Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/37

 Comest thou here a guest, or one of our foes, a prowler?" And I said to her, "Lady fair, the boon I ask is a breakfast.

I am a hungry man, and hunger is ungracious.

Not till my lips have tasted food can I do thy bidding."

And she answered me, "O Sheykh, to thee be eighty welcomes.

Hungry may no man be in the tent of Agheyli Jaber.

Here is of all abundance, and ever the guests uprising,

Praise his name who gave, a stream, a river of plenty.

Wait thou that I may bring what shall not leave thee thankless/'

And she left me and returned, and her hands were filled with dainties,

Even with food for kings, meats worthy the world's great ones.

And she stood before me in shame, as it were, a gazelle for coyness, *

Offering dates with her hands and butter and milk of camels.

And I put my hand to the dates and still she pressed me ever;

And I drank of the milk my fill, she bidding me still welcome,

Health and a thousand welcomes, and last she asked me my story.