The Literature of Arabia | Page 6

please Ibla, that he took no count of the difficulties to be undergone. He
set off and soon found himself engaged in conflict with a large army of
Persians, who made him prisoner, and led him off with the view of
bringing him into the presence of their king. There he was taken, bound
and on horseback, when at that instant, the news came that a fierce lion
of extraordinary size was ravaging the country. It was alleged that even
armed men fled before it. Antar, who was on the point of being put to
death, asked the King of Persia to cause his arms at least to be unbound,
and to let him confront the lion. His prayer was granted; he rushed
upon the savage creature, and transfixed it with his lance. Nor was this
the only service he did the King of Persia, who in gratitude for many
others, not only gave Antar the thousand camels he was looking for, but
loaded him with treasures, with which to do homage to Ibla.
On his return Antar was received with a rapturous welcome by the
Absian tribe. But the hostile and the envious continued to plot against
him. They still aimed at preventing his marriage, and compassing his
death. Amarah, who aspired to Ibla's hand, backed by all the chieftains
hostile to Antar, renewed his suit and pretensions. Ibla was carried off
from her house among the Absians, and taken to another tribe. Then
Antar set out in search of her, and at length rescued her: their mutual
love was intensified by this reunion. By a series of wiles and intrigues
skilfully conducted, the chiefs who surrounded Ibla persuaded her to
demand still further dowry from Antar. She spoke of Khaled and
Djaida, whose history has already been related; she said, in presence of
Antar, that that young warrior girl would not consent to marry Khaled,
saving on the condition that her camel's bridle be held by the daughter
of Moawich. This word was sufficient for Antar, and he promised to
Ibla that Djaida should hold the bridle of her camel on her wedding day;
and more than that, the head of Khaled should be slung round the neck

of the warrior girl. Thus the hero, constantly loving and beloved by Ibla,
incessantly deceived by the cunningly devised obstacles raised by his
foes, sustained his reputation for greatness of character and strength of
arm, submitted with resignation to the severest tests, and passed
victoriously through them all. After the death of King Zoheir, whom he
avenged, he undertook to assist Cais, Zoheir's son, in all his enterprises,
and after a long series of adventures which tired the patience, love, and
courage of Antar, this hero, recognized as chief among Arabian
chieftains, obtained the great reward of his long struggles and mighty
toils, by marriage to his well-loved Ibla.

KHALED AND DJAIDA
Moharib and Zahir were brothers, of the same father and mother; the
Arabs call them "brothers germane." Both were, renowned for courage
and daring. But Moharib was chief of the tribe, and Zahir, being subject
to his authority, was no more than his minister, giving him counsel and
advice. Now it happened that a violent dispute arose between them.
Zahir subsequently retired to his tent, in profound sorrow, and not
knowing what course to take. "What is the matter with you?" asked his
wife, "Why are you so troubled? What has happened to you? Has any
one displeased or insulted you--the greatest of Arab chiefs?" "What am
I to do?" replied Zahir; "the man who has injured me is one whom I
cannot lay hands on, or do him wrong; he is my companion in the
bosom of my family, my brother in the world. Ah, if it had been any
one but he, I would have shown him what sort of a man he was at odds
with, and have made an example of him before all the chiefs of our
tribes!" "Leave him; let him enjoy his possessions alone," cried his wife,
and, in order to persuade her husband to take this course, she recited
verses from a poet of the time, which dissuade a man from tolerating an
insult even at the hands of his parents.
Zahir assented to the advice of his wife. He made all preparations for
departure, struck his tents, loaded his camels, and started off on the
road towards the camp of the Saad tribe, with whom he was in alliance.
Yet in spite of all, he felt a keen pang at separating himself from his

brother--and thus he spoke: "On starting on a journey which removes
me from you, I shall be a thousand years on the way, and each year will
carry me a thousand leagues.... Even though the favors