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My heart is all consumed for separation's ill； Yet hopes that after all the days of union will
Return and lovedelight its ordered course fulfil。
Be sparing of your blame to one enslaved of heart； Whose body's worn with love and disappointment's smart；
Nor at his passion launch reproach's poisoned dart； For none more wretched is than lovers torn apart。
Yet is love's bitter sweet of savour； will or nill。
Quoth the vizier's daughter to her； 'What ails thee； O princess； to be sick at heart and melancholy？' Whereupon Meryem recalled the greatness of the delights that were past and recited the following verses：
will th' estrangement of my love with fortitude abide； Whilst down my cheeks the pearls of tears in chains unending glide；
So haply God shall succour me with solace； for indeed He doth all solace neath the ribs of difficulty hide。
'O princess；' said the vizier's daughter； 'let not thy breast be straitened； but e with me straightway to the lattice； for there is with us in the stable a ely young man； slender of shape and sweet of speech； and meseemeth he is a lover separated ＇from his beloved＇。' 'And by what sign knowest thou that he is a separated lover？' asked Meryem。 And she answered； 'O queen； I know it by his reciting odes and verses all tides of the day and watches of the night。' Quoth the princess in herself； 'If what the vizier's daughter says be true； these are the traits of the wretched； the afflicted Ali Noureddin。 Can it indeed be he of whom she speaketh？' At this thought lovelonging and distraction redoubled on her and she rose at once and going with the maiden to the lattice； looked down upon the stables； where she saw her love and lord Noureddin and fixing her eyes on him； knew him but too well； albeit he was sick； of the greatness of his love for her and of the fire of passion and the anguish of separation and yearning and distraction。 Emaciation was sore upon him and he was reciting and saying as follows：
My heart a bondslave is； mine eyes rain tears for e'er： With them； is pouring forth； no raincloud can pare。
My weeping's manifest； my passion and lament； My wakefulness and woe and mourning for my fair。
Alas； my raging heat； my transport and regret！ Eight plagues beset my heart and have their lodging there。
And five and five to boot thereafter follow on： Tarry and list； whilst I their names to thee declare。
Memory； solicitude； sighing and languishment； Lovelonging in excess and allengrossing care；
Affliction； strangerhood and passion and lament And griefs that never cease to stir me to despair。
Patience and fortitude desert me for desire； Whose hosts； when patience fails； beset me everywhere。
Yea； passion's troubles wax for ever on my heart。 O thou that ask'st what is the fire at heart I bear；
What ails my tears a flame to kindle in my blood？ The fires within my heart still burn and never spare。
Drowned am I in the flood of my unceasing tears And in hellfire I flame with lovelonging fore'er。
When the Princess Meryem heard the eloquence of his verses and the excellence of his sketch； she was assured that it was indeed her lord Noureddin； but she dissembled with the vizier's daughter and said to her； 'By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith I thought not thou knewest of my sadness！' Then she withdrew from the window and returned to her own place； whilst the vizier's daughter went about her occasions。 The princess waited awhile； then returned to the window and sat there； gazing upon her beloved Noureddin and feasting her eyes on his beauty and grace。 And indeed； she saw that he was like unto the moon at its full； but he was ever sighing and pouring forth tears； for that he recalled what was past。 Then he recited the following verses：
Union with my beloved for ever I await； But gain not； whilst life's bitter for ever is my mate。
My tears are like the ocean in their unending flow； But； when I meet my censors I force them （102） still abate。
Out upon him who cursed us with parting by his spells！ （103） Could I but win to meet him； I'd tear his tongue out straight。
To blame the days availeth no whit； for that they've wrought： With bitterness unmingled they've blent my cup of fate。
To whom shall I address me but you； to whom repair； Since in your courts； a hostage； I left my heart of late？
e of a despot； a tyrant in unright； Who waxes； when I plain me for justice as his （104） gate？
King o'er my soul I made him； his realm to keep； but me He ruined and his kingdom laid waste and desolate。
My life I have expended for love of him； alas！ y spent estate！
O fawn that in my bosom hast made thy nest； let that I've tasted of estrangement suffice thy wrath to sate。
Thou'rt he whose face uniteth all charms； on whose account I've parted with my patience and am disconsolate。
Within my heart I lodged him； woe on it fell； and I To that which I permitted submit without debate。
My tears flow on for ever； like to a swollen sea： Knew I the road to solace； I would ensue it straight。
I fear to die of sorrow； for he still 'scapes from me； Oft as I think to reach him； ah me unfortunate！
When Meryem heard her lover's verses； they kindled a fire in her entrails and she recited the following； whilst her eyes ran over with tears：
I longed for him I love； but when I saw him； for surprise I was amazed and had no power to move or tongue or eyes。
Volumes of chiding and reproach I had prepared； but when We met； no syllable thereof unto my lips would rise。
When Noureddin heard her voice； he knew it and wept sore； saying； 'By Allah； this is assuredly the voice of the Princess Meryem！ I wonder if my thought be true and if it be indeed she herself or another！' And regrets redoubled upon him and he bemoaned himself and recited the following verses：
When my blamer for love saw me meet with my dear In a place wide and open to eye and to ear
And I said not at meeting a word of reproach Though reproach to the sad oft brings solace and cheer；
'What manner of silence is this that prevents Thee from making due answer？' he said with a sneer。
'Misbeliever；' quoth I； 'that ignorest the case Of the people of passion； a word in thine ear；
The sign of the lover whose love is sincere Is his silence when she whom he loveth draws near。'
When he had made an end of these verses； the princess fetched inkhorn and paper and wrote the following letter。 'In the name of God the passionate； the Merciful！ The peace of God be upon thee and His mercy and Blessings！ Thy slavegirl Meryem salutes thee； who longeth sore for thee； and this is her message to thee。 As soon as this letter falls into thy hands； do thou arise and apply thyself with all diligence to that she would have of thee； and beware with all wariness of transgressing her mandment and of sleeping。 When the first watch of the night is past； （for that hour is of the most favourable of times；） saddle the two horses ＇that the vizier had of the king＇ and go forth with them to the Sultan's Gate； ＇where do thou await me＇。 If any ask thee whither thou goest； answer； 〃I am going to exercise them；〃 （105） and none will hinder thee； for the folk of this city trust to the locking of the gates。'
Then she folded the letter in a silken handkerchief and threw it out of the window to Noureddin； who took it and reading it； knew it for the handwriting of the Indy Meryem。 So he kissed the letter and laid it between his eyes； then； calling to mind that which had betided him with her of the sweets of lovedelight； he recited the following verses； whilst the tears streamed from his eyes：
A letter came to me from thee by favour of the night： At once It healed me and in me lovelonging did excite。
It minds me of the life I lived with thee in days of yore。 Glory to Him who did us twain with separation smite！
As soon as it was dark he busied himself with making ready the horses and waited till the first watch of the night was past； when he saddled them with saddles of the goodliest； and leading them forth of the stable； locked the door after him and repaired with them to the citygate； where he sat down to await the princess's ing。
Meanwhile； Meryem returned to her apartment； where she found the oneeyed vizier seated； leaning upon a cushion stuffed with ostrichdown； but he was ashamed to put out his hand to her or bespeak her。 When she saw him； she appealed to God in her heart； saying； 'O my God； bring him not to his will of me neither decree Thou to me defilement after purity！' Then she went up to him and made a show of affection for him and sat down by his side and caressed him； saying； 'O my lord； what is this aversion thou discovereth to me？ Is it pride or coquetry on thy part？ But the current byword saith； 〃If the salutation be little in demand； the sitters salute the standers。〃 So I； O my lord； thou e not to me neither accost me； I will go to thee and accost thee。' 'To thee belong favour and kindness； O queen of the earth in its length and breadth；' answered he； 'nor am I but one of thy slaves and the least of thy servants。 Indeed； I was ashamed to intrude upon thine illustrious presence； O unique pearl； and my face is in the dust at thy feet。' 'Leave this talk；' rejoined she； 'and bring us to eat and drin