Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 8.djvu/39

27 When daybreak came, with new-moon face She rose and shape as flexible As swaying boughs or slender spears, And turned to me to say farewell. Quoth she, ‘When shall the nights return Wherein such joyance us befell?’ And I, ‘O lustre of mine eyes, Come,’ answered, ‘when it likes thee well.’

Zein el Mewasif was charmed with these verses and the utmost gladness possessed her. Then said she, ‘O Mesrour, the day is at hand and there is nothing for it but to depart, for fear of scandal.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered he and rising, carried her to her house, after which he returned home and passed the rest of the night meditating on her charms. When the morning appeared and gave forth its light and shone, he made ready a sumptuous present and carried it to her and sat with her.

They abode thus awhile, in all delight and solace of life, till one day there came to Zein el Mewasif a letter from her husband, advising her of his speedy return. ‘May God not preserve him nor quicken him!’ exclaimed she. ‘If he come hither, our life will be troubled. Would I might despair of him!’ Presently came Mesrour and sat talking with her, as of wont, and she said to him, ‘O Mesrour, I have received a letter from my husband, announcing his speedy return from his travels. What is to be done, since neither of us can live without the other?’ ‘I know not,’ answered he; ‘but thou art better able to judge, being acquainted with thy husband’s ways, more by token that thou art one of the keenest-witted of women and mistress of devices such as contrive that whereof men fail.’ Quoth she, ‘He is a hard man and jealous of the people of his household: but, when thou hearest of his coming, do thou repair to him and salute him and sit down by his side, saying, “O my brother, I am a druggist.” Then buy of him various kinds of drugs and spices and