Jawamiʿ al-hikayat wa lawamiʿ al-riwayat 16.2

16.2

he knew he was not able to cope with such a potentate, but that if he should tell his people that he was going to meet Rusal, they would not obey him, and might possibly kill both him and his dependants. He had consequently told them he was proceeding to give battle to his enemy, in order to induce them to accompany him ; but that when he should join Rusal and make his submission, they must perforce follow his example. When the ambassadors of Ya'kub came to Rusal and delivered the message to him, it was very agreeable to him, because he was greatly harassed by Ya'kub, who continually made incursions into his country, and attacked it in different directions. He made the ambassadors welcome, and sent messages to Ya'kub, giving him many kind promises and holding out hopes of preferment. Ya'kub despatched his messengers one after the other, and to prevent his followers from being disheartened he told them that he had sent the messengers to reconnoitre the enemy's army. When both the armies came in front of each other, Rusal called Sálih Nasr and told him that as the enemy had come to proffer his submission, there must be no fighting. A day was fixed for a parley between the parties. It was not the habit of Rusal to ride a horse, but he used to sit on a throne which a party of his servants carried on their shoulders. When both the armies were drawn up in array, Rusal seated himself upon his throne and ordered his troops to stand in line on each side of it.