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But Fate against him did decree； nor e'er before his time Saw we the lord unto his slave abase him and defer。
Then they mitted him to the mercy of God and went away to the second Cadi； in pany with the physician； but found in him no hurt or ailment requiring a leach。 So they questioned him of his case and he told them what ailed him； whereupon they blamed him and chid him for his folly； and he answered them with these verses：
I'm cursed with her；my like was blameless ayeand dead I'm shotten with a shaft from hand of archer sped。
A woman unto me there came； Huboub by name； plaining of unright and Fortune's drearihead；
And with her came a girl； who showed a face that passed The full moon's light athwart the middle darkness spread。
Her beauties she displayed and her plaint preferred What while in floods there ran the tears her eyelids shed。
I hearkened to her speech and looked upon her face And sore she made me pine with smiling lips and red。
Then with my heart away she fared and left me here； The hostage of desire。 Ah； whither hath she fled？
This then is all my case； have ruth upon my plight And take my servant here to Cadi in my stead。
Then he gave one sob and his soul departed his body； whereupon they buried him and mending him to the mercy of God； repaired to the third Cadi and the fourth； and there befell them the like of what befell their brethren。 Moreover； they found the assessors also sick for love of her； and indeed all who saw her died of her love； or； if they died not； lived； afflicted with the agonies of passion ＇in vain＇； may God have mercy on them all！
Meanwhile Zein el Mewasif and her women fared on with all diligence till they came to a convent by the way； in which dwelt a prior called Danis and forty monks。 When the prior saw her beauty； he went out to her and invited her to alight； saying； 'Rest with us ten days and after go your ways。' So she and her damsels alighted and entered the convent； and when Danis saw her beauty and grace； she debauched his faith and he was seduced by her： wherefore he fell to sending her lovemessages by the monks； one after another； till he had sent all the forty； but each who saw her fell in love with her and plied her with blandishments galore and sought her favours for himself； without naming Danis； whilst she denied herself to them and rebuffed them all with harsh answers。
When Danis's patience was at an end and his passion was sore on him； he said in himself； 'Verily； the proverb says； 〃Nothing scratches my body but my own nail and nought runs my errands like my own feet。〃' So he rose and made ready rich meats； and it was the ninth day of her sojourn in the convent。 Then he carried them in to her and set them before her； saying； 'In the name of God； favour us ＇by partaking＇ of the best of the food at our mand。' So she put out her hand； saying； 'In the name of God the passionate； the Merciful！' and ate； she and her maidens。 When she had made an end of eating； he said to her； 'O my lady； I wish to recite to you some verses。' 'Say on；' quoth she； and he recited the following：
Thou hast made conquest of my heart by dint of cheek and eye； In love of thee my prose and verse with one another vie。
Wilt thou forsake a lover sick with passion and desire？ E'en in my dreams 'gainst love I strive； with many a tear and sigh。
With my delights； I have th' affairs of this my convent left： Leave me not prostrate； lovedistraught； to languish and to die。
O lovely one； that holdest right the shedding of my blood In love； have pity on my case； give ear unto my cry。
When she heard this； she answered him with these verses：
O thou that seek'st of me delight； let not vain hope thy wit Delude； of thy soliciting I prithee hold me quit。
Let not thy spirit covet that which it may not possess： Disquietude with covetise was ever straitly knit。
Thereupon he returned to his place； pondering in himself and knowing not how he should do in her affair； and passed the night in very sorry case。 But； as soon as it was dark night； Zein el Mewasif arose and said to her maids； 'e； ＇let us depart hence＇； for we cannot avail against forty men； monks； each of self。' 'Willingly；' answered they。 So they mounted their beasts and issuing forth of the convent gate； under favour of the night； rode on till they overtook a caravan； with which they mingled and found it came from the city of Aden。 Presently； Zein el Mewasif heard the people of the caravan discoursing of her own case and telling how the Cadis and assessors were dead of love for her and how the townsfolk had appointed others in their stead and released her husband from prison。 Whereupon she turned to her maids and said to them； 'Heard ye that？' And Huboub answered； 'If the monks were ravished with love of thee； whose belief it is that to abstain from women is to do God worship； how should it be with the Cadis； who hold that there is no monkery in Islam？ But let us make our way to our own country； whilst our affair is yet undiscovered。' So they journeyed on with all diligence。
On the morrow； as soon as it was day； the monks repaired to Zein el Mewasif's lodging to salute her； but found the place empty； and their hearts sank within them。 So the first monk rent his clothes and recited these verses：
Give ear； panions dear； to that I shall to you impart； For I must say farewell to you full shortly and depart。
The pangs of passion and desire within mine entrails rage And eke a slayer from the flame of love is in my heart；
By reason of a lovely maid； who came into our land： The full moon in the height of heaven is as her counterpart。
She went and left me by her charms cast down and done to death； Slain of a shaft that from her lids deathdealing she did dart。
Then another monk recited the following verses：
O ye that with my soul have fled； on your unhappy swain Have pity and to his despair your blest returning deign。
They fared away and my repose departed after them； But still the sweetness of their speech doth in mine ears remain。
They're distant； yea； and distant is their visitationplace： Would they'd vouchsafe； though but in dreams； their sight to us again！
When they departed hence； they took my heart with them and left Me all dissolved in floods of tears； that from mine eyes did rain。
A third monk followed with these lines：
Heart； eyes and ears to set thee in the highest room agree； For； lo； my heart and all of me's a dwellingplace for thee。
Sweeter than honey in my mouth thy name is and thy thought Runs； as the vital spirit runs； in every rib of me。
Lean as a skewer hast thou made my frame for languishment； Yea； and thou'st drowned me with my tears in very passion's sea。
Let me but look on thee in sleep； mayhap thy lovely sight Shall from the torment of my tears avail my cheeks to free。
Then a fourth recited the following verses：
Dumb is my tongue for sorrow； my speech of thee doth fail； Of passion es my anguish； my sickness and my bale。
O thou full moon； whose place is in heaven； sore for thee Lovelonging and distraction my spirit do assail。
And a fifth these：
I love a moon； shapely and slim and wellgrown； Her waist of the weight of her buttocks make