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Updated: June 15, 2025
'I hear and obey, replied Mesrour and accoutring Abou Nuwas, as the Khalif had bidden him, carried him round to all the lodgings of the harem, in number as the days of the year; but he made all the girls laugh with his buffooneries and each gave him something, so that he returned with a pocketful of money.
'Confound thee! cried the Khalif. 'It is as if thou hadst been present with us. Then he took him by the hand and carried him to the damsel, who was clad in a dress and veil of blue. When Abou Nuwas saw her, he was profuse in expressions of admiration and recited the following verses: Say to the lovely maid, i' the veil of azure dight, "By Allah, O my life, have pity on my plight!
So he returned to Abou Nuwas and paying his score, carried him to the Khalif, who said, 'Make me some verses containing the words, "O Trusty One of God, what is to do?" 'I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful, answered he and improvised the following verses: My night was long for sleeplessness and care. Weary I was and many my thoughts were.
For we have read, in such and such a history, what says Ibn eth Thumam: Tell not thy secrets: keep them with all thy might. A secret revealed is a secret lost outright. If thine own bosom cannot thy secrets hold, Why expect more reserve from another wight? Or, as well says Abou Nuwas on the same subject: The fool, that to men doth his secrets avow, Deserves to be marked with a brand on the brow.
Is't not enough for thee to have a weeping eye And vitals still on fire for memory and despite? For self-conceit, indeed, he laugheth, when he saith, "The day obliterates the promise of the night." Last came Abou Nuwas and recited the following: Love was prolonged and far was union out of sight, Nor skilled it aught to feign aversion and despite.
When Abou Nuwas saw him, he sighed and repeated the following verses: To me he appeared in a garment of white, His eyes and his eyelids with languor bedight. Quoth I, "Dost thou pass and salutest me not? Though God knows thy greeting were sweet to my spright. Be He blessed who mantled with roses thy cheeks, Who creates, without let, what He will, of His might!"
So she laid her hands on her kaze, but it escaped from between them, by reason of its much greatness and plumpness; and the Khalif turned and went away, wondering and reciting the following verse: I looked on her whom I adore And longing rose in me full sore. But he knew not what to say next; so he sent for Abou Nuwas and bade him make a piece of verse commencing with the above line.
When the boy heard this, he put off the white tunic and appeared in the red one; whereupon Abou Nuwas redoubled in expressions of admiration and repeated the following verses: Appeared in a garment, the colour of flame, A foeman of mine, "The beloved," by name. "Thou'rt a full moon," I said in my wonder, "And com'st In a garment that putteth the roses to shame.
When they saw him, they all rose to him and kissed the ground before him; and the fumes of the wine forsook Abou Nuwas's head for awe of the Khalif, who said to him, 'Hallo, Abou Nuwas! 'At thy service, O Commander of the Faithful, answered he, 'may God preserve thee! 'What state is this I find thee in? asked the Khalif; and the poet replied, 'O Commander of the Faithful, methinks my state dispenses with question. Quoth the Khalif, 'O Abou Nuwas, I have sought direction of God the Most High and appoint thee Cadi of whoremasters. 'Dost thou indeed invest me with that office, O Commander of the Faithful? asked Abou Nuwas.
Presently, in came Abou Nuwas and was about to take his usual seat, when the Khalif cried out to Mesrour the headsman and bade him strip the poet of his clothes and clap an ass's pannel on his back.
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