The Adventures of Amir Hamza

by Ghalib Lakhnavi

  One day Karavan, the leader of the merchant caravan, arrived at Amir Hamza’s court. Amir seated him next to himself with great respect and honor and showed him much favor. Amir asked after his welfare and then said, “Tell me, why is your face so wan? Is it an illness or some trouble that afflicts you?” The merchant answered, “I am troubled by the sickness called the fever of love, which has reduced me to this state.” Amir said to him, “Pray give me a detailed account so that I may learn it and do all in my power to bring you redress.”

  The merchant took out a portrait, showed it to Amir, and said, “This is a portrait of the sister of Hardam, the sovereign of Baru. Their father said on his deathbed that the one who wishes to marry her must first prevail over Hardam in combat. Fate ordained that I should visit Baru and pass under her balcony. No sooner did our eyes meet than the demon of frenzy claimed me for his own. Her love made me oblivious to food and sleep, and I have lost my forbearance from my passion. I do not possess the power to vanquish Hardam in combat, and thus I have come to you so that I may win that treasure with your help. I keep the portrait of this moonfaced beauty with me, and whenever I am beset by the pangs of love, I look upon it for a while to bring a modicum of solace to my heart and relieve my humors of their terrible frenzy.”

  When Amir Hamza’s commanders looked at the portrait, they all said, “The poor merchant is right to feel thus afflicted by his beloved. Indeed no one would be able to control the fluttering of his heart in such a case.” Amir Hamza fed the merchant and sent him away after promising that he would unite him with his beloved.

  The narrator states that, upon seeing the portrait of Hardam’s sister, Sa’ad bin Amar Hamza fell head over heels in love with her. He left the court and made preparations to depart for the land of Baru. Aurang and Gaurang were on vigil duty that night, and upon sighting Sa’ad, they said, “Where are you headed, O Prince?” Sa’ad answered, “If you wish to accompany me, come along without another word. Do not ask me anything, and you will find out in due course where I am headed and with what intention.” Both brothers accompanied Sa’ad, and within a few days they entered the frontiers of Baru. There they sighted a magnificent garden and when they entered it and took a stroll, they saw a herd of goats grazing beside a pond. Sa’ad said to his lieutenants, “Catch four or five goats and roast them. Aurang and Gaurang carried out Sa’ad’s orders, and before long the goats were roasted.

  The shepherd was enraged at the sight of three men roasting and eating his goats. He approached them and said, “Do you not know that these goats belong to Hardam, the Angel of Death?” Sa’ad answered, “Do not waste my time with your jabber. Go and tell Hardam that Hamza’s grandson has arrived and sends for him.”

  When the shepherd went and told this to Hardam, the king decorated himself with Prophet Daud’s seven-piece suit of armor and headed for the garden wielding a mace in a state of raging frenzy. He went to where Sa’ad and his party were seated and said to them, “O youths, tell me who you are and whence have you come! Tell me truly what has brought you here.” Sa’ad answered, “I am Sa’ad bin Amar Hamza, and I am the grandson of Amir Hamza. I have come here to arrest you. Take stock of my courage, for I have not brought along anyone except these two men.” Hardam laughed heartily and said, “O Arab lad, there is a limit to idle talk. Has Hamza never heard of my renown that he sent a minor like yourself to face me?” Sa’ad said to him, “First, you should answer my challenge. Then you may worry about challenging Hamza.” As Hardam prepared for combat, Aurang and Gaurang said to Sa’ad, “Your Honor! We entered your service longing for the day when we might sacrifice our lives for you. Let him fight us first. Then he may fight you.” Sa’ad tried to keep them from fighting Hardam, but death had marked those two champions for its own. Aurang faced Hardam and was put to death with just one blow. Gaurang fared no better in combat with Hardam, and also met his death at his hands. Sa’ad was greatly grieved by their deaths and confronted Hardam to avenge his companions. Hardam struck a blow with his mace, but Sa’ad parried it. Then Sa’ad stood back and fired a hail of arrows at Hardam that cut holes in his seven-piece suit of armor. Hardam then caught hold of Sa’ad’s belt, lifted him up, slammed him to the ground, and said, “Go and send Hamza to fight me, for I have taken pity on you and I cannot bring myself to kill you with my hands.”

  Hardam returned to his castle and narrated the events to his sister. She replied, “You acted as the circumstances demanded!”

