Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/74

And she said again, "Good morrow to thee, O Abu Mukheymer,
How hast thou done us honour, thou noble prince of the great ones ! "
And Alia sought the pavilion where the thrones were set in order.
Eighty towards the right and sixty thrones to the leftward.
And fifty more at the front with stuffs embossed with jewels.
For there had Alia placed them. And the drums of joy were beaten
That the Princes' daughters might hear and come forth at her bidding.
And forth anon came they with trailing robes of saffron.
And sat them on the thrones of Agheyli, the noble maidens.
And they asked, " What mean the drums, O thou our Prince's daughter ?
What meaneth thy rejoicing ? " and she, and she, '^ Rejoice, O Damsels."
And Abu Zeyd the while lay close in the tent hidden.
And she bade the fair ones sit, the daughters of the great ones.
And she fetched a throne of gold inlaid with crusts of jewels.
And went to Abu Zeyd and bade him to the assembly.
And he reproved her, saying, " Thou art a Prince's daughter ;