Then they charged down, each at each, and the youth thrust his adversary in the breast so that the lance-head issued from his back. With this, another came out, and the youth cried:—

Ho thou hound, who art rotten with foulness in grain,[[124]] ✿ What high meed is there easy for warrior to gain?

'Tis none save the lion of strain purest pure ✿ Who uncareth for life in the battle-plain!

Nor was it long before the youth left him drowned in his blood and cried out, "Who will come forth to me?" So a third horseman rushed out upon the youth and began saying:—

To thee come I forth with my heart a-flame, ✿ And summon my friends and my comrades by name:

When thou slewest the chief of the Arabs this day, ✿ This day thou remainest the pledge of my claim.

Now when the youth heard this he answered him in these words:—

Thou liest, O foulest of Satans that are, ✿ And with leasings calumnious thou comest to war:

This day thou shalt fall by a death-dealing point ✿ Where the lances lunge and the scymitars jar!

Then he so foined him in the breast that the spear-point issued from his back and he cried out, saying, "Ho! will none come out?" So a fourth fared forwards and the youth asked him his name and he answered, "My name is Hilál, the New Moon." And the youth began repeating:—