Said the Narrator:
And when the maidens and Alia had made an end of their talking, and they had said to her, ``Fear not, we are with thee, and of nothing of our souls will we be niggardly for thy sake, and all that thou hast done that too would we have done; and one such as is this knight were more worthy our possessing than all else in the world, for he is without guile and without blemish;--then Alia, hearing this, her heart was quieted, and she arose full of joy, and bent down and kissed the hands of Abu Zeyd. And all the damsels in like manner kissed his hands. And they undid their veils before him to the right and to the left. And Alia bade them bring meats in dishes, and the damsels brought them. And the servants and they rejoiced and were glad together. And when their meal was ended they brought wine and drank of it, and made merry until night fell on them. And they sang psalms and canticles, and played on instruments of music, nor did they leave their merriment for twenty nights, so that Abu Zeyd forgot his people, and it was to him as to one who had been born among them, nor cared he for aught that should happen in the land of Helal. But on the twenty and first night he remembered where he was, and how he had come thither, and the story of the ancient dame who had sought him and the pledge he had given her to obtain for her that which she desired. And tears came to his eyes and flowed down upon his beard. And when Alia saw this she arose and asked him why he wept. And he said, ``I have been remembering my people, and those that are dear to me afar and the business that I came on.'' And she said, ``Wait only till it be dark.'' And he waited until the night came. And she arose and fetched the keys and delivered to him the mare. And she brought him change of raiment and a skin of dates and butter and bread. And she said, ``Take me also with thee with the mare, and leave me not to suffer blame.'' And she clung to his stirrup. But he swore an oath to her that he would return and protect her from her father. And she let go the stirrup. And in that guise he left her, and they were both weeping. And Alia turned from him with weeping eyes, and lamented grievously at their parting. And he went his way through the desert, while she remained in her sorrow. And she sat upon the ground with the daughters of the great ones, and they burst forth all in lamentations and tears.
Then singeth again the Narrator:
Saith she, the Princess Alia (and the tears flowed from her eyelids),
``Ho, ye daughters fair of my tribe, to my words give heeding.
Be ye my secret's keepers. This one by his fair actions
Hath earned the better part, ay, praises everlasting.
Let every creature praise him, and God him keep, the Creator.''
And they said, ``We hear and obey, a thousand times obedient.
Our souls shall thy ransom be to hold our lips close--guarded.''
And Alia went to him, and his right hand and his left hand
Kissed she, and they too all, while the dark one stood astonished.
And they said, ``May God reward thee with good and grace and blessing.
Oh thou Emir Salameh, champion among the great ones.''
And they called to Alia loudly, ``Lady, thou daughter of Jaber,
Bid that the meats be spread, and feast we with this stranger.''
And they brought the fruits and the meats, and the dishes meet for Princes.
And when the meal was done then poured they fair potations,
Drinking in jewelled cups with skilled musicians and singers,
(Where should the like be found?) for they sang in such sweet measure
That, if a bird had heard, it had stooped from its way in heaven.
In figure and trope they sang, of four--and--twenty stanzas.
And Alia chose eight players, the cunningest among them,
Four for the lute and viol, and four for hymns and chauntings.
Each sat him down and played, and they sang with pleasant voices.
Thus twenty nights went by as a single hour in swiftness.
And it seemed to me my life had been ever thus from its outset,
Till I forgot Helal, even Helal Ibn Amer.
Then suddenly the thought came to me of my people,
My tribe and my high place, my friends and war companions,
And tears ran down my face: I did not seek to stay them,
But sat as a man crazed. And Alia, when she saw me,
``What aileth thee, Abu Zeyd, and what may be thy trouble?''
And I said, ``O Alia, see me how I thus late remember
My glory and my tribe, and friends, and war--companions;
See, I have lingered here these twenty nights in number
In this thy stranger tribe. And how then shall I end it?
Arise and bring the mare, and see that thou delay not,
If thou be one of trust.'' And she, ``I will surely bring her,
And may the merciful God, O Prince, make smooth thy journey.
For truly saith Ibn Arus, `The dark night brought the prowler.'''
And I said, ``I hear and obey,'' yet ceased not to be troubled
Until the night should come. But near the hour of sunset
Alia arose and said, ``It is time.'' Then like a lion
Rose I, and roared, ``I hear and obey, thou daughter of Jaber.''
And Alia threw off her jewels, and she went out and I followed
With a loud--beating heart to the space beyond the tent ropes,
And we walked in the space apart 'twixt Alia's and the mare's tent.
And she held my hand as I went, like a lioness, I like a lion.
And when we had come to that other tent, then she gazellelike
Stepping passed to the well, and into its depths went Alia.
And presently came again with a goatskin filled with water.
And she took from it the keys, and she opened wide the stable,
For the night was dark, and within we heard the mare's feet stamping,
Yet stayed she at the sound of her step, the Agheyli's daughter.
And Alia stooped and loosed from the mare her fetters of iron.
And I led her forth in joy, the mare, nor hid my pleasure.
And she brought the saddle in haste, and bound it fast with its girthing,
And she hung to it a nosebag as ready for a journey.
And I with my hand the while set on her head the bridle.
And she stood at the mare's near side, and close behind the saddle.
And she said, ``Yet leave the cords, lest they be thy undoing.''
And I left them on the ground, cords of the red silk twisted.
And she came beside me near, and held me by the fingers,
And said, ``O Abu Zeyd, give ear to me and hearken.''
And she brought me all of the best, and a fair change of raiment,
Garments rare of glory, rejoicing the beholders.
And she said, ``O Abu Zeyd, leave here thy ancient garments,
And put on these, the new, O thou illustrious hero.''
And I named the name of God, and I put on the raiment.
And clothed I stood as a King, even as one of the Sultans.
And she brought me too the armour of the Emir Zohaneh,
And a sword from the land of Yemen, its blade was sharp and shining,
And girt it to my left side. And I loosed it from its fastening,
And drew the blade from its sheath, and stood like the King of Terrors.
And I went to the grey mare's side, and took her rein in silence,
While Alia wept aloud and her tears ran down in streamlets.
And I named the name of God and sprang into the saddle,
And touched the mare with my heel. But Alia still delaying
Put in my hand a spear (its point would split a pebble,
And it shone in the night like a star) and I bore it on my shoulder,
And my heart leapt high with valour, and I longed to meet the tribesmen
And charge them one and all, alone, I without helper.
And fain was I they should wake that I might give them battle,
And drive them with my sword, their mightiest men of valour.
And she brought me dates in a skin, and made me all provision.
And thus was I. And she, still clinging to my stirrup,
Cried, ``Let me go with thee, astride the mare, behind thee.
Let me be with thee still while he my father liveth.''
But I said, ``Nay, yet I swear thou shalt not be forsaken,
Nor will I seek Helal till first I come back for thee,
Having devised a plan.'' Then drew I away my stirrup,
And the tears ran down my face, and my heart was grieved within me.
And I went forth on my way and heard her still lamenting,
Even as I rode afar. For she cried on, ``O Salameh,
Haste thee back, for thy going is as a fire that burneth.''
And she turned to the pavilion, and sat down on the carpet,
The carpet of amber silk. And, ``Where is he, Salameh?''
She cried to the pavilion. ``If he come not back to seek me,
Lo, will I burn thy hangings and tear the hair thy covering.
If he cometh not, Salameh, a tomb shall be my dwelling.
And yet the time shall be we shall both meet together:
For this be praise to God the Lord God the Almighty.
And I ask my pardon of God for all sins and transgressions,
Him who is my protector in the high Heaven of Heavens.''
