after another； till there was none left but Noureddin； whom the headsman had left till the last； in pity of his tender age and slender shape。
When the king saw him； he knew him right well and said to him； 'Art thou not Noureddin； that was with us before？' 'I was never with thee；' answered he； 'and my name is not Noureddin； but Ibrahim。' 'Thou liest；' rejoined the king； 'thou art Noureddin； he whom I gave to the old woman； the prioress； to help her in the service of the church。' But Noureddin said； 'O my lord； my name is Ibrahim。' Quoth the king； 'Wait awhile；' and bade his knights fetch the old woman forthright； saying； 'When she es and sees thee； she will know if thou be Noureddin or not。' At this juncture； in came the one eyed vizier and kissing the earth before the king； said to him； 'Know； O king； that the palace is finished； and thou knoweth that I vowed to the Messiah that； when I had made an end of building it； I would slaughter thirty Muslims before its gate； wherefore I am e to get them of thee； that I may sacrifice them and so fulfil my vow to the Messiah。 They shall be at my charge； by way of loan and whenas there e prisoners to my hands； I will give thee other thirty in their stead。' 'By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith；' replied the king； 'I have but this one captive left！' And he pointed to Noureddin。 'Take him and slaughter him now； and the rest I will send thee； whenas there e to my hands ＇other＇ prisoners of the Muslims。'
So the vizier took Noureddin and carried him to his palace； thinking to slaughter him on the threshold of the gate； but the painters said to him； 'O my lord； we have two days' painting yet to do； so have patience with us and delay to slaughter this captive； till we have made an end of our work； belike by that time the rest of the thirty will e； so thou mayst despatch them all at one but and acplish thy vow in one day。' So the vizier bade imprison him and they carried him to the stables and left him there in chains； hungering and thirsting and making moan for himself； for indeed he saw death face to face。
Now it chanced； by the ordinance of destiny and foreordered fated that the king had two chargers； own brothers； （96） such as the kings of the Chosroes might sigh in vain to possess themselves of one of them； they were called Sabic （97） and Lahic （98） and one of them was pure white and the other black as the darksome night。 And all the kings of the isles had said； 'Whoso stealeth us one of these horses； we will give him all he seeketh of red gold and pearls and jewels；' but none could avail unto this。 Now one of them fell sick of a jaundice and there came a whiteness over his eyes； （99） whereupon the king sent for all the farriers in the city to treat him； but they all failed of his cure。 Presently the vizier came in to the king and finding him troubled； because of the horse； thought to do away his concern and said to him； 'O king； give me the horse and I will cure him。' The king consented and caused carry the horse to the stable wherein was Noureddin； but； when he missed his brother； he cried out with an exceeding great cry and neighed； so that he affrighted all the folk。 The vizier； seeing that he did thus but because of his separation from his brother； sent to tell the king； who said； 'If this； which is but a beast； cannot brook to be parted from his brother； how should it be with those that have reason？' And he bade his grooms take the other horse and put him with his brother in the vizier's stable； saying； 'Tell the vizier that the two horses are a present from me to him； for the sake of my daughter Meryem。'
Noureddin was lying in the stable； chained and shackled； when they brought the horses； and saw that one of them had a web in his eyes。 Now he had some knowledge of horses and of the treatment of their diseases； so he said in himself； 'By Allah； this is my opportunity！ I will go to the vizier and lie to him； saying； 〃I will cure thee this horse：〃 then will I do with him somewhat that will destroy his eyes； and he will kill me and I shall be at rest from this wretched life。' So he waited till the vizier entered the stable； to look upon the horse； and said to him； 'O my lord； what wilt thou give me； if I cure this horse； and make his eyes whole again？' 'As my bead liveth；' replied the vizier； 'an thou cure him； I will spare thy life and give thee leave to ask a boon of me！' And Noureddin said； 'O my lord； mand my hands to be unbound。' So the vizier bade unbind him and he rose and taking virgin glass （100） brayed it and mixed it with unslaked lime and onionjuice。 Then he applied the whole to the horse's eyes and bound them up； saying in himself： 'Now will his eyes be put out and they will kill me and I shall be at rest from this wretched life。' And he passed the night with a heart free of care and trouble； humbling himself to God the Most High and saying； 'O Lord； in Thy knowledge is that which dispenseth with asking！'
