"The case is not at my command, but in fair Patience hand
I'm set by Him who order'th all and doth such case command."
"Amr" here=case (circumstance) or command (order) with a suspicion of reference to Murr=myrrh, bitterness. The reader will note the resignation to Fate's decrees which here and in host of places elevates the tone of the book.
[FN#427] i.e. as one loathes that which is prohibited, and with a loathing which makes it unlawful for me to cohabit with thee.
[FN#428] This is quite natural to the sensitive Eastern.
[FN#429] Hence, according to Moslem and Eastern theory generally her lewd and treasonable conduct. But in Egypt not a few freeborn women and those too of the noblest, would beat her hollow at her own little game. See for instance the booklet attributed to Jalбl al-Siyъtн and entitled Kitбb al-Нzбh (Book of Explanation) fн 'Ilm al-Nikбh (in the Science of Carnal Copulation). There is a copy of it in the British Museum; and a friend kindly supplied me with a lithograph from Cairo; warning me that there are doubts about the authorship.
[FN#430] These lines have occurred in vol. iii. 214: I quote Mr.
Payne.
[FN#431] This ejaculation, as the waw shows, is parenthetic; spoken either by Halimah, by Shahrazad or by the writer.
[FN#432] Arab. "Kasr" here meaning an upper room.
[FN#433] To avoid saying, I pardon thee.
[FN#434] A proverbial saying which here means I could only dream of such good luck.