Rabiah's Defense

Go not away from us; stay, O Rabiah, son of Mukàd !
Soft may the clouds of dawn spread dew on thy grassy grave,
Rabiah, the long-locked boy, who guardedst thy women, dead.

Fast rode the fleeing band, straight for the pass al-Khadìd,
Mother and daughters, wives, and Rabiah the only man,
Fleeing for honor and life through lands of a vengeful tribe.
Sudden a moving cloud came swift o’er the hill behind.
Dark rode the men of Sulaim, and Death rode dark in their midst.
“ Save us ! ” the mother cried. “ O boy, thou must fight alone ! ”
“ Hasten, ride ! ” he said, calm. " I only draw rein till a wind
Blowing this dust away gives place to look for the foe.”
His sisters moaned, ‘"He deserts!” “Have you known it.?” Rabiah cried.
The women rode and rode. When the dust cleared, his arrows sprang
Straight at the following foe: the pride of their host went down.
Swift turned Rabiah his mare, and o’ertook his retreating kin;
Halting to facée again as the men of Sulaim closed round.
Once more his mother called : “ Charge thou again, O son !
Keep off their hands from us all, meet them with shaft on shaft.”
Still he kept turning and aimed, till every arrow was gone ;
Still rode the women on ; by sunset the pass was near.
Still the black horses came, and Rabiah drew his sword.
Checked for the last time there, and face to face with a clan.

Then rode Nubaishah up, son of the old Habib,
Thrust young Rabiah through, and cried aloud. “ He is slain !
Look at the blood on my lance ! ” Said Rabiah only, “ A lie ! ”
Turned and galloped once more, and faced when he reached al-Khadid.
There had the women paused, to enter the pass one by one.
“ Mother,” he cried, “ give me drink! ” She answered, “ Drink, thou art dead,
Leaving thy women slaves. First save thou thy women, then die ! ”
“ Bind up nay wound,” he said; she bound with her veil. He sang,
“ I was a hawk that drove the tumult of frightened birds,
Diving deep with my blows, before and again behind.”
Then she said, “ Smite again ! ” and he, where the pass turns in,
Sat upright on his steed, barring the road once more.
Then drew the death-chill on; he leaned his head on his spear.
Dim in the twilight there, with the shadows darkening down.
Never a dog of Sulaim came up, but they watched and watched.
The mare moved never a hoof; the rider was still as she ;
Till sudden Nubaishah shrieked, “ His head droops down on his neck !
He is dead, I tell you, dead ! Shoot one true shaft at his mare ! ”

The mare started, she sprang ; and Rabiah fell, stone cold.
— Far and away through the pass the women were safe in their homes.

Then up rode a man of Sulaim, struck Rabiah hard with his spear,
Saying, “ Thou Pride of God, thou alone of mortals wast brave.
Never a man of our tribe but would for his women die ;
Never before lived one who guarded them yet, though dead ! ”