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Wilfrid Scawen Blunt - The Stealing Of The Mare - VIII
Work rating: Low

Said the Narrator:
And when the image had done speaking and every one had listened to the story in its completeness, then believed they the words of Bedr ibn Saleh, and their hearts were comforted, and the king welcomed the Emir Abu Zeyd with the fulness of honour, and he showed favour likewise to Bedr, even to the man of contemplation, and all trouble passed from his mind. Then Abu Zeyd made known to them the place of the grey mare and they went forth and took her from the cave and made haste to feast and be merry. And after that, the Emir Fadel remained talking with the Emir Abu Zeyd for seven days, and then Abu Zeyd desired to return to his own country. Then said to him the Emir Fadel, when he had given him noble gifts and with them the mare and slaves, ``What wilt thou at my hand?`` And he said to him, ``That which I would have of thee is Alia thy daughter.`` But Fadel answered, ``Ay, by the faith of the Arabs, that also is my desire and the extreme of my longings, and moreover thou shalt have with her all else whatsoever thou desirest. And here the Narrator once more singeth:
 Now returneth my tale to Fadel the Agheyli Jaber,
 And with him the hero Salameh and all that were there assembled.
 The Arabs heheld Ibn Saleh. And lo the Agheyli Jaber
 Clothed him with robes of honour and him Abu Zeyd the Helali.
 And they bore him a witness of glory, even all the great ones assembled.
 And he sat with them seven days a guest new clothed and rejoicing,
 And all men brought him gifts, of cloth and embroidered kaftans,
 And fifty steeds of the grey, and fifty steeds of the bay ones,
 And fifty camels the red, and fifty slaves of the black ones.
 But after the seventh day he said to them, ``All is ended,
 I must away on my journey.`` And Fadel, ``As thou willest,
 Only return to our joy, and we from afar will meet thee.
 For `twixt us brotherhood is, now and to our life`s ending,
 Thou for a brother to me and I to thee for a brother.``
 And he said, ``Be thou clear of evil, thou first of friends and of brothers.
 Still is there one thing left, of Alia the espousals,
 If she should take my hand, then were I with ye, and quickly.``
 And they answered all and declared ``Nay, this were for our rejoicing,
 So should ye two remain, twin heroes with us ever.``

Said the Narrator:
And when the Emir Abu Zeyd desired to depart, then said to him the Emir Jaber, ``Was it for the mare then that thou camest to our country, or for what else?`` And Abu Zeyd related to him the whole story of the ancient dame and of all that had happened. And the Emir Fadel cried to the grooms, ``Lead forth the mare, the Hamameh.`` And they led her forth and brought her to the Emir Abu Zeyd. And he departed with her after that he had bidden them farewell. And he went back to those shepherds, and took from them his riding camel, and ceased not until he had returned unto his own Arabs. And when they saw him they saluted him, and came around him and rejoiced exceedingly, and they made feastings, and the tribe rejoiced. And Abu Zeyd related to them all that had happened to him, and they wondered greatly and all the tribe with them. Then sent he to the ancient dame Ghanimeh and begged of her that she might come, and when she came he delivered to her the mare and the gifts and bade her depart to her own people. But she said to him, ``Nay, but send with me one who shall charge himself with my affairs.`` And he sent with her Abul Komsan. And Abul Komsan went with Ghanimeh. And they had not journeyed seven days when they met with the tribe of En Naaman. And Abul Komsan went unto Naaman and said to him: ``Saith my lord Abu Zeyd to thee, let Amer espouse thy daughter, for behold, the mare thou didst require of him my lord hath obtained her for thee.`` But when Naaman heard that, he said, ``Take the mare and return to thy Lord and say he will not listen to thy words, neither will he follow thy counsel.`` But he said to him, ``If thou wilt not do this thing then will I slay thee in the midst of thy Arabs, and destroy thee utterly.`` But when Naaman heard this he leaped upon his mare and rushed upon Abul Komsan. But Abul Komsan struck him with his spear upon his breast and pierced him through, so that the spear shone beyond him. And he called out to all the men of the tribe, and defied them, saying, ``I am your peer, and better than your peer.`` But they said to him, ``Nay, but thou hast done us a service, for this one refused to do according to our counsels.`` So Abul Komsan bade them bury him. And they buried him. Then he bade them to bring Amer before him, and Abul Komsan made rejoicings for him and placed him upon the seat of authority in the room of his uncle Naaman. And they brought to him also Betina, the daughter of Naaman, and he ordered their marriage. And when he had done all these things he desired to leave them. But they brought him gifts and they led forth for him the mare, and he took her and his leave of them and departed, and returned to his master and told him all the story. And Abu Zeyd rejoiced and gave thanks.
And the Narrator once more began his singing and he said:

 Saith the Agheyli Fadel the hero, ``O thou, Helali,
 O thou man of descent, explain to me this thy coming.
 Was it for only this, the stealing of my grey mare,
 Or for some other thing thou lightedst at my dwelling?``
 And Abu Zeyd replied, the Hejazi Salameh:
 ``The cause of all was this, the cause of my meeting with Alia;
 It was a woman bereaved, a guest of illustrious lineage.
 Suppliant she came to me, and made request of the grey mare,
 Wishing to win a bride. And I went, and all my fortune,
 Lo, it is known to thee. And this, O Prince, is my story.``
 And Fadel called to the grooms, ``Lead forth,`` said he, ``the Hamameh,
 And girth her back with a saddle, a saddle crusted with jewels.``
 And they brought her forth in her beauty, the fair gazelle of the desert,
 And on her back was a saddle set of silver and jacynths,
 And in her mouth a silver bit with gold for her reining,
 And the reins of woven silk, of silk and nought else woven.
 And Abu Zeyd arose and saluted the Agheyli,
 And turned and went on his way, and with him slaves of the horsemen.
 And thus for seven days, till he came to his own pastures;
 And the men of Helal beheld him, even the horsemen of Amer.
 And Abu Ali Serhan made straightway a great feasting.
 And the dark one told his tale and all the deeds of his daring.
 And he sent for the ancient dame, and handed to her the grey mare,
 And with it the gifts and stones, and divers notable treasures.
 But she said, ``O Abu Zeyd! O thou most worthy of honour!
 O thou the beautiful one, may the Lord God grant thee blessing.``
 And he called to Abul Komsan and bade him attend the lady:
 ``Go with her straight,`` said he, ``to Naaman, and greet him,
 Greet him thus in my name, and all the men that are with him.
 Let him deliver the bride to him the son of his brother,
 And leave with him in her stead the mare of Agheyli Jaber.
 But if he yield her not and be he of the unwilling,
 Do thou smite off his head, else is Salameh ready.``
 And he said, ``May but I do it and may thou live in thy glory.``
 And Abul Komsan went forth and with him a thousand horsemen,
 And they rode for seven days to Naaman and his people.
 And the slave dismounted with ``Peace be with ye,`` and told him his story.
 But he laughed aloud and cried, ``What of the mare of Jaber?
 Have you the mare in your hand? the grey mare! the Hamameh!``
 And Abul Komsan said, ``My Lord Abu Zeyd hath brought her;
 He hath achieved this thing, and all for the sake of Amer.``
 But Naaman spoke again, ``And is Abu Zeyd thy master?
 Take thee the mare and begone, and speak to him that hath sent thee;
 Know that of Naaman no man yet hath claimed the obedience.``
 And the slave arose in his wrath, and flung himself in his saddle
 And roared aloud like a lion, a lion roused to the seizing,
 And for Naaman nought cared he, and nought for them that were with him.
 And Naaman called to his people, ``Ho ye, the tribesmen of Dagher!
 Ho, to my help, O men!`` But quick as the lightning flasheth,
 Struck the slave with his spear, and the point passed through his body,
 Even Naaman`s body. And all men fled in confusion.
 But Abul Komsan cried, ``Fear not. Nay, rather together
 Go we and bury this dog, for he died an unbeliever.``
 And they went with Abul Komsan and buried him as he bade them.
 And he sent of them for Amer and he sent of them for Betina.
 And the wedding feasts were spread and the days went in rejoicing.
 And Amer returned to his people with horses and with camels.
 And they said, ``O Abul Komsan, lo thou art a man of honour,
 For thou hast slain the wicked, and we are thine, the protected,
 And thou hast befriended Amer. Do with us as thou desirest.``
 And he answered them, ``O people, peace be with you, O people!
 Salameh is my lord, to--day and now and for ever.``
 And Amer brought him the mare and with it gifts and treasures,
 And he said, ``Thou didst bring this gift. A gift of me thou shalt take her.``
 So he took the mare at his hand, and the gifts, and he departed;
 And when he came to his tribe he told Abu Zeyd the story.
 And Abu Zeyd gave thanks, and this is the end of their telling.

Said the Narrator:
And when all these things had happened and the Arabs had rejoiced, and the heart of Amer had been quieted, and he had espoused the daughter of his uncle, even Betina, and when Abul Komsan had returned to his lord with the gifts and with the grey mare, and Abu Zeyd had asked him of the news and he had told him of that which had happened, then gave Abu Zeyd thanks, and next he bethought him of the Princess Alia and of that which had been agreed between them; and he turned to his people and said to them, ``I must go to Fadel the Agheyli Jaber.`` And they consented thereto. So he took of his Arabs two thousand, and they journeyed until they arrived in that country. And when the horsemen of Agheyl saw him they gave him the salute of peace, and they told the Emir Fadel of the coming of the Emir Abu Zeyd. And he rose up quickly and went forth and saluted him with the salute of peace and brought him to the Divan and gave him a seat at his side. And he sat him down in comfort. And Abu Zeyd brought forward his gifts, and he restored the mare to Fadel, and Fadel`s heart was cured of its sickness. And they sent for all the princes, and they wrote the contract of the marriage of Alia, and the wedding was made between Alia and Abu Zeyd. And they made a seven days` rejoicing. And Abu Zeyd remained yet a long while with 
them, but at the last he grew weary and longed for his own people. And he asked leave of the Agheyli that he should depart, who straightway agreed, and gave to Alia all manner of convenience and gifts for the journey. And they arose and departed, he and she together, to those their lands. And they lived thus in happiness until the end of their time.

TO GOD BE PRAISE!
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