Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/393

363 I gave my love, for chin-band, my palm spread open wide And eke for ringdove’s collar, my arms about him dight. This is indeed th’ attainment of fortune’s topmost height! We clip and clip and care not to stir from our delight.

Never in my life knew I a more delightful night than this, and I abode with her a whole month, forsaking shop and home and family, till one day she said to me, “O light of my eyes, O my lord Mohammed, I have a mind to go to the bath to-day; so sit thou on this couch and budge not from thy place, till I return to thee.” “I hear and obey,” answered I, and she made me swear to this; after which she took her women and went off to the bath. But, by Allah, O my brothers, she had not reached the end of the street, when the door opened and in came an old woman, who said to me, “O my lord Mohammed, the lady Zubeideh bids thee to her, for she hath heard of thine elegance and accomplishments and skill in singing.” “By Allah,” answered I, “I will not rise from my place, till the lady Dunya come back.” “O my lord,” rejoined the old woman, “do not anger the lady Zubeideh with thee and make an enemy of her. Come, speak with her and return to thy place.” So I rose and followed her into the presence of the princess, who said to me, “O light of the eye, art thou the lady Dunya’s beloved?” “At thy service,” answered I. Quoth she, “He spoke sooth who reported thee possessed of grace and beauty and good breeding and all good qualities; indeed, thou surpassest report; but now sing to me, that I may hear thee.” “I hear and obey,” answered I. So she brought me a lute, and I sang the following verses:

The heart of the lover is weary with loving and striving in vain, And even as a spoil is his body in the hands of sickness and pain. Who should there be, ’mongst the riders on camels with haltered head, Save a lover whose dear-belovéd the camel-litters contain!