For no man could be seen, · and the camel came alone;
So he turned his sharpened ear, · and caught the wailing tone,
Where Jusuf, by his mother’s grave, · lay making heavy moan.
And the negro hurried up, · and gave him there a blow;
So quick and cruel was it, · that it instant laid him low;
“A base-born wretch,” he cried aloud, · “a base-born thief art thou;
Thy masters, when we purchased thee, · they told us it was so.”
But Jusuf answered straight, · “Nor thief nor wretch am I;
My mother’s grave is this, · and for pardon here I cry;
I cry to Allah’s power, · and send my prayer on high,