How many a maiden deckt with crescent brow ✿ Hath nature dealing injury and despite?
Man hath no merit save in kindly mind ✿ And loquent tongue with light of wits unite.”[[253]]
And when Yusuf had ended his poetry he presented an hundred dinars to Ibn Ibrahim, who took the letter and fell to cutting through the wilds and the wolds, after which he went in to the presence of Al-Hayfa and gave her the missive. She wept and wailed and cried, “O Ibn Ibrahim, this letter is indeed softer than all forewent it; and as thou hast brought it to me, O Ibn Ibrahim, I will largesse thee with two honourable robes of golden brocade and a thousand dinars.” So saying, she called for pen-case and paper whereupon she indited these couplets:—
“O my lord, these words do my vitals destroy, ✿ O thou gem of the earth and full moon a-sky!
How long this recourse to denial and hate ✿ With heart whose hardness no rocks outvie?
Thou hast left my spirit in parting-pangs ✿ And in fires of farness that flame on high:
How long shall I ’plain of its inner pains? ✿ Haps thy grace shall grant me reunion-joy:
Then pity my vitals and whatso homed ✿ Thy form within me before I die.”
She then handed the paper to Ibn Ibrahim who again set out and sought the Prince and kissed his hand and gave him the letter; whereupon said he, “O Ibn Ibrahim, come not thou again bringing me aught of missive—ever or any more after this one.” Quoth Ibn Ibrahim, “Wherefore, O my lord, shall I not do on such wise?” and quoth Yusuf, “Suffer her to learn the fates of menkind.” Said the other, “I conjure thee, by Allah Almighty, ho thou the King, inasmuch as thou art of the seed of mighty monarchs, disappoint her not of her question; and Allah upon thee, unless thou show pity to her heart it haply will melt away with melancholy and love and madness for thy sake; and all of this is for the truth of her affection.” Hereupon Yusuf smiled and taking up his pen wrote these couplets:—
“Stay thy tears; for hindrance and parting hie, ✿ And the endless of Empire aye glorify: