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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8, by Richard F. Burton
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
+the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8
+
+Author: Richard F. Burton
+
+Release Date: July 31, 2001 [EBook #3442]
+Last updated: May 27, 2019
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS ***
+
+
+
+
+This etext was scanned by J.C. Byers and proofread by Doris Ringbloom
+
+
+
+
+
+THE BOOK OF THE
+ THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT
+
+
+
+A Plain and Literal Translation
+
+of the Arabian Nights Entertainments
+
+
+Translated and Annotated by
+ Richard F. Burton 
+
+
+
+VOLUME EIGHT
+
+
+Privately Printed By The Burton Club
+
+
+
+
+                          A Message to
+
+                       Frederick Hankey,
+
+            formerly of No. 2, Rue Laffitte, Paris.
+
+
+My Dear Fred,
+
+If there be such a thing as "continuation," you will see these lines in the far
+Spirit-land and you will find that your old friend has not forgotten you and
+Annie.
+
+Richard F. Burton.
+
+
+Contents of the Eighth Volume
+
+
+ King Mohammed Bin Sabaik and the Merchant Hasan (continued)
+ a. Story of Prince Sayf Al-Muluk and the Princess Badi'a Al-Jamal (continued)
+ 155. Hassan of Bassorah
+ 156. Khalifah The Fisherman Of Baghdad
+ The same from the Breslau Edition
+ 157. Masrur and Zayn Al-Mawasif
+ 158. Ali Nur Al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-Girl
+
+
+
+The Book Of The
+
+THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT
+
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night,
+
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old
+Queen heard the handmaid's words she was wroth with sore wrath because
+of her and cried, "How shall there be accord between man and Jinn?" But
+Sayf al-Muluk replied, "Indeed, I will conform to thy will and be thy
+page and die in thy love and will keep with thee covenant and regard
+non but thee: so right soon shalt thou see my truth and lack of
+falsehood and the excellence of my manly dealing with thee, Inshallah!"
+The old woman pondered for a full hour with brow earthwards bent; after
+which she raised her head and said to him, "O thou beautiful youth,
+wilt thou indeed keep compact and covenant?" He replied, "Yes, by Him
+who raised the heavens and dispread the earth upon the waters, I will
+indeed keep faith and troth!" Thereupon quoth she, "I will win for thee
+thy wish, Inshallah! but for the present go thou into the garden and
+take thy pleasure therein and eat of its fruits, that have neither like
+in the world nor equal, whilst I send for my son Shahyal and
+confabulate with him of the matter. Nothing but good shall come of it,
+so Allah please, for he will not gainsay me nor disobey my commandment
+and I will marry thee with his daughter Badi'a al-Jamal. So be of good
+heart for she shall assuredly be thy wife, O Sayf al-Muluk." The Prince
+thanked her for those words and kissing her hands and feet, went forth
+from her into the garden; whilst she turned to Marjanah and said to
+her, "Go seek my son Shahyal wherever he is and bring him to me." So
+Marjanah went out in quest of King Shahyal and found him and set him
+before his mother. On such wise fared it with them; but as regards Sayf
+al-Muluk, whilst he walked in the garden, lo and behold! five Jinn of
+the people of the Blue King espied him and said to one another, "Whence
+cometh yonder wight and who brought him hither? Haply 'tis he who slew
+the son and heir of our lord and master the Blue King;" presently
+adding, 'But we will go about with him and question him and find out
+all from him." So they walked gently and softly up to him, as he sat in
+a corner of the garden, and sitting down by him, said to him, "O
+beauteous youth, thou didst right well in slaying the son of the Blue
+King and delivering from him Daulat Khatun; for he was a treacherous
+hound and had tricked her, and had not Allah appointed thee to her, she
+had never won free; no, never! But how diddest thou slay him?" Sayf
+al-Muluk looked at them and deeming them of the gardenfolk, answered,
+"I slew him by means of this ring which is on my finger." Therewith
+they were assured that it was he who had slain him; so they seized him,
+two of them holding his hands, whilst other two held his feet and the
+fifth his mouth, lest he should cry out and King Shahyal's people
+should hear him and rescue him from their hands. Then they lifted him
+up and flying away with him ceased not their flight till they came to
+their King and set him down before him, saying, "O King of the Age, we
+bring thee the murderer of thy son." "Where is he?" asked the King and
+they answered, "This is he." So the Blue King said to Sayf al-Muluk,
+"How slewest thou my son, the core of my heart and the light of my
+sight, without aught of right, for all he had done thee no ill deed?"
+Quoth the Prince, "Yea, verily! I slew him because of his violence and
+frowardness, in that he used to seize Kings' daughters and sever them
+from their families and carry them to the Ruined Well and the
+High-builded Castle of Japhet son of Noah and entreat them lewdly by
+debauching them. I slew him by means of this ring on my finger, and
+Allah hurried his soul to the fire and the abiding-place dire."
+Therewithal the King was assured that this was indeed he who slew his
+son; so presently he called his Wazirs and said to them, "This is the
+murtherer of my son sans shadow of doubt: so how do you counsel me to
+deal with him? Shall I slay him with the foulest slaughter or torture
+him with the terriblest torments or how?" Quoth the Chief Minister,
+"Cut off his limbs, one a day." Another, "Beat him with a grievous
+beating every day till he die." A third, "Cut him across the middle." A
+fourth, "Chop off all his fingers and burn him with fire." A fifth,
+"Crucify him;" and so on, each speaking according to his rede. Now
+there was with the Blue King an old Emir, versed in the vicissitudes
+and experienced in the exchanges of the times, and he said, "O King of
+the Age, verily I would say to thee somewhat, and thine is the rede
+whether thou wilt hearken or not to my say." Now he was the King's
+privy Councillor and the Chief Officer of his empire, and the Sovran
+was wont to give ear to his word and conduct himself by his counsel and
+gainsay him not in aught. So he rose and kissing ground before his
+liege lord, said to him, "O King of the Age, if I advise thee in this
+matter, wilt thou follow my advice and grant me indemnity?" Quoth the
+King, "Set forth thine opinion, and thou shalt have immunity." Then
+quoth he, "O King of the Age, an thou slay this one nor accept my
+advice nor hearken to my word, in very sooth I say that his death were
+now inexpedient, for that he his thy prisoner and in thy power, and
+under thy protection; so whenas thou wilt, thou mayst lay hand on him
+and do with him what thou desirest. Have patience, then, O King of the
+Age, for he hath entered the garden of Iram and is become the betrothed
+of Badi'a al-Jamal, daughter of King Shahyal, and one of them. Thy
+people seized him there and brought him hither and he did not hide his
+case from them or from thee. So an thou slay him, assuredly King
+Shahyal will seek blood-revenge and lead his host against thee for his
+daughter's sake, and thou canst not cope with him nor make head against
+his power." So the King hearkened to his counsel and commanded to
+imprison the captive. Thus fared it with Sayf al-Muluk; but as regards
+the old Queen, grandmother of Badi'a al-Jamal, when her son Shahyal
+came to her she despatched Marjanah in search of Sayf al-Muluk; but she
+found him not and returning to her mistress, said, "I found him not in
+the garden." So the ancient dame sent for the gardeners and questioned
+them of the Prince. Quoth they, "We saw him sitting under a tree when
+behold, five of the Blue King's folk alighted by him and spoke with
+him, after which they took him up and having gagged him flew away with
+him." When the old Queen heard the damsel's words it was no light
+matter to her and she was wroth with exceeding wrath: so she rose to
+her feet and said to her son, King Shahyal, "Art a King and shall the
+Blue King's people come to our garden and carry off our guests
+unhindered, and thou alive?" And she proceeded to provoke him, saying,
+"It behoveth not that any transgress against us during thy
+lifetime."[FN#1] Answered he, "O mother of me, this man slew the Blue
+King's son, who was a Jinni and Allah threw him into his hand. He is a
+Jinni and I am a Jinni: how then shall I go to him and make war on him
+for the sake of a mortal?" But she rejoined, "Go to him and demand our
+guest of him, and if he be still alive and the Blue King deliver him to
+thee, take him and return; but an he have slain him, take the King and
+all his children and Harim and household depending on him; then bring
+them to me alive that I may cut their throats with my own hand and lay
+in ruins his reign. Except thou go to him and do my bidding, I will not
+acquit thee of my milk and my rearing of thee shall be counted
+unlawful."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the grandmother
+of Badi'a al-Jamal said to Shahyal, "Fare thee to the Blue King and
+look after Sayf al-Muluk: if he be still in life come with him hither;
+but an he have slain him take that King and all his children and Harim
+and the whole of his dependents an protégés and bring them here alive
+that I may cut their throats with my own hand and ruin his realm.
+Except thou go to him and do my bidding, I will not acquit thee of my
+milk and my rearing of thee shall be accounted unlawful." Thereupon
+Shahyal rose and assembling his troops, set out, in deference to his
+mother, desiring to content her and her friends, and in accordance with
+whatso had been fore-ordained from eternity without beginning; nor did
+they leave journeying till they came to the land of the Blue King, who
+met them with his army and gave them battle. The Blue King's host was
+put to the rout and the conquerors having taken him and all his sons,
+great and small, and Grandees and officers bound and brought them
+before King Shahyal, who said to the captive, "O Azrak,[FN#2] where is
+the mortal Sayf al-Muluk who whilome was my guest?" Answered the Blue
+King, "O Shahyal, thou art a Jinni and I am a Jinni and is't on account
+of a mortal who slew my son that thou hast done this deed; yea, the
+murtherer of my son, the core of my liver and solace of my soul. How
+couldest thou work such work and spill the blood of so many thousand
+Jinn?" He replied, "Leave this talk! Knowest thou not that a single
+mortal is better, in Allah's sight, than a thousand Jinn?[FN#3] If he
+be alive, bring him to me, and I will set thee free and all whom I have
+taken of thy sons and people; but an thou have slain him, I will
+slaughter thee and thy sons." Quoth the Malik al-Azrak, "O King, is
+this man of more account with thee than my son?"; and quoth Shahyal,
+"Verily, thy son was an evildoer who kidnapped Kings' daughters and
+shut them up in the Ruined Well and the High-builded Castle of Japhet
+son of Noah and entreated them lewdly." Then said the Blue King, "He is
+with me; but make thou peace between us." So he delivered the Prince to
+Shahyal, who made peace between him and the Blue King, and Al-Azrak
+gave him a bond of absolution for the death of his son. Then Shahyal
+conferred robes of honour on them and entertained the Blue King and his
+troops hospitably for three days, after which he took Sayf al-Muluk and
+carried him back to the old Queen, his own mother, who rejoiced in him
+with an exceeding joy, and Shahyal marvelled at the beauty of the
+Prince and his loveliness and his perfection. Then the Prince related
+to him his story from beginning to end, especially what did befal him
+with Badi'a al-Jamal and Shahyal said, "O my mother, since 'tis thy
+pleasure that this should be, I hear and I obey all that to command it
+pleaseth thee; wherefore do thou take him and bear him to Sarandib and
+there celebrate his wedding and marry him to her in all state, for he
+is a goodly youth and hath endured horrors for her sake." So she and
+her maidens set out with Sayf al-Muluk for Sarandib and, entering the
+Garden belonging to the Queen of Hind, foregathered with Daulat Khatun
+and Badi'a al-Jamal. Then the lovers met, and the old Queen acquainted
+the two Princesses with all that had passed between Sayf al-Muluk and
+the Blue King and how the Prince had been nearhand to a captive's
+death; but in repetition is no fruition. Then King Taj al-Muluk father
+of Daulat Khatun assembled the lords of his land and drew up the
+contract of marriage between Sayf al-Muluk and Badi'a al-Jamal; and he
+conferred costly robes of honour and gave banquets to the lieges. Then
+Sayf al-Muluk rose and, kissing ground before the King, said to him, "O
+King, pardon! I would fain ask of thee somewhat but I fear lest thou
+refuse it to my disappointment." Taj al-Muluk replied, "By Allah,
+though thou soughtest my soul of me, I would not refuse it to thee,
+after all the kindness thou hast done me!" Quoth Sayf al-Muluk, "I wish
+thee to marry the Princess Daulat Khatun to my brother Sa'id, and we
+will both be thy pages." "I hear and obey," answered Taj al-Muluk, and
+assembling his Grandees a second time, let draw up the contract of
+marriage between his daughter and Sa'id; after which they scattered
+gold and silver and the King bade decorate the city. So they held high
+festival and Sayf al-Muluk went in unto Badi'a al-Jamal and Sa'id went
+in unto Daulat Khatun on the same night. Moreover Sayf al-Muluk abode
+forty days with Badi'a al-Jamal, at the end of which she said to him,
+"O King's son, say me, is there left in thy heart any regret for
+aught?" And he replied, "Allah forfend! I have accomplished my quest
+and there abideth no regret in my heart at all: but I would fain meet
+my father and my mother in the land of Egypt and see if they continue
+in welfare or not." So she commanded a company of her slaves to convey
+them to Egypt, and they carried them to Cairo, where Sayf al-Muluk and
+Sa'id foregathered with their parents and abode with them a week; after
+which they took leave of them and returned to Sarandib-city; and from
+this time forwards, whenever they longed for their folk, they used to
+go to them and return. Then Sayf al-Muluk and Badi'a al-Jamal abode in
+all solace of life and its joyance as did Sa'id and Daulat Khatun, till
+there came to them the Destroyer of delights and Severer of societies;
+and they all died good Moslems. So glory be to the Living One who dieth
+not, who createth all creatures and decreeth to them death and who is
+the First, without beginning, and the Last, without end! This is all
+that hath come down to us of the story of Sayf al-Muluk and Badi'a
+al-Jamal. And Allah alone wotteth the truth.[FN#4] But not less
+excellent than this tale is the History of
+
+
+HASAN OF BASSORAH.[FN#5]
+
+There was once of days of yore and in ages and times long gone before,
+a merchant, who dwelt in the land of Bassorah and who owned two sons
+and wealth galore.  But in due time Allah, the All-hearing the
+All-knowing, decreed that he should be admitted to the mercy of the
+Most High; so he died, and his two sons laid him out and buried him,
+after which they divided his gardens and estates equally between them
+and of his portion each one opened a shop.[FN#6] Presently the elder
+son, Hasan hight, a youth of passing beauty and loveliness, symmetry
+and perfect grace, betook himself to the company of lewd folk, women
+and low boys, frolicking with them in gardens and feasting them with
+meat and wine for months together and occupying himself not with his
+business like as his father had done, for that he exulted in the
+abundance of his good. After some time he had wasted all his ready
+money, so he sold all his father's lands and houses and played the
+wastrel until there remained in his hand nothing, neither little nor
+muchel, nor was one of his comrades left who knew him.  He abode thus
+anhungred, he and his widowed mother, three days, and on the fourth
+day, as he walked along, unknowing whither to wend, there met him a man
+of his father's friends, who questioned him of his case. He told him
+what had befallen him and the other said, "O my son, I have a brother
+who is a goldsmith; an thou wilt, thou shalt be with him and learn his
+craft and become skilled therein." Hasan consented and accompanied him
+to his brother, to whom he commended him, saying, "In very sooth this
+is my son; do thou teach him for my sake."  So Hasan abode with the
+goldsmith and busied himself with the craft; and Allah opened to him
+the door of gain and in due course he set up shop for himself. One day,
+as he sat in his booth in the bazar, there came up to him an 'Ajamí, a
+foreigner, a Persian, with a great white beard and a white
+turband[FN#7] on his head, having the semblance of a merchant who,
+after saluting him, looked at his handiwork and examined it knowingly. 
+It pleased him and he shook his head, saying, "By Allah, thou art a
+cunning goldsmith!  What may be thy name?" "Hasan," replied the other,
+shortly.[FN#8]  The Persian continued to look at his wares, whilst
+Hasan read in an old book[FN#9] he hent in hand and the folk were taken
+up with his beauty and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace, till
+the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when the shop became clear of people
+and the Persian accosted the young man, saying, "O my son, thou art a
+comely youth! What book is that?  Thou hast no sire and I have no son,
+and I know an art, than which there is no goodlier in the world."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian
+accosted the young man saying, "O my son, thou art a comely youth! 
+Thou hast no sire and I have no son, and I know an art than which there
+is no goodlier in the world. Many have sought of me instruction
+therein, but I consented not to instruct any of them in it; yet hath my
+soul consented that I teach it to thee, for thy love hath gotten hold
+upon my heart and I will make thee my son and set up between thee and
+poverty a barrier, so shalt thou be quit of this handicraft and toil no
+more with hammer and anvil,[FN#10] charcoal and fire."  Hasan asked, "O
+my lord and when wilt thou teach me this?"; and the Persian answered,
+"To-morrow, Inshallah, I will come to thee betimes and make thee in thy
+presence fine gold of this copper."  Whereupon Hasan rejoiced and sat
+talking with the Persian till nightfall, when he took leave of him and
+going in to his mother, saluted her with the salam and ate with her;
+but he was dazed, without memory or reason, for that the stranger's
+words had gotten hold upon his heart. So she questioned him and he told
+her what had passed between himself and the Persian, which when she
+heard, her heart fluttered and she strained him to her bosom, saying,
+"O my son, beware of hearkening to the talk of the folk, and especially
+of the Persians, and obey them not in aught; for they are sharpers and
+tricksters, who profess the art of alchemy[FN#11] and swindle people
+and take their money and devour it in vain."  Replied Hasan, "O my
+mother, we are paupers and have nothing he may covet, that he should
+put a cheat on us. Indeed, this Persian is a right worthy Shaykh and
+the signs of virtue are manifest on him; Allah hath inclined his heart
+to me and he hath adopted me to son."  She was silent in her chagrin,
+and he passed the night without sleep, his heart being full of what the
+Persian had said to him; nor did slumber visit him for the excess of
+his joy therein.  But when morning morrowed, he rose and taking the
+keys, opened the shop, whereupon behold, the Persian accosted him.
+Hasan stood up to him and would have kissed his hands; but he forbade
+him from this and suffered it not, saying, "O Hasan, set on the
+crucible and apply the bellows."[FN#12]  So he did as the stranger bade
+him and lighted the charcoal. Then said the Persian, "O my son, hast
+thou any copper?" and he replied, "I have a broken platter." So he bade
+him work the shears[FN#13] and cut it into bittocks and cast it into
+the crucible and blow up the fire with the bellows, till the copper
+became liquid, when he put hand to turband and took therefrom a folded
+paper and opening it, sprinkled thereout into the pot about half a
+drachm of somewhat like yellow Kohl or eyepowder.[FN#14]  Then he bade
+Hasan blow upon it with the bellows, and he did so, till the contents
+of the crucible became a lump of gold.[FN#15]  When the youth saw this,
+he was stupefied and at his wits' end for the joy he felt and taking
+the ingot from the crucible handled it and tried it with the file and
+found it pure gold of the finest quality: whereupon his reason fled and
+he was dazed with excess of delight and bent over the Persian's hand to
+kiss it. But he forbade him, saying, "Art thou married?" and when the
+youth replied "No!" he said, "Carry this ingot to the market and sell
+it and take the price in haste and speak not."  So Hasan went down into
+the market and gave the bar to the broker, who took it and rubbed it
+upon the touchstone and found it pure gold.  So they opened the
+biddings at ten thousand dirhams and the merchants bid against one
+another for it up to fifteen thousand dirhams,[FN#16] at which price he
+sold it and taking the money, went home and told his mother all that
+had passed, saying, "O my mother, I have learnt this art and mystery." 
+But she laughed at him, saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no
+Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eightieth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan
+the goldsmith told his mother what he had done with the Ajami and
+cried, "I have learnt this art and mystery," she laughed at him,
+saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
+Glorious, the Great!"; and she was silent for vexation.  Then of his
+ignorance, he took a metal mortar and returning to the shop, laid it
+before the Persian, who was still sitting there and asked him, "O my
+son, what wilt thou do with this mortar?"  Hasan answered, "Let us put
+it in the fire, and make of it lumps of gold." The Persian laughed and
+rejoined, "O my son, art thou Jinn-mad that thou wouldst go down into
+the market with two ingots of gold in one day?  Knowest thou not that
+the folk would suspect us and our lives would be lost? Now, O my son,
+an I teach thee this craft, thou must practise it but once in each
+twelvemonth; for that will suffice thee from year to year."  Cried
+Hasan, "True, O my lord," and sitting down in his open shop, set on the
+crucible and cast more charcoal on the fire. Quoth the Persian, "What
+wilt thou, O my son?"; and quoth Hasan, "Teach me this craft."  "There
+is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the
+Great!" exclaimed the Persian, laughing; "Verily, O my son, thou art
+little of wit and in nowise fitted for this noble craft.  Did ever any
+during all his life learn this art on the beaten way or in the bazars? 
+If we busy ourselves with it here, the folk will say of us, These
+practise alchemy; and the magistrates will hear of us, and we shall
+lose our lives.[FN#17] Wherefore, O my son, an thou desire to learn
+this mystery forthright, come thou with me to my house."  So Hasan
+barred his shop and went with that Ajamí; but by the way he remembered
+his mother's words and thinking in himself a thousand thoughts he stood
+still, with bowed head.  The Persian turned and seeing him thus
+standing laughed and said to him, "Art thou mad?  What!  I in my heart
+purpose thee good and thou misdoubtest I will harm thee!" presently
+adding, "But, if thou fear to go with me to my house, I will go with
+thee to thine and teach thee there."  Hasan replied, "'Tis well, O
+uncle," and the Persian rejoined, "Go thou before me."  So Hasan led
+the way to his own house, and entering, told his mother of the
+Persian's coming, for he had left him standing at the door.  She
+ordered the house for them and when she had made an end of furnishing
+and adorning it, her son bade her go to one of the neighbours'
+lodgings.  So she left her home to them and wended her way, whereupon
+Hasan brought in the Persian, who entered after asking leave.  Then he
+took in hand a dish and going to the market, returned with food, which
+he set before the Persian, saying, "Eat, O my lord, that between us
+there may be bread and salt and may Almighty Allah do vengeance upon
+the traitor to bread and salt!"  The Persian replied with a smile,
+"True, O my son!  Who knoweth the virtue and worth of bread and
+salt?"[FN#18]  Then he came forward and ate with Hasan, till they were
+satisfied; after which the Ajami said, "O my son Hasan, bring us
+somewhat of sweetmeats."  So Hasan went to the market, rejoicing in his
+words, and returned with ten saucers[FN#19] of sweetmeats, of which
+they both ate and the Persian said, "May Allah abundantly requite thee,
+O my son!  It is the like of thee with whom folk company and to whom
+they discover their secrets and teach what may profit him!"[FN#20] 
+Then said he, "O Hasan bring the gear." But hardly did Hasan hear these
+words than he went forth like a colt let out to grass in spring-tide,
+and hastening to the shop, fetched the apparatus and set it before the
+Persian, who pulled out a piece of paper and said, "O Hasan, by the
+bond of bread and salt, wert thou not dearer to me than my son, I would
+not let thee into the mysteries of this art, for I have none of the
+Elixir[FN#21] left save what is in this paper; but by and by I will
+compound the simples whereof it is composed and will make it before
+thee.  Know, O my son Hasan, that to every ten pounds of copper thou
+must set half a drachm of that which is in this paper, and the whole
+ten will presently become unalloyed virgin gold;" presently adding, "O
+my son, O Hasan, there are in this paper three ounces,[FN#22] Egyptian
+measure, and when it is spent, I will make thee other and more."  Hasan
+took the packet and finding therein a yellow powder, finer than the
+first, said to the Persian, "O my lord, what is the name of this
+substance and where is it found and how is it made?"  But he laughed,
+longing to get hold of the youth, and replied, "Of what dost thou
+question? Indeed thou art a froward boy!  Do thy work and hold thy
+peace." So Hasan arose and fetching a brass platter from the house,
+shore it in shreds and threw it into the melting-pot; then he scattered
+on it a little of the powder from the paper and it became a lump of
+pure gold.  When he saw this, he joyed with exceeding joy and was
+filled with amazement and could think of nothing save the gold; but,
+whilst he was occupied with taking up the lumps of metal from the
+melting-pot, the Persian pulled out of his turband in haste a packet of
+Cretan Bhang, which if an elephant smelt, he would sleep from night to
+night, and cutting off a little thereof, put it in a piece of the
+sweetmeat.  Then said he, "O Hasan, thou art become my very son and
+dearer to me than soul and wealth, and I have a daughter whose like
+never have eyes beheld for beauty and loveliness, symmetry and perfect
+grace. Now I see that thou befittest none but her and she none but
+thee; wherefore, if it be Allah's will, I will marry thee to her."
+Replied Hasan, "I am thy servant and whatso good thou dost with me will
+be a deposit with the Almighty!" and the Persian rejoined, "O my son,
+have fair patience and fair shall betide thee." Therewith he gave him
+the piece of sweetmeat and he took it and kissing his hand, put it in
+his mouth, knowing not what was hidden for him in the after time for
+only the Lord of Futurity knoweth the Future.  But hardly had he
+swallowed it, when he fell down, head foregoing heels, and was lost to
+the world; whereupon the Persian, seeing him in such calamitous case,
+rejoiced exceedingly and cried, "Thou hast fallen into my snares, O
+gallows-carrion, O dog of the Arabs! This many a year have I sought
+thee and now I have found thee, O Hasan!"—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-first Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the
+goldsmith ate the bit of sweetmeat given to him by the Ajami and fell
+fainting to the ground, the Persian rejoiced exceedingly and cried,
+"This many a year have I sought thee and now I have found thee!"  Then
+he girt himself and pinioned Hasan's arms and binding his feet to his
+hands laid him in a chest, which he emptied to that end and locked it
+upon him. Moreover, he cleared another chest and laying therein all
+Hasan's valuables, together with the piece of the first gold-lump and
+the second ingot which he had made locked it with a padlock.  Then he
+ran to the market and fetching a porter, took up the two chests and
+made off with them to a place within sight of the city, where he set
+them down on the sea-shore, hard by a vessel at anchor there.  Now this
+craft had been freighted and fitted out by the Persian and her master
+was awaiting him; so, when the crew saw him, they came to him and bore
+the two chests on board.  Then the Persian called out to the Rais or
+Captain, saying, "Up and let us be off, for I have done my desire and
+won my wish."  So the skipper sang out to the sailors, saying, "Weigh
+anchor and set sail!" And the ship put out to sea with a fair wind.  So
+far concerning the Persian; but as regards Hasan's mother, she awaited
+him till supper-time but heard neither sound nor news of him; so she
+went to the house and finding it thrown open, entered and saw none
+therein and missed the two chests and their valuables; wherefore she
+knew that her son was lost and that doom had overtaken him; and she
+buffeted her face and rent her raiment crying out and wailing and
+saying, "Alas, my son, ah!  Alas, the fruit of my vitals, ah!"  And she
+recited these couplets,
+
+"My patience fails me and grows anxiety; * And with your absence
+     growth of grief I see.
+By Allah, Patience went what time ye went! * Loss of all Hope how
+     suffer patiently?
+When lost my loved one how can' joy I sleep? * Who shall enjoy
+     such life of low degree?
+Thou 'rt gone and, desolating house and home, * Hast fouled the
+     fount erst flowed from foulness free:
+Thou wast my fame, my grace 'mid folk, my stay; * Mine aid wast
+     thou in all adversity!
+Perish the day, when from mine eyes they bore * My friend, till
+     sight I thy return to me!"
+
+
+And she ceased not to weep and wail till the dawn, when the neighbours
+came in to her and asked her of her son, and she told them what had
+befallen him with the Persian, assured that she should never, never see
+him again.  Then she went round about the house, weeping, and wending
+she espied two lines written upon the wall; so she sent for a scholar,
+who read them to her; and they were these,
+
+"Leyla's phantom came by night, when drowsiness had overcome me,
+     towards morning while my companions were sleeping in the
+     desert,
+But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air
+     vacant and the place of visitation was distant."[FN#23]
+
+
+When Hasan's mother heard these lines, she shrieked and said, "Yes, O
+my son! Indeed, the house is desolate and the visitation-place is
+distant!"  Then the neighbours took leave of her and after they had
+prayed that she might be vouchsafed patience and speedy reunion with
+her son, went away; but she ceased not to weep all watches of the night
+and tides of the day and she built amiddlemost the house a tomb whereon
+she let write Hasan's name and the date of his loss, and thenceforward
+she quitted it not, but made a habit of incessantly biding thereby
+night and day. Such was her case; but touching her son Hasan and the
+Ajami, this Persian was a Magian, who hated Moslems with exceeding
+hatred and destroyed all who fell into his power.  He was a lewd and
+filthy villain, a hankerer after alchemy, an astrologer and a hunter of
+hidden hoards, such an one as he of whom quoth the poet,
+
+"A dog, dog-fathered, by dog-grandsire bred; * No good in dog
+     from dog race issued:
+E'en for a gnat no resting-place gives he * Who is composed of
+     seed by all men shed."[FN#24]
+
+
+The name of this accursed was Bahrám the Guebre, and he was wont, every
+year, to take a Moslem and cut his throat for his own purposes.  So,
+when he had carried out his plot against Hasan the goldsmith, they
+sailed on from dawn till dark, when the ship made fast to the shore for
+the night, and at sunrise, when they set sail again, Bahram bade his
+black slaves and white servants bring him the chest wherein were Hasan.
+ They did so, and he opened it and taking out the young man, made him
+sniff up vinegar and blew a powder into his nostrils. Hasan sneezed and
+vomited the Bhang; then, opening his eyes, he looked about him right
+and left and found himself amiddleward the sea on aboard a ship in full
+sail, and saw the Persian sitting by him; wherefore he knew that the
+accursed Magian had put a cheat on him and that he had fallen into the
+very peril against which his mother had warned him.  So he spake the
+saying which shall never shame the sayer, to wit, "There is no Majesty
+and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  Verity,
+we are Allah's and unto Him we are returning! O my God, be Thou
+gracious to me in Thine appointment and give me patience to endure this
+Thine affliction, O Lord of the three Worlds!"  Then he turned to the
+Persian and bespoke him softly, saying, "O my father, what fashion is
+this and where is the covenant of bread and salt and the oath thou
+swarest to me?"[FN#25]  But Bahram stared at him and replied, "O dog,
+knoweth the like of me bond of bread and salt? I have slain of youths
+like thee a thousand, save one, and thou shalt make up the thousand." 
+And he cried out at him and Hasan was silent, knowing that the
+Fate-shaft had shot him.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-second Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan
+beheld himself fallen into the hands of the damned Persian he bespoke
+him softly but gained naught thereby for the Ajami cried out at him in
+wrath, so he was silent, knowing that the Fate-shaft had shot him. 
+Then the accursed bade loose his pinion-bonds and they gave him a
+little water to drink, whilst the Magian laughed and said, "By the
+virtue of the Fire and the Light and the Shade and the Heat, methought
+not thou wouldst fall into my nets!  But the Fire empowered me over
+thee and helped me to lay hold upon thee, that I might win my wish and
+return and make thee a sacrifice, to her[FN#26] so she may accept of
+me." Quoth Hasan, "Thou hast foully betrayed bread and salt"; whereupon
+the Magus raised his hand and dealt him such a buffet that he fell and,
+biting the deck with his fore-teeth, swooned away, whilst the tears
+trickled down his cheeks.  Then the Guebre bade his servants light him
+a fire and Hasan said, "What wilt thou do with it?" Replied the Magian,
+"This is the Fire, lady of light and sparkles bright!  This it is I
+worship, and if thou wilt worship her even as I, verily I will give
+thee half my monies and marry thee to my maiden daughter."  Thereupon
+Hasan cried angrily at him, "Woe to thee!  Thou art a miscreant Magian
+who to Fire dost pray in lieu of the King of Omnipotent sway, Creator
+of Night and Day; and this is naught but a calamity among creeds!" At
+this the Magian was wroth and said to him, "Wilt thou not then conform
+with me, O dog of the Arabs, and enter my faith?"  But Hasan consented
+not to this: so the accursed Guebre arose and prostrating himself to
+the fire, bade his pages throw him flat on his face. They did so, and
+he beat him with a hide whip of plaited thongs[FN#27] till his flanks
+were laid open, whilst he cried aloud for aid but none aided him, and
+besought protection, but none protected him. Then he raised his eyes to
+the All-powerful King and sought of Him succour in the name of the
+Chosen Prophet.  And indeed patience failed him; his tears ran down his
+cheeks, like rain, and he repeated these couplets twain,
+
+"In patience, O my God, Thy doom forecast * I'll bear, an thereby
+     come Thy grace at last:
+They've dealt us wrong, transgressed and ordered ill; * Haply Thy
+     Grace  shall pardon what is past."
+
+
+Then the Magian bade his negro-slaves raise him to a sitting posture
+and bring him somewhat of meat and drink.  So they sat food before him;
+but he consented not to eat or drink; and Bahram ceased not to torment
+him day and night during the whole voyage, whilst Hasan took patience
+and humbled himself in supplication before Almighty Allah to whom
+belong Honour and Glory; whereby the Guebre's heart was hardened
+against him. They ceased not to sail the sea three months, during which
+time Hasan was continually tortured till Allah Almighty sent forth upon
+them a foul wind and the sea grew black and rose against the ship, by
+reason of the fierce gale; whereupon quoth the captain and crew,[FN#28]
+"By Allah, this is all on account of yonder youth, who hath been these
+three months in torture with this Magian. Indeed, this is not allowed
+of God the Most High."  Then they rose against the Magian and slew his
+servants and all who were with him; which when he saw, he made sure of
+death and feared for himself.  So he loosed Hasan from his bonds and
+pulling off the ragged clothes the youth had on, clad him in others;
+and made excuses to him and promised to teach him the craft and restore
+him to his native land, saying, "O my son, return me not evil for that
+I have done with thee."  Quoth Hasan, "How can I ever rely upon thee
+again?"; and quoth Bahram, "O my son, but for sin, there were no
+pardon.  Indeed, I did all these doings with thee, but to try thy
+patience, and thou knowest that the case is altogether in the hands of
+Allah." So the crew and captain rejoiced in Hasan's release, and he
+called down blessings on them and praised the Almighty and thanked Him.
+ With this the wind was stilled and the sky cleared and with a fair
+breeze they continued their voyage. Then said Hasan to Bahram, "O
+Master,[FN#29] whither wendest thou?" Replied the Magian, "O my son, I
+am bound for the Mountain of Clouds, where is the Elixir which we use
+in alchemy."  And the Guebre swore to him by the Fire and the Light
+that he had no longer any cause to fear him.  So Hasan's heart was set
+at ease and rejoicing at the Persian's words, he continued to eat and
+drink and sleep with the Magian, who clad him in his own raiment.  They
+ceased not sailing on other three months, when the ship came to anchor
+off a long shoreline of many- coloured pebbles, white and yellow and
+sky-blue and black and every other hue, and the Magian sprang up and
+said, "O Hasan, come, let us go ashore for we have reached the place of
+our wish and will."  So Hasan rose and landed with Bahram, after the
+Persian had commended his goods to the captain's care. They walked on
+inland, till they were far enough from the ship to be out of sight,
+when Bahram sat down and taking from his pocket a kettle-drum[FN#30] of
+copper and a silken strap, worked in gold with characts, beat the drum
+with the strap, until there arose a cloud of dust from the further side
+of the waste.  Hasan marvelled at the Magian's doings and was afraid of
+him: he repented of having come ashore with him and his colour changed.
+But Bahram looked at him and said, "What aileth thee, O my son? By the
+truth of the Fire and the Light, thou hast naught to fear from me; and,
+were it not that my wish may never be won save by thy means, I had not
+brought thee ashore.  So rejoice in all good; for yonder cloud of dust
+is the dust of somewhat we will mount and which will aid us to cut
+across this wold and make easy to us the hardships thereof."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-third Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian
+said to Hasan, "In very sooth yonder dust-cloud is the cloud of
+something we will mount and which will aid us to cut across this wold
+and will make easy to us the hardships thereof." Presently the dust
+lifted off three she-dromedaries, one of which Bahram mounted and Hasan
+another.  Then they loaded their victual on the third and fared on
+seven days, till they came to a wide champaign and, descending into its
+midst, they saw a dome vaulted upon four pilasters of red gold; so they
+alighted and entering thereunder, ate and drank and took their rest. 
+Anon Hasan chanced to glance aside and seeing from afar a something
+lofty said to the Magian, "What is that, O nuncle?"  Bahram replied,
+"'Tis a palace," and quoth Hasan, "Wilt thou not go thither, that we
+may enter and there repose ourselves and solace ourselves with
+inspecting it?"  But the Persian was wroth and said, "Name not to me
+yonder palace; for therein dwelleth a foe, with whom there befel me
+somewhat whereof this is no time to tell thee." Then he beat the
+kettle-drum and up came the dromedaries, and they mounted and fared on
+other seven days.  On the eighth day, the Magian said, "O Hasan, what
+seest thou?"  Hasan replied, "I see clouds and mists twixt east and
+west." Quoth Bahram, "That is neither clouds nor mists, but a vast
+mountain and a lofty whereon the clouds split,[FN#31] and there are no
+clouds above it, for its exceeding height and surpassing elevation. 
+Yon mount is my goal and thereon is the need we seek. 'Tis for that I
+brought thee hither, for my wish may not be won save at thy hands." 
+Hasan hearing this gave his life up for lost and said to the Magian,
+"By the right of that thou worshippest and by the faith wherein thou
+believest, I conjure thee to tell me what is the object wherefor thou
+hast brought me!"  Bahram replied, "The art of alchemy may not be
+accomplished save by means of a herb which groweth in the place where
+the clouds pass and whereon they split. Such a site is yonder mountain
+upon whose head the herb groweth and I purpose to send thee up thither
+to fetch it; and when we have it, I will show thee the secret of this
+craft which thou desirest to learn."  Hasan answered, in his fear,
+"'Tis well, O my master;" and indeed he despaired of life and wept for
+his parting from his parent and people and patrial stead, repenting him
+of having gainsaid his mother and reciting these two couplets,
+
+"Consider but thy Lord, His work shall bring * Comfort to thee,
+     with quick  relief and near:
+Despair not when thou sufferest sorest bane: * In bane how many
+     blessed  boons appear!"
+
+
+They ceased not faring on till they came to the foothills of that
+mountain where they halted; and Hasan saw thereon a palace and asked
+Bahram, "What be yonder palace?"; whereto he answered, "'Tis the abode
+of the Jann and Ghuls and Satans."  Then the Magian alighted and making
+Hasan also dismount from his dromedary kissed his head and said to him,
+"Bear me no ill will anent that I did with thee, for I will keep guard
+over thee in thine ascent to the palace; and I conjure thee not to
+trick and cheat me of aught thou shalt bring therefrom; and I and thou
+will share equally therein."  And Hasan replied, "To hear is to obey."
+Then Bahram opened a bag and taking out a handmill and a sufficiency of
+wheat, ground the grain and kneaded three round cakes of the flour;
+after which he lighted a fire and baked the bannocks. Then he took out
+the copper kettle-drum and beat it with the broidered strap, whereupon
+up came the dromedaries. He chose out one and said, "Hearken, O my son,
+O Hasan, to what I am about to enjoin on thee;" and Hasan replied,
+"'Tis well."  Bahram continued, "Lie down on this skin and I will sew
+thee up therein and lay thee on the ground; whereupon the Rakham
+birds[FN#32] will come to thee and carry thee up to the mountain-top. 
+Take this knife with thee; and, when thou feelest that the birds have
+done flying and have set thee down, slit open therewith the skin and
+come forth.  The vultures will then take fright at thee and fly away;
+whereupon do thou look down from the mountain head and speak to me, and
+I will tell thee what to do."  So he sewed him up in the skin, placing
+therein three cakes and a leathern bottle full of water, and withdrew
+to a distance. Presently a vulture pounced upon him and taking him up,
+flew away with him to the mountain-top and there set him down.  As soon
+as Hasan felt himself on the ground, he slit the skin and coming forth,
+called out to the Magian, who hearing his speech rejoiced and danced
+for excess of joy, saying to him, "Look behind thee and tell me what
+thou seest."  Hasan looked and seeing many rotten bones and much wood,
+told Bahram, who said to him, "This be what we need and seek. Make six
+bundles of the wood and throw them down to me, for this is wherewithal
+we do alchemy."  So he threw him the six bundles and when he had gotten
+them into his power he said to Hasan, "O gallows bird, I have won my
+wish of thee; and now, if thou wilt, thou mayst abide on this mountain,
+or cast thyself down to the earth and perish.  So saying, he left
+him[FN#33] and went away, and Hasan exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and
+there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  This hound
+hath played the traitor with me." And he sat bemoaning himself and
+reciting these couplets,
+
+"When God upon a man possessed of reasoning, Hearing and sight
+     His will in aught to pass would bring,
+He stops his ears and blinds his eyes and draws his wit, From
+     him, as one  draws out the hairs to paste that cling;
+Till, His decrees fulfilled, He gives him back His wit, That
+     therewithal he  may receive admonishing.
+So say thou not of aught that haps, 'How happened it?' For Fate
+     and  fortune fixed do order everything.[FN#34]"
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+Magian sent Hasan to the mountain-top and made him throw down all he
+required he presently reviled him and left him and wended his ways and
+the youth exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in
+Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This damned hound hath played the
+traitor."  Then he rose to his feet and looked right and left, after
+which he walked on along the mountain top, in mind making certain of
+death.  He fared on thus till he came to the counterslope of the
+mountain, along which he saw a dark-blue sea, dashing with billows
+clashing and yeasting waves each as it were a lofty mount.  So he sat
+down and repeated what he might of the Koran and besought Allah the
+Most High to ease him of his troubles, or by death or by deliverance
+from such strait.  Then he recited for himself the
+funeral-prayer[FN#35] and cast himself down into the main; but, the
+waves bore him up by Allah's grace, so that he reached the water
+unhurt, and the angel in whose charge is the sea watched over him, so
+that the billows bore him safe to land, by the decree of the Most High.
+Thereupon he rejoiced and praised Almighty Allah and thanked Him; after
+which he walked on in quest of something to eat, for stress of hunger,
+and came presently to the place where he had halted with the Magian,
+Bahram.  Then he fared on awhile, till behold, he caught sight of a
+great palace, rising high in air, and knew it for that of which he had
+questioned the Persian and he had replied, "Therein dwelleth a foe, of
+mine."  Hasan said to himself, "By Allah, needs must I enter yonder
+palace; perchance relief awaiteth me there."  So coming to it and
+finding the gate open, he entered the vestibule, where he saw seated on
+a bench two girls like twin moons with a chess-cloth before them and
+they were at play.  One of them raised her head to him and cried out
+for joy saying, "By Allah, here is a son of Adam, and methinks 'tis he
+whom Bahram the Magian brought hither this year!" So Hasan hearing her
+words cast himself at their feet and wept with sore weeping and said,
+"Yes, O my ladies, by Allah, I am indeed that unhappy." Then said the
+younger damsel to her elder sister, "Bear witness against me,[FN#36] O
+my sister, that this is my brother by covenant of Allah and that I will
+die for his death and live for his life and joy for his joy and mourn
+for his mourning." So saying, she rose and embraced him and kissed him
+and presently taking him by the hand and her sister with her, led him
+into the palace, where she did off his ragged clothes and brought him a
+suit of King's raiment wherewith she arrayed him. Moreover, she made
+ready all manner viands[FN#37] and set them before him, and sat and ate
+with him, she and her sister. Then said they to him, "Tell us thy tale
+with yonder dog, the wicked, the wizard, from the time of thy falling
+into his hands to that of thy freeing thee from him; and after we will
+tell thee all that hath passed between us and him, so thou mayst be on
+thy guard against him an thou see him again." Hearing these words and
+finding himself thus kindly received, Hasan took heart of grace and
+reason returned to him and he related to them all that had befallen him
+with the Magian from first to last.  Then they asked, "Didst thou ask
+him of this palace?"; and he answered, "Yes, but he said, 'Name it not
+to me; for it belongeth to Ghuls and Satans.'" At this, the two damsels
+waxed wroth with exceeding wrath and said, "Did that miscreant style us
+Ghuls and Satans?" And Hasan answered, "Yes." Cried the younger sister,
+"By Allah, I will assuredly do him die with the foulest death and make
+him to lack the wind of the world!" Quoth Hasan, "And how wilt thou get
+at him, to kill him, for he is a crafty magician?"; and quoth she, "He
+is in a garden by name Al-Mushayyad,[FN#38] and there is no help but
+that I slay him before long."  Then said her sister, "Sooth spake Hasan
+in everything he hath recounted to us of this cur; but now tell him our
+tale, that all of it may abide in his memory."  So the younger said to
+him, "Know, O my brother, that we are the daughters of a King of the
+mightiest Kings of the Jann, having Marids for troops and guards and
+servants, and Almighty Allah blessed him with seven daughters by one
+wife; but of his folly such jealousy and stiff-neckedness and pride
+beyond compare gat hold upon him that he would not give us in marriage
+to any one and, summoning his Wazirs and Emirs, he said to them, 'Can
+ye tell me of any place untrodden by the tread of men and Jinn and
+abounding in trees and fruits and rills?' And quoth they, 'What wilt
+thou therewith, O King of the Age?' And quoth he, 'I desire there to
+lodge my seven daughters.' Answered they, 'O King, the place for them
+is the Castle of the Mountain of Clouds, built by an Ifrit of the
+rebellious Jinn, who revolted from the covenant of our lord Solomon, on
+whom be the Peace! Since his destruction, none hath dwelt there, nor
+man nor Jinni, for 'tis cut off[FN#39] and none may win to it.  And the
+Castle is girt about with trees and fruits and rills, and the water
+running around it is sweeter than honey and colder than snow: none who
+is afflicted with leprosy or elephantiasis[FN#40] or what not else
+drinketh thereof but he is healed forthright. Hearing this our father
+sent us hither, with an escort of his troops and guards and provided us
+with all that we need here. When he is minded to ride to us he beateth
+a kettle-drum, whereupon all his hosts present themselves before him
+and he chooseth whom he shall ride and dismisseth the rest; but, when
+he desireth that we shall visit him, he commandeth his followers, the
+enchanters, to fetch us and carry us to the presence; so he may solace
+himself with our society and we accomplish our desire of him; after
+which they again carry us back hither.  Our five other sisters are gone
+a-hunting in our desert, wherein are wild beasts past compt or
+calculation and, it being our turn to do this we two abode at home, to
+make ready for them food.  Indeed, we had besought Allah (extolled and
+exalted be He!) to vouchsafe us a son of Adam to cheer us with his
+company and praised be He who hath brought thee to us!  So be of good
+cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear, for no harm shall befal
+thee."  Hasan rejoiced and said, "Alhamdolillah, laud to the Lord who
+guideth us into the path of deliverance and inclineth hearts to us!"
+Then his sister[FN#41] rose and taking him by the hand, led him into a
+private chamber, where she brought out to him linen and furniture that
+no mortal can avail unto.  Presently, the other damsels returned from
+hunting and birding and their sisters acquainted them with Hasan's
+case; whereupon they rejoiced in him and going into him in his chamber,
+saluted him with the salam and gave him joy of his safety.  Then he
+abode with them in all the solace of life and its joyance, riding out
+with them to the chase and taking his pleasure with them whilst they
+entreated him courteously and cheered him with converse, till his
+sadness ceased from him and he recovered health and strength and his
+body waxed stout and fat, by dint of fair treatment and pleasant time
+among the seven moons in that fair palace with its gardens and flowers;
+for indeed he led the delightsomest of lives with the damsels who
+delighted in him and he yet more in them.  And they used to give him
+drink of the honey-dew of their lips[FN#42] these beauties with the
+high bosoms, adorned with grace and loveliness, the perfection of
+brilliancy and in shape very symmetry.  Moreover the youngest Princess
+told her sisters how Bahram the Magian had made them of the Ghuls and
+Demons and Satans,[FN#43] and they sware that they would surely slay
+him. Next year the accursed Guebre again made his appearance, having
+with him a handsome young Moslem, as he were the moon, bound hand and
+foot and tormented with grievous tortures, and alighted with him below
+the palace-walls. Now Hasan was sitting under the trees by the side of
+the stream; and when he espied Bahram, his heart fluttered,[FN#44] his
+hue changed and he smote hand upon hand.—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the
+goldsmith saw the Magian, his heart fluttered, his hue changed and he
+smote hand upon hand.  Then he said to the Princesses, "O my sisters,
+help me to the slaughter of this accursed, for here he is come back and
+in your grasp, and he leadeth with him captive a young Moslem of the
+sons of the notables, whom he is torturing with all manner grievous
+torments. Lief would I kill him and console my heart of him; and, by
+delivering the young Moslem from his mischief and restoring him to his
+country and kith and kin and friends, fain would I lay up merit for the
+world to come, by taking my wreak of him.[FN#45] This will be an
+almsdeed from you and ye will reap the reward thereof from Almighty
+Allah." "We hear and we obey Allah and thee, O our brother, O Hasan,"
+replied they and binding chin-veils, armed themselves and slung on
+their swords: after which they brought Hasan a steed of the best and
+equipped him in panoply and weaponed him with goodly weapons.  Then
+they all sallied out and found the Magian who had slaughtered and
+skinned a camel, ill-using the young Moslem, and saying to him, "Sit
+thee in this hide."  So Hasan came behind him, without his knowledge,
+and cried out at him till he was dazed and amazed.  Then he came up to
+him, saying, "Hold thy hand, O accursed! O enemy of Allah and foe of
+the Moslems! O dog! O traitor! O thou that flame dost obey! O thou that
+walkest in the wicked ones' ways, worshipping the fire and the light
+and swearing by the shade and the heat!" Herewith the Magian turned and
+seeing Hasan, thought to wheedle him and said to him, "O my son, how
+diddest thou escape and who brought thee down to earth?" Hasan replied,
+"He delivered me, who hath appointed the taking of thy life to be at my
+hand, and I will torture thee even as thou torturedst me the whole way
+long. O miscreant, O atheist,[FN#46] thou hast fallen into the twist
+and the way thou hast missed; and neither mother shall avail thee nor
+brother, nor friend nor solemn covenant shall assist thee; for thou
+saidst, O accursed, Whoso betrayeth bread and salt, may Allah do
+vengeance upon him! And thou hast broken the bond of bread and salt;
+wherefore the Almighty hath thrown thee into my grasp, and far is thy
+chance of escape from me."  Rejoined Bahram, "By Allah, O my son, O
+Hasan, thou art dearer to me than my sprite and the light of mine
+eyes!" But Hasan stepped up to him and hastily smote him between the
+shoulders, that the sword issued gleaming from his throat-tendons and
+Allah hurried his soul to the fire, and abiding-place dire.  Then Hasan
+took the Magian's bag and opened it, then having taken out the
+kettle-drum he struck it with the strap, whereupon up came the
+dromedaries like lightning.  So he unbound the youth from his bonds and
+setting him on one of the camels, loaded him another with victual and
+water,[FN#47] saying, "Wend whither thou wilt." So he departed, after
+Almighty Allah had thus delivered him from his strait at the hands of
+Hasan.  When the damsels saw their brother slay the Magian they joyed
+in him with exceeding joy and gat round him, marvelling at his valour
+and prowess,[FN#48] and thanked him for his deed and gave him joy of
+his safety, saying, "O Hasan thou hast done a deed, whereby thou hast
+healed the burning of him that thirsteth for vengeance and pleased the
+King of Omnipotence!"  Then they returned to the palace, and he abode
+with them, eating and drinking and laughing and making merry; and
+indeed his sojourn with them was joyous to him and he forgot his
+mother;[FN#49] but while he led with them this goodly life one day,
+behold, there arose from the further side of the desert a great cloud
+of dust that darkened the welkin and made towards them.  When the
+Princesses saw this, they said to him, "Rise, O Hasan, run to thy
+chamber and conceal thyself; or an thou wilt, go down into the garden
+and hide thyself among the trees and vines; but fear not, for no harm
+shall befal thee." So he arose and entering his chamber, locked the
+door upon himself, and lay lurking in the palace.  Presently the dust
+opened out and showed beneath it a great conquering host, as it were a
+surging sea, coming from the King, the father of the damsels. Now when
+the troops reached the castle, the Princesses received them with all
+honour and hospitably entertained them three days; after which they
+questioned them of their case and tidings and they replied saying, "We
+come from the King in quest of you."  They asked, "And what would the
+King with us?"; and the officers answered, "One of the Kings maketh a
+marriage festival, and your father would have you be present thereat
+and take your pleasure therewith." The damsels enquired, "And how long
+shall we be absent from our place?"; and they rejoined, "The time to
+come and go, and to sojourn may be two months." So the Princesses arose
+and going in to the palace sought Hasan, acquainted him with the case
+and said to him, "Verily this place is thy place and our house is thy
+house; so be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear and feel
+nor grief nor fear, for none can come at thee here; but keep a good
+heart and a glad mind, till we return to thee.  The keys of our
+chambers we leave with thee; but, O our brother, we beseech thee, by
+the bond of brotherhood, in very deed not to open such a door, for thou
+hast no need thereto." Then they farewelled him and fared forth with
+the troops, leaving Hasan alone in the palace.  It was not long before
+his breast grew straitened and his patience shortened: solitude and
+sadness were heavy on him and he sorrowed for his severance from them
+with passing chagrin.  The palace for all its vastness, waxed small to
+him and finding himself sad and solitary, he bethought him of the
+damsels and their pleasant converse and recited these couplets,
+
+"The wide plain is narrowed before these eyes * And the landscape
+     troubles  this heart of mine.
+Since my friends went forth, by the loss of them * Joy fled and
+     these  eyelids rail floods of brine:
+Sleep shunned these eyeballs for parting woe * And my mind is
+     worn with  sore pain and pine:
+Would I wot an Time shall rejoin our lots * And the joys of love
+     with night-talk combine."
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after the
+departure of the damsels, Hasan sat in the palace sad and solitary and
+his breast was straitened by severance.  He used to ride forth
+a-hunting by himself in the wold and bring back the game and slaughter
+it and eat thereof alone: but melancholy and disquiet redoubled on him,
+by reason of his loneliness.  So he arose and went round about the
+palace and explored its every part; he opened the Princesses'
+apartments and found therein riches and treasures fit to ravish the
+beholder's reason; but he delighted not in aught thereof, by reason of
+their absence.  His heart was fired by thinking of the door they had
+charged him not to approach or open on any account and he said in
+himself, "My sister had never enjoined me not to open this door, except
+there were behind it somewhat whereof she would have none to know; but,
+by Allah, I will arise and open it and see what is within, though
+within it were sudden death!" Then he took the key and, opening the
+door,[FN#50] saw therein no treasure but he espied a vaulted and
+winding staircase of Yamani onyx at the upper end of the chamber.  So
+he mounted the stair, which brought him out upon the terrace- roof of
+the palace, whence he looked down upon the gardens and vergiers, full
+of trees and fruits and beasts and birds warbling praises of Allah, the
+One, the All-powerful; and said in himself "This is that they forbade
+to me."   He gazed upon these pleasaunces and saw beyond a surging sea,
+dashing with clashing billows, and he ceased not to explore the palace
+right and left, till he ended at a pavilion builded with alternate
+courses, two bricks of gold and one of silver and jacinth and emerald
+and supported by four columns.  And in the centre he saw a sitting-
+room paved and lined with a mosaic of all manner precious stones such
+as rubies and emeralds and balasses and other jewels of sorts; and in
+its midst stood a basin[FN#51] brimful of water, over which was a
+trellis-work of sandalwood and aloes-wood reticulated with rods of red
+gold and wands of emerald and set with various kinds of jewels and fine
+pearls, each sized as a pigeon's egg.  The trellis was covered with a
+climbing vine, bearing grapes like rubies, and beside the basin stood a
+throne of lign-aloes latticed with red gold, inlaid with great pearls
+and comprising vari-coloured gems of every sort and precious minerals, 
+each kind fronting each and symmetrically disposed. About it the birds
+warbled with sweet tongues and various voices celebrating the praises
+of Allah the Most High: brief, it was a palace such as nor Cćsar nor
+Chosroës ever owned; but Hasan saw therein none of the creatures of
+Allah, whereat he marvelled and said in himself, "I wonder to which of
+the Kings this place pertaineth, or is it Many-Columned Iram whereof
+they tell, for who among mortals can avail to the like of this?"   And
+indeed he was amazed at the spectacle and sat down in the pavilion and
+cast glances around him marvelling at the beauty of its ordinance and
+at the lustre of the pearls and jewels and the curious works which
+therein were, no less than at the gardens and orchards aforesaid and at
+the birds that hymned the praises of Allah, the One, the Almighty; and
+he abode pondering the traces of him whom the Most High had enabled to
+rear that structure, for indeed He is muchel of might.[FN#52] And
+presently, behold, he espied ten birds[FN#53] flying towards the
+pavilion from the heart of the desert and knew that they were making
+the palace and bound for the basin, to drink of its waters: so he hid
+himself, for fear they should see him and take flight.  They lighted on
+a great tree and a goodly and circled round about it; and he saw
+amongst them a bird of marvel-beauty, the goodliest of them all, and
+the nine stood around it and did it service; and Hasan marvelled to see
+it peck them with its bill and lord it over them while they fled from
+it.  He stood gazing at them from afar as they entered the pavilion and
+perched on the couch; after which each bird rent open its neck-skin
+with its claws and issued out of it; and lo! it was but a garment of
+feathers, and there came forth therefrom ten virgins, maids whose
+beauty shamed the brilliancy of the moon.  They all doffed their
+clothes and plunging into the basin, washed and fell to playing and
+sporting one with other; whilst the chief bird of them lifted up the
+rest and ducked them down and they fled from her and dared not put
+forth their hands to her.  When Hasan beheld her thus he took leave of
+his right reason and his sense was enslaved, so he knew that the
+Princesses had not forbidden him to open the door save because of this;
+for he fell passionately in love with her, for what he saw of her
+beauty and loveliness, symmetry and perfect grace, as she played and
+sported and splashed the others with the water.  He stood looking upon
+them whilst they saw him not, with eye gazing and heart burning and
+soul[FN#54] to evil prompting; and he sighed to be with them and wept
+for longing, because of the beauty and loveliness of the chief damsel. 
+His mind was amazed at her charms and his heart taken in the net of her
+love; lowe was loosed in his heart for her sake and there waxed on him
+a flame, whose sparks might not be quenched, and desire, whose signs
+might not be hidden.  Presently, they came up out of that basin, whilst
+Hasan marvelled at their beauty and loveliness and the tokens of inner
+gifts in the elegance of their movements. Then he cast a glance at the
+chief damsel who stood mother- naked and there was manifest to him what
+was between her thighs a goodly rounded dome on pillars borne, like a
+bowl of silver or crystal, which recalled to him the saying of the
+poet,[FN#55]
+
+"When I took up her shift and discovered the terrace-roof of her
+     kaze, I found it as strait as my humour or eke my worldly
+     ways:
+So I thrust it, incontinent, in, halfway, and she heaved a sigh.
+     'For what dost thou sigh?' quoth I. 'For the rest of it
+     sure,' she says."
+
+
+Then coming out of the water they all put on their dresses and
+ornaments, and the chief maiden donned a green dress,[FN#56] wherein
+she surpassed for loveliness all the fair ones of the world and the
+lustre of her face outshone the resplendent full moons: she excelled
+the branches with the grace of her bending gait and confounded the wit
+with apprehension of disdain; and indeed she was as saith the
+poet,[FN#57]
+
+"A maiden 'twas, the dresser's art had decked with cunning
+     sleight;
+The sun thou 'd'st say had robbed her cheek and shone with
+     borrowed light.
+She came to us apparelled fair in under vest of green,
+Like as the ripe pomegranate hides beneath its leafy screen;
+And when we asked her what might be the name of what she wore,
+She answered in a quaint reply that double meaning bore:
+The desert's heart we penetrate in such apparel dressed,
+And Pierce-heart therefore is the name by which we call the
+     vest."
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan
+saw the damsels issue forth the basin, the chief maiden robbed his
+reason with her beauty and loveliness compelling him to recite the
+couplets forequoted.  And after dressing they sat talking and laughing,
+whilst he stood gazing on them, drowned in the sea of his love, burning
+in the flames of passion and wandering in the Wady of his melancholy
+thought.  And he said to himself, "By Allah, my sister forbade me not
+to open the door, but for cause of these maidens and for fear lest I
+should fall in love with one of them!  How, O Hasan shalt thou woo and
+win them? How bring down a bird flying in the vasty firmament?  By
+Allah thou hast cast thyself into a bottomless sea and snared thyself
+in a net whence there is no escape!  I shall die desolate and none
+shall wot of my death."  And he continued to gaze on the charms of the
+chief damsel, who was the lovliest creature Allah had made in her day,
+and indeed she outdid in beauty all human beings. She had a mouth
+magical as Solomon's seal and hair blacker than the night of
+estrangement to the love-despairing man; her brow was bright as the
+crescent moon of the Feast of Ramazán[FN#58] and her eyes were like
+eyes wherewith gazelles scan; she had a polished nose straight as a
+cane and cheeks like blood-red anemones of Nu'uman, lips like coralline
+and teeth like strung pearls in carcanets of gold virgin to man, and a
+neck like an ingot of silver, above a shape like a wand of Bán: her
+middle was full of folds, a dimpled plain such as enforceth the
+distracted lover to magnify Allah and extol His might and main, and her
+navel[FN#59] an ounce of musk, sweetest of savour could contain: she
+had thighs great and plump, like marble columns twain or bolsters
+stuffed with down from ostrich ta'en, and between them a somewhat, as
+it were a hummock great of span or a hare with ears back lain while
+terrace-roof and pilasters completed the plan; and indeed she surpassed
+the bough of the myrobalan with her beauty and symmetry, and the Indian
+rattan, for she was even as saith of them the poet whom love did
+unman,[FN#60]
+
+"Her lip-dews rival honey-sweets, that sweet virginity; *
+     Keener than Hindi scymitar the glance she casts at thee:
+She shames the bending bough of Bán with graceful movement slow *
+     And as she smiles her teeth appear with leven's brilliancy:
+When I compared with rose a-bloom the tintage of her cheeks, *
+     She laughed in scorn and cried, 'Whoso compares with rosery
+My hue and breasts, granados terms, is there no shame in him? *
+     How should pomegranates bear on bough such fruit in form or
+     blee?
+Now by my beauty and mine eyes and heart and eke by Heaven *
+     Of favours mine and by the Hell of my unclemency,
+They say 'She is a garden-rose in very pride of bloom'; *
+     And yet no rose can ape my cheek nor branch my symmetry!
+If any garden own a thing which unto me is like, *
+     What then is that he comes to crave of me and only me?"'
+
+
+They ceased not to laugh and play, whilst Hasan stood still a-watching
+them, forgetting meat and drink, till near the hour of mid-afternoon
+prayer, when the beauty, the chief damsel, said to her mates, "O Kings'
+daughters, it waxeth late and our land is afar and we are weary of this
+stead.  Come, therefore, let us depart to our own place." So they all
+arose and donned their feather vests, and becoming birds as they were
+before, flew away all together, with the chief lady in their midst. 
+Then, Hasan, despairing of their return, would have arisen and gone
+down into the palace  but could not move or even stand; wherefore the
+tears ran down his cheeks and passion was sore on him and he recited
+these couplets,
+
+"May God deny me boon of troth if I * After your absence sweets
+     of slumber know:
+Yea; since that sev'rance never close mine eyes, * Nor rest
+     repose me since departed you!
+'Twould seem as though you saw me in your sleep; * Would Heaven
+     the dreams of sleep were real-true!
+Indeed I dote on sleep though needed not, * For sleep may bring
+     me that dear form to view."
+
+
+Then Hasan walked on, little by little, heeding not the way he went,
+till he reached the foot of the stairs, whence he dragged himself to
+his own chamber; then he entered and shutting the door, lay sick eating
+not nor drinking and drowned in the sea of his solitude.  He spent the
+night thus, weeping and bemoaning himself, till the morning, and when
+it morrowed he repeated these couplets,
+
+"The birds took flight at eve and winged their way; * And sinless
+     he who died of Love's death-blow.
+I'll keep my love-tale secret while I can * But, an desire
+     prevail, its needs must show:
+Night brought me nightly vision, bright as dawn; * While nights
+     of my desire lack morning-glow.
+I mourn for them[FN#61] while they heart-freest sleep * And winds
+     of love on me their plaything blow:
+Free I bestow my tears, my wealth, my heart * My wit, my sprite:Â
+     most gain who most bestow!
+The worst of woes and banes is enmity * Beautiful maidens deal us
+     to our woe.
+Favour they say's forbidden to the fair * And shedding lovers'
+     blood their laws allow;
+That naught can love-sicks do but lavish soul, * And stake in
+     love-play life on single throw:[FN#62]
+I cry in longing ardour for my love: * Lover can only weep and
+     wail Love-lowe."
+
+
+When the sun rose he opened the door, went forth of the chamber and
+mounted to the stead where he was before: then he sat down facing the
+pavilion and awaited the return of the birds till nightfall; but they
+returned not; wherefore he wept till he fell to the ground in a
+fainting-fit. When he came to after his swoon, he dragged himself down
+the stairs to his chamber; and indeed, the darkness was come and
+straitened upon him was the whole world and he ceased not to weep and
+wail himself through the livelong night, till the day broke and the sun
+rained over hill and dale its rays serene.  He ate not nor drank nor
+slept, nor was there any rest for him; but by day he was distracted and
+by night distressed, with sleeplessness delirious and drunken with
+melancholy thought and excess of love-longing.  And he repeated the
+verses of the love-distraught poet,
+
+"O thou who shamest sun in morning sheen * The branch
+     confounding, yet with nescience blest;
+Would Heaven I wot an Time shall bring return * And quench the
+     fires which flame unmanifest,—
+Bring us together in a close embrace, * Thy cheek upon my cheek,
+     thy breast abreast!
+Who saith, In Love dwells sweetness? when in Love * Are bitterer
+     days than Aloës[FN#63] bitterest."
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the
+goldsmith felt love redouble upon him, he recited those lines; and, as
+he abode thus in the stress of his love-distraction, alone and finding
+none to cheer him with company, behold, there arose a dust-cloud from
+the desert, wherefore he ran down and hid himself knowing that the
+Princesses who owned the castle had returned.  Before long, the troops
+halted and dismounted round the palace and the seven damsels alighted
+and entering, put off their arms and armour of war. As for the
+youngest, she stayed not to doff her weapons and gear, but went
+straight to Hasan's chamber, where finding him not, she sought for him,
+till she lighted on him in one of the sleeping closets hidden, feeble
+and thin, with shrunken body and wasted bones and indeed his colour was
+changed and his eyes sunken in his face for lack of food and drink and
+for much weeping, by reason of his love and longing for the young lady.
+ When she saw him in this plight, she was confounded and lost her wits;
+but presently she questioned him of his case and what had befallen him,
+saying, "Tell me what aileth thee, O my brother, that I may contrive to
+do away thine affliction, and I will be thy ransom!"[FN#64] Whereupon
+he wept with sore weeping and by way of reply he began reciting,
+
+"Lover, when parted from the thing he loves, * Has naught save
+     weary woe and bane to bear.
+Inside is sickness, outside living lowe, * His first is fancy and
+     his last despair."
+
+
+When his sister heard this, she marvelled at his eloquence and loquent
+speech and his readiness at answering her in verse and said to him, "O
+my brother, when didst thou fall into this thy case and what hath
+betided thee, that I find thee speaking in song and shedding tears that
+throng?  Allah upon thee, O my brother, and by the honest love which is
+between us, tell me what aileth thee and discover to me thy secret, nor
+conceal from me aught of that which hath befallen thee in our absence;
+for my breast is straitened and my life is troubled because of thee."
+He sighed and railed tears like rain, after which he said, "I fear, O
+my sister, if I tell thee, that thou wilt not aid me to win my wish but
+wilt leave me to die wretchedly in mine anguish." She replied, "No, by
+Allah, O my brother, I will not abandon thee, though it cost me my
+life!"  So he told her all that had befallen him, and that the cause of
+his distress and affliction was the passion he had conceived for the
+young lady whom he had seen when he opened the forbidden door; and how
+he had not tasted meat nor drink for ten days past.  Then he wept with
+sore weeping and recited these couplets,
+
+"Restore my heart as 'twas within my breast, * Let mine eyes
+     sleep again, then fly fro' me.
+Deem ye the nights have had the might to change * Love's vow?
+     Who changeth may he never be!"
+
+
+His sister wept for his weeping and was moved to ruth for his case and
+pitied his strangerhood; so she said to him, "O my brother, be of good
+cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear, for I will venture being and
+risk existence to content thee and devise thee a device wherewith,
+though it cost me my dear life and all I hold dear, thou mayst get
+possession of her and accomplish thy desire, if such be the will of
+Allah Almighty. But I charge thee, O my brother, keep the matter secret
+from my sisterhood and discover not thy case to any one of them, lest
+my life be lost with thy life.  An they question thee of opening the
+forbidden door, reply to them, 'I opened it not; no, never; but I was
+troubled at heart for your absence and by my loneliness here and
+yearning for you.'"[FN#65] And he answered, "Yes: this is the right
+rede."  So he kissed her head and his heart was comforted and his bosom
+broadened.  He had been nigh upon death for excess of affright, for he
+had gone in fear of her by reason of his having opened the door; but
+now his life and soul returned to him. Then he sought of her somewhat
+of food and after serving it she left him, and went in to her sisters,
+weeping and mourning for him.  They questioned her of her case and she
+told them how she was heavy at heart for her brother, because he was
+sick and for ten days no food had found way into his stomach.  So they
+asked the cause of his sickness and she answered, "The reason was our
+severance from him and our leaving him desolate; for these days we have
+been absent from him were longer to him than a thousand years and scant
+blame to him, seeing he is a stranger, and solitary and we left him
+alone, with none to company with him or hearten his heart; more by
+token that he is but a youth and may be he called to mind his family
+and his mother, who is a woman in years, and bethought him that she
+weepeth for him all whiles of the day and watches of the night, ever
+mourning his loss; and we used to solace him with our society and
+divert him from thinking of her." When her sisters heard these words
+they wept in the stress of their distress for him and said,
+"Wa'lláhi—'fore Allah, he is not to blame!" Then they went out to the
+army and dismissed it, after which they went into Hasan and saluted him
+with the salam.  When they saw his charms changed with yellow colour
+and shrunken body, they wept for very pity and sat by his side and
+comforted him and cheered him with converse, relating to him all they
+had seen by the way of wonders and rarities and what had befallen the
+bridegroom with the bride. They abode with him thus a whole month,
+tendering him and caressing him with words sweeter than syrup; but
+every day sickness was added to his sickness, which when they saw, they
+bewept him with sore weeping, and the youngest wept even more than the
+rest.  At the end of this time, the Princesses having made up their
+minds to ride forth a-hunting and a-birding invited their sister to
+accompany them, but she said, "By Allah, O my sisters, I cannot go
+forth with you whilst my brother is in this plight, nor indeed till he
+be restored to health and there cease from him that which is with him
+of affliction.  Rather will I sit with him and comfort him." They
+thanked her for her kindness and said to her, "Allah will requite thee
+all thou dost with this stranger." Then they left her with him in the
+palace and rode forth taking with them twenty days' victual;—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Princesses
+mounted and rode forth a-hunting and a-birding, after leaving in the
+palace their youngest sister sitting by Hasan's side; and as soon as
+the damsel knew that they had covered a long distance from home, she
+went in to him and said, "O my brother, come, show me the place where
+thou sawest the maidens." He rejoiced in her words, making sure of
+winning his wish, and replied, "Bismillah! On my head!" Then he essayed
+to rise and show her the place, but could not walk; so she took him up
+in her arms, holding him to her bosom between her breasts; and, opening
+the staircase-door, carried him to the top of the palace, and he showed
+her the pavilion where he had seen the girls and the basin of water,
+wherein they had bathed.  Then she said to him, "Set forth to me, O my
+brother, their case and how they came."  So he described to her whatso
+he had seen of them and especially the girl of whom he was enamoured;
+but hearing these words she knew her and her cheeks paled and her case
+changed. Quoth he, "O my sister, what aileth thee to wax wan and be
+troubled?"; and quoth she, "O my brother, know thou that this young
+lady is the daughter of a Sovran of the Jann, of one of the most
+puissant of their Kings, and her father had dominion over men and Jinn
+and wizards and Cohens and tribal chiefs and guards and countries and
+cities and islands galore and hath immense wealth in store.  Our father
+is a Viceroy and one of his vassals and none can avail against him, for
+the multitude of his many and the extent of his empire and the muchness
+of his monies.  He hath assigned to his offspring, the daughters thou
+sawest, a tract of country, a whole year's journey in length and
+breadth, a region girt about with a great river and a deep; and thereto
+none may attain, nor man nor Jann.  He hath an army of women, smiters
+with swords and lungers with lances, five-and-twenty thousand in
+number, each of whom, whenas she mounteth steed and donneth
+battle-gear, eveneth a thousand knights of the bravest.  Moreover, he
+hath seven daughters, who in valour and prowess equal and even excel
+their sisters,[FN#66] and he hath made the eldest of them, the damsel
+whom thou sawest,[FN#67] queen over the country aforesaid and who is
+the wisest of her sisters and in valour and horsemanship and craft and
+skill and magic excels all the folk of her dominions. The girls who
+companied with her are the ladies of her court and guards and grandees
+of her empire, and the plumed skins wherewith they fly are the
+handiwork of enchanters of the Jann.  Now an thou wouldst get
+possession of this queen and wed this jewel seld-seen and enjoy her
+beauty and loveliness and grace, do thou pay heed to my words and keep
+them in thy memory. They resort to this place on the first day of every
+month; and thou must take seat here and watch for them; and when thou
+seest them coming hide thee near the pavilion sitting where thou mayst
+see them, without being seen of them, and beware, again beware lest
+thou show thyself, or we shall all lose our lives. When they doff their
+dress note which is the feather-suit of her whom thou lovest and take
+it, and it only, for this it is that carrieth her to her country, and
+when thou hast mastered it, thou hast mastered her.  And beware lest
+she wile thee, saying, 'O thou who hast robbed my raiment, restore it
+to me, because here am I in thine hands and at thy mercy!' For, an thou
+give it her, she will kill thee and break down over us palace and
+pavilion and slay our sire: know, then, thy case and how thou shalt
+act.  When her companions see that her feather-suit is stolen, they
+will take flight and leave her to thee, and beware lest thou show
+thyself to them, but wait till they have flown away and she despaireth
+of them: whereupon do thou go in to her and hale her by the hair of her
+head[FN#68] and drag her to thee; which being done, she will be at thy
+mercy.  And I rede thee discover not to her that thou hast taken the
+feather-suit, but keep it with care; for, so long as thou hast it in
+hold, she is thy prisoner and in thy power, seeing that she cannot fly
+to her country save with it.  And lastly carry her down to thy chamber
+where she will be thine." When Hasan heard her words his heart became
+at ease, his trouble ceased and affliction left him; so he rose to his
+feet and kissing his sister's head, went down from the terrace with her
+into the palace, where they slept that night.  He medicined himself
+till morning morrowed; and when the sun rose, he sprang up and opened
+the staircase-door and ascending to the flat roof sat there till
+supper-tide when his sister brought him up somewhat of meat and drink
+and a change of clothes and he slept. And thus they continued doing,
+day by day until the end of the month. When he saw the new moon, he
+rejoiced and began to watch for the birds, and while he was thus,
+behold, up they came, like lightning. As  soon as he espied them, he
+hid himself where he could watch them, unwatched by them, and they
+lighted down one and all of them, and putting off their clothes,
+descended into the basin. All this took place near the stead where
+Hasan lay concealed, and as soon as he caught sight of the girl he
+loved, he arose and crept under cover, little by little, towards the
+dresses, and Allah veiled him so that none marked his approach for they
+were laughing and playing with one another, till he laid hand on the
+dress.  Now when they had made an end of their diversion, they came
+forth of the basin and each of them slipped on her feather-suit.  But
+the damsel he loved sought for her plumage that she might put it on,
+but found it not; whereupon she shrieked and beat her cheeks and rent
+her raiment.  Her sisterhood[FN#69] came to her and asked what ailed
+her, and she told them that her feather-suit was missing; wherefore
+they wept and shrieked and buffeted their faces: and they were
+confounded, wotting not the cause of this, and knew not what to do.
+Presently the night overtook them and they feared to abide with her
+lest that which had befallen her should befal them also; so they
+farewelled her and flying away left her alone upon the terrace-roof of
+the palace, by the pavilion basin.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninetieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan had
+carried off the girl's plumery, she sought it but found it not and her
+sisterhood flew away leaving her alone. When they were out of sight,
+Hasan gave ear to her and heard her say, "O who hast taken my dress and
+stripped me, I beseech thee to restore it to me and cover my shame, so
+may Allah never make thee taste of my tribulation!" But when Hasan
+heard her speak thus, with speech sweeter than syrup, his love for her
+redoubled, passion got the mastery of his reason and he had not
+patience to endure from her. So springing up from his hiding-place, he
+rushed upon her and laying hold of her by the hair dragged her to him
+and carried her down to the basement of the palace and set her in his
+own chamber, where he threw over her a silken cloak[FN#70] and left her
+weeping and biting her hands.  Then he shut the door upon her and going
+to his sister, informed her how he had made prize of his lover and
+carried her to his sleeping-closet, "And there," quoth he, "she is now
+sitting, weeping and biting her hands." When his sister heard this, she
+rose forthright and betook herself to the chamber, where she found the
+captive weeping and mourning.  So she kissed ground before her and
+saluted her with the salam and the young lady said to her, "O King's
+daughter, do folk like you do such foul deed with the daughters of
+Kings?  Thou knowest that my father is a mighty Sovran and that all the
+liege lords of the Jinn stand in awe of him and fear his majesty: for
+that there are with him magicians and sages and Cohens and Satans and
+Marids, such as none may cope withal, and under his hand are folk whose
+number none knoweth save Allah.  How then doth it become you, O
+daughters of Kings, to harbour mortal men with you and disclose to them
+our case and yours?  Else how should this man, a stranger, come at us?"
+Hasan's sister made reply, "O King's daughter, in very sooth this human
+is perfect in nobleness and purposeth thee no villainy; but he loveth
+thee, and women were not made save for men.  Did he not love thee, he
+had not fallen sick for thy sake and well-nigh given up the ghost for
+desire of thee." And she told her the whole tale how Hasan had seen her
+bathing in the basin with her attendants, and fallen in love with her,
+and none had pleased him but she, for the rest were all her handmaids,
+and none had availed to put forth a hand to her. When the Princess
+heard this, she despaired of deliverance and presently Hasan's sister
+went forth and brought her a costly dress, wherein she robed her. Then
+she set before her somewhat of meat and drink and ate with her and
+heartened her heart and soothed her sorrows.  And she ceased not to
+speak her fair with soft and pleasant words, saying, "Have pity on him
+who saw thee once and became as one slain by thy love;" and continued
+to console her and caress her, quoting fair says and pleasant
+instances. But she wept till daybreak, when her trouble subsided and
+she left shedding tears, knowing that she had fallen into the net and
+that there was no deliverance for her.  Then said she to Hasan's
+sister, "O King's daughter, with this my strangerhood and severance
+from my country and sisterhood which Allah wrote upon my brow, patience
+becometh me to support what my Lord hath foreordained."  Therewith the
+youngest Princess assigned her a chamber in the palace, than which
+there was none goodlier and ceased not to sit with her and console her
+and solace her heart, till she was satisfied with her lot and her bosom
+was broadened and she laughed and there ceased from her what trouble
+and oppression possessed her, by reason of her separation from her
+people and country and sisterhood and parents.  Thereupon Hasan's
+sister repaired to him, and said, "Arise, go in to her in her chamber
+and kiss her hands and feet."[FN#71]  So he went in to her and did this
+and bussed her between the eyes, saying, "O Princess of fair ones and
+life of sprites and beholder's delight, be easy of heart, for I took
+thee only that I might be thy bondsman till the Day of Doom, and this
+my sister will be thy servant; for I, O my lady, desire naught but to
+take thee to wife, after the law of Allah and the practice of His
+Apostle, and whenas thou wilt, I will journey with thee to my country
+and carry thee to Baghdad-city and abide with thee there: moreover, I
+will buy thee handmaidens and negro chattels; and I have a mother, of
+the best of women, who will do thee service.  There is no goodlier land
+than our land; everything therein is better than elsewhere and its folk
+are a pleasant people and bright of face."  Now as he bespake her thus
+and strave to comfort her, what while she answered him not a syllable,
+lo! there came a knocking at the palace-gate.  So Hasan went out to see
+who was at the door and found there the six Princesses, who had
+returned from hunting and birding, whereat he rejoiced and went to meet
+them and welcomed them.  They wished him safety and health and he
+wished them the like; after which they dismounted and going each to her
+chamber doffed their soiled clothes and donned fine linen.  Then they
+came forth and demanded the game, for they had taken a store of
+gazelles and wild cows, hares and lions, hyaenas, and others; so their
+suite brought out some thereof for butchering, keeping the rest by them
+in the palace, and Hasan girt himself and fell to slaughtering for them
+in due form,[FN#72] whilst they sported and made merry, joying with
+great joy to see him standing amongst them hale and hearty once more. 
+When they had made an end of slaughtering, they sat down and addressed
+themselves to get ready somewhat for breaking their fast, and Hasan,
+coming up to the eldest Princess, kissed her head and on like wise did
+he with the rest, one after other. Whereupon said they to him, "Indeed,
+thou humblest thyself to us passing measure, O our brother, and we
+marvel at the excess of the affection thou showest us.  But Allah
+forfend that thou shouldst do this thing, which it behoveth us rather
+to do with thee, seeing thou art a man and therefor worthier than we,
+who are of the Jinn."[FN#73] Thereupon his eyes brimmed with tears and
+he wept sore; so they said to him, "What causeth thee to weep?  Indeed,
+thou troublest our pleasant lives with thy weeping this day. 'Twould
+seem thou longest after thy mother and native land.  An things be so,
+we will equip thee and carry thee to thy home and thy friends."  He
+replied, "By Allah, I desire not to part from you!" Then they asked,
+"Which of us hath vexed thee, that thou art thus troubled?"  But he was
+ashamed to say, "Naught troubleth me save love of a damsel," lest they
+should deny and disavow him: so he was silent and would tell them
+nothing of his case. Then his sister came forward and said to them, "He
+hath caught a bird from the air and would have you help him to tame
+her." Whereupon they all turned to him and cried, "We are at thy
+service every one of us and whatsoever thou seekest that will we do:
+but tell us thy tale and conceal from us naught of thy case." So he
+said to his sister, "Do thou tell them, for I am ashamed before them
+nor can I face them with these words."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan said to his
+sister, "Do thou tell them my tale, for before them I stand abashed nor
+can I face them with these words."  So she said to them, "O my sisters,
+when we went away and left alone this unhappy one, the palace was
+straitened upon him and he feared lest some one should come in to him,
+for ye know that the sons of Adam are light of wits.  So, he opened the
+door of the staircase leading to the roof, of his loneliness and
+trouble, and sat there, looking upon the Wady and watching the gate, in
+his fear lest any should come thither.  One day, as he sat thus,
+suddenly he saw ten birds approach him, making for the palace, and they
+lighted down on the brink of the basin which is in the
+pavilion-terrace.  He watched these birds and saw, amongst them, one
+goodlier than the rest, which pecked the others and flouted them,
+whilst none of them dared put out a claw to it. Presently, they set
+their nails to their neck-collars and, rending their feather-suits,
+came forth therefrom and became damsels, each and every, like the moon
+on fullest night.  Then they doffed their dress and plunging into the
+water, fell to playing with one another, whilst the chief damsel ducked
+the others, who dared not lay a finger on her and she was fairest of
+favour and most famous of form and most feateous of finery.  They
+ceased not to be in this case till near the hour of mid-afternoon
+prayer, when they came forth of the basin and, donning their
+feather-shifts, flew away home.  Thereupon he waxed distracted, with a
+heart afire for love of the chief damsel and repenting him that he had
+not stolen her plumery.  Wherefore he fell sick and abode on the
+palace-roof expecting her return and abstaining from meat and drink and
+sleep, and he ceased not to be so till the new moon showed, when
+behold, they again made their appearance according to custom and
+doffing their dresses went down into the basin.  So he stole the chief
+damsel's feather-suit, knowing that she could not fly save therewith,
+hiding himself carefully lest they sight him and slay him.  Then he
+waited till the rest had flown away, when he arose and seizing the
+damsel, carried her down from the terrace into the castle." Her sisters
+asked, "Where is she?"; and she answered, "She is with him in such a
+chamber." Quoth they, "Describe her to us, O our sister:" so quoth she,
+"She is fairer than the moon on the night of fullness and her face is
+sheenier than the sun; the dew of her lips is sweeter than honey and
+her shape is straighter and slenderer than the cane; one with eyes
+black as night and brow flower-white; a bosom jewel-bright, breasts
+like pomegranates twain and cheeks like apples twain, a waist with
+dimples overlain, a navel like a casket of ivory full of musk in grain,
+and legs like columns of alabastrine vein.  She ravisheth all hearts
+with Nature-kohl'd eyne, and a waist slender-fine and hips of heaviest
+design and speech that heals all pain and pine: she is goodly of shape
+and sweet of smile, as she were the moon in fullest sheen and shine." 
+When the Princesses heard these praises, they turned to Hasan and said
+to him, "Show her to us."  So he arose with them, all love-distraught,
+and carrying them to the chamber wherein was the captive damsel, opened
+the door and entered, preceding the seven Princesses.  Now when they
+saw her and noted her loveliness, they kissed the ground between her
+hands, marvelling at the fairness of her favour and the significance
+which showed her inner gifts, and said to her, "By Allah, O daughter of
+the Sovran Supreme, this is indeed a mighty matter: and haddest thou
+heard tell of this mortal among women thou haddest marvelled at him all
+thy days.  Indeed, he loveth thee with passionate love; yet, O King's
+daughter, he seeketh not lewdness, but desireth thee only in the way of
+lawful wedlock. Had we known that maids can do without men, we had
+impeached him from his intent, albeit he sent thee no messenger, but
+came to thee in person; and he telleth us he hath burnt the feather
+dress; else had we taken it from him." Then one of them agreed with the
+Princess and becoming her deputy in the matter of the wedding contract,
+performed the marriage ceremony between them, whilst Hasan clapped
+palms with her, laying his hand in hers, and she wedded him to the
+damsel by consent; after which they celebrated her bridal feast, as
+beseemeth Kings' daughters, and brought Hasan in to her.  So he rose
+and rent the veil and oped the gate and pierced the forge[FN#74] and
+brake the seal, whereupon affection for her waxed in him and he
+redoubled in love and longing for her.  Then, since he had gotten that
+which he sought, he gave himself joy and improvised these couplets,
+
+"Thy shape's temptation, eyes as Houri's fain * And sheddeth
+     Beauty's sheen[FN#75] that radiance rare:
+My glance portrayed thy glorious portraiture: * Rubies one-half
+     and gems the third part were:
+Musk made a fifth: a sixth was ambergris * The sixth a pearl but
+     pearl without compare.
+Eve never bare a daughter evening thee * Nor breathes thy like in
+     Khuld's[FN#76] celestial air.
+An thou would torture me 'tis wont of Love * And if thou pardon
+     'tis thy choice I swear:
+Then, O world bright'ner and O end of wish! * Loss of thy charms
+     who could in patience bear?"
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-second Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan
+went in unto the King's daughter and did away her maidenhead, he
+enjoyed her with exceeding joy and affection for her waxed in him and
+he redoubled in love-longing for her; so he recited the lines
+aforesaid.  Now the Princesses were standing at the door and when they
+heard his verses, they said to her, "O King's daughter, hearest thou
+the words of this mortal?  How canst thou blame us, seeing that he
+maketh poetry for love of thee and indeed he hath so done a thousand
+times."[FN#77]  When she heard this she rejoiced and was glad and felt
+happy and Hasan abode with her forty[FN#78] days in all solace and
+delight, joyance and happiest plight, whilst the damsels renewed
+festivities for him every day and overwhelmed him with bounty and
+presents and rarities; and the King's daughter became reconciled to her
+sojourn amongst them and forgot her kith and kin.  At the end of the
+forty days, Hasan saw in a dream, one night, his mother mourning for
+him and indeed her bones were wasted and her body had waxed shrunken
+and her complexion had yellowed and her favour had changed the while he
+was in excellent case.  When she saw him in this state, she said to
+him, "O my son, O Hasan, how is it that thou livest thy worldly life at
+thine ease and forgettest me?  Look at my plight since thy loss!  I do
+not forget thee, nor will my tongue cease to name thy name till I die;
+and I have made thee a tomb in my house, that I may never forget thee. 
+Would Heaven I knew[FN#79] if I shall live, O my son, to see thee by my
+side and if we shall ever again foregather as we were."  Thereupon
+Hasan awoke from sleep, weeping and wailing, the tears railed down his
+cheeks like rain and he became mournful and melancholy; his tears dried
+not nor did sleep visit him, but he had no rest, and no patience was
+left to him.  When he arose, the Princesses came in to him and gave him
+good-morrow and made merry with him as was their wont; but he paid no
+heed to them; so they asked his wife concerning his case and she said,
+"I ken not."  Quoth they, "Question him of his condition."  So she went
+up to him and said, "What aileth thee, O my lord?" Whereupon he moaned
+and groaned and told her what he had seen in his dream and repeated
+these two couplets,
+
+"Indeed afflicted sore are we and all distraught, * Seeking for
+     union; yet we find no way:
+And Love's calamities upon us grow * And Love though light with
+     heaviest weight doth weigh."
+
+
+His wife repeated to the Princesses what he said and they, hearing the
+verses, had pity on him and said to him, "In Allah's name, do as thou
+wilt, for we may not hinder thee from visiting thy mother; nay, we will
+help thee to thy wish by what means we may.  But it behoveth that thou
+desert us not, but visit us, though it be only once a year." And he
+answered, "To hear is to obey: be your behest on my head and eyes!"
+Then they arose forthright and making him ready victual for the voyage,
+equipped the bride for him with raiment and ornaments and everything of
+price, such as defy description, and they bestowed on him gifts and
+presents which pens of ready writers lack power to set forth. Then they
+beat the magical kettle-drum and up came the dromedaries from all
+sides. They chose of them such as could carry all the gear they had
+prepared; amongst the rest five-and-twenty chests of gold and fifty of
+silver; and, mounting Hasan and his bride on others, rode with them
+three days, wherein they accomplished a march of three months.  Then
+they bade them farewell and addressed themselves to return; whereupon
+his sister, the youngest damsel, threw herself on Hasan's neck and wept
+till she fainted. When she came to herself, she repeated these two
+couplets,
+
+"Ne'er dawn the severance-day on any wise * That robs of sleep
+     these heavy-lidded eyes.
+From us and thee it hath fair union torn * It wastes our force
+     and makes our forms its prize."
+
+
+Her verses finished she farewelled him, straitly charging him, whenas
+he should have come to his native land and have foregathered with his
+mother and set his heart at ease, to fail not of visiting her once in
+every six months and saying, "If aught grieve thee or thou fear aught
+of vexation, beat the Magian's kettle-drum, whereupon the dromedaries
+shall come to thee; and do thou mount and return to us and persist not
+in staying away."  He swore thus to do and conjured them to go home. So
+they returned to the palace, mourning for their separation from him,
+especially the youngest, with whom no rest would stay nor would
+Patience her call obey, but she wept night and day. Thus it was with
+them; but as regards Hasan and his wife, they fared on by day and night
+over plain and desert site and valley and stony heights through
+noon-tide glare and dawn's soft light; and Allah decreed them safety,
+so that they reached Bassorah-city without hindrance and made their
+camels kneel at the door of his house.  Hasan then dismissed the
+dromedaries and, going up to the door to open it, heard his mother
+weeping and in a faint strain, from a heart worn with parting-pain and
+on fire with consuming bane, reciting these couplets,
+
+"How shall he taste of sleep who lacks repose * Who wakes a-night
+     when all in slumber wone?
+He ownčd wealth and family and fame * Yet fared from house and
+     home an exile lone:
+Live coal beneath his[FN#80] ribs he bears for bane, * And mighty
+     longing, mightier ne'er was known:
+Passion hath seized him, Passion mastered him; * Yet is he
+     constant while he maketh moan:
+His case for Love proclaimeth aye that he, * (As prove his tears)
+     is  wretched, woebegone."
+
+
+When Hasan heard his mother weeping and wailing he wept also and
+knocked at the door a loud knock.  Quoth she, "Who is at the door?";
+and quoth he, "Open!" Whereupon she opened the door and knowing him at
+first sight fell down in a fainting fit; but he ceased not to tend her
+till she came to herself, when he embraced her and she embraced him and
+kissed him, whilst his wife looked on mother and son.  Then he carried
+his goods and gear into the house, whilst his mother, for that her
+heart was comforted and Allah had reunited her with her son versified
+with these couplets,
+
+"Fortune had ruth upon my plight * Pitied my long long bane and
+     blight;
+Gave me what I would liefest sight; * And set me free from all
+     afright.
+So pardon I the sin that sin * nčd she in days evanisht quite;
+E'en to the sin she sinned when she * Bleached my hair-parting
+     silvern white."
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-third Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan with his
+mother then sat talking and she asked him, "How faredst thou, O my son,
+with the Persian?" whereto he answered, "O my mother, he was no
+Persian, but a Magian, who worshipped the fire, not the All-powerful
+Sire."  Then he told her how he dealt with him, in that he had
+journeyed with him to the Mountain of Clouds and sewed him up in the
+camel's skin, and how the vultures had taken him up and set him down on
+the summit and what he had seen there of dead folk, whom the Magian had
+deluded and left to die on the crest after they had done his desire.
+And he told her how he had cast himself from the mountain-top into the
+sea and Allah the Most High had preserved him and brought him to the
+palace of the seven Princesses and how the youngest of them had taken
+him to brother and he had sojourned with them till the Almighty brought
+the Magian to the place where he was and he slew him. Moreover, he told
+her of his passion for the King's daughter and how he had made prize of
+her and of his seeing her[FN#81] in sleep and all else that had
+befallen him up to the time when Allah vouchsafed them reunion.  She
+wondered at his story and praised the Lord who had restored him to her
+in health and safety.  Then she arose and examined the baggage and
+loads and questioned him of them.  So he told her what was in them,
+whereat she joyed with exceeding joy. Then she went up to the King's
+daughter, to talk with her and bear her company; but, when her eyes
+fell on her, her wits were confounded at her brilliancy and she
+rejoiced and marvelled at her beauty and loveliness and symmetry and
+perfect grace: and she sat down beside her, cheering her and comforting
+her heart while she never ceased to repeat "Alhamdolillah, O my son,
+for thy return to me safe and sound!" Next morning early she went down
+into the market and bought mighty fine furniture and ten suits of the
+richest raiment in the city, and clad the young wife and adorned her
+with everything seemly.  Then said she to Hasan, "O my son, we cannot
+tarry in this town with all this wealth; for thou knowest that we are
+poor folk and the people will suspect us of practising alchemy.  So
+come, let us depart to Baghdad, the House[FN#82] of Peace, where we may
+dwell in the Caliph's Sanctuary, and thou shalt sit in a shop to buy
+and sell, in the fear of Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!) and
+He shall open to thee the door of blessings with this wealth." Hasan
+approved her counsel and going forth straightway, sold the house and
+summoned the dromedaries, which he loaded with all his goods and gear,
+together with his mother and wife.  Then he went down to the Tigris,
+where he hired him a craft to carry them to Baghdad and embarked
+therein all his possessions and his mother and wife. They sailed up the
+river with a fair wind for ten days till they drew in sight of Baghdad,
+at which they all rejoiced, and the ship landed them in the city, where
+without stay or delay Hasan hired a storehouse in one of the
+caravanserais and transported his goods thither.  He lodged that night
+in the Khan and on the morrow, he changed his clothes and going down
+into the city, enquired for a broker.  The folk directed him to one,
+and when the broker saw him, he asked him what he lacked.  Quoth he, "I
+want a house, a handsome one and a spacious." So the broker showed him
+the houses at his disposal and he chose one that belonged to one of the
+Wazirs and buying it of him for an hundred thousand golden dinars, gave
+him the price. Then he returned to his caravanserai and removed all his
+goods and monies to the house; after which he went down to the market
+and bought all the mansion needed of vessels and carpets and other
+household stuff, besides servants and eunuchs, including a little black
+boy for the house.  He abode with his wife in all solace and delight of
+life three years, during which time he was vouchsafed by her two sons,
+one of whom he named Násir and the other Mansúr: but, at the end of
+this time he bethought him of his sisters, the Princesses, and called
+to mind all their goodness to him and how they had helped him to his
+desire.  So he longed after them and going out to the marketstreets of
+the city, bought trinkets and costly stuffs and fruit-confections, such
+as they had never seen or known. His mother asked him the reason of his
+buying these rarities and he answered, "I purpose to visit my sisters,
+who showed me every kind of kindness and all the wealth that I at
+present enjoy is due to their goodness and munificence: wherefore I
+will journey to them and return soon, Inshallah!" Quoth she, "O my son,
+be not long absent from me;" and quoth he, "Know, O my mother, how thou
+shalt do with my wife.  Here is her feather-dress in a chest, buried
+under ground in such a place; do thou watch over it, lest haply she hap
+on it and take it, for she would fly away, she and her children, and I
+should never hear of them again and should die of grieving for them;
+wherefore take heed, O my mother, while I warn thee that thou name this
+not to her.  Thou must know that she is the daughter of a King of the
+Jinn, than whom there is not a greater among the Sovrans of the Jann
+nor a richer in troops and treasure, and she is mistress of her people
+and dearest to her father of all he hath. Moreover, she is passing
+high-spirited, so do thou serve her thyself and suffer her not to go
+forth the door neither look out of window nor over the wall, for I fear
+the air for her when it bloweth,[FN#83] and if aught befel her of the
+calamities of this world, I should slay myself for her sake." She
+replied, "O my son, I take refuge with Allah[FN#84] from gainsaying
+thee!  Am I mad that thou shouldst lay this charge on me and I disobey
+thee therein?  Depart, O my son, with heart at ease, and please Allah,
+soon thou shalt return in safety and see her and she shall tell thee
+how I have dealt with her: but tarry not, O my son, beyond the time of
+travel."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-fourth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan had
+determined to visit the Princesses, he gave his mother the orders we
+have mentioned.[FN#85]  Now, as Fate would have it, his wife heard what
+he said to his mother and neither of them knew it. Then Hasan went
+without the city and beat the kettle-drum, whereupon up came the
+dromedaries and he loaded twenty of them with rarities of Al-Irak;
+after which he returned to his mother and repeated his charge to her
+and took leave of her and his wife and children, one of whom was a
+yearling babe and the other two years old.  Then he mounted and fared
+on, without stopping night or day, over hills and valleys and plains
+and wastes for a term of ten days till, on the eleventh, he reached the
+palace and went in to his sisters, with the gifts he had brought them.
+The Princesses rejoiced at his sight and gave him joy of his safety,
+whilst his sister decorated the palace within and without.  Then they
+took the presents and, lodging him in a chamber as before, asked him of
+his mother and his wife, and he told them that she had borne him two
+sons.  And the youngest Princess, seeing him well and in good case,
+joyed with exceeding joy and repeated this couplet,
+
+"I ever ask for news of you from whatso breezes pass * And never any
+but yourselves can pass across my mind."
+
+Then he abode with them in all honour and hospitality, for three
+months, spending his time in feasting and merrymaking, joy and delight,
+hunting and sporting.  So fared it with him; but as regards his wife,
+she abode with his mother two days after her husband's departure, and
+on the third day, she said to her, "Glory be to God!  Have I lived with
+him three years and shall I never go to the bath?" Then she wept and
+Hasan's mother had pity on her condition and said to her, "O my
+daughter, here we are strangers and thy husband is abroad. Were he at
+home, he would serve thee himself, but, as for me, I know no one.
+However, O my daughter, I will heat thee water and wash thy head in the
+Hammam-bath which is in the house." Answered the King's daughter, "O my
+lady, hadst thou spoken thus to one of the slave-girls, she had
+demanded to be sold in the Sultan's open market and had not abode with
+thee.[FN#86] Men are excusable, because they are jealous and their
+reason telleth them that, if a woman go forth the house, haply she will
+do frowardness.  But women, O my lady, are not all equal and alike and
+thou knowest that, if woman have a mind to aught, whether it be the
+Hammam or what not else, none hath power over her to guard her or keep
+her chaste or debar her from her desire; for she will do whatso she
+willeth and naught restraineth her but her reason and her
+religion."[FN#87] Then she wept and cursed fate and bemoaned herself
+and her strangerhood, till Hasan's mother was moved to ruth for her
+case and knew that all she said was but truth and that there was
+nothing for it but to let her have her way.  So she committed the
+affair to Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) and making ready all that
+they needed for the bath, took her and went with her to the Hammam. She
+carried her two little sons with her, and when they entered, they put
+off their clothes and all the women fell to gazing on the Princess and
+glorifying God (to whom belong Might and Majesty!) for that He had
+created so fair a form. The women of the city, even those who were
+passing by, flocked to gaze upon her, and the report of her was noised
+abroad in Baghdad till the bath was crowded that there was no passing
+through it.  Now it chanced there was present on that day and on that
+rare occasion with the rest of the women in the Hammam, one of the
+slave-girls of the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, by name
+Tohfah[FN#88] the Lutanist, and she, finding the Hammam over crowded
+and no passing for the throng of women and girls, asked what was to do;
+and they told her of the young lady.  So she walked up to her and,
+considering her closely, was amazed at her grace and loveliness and
+glorified God (magnified be His majesty!) for the fair forms He hath
+created. The sight hindered her from her bath, so that she went not
+farther in nor washed, but sat staring at the Princess, till she had
+made an end of bathing and coming forth of the caldarium donned her
+raiment, whereupon beauty was added to her beauty.  She sat down on the
+divan,[FN#89] whilst the women gazed upon her; then she looked at them
+and veiling herself, went out.  Tohfah went out with her and followed
+her, till she saw where she dwelt, when she left her and returned to
+the Caliph's palace; and ceased not wending till she went in to the
+Lady Zubaydah and kissed ground between her hands; whereupon quoth her
+mistress, "O Tohfah, why hast thou tarried in the Hammam?"  She
+replied, "O my lady, I have seen a marvel, never saw I its like amongst
+men or women, and this it was that distracted me and dazed my wit and
+amazed me, so that I forgot even to wash my head."  Asked Zubaydah,
+"And what was that?" ; and Tohfah answered, "O my lady, I saw a damsel
+in the bath, having with her two little boys like moons, eye never
+espied her like, nor before her nor after her, neither is there the
+fellow of her form in the whole world nor her peer amongst Ajams or
+Turks or Arabs.  By the munificence, O my lady, an thou toldest the
+Commander of the Faithful of her, he would slay her husband and take
+her from him, for her like is not to be found among women.  I asked of
+her mate and they told me that he is a merchant Hasan of Bassorah
+hight.  Moreover, I followed her from the bath to her own house and
+found it to be that of the Wazir, with the two gates, one opening on
+the river and the other on the land.[FN#90]  Indeed, O my lady, I fear
+lest the Prince of True Believers hear of her and break the law and
+slay her husband and take love-liesse with her."—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Tohfah,
+after seeing the King's daughter, described her beauty to the Lady
+Zubaydah ending with, "Indeed, O my mistress, I fear lest the Prince of
+True Believers hear of her and break the law and slay her mate and take
+her to wife," Zubaydah cried, "Woe to thee, O Tohfah, say me, doth this
+damsel display such passing beauty and loveliness that the Commander of
+the Faithful should, on her account, barter his soul's good for his
+worldly lust and break the Holy Law!  By Allah, needs must I look on
+her, and if she be not as thou sayest, I will bid strike off thy head!
+O strumpet, there are in the Caliph's Serraglio three hundred and three
+score slave girls, after the number of the days of the year, yet is
+there none amongst them so excellent as thou describest!" Tohfah
+replied, "No, by Allah, O my lady!: nor is there her like in all
+Baghdad; no, nor amongst the Arabs or the Daylamites nor hath Allah (to
+whom belong Might and Majesty!) created the like of her!" Thereupon
+Zuhaydah called for Masrur, the eunuch, who came and kissed the ground
+before her, and she said to him, "O Masrur, go to the Wazir's house,
+that with the two gates, one giving on the water and the other on the
+land, and bring me the damsel who dwelleth there, also her two children
+and the old woman who is with her, and haste thou and tarry not." Said
+Masrur, "I hear and I obey," and repairing to Hasan's house, knocked at
+the door.  Quoth the old woman, "Who is at the door?" and quoth he,
+"Masrur, the eunuch of the Commander of the Faithful."   So she opened
+the door and he entered and saluted her with the salam; whereupon she
+returned his salute and asked his need; and he replied, "The Lady
+Zubaydah, daughter of Al-Kasim[FN#91] and queen-spouse of the Commander
+of the Faithful Harun al-Rashid sixth[FN#92] of the sons of Al-Abbas,
+paternal uncle of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and keep!) summoneth
+thee to her, thee and thy son's wife and her children; for the women
+have told her anent her and her beauty." Rejoined the old woman, "O my
+lord Masrur, we are foreigner folk and the girl's husband (my son) who
+is abroad and far from home hath strictly charged me not to go forth
+nor let her go forth in his absence, neither show her to any of the
+creatures of Allah Almighty; and I fear me, if aught befal her and he
+come back, he will slay himself; wherefore of thy favour I beseech
+thee, O Masrur, require us not of that whereof we are unable." Masrur
+retorted, "O my lady, if I knew aught to be feared for you in this, I
+would not require you to go; the Lady Zubaydah desireth but to see her
+and then she may return.  So disobey not or thou wilt repent; and like
+as I take you, I will bring you both back in safety, Inshallah!"
+Hasan's mother could not gainsay him; so she went in and making the
+damsel ready, brought her and her children forth and they all followed
+Masrur to the palace of the Caliphate where he carried them in and
+seated them on the floor before the Lady Zubaydah. They kissed ground
+before her and called down blessings upon her; and Zubaydah said to the
+young lady (who was veiled), "Wilt thou not uncover thy face, that I
+may look on it?" So she kissed the ground between her hands and
+discovered a face which put to shame the full moon in the height of
+heaven.  Zubaydah fixed her eyes on her and let their glances wander
+over her, whilst the palace was illumined by the light of her
+countenance; whereupon the Queen and the whole company were amazed at
+her beauty and all who looked on her became Jinn-mad and unable to
+bespeak one another. As for Zubaydah, she rose and making the damsel
+stand up, strained her to her bosom and seated her by herself on the
+couch. Moreover, she bade decorate the palace in her honour and calling
+for a suit of the richest raiment and a necklace of the rarest
+ornaments put them upon her.  Then said she to her, "O liege lady of
+fair ones, verily thou astoundest me and fillest mine eyes.[FN#93] What
+arts knowest thou?" She replied, "O my lady, I have a dress of
+feathers, and could I but put it on before thee, thou wouldst see one
+of the fairest of fashions and marvel thereat, and all who saw it would
+talk of its goodliness, generation after generation."  Zubaydah asked,
+"And where is this dress of thine?"; and the damsel answered, "'Tis
+with my husband's mother.  Do thou seek it for me of her." So Zubaydah
+said to the old woman, "O my lady the pilgrimess, O my mother, go forth
+and fetch us her feather-dress, that we may solace ourselves by looking
+on what she will do, and after take it back again." Replied the old
+woman, "O my lady, this damsel is a liar. Hast thou ever seen any of
+womankind with a dress of feathers? Indeed, this belongeth only to
+birds." But the damsel said to the Lady Zubaydah, "As thou livest, O my
+lady, she hath a feather-dress of mine and it is in a chest, which is
+buried in such a store-closet in the house." So Zubaydah took off her
+neck a rivičre of jewels, worth all the treasures of Chosroe and Cćsar,
+and gave it to the old woman, saying, "O my mother, I conjure thee by
+my life, take this necklace and go and fetch us this dress, that we may
+divert ourselves with the sight thereof, and after take it again!"  But
+she sware to her that she had never seen any such dress and wist not
+what the damsel meant by her speech.  Then the Lady Zubaydah cried out
+at her and taking the key from her, called Masrur and said to him as
+soon as her came, "Take this key and go to the house; then open it and
+enter a store-closet there whose door is such and such and amiddlemost
+of it thou wilt find a chest buried.  Take it out and break it open and
+bring me the feather-dress which is therein and set it before me."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Lady
+Zubaydah, having taken the key from Hasan's mother, handed it to
+Masrur, saying, "Take this key and open such a closet; then bring forth
+of it the chest; break it open; bring me the feather-dress which is
+therein and set it before me." "Hearkening and obedience," replied he
+and taking the key went forth, whereupon the old woman arose and
+followed him, weeping-eyed and repenting her of having given ear to the
+damsel and gone with her to the bath, for her desire to go thither was
+but a device.  So she went with him to the house and opened the door of
+the closet, and he entered and brought out the chest.  Then he took
+therefrom the feather-dress and wrapping it in a napkin, carried it to
+the Lady Zubaydah, who took it and turned it about, marvelling at the
+beauty of its make; after which she gave it to the damsel, saying, "Is
+this thy dress of feathers?"  She replied, "Yes, O my lady," and at
+once putting forth her hand, took it joyfully. Then she examined it and
+rejoiced to find it whole as it was, not a feather gone.  So she rose
+and came down from beside the Lady Zubaydah and taking her sons in her
+bosom, wrapped herself in the feather-dress and became a bird, by the
+ordinance of Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!), whereat
+Zubaydah marvelled as did all who were present.  Then she walked with a
+swaying and graceful gait and danced and sported and flapped her wings,
+whilst all eyes were fixed on her and all marvelled at what she did. 
+Then said she with fluent tongue, "Is this goodly, O my ladies?"; and
+they replied, "Yes, O Princess of the fair! All thou dost is goodly."
+Said she, "And this, O my mistresses, that I am about to do is better
+yet." Then she spread her wings and flying up with her children to the
+dome of the palace, perched on the saloon-roof whilst they all looked
+at her, wide-eyed and said, "By Allah, this is indeed a rare and
+peregrine fashion! Never saw we its like." Then, as she was about to
+take flight for her own land, she bethought her of Hasan and said,
+"Hark ye, my mistresses!" and she improvised these couplets,[FN#94]
+
+"O who hast quitted these abodes and faredst lief and light * To
+     other objects of thy love with fain and fastest flight!
+Deem'st thou that 'bided I with you in solace and in joy * Or
+     that my days amid you all were clear of bane and blight?
+When I was captive ta'en of Love and snarčd in his snare, * He
+     made of Love my prison and he fared fro' me forthright:
+So when my fear was hidden, he made sure that ne'er should I *
+     Pray to the One, th' Omnipotent to render me my right:
+He charged his mother keep the secret with all the care she
+     could, * In closet shut and treated me with enemy's
+     despight:
+But I o'erheard their words and held them fast in memory * And
+     hoped for fortune fair and weal and blessings infinite:
+My faring to the Hammam-bath then proved to me the means * Of
+     making minds of folk to be confounded at my sight:
+Wondered the Bride of Al-Rashid to see my brilliancy * When she
+     beheld me right and left with all of beauty dight:
+Then quoth I, 'O our Caliph's wife, I once was wont to own * A
+     dress of feathers rich and rare that did the eyes delight:
+An it were now on me thou shouldst indeed see wondrous things *
+     That would efface all sorrows and disperse all sores of
+     sprite:'
+Then deigned our Caliph's Bride to cry, 'Where is that dress of
+     thine?' * And I replied, 'In house of him kept darkling as
+     the night.'
+So down upon it pounced Masrúr and brought it unto her, * And
+     when 'twas there each feather cast a ray of beaming light:
+Therewith I took it from his hand and opened it straightway * And
+     saw its plumčd bosom and its buttons pleased my sight:
+And so I clad myself therein and took with me my babes; * And
+     spread my wings and flew away with all my main and might;
+Saying, 'O husband's mother mine tell him when cometh he * An
+     ever wouldest meet her thou from house and home must flee."'
