Early Arabic literature is not well-known in the English-speaking world, and some elements of it might surprise someone who is only familiar with the stuff from later periods. Among the earliest works in Classical Arabic are a number of tales that can only be called “chivalric romances”, which strongly resemble the sort of thing you would expect in Malory or Chrétien de Troyes. What would most surprise a modern reader is the treatment of female characters.
Antarah Ibn Shaddād al-‘Absī [عنترة بن شداد العبسي], a sixth-century Arab of the Banu Abs tribe in the Hejaz, was of mixed Ethiopian and Arab descent, famous in his day as both a soldier and a poet. The Arab society of the Hejaz, at the time, was much more like that of the European early middle ages than one would imagine, with plenty of knights in armour and chain mail engaging in jousts and making implausible vows to fair maidens. His autobiographical poems were included in the Mu‘allaqāt [المعلقات], a set of poems considered so fine that they were hung on the side of the Ka’ba at Mecca [the name means “those which are hung”]. Centuries later, the material was reworked into the Epic of Antar, or Romance of Antar. This found it’s way to Europe only when the painter Étienne Dinet translated it into French in 1898. This translation made enough of an impression to inspire the composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov to compose his Symphony #2, subtitled “Antar”. But nowadays, it is largely forgotten by Europeans.
I possess a copy of the romance rendered into English by Étienne Delécluse and Epiphanius Wilson, published in 1900 by Colonial Press. Here are some remarkable passages:
Zahir continued his journey, until he reached the Saad tribe, when he dismounted from his horse. He was cordially received and was pressed to take up his abode with them. His wife was at that time soon to become a mother, and he said to her: “If a son is given to us, he will be right welcome ; but if it be a daughter, conceal her sex and let people think we have a male child, so that my brother may have no reason to crow over us.” When her time came Zahir’s wife brought into the world a daughter. They agreed that her name should be actually Djaida, but that publicly she should be known as Djonder, that people might take her for a boy. In order to promote this belief, they kept up feasting and entertainment early and late for many days.
About the same time Moharib, the other brother, had a son born to him, whom he named Khaled (The Eternal). He chose this name in gratitude to God, because, since his brother’s departure, his affairs had prospered well.
The two children eventually reached full age, and their renown was widespread among the Arabs. Zahir had taught his daughter to ride on horseback, and had trained her in all the accomplishments fitting to a warrior bold and daring. He accustomed her to the severest toils, and the most perilous enterprises. When he went to war, he put her among the other Arabs of the tribe, and in the midst of these horsemen she soon took her rank as one of the most valiant of them. Thus it came to pass that she eclipsed all her comrades, and would even attack the lions in their dens. At last her name became an object of terror; when she had overcome a champion she never failed to cry out : “I am Djonder, son of Zahir, horseman of the tribes.”
Of course, Djaida [aka Djonder] falls in love with Khaled when she sees him “scour the plains on horseback with his warriors, and in this way waxed greater in bodily strength and courage”. But Khaled is smitten, not with Djaida, but with Djonder! :
Khaled also visited his cousin. He saluted her, pressed her to his bosom, and kissed her forehead, thinking she was a young man. He felt the greatest pleasure in her company, and remained ten days with his uncle, regularly taking part in the jousts and contests of the horsemen and warriors. As for his cousin, the moment she had seen how handsome and valiant Khaled was, she had fallen violently in love with him.
Djaida’s mother arranges to have her presented to Khaled’s parents in her undisguised female state, and attempts to arrange a marriage between the male and female warriors. But Khaled will have none of it:
“My mother, I cannot remain here any longer. I must return home amid my horsemen and troops. I have no intention of saying anything more to my cousin ; I am convinced that she is a person whose temper and ideas of life are uncertain; her character and manner of speech are utterly destitute of stability and propriety. I have always been accustomed to live amid warriors, on whom I spend my wealth, and with whom I win a soldier’s renown. As for my cousin’s love for me, it is the weakness of a woman, of a young girl.” He then donned his armor, mounted his horse, bade his uncle farewell, and announced his intention of leaving at once. “What means this haste?” cried Zahir. ”I can remain here no longer,” answered Khaled, and, putting his horse to a gallop, he flung himself into the depths of the wilderness.
Djaida is furious at this rejection, and responds as only a warrior would:
“I should like, if God gives me the power, to make him taste the fury of death, the bitterness of its pang and torture.” So saying, she rose like a lioness, put on her armor, and mounted her horse, telling her mother she was going on a hunting expedition. Swiftly, and without stopping, she traversed rocks and mountains, her excitement increasing as she approached the dwelling-place of her cousin. As she was disguised, she entered, unrecognized, into the tent where strangers were received. Her visor was, however, lowered, like that of a horseman of Hijaz. Slaves and servants received her, offered her hospitality, comporting themselves towards her as to one of the guests, and the most noble personages of the land.
