Now when the Caliph heard her voice, he marvelled at the verse and yet more at the strange coincidence of their dreams and entered the chamber. As soon as she perceived him, she hastened to rise and throw herself at his feet, and kissing them, said, “By Allah, O my lord, this hap is what I dreamt last night; and, when I awoke, I made the couplets thou hast heard.” Replied Al-Mutawakkil, “By Allah, I also dreamt the like!” Then they embraced and made friends and he abode with her seven days with their nights. Now Mahbubah had written upon her cheek, in musk, the Caliph’s name, which was Ja’afar: and when he saw this, he improvised the following:—
One wrote upon her cheek with musk, his name was Ja’afar hight; ✿ My soul for hers who wrote upon her cheek the name I sight!
If an her fingers have inscribed one line upon her cheek, ✿ Full many a line in heart of mine those fingers did indite:
O thou, whom Ja’afar sole of men possesseth for himself, ✿ Allah fill Ja’afar[[428]] stream-full draught, the wine of thy delight!
When Al-Mutawakkil died, his host of women forgot him, all save Mahbubah——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Three Hundred and Fifty-third Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Al-Mutawakkil died, his host of women forgot him all save Mahbubah who ceased not to mourn for him, till she deceased and was buried by his side, the mercy of Allah be on them both! And men also tell the tale of
[425]. Tenth Abbaside. A.D. 849-861.
[426]. Arab. “Muwallad” (fem. “Muwalladah”); a rearling, a slave born in a Moslem land. The numbers may appear exaggerated, but even the petty King of Ashanti had, till the last war, 3333 “wives.”