words, and his joy was great.\n\nAnd when Mubidan wished to pitch tents for them that they might repose\ntill the next day\u2014By the Holy Shrine, exclaimed Antar, I will not eat\nmeat with you, or drink wine with you, until I have slain this foul-raced\nGreek, and made him drink the cup of death: for he has moved the heart of\nthe just King. So he prepared his arms and his cuirass, and sprang from\nthe ground on the back of his horse. Mubidan informed Chosroe of what\nAntar had said, and he went forth with all his Viziers, Satraps, Princes\nand Deputies, to see the result of the combat between the two warriors.\n\nMubidan also repaired to the Grecian Chief, and said\u2014Know that Chosroe\nhas in his justice acted towards you with the greatest impartiality, and\nhe has loaded you with favours, and he has only found amongst his people,\nBahram, that can contend with you; and the King observes even his\ninferiority. But as he does not wish that his reputation should be lost,\nhis Vicegerent over the Arabs is arrived this day, and with him a warrior\nselected from the heroes of Arabia, who says he will meet you and make\nyour companions and comrades groan for you. So prepare; and if you kill\nhim or overcome him, return to your master with all the property you have\nbrought with you.\n\nBadhramoot was overjoyed at this; his bosom swelled, and he was in\nextasy, and he said\u2014Let Chosroe order out this angry horseman\u2014this day\nwill I haste against him, and make him drink the cup of disgrace. And\nMubidan added\u2014Let the persons of your faith bear witness for you. Antar\nunderstood not what they were saying\u2014Prepare for battle, he cried; and\nimmediately the Greek let go the bridle, and assailed Antar the son of\nShedad. Antar was like a furious lion, as he thus spoke:\n\n\u201cThis day I will aid King Monzar, and I will exhibit my powers and my\nprowess before Chosroe; I will break down the support of Greece from its\nfoundations, and I will sever Badhramoot\u2019s head with my scimitar. I will\nexterminate every lion hero with my sword: let him vaunt, let him boast,\nlet him scoff. Is it not known that my power is sublime on high!\u2014Is it\nnot among the stars in the vicinity of Jupiter? I am he whose might is\nuncontroulable in battle. I am of the race of Abs, the valiant lion\nof the cavern. If thou art Badhramoot, I am called Antar among men. It\nwas easy for me to vanquish the armies of Chosroe in the contest; and\nsoon will I overthrow C\u00e6sar\u2019s self with my spear. Hear the words of an\nintrepid lion, resolute, undaunted, all-conquering. I am he of whom\nwarriors can bear witness in the combat under the turbid battle-dust. My\nsword is my companion in the night-shades, as are also my Abjer, and my\nlance and my spear in the conflicts. Night is my complexion, but day is\nmy emblem; the sun is unquestionably the mirror of my deeds. This day\nthou shalt feel the truth of what I have said: and I will prove that I am\nthe Ph\u0153nix of the age.\u201d\n\nThen Antar rushed down upon the Grecian like a cloud, and the Greek met\nhim like a blazing fire. They engaged like two lions; they maddened at\neach other like two camels, and they dashed against each other like two\nmountains, so that they frightened every eye with their deeds. A dust\nrose over them that hid them from the sight for two hours. The Greek\nperceived in Antar something beyond his capacity, and a sea where there\nwas no rest: he was terrified and agitated, and exclaimed\u2014by the Messiah\nand his disciples! this biscuit is not of the same leaven\u2014this is the\nhour of contention; and now is the time for struggle and exertion. So\nhe shouted and roared at Antar and attacked him with his spike-pointed\nspear, and dealt him a furious thrust; but Antar eluded it by a dexterous\nmovement, and struck him with the heel of his lance under the arm, and\nmade him totter on the back of his horse; and he almost hurled him on the\nground: but Badramoot with infinite intrepidity, sat firm on his horse\u2019s\nback, and gallopped to the further part of the plain. Antar waited\npatiently till he had recovered, and his spirit was renewed, when he\nreturned upon him like a ferocious lion, and recommenced the conflict.\n\nKing Monzar was highly gratified at the deeds of Antar and felt convinced\nthat he was only sparing him, and dallying with him, and that had he\nwished to kill him, he would have done it. But the Monarch was perfectly\nastonished at Antar\u2019s courage; and turning to his attendants, said to\nthem\u2014By the essence of fire, this is indeed horsemanship and intrepidity.\nNever have I remarked such but in an Arab! And he advanced towards the\nfield of battle that he might observe what passed between these dreadful\ncombatants, and that he might see how the affair would terminate.