If any other share with me in her whom I adore, I'll root out passion from my heart, though longing me destroy; And I will say unto my soul, "Death is the better part;" For love is naught that men with me in common do enjoy. Then he said to the slave, "Smite her, O Saad!" Whereupon the latter bent down to me and said, "O my lady, repeat the profession of the faith and tell us if there be aught thou wouldst have done, for thy last hour is come." "O good slave," said I, "grant me a little respite, that I may give thee my last injunctions." Then I raised my head and considered my case and how I had fallen from high estate into abjection; wherefore the tears streamed from my eyes and I wept passing sore. He looked at me with angry eyes and repeated the following Say unto her who wronged us, on whom our kisses tire, Her that hath chosen another for darling of desire, Lo, we will spurn thee from us, before thou cast us off! That which is past between us suffices to our ire. When I heard this, I wept and looked at him and repeated the following verses: You doom my banishment from love and all unmoved remain; You rob my wounded lids of rest and sleep whilst I complain. You make mine eyes familiar with watching and unrest; Yet can my heart forget you not, nor eyes from tears refrain. You swore to me that you would keep, for aye, your plighted faith; But when my heart was yours, you broke the oath that you had ta'en. Are you secure against the shifts of time and evil chance, That you've no mercy on my love nor aught of pity deign? If I must die, I prithee, write, 'fore God, upon my tomb, "A slave of passion lieth here, who died of love in vain." It may be one shall pass that way, who knows the pangs of love, And looking on a lover's grave, take pity on her pain. Then I wept; and when he heard what I said and saw my tears, his anger redoubled, and he repeated the following verses: I left the darling of my heart, not from satiety; But she had sinned a sin that called aloud for punishment. She would have ta'en another in to share with me her love, But the religion of my heart to share will not consent[FN#57]. Then I wept again and implored him, saying to myself, "I will work on him with words; so haply he may spare my life, though he take all I have." So I complained to him of my sufferings and repeated the following verses: If thou indeed wert just to me, thou wouldst not take my life. Alas! against the law of Death no arbiter is there! Thou layst upon my back the load of passion and desire, When I for weakness scarce can lift the very gown I wear! That so my soul should waste away, small wonder is to me; But oh! I wonder how my flesh can thine estrangement bear. Then I wept again, and he looked at me and reviled and reproached me, repeating the following verses: