第28章 STORY OF ALI BEN BEKKAR AND SHEMSENNEHAR.(8)

Folk have made moan of passion before me of past years，And live and dead for absence have suffered pains and fears；

But what within my bosom I harbour，with mine eyes Ive never seen the like of nor heard it with mine ears.

And also these：

Ive suffered for thy love what Ca's，that madman[16] hight，Did never undergo for love of Leila bright.

Yet chase I not the beasts o the desert，as did he；For madness hath its kinds for this and th other wight.

Quoth Aboulhusn，Never did I see or hear of one like unto thee in thy love！If thou sufferest all this transport and sickness and trouble，being enamoured of one who returns thy passion，how would it be with thee，if she whom thou lovest were contrary and perfidious？Meseems，thy case will be discovered，if thou abide thus.'His words pleased Ali ben Bekkar and he trusted in him and thanked him.

Now Aboulhusn had a friend，to whom he had discovered his affair and that of Ali ben Bekkar and who knew that they were close friends；but none other than he was acquainted with what was betwixt them. He was wont to come to him and enquire how Ali did and after a little，he began to ask about the damsel；but Aboulhusn put him off，saying，She invited him to her and there was between him and her what passeth words，and this is the end of their affair；but I have devised me a plan which I would fain submit to thy judgment.'And what is that？asked his friend. O my brother，'answered Aboulhusn，I am a man well known，having much dealing among the notables，both men and women，and I fear lest the affair of these twain get wind and this lead to my death and the seizure of my goods and the ruin of my repute and that of my family. Wherefore I purpose to get together my property and make ready forthright and repair to the city of Bassora and abide there，till I see what comes of their affair，that none may know of me，for passion hath mastered them and letters pass between them. Their go-between and confidant at this present is a slave-girl，who hath till now kept their counsel，but I fear lest haply she be vexed with them or anxiety get the better of her and she discover their case to some one and the matter be noised abroad and prove the cause of my ruin；for I have no excuse before God or man.'Thou acquaintest me with a perilous matter，rejoined his friend，and one from the like of which the wise and understanding will shrink in affright. May God preserve thee and avert from thee the evil thou dreadest！Assuredly，thy resolve is a wise one.'So Aboulhusn returned home and betook himself to setting his affairs in order and preparing for his journey；nor had three days elapsed ere he made an end of his business and departed for Bassora. Three days after，his friend came to visit him，but finding him not，asked the neighbours of him；and they answered，He set out three days ago for Bassora，for he had dealings with merchants there and is gone thither to collect his debts；but he will soon return.'The man was confounded at the news and knew not whither to go；and he said in himself，Would I had not parted with Aboulhusn！'Then he bethought him how he should gain access to Ali ben Bekkar and repairing to the latters lodging，said to one of his servants，Ask leave for me of thy master that I may go in and salute him.'So the servant went in and told his master and presently returning，invited the man to enter. So he went in and found Ali ben Bekkar lying back on the pillow and saluted him. Ali returned his greeting and bade him welcome；whereupon the other began to excuse himself for having held aloof from him all this while and added，O my lord，there was a close friendship between Aboulhusn and myself，so that I used to trust him with my secrets and could not brook to be severed from him an hour. It chanced but now that I was absent three days space on certain business with a company of my friends，and when I came back，I found his shop shut；so I asked the neighbours of him and they replied，'He is gone to Bassora.'

Now I know he had no surer friend than thou；so I conjure thee，by Allah，to tell me what thou knowest of him.'When Ali heard this，his colour changed and he was troubled and answered，I never heard of his departure till this day，and if it be as thou sayest，weariness is come upon me.'And he repeated the following verses：

Whilom I wept for what was past of joy and pleasant cheer，Whilst yet the objects of my love were unremoved and near；

But now my sad and sorry fate hath sundered me and them And I to-day must weep for those that were to me most dear.

Then he bent his head awhile in thought and presently raising it，said to one of his servants，Go to Aboulhusn house and enquire whether he be at home or gone on a journey. If they say，'He is abroad；'ask whither.'The servant went out and presently returning，said to his master，When I asked after Aboulhusn，his people told me that he was gone on a journey to Bassora；but I saw a damsel standing at the door，who knew me，though I knew her not，and said to me，'Art thou not servant to Ali ben Bekkar？'