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"I deemed my brethren mail of strongest steel * And so they

were-from foes to fend my dart! I deemed their arrows surest of

their aim; * And so they were-when aiming at my heart!"

When the headsman heard my lines (he had been sworder to my sire

and he owed me a debt of gratitude) he cried, "O my lord, what

can I do, being but a slave under orders?" presently adding, "Fly

for thy life and nevermore return to this land, or they will slay

thee and slay me with thee, even as the poet said:-

Take thy life and fly whenas evils threat; * Let the ruined house

tell its owner's fate: New land for the old thou shalt seek and

find * But to find new life thou must not await. Strange that men

should sit in the stead of shame, * When Allah's world is so wide

and great! And trust not other, in matters grave * Life itself

must act for a life beset: Ne'er would prowl the lion with maned

neck, * Did he reckon on aid or of others reck."