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The fragrance of musk； that breathes from the breasts of the fair； The zephyr borrows； to sweeten the morning air。
Mesrour marvelled at this with an exceeding wonder and was confounded at her charms and amazement got hold upon him。 Then said she to him； 'Begone from us and go about thy business； lest the neighbours hear of and even us with the lewd。' 'By Allah； O my lady；' replied he； 'suffer me to enjoy the sight of thy beauty and grace。' With this she was wroth with him and leaving him； walked in the garden； followed by her maids ＇Khutoub and Sukoub＇； whilst Huboub abode by the curtain with Mesrour； who entered into discourse with her and presently said to her； 'O Huboub； hath thy mistress a husband or not？' 'She hath a husband；' answered the damsel； 'but he is presently abroad on a journey with merchandise of his。'
When he heard that her husband was abroad on a journey； his heart lusted after her and he said； 'O Huboub； extolled be the perfection of Him who created this damsel and fashioned her！ How sweet is her beauty and her grace and her shape and symmetry！ Verily； my heart is in sore travail for her。 O Huboub； ＇look＇ how I may e to enjoy her； and thou shalt have of me what thou wilt of money and what not else。' 'O Nazarene；' answered Huboub； 'if she heard thee speak thus； she would kill thee； or else she would kill herself； for she is the daughter of a champion （6） of the Jews nor is there her like amongst them。 Moreover； she hath no need of money and keepeth herself still cloistered； discovering not her case to any。' Quoth Mesrour； 'O Huboub； an thou wilt but bring me to enjoy her； I will be thy slave and thy servant and will serve thee all my life and give thee whatsoever thou seekest of me。'
But she said； 'O Mesrour； this woman hath no desire for money nor yet for men； for my lady Zein el Mewasif is straitly cloistered； going not forth of the door of her house； lest the folk see her； and but that she forbore thee by reason of thy strangerhood； she had not suffered thee to pass her threshold； no； not though thou wert her brother。' 'O Huboub；' rejoined he； 'be thou our gobetween and thou shalt have of me an hundred gold dinars and a dress worth as much more； for that the love of her hath gotten possession of my heart。' And she said； 'O man； let me go about with her in talk and I will return thee an answer and acquaint thee with what she saith。 Indeed； she loves those who berhyme her and set forth her charms and her grace and beauty in verse； and we may not avail against her save by beguilement and soft speech and craft。'
Then she rose and going up to her mistress； talked with her privily of this and that and presently said to her； 'O my lady； look at yonder young man； the Nazarene； how sweet is his discourse and how elegant his shape！' When Zein el Mewasif heard this； she turned to her and said； 'An his eliness like thee； love him thyself。 Art thou not ashamed to bespeak the like of me with these words？ Go； bid him begone about his business； or it shall be the worse for him。' So Huboub returned to Mesrour； but acquainted him not with that which her mistress had said。 Then the latter bade her go to the door and look if she saw any of the folk； lest foul befall them。 So she went and resuming； said； 'O my lady； there are folk in plenty without and we cannot let him go forth tonight。' Quoth Zein el Mewasif； 'I am troubled because of a dream I have had and am fearful by reason thereof。' And Mesrour said； 'What sawest thou ＇in thy dream？＇ May God not trouble thy heart！' 'I was asleep in the middle of the night；' answered she； 'and behold an eagle swooped down upon me from the highest of the clouds and would have carried me off from behind the curtain； wherefore I was affrighted at him。 Then I awoke from sleep and bade my women bring me meat and drink； so haply； when I had drunken； the terror of the dream would cease from me。'
When he heard this； he smiled and told her his dream and how he had caught the dove； whereat she marvelled exceedingly。 Then he went on to talk with her and said； 'Now am I certified of the truth of my dream； for thou art the dove and I the eagle； and needs must this be； for； whenas I set eyes on thee； thou tookest possession of my vitals and settest my heart on fire for love of thee！' Thereupon Zein el Mewasif became exceeding wroth and said to him； 'God forfend that this should be！ God on thee； begone about thy business； ere the neighbours see thee and there betide us sore reproach。' Then； 'Harkye； fellow！' added she。 'Let not thy soul covet that it shall not attain to。 Thou weariest thyself ＇in vain＇； for I am a merchant's wife and a merchant's daughter and thou art a druggist； and when sawst thou a druggist and a merchant's daughter on this wise？' 'O my lady；' answered he； 'never lacked love between folk ＇of different condition＇； so cut thou not off from me hope of this and whatsoever thou seekest of me of money and raiment and trinkets and what not else； I will give thee。'
Then he abode with her in discourse and chiding whilst she still redoubled in anger； till nightfall； when he said to her； 'O my lady； take this dinar and fetch me a little wine； for I am athirst and heavy at heart。' So she said to Huboub； 'Fetch him wine and take nought from him； for we have no need of his dinar。' ＇So she went to fetch the wine； whilst＇ Mesrour held his peace and bespoke not Zein el Mewasif； who improvised the following verses：
Harkye； O man！ Desist from this thou dost design Nor to the crooked ways of frowardness incline。
Love is a ； and if thou fall into its snare； The day thereafterward for weariness thou'lt pine
Occasion to our spy thou'lt give for talk and all The people will reproach me with this love of thine。
Small marvel 'tis if thou a fair one love： gazelles Thou seest lions chase and in their snares entwine。
And he answered her with these：
O cassiabranch； delight of garth and knoll； Spare thou my heart； who dost possess my soul。
The cup of death for love thou'st made me drain； Clad me in wede of abjectness and dole。
How shall I be consoled； since thou hast taken My heart； for love of thee a redhot coal！
'Away from me！' cried she。 'Quoth the adage； 〃He who giveth loose to his eyes wearieth his heart。〃 By Allah； I am tired of discourse with thee and chiding； and indeed thy soul coveteth that which shall never be thine； nay； though thou gavest me my weight in gold； thou shouldst not get thy wish of me； for； by the bounty of God the Most High； I know nought of the things of the world； save pleasant life。' 'O my lady Zein el Mewasif；' answered he； 'ask of me what thou wilt of the goods of the world。' Quoth she； 'What shall I ask of thee？ For sure thou wilt go out into the highway ＇and discover my case to the folk＇ and I shall bee a laughingstock among them and they will make a byword of me in verse； me who am the daughter of the chief of the merchants and whose father is known of the notables of the people。 I have no need of money or raiment and this love will not be hidden from the folk and I shall be brought to shame； I and my family。'
With this Mesrour was confounded and could make her no answer； but presently she said； 'Indeed； the skilful thief； if he steal； stealeth not but what is worth ＇the adventuring of＇ his neck； and every woman who doth lewdness with other than her husband is styled a thief； so； if it must be thus and no help； thou shalt give me whatsoever my heart desireth of money and raiment and trinkets and what not。' Quoth he； 'An thou soughtest of me the world and all that is therein； from East to West； it were but a little thing； pared with thy favour。' And she said； 'I will have of thee three suits； each worth a thousand dinars； and pearls and jewels and jacinths； and I require of thee； to boot； that thou swear to me that thou wilt keep my secret nor discover it to any and that thou wilt pany with none but me； and I in turn will swear to thee a true oath that I will never play thee false。'
So he swore to her the oath she required and she swore to him； and they agreed upon this； after which she said to her nurse Huboub； 'Tomorrow go thou with Mesrour to his lodging and seek somewhat of musk and ambergris and aloes and rosewater and see what he hath。 If he be a man of condition； we will take him into favour； else will we leave him。' Then said she to him； 'O Mesrour； I desire somewhat of musk and ambergris and aloeswood； so do thou send it me by Huboub。' And he answered； 'I hear and obey； my shop is at thy mandment。' Then the wine went round between them and their session was pleasant； but Mesrour's heart was troubled for the passion and longing that possessed him； and when Zein el Mewasif saw him in this plight； she said to her slavegirl Sukoub； 'Arouse Mesrour from his stupor； mayhap he will awake。' 'Willingly；' answered Sukoub and sang the following verses：
An if thou be in love； bring gold and gear and in thy lays Set forth thy love； so thou mayst win the aim of thine essays
And taste the favours of a fawn； softeyed and smilinglipped； Whose shape is as the cassiabranch； when to the breeze it sways。
Look on her； in her charms thou'lt see matter for wonderment And pour thy life out； ere the term appointed to thy days。
These be the