With the tears of my eye I have traced itthat so unto thee it may The tidings of what I suffer for thee to thee convey.
God watch o'er a visagethat veileth itself with beautya face That the full moon serves as a bondman and the stars as slaves obey！
Yea'Allah protect her beautywhose like I ne'er beheld！ The boughs from her graceful carriageindeedmight learn to sway.
I beg thee to grant me a visit；algatesif it irk thee nought.
An thou knewst how dearly I'd prize itthou wouldst not say me nay.
I give thee my lifeso haply thou mayst accept it： to me Thy presence is life eternal and hell thy turning away.
Then he folded the letter and kissing itgave it to the nurse and said to her'O nurseincline thy lady's heart to me.'I hear and obey，'answered she and carried the letter to her mistresswho kissed it and laid it on her headthen wrote at the foot of it these verses：
Harkyethou whose heart is taken with my grace and loveliness，Have but patienceand right surely thou my favours shalt possess.
When we were assured the passion thou avouchedst was sincere And that that which us betided had betided thee no less，Gladly had we then vouchsafed thee what thou sighedst forand more；But our guardians estopped us to each other from access.
When night darkens on the dwellingsfires are lighted in our heart And our entrails burn within usfor desire and love's excess.
Yeafor love and longingslumber is a stranger to our couch And the burning pangs of fever do our body sore distress.
'Twas a law of passion everlove and longing to conceal；Lift not thou the curtain from us nor our secret aye transgress.
Ahmy heart is overflowing with the love of yon gazelle；Would it had not left our dwellings for the distant wilderness.
Then she folded the letter and gave it to the nursewho took it and went out to go to the young man；but as she went forth the doorher master met her and said to her'Whither away？'
'To the bath，'answered she；butin her troubleshe dropped the letterwithout knowing itand one of the servantsseeing it lying in the waypicked it up. When she came without the doorshe sought for itbut found it notso turned back to her mistress and told her of this and what had befallen her with the Vizier.
Meanwhilethe latter came out of the harem and seated himself on his couch. Presentlythe servantwho had picked up the lettercame in to himwith it in his handand said'O my lordI found this paper lying on the floor and picked it up.'
So the Vizier took it from his handfolded as it wasand opening itread the verses above set down. Then he examined the writing and knew it for his daughter's hand；whereupon he went in to her motherweeping so sore that his beard was drenched. 'What makes thee weepO my lord？'asked she；and he answered'Take this letter and see what is therein.'So she took it and saw it to be a love-letter from her daughter Rose-in-bud to Uns el Wujoud；whereupon the tears sprang to her eyes；but she mastered herself and swallowing her tearssaid to her husband'O my lordthere is no profit in weeping： the right course is to cast about for a means of preserving thine honour and concealing thy daughter's affair.'And she went on to comfort him and lighten his trouble. Quoth he'I am fearful of what may ensue this passion of my daughterand that for two reasons. The first concerns myself；it isthat she is my daughter；the secondthat Uns el Wujoud is a favourite with the Sultan，who loves him with an exceeding loveand maybe great troubles shall come of this affair. What deemest thou of the matter？'
'Wait，'answered she'whilst I pray to God for direction.'
So she prayed a two-bow prayeraccording to the prophetic ordinance of the prayer for divine guidance；after which she said to her husband'Amiddleward the Sea of Treasures stands a mountain called the Mount of the Bereaved Mother，'（the cause of which being so named shall follow in its placeif it be the will of God，）'and thither can none comesave with difficulty；
do thou make her an abiding-place there.'
So the Vizier and his wife agreed to buildon the mountain in questiona strong castle and lodge his daughter therein with a year's victualto be annually renewedand attendants to serve and keep her company. Accordinglyhe collected builders and carpenters and architects and despatched them to the mountain，where they builded her an impregnable castlenever saw eyes its like. Then he made ready victual and carriage for the journey and going in to his daughter by nightbade her make ready to set out on a pleasure-excursion. She refused to set out by nightbut he was instant with hertill she went forth；and when she saw the preparations for the journeyher heart misgave her of separation from her beloved and she wept sore and wrote upon the door the following versesto acquaint him with what had passed and with the transports of passion and grief that were upon hertransports such as would make the flesh quakethat would cause the hearts of stones to melt and eyes to overflow with tears：
By AllahO houseif the loved one pass in the morning-glow And greet with the greeting of loversas they pass to and fro，Give him our salutationa pure and fragrant oneFor that we have departedand whither he may not know.
Why on this wise they hurry me off by stealthanights And lightly equippedI know notnor whither with me they go.
Neath cover of night and darknessthey carry me forthalack I Whilst the birds in the brake bewail us and make their moan for our woe；And the tongue of the case interprets their language and cries，'AlasAlas for the pain of parting from those that we loveheigho！'
When I saw that the cups of sev'rance were filled and that FateindeedWould give us to drink of its bitter，unmingledwould we or no，I blended the draught with patience becomingas best I might；But patience avails not to solace my heart for your loss，I trow.
