Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 2.djvu/80

 6o. A If Lay la h wa Laylak. thou notVvouchsafe me what I asked of thee ?" "By Allah," she replied, "that may not be thine, for there is written upon my trouser-string * a hard word ! " Thereupon Ghanim's heart sank and desire grew on him as its object offered difficulties ; and he improvised these verses : I asked the author of mine ills o To heal the wound with one sweet kiss : No ! No ! she cried, 2 for ever no ! o But I, soft whispering, urged yes : Quoth she, Then take it by my leave, o When smiles shall pardon thine amiss : By force, cried I ? Nay, she replied o With love and gladness eke I wis. Now ask me not what next occurred o Seek grace of God and whist of this ! Deem what thou wilt of us, for love o By calumnies the sweeter is : Nor after this care I one jot o Whether my foe be known or not. Then his affection increased and love-fires rose hotter in his heart, while she refused herself to him saying, " Thou canst not possess me." > They ceased not to make love and enjoy their wine and wassail, whilst Ghanim was drowned in the sea of love and longing ; but she redoubled in coyness and cruelty till the night brought on the darkness and let fall on them the skirts of sleep. Thereupon Ghanim rose and lit the lamps and wax-candles, and refreshed the room and removed the table ; then he took her feet and kissed them and, finding them like fresh cream, pressed his face 3 on them and said to her, " O my lady, take pity on one thy love hath ta'en and thine eyes hath slain ; for indeed I were heart-whole but for thy bane ! " And he wept somewhat. " O my lord, and light of my eyes," quoth she, " by Allah, I love thee in very sooth and I trust to thy truth, but I know that I may not be thine." "And what is the obstacle ? " asked he ; when she answered, " To-night I will tell thee my tale, that thou mayst accept my excuse." Then she threw herself upon him and winding her arms like a necklace about his neck, kissed him and caressed him and promised him her favours ; and they ceased not playing and laughing till love gat the firmest hold upon both their hearts. ' And so it continued a whole month, both passing the night on a single carpet-bed, but whenever he would enjoy her, she put him off; whilst mutual love It would be a broad ribbon-like band upon which the letters could be worked. common amongst the Arabs.  Arab. " Maragha " lit. rubbed his face on them like a fawning dog. Ghanim is another "softy" lover, a favourite character in Arab tales; and by way of contrast, the girl is masterful enough./
 * In the Arab. h* cried." These "Yes, Yes! and No I No!" trifles ^are very