Pagina 483 di 1116

When I ended my verses tears came again; but the poetry and the

weeping only added fury to his fury, and he recited:-

"'Twas not satiety bade me leave the dearling of my soul, * But

that she sinned a mortal sin which clipt me in its clip: She

sought to let another share the love between us twain, * But my

True Faith of Unity refuseth partnership."[FN#348]

When he ceased reciting I wept again and prayed his pardon and

humbled myself before him and spoke him softly, saying to myself,

"I will work on him with words; so haply he will refrain from

slaying me, even though he take all I have." So I complained of

my sufferings and began to repeat these couplets:-