m the fight, he made a poetic
address, finishing with the words, "I am the lover of Ibla." At the
conclusion of a war in which he had performed prodigies of valor, King
Zoheir gave him the surname of Alboufauris, which means, "The Father of
Horsemen."

The greater grew his name, the more highly he was honored by King
Zoheir, so much the more did the hatred of the chieftains and the love
of Ibla towards him increase. But it came to pass that Ibla was asked in
marriage by Amarah, a stupid youth, puffed up by his wealth and lineage.
Antar, on hearing the news, was transported with rage, and attacked his
young rival with such violence that all the Arabian chiefs begged of
Zoheir to punish the aggressor. The king left to Shedad, Antar's father,
the pronouncing of sentence. Shedad had, like the others, viewed the
rise of Antar, the black slave, to favor, with jealous eye, and sent him
back to the pastures to keep the herds.

It was at this point that the greatness of Antar's character appeared in
its full dimensions. The hero submitted with resignation to the orders
of his father, "to whom," he said, "he owed obedience as to his master,
since he was his slave"; and he swore to him, in the presence of
witnesses, not to mount horse, nor engage in battle, without his
permission. Tears flowed from his eyes, and before departing for the
pastures he went to see his mother Zebiba, and to talk with her
concerning Ibla. "Ibla?" said his mother--"but a moment ago she was
here beside me, and said to me, 'Comfort the heart of Antar, and tell
him from me, that even should my father torture me to death in trying to
change my mind, I would not desire nor ask for other husband than
Antar.'"

These words of Ibla filled with rapture the heart of Antar, as he
started for the pastures in company with his brothers, Djaris and
Shidoub.

At this time the tribe of Abs, which Zoheir ruled over, was at war with
that of Tex, on account of the carrying off of Anima, daughter of the
chief of the Tex, a man known as "The Drinker of Blood." Animated by the
desire to take vengeance and recover his daughter, this chief and his
army fell upon the Absians like a thunderbolt. The Absians were
defeated, and their women, among whom was Ibla, taken prisoners. All
pride was then, in this time of need, laid aside, and to their
assistance Antar was summoned. But before acting Antar laid down his
conditions, and stipulated that, in case he succeeded in subduing t