But，'added she'day and night alternate not upon aughtbut they change it.'Then she raised her eyes to heaven and said'O my God and my Master and my Lordlike as Thou hast afflicted me with love of Jubeir ben Umeireven so do Thou afflict him with love of me and transfer the passion from my heart to his！'Then she gave me a hundred dinars for my pains and I took it and returned to the palacewhen I found the Sultan come back from hunting；so I took my pension of him and made my way back to Baghdad.
Next yearI repaired to Bassoraas usualto seek my pension，and the Sultan paid it to me；but as I was about to return to BaghdadI bethought me of the lady Budour and said to myself，'By AllahI must needs go and see what hath befallen between her and her lover！'So I went to her house and finding the porch swept and sprinkled and slaves and servants and pages standing before the doorsaid to myself'Most like grief hath broken the lady's heart and she is deadand some Amir or other hath taken up his abode in her house.'So I went on to Jubeir's housewhere I found the benches of the porch broken down and no pages at the dooras of wontand said to myself'Belike he too is dead.'Then I took up my station before the door of his house and with my eyes running over with tearsbemoaned it in the following verses：
Lordsthat are gonebut whom my heart doth evermore ensue，Return；so shall my festal says return to me with you.
I stand before your sometime steadbewailing your abodesWith quivering lidsfrom which the tears rain downlike summer dew.
WeepingI question of the house and ruins'Where is he Who was the source of benefits and bounties ever new？'
[They answer] 'Go thy waysfor those thou lov'st from the abode Departed are and neath the dust are buried；so adieu！'
May God not stint us of the sight [in dreams] of all their charms Nor be their noble memories aye absent from men's view！
As I was thus bewailing the folk of the housethere came a black slave thereout and said to me'Hold thy peaceO old man！ May thy mother be bereft of thee！ What ails thee to bemoan the house thus？'Quoth I'I knew it of yorewhen it belonged to a good friend of mine.'What was his name？'asked the slave. And I answered'Jubeir ben Umeir the Sheibani.'And what hath befallen him？'rejoined he. 'Praised be Godhe is yet in the enjoyment of wealth and rank and prosperityexcept that God hath stricken him with love of a damsel called the lady Budour；and he is overcome with love of herthatfor the violence of his passion and tormenthe is like a great rock overthrown. If he hungerhe saith not'Feed me；'norif he thirstdoth he say'Give me to drink.'Quoth I'Ask leave me to go in to him.'O my lord，'said the slave'Wilt thou go in to him who understands or to him who understands not？'I must needs see himwhatever be his case，'answered I.
Se he went in and presently returned with permission for me to enterwhereupon I went in to Jubeir and found him like a rock overthrownunderstanding neither sign nor speech. I spoke to himbut he answered me not；and one of his servants said to me'O my lordif thou know aught of verserepeat itand raise thy voice；and he will be aroused by this and speak with thee.'So I recited the following verses：
Budour's love hast thou forgotten or art deaf still to her sighs？ Wak'st anightsor do thine eyelids close upon thy sleeping eyes？
If thy tears flow fast and freelynight and day longtorrent-wiseKnow thouthenthat thou shalt sojourn evermore in Paradise.
When he heard thishe opened his eyes and said'WelcomeO Ibn Mensour！ Verilythe jest is become earnest.'O my lord，'
said I'is there aught thou wouldst have me do for thee？'
'Yes，'answered he；'I would fain write her a letter and send it to her by thee. If thou bring me back an answerthou shalt have of me a thousand dinars；and if nottwo hundred for thy pains.'Do what seemeth good to thee，'said I. So he called to one of his slave-girls for inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses：
By AllahO my ladyhave ruth on meI pray！ For all my wit by passion is ravished quite away.
Yealove for thee and longing have mastered me and clad With sickness and bequeathed me abjection and dismay.
AforetimeO my ladyby love I set small store And deemed it light and easy to bearuntil to-day；
But now that Love hath shown me the billows of its seaThose I excuserepentingwho languish neath its sway.
Vouchsafe thy grace to grant me；orif thou wilt me slayAt leastthenfor thy victim forget thou not to pray.
Then he sealed the letter and gave it to me. I took it and repairing to Budour's houseraised the curtain of the door，little by littleas of wontand looking insaw ten damsels，high-bosomed maidslike moonsand the lady Budour sitting in their midstas she were the full moon among stars or the sun，when it is clear of clouds；nor was there on her any trace of pain or care. As I looked and marvelled at her caseshe turned and seeing me standing at the gatesaid to me'Welcome and fair welcome to theeO Ibn Mensour！ Come in.'So I entered and saluting hergave her the letter. She read it and laughing，said to me'O Ibn Mensourthe poet lied not when he said：
The love of thee I will endure with patient constancyTill such time as a messenger shall come to me from thee.
O Ibn Mensour，'added she'I will write thee an answer that he may give thee what he promised thee.'May God requite thee with good！'answered I. So she called for inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses：
How comes it my vows I fulfilled and thouthou wast false to thy plight？ Thou sawst me do justice and truthand yet thou thyself didst unright.
'Twas thou that begannest on me with rupture and rigourI trow；'Twas thou that play'dst fouland with thee began the untruth and the slight.
Yeastill I was true to my troth and cherished but thee among men And ceased not thine honour to guard and keep it unsullied and bright，Till tidings of fashions full foul I heardas reported of theeAnd saw with mine eyes what thou didstto harm me and work me despite.
