Volume 8 — MASRUR AND ZAYN AL-MAWASIF.[307] (continued 2)

Wither thy right, O smith, which made her bear ✿ Those iron chains her hands and feet to wear!

Thou hast ensoiled a lady soft and bright, ✿ Marvel of marvels, fairest of the fair:

Hadst thou been just, those anklets ne’er had been ✿ Of iron: nay of purest gold they were:

By Allah! did the Kázis’ Kázi sight ✿ Her charms, he’d seat her in the highest chair.

Now it chanced that the Kazi of Kazis passed by the smith’s house and heard him improvise these lines; so he sent for him and as soon as he saw him said to him, “O blacksmith, who is she on whom thou callest so instantly an eloquently and with whose love thy heart is full filled?” The smith sprang to his feet and kissing the Judge’s hand, answered, “Allah prolong the days of our lord the Kazi and ample his life!” Then he described to him Zayn al-Mawasif’s beauty and loveliness, brilliancy and perfection, and symmetry and grace and how she was lovely faced and had a slender waist and heavily based; and acquainted him with the sorry plight wherein she was for abasement and durance vile and lack of victual. When the Kazi heard this, he said, “O blacksmith, send her to us and show her that we may do her justice, for thou art become accountable for the damsel and unless thou guide her to us, Allah will punish thee at the Day of Doom.” “I hear and obey,” replied the smith and betook himself without stay and 247delay to Zayn al-Mawasif’s lodging, but found the door barred and heard a voice of plaintive tone that came from heart forlorn and lone; and it was Zayn al-Mawasif reciting these couplets:—

I and my love in union were unite; ✿ And filled my friend to me cups clearly bright

Between us reigned high mirth and jollity, ✿ Nor Eve nor Morn brought ’noyance or affright

Indeed we spent most joyous time, with cup ✿ And lute and dulcimer to add delight,

Till Time estranged our fair companionship; ✿ My lover went and blessing turned to blight.

Ah would the Severance-raven’s croak were stilled ✿ And Union-dawn of Love show blessèd light!

When the blacksmith heard this, he wept like the weeping of the clouds. Then he knocked at the door and the women said, “Who is at the door?” Answered he, “’Tis I, the blacksmith,” and told them what the Kazi had said and how he would have them appear before him and make their complaint to him, that he might do them justice on their adversary.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the blacksmith told Zayn al-Mawasif what the Kazi had said, and how he summoned them that he might apply the Lex Talionis to their adversary, she rejoined, “How can we go to him, seeing the door is locked on us and our feet shackled and the Jew hath the keys?” The smith replied, “I will make the keys for the padlocks and therewith open door and shackles.” Asked she, “But who will show us the Kazi’s house?”; and he answered, “I will describe it to you.” She enquired, “But how can we appear before him, clad as we are in hair-cloth reeking with sulphur?” And the smith rejoined, “The Kazi will not reproach this to you, considering your case.” So saying, he went forthright and made keys for the padlocks, wherewith he opened the door and the shackles, and loosing the irons from their legs, carried them forth and guided them to the Kazi’s mansion. Then Hubub did off the hair-cloth garments from her lady’s body and carried her to the Hammam, where she bathed her and attired her in silken raiment, and her 248colour returned to her. Now it happened, by exceeding good fortune, that her husband was abroad at a bride-feast in the house of one of the merchants; so Zayn al-Mawasif, the Adornment of Qualities, adorned herself with the fairest ornaments and repaired to the Kazi, who at once on espying her rose to receive her. She saluted him with softest speech and winsomest words, shooting him through the vitals the while with the shafts of her glances, and said, “May Allah prolong the life of our lord the Kazi and strengthen him to judge between man and man!” Then she acquainted him with the affair of the blacksmith and how he had done nobly by them, whenas the Jew had inflicted on her and her women heart-confounding torments; and how his victims deathwards he drave, nor was there any found to save. “O damsel,” quoth the Kazi, “what is thy name?” “My name is Zayn al-Mawasif,—Adornment of Qualities—and this my handmaid’s name is Hubub.” “Thy name accordeth with the named and its sound conformeth with its sense.” Whereupon she smiled and veiled her face, and he said to her, “O Zayn al-Mawasif, hast thou a husband or not?” “I have no husband”; “And what is thy Faith?” “That of Al-Islam, and the religion of the Best of Men.” “Swear to me by Holy Law replete with signs and instances that thou ownest the creed of the Best of Mankind.” So she swore to him and pronounced the profession of the Faith. Then asked the Kazi, “How cometh it that thou wastest thy youth with this Jew?” And she answered, “Know, O Kazi (may Allah prolong thy days in contentment and bring thee to thy will and thine acts with benefits seal!), that my father left me, after his death, fifteen thousand dinars, which he placed in the hands of this Jew, that he might trade therewith and share his gains with me, the head of the property^[359] being secured by legal acknowledgment. When my father died, the Jew coveted me and sought me in marriage of my mother, who said:—How shall I drive her from her Faith and cause to become a Jewess? By Allah, I will denounce thee to the rulers! He was affrighted at her words and taking the money, fled to the town of Adan.^[360] When we heard where he was, we came 249to Adan in search of him, and when we foregathered with him there, he told us that he was trading in stuffs with the monies and buying goods upon goods. So we believed him and he ceased not to cozen us till he cast us into jail and fettered us and tortured us with exceeding sore torments; and we are strangers in the land and have no helper save Almighty Allah and our lord the Kazi.” When the Judge heard this tale he asked Hubub the nurse, “Is this indeed thy lady and are ye strangers and is she unmarried?”; and she answered, “Yes.” Quoth he, “Marry her to me and on me be incumbent manumission of my slaves and fasting and pilgrimage and almsgiving of all my good an I do you not justice on this dog and punish him for that he hath done!” And quoth she, “I hear and obey.” Then said the Kazi, “Go, hearten thy heart and that of thy lady; and to-morrow, Inshallah, I will send for this Miscreant and do you justice on him and ye shall see prodigies of his punishment.” So Hubub called down blessings upon him and went forth from him with her mistress, leaving him with passion and love-longing fraught and with distress and desire distraught. Then they enquired for the house of the second Kazi and presenting themselves before him, told him the same tale. On like wise did the twain, mistress and maid with the third and the fourth, till Zayn al-Mawasif had made her complaint to all the four Kazis, each of whom fell in love with her and besought her to wed him, to which she consented with a “Yes”; nor wist any one of the four that which had happened to the others. All this passed without the knowledge of the Jew, who spent the night in the house of the bride-feast. And when morning morrowed, Hubub arose and gat ready her lady’s richest raiment; then she clad her therewith and presented herself with her before the four 250Kazis in the court of justice. As soon as she entered, she veiled her face and saluted the judges, who returned her salam and each and every of them recognised her. One was writing, and the reed-pen dropped from his hand, another was talking, and his tongue became tied, and a third was reckoning and blundered in his reckoning; and they said to her, “O admirable of attributes and singular among beauties! be not thy heart other than hearty, for we will assuredly do thee justice and bring thee to thy desire.” So she called down blessings on them and farewelled them and went her ways.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Kazis said to Zayn al-Mawasif, “O admirable of attributes and singular among beauties! Be not thy heart other than hearty for our doing thy desire and thy winning to thy will.” So she called down blessings on them and farewelled them and went her ways, the while her husband abode with his friends at the marriage-banquet and knew naught of her doings. Then she proceeded to beseech the notaries and scribes and the notables and the Chiefs of Police to succour her against that unbelieving miscreant and deliver her from the torment she suffered from him. Then she wept with sore weeping and improvised these couplets:—

Rain showers of torrent tears, O Eyne and see ✿ An they will quench the fires that flame in me:

After my robes of gold-embroidered silk ✿ I wake to wear the frieze of monkery:

And all my raiment reeks of sulphur-fumes ✿ When erst my shift shed musky fragrancy:

And hadst thou, O Masrúr, my case descried, ✿ Ne’er hadst thou borne my shame and ignomy.

