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bade her sing. Accordingly, she took the lute and spoke forth that which was in her heart and sang the following verses:
What strength have I solicitude and long desire to bear? Why art thou purposed to depart and leave me to despair?
Why to estrangement and despite inclin’st thou with the spy? Yet that a bough[1] from side to side incline[2] small wonder ’twere.
Thou layst on me a load too great to bear, and thus thou dost But that my burdens I may bind and so towards thee fare.
Then she cast the lute from her hand and swooned away; so she was carried to her chamber and indeed passion waxed upon her. After a long while, the Commander of the Faithful sent for her a third time and bade her sing. So she took the lute and sang the following verses:
O hills of the sands and the rugged piebald plain, Shall the bondman of love win ever free from pain!
I wonder, shall I and the friend who’s far from me Once more be granted of Fate to meet, we twain!
Bravo for a fawn with a houri’s eye of black, Like the sun or the shining moon midst the starry train!
To lovers, “What see ye?” he saith, and to hearts of stone, “What love ye,” quoth he, “[if to love me ye disdain?”]
I supplicate Him, who parted us and doomed Our separation, that we may meet again.
When she had made an end of her song, the Com-
