Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-16

the solar from her chamber and, seeing
the three of them so strangely en-
ployed, said:
as 1t your will that I go, father"
"No, daughter. Since you are here,
stay here. | think that this matter
concerns you as well as me. Read on.
Goodwin"
So Goodwin read:
In the name of God, the mercIful and
compassionate, !, Salah-ed-din Iusuf 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 Darcy. husband of my sister
by another mother, Slit Zobeide. the beau
tiful and faithless, on whom Allah has
taken vengeance for her sin. Or, II he be
dead also, then TO his daughter and hers,
my niece. and by blood a princess of
Syria and Egypt, who among the Eng
fish 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 Hobeidc while you were 5
prisoner and sick in my fathers house
how, too. Satan put II into her heart 70
listen to your words of love, SO that she
became n cross worshiper and was mar
RED to you after the Frankish custom
and fed with you to England. Within six
years of that timo sure news reached ma
that Allah had taken her, therefore |
1nourned for my sister and her fate
awhile and forgot her and you.
Know that n certain knight named I.o-
zelle, who dwelt in the part of England
where you have your castle. has told me
that Iobeide left a daughter, who Is very
beautiful. Now my heart, which loved
her mother. goes out toward this niece
whom l have never seen. for although
she is your child and "A cross worshiper
at least-save in the matter of her moth
crs theft--you were n brave md noble
knight. of good blood. as, indeed. l re-
member your brother was also, he who
fell in the fight at I~iarenc.
Learn now that. having by the will OF
Allah come TO great estate here at Da-
mascus and throughout the east. l desire
to lift your daughter up to be n princess
of my house. Therefore l invite her TO
journey to Damascus, and you with her. II
YOU live. Moreover, lest you should fear
some trap, on behalf of myself. my sue
cessors and councillors. l promise in the
name Of God and by the word Of Salah-
ed-din. which never yet was broken. that,
although | trust tho merciful God may
change her heart SO that she enters 1t Of
her own Will. l will not force her to ac-
cept the faith or TO bind herself in any
maj age III u EHt uOPS lDl lFsltt. NOT
will l take vengeance upon you. Sir An
drew. for what you nave done in the past,
or suffer others to do so, but will rather
raise you to great honor and 1.-Two with
you in friendship as of yore.
But If my messenger returns and tells
me that my niece refuses this, my loving
offer. then I warn her that my arm Is
long, and / Will surely take her as l 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 cmtssaries Will appear wherever she
may be, married or single, TO lead her to
me, with honor II she be willing, but still
to lead her TO me If She be unwilling.
Meanwhile. in token of my love. l send
certain gifts of precious things and with
them Of my patent of her tito as princess
and Lady Of the City OF Baalbec. which
title. with its revenue and prerogatives,
is registered in the archives of my en-
pire in favor Of her and her lawful heirs
and declared to be binding upon me and
my successors forever.
The bearer Of this letter and Of my gifts
Is a certain cross worshiper named Mich
olas. to whom let your answer be handed
for delivery to mo. This devoir he is I'M
der oath to perform and will perform 1t,
for he knows that If 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 Heglra 5sl.
Take note also hat this writing having
been read to me by my secretary before
I set my name and sea t~hereunto. / per-
ceive that you. Sir Andrew, or you, Lady
Rose Of tho World. may think it strange
that l should be at such pains and cost
over a maid who is not of my religion and
whom l never saw, and may therefore
doubt nv honesty in the matter. Know.