Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/58

 Done for those Thou didst choose to Thyself against unbelievers.

To the prayers of the just I appeal that Thou protect me and succour,

Staying the hand of the wicked man the son of perdition."

And to Ibn Aaf she said, "I appeal to thee of thy honour,

So may the Lord thee spare, and heal thy soul of its blindness,

Guarding thy head from the day of wrath, the spear of Salame,

From Abu Zeyd the dealer of blows, the lion avenger."

But Sahel answered, fc Nay, by the Prophet I will not spare thee.

Not though Abu Zeyd were here himself the Helali.

For what is Abu Zeyd? Let him help thee, thou dog's daughter !

Let him deliver thee from my hand, thou daughter of Jaber!

Are we not, we the Agheylat, secure in our pastures ?

He, the Helali foe, where is he ? In some far dirra,

Pasturing flocks of his own. He shall not help thee nor succour."

But she, "Yet if God so willed he were here even now upon thee."

And Sahel, " Hold thy peace, for to-night thy life hath ending.

What shall Salame do to thy help in these our pastures ?

The wolf is not as the lion in the manner of his seizing.