Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 4.djvu/248

218 Faithful, wait till to-morrow night, for I am unprepared for thee, knowing not of thy coming.’ So he left her and went away.

On the morrow, he sent a page to her to announce his visit to her apartment; but she sent back to him, saying, ‘The day obliterates the promise of the night.’ So he said to his minions, ‘Make me somewhat of verse, introducing these words, “The day obliterates the promise of the night.”’ ‘We hear and obey,’ answered they; and Er Recashi came forward and recited the following:

Then Abou Musab came forward and recited these verses:

Last came Abou Nuwas and recited the following: