ways, the children of the tent.[FN#87]
In the wide world no house thou hast, a homeless wanderer thou: 
     To thine own place thou shall be borne, an object for
     lament.[FN#88]
Forbear thy verse-making, O thou that harbourest in the camp,
     Lest to the gleemen thou become a name of wonderment. 
How many a lover, who aspires to union with his love, For all his
     hopes seem near, is baulked of that whereon he’s bent! 
Then get thee gone nor covet that which thou shall ne’er obtain;
     So shall it be, although the time seem near and the event. 
Thus unto thee have I set forth my case; consider well My words,
     so thou mayst guided be aright by their intent.

When she had made an end of her verses, she folded the letter and delivered it to the nurse, who took it and went with it to El Abbas.  When she gave it to him, he took it and breaking it open, read it and apprehended its purport; and when he came to the end of it, he swooned away.  After awhile, he came to himself and said, “Praised be God who hath caused her return an answer to my letter!  Canst thou carry her another letter, and with God the Most High be thy requital?” Quoth she, “And what shall letters profit thee, seeing she answereth on this wise?” But he said, “Belike, she may yet be softened.”  Then he took inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses: 

Thy letter reached me; when the words thou wrot’st therein I
     read, My longing waxed and pain and woe redoubled on my
     head. 
Yea, wonder-words I read therein, my trouble that increased And
     caused emaciation wear my body to a shred. 
Would God thou knewst what I endure for love of thee and how My
     vitals for thy cruelty are all forspent and dead! 
Fain, fain would I forget thy love.  Alack, my heart denies To be
     consoled, and ’gainst thy wrath nought standeth me in stead. 
An thou’dst vouchsafe to favour me,’twould lighten my despair,
     Though but in dreams thine image ’twere that visited my bed. 
Persist not on my weakliness with thy disdain nor be Treason and
     breach of love its troth to thee attributed;
For know that hither have I fared and come to this thy land, By
     hopes of union with thee and near fruition led. 
How oft I’ve waked, whilst over me my comrades kept the watch! 
     How many a stony waste I’ve crossed, how many a desert
     dread! 
From mine own land, to visit thee, I came at love’s command, For
     all the distance did forbid,’twixt me and thee that spread. 
Wherefore, by Him who letteth waste my frame, have ruth on me And
     quench my yearning and the fires by passion in me fed. 
In glory’s raiment clad, by thee the stars of heaven are shamed
     And in amaze the full moon stares to see thy goodlihead. 
All charms, indeed, thou dost comprise; so who shall vie with
     thee And who shall blame me if for love of such a fair I’m
     sped?