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Abasement, misery and heart-break after those I suffer who endured before me many a year.
All through the day its light and when the night grows dark, My grief forsakes me not, no, nor my heavy cheer.
My tears flow still, nor aye of bitterness I’m quit, Bewildered as I am betwixten hope and fear.
Therewithal Queen Es Shuhba was moved to exceeding delight and said, ‘Well done, O queen of delight! None can avail to describe thee. Sing to us on the apple,’ Quoth Tuhfeh, ‘Hearkening and obedience.’ Then she improvised and sang the following verses:
Endowed with amorous grace past any else am I; Graceful of shape and lithe and pleasing to the eye.
The hands of noble folk do tend me publicly; With waters clear and sweet my thirsting tongue they ply.
My clothes of sendal are, my veil of the sun’s light, The very handiwork of God the Lord Most High.
Whenas my sisters dear forsake me, grieved that they Must leave their native place and far away must hie,
The nobles’ hands, for that my place I must forsake, Do solace me with beds, whereon at ease I lie.
Lo! in the garden-ways, the place of ease and cheer, Still, like the moon at full, my light thou mayst espy.
Queen Es Shubha rejoiced in this with an exceeding delight and said, ‘Well done! By Allah, there is none surpasseth thee.’ Tuhfeh kissed the earth, then returned to her place and improvised on the tuberose, saying:
