Let me be with thee still while he my father liveth/'
But I said, "Nay, yet I swear thou shalt not be forsaken,
Nor will I seek Helal till first I come back for thee,
Having devised a plan/' Then drew I away my stirrup,
And the tears ran down my face, and my heart was grieved within me.
And I went forth on my way and heard her still lamenting,
Even as I rode afar. For she cried on, " O Salame,
Haste thee back, for thy going is as a fire that burneth."
And she turned to the pavilion, and sat down on the carpet.
The carpet of amber silk. And, "Where is he, Salame ? "
She cried to the pavilion. "If he come not back to seek me,
Lo will burn thy hangings and tear the hair thy covering.
If he cometh not, Salame, a tomb shall be my dwelling.
And yet the time shall be we shall both meet together :
For this be praise to God the Lord God the Almighty.
And I ask my pardon of God for all sins and transgressions,
Him who is my protector in the high Heaven of Heavens."
Said the narrator:
And when the Emir Abu Zeyd had departed with the mare, and had taken his leave of the Princess Alia, and had passed into the outer pastures, then remained the Princess a long while weeping at his going, and in doubt how she should meet her people, and in fear of
