brightly,--and then the ruler, the sagacious man, began
to instruct his wife, in these words:

"When many haughty Egyptians shall gaze with
their eyes upon thy countenance, then should the nobly- 1825
born chieftains suppose, O woman fair as a goddess, that
thou art my bright bed-fellow whom some one of the
warriors will wish to have for himself, then I may well
fear for myself lest some one of my foes may deprive 1830
me of life with the edge of his sword by reason of his
amorous desire. Say then, Sarra, that thou art my
sister, my blood-relation, when the strange men ask
thee what degree of familiarity may exist between us 1835
two foreigners, who come from so far away: hold fast
true speech from them, and thus thou shalt preserve
my life,--if the Lord of Peace, our Almighty Ruler,
grant me longer life in this world, as he did before, who 1840
ordained these travels for us in order that we might seek
aid and secure sustenance for ourselves in Egipt."

Thereupon Abraham, the vigorous leader, proceeded 1845
with his possessions into Egypt, where the people were
strange to him, and friends unknown. Many haughty
men spoke of the beauty of his wife in their remarks,
men distinguished by their wealth: to many high-spirited 1850
men, vassals of the king, his wife seemed noble in counte-
nance. They brought the news to their liege-lord, and[22]
few women did they repute fairer before the king, but
they lauded exceedingly Sarra's countenance for its 1855
great beauty, until he bade them bring the lovely woman