THE PALACE BAZAAR
Wows of truth will never hold
When their fickle flame grows cold,
Hearts on fire will freeze as ice,
Faith will turn like gambler's dice!
III
Trust the meteor of the skies,
Trust the rainbow ere it dies,
Trust the light of marsh and fen,
Trust not constancy of men!
Silent Muses quake with fear,
Sorrowing Gabriel drops a tear!"
A group of women had collected round Queen Salima, as she was reciting her verses, and when she ended a ripple of laughter passed through the circle over the discomfiture of the Emperor.
"I cry for mercy," exclaimed the Emperor, himself joining the laughter. "When Mogul and Rajput unite in their onset the charge is irresistible. Pratap Singh found this to be so in the Pass of Haldighat, and I find it in my own palace!" And the humiliated monarch hastily withdrew from the scene.
"Twenty pieces of gold thou shalt have, valiant dame of Amber, for we have beaten an enemy who never before retreated from his foe." And the Queen placed a purse of twenty pieces of gold on the counter, and forgot to take the bracelet as she followed her husband.
"I thought I would find thee here, my lord, ever constant and true," said the Queen, with an arch smile, "for a fair stranger from the East is at this stall. I thought my faithful husband would be here to have a look at her Eastern wares, or perhaps at her pretty Eastern face."
289
