Why my tears in vitals should kindle flame, ✿ Burning heart with ardours insatiate,
Know, I’m drowned in Deluge[[556]] of tears and my soul ✿ From Lazá-lowe fares to Háwiyah-goal.[[557]]
When the Princess Miriam beheld Nur al-Din and heard his loquence and verse and speech, she made certain that it was indeed her lord Nur al-Din; but she concealed her case from the Wazir’s daughter and said to her, “By the virtue of the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, I thought not thou knewest of my sadness!” Then she arose forthright and withdrawing from the window, returned to her own place, whilst the Wazir’s daughter went to her own occupations. The Princess awaited patiently awhile, then returned to the window and sat there, gazing upon her beloved Nur al-Din and delighting her eyes with his beauty and inner and outer grace. And indeed, she saw that he was like unto moon at full on fourteenth night; but he was ever sighing with tears never drying, for that he recalled whatso he had been abying. So he recited these couplets:—
I hope for Union with my love which I may ne’er obtain ✿ At all, but bitterness of life is all the gain I gain:
My tears are likest to the main for ebb and flow of tide; ✿ But when I meet the blamer-wight to staunch my tears I’m fain.
Woe to the wretch who garred us part by spelling of his spells;[[558]] ✿ Could I but hend his tongue in hand I’d cut his tongue in twain:
Yet will I never blame the days for whatso deed they did ✿ Mingling with merest, purest gall the cup they made me drain!
To whom shall I address myself; and whom but you shall seek ✿ A heart left hostage in your Court, by you a captive ta’en?
Who shall avenge my wrongs on you,[[559]] tyrant despotical ✿ Whose tyranny but grows the more, the more I dare complain?
I made him regnant of my soul that he the reign assain ✿ But me he wasted wasting too the soul I gave to reign.