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bare his shoulders. Like the sun clad in clouds he sat; a long time he shed no ray. He could not open his lips to speak; he clenched them. Then he drew his breath, cried out, hot tears gushed forth.
299. He sobbed: "O beloved, mine own, lost to me! My hope and life, my thought, my soul, my heart! Who cut thee off I know not, O tree planted in Eden! How can the hot fire not consume thee, O heart a hundred times kindled!
V
THE TELLING OF HIS TALE BY TARIEL WHEN HE FIRST TOLD IT TO AVT'HANDIL
300. "Hearken, give heed to the hearing of my tidings, discourses and deeds such that I can scarce utter them! She who maddens me, for whom I am overpowered by melancholy,[1] for whom flow streams of blood, from her I never expect comfort.
301. "Thou knowest, as every man knows, of India's seven kings.[2] P'harsadan[3] possessed six kingdoms; he was sovereign, generous, rich, bold, ruler over kings, in form a lion, in face a sun, a conqueror in battle, a leader of squadrons.[4]
302. "My father sat on the seventh throne, king, terror of adversaries; Saridan[5] was his name; not underhanded in the destruction of enemies, none dared offend him either openly or secretly; he hunted and made merry, careless of Fate.
303. "He hated solitude; it created hosts of cares in his heart. He said to himself: 'By conquest I have taken from foes the vicinage of the marches,[6] I have chased them forth everywhere, I am seated in power,[7] I have pomp[8] and might'; he said: 'I will go and enjoy the favour of King P'harsadan.'
