Therefore, haste, Beautiful woman, loved of me and mine, To bring a maiden, and to say, 'Behold A wife for Japhet.'" Then she answered, "Sir, It shall be done." And forth Niloiya sped.
She gathered all her jewels,--all she held Of costly or of rich,--and went and spake With some few slaves that yet abode with her, For daily they were fewer; and went forth, With fair and flattering words, among her feres, And fain had wrought with them: and she had hope That made her sick, it was so faint; and then She had fear, and after she had certainty, For all did scorn her.

"Nay," they cried.

"O fool! If this be so, and on a watery world Ye think to rock, what matters if a wife Be free or bond?
There shall be none to rule, If she have freedom: if she have it not, None shall there be to serve." And she alit, The time being done, desponding at her door, And went behind a screen, where should have wrought The daughters of the captives; but there wrought One only, and this rose from off the floor, Where she the river rush full deftly wove, And made obeisance.

Then Niloiya said, "Where are thy fellows ?" And the maid replied, "Let not Niloiya, this my lady loved, Be angry; they are fled since yesternight." Then said Niloiya, "Amarant, my slave, When have I called thee by thy name before ?" She answered, "Lady, never"; and she took And spread her broidered robe before her face.
Niloiya spoke thus: "I am come to woe, And thou to honor." Saying this, she wept Passionate tears; and all the damsel's soul Was full of yearning wonder, and her robe Slipped from her hand, and her right innocent face Was seen betwixt her locks of tawny hair That dropped about her knees, and her two eyes, Blue as the much-loved flower that rims the beck, Looked sweetly on Niloiya; but she knew No meaning in her words; and she drew nigh, And kneeled and said, "Will this my lady speak?
Her damsel is desirous of her words." Then said Niloiya, "I, thy mistress, sought A wife for Japhet, and no wife is found." And yet again she wept with grief of heart, Saying, "Ah me, miserable! I must give A wife: the Master willeth it: a wife, Ah me! unto the high-born.

He will scorn His mother and reproach me.