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

49
THE ROMANCE OF ANTAR
who was absent. The messenger asked then for his wife,
ModeHlah, the daughter of Rebia. " What do you desire of
my husband ? " she asked. " I demand my due, the prize of
the horse race." " Misfortune take you and that which you
demand," she repHed. " Son of Hadifah ! Do you not fear
the consequences of such perfidy ? If Cais were here he would
send you to your death, instantly." Abou-Firacah returned to
his father, to whom he told all that the vnie of Cais had said.
" What, you coward," shouted Hadifah, " do you come back
without completing your errand? Are you afraid of the
daughter of Rebia? Go to him again."
As Abou-Firacah reminded his father that it was now near
night-fall, the message was postponed until the next day. As
for Cais, when he re-entered his home, he learned from his
wife that Abou-Firacah had come to ask for the camels. " By
the faith of an Arab," he said, " if I had been here I would have
slain him. But the matter is closed ; let us think no more of
it." Yet King Cais passed the night in grief and annoyance
until sunrise, at which time he betook himself to his tent.
Antar came to see him. Cais rose, and making him take a
seat, mentioned the name of Hadifah. " Would you believe
he had the shamelessness to send his son to demand the
camels of me? Ah, if I had been present I would have slain
the messenger." Scarcely had he finished uttering these
words when Abou-Firacah presented himself on horseback.
Without dismounting, and uttering no word of salutation or
preface, he said : " Cais, my father desires that you send him
that which is his due ; by so doing your conduct will be that
of a generous man ; but if you refuse, my father will come
against you, carry off his property by force, and plunge you
into misfortune."
On hearing these words Cais felt the light change to darkness
before his eyes. " O thou son of a vile coward," he exclaimed,
" how is it that you are not more respectful in your address to
me ? " He seized a javelin and plunged it into the breast of
Abou-Firacah. Pierced through, the young messenger lost
control of his horse.—Antar dragged him down and flung him
on the ground. Then, turning the horse's head away from the
direction of Fazarah, he struck him on the flank with a hollystick,
and the horse took the road towards the pastures, and
finally entered his stable, all covered with blood. The shep-