The
princess went on to shake him and say, 'My life on thee, give ear
unto me! Awake and look on the narcissus and the tender green
and enjoy my body and my secret charms and dally with me and
touzle me from now till break of day! I conjure thee by Allah, O
my lord, sit up and lean against the pillow and sleep not!'
Still he made her no answer, but breathed heavily in his sleep.
'Alas! Alas!' continued she. 'Thou art proud in thy beauty and
grace and lovely looks! But if thou art handsome, so am I; what
then is this thou dost? Have they lessoned thee to flout me or
has the wretched old man, my father, made thee swear not to speak
to me to-night?' But he opened not his mouth neither awoke,
whereat her passion redoubled and God inflamed her heart with
love of him. She stole one glance at him that cost her a
thousand sighs: her heart fluttered and her entrails yearned and
she exclaimed, 'Speak to me, O my lord! O my friend, my beloved,
answer me and tell me thy name, for indeed thou hast ravished my
wit!' Still he abode drowned in sleep and answered her not a
word, and she sighed and said, 'Alas! Alas! why art thou so
self-satisfied?' Then she shook him and turning his hand over,
saw her ring on his little finger, whereat she cried out and
said, with a sigh of passion, 'Alack! Alack! By Allah, thou art
my beloved and lovest me! Yet meseems thou turnest away from me
out of coquetry, for all thou camest to me whilst I was asleep
and knew not what thou didst, and tookest my ring.
Pages:
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187