Chapter 86

An there be one who shares with me her love, ✿ I'd strangle Love tho' life by Love were slain; Saying, O Soul, Death were the nobler choice, ✿ For ill is Love when shared 'twixt partners twain. Then he repeated to the slave, "Smite her, O Sa'ad!" And when the slave who was sitting upon me made sure of the command he bent down to me and said, "O my mistress, repeat the profession of Faith and bethink thee if there be any thing thou wouldst have done; for verily this is the last hour of thy life." "O goo…