+
+
+When she had made an end of her verses, the Lady Zubaydah said to her,
+"Wilt thou not come down to us, that we may take our fill of thy
+beauty, O fairest of the fair?  Glory be to Him who hath given thee
+eloquence and brilliance!" But she said, "Far be from me that the Past
+return should see!" Then said she to the mother of the hapless,
+wretched Hasan, "By Allah, O my lady, O mother of my husband, it irketh
+me to part from thee; but, whenas thy son cometh to thee and upon him
+the nights of severance longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and
+meeting to see and whenas breezes of love and longing shake him
+dolefully, let him come in the islands of Wák[FN#95] to me." Then she
+took flight with her children and sought her own country, whilst the
+old woman wept and beat her face and moaned and groaned till she
+swooned away. When she came to herself, she said to the Lady Zubaydah, 
+"O my lady, what is this thou hast done?"  And Zubaydah said to her, "O
+my lady the pilgrimess, I knew not that this would happen and hadst
+thou told me of the case and acquainted me with her condition, I had
+not gainsaid thee.  Nor did I know until now that she was of the Flying
+Jinn; else had I not suffered her to don the dress nor permitted her to
+take her children: but now, O my lady, words profit nothing; so do thou
+acquit me of offence against thee."  And the old woman could do no
+otherwise than shortly answer, "Thou art acquitted!" Then she went
+forth the palace of the Caliphate and returned to her own house, where
+she buffeted her face till she swooned away, When she came to herself,
+she pined for her daughter-in-law and her grandchildren and for the
+sight of her son and versified with these couplets,
+
+"Your faring on the parting-day drew many a tear fro' me, * Who
+     must your flying from the home long mourn in misery:
+And cried I for the parting pang in anguish likest fire * And
+     tear-floods chafed mine eyelids sore that ne'er of tears
+     were free;
+'Yes, this is Severance, Ah, shall we e'er joy return of you? *
+     For your departure hath deprived my power of privacy!'
+Ah, would they had returned to me in covenant of faith * An they
+     return perhaps restore of past these eyne may see."
+
+
+Then arising she dug in the house three graves and betook herself to
+them with weeping all whiles of the day and watches of the night; and
+when her son's absence was longsome upon her and grief and yearning and
+unquiet waxed upon her, she recited these couplets,
+
+"Deep in mine eye-balls ever dwells the phantom-form of thee * My
+     heart when throbbing or at rest holds fast thy memory:
+And love of thee doth never cease to course within my breast, *
+     As course the juices in the fruits which deck the branchy
+     tree:
+And every day I see thee not my bosom straightened is * And even
+     censurers excuse the woes in me they see:
+O thou whose love hath gotten hold the foremost in the heart * Of
+     me whose fondness is excelled by mine insanity:
+Fear the Compassionate in my case and some compassion show! *
+     Love of thee makes me taste of death in bitterest pungency."
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan's
+mother bewept through the watches of the night and the whiles of the
+day her separation from her son and his wife and children.  On this
+wise it fared with her; but as regards Hasan, when he came to the
+Princesses, they conjured him to tarry with them three months, after
+which long sojourn they gave him five loads of gold and the like of
+silver and one load of victual and accompanied him on his homeward way
+till he conjured them to return, whereupon they farewelled him with an
+embrace; but the youngest came up to him, to bid him adieu and clasping
+his neck wept till she fainted. Then she recited these two  couplets,
+
+"When shall the severance-fire be quenched by union, love, with
+     you? * When shall I win my wish of you and days that were
+     renew?
+The parting-day affrighted me and wrought me dire dismay * And
+     doubleth woe, O master mine, by the sad word 'Adieu.'"
+
+
+Anon came forward the second Princess and embraced him and recited
+these two couplets,
+
+"Farewelling thee indeed is like to bidding life farewell * And
+     like the loss of Zephyr[FN#96] 'tis to lose thee far our
+     sight:
+Thine absence is a flaming fire which burneth up my heart * And
+     in thy presence I enjoy the Gardens of Delight."[FN#97]
+
+
+Presently came forward the third and embraced him and recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"We left not taking leave of thee (when bound to other goal) *
+     From aught of ill intention or from weariness and dole:
+Thou art my soul, my very soul, the only soul of me: * And how
+     shall I farewell myself and say, 'Adieu my Soul?'"[FN#98]
+
+
+After her came forward the fourth and embraced him and recited these
+two couplets,
+
+"Nought garred me weep save where and when of severance spake he,
+     * Persisting in his cruel will with sore persistency:
+Look at this pearl-like ornament I've hung upon mine ear: * 'Tis
+     of the tears of me compact, this choicest jewelry!"
+
+
+In her turn came forward the fifth and embraced him and recited these
+two couplets,
+
+"Ah, fare thee not; for I've no force thy faring to endure, * Nor
+     e'en to say the word farewell before my friend is sped:
+Nor any patience to support the days of severance, * Nor any
+     tears on ruined house and wasted home to shed."
+
+
+Next came the sixth and embraced him and recited these two couplets,
+
+"I cried, as the camels went off with them, * And Love pained my
+     vitals with sorest pain:
+Had I a King who would lend me rule * I'd seize every ship that
+     dares sail the Main."
+
+
+Lastly came forward the seventh and embraced him and recited these
+couplets,
+
+"When thou seest parting, be patient still, * Nor let foreign
+     parts deal thy soul affright:
+But abide, expecting a swift return, * For all hearts hold
+     parting in sore despight."
+
+
+And eke these two couplets,
+
+"Indeed I'm heartbroken to see thee start, * Nor can I farewell
+     thee ere thou depart;
+Allah wotteth I left not to say adieu * Save for fear that saying
+     would melt your heart."
+
+
+Hasan also wept for parting from them, till he swooned, and repeated
+these couplets,
+
+"Indeed, ran my tears on the severance-day * Like pearls I
+     threaded in necklace-way:
+The cameleer drove his camels with song * But I lost heart,
+     patience and strength and stay:
+I bade them farewell and retired in grief * From tryst-place and
+     camp where my dearlings lay:
+I turned me unknowing the way nor joyed * My soul, but in hopes
+     to return some day.
+Oh listen, my friend, to the words of love * God forbid thy heart
+     forget all I say!
+O my soul when thou partest wi' them, part too * With all joys of
+     life nor for living pray!"
+
+
+Then he farewelled them and fared on diligently night and day, till he
+came to Baghdad, the House of Peace and Sanctuary of the Abbaside
+Caliphs, unknowing what had passed during his wayfare. At once entering
+his house he went in to his mother to salute her, but found her worn of
+body and wasted of bones, for excess of mourning and watching, weeping
+and wailing, till she was grown thin as a tooth-pick and could not
+answer him a word.  So he dismissed the dromedaries then asked her of
+his wife and children and she wept till she fainted, and he seeing her
+in this state searched the house for them, but found no trace of them. 
+Then he went to the store-closet and finding it open and the chest
+broken and the feather-dress missing, knew forthright that his wife had
+possessed herself thereof and flown away with her children.  Then he
+returned to his mother and, finding her recovered from her fit,
+questioned her of his spouse and babes, whereupon she wept and said, "O
+my son, may Allah amply requite thee their loss! These are their three
+tombs."[FN#99] When Hasan heard these words of his mother, he shrieked
+a loud shriek and fell down in a fainting-fit in which he lay from the
+first of the day till noon-tide; whereupon anguish was added to his
+mother's anguish and she despared of his life.  However, after a-while,
+he came to himself and wept and buffeted his face and rent his raiment
+and went about the house clean distraught, reciting these two
+couplets,[FN#100]
+
+"Folk have made moan of passion before me, of past years, * And
+     live and dead for absence have suffered pains and fears;
+But that within my bosom I harbour, with mine eyes * I've never
+     seen the like of nor heard with mine ears."
+
+
+Then finishing his verses he bared his brand and coming up to his
+mother, said to her, "Except thou tell me the truth of the case, I will
+strike off thy head and kill myself." She replied, "O my son, do not
+such deed: put up thy sword and sit down, till I tell thee what hath
+passed."  So he sheathed his scymitar and sat by her side, whilst she
+recounted to him all that had happened in his absence from first to
+last, adding, "O my son, but that I saw her weep in her longing for the
+bath and feared that she would go and complain to thee on thy return,
+and thou wouldst be wroth with me, I had never carried her thither; and
+were it not that the Lady Zubaydah was wroth with me and took the key
+from me by force, I had never brought out the feather-dress, though I
+died for it. But thou knowest, O my son, that no hand may measure
+length with that of the Caliphate.  When they brought her the dress,
+she took it and turned it over, fancying that somewhat might be lost
+thereof, but she found it uninjured; wherefore she rejoiced and making
+her children fast to her waist, donned the feather-vest, after the Lady
+Zubaydah had pulled off to her all that was upon herself and clad her
+therein, in honour of her and because of her beauty.  No sooner had she
+donned the dress than she shook and becoming a bird, promenaded about
+the palace, whilst all who were present gazed at her and marvelled at
+her beauty and loveliness.  Then she flew up to the palace roof and
+perching thereon, looked at me and said: 'Whenas thy son cometh to thee
+and the nights of separation upon him longsome shall be and he craveth
+reunion and meeting to see and whenas the breezes of love and longing
+shake him dolefully let him leave his native land and journey to the
+Islands of Wak and seek me.' This, then, is her story and what befel in
+thine absence."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that as soon as
+Hasan's mother had made an end of her story, he gave a great cry and
+fell down in a fainting fit which continued till the end of day, when
+he revived and fell to buffeting his face and writhing on the floor
+like a scotched snake.  His mother sat weeping by his head until
+midnight, when he came to himself and wept sore and recited these
+couplets',[FN#101]
+
+"Pause ye and see his sorry state since when ye fain withdrew; *
+     Haply, when wrought your cruelty, you'll have the grace to
+     rue:
+For an ye look on him, you'll doubt of him by sickness-stress *
+     As though, by Allah, he were one before ye never knew.
+He dies for nothing save for love of you, and he would be *
+     Numbered amid the dead did not he moan and groan for you.
+And deem not pangs of severance sit all lightly on his soul; *
+     'Tis heavy load on lover-wight; 'twere lighter an ye slew."
+
+
+Then having ended his verse he rose and went round about the house,
+weeping and wailing, groaning and bemoaning himself, five days, during
+which he tasted nor meat nor drink.  His mother came to him and
+conjured him, till he broke his fast, and besought him to leave
+weeping; but he hearkened not to her and continued to shed tears and
+lament, whilst she strove to comfort him and he heeded her not.  Then
+he recited these couplets,[FN#102]
+
+"Beareth for love a burden sore this soul of me, * Could break a
+     mortal's back however strong that be;
+I am distraught to see my case and languor grows * Making my day
+     and night indifferent in degree:
+I own to having dreaded Death before this day: * This day I hold
+     my death mine only remedy."
+
+
+And Hasan ceased not to do thus till daybreak, when his eyes closed and
+he saw in a dream his wife grief-full and repentant for that which she
+had done.  So he started up from sleep crying out and reciting these
+two couplets,
+
+"Their image bides with me, ne'er quits me, ne'er shall fly; *
+     But holds within my heart most honourable stead;
+But for reunion-hope, I'd see me die forthright, * And but for
+     phantom-form of thee my sleep had fled."
+
+
+And as morning morrowed he redoubled his lamentations.  He abode
+weeping-eyed and heavy-hearted, wakeful by night and eating little, for
+a whole month, at the end of which he bethought him to repair to his
+sisters and take counsel with them in the matter of his wife, so haply
+they might help him to regain her. Accordingly he summoned the
+dromedaries and loading fifty of them with rarities of Al-Irak,
+committed the house to his mother's care and deposited all his goods in
+safe keeping, except some few he left at home.  Then he mounted one of
+the beasts and set out on his journey single handed, intent upon
+obtaining aidance from the Princesses, and he stayed not till he
+reached the Palace of the Mountain of Clouds, when he went in to the
+damsels and gave them the presents in which they rejoiced. Then they
+wished him joy of his safety and said to him, "O our brother, what can
+ail thee to come again so soon, seeing thou wast with us but two months
+since?"  Whereupon he wept and improvised these couplets,
+
+"My soul for loss of lover sped I sight; * Nor life enjoying
+     neither  life's delight:
+My case is one whose cure is all unknown; * Can any cure the sick
+     but doctor wight?
+O who hast reft my sleep-joys, leaving me * To ask the breeze
+     that blew from that fair site,—
+Blew from my lover's land (the land that owns * Those charms so
+     sore a grief in soul excite),
+'O breeze, that visitest her land, perhaps * Breathing her scent,
+     thou mayst revive my sprite!'"
+
+
+And when he ended his verse he gave a great cry and fell down in a
+fainting-fit.  The Princesses sat round him, weeping over him, till he
+recovered and repeated these two couplets,
+
+"Haply and happily may Fortune bend her rein * Bringing my love,
+     for Time's a freke of jealous strain;[FN#103]
+Fortune may prosper me, supply mine every want, * And bring a
+     blessing where before were ban and bane."
+
+
+Then he wept till he fainted again, and presently coming to himself
+recited the two following couplets,
+
+"My wish, mine illness, mine unease! by Allah, own * Art thou
+     content? then I in love contented wone!
+Dost thou forsake me thus sans crime or sin * Meet me in ruth, I
+     pray, and be our parting gone."
+
+
+Then he wept till he swooned away once more and when he revived he
+repeated these couplets,
+
+"Sleep fled me, by my side wake ever shows * And hoard of
+     tear-drops from these eyne aye flows;
+For love they weep with beads cornelian-like * And growth of
+     distance greater dolence grows:
+Lit up my longing, O my love, in me * Flames burning 'neath my
+     ribs with fiery throes!
+Remembering thee a tear I never shed * But in it thunder roars
+     and leven glows."
+
+
+Then he wept till he fainted away a fourth time, and presently
+recovering, recited these couplets,
+
+"Ah! for lowe of love and longing suffer ye as suffer we? * Say,
+     as pine we and as yearn we for you are pining ye?
+Allah do the death of Love, what a bitter draught is his! * Would
+     I  wot of Love what plans and what projects nurseth he!
+Your faces radiant-fair though afar from me they shine, * Are
+     mirrored in our eyes whatsoever the distance be;
+My heart must ever dwell on the memories of your tribe; * And the
+     turtle-dove reneweth all as oft as moaneth she:
+Ho thou dove, who passest night-tide in calling on thy fere, *
+     Thou doublest my repine, bringing grief for company;
+And leavest thou mine eyelids with weeping unfulfilled * For the
+     dearlings who departed, whom we never more may see:
+I melt for the thought of you at every time and hour, * And I
+     long for you when Night showeth cheek of blackest blee."
+
+
+Now when his sister heard these words and saw his condition and how he
+lay fainting on the floor, she screamed and beat her face and the other
+Princesses hearing her scream came out and learning his misfortune and
+the transport of love and longing and the passion and distraction that
+possessed him they questioned him of his case.  He wept and told them
+what had befallen in his absence and how his wife had taken flight with
+her children, wherefore they grieved for him and asked him what she
+said at leave-taking. Answered he, "O my sisters, she said to my
+mother, 'Tell thy son, whenas he cometh to thee and the nights of
+severance upon him longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and meeting
+to see, and whenas the winds of love and longing shake him dolefully,
+let him fare in the Islands of Wak to me." When they heard his words
+they signed one to other with their eyes and shook their heads, and
+each looked at her sister, whilst Hasan looked at them all.  Then they
+bowed their heads groundwards and bethought themselves awhile; after
+which they raised their heads and said, "There is no Majesty and there
+is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"; presently adding,
+"Put forth thy hand to heaven and when thou reach thither, then shalt
+thou win to thy wife.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+Princesses said to Hasan, "Put forth thy hand to Heaven and when thou
+reach thither, then shalt thou win to wife and children," thereat the
+tears ran down his cheeks like rain and wet his clothes, and he recited
+these couplets,
+
+"Pink cheeks and eyes enpupil'd black have dealt me sore
+     despight; * And whenas wake overpowered sleep my patience
+     fled in fright:
+The fair and sleek-limbed maidens hard of heart withal laid waste
+     * My very bones till not a breath is left for man to sight:
+Houris, who fare with gait of grace as roes o'er sandy-mound: *
+     Did Allah's saints behold their charms they'd doat thereon
+     forthright;
+Faring as fares the garden breeze that bloweth in the dawn. * For
+     love of them a sore unrest and troubles rack my sprite:
+I hung my hopes upon a maid, a loveling fair of them, * For whom
+     my heart still burns with lowe in Lazá-hell they light;—
+A dearling soft of sides and haught and graceful in her gait, *
+     Her grace is white as morning, but her hair is black as
+     night:
+She stirreth me!  But ah, how many heroes have her cheeks *
+     Upstirred for love, and eke her eyes that mingle black and
+     white."
+
+
+Then he wept, whilst the Princesses wept for his weeping, and they were
+moved to compassion and jealousy for him.  So they fell to comforting
+him and exhorting him to patience and offering up prayers for his
+reunion with his wife; whilst his sister said to him, "O my brother, be
+of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear and be patient; so
+shalt thou win thy will; for whoso hath patience and waiteth, that he
+seeketh attaineth.  Patience holdeth the keys of relief and indeed the
+poet saith,
+
+'Let destiny with slackened rein its course appointed fare!  And
+     lie thou down to sleep by night, with heart devoid of care;
+For 'twixt the closing of an eye and th' opening thereof, God
+     hath it in His power to change a case from foul to
+     fair."[FN#104]
+
+
+So hearten thy heart and brace up thy resolve, for the son of ten years
+dieth not in the ninth.[FN#105]  Weeping and grief and mourning gender
+sickness and disease; wherefore do thou abide with us till thou be
+rested, and I will devise some device for thy winning to thy wife and
+children, Inshallah—so it please Allah the Most High!"  And he wept
+sore and recited these verses,
+
+"An I be healed of disease in frame, * I'm unhealed of illness in
+     heart and sprite:
+There is no healing disease of love, * Save lover and loved one
+     to re-unite."
+
+
+Then he sat down beside her and she proceeded to talk with him and
+comfort him and question him of the cause and the manner of his wife's
+departure. So he told her and she said, "By Allah, O my brother, I was
+minded to bid thee burn the feather-dress, but Satan made me forget
+it."  She ceased not to converse with him and caress him and company
+with him other ten days, whilst sleep visited him not and he delighted
+not in food; and when the case was longsome upon him and unrest waxed
+in him, he versified with these couplets,
+
+"A beloved familiar o'erreigns my heart * And Allah's ruling
+     reigns evermore:
+She hath all the Arabs' united charms * This gazelle who feeds on
+     my bosom's core.
+Though my skill and patience for love of her fail, * I weep
+     whilst I wot that 'tis vain to deplore.
+The dearling hath twice seven years, as though * She were moon of
+     five nights and of five plus four."[FN#106]
+
+
+When the youngest Princess saw him thus distracted for love and
+longing-for passion and the fever-heat of desire, she went in to her
+sisterhood weeping-eyed and woeful-hearted, and shedding copious tears
+threw herself upon them, kissed their feet and besought them to devise
+some device for bringing Hasan to the Islands of Wak and effecting his
+reunion with his wife and wees. She ceased not to conjure them to
+further her brother in the accomplishment of his  desire and to weep
+before them, till she made them weep and they said to her, "Hearten thy
+heart:  we will do our best endeavour to bring about his reunion with
+his family, Inshallah!" And he abode with them a whole year, during
+which his eyes never could retain their tears.  Now the sisterhood had
+an uncle, brother-german to their sire and his name was Abd al-Kaddús,
+or Slave of the Most Holy; and he loved the eldest with exceeding love
+and was wont to visit her once a year and do all she desired. They had
+told him of Hasan's adventure with the Magian and how he had been able
+to slay him; whereat he rejoiced and gave the eldest Princess a
+pouch[FN#107] which contained certain perfumes, saying, "O daughter of
+my brother, an thou be in concern for aught, or if aught irk thee, or
+thou stand in any need, cast of these perfumes upon fire naming my name
+and I will be with thee forthright and will do thy desire." This speech
+was spoken on the first of Moharram[FN#108]; and the eldest Princess
+said to one of the sisterhood, "Lo, the year is wholly past and my
+uncle is not come.  Rise, bring me the fire-sticks and the box of
+perfumes." So the damsel arose rejoicing and, fetching what she sought,
+laid it before her sister, who opened the box and taking thence a
+little of the perfume, cast it into the fire, naming her unde's name;
+nor was it burnt out ere appeared a dust-cloud at the farther end of
+the Wady; and presently lifting, it discovered a Shaykh riding on an
+elephant, which moved at a swift and easy pace, and trumpeted under the
+rider.  As soon as he came within sight of the Princesses, he began
+making signs to them with his hands and feet; nor was it long ere he
+reached the castle and, alighting from the elephant, came in to them,
+whereupon they embraced him and kissed his hands and saluted him with
+the salam.  Then he sat down, whilst the girls talked with him and
+questioned him of his absence. Quoth he, "I was sitting but now with my
+wife, your aunt, when I smelt the perfumes and hastened to you on this
+elephant.  What wouldst thou, O daughter of my brother?"  Quoth she, "O
+uncle, indeed we longed for thee, as the year is past and 'tis not thy
+wont to be absent from us more than a twelvemonth." Answered he, "I was
+busy, but I purposed to come to you to-morrow." Wherefore they thanked
+him and blessed him and sat talking with him.—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundredth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the girls
+sat down to chat with their uncle the eldest said to him, "O my uncle,
+we told thee the tale of Hasan of Bassorah, whom Bahram the Magian
+brought and how he slew the wizard and how, after enduring all manner
+of hardships and horrors, he made prize of the Supreme King's daughter
+and took her to wife and journeyed with her to his native land?"
+Replied he, "Yes, and what befel him after that?" Quoth the Princess,
+"She played him false after he was blest with two sons by her; for she
+took them in his absence and fled with them to her own country, saying
+to his mother: 'Whenas thy son returneth to thee and asketh for me and
+upon him the nights of severance longsome shall be and he craveth
+reunion and meeting to see and whenas the breezes of love and longing
+shake him dolefully, let him come in the Islands of Wak to me.'" When
+Abd al-Kaddus heard this, he shook his head and bit his forefinger;
+then, bowing his brow groundwards he began to make marks on the earth
+with his finger-tips;[FN#109] after which he again shook his head and
+looked right and left and shook his head a third time, whilst Hasan
+watched him from a place where he was hidden from him.  Then said the
+Princesses to their uncle, "Return us some answer, for our hearts are
+rent in sunder." But he shook his head at them, saying, "O my
+daughters, verily hath this man wearied himself in vain and cast
+himself into grievous predicament and sore peril; for he may not gain
+access to the Islands of Wak." With this the Princesses called Hasan,
+who came forth and, advancing to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, kissed his hand
+and saluted him.  The old man rejoiced in him and seated him by his
+side; whereupon quoth the damsels, "O uncle, acquaint our brother Hasan
+with that thou hast told us."  So he said to Hasan, "O my son, put away
+from thee this peine forte et dure; for thou canst never gain access to
+the Islands of Wak, though the Flying Jinn and the Wandering Stars were
+with thee; for that betwixt thee and these islands are seven Wadys and
+seven seas and seven mighty mountains.  How then canst thou come at
+this stead and who shall bring thee thither?  Wherefore, Allah upon
+thee, O my son, do thou reckon thy spouse and sons as dead and turn
+back forthright and weary not thy sprite!  Indeed, I give thee good
+counsel, an thou wilt but accept it."  Hearing these words from the
+Shaykh, Hasan wept till he fainted, and the Princesses sat round him,
+weeping for his weeping, whilst the youngest sister rent her raiment
+and buffeted her face, till she swooned away.  When Shaykh Abd
+al-Kaddus saw them in this transport of grief and trouble and mourning,
+he was moved to ruth for them and cried, "Be ye silent!"  Then said he
+to Hasan, "O my son, hearten thy heart and rejoice in the winning of
+thy wish, an it be the will of Allah the Most High;" presently adding,
+"Rise, O my son, take courage and follow me."  So Hasan arose
+forthright and after he had taken leave of the Princesses followed him,
+rejoicing in the fulfilment of his wish. Then the Shaykh called the
+elephant and mounting, took Hasan up behind him and fared on three days
+with their nights, like the blinding leven, till he came to a vast blue
+mountain, whose stones were all of azure hue and amiddlemost of which
+was a cavern, with a door of Chinese iron.  Here he took Hasan's hand
+and let him down and alighting dismissed the elephant.  Then he went up
+to the door and knocked, whereupon it opened and there came out to him
+a black slave, hairless, as he were an Ifrit, with brand in right hand
+and targe of steel in left.  When he saw Abd al-Kaddus, he threw sword
+and buckler from his grip and coming up to the Shaykh kissed his hand. 
+Thereupon the old man took Hasan by the hand and entered with him,
+whilst the slave shut the door behind them; when Hasan found himself in
+a vast cavern and a spacious, through which ran an arched corridor and
+they ceased not faring on therein a mile or so, till it abutted upon a
+great open space and thence they made for an angle of the mountain
+wherein were two huge doors cast of solid brass.  The old man opened
+one of them and said to Hasan, "Sit at the door, whilst I go within and
+come back to thee in haste, and beware lest thou open it and enter."
+Then he fared inside and, shutting the door after him, was absent
+during a full sidereal hour, after which he returned, leading a black
+stallion, thin of flank and short of nose, which was ready bridled and
+saddled, with velvet housings; and when it ran it flew, and when it
+flew, the very dust in vain would pursue; and brought it to Hasan,
+saying, "Mount!" So he mounted and Abd al-Kaddus opened the second
+door, beyond which appeared a vast desert.  Then the twain passed
+through the door into that desert and the old man said to him, "O my
+son, take this scroll and wend thou whither this steed will carry thee.
+ When thou seest him stop at the door of a cavern like this, alight and
+throw the reins over the saddle-bow and let him go.  He will enter the
+cavern, which do thou not enter with him, but tarry at the door five
+days, without being weary of waiting.  On the sixth day there will come
+forth to thee a black Shaykh, clad all in sable, with a long white
+beard, flowing down to his navel. As soon as thou seest him, kiss his
+hands and seize his skirt and lay it on thy head and weep before him,
+till he take pity on thee and he will ask thee what thou wouldst have. 
+When he saith to thee, 'What is thy want?' give him this scroll which
+he will take without speaking and go in and leave thee.  Wait at the
+door other five days, without wearying, and on the sixth day expect
+him; and if he come out to thee himself, know that thy wish will be
+won, but, if one of his pages come forth to thee, know that he who
+cometh forth to thee, purposeth to kill thee; and—the Peace![FN#110] 
+For know, O my son, that whoso self imperilleth doeth himself to
+death;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and First Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after
+handing the scroll to Hasan, Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus told him what would
+befal him and said, "Whoso self imperilleth doeth himself to death; but
+also who ventureth naught advantageth naught. However an thou fear for
+thy life, cast it not into danger of destruction; but, an thou fear
+not, up and do thy will, for I have expounded to thee the whole case. 
+Yet shouldest thou be minded to return to thy friends the elephant is
+still here and he will carry thee to my nieces, who will restore thee
+to thy country and return thee to thy home, and Allah will vouchsafe
+thee a better than this girl, of whom thou art enamoured." Hasan
+answered the Shaykh, saying, "And how shall life be sweet to me, except
+I win my wish?  By Allah, I will never turn back, till I regain my
+beloved or my death overtake me!" And he wept and recited these
+couplets,
+
+"For loss of lover mine and stress of love I dree, * I stood
+     bewailing self in deep despondency.
+Longing for him, the Spring-camp's dust I kissed and kissed, *
+     But this bred more of grief and galling reverie.
+God guard the gone, who in our hearts must e'er abide * With
+     nearing woes and joys which still the farther flee.
+They say me, 'Patience!' But they bore it all away: * On
+     parting-day, and left me naught save tormentry.
+And naught affrighted me except the word he said, * 'Forget me
+     not when gone nor drive from memory.'
+To whom shall turn I? hope in whom when you are lost? * Who were
+     my only hopes and joys and woes of me?
+But ah, the pang of home-return when parting thus! * How joyed at
+     seeing me return mine enemy.
+Then well-away! this 'twas I guarded me against! * And ah, thou
+     lowe of Love double thine ardency![FN#111]
+An fled for aye my friends I'll not survive the flight; * Yet an
+     they deign return, Oh joy!  Oh ecstacy!
+Never, by Allah tears and weeping I'll contain * For loss of you,
+     but tears on tears and tears will rain."
+
+
+When Abd al-Kaddus heard his verse he knew that he would not turn back
+from his desire nor would words have effect on him, and was certified
+that naught would serve him but he must imperil himself, though it lose
+him his life.  So he said to him, "Know, O my son, that the Islands of
+Wak are seven islands, wherein is a mighty host, all virgin girls, and
+the Inner Isles are peopled by Satans and Marids and warlocks and
+various tribesmen of the Jinn; and whoso entereth their land never
+returneth thence; at least none hath done so to this day.  So, Allah
+upon thee, return presently to thy people, for know that she whom thou
+seekest is the King's daughter of all these islands: and how canst thou
+attain to her? Hearken to me, O my son, and haply Allah will vouchsafe
+thee in her stead a better than she."  "O my lord," answered Hasan,
+though for the love of her I were cut in pieces yet should I but
+redouble in love and transport!  There is no help but that I enter the
+Wak Islands and come to the sight of my wife and children; and
+Inshallah, I will not return save with her and with them." Said the
+Shaykh, "Then nothing will serve thee but thou must make the journey?"
+Hasan replied "Nothing! and I only ask of thee thy prayers for help and
+aidance; so haply Allah will reunite me with my wife and children right
+soon." Then he wept for stress of longing and recited these couplets,
+
+"You are my wish, of creatures brightest-light * I deem you lief
+     as hearing, fain as sight:
+You hold my heart which hath become your home * And since you
+     left me, lords, right sore's my plight:
+Then think not I have yielded up your love, * Your love which set
+     this wretch in fierce affright:
+You went and went my joy whenas you went; * And waned and wax'ed
+     wan the brightest light:
+You left me lone to watch the stars in woe: * Railing tears
+     likest rain-drops infinite.
+Thou'rt longsome to the wight, who pining lies * On wake,
+     moon-gazing through the night,
+O Night! Wind! an thou pass the tribe where they abide * Give
+     them my greeting, life is fain of flight.
+And tell them somewhat of the pangs I bear: * The loved one
+     kenneth not my case aright."
+
+
+Then he wept with sore weeping till he fainted away; and when he came
+to himself, Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus said to him, "O my son, thou hast a
+mother; make her not taste the torment of thy loss." Hasan replied, "By
+Allah, O my lord, I will never return except with my wife, or my death
+shall overtake me." And he wept and wailed and recited these couplets,
+
+"By Love's right! naught of farness thy slave can estrange * Nor
+     am I one to fail in my fealty:
+I suffer such pains did I tell my case * To folk, they'd cry,
+     'Madness! clean witless is he!'
+Then ecstasy, love-longing, transport and lowe! * Whose case is
+     such case how shall ever he be?"
+
+
+With this the old man knew that he would not turn from his purpose,
+though it cost him his life; so he handed him the scroll and prayed for
+him and charged him how he should do, saying "I have in this letter
+given a strict charge concerning thee to Abú al-Ruwaysh,[FN#112] son of
+Bilkís, daughter of Mu'in, for he is my Shaykh and my teacher, and all,
+men and Jinn, humble themselves to him and stand in awe of him.  And
+now go with the blessing of God." Hasan forthright set out giving the
+horse the rein, and it flew off with him swiftlier than lightning, and
+stayed not in its course ten days, when he saw before him a vast loom
+black as night, walling the world from East to West.  As he neared it,
+the stallion neighed under him, whereupon there flocked to it horses in
+number as the drops of rain, none could tell their tale or against them
+prevail, and fell to rubbing themselves against it.  Hasan was
+affrighted at them and fared forwards surrounded by the horses, without
+drawing rein till he came to the cavern which Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus had
+described to him.  The steed stood still at the door and Hasan alighted
+and bridged the bridle over the saddle-bow[FN#113]; whereupon the steed
+entered the cavern, whilst the rider abode without, as the old man had
+charged him, pondering the issue of his case in perplexity and
+distraction and unknowing what would befal him.—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Second Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan,
+dismounting from the steed, stood at the cavern-mouth pondering the
+issue of his case and unknowing what might befal him.  He abode
+standing on the same spot five days with their nights, sleepless,
+mournful, tearful-eyed; distracted, perplexed, pondering his severance
+from home and family, comrades and friends, with weeping eye-lids and
+heavy heart. Then he bethought him of his mother and of what might yet
+happen to him and of his separation from his wife and children and of
+all that he had suffered, and he recited these couplets,
+
+"With you is my heart-cure a heart that goes; * And from
+     hill-foot of eyelids the tear-rill flows:
+And parting and sorrow and exile and dole * And farness from
+     country and throe that o'erthrows:
+Naught am I save a lover distracted by love, * Far parted from
+     loved one and wilted by woes.
+And 'tis Love that hath brought me such sorrow, say where * Is
+     the noble of soul who such sorrow unknows?"
+
+
+Hardly had Hasan made an end of his verses, when out came the Shaykh
+Abu al-Ruwaysh, a blackamoor and clad in black raiment, and at first
+sight he knew him by the description that Abd al-Kaddus had given him. 
+He threw himself at his feet and rubbed his cheeks on them and seizing
+his skirt, laid it on his head and wept before him.  Quoth the old man,
+"What wantest thou, O my son?" Whereupon he put out his hand to him
+with the letter, and Abu al-Ruwaysh took it and re-entered the cavern,
+without making him any answer.  So Hasan sat down at the cave-mouth in
+his place other five days as he had been bidden, whilst concern grew
+upon him and terror redoubled on him and restlessness gat hold of him,
+and he fell to weeping and bemoaning himself for the anguish of
+estrangement and much watching. And he recited these couplets,
+
+"Glory to Him who guides the skies! * The lover sore in sorrow
+     lies.
+Who hath not tasted of Love's food * Knows not what mean its
+     miseries.
+Did I attempt to stem my tears * Rivers of blood would fount and
+     rise.
+How many an intimate is hard * Of heart, and pains in sorest
+     wise!
+An she with me her word would keep, * Of tears and sighs I'd fain
+     devise,
+But I'm forgone, rejected quite * Ruin on me hath cast her eyes.
+At my fell pangs fell wildlings weep * And not a bird for me but
+     cries."
+
+
+Hasan ceased not to weep till dawn of the sixth day, when Shaykh Abu
+al-Ruwaysh came forth to him, clad in white raiment, and with his hand
+signed[FN#114] to him to enter.  So he went in, rejoicing and assured
+of the winning of his wish, and the old man took him by the hand and
+leading him into the cavern, fared on with him half a day's journey,
+till they reached an arched doorway with a door of steel.  The Shaykh
+opened the door and they two entered a vestibule vaulted with onyx
+stones and arabesqued with gold, and they stayed not walking till they
+came to a great hall and a wide, paved and walled with marble.  In its
+midst was a flower-garden containing all manner trees and flowers and
+fruits, with birds warbling on the boughs and singing the praises of
+Allah the Almighty Sovran; and there were four daďses, each facing
+other, and in each daďs a jetting fountain, at whose corners stood
+lions of red gold, spouting gerbes from their mouths into the basin. 
+On each daďs stood a chair, whereon sat an elder, with exceeding store
+of books before him[FN#115] and censers of gold, containing fire and
+perfumes, and before each elder were students, who read the books to
+him.  Now when the twain entered, the elders rose to them and did them
+honour; whereupon Abu al-Ruwaysh signed to them to dismiss their
+scholars and they did so.  Then the four arose and seating themselves
+before that Shaykh, asked him of the case of Hasan to whom he said,
+"Tell the company thy tale and all that hath betided thee from the
+beginning of thine adventure to the end." So Hasan wept with sore
+weeping and related to them his story with Bahram; whereupon all the
+Shaykhs cried out and said, "Is this indeed he whom the Magian caused
+to climb the Mountain of Clouds by means of the vultures, sewn up in
+the camel-hide?" And Hasan said, "Yes."  So they turned to the Shaykh,
+Abu al-Ruwaysh and said to him, "O our Shaykh, of a truth Bahram
+contrived his mounting to the mountaintop; but how came he down and
+what marvels saw he there?" And Abu al-Ruwaysh said, "O Hasan, tell
+them how thou camest down and acquaint them with what thou sawest of
+marvels." So he told them all that had befallen him, first and last;
+how he had gotten the Magian into his power and slain him, how he had
+delivered the youth from him and sent him back to his own country, and
+how he had captured the King's daughter of the Jinn and married her;
+yet had she played him false and taken the two boys she had borne him
+and flown away; brief, he related to them all the hardships and horrors
+he had undergone; whereat they marvelled, each and every, and said to
+Abu al-Ruwaysh, "O elder of elders, verily by Allah, this youth is to
+be pitied!  But belike thou wilt aid him to recover his wife and
+wees."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Third Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan
+told his tale to the elders, they said to Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh, "This
+youth is to be pitied and haply thou wilt aid him to recover his wife
+and wees." He replied, "O my brothers, in very sooth this is a grave
+matter and a perilous; and never saw I any loathe his life save this
+youth.  You know that the Islands of Wak are hard of access and that
+none may come to them but at risk of life; and ye know also the
+strength of their people and their guards.  Moreover I have sworn an
+oath not to tread their soil nor transgress against them in aught; so
+how shall this man come at the daughter of the Great King, and who hath
+power to bring him to her or help him in this matter?" Replied the
+other, "O Shaykh of Shaykhs, verily this man is consumed with desire
+and he hath endangered himself to bring thee a scroll from thy brother
+Abd al-Kaddus; wherefore it behoveth thee to help him." And Hasan arose
+and kissed Abu al-Ruwaysh's feet and raising the hem of his garment
+laid it on his head, weeping and crying, "I beseech thee, by Allah, to
+reunite me with my wife and children, though it cost me my life and my
+soul!"  The four elders all wept for his weeping and said to Abu
+al-Ruwaysh, "Deal generously with this unhappy and show him kindness
+for the sake of thy brother Abd al-Kaddus and profit by this occasion
+to earn reward from Allah for helping him." Quoth he, "This wilful
+youth weeteth not what he undertaketh; but Inshallah! we will help him
+after the measure of our means, nor leave aught feasible undone." When
+Hasan heard the Shaykh's word he rejoiced and kissed the hands of the
+five elders, one after other, imploring their aidance. Thereupon Abd
+al-Ruwaysh took inkcase and a sheet of paper and wrote a letter, which
+he sealed and gave to Hasan, together with a pouch of perfumed
+leather,[FN#116] containing incense and fire-sticks[FN#117] and other
+needs, and said to him, "Take strictest care of this pouch, and whenas
+thou fallest into any strait, burn a little of the incense therein and
+name my name, whereupon I will be with thee forthright and save thee
+from thy stress." Moreover, he bade one of those present fetch him an
+Ifrit of the Flying Jinn; and he did so incontinently; whereupon quoth
+Abu al-Ruwaysh to the fire-drake, "What is thy name!" Replied the
+Ifrit, "Thy thrall is hight Dahnash bin Faktash." And the Shaykh said
+"Draw near to me!" So Dahnash drew near to him and he put his mouth to
+his ear and said somewhat to him, whereat the Ifrit shook his head and
+answered, "I accept, O elder of elders!" Then said Abu al-Ruwaysh to
+Hasan, "Arise, O my son, mount the shoulders of this Ifrit, Dahnash the
+Flyer; but, when he heaveth thee heaven-wards and thou hearest the
+angels glorifying God a-welkin with 'Subhána 'lláh,' have a care lest
+thou do the like; else wilt thou perish and he too." Hasan replied, "I
+will not say a word; no, never;" and the old man continued, "O Hasan,
+after faring with thee all this day, to-morrow at peep of dawn he will
+set thee down in a land cleanly white, like unto camphor, whereupon do
+thou walk on ten days by thyself, till thou come to the gate of a city.
+ Then enter and enquire for the King of the city; and when thou comest
+to his presence, salute him with the salam and kiss his hand: then give
+him this scroll and consider well whatso he shall counsel thee." Hasan
+replied, "Hearing and obeying," and rose up and mounted the Ifrit's
+shoulders, whilst the elders rose and offered up prayers for him and
+commended him to the care of Dahnash the Firedrake. And when he had
+perched on the Flyer's back the Ifrit soared with him to the very
+confines of the sky, till he heard the angels glorifying God in Heaven,
+and flew on with him a day and a night till at dawn of the next day he
+set him down in a land white as camphor, and went his way, leaving him
+there.  When Hasan found himself in the land aforesaid with none by his
+side he fared on night and day for ten days, till he came to the gate
+of the city in question and entering, enquired for the King.  They
+directed him to him and told him that his name was King Hassún,[FN#118]
+Lord of the Land of Camphor, and that he had troops and soldiers enough
+to fill the earth in its length and breadth.  So he sought audience of
+him and, being admitted to his presence, found him a mighty King and
+kissed ground between his hands. Quoth the King, "What is thy want?"
+Whereupon Hasan kissed the letter and gave it to him.  The King read it
+and shook his head awhile, then said to one of his officers, "Take this
+youth and lodge him in the house of hospitality."  So he took him and
+stablished him in the guest-house, where he tarried three days, eating
+and drinking and seeing none but the eunuch who waited on him and who
+entertained him with discourse and cheered him with his company,
+questioning him of his case and how he came to that city; whereupon he
+told him his whole story, and the perilous condition wherein he was. On
+the fourth day, that eunuch carried him before the King, who said to
+him, "O Hasan, thou comest to me, seeking to enter the Islands of Wak,
+as the Shaykh of Shaykhs adviseth me. O my son, I would send thee
+thither this very day, but that by the way are many perils and thirsty
+wolds full of terrors; yet do thou have patience and naught save fair
+shall befal thee, for needs must I devise to bring thee to thy desire,
+Inshallah!  Know, O my son, that here is a mighty host,[FN#119]
+equipped with arms and steeds and warlike gear, who long to enter the
+Wak Islands and lack power thereto.  But, O my son, for the sake of the
+Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh, son of Bilkis,[FN#120] the daughter of Mu'in, I
+may not send thee back to him unfulfilled of thine affair. Presently
+there will come to us ships from the Islands of Wak and the first that
+shall arrive I will send thee on board of her and give thee in charge
+to the sailors, so they may take care of thee and carry thee to the
+Islands.  If any question thee of thy case and condition, answer him
+saying, 'I am kinsman to King Hassun, Lord of the Land of Camphor;' and
+when the ship shall make fast to the shore of the Islands of Wak and
+the master shall bid thee land, do thou land.  Now as soon as thou
+comest ashore, thou wilt see a multitude of wooden settles all about
+the beach, of which do thou choose thee one and crouch under it and
+stir not.  And when dark night sets in, thou wilt see an army of women
+appear and flock about the goods landed from the ship, and one of them
+will sit down on the settle, under which thou hast hidden thyself,
+whereupon do thou put forth thy hand to her and take hold of her and
+implore her protection. And know thou, O my son, that an she accord
+thee protection, thou wilt win thy wish and regain thy wife and
+children; but, if she refuse to protect thee, make thy mourning for
+thyself and give up all hope of life, and make sure of death for indeed
+thou art a dead man.  Understand, O my son, that thou adventurest thy
+life and this is all I can do for thee, and—the peace!"—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourth Night,
+
+She said,  It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Hassun
+spake these words to Hasan and charged him as we have related, ending
+with, "This is all I can do for thee and know that except the Lord of
+Heaven had aided thee, thou hadst not come hither!" The youth wept till
+he swooned away, and when he recovered, he recited these two couplets,
+
+"A term decreed my lot I 'spy; * And, when its days shall end, I
+     die.
+Though lions fought with me in lair * If Time be mine I'd beat
+     them, I!"
+
+
+Then having ended his verse he kissed the ground before the Sovran and
+said to him, "O mighty King, how many days remain till the coming of
+the ships?" Replied the other, "In a month's time they will come and
+will tarry here, selling their cargueson, other two months, after which
+they will return to their own country; so hope not to set out save
+after three whole months." Then the King bade him return to the house
+of hospitality and bade supply him with all that he needed of meat and
+drink and raiment fit for Kings.  Hasan abode in the guest-house a
+month, at the end of which the vessels arrived and the King and the
+merchants went forth to them, taking Hasan with them. Amongst them he
+saw a ship with much people therein, like the shingles for number; none
+knew their tale save He who created them.  She was anchored in
+mid-harbour and had cocks which transported her lading to the shore. 
+So Hasan abode till the crew had landed all the goods and sold and
+bought and to the time of departure there wanted but three days;
+whereupon the King sent for him and equipped him with all he required
+and gave him  great gifts: after which he summoned the captain of the
+great ship and said to him, "Take this youth with thee in the vessel,
+so none may know of him save thou, and carry him to the Islands of Wak
+and leave him there; and bring him not back."  And the Rais said, "To
+hear is to obey: with love and gladness!" Then quoth the King to Hasan,
+"Look thou tell none of those who are with thee in the ship thine
+errand nor discover to them aught of thy case; else thou art a lost
+man;" and quoth he, "Hearing and obedience!" With this he farewelled
+the King, after he had wished him long life and victory over his
+enviers and his enemies; wherefore the King thanked him and wished him
+safety and the winning of his wish. Then he committed him to the
+captain, who laid him in a chest which he embarked in a dinghy, and
+bore him aboard, whilst the folk were busy in breaking bulk and no man
+doubted but the chest contained somewhat of merchandise.  After this,
+the vessels set sail and fared on without ceasing ten days, and on the
+eleventh day they made the land.  So the Rais set Hasan ashore and, as
+he walked up the beach, he saw wooden settles[FN#121] without number,
+none knew their count save Allah, even as the King had told him. He
+went on, till he came to one that had no fellow and hid under it till
+nightfall, when there came up a mighty many of women, as they were
+locusts over-swarming the land and they marched afoot and armed
+cap-ŕ-pie in hauberks and strait-knit coats of mail hending drawn
+swords in their hands, who, seeing the merchandise landed from the
+ships, busied themselves therewith. Presently they sat down to rest
+themselves, and one of them seated herself on the settle under which
+Hasan had crouched: whereupon he took hold of the hem of her garment
+and laid it on his head and throwing himself before her, fell to
+kissing her hands and feet and weeping and crying, "Thy protection! thy
+good-will!" Quoth she, "Ho, thou!  Arise and stand up, ere any see thee
+and slay thee." So he came forth and springing up kissed her hands and
+wept and said to her, "O my mistress, I am under thy protection!";
+adding, "Have ruth on one who is parted from his people and wife and
+children, one who hath haste to rejoin them and one who adventureth
+life and soul for their sake! Take pity on me and be assured that
+therefor Paradise will be thy reward; or, an thou wilt not receive me,
+I beseech thee, by Allah the Great, the Concealer, to conceal my case!"
+The merchants stared to see him talking with her; and she, hearing his
+words and beholding his humility, was moved to ruth for him; her heart
+inclined to him and she knew that he had not ventured himself and come
+to that place, save for a grave matter.  So she said to him, "O my son,
+be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear, hearten thy heart
+and take courage and return to thy hiding-place till the coming night,
+and Allah shall do as He will." Then she took leave of him and Hasan
+crept under the wooden settle as before, whilst the troops lighted
+flambeaux of wax mixed with aloes-wood and Nadd-perfume and crude
+ambergris[FN#122] and passed the night in sport and delight till the
+morning.  At daybreak, the boats returned to the shore and the
+merchants busied themselves with buying and selling and the transport
+of the goods and gear till nightfall, whilst Hasan lay hidden beneath
+the settle, weeping-eyed and woeful-hearted, knowing not what was
+decreed to him in the secret preordainment of Allah.  As he was thus,
+behold, the merchant-woman with whom he had taken refuge came up to him
+and giving him a habergeon and a helmet, a spear, a sword and a gilded
+girdle, bade him don them and seat himself on the settle after which
+she left him, for fear of the troops. So he arose and donned the
+mail-coat and helmet and clasped the girdle about his middle; then he
+slung the sword over his shoulder till it hung under his armpit, and
+taking the spear in his hand, sat down on that settle, whilst his
+tongue neglected not to name Allah Almighty and call on Him for
+protection.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan
+received the weapons which the merchant-woman had given to him, saying,
+"Sit thee upon the settle and let none wot thy case," he armed himself
+and took his seat, whilst his tongue neglected not to name Allah
+Almighty and to call upon Him for protection.  And behold, there
+appeared cressets and lanthorns and flambeaux and up came the army of
+women.  So he arose and mingling with them, became as one of them.  A
+little before daybreak, they set out, and Hasan with them, and fared on
+till they came to their camp, where they dispersed each to her tent,
+and Hasan followed one of them and lo! it was hers for whose protection
+he had prayed.  When she entered, she threw down her arms and doffed
+her hauberk and veil.  So Hasan did the like and looking at his
+companion, saw her to be a grizzled old woman blue-eyed and big-nosed,
+a calamity of calamities, the foulest of all created things, with face
+pock-marked and eyebrows bald, gap-toothed and chap-fallen, with hair
+hoary, nose running and mouth slavering;[FN#123] even as saith the like
+of her the poet,
+
+"In her cheek-corners nine calamities * Wone, and when shown,
+     each one Jehannam is:
+Hideous the face and favour foulest foul * As cheek of hog; yea,
+     'tis a cesspool phiz."
+
+
+And indeed she was like a pied snake or a scald she-wolf.  Now when the
+old woman looked at Hasan, she marvelled and said, "How came this one
+to these lands and in which of the ships was he and how arrived he
+hither in safety?" And she fell to questioning him of his case and
+admiring at his arrival, whereupon he fell at her feet and rubbed his
+face on them and wept till he fainted; and, when he recovered himself,
+he recited these couplets,
+
+"When will Time grant we meet, when shall we be * Again united
+     after severance stark?
+And I shall win my choicest wish and view? * Blame end and Love
+     abide without remark?
+Were Nile to flow as freely as my tears, * 'Twould leave no
+     region but with water-mark:
+'Twould overthrow Hijaz and Egypt-land * 'Twould deluge Syria and
+     'twould drown Irák.
+This, O my love, is caused by thy disdain, * Be kind and promise
+     meeting fair and fain!"
+
+
+Then he took the crone's skirt and laid it on his head and fell to
+weeping and craving her protection.  When she saw his ardency and
+transport and anguish and distress, her heart softened to him and she
+promised him her safeguard, saying, "Have no fear whatsoever." Then she
+questioned him of his case and he told her the manner of his coming
+thither and all that had befallen him from beginning to end, whereat
+she marvelled and said, "This that hath betide thee, methinks, never
+betided any save thyself and except thou hadst been vouchsafed the
+especial protection of Allah, thou hadst not been saved: but now, O my
+son, take comfort and be of good courage; thou hast nothing more to
+fear, for indeed thou hast won thy wish and attained thy desire, if it
+please the Most High!" Thereat Hasan rejoiced with joy exceeding and
+she sent to summon the captains of the army to her presence, and it was
+the last day of the month.  So they presented themselves and the old
+woman said to them, "Go out and proclaim to all the troops that they
+come forth to-morrow at daybreak and let none tarry behind, for whoso
+tarryeth shall be slain." They replied, "We hear and we obey," and
+going forth, made proclamation to all the host anent a review next
+morning, even as she bade them, after which they returned and told her
+of this; whereby Hasan knew that she was the Commander-in-chief of the
+army and the Viceregent in authority over them; and her name was
+Shawahí the Fascinator, entituled Umm al-Dawáhi, or Mother of
+Calamities.[FN#124] She ceased not to bid and forbid and Hasan doffed
+not off his arms from his body that day.  Now when the morning broke,
+all the troops fared forth from their places, but the old woman came
+not out with them, and as soon as they were sped and the stead was
+clear of them, she said to Hasan, "Draw near unto me, O my
+son[FN#125]." So he drew near unto her and stood between her hands. 
+Quoth she, "Why and wherefore hast thou adventured thyself so boldly as
+to enter this land, and how came thy soul to consent to its own
+undoing?  Tell me the truth and the whole truth and fear aught of ill
+come of it, for thou hast my plighted word and I am moved to compassion
+for thy case and pity thee and have taken thee under my protection. So,
+if thou tell me the truth, I will help thee to win thy wish, though it
+involve the undoing of souls and the destruction of bodies; and since
+thou hast come to seek me, no hurt shall betide thee from me, nor will
+I suffer any to have at thee with harm of all who be in the Islands of
+Wak." So he told her his tale from first to last, acquainting her with
+the matter of his wife and of the birds; how he had captured her as his
+prize from amongst the ten and married her and abode with her, till she
+had borne him two sons, and how she had taken her children and flown
+away with them, whenas she knew the way to the feather-dress.  Brief,
+he concealed from her no whit of his case, from the beginning to that
+day.  But when Shawahi heard his relation, she shook her head and said
+to him, "Glory be to God who hath brought thee hither in safety and
+made thee hap upon me!  For, hadst thou happened on any but myself,
+thou hadst lost thy life without winning thy wish; but the truth of
+thine intent and thy fond affection and the excess of thy love-longing
+for thy wife and yearning for thy children, these it was that have
+brought thee to the attainment of thine aim.  Didst thou not love her
+and love her to distraction, thou hadst not thus imperilled thyself,
+and Alhamdolillah—Praised be Allah—for thy safety! Wherefore it
+behoveth us to do thy desire and conduce to thy quest, so thou mayst
+presently attain that thou seekest, if it be the will of Almighty
+Allah. But know, O my son, that thy wife is not here, but in the
+seventh of the Islands of Wak and between us and it is seven months'
+journey, night and day. From here we go to an island called the Land of
+Birds, wherein, for the loud crying of the birds and the flapping of
+their wings, one cannot hear other speak."—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman
+said to Hasan, "Indeed thy wife is in the Seventh Island,[FN#126] the
+greatest amongst the Islands of Wak and betwixt us and it is a
+seven-months' journey.  From here we fare for the Land of Birds,
+whereon for the force of their flying and the flapping of their wings,
+we cannot hear one other speak. Over that country we journey night and
+day, eleven days, after which we come forth of it to another called the
+Land of Ferals where, for stress of roaring of lions and howling of
+wolves and laughing of hyćnas and the crying of other beasts of prey we
+shall hear naught, and therein we travel twenty days' journey. Then we
+issue therefrom and come to a third country, called the Land of the
+Jánn, where, for stress of the crying of the Jinn and the flaming of
+fires and the flight of sparks and smoke from their mouths and the
+noise of their groaning and their arrogance in blocking up the road
+before us, our ears will be deafened and our eyes blinded, so that we
+shall neither hear nor see, nor dare any look behind him, or he
+perisheth: but there horseman boweth head on saddle-bow and raiseth it
+not for three days.  After this, we abut upon a mighty mountain and a
+running river contiguous with the Isles of Wak, which are seven in
+number and the extent whereof is a whole year's journey for a well-girt
+horseman.  And thou must know, O my son, that these troops are all
+virgin girls, and that the ruler over us is a woman of the Archipelago
+of Wak. On the bank of the river aforesaid is another mountain, called
+Mount Wak, and it is thus named by reason of a tree which beareth
+fruits like heads of the Sons of Adam.[FN#127] When the sun riseth on
+them, the heads cry out all, saying in their cries:— 'Wak!  Wak! Glory
+be to the Creating King, Al-Khallák!' And when we hear their crying, we
+know that the sun is risen.  In like manner, at sundown, the heads set
+up the same cry, 'Wak! Wak!  Glory to Al-Khallak!' and so we know that
+the sun hath set.  No man may abide with us or reach to us or tread our
+earth; and betwixt us and the abiding-place of the Queen who ruleth
+over us is a month's journey from this shore, all the lieges whereof
+are under her hand, as are also the tribes of the Jinn, Marids and
+Satans, while of the warlocks none kenneth the number save He who
+created them.  Wherefore, an thou be afraid, I will send with thee one
+who will convey thee to the coast and there bring one who will embark
+thee on board a ship that bear thee to thine own land.  But an thou be
+content to tarry with us, I will not forbid thee and thou shalt be with
+me in mine eye,[FN#128] till thou win thy wish, Inshallah!" Quoth he,
+"O my lady, I will never quit thee till I foregather with my wife or
+lose my life!"; and quoth she, "This is a light matter; be of good
+heart, for soon shalt thou come to thy desire, Allah willing; and there
+is no help but that I let the Queen know of thee, that she may help
+thee to attain thine aim." Hasan blessed her and kissed her head and
+hands, thanking her for her good deed and exceeding kindness and firm
+will.  Then he set out with her, pondering the issue of his case and
+the horrors of his strangerhood; wherefore he fell a-weeping and
+a-wailing and recited these couplets,
+
+"A Zephyr bloweth from the lover's site; * And thou canst view me
+     in the saddest plight:
+The Night of Union is as brilliant morn; * And black the
+     Severance-day as blackest night:
+Farewelling friend is sorrow sorest sore * Parting from lover's
+     merest undelight.
+I will not blame her harshness save to her, * And 'mid mankind
+     nor friend nor fere I sight:
+How can I be consoled for loss of you? * Base censor's blame
+     shall not console my sprite!
+O thou in charms unique, unique's my love; * O peerless thou, my
+     heart hath peerless might!
+Who maketh semblance that he loveth you * And dreadeth blame is
+     most blame-worthy wight."
+
+
+Then the old woman bade beat the kettle-drums for departure and the
+army set out.  Hasan fared with her, drowned in the sea of solicitude
+and reciting verses like those above, whilst she strave to comfort him
+and exhorted him to patience; but he awoke not from his tristesse and
+heeded not her exhortations. They journeyed thus till they came to the
+boundaries of the Land of Birds[FN#129] and when they entered it, it
+seemed to Hasan as if the world were turned topsy-turvy for the
+exceeding clamour.  His head ached and his mind was dazed, his eyes
+were blinded and his ears deafened, and he feared with exceeding fear
+and made certain of death, saying to himself, "If this be the Land of
+Birds, how will be the Land of Beasts?" But, when the crone hight
+Shawahi saw him in this plight, she laughed at him, saying, "O my son,
+if this be thy case in the first island, how will it fare with thee,
+when thou comest to the others?"  So he prayed to Allah and humbled
+himself before the Lord, beseeching Him to assist him against that
+wherewith He had afflicted him and bring him to his wishes; and they
+ceased not going till they passed out of the Land of Birds and,
+traversing the Land of Beasts, came to the Land of the Jann which when
+Hasan saw, he was sore affrighted and repented him of having entered it
+with them.  But he sought aid of Allah the Most High and fared on with
+them, till they were quit of the Land of the Jann and came to the river
+and set down their loads at the foot of a vast mountain and a lofty,
+and pitched their tents by the stream-bank.  Then they rested and ate
+and drank and slept in security, for they were come to their own
+country.  On the morrow the old woman set Hasan a couch of alabaster,
+inlaid with pearls and jewels and nuggets of red gold, by the
+river-side, and he sat down thereon, having first bound his face with a
+chin-kerchief, that discovered naught of him but his eyes.  Then she
+bade proclaim among the troops that they should all assemble before her
+tent and put off their clothes and go down into the stream and wash;
+and this she did that she might parade before him all the girls, so
+haply his wife should be amongst them and he know her.  So the whole
+army mustered before her and putting off their clothes, went down into
+the stream, and Hasan seated on his couch watched them washing their
+white skins and frolicking and making merry, whilst they took no heed
+of his inspecting them, deeming him to be of the daughters of the
+Kings. When he beheld them stripped of their clothes, his chord
+stiffened for that looking at them mother-naked he saw what was between
+their thighs, and that of all kinds, soft and rounded, plump and
+cushioned; large-lipped, perfect, redundant and ample,[FN#130] and
+their faces were as moons and their hair as night upon day, for that
+they were of the daughters of the Kings. When they were clean, they
+came up out of the water, stark naked, as the moon on the night of
+fullness and the old woman questioned Hasan of them, company by
+company, if his wife were among them; but, as often as she asked him of
+a troop, he made answer, "She is not among these, O my lady."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventh Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman
+questioned Hasan of the girls, company after company, if haply his wife
+were among them; but as often as she asked him of a troop, he made
+answer, "She is not among these, O my lady!" Last of all, there came up
+a damsel, attended by ten slave-girls and thirty waiting-women, all of
+them high-bosomed maidens. They put off their clothes and went down
+into the river, where the damsel fell to riding the high horse over her
+women, throwing them down and ducking them. On this wise she continued
+for a full hour, after which all came up out of the water and sat down;
+and they brought her napkins[FN#131] of gold-purfled silk, with which
+she dried herself.  Then they brought her clothes and jewels and
+ornaments of the handiwork of the Jinn, and she donned them and rose
+and walked with graceful pace among the troops, she and her maidens. 
+When Hasan saw her, his heart was ready to fly from his breast and he
+said, "Verily this girl is the likest of all folk to the bird I saw in
+the basin atop of the palace of my sisters the Princesses, and she
+lorded it over her lieges even as doth this one." The old woman asked,
+"O Hasan, is this thy wife?"; and he answered, "No, by thy life, O my
+lady; this is not my wife, nor ever in my life have I set eyes on her;
+neither among all the girls I have seen in these islands is there the
+like of my wife nor her match for symmetry and grace and beauty and
+loveliness!" Then said Shawaki, "Describe her to me and acquaint me
+with all her attributes, that I may have her in my mind; for I know
+every girl in the Islands of Wak, being commander of the army of maids
+and governor over them; wherefore, an thou describe her to me, I shall
+know her and will contrive for thee to take her." Quoth he, "My wife
+hath the fairest face and a form all grace; smooth is she of cheeks and
+high of breasts with eyes of liquid light, calves and thighs plump to
+sight, teeth snowy white, with dulcet speech dight; in speech soft and
+bland as she were a willow-wand; her gifts are a moral and lips are red
+as coral; her eyes wear natural Kohl-dye and her lower labia[FN#132] in
+softness lie.  On her right cheek is a mole and on her waist, under her
+navel, is a sign; her face shines as the rondure of the moon in sheen,
+her waist is slight, her hips a heavy weight, and the water of her
+mouth the sick doth heal, as it were Kausar or Salsabil."[FN#133] Said
+the old woman, "Give me an increased account of her, Allah increase
+thee of passion for her!" Quoth he, "My wife hath a face the fairest
+fair and oval cheeks the rarest rare; neck long and spare and eyes that
+Kohl wear; her side face shows the Anemones of Nu'uman, her mouth is
+like a seal of cornelian and flashing teeth that lure and stand one in
+stead of cup and ewer.  She is cast in the mould of pleasantness and
+between her thighs is the throne of the Caliphate, there is no such
+sanctuary among the Holy Places; as saith in its praise the poet,
+
+"The name of what drave me distraught * Hath letters renowned
+     among men:
+A four into five multiplied * And a multiplied six into
+     ten.[FN#134]"
+
+
+Then Hasan wept and chanted the following Mawwál,[FN#135]
+
+"O heart, an lover false thee, shun the parting bane * Nor to
+     forgetfulness thy thoughts constrain:
+Be patient; thou shalt bury all thy foes; * Allah ne'er falseth
+     man of patience fain."
+
+
+And this also,
+
+"An wouldst be life,long safe, vaunt not delight; * Never
+     despair, nor wone o'erjoyed in sprite!
+Forbear, rejoice not, mourn not o'er thy plight * And in ill day
+     'Have not we oped?'—recite."[FN#136]
+
+
+Thereupon the old woman bowed her head groundwards awhile, then,
+raising it, said, "Laud be to the Lord, the Mighty of Award! Indeed I
+am afflicted with thee, O Hasan!  Would Heaven I had never known thee! 
+This woman, whom thou describest to me as thy wife, I know by
+description and I know her to be none other than the eldest daughter of
+the Supreme King, she who ruleth over all the Islands of Wak.  So open
+both eyes and consider thy case; and if thou be asleep, awake; for, if
+this woman be indeed thy wife, it is impossible for thee ever to obtain
+her, and though thou come to her, yet couldst thou not avail to her
+possession, since between thee and her the distance is as that between
+earth and Heaven.  Wherefore, O my son, return presently and cast not
+thyself into destruction nor cast me with thee; for meseemeth thou hast
+no lot in her; so return whence thou camest lest our lives be lost." 
+And she feared for herself and for him.  When Hasan heard her words, he
+wept till he fainted and she left not sprinkling water on his face,
+till he came to himself, when he continued to weep, so that he drenched
+his dress with tears, for the much cark and care and chagrin which
+betided him by reason of her words.  And indeed he despaired of life
+and said to the old woman, "O my lady, and how shall I go back, after
+having come hither?  Verily, I thought not thou wouldst forsake me nor
+fail of the winning of my wish, especially as thou art the
+Commander-in-chief of the army of the girls." Answered Shawahl, "O my
+son, I doubted not but thy wife was a maid of the maids, and had I
+known she was the King's daughter, I had not suffered thee to come
+hither nor had I shown the troops to thee, for all the love I bear
+thee.  But now, O my son, thou hast seen all the girls naked; so tell
+me which of them pleaseth thee and I will give her to thee, in lieu of
+thy wife, and do thou put it that thy wife and children are dead and
+take her and return to thine own country in safety, ere thou fall into
+the King's hand and I have no means of delivering thee.  So, Allah upon
+thee, O my son, hearken unto me.  Choose thyself one of these damsels,
+in the stead of yonder woman, and return presently to thy country in
+safety and cause me not quaff the cup of thine anguish!  For, by Allah,
+thou hast cast thyself into affliction sore and peril galore, wherefrom
+none may avail to deliver thee evermore!" But Hasan hung down his head
+and wept with long weeping and recited these couplets,
+
+"'Blame not!' said I to all who blamčd me; * 'Mine eye-lids
+     naught but tears were made to dree:'
+The tears that brim these orbs have overflowed * My checks, for
+     lovers and love's cruelty.
+Leave me to love though waste this form of me! * For I of Love
+     adore the insanity:
+And, Oh my dearling, passion grows on me * For you—and you, why
+     grudge me clemency?
+You wronged me after swearing troth and plight, * Falsed my
+     companionship and turned to flee:
+And cup of humbling for your rigours sore * Ye made me drain what
+     day departed ye:
+Then melt, O heart, with longing for their sight * And, O mine
+     eyes, with crowns of tears be dight."
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old
+woman said to Hasan, "By Allah, O my son, hearken to my words!  Choose
+thee one of these girls in lieu of thy wife and presently return to thy
+country in safety," he hung down his head and recited the couplets
+quoted above.  Then he wept till he swooned away and Shawahl sprinkled
+water on his face till he revived, when she addressed him, "O my lord,
+I have no shift left; because if I carry thee to the city thy life is
+lost and mine also: for, when the Queen cometh to know of this, she
+will blame me for admitting thee into her lands and islands, whereto
+none of Adam's sons hath access, and will slay me for bringing thee
+with me and for suffering mortal to look upon the virgins seen by thee
+in the sea, whom ne'er touched male, neither approached mate." And
+Hasan sware that he had never looked on them with evil of eye.  She
+resumed, "O my son, hearken to me and return to thy country and I will
+give thee wealth and treasures and things of price, such as shall
+suffice thee for all the women in the world. Moreover, I will give thee
+a girl of the best of them, so lend an ear to my words and return
+presently and imperil not thyself; indeed I counsel thee with good
+counsel." But he wept and rubbed both cheeks against her feet, saying,
+"O my lady and mistress and coolth of mine eyes, how can I turn back
+now that I have made my way hither, without the sight of those I
+desire, and now that I have come near the beloved's site, hoping for
+meeting forthright, so haply there may be a portion in reunion to my
+plight?"  And he improvised these couplets,
+
+"O Kings of beauty, grace to prisoner ta'en * Of eyelids fit to
+     rule the Chosroës' reign:
+Ye pass the wafts of musk in perfumed breath; * Your cheeks the
+     charms of blooming rose disdain.
+The softest Zephyr breathes where pitch ye camp * And thence
+     far-scattered sweetness fills the plain:
+Censor of me, leave blame and stint advice! * Thou bringest
+     wearying words and wisdom vain:
+Why heat my passion with this flame and up- * braid me when
+     naught thou knowest of its bane?
+Captured me eyes with passion maladifs, * And overthrew me with
+     Love's might and main:
+I scatter tears the while I scatter verse; * You are my theme for
+     rhyme and prosy strain.
+Melted my vitals glow of rosy cheeks * And in the Lazá-lowe my
+     heart is lain:
+Tell me, an I leave to discourse of you, * What speech my breast
+     shall broaden?
+Tell me deign! Life-long I loved the lovelings fair, but ah, * To
+     grant my wish eke Allah must be fain!"
+
+
+Hearing his verses the old woman was moved to ruth for him and Allah
+planted the seed of affection for him in her heart; so coming up to him
+she consoled him, saying, "Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool
+and clear and put away trouble from thy thought, for, by Allah, I will
+venture my life with thee, till thou attain thine aim or death undo
+me!" With this, Hasan's heart was comforted and his bosom broadened and
+he sat talking with the old woman till the end of the day, when all the
+girls dispersed, some entering their town-mansions and others nighting
+in the tents.  Then the old woman carried him into the city and lodged
+him in a place apart, lest any should come to know of him and tell the
+Queen of him and she should slay him and slay her who had brought him
+thither. Moreover, she served him herself and strave to put him in fear
+of the awful majesty of the Supreme King, his wife's father; whilst he
+wept before her and said, "O my lady, I choose death for myself and
+loathe this worldly life, if I foregather not with my wife and
+children: I have set my existence on the venture and will either attain
+my aim or die." So the old woman fell to pondering the means of
+bringing him and his wife together and casting about how to do in the
+case of this unhappy one, who had thrown himself into destruction and
+would not be diverted from his purpose by fear or aught else; for,
+indeed he recked not of his life and the sayer of bywords saith, "Lover
+in nowise hearkeneth he to the speech of the man who is fancy-free."
+Now the name of the Queen of the island wherein they were was Núr
+al-Hudŕ,[FN#137] eldest daughter of the Supreme King, and she had six
+virgin sisters, abiding with their father, whose capital and court were
+in the chief city of that region and who had made her ruler over all
+the lands and islands of Wak.  So when the ancient dame saw Hasan on
+fire with yearning after his wife and children, she rose up and
+repaired to the palace and going in to Queen Nur al-Huda kissed ground
+before her; for she had a claim on her favour because she had reared
+the King's daughters one and all and had authority over each and every
+of them and was high in honour and consideration with them and with the
+King.  Nur al-Huda rose to her as she entered and embracing her, seated
+her by her side and asked her of her journey.  She answered, "By 
+Allah, O my lady 'twas a blessed journey and I have brought thee a gift
+which I will presently present to thee," adding, "O my daughter, O
+Queen of the age and the time, I have a favour to crave of thee and I
+fain would discover it to thee, that thou mayst help me to accomplish
+it, and but for my confidence that thou wilt not gainsay me therein, I
+would not expose it to thee." Asked the Queen, "And what is thy need?
+Expound it to me, and I will accomplish it to thee, for I and my
+kingdom and troops are all at thy commandment and disposition."
+Therewithal the old woman quivered as quivereth the reed on a day when
+the storm-wind is abroad and saying in herself, "O[FN#138] Protector,
+protect me from the Queen's mischief!"[FN#139] fell down before her and
+acquainted her with Hasan's case, saying, "O my lady, a man, who had
+hidden himself under my wooden settle on the seashore, sought my
+protection; so I took him under my safeguard and carried him with me
+among the army of girls armed and accoutred so that none might know
+him, and brought him into the city; and indeed I have striven to
+affright him with thy fierceness, giving him to know of thy power and
+prowess; but, as often as I threatened him, he weepeth and reciteth
+verses and sayeth, 'Needs must I have my wife and children or die, and
+I will not return to my country without them.' And indeed he hath
+adventured himself and come to the Islands of Wak, and never in all my
+days saw I mortal heartier of heart than he or doughtier of derring-do,
+save that love hath mastered him to the utmost of mastery."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old
+woman related to Queen Nur al-Huda the adventure of Hasan, ending with,
+"Never I saw any one heartier of heart than he save that love hath
+mastered him to the utmost of mastery," the Queen, after lending an
+attentive ear and comprehending the case, waxed wroth at her with
+exceeding wrath and bowed her head awhile groundwards; then, raising
+it, she looked at Shawahi and said to her, "O ill-omened beldam, art
+thou come to such a pass of lewdness that thou carriest males, men,
+with thee into the Islands of Wak and bringest them into me, unfearing
+of my mischief?  Who hath foregone thee with this fashion, that thou
+shouldst do thus?  By the head of the King, but for thy claim on me for
+fosterage and service, I would forthwith do both him and thee to die
+the foulest of deaths, that travellers might take warning by thee, O
+accursed, lest any other do the like of this outrageous deed thou hast
+done, which none durst hitherto!  But go and bring him hither
+forthright, that I may see him; or I will strike off thy head, O
+accursed." So the old woman went out from her, confounded, unknowing
+whither she went and saying, "All this calamity hath Allah driven upon
+me from this Queen because of Hasan!" and going in to him, said, "Rise,
+speak with the Queen, O wight whose last hour is at hand!" So he rose
+and went with her, whilst his tongue ceased not to call upon Almighty
+Allah and say, "O my God, be gracious to me in Thy decrees and deliver
+me from this Thine affliction!"[FN#140] And Shawahi went with him
+charging him by the way how he should speak with the Queen.  When he
+stood before Nur al-Huda, he found that she had donned the
+chinveil[FN#141]; so he kissed ground before her and saluted her with
+the salam, improvising these two couplets,
+
+"God make thy glory last in joy of life; * Allah confirm the
+     boons he deigned bestow:
+Thy grace and grandeur may our Lord increase * And aye Th'
+     Almighty aid thee o'er thy foe!"
+
+
+When he ended his verse Nur al-Huda bade the old woman ask him
+questions before her, that she might hear his answers: so she said to
+him, "The Queen returneth thy salam-greeting and saith to thee, 'What
+is thy name and that of thy country, and what are the names of thy wife
+and children, on whose account thou art come hither?"' Quoth he, and
+indeed he had made firm his heart and destiny aided him, "O Queen of
+the age and tide and peerless jewel of the epoch and the time, my name
+is Hasan the fullfilled of sorrow, and my native city is Bassorah.  I
+know not the name of my wife[FN#142] but my children's names are Násir
+and Mansúr." When the Queen heard his reply and his provenance, she
+bespoke him herself and said, "And whence took she her children?" He
+replied, "O Queen, she took them from the city of Baghdad and the
+palace of the Caliphate."  Quoth Nur al-Huda, "And did she say naught
+to thee at the time she flew away?;" and quoth he, "Yes; she said to my
+mother, 'Whenas thy son cometh to thee and the nights of severance upon
+him longsome shall be and he craveth meeting and reunion to see, and
+whenas the breezes of love and longing shake him dolefully let him come
+in the Islands of Wak to me.'"  Whereupon Queen Nur al-Huda shook her
+head and said to him, "Had she not desired thee she had not said to thy
+mother this say, and had she not yearned for reunion with thee, never
+had she bidden thee to her stead nor acquainted thee with her
+abiding-place."  Rejoined Hasan, "O mistress of Kings and asylum of
+prince and pauper, whatso happened I have told thee and have concealed
+naught thereof, and I take refuge from evil with Allah and with thee;
+wherefore oppress me not, but have compassion on me and earn recompense
+and requital for me in the world to come, and aid me to regain my wife
+and children.  Grant me my urgent need and cool mine eyes with my
+children and help me to the sight of them." Then he wept and wailed and
+lamenting his lot recited these two couplets,
+
+"Yea, I will laud thee while the ring-dove moans, * Though fail
+     my wish of due and lawful scope:
+Ne'er was I whirled in bliss and joys gone by * Wherein I found
+     thee not both root and rope."[FN#143]
+
+
+The Queen shook her head and bowed it in thought a long time; then,
+raising it, she said to Hasan (and indeed she was wroth), "I have ruth
+on thee and am resolved to show thee in review all the girls in the
+city and in the provinces of my island; and in case thou know thy wife,
+I will deliver her to thee; but, an thou know her not and know not her
+place, I will put thee to death and crucify thee over the old woman's
+door." Replied Hasan, "I accept this from thee, O Queen of the Age, and
+am content to submit to this thy condition. There is no Majesty and
+there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"  And he
+recited these couplets,
+
+"You've roused my desire and remain at rest,— * Waked my wounded
+     lids while you slept with zest.
+And ye made me a vow ye would not hang back * But your guile when
+     you chained me waxt manifest.
+I loved you in childhood unknowing Love; * Then slay me not who
+     am sore opprest.
+Fear ye not from Allah when slaying a friend * Who gazeth on
+     stars when folk sleep their best?
+By Allah, my kinsmen, indite on my tomb * 'This man was the slave
+     of Love's harshest hest!'
+Haps a noble youth, like me Love's own thrall, * When he sees my
+     grave on my name shall call."
+
+
+Then Queen Nur al-Huda commanded that not a girl should abide in the
+city but should come up to the palace and pass in review before Hasan
+and moreover she bade Shawahi go down in person and bring them up
+herself.  Accordingly all the maidens in the city presented themselves
+before the Queen, who caused them to go in to Hasan, hundred after
+hundred, till there was no girl left in the place, but she had shown
+her to him; yet he saw not his wife amongst them. Then said she to him,
+"Seest thou her amongst these?"; and he replied, "By thy life, O Queen,
+she is not amongst them." With this she was sore enraged against him
+and said to the old woman, "Go in and bring out all who are in the
+palace and show them to him." So she displayed to him every one of the
+palace-girls, but he saw not his wife among them and said to the Queen,
+"By the life of thy head, O Queen, she is not among these." Whereat the
+Queen was wroth and cried out at those around her, saying, "Take him
+and hale him along, face to earth, and cut off his head, least any
+adventure himself after him and intrude upon us in our country and spy
+out our estate by thus treading the soil of our islands." So they threw
+him down on his face and dragged him along; then, covering his eyes
+with his skirt, stood at his head with bared brands awaiting royal
+permission. Thereupon Shawahi came forward and kissing the ground
+before the Queen, took the hem of her garment and laid it on her head,
+saying, "O Queen, by my claim for fosterage, be not hasty with him,
+more by token of thy knowledge that this poor wretch is a stranger, who
+hath adventured himself and suffered what none ever suffered before
+him, and Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty,) preserved him from
+death, for that his life was ordained to be long.  He heard of thine
+equity and entered thy city and guarded site;[FN#144] wherefore, if
+thou put him to death, the report will dispread abroad of thee, by
+means of the travellers, that thou hatest strangers and slayest them. 
+He is in any case at thy mercy and the slain of thy sword, if his wife
+be not found in thy dominions; and whensoever thou desireth his
+presence, I can bring him back to thee.  Moreover, in very sooth I took
+him under my protection only of my trust in thy magnanimity through my
+claim on thee for fosterage, so that I engaged to him that thou wouldst
+bring him to his desire, for my knowledge of thy justice and quality of
+mercy.  But for this, I had not brought him into thy kingdom; for I
+said to myself: 'The Queen will take pleasure in looking upon him, and
+hearing him speak his verses and his sweet discourse and eloquent which
+is like unto pearls strung on string.' Moreover, he hath entered our
+land and eaten of our meat; wherefore he hath a claim upon us."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Tenth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen
+Nur al-Huda bade her pages seize Hasan and smite his neck, the old
+woman, Shawahi, began to reason with her and say, "Verily he hath
+entered our land and eaten of our meat, wherefore he hath a claim upon
+us, the more especially since I promised him to bring him in company
+with thee; and thou knowest that, parting is a grievous ill and
+severance hath power to kill, especially separation from children.  Now
+he hath seen all our women, save only thyself; so do thou show him thy
+face?" The Queen smiled and said, "How can he be my husband and have
+had children by me, that I should show him my face?" Then she made them
+bring Hasan before her and when he stood in the presence, she unveiled
+her face, which when he saw, he cried out with a great cry and fell
+down fainting.  The old woman ceased not to tend him, till he came to
+himself and as soon as he revived he recited these couplets,
+
+"O breeze that blowest from the land Irak * And from their
+     corners whoso cry 'Wak!  Wak!'
+Bear news of me to friends and say for me * I've tasted
+     passion-food of bitter smack.
+O dearlings of my love, show grace and ruth * My heart is melted
+     for this severance-rack."
+
+
+When he ended his verse he rose and looking on the Queen's face, cried
+out with a great cry, for stress whereof the palace was like to fall
+upon all therein. Then he swooned away again and the old woman ceased
+not to tend him till he revived, when she asked him what ailed him and
+he answered, "In very sooth this Queen is either my wife or else the
+likest of all folk to my wife."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eleventh Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old
+woman asked Hasan what ailed him, he answered, "In very sooth this
+Queen is either my wife or else the likest of all folk to my wife."
+Quoth Nur al-Huda to the old woman, "Woe to thee, O nurse! This
+stranger is either Jinn-mad or out of his mind, for he stareth me in
+the face with wide eyes and saith I am his wife." Quoth the old woman,
+"O Queen, indeed he is excusable; so blame him not, for the saying
+saith, 'For the lovesick is no remedy and alike are the madman and
+he.'" And Hasan wept with sore weeping and recited these two couplets,
+
+"I sight their track and pine for longing love; * And o'er their
+     homesteads weep I and I yearn:
+And I pray Heaven who willčd we should part, * Will deign to
+     grant us boon of safe return."
+
+
+Then said Hasan to the Queen once more, "By Allah, thou art not my
+wife, but thou art the likest of all folk to her!" Hereupon Nur al-Huda
+laughed till she fell backwards and rolled round on her side.[FN#145]
+Then she said to him, "O my friend, take thy time and observe me
+attentively: answer me at thy leisure what I shall ask thee and put
+away from thee insanity and perplexity and inadvertency for relief is
+at hand." Answered Hasan, "O mistress of Kings and asylum of all
+princes and paupers, when I looked upon thee, I was distracted, seeing
+thee to be either my wife or the likest of all folk to her; but now ask
+me whatso thou wilt." Quoth she, "What is it in thy wife that
+resembleth me?"; and quoth he, "O my lady, all that is in thee of
+beauty and loveliness, elegance and amorous grace, such as the symmetry
+of thy shape and the sweetness of thy speech and the blushing of thy
+cheeks and the jutting of thy breasts and so forth, all resembleth her
+and thou art her very self in thy faculty of parlance and the fairness
+of thy favour and the brilliancy of thy brow."[FN#146] When the Queen
+heard this, she smiled and gloried in her beauty and loveliness and her
+cheeks reddened and her eyes wantoned; then she turned to Shawahi Umm
+Dawahi and said to her, "O my mother, carry him back to the place where
+he tarried with thee and tend him thyself, till I examine into his
+affair; for, an he be indeed a man of manliness and mindful of
+friendship and love and affection, it behoveth we help him to win his
+wish, more by token that he hath sojourned in our country and eaten of
+our victual, not to speak of the hardships of travel he hath suffered
+and the travail and horrors he hath undergone.  But, when thou hast
+brought him to thy house, commend him to the care of thy dependents and
+return to me in all haste; and Allah Almighty willing![FN#147] all
+shall be well." Thereupon Shawahi carried him back to her lodging and
+charged her handmaids and servants and suite wait upon him and bring
+him all he needed nor fail in what was his due. Then she returned to
+Queen Nur al-Huda, who bade her don her arms and set out, taking with
+her a thousand doughty horsemen.  So she obeyed and donned her war-gear
+and having collected the thousand riders reported them ready to the
+Queen, who bade her march upon the city of the Supreme King, her
+father, there to alight at the abode of her youngest sister, Manár
+al-Saná[FN#148] and say to her, "Clothe thy two sons in the coats of
+mail which their aunt hath made them and send them to her; for she
+longeth for them." Moreover the Queen charged her keep Hasan's affair
+secret and say to Manar al-Sana, after securing her children, "Thy
+sister inviteth thee to visit her." "Then," she continued, "bring the
+children to me in haste and let her follow at her leisure.  Do thou
+come by a road other than her road and journey night and day and beware
+of discovering this matter to any.  And I swear by all manner oaths
+that, if my sister prove to be his wife and it appear that her children
+are his, I will not hinder him from taking her and them and departing
+with them to his own country."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twelfth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Oueen
+said, "I swear by Allah and by all manner of oaths that if she prove to
+be his wife, I will not hinder him from taking her but will aid him
+thereto and eke to departing with them to his mother-land." And the old
+woman put faith in her words, knowing not what she purposed in her
+mind, for the wicked Jezebel had resolved that if she were not his wife
+she would slay him; but if the children resembled him, she would
+believe him.  The Queen resumed, "O my mother, an my thought tell me
+true, my sister Manar al-Sana is his wife, but Allah alone is
+All-knowing! seeing that these traits of surpassing beauty and
+excelling grace, of which he spoke, are found in none except my sisters
+and especially in the youngest." The old woman kissed her hand and
+returning to Hasan, told him what the Queen had said, whereat he was
+like to fly for joy and coming up to her, kissed her head. Quoth she,
+"O my son, kiss not my head, but kiss me on the mouth and be this kiss
+by way of sweetmeat for thy salvation.[FN#149] Be of good cheer and
+keep thine eyes cool and clear and grudge not to kiss my mouth, for I
+and only I was the means of thy foregathering with her.  So take
+comfort, and hearten thy heart and broaden thy breast and gladden thy
+glance and console thy soul for, Allah willing, thy desire shall be
+accomplished at my hand." So saying, she bade him farewell and
+departed, whilst he recited these two couplets,
+
+"Witnesses unto love of thee I've four; * And wants each case two
+     witnesses; no more!
+A heart aye fluttering, limbs that ever quake, * A wasted frame
+     and tongue that speech forswore."
+
+
+And also these two,
+
+"Two things there be, an blood-tears thereover * Wept eyes till
+     not one trace thou couldst discover,
+Eyes ne'er could pay the tithe to them is due * The prime of
+     youth and severance from lover."
+
+
+Then the old woman armed herself and, taking with her a thousand
+weaponed horsemen, set out and journeyed till she came to the island
+and the city where dwelt the Lady Manar al-Sana and between which and
+that of her sister Queen Nur al-Huda was three days' journey.  When
+Shawahi reached the city, she went in to the Princess and saluting her,
+gave her her sister's salam and acquainted her with the Queen's longing
+for her and her children and that she reproached her for not visiting
+her. Quoth Manar al-Sana, "Verily, I am beholden to my sister and have
+failed of my duty to her in not visiting her, but I will do so
+forthright." Then she bade pitch her tents without the city and took
+with her for her sister a suitable present of rare things. Presently,
+the King her father looked out of a window of his palace, and seeing
+the tents pitched by the road, asked of them, and they answered him,
+"The Princess Manar al-Sana hath pitched her tents by the way-side,
+being minded to visit her sister Queen Nur al-Huda." When the  King
+heard this, he equipped troops to escort her to her sister and brought
+out to her from his treasuries meat and drink and monies and jewels and
+rarities which beggar description.  Now the King had seven daughters,
+all sisters-german by one mother and father except the youngest: the
+eldest was called Núr al-Hudŕ, the second Najm al-Sabáh, the third
+Shams al-Zuhŕ, the fourth Shajarat al-Durr, the fifth Kút al-Kulúb, the
+sixth Sharaf al-Banát and the youngest Manar al-Sana, Hasan's wife, who
+was their sister by the father's side only.[FN#150]  Anon the old woman
+again presented herself and kissed ground before the Princess, who said
+to her, "Hast thou any need, O my mother?"  Quoth Shawahi, "Thy sister,
+Queen Nur al-Huda, biddeth thee clothe thy sons in the two habergeons
+which she fashioned for them and send them to her by me, and I will
+take them and forego thee with them and be the harbinger of glad
+tidings and the announcer of thy coming to her." When the Princess
+heard these words, her colour changed and she bowed her head a long
+while, after which she shook it and looking up, said to the old woman,
+"O my mother, my vitals tremble and my heart fluttereth when thou
+namest my children; for, from the time of their birth none hath looked
+on their faces either Jinn or man, male or female, and I am jealous for
+them of the zephyr when it breatheth in the night." Exclaimed the old
+woman, "What words are these, O my lady?  Dost thou fear for them from
+thy sister?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman
+said to the Princess Manar al-Sana, "What words be these, O my lady? 
+Dost thou fear for them from thy sister? Allah safeguard thy reason! 
+Thou mayst not cross the Queen's majesty in this matter, for she would
+be wroth with thee.  However, O my lady, the children are young, and
+thou art excusable in fearing for them, for those that love well are
+wont to deem ill: but, O my daughter, thou knowest my tenderness and
+mine affection for thee and thy children, for indeed I reared thee
+before them.  I will take them in my charge and make my cheek their
+pillow and open my heart and set them within, nor is it needful to
+charge me with care of them in the like of this case; so be of cheerful
+heart and tearless eye and send them to her, for, at the most, I shall
+but precede thee with them a day or at most two days."  And she ceased
+not to urge her, till she gave way, fearing her sister's fury and
+unknowing what lurked for her in the dark future, and consented to send
+them with the old woman.  So she called them and bathed them and
+equipped them and changed their apparel.  Then she clad them in the two
+little coats of mail and delivered them to Shawahi, who took them and
+sped on with them like a bird, by another road than that by which their
+mother should travel, even as the Queen had charged her; nor did she
+cease to fare on with all diligence, being fearful for them, till she
+came in sight of Nur al-Huda's city, when she crossed the river and
+entering the town, carried them in to their aunt.  The Queen rejoiced
+at their sight and embraced them, and pressed them to her breast; after
+which she seated them, one upon the right thigh and the other upon the
+left; and turning round said to the old woman, "Fetch me Hasan
+forthright, for I have granted him my safeguard and have spared him
+from my sabre and he hath sought asylum in my house and taken up his
+abode in my courts, after having endured hardships and horrors and
+passed through all manner mortal risks, each terribler than other; yet
+hitherto is he not safe from drinking the cup of death and from cutting
+off his breath." —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourteenth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen
+Nur al-Huda bade the old woman bring Hasan she said, "Verily he hath
+endured hardships and horrors and passed through all manner mortal
+risks each terribler than other; yet hitherto he is not safe from death
+and from the cutting off of his breath." Replied Shawahi, "An I bring
+him to thee, wilt thou reunite him with these his children?  Or, if
+they prove not his, wilt thou pardon him and restore him to his own
+country?" Hearing these her words the Queen waxed exceeding wroth and
+cried to her, "Fie upon thee, O ill-omened old woman!  How long wilt
+thou false us in the matter of this strange man who hath dared to
+intrude himself upon us and hath lifted our veil and pried into our
+conditions? Say me: thinkest thou that he shall come to our land and
+look upon our faces and betray our honour, and after return in safety
+to his own country and expose our affairs to his people, wherefore our
+report will be bruited abroad among all the Kings of the quarters of
+the earth and the merchants will journey bearing tidings of us in all
+directions, saying, 'A mortal entered the Isles of Wak and traversed
+the Land of the Jinn and the lands of the Wild Beasts and the Islands
+of Birds and set foot in the country of the Warlocks and the Enchanters
+and returned in safety?' This shall never be; no, never; and I swear by
+Him who made the Heavens and builded them; yea, by Him who dispread the
+earth and smoothed it, and who created all creatures and counted them,
+that, an they be not his children, I will assuredly slay him and strike
+his neck with mine own hand!" Then she cried out at the old woman, who
+fell down for fear; and set upon her the Chamberlain and twenty
+Mamelukes, saying, "Go with this crone and fetch me in haste the youth
+who is in her house." So they dragged Shawahi along, yellow with fright
+and with side-muscles quivering, till they came to her house, where she
+went in to Hasan, who rose to her and kissed her hands and saluted her.
+ She returned not his salam, but said to him, "Come; speak the Queen. 
+Did I not say to thee: 'Return presently to thine own country and I
+will give thee that to which no mortal may avail?' And did I forbid
+thee from all this?  But thou wouldst not obey me nor listen to my
+words; nay, thou rejectedst my counsel and chosest to bring destruction
+on me and on thyself. Up, then, and take that which thou hast chosen;
+for death is near hand.  Arise: speak with yonder vile harlot[FN#151]
+and tyrant that she is!" So Hasan arose, broken-spirited,
+heavy-hearted, and full of fear, and crying, "O Preserver, preserve
+Thou me! O my God, be gracious to me in that which Thou hast decreed to
+me of Thine affliction and protect me, O Thou the most Merciful of the
+Mercifuls!" Then, despairing of his life, he followed the twenty
+Mamelukes, the Chamberlain and the crone to the Queen's presence, where
+he found his two sons Nasir and Mansur sitting in her lap, whilst she
+played and made merry with them.  As soon as his eyes fell on them, he
+knew them and crying a great cry fell down a-fainting for excess of joy
+at the sight of his children.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan's eyes
+fell upon his two sons, he knew them both and crying a great cry fell
+down a-fainting.  They also knew him[FN#152] and natural affection
+moved them so that they freed themselves from the Queen's lap and fell
+upon Hasan, and Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty,) made them
+speak and say to him, "O our father!" Whereupon the old woman and all
+who were present wept for pity and tenderness over them and said,
+"Praised be Allah, who hath reunited you with your Sire!"  Presently,
+Hasan came to himself and embracing his children, wept till again he
+swooned away, and when he revived, he recited these verses,
+
+"By rights of you, this heart of mine could ne'er aby * Severance
+     from you albeit Union death imply!
+Your phantom saith to me, 'A-morrow we shall meet!' * Shall I
+     despite the foe the morrow-day espy?
+By rights of you I swear, my lords, that since the day * Of
+     severance ne'er the sweets of lips enjoyčd I!
+An Allah bade me perish for the love of you, * Mid greatest
+     martyrs for your love I lief will die.
+Oft a gazelle doth make my heart her browsing stead * The while
+     her form of flesh like sleep eludes mine eye:
+If in the lists of Law my bloodshed she deny, * Prove it two
+     witnesses those cheeks of ruddy dye."
+
+
+When Nur al-Huda was assured that the little ones were indeed Hasan's
+children and that her sister, the Princess Manar al-Sana, was his wife,
+of whom he was come in quest, she was wroth against her with wrath
+beyond measure.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixteenth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur
+al-Huda was certified that the little ones were Hasan's children and
+that her sister Manar al-Sana was his wife of whom he had come in
+quest, she raged with exceeding rage, too great to be assuaged and
+screamed in Hasan's face and reviled him and kicked him in the breast,
+so that he fell on his back in a swoon. Then she cried out at him,
+saying, "Arise! fly for thy life.  But that I swore that no evil should
+betide thee from me, should thy tale prove true, I would slay thee with
+mine own hand forthright!" And she cried out at the old woman, who fell
+on her face for fear, and said to her, "By Allah, but that I am loath
+to break the oath that I swore, I would put both thee and him to death
+after the foulest fashion!"; presently adding, "Arise, go out from
+before me in safety and return to thine own country, for I swear by my
+fortune, if ever mine eye espy thee or if any bring thee in to me after
+this, I will smite off thy head and that of whoso bringeth thee!" Then
+she cried out to her officers, saying, "Put him out from before me!" So
+they thrust him out, and when he came to himself, he recited these
+couplets,
+
+"You're far, yet to my heart you're nearest near; * Absent yet
+     present in my sprite you appear:
+By Allah, ne'er to other I've inclined * But tyranny of Time in
+     patience bear!
+Nights pass while still I love you and they end, * And burns my
+     breast with flames of fell Sa'ir;[FN#153]
+I was a youth who parting for an hour * Bore not, then what of
+     months that make a year?
+Jealous am I of breeze-breath fanning thee; * Yea jealous-mad of
+     fair soft-sided fere!"
+
+
+Then he once more fell down in a swoon, and when he came to himself, he
+found himself without the palace whither they had dragged him on his
+face; so he rose, stumbling over his skirts and hardly crediting his
+escape from Nur al-Huda.  Now this was grievous to Shawahi; but she
+dared not remonstrate with the Queen by reason of the violence of her
+wrath.  And forthright Hasan went forth, distracted and knowing not
+whence to come or whither to go; the world, for all its wideness, was
+straitened upon him and he found none to speak a kind word with him and
+comfort him, nor any to whom he might resort for counsel or to apply
+for refuge; wherefore he made sure of death for that he could not
+journey to his own country and knew none to travel with him, neither
+wist he the way thither nor might he pass through the Wady of the Jann
+and the Land of Beasts and the Islands of Birds. So giving himself up
+for lost he bewept himself, till he fainted, and when he revived, he
+bethought him of his children and his wife and of that might befal her
+with her sister, repenting him of having come to those countries and of
+having hearkened to none, and recited these couplets,
+
+"Suffer mine eye-babes weep lost of love and tears express: *
+     Rare is my solace and increases my distress:
+The cup of Severance-chances to the dregs I've drained; * Who is
+     the man to bear love-loss with manliness?
+Ye spread the Carpet of Disgrace[FN#154] betwixt us twain; * Ah,
+     when shalt be uprolled, O Carpet of Disgrace?
+I watched the while you slept; and if you deemed that I * Forgot
+     your love I but forget forgetfulness:
+Woe's me! indeed my heart is pining for the love * Of you, the
+     only leaches who can cure my case:
+See ye not what befel me from your fell disdain? * Debased am I
+     before the low and high no less.
+I hid my love of you but longing laid it bare, * And burns my
+     heart wi' fire of passion's sorest stress:
+Ah! deign have pity on my piteous case, for I * Have kept our
+     troth in secresy and patent place!
+Would Heaven I wot shall Time e'er deign us twain rejoin! * You
+     are my heart's desire, my sprite's sole happiness:
+My vitals bear the Severance-wound: would Heaven that you * With
+     tidings from your camp would deign my soul to bless!"
+
+
+Then he went on, till he came without the city, where he found the
+river, and walked along its bank, knowing not whither he went.  Such
+was Hasan's case; but as regards his wife Manar al-Sana, as she was
+about to carry out her purpose and to set out, on the second day after
+the departure of the old woman with her children, behold, there came in
+to her one of the chamberlains of the King her sire, and kissed ground
+between his hands,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventeenth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Manar
+al-Sana was about to set out upon the journey, behold, a chamberlain of
+the King, her sire, came in to her and kissing the ground before her,
+said, "O Princess, the Supreme King, thy father saluteth thee and
+biddeth thee to him." So she rose and accompanied the chamberlain to
+learn what was required by her father, who seated her by his side on
+the couch, and said to her, "O my daughter, know that I have this night
+had a dream which maketh me fear for thee and that long sorrow will
+betide thee from this thy journey." Quoth she, "How so, O my father,
+and what didst thou see in thy dream?" and quoth he, "I dreamt that I
+entered a hidden hoard, wherein was great store of monies, of jewels,
+of jacinths and of other riches; but 'twas as if naught pleased me of
+all this treasure and jewelry save seven bezels, which were the finest
+things there. I chose out one of the seven jewels, for it was the
+smallest, finest and most lustrous of them and its water pleased me; so
+I took it in my hand-palm and fared forth of the treasury.  When I came
+without the door, I opened my hand, rejoicing, and turned over the
+jewel, when, behold, there swooped down on me out of the welkin a
+strange bird from a far land (for it was not of the birds of our
+country) and, snatching it from my hand, returned with it whence it
+came.[FN#155] Whereupon sorrow and concern and sore vexation overcame
+me and my exceeding chagrin so troubled me that I awoke, mourning and
+lamenting for the loss of the jewel.  At once on awaking I summoned the
+interpreters and expounders of dreams and declared to them my
+dream,[FN#156] and they said to me: 'Thou hast seven daughters, the
+youngest of whom thou wilt lose, and she will be taken from thee
+perforce, without thy will.'  Now thou, O my girl, art the youngest and
+dearest of my daughters and the most affectionate of them to me, and
+look'ye thou art about to journey to thy sister, and I know not what
+may befal thee from her; so go thou not; but return to thy palace." But
+when the Princess heard her father's words, her heart fluttered and she
+feared for her children and bent earthwards her head awhile: then she
+raised it and said to her sire, "O King, Queen Nur al-Huda hath made
+ready for me an entertainment and awaiteth my coming to her, hour by
+hour.  These four years she hath not seen me and if I delay to visit
+her, she will be wroth with me.  The utmost of my stay with her shall
+be a month and then I will return to thee. Besides, who is the mortal
+who can travel our land and make his way to the Islands of Wak? Who can
+gain access to the White Country and the Black Mountain and come to the
+Land of Camphor and the Castle of Crystal, and how shall he traverse
+the Island of Birds and the Wady of Wild Beasts and the Valley of the
+Jann and enter our Islands?  If any stranger came hither, he would be
+drowned in the seas of destruction: so be of good cheer and eyes
+without a tear anent my journey; for none may avail to tread our
+earth." And she ceased not to persuade him, till he deigned give her
+leave to depart.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Princess
+ceased not to persuade him till he deigned give her leave to depart,
+and bade a thousand horse escort her to the river and abide there, till
+she entered her sister's city and palace and returned to them, when
+they should take her and carry her back to him.  Moreover, he charged
+her tarry with her sister but two days and return to him in haste; and
+she answered, "Hearing and obedience." Then rising up she went forth
+and he with her and farewelled her.  Now his words had sunken deep into
+her heart and she feared for her children; but it availeth not to
+fortify herself by any device against the onset of Destiny.  So she set
+out and fared on diligently three days, till she came to the river and
+pitched her tents on its bank.  Then she crossed the stream, with some
+of her counsellors, pages and suite and, going up to the city and the
+palace, went in to Queen Nur al-Huda, with whom she found her children
+who ran to her weeping and crying out, "O our father!"  At this, the
+tears railed from her eyes and she wept; then she strained them to her
+bosom, saying, "What! Have you seen your sire at this time?  Would the
+hour had never been, in which I left him!  If I knew him to be in the
+house of the world, I would carry you to him." Then she bemoaned
+herself and her husband and her children weeping and reciting these
+couplets,
+
+"My friends, despight this distance and this cruelty, * I pine
+     for you, incline to you where'er you be.
+My glance for ever turns toward your hearth and home * And mourns
+     my heart the bygone days you woned with me,
+How many a night foregathered we withouten fear * One loving,
+     other faithful ever fain and free!"
+
+
+When her sister saw her fold her children to her bosom, saying, "'Tis I
+who have done thus with myself and my children and have ruined my own
+house!" she saluted her not, but said to her, "O whore, whence haddest
+thou these children? Say, hast thou married unbeknown to thy sire or
+hast thou committed fornication?[FN#157]  An thou have played the
+piece, it behoveth thou be exemplarily punished; and if thou have
+married sans our knowledge, why didst thou abandon thy husband and
+separate thy sons from thy sire and bring them hither?"—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Nineteenth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth Nur
+al-Huda, the Queen, to her sister Manar al-Sana, the Princess, "An thou
+have married sans our knowledge, why didst thou abandon thy husband and
+separate thy sons from their sire and bring them to our land?  Thou
+hast hidden thy children from us.  Thinkest thou we know not of this? 
+Allah Almighty, He who is cognisant of the concealed, hath made known
+to us thy case and revealed thy condition and bared thy nakedness."
+Then she bade her guards seize her and pinion her elbows and shackle
+her with shackles of iron.  So they did as she commanded and she beat
+her with a grievous beating, so that her skin was torn, and hanged her
+up by the hair; after which she cast her in prison and wrote the King
+her father a writ acquainting him with her case and saying, "There hath
+appeared in our land a man, a mortal, by name Hasan, and our sister
+Manar al-Sana avoucheth that she is lawfully married to him and bare
+him two sons, whom she hath hidden from us and thee; nor did she
+discover aught of herself till there came to us this man and informed
+us that he wedded her and she tarried with him a long while; after
+which she took her children and departed, without his knowledge,
+bidding as she went his mother tell her son, whenas longing began to
+rack to come to her in the Islands of Wak.  So we laid hands on the man
+and sent the old woman Shawahi to fetch her and her offspring,
+enjoining her to bring us the children in advance of her.  And she did
+so, whilst Manar al-Sana equipped herself and set out to visit me. When
+the boys were brought to me and ere the mother came, I sent for Hasan
+the mortal who claimeth her to wife, and he on entering and at first
+sight knew them and they knew him; whereby was I certified that the
+children were indeed his children and that she was his wife and I
+learned that the man's story was true and he was not to blame, but that
+the reproach and the infamy rested with my sister.  Now I feared the
+rending of our honour-veil before the folk of our Isles; so when this
+wanton, this traitress, came in to me, I was incensed against her and
+cast her into prison and bastinado'd her grievously and hanged her up
+by the hair.  Behold, I have acquainted thee with her case and it is
+thine to command, and whatso thou orderest us that we will do. Thou
+knowest that in this affair is dishonour and disgrace to our name and
+to thine, and haply the islanders will hear of it, and we shall become
+amongst them a byword; wherefore it befitteth thou return us an answer
+with all speed." Then she delivered the letter to a courier and he
+carried it to the King, who, when he read it, was wroth with exceeding
+wrath with his daughter Manar al-Sana and wrote to Nur al-Huda, saying,
+"I commit her case to thee and give thee command over her life; so, if
+the matter be as thou sayest, kill her without consulting me." When the
+Queen had received and read her father's letter, she sent for Manar
+al-Sana and they set before her the prisoner drowned in her blood and
+pinioned with her hair, shackled with heavy iron shackles and clad in
+hair-cloth; and they made her stand in the presence abject and abashed.
+ When she saw herself in this condition of passing humiliation and
+exceeding abjection, she called to mind her former high estate and wept
+with sore weeping and recited these two couplets,
+
+"O Lord my foes are fain to slay me in despight * Nor deem I
+     anywise to find escape by flight:
+I have recourse to Thee t' annul what they have done; * Thou art
+     th' asylum, Lord, of fearful suppliant wight."
+
+
+Then wept she grievously, till she fell down in a swoon, and presently
+coming to herself, repeated these two couplets,[FN#158]
+
+"Troubles familiar with my heart are grown and I with them, *
+     Erst shunning; for the generous are sociable still.
+Not one mere kind alone of woe doth lieger with me lie; * Praised
+     be God! There are with me thousands of kinds of ill."
+
+
+And also these,
+
+"Oft times Mischance shall straiten noble breast * With grief,
+     whence issue is for Him to shape:
+But when the meshes straitest, tightest, seem * They loose,
+     though deemed I ne'er to find escape."
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twentieth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen Nur
+al-Huda ordered into the presence her sister Princess Manar al-Sana,
+they set her between her hands and she, pinioned as she was recited the
+verses aforesaid. Then the Queen[FN#159] sent for a ladder of wood and
+made the eunuchs lay her on her back, with her arms spread out and bind
+her with cords thereto; after which she bared her head and wound her
+hair about the ladder-rungs and indeed all pity for her was rooted out
+from her heart.  When Manar al-Sana saw herself in this state of
+abjection and humiliation, she cried out and wept; but none succoured
+her. Then said she to the Queen, "O my sister, how is thy heart
+hardened against me? Hast thou no mercy on me nor pity on these little
+children?" But her words only hardened her sister's heart and she
+insulted her, saying, "O Wanton! O harlot!  Allah have no ruth on whoso
+sueth for thee!  How should I have compassion on thee, O traitress?"
+Replied Manar al-Sana who lay stretched on the ladder, "I appeal from
+thee to the Lord of the Heavens, concerning that wherewith thou
+revilest me and whereof I am innocent! By Allah, I have done no
+whoredom, but am lawfully married to him, and my Lord knoweth an I
+speak sooth or not! Indeed, my heart is wroth with thee, by reason of
+thine excessive hardheartedness against me!  How canst thou cast at me
+the charge of harlotry, without knowledge?  But my Lord will deliver me
+from thee and if that whoredom whereof thou accusest me be true, may He
+presently punish me for it!" Quoth Nur al-Huda after a few moments of
+reflection "How durst thou bespeak me thus?" and rose and beat her till
+she fainted away;[FN#160] whereupon they sprinkled water on her face
+till she revived; and in truth her charms were wasted for excess of
+beating and the straitness of her bonds and the sore insults she had
+suffered.  Then she recited these two couplets,
+
+"If aught I've sinned in sinful way, * Or done ill deed and gone
+     astray,
+The past repent I and I come * To you and for your pardon pray!"
+
+
+When Nur al-Huda heard these lines, her wrath redoubled and she said to
+her, "Wilt speak before me in verse, O whore, and seek to excuse
+thyself for the mortal sins thou hast sinned?  'Twas my desire that
+thou shouldst return to thy husband, that I might witness thy
+wickedness and matchless brazenfacedness; for thou gloriest in thy
+lewdness and wantonness and mortal heinousness." Then she called for a
+palm-stick and, whenas they brought the Jaríd, she arose and baring
+arms to elbows, beat her sister from head to foot; after which she
+called for a whip of plaited thongs, wherewith if one smote an
+elephant, he would start off at full speed, and came down therewith on
+her back and her stomach and every part of her body, till she fainted. 
+When the old woman Shawahi saw this, she fled forth from the Queen's
+presence, weeping and cursing her; but Nur al-Huda cried out to her
+eunuchs, saying, "Fetch her to me!" So they ran after her and seizing
+her, brought her back to the Queen, who bade throw her on the ground
+and making them lay hold of her, rose and took the whip, with which she
+beat her, till she swooned away, when she said to her waiting-women,
+"Drag this ill-omened beldam forth on her face and put her out." And
+they did as she bade them.  So far concerning them; but as regards
+Hasan, he walked on beside the river, in the direction of the desert,
+distracted, troubled, and despairing of life; and indeed he was dazed
+and knew not night from day for stress of affliction.  He ceased not
+faring  on thus, till he came to a tree whereto he saw a scroll
+hanging:  so he took it and found written thereon these couplets,
+
+"When in thy mother's womb thou wast, * I cast thy case the
+     bestest best;
+And turned her heart to thee, so she * Fosterčd thee on fondest
+     breast.
+We will suffice thee in whate'er * Shall cause thee trouble or
+     unrest;
+We'll aid thee in thine enterprise * So rise and bow to our
+     behest."
+
+
+When he had ended reading this scroll, he made sure of deliverance from
+trouble and of winning reunion with those he loved.  Then he walked
+forward a few steps and found himself alone in a wild and perilous wold
+wherein there was none to company with him; upon which his heart sank
+within him for horror and loneliness and his side-muscles trembled, for
+that fearsome place, and he recited these couplets,
+
+"O Zephyr of Morn, an thou pass where the dear ones dwell, * Bear
+     greeting of lover who ever in love-longing wones!
+And tell them I'm pledged to yearning and pawned to pine * And
+     the might of my passion all passion of lovers unthrones.
+Their sympathies haply shall breathe in a Breeze like thee * And
+     quicken forthright this framework of rotting bones."[FN#161]
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-first Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan
+read the scroll he was certified of deliverance from his trouble and
+made sure of winning reunion with those he loved. Then he walked
+forward a couple of steps and stopped finding himself alone in a wild
+and perilous wold wherein was none to company with him, so he wept sore
+and recited the verses before mentioned. Then he walked on a few steps
+farther beside the river, till he came upon two little boys of the sons
+of the sorcerers, before whom lay a rod of copper graven with
+talismans, and beside it a skull-cap[FN#162] of leather, made of three
+gores and wroughten in steel with names and characts.  The cap and rod
+were upon the ground and the boys were disputing and beating each
+other, till the blood ran down between them; whilst each cried, "None
+shall take the wand but I."  So Hasan interposed and parted them,
+saying, "What is the cause of your contention?" and they replied, "O
+uncle, be thou judge of our case, for Allah the Most High hath surely
+sent thee to do justice between us." Quoth Hasan, "Tell me your case,
+and I will judge between you;"  and quoth one of them, "We twain are
+brothers-german and our sire was a mighty magician, who dwelt in a cave
+on yonder mountain. He died and left us this cap and rod; and my
+brother saith, 'None shall have the rod but I,' whilst I say the like;
+so be thou judge between us and deliver us each from other." Hasan
+asked, "What is the difference between the rod and the cap and what is
+their value?  The rod appears to be worth six coppers[FN#163] and the
+cap three;" whereto they answered, "Thou knowest not their properties."
+"And what are their properties?" "Each of them hath a wonderful secret
+virtue, wherefore the rod is worth the revenue of all the Islands of
+Wak and their provinces and dependencies, and the cap the like!" "By
+Allah, O my sons, discover to me their secret virtues." So they said,
+"O uncle, they are extraordinary; for our father wrought an hundred and
+thirty and five years at their contrivance, till he brought them to
+perfection and ingrafted them with secret attributes which might serve
+him extraordinary services and engraved them after the likeness of the
+revolving sphere, and by their aid he dissolved all spells; and when he
+had made an end of their fashion, Death, which all needs must suffer,
+overtook him.  Now the hidden virtue of the cap is, that whoso setteth
+it on his head is concealed from all folks' eyes, nor can any see him,
+whilst it remaineth on his head; and that of the rod is that whoso
+owneth it hath authority over seven tribes of the Jinn, who all serve
+the order and ordinance of the rod; and whenever he who possesseth it
+smiteth therewith on the ground, their Kings come to do him homage, and
+all the Jinn are at his service." Now when Hasan heard these words, he
+bowed his head groundwards awhile, then said in himself, "By Allah, I
+shall conquer every foe by means of this rod and cap, Inshallah! and I
+am worthier of them both than these two boys.  So I will go about
+forthright to get them from the twain by craft, that I may use them to
+free myself and my wife and children from yonder tyrannical Queen, and
+then we will depart from this dismal stead, whence there is no
+deliverance for mortal man nor flight.  Doubtless, Allah caused me not
+to fall in with these two lads, but that I might get the rod and cap
+from them." Then he raised his head and said to the two boys, "If ye
+would have me decide the case, I will make trial of you and see what
+each of you deserveth. He who overcometh his brother shall have the rod
+and he who faileth shall have the cap." They replied, "O uncle, we
+depute thee to make trial of us and do thou decide between us as thou
+deems fit."  Hasan asked, "Will ye hearken to me and have regard to my
+words?"; and they answered, "Yes." Then said he, "I will take a stone
+and throw it and he who outrunneth his brother thereto and picketh it
+up shall take the rod, and the other who is outraced shall take the
+cap." And they said, "We accept and consent to this thy proposal." Then
+Hasan took a stone and threw it with his might, so that it disappeared
+from sight. The two boys ran under and after it and when they were at a
+distance, he donned the cap and hending the rod in hand, removed from
+his place that he might prove the truth of that which the boys had
+said, with regard to their scant properties.  The younger outran the
+elder and coming first to the stone, took it and returned with it to
+the place where they had left Hasan, but found no signs of him.  So he
+called to his brother, saying, "Where is the man who was to be umpire
+between us?" Quoth the other, "I espy him not neither wot I whether he
+hath flown up to heaven above or sunk into earth beneath." Then they
+sought for him, but saw him not, though all the while he was standing
+in his stead hard by them.  So they abused each other, saying, "Rod and
+Cap are both gone; they are neither mine nor thine: and indeed our
+father warned us of this very thing; but we forgot whatso he said."
+Then they retraced their steps and Hasan also entered the city, wearing
+the cap and bearing the rod; and none saw him. Now when he was thus
+certified of the truth of their speech, he rejoiced with exceeding joy
+and making the palace, went up into the lodging of Shawahi, who saw him
+not, because of the cap.  Then he walked up to a shelf[FN#164] over her
+head upon which were vessels of glass and chinaware, and shook it with
+his hand, so that what was thereon fell to the ground.  The old woman
+cried out and beat her face; then she rose and restored the fallen
+things to their places,[FN#165] saying in herself, "By Allah, methinks
+Queen Nur al-Huda hath sent a Satan to torment me, and he hath tricked
+me this trick!  I beg Allah Almighty deliver me from her and preserve
+me from her wrath, for, O Lord, if she deal thus abominably with her
+half-sister, beating and hanging her, dear as she is to her sire, how
+will she do with a stranger like myself, against whom she is
+incensed?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the ancient Lady
+of Calamities cried, "When Queen Nur al-Huda doeth such misdeed to her
+sister, what will she do to a stranger like myself, against whom she is
+incensed?" Then said she, "I conjure thee, O devil, by the Most
+Compassionate, the Bountiful-great, the High of Estate, of Dominion
+Elate who man and Jinn did create, and by the writing upon the seal of
+Solomon David-son (on both be the Peace!) speak to me and answer me;"
+Quoth Hasan, "I am no devil; I am Hasan, the afflicted, the
+distraught." Then he raised the cap from his head and appeared to the
+old woman, who knew him and taking him apart, said to him, "What is
+come to thy reason, that thou returnest hither?  Go hide thee; for, if
+this wicked woman have tormented thy wife with such torments, and she
+her sister, what will she do, an she light on thee?" Then she told him
+all that had befallen his spouse and that wherein she was of travail
+and torment and tribulation, and straitly described all the pains she
+endured adding, "And indeed the Queen repenteth her of having let thee
+go and hath sent one after thee, promising him an hundred-weight of
+gold and my rank in her service; and she hath sworn that, if he bring
+thee back, she will do thee and thy wife and children dead." And she
+shed tears and discovered to Hasan what the Queen had done with
+herself, whereat he wept and said, "O my lady, how shall I do to escape
+from this land and deliver myself and my wife and children from this
+tyrannical Queen and how devise to return with them in safety to my own
+country?" Replied the old woman, "Woe to thee!  Save thyself." Quoth
+he, "There is no help but I deliver her and my children from the Queen
+perforce and in her despite;" and quoth Shawahi, "How canst thou
+forcibly rescue them from her?  Go and hide thyself, O my son, till
+Allah Almighty empower thee." Then Hasan showed her the rod and the
+cap, whereat she rejoiced with joy exceeding and cried, "Glory be to
+Him who quickeneth the bones, though they be rotten!  By Allah, O my
+son, thou and thy wife were but of lost folk; now, however, thou art
+saved, thou and thy wife and children!  For I know the rod and I know
+its maker, who was my Shaykh in the science of Gramarye.  He was a
+mighty magician and spent an hundred and thirty and five years working
+at this rod and cap, till he brought them to perfection, when Death the
+Inevitable overtook him. And I have heard him say to his two boys, 'O
+my sons, these two things are not of your lot, for there will come a
+stranger from a far country, who will take them from you by force, and
+ye shall not know how he taketh them.' Said they, 'O our father, tell
+us how he will avail to take them.'  But he answered, 'I wot not.' And
+O my son," added she, "how availedst thou to take them?" So he told her
+how he had taken them from the two boys, whereat she rejoiced and said,
+"O my son, since thou hast gotten the whereby to free thy wife and
+children, give ear to what I shall say to thee.  For me there is no
+woning with this wicked woman, after the foul fashion in which she
+durst use me; so I am minded to depart from her to the caves of the
+Magicians and there abide with them until I die.  But do thou, O my
+son, don the cap and hend the rod in hand and enter the place where thy
+wife and children are.  Unbind her bonds and smite the earth with the
+rod saying, 'Be ye present, O servants of these names!' whereupon the
+servants of the rod will appear; and if there present himself one of
+the Chiefs of the Tribes, command him whatso thou shalt wish and will."
+So he farewelled her and went forth, donning the cap and hending the
+rod, and entered the place where his wife was. He found her well-nigh
+lifeless, bound to the ladder by her hair, tearful-eyed and
+woeful-hearted, in the sorriest of plights, knowing no way to deliver
+herself.  Her children were playing under the ladder, whilst she looked
+at them and wept for them and herself, because of the barbarities and
+sore treatings and bitter penalties which had befallen her; and he
+heard her repeat these couplets[FN#166],
+
+"There remaineth not aught save a fluttering breath and an eye
+     whose owner is confounded.
+And a desirous lover whose bowels are burned with fire
+     notwithstanding which she is silent.
+The exulting foe pitieth her at the sight of her.  Alas for her
+     whom the exulting foe pitieth!"
+
+
+When Hasan saw her in this state of torment and misery and ignominy and
+infamy, he wept till he fainted; and when he recovered he saw his
+children playing and their mother aswoon for excess of pain; so he took
+the cap from his head and the children saw him and cried out, "O our
+father!" Then he covered his head again and the Princess came to
+herself, hearing their cry, but saw only her children weeping and
+shrieking, "O our father!" When she heard them name their sire and
+weep, her heart was broken and her vitals rent asunder and she said to
+them, "What maketh you in mind of your father at this time?" And she
+wept sore and cried out, from a bursten liver and an aching bosom,
+"Where are ye and where is your father?" Then she recalled the days of
+her union with Hasan and what had befallen her since her desertion of
+him and wept with sore weeping till her cheeks were seared and furrowed
+and her face was drowned in a briny flood.  Her tears ran down and
+wetted the ground and she had not a hand loose to wipe them from her
+cheeks, whilst the flies fed their fill on her skin, and she found no
+helper but weeping and no solace but improvising verses. Then she
+repeated these couplets,
+
+"I call to mind the parting-day that rent our loves in twain,
+     When, as I turned away, the tears in very streams did rain.
+The cameleer urged on his beasts with them, what while I found
+     Nor strength nor fortitude, nor did my heart with me remain.
+Yea, back I turned, unknowing of the road nor might shake off The
+     trance of grief and longing love that numbed my heart and
+     brain;
+And worst of all betided me, on my return, was one Who came to
+     me, in lowly guise, to glory in my pain.
+Since the belovčd's gone, O soul, forswear the sweet of life Nor
+     covet its continuance, for, wanting him, 'twere vain.
+List, O my friend, unto the tale of love, and God forbid That I
+     should speak and that thy heart to hearken should not deign!
+As 'twere El Asmaď himself, of passion I discourse Fancies rare
+     and marvellous, linked in an endless chain."[FN#167]
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-third Night,
+
+She continued, When Hasan went in to his wife he saw his children and
+heard her repeating the verses afore mentioned.[FN#168] Then she turned
+right and left, seeking the cause of her children's crying out, "O our
+father!" but saw no one and marvelled that her sons should name their
+sire at that time and call upon him.  But when Hasan heard her verses,
+he wept till he swooned away and the tears railed down his cheeks like
+rain.  Then he drew near the children and raised the cap from his head
+unseen of his wife, whereupon they saw him and they knew him and cried
+out, saying, "O our father!" Their mother fell a-weeping again, when
+she heard them name their sire's name and said, "There is no avoiding
+the doom which Almighty Allah hath decreed!" adding, "O Strange! What
+garreth them think of their father at this time and call upon him,
+albeit it is not of their wont?" Then she wept and recited these
+couplets,
+
+"The land of lamping moon is bare and drear; * O eyne of me pour
+     forth the brimming tear!
+They marched: how shall I now be patient? * That I nor heart nor
+     patience own I swear!
+O ye, who marched yet bide in heart of me, * Will you, O lords of
+     me, return to that we were?
+What harm if they return and I enjoy * Meeting, and they had ruth
+     on tears of care?
+Upon the parting-day they dimmed these eyne, * For sad surprise,
+     and lit the flames that flare.
+Sore longed I for their stay, but Fortune stayed * Longings and
+     turned my hope to mere despair.
+Return to us (O love!) by Allah, deign! * Enow of tears have
+     flowed for absence-bane."
+
+
+Then Hasan could no longer contain himself, but took the cap from his
+head; whereupon his wife saw him and recognising him screamed a scream
+which startled all in the palace, and said to him, "How camest thou
+hither?  From the sky hast thou dropped or through the earth hast thou
+come up?" And her eyes brimmed with tears and Hasan also wept.  Quoth
+she, "O man, this be no time for tears or blame.  Fate hath had its
+course and the sight was blinded and the Pen hath run with what was
+ordained of Allah when Time was begun: so, Allah upon thee,
+whencesoever thou comest, go hide, lest any espy thee and tell my
+sister and she do thee and me die!" Answered he, "O my lady and lady of
+all Queens, I have adventured myself and come hither, and either I will
+die or I will deliver thee from this strait and travel with thee and my
+children to my country, despite the nose of this thy wickedest sister."
+ But as she heard his words she smiled and for awhile fell to shaking
+her head and said, "Far, O my life, far is it from the power of any
+except Allah Almighty to deliver me from this my strait! Save thyself
+by flight and wend thy ways and cast not thyself into destruction; for
+she hath conquering hosts none may withstand.  Given that thou tookest
+me and wentest forth, how canst thou make thy country and escape from
+these islands and the perils of these awesome places?  Verily, thou
+hast seen on thy way hither, the wonders, the marvels, the dangers and
+the terrors of the road, such as none may escape, not even one of the
+rebel Jinns. Depart, therefore, forthright and add not cark to my cark
+and care to my care, neither do thou pretend to rescue me from this my
+plight; for who shall carry me to thy country through all these vales
+and thirsty wolds and fatal steads?" Rejoined Hasan, "By thy life, O
+light of mine eyes, I will not depart this place nor fare but with
+thee!" Quoth she, "O man!  How canst thou avail unto this thing and
+what manner of man art thou?  Thou knowest not what thou sayest!  None
+can escape from these realms, even had he command over Jinns, Ifrits,
+magicians, chiefs of tribes and Marids.  Save thyself and leave me;
+perchance Allah will bring about good after ill." Answered Hasan, "O
+lady of fair ones, I came not save to deliver thee with this rod and
+with this cap." And he told her what had befallen him with the two
+boys; but, whilst he was speaking, behold, up came the Queen and heard
+their speech.  Now when he was ware of her, he donned the cap and was
+hidden from sight, and she entered and said to the Princess, "O wanton,
+who is he with whom thou wast talking?" Answered Manar al-Sanar, "Who
+is with me that should talk with me, except these children?" Then the
+Quee took the whip and beat her, whilst Hasan stood by and looked on,
+nor did she leave beating her till she fainted; whereupon she bade
+transport her to another place.  So they loosed her and carried her to
+another chamber whilst Hasan followed unseen.  There they cast her
+down, senseless, and stood gazing upon her, till she revived and
+recited these couplets,[FN#169]
+
+"I have sorrowed on account of our disunion with a sorrow that
+     made the tears to overflow from my eyelids;
+And I vowed that if Fortune reunite us, I would never again
+     mention our separation;
+And I would say to the envious, Die ye with regret; By Allah I
+     have now attained my desire!
+Joy hath overwhelmed me to such a degree that by its excess it
+     hath made me weep.
+O eye, how hath weeping become thy habit?  Thou weepest in joy as
+     well, as in sorrows."
+
+
+When she ceased her verse the slave-girls went out from her and Hasan
+took off the cap; whereupon his wife said to him, "See, O man, all this
+befel me not save by reason of my having rebelled against thee and
+transgressed thy commandment and gone forth without thy leave.[FN#170]
+So, Allah upon thee blame me not for my sins and know that women never
+wot a man's worth till they have lost him.  Indeed, I have offended and
+done evil; but I crave pardon of Allah Almighty for whatso I did, and
+if He reunite us, I will never again gainsay thee in aught, no,
+never!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan's wife
+besought pardon of him saying, "Blame me not for my sin; and indeed I
+crave mercy of Allah Almighty." Quoth Hasan (and indeed his heart ached
+for her), "'Twas not thou that wast in fault; nay, the fault was mine
+and mine only, for I fared forth and left thee with one who knew not
+thy rank, neither thy worth nor thy degree.  But know, O beloved of my
+heart and fruit of my vitals and light of mine eyes, that Allah
+(blessed be He!) hath ordained to me power of releasing thee; so, say
+me, wouldst thou have me carry thee to thy father's home, there to
+accomplish what Allah decreeth unto thee, or wilt thou forthright
+depart with me to mine own country, now that relief is come to thee?"
+Quoth she, "Who can deliver me save the Lord of the Heavens? Go to thy
+mother-land and put away from thee false hope; for thou knowest not the
+perils of these parts which, an thou obey me not, soon shalt thou
+sight." And she improvised these couplets,
+
+"On me and with me bides thy volunty; * Why then such anger such
+     despite to me?
+Whate'er befel us Heaven forbid that love * Fade for long time or
+     e'er forgotten be!
+Ceased not the spy to haunt our sides, till seen * Our love
+     estranged and then estranged was he:
+In truth I trusted to fair thoughts of thine * Though spake the
+     wicked spy maliciously.
+We'll keep the secret 'twixt us twain and hold * Although the
+     brand of blame unsheathed we see.
+The livelong day in longing love I spend * Hoping acceptance-
+     message from my friend."
+
+
+Then wept she and her children, and the handmaidens heard them: so they
+came in to them and found them weeping, but saw not Hasan with them;
+wherefore they wept for ruth of them and damned Queen Nur al-Huda. 
+Then Hasan took patience till night came on and her guards had gone to
+their sleeping-places, when he arose and girded his waist; then went up
+to her and, loosing her kissed her on the head and between the eyes and
+pressed her to his bosom, saying, "How long have we wearied for our
+mother-land and for reunion there!  Is this our meeting in sleep, or on
+wake?" Then he took up the elder boy and she took up the younger and
+they went forth the palace; and Allah veiled them with the veil of His
+protection, so that they came safe to the outer gate which closed the
+entrance to the Queen's Serraglio. But finding it locked from without,
+Hasan said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah,
+the Glorious, the Great!  Verily we are Allah's and unto Him shall we
+return!" With this they despaired of escape and Hasan beat hand upon
+hand, saying, "O Dispeller of dolours!  Indeed, I had bethought me of
+every thing and considered its conclusion but this; and now, when it is
+daybreak, they will take us, and what device have we in this case?" And
+he recited the following two couplets,[FN#171]
+
+"Thou madest fair thy thought of Fate, whenas the days were fair,
+     And fearedst not the unknown ills that they to thee might
+     bring.
+The nights were fair and calm to thee; thou wast deceived by
+     them, For in the peace of night is born full many a
+     troublous thing."
+
+
+Then Hasan wept and his wife wept for his weeping and for the abasement
+she had suffered and the cruelties of Time and Fortune,
+
+"Baulks me my Fate as tho' she were my foe; * Each day she
+     showeth me new cark and care:
+Fate, when I aim at good, brings clear reverse, * And lets foul
+     morrow wait on day that's fair."
+
+
+And also these,
+
+"Irks me my Fate and clean unknows that I * Of my high worth her
+     shifts and shafts despise.
+She nights parading what ill-will she works: * I night parading
+     Patience to her eyes."
+
+
+Then his wife said to him, "By Allah, there is no relief for us but to
+kill ourselves and be at rest from this great and weary travail; else
+we shall suffer grievous torment on the morrow." At this moment,
+behold, they heard a voice from without the door say, "By Allah, O my
+lady Manar al-Sana, I will not open to thee and thy husband Hasan,
+except ye obey me in whatso I shall say to you!" When they heard these
+words they were silent for excess of fright and would have returned
+whence they came; when lo! the voice spake again saying, "What aileth
+you both to be silent and answer me not?"  Therewith they knew the
+speaker for the old woman Shawahi, Lady of Calamities, and said to her,
+"Whatsoever thou biddest us, that will we do; but first open the door
+to us; this being no time for talk." Replied she, "By Allah, I will not
+open to you until ye both swear to me that you will take me with you
+and not leave me with yonder whore: so, whatever befalleth you shall
+befal me and if ye escape, I shall escape, and if ye perish, I shall
+perish: for yonder abominable woman, tribade[FN#172] that she is!
+entreateth me with indignity and still tormenteth me on your account;
+and thou, O my daughter, knowest my worth." Now recognising her they
+trusted in her and sware to her an oath such as contented her,
+whereupon she opened the door to them and they fared forth and found
+her riding on a Greek jar of red earthenware with a rope of palm-fibres
+about its neck,[FN#173] which rolled under her and ran faster than a
+Najdi colt, and she came up to them, and said, "Follow me and fear
+naught, for I know forty modes of magic by the least of which I could
+make this city a dashing sea, swollen with clashing billows, and
+ensorcel each damsel therein to a fish, and all before dawn.  But I was
+not able to work aught of my mischief, for fear of the King her father
+and of regard to her sisters, for that they are formidable, by reason
+of their many guards and tribesmen and servants.  However, soon will I
+show you wonders of my skill in witchcraft; and now let us on, relying
+upon the blessing of Allah and His good aid." Now Hasan and his wife
+rejoiced in this, making sure of escape, —And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan and
+his wife, accompanied by the ancient dame Shawahi, fared forth from the
+palace, they made sure of deliverance and they walked on till they came
+without the city, when he fortified his heart and, smiting the earth
+with the rod, cried, "Ho, ye servants of these names, appear to me and
+acquaint me with your conditions!" Thereupon the earth clave asunder
+and out came ten[FN#174] Ifrits, with their feet in the bowels of the
+earth and their heads in the clouds.  They kissed the earth three times
+before Hasan and said as with one voice, "Adsumus! Here are we at thy
+service, O our lord and ruler over us! What dost thou bid us do? For we
+hear and obey thy commandment.  An thou wilt, we will dry thee up seas
+and remove mountains from their places." So Hasan rejoiced in their
+words and at their speedy answer to his evocation; then taking courage
+and bracing up his resolution, he said to them, "Who are ye and what be
+your names and your races, and to what tribes and clans and companies
+appertain ye?" They kissed the earth once more and answered as with one
+voice, saying, "We are seven Kings, each ruling over seven tribes of
+the Jinn of all conditions, and Satans and Marids, flyers and divers,
+dwellers in mountains and wastes and wolds and haunters of the seas: so
+bid us do whatso thou wilt; for we are thy servants and thy slaves, and
+whoso possesseth this rod hath dominion over all our necks and we owe
+him obedience."  Now when Hasan heard this, he rejoiced with joy
+exceeding, as did his wife and the old woman, and presently he said to
+the Kings of the Jinn, "I desire of you that ye show me your tribes and
+hosts and guards." "O our lord," answered they, "if we show thee our
+tribes, we fear for thee and these who are with thee, for their name is
+legion and they are various in form and fashion, figure and favour. 
+Some of us are heads sans bodies and others bodies sans heads, and
+others again are in the likeness of wild beasts and ravening lions.
+However, if this be thy will, there is no help but we first show thee
+those of us who are like unto wild beasts.  But, O our lord, what
+wouldst thou of us at this present?"  Quoth Hasan, "I would have you
+carry me forthwith to the city of Baghdad, me and my wife and this
+honest woman." But, hearing his words they hung down their heads and
+were silent, whereupon Hasan asked them, "Why do ye not reply?" And
+they answered as with one voice, "O our lord and ruler over us, we are
+of the covenant of Solomon son of David (on the twain be Peace!) and he
+sware us in that we would bear none of the sons of Adam on our backs;
+since which time we have borne no mortal on back or shoulder: but we
+will straightway harness thee horses of the Jinn, that shall carry thee
+and thy company to thy country." Hasan enquired, "How far are we from
+Baghdad?" and they, "Seven years' journey for a diligent horseman."
+Hasan marvelled at this and said to them, "Then how came I hither in
+less than a year?"; and they said, "Allah softened to thee the hearts
+of His pious servants else hadst thou never come to this country nor
+hadst thou set eyes on these regions; no, never!  For the Shaykh Abd
+al-Kaddus, who mounted thee on the elephant and the magical horse,
+traversed with thee, in ten days, three years' journey for a well-girt
+rider, and the Ifrit Dahnash, to whom the Shaykh committed thee,
+carried thee a three years' march in a day and a night; all which was
+of the blessing of Allah Almighty, for that the Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh
+is of the seed of Ásaf bin Barkhiyá[FN#175] and knoweth the Most Great
+name of Allah.[FN#176]  Moreover, from Baghdad to the palace of the
+damsels is a year's journey, and this maketh up the seven years." When
+Hasan heard this, he marvelled with exceeding marvel and cried, "Glory
+be to God, Facilitator of the hard, Fortifier of the weak heart,
+Approximator of the far and Humbler of every froward tyrant, Who hath
+eased us of every accident and carried me to these countries and
+subjected to me these creatures and reunited me with my wife and
+children!  I know not whether I am asleep or awake or if I be sober or
+drunken!" Then he turned to the Jinn and asked, "When ye have mounted
+me upon your steeds, in how many days will they bring us to Baghdad?";
+and they answered, "They will carry you thither under the year, but not
+till after ye have endured terrible perils and hardships and horrors
+and ye have traversed thirsty Wadys and frightful wastes and horrible
+steads without number; and we cannot promise thee safety, O our lord,
+from the people of these islands,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Jann said to
+Hasan, "We cannot promise thee safety, O our lord, from this Islandry,
+nor from the mischief of the Supreme King and his enchanters and
+warlocks.  It may be they will overcome us and take you from us and we
+fall into affliction with them, and all to whom the tidings shall come
+after this will say to us: 'Ye are wrong-doers!  How could ye go
+against the Supreme King and carry a mortal out of his dominions, and
+eke the King's daughter with him?' adding, 'Wert thou alone with us the
+thing were light; but He who conveyed thee hither is capable to carry
+thee back to thy country and reunite thee with thine own people
+forthright and in readiest plight.  So take heart and put thy trust in
+Allah and fear not; for we are at thy service, to convey thee to thy
+country." Hasan thanked them therefor and said, "Allah requite you with
+good! but now make haste with the horses;" they replied, "We hear and
+we obey," and struck the ground with their feet, whereupon it opened
+and they disappeared within it and were absent awhile, after which they
+suddenly reappeared with three horses, saddled and bridled, and on each
+saddle-bow a pair of saddle-bags, with a leathern bottle of water in
+one pocket and the other full of provaunt.  So Hasan mounted one steed
+and took a child before him, whilst his wife mounted a second and took
+the other child before her.  Then the old woman alighted from the jar
+and bestrode the third horse and they rode on, without ceasing, all
+night.  At break of day, they turned aside from the road and made for
+the mountain, whilst their tongues ceased not to name Allah. Then they
+fared on under the highland all that day, till Hasan caught sight of a
+black object afar as it were a tall column of smoke a-twisting
+skywards; so he recited somewhat of the Koran and Holy Writ, and sought
+refuge with Allah from Satan the Stoned. The black thing grew plainer
+as they drew near, and when hard by it, they saw that it was an Ifrit,
+with a head like a huge dome and tusks like grapnels and jaws like a
+lane and nostrils like ewers and ears like leathern targes and mouth
+like a cave and teeth like pillars of stone and hands like winnowing
+forks and legs like masts: his head was in the cloud and his feet in
+the bowels of the earth had plowed.  Whenas Hasan gazed upon him he
+bowed himself and kissed the ground before him, saying, "O Hasan, have
+no fear of me; for I am the chief of the dwellers in this land, which
+is the first of the Isles of Wak, and I am a Moslem and an adorer of
+the One God.  I have heard of you and your coming and when I knew of
+your case, I desired to depart from the land of the magicians to
+another land, void of inhabitants and far from men and Jinn, that I
+might dwell there alone and worship Allah till my fated end came upon
+me.  So I wish to accompany you and be your guide, till ye fare forth
+of the Wak Islands; and I will not appear save at night; and do ye
+hearten your hearts on my account; for I am a Moslem, even as ye are
+Moslems." When Hasan heard the Ifrit's words, he rejoiced with
+exceeding joy and made sure of deliverance; and he said to him, "Allah
+requite thee weal!  Go with us relying upon the blessing of Allah!" So
+the Ifrit forewent them and they followed, talking and making merry,
+for their hearts were pleased and their breasts were eased and Hasan
+fell to telling his wife all that had befallen him and all the
+hardships he had undergone, whilst she excused herself to him and told
+him, in turn, all she had seen and suffered. They ceased not faring all
+that night.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they ceased not
+faring all that night and the horses bore them like the blinding leven,
+and when the day rose all put their hands to the saddle-bags and took
+forth provaunt which they ate and water which they drank.  Then they
+sped diligently on their way, preceded by the Ifrit, who turned aside
+with them from the beaten track into another road, till then untrodden,
+along the sea-shore, and they ceased not faring on, without stopping,
+across Wadys and wolds a whole month, till on the thirty-first day
+there arose before them a dust-cloud, that walled the world and
+darkened the day; and when Hasan saw this, he was confused and turned
+pale; and more so when a frightful crying and clamour struck their
+ears.  Thereupon the old woman said to him, "O my son, this is the army
+of the Wak Islands, that hath overtaken us; and presently they will lay
+violent hands on us." Hasan asked, "What shall I do, O my mother?"; and
+she answered, "Strike the earth with the rod." He did so whereupon the
+Seven Kings presented themselves and saluted him with the salam,
+kissing ground before him and saying, "Fear not neither grieve." Hasan
+rejoiced at these words and answered them, saying, "Well said, O
+Princes of the Jinn and the Ifrits!  This is your time!" Quoth they,
+"Get ye up to the mountain-top, thou and thy wife and children and she
+who is with thee and leave us to deal with them, for we know that you
+all are in the right and they in the wrong and Allah will aid us
+against them."  So Hasan and his wife and children and the old woman
+dismounted and dismissing the horses, ascended the flank of the
+mountain.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan with
+his wife, his children and the ancient dame ascended the mountain-flank
+after they had dismissed the coursers.  Presently, up came Queen Nur
+al-Huda, with the troops right and left, and the captains went round
+about among the host and ranged them rank by rank in battle array. 
+Then the hosts charged down upon each other and clashed together the
+twain with a mighty strain, the brave pressed on amain and the coward
+to fly was fain and the Jinn cast flames of fire from their mouths,
+whilst the smoke of them rose up to the confines of the sky and the two
+armies appeared and disappeared.  The champions fought and heads flew
+from trunks and the blood ran in rills; nor did brand leave to play and
+blood to flow and battle fire to flow, till the murk o' night came,
+when the two hosts drew apart and, alighting from their steeds rested
+upon the field by the fires they had kindled. Therewith the Seven Kings
+went up to Hasan and kissed the earth before him.  He pressed forwards
+to meet them and thanked them and prayed Allah to give them the victory
+and asked them how they had fared with the Queen's troops.  Quoth they,
+"They will not withstand us more than three days, for we had the better
+of them to-day, taking some two thousand of them prisoners and slaying
+of them much folk whose compt may not be told.  So be of good cheer and
+broad of breast." Then they farewelled him and went down to look after
+the safety of their troops; and they ceased not to keep up the fires
+till the morning rose with its sheen and shone, when the fighting-men
+mounted their horses of noble strain and smote one another with
+thin-edged skean and with brawn of bill they thrust amain nor did they
+cease that day battle to darraign. Moreover, they passed the night on
+horseback clashing together like dashing seas; raged among them the
+fires of war and they stinted not from battle and jar, till the armies
+of Wak were defeated and their power broken and their courage quelled;
+their feet slipped and whither they fled soever defeat was before them;
+wherefore they turned tail and of flight began to avail: but the most
+part of them were slain and their Queen and her chief officers and the
+grandees of her realm were captive ta'en.  When the morning morrowed,
+the Seven Kings presented themselves before Hasan and set for him a
+throne of alabaster inlaid with pearls and jewels, and he sat down
+thereon.  They also set thereby a throne of ivory, plated with
+glittering gold, for the Princess Manar al-Sana and another for the
+ancient dame Shawahi Zat al-Dawahi.  Then they brought before them the
+prisoners and among the rest, Queen Nur al-Huda with elbows pinioned
+and feet fettered, whom when Shawahi saw, she said to her, "Thy
+recompense, O harlot, O tyrant, shall be that two bitches be starved
+and two mares stinted of water, till they be athirst: then shalt thou
+be bound to the mares' tails and these driven to the river, with the
+bitches following thee that they may rend thy skin; and after, thy
+flesh shall be cut off and given them to eat.  How couldst thou do with
+thy sister such deed, O strumpet, seeing that she was lawfully married,
+after the ordinance of Allah and of His Apostle? For there is no
+monkery in Al-Islam and marriage is one of the institutions of the
+Apostles (on whom be the Peace!)[FN#177] nor were women created but for
+men." Then Hasan commanded to put all the captives to the sword and the
+old woman cried out, saying, "Slay them all and spare none[FN#178]!"
+But, when Princess Manar al-Sana saw her sister in this plight, a
+bondswoman and in fetters, she wept over her and said, "O my sister,
+who is this hath conquered us and made us captives in our own country?"
+Quoth Nur al-Huda, "Verily, this is a mighty matter.  Indeed this man
+Hasan hath gotten the mastery over us and Allah hath given him dominion
+over us and over all our realm and he hath overcome us, us and the
+Kings of the Jinn." And quoth her sister, "Indeed, Allah aided him not
+against you nor did he overcome you nor capture you save by means of
+this cap and rod." So Nur al-Huda was certified and assured that he had
+conquered her by means thereof and humbled herself to her sister, till
+she was moved to ruth for her and said to her husband, "What wilt thou
+do with my sister? Behold, she is in thy hands and she hath done thee
+no misdeed that thou shouldest punish her." Replied Hasan, "Her
+torturing of thee was misdeed enow." But she answered, saying, "She
+hath excuse for all she did with me. As for thee, thou hast set my
+father's heart on fire for the loss of me, and what will be his case,
+if he lose my sister also?" And he said to her, "'Tis thine to decide;
+do whatso thou wilt." So she bade loose her sister and the rest of the
+captives, and they did her bidding.  Then she went up to Queen Nur
+al-Huda and embraced her, and they wept together a long while; after
+which quoth the Queen, "O my sister, bear me not malice for that I did
+with thee;" and quoth Manar al-Sana, "O my sister, this was
+foreordained to me by Fate." Then they sat on the couch talking and
+Manar al-Sana made peace between the old woman and her sister, after
+the goodliest fashion, and their hearts were set at ease. Thereupon
+Hasan dismissed the servants of the rod thanking them for the succour
+which they had afforded him against his foes, and Manar al-Sana related
+to her sister all that had befallen her with Hasan her husband and
+every thing he had suffered for her sake, saying, "O my sister, since
+he hath done these deeds and is possessed of this might and Allah
+Almighty hath gifted him with such exceeding prowess, that he hath
+entered our country and beaten thine army and taken thee prisoner and
+defied our father, the Supreme King, who hath dominion over all the
+Princes of the Jinn, it behoveth us to fail not of what is due to him."
+Replied Nur al-Huda, "By Allah, O my sister, thou sayest sooth in
+whatso thou tellest me of the marvels which this man hath seen and
+suffered; and none may fail of respect to him. But was all this on
+thine account, O my sister?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Princess
+Manar al-Sana repeated to her sister these praises of Hasan, the other
+replied, "By Allah, this man can claim all respect more by token of his
+generosity. But was all this on thine account?" "Yes," answered Manar
+al-Sana, and they passed the night in converse till the morning
+morrowed and the sun rose and they were minded to depart.  So they
+farewelled one another and Manar al-Sana gave God-speed to the ancient
+dame after the reconciling her with Queen Nur al-Huda. Thereupon Hasan
+smote the earth with the rod and its servants the Jinn appeared and
+saluted him, saying, "Praised be Allah, who hath set thy soul at rest! 
+Command us what thou wilt, and we will do it for thee in less than the
+twinking of an eye." He thanked them for their saying and said to them 
+"Allah requite you with good! Saddle me two steeds of the best."  So
+they brought him forthwith two saddled coursers, one of which he
+mounted, taking his elder son before him, and his wife rode the other,
+taking the younger son in front of her.  Then the Queen and the old
+woman also backed horse and departed, Hasan and his wife following the
+right and Nur al-Huda and Shawahi the left hand road.  The spouses
+fared on with their children, without stopping, for a whole month, till
+they drew in sight of a city, which they found compassed about with
+trees and streams and making the trees dismounted beneath them thinking
+to rest there.  As they sat talking, behold, they saw many horsemen
+coming towards them, whereupon Hasan rose and going to meet them, saw
+that it was King Hassun, lord of the Land of Camphor and Castle of
+Crystal, with his attendants.  So Hasan went up to the King and kissed
+his hands and saluted him; and when Hassun saw him, he dismounted and
+seating himself with Hasan upon carpets under the trees returned his
+salam and gave him joy of his safety and rejoiced in him with exceeding
+joy, saying to him, "O Hasan, tell me all that hath befallen thee,
+first and last."  So he told him all of that, whereupon the King
+marvelled and said to him, "O my son, none ever reached the Islands of
+Wak and returned thence but thou, and indeed thy case is wondrous; but
+Alhamdolillah—praised be God—for safety!"  Then he mounted and bade
+Hasan ride with his wife and children into the city, where he lodged
+them in the guest-house of his palace; and they abode with him three
+days, eating and drinking in mirth and merriment, after which Hasan
+sought Hassun's leave to depart to his own country and the King granted
+it.  Accordingly they took horse and the King rode with them ten days,
+after which he farewelled them and turned back, whilst Hasan and his
+wife and children fared on a whole month, at the end of which time they
+came to a great cavern, whose floor was of brass.  Quoth Hasan to his
+wife, "Kennest thou yonder cave?"; and quoth she, "No."  Said he,
+"Therein dwelleth a Shaykh, Abu al-Ruwaysh hight, to whom I am greatly
+beholden, for that he was the means of my becoming acquainted with King
+Hassun." Then he went on to tell her all that had passed between him
+and Abu al-Ruwaysh, and as he was thus engaged, behold, the Shaykh
+himself issued from the cavern-mouth. When Hasan saw him, he dismounted
+from his steed and kissed his hands, and the old man saluted him and
+gave him joy of his safety and rejoiced in him.  Then he carried him
+into the antre and sat down with him, whilst Hasan related to him what
+had befallen him in the Islands of Wak; whereat the Elder marvelled
+with exceeding marvel and said, "O Hasan, how didst thou deliver thy
+wife and children?" So he told them the tale of the cap and the rod,
+hearing which he wondered and said, "O Hasan, O my son, but for this
+rod and the cap, thou hadst never delivered thy wife and children." And
+he replied, "Even so, O my lord." As they were talking, there came a
+knocking at the door and Abu al-Ruwaysh went out and found Abd
+al-Kaddus mounted on his elephant.  So he saluted him and brought him
+into the cavern, where he embraced Hasan and congratulated him on his
+safety, rejoicing greatly in his return. Then said Abu al-Ruwaysh to
+Hasan, "Tell the Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus all that hath befallen thee, O
+Hasan." He repeated to him every thing that had passed, first and last,
+till he came to the tale of the rod and cap,—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirtieth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan began
+relating to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus and Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh (who sat
+chattting in the cave) all that had passed, first and last, till he
+came to the tale of the rod and cap; whereupon quoth Abd al-Kaddus, "O
+my son, thou hast delivered thy wife and thy children and hast no
+further need of the two.  Now we were the means of thy winning to the
+Islands of Wak, and I have done thee kindness for the sake of my
+nieces, the daughters of my brother; wherefore I beg thee, of thy
+bounty and favour, to give me the rod and the Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh the
+cap." When Hasan heard this, he hung down his head, being ashamed to
+reply, "I will not give them to you," and said in his mind, "Indeed
+these two Shaykhs have done me great kindness and were the means of my
+winning to the Islands of Wak, and but for them I had never made the
+place, nor delivered my children, nor had I gotten me this rod and
+cap." So he raised his head and answered, "Yes, I will give them to
+you: but, O my lords, I fear lest the Supreme King, my wife's father,
+come upon me with his commando and combat with me in my own country,
+and I be unable to repel them, for want of the rod and the cap."
+Replied Abd al-Kaddus, "Fear not, O my son; we will continually succour
+thee and keep watch and ward for thee in this place; and whosoever
+shall come against thee from thy wife's father or any other, him we
+will fend off from thee; wherefore be thou of good cheer and keep thine
+eyes cool of tear, and hearten thy heart and broaden thy breast and
+feel naught whatsoever of fear, for no harm shall come to thee." When
+Hasan heard this he was abashed and gave the cap to Abu al-Ruwaysh,
+saying to Abd al-Kaddus, "Accompany me to my own country and I will
+give thee the rod." At this the two elders rejoiced with exceeding joy
+and made him ready riches and treasures which beggar all description.
+He abode with them three days, at the end of which he set out again and
+the Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus made ready to depart with him.  So he and his
+wife mounted their beasts and Abd al-Kaddus whistled when, behold, a
+mighty big elephant trotted up with fore hand and feet on amble from
+the heart of the desert and he took it and mounted it. Then they
+farewelled Abu al-Ruwaysh who disappeared within his cavern; and they
+fared on across country traversing the land in its length and breadth
+wherever Abd al-Kaddus guided them by a short cut and an easy way, till
+they drew near the land of the Princesses; whereupon Hasan rejoiced at
+finding himself once more near his mother, and praised Allah for his
+safe return and reunion with his wife and children after so many
+hardships and perils; and thanked Him for His favours and bounties,
+reciting these couplets,
+
+"Haply shall Allah deign us twain unite * And lockt in strict
+     embrace we'll hail the light:
+And wonders that befel me I'll recount, * And all I suffered from
+     the Severance-blight:
+And fain I'll cure mine eyes by viewing you * For ever yearned my
+     heart to see your sight:
+I hid a tale for you my heart within * Which when we meet o' morn
+     I'll fain recite:
+I'll blame you for the deeds by you were done * But while blame
+     endeth love shall stay in site."
+
+
+Hardly had he made an end of these verses, when he looked and behold,
+there rose to view the Green Dome[FN#179] and the jetting Fount and the
+Emerald Palace, and the Mountain of Clouds showed to them from afar;
+whereupon quoth Abd al-Kaddus, "Rejoice, O Hasan, in good tidings:
+to-night shalt thou be the guest of my nieces!" At this he joyed with
+exceeding joy and as also did his wife, and they alighted at the domed
+pavilion, where they took their rest[FN#180] and ate and drank; after
+which they mounted horse again and rode on till they came upon the
+palace. As they drew near, the Princesses who were daughters of the
+King, brother to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, came forth to meet them and
+saluted them and their uncle who said to them, "O daughters of my
+brother, behold, I have accomplished the need of this your brother
+Hasan and have helped him to regain his wife and children." So they
+embraced him and gave him joy of his return in safety and health and of
+his reunion with his wife and children, and it was a day of
+festival[FN#181] with them.  Then came forward Hasan's sister, the
+youngest Princess, and embraced him, weeping with sore weeping, whilst
+he also wept for his long desolation: after which she complained to him
+of that which she had suffered for the pangs of separation and
+weariness of spirit in his absence and recited these two couplets,
+
+"After thy faring never chanced I 'spy * A shape, but did thy form
+     therein descry:
+Nor closed mine eyes in sleep but thee I saw, * E'en as though
+     dwelling 'twixt the lid and eye."
+
+
+When she had made an end of her verses, she rejoiced with joy exceeding
+and Hasan said to her, "O my sister, I thank none in this matter save
+thyself over all thy sisters, and may Allah Almighty vouchsafe thee
+aidance and countenance!" Then he related to her all that had past in
+his journey, from first to last, and all that he had undergone, telling
+her what had betided him with his wife's sister and how he had
+delivered his wife and wees and he also described to her all that he
+had seen of marvels and grievous perils, even to how Queen Nur al-Huda
+would have slain him and his spouse and children and none saved them
+from her but the Lord the Most High.  Moreover, he related to her the
+adventure of the cap and the rod and how Abd al-Kaddus and Abu
+al-Ruwaysh had asked for them and he had not agreed to give them to the
+twain save for her sake; wherefore she thanked him and blessed him
+wishing him long life; and he cried, "By Allah, I shall never forget
+all the kindness thou hast done me from incept to conclusion."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan
+foregathered with the Princesses, he related to his sister all that he
+had endured and said to her, "Never will I forget what thou hast done
+for me from incept to conclusion." Then she turned to his wife Manar
+al-Sana and embraced her and pressed her children to her breast, saying
+to her, "O daughter of the Supreme King, was there no pity in thy
+bosom, that thou partedst him and his children and settedst his heart
+on fire for them?  Say me, didst thou desire by this deed that he
+should die?" The Princess laughed and answered, "Thus was it ordained
+of Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) and whoso beguileth folk, him
+shall Allah begule."[FN#182]  Then they set on somewhat of meat and
+drink, and they all ate and drank and made merry.  They abode thus ten
+days in feast and festival, mirth and merry-making, at the end of which
+time Hasan prepared to continue his journey.  So his sister rose and
+made him ready riches and rarities, such as defy description.  Then she
+strained him to her bosom, because of leave-taking, and threw her arms
+round his neck whilst he recited on her account these couplets,
+
+"The solace of lovers is naught but far, * And parting is naught
+     save grief singular:
+And ill-will and absence are naught but woe, * And the victims of
+     Love naught but martyrs are;
+And how tedious is night to the loving wight * From his true love
+     parted 'neath evening star!
+His tears course over his cheeks and so * He cries, 'O tears be
+     there more to flow?'"
+
+
+With this Hasan gave the rod to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, who joyed therein
+with exceeding joy and thanking him and securing it mounted and
+returned to his own place.  Then Hasan took horse with his wife and
+children and departed from the Palace of the Princesses, who went
+forth[FN#183] with him, to farewell him. Then they turned back and
+Hasan fared on, over wild and wold, two months and ten days, till he
+came to the city of Baghdad, the House of Peace, and repairing to his
+home by the private postern which gave upon the open country, knocked
+at the door.  Now his mother, for long absence, had forsworn sleep and
+given herself to mourning and weeping and wailing, till she fell sick
+and ate no meat, neither took delight in slumber but shed tears night
+and day.  She ceased not to call upon her son's name albeit she
+despaired of his returning to her; and as he stood at the door, he
+heard her weeping and reciting these couplets,
+
+"By Allah, heal, O my lords, the unwhole * Of wasted frame and
+     heart worn with dole:
+An you grant her a meeting 'tis but your grace * Shall whelm in
+     the boons of the friend her soul:
+I despair not of Union the Lord can grant * And to weal of
+     meeting our woes control!"
+
+
+When she had ended her verses, she heard her son's voice at the door,
+calling out, "O mother, mother ah! fortune hath been kind and hath
+vouchsafed our reunion!"  Hearing his cry she knew his voice and went
+to the door, between belief and misbelief; but, when she opened it she
+saw him standing there and with him his wife and children; so she
+shrieked aloud, for excess of joy, and fell to the earth in a
+fainting-fit.  Hasan ceased not soothing her, till she recovered and
+embraced him; then she wept with joy, and presently she called his
+slaves and servants and bade them carry all his baggage into the
+house.[FN#184]  So they brought in every one of the loads, and his wife
+and children entered also, whereupon Hasan's mother went up to the
+Princess and kissed her head and bussed her feet, saying, "O daughter
+of the Supreme King, if I have failed of thy due, behold, I crave
+pardon of Almighty Allah." Then she turned to Hasan and said to him, "O
+my son, what was the cause of this long strangerhood?" He related to
+her all his adventures from beginning to end; and when she heard tell
+of all that had befallen him, she cried a great cry and fell down
+a-fainting at the very mention of his mishaps.  He solaced her, till
+she came to herself and said, "By Allah, O my son, thou hast done
+unwisely in parting with the rod and the cap for, hadst thou kept them
+with the care due to them, thou wert master of the whole earth, in its
+breadth and length; but praised be Allah, for thy safety, O my son, and
+that of thy wife and children!" They passed the night in all pleasance
+and happiness, and on the morrow Hasan changed his clothes and donning
+a suit of the richest apparel, went down into the bazar and bought
+black slaves and slave-girls and the richest stuffs and ornaments and
+furniture such as carpets and costly vessels and all manner other
+precious things, whose like is not found with Kings.  Moreover, he
+purchased houses and gardens and estates and so forth and abode with
+his wife and his children and his mother, eating and drinking and
+pleasuring: nor did they cease from all joy of life and its solace till
+there came to them the Destroyer of delights and the Severer of
+societies.  And Glory be to Him who hath dominion over the Seen and the
+Unseen,[FN#185] who is the Living, the Eternal, Who dieth not at all! 
+And men also recount the adventures of
+
+
+Khalifah the Fisherman of Baghdad
+
+There was once in tides of yore and in ages and times long gone before
+in the city of Baghdad a fisherman, Khalífah hight, a pauper wight, who
+had never once been married in all his days. [FN#186]  It chanced one
+morning, that he took his net and went with it to the river, as was his
+wont, with the view of fishing before the others came.  When he reached
+the bank, he girt himself and tucked up his skirts; then stepping into
+the water, he spread his net and cast it a first cast and a second but
+it brought up naught.  He ceased not to throw it, till he had made ten
+casts, and still naught came up therein; wherefore his breast was
+straitened and his mind perplexed concerning his case and he said, "I
+crave pardon of God the Great, there is no god but He, the Living, the
+Eternal, and unto Him I repent.  There is no Majesty and there is no
+Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  Whatso He willeth is and
+whatso He nilleth is not!  Upon Allah (to whom belong Honour and
+Glory!) dependeth daily bread! Whenas He giveth to His servant, none
+denieth him; and whenas He denieth a servant, none giveth to him."  And
+of the excess of his distress, he recited these two couplets,
+
+"An Fate afflict thee, with grief manifest, * Prepare thy
+     patience and make broad thy breast;
+For of His grace the Lord of all the worlds * Shall send to wait
+     upon unrest sweet Rest."
+
+
+Then he sat awhile pondering his case, and with his head bowed down
+recited also these couplets,
+
+"Patience, with sweet and with bitter Fate! * And weet that His
+     will He shall consummate:
+Night oft upon woe as on abscess acts * And brings it up to the
+     bursting state:
+And Chance and Change shall pass o'er the youth * And fleet from
+     his thoughts and no more shall bait."
+
+
+Then he said in his mind, "I will make this one more cast, trusting in
+Allah, so haply He may not disappoint my hope;" and he rose and casting
+into the river the net as far as his arm availed, gathered the cords in
+his hands and waited a full hour, after which he pulled at it and,
+finding it heavy,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-second Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Khalifah the Fisherman had cast his net sundry times into the stream,
+yet had it brought up naught, he pondered his case and improvised the
+verses afore quoted.  Then he said in his mind, "I will make this one
+more cast, trusting in Allah who haply will not disappoint my hope." 
+So he rose and threw the net and waited a full hour, after which time
+he pulled at it and, finding it heavy, handled it gently and drew it
+in, little by little, till he got it ashore, when lo and behold! he saw
+in it a one-eyed, lame-legged ape.  Seeing this quoth Khalifah, "There
+is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! verily, we are
+Allah's and to Him we are returning!  What meaneth this heart-
+breaking, miserable ill-luck and hapless fortune?  What is come to me
+this blessed day?  But all this is of the destinies of Almighty Allah!"
+ Then he took the ape and tied him with a cord to a tree which grew on
+the river-bank, and grasping a whip he had with him, raised his arm in
+the air, thinking to bring down the scourge upon the quarry, when Allah
+made the ape speak with a fluent tongue, saying, "O Khalifah, hold thy
+hand and beat me not, but leave me bounden to this tree and go down to
+the river and cast thy net, confiding in Allah; for He will give thee
+thy daily bread."  Hearing this Khalifah went down to the river and
+casting his net, let the cords run out.  Then he pulled it in and found
+it heavier than before; so he ceased not to tug at it, till he brought
+it to land, when, behold, there was another ape in it, with front teeth
+wide apart, [FN#187] Kohl-darkened eyes and hands stained with
+Henna-dyes; and he was laughing and wore a tattered waistcloth about
+his middle.  Quoth Khalifah, "Praised be Allah who hath changed the
+fish of the river into apes!" [FN#188] then, going up to the first ape,
+who was still tied to the tree, he said to him, "See, O unlucky, how
+fulsome was the counsel thou gavest me!  None but thou made me light on
+this second ape: and for that thou gavest me good-morrow with thy one
+eye and thy lameness, [FN#189] I am become distressed and weary,
+without dirham or dinar."  So saying, he hent in hand a stick [FN#190]
+and flourishing it thrice in the air, was about to come down with it
+upon the lame ape, when the creature cried out for mercy and said to
+him, "I conjure thee, by Allah, spare me for the sake of this my fellow
+and seek of him thy need; for he will guide thee to thy desire!"  So he
+held his hand from him and throwing down the stick, went up to and
+stood by the second ape, who said to him, "O Khalifah, this my speech
+[FN#191] will profit thee naught, except thou hearken to what I say to
+thee; but, an thou do my bidding and cross me not, I will be the cause
+of thine enrichment."  Asked Khalifah, "And what hast thou to say to me
+that I may obey there therein?"  The Ape answered, "Leave me bound on
+the bank and hie thee down to the river; then cast thy net a third
+time, and after I will tell thee what to do."  So he took his net and
+going down to the river, cast it once more and waited awhile.  Then he
+drew it in and finding it heavy, laboured at it and ceased not his
+travail till he got it ashore, when he found in it yet another ape; but
+this one was red, with a blue waistcloth about his middle; his hands
+and feet were stained with Henna and his eyes blackened with Kohl. 
+When Khalifah saw this, he exclaimed, "Glory to God the Great! 
+Extolled be the perfection of the Lord of Dominion!  Verily, this is a
+blessed day from first to last: its ascendant was fortunate in the
+countenance of the first ape, and the scroll [FN#192] is known by its
+superscription!  Verily, to-day is a day of apes: there is not a single
+fish left in the river, and we are come out to-day but to catch
+monkeys!"  Then he turned to the third ape and said, "And what thing
+art thou also, O unlucky?"  Quoth the ape, "Dost thou not know me, O
+Khalifah!"; and quoth he, "Not I!"  The ape cried, "I am the ape of Abu
+al-Sa'ádát [FN#193] the Jew, the shroff."  Asked Khalifah, "And what
+dost thou for him?"; and the ape answered, "I give him good-morrow at
+the first of the day, and he gaineth five ducats; and again at the end
+of the day, I give him good-even and he gaineth other five ducats." 
+Whereupon Khalifah turned to the first ape and said to him, "See, O
+unlucky, what fine apes other folks have! As for thee, thou givest me
+good-morrow with thy one eye and thy lameness and thy ill-omened phiz
+and I become poor and bankrupt and hungry!"  So saying, he took the
+cattle-stick and flourishing it thrice in the air, was about to come
+down with it on the first ape, when Abu al-Sa'adat's ape said to him,
+"Let him be, O Khalifah, hold thy hand and come hither to me, that I
+may tell thee what to do." So Khalifah threw down the stick and walking
+up to him cried, "And what hast thou to say to me, O monarch of all
+monkeys?"  Replied the ape, "Leave me and the other two apes here, and
+take thy net and cast it into the river; and whatever cometh up, bring
+it to me, and I will tell thee what shall gladden thee."—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-third Night
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the ape of Abu
+al-Sa'adat said to Khalifah, "Take thy net and cast it into the river;
+and whatever cometh up, bring it to me, and I will tell thee what shall
+gladden thee."  He replied, "I hear and obey," and took the net and
+gathered it on his shoulder, reciting these couplets,
+
+"When straitened is my breast I will of my Creator pray, * Who
+     may and can the heaviest weight lighten in easiest way;
+For ere man's glance can turn or close his eye by God His grace *
+     Waxeth the broken whole and yieldeth jail its prison-prey.
+Therefore with Allah one and all of thy concerns commit * Whose
+     grace and favour men of wit shall nevermore gainsay."
+
+
+And also these twain,
+
+"Thou art the cause that castest men in ban and bane; * Sorrow
+     e'en so and sorrow's cause Thou canst assain:
+Make me not covet aught that lies beyond my reach; * How many a
+     greedy wight his wish hath failed to gain!"
+
+
+Now when Khalifah had made an end of his verse, he went down to the
+river and casting his net, waited awhile; after which he drew it up and
+found therein a fine young fish, [FN#194] with a big head, a tail like
+a ladle and eyes like two gold pieces.  When Khalifah saw this fish, he
+rejoiced, for he had never in his life caught its like, so he took it,
+marvelling, and carried it to the ape of Abu al-Sa'adat the Jew, as
+'twere he had gotten possession of the universal world.  Quoth the ape,
+"O Khalifah, what wilt thou do with this and with thine ape?"; and
+quoth the Fisherman, "I will tell thee, O monarch of monkeys all I am
+about to do. Know then that first, I will cast about to make away with
+yonder accursed, my ape, and take thee in his stead and give thee every
+day to eat of whatso thou wilt."  Rejoined the ape, "Since thou hast
+made choice of me, I will tell thee how thou shalt do wherein, if it
+please Allah Almighty, shall be the mending of thy fortune.  Lend thy
+mind, then, to what I say to thee and 'tis this!:  Take another cord
+and tie me also to a tree, where leave me and go to the midst of The
+Dyke [FN#195] and cast thy net into the Tigris. [FN#196]  Then after
+waiting awhile, draw it up and thou shalt find therein a fish, than
+which thou never sawest a finer in thy whole life.  Bring it to me and
+I will tell thee how thou shalt do after this."  So Khalifah rose
+forthright and casting his net into the Tigris, drew up a great
+cat-fish [FN#197] the bigness of a lamb; never had he set eyes on its
+like, for it was larger than the first fish.  He carried it to the ape,
+who said to him, "Gather thee some green grass and set half of it in a
+basket; lay the fish therein and cover it with the other moiety.  Then,
+leaving us here tied, shoulder the basket and betake thee to Baghdad. 
+If any bespeak thee or question thee by the way, answer him not, but
+fare on till thou comest to the market-street of the money-changers, at
+the upper end whereof thou wilt find the shop of Master [FN#198] Abu
+al- Sa'adat the Jew, Shaykh of the shroffs, and wilt see him sitting on
+a mattress, with a cushion behind him and two coffers, one for gold and
+one for silver, before him, while around him stand his Mamelukes and
+negro-slaves and servant-lads.  Go up to him and set the basket before
+him, saying,: 'O Abu al-Sa'adat, verily I went out to-day to fish and
+cast my net in thy name and Allah Almighty sent me this fish.'  He will
+ask, 'Hast thou shown it to any but me?;' and do thou answer, "No, by
+Allah!'  then will he take it of thee and give thee a dinar.  Give it
+him back and he will give thee two dinars; but do thou return them also
+and so do with everything he may offer thee; and take naught from him,
+though he give thee the fish's weight in gold. Then will he say to
+thee, 'Tell me what thou wouldst have;' and do thou reply, "By Allah, I
+will not sell the fish save for two words!'  He will ask, 'What are
+they?' and do thou answer, 'Stand up and say, 'Bear witness, O ye who
+are present in the market, that I give Khalifah the fisherman my ape in
+exchange for his ape, and that I barter for his lot my lot and luck for
+his luck.'  This is the price of the fish, and I have no need of gold.'
+ If he do this, I will every day give thee good-morrow and good-even,
+and every day thou shalt gain ten dinars of good gold; whilst this
+one-eyed, lame-legged ape shall daily give the Jew good-morrow, and
+Allah shall afflict him every day with an avanie [FN#199] which he must
+needs pay, nor will he cease to be thus afflicted till he is reduced to
+beggary and hath naught.  Hearken then to my words; so shalt thou
+prosper and be guided aright."  Quoth Khalifah, "I accept thy counsel,
+O monarch of all the monkeys!  But, as for this unlucky, may Allah
+never bless him!  I know not what to do with him."  Quoth the ape, "Let
+him go [FN#200] into the water, and let me go also."  "I hear and
+obey," answered Khalifah and unbound the three apes, and they went down
+into the river.  Then he took up the cat-fish [FN#201] which he washed
+then laid it in the basket upon some green grass, and covered it with
+other; and lastly shouldering his load, set out chanting the following
+Mawwál, [FN#202]
+
+"Thy case commit to a Heavenly Lord and thou shalt safety see; *
+     Act kindly through thy worldly life and live repentance-
+    free.
+Mate not with folk suspected, lest eke thou shouldst suspected be
+     * And from reviling keep thy tongue lest men revile at
+     thee!"
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khalifah the
+fisherman, after ending his song, set out with the basket upon his
+shoulder and ceased not faring till he entered the city of Baghdad. 
+And as he threaded the streets the folk knew him and cried out to him,
+saying, "What hast thou there, O Khalifah?" But he paid no heed to them
+and passed on till he came to the market- street of the money-changers
+and fared between the shops, as the ape had charged him, till he found
+the Jew seated at the upper end, with his servants in attendance upon
+him, as he were a King of the Kings of Khorason. He knew him at first
+sight; so he went up to him and stood before him, whereupon Abu
+al-Sa'adat raised his eyes and recognising him, said, "Welcome, O
+Khalifah!  What wantest thou and what is thy need?  If any have missaid
+thee or spited thee, tell me and I will go with thee to the Chief of
+Police, who shall do thee justice on him."  Replied Khalifah, "Nay, as
+thy head liveth, O chief of the Jews, none hath missaid me.  But I went
+forth this morning to the river and, casting my net into the Tigris on
+thy luck, brought up this fish." Therewith he opened the basket and
+threw the fish before the Jew who admired it and said, "By the
+Pentateuch and the Ten Commandments, [FN#203] I dreamt last night that
+the Virgin came to me and said, 'Know, O Abu al-Sa'adat, that I have
+sent thee a pretty present!'  and doubtless 'tis this fish."  Then he
+turned to Khalifah and said to him, "By thy faith, hath any seen it but
+I?"  Khalifah replied, "No, by Allah, and by Abu Bakr the Veridical,
+[FN#204] none hath seen it save thou, O chief of the Jews!"  Whereupon
+the Jew turned to one of his lads and said to him, "Come, carry this
+fish to my house and bid Sa'ádah [FN#205] dress it and fry and broil
+it, against I make an end of my business and hie me home."  And
+Khalifah said, "Go, O my lad; let the master's wife fry some of it and
+broil the rest."  Answered the boy, "I hear and I obey, O my lord" and,
+taking the fish, went away with it to the house.  Then the Jew put out
+his hand and gave Khalifah the fisherman a dinar, saying, "Take this
+for thyself, O Khalifah, and spend it on thy family."  When Khalifah
+saw the dinar on his palm, he took it, saying, "Laud to the Lord of
+Dominion!" as if he had never seen aught of gold in his life; and went
+somewhat away, but, before he had gone far, he was minded of the ape's
+charge and turning back threw down the ducat, saying, "Take thy gold
+and give folk back their fish!  Dost thou make a laughing stock of
+folk?"  The Jew hearing this thought he was jesting and offered him two
+dinars upon the other, but Khalifah said, "Give me the fish and no
+nonsense.  How knewest thou I would sell it at this price?"  Whereupon
+the Jew gave him two more dinars and said, "Take these five ducats for
+thy fish and leave greed."  So Khalifah hent the five dinars in hand
+and went away, rejoicing, and gazing and marvelling at the gold and
+saying, "Glory be to God! There is not with the Caliph of Baghdad what
+is with me this day!"  Then he ceased not faring on till he came to the
+end of the market-street, when he remembered the words of the ape and
+his charge, and returning to the Jew, threw him back the gold.  Quoth
+he, "What aileth thee, O Khalifah?  Dost thou want silver in exchange
+for gold?"  Khalifah replied,  "I want nor dirhams nor dinars.  I only
+want thee to give me back folk's fish."  With this the Jew waxed wroth
+and shouted out at him, saying, "O fisherman, thou bringest me a fish
+not worth a sequin and I give thee five for it; yet art thou not
+content! Art thou Jinn-mad?  Tell me for how much thou wilt sell it." 
+Answered Khalifah, "I will not sell it for silver nor for gold, only
+for two sayings [FN#206] thou shalt say me."  When the Jew heard speak
+of the "Two Sayings," his eyes sank into his head, he breathed hard and
+ground his teeth for rage and said to him, "O nail-paring of the
+Moslems, wilt thou have me throw off my faith for the sake of thy fish,
+and wilt thou debauch me from my religion and stultify my belief and my
+conviction which I inherited of old from my forbears?"  Then he cried
+out to the servants who were in waiting and said, "Out on you!  Bash me
+this unlucky rogue's neck and bastinado him soundly!"  So they came
+down upon him with blows and ceased not beating him till he fell
+beneath the shop, and the Jew said to them, "Leave him and let him
+rise." Whereupon Khalifah jumped up, as if naught ailed him, and the
+Jew said to him, "Tell me what price thou asketh for this fish and I
+will give it thee: for thou hast gotten but scant good of us this day."
+ Answered the Fisherman, "Have no fear for me, O master, because of the
+beating; for I can eat ten donkeys' rations of stick."  The Jew laughed
+at his words and said, "Allah upon thee, tell me what thou wilt have
+and by the right of my Faith, I will give it thee!" The Fisherman
+replied, "Naught from thee will remunerate me for this fish save the
+two words whereof I spake."  And the Jew said, "Meseemeth thou wouldst
+have me become a Moslem?" [FN#207]  Khalifah rejoined, "By Allah, O
+Jew, an thou islamise 'twill nor advantage the Moslems nor damage the
+Jews; and in like manner, an thou hold to thy misbelief 'twill nor
+damage the Moslems nor advantage the Jews.  But what I desire of thee
+is that thou rise to thy feet and say, 'Bear witness against me, O
+people of the market, that I barter my ape for the ape of Khalifah the
+Fisherman and my lot in the world for his lot and my luck for his
+luck.'"  Quoth the Jew, "If this be all thou desirest 'twill sit
+lightly upon me."  —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Jew said
+to Khalifah the Fisherman, "If this be all thou desirest, 'twill sit
+lightly upon me."  So he rose without stay or delay and standing on his
+feet, repeated the required words; after which he turned to the
+Fisherman and asked him, "Hast thou aught else to ask of me?"  "No,"
+answered he, and the Jew said, "Go in peace!"  Hearing this Khalifah
+sprung to his feet forthright; took up his basket and net and returned
+straight to the Tigris, where he threw his net and pulled it in.  He
+found it heavy and brought it not ashore but with travail, when he
+found it full of fish of all kinds.  Presently, up came a woman with a
+dish, who gave him a dinar, and he gave her fish for it; and after her
+an eunuch, who also bought a dinar's worth of fish, and so forth till
+he had sold ten dinars' worth.  And he continued to sell ten dinars'
+worth of fish daily for ten days, till he had gotten an hundred dinars.
+ Now Khalifah the Fisherman had quarters in the Passage of the
+Merchants, [FN#208] and, as he lay one night in his lodging much
+bemused with Hashish, he said to himself, "O Khalifah, the folk all
+know thee for a poor fisherman, and now thou hast gotten an hundred
+golden dinars.  Needs must the Commander of the Faithful, Harun
+al-Rashid, hear of this from some one, and haply he will be wanting
+money and will send for thee and say to thee, 'I need a sum of money
+and it hath reached me that thou hast an hundred dinars: so do thou
+lend them to me those same.'  I shall answer, 'O Commander of the
+Faithful, I am a poor man, and whoso told thee that I had an hundred
+dinars lied against me; for I have naught of this.'  Thereupon he will
+commit me to the Chief of Police, saying, "Strip him of his clothes and
+torment him with the bastinado till he confess and give up the hundred
+dinars in his possession.  Wherefore, meseemeth to provide against this
+predicament, the best thing I can do, is to rise forthright and bash
+myself with the whip, so to use myself to beating."  And his Hashish
+[FN#209] said to him, "Rise, doff thy dress."  So he stood up and
+putting off his clothes, took a whip he had by him and set handy a
+leathern pillow; then he fell to lashing himself, laying every other
+blow upon the pillow and roaring out the while, "Alas! Alas! By Allah,
+'tis a false saying, O my lord, and they have lied against me; for I am
+a poor fisherman and have naught of the goods of the world!"  The noise
+of the whip falling on the pillow and on his person resounded in the
+still of night and the folk heard it, and amongst others the merchants,
+and they said, "Whatever can ail the poor fellow, that he crieth and we
+hear the noise of blows falling on him? 'Twould seem robbers have
+broken in upon him and are tormenting him."  Presently they all came
+forth of their lodgings, at the noise of the blows and the crying, and
+repaired to Khalifah's room, but they found the door locked and said
+one to other, "Belike the robbers have come in upon him from the back
+of the adjoining saloon.  It behoveth us to climb over by the roofs."
+So they clomb over the roofs and coming down through the sky- light,
+[FN#210] saw him naked and flogging himself and asked him, "What aileth
+thee, O Khalifah?"  He answered, "Know, O folk, that I have gained some
+dinars and fear lest my case be carried up to the Prince of True
+Believers, Harun al-Rashid, and he send for me and demand of me those
+same gold pieces; whereupon I should deny, and I fear that, if I deny,
+he will torture me, so I am torturing myself, by way of accustoming me
+to what may come." The merchants laughed at him and said, "Leave this
+fooling, may Allah not bless thee and the dinars thou hast gotten! 
+Verily thou hast disturbed us this night and hast troubled our hearts."
+So Khalifah left flogging himself and slept till the morning, when he
+rose and would have gone about his business, but bethought him of his
+hundred dinars and said in his mind, "An I leave them at home, thieves
+will steal them, and if I put them in a belt [FN#211] about my waist,
+peradventure some one will see me and lay in wait for me till he come
+upon me in some lonely place and slay me and take the money: but I have
+a device that should serve me well, right well."  So he jumped up
+forthright and made him a pocket in the collar of his gaberdine and
+tying the hundred dinars up in a purse, laid them in the collar-pocket.
+ Then he took his net and basket and staff and went down to the Tigris,
+— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khalifah the
+Fisherman, having set his hundred dinars in the collar-pocket took
+basket, staff and net and went down to the Tigris, where he made a cast
+but brought up naught.  So he removed from that place to another and
+threw again, but once more the net came up empty; and he went on
+removing from place to place till he had gone half a day's journey from
+the city, ever casting the net which kept bringing up naught.  So he
+said to himself, "By Allah, I will throw my net a-stream but his once
+more, whether ill come of it or weal!" [FN#212]  Then he hurled the net
+with all his force, of the excess of his wrath and the purse with the
+hundred dinars flew out of his collar-pocket and, lighting in
+mid-stream, was carried away by the strong current; whereupon he threw
+down the net and plunged into the water after the purse.  He dived for
+it nigh a hundred times, till his strength was exhausted and he came up
+for sheer fatigue without chancing on it. When he despaired of finding
+the purse, he returned to the shore, where he saw nothing but staff,
+net and basket and sought for his clothes, but could light on no trace
+of them: so he said in himself, "O vilest of those wherefor was made
+the byword, 'The pilgrimage is not perfected save by copulation with
+the camel!" [FN#213]  Then he wrapped the net about him and taking
+staff in one hand and basket in other, went trotting about like a camel
+in rut, running right and left and backwards and forwards, dishevelled
+and dusty, as he were a rebel Marid let loose from Solomon's prison.
+[FN#214]  So far for what concerns the Fisherman Khalifah; but as
+regards the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, he had a friend, a jeweller called
+Ibn al-Kirnás, [FN#215] and all the traders, brokers and middle-men
+knew him for the Caliph's merchant; wherefore there was naught sold in
+Baghdad, by way of rarities and things of price or Mamelukes or
+handmaidens, but was first shown to him.  As he sat one day in his
+shop, behold, there came up to him the Shaykh of the brokers, with a
+slave-girl, whose like seers never saw, for she was of passing beauty
+and loveliness, symmetry and perfect grace, and among her gifts was
+that she knew all arts and sciences and could make verses and play upon
+all manner musical instruments. So Ibn al-Kirnas bought her for five
+thousand golden dinars and clothed her with other thousand; after which
+he carried her to the Prince of True Believers, with whom she lay the
+night and who made trial of her in every kind of knowledge and
+accomplishment and found her versed in all sorts of arts and sciences,
+having no equal in her time.  Her name was Kút al-Kulúb [FN#216] and
+she was even as saith the poet,
+
+"I fix my glance on her, whene'er she wends; * And non-acceptance
+     of my glance breeds pain:
+She favours graceful-necked gazelle at gaze; * And 'Graceful as
+     gazelle' to say we're fain."
+
+
+And where is this [FN#217] beside the saying of another?
+
+"Give me brunettes; the Syrian spears, so limber and so straight,
+     Tell of the slender dusky maids, so lithe and proud of gait.
+Languid of eyelids, with a down like silk upon her cheek, Within
+     her wasting lover's heart she queens it still in state."
+
+
+On the morrow the Caliph sent for Ibn al-Kirnas the Jeweller, and bade
+him receive ten thousand dinars as to her price.  And his heart was
+taken up with the slave-girl Kut al-Kulub and he forsook the Lady
+Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, for all she was the daughter of his father's
+brother [FN#218] and he abandoned all his favorite concubines and abode
+a whole month without stirring from Kut al-Kulub's side save to go to
+the Friday prayers and return to her in all haste.  This was grievous
+to the Lords of the Realm and they complained thereof to the Wazir
+Ja'afar the Barmecide, who bore with the Commander of the Faithful and
+waited till the next Friday, when he entered the cathedral-mosque and,
+foregathering with the Caliph, related to him all that occurred to him
+of extra-ordinary stories anent seld-seen love and lovers with intent
+to draw out what was in his mind.  Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, O
+Ja'afar, this is not of my choice; but my heart is caught in the snare
+of love and wot I not what is to be done!" The Wazir Ja'afar replied,
+"O Commander of the Faithful, thou knowest how this girl Kut al-Kulub
+is become at thy disposal and of the number of thy servants, and that
+which hand possesseth soul coveteth not.  Moreover, I will tell thee
+another thing which is that the highest boast of Kings and Princes is
+in hunting and the pursuit of sport and victory; and if thou apply
+thyself to this, perchance it will divert thee from her, and it may be
+thou wilt forget her."  Rejoined the Caliph, "Thou sayest well, O
+Ja'afar; come let us go a-hunting forthright, without stay or delay." 
+So soon as Friday prayers were prayed, they left the mosque and at once
+mounting their she-mules rode forth to the chase. —And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+Caliph Harun al-Rashid and the Wazir Ja'afar would go forth a-hunting
+and a-chasing, they mounted two she-mules and fared on into the open
+country, occupied with talk, and their attendants outwent them. 
+Presently the heat became overhot and Al-Rashid said to his Wazir, "O
+Ja'afar, I am sore athirst."  Then he looked around and espying a
+figure in the distance on a high mound, asked Ja'afar, "Seest thou what
+I see?"  Answered the Wazir, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful; I see a
+dim figure on a high mound; belike he is the keeper of a garden or of a
+cucumber- plot, and in whatso wise water will not be lacking in his
+neighborhood;" presently adding, "I will go to him and fetch thee
+some." But Al-Rashid said, "My mule is swifter than thy mule; so do
+thou abide here, on account of the troops, whilst I go myself to him
+and get of this person [FN#219] drink and return."  So saying, he urged
+his she-mule, which started off like racing wind or railing-water and,
+in the twinkling of an eye, made the mound, where he found the figure
+he had seen to be none other than Khalifah the Fisherman, naked and
+wrapped in the net; and indeed he was horrible to behold, as to and fro
+he rolled with eyes for very redness like cresset-gleam and dusty hair
+in dishevelled trim, as he were an Ifrit or a lion grim.  Al-Rashid
+saluted him and he returned his salutation; but he was wroth and fires
+might have been lit at his breath.  Quoth the Caliph, "O man, hast thou
+any water?"; and quoth Khalifah, "Ho thou, art thou blind, or Jinn-mad?
+ Get thee to the river Tigris, for 'tis behind this mound."  So
+Al-Rashid went around the mound and going down to the river, drank and
+watered his mule: then without a moment's delay he returned to Khalifah
+and said to him, "What aileth thee, O man, to stand here, and what is
+thy calling?" The Fisherman cried, "This is a stranger and sillier
+question than that about the water!  Seest thou not the gear of my
+craft on my shoulder?" Said the Caliph, "Belike thou art a fisherman?";
+and he replied, "Yes."  Asked Al-Rashid, "Where is thy gaberdine,
+[FN#220] and where are thy waistcloth and girdle and where be the rest
+of thy raiment?"  Now these were the very things which had been taken
+from Khalifah, like for like; so, when he heard the Caliph name them,
+he got into his head that it was he who had stolen his clothes from the
+river-bank and coming down from the top of the mound, swiftlier than
+the blinding leven, laid hold of the mule's bridle, saying, "Harkye,
+man, bring me back my things and leave jesting and joking."  Al-Rashid
+replied, "By Allah, I have not seen thy clothes nor know aught of
+them!"  Now the Caliph had large cheeks and a small mouth; [FN#221] so
+Khalifah said to him, "Belike, thou art by trade a singer or a piper on
+pipes?  But bring me back my clothes fairly and without more ado, or I
+will bash thee with this my staff till thou bepiss thyself and befoul
+they clothes."  When Al-Rashid saw the staff in the Fisherman's hand
+and that he had the vantage of him, he said to himself, "By Allah, I
+cannot brook from this mad beggar half a blow of that staff!"  Now he
+had on a satin gown; so he pulled it off and gave it to Khalifah,
+saying, "O man, take this in place of thy clothes." The Fisherman took
+it and turned it about and said, "My clothes are worth ten of this
+painted 'Abá-cloak;" and rejoined the Caliph, "Put it on till I bring
+thee thy gear."  So Khalifah donned the gown, but finding it too long
+for him, took a knife he had with him, tied to the handle of his
+basket, [FN#222] and cut off nigh a third of the skirt, so that it fell
+only beneath his knees.  Then he turned to Al-Rashid and said to him,
+"Allah upon thee, O piper, tell me what wage thou gettest every month
+from thy master, for thy craft of piping."  Replied the Caliph, "My
+wage is ten dinars a month," and Khalifah continued, "By Allah, my poor
+fellow, thou makest me sorry for thee! Why, I make thy ten dinars every
+day!  Hast thou a mind to take service with me and I will teach thee
+the art of fishing and share my gain with thee?  So shalt thou make
+five dinars a day and be my slavey and I will protect thee against thy
+master with this staff."  Quoth Al-Rashid, "I will well"; and quoth
+Khalifah, "Then get off thy she-ass and tie her up, so she may serve us
+to carry the fish hereafter, and come hither, that I may teach thee to
+fish forthright."  So Al-Rashid alighted and hobbling his mule, tucked
+his skirts into his girdle, and Khalifah said to him, "O piper, lay
+hold of the net thus and put it over thy forearm thus and cast it into
+the Tigris thus." Accordingly, the Caliph took heart of grace and,
+doing as the fisherman showed him, threw the net and pulled at it, but
+could not draw it up.  So Khalifah came to his aid and tugged at it
+with him; but the two together could not hale it up: whereupon said the
+fisherman, "O piper of ill- omen, for the first time I took thy gown in
+place of my clothes; but this second time I will have thine ass and
+will beat thee to boot, till thou bepiss and beskite thyself!  An I
+find my net torn."  Quoth Al-Rashid, "Let the twain of us pull at
+once."  So they both pulled together and succeeded with difficulty in
+hauling that net ashore, when they found it full of fish of all kinds
+and colours;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Khalifah
+the Fisherman and the Caliph hauled that net ashore, they found it full
+of fish of all kinds; and Khalifah said to Al- Rashid, "By Allah, O
+piper, thou art foul of favor but, an thou apply thyself to fishing,
+thou wilt make a mighty fine fisherman. But now 'twere best thou
+bestraddle thine ass and make for the market and fetch me a pair of
+frails, [FN#223] and I will look after the fish till thou return, when
+I and thou will load it on thine ass's back.  I have scales and weights
+and all we want, so we can take them with us and thou wilt have nothing
+to do but to hold the scales and pouch the price; for here we have fish
+worth twenty dinars.  So be fast with the frails and loiter not."
+Answered the Caliph, "I hear and obey" and mounting, left him with his
+fish, and spurred his mule, in high good humour, and ceased not
+laughing over his adventures with the Fisherman, till he came up to
+Ja'afar, who said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, belike, when
+thou wentest down to drink, thou foundest a pleasant flower-garden and
+enteredst and tookest thy pleasure therein alone?"  At this Al-Rashid
+fell a laughing again and all the Barmecides rose and kissed the ground
+before him, saying, "O Commander of the Faithful, Allah make joy to
+endure for thee and do away annoy from thee!  What was the cause of thy
+delaying when thou faredst to drink and what hath befallen thee?" 
+Quoth the Caliph, "Verily, a right wondrous tale and a joyous adventure
+and a wondrous hath befallen me."  And he repeated to them what had
+passed between himself and the Fisherman and his words, "Thou stolest
+my clothes!" and how he had given him his gown and how he had cut off a
+part of it, finding it too long for him. Said Ja'afar, "By Allah, O
+Commander of the Faithful, I had it in mind to beg the gown of thee;
+but now I will go straight to the Fisherman and buy it of him."  The
+Caliph replied, "By Allah, he hath cut off a third part of the skirt
+and spoilt it!  But, O Ja'afar, I am tired with fishing in the river,
+for I have caught great store of fish which I left on the bank with my
+master Khalifah, and he is watching them and waiting for me to return
+to him with a couple of frails and a matchet. [FN#224]  Then we are to
+go, I and he, to the market and sell the fish and share the price." 
+Ja'afar rejoined, "O Commander of the Faithful, I will bring you a
+purchaser for your fish."  And Al-Rashid retorted, "O Ja'afar, by the
+virtue of my holy forefathers, whoso bringeth me one of the fish that
+are before Khalifah, who taught me angling, I will give him for it a
+gold dinar."  So the crier proclaimed among the troops that they should
+go forth and buy fish for the Caliph, and they all arose and made for
+the river-side.  Now, while Khalifah was expecting the Caliph's return
+with the two frails, behold, the Mamelukes swooped down upon him like
+vultures and took the fish and wrapped them in gold-embroidered
+kerchiefs, beating one another in their eagerness to get at the
+Fisherman. Whereupon quoth Khalifah, "Doubtless these are of the fish
+of Paradise!" [FN#225] and hending two fish in right hand and left,
+plunged into the water up to his neck and fell a-saying, "O Allah, by
+the virtue of these fish, let Thy servant the piper, my partner, come
+to me at this very moment."  And suddenly up to him came a black slave
+which was the chief of the Caliph's negro eunuchs.  He had tarried
+behind the rest, by reason of his horse having stopped to make water by
+the way, and finding that naught remained of the fish, little or much,
+looked right and left, till he espied Khalifah standing in the stream,
+with a fish in either hand, and said to him, "Come hither, O
+Fisherman!"  But Khalifah replied, "Begone and none of your impudence!"
+[FN#226]  So the eunuch went up to him and said, "Give me the fish and
+I will pay thee their price."  Replied the Fisherman, "Art thou little
+of wit?  I will not sell them."  Therewith the eunuch drew his mace
+upon him, and Khalifah cried out, saying, "Strike not, O loon! Better
+largesse than the mace." [FN#227]  So saying, he threw the two fishes
+to the eunuch, who took them and laid them in his kerchief.  Then he
+put hand in pouch, but found not a single dirham and said to Khalifah,
+"O Fisherman, verily thou art out of luck for, by Allah, I have not a
+silver about me!  But come to- morrow to the Palace of the Caliphate
+and ask for the eunuch Sandal; whereupon the castratos will direct thee
+to me and by coming thither thou shalt get what falleth to thy lot and
+therewith wend thy ways."  Quoth Khalifah, "Indeed, this is a blessed
+day and its blessedness was manifest from the first of it!"[FN#228]
+Then he shouldered his net and returned to Baghdad; and as he passed
+through the streets, the folk saw the Caliph's gown on him and stared
+at him till he came to the gate of his quarter, by which was the shop
+of the Caliph's tailor.  When the man saw him wearing a dress of the
+apparel of the Caliph, worth a thousand dinars, he said to him, "O
+Khalifah, whence hadst thou that gown?"  Replied the Fisherman, "What
+aileth thee to be impudent?  I had it of one whom I taught to fish and
+who is become my apprentice. I forgave him the cutting off of his hand
+[FN#229] for that he stole my clothes and gave me this cape in their
+place." So the tailor knew that the Caliph had come upon him as he was
+fishing and jested with him and given him the gown;—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,
+
+She resume, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph came
+upon Khalifah the Fisherman and gave him his own gown in jest wherewith
+the man fared home.  Such was his case; but as regards Harun al-Rashid,
+he had gone out a-hunting and a-fishing only to divert his thoughts
+from the damsel, Kut al-Kulub.  But when Zubaydah heard of her and of
+the Caliph's devotion to her, the Lady was fired with the jealousy
+which the more especially fireth women, so that she refused meat and
+drink and rejected the delights of sleep and awaited the Caliph's going
+forth on a journey or what not, that she might set a snare for the
+damsel. So when she learnt that he was gone hunting and fishing, she
+bade her women furnish the Palace fairly and decorate it splendidly and
+serve up viands and confections; and amongst the rest she made a China
+dish of the daintiest sweetmeats that can be made wherein she had put
+Bhang.  Then she ordered one of her eunuchs go to the damsel Kut
+al-Kulub and bid her to the banquet, saying, "The Lady Zubaydah bint
+Al-Kasim, the wife of the Commander of the Faithful, hath drunken
+medicine to-day and, having heard tell of the sweetness of thy singing,
+longeth to divert herself somewhat of thine art." Kut al-Kulub replied,
+"Hearing and obedience are due to Allah and the Lady Zubaydah," and
+rose without stay or delay, unknowing what was hidden for her in the
+Secret Purpose.  Then she took with her what instruments she needed
+and, accompanying the eunuch, ceased not fairing till she stood in the
+presence of the Princess.  When she entered she kissed ground before
+her again and again, then rising to her feet, said, "Peace be on the
+Lady of the exalted seat and the presence whereto none may avail,
+daughter of the house Abbásí and scion of the Prophet's family!  May
+Allah fulfil thee of peace and prosperity in the days and the years!"
+[FN#230] Then she stood with the rest of the women and eunuchs, and
+presently the Lady Zubaydah raised her eyes and considered her beauty
+and loveliness.  She saw a damsel with cheeks smooth as rose and
+breasts like granado, a face moon-bright, a brow flower-white and great
+eyes black as night; her eyelids were langour-dight and her face beamed
+with light, as if the sun from her forehead arose and the murks of the
+night from the locks of her brow; and the fragrance of musk from her
+breath strayed and flowers bloomed in her lovely face inlaid; the moon
+beamed from her forehead and in her slender shape the branches swayed. 
+She was like the full moon shining in the nightly shade; her eyes
+wantoned, her eyebrows were like a bow arched and her lips of coral
+moulded. Her beauty amazed all who espied her and her glances amated
+all who eyed her.  Glory be to Him who formed her and fashioned her and
+perfected her!  Brief, she was even as saith the poet of one who
+favoured her,
+
+"When she's incensed thou seest folk like slain, * And when she's
+     pleased, their souls are quick again:
+Her eyne are armed with glances magical * Wherewith she kills and
+     quickens as she's fain.
+The Worlds she leadeth captive with her eyes * As tho' the Worlds
+     were all her slavish train."
+
+
+Quoth the Lady Zubaydah, "Well come, and welcome and fair cheer to
+thee, O Kut al-Kulub!  Sit and divert us with thine art and the
+goodliness of thine accomplishments."  Quoth the damsel, "I hear and I
+obey"; and, putting out her hand, took the tambourine, whereof one of
+its praisers speaketh in the following verses,
+
+"Ho thou o' the tabret, my heart takes flight * And love-smit
+     cries while thy fingers smite!
+Thou takest naught but a wounded heart, * The while for
+     acceptance longs the wight:
+So say thou word or heavy or light; * Play whate'er thou please
+     it will charm the sprite.
+Sois bonne, unveil thy cheek, ma belle * Rise, deftly dance and
+     all hearts delight."
+
+
+Then she smote the tambourine briskly and so sang thereto, that she
+stopped the birds in the sky and the place danced with them blithely;
+after which she laid down the tambourine and took the pipe [FN#231]
+whereof it is said,
+
+"She hath eyes whose babes wi' their fingers sign * To sweet tunes
+without a discordant line."
+
+And as the poet also said in this couplet,
+
+"And, when she announceth the will to sing, * For Union-joy 'tis
+     a time divine!"
+
+
+Then she laid down the pipe, after she had charmed therewith all who
+were present, and took up the lute, whereof saith the poet,
+
+"How many a blooming bough in glee-girl's hand is fain * as
+     lute to 'witch great souls by charm of cunning strain!
+She sweeps tormenting lute strings by her artful touch * Wi'
+     finger-tips that surely chain with endless chain."
+
+
+Then she tightened its pegs and tuned its strings and laying it in her
+lap, bended over it as mother bendeth over child; and it seemed as it
+were of her and her lute that the poet spoke in these couplets,
+
+"Sweetly discourses she on Persian string * And Unintelligence
+     makes understand.
+And teaches she that Love's a murtherer, * Who oft the reasoning
+     Moslem hath unmann'd.
+A maid, by Allah, in whose palm a thing * Of painted wood like
+     mouth can speech command.
+With lute she stauncheth flow of Love; and so * Stops flow of
+     blood the cunning leach's hand."
+
+
+Then she preluded in fourteen different modes and sang to the lute an
+entire piece, so as to confound the gazers and delight her hearers. 
+After which she recited these two couplets,
+
+"The coming unto thee is blest: * Therein new joys for aye
+     attend:
+Its blisses are continuous * Its blessings never end."
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fortieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the maiden, Kut
+al-Kulub, after singing these songs and sweeping the strings in
+presence of the Lady Zubaydah, rose and exhibited tricks of sleight of
+hand and legerdemain and all manner pleasing arts, till the Princess
+came near to fall in love with her and said to herself, "Verily, my
+cousin Al-Rashid is not to blame for loving her!" Then the damsel
+kissed ground before Zubaydah and sat down, whereupon they set food
+before her.  Presently they brought her the drugged dish of sweetmeats
+and she ate thereof; and hardly had it settled in her stomach when her
+head fell backward and she sank on the ground sleeping.  With this, the
+Lady said to her women, "Carry her up to one of the chambers, till I
+summon her"; and they replied, "We hear and we obey."  Then said she to
+one of her eunuchs, "Fashion me a chest and bring it hitherto to me!",
+and shortly afterwards she bade make the semblance of a tomb and spread
+the report that Kut al-Kulub had choked and died, threatening her
+familiars that she would smite the neck of whoever should say, "She is
+alive."  Now, behold, the Caliph suddenly returned from the chase, and
+the first enquiry he made was for the damsel.  So there came to him one
+of his eunuchs, whom the Lady Zubaydah had charged to declare she was
+dead, if the Caliph should ask for her and, kissing ground before him,
+said, "May thy head live, O my lord!  Be certified that Kut al- Kulub
+choked in eating and is dead."  Whereupon cried Al-Rashid, "God never
+gladden thee with good news, O thou bad slave!" and entered the Palace,
+where he heard of her death from every one and asked, "Where is her
+tomb?"  So they brought him to the sepulchre and showed him the
+pretended tomb, saying, "This is her burial-place."  When he saw it, he
+cried out and wept and embraced it, quoting these two couplets,
+[FN#232]
+
+"By Allah, O tomb, have her beauties ceased and disappeared from
+     sight * And is the countenance changed and wan, that shone
+     so wonder-bright?
+O tomb, O tomb, thou art neither heaven nor garden, verily: * How
+     comes it then that swaying branch and moon in thee unite?
+
+
+The Caliph, weeping sore for her, abode by the tomb a full hour, after
+which he arose and went away, in the utmost distress and the deepest
+melancholy.  So the Lady Zubaydah saw that her plot had succeeded and
+forthright sent for the eunuch and said, "Hither with the chest!"  He
+set it before her, when she bade bring the damsel and locking her up
+therein, said to the Eunuch, "Take all pains to sell this chest and
+make it a condition with the purchaser that he buy it locked; then give
+alms with its price." [FN#233]  So he took it and went forth, to do her
+bidding.  Thus fared it with these; but as for Khalifah the Fisherman,
+when morning morrowed and shone with its light and sheen, he said to
+himself, "I cannot do aught better to-day than visit the Eunuch who
+bought the fish of me, for he appointed me to come to him in the Palace
+of the Caliphate." So he went forth of his lodging, intending for the
+palace, and when he came thither, he found Mamelukes, negro-slaves and
+eunuchs standing and sitting; and looking at them, behold, seated
+amongst them was the Eunuch who had taken the fish of him, with the
+white slaves waiting on him.  Presently, one of the Mameluke-lads
+called out to him; whereupon the Eunuch turned to see who he was an lo!
+it was the Fisherman.  Now when Khalifah was ware that he saw him and
+recognized him, he said to him, "I have not failed thee, O my little
+Tulip! [FN#234]  On this wise are men of their word." Hearing his
+address, Sandal the Eunuch [FN#235] laughed and replied, "By Allah,
+thou art right, O Fisherman," and put his hand to his pouch, to give
+him somewhat; but at that moment there arose a great clamour.  So he
+raised his head to see what was to do and finding that it was the Wazir
+Ja'afar the Barmecide coming forth from the Caliph's presence, he rose
+to him and forewent him, and they walked about, conversing for a
+longsome time. Khalifah the Fisherman waited awhile; then, growing
+weary of standing and finding that the Eunuch took no heed of him, he
+set himself in his way and beckoned to him from afar, saying, "O my
+lord Tulip, give me my due and let me go!"  The Eunuch heard him, but
+was ashamed to answer him because of the minister's presence; so he
+went on talking with Ja'afar and took no notice whatever of the
+Fisherman.  Whereupon quoth Khalifah, "O Slow o' Pay! [FN#236] May
+Allah put to shame all churls and all who take folks's goods and are
+niggardly with them!  I put myself under thy protection, O my lord
+Bran-belly, [FN#237] to give me my due and let me go!"  The Eunuch
+heard him, but was ashamed to answer him before Ja'afar; and the
+Minister saw the Fisherman beckoning and talking to him, though he knew
+not what he was saying; so he said to Sandal, misliking his behaviour,
+"O Eunuch, what would yonder beggar with thee?"  Sandal replied, "Dost
+thou not know him, O my lord the Wazir?"; and Ja'afar answered, "By
+Allah, I know him not!  How should I know a man I have never seen but
+at this moment?"  Rejoined the Eunuch, "O my lord, this is the
+Fisherman whose fish we seized on the banks of the Tigris.  I came too
+late to get any and was ashamed to return to the Prince of True
+Believers, empty-handed, when all the Mamelukes had some. Presently I
+espied the Fisherman standing in mid-stream, calling on Allah, with
+four fishes in his hands, and said to him, 'Give me what thou hast
+there and take their worth.'  He handed me the fish and I put my hand
+into my pocket, purposing to gift him with somewhat, but found naught
+therein and said, 'Come to me in the Palace, and I will give thee
+wherewithal to aid thee in thy poverty.  So he came to me to-day and I
+was putting hand to pouch, that I might give him somewhat, when thou
+camest forth and I rose to wait on thee and was diverted with thee from
+him, till he grew tired of waiting; and this is the whole story, how he
+cometh to be standing here." —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-first Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sandal
+the Eunuch related to Ja'afar the Barmecide the tale of Khalifah the
+Fisherman, ending with, "This is the whole story and how he cometh to
+be standing here!" the Wazir, hearing this account, smiled and said, "O
+Eunuch, how is it that this Fisherman cometh in his hour of need and
+thou satisfiest him not? Dost thou not know him, O Chief of the
+Eunuchs?"  "No," answered Sandal and Ja'afar said, "This is the Master
+of the Commander of the Faithful, and his partner and our lord the
+Caliph has arisen this morning, strait of breast, heavy of heart and
+troubled of thought, nor is there aught will broaden his breast save
+this fisherman.  So let him not go, till I crave the Caliph's pleasure
+concerning him and bring him before him; perchance Allah will relieve
+him of his oppression and console him for the loss of Kut al-Kulub, by
+means of the Fisherman's presence, and he will give him wherewithal to
+better himself; and thou wilt be the cause of this."  Replied Sandal,
+"O my lord, do as thou wilt and may Allah Almighty long continue thee a
+pillar of the dynasty of the Commander of the Faithful, whose shadow
+Allah perpetuate [FN#238] and prosper it, root and branch!"  Then the
+Wazir Ja'afar rose up and went in to the Caliph, and Sandal ordered the
+Mamelukes not to leave the Fisherman; whereupon Khalifah cried, "How
+goodly is thy bounty, O Tulip! The seeker is become the sought.  I come
+to seek my due, and they imprison me for debts in arrears!" [FN#239]
+When Ja'afar came in to the presence of the Caliph, he found him
+sitting with his head bowed earthwards, breast straitened and mind
+melancholy, humming the verses of the poet,
+
+"My blamers instant bid that I for her become consoled; * But I,
+     what can I do, whose heart declines to be controlled?
+And how can I in patience bear the loss of lovely maid, * When
+     fails me patience for a love that holds with firmest hold!
+Ne'er I'll forget her nor the bowl that 'twixt us both went round
+     * And wine of glances maddened me with drunkenness
+     ensoul'd."
+
+
+Whenas Ja'afar stood in the presence, he said, "Peace be upon thee, O
+Commander of the Faithful, Defender of the honour of the Faith and
+descendant of the uncle of the Prince of the Apostles, Allah assain him
+and save him and his family one and all!"  The Caliph raised his head
+and answered, "And on thee be peace and the mercy of Allah and His
+blessings!"  Quoth Ja'afar; "With leave of the Prince of True
+Believers, his servant would speak without restraint." Asked the
+Caliph, "And when was restraint put upon thee in speech and thou the
+Prince of Wazirs?  Say what thou wilt."  Answered Ja'afar, "When I went
+out, O my lord, from before thee, intending for my house, I saw
+standing at the door thy master and teacher and partner, Khalifah the
+Fisherman, who was aggrieved at thee and complained of thee saying,
+'Glory be to God!  I taught him to fish and he went away to fetch me a
+pair of frails, but never came back: and this is not the way of a good
+partner or of a good apprentice.'  So, if thou hast a mind to
+partnership, well and good; and if not, tell him, that he may take to
+partner another."  Now when the Caliph heard these words he smiled and
+his straitness of breast was done away with and he said, "My life on
+thee, is this the truth thou sayest, that the Fisherman standeth at the
+door?" and Ja'afar replied, "By thy life, O Commander of the Faithful,
+he standeth at the door." Quoth the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, by Allah, I
+will assuredly do my best to give him his due!  If Allah at my hands
+send him misery, he shall have it; and if prosperity he shall have it."
+ Then he took a piece of paper and cutting it in pieces, said to the
+Wazir, "O Ja'afar, write down with thine own hand twenty sums of money,
+from one dinar to a thousand, and the names of all kinds of offices and
+dignities from the least appointment to the Caliphate; also twenty
+kinds of punishment from the lightest beating to death." [FN#240]  "I
+hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful," answered Ja'afar, and did
+as he was bidden. Then said the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, I swear by my holy
+forefathers and by my kinship to Hamzah [FN#241] and Akil, [FN#242]
+that I mean to summon the fisherman and bid him take one of these
+papers, whose contents none knowesth save thou and I; and whatsoever is
+written in the paper which he shall choose, I will give it to him;
+though it be the Caliphate I will divest myself thereof and invest him
+therewith and grudge it not to him; and, on the other hand, if there be
+written therein hanging or mutilation or death, I will execute it upon
+him.  Now go and fetch him to me."  When Ja'afar heard this, he said to
+himself, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
+Glorious, the Great!  It may be somewhat will fall to this poor
+wretch's lot that will bring about his destruction, and I shall be the
+cause.  But the Caliph hath sworn; so nothing remains now but to bring
+him in, and naught will happen save whatso Allah willeth."  Accordingly
+he went out to Khalifah the Fisherman and laid hold of his hand to
+carry him in to the Caliph, whereupon his reason fled and he said in
+himself, "What a stupid I was to come after yonder ill-omened slave,
+Tulip, whereby he hath brought me in company with Bran- belly!" 
+Ja'afar fared on with him, with Mamelukes before and behind, whilst he
+said, "Doth not arrest suffice, but these must go behind and before me,
+to hinder my making off?" till they had traversed seven vestibules,
+when the Wazir said to him, "Mark my words, O Fisherman!  Thou standest
+before the Commander of the Faithful and Defender of the Faith!"  Then
+he raised the great curtain and Khalifah's eyes fell on the Caliph, who
+was seated on his couch, with the Lords of the realm standing in
+attendance upon him.  As soon as he knew him, he went up to him and
+said, "Well come, and welcome to thee, O piper! 'Twas not right of thee
+to make thyself a Fisherman and go away, leaving me sitting to guard
+the fish, and never to return!  For, before I was aware, there came up
+Mamelukes on beasts of all manner colours, and snatched away the fish
+from me, I standing alone, and this was all of thy fault; for, hadst
+thou returned with the frails forthright, we had sold an hundred
+dinars' worth of fish.  And now I come to seek my due, and they have
+arrested me. But thou, who hath imprisoned thee also in this place?" 
+The Caliph smiled and raising a corner of the curtain, put forth his
+head and said to the Fisherman, "Come hither and take thee one of these
+papers."  Quoth Khalifah the Fisherman, "Yesterday thou wast a
+fisherman, and to-day thou hast become an astrologer; but the more
+trades a man hath, the poorer he waxeth."  Thereupon Ja'afar said,
+"Take the paper at once, and do as the Commander of the Faithful
+biddeth thee without prating."  So he came forward and put forth his
+hand saying, "Far be it from me that this piper should ever again be my
+knave and fish with me!"  Then taking the paper he handed it to the
+Caliph, saying, "O piper, what hath come out for me therein? Hide
+naught thereof."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-second Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Khalifah the Fisherman took up one of the papers and handed it to the
+Caliph he said, "O piper, what have come out to me therein? Hide naught
+thereof."  So Al-Rashid received it and passed it on to Ja'afar and
+said to him, "Read what is therein."  He looked at it and said, "There
+is no Majesty there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the
+Great!"  Said the Caliph, "Good news, [FN#243] O Ja'afar?  What seest
+thou therein?"  Answered the Wazir, "O Commander of the Faithful, there
+came up from the paper, 'Let the Fisherman receive an hundred blows
+with a stick.'"  So the Caliph commanded to beat the Fisherman and they
+gave him an hundred sticks: after which he rose, saying, "Allah damn
+this, O Bran-belly!  Are jail and sticks part of the game?" Then said
+Ja'afar, "O Commander of the Faithful, this poor devil is come to the
+river, and how shall he go away thirsting?  We hope that among the
+alms-deeds of the Commander of the Faithful, he may have leave to take
+another paper, so haply somewhat may come out wherewithal he may succor
+his poverty." Said the Caliph, "By Allah, O Ja'afar, if he take another
+paper and death be written therein, I will assuredly kill him, and thou
+wilt be the cause."  Answered Ja'afar, "If he die he will be at rest." 
+But Khalifah the Fisherman said to him, "Allah ne'er gladden thee with
+good news!  Have I made Baghdad strait upon you, that ye seek to slay
+me?"  Quoth Ja'afar, "Take thee a paper and crave the blessing of Allah
+Almighty!"  So he put out his hand and taking a paper, gave it to
+Ja'afar, who read it and was silent. The Caliph asked, "Why art thou
+silent, O son of Yahya?"; and he answered, "O Commander of the
+Faithful, there hath come out on this paper, 'Naught shall be given to
+the Fisherman.'"  Then said the Caliph, "His daily bread will not come
+from us: bid him fare forth from before our face."  Quoth Ja'afar, "By
+the claims of thy pious forefathers, let him take a third paper, it may
+be it will bring him alimony;" and quoth the Caliph, "Let him take one
+and no more."  So he put out his hand and took a third paper, and
+behold, therein was written, "Let the Fisherman be given one dinar." 
+Ja'afar cried to him, "I sought good fortune for thee, but Allah willed
+not to thee aught save this dinar."  And Khalifah answered, "Verily, a
+dinar for every hundred sticks were rare good luck, may Allah not send
+thy body health!"  The Caliph laughed at him and Ja'afar took him by
+the hand and led him out. When he reached the door, Sandal the eunuch
+saw him and said to him, "Hither, O Fisherman!  Give us portion of that
+which the Commander of the Faithful hath bestowed on thee, whilst
+jesting with thee."  Replied Khalifah, "By Allah, O Tulip, thou art
+right!  Wilt thou share with me, O nigger?  Indeed, I have eaten stick
+to the tune of an hundred blows and have earned one dinar, and thou art
+but too welcome to it."  So saying, he threw him the dinar and went
+out, with the tears flowing down the plain of his cheeks.  When the
+Eunuch saw him in this plight, he knew that he had spoken sooth and
+called to the lads to fetch him back: so they brought him back and
+Sandal, putting his hand to his pouch, pulled out a red purse, whence
+he emptied an hundred golden dinars into the Fisherman's hand, saying,
+"Take this gold in payment of thy fish and wend thy ways."  So
+Khalifah, in high good humor, took the hundred ducats and the Caliph's
+one dinar and went his way, and forgot the beating.  Now, as Allah
+willed it for the furthering of that which He had decreed, he passed by
+the mart of the hand-maidens and seeing there a mighty ring where many
+folks were foregathering, said to himself, "What is this crowd?"  So he
+brake through the merchants and others, who said, "Make wide the way
+for Skipper Rapscallion, [FN#244] and let him pass."  Then he looked
+and behold, he saw a chest, with an eunuch seated thereon and an old
+man standing by it, and the Shaykh was crying, "O merchants, O men of
+money, who will hasten and hazard his coin for this chest of unknown
+contents from the Palace of the Lady Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, wife of
+the Commander of the Faithful?  How much shall I say for you, Allah
+bless you all!" Quoth one of the merchants, "By Allah, this is a risk! 
+But I will say one word and no blame to me.  Be it mine for twenty
+dinars."  Quoth another, "Fifty," and they went on bidding, one against
+other, till the price reached an hundred ducats.  Then said the crier,
+"Will any of you bid more, O merchants?"  And Khalifah the Fisherman
+said, "Be it mine for an hundred dinars and one dinar."  The merchants,
+hearing these words, thought he was jesting and laughed at him, saying,
+"O eunuch sell it to Khalifah for an hundred dinars and one dinar!" 
+Quoth the eunuch, "By Allah, I will sell it to none but him!  Take it,
+O Fisherman, the Lord bless thee in it, and here with thy gold."  So
+Khalifah pulled out the ducats and gave them to the eunuch, who, the
+bargain being duly made, delivered to him the chest and bestowed the
+price in alms on the spot; after which he returned to the Palace and
+acquainted the Lady Zubaydah with what he had done, whereat she
+rejoiced.  Meanwhile the Fisherman hove the chest on shoulder, but
+could not carry it on this wise for the excess of its weight; so he
+lifted it on to his head and thus bore it to the quarter where he
+lived.  Here he set it down and being weary, sat awhile, bemusing what
+had befallen him and saying in himself, "Would Heaven I knew what is in
+this chest!"  Then he opened the door of his lodging and haled the
+chest until he got it into his closet; after which he strove to open
+it, but failed.  Quoth he, "What folly possessed me to buy this chest? 
+There is no help for it but to break it open and see what is herein." 
+So he applied himself to the lock, but could not open it, and said to
+himself, "I will leave it till to-morrow."  Then he would have
+stretched him out to sleep, but could find no room; for the chest
+filled the whole closet.  So he got upon it and lay him down; but, when
+he had lain awhile, behold, he felt something stir under him whereat
+sleep forsook him and his reason fled.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-third Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Khalifah
+the Fisherman lay down upon the chest and thus tarried awhile, behold,
+something stirred beneath him; whereat he was affrighted and his reason
+fled.  So he arose and cried, "Meseems there be Jinns in the chest. 
+Praise to Allah who suffered me not to open it!  For, had I done so,
+they had risen against me in the dark and slain me, and from them would
+have befallen me naught of good." Then he lay down again when, lo! the
+chest moved a second time, more than before; whereupon he sprang to his
+feet and said, "There it goes again: but this is terrible!"  And he
+hastened to look for the lamp, but could not find it and had not the
+wherewithal to buy another.  So he went forth and cried out, "Ho,
+people of the quarter!"  Now the most part of the folk were asleep; but
+they awoke at his crying and asked, "What aileth thee, O Khalifah?"  He
+answered, "Bring me a lamp, for the Jinn are upon me."  They laughed at
+him and gave him a lamp, wherewith he returned to his closet.  Then he
+smote the lock of the chest with a stone and broke it and opening it,
+saw a damsel like a Houri lying asleep within.  Now she had been
+drugged with Bhang, but at that moment she threw up the stuff and
+awoke; then she opened her eyes and feeling herself confined and
+cramped, moved. At this sight quoth Khalifah, "By Allah, O my lady,
+whence art thou?"; and quoth she, "Bring me Jessamine, and Narcissus."
+[FN#245]  and Khalifah answered, "There is naught here but Henna-
+flowers." [FN#246]  thereupon she came to herself and considering
+Khalifah, said to him, "What art thou?" presently adding, "And where am
+I?"  He said, "Thou art in my lodging."  Asked she, "Am I not in the
+Palace of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid?" And quoth he, "What manner of
+thing is Al-Rashid? [FN#247]  O madwoman, Thou art naught but my
+slave-girl: I bought thee this very day for an hundred dinars and one
+dinar, and brought thee home, and thou wast asleep in this here chest."
+When she had heard these words she said to him, "What is thy name?" 
+Said he, "My name is Khalifah.  How comes my star to have grown
+propitious, when I know my ascendant to have been otherwise?"  She
+laughed and cried, "Spare me this talk!  Hast thou anything to eat?" 
+Replied he, "No, by Allah, nor yet to drink!  I have not eaten these
+two days and am now in want of a morsel."  She asked, "Hast thou no
+money?"; and he said, "Allah keep this chest which hath beggared me: I
+gave all I had for it and am become bankrupt." The damsel laughed at
+him and said, "Up with thee and seek of thy neighbours somewhat for me
+to eat, for I am hungry."  So he went forth and cried out, "Ho, people
+of the quarter!"  Now the folk were asleep; but they awoke and asked,
+"What aileth thee, O Khalifah?" Answered he, "O my neighbours, I am
+hungry and have nothing to eat."  So one came down to him with a
+bannock and another with broken meats and a third with a bittock of
+cheese and a fourth with a cucumber; and so on till he lap was full and
+he returned to his closet and laid the whole between her hands, saying,
+"Eat."  But she laughed at him, saying, "How can I eat of this, when I
+have not a mug of water whereof to drink?  I fear to choke with a
+mouthful and die."  Quoth he, "I will fill thee this pitcher."[FN#248] 
+So he took the pitcher and going forth, stood in the midst of the
+street and cried out, saying, "Ho, people of the quarter!"  Quoth they,
+"What calamity is upon thee to-night, [FN#249] O Khalifah!"  And he
+said, "Ye gave me food and I ate; but now I am a-thirst; so give me to
+drink."  Thereupon one came down to him with a mug and another with an
+ewer and a third with a gugglet; and he filled his pitcher and, bearing
+it back, said to the damsel, "O my lady, thou lackest nothing now." 
+Answered she, "True, I want nothing more at this present." Quoth he,
+"Speak to me and say me thy story."  And quoth she, "Fie upon thee! An
+thou knowest me not, I will tell thee who I am.  I am Kut al-Kulub, the
+Caliph's handmaiden, and the Lady Zubaydah was jealous of me; so she
+drugged me with Bhang and set me in this chest," presently adding,
+"Alhamdolillah—praised be God—for that the matter hath come to easy
+issue and no worse!  But this befel me not save for thy good luck, for
+thou wilt certainly get of the Caliph Al-Rashid money galore, that will
+be the means of thine enrichment."  Quoth Khalifah, "Is not Al-Rashid
+he in whose Palace I was imprisoned?"  "Yes," answered she; and he
+said, "By Allah, never saw I more niggardly wight than he, that piper
+little of good and wit!  He gave me an hundred blows with a stick
+yesterday and but one dinar, for all I taught him to fish and made him
+my partner; but he played me false."  Replied she, "Leave this unseemly
+talk, and open thine eyes and look thou bear thyself respectfully,
+whenas thou seest him after this, and thou shalt win thy wish."  When
+he heard her words, it was if he had been asleep and awoke; and Allah
+removed the veil from his judgment, because of his good luck, [FN#250]
+and he answered, "On my head and eyes!" Then said he to her, "Sleep, in
+the name of Allah." [FN#251]  So she lay down and fell asleep (and he
+afar from her) till the morning, when she sought of him inkcase
+[FN#252] and paper and, when they were brought wrote to Ibn al- Kirnas,
+the Caliph's friend, acquainting him with her case and how at the end
+of all that had befallen her she was with Khalifah the Fisherman, who
+had bought her. Then she gave him the scroll, saying, "Take this and
+hie thee to the jewel-market and ask for the shop of Ibn al-Kirnas the
+Jeweller and give him this paper and speak not."  "I hear and I obey,"
+answered Khalifah and going with the scroll to the market, enquired for
+the shop of Ibn al- Kirnas.  They directed him to thither and on
+entering it he saluted the merchant, who returned his salam with
+contempt and said to him, "What dost thou want?" Thereupon he gave him
+the letter and he took it, but read it not, thinking the Fisherman a
+beggar, who sought an alms of him, and said to one of his lads, "Give
+him half a dirham."  Quoth Khalifah, "I want no alms; read the paper."
+So Ibn al-Kirnas took the letter and read it; and no sooner knew its
+import than he kissed it and laying it on his head—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-fourth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ibn
+al-Kirnas read the letter and knew its import, he kissed it and laid it
+on his head; then he arose and said to Khalifah, "O my brother, where
+is thy house?"  Asked Khalifah, "What wantest thou with my house?  Wilt
+thou go thither and steal my slave-girl?" Then Ibn al-Kirnas answered,
+"No so: on the contrary, I will buy thee somewhat whereof you may eat,
+thou and she."  So he said, "My house is in such a quarter;" and the
+merchant rejoined, "Thou hast done well.  May Allah not give thee
+health, O unlucky one!" [FN#253]  Then he called out to two of his
+slaves and said to them, "Carry this man to the shop of Mohsin the
+Shroff and say to him, 'O Mohsin, give this man a thousand dinars of
+gold;' then bring him back to me in haste."  So they carried him to the
+money-changer, who paid him the money, and returned with him to their
+master, whom they found mounted on a dapple she-mule worth a thousand
+dinars, with Mamelukes and pages about him, and by his side another
+mule like his own, saddled and bridled.  Quoth the jeweller to
+Khalifah, "Bismillah, mount this mule."  Replied he, "I won't; for by
+Allah, I fear she throw me;" and quoth Ibn al- Kirnas, "By God, needs
+must thou mount."  So he came up and mounting her, face to crupper,
+caught hold of her tail and cried out; whereupon she threw him on the
+ground and they laughed at him; but he rose and said, "Did I not tell
+thee I would not mount this great jenny-ass?"  Thereupon Ibn al-Kirnas
+left him in the market and repairing to the Caliph, told him of the
+damsel; after which he returned and removed her to his own house. 
+Meanwhile, Khalifah went home to look after the handmaid and found the
+people of the quarter foregathering and saying, "Verily, Khalifah is
+to-day in a terrible pickle! [FN#254]  Would we knew whence he can have
+gotten this damsel?"  Quoth one of them, "He is a mad pimp; haply he
+found her lying on the road drunken, and carried her to his own house,
+and his absence showeth that he knoweth his offence."  As they were
+talking, behold, up came Khalifah, and they said to him, "What a plight
+is thine, O unhappy! Knowest thou not what is come to thee?"  He
+replied, "No, by Allah!" and they said, "But just now there came
+Mamelukes and took away thy slave-girl whom thou stolest, and sought
+for thee, but found thee not."  Asked Khalifah, "And how came they to
+take my slave-girl?"; and quoth one, "Had he falled in their way, they
+had slain him." But he, so far from heeding  them, returned running to
+the shop of Ibn al-Kirnas, whom he met riding, and said to him, "By
+Allah, 'twas not right of thee to wheedle me and meanwhile send thy
+Mamelukes to take my slave-girl!" Replied the jeweller, "O idiot, come
+with me and hold thy tongue."  So he took him and carried him into a
+house handsomely builded, where he found the damsel seated on a couch
+of gold, with ten slave-girls like moons round her. Sighting her Ibn
+al-Kirnas kissed ground before her and she said, "What hast thou done
+with my new master, who bought me with all he owned?"  He replied, "O
+my lady, I gave him a thousand golden dinars;" and related to her
+Khalifah's history from first to last, whereat she laughed and said,
+"Blame him not; for he is but a common wight.  These other thousand
+dinars are a gift from me to him and Almighty Allah willing, he shall
+win of the Caliph what shall enrich him."  As they were talking, there
+came an eunuch from the Commander of the Faithful, in quest of Kut al-
+Kulub, for, when he knew that she was in the house of Ibn al- Kirnas,
+he could not endure the severance, but bade bring her forthwith.  So
+she repaired to the Palace, taking Khalifah with her, and going into
+the presence, kissed ground before the Caliph, who rose to her,
+saluting and welcoming her, and asked her how she had fared with him
+who had bought her. She replied, "He is a man, Khalifah the Fisherman
+hight, and there he standeth at the door.  He telleth me that he hath
+an account to settle with the Commander of the Faithful, by reason of a
+partnership between him and the Caliph in fishing."  Asked Al-Rashid,
+"Is he at the door?" and she answered, "Yes."  So the Caliph sent for
+him and he kissed ground before him and wished him endurance of glory
+and prosperity.  The Caliph marvelled at him and laughed at him and
+said to him, "O Fisherman, wast thou in very deed my partner [FN#255]
+yesterday?"  Khalifah took his meaning and heartening his heart and
+summoning spirit replied, "By Him who bestowed upon thee the succession
+to thy cousin, [FN#256] I know her not in anywise and have had no
+commerce with her save by way of sight and speech!"  Then he repeated
+to him all that had befallen him, since he last saw him, [FN#257]
+whereat the Caliph laughed and his breast broadened and he said to
+Khalifah, "Ask of us what thou wilt, O thou who bringest to owners
+their own!"  But he was silent; so the Caliph ordered him fifty
+thousand dinars of gold and a costly dress of honour such as great
+Sovrans don, and a she-mule, and gave him black slaves of the Súdán to
+serve him, so that he became as he were one of the Kings of that time. 
+The Caliph was rejoiced at the recovery of his favourite and knew that
+all this was the doing of his cousin-wife, the Lady Zubaydah,—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph
+rejoiced at the recovery of Kut al-Kulub and knew that all this was the
+doing of the Lady Zubaydah, his cousin-wife; wherefore he was sore
+enraged against her and held aloof from her a great while, visiting her
+not neither inclining to pardon her. When she was certified of this,
+she was sore concerned for his wrath and her face, that was wont to be
+rosy, waxed pale and wan till, when her patience was exhausted, she
+sent a letter to her cousin, the Commander of the Faithful making her
+excuses to him and confessing her offences, and ending with these
+verses
+
+"I long once more the love that was between us to regain, * That
+     I may quench the fire of grief and bate the force of bane.
+O lords of me, have ruth upon the stress my passion deals *
+     Enough to me is what you doled of sorrow and of pain.
+'Tis life to me an deign you keep the troth you deigned to plight
+     * 'Tis death to me an troth you break and fondest vows
+     profane:
+Given I've sinned a sorry sin, ye grant me ruth, for naught * By
+     Allah, sweeter is than friend who is of pardon fain."
+
+
+When the Lady Zubaydah's letter reached the Caliph, and reading it he
+saw that she confessed her offence and sent her excuses to him
+therefor, he said to himself, "Verily, all sins doth Allah forgive;
+aye, Gracious, Merciful is He!" [FN#258]  And he returned her an
+answer, expressing satisfaction and pardon and forgiveness for what was
+past, whereat she rejoiced greatly.  As for Khalifah, the Fisherman,
+the Caliph assigned him a monthly solde of fifty dinars and took him
+into especial favour, which would lead to rank and dignity, honour and
+worship.  Then he kissed ground before the Commander of the Faithful
+and went forth with stately gait.  When he came to the door, the Eunuch
+Sandal, who had given him the hundred dinars, saw him and knowing him,
+said to him, "O Fisherman, whence all this?"  So he told him all that
+had befallen him, first and last, whereat Sandal rejoiced, because he
+had been the cause of his enrichment, and said to him, "Wilt thou not
+give me largesse of this wealth which is now become thine?"  So
+Khalifah put hand to pouch and taking out a purse containing a thousand
+dinars, gave it to the Eunuch, who said, "Keep thy coins and Allah
+bless thee therein!" and marvelled at his manliness and at the
+liberality of his soul, for all his late poverty. [FN#259]  Then
+leaving the eunuch, Khalifah mounted his she-mule and rode, with the
+slaves' hands on her crupper, till he came to his lodging at the Khan,
+whilst the folk stared at him in surprise for that which had betided
+him of advancement.  When he alighted from his beast they accosted him
+and enquired the cause of his change from poverty to prosperity, and he
+told them all that had happened to him from incept to conclusion.  Then
+he bought a fine mansion and laid out thereon much money, till it was
+perfect in all points.  And he took up his abode therein and was wont
+to recite thereon these two couplets,
+
+"Behold a house that's like the Dwelling of Delight; [FN#260] *
+     Its aspect heals the sick and banishes despite.
+Its sojourn for the great and wise appointed it, * And Fortune
+     fair therein abideth day and night."
+
+
+Then, as soon as he was settled in his house, he sought him in marriage
+the daughter of one of the chief men of the city, a handsome girl, and
+went in unto her and led a life of solace and satisfaction, joyaunce
+and enjoyment; and he rose to passing affluence and exceeding
+prosperity.  So, when he found himself in this fortunate condition, he
+offered up thanks to Allah (extolled and excelled be He!) for what He
+had bestowed on him of wealth exceeding and of favours ever succeeding,
+praising his Lord with the praise of the grateful and chanting the
+words of the poet,
+
+"To Thee be praise, O Thou who showest unremitting grace; * O
+     Thou whose universal bounties high and low embrace!
+To Thee be praise from me! Then deign accept my praise for I *
+     Accept Thy boons and gifts with grateful soul in every case.
+Thou hast with favours overwhelmed me, benefits and largesse *
+     And gracious doles my memory ne'er ceaseth to retrace.
+All men from mighty main, Thy grace and goodness, drain and
+     drink; * And in their need Thou, only Thou, to them art
+     refuge-place!
+So for the sake of him who came to teach mankind in ruth *
+     Prophet, pure, truthful-worded scion of the noblest race;
+Ever be Allah's blessing and His peace on him and all * His aids
+     [FN#261] and kin while pilgrims fare his noble tomb to face!
+And on his helpmeets [FN#262] one and all, Companions great and
+     good, * Through time Eternal while the bird shall sing in
+     shady wood!"
+
+
+And thereafter Khalifah continued to pay frequent visits to the Caliph
+Harun al-Rashid, with whom he found acceptance and who ceased not to
+overwhelm him with boons and bounty: and he abode in the enjoyment of
+the utmost honour and happiness and joy and gladness and in riches more
+than sufficing and in rank ever rising; brief, a sweet life and a
+savoury, pure as pleasurable, till there came to him the Destroyer of
+delights and the Sunderer of societies; and extolled be the perfection
+of Him to whom belong glory and permanence and He is the Living, the
+Eternal, who shall never die!
+
+NOTE.  I have followed the example of Mr. Payne and have translated in
+its entirety the Tale of Khalifah the Fisherman from the Breslau Edit.
+(Vol. iv. pp. 315-365, Night cccxxi- cccxxxii.) in preference to the
+unsatisfactory process of amalgamating it with that of the Mac. Edit.
+given above.
+
+
+Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad.
+
+There was once, in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before,
+in the city of Baghdad, a fisherman, by name Khalíf, a man of muckle
+talk and little luck. One day, as he sat in his cell,[FN#263] he
+bethought himself and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might
+save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Would Heaven I knew what is my
+offence in the sight of my Lord and what caused the blackness of my
+fortune and my littleness of luck among the fishermen, albeit (and I
+say it who should not) in the city of Baghdad there is never a
+fisherman like myself." Now he lodged in a ruined place called a Khan,
+to wit, an inn,[FN#264] without a door, and when he went forth to fish,
+he would shoulder the net, without basket or fish-slicers,[FN#265] and
+when the folk would stare at him and say to him, "O Khalif, why not
+take with thee a basket, to hold the fish thou catchest?"; he would
+reply, "Even as I carry it forth empty, so would it come back, for I
+never manage to catch aught." One night he arose, in the darkness
+before dawn, and taking his net on his shoulder, raised his eyes to
+heaven and said, "Allah mine, O Thou who subjectedst the sea to Moses
+son of Imrán, give me this day my daily bread, for Thou art the best of
+bread-givers!" Then he went down to the Tigris and spreading his net,
+cast it into the river and waited till it had settled down, when he
+haled it in and drew it ashore, but behold, it held naught save a dead
+dog. So he cast away the carcase, saying, "O morning of ill doom! What
+a handsel is this dead hound, after I had rejoiced in its
+weight[FN#266]!" Then he mended the rents in the net, saying, "Needs
+must there after this carrion be fish in plenty, attracted by the
+smell," and made a second cast. After awhile, he drew up and found in
+the net the hough[FN#267] of a camel, that had caught in the meshes and
+rent them right and left. When Khalif saw his net in this state, he
+wept and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in
+Allah, the Glorious, the Great! I wonder what is my offence and the
+cause of the blackness of my fortune and the littleness of my luck, of
+all folk, so that I catch neither cat-fish nor sprat,[FN#268] that I
+may broil on the embers and eat, for all I dare say there is not in the
+city of Baghdad a fisherman like me." Then with a Bismillah he cast his
+net a third time, and presently drawing it ashore found therein an ape
+scurvy and one-eyed, mangy, and limping hending an ivory rod in
+forehand. When Khalif saw this, he said, "This is indeed a blessed
+opening! What art thou, O ape?" "Dost thou not know me?" "No, by Allah,
+I have no knowledge of thee!" "I am thine ape!" "What use is there in
+thee, O my ape?" "Every day I give thee good-morrow, so Allah may not
+open to thee the door of daily bread." "Thou failest not of this, O
+one-eye[FN#269] of ill-omen! May Allah never bless thee! Needs must I
+pluck out thy sound eye and cut off thy whole leg, so thou mayst become
+a blind cripple and I be quit of thee. But what is the use of that rod
+thou hendest in hand?" "O Khalif, I scare the fish therewith, so they
+may not enter thy net." "Is it so?: then this very day will I punish
+thee with a grievous punishment and devise thee all manner torments and
+strip thy flesh from thy bones and be at rest from thee, sorry bit of
+goods that thou art!" So saying, Khalif the Fisherman unwound from his
+middle a strand of rope and binding him to a tree by his side, said,
+"Lookee, O dog of an ape! I mean to cast the net again and if aught
+come up therein, well and good; but, if it come up empty, I will verily
+and assuredly make an end of thee, with the cruellest tortures and be
+quit of thee, thou stinking lot." So he cast the net and drawing it
+ashore, found in it another ape and said, "Glory be to God the Great! I
+was wont to pull naught but fish out of this Tigris, but now it
+yieldeth nothing but apes." Then he looked at the second ape and saw
+him fair of form and round of face with pendants of gold in his ears
+and a blue waistcloth about his middle, and he was like unto a lighted
+taper. So he asked him, "What art thou, thou also, O ape?"; and he
+answered, saying, "O Khalif, I am the ape of Abú al-Sa'ádát the Jew,
+the Caliph's Shroff. Every day, I give him good-morrow, and he maketh a
+profit of ten gold pieces." Cried the Fisherman, "By Allah, thou art a
+fine ape, not like this ill-omened monkey o' mine!" So saying, he took
+a stick[FN#270] and came down upon the sides of the ape, till he broke
+his ribs and he jumped up and down. And the other ape, the handsome
+one, answered him, saying, "O Khalif, what will it profit thee to beat
+him, though thou belabour him till he die?" Khalif replied, "How shall
+I do? Shall I let him wend his ways that he may scare me the fish with
+his hang-dog face and give me good-even and good-morrow every day, so
+Allah may not open to me the door of daily bread? Nay, I will kill him
+and be quit of him and I will take thee in his stead; so shalt thou
+give me good-morrow and I shall gain ten golden dinars a day."
+Thereupon the comely ape made answer, "I will tell thee a better way
+than that, and if thou hearken to me, thou shalt be at rest and I will
+become thine ape in lieu of him." Asked the Fisherman, "And what dost
+thou counsel me?"; and the ape answered, saying, "Cast thy net and thou
+shalt bring up a noble fish, never saw any its like, and I will tell
+thee how thou shalt do with it." Replied Khalif, "Lookee, thou too! An
+I throw my net and there come up therein a third ape, be assured that I
+will cut the three of you into six bits." And the second ape rejoined,
+"So be it, O Khalif. I agree to this thy condition." Then Khalif spread
+the net and cast it and drew it up, when behold, in it was a fine young
+barbel[FN#271] with a round head, as it were a milking-pail, which when
+he saw, his wits fled for joy and he said, "Glory be to God! What is
+this noble creature? Were yonder apes in the river, I had not brought
+up this fish." Quoth the seemly ape, "O Khalif, an thou give ear to my
+rede, 'twill bring thee good fortune"; and quoth the Fisherman, "May
+God damn him who would gainsay thee henceforth!" Thereupon the ape
+said, "O Khalif, take some grass and lay the fish thereon in the
+basket[FN#272] and cover it with more grass and take also somewhat of
+basil[FN#273] from the greengrocer's and set it in the fish's mouth.
+Cover it with a kerchief and push thee through the bazar of Baghdad.
+Whoever bespeaketh thee of selling it, sell it not but fare on, till
+thou come to the market street of the jewellers and money-changers.
+Then count five shops on the right-hand side and the sixth shop is that
+of Abu al-Sa'adat the Jew, the Caliph's Shroff. When thou standest
+before him, he will say to thee, 'What seekest thou?'; and do thou make
+answer, 'I am a fisherwight, I threw my net in thy name and took this
+noble barbel, which I have brought thee as a present.' If he give thee
+aught of silver, take it not, be it little or mickle, for it will spoil
+that which thou wouldst do, but say to him, 'I want of thee naught save
+one word, that thou say to me, 'I sell thee my ape for thine ape and my
+luck for thy luck.' An the Jew say this, give him the fish and I shall
+become thine ape and this crippled, mangy and one-eyed ape will be his
+ape." Khalif replied, "Well said, O ape," nor did he cease faring
+Baghdad-wards and observing that which the ape had said to him, till he
+came to the Jew's shop and saw the Shroff seated, with eunuchs and
+pages about him, bidding and forbidding and giving and taking. So he
+set down his basket, saying, "O Sultan of the Jews, I am a fisher-wight
+and went forth to-day to the Tigris and casting my net in thy name,
+cried, 'This is for the luck of Abu al-Sa'adat;' and there came up to
+me this Banni which I have brought thee by way of present." Then he
+lifted the grass and discovered the fish to the Jew, who marvelled at
+its make and said, "Extolled be the perfection of the Most Excellent
+Creator!" Then he gave the fisherman a dinar, but he refused it and he
+gave him two. This also he refused and the Jew stayed not adding to his
+offer, till he made it ten dinars; but he still refused and Abu
+al-Sa'adat said to him, "By Allah, thou art a greedy one. Tell me what
+thou wouldst have, O Moslem!" Quoth Khalif, "I would have of thee but a
+single word. [FN#274]" When the Jew heard this, he changed colour and
+said, "Wouldst thou oust me from my faith? Wend thy ways;" and Khalif
+said to him, "By Allah, O Jew, naught mattereth an thou become a Moslem
+or a Nazarene!" Asked the Jew, "Then what wouldst thou have me say?";
+and the fisherman answered, "Say, I sell thee my ape for thy ape and my
+luck for thy luck." The Jew laughed, deeming him little of wit, and
+said by way of jest, "I sell thee my ape for thy ape and my luck for
+thy luck. Bear witness against him, O merchants! By Allah, O unhappy,
+thou art debarred from further claim on me!" So Khalif turned back,
+blaming himself and saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might
+save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Alas that I did not take the
+gold!" and fared on blaming himself in the matter of the money till he
+came to the Tigris, but found not the two apes, whereupon he wept and
+slapped his face and strewed dust on his head, saying, "But that the
+second ape wheedled me and put a cheat on me, the one-eyed ape had not
+escaped." And he gave not over wailing and weeping, till heat and
+hunger grew sore on him: so he took the net, saying, "Come, let us make
+a cast, trusting in Allah's blessing; belike I may catch a cat-fish or
+a barbel which I may boil and eat." So he threw the net and waiting
+till it had settled, drew it ashore and found it full of fish, whereat
+he was consoled and rejoiced and busied himself with unmeshing the fish
+and casting them on the earth. Presently, up came a woman seeking fish
+and crying out, "Fish is not to be found in the town." She caught sight
+of Khalif, and said to him, "Wilt thou sell this fish, O Master?"
+Answered Khalif, "I am going to turn it into clothes, 'tis all for
+sale, even to my beard.[FN#275] Take what thou wilt." So she gave him a
+dinar and he filled her basket. Then she went away and behold, up came
+another servant, seeking a dinar's worth of fish; nor did the folk
+cease till it was the hour of mid-afternoon prayer and Khalif had sold
+ten golden dinars' worth of fish. Then, being faint and famisht, he
+folded and shouldered his net and, repairing to the market, bought
+himself a woollen gown, a calotte with a plaited border and a
+honey-coloured turband for a dinar receiving two dirhams by way of
+change, wherewith he purchased fried cheese and a fat sheep's tail and
+honey and setting them in the oilman's platter, ate till he was full
+and his ribs felt cold[FN#276] from the mighty stuffing. Then he
+marched off to his lodgings in the magazine, clad in the gown and the
+honey-coloured turband and with the nine golden dinars in his mouth,
+rejoicing in what he had never in his life seen. He entered and lay
+down, but could not sleep for anxious thoughts and abode playing with
+the money half the night. Then said he in himself, "Haply the Caliph
+may hear that I have gold and say to Ja'afar, 'Go to Khalif the
+Fisherman and borrow us some money of him.' If I give it him, it will
+be no light matter to me, and if I give it not, he will torment me; but
+torture is easier to me than the giving up of the cash.[FN#277]
+However, I will arise and make trial of myself if I have a skin proof
+against stick or not." So he put off his clothes and taking a sailor's
+plaited whip, of an hundred and sixty strands, ceased not beating
+himself, till his sides and body were all bloody, crying out at every
+stroke he dealt himself and saying "O Moslems! I am a poor man! O
+Moslems, I am a poor man! O Moslems, whence should I have gold, whence
+should I have coin?" till the neighbours, who dwelt with him in that
+place, hearing him crying and saying, "Go to men of wealth and take of
+them," thought that thieves were torturing him, to get money from him,
+and that he was praying for aidance. Accordingly they flocked to him
+each armed with some weapon and finding the door of his lodging locked
+and hearing him roaring out for help, deemed that the thieves had come
+down upon him from the terrace-roof; so they fell upon the door and
+burst it open. Then they entered and found him mother-naked and
+bareheaded with body dripping blood, and altogether in a sad pickle; so
+they asked him, "What is this case in which we find thee? Hast thou
+lost thy wits and hath Jinn-madness betided thee this night?" And he
+answered them, "Nay; but I have gold with me and I feared lest the
+Caliph send to borrow of me and it were no light matter to give him
+aught; yet, an I gave not to him 'tis only too sure that he would put
+me to the torture; wherefore I arose to see if my skin were stick-proof
+or not." When they heard these words they said to him, "May Allah not
+assain thy body, unlucky madman that thou art! Of a surety thou art
+fallen mad to-night! Lie down to sleep, may Allah never bless thee! How
+many thousand dinars hast thou, that the Caliph should come and borrow
+of thee?" He replied, "By Allah, I have naught but nine dinars." And
+they all said, "By Allah, he is not otherwise than passing rich!" Then
+they left him wondering at his want of wit, and Khalif took his cash
+and wrapped it in a rag, saying to himself, "Where shall I hide all
+this gold? An I bury it, they will take it, and if I put it out on
+deposit, they will deny that I did so, and if I carry it on my
+head,[FN#278] they will snatch it, and if I tie it to my sleeve, they
+will cut it away." Presently, he espied a little breast-pocket in the
+gown and said, "By Allah, this is fine! 'Tis under my throat and hard
+by my mouth: if any put out his hand to hend it, I can come down on it
+with my mouth and hide it in my throttle." So he set the rag containing
+the gold in the pocket and lay down, but slept not that night for
+suspicion and trouble and anxious thought. On the morrow, he fared
+forth of his lodging on fishing intent and, betaking himself to the
+river, went down into the water, up to his knees. Then he threw the net
+and shook it with might and main; whereupon the purse fell down into
+the stream. So he tore off gown and turband and plunged in after it,
+saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
+Glorious, the Great!" Nor did he give over diving and searching the
+stream-bed, till the day was half spent, but found not the purse. Now
+one saw him from afar diving and plunging and his gown and turband
+lying in the sun at a distance from him, with no one by them; so he
+watched him, till he dived again when he dashed at the clothes and made
+off with them. Presently, Khalif came ashore and, missing his gown and
+turband, was chagrined for their loss with passing cark and care and
+ascended a mound, to look for some passer-by, of whom he might enquire
+concerning them, but found none. Now the Caliph Harun al-Rashid had
+gone a-hunting and chasing that day; and, returning at the time of the
+noon heat, was oppressed thereby and thirsted; so he looked for water
+from afar and seeing a naked man standing on the mound said to Ja'afar,
+"Seest thou what I see?" Replied the Wazir, "Yes, O Commander of the
+Faithful; I see a man standing on a hillock." Al-Rashid asked, "What is
+he?"; and Ja'afar answered, "Haply he is the guardian of a
+cucumber-plot." Quoth the Caliph, "Perhaps he is a pious man[FN#279]; I
+would fain go to him, alone, and desire of him his prayers; and abide
+ye where you are." So he went up to Khalif and saluting him with the
+salam said to him, "What art thou, O man?" Replied the fisherman, "Dost
+thou not know me? I am Khalif the Fisherman;" and the Caliph rejoined,
+"What? The Fisherman with the woollen gown and the honey-coloured
+turband[FN#280]?" When Khalif heard him name the clothes he had lost,
+he said in himself, "This is he who took my duds: belike he did but
+jest with me." So he came down from the knoll and said, "Can I not take
+a noontide nap[FN#281] but thou must trick me this trick? I saw thee
+take my gear and knew that thou wast joking with me." At this, laughter
+got the better of the Caliph and he said; "What clothes hast thou lost?
+I know nothing of that whereof thou speakest, O Khalif." Cried the
+Fisherman, "By God the Great, except thou bring me back the gear, I
+will smash thy ribs with this staff!" (For he always carried a
+quarterstaff.) Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, I have not seen the things
+whereof thou speakest!"; and quoth Khalif "I will go with thee and take
+note of thy dwelling-place and complain of thee to the Chief of Police,
+so thou mayst not trick me this trick again. By Allah, none took my
+gown and turband but thou, and except thou give them back to me at
+once, I will throw thee off the back of that she-ass thou ridest and
+come down on thy pate with this quarterstaff, till thou canst not
+stir!" Thereupon he tugged at the bridle of the mule so that she reared
+up on her hind legs and the Caliph said to himself, "What calamity is
+this I have fallen into with this madman?" Then he pulled off a gown he
+had on, worth an hundred dinars, and said to Khalif, "Take this gown in
+lieu of thine own." He took it and donning it saw it was too long; so
+he cut it short at the knees and turbanded his head with the cut-off
+piece; then said to the Caliph, "What art thou and what is thy craft?
+But why ask? Thou art none other than a trumpeter." Al-Rashid asked,
+"What showed thee that I was a trumpeter by trade?"; and Khalif
+answered, "Thy big nostrils and little mouth." Cried the Caliph, "Well
+guessed! Yes, I am of that craft." Then said Khalif, "An thou wilt
+hearken to me, I will teach thee the art of fishing: 'twill be better
+for thee than trumpeting and thou wilt eat lawfully[FN#282]." Replied
+the Caliph, "Teach it me so that I may see whether I am capable of
+learning it." And Khalif said, "Come with me, O trumpeter." So the
+Caliph followed him down to the river and took the net from him, whilst
+he taught him how to throw it. Then he cast it and drew it up, when,
+behold, it was heavy, and the fisherman said, "O trumpeter, an the net
+be caught on one of the rocks, drag it not too hard, or 'twill break
+and by Allah, I will take thy she-ass in payment thereof!" The Caliph
+laughed at his words and drew up the net, little by little, till he
+brought it ashore and found it full of fish; which when Khalif saw, his
+reason fled for joy and presently he cried, "By Allah, O trumpeter, thy
+luck is good in fishing! Never in my life will I part with thee! But
+now I mean to send thee to the fish-bazar, where do thou enquire for
+the shop of Humayd the fisherman and say to him, 'My master Khalif
+saluteth thee and biddeth thee send him a pair of frails and a knife,
+so he may bring thee more fish than yesterday.' Run and return to me
+forthright!" The Caliph replied (and indeed he was laughing), "On my
+head, O master!" and, mounting his mule, rode back to Ja'afar, who said
+to him, "Tell me what hath betided thee." So the Caliph told him all
+that had passed between Khalif the Fisherman and himself, from first to
+last, adding, "I left him awaiting my return to him with the baskets
+and I am resolved that he shall teach me how to scale fish and clean
+them." Quoth Ja'afar, "And I will go with thee to sweep up the scales
+and clean out the shop." And the affair abode thus, till presently the
+Caliph cried, "O Ja'afar, I desire of thee that thou despatch the young
+Mamelukes, saying to them, 'Whoso bringeth me a fish from before yonder
+fisherman, I will give him a dinar;' for I love to eat of my own
+fishing." Accordingly Ja'afar repeated to the young white slaves what
+the Caliph had said and directed them where to find the man. They came
+down upon Khalif and snatched the fish from him; and when he saw them
+and noted their goodliness, he doubted not but that they were of the
+black-eyed Houris of Paradise: so he caught up a couple of fish and ran
+into the river, saying, "O Allah mine, by the secret virtue of these
+fish, forgive me!" Suddenly, up came the chief eunuch, questing fish,
+but he found none; so seeing Khalif ducking and rising in the water,
+with the two fish in his hands, called out to him, saying, "O Khalif,
+what hast thou there?" Replied the fisherman, "Two fish," and the
+eunuch said, "Give them to me and take an hundred dinars for them." Now
+when Khalif heard speak of an hundred dinars, he came up out of the
+water and cried, "Hand over the hundred dinars." Said the eunuch,
+"Follow me to the house of Al-Rashid and receive thy gold, O Khalif;"
+and, taking the fish, made off to the Palace of the Caliphate.
+Meanwhile Khalif betook himself to Baghdad, clad as he was in the
+Caliph's gown, which reached only to above his knees,[FN#283] turbanded
+with the piece he had cut off therefrom and girt about his middle with
+a rope, and he pushed through the centre of the city. The folk fell
+a-laughing and marvelling at him and saying, "Whence hadst thou that
+robe of honour?" But he went on, asking, "Where is the house of
+Al-Rashád[FN#284]?;" and they answered, "Say, 'The house of
+Al-Rashíd';" and he rejoined, "'Tis all the same," and fared on, till
+he came to the Palace of the Caliphate. Now he was seen by the tailor,
+who had made the gown and who was standing at the door, and when he
+noticed it upon the Fisherman, he said to him, "For how many years hast
+thou had admission to the palace?" Khalif replied, "Ever since I was a
+little one;" and the tailor asked, "Whence hadest thou that gown thou
+hast spoilt on this wise?" Khalif answered, "I had it of my apprentice
+the trumpeter." Then he went up to the door, where he found the Chief
+Eunuch sitting with the two fishes by his side: and seeing him
+sable-black of hue, said to him, "Wilt thou not bring the hundred
+dinars, O uncle Tulip?" Quoth he, "On my head, O Khalif," when, behold,
+out came Ja'afar from the presence of the Caliph and seeing the
+fisherman talking with the Eunuch and saying to him, "This is the
+reward of goodness, O nuncle Tulip," went in to Al-Rashid and said to
+him, "O Commander of the Faithful, thy master the Fisherman is with the
+Chief Eunuch, dunning him for an hundred dinars." Cried the Caliph,
+"Bring him to me, O Ja'afar;" and the Minister answered, "Hearing and
+obeying." So he went out to the Fisherman and said to him, "O Khalif,
+thine apprentice the trumpeter biddeth thee to him;" then he walked on,
+followed by the other till they reached the presence-chamber, where he
+saw the Caliph seated, with a canopy over his head. When he entered,
+Al-Rashid wrote three scrolls and set them before him, and the
+Fisherman said to him, "So thou hast given up trumpeting and turned
+astrologer!" Quoth the Caliph to him, "Take thee a scroll." Now in the
+first he had written, "Let him be given a gold piece," in the second,
+"An hundred dinars," and in the third, "Let him be given an hundred
+blows with a whip." So Khalif put out his hand and by the decree of the
+Predestinator, it lighted on the scroll wherein was written, "Let him
+receive an hundred lashes," and Kings, whenas they ordain aught, go not
+back therefrom. So they threw him prone on the ground and beat him an
+hundred blows, whilst he wept and roared for succour, but none
+succoured him, and said, "By Allah, this is a good joke O trumpeter! I
+teach thee fishing and thou turnest astrologer and drawest me an
+unlucky lot. Fie upon thee,[FN#285] in thee is naught of good!" When
+the Caliph heard his speech, he fell fainting in a fit of laughter and
+said, "O Khalif, no harm shall betide thee: fear not. Give him an
+hundred gold pieces." So they gave him an hundred dinars, and he went
+out, and ceased not faring forth till he came to the trunk-market,
+where he found the folk assembled in a ring about a broker, who was
+crying out and saying, "At an hundred dinars, less one dinar! A locked
+chest!" So he pressed on and pushed through the crowd and said to the
+broker, "Mine for an hundred dinars!" The broker closed with him and
+took his money, whereupon there was left him nor little nor much. The
+porters disputed awhile about who should carry the chest and presently
+all said, "By Allah, none shall carry this chest but Zurayk!"[FN#286]
+And the folk said, "Blue-eyes hath the best right to it." So Zurayk
+shouldered the chest, after the goodliest fashion, and walked a-rear of
+Khalif. As they went along, the Fisherman said in himself, "I have
+nothing left to give the porter; how shall I rid myself of him? Now I
+will traverse the main streets with him and lead him about, till he be
+weary and set it down and leave it, when I will take it up and carry it
+to my lodging." Accordingly, he went round about the city with the
+porter from noontide to sundown, till the man began to grumble and
+said, "O my lord, where is thy house?" Quoth Khalif, "Yesterday I knew
+it, but to-day I have forgotten it." And the porter said, "Give me my
+hire and take thy chest." But Khalif said, "Go on at thy leisure, till
+I bethink me where my house is," presently adding, "O Zurayk, I have no
+money with me. 'Tis all in my house and I have forgotten where it is."
+As they were talking, there passed by them one who knew the Fisherman
+and said to him, "O Khalif, what bringeth thee hither?" Quoth the
+porter, "O uncle, where is Khalif's house?" and quoth he, "'Tis in the
+ruined Khan in the Rawásín Quarter."[FN#287] Then said Zurayk to
+Khalif, "Go to; would Heaven thou hadst never lived nor been!" And the
+Fisherman trudged on, followed by the porter, till they came to the
+place when the Hammal said, "O thou whose daily bread Allah cut off in
+this world, have we not passed this place a score of times? Hadst thou
+said to me, 'Tis in such a stead, thou hadst spared me this great toil;
+but now give me my wage and let me wend my way." Khalif replied "Thou
+shalt have silver, if not gold. Stay here, till I bring thee the same."
+So he entered his lodging and taking a mallet he had there, studded
+with forty nails (wherewith an he smote a camel, he had made an end of
+it), rushed upon the porter and raised his forearm to strike him
+therewith; but Zurayk cried out at him, saying, "Hold thy hand! I have
+no claim on thee," and fled. Now having got rid of the Hammal, Khalif
+carried the chest into the Khan, whereupon the neighbours came down and
+flocked about him, saying, "O Khalif, whence hadst thou this robe and
+this chest?" Quoth he, "From my apprentice Al-Rashid who gave them to
+me," and they said, "The pimp is mad! Al-Rashid will assuredly hear of
+his talk and hang him over the door of his lodging and hang all in the
+Khan on account of the droll. This is a fine farce!" Then they helped
+him to carry the chest into his lodging and it filled the whole
+closet.[FN#288] Thus far concerning Khalif; but as for the history of
+the chest, it was as follows: The Caliph had a Turkish slave-girl, by
+name Kut al-Kulúb, whom he loved with love exceeding and the Lady
+Zubaydah came to know of this from himself and was passing jealous of
+her and secretly plotted mischief against her. So, whilst the Commander
+of the Faithful was absent a-sporting and a-hunting, she sent for Kut
+al-Kulub and, inviting her to a banquet, set before her meat and wine,
+and she ate and drank. Now the wine was drugged with Bhang; so she
+slept and Zubaydah sent for her Chief Eunuch and putting her in a great
+chest, locked it and gave it to him, saying, "Take this chest and cast
+it into the river." Thereupon he took it up before him on a he-mule and
+set out with it for the sea, but found it unfit to carry; so, as he
+passed by the trunk-market, he saw the Shaykh of the brokers and
+salesmen and said to him, "Wilt thou sell me this chest, O uncle?" The
+broker replied, "Yes, we will do this much." "But," said the Eunuch,
+"look thou sell it not except locked;" and the other, "'Tis well; we
+will do that also."[FN#289] So he set down the chest, and they cried it
+for sale, saying, "Who will buy this chest for an hundred dinars?"; and
+behold, up came Khalif the Fisherman and bought the chest after turning
+it over right and left; and there passed between him and the porter
+that which hath been before set out. Now as regards Khalif the
+Fisherman; he lay down on the chest to sleep, and presently Kut
+al-Kulub awoke from her Bhang and finding herself in the chest, cried
+out and said, "Alas!" Whereupon Khalif sprang off the chest-lid and
+cried out and said, "Ho, Moslems! Come to my help! There are Ifrits in
+the chest." So the neighbours awoke from sleep and said to him, "What
+mattereth thee, O madman?" Quoth he, "The chest is full of Ifrits;" and
+quoth they, "Go to sleep; thou hast troubled our rest this night may
+Allah not bless thee! Go in and sleep, without madness." He ejaculated,
+"I cannot sleep;" but they abused him and he went in and lay down once
+more. And behold, Kut al-Kulub spoke and said, "Where am I?" Upon which
+Khalif fled forth the closet and said, "O neighbours of the hostelry,
+come to my aid!" Quoth they, "What hath befallen thee? Thou troublest
+the neighbours' rest." "O folk, there be Ifrits in the chest, moving
+and speaking." "Thou liest: what do they say?" "They say, 'Where am
+I?'" "Would Heaven thou wert in Hell! Thou disturbest the neighbours
+and hinderest them of sleep. Go to sleep, would thou hadst never lived
+nor been!" So Khalif went in fearful because he had no place wherein to
+sleep save upon the chest-lid when lo! as he stood, with ears listening
+for speech, Kut al-Kulub spake again and said, "I'm hungry." So in sore
+affright he fled forth and cried out, "Ho neighbours! ho dwellers in
+the Khan, come aid me!" Said they, "What is thy calamity now?"[FN#290]
+And he answered, "The Ifrits in the chest say, 'We are hungry.'" Quoth
+the neighbours one to other, "'Twould seem Khalif is hungry; let us
+feed him and give him the supper-orts; else he will not let us sleep
+to-night." So they brought him bread and meat and broken victuals and
+radishes and gave him a basket full of all kinds of things, saying,
+"Eat till thou be full and go to sleep and talk not, else will we break
+thy ribs and beat thee to death this very night." So he took the basket
+with the provaunt and entered his lodging. Now it was a moonlight night
+and the moon shone in full sheen upon the chest and lit up the closet
+with its light, seeing this he sat down on his purchase and fell to
+eating of the food with both hands. Presently Kut al-Kulub spake again
+and said, "Open to me and have mercy upon me, O Moslems!" So Khalif
+arose and taking a stone he had by him, broke the chest open and
+behold, therein lay a young lady as she were the sun's shining light
+with brow flower-white, face moonbright, cheeks of rose-hue exquisite
+and speech sweeter than sugar-bite, and in dress worth a thousand
+dinars and more bedight. Seeing this his wits flew from his head for
+joy and he said, "By Allah, thou art of the fair!" She asked him, "What
+art thou, O fellow?" and he answered, "O my lady, I am Khalif the
+Fisherman." Quoth she, "Who brought me hither?"; and quoth he, "I
+bought thee, and thou art my slave-girl." Thereupon said she, "I see on
+thee a robe of the raiment of the Caliph." So he told her all that had
+betided him, from first to last, and how he had bought the chest;
+wherefore she knew that the Lady Zubaydah had played her false; and she
+ceased not talking with him till the morning, when she said to him, "O
+Khalif, seek me from some one inkcase and reed-pen and paper and bring
+them to me." So he found with one of the neighbours what she sought and
+brought it to her, whereupon she wrote a letter and folded it and gave
+it to him, saying, "O Khalif, take this paper and carry it to the
+jewel-market, where do thou enquire for the shop of Abu al-Hasan the
+jeweller and give it to him." Answered the Fisherman, "O my lady, this
+name is difficult to me; I cannot remember it." And she rejoined, "Then
+ask for the shop of Ibn al-'Ukáb."[FN#291] Quoth he, "O my lady, what
+is an 'Ukab?"; and quoth she, "'Tis a bird which folk carry on fist
+with eyes hooded." And he exclaimed, "O my lady, I know it." Then he
+went forth from her and fared on, repeating the name, lest it fade from
+his memory; but, by the time he reached the jewel-market, he had
+forgotten it. So he accosted one of the merchants and said to him, "Is
+there any here named after a bird?" Replied the merchant, "Yes, thou
+meanest Ibn al-Ukab." Khalif cried, "That's the man I want," and making
+his way to him, gave him the letter, which when he read and knew the
+purport thereof, he fell to kissing it and laying it on his head; for
+it is said that Abu al-Hasan was the agent of the Lady Kut al-Kulub and
+her intendant over all her property in lands and houses. Now she had
+written to him, saying, "From Her Highness the Lady Kut al-Kulub to Sir
+Abu al-Hasan the jeweller. The instant this letter reacheth thee, set
+apart for us a saloon completely equipped with furniture and vessels
+and negro-slaves and slave-girls and what not else is needful for our
+residence and seemly, and take the bearer of the missive and carry him
+to the bath. Then clothe him in costly apparel and do with him thus and
+thus." So he said "Hearing and obeying," and locking up his shop, took
+the Fisherman and bore him to the bath, where he committed him to one
+of the bathmen, that he might serve him, according to custom. Then he
+went forth to carry out the Lady Kut al-Kulub's orders. As for Khalif,
+he concluded, of his lack of wit and stupidity, that the bath was a
+prison and said to the bathman, "What crime have I committed that ye
+should lay me in limbo?" They laughed at him and made him sit on the
+side of the tank, whilst the bathman took hold of his legs, that he
+might shampoo them. Khalif thought he meant to wrestle with him and
+said to himself, "This is a wrestling-place[FN#292] and I knew naught
+of it." Then he arose and seizing the bathman's legs, lifted him up and
+threw him on the ground and broke his ribs. The man cried out for help,
+whereupon the other bathmen came in a crowd and fell upon Khalif and
+overcoming him by dint of numbers, delivered their comrade from his
+clutches and tunded him till he came to himself. Then they knew that
+the Fisherman was a simpleton and served him till Abu al-Hasan came
+back with a dress of rich stuff and clad him therein; after which he
+brought him a handsome she-mule, ready saddled, and taking him by the
+hand, carried him forth of the bath and said to him, "Mount." Quoth he,
+"How shall I mount? I fear lest she throw me and break my ribs into my
+belly." Nor would he back the mule, save after much travail and
+trouble, and they stinted not faring on, till they came to the place
+which Abu al-Hasan had set apart for the Lady Kut al-Kulub. Thereupon
+Khalif entered and found her sitting, with slaves and eunuchs about her
+and the porter at the door, staff in hand, who when he saw the
+Fisherman sprang up and kissing his hand, went before him, till he
+brought him within the saloon. Here the Fisherman saw what amazed his
+wit, and his eye was dazzled by that which he beheld of riches past
+count and slaves and servants, who kissed his hand and said, "May the
+bath be a blessing to thee!"[FN#293] When he entered the saloon and
+drew near unto Kut al-Kulub, she sprang up to him and taking him by the
+hand, seated him on a high-mattrassed divan. Then she brought him a
+vase of sherbet of sugar, mingled with rosewater and willow-water, and
+he took it and drank it off and left not a single drop. Moreover, he
+ran his finger round the inside of the vessel[FN#294] and would have
+licked it, but she forbade him, saying, "That is foul." Quoth he,
+"Silence; this is naught but good honey;" and she laughed at him and
+set before him a tray of meats, whereof he ate his sufficiency. Then
+they brought an ewer and basin of gold, and he washed his right hand
+and abode in the gladdest of life and the most honourable. Now hear
+what befel the Commander of the Faithful. When he came back from his
+journey and found not Kut al-Kulub, he questioned the Lady Zubaydah of
+her and she said, "She is verily dead, may thy head live, O Prince of
+True Believers!" But she had bidden dig a grave amiddlemost the Palace
+and had built over it a mock tomb, for her knowledge of the love the
+Caliph bore to Kut al-Kulub: so she said to him, "O Commander of the
+Faithful, I made her a tomb amiddlemost the Palace and buried her
+there." Then she donned black,[FN#295] a mere sham and pure pretence;
+and feigned mourning a great while. Now Kut al-Kulub knew that the
+Caliph was come back from his hunting excursion; so she turned to
+Khalif and said to him, "Arise; hie thee to the bath and come back." So
+he rose and went to the Hammam-bath, and when he returned, she clad him
+in a dress worth a thousand dinars and taught him manners and
+respectful bearing to superiors. Then said she to him, "Go hence to the
+Caliph and say to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, 'tis my desire
+that this night thou deign be my guest.'" So Khalif arose and mounting
+his she-mule, rode, with pages and black slaves before him, till he
+came to the Palace of the Caliphate. Quoth the wise, "Dress up a stick
+and 'twill look chique."[FN#296] And indeed his comeliness was manifest
+and his goodliness and the folk marvelled at this. Presently, the Chief
+Eunuch saw him, the same who had given him the hundred dinars that had
+been the cause of his good fortune; so he went in to the Caliph and
+said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, Khalif the Fisherman is
+become a King, and on him is a robe of honour worth a thousand dinars."
+The Prince of True Believers bade admit him; so he entered and said,
+"Peace be with thee, O Commander of the Faithful and Vice-regent of the
+Lord of the three Worlds and Defender of the folk of the Faith! Allah
+Almighty prolong thy days and honour thy dominion and exalt thy degree
+to the highmost height!" The Caliph looked at him and marvelled at him
+and how fortune had come to him at unawares; then he said to him, "O
+Khalif, whence hadst thou that robe which is upon thee?" He replied, "O
+Commander of the Faithful, it cometh from my house." Quoth the Caliph,
+"Hast thou then a house?"; and quoth Khalif, "Yea, verily! and thou, O
+Commander of the Faithful, art my guest this day." Al-Rashid said, "I
+alone, O Khalif, or I and those who are with me?"; and he replied,
+"Thou and whom thou wilt." So Ja'afar turned to him and said, "We will
+be thy guests this night;" whereupon he kissed ground again and
+withdrawing, mounted his mule and rode off, attended by his servants
+and suite of Mamelukes leaving the Caliph marvelling at this and saying
+to Ja'afar, "Sawest thou Khalif, with his mule and dress, his white
+slaves and his dignity? But yesterday I knew him for a buffoon and a
+jester." And they marvelled at this much. Then they mounted and rode,
+till they drew near Khalif's house, when the Fisherman alighted and,
+taking a bundle from one of his attendants, opened it and pulled out
+therefrom a piece of tabby silk[FN#297] and spread it under the hoofs
+of the Caliph's she-mule; then he brought out a piece of
+velvet-Kimcob[FN#298] and a third of fine satin and did with them
+likewise; and thus he spread well nigh twenty pieces of rich stuffs,
+till Al-Rashid and his suite had reached the house; when he came
+forward and said, "Bismillah,[FN#299] O Commander of the Faithful!"
+Quoth Al-Rashid to Ja'afar, "I wonder to whom this house may belong,"
+and quoth he, "It belongeth to a man hight Ibn al-Ukab, Syndic of the
+jewellers." So the Caliph dismounted and entering, with his courtiers,
+saw a high-builded saloon, spacious and boon, with couches on daďs and
+carpets and divans strown in place. So he went up to the couch that was
+set for himself on four legs of ivory, plated with glittering gold and
+covered with seven carpets. This pleased him and behold, up came
+Khalif, with eunuchs and little white slaves, bearing all manner
+sherbets, compounded with sugar and lemon and perfumed with rose and
+willow-water and the purest musk. The Fisherman advanced and drank and
+gave the Caliph to drink, and the cup-bearers came forward and served
+the rest of the company with the sherbets. Then Khalif brought a table
+spread with meats of various colours and geese and fowls and other
+birds, saying, "In the name of Allah!" So they ate their fill; after
+which he bade remove the tables and kissing the ground three times
+before the Caliph craved his royal leave to bring wine and
+music.[FN#300] He granted him permission for this and turning to
+Ja'afar, said to him, "As my head liveth, the house and that which is
+therein is Khalif's; for that he is ruler over it and I am in
+admiration at him, whence there came to him this passing prosperity and
+exceeding felicity! However, this is no great matter to Him who saith
+to a thing, 'Be!' and it becometh; what I most wonder at is his
+understanding, how it hath increased, and whence he hath gotten this
+loftiness and this lordliness; but, when Allah willeth weal unto a man,
+He amendeth his intelligence before bringing him to worldly affluence."
+As they were talking, behold, up came Khalif, followed by cup-bearer
+lads like moons, belted with zones of gold, who spread a cloth of
+siglaton[FN#301] and set thereon flagons of chinaware and tall flasks
+of glass and cups of crystal and bottles and hanaps[FN#302] of all
+colours; and those flagons they filled with pure clear and old wine,
+whose scent was as the fragrance of virgin musk and it was even as
+saith the poet,
+
+"Ply me and also my mate be plied * With pure wine prest in the
+     olden tide.[FN#303]
+Daughter of nobles[FN#304] they lead her forth[FN#305] * In
+     raiment of goblets beautified.
+They belt her round with the brightest gems, * And pearls and
+     unions, the Ocean's pride;
+So I by these signs and signets know * Wherefore the Wine is
+     entitled 'Bride.'[FN#306]"
+
+
+And round about these vessels were confections and flowers, such as may
+not be surpassed. When Al-Rashid saw this from Khalif, he inclined to
+him and smiled upon him and invested him with an office; so Khalif
+wished him continuance of honour and endurance of days and said, "Will
+the Commander of the Faithful deign give me leave to bring him a
+singer, a lute-player her like was never heard among mortals ever?"
+Quoth the Caliph, "Thou art permitted!" So he kissed ground before him
+and going to a secret closet, called Kut al-Kulub, who came after she
+had disguised and falsed and veiled herself, tripping in her robes and
+trinkets; and she kissed ground before the Commander of the Faithful.
+Then she sat down and tuning the lute, touched its strings and played
+upon it, till all present were like to faint for excess of delight;
+after which she improvised these verses,
+
+"Would Heaven I wot, will ever Time bring our beloveds back
+     again? * And, ah! will Union and its bliss to bless two
+     lovers deign?
+Will Time assure to us united days and joinčd joy, * While from
+     the storms and stowres of life in safety we remain?
+Then O Who bade this pleasure be, our parting past and gone, *
+     And made one house our meeting-stead throughout the Nights
+     contain;
+By him, draw near me, love, and closest cling to side of me *
+     Else were my wearied wasted life, a vanity, a bane."
+
+
+When the Caliph heard this, he could not master himself, but rent his
+raiment and fell down a-swoon; whereupon all who were present hastened
+to doff their dress and throw it over him, whilst Kut al-Kulub signed
+to Khalif and said to him, "Hie to yonder chest and bring us what is
+therein;" for she had made ready therein a suit of the Caliph's wear
+against the like of such hour as this. So Khalif brought it to her and
+she threw it over the Commander of the Faithful, who came to himself
+and knowing her for Kut al- Kulub, said, "Is this the Day of
+Resurrection and hath Allah quickened those who are in the tombs; or am
+I asleep and is this an imbroglio of dreams?" Quoth Kut al-Kulub, "We
+are on wake, not on sleep, and I am alive, nor have I drained the cup
+of death." Then she told him all that had befallen her, and indeed,
+since he lost her, life had not been light to him nor had sleep been
+sweet, and he abode now wondering, then weeping and anon afire for
+longing. When she had made an end of her story, the Caliph rose and
+took her by the hand, intending for her palace, after he had kissed her
+inner lips, and had strained her to his bosom; whereupon Khalif rose
+and said, "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful! Thou hast already
+wronged me once, and now thou wrongest me again." Quoth Al-Rashid,
+"Indeed thou speakest sooth, O Khalif," and bade the Wazir Ja'afar give
+him what should satisfy him. So he straightway gifted him with all for
+which he wished and assigned him a village, the yearly revenues whereof
+were twenty thousand dinars. Moreover Kut al-Kulub generously presented
+him the house and all that was therein of furniture and hangings and
+white slaves and slave-girls and eunuchs great and small. So Khalif
+became possessed of this passing affluence and exceeding wealth and
+took him a wife, and prosperity taught him gravity and dignity, and
+good fortune overwhelmed him. The Caliph enrolled him among his
+equerries and he abode in all solace of life and its delights till he
+deceased and was admitted to the mercy of Allah. Furthermore they
+relate a tale anent[FN#307]
+
+
+MASRUR AND ZAYN AL-MAWASIF.[FN#308]
+
+There was once in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before a
+man and a merchant Masrúr hight, who was of the comeliest of the folk
+of his tide, a wight of wealth galore and in easiest case; but he loved
+to take his pleasure in vergiers and flower-gardens and to divert
+himself with the love of the fair. Now it fortuned one night, as he lay
+asleep, he dreamt that he was in a garth of the loveliest, wherein were
+four birds, and amongst them a dove, white as polished silver. That
+dove pleased him and for her grew up in his heart an exceeding love.
+Presently, he beheld a great bird swoop down on him and snatch the dove
+from his hand, and this was grievous to him. After which he awoke and
+not finding the bird strave with his yearnings till morning, when he
+said in himself, "There is no help but that I go to-day to some one who
+will expound to me this vision."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+merchant awoke, he strave with his yearnings till morning when he said
+to himself, "There is no help but that I go this day to some one who
+will expound to me this vision." So he went forth and walked right and
+left, till he was far from his dwelling-place, but found none to
+interpret the dream to him. Then he would have returned, but on his way
+behold, the fancy took him to turn aside to the house of a certain
+trader, a man of the wealthiest, and when he drew near to it, suddenly
+he heard from within a plaintive voice from a sorrowful heart reciting
+these couplets,
+
+"The breeze o' Morn blows uswards from her trace * Fragrant, and
+     heals the love-sick lover's case.
+I stand like captive on the mounds and ask * While tears make
+     answer for the ruined place:
+Quoth I, 'By Allah, Breeze o' Morning, say * Shall Time and
+     Fortune aye this stead regrace?
+Shall I enjoy a fawn whose form bewitched * And langourous
+     eyelids wasted frame and face?'"
+
+
+When Masrur heard this, he looked in through the doorway and saw a
+garden of the goodliest of gardens, and at its farther end a curtain of
+red brocade, purfled with pearls and gems, behind which sat four
+damsels, and amongst them a young lady over four feet and under five in
+height, as she were the rondure of the lune and the full moon shining
+boon: she had eyes Kohl'd with nature's dye and joined eyebrows, a
+mouth as it were Solomon's seal and lips and teeth bright with pearls
+and coral's light; and indeed she ravished all wits with her beauty and
+loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace. When Masrur espied her, he
+entered the porch and went on entering till he came to the curtain:
+whereupon she raised her head and glanced at him. So he saluted her and
+she returned his salam with sweetest speech; and, when he considered
+her more straitly, his reason was dazed and his heart amazed. Then he
+looked at the garden and saw that it was full of jessamine and gilly
+flowers and violets and roses and orange blossoms and all manner
+sweet-scented blooms and herbs. Every tree was girt about with fruits
+and there coursed down water from four daďses, which faced one another
+and occupied the four corners of the garden. He looked at the first
+Líwán and found written around it with vermilion these two couplets,
+
+"Ho thou the House! Grief never home in thee; * Nor Time work
+     treason on thine owner's head:
+All good betide the House which every guest * Harbours, when sore
+     distrest for way and stead!"
+
+
+Then he looked at the second daďs and found written thereon in red gold
+these couplets,
+
+"Robe thee, O House, in richest raiment Time, * Long as the
+     birdies on the branchlets chime!
+And sweetest perfumes breathe within thy walls * And lover meet
+     beloved in bliss sublime.
+And dwell thy dwellers all in joy and pride * Long as the
+     wandering stars Heaven-hill shall climb."
+
+
+Then he looked at the third, whereon he found written in ultramarine
+these two couplets,
+
+"Ever thy pomp and pride, O House! display * While starkeneth
+     Night and shineth sheeny Day!
+Boon Fortune bless all entering thy walls, * And whomso dwell in
+     thee, for ever and aye!"
+
+
+Then he looked at the fourth and saw painted in yellow characters this
+couplet,
+
+"This garden and this lake in truth * Are fair sitting-steads, by
+     the Lord of Ruth!"
+
+
+Moreover, in that garden were birds of all breeds, ring-dove and cushat
+and nightingale and culver, each singing his several song, and amongst
+them the lady, swaying gracefully to and fro in her beauty and grace
+and symmetry and loveliness and ravishing all who saw her. Presently
+quoth she to Masrur, "Hola man! what bringeth thee into a house other
+than thy house and wherefore comest thou in unto women other than thy
+women, without leave of their owner?" Quoth he, "O my lady, I saw this
+garden, and the goodliness of its greenery pleased me and the fragrance
+of its flowers and the carolling of its birds; so I entered, thinking
+to gaze on it awhile and wend my way." Said she, "With love and
+gladness!"; and Masrur was amazed at the sweetness of her speech and
+the coquetry of her glances and the straightness of her shape, and
+transported by her beauty and seemlihead and the pleasantness of the
+garden and the birds. So in the disorder of his spirits he recited
+these couplets,
+
+"As a crescent-moon in the garth her form * 'Mid Basil and
+     jasmine and Rose I scan;
+And Violet faced by the Myrtle-spray * And Nu'umán's bloom and
+     Myrobalan:
+By her perfume the Zephyrs perfumčd breathe * And with scented
+     sighings the branches fan.
+O Garden, thou perfect of beauty art * All charms comprising in
+     perfect plan;
+And melodious birdies sing madrigals * And the Full Moon[FN#309]
+     shineth in branchshade wan;
+Its ring-dove, its culver, its mocking-bird * And its Philomel
+     sing my soul t' unman;
+And the longing of love all my wits confuseth * For her charms,
+     as the man whom his wine bemuseth."
+
+
+Now when Zayn al-Mawásif heard his verse, she glanced at him with eyes
+which bequeathed a thousand sighs and utterly ravished his wisdom and
+wits and replied to him in these lines,
+
+"Hope not of our favours to make thy prey * And of what thou
+     wishest thy greed allay:
+And cease thy longing; thou canst not win * The love of the Fair
+     thou'rt fain t' essay,
+My glances to lovers are baleful and naught * I reek of thy
+     speech: I have said my say!"
+
+
+"Ho, thou! Begone about thy business, for we are none of the
+woman-tribe who are neither thine nor another's.[FN#310]" And he
+answered, "O my lady, I said nothing ill." Quoth she, "Thou soughtest
+to divert thyself[FN#311] and thou hast had thy diversion; so wend thy
+ways." Quoth he, "O my lady, belike thou wilt give me a draught of
+water, for I am athirst." Whereupon she cried, "How canst thou drink of
+a Jew's water, and thou a Nazarene?" But he replied, "O my lady, your
+water is not forbidden to us nor ours unlawful to you, for we are all
+as one creation." So she said to her slave-girl, "Give him to drink;"
+and she did as she was bidden. Then she called for the table of food,
+and there came four damsels, high-bosomed maids, bearing four trays of
+meats and four gilt flagons full of strong old-wine, as it were the
+tears of a slave of love for clearness, and a table around whose edge
+were graven these couplets,
+
+"For eaters a table they brought and set * In the banquet-hall
+     and 'twas dight with gold:
+Like th' Eternal Garden that gathers all * Man wants of meat and
+     wines manifold."
+
+
+And when the high-breasted maids had set all this before him, quoth
+she, "Thou soughtest to drink of our drink; so up and at our meat and
+drink!" He could hardly credit what his ears had heard and sat down at
+the table forthright; whereupon she bade her nurse[FN#312] give him a
+cup, that he might drink. Now her slave-girls were called, one Hubúb,
+another Khutúb and the third Sukúb,[FN#313] and she who gave him the
+cup was Hubub. So he took the cup and looking at the outside there saw
+written these couplets,
+
+"Drain not the bowl but with lovely wight * Who loves thee and
+     wine makes brighter bright.
+And 'ware her Scorpions[FN#314] that o'er thee creep * And guard
+     thy tongue lest thou vex her sprite."
+
+
+Then the cup went round and when he emptied it he looked inside and saw
+written,
+
+"And 'ware her Scorpions when pressing them, * And hide her
+     secrets from foes' despight."
+
+
+Whereupon Masrur laughed her-wards and she asked him, "What causeth
+thee to laugh?" "For the fulness of my joy," quoth he. Presently, the
+breeze blew on her and the scarf[FN#315] fell from her head and
+discovered a fillet[FN#316] of glittering gold, set with pearls and
+gems and jacinths; and on her breast was a necklace of all manner
+ring-jewels and precious stones, to the centre of which hung a sparrow
+of red gold, with feet of red coral and bill of white silver and body
+full of Nadd-powder and pure ambergris and odoriferous musk. And upon
+its back was engraved,
+
+"The Nadd is my wine-scented powder, my bread; * And the bosom's
+     my bed and the breasts my stead:
+And my neck-nape complains of the weight of love, * Of my pain,
+     of my pine, of my drearihead."
+
+
+Then Masrur looked at the breast of her shift and behold, thereon lay
+wroughten in red gold this verse,
+
+"The fragrance of musk from the breasts of the fair * Zephyr
+     borrows, to sweeten the morning air."
+
+
+Masrur marvelled at this with exceeding wonder and was dazed by her
+charms and amazement gat hold upon him. Then said Zayn al-Mawásif to
+him, "Begone from us and go about thy business, lest the neighbours
+hear of us and even us with the lewd." He replied, "By Allah, O my
+lady, suffer my sight to enjoy the view of thy beauty and loveliness."
+With this she was wroth with him and leaving him, walked in the garden,
+and he looked at her shift-sleeve and saw upon it embroidered these
+lines,
+
+"The weaver-wight wrote with gold-ore bright * And her wrists on
+     brocade rained a brighter light:
+Her palms are adorned with a silvern sheen; * And favour her
+     fingers the ivory's white:
+For their tips are rounded like priceless pearl; * And her charms
+     would enlighten the nightiest night."
+
+
+And, as she paced the garth, Masrur gazed at her slippers and saw
+written upon them these pleasant lines,
+
+"The slippers that carry these fair young feet * Cause her form
+     to bend in its gracious bloom:
+When she paces and waves in the breeze she owns, * She shines
+     fullest moon in the murkiest gloom."
+
+
+She was followed by her women leaving Hubub with Masrur by the curtain,
+upon whose edge were embroidered these couplets,
+
+"Behind the veil a damsel sits with gracious beauty dight, *
+     Praise to the Lord who decked her with these inner gifts of
+     sprite!
+Guards her the garden and the bird fain bears her company; *
+     Gladden her wine-draughts and the bowl but makes her
+     brighter-bright.
+Apple and Cassia-blossom show their envy of her cheeks; * And
+     borrows Pearl resplendency from her resplendent light;
+As though the sperm that gendered her were drop of
+     marguerite[FN#317] * Happy who kisses her and spends in her
+     embrace the night."
+
+
+So Masrur entered into a long discourse with Hubub and presently said
+to her, "O Hubub, hath thy mistress a husband or not?" She replied, "My
+lady hath a husband; but he is actually abroad on a journey with
+merchandise of his." Now whenas he heard that her husband was abroad on
+a journey, his heart lusted after her and he said, "O Hubub, glorified
+be He who created this damsel and fashioned her! How sweet is her
+beauty and her loveliness and her symmetry and perfect grace! Verily,
+into my heart is fallen sore travail for her. O Hubub, so do that I
+come to enjoy her, and thou shalt have of me what thou wilt of wealth
+and what not else." Replied Hubub, "O Nazarene, if she heard thee speak
+thus, she would slay thee, or else she would kill herself, for she is
+the daughter of a Zealot[FN#318] of the Jews nor is there her like
+amongst them: she hath no need of money and she keepeth herself ever
+cloistered, discovering not her case to any." Quoth Masrur, "O Hubub,
+an thou wilt but bring me to enjoy her, I will be to thee slave and
+foot page and will serve thee all my life and give thee whatsoever thou
+seekest of me." But quoth she, "O Masrur, in very sooth this woman hath
+no lust for money nor yet for men, because my lady Zayn al-Mawasif is
+of the cloistered, going not forth her house-door in fear lest folk see
+her; and but that she bore with thee by reason of thy strangerhood, she
+had not permitted thee to pass her threshold; no, not though thou wert
+her brother." He replied, "O Hubub, be thou our go-between and thou
+shalt have of me an hundred gold dinars and a dress worth as much more,
+for that the love of her hath gotten hold of my heart." Hearing this
+she said, "O man, let me go about with her in talk and I will return
+thee and answer and acquaint thee with what she saith. Indeed, she
+loveth those who berhyme her and she affecteth those who set forth her
+charms and beauty and loveliness in verse, and we may not prevail over
+her save by wiles and soft speech and beguilement." Thereupon Hubub
+rose and going up to her mistress, accosted her with privy talk of this
+and that and presently said to her, "O my lady, look at yonder young
+man, the Nazarene; how sweet is his speech and how shapely his shape!"
+When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, she turned to her and said, "An thou
+like his comeliness love him thyself. Art thou not ashamed to address
+the like of me with these words? Go, bid him begone about his business;
+or I will make it the worse for him." So Hubub returned to Masrur, but
+acquainted him not with that which her mistress had said. Then the lady
+bade her hie to the door and look if she saw any of the folk, lest foul
+befal them. So she went and returning, said, "O my lady, without are
+folk in plenty and we cannot let him go forth this night." Quoth Zayn
+al-Mawasif, "I am in dole because of a dream I have seen and am fearful
+therefrom." And Masrur said, "What sawest thou? Allah never trouble thy
+heart!" She replied, "I was asleep in the middle of the night, when
+suddenly an eagle swooped down upon me from the highest of the clouds
+and would have carried me off from behind the curtain, wherefore I was
+affrighted at him. Then I awoke from sleep and bade my women bring me
+meat and drink, so haply, when I had drunken, the dolour of the dream
+would cease from me." Hearing this, Masrur smiled and told her his
+dream from first to last and how he had caught the dove, whereat she
+marvelled with exceeding marvel. Then he went on to talk with her at
+great length and said, "I am now certified of the truth of my dream,
+for thou art the dove and I the eagle, and there is no hope but that
+this must be, for, the moment I set eyes on thee, thou tookest
+possession of my vitals and settest my heart a-fire for love of thee!"
+Thereupon Zayn al-Mawasif became wroth with exceeding wrath and said to
+him, "I take refuge with Allah from this! Allah upon thee, begone about
+thy business ere the neighbours espy thee and there betide us sore
+reproach," adding, "Harkye, man! Let not thy soul covet that it shall
+not obtain. Thou weariest thyself in vain; for I am a merchant's wife
+and a merchant's daughter and thou art a druggist; and when sawest thou
+a druggist and a merchant's daughter conjoined by such sentiment?" He
+replied, "O my lady, never lacked love-liesse between folk[FN#319]; so
+cut thou not off from me hope of this and whatsoever thou seekest of me
+of money and raiment and ornaments and what not else, I will give
+thee." Then he abode with her in discourse and mutual blaming whilst
+she still redoubled in anger, till it was black night, when he said to
+her, "O my lady, take this gold piece and fetch me a little wine, for I
+am athirst and heavy hearted." So she said to the slave-girl Hubub,
+"Fetch him wine and take naught from him, for we have no need of his
+dinar." So she went whilst Masrur held his peace and bespake not the
+lady, who suddenly improvised these lines,
+
+"Leave this thy design and depart, O man! * Nor tread paths where
+     lewdness and crime trepan!
+Love is a net shall enmesh thy sprite, * Make thee rise a-morning
+     sad, weary and wan:
+For our spy thou shalt eke be the cause of talk; * And for thee
+     shall blame me my tribe and clan:
+Yet scant I marvel thou lovest a Fair:— * Gazelles hunting lions
+     we aye shall scan!"
+
+
+And he answered her with these,
+
+"Joy of boughs, bright branch of Myrobalan! * Have ruth on the
+     heart all thy charms unman:
+Death-cup to the dregs thou garrest me drain * And don weed of
+     Love with its bane and ban:
+How can soothe I a heart which for stress of pine * Burns with
+     living coals which my longings fan?"
+
+
+Hearing these lines she exclaimed, "Away from me! Quoth the saw 'Whoso
+looseth his sight wearieth his sprite.' By Allah, I am tired of
+discourse with thee and chiding, and indeed thy soul coveteth that
+shall never become thine; nay, though thou gave me my weight in gold,
+thou shouldst not get thy wicked will of me; for, I know naught of the
+things of the world, save pleasant life, by the boon of Allah
+Almighty!" He answered, "O my lady Zayn al-Mawasif, ask of me what thou
+wilt of the goods of the world." Quoth she, "What shall I ask of thee?
+For sure thou wilt fare forth and prate of me in the highway and I
+shall become a laughing-stock among the folk and they will make a
+byword of me in verse, me who am the daughter of the chief of the
+merchants and whose father is known of the notables of the tribe. I
+have no need of money or raiment and such love will not be hidden from
+the people and I shall be brought to shame, I and my kith and kin."
+With this Masrur was confounded and could make her no answer; but
+presently she said, "Indeed, the master-thief, if he steal, stealeth
+not but what is worth his neck, and every woman who doth lewdness with
+other than her husband is styled a thief; so, if it must be thus and no
+help[FN#320], thou shalt give me whatsoever my heart desireth of money
+and raiment and ornaments and what not." Quoth he, "An thou sought of
+me the world and all its regions contain from its East to its West,
+'twere but a little thing, compared with thy favour;" and quoth she, "I
+will have of thee three suits, each worth a thousand Egyptian dinars,
+and adorned with gold and fairly purfled with pearls and jewels and
+jacinths, the best of their kind. Furthermore I require that thou swear
+to me thou wilt keep my secret nor discover it to any and that thou
+wilt company with none but me; and I in turn will swear to thee a true
+oath that I will never false thee in love." So he sware to her the oath
+she required and she sware to him, and they agreed upon this; after
+which she said to her nurse Hubub, "To-morrow go thou with Masrur to
+his lodging and seek somewhat of musk and ambergris and Nadd and
+rose-water and see what he hath. If he be a man of condition, we will
+take him into favour; but an he be otherwise we will leave him." Then
+said she to him, "O Masrur, I desire somewhat of musk and ambergris and
+aloes-wood and Nadd; so do thou send it me by Hubub;" and he answered,
+"With love and gladness; my shop is at thy disposal!" Then the wine
+went round between them and their séance was sweet: but Masrur's heart
+was troubled for the passion and pining which possessed him; and when
+Zayn al-Mawasif saw him in this plight, she said to her slave-girl
+Sukub, "Arouse Masrur from his stupor; mayhap he will recover."
+Answered Sukub, "Hearkening and obedience," and sang these couplets,
+
+"Bring gold and gear an a lover thou, * And hymn thy love so
+     success shalt row;
+Joy the smiling fawn with the black-edged eyne * And the bending
+     lines of the Cassia-bough:
+On her look, and a marvel therein shalt sight, * And pour out thy
+     life ere thy life-term show:
+Love's affect be this, an thou weet the same; * But, an gold
+     deceive thee, leave gold and go!"
+
+
+Hereupon Masrur understood her and said, "I hear and apprehend. Never
+was grief but after came relief, and after affliction dealing He will
+order the healing." Then Zayn al-Mawasif recited these couplets,
+
+"From Love-stupor awake, O Masrur, 'twere best; * For this day I
+     dread my love rend thy breast;
+And to-morrow I fear me folks' marvel-tale * Shall make us a
+     byword from East to West:
+Leave love of my like or thou'lt gain thee blame; * Why turn thee
+     us-wards? Such love's unblest!
+For one strange of lineage whose kin repel * Thou shalt wake
+     ill-famed, of friends dispossest:
+I'm a Zealot's child and affright the folk: * Would my life were
+     ended and I at rest!"
+
+
+Then Masrur answered her improvisation and began to say these lines,
+
+"To grief leave a heart that to love ne'er ceased; * Nor blame,
+     for your blame ever love increased:
+You misrule my vitals in tyrant-guise; * Morn and Eve I wend not
+     or West or East;
+Love's law forbids me to do me die; * They say Love's victim is
+     ne'er released:
+Well-away! Could I find in Love's Court a judge * I'd 'plain and
+     win to my rights at least."
+
+
+They ceased not from mutual chiding till morning morrowed, when Zayn
+al-Mawasif said, "O Masrur 'tis time for thee to depart, lest one of
+the folk see thee and foul befal us twain." So he arose and accompanied
+by nurse Hubub fared on, till they came to his lodging, where he talked
+with her and said to her, "All thou seekest of me is ready for thee, so
+but thou wilt bring me to enjoy her." Hubub replied, "Hearten thy
+heart;" whereupon he rose and gave her an hundred dinars, saying "O
+Hubub, I have by me a dress worth an hundred gold pieces." Answered
+she, "O Masrur, make haste with the trinkets and other things promised
+her, ere she change her mind, for we may not take her, save with wile
+and guile, and she loveth the saying of verse." Quoth he, "Hearing and
+obeying," and bringing her the musk and ambergris and lign-aloes and
+rose-water, returned with her to Zayn al-Mawasif and saluted her. She
+returned his salam with the sweetest speech, and he was dazed by her
+beauty and improvised these lines,
+
+"O thou sheeniest Sun who in night dost shine! * O who stole my
+     soul with those large black eyne!
+O slim-shaped fair with the graceful neck! * O who shamest Rose
+     wi' those cheeks o' thine!
+Blind not our sight wi' thy fell disdain, * Disdain, that shall
+     load us with pain and pine;
+Passion homes in our inmost, nor will be quenched * The fire of
+     yearning in vitals li'en:
+Your love has housčd in heart of me * And of issue but you see I
+     ne'er a sign:
+Then haply you'll pity this hapless wight * Thy sad lover and
+     then—O the Morn divine!"
+
+
+When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she cast at him a glance of
+eyes, that bequeathed him a thousand regrets and sighs and his wits and
+soul were ravished in such wise, and answered him with these
+couplets[FN#321],
+
+"Think not from her, of whom thou art enamoured aye * To win
+     delight; so put desire from thee away.
+Leave that thou hop'st, for 'gainst her rigours whom thou lov'st
+     * Among the fair, in vain is all thou canst essay.
+My looks to lovers bring discomfiture and woe: Indeed, * I make
+     no count of that which thou dost say."
+
+
+When Masrur heard this, he hardened his heart and took patience
+concealing his case and saying in himself, "There is nothing for it
+against calamity save long-suffering;" and after this fashion they
+abode till nightfall when Zayn al-Mawasif called for food and they set
+before her a tray wherein were all manner of dishes, quails and pigeons
+and mutton and so forth, whereof they ate their sufficiency. Then she
+bade take away the tables and they did so and fetched the lavatory
+gear; and they washed their hands, after which she ordered her women to
+bring the candlesticks, and they set on candelabra and candles therein
+of camphorated wax. Thereupon quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "By Allah, my
+breast is straitened this night and I am afevered;" and quoth Masrur,
+"Allah broaden thy breast and banish thy bane!" Then she said, "O
+Masrur, I am used to play at chess: say me, knowest aught of the game?"
+He replied, "Yes; I am skilled therein;" whereupon she commanded her
+handmaid Hubub fetch her the chessboard. So she went away and presently
+returning with the board, set it before her, and behold, it was of
+ivory-marquetried ebony with squares marked in glittering gold, and its
+pieces of pearl and ruby.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif bade the chessboard be brought, they set it between her
+hands; and Masrur was amazed at this, when she turned to him and said,
+"Wilt have red or white?" He replied, "O Princess of the fair and
+adornment of morning air, do thou take the red for they formous are and
+fitter for the like of thee to bear and leave the white to my care."
+Answered she, "So be it;" and, taking the red pieces, ranged them
+opposite the white, then put out her hand to a piece purposing the
+first pass into the battle-plain. Masrur considered her fingers, which
+were white as paste, and was confounded at their beauty and shapely
+shape; whereupon she turned to him and said, "O Masrur, be not bedazed,
+but take patience and calm thyself." He rejoined, "O thou whose beauty
+shameth the moon, how shall a lover look on thee and have
+patience-boon?" And while this was doing she cried,
+"Checkmate[FN#322]!" and beat him; wherefore she knew that he was
+Jinn-mad for love of her and said to him, "O Masrur, I will not play
+with thee save for a set stake." He replied, "I hear and obey," and she
+rejoined, "Swear to me and I will swear to thee that neither of us will
+cheat[FN#323] the adversary." So both sware this and she said, "O
+Masrur, an I beat thee, I will have ten dinars of thee, but an thou
+beat me, I will give thee a mere nothing." He expected to win, so he
+said, "O my lady, be not false to thine oath, for I see thou art an
+overmatch for me at this game!" "Agreed," said she and they ranged
+their men and fell again to playing and pushing on their pawns and
+catching them up with the queens and aligning and matching them with
+the castles and solacing them with the onslaught of the knights. Now
+the "Adornment of Qualities" wore on head a kerchief of blue brocade so
+she loosed it off and tucking up her sleeve, showed a wrist like a
+shaft of light and passed her palm over the red pieces, saying to him,
+"Look to thyself." But he was dazzled at her beauty, and the sight of
+her graces bereft him of reason, so that he became dazed and amazed and
+put out his hand to the white men, but it alit upon the red. Said she,
+"O Masrur, where be thy wits? The red are mine and the white thine;"
+and he replied, "Whoso looketh at thee perforce loseth all his senses."
+Then, seeing how it was with him, she took the white from him and gave
+him the red, and they played and she beat him. He ceased not to play
+with her and she to beat him, whilst he paid her each time ten dinars,
+till, knowing him to be distraught for love of her, she said, "O
+Masrur, thou wilt never win to thy wish, except thou beat me, for such
+was our understanding; and henceforth, I will not play with thee save
+for a stake of an hundred dinars a game." "With love and gladness,"
+answered he and she went on playing and ever beating him and he paid
+her an hundred dinars each time; and on this wise they abode till the
+morning, without his having won a single game, when he suddenly sprang
+to his feet. Quoth she, "What wilt thou do, O Masrur?"; and quoth he,
+"I mean to go to my lodging and fetch somewhat of money: it may be I
+shall come to my desire." "Do whatso seemeth good to thee," said she;
+so he went home and taking all the money he had, returned to her
+improvising these two couplets,
+
+"In dream I saw a bird o'er speed (meseem'd), * Love's garden
+     decked with blooms that smiled and gleamed:
+But I shall ken, when won my wish and will * Of thee, the
+     truthful sense of what I dreamed."
+
+
+Now when Masrur returned to her with all his monies they fell a-playing
+again; but she still beat him and he could not beat her once; and in
+such case they abode three days, till she had gotten of him the whole
+of his coin; whereupon said she, "O Masrur, what wilt thou do now?";
+and he replied, "I will stake thee a druggist's shop." "What is its
+worth?" asked she; and he answered, "Five hundred dinars." So they
+played five bouts and she won the shop of him. Then he betted his
+slave-girls, lands, houses, gardens, and she won the whole of them,
+till she had gotten of him all he had; whereupon she turned to him and
+said, "Hast thou aught left to lay down?" Cried he, "By Him who made me
+fall into the snare of thy love, I have neither money to touch nor
+aught else left, little or much!" She rejoined, "O Masrur, the end of
+whatso began in content shall not drive man to repent; wherefore, an
+thou regret aught, take back thy good and begone from us about thy
+business and I will hold thee quit towards me." Masrur rejoined, "By
+Him who decreed these things to us, though thou sought to take my life
+'twere a wee thing to stake for thine approof, because I love none but
+thee!" Then said she, "O Masrur, fare forthright and fetch the Kazi and
+the witnesses and make over to me by deed all thy lands and
+possessions." "Willingly," replied he and, going forth without stay or
+delay, brought the Kazi and the witnesses and set them before her. When
+the judge saw her, his wits fled and his mind was amazed and his reason
+was dazed for the beauty of her fingers, and he said to her, "O my
+lady, I will not write out the writ of conveyance, save upon condition
+that thou buy the lands and mansions and slave-girls and that they all
+pass under thy control and into thy possession." She rejoined, "We're
+agreed upon that. Write me a deed, whereby all Masrur's houses and
+lands and slave-girls and whatso his right hand possesseth shall pass
+to Zayn al-Mawasif and become her property at such a price." So the
+Kazi wrote out the writ and the witnesses set hands thereto; whereupon
+she took it.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-eighth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif took from the Kazi the deed which made over her lover's
+property to her, she said to him, "O Masrur, now gang thy gait." But
+her slave-girl Hubub turned to him and said, "Recite us some verses."
+So he improvised upon that game of chess these couplets,
+
+"Of Time and what befel me I complain, * Mourning my loss by
+     chess and eyes of bane.
+For love of gentlest, softest-sided fair * Whose like is not of
+     maids or mortal strain:
+The shafts of glances from those eyne who shot * And led her
+     conquering host to battle-plain
+Red men and white men and the clashing Knights * And, crying
+     'Look to thee!' came forth amain:
+And, when down charging, finger-tips she showed * That gloomed
+     like blackest night for sable stain,
+The Whites I could not rescue, could not save * While ecstasy
+     made tear-floods rail and rain:
+The Pawns and Castles with their Queens fell low * And fled the
+     Whites nor could the brunt sustain:
+Yea, with her shaft of glance at me she shot * And soon that
+     shaft had pierced my heart and brain:
+She gave me choice between her hosts, and I * The Whites like
+     moonlight first to choose was fain,
+Saying, 'This argent folk best fitteth me * I love them, but the
+     Red by thee be ta'en!'
+She playčd me for free accepted stake * Yet amorous mercy I could
+     ne'er obtain:
+O fire of heart, O pine and woe of me, * Wooing a fair like moon
+     mid starry train:
+Burns not my heart O no! nor aught regrets * Of good or land, but
+     ah! her eyes' disdain!
+Amazed I'm grown and dazed for drearihead * And blame I Time who
+     brought such pine and pain.
+Quoth she, 'Why art thou so bedazed!' quoth I * 'Wine-drunken
+     wight shall more of wine assain?'
+That mortal stole my sense by silk-soft shape, * Which doth for
+     heart-core hardest rock contain.
+I nervčd self and cried, 'This day she's mine' * By bet, nor fear
+     I prove she unhumŕne:
+My heart ne'er ceased to seek possession, till * Beggared I found
+     me for conditions twain:
+Will youth you loveth shun the Love-dealt blow, * Tho' were he
+     whelmed in Love's high-surging main?
+So woke the slave sans e'en a coin to turn, * Thralled to repine
+     for what he ne'er shall gain!"
+
+
+Zayn al-Mawasif hearing these words marvelled at the eloquence of his
+tongue and said to him, "O Masrur, leave this madness and return to thy
+right reason and wend thy ways; for thou hast wasted all thy moveables
+and immoveables at the chess-game, yet hast not won thy wish, nor hast
+thou any resource or device whereby thou mayst attain to it." But he
+turned to her and said, "O my lady, ask of me whatso thou wilt and thou
+shalt have it; for I will bring it to thee and lay it at thy feet."
+Answered she, "O Masrur, thou hast no money left." "O goal of all
+hopes, if I have no money, the folk will help me." "Shall the giver
+turn asker?" "I have friends and kinsfolk, and whatsoever I seek of
+them, they will give me." "O Masrur, I will have of thee four pods of
+musk and four vases of civet[FN#324] and four pounds of ambergris and
+four thousand dinars and four hundred pieces of royal brocade, purfled
+with gold. An thou bring me these things, O Masrur, I will grant thee
+my favours." "This is a light matter to me, O thou that puttest the
+moons to shame," replied he and went forth to fetch her what she
+sought. She sent her maid Hubub after him, to see what worth he had
+with the folk of whom he had spoken to her; but, as he walked along the
+highways he turned and seeing her afar off, waited till she came up to
+him and said to her, "Whither away, O Hubub?" So she said to him, "My
+mistress sent me to follow for this and that," and he replied, "By
+Allah, O Hubub, I have nothing to hand!" She asked, "Then why didst
+thou promise her?"; and he answered, "How many a promise made is unkept
+of its maker! Fine words in love-matters needs must be." When she heard
+this from him, she said, "O Masrur, be of good cheer and eyes clear
+for, by Allah, most assuredly I will be the means of thy coming to
+enjoy her!" Then she left him nor ceased walking till she stood before
+her mistress weeping with sore weeping, and said, "O my lady, indeed he
+is a man of great consideration, and good repute among the folk." Quoth
+Zayn al-Mawasif, "There is no device against the destiny of Almighty
+Allah! Verily, this man found not in me a pitiful heart, for that I
+despoiled him of his substance and he got of me neither affection nor
+complaisance in granting him amorous joy; but, if I incline to his
+inclination, I fear lest the thing be bruited abroad." Quoth Hubub, "O
+my lady, verily, grievous upon us is his present plight and the loss of
+his good and thou hast with thee none save thyself and thy slave-girl
+Sukub; so which of us two would dare prate of thee, and we thy
+handmaids?" With this, she bowed her head for a while ground-wards and
+the damsels said to her, "O my lady, it is our rede that thou send
+after him and show him grace and suffer him not ask of the sordid; for
+how bitter is such begging!" So she accepted their counsel and calling
+for inkcase and paper, wrote him these couplets,
+
+"Joy is nigh, O Masrúr, so rejoice in true rede; * Whenas night
+     shall fall thou shalt do kind-deed:
+Crave not of the sordid a loan, fair youth, * Wine stole my wits
+     but they now take heed:
+All thy good I reft shall return to thee, * O Masrúr, and I'll
+     add to them amorous meed;
+For indeed th' art patient, and sweet of soul * When wronged by
+     thy lover's tyrannic greed.
+So haste to enjoy us and luck to thee! * Lest my folk come
+     between us speed, love, all speed!
+Hurry uswards thou, nor delay, and while * My mate is far, on
+     Love's fruit come feed."
+
+
+Then she folded the paper and gave it to Hubub the handmaid, who
+carried it to Masrur and found him weeping and reciting in a transport
+of passion and love-longing these lines,
+
+"A breeze of love on my soul did blow * That consumed my liver
+     for stress of lowe;
+When my sweetheart went all my longings grew; * And with tears in
+     torrent mine eyelids flow:
+Such my doubt and fears, did I tell their tale * To deaf rocks
+     and pebbles they'd melt for woe.
+Would Heaven I wot shall I sight delight, * And shall win my wish
+     and my friend shall know!
+Shall be folded up nights that doomed us part * And I be healed
+     of what harms my heart?"
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-ninth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that while Masrur,
+transported by passion and love-longing, was repeating his couplets in
+sing-song tone Hubub knocked at his door; so he rose and opened to her,
+and she entered and gave him the letter. He read it and said to her, "O
+Hubub, what is behind thee of thy lady's news[FN#325]?" She answered,
+"O my lord, verily, in this letter is that dispenseth me from reply,
+for thou art of those who readily descry!" Thereat he rejoiced with joy
+exceeding and repeated these two couplets,
+
+"Came the writ whose contents a new joy revealed, * Which in
+     vitals mine I would keep ensealed:
+And my longings grew when I kissed that writ, * As were pearl of
+     passion therein concealed."
+
+
+Then he wrote a letter answering hers and gave it to Hubub, who took it
+and returned with it to her mistress and forthright fell to extolling
+his charms to her and expiating on his good gifts and generosity; for
+she was become a helper to him, to bring about his union with her lady.
+Quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "O Hubub, indeed he tarrieth to come to us;" and
+quoth Hubub, "He will certainly come soon." Hardly had she made an end
+of speaking when behold, he knocked at the door, and she opened to him
+and brought him in to her mistress, who saluted him with the
+salam[FN#326] and welcomed him and seated him by her side. Then she
+said to Hubub, "Bring me a suit of brocade;" so she brought a robe
+broidered with gold and Zayn al-Mawasif threw it over him, whilst she
+herself donned one of the richest dresses and crowned her head with a
+net of pearls of the freshest water. About this she bound a fillet of
+brocade, purfled with pearls, jacinths and other jewels, from beneath
+which she let down two tresses[FN#327] each looped with a pendant of
+ruby, charactered with glittering gold, and she loosed her hair, as it
+were the sombrest night; and lastly she incensed herself with
+aloes-wood and scented herself with musk and ambergris, and Hubub said
+to her, "Allah save thee from the evil eye!" Then she began to walk,
+swaying from side to side with gracefullest gait, whilst Hubub who
+excelled in verse-making, recited in her honour these couplets,
+
+"Shamed is the bough of Bán by pace of her; * And harmed are
+     lovers by the gaze of her.
+A moon she rose from murks, the hair of her, * A sun from locks
+     the brow encase of her:
+Blest he she nights with by the grace of her, * Who dies in her
+     with oath by days of her!"
+
+
+So Zayn al-Mawasif thanked her and went up to Masrur, as she were full
+moon displayed. But when he saw her, he rose to his feet and exclaimed,
+"An my thought deceive me not, she is no human, but one of the brides
+of Heaven!" Then she called for food and they brought a table, about
+whose marge were written these couplets,[FN#328]
+
+"Dip thou with spoons in saucers four and gladden heart and eye *
+     With many a various kind of stew and fricassee and fry.
+Thereon fat quails (ne'er shall I cease to love and tender them)
+     * And rails and fowls and dainty birds of all the kinds that
+     fly.
+Glory to God for the Kabobs, for redness all aglow, * And
+     potherbs, steeped in vinegar, in porringers thereby!
+Fair fall the rice with sweet milk dressed, wherein the hands did
+     plunge * And eke the forearms of the fair were buried,
+     bracelet-high!
+How my heart yearneth with regret over two plates of fish * That
+     by two manchet-cakes of bread of Tewarij[FN#329] did lie!"
+
+
+Then they ate and drank and made mirth and merriment, after which the
+servants removed the table of food and set on the wine service; so cup
+and tasse[FN#330] passed round between them and they were gladdened in
+soul. Then Masrur filled the cup and saying, "O whose thrall am I and
+who is my mistress!"[FN#331] chanted these improvised couplets,
+
+"Mine eyes I admire that can feed their fill * On charms of a
+     girl rising worlds to light:
+In her time she hath none to compare for gifts * Of spirit and
+     body a mere delight.
+Her shape breeds envy in Cassia-tree * When fares she forth in
+     her symmetry dight:
+With luminous brow shaming moon of dark * And crown-like crescent
+     the brightest bright.
+When treads she earth's surface her fragrance scents * The Zephyr
+     that breathes over plain and height."
+
+
+When he ended his extempore song she said, "O Masrur, whoso religiously
+keepeth his faith and hath eaten our bread and salt, it behoveth us to
+give him his due; so put away from thee all thought of what hath been
+and I will restore thee thy lands and houses and all we have taken from
+thee." He replied, "O my lady, I acquit thee of that whereof thou
+speakest, though thou hadst been false to the oath and covenant between
+us; for I will go and become a Moslem." Zayn al-Mawasif protested that
+she would follow suit[FN#332] when Hubub cried to her, "O my lady, thou
+art young of years and knowest many things, and I claim the
+intercession of Almighty Allah with thee for, except thou do my bidding
+and heal my heart, I will not lie the night with thee in the house."
+And she replied, "O Hubub, it shall be as thou wilt. Rise and make us
+ready another sitting-room." So she sprang to her feet and gat ready a
+room and adorned and perfumed it after fairest fashion even as her lady
+loved and preferred; after which she again set on food and wine, and
+the cup went round between them and their hearts were glad.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fiftieth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif bade her maid Hubub make ready a private sitting-room she
+arose and did her bidding, after which she again set food and wine
+before them and cup and tasse went round gladdening their hearts.
+Presently quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "O Masrur, come is the time of Union
+and favour; so, as thou studiest my love to savour recite us some
+verses surpassing of flavour. " Upon this he recited the following
+ode[FN#333],
+
+"I am taken: my heart bums with living flame
+For Union shorn whenas Severance came,
+In the love of a damsel who forced my soul
+And with delicate cheeklet my reason stole.
+She hath eyebrows united and eyes black-white
+And her teeth are leven that smiles in light:
+The tale of her years is but ten plus four;
+Tears like Dragon's blood[FN#334] for her love I pour.
+First I saw that face 'mid parterre and rill,
+Outshining full Lune on horizon-hill;
+And stood like a captive for awe, and cried,
+'Allah's Peace, O who in demesne[FN#335] doth hide!'
+She returned my salam, gaily answering
+With the sweetest speech likest pearls a-string.
+But when heard my words, she right soon had known
+My want and her heart waxed hard as stone,
+And quoth she, 'Be not this a word silly-bold?'
+But quoth I, 'Refrain thee nor flyte and scold!
+An to-day thou consent such affair were light;
+They like is the loved, mine the lover-wight!'
+When she knew my mind she but smiled in mirth
+And cried, 'Now, by the Maker of Heaven and Earth!
+I'm a Jewess of Jewry's driest e'er seen
+And thou art naught save a Nazarene.
+Why seek my favours? Thine's other caste;
+An this deed thou do thou'lt repent the past.
+Say, does Love allow with two Faiths to play?
+Men shall blame thee like me, at each break of day!
+Wilt thou laugh at beliefs and deride their rite,
+And in thine and mine prove thee sinful sprite?
+An thou lovedest me thou hadst turnčd Jew,
+Losing worlds for love and my favours due;
+And by the Evangel strong oath hadst sworn
+To keep our secret intact from scorn!'
+So I took the Torah and sware strong oath
+I would hold to the covenant made by both.
+Then by law, religion and creed I sware,
+And bound her by oaths that most binding were;
+And asked her, 'Thy name, O my dear delight?'
+And she, 'Zayn al-Mawásif at home I'm hight!'
+'O Zayn al-Mawasif!' (cried I) 'Hear my call:
+Thy love hath made me thy veriest thrall!'
+Then I peeped 'neath her chin-veil and 'spied such charms
+That the longing of love filled my heart with qualms.
+'Neath the curtain I ceased not to humble me,
+And complain of my heart-felt misery;
+But when she saw me by Love beguiled
+She raised her face-veil and sweetly smiled:
+And when breeze of Union our faces kiss'd
+With musk-pod she scented fair neck and wrist;
+And the house with her essences seemed to drip,
+And I kissed pure wine from each smiling lip:
+Then like branch of Bán 'neath her robe she swayed
+And joys erst unlawful[FN#336] she lawful made:
+And joined, conjoined through our night we lay
+With clip, kiss of inner lip, langue fourrée.
+The world hath no grace but the one loved fere
+In thine arms to clasp with possession sheer!
+With the morn she rose and she bade Good-bye
+While her brow shone brighter than moon a-sky;
+Reciting at parting (while tear-drops hung
+On her cheeks, these scattered and other strung),[FN#337]
+'Allah's pact in mind all my life I'll bear
+And the lovely nights and strong oath I sware.'"
+
+
+Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted and said to him, "O Masrur, how goodly
+are thy inner gifts! May he live not who would harm thy heart!" Then
+she entered her boudoir and called him: so he went in to her and taking
+her in his arms, embraced her and hugged her and kissed her and got of
+her that which he had deemed impossible and rejoiced in winning the
+sweet of amorous will. Then said she, "O Masrur, thy good is unlawful
+to me and is lawfully thine again now that we are become lovers." So
+she returned to him all she had taken of him and asked him, "O Masrur,
+hast thou a flower-garden whither we may wend and take our pleasure?";
+whereto he answered, "Yes, O my lady, I have a garden that hath not its
+like." Then he returned to his lodgings and bade his slave-girls make
+ready a splendid banquet in a handsome room; after which he summoned
+Zayn al-Mawasif who came surrounded by her damsels, and they ate and
+drank and made mirth and merriment, whilst the cup passed round between
+them and their spirits rose high. Then lover withdrew with beloved and
+Zayn al-Mawasif said to Masrur, "I have bethought me of some dainty
+verses, which I would fain sing to the lute." He replied, "Do sing
+them"; so she took the lute and tuning it, sang to a pleasant air these
+couplets,
+
+"Joy from stroke of string doth to me incline, * And sweet is
+     a-morning our early wine;
+Whenas Love unveileth the amourist's heart, * And by rending the
+     veil he displays his sign,
+With a draught so pure, so dear, so bright, * As in hand of
+     Moons[FN#338] the Sun's sheeny shine
+O' nights it cometh with joy to 'rase * The hoar of sorrow by
+     boon divine."
+
+
+Then ending her verse, she said to him, "O Masrur, recite us somewhat
+of thy poetry and favour us with the fruit of thy thought." So he
+recited these two couplets,
+
+"We joy in full Moon who the wine bears round, * And in concert
+     of lutes that from gardens sound;
+Where the dove moans at dawn and where bends the bough * To Morn,
+     and all pathways of pleasure are found."
+
+
+When he had finished his recitation she said to him, "Make us some
+verses on that which hath passed between us an thou be occupied with
+love of me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-first Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif said to Masrur, "An thou be occupied with love of me, make
+us some verses on that hath passed between us," "With love and
+gladness," he replied and improvised the following Kasídah[FN#339],
+
+"Stand thou and hear what fell to me * For love of you gazelle to
+     dree!
+Shot me a white doe with her shaft * O' glances wounding
+     woundily.
+Love was my ruin, for was I * Straitened by longing ecstasy:
+I loved and woo'd a young coquette * Girded by strong artillery,
+Whom in a garth I first beheld * A form whose sight was symmetry.
+I greeted her and when she deigned * Greeting return, 'Salám,'
+     quoth she
+'What be thy name?' said I, she said, * 'My name declares my
+     quality![FN#340]'
+'Zayn al-Mawásif I am hight.' * Cried I, 'Oh deign I mercy see,'
+'Such is the longing in my heart * No lover claimeth rivalry!'
+Quoth she, 'With me an thou 'rt in love * And to enjoy me
+     pleadest plea,
+I want of thee oh! muchel wealth; * Beyond all compt my wants o'
+     thee!
+I want o' thee full many a robe * Of sendal, silk and damaskry;
+A quarter quintal eke of musk: * These of one night shall pay the
+     fee.
+Pearls, unions and carnelian[FN#341]-stones * The bestest best of
+     jewelry!'
+Of fairest patience showed I show * In contrariety albe:
+At last she favoured me one night * When rose the moon a crescent
+     wee;
+An stranger blame me for her sake * I say, 'O blamers listen ye!
+She showeth locks of goodly length * And black as blackest night
+     its blee;
+While on her cheeks the roses glow * Like Lazá-flame incendiary:
+In every eyelash is a sword * And every glance hath archery:
+Her liplets twain old wine contain, * And dews of fount-like
+     purity:
+Her teeth resemble strings o' pearls, * Arrayed in line and fresh
+     from sea:
+Her neck is like the neck of doe, * Pretty and carven perfectly:
+Her bosom is a marble slab * Whence rise two breasts like towers
+     on lea:
+And on her stomach shows a crease * Perfumed with rich perfumery;
+Beneath which same there lurks a Thing * Limit of mine
+     expectancy.
+A something rounded, cushioned-high * And plump, my lords, to
+     high degree:
+To me 'tis likest royal throne * Whither my longings wander free;
+There 'twixt two pillars man shall find * Benches of high-built
+     tracery.
+It hath specific qualities * Drive sanest men t' insanity;
+Full mouth it hath like mouth of neck * Or well begirt by stony
+     key;
+Firm lips with camelry's compare * And shows it eye of cramoisie.
+An draw thou nigh with doughty will * To do thy doing lustily,
+Thou'll find it fain to face thy bout * And strong and fierce in
+     valiancy.
+It bendeth backwards every brave * Shorn of his battle-bravery.
+At times imberbe, but full of spunk * To battle with the
+     Paynimry.
+'T will show thee liveliness galore * And perfect in its
+     raillery:
+Zayn al-Mawasif it is like * Complete in charms and courtesy.
+To her dear arms one night I came * And won meed given lawfully:
+I passed with her that self-same night * (Best of my nights!) in
+     gladdest glee;
+And when the morning rose, she rose * And crescent like her
+     visnomy:
+Then swayed her supple form as sway * The lances lopt from limber
+     tree;
+And when farewelling me she cried, * 'When shall such nights
+     return to me?'
+Then I replied, 'O eyen-light, * When He vouchsafeth His
+     decree!'"[FN#342]
+
+
+Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted with this Ode and the utmost gladness gat
+hold of her. Then said she, "O Masrur day-dawn draweth nigh and there
+is naught for it save to fly for fear of scandal and spy!" He replied,
+"I hear and obey," and rising led her to her lodging, after which he
+returned to his quarters[FN#343] and passed the rest of the night
+pondering on her charms. When the morning morrowed with its sheen and
+shone, he made ready a splendid present and carried it to her and sat
+by her side. And thus they abode awhile, in all solace of life and its
+delight, till one day there came to Zayn al-Mawasif a letter from her
+husband reporting to her his speedy return. Thereupon she said in
+herself, "May Allah not keep him nor quicken him! If he come hither,
+our life will be troubled: would Heaven I might despair of him!"
+Presently entered Masrur and sat with her at chat, as was his wont,
+whereupon she said to him, "O Masrur, I have received a missive from my
+mate, announcing his speedy return from his wayfaring. What is to be
+done, since neither of us without other can live?" He replied, "I know
+not; but thou art better able to judge, being acquainted with the ways
+of thy man, more by token that thou art one of the sharpest-witted of
+women and past mistress of devices such as devise that whereof fail the
+wise." Quoth she, "He is a hard man and jealous of his household: but,
+when he shall come home and thou hearest of his coming, do thou repair
+to him and salute him and sit down by his side, saying, 'O my brother,
+I am a druggist.' Then buy of him somewhat of drugs and spices of sorts
+and call upon him frequently and prolong thy talks with him and gainsay
+him not in whatsoever he shall bid thee; so haply that I would contrive
+may betide, as it were by chance." "I hear and I obey," quoth Masrur
+and fared forth from her, with heart a-fire for love. When her husband
+came home, she rejoiced in meeting him and after saluting him bade him
+welcome; but he looked in her face and seeing it pale and sallow (for
+she had washed it with saffron, using one of women's arts), asked her
+of her case. She answered that she had been sick, she and her women,
+from the time of his wayfaring, adding, "Verily, our hearts have been
+engrossed with thoughts of thee because of the length of thine
+absence." And she went on to complain to him of the misery of
+separation and to pour forth copious tears, saying, "Hadst thou but a
+companion with thee, my heart had not borne all this cark and care for
+thee. So, Allah upon thee, O my lord, travel not again without a
+comrade and cut me not off from news of thee, that my heart and mind
+may be at rest concerning thee!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif said to her mate, "Travel not without comrade and cut me not
+off from news of thee, that my heart and mind may be at rest concerning
+thee," he replied, "With love and gladness! By Allah thy bede is good
+indeed and right is thy rede! By thy life, it shall be as thou dost
+heed." Then he unpacked some of his stock-in-trade and carrying the
+goods to his shop, opened it and sat down to sell in the Soko.[FN#344]
+No sooner had he taken his place than lo and behold! up came Masrur and
+saluting him, sat down by his side and began talking and talked with
+him awhile. Then he pulled out a purse and taking forth gold, handed it
+to Zayn al-Mawasif's man and said, "Give me the worth of these dinars
+in drugs and spices of sorts, that I may sell them in my shop." The Jew
+replied, "I hear and I obey," and gave him what he sought. And Masrur
+continued to pay him frequent visits till, one day, the merchant said
+to him, "I have a mind to take me a man to partner in trade." Quoth
+Masrur, "And I also, desire to take a partner; for my father was a
+merchant in the land of Al-Yaman and left me great store of money and I
+fear lest it fare from me." Quoth the Jew, turning towards him, "Wilt
+thou be my partner, and I will be thy partner and a true friend and
+comrade to thee at home and abroad; and I will teach thee selling and
+buying, giving and taking?" And Masrur rejoined, "With all my heart."
+So the merchant carried him to his place and seated him in the
+vestibule, whilst he went in to his wife and said to her, "I have
+provided me with a partner and have bidden him hither as a guest; so do
+thou get us ready good guest-cheer." Whenas she heard this, she
+rejoiced divining that it was Masrur, and made ready a magnificent
+banquet,[FN#345] of her delight in the success of her device. Then,
+when the guest drew nigh, her husband said to her, "Come out with me to
+him and bid him welcome and say, 'Thou gladdenest us[FN#346]!'" But
+Zayn al-Mawasif made a show of anger, crying, "Wilt thou have me
+display myself before a strange man? I take refuge with Allah! Though
+thou cut me to bits, I will not appear before him!" Rejoined he, "Why
+shouldst thou be abashed at him, seeing that he is a Nazarene and we
+are Jews and, to boot, we are become chums, he and I?" Quoth she, "I am
+not minded to present myself before a strange man, on whom I have never
+once set eyes and whom I know not any wise." Her husband thought she
+spoke sooth and ceased not to importune her, till she rose and veiling
+herself, took the food and went out to Masrur and welcomed him;
+whereupon he bowed his head groundwards, as he were ashamed, and the
+Jew, seeing such dejection said in himself, "Doubtless, this man is a
+devotee." They ate their fill and the table being removed, wine was set
+on. As for Zayn al-Mawasif, she sat over against Masrur and gazed on
+him and he gazed on her till ended day, when he went home, with a heart
+to fire a prey. But the Jew abode pondering the grace and the
+comeliness of him; and, as soon as it was night, his wife according to
+custom served him with supper and they seated themselves before it. Now
+he had a mockingbird which was wont, whenever he sat down to meat, to
+come and eat with him and hover over his head; but in his absence the
+fowl was grown familiar with Masrur and used to flutter about him as he
+sat at meals. Now when Masrur disappeared and the master returned, it
+knew him not and would not draw near him, and this made him thoughtful
+concerning his case and the fowl's withdrawing from him. As for Zayn
+al-Mawasif, she could not sleep with her heart thinking of Masrur, and
+thus it was with her a second and even a third night, till the Jew
+became aware of her condition and, watching her while she sat
+distraught, began to suspect somewhat wrong. On the fourth night, he
+awoke in the middle thereof and heard his wife babbling in her sleep
+and naming Masrur, what while she lay on her husband's bosom, wherefore
+he misdoubted her; but he dissembled his suspicions and when morning
+morrowed he repaired to his shop and sat therein. Presently, up came
+Masrur and saluted him. He returned his salam and said to him,
+"Welcome, O my brother!" adding anon, "I have wished for thee;" and he
+sat talking with him for an hour or so, after which he said to him,
+"Rise, O my brother, and hie with me to my house, that we may enter
+into the pact of brotherhood."[FN#347] Replied Masrur, "With joy and
+goodly gree," and they repaired to the Jew's house, where the master
+went in and told his wife of Masrur's visit, for the purpose of
+conditioning their partnership, and said, "Make us ready a goodly
+entertainment, and needs must thou be present and witness our
+brotherhood." But she replied, "Allah upon thee, cause me not show
+myself to this strange man, for I have no mind to company with him." So
+he held his peace and forbore to press her and bade the waiting-women
+bring food and drink. Then he called the mocking-bird but it knew not
+its lord and settled upon Masrur's lap; and the Jew said to him, "O my
+master, what is thy name?" He answered, "My name is Masrur;" whereupon
+the Jew remembered that this was the name which his wife had repeated
+all night long in her sleep. Presently, he raised his head and saw her
+making signs[FN#348] with her forefingers to Masrur and motioning to
+him with her eyes, wherefore he knew that he had been completely
+cozened and cuckolded and said, "O my lord, excuse me awhile, till I
+fetch my kinsmen, so they may be present at our swearing brotherhood."
+Quoth Masrur, "Do what seemeth good to thee;" whereupon the Jew went
+forth the house and returning privily by a back way.—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-third Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn
+al-Mawasif's husband said to Masrur, "Excuse me awhile, till I fetch my
+cousins to witness the brother-bond between me and thee." Then he went
+forth and, privily returning behind the sitting-room, there took his
+station hard by a window which gave upon the saloon and whence he could
+watch them without their seeing him. Suddenly quoth Zayn al-Mawasif to
+her maid Sukub, "Whither is thy master gone?"; and quoth she, "He is
+gone without the house." Cried the mistress, "Lock the door and bar it
+with iron and open thou not till he knock, after thou hast told me."
+Answered Sukub, "So shall it be done." Then, while her husband watched
+them, she rose and filling a cup with wine, flavoured with powdered
+musk and rose-water, went close to Masrur, who sprang up to meet her,
+saying, "By Allah, the water of thy mouth is sweeter than this wine!"
+"Here it is for thee," said she and filling her mouth with wine, gave
+him to drink thereof, whilst he gave her the like to drink; after which
+she sprinkled him with rose-water from front to foot, till the perfume
+scented the whole place. All this while, the Jew was looking on and
+marvelling at the stress of love that was between them, and his heart
+was filled with fury for what he saw and he was not only wroth, but
+jealous with exceeding jealousy. Then he went out again and coming to
+the door found it locked and knocked a loud knock of the excess of his
+rage; whereupon quoth Sukub, "O my lady, here is my master;" and quoth
+Zayn al-Mawasif, "Open to him; would that Allah had not brought him
+back in safety!" So Sukub went and opened the door to the Jew, who said
+to her, "What ailed thee to lock the door?" Quoth she, "It hath never
+ceased to be locked thus during thine absence; nor hath it been opened
+night nor day;" and cried he, "Thou hast done well; this pleaseth me."
+Then he went in to Masrur, laughing and dissembling his chagrin, and
+said to him, "O Masrur, let us put off the conclusion of our pact of
+brotherhood this day and defer it to another." Replied Masrur, "As thou
+wilt," and hied him home, leaving the Jew pondering his case and
+knowing not what to do; for his heart was sore troubled and he said in
+himself, "Even the mocking-bird disowneth me and the slave-girls shut
+the door in my face and favour another." And of his exceeding chagrin,
+he fell to reciting these couplets,
+
+"Masrur joys life made fair by all delight of days, * Fulfilled
+     of boons, while mine the sorest grief displays.
+The Days have falsed me in the breast of her I love * And in my
+     heart are fires which all-consuming blaze:
+Yea, Time was clear for thee, but now 'tis past and gone * While
+     yet her lovely charms thy wit and senses daze:
+Espied these eyes of mine her gifts of loveliness: * Oh, hard my
+     case and sore my woe on spirit weighs!
+I saw the maiden of the tribe deal rich old wine * Of lips like
+     Salsabíl to friend my love betrays:
+E'en so, O mocking-bird, thou dost betray my breast * And to a
+     rival teachest Love and lover-ways:
+Strange things indeed and wondrous saw these eyne of me * Which
+     were they sleep-drowned still from Sleep's abyss would raise:
+I see my best belovčd hath forsworn my love * And eke like my
+     mocking-bird fro' me a-startled strays.
+By truth of Allah, Lord of Worlds who, whatso wills * His Fate,
+     for creatures works and none His hest gainsays,
+Forsure I'll deal to that ungodly wight his due * Who but to sate
+     his wicked will her heart withdrew!"
+
+
+When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, her side-muscles trembled and quoth
+she to her handmaid, "Heardest thou those lines?"; whereupon quoth the
+girl, "I never heard him in my born days recite the like of these
+verses; but let him say what he will." Then having assured himself of
+the truth of his suspicions, the Jew began to sell all his property,
+saying to himself, "Unless I part them by removing her from her mother
+land the twain will not turn back from this that they are engaged in,
+no, never!" So, when he had converted all his possessions into coin, he
+forged a letter and read it to Zayn al-Mawasif, declaring that it had
+come from his kinsmen, who invited him to visit them, him and his wife.
+She asked, "How long shall we tarry with them?" and he answered,
+"Twelve days." Accordingly she consented to this and said, "Shall I
+take any of my maids with me?"; whereto he replied, "Take Hubub and
+Sukub and leave Khutub here." Then he made ready a handsome
+camel-litter[FN#349] for his spouse and her women and prepared to set
+out with them; whilst she sent to her leman, telling him what had
+betided her and saying, "O Masrur, an the trysting-time[FN#350] that is
+between us pass and I come not back, know that he hath cheated and
+cozened us and planned a plot to separate us each from other, so forget
+thou not the plighted faith betwixt us, for I fear that he hath found
+out our love and I dread his craft and perfidy." Then, whilst her man
+was busy about his march she fell a-weeping and lamenting and no peace
+was left her, night or day. Her husband saw this, but took no note
+thereof; and when she saw there was scant help for it, she gathered
+together her clothes and gear and deposited them with her sister,
+telling her what had befallen her. Then she farewelled her and going
+out from her, drowned in tears, returned to her own house, where she
+found her husband had brought the camels and was busy loading them,
+having set apart the handsomest dromedary for her riding, and when she
+saw this and knew that needs must she be separated from Masrur, she
+waxt clean distraught. Presently it chanced that the Jew went out on
+some business of his; so she fared forth to the first or outer door and
+wrote thereon these couplets,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif saw her spouse summon the camels and knew that the march
+needs must be, she waxt clean distraught. Presently it chanced that the
+Jew went out on some business so she fared forth to the first door and
+wrote thereon these couplets,
+
+"Bear our salams, O Dove, from this our stead * From lover to
+     beloved far severčd!
+Bid him fro' me ne'er cease to yearn and mourn * O'er happy days
+     and hours for ever fled:
+Eke I in grief shall ever mourn and yearn, * Dwelling on days of
+     love and lustihead;
+Long was our joyance, seeming aye to last, * When night and
+     morning to reunion led;
+Till croaked the Raven[FN#351] of the Wold one day * His cursed
+     croak and did our union dead.
+We sped and left the homestead dark and void * Its gates
+     unpeopled and its dwellers sped."
+
+
+Then she went to the second door and wrote thereon these couplets,
+
+"O who passest this doorway, by Allah, see * The charms of my
+     fere in the glooms and make plea
+For me, saying, 'I think of the Past and weep * Yet boot me no
+     tears flowing full and free.'
+Say, 'An fail thee patience for what befel * Scatter earth and
+     dust on the head of thee!
+And o'er travel lands East and West, and deem * God sufficeth thy
+     case, so bear patiently!'"
+
+
+Then she went to the third door and wept sore and thereon wrote these
+couplets,
+
+"Fare softly, Masrúr! an her sanctuary * Thou seek, and read what
+     a-door writ she.
+Ne'er forget Love-plight, if true man; how oft * Hast savoured
+     Nights' bitter and sweetest gree!
+O Masrúr! forget not her neighbourhood * For wi' thee must her
+     gladness and joyance flee!
+But beweep those dearest united days * When thou camest veilčd in
+     secresy;
+Wend for sake of us over farthest wone; * Span the wold for us,
+     for us dive in sea;
+Allah bless the past days! Ah, how glad they were * When in
+     Gardens of Fancy the flowers pluckt we!
+The nights of Union from us are fled * And parting-glooms dim
+     their radiancy;
+Ah! had this lasted as hopčd we, but * He left only our breasts
+     and the rosery.
+Will revolving days on Re-union dawn? * Then our vow to the Lord
+     shall accomplisht be.
+Learn thou our lots are in hand of Him * Who on lines of
+     skull[FN#352] writes our destiny!"
+
+
+Then she wept with sore weeping and returned to the house, wailing and
+remembering what had passed and saying, "Glory be to God who hath
+decreed to us this!" And her affliction redoubled for severance from
+her beloved and her departure from her mother-land, and she recited
+these couplets,
+
+"Allah's peace on thee, House of Vacancy! * Ceased in thee all
+     our joys, all our jubilee.
+O thou Dove of the homestead, ne'er cease to bemoan * Whose moons
+     and full moons[FN#353] sorest severance dree:
+Masrúr, fare softly and mourn our loss; * Loving thee our eyes
+     lose their brilliancy:
+Would thy sight had seen, on our marching day, * Tears shed by a
+     heart in Hell's flagrancy!
+Forget not the plight in the garth-shade pledged * When we sat
+     enveiléd in privacy:"
+
+
+Then she presented herself before her husband, who lifted her into the
+litter he had let make for her; and, when she found herself on the
+camel's back, she recited these couplets,
+
+"The Lord, empty House! to thee peace decree * Long we bore
+     therein growth of misery:
+Would my life-thread were shorn in that safe abode * And o' night
+     I had died in mine ecstasy!
+Home-sickness I mourn, and my strangerhood * Irks my soul, nor
+     the riddle of future I ree.
+Would I wot shall I ever that house resee * And find it, as erst,
+     home of joy and glee!"
+
+
+Said her husband, "O Zayn al-Mawasif grieve not for thy departure from
+thy dwelling; for thou shalt return to it ere long Inshallah!" And he
+went on to comfort her heart and soothe her sorrow. Then all set out
+and fared on till they came without the town and struck into the high
+road, whereupon she knew that separation was certain and this was very
+grievous to her. And while such things happened Masrur sat in his
+quarters, pondering his case and that of his mistress, and his heart
+forewarned him of severance. So he rose without stay and delay and
+repairing to her house, found the outer door padlocked and read the
+couplets she had written thereon; upon which he fell down in a fainting
+fit. When he came to himself, he opened the first door and entering,
+read what was written upon the second and likewise upon the third
+doors; wherefore passion and love-longing and distraction grew on him.
+So he went forth and hastened in her track, till he came up with the
+light caravan[FN#354] and found her at the rear, whilst her husband
+rode in the van, because of his merchandise. When he saw her, he clung
+to the litter, weeping and wailing for the anguish of parting, and
+recited these couplets,
+
+"Would I wot for what crime shot and pierced are we * Thro' the
+     days with Estrangement's archery!
+O my heart's desire, to thy door I came * One day, when high waxt
+     mine expectancy:
+But I found the home waste as the wold and void * And I 'plained
+     my pine and groaned wretchedly:
+And I asked the walls of my friends who fared * With my heart in
+     pawn and in pendency;
+And they said, 'All marched from the camp and left *An ambushed
+     sorrow on hill and lea;'
+And a writ on the walls did they write, as write * Folk who keep
+     their faith while the Worlds are three."
+
+
+Now when Zayn al-Mawasif heard these lines, she knew that it was
+Masrur.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif heard these lines she knew that it was Masrur and wept, she
+and her handmaids, and said to him, "O Masrur, I conjure thee by Allah,
+turn back, lest my husband see us twain together!" At her words he
+swooned away; and when he revived, they took leave each of other and he
+recited the following couplets,
+
+"The Caravan-chief calleth loud o' night * Ere the Breeze bear
+     his cry in the morning-light:
+They girded their loads and prepared to fare, * And hurried while
+     murmured the leader-wight.
+They scent the scene on its every side, * As their march through
+     the valley they expedite.
+After winning my heart by their love they went * O' morn when
+     their track could deceive my sight.
+O my neighbour fair, I reckt ne'er to part, * Or the ground
+     bedewed with my tears to sight!
+Woe betide my heart, now hath Severance hand * To heart and
+     vitals dealt bane and blight."
+
+
+Then he clung to the litter, weeping and wailing, whilst she besought
+him to turn back ere morn for fear of scorn. So he came up to her
+Haudaj and farewelling her a second time, fell down in a swoon. He lay
+an hour or so without life, and when he revived he found the caravan
+had fared forth of sight. So he turned in the direction of their
+wayfare and scenting the breeze which blew from their quarter, chanted
+these improvised lines,
+
+"No breeze of Union to the lover blows * But moan he maketh burnt
+     with fiery woes:
+The Zephyr fans him at the dawn o' day; * But when he wakes the
+     horizon lonely shows:
+On bed of sickness strewn in pain he lies, * And weeps he bloody
+     tears in burning throes,
+For the fair neighbour with my heart they bore * 'Mid travellers
+     urging beasts with cries and blows.
+By Allah from their stead no Zephyr blew * But sniffed I as the
+     wight on eyeballs goes;[FN#355]
+And snuff the sweetest South as musk it breathes * And on the
+     longing lover scent bestows."
+
+
+Then Masrur returned, mad with love-longing, to her house, and finding
+it lone from end to end[FN#356] and forlorn of friend, wept till he wet
+his clothes; after which he swooned away and his soul was like to leave
+his body. When he revived, he recited these two couplets,
+
+"O Spring-camp have ruth on mine overthrowing * My abjection, my
+     leanness, my tears aye flowing,
+Waft the scented powder[FN#357] of breezes they breathe * In hope
+     it cure heart of a grief e'er growing."
+
+
+Then he returned to his own lodging confounded and tearful-eyed, and
+abode there for the space of ten days. Such was his case; but as
+regards the Jew, he journeyed on with Zayn al-Mawasif half a score
+days, at the end of which he halted at a certain city and she, being by
+that time assured that her husband had played her false, wrote to
+Masrur a letter and gave it to Hubub, saying, "Send this to Masrur, so
+he may know how foully and fully we have been tricked and how the Jew
+hath cheated us." So Hubub took it and despatched it to Masrur, and
+when it reached, its news was grievous to him and he wept till he
+watered the ground. Then he wrote a reply and sent it to his mistress,
+subscribing it with these two couplets,
+
+"Where is the way to Consolation's door * How shall console him
+     flames burn evermore?
+How pleasant were the days of yore all gone: * Would we had
+     somewhat of those days of yore!"
+
+
+When the missive reached Zayn al-Mawasif, she read it and again gave it
+to her handmaid Hubub, saying to her, "Keep it secret!" However, the
+husband came to know of their correspondence and removed with her and
+her two women to another city, at a distance of twenty days' march.
+Thus it befel Zayn al-Mawasif; but as regards Masrur, sleep was not
+sweet to him nor was peace peaceful to him or patience left to him, and
+he ceased not to be thus till, one night, his eyes closed for weariness
+and he dreamt that he saw Zayn al-Mawasif come to him in the garden and
+embrace him; but presently he awoke and found her not: whereupon his
+reason fled and his wits wandered and his eyes ran over with tears;
+love-longing to the utterest gat hold of his heart and he recited these
+couplets,
+
+"Peace be to her, who visits me in sleeping phantasy * Stirring
+     desire and growing love to uttermost degree:
+Verily from that dream I rose with passion maddenčd * For sight
+     of fairest phantom come in piece to visit me:
+Say me, can dreams declare the truth anent the maid I love, * And
+     quench the fires of thirst and heal my love-sick malady?
+Anon to me she is liberal and she strains me to her breast; *
+     Anon she soothes mine anxious heart with sweetest
+     pleasantry:
+From off her dark-red damask lips the dew I wont to sip * The
+     fine old wine that seemed to reek of musk's perfumery.
+I wondered at the wondrous things between us done in dreams, *
+     And won my wish and all my will of things I hoped to see;
+And from that dreamery I rose, yet ne'er could hope to find *
+     Trace of my phantom save my pain and fiery misery:
+And when I looked on her a-morn, 'twas as a lover mad * And every
+     eve was drunken yet no wine brought jollity.
+O breathings of the northern breeze, by Allah fro' me bear *
+     Them-wards the greetings of my love and best salams that be:
+Say them, 'The wight with whom ye made that plight of fealty *
+     Time with his changes made him drain Death's cup and slain
+     is he!'"
+
+
+Then he went out and ceased not to weep till he came to her house and
+looking on it, saw it empty and void. Presently, it seemed to him he
+beheld her form before him, whereupon fires flamed in him and his
+griefs redoubled and he fell down aswoon;—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Masrur
+saw the vision of Zayn al-Mawasif and felt her embrace, he joyed with
+passing joy. As soon as he awoke he sought her house, but finding it
+empty and void he fell down a-swoon; and when he came to himself, he
+recited these couplets,
+
+"Fro' them inhale I scent of Ottar and of Bán; * So fare with
+     heart which ecstasies of love unman:
+I'd heal thy longings (love-sick lover!) by return * To site of
+     beauty void sans friend or mate to scan:
+But still it sickeneth me with parting's ban and bane * Minding
+     mine olden plight with friend and partisan."
+
+
+When he had made an end of these verses, he heard a raven croak beside
+the house and wept, saying, "Glory be to God! The raven croaketh not
+save over a ruined homestead." Then he moaned and groaned and recited
+these couplets,
+
+"What ails the Raven that he croaks my lover's house hard by, *
+     And in my vitals lights a fire that flameth fierce and high?
+For times now past and gone I spent in joyance of their love *
+     With love my heart hath gone to waste and I sore pain aby:
+I die of longing love and lowe still in my liver raging * And
+     wrote to her but none there is who with the writ may hie:
+Ah well-away for wasted frame! Hath farčd forth my friend * And
+     if she will o' nights return Oh would that thing wot I!
+Then, Ho thou Breeze of East, and thou by morn e'er visit her; *
+     Greet her from me and stand where doth her tribe encampčd
+     lie!"
+
+
+Now Zayn al-Mawasif had a sister, by name Nasím—the Zephyr—who stood
+espying him from a high place; and when she saw him in this plight, she
+wept and sighed and recited these couplets,
+
+"How oft bewailing the place shall be this coming and going, *
+     While the House bemoaneth its builder with tear-flood ever
+     a-flowing?
+Here was bestest joy ere fared my friend with the caravan hieing
+     * And its dwellers and brightest-suns[FN#358] ne'er ceased
+     in its walls a-glowing:
+Where be those fullest moons that here were always arising? *
+     Bedimmed them the Shafts of Days their charms of spirit
+     unknowing:
+Leave then what is past of the Fair thou wast ever with love
+     espying * And look; for haply the days may restore them
+     without foreshowing:
+For hadst thou not been, its dwellers had never departed flying *
+     Nor haddest thou seen the Crow with ill-omened croak
+     a-crying."
+
+
+Masrur wept sore hearing these verses and apprehending their
+significance. Now Nasim knew that which was between him and her sister
+of love and longing, ecstasy and passion; so she said to him, "Allah
+upon thee, O Masrur, away from this house, lest any see thee and deem
+thou comest on my account! Indeed thou hast caused my sister quit it
+and now thou wouldst drive me also away. Thou knowest that, but for
+thee, the house would not now be void of its dwellers: so be consoled
+for her loss and leave her: what is past is past." When he heard this,
+he wept bitterly and said to her, "O Nasim, if I could, I should fly
+for longing after her; so how can I be comforted for her?" Quoth she,
+"Thou hast no device save patience;" and quoth he, "I beseech thee, for
+Allah's sake, write me a writ to her, as from thyself, and get me an
+answer from her, to comfort my heart and quench the fire in my vitals."
+She replied, "With love and gladness," and took inkcase and paper,
+whilst Masrur began to set out to her the violence of his longing and
+what tortures he suffered for the anguish of severance, saying, "This
+letter is from the lover despairing and sorrowful * the bereaved, the
+woeful * with whom no peace can stay * nor by night nor by day * but he
+weepeth copious tears alway. * Indeed, tears his eyelids have ulcerated
+and his sorrows have kindled in his liver a fire unsated. His
+lamentation is lengthened and restlessness is strengthened and he is as
+he were a bird unmated * While for sudden death he awaiteth * Alas, my
+desolation for the loss of thee * and alas, my yearning affliction for
+the companionship of thee! * Indeed, emaciation hath wasted my frame *
+and my tears a torrent became * mountains and plains are straitened
+upon me for grame * and of the excess of my distress, I go saying,
+
+"Still cleaves to this homestead mine ecstasy, * And redoubled
+     pine for its dwellers I dree;
+And I send to your quarters the tale of my love * And the cup of
+     your love gave the Cup-boy to me.
+And for faring of you and your farness from home * My wounded
+     lids are from tears ne'er free:
+O thou leader of litters, turn back with my love * For my heart
+     redoubleth its ardency:
+Greet my love and say him that naught except * Those brown-red
+     lips deals me remedy:
+They bore him away and our union rent * And my vitals with
+     Severance-shaft shot he:
+My love, my lowe and my longing to him * Convey, for of parting
+     no cure I see:
+I swear an oath by your love that I * Will keep pact and covenant
+     faithfully,
+To none I'll incline or forget your love * How shall love-sick
+     lover forgetful be?
+So with you be the peace and my greeting fair * In letters that
+     perfume of musk-pod bear."
+
+
+Her sister Nasim admired his eloquence of tongue and the goodliness of
+his speech and the elegance of the verses he sang, and was moved to
+ruth for him. So she sealed the letter with virgin musk and incensed it
+with Nadd-scent and ambergris, after which she committed it to a
+certain of the merchants saying, "Deliver it not to any save to Zayn
+al-Mawasif or to her handmaid Hubub." Now when the letter reached her
+sister, she knew it for Masrur's dictation and recognised himself in
+the grace of its expression. So she kissed it and laid it on her eyes,
+whilst the tears streamed from her lids and she gave not over weeping,
+till she fainted. As soon as she came to herself, she called for
+pencase and paper and wrote him the following answer; complaining the
+while of her desire and love-longing and ecstasy and what was hers to
+endure of pining for her lover and yearning to him and the passion she
+had conceived for him.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn
+al-Mawasif wrote the following reply to Masrur's missive: "This letter
+to my lord and master I indite * the king of my heart and my secret
+sprite * Indeed, wakefulness agitateth me * and melancholy increaseth
+on me * and I have no patience to endure the absence of thee * O thou
+who excellest sun and moon in brilliancy * Desire of repose despoileth
+me * and passion destroyeth me * and how should it be otherwise with
+me, seeing that I am of the number of the dying? *O glory of the world
+and Ornament of life, she whose vital spirits are cut off shall her cup
+be sweet to quaff? * For that she is neither with the quick nor with
+the dead." And she improvised these couplets and said,
+
+"Thy writ, O Masrúr, stirred my sprite to pine * For by Allah,
+     all patience and solace I tyne:
+When I read thy scripture, my vitals yearned * And watered the
+     herbs of the wold these eyne.
+On Night's wings I'd fly an a bird * And sans thee I weet not the
+     sweets of wine:
+Life's unlawful to me since thou faredst far * To bear parting-
+     lowe is no force of mine."
+
+
+Then she sprinkled the letter with powder of musk and ambergris and,
+having sealed it with her signet, committed it to a merchant, saying,
+"Deliver it to none save to my sister." When it reached Nasim she sent
+it to Masrur, who kissed it and laid it on his eyes and wept till he
+fell into a trance. Such was their case; but as regards the Jew, he
+presently heard of their correspondence and began again to travel from
+place to place with Zayn al-Mawasif and her damsels, till she said to
+him, "Glory to God! How long wilt thou fare with us and bear us afar
+from our homes?" Quoth he, "I will fare on with you a year's journey,
+so no more letters may reach you from Masrur. I see how you take all my
+monies and give them to him; so all that I miss I shall recover from
+you: and I shall see if Masrur will profit you or have power to deliver
+you from my hand." Then he repaired to a blacksmith, after stripping
+her and her damsels of their silken apparel and clothing them in
+raiment of hair-cloth, and bade him make three pairs of iron shackles.
+When they were ready, he brought the smith in to his wife, having said
+to him, "Put the shackles on the legs of these three slave-girls." The
+first that came forward was Zayn al-Mawasif, and when the blacksmith
+saw her, his sense forsook him and he bit his finger tips and his wit
+fled forth his head and his transport grew sore upon him. So he said to
+the Jew, "What is the crime of these damsels?" Replied the other, "They
+are my slave-girls, and have stolen my good and fled from me." Cried
+the smith, "Allah disappoint thy jealous whims! By the Almighty, were
+this girl before the Kazi of Kazis,[FN#359] he would not even reprove
+her, though she committed a thousand crimes a day. Indeed, she showeth
+not thief's favour and she cannot brook the laying of irons on her
+legs." And he asked him as a boon not to fetter her, interceding with
+him to forbear the shackles. When she saw the blacksmith taking her
+part in this wise she said to her husband, "I conjure thee, by Allah,
+bring me not forth before yonder strange man!" Said he, "Why then
+camest thou forth before Masrur?"; and she made him no reply. Then he
+accepted the smith's intercession, so far as to allow him to put a
+light pair of irons on her legs, for that she had a delicate body,
+which might not brook harsh usage, whilst he laid her handmaids in
+heavy bilboes, and they ceased not, all three, to wear hair-cloth night
+and day till their bodies became wasted and their colour changed. As
+for the blacksmith, exceeding love had fallen on his heart for Zayn
+al-Mawasif; so he returned home in great concern and he fell to
+reciting extempore these couplets,
+
+"Wither thy right, O smith, which made her bear * Those iron
+     chains her hands and feet to wear!
+Thou hast ensoiled a lady soft and bright, * Marvel of marvels,
+     fairest of the fair:
+Hadst thou been just, those anklets ne'er had been * Of iron: nay
+     of purest gold they were:
+By Allah! did the Kázis' Kázi sight * Her charms, he'd seat her
+     in the highest chair."
+
+
+Now it chanced that the Kazi of Kazis passed by the smith's house and
+heard him improvise these lines; so he sent for him and as soon as he
+saw him said to him, "O blacksmith, who is she on whom thou callest so
+instantly and eloquently and with whose love thy heart is full filled?"
+The smith sprang to his feet and kissing the Judge's hand, answered,
+"Allah prolong the days of our lord the Kazi and ample his life!" Then
+he described to him Zayn al-Mawasif's beauty and loveliness, brilliancy
+and perfection, and symmetry and grace and how she was lovely faced and
+had a slender waist and heavily based; and acquainted him with the
+sorry plight wherein she was for abasement and durance vile and lack of
+victual. When the Kazi heard this, he said, "O blacksmith, send her to
+us and show her that we may do her justice, for thou art become
+accountable for the damsel and unless thou guide her to us, Allah will
+punish thee at the Day of Doom." "I hear and obey," replied the smith
+and betook himself without stay and delay to Zayn al-Mawasif's lodging,
+but found the door barred and heard a voice of plaintive tone that came
+from heart forlorn and lone; and it was Zayn al-Mawasif reciting these
+couplets,
+
+"I and my love in union were unite; * And filled my friend to me
+     cups clearly bright
+Between us reigned high mirth and jollity, * Nor Eve nor Morn
+     brought 'noyance or affright
+Indeed we spent most joyous time, with cup * And lute and
+     dulcimer to add delight,
+Till Time estranged our fair companionship; * My lover went and
+     blessing turned to blight.
+Ah would the Severance-raven's croak were stilled * And
+     Union-dawn of Love show blessčd light!"
+
+
+When the blacksmith heard this, he wept like the weeping of the clouds.
+Then he knocked at the door and the women said, "Who is at the door?"
+Answered he, "'Tis I, the blacksmith," and told them what the Kazi had
+said and how he would have them appear before him and make their
+complaint to him, that he might do them justice on their adversary.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say,
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+blacksmith told Zayn al-Mawasif what the Kazi had said, and how he
+summoned them that he might apply the Lex Talionis to their adversary,
+she rejoined, "How can we go to him, seeing the door is locked on us
+and our feet shackled and the Jew hath the keys?" The smith replied, "I
+will make the keys for the padlocks and therewith open door and
+shackles." Asked she, "But who will show us the Kazi's house?"; and he
+answered, "I will describe it to you." She enquired, "But how can we
+appear before him, clad as we are in haircloth reeking with sulphur?"
+And the smith rejoined, "The Kazi will not reproach this to you,
+considering your case." So saying, he went forthright and made keys for
+the padlocks, wherewith he opened the door and the shackles, and
+loosing the irons from their legs, carried them forth and guided them
+to the Kazi's mansion. Then Hubub did off the hair-cloth garments from
+her lady's body and carried her to the Hammam, where she bathed her and
+attired her in silken raiment, and her colour returned to her. Now it
+happened, by exceeding good fortune, that her husband was abroad at a
+bride-feast in the house of one of the merchants; so Zayn al-Mawasif,
+the Adornment of Qualities, adorned herself with the fairest ornaments
+and repaired to the Kazi, who at once on espying her rose to receive
+her. She saluted him with softest speech and winsomest words, shooting
+him through the vitals the while with the shafts of her glances, and
+said, "May Allah prolong the life of our lord the Kazi and strengthen
+him to judge between man and man!" Then she acquainted him with the
+affair of the blacksmith and how he had done nobly by them, whenas the
+Jew had inflicted on her and her women heart-confounding torments; and
+how his victims deathwards he drave, nor was there any found to save.
+"O damsel," quoth the Kazi, "what is thy name?" "My name is Zayn al
+Mawasif,—Adomment of Qualities—and this my handmaid's name is Hubub."
+"Thy name accordeth with the named and its sound conformeth with its
+sense." Whereupon she smiled and veiled her face, and he said to her,
+"O Zayn al-Mawasif, hast thou a husband or not?" "I have no husband";
+"And what is thy Faith?" "That of Al-Islam, and the religion of the
+Best of Men." "Swear to me by Holy Law replete with signs and instances
+that thou ownest the creed of the Best of Mankind." So she swore to him
+and pronounced the profession of the Faith. Then asked the Kazi, "How
+cometh it that thou wastest thy youth with this Jew?" And she answered,
+"Know, O Kazi (may Allah prolong thy days in contentment and bring thee
+to thy will and thine acts with benefits seal!), that my father left
+me, after his death, fifteen thousand dinars, which he placed in the
+hands of this Jew, that he might trade therewith and share his gains
+with me, the head of the property[FN#360] being secured by legal
+acknowledgment. When my father died, the Jew coveted me and sought me
+in marriage of my mother, who said, 'How shall I drive her from her
+Faith and cause to become a Jewess? By Allah, I will denounce thee to
+the rulers!' He was affrighted at her words and taking the money, fled
+to the town of Adan.[FN#361] When we heard where he was, we came to
+Adan in search of him, and when we foregathered with him there, he told
+us that he was trading in stuffs with the monies and buying goods upon
+goods. So we believed him and he ceased not to cozen us till he cast us
+into jail and fettered us and tortured us with exceeding sore torments;
+and we are strangers in the land and have no helper save Almighty Allah
+and our lord the Kazi." When the judge heard this tale he asked Hubub
+the nurse, "Is this indeed thy lady and are ye strangers and is she
+unmarried?", and she answered, "Yes." Quoth he, "Marry her to me and on
+me be incumbent manumission of my slaves and fasting and pilgrimage and
+almsgiving of all my good an I do you not justice on this dog and
+punish him for that he hath done!" And quoth she, "I hear and obey."
+Then said the Kazi, "Go, hearten thy heart and that of thy lady; and
+to-morrow, Inshallah, I will send for this Miscreant and do you justice
+on him and ye shall see prodigies of his punishment." So Hubub called
+down blessings upon him and went forth from him with her mistress,
+leaving him with passion and love-longing fraught and with distress and
+desire distraught. Then they enquired for the house of the second Kazi
+and presenting themselves before him, told him the same tale. On like
+wise did the twain, mistress and maid with the third and the fourth,
+till Zayn al-Mawasif had made her complaint to all the four Kazis, each
+of whom fell in love with her and besought her to wed him, to which she
+consented with a "Yes"; nor wist any one of the four that which had
+happened to the others. All this passed without the knowledge of the
+Jew, who spent the night in the house of the bridefeast. And when
+morning morrowed, Hubub arose and gat ready her lady's richest raiment;
+then she clad her therewith and presented herself with her before the
+four Kazis in the court of justice. As soon as she entered, she veiled
+her face and saluted the judges, who returned her salam and each and
+every of them recognised her. One was writing, and the reed-pen dropped
+from his hand, another was talking, and his tongue became tied, and a
+third was reckoning and blundered in his reckoning; and they said to
+her, "O admirable of attributes and singular among beauties! be not thy
+heart other than hearty, for we will assuredly do thee justice and
+bring thee to thy desire." So she called down blessings on them and
+farewelled them and went her ways.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Kazis
+said to Zayn al-Mawasif, "O admirable of attributes and singular among
+beauties! Be not thy heart other than hearty for our doing thy desire
+and thy winning to thy will." So she called down blessings on them and
+farewelled them and went her ways, the while her husband abode with his
+friends at the marriage-banquet and knew naught of her doings. Then she
+proceeded to beseech the notaries and scribes and the notables and the
+Chiefs of Police to succour her against that unbelieving miscreant and
+deliver her from the torment she suffered from him. Then she wept with
+sore weeping and improvised these couplets,
+
+"Rain showers of torrent tears, O Eyne and see * An they will
+     quench the fires that flame in me:
+After my robes of gold-embroidered silk * I wake to wear the
+     frieze of monkery:
+And all my raiment reeks of sulphur-fumes * When erst my shift
+     shed musky fragrancy:
+And hadst thou, O Masrúr, my case descried, * Ne'er hadst thou
+     borne my shame and ignomy.
+And eke Hubúb in iron chains is laid * By Miscreant who unknows
+     God's Unity.
+The creed of Jewry I renounce and home, * The Moslem's Faith
+     accepting faithfully
+Eastwards[FN#362] I prostrate self in fairest guise * Holding the
+     only True Belief that be:
+Masrúr! forget not love between us twain * And keep our vows and
+     troth with goodly gree:
+I've changed my faith for sake of thee, and I * For stress of
+     love will cleave to secrecy:
+So haste to us, an us in heart thou bear, * As noble spirit, nor
+     as laggard fare."
+
+
+After this she wrote a letter to Masrur, describing to him all that the
+Jew had done with her from first to last and enclosed the verses
+aforesaid. Then she folded the scroll and gave it to her maid Hubub,
+saying, "Keep this in thy pocket, till we send it to Masrur." Upon
+these doings lo and behold! in came the Jew and seeing them joyous,
+said to them, "How cometh it that I find you merry? Say me, hath a
+letter reached you from your bosom friend Masrur?" Replied Zayn
+al-Mawasif, "We have no helper against thee save Allah, extolled and
+exalted be He! He will deliver us from thy tyranny, and except thou
+restore us to our birth-place and homestead, we will complain of thee
+tomorrow to the Governor of this town and to the Kazi." Quoth he, "Who
+struck off the shackles from your legs? But needs must I let make for
+each of you fetters ten pounds in weight and go round about the city
+with you." Replied Hubub, "All that thou purposest against us thou
+shall fall into thyself, so it please Allah the Most High, by token
+that thou hast exiled us from our homes, and to-morrow we shall stand,
+we and thou, before the Governor of the city." They nighted on this
+wise and next morning the Jew rose up in haste and went out to order
+new shackles, whereupon Zayn al-Mawasif arose and repaired with her
+women to the court-house, where she found the four Kazis and saluted
+them. They all returned her salutation and the Kazi of Kazis said to
+those about him, "Verily this damsel is lovely as the
+Venus-star[FN#363] and all who see her love her and bow before her
+beauty and loveliness." Then he despatched four sergeants, who were
+Sharífs,[FN#364] saying, "Bring ye the criminal after abjectest
+fashion." So, when the Jew returned with the shackles and found none in
+the house, he was confounded; but, as he abode in perplexity, suddenly
+up came the officers and laying hold of him beat him with a sore
+beating and dragged him face downwards before the Kazi. When the judge
+saw him, he cried out in his face and said to him, "Woe to thee, O foe
+of God, is it come to such a pass with thee that thou doest the deed
+thou hast done and bringest these women far from their country and
+stealest their monies and wouldst make them Jews? How durst thou seek
+to make miscreants of Moslems?" Answered the Jew, "O my lord this woman
+is my wife." Now when the Kazis heard this, they all cried out, saying,
+"Throw this hound on the ground and come down on his face with your
+sandals and beat him with sore blows, for his offence is unpardonable."
+So they pulled off his silken gear and clad him in his wife's raiment
+of hair-cloth, after which they threw him down and plucked out his
+beard and belaboured him about the face with sandals. Then they sat him
+on an ass, face to crupper, arsi-versy, and making him take its tail in
+his hand, paraded him round about the city, ringing the bell before him
+in every street; after which they brought him back to the judges in
+sorriest plight; and the four Kazis with one voice condemned him to
+have his feet and hands cut off and lastly to be crucified. When the
+accursed heard this sentence his sense forsook him and he was
+confounded and said, "O my lords the Kazis, what would ye of me?" They
+replied, "Say thou, 'This damsel is not my wife and the monies are her
+monies, and I have transgressed against her and brought her far from
+her country.'" So he confessed to this and the Kazis recorded his
+confession in legal form and taking the money from him, gave it to Zayn
+al-Mawasif, together with the document. Then she went away and all who
+saw her were confounded at her beauty and loveliness, whilst each of
+the Kazis looked for her committing herself to him. But, when she came
+to her lodging, she made ready all matters she needed and waited till
+night. Then she took what was light of load and weighty of worth, and
+setting out with her maids under cover of the murks three days with
+their nights fared on without stopping. Thus it was with her; but as
+regards the Kazis they ordered the Jew to prison.—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixtieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Kazis ordered
+the Jew to prison and on the morrow they looked for Zayn al-Mawasif
+coming to them, they and their assessors; but she presented herself not
+to any of them. Then said the Chief Kazi, "I wish to-day to make an
+excursion without the town on business there." So he mounted his
+she-mule and taking his page with him, went winding about the streets
+of the town, searching its length and width for Zayn al-Mawasif, but
+never finding her. On this errand he came upon the other three Kazis,
+going about on the same, each deeming himself the only one to whom she
+had given tryst. He asked them whither they were riding and why they
+were going about the streets; when they told him their business,
+whereby he saw that their plight was as his plight and their quest as
+his quest. So they all four rode throughout the city, seeking her, but
+could hit on no trace of her and returned to their houses, sick for
+love, and lay down on the bed of langour. Presently the Chief Kazi
+bethought himself of the blacksmith; so he sent for him and said to
+him, "O blacksmith, knowest thou aught of the damsel whom thou didst
+direct to me? By Allah, an thou discover her not to me, I will whack
+thee with whips." Now when the smith heard this, he recited these
+couplets[FN#365],
+
+"She who my all of love by love of her hath won * Owns every
+     Beauty and for others leaves she none:
+She gazes, a gazelle; she breathes, fresh ambergris * She waves,
+     a lake; she sways, a bough; she shines, a Sun."
+
+
+Then said the blacksmith, "By Allah, O my lord, since she fared forth
+from thy worshipful presence,[FN#366] I have not set eyes on her; no,
+not once. Indeed she took possession of my heart and wits and all my
+talk and thoughts are of her. I went to her lodging but found her not,
+nor found I any who could give me news of her, and it is as if she had
+dived into the depths of the sea or had ascended to the sky." Now when
+the Kazi heard this, he groaned a groan, that his soul was like to
+depart therefor, and he said, "By Allah, well it were had we never seen
+her!" Then the smith went away, whilst the Kazi fell down on his bed
+and became sick of langour for her sake, and on like wise fared it with
+the other three Kazis and assessors. The mediciners paid them frequent
+calls, but found in them no ailment requiring a leach: so the
+city-notables went in to the Chief Kazi and saluting him, questioned
+him of his case; whereupon he sighed and showed them that was in his
+heart, reciting these couplets,
+
+"Stint ye this blame; enough I suffer from Love's malady * Nor
+     chide the Kazi frail who fain must deal to folk decree!
+Who doth accuse my love let him for me find some excuse: * Nor
+     blame; for lovers blameless are in lover-slavery!
+I was a Kázi whom my Fate deigned aid with choicest aid * By writ
+     and reed and raisčd me to wealth and high degree;
+Till I was shot by sharpest shaft that knows nor leach nor cure *
+     By Damsel's glance who came to spill my blood and murther
+     me.
+To me came she, a Moslemah and of her wrongs she 'plained * With
+     lips that oped on Orient-pearls ranged fair and orderly:
+I looked beneath her veil and saw a wending moon at full * Rising
+     below the wings of Night engloomed with blackest blee:
+A brightest favour and a mouth bedight with wondrous smiles; *
+     Beauty had brought the loveliest garb and robed her
+     cap-ŕ-pie.
+By Allah, ne'er beheld my eyes a face so ferly fair * Amid
+     mankind whoever are, Arab or Ajamí.
+My Fair! What promise didst thou make what time to me thou
+     said'st * 'Whenas I promise I perform, O Kazi, faithfully.'
+Such is my stead and such my case calamitous and dire * And ask
+     me not, ye men of spunk, what dreadful teen I dree."
+
+
+When he ended his verse he wept with sore weeping and sobbed one sob
+and his spirit departed his body, which seeing they washed him and
+shrouded him and prayed over him and buried him graving on his tomb
+these couplets,
+
+"Perfect were lover's qualities in him was brought a-morn, *
+     Slain by his love and his beloved, to this untimely grave:
+Kázi was he amid the folk, and aye 'twas his delight * To foster
+     all the folk and keep a-sheath the Justice-glaive:
+Love caused his doom and ne'er we saw among mankind before * The
+     lord and master louting low before his thrallčd slave."
+
+
+Then they committed him to the mercy of Allah and went away to the
+second Kazi, in company with the physician, but found in him nor injury
+nor ailment needing a leach. Accordingly they questioned him of his
+case and what preoccupied him; so he told them what ailed him,
+whereupon they blamed him and chid him for his predicament and he
+answered them with these couplets,
+
+"Blighted by her yet am I not to blame; * Struck by the dart at
+     me her fair hand threw.
+Unto me came a woman called Hubúb * Chiding the world from year
+     to year anew:
+And brought a damsel showing face that shamed * Full moon that
+     sails through Night-tide's blackest hue,
+She showed her beauties and she 'plained her plain * Which tears
+     in torrents from her eyelids drew:
+I to her words gave ear and gazed on her * Whenas with smiling
+     lips she made me rue.
+Then with my heart she fared where'er she fared * And left me
+     pledged to sorrows soul subdue.
+Such is my tale! So pity ye my case * And this my page with
+     Kazi's gear indue."
+
+
+Then he sobbed one sob and his soul fled his flesh; whereupon they gat
+ready his funeral and buried him commending him to the mercy of Allah;
+after which they repaired to the third Kazi and the fourth, and there
+befel them the like of what befel their brethren.[FN#367] Furthermore,
+they found the Assessors also sick for love of her, and indeed all who
+saw her died of her love or, an they died not, lived on tortured with
+the lowe of passion.— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-first Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the city folk
+found all the Kazis and the Assessors sick for love of her, and all who
+saw her died lovesick or, an they died not, lived on tortured with the
+lowe of passion for stress of pining to no purpose—Allah have mercy on
+them one and all! Meanwhile Zayn al- Mawasif and her women drave on
+with all diligence till they were far distant from the city and it so
+fortuned that they came to a convent by the way, wherein dwelt a Prior
+called Danis and forty monks.[FN#368] When the Prior saw her beauty, he
+went out to her and invited her to alight, saying, "Rest with us ten
+days and after wend your ways." So she and her damsels alighted and
+entered the convent; and when Danis saw her beauty and loveliness, she
+debauched his belief and he was seduced by her: wherefore he fell to
+sending the monks, one after other with love-messages; but each who saw
+her fell in love with her and sought her favours for himself, whilst
+she excused and denied herself to them. But Danis ceased not his
+importunities till he had dispatched all the forty, each one of whom
+fell love-sick at first sight and plied her with blandishments never
+even naming Danis; whilst she refused and rebuffed them with harsh
+replies. At last when Danis's patience was at an end and his passion
+was sore on him, he said in himself, "Verily, the sooth-sayer saith,
+'Naught scratcheth my skin but my own nail and naught like my own feet
+for mine errand may avail.'" So up he rose and made ready rich meats,
+and it was the ninth day of her sojourn in the convent where she had
+purposed only to rest. Then he carried them in to her and set them
+before her, saying, "Bismillah, favour us by tasting the best of the
+food at our command." So she put forth her hand, saying, "For the name
+of Allah the Compassionating, the Compassionate!" and ate, she and her
+handmaidens. When she had made an end of eating, he said to her, "O my
+lady, I wish to recite to thee some verses." Quoth she, "Say on," and
+he recited these couplets,
+
+"Thou hast won my heart by cheek and eye of thee, * I'll praise
+     for love in prose and poesy.
+Wilt fly a lover, love-sick, love-distraught * Who strives in
+     dreams some cure of love to see?
+Leave me not fallen, passion-fooled, since I * For pine have left
+     uncared the Monast'ry:
+O Fairest, 'tis thy right to shed my blood, * So rue my case and
+     hear the cry of me!"
+
+
+When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she answered him with these two
+couplets,
+
+"O who suest Union, ne'er hope such delight * Nor solicit my
+     favours, O hapless wight!
+Cease to hanker for what thou canst never have: * Next door are
+     the greedy to sore despight."
+
+
+Hearing this he returned to his place, pondering in himself and knowing
+not how he should do in her affair, and passed the night in the
+sorriest plight. But, as soon as the darkness was darkest Zayn
+al-Mawasif arose and said to her handmaids, "Come, let us away, for we
+cannot avail against forty men, monks, each of whom requireth me for
+himself." Quoth they, "Right willingly!" So they mounted their beasts
+and issued forth the convent gate,— Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-second Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn
+al-Mawasif and her handmaids issued forth the convent gate and, under
+favour of the night, rode on till they overtook a caravan, with which
+they mingled and found it came from the city of 'Adan wherein the lady
+had dwelt. Presently, Zayn al-Mawasif heard the people of the caravan
+discoursing of her own case and telling how the Kazis and Assessors
+were dead of love for her and how the townsfolk had appointed in their
+stead others who released her husband from prison. Whereupon she turned
+to her maids and asked them, "Heard ye that?"; and Hubub answered, "If
+the monks were ravished with love of thee, whose belief it is that
+shunning women is worship, how should it be with the Kazis, who hold
+that there is no monkery in Al-Islam? But let us make our way to our
+own country, whilst our affair is yet hidden." So they drave on with
+all diligence. Such was their case; but as regards the monks, on the
+morrow, as soon as it was day they repaired to Zayn al-Mawasif's
+lodging, to salute her, but found the place empty, and their hearts
+sickened within them. So the first monk rent his raiment and improvised
+these couplets,
+
+"Ho ye, my friends, draw near, for I forthright * From you
+     depart, since parting is my lot:
+My vitals suffer pangs o' fiery love; * Flames of desire in heart
+     burn high and hot,
+For sake of fairest girl who sought our land * Whose charms th'
+     horizon's full moon evens not.
+She fared and left me victimed by her love * And slain by shaft
+     those lids death-dealing shot."
+
+
+Then another monk recited the following couplets,
+
+"O ye who with my vitals fled, have ruth * On this unhappy: haste
+     ye homeward-bound:
+They fared, and fared fair Peace on farthest track * Yet lingers
+     in mine ear that sweetest sound:
+Fared far, and far their fane; would Heaven I saw Their shade in
+     vision float my couch around:
+And when they went wi' them they bore my heart * And in my
+     tear-floods all of me left drowned."
+
+
+A third monk followed with these extempore lines,
+
+"Throne you on highmost stead, heart, ears and sight * Your
+     wone's my heart; mine all's your dwelling-site:
+Sweeter than honey is your name a-lip, * Running, as 'neath my
+     ribs runs vital sprite:
+For Love hath made me as a tooth-pick[FN#369] lean * And drowned
+     in tears of sorrow and despight:
+Let me but see you in my sleep, belike * Shall clear my cheeks of
+     tears that lovely sight."
+
+
+Then a fourth recited the following couplets,
+
+"Dumb is my tongue and scant my speech for thee * And Love the
+     direst torture gars me dree:
+O thou full Moon, whose place is highest Heaven, * For thee but
+     double pine and pain in me."
+
+
+And a fifth these,[FN#370]
+
+"I love a moon of comely shapely form * Whose slender waist hath
+     title to complain:
+Whose lip-dews rival must and long-kept wine; * Whose heavy
+     haunches haunt the minds of men:
+My heart each morning burns with pain and pine * And the
+     night-talkers note I'm passion-slain;
+While down my cheeks carnelian-like the tears * Of rosy red
+     shower down like railing rain."
+
+
+And a sixth the following,
+
+"O thou who shunnest him thy love misled! * O Branch of Bán, O
+     star of highmost stead!
+To thee of pine and passion I complain, * O thou who fired me
+     with cheeks rosy-red.
+Did e'er such lover lose his soul for thee, * Or from prostration
+     and from prayers fled?"
+
+
+And a seventh these,
+
+"He seized my heart and freed my tears to flow * Brought strength
+     to Love and bade my Patience go.
+His charms are sweet as bitter his disdain; * And shafts of love
+     his suitors overthrow.
+Stint blame, O blamer, and for past repent * None will believe
+     thee who dost Love unknow!"
+
+
+And on like wise all the rest of the monks shed tears and repeated
+verses. As for Danis, the Prior, weeping and wailing redoubled on him,
+for that he found no way to her enjoyment, and he chanted the following
+couplets[FN#371],
+
+"My patience failed me when my lover went * And fled that day
+     mine aim and best intent.
+O Guide o' litters lead their camels fair, * Haply some day
+     they'll deign with me to tent!
+On parting-day Sleep parted from my lids * And grew my grieving
+     and my joy was shent.
+I moan to Allah what for Love I dree'd * My wasted body and my
+     forces spent."
+
+
+Then, despairing of her, they took counsel together and with one mind
+agreed to fashion her image and set it up with them, and applied
+themselves to this till there came to them the Destroyer of delights
+and Severer of societies. Meanwhile, Zayn al-Mawasif fared on, without
+ceasing, to find her lover Masrur, till she reached her own house. She
+opened the doors, and entered; then she sent to her sister Nasim, who
+rejoiced with exceeding joy at the news of her return and brought her
+the furniture and precious stuffs left in her charge. So she furnished
+the house and dressed it, hanging the curtains over the doors and
+burning aloes-wood and musk and ambergris and other essences till the
+whole place reeked with the most delightful perfumes: after which the
+Adornment of Qualities donned her finest dress and decorations and sat
+talking with her maids, whom she had left behind when journeying, and
+related to them all that had befallen her first and last. Then she
+turned to Hubub and giving her dirhams, bade her fetch them something
+to eat. So she brought meat and drink and when they had made an end of
+eating and drinking,[FN#372] Zayn al-Mawasif bade Hubub go and see
+where Masrur was and how it fared with him. Now he knew not of her
+return; but abode with concern overcast and sorrow might not be
+overpast;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif entered her house she was met by her sister Nasim who
+brought her the furniture and stuffs wherewith she furnished the place;
+and then she donned her finest dress. But Masrur knew naught of her
+return and abode with concern overcast and sorrow might not be
+overpast; no peace prevailed with him nor was patience possible to him.
+Whenas pine and passion, desire and distraction waxed on him, he would
+solace himself by reciting verse and go to the house and set him its
+walls to buss. It chanced that he went out that day to the place where
+he had parted from his mistress and repeated this rare song,
+
+"My wrongs hide I, withal they show to sight; * And now mine eyes
+     from sleep to wake are dight.
+I cry when melancholy tries my sprite * Last not, O world nor
+     work more despight;
+          Lo hangs my soul 'twixt hardship and affright.
+Were the Sultan hight Love but fair to me, * Slumber mine eyes'
+     companion were to me,
+My Lords, some little mercy spare to me, * Chief of my tribe: be
+     debonnair to me,
+          Whom Love cast down, erst rich now pauper-wight!
+
+
+Censors may blame thee but I look beyond * Mine ears I stop and
+     leave their lies unconned
+And keep my pact wi' those I love so fond: * They say, 'Thou
+     lov'st a runaway!' I respond,
+          'Whist! whenas Fate descends she blinds the sight!'"
+
+
+Then he returned to his lodging and sat there weeping, till sleep
+overcame him, when he saw in a dream as if Zayn al-Mawasif were come to
+the house, and awoke in tears. So he set off to go thither, improvising
+these couplets,
+
+"Shall I be consoled when Love hath mastered the secret of me *
+     And my heart is aglow with more than the charcoal's ardency?
+I love her whose absence I plain before Allah for parting-stower
+     * And the shifts of the days and doom which allotted me
+     Destiny:
+When shall our meeting be, O wish O' my heart and will? * O
+     favour of fullest Moon, when shall we Re-union see?"
+
+
+As he made an end of his recitation, he found himself walking adown in
+Zayn al-Mawasif's street and smelt the sweet savour of the pastiles
+wherewithal she had incensed the house; wherefore his vitals fluttered
+and his heart was like to leave his breast and desire flamed up in him
+and distraction redoubled upon him; when lo, and behold! Hubub, on her
+way to do her lady's errand suddenly appeared at the head of the street
+and he rejoiced with joy exceeding. When she saw him, she went up to
+him and saluting him, gave him the glad news of her mistress's return,
+saying, "She hath sent me to bid thee to her." Whereat he was glad
+indeed, with gladness naught could exceed; and she took him and
+returned with him to the house. When Zayn al-Mawasif saw him, she came
+down to him from the couch and kissed him and he kissed her and she
+embraced him and he embraced her; nor did they leave kissing and
+embracing till both swooned away for stress of affection and
+separation. They lay a long while senseless, and when they revived,
+Zayn al-Mawasif bade Hubub fetch her a gugglet of sherbet of sugar and
+another of sherbet of lemons. So she brought what she desired and they
+sat eating and drinking nor ceased before nightfall, when they fell to
+recalling all that had befallen them from commencement to conclusion.
+Then she acquainted him with her return to Al-Islam, whereat he
+rejoiced and he also became a Moslem. On like wise did her women, and
+they all repented to Allah Almighty of their infidelity. On the morrow
+she made send for the Kazi and the witnesses and told them that she was
+a widow and had completed the purification-period and was minded to
+marry Masrur. So they drew up the wedding-contract between them and
+they abode in all delight of life. Meanwhile, the Jew, when the people
+of Adan released him from prison, set out homewards and fared on nor
+ceased faring till he came within three days' journey of the city. Now
+as soon as Zayn al-Mawasif heard of his coming she called for her
+handmaid Hubub and said to her, "Go to the Jews' burial-place and there
+dig a grave and plant on it sweet basil and jessamine and sprinkle
+water thereabout. If the Jew come and ask thee of me, answer, 'My
+mistress died twenty days ago of chagrin on thine account.' If he say,
+show me her tomb, take him to the grave and after weeping over it and
+making moan and lament before him, contrive to cast him therein and
+bury him alive."[FN#373] And Hubub answered, "I hear and I obey." Then
+they laid up the furniture in the store closets, and Zayn al-Mawasif
+removed to Masrur's lodging, where he and she abode eating and
+drinking, till the three days were past; at the end of which the Jew
+arrived and knocked at the door of his house. Quoth Hubub, "Who's at
+the door?"; and quoth he, "Thy master." So she opened to him and he saw
+the tears railing down her cheeks and said, "What aileth thee to weep
+and where is thy mistress?" She replied, "My mistress is dead of
+chagrin on thine account." When he heard this, he was perplexed and
+wept with sore weeping and presently said, "O Hubub, where is her
+tomb?" So she carried him to the Jews' burial-ground and showed him the
+grave she had dug; whereupon he shed bitter tears and recited this pair
+of couplets,[FN#374]
+
+"Two things there are, for which if eyes wept tear on tear * Of
+     blood, till they were like indeed to disappear,
+They never could fulfil the Tithe of all their due: * And these
+     are prime of youth and loss of loveling dear."
+
+
+Then he wept again with bitter tears and recited these also,
+
+"Alack and Alas! Patience taketh flight: * And from parting of
+     friend to sore death I'm dight:
+O how woeful this farness from dear one, and oh * How my heart is
+     rent by mine own unright!
+Would Heaven my secret I erst had kept * Nor had told the pangs
+     and my liver-blight:
+I lived in all solace and joyance of life * Till she left and
+     left me in piteous plight:
+O Zayn al-Mawasif, I would there were * No parting departing my
+     frame and sprite:
+I repent me for troth-breach and blame my guilt * Of unruth to
+     her whereon hopes I built."
+
+
+When he had made an end of this verse, he wept and groaned and lamented
+till he fell down a-swoon, whereupon Hubub made haste to drag him to
+the grave and throw him in, whilst he was insensible yet quick withal.
+Then she stopped up the grave on him and returning to her mistress
+acquainted her with what had passed, whereat she rejoiced with
+exceeding joy and recited these two couplets,
+
+"The world sware that for ever 'twould gar me grieve: *Tis false,
+     O world, so thine oath retrieve[FN#375]!
+The blamer is dead and my love's in my arms: * Rise to herald of
+     joys and tuck high thy sleeve[FN#376]!"
+
+
+Then she and Masrur abode each with other in eating and drinking and
+sport and pleasure and good cheer, till there came to them the
+Destroyer of delights and Sunderer of societies and Slayer of sons and
+daughters. And I have also heard tell the following tale of
+
+
+ALI NUR AL-DIN AND MIRIAM THE GIRDLE-GIRL[FN#377]
+
+There was once in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before
+in the parts of Cairo, a merchant named Táj al-Dín who was of the most
+considerable of the merchants and of the chiefs of the freeborn. But he
+was given to travelling everywhere and loved to fare over wild and
+wold, waterless lowland and stony waste, and to journey to the isles of
+the seas, in quest of dirhams and dinars: wherefore he had in his time
+encountered dangers and suffered duresse of the way such as would
+grizzle little children and turn their black hair grey. He was
+possessed of black slaves and Mamelukes, Eunuchs and concubines, and
+was the wealthiest of the merchants of his time and the goodliest of
+them in speech, owning horses and mules and Bactrian camels and
+dromedaries; sacks great and small of size; goods and merchandise and
+stuffs such as muslins of Hums, silks and brocades of Ba'allak, cotton
+of Mery, stuffs of India, gauzes of Baghdad, burnouses of Moorland and
+Turkish white slaves and Abyssinian castratos and Grecian girls and
+Egyptian boys; and the coverings of his bales were silk with gold
+purfled fair, for he was wealthy beyond compare. Furthermore he was
+rare of comeliness, accomplished in goodliness, and gracious in his
+kindliness, even as one of his describers doth thus express,
+
+"A merchant I spied whose lovers * Were fighting in furious
+     guise:
+Quoth he, 'Why this turmoil of people?' * Quoth I, 'Trader, for
+     those fine eyes!'"
+
+
+And saith another in his praise and saith well enough to accomplish the
+wish of him,
+
+"Came a merchant to pay us a visit * Whose glance did my heart
+     surprise:
+Quoth he, 'What surprised thee so?' * Quoth I, 'Trader, 'twas
+     those fine eyes.'"
+
+
+Now that merchant had a son called Ali Nur al-Din, as he were the full
+moon whenas it meeteth the sight on its fourteenth night, a marvel of
+beauty and loveliness, a model of form and symmetrical grace, who was
+sitting one day as was his wont, in his father's shop, selling and
+buying, giving and taking when the sons of the merchants girt him
+around and he was amongst them as moon among stars, with brow
+flower-white and cheeks of rosy light in down the tenderest dight, and
+body like alabaster-bright even as saith of him the poet,
+
+"'Describe me!' a fair one said. * Said I, 'Thou art Beauty's
+     queen.'
+And, speaking briefest speech, * 'All charms in thee are seen.'"
+
+
+And as saith of him one of his describers,
+
+"His mole upon plain of cheek is like * Ambergrís-crumb on marble
+     plate,
+And his glances likest the sword proclaim * To all Love's rebels
+     'The Lord is Great!'"[FN#378]
+
+
+The young merchants invited him saying, "O my lord Nur al-Din, we wish
+thee to go this day a-pleasuring with us in such a garden." And he
+answered, "Wait till I consult my parent, for I cannot go without his
+consent." As they were talking, behold, up came Taj al-Din, and his son
+looked at him and said, "O father mine, the sons of the merchants have
+invited me to wend a-pleasuring with them in such a garden. Dost thou
+grant me leave to go?" His father replied, "Yes, O my son, fare with
+them;" and gave him somewhat of money. So the young men mounted their
+mules and asses and Nur al-Din mounted a she-mule and rode with them to
+a garden, wherein was all that soul desireth and that eye charmeth. It
+was high of walls which from broad base were seen to rise; and it had a
+gateway vault-wise with a portico like a saloon and a door azure as the
+skies, as it were one of the gates of Paradise: the name of the
+door-keeper was Rizwán,[FN#379] and over the gate were trained an
+hundred trellises which grapes overran; and these were of various dyes,
+the red like coralline, the black like the snouts of Súdán[FN#380]-men
+and the white like egg of the pigeon-hen. And in it peach and
+pomegranate were shown and pear, apricot and pomegranate were grown and
+fruits with and without stone hanging in clusters or alone,—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+sons of the merchants entered the vergier, they found therein all that
+soul desireth or eye charmeth, grapes of many hues grown, hanging in
+bunches or alone, even as saith of them the poet,
+
+"Grapes tasting with the taste of wine * Whose coats like
+     blackest Raven's shine:
+Their sheen, amid the leafage shows, * Like women's fingers
+     henna'd fine."
+
+
+And as saith another on the same theme,
+
+"Grape-bunches likest as they sway * A-stalk, my body frail and
+     snell:
+Honey and water thus in jar, * When sourness past, make
+     Hydromel."
+
+
+Then they entered the arbour of the garden and saw there Rizwan the
+gate-keeper sitting, as he were Rizwan the Paradise-guardian, and on
+the door were written these lines,
+
+"Garth Heaven-watered wherein clusters waved * On boughs which
+     full of sap to bend were fain:
+And, when the branches danced on Zephyr's palm, * The Pleiads
+     shower'd as gifts[FN#381] fresh pearls for rain."
+
+
+And within the arbour were written these two couplets,
+
+"Come with us, friend, and enter thou * This garth that cleanses
+     rust of grief:
+Over their skirts the Zephyrs trip[FN#382] * And flowers in sleeve
+     to laugh are lief."[FN#383]
+
+
+So they entered and found all manner fruits in view and birds of every
+kind and hue, such as ringdove, nightingale and curlew; and the turtle
+and the cushat sang their love lays on the sprays. Therein were rills
+that ran with limpid wave and flowers suave; and bloom for whose
+perfume we crave and it was even as saith of it the poet in these two
+couplets,
+
+"The Zephyr breatheth o'er its branches, like * Fair girls that
+     trip as in fair skirts they pace:
+Its rills resemble swords in hands of knights * Drawn from the
+     scabbard and containing-case."[FN#384]
+
+
+And again as singeth the songster,
+
+"The streamlet swings by branchy wood and aye * Joys in its
+     breast those beauties to display;
+And Zephyr noting this, for jealousy * Hastens and bends the
+     branches other way."
+
+
+On the trees of the garden were all manner fruits, each in two sorts,
+and amongst them the pomegranate, as it were a ball of
+silver-dross,[FN#385] whereof saith the poet and saith right well,
+
+"Granados of finest skin, like the breasts * Of maid
+     firm-standing in sight of male;
+When I strip the skin, they at once display * The rubies
+     compelling all sense to quail."
+
+
+And even as quoth another bard,
+
+"Close prest appear to him who views th' inside * Red rubies in
+     brocaded skirts bedight:
+Granado I compare with marble dome * Or virgin's breasts
+     delighting every sight:
+Therein is cure for every ill as e'en * Left an Hadís the Prophet
+     pure of sprite;
+And Allah (glorify His name) eke deigned * A noble say in Holy
+     Book indite.[FN#386]
+
+
+The apples were the sugared and the musky and the Dámáni, amazing the
+beholder, whereof saith Hassan the poet,
+
+"Apple which joins hues twain, and brings to mind * The cheek of
+     lover and beloved combined:
+Two wondrous opposites on branch they show * This dark[FN#387]
+     and that with hue incarnadined
+The twain embraced when spied the spy and turned * This red, that
+     yellow for the shame designed."[FN#388]
+
+
+There also were apricots of various kinds, almond and camphor and
+Jíláni and 'Antábi,[FN#389] wereof saith the poet,
+
+
+"And Almond-apricot suggesting swain * Whose lover's visit all
+     his wits hath ta'en.
+Enough of love-sick lovers' plight it shows * Of face deep yellow
+     and heart torn in twain."[FN#390]
+
+
+And saith another and saith well,
+
+"Look at that Apricot whose bloom contains * Gardens with
+     brightness gladding all men's eyne:
+Like stars the blossoms sparkle when the boughs * Are clad in
+     foliage dight with sheen and shine."
+
+
+There likewise were plums and cherries and grapes, that the sick of all
+diseases assain and do away giddiness and yellow choler from the brain;
+and figs the branches between, varicoloured red and green, amazing
+sight and sense, even as saith the poet,
+
+"'Tis as the Figs with clear white skins outthrown * By foliaged
+     trees, athwart whose green they peep,
+Were sons of Roum that guard the palace-roof * When shades close
+     in and night-long ward they keep."[FN#391]
+
+
+And saith another and saith well,
+
+"Welcome[FN#392] the Fig! To us it comes * Ordered in handsome
+     plates they bring:
+Likest a Sufrah[FN#393]-cloth we draw * To shape of bag without a
+     ring."
+
+
+And how well saith a third,
+
+"Give me the Fig sweet-flavoured, beauty-clad, * Whose inner
+     beauties rival outer sheen:
+And when it fruits thou tastest it to find * Chamomile's scent
+     and Sugar's saccharine:
+And eke it favoureth on platters poured * Puff-balls of silken
+     thread and sendal green."
+
+
+And how excellent is the saying of one of them,
+
+"Quoth they (and I had trained my taste thereto * Nor cared for
+     other fruits whereby they swore),
+'Why lovest so the Fig?' whereto quoth I * 'Some men love Fig and
+     others Sycamore.[FN#394]'"
+
+
+And are yet goodlier those of another,
+
+"Pleaseth me more the fig than every fruit * When ripe and
+     hanging from the sheeny bough;
+Like Devotee who, when the clouds pour rain, * Sheds tears and
+     Allah's power doth avow."
+
+
+And in that garth were also pears of various kinds Sinaďtic,[FN#395]
+Aleppine and Grecian growing in clusters and alone, parcel green and
+parcel golden.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+merchants' sons went down into the garth they saw therein all the
+fruits we mentioned and found pears Sinaďtic, Aleppine and Grecian of
+every hue, which here clustering there single grew, parcel green and
+parcel yellow to the gazer a marvel-view, as saith of them the poet,
+
+"With thee that Pear agree, whose hue a-morn * Is hue of hapless
+     lover yellow pale;
+Like virgin cloistered strait in strong Harím * Whose face like
+     racing steed outstrips the veil."
+
+
+And Sultani[FN#396] peaches of shades varied, yellow and red, whereof
+saith the poet,
+
+"Like Peach in vergier growing * And sheen of Andam[FN#397]
+     showing:
+Whose balls of yellow gold * Are dyed with blood-gouts flowing."
+
+
+There were also green almonds of passing sweetness, resembling the
+cabbage[FN#398] of the palm-tree, with their kernels within three
+tunics lurking of the Munificent King's handiworking, even as is said
+of them,
+
+"Three coats yon freshest form endue * God's work of varied shape
+     and hue:
+Hardness surrounds it night and day; * Prisoning without a sin to
+     rue."
+
+
+And as well saith another,
+
+"Seest not that Almond plucked by hand * Of man from bough where
+     wont to dwell:
+Peeling it shows the heart within * As union-pearl in oyster-
+     shell."
+
+
+And as saith a third better than he,
+
+"How good is Almond green I view! * The smallest fills the hand
+     of you:
+Its nap is as the down upon * The cheeks where yet no beardlet
+     grew:
+Its kernels in the shell are seen, * Or bachelors or married two,
+As pearls they were of lucent white * Casčd and lapped in
+     Jasper's hue."
+
+
+And as saith yet another and saith well,
+
+"Mine eyes ne'er looked on aught the Almond like * For charms,
+     when blossoms[FN#399] in the Prime show bright:
+Its head to hoariness of age inclines * The while its cheek by
+     youth's fresh down is dight."
+
+
+And jujube-plums of various colours, grown in clusters and alone
+whereof saith one, describing them,
+
+"Look at the Lote-tree, note on boughs arrayed * Like goodly
+     apricots on reed-strown floor,[FN#400]
+Their morning-hue to viewer's eye is like * Cascavels[FN#401]
+     cast of purest golden ore."
+
+
+And as saith another and saith right well,
+
+"The Jujube-tree each Day * Robeth in bright array.
+As though each pome thereon * Would self to sight display.
+Like falcon-bell of gold * Swinging from every spray."
+
+
+And in that garth grew blood oranges, as they were the
+Khaulanján,[FN#402] whereof quoth the enamoured poet,[FN#403]
+
+
+"Red fruits that fill the hand, and shine with sheen * Of fire,
+     albe the scarf-skin's white as snow.
+'Tis marvel snow on fire doth never melt * And, stranger still,
+     ne'er burns this living lowe!"
+
+
+And quoth another and quoth well,
+
+"And trees of Orange fruiting ferly fair * To those who straitest
+     have their charms surveyed;
+Like cheeks of women who their forms have decked * For holiday in
+     robes of gold brocade."
+
+
+And yet another as well,
+
+"Like are the Orange-hills[FN#404] when Zephyr breathes * Swaying
+     the boughs and spray with airy grace,
+Her cheeks that glow with lovely light when met * At greeting-
+     tide by cheeks of other face."
+
+
+And a fourth as fairly,
+
+"And fairest Fawn, we said to him 'Portray * This garth and
+     oranges thine eyes survey:'
+And he, 'Your garden favoureth my face * Who gathereth orange
+     gathereth fire alway.'"
+
+
+In that garden too grew citrons, in colour as virgin gold, hanging down
+from on high and dangling among the branches, as they were ingots of
+growing gold;[FN#405] and saith thereof the 'namoured poet,
+
+"Hast seen a Citron-copse so weighed adown * Thou fearest bending
+     roll their fruit on mould;
+And seemed, when Zephyr passed athwart the tree * Its branches
+     hung with bells of purest gold?"
+
+
+And shaddocks,[FN#406] that among their boughs hung laden as though
+each were the breast of a gazelle-like maiden, contenting the most
+longing wight, as saith of them the poet and saith aright,
+
+"And Shaddock mid the garden-paths, on bough * Freshest like
+     fairest damsel met my sight;
+And to the blowing of the breeze it bent * Like golden ball to
+     bat of chrysolite."
+
+
+And the lime sweet of scent, which resembleth a hen's egg, but its
+yellowness ornamenteth its ripe fruit, and its fragrance hearteneth him
+who plucketh it, as saith the poet who singeth it,
+
+"Seest not the Lemon, when it taketh form, * Catch rays of light
+     and all to gaze constrain;
+Like egg of pullet which the huckster's hand * Adorneth dyeing
+     with the saffron-stain?"
+
+
+Moreover in this garden were all manner of other fruits and
+sweet-scented herbs and plants and fragrant flowers, such as jessamine
+and henna and water-lilies[FN#407] and spikenard[FN#408] and roses of
+every kind and plantain[FN#409] and myrtle and so forth; and indeed it
+was without compare, seeming as it were a piece of Paradise to whoso
+beheld it. If a sick man entered it, he came forth from it like a
+raging lion, and tongue availeth not to its description, by reason of
+that which was therein of wonders and rarities which are not found but
+in Heaven: and how should it be otherwise when its doorkeeper's name
+was Rizwan? Though widely different were the stations of those twain!
+Now when the sons of the merchants had walked about gazing at the
+garden after taking their pleasure therein, they say down in one of its
+pavilions and seated Nur al-Din in their midst.—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night,
+
+She resume, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the sons
+of the merchants sat down in the pavilion they seated Nur al-Din in
+their midst on a rug of gold-purfled leather of Al-Táif,[FN#410]
+leaning on a pillow[FN#411] of minever, stuffed with ostrich down. And
+they gave him a fan of ostrich feathers, whereon were written these two
+couplets,
+
+"A fan whose breath is fraught with fragrant scent; * Minding of
+     happy days and times forspent,
+Wafting at every time its perfumed air * O'er face of noble youth
+     on honour bent."
+
+
+Then they laid by their turbands and outer clothes and sat talking and
+chatting and inducing one another to discourse, while they all kept
+their eyes fixed on Nur al-Din and gazed on his beauteous form. After
+the sitting had lasted an hour or so, up came a slave with a tray on
+his head, wherein were platters of china and crystal containing viands
+of all sorts (for one of the youths had so charged his people before
+coming to the garden); and the meats were of whatever walketh earth or
+wingeth air or swimmeth waters, such as Katá-grouse and fat quails and
+pigeon-poults and mutton and chickens and the delicatest fish. So, the
+tray being sat before them, they fell to and ate their fill; and when
+they had made an end of eating, they rose from meat and washed their
+hands with pure water and musk-scented soap, and dried them with napery
+embroidered in silk and bugles; but to Nur al-Din they brought a napkin
+laced with red gold whereon he wiped his hands. Then coffee[FN#412] was
+served up and each drank what he would, after which they sat talking,
+till presently the garden-keeper who was young went away and returning
+with a basket full of roses, said to them, "What say ye, O my masters,
+to flowers?" Quoth one of them, "There is no harm in them,[FN#413]
+especially roses, which are not to be resisted." Answered the gardener,
+"'Tis well, but it is of our wont not to give roses but in exchange for
+pleasant converse; so whoever would take aught thereof, let him recite
+some verses suitable to the situation." Now they were ten sons of
+merchants of whom one said, "Agreed: give me thereof and I will recite
+thee somewhat of verse apt to the case." Accordingly the gardener gave
+him a bunch of roses[FN#414] which he took and at once improvised these
+three couplets,
+
+"The Rose in highest stead I rate * For that her charms ne'er
+     satiate;
+All fragrant flow'rs be troops to her * Their general of high
+     estate:
+Where she is not they boast and vaunt; * But, when she comes,
+     they stint their prate."
+
+
+Then the gardener gave a bunch to another and he recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"Take, O my lord, to thee the Rose * Recalling scent by mush be
+     shed.
+Like virginette by lover eyed * Who with her sleeves[FN#415]
+     enveileth head."
+
+
+Then he gave a bunch to a third who recited these two couplets,
+
+"Choice Rose that gladdens heart to see her sight; * Of Nadd
+     recalling fragrance exquisite.
+The branchlets clip her in her leaves for joy, * Like kiss of
+     lips that never spake in spite."
+
+
+Then he gave a bunch to a fourth and he recited these two couplets,
+
+"Seest not that rosery where Rose a-flowering displays * Mounted
+     upon her steed of stalk those marvels manifold?
+As though the bud were ruby-stone and girded all around * With
+     chrysolite and held within a little hoard of gold."
+
+
+Then he gave a posy to a fifth and he recited these two couplets,
+
+"Wands of green chrysolite bare issue, which * Were fruits like
+     ingots of the growing gold.[FN#416]
+And drops, a dropping from its leaves, were like * The tears my
+     languorous eyelids railed and rolled."
+
+
+Then he gave a sixth a bunch and he recited these two couplets,
+
+"O Rose, thou rare of charms that dost contain * All gifts and
+     Allah's secrets singular,
+Thou'rt like the loved one's cheek where lover fond * And fain of
+     Union sticks the gold dinar."[FN#417]
+
+
+Then he gave a bunch to a seventh and he recited these two couplets,
+
+"To Rose quoth I, 'What gars thy thorns to be put forth * For all
+     who touch thee cruellest injury?'
+Quoth she, 'These flowery troops are troops of me * Who be their
+     lord with spines for armoury.'"
+
+
+And he gave an eighth a bunch and he recited these two couplets,
+
+"Allah save the Rose which yellows a-morn * Florid, vivid and
+     likest the nugget-ore;
+And bless the fair sprays that displayed such flowers * And mimic
+     suns gold-begilded bore."
+
+
+Then he gave a bunch to a ninth and he recited these two couplets,
+
+"The bushes of golden-hued Rose excite * In the love-sick lover
+     joys manifold:
+'Tis a marvel shrub watered every day * With silvern lymph and it
+     fruiteth gold."
+
+
+Then he gave a bunch of roses to the tenth and last and he recited
+these two couplets,
+
+"Seest not how the hosts of the Rose display * Red hues and
+     yellow in rosy field?
+I compare the Rose and her arming thorn * To emerald lance
+     piercing golden shield."
+
+
+And whilst each one hent bunch in hand, the gardener brought the
+wine-service and setting it before them, on a tray of porcelain
+arabesqued with red gold, recited these two couplets,
+
+"Dawn heralds day-light: so wine pass round, * Old wine, fooling
+     sage till his wits he tyne:
+Wot I not for its purest clarity * An 'tis wine in cup or 'tis
+     cup in wine."[FN#418]
+
+
+Then the gardener filled and drank and the cup went round, till it came
+to Nur al-Din's turn, whereupon the man filled and handed it to him;
+but he said, "This thing I wot it not nor have I ever drunken thereof,
+for therein is great offence and the Lord of All-might hath forbidden
+it in His Book." Answered the gardener, "O my Lord Nur al-Din, an thou
+forbear to drink only by reason of the sin, verily Allah (extolled and
+exalted be He!) is bountiful, of sufferance great, forgiving and
+compassionate and pardoneth the mortalest sins: His mercy embraceth all
+things, Allah's ruth be upon the poet who saith,
+
+'Be as thou wilt, for Allah is bountiful * And when thou sinnest
+     feel thou naught alarm:
+But 'ware of twofold sins nor ever dare * To give God partner or
+     mankind to harm.'"
+
+
+Then quoth one of the sons of the merchants, "My life on thee, O my
+lord Nur al-Din, drink of this cup!" And another conjured him by the
+oath of divorce and yet another stood up persistently before him, till
+he was ashamed and taking the cup from the gardener, drank a draught,
+but spat it out again, crying, "'Tis bitter." Said the young gardener,
+"O my lord Nur al-Din, knowest thou not that sweets taken by way of
+medicine are bitter?  Were this not bitter, 'twould lack of the
+manifold virtues it possesseth; amongst which are that it digesteth
+food and disperseth cark and care and dispelleth flatulence and
+clarifieth the blood and cleareth the complexion and quickeneth the
+body and hearteneth the hen-hearted and fortifieth the sexual power in
+man; but to name all its virtues would be tedious. Quoth one of the
+poets,
+
+'We'll drink and Allah pardon sinners all * And cure of ills by
+     sucking cups I'll find:
+Nor aught the sin deceives me; yet said He * 'In it there be
+     advantage[FN#419] to mankind.'"
+
+
+Then he sprang up without stay or delay and opened one of the cupboards
+in the pavilion and taking out a loaf of refined sugar, broke off a
+great slice which he put into Nur al-Din's cup, saying, "O my lord, an
+thou fear to drink wine, because of its bitterness, drink now, for 'tis
+sweet." So he took the cup and emptied it: whereupon one of his
+comrades filled him another, saying, "O my lord Nur al-Din, I am thy
+slave," and another did the like, saying, "I am one of thy servants,"
+and a third said, "For my sake!" and a fourth, "Allah upon thee, O my
+lord Nur al-Din, heal my heart!" And so they ceased not plying him with
+wine, each and every of the ten sons of merchants till they had made
+him drink a total of ten cups. Now Nur al-Din's body was virgin of
+wine-bibbing, or never in all his life had he drunken vine-juice till
+that hour, wherefore its fumes wrought in his brain and drunkenness was
+stark upon him and he stood up (and indeed his tongue was thick and his
+speech stammering) and said, "O company, by Allah, ye are fair and your
+speech is goodly and your place pleasant; but there needeth hearing of
+sweet music; for drink without melody lacks the chief of its
+essentiality, even as saith the poet,
+
+'Pass round the cup to the old and the young man, too, And take
+     the bowl from the hand of the shining moon,[FN#420]
+But without music, I charge you, forbear to drink; I see even
+     horses drink to a whistled tune.'"[FN#421]
+
+
+Therewith up sprang the gardener lad and mounting one of the young
+men's mules, was absent awhile, after which he returned with a Cairene
+girl, as she were a sheep's tail, fat and delicate, or an ingot of pure
+silvern ore or a dinar on a porcelain plate or a gazelle in the wold
+forlore. She had a face that put to shame the shining sun and eyes
+Babylonian[FN#422] and brows like bows bended and cheeks rose-painted
+and teeth pearly-hued and lips sugared and glances languishing and
+breast ivory white and body slender and slight, full of folds and with
+dimples dight and hips like pillows stuffed and thighs like columns of
+Syrian stone, and between them what was something like a sachet of
+spices in wrapper swathed. Quoth the poet of her in these couplets,
+
+"Had she shown her shape to idolaters' sight, * They would gaze
+     on her face and their gods detest:
+And if in the East to a monk she'd show'd, * He'd quit Eastern
+     posture and bow to West.[FN#423]
+An she crached in the sea and the briniest sea * Her lips would
+     give it the sweetest zest."
+
+
+And quoth another in these couplets,
+
+"Brighter than Moon at full with kohl'd eyes she came * Like Doe,
+     on chasing whelps of Lioness intent:
+Her night of murky locks lets fall a tent on her * A tent of
+     hair[FN#424] that lacks no pegs to hold the tent;
+And roses lighting up her roseate cheeks are fed * By hearts and
+     livers flowing fire for languishment:
+An 'spied her all the Age's Fair to her they'd rise *
+     Humbly,[FN#425] and cry 'The meed belongs to precedent!'"
+
+
+And how well saith a third bard,[FN#426]
+
+"Three things for ever hinder her to visit us, for fear Of the
+     intriguing spy and eke the rancorous envier;
+Her forehead's lustre and the sound of all her ornaments And the
+     sweet scent her creases hold of ambergris and myrrh.
+Grant with the border of her sleeve she hide her brow and doff
+     Her ornaments, how shall she do her scent away from her?"
+
+
+She was like the moon when at fullest on its fourteenth night, and was
+clad in a garment of blue, with a veil of green, over brow flower-white
+that all wits amazed and those of understanding amated.—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the gardener
+brought a girl whom we have described possessed of the utmost beauty
+and loveliness and fine stature and symmetrical grace as it were she
+the poet signified when he said,[FN#427]
+
+"She came apparelled in a vest of blue,
+That mocked the skies and shamed their azure hue;
+I thought thus clad she burst upon my sight,
+Like summer moonshine on a wintry night."
+
+
+And how goodly is the saying of another and how excellent,
+
+"She came thick veiled, and cried I, 'O display * That face like
+     full moon bright with pure-white ray.'
+Quoth she, 'I fear disgrace,' quoth I, 'Cut short * This talk, no
+     shift of days thy thoughts affray.'
+Whereat she raised her veil from fairest face * And crystal spray
+     on gems began to stray:
+And I forsooth was fain to kiss her cheek, * Lest she complain of
+     me on Judgment-Day.
+And at such tide before the Lord on High * We first of lovers
+     were redress to pray:
+So 'Lord, prolong this reckoning and review' * (Prayed I) 'that
+     longer I may sight my may.'"
+
+
+Then said the young gardener to her, "Know thou, O lady of the fair,
+brighter than any constellation which illumineth air we sought, in
+bringing thee hither naught but that thou shouldst entertain with
+converse this comely youth, my lord Nur al-Din, for he hath come to
+this place only this day." And the girl replied, "Would thou hadst told
+me, that I might have brought what I have with me!" Rejoined the
+gardener, "O my lady, I will go and fetch it to thee." "As thou wilt,"
+said she: and he, "Give me a token." So she gave him a kerchief and he
+fared forth in haste and returned after awhile, bearing a green satin
+bag with slings of gold. The girl took the bag from him and opening it
+shook it, whereupon there fell thereout two-and-thirty pieces of wood,
+which she fitted one into other, male into female and female into
+male[FN#428] till they became a polished lute of Indian workmanship.
+Then she uncovered her wrists and laying the lute in her lap, bent over
+it with the bending of mother over babe, and swept the strings with her
+finger-tips; whereupon it moaned and resounded and after its olden home
+yearned; and it remembered the waters that gave it drink and the earth
+whence it sprang and wherein it grew and it minded the carpenters who
+cut it and the polishers who polished it and the merchants who made it
+their merchandise and the ships that shipped it; and it cried and
+called aloud and moaned and groaned; and it was as if she asked it of
+all these things and it answered her with the tongue of the case,
+reciting these couplets,[FN#429]
+
+"A tree whilere was I the Bulbul's home * To whom for love I
+     bowed my grass-green head:
+They moaned on me, and I their moaning learnt * And in that moan
+     my secret all men read:
+The woodman felled me falling sans offence, * And slender lute of
+     me (as view ye) made:
+But, when the fingers smite my strings, they tell * How man
+     despite my patience did me dead;
+Hence boon-companions when they hear my moan * Distracted wax as
+     though by wine misled:
+And the Lord softens every heart to me, * And I am hurried to the
+     highmost stead:
+All who in charms excel fain clasp my waist; * Gazelles of
+     languid eyne and Houri maid:
+Allah ne'er part fond lover from his joy * Nor live the loved one
+     who unkindly fled."
+
+
+Then the girl was silent awhile, but presently taking the lute in lap,
+again bent over it, as mother bendeth over child, and preluded in many
+different modes; then, returning to the first, she sang these couplets,
+
+"Would they [FN#430] the lover seek without ado, * He to his
+     heavy grief had bid adieu:
+With him had vied the Nightingale[FN#431] on bough * As one far
+     parted from his lover's view:
+Rouse thee! awake! The Moon lights Union-night * As tho' such
+     Union woke the Morn anew.
+This day the blamers take of us no heed * And lute-strings bid us
+     all our joys ensue.
+Seest not how four-fold things conjoin in one * Rose, myrtle,
+     scents and blooms of golden hue.[FN#432]
+Yea, here this day the four chief joys unite * Drink and dinars,
+     beloved and lover true:
+So win thy worldly joy, for joys go past * And naught but storied
+     tales and legends last."
+
+
+When Nur al-Din heard the girl sing these lines he looked on her with
+eyes of love and could scarce contain himself for the violence of his
+inclination to her; and on like wise was it with her, because she
+glanced at the company who were present of the sons of the merchants
+and she saw that Nur al-Din was amongst the rest as moon among stars;
+for that he was sweet of speech and replete with amorous grace, perfect
+in stature and symmetry, brightness and loveliness, pure of all defect,
+than the breeze of morn softer, than Tasnim blander, as saith of him
+the poet,[FN#433]
+
+"By his cheeks' unfading damask and his smiling teeth I swear, By
+     the arrows that he feathers with the witchery of his air,
+By his sides so soft and tender and his glances bright and keen,
+     By the whiteness of his forehead and the blackness of his
+     hair,
+By his arched imperious eyebrows, chasing slumber from my lids
+     With their yeas and noes that hold me 'twixt rejoicing and
+     despair,
+By the Scorpions that he launches from his ringlet-clustered
+     brows, Seeking still to slay his lovers with his rigours
+     unaware,
+By the myrtle of his whiskers and the roses of his cheek, By his
+     lips' incarnate rubies and his teeth's fine pearls and rare,
+By the straight and tender sapling of his shape, which for its
+     fruit Doth the twin pomegranates, shining in his snowy
+     bosom, wear,
+By his heavy hips that tremble, both in motion and repose, And
+     the slender waist above them, all too slight their weight to
+     bear,
+By the silk of his apparel and his quick and sprightly wit, By
+     all attributes of beauty that are fallen to his share;
+Lo, the musk exhales its fragrance from his breath, and eke the
+     breeze From his scent the perfume borrows, that it scatters
+     everywhere.
+Yea, the sun in all his splendour cannot with his brightness vie
+     And the crescent moon's a fragment that he from his nails
+     doth pare."
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din
+was delighted with the girl's verses and he swayed from side to side
+for drunkenness and fell a-praising her and saying,
+
+"A lutanist to us inclined * And stole our wits bemused with
+     wine:
+And said to us her lute, 'The Lord * Bade us discourse by voice
+     divine.'"
+
+
+When she heard him thus improvise the girl gazed at him with loving
+eyes and redoubled in passion and desire for him increased upon her,
+and indeed she marvelled at his beauty and loveliness, symmetry and
+grace, so that she could not contain herself, but took the lute in lap
+again and sang these couplets,
+
+"He blames me for casting on him my sight * And parts fro' me
+     bearing my life and sprite:
+He repels me but kens what my heart endures * As though Allah
+     himself had inspired the wight:
+I portrayed his portrait in palm of hand * And cried to mine
+     eyes, 'Weep your doleful plight.'
+For neither shall eyes of me spy his like * Nor my heart have
+     patience to bear its blight:
+Wherefore, will I tear thee from breast, O Heart * As one who
+     regards him with jealous spite.
+And when say I, 'O heart be consoled for pine,' * 'Tis that heart
+     to none other shall e'er incline:"
+
+
+Nur al-Din wondered at the charms of her verse and the elegance of her
+expression and the sweetness of her voice and the eloquence of her
+speech and his wit fled for stress of love and longing, and ecstasy and
+distraction, so that he could not refrain from her a single moment, but
+bent to her and strained her to his bosom: and she in like manner bowed
+her form over his and abandoned herself to his embrace and bussed him
+between the eyes. Then he kissed her on the mouth and played with her
+at kisses, after the manner of the billing of doves; and she met him
+with like warmth and did with him as she was done by till the others
+were distracted and rose to their feet; whereupon Nur al-Din was
+ashamed and held his hand from her. Then she took her lute and,
+preluding thereon in manifold modes, lastly returned to the first and
+sang these couplets,
+
+"A Moon, when he bends him those eyes lay bare * A brand that
+     gars gazing gazelle despair:
+A King, rarest charms are the host of him * And his lance-like
+     shape men with cane compare:
+Were his softness of sides to his heart transferred * His friend
+     had not suffered such cark and care:
+Ah for hardest heart and for softest sides! * Why not that to
+     these alter, make here go there?
+O thou who accusest my love excuse: * Take eternal and leave me
+     the transient share."[FN#434]
+
+
+When Nur al-Din heard the sweetness of her voice and the rareness of
+her verse, he inclined to her for delight and could not contain himself
+for excess of wonderment; so he recited these couplets,
+
+"Methought she was the forenoon sun until she donned the veil *
+     But lit she fire in vitals mine still flaring fierce and
+     high,
+How had it hurt her an she deigned return my poor salám * With
+     fingertips or e'en vouchsafed one little wink of eye?
+The cavalier who spied her face was wholly stupefied * By charms
+     that glorify the place and every charm outvie.
+'Be this the Fair who makes thee pine and long for love liesse? *
+     Indeed thou art excused!' 'This is my fairest she;'(quoth I)
+Who shot me with the shaft of looks nor deigns to rue my woes *
+     Of strangerhood and broken heart and love I must aby:
+I rose a-morn with vanquished heart, to longing love a prey * And
+     weep I through the live long day and all the night I cry."
+
+
+The girl marvelled at his eloquence and elegance and taking her lute,
+smote thereon with the goodliest of performance, repeating all the
+melodies, and sang these couplets,
+
+"By the life o' thy face, O thou life o' my sprite! * I'll ne'er
+     leave thy love for despair or delight:
+When art cruel thy vision stands hard by my side * And the
+     thought of thee haunts me when far from sight:
+O who saddenest my glance albe weeting that I * No love but thy
+     love will for ever requite?
+Thy cheeks are of Rose and thy lips-dews are wine; * Say, wilt
+     grudge them to us in this charming site?"
+
+
+Hereat Nur al-Din was gladdened with extreme gladness and wondered with
+the utmost wonder, so he answered her verse with these couplets,
+
+"The sun yellowed not in the murk gloom li'en * But lay pearl
+     enveiled 'neath horizon-chine;
+Nor showed its crest to the eyes of Morn * But took refuge from
+     parting with Morning-shine.[FN#435]
+Take my tear-drops that trickle as chain on chain * And they'll
+     tell my case with the clearest sign.
+An my tears be likened to Nile-flood, like * Malak's[FN#436]
+     flooded flat be this love o'mine.
+Quoth she, 'Bring thy riches!' Quoth I, 'Come, take!' * 'And thy
+     sleep?' 'Yes, take it from lids of eyne!'"
+
+
+When the girl heard Nur al-Din's words and noted the beauty of his
+eloquence her senses fled and her wit was dazed and love of him gat
+hold upon her whole heart. So she pressed him to her bosom and fell to
+kissing him like the billing of doves, whilst he returned her caresses
+with successive kisses; but preeminence appertaineth to
+precedence.[FN#437] When she had made an end of kissing, she took the
+lute and recited these couplets,
+
+"Alas, alack and well-away for blamer's calumny! * Whether or not
+     I make my moan or plead or show no plea:
+O spurner of my love I ne'er of thee so hard would deem * That I
+     of thee should be despised, of thee my property.
+I wont at lovers' love to rail and for their passion chide, * But
+     now I fain debase myself to all who rail at thee:
+Yea, only yesterday I wont all amourists to blame * But now I
+     pardon hearts that pine for passion's ecstasy;
+And of my stress of parting-stowre on me so heavy weighs * At
+     morning prayer to Him I'll cry, 'In thy name, O Ali!'"
+
+
+And also these two couplets,
+
+"His lovers said, 'Unless he deign to give us all a drink * Of
+     wine, of fine old wine his lips deal in their purity;
+We to the Lord of Threefold Worlds will pray to grant our prayer'
+     * And all exclaim with single cry 'In thy name, O Ali!'"
+
+
+Nur al-Din, hearing these lines and their rhyme, marvelled at the
+fluency of her tongue and thanked her, praising her grace and passing
+seductiveness; and the damsel, delighted at his praise, arose without
+stay or delay and doffing that was upon her of outer dress and trinkets
+till she was free of all encumbrance sat down on his knees and kissed
+him between the eyes and on his cheek-mole. Then she gave him all she
+had put off.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the girl gave
+to Nur al-Din all she had doffed, saying, "O beloved of my heart, in
+very sooth the gift is after the measure of the giver." So he accepted
+this from her and gave it back to her and kissed her on the mouth and
+cheeks and eyes. When this was ended and done, for naught is durable
+save the Living, the Eternal, Provider of the peacock and the
+owl,[FN#438] Nur al-Din rose from the séance and stood upon his feet,
+because the darkness was now fallen and the stars shone out; whereupon
+quoth the damsel to him, "Whither away, O my lord?"; and quoth he, "To
+my father's home." Then the sons of the merchants conjured him to night
+with them, but he refused and mounting his shemule, rode, without
+stopping, till he reached his parent's house, where his mother met him
+and said to him, "O my son, what hath kept thee away till this hour? By
+Allah, thou hast troubled myself and thy sire by thine absence from us,
+and our hearts have been occupied with thee." Then she came up to him,
+to kiss him on his mouth, and smelling the fumes of the wine, said, "O
+my son, how is it that, after prayer and worship thou hast become a
+wine-bibber and a rebel against Him to whom belong creation and
+commandment?" But Nur al-Din threw himself down on the bed and lay
+there. Presently in came his sire and said, "What aileth Nur al-Din to
+lie thus?"; and his mother answered, "'Twould seem his head acheth for
+the air of the garden." So Taj al-Din went up to his son, to ask him of
+his ailment, and salute him, and smelt the reek of wine.[FN#439] Now
+the merchant loved not wine-drinkers; so he said to Nur al-Din, "Woe to
+thee, O my son! Is folly come to such a pass with thee, that thou
+drinkest wine?" When Nur al-Din heard his sire say this, he raised his
+hand, being yet in his drunkenness, and dealt him a buffet, when by
+decree of the Decreer the blow lit on his father's right eye which
+rolled down on his cheek; whereupon he fell a-swoon and lay therein
+awhile. They sprinkled rose-water on him till he recovered, when he
+would have beaten his son; but the mother withheld him, and he swore,
+by the oath of divorce from his wife that, as soon as morning morrowed,
+he would assuredly cut off his son's right hand.[FN#440] When she heard
+her husband's words, her breast was straitened and she feared for her
+son and ceased not to soothe and appease his sire, till sleep overcame
+him. Then she waited till moon-rise, when she went in to her son, whose
+drunkenness had now departed from him, and said to him, "O Nur al-Din,
+what is this foul deed thou diddest with thy sire?" He asked, "And what
+did I with him?"; and answered she, "Thou dealtest him a buffet on the
+right eye and struckest it out so that it rolled down his cheek; and he
+hath sworn by the divorce-oath that, as soon as morning shall morrow he
+will without fail cut off thy right hand." Nur al-Din repented him of
+that he had done, whenas repentance profited him naught, and his mother
+said to him, "O my son, this penitence will not profit thee; nor will
+aught avail thee but that thou arise forthwith and seek safety in
+flight: go forth the house privily and take refuge with one of thy
+friends and there what Allah shall do await, for he changeth case after
+case and state upon state." Then she opened a chest and taking out a
+purse of an hundred dinars said, "O my son, take these dinars and
+provide thy wants therewith, and when they are at an end, O my son,
+send and let me know thereof, that I may send thee other than these,
+and at the same time covey to me news of thyself privily: haply Allah
+will decree thee relief and thou shalt return to thy home." And she
+farewelled him and wept passing sore, nought could be more. Thereupon
+Nur al-Din took the purse of gold and was about to go forth, when he
+espied a great purse containing a thousand dinars, which his mother had
+forgotten by the side of the chest. So he took this also and binding
+the two purses about his middle,[FN#441] set out before dawn threading
+the streets in the direction of Búlák, where he arrived when day broke
+and all creatures arose, attesting the unity of Allah the Opener and
+went forth each of them upon his several business, to win that which
+Allah had unto him allotted. Reaching Bulak he walked on along the
+riverbank till he sighted a ship with her gangway out and her four
+anchors made fast to the land. The folk were going up into her and
+coming down from her, and Nur al-Din, seeing some sailors there
+standing, asked them whither they were bound, and they answered, "To
+Rosetta-city." Quoth he, "Take me with you;" and quoth they, "Well
+come, and welcome to thee, to thee, O goodly one!" So he betook himself
+forthright to the market and buying what he needed of vivers and
+bedding and covering, returned to the port and went on board the ship,
+which was ready to sail and tarried with him but a little while before
+she weighed anchor and fared on, without stopping, till she reached
+Rosetta,[FN#442] where Nur al-Din saw a small boat going to Alexandria.
+So he embarked in it and traversing the sea-arm of Rosetta fared on
+till he came to a bridge called Al-Jámí, where he landed and entered
+Alexandria by the gate called the Gate of the Lote-tree. Allah
+protected him, so that none of those who stood on guard at the gate saw
+him, and he walked on till he entered the city.—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventieth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur
+al-Din entered Alexandria he found it a city goodly of pleasaunces,
+delightful to its inhabitants and inviting to inhabit therein. Winter
+had fared from it with his cold and Prime was come to it with his
+roses: its flowers were kindly ripe and welled forth its rills. Indeed,
+it was a city goodly of ordinance and disposition; its folk were of the
+best of men, and when the gates thereof were shut, its folk were
+safe.[FN#443] And it was even as is said of it in these couplets,
+
+"Quoth I to a comrade one day, * A man of good speech and rare,
+'Describe Alexandria.' * Quoth he, 'Tis a march-town fair.'
+Quoth I, 'Is there living therein?' * And he, 'An the wind blow
+     there.'"
+
+
+Or as saith one of the poets,
+
+"Alexandria's a frontier;[FN#444] Whose dews of lips are sweet
+     and clear;
+How fair the coming to it is, * So one therein no raven speer!"
+
+
+Nur al-Din walked about the city and ceased not walking till he came to
+the merchants' bazar, whence he passed on to the mart of the
+money-changers and so on in turn to the markets of the confectioners
+and fruiterers and druggists, marvelling, as he went, at the city, for
+that the nature of its qualities accorded with its name.[FN#445] As he
+walked in the druggists' bazar, behold, an old man came down from his
+shop and saluting him, took him by the hand and carried him to his
+home. And Nur al-Din saw a fair bystreet, swept and sprinkled, whereon
+the zephyr blew and made pleasantness pervade it and the leaves of the
+trees overshaded it. Therein stood three houses and at the upper end a
+mansion, whose foundations were firm sunk in the water and its walls
+towered to the confines of the sky. They had swept the space before it
+and they had sprinkled it freshly; so it exhaled the fragrance of
+flowers, borne on the zephyr which breathed upon the place; and the
+scent met there who approached it on such wise as it were one of the
+gardens of Paradise. And, as they had cleaned and cooled the
+by-street's head, so was the end of it with marble spread. The Shaykh
+carried Nur al-Din into the house and setting somewhat of food before
+him ate with his guest. When they had made an end of eating, the
+druggist said to him, "When camest thou hither from Cairo?"; and Nur
+al-Din replied, "This very night, O my father." Quoth the old man,
+"What is thy name?"; and quoth he, "Ali Nur al-Din." Said the druggist,
+"O my son, O Nur al-Din, be the triple divorce incumbent on me, an thou
+leave me so long as thou abidest in this city; and I will set thee
+apart a place wherein thou mayst dwell." Nur al-Din asked, "O my lord
+the Shaykh, let me know more of thee"; and the other answered, "Know, O
+my son, that some years ago I went to Cairo with merchandise, which I
+sold there and bought other, and I had occasion for a thousand dinars.
+So thy sire Taj al-Din weighed them out[FN#446] for me, all unknowing
+me, and would take no written word of me, but had patience with me till
+I returned hither and sent him the amount by one of my servants,
+together with a gift. I saw thee, whilst thou wast little; and, if it
+please Allah the Most High, I will repay thee somewhat of the kindness
+thy father did me." When Nur al-Din heard the old man's story, he
+showed joy and pulling out with a smile the purse of a thousand dinars,
+gave it to his host the Shaykh and said to him, "Take charge of this
+deposit for me, against I buy me somewhat of merchandise whereon to
+trade." Then he abode some time in Alexandria city taking his pleasure
+every day in its thoroughfares, eating and drinking ad indulging
+himself with mirth and merriment till he had made an end of the hundred
+dinars he had kept by way of spending-money; whereupon he repaired to
+the old druggist, to take of him somewhat of the thousand dinars to
+spend, but found him not in his shop and took a seat therein to await
+his return. He sat there gazing right and left and amusing himself with
+watching the merchants and passers-by, and as he was thus engaged
+behold, there came into the bazar a Persian riding on a she-mule and
+carrying behind him a damsel; as she were argent of alloy free or a
+fish Balti[FN#447] in mimic sea or a doe-gazelle on desert lea. Her
+face outshone the sun in shine and she had witching eyne and breasts of
+ivory white, teeth of marguerite, slender waist and sides dimpled deep
+and calves like tails of fat sheep;[FN#448] and indeed she was perfect
+in beauty and loveliness, elegant stature and symmetrical grace, even
+as saith one, describing her,[FN#449]
+
+"'Twas as by will of her she was create * Nor short nor long, but
+     Beauty's mould and mate:
+Rose blushes reddest when she sees those cheeks * And fruits the
+     bough those marvel charms amate:
+Moon is her favour, Musk the scent of her * Branch is her shape:Â
+     she passeth man's estate:
+'Tis e'en as were she cast in freshest pearl * And every limblet
+     shows a moon innate."
+
+
+Presently the Persian lighted down from his she-mule and making the
+damsel also dismount loudly summoned the broker and said to him as soon
+as he came, "Take this damsel and cry her for sale in the market." So
+he took her and leading her to the middlemost of the bazar disappeared
+for a while and presently he returned with a stool of ebony, inlaid
+with ivory, and setting it upon the ground, seated her thereon. Then he
+raised her veil and discovered a face as it were a Median targe[FN#450]
+or a cluster of pearls:[FN#451] and indeed she was like the full moon,
+when it filleth on its fourteenth night, accomplished in brilliant
+beauty. As saith the poet,
+
+"Vied the full moon for folly with her face, * But was
+     eclipsed[FN#452] and split for rage full sore;
+And if the spiring Bán with her contend * Perish her hands who
+     load of fuel bore!"[FN#453]
+
+
+And how well saith another,
+
+"Say to the fair in the wroughten veil * How hast made that
+     monk-like worshipper ail?
+Light of veil and light of face under it * Made the hosts of
+     darkness to fly from bale;
+And, when came my glance to steal look at cheek. * With a
+     meteor-shaft the Guard made me quail."[FN#454]
+
+
+Then said the broker to the merchants,[FN#455] "How much do ye bid for
+the union-pearl of the diver and prize-quarry of the fowler?" Quoth
+one, "She is mine for an hundred dinars." And another said, "Two
+hundred," and a third, "Three hundred"; and they ceased not to bid, one
+against other, till they made her price nine hundred and fifty dinars,
+and there the biddings stopped awaiting acceptance and
+consent.[FN#456]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the merchants bid
+one against other till they made the price of the girl nine hundred and
+fifty dinars. Then the broker went up to her Persian master and said to
+him, "The biddings for this thy slave-girl have reached nine hundred
+and fifty dinars: so say me, wilt thou sell her at that price and take
+the money?" Asked the Persian, "Doth she consent to this? I desire to
+fall in with her wishes, for I sickened on my journey hither and this
+handmaid tended me with all possible tenderness, wherefore I sware not
+to sell her but to him whom she should like and approve, and I have put
+her sale in her own hand. So do thou consult her and if she say, 'I
+consent,' sell her to whom thou wilt: but an she say, 'No,' sell her
+not." So the broker went up to her and asked her, "O Princess of fair
+ones, know that thy master putteth thy sale in thine own hands, and thy
+price hath reached nine hundred and fifty dinars; dost thou give me
+leave to sell thee?" She answered, "Show me him who is minded to buy me
+before clinching the bargain." So he brought her up to one of the
+merchants a man stricken with years and decrepit; and she looked at him
+a long while, then turned to the broker and said to him, "O broker, art
+thou Jinn-mad or afflicted in thy wit?" Replied he, "Why dost thou ask
+me this, O Princess of fair ones?"; and said she, "Is it permitted thee
+of Allah to sell the like of me to yonder decrepit old man, who saith
+of his wife's case these couplets,
+
+'Quoth she to me,—and sore enraged for wounded pride was she, *
+     For she in sooth had bidden me to that which might not be,—
+'An if thou swive me not forthright, as one should swive his
+     wife, * Thou be made a cuckold straight, reproach it not to
+     me.
+Meseems thy yard is made of wax, for very flaccidness; * For when
+     I rub it with my hand, it softens instantly.'[FN#457]
+
+
+And said he likewise of his yard,
+
+'I have a yard that sleeps in base and shameful way * When grants
+     my lover boon for which I sue and pray:
+But when I wake o' mornings[FN#458] all alone in bed, * 'Tis fain
+     o' foin and fence and fierce for futter-play.'
+
+
+And again quoth he thereof of his yard,
+
+'I have a froward yard of temper ill * Dishonoring him who shows
+     it most regard:
+It stands when sleep I, when I stand it sleeps * Heaven pity not
+     who pitieth that yard!'"
+
+
+When the old merchant heard this ill flouting from the damsel, he was
+wroth with wrath exceeding beyond which was no proceeding and said to
+the broker, "O most ill-omened of brokers, thou hast not brought into
+the market this ill-conditioned wench but to gibe me and make mock of
+me before the merchants." Then the broker took her aside and said to
+her, "O my lady, be not wanting in self-respect. The Shaykh at whom
+thou didst mock is the Syndic of the bazar and Inspector[FN#459]
+thereof and a committee-man of the council of the merchants." But she
+laughed and improvised these two couplets,
+
+"It behoveth folk who rule in our time, * And 'tis one of the
+     duties of magistrateship,
+To hand up the Wali above his door * And beat with a whip the
+     Mohtasib!"
+
+
+Adding, "By Allah, O my lord, I will not be sold to yonder old man; so
+sell me to other than him, for haply he will be abashed at me and vend
+me again and I shall become a mere servant[FN#460] and it beseemeth not
+that I sully myself with menial service; and indeed thou knowest that
+the matter of my sale is committed to myself." He replied, "I hear and
+I obey," and carried her to a man which was one of the chief merchants.
+And when standing hard by him the broker asked, "How sayst thou, O my
+lady? Shall I sell thee to my lord Sharíf al-Dín here for nine hundred
+and fifty gold pieces?" She looked at him and, seeing him to be an old
+man with a dyed beard, said to the broker, "Art thou silly, that thou
+wouldst sell me to this worn out Father Antic? Am I cotton refuse or
+threadbare rags that thou marchest me about from greybeard to
+greybeard, each like a wall ready to fall or an Ifrit smitten down of a
+fire-ball? As for the first, the poet had him in mind when he
+said,[FN#461]
+
+'I sought of a fair maid to kiss her lips of coral red, But, 'No,
+     by Him who fashioned things from nothingness!' she said.
+Unto the white of hoary hairs I never had a mind, And shall my
+     mouth be stuffed, forsooth, with cotton, ere I'm dead?'
+
+
+And how goodly is the saying of the poet,
+
+'The wise have said that white of hair is light that shines and
+     robes * The face of man with majesty and light that awes the
+     sight;
+Yet until hoary seal shall stamp my parting-place of hair * I
+     hope and pray that same may be black as the blackest night.
+Albe Time-whitened beard of man be like the book he bears[FN#462]
+     * When to his Lord he must return, I'd rather 'twere not
+     white,'
+
+
+And yet goodlier is the saying of another,
+
+'A guest hath stolen on my head and honour may he lack! * The
+     sword a milder deed hath done that dared these locks to
+     hack.
+Avaunt, O Whiteness,[FN#463] wherein naught of brightness
+     gladdens sight * Thou 'rt blacker in the eyes of me than
+     very blackest black!'
+
+
+As for the other, he is a model of wantonness and scurrilousness and a
+blackener of the face of hoariness; his dye acteth the foulest of lies:
+and the tongue of his case reciteth these lines,[FN#464]
+
+'Quoth she to me, 'I see thou dy'st thy hoariness;' and I, 'I do
+     but hide it from thy sight, O thou mine ear and eye!'
+She laughed out mockingly and said, 'A wonder 'tis indeed! Thou
+     so aboundest in deceit that even thy hair's a lie.'
+
+
+And how excellent is the saying of the poet,
+
+'O thou who dyest hoariness with black, * That youth wi' thee
+     abide, at least in show;
+Look ye, my lot was dyčd black whilome * And (take my word!) none
+     other hue 'twill grow.'"
+
+
+When the old man with dyed beard heard such words from the slave-girl,
+he raged with exceeding rage in fury's last stage and said to the
+broker, "O most ill-omened of brokers, this day thou hast brought to
+our market naught save this gibing baggage to flout at all who are
+therein, one after other, and fleer at them with flyting verse and idle
+jest?" And he came down from his shop and smote on the face the broker
+who took her an angered and carried her away saying to her, "By Allah,
+never in my life saw I a more shameless wench than thyself![FN#465]
+Thou hast cut off my daily bread and thine own this day and all the
+merchants will bear me a grudge on thine account." Then they saw on the
+way a merchant called Shihab al-Dín who bid ten dinars more for her,
+and the broker asked her leave to sell her to him. Quoth she, "Trot him
+out that I may see him and question him of a certain thing, which if he
+have in his house, I will be sold to him; and if not, then not." So the
+broker left her standing there and going up to Shihab al-Din, said to
+him, "O my lord, know that yonder damsel tells me she hath a mind to
+ask thee somewhat, which an thou have, she will be sold to thee. Now
+thou hast heard what she said to thy fellows, the merchants,"—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-second Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the broker
+said to the merchant, "Thou hast heard what this handmaid said to thy
+fellows, the traders, and by Allah, I fear to bring her to thee, lest
+she do with thee like as she did with thy neighbours and so I fall into
+disgrace with thee: but, an thou bid me bring her to thee, I will bring
+her." Quoth the merchant, "Hither with her to me." "Hearing and
+obeying," answered the broker and fetched for the purchaser the damsel,
+who looked at him and said, "O my lord, Shihab al-Din, hast thou in thy
+house round cushions stuffed with ermine strips?" Replied Shihab
+al-Din, "Yes, O Princess of fair ones, I have at home half a score such
+cushions; but I conjure thee by Allah, tell me, what will thou do with
+them?" Quoth she, "I will bear with thee till thou be asleep, when I
+will lay them on thy mouth and nose and press them down till thou die."
+Then she turned to the broker and said to him, "O thou refuse of
+brokers, meseemeth thou art mad, in that thou showest me this hour
+past, first to a pair of greybeards, in each of whom are two faults,
+and then thou proferrest me to my lord Shihab al-Din wherein be three
+defects; firstly, he is dwarfish, secondly, he hath a nose which is
+big, and thirdly, he hath a beard which is long. Of him quoth one of
+the poets,
+
+'We never heard of wight nor yet espied * Who amid men three
+     gifts hath unified:
+To wit, a beard one cubit long, a snout * Span-long and figure
+     tall a finger wide:'
+
+
+And quoth another poet,
+
+'From the plain of his face springs a minaret * Like a bezel of
+     ring on his finger set:
+Did creation enter that vasty nose * No created thing would
+     elsewhere be met.'"
+
+
+When Shihab al-Din heard this, he came down from his shop and seized
+the broker by the collar, saying, "O scurviest of brokers, what aileth
+thee to bring us a damsel to flout and make mock of us, one after
+other, with her verses and talk that a curse is?" So the broker took
+her and carried her away from before him and fared, saying, "By Allah,
+all my life long, since I have plied this profession never set I eyes
+on the like of thee for unmannerliness nor aught more curst to me than
+thy star, for thou hast cut off my livelihood this day and I have
+gained no profit by thee save cuffs on the neck-nape and catching by
+the collar!" Then he brought her to the shop of another merchant, owner
+of negro slaves and white servants, and stationing her before him, said
+to her, "Wilt thou be sold to this my lord 'Alá al-Dín?" She looked at
+him and seeing him hump-backed, said, "This is a Gobbo," and quoth the
+poet of him,
+
+'Drawn in thy shoulders are and spine thrust out, * As seeking
+     star which Satan gave the lout;[FN#466]
+Or as he tasted had first smack of scourge * And looked in marvel
+     for a second bout.'
+
+
+And saith another on the same theme,
+
+'As one of you who mounted mule, * A sight for me to ridicule: Is 't
+not a farce? Who feels surprise * An start and bolt with him the mule?'
+
+And another on a similar subject,
+
+'Oft hunchback addeth to his bunchy back * Faults which gar folk
+     upon his front look black:
+Like branch distort and dried by length of days * With citrons
+     hanging from it loose and slack.'"
+
+
+With this the broker hurried up to her and, carrying her to another
+merchant, said to her, "Wilt thou be sold to this one?" She looked at
+him and said, "In very sooth this man is blue-eyed;[FN#467] how wilt
+thou sell me to him?" Quoth one of the poets,
+
+'His eyelids sore and bleared * Weakness of frame denote:
+Arise, ye folk and see * Within his eyes the mote!'"
+
+
+Then the broker carried her to another and she looked at him and seeing
+that he had a long beard, said to the broker, "Fie upon thee! This is a
+ram, whose tail hath sprouted from his gullet. Wilt thou sell me to
+him, O unluckiest of brokers? Hast thou not heard say: 'All long of
+beard are little of wits? Indeed, after the measure of the length of
+the beard is the lack of sense; and this is a well-known thing among
+men of understanding.' As saith one of the poets,
+
+'Ne'er was a man with beard grown overlong, * Tho' be he therefor
+     reverenced and fear'd,
+But who the shortness noted in his wits * Added to longness noted
+     in his beard.'
+
+
+And quoth another,[FN#468]
+
+'I have a friend with a beard which God hath made to grow to a
+     useless length,
+It is like unto one of the nights of winter long and dark and
+     cold.'"
+
+
+With this the broker took her and turned away with her, and she asked,
+"Whither goest thou with me?" He answered, "Back to thy master the
+Persian; it sufficeth me what hath befallen me because of thee this
+day; for thou hast been the means of spoiling both my trade and his by
+thine ill manners." Then she looked about the market right and left,
+front and rear till, by the decree of the Decreer her eyes fell on Ali
+Nur al-Din the Cairene. So she gazed at him and saw him[FN#469] to be a
+comely youth of straight slim form and smooth of face, fourteen years
+old, rare in beauty and loveliness and elegance and amorous grace like
+the full moon on the fourteenth night with forehead flower-white, and
+cheeks rosy red, neck like alabaster and teeth than jewels finer and
+dews of lips sweeter than sugar, even as saith of him one of his
+describers,
+
+"Came to match him in beauty and loveliness rare * Full moons and
+     gazelles but quoth I, 'Soft fare!
+Fare softly, gazelles, nor yourselves compare * With him and, O
+     Moons, all your pains forbear!'"
+
+
+And how well saith another bard,
+
+"Slim-waisted loveling, from his hair and brow * Men wake a-morn
+     in night and light renewed.
+Blame not the mole that dwelleth on his cheek * For Nu'uman's
+     bloom aye shows spot negro-hued."
+
+
+When the slave-girl beheld Nur al-Din he interposed between her and her
+wits; she fell in love to him with a great and sudden fall and her
+heart was taken with affection for him;—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-third Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+slave-girl beheld Nur al-Din, her heart was taken with affection for
+him; so she turned to the broker and said to him, "Will not yonder
+young merchant who is sitting among the traders in the gown of striped
+broadcloth bid somewhat more for me?" The broker replied, "O lady of
+fair ones, yonder young man is a stranger from Cairo, where his father
+is chief of the trader-guild and surpasseth all the merchants and
+notables of the place. He is but lately come to this our city and
+lodgeth with one of his father's friends; but he hath made no bid for
+thee nor more nor less." When the girl heard the broker's words, she
+drew from her finger a costly signet-ring of ruby and said to the man,
+"Carry me to yonder youth, and if he buy me, this ring shall be thine,
+in requital of thy travail with me this day." The broker rejoiced at
+this and brought her up to Nur al-Din, and she considered him straitly
+and found him like the full moon, perfect in loveliness and a model of
+fine stature and symmetric grace, even as saith of him one of his
+describers.
+
+"Waters of beauty o'er his cheeks flow bright, * And rain his
+     glances shafts that sorely smite:
+Choked are his lovers an he deal disdain's * Bitterest draught
+     denaying love-delight.
+His forehead and his stature and my love * Are perfect perfected
+     perfection-dight;
+His raiment folds enfold a lovely neck * As crescent moon in
+     collar buttoned tight:
+His eyne and twinnčd moles and tears of me * Are night that
+     nighteth to the nightliest night.
+His eyebrows and his features and my frame[FN#470] * Crescents on
+     crescents are as crescents slight:
+His pupils pass the wine-cup to his friends * Which, albe sweet,
+     tastes bitter to my sprite;
+And to my thirsty throat pure drink he dealt * From smiling lips
+     what day we were unite:
+Then is my blood to him, my death to him * His right and rightful
+     and most righteous right."
+
+
+The girl gazed at Nur al-Din and said, "O my lord, Allah upon thee, am
+I not beautiful?"; and he replied, "O Princess of fair ones, is there
+in the world a comelier than thou?" She rejoined, "Then why seest thou
+all the other merchants bid high for me and art silent nor sayest a
+word neither addest one dinar to my price? 'Twould seem I please thee
+not, O my lord!" Quoth he, "O my lady, were I in my own land, I had
+bought thee with all that my hand possesseth of monies;" and quoth she,
+"O my lord, I said not, 'Buy me against thy will,' yet, didst thou but
+add somewhat to my price, it would hearten my heart, though thou buy me
+not, so the merchants may say, 'Were not this girl handsome, yonder
+merchant of Cairo had not bidden for her, for the Cairenes are
+connoisseurs in slave-girls.'" These words abashed Nur al-Din and he
+blushed and said to the broker, "How high are the biddings for her?" He
+replied, "Her price hath reached nine hundred and sixty dinars,[FN#471]
+besides brokerage, as for the Sultan's dues, they fall on the seller."
+Quoth Nur al-Din, "Let me have her for a thousand dinars, brokerage and
+price." And the damsel hastening to the fore and leaving the broker,
+said, "I sell myself to this handsome young man for a thousand dinars."
+But Nur al-Din held his peace. Quoth one, "We sell to him;" and
+another, "He deserveth her;" and a third, "Accursed, son of accursed,
+is he who biddeth and doth not buy!"; and a fourth, "By Allah, they
+befit each other!" Then, before Nur al-Din could think, the broker
+fetched Kazis and witnesses, who wrote out a contract of sale and
+purchase; and the broker handed the paper to Nur al-Din, saying, "Take
+thy slave-girl and Allah bless thee in her for she beseemeth none but
+thee and none but thou beseemeth her." And he recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"Boon Fortune sought him in humblest way[FN#472] * And came to
+     him draggle-tailed, all a-stir:
+And none is fittest for him but she * And none is fittest but he
+     for her."
+
+
+Hereat Nur al-Din was abashed before the merchants; so he arose without
+stay or delay and weighed out the thousand dinars which he had left as
+a deposit with his father's friend the druggist, and taking the girl,
+carried her to the house wherein the Shaykh had lodged him. When she
+entered and saw nothing but ragged patched carpets and worn out rugs,
+she said to him, "O my lord, have I no value to thee and am I not
+worthy that thou shouldst bear me to thine own house and home wherein
+are thy goods, that thou bringest me into thy servant's lodging? Why
+dost thou not carry me to thy father's dwelling?" He replied, "By
+Allah, O Princess of fair ones, this is my house wherein I dwell; but
+it belongeth to an old man, a druggist of this city, who hath set it
+apart for me and lodged me therein. I told thee that I was a stranger
+and that I am of the sons of Cairo city." She rejoined, "O my lord, the
+least of houses sufficeth till thy return to thy native place; but,
+Allah upon thee, O my lord, go now and fetch us somewhat of roast meat
+and wine and dried fruit and dessert." Quoth Nur al-Din, "By Allah, O
+Princess of fair ones, I had no money with me but the thousand dinars I
+paid down to thy price nor possess I any other good. The few dirhams I
+owned were spent by me yesterday." Quoth she, "Hast thou no friend in
+the town, of whom thou mayst borrow fifty dirhams and bring them to me,
+that I may tell thee what thou shalt do therewith?" And he said, "I
+have no intimate but the druggist." Then he betook himself forthright
+to the druggist and said to him, "Peace be with thee, O uncle!" He
+returned his salam and said to him, "O my son, what hast thou bought
+for a thousand dinars this day?" Nur al-Din replied, "I have bought a
+slave-girl;" and the oldster rejoined, "O my son, art thou mad that
+thou givest a thousand dinars for one slave-girl? Would I knew what
+kind of slave-girl she is?" Said Nur al-Din, "She is a damsel of the
+children of the Franks;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din
+said to the ancient druggist, "The damsel is of the children of the
+Franks;" and the Shaykh said, "O my son, the best of the girls of the
+Franks are to be had in this our town for an hundred dinars, and by
+Allah, O my son, they have cheated thee in the matter of this damsel!
+However, an thou have taken a fancy to her, lie with her this night and
+do thy will of her and to-morrow morning go down with her to the market
+and sell her, though thou lose by her two hundred dinars, and reckon
+that thou hast lost them by shipwreck or hast been robbed of them on
+the road." Nur al-Din replied, "Right is thy rede, O uncle, but thou
+knowest that I had but the thousand dinars wherewith I purchased the
+damsel, and now I have not a single dirham left to spend; so I desire
+of thy favour and bounty that thou lend me fifty dirhams, to provide me
+withal, till to-morrow, when I will sell her and repay thee out of her
+price." Said the old man, "Willingly, O my son," and counted out to him
+the fifty dirhams. Then he said to him, "O my son, thou art but young
+in years and the damsel is fair, so belike thy heart will be taken with
+her and it will be grievous to thee to vend her. Now thou hast nothing
+to live on and these fifty dirhams will readily be spent and thou wilt
+come to me and I shall lend thee once and twice and thrice, and so on
+up to ten times; but, an thou come to me after this, I will not return
+thy salam[FN#473] and our friendship with thy father will end ill." Nur
+al-Din took the fifty dirhams and returned with them to the damsel, who
+said to him, "O my lord, wend thee at once to the market and fetch me
+twenty dirhams' worth of stained silk of five colours and with the
+other thirty buy meat and bread and fruit and wine and flowers." So he
+went to the market and purchasing for her all she sought, brought it to
+her, whereupon she rose and tucking up her sleeves, cooked food after
+the most skilful fashion, and set it before him. He ate and she ate
+with him, till they had enough, after which she set on the wine, and
+she drank and he drank, and she ceased not to ply him with drink and
+entertain him with discourse, till he became drunken and fell asleep.
+Thereupon she arose without stay or delay and taking out of her bundle
+a budget of Táifí leather,[FN#474] opened it and drew forth a pair of
+knitting needles, wherewith she fell to work and stinted not till she
+had made a beautiful zone, which she folded up in a wrapper after
+cleaning it and ironing it, and laid it under her pillow. Then she
+doffed her dress till she was mother-naked and lying down beside Nur
+al-Din shampoo'd him till he awoke from his heavy sleep. He found by
+his side a maiden like virgin silver, softer than silk and delicater
+than a tail of fatted sheep, than standard more conspicuous and
+goodlier than the red camel,[FN#475] in height five feet tall with
+breasts firm and full, brows like bended bows, eyes like gazelles' eyes
+and cheeks like blood-red anemones, a slender waist with dimples laced
+and a navel holding an ounce of the unguent benzoin, thighs like
+bolsters stuffed with ostrich-down, and between them what the tongue
+fails to set forth and at mention whereof the tears jet forth. Brief it
+was as it were she to whom the poet alluded in these two couplets,
+
+"From her hair is Night, from her forehead Noon * From her
+     side-face Rose; from her lip wine boon:
+From her Union Heaven, her Severance Hell: * Pearls from her
+     teeth; from her front full Moon."
+
+
+And how excellent is the saying of another bard,[FN#476]
+
+"A Moon she rises, Willow-wand she waves * Breathes ambergris and
+     gazeth a gazelle.
+Meseems that sorrow wooes my heart and wins * And when she wends
+     makes haste therein to dwell.
+Her face is fairer than the Stars of Wealth[FN#477] * And sheeny
+     brows the crescent Moon excel."
+
+
+And quoth a third also,
+
+"They shine fullest Moons, unveil Crescent-bright; *
+     Sway tenderest Branches and turn wild kine;
+'Mid which is a Dark-eyed for love of whose charms *
+     The Sailors[FN#478] would joy to be ground low-li'en."
+
+
+So Nur al-Din turned to her at once and clasping her to his bosom,
+sucked first her upper lip and then her under lip and slid his tongue
+between the twain into her mouth. Then he rose to her and found her a
+pearl unthridden and a filly none but he had ridden. So he abated her
+maidenhead and had of her amorous delight and there was knitted between
+them a love-bond which might never know breach nor severance.[FN#479]
+He rained upon her cheeks kisses like the falling of pebbles into
+water, and struck with stroke upon stroke, like the thrusting of spears
+in battle brunt; for that Nur al-Din still yearned after clipping of
+necks and sucking of lips and letting down of tress and pressing of
+waist and biting of cheek and cavalcading on breast with Cairene
+buckings and Yamani wrigglings and Abyssinian sobbings and Hindí
+pamoisons and Nubian lasciviousness and Rífí leg-liftings[FN#480] and
+Damiettan moanings and Sa'ídí[FN#481] hotness and Alexandrian
+languishment[FN#482] and this damsel united in herself all these
+virtues, together with excess of beauty and loveliness, and indeed she
+was even as saith of her the poet,
+
+"This is she I will never forget till I die * Nor draw near but
+     to those who to her draw nigh.
+A being for semblance like Moon at full * Praise her Maker, her
+     Modeller glorify!
+Tho' be sore my sin seeking love-liesse * On esperance-day ne'er
+     repent can I;
+A couplet reciting which none can know * Save the youth who in
+     couplets and rhymes shall cry,
+'None weeteth love but who bears its load * Nor passion, save
+     pleasures and pains he aby.'"
+
+
+So Nur al-Din lay with the damsel through the night in solace and
+delight,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din lay
+with that damsel through the night in solace and delight, the twain
+garbed in the closely buttoned garments of embrace, safe and secure
+against the misways of nights and days, and they passed the dark hours
+after the goodliest fashion, fearing naught, in their joys
+love-fraught, from excess of talk and prate. As saith of them the right
+excellent poet,[FN#483]
+
+"Go, visit her thou lovest, and regard not
+The words detractors utter; envious churls
+Can never favour love. Oh! sure the merciful
+Ne'er make a thing more fair to look upon,
+Than two fond lovers in each other's arms,
+Speaking their passion in a mute embrace.
+When heart has turned to heart, the fools would part them
+Strike idly on cold steel. So when thou'st found
+One purely, wholly thine, accept her true heart,
+And live for her alone. Oh! thou that blamest
+The love-struck for their love, give o'er thy talk
+How canst thou minister to a mind diseased?"
+
+
+When the morning morrowed in sheen and shone, Nur al-Din awoke from
+deep sleep and found that she had brought water:[FN#484] so they made
+the Ghusl-ablution, he and she, and he performed that which behoved him
+of prayer to his Lord, after which she set before him meat and drink,
+and he ate and drank. Then the damsel put her hand under her pillow and
+pulling out the girdle which she had knitted during the night, gave it
+to Nur al-Din, who asked, "Whence cometh this girdle?"[FN#485] Answered
+she, "O my lord, 'tis the silk thou boughtest yesterday for twenty
+dirhams. Rise now and go to the Persian bazar and give it to the
+broker, to cry for sale, and sell it not for less than twenty gold
+pieces in ready money." Quoth Nur al-Din, "O Princess of fair ones how
+can a thing, that cost twenty dirhams and will sell for as many dinars,
+be made in a single night?"; and quoth she, "O my lord, thou knowest
+not the value of this thing; but go to the market therewith and give it
+to the broker, and when he shall cry it, its worth will be made
+manifest to thee." Herewith he carried the zone to the market and gave
+it to the broker, bidding him cry it, whilst he himself sat down on a
+masonry bench before a shop. The broker fared forth and returning after
+a while said to him, "O my lord, rise take the price of thy zone, for
+it hath fetched twenty dinars money down." When Nur al-Din heard this,
+he marvelled with exceeding marvel and shook with delight. Then he
+rose, between belief and misbelief, to take the money and when he had
+received it, he went forthright and spent it all on silk of various
+colours and returning home, gave his purchase to the damsel, saying,
+"Make this all into girdles and teach me likewise how to make them,
+that I may work with thee; for never in the length of my life saw I a
+fairer craft than this craft nor a more abounding in gain and profit.
+By Allah, 'tis better than the trade of a merchant a thousand times!"
+She laughed at his language and said, "O my lord, go to thy friend the
+druggist and borrow other thirty dirhams of him, and to-morrow repay
+him from the price of the girdle the thirty together with the fifty
+already loaned to thee." So he rose and repaired to the druggist and
+said to him, "O Uncle, lend me other thirty dirhams, and to-morrow,
+Almighty Allah willing, I will repay thee the whole fourscore." The old
+man weighed him out thirty dirhams, wherewith he went to the market and
+buying meat and bread, dried fruits, and flowers as before, carried
+them home to the damsel whose name was Miriam,[FN#486] the Girdle-girl.
+She rose forthright and making ready rich meats, set them before her
+lord Nur al-Din; after which she brought the wine-service and they
+drank and plied each other with drink. When the wine began to play with
+their wits, his pleasant address and inner grace pleased her, and she
+recited these two couplets,
+
+"Said I to Slim-waist who the wine engraced * Brought in
+     musk-scented bowl and a superfine,
+'Was it prest from thy cheek?' He replied 'Nay, nay! * When did
+     man from Roses e'er press the Wine?'"
+
+
+And the damsel ceased not to carouse with her lord and ply him with cup
+and bowl and require him to fill for her and give her to drink of that
+which sweeteneth the spirits, and whenever he put forth hand to her,
+she drew back from him, out of coquetry. The wine added to her beauty
+and loveliness, and Nur al-Din recited these two couplets,
+
+"Slim-waist craved wine from her companeer; * Cried (in meeting
+     of friends when he feared for his fere,)
+'An thou pass not the wine thou shalt pass the night, * A-banisht
+     my bed!' And he felt sore fear."
+
+
+They ceased not drinking till drunkenness overpowered Nur al-Din and he
+slept; whereupon she rose forthright and fell to work upon a zone, as
+was her wont. When she had wrought it to end, she wrapped it in paper
+and doffing her clothes, lay down by his side and enjoyed dalliance and
+delight till morn appeared.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Miriam the
+Girdle-girl, having finished her zone and wrapped it in paper doffed
+her dress and lay down by the side of her lord; and then happened to
+them what happened of dalliance and delight; and he did his devoir like
+a man. On the morrow, she gave him the girdle and said to him, "Carry
+this to the market and sell it for twenty dinars, even as thou soldest
+its fellow yesterday." So he went to the bazar and sold the girdle for
+twenty dinars, after which he repaired to the druggist and paid him
+back the eighty dirhams, thanking him for the bounties and calling down
+blessings upon him. He asked, "O my son, hast thou sold the damsel?";
+and Nur al-Din answered, "Wouldst thou have me sell the soul out of my
+body?" and he told him all that had passed, from commencement to
+conclusion, whereat the druggist joyed with joy galore, than which
+could be no more and said to him, "By Allah, O my son, thou gladdenest
+me! Inshallah, mayst thou ever be in prosperity! Indeed I wish thee
+well by reason of my affection for thy father and the continuance of my
+friendship with him." Then Nur al-Din left the Shaykh and straightway
+going to the market, bought meat and fruit and wine and all that he
+needed according to his custom and returned therewith to Miriam. They
+abode thus a whole year in eating and drinking and mirth and merriment
+and love and good comradeship, and every night she made a zone and he
+sold it on the morrow for twenty dinars, wherewith he bought their
+needs and gave the rest to her, to keep against a time of necessity.
+After the twelvemonth she said to him one day, "O my lord, whenas thou
+sellest the girdle to-morrow, buy for me with its price silk of six
+colours, because I am minded to make thee a kerchief to wear on thy
+shoulders, such as never son of merchant, no, nor King's son, ever
+rejoiced in its like." So next day he fared forth to the bazar and
+after selling the zone brought her the dyed silks she sought and Miriam
+the Girdle-girl wrought at the kerchief a whole week, for, every night,
+when she had made an end of the zone, she would work awhile at the
+kerchief till it was finished. Then she gave it to Nur al-Din, who put
+it on his shoulders and went out to walk in the market-place, whilst
+all the merchants and folk and notables of the town crowded about him,
+to gaze on his beauty and that of the kerchief which was of the most
+beautiful. Now it chanced that one night, after this, he awoke from
+sleep and found Miriam weeping passing sore and reciting these
+couplets,
+
+"Nears my parting fro' my love, nigher draws the Severance-day *
+     Ah well-away for parting! and again ah well-away!
+And in tway is torn my heart and O pine I'm doomed to bear * For
+     the nights that erst witnessed our pleasurable play!
+No help for it but Envier the twain of us espy * With evil eye
+     and win to us his lamentable way.
+For naught to us is sorer than the jealousy of men * And the
+     backbiter's eyne that with calumny affray."
+
+
+He said, "O my lady Miriam,[FN#487] what aileth thee to weep?"; and she
+replied, "I weep for the anguish of parting for my heart presageth me
+thereof." Quoth he, "O lady of fair ones, and who shall interpose
+between us, seeing that I love thee above all creatures and tender thee
+the most?"; and quoth she, "And I love thee twice as well as thou me;
+but fair opinion of fortune still garreth folk fall into affliction,
+and right well saith the poet,[FN#488]
+
+'Think'st thou thyself all prosperous, in days which prosp'rous
+     be,
+Nor fearest thou impending ill, which comes by Heaven's decree?
+We see the orbs of heav'n above, how numberless they are,
+But sun and moon alone eclips'd, and ne'er a lesser star!
+And many a tree on earth we see, some bare, some leafy green,
+Of them, not one is hurt with stone save that has fruitful been!
+See'st not th' refluent ocean, bear carrion on its tide,
+While pearls beneath its wavy flow, fixed in the deep, abide?'"
+
+
+Presently she added, "O my lord Nur al-Din, an thou desire to nonsuit
+separation, be on thy guard against a swart-visaged oldster, blind of
+the right eye and lame of the left leg; for he it is who will be the
+cause of our severance. I saw him enter the city and I opine that he is
+come hither in quest of me." Replied Nur al-Din, "O lady of fair ones,
+if my eyes light on him, I will slay him and make an example of him."
+Rejoined she, "O my lord, slay him not; but talk not nor trade with
+him, neither buy nor sell with him nor sit nor walk with him nor speak
+one word to him, no, not even the answer prescribed by law,[FN#489] and
+I pray Allah to preserve us from his craft and his mischief." Next
+morning, Nur al-Din took the zone and carried it to the market, where
+he sat down on a shop-bench and talked with the sons of the merchants,
+till the drowsiness preceding slumber overcame him and he lay down on
+the bench and fell asleep. Presently, behold, up came the Frank whom
+the damsel had described to him, in company with seven others, and
+seeing Nur al-Din lying asleep on the bench, with his head wrapped in
+the kerchief which Miriam had made for him and the edge thereof in his
+grasp, sat down by him and hent the end of the kerchief in hand and
+examined it, turning it over for some time. Nur al-Din sensed that
+there was something and awoke; then, seeing the very man of whom Miriam
+had warned him sitting by his side, cried out at him with a great cry
+which startled him. Quoth the Frank, "What aileth thee to cry out thus
+at us? Have we taken from thee aught?"; and quoth Nur al-Din, "By
+Allah, O accursed, haddest thou taken aught from me, I would carry thee
+before the Chief of Police!" Then said the Frank, "O Moslem, I conjure
+thee by thy faith and by that wherein thou believest, inform me whence
+thou haddest this kerchief;" and Nur al-Din replied, "Tis the handiwork
+of my lady mother,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Frank
+asked Nur al-Din anent the maker of the kerchief, he answered, saying,
+"In very sooth this kerchief is the handiwork of my mother, who made it
+for me with her own hand." Quoth the Frank "Wilt thou sell it to me and
+take ready money for it?," and quoth Nur al-Din, "By Allah, I will not
+sell it to thee or to any else, for she made none other than it." "Sell
+it to me and I will give thee to its price this very moment five
+hundred dinars, money down; and let her who made it make thee another
+and a finer." "I will not sell it at all, for there is not the like of
+it in this city." "O my lord, wilt thou sell it for six hundred ducats
+of fine gold?" And the Frank went on to add to his offer hundred by
+hundred, till he bid nine hundred dinars; but Nur al-Din said, "Allah
+will open to me otherwise than by my vending it. I will never sell it,
+not for two thousand dinars nor more than that; no, never." The Frank
+ceased not to tempt him with money, till he bid him a thousand dinars,
+and the merchants present said, "We sell thee the kerchief at that
+price:[FN#490] pay down the money." Quoth Nur al-Din, "I will not sell
+it, I swear by Allah!"[FN#491] But one of the merchants said to him,
+"Know thou, O my son, that the value of this kerchief is an hundred
+dinars at most and that to an eager purchaser, and if this Frank pay
+thee down a thousand for it, thy profit will be nine hundred dinars,
+and what gain canst thou desire greater than this gain? Wherefore 'tis
+my rede that thou sell him this kerchief at that price and bid her who
+wrought it make thee other finer than it: so shalt thou profit nine
+hundred dinars by this accursed Frank, the enemy of Allah and of The
+Faith." Nur al-Din was abashed at the merchants and sold the kerchief
+to the Frank, who, in their presence, paid him down the thousand
+dinars, with which he would have returned to his handmaid to
+congratulate her on what had passed; but the stranger said, "Harkye, O
+company of merchants, stop my lord Nur al-Din, for you and he are my
+guests this night. I have a jar of old Greek wine and a fat lamb, fresh
+fruit, flowers and confections; wherefore do ye all cheer me with your
+company to-night and not one of you tarry behind." So the merchants
+said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, we desire that thou be with us on the like
+of this night, so we may talk together, we and thou, and we pray thee,
+of thy favour and bounty, to bear us company, so we and thou, may be
+the guests of this Frank, for he is a liberal man." And they conjured
+him by the oath of divorce[FN#492] and hindered him by main force from
+going home. Then they rose forthright and shutting up their shops, took
+Nur al-Din and fared with the Frank, who brought them to a goodly and
+spacious saloon, wherein were two daďses. Here he made them sit and set
+before them a scarlet tray-cloth of goodly workmanship and unique
+handiwork, wroughten in gold with figures of breaker and broken, lover
+and beloved, asker and asked, whereon he ranged precious vessels of
+porcelain and crystal, full of the costliest confections, fruits and
+flowers, and brought them a flagon of old Greek wine. Then he bade
+slaughter a fat lamb and kindling fire, proceeded to roast of its flesh
+and feed the merchants therewith and give them draughts of that wine,
+winking at them the while to ply Nur al-Din with drink. Accordingly
+they ceased not plying him with wine till he became drunken and took
+leave of his wits; so when the Frank saw that he was drowned in liquor,
+he said to him, "O my lord Nur al-Din, thou gladdenest us with thy
+company to-night: welcome, and again welcome to thee." Then he engaged
+him awhile in talk, till he could draw near to him, when he said, with
+dissembling speech, "O my lord, Nur al-Din, wilt thou sell me thy
+slave-girl, whom thou boughtest in presence of these merchants a year
+ago for a thousand dinars? I will give thee at this moment five
+thousand gold pieces for her and thou wilt thus make four thousand
+ducats profit." Nur al-Din refused, but the Frank ceased not to ply him
+with meat and drink and lure him with lucre, still adding to his
+offers, till he bid him ten thousand dinars for her; whereupon Nur
+al-Din, in his drunkenness, said before the merchants, "I sell her to
+thee for ten thousand dinars: hand over the money." At this the Frank
+rejoiced with joy exceeding and took the merchants to witness the sale.
+They passed the night in eating and drinking, mirth and merriment, till
+the morning, when the Frank cried out to his pages, saying, "Bring me
+the money." So they brought it to him and he counted out ten thousand
+dinars to Nur al-Din, saying, "O my lord, take the price of thy
+slave-girl, whom thou soldest to me last night, in the presence of
+these Moslem merchants." Replied Nur al-Din, "O accursed, I sold thee
+nothing and thou liest anent me, for I have no slave-girls." Quoth the
+Frank, "In very sooth thou didst sell her to me and these merchants
+were witnesses to the bargain." Thereupon all said, "Yes, indeed! thou
+soldest him thy slave-girl before us for ten thousand dinars, O Nur
+al-Din and we will all bear witness against thee of the sale. Come,
+take the money and deliver him the girl, and Allah will give thee a
+better than she in her stead. Doth it irk thee, O Nur al-Din, that thou
+boughtest the girl for a thousand dinars and hast enjoyed for a year
+and a half her beauty and loveliness and taken thy fill of her converse
+and her favours? Furthermore thou hast gained some ten thousand golden
+dinars by the sale of the zones which she made thee every day and thou
+soldest for twenty sequins, and after all this thou hast sold her again
+at a profit of nine thousand dinars over and above her original price.
+And withal thou deniest the sale and belittlest and makest difficulties
+about the profit! What gain is greater than this gain and what profit
+wouldst thou have profitabler than this profit? An thou love her thou
+hast had thy fill of her all this time: so take the money and buy thee
+another handsomer than she; or we will marry thee to one of our
+daughters, lovelier than she, at a dowry of less than half this price,
+and the rest of the money will remain in thy hand as capital." And the
+merchants ceased not to ply him with persuasion and special arguments
+till he took the ten thousand dinars, the price of the damsel, and the
+Frank straightway fetched Kazis and witnesses, who drew up the contract
+of sale by Nur al-Din of the handmaid hight Miriam the Girdle-girl.
+Such was his case; but as regards the damsel's, she sat awaiting her
+lord from morning till sundown and from sundown till the noon of night;
+and when he returned not, she was troubled and wept with sore weeping.
+The old druggist heard her sobbing and sent his wife, who went in to
+her and finding her in tears, said to her, "O my lady, what aileth thee
+to weep?" Said she, "O my mother, I have sat waiting the return of my
+lord, Nur al-Din all day; but he cometh not, and I fear lest some one
+have played a trick on him, to make him sell me, and he have fallen
+into the snare and sold me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Miriam the
+Girdle-girl said to the druggist's wife, "I am fearful lest some one
+have been playing a trick on my lord to make him sell me, and he have
+fallen into the snare and sold me." Said the other, "O my lady Miriam,
+were they to give thy lord this hall full of gold as thy price, yet
+would he not sell thee, for what I know of his love to thee. But, O my
+lady, belike there be a company come from his parents at Cairo and he
+hath made them an entertainment in the lodging where they alighted,
+being ashamed to bring them hither, for that the place is not spacious
+enough for them or because their condition is less than that he should
+bring them to his own house; or belike he preferred to conceal thine
+affair from them, so passed the night with them; and Inshallah!
+to-morrow he will come to thee safe and sound. So burden not thy soul
+with cark and care, O my lady, for of a certainty this is the cause of
+his absence from thee last night and I will abide with thee this coming
+night and comfort thee, until thy lord return to thee." So the
+druggist's wife abode with her and cheered her with talk throughout the
+dark hours and, when it was morning, Miriam saw her lord enter the
+street followed by the Frank and amiddlemost a company of merchants, at
+which sight her side-muscles quivered and her colour changed and she
+fell a-shaking, as ship shaketh in mid-ocean for the violence of the
+gale. When the druggist's wife saw this, she said to her, "O my lady
+Miriam what aileth thee that I see thy case changed and thy face grown
+pale and show disfeatured?" Replied she, "By Allah, O my lady, my heart
+forebodeth me of parting and severance of union!" And she bemoaned
+herself with the saddest sighs, reciting these couplets,[FN#493]
+
+"Incline not to parting, I pray; * For bitter its savour is aye.
+E'en the sun at his setting turns pale * To think he must part
+     from the day;
+And so, at his rising, for joy * Of reunion, he's radient and
+     gay."
+
+
+Then Miriam wept passing sore wherethan naught could be more, making
+sure of separation, and cried to the druggist's wife, "O my mother,
+said I not to thee that my lord Nur al-Din had been tricked into
+selling me? I doubt not but he hath sold me this night to yonder Frank,
+albeit I bade him beware of him; but deliberation availeth not against
+destiny. So the truth of my words is made manifest to thee." Whilst
+they were talking, behold, in came Nur al-Din, and the damsel looked at
+him and saw that his colour was changed and that he trembled and there
+appeared on his face signs of grief and repentance: so she said to him,
+"O my lord Nur al-Din, meseemeth thou hast sold me." Whereupon he wept
+with sore weeping and groaned and lamented and recited these
+couplets,[FN#494]
+
+"When e'er the Lord 'gainst any man,
+Would fulminate some harsh decree,
+And he be wise, and skilled to hear,
+And used to see;
+He stops his ears, and blinds his heart,
+And from his brain ill judgment tears,
+And makes it bald as 'twere a scalp,
+Reft of its hairs;[FN#495]
+Until the time when the whole man
+Be pierced by this divine command;
+Then He restores him intellect
+To understand."
+
+
+Then Nur al-Din began to excuse himself to his handmaid, saying, "By
+Allah, O my lady Miriam, verily runneth the Reed with whatso Allah hath
+decreed. The folk put a cheat on me to make me sell thee, and I fell
+into the snare and sold thee. Indeed, I have sorely failed of my duty
+to thee; but haply He who decreed our disunion will vouchsafe us
+reunion." Quoth she, "I warned thee against this, for this it was I
+dreaded." Then she strained him to her bosom and kissed him between the
+eyes, reciting these couplets,
+
+"Now, by your love! your love I'll ne'er forget, * Though lost my
+     life for stress of pine and fret:
+I weep and wail through livelong day and night * As moans the
+     dove on sandhill-tree beset.
+O fairest friends, your absence spoils my life; * Nor find I
+     meeting-place as erst we met."
+
+
+At this juncture, behold, the Frank came in to them and went up to
+Miriam, to kiss her hands; but she dealt him a buffet with her palm on
+the cheek, saying, "Avaunt, O accursed! Thou hast followed after me
+without surcease, till thou hast cozened my lord into selling me! But O
+accursed, all shall yet be well, Inshallah!" The Frank laughed at her
+speech and wondered at her deed and excused himself to her, saying, "O
+my lady Mirian, what is my offence? Thy lord Nur al-Din here sold thee
+of his full consent and of his own free will. Had he loved thee, by the
+right of the Messiah, he had not transgressed against thee! And had he
+not fulfilled his desire of thee, he had not sold thee." Quoth one of
+the poets,
+
+'Whom I irk let him fly fro' me fast and faster * If I name his
+     name I am no directer.
+Nor the wide wide world is to me so narrow * That I act expecter
+     to this rejecter.'"[FN#496]
+
+
+Now this handmaid was the daughter of the King of France, the which is
+a wide and spacious city,[FN#497] abounding in manufactures and
+rarities and trees and flowers and other growths, and resembleth the
+city of Constantinople; and for her going forth of her father's city
+there was a wondrous cause and thereby hangeth a marvellous tale which
+we will set out in due order, to divert and delight the
+hearer.[FN#498]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the cause of
+Miriam the Girdle-girl leaving her father and mother was a wondrous and
+thereby hangeth a marvellous tale. She was reared with her father and
+mother in honour and indulgence and learnt rhetoric and penmanship and
+arithmetic and cavalarice and all manner crafts, such as broidery and
+sewing and weaving and girdle-making and silk-cord making and
+damascening gold on silver and silver on gold, brief all the arts both
+of men and women, till she became the union-pearl of her time and the
+unique gem of her age and day. Moreover, Allah (to whom belong Might
+and Majesty!) had endowed her with such beauty and loveliness and
+elegance and perfection of grace that she excelled therein all the folk
+of her time, and the Kings of the isles sought her in marriage of her
+sire, but he refused to give her to wife to any of her suitors, for
+that he loved her with passing love and could not bear to be parted
+from her a single hour. Moreover, he had no other daughter than
+herself, albeit he had many sons, but she was dearer to him than all of
+them. It fortuned one year that she fell sick of an exceeding sickness
+and came nigh upon death, werefore she made a vow that, if she
+recovered from her malady, she would make the pilgrimage to a certain
+monastery, situate in such an island, which was high in repute among
+the Franks, who used to make vows to it and look for a blessing
+therefrom. When Miriam recovered from her sickness, she wished to
+accomplish her vow anent the monastery and her sire despatched her to
+the convent in a little ship, with sundry daughters of the
+city-notables to wait upon her and patrician Knights to protect them
+all. As they drew near the island, there came out upon them a ship of
+the ships of the Moslems, champions of The Faith, warring in Allah's
+way, who boarded the vessel and making prize of all therein, knights
+and maidens, gifts and monies, sold their booty in the city of
+Kayrawán.[FN#499] Miriam herself fell into the hands of a Persian
+merchant, who was born impotent[FN#500] and for whom no woman had ever
+discovered her nakedness; so he set her to serve him. Presently, he
+fell ill and sickened well nigh unto death, and the sickness abode with
+him two months, during which she tended him after the goodliest
+fashion, till Allah made him whole of his malady, when he recalled her
+tenderness and loving-kindness to him and the persistent zeal with
+which she had nurst him and being minded to requite her the good
+offices she had done him, said to her, "Ask a boon of me?" She said, "O
+my lord, I ask of thee that thou sell me not but to the man of my
+choice." He answered, "So be it. I guarantee thee. By Allah, O Miriam,
+I will not sell thee but to him of whom thou shalt approve, and I put
+thy sale in thine own hand." And she rejoiced herein with joy
+exceeding. Now the Persian had expounded to her Al-Islam and she became
+a Moslemah and learnt of him the rules of worship. Furthermore during
+that period the Perisan had taught her the tenets of The Faith and the
+observances incumbent upon her: he had made her learn the Koran by
+heart and master somewhat of the theological sciences and the
+traditions of the Prophet; after which, he brought her to
+Alexandria-city and sold her to Nur al-Din, as we have before set out.
+Meanwhile, when her father, the King of France, heard what had befallen
+his daughter and her company, he saw Doomsday break and sent after her
+ships full of knights and champions, horsemen and footmen; but they
+fell not in any trace of her whom they sought in the Islands[FN#501] of
+the Moslems; so all returned to him, crying out and saying,
+"Well-away!" and "Ruin!" and "Well worth the day!" The King grieved for
+her with exceeding grief and sent after her that one-eyed lameter,
+blind of the left,[FN#502] for that he was his chief Wazir, a stubborn
+tyrant and a froward devil,[FN#503] full of craft and guile, bidding
+him make search for her in all the lands of the Moslems and buy her,
+though with a ship-load of gold. So the accursed sought her, in all the
+islands of the Arabs and all the cities of the Moslems, but found no
+sign of her till he came to Alexandria-city where he made quest for her
+and presently discovered that she was with Nur al-Din Ali the Cairene,
+being directed to the trace of her by the kerchief aforesaid, for that
+none could have wrought it in such goodly guise but she. Then he bribed
+the merchants to help him in getting her from Nur al-Din and beguiled
+her lord into selling her, as hath been already related. When he had
+her in his possession, she ceased not to weep and wail: so he said to
+her, "O my lady Miriam, put away from thee this mourning and grieving
+and return with me to the city of thy sire, the seat of thy kingship
+and the place of thy power and thy home, so thou mayst be among thy
+servants and attendants and be quit of this abasement and this
+strangerhood. Enough hath betided me of travail, of travel and of
+disbursing monies on thine account, for thy father bade me buy thee
+back, though with a shipload of gold; and now I have spent nigh a year
+and a half in seeking thee." And he fell to kissing her hands and feet
+and humbling himself to her; but the more he kissed and grovelled she
+only redoubled in wrath against him, and said to him, "O accursed, may
+Almighty Allah not vouchsafe thee to win thy wish!" Presently his pages
+brought her a she-mule with gold-embroidered housings and mounting her
+thereon, raised over her head a silken canopy, with staves of gold and
+silver, and the Franks walked round about her, till they brought her
+forth the city by the sea-gate,[FN#504] where they took boat with her
+and rowing out to a great ship in harbor embarked therein. Then the
+monocular Wazir cried out to the sailors, saying, "Up with the mast!"
+So they set it up forthright and spreading the newly bent sails and the
+colours manned the sweeps and put out to sea. Meanwhile Miriam
+continued to gaze upon Alexandria, till it disappeared from her eyes,
+when she fell a-weeping in her privacy with sore weeping.—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eightieth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+Wazir of the Frankish King put out to sea in the ship bearing Miriam
+the Girdle-girl, she gazed Alexandria-wards till the city was hidden
+from her sight when she wailed and wept copious tears and recited these
+couplets,
+
+"O dwelling of my friends say is there no return * Uswards? But
+     what ken I of matters Allah made?
+Still fare the ships of Severance, sailing hastily * And in my
+     wounded eyelids tear have ta'en their stead,
+For parting from a friend who was my wish and will * Healed every
+     ill and every pain and pang allay'd.
+Be thou, O Allah, substitute of me for him * Such charge some day
+     the care of Thee shall not evade."
+
+
+Then she could not refrain from weeping and wailing. So the
+patrician[FN#505] knights came up to her and would have comforted her,
+but she heeded not their consoling words, being distracted by the
+claims of passion and love-longing. And she shed tears and moaned and
+complained and recited these couplets,
+
+"The tongue of Love within my vitals speaketh * Saying, 'This
+     lover boon of Love aye seeketh!'
+And burn my liver hottest coals of passion * And parting on my
+     heart sore suffering wreaketh.
+How shall I face this fiery love concealing * When fro' my
+     wounded lids the tear aye leaketh?
+
+
+In this plight Miriam abode during all the voyage; no peace was left
+her at all nor would patience come at her call. Such was her case in
+company with the Wazir, the monocular, the lameter; but as regards Nur
+al-Din the Cairene, when the ship had sailed with Miriam, the world was
+straitened upon him and he had neither peace nor patience. He returned
+to the lodging where they twain had dwelt, and its aspect was black and
+gloomy in his sight. Then he saw the métier wherewith she had been wont
+to make the zones and her dress that had been upon her beauteous body:
+so he pressed them to his breast, whilst the tears gushed from his eyes
+and he recited these couplets,
+
+"Say me, will Union after parting e'er return to be * After
+     long-lasting torments, after hopeless misery?
+Alas! Alas! what wont to be shall never more return * But grant
+     me still return of dearest her these eyne may see.
+I wonder me will Allah deign our parted lives unite * And will my
+     dear one's plighted troth preserve with constancy!
+Naught am I save the prey of death since parting parted us; * And
+     will my friends consent that I a weird so deadly dree?
+Alas my sorrow! Sorrowing the lover scant avails; * Indeed I melt
+     away in grief and passion's ecstasy:
+Past is the time of my delight when were we two conjoined: *
+     Would Heaven I wot if Destiny mine esperance will degree!
+Redouble then, O Heart, thy pains and, O mine eyes, o'erflow *
+     With tears till not a tear remain within these eyne of me?
+Again alas for loved ones lost and loss of patience eke! * For
+     helpers fail me and my griefs are grown beyond decree.
+The Lord of Threefold Worlds I pray He deign to me return * My
+     lover and we meet as wont in joy and jubilee."
+
+
+Then Nur al-Din wept with weeping galore than which naught could be
+more; and peering into ever corner of the room, recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"I view their traces and with pain I pine * And by their sometime
+     home I weep and yearn;
+And Him I pray who parting deigned decree * Some day He deign
+     vouchsafe me their return!"
+
+
+Then Nur al-Din sprang to his feet and locking the door of the house,
+fared forth running at speed, to the sea shore whence he fixed his eyes
+on the place of the ship which had carried off his Miriam whilst sighs
+burst from his breast and tears from his lids as he recited these
+couplets,
+
+"Peace be with you, sans you naught compensateth me * The near,
+     the far, two cases only here I see:
+I yearn for you at every hour and tide as yearns * For
+     water-place wayfarer plodding wearily.
+With you abide my hearing, heart and eyen-sight * And (sweeter
+     than the honeycomb) your memory.
+Then, O my Grief when fared afar your retinue * And bore that
+     ship away my sole expectancy."
+
+
+And Nur al-Din wept and wailed, bemoaned himself and complained, crying
+out and saying, "O Miriam! O Miriam! Was it but a vision of thee I saw
+in sleep or in the allusions of dreams?" And by reason of that which
+grew on him of regrets, he recited these couplets,[FN#506]
+
+"Mazed with thy love no more I can feign patience,
+This heart of mine has held none dear but thee!
+And if mine eye hath gazed on other's beauty,
+Ne'er be it joyed again with sight of thee!
+I've sworn an oath I'll ne'er forget to love thee,
+And sad's this breast that pines to meet with thee!
+Thou'st made me drink a love-cup full of passion,
+Blest time! When I may give the draught to thee!
+Take with thee this my form where'er thou goest,
+And when thou 'rt dead let me be laid near thee!
+Call on me in my tomb, my bones shall answer
+And sigh responses to a call from thee!
+If it were asked, 'What wouldst thou Heaven should order?'
+'His will,' I answer, 'First, and then what pleases thee.'"
+
+
+As Nur al-Din was in this case, weeping and crying out, "O Miriam! O
+Miriam!" behold, an old man landed from a vessel and coming up to him,
+saw him shedding tears and heard him reciting these verses,
+
+"O Maryam of beauty[FN#507] return, for these eyne * Are as
+     densest clouds railing drops in line:
+Ask amid mankind and my railers shall say * That mine eyelids are
+     drowning these eyeballs of mine."
+
+
+Said the old man, "O my son, meseems thou weepest for the damsel who
+sailed yesterday with the Frank?" When Nur al-Din heard these words of
+the Shaykh he fell down in a swoon and lay for a long while without
+life; then, coming to himself, he wept with sore weeping and improvised
+these couplets,
+
+"Shall we e'er be unite after severance-tide * And return in the
+     perfectest cheer to bide?
+In my heart indeed is a lowe of love * And I'm pained by the
+     spies who my pain deride:
+My days I pass in amaze distraught, * And her image a-nights I
+     would see by side:
+By Allah, no hour brings me solace of love * And how can it when
+     makebates vex me and chide?
+A soft-sided damsel of slenderest waist * Her arrows of eyne on
+     my heart hath plied?
+Her form is like Bán[FN#508]-tree branch in garth * Shame her
+     charms the sun who his face most hide:
+Did I not fear God (be He glorified!) * 'My Fair be glorified!'
+     Had I cried."
+
+
+The old man looked at him and noting his beauty and grace and symmetry
+and the fluency of his tongue and the seductiveness of his charms, had
+ruth on him and his heart mourned for his case. Now that Shaykh was the
+captain of a ship, bound to the damsel's city, and in this ship were a
+hundred Moslem merchants, men of the Saving Faith; so he said to Nur
+al-Din, "Have patience and all will yet be well; I will bring thee to
+her an it be the will of Allah, extolled and exalted be He!"—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-first Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old
+skipper said to Nur al-Din, "I will bring thee to her, Inshallah!" the
+youth asked, "When shall we set out?" and the other said, "Come but
+three days more and we will depart in peace and prosperity." Nur al-Din
+rejoiced at the captain's words with joy exceeding and thanked him for
+his bounty and benevolence. Then he recalled the days of love-liesse
+dear and union with his slave-girl without peer, and he shed bitter
+tears and recited these couplets,
+
+"Say, will to me and you the Ruthful union show * My lords! Shall
+     e'er I win the wish of me or no?
+A visit-boon by you will shifty Time vouchsafe? * And seize your
+     image eye-lids which so hungry grow?
+With you were Union to be sold, I fain would buy; * But ah, I see
+     such grace doth all my means outgo!"
+
+
+Then Nur al-Din went forthright to the market and bought what he needed
+of viaticum and other necessaries for the voyage and returned to the
+Rais, who said to him, "O my son, what is that thou hast with thee?"
+said he, "My provisions and all whereof I have need for the voyage."
+Thereupon quoth the old man, laughing, "O my son, art thou going
+a-pleasuring to Pompey's Pillar?[FN#509] Verily, between thee and that
+thou seekest is two months' journey and the wind be fair and the
+weather favourable." Then he took of him somewhat of money and going to
+the bazar, bought him a sufficiency of all that he needed for the
+voyage and filled him a large earthen jar[FN#510] with fresh water. Nur
+al-Din abode in the ship three days until the merchants had made an end
+of their precautions and preparations and embarked, when they set sail
+and putting out to sea, fared on one-and-fifty days. After this, there
+came out upon them corsairs,[FN#511] pirates who sacked the ship and
+taking Nur al-Din and all therein prisoners, carried them to the city
+of France and paraded them before the King, who bade cast them into
+jail, Nur al-Din amongst the number. As they were being led to prison
+the galleon[FN#512] arrived with the Princess Miriam and the one-eyed
+Wazir, and when it made the harbour, the lameter landed and going up to
+the King gave him the glad news of his daughter's safe return:
+whereupon they beat the kettledrums for good tidings and decorated the
+city after the goodliest fashion. Then the King took horse, with all
+his guards and lords and notables and rode down to the sea to meet her.
+The moment the ship cast anchor she came ashore, and the King saluted
+her and embraced her and mounting her on a bloodsteed, bore her to the
+palace, where her mother received her with open arms, and asked her of
+her case and whether she was a maid as before or whether she had become
+a woman carnally known by man.[FN#513] She replied, "O my mother, how
+should a girl, who hath been sold from merchant to merchant in the land
+of Moslems, a slave commanded, abide a virgin? The merchant who bought
+me threatened me with the bastinado and violenced me and took my
+maidenhead, after which he sold me to another and he again to a third."
+When the Queen heard these her words, the light in her eyes became
+night and she repeated her confession to the King who was chagrined
+thereat and his affair was grievous to him. So he expounded her case to
+his Grandees and Patricians[FN#514] who said to him, "O King, she hath
+been defiled by the Moslems and naught will purify her save the
+striking off of an hundred Mohammedan heads." Whereupon the King sent
+for the True Believers he had imprisoned; and they decapitated them,
+one after another, beginning with the captain, till none was left save
+Nur al-Din. They tare off a strip of his skirt and binding his eyes
+therewith, led him to the rug of blood and were about to smite his
+neck, when behold, an ancient dame came up to the King at that very
+moment and said, "O my lord, thou didst vow to bestow upon each and
+every church five Moslem captives, to help us in the service thereof,
+so Allah would restore thee thy daughter the Princess Miriam; and now
+she is restored to thee, so do thou fulfil thy vow." The King replied,
+"O my mother, by the virtue of the Messiah and the Veritable Faith,
+there remaineth to me of the prisoners but this one captive, whom they
+are about to put to death: so take him with thee to help in the service
+of the church, till there come to me more prisoners of the Moslems,
+when I will send thee other four. Hadst thou come earlier, before they
+hewed off the heads of these, I had given thee as many as thou wouldest
+have." The old woman thanked the King for his boon and wished him
+continuance of life, glory and prosperity. Then without loss of time
+she went up to Nur al-Din, whom she raised from the rug of blood; and,
+looking narrowly at him saw a comely youth and a dainty, with a
+delicate skin and a face like the moon at her full; whereupon she
+carried him to the church and said to him, "O my son, doff these
+clothes which are upon thee, for they are fit only for the service of
+the Sultan."[FN#515] So saying the ancient dame brought him a gown and
+hood of black wool and a broad girdle,[FN#516] in which she clad and
+cowled him; and, after binding on his belt, bade him do the service of
+the church. Accordingly, he served the church seven days, at the end of
+which time behold, the old woman came up to him and said, "O Moslem,
+don thy silken dress and take these ten dirhams and go out forthright
+and divert thyself abroad this day, and tarry not here a single moment,
+lest thou lose thy life." Quoth he, "What is to do, O my mother?"; and
+quoth she, "Know, O my son, that the King's daughter, the Princess
+Miriam the Girdle-girl, hath a mind to visit the church this day, to
+seek a blessing by pilgrimage and to make oblation thereto, a
+douceur[FN#517] of thank-offering for her deliverance from the land of
+the Moslems and in fulfilment of the vows she vowed to the Messiah, so
+he would save her. With her are four hundred damsels, not one of whom
+but is perfect in beauty and loveliness and all of them are daughters
+of Wazirs and Emirs and Grandees: they will be here during this very
+hour and if their eyes fall on thee in this church, they will hew thee
+in pieces with swords." Thereupon Nur al-Din took the ten dirhams from
+the ancient dame, and donning his own dress, went out to the bazar and
+walked about the city and took his pleasure therein, till he knew its
+highways and gates,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-second Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din,
+after donning his own dress and taking the ten dirhams from the ancient
+dame, fared forth to the market streets and wandered about a while till
+he knew every quarter of the city, after which he returned to the
+church[FN#518] and saw the Princess Miriam the Girdle-girl, daughter of
+the King of France come up to the fane, attended by four hundred
+damsels, high-bosomed maids like moons, amongst whom was the daughter
+of the one-eyed Wazir and those of the Emirs and Lords of the realm;
+and she walked in their midst as she were moon among stars. When his
+eyes fell upon her Nur al-Din could not contain himself, but cried out
+from the core of his heart, "O Miriam! O Miriam!" When the damsels
+heard his outcry they ran at him with swords shining bright like
+flashes of leven-light and would have slain him forthright. But the
+Princess turned and looking on him, knew him with fullest knowledge,
+and said to her maidens, "Leave this youth; doubtless he is mad, for
+the signs of madness be manifest on his face." When Nur al-Din heard
+this, he uncovered his head and rolled his eyes and made signs with his
+hands and twisted his legs, foaming the while at the mouth. Quoth the
+Princess, "Said I not that the poor youth was mad? Bring him to me and
+stand off from him, that I may hear what he saith; for I know the
+speech of the Arabs and will look into his case and see if his madness
+admit of cure or not." So they laid hold of him and brought him to her;
+after which they withdrew to a distance and she said to him, "Hast thou
+come hither on my account and ventured thy life for my sake and
+feignest thyself mad?" He replied, "O my lady, hast thou not heard the
+saying of the poet?,[FN#519]
+
+'Quoth they, 'Thou'rt surely raving mad for her thou lov'st;' and
+     I, 'There is no pleasantness in life but for the mad,'
+     reply.
+Compare my madness with herself for whom I rave; if she Accord
+     therewith, then blame me not for that which I aby.'"
+
+
+Miriam replied, "By Allah, O Nur al-Din, indeed thou hast sinned
+against thyself, for I warned thee of this before it befell thee: yet
+wouldst thou not hearken to me, but followedst thine own lust: albeit
+that whereof I gave thee to know I learnt not by means of inspiration
+nor physiognomy[FN#520] nor dreams, but by eye-witness and very sight;
+for I saw the one-eyed Wazir and knew that he was not come to
+Alexandria but in quest of me." Said he, "O my lady Miriam, we seek
+refuge with Allah from the error of the intelligent!"[FN#521] Then his
+affliction redoubled on him and he recited this saying,[FN#522]
+
+"Pass o'er my fault, for 'tis the wise man's wont
+Of other's sins to take no harsh account;
+And as all crimes have made my breast their site,
+So thine all shapes of mercy should unite.
+Who from above would mercy seek to know,
+Should first be merciful to those below."
+
+
+Then Nur al-Din and Princess Miriam ceased not from lovers' chiding
+which to trace would be tedious, relating each to other that which had
+befallen them and reciting verses and making moan, one to other, of the
+violence of passion and the pangs of pine and desire, whilst the tears
+ran down their cheeks like rivers, till there was left them no strength
+to say a word and so they continued till day deprated and night
+darkened. Now the Princess was clad in a green dress, purfled with red
+gold and broidered with pearls and gems which enhanced her beauty and
+loveliness and inner grace; and right well quoth the poet of
+her,[FN#523]
+
+"Like the full moon she shineth in garments all of green, With
+     loosened vest and collars and flowing hair beseen.
+'What is thy name?' I asked her, and she replied, 'I'm she Who
+     roasts the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen.
+I am the pure white silver, ay, and the gold wherewith The
+     bondsmen from strait prison and dour releasčd been.'
+Quoth I, 'I'm all with rigours consumed;' but 'On a rock,' Said
+     she, 'such as my heart is, thy plaints are wasted clean.'
+'Even if thy heart,' I answered, 'be rock in very deed, Yet hath
+     God caused fair water well from the rock, I ween.'"
+
+
+And when night darkened on them the Lady Miriam went up to her women
+and asked them, "Have ye locked the door?"; and they answered, "Indeed
+we have locked it." So she took them and went with them to a place
+called the Chapel of the Lady Mary the Virgin, Mother of Light, because
+the Nazarenes hold that there are her heart and soul. The girls betook
+themselves to prayer for blessings from above and circuited all the
+church; and when they had made an end of their visitation, the Princess
+turned to them and said, "I desire to pass the night alone in the
+Virgin's chapel and seek a blessing thereof, for that yearning after it
+hath betided me, by reason of my long absence in the land of the
+Moslems; and as for you, when ye have made an end of your visitation,
+do ye sleep whereso ye will." Replied they, "With love and goodly gree:
+be it as thou wilt!"; and leaving her alone in the chapel, dispersed
+about the church and slept. The Lady Miriam waited till they were out
+of sight and hearing, then went in search of Nur al-Din, whom she found
+sitting in a corner on live coals, awaiting her. He rose and kissed her
+hands and feet and she sat down and seated him by her side. Then she
+pulled off all that was upon her of raiment and ornaments and fine
+linen and taking Nur al-Din in her arms strained him to her bosom. And
+they ceased not, she and he, from kissing and clipping and strumming to
+the tune of "hocus-pocus,"[FN#524] saying the while, "How short are the
+nights of Union and the nights of Disunion how long are they!" and
+reciting these verses,
+
+"O Night of Union, Time's virginal prized, * White star of the
+     Nights with auroral dyes,
+Thou garrest Dawn after Noon to rise * Say art thou Kohl in
+     Morning's Eyes,
+Or wast thou Slumber to bleared eye lief?
+O Night of Parting, how long thy stay * Whose latest hours aye
+     the first portray,
+This endless circle that noways may * Show breach till the coming
+     of Judgment-day,
+Day when dies the lover of parting-grief."[FN#525]
+
+
+As they were in this mighty delight and joy engrossing they heard one
+of the servants of the Saint[FN#526] smite the gong[FN#527] upon the
+roof, to call the folk to the rites of their worship, and he was even
+as saith the poet,
+
+"I saw him strike the gong and asked of him straightway, * Who
+     made the Fawn[FN#528] at striking going so knowing, eh?'
+And to my soul, 'What smiting irketh thee the more— * Striking
+     the gong or striking note of going,[FN#529] say?'"
+
+
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din and
+Miriam the Girdle-girl rose forthwith and donned her clothes and
+ornaments; but this was grievous to Nur al-Din, and his gladness was
+troubled; the tears streamed from his eyes and he recited these
+couplets,
+
+"I ceasčd not to kiss that cheek with budding roses dight * And
+     eyes down cast and bit the same with most emphatic bite;
+Until we were in gloria[FN#530] and lay him down the spy * And
+     sank his eyes within his brain declining further sight:
+And struck the gongs as they that had the charge of them were
+     like * Muezzin crying duty-prayers in Allah's book indite.
+Then rose she up right hastily and donned the dress she'd doffed
+     * Sore fearing lest a shooting-star[FN#531] upon our heads
+     alight.
+And cried, 'O wish and will of me, O end of all my hopes! *
+     Behold the morning comes to us in brightest whitest light.'
+I swear if but one day of rule were given to my life * And I were
+     made an Emperor of majesty and might,
+Adown I'd break the buttresses of churches one and all * And by
+     their slaughter rid the earth of every shaveling wight."
+
+
+Then the Lady Miriam pressed him to her bosom and kissed his cheek and
+asked him, "O Nur al-Din, how long hast thou been in this town?" "Seven
+days." "Hast thou walked about in it, and dost thou know its ways and
+issues and its sea-gates and land gates?" "Yes!" "Knowest thou the way
+to the offertory-chest[FN#532] of the church?" "Yes!" "Since thou
+knowest all this, as soon as the first third[FN#533] of the coming
+night is over, go to the offertory-chest and take thence what thou
+wishest and willest. Then open the door that giveth upon the
+tunnel[FN#534] leading to the sea, and go down to the harbour, where
+thou wilt find a little ship and ten men therein, and when the Rais
+shall see thee, he will put out his hand to thee. Give him thy hand and
+he will take thee up into the ship, and do thou wait there till I come
+to thee. But 'ware and have a care lest sleep overtake thee this night,
+or thou wilt repent whenas repentance shall avail thee naught." Then
+the Princess farewelled him and going forth from Nur al-Din, aroused
+from sleep her women and the rest of the damsels, with whom she betook
+herself to the church door and knocked; whereupon the ancient dame
+opened to her and she went forth and found the knights and varlets
+standing without. They brought her a dapple she-mule and she mounted:
+whereupon they raised over her head a canopy[FN#535] with curtains of
+silk, and the knights took hold of the mule's halter. Then the
+guards[FN#536] encompassed her about, drawn brand in hand, and fared on
+with her, followed by her, till they brought her to the palace of the
+King her father. Meanwhile, Nur al-Din abode concealed behind the
+curtain, under cover of which Miriam and he had passed the night, till
+it was broad day, when the main door was opened and the church became
+full of people. Then he mingled with the folk and accosted the old
+Prioress, the guardian[FN#537] of the shrine, who said to him, "Where
+didst thou lie last night?" Said he, "In the town as thou badest me."
+Quoth she, "O my son, thou hast done the right thing; for, hadst thou
+nighted in the Church, she had slain thee on the foulest wise." And
+quoth he, "Praised be Allah who hath delivered me from the evil of this
+night!" Then he busied himself with the service of the church and
+ceased not busying till day departed and night with darkness starkened
+when he arose and opened the offertory-chest and took thence of jewels
+whatso was light of weight and weighty of worth. Then he tarried till
+the first watch of the night was past, when he made his way to the
+postern of the tunnel and opening it, went forth, calling on Allah for
+protection, and ceased not faring on until, after finding and opening
+the door, he came to the sea. Here he discovered the vessel moored to
+the shore near the gate; and her skipper, a tall old man of comely
+aspect with a long beard, standing in the waist, his ten men being
+ranged before him. Nur al-Din gave him his hand, as Miriam had bidden
+him, and the captain took it and pulling him on board of the ship cried
+out to his crew, saying, "Cast off the moorings and put out to sea with
+us, ere day break." Said one of the ten, "O my lord the Captain, how
+shall we put out now, when the King hath notified us that to-morrow he
+will embark in this ship and go round about the sea, being fearful for
+his daughter Miriam from the Moslem thieves?" But the Rais cried out at
+them saying, "Woe to you, O accursed; Dare ye gainsay me and bandy
+words with me?" So saying the old captain bared his blade and with it
+dealt the sailor who had spoken a thrust in the throat, that the steel
+came out gleaming from his nape; and quoth another of the sailors,
+"What hath our comrade done of crime, that thou shouldst cut his
+throat?" Thereupon the captain clapped hand to sword and smote off the
+speaker's head, nor did he leave smiting the rest of the sailors till
+he had slain them all, one after other, and cast the ten bodies ashore.
+Then he turned to Nur al-Din and cried out at him with a terrible great
+cry, that made him tremble, saying, "Go down and pull up the
+mooring-stake." Nur al-Din feared lest he should strike him also with
+the sword; so he sprang up and leapt ashore and pulling up the stake
+jumped aboard again, swiftlier than the dazzling leven. The captain
+ceased not to bid him do this and do that and tack and wear hither and
+thither and look at the stars, and Nur al-Din did all that he bade him,
+with heart a-quaking for affright; whilst he himself spread the sails,
+and the ship fared with the twain into the dashing sea, swollen with
+clashing billows.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old
+skipper had made sail he drave the ship, aided by Nur al-Din, into the
+dashing sea before a favouring gale. Meanwhile, Nur al-Din held on to
+the tackle immersed in deep thought, and drowned in the sea of
+solicitude, knowing not what was hidden for him in the future; and
+whenever he looked at the captain, his heart quaked and he knew not
+whither the Rais went with him. He abode thus, preoccupied with care
+and doubt, till it was high day, when he looked at the skipper and saw
+him take hold of his long beard and pull at it, whereupon it came off
+in his hand and Nur al-Din, examining it, saw that it was but a false
+beard glued on. So he straitly considered that same Rais, and behold,
+it was the Princess Miriam, his mistress and the dearling of his heart,
+who had contrived to waylay the captain and slay him and skinned off
+his beard, which she had stuck on to her own face. At this Nur al-Din
+was transported for joy, and his breast broadened and he marvelled at
+her prowess and the stoutness of her heart and said to her, "Welcome, O
+my hope and my desire and the end of mine every wish!" Then love and
+gladness agitated him and he made sure of winning to his hopes and his
+expectancy; wherefore he broke out into song and chanted these
+couplets,
+
+"To all who unknown my love for the May * From whom Fate disjoins
+     me O say, I pray,
+'Ask my kith and kin of my love that aye * Ensweetens my verses
+     to lovely lay:
+          For the loss of the tribesmen my life o'er sway!'
+
+
+Their names when named heal all malady; * Cure and chase from
+     heart every pain I dree:
+And my longings for love reach so high degree * That my Sprite is
+     maddened each morn I see,
+     And am grown of the crowd to be saw and say.
+
+
+No blame in them will I e'er espy: * No! nor aught of solace sans
+     them descry:
+Your love hath shot me with pine, and I * Bear in heart a flame
+     that shall never die,
+          But fire my liver with fiery ray.
+
+
+All folk my sickness for marvel score * That in darkest night I
+     wake evermore
+What ails them to torture this heart forlore * And deem right for
+     loving my blood t' outpour:
+          And yet—how justly unjust are they!
+
+
+Would I wot who 'twas could obtain of you * To wrong a youth
+     who's so fain of you:
+By my life and by Him who made men of you * And the spy tell
+     aught I complain of you
+          He lies, by Allah, in foulest way!
+
+
+May the Lord my sickness never dispel, * Nor ever my heart of its
+     pains be well,
+What day I regret that in love I fell * Or laud any land but
+     wherein ye dwell:
+          Wring my heart and ye will or make glad and gay!
+
+
+I have vitals shall ever be true to you * Though racked by the
+     rigours not new to you
+Ere this wrong and this right I but sue to you: * Do what you
+     will to thrall who to you
+          Shall ne'er grudge his life at your feet to lay."
+
+
+When Nur al-Din ceased to sing, the Princess Miriam marvelled at his
+song and thanked him therefor, saying, "Whoso's case is thus it
+behoveth him to walk the ways of men and never do the deed of curs and
+cowards." Now she was stout of heart and cunning in the sailing of
+ships over the salt sea, and she knew all the winds and their shiftings
+and every course of the main. So Nur al-Din said, "O my lady, hadst
+thou prolonged this case on me,[FN#538] I had surely died for stress of
+affright and chagrin, more by token of the fire of passion and
+love-longing and the cruel pangs of separation." She laughed at his
+speech and rising without stay or delay brought out somewhat of food
+and liquor; and they ate and drank and enjoyed themselves and made
+merry. Then she drew forth rubies and other gems and precious stones
+and costly trinkets of gold and silver and all manner things of price,
+light of weight and weighty of worth, which she had taken from the
+palace of her sire and his treasuries, and displayed them to Nur
+al-Din, who rejoiced therein with joy exceeding. All this while the
+wind blew fair for them and merrily sailed the ship nor ceased sailing
+till they drew near the city of Alexandria and sighted its landmarks,
+old and new, and Pompey's Pillar. When they made the port, Nur al-Din
+landed forthright and securing the ship to one of the
+Fulling-Stones,[FN#539] took somewhat of the treasures that Miriam had
+brought with her, and said to her, "O my lady, tarry in the ship,
+against I return and carry thee up into the city in such way as I
+should wish and will." Quoth she, "It behoveth that this be done
+quickly, for tardiness in affairs engendereth repentance." Quoth he,
+"There is no tardiness in me;" and, leaving her in the ship, went up
+into the city to the house of the druggist his father's old fried, to
+borrow of his wife for Miriam veil and mantilla, and walking boots and
+petticoat-trousers after the usage of the women of Alexandria,
+unknowing that there was appointed to betide him of the shifts of Time,
+the Father of Wonders, that which was far beyond his reckoning. Thus it
+befel Nur al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-girl; but as regards her sire
+the King of France, when he arose in the morning, he missed his
+daughter and questioned her women and her eunuchs of her. Answered
+they, "O our lord, she went out last night, to go to Church and after
+that we have no tidings of her." But, as the King talked with them,
+behold, there arose so great a clamour of cries below the palace, that
+the place rang thereto, and he said, "What may be the news?" The folk
+replied, "O King, we have found ten men slain on the sea-shore, and the
+royal yacht is missing. Moreover we saw the postern of the Church,
+which giveth upon the tunnel leading to the sea, wide open; and the
+Moslem prisoner, who served in the Church, is missing." Quoth the King,
+"An my ship be lost, without doubt or dispute."—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the King
+of France missed his daughter they brought him tidings of her, saying,
+"Thy yacht is lost"; and he replied, "An the craft be lost, without
+dispute or doubt my daughter is in it." So he summoned without stay or
+delay the Captain of the Port and cried out at him, saying, "By the
+virtue[FN#540] of the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, except
+thou and thy fighting men overtake my ship forthright and bring it back
+to me, with those who are therein, I will do thee die the foulest of
+deaths and make a terrible example of thee!" Thereupon the captain went
+out from before him, trembling, and betook himself to the ancient dame
+of the Church, to whom said he, 'Heardest thou aught from the captive,
+that was with thee, anent his native land and what countryman he was?"
+And she answered, "He used to say, I come from the town of Alexandria."
+When the captain heard the old woman's words he returned forthright to
+the port and cried out to the sailors, "Make ready and set sail." So
+they did his bidding and straightway putting out to sea, fared night
+and day till they sighted the city of Alexandria at the very time when
+Nur al-Din landed, leaving the Princess in the ship. They soon espied
+the royal yacht and knew her; so they moored their own vessel at a
+distance therefrom and putting off in a little frigate they had with
+them, which drew but two cubits of water and in which were an hundred
+fighting-men, amongst them the one-eyed Wazir (for that he was a
+stubborn tyrant and a froward devil and a wily thief, none could avail
+against his craft, as he were Abu Mohammed al-Battál[FN#541]), they
+ceased not rowing till they reached the bark and boarding her, all at
+once, found none therein save the Princess Miriam. So they took her and
+the ship, and returning to their own vessel, after they had landed and
+waited a long while,[FN#542] set sail forthright for the land of the
+Franks, having accomplished their errand, without a fight or even
+drawing sword. The wind blew fair for them and they sailed on, without
+ceasing and with all diligence, till they reached the city of France
+and landing with the Princess Miriam carried her to her father, who
+received her, seated on the throne of his Kingship. As soon as he saw
+her, he said to her, "Woe to thee, O traitress! What ailed thee to
+leave the faith of thy fathers and forefathers and the safeguard of the
+Messiah, on whom is our reliance, and follow after the faith of the
+Vagrants,[FN#543] to wit, the faith of Al-Islam, the which arose with
+the sword against the Cross and the Images?" Replied Miriam, "I am not
+at fault, I went out by night to the church, to visit the Lady Mary and
+seek a blessing of her, when there fell upon me unawares a band of
+Moslem robbers, who gagged me and bound me fast and carrying me on
+board the barque, set sail with me for their own country. However, I
+beguiled them and talked with them of their religion, till they loosed
+my bonds; and ere I knew it thy men overtook me and delivered me. And
+by the virtue of the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar and the
+Cross and the Crucified thereon, I rejoiced with joy exceeding in my
+release from them and my bosom broadened and I was glad for my
+deliverance from the bondage of the Moslems!" Rejoined the King, "Thou
+liest, O whore! O adultress! By the virtue of that which is revealed of
+prohibition and permission in the manifest Evangel,[FN#544] I will
+assuredly do thee die by the foulest of deaths and make thee the vilest
+of examples! Did it not suffice thee to do as thou didst the first time
+and put off thy lies upon us, but thou must return upon us with thy
+deceitful inventions?" Thereupon the King bade kill her and crucify her
+over the palace gate; but, at that moment the one-eyed Wazir, who had
+long been enamoured of the Princess, came in to him and said, "Ho King!
+slay her not, but give her to me to wife, and I will watch over her
+with the utmost warding, nor will I go in unto her, till I have built
+her a palace of solid stone, exceeding high of foundation, so no
+thieves may avail to climb up to its terrace-roof; and when I have made
+an end of building it, I will sacrifice thirty Moslems before the gate
+thereof, as an expiatory offering to the Messiah for myself and for
+her." The King granted his request and bade the priests and monks and
+patriarchs marry the Princess to him; so they did his bidding,
+whereupon he bade set about building a strong and lofty palace,
+befitting her rank and the workmen fell to work upon it. On this wise
+it betided the Princess Miriam and her sire and the one-eyed Wazir; but
+as regards Nur al-Din, when he came back with the petticoat-trousers
+and mantilla and walking boots and all the attire of Alexandrian women
+which he had borrowed of the druggist's wife, he "found the air void
+and the fane afar[FN#545]";—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur
+al-Din, "found the air void[FN#546] and the fane afar," his heart sank
+within him and he wept floods of tears and recited these
+verses,[FN#547]
+
+"The phantom of Soada came by night to wake me towards morning
+     while my companions were sleeping in the desert:
+But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air
+     vacant, and the place of visitation distant."
+
+
+Then Nur al-Din walked on along the sea-shore and turned right and
+left, till he saw folk gathered together on the beach and heard them
+say, "O Moslems, there remaineth no honour to Alexandria-city, since
+the Franks enter it and snatch away those who are therein and return to
+their own land, at their leisure[FN#548] nor pursued of any of the
+Moslems or fighters for the Faith!" Quoth Nur al-Din to them, "What is
+to do?"; and quoth they, "O my son, one of the ships of the Franks,
+full of armed men, came down but now upon the port and carried off a
+ship which was moored here, with her that was therein, and made
+unmolested for their own land." Nur al-Din fell down a-swoon, on
+hearing these words; and when he recovered they questioned him of his
+case and he told them all that had befallen him first and last;
+whereupon they all took to reviling him and railing at him, saying,
+"Why couldst thou not bring her up into the town without mantilla and
+muffler?" And all and each of the folk gave him some grievous word,
+berating him with sharp speech, and shooting at him some shaft of
+reproach, albeit one said, "Let him be; that which hath befallen him
+sufficeth him," till he again fell down in a fainting-fit. And behold,
+at this moment, up came the old druggist, who, seeing the folk gathered
+together, drew near to learn what was the matter and found Nur al-Din
+lying a-swoon in their midst. So he sat down at his head and arousing
+him, said to him as soon as he recovered, "O my son, what is this case
+in which I see thee?" Nur al-Din said, "O uncle, I had brought back in
+a barque my lost slave-girl from her father's city, suffering patiently
+all I suffered of perils and hardships; and when I came with her to
+this port, I made the vessel fast to the shore and leaving her therein,
+repaired to thy dwelling and took of thy consort what was needful for
+her, that I might bring her up into the town; but the Franks came and
+capturing barque and damsel made off unhindered, and returned to their
+own land." Now when the Shaykh, the druggist, heard this, the light in
+his eyes became night and he grieved with sore grieving for Nur al-Din
+and said to him, "O my son, why didst thou not bring her out of the
+ship into the city without mantilla? But speech availeth not at this
+season; so rise, O my son, and come up with me to the city; haply Allah
+will vouchsafe thee a girl fairer than she, who shall console thee for
+her. Alhamdolillah-praised be Allah-who hath not made thee lose aught
+by her! Nay, thou hast gained by her. And bethink thee, O my son, that
+Union and Disunion are in the hands of the Most High King." Replied Nur
+al-Din, "By Allah, O uncle, I can never be consoled for her loss nor
+will I ever leave seeking her, though on her account I drink the cup of
+death!" Rejoined the druggist, "O my son, and what art thou minded to
+do?" Quoth Nur al-Din, "I am minded to return to the land of the
+Franks[FN#549] and enter the city of France and emperil myself there;
+come what may, loss of life or gain of life." Quoth the druggist, "O my
+son, there is an old saw, 'Not always doth the crock escape the shock';
+and if they did thee no hurt the first time, belike they will slay thee
+this time, more by token that they know thee now with full knowledge."
+Quoth Nur al-Din, "O my uncle, let me set out and be slain for the love
+of her straightway and not die of despair for her loss by slow
+torments." Now as Fate determined there was then a ship in port ready
+to sail, for its passengers had made an end of their affairs[FN#550]
+and the sailors had pulled up the mooring-stakes, when Nur al-Din
+embarked in her. So they shook out their canvas and relying on the
+Compassionate, put out to sea and sailed many days, with fair wind and
+weather, till behold, they fell in with certain of the Frank cruisers,
+which were scouring those waters and seizing upon all ships they saw,
+in their fear for the King's daughter from the Moslem corsairs: and as
+often as they made prize of a Moslem ship, they carried all her people
+to the King of France, who put them to death in fulfilment of the vow
+he had vowed on account of his daughter Miriam. So, seeing the ship
+wherein was Nur al-Din they boarded her and taking him and the rest of
+the company prisoners, to the number of an hundred Moslems, carried
+them to the King and set them between his hands. He bade cut their
+throats. Accordingly they slaughtered them all forthwith, one after
+another, till there was none left but Nur al-Din, whom the headsman had
+left to the last, in pity of his tender age and slender shape. When the
+King saw him, he knew him right well and said to him, "Art thou not Nur
+al-Din, who was with us before?" Said he, "I was never with thee: and
+my name is not Nur al-Din, but Ibrahim." Rejoined the King; "Thou
+liest, thou art Nur al-Din, he whom I gave to the ancient dame the
+Prioress, to help her in the service of the church." But Nur al-Din
+replied, "O my lord, my name is Ibrahim." Quoth the King, "Wait a
+while," and bade his knights fetch the old woman forthright, saying,
+"When she cometh and seeth thee, she will know an thou be Nur al-Din or
+not." At this juncture, behold, in came the one-eyed Wazir who had
+married the Princess and kissing the earth before the King said to him,
+"Know, O King, that the palace is finished; and thou knowest how I
+vowed to the Messiah that, when I had made an end of building it, I
+would cut thirty Moslems' throats before its doors; wherefore I am come
+to take them of thee, that I may sacrifice them and so fulfil my vow to
+the Messiah. They shall be at my charge, by way of loan, and whenas
+there come prisoners to my hands, I will give thee other thirty in lieu
+of them." Replied the King, 'By the virtue of the Messiah and the Faith
+which is no liar, I have but this one captive left!" And he pointed to
+Nur al-Din, saying, "Take him and slaughter him at this very moment and
+the rest I will send thee when there come to my hands other prisoners
+of the Moslems." Thereupon the one-eyed Wazir arose and took Nur al-Din
+and carried him to his palace, thinking to slaughter him on the
+threshold of the gate; but the painters said to him, "O my lord, we
+have two days' painting yet to do: so bear with us and delay to cut the
+throat of this captive, till we have made an end of our work; haply by
+that time the rest of the thirty will come, so thou mayst despatch them
+all at one bout and accomplish thy vow in a single day." Thereupon the
+Wazir bade imprison Nur al-Din.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir
+bade imprison Nur al-Din, they carried him to the stables and left him
+there in chains, hungering and thirsting and making moan for himself;
+for indeed he saw death face to face. Now it fortuned, by the ordinance
+of Destiny and fore-ordained Fate, that the King had two stallions, own
+brothers,[FN#551] such as the Chosroe Kings might sigh in vain to
+possess themselves of one of them; they were called Sábik and
+Láhik[FN#552] and one of them was pure silvern white while the other
+was black as the darksome night. And all the Kings of the isles had
+said, "Whoso stealeth us one of these stallions, we will give him all
+he seeketh of red gold and pearls and gems;" but none could avail to
+steal them. Now one of them fell sick of a jaundice and there came a
+whiteness over his eyes;[FN#553] whereupon the King gathered together
+all the farriers in the city to treat him; but they all failed of his
+cure. Presently the Wazir came into the King; and finding him troubled
+because of the horse, thought to do away his concern and said to him,
+"O King, give me the stallion and I will cure him," The King consented
+and caused carry the horse to the stable wherein Nur al-Din lay
+chained; but, when he missed his brother, he cried out with an
+exceeding great cry and neighed, so that he affrighted all the folk.
+The Wazir, seeing that he did thus but because he was parted from his
+brother, went to tell the King, who said, "If this, which is but a
+beast, cannot brook to be parted from his brother, how should it be
+with those that have reason?" And he bade his grooms take the other
+horse and put him with his brother in the Wazir's stables, saying,
+"Tell the Minister that the two stallions be a gift from me to him, for
+the sake of my daughter Miriam." Nur al-Din was lying in the stable,
+chained and shackled, when they brought in the two stallions and he saw
+that one of them had a film over his eyes. Now he had some knowledge of
+horses and of the doctoring of their diseases; so he said to himself,
+"This by Allah is my opportunity! I will go to the Wazir and lie to
+him, saying, 'I will heal thee this horse': then will I do with him
+somewhat that shall destroy his eyes, and he will slay me and I shall
+be at rest from this woe-full life." So he waited till the Wazir
+entered the stable, to look upon the steed, and said to him, "O my
+lord, what will be my due, an I heal this horse, and make his eyes
+whole again?" Replied the Wazir, "As my head liveth, an thou cure him,
+I will spare thy life and give thee leave to crave a boon of me!" And
+Nur al-Din said, "O my lord, bid my hands be unbound!" So the Wazir
+bade unbind him and he rose and taking virgin glass,[FN#554] brayed it
+and mixed it with unslaked lime and a menstruum of onion-juice. Then he
+applied the whole to the horse's eyes and bound them up, saying in
+himself, "Now will his eyes be put out and they will slay me and I
+shall be at rest from this woe-full life." Then he passed the night
+with a heart free from the uncertainty[FN#555] of cark and care,
+humbling himself to Allah the Most High and saying, "O Lord, in Thy
+knowledge is that which dispenseth with asking and craving!" Now when
+the morning morrowed and the sun shone, the Wazir came to the stable
+and, loosing the bandage from the horse's eyes considered them and
+found them finer than before, by the ordinance of the King who openeth
+evermore. So he said to Nur al-Din, "O Moslem, never in the world saw I
+the like of thee for the excellence of thy knowledge. By the virtue of
+the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, thou makest me with wonder
+to admire, for all the farriers of our land have failed to heal this
+horse!" Then he went up to Nur al-Din and, doing off his shackles with
+his own hand, clad him in a costly dress and made him his master of the
+Horse; and he appointed him stipends and allowances and lodged him in a
+story over the stables. So Nur al-Din abode awhile, eating and drinking
+and making merry and bidding and forbidding those who tended the
+horses; and whoso neglected or failed to fodder those tied up in the
+stable wherein was his service, he would throw down and beat with
+grievous beating and lay him by the legs in bilboes of iron.
+Furthermore, he used every day to descend and visit the stallions and
+rub them down with his own hand, by reason of that which he knew of
+their value in the Wazir's eyes and his love for them; wherefore the
+Minister rejoiced in him with joy exceeding and his breast broadened
+and he was right glad, unknowing what was to be the issue of his case.
+Now in the new palace, which the one-eyed Wazir had bought for Princess
+Miriam, was a lattice-window overlooking his old house and the flat
+wherein Nur al-Din lodged. The Wazir had a daughter, a virgin of
+extreme loveliness, as she were a fleeing gazelle or a bending
+branchlet, and it chanced that she sat one day at the lattice aforesaid
+and behold, she heard Nur al-Din, singing and solacing himself under
+his sorrows by improvising these verses,
+
+"O my Censor who wakest a-morn to see * The joys of life and its
+     jubilee!
+Had the fangs of Destiny bitten thee * In such bitter case thou
+     hadst pled this plea,
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+But from Fate's despight thou art safe this day;- * From her
+     falsest fay and her crying 'Nay!'
+Yet blame him not whom his woes waylay * Who distraught shall say
+     in his agony,
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+Excuse such lovers in flight abhorr'd * Nor to Love's distreses
+     thine aid afford:
+Lest thy self be bound by same binding cord * And drink of Love's
+     bitterest injury.
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+In His service I wont as the days went by * With freest heart
+     through the nights to lie;
+Nor tasted wake, nor of Love aught reckt * Ere my heart to
+     subjection summoned he:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+None weet of Love and his humbling wrong * Save those he sickened
+     so sore, so long,
+Who have lost their wits 'mid the lover-throng * Draining
+     bitterest cup by his hard decree:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+How oft in Night's gloom he cause wake to rue * Lovers' eyne, and
+     from eyelids their sleep withdrew;
+Till tears to the railing of torrents grew, * Overflowing cheeks
+    , unconfined and free:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+How many a man he has joyed to steep * In pain, and for pine hath
+     he plundered sleep,—
+Made don garb of mourning the deepest deep * And even his
+     dreaming forced to flee:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+How oft sufferance fails me! How bones are wasted * And down my
+     cheeks torrent tear-drops hasted:
+And embittered She all the food I tasted * However sweet it was
+     wont to be:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+Most hapless of men who like me must love, * And must watch when
+     Night droops her wing from above,
+Who, swimming the main where affection drove * Must sign and sink
+     in that gloomy sea:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+Who is he to whom Love e'er stinted spite * And who scaped his
+     springes and easy sleight;
+Who free from Love lived in life's delight? * Where is he can
+     boast of such liberty?
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+Deign Lord such suffering wight maintain * Then best Protector,
+     protect him deign!
+Establish him and his life assain * And defend him from all
+     calamity:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'"
+
+
+And when Nur al-Din ended his say and ceased to sing his rhyming lay,
+the Wazir's daughter said to herself, "By the virtue of the Messiah and
+the Faith which is no liar, verily this Moslem is a handsome youth! But
+doubtless he is a lover separated from his mistress. Would Heaven I wot
+an the beloved of this fair one is fair like unto him and if she pine
+for him as he for her! An she be seemly as he is, it behoveth him to
+pour forth tears and make moan of passion; but, an she be other than
+fair, his days are wasted in vain regrets and he is denied the taste of
+delights."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir's
+daughter said to herself, "An his beloved be fair as he, it behoveth
+him to pour forth tears; and, if other than fair, his heart is wasted
+in vain regrets!" Now Miriam the Girdle-girl, the Minister's consort,
+had removed to the new palace the day before and the Wazir's daughter
+knew that she was straitened of breast; so she was minded to seek her
+and talk with her and tell her the tidings of the young man and the
+rhymes and verses she had heard him recite; but, before she could carry
+out her design the Princess sent for her to cheer her with her
+converse. So she went to her and found her heavy at heart and her tears
+hurrying down her cheeks; and whilst she was weeping with sore weeping
+she recited these couplets,
+
+"My life is gone but love-longings remain * And my breast is
+     straitened with pine and pain:
+And my heart for parting to melt is fain * Yet hoping that union
+     will come again,
+     And join us in one who now are twain.
+Stint your blame to him who in heart's your thrall * With the
+     wasted frame which his sorrows gall,
+Nor with aim of arrow his heart appal * For parted lover is
+     saddest of all,
+     And Love's cup of bitters is sweet to drain!"
+
+
+Quoth the Wazir's daughter to her, "What aileth thee, O Princess, to be
+thus straitened in breast and sorrowful of thought?" Whereupon Miriam
+recalled the greatness of the delights that were past and recited these
+two couplets,
+
+"I will bear in patience estrangement of friend * And on cheeks
+     rail tears that like torrents wend:
+Haply Allah will solace my sorrow, for He * Neath the ribs of
+     unease maketh ease at end."
+
+
+Said the Wazir's daughter, "O Princess, let not thy breast be
+straitened, but come with me straightway to the lattice; for there is
+with us in the stable[FN#556] a comely young man, slender of shape and
+sweet of speech, and meseemeth he is a parted lover." Miriam asked,
+"And by what sign knowest thou that he is a parted lover?"; and she
+answered, "O Queen, I know it by his improvising odes and verses all
+watches of the night and tides of the day." Quoth the Princess in
+herself, "If what the Wazir's daughter says be true, these are
+assuredly the traits of the baffled, the wretched Ali Nur al-Din. Would
+I knew if indeed he be the youth of whom she speaketh?" At this
+thought, love-longing and distraction of passion redoubled on her and
+she rose at once and walking with the maiden to the lattice, looked
+down upon the stables, where she saw her love and lord Nur al-Din and
+fixing her eyes steadfastly upon him, knew him with the bestest
+knowledge of love, albeit he was sick, of the greatness of his
+affection for her and of the fire of passion, and the anguish of
+separation and yearning and distraction. Sore upon him was emaciation
+and he was improvising and saying,
+
+"My heart is a thrall; my tears ne'er abate * And their rains the
+     railing of clouds amate;
+'Twixt my weeping and watching and wanting love; * And whining
+     and pining for dearest mate.
+Ah my burning heat, my desire, my lowe! * For the plagues that
+     torture my heart are eight;
+And five upon five are in suite of them; * So stand and listen to
+     all I state:
+Mem'ry, madding thoughts, moaning languishment, * Stress of
+     longing love, plight disconsolate;
+In travail, affliction and strangerhood, * And annoy and joy when
+     on her I wait.
+Fail me patience and stay for engrossing care * And sorrows my
+     suffering soul regrate.
+On my heart the possession of passion grows * O who ask of what
+     fire in my heart's create,
+Why my tears in vitals should kindle flame, * Burning heart with
+     ardours insatiate,
+Know, I'm drowned in Deluge[FN#557] of tears and my soul * From
+     Lazá-lowe fares to Háwiyah-goal."[FN#558]
+
+
+When the Princess Miriam beheld Nur al-Din and heard his loquence and
+verse and speech, she made certain that it was indeed her lord Nur
+al-Din; but she concealed her case from the Wazir's daughter and said
+to her, "By the virtue of the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, I
+thought not thou knewest of my sadness!" Then she arose forthright and
+withdrawing from the window, returned to her own place, whilst the
+Wazir's daughter went to her own occupations. The Princess awaited
+patiently awhile, then returned to the window and sat there, gazing
+upon her beloved Nur al-Din and delighting her eyes with his beauty and
+inner and outer grace. And indeed, she saw that he was like unto moon
+at full on fourteenth night; but he was ever sighing with tears never
+drying, for that he recalled whatso he had been abying. So he recited
+these couplets,
+
+"I hope for Union with my love which I may ne'er obtain * At all,
+     but bitterness of life is all the gain I gain:
+My tears are likest to the main for ebb and flow of tide; * But
+     when I meet the blamer-wight to staunch my tears I'm fain.
+Woe to the wretch who garred us part by spelling of his
+     spells;[FN#559] * Could I but hend his tongue in hand I'd
+     cut his tongue in twain:
+Yet will I never blame the days for whatso deed they did *
+     Mingling with merest, purest gall the cup they made me
+     drain!
+To whom shall I address myself; and whom but you shall seek * A
+     heart left hostage in your Court, by you a captive ta'en?
+Who shall avenge my wrongs on you,[FN#560] tyrant despotical *
+     Whose tyranny but grows the more, the more I dare complain?
+I made him regnant of my soul that he the reign assain * But me
+     he wasted wasting too the soul I gave to reign.
+Ho thou, the Fawn, whom I so lief erst gathered to my breast *
+     Enow of severance tasted I to own its might and main,
+Thou'rt he whose favours joined in one all beauties known to man,
+     * Yet I thereon have wasted all my Patience' fair domain.
+I entertained him in my heart whereto he brought unrest * But I
+     am satisfied that I such guest could entertain.
+My tears for ever flow and flood, likest the surging sea * And
+     would I wot the track to take that I thereto attain.
+Yet sore I fear that I shall die in depths of my chagrin * And
+     must despair for evermore to win the wish I'd win."
+
+
+When Miriam heard the verses of Nur al-Din the loving-hearted, the
+parted; they kindled in her vitals a fire of desire, and while her eyes
+ran over with tears, she recited these two couplets,
+
+"I longed for him I love; but, when we met, * I was amazed nor
+     tongue nor eyes I found.
+I had got ready volumes of reproach; * But when we met, could
+     syllable no sound."
+
+
+When Nur al-Din heard the voice of Princess Miriam, he knew it and wept
+bitter tears, saying, "By Allah, this is the chanting of the Lady
+Miriam."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+End of Volume 8.
+
+                    Arabian Nights, Volume 8
+                           Footnotes
+
+
+[FN#1]  Ironicč; we are safe as long as we are defended by such a
+brave.
+
+[FN#2]  Blue, azure. This is hardly the place for a protest, but I must
+not neglect the opportunity of cautioning my readers against rendering
+Bahr al-Azrak ("Blue River") by "Blue Nile." No Arab ever knew it by
+that name or thereby equalled it with the White Nile. The term was a
+pure invention of Abyssinian Bruce who was well aware of the unfact he
+was propagating, but his inordinate vanity and self-esteem, contrasting
+so curiously with many noble qualities, especially courage and
+self-reliance, tempted him to this and many other a traveller's tale.
+
+[FN#3]  This is orthodox Moslem doctrine and it does something for the
+dignity of human nature which has been so unwisely depreciated and
+degraded by Christianity. The contrast of Moslem dignity and Christian
+abasement in the East is patent to every unblind traveller.
+
+[FN#4]  Here ends vol. iii. of the Mac. Edit.
+
+[FN#5]  This famous tale is a sister prose-poem to the "Arabian
+Odyssey" Sindbad the Seaman; only the Bassorite's travels are in
+Jinn-land and Japan.  It has points of resemblance in
+"fundamental outline" with the Persian Romance of the Fairy Hasan
+Bánú and King Bahrám-i-Gúr. See also the Kathá (s.s.) and the two
+sons of the Asúra Máyá; the Tartar "Sidhi Kúr" (Tales of a
+Vampire or Enchanted Corpse) translated by Mr. W. J. Thoms (the
+Father of "Folk-lore" in 1846,) in "Lays and Legends of various
+Nations"; the Persian Bahár-i-Dánish (Prime of Lore). Miss
+Stokes' "Indian Fairy Tales"; Miss Frere's "Old Deccan Days" and
+Mrs. F. A. Steel's "Tale of the King and his Seven Sons," with
+notes by Lieutenant (now Captain) R. C. Temple (Folk-lore of the
+Panjab, Indian Antiquary of March, 1882).
+
+
+[FN#6]  In the Mac.  Edit. (vol. iv. i.) the merchant has two sons who
+became one a brazier ("dealer in copper-wares" says Lane iii. 385) and
+the other a goldsmith.  The Bresl.  Edit. (v. 264) mentions only one
+son, Hasan, the hero of the story which is entitled, "Tale of Hasan
+al-Basrí and the Isles of Wák Wák."
+
+[FN#7]  Arab.  "Shásh Abyaz:" this distinctive sign of the True
+Believer was adopted by the Persian to conceal his being a
+fire-worshipper, Magian or "Guebre." The latter word was introduced
+from the French by Lord Byron and it is certainly far superior to
+Moore's "Gheber."
+
+[FN#8]  Persians being always a suspected folk.
+
+[FN#9]  Arab.  "Al-Búdikah" afterwards used (Night dcclxxix) in the
+sense of crucible or melting-pot, in modern parlance a pipe-bowl; and
+also written "Bútakah," an Arab distortion of the Persian "Bútah."
+
+[FN#10]  Arab.  "Sindán" or "Sindiyán" (Dozy).  "Sandán," anvil;
+"Sindán," big, strong (Steingass).
+
+
+[FN#11]  Arab.  "Kímiya," (see vol. i. 305) properly the substance
+which transmutes metals, the "philosopher's stone" which, by the by, is
+not a stone; and comes from {chymeía,chymós} = a fluid, a wet drug, as
+opposed to Iksír (Al-)  {Xerón, Xérion}, a dry drug.  Those who care to
+see how it is still studied will consult my History of Sindh (chapt.
+vii) and my experience which pointed only to the use made of it in base
+coinage. Hence in mod. tongue Kímiyáwi, an alchemist, means a coiner, a
+smasher. The reader must not suppose that the transmutation of metals
+is a dead study: I calculate that there are about one hundred workers
+in London alone.
+
+[FN#12]  Arab.  "Al-Kír," a bellows also = Kúr, a furnace.  For the
+full meaning of this sentence, see my "Book of the Sword," p. 119.
+
+[FN#13]  Lit.  "bade him lean upon it with the shears" (Al-Káz).
+
+[FN#14]  There are many kinds of Kohls (Hindos.  Surmá and
+Kajjal) used in medicine and magic.  See Herklots, p. 227.
+
+
+[FN#15]  Arab. "Sabíkah" = bar, lamina, from "Sabk" = melting,
+smelting: the lump in the crucible would be hammered out into an ingot
+in order to conceal the operation
+
+[FN#16]  i.e. Ł375.
+
+[FN#17]  Such report has cost many a life: the suspicion was and is
+still deadly as heresy in a "new Christian" under the Inquisition.
+
+[FN#18]  Here there is a double entendre: openly it means, "Few men
+recognise as they should the bond of bread and salt:" the other sense
+would be (and that accounts for the smile), "What the deuce do I care
+for the bond?"
+
+[FN#19]  Arab.  "Kabbát" in the Bresl. Edit. "Ka'abán ": Lane (iii.
+519) reads "Ka'áb plur. of Ka'ab a cup."
+
+[FN#20]  A most palpable sneer.  But Hasan is purposely represented as
+a "softy" till aroused and energized by the magic of Love.
+
+[FN#21]  Arab.  "Al-iksír" (see Night dcclxxix, supra p. 9): the Greek
+word which has returned from a trip to Arabia and reappeared in Europe
+as "Elixir."
+
+[FN#22]  "Awák" plur. of "Ukíyah," the well-known "oke," or "ocque," a
+weight varying from 1 to 2 lbs.  In Morocco it is pronounced "Wukíyah,"
+and = the Spanish ounce (p. 279 Rudimentos del Arabe Vulgar, etc., by
+Fr. José de Lorchundi, Madrid, Rivadeneyra, 1872).
+
+[FN#23]  These lines have occurred in vol. iv. 267, where references to
+other places are given.  I quote Lane by way of variety.  In the text
+they are supposed to have been written by the Persian, a hint that
+Hasan would never be seen again.
+
+[FN#24]  i.e. a superfetation of iniquity.
+
+[FN#25]  Arab.  "Kurbán," Heb. { }Corban = offering, oblation to be
+brought to the priest's house or to the altar of the tribal God Yahveh,
+Jehovah (Levit. ii, 2-3 etc.). Amongst the Maronites Kurban is the host
+(-wafer) and amongst the Turks 'Id al-Kurban (sacrifice-feast) is the
+Greater Bayram, the time of Pilgrimage.
+
+[FN#26]  Nár = fire, being feminine, like the names of the other
+"elements."
+
+[FN#27]  The Egyptian Kurbáj of hippopotamus-hide (Burkh. Nubia, pp.
+62,282) or elephant-hide (Turner ii. 365).  Hence the Fr. Cravache (as
+Cravat is from Croat).
+
+[FN#28]  In Mac. Edit. "Bahriyah": in Bresl. Edit. "Nawátíyah."
+See vol. vi. 242, for {Naýtes}, navita, nauta.
+
+
+[FN#29]  In Bresl. Edit. (iv. 285) "Yá Khwájah," for which see vol. vi.
+46.
+
+[FN#30]  Arab.  "Tabl" (vulg. baz) = a kettle-drum about half a foot
+broad held in the left hand and beaten with a stick or leathern thong. 
+Lane refers to his description (M.E. ii. chapt. v.) of the Dervish's
+drum of tinned copper with parchment face, and renders Zakhmah or
+Zukhmah (strap, stirrup-leather) by "plectrum," which gives a wrong
+idea. The Bresl. Edit. ignores the strap.
+
+[FN#31]  The "Spartivento" of Italy, mostly a tall headland which
+divides the clouds.  The most remarkable feature of the kind is the
+Dalmatian Island, Pelagosa.
+
+[FN#32]  The "Rocs" (Al-Arkhákh) in the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 290).
+The Rakham = aquiline vulture.
+
+
+[FN#33]  Lane here quotes a similar incident in the romance "Sayf Zú
+al-Yazan," so called from the hero, whose son, Misr, is sewn up in a
+camel's hide by Bahrám, a treacherous Magian, and is carried by the
+Rukhs to a mountain-top.
+
+[FN#34]  These lines occurred in Night xxvi. vol. i. 275: I quote
+Mr. Payne for variety.
+
+
+[FN#35]  Thus a Moslem can not only circumcise and marry himself but
+can also bury canonically himself.  The form of this prayer is given by
+Lane M. E. chapt. xv.
+
+[FN#36]  i.e. If I fail in my self-imposed duty, thou shalt charge me
+therewith on the Judgment-day.
+
+[FN#37]  Arab.  "Al-Alwán," plur. of laun (colour).  The latter in
+Egyptian Arabic means a "dish of meat." See Burckhardt No. 279. I
+repeat that the great traveller's "Arabic Proverbs" wants republishing
+for two reasons.  First he had not sufficient command of English to
+translate with the necessary laconism and assonance: secondly in his
+day British Philistinism was too rampant to permit a literal
+translation. Consequently the book falls short of what the Oriental
+student requires; and I have prepared it for my friend Mr. Quaritch.
+
+[FN#38]  i.e. Lofty, high-builded. See Night dcclxviii. vol. vii. p.
+347. In the Bresl. Edit. Al-Masíd (as in Al-Kazwíni): in the Mac. Edit.
+Al-Mashid
+
+[FN#39]  Arab. "Munkati" here = cut off from the rest of the world.
+Applied to a man, and a popular term of abuse in Al-Hijáz, it means one
+cut off from the blessings of Allah and the benefits of mankind; a
+pauvre sire. (Pilgrimage ii. 22.)
+
+[FN#40]  Arab. "Baras au Juzám," the two common forms of leprosy. See
+vol. iv. 51. Popular superstition in Syria holds that coition during
+the menses breeds the Juzám, Dáa al-Kabír (Great Evil) or Dáa al-Fíl
+(Elephantine Evil), i.e. Elephantiasis and that the days between the
+beginning of the flow (Sabíl) to that of coition shows the age when the
+progeny will be attacked; for instance if it take place on the first
+day, the disease will appear in the tenth year, on the fourth the
+fortieth and so on.  The only diseases really dreaded by the Badawin
+are leprosy and small-pox. Coition during the menses is forbidden by
+all Eastern faiths under the severest penalties. Al-Mas'údi relates how
+a man thus begotten became a determined enemy of Ali; and the ancient
+Jews attributed the magical powers of Joshua Nazarenus to this accident
+of his birth, the popular idea being that sorcerers are thus impurely
+engendered.
+
+[FN#41]  By adoption - See vol. iii. 151. This sudden affection (not
+love) suggests the "Come to my arms, my slight acquaintance!" of the
+Anti-Jacobin. But it is true to Eastern nature; and nothing can be more
+charming than this fast friendship between the Princess and Hasan.
+
+[FN#42]  En tout bien et en tout honneur, be it understood.
+
+[FN#43]  He had done nothing of the kind; but the feminine mind is
+prone to exaggeration. Also Hasan had told them a fib, to prejudice
+them against the Persian.
+
+[FN#44]  These nervous movements have been reduced to a system in the
+Turk. "Ihtilájnámeh" = Book of palpitations, prognosticating from the
+subsultus tendinum and other involuntary movements of the body from
+head to foot; according to Ja'afar the Just, Daniel the Prophet,
+Alexander the Great; the Sages of Persia and the Wise Men of Greece. In
+England we attend chiefly to the eye and ear.
+
+[FN#45]  Revenge, amongst the Arabs, is a sacred duty; and, in their
+state of civilization, society could not be kept together without it.
+So the slaughter of a villain is held to be a sacrifice to Allah, who
+amongst Christians claims for Himself the monopoly of vengeance.
+
+[FN#46]  Arab.  "Zindík." See vol. v. 230.
+
+[FN#47]  Lane translates this "put for him the remaining food and
+water;" but Al-Ákhar (Mac.  Edit.) evidently refers to the Najíb
+(dromedary).
+
+[FN#48]  We can hardly see the heroism of the deed, but it must be
+remembered that Bahram was a wicked sorcerer, whom it was every good 
+Moslem's bounden duty to slay.  Compare the treatment of witches in
+England two centuries ago.
+
+[FN#49]  The mother in Arab tales is ma mčre, now becoming somewhat
+ridiculous in France on account of the over use of that venerable
+personage.
+
+[FN#50]  The forbidden closet occurs also in Sayf Zú al-Yazan, who
+enters it and finds the bird-girls.  Trébutien ii, 208 says, "Il est
+assez remarquable qu'il existe en Allemagne une tradition ŕ peu prčs
+semblable, et qui a fourni le sujet d'un des contes de Musaeus,
+entitulé, le voile enlevé." Here Hasan is artfully left alone in a
+large palace without other companions but his thoughts and the reader
+is left to divine the train of ideas which drove him to open the door.
+
+[FN#51]  Arab.  "Buhayrah" (Bresl. Edit. "Bahrah"), the tank or cistern
+in the Hosh (court-yard) of an Eastern house.  Here, however, it is a
+rain-cistern on the flat roof of the palace (See Night dcccviii).
+
+[FN#52]  This description of the view is one of the most gorgeous in
+The Nights.
+
+[FN#53]  Here again are the "Swan-maidens" (See vol. v. 346) "one of
+the primitive myths, the common heritage of the whole Aryan (Iranian)
+race." In Persia Bahram-i-Gúr when carried off by the Dív Sapíd seizes
+the Peri's dove-coat: in Santháli folk-lore Torica, the Goatherd,
+steals the garment doffed by one of the daughters of the sun; and hence
+the twelve birds of Russian Story.  To the same cycle belong the
+Seal-tales of the Faroe Islands (Thorpe's Northern Mythology) and the
+wise women or mermaids of Shetland (Hibbert).  Wayland the smith
+captures a wife by seizing a mermaid's raiment and so did Sir Hagán by
+annexing the wardrobe of a Danubian water-nymph. Lettsom, the
+translator, mixes up this swan-raiment with that of the Valkyries or
+Choosers of the Slain. In real life stealing women's clothes is an old
+trick and has often induced them, after having been seen naked, to
+offer their persons spontaneously.  Of this I knew two cases in India,
+where the theft is justified by divine example.  The blue god Krishna,
+a barbarous and grotesque Hindu Apollo, robbed the raiment of the
+pretty Gopálís (cowherdesses) who were bathing in the Arjun River and
+carried them to the top of a Kunduna tree; nor would he restore them
+till he had reviewed the naked girls and taken one of them to wife. 
+See also Imr al-Kays (of the Mu'allakah) with "Onaiza" at the port of
+Daratjuljul (Clouston's Arabian Poetry, p.4). A critic has complained
+of my tracing the origin of the Swan-maiden legend to the physical
+resemblance between the bird and a high-bred girl (vol. v. 346). I
+should have explained my theory which is shortly, that we must seek a
+material basis for all so-called supernaturalisms, and that
+anthropomorphism satisfactorily explains the Swan-maiden, as it does
+the angel and the devil. There is much to say on the subject; but this
+is not the place for long discussion.
+
+[FN#54]  Arab.  "Nafs Ammárah," corresponding with our canting term
+"The Flesh." Nafs al-Nátíkah is the intellectual soul or function; Nafs
+al-Ghazabíyah = the animal function and Nafs al Shahwáníyah = the
+vegetative property.
+
+[FN#55]  The lines occur in vol. ii. 331: I have quoted Mr.
+Payne.  Here they are singularly out of place.
+
+
+[FN#56]  Not the "green gown" of Anglo-India i.e. a white ball-dress
+with blades of grass sticking to it in consequence of a "fall
+backwards."
+
+[FN#57]  These lines occur in vol. i. 219: I have borrowed from
+Torrens (p. 219).
+
+
+[FN#58]  The appearance of which ends the fast and begins the
+Lesser Festival.  See vol. i. 84.
+
+
+[FN#59]  See note, vol. i. 84, for notices of the large navel; much
+appreciated by Easterns.
+
+[FN#60]  Arab.  "Shá'ir Al-Walahán" = the love-distraught poet; Lane
+has "a distracted poet."  My learned friend Professor Aloys Sprenger
+has consulted, upon the subject of Al-Walahán the well-known Professor
+of Arabic at Halle, Dr. Thorbeck, who remarks that the word (here as
+further on) must be an adjective, mad, love-distraught, not a "lakab"
+or poetical cognomen.  He generally finds it written Al-Shá'ir
+al-Walahán (the love-demented poet) not Al-Walahán al-Shá'ir = Walahán
+the Poet. Note this burst of song after the sweet youth falls in love:
+it explains the cause of verse-quotation in The Nights, poetry being
+the natural language of love and battle.
+
+[FN#61]  "Them" as usual for "her."
+
+[FN#62]  Here Lane proposes a transposition, for "Wa-huwá (and he)
+fi'l-hubbi," to read "Fi 'l-hubbi wa huwa (wa-hwa);" but the latter is
+given in the Mac. Edit.
+
+[FN#63]  For the pun in "Sabr"=aloe or patience.  See vol. i. 138. In
+Herr Landberg (i. 93) we find a misunderstanding of the couplet—
+
+     "Aw'ákibu s-sabri (Kála ba'azuhum)
+      Mahmúdah:  Kultu, 'khshi an takhirriní.'"
+
+
+"The effects of patience" (or aloes) quoth one "are praiseworthy!"
+Quoth I, "Much I fear lest it make me stool." Mahmúdah is not only un
+laxatif, but a slang name for a confection of aloes.
+
+[FN#64]  Arab. "Akúna fidá-ka." Fidá = ransom, self-sacrifice and
+Fidá'an = instead of.  The phrase, which everywhere occurs in The
+Nights, means, "I would give my life to save thine "
+
+
+[FN#65]  Thus accounting for his sickness, improbably enough but in
+flattering way.  Like a good friend (feminine) she does not hesitate a
+moment in prescribing a fib.
+
+[FN#66]  i.e. the 25,000 Amazons who in the Bresl. Edit. (ii. 308) are
+all made to be the King's Banát" = daughters or protégées. The Amazons
+of Dahome (see my "Mission") who may now number 5,000 are all
+officially wives of the King and are called by the lieges "our
+mothers."
+
+[FN#67]  The tale-teller has made up his mind about the damsel;
+although in this part of the story she is the chief and eldest sister
+and subsequently she appears as the youngest daughter of the supreme
+Jinn King.  The mystification is artfully explained by the
+extraordinary likeness of the two sisters. (See Night dcccxi.)
+
+[FN#68]  This is a reminiscence of the old-fashioned "marriage by
+capture," of which many traces survive, even among the civilised who
+wholly ignore their origin.
+
+[FN#69]  Meaning her companions and suite.
+
+[FN#70]  Arab.  "'Abáah" vulg.  "'Abáyah."  See vol. ii. 133.
+
+[FN#71]  Feet in the East lack that development of sebaceous glands
+which afflicts Europeans.
+
+[FN#72]  i.e. cutting the animals' throats after Moslem law.
+
+[FN#73]  In Night dcclxxviii. supra p.5, we find the orthodox Moslem
+doctrine that "a single mortal is better in Allah's sight than a
+thousand Jinns."  For, I repeat, Al-Islam systematically exalts human
+nature which Christianity takes infinite trouble to degrade and debase.
+ The results of its ignoble teaching are only too evident in the East:
+the Christians of the so-called (and miscalled) "Holy Land" are a
+disgrace to the faith and the idiomatic Persian term for a Nazarene is
+"Tarsá" = funker, coward.
+
+[FN#74]  Arab.  "Sakaba Kúrahá;" the forge in which children are
+hammered out?
+
+[FN#75]  Arab.  "Má al-Maláhat" = water (brilliancy) of beauty.
+
+[FN#76]  The fourth of the Seven Heavens, the "Garden of
+Eternity," made of yellow coral.
+
+
+[FN#77]  How strange this must sound to the Young Woman of London in
+the nineteenth century.
+
+[FN#78]  "Forty days" is a quasi-religious period amongst Moslem for
+praying, fasting and religious exercises: here it represents our
+"honey-moon." See vol. v. p. 62.
+
+[FN#79]  Yá layta, still popular.  Herr Carlo Landberg (Proverbes et
+Dictons du Peuple Arabe, vol. i. of Syria, Leyden, E. J. Brill, 1883)
+explains layta for rayta (=raayta) by permutation of liquids and argues
+that the contraction is ancient (p. 42).  But the Herr is no Arabist:
+"Layta" means "would to Heaven," or, simply "I wish," "I pray" (for
+something possible or impossible); whilst "La'alla" (perhaps, it may
+be) prays only for the possible:  and both are simply particles
+governing the noun in the oblique or accusative case.
+
+[FN#80]  "His" for "her," i.e. herself, making somewhat of confusion
+between her state and that of her son.
+
+[FN#81]  i.e. his mother; the words are not in the Mac. Edit.
+
+[FN#82]  Baghdad is called House of Peace, amongst other reasons, from
+the Dijlah (Tigris) River and Valley "of Peace." The word was variously
+written Baghdád, Bághdád, (our old Bughdaud and Bagdat), Baghzáz,
+Baghzán, Baghdán, Baghzám and Maghdád as Makkah and Bakkah (Koran iii.
+90).  Religious Moslems held Bágh (idol) and Dád (gift) an ill-omened
+conjunction, and the Greeks changed it to Eirenopolis. (See Ouseley's
+Oriental Collcctions, vol. i. pp. 18-20.)
+
+[FN#83]  This is a popular saying but hardly a "vulgar proverb."
+(Lane iii. 522.) It reminds rather of Shakespear's:
+
+
+     "So loving to my mother,
+      That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
+      Visit her face too roughly."
+
+
+[FN#84]  i.e. God forbid that I should oppose thee!
+
+[FN#85]  Here the writer again forgets apparently, that Shahrazad is
+speaking: she may, however, use the plural for the singular when
+speaking of herself.
+
+[FN#86]  i.e. She would have pleaded ill-treatment and lawfully
+demanded to be sold.
+
+[FN#87]  The Hindus speak of "the only bond that woman knows—her
+heart."
+
+[FN#88]  i.e. a rarity, a present (especially in Persian).
+
+[FN#89]  Arab.  "Al-bisát" wa'l-masnad lit. the carpet and the cushion.
+
+[FN#90]  For "Báb al-bahr" and "Báb al-Barr" see vol. iii. 281.
+
+[FN#91]  She was the daughter of Ja'afar bin Mansúr; but, as will be
+seen, The Nights again and again called her father Al-Kásim.
+
+[FN#92]  This is an error for the fifth which occurs in the popular
+saying, "Is he the fifth of the sons of Al-Abbás!" i.e. Harun
+al-Rashid.  Lane (note, in loco) thus accounts for the frequent mention
+of the Caliph, the greatest of the Abbasides in The Nights.  But this
+is a causa non causa.
+
+[FN#93]  i.e. I find thy beauty all-sufficient.  So the proverb "The
+son of the quarter (young neighbour) filleth not the eye," which
+prefers a stranger.
+
+[FN#94]  They are mere doggerel, like most of the pičces de
+circonstance.
+
+[FN#95]  Afterwards called Wák Wák, and in the Bresl. Edit. Wák al-Wák.
+See Lane's notes upon these Islands.  Arab Geographers evidently speak
+of two Wak Waks.  Ibn al-Fakih and Al-Mas'údi (Fr. Transl., vol. iii.
+6-7) locate one of them in East Africa beyond Zanzibar and Sofala. "Le
+territoire des Zendjes (Zanzibar-Negroids) commence au canal
+(Al-Khalij) dérivé du haut Nil (the Juln River?) et se prolonge
+jusqu'au pays de Sofalah et des Wak-Wak." It is simply the peninsula of
+Guardafui (Jard Hafun) occupied by the Gallas, pagans and Christians,
+before these were ousted by the Moslem Somal; and the former
+perpetually ejaculated "Wak" (God) as Moslems cry upon Allah.  This
+identification explains a host of other myths such as the Amazons, who
+as Marco Polo tells us held the "Female Island" Socotra (Yule ii. 396).
+ The fruit which resembled a woman's head (whence the puellć
+Wakwakienses hanging by the hair from trees), and which when ripe
+called out "Wak Wak" and "Allah al-Khallák" (the Creator) refers to the
+Calabash-tree (Adausonia digitata), that grotesque growth, a vegetable
+elephant, whose gourds, something larger than a man's head, hang by a
+slender filament. Similarly the "cocoa" got its name, in Port. =
+Goblin, from the fancied face at one end. The other Wak Wak has been
+identified in turns with the Seychelles, Madagascar, Malacca, Sunda or
+Java (this by Langlčs), China and Japan.  The learned Prof. de Goeje
+(Arabishe Berichten over Japan, Amsterdam, Muller, 1880) informs us
+that in Canton the name of Japan is Wo-Kwok, possibly a corruption of
+Koku-tan, the ebony-tree (Diospyros ebenum) which Ibn Khor-dábah and
+others find together with gold in an island 4,500 parasangs from Suez
+and East of China.  And we must remember that Basrah was the chief
+starting-place for the Celestial Empire during the rule of the Tang
+dynasty (seventh and ninth centuries). Colonel J. W. Watson of Bombay
+suggests New Guinea or the adjacent islands where the Bird of Paradise
+is said to cry "Wak Wak!" Mr. W. F. Kirby in the Preface (p. ix.) to
+his neat little book "The New Arabian Nights," says: "The Islands of
+Wak-Wak, seven years' journey from Bagdad, in the story of Hasan, have
+receded to a distance of a hundred and fifty years' journey in that of
+Majin (of Khorasan).  There is no doubt(?) that the Cora Islands, near
+New Guinea, are intended; for the wonderful fruits which grow there are
+Birds of Paradise, which settle in flocks on the trees at sunset and
+sunrise, uttering this very cry." Thus, like Ophir, Wak Wak has
+wandered all over the world and has been found even in Peru by the
+Turkish work Tárikh al-Hind al-Gharbi = History of the West Indies
+(Orient. Coll. iii 189).
+
+[FN#96]  I accept the emendation of Lane's Shaykh, "Nasím "
+(Zephyr) for "Nadím " (cup-companion).
+
+
+[FN#97]  "Jannat al-Ná'im" = Garden of Delights is No. V Heaven, made
+of white diamond.
+
+[FN#98]  This appears to her very prettily put.
+
+[FN#99]  This is the "House of Sadness" of our old chivalrous Romances.
+See chapt. vi. of "Palmerin of England," by Francisco de Moraes (ob.
+1572), translated by old Anthony Munday (dateless, 1590?) and
+"corrected" (read spoiled) by Robert Southey, London, Longmans, 1807.
+
+[FN#100]  The lines have occurred in Night clix. (vol. iii. 183), I
+quote Mr. Payne who, like Lane, prefers "in my bosom" to "beneath my
+ribs."
+
+[FN#101]  In this tale the Bresl. Edit. more than once adds "And let us
+and you send a blessing to the Lord of Lords" (or to "Mohammed," or to
+the "Prophet"); and in vol. v. p. 52 has a long prayer.  This is an act
+of contrition in the tale-teller for romancing against the expressed
+warning of the Founder of Al-Islam.
+
+[FN#102]  From Bresl. Edit. (vi. 29): the four in the Mac. Edit. are
+too irrelevant.
+
+[FN#103]  Arab.  "Ghayúr"—jealous, an admirable epithet which
+Lane dilutes to "changeable"—making a truism of a metaphor.
+
+
+[FN#104]  These lines have occurred before.  I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#105]  i.e. One fated to live ten years.
+
+[FN#106]  This poetical way of saying "fourteen" suggests Camoens
+(The Lusiads) Canto v. 2.
+
+
+[FN#107]  Arab.  "Surrah," lit. = a purse: a few lines lower down it is
+called "'Ulbah" = a box which, of course, may have contained the bag.
+
+[FN#108]  The month which begins the Moslem year.
+
+[FN#109]  As an Arab often does when deep in thought.  Lane appositely
+quotes John viii. 6. "Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on
+the ground." Mr. Payne translates, "He fell a-drumming on the earth
+with his fingers," but this does not complete the sense.
+
+[FN#110]  i.e."And the peace of Allah be upon thee! that will end thy
+story." The Arab formula, "Wa al-Salám" (pron.  Wassalám) is used in a
+variety of senses.
+
+[FN#111]  Like Camoens, one of the model lovers, he calls upon
+Love to torment him still more—ad majorem Dei (amoris) gloriam.
+
+
+[FN#112]  Pron.  Aboor-Ruwaysh.  "The Father of the little Feather": he
+is afterwards called "Son of the daughter of the accursed Iblis"; yet,
+as Lane says, "he appears to be a virtuous person."
+
+[FN#113]  Arab.  "Kantara al-lijám fi Karbús (bow) sarjih."
+
+[FN#114]  I do not translate "beckoned" because the word would give a
+wrong idea.  Our beckoning with the finger moved towards the beckoner
+makes the so-beckoned Eastern depart in all haste. To call him you must
+wave the hand from you.
+
+[FN#115]  The Arabs knew what large libraries were; and a learned man
+could not travel without camel-loads of dictionaries.
+
+[FN#116]  Arab.  "Adim;" now called Bulghár, our Moroccan leather.
+
+[FN#117]  Arab.  "Zinád," which Lane renders by "instruments for
+striking fire," and Mr. Payne, after the fashion of the translators of
+Al-Hariri, "flint and steel."
+
+[FN#118]  A congener of Hasan and Husayn, little used except in Syria
+where it is a favourite name for Christians.  The Muhít of Butrus
+Al-Bostáni (s.v.) tells us that it also means a bird called Abú Hasan
+and supplies various Egyptian synonyms.  In Mod. Arab. Grammar the form
+Fa''úl is a diminutive as Hammúd for Ahmad, 'Ammúr for 'Amrú. So the
+fem. form, Fa''úlah, e.g. Khaddúgah = little Khadijah and
+Naffúsah=little Nafisah; Ar'úrah = little clitoris - whereas in Heb. it
+is an incrementative e.g. dabbúlah a large dablah (cake or lump of
+dried figs, etc.).
+
+[FN#119]  In the Mac. Edit. "Soldiers of Al-Daylam" i.e. warlike as the
+Daylamites or Medes.  See vol. ii. 94.
+
+[FN#120]  Bilkís, it will be remembered, is the Arab. name of the
+Queen of Sheba who visited Solomon.  In Abyssinia she is termed
+Kebra zá negest or zá makadá, the latter (according to Ferdinand
+Werne's "African Wanderings," Longmans, 1852) being synonymous
+with Ityopia or Habash (Ethiopia or Abyssinia).
+
+
+[FN#121]  Arab.  "Dakkah," which Lane translates by "settee."
+
+[FN#122]  Arab. "Ambar al-Khám" the latter word (raw) being pure
+Persian.
+
+
+[FN#123]  The author neglects to mention the ugliest part of
+old-womanhood in the East, long empty breasts like tobacco-pouches. In
+youth the bosom is beautifully high, arched and rounded, firm as stone
+to the touch, with the nipples erect and pointing outwards.  But after
+the girl-mother's first child (in Europe le premier embellit) all
+changes.  Nature and bodily power have been overtasked; then comes the
+long suckling at the mother's expense: the extension of the skin and
+the enlargement of its vessels are too sudden and rapid for the
+diminished ability of contraction and the bad food aids in the
+continual consumption of vitality.  Hence, among Eastern women age and
+ugliness are synonymous.  It is only in the highest civilisation that
+we find the handsome old woman.
+
+[FN#124]  The name has occurred in the Knightly tale of King Omar and
+his sons, Vol. ii. 269.  She is here called Mother of Calamities,but in
+p. 123, Vol. iv. of the Mac. Edit. she becomes "Lady (Zát) al-Dawáhi."
+It will be remembered that the title means calamitous to the foe.
+
+[FN#125]  By this address she assured him that she had no design upon
+his chastity. In Moslem lands it is always advisable to accost a
+strange woman, no matter how young, with, "Yá Ummí!" = O my mother.
+This is pledging one's word, as it were, not to make love to her.
+
+[FN#126]  Apparently the Wakites numbered their Islands as the
+Anglo-Americans do their streets.  For this they have been charged with
+"want of imagination"; but the custom is strictly classical. See at
+Pompeii "Reg (io) I; Ins (ula) I, Via Prima, Secunda," etc.
+
+[FN#127]  These are the Puellć Wakwakienses of whom Ibn Al-Wardi
+relates after an ocular witness, "Here too is a tree which bears fruits
+like women who have fair faces and are hung by their hair. They come
+forth from integuments like large leathern bags (calabash-gourds?) and
+when they sense air and sun they cry 'Wak! Wak!' (God!  God!) till
+their hair is cut, and when it is cut they die; and the islanders
+understand this cry wherefrom they augure ill." The Ajáib al-Hind
+(chapt. xv.) places in Wak-land the Samandal, a bird which enters the
+fire without being burnt evidently the Egyptian "Pi-Benni," which the
+Greeks metamorphised to "Phnix." It also mentions a hare-like animal,
+now male then female, and the Somal behind Cape Guardafui tell the same
+tale of their Cynhyćnas.
+
+[FN#128]  i.e. I will keep thee as though thou wert the apple of my
+eye.
+
+[FN#129]  A mere exaggeration of the "Gull-fairs" noted by travellers
+in sundry islands as Ascension and the rock off Brazilian Santos.
+
+[FN#130]  Arab.  "Kámil wa Basít wa Wáfir" = the names of three popular
+metres, for which see the Terminal Essay.
+
+[FN#131]  Arab.  "Manáshif" = drying towels, Plur. of Minshafah, and
+the popular term which Dr. Jonathan Swift corrupted to "Munnassaf."
+Lane (Nights, Introduct. p. ix.).
+
+[FN#132]  Arab.  "Shafaif" opposed to "Shafah" the mouth-lips.
+
+[FN#133]  Fountains of Paradise. This description is a fair instance of
+how the Saj'a (prose-rhyme) dislocates the order; an Arab begins with
+hair, forehead, eyebrows and lashes and when he reaches the nose, he
+slips down to the toes for the sake of the assonance.  If the latter be
+neglected the whole list of charms must be otherwise ordered; and the
+student will compare Mr. Payne's version of this passage with mine.
+
+[FN#134]  A fair specimen of the Arab logogriph derived from the Abjad
+Alphabet which contains only the Hebrew and Syriac letters not the six
+Arabic.  Thus 4 X 5=20 which represents the Kaf (K) and 6 X 10=60, or
+Sin (S).  The whole word is thus "Kus", the Greek {kysňs} or {kyssňs},
+and the lowest word, in Persian as in Arabic, for the female pudenda,
+extensively used in vulgar abuse. In my youth we had at the University
+something of the kind,
+
+     To five and five and fifty-five
+     The first of letters add
+     To make a thing to please a King
+     And drive a wise man mad.
+
+
+Answer VVLVA.  Very interesting to the anthropological student is this
+excursus of Hasan, who after all manner of hardships and horrors and
+risking his life to recover his wife and children, breaks out into song
+on the subject of her privities.  And it can hardly be tale-teller's
+gag as both verse and prose show considerable art in composition. (See
+p. 348.)
+
+Supplementary Note To Hasan of Bassorah.
+
+Note(p.93)—There is something wondrous naďve in a lover who, when asked
+by his mistress to sing a song in her honour, breaks out into versical
+praises of her parts.  But even the classical Arab authors did not
+disdain such themes.  See in Al-Harírí (Ass. of Mayyáfarikín) where Abú
+Zayd laments the impotency of old age in form of a Rasy or funeral
+oration (Preston p. 484, and Chenery p. 221). It completely deceived
+Sir William Jones, who inserted it into the chapter "De Poesi Funebri,"
+p. 527 (Poeseos Asiaticć Commentarii), gravely noting, "Hćc Elegia non
+admodum dissimilis esse videtur pulcherrimi illius carminis de Sauli et
+Jonathani obitu; at que adeň versus iste 'ubi provocant adversarios
+nunquam rediit a pugnć contentione sine spiculo sanguine imbuto,' ex
+Hebrćo reddi videtur,
+
+          A sanguine occisorum, a fortium virorum adipe,
+          Arcus Jonathani non rediit irritus."
+
+
+I need hardly say with Captain Lockett (226) that this "Sabb warrior,"
+this Arabian Achilles, is the celebrated Bonus Deus or Hellespontiacus
+of the Ancients.  The oration runs thus:—
+
+          O folk I have a wondrous tale, so rare
+          Much shall it profit hearers wise and ware!
+          I saw in salad-years a potent Brave
+          And sharp of edge and point his warrior glaive;
+          Who entered joust and list with hardiment
+          Fearless of risk, of victory confident,
+          His vigorous onset straitest places oped
+          And easy passage through all narrows groped:
+          He ne'er encountered foe in single fight
+          But came from tilt with spear in blood stained bright;
+          Nor stormed a fortress howso strong and stark—
+          With fencčd gates defended deep and dark—
+          When shown his flag without th' auspicious cry
+          "Aidance from Allah and fair victory nigh!"
+          Thus wise full many a night his part he played
+          In strength and youthtide's stately garb arrayed,
+          Dealing to fair young girl delicious joy
+          And no less welcome to the blooming boy.
+          But Time ne'er ceased to stint his wondrous strength
+          (Steadfast and upright as the gallow's length)
+          Until the Nights o'erthrew him by their might
+          And friends contemned him for a feckless wight;
+          Nor was a wizard but who wasted skill
+          Over his case, nor leach could heal his ill.
+          Then he abandoned arms abandoned him
+          Who gave and took salutes so fierce and grim;
+          And now lies prostrate drooping haughty crest;
+          For who lives longest him most ills molest.
+          Then see him, here he lies on bier for bet;—
+          Who will a shroud bestow on stranger dead?
+
+
+A fair measure of the difference between Eastern and Western manners is
+afforded by such a theme being treated by their gravest writers and the
+verses being read and heard by the gravest and most worshipful men,
+whilst amongst us Preston and Chenery do not dare even to translate
+them.  The latter, indeed, had all that immodest modesty for which
+English professional society is notable in this xixth century.  He
+spoiled by needlessly excluding from a scientific publication (Mem.
+R.A.S.) all of my Proverbia Communia Syriaca (see Unexplored Sryia, i.
+364) and every item which had a shade of double entendre.  But Nemesis
+frequently found him out: during his short and obscure rule in Printing
+House Square, The Thunderer was distinguished by two of the foulest
+indecencies that ever appeared in an English paper.
+
+The well-known Koranic verse, whereby Allah is introduced into an
+indecent tale and "Holy Writ" is punned upon.  I have noticed (iii.
+206) that victory Fat'h lit.=opening everything (as e.g. a maidenhead).
+
+[FN#135]  Egyptian and Syrian vulgar term for Mawálíyah or Mawáliyah, a
+short poem on subjects either classical or vulgar. It generally
+consists of five lines all rhyming except the penultimate.  The metre
+is a species of the Basít which, however, admits of considerable
+poetical license; this being according to Lane the usual "Weight,"
+
+/   /    /  .
+/   /    / 
+/   /    / 
+/   /    / 
+/   /    / 
+The scheme is distinctly anapćstic and Mr. Lyall (Translations of
+Ancient Arabic Poetry) compares with a cognate metre, the Tawíl,
+certain lines in Abt Vogler, e.g.
+
+"Ye know why the forms are fair, ye hear how the tale is told."
+
+[FN#136]  i.e. repeat the chapter of the Koran termed The Opening, and
+beginning with these words, "Have we not opened thy breast for thee and
+eased thee of thy burden which galled thy back? *** Verily with the
+difficulty cometh ease!"—Koran xciv. vol. 1, 5.
+
+[FN#137]  Lane renders Nur al-Hudŕ (Light of Salvation) by Light of Day
+which would be Nur al-Hadŕ.
+
+[FN#138]  In the Bresl. Edit.  "Yá Salám"=O safety!—a vulgar
+ejaculation.
+
+[FN#139]  A favourite idiom meaning from the mischief which may (or
+will) come from the Queen.
+
+[FN#140]  He is not strong-minded but his feminine persistency of
+purpose, likest to that of a sitting hen, is confirmed by the
+"Consolations of religion."  The character is delicately drawn.
+
+[FN#141]  In token that she intended to act like a man.
+
+[FN#142]  This is not rare even in real life: Moslem women often hide
+and change their names for superstitious reasons, from the husband and
+his family.
+
+[FN#143]  Arab.  "Sabab" which also means cause.  Vol. ii. 14.
+There is the same metaphorical use of "Habl"= cord and cause.
+
+
+[FN#144]  Arab. "Himŕ," a word often occurring in Arab poetry, domain,
+a pasture or watered land forcibly kept as far as a dog's bark would
+sound by some masterful chief like "King Kulayb." (See vol. ii. 77.)
+This tenure was forbidden by Mohammed except for Allah and the Apostle
+(i.e. himself).  Lane translates it "asylum."
+
+[FN#145]  She was a maid and had long been of marriageable age.
+
+[FN#146]  The young man had evidently "kissed the Blarney stone"; but
+the flattery is the more telling as he speaks from the heart.
+
+[FN#147]  "Inshallah " here being= D. V.
+
+[FN#148]  i.e. The "Place of Light" (Pharos), or of Splendour. Here we
+find that Hasan's wife is the youngest sister, but with an
+extraordinary resemblance to the eldest, a very masterful young person.
+ The anagnorisis is admirably well managed.
+
+[FN#149]  i.e. the sweetmeats of the feast provided for the returning
+traveller.  The old woman (like others) cannot resist the temptation of
+a young man's lips.  Happily for him she goes so far and no farther.
+
+[FN#150]  The first, fourth, fifth and last names have already
+occurred: the others are in order, Star o' Morn, Sun of Undurn and
+Honour of Maidenhood. They are not merely fanciful, but are still used
+in Egypt and Syria.
+
+[FN#151]  Arab.  "Fájirah" and elsewhere "Áhirah," =whore and strumpet
+used often in loose talk as mere abuse without special meaning.
+
+[FN#152]  This to Westerns would seem a most improbable detail, but
+Easterns have their own ideas concerning "Al-Muhabbat al-ghariziyah"
+=natural affection, blood speaking to blood, etc.
+
+[FN#153]  One of the Hells (see vol. iv. 143).  Here it may be
+advisable to give the names of the Seven Heavens (which are evidently
+based upon Ptolemaic astronomy) and which correspond with the Seven
+Hells after the fashion of Arabian system-mania. (1) Dar al-Jalál
+(House of Glory) made of pearls; (2) Dár al-Salám (of Rest), rubies and
+jacinths; (3) Jannat al-Maawá (Garden of Mansions, not "of mirrors," as
+Herklots has it, p. 98), made of yellow copper; (4) Jannat al-Khuld (of
+Eternity), yellow coral; (5) Jannat al-Na'ím (of Delights), white
+diamond; (6) Jannat al-Firdaus (of Paradise), red gold; and (7) Jannat
+al-'Adn (of Eden, or Al-Karár= of everlasting abode, which some make
+No. 8), of red pearls or pure musk.  The seven Hells are given in vol.
+v. 241; they are intended for Moslems (Jahannam); Christians (Lazŕ);
+Jews (Hutamah); Sabians (Sa'ir); Guebres (Sakar); Pagans or idolaters
+(Jahím); and Hypocrites (Háwiyah).
+
+[FN#154]  Arab.  "'Atb," more literally= "blame," "reproach."
+
+[FN#155]  Bresl. Edit.  In the Mac.  "it returned to the place whence I
+had brought it"—an inferior reading.
+
+[FN#156]  The dreams play an important part in the Romances of
+Chivalry, e.g. the dream of King Perion in Amadis de Gaul, chapt. ii.
+(London; Longmans, 1803).
+
+[FN#157]  Amongst Moslems bastardy is a sore offence and a love-child
+is exceedingly rare.  The girl is not only carefully guarded but she
+also guards herself knowing that otherwise she will not find a husband.
+ Hence seduction is all but unknown. The wife is equally well guarded
+and lacks opportunities hence adultery is found difficult except in
+books.  Of the Ibn (or Walad) Harám (bastard as opposed to the Ibn
+Halál) the proverb says, "This child is not thine, so the madder he be
+the more is thy glee!" Yet strange to say public prostitution has never
+been wholly abolished in Al-Islam.  Al-Mas'údi tells us that in Arabia
+were public prostitutes'(Bagháyá), even before the days of the Apostle,
+who affected certain quarters as in our day the Tartúshah of Alexandria
+and the Hosh Bardak of Cairo. Here says Herr Carlo Landberg (p. 57,
+Syrian Proverbs) "Elles parlent une langue toute ŕ elle."  So
+pretentious and dogmatic a writer as the author of Proverbes et Dictons
+de la Province de Syrie, ought surely to have known that the Hosh
+Bardak is the head-quarters of the Cairene Gypsies. This author, who
+seems to write in order to learn, reminds me of an acute Oxonian
+undergraduate of my day who, when advised to take a "coach," became a
+"coach" himself.
+
+[FN#158]  These lines occur in vol. vii. p. 340. I quote Mr.
+Payne.
+
+
+[FN#159]  She shows all the semi-maniacal rancour of a good woman, or
+rather a woman who has not broken the eleventh commandment, "Thou shalt
+not be found out," against an erring sister who has been discovered. 
+In the East also these unco'gúid dames have had, and too often have,
+the power to carry into effect the cruelty and diabolical malignity
+which in London and Paris must vent itself in scan. mag. and anonymous
+letters.
+
+[FN#160]  These faintings and trances are as common in the Romances of
+Chivalry e.g. Amadis of Gaul, where they unlace the garments to give
+more liberty, pour cold water on the face and bathe the temples and
+pulses with diluted vinegar (for rose water) exactly as they do in The
+Nights.
+
+[FN#161]  So Hafiz, "Bád-i-Sabá chu bugzarí" etc.
+
+[FN#162]  Arab. "Takiyah." See vol. i. 224 and for the Tarn-Kappe vol.
+iv. p. 176. In the Sinthásana Dwatrinsati (vulgo.  Singhásan Battísí),
+or Thirty-two Tales of a Throne, we find a bag always full of gold, a
+bottomless purse; earth which rubbed on the forehead overcomes all; a
+rod which during the first watch of the night furnishes jewelled
+ornaments; in the second a beautiful girl; in the third invisibility,
+and in the fourth a deadly foe or death; a flower-garland which renders
+the possessor invisible and an unfading lotus-flower which produces a
+diamond every day.
+
+[FN#163]  Arab.  "Judad," plur. of Jadíd, lit.= new coin, ergo applied
+to those old and obsolete; 10 Judad were= one nusf or half dirham.
+
+[FN#164]  Arab.  "Raff," a shelf proper, running round the room about
+7-7˝ feet from the ground.  During my day it was the fashion in
+Damascus to range in line along the Raff splendid porcelain bowls
+brought by the Caravans in olden days from China, whilst on the table
+were placed French and English specimens of white and gold "china"
+worth perhaps a franc each.
+
+[FN#165]  Lane supposes that the glass and china-ware had fallen upon
+the divan running round the walls under the Raff and were not broken.
+
+[FN#166]  These lines have occurred in Night dclxxxix. vol. vii. p.
+119. I quote Lane.
+
+[FN#167]  The lines have occurred before.  I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#168]  This formula, I repeat, especially distinguishes the
+Tale of Hasan of Bassorah.
+
+
+[FN#169]  These lines have occurred in vol. 1. 249. I quote Lane.
+
+[FN#170]  She speaks to the "Gallery," who would enjoy a loud laugh
+against Mistress Gadabout. The end of the sentence must speak to the
+heart of many a widow.
+
+[FN#171]  These lines occur in vol. i. 25: so I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#172]  Arab.  "Musáhikah;" the more usual term for a Tribade is
+"Sahíkah" from "Sahk" in the sense of rubbing: both also are applied to
+onanists and masturbators of the gender feminine.
+
+[FN#173]  i.e. by way of halter.  This jar is like the cask in
+Auerbach's Keller; and has already been used by witches; Night
+dlxxxvii. vol. vi. 158.
+
+[FN#174]  Here they are ten but afterwards they are reduced to seven: I
+see no reason for changing the text with Lane and Payne.
+
+[FN#175]  Wazir of Solomon.  See vol. i. 42; and vol. iii. 97.
+
+[FN#176]  Arab.  "Ism al-A'azam," the Ineffable Name, a superstition
+evidently derived from the Talmudic fancies of the Jews concerning
+their tribal god, Yah or Yahvah.
+
+[FN#177]  The tradition is that Mohámmed asked Akáf al-Wadá'ah "Hast a
+wife?"; and when answered in the negative, "Then thou appertainest to
+the brotherhood of Satans!  An thou wilt be one of the Christian monks
+then company therewithal; but an thou be of us, know that it is our
+custom to marry!"
+
+[FN#178]  The old woman, in the East as in the West, being the most
+vindictive of her kind.  I have noted (Pilgrimage iii. 70) that a
+Badawi will sometimes though in shame take the blood-wit; but that if
+it be offered to an old woman she will dash it to the ground and clutch
+her knife and fiercely swear by Allah that she will not eat her son's
+blood.
+
+[FN#179]  Neither dome nor fount etc. are mentioned before, the normal
+inadvertency.
+
+[FN#180]  In Eastern travel the rest comes before the eating and
+drinking.
+
+[FN#181]  Arab.  "'Id" (pron.'Eed) which I have said (vol. i. 42, 317)
+is applied to the two great annual festivals, the "Fęte of Sacrifice,"
+and the "Break-Fast."  The word denotes restoration to favour and
+Moslems explain as the day on which Adam (and Eve) who had been
+expelled from Paradise for disobedience was re-established (U'ída) by
+the relenting of Allah.  But the name doubtless dates amongst Arabs
+from days long before they had heard of the "Lord Nomenclator."
+
+[FN#182]  Alluding to Hasan seizing her feather dress and so taking her
+to wife.
+
+[FN#183]  Arab.  "Kharajú"=they (masc.) went forth, a vulgarism for
+"Kharajna" (fem.)
+
+[FN#184]  Note the notable housewife who, at a moment when youth would
+forget everything, looks to the main chance.
+
+[FN#185]  Arab. "Al-Malakút" (not "Malkút" as in Freytag) a Sufi term
+for the world of Spirits (De Lacy Christ, Ar. i. 451). Amongst Eastern
+Christians it is vulgarly used in the fem. and means the Kingdom of
+Heaven, also the preaching of the Gospel.
+
+[FN#186]  This is so rare, even amongst the poorest classes in the
+East, that it is mentioned with some emphasis.
+
+[FN#187]  A beauty among the Egyptians, not the Arabs.
+
+[FN#188]  True Fellah—"chaff."
+
+[FN#189]  Alluding to the well-known superstition, which has often
+appeared in The Nights, that the first object seen in the morning, such
+as a crow, a cripple, or a cyclops determines the fortunes of the day. 
+Notices in Eastern literature are as old as the days of the Hitopadesa;
+and there is a something instinctive in the idea to a race of early
+risers.  At an hour when the senses are most impressionable the aspect
+of unpleasant spectacles has double effect.
+
+[FN#190]  Arab.  "Masúkah," the stick used for driving cattle, bâton
+gourdin (Dozy).  Lane applies the word to a wooden plank used for
+levelling the ground.
+
+[FN#191]  i.e. the words I am about to speak to thee.
+
+[FN#192]  Arab. "Sahifah," which may mean "page" (Lane) or "book"
+(Payne).
+
+
+[FN#193]  Pronounce, "Abussa'ádát" = Father of Prosperities:
+Lane imagines that it came from the Jew's daughter being called
+"Sa'adat."  But the latter is the Jew's wife (Night dcccxxxiii)
+and the word in the text is plural.
+
+
+[FN#194]  Arab.  "Furkh samak" lit. a fish-chick, an Egyptian
+vulgarism.
+
+[FN#195]  Arab.  "Al-Rasif"; usually a river-quay, levée, an
+embankment.  Here it refers to the great dyke which distributed the
+Tigris-water.
+
+[FN#196]  Arab.  "Dajlah," see vol. i, p 180.  It is evidently the
+origin of the biblical "Hid-dekel" "Hid" = fierceness, swiftness.
+
+[FN#197]  Arab.  "Bayáz" a kind of Silurus (S. Bajad, Forsk.) which
+Sonnini calls Bayatto, Saksatt and Hébedé; also Bogar (Bakar, an ox). 
+The skin is lubricous, the flesh is soft and insipid and the fish often
+grows to the size of a man.  Captain Speke and I found huge specimens
+in the Tangany ika Lake.
+
+[FN#198]  Arab.  "Mu'allim," vulg. "M'allim," prop.= teacher, master
+esp. of a trade, a craft.  In Egypt and Syria it is a civil address to
+a Jew or a Christian, as Hájj is to a Moslem.
+
+[FN#199]  Arab.  "Gharámah," an exaction, usually on the part of
+government like a corvée etc.  The Europeo-Egyptian term is Avania
+(Ital.) or Avanie (French).
+
+[FN#200]  Arab.  "Sayyib-hu" an Egyptian vulgarism found also in Syria.
+ Hence Sáibah, a woman who lets herself go (a-whoring) etc.  It is syn.
+with "Dashar," which Dozy believes to be a softening of Jashar; and
+Jashsh became Dashsh.
+
+[FN#201]  The Silurus is generally so called in English on account of
+its feeler-acting mustachios.
+
+[FN#202]  See Night dcccvii, vol. viii. p. 94.
+
+[FN#203]  This extraordinary confusion of two distinct religious
+mythologies cannot be the result of ignorance.  Educated Moslems know
+at least as much as Christians do, on these subjects, but the Rawi or
+story-teller speaks to the "Gallery."  In fact it becomes a mere
+'chaff' and The Nights give some neat specimens of our modern
+linguistic.
+
+[FN#204]  See vol. ii. 197.  "Al-Siddíkah" (fem.) is a title of
+Ayishah, who, however, does not appear to have deserved it.
+
+
+[FN#205]  The Jew's wife.
+
+[FN#206]  Here is a double entendre.  The fisherman meant a word or
+two.  The Jew understood the Shibboleth of the Moslem Creed, popularly
+known as the "Two Words,"—I testify that there is no Ilah (god) but
+Allah (the God) and I testify that Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah. 
+Pronouncing this formula would make the Jew a Moslem.  Some writers are
+surprised to see a Jew ordering a Moslem to be flogged; but the former
+was rich and the latter was poor.  Even during the worst days of Jewish
+persecutions their money-bags were heavy enough to lighten the greater
+part, if not the whole of their disabilities.  And the Moslem saying
+is, "The Jew is never your (Moslem or Christian) equal: he must be
+either above you or below you."  This is high, because unintentional
+praise of the (self-) Chosen People.
+
+[FN#207]  He understands the "two words" (Kalmatáni) the Moslem's
+double profession of belief; and Khalifah's reply embodies the popular
+idea that the number of Moslems (who will be saved) is preordained and
+that no art of man can add to it or take from it.
+
+[FN#208]  Arab.  "Mamarr al-Tujjár" (passing-place of the traders)
+which Lane renders "A chamber within the place through which the
+traders passed."  At the end of the tale (Night dccxlv.) we find him
+living in a Khan and the Bresl. Edit. (see my terminal note) makes him
+dwell in a magazine (i.e. ground- floor store-room) of a ruined Khan.
+
+[FN#209]  The text is somewhat too concise and the meaning is that the
+fumes of the Hashish he had eaten ("his mind under the influence of
+hasheesh," says Lane) suggested to him, etc.
+
+[FN#210]  Arab. "Mamrak" either a simple aperture in ceiling or roof
+for light and air or a more complicated affair of lattice- work and
+plaster; it is often octagonal and crowned with a little dome.  Lane
+calls it "Memrak," after the debased Cairene pronunciation, and shows
+its base in his sketch of a Ka'áh (M.E., Introduction).
+
+[FN#211]  Arab.  "Kamar."  This is a practice especially amongst
+pilgrims.  In Hindostan the girdle, usually a waist-shawl, is called
+Kammar-band our old "Cummerbund."  Easterns are too sensible not to
+protect the pit of the stomach, that great ganglionic centre, against
+sun, rain and wind, and now our soldiers in India wear flannel-belts on
+the march.
+
+[FN#212]  Arab.  "Fa-immá 'alayhá wa-immá bihá," i.e. whether (luck go)
+against it or (luck go) with it.
+
+[FN#213]  "O vilest of sinners!" alludes to the thief.  "A general
+plunge into worldly pursuits and pleasures announced the end of the
+pilgrimage-ceremonies. All the devotees were now "whitewashed"—the book
+of their sins was a tabula rasa: too many of them lost no time in
+making a new departure down South and in opening a fresh account"
+(Pilgrimage iii. 365).  I have noticed that my servant at Jeddah would
+carry a bottle of Raki, uncovered by a napkin, through the main
+streets.
+
+[FN#214]  The copper cucurbites in which Solomon imprisoned the
+rebellious Jinns, often alluded to in The Nights.
+
+[FN#215]  i.e. Son of the Chase: it is prob. a corruption of the
+Persian Kurnas, a pimp, a cuckold, and introduced by way of chaff,
+intelligible only to a select few "fast" men.
+
+[FN#216]  For the name see vol. ii.61, in the Tale of Ghánim bin
+'Ayyúb where the Caliph's concubine is also drugged by the Lady
+Zubaydah.
+
+
+[FN#217]  We should say, "What is this?" etc.  The lines have occurred
+before so I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#218]  Zubaydah, I have said, was the daughter of Ja'afar, son of
+the Caliph al-Mansur, second Abbaside.  The story-teller persistently
+calls her daughter of Al-Kásim for some reason of his own; and this he
+will repeat in Night dcccxxxix.
+
+[FN#219]  Arab.  "Shakhs," a word which has travelled as far as
+Hindostan.
+
+
+[FN#220]  Arab.  "Shamlah" described in dictionaries, as a cloak
+covering the whole body.  For Hizám (girdle) the Bresl. Edit. reads
+"Hirám" vulg. "Ehrám," the waist-cloth, the Pilgrim's attire.
+
+[FN#221]  He is described by Al-Siyúti (p. 309) as "very fair, tall
+handsome and of captivating appearance."
+
+[FN#222]  Arab.  "Uzn al-Kuffah" lit. "Ear of the basket," which vulgar
+Egyptians pronounce "Wizn," so "Wajh" (face) becomes "Wishsh" and so
+forth.
+
+[FN#223]  Arab.  "Bi-fardayn" = with two baskets, lit. "two singles,"
+but the context shows what is meant.  English Frail and French Fraile
+are from Arab. "Farsalah" a parcel (now esp. of coffee-beans) evidently
+derived from the low Lat. "Parcella" (Du Cange, Paris, firmin Didot
+1845).  Compare "ream," vol. v. 109.
+
+[FN#224]  Arab.  "Sátúr," a kind of chopper which here would be used
+for the purpose of splitting and cleaning and scaling the fish.
+
+[FN#225]  And, consequently, that the prayer he is about to make will
+find ready acceptance.
+
+[FN#226]  Arab. "Ruh bilá Fuzúl" (lit. excess, exceeding) still a
+popular phrase.
+
+[FN#227]  i.e. better give the fish than have my head broken.
+
+[FN#228]  Said ironicč, a favourite figure of speech with the
+Fellah: the day began badly and threatened to end unluckily.
+
+
+[FN#229]  The penalty of Theft.  See vol. i. 274.
+
+[FN#230]  This is the model of a courtly compliment; and it would still
+be admired wherever Arabs are not "frankified."
+
+[FN#231]  Arab.  "Shibábah;" Lane makes it a kind of reed- flageolet.
+
+[FN#232]  These lines occur in vol. i. 76: I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#233]  The instinctive way of juggling with Heaven like our sanding
+the sugar and going to church.
+
+[FN#234]  Arab.  "Yá Shukayr," from Shakar, being red (clay, etc.):
+Shukár is an anemone or a tulip and Shukayr is its dim. Form. Lane's
+Shaykh made it a dim. of "Ashkar" = tawny, ruddy (of complexion), so
+the former writes, "O Shukeyr."  Mr. Payne prefers "O Rosy cheeks."
+
+[FN#235]  For "Sandal," see vol. ii. {55}.  Sandalí properly means an
+Eunuch clean rasé, but here Sandal is a P.N. = Sandal-wood.
+
+[FN#236]  Arab.  "Yá mumátil," one who retards payment.
+
+[FN#237]  Arab. "Kirsh al-Nukhál" = Guts of bran, a term little fitted
+for the handsome and distinguished Persian.  But Khalifah is a
+Fellah-grazioso of normal assurance shrewd withal; he blunders like an
+Irishman of the last generation and he uses the first epithet that
+comes to his tongue.  See Night dcccxliii. for the sudden change in
+Khalifah.
+
+[FN#238]  So the Persian "May your shadow never be less" means, I have
+said, the shadow which you throw over your servant. Shade, cold water
+and fresh breezes are the joys of life in arid Arabia.
+
+[FN#239]  When a Fellah demanded money due to him by the Government of
+Egypt, he was a once imprisoned for arrears of taxes and thus prevented
+from being troublesome.  I am told that matters have improved under
+English rule, but I "doubt the fact."
+
+[FN#240]  This freak is of course not historical.  The tale- teller
+introduces it to enhance the grandeur and majesty of Harun al-Rashid,
+and the vulgar would regard it as a right kingly diversion.  Westerns
+only wonder that such things could be.
+
+[FN#241]  Uncle of the Prophet: for his death see Pilgrimage ii. 248.
+
+[FN#242]  First cousin of the Prophet, son of Abú Tálib, a brother of
+Al-Abbas from whom the Abbasides claimed descent.
+
+[FN#243]  i.e. I hope thou hast or Allah grant thou have good tidings
+to tell me.
+
+[FN#244]  Arab.  "Nákhúzah Zulayt."  The former, from the Persian
+Nákhodá or ship-captain which is also used in a playful sense "a
+godless wight," one owning no (ná) God (Khudá).  Zulayt = a low fellow,
+blackguard.
+
+[FN#245]  Yásamín and Narjis, names of slave-girls or eunuchs.
+
+[FN#246]  Arab.  Tamar-hanná, the cheapest of dyes used ever by the
+poorest classes.  Its smell, I have said, is that of newly mown hay,
+and is prized like that of the tea-rose.
+
+[FN#247]  The formula (meaning, "What has he to do here?") is by no
+means complimentary.
+
+[FN#248]  Arab.  "Jarrah" (pron. "Garrah") a "jar."  See Lane (M.E.
+chapt. v.) who was deservedly reproached by Baron von Hammer for his
+superficial notices. The "Jarrah" is of pottery, whereas the "Dist" is
+a large copper chauldron and the Khalkinah one of lesser size.
+
+[FN#249]  i.e. What a bother thou art, etc.
+
+[FN#250]  This sudden transformation, which to us seems exaggerated and
+unnatural, appears in many Eastern stories and in the biographies of
+their distinguished men, especially students. A youth cannot master his
+lessons; he sees a spider climbing a slippery wall and after repeated
+falls succeeding. Allah opens the eyes of his mind, his studies become
+easy to him, and he ends with being an Allámah (doctissimus).
+
+[FN#251]  Arab.  "Bismillah, Námí!" here it is not a blessing, but a
+simple invitation, "Now please go to sleep."
+
+[FN#252]  The modern inkcase of the Universal East is a lineal
+descendant of the wooden palette with writing reeds.  See an
+illustration of that of "Amásis, the good god and lord of the two
+lands" (circ. B.C. 1350) in British Museum (p. 41, "The Dwellers on the
+Nile," by E. A. Wallis Bridge, London, 56, Paternoster Row, 1885).
+
+[FN#253]  This is not ironical, as Lane and Payne suppose, but a
+specimen of inverted speech—Thou art in luck this time!
+
+[FN#254]  Arab.  "Marhúb" = terrible:  Lane reads "Mar'úb" = terrified.
+ But the former may also mean, threatened with something terrible.
+
+[FN#255]  i.e. in Kut al-Kulúb.
+
+[FN#256]  Lit. to the son of thy paternal uncle, i.e. Mohammed.
+
+[FN#257]  In the text he tells the whole story beginning with the
+eunuch and the hundred dinars, the chest, etc.: but — "of no avail is a
+twice-told tale."
+
+[FN#258]  Koran xxxix. 54.  I have quoted Mr. Rodwell who affects the
+Arabic formula, omitting the normal copulatives.
+
+[FN#259]  Easterns find it far easier to "get the chill of poverty out
+of their bones" than Westerns.
+
+[FN#260]  Arab.  "Dar al-Na'ím."  Name of one of the seven stages of
+the Moslem heaven.  This style of inscription dates from the days of
+the hieroglyphs.  A papyrus describing the happy town of Raamses ends
+with these lines.—
+
+     Daily is there a supply of food:
+     Within it gladness doth ever brood
+     *              *               *               *
+     Prolonged, increased; abides there Joy, etc., etc.
+
+
+[FN#261]  Arab.  "Ansár" = auxiliaries, the men of Al-Medinah
+(Pilgrimage ii. 130, etc.).
+
+
+[FN#262]  Arab.  "Asháb" = the companions of the Prophet who may number
+500 (Pilgrimage ii. 81, etc.).
+
+[FN#263]  Arab. "Hásilah" prob. a corner of a "Godown" in some
+Khan or Caravanserai.
+
+
+[FN#264]  Arab. "Funduk" from the Gr. {pandocheîon}, whence the
+Italian Fondaco e.g. at Venice the Fondaco de' Turchi.
+
+
+[FN#265]  Arab. "Astár" plur. of Satr: in the Mac. Edit. Sátúr, both
+(says Dozy) meaning "Couperet" (a hatchet). Habicht translates it "a
+measure for small fish," which seems to be a shot and a bad shot as the
+text talks only of means of carrying fish. Nor can we accept Dozy's
+emendation Astál (plur. of Satl) pails, situlć. In Petermann's Reisen
+(i. 89) Satr=assiette.
+
+[FN#266]  Which made him expect a heavy haul.
+
+[FN#267]  Arab. "Urkúb" = tendon Achilles in man hough or pastern in
+beast, etc. It is held to be an incrementative form of 'Akab (heel); as
+Kur'úb of Ka'b (heel) and Khurtúm of Khatm (snout).
+
+[FN#268]  Arab. "Karmút" and "Zakzúk." The former (pronounced Garmút)
+is one of the many Siluri (S. Carmoth Niloticus) very common and
+resembling the Shál. It is smooth and scaleless with fleshy lips and
+soft meat and as it haunts muddy bottoms it was forbidden to the
+Ancient Egyptians. The Zakzúk is the young of the Shál (Synodontis
+Schal: Seetzen); its plural form Zakázik (pronounced Zigázig) gave a
+name to the flourishing town which has succeeded to old Bubastis and of
+which I have treated in "Midian" and "Midian Revisited."
+
+[FN#269]  "Yá A'awar"=O one-eye! i.e.. the virile member. So the vulgar
+insult "Ya ibn al-aur" (as the vulgar pronounce it) "O son of a yard!"
+When Al-Mas'údi writes (Fr. Trans. vii. 106), "Udkhul usbu'ak fí
+aynih," it must not be rendered "Il faut lui faire violence": thrust
+thy finger into his eye ('Ayn) means "put thy penis up his fundament!"
+('Ayn being=Dubur). The French remarks, "On en trouverait l'équivalent
+dans les bas-fonds de notre langue." So in English "pig's eye," "blind
+eye," etc.
+
+[FN#270]  Arab. "Nabbút"=a quarterstaff: see vol. i. 234.
+
+[FN#271]  Arab. "Banní," vulg. Benni and in Lane (Lex. Bunni) the
+Cyprinus Bynni (Forsk.), a fish somewhat larger than a barbel with
+lustrous silvery scales and delicate flesh, which Sonnini believes may
+be the "Lepidotes" (smooth-scaled) mentioned by Athenćus. I may note
+that the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 332) also affects the Egyptian vulgarism
+"Farkh-Banni" of the Mac. Edit. (Night dcccxxxii.).
+
+[FN#272]  The story-teller forgets that Khalif had neither basket nor
+knife.
+
+[FN#273]  Arab. "Rayhán" which may here mean any scented herb.
+
+[FN#274]  In the text "Fard Kalmah," a vulgarism. The Mac. Edit.
+(Night dcccxxxv.) more aptly says, "Two words" (Kalmatáni, vulg.
+Kalmatayn) the Twofold Testimonies to the Unity of Allah and the
+Mission of His Messenger.
+
+
+[FN#275]  The lowest Cairene chaff which has no respect for itself or
+others.
+
+[FN#276]  Arab. "Karrat azlá hú": alluding to the cool skin of healthy
+men when digesting a very hearty meal.
+
+[FN#277]  This is the true Fellah idea. A peasant will go up to his
+proprietor with the "rint" in gold pieces behind his teeth and undergo
+an immense amount of flogging before he spits them out. Then he will
+return to his wife and boast of the number of sticks he has eaten
+instead of paying at once and his spouse will say, "Verily thou art a
+man." Europeans know nothing of the Fellah. Napoleon Buonaparte, for
+political reasons, affected great pity for him and horror of his
+oppressors, the Beys and Pashas; and this affectation gradually became
+public opinion. The Fellah must either tyrannise or be tyrannised over;
+he is never happier than under a strong-handed despotism and he has
+never been more miserable than under British rule or rather misrule.
+Our attempts to constitutionalise him have made us the laughing-stock
+of Europe.
+
+[FN#278]  The turban is a common substitute for a purse with the lower
+classes of Egyptians; and an allusion to the still popular practice of
+turban-snatching will be found in vol. i. p. 259.
+
+[FN#279]  Arab. "Sálih," a devotee; here, a naked Dervish.
+
+[FN#280]  Here Khalif is made a conspicuous figure in Baghdad like
+Boccaccio's Calandrino and Co. He approaches in type the old Irishman
+now extinct, destroyed by the reflux action of Anglo-America (U.S.)
+upon the miscalled "Emerald Isle." He blunders into doing and saying
+funny things whose models are the Hibernian "bulls" and acts purely
+upon the impulse of the moment, never reflecting till (possibly) after
+all is over.
+
+[FN#281]  Arab. "Kaylúlah," explained in vol. i. 51.
+
+[FN#282]  i.e. thy bread lawfully gained. The "Bawwák" (trumpeter) like
+the "Zammár" (piper of the Mac. Edit.) are discreditable craftsmen,
+associating with Almahs and loose women and often serving as their
+panders.
+
+[FN#283]  i.e. he was indecently clad. Man's "shame" extends from navel
+to knees. See vol vi. 118.
+
+[FN#284]  Rashád would be=garden-cresses or stones: Rashíd the
+heaven-directed.
+
+[FN#285]  Arab. "Uff 'alayka"=fie upon thee! Uff=lit. Sordes Aurium and
+Tuff (a similar term of disgust)=Sordes unguinum. To the English reader
+the blows administered to Khalif appear rather hard measure. But a
+Fellah's back is thoroughly broken to the treatment and he would take
+ten times as much punishment for a few piastres.
+
+[FN#286]  Arab. "Zurayk" dim. of Azrak=blue-eyed. See vol. iii. 104.
+
+[FN#287]  Of Baghdad.
+
+[FN#288]  Arab. "Hásil," i.e. cell in a Khan for storing goods:
+elsewhere it is called a Makhzan (magazine) with the same sense.
+
+[FN#289]  The Bresl. text (iv. 347) abbreviates, or rather omits; so
+that in translation details must be supplied to make sense.
+
+[FN#290]  Arab. "Kamán," vulgar Egyptian, a contraction from Kamá (as)
++ anna (since, because). So " Kamán shuwayh"=wait a bit; " Kamán
+marrah"=once more and "Wa Kamána-ka"=that is why.
+
+[FN#291]  i.e. Son of the Eagle: See vol. iv. 177. Here, however, as
+the text shows it is hawk or falcon. The name is purely fanciful and
+made mnemonically singular.
+
+[FN#292]  The Egyptian Fellah knows nothing of boxing like the
+Hausá man; but he is fond of wrestling after a rude and
+uncultivated fashion, which would cause shouts of laughter in
+Cumberland and Cornwall. And there are champions in this line,
+See vol. ii. 93.
+
+
+[FN#293]  The usual formula. See vol. ii. 5.
+
+[FN#294]  As the Fellah still does after drinking a cuplet ("fingán" he
+calls it) of sugared coffee.
+
+[FN#295]  He should have said "white," the mourning colour under the
+Abbasides.
+
+[FN#296]  Anglicč, "Fine feathers make fine birds"; and in Eastern
+parlance, "Clothe the reed and it will become a bride." (Labbis
+al-Búsah tabkí 'Arúsah, Spitta Bey, No. 275.) I must allow myself a few
+words of regret for the loss of this Savant, one of the most
+singleminded men known to me. He was vilely treated by the Egyptian
+Government, under the rule of the Jew-Moslem Riyáz; and, his health not
+allowing him to live in Austria, he died shortly after return home.
+
+[FN#297]  Arab. " Saub (Tobe) 'Atábi": see vol. iii. 149.
+
+[FN#298]  In text "Kimkhá," which Dozy also gives Kumkh=chenille,
+tissu de soie veloutee: Damasqučte de soie or et argent de
+Venise, du Levant , ŕ fleurs, etc. It comes from Kamkháb or
+Kimkháb, a cloth of gold, the well-known Indian "Kimcob."
+
+
+[FN#299]  Here meaning=Enter in Allah's name!
+
+[FN#300]  The Arabs have a saying, "Wine breeds gladness, music
+merriment and their offspring is joy."
+
+[FN#301]  Arab. "Jokh al-Saklát," rich kind of brocade on broadcloth.
+
+[FN#302]  Arab. "Hanabát," which Dozy derives from O. German
+Hnapf, Hnap now Napf: thence too the Lat. Hanapus and Hanaperium:
+Ital. Anappo, Nappo; Provenc. Enap and French and English
+"Hanap"= rich bowl, basket, bag. But this is known even to the
+dictionaries.
+
+
+[FN#303]  Arab. " Kirám," nobles, and " Kurúm," vines, a word which
+appears in Carmel=Karam-El (God's vineyard).
+
+[FN#304]  Arab. "Suláf al-Khandarísí," a contradiction. Suláf=the
+ptisane of wine. Khandarísí, from Greek {chóndros}, lit. gruel, applies
+to old wine.
+
+[FN#305]  i.e. in bridal procession.
+
+[FN#306]  Arab. "Al-'Arús, one of the innumerable tropical names given
+to wine by the Arabs. Mr. Payne refers to Grangeret de la Grange,
+Anthologie Arabe, p. 190.
+
+[FN#307]  Here the text of the Mac. Edition is resumed.
+
+[FN#308]  i.e. "Adornment of (good) Qualities." See the name punned on
+in Night dcccli. Lane omits this tale because it contains the illicit
+"Amours of a Christian and a Jewess who dupes her husband in various
+abominable ways." The text has been taken from the Mac. and the Bresl.
+Edits. x. 72 etc. In many parts the former is a mere Epitome.
+
+[FN#309]  The face of her who owns the garden.
+
+[FN#310]  i.e. I am no public woman.
+
+[FN#311]  i.e. with the sight of the garden and its mistress— purposely
+left vague.
+
+[FN#312]  Arab. "Dádat." Night dcclxxvi. vol. vii. p. 372.
+
+[FN#313]  Meaning respectively "Awaking" (or blowing hard), "Affairs"
+(or Misfortunes) and "Flowing" (blood or water). They are evidently
+intended for the names of Jewish slave-girls.
+
+[FN#314]  i.e. the brow-curls, or accroche-cÂurs. See vol. i. 168.
+
+[FN#315]  Arab. "Wisháh" usually applied to woman's broad belt,
+stomacher (Al-Hariri Ass. of Rayy).
+
+[FN#317]  The old Greek "Stephane."
+
+[FN#317]  Alluding to the popular fancy of the rain-drop which becomes
+a pearl.
+
+[FN#318]  Arab. "Ghází"=one who fights for the faith.
+
+[FN#319]  i.e. people of different conditions.
+
+[FN#320]  The sudden change appears unnatural to Europeans; but an
+Eastern girl talking to a strange man in a garden is already half won.
+The beauty, however, intends to make trial of her lover's generosity
+before yielding.
+
+[FN#321]  These lines have occurred in the earlier part of the
+Night: I quote Mr. Payne for variety.
+
+
+[FN#322]  Arab. "Al-Sháh mát"=the King is dead, Pers. and Arab.
+grotesquely mixed: Europeans explain "Checkmate" in sundry ways, all
+more or less wrong.
+
+[FN#323]  Cheating (Ghadr) is so common that Easterns who have no
+tincture of Western civilisation look upon it not only as venial but
+laudable when one can take advantage of a simpleton. No idea of
+"honour" enters into it. Even in England the old lady whist-player of
+the last generation required to be looked after pretty closely—if Mr.
+Charles Dickens is to be trusted.
+
+[FN#324]  Arab. "Al-Gháliyah," whence the older English Algallia.
+See vol. i., 128. The Voyage of Linschoten, etc. Hakluyt Society
+MDCCCLXXXV., with notes by my learned friend the late Arthur Coke
+Burnell whose early death was so sore a loss to Oriental
+students.
+
+
+[FN#325]  A favourite idiom, "What news bringest thou?" ("O
+Asám!" Arab. Prov. ii. 589) used by Háris bin Amrú, King of
+Kindah, to the old woman Asám whom he had sent to inspect a girl
+he purposed marrying.
+
+
+[FN#326]  Amongst the Jews the Arab Salám becomes "Shalúm" and a
+Jewess would certainly not address this ceremonial greeting to a
+Christian. But Eastern storytellers care little for these
+minutić; and the "Adornment of Qualities," was not by birth a
+Jewess as the sequel will show.
+
+
+[FN#327]  Arab. "Sálifah," the silken plaits used as adjuncts.
+See vol. iii, 313.
+
+
+[FN#328]  I have translated these lines in vol. i. 131, and quoted Mr.
+Torrens in vol. iv. 235. Here I borrow from Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#329]  Mr. Payne notes:—Apparently some place celebrated for its
+fine bread, as Gonesse in seventeenth-century France. It occurs also in
+Bresl. Edit. (iv. 203) and Dozy does not understand it. But Arj the
+root=good odour.
+
+[FN#330]  Arab. "Tás," from Pers. Tásah. M. Charbonneau a Professor of
+Arabic at Constantine and Member of the Asiatic Soc. Paris, who
+published the Histoire de Chams-Eddine et Nour-Eddine with Maghrabi
+punctuation (Paris, Hachette, 1852) remarks the similarity of this word
+to Tazza and a number of other whimsical coincidences as Zauj, {zygós}
+jugum; Inkár, negare; matrah, matelas; Ishtirá, acheter, etc. To which
+I may add wasat, waist; zabad, civet; Bás, buss (kiss); uzrub (pron.
+Zrub), drub; Kat', cut; Tarík, track; etc., etc.
+
+[FN#331]  We should say "To her (I drink)" etc.
+
+[FN#332]  This is ad captandum. The lovers becoming Moslems would
+secure the sympathy of the audience. In the sequel (Night dccclviii) we
+learn that the wilful young woman was a born Moslemah who had married a
+Jew but had never Judaized.
+
+[FN#333]  The doggerel of this Kasidah is not so phenomenal as some we
+have seen.
+
+[FN#334]  Arab. "'Andam"=Brazil wood, vol. iii. 263.
+
+[FN#335]  Arab. " Himŕ." See supra, p. 102.
+
+[FN#336]  i.e. her favours were not lawful till the union was
+sanctified by heartwhole (if not pure) love.
+
+[FN#337]  Arab. "Mansúr wa munazzam=oratio soluta et ligata.
+
+[FN#338]  i.e. the cupbearers.
+
+[FN#339]  Which is not worse than usual.
+
+[FN#340]  i.e. "Ornament of Qualities."
+
+[FN#341]  The 'Akík, a mean and common stone, ranks high in
+Moslem poetry on account of the saying of Mohammed recorded by
+Ali and Ayishah "Seal with seals of Carnelian." ('Akik.)
+
+
+[FN#342]  See note ii. at the end of this volume.
+
+[FN#343]  Arab. "Mahall" as opposed to the lady's "Manzil," which would
+be better "Makám." The Arabs had many names for their old habitations,
+e.g.; Kubbah, of brick; Sutrah, of sun-dried mud; Hazírah, of wood;
+Tiráf, a tent of leather; Khabáa, of wool; Kash'a, of skins; Nakhád, of
+camel's or goat's hair; Khaymah, of cotton cloth; Wabar, of soft hair
+as the camel's undercoat and Fustát (the well-known P.N.) a tent of
+horsehair or any hair (Sha'ar) but Wabar.
+
+[FN#344]  This is the Maghribi form of the Arab. Súk=a bazar-street,
+known from Tanjah (Tangiers) to Timbuctoo.
+
+[FN#345]  Arab. "Walímah" usually=a wedding-feast. According to the
+learned Nasíf al-Yazají the names of entertainments are as follows:
+Al-Jafalŕ=a general invitation, opp. to Al-Nakarŕ, especial; Khurs, a
+childbirth feast; 'Akíkah, when the boy-babe is first shaved;
+A'zár=circumcision-feast; Hizák, when the boy has finished his
+perlection of the Koran; Milák, on occasion of marriage-offer; Wazímah,
+a mourning entertainment; Wakírah=a "house-warming"; Nakí'ah, on
+returning from wayfare; 'Akírah, at beginning of the month Rajab;
+Kirŕ=a guest-feast and Maadubah, a feast for other cause; any feast.
+
+[FN#346]  Arab. "Anistaná" the pop. phrase=thy company gladdens us.
+
+[FN#347]  Here "Muákhát" or making mutual brotherhood would be=entering
+into a formal agreement for partnership. For the forms of "making
+brotherhood," see vol. iii. {151}.
+
+[FN#348]  Arab. "Ishárah" in classical Arab. signs with the finger
+(beckoning); Aumá with the hand; Ramz, with the lips; Khalaj, with the
+eyelids (wink); and Ghamz with the eye. Aumáz is a furtive glance,
+especially of women, and Ilház, a side-glance from lahaza, limis oculis
+intuitus est. See Preston's Al-Hariri, p. 181.
+
+[FN#349]  Arab. "Haudaj" (Hind. Haudah, vulg. Howda=elephant-saddle),
+the women's camel-litter, a cloth stretched over a wooden frame. See
+the Prize-poem of Lebid, v. 12.
+
+[FN#350]  i.e. the twelve days' visit.
+
+[FN#351]  See note, vol. vii. {226}. So Dryden (Virgil):—
+
+          "And the hoarse raven on the blasted bough
+          By croaking to the left presaged the coming blow."
+
+
+And Gay (Fable xxxvii.),
+
+          "That raven on the left-hand oak,
+          Curse on his ill-betiding croak!"
+
+
+In some Persian tales two crows seen together are a good omen.
+
+[FN#352]  Vulgar Moslems hold that each man's fate is written in the
+sutures of his skull but none can read the lines. See vol. iii. 123.
+
+[FN#353]  i.e. cease not to bemoan her lot whose moon-faced beloved
+ones are gone.
+
+[FN#354]  Arab. "Rukb" used of a return caravan; and also meaning
+travellers on camels. The vulgar however apply "Rákib" (a camel-rider)
+to a man on horseback who is properly Fáris plur. "Khayyálah," while
+"Khayyál" is a good rider. Other names are "Fayyál" (elephant-rider),
+Baghghál (mule-rider) and Hammár (donkey-rider).
+
+[FN#355]  A popular exaggeration. See vol. i. 117
+
+[FN#356]  Lit. Empty of tent-ropes (Atnáb).
+
+[FN#357]  Arab. "'Abír," a fragrant powder sprinkled on face, body and
+clothes. In India it is composed of rice flower or powdered bark of the
+mango, Deodar (uvaria longifolia), Sandalwood, lign-aloes or curcuma
+(zerumbat or zedoaria) with rose-flowers, camphor, civet and
+anise-seed. There are many of these powders: see in Herklots Chiksá,
+Phul, Ood, Sundul, Uggur, and Urgujja.
+
+[FN#358]  i.e. fair faced boys and women. These lines are from the
+Bresl. Edit. x. 160.
+
+[FN#359]  i.e. the Chief Kazi. For the origin of the Office and title
+see vol. ii. 90, and for the Kazi al-Arab who administers justice among
+the Badawin see Pilgrimage iii. 45.
+
+[FN#360]  Arab. "Raas al-Mál"=capital, as opposed to Ribá or
+Ribh=interest. This legal expression has been adopted by all
+Moslem races.
+
+
+[FN#361]  Our Aden which is thus noticed by Abulfeda (A.D. 1331): "Aden
+in the lowlands of Tehámah * * * also called Abyana from a man (who
+found it?), built upon the seashore, a station (for land travellers)
+and a sailing-place for merchant ships India-bound, is dry and
+sunparcht (Kashifah, squalid, scorbutic) and sweet water must be
+imported. * * * It lies 86 parasangs from San'á but Ibn Haukal
+following the travellers makes it three stages. The city, built on the
+skirt of a wall-like mountain, has a watergate and a landgate known as
+Bab al-Sákayn. But 'Adan Lá'ah (the modest, the timid, the less known
+as opposed to Abyan, the better known?) is a city in the mountains of
+Sabir, Al-Yaman, whence issued the supporters of the Fatimite Caliphs
+of Egypt." 'Adan etymologically means in Arab. and Heb. pleasure
+({hédone}), Eden (the garden), the Heaven in which spirits will see
+Allah and our "Coal-hole of the East," which we can hardly believe ever
+to have been an Eden. Mr. Badger who supplied me with this note
+described the two Adens in a paper in Ocean Highways, which he cannot
+now find. In the 'Ajáib al-Makhlúkát, Al-Kazwíni (ob. A.D. 1275)
+derives the name from Ibn Sinán bin Ibrahím; and is inclined there to
+place the Bír al-Mu'attal (abandoned well) and the Kasr alMashíd (lofty
+palace) of Koran xxii. 44; and he adds "Kasr al-Misyad" to those
+mentioned in the tale of Sayf al-Mulúk and Badí'a al-Jamál.
+
+[FN#362]  Meaning that she had been carried to the Westward of
+Meccah.
+
+
+[FN#363]  Arab. "Zahrawíyah" which contains a kind of double entendre.
+Fátimah the Prophet's only daughter is entitled Al-Zahrá the
+"bright-blooming"; and this is also an epithet of Zohrah the planet
+Venus. For Fatimah see vol. vi. 145. Of her Mohammed said, "Love your
+daughters, for I too am a father of daughters" and, "Love them, they
+are the comforters, the dearlings." The Lady appears in Moslem history
+a dreary young woman (died ćt. 28) who made this world, like Honorius,
+a hell in order to win a next-world heaven. Her titles are Zahrá and
+Batúl (Pilgrimage ii. 90) both signifying virgin. Burckhardt translates
+Zahrá by "bright blooming" (the etymological sense): it denotes
+literally a girl who has not menstruated, in which state of purity the
+Prophet's daughter is said to have lived and died. "Batúl" has the
+sense of a "clean maid" and is the title given by Eastern Christians to
+the Virgin Mary. The perpetual virginity of Fatimah even after
+motherhood (Hasan and Husayn) is a point of orthodoxy in Al-Islam as
+Juno's with the Romans and Umá's with the Hindú worshippers of Shiva.
+During her life Mohammed would not allow Ali a second wife, and he held
+her one of the four perfects, the other three being Asia wife of
+"Pharaoh," the Virgin Mary and Khadijah his own wife. She caused much
+scandal after his death by declaring that he had left her the Fadak
+estate (Abulfeda I, 133, 273) a castle with a fine palm-orchard near
+Khaybar. Abu Bakr dismissed the claim quoting the Apostle's Hadis, "We
+prophets are folk who will away nothing: what we leave is alms-gift to
+the poor," and Shí'ahs greatly resent his decision. (See Dabistan iii.
+5152 for a different rendering of the words.) I have given the popular
+version of the Lady Fatimah's death and burial (Pilgrimage ii. 315) and
+have remarked that Moslem historians delight in the obscurity which
+hangs over her last resting-place, as if it were an honour even for the
+receptacle of her ashes to be concealed from the eyes of men. Her
+repute is a curious comment on Tom Hood's
+
+"Where woman has never a soul to save."
+
+[FN#364]  For Sharif and Sayyid, descendants of Mohammed, see vol. iv.
+170.
+
+[FN#365]  These lines have occurred with variants in vol. iii. 257, and
+iv. 50.
+
+[FN#366]  Arab. "Hazrat," esp. used in India and corresponding with our
+medićval "prćsentia vostra."
+
+[FN#367]  This wholesale slaughter by the tale-teller of worshipful and
+reverend men would bring down the gallery like a Spanish tragedy in
+which all the actors are killed.
+
+[FN#368]  They are called indifferently "Ruhbán"=monks or
+"Batárikah"=patriarchs. See vol. ii. 89.
+
+
+[FN#369]  Arab. "Khilál." The toothpick, more esteemed by the Arabs
+than by us, is, I have said, often used by the poets as an emblem of
+attenuation without offending good taste. Nizami (Layla u Majnún)
+describes a lover as "thin as a toothpick." The "elegant" Hariri (Ass.
+of Barkaid) describes a toothpick with feminine attributes, "shapely of
+shape, attractive, provocative of appetite, delicate as the leanest of
+lovers, polished as a poinard and bending as a green bough."
+
+[FN#370]  From Bresl. Edit. x. 194.
+
+[FN#371]  Trébutien (vol. ii. 344 et seq.) makes the seven monks sing
+as many anthems, viz. (1) Congregamini; (2) Vias tuas demonstra mihi;
+(3) Dominus illuminatis; (4) Custodi linguam; (5) Unam petii a Domino;
+(6) Nec adspiciat me visus, and (7) Turbatus est a furore oculus meus.
+Dánis the Abbot chaunts Anima mea turbata est valdč.
+
+[FN#372]  A neat and characteristic touch: the wilful beauty eats and
+drinks before she thinks of her lover. Alas for Masrur married.
+
+[FN#373]  The unfortunate Jew, who seems to have been a model husband
+(Orientally speaking), would find no pity with a coffee-house audience
+because he had been guilty of marrying a Moslemah. The union was null
+and void therefore the deliberate murder was neither high nor petty
+treason. But, The Nights, though their object is to adorn a tale, never
+deliberately attempt to point a moral and this is one of their many
+charms.
+
+[FN#374]  These lines have repeatedly occurred. I quote Mr.
+Payne.
+
+
+[FN#375]  i.e. by the usual expiation. See vol. {ii. 186}.
+
+[FN#376]  Arab. "Shammirí"=up and ready!
+
+[FN#377]  I borrow the title from the Bresl. Edit. x. 204. Mr. Payne
+prefers "Ali Noureddin and the Frank King's Daughter." Lane omits also
+this tale because it resembles Ali Shar and Zumurrud (vol. iv. 187) and
+Alá al-Din Abu al-Shámát (vol. iv. 29), "neither of which is among the
+text of the collection." But he has unconsciously omitted one of the
+highest interest. Dr. Bacher (Germ. Orient. Soc.) finds the original in
+Charlemagne's daughter Emma and his secretary Eginhardt as given in
+Grimm's Deutsche Sagen. I shall note the points of resemblance as the
+tale proceeds. The correspondence with the King of France may be a
+garbled account of the letters which passed between Harun al-Rashid and
+Nicephorus, "the Roman dog."
+
+[FN#378]  Arab. "Allaho Akbar," the Moslem slogan or war-cry. See vol.
+ii. 89.
+
+[FN#379]  The gate-keeper of Paradise. See vol. iii. 15, 20.
+
+[FN#380]  Negroes. Vol. iii. 75.
+
+[FN#381]  Arab. "Nakat," with the double meaning of to spot and to
+handsel especially dancing and singing women; and, as Mr. Payne notes
+in this acceptation it is practically equivalent to the English phrase
+"to mark (or cross) the palm with silver." I have translated "Anwá" by
+Pleiads; but it means the setting of one star and simultaneous rising
+of another foreshowing rain. There are seven Anwá (plur. of nawa) in
+the Solar year viz. Al-Badri (Sept.-Oct.); Al-Wasmiyy (late autumn and
+December); Al-Waliyy (to April); Al-Ghamír (June); Al-Busriyy (July);
+Bárih al-Kayz (August) and Ahrák al-Hawá extending to September 8.
+These are tokens of approaching rain, metaphorically used by the poets
+to express "bounty". See Preston's Hariri (p. 43) and Chenery upon the
+Ass. of the Banu Haram.
+
+[FN#382]  i.e. They trip and stumble in their hurry to get there.
+
+[FN#383]  Arab. "Kumm" = sleeve or petal. See vol. v. 32.
+
+[FN#384]  Arab. "Kiráb" = sword-case of wood, the sheath being of
+leather.
+
+[FN#385]  Arab. "Akr kayrawán," both rare words.
+
+[FN#386]  A doubtful tradition in the Mishkát al-Masábih declares that
+every pomegranate contains a grain from Paradise. See vol. i. 134. The
+Koranic reference is to vi. 99.
+
+[FN#387]  Arab. "Aswad," lit. black but used for any dark colour, here
+green as opposed to the lighter yellow.
+
+[FN#388]  The idea has occurred in vol. i. 158.
+
+[FN#389]  So called from the places where they grow.
+
+[FN#390]  See vol. vii. for the almond-apricot whose stone is cracked
+to get at the kernel.
+
+[FN#391]  For Roum see vol. iv. 100: in Morocco "Roumi" means simply a
+European. The tetrastich alludes to the beauty of the Greek slaves.
+
+[FN#392]  Arab. "Ahlan" in adverb form lit. = "as one of the
+household": so in the greeting "Ahlan wa Sahlan" (and at thine ease),
+wa Marhabá (having a wide free place).
+
+[FN#393]  For the Sufrah table-cloth see vol. i. 178.
+
+[FN#394]  See vol. iii. 302, for the unclean allusion in fig and
+sycamore.
+
+[FN#395]  In the text "of Tor": see vol. ii. 242. The pear is mentioned
+by Homer and grows wild in South Europe. Dr. Victor Hehn (The
+Wanderings of Plants, etc.) comparing the Gr.{ápios} with the Lat.
+Pyrus, suggests that the latter passed over to the Kelts and Germans
+amongst whom the fruit was not indigenous. Our fine pears are mostly
+from the East. e.g. the "bergamot" is the Beg Armud, Prince of Pears,
+from Angora.
+
+[FN#396]  i.e. "Royal," it may or may not come from Sultaníyah, a town
+near Baghdad. See vol. i. 83; where it applies to oranges and citrons.
+
+[FN#397]  'Andam = Dragon's blood: see vol. iii. 263.
+
+[FN#398]  Arab. "Jamár," the palm-pith and cabbage, both eaten by
+Arabs with sugar.
+
+
+[FN#399]  Arab. "Anwár" = lights, flowers (mostly yellow): hence the
+Moroccan "N'wár," with its usual abuse of Wakf or quiescence.
+
+[FN#400]  Mr. Payne quotes Eugčne Fromentin, "Un Eté dans le Sahara,"
+Paris, 1857, p. 194. Apricot drying can be seen upon all the roofs at
+Damascus where, however, the season for each fruit is unpleasantly
+short, ending almost as soon as it begins.
+
+[FN#401]  Arab. "Jalájal" = small bells for falcons: in Port.
+cascaveis, whence our word.
+
+[FN#402]  Khulanján. Sic all editions; but Khalanj, or Khaulanj adj.
+Khalanji, a tree with a strong-smelling wood which held in hand as a
+chaplet acts as perfume, as is probably intended. In Span. Arabic it is
+the Erica-wood. The "Muhit" tells us that is a tree parcel yellow and
+red growing in parts of India and China, its leaf is that of the
+Tamarisk (Tarfá); its flower is coloured red, yellow and white; it
+bears a grain like mustard-seed (Khardal) and of its wood they make
+porringers. Hence the poet sings,
+
+"Yut 'amu 'l-shahdu fí 'l-jifáni, wa yuska * Labanu 'l-Bukhti fi
+Kusá'i 'l-Khalanji:
+Honey's served to them in platters for food; * Camels' milk in
+bowls of the Khalanj wood."
+
+
+The pl. Khalánij is used by Himyán bin Kaháfah in this "bayt",
+
+"Hattá izá má qazati 'l-Hawáijá * Wa malaat Halába-há
+'l-Khalánijá:
+Until she had done every work of hers * And with sweet milk had
+filled the porringers."
+
+
+[FN#403]  In text Al-Shá'ir Al-Walahán, vol. iii. 226.
+
+[FN#404]  The orange I have said is the growth of India and the golden
+apples of the Hesperides were not oranges but probably golden nuggets.
+Captain Rolleston (Globe, Feb. 5, '84, on "Morocco-Lixus") identifies
+the Garden with the mouth of the Lixus River while M. Antichan would
+transfer it to the hideous and unwholesome Bissagos Archipelago.
+
+[FN#405]  Arab. "Ikyán," the living gold which is supposed to grow in
+the ground.
+
+[FN#406]  For the Kubbad or Captain Shaddock's fruit see vol. ii. 310,
+where it is misprinted Kubád.
+
+[FN#407]  Full or Fill in Bresl. Edit. = Arabian jessamine or cork-tree
+({phellón}. The Bul. and Mac. Edits. read "filfil" = pepper or
+palm-fibre.
+
+[FN#408]  Arab. "Sumbul al-'Anbari"; the former word having been
+introduced into England by patent medicines. "Sumbul" in Arab. and
+Pers. means the hyacinth, the spikenard or the Sign Virgo.
+
+[FN#409]  Arab. "Lisán al-Hamal" lit. = Lamb's tongue.
+
+[FN#410]  See in Bresl. Edit. X, 221. Taif, a well-known town in the
+mountain region East of Meccah, and not in the Holy Land, was once
+famous for scented goat's leather. It is considered to be a "fragment
+of Syria" (Pilgrimage ii. 207) and derives its name = the
+circumambulator from its having circuited pilgrim-like round the
+Ka'abah (Ibid.).
+
+[FN#411]  Arab. "Mikhaddah" = cheek-pillow: Ital. guanciale. In
+Bresl. Edit. Mudawwarah (a round cushion) Sinjabiyah (of Ermine).
+For "Mudawwarah" see vol. iv. 135.
+
+
+[FN#412]  "Coffee" is here evidently an anachronism and was probably
+inserted by the copyist. See vol. v. 169, for its first metnion. But
+"Kahwah" may have preserved its original meaning = strong old wine
+(vol. ii. 261); and the amount of wine-drinking and drunkenness proves
+that the coffee movement had not set in.
+
+[FN#413]  i.e. they are welcome. In Marocco "Lá baas" means, "I am
+pretty well" (in health).
+
+[FN#414]  The Rose (Ward) in Arab. is masculine, sounding to us most
+uncouth. But there is a fem. form Wardah = a single rose.
+
+[FN#415]  Arab. "Akmám," pl. of Kumm, a sleeve, a petal. See vol. iv.
+107 and supra p. 267. The Moslem woman will show any part of her person
+rather than her face, instinctively knowing that the latter may be
+recognised whereas the former cannot. The traveller in the outer East
+will see ludicrous situations in which the modest one runs away with
+hind parts bare and head and face carefully covered.
+
+[FN#416]  Arab. "Ikyán" which Mr. Payne translates "vegetable gold"
+very picturesquely but not quite preserving the idea. See supra p. 272.
+
+[FN#417]  It is the custom for fast youths, in Egypt, Syria, and
+elsewhere to stick small gold pieces, mere spangles of metal on the
+brows, cheeks and lips of the singing and dancing girls and the
+perspiration and mask of cosmetics make them adhere for a time till
+fresh movement shakes them off.
+
+[FN#418]  See the same idea in vol. i. 132, and 349.
+
+[FN#419]  "They will ask thee concerning wine and casting of lots; say:
+'In both are great sin and great advantages to mankind; but the sin of
+them both is greater than their advantage.'" See Koran ii. 216.
+Mohammed seems to have made up his mind about drinking by slow degrees;
+and the Koranic law is by no means so strict as the Mullahs have made
+it. The prohibitions, revealed at widely different periods and varying
+in import and distinction, have been discussed by Al-Bayzáwi in his
+commentary on the above chapter. He says that the first revelation was
+in chapt. xvi. 69 but, as the passage was disregarded, Omar and others
+consulted the Apostle who replied to them in chapt. ii. 216. Then, as
+this also was unnoticed, came the final decision in chapt. v. 92,
+making wine and lots the work of Satan. Yet excuses are never wanting
+to the Moslem, he can drink Champagne and Cognac, both unknown in
+Mohammed's day and he can use wine and spirits medicinally, like sundry
+of ourselves, who turn up the nose of contempt at the idea of drinking
+for pleasure.
+
+[FN#420]  i.e. a fair-faced cup-bearer. The lines have occurred before:
+so I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#421]  It is the custom of the Arabs to call their cattle to water
+by whistling; not to whistle to them, as Europeans do, whilst making
+water.
+
+[FN#422]  i.e. bewitching. See vol. i. 85. These incompatible metaphors
+are brought together by the Saj'a (prose rhyme) in—"iyah."
+
+[FN#423]  Mesopotamian Christians, who still turn towards Jerusalem,
+face the West, instead of the East, as with Europeans: here the monk is
+so dazed that he does not know what to do.
+
+[FN#424]  Arab. "Bayt Sha'ar" = a house of hair (tent) or a couplet of
+verse. Watad (a tentpeg) also is prosodical, a foot when the two first
+letters are "moved" (vowelled) and the last is jazmated (quiescent),
+e.g. Lakad. It is termed Majmú'a (united), as opposed to "Mafrúk"
+(separated), e.g. Kabla, when the "moved" consonants are disjoined by a
+quiescent.
+
+[FN#425]  Lit. standing on their heads, which sounds ludicrous enough
+in English, not in Arabic.
+
+[FN#426]  These lines are in vol. iii. 251. I quote Mr. Payne who notes
+"The bodies of Eastern women of the higher classes by dint of continual
+maceration, Esther-fashion, in aromatic oils and essences, would
+naturally become impregnated with the sweet scents of the cosmetics
+used."
+
+[FN#427]  These lines occur in vol. i. 218: I quote Torrens for
+variety.
+
+[FN#428]  So we speak of a "female screw." The allusion is to the
+dove-tailing of the pieces. This personification of the lute has
+occurred before: but I solicit the reader's attention to it; it has a
+fulness of Oriental flavour all its own.
+
+[FN#429]  I again solicit the reader's attention to the simplicity, the
+pathos and the beauty of this personification of the lute.
+
+[FN#430]  "They" for she.
+
+[FN#431]  The Arabs very justly make the "'Andalib" = nightingale,
+masculine.
+
+[FN#432]  Anwár = lights or flowers: See Night dccclxv. supra p. 270.
+
+[FN#433]  These couplets have occurred in vol. i. 168; so I quote
+Mr. Payne.
+
+
+[FN#434]  i.e. You may have his soul but leave me his body: company
+with him in the next world and let me have him in this.
+
+[FN#435]  Alluding to the Koranic (cxiii. 1.), "I take refuge with the
+Lord of the Daybreak from the mischief of that which He hath created,
+etc." This is shown by the first line wherein occurs the Koranic word
+"Ghásik" (cxiii. 3) which may mean the first darkness when it
+overspreadeth or the moon when it is eclipsed.
+
+[FN#436]  "Malak" = level ground; also tract on the Nile sea.
+Lane M.E. ii. 417, and Bruckhardt Nubia 482.
+
+
+[FN#437]  This sentiment has often been repeated.
+
+[FN#438]  The owl comes in because "Búm" (pron. boom) rhymes with
+Kayyúm = the Eternal.
+
+
+[FN#439]  For an incident like this see my Pilgrimmage (vol. i. 176).
+How true to nature the whole scene is; the fond mother excusing her boy
+and the practical father putting the excuse aside. European paternity,
+however, would probably exclaim, "The beast's in liquor!"
+
+[FN#440]  In ancient times this seems to have been the universal and
+perhaps instinctive treatment of the hand that struck a father. By Nur
+al-Din's flight the divorce-oath became technically null and void for
+Taj al-Din had sworn to mutilate his son next morning.
+
+[FN#441]  So Roderic Random and his companions "sewed their money
+between the lining and the waistband of their breeches, except some
+loose silver for immediate expense on the road." For a description of
+these purses see Pilgrimage i. 37.
+
+[FN#442]  Arab. Rashid (our Rosetta), a corruption of the Coptic
+Trashit; ever famous for the Stone.
+
+
+[FN#443]  For a parallel passage in praise of Alexandria see vol. i.
+290, etc. The editor or scribe was evidently an Egyptian.
+
+[FN#444]  Arab. "Saghr" (Thagr), the opening of the lips showing the
+teeth. See vol. i. p. 156.
+
+[FN#445]  Iskandariyah, the city of Iskandar or Alexander the Great,
+whose "Soma" was attractive to the Greeks as the corpse of the Prophet
+Daniel afterwards was to the Moslems. The choice of site, then occupied
+only by the pauper village of Rhacotis, is one proof of many that the
+Macedonian conqueror had the inspiration of genius.
+
+[FN#446]  i.e. paid them down. See vol. i. 281; vol. ii. 145.
+
+[FN#447]  Arab. "Baltiyah," Sonnini's "Bolti" and Nébuleux (because it
+is dozid-coloured when fried), the Labrus Niloticus from its labra or
+large fleshy lips. It lives on the "leaves of Paradise" hence the flesh
+is delicate and savoury and it is caught with the épervier or sweep-net
+in the Nile, canals and pools.
+
+[FN#448]  Arab. "Liyyah," not a delicate comparison, but exceedingly
+apt besides rhyming to "Baltiyah." The cauda of the "five-quarter
+sheep, whose tails are so broad and thick that there is as much flesh
+upon them as upon a quarter of their body," must not be confounded with
+the lank appendage of our English muttons. See i. 25, Dr. Burnell's
+Linschoten (Hakluyt Soc. 1885).
+
+[FN#449]  A variant occurs in vol. iv. 191.
+
+[FN#450]  Arab. "Tars Daylami," a small shield of bright metal.
+
+[FN#451]  Arab. "Kaukab al-durri," see Pilgrimage ii. 82.
+
+[FN#452]  Arab. "Kusúf" applied to the moon; Khusúf being the solar
+eclipse.
+
+[FN#453]  May Abú Lahab's hands perish. . . and his wife be a bearer of
+faggots!" Koran cxi. 1 & 4. The allusion is neat.
+
+[FN#454]  Alluding to the Angels who shoot down the Jinn. See vol. i.
+224. The index misprints "Shibáh."
+
+[FN#455]  For a similar scene see Ali Shar and Zumurrud, vol. iv. 187.
+
+[FN#456]  i.e. of the girl whom as the sequel shows, her owner had
+promised not to sell without her consent. This was and is a common
+practice. See vol. iv. 192.
+
+[FN#457]  These lines have occurred in vol. iii. p. 303. I quote
+Mr. Payne.
+
+
+[FN#458]  Alluding to the erectio et distensio penis which comes on
+before dawn in tropical lands and which does not denote any desire for
+women. Some Anglo-Indians term the symptom signum salutis, others a
+urine-proud pizzle.
+
+[FN#459]  Arab. "Mohtasib," in the Maghrib "Mohtab," the officer
+charged with inspecting weights and measures and with punishing fraud
+in various ways such as nailing the cheat's ears to his shop's shutter,
+etc.
+
+[FN#460]  Every where in the Moslem East the slave holds himself
+superior to the menial freeman, a fact which I would impress upon the
+several Anti-slavery Societies, honest men whose zeal mostly exceeds
+their knowledge, and whose energy their discretion.
+
+[FN#461]  These lines, extended to three couplets, occur in vol. iv.
+193. I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#462]  "At this examination (on Judgment Day) Mohammedans also
+believe that each person will have the book, wherein all the actions of
+his life are written, delivered to him; which books the righteous will
+receive in their right hand, and read with great pleasure and
+satisfaction; but the ungodly will be obliged to take them, against
+their wills, in their left (Koran xvii. xviii. lxix, and lxxxiv.),
+which will be bound behind their backs, their right hand being tied to
+their necks." Sale, Preliminary Discourse; Sect. iv.
+
+[FN#463]  "Whiteness" (bayáz) also meaning lustre, honour.
+
+[FN#464]  This again occurs in vol. iv. 194. So I quote Mr.
+Payne.
+
+
+[FN#465]  Her impudence is intended to be that of a captive
+Princess.
+
+
+[FN#466]  i.e. bent groundwards.
+
+[FN#467]  See vol. iv. 192. In Marocco Za'ar is applied to a man with
+fair skin, red hair and blue eyes (Gothic blood?) and the term is not
+complimentary as "Sultan Yazid Za'ar."
+
+[FN#468]  The lines have occurred before (vol. iv. 194). I quote Mr.
+Lane ii. 440. Both he and Mr. Payne have missed the point in "ba'zu
+layáli" a certain night when his mistress had left him so lonely.
+
+[FN#469]  Arab. "Raat-hu." This apparently harmless word suggests one
+similar in sound and meaning which gave some trouble in its day. Says
+Mohammed in the Koran (ii. 98) "O ye who believe! say not (to the
+Apostle) Rá'iná (look at us) but Unzurná (regard us)." "Rá'iná" as
+pronounced in Hebrew means "our bad one."
+
+[FN#470]  By reason of its leanness.
+
+[FN#471]  In the Mac. Edit. "Fifty." For a scene which illustrates this
+mercantile transaction see my Pilgrimage i. 88, and its deduction. "How
+often is it our fate, in the West as in the East, to see in bright eyes
+and to hear from rosy lips an implied, if not an expressed 'Why don't
+you buy me?' or, worse still, 'Why can't you buy me?'"
+
+[FN#472]  See vol. ii. 165 dragging or trailing the skirts = walking
+without the usual strut or swagger: here it means assuming the humble
+manners of a slave in presence of the master.
+
+[FN#473]  This is the Moslem form of "boycotting": so amongst early
+Christians they refused to give one another God-speed. Amongst Hindús
+it takes the form of refusing "Hukkah (pipe) and water" which
+practically makes a man an outcast. In the text the old man expresses
+the popular contempt for those who borrow and who do not repay. He had
+evidently not read the essay of Elia on the professional borrower.
+
+[FN#474]  See note p. 273.
+
+[FN#475]  i.e. the best kind of camels.
+
+[FN#476]  This first verse has occurred three times.
+
+[FN#477]  Arab. "Surayyá" in Dictionaries a dim. of Sarwá = moderately
+rich. It may either denote abundance of rain or a number of stars
+forming a constellation. Hence in Job (xxxviii. 31) it is called a heap
+(kímah).
+
+[FN#478]  Pleiads in Gr. the Stars whereby men sail.
+
+[FN#479]  This is the Eastern idea of the consequence of satisfactory
+coition which is supposed to be the very seal of love. Westerns have
+run to the other extreme.
+
+[FN#480]  "Al-Ríf" simply means lowland: hence there is a Ríf in the
+Nile-delta. The word in Europe is applied chiefly to the Maroccan coast
+opposite Gibraltar (not, as is usually supposed the North-Western
+seaboard) where the Berber-Shilhá race, so famous as the "Rif pirates"
+still closes the country to travellers.
+
+[FN#481]  i.e. Upper Egypt.
+
+[FN#482]  These local excellencies of coition are described jocosely
+rather than anthropologically.
+
+[FN#483]  See vol. i. 223: I take from Torrens, p. 223.
+
+[FN#484]  For the complete ablution obligatory after copulation before
+prayers can be said. See vol. v. 199.
+
+[FN#485]  Arab. "Zunnár," the Greek {zoonárion}, for which, see vol.
+ii. 215.
+
+[FN#486]  Miriam (Arabic Maryam), is a Christian name, in Moslem lands.
+Abú Maryam "Mary's father" (says Motarrazi on Al-Hariri, Ass. of
+Alexandria) is a term of contempt, for men are called after sons (e.g.
+Abu Zayd), not after daughters. In more modern authors Abu Maryam is
+the name of ushers and lesser officials in the Kazi's court.
+
+[FN#487]  This formality, so contrary to our Western familiarity after
+possession, is an especial sign of good breeding amongst Arabs and
+indeed all Eastern nations. It reminds us of the "grand manner" in
+Europe two hundred years ago, not a trace of which now remains.
+
+[FN#488]  These lines are in Night i. ordered somewhat differently: so
+I quote Torrens (p. 14).
+
+[FN#489]  i.e. to the return Salám—"And with thee be peace and the
+mercy of Allah and His blessings!" See vol. ii. 146. The enslaved
+Princess had recognised her father's Wazir and knew that he could have
+but one object, which being a man of wit and her lord a "raw laddie,"
+he was sure to win.
+
+[FN#490]  It is quite in Moslem manners for the bystanders to force the
+sale seeing a silly lad reject a most advantageous offer for
+sentimental reasons. And the owner of the article would be bound by
+their consent.
+
+[FN#491]  Arab. "Wa'llahi." "Bi" is the original particle of swearing,
+a Harf al-jarr (governing the genitive as Bi'lláhi) and suggesting the
+idea of adhesion: "Wa" (noting union) is its substitute in oath-formulć
+and "Ta" takes the place of Wa as Ta'lláhi. The three-fold forms are
+combined in a great "swear."
+
+[FN#492]  i.e. of divorcing their own wives.
+
+[FN#493]  These lines have occurred before: I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#494]  These lines are in Night xxvi., vol. i. 275: I quote
+Torrens (p. 277), with a correction for "when ere."
+
+
+[FN#495]  This should be "draws his senses from him as one pulls hair
+out of pate."
+
+[FN#496]  Rághib and Záhid: see vol. v. 141.
+
+[FN#497]  Carolus Magnus then held court in Paris; but the text
+evidently alludes to one of the port-cities of Provence as Marseille
+which we English will miscall Marseilles.
+
+[FN#498]  Here the writer, not the young wife, speaks; but as a
+tale-teller he says "hearer" not "reader."
+
+[FN#499]  Kayrawán, the Arab. form of the Greek Cyrene which has lately
+been opened to travellers and has now lost the mystery which enshrouded
+it. In Hafiz and the Persian poets it is the embodiment of remoteness
+and secrecy; as we till the last quarter century spoke of the "deserts
+of Central Africa."
+
+[FN#500]  Arab. "'Innín": alluding to all forms of impotence, from
+dislike, natural deficiency or fascination, the favourite excuse.
+Easterns seldom attribute it to the true cause, weak action of the
+heart; but the Romans knew the truth when they described one of its
+symptoms as cold feet. "Clino-pedalis, ad venerem invalidus, ab ea
+antiqua opinione, frigiditatem pedum concubituris admodum officere."
+Hence St. Francis and the bare-footed Friars. See Glossarium Eroticum
+Linguae Latinć, Parisiis, Dondey-Dupré, MDCCCXXVI.
+
+[FN#501]  I have noted the use of "island" for "land" in general. So in
+the European languages of the sixteenth century, insula was used for
+peninsula, e.g. Insula de Cori = the Corean peninsula.
+
+[FN#502]  As has been noticed (vol. i. 333), the monocular is famed for
+mischief and men expect the mischief to come from his blinded eye.
+
+[FN#503]  Here again we have a specimen of "inverted speech" (vol. ii.
+265); abusive epithets intended for a high compliment, signifying that
+the man was a tyrant over rebels and a froward devil to the foe.
+
+[FN#504]  Arab. "Bab al-Bahr," see vol. iii. 281.
+
+[FN#505]  Arab. "Batárikah" see vol. ii. 89. The Templars, Knights of
+Malta and other orders half ecclesiastic, half military suggested the
+application of the term.
+
+[FN#506]  These lines have occurred in vol. i. 280—I quote
+Torrens (p. 283).
+
+
+[FN#507]  Maryam al-Husn containing a double entendre, "O place of the
+white doe (Rím) of beauty!" The girl's name was Maryam the Arab. form
+of Mary, also applied to the B.V. by Eastern Christians. Hence a common
+name of Syrian women is "Husn Maryam" = (one endowed with the spiritual
+beauties of Mary: vol. iv. 87). I do not think that the name was
+"manufactured by the Arab story-tellers after the pattern of their own
+names (e.g. Nur al-Din or Noureddin, light of the faith, Tajeddin,
+crown of faith, etc.) for the use of their imaginary Christian female
+characters."
+
+[FN#508]  I may here remind readers that the Bán, which some
+Orientalists will write "Ben," is a straight and graceful species of
+Moringa with plentiful and intensely green foliage.
+
+[FN#509]  Arab. "Amúd al-Sawári" = the Pillar of Masts, which is still
+the local name of Diocletian's column absurdly named by Europeans
+"Pompey's Pillar."
+
+[FN#510]  Arab. "Batiyah," also used as a wine-jar (amphora), a flagon.
+
+[FN#511]  Arab. "Al-Kursán," evidently from the Ital. "Corsaro," a
+runner. So the Port. "Cabo Corso," which we have corrupted to "Cape
+Coast Castle" (Gulf of Guinea), means the Cape of Tacking.
+
+[FN#512]  Arab. "Ghuráb," which Europeans turn to "Grab."
+
+[FN#513]  Arab. "Sayyib" (Thayyib) a rare word: it mostly applies to a
+woman who leaves her husband after lying once with him.
+
+[FN#514]  Arab. "Batárikah:" here meaning knights, leaders of armed men
+as in Night dccclxii., supra p. 256, it means "monks."
+
+[FN#515]  i.e. for the service of a temporal monarch.
+
+[FN#516]  Arab. "Sayr" = a broad strip of leather still used by way of
+girdle amongst certain Christian religions in the East.
+
+[FN#517]  Arab. "Haláwat al-Salámah," the sweetmeats offered to friends
+after returning from a journey or escaping sore peril. See vol. iv. 60.
+
+[FN#518]  So Eginhardt was an Erzcapellan and belonged to the ghostly
+profession.
+
+[FN#519]  These lines are in vols. iii. 258 and iv. 204. I quote
+Mr. Payne.
+
+
+[FN#520]  Arab. "Firásah," lit. = skill in judging of horse flesh
+(Faras) and thence applied, like "Kiyáfah," to physiognomy. One
+Kári was the first to divine man's future by worldly signs
+(Al-Maydáni, Arab. prov. ii. 132) and the knowledge was
+hereditary in the tribe Mashíj.
+
+
+[FN#521]  Reported to be a "Hadis" or saying of Mohammed, to whom are
+attributed many such shrewd aphorisms, e.g. "Allah defend us from the
+ire of the mild (tempered)."
+
+[FN#522]  These lines are in vol. i. 126. I quote Torrens (p. 120).
+
+[FN#523]  These lines have occurred before. I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#524]  Arab. "Khák-bák," an onomatopÂia like our flip-flap and a
+host of similar words. This profaning a Christian Church which
+contained the relics of the Virgin would hugely delight the
+coffee-house habitués, and the Egyptians would be equally flattered to
+hear that the son of a Cairene merchant had made the conquest of a
+Frankish Princess Royal. That he was an arrant poltroon mattered very
+little, as his cowardice only set of his charms.
+
+[FN#525]  i.e. after the rising up of the dead.
+
+[FN#526]  Arab. "Nafísah," the precious one i.e. the Virgin.
+
+[FN#527]  Arab. "Nákús," a wooden gong used by Eastern Christians which
+were wisely forbidden by the early Moslems.
+
+[FN#528]  i.e. a graceful, slender youth.
+
+[FN#529]  There is a complicatd pun in this line: made by splitting the
+word after the fashion of punsters. "Zarbu 'l-Nawákísí" = the striking
+of the gongs, and "Zarbu 'l Nawá, Kísí = striking the departure signal:
+decide thou (fem. addressed to the Nafs, soul or self)" I have
+attempted a feeble imitation.
+
+[FN#530]  The modern Italian term of the venereal finish.
+
+[FN#531]  Arab. "Najm al-Munkazzi," making the envious spy one of the
+prying Jinns at whom is launched the Shiháb or shooting-star by the
+angels who prevent them listening at the gates of Heaven. See vol. i.
+224.
+
+[FN#532]  Arab. "Sandúk al-Nuzur," lit. "the box of vowed oblations."
+This act of sacrilege would find high favour with the auditory.
+
+[FN#533]  The night consisting like the day of three watches. See vol.
+i.
+
+[FN#534]  Arab. "Al-Khaukhah," a word now little used.
+
+[FN#535]  Arab. "Námúsiyah," lit. mosquito curtains.
+
+[FN#536]  Arab. "Jáwashiyah," see vol. ii. 49.
+
+[FN#537]  Arab. "Kayyimah," the fem. of "Kayyim," misprinted
+"Kayim" in vol. ii. 93.
+
+
+[FN#538]  i.e. hadst thou not disclosed thyself. He has one great merit
+in a coward of not being ashamed for his cowardice; and this is a
+characteristic of the modern Egyptian, whose proverb is, "He ran away,
+Allah shame him! is better than, He was slain, Allah bless him!"
+
+[FN#539]  Arab. "Ahjar al-Kassárín" nor forgotten. In those days ships
+anchored in the Eastern port of Alexandria which is now wholly
+abandoned on account of the rocky bottom and the dangerous "Levanter,"
+which as the Gibraltar proverb says
+
+"Makes the stones canter."
+
+[FN#540]  Arab. "Hakk" = rights, a word much and variously used. To
+express the possessive "mine" a Badawi says "Hakki" (pron. Haggi) and
+"Lílí;" a Syrian "Shítí" for Shayyati, my little thing or "taba 'i" my
+dependent; an Egyptian "Bitá' i" my portion and a Maghribi "M'tá 'i"
+and "diyyáli" (di allazí lí = this that is to me). Thus "mine" becomes
+a shibboleth.
+
+[FN#541]  i.e. The "Good for nothing," the "Bad'un;" not some forgotten
+ruffian of the day, but the hero of a tale antedating The Nights in
+their present form. See Terminal Essay, x. ii.
+
+[FN#542]  i.e. Hoping to catch Nur al-Din.
+
+[FN#543]  Arab. "Sawwáhún" = the Wanderers, Pilgrims, wandering Arabs,
+whose religion, Al-Islam, so styled by its Christain opponents. And yet
+the new creed was at once accepted by whole regions of Christians, and
+Mauritania, which had rejected Roman paganism and Gothic Christianity.
+This was e.g. Syria and the so-called "Holy Land," not because, as is
+fondly asserted by Christians, al-Islam was forced upon them by the
+sword, but on account of its fulfilling a need, its supplying a higher
+belief, unity as opposed to plurality, and its preaching a more manly
+attitude of mind and a more sensible rule of conduct. Arabic still
+preserves a host of words special to the Christian creed; and many of
+them have been adopted by Moslems but with changes of signification.
+
+[FN#544]  i.e. of things commanded and things prohibited. The writer is
+thinking of the Koran in which there are not a few abrogated
+injunctions.
+
+[FN#545]  See below for the allusion.
+
+[FN#546]  Arab. "Kafrá" = desert place. It occurs in this couplet,
+
+          "Wa Kabrun Harbin fí-makánin Kafrin;
+           Wa laysa Kurba Kabri Harbin Kabrun."
+     "Harb's corse is quartered in coarse wold accurst;
+     Nor close to corse of Harb is other corse;—"
+
+
+words made purposely harsh because uttered by a Jinni who killed a
+traveller named "Harb." So Homer:—
+
+{pollŕ d' hánanta, kátanta, párantá te dachmía t' ęlthon.}
+
+and Pope:—
+
+"O'er hills, o'er dales, o'er crags, o'er rocks they go, etc."
+
+See Preface (p. v.) to Captain A. Lockett's learned and whimsical
+volume, "The Muit Amil" etc. Calcutta, 1814.
+
+[FN#547]  These lines have occurred vol. iv. 267. I quote Mr.
+Lane.
+
+
+[FN#548]  The topethesia is here designedly made absurd. Alexandria was
+one of the first cities taken by the Moslems (A.H. 21 = 642) and the
+Christian pirates preferred attacking weaker places, Rosetta and
+Damietta.
+
+[FN#549]  Arab. "Bilád al-Rúm," here and elsewhere applied to
+France.
+
+
+[FN#550]  Here the last line of p. 324, vol. iv. in the Mac.
+Edit. is misplaced and belongs to the next page.
+
+
+[FN#551]  Arab. "Akhawán shakíkán" = brothers german (of men and
+beasts) born of one father and mother, sire and dam.
+
+[FN#552]  "The Forerunner" and "The Overtaker," terms borrowed from the
+Arab Epsom.
+
+[FN#553]  Known to us as "the web and pin," it is a film which affects
+Arab horses in the damp hot regions of Malabar and Zanzibar and soon
+blinds them. This equine cataract combined with loin-disease compels
+men to ride Pegu and other ponies.
+
+[FN#554]  Arab. "Zujáj bikr" whose apparent meaning would be glass in
+the lump and unworked. Zaj áj bears, however, the meaning of
+clove-nails (the ripe bud of the clove-shrub) and may possibly apply to
+one of the manifold "Alfáz Adwiyah" (names of drugs). Here, however,
+pounded glass would be all sufficient to blind a horse: it is much used
+in the East especially for dogs affected by intestinal vermicules.
+
+[FN#555]  Alluding to the Arab saying "The two rests"
+(Al-ráhatáni) "certainty of success or failure," as opposed to
+"Wiswás" when the mind fluctuates in doubt.
+
+
+[FN#556]  She falls in love with the groom, thus anticipating the noble
+self-devotion of Miss Aurora Floyd.
+
+[FN#557]  Arab. "Túfán" see vol. {iv. 136}: here it means the
+"Deluge of Noah."
+
+
+[FN#558]  Two of the Hells. See vol. v. 240.
+
+[FN#559]  Lit. "Out upon a prayer who imprecated our parting!"
+
+[FN#560]  The use of masculine for feminine has frequently been noted.
+I have rarely changed the gender or the number the plural being often
+employed for the singular (vol. i. 98). Such change may avoid
+"mystification and confusion" but this is the very purpose of the
+substitution which must be preserved if "local colour" is to be
+respected.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8, by Richard F. Burton
+
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+
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diff --git a/3442-0.zip b/3442-0.zip
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+Project Gutenberg's The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, V8
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+Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8
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+
+
+                        THE BOOK OF THE
+                  THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT
+                A Plain and Literal Translation
+              of the Arabian Nights Entertainments
+
+                  Translated and Annotated by
+                       Richard F. Burton
+
+                          VOLUME EIGHT
+              Privately Printed By The Burton Club
+
+
+
+                          A Message to
+                       Frederick Hankey,
+            formerly of No. 2, Rue Laffitte, Paris.
+
+My Dear Fred,
+
+     If there be such a thing as "continuation," you will see
+these lines in the far Spirit-land and you will find that your
+old friend has not forgotten you and Annie.
+
+
+                         Richard F. Burton.
+
+
+
+
+                 Contents of the Eighth Volume
+
+
+     King Mohammed Bin Sabaik and the Merchant Hasan (continued)
+     a.   Story of Prince Sayf Al-Muluk and the Princess Badi'a
+          Al-Jamal (continued)
+155. Hassan of Bassorah
+156. Khalifah The Fisherman Of Baghdad
+     The same from the Breslau Edition
+157. Masrur and Zayn Al-Mawasif
+158. Ali Nur Al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-Girl
+
+
+
+
+
+                        The Book Of The
+                  THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT
+
+
+
+
+    When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+old Queen heard the handmaid's words she was wroth with sore
+wrath because of her and cried, "How shall there be accord
+between man and Jinn?" But Sayf al-Muluk replied, "Indeed, I will
+conform to thy will and be thy page and die in thy love and will
+keep with thee covenant and regard non but thee: so right soon
+shalt thou see my truth and lack of falsehood and the excellence
+of my manly dealing with thee, Inshallah!" The old woman pondered
+for a full hour with brow earthwards bent; after which she raised
+her head and said to him, "O thou beautiful youth, wilt thou
+indeed keep compact and covenant?" He replied, "Yes, by Him who
+raised the heavens and dispread the earth upon the waters, I will
+indeed keep faith and troth!" Thereupon quoth she, "I will win
+for thee thy wish, Inshallah! but for the present go thou into
+the garden and take thy pleasure therein and eat of its fruits,
+that have neither like in the world nor equal, whilst I send for
+my son Shahyal and confabulate with him of the matter. Nothing
+but good shall come of it, so Allah please, for he will not
+gainsay me nor disobey my commandment and I will marry thee with
+his daughter Badi'a al-Jamal. So be of good heart for she shall
+assuredly be thy wife, O Sayf al-Muluk." The Prince thanked her
+for those words and kissing her hands and feet, went forth from
+her into the garden; whilst she turned to Marjanah and said to
+her, "Go seek my son Shahyal wherever he is and bring him to me."
+So Marjanah went out in quest of King Shahyal and found him and
+set him before his mother. On such wise fared it with them; but
+as regards Sayf al-Muluk, whilst he walked in the garden, lo and
+behold! five Jinn of the people of the Blue King espied him and
+said to one another, "Whence cometh yonder wight and who brought
+him hither? Haply 'tis he who slew the son and heir of our lord
+and master the Blue King;" presently adding, 'But we will go
+about with him and question him and find out all from him." So
+they walked gently and softly up to him, as he sat in a corner of
+the garden, and sitting down by him, said to him, "O beauteous
+youth, thou didst right well in slaying the son of the Blue King
+and delivering from him Daulat Khatun; for he was a treacherous
+hound and had tricked her, and had not Allah appointed thee to
+her, she had never won free; no, never! But how diddest thou slay
+him?" Sayf al-Muluk looked at them and deeming them of the
+gardenfolk, answered, "I slew him by means of this ring which is
+on my finger." Therewith they were assured that it was he who had
+slain him; so they seized him, two of them holding his hands,
+whilst other two held his feet and the fifth his mouth, lest he
+should cry out and King Shahyal's people should hear him and
+rescue him from their hands. Then they lifted him up and flying
+away with him ceased not their flight till they came to their
+King and set him down before him, saying, "O King of the Age, we
+bring thee the murderer of thy son." "Where is he?" asked the
+King and they answered, "This is he." So the Blue King said to
+Sayf al-Muluk, "How slewest thou my son, the core of my heart and
+the light of my sight, without aught of right, for all he had
+done thee no ill deed?" Quoth the Prince, "Yea, verily! I slew
+him because of his violence and frowardness, in that he used to
+seize Kings' daughters and sever them from their families and
+carry them to the Ruined Well and the High-builded Castle of
+Japhet son of Noah and entreat them lewdly by debauching them. I
+slew him by means of this ring on my finger, and Allah hurried
+his soul to the fire and the abiding-place dire." Therewithal the
+King was assured that this was indeed he who slew his son; so
+presently he called his Wazirs and said to them, "This is the
+murtherer of my son sans shadow of doubt: so how do you counsel
+me to deal with him? Shall I slay him with the foulest slaughter
+or torture him with the terriblest torments or how?" Quoth the
+Chief Minister, "Cut off his limbs, one a day." Another, "Beat
+him with a grievous beating every day till he die." A third, "Cut
+him across the middle." A fourth, "Chop off all his fingers and
+burn him with fire." A fifth, "Crucify him;" and so on, each
+speaking according to his rede. Now there was with the Blue King
+an old Emir, versed in the vicissitudes and experienced in the
+exchanges of the times, and he said, "O King of the Age, verily I
+would say to thee somewhat, and thine is the rede whether thou
+wilt hearken or not to my say." Now he was the King's privy
+Councillor and the Chief Officer of his empire, and the Sovran
+was wont to give ear to his word and conduct himself by his
+counsel and gainsay him not in aught. So he rose and kissing
+ground before his liege lord, said to him, "O King of the Age, if
+I advise thee in this matter, wilt thou follow my advice and
+grant me indemnity?" Quoth the King, "Set forth thine opinion,
+and thou shalt have immunity." Then quoth he, "O King of the Age,
+an thou slay this one nor accept my advice nor hearken to my
+word, in very sooth I say that his death were now inexpedient,
+for that he his thy prisoner and in thy power, and under thy
+protection; so whenas thou wilt, thou mayst lay hand on him and
+do with him what thou desirest. Have patience, then, O King of
+the Age, for he hath entered the garden of Iram and is become the
+betrothed of Badi'a al-Jamal, daughter of King Shahyal, and one
+of them. Thy people seized him there and brought him hither and
+he did not hide his case from them or from thee. So an thou slay
+him, assuredly King Shahyal will seek blood-revenge and lead his
+host against thee for his daughter's sake, and thou canst not
+cope with him nor make head against his power." So the King
+hearkened to his counsel and commanded to imprison the captive.
+Thus fared it with Sayf al-Muluk; but as regards the old Queen,
+grandmother of Badi'a al-Jamal, when her son Shahyal came to her
+she despatched Marjanah in search of Sayf al-Muluk; but she found
+him not and returning to her mistress, said, "I found him not in
+the garden." So the ancient dame sent for the gardeners and
+questioned them of the Prince. Quoth they, "We saw him sitting
+under a tree when behold, five of the Blue King's folk alighted
+by him and spoke with him, after which they took him up and
+having gagged him flew away with him." When the old Queen heard
+the damsel's words it was no light matter to her and she was
+wroth with exceeding wrath: so she rose to her feet and said to
+her son, King Shahyal, "Art a King and shall the Blue King's
+people come to our garden and carry off our guests unhindered,
+and thou alive?" And she proceeded to provoke him, saying, "It
+behoveth not that any transgress against us during thy
+lifetime."[FN#1] Answered he, "O mother of me, this man slew the
+Blue King's son, who was a Jinni and Allah threw him into his
+hand. He is a Jinni and I am a Jinni: how then shall I go to him
+and make war on him for the sake of a mortal?" But she rejoined,
+"Go to him and demand our guest of him, and if he be still alive
+and the Blue King deliver him to thee, take him and return; but
+an he have slain him, take the King and all his children and
+Harim and household depending on him; then bring them to me alive
+that I may cut their throats with my own hand and lay in ruins
+his reign. Except thou go to him and do my bidding, I will not
+acquit thee of my milk and my rearing of thee shall be counted
+unlawful."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+    When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+grandmother of Badi'a al-Jamal said to Shahyal, "Fare thee to the
+Blue King and look after Sayf al-Muluk: if he be still in life
+come with him hither; but an he have slain him take that King and
+all his children and Harim and the whole of his dependents an
+prot�g�s and bring them here alive that I may cut their throats
+with my own hand and ruin his realm. Except thou go to him and do
+my bidding, I will not acquit thee of my milk and my rearing of
+thee shall be accounted unlawful." Thereupon Shahyal rose and
+assembling his troops, set out, in deference to his mother,
+desiring to content her and her friends, and in accordance with
+whatso had been fore-ordained from eternity without beginning;
+nor did they leave journeying till they came to the land of the
+Blue King, who met them with his army and gave them battle. The
+Blue King's host was put to the rout and the conquerors having
+taken him and all his sons, great and small, and Grandees and
+officers bound and brought them before King Shahyal, who said to
+the captive, "O Azrak,[FN#2] where is the mortal Sayf al-Muluk
+who whilome was my guest?" Answered the Blue King, "O Shahyal,
+thou art a Jinni and I am a Jinni and is't on account of a mortal
+who slew my son that thou hast done this deed; yea, the murtherer
+of my son, the core of my liver and solace of my soul. How
+couldest thou work such work and spill the blood of so many
+thousand Jinn?" He replied, "Leave this talk! Knowest thou not
+that a single mortal is better, in Allah's sight, than a thousand
+Jinn?[FN#3] If he be alive, bring him to me, and I will set thee
+free and all whom I have taken of thy sons and people; but an
+thou have slain him, I will slaughter thee and thy sons." Quoth
+the Malik al-Azrak, "O King, is this man of more account with
+thee than my son?"; and quoth Shahyal, "Verily, thy son was an
+evildoer who kidnapped Kings' daughters and shut them up in the
+Ruined Well and the High-builded Castle of Japhet son of Noah and
+entreated them lewdly." Then said the Blue King, "He is with me;
+but make thou peace between us." So he delivered the Prince to
+Shahyal, who made peace between him and the Blue King, and
+Al-Azrak gave him a bond of absolution for the death of his son.