And eke Hubúb in iron chains is laid ✿ By Miscreant who unknows God’s Unity.

The creed of Jewry I renounce and home, ✿ The Moslem’s Faith accepting faithfully

Eastwards^[361] I prostrate self in fairest guise ✿ Holding the only True Belief that be:

251Masrúr! forget not love between us twain ✿ And keep our vows and troth with goodly gree:

I’ve changed my faith for sake of thee, and I ✿ For stress of love will cleave to secrecy:

So haste to us, an us in heart thou bear, ✿ As noble spirit, nor as laggard fare.

After this she wrote a letter to Masrur, describing to him all that the Jew had done with her from first to last and enclosed the verses aforesaid. Then she folded the scroll and gave it to her maid Hubub, saying, “Keep this in thy pocket, till we send it to Masrur.” Upon these doings lo and behold! in came the Jew and seeing them joyous, said to them, “How cometh it that I find you merry? Say me, hath a letter reached you from your bosom friend Masrur?” Replied Zayn al-Mawasif, “We have no helper against thee save Allah, extolled and exalted be He! He will deliver us from thy tyranny, and except thou restore us to our birth-place and homestead, we will complain of thee to-morrow to the Governor of this town and to the Kazi.” Quoth he, “Who struck off the shackles from your legs? But needs must I let make for each of you fetters ten pounds in weight and go round about the city with you.” Replied Hubub, “All that thou purposest against us thou shall fall into thyself, so it please Allah the Most High, by token that thou hast exiled us from our homes, and to-morrow we shall stand, we and thou, before the Governor of the city.” They nighted on this wise and next morning the Jew rose up in haste and went out to order new shackles, whereupon Zayn al-Mawasif arose and repaired with her women to the court-house, where she found the four Kazis and saluted them. They all returned her salutation and the Kazi of Kazis said to those about him, “Verily this damsel is lovely as the Venus-star^[362] and all who see her love her and bow before her 252beauty and loveliness.” Then he despatched four sergeants, who were Sharífs,^[363] saying, “Bring ye the criminal after abjectest fashion.” So, when the Jew returned with the shackles and found none in the house, he was confounded; but, as he abode in perplexity, suddenly up came the officers and laying hold of him beat him with a sore beating and dragged him face downwards before the Kazi. When the judge saw him, he cried out in his face and said to him, “Woe to thee, O foe of God, is it come to such a pass with thee that thou doest the deed thou hast done and bringest these women far from their country and stealest their monies and wouldst make them Jews? How durst thou seek to make Miscreants of Moslems?” Answered the Jew, “O my lord this woman is my wife.” Now when the Kazis heard this, they all cried out, saying, “Throw this hound on the ground and come down on his face with your sandals and beat him with sore blows, for his offence is unpardonable.” So they pulled off his silken gear and clad him in his wife’s raiment of hair-cloth, after which they threw him down and plucked out his beard and belaboured him about the face with sandals. Then they sat him on an ass, face to crupper, arsi-versy, and making him take its tail in his hand, paraded him round about the city, ringing the bell before him in every street; after which they brought him back to the Judges in sorriest plight; and the four Kazis with one voice condemned him to have his feet and hands cut off and lastly to be crucified. When the accursed heard this sentence his sense forsook him and he was confounded and said, “O my lords the 253Kazis, what would ye of me?” They replied, “Say thou:—This damsel is not my wife and the monies are her monies, and I have transgressed against her and brought her far from her country.” So he confessed to this and the Kazis recorded his confession in legal form and taking the money from him, gave it to Zayn al-Mawasif, together with the document. Then she went away and all who saw her were confounded at her beauty and loveliness, whilst each of the Kazis looked for her committing herself to him. But, when she came to her lodging, she made ready all matters she needed and waited till night. Then she took what was light of load and weighty of worth, and setting out with her maids under cover of the murks three days with their nights fared on without stopping. Thus it was with her; but as regards the Kazis they ordered the Jew to prison.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Sixtieth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Kazis ordered the Jew to prison and on the morrow they looked for Zayn al-Mawasif coming to them, they and their assessors; but she presented herself not to any of them. Then said the Chief Kazi, “I wish to-day to make an excursion without the town on business there.” So he mounted his she-mule and taking his page with him, went winding about the streets of the town, searching its length and width for Zayn al-Mawasif, but never finding her. On this errand he came upon the other three Kazis, going about on the same, each deeming himself the only one to whom she had given tryst. He asked them whither they were riding and why they were going about the streets; when they told him their business, whereby he saw that their plight was as his plight and their quest as his quest. So they all four rode throughout the city, seeking her, but could hit on no trace of her and returned to their houses, sick for love, and lay down on the bed of langour. Presently the Chief Kazi bethought himself of the blacksmith; so he sent for him and said to him, “O blacksmith, knowest thou aught of the damsel whom thou didst direct to me? By Allah, an thou discover her not to me, I will whack thee with whips.” Now when the smith heard this, he recited these couplets^[364]:—

