Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/119

said he, " by thy word, if thou art a man of knowledge.
But if thou doest it not, know well that I shall slay thee."
And the soothsayer cried, " Ay truly, to all be there rejoicing."
And he turned him to the image with words like trickling honey,
And he struck the jar with his wand and he called aloud to the image,
" Wilt thou be proved a liar ? And what is this thou doest ?
Long have we been together, and now thou wouldst me evil
Shame and a bitter fortune in face of these the great ones ?
All thy life wert thou true to me, nor didst thou deceive me.
Marvel it wxre to-day if thou shouldst be proved a traitor.
Working thus for my death to bring me evil fortune.
What have I done that thou thus shouldst stir their hatred against me ?
Tell me rather the truth of the mare of Agheyli Jaber,
So shall his rage be stilled and he bring me forth with honour.
But if thou tellest it not with my hand will I destroy thee,