Against each prince now she had held her own, An easy victor for the seven years O'er kings and sons of kings--Eddetma, she, Who, when much sought in marriage, hating men, Espoused their ways to win beyond their strength Through martial exercise and hero deeds: She, who, accomplished in all warlike arts, Had heralds cry through every kingdom known-- _"Eddetma weds with none but him who proves Himself her master in the test of arms; Her suitors' foeman she. And he who fails, So overcome of woman, woman-scorned, Disarmed, dishonored, yet shall he depart, Brow-bearing, forehead-stigmatized with fire, The branded words, 'Eddetma's freedman this!'"_ And many princes came to woo with arms, Whom her high maiden prowess put to shame; Pretentious courtiers small in thew and thigh, Proud-palanquined from principalities Of Irak and of Hind and farther Sind. Though she was womanly as that Empress of The proud Amalekites, Tedmureh, and More beautiful, yet she had held her own. To Behram of the Territories, one Son of a Persian monarch swaying kings, Came bruit of her and her great victories, Her maiden beauty and her warrior strength. Eastward he journeyed from his father's Court, With men and steeds and store of wealth and arms, To the rich city where her father reigned, Its seven citadels set above the sea, Like seven Afrits, threatening all the world; And messengered the monarch with a gift Of savage vessels wroughten out of gold, Of foreign fabrics stiff with gems and gold. Vizier-ambassadored the old king gave His answer to the suitor:-- "I, my son,-- What grace have I beyond the grace of God? What power is mine but a material? What rule have I but a mere temporal? Me, than the shadow of the Prophet's shade Less, God invests with power but of man; Yea! and man's right is but the right of God; _His_ the dominion of the secret soul-- And His her soul! Now hath my daughter sworn, By all her vestal soul, that none shall know Her but her better in the listed field, Determining spear and sword. Grant Fate thy trust. She hangs her hand upon to-morrow's joust.-- Allah is great!--My greeting and farewell."