Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/123

And when that she had prayed then spake she the name of Salame,
Even of Abu Zeyd, the hero, the right arm of Amer,
And at her voice he came and slew those two in the darkness.
And the dark one loosed her bonds and cut her bindings asunder,
And bade her begone to her people and see that none should know it.
And she answered him, * Nay truly, but first I would know thy lineage/
And they made an oath together, and they went to the pavilion.
And twenty nights and days were they two there rejoicing."
Thus then spoke the image as though it had seen and heard them.
And lastly the image said, *^ O prince, O thou of the great ones.
If thou iwouldst do my bidding, let there be peace between ye."
Then was the image silent. But Fadel, " God be my witness
That there is peace between us, even though he be the Helali,
Abu Zeyd the destroyer, the enemy of our people.
What though he slew my kin, eight men of them together.
Even eight of my kin, with Zohwa Ibn Talh, and Faher,