Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/129

Was it for only this, the stealing of my grey mare,
Or for some other thing thou lightedst at my dwelling ?"
And Abu Zeyd replied, the Hejazi Salame :
" The cause of all was this, the cause of my meeting with Alia ;
It was a woman bereaved, a guest of illustrious lineage.
Suppliant she came to me, and made request of the grey mare,
Wishing to win a bride. And I went, and all my fortune,
Lo, it is known to thee. And this, O prince, is my story."
And Fadel called to the grooms, " Lead forth," said he, " the Hamameh,
And girth her back with a saddle, a saddle crusted with jewels.'*
And they brought her forth in her beauty, the fair gazelle of the desert.
And on her back was a saddle set of silver and jacynths.
And in her mouth a silver bit with gold for her reining,
And the reins of woven silk, of silk and nought else woven.
And Abu Zeyd arose and saluted the Agheyli,
And turned and went on his way, and with him slaves of the horsemen.
And thus for seven days, till he came to his own pastures ;
And the men of Helal beheld him, even the horsemen of Amer.
And Abu AH Serhan made straightway a great feasting.