Thousand & One Nights: 175th Night: The Wealthy Man & The Slave Girl -5

The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King,  that Abu al-Hasan had said, "The damsel sang the verses that the young man asked her to sing, in a sweet melody, and when she finished, Shams al-Nahar turned to another damsel, and said, "Sing on my behalf these lines:

I sing for one who shared my love
And felt the pain I feel, would have
Gone mad.  I raise my voice to God,
And not a man, who has no mercy 
If men or demon felt the love I feel 
They would have anneal such love.

She sang a tender melody, and sung it well.  The young man turned to another damsel and said, "Sing on my behalf these lines:

Your eyes smitten, your love he Yearns.  He does sigh and moan.
You are his only wish in the world
For which he suffers and pines
You alone who possess a soft body
That bend tenderly like a bough
And you have a heart of stone.

The damsel sang with tenderness and delicacy, and when she finished 
Shams al-Nahar sighed deeply and said to the damsel nearest to her, "Sing another song."

If you remain deft to my moans
Nor can you to me mercy show 
I will not endure with patience 
For how much patience I show
My cheerless slow burning heart 
For you would have burst aglow.

The damsel sang, while two lovers flushed with passion, heaved with ecstasy and trembled with delight. Ali ibn Bakkar turned to a damsel near to him and said, "Sing on my behalf these lines:
The time of union is brief,
For such coquettish air,
For you are fair and such delay
Does not befit the fair.

All the while, the damsel sang, Nur al-Din Ali followed up her song with tears and moans.

When Shams al-Nahar heard Nur al-Din Ali Bakkar's words and saw his actions, she rose and headed for the room.  He too rose, and with hands outstretched met her at the door, and they embraced.  Suddenly they felt weak and began to swoon, while the damsels rushed to them and carried them to the far end of the room.  Then they brought rose water scented with powdered musk and sprinkled them with it until they revived and regained their consciousness.  Then Shams al-Nahar looked to the right and left, and not finding the druggist, who had hidden himself behind a couch, asked, "Where is Abu al-Hasan?" The druggist came out from hiding, and when she saw him, she greeted him and welcomed him saying ......

But morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.


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