Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/17

 And when Abu Zeyd heard this word of his slave Abul Komsan he rejoiced exceedingly, and his heart waxed big within him, and he threw his cloak as a gift to Abul Komsan, and he bade him go to the Lady Ghanimeh and treat her with all honour, for, "I needs," said he, "must see to her affairs and quiet her mind." So Abul Komsan returned to her, and he built for her a tent, and did all that was needed. And Abu Zeyd bade him attend upon her and bring her dresses of honour and all things meet for her service.

Then began the narrator to sing:

Saith the hero Abu Zeyd the Helali Salame:

(Woe is me, my heart is a fire, a fire that burneth!),

On a Friday morning once, I sat with three companions,

I in my tent, the fourth of four, with the sons of Amer.

Sudden I raised my eyes and gazed at the breadth of the desert.

Searching the void afar, the empty hills and the valleys;

Lo in the midmost waste a form, where the rainways sundered,

Wandering uncertain round in doubt, with steps of a stranger.

Turned I to Abul Komsan, my slave, and straightway I bade him,

"Ho, thou master of signs, expound to us this new comer."

Abul Komsan arose and went, and anon returning,