Pagina 720 van 1116

She drew rein at the head of the exchange bazar and entered

followed by an eunuch who said to her, "O my lady come out and

away without telling anyone, lest thou light a fire which will

burn us all up." Moreover he stood before her guarding her from

view whilst she looked at the merchants' shops. She found none

open but mine; so she came up with the eunuch behind her and

sitting down in my shop saluted me; never heard I aught fairer

than her speech or sweeter than her voice. Then she unveiled her

face, and I saw that she was like the moon and I stole a glance

at her whose sight caused me a thousand sighs, and my heart was

captivated with love of her, and I kept looking again and again

upon her face repeating these verses:-

"Say to the charmer in the dove hued veil, * Death would be

welcome to abate thy bale! Favour me with thy favours that I

live: * See, I stretch forth my palm to take thy vail!

When she heard my verse she answered me saying:-