Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/101



Thereupon the Commander of the Faithful smiled and made him a handsome present and he went away rejoicing. And I have heard another story of

HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE THREE POETS

The Prince of True Believers, Caliph Harun al-Rashid, was exceeding restless one night; so he rose and walked about his palace, till he happened upon a handmaid overcome with wine. Now he was prodigiously enamoured of this damsel; so he played with her and pulled her to him, whereupon her zone fell down and her petticoat-trousers were loosed and he besought her of amorous favour. But she said to him, O Commander of the Faithful wait till to-morrow night, for I am unprepared for thee, knowing not of thy coming.  So he left her and went away. But, when the morrow showed its light and the sun shone bright, he sent a page to her saying, The Commander of the Faithful is about to visit thine apartment; but she replied, Day doth away with the promise of night.  So he said to his courtiers, Make me somewhat of verse, introducing these words, The Promise of Night is effaced by Day. Answered they, We hear and obey, and Al-Rakáshi [FN#109] came forward and recited the following couplets,

By Allah, couldst thou but feel my pain, * Thy rest had turned and had fled away.