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And when she heard my speech to her, she knew for sure what I Desired, and therewithal her heart was hardened ’gainst her swain.
‘Is not this idle talk?’ quoth she, and I made answer, ‘Spare the longing lover to upbraid, who doth of love complain.’
If thou vouchsafe me thy consent this day, the thing were light; Thy like belovéd is and mine still slaves of love in vain.’
And when she knew my wish, she smiled and answered, ‘By the Lord Him who created heaven and earth and all that they contain,
[I am] a Jewess, born and bred in Jewry’s straitest sect And thou unto the Nazarenes as surely doth pertain.
How think’st thou to enjoy me, then, and art not of my faith? To-morrow, sure, thou wilt repent, if thou this thing obtain.
Is’t lawful with two faiths to jest in love? The like of me Were blamed of all and looked upon with flouting and disdain.
Wilt thou thus mock at all belief and all religious rites And doubly guilty, this my faith and eke thine own profane?
An if thou lov’dst me, thou’dst become a Jew for love of me, And, save my favours, all to thee forbidden would remain,
And by th’ Evangel thou wouldst swear a strait and binding oath To keep the secret of the love that is betwixt us twain.’
So by the Pentateuch I swear, a true and certain oath, That, in the time that’s past and gone and ne’er will be again,
I swore to her upon my faith, upon my law and creed, And her unto a solemn oath on like wise did constrain.
Quoth I, ‘O term of all desire, what is thy name?’ And she, ‘Zein el Mewasif am I called in this my own demesne.’
‘Zein el Mewasif,’ then cried I, ‘my entrails are enthralled For love of thee; thou hast indeed enslaved me, heart and brain.’
I saw her beauty underneath the chin-veil and became Afflicted sore at heart, distraught for love and longing pain;
Nor neath the curtain did I cease to humble me and eke Of the much passion to make moan that in my heart did reign;
Till, when she saw my plight and all the transport of my love, A smiling visage she unveiled, that did me straight assain.
The wind of amorous delight blew full on us and she Scented of musk her neck and wrists, till all the house had ta’en
Perfume from her and every place, whilst I her lips did kiss And from her sweet and smiling mouth its wine of balm did drain.
Under her robes she swayed, as sways the willow, and delight And union did permit, till then forbidden to the swain.