When the day came and the sun shone out upon the hills and valleys； the vizier came to the stable and loosing the bandage from the horse's eyes； found them ＇altogether cured and＇ handsomer than ever； by the ordinance of the King who opeh ＇unto His servants the fates of sustenance and mercy＇。 So he said to Noureddin； 'O Muslim； never in the world saw I the like of thee for the excellence of thy skill。 By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith； thou fillest me with wonder； for all the farriers of our land have failed to heal this horse's eyes！' Then be did off his shackles with his own hand and clad him in a costly dress and made him his master of the horse。 Moreover； he appointed him stipends and allowances and lodged him in an apartment over the stables。 So Noureddin abode awhile； eating and drinking and making merry and manding and forbidding those who tended the horses； and whoso neglected them or failed to fodder those tied up in the stable wherein was his service； he would throw down and beat grievously and lay him by the legs in shackles of iron。 Moreover； he used every day to go down to the two chargers and rub them down with his own hand； by reason of that which he knew of their value in the vizier's eyes and his love for them； wherefore the latter rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy and his breast dilated and he was glad； unknowing what was to be the issue of his affair。
Now in the new palace； that he had built for the Princess Meryem； was a lattice window overlooking his old house and Noureddin's lodging。 The vizier had a daughter； a virgin of extreme beauty； as she were a fleeing gazelle （101） or a bending branch； and it chanced that she sat one day at the lattice aforesaid and heard Noureddin singing and solacing himself under his afflictions by reciting the following verses：
O censor of love； thou that wast fortunate aye； Bright with the sheen of thy joys as the blossomed spray：
If Fate with its plagues should bite on thee one day； Then of the taste of its bitter cup thou'lt say；
'Alas for Love and out on his whole array｜ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。'
But today thou art safe as yet from his cruel spite And his perfidy irks thee not and his fell unright；
Yet blame not； I prithee the lovedistracted wight Who cries； for the stress of the passion to which he's prey；
'Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。'
Be not of those that look on love with disdain； But rather excuse and pity the lovers' pain；
Lest thou one day be bound in the selfsame chain And drink of the selfsame bitter draught as they。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
I too of old was empty of heart like thee And lay down to rest in peace and passion free；
The taste of the sleepless nights was strange to me Until he called me to dwell beneath his sway。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Yea； none can tell of Love and its sore duresse But he who is sick and weak for its lonesomeness；
He who hath lost his reason for lovedistress； Whose drink is the bitter dregs of his own dismay。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
How many a lover watches the darksome night； His eye forbidden the taste of sleep's delight！
How many； whose tears like rivers down a height Course down their cheeks for passion both night and day！
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
How many a mortal is maddened for lovedespair； Wakeful； for void of sleep is the dusky air！
Languor and pain are the weeds that he doth wear And even his dreams from him are banished aye。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
How often my patience fails and my bones do waste And my tears； like a fount of blood； stream down in haste！
For my life； that of old was pleasant and sweet of taste； A slender maiden hath bittered this many a day。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Alack for the man among men who loves like me； Whose eyes through the hours of the darkness sleepless be；
Who drowns in his own despair； as it were a sea； And cries； for the stress of an anguish without allay；
'Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。'
Whom hath not Love stricken and wounded indeed？ Who was there aye from his easy springes freed？
Whose life is empty of him and who succeed In winning to his delights without affray？
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Be Thou his helper； O Lord； who's sick at heart； Protect him； Thou that the best protector art。
To him fair patience to bear his woes impart； In all his trouble be Thou his help and stay。
Alas for Love and out on his whole array！ My heart with his flaming fires is burnt away。
Quoth the vizier's daughter to herself； 'By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith； but this Muslim is a handsome youth！ Doubtless； he is a lover separated from his mistress。 I wonder if his beloved is fair like unto him and if she pines for