And to my soul, “What smiting irketh thee the more ✿ Striking the gong or striking note of going,[[528]] say?”
——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-third Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-girl rose forthwith and donned her clothes and ornaments; but this was grievous to Nur al-Din, and his gladness was troubled; the tears streamed from his eyes and he recited these couplets:—
I ceasèd not to kiss that cheek with budding roses dight ✿ And eyes down cast and bit the same with most emphatic bite;
Until we were in gloria[[529]] and lay him down the spy ✿ And sank his eyes within his brain declining further sight:
And struck the gongs as they that had the charge of them were like ✿ Muezzin crying duty-prayers in Allah’s book indite.
Then rose she up right hastily and donned the dress she’d doffed ✿ Sore fearing lest a shooting-star[[530]] upon our heads alight.
And cried, “O wish and will of me, O end of all my hopes! ✿ Behold the morning comes to us in brightest whitest light.”
I swear if but one day of rule were given to my life ✿ And I were made an Emperor of majesty and might,