The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night Volume XII Part 9

I wonder seeing how thy love to me * Inclined, while I in heart from love declined: Eke wast thou wont to say in verseful writ, * "Son of the Road[FN#408] no road to me shall find!

How oft kings flocked to me with mighty men * And bales on back of Bukhti[FN#409] beast they bind: And n.o.ble steeds of purest blood and all * They bore of choicest boons to me consigned; Yet won no favour!" Then came I to woo * And the long tale o'

love I had designed, I fain set forth in writ of mine, with words * Like strings of pearls in goodly line aligned:-- Set forth my sev'rance, griefs, tyrannic wrongs, * And ill device ill-suiting lover-kind.

How oft love-claimant, craving secrecy, * How oft have lovers 'plained as sore they pined, How many a br.i.m.m.i.n.g bitter cup I've quaffed, * And wept my woes when speech was vain as wind!

And thou:--"Be patient, 'tis thy bestest course * And choicest medicine for mortal mind!"

Then unto patience worthy praise cleave thou; * Easy of issue and be lief resigned: Nor hope thou aught of me lest ill alloy * Or aught of dross affect my blood refined: Such is my speech. Read, mark, and learn my say! * To what thou deemest ne'er I'll tread the way.

Then he folded the scroll and sealing it, entrusted it to the damsel, who took it and bore it to her mistress. When the Princess read the letter and mastered its meaning, she said, "Meseemeth he recalleth bygones to me." Then she called for pens, ink, and paper, and wrote these couplets:

Love thou didst show me till I learnt its woe * Then to the growth of grief didst severance show: I banisht joys of slumber after you * And e'en my pillow garred my wake to grow.

How long in parting shall I pine with pain * While severance-spies[FN#410] through night watch every throe?

I've left my kingly couch and self withdrew * Therefrom, and taught mine eyelids sleep t'unknow: 'Twas thou didst teach me what I ne'er can bear: * Then didst thou waste my frame with parting-blow.

By oath I swear thee, blame and chide me not: * Be kind to mourner Love hath stricken low!

For parting-rigours drive him nearer still * To narrow home, ere clad in shroud for clo': Have ruth on me, since Love laid waste my frame, * 'Mid thralls enrolled me and lit fires that flame.

Mariyah rolled up the letter and gave it to Shafikah, bidding her bear it to Al-Abbas. Accordingly she took it and going with it to his door, proceeded to enter; but the chamberlains and serving-men forbade her, till they had obtained her leave from the Prince. When she went into him, she found him sitting in the midst of the five damsels before mentioned, whom his father had brought for him; so she gave him the letter and he tare it open and read it. Then he bade one of the damsels, whose name was Khafifah and who came from the land of China, tune her lute and sing anent separation. Thereupon she came forward and tuning her lute, played thereon in four-and-twenty modes: after which she returned to the first and sang these couplets,

"Our friends, when leaving us on parting-day, * Drave us in wolds of severance-grief to stray: When bound the camels' litters bearing them, * And cries of drivers urged them on the way, Outrusht my tears, despair gat hold of me * And sleep betrayed mine eyes to wake a prey.

The day they went I wept, but showed no ruth * The severance-spy and flared the flames alway: Alas for lowe o' Love that fires me still! * Alack for pine that melts my heart away!

To whom shall I complain of care, when thou * Art gone, nor fain a-pillow head I lay?

And day by day Love's ardours grow on me, * And far's the tent that holds my fondest may: O Breeze o' Heaven, bear for me a charge * (Nor traitor-like my troth in love betray!), Whene'er thou breathest o'er the loved one's land * Greet him with choice salam fro' me, I pray: Dust him with musk and powdered ambergris * While time endures!

Such is my wish for aye."

When the damsel had made an end of her song, Al-Abbas swooned away and they sprinkled on him musked rose-water, till he recovered from his fainting-fit, when he called another damsel (now there was on her of linen and raiment and ornaments that which undoeth description, and she was a model of beauty and brightness and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace, such as shamed the crescent moon, and she was a Turkish girl from the land of the Roum and her name was Hafizah) and said to her, "O Hafizah, close thine eyes and tune thy lute and sing to us upon the days of severance." She answered him, "To hear is to obey"

and taking the lute, tightened its strings and cried out from her head,[FN#411] in a plaintive voice, and sang these couplets,

"My friends! tears flow in painful mockery, * And sick my heart from parting agony: My frame is wasted and my vitals wrung * And love-fires grow and eyes set tear-floods free: And when the fire burns high beneath my ribs * With tears I quench it as sad day I see.

Love left me wasted, baffled, pain-begone, * Sore frighted, b.u.t.t to spying enemy: When I recal sweet union wi' their loves * I chase dear sleep from the sick frame o' me.

Long as our parting lasts the rival joys * And spies with fearful prudence gain their gree.

I fear me for my sickly, langourous frame * Lest dread of parting slay me incontinently."

When Hafizah had ended her song, Al-Abbas cried to her, "Brava!

Verily, thou quickenest hearts from griefs." Then he called another maiden of the daughters of Daylam by name Marjanah, and said to her, "O Marjanah, sing to me upon the days of parting."

She said, "Hearing and obeying," and recited these couplets,

"'Cleave to fair Patience! Patience 'gendereth weal': * Such is the rede to us all sages deal: How oft I plained the lowe of grief and love * Mid pa.s.sions cast my soul in sore unheal.

How oft I waked and drained the bitter cup * And watched the stars, nor sleep mine eyes would seal!

Enough it were an deal you grace to me * In writ a-morn and garred no hope to feel.

But Thoughts which probed its depths would sear my heart * And start from eye-brows streams that ever steal: Nor cease I suffering baleful doom and nights * Wakeful, and heart by sorrows rent piece-meal: But Allah purged my soul from love of you * When all knew secrets cared I not reveal.

I march to-morrow from your country and * Haply you'll speed me nor fear aught unweal; And, when in person you be far from us, * Would heaven we knew who shall your news reveal.

Who kens if home will e'er us two contain * In dearest life with union naught can stain!"

When Marjanah had made an end of her song, the Prince said to her, "Brava, O damsel! Indeed, thou sayest a thing which had occurred to my mind and my tongue was near to speaking it." Then he signed to the fourth damsel, who was a Cairene, by name Sitt al-Husn, and bade her tune her lute and sing to him upon the same theme. So the Lady of Beauty tuned her lute and sang these couplets,

"Patience is blest for weal comes after woe * And all things stated time and ordinance show; Haps the Sultan, hight Fortune, prove unjust * Shifting the times, and man excuse shall know: Bitter ensueth sweet in law of change * And after crookedness things straightest grow.

Then guard thine honour, nor to any save * The n.o.ble knowledge of the hid bestow: These be vicissitudes the Lord commands * Poor men endure, the sinner and the low."

When Al-Abbas heard her make an end of her verses, they pleased him and he said to her, "Brava, O Sitt al-Husn! Indeed, thou hast done away with anxiety from my heart and hast banished the things which had occurred to my thought." Then he sighed and signing to the fifth damsel, who was from the land of the Persians and whose name was Marziyah (now she was the fairest of them all and the sweetest of speech and she was like unto a l.u.s.trous star, a model of beauty and loveliness and perfection and brightness and justness of shape and symmetric grace and had a face like the new moon and eyes as they were gazelle's eyes) and said to her, "O Marziyah, come forward and tune thy lute and sing to us on the same theme, for indeed we are resolved upon faring to the land of Al-Yaman." Now this maiden had met many of the monarchs and had foregathered with the great; so she tuned her lute and sang these couplets,

"Friend of my heart why leave thou lone and desolate these eyne?

* Fair union of our lots ne'er failed this sitting-stead of mine!

And ah! who dwellest singly in the heart and sprite of me, * (Be I thy ransom!) desolate for loss of friend I pine!

By Allah! O thou richest form in charms and loveliness, * Give alms to lover who can show of patience ne'er a sign!

Alms of what past between us tway (which ne'er will I divulge) *

Of privacy between us tway that man shall ne'er divine: Grant me approval of my lord whereby t' o'erwhelm the foe * And let my straitness pa.s.s away and doubtful thoughts malign: Approof of thee (an gained the meed) for me high rank shall gain * And show me robed in richest weed to eyes of envy fain."

When she had ended her song, all who were in the a.s.sembly wept for the daintiness of her delivery and the sweetness of her speech and Al-Abbas said to her, "Brava, O Marziyah! Indeed, thou bewilderest the wits with the beauty of thy verse and the polish of thy speech."[FN#412] All this while Shafikah abode gazing about her, and when she beheld the slave-girls of Al-Abbas and considered the charms of their clothing and the subtlety of their senses and the delicacy of their delivery her reason flew from her head. Then she sought leave of Al-Abbas and returning to her mistress Mariyah, sans letter or reply, acquainted her with what she had espied of the damsels and described to her the condition wherein he was of honour and delight, majesty, venerance and loftiness of rank. Lastly, she enlarged upon what she had seen of the slave-girls and their case and that which they had said and how they had incited Al-Abbas anent returning to his own country by the recitation of songs to the sound of the strings. When the Princess heard this her slave-girl's report, she wept and wailed and was like to leave the world. Then she took to her pillow and said, "O Shafikah, I will inform thee of a something which is not hidden from Allah the Most High, and 'tis that thou watch over me till the Almighty decree the accomplishment of His destiny, and when my days are ended, take thou the necklace and the mantle with which Al-Abbas gifted me and return them to him. I deem not he will survive me, and if the Lord of All-might determine against him and his days come to an end, do thou give one charge to shroud us and entomb us both in one tomb." Then her case changed and her colour waxed wan; and when Shafikah saw her mistress in this plight, she repaired to her mother and told her that the lady Mariyah refused meat and drink. Asked the Queen, "Since when hath this befallen her?" and Shafikah answered, "Since yesterday's date;" whereat the mother was confounded and betaking herself to her daughter, that she might inquire into her case, lo and behold! found her as one dying. So she sat down at her head and Mariyah opened her eyes and seeing her mother sitting by her, sat up for shame before her. The Queen questioned her of her case and she said, "I entered the Hammam and it stupefied me and prostrated me and left in my head an exceeding pain; but I trust in Allah Al-mighty that it will cease." When her mother went out from her, Mariyah took to chiding the damsel for that which she had done and said to her, "Verily, death were dearer to me than this; so discover thou not my affair to any and I charge thee return not to the like of this fashion." Then she fainted and lay swooning for a whole hour, and when she came to herself, she saw Shafikah weeping over her; whereupon she pluckt the necklace from her neck and the mantle from her body and said to the damsel, "Lay them in a damask napkin and bear them to Al-Abbas and acquaint him with that wherein I am for the stress of severance and the strain of forbiddance." So Shafikah took them and carried them to Al-Abbas, whom she found in readiness to depart, being about to take horse for Al-Yaman. She went in to him and gave him the napkin and that which was therein, and when he opened it and saw what it contained, namely, the mantle and the necklace, his chagrin was excessive and his eyes turned in his head[FN#413] and his rage shot out of them. When Shafikah saw that which betided him, she came forward and said to him, "O bountiful lord, verily my mistress returneth not the mantle and the necklace for despite; but she is about to quit the world and thou hast the best right to them." Asked he, "And what is the cause of this?" and Shafikah answered, "Thou knowest. By Allah, never among the Arabs nor the Ajams nor among the sons of the kings saw I a harder of heart than thou! Can it be a slight matter to thee that thou troublest Mariyah's life and causest her to mourn for herself and quit the world for the sake of thy youth?[FN#414] Thou wast the cause of her acquaintance with thee and now she departeth this life on thine account, she whose like Allah Almighty hath not created among the daughters of the kings." When Al-Abbas heard from the damsel these words, his heart burned for Mariyah and her case was not light to him, so he said to Shafikah, "Canst thou bring me in company with her; so haply I may discover her concern and allay whatso aileth her?"

Said she, "Yes, I can do that, and thine will be the bounty and the favour." So he arose and followed her, and she preceded him, till they came to the palace. Then she opened and locked behind them four-and-twenty doors and made them fast with padlocks; and when he came to Mariyah, he found her as she were the downing sun, strown upon a Taif rug of perfumed leather,[FN#415]

surrounded by cushions stuffed with ostrich down, and not a limb of her quivered. When her maid saw her in this state, she offered to cry out; but Al-Abbas said to her, "Do it not, but have patience till we discover her affair; and if Allah (be He extolled and exalted!) have decreed her death, wait till thou have opened the doors to me and I have gone forth. Then do what seemeth good to thee." So saying, he went up to the Princess and laying his hand upon her bosom, found her heart fluttering like a doveling and the life yet hanging to her breast.[FN#416] So he placed his hand on her cheek, whereat she opened her eyes and beckoning to her maid, said to her by signs, "Who is this that treadeth my carpet and transgresseth against me?"[FN#417] "O my lady," cried Shafikah, "this is Prince Al-Abbas, for whose sake thou forsakest the world." When Mariyah heard speak of Al-Abbas, she raised her hand from under the coverlet and laying it upon his neck, inhaled awhile his scent. Then she sat up and her complexion returned to her and they abode talking till a third part of the night was past. Presently, the Princess turned to her handmaid and bade her fetch them somewhat of food, sweetmeats, and fruits, fresh and dry. So Shafikah brought what she desired and they ate and drank and abode on this wise without lewdness, till night went and light came. Then said Al-Abbas, "Indeed, the morn breaketh. Shall I hie to my sire and bid him go to thy father and seek thee of him in wedlock for me, in accordance with the book of Allah Almighty and the practice of His Apostle (whom may He save and a.s.sain!) so we may not enter into transgression?"

And Mariyah answered, saying, "By Allah, 'tis well counselled of thee!" So he went away to his lodging and naught befel between them; and when the day lightened, she recited these couplets,

"O friends, morn-breeze with Morn draws on amain: * A Voice[FN#418] bespeaks us, gladding us with 'plain.

Up to the convent where our friend we'll sight * And wine more subtile than the dust[FN#419] we'll drain; Whereon our friend spent all the coin he owned * And made the nursling in his cloak contain;[FN#420]

And, when we oped the jar, light opalline * Struck down the singers in its search waylain.

From all sides flocking came the convent-monks * Crying at top o'

voices, 'Welcome fain!'

And we carousing sat, and cups went round, * Till rose the Venus-star o'er Eastern plain.

No shame in drinking wine, which means good cheer * And love and promise of prophetic strain![FN#421]

Ho thou, the Morn, our union sundering, * These joyous hours to fine thou dost constrain.

Show grace to us until our pleasures end, * And latest drop of joy fro' friends we gain: You have affection candid and sincere * And Love and joy are best of Faiths for men."

Such was the case with Mariyah; but as regards Al-Abbas, he betook himself to his father's camp, which was pitched on the Green Meadow, by the Tigris-side, and none might thread his way between the tents, for the dense network of the tent ropes. When the Prince reached the first of the pavilions, the guards and servants came out to meet him from all sides and walked in his service till he drew near the sitting-place of his sire, who knew of his approach. So he issued forth his marquee and coming to meet his son, kissed him and made much of him. Then they returned together to the royal pavilion and when they had seated themselves therein and the guards had taken up their station in attendance on them, the King said to Al-Abbas, "O my son, get ready thine affair, so we may go to our own land, for that the lieges in our absence are become as they were sheep lacking shepherd." Al-Abbas looked at his father and wept till he fainted, and when he recovered from his fit, he improvised and recited these couplets,

"I embraced him,[FN#422] and straight I waxt drunk wi' the smell * Of a fresh young branch wont in wealth to dwell.

Yea, drunken, but not by the wine; nay, 'twas * By draughts from his lips that like wine-cups well: For Beauty wrote on his cheek's fair page * 'Oh, his charms! take refuge fro' danger fell!'[FN#423]

Mine eyes, be easy, since him ye saw; * Nor mote nor blearness with you shall mell: In him Beauty showeth fro' first to fine * And bindeth on hearts bonds unfrangible: An thou kohl thyself with his cheek of light * Thou'll find but jasper and or in stelle:[FN#424]

The chiders came to reproach me when * For him longing and pining my heart befel: But I fear not, I end not, I turn me not * From his life, let tell-tale his tale e'en tell: By Allah, forgetting ne'er crossed my thought * While by life-tie bound, or when ends my spell: An I live I will live in his love, an I die * Of love and longing, I'll cry, ''Tis well!'"

Now when Al-Abbas had ended his verses, his father said to him, "I seek refuge for thee with Allah, O my son! Hast thou any want thou art powerless to win, so I may endeavour for thee therein and lavish my treasures in its quest." Cried Al-Abbas, "O my papa, I have, indeed, an urgent need, on whose account I came forth of my motherland and left my people and my home and affronted perils and horrors and became an exile, and I trust in Allah that it may be accomplished by thy magnanimous endeavour."

