A Lovers' Quarrel 



None but a prophet can affirm with certainty how far the 

 king might have extended this derogatory quotation. But 

 at the sixth line Queen Aelfa arose in silence, and as a 

 flask of vinegar might be corked with a rose-bud, she 

 stopped his ungracious rhymes with her lips. For, as the 

 singer saith again, 



" The silent touch of woman's lips, 

 To warp man's will to hers, 

 All sweetest eloquence outstrips 

 Of wisest counsellors." 



The conference closed, and the queen did as she would. 



Now, of the chroniclers of the reign of Ibnulahmar 

 (peace be upon him), some affirm that there had been a 

 previous acquaintance between Queen Aelfa (who was the 

 daughter of a worker in the precious metals dwelling in the 

 Zacatin) and this noted robber. One relates that, when 

 Sahib once had entered Granada, in the disguise or a fakir^ 

 to sell some rich spoil, they had met clandestinely, and 

 became enamoured mutually. 



It is certain, however, that when the queen was captured 

 according to her preconcerted scheme, she dwelt in the 

 caves happy and contented, without retrospection or regret. 

 In the third year occurred a quarrel between the lovers, 

 and the fountain of their affections became, as it were, ink 

 and vinegar. The cause is not ascertained, but it is said to 

 have occurred shortly after a large capture of damsels at a 

 village wedding in the vicinity. The virtuous and constant 

 Aelfa casually happened at this conjuncture to remember 

 the promise she had made to the old king, and resolved to 

 betray the robber. 



Treachery never lacks an instrument. There was a black 

 humpbacked rogue of great bodily strength, though of but 



2l8 



