The first instance of the Basít occurring in The Nights are the lines translated vol. i. p. [25]:
Containeth Time a twain of days, this of blessing, that of bane ✿ And holdeth Life a twain of halves, this of pleasure, that of pain.
In Arabic (Mac. N. i. 11):
‑ ‑ ⏑ ‑ | ‑ ⏑ ‑ | ‑ ‑ ⏑ ‑ | ⏑ ⏑ ‑ |
Al-Dahru yaumáni zá amnun wa zá hazaru
‑ ‑ ⏑ ‑ | ‑ ⏑ ‑ | ‑ ‑ ⏑ ‑ | ⏑ ⏑ ‑ |
Wa ’l-’Ayshu shatráni zá safwun wa zá kadaru.
Turning back to p. [283], where the A’áríz and Azrub of the Basít are shown, the student will have no difficulty to recognise the Bayt as one belonging to the first Zarb of the first ’Arúz.
As an example of the Madíd we quote the original of the lines (vol. v. [131]):—
I had a heart, and with it lived my life ✿ ’Twas seared with fire and burnt with loving-lowe.