STORY OF ALI BEN BEKKAR AND SHEMSENNEHAR.

There lived once [at Baghdad] in the days of the Khalif Haroun er

Reshid a merchant named Aboulhusn Ali ben Tahir, who was great of

goods and grace, handsome and pleasant-mannered, beloved of all.

He used to enter the royal palace without asking leave, for all

the Khalif's concubines and slave-girls loved him, and he was

wont to company with Er Reshid and recite verses to him and tell

him witty stories. Withal he sold and bought in the merchants'

bazaar, and there used to sit in his shop a youth named Ali ben

Bekkar, a descendant of the ancient kings of Persia, who was fair

of face and elegant of shape, with rosy cheeks and joined

eyebrows, sweet of speech and laughing-lipped, a lover of mirth

and gaiety. It chanced one day, as they sat laughing and talking,

there came up ten damsels like moons, every one of them

accomplished in beauty and symmetry, and amongst them a young

lady riding on a mule with housings of brocade and golden

stirrups. She was swathed in a veil of fine stuff, with a girdle

of gold-embroidered silk, and was even as says the poet:

She hath a skin like very silk and a soft speech and sweet;

Gracious to all, her words are nor too many nor too few.

Two eyes she hath, quoth God Most High, "Be," and forthright they

were; They work as wine upon the hearts of those whom they

ensue.

Add to my passion, love of her, each night; and, solacement Of

loves, the Resurrection be thy day of rendezvous!

The lady alighted at Aboulhusn's shop and sitting down there,

saluted him, and he returned her salute. When Ali ben Bekkar saw

her, she ravished his understanding and he rose to go away; but

she said to him, 'Sit in thy place. We came to thee and thou

goest away: this is not fair.' 'O my lady,' answered he, 'by

Allah, I flee from what I see; for the tongue of the case saith:

She's the sun and her dwelling's in heaven on high; Look, then,

to thine heart thou fair patience commend.

Thou mayst not climb up to her place in the sky, Nor may she to

thee from her heaven descend.'

When she heard this, she smiled and said to Aboulhusn, 'What is

the name of this young man?' 'He is a stranger,' answered he.

'What countryman is he?' asked she, and the merchant replied, 'He

is a descendant of the (ancient) kings of Persia; his name is Ali

ben Bekkar, and indeed it behoves us to use strangers with

honour.' 'When my damsel comes to thee,' rejoined she, 'come thou

at once to us and bring him with thee, that we may entertain him

in our abode, lest he blame us and say, "There is no hospitality

in the people of Baghdad:" for niggardliness is the worst fault

that a man can have. Thou hearest what I say to thee and if thou

disobey me, thou wilt incur my displeasure and I will never again

visit thee or salute thee.' 'On my head and eyes,' answered

Aboulhusn; 'God preserve me from thy displeasure, fair lady!'

Then she rose and went away, leaving Ali ben Bekkar in a state

of bewilderment. Presently, the damsel came and said to the

merchant, 'O my lord Aboulhusn, my lady Shemsennehar, the

favourite of the Commander of the Faithful Haroun er Reshid, bids

thee to her, thee and thy friend, my lord Ali ben Bekkar.' So he

rose and taking Ali with him, followed the girl to the Khalif's

palace, where she carried them into a chamber and made them sit

down. They talked together awhile, till she set trays of food

before them, and they ate and washed their hands. Then she

brought them wine, and they drank and made merry; after which she

bade them rise and carried them into another chamber, vaulted

upon four columns and adorned and furnished after the goodliest

fashion with various kinds of furniture and decorations, as it

were one of the pavilions of Paradise. They were amazed at the

rarities they saw and as they were gazing at these marvels, up

came ten damsels, like moons, with a proud and graceful gait,

dazzling the sight and confounding the wit, and ranged themselves

in two ranks, as they were of the houris of Paradise. After

awhile, in came ten other damsels, with lutes and other

instruments of mirth and music in their hands, who saluted the

two guests and sitting down, fell to tuning their instruments.

Then they rose and standing before them, played and sang and

recited verses: and indeed each one of them was a seduction to

the faithful. Whilst they were thus occupied, there entered other

ten damsels like unto them, high-bosomed and of an equal age,

with black eyes and rosy cheeks, joined eyebrows and languorous

looks, a seduction to the faithful and a delight to all who

looked upon them, clad in various kinds of coloured silks, with

ornaments that amazed the wit. They took up their station at the

door, and there succeeded them yet other ten damsels, fairer than

they, clad in gorgeous apparel, such as defies description; and

they also stationed themselves by the door. Then in came a band

of twenty damsels and amongst them the lady Shemsennehar, as she

were the moon among the stars, scarved with the luxuriance of her

hair and dressed in a blue robe and a veil of silk, embroidered

with gold and jewels. About her middle she wore a girdle set with

various kinds of precious stones, and she advanced with a

graceful and coquettish gait, till she came to the couch that

stood at the upper end of the chamber and seated herself thereon.

When Ali ben Bekkar saw her, he repeated the following couplets:

Yes, this is she indeed, the source of all my ill, For whom with

long desire I languish at Love's will.

Near her, I feel my soul on fire and bones worn waste For

yearning after her that doth my heart fulfih

Then said he to Aboulhusn, 'Thou hadst dealt more kindly with me

to have forewarned me of these things; that I might have prepared

my mind and taken patience to support what hath befallen me ;'

and he wept and groaned and complained. 'O my brother,' replied

Aboulhusn, 'I meant thee nought but good; but I feared to tell

thee of this, lest such transport should overcome thee as might

hinder thee from foregathering with her and intervene between

thee and her: but take courage and be of good heart, for she is

well disposed to thee and inclineth to favour thee.' 'What is the

lady's name?' asked Ali ben Bekkar. 'She is called Shemsennehar,'

answered Aboulhusn 'she is one of the favourites of the Commander

of the Faithful Haroun er Reshid and this is the palace of the

Khalifate.' Then Shemsennehar sat gazing upon Ali ben Bekkar's

charms and he upon hers, till each was engrossed with love of the

other. Presently, she commanded the damsels to sit; so they sat

down, each in her place, on a couch before one of the windows,

and she bade them sing; whereupon one of them took a lute and

sang the following verses:

Twice be the message to my love made known, And take the answer

from his lips alone.

To thee, O monarch of the fair, I come And stand, of this my case

to make my moan.

O thou my sovereign, dear my heart and life, That in my inmost

bosom hast thy throne,

Prithee, bestow a kiss upon thy slave; If not as gift, then even

as a loan.

I will repay it, (mayst thou never fail!) Even as I took it, not

a little gone.

Or, if thou wish for more than thou didst lend, Take and content

thee; it is all thine own.

May health's fair garment ever gladden thee, Thee that o'er me

the wede of woe hast thrown!

Her singing charmed Ali ben Bekkar, and he said to her, 'Sing me

more of the like of these verses.' So she struck the strings and

sang as follows:

By excess of estrangement, beloved mine, Thou hast taught long

weeping unto my eyne.

O joy of my sight and its desire, O goal of my hopes, my

worship's shrine,

Have pity on one, whose eyes are drowned In the sorrowful lover's

tears of brine!

When she had finished, Shemsennehar said to another damsel, 'Sing

us somewhat, thou.' So she played a lively measure and sang the

following verses:

His looks 'twas made me drunken, in sooth, and not his wine; And

the grace of his gait has banished sleep from these eyes of

mine.

'Twas not the wine-cup dazed me, but e'en his glossy curls; His

charms it was that raised me and not the juice o' the vine.

His winding browlocks have routed my patience, and my wit Is done

away by the beauties his garments do enshrine.[FN#5]

When Shemsennehar heard this, she sighed heavily, and the song

pleased her. Then she bade another damsel sing; so she took the

lute and chanted the following:

A face that vies, indeed, with heaven's lamp, the sun; The

welling of youth's springs upon him scarce begun.

His curling whiskers write letters wherein the sense Of love in

the extreme is writ for every one.

Beauty proclaimed of him, whenas with him it met, "A stuff in

God's best loom was fashioned forth and done!"

When she had finished, Ali Ben Bekkar. said to the damsel nearest

him, 'Sing us somewhat, thou.' So she took the lute and sang

these verses:

The time of union's all too slight For coquetry and prudish

flight.

Not thus the noble are. How long This deadly distance and

despite?

Ah, profit by the auspicious time, To sip the sweets of

love-delight.

Ali ben Bekkar followed up her song with plentiful tears; and

when Shemsennehar saw him weeping and groaning and lamenting, she

burned with love-longing and desire and passion and transport

consumed her. So she rose from the couch and came to the door of

the alcove, where Ali met her and they embraced and fell down

a-swoon in the doorway; whereupon the damsels came to them and

carrying them into the alcove, sprinkled rose-water upon them.

When they revived, they missed Aboulhusn, who had hidden himself

behind a couch, and the young lady said, 'Where is Aboulhusn?' So

he showed himself to her from beside the couch, and she saluted

him, saying, 'I pray God to give me the means of requiting thee

thy kindness!' Then she turned to Ali ben Bekkar and said to him,

'O my lord, passion has not reached this pass with thee, without

doing the like with me; but there is nothing for it but to bear

patiently what hath befallen us.' 'By Allah, O my lady,' rejoined

he, 'converse with thee may not content me nor gazing upon thee

assuage the fire of my heart, nor will the love of thee, that

hath mastered my soul, leave me, but with the passing away of my

life.' So saying, he wept and the tears ran down upon his cheeks,

like unstrung pearls. When Shemsennehar saw him weep, she wept

for his weeping; and Aboulhusn exclaimed, 'By Allah, I wonder at

your plight and am confounded at your behaviour; of a truth, your

affair is amazing and your case marvellous. If ye weep thus, what

while ye are yet together, how will it be when ye are parted?

Indeed, this is no time for weeping and wailing, but for

foregathering and gladness; rejoice, therefore, and make merry

and weep no more.' Then Shemsennehar signed to a damsel, who went

out and returned with handmaids bearing a table, whereon were

silver dishes, full of all manner rich meats. They set the table

before them, and Shemsennehar began to eat and to feed Ali ben

Bekkar, till they were satisfied, when the table was removed and

they washed their hands. Presently the waiting-women brought

censors and casting bottles and sprinkled them with rose-water

and incensed them with aloes and ambergris and other perfumes;

after which they set on dishes of graven gold, containing all

manner of sherbets, besides fruits and confections, all that the

heart can desire or the eye delight in, and one brought a flagon

of carnelian, full of wine. Then Shemsennehar chose out ten

handmaids and ten singing-women to attend on them and dismissing

the rest to their apartments, bade some of those who remained

smite the lute. They did as she bade them and one of them sang

the following verses:

My soul be a ransom for him who returned my salute with a smile

And revived in my breast the longing for union after

despair!

