For, when the fair entreats her lover foul, ✿ Sighs rend his bosom and bespeak his soul:
By charms of thee and whitest cheek I swear thee, ✿ Pity a heart for love lost all control:
Bend to him, be his stay ‘gainst stress of love, ✿ Nor aught accept what saith the ribald fool.”
Now when he ended his verse, the damsel set wine before the Caliph; and, taking the lute, played a lively measure and sang these couplets:—
Wilt thou be just to others in thy love, and do ✿ Unright, and put me off, and take new friend in lieu?
Had lovers Kazi unto whom I might complain ✿ Of thee, he’d peradventure grant the due I sue:
If thou forbid me pass your door, yet I afar ✿ Will stand, and viewing you waft my salams to you!
The Caliph bade her ply Abu Nowas with wine, till he lost his right senses; thereupon he gave him a full cup, and he drank a draught of it and held the cup in his hand till he slept. Then the Commander of the Faithful bade the girl take the cup from his grasp and hide it; so she took it and set it between her thighs; moreover he drew his scymitar and, standing at the head of Abu Nowas, pricked him with the point; whereupon he awoke and saw the drawn sword and the Caliph standing over him. At this sight the fumes of the wine fled from his head and the Caliph said to him, “Make me some verses and tell me therein what is become of thy cup; or I will cut off thy head.” So he improvised these couplets:—
My tale, indeed, is tale unlief; ✿ ‘Twas yonder fawn who play’d the thief!
She stole my cup of wine, before ✿ The sips and sups had dealt relief;