"The longing of a Bedouin maid, whose folks are far away, * Who yearns after the willow of the Hejaz and the bay,[FN#190]-- Whose tears, when she on travellers lights, might for their water serve * And eke her her passion, with its heat, their bivouac-fire purvey,-- Is not more fierce nor ardent than my longing for my love, * Who deems that I commit a crime in loving him alway."[FN#191]
Now when Shams al-Nahar heard these verses she slipped off the stool whereon she sat and fell to the earth fainting and became insensible to the world around her; upon which the damsels came and lifted her up. And when Ali bin Bakkar saw this from the balcony he also slipped down senseless, and Abu al-Hasan said, "Verily Fate hath divided love-desire equally upon you twain!"[FN#192] As he spoke lo! in came
