burton--1001-nights--sample

a cenotaph wherein to mourn, and set on its centre a dome under
which showed a tomb like a Santon’s sepulchre. Thither she carried
the slave and lodged him; but he was exceeding weak by reason of his
wound, and unable to do her love-service; he could only drink wine
and from the day of his hurt he spake not a word, yet he lived on
because his appointed hour was not come. Every day, morning and
evening, my wife went to him and wept and wailed over him and gave
him wine and strong soups, and left not off doing after this manner a
second year; and I bore with her patiently and paid no heed to her.
One day, however, I went in to her unawares; and I found her weeping
and beating her face and crying, “Why art thou absent from my sight,
O my heart’s delight? Speak to me, O my life; talk with me, O my
love?” Then she recited these verses: —
For your love my patience fails and albeit you forget * I may not; nor
to other love my heart can make reply:
Bear my body, bear my soul wheresoever you may fare * And where
you pitch the camp let my body buried lie:
Cry my name above my grave, and an answer shall return * The
moaning of my bones responsive to your cry.
Then she recited, weeping bitterly the while: —
The day of my delight is the day when draw you near * And the day of
mine affright is the day you turn away:
Though I tremble through the night in my bitter dread of death *
When I hold you in my arms I am free from all affray.
Once more she began reciting: —
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