Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 8.djvu/162

150 King o’er my soul I made him, his realm to keep; but me He ruined and his kingdom laid waste and desolate. My life I have expended for love of him, alas! Would God I were requited for that my spent estate! O fawn that in my bosom hast made thy nest, let that I’ve tasted of estrangement suffice thy wrath to sate. Thou’rt he whose face uniteth all charms, on whose account I’ve parted with my patience and am disconsolate. Within my heart I lodged him; woe on it fell, and I To that which I permitted submit without debate. My tears flow on for ever, like to a swollen sea: Knew I the road to solace, I would ensue it straight. I fear to die of sorrow, for he still ’scapes from me, Oft as I think to reach him, ah me unfortunate!

When Meryem heard her lover’s verses, they kindled a fire in her entrails and she recited the following, whilst her eyes ran over with tears:

When Noureddin heard her voice, he knew it and wept sore, saying, ‘By Allah, this is assuredly the voice of the Princess Meryem! I wonder if my thought be true and if it be indeed she herself or another!’ And regrets redoubled upon him and he bemoaned himself and recited the following verses: