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Fortune its arrows all, through him I love, let fly At me and parted me from him for whom I sigh.
Lo, in my heart the heat of every heart burns high And in mine eyes unite the tears of every eye.
When she had made an end of her song, she wept till she made the bystanders weep and the Lady Zubeideh condoled with her and said to her, “God on thee, O Sitt el Milah, sing us somewhat, so we may hearken to thee.” “Hearkening and obedience,” answered the damsel and sang the following verses:
Assemble, ye people of passion, I pray; For the hour of our torment hath sounded to-day.
The raven of parting croaks loud at our door; Alas, for our raven cleaves fast to us aye!
For those whom we cherish are parted and gone; They have left us in torment to pine for dismay.
So arise, by your lives I conjure you, arise And come let us fare to our loved ones away.
Then she cast the lute from her hand and wept till she made the Lady Zubeideh weep, and she said to her, “O Sitt el Milah, methinks he whom thou lovest is not in this world, for that the Commander of the Faithful hath sought him in every place, but hath not found him.” Whereupon the damsel arose and kissing the Lady Zubeideh’s hands, said to her, “O my lady, if thou wouldst have him found, I have a request to make to thee, wherein thou mayst accomplish my occasion with the Commander
