While you in heart of me are homed, your home; ✿ And the heart-dweller kens what there may bide.”
When Prince Yusuf had finished his improvisation and the poetry which he produced, Princess Al-Hayfa bussed him upon the brow, and he seeing this waxed dazed of his wits and right judgment fled him and he fell fainting to the floor for a while of time. And when he came to himself he pondered how she had entreated him and his Passion would have persuaded him to do with her somewhat but Reason forbad and with her force he overcame himself. After his improvising Al-Hayfa again saluted him on the front and cried, “Indeed thou hast done well in thy words, O thou with Crescent’s brow!” Presently she came for the table of wine and filling a cup drank it off; then she crowned another goblet and passed it to Yusuf who took it and kissed it while she improvised some couplets as follows:—
“Thy seduction of lips ne’er can I forbear ✿ Nor deny love-confession for charms so rare:
O thou aim of my eyes, how my longing stay? ✿ O thou tall of form and long wavy hair?
Thy rose-hued cheek showeth writ new-writ[[212]] ✿ Dimming wine my cups in thei rondure bear.”
And presently she added:[[213]]—
“I hid his phantom, by the Lord, but showed ✿ My looks the blush his scented cheek had sent:
How veil the joy his love bestows, when I ✿ To blood-red[[214]] tears on cheek give open vent,
When his uplighted cheek my heart enfires ✿ As though a-morn in flame my heart were pent?
By Allah, ne’er my love for you I’ll change ✿ Though change my body and to change consent.”