Quoth Boolp, 'I care not. Shall I leave my wealth and all I possess void of eyes? and she so that I recognise her not behind the veil?'
Ukleet pushed the old miser jeeringly: 'You not recognise her? Oh, Boolp, a pretty dissimulation! Pledge her now a cup to the snatching of the veil, and bethink you of a fitting verse, a seemly compliment,—something sugary.'
Then Boolp smoothed his head, and was bothered; and tapped it, and commenced repeating to Bhanavar:
I saw the moon behind a cloud,
And I was cold as one that's in his shroud:
And I cried, Moon! —
Ukleet chorused him, 'Moon!' and Boolp was deranged in what he had to say, and gasped,—
Moon! I cried, Moon!—and I cried. Moon!
Then the Vizier and Ukleet laughed till they fell on their backs; so Bhanavar took up his verse where he left it, singing,—
And to the cry
Moon did make fair the following reply:
'Dotard, be still! for thy desire
Is to embrace consuming fire.'
Then said Boolp, 'O my mistress, the laws of conviviality have till now restrained me; but my coming here was on business, and with me my bags, in good faith. So let us transact this matter of the jewels, and after that the song of—
"Thou and I
A cup will try,"
even as thou wilt.'
