Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/203

183 His fragrance brought me from afar the news of his approach, And forth, as bird let out from cage, to meet my love fled I. I laid my cheek within his way, beneath his sandal-soles, And lo, their dust’s collyrium healed the ailment of mine eye! With an embrace I hoisted up the flag of loves new linked And loosed the knot of my delight, that made as ’twould deny. Then let I call high festival, and gladness, all unmixed With any thought of troublousness, came flocking in reply. The full moon handselled with the stars the teeth, like grains of pearl, That on the laughing face of wine now dance, now stirless lie. So in the niche of their delight I gave me up to joys, The veriest sinner would repent if he their like might try. The morning-glories of his face be pledge I’ll ne’er, in him, Forget the writ that biddeth us One only glorify!

Then they told one another all that had befallen them since their separation, after which he began to upbraid her, saying, ‘What moved thee to deal with me as thou hast done this night?’ ‘Do not reproach me,’ replied she; ‘for I did this but by way of jest and for increase of pleasure and gladness.’ When it was morning and the day arose with its light and shone, she sent to King Armanous and acquainted him with the truth of the case and that she was wife to Kemerezzeman. Moreover, she told him their story and the manner of their separation and how his daughter Heyat en Nufous was yet a maid. He marvelled greatly at their story and bade record it in letters of gold. Then he turned to Kemerezzeman and said, ‘O king’s son, art thou minded to marry my daughter and become my son-in-law?’ ‘I must consult the princess Budour,’ answered he; ‘for I owe her favour without stint.’ So he took counsel with her and she said, ‘This is well seen; marry her and I will be her handmaid, for I am her debtor for kindness and favour and good offices, more by token that we are here in her place and that the king her