301
ing the earth before the prince and his father, bade them farewell. Moreover, Taj el Mulouk mounted and brought him three miles on his homeward way, after which Aziz conjured him to turn back, saying, ‘By Allah, O my lord, were it not for my mother, I would never part from thee! But leave me not without news of thee.’ ‘So be it,’ replied Taj el Mulouk. Then the prince returned to the city, and Aziz journeyed on, till he came to his native town and repairing to his mother’s house, found that she had built him a monument in the midst of the courtyard and used to visit it continually. When he entered, he found her, with her hair dishevelled and spread over the tomb, weeping and repeating the following verses:
Indeed, I’m very patient ’gainst all that can betide; Yet do I lack of patience thine absence to abide.
Who is there can have patience after his friend and who Bows not the head to parting, that comes with rapid stride?
Then sobs burst up out of her breast, and she repeated these verses also:
What ails me? I pass by the graveyard, saluting the tomb of my son, And yet no greeting he gives me and answer comes there none.
“How shall I give thee an answer, who lie in the grip of the grave, The hostage of earth and corruption,” replies the belovéd one.
“The dust hath eaten my beauties and I have forgotten thee, Shut in from kindred and lovers and stars and moon and sun.”
Then Aziz came in to her, and when she saw him, she fell down in a swoon for joy. He sprinkled water on her, till she revived and rising, took him in her arms and strained him to her bosom, whilst he in like manner embraced her. Then they exchanged greetings, and she asked the reason of his long absence, whereupon he told her all that had befallen him from first to last and how Taj el Mulouk had given him a hundred loads of wealth and stuffs. At this she rejoiced, and Aziz abode with his mother in his native town, weeping for what had befallen
