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was profuse in expressions of admiration and recited the following verses:
Say to the lovely maid, i’ the veil of azure dight, “By Allah, O my life, have pity on my plight!
For when the fair entreats her lover cruelly, Sighs of all longing rend his bosom day and night.
So, by thy charms and by the whiteness of thy cheek, Have ruth upon a heart for love consumed outright.
Incline to him and be his stay ’gainst stress of love, Nor let what fools may say find favour in thy sight.”
Then the damsel set wine before the Khalif and taking the lute, played a lively measure and sang the following verses:
Wilt thou be just in thy love to others and deal with me Unjustly and put me away, while others have joy in thee?
Were there for lovers a judge, to whom I might complain Of thee, he would do me justice and judge with equity.
If thou forbid me to pass thy door, yet from afar To greet thee and to bless, at least, I shall be free.
The Khalif bade her ply Abou Nuwas with wine, till he lost his wits; when he gave him a full cup, and he drank a draught of it and held the cup in his hand. Er Reshid bade the girl take the cup from him and conceal it; so she took it and hid it between her thighs. Then he drew his sword and standing at the poet’s head, pricked him with the point; whereupon he awoke and saw the Khalif standing over him, with a drawn sword. At this sight the fumes of the wine fled from his head and the Khalif said to him, ‘Make me some verses and tell me therein what is come of thy cup; or I will cut off thy head.’ So he improvised the following verses:
My tale, indeed is hard to tell: The thief was none but yon gazelle.
She stole my cup of wine, whereof My lips had drunken but one spell,
And hid it in a place, for which My heart’s desire’s unspeakable.
I name it not, for awe of him, In whom the right thereof doth dwell.
