Then they drove at one another and exchanged blows; but the youth's stroke forewent that of his adversary and slew him: and thus he went on to kill all who sallied out against him. When I saw my comrades slain, I said in myself, 'If I fight with him, I shall not be able to withstand him, and if I flee, I shall become a byword among the Arabs.' However, the youth gave me no time to think, but ran at me and laying hold of me, dragged me from my saddle. I swooned away and he raised his sword to cut off my head; but I clung to his skirts and he lifted me in his hand, as I were a sparrow [in the clutches of a hawk]. When the maiden saw this, she rejoiced in her brother's prowess and coming up to him, kissed him between the eyes. Then he delivered me to her, saying, 'Take him and entreat him well, for he is come under our rule.' So she took hold of the collars of my coat-of-arms and led me away by them as one would lead a dog. Then she did off her brother's armour and clad him in a robe, after which she brought him a stool of ivory, on which he sat down, and said to him, 'May God whiten thine honour and make thee to be as a provision against the shifts of fortune!' And he answered her with the following verses: My sister said, (who saw my lustrous forehead blaze Midmost the war, as shine the sun's meridian rays) "God bless thee for a brave, to whom, when he falls on, The desert lions bow in terror and amaze!" "Question the men of war," I answered her, "of me, Whenas the champions flee before my flashing gaze. I am the world-renowned for fortune and for might, Whose prowess I uplift to what a height of praise! O Hemmad, thou hast roused a lion, who shall show Thee death that comes as swift as vipers in the ways." When I heard what he said, I was perplexed about my affair, and considering my condition and how I was become a captive, I was lessened in my own esteem. Then I looked at the damsel and said to myself, 'It is she who is the cause of all this trouble;' and I fell a-marvelling at her beauty and grace, till the tears streamed from my eyes and I recited the following verses: Reproach me not, O friend, nor chide me for the past, For I will pay no heed to chiding and dispraise. Lo, I am clean distraught for one, whom when I saw, Fate in my breast forthright the love of her did raise. Her brother was my foe and rival in her love, A man of mickle might and dreadful in affrays.