Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 3.djvu/105

87 When she had made an end of her verses, she folded the letter and delivered it to the nurse, who took it and carried it to El Abbas. He broke it open and read it and apprehended its purport; then took inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses:

Indeed, thou’st told the tale of kings and men of might, Each one a lion fierce, impetuous in the fight, Whose wits (like mine, alack!) thou stalest and whose hearts With shafts from out thine eyes bewitching thou didst smite. Yea, and how slaves and steeds and good and virgin girls Were proffered thee to gift, thou hast not failed to cite, How presents in great store thou didst refuse and eke The givers, great and small, with flouting didst requite. Then came I after them, desiring thee, with me No second save my sword, my falchion keen and bright. No slaves with me have I nor camels swift of foot, Nor slave-girls have I brought in curtained litters dight. Yet, an thou wilt vouchsafe thy favours unto me, My sabre thou shalt see the foemen put to flight; Ay, and around Baghdad the horsemen shalt behold, Like clouds that wall the world, full many a doughty knight, All hearkening to my word, obeying my command, In whatsoever thing is pleasing to my sight. If slaves thou fain wouldst have by thousands every day Or, kneeling at thy feet, see kings of mickle might, And horses eke wouldst have led to thee day by day And girls, high-breasted maids, and damsels black and white, Lo under my command the land of Yemen is And trenchant is my sword against the foe in fight.