There was onceof old days and in bygone ages and timesa King of great power and glory and dominionwho had a Vizier named Ibrahimand this Vizier had a daughter of extraordinary beauty and gracegifted with surpassing brilliancy and all perfectionpossessed of abundant wit and perfectly accomplished.
She loved wine and good cheer and fair faces and choice verses and rare stories；and the delicacy of her charms invited all hearts to loveeven as Saith the poetdescribing her：
She shines out like the moon at fullthat midst the stars doth fareAnd for a wrapping-veil she hath the ringlets of her hair.
The Eastern zephyr gives her boughs to drink of all its sweets And like a jointed caneshe sways to every breath of air.
She smiles in passing by. O thou that dost alike accord With red and yellow and arrayed in eachalike art fair，Thou sportest with my wit in loveso that indeed meseems As if a sparrow in the clutch of playful urchin 'twere.
Her name was Rose-in-bud and she was so named for the exceeding delicacy and perfection of her beauty；and the King loved to carouse with herbecause of her wit and good breeding.
Now it was the King's custom yearly to gather together all the nobles of his realm and play with the ball. Sowhen the day came roundon which the folk assembled for ball-playthe Vizier's daughter seated herself at her latticeto divert herself by looking on at the game；and as they were at play，her eyes fell upon a youth among themnever was seen a handsomer than he or a goodlier of favourfor he was bright of facelaughing-teethedtall and broad-shouldered. She looked at him again and again and could not take her fill of gazing on him. Then she said to her nurse'What is the name of yonder handsome young man among the troops？'O my daughter，'replied the nurse'they are all handsome. Which of them dost thou mean？'Wait till he passes，'said Rose-in-bud'and I will point him out to thee.'So she took an apple and waited till he came under her windowwhen she dropped it on himwhereupon he raised his headto see who did thisand saw the Vizier's daughter at the windowas she were the full moon in the darkness of the night；nor did he withdraw his eyestill he had fallen passionately in love with her；and he recited the following verses：
Was it an archer shot me or did thine eyes undo The lover's heart that saw theewhat time thou metst his view？
Did the notched arrow reach me from midst a hostindeedOr was it from a lattice that launched at me it flew？
When the game was at an endhe went away with the King，[whose servant and favourite he was，] with heart occupied with love of her；and she said to her nurse'What is the name of that youth I showed thee？'His name is Uns el Wujoud，'answered she；whereat Rose-in-bud shook her head and lay down on her couchwith a heart on fire for love. Thensighing deeplyshe improvised the following verses：
He erred not who dubbed thee'All creatures'delight，'That pleasance and bounty at once dust unite.
Full-moonlike of aspectO thou whose fair face O'er all the creation sheds glory and light，Thou'rt peerless midst mortalsthe sovran of graceAnd many a witness to this I can cite.
Thy brows are a Noun and shine eyes are a Sad
That the hand of the loving Creator did write；Thy shape is the softtender saplingthat gives Of its bounties to all that its favours invite.
Yeaindeedthou excellest the world's cavaliers In pleasance and beauty and bounty and might.
When she had finishedshe wrote the verses on a sheet of paperwhich she folded in a piece of gold-embroidered silk and laid under her pillow. Now one of her nurses saw her；so she came up to her and held her in talktill she sleptwhen she stole the scroll from under her pillow and reading itknew that she had fallen in love with Uns el Wujoud. Then she returned the scroll to its place and when her mistress awoke，she said to her'O my ladyindeedI am to thee a faithful counsellor and am tenderly solicitous for thee. Know that passion is grievous and the hiding it melteth iron and causeth sickness and unease；nor is there reproach for whoso confesses it.'O my nurse，'rejoined Rose-in-bud，'and what is the remedy of passion？'The remedy of passion is enjoyment，'answered the nurse. 'And how may one come by enjoyment？'asked Rose-in-bud.
'By letters and messages，'replied the nurse'and many a tender word and greeting；this brings lovers together and makes hard matters easy. Soif thou have aught at heartmistress mineI will engage to keep thy secret and do thy need and carry thy letters.'
When the girl heard thisher reason fled for joy；but she restrained herself from speechtill she should see the issue of the mattersaying in herself'None knoweth this thing of menor will I trust this woman with my secrettill I have proved her.'Then said the nurse'O my ladyI saw in my sleep as though one came to me and said'Thy mistress and Uns el Wujoud love one another；so do thou serve their loves by carrying their messages and doing their need and keeping their secrets；and much good shall befall thee.'So now I have told thee my dreamand it is thine to decide.'O my nurse，'quoth Rose-in-bud'canst thou keep secrets？'And how should I not keep secrets，'answered the nurse'I that am of the flower of the free-born？'Then Rose-in-bud pulled out the scrollon which she had written the verses afore saidand said to her，'Carry this my letter to Uns el Wujoud and bring me his answer.'
So the nurse took the letter and repairing to Uns el Wujoud，kissed his hands and saluted him right courteouslythen gave him the letter；and he read it and wrote on the back the following verses：
I temper my heart in passion and hide my case as I may；But my case interprets for me and doth my love bewray.
And whenas my lids brim over with tears，--lest the spy should see And come to fathom my secret，--'My eye is sore，'I say.
Of old I was empty-hearted and knew not what love was；But now I am passion's bondmanmy heart to love's a prey.
To thee I prefer my petitioncomplaining of passion and pain，So haply thou mayst be softened and pity my dismay.