couldst ask me; and, could I ransom thee with my life, I had already laid it down for thee.  Now this very day, Shams al-Nahar’s handmaid hath been with me and told me that what hindered her coming ere this was the Caliph’s sojourn with her mistress; and she acquainted me with everything which had betided her.”  And he went on to repeat to him all that the girl had told him of Shams al-Nahar; at which Ali bin Bakkar lamented sore and wept and said to him, “Allah upon thee, O my brother, help me in this affliction and teach me what course I shall take.  Moreover, I beg thee of thy grace to abide with me this night, that I may have the solace of thy society.”  Abu al-Hasan agreed to this request, replying that he would readily night there; so they talked together till even-tide darkened, when Ali bin Bakkar groaned aloud and lamented and wept copious tears, reciting these couplets,

     “Thine image in these eyne, a-lip thy name, *
          My heart thy home; how couldst thou disappear? 
     How sore I grieve for life which comes to end, *
          Nor see I boon of union far or near.”

And these the words of another,

“She split my casque of courage with eye-swords that sorely
     smite; * She pierced my patience’ ring-mail with her shape
     like cane-spear light: 
Patched by the musky mole on cheek was to our sight displayed *
     Camphor set round with ambergris, light dawning through the
     night.[FN#198]
Her soul was sorrowed and she bit carnelion stone with pearls *
     Whose unions in a sugared tank ever to lurk unite:[FN#199]
Restless she sighed and smote with palm the snows that clothe her
     breast, * And left a mark whereon I looked and ne’er beheld
     such sight,
Pens, fashioned of her coral nails with ambergris for ink, *
     Five lines on crystal page of breast did cruelly indite: 
O swordsmen armed with trusty steel!  I bid you all beware *
     When she on you bends deadly glance which fascinates the
     sprite: 
And guard thyself, O thou of spear! whenas she draweth near *
     To tilt with slender quivering shape, likest the nut-brown
     spear.”

And when Ali bin Bakkar ended his verse, he cried out with a great cry and fell down in a fit.  Abu al-Hasan thought that his soul had fled his body and he ceased not from his swoon till day-break, when he came to himself and talked with his friend, who continued to sit with him till the forenoon.  Then he left him and repaired to his shop; and hardly had he opened it, when lo! the damsel came and stood by his side.  As soon as he saw her, she made him a sign of salutation which he returned; and she delivered to him the greeting message of her mistress and asked, “How doth Ali bin Bakkar?” Answered he, “O handmaid of good, ask me not of his case nor what he suffereth for excess of love-longing; he sleepeth not by night neither resteth he by day;