"
"Know, then, that she lives far from here, and that there is between her
and you no less than forty days' journey."
Ahmed went home, and took as provisions for the journey forty dates of the
deglet-nour variety, putting them into his pocket. He mounted his steed and
departed.
He goes and goes without stopping, until he comes to the country of the
sand. The charger throws his feet forward and buries himself in the sand up
to his breast, but soon stops, conquered and worn out by fatigue. Ahmed el
Hilalieu then addresses him:
"My good gray horse, of noble mien, the sand,
The cruel sand would eat your very eyes.
The air no longer thy loud whinnies bears,
No strength is left thee in thy head or heart.
The prairies of Khafour I'll give to thee,
With Nouna's eyes I'll quench thy thirst, by God
A mule's whole pack of barley shalt thou have
That Ben Haddjouna shall bring here for thee."
In his turn the steed spoke and said: "Dismount, unfasten the breast-strap,
tighten the girth, for some women are coming to show themselves to us in
this country.
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