[350]. The exclamation of an honest Fellah.
[351]. This is Antar with the Chosroë who “kissed the Absian hero between the eyes and bade him adieu, giving him as a last token a rich robe.” The coarser hand of the story-teller exaggerates everything till he makes it ridiculous.
[352]. The context suggests that this is a royal form of “throwing the handkerchief;” but it does not occur elsewhere. In fact, the European idea seems to have arisen from the oriental practice of sending presents in napkins or kerchiefs.
[353]. i.e. if the disappointed suitor attack me.
[354]. i.e. if ever I be tempted to deny it.
[355]. Arab. “Musáfahah,” the Arab fashion of shaking hands. The right palms are applied flat to each other; then the fingers are squeezed and the hand is raised to the forehead (Pilgrimage ii. 332).
[356]. A city and province of Khuzistán, the old Susiana. Dasht may be either the town in Khorasan or the “forests” (dasht) belonging to Ahwáz (Ahuaz in D’Herbelot).
[357]. This is the contest between “Antar and the Satrap Khosrewan at the Court of Monzar,” but without its tragical finish.
[358]. Elliptical “he rode out in great state, that is to say if greatness can truly be attributed to man,” for, etc.
[359]. According to D’Herbelot (s.v. Rostac) it is a name given to the villages of Khorasan as “Souad” (Sawád) to those of Irak and Makhlaf to those of Al-Yaman: there is, however, a well-known Al-Rustak (which like Al-Bahrayn always takes the article) in the Province of Oman West of Maskat; and as it rhymes with “Irak” it does well enough. Mr. Badger calls this ancient capital of the Ya’arubah Imáms “er-Rasták” (Imams of Oman).