When hunger sated was, I elbow-propt fell back upon ✿ Meat-pudding[[241]] wherein gleamed the bangles that my wits amate.
Then woke I sleeping appetite to eat as though in sport ✿ Sweets from brocaded trays and kickshaws most elaborate.
Be patient, soul of me! Time is a haughty, jealous wight; ✿ To-day he seems dark-lowering and to-morrow fair to sight.[[242]]
Then I rose and seated myself at a respectful distance while the King read what I had written, and marvelled, exclaiming, "O the miracle, that an ape should be gifted with this graceful style and this power of penmanship! By Allah, 'tis a wonder of wonders!"
Presently they set before the King choice wines in flagons of glass and he drank: then he passed on the cup to me; and I kissed the ground and drank and wrote on it:—
With fire they boilèd me to loose my tongue,[[243]] ✿ And pain and patience gave for fellowship:
Hence comes it hands of men upbear me high ✿ And honey-dew from lips of maid I sip!
And these also:—
Morn saith to Night, "withdraw and let me shine;" ✿ So drain we draughts that dull all pain and pine:[[244]]
I doubt, so fine the glass, the wine so clear, ✿ If 'tis the wine in glass or glass in wine.