254She who my all of love by love of her hath won ✿ Owns every Beauty and for others leaves she none:

She gazes, a gazelle; she breathes, fresh ambergris ✿ She waves, a lake; she sways, a bough; she shines, a Sun.

Then said the blacksmith, “By Allah, O my lord, since she fared forth from thy worshipful presence,^[365] I have not set eyes on her; no, not once. Indeed she took possession of my heart and wits and all my talk and thoughts are of her. I went to her lodging but found her not, nor found I any who could give me news of her, and it is as if she had dived into the depths of the sea or had ascended to the sky.” Now when the Kazi heard this, he groaned a groan, that his soul was like to depart therefor, and he said, “By Allah, well it were had we never seen her!” Then the smith went away, whilst the Kazi fell down on his bed and became sick of languor for her sake, and on like wise fared it with the other three Kazis and assessors. The mediciners paid them frequent calls, but found in them no ailment requiring a leach: so the city-notables went in to the Chief Kazi and saluting him, questioned him of his case; whereupon he sighed and showed them that was in his heart, reciting these couplets:—

Stint ye this blame; enough I suffer from Love’s malady ✿ Nor chide the Kazi frail who fain must deal to folk decree!

Who doth accuse my love let him for me find some excuse: ✿ Nor blame; for lovers blameless are in lover-slavery!

I was a Kázi whom my Fate deigned aid with choicest aid ✿ By writ and reed and raisèd me to wealth and high degree;

Till I was shot by sharpest shaft that knows nor leach nor cure ✿ By Damsel’s glance who came to spill my blood and murther me.

To me came she, a Moslemah and of her wrongs she ’plained ✿ With lips that oped on Orient-pearls ranged fair and orderly:

I looked beneath her veil and saw a wending moon at full ✿ Rising below the wings of Night engloomed with blackest blee:

A brightest favour and a mouth bedight with wondrous smiles; ✿ Beauty had brought the loveliest garb and robed her cap-à-pie.

By Allah, ne’er beheld my eyes a face so ferly fair ✿ Amid mankind whoever are, Arab or Ajamí.

My Fair! What promise didst thou make what time to me thou said’st ✿ “Whenas I promise I perform, O Kazi, faithfully.”

Such is my stead and such my case calamitous and dire ✿ And ask me not, ye men of spunk, what dreadful teen I dree.

255When he ended his verse he wept with sore weeping and sobbed one sob and his spirit departed his body, which seeing they washed him and shrouded him and prayed over him and buried him graving on his tomb these couplets:—

Perfect were lover’s qualities in him was brought a-morn, ✿ Slain by his love and his beloved, to this untimely grave:

Kázi was he amid the folk, and aye ’twas his delight ✿ To foster all the folk and keep a-sheath the Justice-glaive:

Love caused his doom and ne’er we saw among mankind before ✿ The lord and master louting low before his thrallèd slave.

Then they committed him to the mercy of Allah and went away to the second Kazi, in company with the physician, but found in him nor injury nor ailment needing a leach. Accordingly they questioned him of his case and what preoccupied him; so he told them what ailed him, whereupon they blamed him and chid him for his predicament and he answered them with these couplets:—

Blighted by her yet am I not to blame; ✿ Struck by the dart at me her fair hand threw.

Unto me came a woman called Hubúb ✿ Chiding the world from year to year anew:

And brought a damsel showing face that shamed ✿ Full moon that sails through Night-tide’s blackest hue,

She showed her beauties and she ’plained her plain ✿ Which tears in torrents from her eyelids drew:

I to her words gave ear and gazed on her ✿ Whenas with smiling lips she made me rue.

Then with my heart she fared where’er she fared ✿ And left me pledged to sorrows soul subdue.

Such is my tale! So pity ye my case ✿ And this my page with Kazi’s gear indue.

Then he sobbed one sob and his soul fled his flesh; whereupon they gat ready his funeral and buried him commending him to the mercy of Allah; after which they repaired to the third Kazi and the fourth, and there befel them the like of what befel their brethren.^[366] Furthermore, they found the Assessors also sick for love of her, and indeed all who saw her died of her love or, an they died not, lived on tortured with the lowe of passion——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

256

Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-first Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the city folk found all the Kazis and the Assessors sick for love of her, and all who saw her died love-sick or, an they died not, lived on tortured with the lowe of passion for stress of pining to no purpose—Allah have mercy on them one and all! Meanwhile Zayn al-Mawasif and her women drave on with all diligence till they were far distant from the city and it so fortuned that they came to a convent by the way, wherein dwelt a Prior called Danis and forty monks.^[367] When the Prior saw her beauty, he went out to her and invited her to alight, saying, “Rest with us ten days and after wend your ways.” So she and her damsels alighted and entered the convent; and when Danis saw her beauty and loveliness, she debauched his belief and he was seduced by her: wherefore he fell to sending the monks, one after other with love-messages; but each who saw her fell in love with her and sought her favours for himself, whilst she excused and denied herself to them. But Danis ceased not his importunities till he had dispatched all the forty, each one of whom fell love-sick at first sight and plied her with blandishments never even naming Danis; whilst she refused and rebuffed them with harsh replies. At last when Danis’s patience was at an end and his passion was sore on him, he said in himself, “Verily, the sooth-sayer saith:—Naught scratcheth my skin but my own nail and naught like my own feet for mine errand may avail.” So up he rose and made ready rich meats, and it was the ninth day of her sojourn in the convent where she had purposed only to rest. Then he carried them in to her and set them before her, saying, “Bismillah, favour us by tasting the best of the food at our command.” So she put forth her hand, saying, “For the name of Allah the Compassionating, the Compassionate!” and ate, she and her handmaidens. When she had made an end of eating, he said to her, “O my lady, I wish to recite to thee some verses.” Quoth she, “Say on,” and he recited these couplets:—

Thou hast won my heart by cheek and eye of thee, ✿ I’ll praise for love in prose and poesy.

257Wilt fly a lover, love-sick, love-distraught ✿ Who strives in dreams some cure of love to see?

Leave me not fallen, passion-fooled, since I ✿ For pine have left uncared the Monast’ry:

O Fairest, ’tis thy right to shed my blood, ✿ So rue my case and hear the cry of me!

When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she answered him with these two couplets:—

O who suest Union, ne’er hope such delight ✿ Nor solicit my favours, O hapless wight!

Cease to hanker for what thou canst never have: ✿ Next door are the greedy to sore despight.

Hearing this he returned to his place, pondering in himself and knowing not how he should do in her affair, and passed the night in the sorriest plight. But, as soon as the darkness was darkest Zayn al-Mawasif arose and said to her handmaids, “Come, let us away, for we cannot avail against forty men, monks, each of whom requireth me for himself.” Quoth they, “Right willingly!” So they mounted their beasts and issued forth the convent gate,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-second Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn al-Mawasif and her handmaids issued forth the convent gate and, under favour of the night, rode on till they overtook a caravan, with which they mingled and found it came from the city of ’Adan wherein the lady had dwelt. Presently, Zayn al-Mawasif heard the people of the caravan discoursing of her own case and telling how the Kazis and Assessors were dead of love for her and how the townsfolk had appointed in their stead others who released her husband from prison. Whereupon she turned to her maids and asked them, “Heard ye that?”; and Hubub answered, “If the monks were ravished with love of thee, whose belief it is that shunning women is worship, how should it be with the Kazis, who hold that there is no monkery in Al-Islam? But let us make our way to our own country, whilst our affair is yet hidden.” So they drave on with all diligence. Such was 258their case; but as regards the monks, on the morrow, as soon as it was day they repaired to Zayn al-Mawasif’s lodging, to salute her, but found the place empty, and their hearts sickened within them. So the first monk rent his raiment and improvised these couplets:—

Ho ye, my friends, draw near, for I forthright ✿ From you depart, since parting is my lot:

My vitals suffer pangs o’ fiery love; ✿ Flames of desire in heart burn high and hot,

For sake of fairest girl who sought our land ✿ Whose charms th’ horizon’s full moon evens not.

She fared and left me victimed by her love ✿ And slain by shaft those lids death-dealing shot.

Then another monk recited the following couplets:—

O ye who with my vitals fled, have ruth ✿ On this unhappy: haste ye homeward-bound:

They fared, and fared fair Peace on farthest track ✿ Yet lingers in mine ear that sweetest sound:

Fared far, and far their fane; would Heaven I saw ✿ Their shade in vision float my couch around:

And when they went wi’ them they bore my heart ✿ And in my tear-floods all of me left drowned.

A third monk followed with these extempore lines:—

Throne you on highmost stead, heart, ears and sight ✿ Your wone’s my heart; mine all’s your dwelling-site:

Sweeter than honey is your name a-lip, ✿ Running, as ’neath my ribs runs vital sprite:

For Love hath made me as a toothpick^[368] lean ✿ And drowned in tears of sorrow and despight:

Let me but see you in my sleep, belike ✿ Shall clear my cheeks of tears that lovely sight.

Then a fourth recited the following couplets:—

Dumb is my tongue and scant my speech for thee ✿ And Love the direst torture gars me dree:

O thou full Moon, whose place is highest Heaven, ✿ For thee but double pine and pain in me.

259And a fifth these^[369]:—

I love a moon of comely shapely form ✿ Whose slender waist hath title to complain:

Whose lip-dews rival must and long-kept wine; ✿ Whose heavy haunches haunt the minds of men:

My heart each morning burns with pain and pine ✿ And the night-talkers note I’m passion-slain;

While down my cheeks carnelian-like the tears ✿ Of rosy red shower down like railing rain.

And a sixth the following:—

O thou who shunnest him thy love misled! ✿ O Branch of Bán, O star of highmost stead!

To thee of pine and passion I complain, ✿ O thou who fired me with cheeks rosy-red.

Did e’er such lover lose his soul for thee, ✿ Or from prostration and from prayers fled?

And a seventh these:—

He seized my heart and freed my tears to flow ✿ Brought strength to Love and bade my Patience go.

His charms are sweet as bitter his disdain; ✿ And shafts of love his suitors overthrow.

Stint blame, O blamer, and for past repent ✿ None will believe thee who dost Love unknow!

And on like wise all the rest of the monks shed tears and repeated verses. As for Danis, the Prior, weeping and wailing redoubled on him, for that he found no way to her enjoyment, and he chanted the following couplets^[370]:—

My patience failed me when my lover went ✿ And fled that day mine aim and best intent.

O Guide o’ litters lead their camels fair, ✿ Haply some day they’ll deign with me to tent!

On parting-day Sleep parted from my lids ✿ And grew my grieving and my joy was shent.

I moan to Allah what for Love I dree’d ✿ My wasted body and my forces spent.

Then, despairing of her, they took counsel together and with one mind agreed to fashion her image and set it up with them, and applied themselves to this till there came to them the Destroyer 260of delights and Severer of societies. Meanwhile, Zayn al-Mawasif fared on, without ceasing, to find her lover Masrur, till she reached her own house. She opened the doors, and entered; then she sent to her sister Nasim, who rejoiced with exceeding joy at the news of her return and brought her the furniture and precious stuffs left in her charge. So she furnished the house and dressed it, hanging the curtains over the doors and burning aloes-wood and musk and ambergris and other essences till the whole place reeked with the most delightful perfumes: after which the Adornment of Qualities donned her finest dress and decorations and sat talking with her maids, whom she had left behind when journeying, and related to them all that had befallen her first and last. Then she turned to Hubub and giving her dirhams, bade her fetch them something to eat. So she brought meat and drink and when they had made an end of eating and drinking,^[371] Zayn al-Mawasif bade Hubub go and see where Masrur was and how it fared with him. Now he knew not of her return; but abode with concern overcast and sorrow might not be overpast;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif entered her house she was met by her sister Nasim who brought her the furniture and stuffs wherewith she furnished the place; and then she donned her finest dress. But Masrur knew naught of her return and abode with concern overcast and sorrow might not be overpast; no peace prevailed with him nor was patience possible to him. Whenas pine and passion, desire and distraction waxed on him, he would solace himself by reciting verse and go to the house and set him its walls to buss. It chanced that he went out that day to the place where he had parted from his mistress and repeated this rare song:—

My wrongs hide I, withal they show to sight; ✿ And now mine eyes from sleep to wake are dight.

I cry when melancholy tries my sprite ✿ Last not, O world nor work more despight;

Lo hangs my soul ’twixt hardship and affright.

261Were the Sultan hight Love but fair to me, ✿ Slumber mine eyes’ companion were to me,

My Lords, some little mercy spare to me, ✿ Chief of my tribe: be debonnair to me,

Whom Love cast down, erst rich now pauper-wight!

Censors may blame thee but I look beyond ✿ Mine ears I stop and leave their lies unconned

And keep my pact wi’ those I love so fond: ✿ They say, “Thou lov’st a runaway!” I respond,

“Whist! whenas Fate descends she blinds the sight!”

Then he returned to his lodging and sat there weeping, till sleep overcame him, when he saw in a dream as if Zayn al-Mawasif were come to the house, and awoke in tears. So he set off to go thither, improvising these couplets:—

Shall I be consoled when Love hath mastered the secret of me ✿ And my heart is aglow with more than the charcoal’s ardency?

I love her whose absence I plain before Allah for parting-stower ✿ And the shifts of the days and doom which allotted me Destiny:

When shall our meeting be, O wish o’ my heart and will? ✿ O favour of fullest Moon, when shall we Re-union see?

As he made an end of his recitation, he found himself walking adown in Zayn al-Mawasif’s street and smelt the sweet savour of the pastiles wherewithal she had incensed the house; wherefore his vitals fluttered and his heart was like to leave his breast and desire flamed up in him and distraction redoubled upon him; when lo, and behold! Hubub, on her way to do her lady’s errand suddenly appeared at the head of the street and he rejoiced with joy exceeding. When she saw him, she went up to him and saluting him, gave him the glad news of her mistress’s return, saying, “She hath sent me to bid thee to her.” Whereat he was glad indeed, with gladness naught could exceed; and she took him and returned with him to the house. When Zayn al-Mawasif saw him, she came down to him from the couch and kissed him and he kissed her and she embraced him and he embraced her; nor did they leave kissing and embracing till both swooned away for stress of affection and separation. They lay a long while senseless, and when they revived, Zayn al-Mawasif bade Hubub fetch her a gugglet of sherbet of sugar and another of sherbet of lemons. So she brought what she desired and they sat eating and drinking nor ceased before nightfall, when they fell to recalling all that had 262befallen them from commencement to conclusion. Then she acquainted him with her return to Al-Islam, whereat he rejoiced and he also became a Moslem. On like wise did her women, and they all repented to Allah Almighty of their infidelity. On the morrow she bade send for the Kazi and the witnesses and told them that she was a widow and had completed the purification-period and was minded to marry Masrur. So they drew up the wedding-contract between them and they abode in all delight of life. Meanwhile, the Jew, when the people of Adan released him from prison, set out homewards and fared on nor ceased faring till he came within three days’ journey of the city. Now as soon as Zayn al-Mawasif heard of his coming she called for her handmaid Hubub and said to her, “Go to the Jews’ burial-place and there dig a grave and plant on it sweet basil and jessamine and sprinkle water thereabout. If the Jew come and ask thee of me, answer:—My mistress died twenty days ago of chagrin on thine account. If he say, show me her tomb, take him to the grave and after weeping over it and making moan and lament before him, contrive to cast him therein and bury him alive.”^[372] And Hubub answered, “I hear and I obey.” Then they laid up the furniture in the store closets, and Zayn al-Mawasif removed to Masrur’s lodging, where he and she abode eating and drinking, till the three days were past; at the end of which the Jew arrived and knocked at the door of his house. Quoth Hubub, “Who’s at the door?”; and quoth he, “Thy master.” So she opened to him and he saw the tears railing down her cheeks and said, “What aileth thee to weep and where is thy mistress?” She replied, “My mistress is dead of chagrin on thine account.” When he heard this, he was perplexed and wept with sore weeping and presently said, “O Hubub, where is her tomb?” So she carried him to the Jews’ burial-ground and showed him the grave she had dug; whereupon he shed bitter tears and recited this pair of couplets^[373]:—

263Two things there are, for which if eyes wept tear on tear ✿ Of blood, till they were like indeed to disappear,

They never could fulfil the Tithe of all their due: ✿ And these are prime of youth and loss of loveling dear.

Then he wept again with bitter tears and recited these also:—

Alack and Alas! Patience taketh flight; ✿ And from parting of friend to sore death I’m dight:

O how woeful this farness from dear one, and oh ✿ How my heart is rent by mine own unright!

Would Heaven my secret I erst had kept ✿ Nor had told the pangs and my liver-blight:

I lived in all solace and joyance of life ✿ Till she left and left me in piteous plight:

O Zayn al-Mawasif, I would there were ✿ No parting departing my frame and sprite:

I repent me for troth-breach and blame my guilt ✿ Of unruth to her whereon hopes I built.

When he had made an end of this verse, he wept and groaned and lamented till he fell down a-swoon, whereupon Hubub made haste to drag him to the grave and throw him in, whilst he was insensible yet quick withal. Then she stopped up the grave on him and returning to her mistress acquainted her with what had passed, whereat she rejoiced with exceeding joy and recited these two couplets:—

The world sware that for ever ’twould gar me grieve: ✿ ’Tis false, O world, so thine oath retrieve^[374]!

The blamer is dead and my love’s in my arms: ✿ Rise to herald of joys and tuck high thy sleeve^[375]!

Then she and Masrur abode each with other in eating and drinking and sport and pleasure and good cheer, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and Sunderer of societies and Slayer of sons and daughters. And I have also heard tell the following tale of

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