\n\nNow Bahram, when he perceived that Antar was superior to himself in\nstrength, and was mightier than the Greek in the conflict, felt assured\nthat he would obtain the promised reward; so he was seized with the\ndisease of envy, which preyed in flames upon his heart and his body,\nparticularly when he heard that Antar had slain the son of his uncle;\nthen he resolved to betray Antar, and make him drink of the cup of\nperdition. So he waited till both were involved in dust, when he drew\nfrom under his thigh a dart more deadly than the misfortunes of the age;\nand when he came near Antar, he raised his arm and aimed at him the\nblow of a powerful hero. It started from his hand like a spark of fire;\nbut Antar was quick of mind, and his eyes were continually turning to\nthe right and to the left, for he was amongst a nation that were not of\nhis own race, and that put him on his guard, and he instantly perceived\nBahram as he aimed his dart at him; and then casting away his spear\nout of his hand, he caught the dart in the air with his heaven-endowed\nforce and strength, and rushing at the Greek, and shouting at him with a\nparalysing voice, he struck him with that very dart in the chest, and it\nissued out quivering like a flame through his back; then wheeling round\nAbjer, like a frightful lion he turned down upon Bahram; but Chosroe,\nterrified lest Antar should slay Bahram, cried out to his attendants\u2014Keep\noff Antar from Bahram, or he will kill him, and pour down annihilation\nupon him. So the warriors and the satraps hastened after the dreadful\nAntar, and conducted him to Chosroe, and as the foam burst from his lips,\nand his eye-balls flashed fire, he dismounted from Abjer, and thus spoke:\n\n\u201cMay God perpetuate thy glory and happiness, and mayst thou ever live in\neternal bliss! O thou King mighty in power, and the source of justice on\nevery occasion! I have left Badramoot prostrate on the sands\u2014wallowing\nin blood. At the thrust of my spear he fell dead, and his flesh is\nthe prey of the fowls of the air. I left the gore spouting out from\nhim like the stream on the day of the copious rain. I am the terrible\nwarrior; renowned is my name, and I protect my friend from every peril.\nShould C\u00e6sar himself oppose thee, O King, and come against thee\u2014with\nhis countless host, I will leave him dead with his companions. True and\nunvarnished is this promise. O King, sublime in honours\u2014illustrious\nand happy, thou art now firm refuge, and my stay in every crisis. Be\nkind then, and grant me leave to go to my family, and to prepare for\nmy departure: for my anxiety, and my passion for the noble-minded,\nbrilliant-faced Ibla are intense. Hail for ever\u2014be at peace\u2014live in\neverlasting prosperity, surrounded by joys and pleasures!\u201d\n\nChosroe again marvelled at his eloquence, and clothed him with an\nimperial robe, and presented him five Arab horses, with saddles of\nburnished gold, studded with pearls and jewels. He then addressed\nMubidan, and said\u2014Deliver to this warrior all that came with the Greek,\nwhether merchandize or beautiful maidens; and he knew no bounds to his\ngenerosity, adding\u2014Bring him to me to-morrow that I may exalt him with\nfavours, and that I may make him one of our Viceroys of the age. Do ye\nwant any thing further? cried he to the companions of the Greek? Does any\none wish for the combat and the conflict? If so, let him hasten to the\nfield of battle.\n\nNo more talk we of war and contention, said they all; we only came to\nthis country with the Chief to be witnesses of this event and conflict;\nand verily, O King of the age, we have experienced every justice from\nyou. So they departed, and turned away their steeds, and traversed the\nplains and deserts, hardly crediting their escape.\n\nChosroe repaired to his palace, and Mubidan had charge of Antar\u2019s\naffairs: he conducted him and Monzar to the house of the Greek Chief,\nwhere were the treasures and the presents. He opened all the trunks,\nand presented to Aboolfawaris all the pearls and the jewels and the\nprecious stones. Antar rejoiced and smiled, and exclaimed\u2014O what joy!\nwhere are thine eyes, O Ibla? but by the faith of an Arab there is not\nin all the treasures of the King, one atom of her, no not one grain.\nAnd as he regarded the maidens of Greece and of Europe and the Cophtian\nslave girls, his joy was increased, and he blessed the termination of his\nexpedition; and he kissed Mubidan\u2019s breast and beard, and he praised him\nin these words:\n\n\u201cThou hast granted me favours, and I must publish my gratitude; thou hast\naccomplished my every wish for happiness. I will thank thee as long as I\nlive, and if I die, my bones in their grave shall praise thee.\u201d\n\nMubidan was truly gratified at Antar\u2019s praises. Renowned hero, said he,\nwe do not mean that you should be content with this small gift, for this\nis not our property. You shall soon behold our beneficence; this is\nthe wealth and these the jewels, the blue-eyed Greek, whom you killed\nand made to drink of the cup of death and disgrace, brought with him.\nBut we would not have consigned this most precious property, and these\nmaidens who resemble the constellations, but to one who should vanquish\nand debase him: and verily, you are the irresistible one, that has done\nthat, and the property becomes your property, and you have obtained it by\nyour actions. He then ordered the slaves to spread carpets in a splendid\nmansion, and to arrange the vases and ewers; and they did as they were\nordered; they laid out the dinner tables before Monzar and Antar and\ntheir companions. And when Antar observed the variety of delicious meats,\nof mutton and pigeons and thrushes, and the quantity of doves, and the\nprofusion of sweatmeats, he turned towards Monzar, and said\u2014My lord,\nare these various viands their usual victuals? are they at all times\naccustomed to such luscious things? for I see here no camel\u2019s flesh.\nWhat art thou talking of? cried Monzar; think no more of the inhabitants\nof the wilds and deserts, and those that drink camels milk night and day;\nhabituate thyself to the inhabitants of towns and cities, for thou must\nlive in the vicinity of great Kings. So Antar ate till he was satisfied;\nthe glasses passed round, and they killed the jovial hours in mirth and\nmerriment: and when the female slaves knew they were the property of\nAntar, they came to offer their service, and whenever he got up or sat\ndown, they surrounded him: but he would not take the least notice of\nthem, for no one but Ibla was in his heart.\n\nO Aboolfawaris, said Monzar, thou dost not delight in, or seem to look on\nthy slaves with pleasure; or feel sensible of thy high dignity. Remove\nall painful reflections, or thoughts of thine own country, for thou hast\nrisen to the rank of princes; and were the Chieftains of thy nation to\nsee thee, how they would envy thee! Antar heard this; he sighed from his\nsorrowing heart, and tears flowed from his eyes. O my lord, said he, I\nswear by your existence, all this grandeur has no value, no charm in my\neyes; love of my native land is the fixed passion of my soul, and he thus\ncontinued:\n\n\u201cThe fresh breeze comes in the morn, and when it blows on me with its\nrefreshing essence, it is more grateful to me than all which my power\nhas obtained in nightly depredations\u2014than all my property and wealth.\nThe realms of Chosroe I would not covet, were the phantom of my love\nto vanish from my sight. May the showers of rain ever bedew the lands\nand mounds of Sheerebah! lands, where the brilliancy of the veiled full\nmoons may be seen in the obscurity of their sable ringlets\u2014where my heart\nchases among them, a damsel whose eyes are painted with antimony, more\nlovely than the Houri. Thou mayst see in her teeth a liquor when she\nsmiles, where the wine cup is studded with pearls. The fawn has borrowed\nthe magic of her eye, and it is the lion of the earth that chases its\nprey for her beauty. Lovely maid\u2014delicately formed\u2014beauteous\u2014enchanting!\nand at her charms is the brightness of the moon abashed. O Ibla, the\nanguish of absence is in my heart\u2014thou mayst see the shafts of death\ndriven through my soul. O Ibla, did not thy visionary form visit me by\nnight, I should pass the night in sorrows and restlessness. O Ibla, how\nmany calamities have I endured and have plunged into them with my highly\ntempered faulchion, whilst the charging steeds and undaunted warriors\ndive into the ever perilous ocean of death.\u201d\n\nMonzar was greatly surprised at Antar\u2019s fluency of speech, and the\nforce of his love and passion, and he began conversing with him about\nwhat occupied his mind; and thus they continued till it was dark, and\nsleep came upon them. So they passed the night there. In the morning\ncame Mubidan to them, accompanied by a troop of slaves. He complimented\nthem, and enquired about their night\u2019s rest, and how they were pleased.\nMount your horses, he continued, to go and compliment Chosroe, for he is\nprepared to go out hunting and amuse himself. As to me, said Antar, I\nhave no other desire but speedily to return to my family and my country,\nthat my friends and companions may see me, and the Asafeer camels I have\nwith me as a marriage dower for my uncle\u2019s daughter.\n\nMubidan smiled at these words, and knew his wish and object. O\nAboolfawaris, said he, your expectations shall be gratified with respect\nto the Asafeer camels, all laden, and many others besides; and you shall\nnot return to your native land, \u2019ere you receive them all piled up with\nburthens. Antar expressed his thanks, and with Monzar mounted, and they\nall accompanied Mubidan, till on perceiving Nushirvan, they instantly\ndismounted. Antar presented himself, and attempted to kiss Chosroe\u2019s feet\nin the stirrup, but the King not only prevented him, but stooped towards\nhim and kissed him between the eyes; and never had Nushirvan conferred\nsuch a mark of distinction on any one but Antar, the destroyer of heroes,\non account of his having vanquished the Greek warrior, and having\nremoved distress and affliction from his mind. He ordered some noble\nArab horses to be brought before Antar; and the satraps delivered to\nhim some of the finest breed, all glittering with housings of burnished\ngold. Antar mounted, and Chosroe kept him by his side and treated him\nas a companion, and conversed with him, and enquired about his night\u2019s\nrest, and his love for his tribe and friends. They continued their ride\ntill they reached the hunting spot; but no one entered that place except\nNushirvan, when he wished to hunt and amuse himself; and guards were\nstationed over it on all sides, fearful that any one should enter; and as\nit was filled in all quarters and directions, the wild beasts and deer\nran away from before them; and as the horsemen advanced, the birds took\nto flight from every part; the warriors gallopped and the heroes raced\ntheir steeds, and they spread abroad in all directions.\n\nWhen Antar observed this sport, he urged on his horse with the other\nriders, and pursued a herd of deer with great eagerness, and at length\novertook them; he gallopped among them, and stretched many of them on\nthe plain, and he was much amused and pleased. But whilst he was thus\noccupied, behold an horseman pounced down upon him like an eagle, and as\nhe came up to him, he opened wide his arm, and stretching himself out,\nstruck Antar a violent blow; it fell between his shoulders; it staggered\nhim, and almost laid him prostrate; but he recovered himself; he was\nhowever tottering from the back of his horse, when\u2014Take that, thou Hedjaz\ndog! cried the villain; and if thou hast any breath of life in thee, come\non and fight, for I must slay thee, thou vile black, as thou slewest my\ncousin Khosrewan, and the Greek, and made them drink of the cup of death\nand disgrace; and thou hast obtained possession of all that property and\nthose beauteous slaves, and thou art exalted in the presence of Chosroe.\n\nNow this horseman was Bohram, the Chief of Deelem. He conceived against\nAntar a deadly hatred and envy, which consumed his heart and his body;\nand when Chosroe ordered him not to get into any disputes with Antar,\nwarning him against his superior powers, Bohram went to his own people,\nand said to them\u2014If this slave depart in safety with all his spoil and\nplunder, our honour will be debased among the tribes of the Cross and the\nPriest\u2019s gown, and no one will have any respect for us. From that time\nhe indulged to such a degree his envy against Antar, that he watched him\ntill he thus caught him alone in the hunt, and traitorously assailed him.\nBut he knew not that Antar was a warrior, fixed as the mountain\u2019s roots;\nand as he still saw him firmly seated on his horse, he grasped his sword\nand advanced at him; but Antar, recovering from the violence of the blow,\nwheeled round his horse and waited till he recognised his foe: then he\nsought him as a bird of prey the weakest dove, and his assault was the\nassault of the fiercest lion! and thus he addressed him:\n\n\u201cThe Almighty has exposed thee to a lion warrior, that thou mayest fall\nsubdued by my sword, O thou, sprung from the worshippers of the sunbeams,\nand from those who adore the blazing flames. Fate will repay thee, for it\nhas devoted thee to the fight with me, and to the horrors of my strength.\nDespair; all thy hopes are frustrated, founded on the crush of thy mace\nand the warrior-yell. Thou art indeed like the moth, that when it sees\nthe flame, imagines its safety is in its destruction. Stand firm then to\nthe spear-thrust of him whose force thou hast sought. Thou wouldst insult\na lion, powerful in every combat. Take then the spear-thrust from the\nhand of one to whom the d\u00e6mons of the desert have bowed in submission,\nand from whom they implore the aid of God.\u201d\n\nThen he came down on him like a cloud, and he aimed a slight thrust at\nhim with the heel of his spear, and broke his ribs, and threw him from\nthe back of his horse the distance of two spear\u2019s lengths. The warriors\nof Deelem beheld the deed, and thought he was dead and in a state of\nannihilation; and they all rushed down upon Antar, crying at him in their\nvarious dialects. But he met them like a flash of lightning, and he\nbegan driving at them and repulsing them\u2014his eye-balls turned red, they\nappeared like crimson blood\u2014he grasped his never failing Dhami in his\nhand, resolved not to leave a Deelemite alive. Just then came up Chosroe\nwith his visiers and satraps, and they cried out to the Deelemites in\nPersian, for they had heard what Bohram had done: and the Deelemites\nwithdrew from the combat, saying, this black slave has brought disgrace\nupon us, and has slain our Chief! \u2019Tis false, said Mubidan, ye foul\nwretches of Deelem, your Chief is the aggressor; but he ought in duty to\nhave treated him kindly, and have waited on him himself, for he has done\nfor us what no human being could do, and if he has slain your Chief, he\nis not to blame.\n\nMubidan then requested Antar to advance, who related all that had passed\nbetween him and Bohram; and Chosroe believed his words, for he was aware\nof the folly of his servant. He then ordered his satraps to seize the\nDeelemites, and bring them before him to strike off their heads. They\nseized them all, and pinioned their shoulders and bound their arms. But\nAntar, seeing Bohram\u2019s attendants thus disgraced, dismounted from Abjer,\nand advanced towards the great King, and kissing the earth before him,\nbegged him to pardon them, saying, O my lord; pardon is becoming in you,\nand most suitable for such as you\u2014here I kiss your noble hands, praying\nyou to forgive them this crime, for to-morrow I intend to return home:\nmy objects and wishes with respect to you are accomplished, and I do not\nwish to be mentioned after my departure, but for virtuous deeds; and let\nit not be said of me, I went unto a tribe, and left it in disgrace, and\nclothed with shame.\n\nChosroe admired Antar\u2019s benevolence and generosity of soul; he granted\nhis request, and released the Deelemites. At mid-day he returned from the\nhunt, and repaired to a garden unequalled in any city of the world, and\nin it was collected all that the lip or the tongue can covet. It was a\nsuperb palace, like a fairy pavilion\u2014ninety cubits in length, and seventy\ncubits wide, built of marble and red cornelian; in the centre was a\nfountain filled with rose water and purest musk, in the middle of it was\na column of emerald, and on its summit a hawk of burnished gold; its eyes\nwere topazes and its beak jasper; round it were various birds, scattering\nfrom their bills upon Chosroe and all that were present, musk and\nambergris. The whole edifice was scented with perfumes, and the ceilings\nof the palace glittered with gold and silver. It was one of the wonders\nof the period, and the miracle of the age. When Antar entered, his mind\nwas bewildered at the pictures and colours he saw, and he thus expressed\nhimself.\n\n\u201cA Palace\u2014greetings and peace be on it\u2014Time has spread its beauties over\nit. A Palace\u2014the roofs of cities might stand beneath its roof. On it are\nthe directions for the paths of virtue. Strong are its columns, gilded\nare its walls; mankind may glory in its magnificence. Over its gates have\njewels and pure unalloyed gold disposed their honours; there is nothing\nfurther to be desired. On it are the wonders of every species of miracle;\nthe senses are bewildered in describing it; beautifully perfect is every\nelegant device: nothing can exceed its excellence. And the King shines\nabove all Kings in his acts and his justice\u2014May days and years endure for\nhim!\u201d\n\nAt the upper end of the gardens there was raised for Chosroe, a throne\nof burnished gold and pillars of green emerald, and pedestals of silver\nthat sent forth refulgent rays in the darkest night. Round it were stools\nof ivory and ebony inlaid with brilliant gold. Chosroe seated himself on\nthe throne, and ordered Monzar and Antar to sit by him: thus exalting\nhim high above all that were present. The attendants and suite also sat\ndown; every one took his place; and they were no sooner arranged than\nthe dinner tables were served with various dainties, and a profusion of\nfruits and sweatmeats. Chosroe advanced, and all that were present, and\npartook of the repast. But Antar\u2019s eyes were in confusion. He sat down on\nhis knees, and bared his arms, chucking the things into his mouth, but\nnever moved his jaws: he gorged himself like an hungry Arab, and roared\nlike a wild beast, to the great amazement of Chosroe, who supplied him\nwith every variety that was before him: and Antar devoured them, as he\nasked Monzar the name of each. So they brought him meats of all kinds\ntill he had crammed his stomach; then raising his head up he thus spoke:\n\n\u201cHail, O King, whose bounties, in his age, stand in lieu of the rain. O\nthou, the Kiblah[6] of petitioners\u2014O crown of glory\u2014O full moon of this\nperiod\u2014O thou planet Saturn. O thou whose seat is raised above Pisces\u2014O\nthou the refuge of all that sorrow\u2014thy station is on high far above the\nworld\u2014it is a rain-cloud that bestows its showers on mankind. When he\nfights, all the world fear his assaults, as if a lion were by his side.\nHe is the seat of justice in his age\u2014liberality and equity reign in his\nrealms. O ye dwellers in the land of Abs, I have received from Chosroe\nand his munificence, what cannot be described or enumerated\u2014no day can\nsuffice to detail an account of such goodness. The King has attained the\nheights of virtue by his glory; and happiness dwells in his palace. With\nhim I am firmly established in honour, and in his gardens I have beheld a\nfountain whose waters abound like his favors, and the liberality of his\npalm. His garden contains every flower of every species, and brilliant\nare their charms. The birds in every note sing as if they were praising\nhis bounties to us. He is a King! whenever he charges in the day of\nbattle, the lions of the war are astonished at his greatness, Victory\nis among his companions, and glory and honour are his friends. Amongst\nnations then will I speak my gratitude for his favours, and I will engage\nthe horsemen on his side.