Her years of life are ten and four； my tears； for love of her； Resemble drops of dragon's blood； as from mine eyes they rain。
'Twixt stream and garden first mine eyes beheld her； as she sat； With face the full moon that outshone in heaven's high domain。
I stood to her； on captive wise； for awe； and said； 'The peace Of God for ever light on thee； O dweller in the fane！'
Then she； with sweet and dulcet speech； like pearls in order strung； My salutation graciously returned to me again；
And when she heard my speech to her； she knew for sure what I Desired； and therewithal her heart was hardened 'gainst her swain。
'Is not this idle talk？' quoth she； and I made answer； 'Spare the longing lover to upbraid； who doth of love plain。'
If thou vouchsafe me thy consent this day； the thing were light； Thy like belovéd is and mine still slaves of love in vain。'
And when she knew my wish； she smiled and answered； 'By the Lord Him who created heaven and earth and all that they contain；
＇I am＇ a Jewess； born and bred in Jewry's straitest sect And thou unto the Nazarenes as surely doth pertain。
How think'st thou to enjoy me； then； and art not of my faith？ Tomorrow； sure； thou wilt repent； if thou this thing obtain。
Is't lawful with two faiths to jest in love？ The like of me Were blamed of all and looked upon with flouting and disdain。
Wilt thou thus mock at all belief and all religious rites And doubly guilty； this my faith and eke thine own profane？
An if thou lov'dst me； thou'dst bee a Jew for love of me； And； save my favours； all to thee forbidden would remain；
And by th' Evangel thou wouldst swear a strait and binding oath To keep the secret of the love that is betwixt us twain。'
So by the Pentateuch I swear； a true and certain oath； That； in the time that's past and gone and ne'er will be again；
I swore to her upon my faith； upon my law and creed； And her unto a solemn oath on like wise did constrain。
Quoth I； 'O term of all desire； what is thy name？' And she； 'Zein el Mewasif am I called in this my own demesne。'
'Zein el Mewasif；' then cried I； 'my entrails are enthralled For love of thee； thou hast indeed enslaved me； heart and brain。'
I saw her beauty underneath the chinveil and became Afflicted sore at heart； distraught for love and longing pain；
Nor neath the curtain did I cease to humble me and eke Of the much passion to make moan that in my heart did reign；
Till； when she saw my plight and all the transport of my love； A smiling visage she unveiled； that did me straight assain。
The wind of amorous delight blew full on us and she Scented of musk her neck and wrists； till all the house had ta'en
Perfume from her and every place； whilst I her lips did kiss And from her sweet and smiling mouth its wine of balm did drain。
Under her robes she swayed； as sways the willow； and delight And union did permit； till then forbidden to the swain。
We lay the night together and with many a clip and kiss And sucking lips； was union perfected for us twain。
There's no adornment of the world； excepting she thou lov st Be near thee； so thou mayst of her the wished delight obtain。
Whenas day broke； she rose to say farewell； with lovely face Excelling far the moon that shines in heaven's spreading plain；
And at her leavetaking； this verse she chanted； whilst the tears Ran down her cheeks； now one by one； now linked in many a chain；
'By the Great Oath and by the nights so fair； I'll ne'er fet The pact of Allah 'twixt us two； whilst I on life remain！'
Zein el Mewasif was charmed with these verses and said to him； 'O Mesrour； how goodly are thy parts！ May he live not who would harm thee！' Then she entered a privy chamber and called him。 So he went in to her and taking her in his arms； embraced her and kissed her and got of her that which he had deemed impossible and rejoiced in the attainment of the sweet of amorous delight。 Then said she； 'O Mesrour； now we are bee lovers； thy good is forbidden to me and is lawfully thine again。' So she restored to him all she had won of him and said to him； 'Hast thou a garden； whither we may go and take our pleasure therein？' 'Yes； O my lady；' answered he； 'I have a garden that hath not its like。'
Then he returned to his house and bade his slavegirls make ready a handsome room and provide a splendid banquet； after which he summoned Zein el Mewasif； who came with her damsels； and they ate and drank and made merry； whilst the cup passed round between them and their hearts were glad。 Then the lovers withdrew to privy chamber and Zein el Mewasif said to Mesrour； 'I have bethought me of some pleasant verses； which I would fain sing to the lute。' And he answered； 'Do so。' So she took the lute and tuning it； sang the following to pleasant air：
Mirth from the smitten strings o'ereth me and cheer； Sweet is our morningdraught； when daybreak draweth near。
Love still its bondman's heart uncovereth and in The tearing down of veils doth lovelonging appear；
With wine strained bright； so pure and goodly that it seems The sun in hands of moons （10） unveiled and shining clear。
