BEN ALI.
"It is good law, O King, and good to heed.
Now, of 'religious purposes' it calls
First, 'to relieve the needy of their need.'
Can it be doubted that this Afghan falls
Among the 'needy,' and became a thief
To his own need's immediate relief?
Nay, in the very act of thieving vowed
That 'pious dedication'? Which allowed,
Follows the law's exemption."
The king smiled,
And said: "Set free this good man. To thy wild
Bleak mountains, Afghan. Is the world so small
That thou must steal—if thou must steal at all—
From such a friend as this?" The Afghan fled,
The king across Ben Ali's shoulders passed
His heavy arm and to the gardens led,
Where fluttered groups of dancing girls, aghast,
Huddled aside, and through the night at last
Came to the river, and Ben Ali said: