One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  “Al-Hayfá with verses a-tip of tongue * Comes suing mercy for

  love so strong:

  She hath no mercy fro’ me, but still * She pleadeth a plea that

  our love was long:

  She falsed, turned face, doubted, recked her naught * And her

  hard false heart wrought me traitor’s wrong:

  Were my heart now changčd her love to woo * She with quick

  despisal my heart had stung:

  Were my eyne to eye her, she’d pluck them out * With tip of

  fingers before the throng:

  Soft and tranquil life for her term she seeks * While with

  hardness and harshness our souls are wrung.

  Then Yusuf folded the paper and handed it to Ibn Ibrahim and ordered him a robe of honour and an hundred dinars. So he took them and rode forth until he drew near the Palace of Al-Hayfa, when he tethered his dromedary and hid her in a cave whose mouth he walled with stones. Then he went down to the river and swam it till he reached the other side; and entering into the presence of Al-Hayfa he drew forth the paper and committed it to her. But she, after perusing it, wept with sore weeping and groaned until she swooned away for excess of tears and for the stress of what had befallen her. Such was the effect of what she had read in the letter, and she knew not what might be the issue of all this affair and she was perplext as one drunken without wine. But when she recovered she called for pen-case and paper, and she wrote these improvised couplets,

  “O Lord of folk, in our age alone * And O Raper of hearts from

  the bonny and boon:

  I have sent to thee ‘plaining of Love’s hard works * And my

  plaint had softened the hardest stone:

  Thou art silent all of my need in love * And with shafts of

  contempt left me prone and strown.”

  And after she had ended writing she folded her note and gave it to Ibn Ibrahim who took it, and cried to his slaves, “Saddle my she-dromedary,”, after which he mounted and fared until he had made the city of Sind. Then he repaired to Yusuf and after greetings handed the letter to him, but the Prince after perusing it243 threw it in his face, and presently rose and would have left him. But Ibn Ibrahim followed him and heard him say to his pages, “Send him back without beating him,” and they did accordingly, after forbidding him the place. So he again bestrode his she-camel and ceased not pushing on till he arrived at the Palace of Al-Hayfa where he presented himself in her presence.244 But when he handed to her the writ she found it was that very same she had sent to the Prince, so she wept and sorrow was sore upon her and presently she cried, “O Ibn Ibrahim! what’s to do?” He replied, “When I delivered thy writ to him, he brake its seal and read it and threw it in my face: then he rose in wrath from beside me, and as I followed he bade his slaves and pages drive me away, adding, ‘I have for her nor answer nor address’; and this was all he did.” When the Princess heard his words, she felt the matter to be grievous, and she wept unknowing how she should act, and fainted for awhile, and when she recovered she said, “O Ibn Ibrahim, what is this affair and on what wise shall I behave? Do thou advise me in my case; and haply joy shall come to me from thy hand, for that thou be a Counsellor of the Kings and their boon-companion.” “O my lady,” he replied, “do thou not cut off thy tidings from him and haply shall Almighty Allah change his heart from case to case and peradventure insistance overcometh hindrance.”245 Quoth she, “Had he sent me a reply I had been rightly directed as to what I should write, but now I wot not what to indite, and if this condition long endure I shall die.” “Address him again,” answered he, “and I will fare back once more and fain would I ransom thee with my life, nor will I return without a reply.” — And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

  The Six Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night,

  Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!” She replied, “With love and good will!” It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that Ibn Ibrahim said to Al-Hayfa, “Do thou write to him and there is no help but that I return to thee with a reply, albe life depart from me.” Then she asked for pen-case and paper and thereon indited the following couplets,

  “Ah would thou knew what I of parting dree * When all my hiddens

  show for man to see;

  Passion and longing, pine and lowe o’ love * Descend surchargčd

  on the head of me:

  God help the days that sped as branches lopt * I spent in Garden

  of Eternity.246

  And I of you make much and of your love * By rights of you, while

  dearest dear be ye:247

  May Allah save you, parted though we be, * While bide I parted

  all unwillingly:

  Then, O my lord, an come thou not right soon * The tomb shall

  home me for the love of thee.”

  And when she had written her reply, she largessed Ibn Ibrahim with an hundred dinars, after which he returned248 to the capital of Sind, where he found Yusuf issuing forth to hunt; so he handed to him the letter, and the Prince returning citywards set apart for him a fair apartment and spent the livelong night asking anent Al-Hayfa. And when it was morning he called for pen-case and paper whereupon he wrote these improvised couplets,

  “You dealt to us a slender dole our love mote satisfy, * Yet nor

  my gratitude therefor nor laud of me shalt gain:

  I’m none of those console their hearts by couplets or by verse *

  For breach of inner faith by one who liefly breaks the

  chain:

  When so it fortunes she I love a partner gives to me * I wone in

  single bliss and let my lover love again:

  Take, then, what youth your soul desires; with him forgather, for

  * I aim not at your inner gifts nor woo your charms I deign:

  You set for me a mighty check of parting and ill-will * In public

  fashion and a-morn you dealt me bale and bane:

  Such deed is yours and ne’er shall it, by Allah satisfy * A boy,

  a slave of Allah’s slaves who still to slave is fain.”

