Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 3.djvu/144

126 But on no wise was I affrayed nor turned from love of her; So let the railer rave of her henceforth his heart’s content. By God, forgetfulness of her shall never cross my mind, What while I wear the bonds of life nor when of death they’re rent An if I live, in love of her I’ll live, and if I die Of love and longing for her sight, O rare! O excellent!

When El Abbas had made an end of his verses, his father said to him, “I seek refuge for thee with God, O my son! Hast thou any want unto which thou availest not, so I may endeavour for thee therein and lavish my treasures in quest thereof?” “O father mine,” answered El Abbas, “I have, indeed, an urgent want, on account whereof I came forth of my native land and left my people and my home and exposed myself to perils and stresses and became an exile from my country, and I trust in God that it may be accomplished by thine august endeavour.” “And what is thy want?” asked the king. Quoth El Abbas, “I would have thee go and demand me in marriage Mariyeh, daughter of the King of Baghdad, for that my heart is distraught with love of her.” And he recounted to his father his story from first to last.

When the king heard this from his son, he rose to his feet and calling for his charger of state, took horse with four-and-twenty amirs of the chief officers of his empire. Then he betook himself to the palace of the King of Baghdad, who, when he saw him coming, bade his chamberlains open the doors to him and going down himself to meet him, received him with all worship and hospitality and entreated him with the utmost honourhonour. [sic]