Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 3.djvu/64

46 "Of a truth, this young man Aziz is of the generous and hath done me a notable service, having borne weariness with me; and he hath travelled with me and hath brought me to my desire. He ceased never to show sufferance with me and exhort me to patience till I accomplished my intent; and now he hath abided with us two whole years, and he cut off from his native land.  So now I purpose to equip him with merchandise, that he may depart hence with a light heart; for his country is nearhand." Replied his father, "Right is thy rede;" so they made ready an hundred loads of the richest stuffs and the most costly, and Taj al-Muluk presented them with great store of money to Aziz, and farewelled him, saying, "O my brother and my true friend! take these loads and accept them from me by way of gift and token of affection, and go in peace to thine own country." Aziz accepted the presents and kissing the ground between the hands of the Prince and his father bade them adieu. Moreover, Taj al-Muluk mounted and accompanied him three miles on his homeward way as a proof of amity, after which Aziz conjured him to turn back, saying, "By Allah, O my master, were it not for my mother, I never would part from thee! But, good my lord!  leave me not without news of thee." Replied Taj al-Muluk, "So be it!" Then the Prince returned to the city and Aziz journeyed on till he came to his native town; and he entered it and ceased not faring till he went in to his mother and found that she had built him a monument in the midst of the house and used to visit it continually. When he entered, he saw her with hair dishevelled and dispread over the tomb, weeping and repeating these lines:—

Indeed I'm strong to bear whate'er befal; ○ But weak to bear such parting's dire mischance: What heart estrangement of the friend can bear? ○ What strength withstand assault of severance?"

Then sobs burst from her breast, and she recited also these couplets,

What's this? I pass by tombs, and fondly greet ○ My friends' last homes, but send they no reply: For saith each friend, 'Reply how can I make ○ When pledged to clay and pawned to stones I lie? Earth has consumed my charms and I forget ○ Thy love, from kith and kin poor banisht I."

While she was thus, behold, Aziz came in to her and when she saw