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Updated: May 1, 2025
Then he named a sum that was a great sum, but not the value of the Jewel to the fiftieth part, nay nor the five- hundredth part, of its value; and Ukleet remonstrated with him, but he was resolute, saying, 'Even that sum leaves me a beggar. So Bhanavar said, 'My desire is for immediate payment of the money, and the Jewel is thine for that sum.
So the twain mounted their steeds, and Ruark gathered his Arabs and placed them, some in advance, some on either side of Bhanavar; and they rode forward to the head of the valley, and across the meadows, through the blushing crowds of flowers, baths of freshest scents, cool breezes that awoke in the nostrils of the mares neighings of delight; and these pranced and curvetted and swung their tails, and gave expression to their joy in many graceful fashions; but a gloom was on Ruark, and a quick fire in his falcon-eye, and he rode with heels alert on the flanks of his mare, dashing onward to right and left, as do they that beat the jungle for the crouching tiger.
Like one Lifted by spirits to a shining dale In Paradise, who seeks to leap and run And clasp the beauty, but his foot doth fail, For he is blind: ah! then more woful none! Bhanavar, unveil! He thrust the wine-cup to her, and she lifted it under her veil, and then sang, in answer to him: My beauty! for thy worth Thank the Vizier! He gives thee second birth: Thank the Vizier!
In this array she awaited his coming, and pleased her mind with picturing his astonishment and the joy that would be his. Mute were the women who waited on her, for in their lives they had seen no such sight as Bhanavar beneath the beams of the Jewel, and the whole chamber was aglow with her.
Ruark stooped to her and said, 'Tell me thy name. She answered, 'Bhanavar is my name with that people. And he whispered, 'Surely when they speak of thee they say not Bhanavar solely, but Bhanavar the Beautiful? She started and sought the eye of the Chief, and it was fixed on her face in a softened light, as if his soul had said that thing.
Then in a moment Bhanavar felt the blush of beauty burn over her, and drew the veil down on her face, and suffered the slaves to arrest her with Ruark, and bring her before the Governor, and from the Governor to the King in his council-chamber, with the Chief of the Beni-Asser. Now, the King Mashalleed called to her, 'Thou traitress! thou sorceress! thou serpent!
And he said, 'Surely, O Bhanavar, my love for thee surpasseth what is told of others that have loved before us, and I count no loss a loss that is for thy sake. And he sighed, and sang: Sadder than is the moon's lost light, Lost ere the kindling of dawn, To travellers journeying on, The shutting of thy fair face from my sight. Might I look on thee in death, With bliss I would yield my breath.
Bhanavar mused and said, 'On the after-morrow I pass through the city to make a selection of goods, and I shall pass at noon by the great mosque, on my way to the shop of Ebn Roulchook, the King's jeweller, beyond the meat-market. Of a surety, I know not how my lord the King may see me.
Then he pleaded with her, and exclaimed, 'Urge not this! The winning of the Jewel is worth my life; and my life, O Bhanavar surely its breath is but the love of thee. So she said, 'Thou fearest a risk? And he replied, 'Little fear I; my life is thine to cast away. This Jewel it is evil to have, and evil followeth the soul that hath it.
Now as Mashalleed lifted his eyes to her he started amazed, crying, 'The hag again! and she said, 'What of the hag, O my lord the King? Thereat he was yet more amazed, and exclaimed, 'The hag of ugliness with the voice of Bhanavar! Has then the Queen lent that loathsomeness her voice also?
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