第86章

When she knew my mind she but smiled in mirth And cried，'Now，by the Maker of Heaven and Earth！

I'm a Jewess of Jewry's driest e'er seen And thou art naught save a Nazarene.

Why seek my favours？ Thine's other caste；

An this deed thou do thou'lt repent the past.

Say，does Love allow with two Faiths to play？

Men shall blame thee like me，at each break of day！

Wilt thou laugh at beliefs and deride their rite；And in thine and mine prove thee sinful sprite？

An thou lovedest me thou hadst turn？d Jew；Losing worlds for love and my favours due；

And by the Evangel strong oath hadst sworn To keep our secret intact from scorn！'

So I took the Torah and sware strong oath I would hold to the covenant made by both.

Then by law，religion and creed I sware；And bound her by oaths that most binding were；

And asked her，'Thy name，O my dear delight？'

And she，'Zayn al-Maw sif at home I'm hight！'

'O Zayn al-Mawasif！'（cried I）'Hear my call：

Thy love hath made me thy veriest thrall！'

Then I peeped'neath her chin-veil and'spied such charms That the longing of love filled my heart with qualms.

'Neath the curtain I ceased not to humble me；And complain of my heart-felt misery；

But when she saw me by Love beguiled She raised her face-veil and sweetly smiled：

And when breeze of Union our faces kiss'd With musk-pod she scented fair neck and wrist；

And the house with her essences seemed to drip；And I kissed pure wine from each smiling lip：

Then like branch of B n'neath her robe she swayed And joys erst unlawful[336] she lawful made：

And joined，conjoined through our night we lay With clip，kiss of inner lip，langue fourr？e.

The world hath no grace but the one loved fere In thine arms to clasp with possession sheer！

With the morn she rose and she bade Good-bye While her brow shone brighter than moon a-sky；

Reciting at parting （while tear-drops hung On her cheeks，these scattered and other strung），[337]

'Allah's pact in mind all my life I'll bear And the lovely nights and strong oath I sware.''

Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted and said to him，'O Masrur，how goodly are thy inner gifts！ May he live not who would harm thy heart！'Then she entered her boudoir and called him： so he went in to her and taking her in his arms，embraced her and hugged her and kissed her and got of her that which he had deemed impossible and rejoiced in winning the sweet of amorous will.Then said she；'O Masrur，thy good is unlawful to me and is lawfully thine again now that we are become lovers.'So she returned to him all she had taken of him and asked him，'O Masrur，hast thou a flower-garden whither we may wend and take our pleasure？'；

whereto he answered，'Yes，O my lady，I have a garden that hath not its like.'Then he returned to his lodgings and bade his slave-girls make ready a splendid banquet and a handsome room；

after which he summoned Zayn al-Mawasif who came surrounded by her damsels，and they ate and drank and made mirth and merriment；whilst the cup passed round between them and their spirits rose high.Then lover withdrew with beloved and Zayn al-Mawasif said to Masrur，'I have bethought me of some dainty verses，which I

would fain sing to the lute.'He replied，'Do sing them'；so she took the lute and tuning it，sang to a pleasant air these couplets；'Joy from stroke of string doth to me incline，* And sweet is a-morning our early wine；

Whenas Love unveileth the amourist's heart，* And by rending the veil he displays his sign；With a draught so pure，so dear，so bright，* As in hand of Moons[338] the Sun's sheeny shine O'nights it cometh with joy to'rase * The hoar of sorrow by boon divine.'

Then ending her verse，she said to him，'O Masrur，recite us somewhat of thy poetry and favour us with the fruit of thy thought.'So he recited these two couplets；'We joy in full Moon who the wine bears round，* And in concert of lutes that from gardens sound；

Where the dove moans at dawn and where bends the bough * To Morn；and all pathways of pleasure are found.'

When he had finished his recitation she said to him，'Make us some verses on that which hath passed between us an thou be occupied with love of me.'--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-first Night； She continued，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that when Zayn al-Mawasif said to Masrur，'An thou be occupied with love of me，make us some verses on that hath passed between us，''With love and gladness，'he replied and improvised the following Kasidah[339]；'Stand thou and hear what fell to me * For love of you gazelle to dree！

Shot me a white doe with her shaft * O'glances wounding woundily.

Love was my ruin，for was I * Straitened by longing ecstasy：

I loved and woo'd a young coquette * Girded by strong artillery；Whom in a garth I first beheld * A form whose sight was symmetry.

I greeted her and when she deigned * Greeting return，'Salm，'

quoth she'What be thy name？'said I，she said，*'My name declares my quality！[340]'

'Zayn al-Maw sif I am hight.'* Cried I，'Oh deign I mercy see，'

'Such is the longing in my heart * No lover claimeth rivalry！'

Quoth she，'With me an thou'rt in love * And to enjoy me pleadest plea；I want of thee oh！ muchel wealth；* Beyond all compt my wants o'

thee！

I want o'thee full many a robe * Of sendal，silk and damaskry；

A quarter quintal eke of musk： * These of one night shall pay the fee.

Pearls，unions and carnelian[341]-stones * The bestest best of jewelry！'

Of fairest patience showed I show * In contrariety albe：

At last she favoured me one night * When rose the moon a crescent wee；

An stranger blame me for her sake * I say，'O blamers listen ye！

She showeth locks of goodly length * And black as blackest night its blee；

While on her cheeks the roses glow * Like Laz -flame incendiary：

In every eyelash is a sword * And every glance hath archery：

Her liplets twain old wine contain，* And dews of fount-like purity：

Her teeth resemble strings o'pearls，* Arrayed in line and fresh from sea：

Her neck is like the neck of doe，* Pretty and carven perfectly：