Albeit this thy case lack all resource, ✿ Nor findest aught but death’s doom, pardon still:
Evening and morning, thoughts of thee will dole ✿ Comfort to heart all woes and griefs full fill:
Peace be upon thee! meet we now no more ✿ Nor pair except at Ibn Ma’amar’s will.
Now when Abdullah bin Ma’amar heard these verses and saw their affection, he exclaimed, “By Allah, I will not assist fate in separating you; for it is evident to me that ye two indeed love each other. So take the money and the damsel, O man, and Allah bless thee in both; for verily parting be grievous to lovers.” So they kissed his hand and going away, ceased not to dwell together, till death did them part; and glory be to Him whom death over-taketh not! And amongst stories is that of
THE LOVERS OF THE BANU[[99]] OZRAH.
There was once, among the Banu ‘Ozrah, a handsome and accomplished man, who was never a single day out of love, and it chanced that he became enamoured of a beauty of his own tribe and sent her many messages; but she ceased not to entreat him with cruelty and disdain; till, for stress of love and longing and desire and distraction, he fell sick of a sore sickness and took to his pillow and murdered sleep. His malady redoubled on him and his torments increased and he was well nigh dead when his case became known among the folk and his passion notorious——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Three Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the man took to his pillow and murdered sleep. So his case became known among the folk and his passion notorious; and his infirmity grew upon him and his pains redoubled till he was well nigh dead. His family and hers were urgent with her to visit him, but she refused, till he was at the point of death when, being told of this, she relented towards him and vouchsafed him a visit. As soon as he saw her, his eyes ran over with tears and he repeated from a broken heart:—
An, by thy life, pass thee my funeral train, ✿ A bier upborne upon the necks of four,
Wilt thou not follow it, and greet the grave ✿ Where shall my corpse be graved for evermore?