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24 A~ ORIENTAL LE GEND.
Then called his minister, and to him spake :
" :\ly lord, a pilgrimage I fain would mak e
To far-famed :\l ecca. That I may atone
For sins unpardoned, I will go alone,
Barefooted and bareheaded ; and if I
By Allah shall be called upon to die
W hile on this pilgrimage, 'ti s n:)" command
That my th ree sons together rul e th e land."
5. A year went by, and yello w were th e leaves,
The ri pened grain was gathered into sheaves,
A mi all made ready for the harvest sport,
\Vhen through the kin gdom-city, camp, an d court,
Seaport and hamlet-the sad news was sped,
That the wise rul er and j ust king was dead.
Loved as a monarch tende r, brave, and true,
H is people mourned him deeply as his due.
His sons were told th e words th e king had snid,
And reigned together in their father's stead.
6. The calendar had marked an oth er year,
And 011 th e drooping stalk th e full-grown ear
Throu gh golden husk and silken tassel showed,
Wh en wearily along th e dusty road
A beggar slowly moved towards th e town.
Outside the open gate he sat him down
And rested. Suddenly his thoughts were bent
Upon a man near by, with garments rent,
W ho sighed, and wept, and beat upon his breast,
A nd ever made this moan, " I loved him best."
7. " Friend," said th e begga r, "tell, if I may know,
\Vhat is the cause and secret of thy woe.
Allah hath certain cure for every ill ;
Thine may H e soften! " For a moment st ill
Th e othe r sat ; th en, wit h fr esh t