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.




THE ABSIANS AND FAZAREANS

King Cais, chief of the Absians, distrusting the evil designs of
Hadifah, the chief of the tribe of Fazarah, had sent out his slaves in
every direction to look after Antar. One of these slaves on his return
said to the king: "As for Antar, I have not even heard his name; but as
I passed by the tribe of Tenim, I slept one night in the tents of the
tribe Byah. There I saw a colt of remarkable beauty. He belonged to a
man named Jahir, son of Awef. I have never seen a colt so fine and
swift." This recital made a profound impression upon Cais. And in truth
this young animal was the wonder of the world, and never had a handsomer
horse been reared among the Arabs. He was in all points high-bred and
renowned for race and lineage, for his sire was Ocab and his dam Helweh,
and these were horses regarded by the Arabs as quicker than lightning.
All the tribes admired their points, and the tribe of Byah had become
celebrated above all others, because of the mare and stallion which
pertained to it.

As for this fine colt, one day, when his sire Ocab had been put out on
pasture, he was being led by the daughter of Jahir along the side of a
lake at noonday, and there he saw the mare Helweh, who was tethered
close to the tent of her master. He immediately began to neigh, and