O Night of Parting，how long thy stay * Whose latest hours aye the first portray；This endless circle that noways may * Show breach till the coming of Judgment-day；Day when dies the lover of parting-grief.'[525]
As they were in this mighty delight and joy engrossing they heard one of the servants of the Saint[526] smite the gong[527]
upon the roof，to call the folk to the rites of their worship；and he was even as saith the poet；'I saw him strike the gong and asked of him straightway，* Who made the Fawn[528] at striking going so knowing，eh？'
And to my soul，'What smiting irketh thee the more-- * Striking the gong or striking note of going，[529] say？'
--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-third Night； She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that Nur al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-girl rose forthwith and donned her clothes and ornaments；but this was grievous to Nur al-Din，and his gladness was troubled；the tears streamed from his eyes and he recited these couplets；'I ceased not to kiss that cheek with budding roses dight * And eyes down cast and bit the same with most emphatic bite；