this is the Day of Evil, that is, the Day of
Wrath and the Day of Distress. This day, should my eyes alight on Qabus,
my only son, he should not escape with his life. Now ask me whatever favor
you will."

Hanzala said: "I knew nothing of your Day of Evil. As for the gifts of
this life, they are meant for the living, and since I at this hour must
drink of death, what can all the world's storehouses avail me now?"

Nu'man said, "There is no help for this."

Hanzala told him: "Respite me, then, that I may go back to my wife and
make my testament. Next year I shall return, on the Day of Evil."

Nu'man then asked for a guarantor, so that, if Hanzala should break his
word, this guarantor would be put to death instead. Hanzala, helpless and
bewildered, looked about him. Then his gaze fell on one of Nu'man's
retinue, _Sh_arik, son of 'Amr, son of Qays of _Sh_ayban, and to him he
recited these lines: "O my partner, O son of 'Amr! Is there any escape
from death? O brother of every afflicted one! O brother of him who is
brotherless! O brother of Nu'man, in thee today is a surety for the
_Sh_ay_kh_. Where is _Sh_ayban the noble--may the All-Merciful favor him!"
But _Sh_arik only answered, "O my brother, a man cannot gamble with his
life." At this the victim could not tell where to turn. Then a man named
Qarad, son of Adja the Kalbite stood up and offered himself as a surety,
agreeing that, should he fail on the next Day of Wrath to deliver up the
victim, the king might do with him, Qarad, as he wished. Nu'man then
bestowed five hundred camels on Hanzala, and sent him home.

In the following year on the Day of Evil, as soon as the true dawn broke
in the sky, Nu'man as was his custom set out with pomp and pageantry and
made for the two mausoleums called the Smeared-With-Blood. He brought
Qarad along, to wreak his kingly wrath upon him. The pillars of the state
then loosed their tongues and begged for mercy, imploring the king to
respite Qarad until sundown, for they hoped that Hanzala might yet return;
but the king's purpose was to spare the life of Hanzala, and to requite
his hospitality by putting Qarad to death in his place. As the sun began
to set, they stripped off the garments of Qarad, and made ready to sever
his head. At that moment a rider appeared in the distance, galloping at
top speed. Nu'man said to the swordsman, "Why delayest thou?" The
ministers said, "Perchance it is Hanzala who comes." And when the rider
drew ne