The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-04
By RIDER HAGGARL


In the name of God. the me,csful and
compassionate, /, Salah-ed-din Yuslf i'm
Ayoub. commander of the faithful. cause
these words to be written and seal them
with my own hand, to the Frankish lord,
Sir Andrew D'Arcy, husband of my sister
by another mother Slit Zobeide. the beau
tiful and faithless, on whom Allah has
taken vengeance for her sin. Or. if he be
dead also, then to his daughter and hers.
my niece. and by blood n princess Of
Syria and Egypt. who among the Eng
lish Is named the Lady Rose of the World.
You. Sir Andrew. will remember how.
many years ago. while we were friends.
you by an evil chance became acquainted
with my sister Zobeide while you we're a
prisoner and sick in my fathers house
how, too. Satan put u alto her heart to
listen to your werds<of love. so that she
became a cross worshiper and was mar
ricd to you after the Frankish custom
and fed with you to England. Within six
years Of that time sure news reached me
that Allah had taken her. therefore
mourned for my sister and her nate
awhile and forgot her and you.
Know that a certain knight named Lo-
zeile. who dwelt in the part of England
where you have your castle. has told me
that Zobeide left daughter. who is very
beautiful. Now my heart, which loved
her mother. goes out toward this niece
whom / have never seen. for although
she is your child and cross worshiper
at least-saye in the matter of her moth
er's theft-you were a brave and noble
knight, of good blood, as. indeed. l re-
member your brother was also. he who
fell in the fight at Harenc.
Learn now that. having by the will OF
Allah come to great estate here at Da-
mascus and throughout the east I desire
to lift your daughter up to be a princess
of my house. Therefore I invite her to
journey to Damascus. and yon with her. IL
you live. Moreover. lest you should fear
some trap on behalf of myself, my sue
cessors and councillors, / promise in the
name OF God and by the word OF Salah-
ed-din, which never yet was broken, that,
although / trust the merciful God may
change her heart so that she enters it Of
her own win, I will not force her to ac-
cept the faith or to bind herself in any
marriage which she does not desire. Nor
will take vengeance upon you, Sir An
drew, for what you have done in the past,
or suffer others to do SO, but will rather
raise you to great honor and live with
you in friendship as of yore.
But IL my messenger returns and tells
me that my niece refuses this. my loving
offer, then / warn her that my arm IL
long. and will surely take her as I can.
Therefore within a year Of the day that
/ receive the answer of the lady, my
niece. who is named Rose of the World.
my emissaries will appear wherever she
may be. married or single. to lead her to
me, with honor If she be willing, but still
Meanwhile in token of my love, 1 send
certain gifts OF precious things and with
them OF my patent of her title as princess
and Lady OF the City Of Baalbec. which
title, with its revenue and prerogatives,
In registered in the archives OF my en-
pire in favor OF her and her lawful heirs
ana declared to be binding upon me and
my successors forever. -.
- 80 Its -
Is a certain cross worshiper named Mich
olas, to whom let your answer be handed
for delivery to me. This devoir he is urf-
der oath to perform and will perform 1t,
for he knows that II he fails therein,
then that he must die.
Signed by Salah-ed-din. commander of
the faithful at Damascus. and sealed with
his seal. in the spring season OF the year
of the Hegira E81.
Take note also that this writing having
been read to me by my secretary before
I set my name and seal thereunto. I per-
ceive that you. Sir Andrew. or you. Lady
Rose OF the World, may think 1t strange
that should be at such pains and cost
over a maid who is not of my religion and
doubt my honesty in the matter. Know,
then, the true reason. Since l heard that
you. Lady Rose OF the World, lived !
have thrice been visited by a dream sent
from. God concerning you. and in 1t
saw your face
Now this was the dream: That the oath
I made regards your mother Is binding
as regards you also; further that in
some way which Is not revealed to me
your presence here viii withhold me from
the shedding OF a sea of blood and save
the whole world much misery. Therefore
1t Is dscreed that you must come and
bide in my house. That these things are
so. Allah and His Prophet be my wit
nesses.