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and lamented till she swooned away. When she came to herself, she said to the lady Zubeideh, ‘O my lady, what is this thou hast done?’ And Zubeideh said to her, ‘O my lady the pilgrim, I knew not that this would happen and hadst thou told me of the case and acquainted me with her condition, I had not gainsaid thee. Nor did I know that she was of the Flying Jinn; else had I not suffered her to don the dress nor take her children: but now words profit nothing; so do thou acquit me of offence against thee.’ And the old woman could do no otherwise than answer, ‘Thou art acquitted.’
Then she went forth the palace and returning to her own house, buffeted her face till she swooned away. When she came to herself, she wearied after her daughter-in-law and her children and for the sight of her son and repeated the following verses:
Your absence, on the day of parting, when you went From home, enforced me weep for grief and dreariment.
I cry out, for the smart of separation’s pains, What while mine eyelids still with scalding tears are brent,
‘Parting this is: shall aye returning be for us? Concealment’s done away by your abandonment.’
Would God they would return and keep their troth! Ah, then, Time would belike restore the days of my content.
Then she dug three graves in the house and betook herself to them with weeping all tides of the day and watches of the night; and when her son’s absence was long upon her and grief and longing and unquiet waxed upon her, she recited these verses:
Thine image ’twixt mine eyelids still harbours, when they close, As in my heart thy memory in throbbing and repose.
Yea, and thy love for ever runs in the bones of me, As in the fruited branches the sap in summer flows.
Indeed, my breast is straitened, the day I see thee not, And e’en my censors hold me excuséd for my woes.
