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weeping. As soon as she saw me, she wiped away her tears and coming up to me, took off my (outer) clothes and asked me the reason of my absence, saying, “All the folk, amirs and notables and merchants and others, assembled here, and the Cadi and the witnesses came also at the appointed time. They ate and sat awhile, awaiting thy coming for the drawing up of the contract, till they despaired of thee, when they dispersed and went their ways. And indeed,” added she, “thy father was exceeding wroth, by reason of this, and swore that he would not celebrate our marriage till next year, for that he hath spent much money on this occasion. What hath befallen thee to make thee tarry till now?” “O my cousin,” replied I, “do not ask me what hath befallen me.” Then I told her all that had passed and showed her the handkerchief and the scroll. She took them and read what was written therein; whereupon the tears ran down her cheeks and she repeated the following verses:
Who says to thee, the first of love is free, Tell him, not so; but, on the contrary,
’Tis all constraint, wherein no blame can be. History indeed attests this verity;
It does not style the good coin falsified.
Say, if thou wilt, the taste of pain is sweet, Or to be spurned by Fortune’s flying feet;
Of need or vengeance, fortune or defeat, With joy or dole it makes the heart to beat:
’Twixt phrase and counterphrase I’m stupefied.
But as for him whose happy days are light, Fair maids, whose lips with smiles are ever bright,
Borne on the fragrant gales of their delight, Who hath his will, unhindered of despite,
’Tis not with him a craven heart may bide.
Then she asked me what she said and what signs she made to me. “She spoke not,” answered I; “but put her index finger to her mouth, then joining it to her middle finger, laid them both on her bosom and pointed in the
