Volume Seven-第65章

Then she turned to Ali bin Bakkar and said to him，'O my lord，passion hath not reached this extreme pass with thee without my feeling the like；but we have nothing to do save to bear patiently what calamity hath befallen us.'Replied he，'By Allah，O my lady，union with thee may not content me nor gazing upon thee assuage the fire thou hast lighted，nor shall leave me the love of thee which hath mastered my heart but with the leaving of my life.'So saying，he wept and the tears ran down upon his cheeks like thridded pearls；and when Shams alNahar saw him weep，she wept for his weeping. But Abu alHasan exclaimed，'By Allah，I wonder at your case and am confounded at your condition；of a truth，your affair is amazing and your chance dazing. What！ this weeping while ye are yet together： then how will it be what time ye are parted and far separated？'And he continued，'Indeed，this is no tide for weeping and wailing，but a season for meeting and merrymaking；rejoice，therefore，and take your pleasure and shed no more tears！'Then Shams alNahar signed to a slavegirl，who arose and presently returned with handmaids bearing a table，whose dishes of silver were full of various rich viands. They set the table before the pair and Shams alNahar began to eat[181] and to place tidbits in the mouth of Ali bin Bakkar；and they ceased not so doing till they were satisfied，when the table was removed and they washed their hands. Then the waitingwomen fetched censers with all manner of incense，aloewood and ambergris and mixed scents；and sprinklingflasks full of rosewater were also brought and they were fumigated and perfumed. After this the slaves set on vessels of graven gold，containing all kinds of sherbets，besides fruits fresh and dried，that heart can desire and eye delight in；and lastly one brought a flagon of carnelion full of old wine. Then Shams alNahar chose out ten handmaids to attend on them and ten singing women；and，dismissing the rest to their apartments，bade some of those who remained strike the lute. They did as she bade them and one of them began to sing，'My soul to him who smiled back my salute，