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and-twenty modes, amazing all wits. Then she returned to the first mode and sang the following verses to a lively measure:
The tongue of passion in my heart bespeaketh thee of me And giveth thee to know that I enamoured am of thee.
The burning of an anguished heart is witness to my pain And ulcerated eyes and tears that flow incessantly.
I had no knowledge what Love was, before the love of thee; But God’s forewritten ordinance o’ertaketh all that be.
When the mock Khalif heard this, he gave a great cry and rent his robe to the skirt, whereupon they let down a curtain over him and brought him a fresh robe, handsomer than the first. He put it on and sat as before, till the cup came round to him, when he struck the gong a second time and behold, a door opened and out came an eunuch with a chair of gold, followed by a damsel handsomer than the first, bearing a lute, such as mortified the heart of the envious. She sat down on the chair and sang to the lute these verses:
Ah, how can I be patient, when longing in my soul Flames high and from mine eyelids the tears in torrents roll?
Life hath no sweet, by Allah, wherein I may rejoice. How shall a heart be joyous, that’s all fulfilled of dole?
No sooner did the youth hear this than he gave a great cry and rent his clothes to the skirt; whereupon they let down the curtain over him and brought him another dress. He put it on and sitting up as before, fell again to cheerful talk, till the cup came round to him, when he smote once more upon the gong and out came an eunuch with a chair, followed by a damsel fairer than she who had foregone her. So she sat down on the chair, with a lute in her hand, and sang thereto the following verses:
Have done with your disdain and leave to make me rue; For, by your life, my heart to you was ever true!
Have ruth on one distraught, the bondslave of your love, Sorry and sick and full of longings ever new.
