But sobs and singulfs, clouds that rain with tears ✿ And seas aye flowing and with gore outpour’d;
And flames that rage in vitals sickness-burnt ✿ The while in heart-core I enfold them stor’d.
Yet will I hearten heart with thee, O aim! ✿ O Ravisher, O Moslems’ bane ador’d:
Ne’er did I look for parting but ’twas doomed ✿ By God Almighty of all the lords the Lord.”
Then Mohammed Ibn Ibrahim took the paper and Al-Hayfa said to him, “Ho thou! Inform none that thou wast sitting beside me on that night.” Then he went forth until he drew near his folk and there he mounted a she-dromedary and pushed her pace until he arrived at the capital of Sind. He asked for the son of the King; and when they had directed him thereto he entered and found the Prince in privacy; so he kissed hands and gave him the writ which he took and opened and read. But when he had comprehended its object and purport, he turned and returned it with stern regards until he had well nigh torn it to tatters. Then he threw it to Ibn Ibrahim who said to him, “O lord of the Time and the Tide, ’tis not on this wise that the sons of the Kings cast away an address without returning aught of reply.” Quoth he, “There is no response from me,” and quoth Ibn Ibrahim, “O King of the Age, pity that thou mayest be pitied!”[[241]] Hereupon the Prince called for pen-case and paper of note and pen of brass wrought[[242]] and wrote in reply to her poetry the following couplets:—
“Al-Hayfá with verses a-tip of tongue ✿ Comes suing mercy for love so strong:
She hath no mercy fro’ me, but still ✿ She pleadeth a plea that our love was long:
She falsed, turned face, doubted, recked her naught ✿ And her hard false heart wrought me traitor’s wrong:
Were my heart now changèd her love to woo ✿ She with quick despisal my heart had stung:
Were my eyne to eye her, she’d pluck them out ✿ With tip of fingers before the throng: