Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/62

 together in the name of God the Almighty, and their souls were loosed of their burden. And Abu Zeyd spoke to her and told her all, and said, 'It was indeed none other than I that slew thy uncle, nor came I with a better purpose than to steal away that mare." And she said, " Now is my heart light and my trouble ended, and as for the mare, look for her at my hand and not through another road; for my uncle and my people, are they not at thy disposal? and if there hath been evil how shall we take vengeance now, for I and my wealth and my kindred, all that is mine is thine. And thou shalt not find us niggardly of our kindness to thee, nor shall we refuse thee aught, inasmuch as all that I might do for thee, whether I fast or whether I pray, whether I give or whether I bestow, never might I make up to thee for what I have received at thy hand. 'Therefore shall there evermore be kindness between us. Ay, and if thou 'be willing, come thou now to our camp." But he said to her, "O Alia, O fairest lady, know that this I cannot do, this I desire not." And when Alia heard this word, it deepened her regard for him, and she praised God who had ordered it that she should meet with one so honourable. And she perceived that to one such as was this brave knight she could entrust her soul and all that was hers. And she entreated him, " Come with me to the tribe." But he, '*' Never can I come with thee." And still she besought him, saying, "Know this, O Hejazi Salame, that I will not leave thee here nor depart from thee. And as to the mare, her will I deliver to thee