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g the grace and goodliness of his new partner。 As soon as it was night； his wife brought him the evening meal and they sat down to eat。
Now he had a mockingbird； that was used； whenas he sat down to meat； to e and eat with him and hover about his head； but in his absence it was grown familiar with Mesrour and used to eat with him and hover about him。 When its master returned； it knew him not and would not draw near him； and this made him thoughtful。 As for Zein el Mewasif； she could not sleep for thinking of Mesrour； and thus it was with her three nights； till the Jew became aware of her distraction and watching her； began to suspect something wrong。 On the fourth night； he awoke in the middle of the night and heard his wife talking in her sleep and calling upon Mesrour； what while she lay in her husband's arms； wherefore he misdoubted of her； but he dissembled his suspicions and on the morrow betook himself to his shop and sat there。 Presently； up came Mesrour and saluted him。 He returned his greeting and said to him； 'Wele； O my brother！ I have wished for thee；' and he sat talking with him awhile； after which he said to him； 'O my brother； e with me to my house； that we may enter into the pact of brotherhood。' （12） 'With all my heart；' replied Mesrour and they went to the Jew's house； where the latter went in and told his wife of Mesrour's ing； saying； 'Make us ready a goodly entertainment； and needs must thou be present and witness our brotherhood。' But she answered； 'God on thee； cause me not show myself to this strange man； for I have no mind to pany with him。' So he forbore to press her and bade the waitingwomen bring meat and drink。 Then he called the mockingbird； but it knew him not and settled in Mesrour's lap； and the Jew said to him； 'O my lord； what is thy name？' and he answered； 'Mesrour。' Whereupon the Jew remembered that this was the name which his wife had repeated all night long in her sleep。
Presently； he raised his head and saw her making signs to Mesrour and motioning to him with her eyebrows； wherefore he knew that he had been tricked and said； 'O my lord； excuse me awhile； till I fetch my kinsmen； so they may be present at our treaty of brotherhood。' 'Do what seemeth good to thee；' answered Mesrour； whereupon the Jew went forth the house and returning privily by a back way； betook himself to a window that gave upon the saloon and whence he could watch them； unseen of them。 Quoth Zein el Mewasif to her maid Sukoub； 'Whither is thy master gone？' And she said； 'He is gone without the house。' 'Lock the door；' said Zein； 'and bar it with iron and open not till he knock； after thou hast told me。' 'So be it；' answered Sukoub。
Then she rose and filling a cup with wine； flavoured with powdered musk and rosewater； went up to Mesrour； who rose to meet her； saying； 'By Allah； the water of thy mouth is sweeter than this wine！' 'Here it is for thee；' quoth she and filling her mouth with wine； gave him to drink thereof； whilst he did the like with her； after which she sprinkled him with rosewater from head to foot； till he scented the whole place。 All this while； the Jew was looking on and marvelling at the greatness of the love that was between them； and his heart was filled with rage for what he saw and he was jealous with an exceeding jealousy。 Then he went out again and ing to the door； found it locked and knocked loudly； of the excess of his anger； y lady； here is my master。' 'Open to him；' replied Zein el Mewasif； 'would God had not brought him back in safety！'
So she went and opened the door to the Jew； who said to her； 'What ailed thee to lock the door？' Quoth she； 'It hath never ceased to be locked thus during thine absence； nor hath it been opened night nor day。' 'Thou hast done well；' answered he； 'this pleases me。' Then he went in to Mesrour； laughing and dissembling his chagrin； and said to him； 'O Mesrour； let us put off the conclusion of our treaty of brotherhood till another day。' 'As thou wilt；' replied Mesrour and went away； leaving the Jew pondering his case and knowing not what to do； for his heart was sore troubled and he said in himself； 'Even the mockingbird disavows me and the slavegirls shut the door in my face and favour another。' And of the excess of his chagrin； he fell to reciting the following verses：
A life made fair with all delight of days and solacement Mesrour doth live； what while my life is severed and forspent。
Fortune hath played the knave with me in her whom I adore And all my heart's on flames of fire； that rage without relent。
Once with the fair a time was bright for thee； 'tis past and gone； Yet art thou ever lovedistraught that lovely one anent。
Mine eyes her goodly beauty saw and in the love of her； My heart to passion thrall became； for very ravishment。
Of the sweet water of her lips she poured me out； fine wine On thirst； whilst yet the time endured of favour and content。
What ails thee； O my mockingbird； that thou forsakest me And to another than myself in love dost yield consent？
Strange things； indeed； mine eyes have seen； that from my lids； if they Were ever drowsed with slumber； sleep would chase incontinent。
I see my loved one hath forsworn the love of me and eke My mockingbird round me no more hovers with blandishment。
By the worlds' Lord； who； when upon His creatures He'd fulfil His ordinance； afflicteth them with many a dour event；
The evildoer I'll requite with that which he deserves Who frowardly to her draws near； on her enjoyment bent！
When Zein el Mewasif heard this； she trembled in every nerve and said to her handmaid； 'Heardest thou that？' Quoth she； 'I never heard him recite the like of these verses； but let him say what he will。' Then the Jew； having assured himself of the truth of his suspicions； began to sell all his property； saying in himself； 'Except I remove her from her native land ＇and separate them＇； they will never turn back from this that they are engaged in。' So； when he had turned all his possessions into money； he fed a letter； purporting to e from his kinsmen and inviting him to visit them； him and his wife； and read it to her。 'How long shall we tarry with them？' asked she； and he replied； 'Twelve days。' So she consented to this and said； 'Shall I take any of my maids with me？' 'Take Huboub and Sukoub；' answered he； 'and leave Khutoub here。'
Then he made ready a handsome camel litter for his wife and her women and prepared to set out with them； whilst she sent to Mesrour； telling him what had happened and saying； 'If the trystingtime （13） that is between us pass and I e not ＇back＇； know that he hath put a cheat on us and laid a plot to separate us from each other； so fet thou not the plighted faith betwixt us； for I fear his craft and perfidy。' Then she fell aweeping and lamenting and no peace was left her； night or day。 Her husband saw this； but took no note thereof； and when she saw there was no help for it； she gathered together her clothes and gear and deposited them with her sister； telling her what had befallen her。 Then she took leave of her and going out from her； weeping； returned to her own house； where she found her husband had brought the camels and was busy loading them； having set apart the handsomest for her riding； and when she saw this and knew that needs must she be separated from Mesrour； she was distracted。
Now it chanced that the Jew went out on some occasion of his； so she went forth to the outer door and wrote thereon the following verses：
O dove of this our dwellingplace； our parting greeting bear From lover to beloved one and tell him I shall ne'er
Cease to regret the past delight and all its ravishments And all the sweetness of the days for us whilom that were；
And bid him also never leave to be the slave of love； Fulfilled of grief for our content that's past and gone for e'er。
Indeed； we passed our time awhile in solace and in cheer And lovedelight both night and day we did enjoy whilere；
But； when we woke； the raven gave us morrow （14） with his croak And did against us twain the doom of severance declare。
Now must we journey far away and leave the dwellings void： Would we might ne'er depart the lands nor breathe a foreign air！
Then she went to the second door and wrote thereon the following verses：
O thou to this door that est； by Allah； watch for the grace Of my loved one midmost the darkness and tell him I weep apace；
When I think of the time of union with him； and the tears that e Of my weeping for him cease never to ripple adown my face；
And say to him； 'If no patience for what is fallen on me Thou findest； I rede thee sprinkle thy head with the dust of the place
And travel the lands to Eastward and Westward and look thou live In patience； for God hath ordered and yet will order the case。'
Then she went to the third door and wept sore and wrote thereon these verses：
Harkye； Mesrour； an if thou e to this her dwelling； see Thou read upon the doors the lines that she hath writ for thee。
How oft thou'st tasted of the sweet and bitter of the nights！ Fet thou not the pact of love； if thou a true man be。
By Allah； do not thou fet her neighbourhood； Mesrour； For in thyself her solace all and gladness leaveth she！
Weep for th