  After Sa’ad exited the garden and traveled for some two kos, he reasoned that it would be better to hide his name and identity from everyone. Thus resolved, he headed for the forest. After journeying many farsangs, he arrived in a garden, where he came across Hardam’s niece. Her beauty drove all thoughts of Hardam’s sister from Sa’ad’s mind.

  He asked her: “O light of the world, who are you?” She answered, “I am Hardam’s niece.” Sa’ad said, “Since you have shown favor to my state, pray allow me to light my eyes with your splendorous beauty and make the desolation of my heart a flower garden from the sight of your charms.” She answered, “I would be happy to attend to you for the rest of my life, but you must give me your name and station in life and tell me the details of your pedigree.” Sa’ad answered, “My name is Sa’ad bin Amar Hamza, and I am the grandson of Amir Hamza.” Then Sa’ad gave her a complete account of how he happened to be there. That girl took Sa’ad to her home and happily gave herself to him in marriage.

  Now hear of Amir. He became most anxious upon hearing of Sa’ad’s disappearance. Landhoor said to Amir, “When the merchant was showing the portrait of his beloved, I noticed that Sa’ad seemed out of sorts. It would be little wonder if he departed for Baru with the intention of meeting that woman.” In the meantime, news reached them that Aurang and Gaurang were also missing from the camp. Amir said, “Surely Sa’ad has left for Baru, and both Aurang and Gaurang have accompanied him.”

  Amir appointed Rustam-e Peel-Tan as the commander of the camp. Then Amir and Amar Ayyar headed for Baru. After some days they entered its frontiers and arrived at a garden where they saw the corpses of Aurang and Gaurang lying on the ground. Amir Hamza buried Aurang and Gaurang in that garden and wept many tears of grief at their fate.

  They saw the very same herd of goats, and Amar slaughtered four of them and began roasting them. While they were leisurely having their meal, the shepherd rushed toward them and rebuked Amir. Amir Hamza said to the shepherd, “Go and inform Hardam that Hamza has arrived.”

  The shepherd went to Hardam, who picked up his mace and headed for the garden that very instant. Upon seeing him arrive, Amir decorated himself with his arms and armor and mounted his steed. Hardam laughed and said, “O Hamza, ever since I first heard your name, I have nursed the desire to see you so that I could fight you and test your bravery and courage.”

  After fighting and testing Amir’s strength Hardam said, “Bravo, Hamza! I never saw a fighter more courageous than you. Pray remove the veil from your face and allow me to gaze on your consummate beauty, so that I may regard it with eyes of reverence and augment their light from its sight.” Amir lifted up the veil from his luminous face and allowed his opponent to behold his dazzling beauty. Hardam saw that the sun itself shied away from the brilliance of Amir’s beauty—although his face showed signs of age and was the visage of a man who had drunk fully of experience and wisdom.

  Afterward they halted the combat. Hardam returned to his home and sent some fattened goats and flagons of wine to the garden for Amir’s repast.

  Hardam, meanwhile, praised Hamza to his sister and she was greatly pleased to hear his account.

  The next day Hardam faced Amir for combat and challenged him with a mace. They fought until evening, when Hardam’s mace broke. He said to Amir, “I would like to suspend combat until a mace can be made for me.” Amir answered, “Very well! But do tell me truthfully what became of my grandson.” Hardam answered, “O Hamza, I let your grandson go unharmed when he mentioned your name. But I have
no knowledge as to his whereabouts.”

  Then Hardam went back to his house and sent Hamza some fat-tailed sheep and flagons of wine for his meal. Later that day, Hardam narrated the whole account of Amir’s manliness to his sister and said, “There could be no better match for you in this world.” Then Hardam sent for the blacksmith and persuaded him to make him a nine-hundred-maund mace overnight. By the time it was daylight, the mace was ready for Hardam. Having finished with his morning rituals, Hardam went into the garden and said to Amir, “I have already broken two of my maces and if this one is also broken by your own, I shall be in a great quandary. It would be so much better if you would simply put your mace aside. Indeed if you have a claim to bravery, you will assent to my request.”

  Amir granted Hardam’s wish and agreed to receive the blows of Hardam’s mace on his shield. This time, however, Hardam’s mace made a deep impression in Hamza’s skull after striking him powerfully. In consternation, Amir dealt Hardam a thrust of his sword, which cut through all seven pieces of Hardam’s armor and injured him. Then Hardam drew a cold sigh and said, “I have spent my life in combat, but today is the first time that I have ever been wounded.” Then the fight was suspended to allow both warriors to minister to their wounds. In a few days their wounds were healed and they renewed fighting.

