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ssible to him。 Whenas love and passion and yearning and distraction waxed on him； he would solace himself by reciting verses and go to the house and kiss its walls。 It chanced that he went out that day to the place where he had parted from his mistress and repeated the following verses：
That which for thee I suffer I would have hid； but； nay； 'Twould out； and sleep for waking mine eyes have bartered aye。
Since that wanhope doth canker my heart both night and day； I cry aloud； 'O Fortune； hold back thy hand； I pray；
For lo； my soul is straitened 'twixt peril and dismay。
If but the Lord of passion were just； indeed； to me； Sure slumber from mine eyelids he had not bidden flee。
Have ruth upon a lover； who languishes for thee； The great one of people； cast down by Love's decree；
The rich； whom love hath beggared and brought him to decay。
The censors still revile thee； I heed them not； not I； But stop mine ears against them and give them back the lie。
Still will I keep my trothplight with her I love。 They cry； 'Thou lovest one departed and gone；' and I reply；
'Enough； when Fate descendeth； the sight is blinded aye。'
Then he returned to his lodging and sat there weeping； till sleep overcame him； when he saw in a dream as if Zein el Mewasif were e to the house； and awoke； weeping。 So he set off to go thither； repeating the following verses：
How shall I be consoled for her whose am I； every jot； When all my heart's aglow with flames than coals of fire more hot？
To Allah of the shifts of Fate； the nights' vicissitudes And of her absence I plain； whom well I love； God wot。
When shall we meet； O term of heart's desire？ O fullmoon face； When shall the favouring Fates to me reunion allot？
As he made an end of his recitation； he found himself in Zein el Mewasif's street and smelt the sweet savour of the perfumes with which she had incensed the house； wherefore his heart fluttered and was like to leave his breast and desire flamed up in him and distraction redoubled upon him； when； behold； up came Huboub； on her way to do her mistress's errand。 When she saw him； she went up to him and saluting him； gave him the glad news of her mistress's return； saying； 'She hath sent me to bid thee to her。' Whereat he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and she took him and returned with him to the house。
When Zein el Mewasif saw him； she came down to him from the couch and kissed him and embraced him and he her； nor did they leave kissing and embracing till they swooned away for stress of love and separation。 They lay a long while senseless； and when they revived； Zein el Mewasif bade Huboub fetch her a gugglet of sherbet of sugar and another of sherbet of lemons。 So she brought what she desired and they sat eating and drinking till nightfall； when they fell to recalling all that had befallen them； first and last。 Then she acquainted him with her conversion to Islam； whereat he rejoiced and became a Muslim。 On like wise did her women； and they all repented to God the Most High ＇of their infidelity＇。 On the morrow she sent for the Cadi and the witnesses and told them that she was a widow and had pleted the period of purification and was minded to marry Mesrour。 So they drew up the marriagecontract between them and they abode in all delight of life。
Meanwhile； the Jew； when the people of Aden released him from prison； set out homeward and fared on； without stopping； till he came within three days' journey of the city； when Zein el Mewasif heard of his ing and calling Huboub； said to her； 'Go to the Jews' burialplace and there dig a grave and plant on it sweet basil and jessamine and sprinkle water thereabout。 If the Jew e and ask thee of me； answer； 〃My mistress died twenty days ago of chagrin on thine account。〃 If he say； 〃Show me her tomb；〃 take him to the ＇mock＇ grave and weep over it and make moan and lament before him。' （22） And Huboub answered； 'I hear and obey。' Then they laid up the furniture in the storeclosets； and Zein el Mewasif removed to Mesrour's lodging； where he and she abode eating and drinking； till the three days were past； at the end of which time the Jew arrived and knocked at the door of his house。 Quoth Huboub； 'Who is at the door？' And he answered； 'Thy master。' So she opened to him and he saw the tears coursing down her cheeks and said to her； 'What ails thee to weep and where is thy mistress？' Quoth she； 'My mistress is dead of chagrin on thine account。' When he heard this； he wept sore and was confounded and said； 'O Huboub； where is her tomb？' So she carried him to the Jews' burialground and showed him the grave she had dug； and he wept sore and recited the following verses：
