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Be not abashed, O my bridegroom to be! Thereupon she thrust him in; and Shibli Bagarag was abashed, and played foolishly with his fingers, knowing not what to do. So when the Chief Vizier saw him he cried out, 'Who art thou, and what wantest thou?
But now was the hour struck when Rabesqurat could be held no longer serving the ferry in Aklis; and the terrible Queen streamed in the sky, like a red disastrous comet, and dived, eagle-like, into the depths, re- ascending with Shagpat in her arms, cherishing him; and lo, there were suddenly a thousand Shagpats multiplied about, and the hand of Shibli Bagarag became exhausted with hewing at them.
He snorted fiercely as he bent to the grass, but Shibli Bagarag ran to him, and grasped strongly the tuft of hair hanging forward between his ears, and traced between his fine eyes a figure of the crescent with his forenail, and the Horse ceased plunging, and was gentle as a colt by its mother's side, and suffered Shibli Bagarag to bestride him, and spurn him with his heel to speed, and bore him fleetly across the fair length of the golden meadows to where Noorna bin Noorka sat awaiting him.
Then the seven young men, sons of Aklis, said to Shibli Bagarag, 'Surrender the Lily! And when he had given into their hands the Lily, they said, 'Grasp the handle of the Sword!
Yet lovelier than all hands shape or fancies build, The meanest thing of earth God with his fire hath filled. Now, when Shibli Bagarag ceased, Noorna bin Noorka cried, 'Enough, O wondrous turner of verse, thou that art honest! And she laughed loudly, rustling like a bag of shavings, and rolling in her laughter. Then said she, 'O my betrothed, is not the thing thou wouldst say no other than
So she said again, 'Shibli Bagarag. And the bird answered, imitating its best, 'Shibberacavarack. Noorna was wroth with it, crying, 'Oh naughty bird! is the name of my beloved hateful to thee? And she chid Koorookh angrily, he with a heavy eye sulking, and keeping the sullen feathers close upon his poll.
Aklis was revealed in burning beams as of a sun, and the trouble of the air ceased, vapours slowly curling to the four quarters. Shibli Bagarag had smitten clean through the Identical! Terribly had Noorna and those that aided her been oppressed by the multitude of their enemies; but, in a moment these melted away, and Karaz, together with the scorpion that was Goorelka, vanished.
So Shibli Bagarag thought, 'Is one of this twain Shagpat? for never till now have I seen such rare growths, and 'twere indeed a bliss to slip the blade between them and those masses of darkness that hang from them. Then he stepped before the King, and made himself prominent in his path, humbling himself; and it was as he anticipated, the King prevented his removal by the slaves that would have dragged him away, and desired a hearing as to his business, and what brought him to the city, a stranger.
Yet shall it not be spoken of me, Shibli Bagarag, that I was tripped by my own conceit; the poet counselleth: "When for any mighty end thou hast the aid of heaven, Mount until thy strength shall match those great means which are given": nor that I was overthrown in despising mine enemy, forgetful of the saying of the sage: "Read the features of thy foe, wherever he may find thee, Small he is, seen face to face, but thrice his size behind thee."
Then she calmed down the white flames of the circles that enclosed Shibli Bagarag and the Vizier Feshnavat, and they stepped forth, marvelling at the greatness of her sorceries that held such a Genie in bondage.
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