m her adventure with the black； and he said； 'Praised be God for safety！'
Then they fared on at full speed； mitting their affair to the Subtle； the Allwise and conversing as they went； till they came to the place where the black lay prostrate in the dusty as he were an Afrit； and Meryem said to Noureddin； 'Dismount； strip him of his clothes and take his arms。' 'By Allah； O my lady；' answered he； 'I dare not dismount nor approach him。' And indeed he marvelled at the black's stature and at the valour and stoutheartedness of the princess and praised her for her deed。 They fared on loftily all that night and halted not till the day broke and the sun shone out upon the hills and plains； when they came to a wide champaign； abounding in herbs and fruits of all kinds。 Therein were gazelles frisking and birds singing lustily on the branches： its slopes for flowers were like serpents' bellies and many and various were its channels of running water。 And indeed it was as saith the poet and saith well and acplisheth desire：
As 'twere a sunscorched tract； a valley ruddy red； With twice the mon tale of herbs and flowers o'erspread。
We halted midst its groves； and it above us bent； As o'er a weanling child the nurses bend the head；
And limpid water sweet； more pleasant than old wine To boonpanion is； to quench our thirst it shed。
It still shut out the sun； from whatsoever side It smote us； but let in the breeze to cool our bed。
Its pebbles fragrant were as maids with trinkets decked And seemed unto the touch like heaps of pearl athread。
And as saith another：
When its birds sing in the dawn o'er its limpid lake； El Welhan longs for its sight ere morning break；
For as at were Paradise 'tis with its fragrant gales And its fruit and its streams that run through its shady brake。
Here the two lovers alighted to rest and turning the horses loose to pasture in the valley； ate of its fruits and drank of its streams； after which they sat talking and recalling all that had befallen them and plaining one to the other of the anguish of separation and of that which they had suffered for estrangement and lovelonging。 As they were thus engaged； there arose in the distance a cloud of dust； which spread till it walled the world； and they heard the neighing of horses and clank of arms。
Now the reason of this was； that the king had gone forth at daybreak； to give the vizier and his daughter good morrow； after the custom of kings with their daughter ＇on the morrow of their weddingnight；＇ taking with him silken stuffs ＇as a present＇ and scattering gold and silver among the eunuchs and tirewomen； that they might scramble for it： but when he came to the new palace； he and one of his pages； he found the vizier prostrate on the carpet； knowing not his head from his feet； and searched the palace right and left for his daughter； but found her not； whereat he was sore troubled and concerned and his wit forsook him。
Then he called for hot water and frankincense and virgin vinegar and mingling them together； blew the mixture into the vizier's nostrils and shook him； whereupon he cast the henbane forth of his stomach； as it were a piece of cheese。 He repeated the injection； whereupon the vizier came to himself and the king questioned him of his case and that of his daughter。 'O mighty king；' answered the vizier； 'I have no knowledge of her save that she poured me out a cup of wine with her own hand； and from that moment to this I have no recollection of aught nor know I what is e of her。' When the king heard this； the light in his eyes became darkness； and he drew his sword and smote the vizier on the head； that the steel came out gleaming from between his teeth。 Then he called the grooms and stablemen and demanded the two horses of them； but they said； 'O king； when we awoke in the morning； we found all the doors open and the two chargers missing； and our chief； the master of the horse； is also missing。' Quoth the king； 'By my faith and all wherein my belief is stablished； none but my daughter hath taken the horses； she and the Muslim captive that used to tend the church and who took her aforetime！ Indeed I knew him right well and none delivered him from my hand save this oneeyed vizier； but now is he requited his deed。'
Then he called his three sons； who were three doughty champions； each of whom could cope with a thousand horse in the field and the stead of strife； and bade them mount。 So they took horse forthwith and the King and the flower of his knights and nobles and officers mounted with them and followed in the track of the fugitives till they came up with them in the valley aforesaid。 When Meryem saw them； she mounted her horse and girt on her sword and took her arms。 Then she said to Noureddin； 'How is it with thee and how is thy stomach for battle and strife and contention？' Quoth he； 'Verily； my steadfastness in battle is as the steadfastness of the stake in bran。' And he recited the following verses：
I prithee； Meryem； spare me reproaches and despite And do not thou my slaughter or torment long invite。
I whom a raven's croaking affeareth passing sore； How should I be a warrior or have a mind to fight？
Lo； if I but set eyes on a mouse； I quake for fear； Yea； I bepiss my hosen for terror and affright。
Indeed； I love not thrusting except in bed it be！ The kaze my pintle's prowess ignoreth not by night。
This is the way of thinking of every prudent man； And who deems not as I do deems otherwise than right。
When she heard his speech and his verses； she laughed and said； 'O my lord Noureddin； abide in thy place and I will keep thee from their mischief； though they be as the sands of the sea in number。 But mount and be behind me； and if we be defeated and put to flight； beware of falling； for none can overtake thy charger。' So saying； she couched her lance and gave her horse the rein； whereupon he darted off with her； like the storm wind or like water poured forth of the strictness of the pipes。 Now Meryem was the doughtiest of the folk of her time and the unique pearl of her age； for her father had taught her； whilst she was yet little； to ride on horseback and plunge auto the ocean of battle in the darkness of the night。
When the King saw her pricking towards them； he knew her but too well and said to his eldest son； 'O Bertaut； thou who art surnamed Ras el Killaut； （107） this is certainly thy sister Meryem who charges upon us； and she seeks to do battle and wage war with us。 So go thou out to her and give her battle： and I charge thee by the Messiah and the True Faith； if thou get the better of her； kill her not till thou have propounded to her the Nazarene faith。 If she return to her old faith； bring her to me prisoner； but if she refuse； slay her after the foulest fashion and make of her the vilest of examples； as well as of the accursed wretch who is with her。' 'I hear and obey；' replied Bertaut and pricking out forthright to meet his sister； said to her； 'O Meryem； doth not what hath already befallen on thine account suffice thee； but thou must leave the faith of thy fathers and forefathers and follow after the faith of the rovers in the lands； that is to say； the faith of Islam？ By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith； except thou return to the faith of the kings thy forefathers and walk therein after the goodliest wise； I will put thee to an ill death and make of thee the most shameful of examples！'
She laughed at his speech and replied； 'Avaunt！ God forbid that the past should return or that he who is dead should live again！ I will make thee drink the sorest of regrets！ By Allah； I will not forsake the faith of Mohammed the son of Abdallah； who directed all peoples into the right road； for it is the true faith； nor will I leave the way of righteousness； though I drink the cup of perdition！' When the accursed Bertaut heard this； the light in his eye became darkness and there befell a sore battle between them。 They swayed to and fro； lighting； throughout the length and breadth of the valley； whilst all eyes were fixed upon them in admiration： after which they wheeled about and foiled and feinted a great while； and as often as Bertaut opened on his sister a gate of war； （108） she parried his attack and put it to nought； of the goodliness of her fashion and her strength and skill in horsemanship and the use of arms。
They abode on this wise till the dust hung vaulted over their heads and they were hidden from men's eyes； and she ceased not to baffle Bertaut and stop the way upon him； till he was weary and his courage ebbed and his resolution was broken and his strength weakened； whereupon she smote him on the nape； that the sword came out gleaming from the tendons of his throat and God hurried his soul to the fire and ill is the abidingplace ＇to which he went＇。 Then Meryem wheeled about in the midfield and the stead of strife and offered battle； crying out and saying； 'Who is for fighting？ Who is for jousting？ Let no sluggard or weakling e forth to me today； ay； let none e forth to me but the champions of the enemies of the Faith； that I may give them to drink the cup of ignominious punishment。 O worshippers of idols； O misbelievers； O froward folk； verily this day shall the faces of the people of the True Faith be whitened and theirs be blackened who deny the passionate One！'
When the king saw his eldest son slain； he smote his face and rent his clothes and called out to his second son； saying； 'O Bertous； thou who art surnamed Khura es Sous； （109） go forth； O my son； in haste and do battle with thy sister Meryem； avenge me thy brother's death on her and bring her to me a prisoner； abject and humiliated！' 'I hear and obey； O my father；' answered he and setting spurs to his horse； drove at his sister； who met him in midcareer； and they fought； he and she； a sore battle； yet sorer than the first。 Bertous soon found himself unable to cope with her and would have sought safety in flight； but could not avail unto this； of the greatness of her prowess； for； as often as he turned to flee； she drove after him and still clave to him and pressed him hard； till presently she smote him with the sword in his throat； that it issued gleaming from his nape； and sent him after his brother。 Then she wheeled about in the midfield； crying out and saying； 'Where are the horsemen？ Where are the braves？ Where is the oneeyed vizier； the cripple； the man of the crooked （110） faith？'
Thereupon the king her father cried out with a bleeding heart and eyes ulcerated with tears； saying； 'By the virtue of the Messiah and the true faith； she hath killed my second son！' And he cried out to his youngest son； saying； 'O Fusyan； surnamed Selh es Subyan； （111） go forth； O my son； to do battle with thy sister and take of her the bloodrevenge for thy brothers and fall on her； e what may； and if thou conquer her； kill her without mercy！' So he pricked out to Meryem； who ran at him with the best of her skill and courage and prowess and said to him； 'O accursed one； O enemy of God and the Muslims； I will assuredly send thee after thy brothers； and woeful is the abidingplace of the unbelievers！' So saying； she drew her sword and smote him and cut off his head and arms and sent him after his brothers and God hurried his soul to the fire and il