"O ye who fled and left my heart in pain low li'en, * No breath of life if found within this frame of mine: I have an eye which e'er complains of wake, but lo! * Tears occupy it would that wake content these eyne! After ye marched forth the lover 'bode behind; * Question of him what pains your absence could design! But for the foods of tears mine eyelids rail and rain, * My fires would flame on high and every land calcine. To Allah make I moan of loved ones lost for aye, * Who for my pine and pain no more shall pain and pine: I never wronged them save that over love I nurst: * But Love departs us lovers into blest and curst."
And when she had finished her repeating, the Lady Budur sat down beside the Princess Hayat al-Nufus and kissed her on the mouth; after which rising abruptly, she made the minor ablution and betook herself to her devotions; nor did she leave praying till Hayat al-Nufus fell asleep, when she slips into bed and lay with her back to her till morning. And when day had broke the King and Queen came in to their daughter and asked her how she did. whereupon she told them what she had seen, and repeated to them the verses she had heard. Thus far concerning Hayat al-Nufus and her father; but as regards Queen Budur she went forth and seated herself upon the royal throne and all the Emirs and Captains and Officers of state came up to her and wished her joy of the kingship, kissing the earth before her and calling down blessings upon her. And she accosted them with smiling face and clad them in robes of honour, augmenting the fiefs of the high officials and giving largesse to the levies; wherefore all the people loved her and offered up prayers for the long endurance of her reign, doubting not but that she was a man. And she ceased not sitting all day in the hall of audience, bidding and forbidding; dispensing justice, releasing prisoners and remitting the customs-dues, till nightfall, when she withdrew to the apartment prepared for her. Here she found Hayat al-Nufus seated, so she sat down by her side and, clapping her on the back, coaxed and caressed her and kissed her between the eyes, and fell to versifying in these couplets,
"What secret kept I these my tears have told, * And my waste body must my love unfold: Though hid my pine, my plight on parting day * To every envious eye my secret sold: O ye
