Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/126

 The Arabs beheld ibn Saleh. And lo the Agheyli Jaber Clothed him with robes of honour and him Abu Zeyd the Helali. And they bore him a witness of glory, even all the great ones assembled. And he sat with them seven days a guest new clothed and rejoicing. And all men brought him gifts, of cloth and embroidered kaftans, And fifty steeds of the grey, and fifty steeds of the bay ones. And fifty camels the red, and fifty slaves of the black ones. But after the seventh day he said to them, " All is ended, I must away on my journey." And Fadel, " As thou wiliest, Only return to our joy, and we from afar will meet thee. For 'twixt us brotherhood is, now and to our life's ending. Thou for a brother to me and I to thee for a brother." And he said, ^' Be thou clear of evil, thou first of friends and of brothers. Still is there one thing left, of Alia the espousals. If she should take my hand, then were I with ye, and quickly." And they answered all and declared "Nay, this were for our rejoicing. So should ye two remain, twin heroes with us ever."