said to him； 'Wele； O my brother！ I have wished for thee；' and he sat talking with him awhile； after which he said to him； 'O my brother； e with me to my house； that we may enter into the pact of brotherhood。' （12） 'With all my heart；' replied Mesrour and they went to the Jew's house； where the latter went in and told his wife of Mesrour's ing； saying； 'Make us ready a goodly entertainment； and needs must thou be present and witness our brotherhood。' But she answered； 'God on thee； cause me not show myself to this strange man； for I have no mind to pany with him。' So he forbore to press her and bade the waitingwomen bring meat and drink。 Then he called the mockingbird； but it knew him not and settled in Mesrour's lap； and the Jew said to him； 'O my lord； what is thy name？' and he answered； 'Mesrour。' Whereupon the Jew remembered that this was the name which his wife had repeated all night long in her sleep。
Presently； he raised his head and saw her making signs to Mesrour and motioning to him with her eyebrows； wherefore he knew that he had been tricked and said； 'O my lord； excuse me awhile； till I fetch my kinsmen； so they may be present at our treaty of brotherhood。' 'Do what seemeth good to thee；' answered Mesrour； whereupon the Jew went forth the house and returning privily by a back way； betook himself to a window that gave upon the saloon and whence he could watch them； unseen of them。 Quoth Zein el Mewasif to her maid Sukoub； 'Whither is thy master gone？' And she said； 'He is gone without the house。' 'Lock the door；' said Zein； 'and bar it with iron and open not till he knock； after thou hast told me。' 'So be it；' answered Sukoub。
Then she rose and filling a cup with wine； flavoured with powdered musk and rosewater； went up to Mesrour； who rose to meet her； saying； 'By Allah； the water of thy mouth is sweeter than this wine！' 'Here it is for thee；' quoth she and filling her mouth with wine； gave him to drink thereof； whilst he did the like with her； after which she sprinkled him with rosewater from head to foot； till he scented the whole place。 All this while； the Jew was looking on and marvelling at the greatness of the love that was between them； and his heart was filled with rage for what he saw and he was jealous with an exceeding jealousy。 Then he went out again and ing to the door； found it locked and knocked loudly； of the excess of his anger； y lady； here is my master。' 'Open to him；' replied Zein el Mewasif； 'would God had not brought him back in safety！'
So she went and opened the door to the Jew； who said to her； 'What ailed thee to lock the door？' Quoth she； 'It hath never ceased to be locked thus during thine absence； nor hath it been opened night nor day。' 'Thou hast done well；' answered he； 'this pleases me。' Then he went in to Mesrour； laughing and dissembling his chagrin； and said to him； 'O Mesrour； let us put off the conclusion of our treaty of brotherhood till another day。' 'As thou wilt；' replied Mesrour and went away； leaving the Jew pondering his case and knowing not what to do； for his heart was sore troubled and he said in himself； 'Even the mockingbird disavows me and the slavegirls shut the door in my face and favour another。' And of the excess of his chagrin； he fell to reciting the following verses：
A life made fair with all delight of days and solacement Mesrour doth live； what while my life is severed and forspent。
Fortune hath played the knave with me in her whom I adore And all my heart's on flames of fire； that rage without relent。
Once with the fair a time was bright for thee； 'tis past and gone； Yet art thou ever lovedistraught that lovely one anent。
Mine eyes her goodly beauty saw and in the love of her； My heart to passion thrall became； for very ravishment。
Of the sweet water of her lips she poured me out； fine wine On thirst； whilst yet the time endured of favour and content。
What ails thee； O my mockingbird； that thou forsakest me And to another than myself in love dost yield consent？
Strange things； indeed； mine eyes have seen； that from my lids； if they Were ever drowsed with slumber； sleep would chase incontinent。
I see my loved one hath forsworn the love of me and eke My mockingbird round me no more hovers with blandishment。
By the worlds' Lord； who； when upon His creatures He'd fulfil His ordinance； afflicteth them with many a dour event；
The evildoer I'll requite with that which he deserves Who frowardly to her draws near； on her enjoyment bent！
When Zein el Mewasif heard this； she trembled in every nerve and said to her handmaid； 'Heardest thou that？' Quoth she； 'I never heard him recite the like of these verses； but let him say what he will。' Then the Jew； having assured himself of the truth of his suspicions； began to sell all his property； saying in himself； 'Except I remove her from her native land ＇and separate them＇； they will never turn back from this that they are engaged in。' So； when he had turned all his possessions into money； he fed a letter； purporting to e from his kinsmen and inviting him to visit them； him and his wife； and read it to her。 'How long shall we tarry with them？' asked she； and he replied； 'Twelve days。' So she consented to this and said； 'Shall I take any of my maids with me？' 'Take Huboub and Sukoub；' answered he； 'and leave Khutoub here。'