Two things there are； for which if eyes wept tear on tear Of blood； till they were like； indeed； to disappear；
They never could fulfil the tithe of all their due； And these are prime of youth and loss of lovelings dear。
Then he wept again and recited these also：
Alas my grief！ My fortitude bewrays me for my fair： Since she I love is gone； I die of misery and despair。
Woe's me for my beloved's loss！ How sore it is on me！ And O the rending of my heart for that I did whilere！
Would I my secret in my time had not revealed and eke The passion in my heart that seethed had still kept hidden there！
I was in all delight of life and solace； now she's gone； To misery and abjectness； alack！ I'm vowed fore'er。
Huboub； thou stirred me to lament with tidings of her death Who of all creatures was my stay and solace against care。
Zein el Mewasif； would to God that severance had not been！ Would he； （23） through whom my soul forsook my body； had been ne'er！
I do repent me of the breach of vows and blame myself For my neglect of her on whom my hopes still builded were。
When he had made an end of saying this； he wept and groaned and lamented till he fell down in a swoon； whereupon Huboub made haste to drag him to the grave and throw him in； whilst he was yet insensible。 Then she stopped up the grave on him and returning to her mistress； told her what had passed； whereat she rejoiced with an exceeding joy and recited the following verses：
Fate swore 'twould plague me without cease nor leave to make me rue： Thine oath is broken； Fate； so look thou fitting penance do。
The censor's dead and he I love conjoined is with me； Up then unto the summoner of joys； and quickly too！
Then she and Mesrour abode with each other in eating and drinking and sport and pleasure and good cheer； till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of panies and Slayer of sons and daughters。
ALI NOUREDDIN AND THE FRANK KING'S DAUGHTER。
There was once； of old days and in bygone ages and times； in the parts of Cairo； a merchant named Tajeddin； who was of the most considerable of the merchants and of the chiefs of the freeborn ＇of the city＇。 He was given to travelling to all parts and loved to fare over desert and down and stony waste and to journey to the islands of the sesame in quest of dirhems and dinars： wherefore he had in his time encountered dangers and suffered hardships of gavel； such as would make little children gray。 He was possessed of slaves and servants； white and black and male and female； and was the wealthiest of the merchants of his time and the goodliest of them in speech； owning horses and mules and Bactrian and other camels and sacks； great and small； and goods and merchandise and stuffs beyond pare； such as Hems muslins and Baalbek silks and brocades and Merv cottons and Indian stuffs and Baghdad gauzes and Moorish burnouses and Turkish white slaves and Abyssinian eunuchs and Greek slavegirls and Egyptian boys； and the coverings of his bales were of goldembroidered silk； for he was abundantly wealthy。 Moreover he was acplished in goodliness； stately of Port and pleasant of position； even as saith of him one of his describers：
A certain merchant once I did espy； Between whose lovers war raged fierce and high。
Quoth he； 'What ails the folk to clamour thus？' ''Tis for thy sake； O merchant；' answered I。
And saith another in his praise lad sail well and acplisheth the wish of him：
A merchant came to visit us； whoso eye Did with its glance my heart still stupefy。
Quoth he； 'What ails thee to be thus amazed？' 'On thine account； O merchant；' answered I。
He had a son called Ali Noureddin； as he were the full moon whenas it waxeth on its fourteenth night； a marvel of beauty and grace； elegant of shape and acplished in symmetry who was sitting one day in his father's shop； selling and buying and giving and taking； as was his wont； when the sons of the merchants enpassed him about and he was amongst them as the moon among stars； with flowerwhite forehead and rosy cheeks； covered with tender down； and body like alabaster； even as saith of him the poet：
A fair one said； 'Describe me well；' And I； 'In grace thou dost excel。
Yea； speaking briefly； all in thee Is lovely and acceptable。'
And as saith of him one of his describers：
A mole on as cheek he hath； as 'twere a grain Of ambergris on alabaster plate；
And swordlike glances that proclaim aloud Against Love's rebels； 'Allah is Most Great。' （24）
The young merchants invited him ＇to go with them＇； saying； 'O my lo