Arabian Nights: 221st Night: Anis al Jalis, The Slave Girl -21

The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that Nur al-Din took out a paper purse containing thirty dinars, which were the remainder of the money the Chamberlain had given him before he fled, and said to the Caliph, "O fisherman, excuse me, for this is all I have.  I would have given you more if I had not spent all my inheritance. I would have done away with the bitterness of poverty. It is there in all of us. Take this as a token of my goodwill."  Then he threw the money to the Caliph, who caught it, and kissing it, put away.
The Caliph said, "My lord, you have rewarded me handsomely, but I would like you to do me one more favour, and let the young lady sing for me."
Nur al-Din said, "O Anis al Jalis, sing a beautiful song for the sake of this fisherman."  Anis al Jalis took the lute, tuned it and played it accompanied by the following verses:
Fair fingers caressed the string
Ravished the soul with dulcet lute
Her singing cured the very deaf 
And the mute cried "Bravo!"

Then she played another measure and dazzled their wits, and sang the following verses:

Your visit honoured our land
The incense dispelled the gloom
Camphor, rosewater and musk
Behooves perfume to house.
The Caliph was delighted. He said to Nur al-Din, "I have never heard any one sing so perfectly."
Nur al-Din said, "Take her as my gift to you."  Then he rose, intending to put on his robe, and depart, but Anis al Jalis turned to him, and said, "Where are you going?  If you must leave me, then stay a while and let me tell what I feel."  Then she recited the following verses:

They turned me into a poor ghost.
O my darling I have not forgot you; 
And still the same, to my torments, 
If one was able to swim in his tears
I would be the first to swim in my Tears.  Your love has filled my heart 
As wine fills up to brim of wine cup
Your love has wracked my body and Soul, the fate has forced us apart.
You always ruled and reigned my Heart.  Once the God may give you 
To me, though you gave me to Karim.
And who deserves to be  praised.

When the Caliph heard conclude, "You gave me to Karim....."

But morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.





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