of of attachment between
kinsmen is their willingness to give way to one another. So I am here to
beg that you will come to the dwelling of my brother Hadifah and ask him
to give up the race, before it causes trouble, and the tribe be utterly
driven away from its territories." At this address of Haml, Cais became
flushed with shame, for he was trusting and generous. He at once arose,
and leaving his uncle Assyed in charge of his domestic business, he
accompanied Haml to the land of Fazarah. When they were midway on their
journey Haml began to utter lavish praises of Cais to the latter's face,
and to blame his own brother's faults, in the following terms: "O Cais,
do not let your wrath be stirred up against Hadifah, for he is verily a
man headstrong and unjust in his actions. O Cais, if you persist in
holding to the bet, great disasters will follow. Both you and he are
impulsive and passionate, and this is what causes me to feel anxiety
about you, Cais. Put aside your private feelings, be kind and generous,
and it will come to pass that the oppressor himself will become the
oppressed."

Haml continued to abuse his brother, and to flatter Cais with
expressions of admiration all the way, until in the evening they arrived
at the tribe of Fazarah. Hadifah, who at the moment was surrounded by
many powerful chiefs, upon whose aid he depended in the hour of need,
had changed his mind since his brother Haml's departure, and in place of
coming to terms and making peace with Cais he had determined to yield in
nothing, but to maintain rigorously the conditions of the coming race.
He was speaking of this very matter with one of the chiefs at the moment
when Cais and Haml presented themselves before him. As soon as Hadifah
saw Cais, he resolved to cover him with shame. Turning therefore to his
brother, he asked: "Who ordered you to go to this man? By the faith of a
noble Arab, even if all the men who cover the surface of the earth were
to come and importune me, saying, 'O Hadifah, give up one hair of these
camels,' I would not yield until a lance had pierced my heart and a
sword stricken the head from my shoulders." Cais crimsoned, and
immediately remounted his horse, bitterly reproaching Haml. He returned
home with the utmost haste, and found his uncle and brothers waiting for
him in extreme anxiety. "O my son!" said his uncle Assyed as soon as he
saw him, "you have had a disastrous journey, for it has caused you to be
disgraced."