The hands of passion have brought my secret thoughts to the light

And that which is in my bosom unto my censors laid bare.

The very tears of my eyes press betwixt me and him, As though

they, even as I, enamoured of him were.

When she had finished, Shemsennehar rose and filling a. cup,

drank it off, then filled it again and gave it to Ali ben Bekkar;

after which she bade another damsel sing; and she sang the

following verses:

My tears, as they flow, are alike to my wine, as I brim it up!

For my eyes pour forth of their lids the like of what froths

in my cup.[FN#6]

By Allah, I know not, for sure, whether my eyelids it is Run over

with wine or else of my tears it is that I sup!

Then Ali ben Bekkar drank off his cup and returned it to

Shemsennehar. She filled it again and gave it to Aboulhusn, who

drank it off. Then she took the lute, saying, 'None shall sing

over my cup but myself.' So she tuned the strings and sang these

verses:

The hurrying tears upon his cheeks course down from either eye'

For very passion, and love's fires within his heart flame

high.

He weeps whilst near to those he loves, for fear lest they

depart: So, whether near or far they be, his tears are never

dry.

And again:

Our lives for thee, O cupbearer, O thou whom beauty's self From

the bright parting of thy hair doth to the feet army!

The full moon[FN#7] from thy collar-folds rises, the

Pleiades[FN#8] Shine from thy mouth and in thine hands there

beams the sun of day.[FN#9]

I trow, the goblets wherewithal thou mak'st us drunk are those

Thou pourest to us from thine eyes, that lead the wit

astray.

Is it no wonder that thou art a moon for ever full And that thy

lovers 'tis, not thou, that wane and waste away?

Art thou a god, that thou, indeed, by favouring whom thou wilt

And slighting others, canst at once bring back to life and

slay?

GCod moulded beauty from thy form and eke perfumed the breeze With

the sheer sweetness of the scent that cleaves to thee alway.

None of the people of this world, an angel sure thou art, Whom

thy Creator hath sent down, to hearten our dismay.

When Ali and Aboulhusn and the bystanders heard Shemsennehar's

song, they were transported and laughed and sported; but while

they were thus engaged, up came a damsel, trembling for fear, and

said, 'O my lady, Afif and Mesrour and Merjan and others of the

Commander of the Faithful's eunuchs, whom I know not, are at the

door.' When they heard this they were like to die of fright, but

Shemsennehar laughed and said, 'Have no fear.' Then said she to

the damsel, 'Hold them in parley, whilst we remove hence.' And

she caused shut the doors of the alcove upon Ali and Aboulhusn

and drew the curtains over them; after which she shut the door of

the saloon and went out by the privy gate into the garden, where

she seated herself on a couch she had there and bade one of the

damsels rub her feet. Then she dismissed the rest of her women

and bade the portress admit those who were at the door; whereupon

Mesrour entered, he and his company, twenty men with drawn

swords, and saluted her. Quoth she, 'Wherefore come-ye?' And they

answered, 'The Commander of the Faithful salutes thee. He wearies

for thy sight and would have thee to know that this with him is a

day of great joy and gladness and he is minded to seal his

gladness with thy present company: wilt thou then go to him or

shall he come to thee?' At this she rose, and kissing the earth,

said, 'I hear and obey the commandment of the Commander of the

Faithful.' Then she summoned the chief (female) officers of her

household and other damsels and made a show of complying with the

Khalif's orders and commanding them to make preparations for his

reception, albeit all was in readiness; and she said to the

eunuchs, 'Go to the Commander of the Faithful and tell him that I

await him after a little space, that I may make ready for him a

place with carpets and so forth.' So they returned in haste to

the Khalif, whilst Shemsennehar, doffing her (outer) clothing,

repaired to her beloved Ali ben Bekkar and strained him to her

bosom and bade him farewell, whereat he wept sore and said, 'O my

lady, this leave-taking will lead to the ruin of my soul and the

loss of my life; but I pray God to grant me patience to bear this

my love, wherewith He hath smitten me!' 'By Allah, answered she,

'none will suffer perdition but I; for thou wilt go out to the

market and company with those that will divert thee, and thine

honour will be in safety and thy passion concealed; whilst I

shall fall into trouble and weariness nor find any to console me,

more by token that I have given the Khalif a rendezvous, wherein

haply great peril shall betide me, by reason of my love and

longing passion for thee and my grief at being parted from thee.

For with what voice shall I sing and with what heart shall I

present me before the Khalif and with what speech shall I

entertain the Commander of the Faithful and with what eyes shall

I look upon a place where thou art not and take part in a banquet

at which thou art not present and with what taste shall I drink

wine of which thou partakest not?' 'Be not troubled,' said

Aboulhusn 'but take patience and be not remiss in entertaining

the Commander of the Faithful this night, neither show him any

neglect, but be of good courage.' At this juncture, up came a

damsel, who said to Shemsennehar, 'O my lady, the Khalif's pages

are come.' So she rose to her feet and said to the maid, 'Take

Aboulhusn and his friend and carry them to the upper gallery

giving upon the garden and there leave them, till it be dark;

when do thou make shift to carry them forth.' Accordingly, the

girl carried them up to the gallery and locking the door upon

them, went away. As they sat looking on the garden, the Khalif

appeared, preceded by near a hundred eunuchs with drawn swords

and compassed about with a score of damsels, as they were moons,

holding each a lighted flambeau. They were clad in the richest of

raiment and on each one's head was a crown set with diamonds

and rubies. The Khalif walked in their midst with a majestic

gait, whilst Mesrour and Afif and Wesif went before him and

Shemsennehar and all her damsels rose to receive him and meeting

him at the garden door, kissed the earth before him; nor did they

cease to go before him, till they brought him to the couch,

whereon he sat down, whilst all the waiting-women and eunuchs

stood before him and there came fair maids and slave-girls with

lighted flambeaux and perfumes and essences and instruments of

music. Then he bade the singers sit down, each in her room, and

Shemsennehar came up and seating herself on a stool by the

Khalif's side, began to converse with him, whilst Ali and the

jeweller looked on and listened, unseen of the prince. The Khalif

fell to jesting and toying with Shemsennehar and bade throw open

the (garden) pavilion. So they opened the doors and windows and

lighted the flambeaux till the place shone in the season of

darkness even as the day. The eunuchs removed thither the

wine-service and (quoth Aboulhusn), 'I saw drinking-vessels and

rarities, whose like mine eyes never beheld, vases of gold and

silver and all manner precious stones and jewels, such as beggar

description, till indeed meseemed I was dreaming, for excess of

amazement at what I saw!' But as for Ali ben Bekkar, from the

moment Shemsennehar left him, he lay prostrate on the ground for

excess of passion and desire and when he revived, he fell to

gazing upon these things that had not their like, and saying to

Aboulhusn, 'O my brother, I fear lest the Khalif see us or come

to know of us; but the most of my fear is for thee. For myself, I

know that I am surely lost past recourse, and the cause of my

destruction is nought but excess of passion and love-longing and

desire and separation from my beloved, after union with her; but

I beseech God to deliver us from this predicament.' Then they

continued to look on, till the banquet was spread before the

Khalif, when he turned to one of the damsels and said to her, 'O

Gheram, let us hear some of thine enchanting songs.' So she tool:

the lute and tuning it, sang as follows:

The longing of a Bedouin maid, whose folk are far away, Who

yearns after the willow of the Hejaz and the bay,--

Whose tears, when she on travellers lights, might for their water

serve And eke her passion, with its heat, their bivouac-fire

purvey,--

Is not more fierce nor ardent than my longing for my love, Who

deem: that I commit a crime in loving him alway.

When Shemsennehar heard this, she slipped off the stool on which

she sat and fell to the earth insensible; where upon the damsels

came and lifted her up. When Ali ben Bekkar saw this from the

gallery, he also fell down senseless, and Aboulhusn said, 'Verily

Fate hath apportioned passion equally between you!' As he spoke,

in came the damsel who had brought them thither and said to him,

'O Aboulhusn, arise and come down, thou and thy friend, for of a

truth the world is grown strait upon us and I fear lest our case

be discovered or the Khalif become aware of you: so, except you

descend at once, we are dead folk. 'How shall this youth

descend,' replied he, 'seeing that he hath not strength to rise?'

With this she fell to sprinkling rose-water on Ali ben Bekkar,

till he came to himself, when Aboulhusn lifted him up and the

damsel stayed him. So they went down from the gallery and walked

on awhile, till they came to a little iron door, which the damsel

opened, and they found themselves on the Tigris' bank. Here they

sat down on a stone bench, whilst the girl clapped her hands and

there came up a man with a little boat, to whom said she, 'Carry

these two young men to the other bank.' So they all three entered

the boat and the man put off with them; and as they launched out

into the stream, Ali ben Bekkar looked back towards the Khalif's

palace and the pavilion and the garden and bade them farewell

with these verses:

I stretch forth a feeble hand to bid farewell to thee, With the

other upon my burning breast, beneath the heart of me.

But be not this the last of the love betwixt us twain And let not

this the last of my soul's refreshment be.

The damsel said to the boatman, 'Make haste with them.' So he

plied his oars swiftly till they reached the opposite bank, where

they landed, and she took lease of them, saying, 'It were my wish

not to leave you, but I can go no farther than this.' Then she

turned back, whilst Ali ben Bekkar lay on the ground before

Aboulhusn and could not rise, till the latter said to him, 'This

place is not sure and I am in fear of our lives, by reason of the

thieves and highwaymen and men of lawlessness.' With this Ali

arose and essayed to walk a little, but could not. Now Aboulhusn

had friends in that quarter, so he made for the house of one of

them, in whom he trusted and who was of his intimates, and

knocked at the door. The man came out quickly and seeing them,

bade them welcome and brought them into his house, where he made

them sit down and talked with them and asked them whence they

came. Quoth Aboulhusn 'We came out but now, being moved thereto

by a man with whom I had dealings and who hath in his hands

monies of mine. It was told me that he was minded to flee into

foreign countries with my money; so I came out to-night in quest

of him, taking with me this my friend Ali ben Bekkar for company

but he hid from us and we could get no speech of him So we turned

back, empty-handed, and knew not whither to go, for it were

irksome to us to return home at this hour of the night; wherefore

we came to thee, knowing thy wonted courtesy and kindness.' 'Ye

are right welcome,' answered the host, and studied to do them

honour. They abode with him the rest of the night, and as soon as

it was day, they left him and made their way back to the city.

When they came to Aboulhusn's house, the latter conjured his

friend to enter; so they went in and lying down on the bed, slept

awhile. When they awoke, Aboulhusn bade his servants spread the

house with rich carpets saying in himself, 'Needs must I divert

this youth and distract him from thoughts of his affliction, for

I know his case better than another.' Then he called for water

for Ali ben Bekkar, and the latter rose and making his ablutions,

prayed the obligatory prayers that he had omitted for the past

day and night; after which he sat down and began to solace

himself with talk with his friend. When Aboulhusn saw this, he

turned to him and said, 'O my lord, it were better for thy case

that thou abide with me this night, so thy heart may be lightened

and the anguish of love-longing that is upon thee be dispelled

and thou make merry with us and haply the fire of thy heart be

allayed.' 'O my brother,' answered Ali, 'do what seemeth good to

thee; for I may not anywise escape from what hath befallen me.'

Accordingly, Aboulhusn arose and bade his servants summon some of

the choicest of his friends and sent for singers and musicians.

Meanwhile he made ready meat and drink for them, and they came

and sat eating and drinking and making merry till nightfall Then

they lit the candles, and the cups of friendship and good

fellowship went round amongst them, and the time passed

pleasantly with them. Presently, a singing-woman took the lute

and sang the following verses:

Fate launched at me a dart, the arrow of an eye; It pierced me

and cut off from those I love am I.

Fortune hath mauled me sore and patience fails me now; But long

have I forebode misfortune drawing nigh.

When Ali ben Bekkar heard this, he fell to the earth in a swoon

and abode thus till daybreak, and Aboulhusn despaired of him.

But, with the dawning, he came to himself and sought to go home;

nor could Aboulhusn deny him, for fear of the issue of his

affair. So he made his servants bring a mule and mounting Ali

thereon, carried him to his lodging, he and one of his men. When

he was safe at home, the merchant thanked God for his deliverance

from that peril and sat awhile with him, comforting him; but Ali

could not contain himself, for the violence of his passion and

love-longing. Presently Aboulhusn rose to take leave of him and

Ali said, 'O my brother, leave me not without news.' 'I hear and

obey, answered Aboulhusn, and repairing to his shop, opened it

and sat there all day, expecting news of Shemsennehar; but none

came. He passed the night in his own house and when it was day,

he went to Ali ben Bekkar's lodging and found him laid on his

bed, with his friends about him and physicians feeling his pulse

and prescribing this or that. When he saw Aboulhusn, he smiled,

and the latter saluting him, enquired how he did and sat with him

till the folk withdrew, when he said to him, 'What plight is

this?' Quoth Ali, 'It was noised abroad that I was ill and I have

no strength to rise and walk, so as to give the lie to the report

of my sickness, but continue lying here as thou seest. So my

friends heard of me and came to visit me. But, O my brother, hast

thou seen the damsel or heard any news of her?' 'I have not seen

her,' answered Aboulhusn, 'since we parted from her on the

Tigris' bank; but, O my brother, beware of scandal and leave this

weeping.' 'O my brother,' rejoined Ali, 'indeed, I have no

control over myself ;' and he sighed and recited the following

verses:

She giveth unto her hand that whereof mine doth fail, A dye on

the wrist, wherewith she doth my patience assail

She standeth in fear for her hand of the arrows she shoots from

her eyes; So, for protection, she's fain to clothe it in

armour of mail.[FN#10]

The doctor in ignorance felt my pulse, and I said to him, "Leave

thou my hand alone; my heart it is that doth ail."

Quoth she to the dream of the night, that visited me and fled,

"By Allah, describe him to me and bate me no jot of the

tale!"

It answered, "I put him away, though he perish of thirst, and

said, 'Stand off from the watering-place!' So he could not

to drink avail."

She poured forth the pearls of her tears from her eyes' narcissus

and gave The rose of her cheeks to drink and bit upon

jujubes[FN#11] with hail.[FN#12]

Then he said, 'O Aboulhusn, I am smitten with an affliction, from

which I deemed myself in surety, and there is no greater ease for

me than death.' 'Be patient,' answered his friend: 'peradventure

God will heal thee.' Then he went out from him and repairing

to his shop, opened it, nor had he sat long, when up came

Shemsennehar's hand-maid, who saluted him. He returned her salute

and looking at her, saw that her heart was palpitating and that

she was troubled and bore the traces of affliction: so he said to

her, 'Thou art welcome. How is it with Shemsennehar?' 'I will

tell thee,' answered she; 'but first tell me how doth Ali ben

Bekkar.' So he told her all that had passed, whereat she was

grieved and sighed and lamented and marvelled at his case. Then

said she, 'My lady's case is still stranger than this; for when

you went away, I turned back, troubled at heart for you and

hardly crediting your escape, and found her lying prostrate in

the pavilion, speaking not nor answering any, whilst the

Commander of the Faithful sat by her head, unknowing what aided

her and finding none who could give him news of her. She ceased

not from her swoon till midnight, when she revived and the Khalif

said to her, "What ails thee, O Shemsennehar, and what has

behllen thee this night?" "May God make me thy ransom, O

Commander of the Faithful!" answered she. "Verily, bile rose in

me and lighted a fire in my body, so that I lost my senses for

excess of pain, and I know no more." "What hast thou eaten

to-day?" asked the Khalif. Quoth she, "I broke my fast on

something I had never before eaten." Then she feigned to be

recovered and calling for wine, drank it and begged the Khalif to

resume his diversion. So he sat down again on his couch in the

pavilion and made her sit as before. When she saw me, she asked

me how you fared; so I told her what I had done with you and

repeated to her the verses that Ali ben BeLkar had recited at

parting, whereat she wept secretly, but presently stinted. After

awhile, the Khalif ordered a damsel to sing, and she chanted the

following verses:

Life, as I live, has not been sweet since I did part from thee;

Would God I knew but how it fared with thee too after me!

If thou be weeping tears of brine for sev'rance of our loves, Ah,

then, indeed, 'twere meet my tears of very blood should be.

When my lady heard this, she fell back on the sofa in a swoon,

and I seized her hand and sprinkled rose-water on her face, till

she revived, when I said to her, "O my lady, do not bring ruin on

thyself and on all thy house-hold, but be patient, by the life of

thy beloved!" "Can aught befall me worse than death?" answered

she. "That, indeed, I long for, for, by Allah, my ease is

therein." Whilst we were talking, another damsel sang the

following words of the poet:

"Patience shall peradventure lead to solacement," quoth they; and

I, "Where's patience to be had, now he is gone away?"

He made a binding covenant with me to cut the cords Of patience,

when we two embraced upon the parting day.

When Shemsennehar heard this, she swooned away once more, which

when the Khalif saw, he came to her in haste and commanded the

wine-service to be removed and each damsel to return to her

chamber. He abode with her the rest of the night, and when it was

day, he sent for physicians and men of art and bade them medicine

her, knowing not that her sickness arose from passion and

love-longing. He tarried with her till he deemed her in a way of

recovery, when he returned to his palace, sore concerned for her

illness, and she bade me go to thee and bring her news of Ali ben

Bekkar. So I came, leaving with her a number of her bodywomen;

and this is what has delayed me from thee.' When Aboulhusn heard

her story, he marvelled and said, 'By Allah, I have acquainted

thee with his whole case; so now return to thy mistress; salute

her for me and exhort her to patience and secrecy and tell her

that I know it to be a hard matter and one that calls for prudent

ordering.' She thanked him and taking leave of him, returned to

her mistress, whilst he abode in his place till the end of the

day, when he shut the shop and betaking himself to Ali ben

Bekkar's house, knocked at the door. One of the servants came out

and admitted him; and when Ali saw him, he smiled and re-joiced

in his coming, saying, 'O Aboulhusn, thou hast made a weary man

of me by thine absence from me this day; for indeed my soul is

pledged to thee for the rest of my days.' 'Leave this talk,'

answered the other. 'Were thy healing at the price of my hand, I

would cut it off, ere thou couldst ask me; and could I ransom

thee with my life, I had already laid it down for thee. This very

day, Shemsennehar's handmaid has been with me and told me that

what hindered her from coming before this was the Khalif's

sojourn with her mistress;' and he went on to repeat to him all

that the girl had told him of Shemsennehar; at which Ali lamented

sore and wept and said to him, 'O my brother, I conjure thee by

God to help me in this mine affliction and teach me how I shall

do! Moreover, I beg thee of thy grace to abide with me this

night, that I may have the solace of thy company.' Aboulhusn

agreed to this; so they talked together till the night darkened,

when Ali groaned aloud and lamented and wept copious tears,

reciting the following verses:

My eye holds thine image ever; thy name in my mouth is aye And

still in my heart is thy sojourn; so how canst thou absent

be?

How sore is my lamentation for life that passes away Nor is

there, alas! in union a part for thee and me!

And also these:

She cleft with the sword of her glance the helm of my courage in

two And the mail of my patience she pierced with the spear

of her shape through and through.

She unveiled to us, under the musk of the mole that is set on her

cheek, carnphor-whlte dawning a-break through a night of the

ambergris' hue.[FN#13]

Her spirit was stirred to chagrin and she bit on cornelian[FN#14]

with pearls,[FN#15] Whose unions unvalued abide in a lakelet

of sugary dew.

She sighed for impatience and smote with her palm on the snows of

her breast. Her hand left a scar; so I saw what never before

met my view;

Pens fashioned of coral (her nails), that, dinting the book of

her breast Five lines, scored in ambergris ink, on a table

of crystal drew,

O ye that go girded with steel, O swordsmen, I rede you beware Of

the stroke of her death-dealing eyes, that never looked yet

but they slew!

And guard yourselves, ye of the spears, and fence off her thrust

from your hearts, If she tilt with the quivering lance of

her shape straight and slender at you.

Then he gave a great cry and fell down in a swoon. Aboulhusn

thought that his soul had departed his body and he ceased not

from his swoon till daybreak, when he came to himself and talked

with his friend, who sat with him till the forenoon. Then he left

him and repaired to his shop. Hardly had he opened it, when the

damsel came and stood before him. As soon as he saw her, she made

a sign of salutation to him, which he returned; and she greeted

him for her mistress, saying, 'How doth Ali ben BeLkar?' 'O good

damsel,' replied he, 'ask me not how he doth nor what he suffers

for excess of passion; for he sleeps not by night neither rests

by day; wakefulness wasteth him and affliction hath gotten the

mastery of him and his case is distressful to his friend.' Quoth

she, 'My lady salutes thee and him, and indeed she is in worse

case than he. She hath written him a letter and here it is. When

she gave it me, she said to me, "Do not return save with the

answer." So wilt thou go with me to him and get his reply?' 'I

hear and obey,' answered Aboulhusn, and shutting his shop,

carried her, by a different way to that by which he came, to Ali

ben Bekkar's house, where he left her standing at the door and

entered. When Ali saw him, he rejoiced, and Aboulhusn said to

him, 'The reason of my coming is that such an one hath sent his

handmaid to thee with a letter, containing his greeting to thee

and excusing himself for that he hath tarried by reason of a

certain matter that hath betided him. The girl stands even now at

the door: shall she have leave to enter?' And he signed to him

that it was Shemsennehar's slave-girl. Ali understood his sign

and answered, 'Bring her in.' So she entered and when he saw her,

he shook for joy and signed to her, as who should say, 'How doth

thy lord, may God grant him health and recovery!' 'He is well,'

answered she and pulling out the letter, gave it to him. He took

it and kissing it, opened and read it; after which he handed it

to Aboulhusn, who found written therein what follows:

The messenger of me will give thee news aright; So let his true

report suffice thee for my sight.

A lover hast thou left, for love of thee distraught; Her eyes

cease never-more from watching, day or night.

I brace myself to bear affliction, for to foil The buffets of

ill-fate is given to no wight.

But be thou of good cheer; for never shall my heart Forget thee

nor thy thought be absent from my spright.

Look on thy wasted frame and what is fallen thereon And thence

infer of me and argue of my plight.

To proceed: I have written thee a letter without fingers and

speak to thee without tongue; to tell thee my whole state, I have

an eye from which sleeplessness is never absent and a heart

whence sorrowful thought stirs not. It is with me as I had never

known health nor let sadness, neither beheld a fair face nor

spent an hour of pleasant life; but it is as I were made up of

love-longing and of the pain of passion and chagrin. Sickness is

unceasing upon me and my yearning redoubles ever; desire

increases still and longing rages in my heart. I pray God to

hasten our union and dispel the trouble of my mind: and I would

fain have thee write me some words, that I may solace myself

withal. Moreover, I would have thee put on a becoming patience,

till God give relief; and peace be on thee.' When Ali ben Bekkar

had read this letter, he said, 'With what hand shall I write and

with what tongue shall I make moan and lament? Indeed she addeth

sickness to my sickness and draweth death upon my death!' Then he

sat up and taking inkhorn and paper, wrote the following reply:

'In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. O my lady,

thy letter hath reached me and hath given ease to a mind worn out

with passion and desire and brought healing to a wounded heart,

cankered with languishment and sickness; for indeed I am become

even as saith the poet:

Bosom contracted and grievous thought dilated, Eyes ever wakeful

and body wearied aye;

Patience cut off and separation ever present, Reason disordered

and heart all stolen away.

Know that complaining quenches not the fire of calamity; but it

eases him whom love-longing consumes and separation destroys; and

so I comfort myself with the mention of the word "union;" for how

well saith the poet:

If love had not pain and pleasure, satisfaction and despite,

Where of messengers and letters were for lovers the

delight?'

When he had made an end of this letter, he gave it to Aboulhusn,

saying, 'Read it and give it to the damsel.' So he took it and

read it and its words stirred his soul and its meaning wounded

his vitals. Then he gave it to the girl, and Ali said to her,

'Salute thy lady for me and tell her of my passion and longing

and how love is blent with my flesh and my bones; and say to her

that I need one who shall deliver me from the sea of destruction

and save me from this dilemma; for of a truth fortune oppresseth

me with its vicissitudes; and is there any helper to free me from

its defilements?' So saying, he wept and the damsel wept for his

weeping. Then she took leave of him and Aboulhusn went out with

her and bade her farewell. So she went her way and he returned to

his shop, which he opened, and sat down there, according to his

wont; but as he sat, he found his bosom straitened and his heart

oppressed and was troubled about his case. He ceased not from

melancholy thought the rest of that day and night, and on the

morrow he betook himself to Ali ben Bekkar, with whom he sat till

the folk withdrew, when he asked him how he did. Ali began to

complain of passion and descant upon the longing and distraction

that possessed him, ending by repeating the following words of

the poet:

Folk have made moan of passion before me of past years, And live

and dead for absence have suffered pains and fears;

But what within my bosom I harbour, with mine eyes I've never

seen the like of nor heard it with mine ears.

And also these:

I've suffered for thy love what Caïs, that madman[FN#16] hight,

Did never undergo for love of Leila bright.

Yet chase I not the beasts o' the desert, as did he; For madness

hath its kinds for this and th' other wight.

Quoth Aboulhusn, 'Never did I see or hear of one like unto thee

in thy love! If thou sufferest all this transport and sickness

and trouble, being enamoured of one who returns thy passion, how

would it be with thee, if she whom thou lovest were contrary and

perfidious? Meseems, thy case will be discovered, if thou abide

thus.' His words pleased Ali ben Bekkar and he trusted in him and

thanked him.

Now Aboulhusn had a friend, to whom he had discovered his affair

and that of Ali ben Bekkar and who knew that they were close

friends; but none other than he was acquainted with what was

betwixt them. He was wont to come to him and enquire how Ali did

and after a little, he began to ask about the damsel; but

Aboulhusn put him off, saying, 'She invited him to her and there

was between him and her what passeth words, and this is the end

of their affair; but I have devised me a plan which I would fain

submit to thy judgment.' 'And what is that?' asked his friend. 'O

my brother,' answered Aboulhusn, 'I am a man well known, having

much dealing among the notables, both men and women, and I fear

lest the affair of these twain get wind and this lead to my death

and the seizure of my goods and the ruin of my repute and that of

my family. Wherefore I purpose to get together my property and

make ready forthright and repair to the city of Bassora and abide

there, till I see what comes of their affair, that none may know

of me, for passion hath mastered them and letters pass between

them. Their go-between and confidant at this present is a

slave-girl, who hath till now kept their counsel, but I fear lest

haply she be vexed with them or anxiety get the better of her and

she discover their case to some one and the matter be noised

abroad and prove the cause of my ruin; for I have no excuse

before God or man.' 'Thou acquaintest me with a perilous matter,'

rejoined his friend, 'and one from the like of which the wise and

understanding will shrink in affright. May God preserve thee and

avert from thee the evil thou dreadest! Assuredly, thy resolve is

a wise one.' So Aboulhusn returned home and betook himself to

setting his affairs in order and preparing for his journey; nor

had three days elapsed ere he made an end of his business and

departed for Bassora. Three days after, his friend came to visit

him, but finding him not, asked the neighbours of him; and they

answered, 'He set out three days ago for Bassora, for he had

dealings with merchants there and is gone thither to collect his

debts; but he will soon return.' The man was confounded at the

news and knew not whither to go; and he said in himself, 'Would I

had not parted with Aboulhusn!' Then he bethought him how he

should gain access to Ali ben Bekkar and repairing to the

latter's lodging, said to one of his servants, 'Ask leave for me

of thy master that I may go in and salute him.' So the servant

went in and told his master and presently returning, invited the

man to enter. So he went in and found Ali ben Bekkar lying back

on the pillow and saluted him. Ali returned his greeting and bade

him welcome; whereupon the other began to excuse himself for

having held aloof from him all this while and added, 'O my lord,

there was a close friendship between Aboulhusn and myself, so

that I used to trust him with my secrets and could not brook to

be severed from him an hour. It chanced but now that I was absent

three days' space on certain business with a company of my

friends, and when I came back, I found his shop shut; so I asked

the neighbours of him and they replied, "He is gone to Bassora."

Now I know he had no surer friend than thou; so I conjure thee,

by Allah, to tell me what thou knowest of him.' When Ali heard

this, his colour changed and he was troubled and answered, 'I

never heard of his departure till this day, and if it be as thou

sayest, weariness is come upon me.' And he repeated the following

verses:

Whilom I wept for what was past of joy and pleasant cheer, Whilst

yet the objects of my love were unremoved and near;

But now my sad and sorry fate hath sundered me and them And I

to-day must weep for those that were to me most dear.

Then he bent his head awhile in thought and presently raising it,

said to one of his servants, 'Go to Aboulhusn'' house and enquire

whether he be at home or gone on a journey. If they say, "He is

abroad;" ask whither.' The servant went out and presently

returning, said to his master, 'When I asked after Aboulhusn, his

people told me that he was gone on a journey to Bassora; but I

saw a damsel standing at the door, who knew me, though I knew her

not, and said to me, "Art thou not servant to Ali ben Bekkar?"

"Yes," answered I. And she said, "I have a message for him from

one who is the dearest of all folk to him." So she came with me

and is now at the door.' Quoth Ali, 'Bring her in.' So the

servant went out and brought her in, and the man who was with Ali

ben Bekkar looked at her and found her comely. She came up to Ali

and saluting him, talked with him privily; and he from time to

time exclaimed with an oath and swore that he had not done as she

avouched. Then she took leave of him and went away. When she was

gone, Aboulhusn's friend, who was a jeweller, took occasion to

speak and said to Ali ben Bekkar, 'Doubtless, the women of the

palace have some claim upon thee or thou hast dealings with the

Khalif's household?' 'Who told thee of this?' asked Ali. 'I

know it by yonder damsel,' replied the jeweller, 'who is

Shemsennehar's slave-girl; for she came to me awhile since with a

written order for a necklace of jewels; and I sent her a costly

one.' When Ali heard this, he was greatly troubled, so that the

jeweller feared for his life, but after awhile he recovered

himself and said, 'O my brother, I conjure thee by Allah to tell

me truly how thou knowest her.' 'Do not press me as to this,'

replied the other; and Ali said, 'Indeed, I will not desist from

thee till thou tell me the truth.' 'Then,' said the jeweller, 'I

will tell thee all, that thou mayst not distrust me nor be

alarmed at what I said, nor will I conceal aught from thee, but

will discover to thee the truth of the matter, on condition that

thou possess me with the true state of thy case and the cause of

thy sickness.' Then he told him all that had passed between

Aboulhusn and himself, adding that he had acted thus only out of

friendship for him and of his desire to serve him and assuring

him that he would keep his secret and venture life and goods in

his service. So Ali in turn told him his story and added, 'By

Allah, O my brother, nought moved me to keep my case secret from

thee and others but my fear lest the folk should lift the veils

of protection from certain persons.' 'And I,' rejoined the

jeweller, 'desired not to foregather with thee but of the great

affection I bear thee and my zeal for thee in every case and my

compassion for the anguish thy heart endureth for severance.

Haply, I may be a comforter to thee in the room of my friend

Aboulhusn, during his absence. So take heart and be of good

cheer.' Ali thanked him and repeated the following verses:

If, 'I am patient,' I say, since forth from me he went, My tears

give me the lie and the stress of my lament.

And how shall I hide the tears, that flow in streams adown The

table of my cheek for his evanishment?

Then he was silent awhile, and presently said to the jeweller,

'Knowest thou what the girl whispered to me?' 'Not I, by Allah, O

my lord,' answered he. Quoth Ali, 'She would have it that I had

counselled Aboulhusn to go to Bassora and that I had used this

device to put a stop to our correspondence and intercourse. I

swore to her that this was not so: but she would not credit me

and went away to her mistress, persisting in her injurious

suspicions; and indeed I know not what I shall do without

Aboulhusn, for she inclined to him and gave ear to his word.' 'O

my brother,' answered the jeweller, 'I guessed as much from her

manner; but, if it please God the Most High, I will help thee to

thy desire.' 'Who can help me,' rejoined Ali, 'and how wilt thou

do with her, when she takes umbrage like a wilding of the

desert?' 'By Allah,' exclaimed the jeweller, 'needs must I

do my utmost endeavour to help thee and contrive to make her

acquaintance, without exposure or mischief!' Then he asked leave

to depart, and Ali said, 'O my brother, see thou keep my counsel'

And he looked at him and wept. The jeweller bade him farewell and

went away, knowing not what he should do to further his wishes;

but as he went along pondering the matter, he spied a letter

lying in the road, and taking it up, found that it bore the

following superscription, 'From the least worthy of lovers to the

most excellent of beloved ones.' He opened it and found these

words written therein:

'The messenger brought me a promise of union and delight; But yet

that he had mistaken 'twas constant in my spright.

Wherefore I joyed not: but sorrow was added unto me, For that I

knew my envoy had read thee not aright.

To proceed: Know, O my lord, that I am ignorant of the cause of

the breaking off of the correspondence between thee and me: but

if it arise from cruelty on thy part, I will meet it with

fidelity, and if love have departed from thee, I will remain

constant to my love in absence for I am with thee even as says

the poet:

Be haughty and I will be patient; capricious, I'll bear; turn

away, I'll draw near thee; be harsh, I'll be abject;

command, I'll give ear and obey.

As he was reading, up came the slave-girl, looking right and

left, and seeing the letter in the jeweller's hand, said to him,

'O my lord, this letter is one I let fall.' He made her no

answer, but walked on, and she followed him, till he came to his

house, when he entered and she after him, saying, 'O my lord,

give me back the letter, for it fell from me.' He turned to her

and said, 'O good slave-girl, fear not, neither grieve, for

verily God the Protector loves to protect [His creatures]; but

tell me the truth of thy case, for I am one who keepeth counsel.

I conjure thee by an oath to hide from me nothing of thy lady's

affair; for haply God shall help me to further her wishes and

make easy what is hard by my hand' 'O my lord,' answered she,

'indeed a secret is not lost whereof thou art the keeper; nor

shall any affair come to nought for which thou strivest. Know

that my heart inclines to thee, and do thou give me the letter.'

Then she told him the whole story, adding, 'God is witness to

what I say.' 'Thou hast spoken truly,' said the jeweller, 'for I

am acquainted with the root of the matter.' Then he told her how

he had come by Ali ben Bekkar's secret and related to her all

that had passed, whereat she rejoiced; and they agreed that she

should carry the letter to Ali and return and tell the jeweller

all that passed. Accordingly he gave her the letter and she took

it and sealed it up as it was before, saying, 'My mistress

Shemsennehar gave it to me sealed; and when he hath read it and

given me the reply, I will bring it to thee.' Then she repaired

to Ali ben Bekkar, whom she found waiting, and gave him the

letter. He read it and writing an answer, gave it to the damsel.

She carried it to the jeweller, who broke the seal and read what

was written therein, as follows:

'Neglected are our messages, for lo, our go-between, That wont to

keep our counsel erst, is wroth with us, I ween.

So choose us out a messenger, a true and trusty wight, Yea, one

of whom fidelity, not falsehood, is well seen.

To proceed: Verily, I have not entered upon perfidy nor left

fidelity; I have not used cruelty, neither have I put off loyalty

nor broken faith. I have not ceased from affection nor severed

myself from grief; neither have I found aught after separation

but misery and ruin. I know nothing of that thou avouchest nor do

I love aught but that which thou lovest. By Him who knoweth the

secret of the hidden things, I have no desire but to be united

with her whom I love and my one business is the concealment of my

passion, though sickness consume me. This is the exposition of my

case and peace be on thee.' When the jeweller read this letter,

he wept sore and the girl said to him, 'Leave not this place,

till I return to thee; for he suspects me of such and such

things, in which he is excusable; so it is my desire to bring

thee in company with my mistress Shemsennehar, howsoever I may

contrive it. I left her prostrate, awaiting my return with the

answer.' Then she went away and the jeweller passed the night in

a state of agitation. On the morrow he prayed the morning prayer

and sat awaiting the girl's coming. Presently she came in to him,

rejoicing, and he said to her, 'What news, O damsel?' Quoth she,

'I gave my mistress Ali ben Bekkar's reply, and when she read it,

she was troubled in her mind; but I said to her, "O my lady, have

no fear of the hindrance of your affair by reason of Aboulhusn's

absence, for I have found one to take his place, better than he

and more of worth and apt to keep secrets." Then I told her what

was between Aboulhusn and thyself and how thou camest by his

confidence and that of Ali ben Bekkar and how I met with thee and

showed her how matters stood betwixt thee and me. Now she is

minded to have speech of thee, that she may be assured by thy

words of the covenants between thee and him; so do thou make

ready to go with me to her forthwith. When the jeweller heard

the girl's words, he saw that what she proposed was a grave

matter and a great peril, not lightly to be undertaken or entered

upon, and said to her, 'O my stster, verily, I am of the common

people and not like unto Aboulhusn; for he was of high rank and

repute and was wont to frequent the Khalif's household, because

of their need of his wares. As for me, he used to talk with me,

and I trembled before him the while. So, if thy mistress would

have speech of me, it must be in some place other than the

Khalif's palace and far from the abode of the Commander of the

Faithful; for my reason will not let me do what thou proposest.'

Accordingly, he refused to go with her, and she went on to assure

him of impunity, saying, 'Fear not,' and pressed him, till he

consented to accompany her; but, when he would have risen, his

legs bent under him and his hands trembled and he exclaimed, 'God

forbid that I should go with thee! Indeed, I cannot do this.'

'Reassure thyself,' answered she; 'if it irk thee to go to the

Khalif's palace and thou canst not muster up courage to accompany

me, I will make her come to thee; so stir not from thy place till

I return to thee with her.' Then she went away and returning

after a little, said to the jeweller, 'Look that there be with

thee neither slave-girl nor man-slave nor any other.' Quoth he,

'I have but an old negress-slave, who waits on me.' So she locked

the door between the jeweller and his negress and sent his

man-servants out of the house, after which she went out and

presently returned, followed by a lady, who filled the house with

the sweet scent of her perfumes. When the jeweller saw her, he

sprang to his feet and set her a couch and a cushion, and she sat

down. He seated himself before her and she abode awhile without

speaking, till she was rested, when she unveiled her face and it

seemed to the jeweller as if the sun had risen in his house. Then

said she to her slave-girl, 'Is this the man of whom thou spakest

to me?' 'Yes,' answered she; whereupon the lady turned to the

jeweller and said to him, 'How is it with thee?' 'Well,' replied

he. 'May God preserve thy life and that of the Commander of the

Faithful!' Quoth she, 'Thou hast moved us to come to thee and

possess thee with our secret.' Then she questioned him of

his household and family; and he discovered to her all his

circumstance and said to her, 'I have another house, which I have

set apart for entertaining my friends and brethren, and there is

none there save the old negress, of whom I spoke to thy handmaid.'

She asked him how he came first to know of the matter and what

had made Aboulhusn absent himself, so he told her all and she

bewailed the loss of Aboulhusn and said to the jeweller, 'Know

that the minds of men are at one in desires, and however they may

differ in estate, men are still men and have need one of the

other: an affair is not accomplished without speech nor is a wish

fulfilled save by endeavour: ease comes not but after weariness

nor is succour compassed save by the help of the generous. Now I

have trusted my secret to thee and it is in thy power to expose

or shield us; I say no more, because of thy generosity of nature.

Thou knowest that this my hand-maid keeps my counsel and is

therefore in high favour with me and I have chosen her to

transact my affairs of importance. So let none be worthier in thy

sight than she and acquaint her with thine affair. Be of good

cheer, for thou art safe from what thou fearest on our account,

and there is no shut place but she shall open it to thee. She

shall bring thee messages from me to Ali ben Bekkar, and thou

shalt be our go-between.' So saying, she rose, scarcely able to

stand, and the jeweller forewent her to the door of the house,

after which he returned and sat down again in his place, having

seen of her beauty what dazzled him and heard of her speech what

confounded his wit and witnessed of her grace and courtesy what

bewitched him. He sat musing on her perfections till his trouble

subsided, when he called for food and ate enough to stay his

stomach. Then he changed his clothes and repairing to Ali ben

Bekkar's house, knocked at the door. The servants hastened to

admit him and brought him to their master, whom he found laid

upon his bed. When he saw the jeweller, he said to him, 'Thou

hast tarried long from me and hast added concern to my concern.'

Then he dismissed his servants and bade shut the doors, after

which he said to the jeweller, 'By Allah, O my brother, I have

not closed my eyes since I saw thee last; for the slave-girl

came to me yesterday with a sealed letter from her mistress

Shemsennehar;' and went on to tell him all that had passed,

adding, 'Indeed, I am perplexed concerning mine affair and my

patience fails me: for Aboulhusn was of comfort to me, because he

knew the girl.' When the jeweller heard this, he laughed and Ali

said, 'Why dost thou laugh at my words, thou in whom I rejoiced

and to whom I looked for succour against the shifts of fortune?'

Then he sighed and wept and repeated the following verses:

Many an one laughs at my weeping, whenas he looks on my pain. Had

he but suffered as I have, he, also, to weep would be fain.

No one hath ruth on the smitten, for that he is doomed to endure

But he who alike is afflicted and long in affliction hath

lain

My passion, my yearning, my sighing, my care and distraction end

woe Are all for a loved one, whose dwelling is in my heart's

innermost fane.

He made his abode in my bosom and never will leave it again; And

yet with my love to foregather I weary and travail in vain.

