"O Kings of beauty, grace to prisoner ta'en * Of eyelids fit to rule the Chosroës' reign: Ye pass the wafts of musk in perfumed breath; * Your cheeks the charms of blooming rose disdain. The softest Zephyr breathes where pitch ye camp * And thence far-scattered sweetness fills the plain: Censor of me, leave blame and stint advice! * Thou bringest wearying words and wisdom vain: Why heat my passion with this flame and up- * braid me when naught thou knowest of its bane? Captured me eyes with passion maladifs, * And overthrew me with Love's might and main: I scatter tears the while I scatter verse; * You are my theme for rhyme and prosy strain. Melted my vitals glow of rosy cheeks * And in the Lazá-lowe my heart is lain: Tell me, an I leave to discourse of you, * What speech my breast shall broaden? Tell me deign! Life-long I loved the lovelings fair, but ah, * To grant my wish eke Allah must be fain!" Hearing his verses the old woman was moved to ruth for him and Allah planted the seed of affection for him in her heart; so coming up to him she consoled him, saying, "Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear and put away trouble from thy thought, for, by Allah, I will venture my life with thee, till thou attain thine aim or death undo me!" With this, Hasan's heart was comforted and his bosom broadened and he sat talking with the old woman till the end of the day, when all the girls dispersed, some entering their town-mansions and others nighting in the tents. Then the old woman carried him into the city and lodged him in a place apart, lest any should come to know of him and tell the Queen of him and she should slay him and slay her who had brought him thither. Moreover, she served him herself and strave to put him in fear of the awful majesty of the Supreme King, his wife's father; whilst he wept before her and said, "O my lady, I choose death for myself and loathe this worldly life, if I foregather not with my wife and children: I have set my existence on the venture and will either attain my aim or die." So the old woman fell to pondering the means of bringing him and his wife together and casting about how to do in the case of this unhappy one, who had thrown himself into destruction and would not be diverted from his purpose by fear or aught else; for, indeed he recked not of his life and the sayer of bywords saith, "Lover in nowise hearkeneth he to the speech of the man who is fancy-free." Now the name of the Queen of the island wherein they were was Núr al-Hudŕ,[FN#137] eldest daughter of the Supreme King, and she had six virgin sisters, abiding with their father, whose capital and court were in the chief city of that region and who had made her ruler over all the lands and islands of Wak. So when the ancient dame saw Hasan on fire with yearning after his wife and children, she rose up and repaired to the palace and going in to Queen Nur al-Huda kissed ground