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could do to appease her, and said to him, ‘O accursed one, may God the Most High not bring thee to thy desire!’
Then his servants brought her a mule with gold-embroidered housings and mounting her thereon, raised over her head a silken canopy, with staves of gold and silver, and the Franks walked about her, till they brought her forth the city by the sea-gate, where they took boat with her and rowing out to a great ship [that lay in the harbour], embarked her therein. Then the vizier cried out to the sailors, saying, ‘Up with the mast!’ So they set up the mast and spreading the sails and the pendants, manned the sweeps and put out to sea. Meryem continued to gaze upon Alexandria, till it disappeared from her eyes, Night dccclxxx.when she fell a-weeping and lamenting passing sore and recited the following verses:
O dwelling of the loved, shall there returning ever be To thee? But what know I of that which Allah shall decree?
The ships of separation fare with us in haste away: Mine eyes are blotted out with tears that flow unceasingly,
For severance from a friend, who was the end of my desire, With whom my sicknesses were healed and pains effaced from me.
Be thou my substitute with him, O God; for that which is Committed to Thy charge one day shall not be lost with Thee.
The knights came up to her and would have comforted her, but she heeded them not, being distracted with passion and love-longing. And she wept and moaned and complained and recited the following verses:
The tongue of passion in my heart bespeaketh thee of me And giveth thee to know that I enamoured am of thee.
I have a liver all consumed with passion’s coals of fire, A heart, sore wounded by thy loss, that throbs incessantly.
How shall I hide the love that burns my life away? My lids Are ulcered and my tears adown my cheeks for ever flee.
In this plight she abode during all the voyage; no peace was left her nor would patience come at her call.
