disposition to protect the weak, especially women. He put to death a
slave who beat an old woman, his slave and companion; and this action,
although at first misunderstood, eventually gained the admiration of
King Zoheir, who treated Antar with distinction, because of his nobility
of character. In consequence of this action, which had been so much
applauded by King Zoheir, the young Arab women and their mothers hung
round Antar to learn the details of this courageous deed, and to
congratulate him on his magnanimity.

Among the young women was Ibla, daughter of Malek, the son of Zoheir.
Ibla, fair as the full moon, was somewhat younger than Antar. She was
accustomed to banter him in a familiar way, feeling that he was her
slave. "And you," she said to him, "you, born so low, how dared you kill
the slave of a prince? What provocation can you have against him?"
"Mistress," replied Antar, "I struck that slave because he deserved it,
for he had insulted a poor woman. He knocked her down, and made her the
laughing stock of all the servants." "Of course you were right,"
answered Ibla, with a smile, "and we were all delighted that you escaped
from the adventure safe and sound. Because of the service you have
rendered us by your conduct, our mothers look upon you as a son, and we
as a brother."

From that moment Antar made the service of women his special duty above
all others. At that time the Arabian ladies had the habit of drinking
camel's milk morning and evening, and it was especially the duty of
those who waited upon them to milk the camels, and to cool it in the
wind before offering it to them. Antar had been for some time released
from this duty, when one morning he entered the dwelling of his uncle
Malek, and found there his aunt, engaged in combing the hair of her
daughter Ibla, whose ringlets, black as the night, floated over her