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a moment； but bent to her and strained her to his bosom； and she in like manner abandoned herself to his caresses and kissed him between the eyes。 Then he kissed her on the mouth and they played at kisses with one another； after the manner of the billing of doves； till the others were distracted and rose to their feet； whereupon Noureddin was abashed and held his hand from her。 Then she took her lute and preluding thereon in many different modes； returned to the first and sang the following verses：
A moon； he draws from out his lids； whenas he turns and sways； A sword and puts gazelles to shame； whenas he stands at gaze。
A king； his allsurpassing charms his troops are； and for arms； His shape is like the spear of cane； whose straightness all men praise。
An if his heart were but as soft as is his waist； no more Would he against his lovers sin nor fright them with affrays。
Alas the hardness of his heart and softness of his waist！ Why is not this to that transferred？ Is there no way of ways？
O thou that blam'st me for his love； excuse me rather thou： Thine be his beauty's part etern and mine that which decays！ （56）
When Noureddin heard the sweetness of her voice and the beauty of her verses； he inclined to her for delight and could not contain himself for excess of wonderment； so he recited these lines：
Methought she was the very sun of morning's self； until She veils her； but the fire she lit flames in my entrails still。
What had it irked her； ho she signed and with her fingertips A friendly salutation waved to us？ Where were the ill？
The railer saw her face and said （what while her charms that pass All other beauty did his wit with stupefaction fill；）
'Is this then she for whom thou rav'st with longing for her love？ Indeed； thou hast excuse。' And I； ''Tis she who doth me thrill
With arrows of her looks； nor can my abject； broken case Of strangerhood to pity move her unrelenting will。'
I am bee a slave of love； with heart enchained； I groan Day long and night long； ay； and weep with tears； as 'twere a rill。
She marvelled at his eloquence and grace and taking her lute； smote thereon after the goodliest of fashions repeating all the melodies； and sang the following verses：
As thy face liveth； O thou the life of my spirit； I swear； I cannot remove from thy love； if I do or I do not despair。
If； indeed； thou be cruel； in dreams thy phantom is favouring and kind； And if thou be absent； thy thought is my cheering panion fore'er。
O thou that hast saddened my sight； though thou knowst that I seek not for aught To cheer me； nor aught but thy love I long for； to solace my care；
Thy cheeks are twin roses； the dews of thy mouth are as wine to the taste； Wilt thou not then vouchsafe us thereof to drink in this pleasaunce so fair？
Her song moved Noureddin to the utmost wonder and delight and he answered her as follows：
The face o' the sun is not unveiled in the darkness of the night； But is the far horizon's marge the full moon hides its light；
Nor doth her forehead meet the eye o' the morning； but。 outfaced By contrast； to the break of day for refuge it takes flight。 （57）
Take of the currents of my tears； as； chain on chain； they fall； And on the readiest way of ways； the tale of love recite。
Oft unto her； who shoots at me her arrows； have I said； 'Hold thou thy hand； indeed my heart is cleft in sunder quite。
An if unto the River Nile my tears may likened be； Meseems the love I bear to thee El Melec （58） should be hight。'
Quoth she； 'Then bring me all thy good。' 'Take it；' said I and she； 'And thy sleep。' '＇Take it＇ from mine eyes；' I answered her forthright。
When she heard Noureddin's words and noted the beauty of his eloquence； she was transported and her wit was dazed and love of him got hold upon her whole heart。 So she pressed him to her bosom and fell to kissing him after the manner of doves billing； whilst he returned her caresses； but the vantage is to the first er。 When she had made an end of kissing； she took the lute and recited the following verses：
Ah； woe's us for a blamer； to censure ever prone； Whether or no of passion to him I make my moan！
O thou that dost reject me； I had not thought that I Should in thy love abasement meet with； and thou mine own。
I used to rail at lovers for love； and now to those； Who blame thee； my abasement for thee I have made known。
The votaries of passion whilom I blamed； but now I do excuse all lovers for passion overthrown；
And if； for thine estrangement； distress be sore on me； God in thy name； O Ali； I'll pray and thine alone。
And also these：
Quoth his lovers； 'Except of the nectar so rare of his mouth he vouchsafe us to drink； debonair；
To the Lord of all creatures we'll make our plaint And 〃O Ali！〃 we'll say with one voice in our prayer。'
Noureddin marvelled at the fluency of her tongue and praised her grace and exceeding seductiveness； whereupon she rose and putting off all that was upon her of ＇outer＇ clothes and trinkets； sat down on his knees and kissed him between the eyes and on the mole of his cheek。 Then she gave him all she had put off； saying； 'O beloved of my heart； the gift is after the measure of the giver's capacity。' So he accepted this from her and gave it back to her and kissed her on the mouth and cheeks and eyes。
When this was done； （for nought endureth save God； the Living； the Eternal； Provider of the peacock and the owl）； Noureddin rose from the place of session and stood upon his feet； for the darkness was now fallen and the stars shone out； sel to him； 'Whither away； O my lord？' And he said； 'To my father's house。' Then the sons of the merchants conjured him to pass the night with them； but he refused and mounting his mule； rode； without stopping； till he reached his father's house； where his mother met him and said to him； 'O my son； what hath kept thee abroad till this hour？ By Allah； thou hast troubled thy father and myself by thine absence from us； and our hearts have been occupied with thee。' Then she came up to him； to kiss him on his mouth； and smelling the fumes of the wine； said； 'O my son； how is this？ Art thou； after prayer and worship； bee a winebibber and a transgressor of His word to whom belong creation and mandment？' But Noureddin threw himself down on the bed and lay there。
Presently in came his father and said：； 'What ails Noureddin to lie thus？' And his mother answered； saying； 'It would seem his head irketh him for the air of the garden。' So Tajeddin went up to his son； to question him of his ailment and salute him； and smelt the wine he had drunk。 Now he loved not winedrinkers； so he said to Noureddin； 'Out on thee； O my son！ Is folly e to such a pass with thee； that thou drinkest wine？' When Noureddin heard this； he raised his hand； being yet in his drunkenness； and dealt him a buffet。 As fate would leave it； the blow lit on his father's right eye ＇and struck it out＇ and it ran down on his cheek； whereupon he fell down in a swoon and lay therein awhile。 They sprinkled rosewater on him till he came to himself； when he would have beaten Noureddin； but his wife withheld him； and he swore； by the oath of divorcement from her； that； as soon as