I’ll chide you softerwise than breeze o’ morn, ✿ Sweeter than spring of coolest clarity.
I’ faith mine eyelids are with tears chafed sore; ✿ My vitals plain to you some cure to see.
My friends! Our union to disunion changed ✿ Was aye my fear for ’twas my certainty.
I’ll plain to Allah of all ills I bore; ✿ For pine and yearning misery still I dree.
The kings of the Jann were moved to delight by that sweet singing and seemly speech and thanked Tohfah therefore; and Queen Kamariyah rose to her and threw her arms round her neck and kissed her between the eyes, saying, “By Allah, ’tis good, O my sister and coolth of mine eyes and core of my heart!” Then said she, “I conjure thee by Allah, give us more of this lovely singing;” and Tohfah answered with “To hear is to obey.” So she took the lute and playing thereon in a mode different from the former fashion, sang these couplets:—
I, oft as ever grows the pine of me, ✿ Console my soul with hope thy sight to see.
Haply shall Allah join our parted lives, ✿ E’en as my fortunes far from thee cast He!
Then oh! who thrallest me by force of love— ✿ Seizèd by fond affection’s mastery,
All hardships easy wax when thou art nigh; ✿ And all the far draws near when near thou be.
Ah! be the Ruthful light to lover fond, ✿ Love-lorn, frame-wasted, ready Death to dree!