desire of my soul to me how shall i depart when i know that if evil befall thee by the breadth of so much as my finger nail � is that not small � i should be aware of it though i l s life s were in paradise and here this summer thou die � die and in d they might call to tend thee a white woman and she would rob me in the last of thy love but love is not bom in a moment or on a death bed what dost thou know of love she would take thy thanks at least and by and the prophet and the mother of thy prophet that i will never endure my lord and my love let there be no more foolish talk of going away where thou art i am it is enough she put an arm round his neck and a hand on his mouth there are not many so complete as those that are snatched under the shadow of the sword they sat together and laughed calling each other openly by every pet name that could move the wrath of the gods the city below them was locked up in its own fires blazed in the streets the in the temples screamed and for the gods were in those days there was a service in the great shrine and the call to prayer from the was almost they heard the wailing in the houses of the dead and once the shriek of a mother who had lost a child and was calling for its return in the gray dawn they saw the dead borne out through the city gates each litter with its own little knot of wherefore they kissed each other and shivered it was a red and heavy for the land was very sick and needed a little breathing space ere the torrent of cheap life should flood it anew the children of fathers and mothers made no resistance they were and sat still waiting till the sword should be in november if it were without benefit of clergy so willed there were among the english but the were filled the work of sheds medicine distribution and what little was possible went forward because it was so ordered had been told to keep himself in readiness to move to replace the next man who should fall there were twelve hours in each day when he could not see and she might die in three he was considering what his pain would be if he could not see her for three months or if she died out of his sight he was absolutely that her death would be demanded � so certain that when he looked up from the and saw breathless in the doorway he laughed aloud and said he when there is a cry in the night and the spirit into the throat who has a charm that will restore come swiftly heaven bom it is the black galloped to his home the sky was heavy with clouds for the long deferred rains were near and the heat was stifling s mother met him in the she is dying she is nursing herself into death she is all but dead what shall i do was lying in the room in which had been born she made no sign when entered because the human soul is a very lonely thing and when it is getting ready to go away hides itself in a misty where the living may not follow the black does its work quietly and without explanation � was being thrust out of life as though the angel � of death had himself put his hand upon her the quick i breathing seemed to show that she was either afraid or in i pain but neither eyes nor mouth gave any answer ta life s s kisses there was nothing to be said or done could only wait and suffer the first drops of the rain began to fall on the roof and he could hear shouts of joy in the the soul came back a little and the lips moved bent down to listen keep nothing of mine said take no hair from my head site would make thee bum it later on that flame i should feel lower stoop lower remember only that i was thine and bore thee a son though thou wed a white woman to morrow the pleasure of receiving in thy arms thy first son is taken from thee for ever remember me when thy son is bom � the one that shall carry name before all men his misfortunes be on my head i bear witness � i bear witness � the were forming the words on his ear � that there is no god but � thee beloved then she died sat and all thought was taken from him � till he heard s mother lift the curtain is she dead she is dead then i will mourn and afterwards take an of the furniture in this house for that will be mine the does not mean to resume it it is so little so very little and i am an old woman i would like to lie softly for the mercy of god be silent a while go out and mourn where i cannot hear she be buried in four hours i know the custom i shall go ere she is taken away that matter is in thy hands look to it that the bed on which � on which she lies � that beautiful red bed i have long benefit of clergy u that the bed is left here untouched for my disposal all else in the house is thine hire a cart take everything go hence and before sunrise let there be nothing in this house but that which i have ordered thee to respect i am an old woman i 