صفحة 707 من 1116

Then she set food before me, but I refused it fearing lest she

see me eating with my left hand and said to her, "I have no

stomach to eat at present." Quoth she, "Tell me what hath

befallen thee to day, and why art thou so sorrowful and broken in

spirit and heart?" Quoth I, "Wait awhile; I will tell thee all at

my leisure." Then she brought me wine, saying, "Down with it,

this will dispel thy grief: thou must indeed drink and tell me of

thy tidings." I asked her, "Perforce must I tell thee?"; and she

answered, "Yes." Then said I, "If it needs must be so, then give

me to drink with thine own hand." She filled and drank,[FN#547]

and filled again and gave me the cup which I took from her with

my left hand and wiped the tears from my eyelids and began

repeating: