When the eighth handmaiden had ended her song, the twain marvelled at her eloquence and were like to rend that was upon them of raiment—­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 Seven Hundred and Fifth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!” She replied, “With love and goodwill!” It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that King Yusuf and Ibrahim the Cup-companion were like to rend that was upon them of raiment and they joyed with extreme joy after hearing what Surur had sung to them.  Hereupon she passed her cup to her fellow, hight Zahrat al-Hayy,[FN#289] who took it and recited as follows,

“O cup-boy, I crave thee cup-comrade to be * And hearten my heart
     of its malady;
Nor pass me the bowls for I sorely dread * when drunken all
     dolours of Love- lowe to dree,
To be vilely reviled in the sittings of men, * To be frowardly
     treated where zephyrs play free. 
God-blest is the Lute for her melodies * Which pain me with
     painfullest penalty,
With the jewels of speech whose transcendent charms * Like fires
     of Jahim[FN#290] burn the vitals of me. 
By Allah, show ruth, be compassionate, * For Allah deals pardon
     compassionately.

Yusuf and Ibrahim, hearing her words, were gladdened with excessive gladness and cried to the ninth handmaid, “May the lord be copious to thee like the fruitful years!” Then the Cup-companion bade gift her with one thousand gold pieces as like-wise did her lord.  Hereupon she passed her cup to the tenth handmaiden known as Muhjat al-Kulub[FN#291] who fell to improvising these couplets,

“O Blamer, who canst not my case explain; * Cease, for who blame
     friends shall of blame complain;
And whoso unknoweth the workings of Love * Mankind shall reckon
     him mean and vain: 
Alas for Love, O ye tribe-landers, I * Am weaned that wont
     nipples of union to drain. 
I have learnt the whole of Love’s governance * Since my baby days
     amid cradles lain. 
Forbear by Allah to ask of my state * How shall morn one banned
     with debtor bane? 
O thou jewel of speech, O thou Yusuf, laud * To the Lord who
     robed thee with charms amain! 
Deign the God of ’Arsh make thy days endure * In wealth and
     honour sans pause or wane;
E’en as Ishak’s son[FN#292] every gift conjoined * Amid men,
     making rulers to serve him fain.”