Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/31

 his eloquence. And at the end of all he arrived at the praise of the Agheyh Jaber. Then stopped they him and said: "e of whom thou speakest is the chieftain of our people, and he is a prince of the generous. Go thou, therefore, to him, and he shall give thee all, even thy heart's desire." And he answered them, "Take ye care of my camel and keep her for me while I go forward to recite his praises, and on my return we will divide the gifts." And he left them. And as he went he set himself to devise a plan by which he might enter into the camp and entrap the Agheyli Jaber.

And the Narrator singeth of Abu Zeyd and of the herdsmen thus:

Saith the hero Abu Zeyd Salame Helali:

My tears flowed as I struck the swift one with her bridle.

Turning her to the desert. And fifteen days I journeyed,

Making of fifteen eight, for she was in fleetest training.

And running I came to the herds of Agheyl and beheld the camels

Spread like locusts alit, and I knew my travel ended.

And lighting I stooped down, and tied her fast by the foreleg.

And looked to right and to left. And presently the herdsmen

Came with the slaves around. And "O thou Sheykh" they addressed me,