three sons, who were three doughty champions, each of whom could
withstand a thousand horse in the field of strife and the stead
where cut and thrust are rife; and bade them mount. So they took
horse forthwith and the King and the flower of his knights and
nobles and officers mounted with them and followed on the trail
of the fugitives till Miriam saw them, when she mounted her
charger and baldrick'd her blade and took her arms. Then she said
to Nur al-Din, "How is it with thee and how is thy heart for
fight and strife and fray?" Said he, "Verily, my steadfastness in
battle-van is as the steadfastness of the stake in bran."[FN#9]
And he improvised and said,

"O Miriam thy chiding I pray, forego; * Nor drive me to death or
injurious blow:
How e'er can I hope to bear fray and fight * Who quake at the
croak of the corby-crow?
I who shiver for fear when I see the mouse * And for very funk I
bepiss my clo'!
I loveno foin but the poke in bed, * When coynte well knoweth my
prickle's prow;
This is rightful rede, and none other shows * Righteous as this
in my sight, I trow."

Now when Miriam heard his speech and the verse he made, she
laughed and smilingly said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, abide in thy
place and I will keep thee from their ill grace, though they be
as the sea-sands in number. But mount and ride in rear of me, and
if we be defeated and put to flight, beware of falling, for none
can overtake thy steed." So saying, she turned her lance-head
towards foe in plain and gave her horse the rein, whereupon he