Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 2.djvu/371

334 of his cousin Kuzia Fekan and begged her to go to her and implore her favour for him. “I hear and obey,” answered the old woman and betaking herself to Kuzia Fekan’s palace, interceded with her in his favour. Then she returned to him and said, “Thy cousin salutes thee and will visit thee this night at the middle hour.” At this he rejoiced and sat down to await the fulfilment of his cousin’s promise. At the appointed hour she came to him, wrapped in a veil of black silk, and aroused him from sleep, saying, “How canst thou pretend to love me, when thou art sleeping, heart-free, after the goodliest fashion?” So he awoke and said, “O desire of my heart, by Allah, I slept not but hoping that thine image might visit me in dreams!” Then she chid him tenderly and repeated the following verses:

When he heard his cousin’s words, he was abashed before her and rose and excused himself. Then they embraced and complained to each other of the anguish of separation; and thus they did, till the dawn broke and the day flowered forth over the lands; when she rose to depart. At this, Kanmakan wept and sighed and repeated the following verses:

Then she took leave of him and returned to her palace.