wherewith I am afflicted in the matter of this damsel.” Quoth the Jew, “For the present, take this casting-bottle of rose-water and go forthright and sprinkle them therewith: an they be aswoon for this their union and embrace, they will recover, and if otherwise, then take to flight.” The Shakyh snatched the casting-bottle from the Jew and going up to the twain, sprinkled their faces, whereupon they came to themselves and fell to relating each to other that which they had suffered, since both had been parted, for the pangs of severance. Nur al-Din also acquainted Sitt al-Milah with that which he had endured from the folk who would have killed[333] him and utterly annihilated him; and she said to him, “O my lord, let us for the nonce leave this talk and praise Allah for reunion of loves, and all this shall cease from us.” Then she gave him the cup and he said, “By Allah, I will on no wise drink it, whilst I am in this case!” So she drank it off before him and taking the lute, swept the strings and sang these couplets:— O absent fro’ me and yet present in place, ✿ Thou art far from mine eyes and yet ever nigh! Thy farness bequeathed me all sorrow and care ✿ And my troublous life can no joy espy: Lone, forlorn, weeping-eyelidded, miserablest, ✿ I abide for thy sake as though banisht I: Then (ah grief o’ me!) far thou hast fared from sight ✿ Yet canst no more depart me than apple of eye! When she had made an end of her verse, she wept and the young man of Damascus, Nur al-Din, wept also. Then she took the lute and improvised these couplets:— Well Allah wots I never namèd you ✿ But tears o’erbrimming eyes in floods outburst; And passion raged and pine would do me die, ✿ Yet my heart rested wi’ the thought it nurst; O eye-light mine, O wish and O my hope! ✿ Your face can never quench mine eyes’ hot thirst. When Nur al-Din heard these his slave-girl’s verses, he fell a-weeping, while she strained him to her bosom and wiped away his tears with her sleeve and questioned him and comforted his mind. Then she took the lute and sweeping its strings, played thereon with such performing as would move the staidest to delight and sang these couplets:— Indeed, what day brings not your sight to me. ✿ That day I rem’mber not as dight to me! And, when I vainly long on you to look, ✿ My life is lost, Oh life and light o’ me!