The Ballad of Khas-Bulaht

‘KHAS-BULAHT, thou art brave, but thy cabin is poor.
With rich Persian rugs will I cover the floor;

‘The finest gold braid shall adorn thy caftan.
I will give thee my sword that is fit for a khan;

‘I will give thee my horse with a saddle so fine.
See this dagger of price! It shall also be thine.

‘On the blade is engraved from the holy Koran
A verse of great power to give strength to a man.

‘My treasures and gold are all thine at thy will,
And thou hast for all this my one wish to fulfill!

‘Give thy wife unto me! Thou art old, thou art gray.
She is young, she is fair. Canst thou force her to stay?

‘At the fall of the day, in the shade of yon tree
By Allah she swore that she loveth not thee.

‘She is mine by our love, to the end of my life.
Khas-Bulaht, take my gold, but oh, give me thy wife!’

‘Prince, keep silence, I pray, for thy words are as nought;
I know all since last eve. I am not to be bought.

‘Keep thy treasures and gold, and take from me, free,
The wife of my heart who is false unto me.

‘Wouldst thou gaze on her now? There she lies as at rest,
With thy kiss on her lips, and my steel in her breast.’