\u201d\n\nWhen Antar had delighted the King by his eloquence, the slaves presented\nhim the wine, and they poured him out wine that was like fire, and\nresembled the rosy cheeks of a mistress, till the liquor played with\nhis wits, and refreshed all the pleasures he had enjoyed. Antar looked\nupon this jovial feast as a dream: for his heart and soul were at home,\nand all his desires centered in Ibla. After some time Chosroe addressed\nhim, and asked him questions, and joked and laughed with him, enquiring\nabout his country and its habitations. Antar related all that had passed\nwith his uncle Malik and the tribe of Abs and so forth; and when the\nKing was certain that his affection for Ibla was unshaken, and that\nhis love could not possibly admit of increase;\u2014I am truly surprised, O\nAbsian, said he, at your forbearance and your reserve, your grievances\nbeing of such a nature. O my lord, said Antar, I swear by the existence\nof your munificence, that is unbounded, and the liberality of your\nhands, that can never be forgotten. I am a dead man among the living! O\nAboolfawaris, added Monzar, abandon the expressions of ignorant Arabs,\nand recollect that you are in a place, where decorum and civility are\nexpected. Fill your glass and drink, and listen to the voice of the\nsongstress who would soothe the afflicted; and enjoy the happy hours. Ah!\nsaid Antar, how delightful would be all you say, were my heart at ease,\nand thus he exclaimed.\n\n\u201cWine cannot calm my heart, sickness will not quit my body\u2014my eyelids\nare ever sore\u2014tears ever stream in torrents from them. The songstress\nwould soothe my heart with her voice; but my love-sick heart loathes it.\nThe remembrances of Ibla draw off my mind from her song, and I would say\nto my friend, this is all a dream. In the land of Hedjaz are the tents\nof my tribe, and to meet them again is forbidden me. Amongst the tents\nof that people is a plump-hipped damsel that never removes her veil,\nand under her veil are eyes that inspire sickness, and the pupils of\nher eyes strike with disease. Between her lips is the purest musk, and\ncamphor diluted with wine. My love and madness are dear to me, for to\nhim who loves, sweet is the pang of love. O daughter of Malik, let my\nfoes triumph in my absence; let them watch or sleep. But in my journey I\nhave encountered events that would turn children gray in their cradles.\nPleasures have succeeded to difficulties, and I have met a monarch whom\nno words can describe\u2014a King to whom all the creation is a slave, and\nto whom fortune is a vassal, whose hand distributes bounties, so that I\nknow not whether it is the sea or a cloud. The sun has invested him with\na crown, so that the world need not fear darkness. The stars are his\njewels, in which there is a moon brilliant and luminous, as at its full.\nMankind is corporeal, and he is spiritual. Let every joint and every\nmember laud his name. Live for ever, Prince of the horsemen, long as the\ndove pours its plaintive note, live for ever!\u201d\n\nChosroe was greatly pleased and surprised at these verses, for he was\nhimself eloquent in the Arabian dialect. Were I to give you my kingdom,\nO Absian, said he, it would be a small gift in comparison with your\ndeserts, for what I can grant is but transitory, like all other things;\nbut your commendations will endure for ages. Oblige me, and demand of me\nwhat may gratify you, that I may at any rate make you some compensation\nfor your praises. Indeed, said Antar, I have fallen by your bounty into a\nsea that has neither length nor breadth, and I shall not return but with\nwhat will raise my glory amongst my countrymen; but I really do wish my\nuncle\u2019s daughter, Ibla, had on her head a tiara like this, for it would\nset her off finely; but I know it is very ill-bred in me to make such a\nrequest.\n\nChosroe laughed and smiled at Antar\u2019s remark; he spoke to one of his\nsatraps, who rose up, and in a short time returned, and with him were\nfour slaves bearing a canopy of silver; on the top of it was a hawk\nformed of burnished gold, its eyes were of topazes and its feet emeralds.\nThis canopy, Aboolfawaris, shall serve your uncle\u2019s daughter to sit in on\nthe night of her marriage with you, and in this tiara shall she be wedded\nto you; and he took the tiara from his head, and untying his girdle and\nmantle and his coronet, he laid them down in the pavilion, desiring Antar\nto accept them all. Antar advanced towards the King, kissed his hands,\nand thus addressed him:\n\n\u201cO King of the universe, I thank thee for the vast gifts thou hast\nbestowed upon me; thou hast granted me favors I cannot bear; thou art the\nmost beneficent of all that tread the earth! thou art the man to whom all\nKings bow in the day of battle; every Arab and every Persian. But thy\nslave still lives in the agony he endures from his love, his weakness,\nand his passion. He lives far from his friends, for whom he thirsts; and\nlanguishing for Ibla, he lives restless in torments.