Quoth he''Twas the sun lately gave me the wede；From the rubicund hue of his setting it came.
So my garment and wine and the colour so clear Of my cheek are as flame upon flame upon flame.'
Then the boy doffed the red tunic and abode in the black；whereupon Abou Nuwas redoubled in attention to him and repeated the following verses：
He came in a tunic all sable of hue And shone outthus veiled in the darkto men's view.
'Thou passest，'quoth I'without greetingand thus Givest cause to exult to the rancorous crew.
Thy garment resembles thy locks and my lotYeablackness and blackness and blackness thereto.'
Then the chamberlain returned to Haroun er Reshid and acquainted him with the poet's predicamentwhereupon he bade him take a thousand dirhems and go and take him out of pawn. So he returned to Abou Nuwas and paying his scorecarried him to the Khalifwho said'Make me some verses containing the words'O Trusty One of Godwhat is to do？''I hear and obey，O Commander of the Faithful，'answered he and improvised the following verses：
My night was long for sleeplessness and care. Weary I was and many my thoughts were.
I rose and walked awhile in my own placeThen midst the harem's cloistered courts did fare，Until I chanced on somewhat black and found It was a damsel shrouded in her hair.
God bless her for a shining moon！ Her shape A willow-wandand pudour veiled the fair.