94
The man was charmed and emptying his cup, gave the girls to drink. Then he beckoned to the slender girl and said to her, “O houri of Paradise, feed thou our ears with sweet sounds.” So she took the lute and tuning it, preluded and sang the following verses:
Is it not martyrdom that I for thine estrangement dree, Seeing, indeed, I cannot live, if thou depart from me?
Is there no judge, in Love its law, to judge betwixt us twain, To do me justice on thy head and take my wreak of thee?
Their lord rejoiced and emptying the cup, gave the girls to drink. Then he signed to the yellow girl and said to her, “O sun of the day, let us hear some pleasant verses.” So she took the lute and preluding after the goodliest fashion, sang as follows:
I have a lover, whenas I draw him nigh, He bares upon me a sword from either eye.
May God avenge me some whit of him! For lo, He doth oppress me, whose heart in ’s hand doth lie.
Oft though, “Renounce him, my heart,” I say, yet it Will to none other than him itself apply.
He’s all I ask for, of all created things; Yet jealous Fortune doth him to me deny.
The man rejoiced and drank and gave the girls to drink; then he filled the cup and taking it in his hand, signed to the black girl, saying, “O apple of the eye, let us have a taste of thy fashion, though it be but two words.” So she took the lute and preluded in various modes, then returned to the first and sang the following verses to a lively air:
O eyes, be large with tears and pour them forth amain, For, lo, for very love my senses fail and wane.
All manner of desire I suffer for his sake I cherish, and my foes make merry at my pain.
My enviers me forbid the roses of a cheek; And yet I have a heart that is to roses fain.
