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Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Alack for the man among men who loves like me； Whose eyes through the hours of the darkness sleepless be；
Who drowns in his own despair； as it were a sea； And cries； for the stress of an anguish without allay；
'Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。'
Whom hath not Love stricken and wounded indeed？ Who was there aye from his easy springes freed？
Whose life is empty of him and who succeed In winning to his delights without affray？
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Be Thou his helper； O Lord； who's sick at heart； Protect him； Thou that the best protector art。
To him fair patience to bear his woes impart； In all his trouble be Thou his help and stay。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Quoth the vizier's daughter to herself； 'By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith； but this Muslim is a handsome youth！ Doubtless； he is a lover separated from his mistress。 I wonder if his beloved is fair like unto him and if she pines for him as he for her！ If she be ely as he is； it behoveth him to pour forth tears and make moan of passion； but； if she be other than fair； his life is wasted in vain regrets and he is denied the taste of delights。'
Now the Princess Meryem had removed to the ＇new＇ palace the day before and the vizier's daughter knew that she was heavy at heart； so she bethought herself to go to her and talk with her and tell her of the young man and the verses she had heard him recite； but； before she could do this； the princess sent for her to cheer her with her converse。 So she went to her and found her breast straitened and her tears coursing down her cheeks； and she was weeping sore and reciting the following verses：
My life is spent； but love lives yet； that nought may kill； And for my longing's stress my breast is straitened still。
My heart is all consumed for separation's ill； Yet hopes that after all the days of union will
Return and lovedelight its ordered course fulfil。
Be sparing of your blame to one enslaved of heart； Whose body's worn with love and disappointment's smart；
Nor at his passion launch reproach's poisoned dart； For none more wretched is than lovers torn apart。
Yet is love's bitter sweet of savour； will or nill。
Quoth the vizier's daughter to her； 'What ails thee； O princess； to be sick at heart and melancholy？' Whereupon Meryem recalled the greatness of the delights that were past and recited the following verses：
will th' estrangement of my love with fortitude abide； Whilst down my cheeks the pearls of tears in chains unending glide；
So haply God shall succour me with solace； for indeed He doth all solace neath the ribs of difficulty hide。
'O princess；' said the vizier's daughter； 'let not thy breast be straitened； but e with me straightway to the lattice； for there is with us in the stable a ely young man； slender of shape and sweet of speech； and meseemeth he is a lover separated ＇from his beloved＇。' 'And by what sign knowest thou that he is a separated lover？' asked Meryem。 And she answered； 'O queen； I know it by his reciting odes and verses all tides of the day and watches of the night。' Quoth the princess in herself； 'If what the vizier's daughter says be true； these are the traits of the wretched； the afflicted Ali Noureddin。 Can it indeed be he of whom she speaketh？' At this thought lovelonging and distraction redoubled on her and she rose at once and going with the maiden to the lattice； looked down upon the stables； where she saw her love and lord Noureddin and fixing her eyes on him； knew him but too well； albeit he was sick； of the greatness of his love for her and of the fire of passion and the anguish of separation and yearning and distraction。 Emaciation was sore upon him and he was reciting and saying as follows：
My heart a bondslave is； mine eyes rain tears for e'er： With them； is pouring forth； no raincloud can pare。
My weeping's manifest； my passion and lament； My wakefulness and woe and mourning for my fair。
Alas； my raging heat； my transport and regret！ Eight plagues beset my heart and have their lodging there。
And five and five to boot thereafter follow on： Tarry and list； whilst I their names to thee declare。
Memory； solicitude； sighing and languishment； Lovelonging in excess and allengrossing care；
Affliction； strangerhood and passion and lament And griefs that never cease to stir me to despair。
Patience and fortitude desert me for desire； Whose hosts； when patience fails； beset me everywhere。
Yea； passion's troubles wax for ever on my heart。 O thou that ask'st what is the fire at heart I bear；
What ails my tears a flame to kindle in my blood？ The fires within my heart still burn and never spare。
Drowned am I in the flood of my unceasing tears And in hellfire I flame with lovelonging fore'er。
When the Princess Meryem heard the eloquence of his verses and the excellence of his sketch； she was assured that it was indeed her lord Noureddin； but she dissembled with the vizier's daughter and said to her； 'By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith I thought not thou knewest of my sadness！' Then she withdrew from the window and returned to her own place； whilst the vizier's daughter went about her occasions。 The princess waited awhile； then returned to the window and sat there； gazing upon her beloved Noureddin and feasting her eyes on his beauty and grace。 And indeed； she saw that he was like unto the moon at its full； but he was ever sighing and pouring forth tears； for that he recalled what was past。 Then he recited the following verses：
Union with my beloved for ever I await； But gain not； whilst life's bitter for ever is my mate。
My tears are like the ocean in their unending flow； But； when I meet my censors I force them （102） still abate。
Out upon him who cursed us with parting by his spells！ （103） Could I but win to meet him； I'd tear his tongue out straight。
To blame the days availeth no whit； for that they've wrought： With bitterness unmingled they've blent my cup of fate。
To whom shall I address me but you； to whom repair； Since in your courts； a hostage； I left my heart of late？
e of a despot； a tyrant in unright； Who waxes； when I plain me for justice as his （104） gate？
King o'er my soul I made him； his realm to keep； but me He ruined and his kingdom laid waste and desolate。
My life I have expended for love of him； alas！ y spent estate！
O fawn that in my bosom hast made thy nest； let that I've tasted of estrangement suffice thy wrath to sate。
Thou'rt he whose face uniteth all charms； on whose account I've parted with my patience and am disconsolate。
Within my heart I lodged him； woe on it fell； and I To that which I permitted submit without debate。
My tears flow on for ever； like to a swollen sea： Knew I the road to solace； I would ensue it straight。
I fear to die of sorrow； for he still 'scapes from me； Oft as I think to reach him； ah me unfortunate！
When Meryem heard her lover's