Replied Aziz，'And I am of like mind and fain would I die under thy feet： but，O my brother，my heart is concerned for my mother.'When we shall have won our wish，'said the Prince，'there will be naught save what is well！'Now the Wazir continued charging Taj alMuluk to be patient，whilst Aziz entertained him every evening with talk and recited poetry to him and diverted him with histories and anecdotes.And so they fared on diligently night and day for two whole months，till the way became tedious to Taj alMuluk and the fire of desire redoubled on him； and he broke out，'The road is lonesome； grow my grief and need，While on my breast love fires for ever feed：
Goal of my hopes，sole object of my wish！ By him who moulded man from drop o' seed，I bear such loads of longing for thy love，Dearest，as weight of al Shumm Mounts exceed：
O 'Lady of my World'[12] Love does me die； No breath of life is left for life to plead；But for the union hope that lends me strength，My weary limbs were weak this way to speed.'
When he had finished his verses，he wept （and Aziz wept with him）
from a wounded heart，till the Minister was moved to pity by their tears and said，'O my lord，be of good cheer and keep thine eyes clear of tears； there will be naught save what is well！'
Quoth Taj alMuluk，'O Wazir，indeed I am weary of the length of the way.Tell me how far we are yet distant from the city.'
Quoth Aziz，'But a little way remaineth to us.'Then they continued their journey，cutting across river vales and plains，words and stony wastes，till one night，as Taj alMuluk was sleeping，he dreamt that his beloved was with him and that he embraced her and pressed her to his bosom； and he awoke quivering，shivering with pain，delirious with emotion，and improvised these verses，'Dear friend，my tears aye flow these cheeks adown，With longsome pain and pine，my sorrow's crown：
I plain like keening woman child bereft，And as night falls like widow dove I groan：