Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 4.djvu/219

189 Or if thou’st lost thy love, like me, ah, then, indeed, Severance long-felt desire discovereth apace. God guard a lover true! Though my bones rot, nor time Nor absence from my heart her image shall efface.

Then he fainted again and presently coming to his senses, went on to the second cage, wherein he found a ring-dove. When it saw him, it sang out, ‘O Eternal, I praise thee!’ and he sighed and recited these verses:

Then he went on to the third cage, in which was a mocking-bird. When it saw him, it set up a song, and he recited the following verses:

The mocking-bird delighteth me with his harmonious strain, As ’twere a lover’s voice that pines and wastes for love in vain. Woe’s me for those that lovers be! How many a weary night, For love and anguish and desire, to waken they are fain! ’Twould seem as if they had no part in morning or in sleep, For all the stress of love and woe that holds their heart and brain. When I became distraught for her I love and wistfulness Bound me in fetters strait, the tears from out mine eyes did rain