Moharib and Zahir were brothers, of the same father and mother; the
Arabs call them "brothers germane." Both were, renowned for courage and
daring. But Moharib was chief of the tribe, and Zahir, being subject to
his authority, was no more than his minister, giving him counsel and
advice. Now it happened that a violent dispute arose between them. Zahir
subsequently retired to his tent, in profound sorrow, and not knowing
what course to take. "What is the matter with you?" asked his wife, "Why
are you so troubled? What has happened to you? Has any one displeased or
insulted you--the greatest of Arab chiefs?" "What am I to do?" replied
Zahir; "the man who has injured me is one whom I cannot lay hands on, or
do him wrong; he is my companion in the bosom of my family, my brother
in the world. Ah, if it had been any one but he, I would have shown him
what sort of a man he was at odds with, and have made an example of him
before all the chiefs of our tribes!" "Leave him; let him enjoy his
possessions alone," cried his wife, and, in order to persuade her
husband to take this course, she recited verses from a poet of the time,
which dissuade a man from tolerating an insult even at the hands of his
parents.
Zahir assented to the advice of his wife. He made all preparations for
departure, struck his tents, loaded his camels, and started off on the
road towards the camp of the Saad tribe, with whom he was in alliance.
Yet in spite of all, he felt a keen pang at separating himself from his
brother--and thus he spoke: "On starting on a journey which removes me
from you, I shall be a thousand years on the way, and each year will
carry me a thousand leagues.... Even though the favors 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 me in his company, I shall die of grief at his absence." Then her
mother was touched with pity for her, and uttered no reproaches, feeling
that they would be in vain. "Djaida," she said, "conceal your feelings,
and restrain yourself from grief. You have done nothing improper, for
your cousin is the man of your choice, and is of your own blood. Like
him, you are fair and attractive; like him, brave and skilful in
horsemanship. Tomorrow morning, when his mother approaches us, I will
reveal to her the whole matter; we will soon afterwards give you to him
in marriage, and finally we will all return to our own country."
The wife of Zahir waited patiently until the following morning, when the
mother of Khaled arrived. She then presented her daughter, whose head
she uncovered, so as to allow the hair to fall to her shoulders. At the
sight of such charms the mother of Khaled was beyond measure astonished,
and exclaimed: "What! is not this your son Djonder?" "No! it is
Djaida--she the moon of beauty, at last has risen." Then she told her
all that had passed between herself and her husband, and how and why
they had concealed the sex of their child. "Dear kinswoman," replied the
mother of Khaled, still quite surprised, "among all the daughters of
Arabia who have been celebrated for their beauty I have never seen one
more lovely than this one. What is her name?" "I have already told you
that it is Djaida, and my especial purpose in telling you the secret is
to offer you all these charms, for I ardently desire to marry my
daughter to your son, so that we may all be able to return to our own
land." The mother of Khaled at once assented to this proposal, and said:
"The possession of Djaida will doubtless render my son very happy." She
at once rose and went out to look for Khaled, and communicated to him
all she had seen and learned, not failing to extol especially the charms
of Djaida. "By the faith of an Arab," said she, "never, my son, have I
seen in the desert, or in any city, a girl such as your cousin; I do not
except the most beautiful. Nothing is so perfect as she is, nothing more
lovely and attractive. Make haste, my son, to see your uncle and ask him
for his daughter in marriage. You will be happy indeed if he grants your
prayer: Go, my son, and do not waste time in winning her."
When Khaled had heard these words, he cast his eyes to the ground, and
remained for some time thoughtful and gloomy. Then he replied: "My
mother, I cannot remain here any longer. I must return home amid my
horsemen and troops. I have no intention of saying anything more to my
cousin; I am convinced that she is a person whose temper and ideas of
life are uncertain; her character and manner of speech are utterly
destitute of stability and propriety. I have always been accustomed to
live amid warriors, on whom I spend my wealth, and with whom I win a
soldier's renown. As for my cousin's love for me, it is the weakness of
a woman, of a young girl." He then donned his armor, mounted his horse,
bade his uncle farewell, and announced his intention of leaving at once.
"What means this haste?" cried Zahir. "I can remain here no longer,"
answered Khaled, and, putting his horse to a gallop, he flung himself
into the depths of the wilderness. His mother, after relating to Djaida
the conversation she held with her son, mounted a camel and made her way
towards her own country.
The soul of Djaida felt keenly this indignity. She brooded over
it--sleepless and without appetite. Some days afterwards, as her father
was preparing with his horsemen to make a foray against his foes, his
glance fell on Djaida, and seeing how altered she was in face, and
dejected in spirit, he refrained from saying anything, thinking and
hoping that she would surely become herself again after a short time.
Scarcely was Zahir out of sight of his tents, when Djaida, who felt
herself like to die, and whose frame of mind was quite unsupportable,
said to her mother: "Mother, I feel that I am dying, and that this
miserable Khaled is still in the vigor of life. I should like, if God
gives me the power, to make him taste the fury of death, the bitterness
of its pang and torture." So saying, she rose like a lioness, put on her
armor, and mounted her horse, telling her mother she was going on a
hunting expedition. Swiftly, and without stopping, she traversed rocks
and mountains, her excitement increasing as she approached the
dwelling-place of her cousin. As she was disguised, she entered,
unrecognized, into the tent where strangers were received. Her visor
was, however, lowered, like that of a horseman of Hijaz. Slaves and
servants received her, offered her hospitality, comporting themselves
towards her as to one of the guests, and the most noble personages of
the land. That night Djaida took rest; but the following day she joined
the military exercises, challenged many cavaliers, and exhibited so much
address and bravery, that she produced great astonishment among the
spectators. Long before noon the horsemen of her cousin were compelled
to acknowledge her superiority over themselves. Khaled wished to witness
her prowess, and, surprised at the sight of so much skill, he offered to
match himself with her. Djaida entered the contest with him, and then
both of them joining in combat tried, one after another, all the methods
of attack and defence, until the shadows of night came on. When they
separated both were unhurt, and none could say who was the victor. Thus
Djaida, while rousing the admiration of the spectators, saw the
annoyance they felt on finding their chief equalled in fight by so
skilful an opponent. Khaled ordered his antagonist to be treated with
all the care and honor imaginable, then retired to his tent, his mind
filled with thoughts of his conflict. Djaida remained three days at her
cousin's habitation. Every morning she presented herself on the ground
of combat, and remained under arms until night. She enjoyed it greatly,
still keeping her _incognito_, whilst Khaled, on the other hand,
made no enquiries, and asked no questions of her, as to who she was and
to what tribe she might belong.
On the morning of the fourth day, while Khaled, according to his custom,
rode over the plain, and passed close to the tents reserved for
strangers, he saw Djaida mounting her horse. He saluted her, and she
returned his salute. "Noble Arab," said Khaled, "I should like to ask
you one question. Up to this moment I have failed in courtesy towards
you, but, I now beg of you, in the name of that God who has endowed you
with such great dexterity in arms, tell me, who are you, and to what
noble princes are you allied? For I have never met your equal among
brave cavaliers. Answer me, I beseech you, for I am dying to learn."
Djaida smiled, and raising her visor, replied: "Khaled, I am a woman,
and not a warrior. I am your cousin Djaida, who offered herself to you,
and wished to give herself to you; but you refused her--from the pride
you felt in your passion for arms." As she spoke she turned her horse
suddenly, stuck spurs into him, and dashed off at full gallop towards
her own country.
Khaled filled with confusion withdrew to his tent, not knowing what to
do, nor what would be the end of the passionate love which he suddenly
felt rise within him. He was seized with disgust for all these warlike
habits and tastes, which had reduced him to the melancholy plight in
which he found himself. His distaste for women was changed into love. He
sent for his mother and related to her all that had occurred. "My son,"
she said, "all these circumstances should render Djaida still dearer to
you. Wait patiently a little, until I have been able to go and ask her
of her mother." She straightway mounted her camel, and started through
the desert on the tracks of Djaida, who immediately on her arrival home
had told her mother all that had happened. As soon as the mother of
Khaled had arrived, she flung herself into the arms of her kinswoman and
demanded Djaida in marriage for her son, for Zahir had not yet returned
from his foray. When Djaida heard from her mother the request of Khaled,
she said, "This shall never be, though I be forced to drink the cup of
death. That which occurred at his tents was brought about by me to
quench the fire of my grief and unhappiness, and soothe the anguish of
my heart."
At these words the mother of Khaled, defeated of her object, went back
to her son, who was tortured by the most cruel anxiety. He rose suddenly
to his feet, for his love had reached the point of desperation, and
asked with inquietude what were the feelings of his cousin. When he
learned the answer of Djaida his distress became overwhelming, for her
refusal only increased his passion. "What is to be done, my mother," he
exclaimed. "I see no way of escaping from this embarrassment," she
replied, "excepting you assemble all your horsemen from among the Arab
sheiks, and from among those with whom you are on friendly terms. Wait
until your uncle returns from the campaign, and then, surrounded by your
followers, go to him, and in the presence of the assembled warriors,
demand of him his daughter in marriage. If he deny that he has a
daughter, tell him all that has happened, and urge him until he gives
way to your demand." This advice, and the plan proposed moderated the
grief of Khaled. As soon as he learned that his uncle had returned home,
he assembled all the chiefs of his family and told his story to them.
