Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

22
THE ROMANCE OF ANTAR
on until they came to the tribe of Saad. Khaled began by
compUmenting his uncle on his happy return from war, but no
one could be more astonished than Zahir at this second visit,
especially when he saw his nephew accompanied by all the
chieftains of his family. It never for a moment occurred to
him that his daughter Djaida had anything to do with Khaled's
return, but thought that his nephew merely wished to persuade
him to return to his native territory. He ofifered them every
hospitality, provided them with tents and entertained them
magnificently. He ordered camels and sheep to be killed, and
gave a banquet ; he furnished his guests with all things needful
and proper for three days. On the fourth day Khaled arose,
and after thanking his uncle for all his attentions, asked him
for his daughter in marriage, and begged him to return to his
own land. Zahir denied that he had any child but his son
Djonder, but Khaled told him all that he had learned, and all
that had passed between himself and Djaida. At these words
Zahir was overcome with shame and turned his eyes to the
ground. He remained for some moments plunged in thought,
and after reflecting that the affair must needs proceed from bad
to worse, he addressed those present in the following words
" Kinsmen, I will no longer delay acknowledging this secret
therefore to end the matter, she shall be married to her cousin
as soon as possible, for, of all the men I know, he is most
worthy of her." He offered his hand to Khaled, who immedi-
ately clasped it in presence of the chiefs who were witnesses to
the contract. The dowry was fixed at five hundred brown
black-eyed camels, and a thousand camels loaded with the
choicest products of Yemen. The tribe of Saad, in the midst
of which Zahir had lived, were excluded from all part in this
incident.
But when Zahir had asked his daughter's consent to this
arrangement, Djaida was overwhelmed with confusion at the
course her father had taken. Since he let his daughter clearly
understand that he did not wish her to remain unmarried, she
at last replied : " My father, if my cousin desires to have me in
marriage, I shall not enter into his tent until he undertakes to
slaughter at my wedding a thousand camels, out of those which
belong to Gheshem, son of Malik, surnamed " The Brandisher
of Spears." Kahled agreed to this condition ; but the sheiks
and the warriors did not leave Zahir before he had collected all
; :