Masrur wept sore hearing these verses and apprehending their significance. Now Nasim knew that which was between him and her sister of love and longing, ecstasy and passion; so she said to him, "Allah upon thee, O Masrur, away from this house, lest any see thee and deem thou comest on my account! Indeed thou hast caused my sister quit it and now thou wouldst drive me also away. Thou knowest that, but for thee, the house would not now be void of its dwellers: so be consoled for her loss and leave her: what is past is past." When he heard this, he wept bitterly and said to her, "O Nasim, if I could, I should fly for longing after her; so how can I be comforted for her?" Quoth she, "Thou hast no device save patience;" and quoth he, "I beseech thee, for Allah's sake, write me a writ to her, as from thyself, and get me an answer from her, to comfort my heart and quench the fire in my vitals." She replied, "With love and gladness," and took inkcase and paper, whilst Masrur began to set out to her the violence of his longing and what tortures he suffered for the anguish of severance, saying, "This letter is from the lover despairing and sorrowful * the bereaved, the woeful * with whom no peace can stay * nor by night nor by day * but he weepeth copious tears alway. * Indeed, tears his eyelids have ulcerated and his sorrows have kindled in his liver a fire unsated. His lamentation is lengthened and restlessness is strengthened and he is as he were a bird unmated * While for sudden death he awaiteth * Alas, my desolation for the loss of thee * and alas, my yearning affliction for the companionship of thee! * Indeed, emaciation hath wasted my frame * and my tears a torrent became * mountains and plains are straitened upon me for grame * and of the excess of my distress, I go saying, "Still cleaves to this homestead mine ecstasy, * And redoubled pine for its dwellers I dree; And I send to your quarters the tale of my love * And the cup of your love gave the Cup-boy to me. And for faring of you and your farness from home * My wounded lids are from tears ne'er free: O thou leader of litters, turn back with my love * For my heart redoubleth its ardency: Greet my love and say him that naught except * Those brown-red lips deals me remedy: They bore him away and our union rent * And my vitals with Severance-shaft shot he: My love, my lowe and my longing to him * Convey, for of parting no cure I see: I swear an oath by your love that I * Will keep pact and covenant faithfully, To none I'll incline or forget your love * How shall love-sick lover forgetful be? So with you be the peace and my greeting fair * In letters that perfume of musk-pod bear."