The Caliph marvelled at her elegance and eloquence.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night,
She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph, hearing the girl’s verses, marvelled at her elegance and eloquence, and said to her, “O daughter of nobles, are these thine own or a quotation?” Replied she, “They are my very own,” and he rejoined, “An thou say sooth keep the sense and change the rhyme.” So she said:—
Bid thou thy phantom distance keep ✿ And quit this couch the while I sleep;
So I may rest and quench the flames ✿ Through all my body rageful creep,
In love-sick one, whom passion’s palms ✿ Roll o’er the bed where grief I weep.
How ’tis with me thou wottest well; ✿ All but thy union hold I cheap!
Quoth the Caliph, “This also is stolen”; and quoth she, “Nay, ’tis my very own.” He said, “If it be indeed thine own, change the rhyme again and keep the sense.” So she recited the following:—
Unto thy phantom deal behest ✿ To shun my couch the while I rest,
So I repose and quench the fire ✿ That burns what lieth in my breast,