al-Mawasif’s husband said to Masrur, “Excuse me awhile, till I fetch my
cousins to witness the brother-bond between me and thee.” Then he went
forth and, privily returning behind the sitting-room, there took his
station hard by a window which gave upon the saloon and whence he could
watch them without their seeing him. Suddenly quoth Zayn al-Mawasif to
her maid Sukub, “Whither is thy master gone?”; and quoth she, “He is
gone without the house.” Cried the mistress, “Lock the door and bar it
with iron and open thou not till he knock, after thou hast told me.”
Answered Sukub, “So shall it be done.” Then, while her husband watched
them, she rose and filling a cup with wine, flavoured with powdered musk
and rose-water, went close to Masrur, who sprang up to meet her, saying,
“By Allah, the water of thy mouth is sweeter than this wine!” “Here it
is for thee,” said she and filling her mouth with wine, gave him to
drink thereof, whilst he gave her the like to drink; after which she
sprinkled him with rose-water from front to foot, till the perfume
scented the whole place. All this while, the Jew was looking on and
marvelling at the stress of love that was between them, and his heart
was filled with fury for what he saw and he was not only wroth, but
jealous with exceeding jealousy. Then he went out again and coming to
the door found it locked and knocked a loud knock of the excess of his
rage; whereupon quoth Sukub, “O my lady, here is my master;” and quoth
Zayn al-Mawasif, “Open to him; would that Allah had not brought him back
in safety!” So Sukub went and opened the door to the Jew, who said to
her, “What ailed thee to lock the door?” Quoth she, “It hath never
ceased to be locked thus during thine absence; nor hath it been opened
night nor day,” and cried he, “Thou hast done well; this pleaseth me.”
Then he went in to Masrur, laughing and dissembling his chagrin, and
said to him, “O Masrur, let us put off the conclusion of our pact of
brotherhood this day and defer it to another.” Replied Masrur, “As thou
wilt,” and hied him home, leaving the Jew pondering his case and knowing
not what to do; for his heart was sore troubled and he said in himself,
“Even the mocking-bird disowneth me and the slave-girls shut the door in
my face and favour another.” And of his exceeding chagrin, he fell to
reciting these couplets:—
Masrur joys life made fair by all delight of days, ✿ Fulfilled of boons,
while mine the sorest grief displays.
The Days have falsed me in the breast of her I love ✿ And in my heart
are fires which all-consuming blaze:
Yea, Time was clear for thee, but now ’tis past and gone ✿ While yet her
lovely charms thy wit and senses daze:
Espied these eyes of mine her gifts of loveliness: ✿ Oh, hard my case
and sore my woe on spirit weighs!
I saw the maiden of the tribe deal rich old wine ✿ Of lips like Salsabíl
to friend my love betrays:
E’en so, O mocking-bird, thou dost betray my breast ✿ And to a rival
teachest Love and lover-ways:
Strange things indeed and wondrous saw these eyne of me ✿ Which were
they sleep-drowned still from Sleep’s abyss would raise:
I see my best belovèd hath forsworn my love ✿ And eke like my
mocking-bird fro’ me a-startled strays.
By truth of Allah, Lord of Worlds who, whatso wills ✿ His Fate, for
creatures works and none His hest gainsays,
Forsure I’ll deal to that ungodly wight his due ✿ Who but to sate his
wicked will her heart withdrew!
When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, her side-muscles trembled and quoth she
to her handmaid, “Heardest thou those lines?”; whereupon quoth the girl,
“I never heard him in my born days recite the like of these verses; but
let him say what he will.” Then having assured himself of the truth of
his suspicions, the Jew began to sell all his property, saying to
himself, “Unless I part them by removing her from her mother land the
twain will not turn back from this that they are engaged in, no, never!”
So, when he had converted all his possessions into coin, he forged a
letter and read it to Zayn al-Mawasif, declaring that it had come from
his kinsmen, who invited him to visit them, him and his wife. She asked,
“How long shall we tarry with them?” and he answered, “Twelve days.”
Accordingly she consented to this and said, “Shall I take any of my
maids with me?”; whereto he replied, “Take Hubub and Sukub and leave
Khutub here.” Then he made ready a handsome camel-litter[348] for his
spouse and her women and prepared to set out with them; whilst she sent
to her leman, telling him what had betided her and saying, “O Masrur, an
the trysting-time[349] that is between us pass and I come not back, know
that he hath cheated and cozened us and planned a plot to separate us
each from other, so forget thou not the plighted faith betwixt us, for I
fear that he hath found out our love and I dread his craft and perfidy.”
Then, whilst her man was busy about his march she fell a-weeping and
lamenting and no peace was left her, night or day. Her husband saw this,
but took no note thereof; and when she saw there was scant help for it,
she gathered together her clothes and gear and deposited them with her
sister, telling her what had befallen her. Then she farewelled her and
going out from her, drowned in tears, returned to her own house, where
she found her husband had brought the camels and was busy loading them,
having set apart the handsomest dromedary for her riding, and when she
saw this and knew that needs must she be separated from Masrur, she waxt
clean distraught. Presently it chanced that the Jew went out on some
business of his; so she fared forth to the first or outer door and wrote
thereon these couplets:——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,
She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
al-Mawasif saw her spouse summon the camels and knew that the march
needs must be, she waxt clean distraught. Presently it chanced that the
Jew went out on some business so she fared forth to the first door and
wrote thereon these couplets:—
Bear our salams, O Dove, from this our stead ✿ From lover to beloved far
severèd!
Bid him fro’ me ne’er cease to yearn and mourn ✿ O’er happy days and
hours for ever fled:
Eke I in grief shall ever mourn and yearn, ✿ Dwelling on days of love
and lustihead;
Long was our joyance, seeming aye to last, ✿ When night and morning to
reunion led;
Till croaked the Raven[350] of the Wold one day ✿ His cursed croak and
did our union dead.
We sped and left the homestead dark and void ✿ Its gates unpeopled and
its dwellers sped.
Then she went to the second door and wrote thereon these couplets:—
O who passest this doorway, by Allah, see ✿ The charms of my fere in the
glooms and make plea
For me, saying, “I think of the Past and weep ✿ Yet boot me no tears
flowing full and free.”
Say, “An fail thee patience for what befel ✿ Scatter earth and dust on
the head of thee!
And o’er travel lands East and West, and deem ✿ God sufficeth thy case,
so bear patiently!”
Then she went to the third door and wept sore and thereon wrote these
couplets:—
Fare softly, Masrúr! an her sanctuary ✿ Thou seek, and read what a-door
writ she.
Ne’er forget Love-plight, if true man; how oft ✿ Hast savoured Nights’
bitter and sweetest gree!
O Masrúr! forget not her neighbourhood ✿ For wi’ thee must her gladness
and joyance flee!
But beweep those dearest united days ✿ When thou camest veilèd in
secresy;
Wend for sake of us over farthest wone; ✿ Span the wold for us, for us
dive in sea;
Allah bless the past days! Ah, how glad they were ✿ When in Gardens of
Fancy the flowers pluckt we!
The nights of Union from us are fled ✿ And parting-glooms dim their
radiancy;
Ah! had this lasted as hopèd we, but ✿ He left only our breasts and the
rosery.
Will revolving days on Re-union dawn? ✿ Then our vow to the Lord shall
accomplisht be.
Learn thou our lots are in hand of Him ✿ Who on lines of skull[351]
writes our destiny!
Then she wept with sore weeping and returned to the house, wailing and
remembering what had passed and saying, “Glory be to God who hath
decreed to us this!” And her affliction redoubled for severance from her
beloved and her departure from her mother-land, and she recited these
couplets:—
Allah’s peace on thee, House of Vacancy! ✿ Ceased in thee all our joys,
all our jubilee.
O thou Dove of the homestead, ne’er cease to bemoan ✿ Whose moons and
full moons[352] sorest severance dree:
Masrúr, fare softly and mourn our loss; ✿ Loving thee our eyes lose
their brilliancy:
Would thy sight had seen, on our marching day, ✿ Tears shed by a heart
in Hell’s flagrancy!
Forget not the plight in the garth-shade pledged ✿ When we set enveiléd
in privacy:
Then she presented herself before her husband, who lifted her into the
litter he had let make for her; and, when she found herself on the
camel’s back, she recited these couplets:—
The Lord, empty House! to thee peace decree ✿ Long we bore therein
growth of misery:
Would my life-thread were shorn in that safe abode ✿ And o’ night I had
died in mine ecstasy!
Home-sickness I mourn, and my strangerhood ✿ Irks my soul, nor the
riddle of future I ree.
Would I wot shall I ever that house resee ✿ And find it, as erst, home
of joy and glee!
Said her husband, “O Zayn al-Mawasif grieve not for thy departure from
thy dwelling; for thou shalt return to it ere long Inshallah!” And he
went on to comfort her heart and soothe her sorrow. Then all set out and
fared on till they came without the town and struck into the high road,
whereupon she knew that separation was certain and this was very
grievous to her. And while such things happened Masrur sat in his
quarters, pondering his case and that of his mistress, and his heart
forewarned him of severance. So he rose without stay and delay and
repairing to her house, found the outer door padlocked and read the
couplets she had written thereon; upon which he fell down in a fainting
fit. When he came to himself, he opened the first door and entering,
read what was written upon the second and likewise upon the third doors;
wherefore passion and love-longing and distraction grew on him. So he
went forth and hastened in her track, till he came up with the light
caravan[353] and found her at the rear, whilst her husband rode in the
van, because of his merchandise. When he saw her, he clung to the
litter, weeping and wailing for the anguish of parting, and recited
these couplets:—
Would I wot for what crime shot and pierced are we ✿ Thro’ the days with
Estrangement’s archery!
O my heart’s desire, to thy door I came ✿ One day, when high waxt mine
expectancy:
But I found the home waste as the wold and void ✿ And I ’plained my pine
and groaned wretchedly:
And I asked the walls of my friends who fared ✿ With my heart in pawn
and in pendency;
And they said, “All marched from the camp and left ✿ An ambushed sorrow
on hill and lea;”
And a writ on the walls did they write, as write ✿ Folk who keep their
faith while the Worlds are three.
Now when Zayn al-Mawasif heard these lines, she knew that it was
Masrur——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
al-Mawasif heard these lines she knew that it was Masrur and wept, she
and her handmaids, and said to him, “O Masrur, I conjure thee by Allah,
turn back, lest my husband see us twain together!” At her words he
swooned away; and when he revived, they took leave each of other and he
recited the following couplets:—
The Caravan-chief calleth loud o’ night ✿ Ere the Breeze bear his cry in
the morning-light:
They girded their loads and prepared to fare, ✿ And hurried while
murmured the leader-wight.
They scent the scene on its every side, ✿ As their march through the
valley they expedite.
After winning my heart by their love they went ✿ O’ morn when their
track could deceive my sight.
O my neighbour fair, I reckt ne’er to part, ✿ Or the ground bedewed with
my tears to sight!
Woe betide my heart, now hath Severance hand ✿ To heart and vitals dealt
bane and blight.
Then he clung to the litter, weeping and wailing, whilst she besought
him to turn back ere morn for fear of scorn. So he came up to her Haudaj
and farewelling her a second time, fell down in a swoon. He lay an hour
or so without life, and when he revived he found the caravan had fared
forth of sight. So he turned in the direction of their wayfare and
scenting the breeze which blew from their quarter, chanted these
improvised lines:—
No breeze of Union to the lover blows ✿ But moan he maketh burnt with
fiery woes:
The Zephyr fans him at the dawn o’ day; ✿ But when he wakes the horizon
lonely shows:
On bed of sickness strewn in pain he lies, ✿ And weeps he bloody tears
in burning throes,
For the fair neighbour with my heart they bore ✿ ’Mid travellers urging
beasts with cries and blows
By Allah from their stead no Zephyr blew ✿ But sniffed I as the wight on
eyeballs goes;[354]
And snuff the sweetest South as musk it breathes ✿ And on the longing
lover scent bestows.
Then Masrur returned, mad with love-longing, to her house, and finding
it lone from end to end[355] and forlorn of friend, wept till he wet his
clothes; after which he swooned away and his soul was like to leave his
body. When he revived, he recited these two couplets:—
O Spring-camp have ruth on mine overthrowing ✿ My abjection, my
leanness, my tears aye flowing,
Waft the scented powder[356] of breezes they breathe ✿ In hope it cure
heart of a grief e’er growing.
Then he returned to his own lodging confounded and tearful-eyed, and
abode there for the space of ten days. Such was his case; but as regards
the Jew, he journeyed on with Zayn al-Mawasif half a score days, at the
end of which he halted at a certain city and she, being by that time
assured that her husband had played her false, wrote to Masrur a letter
and gave it to Hubub, saying, “Send this to Masrur, so he may know how
foully and fully we have been tricked and how the Jew hath cheated us.”
So Hubub took it and despatched it to Masrur, and when it reached, its
news was grievous to him and he wept till he watered the ground. Then he
wrote a reply and sent it to his mistress, subscribing it with these two
couplets:—
Where is the way to Consolation’s door ✿ How shall console him flames
burn evermore?
How pleasant were the days of yore all gone: ✿ Would we had somewhat of
those days of yore!
When the missive reached Zayn al-Mawasif, she read it and again gave it
to her handmaid Hubub, saying to her, “Keep it secret!” However, the
husband came to know of their correspondence and removed with her and
her two women to another city, at a distance of twenty days’ march. Thus
it befel Zayn al-Mawasif; but as regards Masrur, sleep was not sweet to
him nor was peace peaceful to him or patience left to him, and he ceased
not to be thus till, one night, his eyes closed for weariness and he
dreamt that he saw Zayn al-Mawasif come to him in the garden and embrace
him; but presently he awoke and found her not: whereupon his reason fled
and his wits wandered and his eyes ran over with tears; love-longing to
the utterest gat hold of his heart and he recited these couplets:—
Peace be to her, who visits me in sleeping phantasy ✿ Stirring desire
and growing love to uttermost degree:
Verily from that dream I rose with passion maddenèd ✿ For sight of
fairest phantom come in peace to visit me:
Say me, can dreams declare the truth anent the maid I love, ✿ And quench
the fires of thirst and heal my love-sick malady?
Anon to me she is liberal and she strains me to her breast; ✿ Anon she
soothes mine anxious heart with sweetest pleasantry:
From off her dark-red damask lips the dew I wont to sip ✿ The fine old
wine that seemed to reek of musk’s perfumery.
I wondered at the wondrous things between us done in dreams, ✿ And won
my wish and all my will of things I hoped to see;
And from that dreamery I rose, yet ne’er could hope to find ✿ Trace of
my phantom save my pain and fiery misery:
And when I looked on her a-morn, ’twas as a lover mad ✿ And every eve
was drunken yet no wine brought jollity.
O breathings of the northern breeze, by Allah fro’ me bear ✿ Them-wards
the greetings of my love and best salams that be:
Say them, “The wight with whom ye made that plight of fealty ✿ Time with
his changes made him drain Death’s cup and slain is he!”
Then he went out and ceased not to weep till he came to her house and
looking on it, saw it empty and void. Presently, it seemed to him he
beheld her form before him, whereupon fires flamed in him and his griefs
redoubled and he fell down a-swoon;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Masrur
saw the vision of Zayn al-Mawasif and felt her embrace, he joyed with
passing joy. As soon as he awoke he sought her house, but finding it
empty and void he fell down a-swoon; and when he came to himself, he
recited these couplets:—
Fro’ them inhale I scent of Ottar and of Bán; ✿ So fare with heart which
ecstasies of love unman:
I’d heal thy longings (love-sick lover!) by return ✿ To site of beauty
void sans friend or mate to scan:
But still it sickeneth me with parting’s ban and bane ✿ Minding mine
olden plight with friend and partisan.
When he had made an end of these verses, he heard a raven croak beside
the house and wept, saying, “Glory be to God! The raven croaketh not
save over a ruined homestead.” Then he moaned and groaned and recited
these couplets:—
What ails the Raven that he croaks my lover’s house hard by, ✿ And in my
vitals lights a fire that flameth fierce and high?
For times now past and gone I spent in joyance of their love ✿ With love
my heart hath gone to waste and I sore pain aby:
I die of longing love and lowe still in my liver raging ✿ And wrote to
her but none there is who with the writ may hie:
Ah well-away for wasted frame! Hath farèd forth my friend ✿ And if she
will o’ nights return Oh would that thing wot I!
Then, Ho thou Breeze of East, and thou by morn e’er visit her; ✿ Greet
her from me and stand where doth her tribe encampèd lie!
Now Zayn al-Mawasif had a sister, by name Nasím—the Zephyr—who stood
espying him from a high place; and when she saw him in this plight, she
wept and sighed and recited these couplets:—
How oft bewailing the place shall be this coming and going, ✿ While the
House bemoaneth its builder with tear-flood ever a-flowing?
Here was bestest joy ere fared my friend with the caravan hieing ✿ And
its dwellers and brightest-suns[357] ne’er ceased in its walls
a-glowing:
Where be those fullest moons that here were alway arising? ✿ Bedimmed
them the Shafts of Days their charms of spirit unknowing:
Leave then what is past of the Fair thou wast ever with love espying ✿
And look; for haply the days may restore them without foreshowing:
For hadst thou not been, its dwellers had never departed flying ✿ Nor
haddest thou seen the Crow with ill-omened croak a-crying.
Masrur wept sore hearing these verses and apprehending their
significance. Now Nasim knew that which was between him and her sister
of love and longing, ecstasy and passion; so she said to him, “Allah
upon thee, O Masrur, away from this house, lest any see thee and deem
thou comest on my account! Indeed thou hast caused my sister quit it and
now thou wouldst drive me also away. Thou knowest that, but for thee,
the house would not now be void of its dwellers: so be consoled for her
loss and leave her: what is past is past.” When he heard this, he wept
bitterly and said to her, “O Nasim, if I could, I should fly for longing
after her; so how can I be comforted for her?” Quoth she, “Thou hast no
device save patience;” and quoth he, “I beseech thee, for Allah’s sake,
write me a writ to her, as from thyself, and get me an answer from her,
to comfort my heart and quench the fire in my vitals.” She replied,
“With love and gladness,” and took inkcase and paper, whilst Masrur
began to set out to her the violence of his longing and what tortures he
suffered for the anguish of severance, saying:—This letter is from the
lover despairing and sorrowful ✿ the bereaved, the woeful ✿ with whom no
peace can stay ✿ nor by night nor by day ✿ but he weepeth copious tears
alway. ✿ Indeed, tears his eyelids have ulcerated and his sorrows have
kindled in his liver a fire unsated. His lamentation is lengthened and
restlessness is strengthened and he is as he were a bird unmated ✿ While
for sudden death he awaiteth ✿ Alas, my desolation for the loss of thee
✿ and alas, my yearning affliction for the companionship of thee! ✿
Indeed, emaciation hath wasted my frame ✿ and my tears a torrent became
✿ mountains and plains are straitened upon me for grame ✿ and of the
excess of my distress, I go saying:—
Still cleaves to this homestead mine ecstasy, ✿ And redoubled pine for
its dwellers I dree;
And I send to your quarters the tale of my love ✿ And the cup of your
love gave the Cup-boy to me.
And for faring of you and your farness from home ✿ My wounded lids are
from tears ne’er free:
O thou leader of litters, turn back with my love ✿ For my heart
redoubleth its ardency:
Greet my love and say him that naught except ✿ Those brown-red lips
deals me remedy:
They bore him away and our union rent ✿ And my vitals with
Severance-shaft shot he:
My love, my lowe and my longing to him ✿ Convey, for of parting no cure
I see:
I swear an oath by your love that I ✿ Will keep pact and covenant
faithfully,
To none I’ll incline or forget your love ✿ How shall love-sick lover
forgetful be?
So with you be the peace and my greeting fair ✿ In letters that perfume
of musk-pod bear.
Her sister Nasim admired his eloquence of tongue and the goodliness of
his speech and the elegance of the verses he sang, and was moved to ruth
for him. So she sealed the letter with virgin musk and incensed it with
Nadd-scent and ambergris, after which she committed it to a certain of
the merchants saying, “Deliver it not to any save to Zayn al-Mawasif or
to her handmaid Hubub.” Now when the letter reached her sister, she knew
it for Masrur’s dictation and recognised himself in the grace of its
expression. So she kissed it and laid it on her eyes, whilst the tears
streamed from her lids and she gave not over weeping, till she fainted.
As soon as she came to herself, she called for pencase and paper and
wrote him the following answer; complaining the while of her desire and
love-longing and ecstasy and what was hers to endure of pining for her
lover and yearning to him and the passion she had conceived for
him.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night,
She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn al-Mawasif
wrote the following reply to Masrur’s missive:—“This letter to my lord
and master I indite ✿ the king of my heart and my secret sprite ✿
Indeed, wakefulness agitateth me ✿ and melancholy increaseth on me ✿ and
I have no patience to endure the absence of thee ✿ O thou who excellest
sun and moon in brilliancy ✿ Desire of repose despoileth me ✿ and
passion destroyeth me ✿ and how should it be otherwise with me, seeing
that I am of the number of the dying? ✿ O glory of the world and
Ornament of life, she whose vital spirits are cut off shall her cup be
sweet to quaff? ✿ For that she is neither with the quick nor with the
dead.” And she improvised these couplets and said:—
Thy writ, O Masrúr, stirred my sprite to pine ✿ For by Allah, all
patience and solace I tyne:
When I read thy scripture, my vitals yearned ✿ And watered the herbs of
the wold these eyne.
On Night’s wings I’d fly an a bird ✿ And sans thee I weet not the sweets
of wine:
Life’s unlawful to me since thou faredst far ✿ To bear parting-lowe is
no force of mine.
Then she sprinkled the letter with powder of musk and ambergris and,
having sealed it with her signet, committed it to a merchant, saying,
“Deliver it to none save to my sister.” When it reached Nasim she sent
it to Masrur, who kissed it and laid it on his eyes and wept till he
fell into a trance. Such was their case; but as regards the Jew, he
presently heard of their correspondence and began again to travel from
place to place with Zayn al-Mawasif and her damsels, till she said to
him, “Glory to God! How long wilt thou fare with us and bear us afar
from our homes?” Quoth he, “I will fare on with you a year’s journey, so
no more letters may reach you from Masrur. I see how you take all my
monies and give them to him; so all that I miss I shall recover from
you: and I shall see if Masrur will profit you or have power to deliver
you from my hand.” Then he repaired to a blacksmith, after stripping her
and her damsels of their silken apparel and clothing them in raiment of
hair-cloth, and bade him make three pairs of iron shackles. When they
were ready, he brought the smith in to his wife, having said to him,
“Put the shackles on the legs of these three slave-girls.” The first
that came forward was Zayn al-Mawasif, and when the blacksmith saw her,
his sense forsook him and he bit his finger tips and his wit fled forth
his head and his transport grew sore upon him. So he said to the Jew,
“What is the crime of these damsels?” Replied the other, “They are my
slave-girls, and have stolen my good and fled from me.” Cried the smith,
“Allah disappoint thy jealous whims! By the Almighty, were this girl
before the Kazi of Kazis,[358] he would not even reprove her, though she
committed a thousand crimes a day. Indeed, she showeth not thief’s
favour and she cannot brook the laying of irons on her legs.” And he
asked him as a boon not to fetter her, interceding with him to forbear
the shackles. When she saw the blacksmith taking her part in this wise
she said to her husband, “I conjure thee, by Allah, bring me not forth
before yonder strange man!” Said he, “Why then camest thou forth before
Masrur?”; and she made him no reply. Then he accepted the smith’s
intercession, so far as to allow him to put a light pair of irons on her
legs, for that she had a delicate body, which might not brook harsh
usage, whilst he laid her handmaids in heavy bilboes, and they ceased
not, all three, to wear hair-cloth night and day till their bodies
became wasted and their colour changed. As for the blacksmith, exceeding
love had fallen on his heart for Zayn al-Mawasif; so he returned home in
great concern and he fell to reciting extempore these couplets:—