All of them were very much astonished, and Madi Kereb. one of the
Khaled's bravest companions, could not help saying: "This is a strange
affair; we have always heard say that your uncle had a son named
Djonder, but now the truth is known. You are certainly the man who has
most right to the daughter of your uncle. It is therefore our best
course to present ourselves in a body and prostrate ourselves before
him, asking him to return to his family and not to give his daughter to
a stranger." Khaled, without hearing any more, took with him a hundred
of his bravest horsemen, being those who had been brought up with
Moharib and Zahir from their childhood, and, having provided themselves
with presents even more costly than those they had taken before, they
started off, and marched on until they came to the tribe of Saad. Khaled
began by complimenting 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 offered
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 immediately 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 his possessions
for transportation to his own country. No sooner were these preparations
completed than Khaled marched forth at the head of a thousand horsemen,
with whose assistance he subdued the tribe of Aamir. Having thrice
wounded "The Brandisher of Spears," and slain a great number of his
champions, he carried off their goods and brought back from their
country even a richer spoil than Djaida had demanded. Loaded with booty
he returned, and was intoxicated with success. But when he asked that a
day should be fixed for the wedding, Djaida begged him to approach, and
said to him: "If you desire that I become your wife, fulfil first of all
my wishes, and keep the engagement I make with you. This is my demand: I
wish that on the day of my marriage, some nobleman's daughter, a
free-born woman, hold the bridle of my camel; she must be the daughter
of a prince of the highest rank, so that I may be the most honored of
all the daughters of Arabia." Khaled consented, and prepared to carry
out her wishes. That very day he started with his horsemen, and
traversed plains and valleys, searching the land of Ymer, even till he
reached the country of Hijar and the hills of Sand. In this place he
attacked the tribe-family of Moawich, son of Mizal. He burst upon them
like a rain-storm, and cutting a way with his sword through the opposing
horsemen, he took prisoner Amima, daughter of Moawich, at the very
moment when she was betaking herself to flight.
After having accomplished feats which rendered futile the resistance of
the most experienced heroes, after having scattered all the tribes in
flight, and carried off all the wealth of all the Arabs in that country,
he returned home. But he did not wish to come near his tents until he
had first gathered in all the wealth which he had left at different
points and places in the desert.
The young maidens marched before him sounding their cymbals and other
instruments of music. All the tribe rejoiced; and when Khaled appeared,
he distributed clothing to the widows and orphans, and invited his
companions and friends to the feast he was preparing for his wedding.
All the Arabs of the country came in a crowd to the marriage. He caused
them to be regaled with abundance of flesh and wine. But while all the
guests abandoned themselves to feasting and pleasure, Khaled,
accompanied by ten slaves, prepared to scour the wild and marshy places
of the land, in order to attack hand to hand in their caverns the lions
and lionesses and their cubs, and bear them slain to the tents, in order
to provide meat for all those who attended the festival.
Djaida had been informed of this design. She disguised herself in coat
of mail, mounted her horse, and left the tents; as three days of
festivities still remained, she hastily followed Khaled into the desert,
and met him face to face in a cavern. She flung herself upon him with
the impetuosity of a wild beast, and attacked him furiously, crying
aloud, "Arab! dismount from your horse, take off your coat of mail, and
your armor; if you hesitate to do so, I will run this lance through your
heart." Khaled was resolved at once to resist her in this demand. They
engaged in furious combat. The struggle lasted for more than an hour,
when the warrior saw in the eyes of his adversary an expression which
alarmed him. He remounted his horse, and having wheeled round his steed
from the place of combat, exclaimed: "By the faith of an Arab, I adjure
you to tell me what horseman of the desert you are; for I feel that your
attack and the violence of your blows are irresistible. In fact, you
have prevented me from accomplishing that which I had intended, and all
that I had eagerly desired to do." At these words Djaida raised her
visor, thus permitting him to see her face. "Khaled," she cried, "is it
necessary for the girl you love to attack wild beasts, in order that the
daughters of Arabia may learn that this is not the exclusive privilege
of a warrior?" At this cutting rebuke Khaled was overcome with shame.
"By the faith of an Arab," he replied, "no one but you can overcome me;
but is there anyone in this country who has challenged you, or are you
come hither merely to prove to me the extent of your valor?" "By the
faith of an Arab," replied Djaida, "I came into this desert solely for
the purpose of helping you to hunt wild beasts, and in order that your
warriors might not reproach you for choosing me as your wife." At these
words Khaled felt thrilled with surprise and admiration, that such
spirit and resolution should have been exhibited in the conduct of
Djaida.
Then both of them dismounted from their horses and entered into a
cavern. There Khaled seized two ferocious wild beasts, and Djaida
attacked and carried off a lion and two lionesses. After these exploits
they exchanged congratulations, and Djaida felt happy to be with Khaled.
"Meanwhile," she said, "I shall not permit you to leave our tents until
after our marriage." She immediately left him in haste and betook
herself to her own dwelling.
Khaled proceeded to rejoin the slaves whom he had left a little way off,
and ordered them to carry to the tents the beasts he had slain.
Trembling with fright at the view of what Khaled had done, they extolled
him with admiration above all other champions of the land.
The feasts meanwhile went on, and all who came were welcomed with
magnificence. The maidens sounded their cymbals; the slaves waved their
swords in the air, and the young girls sang from morn till evening. It
was in the midst of such rejoicings that Djaida and Khaled were married.
Amima, the daughter of Moawich, held the reins of the young bride's
camel, and men and women alike extolled the glory of Djaida.