Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 4.djvu/273



The master rejoiced and drank off his cup and gave the girls to drink; after which he filled again; and, taking the goblet in his hand, signed to the fat girl and bade her sing and play a different motive. So she took the lute and striking a grief- dispelling measure, sang these couplets,

'An thou but deign consent, O wish to heart affied! * I care not wrath and rage to all mankind betide. And if thou show that fairest face which gives me life, * I reck not an dimimshed heads the Kings go hide. I seek thy favours only from this 'versal-world: * O thou in whom all beauty cloth firm-fixt abide!'

The man rejoiced and, emptying his cup, gave the girls to drink. Then he signed to the thin girl and said to her, 'O Houri of Paradise, feed thou our ears with sweet words and sounds.' So she took the lute; and, tuning it, preluded and sang these two couplets,

'Say me, on Allah's path hast death not dealt to me, * Turning from me while I to thee turn patiently: Say me, is there no judge of Love to judge us twain, * And do me     justice wronged, mine enemy, by thee?'

Their lord rejoiced and, emptying the cup, gave the girls to drink. Then filling another he signed to the yellow girl and said to her, O sun of the day, let us hear some nice verses.' So she took the lute and, preluding after the goodliest fashion, sang these couplets,

'I have a lover and when drawing him, * He draws on me a sword- blade glancing grim: Allah avenge some little of his wrongs, * Who holds my heart yet wreaks o erbearing whim Oft though I say, 'Renounce him, heart!' yet heart * Will to none other turn excepting him. He is my wish and will of all men, but * Fate's envious hand to     me's aye grudging him.'

The master rejoiced and drank and gave the girls to drink; then he filled the cup and taking it in hand, signed to the black girl, saying, 'O pupil of the eye, let us have a taste of thy quality, though