  Finally Amir Hamza prevailed over Hardam on the battlefield. Hardam converted to the True Faith with a willing heart. He took Amir Hamza and Amar to his house, where he arranged a feast in their honor and said, “It was my father’s dying wish that I should willingly give my sister in marriage to the man who prevailed over me in combat and pressed my back to the ground. Now that you have been victorious over me, pray marry my sister and take her as your wife.” With Amir’s permission, Amar recited the wedding sermon. Amir then retired to the palace to indulge in pleasure seeking with Hardam’s sister.

  Sa’ad bin Amar Hamza learned that Amir had arrived there and taken Hardam’s sister as his wife. He armed himself and headed toward the city of Baru on horseback to meet Hardam. When he arrived at its gates and made his war cry, Hardam went armed with a mace and found a warrior standing at his door. Sa’ad dismounted and grabbed both of Hardam’s arms and heaved him up from the ground. He spun him above his head, slammed him to the ground, and sat on his chest. Hardam said, “Give me your name, O brave one, and tell me who you are.” Sa’ad answered, “I am Sa’ad bin Amar Hamza.” Hardam said, “Get off my chest so that I may take you to meet your grandfather!” Sa’ad went along with Hardam, and upon beholding Amir, he rushed forward and fell at his grandfather’s feet. Amir embraced his grandson and kissed his head and face.

  Hardam said to Amir, “There is something that astonishes me no end. I lifted up your grandson, Sa’ad, with absolute ease the first time I encountered him, but today he lifted me up as a mighty champion might pick up an infant. Tell me what is the difference between that day and today?” Amir replied, “Before, Sa’ad was afflicted with a corrosive love that disarrayed his senses, sapped his strength, and filled his heart with anxiety and apprehension. Now that he has recovered from it and has been restored to his natural strength, all those causes for anxiety and dread are completely dispelled from his humors.” Amir made Sa’ad and Hardam embrace each other, and all of them sat down together to eat.

  Amir then took his leave of Hardam’s sister and headed back to his camp along with Hardam, Sa’ad, and Amar. They arrived to find Marzooq Farangi locked in combat with Naushervan’s commander, Zhopin Faulad-Tan. Zhopin Faulad-Tan lifted Marzooq Farangi above his head and threw him to the ground, saying, “Go back, O Farangi, and send me someone else to fight, for killing you will win me no acclaim.”

  One after another, Malik Ashtar, Bakhya Shutarban, Qunduz Sar-Shaban, Landhoor, and Badiuz Zaman confronted Zhopin Faulad-Tan but no one was able to defeat him. Finally, Amir Hamza descended into the arena against him. After trying countless locks on each other and breaking the other’s holds, Amir Hamza made his war cry and lifted Zhopin Faulad-Tan and spun him above his head. He then slammed him to the ground and sat down on his chest. Amar Ayyar quickly secured his limbs with his rope and took him prisoner.

  Amir returned to his camp to the notes of festive music and retired to the women’s quarters. The commanders of Amir’s camp gathered and said to Amar, “Zhopin Faulad-Tan has humiliated and disgraced all of us in the arena. If he lives, we will never be able to look him in the eye. Were he somehow humiliated at our hands or killed, our sorrow would find an end.” Amar answered, “Amir Hamza would never order the death of a warrior of Zhopin Faulad-Tan’s caliber. Indeed he will value and favor him above all others. Those who put a value on valor never even dream of murdering brave men.” When the commanders tempted Amar with money, he said to Hardam, “You should kill Zhopin Faulad-Tan with molten lead. If it grieves Hamza, I will be answerable to him, and will prevail on him to forgive the offense.” Then Hardam poured molten lead into Zhopin Faulad-Tan’s ear, which dissolved away his heart and liver. When Amir emerged from the women’s quarters and sent for Zhopin Faulad-Tan, he was told that Hardam had fed him molten lead and killed him by deceit.

