These she committed[FN#249] to Ibn Ibrahim who rode again on his route and forgathered with Prince Yusuf and gave him the letter, whose Contents were grievous to him; so he took writing materials and returned a reply in the following verses,

“Cease then to carry missives others write, * O Son of Ibrahim,
     shun silly plight: 
I’m healed of longing for your land and I * Those days forget and
     daysters lost to sight: 
Let then Al-Hayfa learn from me I love * Distance from her and
     furthest earthly site. 
No good in loving when a rival shows * E’en tho’ ’twere victual
     shared by other wight;
 These modes and fashions never mind arride * Save him unknowing
     of his requisite.

Then he entrusted the writ to Ibn Ibrahim, after giving him an hundred dinars, and he fared forth and ceased not faring till he had reached the palace of the Princess.  Presently he went in and handed to her the writ, and as soon as she had read it, the contents seemed to her sore and she wept until her vitals were torn with sobs.  After this she raised her hand[FN#250] heavenwards and invoked Allah and humbled herself before him and said, “My God, O my Lord, do Thou soften the heart of Yusuf ibn Sahl and turn him mewards and afflict him with love of me even as thou hast afflicted me with his love; for Thou to whatso Thou wishest canst avail, O bestest of Rulers and O forcefullest of Aiders.”  Anon she fell to writing and indited these verses,

“Love rules my bosom and a-morn doth moan * The Voice, ah Love, who shows strength weakness grown!  His lashes’ rapier-blade hath rent my heart; * That keen curved brand my me hath overthrown:  That freshest cheek-rose fills me with desire:  * Fair fall who plucketh yonder bloom new-blown!  Since love befel me for that youth did I * Begin for charms of him my pride to own:  O thou my hope, I swear by Him did share * Love and decreed thou shouldst in longing wone, In so exceeding grief why sight I thee * Jacob made Joseph by the loss of me?”

She then handed the letter to Ibn Ibrahim, after giving him an hundred dinars; and he returned forthright to the city of Sind and, repairing to Yusuf, gave him the writ which he took and read.  Hereupon the Prince waxed sore sorrowful and said to himself, “By Allah, indeed Al-Hayfa cleaveth to love.”—­And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say.  Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

The Six Hundred and Ninety-first Night,