Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/69

53 O thou my sovereign, dear my heart and life, That in my inmost bosom hast thy throne, Prithee, bestow a kiss upon thy slave; If not as gift, then even as a loan. I will repay it, (mayst thou never fail!) Even as I took it, not a little gone. Or, if thou wish for more than thou didst lend, Take and content thee; it is all thine own. May health’s fair garment ever gladden thee, Thee that o’er me the wede of woe hast thrown!

Her singing charmed Ali ben Bekkar, and he said to her, ‘Sing me more of the like of these verses.’ So she struck the strings and sang as follows:

When she had finished, Shemsennehar said to another damsel, ‘Sing us somewhat, thou.’ So she played a lively measure and sang the following verses:

When Shemsennehar heard this, she sighed heavily, and the song pleased her. Then she bade another damsel sing; so she took the lute and chanted the following: