do?" "Take these three hundred diners," rejoined the Wazir When the Keeper heard speak of the gold, he said, "O my lord, whatso thou wilt, do!" So the Wazir gave him the monies, saying, "Inshallah, we will make a good work in this place!" Then they left him and returned to their lodging, where they passed the night; and when it was the next day, the Minister sent for a plasterer and a painter and a skilful goldsmith and, furnishing them with all the tools they wanted, carried them to the garden, where he bade them whitewash the walls of the pavilion and decorate it with various kinds of paintings. Moreover he sent for gold and lapis lazuli[FN#40] and said to the painter, "Figure me on the wall, at the upper end of this hall, a man fowler with his nets spread and birds falling into them and a female pigeon entangled in the meshes by her bill." And when the painter had finished his picture on one side, the Wazir said, "Figure me on the other side a similar figure and represent the she pigeon alone in the snare and the fowler seizing her and setting the knife to her neck; and draw on the third side wall, a great raptor clutching the male pigeon, her mate, and digging talons into him." The artist did his bidding, and when he and the others had finished the designs, they received their hire and went away. Then the Wazir and his companions took leave of the Gardener and returned to their place, where they sat down to converse. And Taj al-Muluk said to Aziz, "O my brother, recite me some verses: perchance it may broaden my breast and dispel my dolours and quench the fire flaming in my heart." So Aziz chanted with sweet modulation these couplets, "Whate'er they say of grief to lovers came, * I, weakling I, can single handed claim: An seek thou watering spot,[FN#41] my streaming eyes * Pour floods that thirst would quench howe'er it flame Or wouldest view what ruin Love has wrought * With ruthless hands, then see this wasted frame." And his eyes ran over with tears and he repeated these couplets also, "Who loves not swan-neck and gazelle-like eyes, * Yet claims to know Life's joys, I say he lies: In Love is mystery, none avail to learn * Save he who loveth in pure loving wise. Allah my heart ne'er lighten of this love, * Nor rob the wakefulness these eyelids prize." Then he changed the mode of song and sang these couplets: "Ibn Síná[FN#42] in his Canon cloth opine * Lovers' best cure is found in merry song: In meeting lover of a like degree, * Dessert in garden, wine draughts long and strong: I chose another who of thee might cure * While Force and Fortune aided well and long But ah! I learnt Love's mortal ill, wherein * Ibn Sina's recipe is fond and wrong."