That night Djaida took rest ; but the following day she joined the military exercises, challenged many cavaliers, and exhibited so much address and bravery, that she produced great astonishment among the spectators. Long before noon the horsemen of her cousin were compelled to acknowledge her superiority over themselves. Khaled wished to witness her prowess, and, surprised at the sight of so much skill, he offered to match himself with her. Djaida entered the contest with him, and then both of them joining in combat tried, one after another, all the methods of attack and defence, until the shadows of night came on. When they separated both were unhurt, and none could say who was the victor. Thus Djaida, while rousing the admiration of the spectators, saw the annoyance they felt on finding their chief equalled in fight by so skilful an opponent. Khaled ordered his antagonist to be treated with all the care and honor imaginable, then retired to his tent, his mind filled with thoughts of his conflict. Djaida remained three days at her cousin’s habitation. Every morning she presented herself on the ground of combat, and remained under arms until night. She enjoyed it greatly, still keeping her incognito, whilst Khaled, on the other hand, made no enquiries, and asked no questions of her, as to who she was and to what tribe she might belong.
On the morning of the fourth day, while Khaled, according to his custom, rode over the plain, and passed close to the tents reserved for strangers, he saw Djaida mounting her horse. He saluted her, and she returned his salute. ”Noble Arab,” said Khaled, “I should like to ask you one question. Up to this moment I have failed in courtesy towards you, but, I now beg of you, in the name of that God who has endowed you with such great dexterity in arms, tell me, who are you, and to what noble princes are you allied? For I have never met your equal among brave cavaliers. Answer me, I beseech you, for I am dying to learn.” Djaida smiled, and raising her visor, replied: “Khaled, I am a woman, and not a warrior. I am your cousin Djaida, who offered herself to you, and wished to give herself to you; but you refused her—from the pride you felt in your passion for arms.” As she spoke she turned her horse suddenly, stuck spurs into him, and dashed off at full gallop towards her own country.
At first, Khaled is sorely confused, but:
His distaste for women was changed into love.
Now it’s his turn to be furious, for Djaida accepts another suitor. After defeating him, Khaled presses for marriage with her. But she demands of him a daunting series of tasks before he can win her. These include winning several wars and amassing a fortune. Last of all, he must
… go into the wild and marshy places of the land, in order to attack hand to hand in their caverns the lions and lionesses and their cubs, and bear them slain to the tents, in order to provide meat for all those who attended the festival.
But Djaida will not be content with such a wimp. She needs a really tougher man. So.…
She disguised herself in coat of mail, mounted her horse, and left the tents; as three days of festivities still remained, she hastily followed Khaled into the desert, and met him face to face in a cavern. She flung herself upon him with the impetuosity of a wild beast, and attacked him furiously, crying aloud, “Arab ! dismount from your horse, take off your coat of mail, and your armor; if you hesitate to do so, I will run this lance through your heart.” Khaled was resolved at once to resist her in this demand. They engaged in furious combat. The struggle lasted for more than an hour, when the warrior saw in the eyes of his adversary an expression which alarmed him. He remounted his horse, and having wheeled round his steed from the place of combat, exclaimed: ”By the faith of an Arab, I adjure you to tell me what horseman of the desert you are; for I feel that your attack and the violence of your blows are irresistible. In fact, you have prevented me from accomplishing that which I had intended, and all that I had eagerly desired to do.” At these words Djaida raised her visor, thus permitting him to see her face.
“Khaled,” she cried, “is it necessary for the girl you love to attack wild beasts, in order that the daughters of Arabia may learn that this is not the exclusive privilege of a warrior?” At this cutting rebuke Khaled was overcome with shame. “By the faith of an Arab,” he replied, no one but you can overcome me ; but is there anyone in this country who has challenged you, or are you come hither merely to prove to me the extent of your valor?”
“By the faith of an Arab,” replied Djaida, “I came into this desert solely for the purpose of helping you to hunt wild beasts, and in order that your warriors might not reproach you for choosing me as your wife.” At these words Khaled felt thrilled with surprise and admiration, that such spirit and resolution should have been exhibited in the conduct of Djaida.
Then both of them dismounted from their horses and entered into a cavern. There Khaled seized two ferocious wild beasts, and Djaida attacked and carried off a lion and two lionesses. After these exploits they exchanged congratulations, and Djaida felt happy to be with Khaled.”
I wonder if anyone in the Muslim world today, considering the current atmosphere, would dare to make a film version of this chivalric tale, which once hung upon the very walls of the Ka’ba?
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