Indeed I am consolèd now and sleep without a tear, ✿ And all that happened slandering tongues have whispered in mine ear:
My heart obeyed my hest and soon forgot thy memory, ✿ And learnt mine eyelids ‘twas the best to live in severance sheer:
He lied who said that severance is a bitterer thing than gall: ✿ It never disappointed me; like wine I find it cheer:
I learnt to hate all news of thee, e’en mention of thy name, ✿ And turn away and look thereon with loathing pure and mere:
Lookye! I cast thee out of heart and far from vitals mine; ✿ Then let the slanderer wot this truth and see I am sincere.
Quoth I, “By Allah, O my lady, when he shall read these verses, his soul will depart his body!” Quoth she, “O Ibn Mansur, is passion indeed come to such a pass with him that thou sayest this saying?” Quoth I, “Had I said more than this verily it were but the truth: but mercy is of the nature of the noble.” Now when she heard this her eyes brimmed over with tears and she wrote him a note, I swear by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, there is none in thy Chancery could write the like of it; and therein were these couplets:—
How long shall I thy coyness and thy great aversion see? ✿ Thou hast satisfied my censurers and pleased their enmity:
I did amiss and wot it not; so deign to tell me now ✿ Whatso they told thee, haply ‘twas the merest calumny.
I wish to welcome thee, dear love, even as welcome I ✿ Sleep to these eyes and eyelids in the place of sleep to be.
And since ‘tis thou hast made me drain th’ unmixèd cup of love, ✿ If me thou see with wine bemused heap not thy blame on me!