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he set out on his journey and stayed not till he reached the palace of the Mountain of Clouds, when he went in to the princesses and gave them the presents, in which they rejoiced. Then they gave him joy of his safety and said to him, ‘O our brother, what ails thee to come [again so soon], seeing thou wast with us but two months since?’ Whereupon he wept and repeated the following verses:
I see my soul all pined for loss of her it held so dear; It hath no ease, in any wise, of life and all its cheer.
My malady is one of those whose remedy’s unknown; And shall a malady be cured, except its leach be here?
Thou that forbidd’st me the delight of sleep, thou hast me left The wind to question after thee, whenas its wafts draw near,
From my love’s land but lately borne, my love who doth comprise Beauties that make mine eyes to rain with many a bloody tear.
O wind, that visitest her land, haply a waft of air The hearts with somewhat of her scent may quicken yet and cheer.
Then he gave a great cry and swooned away. The princesses sat round him, weeping over him, till he came to himself and repeated these verses:
It may be Fate at last shall turn its bridle-rein And bring me her I love, for Fortune changeth still;
And things shall yet betide, despite the things fordone, To further forth my hopes and bring me to my will.
Then he wept, till he fainted again, and presently coming to himself, recited the following:
O term of all my pains and all my languishment, Art thou content? Indeed, in passion I’m content.
Dost thou forsake me thus, without or fault or cause? Turn back to me, I pray, from rigour and relent.
Then he wept till he swooned away once more and when he came to himself, he repeated these verses:
