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se she looked at the pany who were present of the sons of the merchants and at Noureddin and saw that he was amongst the rest as the moon among stars； for that he was sweet of speech and full of amorous grace； perfect in beauty and brightness and loveliness and acplished in symmetry； pure of all defect； blander than the zephyr and more delicate than Tesnim； （55） as saith of him the poet：
By his cheeks' unfading damask and his smiling teeth I swear； By the arrows that he feathers with the witchery of his air；
By his sides so soft and tender and his glances bright and keen； By the whiteness of his forehead and the blackness of his hair；
By his arched imperious eyebrows； chasing slumber from my lids With their yeas and noes that hold me 'twixt rejoicing and despair；
By the scorpions that he launches from his ringletclustered brows； Seeking still to slay his lovers with his rigours unaware；
By the myrtle of his whiskers and the roses of his cheek； By his lips' incarnate rubies and his teeth's fine pearls and rare；
By the straight and tender sapling of his shape； which for its fruit Doth the twin pomegranates； shining in his snowy bosom； wear；
By his heavy hips that tremble； both in motion and repose； And the slender waist above them； all too slight their weight to bear；
By the silk of his apparel and his quick and sprightly wit； By all attributes of beauty that are fallen to his share；
Lo； the musk exhales its fragrance from his breath； and eke the breeze From his scent the perfume borrows； that it scatters everywhere。
Yea； the sun in all his splendour cannot with his brightness vie And the crescent moon's a fragment that he from his nails doth pare。
Her verses pleased him and he swayed from side to side for drunkenness and fell apraising her and saying：
A luting maiden stole away Our wits for drunkenness one day。
〃Twas God the Lord that gifted us With speech；' her strings to us did say。
When she heard this； she looked at him with eyes of love and redoubled in passion and desire for him increased upon her； and indeed she marvelled at his beauty and grace and symmetry； so that she could not contain herself but took the lute again and sang the following：
He chides me； if I look on him； and with disdain Entreats me； though my life is his for weal and bane；
Yea； he repelleth me； yet what is in my heart He knows as if God's self to him had made it plain。
His likeness have I drawn midmost my palm and charged Mine eyes make moan for him and over him plain。
Mine eyes will look on none save him； nor will my heart Aid me his cruelty with patience to sustain。
Wherefore； O thou my heart； I'll tear thee from my breast； For that thou art of those that envy me the swain。
Whenas I say； 'O heart； be forted；' 'tis vain； To turn to any else than him it will not deign。
Noureddin wondered at the beauty of her song and the sweetness of her voice and the eloquence of her speech and his wit fled for stress of love and longing and distraction； so that he could not refrain from her a moment； but bent to her and strained her to his bosom； and she in like manner abandoned herself to his caresses and kissed him between the eyes。 Then he kissed her on the mouth and they played at kisses with one another； after the manner of the billing of doves； till the others were distracted and rose to their feet； whereupon Noureddin was abashed and held his hand from her。 Then she took her lute and preluding thereon in many different modes； returned to the first and sang the following verses：
A moon； he draws from out his lids； whenas he turns and sways； A sword and puts gazelles to shame； whenas he stands at gaze。
A king； his allsurpassing charms his troops are； and for arms； His shape is like the spear of cane； whose straightness all men praise。
An if his heart were but as soft as is his waist； no more Would he against his lovers sin nor fright them with affrays。
Alas the hardness of his heart and softness of his waist！ Why is not this to that transferred？ Is there no way of ways？
O thou that blam'st me for his love； excuse me rather thou： Thine be his beauty's part etern and mine that which decays！ （56）
When Noureddin heard the sweetness of her voice and the beauty of her verses； he inclined to her for delight and could not contain himself for excess of wonderment； so he recited these lines：
Methought she was the very sun of morning's self； until She veils her； but the fire she lit flames in my entrails still。
What had it irked her； ho she signed and with her fingertips A friendly salutation waved to us？ Where were the ill？
The railer saw her face and said （what while her charms that pass All other beauty did his wit with stupefaction fill；）
'Is this then she for whom thou rav'st with longing for her love？ Indeed； thou hast excuse。' And I； ''Tis she who doth me thrill
With arrows of her looks； nor can my abject； broken case Of strangerhood to pity move her unrelenting will。'
I am bee a slave of love； with heart enchained； I groan Day long and night long； ay； and weep with tears； as 'twere a rill。
She marvelled at his eloquence and grace and taking her lute； smote thereon after the goodliest of fashions repeating all the melodies； and sang the following verses：
As thy face liveth； O thou the life of my spirit； I swear； I cannot remove from thy love； if I do or I do not despair。
If； indeed； thou be cruel； in dreams thy phantom is favouring and kind； And if thou be absent； thy thought is my cheering panion fore'er。
O thou that hast saddened my sight； though thou knowst that I seek not for aught To cheer me； nor aught but thy love I long for； to solace my care；
Thy cheeks are twin roses； the dews of thy mouth are as wine to the taste； Wilt thou not then vouchsafe us thereof to drink in this pleasaunce so fair？
Her song moved Noureddin to the utmost wonder and delight and he answered her as follows：
The face o' the sun is not unveiled in the darkness of the night； But is the far horizon's marge the full moon hides its light；
Nor doth her forehead meet the eye o' the morning； but。 outfaced By contrast； to the break of day for refuge it takes flight。 （57）
Take of the currents of my tears； as； chain on chain； they fall； And on the readiest way of ways； the tale of love recite。
Oft unto her； who shoots at me her arrows； have I said； 'Hold thou thy hand； indeed my heart is cleft in sunder quite。
An if unto the River Nile my tears may likened be； Meseems the love I bear to thee El Melec （58） should be hight。'
Quoth she； 'Then bring me all thy good。' 'Take it；' said I and she； 'And thy sleep。' '＇Take it＇ from mine eyes；' I answered her forthright。
When she heard Noureddin's words and noted the beauty of his eloquence； she was transported and her wit was dazed and love of him got hold upon her whole heart。 So she pressed him to her bosom and fell to kissing him after the manner of doves billing； whilst he returned her caresses； but the vantage is to the first er。 When she had made an end of kissing； she took the lute and recited the following verses：
Ah； woe's us for a blamer； to censure ever prone； Whether or no of passion to him I make my moan！
O thou that dost reject me； I had not thought that I Should in thy love abasement meet with； and thou mine own。
I used to rail at lovers for love； and now to those； Who blame thee； my abasement for thee I have made known。
The votaries of passion whilom I blamed； but now I do excuse all lovers for passion overthrown；
And if； for thine estrangement； distress be sore on me； God in thy name； O Ali； I'll pray and thine alone。
And also these：
Quoth his lovers； 'Except of the nectar so rare of his mouth he vouchsafe us to drink； debonair；
To the Lord of all creatures we'll make our plaint And 〃O Ali！〃 we'll say with one voice in our prayer。'
Noureddin marvelled at the fluency of her tongue and praised her grace and exceeding seductiveness； whereupon she rose and putting off all that was upon her of ＇outer＇ clothes and trinkets； sat down on his knees and kissed him between the eyes and on the mole of his cheek。 Then she gave him all she had put off； saying； 'O beloved of my heart； the gift is after the measure of the giver's capacity。' So he accepted this from her and gave it back to her and kissed her on the mouth and cheeks and eyes。
When this was done； （for nought endureth save God； the Living； the Eternal； Provider of the peacock and the owl）； Noureddin rose from the place of session and stood upon his feet； for the darkness was now fallen and the stars shone out； sel to him； 'Whither away； O my lord？' And he said； 'To my father's house。' Then the sons of the merchants conjured him to pass the night with them； but he refused and mounting his mule； rode； without stopping； till he reached his father's house； where his mother met him and said to him； 'O my son； what hath kept thee abroad till this hour？ By Allah； thou hast troubled thy father and myself by thine absence from us； and our hearts have been occupied with thee。' Then she came up to him； to kiss him on his mouth； and smelling the fumes of the wine； said； 'O my son； how is this？ Art thou； after prayer and worship； bee a wineb