human
No, it cannot be! Never can I forget Aladdin! He pleaded with her, and his passion made him eloquent. He showed her the uselessness of longing for a dead man when a living one was by her side. He told her too--and with the Lamp in his bosom she could not doubt the truth of it--that he and she could command the earth and look down on kings. Why had he not already won this as well as her love by means of the Lamp? Because he had pledged himself to wait and win her as a man wins woman. At this she turned her face to him on a sudden. A faint smile seemed to live in the corners of her bewitching mouth, and a look in her eyes convinced him that he was a much better man than he had thought since he could keep his pledge on so great a matter. On this, he drew still nearer to the lovely Bedr-el-Budur, and this time she did not snatch her hand away, but left it in his, pondering dreamily the while. Presently, on a sudden, she pushed him away petulantly.
gpt
Nay, nay, she cried,
human
I cannot rein my heart to thee at will. Give me, I pray thee, a little space of time--two days; and when my eyes are dim with weeping for Aladdin--
gpt
Two days? Alas! broke in the Dervish,
human
gpt
The Dervish smote his breast,
human
And his hand moved to his bosom where lay the Lamp.
gpt
Stay! she cried, rising and standing before him.
human
Thy pledge! My decision is not yet. Having waited so long, surely thou canst wait another--
gpt
Day? say not that.
human
Well then, at least, another hour. And, flashing a look upon him that might hold his wits in thrall for that space of time, she turned to leave the apartment.
gpt
I go to weep, she said, throwing him a backward glance,
human
Thou seest how it is with me. My tears for Aladdin--who is dead--flowed till the hour was half spent; then, I know not why, they changed to tears of joy for thee, who art alive. Then I arose and arrayed myself gladly and came to thee. Yet even now I am not wholly thine, for tears--now grief now joy, I know not which--contend in mine eyes for him or thee. Wherefore come not too near me lest what thou hast won be forfeited. Perchance if we sup together with a jar of the red wine of thine own country--in which it may be that my soul will taste thine--then, who knows--
gpt
O my life's delight, broke in the Dervish.
human
A jar of red wine and thee! I have many jars in my house, and, not forgetting that tears contend in thine eyes as thou saidst, I will go and return in all haste with the reddest wine.
gpt
Nay, go not thyself, said Bedr-el-Budur, bethinking her of the Lamp.
human
Do not leave me. One of my slave girls will go. My tears have dried in my heart, leaving it thirsty for love.
gpt
It is well, she said as he held her to his heart and pressed his lips to hers.
human
But, O my beloved, he replied,
gpt
human
I will go and see, she answered. And she returned to the Dervish and, approaching him shyly, began to doubt the truth of this great thing--his love for her. As she did this she placed her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes; whereat the Dervish drew her close to him and she felt the Lamp in his bosom. Immediately she wrenched herself free and left him with a glance in which disdain and love were kindly mixed.
gpt
It is so, she said on returning to Aladdin,