Satan! How durst he use such language to me and not dread the
Sultan's rage. Indeed, I am perplexed about his case: if I order
him to be put to death, it were unjust; and if I leave him alive
his boldness will increase." Quoth the old woman, "Come, write
him a letter; it may be he will desist in dread." So she called
for paper and ink case and pen and wrote these couplets,

"Thy folly drives thee on though long I chid, *
Writing in verse: how long shall I forbid?
For all forbiddal thou persistest more, *
And my sole grace it is to keep it hid;
Then hide thy love nor ever dare reveal, *
For an thou speak, of thee I'll soon be rid
If to thy silly speech thou turn anew, *
Ravens shall croak for thee the wold amid:
And Death shall come and beat thee down ere long, *
Put out of sight and bury 'neath an earthen lid:
Thy folk, fond fool! thou'lt leave for thee to mourn, *
And through their lives to sorrow all forlorn."

Then she folded the letter and committed it to the old woman, who
took it and returning to Taj al-Muluk, gave it to him. When he
read it, he knew that the Princess was hard hearted and that he
should not win access to her; so he complained of his case to the
Wazir and besought his counsel. Quoth the Minister, "Know thou
that naught will profit thee save that thou write to her and
invoke the retribution of Heaven upon her." And quoth the Prince,
"O my brother, O Aziz, do thou write to her as if my tongue
spake, according to thy knowledge." So Aziz took a paper and
wrote these couplets,