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Time bore him off and rent his loves apart and cleft His entrails with a shaft of severance in twain。〃
Give them to know of all my transport for their loss And what I bear for love and longing all in vain。
Yea； by the love of you； I swear I will fulfil The covenant of love； whatever Fate ordain。
I'll never change nor yet fet your love： how shall Fetfulness betide the wistful； longing swain？
Peace； salutationwise； from me； with musk mixt In letters； be on you again and yet again！'
Nesim marvelled at his eloquence and the goodliness of his speech and the elegance of his verses and was moved to passion for him。 Then she sealed the letter with virgin musk and incensed it with aloeswood and ambergris； after which she mitted it to a merchant； bidding him deliver it not save to Zein el Mewasif or her maid Huboub。
When the letter reached her sister； she knew it for Mesrour's inditing and recognized himself in the grace of its expression。 So she kissed it and laid it on her eyes； whilst the tears streamed from her lids and she gave not over weeping； till she fainted。 When she came to herself； she called for pen and paper and wrote him the following answer： 'This letter is to my lord and master； the king of my heart and my secret soul。 Indeed； wakefulness agitateth me and melancholy increaseth on me and I have no patience to endure thine absence； O thou whose beauty excels the sun and moon！ Desire deprives me of rest and passion destroys me； and how should it be otherwise with me； seeing that I am of the number of the perishing？ O glory of the world and ornament of life； shall her cup be sweet； whose vital spirits are cut off？ For that she is neither with the quick nor with the dead。' And she added these verses：
Thy letter； O Mesrour； hath stirred affliction up in me； I have no patience for thy loss nor solacement； perdie。
My bowels； when I read the script； yearn and the desert herbs I water with my tears that flow for ever like a sea。
Were I a bird； I'd fly to thee； upon the wings of night： I know not； after thee； if wine or sweet or bitter be。
Forbidden unto me is life； since thy departure hence： I have no power to brook the fire of severance from thee。
Then she sprinkled the letter with powdered musk and ambergris and mitted it to a merchant； bidding him deliver it to none save her sister Nesim。 When it reached the latter； she sent it to Mesrour； who kissed it and laid it on his eyes and wept till he fainted。
Presently； the Jew heard of their correspondence and began again to travel from place to place with Zein el Mewasif and her damsels； till she said to him； 'Glory to God！ How long wilt thou journey with us and carry us afar from our homes？' Quoth he； 'I will fare on with you a year's journey； so no more letters may reach you from Mesrour。 I see how you take all my good and give it to him； so all that I miss I shall take from you： and I shall see if Mesrour will profit you or avail to deliver you from my hand。' Then he stripped her and her damsels of their silken apparel and clad them in raiment of haircloth； after which he repaired to a blacksmith and bade him make three pairs of iron shackles。 When they were ready； he brought the smith in to his wife and said to him； 'Put the shackles on the legs of these three damsels。'
The first that came forward was Zein el Mewasif； and when the blacksmith saw her； his reason forsook him and he bit his fingers and his wit fled forth his head and sore was his transport。 So he said to the Jew； 'What is these women's crime？' 'They are my slavegirls；' answered the other； 'and have stolen my good and fled from me。' 'May God disappoint thine expectation！' cried the smith。 'Were this girl before the Chief Cadi； he would not reprove her； though she mitted a hundred offences a day。 Indeed； she hath no thief's favour and she may not brook the laying of irons on her legs。' And he went on to intercede with him； beseeching him not to fetter her。 When she saw this； she said to her husband； 'I conjure thee by Allah； bring me not forth before yonder strange man！' Quoth he； 'Why then camest thou out before Mesrour？' And she made him no reply。 Then he accepted the blacksmith's intercession； so far as to allow him to put a light pair of shackles on her legs； for that she had a delicate body； which might not brook harshness； whilst he laid her handmaids in heavy irons； and they ceased not； all three； to wear haircloth day and night； till their bodies became wasted and their colour changed。
As for the blacksmith； he returned home in great concern； for that exceeding love was fallen on his heart for Zein el Mewasif； and he fell to reciting the following verses：
Blacksmith； may thy right hand wither； in that it did ill entreat Yon fair maid by clapping fetters on her ankles and her feet。
Thou hast chained a lovely lady； gentle； soft and delicate： Of the wonderful'st of wonders was she fashioned and plete。
Not of iron were her anklets； were she justly used； I trow： Gold； indeed； alone were worthy of that loveling fair and sweet。
If the Cadi of the Cadis saw her charms； he'd pity her And upon the highest places in her glory would her seat。
Now it chanced that the Chief Cadi passed by the smith's house and heard him repeat these lines； so he sent for him and said to him； 'O blacksmith； who is she on whom thou callest so instantly and with whose love thy heart is occupied？' The smith rose to his feet and kissing the Cadi's hand； answered； 'May God prolong the days of our lord the Cadi and give him ease of his life！' Then he set forth to him Zein el Mewasif's beauty and grace and symmetry and elegance and perfection and how she had a lovely face and a slender waist and heavy buttocks and acquainted him with the sorry plight in which she was for abasement and duresse and lack of victual。
When the Cadi heard this； he said； 'O blacksmith； send her to us； that we may do her justice； for thou art bee accountable for her； and except thou guide her to us； God will punish thee at the Day of Resurrection。' 'I hear and obey；' replied the smith and betook himself forthright to Zein el Mewasif's lodging； but found the door locked and heard her reciting the following verses； in a plaintive voice； that came from a sorrowful heart：
In mine own land I was； conjoined with those I hold most dear； And my belovéd filled me cups of gladness bright and clear。
They passed 'twixt us with what we would of solace and of mirth； Nor knew we； morn or even； aught of dreariment or fear。
Indeed； a time we did fulfil； that gladdened us whilere With cup and lute and dulcimer and festival and cheer；
Till fortune and its shifts dissolved our fellowship； my love Departed and the time of peace with him evanished sheer。
Would that the crow of parting might be caused forbear our stead And would the dawn of my delight in passion might appear！
When he heard this； he wept like the downpouring of the clouds。 Then he knocked at the door and the women said； 'Who is at the door？' 'It is I； the blacksmith；' answered he and told them what the Cadi had said and how he would have them appear before him and make their plaint to him； that he might do them justice on their adversary。 'How can we