Then quoth the princess, "Thou wilt wed with him, Ansada?" mirth in her gazelle-like eyes, And gravity sage-solemn in her speech; And took Ansada's hand and laid it in The old man's staggering hand, and he unbent His crookéd back and on his staff arose Wrinkled and weighed with many heavy years, And kissed her, leaning on his shaking staff, And heaped her bosom with an Amir's wealth, And left them laughing at his foolish beard. Now on the next day, as she took her ease With her glad troop of girlhood,--maidens who So many royal tulips seemed,--behold, Bowed with white years, upon a flowery sward The ancient with new jewelry and gems Wherefrom the sun coaxed wizard fires and lit Glimmers in glowing green and pendent pearl, Ultramarine and beaded, vivid rose. And so they stood and wondered; and one asked, As yesternoon, wherefore the father there Displayed his Sheikh locks and the genie gems.-- "Another marriage and another kiss?-- What! doth the tomb-ripe court his youth again? O aged one, libertine in hope not deed! O prodigal of wives as well as wealth! Here stands thy damsel," trilled the Peri-tall Diarra with the midnight in her hair, Two lemon-blossoms blowing in her cheeks; And took the dotard's jewels with the kiss In merry mockery.
Ere the morrow's dawn Bethought Eddetma: "Shall my handmaidens, Humoring a gray-beard's whim, for wrinkled smiles And withered kisses still divide his wealth? While I stand idle, lose the caravan Whose least is notable?--I too will wed, Betide me what betides."
And with the morn Before the man,--for privily she came,-- Stood habited, as were her tire-maids, In humbler raiment. Now the ancient saw And knew her for the princess that she was, And kindling gladness of the knowledge made Two sparkling forges of his deep-set eyes Beneath the ashes of his priestly brows. Not timidly she came; but coy approach Became a maiden of Eddetma's suite. She, gazing on the jewels he had spread Beneath the rose-bower by the fountain, said:-- "The princess gave me leave, O grandfather. Here is my hand in marriage, here my lips. Adorn thy bride; then grant me my divorce." And humbly answered he, "With all my heart!"-- Responsive to her quavering request,-- "The daughter of the king did give thee leave? And thou wouldst wed?--Then let us not delay.-- Thy hand! thy lips!" So he arose and heaped Her with barbaric jewelry and gems, And took her hand and from her lips the kiss. Then from his age, behold, the dotage fell, And from the man all palsied hoariness. Victorious-eyed and amorous, a youth, A god in ardent capabilities, Resistless held her; and she, swooning, saw, Transfigured and triumphant bending o'er, Gloating, the branded brow of Prince Behram.