Quoth the King, "And what is thy want?" and quoth Al-Abbas, "I would have thee go and ask for me to wife Mariyah, daughter of the King of Baghdad, for that my heart is distracted with love of her." Then he recounted to his father his adventure from first to last. When the King heard this from his son, he rose to his feet and calling for his charger of parade, took horse with four-and-twenty Emirs of the chief officers of his empire. Then he betook himself to the palace of the King of Baghdad who, when he saw him coming, bade his chamberlains open the doors to them and going down himself to meet them, received him with all honour and hospitality and carried him and his into the palace; then causing make ready for them carpets and cushions, sat down upon his golden throne and seated the guest by his side upon a chair of gold, framed in juniper-wood set with pearls and jewels.

Presently he bade bring sweetmeats and confections and scents and commanded to slaughter four and-twenty head of sheep and the like of oxen and make ready geese and chickens and pigeons stuffed and boiled, and spread the tables; nor was it long before the meats were served up in vessels of gold and silver. So they ate their sufficiency and when they had eaten their fill, the tables were removed and the wine-service set on and the cups and flagons ranged in ranks, whilst the Mamelukes and the fair slave-girls sat down, with zones of gold about their waists, studded with all manner pearls, diamonds, emeralds, rubies and other jewels.

Moreover, the king bade fetch the musicians; so there presented themselves before him twenty damsels with lutes and psalteries[FN#425] and viols, and smote upon instruments of music playing and performing on such wise that they moved the a.s.sembly to delight. Then said Al-Aziz to the King of Baghdad, "I would fain speak a word to thee; but do thou not exclude from us those who are present. An thou consent unto my wish thine is ours and on thee shall be whatso is on us;[FN#426] and we will be to thee a mighty forearm against all unfriends and foes." Quoth Ins bin Kays, "Say what thou wilt, O King, for indeed thou excellest in speech and in whatso thou sayest dost hit the mark." So Al-Aziz said to him, "I desire that thou marry thy daughter Mariyah to my son Al-Abbas, for thou knowest what he hath of beauty and loveliness, brightness and perfect grace and his frequentation of the valiant and his constancy in the stead of cut-and-thrust."

Said Ins bin Kays, "By Allah, O King, of my love for Mariyah, I have appointed her mistress of her own hand; accordingly, whomsoever she chooseth of the folk, to him will I wed her." Then he arose to his feet and going in to his daughter, found her mother with her; so he set out to them the case and Mariyah said, "O my papa, my wish followeth thy word and my will ensueth thy will; so whatsoever thou chooseth, I am obedient to thee and under thy dominion." Therewith the King knew that Mariyah inclined to Al-Abbas; he therefore returned forthright to King Al-Aziz and said to him, "May Allah amend the King! Verily, the wish is won and there is no opposition to that thou commandest."

Quoth Al-Aziz, "By Allah's leave are wishes won. How deemest thou, O King, of fetching Al-Abbas and doc.u.menting the marriage-contract between Mariyah and him?" and quoth Ins bin Kays, "Thine be the rede." So Al-Aziz sent after his son and acquainted him with that which had pa.s.sed; whereupon Al-Abbas called for four-and-twenty mules and ten horses and as many camels and loaded the mules with fathom-long pieces of silk and rugs of leather and boxes of camphor and musk and the camels and horses with chests of gold and silver. Eke, he took the richest of the stuffs and wrapping them in wrappers of gold, purfled silk, laid them on the heads of porters,[FN#427] and they fared on with the treasures till they reached the King of Baghdad's palace, whereupon all who were present dismounted in honour of Al-Abbas and escorting him in a body to the presence of Ins bin Kays, displayed to the King all that they had with them of things of price. The King bade carry all this into the store rooms of the Harim and sent for the Kazis and the witnesses, who wrote out the contract and married Mariyah to Al-Abbas, whereupon the Prince commanded slaughter one thousand head of sheep and five hundred buffaloes. So they spread the bride-feast and bade thereto all the tribes of the Arabs, men of tents and men of towns, and the banquet continued for the s.p.a.ce of ten days. Then Al-Abbas went into Mariyah in a commendable and auspicious hour and lay with her and found her a pearl unthridden and a goodly filly no rider had ridden;[FN#428] wherefore he rejoiced and was glad and made merry, and care and sorrow ceased from him and his life was pleasant and trouble departed and he ceased not abiding with her in most joyful case and in the most easeful of life, till seven days were past, when King Al-Aziz resolved to set out and return to his realm and bade his son seek leave of his father-in-law to depart with his wife to his own country. So Al-Abbas spoke of this to King Ins, who granted him the permission he sought; whereupon he chose out, a red camel,[FN#429] taller and more valuable than the rest of the camels, and loading it with apparel and ornaments, mounted Mariyah in a litter thereon. Then they spread the ensigns and the standards, whilst kettledrums beat and the trumpets blared, and set out upon the homewards way. The King of Baghdad rode forth with them and companied them three days' journey on their route, after which he farewelled them and returned with his troops to Baghdad. As for King Al-Aziz and his son, they fared on night and day and gave not over going till there remained but three days'

