第65章
Then she turned to Ali bin Bakkar and said to him，'O my lord，passion hath not reached this extreme pass with thee without my feeling the like；but we have nothing to do save to bear patiently what calamity hath befallen us.'Replied he，'By Allah，O my lady，union with thee may not content me nor gazing upon thee assuage the fire thou hast lighted，nor shall leave me the love of thee which hath mastered my heart but with the leaving of my life.'So saying，he wept and the tears ran down upon his cheeks like thridded pearls；and when Shams alNahar saw him weep，she wept for his weeping. But Abu alHasan exclaimed，'By Allah，I wonder at your case and am confounded at your condition；of a truth，your affair is amazing and your chance dazing. What！ this weeping while ye are yet together： then how will it be what time ye are parted and far separated？'And he continued，'Indeed，this is no tide for weeping and wailing，but a season for meeting and merrymaking；rejoice，therefore，and take your pleasure and shed no more tears！'Then Shams alNahar signed to a slavegirl，who arose and presently returned with handmaids bearing a table，whose dishes of silver were full of various rich viands. They set the table before the pair and Shams alNahar began to eat[181] and to place tidbits in the mouth of Ali bin Bakkar；and they ceased not so doing till they were satisfied，when the table was removed and they washed their hands. Then the waitingwomen fetched censers with all manner of incense，aloewood and ambergris and mixed scents；and sprinklingflasks full of rosewater were also brought and they were fumigated and perfumed. After this the slaves set on vessels of graven gold，containing all kinds of sherbets，besides fruits fresh and dried，that heart can desire and eye delight in；and lastly one brought a flagon of carnelion full of old wine. Then Shams alNahar chose out ten handmaids to attend on them and ten singing women；and，dismissing the rest to their apartments，bade some of those who remained strike the lute. They did as she bade them and one of them began to sing，'My soul to him who smiled back my salute，
In breast reviving hopes that were no mo'e：
The hand o'Love my secret brought to light，
And censor's tongues what lies my ribs below：[182]
My teardrops ever press twixt me and him，
As though my teardrops showing love would flow.'
When she had finished her singing，Shams alNahar rose and，filling a goblet，drank it off，then crowned it again and handed it to Ali bin Bakkar；And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Fiftyfourth Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that Shams alNahar filled a goblet and handed it to Ali bin Bakkar；after which she bade another damsel sing；and she began singing these couplets，'My tears thus flowing rival with my wine，Pouring the like of what fills cup to brink：[183]
By Allah wot I not an run these eyne Wi'wine，or else it is of tears I drink.'
And when she ended her recitation，Ali bin Bakkar drained his cup and returned it to Shams alNahar. She filled it again and gave it to Abu alHasan who tossed it off. Then she took the lute，saying，'None shall sing over my cup save myself；'so she screwed up the strings and intoned these verses，'The tears run down his cheeks in double row，And in his breast high flameth loverlowe：
He weeps when near，afearing to be far；
And，whether far or near，his teardrops flow.'
And the words of another，'Our life to thee，O cupboy Beautydight！
From parted hair to calves；from black to white：
Sol beameth from thy hands，and from thy lips
Pleiads，and full Moon through thy collar's night，[184]
Good sooth the cups，which made our heads fly round，
Are those thine eyes pass round to daze the sight：
No wonder lovers hail thee as full moon
Waning to them，for self e'er waxing bright：
Art thou a deity to kill and quicken，
Bidding this fere，forbidding other wight？
Allah from model of thy form made Beau
ty and the Zephyr scented with thy sprite.
Thou art not of this order of human
ity but angel lent by Heaven to man.'