\u201d\n\nThe King\u2019s astonishment increased. Absian, said he, oblige me by\ndemanding what more you want; I request of you, said Antar, the renewal\nof the appointment of King Monzar. I will do it, Antar, said Chosroe;\nand he directed it to be written throughout the imperial dominions,\nthat Monzar should not be removed from his government of Massema, and\nhad he even a blind daughter, she should be the ruler thereof. Have you\nany other want, said he, delivering the letter to Antar. I have no other\nwish, said Antar, but to return to my country and home.\n\nWhen those that envied and hated Antar among the Persians, on account\nof the presents and honours he had received, saw this, they conspired\nto destroy him, and carry off his property. Now Chosroe had a famous\nwrestler, called Rostam, and he was celebrated for his pugilistic skill\nthrough various realms and cities. Antar\u2019s enemies went to him in order\nto instigate him against Antar, saying\u2014Know, most expert of men, that\nthis insignificant worthless black slave has received Chosroe\u2019s tiara,\nand immense wealth, and is returning with it to his own country. Rostam\nsprang up like a lion, and presenting himself to the King without asking\npermission, kissed the ground\u2014O great King, said he, if you have any\nconsideration for me, let not a slave of the desert be more dignified\nthan I am. You have made him one of your associates. I am the pugilist of\nyour throne, and therefore let not that head be raised above me.\n\nAntar heard and saw, but understood not what was passing. Rostam, said\nChosroe, abandon this envious disposition, or thou wilt die of anguish.\nI wish, said Rostam, he would present himself before you, and then I\nwill prove to you he is not worthy your esteem. I will slay him with this\nmace, and will unite him to the tribes of Aad and Themood.\n\nOn hearing this the King was greatly vexed. Do you comprehend, said he to\nAntar, what he says, Aboolfawaris? I have not understood what he said,\nbut I can perceive that he is very jealous, and that his head is like\nthe head of a camel, said Antar. Let me hear what he wants, that I may\ncomply with his request. This man is my wrestler, said Chosroe, and is\ncome to try his strength with you in wrestling, and prove your powers in\nthe combat. Is he not one of your warriors, asked Antar, and those with\nhim are they not your men? Yes, said Chosroe. I forbade his interference\nwith you, but he will not be dissuaded. Well, said Antar, I cannot allow\nmy arm to be extended to his injury, and my heart will not allow me to\nhurt him on account of your bounty and favour, and great kindness towards\nme: not that this unwillingness on my part originates in fear, or in any\ninferiority to him; but that the Arabs should hear of me, and accuse\nme of making troubles and dissensions; nor that the noble Arabs may\nsay of me that Antar, the son of Shedad, presented himself to Chosroe,\nand partook of his food, and then slew his subjects in his presence.\nAboolfawaris, said the King, much agitated, if you wrestle with him,\nwill you kill him? Yes, said Antar, for he only seeks to wrestle with\nme, that he may destroy me; and you know, O King, that wrestling is one\nspecies of warfare; and justice and propriety are required in it! and if\none antagonist prevails over the other antagonist, he abuses and reviles\nhim, but should his antagonist be angry at him, he kills him.\n\nListen to me, said Chosroe to Rostam; do not provoke this man. I fear\nfor you, lest he overcome you, and if you do not behave properly to him,\nhe will tear out your life from between your ribs. I must wrestle with\nhim, said Rostam; if he kills me, let my blood and property be his, and\nesteemed duly won among these warriors. Strip off your clothes then, said\nChosroe, his countenance inflamed with wrath, and prepare for the combat.\nI will tell him that he may engage with you, and that your blood will be\nfairly his. So Rostam took off his garments, and was stripped from his\nshoulders, that were harder than a rock, and his twisted arms were like\ncolumns.\n\nArise Aboolfawaris, said the King, and wrestle with him, and if he plays\nthe fool with you, slay him, and hasten his death, and mind not the\nconsequences; you are not answerable for his blood.\n\nAntar sprang on his legs, and threw about his arms and twisted his skirts\nabout his waistband; and as he was about to begin, Aboolfawaris, said\nChosroe, you have not stripped, or put on the short breeches, as every\npugilist does. By your existence, O King of the age, replied Antar, I\nnever in my life wrestled with short breeches, and never will I wrestle\nbut in the clothes of a horseman. Chosroe was greatly troubled. By the\nburning of fire, he exclaimed, Never, in the course of my life, have\nI seen a man wrestle as a horseman, without breeches. To day, said\nAntar, you shall see what I will do with Rostam in the presence of these\nwarriors.\n\nAntar went up to Rostam. Rostam bent himself like an arch, and appeared\nlike a burning flame. He rushed upon Antar with all his force, for he\nlooked on him as a common man, and he did not know that Antar, even in\nhis youth, used to wrestle with he and she camels in the plains and\nthe rocks. They grasped each other with their hands, they butted with\ntheir heads, they assaulted with their whole might, like two lions or\ntwo elephants. Then Rostam stretched out his hand at Antar\u2019s waistband,\nand clung to it, and attempted to lift him up in his arms, but he found\nhim like a stone fixed in a tower, and he tottered before him. Then he\nrepented of what he had done, and of having provoked Antar. He slackened\nhis hold, and he ran round him for an hour, in the presence of Chosroe\nand his attendants. He then sprang behind him, and thrust his head\nbetween his legs, and attempted to raise him on the back of his neck, and\nto dash him on the ground; but Antar knew what were his intentions and\nhis secret designs: so he closed his knees on Rostam\u2019s neck, and almost\nmade his eye-balls start from their sockets, and nearly deprived him of\nlife. Rostam was terrified, and wished to escape from between his legs,\nbut he could not; every attempt failed; Antar was like a block of stone\ngrowing on a desert or a mountain. Antar siezed him by his breeches, and\nclung to him, and raised him up in his hands like a sparrow in the claws\nof a bird of prey, and walked away with him among the multitude, wishing\nto wrestle quietly before the King. But Rostam, when he saw his life was\nin Antar\u2019s hands, like a young child was abashed and mortified before\nthe warriors and satraps, and the great King. He clenched his fist, and\nstruck Antar on the ear. Antar soon recovered from the blow\u2014he returned\nto the threshold of the palace, and dashed him on the ground, and smashed\nhim to atoms. Then presenting himself to Chosroe he thus spoke.\n\n\u201cDeath has resolved he should die slain, and should be subdued and\ndisgraced by me. Curses on his hands! It was his arrogant folly that\npointed out the road by which he should be destroyed. Had thy eyes beheld\nmy deeds in the combat, where the spears tears the hands of the lancers,\nthou wouldst have feared for the extinction of his days when he outraged\nme in this lengthened action. O King, who has enjoyed every glory,\nlisten to my story and the account of my honours. He sought in every\nway to increase his fame by his deeds; so I left him after that reduced\nto infamy. Truly he hastened the time of his own fate, and his destiny\nwas at my disposal. God ordained his death for his acts, and determined\nit should be executed by my hand. Hail, then, O King! live for ever in\nprotected happiness that may never fail thee.\u201d\n\nThen was Nushirvan quite confounded at his powers. O King, said Antar,\nI swear by the two eyes of Ibla (to me the most sacred of oaths), that\nwhen I raised him on my Hands, my only intention was to bring him before\nyou and wrestle in your presence: but as he transgressed the fair\nlaws of battle, there was nothing for him but death. Chosroe believed\nwhat he said, and ordered Rostam\u2019s property to be confiscated, and to\nbe transferred to Antar, and he gave him a written assignment of his\npossessions and fiefs.\n\nAnd when the day was spent, Monzar hemmed the signal for rising: Antar\ngot up, and asked Chosroe\u2019s permission to commence his journey: the order\nbeing given for his being supplied with the finest steeds, and all their\ngolden accoutrements and rich housings. They went to the house that was\nset apart for them; where Antar found treasures of wealth, and horses\nand mules, and he and she camels, and other goods no words can tell.\nAntar asked whence they came: Aboolfawaris, said Monzar, this is the\nproperty of Rostam: and they reposed till morning; when Mubidan came and\ncomplimented them, and as he was going with them to Nushirvan, I wish,\nmy lord, said Antar to the Vizier, that you would introduce me to the\ntemples of fire.[7]\n\n\n\n\nFOOTNOTES\n\n\n[1] _Cercis Siliquastrum_, the flowers of which are of a very bright\npurple colour, coming out from the branches and stem on every side, in\nlarge clusters, and on short peduncles.\n\n[2] Redeini\u2014the name of the wife of a famous spear-maker.\u2014_Richardson._\n\n[3] Young orphans did not inherit at the death of their fathers; all\nproperty belonged to the tribe; as they had not laboured, they had not\nmerited.\n\n[4] This is one of the very few passages which occur throughout this\nwork, containing any allusion to supernatural agents.\n\n[5] \u0394\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b4\u2019 \u1f10\u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03ad\u03b9\u03b5\u03c4\u03bf \u03b2\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u1f74.\n\n[6] The point to which the Arabs turned their faces in prayer.\n\n[7] _The Continuation of this History has not yet been received in\nEngland._ ED.\n\n    _December, 1818._\n\n    London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co.\n    Cleveland-row, St. James\u2019s","title":"Antar: A Bedoueen Romance","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":75297}