rams butting. Presently Kurajan seized the Moslem by the jerkin
under his hauberk and, dragging him from his saddle, dashed him
to the ground where he left him; upon which the Kafirs laid hands
on him and bound him and bore him off to their tents; whilst
Kurajan wheeled about and careered and offered battle, till
another captain came out, whom also he took prisoner; nor did he
leave to do thus till he had made prize of seven captains before
mid day. Then Jamrkan cried out with so mighty a cry, that the
whole field made reply and heard it the armies twain, and ran at
Kurajan with a heart in rageful pain, improvising these couplets,

"Jamrkan am I! and a man of might, * Whom the warriors fear with
a sore affright:
I waste the forts and I leave the walls * To wail and weep for
the wights I smite:
Then, O Kurajan, tread the rightful road * And quit the paths of
thy foul upright:
Own the One True God, who dispread the skies * And made founts to
flow and the hills pegged tight:
An the slave embrace the True Faith, he'll 'scape * Hell pains
and in Heaven be decks and dight!"

When Kurajan heard these words, he sparked and snorted and foully
abused the sun and the moon and crave at Jamrkan, versifying with
these couplets,

"I'm Kurajan, of this age the knight; * And my shade to the
lions of Shara'[FN#17] is blight:
I storm the forts and snare kings of beasts * And warriors fear
me in field of fight;