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r midst as she were the moon among the stars。 When he saw her； he could not contain himself but cried out from the bottom of his heart； saying； 'O Meryem！ O Meryem！' Which when the damsels heard； they ran at him with shining swords like flashes of lightning and would have killed him forthright。 But the princess turned and looking on him； knew him but too well and said to her maidens； 'Leave this youth； doubtless he is mad； for the signs of madness appear on his face。'
When Noureddin heard this； he uncovered his head and made signs with his hands and twisted his legs； rolling his eyes and foaming at the mouth。 'Did I not tell you he was mad？' said the princess。 'Bring him to me and stand off from him； that I may hear what he saith； for I know the speech of the Arabs and will look into his case and see if his madness be curable or not。' So they laid hold of him and brought him to her； after which they withdrew to a distance and she said to him； 'Hast thou e hither on my account and ventured thy life and feignest thyself mad？' 'O my lady；' answered he； 'hast thou not heard the saying of the poet：
Quoth they； 〃Thou'rt surely raving mad for her thou lov'st；〃 and I； 〃There is no pleasantness in life but for the mad；〃 reply。
〃pare my madness with herself for whom I rave； if she Accord therewith； then blame me not for that which I aby。〃'
'By Allah； O Noureddin；' rejoined she； 'thou hast sinned against thyself； for I warned thee of this before it fell out； yet wouldst thou not hearken to me； but followedst thine own inclinations； albeit that whereof I gave thee to know I learnt not by means of divination nor augury nor dreams； but by eyewitness and very sight； for I saw the oneeyed vizier and knew that he was not e to Alexandria but in quest of me。' 'O my lady Meryem；' replied he； 'we seek refuge with God from the error of the intelligent！' （83） Then his affliction redoubled on him and he recited these verses：
Pardon his fault whose slipping feet caused bite in error fall； And let the master's clemency embrace his erring thrall。
All that an evildoer can is to repent his fault； Although too late repentance e to profit him at all。
Lo； by confession I have done what courtesy requires： Where then is that for which good grace and generous mercy call？
And they ceased not from lovers' chiding； which to set out would be tedious； relating to each other that which had befallen them and reciting verses and making moan； one to the other； of the violence of passion and the pangs of longing and desire； whilst the tears ran down their cheeks like rivers； till there was left them no strength to say a word。 Now the princess was clad in a green dress； inwoven with red gold and broidered with pearls and jewels； which added to her beauty and grace； and right well saith the poet of her：
Like the full moon she shih in garments all of green； With loosened vest and collars and flowing hair beseen。
'What is thy name？' I asked her； and she replied； 'I'm she Who roasts the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen。
I am the pure white silver； ay； and the gold wherewith The bondmen from strait prison and dour released been。'
Quoth I； 'I'm all with rigours consumed；' but 'On a rock；' Said she； 'such as my heart is； thy plaints are wasted clean。'
'Even if thy heart；' I answered； 'be rock in very deed； Yet hath God caused fair water well from the rock； I ween。'
They abode thus till the day departed and night darkened on them； when Meryem went up to her women and said to them； 'Have ye locked the door？' And they answered； 'We have locked it。' So she took them and went with them to a place called the Chapel of the Lady Mary the Virgin； Mother of Light； because the Christians pretend that her heart and soul are there。 The girls betook themselves to prayer and worship and made the round of all the church； and when they had made an end of their visitation； the princess said to them； 'I desire to pass the night alone in the Virgin's chapel and seek a blessing thereof； for that yearning thereafter hath betided me； by reason of my long absence in the land of the Muslims： and as for you； when ye have made an end of your visitation； do ye sleep where ye will。' 'Be it as thou wilt；' replied they； and leaving her alone in the chapel； dispersed about the church and slept。
The lady Meryem waited till they were out of sight and hearing； then went in search of Noureddin； whom she found sitting on coals of fire in a corner； awaiting her。 He rose and kissed her hands and she sat down and made him sit by her side。 Then she pulled off all that was upon her of clothes and ornaments and fine linen and taking Noureddin in her arms； strained him to her bosom。 And they ceased not from kissing and clipping and clicketing to the tune of 'In and out；' saying the while； 'How short are the nights of union and how long the nights of separation！' and reciting the following cinquains：
O night of delight and first fruits of fair fate； Forefront of white nights； with glad fortune elate；
Thou brought'st me the morn （84） in the afternoon late。 Thee as kohl in the eyes of the dawn shall we rate
Or as slumber on eyes of ophthalmiac shed？
The night of estrangement； how lonesome was it！ Its first and its last； one with other； were knit；
As a ring； sans beginning or ending to wit； And the Day of Uprising broke； ere it would flit；
For estrangement； thereafter； （85） the lover is dead。
As they were in this great delight and engrossing joy； they heard one of the servants of the Saint （86） smite the gong （87） upon the roof； to call the folk to the rites of their worship； and he was even as saith the poet：
I saw him smite upon the gong and unto him did say； 'Who taught the antelope （88） to smite upon the gong； I pray？'
And to my soul； 'Which irks thee most； the smiting of the gongs Or signal for departure given？ （89） Decide betwixt the tway。'
Then she rose forthwith and donned her clothes and ornaments： but this was grievous to Noureddin； and his gladness was troubled； the tears streamed from his eyes and he recited the following verses：
The rose of a soft cheek； all through the livelong night； I stinted not to kiss and bite with many a bite；
Till； in our middle tide of pleasure； when our spy Lay down to rest； with eyes in slumber closed outright；
They smote the gongs； as they who smote upon them were Muezzins that to prayer the faithful do invite。
She rose from me in haste and donned her clothes； for fear Our watcher's darted star （90） should on our heads alight；
And said； 'O thou my wish and term of all desire； Behold； the morn is e with visage wan and white。'
I swear； if but a day were given to me of power And I became a king of puissance and of might；
I'd break the corners down o' the churches； all of them； And every priest on earth with slaughter I'd requite。
Then she pressed him to her bosom and kissed his cheek and said to him； 'O Noureddin； how long hast thou been in the town？' 'Seven days' answered he。 'Hast thou walked about in it；' asked she； 'and dost thou know its ways and issues and its seagales and landgates？' And he said； 'Yes。' Quoth she； 'Knowest thou the way to the offertorychest of the church？' 'Yes；' replied he； and she said； 'Since thou knowest all this； as soon as the first watch of the ing night is over； go to the offertory chest and take thence what thou wilt。 Then open the door； that gives upon the passage leading to the sea； and go down to the harbour； where thou wilt find a little ship and ten men therein； and when the captain sees thee； he will put out his hand to thee。 Give him thy hand and he will take thee up into the ship； and do thou wait there till I e to thee。 But have a care lest sleep overtake thee this night； or thou wilt repent whenas repentance shall avail thee nothing。'
Then she took leave of him and going forth from him； roused her women and the rest of the damsels； with whom she betook herself to the church door and knocked； whereupon the old woman opened to her and she went forth and found the knights and servingmen standing without。 They brought her a dapple mule and she mounted： whereupon they raised over her head a canopy with curtains of silk； and the knights took hold of the mule's halter。 Then the guards enpassed her about with drawn swords in their hands and fared on with her； followed by her maidens； till they brought her to the palace of the king her father。
Meanwhile； Noureddin abode concealed behind the curtain； under cover of which Meryem and he had passed the night； till it was high day； when the ＇great＇ door was opened and the church became full of people。 Then he mingled with the folk and accosted the old woman； who said to him； 'Where didst thou lie last night？' 'In the town；' answered he； 'as thou badest me。' 'O my son；' answered she； 'thou didst well； for； hadst thou passed the night in the church； she had slain thee on the foulest wise。' And he said； 'Praised be God who hath delivered me from the peril of this night！' Then he busied himself with the service of the church； till the day departed and the night came with the darkness； when be opened the offertorychest and took thence of jewels what was light of weight and great of worth。
Then he wait