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he went in to Mesrour, laughing and dissembling his chagrin, and said to him, ‘O Mesrour, let us put off the conclusion of our treaty of brotherhood till another day. ‘As thou wilt,’ replied Mesrour and went away, leaving the Jew pondering his case and knowing not what to do; for his heart was sore troubled and he said in himself, ‘Even the mocking-bird disavows me and the slave-girls shut the door in my face and favour another.’ And of the excess of his chagrin, he fell to reciting the following verses:
A life made fair with all delight of days and solacement Mesrour doth live, what while my life is severed and forspent.
Fortune hath played the knave with me in her whom I adore And all my heart’s on flames of fire, that rage without relent.
Once with the fair a time was bright for thee; ’tis past and gone; Yet art thou ever love-distraught that lovely one anent.
Mine eyes her goodly beauty saw and in the love of her, My heart to passion thrall became, for very ravishment.
Of the sweet water of her lips she poured me out, fine wine On thirst, whilst yet the time endured of favour and content.
What ails thee, O my mocking-bird, that thou forsakest me And to another than myself in love dost yield consent?
Strange things, indeed, mine eyes have seen, that from my lids, if they Were ever drowsed with slumber, sleep would chase incontinent.
I see my loved one hath forsworn the love of me and eke My mocking-bird round me no more hovers with blandishment.
By the worlds’ Lord, who, when upon His creatures He’d fulfil His ordinance, afflicteth them with many a dour event,
The evil-doer I’ll requite with that which he deserves Who frowardly to her draws near, on her enjoyment bent!
When Zein el Mewasif heard this, she trembled in every nerve and said to her handmaid, ‘Heardest thou that?’ Quoth she, ‘I never heard him recite the like of these verses; but let him say what he will.’ Then the Jew, having assured himself of the truth of his suspicions,
