office; so Khalif wished him continuance of honour and endurance
of days and said, "Will the Commander of the Faithful deign give
me leave to bring him a singer, a lute-player her like was never
heard among mortals ever?" Quoth the Caliph, "Thou art
permitted!" So he kissed ground before him and going to a secret
closet, called Kut al-Kulub, who came after she had disguised and
falsed and veiled herself, tripping in her robes and trinkets;
and she kissed ground before the Commander of the Faithful. Then
she sat down and tuning the lute, touched its strings and played
upon it, till all present were like to faint for excess of
delight; after which she improvised these verses,

"Would Heaven I wot, will ever Time bring our beloveds back
again? * And, ah! will Union and its bliss to bless two
lovers deign?
Will Time assure to us united days and joinŠd joy, * While from
the storms and stowres of life in safety we remain?
Then O Who bade this pleasure be, our parting past and gone, *
And made one house our meeting-stead throughout the Nights
contain;
By him, draw near me, love, and closest cling to side of me *
Else were my wearied wasted life, a vanity, a bane."

When the Caliph heard this, he could not master himself, but rent
his raiment and fell down a-swoon; whereupon all who were present
hastened to doff their dress and throw it over him, whilst Kut
al-Kulub signed to Khalif and said to him, "Hie to yonder chest
and bring us what is therein;" for she had made ready therein a
suit of the Caliph's wear against the like of such hour as this.
So Khalif brought it to her and she threw it over the Commander