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uslim 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 ill is the abidingplace ＇to which he went＇。
When the knights and horsemen who rode with her father saw his three sons slain； who were the doughtiest of the folk of their day； there fell on their hearts terror of the Princess Meryem and they bowed their heads in affright and confusion and made sure of destruction。 So they turned their backs and addressed themselves to flight。 When the king saw his sons slain and his troops in full flight； there fell on him dismay and bewilderment and his heart was on fire。 'Verily；' quoth he； 'the Princess Meryem hath the better of us； and if I venture myself and go out against her alone； most like she will overe me and slay me without pity； even as she slew her brothers； and make of me the foulest of examples； for she hath no longer any desire for us nor have we any hope of her return。 Wherefore； meseemeth I were better guard my honour and return to my capital city。' So he gave reins to his horse and returned to the city。
When he found himself in his palace； fire was loosed in his heart for rage and chagrin for the death of his sons and the defeat of his troops and the violation of his honour； nor did he abide half an hour before he summoned his grandees and officers of state and plained to them of that which his daughter had done with him of the slaughter of her brothers and all he suffered of grief and chagrin therefrom； and sought counsel of them。 They all counselled him to write to the Vicar of God in His earth； the mander of the Faithful； Haroun er Reshid； and acquaint him with the case。 So he wrote a letter to the Khalif containing； after the usual salutations； the following words： 'Know that we have a daughter called Meryem； and a Muslim captive； by name Noureddin Ali； son of the merchant Tajeddin of Cairo； hath debauched her from us and taken her by night and gone forth with her to his own country： wherefore I beg of the favour of our lord the mander of the Faithful that he write to all the lands of the Muslims to seize her and send her back to us by a trusty messenge