My longing bred of love with mine unease for ever grows; ✿ Nor against all the wrongs of time one succourer arose:
When Pleiads and the Fishes show in sky the rise I watch, ✿ As worshipper within whose breast a pious burning glows:
For Star o’ Morn I speer until at last when it is seen, ✿ I’m madded with my passion and my fancy’s woes and throes:
I swear by you that never from your love have I been loosed; ✿ Naught am I save a watcher who of slumber nothing knows!
Though hard appear my hope to win, though languor aye increase, ✿ And after thee my patience fails and ne’er a helper shows;
Yet will I wait till Allah shall be pleased to join our loves; ✿ I’ll mortify the jealous and I’ll mock me of my foes.
When he ended his verse he swooned away and the Wazir sprinkled rose-water on him, till the Prince came to himself, when the Minister said to him, “O King’s son, possess thy soul in patience; for the consequence of patience is consolation, and behold, thou art on the way to whatso thou wishest.” And he ceased not to bespeak him fair and comfort him till his trouble subsided; and they continued their journey with all diligence. Presently, the Prince again became impatient of the length of the way and bethought him of his beloved and recited these couplets:—
Longsome is absence, restlessness increaseth and despite; ✿ And burn my vitals in the blaze my love and longings light:
Grows my hair gray from pains and pangs which I am doomèd bear ✿ For pine, while tear-floods stream from eyes and sore offend my sight:
I swear, O Hope of me, O End of every wish and will, ✿ By Him who made mankind and every branch with leafage dight,