Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/15



N the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate! He who narrateth this tale is, and he saith:

When I took note and perceived that the souls of men were in pleasure to hear good stories, and that their ears were comforted and that they made good cheer in the listening, then called I to mind the tale of the Agheyli Jaber and his mare, and of all that befell him and his people. For this is a story of wonderful adventure and marvellous stratagems, and a tale which when one heareth he desireth to have it evermore in remembrance as a delight tasted once by him and not forgotten.

And the telhng of it is this:

The Emir Abu Zeyd the Helali Salame was sitting one morning in his tent with the Arabs of the Beni Helal and the Lords of the tribe. And lo, there appeared before them in the desert the figure of one wandering to and fro alone. And this was Ghanimeh. And the Emir Abu Zeyd said to his slave Abul Komsan, "Go forth thou, and read me the errand of this fair Lady and bring me word again." And Abul Komsan went forth as he was bidden, and presently returned to them with a smiling countenance, and he said, ^' O my Lord, there is the best of news for thee, for this is one that hath come a guest to thee, and she desireth something of thee, for fate hath oppressed her and troubles sore are on her head. And she hath told me all her story and the reason