Tales of the Marvellous and News of the Strange (Hardcover Classics)

by Malcolm C (Tr Lyons

  While the vizier was sitting on his balcony he caught sight of the shaikh, whose turban was round his neck and his feet out of the stirrups, while his tongue was hanging out. He supposed that the man must have come with news of the caravan, and when he came into his presence he asked about this. ‘I have escaped death,’ the shaikh told him, and when the vizier asked him who he was, he said that he had come from the caravan sent by Chosroe. ‘Where did you leave it?’ asked the vizier, to which he replied: ‘With an ‘ifrit of the jinn.’ ‘Damn you, what are you saying?’ asked the vizier, and the man replied: ‘Master, I am only telling you what I saw with my own eyes after I had come near to death.’ He then told the vizier what Miqdad had done and how the caravan guards had been killed.

  The vizier told his men to look after the shaikh while he picked five hundred of his soldiers. He then called for the shaikh to act as their guide and to fetch Miqdad. The shaikh agreed and left with the men, but when he was within a mile of the valley he began to tremble. ‘Were you not told to listen to what I tell you?’ he asked. ‘Yes,’ they said, and he went on: ‘Look at that valley beside the hill. The young man must be on the far side, so go off and fetch him while I wait for you.’

  The riders spread out in search of Miqdad, and when he caught sight of them he mounted and charged them, continuing to slaughter them until he had killed all five hundred. The shaikh fled away towards the city, and when the vizier first saw him he told his entourage: ‘I think he is bringing good news that the young man has been captured.’ Then, when the shaikh came before him sometime later, he greeted him and asked where the soldiers were. When he was told that they had been killed he was furiously angry and ordered the shaikh to go out with another thousand.

  The shaikh left with them, and when he had got to the critical spot he told them that Miqdad was by the hill. They spread out over the length and breadth of the valley, and Miqdad, on seeing them, attacked and kept on killing them until his arms were covered in clotted blood, and he would wrench an opponent from his saddle and kill him by dashing him on the ground. This went on until most of them were dead and the rest took flight to tell the vizier what had happened.

  The vizier exclaimed in a fury: ‘Is Chosroe to be told that for all our numbers we were defeated by one man?’ ‘This is an indefatigable and insatiable fighter,’ the shaikh explained. ‘Promise him safe conduct and then you can lure him into the city and lay an ambush for him in the lanes. Then you can take him, and he will be yours to judge.’ The vizier approved the plan and passed his signet ring to the shaikh, telling him to give it to Miqdad.

  The shaikh left, and when Miqdad saw him and rode against him he said: ‘Master, I am here as a messenger.’ ‘A messenger from whom?’ Miqdad asked, to which he replied: ‘From the vizier of Chosroe Anushirwan, and this is his ring of safe conduct. If there is anything that you need, he will provide it for you.’ He then passed the ring to Miqdad, who believed in the promise and stored away in the valley the spoils he had taken from the caravan. He blocked its narrow entrance with a tall tree that he had cut down lest any of the goods be carried away, and he then set off with the shaikh, who entertained him with tales and humorous anecdotes until he reached the city gate.

  The vizier had prepared the ambush, which Miqdad reached when they had come to the centre of the city. The shaikh told him: ‘Master, we have gone the wrong way,’ and he turned his horse around, at which the ambushers shouted on all sides. When Miqdad’s horse heard the whinnies of other horses and the cries of the ambushers near at hand it reared up, and Miqdad gave so terrible a shout that the city shook with fear. He charged the attackers, who took to flight, and he rode on to the vizier’s palace, where he dismounted.

  The shaikh opened the gates and said to those around him: ‘Wherever this man fights he defeats everyone and unless I do something fast, he will exterminate the lot of us.’ So the vizier opened the door, kissed the ground before Miqdad and said: ‘Things did not turn out like this because of anything that I said. We are now at your command, so give what orders you want.’ Miqdad told him that he had come out to look for a dowry for his cousin and he told his story from beginning to end. The vizier was sorry for him, telling him that he could have all that his uncle had stipulated and entertaining him generously. He immediately wrote to Chosroe and told him about Miqdad.

  When Chosroe read the letter he was filled with amazement and said: ‘Nothing can be too much for a boy like this. I shall send him this ring of mine, and when he comes to me he can have whatever he wants from me.’ His messenger brought the ring to the vizier, who summoned Miqdad. Miqdad rose respectfully, and the vizier said: ‘You handsome man, this is the ring of King Chosroe, who promises you all that you want.’ Miqdad took it, kissed it and placed it on his head before leaving instantly.

  When he reached Chosroe he was given permission to enter and after coming before him he greeted him eloquently, calling down God’s mercy on him. ‘Boy,’ said Chosroe, ‘what led you to act as a highwayman, spreading fear on the roads?’ ‘Your Majesty,’ Miqdad answered, ‘I am not to be blamed for what I did but should be excused.’ When Chosroe asked what his excuse was he explained that he had done this because of the dowry that his uncle Jabir had demanded for his daughter Mayasa. As this was beyond his means he had done what he did in the hope of coming before the king. ‘Show me some of this bravery of yours which entitles you to this dowry. I have heard that you are a brave and a hardy fighter, but hearing is not like seeing.’ Miqdad asked how many squadrons he had in his army and, when he was told that there were two hundred thousand, he told Chosroe to select ten thousand from these, and from them a thousand men, of whom five hundred of the strongest should meet him in battle. Chosroe promised whoever would bring him Miqdad’s head a thousand dinars of red gold, ten robes of brocade and ten thoroughbred horses, with the same reward going to anyone who took him prisoner.

  On hearing this, his men quickly saddled and bridled their horses, put on their breast-plates and mounted in order to ride out to the field. Miqdad approached Chosroe and asked for water, with which, when it was brought him, he washed his hands and feet. He then took off his turban and tore it in half, using one half to cover his head while the other he tied on the end of his spear, from which he had removed the point. He then dipped this in water and settled himself on his horse’s back. ‘You are mad,’ Chosroe told him, but he replied: ‘You will soon see what I can do.’

  He then rode out of the city to the maidan, where Chosroe’s brave champions attacked him with loud shouts, but he charged them and broke them. Chosroe was sitting where he could see and he watched the fight, looking at Miqdad as he skirmished on the right and the left, disrupting the ranks of his opponents and leaving the mark of his spear on them. Had he wanted to kill them all with his spear point he could have done it. Chosroe was amazed by this, but Miqdad told him to order them to make a concerted charge against him. Chosroe did this as he wanted to see if Miqdad could really resist. In fact, he reached down to his boot and took out a spear head, which he threw into the air and caught on the end of his spear before striking it on the ground and going on to charge his opponents. Whenever he had an opportunity for a thrust, he reversed his spear and unhorsed his man by striking him on the chest, and when thirty had fallen the rest fled.

  Chosroe became more and more astonished, and Miqdad came before him and praised him in the following lines:

  King who is crowned with awe, great lion of the woods,

  Others may boast of generosity but you outreach them all.

  I came to you in hopes of winning wealth;

  Do not prolong my torment but grant this to me.

  Give me what I desire. This is the only way

  In which I may secure the one I love,

  Or, best of patrons, give me some of it.

  When Chosroe heard these lines he gave orders that Miqdad’s mouth should be filled with pearls and other gems, that he should be given a thousand mithqals of gold and twenty rob
es of honour, at the same time presenting him with camels, horses and slave girls. Miqdad stayed with him for a hundred and twenty days and when at the end of that time he wanted to leave, Chosroe gave him twenty containers of amber and twenty panniers filled with pure camphor.

  Miqdad was delighted to receive all this and he recited these lines:

  O best of all who tread upon the earth,

  Chieftain in war and lion of the woods,

  You have freed me from harm, fulfilling all my hopes!

  You are men’s hope in trouble and to you

  Persians and Arabs bow submissively.

  Your generous deeds surpass all boastful kings,

  So may you prosper while the lightning pierces clouds.

  You gracious master who directs all things,

  Amongst the Arabs your bounty has spread!

  He then took his leave of Chosroe and set off for home, passing by the vizier, who presented him with a robe of honour and a splendid gift and with whom he stayed for three days.

  He had been absent from his people for longer than the time stipulated by his uncle, Jabir. The clan of Sinbis were allies of Kinda, and amongst them was a powerful and headstrong man called Malik son of Riyah, who was known for his bounty and liberality. When the time had passed and there had been no news of Miqdad, Jabir asked people who had come from Syria about him, giving them his description. They said: ‘We saw someone who looked like that near Tabuk. There were a number of Bedouin camping there, and when he tried to drive off some of their beasts one of them shot him with an arrow and killed him. We shrouded him and dug a grave, in which we buried him, but we don’t know what happened after that.’

  [lac. Jabir said to himself] ‘Miqdad was led to that by his wish to collect money so that he might attain his desire. Now he is dead, and this is what I wanted, as the husband I would like for my daughter is Malik son of Riyah al-Sinbisi.’ He agreed to this marriage and produced a banquet, at which the Arabs stayed eating and drinking for seven days, after which they dispersed to their own camps. Malik went home and sent his brother Mahir with seventy riders to escort Mayasa to his clan with her slaves, male and female. When Mahir and his men came to Mayasa they provided her with a howdah, in which she took her seat, and on their return they reached Wady’l-Jandal, a large meadow with flowing water. They were happy to travel by moonlight, but their arrival happened to coincide with that of Miqdad, who was on his way from Iraq.

  As he was riding he detected a pleasant scent and asked himself from whom it came as it must be from in front, for had it come from behind it would have come from his camels. He was a man who gave full value to what he heard and spent his nights on guard. Mahir’s men were happily travelling with Mayasa when Miqdad caught sight of them. He told his companions that this must be a bride being taken to her husband and that he would soon take over her caravan, while he wondered who the people were. He told his servants to stay with the camels, and he himself went up to Mayasa’s escort and asked them from what tribe they were, who was in the howdah and who her father might be. ‘Go on your way,’ they told him, ‘for whoever asks about what does not concern him will not enjoy the reply. We are the people of Sinbis, a noble and powerful clan, and in the howdah is a bride from Kinda, Mayasa, the daughter of Jabir son of al-Dahhak.’ ‘Where are you taking her?’ he asked and when they said: ‘To her husband,’ he asked who this was. ‘Malik son of Riyah, our chieftain,’ they replied. ‘Didn’t her father promise her in marriage to Miqdad son of al-Aswad al-Kindi? He asked. ‘Yes,’ they told him, ‘but he was killed by Bedouin in the lands of Tabuk on the Syrian border, and her father then chose Malik.’

  Miqdad stayed for a time plunged in thought and when he was certain that this must be Mayasa he heaved a deep sigh and retired to dismount, check his bridle and tighten his girths. He then rode back and told the servants to let the camels go and remove their loads, after which he dropped his reins, couched his spear and charged into the middle of the escort, calling out: ‘Damn you, abandon the howdah and save yourselves, for otherwise I shall leave your corpses on the ground. I am Miqdad.’

  They laughed at him and said: ‘Go away, Miqdad, and don’t hope to get the girl, for by al-Lat, al-‘Uzza and Hubal the great we were sure that we would meet you when we came out and we wanted to see you.’ Miqdad shouted and charged them, striking one of them and killing him. When the others saw this they all attacked but he stood firm, striking to the right and the left and overturning their ranks. When he had killed five and captured the rest he recited:

  Through treachery they took my wife,

  But I destroyed them with my cutting sword.

  I killed five, leaving them as food for beasts.

  Woe to the man who broke his covenant,

  [lac.]

  So I shall sever spines and necks with my sword edge,

  Until to my great joy they turn in rout.

  Mayasa recognized Miqdad’s voice when she heard it and, raising the curtain of the howdah, she burst into tears out of longing for him, soaking her veil. Miqdad then recited:

  Lady of the howdah, do you not see my grief

  And what has happened to me during this long fight,

  Against the Quraish’s lordly lion cubs?

  I am Miqdad, a man without a care;

  I long for you, so listen to my words,

  Then look as I do battle in the fray,

  And you will see a lion that has fathered cubs.

  On hearing this, Mayasa signalled to Miqdad that he should charge Mahir’s men, and so he levelled his spear and rode against them. Mahir himself came out against him and called out: ‘Miqdad, you are exposing yourself to death, but if you leave behind what you have with you, my men will let you go in safety.’ He recited:

  Leave all your wealth and baggage or meet death

  At the hands of a tireless champion,

  One who does not turn back but leaves ruin,

  As he cuts through men’s hopes and shortens lives.

  As they charged each other Miqdad forestalled Mahir with a thrust to his chest, which brought the spear point out through his back, leaving him hurled to the ground weltering in his blood and twitching spasmodically. His men were distressed to see this, thinking that their chieftain, Malik, would accuse them of weakness. They charged, calling out: ‘Miqdad, are you attacking us because of some old war that there has been between us?’ When Miqdad said ‘no’, they told him that they were reluctant to fight him and when he asked what they intended to do they said that, while he wanted Mayasa for himself, they wanted her for their chief, Malik son of Riyah. ‘We should let the girl choose between the two of you,’ they suggested, ‘and she can marry whichever of you she picks. She is listening to what we say and has watched the fight, and if she prefers to go with us you should go back and not stand in her way, while if she picks you we shall hand her over to you and leave. You should realize that it was only your personal pride that led you to fight us. No good will come of this, as pride is destructive; those who think they are going to win will lose, and whoever imagines himself to be invulnerable is mistaken.’

  They then came up to Miqdad and repeated that the choice should be left to Mayasa and that they would accept it and hand her over to him if this was what she wanted. On hearing this, Miqdad agreed and swore by his father and mother that if she wanted Malik he would not oppose her or them. He then went up to the howdah and called to Mayasa: ‘You hear what they say, for they have allowed you to choose between us.’

  Then he recited:

  Lady, the choice is yours, so tell us what you want.

  I have forced them to choose humility

  Leaving them in confusion and regret.

  Go with them if you choose and leave me in distress,

  But if you pick me, I shall scatter them.

  He stood waiting for her reply but when she said nothing he recited:

  I shall accept your answer, so reply,

  For you are like my hearing and my sight.
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  Go if you wish and I shall still love you;

  Union with you is life, while if you leave I die.

  If you want me, you must know that my sword

  Splits skulls and cuts through other blades.

  You have already seen what one of us can do,

  The haughty lion, charging to the fight.

  Speak out and do not fear what enemies may say,

  Since for me you are like my inmost heart.

  Which, although tortured, lies in pledge to you.

  Do not cut through what gives me the power to endure.

  When Mayasa had heard his poetry, she said: ‘Cousin, be on your guard with these people.’ Then she said: ‘People of Sinbis, will you accept my choice?’ and when they said they would she told them: ‘As you allow me the choice, I pick Miqdad, and you can leave either in safety or in confusion and regret. If Miqdad is too weak to fight you, I shall come down from my howdah, mount my horse and help him to victory.’

  Her words left the escort staring down at the ground. Then they looked up and said to each other: ‘Are you going to hand over this girl to Miqdad who is here alone and retire from him when you are the champion riders of the Arabs? This would be a disgrace, and if you all charge and attack him with your swords there will be no escape for him, and he will fall to your spears.’ One of them, a man named ‘Auf son of al-Sabbah, said: ‘If you all charge him Mayasa will dismount from her howdah and help him fight. I think that you should let her go with him and go off yourselves to Malik your chief to tell him what Miqdad did to you.’ His companions shouted: ‘Shut up, damn you! Do you want the Arabs in their assemblies and the women over their spindles to talk about you and say that a boy from Kinda met seventy riders from Sinbis, scattered them with his sword and took off the bride they were escorting?’ ‘Auf said: ‘I have given you good advice, and this is better than that the Arabs should tell of how one man killed seventy riders and only one escaped.’ ‘Who is that one going to be?’ they asked, and ‘Auf told them that he would climb to the hilltop and not fight but watch what was going to happen.