The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 09

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur al-Din heard the voice singing these verses he said in himself, "Verily this be the Lady Miriam chanting without hesitation or doubt or suspicion of one from without.[FN#1] Would Heaven I knew an my thought be true and if it be indeed she herself or other self!" And regrets redoubled upon him and he bemoaned himself and recited these couplets, "When my blamer saw me beside my love * Whom I met in a site that lay open wide, I spake not at meeting a word of reproach * Though oft it comfort sad heart to chide; Quoth the blamer, 'What means this silence that bars * Thy making answer that hits his pride?' And quoth I, 'O thou who as fool dost wake, * To misdoubt of lovers and Love deride;