r door shut and read the verses she had written thereon； whereupon he fell down in a swoon。 When he came to himself； he opened the door and entering； read what was written upon the two other doors； whereupon passion and lovelonging and distraction waxed on him。 So he went forth and hastened in her track； till he came up with the caravan and found her at the rear； whilst her husband rode in the van； because of his goods。 When he saw her； he clung to the litter； weeping and lamenting for the anguish of separation； and recited the following verses：
Would I knew for what crime we are shot； wellaway！ With the shafts of estrangement for ever and aye！
O desire of the heart； to thy dwelling I came； When distress for thy love sorely irked me； one day；
And I found the house empty； laid waste； and plained Of estrangement and groaned； in my spirit's dismay；
Then I questioned the walls of my loves that are gone And have taken my heart as a pledge； 'Where are they？'
And they said； 'They made passion in ambush to lie In the entrails and fared from the dwellings away。'
They wrote for me lines on the portals； the deed Of the folk that keep faith nor their trothplight betray。
When Zein el Mewasif heard this； she knew that it was Mesrour and wept； she and her maidens； and said to him； 'I conjure thee by Allah； O Mesrour； turn back； lest my husband see us！' At these words he swooned away； and when he revived； they took leave of each other and he recited the following verses：
The chief of the caravan to depart calls loud and high； In the darkness ere the dawn； and the zephyr wafts the cry；
They gird their burdens on and hasten to depart； And on； at the leader's voice； the caravan doth hie。
They perfume the lands； through which they journey； on every side； And still through the valley's midst their travel in haste they ply。
Possession they took of my soul in passion and fared away And left me to toil in vain in the track of their passing by。
Beloved； I purposed indeed to part with you never in life And the earth is drenched with the tears that flow from the wanderer's eye。
Alack！ How hath parting's hand with mine entrails wroughten！ Woe's me For my heart！ Since my loves are gone； it irketh me like to die。
Then he clung to the litter； weeping and lamenting； whilst she besought him to turn back ere morning； for fear of discovery。 So he came up to her and bidding her farewell a second time； fell down in a swoon。 He lay a great while without life； and when he came to himself； he found the caravan out of sight。 So he turned in the direction of their travel and inhaled the breeze that blew from their quarter； chanting the following verses：
No wind of nearness to the lover's blown But of the pains of longing he makes moan。
The breeze of dawning blows on him； he wakes And in the world he finds himself alone。
Blood； mingled with his streaming tears； he weeps； For languor on the bed of sickness prone；
For loved ones lost he weeps； his heart with them Fares midst the camels over sand and stone。
No breeze blows from their quarter but I stand； With eyes attent and nostrils open thrown；
And on the South wind snuff their musky gale； Whose scent is grateful to the lover lone。
Then he returned； mad with lovelonging； to her house； and finding it empty and deserted； wept till he wet his clothes； after which he swooned away and his soul was like to depart his body。 When he revived； he recited the following couplet：
O house； on my abjection have ruth and on my plight； My tears for ever flowing and body wasted quite；
And waft me the aroma of their sweetscented breeze； So haply with its fragrance it heal my anguished spright。
Then he returned to his own house and abode there； confounded and tearfuleyed； for the space of ten days。
Meanwhile； the Jew journeyed on with Zein el Mewasif half a score days； at the end of which time he halted at a certain city and she wrote to Mesrour a letter and gave it to Huboub； saying； 'Send this to Mesrour； so he may know how we have been tricked and how the Jew hath cheated us。' So Huboub despatched it to Mesrour； whom when it reached； its news was grievous to him and he wept till he wet the ground。 Then he wrote a reply and sent it to his mistress； subscribing it with the following couplets：
Where is the road unto the doors of solace？ How shall he； Who's all for lovelonging on flames of fire consoléd be？
How pleasant were the days of yore； that now are past away！ Ah would some scantling of their times were yet with thee and me！
When the letter reached Zein el Mewasif； she read it and gave it to her maid Huboub； bidding her keep it secret。 However； the Jew came to know of their correspondence and removed with her to another city； at a distance of twenty days' journey。
As for Mesrour； sleep was not sweet to him nor was peace or patience left unto him； and he ceased not to be thus till； one night； his eyes closed for weariness and he dreamt that he saw Zein el Mewasif e to him in the garden and embrace him； but presently he awoke and found her not： whereupon he fell into a passion of grief。 His reason fled and his eyes ran over with tears； lovelonging to the utterest possessed his heart and he recited these verses：
Peace be on her； whose image came to visit me by night And passion straight in me renewed and longings did excite！
Indeed； from that my dream I rose； distracted with desire； Fulfilled of love and longing pain for that fair vision's sight。
Do the imbroglios of sleep say sooth of her I love？ y thirst and heal the sickness of my spright？
