The litters now are closed, the powder sounds. My gray horse to Hyzyya bears me swift. The palanquin of my coquette's on route. At Azal when night comes we pitch our tents. Sydy-l-Ahsen is before us now: Ez-Zerga, too. Then faring on we go To Sydy Sayd, and Elmetkeouk, And Medoukal-of-palms, where we arrive At eventide. We saddle up at dawn, Just when the breeze begins. Our halting-place, Sydy Mehammed, decks this peaceful earth. From there the litters seek El Mekheraf. My charger gray straight as an eagle goes. I wend to Ben Seryer with my love, Of tattooed arms. When we had crossed Djedy We passed the wide plain, and we spent the night At Rous-et-toual, near the gleaming sands. Ben Djellal was our next day's resting-place; And, leaving there, I camped at El Besbas, And last at El-Herymek, with my love. How many festivals beheld us then! In the arena my good steed of gray Fled like a ghost. And sweet Hyzyya there, Tall as a flagstaff, bent her gaze on me, Her smile disclosing teeth of purest pearl. She spoke but in allusions, causing thus That I should understand whate'er she meant. Hamyda's daughter then might be compared Unto the morning-star or a tall palm, Alone, erect among the other trees. The wind uprooted it, and dashed it down. I did not look to see it fall, this tree I hoped forever to protect. I thought That God, divinely good, would let it live. But God, the Master, dashed it to the earth. I take up now my song. We made but one Encampment, at Oned Itel. 'Twas there My friend, the queen of damsels, said farewell. 'Twas in the night she paid the debt of death. 'Twas there my dark-eyed beauty passed away. She pressed her heart to mine and, sighing, died. My cheeks were flooded with a sea of tears. I thought to lose my reason. I went forth And wandered through the fields, ravines, and hills. She bore my soul away, my black-eyed love. The daughter of a noble race. Alas! She still increased the burnings of my heart. They wrapped her in a shroud, my noble love. The fever took me, burning up my brain. They placed her on a bier, all decked with gems. And I was in a stupor, dull to see All that was passing on that dreadful day. They bore my beauty in a palanquin-- Her pretty palanquin--this lovely girl, Cause of my sorrows, tall as a straight staff. Her litter is adorned with odd designs, Shining as brilliant as the morning-star, And like the rainbow glowing 'midst the clouds, All hung with silk and figured damask-cloth. And I, like any child, was in despair, Mourning Hyzyya. Oh, what pangs I felt For her whose profile was so pure! She nevermore Will reappear upon this earth again. She died the death of martyrs, my sweet love, My fair'st one, with Koheul-tinted lids!