I stood on the right of the tamel, and he stood on her left.

"And the people approached us, and behold! they were three persons, two young men, and one very old man. And the latter was the father of the damsel, and the two young men were her brethren. And they saluted us, and we returned the salutation.

"Then said the old man, 'Give up the girl, O son of my brother!' But Hârith replied, 'I will not give her up; nor was it for this that I took her away.'

"Then said the old man to one of his sons, 'Do battle with him.' And he went out towards him dragging his spear. But Hârith bore down upon him, and said:

Ere gaining that thou seekest, shall be dyed the spear
In blood from a horseman, visored, trained to combat.
He belongs to Shîbân, the noblest of the tribes of Wâil,
And journeys not thitherwards in vain.

"Then with his spear he struck the old man's son a violent blow, which pierced his spine, and he fell dead.

"Then said the old man to his other son, 'Do battle with him, for there is no worth in life with. ignominy.'

"But Hârith approached, and said:

Of a truth thou hast seen how struck my lance,
And the blow was for a warrior mighty of prowess.
Death is better than separation from my beloved,
And my death this day, but not my disgrace.

"Then he struck the old man's son a mighty blow with his spear, and he fell from it, dead.

"Then said the old man to him, 'Give up her who is seated on the camel, O son of my brother! For I am not like these whom thou hast overcome.'

"But Hârith said, 'I will not give her up. Nor was

it for this that I sought her.'

Then said the old man, 'O son of my brother! choose for thyself. Wilt thou that I fight thee on foot, or that I charge thee on horseback?'

"So the young man took advantage of the choice and dismounted. And the old man also dismounted, and recited this poem :

I will not quail at the end of my life;

I hold my ninety years as a single month;
Warriors have feared me through all time;
While the sword endures backs shall be cleft.

"Then Hârith approached, and he also recited, saying:

Distant has been my course, and lengthened my journey,
Until I have conquered and rejoiced my bosom ;
And death is better than the garment of perfidy

And shame I present to the tribe of Bekr.*

"Then he approached. And the old man asked him, 'O son of my brother! wilt thou that I strike thee, and if I leave life in thee that thou return the blow; or wilt thou that thou strikest me, and if thou leavest life in me that I return the blow?'

"So the young man seized the opportunity, and cried, 'I will begin.'

"Come on,' said the old man.

"Then Hârith raised his hand holding his sword. And when the old man saw that he was certainly aiming it at his head, he thrust his spear into Hârith's stomach, and his entrails protruded. And the young man's blow descending upon his uncle's head, they both fell down dead.

"And so I, O Commander of the Faithful! seized upon the four horses and the four swords, and then approaching the camel, the girl said to me, 'Whither? O'Amr! For I am no friend of thine, and thou art no friend of mine; nor am I like these whom thou has seen.' So I said to her, 'Calm thyself.'

* Probably the name of the old man's tribe.

But

she continued: 'If thou art my friend, give me a sword or a spear; and if thou conquerest me I am thine; but if I conquer thee I will slay thee.'

"I replied, "I will not give you either of them, for truly I was acquainted with thy family, and knew the bravery and courage of thy people.' And at these words she threw herself from her camel, and came forwards, and recited, saying:

After my father, and then after my brethren,
Can pleasure or delight survive in my life?
Shall I consort with one who is not brave?
Shall not rather than that be my death?

"Then she rushed towards a spear, and forced it out of my hand. And when I saw her do this, I feared that she might succeed in killing me, and so I killed her.

"And Hârith, O Commander of the Faithful! was the most courageous man I have ever seen."

THE FAITHFUL ARAB AND HIS LOVING

WIFE.

TRANSLATOR'S PREFATORY NOTE.

Abu-Sufyân commanded the Kuraish against the Muslims at the battles of Bedr, and Ohod, and also at the siege of el-Medînah. He was at that time one of the Prophet's bitterest enemies; but after his conversion to el-Islám, which occurred in A.H. 8, and was, it would seem, the result of policy rather than conviction, he became one of Muhammad's most zealous adherents. Abu'l-Fedâ relates that after his conversion, Abu-Sufyân demanded three things of the Prophet. First: That he was to be made Commander-in-Chief of all forces that were to act against the infidels. Secondly: That the Prophet would appoint as his Secretary Abu-Sufyân's son, Mủâwiyah. Thirdly: That the Prophet would marry his daughter, Gazah. The two first petitions Muhammad granted, but refused to comply with the third. He was already married to Umm-Habîba, another of Abu-Sufyân's daughters.

In the last year of the first Khalîfah, Abu-Bekr's reign, A.H. 13, Muâwiyah was sent in command of a large force, to the assistance of his half-brother Yezid, at that time Commander-in-Chief of the Muslim army then invading Syria. After the reduction of that province, which took place six years later, during the reign of 'Omar, the second Khalifah, Muawiyah was appointed prefect of Syria. In A.H. 24, during the reign of 'Othmân, the third Khalîfah, Mủâwiyah gained many advantages over the imperial forces, took several towns, and reduced the islands of Cyprus, Aradus, and Ancyra, exacting from their inhabitants a yearly tribute