Anon she spoke with me； anon she strained me to her breast And now with pleasant speech she soothed my pain and my affright；
And when our lovers' chiding was acplished in the dream And in unceasing floods； the tears streamed from mine eyes contrite；
From out her damask lips； for me； as 'twere the best of wine； Whose scent was as the scent of musk； she poured； that lady bright。
I marvel at what chanced 'twixt us in dreams； for lo！ I got My wish of her and that I sought of solace and delight；
But； when from sleep I woke； no whit of that fair dream found I Save lovelonging and pain； the rest had fled with morninglight。
And since I've looked on her； I'm grown； by day； as I were mad； Anights I'm drunken without wine； a lonedistracted wight。
O waftings of the zephyr； go； to them I prithee bear The salutation of my love and longing for their sight；
And say to them； 'Him； whom ye knew； the shifts of sorry Fate Have given to drink the cup of death； of destiny's despite。'
Then he went out and ceased not to weep till he came to her house and looking on it； saw it deserted。 Presently； it seemed to him he saw her image before him； whereupon fires flamed in him and his sorrows redoubled and he fell down in a swoon。 When he came to himself； he recited the following verses：
I snuff the scent of balm from them； wherewith the air is fraught And fare away； with heart fulfilled of passion； lovedistraught。
A miserable slave of love； my longings with the sight Of dwellings； void of all their charms； to salve in vain I've sought。
It doth but sicken me for woe and severance and desire And all the pasttime with my friends recalleth to my thought。
When he had made an end of these verses； he heard a raven croak beside the house and wept； saying； 'Glory be to God！ The raven croaks not save over a ruined house。' Then he sighed and groaned and recited the following verses：
What aileth the raven to croon o'er the house of my love？ As I hear； The fires in my bosom rage high； their burning my entrails doth sear；
For regret for the days of their love； bygone； my heart wanders； for woe； In the mountains of misery lost； distracted with passion and fear。
I die of lovelonging； the flames of desire in my liver still rage； And letters I write； which； alas！ I have none to convey to my dear。
Alas for my body worn waste and my sorrow！ My loved one is gone。 Will they ever； I wonder； return； her nights； with their solace and cheer？
O breeze of the East； in the dawn if thou visit the camp of her tribe； Salute her； I prithee； for me； and stay by her stead thy career。
Now Zein el Mewasif had a sister； by name Nesim； （17） who was looking on him from a high p1ace； and when she saw him in this plight； she wept and sighed and recited these verses：
Harkye！ How oft； bewailing the steads； wilt e and go？ Indeed； the house its builder bemoah； of its woe。
Gladness； ere they departed who did inhabit here； Was rife within the dwelling and suns （18） in it did glow。
Where are the full moons （19） vanished； that shone so bright？ The shifts Of fate their lucent beauties have blotted out； I trow
Leave what is past of fair ones； with whom thou didst consort： Mayhap； the days； returning； them forth again will show：
Except for thee； its dwellers had not departed hence Nor thou in its high places hadst seen the corbycrow。
When Mesrour heard these verses and apprehended their meaning； he wept sore。 Now Nesim knew that which was between him and her sister of love and longing and passion； so she said to him； 'God on thee； O Mesrour； forbear this house； lest any see thee and deem thou est on my account！ Thou hast caused my sister depart and now thou wouldst drive me also away。 Thou knowest that； but for thee； the house would not now be void of its inhabitants： so be consoled for her and leave her； for what is past is past。' When he heard this； he said to her； 'O Nesim； if I could； I should fly for longing after her； so how can I be forted for her？' Quoth she； 'Thou hast nothing for it but patience。' And he said； 'I beseech thee； for God's sake； write me a letter to her； as from thyself； and get me an answer from her； to fort my heart and quench the fire that rages in my vitals。'
'With all my heart；' answered she and took inkhorn and paper； whilst Mesrour began to set out to her the violence of his longing and what he suffered for the anguish of separation； saying； 'This letter is from the despairing and sorrowful lover； the wretched bereaved one； with whom no peace abides； night nor day； but he still weeps copious tears。 Indeed； tears have ulcerated his eyelids and his sorrows have kindled a fire in his liver。 His lamentation is prolonged and restlessness is sore on him； as he were a bird that hath lost its mate； and his death is at hand。 Alas； my desolation for the loss of thee and my yearning affliction for thy panionship！ Indeed； emaciation hath wasted my body and my tears are bee a torrent； mountains and plains are straitened upon me； and of the excess of my passion； I go； saying：
My yearning o'er this stead's eternal and my pain； And longings for its folk still wax on me amain。
I send to you my tale of love； the cupbearer Still giveth me the cup of love for you to drain。
And for your faring hence and absence from the lands； With everstreaming tears my wounded eyelids rain。
O litterleader； stay； turn back with the belov'd； For all my heart's afire with flames that never wane。
My greeting to my love bear thou and say to her； 〃There's nought but damask lips his sorrows can assain。
Time bore him off and rent his loves apart and cleft His entrails with a shaft of severance in twain。〃
Giv