And when the evening came and the banquet was, it was
we who were the unseen players of the string-play; and we might play
no other melody than what the witch bade us; else belike, could we
have held converse, we might have played such tunes as would have
smitten the hearts of our loves, and told them that we were anigh.
To make a short story of it, thus did she day by day, and no comfort
or converse might we sisters have of each other, or of aught else
save the sight of our beloved ones, and a glimmer of hope therewith.
And, forsooth, for as grievously as my heart was wrung by the
yearning of me for my love, yet was it a joy unto me to think that he
went there desiring me, and that whom he desired was not the poor
wretched creature chained there in her nakedness, with her body
spoiled by torment and misery, but the glad maiden whom he had so
often called fair and lovesome.
So passed the days, and at last hope had grown so pale and wan, that
she was no more to be seen by us than we were by our lords; and now
it seemed to me that death was coming, so feeble and wretched as I
grew.
Pages:
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413