he missed his brother； he cried out with an exceeding great cry and neighed； so that he affrighted all the folk。 The vizier； seeing that he did thus but because of his separation from his brother； sent to tell the king； who said； 'If this； which is but a beast； cannot brook to be parted from his brother； how should it be with those that have reason？' And he bade his grooms take the other horse and put him with his brother in the vizier's stable； saying； 'Tell the vizier that the two horses are a present from me to him； for the sake of my daughter Meryem。'
Noureddin was lying in the stable； chained and shackled； when they brought the horses； and saw that one of them had a web in his eyes。 Now he had some knowledge of horses and of the treatment of their diseases； so he said in himself； 'By Allah； this is my opportunity！ I will go to the vizier and lie to him； saying； 〃I will cure thee this horse：〃 then will I do with him somewhat that will destroy his eyes； and he will kill me and I shall be at rest from this wretched life。' So he waited till the vizier entered the stable； to look upon the horse； and said to him； 'O my lord； what wilt thou give me； if I cure this horse； and make his eyes whole again？' 'As my bead liveth；' replied the vizier； 'an thou cure him； I will spare thy life and give thee leave to ask a boon of me！' And Noureddin said； 'O my lord； mand my hands to be unbound。' So the vizier bade unbind him and he rose and taking virgin glass （100） brayed it and mixed it with unslaked lime and onionjuice。 Then he applied the whole to the horse's eyes and bound them up； saying in himself： 'Now will his eyes be put out and they will kill me and I shall be at rest from this wretched life。' And he passed the night with a heart free of care and trouble； humbling himself to God the Most High and saying； 'O Lord； in Thy knowledge is that which dispenseth with asking！'
When the day came and the sun shone out upon the hills and valleys； the vizier came to the stable and loosing the bandage from the horse's eyes； found them ＇altogether cured and＇ handsomer than ever； by the ordinance of the King who opeh ＇unto His servants the fates of sustenance and mercy＇。 So he said to Noureddin； 'O Muslim； never in the world saw I the like of thee for the excellence of thy skill。 By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith； thou fillest me with wonder； for all the farriers of our land have failed to heal this horse's eyes！' Then be did off his shackles with his own hand and clad him in a costly dress and made him his master of the horse。 Moreover； he appointed him stipends and allowances and lodged him in an apartment over the stables。 So Noureddin abode awhile； eating and drinking and making merry and manding and forbidding those who tended the horses； and whoso neglected them or failed to fodder those tied up in the stable wherein was his service； he would throw down and beat grievously and lay him by the legs in shackles of iron。 Moreover； he used every day to go down to the two chargers and rub them down with his own hand； by reason of that which he knew of their value in the vizier's eyes and his love for them； wherefore the latter rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy and his breast dilated and he was glad； unknowing what was to be the issue of his affair。
Now in the new palace； that he had built for the Princess Meryem； was a lattice window overlooking his old house and Noureddin's lodging。 The vizier had a daughter； a virgin of extreme beauty； as she were a fleeing gazelle （101） or a bending branch； and it chanced that she sat one day at the lattice aforesaid and heard Noureddin singing and solacing himself under his afflictions by reciting the following verses：
O censor of love； thou that wast fortunate aye； Bright with the sheen of thy joys as the blossomed spray：
If Fate with its plagues should bite on thee one day； Then of the taste of its bitter cup thou'lt say；
'Alas for Love and out on his whole array｜ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。'
But today thou art safe as yet from his cruel spite And his perfidy irks thee not and his fell unright；
Yet blame not； I prithee the lovedistracted wight Who cries； for the stress of the passion to which he's prey；
'Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。'
Be not of those that look on love with disdain； But rather excuse and pity the lovers' pain；
Lest thou one day be bound in the selfsame chain And drink of the selfsame bitter draught as they。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
I too of old was empty of heart like thee And lay down to rest in peace and passion free；
The taste of the sleepless nights was strange to me Until he called me to dwell beneath his sway。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Yea； none can tell of Love and its sore duresse But he who is sick and weak for its lonesomeness；
He who hath lost his reason for lovedistress； Whose drink is the bitter dregs of his own dismay。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
How many a lover watches the darksome night； His eye forbidden the taste of sleep's delight！
How many； whose tears like rivers down a height Course down their cheeks for passion both night and day！
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
How many a mortal is maddened for lovedespair； Wakeful； for void of sleep is the dusky air！
Languor and pain are the weeds that he doth wear And even his dreams from him are banished aye。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
How often my patience fails and my bones do waste And my tears； like a fount of blood； stream down in haste！
For my life； that of old was pleasant and sweet of taste； A slender maiden hath bittered this many a day。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Alack for the man among men who loves like me； Whose eyes through the hours of the darkness sleepless be；
Who drowns in his own despair； as it were a sea； And cries； for the stress of an anguish without allay；
'Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。'
Whom hath not Love stricken and wounded indeed？ Who was there aye from his easy springes freed？
Whose life is empty of him and who succeed In winning to his delights without affray？
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Be Thou his helper； O Lord； who's sick at heart； Protect him； Thou that the best protector art。
To him fair patience to bear his woes impart； In all his trouble be Thou his help and stay。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Quoth the vizier's daughter to herself； 'By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith； but this Muslim is a handsome youth！ Doubtless； he is a lover separated from his mistress。 I wonder if his beloved is fair like unto him and if she pines for him as he for her！ If she be ely as he is； it behoveth him to pour forth tears and make moan of passion； but； if she be other than fair； his life is wasted in vain regrets and he is denied the taste of delights。'
Now the Princess Meryem had removed to the ＇new＇ palace the day before and the vizier's daughter knew that she was heavy at heart； so she bethought herself to go to her and talk with her and tell her of the young man and the verses she had heard him recite； but； before she could do this； the princess sent for her to cheer her with her converse。 So she went to her and found her breast straitened and her tears coursing down her cheeks； and she was weeping sore and reciting the following verses：
My life is spent； but love lives yet； that nought may kill； And for my longing's stress my breast is straitened still。
My heart is all consumed for separation's ill； Yet hopes that after all the days of union will
Return and lovedelight its ordered course fulfil。
Be sparing of your blame to one enslaved of heart； Whose body's worn with love and disappointment's smart；
Nor at his passion launch reproach's poisoned dart； For none more wretched is than lovers torn apart。
Yet is love's bitter sweet of savour； will or nill。
Quoth the vizier's daughter to her； 'What ails thee； O princess； to be sick at heart and melancholy？' Whereupon Meryem recalled the greatness of the delights that were past and recited the following verses：
will th' estrangement of my love with fortitude abide； Whilst down my cheeks the pearls of tears in chains unending glide；
So haply God shall succour me with solace； for indeed He doth all solace neath the ribs of difficulty hide。
'O princess；' said the vizier's daughter； 'let not thy breast be straitened； but e with me straightway to the lattice； for there is with us in the stable a ely young man； slender of shape and sweet of speech； and meseemeth he is a lover separated ＇from his beloved＇。' 'And by what sign knowest thou that he is a separated lover？' asked Meryem。 And she answered； 'O queen； I know it by his reciting odes and verses all tides of the day and watches of the night。' Quoth the princess in herself； 'If what the vizier's daughter says be true； these are the traits of the wretched； the afflicted Ali Noureddin。 Can it indeed be he of whom she speaketh？' At this thought lovelonging and distraction redoubled on her and she rose at once and going with the maiden to the lattice； looked down upon the stables； where she saw her love and lord Noureddin and fixing her eyes on him； knew him but too well； albeit he was sick； of the greatness of his love for her and of the fire of passion and the anguish of separation and yearning and distraction。 Emaciation was sore upon him and he was reciting and saying as follows：
My heart a bondslave is； mine eyes rain tears for e'er： With them； is pouring forth； no raincloud can pare。
My weeping's manifest； my passion and lament； My wakefulness and woe and mourning for my fair。
Alas； my raging heat； my transport and regret！ Eight plagues beset my heart and have their lodging there。
And five and five to boot thereafter follow on： Tarry and list； whilst I their names to thee declare。
Memory； solicitude； sighing and languishment； Lovelonging in excess and allengrossing care；
Affliction； strangerhood and passion and lament And griefs that never cease to stir me to despair。
Patience and fortitude desert me for desire； Whose hosts； when patience fails； beset me everywhere。
Yea； passion's troubles wax for ever on my heart。 O thou that ask'st what is the fire at heart I bear；
What ails my tears a flame to kindle in my blood？ The fires within my heart still burn and never spare。
Drowned am I in the flood of my unceasing tears And in hellfire I flame with lovelonging fore'er。
When the Princess Meryem heard the eloquence of his verses and the excellence of his sketch； she was assured that it was indeed her lord Noureddin； but she dissembled with the vizier's daughter and said to her； 'By the virtue of the