How oft I waked and drained the bitter cup ✿ And watched the stars, nor sleep mine eyes would seal!
Enough it were an deal you grace to me ✿ In writ a-morn and garred no hope to feel.
But Thoughts which probed its depths would sear my heart ✿ And start from eye-brows streams that ever steal:
Nor cease I suffering baleful doom and nights ✿ Wakeful, and heart by sorrows rent piece-meal:
But Allah purged my soul from love of you ✿ When all knew secrets cared I not reveal.
I march to-morrow from your country and ✿ Haply you’ll speed me nor fear aught unweal;
And, when in person you be far from us, ✿ Would heaven we knew who shall your news reveal.
Who kens if home will e’er us two contain ✿ In dearest life with union naught can stain!
When Marjanah had made an end of her song, the Prince said to her, “Brava, O damsel! Indeed, thou sayest a thing which had occurred to my mind and my tongue was near to speaking it.” Then he signed to the fourth damsel, who was a Cairene, by name Sitt al-Husn, and bade her tune her lute and sing to him upon the same theme. So the Lady of Beauty tuned her lute and sang these couplets:—
Patience is blest for weal comes after woe ✿ And all things stated time and ordinance show;