The Literature of Arabia | Page 7

you heap upon
me be worth a thousand Egypts, and each of these Egypts had a
thousand Niles, all those favors would be despised. I shall be contented
with little so long as I am far from you. Away from you, I shall recite
this distich, which is worth more than a necklace of fine pearls: 'When
a man is wronged on the soil of his tribe, there is nothing left him but to
leave it; you, who have so wickedly injured me, before long shall feel
the power of the kindly divinity, for he is your judge and mine, he is
unchangeable and eternal."
Zahir continued his journey, until he reached the Saad tribe, when he
dismounted from his horse. He was cordially received and was pressed
to take up his abode with them. His wife was at that time soon to
become a mother, and he said to her: "If a son is given to us, he will be
right welcome; but if it be a daughter, conceal her sex and let people
think we have a male child, so that my brother may have no reason to
crow over us." When her time came Zahir's wife brought into the world
a daughter. They agreed that her name should be actually Djaida, but
that publicly she should be known as Djonder, that people might take
her for a boy. In order to promote this belief, they kept up feasting and
entertainment early and late for many days.
About the same time Moharib, the other brother, had a son born to him,
whom he named Khaled (The Eternal). He chose this name in gratitude
to God, because, since his brother's departure, his affairs had prospered
well.
The two children eventually reached full age, and their renown was
widespread among the Arabs. Zahir had taught his daughter to ride on
horseback, and had trained her in all the accomplishments fitting to a
warrior bold and daring. He accustomed her to the severest toils, and
the most perilous enterprises. When he went to war, he put her among
the other Arabs of the tribe, and in the midst of these horsemen she
soon took her rank as one of the most valiant of them. Thus it came to
pass that she eclipsed all her comrades, and would even attack the lions

in their dens. At last her name became an object of terror; when she had
overcome a champion she never failed to cry out: "I am Djonder, son of
Zahir, horseman of the tribes."
Her cousin Khaled, on the other hand, distinguished himself equally by
his brilliant courage. His father Moharib, a wise and prudent chief, had
built houses of entertainment for strangers; all horsemen found a
welcome there. Khaled had been brought up in the midst of warriors. In
this school his spirit had been formed, here he had learned to ride, and
at last had become an intrepid warrior, and a redoubtable hero. It was
soon perceived by the rest of the army that his spirit and valor were
unconquerable.
Eventually he heard tell of his cousin Djonder, and his desire to see and
know him and to witness his skill in arms became extreme. But he
could not satisfy this desire because of the dislike which his father
showed for his cousin, the son of his uncle. This curiosity of Khaled
continued unsatisfied until the death of his father Moharib, which put
him in possession of rank, wealth, and lands. He followed the example
of his father in entertaining strangers, protecting the weak and
unfortunate, and giving raiment to the naked. He continued also to
scour the plains on horseback with his warriors, and in this way waxed
greater in bodily strength and courage. After some time, gathering
together a number of rich gifts, he started, in company with his mother,
to visit his uncle. He did not draw rein until he reached the dwelling of
Zahir, who was delighted to see him, and made magnificent
preparations for his entertainment; for the uncle had heard tell on many
occasions of his nephew's worth and valor. Khaled also visited his
cousin. He saluted her, pressed her to his bosom, and kissed her
forehead, thinking she was a young man. He felt the greatest pleasure
in her company, and remained ten days with his uncle, regularly taking
part in the jousts and contests of the horsemen and warriors. As for his
cousin, the moment she had seen how handsome and valiant Khaled
was, she had fallen violently in love with him. Her sleep left her; she
could not eat; and her love grew to such a pitch that feeling her heart
completely lost to him, she spoke to her mother and said: "O mother,
should my cousin leave without taking