Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 3.djvu/50

34 And his eyes ran over with tears and he repeated these couplets also:—

Then he changed the mode of song and sang these couplets:—

After hearing them to the end, Taj al-Muluk was pleased with his verses and wondered at his eloquence and the excellence of his recitation, saying, "Indeed, thou hast done away with somewhat of my sorrow." Then quoth the Wazir, "Of a truth, there occurred to those of old what astoundeth those who hear it told." Quoth the Prince, "If thou canst recall aught of this kind, prithee let us hear thy subtle lines and keep up the talk." So the Minister chanted in modulated song these couplets:—

So far concerning them; but as regards the old woman she re-