"O who hast quitted these abodes and faredst lief and light * To other objects of thy love with fain and fastest flight! Deem'st thou that 'bided I with you in solace and in joy * Or that my days amid you all were clear of bane and blight? When I was captive ta'en of Love and snarčd in his snare, * He made of Love my prison and he fared fro' me forthright: So when my fear was hidden, he made sure that ne'er should I * Pray to the One, th' Omnipotent to render me my right: He charged his mother keep the secret with all the care she could, * In closet shut and treated me with enemy's despight: But I o'erheard their words and held them fast in memory * And hoped for fortune fair and weal and blessings infinite: My faring to the Hammam-bath then proved to me the means * Of making minds of folk to be confounded at my sight: Wondered the Bride of Al-Rashid to see my brilliancy * When she beheld me right and left with all of beauty dight: Then quoth I, 'O our Caliph's wife, I once was wont to own * A dress of feathers rich and rare that did the eyes delight: An it were now on me thou shouldst indeed see wondrous things * That would efface all sorrows and disperse all sores of sprite:' Then deigned our Caliph's Bride to cry, 'Where is that dress of thine?' * And I replied, 'In house of him kept darkling as the night.' So down upon it pounced Masrúr and brought it unto her, * And when 'twas there each feather cast a ray of beaming light: Therewith I took it from his hand and opened it straightway * And saw its plumčd bosom and its buttons pleased my sight: And so I clad myself therein and took with me my babes; * And spread my wings and flew away with all my main and might; Saying, 'O husband's mother mine tell him when cometh he * An ever wouldest meet her thou from house and home must flee."'