and the cause of my madness." Then she poured forth tears and repeated these couplets,
"Now Love hast banished all that bred delight; * With that heart-nibbling fawn my joys took flight: Lightest of trifles lover's blood to him * Who wastes the vitals of the hapless wight! For him I'm jealous of my sight and thought; * My heart acts spy upon my thought and sight: Those long-lashed eyelids rain on me their shafts * Guileful, destroying hearts where'er they light: Now, while my portion in the world endures, * Shall I behold him ere I quit world-site? What bear I for his sake I'd hide, but tears * Betray my feelings to the spy's despight. When near, our union seemeth ever far; * When far, my thoughts to him aye nearest are."
And presently she continued, "See then, O my brother, how thou mayest aid me in mine affliction." So Marzawan bowed his head ground-wards awhile, wondering and not knowing what to do, then he raised it and said to her, "All thou hast spoken to me I hold to be true, though the case of the young man pass my understanding: but I will go round about all lands and will seek for what may heal thee; haply Allah shall appoint thy healing to be at my hand. Meanwhile, take patience and be not disquieted." Thereupon Marzawan farewelled her, praying that she might be constant and left her repeating these couplets,
"Thine image ever companies my sprite, * For all thou'rt distant from the pilgrim's sight: But my heart-wishes e'er attract thee near: * What is the lightning's speed to Thought's swift flight? Then go not thou, my very light of eyes * Which, when thou'rt gone, lack all the Kohl of light."
Then Marzawan returned to his mother's house, where he passed the night. And when the morrow dawned, having equipped himself for his journey, he fared forth and ceased not faring from city to city and from island to island for a whole month, till he came to a town named Al-Tayrab. [1] Here he went about scenting news of the townsfolk, so haply he might light on a cure for the Princess's malady, for in every capital he entered or passed by, it was reported that
- ↑ The Bresl. Edit. (iii. 223) and Galland have "Torf:" Lane (ii. 115) "El-Tarf."
