第90章

Ah！ had this lasted as hop？d we，but * He left only our breasts and the rosery.

Will revolving days on Re-union dawn？ * Then our vow to the Lord shall accomplisht be.

Learn thou our lots are in hand of Him * Who on lines of skull[352] writes our destiny！'

Then she wept with sore weeping and returned to the house；wailing and remembering what had passed and saying，'Glory be to God who hath decreed to us this！'And her affliction redoubled for severance from her beloved and her departure from her mother-land，and she recited these couplets；'Allah's peace on thee，House of Vacancy！ * Ceased in thee all our joys，all our jubilee.

O thou Dove of the homestead，ne'er cease to bemoan * Whose moons and full moons[353] sorest severance dree：

Masrār，fare softly and mourn our loss；* Loving thee our eyes lose their brilliancy：

Would thy sight had seen，on our marching day，* Tears shed by a heart in Hell's flagrancy！

Forget not the plight in the garth-shade pledged * When we sat enveil？d in privacy：'

Then she presented herself before her husband，who lifted her into the litter he had let make for her；and，when she found herself on the camel's back，she recited these couplets；'The Lord，empty House！ to thee peace decree * Long we bore therein growth of misery：

Would my life-thread were shorn in that safe abode * And o'night I had died in mine ecstasy！

Home-sickness I mourn，and my strangerhood * Irks my soul，nor the riddle of future I ree.

Would I wot shall I ever that house resee * And find it，as erst；home of joy and glee！'

Said her husband，'O Zayn al-Mawasif grieve not for thy departure from thy dwelling；for thou shalt return to it ere long Inshallah！'And he went on to comfort her heart and soothe her sorrow.Then all set out and fared on till they came without the town and struck into the high road，whereupon she knew that separation was certain and this was very grievous to her.And while such things happened Masrur sat in his quarters，pondering his case and that of his mistress，and his heart forewarned him of severance.So he rose without stay and delay and repairing to her house，found the outer door padlocked and read the couplets she had written thereon；upon which he fell down in a fainting fit.When he came to himself，he opened the first door and entering，read what was written upon the second and likewise upon the third doors；wherefore passion and love-longing and distraction grew on him.So he went forth and hastened in her track，till he came up with the light caravan[354] and found her at the rear，whilst her husband rode in the van，because of his merchandise.When he saw her，he clung to the litter，weeping and wailing for the anguish of parting，and recited these couplets；'Would I wot for what crime shot and pierced are we * Thro'the days with Estrangement's archery！

O my heart's desire，to thy door I came * One day，when high waxt mine expectancy：

But I found the home waste as the wold and void * And I'plained my pine and groaned wretchedly：

And I asked the walls of my friends who fared * With my heart in pawn and in pendency；

And they said，'All marched from the camp and left *An ambushed sorrow on hill and lea；'

And a writ on the walls did they write，as write * Folk who keep their faith while the Worlds are three.'

Now when Zayn al-Mawasif heard these lines，she knew that it was Masrur.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night； She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that when Zayn al-Mawasif heard these lines she knew that it was Masrur and wept，she and her handmaids，and said to him，'O Masrur，I

conjure thee by Allah，turn back，lest my husband see us twain together！'At her words he swooned away；and when he revived；they took leave each of other and he recited the following couplets；'The Caravan-chief calleth loud o'night * Ere the Breeze bear his cry in the morninglight：

They girded their loads and prepared to fare，* And hurried while murmured the leader-wight.

They scent the scene on its every side，* As their march through the valley they expedite.

After winning my heart by their love they went * O'morn when their track could deceive my sight.

O my neighbour fair，I reckt ne'er to part，* Or the ground bedewed with my tears to sight！

Woe betide my heart，now hath Severance hand * To heart and vitals dealt bane and blight.'

Then he clung to the litter，weeping and wailing，whilst she besought him to turn back ere morn for fear of scorn.So he came up to her Haudaj and farewelling her a second time，fell down in a swoon.He lay an hour or so without life，and when he revived he found the caravan had fared forth of sight.So he turned in the direction of their wayfare and scenting the breeze which blew from their quarter，chanted these improvised lines；'No breeze of Union to the lover blows * But moan he maketh burnt with fiery woes：

The Zephyr fans him at the dawn o'day；* But when he wakes the horizon lonely shows：

On bed of sickness strewn in pain he lies，* And weeps he bloody tears in burning throes；For the fair neighbour with my heart they bore *'Mid travellers urging beasts with cries and blows.

By Allah from their stead no Zephyr blew * But sniffed I as the wight on eyeballs goes；[355]

And snuff the sweetest South as musk it breathes * And on the longing lover scent bestows.'

Then Masrur returned，mad with love-longing，to her house，and finding it lone from end to end[356] and forlorn of friend；wept till he wet his clothes；after which he swooned away and his soul was like to leave his body.When he revived，he recited these two couplets；'O Spring-camp have ruth on mine overthrowing * My abjection，my leanness，my tears aye flowing；Waft the scented powder[357] of breezes they breathe * In hope it cure heart of a grief e'er growing.'