Zein el Mewasif marvelled at the eloquence of his tongue and said to him； 'O Mesrour； leave this madness and return to thy senses and go thy ways； for thou hast wasted all thy substance at the game of chess； yet hast not attained to thy desire； nor hast thou any resource whereby thou mayst acplish it。' But he turned to her and said； 'O my lady； ask of me what thou wilt and I will bring it to thee and lay it at thy feet。' 'O Mesrour；' answered she； 'thou hast no money left。' 'O goal of all hopes；' rejoined he； 'if I have no money； the folk will help me。' Quoth she； 'Shall the giver turn asker？' And he said； 'I have friends and kinsfolk； and whatsoever I seek of them； they will give me。' Then said she； 'O Mesrour； I will have of thee four bladders of musk and four vases of civet and four pounds of ambergris and four thousand dinars and four hundred pieces of coloured brocade； wroughten with gold。 Bring me these things； and I will grant thee my favours。' 'This is a light matter to me； O thou that puttest the moons to shame；' replied he and went forth to fetch her what she sought。
She sent Huboub after him； to see what interest he had with the folk of whom he had spoken to her； but； as he went along the streets； he turned and seeing her afar off； waited till she came up to him and said to her； 'Whither away； O Huboub？' So she told him what her mistress had said to her and he said； 'By Allah； O Huboub； I have nothing！' 'Then why didst thou promise her？' asked she； and he answered； 'How many a promise is unkept of its maker！ Fine words needs must be in lovematters。' When she heard this； she said to him； 'O Mesrour； be of good heart and cheerful eye； for； by Allah； I will be the means of thy ing to enjoy her！' Then she left him and returned； weeping sore； to her mistress； to whom said she； 'O my lady； indeed he is a man of great consideration； wellreputed among the folk。' Quoth Zein el Mewasif； 'There is no resource against the ordinance of the Most High！ Verily； this man found not in me a passionate heart； for that I spoiled him of his substance and he got of me neither affection nor plaisance in granting him the amorous mercy； but； if I incline to his desire； I fear lest the thing be bruited abroad。' 'O my lady；' answered Huboub； 'verily； his present plight and the loss of his good is grievous upon us； and thou hast with thee none but myself and thy slavegirl Sukoub； so which of us two would dare prate of thee； and we thy handmaids？'
With this； she bowed her head and the damsels said to her； 'O my lady； it is our counsel that thou send after him and show him favour and suffer him not ask of the sordid； for how bitter is asking！' So she accepted their counsel and calling for inkhorn and paper； wrote him the following verses：
Fulfilment draws near； O Mesrour： rejoice in fair presage and true； For； tonight； when the darkness falls down； the deed without fail thou shalt do；
And ask not the sordid； O youth； for money to mend thine estate： Indeed； I was drunken； but now my wit is restored me anew。
Moreover； thy good that I took shall all unto thee be restored； And to crown； O Mesrour； my largesse； I'll add thee my favours thereto；
Since patience thou hadst and in the longsuffering and sweetness there was With a loved one's unkindness to bear； who wronged thee with rigours undue。
So hasten forthright to enjoy my possession； fair fall thee thereof！ And tarry not neither neglect； lest my folk e to know of us two。
Then e to us quickly； I pray； and loiter not neither delay； And eat of the fruits of delight； whilst my husband is absent； the Jew。
Then she folded the letter and gave it to Huboub； who carried it to Mesrour and found him weeping and reciting the following verses； in a transport of passion and lovelonging：
There blew upon my heart a breeze of love and wantonness； And all my entrails crumbled were with passion pitiless。
My longing； since my loved one's loss； is passing sore on me And still mine eyelids overflow for very tears' excess。
My heart with doubts and fears is racked； which did I but reveal Unto hard rocks and stones； forthright they'd soften for distress。
Ah； would I knew if I shall live to win to my delight； if； in th' enjoyment of my wish； my hope I shall possess！
Shall parting's nights； the wide outspread； be folded up again And shall I e'er of that be healed which doth my heart oppress？
As he was repeating these verses； Huboub knocked at the door； so he rose and opened to her； and she entered and gave him the letter。 He read it and said to her； 'O Huboub； what news bringest thou of thy mistress？' 'O my lord；' answered she； 'in this letter is what dispenses me from answering； for thou art of the folk of understanding。' And he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and repeated the following verses：
The letter came； and its contents rejoiced us； heart and brain； And in my very heart of hearts to keep it I were fain。
Yea； I redouble in desire； whene'er the writ I kiss； For 'tis as if 't the very pearl of passion did contain。
