'A Dictionary, Persian, Arabic, and English; with a Dissertation on the Languages, Literature, and Manners of Eastern Nations' [‎36r] (76/1826)

DISSERTATION.
Iv
confined to the infantry, after chivalry became a
regular institution in Europe.—A famous combat
is mentioned by all the Persian writers, and seems
to be founded on historical fact, between twelve
chosen warriors of Persia, and twelve of Tartary.
The armies of Kay Khusraw and Afrasiab were
drawn up in battle array. To save the effusion of
blood, this combat was proposed ; the success of
which was to fix the boundaries of the hostile em
pires. The Persians gained the victory, chiefly
by the prowess of Rustam; and the Tartar king
immediately abandoned all the territory to the
southward of the Oxus. Kawun, one of the Per
sian champions, seems to have been a knight-
errant ; for he was surnamed Razm-lch'ah, one who
goes in search of adventures.—Among the Ara
bians, nothing was more common than challeng
ing to single combat. The Caliph All, and others,
furnish many examples.—Mention is also made of
two famous Arabian knights-errant, one called Abu
Muhammad A1 batal, who wandered everywhere in
quest of adventures, and redressing of grievances.
He was killed in the year 738. The other was a
great grandson of the Caliph Abubakar, named
Jaffar al Sadik, who died in the reign of Almansur,
in the year 764<.—In an imperfect manuscript,
which has neither beginning nor end, I met, by
chance, with the following anecdote of Jaffar al
Sadik. This warrior, who was equally eminent
for his piety and extensive knowledge as for his re
nown in arms, was invited to court by the Caliph
Almansur, that he might profit by his counsel.
Jaffar returned for answer, “ Whoever has a view
“ only to this world will not give you sincere ad-
“ vice ; and he who regards the next, will not
“ keep you company.” 101
That mode, which prevailed in Europe, of the
knights of hostile armies challenging one another
to single combat, during a truce, was very com
mon in the East. I shall give one remarkable in
stance. The gallant Sultan Jalalu’d’din, whose fa
ther Muhammad, king of Kharazm, was driven
from his dominions by Changlz Khan, having af
terwards recovered part of his kingdom, marched
about the year 1228 against the Georgians : when
a truce having been agreed upon, in order to ad
just, if possible, terms of accommodation, the great
men of both armies sent mutual defiances, and
many combats were fought. Jalalu’d’dln, dis
guising himself like a private knight, entered the
lists; when a well-mounted Georgian appeared
against him ; but, at the first career, he unhorsed
him, and successively three of his sons who wished
to retrieve the family honour. A champion of
uncommon size then approached: he was sur
named Pll-afgun (overthrower of elephants) ; his
blows fell with such force and rapidity, that Jala-
lu’d’dln, apprehensive, lest his horse should fly off,
or sink under him, sprung to the ground, and
aimed his lance with such address, that he pierced
the Georgian’s forehead, and extended him lifeless
on the ground. 102
Many other circumstances which accompanied
the institution of chivalry in Europe appear to have
been long familiar in the East, lournaments,
throwing the javelin, armorial bearings, and, above
all, that respectful attention to women which
formed no part of the national character of the
Greeks or Romans. The exercises of thejarldah
and the hand were favourite amusements with the
young warriors: they darted them at the ring
dariat y and they tilted or threw them at one
another. The Arabian conquerors of Spain carried
the custom into that country ; where, under the
description of fiestas de las canaSy it is celebrated in
the RomanzeSy as one of the highest public enter
tainments which the gallant Moors gave in honour
of the ladies. One cavalier was the public chal
lenger or Mantenedor; he run at the ring, or
tilted with all who entered the lists. Gold chains,
jewels, and other rich ornaments, were the prizes:
but the most valuable of all was, the picture of the
Mantenedor’s mistress, which was placed in a con
spicuous part of the field, and surrounded by the
portraits of those of the vanquished knights. The
ladies, in galleries which surrounded the lists, were
generally witnesses of the address, strength, and
fortune of their admirers. 103