en Hadifah's indignation and anger overleaped all bounds. "By the
faith of an Arab," he said to the sheiks, "I wish to hear no talk of
peace at the moment that the enemy is ready to spear me." "Do not talk
in that way, dear son of my mother," said Haml to his brother. "Do not
dart away on the path of imprudence; abandon these gloomy resolutions.
Remain in peace with the allies of the Absians, for they are shining
stars: the burnished sun that guides all Arabs who love glory. It was
but the other day that you wronged them by causing the horse Dahir to be
wounded, and thus erred from the path of justice. As for your son, he
was justly slain, for you had sent him to demand something that was not
due you. After all, nothing is so proper as to make peace, for he who
would seek and stir up war is a tyrant, and an oppressor. Accept
therefore the compensation offered you, or you are likely to call up
around us a fire which will burn us in the flames of hell." Haml
concluded with verses of the following import: "By the truth of him who
has rooted firm the mountains, without foundations, if you decline to
accept the compensation offered by the Absians, you are in the wrong.
They acknowledge Hadifah as their chief; be a chief in very deed, and be
content with the cattle and camels offered you. Dismount from the horse
of outrage, and mount it not again, for it will carry you to the sea of
grief and calamity. Hadifah, renounce like a generous man, all violence,
but particularly the idea of contending with the Absians. Make of them
and of their leader a powerful rampart against the enemies that may
attack us. Make of them friends that will remain faithful, for they are
men of the noblest intentions. Such are the Absians, and if Cais has
acted unjustly towards you, it is you who first set him the example some
days ago."

When Haml finished these verses, the chiefs of the different tribes
thanked him, and Hadifah having consented to accept the compensation
offered, all the Arabs renounced violence and war. All who carried arms
remained at home. Cais sent to Hadifah two hundred camels, six
men-slaves, ten women-slaves, and ten horses. Thus peace was
reestablished and every one rested in tranquillity throughout the land.

SELECTIONS FROM ARABIAN POETRY

[_Translation by J.D. Carlyle_]

INTRODUCTION

The essential qualities of Arabian poetry appear in the "Romance of
Antar," and the tales of the "Thousand and One Nights." For