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no solace but repeating verses. Then she recited the following:
I call to mind the parting-day that rent our loves in twain, When, as I turned away, the tears in very streams did rain.
The cameleer urged on his beasts with them, what while I found Nor strength nor fortitude, nor did my heart with me remain.
Yea, back I turned, unknowing of the road, nor might shake off The trance of grief and longing love that numbed my heart and brain;
And worst of all betided me, on my return, was one Who came to me, in lowly guise, to glory in my pain.
Since the belovéd’s gone, O soul, forswear the sweet of life Nor covet its continuance, for, wanting him, ’twere vain.
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!
As ’twere El Asmaï himself, of passion I discourse With fancies rare and marvellous, Night dcccxxiii.linked in an endless chain.
Then she turned right and left, seeking the cause of her children’s crying out, ‘O our father!’ but saw no one and marvelled that they should name him at that time and call upon him. When Hassan heard her verses, he wept till he swooned away and the tears ran down upon his cheeks like rain. Then he drew near the children and uncovered his head to them, [unseen of his wife,] whereupon they saw him and knowing him, cried out, saying, ‘O our father!’ Their mother fell a-weeping again, when she heard them name their father and said, ‘There is no resource against the ordinance of God the Most High! Strange! What makes them bethink them of their father at this time and call upon him, albeit it is not of their wont?’ Then she wept and recited the following verses:
The land is empty of the moon that shone so bright whilere: Be lavish of your tears, mine eyes; I charge you, do not spare!
They have departed: how shall I be patient of their loss? Nor heart nor patience, after them, is left with me, I swear.
