Show grace to us until our pleasures end, ✿ And latest drop of joy fro’ friends we gain:
You have affection candid and sincere ✿ And Love and Joy are best of Faiths for men.
Such was the case with Mariyah; but as regards Al-Abbas, he betook himself to his father’s camp, which was pitched on the Green Meadow, by the Tigris-side, and none might thread his way between the tents, for the dense network of the tent-ropes. When the Prince reached the first of the pavilions, the guards and servants came out to meet him from all sides and walked in his service till he drew near the sitting-place of his sire, who knew of his approach. So he issued forth his marquee and coming to meet his son, kissed him and made much of him. Then they returned together to the royal pavilion and when they had seated themselves therein and the guards had taken up their station in attendance on them, the King said to Al-Abbas, “O my son, get ready thine affair, so we may go to our own land, for that the lieges in our absence are become as they were sheep lacking shepherd.” Al-Abbas looked at his father and wept till he fainted, and when he recovered from his fit, he improvised and recited these couplets:—
I embraced him,[[422]] and straight I waxt drunk wi’ the smell ✿ Of a fresh young branch wont in wealth to dwell.
Yea, drunken, but not by the wine; nay, ’twas ✿ By draughts from his lips that like wine-cups well:
For Beauty wrote on his cheek’s fair page ✿ “Oh, his charms! take refuge fro’ danger fell!”[[423]]
Mine eyes, be easy, since him ye saw; ✿ Nor mote nor blearness with you shall mell:
In him Beauty showeth fro’ first to fine ✿ And bindeth on hearts bonds unfrangible:
An thou kohl thyself with his cheek of light ✿ Thou’ll find but jasper and or in stelle:[[424]]
The chiders came to reproach me when ✿ For him longing and pining my heart befel: