"Masrur joys life made fair by all delight of days, * Fulfilled of boons, while mine the sorest grief displays. The Days have falsed me in the breast of her I love * And in my heart are fires which all-consuming blaze: Yea, Time was clear for thee, but now 'tis past and gone * While yet her lovely charms thy wit and senses daze: Espied these eyes of mine her gifts of loveliness: * Oh, hard my case and sore my woe on spirit weighs! I saw the maiden of the tribe deal rich old wine * Of lips like Salsabíl to friend my love betrays: E'en so, O mocking-bird, thou dost betray my breast * And to a rival teachest Love and lover-ways: Strange things indeed and wondrous saw these eyne of me * Which were they sleep-drowned still from Sleep's abyss would raise: I see my best belovčd hath forsworn my love * And eke like my mocking-bird fro' me a-startled strays. By truth of Allah, Lord of Worlds who, whatso wills * His Fate, for creatures works and none His hest gainsays, Forsure I'll deal to that ungodly wight his due * Who but to sate his wicked will her heart withdrew!" When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, her side-muscles trembled and quoth she to her handmaid, "Heardest thou those lines?"; whereupon quoth the girl, "I never heard him in my born days recite the like of these verses; but let him say what he will." Then having assured himself of the truth of his suspicions, the Jew began to sell all his property, saying to himself, "Unless I part them by removing her from her mother land the twain will not turn back from this that they are engaged in, no, never!" So, when he had converted all his possessions into coin, he forged a letter and read it to Zayn al-Mawasif, declaring that it had come from his kinsmen, who invited him to visit them, him and his wife. She asked, "How long shall we tarry with them?" and he answered, "Twelve days." Accordingly she consented to this and said, "Shall I take any of my maids with me?"; whereto he replied, "Take Hubub and Sukub and leave Khutub here." Then he made ready a handsome camel-litter[FN#349] for his spouse and her women and prepared to set out with them; whilst she sent to her leman, telling him what had betided her and saying, "O Masrur, an the trysting-time[FN#350] that is between us pass and I come not back, know that he hath cheated and cozened us and planned a plot to separate us each from other, so forget thou not the plighted faith betwixt us, for I fear that he hath found out our love and I dread his craft and perfidy." Then, whilst her man was busy about his march she fell a-weeping and lamenting and no peace was left her, night or day. Her husband saw this, but took no note thereof; and when she saw there was scant help for it, she gathered together her clothes and gear and deposited them with her sister, telling her what had befallen her. Then she farewelled her and going out from her, drowned in tears, returned to her own house, where she