journey between them and Al-Yaman, when they despatched three men of the couriers to the Prince's mother to report that they were bringing with them Mariyah, the King's daughter of Baghdad, and returning safe and laden with spoil. When the Oueen-mother heard this, her wit took wings for joy and she adorned the slave-girls of Al-Abbas after the finest fashion. Now he had ten hand-maids, as they were moons, whereof his father had carried five with him to Baghdad, as hath erst been set forth, and the remaining five abode with his mother. When the dromedary-posts[FN#430] came, they were certified of the approach of Al-Abbas, and when the sun easted and their flags were seen flaunting, the Prince's mother came out to meet her son; nor on that day was there great or small, boy or grey-beard, but went forth to greet the king. Then the kettle-drums of glad tidings beat and they entered in the utmost of pomp and the extreme of magnificence; so that the tribes and the townspeople heard of them and brought them the richest of gifts and the rarest of presents and the Prince's mother rejoiced with joy exceeding. They butchered beasts and spread mighty bride-feasts for the people and kindled fires,[FN#431] that it might be visible afar to townsman and tribesman that this was the house of hospitality and the stead of the wedding-festival, to the intent that, if any pa.s.sed them by, it should be of his own sin against himself. So the folk came to them from all districts and quarters and in this way they abode days and months. Presently the Prince's mother bade fetch the five slave-girls to that a.s.sembly; whereupon they came and the ten damsels met. The queen seated five of them on her son's right hand and the other five on his left and the folk gathered about them. Then she bade the five who had remained with her speak forth somewhat of poesy, so they might entertain therewith the seance and that Al-Abbas might rejoice thereat. Now she had clad them in the costliest of clothes and adorned them with trinkets and ornaments and moulded work of gold and silver and collars of gold, wrought with pearls and gems. So they paced forward, with harps and lutes and zithers and recorders and other instruments of music before them, and one of them, a damsel who came from the land of China and whose name was Ba'uthah, advanced and screwed up the strings of her lute. Then she cried out from the top of her head and recited these couplets,

"Indeed your land returned, when you returned, * To whilom light which overgrew its gloom: Green grew the land that was afore dust-brown. * And fruits that failed again showed riping bloom: And clouds rained treasures after rain had lacked, * And plenty poured from earth's re-opening womb.

Then ceased the woes, my lords, that garred us weep, * With tears like dragons' blood, our severance-doom, Whose length, by Allah, made me yeam and pine, * Would Heaven, O lady mine, I were thy groom!"

When she had ended her song, all who were present were delighted and Al-Abbas rejoiced in this. Then he bade the second damsel sing somewhat on the same theme. So she came forward and tightening the strings of her harp, which was of bala.s.s ruby,[FN#432] raised her voice in a plaintive air and improvised these couplets,

"Brought the Courier glad news of our absentees,[FN#433] * To please us through those who had wrought us unease: Cried I, 'My life ransom thee, messenger man, * Thou hast kept thy faith and thy boons are these.'

An the nightlets of union in you we joyed * When fared you naught would our grief appease; You sware that folk would to folk be true, * And you kept your oaths as good faith decrees.

To you made I oath true lover am I * Heaven guard me when sworn from all perjuries: I fared to meet you and loud I cried, * 'Aha, fair welcome when come you please!"

And I joyed to meet you and when you came, * Deckt all the dwelling with tapestries, And death in your absence to us was dight, * But your presence bringeth us life and light."

When she had made an end of her verse, Al-Abbas bade the third damsel (who came from Samarkand of Ajam-land and whose name was Rummanah) sing, and she answered, "To hear is to obey." Then she took the zither and crying out from the midst of her head, recited and sang these couplets,[FN#434]

"My watering mouth declares thy myrtle-cheek my food to be * And cull my lips thy side-face rose, who lily art to me!