Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/290

Rh thee no recompense for it. Otherwise, we will bestow on thee the weight in money of that upon which it is written."

So el-Asmaïy recited this kasîdah:

By the piping voice of the Bulbul, By water and by flowers,

By the glint of a twinkling eye, By thee, O my master,

My chieftain and my lord, The lover's heart is moved.

How often has enslaved me, The gazelle of Ukekeelee,

From off whose cheek by a kiss, I have culled the blushing rose,

Saying, Kiss, O! kiss, O! kiss me. But she sped not to embrace me,

And cried, No. No. No, no; Then rose and quickly fled me.

To the caresses of this man, The maiden yielded tremblingly,

And crying cried a cry, Woe! ah woe! ah woe is me!—

—Lament not thus, I said, Rather reveal thy pearls.