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Thou wilt thy sister’s honour guard, whose might is small, for thou Her brother art and she for thee unto the Lord doth pray.
Let not the foe possess my soul nor seize on me perforce And work their cruel will on me, without my yea or nay.
By God His truth, I’ll never live in any land where thou Art not albeit all the goods of plenty it display!
But I will slay myself for love and yearning for thy sake And in the darksome tomb I’ll make my bed upon the clay.
When he heard her words, he wept sore and turning his horse’s head towards her, made answer with the following verses:
Stand by and see the wondrous deeds that I will do this day, Whenas we meet and I on them rain blows in the mellay.
E’en though the lion of the war, the captain of the host, The stoutest champion of them all, spur out into the fray,
I’ll deal a Thaalebiyan[1] blow at him and in his heart I’ll let my spear, even to the shaft, its thirst for blood allay.
If I defend thee not from all that seek thee, sister mine, May I be slaughtered and my corse given to the birds of prey!
Ay, I will battle for thy sake, with all the might I may, And books shall story after me the marvels of this day.
Then said he, ‘O my sister, give ear to what I shall enjoin on thee.’ And she answered, ‘I hear and obey.’ Quoth he, ‘If I fall, let none possess thee;’ and she buffeted her face and said, ‘God forbid, O my brother, that I should see thee laid low and yield myself to thine enemies!’ With this he put out his hand to her and drew aside her veil, whereupon her face shone forth, like the sun from out clouds. Then he kissed her between the eyes and bade her farewell; after which he turned to us and said, ‘Ho, cavaliers! Come ye as guests or are you minded to cut and thrust? If ye come as guests, rejoice in hospitality; and if ye covet the shining moon,[2] come out against me, one by one, and fight.’ Then came out
- ↑ i.e. with a blow worthy of the members of the family of Thaalebeb to which (see post, p. 368) he belonged.
- ↑ i.e. his sister.
