Then the damsel took the lute and touching itknew that it was other than as she had left it and said'Who hath touched my lute？'Quoth they'None of us hath touched it.'Nayby Allah，'rejoined she'some one hath touched itand he a past master in the craft；for he hath ordered the strings and tuned them after the fashion of one who is right skilled in the art.'
Quoth I'It was I tuned it.'ThenGod on thee，'answered she'take it and play on it！'So I took it and playing a rare and difficult measurethat came nigh to deaden the live and raise the deadsang thereto the following verses：
I had a heartwherewith of yore I lived： 'Twas seared with fire and all consumed indeed.
Her lovealack I was not vouchsafed to me；Unto the slave'twas not of Heaven decreed.
If what I taste be passion's very foodThen all who love upon its like must feed.
When I had finishedthere was not one of the company but sprang from his place and sat down before mesaying'God on theeO our lordsing us another song.'With all my heart，'said I and playing another measure in masterly fashion，sang thereto the following：
O thou whose heartfor fortune's blowsis all consumed and spedSorrows with whom from every side have taken up their stead，Unlawful unto hermy heart who pierces with her shaftsIs that my blood whichbreast-bones 'twixt and vitalsshe hath shed.
'Twas plainupon the parting daythat her resolveour loves To sunderunto false suspect must be attributed.
She pours forth blood she had not shedif passion had not been. Will none my murderess ensue and wreak me on her head？
When I had made an end of this songthere was not one of them but rose to his feet and threw himself to the groundfor excess of delight. Then I cast the lute from my hand；but they said'Allah on theelet us hear another songso God increase thee of His bounty！'O folk，'replied I'I will sing you another song and another and another and will tell you who I am. Know that I am Ishac ben Ibrahim el Mausiliand by Allah，I bear myself haughtily to the Khalifwhen he seeks me. Ye have today made me hear [abuse from] an unmannerly fellow such as I loathe；and by AllahI will not speak a word nor sit with youtill ye put yonder quarrelsome churl out from among you！'
Quoth the latter's companion to him'This is what I feared and warned thee against.'So they took him by the hand and put him out；and I took the lute and sang over again the songs of my fashion that the damsel had sung. Then I whispered the host that she had taken my heart and that I had no patience to endure from her. Quoth he'Thou shalt have her and all that pertains to her of clothes and jewelson one condition.'What is that？'asked I. 'It is，'answered he'that thou abide with me a month.'It is well，'rejoined I；'I will do this.'So I abode with him a whole monthwhilst none knew where I was and the Khalif sought me everywherebut could come by no news of me；and at the end of this timethe merchant delivered to me the damseltogether with all that pertained to her of things of price and an eunuch to attend her.
I brought her to my lodgingfeeling as I were lord of the whole worldfor stress of delight in her；then rode forthright to El Mamoun. When he saw mehe said'Out on theeO Isaac，where hast thou been all this while？'I acquainted him with the story and he said'Bring me the man at once.'So I told him where he dweltand he sent and fetched him and questioned him of the case；whereupon he repeated the story and the Khalif said to him'Thou art a man of a generous mindand it is just that thou be upheld in thy generosity.'Then he ordered him a hundred thousand dirhems and said to me'O Isaacbring me the damsel.'So I brought her to himand she sang and delighted him. He was greatly gladdened by her and ordered her fifty thousand dirhemssaying to me'I appoint her of service every Thursdaywhen she must come and sing to me from behind the curtain.'Soby Allahthis ride of mine was a source of profit both to me and to others.
