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Red men and white men； ay； and knights for shock of battle ranged； Then came she forth to me and did to single fight defy。
'Look to thyself；' quoth she； but； when she put her fingers out； Midmost a pitchblack night； most like her sable hair in dye；
I had no power to move the white； to rescue them from her And passion caused the tide of tears in me run fierce and high。
On； with the queens； fall pawns and rooks； they charge the host of white； And these give way； disfited； and turn their backs to fly；
Yea； and she launched at me； to boot； an arrow of her looks； And to the kernel of my heart the quivering shaft did hie。
'Twixt the two hosts she gave me choice； and I chose that which whiteWas with the whiteness of the moon that shih in the sky。
'The white； indeed； are those which best beseem to me and they Are what I fain would have； so take the red to thee；' quoth I。
Then played she with me for a stake agreed 'twixt us； but Fate did unto me the wishedfor boon of her consent deny。
Alas； the misery of my heart！ Alas； my longing sore For the enjoyment of a maid who with the moon doth vie！
It is not for my goods and lands my heart is all afire But that； alack！ familiar 'tis grown with the ＇evil＇ eye。
Distraught I'm grown and stupefied for dreariment； and Fate； For what's betided me； I chide with many a tear and cry。
'What ails thee to be dazed？' asked she； and I； 'Shall winebibbers Be whole of wit； when drunkenness their sense doth stupefy？'
A mortal maid hath ta'en my wit with her fair shape； if it Be soft； her bowels are like rock； uneath to mollify。
Myself I heartened； saying； 'Her today I shalt possess Upon the wager； fearing not defeat I should aby。
My heart ceased not to covet her； till I to poverty Became reduced； and beggared now in goods and hope am I。
Will he who is in love forswear a love that irketh him； Though in the oceans of desire he struggle like to die？
So is the slave grown penniless； to love and longing thrall； All unacplished yet the hope he staked his all to buy。
Zein el Mewasif marvelled at the eloquence of his tongue and said to him； 'O Mesrour； leave this madness and return to thy senses and go thy ways； for thou hast wasted all thy substance at the game of chess； yet hast not attained to thy desire； nor hast thou any resource whereby thou mayst acplish it。' But he turned to her and said； 'O my lady； ask of me what thou wilt and I will bring it to thee and lay it at thy feet。' 'O Mesrour；' answered she； 'thou hast no money left。' 'O goal of all hopes；' rejoined he； 'if I have no money； the folk will help me。' Quoth she； 'Shall the giver turn asker？' And he said； 'I have friends and kinsfolk； and whatsoever I seek of them； they will give me。' Then said she； 'O Mesrour； I will have of thee four bladders of musk and four vases of civet and four pounds of ambergris and four thousand dinars and four hundred pieces of coloured brocade； wroughten with gold。 Bring me these things； and I will grant thee my favours。' 'This is a light matter to me； O thou that puttest the moons to shame；' replied he and went forth to fetch her what she sought。
She sent Huboub after him； to see what interest he had with the folk of whom he had spoken to her； but； as he went along the streets； he turned and seeing her afar off； waited till she came up to him and said to her； 'Whither away； O Huboub？' So she told him what her mistress had said to her and he said； 'By Allah； O Huboub； I have nothing！' 'Then why didst thou promise her？' asked she； and he answered； 'How many a promise is unkept of its maker！ Fine words needs must be in lovematters。' When she heard this； she said to him； 'O Mesrour； be of good heart and cheerful eye； for； by Allah； I will be the means of thy ing to enjoy her！' Then she left him and returned； weeping sore； to her mistress； to whom said she； 'O my lady； indeed he is a man of great consideration； wellreputed among the folk。' Quoth Zein el Mewasif； 'There is no resource against the ordinance of the Most High！ Verily； this man found not in me a passionate heart； for that I spoiled him of his substance and he got of me neither affection nor plaisance in granting him the amorous mercy； but； if I incline to his desire； I fear lest the thing be bruited abroad。' 'O my lady；' answered Huboub； 'verily； his present plight and the loss of his good is grievous upon us； and thou hast with thee none but myself and thy slavegirl Sukoub； so which of us two would dare prate of thee； and we thy handmaids？'
With this； she bowed her head and the damsels said to her； 'O my lady； it is our counsel that thou send after him and show him favour and suffer him not ask of the sordid； for how bitter is asking！' So she accepted their counsel and calling for inkhorn and paper； wrote him the following verses：
Fulfilment draws near； O Mesrour： rejoice in fair presage and true； For； tonight； when the darkness falls down； the deed without fail thou shalt do；
And ask not the sordid； O youth； for money to mend thine estate： Indeed； I was drunken； but now my wit is restored me anew。
Moreover； thy good that I took shall all unto thee be restored； And to crown； O Mesrour； my largesse； I'll add thee my favours thereto；
Since patience thou hadst and in the longsuffering and sweetness there was With a loved one's unkindness to bear； who wronged thee with rigours undue。
So hasten forthright to enjoy my possession； fair fall thee thereof！ And tarry not neither neglect； lest my folk e to know of us two。
Then e to us quickly； I pray； and loiter not neither delay； And eat of the fruits of delight； whilst my husband is absent； the Jew。
Then she folded the letter and gave it to Huboub； who carried it to Mesrour and found him weeping and reciting the following verses； in a transport of passion and lovelonging：
There blew upon my heart a breeze of love and wantonness； And all my entrails crumbled were with passion pitiless。
My longing； since my loved one's loss； is passing sore on me And still mine eyelids overflow for very tears' excess。
My heart with doubts and fears is racked； which did I but reveal Unto hard rocks and stones； forthright they'd soften for distress。
Ah； would I knew if I shall live to win to my delight； if； in th' enjoyment of my wish； my hope I shall possess！
Shall parting's nights； the wide outspread； be folded up again And shall I e'er of that be healed which doth my heart oppress？
As he was repeating these verses； Huboub knocked at the door； so he rose and opened to her； and she entered and gave him the letter。 He read it and said to her； 'O Huboub； what news bringest thou of thy mistress？' 'O my lord；' answered she； 'in this letter is what dispenses me from answering； for thou art of the folk of understanding。' And he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and repeated the following verses：
The letter came； and its contents rejoiced us； heart and brain； And in my very heart of hearts to keep it I were fain。
Yea； I redouble in desire； whene'er the writ I kiss； For 'tis as if 't the very pearl of passion did contain。
Then he wrote a letter in answer and gave it to Huboub； who returned with it to her mistress and fell to extolling his charms to her