Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/50

 For that which that night befell, as I alone in the desert

Turned to the right and the left my eyes (they are no deceivers),

For I saw one come to the tree as though in search for a shelter.

And I said to my soul: "O soul, climb thou and watch the achievement."

And my soul swung lightly aloft, and lay in wait in the branches.

And he came as if to a tryst with one of the daughters of Adam,

Even a tryst, O people, with one of our fairest daughters.

And an hour passed, and behold a lady too in the darkness.

Who said "Be thy evening good, O son of a noble father."

And he, "Two thousand greetings to thee and tokens of fortune.

These—but what hath delayed thee, alas! thou daughter of Nasser?"

And she said, "O worthy of praise, O Sahel, I watched and I waited.

Even till all should sleep, my father first and my mother.

And one by one my sisters and brothers. But when night held them.

And all lay fast in the fetters of sleep, I arose for thy pleasure."

And Zohwa came to his side, and they sat on a mound together.