LET.  XL.

TO THE LADY ——.

Pera, March 16.  O. S.

I AM extremely pleased, my dear lady, that you have, at length, found a commission for me, that I can answer, without disappointing your expectations; though I must tell you, that it is not so easy as perhaps you think it; and that if my curiosity had not been more diligent than any other stranger’s has ever yet been, I must have answered you with an excuse, as, I was forced to do, when you desired me to buy you a Greek slave.  I have got for you, as you desire, a Turkish love-letter, which I have put into a little box, and ordered the captain of the Smyrniote to deliver it to you with this letter.  The translation of it is literally as follows:  The first piece you should pull out of the purse, is a little pearl, which is in Turkish called Ingi, and must be understood in this manner: 

Ingi, Sensin Uzellerin gingi
Pearl, Fairest of the young.

Caremfil, Caremfilsen cararen yok
Clove, Conge gulsum timarin yok
                   Benseny chok than severim
                   Senin benden, haberin yok.

You are as slender as the clove!
You are an unblown rose!
I have long loved you, and you have not known it!

Pul, Derdime derman bul
Jonquil, Have pity on my passion!

Kihat, Birlerum sahat sahat
Paper, I faint every hour!

Ermus, Ver bixe bir umut
Pear, Give me some hope.

Jabun, Derdinden oldum zabun
Soap, I am sick with love.

Chemur, Ben oliyim size umur
Coal, May I die, and all my years be yours!

GUl Ben aglarum sen gul
A rose, May you be pleased, and your sorrows mine!

Hasir, Oliim sana yazir
A straw, Suffer me to be your slave.

Jo ho, Ustune bulunmaz pahu
Cloth, Your price is not to be found.

Tartsin, Sen ghel ben chekeim senin hargin
Cinnamon, But my fortune is yours.

Giro, Esking-ilen oldum ghira
A match, I burn, I burn! my flame consumes me!

Sirma, Uzunu benden a yirma
Goldthread, Don’t turn away your face.

Satch, Bazmazum tatch
Hair, Crown of my head!

Uzum Benim iki Guzum
Grape, My eyes!

Til, Ulugorum tez ghel
Gold wire, I die—­come quickly.

And, by way of postscript: 

Beber, Bize bir dogm haber
Pepper, Send me an answer.