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Love, at the first, a dribble is of water, that the Fates Bring and impel ’gainst him on whom it falleth to his share;
Till, when the youth into the sea of passion plungeth full, Come great and grievous things, indeed, impossible to bear.
And also these:
Had I but known how love men’s hearts doth take and rack, I’d been upon my guard against its first attack;
But I myself undid, of purpose, knowing not The things of love nor what its issues are, alack!
And he ceased not to weep and lament and buffet his face and breast, till Saïd awoke and missing him from the bed and seeing [but] one candle, said in himself, ‘Where is Seif el Mulouk gone?’ Then he took the candle and went round about the palace, till he came upon the closet in question, where he saw the prince lying, weeping and lamenting passing sore. So he said to him, ‘O my brother, what ails thee to weep? Speak to me and tell me what hath befallen thee.’ But Seif spoke not neither raised his head and continued to weep and smite upon his breast. Quoth Saïd, ‘I am thy vizier and thy brother, and we were reared together, thou and I; so to whom wilt thou unburden thy breast and discover thy secret, if not to me?’ And he went on to humble himself and kiss the earth before him a great while, whilst Seif el Mulouk paid no heed to him nor answered him a word, but gave not over weeping.
At last, being affrighted at his case and weary of striving with him, he went out and fetched a sword, with which he returned to the closet, and setting the point to his own breast, said to the prince, ‘Awake, O my brother! An thou tell me not what ails thee, I will slay myself and see thee no longer in this plight.’ Whereupon Seif raised his head and answered him, saying, ‘O my brother, I am ashamed to tell thee what ails me;’ but Saïd said, ‘I con-
