I shunned thee till said they, “He knows not Love;” ✿ I sought thee till said they, “No patience is mine!”
Then, O Love of her, add to my longing each night ✿ And, O Solace, thy comforts for Doomsday assign!
Soft as silk is her touch and her low sweet voice ✿ Twixt o’er much and o’er little aye draweth the line:
And eyne whereof Allah said “Be ye!” and they ✿ Became to man’s wit like the working of wine.
When the Caliph heard these verses, he was pleasured with exceeding pleasure, and I also, O Commander of the Faithful, was pleasured in my hiding-place, and but for the bounty of Almighty Allah, I had cried out and we had been disgraced. Then she sang also these couplets:—
I embrace him, yet after him yearns my soul ✿ For his love, but can aught than embrace be nigher?
I kiss his lips to assuage my lowe; ✿ But each kiss gars it glow with more flaming fire;
’Tis as though my vitals aye thirst unquencht ✿ Till I see two souls mixt in one entire.
The Caliph was delighted and said, “O Shajarat al-Durr, ask a boon of me.” She replied, “O Commander of the Faithful, I ask of thee my freedom, for the sake of the reward thou wilt obtain therein.[[364]]” Quoth he, “Thou art free for the love of Allah;” whereupon she kissed ground before him. He resumed, “Take the lute and sing me somewhat on the subject of my slave-girl, of whom I am enamoured with warmest love: the folk seek my pleasure and I seek hers.” So she took the lute and sang these two couplets:—
My charmer who spellest my piety[[365]] ✿ On all accounts I’ll have thee, have thee,