A plain and literal translation of the Arabian nights entertainments, now entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and — Part 138

By what thine eyelids show of Kohl and coquetry! ✿ By what thy shape displays of lissome symmetry! By what thy liplets store of honey-dew and wine! ✿ By what thy mind adorns of gracious kindly gree! To me thy sight dream-visioned, O my hope! exceeds ✿ The happiest escape from horriblest injury.

Then the youth opened his bales and displayed his merchandise to Taj al-Muluk in detail, piece by piece, and amongst them he brought out a gown of satin brocaded with gold, worth two thousand dinars. When he opened the gown there fell a piece of linen from its folds. As soon as the young merchant saw this, he caught up the piece of linen in haste and hid it under his thigh; and his reason wandered, and he began versifying:—

When shall be healed of thee this heart that ever bides in woe? ✿ Than thee the Pleiad-stars more chance of happy meeting show. Parting and banishment and longing pain and lowe of love, ✿ Procrastinating[478] and delay—these ills my life lay low: Nor union bids me live in joy, nor parting kills by grief, ✿ Nor travel draws me nearer thee nor nearer comest thou: Of thee no justice may be had, in thee dwells naught of ruth; ✿ Nor gain of grace by side of thee, nor flight from thee I know: For love of thee all goings forth and comings back are strait ✿ On me; and I am puzzled sore to know where I shall go.

Taj al-Muluk wondered with great wonder at his verse, and could not comprehend the cause. But when the youth snatched up the bit of linen and placed it under thigh, he asked him, "What is that piece of linen?" "O my Lord," answered the merchant, "thou hast no concern with this piece." Quoth the King's son, "Show it me;" and quoth the merchant, "O my Lord, I refused to show thee my goods on account of this piece of linen; for I cannot let thee look upon it."——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

Now when it was the Hundred-and-twelfth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant said to Taj al-Muluk, "I did not refuse to show thee my goods save on this account, for I cannot let thee look upon it." Whereupon Taj al-Muluk retorted, "Perforce I must and will see it;" and insisted and became angry. So the youth drew it out from under his thigh, and wept and moaned and redoubled his sighs and groans, and repeated these verses:—