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Then came forward the fifth and embraced him and recited these verses:
Depart thou not; for I’ve no strength without thee to endure Nor unto a departing one courage to say farewell;
Nor any patience, severance to encounter; no, nor tears To shed upon the ruined house wherein we twain did dwell.
Then came forward the sixth and embraced him and recited these verses:
I said, when the camels away with them fared And longing mine entrails did ravage, ‘Ah me!
If there were but a king over whom I had power, I would seize, by main force, on each ship on the sea.’
Then came forward the seventh and embraced him and recited these verses:
Indeed, the severance from thee hath made my heart to ache: I have no bowels of the like of thee farewell to take.
God knows I did not leave to speak the parting word to thee, Save of the fear that in the act thy very heart would break.
Hassan also wept for parting from them, till he swooned, and repeated the following verses:
Indeed, upon the parting day, my eyes with pearls did rain Of dropping tears, whose necklaces I strung in many a skein.
The cameleer urged on his beasts with them, what while nor strength Nor fortitude I found, nor did my heart with me remain.
I took my leave of them and turned away in grief, and eke To quit the encampment and the place of meeting I was fain.
Yea, I turned back, unknowing of the road and comforting My soul but with the thought that I should meet thee yet again.
List, O my friend, unto the tale of love, and God forbid That I should speak and that thy heart to hearken should not deign!
Since thou hast lost them, O my soul, forswear the sweet of life Nor covet its continuance, for, wanting them, ’twere vain.
Then he bade them farewell and fared on diligently night and day, till he came to Baghdad, the Abode of Peace and Sanctuary of the Abbaside Khalifs, unknowing what had
