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crystal and gold; and they poured out the wines and filled the flagons.
Then Iblis took the cup and signed to Tuhfeh to sing; and she said, ‘Hearkening and obedience.’ So she took the lute and tuning it, sang the following verses:
Drink ever, O lovers, I rede you, of wine And praise his desert who for yearning doth pine,
Where lavender, myrtle, narcissus entwine, With all sweet-scented herbs, round the juice of the vine.
So Iblis the Accursed drank and said, ‘Well done, O desire of hearts! but thou owest me yet another song.’ Then he filled the cup and signed to her to sing. Quoth she, ‘Hearkening and obedience,’ and sang the following verses:
Ye know I’m passion-maddened, racked with love and languishment, Yet ye torment me, for to you ’tis pleasing to torment.
Between mine eyes and wake ye have your dwelling-place, and thus My tears flow on unceasingly, my sighs know no relent.
How long shall I for justice sue to you, whilst, with desire For aid, ye war on me and still on slaying me are bent!
To me your rigour love-delight, your distance nearness is; Ay, your injustice equity, and eke your wrath consent.
Accuse me falsely, cruelly entreat me; still ye are My heart’s belovéd, at whose hands no rigour I resent.
All who were present were delighted and the sitting-chamber shook with mirth, and Iblis said, ‘Well done, O Tuhfet es Sudour!’ Then they gave not over wine-
