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If Azzeh should before a judge the sun of morning cite, Needs must the umpire doom to her the meed of beauty bright;
And women all, who come to me, at her to rail and flite, God make your cheeks the sandal-soles whereon her feet alight!
And indeed it is reported,” added she, “that Azzeh was endowed with the extreme of beauty and grace.” Then she said to Sherkan, “O king’s son, dost thou know aught of Jemil’s[1] verses to Butheineh?” “Yes,” replied he; “none knows Jemil’s verses better than I.” And he repeated the following:
“Up and away to the holy war, Jemil!” they say; and I, “What have I to do with waging war except among the fair?”
For deed and saying with them alike are full of ease and cheer, And he’s a martyr[2] who tilts with them and falleth fighting there.
If I say to Butheineh, “What is this love, that eateth my life away?” She answers, “’Tis rooted fast in thy heart and will increase fore’er.”
Or if I beg her to give me back some scantling of my wit, Wherewith to deal with the folk and live, she answereth, “Hope it ne’er!”
Thou willst my death, ah, woe is me! thou willst nought else but that; Yet I, I can see no goal but thee, towards which my wishes fare.
“Thou hast done well, O king’s son,” said she, “and Jemil also did excellently well. But what would Butheineh have done with him that he says, ‘Thou wishest to kill me and nought else?’” “O my lady,” replied he, “she sought to do with him what thou seekest to do with me, and even that will not content thee.” She laughed at his answer, and they ceased not to carouse till the day departed and the night came with the darkness. Then she rose and went to her sleeping-chamber, and Sherkan slept in his place till the morning. As soon as he awoke, the damsels came to him with tambourines and other instruments of music, according to their wont, and kissing the earth before him, said to him, “In the name of God, deign to
