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ruby,[1] warbled a plaintive air and improvising, sang the following verses;
The absent ones’ harbinger came us unto With tidings of those who[2] had caused us to rue.
“My soul be thy ransom,” quoth I, “for thy grace! Indeed, to the oath that thou swor’st thou wast true.”
On the dear nights of union, in you was our joy, But afflicted were we since ye bade us adieu.
You swore you’d be faithful to us and our love, And true to your oath and your troth-plight were you;
And I to you swore that a lover I was; God forbid that with treason mine oath I ensue!
Yea, “Welcome! Fair welcome to those who draw near!” I called out aloud, as to meet you I flew.
The dwellings, indeed, one and all, I adorned, Bewildered and dazed with delight at your view;
For death in your absence to us was decreed; But, when ye came back, we were quickened anew.
When she had made an end of her verses, El Abbas bade the third damsel, who came from Samarcand of the Persians and whose name was Rummaneh, sing, and she answered with “Hearkening and obedience.” Then she took the psaltery and crying out from the midst of her head[3] improvised and sang the following verses:
