Tales from the Arabic, vol 3

t el Milan, the young man hath paid down thy price and we have bidden him hither; so he hath come to our dwelling and we have entertained him, and he would fain have thee be present with him."

Therewithal the damsel rose briskly and putting off her clothes, washed and donned sumptuous apparel and perfumed herself and went out to him, as she were a willow-wand or a bamboo-cane, followed by a black slave girl, bearing the lute. When she came to the young man, she saluted him and sat down by his side. Then she took the lute from the slave-girl and tuning it, smote thereon in four-and-twenty modes, after which she returned to the first mode and sang the following verses:

Unto me the world's whole gladness is thy nearness and thy sight; All incumbent thy possession and thy love a law of right. In my tears I have a witness; when I call thee to my mind, Down my cheeks they run like torrents, and I cannot stay their flight. None, by Allah, 'mongst all creatures, none I love save thee alone!