第87章 KEMEREZZEMAN AND BUDOUR.(49)

Here and there stood censers of aloes-wood and ambergris and sweet-scented musk，and at the upper end was a couch covered with brocade，on which he seated himself，marvelling at the exceeding magnificence of the place and knowing not what was appointed to him in the secret purpose of God.As he sat musing on his case，the Khalifs sister entered，followed by her handmaid，and seeing him seated there took him for a slave-girl and said to him，'What art thou，O damsel，and who brought thee hither？'He made no reply and she continued，'If thou be one of my brothers favourites and he be wroth with thee，I will intercede with him for thee.'But he answered her not a word；so she said to her maid，'Stand at the door and let none enter.'Then she went up to Nimeh and looking at him，was amazed at his beauty and said to him，'O lady，tell me who thou art and how thou camest here；for I have never seen thee in the palace.'Still he answered not，whereat she was angered and putting her hand to his bosom，found no breasts and would have unveiled him，that she might know who he was；but he said to her，'O my lady，I am thy slave and cast myself on thy protection；do thou protect me.'No harm shall come to thee，'said she；'but tell me who thou art and who brought thee into this my lodging.'O princess，'answered he，'I am known as Nimeh ben er Rebya of Cufa，and I have ventured my life for my slave-girl Num，whom El Hejjaj took by sleight and sent hither.'Fear not，'rejoined the princess；'no harm shall befall thee.'Then，calling her maid，she said to her，'Go to Nums chamber and bid her to me.'

Meanwhile，the old woman went to Nums bed-chamber and said to her，'Has thy lord come to thee？'No，by Allah！' answered Num，and the other said，'Belike he hath gone astray and entered some chamber other than thine.'There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High，the Supreme！' exclaimed Num.'Our last hour is come and we are all lost.'As they sat，pondering，in came the princesss maid and saluting Num，said to her，'My lady bids thee to her entertainment.'I hear and obey，'answered the damsel，and the old woman said，'Belike thy lord is with the Khalifs sister and the veil has been done away.'So Num rose and betook herself to the princess，who said to her，'Here is thy lord sitting with me；it seems he has gone astray；but，please God，neither thou nor he has any cause for fear.'When Num heard this，she took heart and went up to Nimeh，who rose to meet her，and they embraced and fell down in a swoon.As soon as they came to themselves，the princess said to them，'Sit down and let us take counsel for your deliverance from this your strait.'And they answered，'O our lady，we hear and obey： it is thine to command.'By Allah，'quoth she，'no harm shall befall you from us！'Then she called for meat and drink，and they sat down and ate till they had enough，after which they sat drinking.The cup went round amongst them and their cares ceased from them；but Nimeh said，'Would I knew how this will end！'O Nimeh，'quoth the princess，'dost thou love thy slave Num？'O my lady，'answered he，'it is my passion for her that has brought me thus in peril of my life.'Then she said to the damsel，'O Num，dost thou love thy lord Nimeh？'And she replied，'O my lady，it is the love of him that has wasted my body and brought me to evil case.'By Allah，'rejoined the princess，'since ye love each other thus，may he not live who would sunder you！Take heart and be of good cheer.' At this they both rejoiced，and Num，calling for a lute，tuned it and preluded enchantingly，then sang the following verses：

Whenas，content with nothing less，the spies our sevrance sought，Allbe no debt of blood they had gainst me or thee in aught，Whenas they poured upon our ears the hurtling din of war，Whilst helpers and protectors failed and succour came there nought，I fought the railers with my tears，my spirit and thine eyes；

Yea，with the torrent，fire and sword，to fend them off I wrought.

Then she gave the lute to Nimeh，saying，'Sing thou to us.'So he took it and playing a lively measure，sang these verses：

The moon were like thee at its full，were it of freckles free，And did it never brook eclipse，the sun would favour thee.

Indeed，I marvel，（but in love how many a marvel is！Therein are passion and desire and cares and ecstasy，）

Short seems the distance，when I fare towards my loves abode；

But when I journey from her sight，the way is long to me.

When he had made an end of his song，Num filled the cup and gave it to him，and he drank it off；then she filled again and gave the cup to the princess，who took it and emptied it；after which she in her turn took the lute and sang as follows：

Mourning and grief possess my heart and in my breast The ardour of desire abideth as a guest.

The wasting of my frame，alas！is manifest And all my soul is sick with passion and unrest.

Then she filled the cup and gave it to Num，who drankit off and taking the lute，sang the following verses：

O thou，upon whom I bestowed my soul and thou rackdst it to death And I would have taen it again，but could not release it i faith，Relent to a lover forlorn；vouchsafe him，I pray，ere he die，What may from perdition redeem，for this is the last of his breath.

They ceased not to sing and make merry and drink to the sweet sound of the strings，full of mirth and joyance and good cheer，till，behold，in came the Commander of the Faithful.When they saw him，they rose and kissed the ground before him；and he，seeing Num with the lute in her hand，said to her，'O Num，praised be God who hath done away from thee pain and affliction！'

Then he looked at Nimeh （who was still disguised as a woman） and said to the princess，'O my sister，what damsel is this by Nums side？'O Commander of the Faithful，'answered she，'she is one of thy slave-girls and the bosom friend of Num，who will neither eat nor drink without her.'And she repeated the words of the poet：

Two opposites，dissevered still in charms and straitly knit，And each ones beauty brightlier shows against its opposite.