BOOK V.
And when two days were over, Japhet said, "Mother, so please you, get a wife for me." The mother answered, "Dost thou mock me, son?
'Tis not the manner of our kin to wed So young.

Thou knowest it; art thou not ashamed?
Thou carest not for a wife." And the youth blushed, And made for answer: "This, my father, saith The doom is nigh; now therefore find a maid, Or else shall I be wifeless all my days.
And as for me, I care not; but the lands Are parted, and the goodliest share is mine.
And lo! my brethren are betrothed; their maids Are with thee in the house.

Then why not mine?
Didst thou not diligently search for these Among the noblest born of all the earth, And bring them up?
My sisters, dwell they not With women that bespake them for their sons?
Now, therefore, let a wife be found for me, Fair as the day, and gentle to my will As thou art to my father's." When she heard, Niloiya sighed, and answered, "It is well." And Japhet went out from her presence.
Then Quoth the great Master: "Wherefore sought ye not, Woman, these many days, nor tired at all, Till ye had found, a maiden for my son?
In this ye have done ill." Niloiya said: "Let not my lord be angry.

All my soul Is sad: my lord hath walked afar so long, That some despise thee; yea, our servants fail Lately to bring their stint of corn and wood.
And, sir, thy household slaves do steal away To thy great father, and our lands lie waste,-- None till them: therefore think the women scorn To give me,--whatsoever gems I send, And goodly raiment,--( yea, I seek afar, And sue with all desire and humbleness Through every master's house, but no one gives)-- A daughter for my son." With that she ceased.
Then said the Master: "Some thou hast with thee, Brought up among thy children, dutiful And fair; thy father gave them for my slaves,-- Children of them whom he brought captive forth From their own heritage." And she replied, Right scornfully: "Shall Japhet wed a slave ?" Then said the Master: "He shall wed: look thou To that.

I say not he shall wed a slave; But by the might of One that made him mine, I will not quit thee for my doomed way Until thou wilt betroth him.