The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night Volume VIII Part 14

An draw thou nigh with doughty will * To do thy doing l.u.s.tily, Thou'll find it fain to face thy bout * And strong and fierce in valiancy.

It bendeth backwards every brave * Shorn of his battle-bravery.

At times imberbe, but full of s.p.u.n.k * To battle with the Paynimry.

'T will show thee liveliness galore * And perfect in its raillery: Zayn al-Mawasif it is like * Complete in charms and courtesy.

To her dear arms one night I came * And won meed given lawfully: I pa.s.sed with her that self-same night * (Best of my nights!) in gladdest glee; And when the morning rose, she rose * And crescent like her visnomy: Then swayed her supple form as sway * The lances lopt from limber tree; And when farewelling me she cried, * ?When shall such nights return to me?'

Then I replied, ?O eyen-light, * When He vouchsafeth His decree!'"[FN#342]

Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted with this Ode and the utmost gladness gat hold of her. Then said she, "O Masrur day-dawn draweth nigh and there is naught for it save to fly for fear of scandal and spy!" He replied, "I hear and obey," and rising led her to her lodging, after which he returned to his quarters[FN#343] and pa.s.sed the rest of the night pondering on her charms. When the morning morrowed with its sheen and shone, he made ready a splendid present and carried it to her and sat by her side. And thus they abode awhile, in all solace of life and its delight, till one day there came to Zayn al-Mawasif a letter from her husband reporting to her his speedy return. Thereupon she said in herself, "May Allah not keep him nor quicken him! If he come hither, our life will be troubled: would Heaven I might despair of him!" Presently entered Masrur and sat with her at chat, as was his wont, whereupon she said to him, "O Masrur, I have received a missive from my mate, announcing his speedy return from his wayfaring. What is to be done, since neither of us without other can live?" He replied, "I know not; but thou art better able to judge, being acquainted with the ways of thy man, more by token that thou art one of the sharpest-witted of women and past mistress of devices such as devise that whereof fail the wise." Quoth she, "He is a hard man and jealous of his household: but, when he shall come home and thou hearest of his coming, do thou repair to him and salute him and sit down by his side, saying, ?O my brother, I am a druggist.' Then buy of him somewhat of drugs and spices of sorts and call upon him frequently and prolong thy talks with him and gainsay him not in whatsoever he shall bid thee; so haply that I would contrive may betide, as it were by chance." "I hear and I obey," quoth Masrur and fared forth from her, with heart a-fire for love. When her husband came home, she rejoiced in meeting him and after saluting him bade him welcome; but he looked in her face and seeing it pale and sallow (for she bad washed it with saffron, using one of women's arts), asked her of her case. She answered that she had been sick, she and her women, from the time of his wayfaring, adding, "Verily, our hearts have been engrossed with thoughts of thee because of the length of thine absence." And she went on to complain to him of the misery of separation and to pour forth copious tears, saying, "Hadst thou but a companion with thee, my heart had not borne all this cark and care for thee. So, Allah upon thee, O my lord, travel not again without a comrade and cut me not off from news of thee, that my heart and mind may be at rest concerning thee!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif said to her mate, "Travel not without comrade and cut me not off from news of thee, that my heart and mind may be at rest concerning thee," he replied, "With love and gladness! By Allah thy bede is good indeed and right is thy rede! By thy life, it shall be as thou dost heed." Then he unpacked some of his stock-in-trade and carrying the goods to his shop, opened it and sat down to sell in the Soko.[FN#344] No sooner had he taken his place than lo and behold! up came Masrur and saluting him, sat down by his side and began talking and talked with him awhile.

Then he pulled out a purse and taking forth gold, handed it to Zayn al-Mawasif's man and said, "Give me the worth of these dinars in drugs and spices of sorts, that I may sell them in my shop." The Jew replied, "I hear and I obey," and gave him what he sought. And Masrur continued to pay him frequent visits till, one day, the merchant said to him, "I have a mind to take me a man to partner in trade." Quoth Masrur, "And I also, desire to take a partner; for my father was a merchant in the land of Al-Yaman and left me great store of money and I fear lest it fare from me."

Quoth the Jew, turning towards him, "Wilt thou be my partner, and I will be thy partner and a true friend and comrade to thee at home and abroad; and I will teach thee selling and buying, giving and taking?" And Masrur rejoined, "With all my heart." So the merchant carried him to his place and seated him in the vestibule, whilst he went in to his wife and said to her, "I have provided me with a partner and have bidden him hither as a guest; so do thou get us ready good guest-cheer." Whenas she heard this, she rejoiced divining that it was Masrur, and made ready a magnificent banquet,[FN#345] of her delight in the success of her device. Then, when the guest drew nigh, her husband said to her, "Come out with me to him and bid him welcome and say, ?Thou gladdenest us[FN#346]!'" But Zayn al-Mawasif made a show of anger, crying, "Wilt thou have me display myself before a strange man? I take refuge with Allah! Though thou cut me to bits, I will not appear before him!" Rejoined he, "Why shouldst thou be abashed at him, seeing that he is a Nazarene and we are Jews and, to boot, we are become chums, he and I?" Quoth she, "I am not minded to present myself before a strange man, on whom I have never once set eyes and whom I know not any wise." Her husband thought she spoke sooth and ceased not to importune her, till she rose and veiling herself, took the food and went out to Masrur and welcomed him; whereupon he bowed his head groundwards, as he were ashamed, and the Jew, seeing such dejection said in himself, "Doubtless, this man is a devotee." They ate their fill and the table being removed, wine was set on. As for Zayn al-Mawasif, she sat over against Masrur and gazed on him and he gazed on her till ended day, when he went home, with a heart to fire a prey. But the Jew abode pondering the grace and the comeliness of him; and, as soon as it was night, his wife according to custom served him with supper and they seated themselves before it. Now he had a mockingbird which was wont, whenever he sat down to meat, to come and eat with him and hover over his head; but in his absence the fowl was grown familiar with Masrur and used to flutter about him as he sat at meals. Now when Masrur disappeared and the master returned, it knew him not and would not draw near him, and this made him thoughtful concerning his case and the fowl's withdrawing from him. As for Zayn al-Mawasif, she could not sleep with her heart thinking of Masrur, and thus it was with her a second and even a third night, till the Jew became aware of her condition and, watching her while she sat distraught, began to suspect somewhat wrong. On the fourth night, he awoke in the middle thereof and heard his wife babbling in her sleep and naming Masrur, what while she lay on her husband's bosom, wherefore he mis...o...b..ed her; but he dissembled his suspicions and when morning morrowed he repaired to his shop and sat therein.

Presently, up came Masrur and saluted him. He returned his salam and said to him, "Welcome, O my brother!" adding anon, "I have wished for thee;" and he sat talking with him for an hour or so, after which he said to him, "Rise, O my brother, and hie with me to my house, that we may enter into the pact of brotherhood."[FN#347] Replied Masrur, "With joy and goodly gree,"

and they repaired to the Jew's house, where the master went in and told his wife of Masrur's visit, for the purpose of conditioning their partners.h.i.+p, and said, "Make us ready a goodly entertainment, and needs must thou be present and witness our brotherhood." But she replied, "Allah upon thee, cause me not show myself to this strange man, for I have no mind to company with him." So he held his peace and forbore to press her and bade the waiting-women bring food and drink. Then he called the mocking-bird but it knew not its lord and settled upon Masrur's lap; and the Jew said to him, "O my master, what is thy name?" He answered, "My name is Masrur;" whereupon the Jew remembered that this was the name which his wife had repeated all night long in her sleep. Presently, he raised his head and saw her making signs[FN#348] with her forefingers to Masrur and motioning to him with her eyes, wherefore he knew that he had been completely cozened and cuckolded and said, "O my lord, excuse me awhile, till I fetch my kinsmen, so they may be present at our swearing brotherhood." Quoth Masrur, "Do what seemeth good to thee;"

whereupon the Jew went forth the house and returning privily by a back way.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-third Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn al-Mawasif's husband said to Masrur, "Excuse me awhile, till I fetch my cousins to witness the brother-bond between me and thee." Then he went forth and, privily returning behind the sitting-room, there took his station hard by a window which gave upon the saloon and whence he could watch them without their seeing him. Suddenly quoth Zayn al-Mawasif to her maid Sukub, "Whither is thy master gone?"; and quoth she, "He is gone without the house." Cried the mistress, "Lock the door and bar it with iron and open thou not till he knock, after thou hast told me."

Answered Sukub, "So shall it be done." Then, while her husband watched them, she rose and filling a cup with wine, flavoured with powdered musk and rose-water, went close to Masrur, who sprang up to meet her, saying, "By Allah, the water of thy mouth is sweeter than this wine!" "Here it is for thee," said she and filling her mouth with wine, gave him to drink thereof, whilst he gave her the like to drink; after which she sprinkled him with rose-water from front to foot, till the perfume scented the whole place. All this while, the Jew was looking on and marvelling at the stress of love that was between them and his heart was filled with fury for what he saw and he was not only wroth, but jealous with exceeding jealousy. Then he went out again and coming to the door found it locked and knocked a loud knock of the excess of his rage; whereupon quoth Sukub, "O my lady, here is my master;"

and quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "Open to him; would that Allah had not brought him back in safety!" So Sukub went and opened the door to the Jew, who said to her, "What ailed thee to lock the door?"

Quoth she, "It hath never ceased to be locked thus during thine absence; nor hath it been opened night nor day;" and cried he, "Thou hast done well; this pleaseth me." Then he went in to Masrur, laughing and dissembling his chagrin, and said to him, "O Masrur, let us put off the conclusion of our pact of brotherhood this day and defer it to another." Replied Masrur, "As thou wilt," and hied him home, leaving the Jew pondering his case and knowing not what to do; for his heart was sore troubled and he said in himself, "Even the mocking-bird disowneth me and the slave-girls shut the door in my face and favour another." And of his exceeding chagrin, he fell to reciting these couplets,

"Masrur joys life made fair by all delight of days, * Fulfilled of boons, while mine the sorest grief displays.

The Days have falsed me in the breast of her I love * And in my heart are fires which all-consuming blaze: Yea, Time was clear for thee, but now 'tis past and gone * While yet her lovely charms thy wit and senses daze: Espied these eyes of mine her gifts of loveliness: * Oh, hard my case and sore my woe on spirit weighs!

I saw the maiden of the tribe deal rich old wine * Of lips like Salsabil to friend my love betrays: E'en so, O mocking-bird, thou dost betray my breast * And to a rival teachest Love and lover-ways: Strange things indeed and wondrous saw these eyne of me * Which were they sleepdrowned still from Sleep's abyss would raise: I see my best beloved hath forsworn my love * And eke like my mocking-bird fro' me a-startled strays.

By truth of Allah, Lord of Worlds who, whatso wills * His Fate, for creatures works and none His hest gainsays, Forsure I'll deal to that unG.o.dly wight his due * Who but to sate his wicked will her heart withdrew!"

When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, her side-muscles trembled and quoth she to her handmaid, "Heardest thou those lines?"; whereupon quoth the girl, "I never heard him in my born days recite the like of these verses; but let him say what he will."

Then having a.s.sured himself of the truth of his suspicions, the Jew began to sell all his property, saying to himself, "Unless I part them by removing her from her mother land the twain will not turn back from this that they are engaged in, no, never!" So, when he had converted all his possessions into coin, he forged a letter and read it to Zayn al-Mawasif, declaring that it had come from his kinsmen, who invited him to visit them, him and his wife. She asked, "How long shall we tarry with them?" and he answered, "Twelve days." Accordingly she consented to this and said, "Shall I take any of my maids with me?"; whereto he replied, "Take Hubub and Sukub and leave Khutub here." Then he made ready a handsome camel-litter[FN#349] for his spouse and her women and prepared to set out with them; whilst she sent to her leman, telling him what had betided her and saying, "O Masrur, an the trysting-time[FN#350] that is between us pa.s.s and I come not back, know that he hath cheated and cozened us and planned a plot to separate us each from other, so forget thou not the plighted faith betwixt us, for I fear that he hath found out our love and I dread his craft and perfidy." Then, whilst her man was busy about his march she fell a-weeping and lamenting and no peace was left her, night or day. Her husband saw this, but took no note thereof; and when she saw there was scant help for it, she gathered together her clothes and gear and deposited them with her sister, telling her what had befallen her. Then she farewelled her and going out from her, drowned in tears, returned to her own house, where she found her husband had brought the camels and was busy loading them, having set apart the handsomest dromedary for her riding, and when she saw this and knew that needs must she be separated from Masrur, she waxt clean distraught. Presently it chanced that the Jew went out on some business of his; so she fared forth to the first or outer door and wrote thereon these couplets,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif saw her spouse summon the camels and knew that the march needs must be, she waxt clean distraught. Presently it chanced that the Jew went out on some business so she fared forth to the first door and wrote thereon these couplets,

"Bear our salams, O Dove, from this our stead * From lover to beloved far severed!

Bid him fro' me ne'er cease to yearn and mourn * O'er happy days and hours for ever fled: Eke I in grief shall ever mourn and yearn, * Dwelling on days of love and l.u.s.tihead; Long was our joyance, seeming aye to last, * When night and morning to reunion led; Till croaked the Raven[FN#351] of the Wold one day * His cursed croak and did our union dead.

We sped and left the homestead dark and void * Its gates unpeopled and its dwellers sped."

Then she went to the second door and wrote thereon these couplets,

"O who pa.s.sest this doorway, by Allah, see * The charms of my fere in the glooms and make plea For me, saying, ?I think of the Past and weep * Yet boot me no tears flowing full and free.'

Say, ?An fail thee patience for what befel * Scatter earth and dust on the head of thee!

And o'er travel lands East and West, and deem * G.o.d sufficeth thy case, so bear patiently!'"

Then she went to the third door and wept sore and thereon wrote these couplets,

"Fare softly, Masrur! an her sanctuary * Thou seek, and read what a-door writ she.

Ne'er forget Love-plight, if true man; how oft * Hast savoured Nights' bitter and sweetest gree!

O Masrur! forget not her neighbourhood * For wi' thee must her gladness and joyance flee!

But beweep those dearest united days * When thou camest veiled in secresy; Wend for sake of us over farthest wone; * Span the wold for us, for us dive in sea; Allah bless the past days! Ah, how glad they were * When in Gardens of Fancy the flowers pluckt we!

The nights of Union from us are fled * And parting-glooms dim their radiancy; Ah! had this lasted as hoped we, but * He left only our b.r.e.a.s.t.s and the rosery.

Will revolving days on Re-union dawn? * Then our vow to the Lord shall accomplisht be.

Learn thou our lots are in hand of Him * Who on lines of skull[FN#352] writes our destiny!"

Then she wept with sore weeping and returned to the house, wailing and remembering what had pa.s.sed and saying, "Glory be to G.o.d who hath decreed to us this!" And her affliction redoubled for severance from her beloved and her departure from her mother-land, and she recited these couplets,

"Allah's peace on thee, House of Vacancy! * Ceased in thee all our joys, all our jubilee.

O thou Dove of the homestead, ne'er cease to bemoan * Whose moons and full moons[FN#353] sorest severance dree: Masrur, fare softly and mourn our loss; * Loving thee our eyes lose their brilliancy: Would thy sight had seen, on our marching day, * Tears shed by a heart in h.e.l.l's flagrancy!

Forget not the plight in the garth-shade pledged * When we sat enveiled in privacy:"

Then she presented herself before her husband, who lifted her into the litter he had let make for her; and, when she found herself on the camel's back, she recited these couplets,

"The Lord, empty House! to thee peace decree * Long we bore therein growth of misery: Would my life-thread were shorn in that safe abode * And o' night I had died in mine ecstasy!

Home-sickness I mourn, and my strangerhood * Irks my soul, nor the riddle of future I ree.

Would I wot shall I ever that house resee * And find it, as erst, home of joy and glee!"

Said her husband, "O Zayn al-Mawasif grieve not for thy departure from thy dwelling; for thou shalt return to it ere long Inshallah!" And he went on to comfort her heart and soothe her sorrow. Then all set out and fared on till they came without the town and struck into the high road, whereupon she knew that separation was certain and this was very grievous to her. And while such things happened Masrur sat in his quarters, pondering his case and that of his mistress, and his heart forewarned him of severance. So he rose without stay and delay and repairing to her house, found the outer door padlocked and read the couplets she had written thereon; upon which he fell down in a fainting fit. When he came to himself, he opened the first door and entering, read what was written upon the second and likewise upon the third doors; wherefore pa.s.sion and love-longing and distraction grew on him. So he went forth and hastened in her track, till he came up with the light caravan[FN#354] and found her at the rear, whilst her husband rode in the van, because of his merchandise. When he saw her, he clung to the litter, weeping and wailing for the anguish of parting, and recited these couplets,

"Would I wot for what crime shot and pierced are we * Thro' the days with Estrangement's archery!

O my heart's desire, to thy door I came * One day, when high waxt mine expectancy: But I found the home waste as the wold and void * And I 'plained my pine and groaned wretchedly: And I asked the walls of my friends who fared * With my heart in p.a.w.n and in pendency; And they said, ?All marched from the camp and left *An ambushed sorrow on hill and lea;'

And a writ on the walls did they write, as write * Folk who keep their faith while the Worlds are three."

Now when Zayn al-Mawasif heard these lines, she knew that it was Masrur.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif heard these lines she knew that it was Masrur and wept, she and her handmaids, and said to him, "O Masrur, I conjure thee by Allah, turn back, lest my husband see us twain together!" At her words he swooned away; and when he revived, they took leave each of other and he recited the following couplets,

"The Caravan-chief calleth loud o' night * Ere the Breeze bear his cry in the morninglight: They girded their loads and prepared to fare, * And hurried while murmured the leader-wight.

They scent the scene on its every side, * As their march through the valley they expedite.

After winning my heart by their love they went * O' morn when their track could deceive my sight.

O my neighbour fair, I reckt ne'er to part, * Or the ground bedewed with my tears to sight!

Woe betide my heart, now hath Severance hand * To heart and vitals dealt bane and blight."

Then he clung to the litter, weeping and wailing, whilst she besought him to turn back ere morn for fear of scorn. So he came up to her Haudaj and farewelling her a second time, fell down in a swoon. He lay an hour or so without life, and when he revived he found the caravan had fared forth of sight. So he turned in the direction of their wayfare and scenting the breeze which blew from their quarter, chanted these improvised lines,

"No breeze of Union to the lover blows * But moan he maketh burnt with fiery woes: The Zephyr fans him at the dawn o' day; * But when he wakes the horizon lonely shows: On bed of sickness strewn in pain he lies, * And weeps he b.l.o.o.d.y tears in burning throes, For the fair neighbour with my heart they bore * 'Mid travellers urging beasts with cries and blows.

By Allah from their stead no Zephyr blew * But sniffed I as the wight on eyeb.a.l.l.s goes;[FN#355]

And snuff the sweetest South as musk it breathes * And on the longing lover scent bestows."

Then Masrur returned, mad with love-longing, to her house, and finding it lone from end to end[FN#356] and forlorn of friend, wept till he wet his clothes; after which he swooned away and his soul was like to leave his body. When he revived, he recited these two couplets,

"O Spring-camp have ruth on mine overthrowing * My abjection, my leanness, my tears aye flowing, Waft the scented powder[FN#357] of breezes they breathe * In hope it cure heart of a grief e'er growing."

Then he returned to his own lodging confounded and tearful-eyed, and abode there for the s.p.a.ce of ten days. Such was his case; but as regards the Jew, he journeyed on with Zayn al-Mawasif half a score days, at the end of which he halted at a certain city and she, being by that time a.s.sured that her husband had played her false, wrote to Masrur a letter and gave it to Hubub, saying, "Send this to Masrur, so he may know how foully and fully we have been tricked and how the Jew hath cheated us." So Hubub took it and despatched it to Masrur, and when it reached, its news was grievous to him and he wept till he watered the ground. Then he wrote a reply and sent it to his mistress, subscribing it with these two couplets,

"Where is the way to Consolation's door * How shall console him flames burn evermore?