Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 4.djvu/246

 people leave to eat. So they ate and when they had eaten their fill they went their ways, while Queen Zumurrud returned to her palace, saying, "I thank Allah for solacing my heart of those who wronged me." Then she praised the Creator of the earth and the heavens and repeated these couplets,

"They ruled awhile and theirs was harsh tyrannic rule, * But soon     that rule went by as though it never were: If just they had won justice; but they sinned, and so * The world     collected all its bane for them to bear: So died they and their case's tongue declares aloud * This is for     that so of the world your blaming spare."

And when her verse was ended she called to mind her lord Ali Shar and wept flowing tears; but presently recovered herself and said, "Haply Allah, who hath given mine enemies into my hand, will vouchsafe me the speedy return of my beloved;" and she begged forgiveness of Allah (be He extolled and exalted')—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Three Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen begged forgiveness of Allah (be He extolled and exalted!), and said, "Haply He will vouchsafe me speedy reunion with my beloved Ali Shar for He can do what He willeth and to His servants showeth grace, ever mindful of their case!" Then she praised Allah and again besought forgiveness of Him, submitting herself to the decrees of destiny, assured that each beginning hath his end, and repeating the saying of the poet,

"Take all things easy; for all worldly things * In Allah's hand     are ruled by Destiny: Ne'er shall befal thee aught of things forbidden, * Nor what is     bidden e'er shall fail to thee!"

And what another saith.

"Roll up thy days and easy shall they roll * Through     life, nor haunt the house of grief and dole: Full many a thing, which is o'er hard to find,* Next hour shall     bring thee to delight thy soul."