And know that ifwith a good gracethou do not thee submitYet must thou sufferwill or nillthat which the Pen hath writ.
She abode thus another whole month's spacejudging the folk and commanding and forbidding by dayand by night weeping and bewailing her separation from her lord Ali Shar. On the first day of the fifth monthshe bade spread the banquet as usual and sat down at the head of the tableswhilst the people awaited the signal to fall toleaving the space before the dish of rice vacant. She sat with eyes fixed upon the gate of the tilting-groundnoting all who entered and saying'O Thou that restoredst Joseph to Jacob and didst away the affliction of Jobvouchsafe of Thy power and greatness to restore me my lord Ali Shar；for Thou canst all things！ O Lord of all creaturesO Guide of the erring，O Hearer of those that cryO Answerer of prayeranswer Thou my prayerO Lord of all creatures！'
Hardly had she made an end of her prayerwhen she saw entering the gate a young manin shape like the willow wandthe comeliest and most accomplished of youthssave that his face was sallow and his form wasted. He came up to the tables and finding no seat vacant save before the dish of ricesat down there；whereupon Zumurrud's heart fluttered and observing him narrowly，she knew him for her lord Ali Shar and was like to have cried out for joybut restrained herselffearing disgrace before the folk. Her bowels were troubled and her heart throbbed；but she concealed that which she suffered.
Now the manner of his coming thither was on this wise. When he awoke and found himself lying on the bench outside the Christian's housewith his head barehe knew that some one had come upon him and robbed him of his turbanwhilst he slept. So he spoke the wordwhich whoso saith shall never be confounded，that is to say'Verilywe are God's and to Him we return！'and going back to the old woman's houseknocked at the door. She came out and he wept before hertill he swooned away. When he came to himselfhe told her all that had passedand she blamed him and chid him for his heedlessnesssaying'Thou hast but thyself to thank for thine affliction and calamity.'And she gave not over reproaching himtill the blood streamed from his nostrils and he again fainted away. When he revivedhe saw her weeping over him；so he bewailed himself and repeated the following verses：
How bitter is parting to friendsand how sweet Reunion to loversfor sev'rance that sigh！
May God all unite them and watch over meFor I'm of their number and like for to die.
The old woman mourned over him and said to him'Sit herewhilst I go in quest of news and return to thee in haste.'I hear and obey，'answered he. So she left him and was absent till midday，when she returned and said to him'O AliI fear me thou must die in thy grief；thou wilt never see thy beloved again save on Es Sirat；for the people of the Christian's housewhen they arose in the morningfound the window giving on the garden broken in and Zumurrud missingand with her a pair of saddle-bagsfull of the Christian's money. When I came thitherI found the Master of Police and his officers standing at the doorand there is no power and no virtue save in God the Most Highthe Supreme！'
When he heard thisthe light in his eyes was changed to darkness and he despaired of life and made sure of death；nor did he leave weepingtill he lost his senses. When he recoveredlove and longing were sore upon him；there befell him a grievous sickness and he kept his house a whole year；during which time the old woman ceased not to bring him doctors and ply him with diet-drinks and make him brothstill his life returned to him. Then he recalled what had passed and repeated the following verses：
Union is parted；in its steadof grief I am possessed： My tears flow stillmy heart's on fire for yearning and unrest.
Longing redoubles on a wight who hath no peaceso sore Of love and wakefulness and pain he's wasted and oppressed.
LordI beseech Theeif there be relief for me in aught，Vouchsafe itwhilst a spark of life abideth in my breast.
When the second year beganthe old woman said to him'O my son，all this thy sadness and sorrowing will not bring thee back thy mistress. Risethereforetake heart and seek for her in the lands： haply thou shalt light on some news of her.'And she ceased not to exhort and encourage himtill he took heart and she carried him to the bath. Then she made him drink wine and eat fowlsand thus she did with him for a whole monthtill he regained strength and setting outjourneyed without ceasing till he arrived at Zumurrud's citywhen he went to the tilting-ground and sitting down before the dish of sweet riceput out his hand to eat of it.
When the folk saw thisthey were concerned for him and said to him'O young maneat not of that dishfor whoso eats thereof，misfortune befalls him.'Leave me to eat of it，'answered he，'and let them do with me as they listso haply I may be at rest from this weary life.'Then he ate a first mouthfuland Zumurrud was minded to have him brought to her；but bethought her that belike he was anhungred and said in herself'It were well to let him eat his fill.'So he went on eatingwhilst the people looked on in astonishmentwaiting to see what would befall him；and when he had doneZumurrud said to certain of her eunuchs'Go to yonder youth that eateth of the rice and bring him to me on courteous wisesaying'The King would have speech of thee on some slight matter.'We hear and obey，'answered they and going up to Ali Sharsaid to him'O my lordthe King desires the favour of a word with theeand let thy heart be easy.'I hear and obey，'replied he and followed the eunuchswho carried him before Zumurrudwhilst the people said to one another'There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most Highthe Supreme！ I wonder what the King will do with him！'And others said'He will do him nought but good；forwere he minded to harm himhe had not suffered him to eat his fill.'
