Thy cheeks are of Rose and thy lips-dews are wine; ✿ Say, wilt grudge them to us in this charming site?
Hereat Nur al-Din was gladdened with extreme gladness and wondered with the utmost wonder, so he answered her verse with these couplets:—
The sun yellowed not in the murk gloom li’en ✿ But lay pearl enveiled ’neath horizon-chine;
Nor showed its crest to the eyes of Morn ✿ But took refuge from parting with Morning-shine.[[434]]
Take my tear-drops that trickle as chain on chain ✿ And they’ll tell my case with the clearest sign.
An my tears be likened to Nile-flood, like ✿ Malak’s[[435]] flooded flat be this love o’ mine.
Quoth she, “Bring thy riches!” Quoth I, “Come, take!” ✿ “And thy sleep?” “Yes, take it from lids of eyne!”
When the girl heard Nur al-Din’s words and noted the beauty of his eloquence her senses fled and her wit was dazed and love of him gat hold upon her whole heart. So she pressed him to her bosom and fell to kissing him like the billing of doves, whilst he returned her caresses with successive kisses; but preeminence appertaineth to precedence.[[436]] When she had made an end of kissing, she took the lute and recited these couplets:—
Alas, alack and well-away for blamer’s calumny! ✿ Whether or not I make my moan or plead or show no plea:
O spurner of my love I ne’er of thee so hard would deem ✿ That I of thee should be despised, of thee my property.