第42章

Then I rode out to sport and hunt and，as I went along，a company of men accosted me and asked me whither I was bound I told them and they said，'We will keep thee company.'So we all fared on together，and，whilst we were faring，lo and behold！ up started an ostrich and we gave her chase，but she escaped our pursuit and spreading wings ceased not to fly before us （and we following by sight） till she lost us in a desert wherein there was neither grass nor water，nor heard we aught therein save hiss of snake and wail of Jinn and howl of Ghul；and when we reached that place the ostrich disappeared nor could we tell whether she had flown up into the sky or into the ground had gone down.Then we turned our horses' heads and thought to return；but found that to retrace our steps at that time of burning heat would be toilsome and dangerous；for the sultry air was grievous to us，so that we thirsted with sore thirst and our steeds stood still.We made sure of death；but while we were in this case we suddenly espied from afar a spacious mead where gazelles were frisking Therein was a tent pitched and by the tent side a horse tethered and a spear was planted with head glittering in the sun.[118]

Upon this our hearts revived after we had despaired，and we turned our horses' heads towards that tent making for the meadow and the water which irrigated it；and all my comrades fared for it and I at their head，and we ceased not faring till we reached the mead.Then we alighted at the spring and watered our beasts.

But I was seized with a fever of foolish curiosity and went up to the door of that tent，wherein I saw a young man，without hair on his cheeks，who fellowed the new moon；and on his right hand was a slenderwaisted maid，as she were a willowwand.No sooner did I set eyes on her than love get hold upon my heart and I saluted the youth，who returned my greeting.Then said I，'O my brother，tell me who thou art and what to thee is this damsel sitting by thy side？'[119] Thereupon the youth bent his head groundwards awhile，then raised it and replied，'Tell me first who thou art and what are these horsemen with thee？'Answered I，'I am Hammad son of alFazari，the renowned knight，who is reckoned among the Arabs as five hundred horse.We went forth from our place this morning to sport and chase and were overcome by thirst；so I came to the door of this tent，thinking haply to get of thee a draught of water.'When he heard these my words，he turned to the fair maiden and said，'Bring this man water and what food there is ready.'So she arose trailing her skirts，whilst the golden bangles tinkled on her ankles and her feet stumbled in her long locks，and she disappeared for a little while.Presently she returned bearing in her right hand a silver vessel full of cold water and in her left hand a bowl brimming with milk and dates，together with some flesh of wild cattle.But I could take of her nor meat nor drink for the excess of my passion，and I applied to her these two couplets，saying，'It was as though the sable dye[120] upon her palms，Were raven perching on a swathe of freshest snow；Thou seest Sun and Moon conjoined in her face，While Sun feardimmed and Moon frightpallid show.'

After I had eaten and drunk I said to the youth，'Know thou，O Chief of the Arabs，that I have told thee in all truth who and what I am，and now I would fain have thee do the like by me and tell me the truth of thy case.'Replied the young man，'As for this damsel she is my sister.'Quoth I，'It is my desire that thou give me her to wife of thy free will： else will I slay thee and take her by force.'Upon this，he bowed his head groundwards awhile，then he raised his eyes to me and answered，'Thou sayest sooth in avouching thyself a renowned knight and famed in fight and verily thou art the lion of the desert；but if ye all attack me treacherously and slay me in your wrath and take my sister by force，it will be a stain upon your honour.An you be，as ye aver，cavaliers who are counted among the Champions and reck not the shock of foray and fray，give me a little time to don my armour and sling on my sword and set lance in rest and mount war steed.Then will we go forth into the field of fight，I and you；

and，if I conquer you，I will kill you to the last man；but if you overcome me and slay me，this damsel，my sister，is yours.'

Hearing such words I replied，'This is only just，and we oppose it not.'Then I turned back my horse's head （for my love for the damsel waxed hotter and hotter） and returned to my companions，to whom I set forth her beauty and loveliness as also the comeliness of the young man who was with her，together with his velour and strength of soul and how he had avouched himself a match for a thousand horse.Moreover，I described to my company the tent and all the riches and rarities therein and said to them，'Know ye that this youth would not have cut himself off from society and have taken up his abode alone in this place，were he not a man of great prowess： so I propose that whoso slayeth the younker shall take his sister.'And they said，'This contenteth us.'Then my company armed themselves and mounting，rode to the tent，where we found that the young man had donned his gear and backed his steed；but his sister ran up to him （her veil being drenched with tears），and took hold of his stirrup and cried out，saying，'Alas！'and，'Woe worth the day！'in her fear for her brother，and recited these couplets，'To Allah will I make my moan of travail and of woe，Maybe Ilah of Arsh[121] will smite their faces with affright：

Fain would they slay thee，brother mine，with purpose felonfell；Albe no cause of vengeance was，nor fault forewent the fight.

Yet for a rider art thou known to those who back the steed，

And twixt the East and West of knights thou art the prowess knight：

Thy sister's honour thou shalt guard though little might be hers，For thou'rt her brother and for thee she sueth Allah's might：

Then let not enemy possess my soul nor 'thrall my frame，

And work on me their will and treat thy sister with despight.

I'll ne'er abide，by Allah's truth，in any land or home

Where thou art not，though dight it be with joyance and delight For love and yearning after thee myself I fain will slay，And in the gloomy darksome tomb spread bed upon the clay.'