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

THE ABSIANS AND FAZAREANS 45
Then Hadifah's indignation and anger overleaped all
bounds. " By the faith of an Arab," he said to the sheiks, " I
wish to hear no talk of peace at the moment that the enemy is
ready to spear me." " Do not talk in that way, dear son of
my mother," said Haml to his brother. " Do not dart away
on the path of imprudence ; abandon these gloomy resolutions.
Remain in peace with the allies of the Absians, for they are
shining stars :
the burnished sun that guides all Arabs who love
glory. It was but the other day that you wronged them by
causing the horse Dahir to be wounded, and thus erred from
the path of justice. As for your son, he was justly slain, for
you had sent him to demand something that was not due you.
After all, nothing is so proper as to make peace, for he who
would seek and stir up war is a tyrant, and an oppressor. Ac-
cept therefore the compensation offered you, or you are likely
to call up around us a fire which will bum us in the flames of
hell." Haml concluded with verses of the following import:
" By the truth of him who has rooted firm the mountains, without
foundations, if you decline to accept the compensation
offered by the Absians, you are in the wrong. They acknowledge
Hadifah as their chief; be a chief in very deed, and be
content with the cattle and camels offered you. Dismount
from the horse of outrage, and mount it not again, for it will
carry you to the sea of grief and calamity. Hadifah, renounce
like a generous man, all violence, but particularly the idea of
contending with the Absians. Make of them and of their
leader a powerful rampart against the enemies that may attack
us. Make of them friends that will remain faithful, for they
are men of the noblest intentions. Such are the Absians, and
if Cais has acted unjustly towards you, it is you who first set
him the example some days ago."
When Haml finished these verses, the chiefs of the different
tribes thanked him, and Hadifah having consented to accept
the compensation offered, all the Arabs renounced violence
and war. All who carried arms remained at home. Cais sent
to Hadifah two hundred camels, six men-slaves, ten womenslaves,
and ten horses. Thus peace was reestablished and
every one rested in tranquillity throughout the land.