"O thou sheeniest Sun who in night dost shine! * O who stole my soul with those large black eyne! O slim-shaped fair with the graceful neck! * O who shamest Rose wi' those cheeks o' thine! Blind not our sight wi' thy fell disdain, * Disdain, that shall load us with pain and pine; Passion homes in our inmost, nor will be quenched * The fire of yearning in vitals li'en: Your love has housčd in heart of me * And of issue but you see I ne'er a sign: Then haply you'll pity this hapless wight * Thy sad lover and then—O the Morn divine!" When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she cast at him a glance of eyes, that bequeathed him a thousand regrets and sighs and his wits and soul were ravished in such wise, and answered him with these couplets[FN#321], "Think not from her, of whom thou art enamoured aye * To win delight; so put desire from thee away. Leave that thou hop'st, for 'gainst her rigours whom thou lov'st * Among the fair, in vain is all thou canst essay. My looks to lovers bring discomfiture and woe: Indeed, * I make no count of that which thou dost say." When Masrur heard this, he hardened his heart and took patience concealing his case and saying in himself, "There is nothing for it against calamity save long-suffering;" and after this fashion they abode till nightfall when Zayn al-Mawasif called for food and they set before her a tray wherein were all manner of dishes, quails and pigeons and mutton and so forth, whereof they ate their sufficiency. Then she bade take away the tables and they did so and fetched the lavatory gear; and they washed their hands, after which she ordered her women to bring the candlesticks, and they set on candelabra and candles therein of camphorated wax. Thereupon quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "By Allah, my breast is straitened this night and I am afevered;" and quoth Masrur, "Allah broaden thy breast and banish thy bane!" Then she said, "O Masrur, I am used to play at chess: say me, knowest aught of the game?" He replied, "Yes; I am skilled therein;" whereupon she commanded her handmaid Hubub fetch her the chessboard. So she went away and presently returning with the board, set it before her, and behold, it was of ivory-marquetried ebony with squares marked in glittering gold, and its pieces of pearl and ruby.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-seventh Night,