The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 08 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 08 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
Then, despairing of her, they took counsel together and with one mind
agreed to fashion her image and set it up with them, and applied
themselves to this till there came to them the Destroyer of delights
and Severer of societies. Meanwhile, Zayn al-Mawasif fared on, without
ceasing, to find her lover Masrur, till she reached her own house. She
opened the doors, and entered; then she sent to her sister Nasim, who
rejoiced with exceeding joy at the news of her return and brought her
the furniture and precious stuffs left in her charge. So she furnished
the house and dressed it, hanging the curtains over the doors and
burning aloes-wood and musk and ambergris and other essences till the
whole place reeked with the most delightful perfumes: after which the
Adornment of Qualities donned her finest dress and decorations and sat
talking with her maids, whom she had left behind when journeying, and
related to them all that had befallen her first and last. Then she
turned to Hubub and giving her dirhams, bade her fetch them something
to eat. So she brought meat and drink and when they had made an end of
eating and drinking,[FN#372] Zayn al-Mawasif bade Hubub go and see
where Masrur was and how it fared with him. Now he knew not of her
return; but abode with concern overcast and sorrow might not be
overpast;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.
When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-third Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
al-Mawasif entered her house she was met by her sister Nasim who
brought her the furniture and stuffs wherewith she furnished the place;
and then she donned her finest dress. But Masrur knew naught of her
return and abode with concern overcast and sorrow might not be
overpast; no peace prevailed with him nor was patience possible to him.
Whenas pine and passion, desire and distraction waxed on him, he would
solace himself by reciting verse and go to the house and set him its
walls to buss. It chanced that he went out that day to the place where
he had parted from his mistress and repeated this rare song,
"My wrongs hide I, withal they show to sight; * And now mine eyes
from sleep to wake are dight.
I cry when melancholy tries my sprite * Last not, O world nor
work more despight;
Lo hangs my soul 'twixt hardship and affright.
Were the Sultan hight Love but fair to me, * Slumber mine eyes'
companion were to me,
My Lords, some little mercy spare to me, * Chief of my tribe: be
debonnair to me,
Whom Love cast down, erst rich now pauper-wight!
Censors may blame thee but I look beyond * Mine ears I stop and
leave their lies unconned
And keep my pact wi' those I love so fond: * They say, 'Thou
lov'st a runaway!' I respond,
'Whist! whenas Fate descends she blinds the sight!'"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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