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Meanwhile, when the ship had sailed with Meryem, the world was straitened upon Noureddin and he had neither peace nor patience. He returned to the lodging where they had dwelt, he and she, and it appeared black and gloomy in his sight. Then he saw the pins and silk with which she had been wont to make the girdles and her clothes that had been upon her body: so he pressed them to his breast, whilst the tears streamed from his eyes and he recited the following verses:
Will union after severance return to me some day, After my long-continued tale of sorrow and dismay?
Shall I with my love’s company be ever blest again? Now God forfend that what is past should ne’er return! I say.
I wonder will He yet reknit our separated loves And will my dear ones keep the troth we plighted, I and they?
And will she yet preserve my love, whom of my ignorance I lost, and guard our plighted troth and friendship from decay?
Since they departed, as one dead am I: will my belov’d Consent that he who loves them dear should fall to death a prey?
Alas, my sorrow! But lament the mourner profits not. For stress of yearning and regret I’m melted all away.
Lost are the days of my delight: will Fortune e’er vouchsafe To me, I wonder, my desire and so my pains allay?
O heart, redouble in desire and O mine eyes, o’erflow With tears, till not a tear to weep within mine eyelids stay.
Alas for loved ones far away and patience lost to me! My helpers fail me and my woes full sorely on me weigh.
To God the Lord of all, that He vouchsafe me the return Of my belov’d and our delight, as of old time, I pray.
Then he wept passing sore and looking about the place, recited these verses also:
I see their traces and pine for longing pain; My tears rain down on the empty dwelling-place;
And I pray to God, who willed that we should part, One day to grant us reunion, of His grace.
Then he rose and locking the door of the house, went
