'Is it not strange one house us two contain * And still thou draw'st not near, or talk we twain? Only our eyes tell secrets of our souls, * And broken hearts by lovers' fiery pain; Winks with the eyelids, signs the eyebrow knows; * Languishing looks and hand saluting fain.'
When I heard these words my vitals were stirred, O Commander of the Faithful, and I was moved to delight, for her excessive loveliness and the beauty of the verses she sang; and I envied her her skill and said, 'There lacketh somewhat to thee, O damsel!' Whereupon she threw the lute from her hand in anger, and cried, 'Since when are ye wont to bring ill-mannered louts into your assemblies?' Then I repented of what I had done, seeing the company vexed with me, and I said in my mind, 'My hopes are lost by me'; and I weet
