When Dahnash heard the poesy which Maymunah spake in praise of her beloved, he joyed with exceeding joy and marvelled with excessive wonderment.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Hundred and Eighty-second Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Ifrit Dahnash heard the poesy which Maymunah spake in praise of her beloved, he shook for exceeding joy and said, "Thou hast celebrated thy beloved in song and thou hast indeed done well in praise of him whom thou lovest! And there is no help for it but that I also in my turn do my best to enfame my mistress, and recite somewhat in her honour." Then the Ifrit went up to the lady Budur; and, kissing her between the eyes, looked at Maymunah and at his beloved Princess and recited the following verses, albeit he had no skill in poesy:—
Love for my fair they chide in angry way; ✿ Unjust for ignorance, yea unjustest they!
Ah lavish favours on the love-mad, whom ✿ Taste of thy wrath and parting woe shall slay:
In sooth for love I'm wet with railing tears, ✿ That rail mine eyelids blood thou mightest say:
No marvel what I bear for love, 'tis marvel ✿ That any know my "me" while thou'rt away:
Unlawful were our union did I doubt ✿ Thy love, or heart incline to other May.
And eke these words:—
I feed eyes on their stead by the valley's side, ✿ And I'm slain and my slayer[[256]] aside hath hied: