On the shaded woody island[[84]] His showers Allah deign ✿ Shed on Convent hight Abdún[[85]] drop and drip of railing rain:
Oft the breezes of the morning have awakened me therein ✿ When the Dawn shows her blaze,[[86]] ere the bird of flight was fain;
And the voices of the monks that with chants awoke the walls ✿ Black-frocked shavelings ever wont the cup amorn to drain.[[87]]
’Mid the throng how many fair with languour-kohl’d eyes[[88]] ✿ And lids enfolding lovely orbs where black on white was lain,
In secret came to see me by shirt of night disguised ✿ In terror and in caution a-hurrying amain!
Then I rose and spread my cheek like a carpet on his path ✿ In homage, and with skirts wiped his trail from off the plain.
But threatening disgrace rose the Crescent in the sky ✿ Like the paring of a nail yet the light would never wane:
Then happened whatso happened: I disdain to kiss and tell ✿ So deem of us thy best and with queries never mell.
And gifted of God is he who saith:—
In the morn I am richest of men ✿ And in joy at good news I start up