Then he wrote a letter in answer and gave it to Huboub； who returned with it to her mistress and fell to extolling his charms to her and expatiating on his generosity and good qualities； for she was bee a helper to him； to bring about his union with her。 'O Huboub；' said Zein el Mewasif； 'indeed he tarrieth to e to us。' And Huboub answered； 'He will certainly e speedily。' Hardly had she made an end of speaking when he knocked at the door； and she opened to him and brought him in to her mistress； who saluted him and bade him wele and seated him by her side。
Then she said to Huboub； 'Bring me a suit of the goodliest of apparel；' so she brought a dress embroidered with gold and Zein el Mewasif threw it over him； whilst she herself donned one of the richest of dresses and covered her head with a of pearls of the finest water。 About this she bound a fillet of brocade； embroidered with pearls and rubies and other jewels； from beneath which fell down two tresses ＇of plaited silk＇； each looped with a pendant of ruby； charactered with glittering gold； and she let down her hair； as it were the sombre night。 Moreover she incensed herself with aloeswood and scented herself with musk and ambergris； and Huboub said to her； 'God guard thee from the ＇evil＇ eye！' Then she began to walk； with a graceful swimming gait； whilst Huboub； who excelled in versemaking； recited the following in her honour：
She shames the cassiabranches with every step she tries And sore besets her lovers with glances from her eyes。
A moon from out the darkness appearing of her hair； It is as from her browlocks the very sun did rise。
Happy by whom the night long with all her charms she lies And happy he who； swearing by her life； for her dies！
Zein el Mewasif thanked her and went up to Mesrour； as she were the full moon all displayed。 When he saw her； he rose to his feet and exclaimed； 'Except my thought deceive me； she is no mortal； but one of the brides of Paradise！' Then she called for food and they brought a table； about whose marge were written the following verses：
Dip thou with spoons in saucers four and gladden heart and eye With many a various kind of stew and fricassee and fry。
Thereon fat quails （ne'er shall I cease to love and tender them） And rails and fowls and dainty birds of all the kinds that fly。
Glory to God for the kabobs； for redness all aglow； And potherbs steeped in vinegar； in porringers thereby！
Fair fall the rice with sweet milk dressed； wherein the hands did plungeAnd eke the forearms of the fair were buried； bracelethigh！
How my heart yearh with regret over two plates of fish That by two manchetcakes of bread of Tewarij （8） did lie！
Then they ate and drank and made merry； after which the servants removed the table of food and set on the wine service。 The cup and the bowl passed round between them and their hearts were gladdened。 Then Mesrour filled the cup and saying； 'To her whose I am and who is my mistress！' chanted the following verses：
I marvel at mine eyes that feed their fill upon the charms Of a fair maid whose beauty bright enlightens every place。
In all her time she hath no like nor any may pare With her for very goodliness and sweet harmonious grace。
The willow sapling envies her the slimness of her shape； When； in her symmetry arrayed； she fares with stately pace。
The crown of her； for radiance； is as the crescent moon； Ay； and the full moon of the dark she shames with shining face。
Whenas she walks upon the earth； her fragrance wafts abroad A breeze that scents her every hill and every level space。
'O Mesrour；' said she； 'whoso keepeth his faith and hath eaten our bread and salt； it behoveth us to give him his due； so put away from thee the thought of what hath passed and I will restore thee thy lands and houses and all I have taken from thee。' 'O my lady；' answered he； 'I acquit thee of that whereof thou speakest； though thou hadst been false to the oath we swore to each other； thou and I； for I will go and bee a Muslim。' （9） Then said Huboub to her； 'O my lady； thou art young of years and knowest many things； and I claim the intercession of God the Most High with thee； for； except thou do my bidding and heal my heart； I will not lie the night with thee in the house。' 'O Huboub；' replied her mistress； 'it shall be as thou wilt： so rise and make us ready another room。'
So she rose and made ready another room and adorned and perfumed it after the goodliest fashion； on such wise as her mistress loved and preferred； after which she set on fresh food and wine； and the cup went round between them and their hearts ewasif to Mesrour； 'O Mesrour； the time of union and favour is e； so； as thou studiest for my love； recite us some verses； surpassing of fashion。' So he recited the following ode：
I am ta'en captive； in my heart a fire flames up amain； Over a bond of lovedelight by sev'rance shorn in twain；
Ay； and for love of a fair maid； whose shape hath rent my heart； Whose cheeks so soft and delicate my reason do enchain。
Joined brows and arched and melting eyes of liquid black hath she And teeth that like the lightning flash； when she to smile doth deign。
Her years of life are ten and four； my tears； for love o