My dwelling-place is in a tomb, three scanty cubits wide, Wherein
in shackles and in bonds I languish night and day.
My tears my wine are and my chains my music: my dessert Woeworthy
thought and cares the bed whereon myself I lay.
Meanwhile his brother abode, awaiting him, till mid-day, but he
returned not: whereupon Amjed's heart fluttered and the tears
welled from his eyes. The pangs of severance were sore upon him
and he wept sore, exclaiming, 'Alas, my brother! Alas, my
companion! Alas, my grief! I fear me we are separated!' Then
he descended the mountain, with the tears running down his
cheeks, and entering the city, made for the market. He asked
the folk the name of the city and of its people, and they said,
'This is called the City of the Magians, and its people serve
the Fire, not the Omnipotent King.' Then he enquired of the
City of Ebony and they answered, 'It is a year's journey
thither by land and six months' by sea: it was governed erst by
a King called Armanous, but he took to son-in-law a prince called
Kemerezzeman, distinguished for justice and loyalty, munificence
and benevolence, and made him king in his stead.' When Amjed
heard tell of his father, he groaned and wept and lamented and knew
not whither to go.
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