his hand, and he gathered her to his breast and seated her on his knee.[161] Then food was brought to them and they ate and washed their hands; after which she took the lute and sang, till Al-Rashid was moved to sleep. When aware of this, she ceased singing and told him her adventure with the Lady Zubaydah, saying, “O Prince of True Believers, I would have thee favour me with a favour and hearten my heart and accept my intercession and reject not my supplication, but fare thee forthright to the Lady Zubaydah.” Now this talk befel after he had stripped himself naked and she also had doffed her dress; and he said, “Thou shouldst have named this ere we stripped ourselves naked, I and thou!” But she answered, saying, “O Commander of the Faithful, I did this not except in accordance with the saying of the poet in these couplets:— Of all intercessions can none succeed, ✿ Save whatso Tohfah bint Marján sue’d: No intercessor who comes enveiled;[162] ✿ She sues the best who sues mother-nude.” When Al-Rashid heard this, her speech pleased him and he strained her to his bosom. Then he went forth from her and locked the door upon her, as before; whereupon she took the book and sat perusing it awhile. Presently, she set it aside and taking the lute, tightened its strings; and smote thereon, after a wondrous fashion, such as would have moved inanimate things to dance, and fell to singing marvellous melodies and chanting these couplets:— Cease for change to wail, ✿ The world blames who rail; Bear patient its shafts ✿ That for aye prevail. How often a joy ✿ Grief-garbed thou shalt hail: How oft gladding bliss ✿ Shall appear amid bale! [Illustration]