There where the horsemen rode strongest I rode out in front of them, Hurled forth my battle-shout and charged them; No man thought blame of me. Antar! they cried; and their lances Well-cords in slenderness, pressed to the breast Of my war-horse still as I pressed on them. Doggedly strove we and rode we. Ha! the brave stallion! Now is his breast dyed With blood drops, his star-front with fear of them! Swerved he, as pierced by the spear points. Then in his beautiful eyes stood the tears Of appealing, words inarticulate. If he had our man's language, Then had he called to me. If he had known our tongue's secret, Then had he cried to me. * * * * * Deep through the sand drifts the horsemen Charged with teeth grimly set, Urging their war-steeds; I urged them spurred by my eagerness forward To deeds of daring, deeds of audacity. [6] Huart, "A History of Arabian Literature," 13. [7] Holden, "Library of the World's Best Literature," 586. [8] _Not in Text_ [9] Edward S. Holden, "Library of the World's Best Literature," I, p. 587. [10] Richard Gottheil, "Library of the World's Best Literature," II, 674. DOCUMENTS EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SLAVES AS ADVERTISED BY THEIR MASTERS In some respects the eighteenth century slave was better off than the Negro of today. As a rule no Negro can now get his name into the leading newspapers unless he commits a heinous crime. At that time, however, masters in offering slaves for sale and advertising fugitives unconsciously spoke of their virtues as well as their shortcomings, that the public might be fully informed as to the character of the blacks. Through these advertisements, therefore, we can get at the very life of the Negro when slavery was still of the patriarchal sort and can thus contrast his then favorable condition with the wretchedness of the institution after it assumed its economic aspect in the nineteenth century. We observe that the eighteenth century slave was rapidly taking over modern civilization in the West Indies and in the thirteen colonies on the American continent. The blacks were becoming useful and skilled laborers, acquiring modern languages, learning to read and write, entering a few of the professions, exercising the rights of citizens, and climbing the social ladder to the extent of moving on a plane of equality with the poor whites. To emphasize various facts these advertisements have been grouped under different headings, but each throws light on more than one phase of the life of the eighteenth century slave. The compiler will be criticised here for publishing in full many advertisements which contain repetitions of the same phraseology. The plan is deemed wise in this case, however, because of the additional value the complete document must have. The words to which special attention is directed appear in his own capitals.