  Then Prince Yusuf robed Ibn Ibrahim in a robe of green; and giving him an hundred gold pieces, entrusted him with the letter which he carried to Al-Hayfa and handed it to her. She brake the seal and read it and considered its contents, whereupon she wept with sore weeping which ended in her shrieking aloud; and after she abode perplext as to her affair and for a time she found no sweetness in meat and drink, nor was sleep pleasant to her for the stress of her love-longing to Yusuf. Also her nature tempted her to cast herself headlong from the terrace of the Palace; but Ibn Ibrahim forbade her saying, “Do thou write to him replies, time after time; haply shall his heart be turned and he will return unto thee.” So she again called for writing materials and indited these couplets, which came from the very core of her heart,

  “Thou art homed in a heart nothing else shall invade; * Save thy

  love and thyself naught shall stay in such stead;

  O thou, whose brilliancy lights his brow, * Shaped like

  sandhill-tree with his locks for shade,

  Forbid Heaven my like to aught else incline * Save you whose

  beauties none like display’d:

  Art thou no amongst mortals a starless moon * O beauty the dazzle

  of day hath array’d?”

  These she committed249 to Ibn Ibrahim who rode again on his route and forgathered with Prince Yusuf and gave him the letter, whose contents
were grievous to him; so he took writing materials and returned a reply in the following verses,

  “Cease then to carry missives others write, * O Son of Ibrahim,

  shun silly plight:

  I’m healed of longing for your land and I * Those days forget and

  daysters lost to sight:

  Let then Al-Hayfá learn from me I love * Distance from her and

  furthest earthly site.

  No good in loving when a rival shows * E’en tho’ ‘twere victual

  shared by other wight;

  These modes and fashions never mind arride * Save him unknowing

  of his requisite.”

  Then he entrusted the writ to Ibn Ibrahim, after giving him an hundred dinars, and he fared forth and ceased not faring till he had reached the palace of the Princess. Presently he went in and handed to her the writ, and as soon as she had read it, the contents seemed to her sore and she wept until her vitals were torn with sobs. After this she raised her hand250 heavenwards and invoked Allah and humbled herself before him and said, “My God, O my Lord, do Thou soften the heart of Yusuf ibn Sahl and turn him mewards and afflict him with love of me even as thou hast afflicted me with his love; for Thou to whatso Thou wishest canst avail, O bestest of Rulers and O forcefullest of Aiders.” Anon she fell to writing and indited these verses,

  “Love rules my bosom and a-morn doth moan * The Voice, ah Love,

  who shows strength weakness grown!

  His lashes’ rapier-blade hath rent my heart; * That keen curved

  brand my me hath overthrown:

  That freshest cheek-rose fills me with desire: * Fair fall who

  plucketh yonder bloom new-blown!

  Since love befel me for that youth did I * Begin for charms of

  him my pride to own:

  O thou my hope, I swear by Him did share * Love and decreed thou

  shouldst in longing wone,

  In so exceeding grief why sight I thee * Jacob made Joseph by

  the loss of me?”

  She then handed the letter to Ibn Ibrahim, after giving him an hundred dinars; and he returned forthright to the city of Sind and, repairing to Yusuf, gave him the writ which he took and read. Hereupon the Prince waxed sore sorrowful and said to himself, “By Allah, indeed Al-Hayfa cleaveth to love.” — And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

  The Six Hundred and Ninety-first Night,

  Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!” She replied, “With love and good will!” It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that Prince Yusuf said, “By Allah, had Al-Hayfa any save myself she had not sent me these letters; but the outgoings of the heart conciliate lovers and correspond each with other.” Then he took writing materials and after thinking awhile he improvised these couplets,

  O thou of stature fair with waist full slight251 *

  Surpassing sandhill-branch and reedlet light;

  I deal in words and gems of speech that melt, * By none ‘mid all

  of mortal kind indite;

  From my tribe’s lord, a lion rending foes * Moon of Perfections

  and ‘The Yusuf’ hight:

  Homed in thy home I joyed my joys with maids *

  High-breasted,252 virgins weakening forceful sprite;

  Your songs and touch of lute ‘mid trembling wine * Consoled all

  sorrows, made all hearts delight,

  Till you to other deignčd union grant * And I your nature learnt

  and learnt aright,

  Whereat my vitals failed, sore bane befel, * Pine,

  disappointment, and injurious blight.

