Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/78



A wondrous spell of gramarye like Kohl bedecks his eyne, * And shows thee bow with shaft on string make ready ere it flies: O thou, to whom I told my case expecting all excuse, * Pity a lover-wight for whom Love-shafts such fate devise! Verily, Love hath cast me on your coast despite of me * Of will now weak, and fain I trust mine honour thou wilt prize: For noble men, whenas perchance alight upon their bounds, * Grace-worthy guests, confess their worth and raise to dignities. Then, O thou hope of me, to lovers' folly veil afford * And be to them reunion cause, thou only liefest lord!"

And when she had ended her verses, she again told the King her sad tale and shed plenteous tears and recited these couplets bearing on her case,

"We lived till saw we all the marvels Love can bear; *         Each month to thee we hope shall fare as Rajab [FN#72] fare:     Is it not wondrous, when I saw them march amorn *         That I with water o' eyes in heart lit flames that flare?     That these mine eyelids rain fast dropping gouts of blood? *         That now my cheek grows gold where rose and lily were?     As though the safflower hue, that overspread my cheeks, *         Were Joseph's coat made stain of lying blood to wear."

Now when the King heard her words he was certified of her love and longing and was moved to ruth for her; so he said to her, "Fear nothing and be not troubled; thou hast come to the term of thy wishes; for there is no help but that I win for thee thy will and bring thee to thy desire." And he improvised these couplets,

"Daughter of nobles, who thine aim shalt gain; *         Hear gladdest news nor fear aught hurt of bane!    This day I'll pack up wealth, and send it on *         To Shámikh, guarded by a champion-train;    Fresh pods of musk I'll send him and brocades, *         And silver white and gold of yellow vein:    Yes, and a letter shall inform him eke *         That I of kinship with that King am fain: