O Zephyr of Najd, when from Najd thou blow, * Thy breathings
heap only new woe on woe!
The turtle bespake me in bloom of morn * From the cassia-twig and
the willow-bough
She moaned with the moaning of love-sick youth * And exposed
love-secret I ne’er would show:
They say lover wearies of love when near * And is cured of love
an afar he go:
I tried either cure which ne’er cured my love; * But that
nearness is better than farness I know:[FN#122]
Yet,—the nearness of love shall no ’vantage prove * An whoso
thou lovest deny thee of love.
Then said he, “O Ibrahim, sing this song after me, and preserving the
mode thereof in thy singing, teach it to thy slave-girls.” Quoth I,
“Repeat it to me.” But he answered, “There needs no repetition; thou
hast it by heart nor is there more to learn.” Then he suddenly vanished
from my sight. At this I was amazed and running to my sword drew it and
made for the door of the Harim, but found it closed and said to the
women, “What have ye heard?” Quoth they, “We have heard the sweetest of
singing and the goodliest.” Then I went forth amazed, to the house-door
and, finding it locked, questioned the doorkeepers of the old man. They
replied, “What old man? By Allah, no one hath gone in to thee this
day!” So I returned pondering the matter, when, behold, there arose
from one of the corners of the house, a Vox et præterea nihil, saying,
“O Abu Ishak, no harm shall befal thee. ’Tis I, Abú Murrah,[FN#123] who
have been thy cup-companion this day, so fear nothing!” Then I mounted
and rode to the palace, where I told Al-Rashid what had passed, and he
said, “Repeat to me the airs thou heardest from him.” So I took the
lute and played and sang them to him; for, behold, they were rooted in
my heart. The Caliph was charmed with them and drank thereto, albeit he
was no confirmed wine-bibber, saying, “Would he would some day pleasure
us with his company, as he hath pleasured thee!”[FN#124] Then he
ordered me a present and I took it and went away. And men relate this
story anent