hest and happiest of men, for he possesses the peerless mare,
Muleykeh the Pearl, whose speed has never been outstripped. Duhl, the
son of Sheyban, who envies Hoseyn and has endeavoured by every means,
but without success, to obtain the mare, determines at last to steal
her. He enters Hoseyn's tent noiselessly by night, saddles Muleykeh, and
gallops away. In an instant Hoseyn is on the back of Buheyseh, the
Pearl's sister, only less fleet than herself, and in pursuit.

"And Hoseyn--his blood turns flame, he has learned long since
to ride,
And Buheyseh does her part,--they gain--they are gaining fast
On the fugitive pair, and Duhl has Ed-Darraj to cross and quit,
And to reach the ridge El-Saban,--no safety till that be spied!
And Buheyseh is, bound by bound, but a horse-length off at last,
For the Pearl has missed the tap of the heel, the touch of the bit.

She shortens her stride, she chafes at her rider the strange
and queer:
Buheyseh is mad with hope--beat sister she shall and must,
Though Duhl, of the hand and heel so clumsy, she has to thank.
She is near now, nose by tail--they are neck by croup--joy! fear!
What folly makes Hoseyn shout 'Dog Duhl, Damned son of the Dust,
Touch the right ear and press with your foot my Pearl's left flank!'

And Duhl was wise at the word, and Muleykeh as prompt perceived
Who was urging redoubled pace, and to hear him was to obey,
And a leap indeed gave she, and evanished for evermore.
And Hoseyn looked one long last look as who, all bereaved,
Looks, fain to follow the dead so far as the living may:
Then he turned Buheyseh's neck slow homeward, weeping sore.

And, lo, in the sunrise, still sat Hoseyn upon the ground
Weeping: and neighbours came, the tribesmen of Benu-Asad
In the vale of green Er-Rass, and they questioned him of his grief;
And he told them from first to last how, serpent-like, Duhl had wound
His way to the nest, and how Duhl rode like an ape, so bad!
And how Buheyseh did wonders, yet Pearl remained with the thief.

And they jeered him, one and all: 'Poor Hoseyn is crazed past hope!
How else had he wrought himself his ruin, in fortune's spite!
To have simply held the tongue were a task for a boy or girl,
And here were Muleykeh again, the eyed like an antelope,
The child of hi