Time bore him off and rent his loves apart and cleft His entrails with a shaft of severance in twain。〃
Give them to know of all my transport for their loss And what I bear for love and longing all in vain。
Yea； by the love of you； I swear I will fulfil The covenant of love； whatever Fate ordain。
I'll never change nor yet fet your love： how shall Fetfulness betide the wistful； longing swain？
Peace； salutationwise； from me； with musk mixt In letters； be on you again and yet again！'
Nesim marvelled at his eloquence and the goodliness of his speech and the elegance of his verses and was moved to passion for him。 Then she sealed the letter with virgin musk and incensed it with aloeswood and ambergris； after which she mitted it to a merchant； bidding him deliver it not save to Zein el Mewasif or her maid Huboub。
When the letter reached her sister； she knew it for Mesrour's inditing and recognized himself in the grace of its expression。 So she kissed it and laid it on her eyes； whilst the tears streamed from her lids and she gave not over weeping； till she fainted。 When she came to herself； she called for pen and paper and wrote him the following answer： 'This letter is to my lord and master； the king of my heart and my secret soul。 Indeed； wakefulness agitateth me and melancholy increaseth on me and I have no patience to endure thine absence； O thou whose beauty excels the sun and moon！ Desire deprives me of rest and passion destroys me； and how should it be otherwise with me； seeing that I am of the number of the perishing？ O glory of the world and ornament of life； shall her cup be sweet； whose vital spirits are cut off？ For that she is neither with the quick nor with the dead。' And she added these verses：
Thy letter； O Mesrour； hath stirred affliction up in me； I have no patience for thy loss nor solacement； perdie。
My bowels； when I read the script； yearn and the desert herbs I water with my tears that flow for ever like a sea。
Were I a bird； I'd fly to thee； upon the wings of night： I know not； after thee； if wine or sweet or bitter be。
Forbidden unto me is life； since thy departure hence： I have no power to brook the fire of severance from thee。
Then she sprinkled the letter with powdered musk and ambergris and mitted it to a merchant； bidding him deliver it to none save her sister Nesim。 When it reached the latter； she sent it to Mesrour； who kissed it and laid it on his eyes and wept till he fainted。
Presently； the Jew heard of their correspondence and began again to travel from place to place with Zein el Mewasif and her damsels； till she said to him； 'Glory to God！ How long wilt thou journey with us and carry us afar from our homes？' Quoth he； 'I will fare on with you a year's journey； so no more letters may reach you from Mesrour。 I see how you take all my good and give it to him； so all that I miss I shall take from you： and I shall see if Mesrour will profit you or avail to deliver you from my hand。' Then he stripped her and her damsels of their silken apparel and clad them in raiment of haircloth； after which he repaired to a blacksmith and bade him make three pairs of iron shackles。 When they were ready； he brought the smith in to his wife and said to him； 'Put the shackles on the legs of these three damsels。'
The first that came forward was Zein el Mewasif； and when the blacksmith saw her； his reason forsook him and he bit his fingers and his wit fled forth his head and sore was his transport。 So he said to the Jew； 'What is these women's crime？' 'They are my slavegirls；' answered the other； 'and have stolen my good and fled from me。' 'May God disappoint thine expectation！' cried the smith。 'Were this girl before the Chief Cadi； he would not reprove her； though she mitted a hundred offences a day。 Indeed； she hath no thief's favour and she may not brook the laying of irons on her legs。' And he went on to intercede with him； beseeching him not to fetter her。 When she saw this； she said to her husband； 'I conjure thee by Allah； bring me not forth before yonder strange man！' Quoth he； 'Why then camest thou out before Mesrour？' And she made him no reply。 Then he accepted the blacksmith's intercession； so far as to allow him to put a light pair of shackles on her legs； for that she had a delicate body； which might not brook harshness； whilst he laid her handmaids in heavy irons； and they ceased not； all three； to wear haircloth day and night； till their bodies became wasted and their colour changed。
As for the blacksmith； he returned home in great concern； for that exceeding love was fallen on his heart for Zein el Mewasif； and he fell to reciting the following verses：
Blacksmith； may thy right hand wither； in that it did ill entreat Yon fair maid by clapping fetters on her ankles and her feet。
Thou hast chained a lovely lady； gentle； soft and delicate： Of the wonderful'st of wonders was she fashioned and plete。
Not of iron were her anklets； were she justly used； I trow： Gold； indeed； alone were worthy of that loveling fair and sweet。
If the Cadi of the Cadis saw her charms； he'd pity her And upon the highest places in her glory would her seat。
Now it chanced that the Chief Cadi passed by the smith's house and heard him repeat these lines； so he sent for him and said to him； 'O blacksmith； who is she on whom thou callest so instantly and with whose love thy heart is occupied？' The smith rose to his feet and kissing the Cadi's hand； answered； 'May God prolong the days of our lord the Cadi and give him ease of his life！' Then he set forth to him Zein el Mewasif's beauty and grace and symmetry and elegance and perfection and how she had a lovely face and a slender waist and heavy buttocks and acquainted him with the sorry plight in which she was for abasement and duresse and lack of victual。
When the Cadi heard this； he said； 'O blacksmith； send her to us； that we may do her justice； for thou art bee accountable for her； and except thou guide her to us； God will punish thee at the Day of Resurrection。' 'I hear and obey；' replied the smith and betook himself forthright to Zein el Mewasif's lodging； but found the door locked and heard her reciting the following verses； in a plaintive voice； that came from a sorrowful heart：
In mine own land I was； conjoined with those I hold most dear； And my belovéd filled me cups of gladness bright and clear。
They passed 'twixt us with what we would of solace and of mirth； Nor knew we； morn or even； aught of dreariment or fear。
Indeed； a time we did fulfil； that gladdened us whilere With cup and lute and dulcimer and festival and cheer；
Till fortune and its shifts dissolved our fellowship； my love Departed and the time of peace with him evanished sheer。
Would that the crow of parting might be caused forbear our stead And would the dawn of my delight in passion might appear！
When he heard this； he wept like the downpouring of the clouds。 Then he knocked at the door and the women said； 'Who is at the door？' 'It is I； the blacksmith；' answered he and told them what the Cadi had said and how he would have them appear before him and make their plaint to him； that he might do them justice on their adversary。 'How can we go to him；' replied Zein el Mewasif； 'seeing the door is locked on us and our feet shackled and the Jeith； 'I will make keys for the locks and open the door and the shackles therewith。' 'But who will show us the Cadi's house？' asked she； and he said； 'I will describe it to you。' 'But how；' continued she； 'can we appear before him； clad as we are in haircloth； smoked with sulphur？' And he answered； 'He will not reproach this to you； considering your case。' So saying； he went forthright and made keys for the locks； wherewith he opened the door and the shackles； and loosing the latter from their legs； carried them forth and directed them to the Cadi's house。 Then Huboub did off the haircloth garments from her mistress's body and carried her to the bath； where she washed her and clad her in silken raiment； and her colour returned to her。
Now； as luck would have it； her husband was abroad at a bridefeast in the house of one of the merchants； so she adorned herself after the fairest fashion and betook herself to the Cadi； who rose to receive her。 She saluted him with dulcet speech and sweet words； transfixing him the while with the arrows of her glances； and said； 'May God prolong the life of our lord the Cadi and strengthen him to do justice！' Then she acquainted him with the affair of the blacksmith and that which he had done them of kindness and with the heartconfounding torments that the Jew had inflicted on her and her women and how they had been like to perish； nor was there any deliverance found for them ＇till the smith set them free＇。 'O damsel；' said the Cadi； 'what is thy name？' 'My name is Zein el Mewasif；' answered she； 'and this my maid's name is Huboub。' Quoth he； 'Thy name accordeth with its owner and its words conform to its meaning。' Whereupon she smiled and veiled her face； and he said to her； 'O Zein el Mewasif； hast thou a husband or not？' 'I have no husband；' answered she。 'And what is thy faith？' asked he。 'That of Islam；' replied she； 'and the religion of the best of men。' Quoth he； 'Swear to me by the Law； full of instances and admonitions； that thou art a Muslim。' So she swore to him and pronounced the profession of the faith。
Then said he； 'How es it that thou wastest thy youth with this Jew？' And she answered； 'Know； O Cadi （may God prolong thy days in contentment and bring thee to thy hopes and seal thine acts with benefits！）； that my father left me； after his death； fifteen thousand dinars； which he put into the hands of this Jew； that he might trade therewith and share the profit with me； the capital being secured by acknowledgment according to law。 When my father died； the Jew coveted me and sought me in marriage of my mother； who said； 〃How shall I cause her leave her faith and bee a Jewess？ By Allah； I will denounce thee to the authorities！〃 He was affrighted at her words and taking the money； fled to the town of Aden。 When we heard where he was； we came to Aden in search of him； and when we foregathered with him； he told us that he was trading in stuffs ＇with the money＇ and buying goods upon goods。 So we believed him and he ceased not to beguile us till he cast us into prison and fettered us and tortured us exceeding sore； and we are strangers and have no helper save God the Most High and our lord the Cadi。'
When the Cadi heard this； he said to Huboub； 'Is this indeed thy mistress and are ye strangers and is she unmarried？' And she ansarry her to me and be manumission ＇of my slaves＇ and fasting and pilgrimage and almsgiving ＇of all my estate＇ incumbent on me； if I do you not justice on this dog and punish him for that which he hath done！' And she answered； 'I hear and obey。' Then said he； 'Go； fort thy heart and that of thy lady； and tomorrow； if it please God the Most High； I will send for this infidel and do you justice on him and ye shall see wonders of his punishment。' So Huboub called down blessings upon him and went forth from him； ＇she and her mistress；＇ leaving him distracted with passion and lovelonging and desire。 Then they enquired for the house of the second Cadi and pres