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El Abbas from Akil his stead is come again; Prize hath he made of steeds and many a baggage-train;
Yea, horses hath he brought, full fair of shape and hue, Whose collars, anklet-like, ring to the bridle-rein.
Taper of hoofs and straight of stature, in the dust They prance, as like a flood they pour across the plain;
And on their saddles perched are warriors richly clad, That with their hands do smite on kettle-drums amain.
Couched are their limber spears, right long and lithe of point, Keen-ground and polished sheer, amazing wit and brain.
Who dares with them to cope draws death upon himself; Yea, of the deadly lance incontinent he’s slain.
Come, then, companions mine, rejoice with me and say, “All hail to thee, O friend, and welcome fair and fain!”
For whoso doth rejoice in meeting him shall have Largesse and gifts galore at his dismounting gain.
When the troops entered Baghdad, each of them alighted in his pavilion, whilst El Abbas encamped apart in a place near the Tigris and commanded to slaughter for the troops, each day, that which should suffice them of oxen and sheep and bake them bread and spread the tables. So the folk ceased not to come to him and eat of his banquet. Moreover, all the people of the country came to him with presents and rarities and he requited them many times the like of their gifts, so that the lands were filled with his tidings and the report of him was bruited abroad among the folk of the deserts and the cities.
Then, when he rode to his house that he had bought,
