Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/79

     And I this day will lend thee bestest aid, * That all thou covetest thy soul assain. I, too, have tasted love and know its taste * And can excuse whoso the same cup drain." [FN#73]

Then, ending his verse, he went forth to his troops and summoned his Wazir; and, causing him to pack up countless treasure, commanded him carry it to King Shamikh and say to him, "Needs must thou send me a person named Uns al-Wujud;" and say moreover "The King is minded to ally himself with thee by marrying his daughter to Uns al-Wujud, thine officer. So there is no help but thou despatch him to me, that the marriage may be solemnized in her father's kingdom." And he wrote a letter to King Shamikh to this effect, and gave it to the Minister, charging him strictly to bring back Uns al-Wujud and warning him, "An thou fail thou shalt be deposed and degraded." Answered the Wazir, "I hear and obey;" and, setting out forthright with the treasures, in due course arrived at the court of King Shamikh whom he saluted in the name of King Dirbas and delivered the letter and the presents. Now when King Shamikh read the letter and saw the name of Uns al-Wujud, he burst into tears and said to the Wazir "And where, or where, is Uns al-Wujud?; he went from us and we know not his place of abiding; only bring him to me, and I will give thee double the presents thou hast brought me." And he wept and groaned and lamented, saying these couplets,

"To me restore my dear;    * I want not wealth untold:

Nor crave I gifts of pearls    * Or gems or store of gold:

He was to us a moon      * In beauty's heavenly fold.

Passing in form and soul;    * With roe compare withhold!

His form a willow-wand,    * His fruit, lures manifold;

But willow lacketh power    * Men's hearts to have and hold.

I reared him from a babe    * On cot of coaxing roll'd;

And now I mourn for him    * With woe in soul ensoul'd."

Then, turning to the Wazir who had brought the presents and the missive, he said, "Go back to thy liege and acquaint him that Uns al-Wujud hath been missing this year past, and his lord knoweth