I know that thy troops are still halting where thou leftest them，because thou didst order a three days'rest；withal they have missed thee all this time and they wot not what to do.'When Sharrkan heard her words，he was absent awhile in thought； then he kissed Princess Abrizah's hand and said，'Praise be to Allah who hath bestowed thee on me and appointed thee to be the cause of my salvation and the salvation of whoso is with me！But 'tis grievous to me to part from thee and I know not what will become of thee after my departure.''Go now to thine army，'she replied，'and turn them back，while ye are yet near your own country.If the envoys be still with them，lay hands on them and keep them，that the case may be made manifest to you； and，after three days，I will be with you all and we will enter Baghdad together.'As he turned to depart she said，'Forget not the compact which is between me and thee，'then she rose to bid[212] him farewell and embrace him and quench the fire of desire，so she took leave of him and，throwing her arms round his neck，wept with exceeding weeping，and repeated these verses，'I bade adieu，my right hand wiped my tears away，The while my left hand held her in a close embrace：
'Fearest thou naught，'quoth she，'of shame？'I answered 'Nay，The lover's parting day is lover's worst disgrace.'
Then Sharrkan left her and walked down from the convent.They brought his steed，so he mounted and rode down stream to the drawbridge which he crossed and presently threaded the woodland paths and passed into the open meadow.As soon as he was clear of the trees he was aware of horsemen which made him stand on the alert，and he bared his brand and rode cautiously，but as they drew near and exchanged curious looks he recognized them and behold，it was the Wazir Dandan and two of his Emirs.When they saw him and knew him，they dismounted and saluting him，asked the reason of his absence； whereupon he told them all that had passed between him and Princess Abrizah from first to last.The Wazir returned thanks to Almighty Allah for his safety and said，[213] 'Let us at once leave these lands； for the envoys who came with us are gone to inform the King of our approach，and haply he will hasten to fall on us and take us prisoners.'So Sharrkan cried to his men to saddle and mount，which they did and，setting out at once，they stinted not faring till they reached the sole of the valley wherein the host lay.The Ambassadors meanwhile had reported Sharrkan's approach to their King，who forthright equipped a host to lay hold of him and those with him.But Sharrkan，escorted by the Wazir Dandan and the two Emirs，had no sooner sighted the army，than he raised the cry 'March！March！'They took horse on the instant and fared through the first day and second and third day，nor did they cease faring for five days； at the end of which time they alighted in a well wooded valley，where they rested awhile.Then they again set out and stayed not riding for five and twenty days which placed them on the frontiers of their own country.Here，deeming themselves safe，they halted to rest； and the country people came out to them with guest gifts for the men and provender and forage for the beasts.They tarried there two days after which，as all would be making for their homes，Sharrkan put the Wazir Dandan in command，bidding him lead the host back to Baghdad.But he himself remained behind with an hundred riders，till the rest of the army had made one day's march：then he called 'To horse！'and mounted with his hundred men.They rode on two parasangs'[214] space till they arrived at a gorge between two mountains and lo！there arose before them a dark cloud of sand and dust.So they checked their steeds awhile till the dust opened and lifted，discovering beneath it an hundred cavaliers，lion faced and in mail coats cased.As soon as they drew within earshot of Sharrkan and his meiny they cried out to them，saying，'By the virtue of John and Mary，we have won to our wish！We have been following you by forced marches，night and day，till we forewent you to this place.So dismount and lay down your arms and yield yourselves，that we may grant you your lives.'When Sharrkan heard this，his eyes stood out from his head and his cheeks flushed red and he said 'How is it，O.Nazarene dogs，ye dare enter our country and overmatch our land？And doth not this suffice you，but ye must adventure yourselves and address us in such unseemly speech？Do you think to escape out of our hands and return to your country？'Then he shouted to his hundred horsemen，'Up and at these hounds，for they even you in number！'
So saying，he bared his sabre and bore down on them，he and his，but the Franks met them with hearts firmer than rocks，and wight dashed against wight，and knight dashed upon knight，and hot waxed the fight，and sore was the affright，and nor parley nor cries of quarter helped their plight；and they stinted not to charge and to smite，right hand meeting right，nor to hack and hew with blades bright white，till day turned to night and gloom oppressed the sight.Then they drew apart and Sharrkan mustered his men and found none wounded save four only，who showed hurts but not death hurts.Said he to them，'By Allah，my life long have I waded in the clashing sea of fight and I have met many a gallant sprite，but none so unfrightened of the sword that smites and the shock of men that affrights like these valiant Knights！'
