THE BRIDE’S GOOD-BYE TO HER FAMILY[66] O mother mine, fill for me my pillows; I left the house without a farewell to my friends. O mother mine, fill them for me; I left the house without a thought for my gospels. O one possessed of rosy cheeks, Thou’rt worth of gold a deal. May God shield those who reared thee; Never a day did’st thou go out alone. O one possessed of rosy cheeks, Thou’rt worth of gold a closet full. May God shield those who trained thee; Not a day didst thou go out angry. Thou art a branch of willow, my daughter, Thou art a branch of willow, thou. On thy strands thou puttest the coins, Dangling the coins from thy head. Thou’rt a branch of riḥân,[67] O daughter, A branch of riḥân art thou. On the braids thou puttest silver dollars, On the braids the coins, O thou! Do not go from my house, my pet, Thou who repairest my house in its borders. Thou wentest forth from my house, O pet, And there wast none other like thee. Going out of the house of the good to the house of a prince, Wearing anklets on her feet and dressed in a robe of silk. Going from the house of the good to that of a prince, Anklets on her feet and dressed in a silken robe. ----- ----- WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM TAKES PART IN THE PROCESSION[68] Where is the bridegroom, where? Let us amuse him. May he be preserved for us and long life to his brother. The procession went along; in front was dancing. O prince, with gold are the guns of the youths glistening. Going down to the procession like a prince; I wish thee in the prophet’s keeping. O mounted bridegroom, no one is like thee to me. Thou art as a ring of silver placed on my breast. O bridegroom, riding, as an apple art thou; Go to thine own before I snatch thee as the wind. O bridegroom, riding, as a lemon art thou; Go to thine own before I snatch thee with my eyes. ----- ----- SONG BEFORE THE BRIDEGROOM[69] Be happy, cousin, at sight of thee fled my trouble; Be happy, owner of the ṭarbûsh, be jealous of our wealth. Be happy, thou with the ample drawers, and jealous of our gold. “O uncle,” said Ghâlyeh, the costly bride, “I’ll marry none but the Bedawy with his tilted head-dress; The one who at noonday threshes in the face of the Arabs.”[70] Cut and be cut, O pomegranate, the water flows in the orchard. She came to the garden which is full of pomegranates. ----- ----- SONG BEFORE THE BRIDE[71] Come out, O pet, O jewel mine, costly; Tell us the precious price thy father asked. We have walked from country to country And we have found maidens costly.