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Mine eyes were dragomans for my tongue betied * And told full

clear the love I fain would hide: When last we met and tears in

torrents railed * For tongue struck dumb my glances testified:

She signed with eye glance while her lips were mute * I signed

with fingers and she kenned th' implied: Our eyebrows did all

duty 'twixt us twain; * And we being speechless Love spake loud

and plain.

Then, O my mistress, the lady threw away the sword and said, "How

shall I strike the neck of one I wot not, and who hath done me no

evil? Such deed were not lawful in my law!" and she held her

hand. Said the Ifrit, "'Tis grievous to thee to slay thy lover;

and, because he hath lain with thee, thou endurest these torments

and obstinately refusest to confess. After this it is clear to me

that only like loveth and pitieth like." Then he turned to me and

asked me, "O man, haply thou also dost not know this woman;"

whereto I answered, "And pray who may she be? assuredly I never

saw her till this instant." "Then take the sword," said he "and

strike off her head and I will believe that thou wottest her not

and will leave thee free to go, and will not deaf 'hardly with

thee." I replied, "That will I do;" and, taking the sword went

forward sharply and raised my hand to smite.