All who in charms excel fain clasp my waist; ✿ Gazelles of languid eyne and Houri maid:
Allah ne’er part fond lover from his joy ✿ Nor live the loved one who unkindly fled.
Then the girl was silent awhile, but presently taking the lute in lap, again bent over it, as mother bendeth over child, and preluded in many different modes; then, returning to the first, she sang these couplets:—
Would they[[429]] the lover seek without ado, ✿ He to his heavy grief had bid adieu:
With him had vied the Nightingale[[430]] on bough ✿ As one far parted from his lover’s view:
Rouse thee! awake! The Moon lights Union-night ✿ As tho’ such Union woke the Morn anew.
This day the blamers take of us no heed ✿ And lute-strings bid us all our joys ensue.
Seest not how four-fold things conjoin in one ✿ Rose, myrtle, scents and blooms of golden hue[[431]].
Yea, here this day the four chief joys unite ✿ Drink and dinars, beloved and lover true:
So win thy worldly joy, for joys go past ✿ And naught but storied tales and legends last.