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thy servant.” Quoth Zoulmekan, “Needs must thou ride awhile.” “It is well,” replied the stoker; “I will ride when I grow tired.” Then said Zoulmekan, “O my brother, thou shalt see how I will do with thee, when I come to my own people.” So they journeyed on till the sun rose, and when it was the hour of the noonday rest, the Chamberlain called a halt, and they alighted and rested and watered their camels. Then he gave the signal for departure and they journeyed for five days, till they came to the city of Hemah, where they made a three days’ halt; then set out again and fared on, till they reached the province of Diarbekir. Night lxxi.Here there blew on them the breezes of Baghdad, and Zoulmekan bethought him of his father and mother and his native land and how he was returning to his father without his sister: so he wept and sighed and complained, and his regrets increased on him, and he repeated the following verses:
How long wilt thou delay from me, belovéd one? I wait: And yet there comes no messenger with tidings of thy fate.
Alack, the time of love-delight and peace was brief indeed! Ah, that the days of parting thus would of their length abate!
Take thou my hand and put aside my mantle and thou’lt find My body wasted sore; and yet I hide my sad estate.
And if thou bid me be consoled for thee, “By God,” I say, “I’ll ne’er forget thee till the Day that calls up small and great!”
“Leave this weeping and lamenting,” said the stoker, “for we are near the Chamberlain’s tent.” Quoth Zoulmekan, “Needs must I recite somewhat of verse, so haply it may allay the fire of my heart.” “God on thee,” cried the stoker, “leave this lamentation, till thou come to thine own country; then do what thou wilt, and I will be with thee, wherever thou art.” “By Allah,” replied Zoulmekan, “I cannot forbear from this!” Then he set his face towards Baghdad and began to repeat verses. Now the moon was shining brightly and shedding her light on the place, and Nuzhet ez Zeman could not sleep that night, but was
