burton--1001-nights--sample

Tell her who turneth from our love to work it injury sore, * And taketh
her a fine new love the old love tossing o’er:
We cry enough o’ thee ere thou enough of us shalt cry! * What past
between us doth suffice and haply something more.
When I heard this, O Commander of the Faithful, I wept and looked at
him and began repeating these couplets: —
To severance you doom my love and all unmoved remain; * My tearsore
lids you sleepless make and sleep while I complain:
You make firm friendship reign between mine eyes and insomny; * Yet
can my heart forget you not, nor tears can I restrain:
You made me swear with many an oath my troth to hold for aye; * But
when you reigned my bosom’s lord you wrought me traitor-bane:
I loved you like a silly child who wots not what is Love; * Then spare
the learner, let her not be by the master slain!
By Allah’s name I pray you write, when I am dead and gone, * Upon
my tomb, This died of Love whose senses Love had ta’en:
Then haply one shall pass that way who fire of Love hath felt, * And
treading on a lover’s heart with ruth and woe shall melt.
When I ended my verses tears came again; but the poetry and the
weeping only added fury to his fury, and he recited: —
’Twas not satiety bade me leave the dearling of my soul, * But that she
sinned a mortal sin which clipt me in its clip:
She sought to let another share the love between us twain, * But my
True Faith of Unity refuseth partnership.
When he ceased reciting I wept again and prayed his pardon and
humbled myself before him and spoke him softly, saying to myself,
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