Page:Swahili tales.djvu/259

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SULTAN MAJNÚN.
239

And it said, "It is dawning, I want to go my way; suffer me, child, I beg of you, to go my way." And he said, "I will not leave you at all this day; where you pass I will pass with you; where you stay I will stay with you; where you die I will die with you; but this day I will not leave you."

And the bird descended to the earth and said, "Now you have reached home here, give me permission to go my way." And he said, "I will not leave you." And it said, "I beg of you, child, let me." And he said, "My brothers, he who was given a head-cloth, has been given it; he who was given a kisuto, has been given it; he who was clothed in a kanzu and mask, has been clothed in them; and none of these things would have happened except for your coming and eating the dates."

And it said, "I beg of you—it is dawning now, master—leave go of me. To-day is the finish, I will not come here again; I will not eat those dates again; I will not pass through this quarter again; I beg of you, young man, let me go my way."

And it said, "If you will not let me go, let you and me make a covenant." And he said, "What covenant?" And it said, "I will give you a promise; save me from sun, I will save you from rain." And he said, "How? I don't trust you." And it said, "Take what I say, and where you may go—wherever it may be—you will have me." "Eh! How shall I get you?" And it said, "If you take this feather, when you put it in the fire, I shall perceive the smell in whatever place I shall be, and I will come." And it said, "Now then, it is dawning, I pray you do not let people see me; leave me to go my way." And he said, "Well, good-bye; go your way." And it said, "My friend, fare you very well." And it said to him, "When you call me, if it shall be in the sea, I will come."