第67章 KEMEREZZEMAN AND BUDOUR.(29)

Then she swore to him a solemn oath，by Him whose existence is unconditioned，that this thing should befall betwixt them but once and never again for all time，and vowed to him that the desire of him was driving her to death and perdition.So he went with her，on this condition，to her privy closet，that she might quench the fire of her passion，saying，There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High，the Supreme！This is the ordinance of the All-powerful，the All-wise！'And did off his trousers，in the utmost confusion，with the tears running from his eyes for stress of affright；whereat she smiled and carrying him on to a couch，said to him，After this night，thou shalt see nought that will displease thee.'Then she turned to him，kissing and clipping him and twining leg with leg，and said to him，Put thy hand，between my thighs，to that thou wottest of，so haply it may be won to stand up after prostration.'He wept and said，I am not good at aught of this.'But she said，As I live，an thou do as I bid thee，it shall profit thee！'So he put out his hand，with a heart on fire for confusion，and found her thighs fresher than cream and softer than silk.The touching of them pleasured him and he moved his hand hither and thither，till he came to a dome abounding in benedictions and movements and said in himself，Belike this king is a hermaphrodite，nor male nor female.'So he said to her，O King，I cannot find that thou hast any manly gear，even as other men；what then moved thee to do thus？When the princess heard this，she laughed till she fell backward，and said，O my beloved，how quickly thou hast forgotten the nights we have lain together！'Then she made herself known to him and he knew her for his wife，the Lady Budour，daughter of King Gha？our.So he embraced her and she embraced him and they kissed each other；then they lay down on the bed of delight，repeating the words of the poet：

Whenas the softness of a shape did bid him to my arms，That，as it were a trailing vine with twinings did him ply And on the hardness of his heart its very softness shed，He yielded，though at first he feigned reluctance to comply，And came，provided with a stock of caution safe and sure，Fearing lest，when he did appear，the railers should him spy.

His waist of buttocks maketh moan，that lay upon his feet A very camels load，what time he would a-walking hie.

Girt with his glances trenchant swords and cuirassed with the mail Of his bright locks，as twere the dusk new fallen from the sky，His fragrance brought me from afar the news of his approach，And forth，as bird let out from cage，to meet my love fled I.

I laid my cheek within his way，beneath his sandal-soles，And lo，their dusts collyrium healed the ailment of mine eye！

With an embrace I hoisted up the flag of loves new linked And loosed the knot of my delight，that made as twould deny.

Then let I call high festival，and gladness，all unmixed With any thought of troublousness，came flocking in reply.

The full moon handselled with the stars the teeth，like grains of pearl，That on the laughing face of wine now dance，now stirless lie.

So in the niche of their delight I gave me up to joys，The veriest sinner would repent if he their like might try.

The morning-glories of his face be pledge Ill neer，in him，Forget the writ that biddeth us One only glorify！[59]

Then they told one another all that had befallen them since their separation，after which he began to upbraid her，saying，What moved thee to deal with me as thou hast done this night？Do not reproach me，'replied she；for I did this but by way of jest and for increase of pleasure and gladness.'When it was morning and the day arose with its light and shone，she sent to King Armanous and acquainted him with the truth of the case and that she was wife to Kemerezzeman.Moreover，she told him their story and the manner of their separation and how his daughter Heyat en Nufous was yet a maid.He marvelled greatly at their story and bade record it in letters of gold.Then he turned to Kemerezzeman and said，O kings son，art thou minded to marry my daughter and become my son-in-law？I must consult the princess Budour，'answered he；for I owe her favour without stint.'So he took counsel with her and she said，This is well seen；marry her and I will be her handmaid，for I am her debtor for kindness and favour and good offices，more by token that we are here in her place and that the king her father has loaded us with benefits.'When he saw that she inclined to this and was not jealous of Heyat en Nufous，he agreed with her thereupon and told King Armanous what she had said，whereat he rejoiced greatly.