Page:William Muir, Thomas Hunter Weir - The Caliphate; Its Rise, Decline, and Fall (1915).djvu/134

A.H. 14
—— then take up the shout three successive times from him.First day: called Armāth. At the second and third shout, they were to gird their weapons on and make their horses ready. At the fourth, the ranks were to rush in one body forward with the watchword, Our help is from the Lord! The order was deranged by the enemy, who, hearing the first shout, advanced at once; whereupon impatient warriors from the Muslim front stepped out and, challenging to single combat, did prodigies of valour. The heroic feats of Bedr were reenacted on this field, and the spoil, stripped from the fallen champions, was beyond description rich. Thus ʿAmr ibn Maʿdīkerib carried off triumphantly the bracelets and jewelled girdle of a princely victim. Another, shouting gaily the praises of his mistress,^[1] closed with Hormuz, "a prince of the Gate," and bore him with his diadem captive to Saʿd. A leader of the Beni Temīm, singing like verses, pursued his adversary through the enemy's ranks; there he seized a mule-driver, and carried him with his laden beast to the Muslim lines; it was the King's baker with a load of royal viands.Abu Miḥjan. More remarkable still is the story of Abu Miḥjan.^[2] A ringleader in the detraction of Saʿd, his offence was aggravated by drunkenness. Bound a prisoner in the fortress, under charge of Selma the General's wife, he was seized by an irrepressible ardour to join the battle. At his earnest entreaty, and under pledge of early return, the lady set him free, and mounted him on her husband's white mare. An unknown figure, he dashed now in the enemy’s host, and now in circuits round it, performing marvels of bravery. Some thought it might be the chief of the Syrian contingent expected that day. Others opined that it was Al-Khiḍr, precursor of the angelic band. But Saʿd himself said, "If it were not that Abu Miḥjan is safe in durance under Selma's care, I could swear it were he, and the mare my own." According to promise, the hero, satisfied with his exploits, returned to Selma, who reimposed his fetters as before,

 

1. His song, of the ordinary type, ran thus:—

   "The maid, with hanging tresses, milk-white breast and fingers tapering,
   Knoweth full well the hero who will lay the warriors low."

2. Ṭab, i. 2312 ff. Another account, 2354 f.