Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/269

247 Yea, I was constant in fair thought of thee, for all the spy Dealt ill and did with evil words to evil thoughts excite. We’ll keep the secret of our loves and guard it from the folk, Albeit with reproach the sword of blame be bared to smite. My days in longing do I pass, so may a messenger With tidings of acceptance come from thee and heal my spright.

Then she wept and her children wept also and the slave-girls heard them: so they came in to them and found them weeping, but saw not Hassan with them; wherefore they wept for pity of them and cursed Queen Nour el Huda. Then Hassan took patience till it was night and her guards had gone to their sleeping-places, when he went up to her and loosing her, pressed her to his bosom and kissed her on the head and between the eyes, saying, ‘How long have we wearied for our country and for reunion there! Is this our meeting in sleep, or on wake?’ Then he took up the elder boy and she took up the younger and they went forth. God covered them with the veil of His protection, so that they came safe to the outer door of the palace, but found it locked from without, and Hassan said, ‘There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme! We are God’s and to Him we return!’ With this they despaired of escape and Hassan beat hand upon hand, saying, ‘O Thou that dispellest troubles! Verily, I had bethought me of every thing and considered its issue but this; and now, when it is day, they will take us, and what resource have we in this case?’ And he recited the following verses:

Then he wept and she wept for his weeping and for the abasement she had suffered and the cruelties of