Now when it was the Three Hundred and Twelfth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the slave-girl, “Bring us meat and drink for three dinars; furthermore a piece of silk, the size of a curtain, and bring golden and silvern thread and sewing-silk of seven colours.” Thus he did, and she furnished the house and they sat down to eat and drink; after which they went to bed and took their pleasure one of the other. And they lay the night embraced behind the curtain and were even as saith the poet:[[280]]—
Cleave fast to her thou lovest and let the envious rail amain; For calumny and envy ne’er to favour love were fain.
Lo, whilst I slept, in dreams I saw thee lying by my side And, from thy lips the sweetest, sure, of limpid springs did drain.
Yea, true and certain all I saw is, as I will avouch, And ‘spite the envier, thereto I surely will attain.
There is no goodlier sight, indeed, for eyes to look upon. Than when one couch in its embrace enfoldeth lovers twain.
Each to the other’s bosom clasped, clad in their twinned delight. Whilst hand with hand and arm with arm about their necks enchain,
Lo, when two hearts are straitly knit in passion and desire, But on cold iron smite the folk who chide at them in vain.
Thou, that for loving censurest the votaries of love, canst thou assain a heart diseased or heal a cankered brain?
If in thy time thou find but one to love thee and be true, I rede thee cast the world away and with that one remain.