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How many terrors have we seen, that now are past away! Yet we each agonizing strait did patiently abide.
In one hour of delight have we forgotten all the woes, Whose stresses made us twain, whilom, grey-haired and hollow-eyed.
Then they clipped each other and ceased not from their embrace, Night ccclxxxi.till they fell down in a swoon, for the ecstasy of reunion; and when they came to themselves, Uns el Wujoud recited these verses:
Ah, how peerlessly sweet are the nights of delight, When the loved one to me keeps the troth she did plight,
When enjoyment enjoyment ensues and the bonds Of estrangement between us are sundered outright,
And fortune is come to us, favouring and fair, After turning away with aversion and spite!
Fair fortune hath set up her standards for us And we drink from her hand a cup pure of affright.
United, our woes each to each we recount And the nights when in torments we watched for the light.
But now, O my lady, forgotten have we Our griefs, and God pardon the past its upright!
How pleasant, how lovesome, how joyous is life! Enjoyment my passion doth only excite.
Then they gave themselves up anew to the pleasures of the nuptial bed and passed seven whole days thus, carousing and conversing and reciting verses and telling pleasant tales and anecdotes, in the intervals of amorous dalliance; for so drowned were they in the sea of passion, that they knew not night from day and it was to them, for very stress of joy and gladness and pleasure and delight, as if the seven days were but one day, and that without a morrow. Nor did they know the seventh day, but by the coming of the singers and players on instruments of music;[1] whereat Rose-in-bud was beyond measure wondered and improvised the following verses:
- ↑ To salute them and wish them joy, according to Oriental custom.
