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Quoth the vizier’s daughter to herself, ‘By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith, but this Muslim is a handsome youth! Doubtless, he is a lover separated from his mistress. I wonder if his beloved is fair like unto him and if she pines for him as he for her! If she be comely as he is, it behoveth him to pour forth tears and make moan of passion; but, if she be other than fair, his life is wasted in vain regrets Night dcccxxxviii and he is denied the taste of delights.’
Now the Princess Meryem had removed to the [new] palace the day before and the vizier’s daughter knew that she was heavy at heart; so she bethought herself to go to her and talk with her and tell her of the young man and the verses she had heard him recite; but, before she could do this, the princess sent for her to cheer her with her converse. So she went to her and found her breast straitened and her tears coursing down her cheeks; and she was weeping sore and reciting the following verses:
My life is spent; but love lives yet, that nought may kill, And for my longing’s stress my breast is straitened still.
My heart is all consumed for separation’s ill, Yet hopes that after all the days of union will
Return and love-delight its ordered course fulfil.
Be sparing of your blame to one enslaved of heart, Whose body’s worn with love and disappointment’s smart,
Nor at his passion launch reproach’s poisoned dart, For none more wretched is than lovers torn apart.
Yet is love’s bitter sweet of savour, will or nill.
Quoth the vizier’s daughter to her, ‘What ails thee, O princess, to be sick at heart and melancholy?’ Whereupon Meryem recalled the greatness of the delights that were past and recited the following verses:
I will th’ estrangement of my love with fortitude abide, Whilst down my cheeks the pearls of tears in chains unending glide;
So haply God shall succour me with solace; for indeed He doth all solace neath the ribs of difficulty hide.
