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Then was my heart by that which caused my agitation seared, And from mine eyelids still the tears poured down without relent.
Yea, nevermore I ceased from that wherewith I stricken was; My night with wakefulness was filled, my heart with dreariment.
But now hath Allah from my heart blotted the love of thee, After for constancy I’d grown a name of wonderment.
Hence on the morrow forth I fare and leave your land behind; So take your leave of us nor fear mishap or ill event.
Whenas in body ye from us are far removed, would God I knew who shall to us himself with news of you present!
And who can tell if ever house shall us together bring In union of life serene and undisturbed content?
When Merjaneh had made an end of her song, the prince said to her, “Well done, O damsel! Indeed, thou sayest a thing that had occurred to my mind and my tongue was like to speak it.” Then he signed to the fourth damsel, who was a Cairene, by name Sitt el Husn, and bade her tune her lute and sing to him upon the [same] subject. So she tuned her lute and sang the following verses:
Fair patience use, for ease still followeth after stress And all things have their time and ordinance no less.
Though Fortune whiles to thee belike may be unjust, Her seasons change and man’s excused if he transgress.
In her revolving scheme, to bitter sweetness still Succeeds and things become straight, after crookedness.
Thine honour, therefore, guard and eke thy secret keep, Nor save to one free-born and true thy case confess.
The Lord’s alternatives are these, wherewith He’s wont The needy wretch to ply and those in sore duresse.
