Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/103

 And stood as one of themselves, as one of those that are holy,

I who had stolen the mare, even I to chaunt among them,

And all the while my heart was as iron heated for Alia,

While we recited aloud from the most noble Koran.

And when we had prayed we returned. And the princess was in danger,

For the people had led her forth to where the fire was enkindled,

And right and left she looked if any should come with succour.

Then sprang I to her side like a lion roused in his anger,

And I took her by the hand, while the crowd beheld in wonder.

And I thrust them back with my hands and stood beside the burning,

Committing my cause to Him, the Lord God, the Almighty,

And I cried out, " Burn me not, O fire, nor seek thou to shame me !

Burn not, O noble fire, nor do thou hurt to my garments,

For if thou work me ill, I bear to the Lord my witness,

I who am nobly born, a man of illustrious lineage."

And I passed out thus through the fire, and by the Lord's permission

The. flames died and fell down, and I walked forth from them scathless.