Whenas the soul desireth one other than its peer, It winneth not
     of fortune the wish it holdeth dear. 
Him with my life I’d ransom whose rigours waste away My frame and
     cause me languish; yet, if he would but hear,
It rests with him to heal me; and I (a soul he hath Must suffer
     that which irks it), go saying, in my fear
Of spies, “How long, O scoffer, wilt mock at my despair, As
     ’twere God had created nought else whereat to jeer?”

Now Ishac had returned to his house upon an occasion that presented itself to him; and when he entered the vestibule, he heard a sound of singing, the like whereof he had never heard in the world, for that it was [soft] as the breeze and richer[FN#178] than almond oil.[FN#179] So the delight of it gat hold of him and joyance overcame him, and he fell down aswoon in the vestibule, Tuhfeh heard the noise of steps and laying the lute from her hand, went out to see what was to do.  She found her lord Ishac lying aswoon in the vestibule; so she took him up and strained him to her bosom, saying, ’I conjure thee in God’s name, O my lord, tell me, hath aught befallen thee?’ When he heard her voice, he recovered from his swoon and said to her, ’Who art thou? ’ Quoth she, ‘I am thy slave-girl Tuhfeh.’  And he said to her, ‘Art thou indeed Tuhfeh?’ ‘Yes,’ answered she; and he, ’By Allah, I had forgotten thee and remembered thee not till now!’ Then he looked at her and said, ’Indeed, thy case is altered and thy pallor is grown changed to rosiness and thou hast redoubled in beauty and lovesomeness.  But was it thou who was singing but now?’ And she was troubled and affrighted and answered, ’Even I, O my lord.’

Then Ishac seized upon her hand and carrying her into the house, said to her, ’Take the lute and sing; for never saw I nor heard thy like in smiting upon the lute; no, not even myself!’ ’O my lord,’ answered she, ’thou makest mock of me.  Who am I that thou shouldst say all this to me?  Indeed, this is but of thy kindness.’  ‘Nay, by Allah,’ exclaimed he, ’I said but the truth to thee and I am none of those on whom pretence imposeth.  These three months hath nature not moved thee to take the lute and sing thereto, and this is nought but an extraordinary thing.  But all this cometh of strength in the craft and self-restraint.’  Then he bade her sing; and she said, ‘Hearkening and obedience.’  So she took the lute and tightening its strings, smote thereon a number of airs, so that she confounded Ishac’s wit and he was like to fly for delight.  Then she returned to the first mode and sang thereto the following verses: 

Still by your ruined camp a dweller I abide; Ne’er will I change
     nor e’er shall distance us divide. 
Far though you dwell, I’ll ne’er your neighbourhood forget, O
     friends, whose lovers still for you are stupefied. 
Your image midst mine eye sits nor forsakes me aye; Ye are my
     moons in gloom of night and shadowtide. 
Still, as my transports wax, grows restlessness on me And woes
     have ta’en the place of love-delight denied.