It bringeth us anights its gladness and with joy Obliterates the stains of dreariment and fear。
Then said she to him； 'O Mesrour； recite us somewhat of thy verse and favour us with the fruit of thy wit。' So he recited the following：
In a full moon we do rejoice； that carries round its wine； And in the sweet strains of the lute in gardens fair and fine；
Whose turtles in the dawninghour sing and whose branches sway And eke their paths the uttermost of all desire enshrine。
When he had finished； she said to him； 'If thou be occupied with love of me； make us some verses on that which hath passed between us。' 'With all my heart；' answered he and recited the following ode：
Stay thou and hear what me befell For love of yonder fair gazelle
A white doe shot me with a shaft And fierce her glances on me fell。
Ravished with love； my every shift Straitened on me for passion's spell；
I pined for a coquette； enclosed With spearpoints inexpugnable。
I saw her midst a garden fair： In symmetry she did excel。
'Peace be on thee！' quoth I to her： She answered； 'And on thee as well。'
'What is thy name？' asked I； and she； 'My name my qualities doth tell。
Zein el Mewasif （11） am I called。' 'Pity my case deplorable；'
Quoth I； 'such longing with me is； No lover is my parallel。'
'An if thou love and wouldst my charms Enjoy；' said she； 'I will not sell
My favours save for wealth galore； Past count and unattainable。
Raiment of silk I'll have of thee And costly damasks； many an ell；
And musk four quintals； pearls of price； Cornelians uncountable；
Silver and gold and trinkets fine And jewelled gauds I'll have as well；
One night of my possession these Shall buy： I'll bate no particle。'
I showed fair patience； though； God wot； For fires of love I was in hell；
And she to bless me deigned one night The new moon's radiance on us fell。
If th' envious blame me； 'List； O folk；' Quoth I； 'to that I have to tell；
Long locks hath she； as black as night； And in her cheeks a rose doth dwell；
As red as very flames of fire： Her looks are arrows sharp and snell；
And in her lashes is a sword That serves her lovers to repel。
Wine in her mouth is and her lips With dews like limpid water well。
Her teeth are like a necklace strung With pearls of price； fresh from the shell。
Her neck； perfected in all grace； Is as the neck of a gazelle。
As marble white her bosom is； Wherein； like towers； her breasts do swell。
Her belly hath a fold perfumed With essences invaluable；
And underneath it lies a thing； That is my wishes' pinnacle；
Fat； plump； highcushioned； O my lords； As 'twere a king's throne； sooth to tell；
To whom I plain me of the woes My soul to madness that enspell。
Betwixten columns twain thou'lt find High benches set before the cell。
It hath such attributes as daze Men's wits and wonderment pel；
Wide lips it hath and mouth； to boot； As 'twere a mouth of mule or well；
An eye of red it shows and lips Like camel's lips： its face doth swell；
For very redness； still with wrath。 So look； O man； thou guard thee well。
If thou e to it with intent To do； thou'lt find it hot as hell；
Ardent of meeting and endowed With strength to battle fierce and fell；
And well I wot； each champion； eased Of lust of battle； 'twill repel。
Bytimes thou'lt find it with a beard； As 'twere a man's； another spell
Thou'lt find it beardless； hot with lust Of battle 'gainst the infidel。
One who is great of grace and sheen To thee of this doth tidings tell；
One from whom Zein herself alone For all perfection bears the bell。
I came to her by night and got That which was sweet as ？nomel；
Yes； and the night I lay with her Did all mine other nights excel。
When daybreak came； with newmoon face She rose and shape as flexible
As swaying boughs or slender spears； And turned to me to say farewell。
Quoth she； 'When shall the nights return Wherein such joyance us befell？'
And I； 'O lustre of mine eyes； e；' answered； 'when it likes thee well。'
Zein el Mewasif was charmed with these verses and the utmost gladness possessed her。 Then said she； 'O Mesrour； the day is at hand and there is nothing for it but to depart； for fear of scandal。' 'I hear and obey；' answered he and rising； carried her to her house； after which he returned home and passed the rest of the night meditating on her charms。 When the morning appeared and gave forth its light and shone； he made ready a sumptuous present and carried it to her and sat with her。
They abode thus awhile； in all delight and solace of life； till one day there came to Zein el Mewasif a letter from her husband； advising her of his speedy return。 'May God not preserve him nor quicken him！' exclaimed she。 'If he e hither； our life will be troubled。 Would I might despair of him！' Presently came Mesrour and sat talking with her； as of wont； and she said to him； 'O Mesrour； I have received a letter from my husband； announcing his speedy return from his travels。 What is to be done； since neither of us can live without the other？' 'I know not；' answered he； 'but thou art better able to judge