Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/67

 O Uns al-Wujud, these twenty years have I passed in this place, but never beheld I any man here, until yesterday, when I heard a noise of weeping and lamentation and, looking forth in the direction of the sound, saw many people and tents pitched on the sea-shore; and the party at once proceeded to build a ship, in which certain of them embarked and sailed over the waters. Then some of the crew returned with the ship and breaking it up, went their way; and I suspect that those who embarked in the ship and returned not, are they whom thou seekest. In that case, O Uns al-Wujud, thy grief must needs be great and sore and thou art excusable, though never yet was lover but suffered love-longing." Then he recited these couplets,

"Uns al-Wujud, dost deem me fancy-free, *     When pine and longing slay and quicken me?   I have known love and yearning from the years *     Since mother-milk I drank, nor e'er was free.   Long struggled I with Love, till learnt his might; *     Ask thou of him, he'll tell with willing gree.   Love-sick and pining drank I passion-cup, *     And well-nigh perished in mine agony.   Strong was I, but my strength to weakness turned, *     And eye-sword brake through Patience armoury:   Hope not to win love-joys, without annoy; *     Contrary ever links with contrary.   But fear not change from lover true; be true *     Unto thy wish, some day thine own 'twill be.   Love hath forbidden to his votaries *     Relinquishment as deadliest heresy."

The eremite, having ended his verse, rose and, coming up to Uns al-Wujud, embraced him,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the eremite having ended his verse, rose and coming up to Uns al-Wujud embraced him, and they wept together, till the hills rang with their cries and they fell down fainting. When they revived, they swore brotherhood [FN#51] in Allah Almighty; after which said Uns al-Wujud, "This very night will I pray to God and seek of Him direction [FN#52]