Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/213

191 down to his navel. Kiss his hands and take his skirt and lay it on thy head and weep before him, till he take compassion on thee and ask thee what thou wouldst have. Then give him the letter, which he will take and go in and leave thee, without speaking. Wait at the door other five days, without wearying, and on the sixth day expect him; and if he come out to thee himself, know that thy need will be accomplished, but, if one of his servants come forth to thee, know that he who cometh forth to thee purposeth to kill thee; and peace be on thee! For know, O my son, that whoso imperilleth himself is his own undoer; wherefore, if thou fear for thy life, cast it not into [peril of] destruction; but, if thou fear not, up and do thy will, for I have expounded the case to thee. Yet, if thou be minded to return to thy friends, let me mount thee on the elephant; it will carry thee to the daughters of my brother, who will restore thee to thy country and thy home, and [belike] God will vouchsafe thee a better than this girl, of whom thou art enamoured.’ Quoth Hassan, ‘And how shall life be sweet to me, except I attain my desire? By Allah, I will never turn back, till I regain my beloved or my death overtake me!’ And he wept and recited the following verses:

For the loss of my belovéd and the passion that for e’er On me grows, I stand proclaiming my abjection and despair. Of my longing for my loved one, the encampment’s dust I kiss, Though it serve but to redouble my distraction and my care. Allah watch o’er those who’re absent, though their memory’s in my heart! Ever present are my sorrows and my joys are fled for e’er. Quoth my censors to me, ‘Patience!’ But therewith they’ve fared away: Lamentation but and burning have they left me to my share. ’Twas her taking leave affrayed me and her saying, ‘When I’m gone, Look my memory thou forget not and our loves in mind thou bear.’ Unto whom shall I for succour turn, in whom hope after them? For in good and evil fortune still my hope and trust they were.