Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/266

244 Lords, who are absent, but whose place is in the heart of me, Will you return to me again and be as once you were? What were the harm if they returned and I their company Enjoyed and they had ruth upon my tears and my despair? They made mine eyes rain wonder-fast upon the parting-day: There’s nought may quench the raging fire that ’twixt my ribs doth flare. I would have had them stay, but Fate was contrary to me And did with sev’rance disappoint my longing for the fair. By Allah, O belovéd mine, return to me! Enough Of tears, indeed, I’ve shed to win ill-fortune to forbear.

With this, Hassan could no longer contain himself, but took the cap from his head; whereupon his wife saw him and recognising him, gave a scream that startled all in the place. Then she said to him, ‘How camest thou hither? Hast thou dropped from the sky or come up through the earth?’ And her eyes filled with tears and Hassan also wept. ‘O man,’ quoth she, ‘this is no time for tears or reproaches. Fate hath had its course and the sight was blinded and the pen hath run with what was ordained of God from all eternity: so, God on thee, whencesoever thou comest, go and hide, lest any see thee and tell my sister and she slaughter thee and me!’ ‘O my lady and lady of all queens,’ answered he, ‘I have ventured myself and come hither, and either I will die or I will deliver thee from this thy strait and return with thee and my children to my country, in despite of thy shrew of a sister.’

But she smiled and shook her head, saying, ‘Far, O my life, far is it from the power of any save God the Most High to deliver me from this my stress! Save thyself by flight and cast not thyself into destruction; for she hath troops without number, that none may withstand. Grant that thou tookest me and wentest forth with me, how canst thou win to thy country and escape from these islands and the perils of these dreadful places? Verily, in thy way hither, thou hast seen the wonders and dangers