I know of no friend I can choose me to stand in his stead unto

me, Nor ever, save him, a companion, to cherish and love

have I ta'en.[FN#17]

When the jeweller heard this, he wept also and told him all that

had passed betwixt himself and the slave-girl and her mistress,

since he left him, whilst Ali gave ear to his speech, and at

every fresh word his colour shifted 'twixt white and red and his

body grew now stronger and now weaker, till he came to the end of

his tale, when Ali wept and said to him, 'O my brother, I am a

lost man in any event. Would my end were near, that I might be at

rest from ail this! But I beg thee, of thy favour, to be my

helper and comforter in all my affairs, till God accomplish

His will; and I will not gainsay thee in aught.' Quoth the

jeweller, 'Nothing will quench the fire of thy passion save union

with her whom thou lovest: and this must not be in this perilous

place, but in a house of mine other than in which the girl and

her mistress came to me. This place she chose for herself, to the

intent that ye may there foregather and complain one to the other

of what you have suffered from the pangs of love.' 'O my lord,'

answered Ali ben Bekkar, 'do as thou wilt and may God requite

thee for me! What thou deemest fit will be right: but be not long

about it, lest I die of this anguish.' So I abode with him (quoth

the jeweller) that night, entertaining him with converse, till

daybreak, when I prayed the morning prayers and going out from

him, returned to my house. Hardly had I done so, when the damsel

came up and saluted me. I returned her greeting and told her what

had passed between Ali ben Bekkar and myself; and she said, 'Know

that the Khalif has left us and there is none in our lodging, and

it is safer for us and better.' 'True,' replied I; 'yet it is not

like my house yonder, which is both surer and fitter for us.' 'Be

it as thou wilt,' rejoined she. 'I will go to my lady and tell

her what thou sayest.' So she went away and presently returned

and said to me, 'It is to be as thou sayest: so make us ready the

place and expect us.' Then she took out a purse of diners and

said to me, 'My lady salutes thee and bids thee take this and

provide therewith what the case calls for.' But I swore that I

would have nought of it; so she took the purse and returning to

her mistress, said to her, 'He would not take the money, but gave

it back to me.' 'No matter,' answered Shemsennehar. As soon as

she was gone, I betook myself to my other house and transported

thither all that was needful, by way of furniture and utensils

and rich carpets and vessels of china and glass and gold and

silver, and made ready meat and drink for the occasion. When the

damsel came and saw what I had done, it pleased her and she bade

me fetch Ali ben Bekkar; but I said, 'None shall fetch him but

thou.' Accordingly she went to him and brought him back, dressed

to perfection and looking his best. I met him and welcomed him

and making him sit down on a couch befitting his condition, set

before him sweet-scented flowers in vases of china and crystal of

various colours. Then I set on a tray of vari-coloured meats, of

such as rejoice the heart with their sight, and sat talking with

him and diverting him, whi'st the girl went away and was absent

till after sundown, when she returned with Shemsennehar, attended

by two maids and no more. When Ali saw her, he rose and embraced

her and they both fell down in a swoon. They lay awhile

insensible, then, coming to themselves, began to complain to each

other of the pains of separation. They sat awhile, conversing

with eloquence and tenderness, after which they perfumed

themselves and fell to thanking me for what I had done. Said I,

'Have ye a mind for food?' 'Yes,' answered they. So I set food

before them, and they ate till they were satisfied and washed

their hands, after which I carried them to another room and

brought them wine. So they drank and grew merry with wine and

inclined to one another, and Shemsennehar said to me, 'O my lord,

complete thy kindness by bringing us a lute or other instrument

of music that the measure of our joy may be filled.' 'On my head

and eyes,' answered I and rising, brought her a lute. She took it

and tuned it, then laying it in her lap, made masterly music, at

once exciting to sorrowful thoughts and cheering the afflicted;

after which she sang the following verses:

I wake and I watch till it seemeth as I were in love with unrest

And I waste and I languish, as sickness, meseemeth, were

born in my breast.

The tides of my tears, ever flowing, have burnt up my cheeks with

their heat: Would I knew if our loves, after sev'rance, with

union again will be blest!

She went on to sing song after song, choice words set to various

airs, till our minds were bewitched and it seemed as if the very

room would dance with excess of pleasure for the marvel of her

sweet singing and there was nor thought nor reason left in us.

When we had sat awhile and the cup had gone round amongst us, the

damsel took the lute and sang the following verses to a lively

measure:

My love a visit promised me and did fulfil his plight One night

that I shall reckon aye for many and many a night.

O night of raptures that the fates vouchsafed unto us twain;

Unheeded of the railing tribe and in the spies' despite!

My loved one lay the night with me and I of my content Clipped

him with my left hand, while he embraced me with his right.

I strained him to my breast and drank his lips' sweet wine, what

while I of the honey and of him who sells it had delight.

Whilst we were thus drowned in the sea of gladness, in came a

little maid, trembling, and said, 'O my lady, look how you may go

away, for the folk are upon us and have surrounded the house, and

we know not the cause of this.' When I heard this, I arose in

affright, and behold, in came a slave-girl, who said, 'Calamity

hath overtaken you!' At the same moment, the door was burst open

and there rushed in upon us half a score masked men, with

poniards in their hands and swords by their sides, and as many

more behind them. When I saw this, the world, for all its

wideness, was straitened on me and I looked to the door, but saw

no way out; so I sprang (from the roof) into the house of one of

my neighbours and hid myself there. Thence I heard a great uproar

in my house and concluded that the Khalif had gotten wind of us

and sent the chief of the police to seize us and bring us before

him. So I abode confounded and remained in my place, without

daring to move, till midnight, when the master of the house

became aware of me and being greatly affrighted, made at me with

a drawn sword in his hand, saying, 'Who is this in my house?'

Quoth I, 'I am thy neighbour, the jeweller;' and he knew me and

held his hand. Then he fetched a light and coming up to me, said,

'O my brother, indeed that which hath befallen thee this night is

grievous to me.' 'O my brother,' answered I, 'tell me who it was

entered my house and broke in the door, for I fled to thee, not

knowing what was the matter.' Quoth he, 'The robbers, who visited

our neighbours yesterday and slew such an one and took his goods,

saw thee yesterday bringing hither furniture and what not; so

they broke in upon thee and stole thy goods and slew thy guests.'

Then we arose, he and I, and repaired to my house, which I found

empty and stripped of everything, whereat I was confounded and

said to myself, 'I care not for the loss of the gear, though

indeed I borrowed part thereof of my friends; yet is there no

harm in that, for they know my excuse in the loss of my goods and

the pillage of my house; but as for Ali ben Bekkar and the

Khalif's favourite, I fear lest their case get wind and this

cause the loss of my life.' So I turned to my neighbour and said

to him, 'Thou art my brother and my neighbour and wilt cover my

nakedness; what dost thou counsel me to do?' 'I counsel thee to

wait,' answered he; 'for they who entered thy house and stole thy

goods have murdered the better part of a company from the

Khalif's palace, besides some of the police, and the Khalif's

officers are now in quest of them on every side. Haply they will

chance on them and so thy wish will come about without effort of

thine.' Then I returned to my other house, that in which I dwelt,

saying to myself, 'This that hath befallen me is what Aboulhusn

feared and from which he fled to Bassora.' Presently the pillage

of my pleasure-house was noised abroad among the folk, and they

came to me from all sides, some rejoicing in my misfortune and

others excusing me and condoling with me, whilst I bewailed

myself to them and ate not neither drank for grief. As I sat,

repenting me of what I had done, one of my servants came in to me

and said, 'There is a man at the door, who asks for thee; and I

know him not.' So I went out and found at the door a man whom I

knew not. I saluted him, and he said to me, 'I have somewhat to

say to thee privily.' So I brought him in and said to him, 'What

hast thou to say to me?' Quoth he, 'Come with me to thine other

house.' 'Doss thou then know my other house,' asked I. 'I know

all about thee,' replied he, 'and I know that also wherewith God

will dispel thy concern.' So I said to myself, 'I will go with

him whither he will;' and we went out and walked on till we came

to my other house, which when he saw, he said to me, 'It is

without door or doorkeeper, and we cannot sit in it; so come thou

with me to another house.' Accordingly, he went on from place to

place and I with him, till the night overtook us. Yet I put no

question to him and we ceased not to walk on, till we reached the

open country. He kept saying, 'Follow me,' and quickened his

pace, whilst I hurried after him, heartening myself to go on.

Presently; we came to the river-bank, where he took boat with me,

and the boatman rowed us over to the other side. Here my guide

landed and I after him and he took my hand and led me to a street

I had never before entered, nor do I know in what quarter it is.

Presently he stopped at the door of a house, and opening, entered

and made me enter with him; after which he bolted the door with a

bolt of iron and carried me along the vestibule, till he brought

me in presence of ten men, brothers, as they were one and the

same man. We saluted them and they returned our greeting and bade

us be seated; so we sat down. Now I was like to die for very

weariness; so they brought rose-water and sprinkled it on my

face, after which they gave me to drink and set food before me,

of which some of them ate with me. Quoth I to myself, 'Were there

aught of harm in the food, they would not eat with me.' So I ate,

and when we had washed our hands, each of us returned to his

place. Then said they to me, 'Dost thou know us?' 'I never in my

life saw you nor this your abode,' answered I; 'nay, I know not

even him who brought me hither.' Said they, 'Tell us thy case and

lie not in aught.' 'Know then,' rejoined I, 'that my case is

strange and my affair marvellous: but do you know aught of me?'

'Yes,' answered they; 'it was we took thy goods yesternight and

carried off thy friend and her who was singing to him.' 'May God

let down the veil of His protection over you!' said I. 'But

where is my friend and she who was singing to him?' They pointed

to two doors and replied, 'They are yonder, each in a room apart;

but, by Allah, O our brother, the secret of their case is known

to none but thee, for from the time we brought them hither, we

have not seen them nor questioned them of their condition, seeing

them to be persons of rank and dignity. This it was that hindered

us from putting them to death: so tell us the truth of their case

and be assured of their safety and thine own.' When I heard this,

I was like to die of fright and said to them, 'O my brethren, if

generosity were lost, it would not be found save with you and had

I a secret, which I feared to divulge, your breasts alone should

have the keeping of it.' And I went on to expatiate to them in

this sense, till I saw that frankness would profit me more than

concealment; so I told them the whole story. When they heard it,

they said, 'And is this young man Ali ben Bekkar and this damsel

Shemsennehar?' 'Yes,' answered I. This was grievous to them and

they rose and made their excuses to the two lovers. Then they said

to me, 'Part of what we took from thy house is spent, but here is

what is left of it.' So saying, they gave me back the most part

of my goods and engaged to return them to my house and restore me

the rest. So my heart was set at ease, and some of them abode

with me, whilst the rest fetched Ali ben Bekkar and Shemsennehar,

who were well-nigh dead for excess of fear. Then they all sallied

forth with us and I went up to the two lovers and saluting them,

said to them, 'What became of the damsel and the two maids?' 'We

know nothing of them,' answered they. Then we walked on till we

came to the river-bank, where we all embarked in the boat that

had brought me over before, and the boatman rowed us to the other

side; but hardly had we landed and sat down on the bank to rest,

when a troop of horse swooped down on us like eagles and

surrounded us on all sides, whereupon the robbers with us sprang

up in haste and the boatman, putting back for them, took them in

and pushed off into mid-stream, leaving us on the bank, unable to

move or abide still. The horseman said to us, 'Whence come ye?'

