Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 8.djvu/13

 THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT.

MESROUR AND ZEIN EL MEWASIF.

There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, a merchant named Mesrour, who was of the goodliest of the folk of his day, and he had wealth galore and was in easy case, but loved to take his pleasure in gardens and orchards and to divert himself with the love of fair women. One night, as he lay asleep, he dreamt that he was in a most lovely garden, wherein were four birds, and amongst them a dove, white as polished silver. The dove pleased him and an exceeding love for her grew up in his heart. Presently a great bird swooped down on him and snatched the dove from his hand, and this was grievous to him. Then he awoke and strove with his yearnings till the morning, when he said in himself, ‘Needs must I go to-day to some one who will expound to me this dream.’ So he went forth and fared right and left, till he was far from his dwelling-place, but found none to interpret the dream to him. Then he set out to return, but on his way the fancy took him to turn aside to the house of a certain rich merchant, and when he drew near to it, he heard from within a plaintive voice, reciting the following verses from a sorrowful heart:

The East wind from her traces blows to-us-ward, fragrance-fraught, With perfume such as heals the sick and soothes the love-distraught. By the deserted steads I stand and question; but my tears Nought answers save the witness mute, the ruin time hath wrought.

VOL. VIII.