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athirst and heavy at heart。' So she said to Huboub； 'Fetch him wine and take nought from him； for we have no need of his dinar。' ＇So she went to fetch the wine； whilst＇ Mesrour held his peace and bespoke not Zein el Mewasif； who improvised the following verses：
Harkye； O man！ Desist from this thou dost design Nor to the crooked ways of frowardness incline。
Love is a ； and if thou fall into its snare； The day thereafterward for weariness thou'lt pine
Occasion to our spy thou'lt give for talk and all The people will reproach me with this love of thine。
Small marvel 'tis if thou a fair one love： gazelles Thou seest lions chase and in their snares entwine。
And he answered her with these：
O cassiabranch； delight of garth and knoll； Spare thou my heart； who dost possess my soul。
The cup of death for love thou'st made me drain； Clad me in wede of abjectness and dole。
How shall I be consoled； since thou hast taken My heart； for love of thee a redhot coal！
'Away from me！' cried she。 'Quoth the adage； 〃He who giveth loose to his eyes wearieth his heart。〃 By Allah； I am tired of discourse with thee and chiding； and indeed thy soul coveteth that which shall never be thine； nay； though thou gavest me my weight in gold； thou shouldst not get thy wish of me； for； by the bounty of God the Most High； I know nought of the things of the world； save pleasant life。' 'O my lady Zein el Mewasif；' answered he； 'ask of me what thou wilt of the goods of the world。' Quoth she； 'What shall I ask of thee？ For sure thou wilt go out into the highway ＇and discover my case to the folk＇ and I shall bee a laughingstock among them and they will make a byword of me in verse； me who am the daughter of the chief of the merchants and whose father is known of the notables of the people。 I have no need of money or raiment and this love will not be hidden from the folk and I shall be brought to shame； I and my family。'
With this Mesrour was confounded and could make her no answer； but presently she said； 'Indeed； the skilful thief； if he steal； stealeth not but what is worth ＇the adventuring of＇ his neck； and every woman who doth lewdness with other than her husband is styled a thief； so； if it must be thus and no help； thou shalt give me whatsoever my heart desireth of money and raiment and trinkets and what not。' Quoth he； 'An thou soughtest of me the world and all that is therein； from East to West； it were but a little thing； pared with thy favour。' And she said； 'I will have of thee three suits； each worth a thousand dinars； and pearls and jewels and jacinths； and I require of thee； to boot； that thou swear to me that thou wilt keep my secret nor discover it to any and that thou wilt pany with none but me； and I in turn will swear to thee a true oath that I will never play thee false。'
So he swore to her the oath she required and she swore to him； and they agreed upon this； after which she said to her nurse Huboub； 'Tomorrow go thou with Mesrour to his lodging and seek somewhat of musk and ambergris and aloes and rosewater and see what he hath。 If he be a man of condition； we will take him into favour； else will we leave him。' Then said she to him； 'O Mesrour； I desire somewhat of musk and ambergris and aloeswood； so do thou send it me by Huboub。' And he answered； 'I hear and obey； my shop is at thy mandment。' Then the wine went round between them and their session was pleasant； but Mesrour's heart was troubled for the passion and longing that possessed him； and when Zein el Mewasif saw him in this plight； she said to her slavegirl Sukoub； 'Arouse Mesrour from his stupor； mayhap he will awake。' 'Willingly；' answered Sukoub and sang the following verses：
An if thou be in love； bring gold and gear and in thy lays Set forth thy love； so thou mayst win the aim of thine essays
And taste the favours of a fawn； softeyed and smilinglipped； Whose shape is as the cassiabranch； when to the breeze it sways。
Look on her； in her charms thou'lt see matter for wonderment And pour thy life out； ere the term appointed to thy days。
These be the attributes of love； an thou but knewst thereof； But； if the gold delude thee； leave the gold and go thy ways。
Mesrour apprehended ＇her meaning＇ and said； 'I hear and understand。 Never was stress but after came relief； and He who afflicteth will order ＇the issue＇。' Whereupon Zein el Mewasif recited the following：
Awake； O Mesrour； from love's stupor； for lo； I fear lest our love bring thee travail and woe。
Sure proverbs on us East and West shall be made And the folk our report for a wonder shall know。
Leave loving my like； or for sure thou'lt have blame。Why cleav'st thou to me of all women？ I trow；
One wellborn shouldst thou love。Thou'lt a byword bee And find not a pitying friend high or low
I'm a Pharisee's child and the folk fear my wrath： Would the term of my life were acplished； heigho！
And Mesrour answered her with these verses：
Leave me to my affliction； to love thee I'm content； And blame me not； for censure my passion doth augment。
Over my heart ye lord it in tyrantwise； whilst I Fare westward neither eastward for very languishment。
Forbidden 'tis to slay me of passion's law； they say； 'The slain of love's a victim； oppressed and innocent。'
Were there a judge in passion； to him I'd make my moan； Mayhap he'd do me justice in his arbitrament。
They ceased not from chiding and discourse till the morning beamed； when Zein el Mewasif said to him； 'O Mesrour； it is time for thee to depart； lest one of the folk see thee and foul befall us。' So he arose and going forth； fared on； acpanied by Huboub； till they came to his lodging； where he talked with her and said to her； 'All thou seekest of me thou shalt presently have； so but thou wilt bring me to her enjoyment。' Quoth Huboub； 'fort thy heart；' whereupon he rose and gave her a hundred dinars； saying； 'O Huboub； I have by me a dress worth a hundred dinars。' 'O Mesrour；' answered she； 'make haste with the dresses and what not else thou didst promise her； ere she change her mind； for we may not avail to take her save with craft and beguilement； and she loveth the recitation of verses。' Quoth he； 'I hear and obey；' and bringing her the musk and ambergris and aloeswood and rosewater； returned with her to Zein el Mewasif and saluted her。 She returned his greeting with the sweetest of speech； and he was confounded at her beauty and improvised the following verses：
O sun； midmost the dark that shinest in the skies； O thou that hast benumbed my wit with great black eyes；
O loveling sweet； that 'st with neck surpassing fair； Whose cheek the gardenrose eclipses and outvies；
Blind not with thy disdain our sights； for thy disdain A grievous matter is； the heart that terrifies。
Passion took up its stead with me； and 'tis forbid To it to carry off the life's last lingering sighs。
Indeed； the love of you doth lord it in my heart； And save to you； I find no issue anywise。
Yet haply thou'lt relent towards a lover sad； So shall his darkness flee and morning bright arise。
When she heard his verses； she cast at him a look； that bequeathed him a thousand regrets and his heart and soul were ravished thereby and a