Pagina 698 de 1116

And she kept plaining of what had befallen her and I of what had

betided me; and love of her gat so firm hold of my heart that all

my wealth seemed a thing of naught in comparison with her. Then

we fell to toying and groping and kissing till night fall, when

the handmaidens set before us meats and a complete wine service,

and we sat carousing till the noon of night, when we lay down and

I lay with her; never in my life saw I a night like that night.

When morning morrowed I arose and took leave of her, throwing

under the carpet bed the kerchief wherein were the dinars[FN#538]

and as I went out she wept and said, "O my lord, when shall I

look upon that lovely face again?" "I will be with thee at

sunset," answered I, and going out found the donkey boy, who had

brought me the day before, awaiting at the door.