The hand o' Love my secret brought to light, ✿ And censor's tongues what lies my ribs below:[[182]]
My tear-drops ever press twixt me and him, ✿ As though my tear-drops showing love would flow.
When she had finished her singing, Shams al-Nahar rose and, filling a goblet, drank it off, then crowned it again and handed it to Ali bin Bakkar;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Shams al-Nahar filled a goblet and handed it to Ali bin Bakkar; after which she bade another damsel sing; and she began singing these couplets:—
My tears thus flowing rival with my wine, ✿ Pouring the like of what fills cup to brink:[[183]]
By Allah wot I not an run these eyne ✿ Wi' wine, or else it is of tears I drink.
And when she ended her recitation, Ali bin Bakkar drained his cup and returned it to Shams al-Nahar. She filled it again and gave it to Abu al-Hasan who tossed it off. Then she took the lute, saying, "None shall sing over my cup save myself;" so she screwed up the strings and intoned these verses:—
The tears run down his cheeks in double row, ✿ And in his breast high flameth lover-lowe:
He weeps when near, a-fearing to be far; ✿ And, whether far or near, his tear-drops flow.