Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/233

 204 But they persisted, "We do not want thy food and thy drink if thou wilt not let us hear thee sing."

So he said, "Then choose a song, and I will sing it to you."

"Sing us such-and-such a song," said they.

So he began singing these lines:

The narrator proceeds: And Zhalfâ heard Sinân's voice, and she went out into the court of the tent. And so it was, that when she heard mention of this beauty of person and elegance, she fancied that it referred entirely to her and her appearance. Then that which had been at rest in her heart was troubled, and her eyes filled with tears, and her sobs were audible.

And Sulaimân awoke; and when he found her absent, he also went out into the court of the tent, and there he saw her in this condition. So he cried, "What means this, O Zhalfâ?"