envoy returned home with the red camels and many other presents. Seeing them,
the King of Syria was struck with astonishment and cried: "Behold, we wished
only to test Hatim-Thai, and now he has gone into debt to satisfy our desire. Yes,
truly he is the most generous man in the world."
He commanded them to send back to Hatim-Thai the 100 red camels loaded with
magnificent presents. As soon as they arrived, Hatim-Thai summoned the owner
and gave him the camels with all their burden of riches, without keeping
anything for himself. When the envoy, returning home again, recounted all these
things, the King of Syria marvelled and exclaimed: "No one can equal Hatim-
Thai. He is generosity itself, in all its perfection."
The third king, that is, the King of Yemen, was very generous, and wanted no
one to rival him in this particular. So when he heard of the fame of Hatim-Thai
for generosity, he was vexed and full of sorrow. He said: "How can that poor
Hatim equal in generosity a great king like me? I give alms to the poor, I feed
them, and every day I give them clothing. How is it possible that anyone can
dare to mention the name of Hatim-Thai in my presence as the most generous of
men?"
Now, at that time an ambassador of the King of Maghreb arrived at the
Court of the King of Yemen, who spoke of the wonderful generosity of
Hatim-Thai. He felt as if his heart was burning, but did not let his
grief appear, and said to himself:
"Everybody repeats the praises of Hatim, one after another, without knowing
exactly who he is, of what birth, and what are the means which permit him thus
to give hospitality. I shall cause him to perish."
The King of Yemen summoned a Bedouin, a bandit celebrated for his ferocity,
without pity for the life of a man. The Bedouin arrived, and the King gave him
gold, silver, and clothing. "O Bedouin," he said to him, "if you will perform an
affair for us, we will give you whatever you ask."
The Bedouin answered: "O my lord, king of the world, what is your
Majesty's will?"
The King of Yemen replied: "There is a man named Hatim-Thai, of the tribe of
Thai, on the confines of Syria. Go to this country, and employ all the tricks you
can to kill him. When you have killed him bring me his head. If you succeed in