Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/214

192 Ah, the anguish of returning, after having said farewell! How my rancorous foes exulted, when they saw me backward fare! O ye flaming fires of passion, still redouble on my heart! This it is against whose danger, I, alas! had fain been ware. If my loves are fled for ever, after them I will not live; Yet, if they return to glad me, ho for joy and fortune fair! Never shall mine eyes, by Allah, stint from weeping for their loss! Stream on stream, my tears shall witness to the stress of my despair.

When Abdulcuddous heard this, he knew that he would not turn back from his desire nor would words have effect on him, and was certified that nothing would serve him but he must adventure himself, though it cost him his life. So he said to him, ‘Know, O my son, that the Islands of Wac are seven islands, wherein are great plenty of troops, all virgin girls, and the inner isles are peopled by Satans and Marids and warlocks and tribesmen of the Jinn, whose land none ever entered and returned thence. So, God on thee, return presently to thy people; for know that she whom thou seekest is the king’s daughter of all these islands; and how canst thou win to her? Hearken to me, O my son, and belike God will vouchsafe thee a better than she in her stead.’ ‘O my lord,’ answered Hassan, ‘though for the love of her I were torn limb from limb, yet should I but redouble in love and transport! Needs must I enter the Wac Islands and come to the sight of my wife and children; and God willing, I will not return save with her and them.’ ‘Then,’ said the sheikh, ‘nothing will serve thee but thou must make the journey?’ ‘Nothing,’ answered Hassan: ‘and I only ask of thee thy prayers for aid and furtherance; so haply God will presently reunite me with my wife and children.’ Then he wept for stress of longing and recited these verses:

Ye are my wish, the fairest fair of any mortal wight; Indeed, I’ve lodged you in the stead of hearing and of sight. Upon my heart you’ve gotten hold; it is your dwelling-place, And after you I am become in torment day and night.