Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/250

222 So I saluted her and she returned my greeting with a dejected voice and a grieving heart, consumed with the ardour of passion. Then said I to her, “O my lady, I am an old man and a stranger, and sore opprest of thirst. Wilt thou order me a draught of water, and God will requite thee?” “Away, O old man!” answered she. “I am distracted from [all thoughts of] meat and drink.” “By what ailment, O my lady?” asked I. Quoth she, “I love one who dealeth not justly by me and desire one who will none of me. Wherefore I am afflicted with the wakefulness of those who watch the stars.” “O my lady,” said I, “is there on the face of the earth one to whom thou hast mind and who hath no mind to thee?” “Yes,” answered she; “and this by reason of the perfection of beauty and amorous grace with which he is endowed.” “And why standest thou in this porch?” asked I. “This is his road,” answered she, “and the hour of his passing by.” “O my lady,” said I, “have ye ever foregathered and had such commerce as might cause this passion?” At this she heaved a deep sigh; the tears rained down upon her cheeks, as they were dew falling upon roses, and she recited these verses?

Quoth I, “And what betideth thee of thy love for this youth?” She answered, “I see the sun upon the walls of his people and I think that it is he; or haply I catch sight of him unexpectedly and am confounded and the blood and the life flee from my body and I abide without reason for weeks.” “Excuse me,” said I; “for I also have suffered for love-longing, that which is upon thee of distraction of soul and wasting of body and loss of strength; and I see in thee pallor and emaciation, such as testify of the fever-fits