24
We lay the night together and with many a clip and kiss And sucking lips, was union perfected for us twain.
There’s no adornment of the world, excepting she thou lov st Be near thee, so thou mayst of her the wished delight obtain.
Whenas day broke, she rose to say farewell, with lovely face Excelling far the moon that shines in heaven’s spreading plain;
And at her leave-taking, this verse she chanted, whilst the tears Ran down her cheeks, now one by one, now linked in many a chain,
‘By the Great Oath and by the nights so fair, I’ll ne’er forget The pact of Allah ’twixt us two, whilst I on life remain!’
Zein el Mewasif was charmed with these verses and said to him, ‘O Mesrour, how goodly are thy parts! May he live not who would harm thee!’ Then she entered a privy chamber and called him. So he went in to her and taking her in his arms, embraced her and kissed her and got of her that which he had deemed impossible and rejoiced in the attainment of the sweet of amorous delight. Then said she, ‘O Mesrour, now we are become lovers, thy good is forbidden to me and is lawfully thine again.’ So she restored to him all she had won of him and said to him, ‘Hast thou a garden, whither we may go and take our pleasure therein?’ ‘Yes, O my lady,’ answered he, ‘I have a garden that hath not its like.’
Then he returned to his house and bade his slave-girls make ready a handsome room and provide a splendid banquet; after which he summoned Zein el Mewasif, who came with her damsels, and they ate and drank and made merry, whilst the cup passed round between them and their hearts were glad. Then the lovers withdrew to a privy chamber and Zein el Mewasif said to Mesrour, ‘I have bethought me of some pleasant verses, which I would fain sing to the lute.’ And he answered, ‘Do so.’ So she took the lute and tuning it, sang the following to a pleasant air:
