and returned with it to her mistress and forthright fell to extolling
his charms to her and expiating on his good gifts and generosity; for
she was become a helper to him, to bring about his union with her lady.
Quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, “O Hubub, indeed he tarrieth to come to us;” and
quoth Hubub, “He will certainly come soon.” Hardly had she made an end
of speaking when behold, he knocked at the door, and she opened to him
and brought him in to her mistress, who saluted him with the salam[325]
and welcomed him and seated him by her side. Then she said to Hubub,
“Bring me a suit of brocade;” so she brought a robe broidered with gold
and Zayn al-Mawasif threw it over him, whilst she herself donned one of
the richest dresses and crowned her head with a net of pearls of the
freshest water. About this she bound a fillet of brocade, purfled with
pearls, jacinths and other jewels, from beneath which she let down two
tresses[326] each looped with a pendant of ruby, charactered with
glittering gold, and she loosed her hair, as it were the sombrest night;
and lastly she incensed herself with aloes-wood and scented herself with
musk and ambergris, and Hubub said to her, “Allah save thee from the
evil eye!” Then she began to walk, swaying from side to side with
gracefullest gait, whilst Hubub who excelled in verse-making, recited in
her honour these couplets:—
Shamed is the bough of Bán by pace of her; ✿ And harmed are lovers by
the gaze of her.
A moon she rose from murks, the hair of her, ✿ A sun from locks the brow
encase of her:
Blest he she nights with by the grace of her, ✿ Who dies in her with
oath by days of her!
So Zayn al-Mawasif thanked her and went up to Masrur, as she were full
moon displayed. But when he saw her, he rose to his feet and exclaimed,
“An my thought deceive me not, she is no human, but one of the brides of
Heaven!” Then she called for food and they brought a table, about whose
marge were written these couplets[327]:—
Dip thou with spoons in saucers four and gladden heart and eye With many
a various kind of stew and fricassee and fry.
Thereon fat quails (ne’er shall I cease to love and tender them) And
rails and fowls and dainty birds of all the kinds that fly.
Glory to God for the Kabobs, for redness all aglow, And potherbs,
steeped in vinegar, in porringers thereby!
Fair fall the rice with sweet milk dressed, wherein the hands did plunge
And eke the forearms of the fair were buried, bracelet-high!
How my heart yearneth with regret over two plates of fish That by two
manchet-cakes of bread of Tewarij[328] did lie!
Then they ate and drank and made mirth and merriment, after which the
servants removed the table of food and set on the wine service; so cup
and tasse[329] passed round between them and they were gladdened in
soul. Then Masrur filled the cup and saying, “O whose thrall am I and
who is my mistress!”[330] chanted these improvised couplets:—
Mine eyes I admire that can feed their fill ✿ On charms of a girl rising
worlds to light:
In her time she hath none to compare for gifts ✿ Of spirit and body a
mere delight.
Her shape breeds envy in Cassia-tree ✿ When fares she forth in her
symmetry dight:
With luminous brow shaming moon of dark ✿ And crown-like crescent the
brightest bright.
When treads she earth’ surface her fragrance scents ✿ The Zephyr that
breathes over plain and height.
When he ended his extempore song she said, “O Masrur, whoso religiously
keepeth his faith and hath eaten our bread and salt, it behoveth us to
give him his due; so put away from thee all thought of what hath been
and I will restore thee thy lands and houses and all we have taken from
thee.” He replied, “O my lady, I acquit thee of that whereof thou
speakest, though thou hadst been false to the oath and covenant between
us; for I will go and become a Moslem.” Zayn al-Mawasif protested that
she would follow suit[331] when Hubub cried to her, “O my lady, thou art
young of years and knowest many things, and I claim the intercession of
Almighty Allah with thee for, except thou do my bidding and heal my
heart, I will not lie the night with thee in the house.” And she
replied, “O Hubub, it shall be as thou wilt. Rise and make us ready
another sitting-room.” So she sprang to her feet and gat ready a room
and adorned and perfumed it after fairest fashion even as her lady loved
and preferred; after which she again set on food and wine, and the cup
went round between them and their hearts were glad.——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Fiftieth Night,
She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
al-Mawasif bade her maid Hubub make ready a private sitting-room she
arose and did her bidding, after which she again set food and wine
before them and cup and tasse went round gladdening their hearts.
Presently quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, “O Masrur, come is the time of Union
and favour; so, as thou studiest my love to savour recite us some verses
surpassing of flavour.” Upon this he recited the following ode[332]:—
I am taken: my heart burns with living flame
For Union shorn whenas Severance came,
In the love of a damsel who forced my soul
And with delicate cheeklet my reason stole.
She hath eyebrows united and eyes black-white
And her teeth are leven that smiles in light:
The tale of her years is but ten plus four;—
Tears like Dragon’s blood[333] for her love I pour.
First I saw that face ’mid parterre and rill,
Outshining full Lune on horizon-hill;
And stood like a captive for awe, and cried,
“Allah’s Peace, O who in demesne[334] doth hide!”
She returned my salam, gaily answering
With the sweetest speech likest pearls a-string.
But when heard my words, she right soon had known
My want and her heart waxed hard as stone,
And quoth she, “Be not this a word silly-bold?”
But quoth I, “Refrain thee nor flyte and scold!
An to-day thou consent such affair were light;
Thy like is the loved, mine the lover-wight!”
When she knew my mind she but smiled in mirth
And cried, “Now, by the Maker of Heaven and Earth!
“I’m a Jewess of Jewry’s driest e’er seen
And thou art naught save a Nazarene.
“Why seek my favours? Thine’s other caste;
An this deed thou do thou’lt repent the past.
“Say, does Love allow with two Faiths to play?
Men shall blame thee like me, at each break of day!
“Wilt thou laugh at beliefs and deride their rite,
And in thine and mine prove thee sinful sprite?
“An thou lovedest me thou hadst turnèd Jew,
Losing worlds for love and my favours due;
“And by the Evangel strong oath hadst sworn
To keep our secret intact from scorn!”
So I took the Torah and sware strong oath
I would hold to the covenant made by both.
Then by law, religion and creed I sware,
And bound her by oaths that most binding were;
And asked her, “Thy name, O my dear delight?”
And she, “Zayn al-Mawásif at home I’m hight!”
“O Zayn al-Mawasif!” (cried I) “Hear my call:
Thy love hath made me thy veriest thrall!”
Then I peeped ’neath her chin-veil and ’spied such charms
That the longing of love filled my heart with qualms.
’Neath the curtain I ceased not to humble me,
And complain of my heart-felt misery;
But when she saw me by Love beguiled
She raised her face-veil and sweetly smiled:
And when breeze of Union our faces kiss’d
With musk-pod she scented fair neck and wrist;
And the house with her essences seemed to drip,
And I kissed pure wine from each smiling lip:
Then like branch of Bán ’neath her robe she swayed
And joys erst unlawful[335] she lawful made:
And joined, conjoined through our night we lay
With clip, kiss of inner lip, _langue fourrée_.
The world hath no grace but the one loved fere
In thine arms to clasp with possession sheer!
With the morn she rose and she bade Good-bye
While her brow shone brighter than moon a-sky;
Reciting at parting (while tear-drops hung
On her cheeks, these scattered and other strung),[336]
“Allah’s pact in mind all my life I’ll bear
And the lovely nights and strong oath I sware.”
Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted and said to him, “O Masrur, how goodly are
thy inner gifts! May he live not who would harm thy heart!” Then she
entered her boudoir and called him: so he went in to her and taking her
in his arms, embraced her and hugged her and kissed her and got of her
that which he had deemed impossible and rejoiced in winning the sweet of
amorous will. Then said she, “O Masrur, thy good is unlawful to me and
is lawfully thine again now that we are become lovers.” So she returned
to him all she had taken of him and asked him, “O Masrur, hast thou a
flower-garden whither we may wend and take our pleasure?”; whereto he
answered, “Yes, O my lady, I have a garden that hath not its like.” Then
he returned to his lodgings and bade his slave-girls make ready a
splendid banquet in a handsome room; after which he summoned Zayn
al-Mawasif who came surrounded by her damsels, and they ate and drank
and made mirth and merriment, whilst the cup passed round between them
and their spirits rose high. Then lover withdrew with beloved and Zayn
al-Mawasif said to Masrur, “I have bethought me of some dainty verses,
which I would fain sing to the lute.” He replied, “Do sing them”; so she
took the lute and tuning it, sang to a pleasant air these couplets:—
Joy from stroke of string doth to me incline, ✿ And sweet is a-morning
our early wine;
Whenas Love unveileth the amourist’s heart, ✿ And by rending the veil he
displays his sign,
With a draught so pure, so dear, so bright, ✿ As in hand of Moons[337]
the Sun’s sheeny shine
O’ nights it cometh with joy to ’rase ✿ The hoar of sorrow by boon
divine.
Then ending her verse, she said to him, “O Masrur, recite us somewhat of
thy poetry and favour us with the fruit of thy thought.” So he recited
these two couplets:—
We joy in full Moon who the wine bears round, ✿ And in concert of lutes
that from gardens sound;
Where the dove moans at dawn and where bends the bough ✿ To Morn, and
all pathways of pleasure are found.
When he had finished his recitation she said to him, “Make us some
verses on that which hath passed between us an thou be occupied with
love of me.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say.
Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-first Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
al-Mawasif said to Masrur, “An thou be occupied with love of me, make us
some verses on that hath passed between us,” “With love and gladness,”
he replied and improvised the following Kasídah[338]:—
Stand thou and hear what fell to me ✿ For love of you gazelle to dree!
Shot me a white doe with her shaft ✿ O’ glances wounding woundily.
Love was my ruin, for was I ✿ Straitened by longing ecstasy:
I loved and woo’d a young coquette ✿ Girded by strong artillery,
Whom in a garth I first beheld ✿ A form whose sight was symmetry.
I greeted her and when she deigned ✿ Greeting return, “Salám,” quoth she
“What be thy name?” said I, she said, ✿ My name declares my
quality![339]
“Zayn al-Mawásif I am hight.” ✿ Cried I, “Oh deign I mercy see,
“Such is the longing in my heart ✿ No lover claimeth rivalry!”
Quoth she, “With me an thou ’rt in love ✿ And to enjoy me pleadest plea,
“I want of thee oh! muchel wealth; ✿ Beyond all compt my wants o’ thee!
“I want o’ thee full many a robe ✿ Of sendal, silk and damaskry;
“A quarter quintal eke of musk: ✿ These of one night shall pay the fee.
“Pearls, unions and carnelian[340]-stones ✿ The bestest best of
jewelry!”
Of fairest patience showed I show ✿ In contrariety albe:
At last she favoured me one night ✿ When rose the moon a crescent wee;
An stranger blame me for her sake ✿ I say, “O blamers listen ye!
She showeth locks of goodly length ✿ And black as blackest night its
blee;
While on her cheeks the roses glow ✿ Like Lazá-flame incendiary:
In every eyelash is a sword ✿ And every glance hath archery:
Her liplets twain old wine contain, ✿ And dews of fount-like purity:
Her teeth resemble strings o’ pearls, ✿ Arrayed in line and fresh from
sea:
Her neck is like the neck of doe, ✿ Pretty and carven perfectly:
Her bosom is a marble slab ✿ Whence rise two breasts like towers on lea:
And on her stomach shows a crease ✿ Perfumed with rich perfumery;
Beneath which same there lurks a Thing ✿ Limit of mine expectancy.”
A something rounded, cushioned-high ✿ And plump, my lords, to high
degree:
To me ’tis likest royal throne ✿ Whither my longings wander free;
There ’twixt two pillars man shall find ✿ Benches of high-built tracery.
It hath specific qualities ✿ Drive sanest men t’ insanity;
Full mouth it hath like mouth of neck ✿ Or well begirt by stony key;
Firm lips with camelry’s compare ✿ And shows it eye of cramoisie.
An draw thou nigh with doughty will ✿ To do thy doing lustily,
Thou’ll find it fain to face thy bout ✿ And strong and fierce in
valiancy.
It bendeth backwards every brave ✿ Shorn of his battle-bravery.
At times imberbe, but full of spunk ✿ To battle with the Paynimry.
’Twill show thee liveliness galore ✿ And perfect in its raillery:
Zayn al-Mawasif it is like ✿ Complete in charms and courtesy.
To her dear arms one night I came ✿ And won meed given lawfully:
I passed with her that self-same night ✿ (Best of my nights!) in
gladdest glee;
And when the morning rose, she rose ✿ And crescent like her visnomy:
Then swayed her supple form as sway ✿ The lances lopt from limber tree;
And when farewelling me she cried, ✿ “When shall such nights return to
me?”
Then I replied, “O eyen-light, ✿ When He vouchsafeth His decree!”[341]
Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted with this Ode and the utmost gladness gat
hold of her. Then said she, “O Masrur day-dawn draweth nigh and there is
naught for it save to fly for fear of scandal and spy!” He replied, “I
hear and obey,” and rising led her to her lodging, after which he
returned to his quarters[342] and passed the rest of the night pondering
on her charms. When the morning morrowed with its sheen and shone, he
made ready a splendid present and carried it to her and sat by her side.
And thus they abode awhile, in all solace of life and its delight, till
one day there came to Zayn al-Mawasif a letter from her husband
reporting to her his speedy return. Thereupon she said in herself, “May
Allah not keep him nor quicken him! If he come hither, our life will be
troubled: would Heaven I might despair of him!” Presently entered Masrur
and sat with her at chat, as was his wont, whereupon she said to him, “O
Masrur, I have received a missive from my mate, announcing his speedy
return from his wayfaring. What is to be done, since neither of us
without other can live?” He replied, “I know not; but thou art better
able to judge, being acquainted with the ways of thy man, more by token
that thou art one of the sharpest-witted of women and past mistress of
devices such as devise that whereof fail the wise.” Quoth she, “He is a
hard man and jealous of his household: but, when he shall come home and
thou hearest of his coming, do thou repair to him and salute him and sit
down by his side, saying:—O my brother, I am a druggist. Then buy of him
somewhat of drugs and spices of sorts and call upon him frequently and
prolong thy talks with him and gainsay him not in whatsoever he shall
bid thee; so haply that I would contrive may betide, as it were by
chance.” “I hear and I obey,” quoth Masrur and fared forth from her,
with heart afire for love. When her husband came home, she rejoiced in
meeting him and after saluting him bade him welcome; but he looked in
her face and seeing it pale and sallow (for she had washed it with
saffron, using one of women’s arts), asked her of her case. She answered
that she had been sick, she and her women, from the time of his
wayfaring, adding, “Verily, our hearts have been engrossed with thoughts
of thee because of the length of thine absence.” And she went on to
complain to him of the misery of separation and to pour forth copious
tears, saying, “Hadst thou but a companion with thee, my heart had not
borne all this cark and care for thee. So, Allah upon thee, O my lord,
travel not again without a comrade and cut me not off from news of thee,
that my heart and mind may be at rest concerning thee!”——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-second Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
al-Mawasif said to her mate, “Travel not without comrade and cut me not
off from news of thee, that my heart and mind may be at rest concerning
thee,” he replied, “With love and gladness! By Allah thy bede is good
indeed and right is thy rede! By thy life, it shall be as thou dost
heed.” Then he unpacked some of his stock-in-trade and carrying the
goods to his shop, opened it and sat down to sell in the Soko.[343] No
sooner had he taken his place than lo and behold! up came Masrur and
saluting him, sat down by his side and began talking and talked with him
awhile. Then he pulled out a purse and taking forth gold, handed it to
Zayn al-Mawasif’s man and said, “Give me the worth of these dinars in
drugs and spices of sorts, that I may sell them in my shop.” The Jew
replied, “I hear and I obey,” and gave him what he sought. And Masrur
continued to pay him frequent visits till, one day, the merchant said to
him, “I have a mind to take me a man to partner in trade.” Quoth Masrur,
“And I also, desire to take a partner; for my father was a merchant in
the land of Al-Yaman and left me great store of money and I fear lest it
fare from me.” Quoth the Jew, turning towards him, “Wilt thou be my
partner, and I will be thy partner and a true friend and comrade to thee
at home and abroad; and I will teach thee selling and buying, giving and
taking.” And Masrur rejoined, “With all my heart.” So the merchant
carried him to his place and seated him in the vestibule, whilst he went
in to his wife and said to her, “I have provided me with a partner and
have bidden him hither as a guest; so do thou get us ready good
guest-cheer.” Whenas she heard this, she rejoiced divining that it was
Masrur, and made ready a magnificent banquet,[344] of her delight in the
success of her device. Then, when the guest drew nigh, her husband said
to her, “Come out with me to him and bid him welcome and say, Thou
gladdenest us[345]!” But Zayn al-Mawasif made a show of anger, crying,
“Wilt thou have me display myself before a strange man? I take refuge
with Allah! Though thou cut me to bits, I will not appear before him!”
Rejoined he, “Why shouldst thou be abashed at him, seeing that he is a
Nazarene and we are Jews and, to boot, we are become chums, he and I?”
Quoth she, “I am not minded to present myself before a strange man, on
whom I have never once set eyes and whom I know not any wise.” Her
husband thought she spoke sooth and ceased not to importune her, till
she rose and veiling herself, took the food and went out to Masrur and
welcomed him; whereupon he bowed his head groundwards, as he were
ashamed, and the Jew, seeing such dejection said in himself, “Doubtless,
this man is a devotee.” They ate their fill and the table being removed,
wine was set on. As for Zayn al-Mawasif, she sat over against Masrur and
gazed on him and he gazed on her till ended day, when he went home, with
a heart to fire a prey. But the Jew abode pondering the grace and the
comeliness of him; and, as soon as it was night, his wife according to
custom served him with supper and they seated themselves before it. Now
he had a mocking-bird which was wont, whenever he sat down to meat, to
come and eat with him and hover over his head; but in his absence the
fowl was grown familiar with Masrur and used to flutter about him as he
sat at meals. Now when Masrur disappeared and the master returned, it
knew him not and would not draw near him, and this made him thoughtful
concerning his case and the fowl’s withdrawing from him. As for Zayn
al-Mawasif, she could not sleep with her heart thinking of Masrur, and
thus it was with her a second and even a third night, till the Jew
became aware of her condition and, watching her while she sat
distraught, began to suspect somewhat wrong. On the fourth night, he
awoke in the middle thereof and heard his wife babbling in her sleep and
naming Masrur, what while she lay on her husband’s bosom, wherefore he
misdoubted her; but he dissembled his suspicions and when morning
morrowed he repaired to his shop and sat therein. Presently, up came
Masrur and saluted him. He returned his salam and said to him, “Welcome,
O my brother!” adding anon, “I have wished for thee;” and he sat talking
with him for an hour or so, after which he said to him, “Rise, O my
brother, and hie with me to my house, that we may enter into the pact of
brotherhood.”[346] Replied Masrur, “With joy and goodly gree,” and they
repaired to the Jew’s house, where the master went in and told his wife
of Masrur’s visit, for the purpose of conditioning their partnership,
and said, “Make us ready a goodly entertainment, and needs must thou be
present and witness our brotherhood.” But she replied, “Allah upon thee,
cause me not show myself to this strange man, for I have no mind to
company with him.” So he held his peace and forbore to press her and
bade the waiting-women bring food and drink. Then he called the
mocking-bird but it knew not its lord and settled upon Masrur’s lap; and
the Jew said to him, “O my master, what is thy name?” He answered, “My
name is Masrur;” whereupon the Jew remembered that this was the name
which his wife had repeated all night long in her sleep. Presently, he
raised his head and saw her making signs[347] with her forefingers to
Masrur and motioning to him with her eyes, wherefore he knew that he had
been completely cozened and cuckolded and said, “O my lord, excuse me
awhile, till I fetch my kinsmen, so they may be present at our swearing
brotherhood.” Quoth Masrur, “Do what seemeth good to thee;” whereupon
the Jew went forth the house and returning privily by a back way——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-third Night,