And we were perplexed for an answer; but I said, 'Those ye saw

with us are rogues: we know them not. As for us, we are singers,

whom they would have taken to sing to them, nor could we win free

of them, save by subtlety and fair words, and they have but now

left us.' They looked at Ali and Shemsennehar and said to me,

'Thou hast not spoken sooth; but if thy tale be true, tell us who

you are and whence you come and in what quarter you dwell.' I

knew not what to answer, but Shemsennehar sprang up and

approaching the captain of the troop, spoke with him privily,

whereupon he dismounted and setting her on his steed, began to

lead it along by the bridle. Two of his men did the like with Ali

ben Bekkar and myself, and they fared on with us, till they

reached a certain part of the river-bank, when the captain sang

out in jargon and there came to us a number of men with two

boats. The captain embarked with Shemsennehar in one boat and

went his way, whilst the rest of his men put off in the other,

with Ali ben Bekkar and myself, and rowed on with us, we the

while enduring the agonies of death for excess of fear, till they

came to a place whence there was a way to our quarter. Here we

landed and walked on, escorted by some of the horsemen, till we

came to Ali ben Bekkar's house, where they took leave of us and

went their way. We entered the house and abode there, unable to

stir and knowing not night from day, till nightfall of the next

day, when I came to myself and saw Ali ben Bekkar stretched out

without sense or motion, and the men and women of his household

weeping over him. When they saw that I had recovered my senses,

some of them came to me and helping me sit up, said to me, 'Tell

us what hath befallen our son and how he came in this plight.' 'O

folk,' answered I, 'hearken to me and importune me not; but be

patient and he will come to himself and tell you his story for

himself.' And I was round with them and made them afraid of a

scandal between us; but as we were thus, behold, Ali ben Bekkar

moved in his bed, whereat his friends rejoiced and the [most part

of the] folk withdrew from him; but his people forbade me to go

away. Then they sprinkled rose-water on his face, and he

presently revived and breathed the air, whereupon they questioned

him of his case. He essayed to answer them, but could not speak

forthright and signed to them to let me go home. So they let me

go, and I returned to my own house, supported by two men and

hardly crediting my escape. When my people saw me thus, they fell

a-shrieking and buffeting their faces; but I signed to them to

hold their peace, and they were silent. Then the two men went

their way and I threw myself down on my bed, where I lay the rest

of the night and awoke not till the forenoon, when I found my

people collected round me and they said, 'What hath befallen thee

and what (evil) hath smitten thee with its mischief?' Quoth I,

'Bring me to drink.' So they brought me wine, and I drank what I

would and said to them, 'Wine got the better of me and it was

this caused the state in which ye saw me' Then they went away,

and I made my excuses to my friends and asked if any of the goods

that had been stolen from my other house had been returned.'

'Yes,' answered they. 'Some of them have come back: and the

manner of their coming was that a man came and threw them down

in the doorway and we saw him not.' So I comforted myself and

abode two days, unable to rise, at the end of which time I

began to regain strength and went to the bath, for I was worn

out with fatigue and troubled at heart for Ali ben Bekkar and

Shemsennehar, because I had no news of them all this time and

could neither get to Ali's house nor rest in my own, out of fear

for myself. And I repented to God the Most High of what I had

done and praised Him for my safety. Then I bethought me to go to

such and such a place and see the folk and divert myself; so I

went to the stuff-market and sat awhile with a friend of mine

there. When I rose to go, I saw a woman standing in my road; so I

looked at her, and behold it was Shemsennehar's slave-girl. When

I saw her, the world grew dark in my eyes and I hurried on. She

followed me, but I was afraid and fled from her, trembling

whenever I looked at her, whilst she pursued me, saying, 'Stop,

that I may tell thee somewhat.' But I heeded her not and went on,

till I reached a mosque in an unfrequented spot, and she said to

me, 'Enter the mosque, that I may say a word to thee, and fear

nothing.' And she conjured me: so I entered the mosque, and she

after me. I prayed a two-bow prayer, after which I turned to her,

sighing, and said, 'What dost thou want?' She asked me how I did,

and I told her all that had befallen myself and Ali ben Bekkar

and asked her for news of herself. 'Know,' answered she, 'that

when I and the two maids saw the robbers break open thy door, we

doubted not but they were the Khalif's officers and would seize

us and our mistress and we perish forthright: so we fled over the

roofs and casting ourselves down from a high place, took refuge

with some people, who harboured us and brought us to the palace,

where we arrived in the sorriest of plights. We concealed our

case and abode on coals of fire till nightfall, when I opened the

river-gate and calling the boatman who had carried us the night

before, said to him, "I know not what is come of my mistress; so

take me in thy boat, that we may seek her on the river: it may be

I shall chance on some news of her." So he took me into the boat

and rowed about with me till midnight, when I spied a boat making

towards the water-gate, with one man rowing and another standing

up and a woman lying prostrate between them. When they reached

the shore and the woman landed, I looked at her, and behold, it

was Shemsennehar. So I landed and joined her, dazed for joy,

after having lost hope of her. When I came up to her, she bade me

give the man who had brought her thither a thousand diners, and I

and the two maids carried her in and laid her on her bed, and she

at death's door. She abode thus all that day and the next day and

I forbade the eunuchs and women to go in to her; but on the third

day, she revived and I found her as she had come out of the

grave. So I sprinkled rose-water upon her face and changed her

clothes and washed her hands and feet, nor did I cease to

persuade her, till I brought her to eat a little and drink some

wine, though she had no mind to it. As soon as she had breathed

the air and strength began to return to her, I fell to upbraiding

her, saying, "Consider, O my lady, and have pity on thyself; thou

seest what has betided us Surely, enough of evil hath befallen

thee and thou hast been nigh upon death." "By Allah, O good

damsel," replied she, "death were easier to me than what hath

befallen me; for I had renounced all hope of deliverance and gave

myself up for lost. When the robbers took us from the jeweller's

house, they asked me who I was; I replied, 'I am a singing-girl,'

and they believed me. Then they said to Ali ben Bekkar, 'And who

art thou and what is thy condition?' And he answered, 'I am of

the common people.' So they carried us to their abode, and we

hurried on with them for fear; but when they had us with them in

the house, they looked at me and seeing the clothes I wore and my

necklaces and jewellery, believed me not and said to me, 'No

singing-girl ever had such jewels as these; tell us the truth of

thy case.' I returned them no answer, saying in myself, 'Now will

they kill me for my clothes and ornaments;' and I spoke not a

word. Then they turned to Ali ben Bekkar and said to him, 'And

thou, who and whence art thou? For thy favour is not as that of

the common folk.' But he was silent and we ceased not to keep our

counsel and weep, till God inclined the rogues' hearts towards us

and they said to us, 'Who is the owner of the house in which you

were?' 'Such an one, the jeweller,' answered we; whereupon quoth

one of them, 'I know him well and where he lives, and I will

engage to bring him to you forthright.' Then they agreed to set

me in a place by myself and Ali ben Bekkar in a place by himself,

and said to us, 'Be at rest and fear not lest your secret be

divulged; ye are safe from us.' Meanwhile their comrade went away

and returned with the jeweller, who made known to them our case,

and we joined company with him; after which one of the band

fetched a boat, in which they embarked us all three and rowing us

over the river, landed us on the opposite bank and went away;

whereupon up came a horse-patrol and asked us who we were. So I

spoke with the captain and said to him, 'I am Shemsennehar, the

Khalif's favourite; I had drunken wine and went out to visit

certain of my acquaintance of the wives of the Viziers, when

yonder rogues laid hold of me and brought me hither; but when

they saw you, they fled. I met these men with them; so do thou

escort me and them to a place of safety and I will requite thee.'

When the captain heard my speech, he knew me and alighting,

mounted me on his horse; and in like manner did two of his men

with Ali and the jeweller. And now my heart is on fire on their

account, especially for Ali's friend the jeweller: so do thou go

to him and salute him and ask him for news of Ali ben Bekkar." I

spoke to her and blamed her and bade her beware, saying' "O my

lady, have a care for thyself and give up this intrigue." But she

was angered at my words and cried out at me. So I came forth in

quest of thee, but found thee not and dared not go to Ali's

house; so stood watching for thee, that I might ask thee of him

and know how it is with him. And I beg thee, of thy favour, to

take some money of me, for belike thou borrowedst of thy friends

some of the goods, and as they are lost, it behoves thee to make

them compensation.' 'I hear and obey,' answered I. 'Go on.' And I

walked with her till we drew near my house, when she said to me,

'Wait till I return to thee.' So she went away and presently

returned with a bag of money, which she handed to me, saying, 'O

my lord, where shall we meet?' Quoth I, 'I will go to my house at

once and suffer hardship for thy sake and contrive how thou mayst

win to him, for access to him is difficult at this present.' 'Let

me know where I shall come to thee,' said she, and I answered,

'In my other house; I will go thither forthright and have the

doors repaired and the place made secure again, and henceforth we

will meet there.' Then she took leave of me and went her way,

whilst I carried the money home, and counting it, found it five

thousand diners. I gave my people some of it and made good their

loss to all who had lent me aught, after which I took my servants

and repaired to my other house, with builders and carpenters,

who restored it to its former state. Moreover, I placed my

negress-slave there and forgot what had befallen me. Then I

repaired to Ali ben Bekkar's house, where his servants accosted

me, saying, 'Our lord calls for thee day and night and hath

promised his freedom to whichever of us brings thee to him; so we

have been in quest of thee everywhere, but knew not where to find

thee. Our master is by way of recovery, but he has frequent

relapses, and when he revives, he names thee and says, "Needs

must ye bring him to me, though but for an instant," and sinks

back into his torpor.' So I went in to Ali ben Bekkar and finding

him unable to speak, sat down at his head, whereupon he opened

his eyes and seeing me, wept and said, 'Welcome and fair

welcome!' I raised him and making him sit up, strained him to my

bosom, and he said, 'Know, O my brother, that, since I took to my

bed, I have not sat up till now: praised be God that I see thee

again!' Presently, little by little, I made him stand up and walk

a few steps, after which I changed his clothes and he drank some

wine. All this he did to please me. Then, seeing him to be

somewhat restored, I told him what had befallen me with the

slave-girl, none else hearing me, and said to him, 'I know what

thou sufferest; but take heart and be of good courage; for

henceforth nought shall betide thee, but what shall rejoice thee

and ease thine heart.' He smiled and called for food, which being

brought, he signed to his servants, and they withdrew. Then said

he to me, 'O my brother, thou seest what hath befallen me;' and

he made his excuses to me and enquired how I had fared all that

while. I told him all that had befallen me, from first to last,

at which he wondered and calling his servants, said, 'Bring me

such and such things.' Accordingly, they brought in rich carpets

and hangings and utensils of gold and silver, more than I had

lost, and he gave them all to me; so I sent them to my house and

abode with him that night. When the day began to break, he said

to me, 'To everything there is an end, and the end of love is

death or enjoyment. I am nearer unto death, would I had died ere

this befell! For, had not God favoured us, we had been discovered

and put to shame. And now I know not what shall deliver me from

this my strait, and were it not that I fear God, I would hasten

my own death; for know, O my brother, that I am like the bird in

the cage and that my life is of a surety perished, by reason of

the distresses that have befallen me; yet hath it a fixed period

and an appointed term.' And he wept and groaned and repeated the

following verses:

Indeed, it sufficeth the lover the time that his tears have run;

As for affliction, of patience it hath him all fordone.

He who concealeth the secrets conjoined us heretofore And now His

hand hath severed that which Himself made one.

When he had finished, I said to him, 'O my lord, I would fain

return to my house; it may be the damsel will come back to me

with news.' 'It is well,' answered he; 'go and return to me

speedily with news, for thou seest my condition.' So I took leave

of him and went home. Hardly had I sat down, when up came the

damsel, choked with her tears. 'What is the matter?' asked I, and

she said, 'O my lord, what we feared has fallen on us; for, when

I returned yesterday to my lady, I found her enraged with one of

the two maids who were with us the other night, and she ordered

her to be beaten. The girl took fright and ran away; but one of

the gate-keepers stopped her and would have sent her back to her

mistress. However, she let fall some hints, which excited his

curiosity; so he coaxed her and led her on to talk, and she

acquainted him with our case. This came to the ears of the

Khalif, who bade remove my mistress and all her gear to his own

palace and set over her a guard of twenty eunuchs. Since then he

has not visited her nor given her to know the cause of his

action, but I suspect this to be the cause; wherefore I am in

fear for myself and am perplexed, O my lord, knowing not what I

shall do nor how I shall order my affair and hers, for she had

none more trusted nor trustier than myself. So do thou go quickly

to Ali ben Bekkar and acquaint him with this, that he may be on

his guard; and if the affair be discovered, we will cast about

for a means of saving ourselves.' At this, I was sore troubled

and the world grew dark in my sight for the girl's words. Then

she turned to go, and I said to her, 'What is to be done?' Quoth

she, 'My counsel is that thou hasten to Ali ben Bekkar, if thou

be indeed his friend and desire his escape; thine be it to carry

him the news forthright, and be it mine to watch for further

news.' Then she took her leave of me and went away. I followed

her out and betaking myself to Ali ben Bekkar, found him

flattering himself with hopes of speedy enjoyment and staying

himself with vain expectations. When he saw me, he said, 'I see

thou hast come back to me forthwith' 'Summon up all thy

patience,' answered I, 'and put away thy vain doting and shake

off thy preoccupation, for there hath befallen that which may

bring about the loss of thy life and goods.' When he heard this,

he was troubled and his colour changed and he said to me, 'O my

brother, tell me what hath happened.' 'O my lord,' replied I,

'such and such things have happened and thou art lost without

recourse, if thou abide in this thy house till the end of the

day.' At this he was confounded and his soul well-nigh departed

his body, but he recovered himself and said to me, 'What shall I

do, O my brother, and what is thine advice?' 'My advice,'

answered I, 'is that thou take what thou canst of thy property

and whom of thy servants thou trustest and flee with me to a land

other than this, ere the day come to an end.' And he said, 'I

hear and obey.' So he rose, giddy and dazed, now walking and now

falling down and took what came under his hand. Then he made an

excuse to his household and gave them his last injunctions, after

which he loaded three camels and mounted his hackney. I did the

like and we went forth privily in disguise and fared on all day

and night, till nigh upon morning, when we unloaded and hobbling

our camels, lay down to sleep; but, being worn with fatigue, we

neglected to keep watch, so that there fell on us robbers, who

stripped us of all we had and slew our servants, when they would

have defended us, after which they made off with their booty,

leaving us naked and in the sorriest of plights. As soon as they

were gone, we arose and walked on till morning, when we came to a

village and took refuge in its mosque. We sat in a corner of the

mosque all that day and the next night, without meat or drink;

and at daybreak, we prayed the morning prayer and sat down again.

Presently, a man entered and saluting us, prayed a two-bow

prayer, after which he turned to us and said, 'O folk, are ye

strangers?' 'Yes,' answered we, 'robbers waylaid us and stripped

us, and we came to this town, but know none here with whom we may

shelter.' Quoth he, 'What say you? Will you come home with me?'

And I said to Ali ben Bekkar, 'Let us go with him, and we shall

escape two evils; first, our fear lest some one who knows us

enter the mosque and so we be discovered; and secondly, that we

are strangers and have no place to lodge in.' 'As thou wilt,'

answered he. Then the man said to us again, 'O poor folk, give

ear unto me and come with me to my house.' 'We hear and obey,'

answered I; whereupon he pulled off a part of his own clothes and

covered us therewith and made his excuses to us and spoke kindly

to us. Then we accompanied him to his house and he knocked at the

door, whereupon a little servant came out and opened to us. We

entered after our host, who called for a parcel of clothes and

muslin for turbans, and gave us each a suit of clothes and a

piece of muslin; so we made us turbans and sat down. Presently,

in came a damsel with a tray of food and set it before us,

saying, 'Eat.' We ate a little and she took away the tray; after

which we abode with our host till nightfall, when Ali ben Bekkar

sighed and said to me, 'Know, O my brother, that I am a dead man

and I have a charge to give thee: it is that, when thou seest me

dead, thou go to my mother and tell her and bid her come hither,

that she may be present at the washing of my body and take order

for my funeral; and do thou exhort her to bear my loss with

patience.' Then he fell down in a swoon and when he revived, he

heard a damsel singing afar off and addressed himself to give ear

to her and hearken to her voice; and now he was absent from the

world and now came to himself, and anon he wept for grief and

mourning at what had befallen him. Presently, he heard the damsel

sing the following verses:

Parting hath wrought in haste our union to undo After the

straitest loves and concord 'twixt us two.

The shifts of night and day have torn our lives apart. When shall

we meet again? Ah, would to God I knew!

After conjoined delight, how bitter sev'rance is! Would God it

had no power to baffle lovers true!

Death's anguish hath its hour, then endeth; but the pain Of

sev'rance from the loved at heart is ever new.

Could we but find a way to come at parting's self, We'd surely

make it taste of parting's cup of rue.

When he heard this, he gave one sob and his soul quitted his

body. As soon as I saw that he was dead, I committed his body to

the care of the master of the house and said to him, 'I go to

Baghdad, to tell his mother and kinsfolk, that they may come

hither and take order for his burial' So I betook myself to

Baghdad and going to my house, changed my clothes, after which I

repaired to Ali ben Bekkar's lodging. When his servants saw me,

they came to me and questioned me of him, and I bade them ask

leave for me to go in to his mother. She bade admit me; so I

entered and saluting her, said, 'Verily God orders the lives of

all creatures by His commandment and when He decreeth aught,

there is no escaping its fulfilment, nor can any soul depart but

by His leave, according to the Writ which prescribeth the

appointed terms.' She guessed by these words that her son was

dead and wept sore, then she said to me, 'I conjure thee by

Allah, tell me, is my son dead?' I could not answer her for tears

and much grief, and when she saw me thus, she was choked with

weeping and fell down in a swoon. As soon as she came to herself,

she said to me, 'Tell me how my son died.' 'May God abundantly

requite thee for him!' answered I and told her all that had

befallen him, from first to last. 'Did he give thee any charge?'

asked she. 'Yes,' answered I and told her what he had said,

adding, 'Hasten to take order for his funeral.' When she heard

this, she swooned away again; and when she recovered, she

addressed herself to do as I bade her. Then I returned to my

house; and as I went along, musing sadly upon his fair youth, a

woman caught hold of my hand. I looked at her and behold, it was

Shemsennehar's slave-girl, broken for grief. When we knew each

other, we both wept and gave not over weeping till we reached my

house, and I said to her, 'Knowest thou the news of Ali ben

Bekkar?' 'No, by Allah,' replied she; so I told her the manner of

his death and all that had passed, whilst we both wept; after

which I said to her, 'And how is it with thy mistress?' Quoth

she, 'The Khalif would not hear a word against her, but saw all

her actions in a favourable light, of the great love he bore her,

and said to her, "O Shemsennehar, thou art dear to me and I will

bear with thee and cherish thee, despite thine enemies." Then he

bade furnish her a saloon decorated with gold and a handsome

sleeping-chamber, and she abode with him in all ease of life and

high favour. One day, as he sat at wine, according to his wont,

with his favourites before him, he bade them be seated in their

places and made Shemsennehar sit by his side. (Now her patience

was exhausted and her disorder redoubled upon her.) Then he bade

one of the damsels sing: so she took a lute and tuning it,

preluded and sang the following verses:

One sought me of lore and I yielded and gave him that which he

sought. And my tears write the tale of my transport in

furrows upon my cheek.

Meseemeth as if the teardrops were ware, indeed, of our case And

hide what I'd fain discover and tell what to hide I seek.

How can I hope to be secret and hide the love that I feel, Whenas

the stress of my longing my passion for thee doth speak?

Death, since the loss of my loved ones, is sweet to me: would I

knew What unto them is pleasant, now that they've lost me

eke!

When Shemsennehar heard these verses, she could not keep her

seat, but fell down in a swoon, whereupon the Khalif threw the

cup from his hand and drew her to him, crying out. The damsels

clamoured and he turned her over and shook her, and behold, she

was dead. The Khalif grieved sore for her death and bade break

all the vessels and lutes and other instruments of mirth and

music in the place; then carrying her body to his closet, he

abode with her the rest of the night. When the day broke, he laid

her out and commanded to wash her and shroud her and bury her.

And he mourned very sore for her and questioned not of her case

nor what ailed her. And I beg thee in God's name,' continued the

damsel, 'to let me know the day of the coming of Ali ben Bekkar's

funeral train, that I may be present at his burial.' Quoth I,

'For myself, thou canst find me where thou wilt; but thou, who

can come at thee where thou art?' 'On the day of Shemsennehar's

death,' answered she, 'the Commander of the Faithful freed all

her women, myself among the rest; and we are now abiding at the

tomb in such a place.' So I accompanied her to the burial-ground

and visited Shemennehar's tomb;[FN#18] after which I went my way

and awaited the coming of Ali ben Bekkar's funeral. When it

arrived, the people of Baghdad went forth to meet it and I with

them; and I saw the damsel among the women and she the loudest of

them in lamentation, crying out and wailing with a voice that

rent the vitals and made the heart ache. Never was seen in

Baghdad a greater funeral than his and we ceased not to follow in

crowds, till we reached the cemetery and buried him to the mercy

of God the most High; nor from that time to this have I ceased to

visit his tomb and that of Shemsennehar." This, then, is their

story, and may God the Most High have mercy upon them!