of rubies, which he gave to my father, and indeed he hath taken
up his abode in the house of El Ghitrif and abideth without
silver or gold? Wherefore, I conjure thee by Allah, O nurse,
return to him and cut off his hope of me."

Accordingly the nurse returned to El Abbas, without letter or
answer; and when she came in to him, he saw that she was troubled
and noted the marks of chagrin on her face; so he said to her,
"What is this plight?" Quoth she, "I cannot set out to thee that
which Mariyeh said; for indeed she charged me return to thee
without letter or answer." "O nurse of kings," rejoined El Abbas,
"I would have thee carry her this letter and return not to her
without it." Then he took inkhorn and paper and wrote the
following verses:

My secret is disclosed, the which I strove to hide; Of thee and
of thy love enough have I abyed.
My kinsmen and my friends for thee I did forsake And left them
weeping tears that poured as 'twere a tide.
Yea, to Baghdad I came, where rigour gave me chase And I was
overthrown of cruelty and pride.
Repression's draught, by cups, from the beloved's hand I've
quaffed; with colocynth for wine she hath me plied.
Oft as I strove to make her keep the troth of love, Unto
concealment's ways still would she turn aside.
My body is dissolved with sufferance in vain; Relenting, ay, and
grace I hoped should yet betide;
But rigour still hath waxed on me and changed my case And love
hath left me bound, afflicted, weeping-eyed.
How long shall I anights distracted be for love Of thee? How long