and passedst thyself off for a foreigner and a wayfarer? Alas for our disgrace before thee by reason of our shortcoming in rendering thee thy due! What shall be our excuse with thee, and thou of the sons of the kings?” But he rejoined, “By Allah, thou hast not fallen short! Indeed, ’tis incumbent on me to requite thee, what while I live, though from thee I be far distant.” Then he called his man Amir and said to him, “Saddle the steeds.” When the nurse heard his words and indeed she saw that Amir brought him the horses and they were resolved upon departure, the tears ran down upon her cheeks and she said to him, “By Allah, thy separation is saddening to me, O coolth of the eye!” Then quoth she, “Where is the goal of thine intent, so we may know thy news and solace ourselves with thy report?” Quoth he, “I go hence to visit ’Akíl, the son of my paternal uncle, for that he hath his sojourn in the camp of Kundah bin Hishám, and these twenty years have I not seen him nor hath he seen me; so I purpose to repair to him and discover his news and return. Then will I go hence to Al-Yaman, Inshallah!” So saying, he took leave of the nurse and her husband and set out, intending for Akil, the son of his father’s brother. Now there was between Baghdad and Akil’s abiding-place forty days’ journey; so Al-Abbas settled himself on the back of his steed and his servant Amir mounted also and they fared forth on their way. Presently, Al-Abbas turned right and left and recited these couplets:— I’m the singular knight and my peers I slay! ✿ I lay low the foe and his whole array: I fare me to visit my friend Al-Akíl, ✿ And in safety and Allah-lauds[394] shorten the way; And roll up the width of the wold while still ✿ Hears ’Amir my word or in earnest or play.[395] I spring with the spring of a lynx or a pard ✿ Upon whoso dareth our course to stay; O’erthrow him in ruin and abject shame, ✿ Make him drain the death-cup in fatal fray. My lance is long with its steely blade; ✿ A brand keen-grided, thin-edged I sway: With a stroke an it fell on a towering hill ✿ Of the hardest stone, this would cleave in tway: I lead no troops, nor seek aid save God’s, ✿ The creating Lord (to whom laud alwày!) On Whom I rely in adventures all ✿ And Who pardoneth lâches of freeman and thrall.