Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/125

 Lo, thou shalt have thy wish, though thou ask my soul I will give it."

And this their story is, the true tale of their doings.

Said the Narrator:

And when the image had done speaking and everyone had listened to the story in its completeness, then believed they the words of Bedr ibn Saleh, and their hearts were comforted, and the king welcomed the Emir Abu Zeyd with the fulness of honour, and he showed favour likewise to Bedr, even to the man of contemplation, and all trouble passed from his mind. Then Abu Zeyd made known to them the place of the grey mare and they went forth and took her from the cave and made haste to feast and be merry. And after that, the Emir Fadel remained talking with the Emir Abu Zeyd for seven days, and then Abu Zeyd desired to return to his own country. 'Then said to him the Emir Fadel, when he had given him noble gifts and with them the mare and slaves, "What wilt thou at my hand?" And he said to him, " That which I would have of thee is Alia thy daughter." But Fadel answered, " Ay, by the faith of the Arabs, that also is my desire and the extreme of my longings, and moreover thou shalt have with her all else whatsoever thou desirest. And here the Narrator once more singeth:

Now returneth my tale to Fadel the Agheyli Jaber,

And with him the hero Salame and all that were there assembled.