  No virtue dwelleth in the fairest forms * But forms the fairest

  are by goodness dight.

  How many a maiden deckt with crescent brow * Hath nature dealing

  injury and despite?

  Man hath no merit save in kindly mind * And loquent tongue with

  light of wits unite.”253

  And when Yusuf had ended his poetry he presented an hundred dinars to Ibn Ibrahim, who took the letter and fell to cutting through the wilds and the wolds, after which he went in to the presence of Al-Hayfa and gave her the missive. She wept and wailed and cried, “O Ibn Ibrahim, this letter is indeed softer than all forewent it; and as thou hast brought it to me, O Ibn Ibrahim, I will largesse thee with two honourable robes of golden brocade and a thousand dinars.” So saying, she called for pen-case and paper whereupon she indited these couplets,

  “O my lord, these words do my vitals destroy, * O thou gem of the

  earth and full moon a-sky!

  How long this recourse to denial and hate * With heart whose

  hardness no rocks outvie?

  Thou hast left my spirit in parting-pangs * And in fires of

  farness that flame on high:

  How long shall I ‘plain of its inner pains? * Haps thy grace

  shall grant me reunion-joy:

  Then pity, my vitals and whatso homed * Thy form within me before

  I die.”

  She then handed the paper to Ibn Ibrahim who again set out and sought the Prince and kissed his hand and gave him the letter; whereupon said he, “O Ibn Ibrahim, come not thou again bringing me aught of missive — ever or any more after this one.” Quoth Ibn Ibrahim, “Wherefore, O my lord, shall I not do on such wise?” and quoth Yusuf “Suffer her to learn the fates of men-kind.” Said the other, “I conjure thee, by Allah Almighty, ho thou the King, inasmuch as thou art of the seed of mighty monarchs, disappoint her not of her question; and Allah upon thee, unless thou show pity to her heart it haply will melt away with melancholy and love and madness for thy sake; and all of this is for the truth of her affection.” Hereupon Yusuf smiled and taking up his pen wrote these couplets,

  “Stay thy tears; for hindrance and parting hie, * And the endless

  of Empire aye glorify:

  From my core of heart fly all cark and care * After parting that

  seemed all Time defy.

  A Lion am I for the love of him * Whom the slanderer’s part ne’er

  can satisfy:

  My mind and soul be this day with you * But my heart and thought

  are at enmity:

  Thought and mind delight in Love’s cruelty * While heart and soul

  for re-union cry:

  And if mind and thought e’er can overcome * Soul and heart,

  Re-union thou ne’er shalt ‘spy.”

  And when Yusuf had finished his writing, he gifted Ibrahim with an hundred dinars and sent him again to Al-Hayfa with the letter, and she on receiving it shed tears and said, “O Ibn Ibrahim, seeing that his soul and heart be with us, Allah Almighty availeth to turn his thoughts and his fancy and the mind of him.” Hereupon she took writing materials and wrote,

  “Calm, O my lord, thy vitals’ painful plight, * O thou whose

  semblance lighteth sooty night:

  O gladding heart, O sweet of union, Oh * Whose charms the tribe

  in festal hours delight:

  O high in honour passing height of Kings, * O thou with purest

  blood ‘mid Kings bedight,

  Fear’st not the Throne254 of God (O hope of me!) * When

  harming heart whereon all pains alight?

  Then deign thou grant me union, for such wise * Shall rest my

  heartstrings and dark care wax bright:

  From none, except that Lion O’ men Ali255 * Comes pardon

  proving to man- kind his might.”

  Then
she passed her missive to Ibn Ibrahim giving him an hundred gold pieces and he pushed his pace till he reached the city of Sind, where he went in to Yusuf and kissed his hands and feet. The Prince taking the letter smiled and laughed and said, “O Ibn Ibrahim, when Allah (be He extolled and exalted!) shall decree my faring I will fare to them256 within a short while; but do thou return and let know that I intend forgathering with them.” Quoth the other, “Ah! O my lord, do thou indite her a reply, otherwise she will have no trust in me; so the Prince fell to penning these lines,

  “My vitals restless bide for very jealousy * The while my heart

  must ever show unfriendly gree:

  Yet I obeyed my heart and tore it out for him * Albe man ever

  holds his heart in amity;

  And I have heard my lover drives me forth from him * But Allah

  grant my prayer of benedicite.

  In anxious care I came and sought your side this day * Naught

  shall the youth exalt save generosity.”

  Then Prince Yusuf passed the letter to Ibn Ibrahim who, after receiving his hundred dinars, repaired to Al-Hayfa and greeted her257 informing her the while that her lover was about to make act of presence. — And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was