  Amir expressed his displeasure with Hardam, who replied, “I did this at the behest of Amar Ayyar. It was at his bidding that I killed Zhopin with molten lead. I must not be blamed in this matter.” Amir was greatly upset with Amar and said to him, “What harm did you receive from Zhopin’s hand that you arranged to have him killed?” Amar answered, “O Amir! That dastard (deserving of smile beheading) merited such a fate in order to keep all creatures of God safe from his hands.” Amir replied, “My hands are tied. Had it been somebody else, instead of you, who had ordered this, I swear by the God of Kaaba that I would have killed him.” Amir Hamza gave Amar Ayyar seven lashes, and then said, “If you ever commit such an act again without my consent, I will make an example of you and punish you severely.” Amar retorted, “If I do not lash you seventy times for this humiliation, I will consider myself a bastard not of my father’s loins!”

  With these words, Amar took himself straight to Naushervan and said to him, “O Emperor, I put myself to every hardship and pain in Hamza’s service, and he rewarded me for it with seven lashes today for the sake of an infidel. He has humiliated me before all the commanders. If Your Honor wishes to have my allegiance, I am willing to yield it to you.” Naushervan was greatly pleased to hear this and said, “O Amar, your rightful place is in my heart.” Naushervan conferred a robe of honor on Amar and ranked him in honor above all his courtiers.

  When Amir Hamza received these tidings, fear kept him awake at night, and he ordered his camp to maintain a state of great vigilance. Every night Amar made the rounds of Amir’s camp with the intention of kidnapping him, but he quietly abandoned the plan each time he found Hamza awake. One night, however, Amir was unable to keep his eyes open, and he fell asleep. Finding Amir lost in slumber, Amar, who had been waiting for just such a chance, put a soporific drug in a tube and blew it into Amir’s nose, rendering him unconscious. Then he tied up Amir with his rope and took him to the forest, where he secured him to a tree trunk in revenge for the lashes Amir had given him. Amar dispelled the effects of the drug, and when Amir came to he put his finger between his teeth in astonishment and marveled at his state and felt great shame.

  Amar found a tree branch and hit Amir seventy times with it. Amir smiled and said, “You wily thief! I shall renounce my name if I do not shed your blood!” At this, Amir broke his bonds, and Amar ran away from him like a wild camel. Amir then reached for his bow and arrow. Realizing that Amir’s arrow never missed its mark, and that he would certainly die and not escape Hamza’s clutches, Amar rushed toward Amir and said to him, “O Amir, forgive me my wrongs!” Amir responded, “I have sworn that I would draw blood from your body and punish you.” Amar said, “If that is your wish, then I am standing before you: Cut my neck without hesitation and sever my head.” To fulfill his promise, Amir took out his blade and cut Amar slightly to open a vein and draw
a little blood from him. Then he returned to his camp, taking Amar along with him.

  OF HAKIM MARZAK’S ENTRY INTO AMIR’S CAMP AT BAKHTAK’S BIDDING, AND OF HIS BLINDING AMIR HAMZA ALONG WITH HIS COMMANDERS

  The narrator of the dastan recounts that a man named Hakim Marzak was Bakhtak’s bosom friend. He came to see Bakhtak one day and said, “If Naushervan were to order me, I would blind Hamza and all his companions, making them lose their sight by subterfuge.” When Bakhtak communicated this to Naushervan, the emperor said, “A blind man needs aught but seeing eyes.” He sent for Marzak and conferred a robe of honor on him, showing him much favor and showering him with gifts.

  Marzak then went to Amar Ayyar and told him a tale of his helplessness and travails, and said, “If I could find a position in Amir’s camp, I would earn my livelihood by administering medicine to the soldiers.” When Amar presented Hakim Marzak to Amir and praised his accomplishments to him, Hamza showed him great favor and said, “You are welcome to stay with the camp, and attend to the sick men.”

  It so happened that Amir Hamza came to experience a dimness of vision. He sent for Marzak and described the symptoms to him, and Marzak prepared a collyrium and lined Amir’s eyes with it. Amir’s symptoms went away and his eyes lit up as before. He used that collyrium more than once, and richly rewarded and praised Marzak for it. Upon learning the qualities of the collyrium, Amir Hamza’s friends also lined their eyes with it, and everyone sought remedies from Marzak for their many symptoms. All those who were cured by Marzak’s hand made offerings to him.

  Marzak now mixed the collyrium with blinding agents. He went before Amir and said to him, “The collyrium I have prepared this time contains an ingredient that has made it a perfect remedy, and you will never need to line your eyes again after a single application.” Then Amir, along with his friends, applied the collyrium to their eyes.