Quoth he, “Sol gave me this for shirt ✿ When hasting down the West to bed:
So garb and wine and hue of cheek ✿ All three are red on red on red.”
And when the verses came to an end, the beardless one doffed the red tunic and stood in the black; and, when Abu Nowas saw him, he redoubled in attention to him and versified in these couplets:—
He came in sable-huèd sacque ✿ And shone in dark men’s heart to rack:
Quoth I, “Dost pass and greet me not? ✿ Joying the hateful envious pack?
Thy garment’s like thy locks and like ✿ My lot, three blacks on black on black.”
Seeing this state of things and understanding the case of Abu Nowas and his love-longing, the Chamberlain returned to the Caliph and acquainted him therewith; so he bade him pouch a thousand dirhams and go and take him out of pawn. Thereupon the Chamberlain returned to Abu Nowas and, paying his score, carried him to the Caliph, who said, “Make me some verses containing the words, O Trusted of Allah, what may this be?” Answered he, “I hear and I obey, O Commander of the Faithful.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Three Hundred and Fortieth Night,
She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abu Nowas answered, “I hear and I obey, O Commander of the Faithful!” and forthwith he improvised these couplets:—
Long was my night for sleepless misery; ✿ Weary of body and of thought ne’er free: