An thou have ruth on me and bring me to his sightO rare！
Whate'er thou wilt thy recompense shall be；Rubies and precious stones and freshly gathered pearls And every kind of gem that is in earth and sea.
SurelyO friendthou wilt with my desire comply；For all my heart's on fire with love and agony.
When the fisherman heard thishe wept and sighed and lamented；thenrecalling what had betided himself in the days of his youthwhen love had the mastery over him and transport and love-longing and distraction were sore upon him and the fires of passion consumed himreplied with these verses：
Indeedthe lover's excuse is manifestWasting of body and streaming tearsunrest，Eyesin the darkness that waken stilland heartAs 'twere a fire-boxbespeak him love-oppress.
Passionindeedafflicted me in youthAnd I good money from bad learnt then to test.
My soul I bartereda distant love to win；To gain her favours，I wandered East and West；And eke I ventured my life against her grace And deemed the venture would bring me interest.
For law of lovers it is that whoso buys His love's possession with lifehe profits best.
Then he moored his boat to the shore and bade her embark，saying'I will carry thee whither thou wilt.'So she embarked and he put off with her；but they had not gone farbefore there came out a stern-wind upon the boat and drove it swiftly out of sight of land. The fisherman knew not whither he went，and the wind blew without ceasing three daysat the end of which time it fellby leave of God the Most Highand they sailed ontill they came in sight of a city builded upon the seashoreand the fisherman set about making fast to the land.
Now the King of the citya very powerful prince called Dirbas，was at that moment sittingwith his sonat a window in the palace giving upon the seaand chancing to look out to sea-wardthey saw the fishing-boat enter the harbour. They observed it narrowly and espied therein a young ladyas she were the full moon in the mid-heavenwith pendants in her ears of fine balass rubies and a collar of precious stones about her neck. So the King knew that this must be the daughter of some king or great nobleand going forth of the sea-gate of the palacewent down to the boatwhere he found the lady asleep and the fisherman busied in making fast to the shore. He went up to her and aroused herwhereupon she awokeweeping；and he said to her'Whence comest thou and whose daughter art thou and what brings thee hither？'I am the daughter of Ibrahim，Vizier to King Shamikh，'answered she；'and the manner of my coming hither is strange and the cause thereof extraordinary.'
And she told him her whole storyhiding nought from him；then she sighed deeply and recited the following verses：
Tears have mine eyelids wounded soreand wonder-fast they flow Adown my cheek for parting's pain and memory and woe，For a beloved's sakewho dwells for ever in my heartThough to foregather with himself I cannot winheigho！
Fairbright and brilliant is his facein loveliness and graceTurkArab and barbarian he cloth indeed o'ercrow.
The full moon and the sun contend in deference to himAnd when he rises into sighttheylover-likebend low.
His eyes with wondrous witchery are deckedas 'twere with kohl；Even as a bowthat's bent to shoot its shaftsto thee they show.
O thouto whom I have perforce revealed my casehave ruth On one with whom the shifts of love have sported long eno'.
Lobroken-heartedLove hath cast me up upon thy coast，Wherefore I trust that thou on me fair favour wilt bestow.
The noble whowhen folk of worth alight within their bounds，Do honour and protect themwin increase of glory so.
Cover thou thenmy lordmy hopetwo lovers'follies up And let them to thy succouring hand their loves'reunion owe.
Then she shed plenteous tears and recited these verses also：
I liveda marvel till I saw in lovethen lived no mo'；Each month to thee as Rejeb beas free from fear of foe！
Is it not strange thaton the morn they went awayI lit Fire in my vitals with the tears that from mine eyes did flow？
Indeedmine eyelids ran with bloodand on the wasted plain Of my sad cheekthat therewithal was wateredgold did grow.
Yeafor the safflower huethat thence o'erspread my cheeks，they seem The shirt of Josephsteeped in bloodto make a lying show.
When the King heard thishe was certified of her passion and love-longing and was moved to compassion for her；so he said to her'Fear nothing and be not troubled；thou hast attained the term of thy wishes；for needs must I bring thee to thy desire.'
And he recited the following verses：
Daughter if noblesthou hast reached thy wishes'goalI trow：
In happy presage then rejoice and fear not any woe.
Treasures this very daywill I collect and neath escort Of horsemen and of championsto Shamikh they shall go.
Brocade and bladders full of musk I will to him despatch And eke white silver and red gold I'll send to him also.
Yeaand a letter neath my hand my wish for ties of kin And for alliance with himself shall give him eke to know；And all endeavour will I useforthwiththat he thou lov'st Once more with thee may be conjoinedto part from thee no mo.
Itoohave battened upon love and know the taste thereof And can excuse the folk who've quaffed the self-same cup of woe.
Thenreturning to his palacehe summoned his Vizier and causing pack him up countless treasurebade him carry it to King Shamikh and say to him'The King is minded to ally himself with thee by marrying Uns el Wujoudshine officerto his daughter. So needs must thou send him with methat the marriage may be solemnized in her father's kingdom.'And he wrote a letter to King Shamikhto this effectand gave it to the Viziercharging him without fail bring back Uns el Wujoud，on pain of deposition from his office. 'I hear and obey，'answered the Vizier and setting out forthrightin due course arrived at the court of King Shamikhto whom he delivered the letter and presentssaluting him in the name of King Dirbas.
