Hast quit the love of Moons[[342]] or dost persist? ✿ Dost wake o’ nights or close in sleep thine eyes?
If aye thy tears in torrents flow, then learn ✿ Eternal thou shalt dwell in Paradise.[[342]]
When he heard these verses he opened his eyes and said, “Welcome, O son of Mansur! Verily, the jest is become earnest.” Quoth I, “O my lord, is there aught thou wouldst have me do for thee?” Answered he, “Yes, I would fain write her a letter and send it to her by thee. If thou bring me back her answer, thou shalt have of me a thousand dinars; and if not, two hundred for thy pains.” So I said, “Do what seemeth good to thee;”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-second Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ibn Mansur continued:—So I said, “Do what seemeth good to thee;” whereupon he called to one of his slave-girls, “Bring me ink case and paper;” and wrote these couplets:—
I pray in Allah’s name, O Princess mine, be light ✿ On me, for Love hath robbed me of my reason’s sight!
‘Slaved me this longing and enthralled me love of you; ✿ And clad in sickness garb, a poor and abject wight.
I wont ere this to think small things of Love and hold, ✿ O Princess mine, twas silly thing and over-slight.
But when it showed me swelling surges of its sea, ✿ To Allah’s hest I bowed and pitied lovers’ plight.
An will you, pity show and deign a meeting grant; ✿ An will you, kill me still forget not good requite.[[343]]