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O thou, for whom love-longing hath gotten hold of me, For love of whom distraction for ever on me grows,
Night dccxcvii.Have mercy, as thou fearest the Merciful, on me: The love of thee hath made me to taste of death, God knows.
Meanwhile, when Hassan came to the princesses, they conjured him to tarry with them three months [and he consented and sojourned with them for that time], after which they gave him five loads of gold and the like of silver and one load of victual and accompanied him on his homeward way, till he conjured them to return, whereupon the youngest came up to him, to bid him farewell, and embracing him, wept till she fainted. Then she recited the following verses:
Ah, when shall parting’s fire be quenched by thy return once more? When shall I have my wish of thee and we be as of yore?
Indeed, the day of severance affrights and troubles me, And languishment for love-taking on me is passing sore.
Then came forward the second princess and embraced him and recited these verses:
Like the parting from life is the parting from thee And thy loss as the loss of heaven’s rains is to me.
Thy departure’s a heart-searing fire, for, indeed, In thy presence the gardens of Paradise be.
Then came forward the third and embraced him and recited these verses:
We left not to take leave, upon our parting day, For weariness or aught of ill intention; nay,
My very soul thou art, and how unto my soul Should I, of my free will, I prithee, farewell say?
Then came forward the fourth and embraced him and recited these verses:
Nought made me weep, save only when he, in parting guise, Did me of his departure so cruelly apprise.
Behold this precious union I’ve hung upon mine ear: ’Twas of my tears I wrought it, fast dropping from mine eyes.