Then he made ready a handsome camel litter for his wife and her women and prepared to set out with them； whilst she sent to Mesrour； telling him what had happened and saying； 'If the trystingtime （13） that is between us pass and I e not ＇back＇； know that he hath put a cheat on us and laid a plot to separate us from each other； so fet thou not the plighted faith betwixt us； for I fear his craft and perfidy。' Then she fell aweeping and lamenting and no peace was left her； night or day。 Her husband saw this； but took no note thereof； and when she saw there was no help for it； she gathered together her clothes and gear and deposited them with her sister； telling her what had befallen her。 Then she took leave of her and going out from her； weeping； returned to her own house； where she found her husband had brought the camels and was busy loading them； having set apart the handsomest for her riding； and when she saw this and knew that needs must she be separated from Mesrour； she was distracted。
Now it chanced that the Jew went out on some occasion of his； so she went forth to the outer door and wrote thereon the following verses：
O dove of this our dwellingplace； our parting greeting bear From lover to beloved one and tell him I shall ne'er
Cease to regret the past delight and all its ravishments And all the sweetness of the days for us whilom that were；
And bid him also never leave to be the slave of love； Fulfilled of grief for our content that's past and gone for e'er。
Indeed； we passed our time awhile in solace and in cheer And lovedelight both night and day we did enjoy whilere；
But； when we woke； the raven gave us morrow （14） with his croak And did against us twain the doom of severance declare。
Now must we journey far away and leave the dwellings void： Would we might ne'er depart the lands nor breathe a foreign air！
Then she went to the second door and wrote thereon the following verses：
O thou to this door that est； by Allah； watch for the grace Of my loved one midmost the darkness and tell him I weep apace；
When I think of the time of union with him； and the tears that e Of my weeping for him cease never to ripple adown my face；
And say to him； 'If no patience for what is fallen on me Thou findest； I rede thee sprinkle thy head with the dust of the place
And travel the lands to Eastward and Westward and look thou live In patience； for God hath ordered and yet will order the case。'
Then she went to the third door and wept sore and wrote thereon these verses：
Harkye； Mesrour； an if thou e to this her dwelling； see Thou read upon the doors the lines that she hath writ for thee。
How oft thou'st tasted of the sweet and bitter of the nights！ Fet thou not the pact of love； if thou a true man be。
By Allah； do not thou fet her neighbourhood； Mesrour； For in thyself her solace all and gladness leaveth she！
Weep for the days of lovedelight and all their sweets and all The goodly nights that with their shade encurtained thee and me；
And to the farthest of the lands； for my sake； journey thou； Search all its deserts after us and plunge into its sea。
The nights of our delight are gone from us； estrangement's dark Hath quenched their radiance and made an end of all our glee。
God's blessing on the bygone days！ How glad indeed they were；When in the gardens of desire their blossoms gathered we！
We would have had them stay； but God denied the wishedfor boon； Only their rose and our true hearts to last permitted He。
Will the returning days renew our union？ An they do； Their every vow unto my Lord acplished then shall be。
Think； in His hand； who writes upon the table of the brows Their lines； （15） are all things； and submit to that He doth decree。
Then she wept sore and returned to the house； lamenting and recalling what had passed and saying； 'Glory be to God who hath decreed this to us！' And her affliction redoubled for the loss of her beloved and her departure from the lands； and she recited these verses：
Upon thee be the peace of God； O empty house！ Ah me； The days indeed have made an end of all their cheer in thee！
Dove of the house； ne'er mayst thou leave to mourn for her who from Her moons and her full moons （16） is torn by Fate's unkind decree！
Harkye； Mesrour！ Make thou thy moan for loss of us； indeed Mine eyes in losing thee have lost their lustre； verily。
Would God thine eyes our parting day and eke the flaming fire； That in my heart redoubles still unquenchably； might see！
Fet not thou our plighted troth within the garden's shade； That held our loves and with its veils encurtained thee and me。
Then she presented herself before her husband； who set her in the litter he had let make for her； and when she found herself on the camel's back； she recited the following verses：
God's peace on thee； O lonely house； for evermore alight； Wherein whilere we fed our fill of solace and delight！
Would that my time within thy shade its nights acplished had； So I for passion had been slain； a martyr in Love's right！
For parting I am sore concerned and longing for the home I love： I knew not what should hap nor looked for Fate's despite。
Would God I knew if I shall e'er return to it again； And will it ever； as of yore； be pleasant to our spright！
'O Zein el Mewasif；' said her husband； 'grieve not for thy departure from thy dwelling； for； God willing； thou shalt return to it before long。' And he went on to fort her heart and soothe her。 Then they set out and fared on till they came without the town and struck into the high road； whereupon she knew that separation was assured； and this was grievous to her。
Meanwhile； Mesrour sat in his house； pondering his case and that of his mistress； and his heart forewarned him of separation。 So he rose forthright and repairing to her house； found the outer door shut and read the verses she had written thereon； whereupon he fell down in a swoon。 When he