Like a left hand parted from brother right ✿ I became by parting thro’ Fortune’s spleen.
On the brow of him Beauty deigned indite ✿ “Blest be Allah, whom best of Creators I ween!”
And Him I pray, who could disunite ✿ To reunite us. Then cry “Ameen!”[[307]]
When Al-Rashid heard the end of this, he waxed exceeding wroth and said, “May Allah not reunite you twain in gladness!” Then he summoned the headsman, and when he presented himself, he said to him, “Strike off the head of this accursed slave-girl.” So Masrur took her by the hand and led her away; but, when she came to the door, she turned and said to the Caliph, “O Commander of the Faithful, I conjure thee, by thy fathers and forefathers, behead me not until thou give ear to that I shall say!” Then she improvised and recited these couplets:—
Emir of Justice, be to lieges kind ✿ For Justice ever guides thy generous mind;
And, oh, who blamest love to him inclining! ✿ Are lovers blamed for lâches undesigned?
By Him who gave thee rule, deign spare my life ✿ For rule on earth He hath to thee assigned.
Then Masrur carried her to the other end of the sitting-hall and bound her eyes and making her sit, stood awaiting a second order: whereupon quoth the Lady Zubaydah, “O Prince of True Believers, with thy permission, wilt thou not vouchsafe this damsel a portion of thy clemency? An thou slay her, ’twere injustice.” Quoth he, “What is to be done with her?” and quoth she, “Forbear to slay her and send for her lord. If he be as she describeth him in beauty and loveliness, she is excused, and if he be not on this wise then kill her, and this shall be thy plea against her.”[[308]] Al-Rashid replied, “No harm in this rede;” and caused return the damsel to her chamber, saying to her, “The Lady Zubaydah saith thus and thus.” She rejoined, “God requite her for me with good! Indeed, thou dealest equitably, O Commander of the Faithful, in this judgment.” And he retorted, “Go now to thy place, and to-morrow we will bid them bring thy lord.” So she kissed ground and recited these couplets:—
I indeed will well for whom love I will: ✿ Let chider chide and let blamer blame:
All lives must die at fixt tide and term ✿ But I must die ere my life-term came: