glory and virtues; after which they pitched him a pavilion of red satin, emblazoned with pearls and jewels, in which they spread him a royal divan, upon a silken carpet embroidered at the upper end with emeralds. The prince seated himself on the divan, whilst his servants stood in attendance upon him, and bade the merchants bring out all that they had with them. Accordingly, they produced all their merchandise, and he viewed it and took of it what liked him, paying them the price. Then he remounted and was about to ride onward, when his eyes fell on a handsome young man, well dressed and elegantly made, with flower-white forehead and face brilliant as the moon, save that his beauty was wasted and that pallor had invaded his cheeks by reason of separation from those he loved: sighing and lamentation were grievous upon him and the tears streamed from his eyelids, as he repeated the following verses: Absence is long and care and fear are heavy on my soul, Whilst from mine eyes the tears, O friend, without cessation roll. Alas, I left my heart behind upon the parting day, And now sans heart, sans hope, abide all lonely in my dole. Pause with me, O my friend, what while I take my leave of one By whose sweet speech diseases all and sorrows are made whole. Having said this, he wept awhile and fell down in a swoon, whilst Taj el Mulouk looked at him wonderingly then coming to himself, he stared fixedly before him, with distracted air, and repeated these other verses: I rede thee beware of her glance, for, lo, 'tis a wizard, I ween! None 'scapeth unscathed of the shafts of her eyes, that has gazed on their sheen. For, trust me, black eyes, that are armed with the grace of a languorous look, Are swifter and sharper to wound than scimitars, tempered and keen. And let not thy mind be beguiled by the sweet and the soft of her words; For the fever that springs from her speech o'ermasters the senses, demesne. Soft-sided, were silk but to press on her skin, it would cause it to bleed, So delicate-bodied she is and so nesh, as forsooth thou hast seen. Right chary she is of the charms 'twixt her neck and her anklets that lie, And what is the sweetest of scents to the fragrance that breathes from my queen!