Sought me this heart’s dear love at gloom of night; ✿ I rose in honour till he sat forthright, And said, “O aim of mine, O sole desire ✿ In such night-visit hast of guards no fright?” Replied he, “Yes, I fearèd much, but Love ✿ Robbed me of all my wits and reft my sprite.” We clipt with kisses and awhile clung we ✿ For here ’twas safe; nor feared we watchman-wight: Then rose we parting without doubtful deed ✿ And shook out skirts where none a stain could sight.
——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night,
She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when her lover visited Hayat al-Nufus in her palace, the twain embraced and she improvised some happy couplets beseeming the occasion. And when she had ended her extempore lines she said, “Is it indeed true that I see thee in my abode and that thou art my cup-mate and my familiar?” Then passion grew on her and love was grievous to her, so that her reason well-nigh fled for joy and she improvised these couplets:—
With all my soul I’ll ransom him who came to me in gloom ✿ Of night, whilst I had waited long to see his figure loom; And naught aroused me save his weeping voice of tender tone ✿ And whispered I, “Fair fall thy foot and welcome and well come!” His cheek I kissed a thousand times, and yet a thousand more; ✿ Then clipt and clung about his breast enveiled in darkling room. And cried, “Now verily I’ve won the aim of every wish ✿ So praise and prayers to Allah for this grace now best become.” Then slept we even as we would the goodliest of nights ✿ Till morning came to end our night and light up earth with bloom.