Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/51

And he, the dog, looked into her face, and each the other's
Neck with their arms embraced. And I said to myself "Salame,
Wait thou in patience on (for he who hath seen is the wiser).
And hear of them their tale and learn the fate and the judgment."
And their talk was of their neighbours. And anon he spoke of Alia.
And she said, "I will bring her hither that thou mayst fill thy vengeance,
Thou shalt be quits with her, with her of the plaited tresses:
Even to-night will I bring her. But tell me first, and truly,
Are her eyes darker rimmed than mine, more kohled, more painted ? "
But he, "Nay, nought of this. The trouble is far other.
Rather list to my tale of woe and of strange adventure,
A tale of fear and pain, a brimming over of trouble.
For thus it was, to my hurt one day on my best courser
Rode I forth to the spring, the fountain of Ridaa,
There be there pleasant winds, full scented with rich odours,
Sweeter than scent of flowers ; and if a garment touch it,
Ten days and more with musk shall it remain in fragrance.