+Then Shahyal conferred robes of honour on them and entertained
+the Blue King and his troops hospitably for three days, after
+which he took Sayf al-Muluk and carried him back to the old
+Queen, his own mother, who rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy,
+and Shahyal marvelled at the beauty of the Prince and his
+loveliness and his perfection. Then the Prince related to him his
+story from beginning to end, especially what did befal him with
+Badi'a al-Jamal and Shahyal said, "O my mother, since 'tis thy
+pleasure that this should be, I hear and I obey all that to
+command it pleaseth thee; wherefore do thou take him and bear him
+to Sarandib and there celebrate his wedding and marry him to her
+in all state, for he is a goodly youth and hath endured horrors
+for her sake." So she and her maidens set out with Sayf al-Muluk
+for Sarandib and, entering the Garden belonging to the Queen of
+Hind, foregathered with Daulat Khatun and Badi'a al-Jamal. Then
+the lovers met, and the old Queen acquainted the two Princesses
+with all that had passed between Sayf al-Muluk and the Blue King
+and how the Prince had been nearhand to a captive's death; but in
+repetition is no fruition. Then King Taj al-Muluk father of
+Daulat Khatun assembled the lords of his land and drew up the
+contract of marriage between Sayf al-Muluk and Badi'a al-Jamal;
+and he conferred costly robes of honour and gave banquets to the
+lieges. Then Sayf al-Muluk rose and, kissing ground before the
+King, said to him, "O King, pardon! I would fain ask of thee
+somewhat but I fear lest thou refuse it to my disappointment."
+Taj al-Muluk replied, "By Allah, though thou soughtest my soul of
+me, I would not refuse it to thee, after all the kindness thou
+hast done me!" Quoth Sayf al-Muluk, "I wish thee to marry the
+Princess Daulat Khatun to my brother Sa'id, and we will both be
+thy pages." "I hear and obey," answered Taj al-Muluk, and
+assembling his Grandees a second time, let draw up the contract
+of marriage between his daughter and Sa'id; after which they
+scattered gold and silver and the King bade decorate the city. So
+they held high festival and Sayf al-Muluk went in unto Badi'a
+al-Jamal and Sa'id went in unto Daulat Khatun on the same night.
+Moreover Sayf al-Muluk abode forty days with Badi'a al-Jamal, at
+the end of which she said to him, "O King's son, say me, is there
+left in thy heart any regret for aught?" And he replied, "Allah
+forfend! I have accomplished my quest and there abideth no regret
+in my heart at all: but I would fain meet my father and my mother
+in the land of Egypt and see if they continue in welfare or not."
+So she commanded a company of her slaves to convey them to Egypt,
+and they carried them to Cairo, where Sayf al-Muluk and Sa'id
+foregathered with their parents and abode with them a week; after
+which they took leave of them and returned to Sarandib-city; and
+from this time forwards, whenever they longed for their folk,
+they used to go to them and return. Then Sayf al-Muluk and Badi'a
+al-Jamal abode in all solace of life and its joyance as did Sa'id
+and Daulat Khatun, till there came to them the Destroyer of
+delights and Severer of societies; and they all died good
+Moslems. So glory be to the Living One who dieth not, who
+createth all creatures and decreeth to them death and who is the
+First, without beginning, and the Last, without end! This is all
+that hath come down to us of the story of Sayf al-Muluk and
+Badi'a al-Jamal. And Allah alone wotteth the truth.[FN#4] But not
+less excellent than this tale is the History of
+
+
+
+
+                    HASAN OF BASSORAH.[FN#5]
+
+
+
+There was once of days of yore and in ages and times long gone
+before, a merchant, who dwelt in the land of Bassorah and who
+owned two sons and wealth galore.  But in due time Allah, the
+All-hearing the All-knowing, decreed that he should be admitted
+to the mercy of the Most High; so he died, and his two sons laid
+him out and buried him, after which they divided his gardens and
+estates equally between them and of his portion each one opened a
+shop.[FN#6]  Presently the elder son, Hasan hight, a youth of
+passing beauty and loveliness, symmetry and perfect grace, betook
+himself to the company of lewd folk, women and low boys,
+frolicking with them in gardens and feasting them with meat and
+wine for months together and occupying himself not with his
+business like as his father had done, for that he exulted in the
+abundance of his good. After some time he had wasted all his
+ready money, so he sold all his father's lands and houses and
+played the wastrel until there remained in his hand nothing,
+neither little nor muchel, nor was one of his comrades left who
+knew him.  He abode thus anhungred, he and his widowed mother,
+three days, and on the fourth day, as he walked along, unknowing
+whither to wend, there met him a man of his father's friends, who
+questioned him of his case. He told him what had befallen him and
+the other said, "O my son, I have a brother who is a goldsmith;
+an thou wilt, thou shalt be with him and learn his craft and
+become skilled therein." Hasan consented and accompanied him to
+his brother, to whom he commended him, saying, "In very sooth
+this is my son; do thou teach him for my sake."  So Hasan abode
+with the goldsmith and busied himself with the craft; and Allah
+opened to him the door of gain and in due course he set up shop
+for himself. One day, as he sat in his booth in the bazar, there
+came up to him an 'Ajam�, a foreigner, a Persian, with a great
+white beard and a white turband[FN#7] on his head, having the
+semblance of a merchant who, after saluting him, looked at his
+handiwork and examined it knowingly.  It pleased him and he shook
+his head, saying, "By Allah, thou art a cunning goldsmith!  What
+may be thy name?" "Hasan," replied the other, shortly.[FN#8]  The
+Persian continued to look at his wares, whilst Hasan read in an
+old book[FN#9] he hent in hand and the folk were taken up with
+his beauty and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace, till
+the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when the shop became clear of
+people and the Persian accosted the young man, saying, "O my son,
+thou art a comely youth!  What book is that?  Thou hast no sire
+and I have no son, and I know an art, than which there is no
+goodlier in the world."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian
+accosted the young man saying, "O my son, thou art a comely
+youth!  Thou hast no sire and I have no son, and I know an art
+than which there is no goodlier in the world.  Many have sought
+of me instruction therein, but I consented not to instruct any of
+them in it; yet hath my soul consented that I teach it to thee,
+for thy love hath gotten hold upon my heart and I will make thee
+my son and set up between thee and poverty a barrier, so shalt
+thou be quit of this handicraft and toil no more with hammer and
+anvil,[FN#10] charcoal and fire."  Hasan asked, "O my lord and
+when wilt thou teach me this?"; and the Persian answered,
+"To-morrow, Inshallah, I will come to thee betimes and make thee
+in thy presence fine gold of this copper."  Whereupon Hasan
+rejoiced and sat talking with the Persian till nightfall, when he
+took leave of him and going in to his mother, saluted her with
+the salam and ate with her; but he was dazed, without memory or
+reason, for that the stranger's words had gotten hold upon his
+heart. So she questioned him and he told her what had passed
+between himself and the Persian, which when she heard, her heart
+fluttered and she strained him to her bosom, saying, "O my son,
+beware of hearkening to the talk of the folk, and especially of
+the Persians, and obey them not in aught; for they are sharpers
+and tricksters, who profess the art of alchemy[FN#11] and swindle
+people and take their money and devour it in vain."  Replied
+Hasan, "O my mother, we are paupers and have nothing he may
+covet, that he should put a cheat on us.  Indeed, this Persian is
+a right worthy Shaykh and the signs of virtue are manifest on
+him; Allah hath inclined his heart to me and he hath adopted me
+to son."  She was silent in her chagrin, and he passed the night
+without sleep, his heart being full of what the Persian had said
+to him; nor did slumber visit him for the excess of his joy
+therein.  But when morning morrowed, he rose and taking the keys,
+opened the shop, whereupon behold, the Persian accosted him.
+Hasan stood up to him and would have kissed his hands; but he
+forbade him from this and suffered it not, saying, "O Hasan, set
+on the crucible and apply the bellows."[FN#12]  So he did as the
+stranger bade him and lighted the charcoal.  Then said the
+Persian, "O my son, hast thou any copper?" and he replied, "I
+have a broken platter." So he bade him work the shears[FN#13] and
+cut it into bittocks and cast it into the crucible and blow up
+the fire with the bellows, till the copper became liquid, when he
+put hand to turband and took therefrom a folded paper and opening
+it, sprinkled thereout into the pot about half a drachm of
+somewhat like yellow Kohl or eyepowder.[FN#14]  Then he bade
+Hasan blow upon it with the bellows, and he did so, till the
+contents of the crucible became a lump of gold.[FN#15]  When the
+youth saw this, he was stupefied and at his wits' end for the joy
+he felt and taking the ingot from the crucible handled it and
+tried it with the file and found it pure gold of the finest
+quality: whereupon his reason fled and he was dazed with excess
+of delight and bent over the Persian's hand to kiss it. But he
+forbade him, saying, "Art thou married?" and when the youth
+replied "No!" he said, "Carry this ingot to the market and sell
+it and take the price in haste and speak not."  So Hasan went
+down into the market and gave the bar to the broker, who took it
+and rubbed it upon the touchstone and found it pure gold.  So
+they opened the biddings at ten thousand dirhams and the
+merchants bid against one another for it up to fifteen thousand
+dirhams,[FN#16] at which price he sold it and taking the money,
+went home and told his mother all that had passed, saying, "O my
+mother, I have learnt this art and mystery."  But she laughed at
+him, saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in
+Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"--And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Seven Hundred and Eightieth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan the goldsmith told his mother what he had done with the
+Ajami and cried, "I have learnt this art and mystery," she
+laughed at him, saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no
+Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"; and she was
+silent for vexation.  Then of his ignorance, he took a metal
+mortar and returning to the shop, laid it before the Persian, who
+was still sitting there and asked him, "O my son, what wilt thou
+do with this mortar?"  Hasan answered, "Let us put it in the
+fire, and make of it lumps of gold." The Persian laughed and
+rejoined, "O my son, art thou Jinn-mad that thou wouldst go down
+into the market with two ingots of gold in one day?  Knowest thou
+not that the folk would suspect us and our lives would be lost?
+Now, O my son, an I teach thee this craft, thou must practise it
+but once in each twelvemonth; for that will suffice thee from
+year to year."  Cried Hasan, "True, O my lord," and sitting down
+in his open shop, set on the crucible and cast more charcoal on
+the fire.  Quoth the Persian, "What wilt thou, O my son?"; and
+quoth Hasan, "Teach me this craft."  "There is no Majesty and
+there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"
+exclaimed the Persian, laughing; "Verily, O my son, thou art
+little of wit and in nowise fitted for this noble craft.  Did
+ever any during all his life learn this art on the beaten way or
+in the bazars?  If we busy ourselves with it here, the folk will
+say of us, These practise alchemy; and the magistrates will hear
+of us, and we shall lose our lives.[FN#17]  Wherefore, O my son,
+an thou desire to learn this mystery forthright, come thou with
+me to my house."  So Hasan barred his shop and went with that
+Ajam�; but by the way he remembered his mother's words and
+thinking in himself a thousand thoughts he stood still, with
+bowed head.  The Persian turned and seeing him thus standing
+laughed and said to him, "Art thou mad?  What!  I in my heart
+purpose thee good and thou misdoubtest I will harm thee!"
+presently adding, "But, if thou fear to go with me to my house, I
+will go with thee to thine and teach thee there."  Hasan replied,
+"'Tis well, O uncle," and the Persian rejoined, "Go thou before
+me."  So Hasan led the way to his own house, and entering, told
+his mother of the Persian's coming, for he had left him standing
+at the door.  She ordered the house for them and when she had
+made an end of furnishing and adorning it, her son bade her go to
+one of the neighbours' lodgings.  So she left her home to them
+and wended her way, whereupon Hasan brought in the Persian, who
+entered after asking leave.  Then he took in hand a dish and
+going to the market, returned with food, which he set before the
+Persian, saying, "Eat, O my lord, that between us there may be
+bread and salt and may Almighty Allah do vengeance upon the
+traitor to bread and salt!"  The Persian replied with a smile,
+"True, O my son!  Who knoweth the virtue and worth of bread and
+salt?"[FN#18]  Then he came forward and ate with Hasan, till they
+were satisfied; after which the Ajami said, "O my son Hasan,
+bring us somewhat of sweetmeats."  So Hasan went to the market,
+rejoicing in his words, and returned with ten saucers[FN#19] of
+sweetmeats, of which they both ate and the Persian said, "May
+Allah abundantly requite thee, O my son!  It is the like of thee
+with whom folk company and to whom they discover their secrets
+and teach what may profit him!"[FN#20]  Then said he, "O Hasan
+bring the gear."  But hardly did Hasan hear these words than he
+went forth like a colt let out to grass in spring-tide, and
+hastening to the shop, fetched the apparatus and set it before
+the Persian, who pulled out a piece of paper and said, "O Hasan,
+by the bond of bread and salt, wert thou not dearer to me than my
+son, I would not let thee into the mysteries of this art, for I
+have none of the Elixir[FN#21] left save what is in this paper;
+but by and by I will compound the simples whereof it is composed
+and will make it before thee.  Know, O my son Hasan, that to
+every ten pounds of copper thou must set half a drachm of that
+which is in this paper, and the whole ten will presently become
+unalloyed virgin gold;" presently adding, "O my son, O Hasan,
+there are in this paper three ounces,[FN#22] Egyptian measure,
+and when it is spent, I will make thee other and more."  Hasan
+took the packet and finding therein a yellow powder, finer than
+the first, said to the Persian, "O my lord, what is the name of
+this substance and where is it found and how is it made?"  But he
+laughed, longing to get hold of the youth, and replied, "Of what
+dost thou question? Indeed thou art a froward boy!  Do thy work
+and hold thy peace." So Hasan arose and fetching a brass platter
+from the house, shore it in shreds and threw it into the
+melting-pot; then he scattered on it a little of the powder from
+the paper and it became a lump of pure gold.  When he saw this,
+he joyed with exceeding joy and was filled with amazement and
+could think of nothing save the gold; but, whilst he was occupied
+with taking up the lumps of metal from the melting-pot, the
+Persian pulled out of his turband in haste a packet of Cretan
+Bhang, which if an elephant smelt, he would sleep from night to
+night, and cutting off a little thereof, put it in a piece of the
+sweetmeat.  Then said he, "O Hasan, thou art become my very son
+and dearer to me than soul and wealth, and I have a daughter
+whose like never have eyes beheld for beauty and loveliness,
+symmetry and perfect grace. Now I see that thou befittest none
+but her and she none but thee; wherefore, if it be Allah's will,
+I will marry thee to her." Replied Hasan, "I am thy servant and
+whatso good thou dost with me will be a deposit with the
+Almighty!" and the Persian rejoined, "O my son, have fair
+patience and fair shall betide thee." Therewith he gave him the
+piece of sweetmeat and he took it and kissing his hand, put it in
+his mouth, knowing not what was hidden for him in the after time
+for only the Lord of Futurity knoweth the Future.  But hardly had
+he swallowed it, when he fell down, head foregoing heels, and was
+lost to the world; whereupon the Persian, seeing him in such
+calamitous case, rejoiced exceedingly and cried, "Thou hast
+fallen into my snares, O gallows-carrion, O dog of the Arabs!
+This many a year have I sought thee and now I have found thee, O
+Hasan!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-first Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan the goldsmith ate the bit of sweetmeat given to him by the
+Ajami and fell fainting to the ground, the Persian rejoiced
+exceedingly and cried, "This many a year have I sought thee and
+now I have found thee!"  Then he girt himself and pinioned
+Hasan's arms and binding his feet to his hands laid him in a
+chest, which he emptied to that end and locked it upon him.
+Moreover, he cleared another chest and laying therein all Hasan's
+valuables, together with the piece of the first gold-lump and the
+second ingot which he had made locked it with a padlock.  Then he
+ran to the market and fetching a porter, took up the two chests
+and made off with them to a place within sight of the city, where
+he set them down on the sea-shore, hard by a vessel at anchor
+there.  Now this craft had been freighted and fitted out by the
+Persian and her master was awaiting him; so, when the crew saw
+him, they came to him and bore the two chests on board.  Then the
+Persian called out to the Rais or Captain, saying, "Up and let us
+be off, for I have done my desire and won my wish."  So the
+skipper sang out to the sailors, saying, "Weigh anchor and set
+sail!" And the ship put out to sea with a fair wind.  So far
+concerning the Persian; but as regards Hasan's mother, she
+awaited him till supper-time but heard neither sound nor news of
+him; so she went to the house and finding it thrown open, entered
+and saw none therein and missed the two chests and their
+valuables; wherefore she knew that her son was lost and that doom
+had overtaken him; and she buffeted her face and rent her raiment
+crying out and wailing and saying, "Alas, my son, ah!  Alas, the
+fruit of my vitals, ah!"  And she recited these couplets,
+
+"My patience fails me and grows anxiety; * And with your absence
+     growth of grief I see.
+By Allah, Patience went what time ye went! * Loss of all Hope how
+     suffer patiently?
+When lost my loved one how can' joy I sleep? * Who shall enjoy
+     such life of low degree?
+Thou 'rt gone and, desolating house and home, * Hast fouled the
+     fount erst flowed from foulness free:
+Thou wast my fame, my grace 'mid folk, my stay; * Mine aid wast
+     thou in all adversity!
+Perish the day, when from mine eyes they bore * My friend, till
+     sight I thy return to me!"
+
+And she ceased not to weep and wail till the dawn, when the
+neighbours came in to her and asked her of her son, and she told
+them what had befallen him with the Persian, assured that she
+should never, never see him again.  Then she went round about the
+house, weeping, and wending she espied two lines written upon the
+wall; so she sent for a scholar, who read them to her; and they
+were these,
+
+"Leyla's phantom came by night, when drowsiness had overcome me,
+     towards morning while my companions were sleeping in the
+     desert,
+But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air
+     vacant and the place of visitation was distant."[FN#23]
+
+When Hasan's mother heard these lines, she shrieked and said,
+"Yes, O my son!  Indeed, the house is desolate and the
+visitation-place is distant!"  Then the neighbours took leave of
+her and after they had prayed that she might be vouchsafed
+patience and speedy reunion with her son, went away; but she
+ceased not to weep all watches of the night and tides of the day
+and she built amiddlemost the house a tomb whereon she let write
+Hasan's name and the date of his loss, and thenceforward she
+quitted it not, but made a habit of incessantly biding thereby
+night and day. Such was her case; but touching her son Hasan and
+the Ajami, this Persian was a Magian, who hated Moslems with
+exceeding hatred and destroyed all who fell into his power.  He
+was a lewd and filthy villain, a hankerer after alchemy, an
+astrologer and a hunter of hidden hoards, such an one as he of
+whom quoth the poet,
+
+"A dog, dog-fathered, by dog-grandsire bred; * No good in dog
+     from dog race issued:
+E'en for a gnat no resting-place gives he * Who is composed of
+     seed by all men shed."[FN#24]
+
+The name of this accursed was Bahr�m the Guebre, and he was wont,
+every year, to take a Moslem and cut his throat for his own
+purposes.  So, when he had carried out his plot against Hasan the
+goldsmith, they sailed on from dawn till dark, when the ship made
+fast to the shore for the night, and at sunrise, when they set
+sail again, Bahram bade his black slaves and white servants bring
+him the chest wherein were Hasan.  They did so, and he opened it
+and taking out the young man, made him sniff up vinegar and blew
+a powder into his nostrils.  Hasan sneezed and vomited the Bhang;
+then, opening his eyes, he looked about him right and left and
+found himself amiddleward the sea on aboard a ship in full sail,
+and saw the Persian sitting by him; wherefore he knew that the
+accursed Magian had put a cheat on him and that he had fallen
+into the very peril against which his mother had warned him.  So
+he spake the saying which shall never shame the sayer, to wit,
+"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
+Glorious, the Great!  Verity, we are Allah's and unto Him we are
+returning! O my God, be Thou gracious to me in Thine appointment
+and give me patience to endure this Thine affliction, O Lord of
+the three Worlds!"  Then he turned to the Persian and bespoke him
+softly, saying, "O my father, what fashion is this and where is
+the covenant of bread and salt and the oath thou swarest to
+me?"[FN#25]  But Bahram stared at him and replied, "O dog,
+knoweth the like of me bond of bread and salt? I have slain of
+youths like thee a thousand, save one, and thou shalt make up the
+thousand."  And he cried out at him and Hasan was silent, knowing
+that the Fate-shaft had shot him.--And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-second Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan beheld himself fallen into the hands of the damned Persian
+he bespoke him softly but gained naught thereby for the Ajami
+cried out at him in wrath, so he was silent, knowing that the
+Fate-shaft had shot him.  Then the accursed bade loose his
+pinion-bonds and they gave him a little water to drink, whilst
+the Magian laughed and said, "By the virtue of the Fire and the
+Light and the Shade and the Heat, methought not thou wouldst fall
+into my nets!  But the Fire empowered me over thee and helped me
+to lay hold upon thee, that I might win my wish and return and
+make thee a sacrifice, to her[FN#26] so she may accept of me."
+Quoth Hasan, "Thou hast foully betrayed bread and salt";
+whereupon the Magus raised his hand and dealt him such a buffet
+that he fell and, biting the deck with his fore-teeth, swooned
+away, whilst the tears trickled down his cheeks.  Then the Guebre
+bade his servants light him a fire and Hasan said, "What wilt
+thou do with it?" Replied the Magian, "This is the Fire, lady of
+light and sparkles bright!  This it is I worship, and if thou
+wilt worship her even as I, verily I will give thee half my
+monies and marry thee to my maiden daughter."  Thereupon Hasan
+cried angrily at him, "Woe to thee!  Thou art a miscreant Magian
+who to Fire dost pray in lieu of the King of Omnipotent sway,
+Creator of Night and Day; and this is naught but a calamity among
+creeds!" At this the Magian was wroth and said to him, "Wilt thou
+not then conform with me, O dog of the Arabs, and enter my
+faith?"  But Hasan consented not to this: so the accursed Guebre
+arose and prostrating himself to the fire, bade his pages throw
+him flat on his face. They did so, and he beat him with a hide
+whip of plaited thongs[FN#27] till his flanks were laid open,
+whilst he cried aloud for aid but none aided him, and besought
+protection, but none protected him. Then he raised his eyes to
+the All-powerful King and sought of Him succour in the name of
+the Chosen Prophet.  And indeed patience failed him; his tears
+ran down his cheeks, like rain, and he repeated these couplets
+twain,
+
+"In patience, O my God, Thy doom forecast * I'll bear, an thereby
+     come Thy grace at last:
+They've dealt us wrong, transgressed and ordered ill; * Haply Thy
+     Grace  shall pardon what is past."
+
+Then the Magian bade his negro-slaves raise him to a sitting
+posture and bring him somewhat of meat and drink.  So they sat
+food before him; but he consented not to eat or drink; and Bahram
+ceased not to torment him day and night during the whole voyage,
+whilst Hasan took patience and humbled himself in supplication
+before Almighty Allah to whom belong Honour and Glory; whereby
+the Guebre's heart was hardened against him. They ceased not to
+sail the sea three months, during which time Hasan was
+continually tortured till Allah Almighty sent forth upon them a
+foul wind and the sea grew black and rose against the ship, by
+reason of the fierce gale; whereupon quoth the captain and
+crew,[FN#28] "By Allah, this is all on account of yonder youth,
+who hath been these three months in torture with this Magian.
+Indeed, this is not allowed of God the Most High."  Then they
+rose against the Magian and slew his servants and all who were
+with him; which when he saw, he made sure of death and feared for
+himself.  So he loosed Hasan from his bonds and pulling off the
+ragged clothes the youth had on, clad him in others; and made
+excuses to him and promised to teach him the craft and restore
+him to his native land, saying, "O my son, return me not evil for
+that I have done with thee."  Quoth Hasan, "How can I ever rely
+upon thee again?"; and quoth Bahram, "O my son, but for sin,
+there were no pardon.  Indeed, I did all these doings with thee,
+but to try thy patience, and thou knowest that the case is
+altogether in the hands of Allah."  So the crew and captain
+rejoiced in Hasan's release, and he called down blessings on them
+and praised the Almighty and thanked Him.  With this the wind was
+stilled and the sky cleared and with a fair breeze they continued
+their voyage. Then said Hasan to Bahram, "O Master,[FN#29]
+whither wendest thou?"  Replied the Magian, "O my son, I am
+bound for the Mountain of Clouds, where is the Elixir which we
+use in alchemy."  And the Guebre swore to him by the Fire and the
+Light that he had no longer any cause to fear him.  So Hasan's
+heart was set at ease and rejoicing at the Persian's words, he
+continued to eat and drink and sleep with the Magian, who clad
+him in his own raiment.  They ceased not sailing on other three
+months, when the ship came to anchor off a long shoreline of many-
+coloured pebbles, white and yellow and sky-blue and black and
+every other hue, and the Magian sprang up and said, "O Hasan,
+come, let us go ashore for we have reached the place of our wish
+and will."  So Hasan rose and landed with Bahram, after the
+Persian had commended his goods to the captain's care. They
+walked on inland, till they were far enough from the ship to be
+out of sight, when Bahram sat down and taking from his pocket a
+kettle-drum[FN#30] of copper and a silken strap, worked in gold
+with characts, beat the drum with the strap, until there arose a
+cloud of dust from the further side of the waste.  Hasan
+marvelled at the Magian's doings and was afraid of him: he
+repented of having come ashore with him and his colour changed.
+But Bahram looked at him and said, "What aileth thee, O my son?
+By the truth of the Fire and the Light, thou hast naught to fear
+from me; and, were it not that my wish may never be won save by
+thy means, I had not brought thee ashore.  So rejoice in all
+good; for yonder cloud of dust is the dust of somewhat we will
+mount and which will aid us to cut across this wold and make easy
+to us the hardships thereof."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-third Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+Persian said to Hasan, "In very sooth yonder dust-cloud is the
+cloud of something we will mount and which will aid us to cut
+across this wold and will make easy to us the hardships thereof."
+Presently the dust lifted off three she-dromedaries, one of which
+Bahram mounted and Hasan another.  Then they loaded their victual
+on the third and fared on seven days, till they came to a wide
+champaign and, descending into its midst, they saw a dome vaulted
+upon four pilasters of red gold; so they alighted and entering
+thereunder, ate and drank and took their rest.  Anon Hasan
+chanced to glance aside and seeing from afar a something lofty
+said to the Magian, "What is that, O nuncle?"  Bahram replied,
+"'Tis a palace," and quoth Hasan, "Wilt thou not go thither, that
+we may enter and there repose ourselves and solace ourselves with
+inspecting it?"  But the Persian was wroth and said, "Name not to
+me yonder palace; for therein dwelleth a foe, with whom there
+befel me somewhat whereof this is no time to tell thee."  Then he
+beat the kettle-drum and up came the dromedaries, and they
+mounted and fared on other seven days.  On the eighth day, the
+Magian said, "O Hasan, what seest thou?"  Hasan replied, "I see
+clouds and mists twixt east and west."  Quoth Bahram, "That is
+neither clouds nor mists, but a vast mountain and a lofty whereon
+the clouds split,[FN#31] and there are no clouds above it, for
+its exceeding height and surpassing elevation.  Yon mount is my
+goal and thereon is the need we seek. 'Tis for that I brought
+thee hither, for my wish may not be won save at thy hands."  Hasan
+hearing this gave his life up for lost and said to the Magian,
+"By the right of that thou worshippest and by the faith wherein
+thou believest, I conjure thee to tell me what is the object
+wherefor thou hast brought me!"  Bahram replied, "The art of
+alchemy may not be accomplished save by means of a herb which
+groweth in the place where the clouds pass and whereon they
+split. Such a site is yonder mountain upon whose head the herb
+groweth and I purpose to send thee up thither to fetch it; and
+when we have it, I will show thee the secret of this craft which
+thou desirest to learn."  Hasan answered, in his fear, "'Tis
+well, O my master;" and indeed he despaired of life and wept for
+his parting from his parent and people and patrial stead,
+repenting him of having gainsaid his mother and reciting these
+two couplets,
+
+"Consider but thy Lord, His work shall bring * Comfort to thee,
+     with quick  relief and near:
+Despair not when thou sufferest sorest bane: * In bane how many
+     blessed  boons appear!"
+
+They ceased not faring on till they came to the foothills of that
+mountain where they halted; and Hasan saw thereon a palace and
+asked Bahram, "What be yonder palace?"; whereto he answered,
+"'Tis the abode of the Jann and Ghuls and Satans."  Then the
+Magian alighted and making Hasan also dismount from his dromedary
+kissed his head and said to him, "Bear me no ill will anent that
+I did with thee, for I will keep guard over thee in thine ascent
+to the palace; and I conjure thee not to trick and cheat me of
+aught thou shalt bring therefrom; and I and thou will share
+equally therein."  And Hasan replied, "To hear is to obey." Then
+Bahram opened a bag and taking out a handmill and a sufficiency
+of wheat, ground the grain and kneaded three round cakes of the
+flour; after which he lighted a fire and baked the bannocks.
+Then he took out the copper kettle-drum and beat it with the
+broidered strap, whereupon up came the dromedaries. He chose out
+one and said, "Hearken, O my son, O Hasan, to what I am about to
+enjoin on thee;" and Hasan replied, "'Tis well."  Bahram
+continued, "Lie down on this skin and I will sew thee up therein
+and lay thee on the ground; whereupon the Rakham birds[FN#32]
+will come to thee and carry thee up to the mountain-top.  Take
+this knife with thee; and, when thou feelest that the birds have
+done flying and have set thee down, slit open therewith the skin
+and come forth.  The vultures will then take fright at thee and
+fly away; whereupon do thou look down from the mountain head and
+speak to me, and I will tell thee what to do."  So he sewed him
+up in the skin, placing therein three cakes and a leathern bottle
+full of water, and withdrew to a distance. Presently a vulture
+pounced upon him and taking him up, flew away with him to the
+mountain-top and there set him down.  As soon as Hasan felt
+himself on the ground, he slit the skin and coming forth, called
+out to the Magian, who hearing his speech rejoiced and danced for
+excess of joy, saying to him, "Look behind thee and tell me what
+thou seest."  Hasan looked and seeing many rotten bones and much
+wood, told Bahram, who said to him, "This be what we need and
+seek. Make six bundles of the wood and throw them down to me, for
+this is wherewithal we do alchemy."  So he threw him the six
+bundles and when he had gotten them into his power he said to
+Hasan, "O gallows bird, I have won my wish of thee; and now, if
+thou wilt, thou mayst abide on this mountain, or cast thyself
+down to the earth and perish.  So saying, he left him[FN#33] and
+went away, and Hasan exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is
+no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  This hound hath
+played the traitor with me."  And he sat bemoaning himself and
+reciting these couplets,
+
+"When God upon a man possessed of reasoning, Hearing and sight
+     His will in aught to pass would bring,
+He stops his ears and blinds his eyes and draws his wit, From
+     him, as one  draws out the hairs to paste that cling;
+Till, His decrees fulfilled, He gives him back His wit, That
+     therewithal he  may receive admonishing.
+So say thou not of aught that haps, 'How happened it?' For Fate
+     and  fortune fixed do order everything.[FN#34]"
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+Magian sent Hasan to the mountain-top and made him throw down all
+he required he presently reviled him and left him and wended his
+ways and the youth exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is
+no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This damned
+hound hath played the traitor."  Then he rose to his feet and
+looked right and left, after which he walked on along the
+mountain top, in mind making certain of death.  He fared on thus
+till he came to the counterslope of the mountain, along which he
+saw a dark-blue sea, dashing with billows clashing and yeasting
+waves each as it were a lofty mount.  So he sat down and repeated
+what he might of the Koran and besought Allah the Most High to
+ease him of his troubles, or by death or by deliverance from such
+strait.  Then he recited for himself the funeral-prayer[FN#35]
+and cast himself down into the main; but, the waves bore him up
+by Allah's grace, so that he reached the water unhurt, and the
+angel in whose charge is the sea watched over him, so that the
+billows bore him safe to land, by the decree of the Most High.
+Thereupon he rejoiced and praised Almighty Allah and thanked Him;
+after which he walked on in quest of something to eat, for stress
+of hunger, and came presently to the place where he had halted
+with the Magian, Bahram.  Then he fared on awhile, till behold,
+he caught sight of a great palace, rising high in air, and knew
+it for that of which he had questioned the Persian and he had
+replied, "Therein dwelleth a foe, of mine."  Hasan said to
+himself, "By Allah, needs must I enter yonder palace; perchance
+relief awaiteth me there."  So coming to it and finding the gate
+open, he entered the vestibule, where he saw seated on a bench
+two girls like twin moons with a chess-cloth before them and they
+were at play.  One of them raised her head to him and cried out
+for joy saying, "By Allah, here is a son of Adam, and methinks
+'tis he whom Bahram the Magian brought hither this year!" So
+Hasan hearing her words cast himself at their feet and wept with
+sore weeping and said, "Yes, O my ladies, by Allah, I am indeed
+that unhappy." Then said the younger damsel to her elder sister,
+"Bear witness against me,[FN#36] O my sister, that this is my
+brother by covenant of Allah and that I will die for his death
+and live for his life and joy for his joy and mourn for his
+mourning." So saying, she rose and embraced him and kissed him
+and presently taking him by the hand and her sister with her, led
+him into the palace, where she did off his ragged clothes and
+brought him a suit of King's raiment wherewith she arrayed him.
+Moreover, she made ready all manner viands[FN#37] and set them
+before him, and sat and ate with him, she and her sister. Then
+said they to him, "Tell us thy tale with yonder dog, the wicked,
+the wizard, from the time of thy falling into his hands to that
+of thy freeing thee from him; and after we will tell thee all
+that hath passed between us and him, so thou mayst be on thy
+guard against him an thou see him again." Hearing these words and
+finding himself thus kindly received, Hasan took heart of grace
+and reason returned to him and he related to them all that had
+befallen him with the Magian from first to last.  Then they
+asked, "Didst thou ask him of this palace?"; and he answered,
+"Yes, but he said, 'Name it not to me; for it belongeth to Ghuls
+and Satans.'" At this, the two damsels waxed wroth with exceeding
+wrath and said, "Did that miscreant style us Ghuls and Satans?"
+And Hasan answered, "Yes." Cried the younger sister, "By Allah, I
+will assuredly do him die with the foulest death and make him to
+lack the wind of the world!"  Quoth Hasan, "And how wilt thou get
+at him, to kill him, for he is a crafty magician?"; and quoth
+she, "He is in a garden by name Al-Mushayyad,[FN#38] and there is
+no help but that I slay him before long."  Then said her sister,
+"Sooth spake Hasan in everything he hath recounted to us of this
+cur; but now tell him our tale, that all of it may abide in his
+memory."  So the younger said to him, "Know, O my brother, that
+we are the daughters of a King of the mightiest Kings of the
+Jann, having Marids for troops and guards and servants, and
+Almighty Allah blessed him with seven daughters by one wife; but
+of his folly such jealousy and stiff-neckedness and pride beyond
+compare gat hold upon him that he would not give us in marriage
+to any one and, summoning his Wazirs and Emirs, he said to them,
+'Can ye tell me of any place untrodden by the tread of men and
+Jinn and abounding in trees and fruits and rills?' And quoth
+they, 'What wilt thou therewith, O King of the Age?' And quoth
+he, 'I desire there to lodge my seven daughters.' Answered they,
+'O King, the place for them is the Castle of the Mountain of
+Clouds, built by an Ifrit of the rebellious Jinn, who revolted
+from the covenant of our lord Solomon, on whom be the Peace!
+Since his destruction, none hath dwelt there, nor man nor Jinni,
+for 'tis cut off[FN#39] and none may win to it.  And the Castle
+is girt about with trees and fruits and rills, and the water
+running around it is sweeter than honey and colder than snow:
+none who is afflicted with leprosy or elephantiasis[FN#40] or
+what not else drinketh thereof but he is healed forthright.
+Hearing this our father sent us hither, with an escort of his
+troops and guards and provided us with all that we need here.
+When he is minded to ride to us he beateth a kettle-drum,
+whereupon all his hosts present themselves before him and he
+chooseth whom he shall ride and dismisseth the rest; but, when he
+desireth that we shall visit him, he commandeth his followers,
+the enchanters, to fetch us and carry us to the presence; so he
+may solace himself with our society and we accomplish our desire
+of him; after which they again carry us back hither.  Our five
+other sisters are gone a-hunting in our desert, wherein are wild
+beasts past compt or calculation and, it being our turn to do
+this we two abode at home, to make ready for them food.  Indeed,
+we had besought Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) to vouchsafe
+us a son of Adam to cheer us with his company and praised be He
+who hath brought thee to us!  So be of good cheer and keep thine
+eyes cool and clear, for no harm shall befal thee."  Hasan
+rejoiced and said, "Alhamdolillah, laud to the Lord who guideth
+us into the path of deliverance and inclineth hearts to us!" Then
+his sister[FN#41] rose and taking him by the hand, led him into a
+private chamber, where she brought out to him linen and furniture
+that no mortal can avail unto.  Presently, the other damsels
+returned from hunting and birding and their sisters acquainted
+them with Hasan's case; whereupon they rejoiced in him and going
+into him in his chamber, saluted him with the salam and gave him
+joy of his safety.  Then he abode with them in all the solace of
+life and its joyance, riding out with them to the chase and
+taking his pleasure with them whilst they entreated him
+courteously and cheered him with converse, till his sadness
+ceased from him and he recovered health and strength and his body
+waxed stout and fat, by dint of fair treatment and pleasant time
+among the seven moons in that fair palace with its gardens and
+flowers; for indeed he led the delightsomest of lives with the
+damsels who delighted in him and he yet more in them.  And they
+used to give him drink of the honey-dew of their lips[FN#42]
+these beauties with the high bosoms, adorned with grace and
+loveliness, the perfection of brilliancy and in shape very
+symmetry.  Moreover the youngest Princess told her sisters how
+Bahram the Magian had made them of the Ghuls and Demons and
+Satans,[FN#43] and they sware that they would surely slay him.
+Next year the accursed Guebre again made his appearance, having
+with him a handsome young Moslem, as he were the moon, bound hand
+and foot and tormented with grievous tortures, and alighted with
+him below the palace-walls. Now Hasan was sitting under the trees
+by the side of the stream; and when he espied Bahram, his heart
+fluttered,[FN#44] his hue changed and he smote hand upon
+hand.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan the goldsmith saw the Magian, his heart fluttered, his hue
+changed and he smote hand upon hand.  Then he said to the
+Princesses, "O my sisters, help me to the slaughter of this
+accursed, for here he is come back and in your grasp, and he
+leadeth with him captive a young Moslem of the sons of the
+notables, whom he is torturing with all manner grievous torments.
+Lief would I kill him and console my heart of him; and, by
+delivering the young Moslem from his mischief and restoring him
+to his country and kith and kin and friends, fain would I lay up
+merit for the world to come, by taking my wreak of him.[FN#45]
+This will be an almsdeed from you and ye will reap the reward
+thereof from Almighty Allah."  "We hear and we obey Allah and
+thee, O our brother, O Hasan," replied they and binding
+chin-veils, armed themselves and slung on their swords: after
+which they brought Hasan a steed of the best and equipped him in
+panoply and weaponed him with goodly weapons.  Then they all
+sallied out and found the Magian who had slaughtered and skinned
+a camel, ill-using the young Moslem, and saying to him, "Sit thee
+in this hide."  So Hasan came behind him, without his knowledge,
+and cried out at him till he was dazed and amazed.  Then he came
+up to him, saying, "Hold thy hand, O accursed! O enemy of Allah
+and foe of the Moslems! O dog! O traitor! O thou that flame dost
+obey! O thou that walkest in the wicked ones' ways, worshipping
+the fire and the light and swearing by the shade and the heat!"
+Herewith the Magian turned and seeing Hasan, thought to wheedle
+him and said to him, "O my son, how diddest thou escape and who
+brought thee down to earth?" Hasan replied, "He delivered me, who
+hath appointed the taking of thy life to be at my hand, and I
+will torture thee even as thou torturedst me the whole way long.
+O miscreant, O atheist,[FN#46] thou hast fallen into the twist
+and the way thou hast missed; and neither mother shall avail thee
+nor brother, nor friend nor solemn covenant shall assist thee;
+for thou saidst, O accursed, Whoso betrayeth bread and salt, may
+Allah do vengeance upon him! And thou hast broken the bond of
+bread and salt; wherefore the Almighty hath thrown thee into my
+grasp, and far is thy chance of escape from me."  Rejoined
+Bahram, "By Allah, O my son, O Hasan, thou art dearer to me than
+my sprite and the light of mine eyes!" But Hasan stepped up to
+him and hastily smote him between the shoulders, that the sword
+issued gleaming from his throat-tendons and Allah hurried his
+soul to the fire, and abiding-place dire.  Then Hasan took the
+Magian's bag and opened it, then having taken out the kettle-drum
+he struck it with the strap, whereupon up came the dromedaries
+like lightning.  So he unbound the youth from his bonds and
+setting him on one of the camels, loaded him another with victual
+and water,[FN#47] saying, "Wend whither thou wilt."  So he
+departed, after Almighty Allah had thus delivered him from his
+strait at the hands of Hasan.  When the damsels saw their brother
+slay the Magian they joyed in him with exceeding joy and gat
+round him, marvelling at his valour and prowess,[FN#48] and
+thanked him for his deed and gave him joy of his safety, saying,
+"O Hasan thou hast done a deed, whereby thou hast healed the
+burning of him that thirsteth for vengeance and pleased the King
+of Omnipotence!"  Then they returned to the palace, and he abode
+with them, eating and drinking and laughing and making merry; and
+indeed his sojourn with them was joyous to him and he forgot his
+mother;[FN#49] but while he led with them this goodly life one
+day, behold, there arose from the further side of the desert a
+great cloud of dust that darkened the welkin and made towards
+them.  When the Princesses saw this, they said to him, "Rise, O
+Hasan, run to thy chamber and conceal thyself; or an thou wilt,
+go down into the garden and hide thyself among the trees and
+vines; but fear not, for no harm shall befal thee." So he arose
+and entering his chamber, locked the door upon himself, and lay
+lurking in the palace.  Presently the dust opened out and showed
+beneath it a great conquering host, as it were a surging sea,
+coming from the King, the father of the damsels. Now when the
+troops reached the castle, the Princesses received them with all
+honour and hospitably entertained them three days; after which
+they questioned them of their case and tidings and they replied
+saying, "We come from the King in quest of you."  They asked,
+"And what would the King with us?"; and the officers answered,
+"One of the Kings maketh a marriage festival, and your father
+would have you be present thereat and take your pleasure
+therewith." The damsels enquired, "And how long shall we be
+absent from our place?"; and they rejoined, "The time to come and
+go, and to sojourn may be two months." So the Princesses arose
+and going in to the palace sought Hasan, acquainted him with the
+case and said to him, "Verily this place is thy place and our
+house is thy house; so be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool
+and clear and feel nor grief nor fear, for none can come at thee
+here; but keep a good heart and a glad mind, till we return to
+thee.  The keys of our chambers we leave with thee; but, O our
+brother, we beseech thee, by the bond of brotherhood, in very
+deed not to open such a door, for thou hast no need thereto."
+Then they farewelled him and fared forth with the troops, leaving
+Hasan alone in the palace.  It was not long before his breast
+grew straitened and his patience shortened: solitude and sadness
+were heavy on him and he sorrowed for his severance from them
+with passing chagrin.  The palace for all its vastness, waxed
+small to him and finding himself sad and solitary, he bethought
+him of the damsels and their pleasant converse and recited these
+couplets,
+
+"The wide plain is narrowed before these eyes * And the landscape
+     troubles  this heart of mine.
+Since my friends went forth, by the loss of them * Joy fled and
+     these  eyelids rail floods of brine:
+Sleep shunned these eyeballs for parting woe * And my mind is
+     worn with  sore pain and pine:
+Would I wot an Time shall rejoin our lots * And the joys of love
+     with night-talk combine."
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after the
+departure of the damsels, Hasan sat in the palace sad and
+solitary and his breast was straitened by severance.  He used to
+ride forth a-hunting by himself in the wold and bring back the
+game and slaughter it and eat thereof alone: but melancholy and
+disquiet redoubled on him, by reason of his loneliness.  So he
+arose and went round about the palace and explored its every
+part; he opened the Princesses' apartments and found therein
+riches and treasures fit to ravish the beholder's reason; but he
+delighted not in aught thereof, by reason of their absence.  His
+heart was fired by thinking of the door they had charged him not
+to approach or open on any account and he said in himself, "My
+sister had never enjoined me not to open this door, except there
+were behind it somewhat whereof she would have none to know; but,
+by Allah, I will arise and open it and see what is within, though
+within it were sudden death!" Then he took the key and, opening
+the door,[FN#50] saw therein no treasure but he espied a vaulted
+and winding staircase of Yamani onyx at the upper end of the
+chamber.  So he mounted the stair, which brought him out upon the
+terrace- roof of the palace, whence he looked down upon the
+gardens and vergiers, full of trees and fruits and beasts and
+birds warbling praises of Allah, the One, the All-powerful; and
+said in himself "This is that they forbade to me."   He gazed
+upon these pleasaunces and saw beyond a surging sea, dashing with
+clashing billows, and he ceased not to explore the palace right
+and left, till he ended at a pavilion builded with alternate
+courses, two bricks of gold and one of silver and jacinth and
+emerald and supported by four columns.  And in the centre he saw
+a sitting- room paved and lined with a mosaic of all manner
+precious stones such as rubies and emeralds and balasses and
+other jewels of sorts; and in its midst stood a basin[FN#51]
+brimful of water, over which was a trellis-work of sandalwood and
+aloes-wood reticulated with rods of red gold and wands of emerald
+and set with various kinds of jewels and fine pearls, each sized
+as a pigeon's egg.  The trellis was covered with a climbing vine,
+bearing grapes like rubies, and beside the basin stood a throne
+of lign-aloes latticed with red gold, inlaid with great pearls
+and comprising vari-coloured gems of every sort and precious
+minerals,  each kind fronting each and symmetrically disposed.
+About it the birds warbled with sweet tongues and various voices
+celebrating the praises of Allah the Most High: brief, it was a
+palace such as nor C�sar nor Chosro�s ever owned; but Hasan saw
+therein none of the creatures of Allah, whereat he marvelled and
+said in himself, "I wonder to which of the Kings this place
+pertaineth, or is it Many-Columned Iram whereof they tell, for
+who among mortals can avail to the like of this?"   And indeed he
+was amazed at the spectacle and sat down in the pavilion and cast
+glances around him marvelling at the beauty of its ordinance and
+at the lustre of the pearls and jewels and the curious works
+which therein were, no less than at the gardens and orchards
+aforesaid and at the birds that hymned the praises of Allah, the
+One, the Almighty; and he abode pondering the traces of him whom
+the Most High had enabled to rear that structure, for indeed He
+is muchel of might.[FN#52] And presently, behold, he espied ten
+birds[FN#53] flying towards the pavilion from the heart of the
+desert and knew that they were making the palace and bound for
+the basin, to drink of its waters: so he hid himself, for fear
+they should see him and take flight.  They lighted on a great
+tree and a goodly and circled round about it; and he saw amongst
+them a bird of marvel-beauty, the goodliest of them all, and the
+nine stood around it and did it service; and Hasan marvelled to
+see it peck them with its bill and lord it over them while they
+fled from it.  He stood gazing at them from afar as they entered
+the pavilion and perched on the couch; after which each bird rent
+open its neck-skin with its claws and issued out of it; and lo!
+it was but a garment of feathers, and there came forth therefrom
+ten virgins, maids whose beauty shamed the brilliancy of the
+moon.  They all doffed their clothes and plunging into the basin,
+washed and fell to playing and sporting one with other; whilst
+the chief bird of them lifted up the rest and ducked them down
+and they fled from her and dared not put forth their hands to
+her.  When Hasan beheld her thus he took leave of his right
+reason and his sense was enslaved, so he knew that the Princesses
+had not forbidden him to open the door save because of this; for
+he fell passionately in love with her, for what he saw of her
+beauty and loveliness, symmetry and perfect grace, as she played
+and sported and splashed the others with the water.  He stood
+looking upon them whilst they saw him not, with eye gazing and
+heart burning and soul[FN#54] to evil prompting; and he sighed to
+be with them and wept for longing, because of the beauty and
+loveliness of the chief damsel.  His mind was amazed at her
+charms and his heart taken in the net of her love; lowe was
+loosed in his heart for her sake and there waxed on him a flame,
+whose sparks might not be quenched, and desire, whose signs might
+not be hidden.  Presently, they came up out of that basin, whilst
+Hasan marvelled at their beauty and loveliness and the tokens of
+inner gifts in the elegance of their movements. Then he cast a
+glance at the chief damsel who stood mother- naked and there was
+manifest to him what was between her thighs a goodly rounded dome
+on pillars borne, like a bowl of silver or crystal, which
+recalled to him the saying of the poet,[FN#55]
+
+"When I took up her shift and discovered the terrace-roof of her
+     kaze, I found it as strait as my humour or eke my worldly
+     ways:
+So I thrust it, incontinent, in, halfway, and she heaved a sigh.
+     'For what dost thou sigh?' quoth I. 'For the rest of it
+     sure,' she says."
+
+Then coming out of the water they all put on their dresses and
+ornaments, and the chief maiden donned a green dress,[FN#56]
+wherein she surpassed for loveliness all the fair ones of the
+world and the lustre of her face outshone the resplendent full
+moons: she excelled the branches with the grace of her bending
+gait and confounded the wit with apprehension of disdain; and
+indeed she was as saith the poet,[FN#57]
+
+"A maiden 'twas, the dresser's art had decked with cunning
+     sleight;
+The sun thou 'd'st say had robbed her cheek and shone with
+     borrowed light.
+She came to us apparelled fair in under vest of green,
+Like as the ripe pomegranate hides beneath its leafy screen;
+And when we asked her what might be the name of what she wore,
+She answered in a quaint reply that double meaning bore:
+The desert's heart we penetrate in such apparel dressed,
+And Pierce-heart therefore is the name by which we call the
+     vest."
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+    When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan saw the damsels issue forth the basin, the chief maiden
+robbed his reason with her beauty and loveliness compelling him
+to recite the couplets forequoted.  And after dressing they sat
+talking and laughing, whilst he stood gazing on them, drowned in
+the sea of his love, burning in the flames of passion and
+wandering in the Wady of his melancholy thought.  And he said to
+himself, "By Allah, my sister forbade me not to open the door,
+but for cause of these maidens and for fear lest I should fall in
+love with one of them!  How, O Hasan shalt thou woo and win them?
+How bring down a bird flying in the vasty firmament?  By Allah
+thou hast cast thyself into a bottomless sea and snared thyself
+in a net whence there is no escape!  I shall die desolate and
+none shall wot of my death."  And he continued to gaze on the
+charms of the chief damsel, who was the lovliest creature Allah
+had made in her day, and indeed she outdid in beauty all human
+beings. She had a mouth magical as Solomon's seal and hair
+blacker than the night of estrangement to the love-despairing
+man; her brow was bright as the crescent moon of the Feast of
+Ramaz�n[FN#58] and her eyes were like eyes wherewith gazelles
+scan; she had a polished nose straight as a cane and cheeks like
+blood-red anemones of Nu'uman, lips like coralline and teeth like
+strung pearls in carcanets of gold virgin to man, and a neck like
+an ingot of silver, above a shape like a wand of B�n: her middle
+was full of folds, a dimpled plain such as enforceth the
+distracted lover to magnify Allah and extol His might and main,
+and her navel[FN#59] an ounce of musk, sweetest of savour could
+contain: she had thighs great and plump, like marble columns
+twain or bolsters stuffed with down from ostrich ta'en, and
+between them a somewhat, as it were a hummock great of span or a
+hare with ears back lain while terrace-roof and pilasters
+completed the plan; and indeed she surpassed the bough of the
+myrobalan with her beauty and symmetry, and the Indian rattan,
+for she was even as saith of them the poet whom love did
+unman,[FN#60]
+
+"Her lip-dews rival honey-sweets, that sweet virginity; *
+     Keener than Hindi scymitar the glance she casts at thee:
+She shames the bending bough of B�n with graceful movement slow *
+     And as she smiles her teeth appear with leven's brilliancy:
+When I compared with rose a-bloom the tintage of her cheeks, *
+     She laughed in scorn and cried, 'Whoso compares with rosery
+My hue and breasts, granados terms, is there no shame in him? *
+     How should pomegranates bear on bough such fruit in form or
+     blee?
+Now by my beauty and mine eyes and heart and eke by Heaven *
+     Of favours mine and by the Hell of my unclemency,
+They say 'She is a garden-rose in very pride of bloom'; *
+     And yet no rose can ape my cheek nor branch my symmetry!
+If any garden own a thing which unto me is like, *
+     What then is that he comes to crave of me and only me?"'
+
+They ceased not to laugh and play, whilst Hasan stood still
+a-watching them, forgetting meat and drink, till near the hour of
+mid-afternoon prayer, when the beauty, the chief damsel, said to
+her mates, "O Kings' daughters, it waxeth late and our land is
+afar and we are weary of this stead.  Come, therefore, let us
+depart to our own place." So they all arose and donned their
+feather vests, and becoming birds as they were before, flew away
+all together, with the chief lady in their midst.  Then, Hasan,
+despairing of their return, would have arisen and gone down into
+the palace  but could not move or even stand; wherefore the tears
+ran down his cheeks and passion was sore on him and he recited
+these couplets,
+
+"May God deny me boon of troth if I * After your absence sweets
+     of slumber know:
+Yea; since that sev'rance never close mine eyes, * Nor rest
+     repose me since departed you!
+'Twould seem as though you saw me in your sleep; * Would Heaven
+     the dreams of sleep were real-true!
+Indeed I dote on sleep though needed not, * For sleep may bring
+     me that dear form to view."
+
+Then Hasan walked on, little by little, heeding not the way he
+went, till he reached the foot of the stairs, whence he dragged
+himself to his own chamber; then he entered and shutting the
+door, lay sick eating not nor drinking and drowned in the sea of
+his solitude.  He spent the night thus, weeping and bemoaning
+himself, till the morning, and when it morrowed he repeated these
+couplets,
+
+"The birds took flight at eve and winged their way; * And sinless
+     he who died of Love's death-blow.
+I'll keep my love-tale secret while I can * But, an desire
+     prevail, its needs must show:
+Night brought me nightly vision, bright as dawn; * While nights
+     of my desire lack morning-glow.
+I mourn for them[FN#61] while they heart-freest sleep * And winds
+     of love on me their plaything blow:
+Free I bestow my tears, my wealth, my heart * My wit, my sprite:–
+     most gain who most bestow!
+The worst of woes and banes is enmity * Beautiful maidens deal us
+     to our woe.
+Favour they say's forbidden to the fair * And shedding lovers'
+     blood their laws allow;
+That naught can love-sicks do but lavish soul, * And stake in
+     love-play life on single throw:[FN#62]
+I cry in longing ardour for my love: * Lover can only weep and
+     wail Love-lowe."
+
+When the sun rose he opened the door, went forth of the chamber
+and mounted to the stead where he was before: then he sat down
+facing the pavilion and awaited the return of the birds till
+nightfall; but they returned not; wherefore he wept till he fell
+to the ground in a fainting-fit. When he came to after his swoon,
+he dragged himself down the stairs to his chamber; and indeed,
+the darkness was come and straitened upon him was the whole world
+and he ceased not to weep and wail himself through the livelong
+night, till the day broke and the sun rained over hill and dale
+its rays serene.  He ate not nor drank nor slept, nor was there
+any rest for him; but by day he was distracted and by night
+distressed, with sleeplessness delirious and drunken with
+melancholy thought and excess of love-longing.  And he repeated
+the verses of the love-distraught poet,
+
+"O thou who shamest sun in morning sheen * The branch
+     confounding, yet with nescience blest;
+Would Heaven I wot an Time shall bring return * And quench the
+     fires which flame unmanifest,--
+Bring us together in a close embrace, * Thy cheek upon my cheek,
+     thy breast abreast!
+Who saith, In Love dwells sweetness? when in Love * Are bitterer
+     days than Alo�s[FN#63] bitterest."
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan the goldsmith felt love redouble upon him, he recited those
+lines; and, as he abode thus in the stress of his
+love-distraction, alone and finding none to cheer him with
+company, behold, there arose a dust-cloud from the desert,
+wherefore he ran down and hid himself knowing that the Princesses
+who owned the castle had returned.  Before long, the troops
+halted and dismounted round the palace and the seven damsels
+alighted and entering, put off their arms and armour of war.  As
+for the youngest, she stayed not to doff her weapons and gear,
+but went straight to Hasan's chamber, where finding him not, she
+sought for him, till she lighted on him in one of the sleeping
+closets hidden, feeble and thin, with shrunken body and wasted
+bones and indeed his colour was changed and his eyes sunken in
+his face for lack of food and drink and for much weeping, by
+reason of his love and longing for the young lady.  When she saw
+him in this plight, she was confounded and lost her wits; but
+presently she questioned him of his case and what had befallen
+him, saying, "Tell me what aileth thee, O my brother, that I may
+contrive to do away thine affliction, and I will be thy
+ransom!"[FN#64] Whereupon he wept with sore weeping and by way of
+reply he began reciting,
+
+"Lover, when parted from the thing he loves, * Has naught save
+     weary woe and bane to bear.
+Inside is sickness, outside living lowe, * His first is fancy and
+     his last despair."
+
+When his sister heard this, she marvelled at his eloquence and
+loquent speech and his readiness at answering her in verse and
+said to him, "O my brother, when didst thou fall into this thy
+case and what hath betided thee, that I find thee speaking in
+song and shedding tears that throng?  Allah upon thee, O my
+brother, and by the honest love which is between us, tell me what
+aileth thee and discover to me thy secret, nor conceal from me
+aught of that which hath befallen thee in our absence; for my
+breast is straitened and my life is troubled because of thee."
+He sighed and railed tears like rain, after which he said, "I
+fear, O my sister, if I tell thee, that thou wilt not aid me to
+win my wish but wilt leave me to die wretchedly in mine anguish."
+She replied, "No, by Allah, O my brother, I will not abandon
+thee, though it cost me my life!"  So he told her all that had
+befallen him, and that the cause of his distress and affliction
+was the passion he had conceived for the young lady whom he had
+seen when he opened the forbidden door; and how he had not tasted
+meat nor drink for ten days past.  Then he wept with sore weeping
+and recited these couplets,
+
+"Restore my heart as 'twas within my breast, * Let mine eyes
+     sleep again, then fly fro' me.
+Deem ye the nights have had the might to change * Love's vow?
+     Who changeth may he never be!"
+
+His sister wept for his weeping and was moved to ruth for his
+case and pitied his strangerhood; so she said to him, "O my
+brother, be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear, for
+I will venture being and risk existence to content thee and
+devise thee a device wherewith, though it cost me my dear life
+and all I hold dear, thou mayst get possession of her and
+accomplish thy desire, if such be the will of Allah Almighty.
+But I charge thee, O my brother, keep the matter secret from my
+sisterhood and discover not thy case to any one of them, lest my
+life be lost with thy life.  An they question thee of opening the
+forbidden door, reply to them, 'I opened it not; no, never; but I
+was troubled at heart for your absence and by my loneliness here
+and yearning for you.'"[FN#65] And he answered, "Yes: this is the
+right rede."  So he kissed her head and his heart was comforted
+and his bosom broadened.  He had been nigh upon death for excess
+of affright, for he had gone in fear of her by reason of his
+having opened the door; but now his life and soul returned to
+him. Then he sought of her somewhat of food and after serving it
+she left him, and went in to her sisters, weeping and mourning
+for him.  They questioned her of her case and she told them how
+she was heavy at heart for her brother, because he was sick and
+for ten days no food had found way into his stomach.  So they
+asked the cause of his sickness and she answered, "The reason was
+our severance from him and our leaving him desolate; for these
+days we have been absent from him were longer to him than a
+thousand years and scant blame to him, seeing he is a stranger,
+and solitary and we left him alone, with none to company with him
+or hearten his heart; more by token that he is but a youth and
+may be he called to mind his family and his mother, who is a
+woman in years, and bethought him that she weepeth for him all
+whiles of the day and watches of the night, ever mourning his
+loss; and we used to solace him with our society and divert him
+from thinking of her." When her sisters heard these words they
+wept in the stress of their distress for him and said,
+"Wa'll�hi--'fore Allah, he is not to blame!" Then they went out
+to the army and dismissed it, after which they went into Hasan
+and saluted him with the salam.  When they saw his charms changed
+with yellow colour and shrunken body, they wept for very pity and
+sat by his side and comforted him and cheered him with converse,
+relating to him all they had seen by the way of wonders and
+rarities and what had befallen the bridegroom with the bride.
+They abode with him thus a whole month, tendering him and
+caressing him with words sweeter than syrup; but every day
+sickness was added to his sickness, which when they saw, they
+bewept him with sore weeping, and the youngest wept even more
+than the rest.  At the end of this time, the Princesses having
+made up their minds to ride forth a-hunting and a-birding invited
+their sister to accompany them, but she said, "By Allah, O my
+sisters, I cannot go forth with you whilst my brother is in this
+plight, nor indeed till he be restored to health and there cease
+from him that which is with him of affliction.  Rather will I sit
+with him and comfort him." They thanked her for her kindness and
+said to her, "Allah will requite thee all thou dost with this
+stranger." Then they left her with him in the palace and rode
+forth taking with them twenty days' victual;--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+Princesses mounted and rode forth a-hunting and a-birding, after
+leaving in the palace their youngest sister sitting by Hasan's
+side; and as soon as the damsel knew that they had covered a long
+distance from home, she went in to him and said, "O my brother,
+come, show me the place where thou sawest the maidens." He
+rejoiced in her words, making sure of winning his wish, and
+replied, "Bismillah! On my head!" Then he essayed to rise and
+show her the place, but could not walk; so she took him up in her
+arms, holding him to her bosom between her breasts; and, opening
+the staircase-door, carried him to the top of the palace, and he
+showed her the pavilion where he had seen the girls and the basin
+of water, wherein they had bathed.  Then she said to him, "Set
+forth to me, O my brother, their case and how they came."  So he
+described to her whatso he had seen of them and especially the
+girl of whom he was enamoured; but hearing these words she knew
+her and her cheeks paled and her case changed. Quoth he, "O my
+sister, what aileth thee to wax wan and be troubled?"; and quoth
+she, "O my brother, know thou that this young lady is the
+daughter of a Sovran of the Jann, of one of the most puissant of
+their Kings, and her father had dominion over men and Jinn and
+wizards and Cohens and tribal chiefs and guards and countries and
+cities and islands galore and hath immense wealth in store.  Our
+father is a Viceroy and one of his vassals and none can avail
+against him, for the multitude of his many and the extent of his
+empire and the muchness of his monies.  He hath assigned to his
+offspring, the daughters thou sawest, a tract of country, a whole
+year's journey in length and breadth, a region girt about with a
+great river and a deep; and thereto none may attain, nor man nor
+Jann.  He hath an army of women, smiters with swords and lungers
+with lances, five-and-twenty thousand in number, each of whom,
+whenas she mounteth steed and donneth battle-gear, eveneth a
+thousand knights of the bravest.  Moreover, he hath seven
+daughters, who in valour and prowess equal and even excel their
+sisters,[FN#66] and he hath made the eldest of them, the damsel
+whom thou sawest,[FN#67] queen over the country aforesaid and who
+is the wisest of her sisters and in valour and horsemanship and
+craft and skill and magic excels all the folk of her dominions.
+The girls who companied with her are the ladies of her court and
+guards and grandees of her empire, and the plumed skins wherewith
+they fly are the handiwork of enchanters of the Jann.  Now an
+thou wouldst get possession of this queen and wed this jewel
+seld-seen and enjoy her beauty and loveliness and grace, do thou
+pay heed to my words and keep them in thy memory.  They resort to
+this place on the first day of every month; and thou must take
+seat here and watch for them; and when thou seest them coming
+hide thee near the pavilion sitting where thou mayst see them,
+without being seen of them, and beware, again beware lest thou
+show thyself, or we shall all lose our lives. When they doff
+their dress note which is the feather-suit of her whom thou
+lovest and take it, and it only, for this it is that carrieth her
+to her country, and when thou hast mastered it, thou hast
+mastered her.  And beware lest she wile thee, saying, 'O thou who
+hast robbed my raiment, restore it to me, because here am I in
+thine hands and at thy mercy!' For, an thou give it her, she will
+kill thee and break down over us palace and pavilion and slay our
+sire: know, then, thy case and how thou shalt act.  When her
+companions see that her feather-suit is stolen, they will take
+flight and leave her to thee, and beware lest thou show thyself
+to them, but wait till they have flown away and she despaireth of
+them: whereupon do thou go in to her and hale her by the hair of
+her head[FN#68] and drag her to thee; which being done, she will
+be at thy mercy.  And I rede thee discover not to her that thou
+hast taken the feather-suit, but keep it with care; for, so long
+as thou hast it in hold, she is thy prisoner and in thy power,
+seeing that she cannot fly to her country save with it.  And
+lastly carry her down to thy chamber where she will be thine."
+When Hasan heard her words his heart became at ease, his trouble
+ceased and affliction left him; so he rose to his feet and
+kissing his sister's head, went down from the terrace with her
+into the palace, where they slept that night.  He medicined
+himself till morning morrowed; and when the sun rose, he sprang
+up and opened the staircase-door and ascending to the flat roof
+sat there till supper-tide when his sister brought him up
+somewhat of meat and drink and a change of clothes and he slept.
+And thus they continued doing, day by day until the end of the
+month. When he saw the new moon, he rejoiced and began to watch
+for the birds, and while he was thus, behold, up they came, like
+lightning. As  soon as he espied them, he hid himself where he
+could watch them, unwatched by them, and they lighted down one
+and all of them, and putting off their clothes, descended into
+the basin. All this took place near the stead where Hasan lay
+concealed, and as soon as he caught sight of the girl he loved,
+he arose and crept under cover, little by little, towards the
+dresses, and Allah veiled him so that none marked his approach
+for they were laughing and playing with one another, till he laid
+hand on the dress.  Now when they had made an end of their
+diversion, they came forth of the basin and each of them slipped
+on her feather-suit.  But the damsel he loved sought for her
+plumage that she might put it on, but found it not; whereupon she
+shrieked and beat her cheeks and rent her raiment.  Her
+sisterhood[FN#69] came to her and asked what ailed her, and she
+told them that her feather-suit was missing; wherefore they wept
+and shrieked and buffeted their faces: and they were confounded,
+wotting not the cause of this, and knew not what to do. Presently
+the night overtook them and they feared to abide with her lest
+that which had befallen her should befal them also; so they
+farewelled her and flying away left her alone upon the
+terrace-roof of the palace, by the pavilion basin.--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninetieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan
+had carried off the girl's plumery, she sought it but found it
+not and her sisterhood flew away leaving her alone. When they
+were out of sight, Hasan gave ear to her and heard her say, "O
+who hast taken my dress and stripped me, I beseech thee to
+restore it to me and cover my shame, so may Allah never make thee
+taste of my tribulation!" But when Hasan heard her speak thus,
+with speech sweeter than syrup, his love for her redoubled,
+passion got the mastery of his reason and he had not patience to
+endure from her. So springing up from his hiding-place, he rushed
+upon her and laying hold of her by the hair dragged her to him
+and carried her down to the basement of the palace and set her in
+his own chamber, where he threw over her a silken cloak[FN#70]
+and left her weeping and biting her hands.  Then he shut the door
+upon her and going to his sister, informed her how he had made
+prize of his lover and carried her to his sleeping-closet, "And
+there," quoth he, "she is now sitting, weeping and biting her
+hands."  When his sister heard this, she rose forthright and
+betook herself to the chamber, where she found the captive
+weeping and mourning.  So she kissed ground before her and
+saluted her with the salam and the young lady said to her, "O
+King's daughter, do folk like you do such foul deed with the
+daughters of Kings?  Thou knowest that my father is a mighty
+Sovran and that all the liege lords of the Jinn stand in awe of
+him and fear his majesty: for that there are with him magicians
+and sages and Cohens and Satans and Marids, such as none may cope
+withal, and under his hand are folk whose number none knoweth
+save Allah.  How then doth it become you, O daughters of Kings,
+to harbour mortal men with you and disclose to them our case and
+yours?  Else how should this man, a stranger, come at us?"
+Hasan's sister made reply, "O King's daughter, in very sooth this
+human is perfect in nobleness and purposeth thee no villainy; but
+he loveth thee, and women were not made save for men.  Did he not
+love thee, he had not fallen sick for thy sake and well-nigh
+given up the ghost for desire of thee." And she told her the
+whole tale how Hasan had seen her bathing in the basin with her
+attendants, and fallen in love with her, and none had pleased him
+but she, for the rest were all her handmaids, and none had
+availed to put forth a hand to her. When the Princess heard this,
+she despaired of deliverance and presently Hasan's sister went
+forth and brought her a costly dress, wherein she robed her.
+Then she set before her somewhat of meat and drink and ate with
+her and heartened her heart and soothed her sorrows.  And she
+ceased not to speak her fair with soft and pleasant words,
+saying, "Have pity on him who saw thee once and became as one
+slain by thy love;" and continued to console her and caress her,
+quoting fair says and pleasant instances. But she wept till
+daybreak, when her trouble subsided and she left shedding tears,
+knowing that she had fallen into the net and that there was no
+deliverance for her.  Then said she to Hasan's sister, "O King's
+daughter, with this my strangerhood and severance from my country
+and sisterhood which Allah wrote upon my brow, patience becometh
+me to support what my Lord hath foreordained."  Therewith the
+youngest Princess assigned her a chamber in the palace, than
+which there was none goodlier and ceased not to sit with her and
+console her and solace her heart, till she was satisfied with her
+lot and her bosom was broadened and she laughed and there ceased
+from her what trouble and oppression possessed her, by reason of
+her separation from her people and country and sisterhood and
+parents.  Thereupon Hasan's sister repaired to him, and said,
+"Arise, go in to her in her chamber and kiss her hands and
+feet."[FN#71]  So he went in to her and did this and bussed her
+between the eyes, saying, "O Princess of fair ones and life of
+sprites and beholder's delight, be easy of heart, for I took thee
+only that I might be thy bondsman till the Day of Doom, and this
+my sister will be thy servant; for I, O my lady, desire naught
+but to take thee to wife, after the law of Allah and the practice
+of His Apostle, and whenas thou wilt, I will journey with thee to
+my country and carry thee to Baghdad-city and abide with thee
+there: moreover, I will buy thee handmaidens and negro chattels;
+and I have a mother, of the best of women, who will do thee
+service.  There is no goodlier land than our land; everything
+therein is better than elsewhere and its folk are a pleasant
+people and bright of face."  Now as he bespake her thus and
+strave to comfort her, what while she answered him not a
+syllable, lo! there came a knocking at the palace-gate.  So Hasan
+went out to see who was at the door and found there the six
+Princesses, who had returned from hunting and birding, whereat he
+rejoiced and went to meet them and welcomed them.  They wished
+him safety and health and he wished them the like; after which
+they dismounted and going each to her chamber doffed their soiled
+clothes and donned fine linen.  Then they came forth and demanded
+the game, for they had taken a store of gazelles and wild cows,
+hares and lions, hyaenas, and others; so their suite brought out
+some thereof for butchering, keeping the rest by them in the
+palace, and Hasan girt himself and fell to slaughtering for them
+in due form,[FN#72] whilst they sported and made merry, joying
+with great joy to see him standing amongst them hale and hearty
+once more.  When they had made an end of slaughtering, they sat
+down and addressed themselves to get ready somewhat for breaking
+their fast, and Hasan, coming up to the eldest Princess, kissed
+her head and on like wise did he with the rest, one after other.
+Whereupon said they to him, "Indeed, thou humblest thyself to us
+passing measure, O our brother, and we marvel at the excess of
+the affection thou showest us.  But Allah forfend that thou
+shouldst do this thing, which it behoveth us rather to do with
+thee, seeing thou art a man and therefor worthier than we, who
+are of the Jinn."[FN#73] Thereupon his eyes brimmed with tears
+and he wept sore; so they said to him, "What causeth thee to
+weep?  Indeed, thou troublest our pleasant lives with thy weeping
+this day.  'Twould seem thou longest after thy mother and native
+land.  An things be so, we will equip thee and carry thee to thy
+home and thy friends."  He replied, "By Allah, I desire not to
+part from you!" Then they asked, "Which of us hath vexed thee,
+that thou art thus troubled?"  But he was ashamed to say, "Naught
+troubleth me save love of a damsel," lest they should deny and
+disavow him: so he was silent and would tell them nothing of his
+case. Then his sister came forward and said to them, "He hath
+caught a bird from the air and would have you help him to tame
+her." Whereupon they all turned to him and cried, "We are at thy
+service every one of us and whatsoever thou seekest that will we
+do: but tell us thy tale and conceal from us naught of thy case."
+So he said to his sister, "Do thou tell them, for I am ashamed
+before them nor can I face them with these words."--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan said
+to his sister, "Do thou tell them my tale, for before them I
+stand abashed nor can I face them with these words."  So she said
+to them, "O my sisters, when we went away and left alone this
+unhappy one, the palace was straitened upon him and he feared
+lest some one should come in to him, for ye know that the sons of
+Adam are light of wits.  So, he opened the door of the staircase
+leading to the roof, of his loneliness and trouble, and sat
+there, looking upon the Wady and watching the gate, in his fear
+lest any should come thither.  One day, as he sat thus, suddenly
+he saw ten birds approach him, making for the palace, and they
+lighted down on the brink of the basin which is in the
+pavilion-terrace.  He watched these birds and saw, amongst them,
+one goodlier than the rest, which pecked the others and flouted
+them, whilst none of them dared put out a claw to it.  Presently,
+they set their nails to their neck-collars and, rending their
+feather-suits, came forth therefrom and became damsels, each and
+every, like the moon on fullest night.  Then they doffed their
+dress and plunging into the water, fell to playing with one
+another, whilst the chief damsel ducked the others, who dared not
+lay a finger on her and she was fairest of favour and most famous
+of form and most feateous of finery.  They ceased not to be in
+this case till near the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when they
+came forth of the basin and, donning their feather-shifts, flew
+away home.  Thereupon he waxed distracted, with a heart afire for
+love of the chief damsel and repenting him that he had not stolen
+her plumery.  Wherefore he fell sick and abode on the palace-roof
+expecting her return and abstaining from meat and drink and
+sleep, and he ceased not to be so till the new moon showed, when
+behold, they again made their appearance according to custom and
+doffing their dresses went down into the basin.  So he stole the
+chief damsel's feather-suit, knowing that she could not fly save
+therewith, hiding himself carefully lest they sight him and slay
+him.  Then he waited till the rest had flown away, when he arose
+and seizing the damsel, carried her down from the terrace into
+the castle." Her sisters asked, "Where is she?"; and she
+answered, "She is with him in such a chamber." Quoth they,
+"Describe her to us, O our sister:" so quoth she, "She is fairer
+than the moon on the night of fullness and her face is sheenier
+than the sun; the dew of her lips is sweeter than honey and her
+shape is straighter and slenderer than the cane; one with eyes
+black as night and brow flower-white; a bosom jewel-bright,
+breasts like pomegranates twain and cheeks like apples twain, a
+waist with dimples overlain, a navel like a casket of ivory full
+of musk in grain, and legs like columns of alabastrine vein.  She
+ravisheth all hearts with Nature-kohl'd eyne, and a waist
+slender-fine and hips of heaviest design and speech that heals
+all pain and pine: she is goodly of shape and sweet of smile, as
+she were the moon in fullest sheen and shine."  When the
+Princesses heard these praises, they turned to Hasan and said to
+him, "Show her to us."  So he arose with them, all
+love-distraught, and carrying them to the chamber wherein was the
+captive damsel, opened the door and entered, preceding the seven
+Princesses.  Now when they saw her and noted her loveliness, they
+kissed the ground between her hands, marvelling at the fairness
+of her favour and the significance which showed her inner gifts,
+and said to her, "By Allah, O daughter of the Sovran Supreme,
+this is indeed a mighty matter: and haddest thou heard tell of
+this mortal among women thou haddest marvelled at him all thy
+days.  Indeed, he loveth thee with passionate love; yet, O King's
+daughter, he seeketh not lewdness, but desireth thee only in the
+way of lawful wedlock.  Had we known that maids can do without
+men, we had impeached him from his intent, albeit he sent thee no
+messenger, but came to thee in person; and he telleth us he hath
+burnt the feather dress; else had we taken it from him."  Then
+one of them agreed with the Princess and becoming her deputy in
+the matter of the wedding contract, performed the marriage
+ceremony between them, whilst Hasan clapped palms with her,
+laying his hand in hers, and she wedded him to the damsel by
+consent; after which they celebrated her bridal feast, as
+beseemeth Kings' daughters, and brought Hasan in to her.  So he
+rose and rent the veil and oped the gate and pierced the
+forge[FN#74] and brake the seal, whereupon affection for her
+waxed in him and he redoubled in love and longing for her.  Then,
+since he had gotten that which he sought, he gave himself joy and
+improvised these couplets,
+
+"Thy shape's temptation, eyes as Houri's fain * And sheddeth
+     Beauty's sheen[FN#75] that radiance rare:
+My glance portrayed thy glorious portraiture: * Rubies one-half
+     and gems the third part were:
+Musk made a fifth: a sixth was ambergris * The sixth a pearl but
+     pearl without compare.
+Eve never bare a daughter evening thee * Nor breathes thy like in
+     Khuld's[FN#76] celestial air.
+An thou would torture me 'tis wont of Love * And if thou pardon
+     'tis thy choice I swear:
+Then, O world bright'ner and O end of wish! * Loss of thy charms
+     who could in patience bear?"
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-second Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan went in unto the King's daughter and did away her
+maidenhead, he enjoyed her with exceeding joy and affection for
+her waxed in him and he redoubled in love-longing for her; so he
+recited the lines aforesaid.  Now the Princesses were standing at
+the door and when they heard his verses, they said to her, "O
+King's daughter, hearest thou the words of this mortal?  How
+canst thou blame us, seeing that he maketh poetry for love of
+thee and indeed he hath so done a thousand times."[FN#77]  When
+she heard this she rejoiced and was glad and felt happy and Hasan
+abode with her forty[FN#78] days in all solace and delight,
+joyance and happiest plight, whilst the damsels renewed
+festivities for him every day and overwhelmed him with bounty and
+presents and rarities; and the King's daughter became reconciled
+to her sojourn amongst them and forgot her kith and kin.  At the
+end of the forty days, Hasan saw in a dream, one night, his
+mother mourning for him and indeed her bones were wasted and her
+body had waxed shrunken and her complexion had yellowed and her
+favour had changed the while he was in excellent case.  When she
+saw him in this state, she said to him, "O my son, O Hasan, how
+is it that thou livest thy worldly life at thine ease and
+forgettest me?  Look at my plight since thy loss!  I do not
+forget thee, nor will my tongue cease to name thy name till I
+die; and I have made thee a tomb in my house, that I may never
+forget thee.  Would Heaven I knew[FN#79] if I shall live, O my
+son, to see thee by my side and if we shall ever again foregather
+as we were."  Thereupon Hasan awoke from sleep, weeping and
+wailing, the tears railed down his cheeks like rain and he became
+mournful and melancholy; his tears dried not nor did sleep visit
+him, but he had no rest, and no patience was left to him.  When
+he arose, the Princesses came in to him and gave him good-morrow
+and made merry with him as was their wont; but he paid no heed to
+them; so they asked his wife concerning his case and she said, "I
+ken not."  Quoth they, "Question him of his condition."  So she
+went up to him and said, "What aileth thee, O my lord?"
+Whereupon he moaned and groaned and told her what he had seen in
+his dream and repeated these two couplets,
+
+"Indeed afflicted sore are we and all distraught, * Seeking for
+     union; yet we find no way:
+And Love's calamities upon us grow * And Love though light with
+     heaviest weight doth weigh."
+
+His wife repeated to the Princesses what he said and they,
+hearing the verses, had pity on him and said to him, "In Allah's
+name, do as thou wilt, for we may not hinder thee from visiting
+thy mother; nay, we will help thee to thy wish by what means we
+may.  But it behoveth that thou desert us not, but visit us,
+though it be only once a year." And he answered, "To hear is to
+obey: be your behest on my head and eyes!" Then they arose
+forthright and making him ready victual for the voyage, equipped
+the bride for him with raiment and ornaments and everything of
+price, such as defy description, and they bestowed on him gifts
+and presents which pens of ready writers lack power to set forth.
+Then they beat the magical kettle-drum and up came the
+dromedaries from all sides.  They chose of them such as could
+carry all the gear they had prepared; amongst the rest
+five-and-twenty chests of gold and fifty of silver; and, mounting
+Hasan and his bride on others, rode with them three days, wherein
+they accomplished a march of three months.  Then they bade them
+farewell and addressed themselves to return; whereupon his
+sister, the youngest damsel, threw herself on Hasan's neck and
+wept till she fainted. When she came to herself, she repeated
+these two couplets,
+
+"Ne'er dawn the severance-day on any wise * That robs of sleep
+     these heavy-lidded eyes.
+From us and thee it hath fair union torn * It wastes our force
+     and makes our forms its prize."
+
+Her verses finished she farewelled him, straitly charging him,
+whenas he should have come to his native land and have
+foregathered with his mother and set his heart at ease, to fail
+not of visiting her once in every six months and saying, "If
+aught grieve thee or thou fear aught of vexation, beat the
+Magian's kettle-drum, whereupon the dromedaries shall come to
+thee; and do thou mount and return to us and persist not in
+staying away."  He swore thus to do and conjured them to go home.
+So they returned to the palace, mourning for their separation
+from him, especially the youngest, with whom no rest would stay
+nor would Patience her call obey, but she wept night and day.
+Thus it was with them; but as regards Hasan and his wife, they
+fared on by day and night over plain and desert site and valley
+and stony heights through noon-tide glare and dawn's soft light;
+and Allah decreed them safety, so that they reached Bassorah-city
+without hindrance and made their camels kneel at the door of his
+house.  Hasan then dismissed the dromedaries and, going up to the
+door to open it, heard his mother weeping and in a faint strain,
+from a heart worn with parting-pain and on fire with consuming
+bane, reciting these couplets,
+
+"How shall he taste of sleep who lacks repose * Who wakes a-night
+     when all in slumber wone?
+He own�d wealth and family and fame * Yet fared from house and
+     home an exile lone:
+Live coal beneath his[FN#80] ribs he bears for bane, * And mighty
+     longing, mightier ne'er was known:
+Passion hath seized him, Passion mastered him; * Yet is he
+     constant while he maketh moan:
+His case for Love proclaimeth aye that he, * (As prove his tears)
+     is  wretched, woebegone."
+
+When Hasan heard his mother weeping and wailing he wept also and
+knocked at the door a loud knock.  Quoth she, "Who is at the
+door?"; and quoth he, "Open!" Whereupon she opened the door and
+knowing him at first sight fell down in a fainting fit; but he
+ceased not to tend her till she came to herself, when he embraced
+her and she embraced him and kissed him, whilst his wife looked
+on mother and son.  Then he carried his goods and gear into the
+house, whilst his mother, for that her heart was comforted and
+Allah had reunited her with her son versified with these
+couplets,
+
+"Fortune had ruth upon my plight * Pitied my long long bane and
+     blight;
+Gave me what I would liefest sight; * And set me free from all
+     afright.
+So pardon I the sin that sin * n�d she in days evanisht quite;
+E'en to the sin she sinned when she * Bleached my hair-parting
+     silvern white."
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-third Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan
+with his mother then sat talking and she asked him, "How faredst
+thou, O my son, with the Persian?" whereto he answered, "O my
+mother, he was no Persian, but a Magian, who worshipped the fire,
+not the All-powerful Sire."  Then he told her how he dealt with
+him, in that he had journeyed with him to the Mountain of Clouds
+and sewed him up in the camel's skin, and how the vultures had
+taken him up and set him down on the summit and what he had seen
+there of dead folk, whom the Magian had deluded and left to die
+on the crest after they had done his desire. And he told her how
+he had cast himself from the mountain-top into the sea and Allah
+the Most High had preserved him and brought him to the palace of
+the seven Princesses and how the youngest of them had taken him
+to brother and he had sojourned with them till the Almighty
+brought the Magian to the place where he was and he slew him.
+Moreover, he told her of his passion for the King's daughter and
+how he had made prize of her and of his seeing her[FN#81] in
+sleep and all else that had befallen him up to the time when
+Allah vouchsafed them reunion.  She wondered at his story and
+praised the Lord who had restored him to her in health and
+safety.  Then she arose and examined the baggage and loads and
+questioned him of them.  So he told her what was in them, whereat
+she joyed with exceeding joy. Then she went up to the King's
+daughter, to talk with her and bear her company; but, when her
+eyes fell on her, her wits were confounded at her brilliancy and
+she rejoiced and marvelled at her beauty and loveliness and
+symmetry and perfect grace: and she sat down beside her, cheering
+her and comforting her heart while she never ceased to repeat
+"Alhamdolillah, O my son, for thy return to me safe and sound!"
+Next morning early she went down into the market and bought
+mighty fine furniture and ten suits of the richest raiment in the
+city, and clad the young wife and adorned her with everything
+seemly.  Then said she to Hasan, "O my son, we cannot tarry in
+this town with all this wealth; for thou knowest that we are poor
+folk and the people will suspect us of practising alchemy.  So
+come, let us depart to Baghdad, the House[FN#82] of Peace, where
+we may dwell in the Caliph's Sanctuary, and thou shalt sit in a
+shop to buy and sell, in the fear of Allah (to whom belong Might
+and Majesty!) and He shall open to thee the door of blessings
+with this wealth." Hasan approved her counsel and going forth
+straightway, sold the house and summoned the dromedaries, which
+he loaded with all his goods and gear, together with his mother
+and wife.  Then he went down to the Tigris, where he hired him a
+craft to carry them to Baghdad and embarked therein all his
+possessions and his mother and wife. They sailed up the river
+with a fair wind for ten days till they drew in sight of Baghdad,
+at which they all rejoiced, and the ship landed them in the city,
+where without stay or delay Hasan hired a storehouse in one of
+the caravanserais and transported his goods thither.  He lodged
+that night in the Khan and on the morrow, he changed his clothes
+and going down into the city, enquired for a broker.  The folk
+directed him to one, and when the broker saw him, he asked him
+what he lacked.  Quoth he, "I want a house, a handsome one and a
+spacious." So the broker showed him the houses at his disposal
+and he chose one that belonged to one of the Wazirs and buying it
+of him for an hundred thousand golden dinars, gave him the price.
+Then he returned to his caravanserai and removed all his goods
+and monies to the house; after which he went down to the market
+and bought all the mansion needed of vessels and carpets and
+other household stuff, besides servants and eunuchs, including a
+little black boy for the house.  He abode with his wife in all
+solace and delight of life three years, during which time he was
+vouchsafed by her two sons, one of whom he named N�sir and the
+other Mans�r: but, at the end of this time he bethought him of
+his sisters, the Princesses, and called to mind all their
+goodness to him and how they had helped him to his desire.  So he
+longed after them and going out to the marketstreets of the city,
+bought trinkets and costly stuffs and fruit-confections, such as
+they had never seen or known. His mother asked him the reason of
+his buying these rarities and he answered, "I purpose to visit my
+sisters, who showed me every kind of kindness and all the wealth
+that I at present enjoy is due to their goodness and munificence:
+wherefore I will journey to them and return soon, Inshallah!"
+Quoth she, "O my son, be not long absent from me;" and quoth he,
+"Know, O my mother, how thou shalt do with my wife.  Here is her
+feather-dress in a chest, buried under ground in such a place; do
+thou watch over it, lest haply she hap on it and take it, for she
+would fly away, she and her children, and I should never hear of
+them again and should die of grieving for them; wherefore take
+heed, O my mother, while I warn thee that thou name this not to
+her.  Thou must know that she is the daughter of a King of the
+Jinn, than whom there is not a greater among the Sovrans of the
+Jann nor a richer in troops and treasure, and she is mistress of
+her people and dearest to her father of all he hath. Moreover,
+she is passing high-spirited, so do thou serve her thyself and
+suffer her not to go forth the door neither look out of window
+nor over the wall, for I fear the air for her when it
+bloweth,[FN#83] and if aught befel her of the calamities of this
+world, I should slay myself for her sake." She replied, "O my
+son, I take refuge with Allah[FN#84] from gainsaying thee!  Am I
+mad that thou shouldst lay this charge on me and I disobey thee
+therein?  Depart, O my son, with heart at ease, and please Allah,
+soon thou shalt return in safety and see her and she shall tell
+thee how I have dealt with her: but tarry not, O my son, beyond
+the time of travel."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-fourth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan had determined to visit the Princesses, he gave his mother
+the orders we have mentioned.[FN#85]  Now, as Fate would have it,
+his wife heard what he said to his mother and neither of them
+knew it. Then Hasan went without the city and beat the
+kettle-drum, whereupon up came the dromedaries and he loaded
+twenty of them with rarities of Al-Irak; after which he returned
+to his mother and repeated his charge to her and took leave of
+her and his wife and children, one of whom was a yearling babe
+and the other two years old.  Then he mounted and fared on,
+without stopping night or day, over hills and valleys and plains
+and wastes for a term of ten days till, on the eleventh, he
+reached the palace and went in to his sisters, with the gifts he
+had brought them. The Princesses rejoiced at his sight and gave
+him joy of his safety, whilst his sister decorated the palace
+within and without.  Then they took the presents and, lodging him
+in a chamber as before, asked him of his mother and his wife, and
+he told them that she had borne him two sons.  And the youngest
+Princess, seeing him well and in good case, joyed with exceeding
+joy and repeated this couplet,
+
+"I ever ask for news of you from whatso breezes pass * And never
+     any but yourselves can pass across my mind."
+
+Then he abode with them in all honour and hospitality, for three
+months, spending his time in feasting and merrymaking, joy and
+delight, hunting and sporting.  So fared it with him; but as
+regards his wife, she abode with his mother two days after her
+husband's departure, and on the third day, she said to her,
+"Glory be to God!  Have I lived with him three years and shall I
+never go to the bath?" Then she wept and Hasan's mother had pity
+on her condition and said to her, "O my daughter, here we are
+strangers and thy husband is abroad.  Were he at home, he would
+serve thee himself, but, as for me, I know no one.  However, O my
+daughter, I will heat thee water and wash thy head in the
+Hammam-bath which is in the house." Answered the King's daughter,
+"O my lady, hadst thou spoken thus to one of the slave-girls, she
+had demanded to be sold in the Sultan's open market and had not
+abode with thee.[FN#86] Men are excusable, because they are
+jealous and their reason telleth them that, if a woman go forth
+the house, haply she will do frowardness.  But women, O my lady,
+are not all equal and alike and thou knowest that, if woman have
+a mind to aught, whether it be the Hammam or what not else, none
+hath power over her to guard her or keep her chaste or debar her
+from her desire; for she will do whatso she willeth and naught
+restraineth her but her reason and her religion."[FN#87] Then she
+wept and cursed fate and bemoaned herself and her strangerhood,
+till Hasan's mother was moved to ruth for her case and knew that
+all she said was but truth and that there was nothing for it but
+to let her have her way.  So she committed the affair to Allah
+(extolled and exalted be He!) and making ready all that they
+needed for the bath, took her and went with her to the Hammam.
+She carried her two little sons with her, and when they entered,
+they put off their clothes and all the women fell to gazing on
+the Princess and glorifying God (to whom belong Might and
+Majesty!) for that He had created so fair a form. The women of
+the city, even those who were passing by, flocked to gaze upon
+her, and the report of her was noised abroad in Baghdad till the
+bath was crowded that there was no passing through it.  Now it
+chanced there was present on that day and on that rare occasion
+with the rest of the women in the Hammam, one of the slave-girls
+of the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, by name
+Tohfah[FN#88] the Lutanist, and she, finding the Hammam over
+crowded and no passing for the throng of women and girls, asked
+what was to do; and they told her of the young lady.  So she
+walked up to her and, considering her closely, was amazed at her
+grace and loveliness and glorified God (magnified be His
+majesty!) for the fair forms He hath created.  The sight hindered
+her from her bath, so that she went not farther in nor washed,
+but sat staring at the Princess, till she had made an end of
+bathing and coming forth of the caldarium donned her raiment,
+whereupon beauty was added to her beauty.  She sat down on the
+divan,[FN#89] whilst the women gazed upon her; then she looked at
+them and veiling herself, went out.  Tohfah went out with her and
+followed her, till she saw where she dwelt, when she left her and
+returned to the Caliph's palace; and ceased not wending till she
+went in to the Lady Zubaydah and kissed ground between her hands;
+whereupon quoth her mistress, "O Tohfah, why hast thou tarried in
+the Hammam?"  She replied, "O my lady, I have seen a marvel,
+never saw I its like amongst men or women, and this it was that
+distracted me and dazed my wit and amazed me, so that I forgot
+even to wash my head."  Asked Zubaydah, "And what was that?" ;
+and Tohfah answered, "O my lady, I saw a damsel in the bath,
+having with her two little boys like moons, eye never espied her
+like, nor before her nor after her, neither is there the fellow
+of her form in the whole world nor her peer amongst Ajams or
+Turks or Arabs.  By the munificence, O my lady, an thou toldest
+the Commander of the Faithful of her, he would slay her husband
+and take her from him, for her like is not to be found among
+women.  I asked of her mate and they told me that he is a
+merchant Hasan of Bassorah hight.  Moreover, I followed her from
+the bath to her own house and found it to be that of the Wazir,
+with the two gates, one opening on the river and the other on the
+land.[FN#90]  Indeed, O my lady, I fear lest the Prince of True
+Believers hear of her and break the law and slay her husband and
+take love-liesse with her."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Tohfah, after seeing the King's daughter, described her beauty to
+the Lady Zubaydah ending with, "Indeed, O my mistress, I fear
+lest the Prince of True Believers hear of her and break the law
+and slay her mate and take her to wife," Zubaydah cried, "Woe to
+thee, O Tohfah, say me, doth this damsel display such passing
+beauty and loveliness that the Commander of the Faithful should,
+on her account, barter his soul's good for his worldly lust and
+break the Holy Law!  By Allah, needs must I look on her, and if
+she be not as thou sayest, I will bid strike off thy head! O
+strumpet, there are in the Caliph's Serraglio three hundred and
+three score slave girls, after the number of the days of the
+year, yet is there none amongst them so excellent as thou
+describest!" Tohfah replied, "No, by Allah, O my lady!: nor is
+there her like in all Baghdad; no, nor amongst the Arabs or the
+Daylamites nor hath Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!)
+created the like of her!" Thereupon Zuhaydah called for Masrur,
+the eunuch, who came and kissed the ground before her, and she
+said to him, "O Masrur, go to the Wazir's house, that with the
+two gates, one giving on the water and the other on the land, and
+bring me the damsel who dwelleth there, also her two children and
+the old woman who is with her, and haste thou and tarry not."
+Said Masrur, "I hear and I obey," and repairing to Hasan's house,
+knocked at the door.  Quoth the old woman, "Who is at the door?"
+and quoth he, "Masrur, the eunuch of the Commander of the
+Faithful."   So she opened the door and he entered and saluted
+her with the salam; whereupon she returned his salute and asked
+his need; and he replied, "The Lady Zubaydah, daughter of
+Al-Kasim[FN#91] and queen-spouse of the Commander of the Faithful
+Harun al-Rashid sixth[FN#92] of the sons of Al-Abbas, paternal
+uncle of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and keep!) summoneth thee
+to her, thee and thy son's wife and her children; for the women
+have told her anent her and her beauty." Rejoined the old woman,
+"O my lord Masrur, we are foreigner folk and the girl's husband
+(my son) who is abroad and far from home hath strictly charged me
+not to go forth nor let her go forth in his absence, neither show
+her to any of the creatures of Allah Almighty; and I fear me, if
+aught befal her and he come back, he will slay himself; wherefore
+of thy favour I beseech thee, O Masrur, require us not of that
+whereof we are unable." Masrur retorted, "O my lady, if I knew
+aught to be feared for you in this, I would not require you to
+go; the Lady Zubaydah desireth but to see her and then she may
+return.  So disobey not or thou wilt repent; and like as I take
+you, I will bring you both back in safety, Inshallah!" Hasan's
+mother could not gainsay him; so she went in and making the
+damsel ready, brought her and her children forth and they all
+followed Masrur to the palace of the Caliphate where he carried
+them in and seated them on the floor before the Lady Zubaydah.
+They kissed ground before her and called down blessings upon her;
+and Zubaydah said to the young lady (who was veiled), "Wilt thou
+not uncover thy face, that I may look on it?" So she kissed the
+ground between her hands and discovered a face which put to shame
+the full moon in the height of heaven.  Zubaydah fixed her eyes
+on her and let their glances wander over her, whilst the palace
+was illumined by the light of her countenance; whereupon the
+Queen and the whole company were amazed at her beauty and all who
+looked on her became Jinn-mad and unable to bespeak one another.
+As for Zubaydah, she rose and making the damsel stand up,
+strained her to her bosom and seated her by herself on the couch.
+Moreover, she bade decorate the palace in her honour and calling
+for a suit of the richest raiment and a necklace of the rarest
+ornaments put them upon her.  Then said she to her, "O liege lady
+of fair ones, verily thou astoundest me and fillest mine
+eyes.[FN#93] What arts knowest thou?" She replied, "O my lady, I
+have a dress of feathers, and could I but put it on before thee,
+thou wouldst see one of the fairest of fashions and marvel
+thereat, and all who saw it would talk of its goodliness,
+generation after generation."  Zubaydah asked, "And where is this
+dress of thine?"; and the damsel answered, "'Tis with my
+husband's mother.  Do thou seek it for me of her." So Zubaydah
+said to the old woman, "O my lady the pilgrimess, O my mother, go
+forth and fetch us her feather-dress, that we may solace
+ourselves by looking on what she will do, and after take it back
+again." Replied the old woman, "O my lady, this damsel is a liar.
+Hast thou ever seen any of womankind with a dress of feathers?
+Indeed, this belongeth only to birds." But the damsel said to the
+Lady Zubaydah, "As thou livest, O my lady, she hath a
+feather-dress of mine and it is in a chest, which is buried in
+such a store-closet in the house." So Zubaydah took off her neck
+a rivi�re of jewels, worth all the treasures of Chosroe and
+C�sar, and gave it to the old woman, saying, "O my mother, I
+conjure thee by my life, take this necklace and go and fetch us
+this dress, that we may divert ourselves with the sight thereof,
+and after take it again!"  But she sware to her that she had
+never seen any such dress and wist not what the damsel meant by
+her speech.  Then the Lady Zubaydah cried out at her and taking
+the key from her, called Masrur and said to him as soon as her
+came, "Take this key and go to the house; then open it and enter
+a store-closet there whose door is such and such and amiddlemost
+of it thou wilt find a chest buried.  Take it out and break it
+open and bring me the feather-dress which is therein and set it
+before me."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Lady
+Zubaydah, having taken the key from Hasan's mother, handed it to
+Masrur, saying, "Take this key and open such a closet; then bring
+forth of it the chest; break it open; bring me the feather-dress
+which is therein and set it before me." "Hearkening and
+obedience," replied he and taking the key went forth, whereupon
+the old woman arose and followed him, weeping-eyed and repenting
+her of having given ear to the damsel and gone with her to the
+bath, for her desire to go thither was but a device.  So she went
+with him to the house and opened the door of the closet, and he
+entered and brought out the chest.  Then he took therefrom the
+feather-dress and wrapping it in a napkin, carried it to the Lady
+Zubaydah, who took it and turned it about, marvelling at the
+beauty of its make; after which she gave it to the damsel,
+saying, "Is this thy dress of feathers?"  She replied, "Yes, O my
+lady," and at once putting forth her hand, took it joyfully. Then
+she examined it and rejoiced to find it whole as it was, not a
+feather gone.  So she rose and came down from beside the Lady
+Zubaydah and taking her sons in her bosom, wrapped herself in the
+feather-dress and became a bird, by the ordinance of Allah (to
+whom belong Might and Majesty!), whereat Zubaydah marvelled as
+did all who were present.  Then she walked with a swaying and
+graceful gait and danced and sported and flapped her wings,
+whilst all eyes were fixed on her and all marvelled at what she
+did.  Then said she with fluent tongue, "Is this goodly, O my
+ladies?"; and they replied, "Yes, O Princess of the fair! All
+thou dost is goodly." Said she, "And this, O my mistresses, that
+I am about to do is better yet." Then she spread her wings and
+flying up with her children to the dome of the palace, perched on
+the saloon-roof whilst they all looked at her, wide-eyed and
+said, "By Allah, this is indeed a rare and peregrine fashion!
+Never saw we its like." Then, as she was about to take flight for
+her own land, she bethought her of Hasan and said, "Hark ye, my
+mistresses!" and she improvised these couplets,[FN#94]
+
+"O who hast quitted these abodes and faredst lief and light * To
+     other objects of thy love with fain and fastest flight!
+Deem'st thou that 'bided I with you in solace and in joy * Or
+     that my days amid you all were clear of bane and blight?
+When I was captive ta'en of Love and snar�d in his snare, * He
+     made of Love my prison and he fared fro' me forthright:
+So when my fear was hidden, he made sure that ne'er should I *
+     Pray to the One, th' Omnipotent to render me my right:
+He charged his mother keep the secret with all the care she
+     could, * In closet shut and treated me with enemy's
+     despight:
+But I o'erheard their words and held them fast in memory * And
+     hoped for fortune fair and weal and blessings infinite:
+My faring to the Hammam-bath then proved to me the means * Of
+     making minds of folk to be confounded at my sight:
+Wondered the Bride of Al-Rashid to see my brilliancy * When she
+     beheld me right and left with all of beauty dight:
+Then quoth I, 'O our Caliph's wife, I once was wont to own * A
+     dress of feathers rich and rare that did the eyes delight:
+An it were now on me thou shouldst indeed see wondrous things *
+     That would efface all sorrows and disperse all sores of
+     sprite:'
+Then deigned our Caliph's Bride to cry, 'Where is that dress of
+     thine?' * And I replied, 'In house of him kept darkling as
+     the night.'
+So down upon it pounced Masr�r and brought it unto her, * And
+     when 'twas there each feather cast a ray of beaming light:
+Therewith I took it from his hand and opened it straightway * And
+     saw its plum�d bosom and its buttons pleased my sight:
+And so I clad myself therein and took with me my babes; * And
+     spread my wings and flew away with all my main and might;
+Saying, 'O husband's mother mine tell him when cometh he * An
+     ever wouldest meet her thou from house and home must flee."'
+
+When she had made an end of her verses, the Lady Zubaydah said to
+her, "Wilt thou not come down to us, that we may take our fill of
+thy beauty, O fairest of the fair?  Glory be to Him who hath
+given thee eloquence and brilliance!" But she said, "Far be from
+me that the Past return should see!" Then said she to the mother
+of the hapless, wretched Hasan, "By Allah, O my lady, O mother of
+my husband, it irketh me to part from thee; but, whenas thy son
+cometh to thee and upon him the nights of severance longsome
+shall be and he craveth reunion and meeting to see and whenas
+breezes of love and longing shake him dolefully, let him come in
+the islands of W�k[FN#95] to me." Then she took flight with her
+children and sought her own country, whilst the old woman wept
+and beat her face and moaned and groaned till she swooned away.
+When she came to herself, she said to the Lady Zubaydah,  "O my
+lady, what is this thou hast done?"  And Zubaydah said to her, "O
+my lady the pilgrimess, I knew not that this would happen and
+hadst thou told me of the case and acquainted me with her
+condition, I had not gainsaid thee.  Nor did I know until now
+that she was of the Flying Jinn; else had I not suffered her to
+don the dress nor permitted her to take her children: but now, O
+my lady, words profit nothing; so do thou acquit me of offence
+against thee."  And the old woman could do no otherwise than
+shortly answer, "Thou art acquitted!" Then she went forth the
+palace of the Caliphate and returned to her own house, where she
+buffeted her face till she swooned away, When she came to
+herself, she pined for her daughter-in-law and her grandchildren
+and for the sight of her son and versified with these couplets,
+
+"Your faring on the parting-day drew many a tear fro' me, * Who
+     must your flying from the home long mourn in misery:
+And cried I for the parting pang in anguish likest fire * And
+     tear-floods chafed mine eyelids sore that ne'er of tears
+     were free;
+'Yes, this is Severance, Ah, shall we e'er joy return of you? *
+     For your departure hath deprived my power of privacy!'
+Ah, would they had returned to me in covenant of faith * An they
+     return perhaps restore of past these eyne may see."
+
+Then arising she dug in the house three graves and betook herself
+to them with weeping all whiles of the day and watches of the
+night; and when her son's absence was longsome upon her and grief
+and yearning and unquiet waxed upon her, she recited these
+couplets,
+
+"Deep in mine eye-balls ever dwells the phantom-form of thee * My
+     heart when throbbing or at rest holds fast thy memory:
+And love of thee doth never cease to course within my breast, *
+     As course the juices in the fruits which deck the branchy
+     tree:
+And every day I see thee not my bosom straightened is * And even
+     censurers excuse the woes in me they see:
+O thou whose love hath gotten hold the foremost in the heart * Of
+     me whose fondness is excelled by mine insanity:
+Fear the Compassionate in my case and some compassion show! *
+     Love of thee makes me taste of death in bitterest pungency."
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+    When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that
+Hasan's mother bewept through the watches of the night and the
+whiles of the day her separation from her son and his wife and
+children.  On this wise it fared with her; but as regards Hasan,
+when he came to the Princesses, they conjured him to tarry with
+them three months, after which long sojourn they gave him five
+loads of gold and the like of silver and one load of victual and
+accompanied him on his homeward way till he conjured them to
+return, whereupon they farewelled him with an embrace; but the
+youngest came up to him, to bid him adieu and clasping his neck
+wept till she fainted. Then she recited these two  couplets,
+
+"When shall the severance-fire be quenched by union, love, with
+     you? * When shall I win my wish of you and days that were
+     renew?
+The parting-day affrighted me and wrought me dire dismay * And
+     doubleth woe, O master mine, by the sad word 'Adieu.'"
+
+Anon came forward the second Princess and embraced him and
+recited these two couplets,
+
+"Farewelling thee indeed is like to bidding life farewell * And
+     like the loss of Zephyr[FN#96] 'tis to lose thee far our
+     sight:
+Thine absence is a flaming fire which burneth up my heart * And
+     in thy presence I enjoy the Gardens of Delight."[FN#97]
+
+Presently came forward the third and embraced him and recited
+these two couplets,
+
+"We left not taking leave of thee (when bound to other goal) *
+     From aught of ill intention or from weariness and dole:
+Thou art my soul, my very soul, the only soul of me: * And how
+     shall I farewell myself and say, 'Adieu my Soul?'"[FN#98]
+
+After her came forward the fourth and embraced him and recited
+these two couplets,
+
+"Nought garred me weep save where and when of severance spake he,
+     * Persisting in his cruel will with sore persistency:
+Look at this pearl-like ornament I've hung upon mine ear: * 'Tis
+     of the tears of me compact, this choicest jewelry!"
+
+In her turn came forward the fifth and embraced him and recited
+these two couplets,
+
+"Ah, fare thee not; for I've no force thy faring to endure, * Nor
+     e'en to say the word farewell before my friend is sped:
+Nor any patience to support the days of severance, * Nor any
+     tears on ruined house and wasted home to shed."
+
+Next came the sixth and embraced him and recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"I cried, as the camels went off with them, * And Love pained my
+     vitals with sorest pain:
+Had I a King who would lend me rule * I'd seize every ship that
+     dares sail the Main."
+
+Lastly came forward the seventh and embraced him and recited
+these couplets,
+
+"When thou seest parting, be patient still, * Nor let foreign
+     parts deal thy soul affright:
+But abide, expecting a swift return, * For all hearts hold
+     parting in sore despight."
+
+And eke these two couplets,
+
+"Indeed I'm heartbroken to see thee start, * Nor can I farewell
+     thee ere thou depart;
+Allah wotteth I left not to say adieu * Save for fear that saying
+     would melt your heart."
+
+Hasan also wept for parting from them, till he swooned, and
+repeated these couplets,
+
+"Indeed, ran my tears on the severance-day * Like pearls I
+     threaded in necklace-way:
+The cameleer drove his camels with song * But I lost heart,
+     patience and strength and stay:
+I bade them farewell and retired in grief * From tryst-place and
+     camp where my dearlings lay:
+I turned me unknowing the way nor joyed * My soul, but in hopes
+     to return some day.
+Oh listen, my friend, to the words of love * God forbid thy heart
+     forget all I say!
+O my soul when thou partest wi' them, part too * With all joys of
+     life nor for living pray!"
+
+Then he farewelled them and fared on diligently night and day,
+till he came to Baghdad, the House of Peace and Sanctuary of the
+Abbaside Caliphs, unknowing what had passed during his wayfare.
+At once entering his house he went in to his mother to salute
+her, but found her worn of body and wasted of bones, for excess
+of mourning and watching, weeping and wailing, till she was grown
+thin as a tooth-pick and could not answer him a word.  So he
+dismissed the dromedaries then asked her of his wife and children
+and she wept till she fainted, and he seeing her in this state
+searched the house for them, but found no trace of them.  Then he
+went to the store-closet and finding it open and the chest broken
+and the feather-dress missing, knew forthright that his wife had
+possessed herself thereof and flown away with her children.  Then
+he returned to his mother and, finding her recovered from her
+fit, questioned her of his spouse and babes, whereupon she wept
+and said, "O my son, may Allah amply requite thee their loss!
+These are their three tombs."[FN#99] When Hasan heard these words
+of his mother, he shrieked a loud shriek and fell down in a
+fainting-fit in which he lay from the first of the day till
+noon-tide; whereupon anguish was added to his mother's anguish
+and she despared of his life.  However, after a-while, he came
+to himself and wept and buffeted his face and rent his raiment
+and went about the house clean distraught, reciting these two
+couplets,[FN#100]
+
+"Folk have made moan of passion before me, of past years, * And
+     live and dead for absence have suffered pains and fears;
+But that within my bosom I harbour, with mine eyes * I've never
+     seen the like of nor heard with mine ears."
+
+Then finishing his verses he bared his brand and coming up to his
+mother, said  to her, "Except thou tell me the truth of the case,
+I will strike off thy head and kill myself." She replied, "O my
+son, do not such deed: put up thy sword and sit down, till I tell
+thee what hath passed."  So he sheathed his scymitar and sat by
+her side, whilst she recounted to him all that had happened in
+his absence from first to last, adding, "O my son, but that I saw
+her weep in her longing for the bath and feared that she would go
+and complain to thee on thy return, and thou wouldst be wroth
+with me, I had never carried her thither; and were it not that
+the Lady Zubaydah was wroth with me and took the key from me by
+force, I had never brought out the feather-dress, though I died
+for it. But thou knowest, O my son, that no hand may measure
+length with that of the Caliphate.  When they brought her the
+dress, she took it and turned it over, fancying that somewhat
+might be lost thereof, but she found it uninjured; wherefore she
+rejoiced and making her children fast to her waist, donned the
+feather-vest, after the Lady Zubaydah had pulled off to her all
+that was upon herself and clad her therein, in honour of her and
+because of her beauty.  No sooner had she donned the dress than
+she shook and becoming a bird, promenaded about the palace,
+whilst all who were present gazed at her and marvelled at her
+beauty and loveliness.  Then she flew up to the palace roof and
+perching thereon, looked at me and said: 'Whenas thy son cometh
+to thee and the nights of separation upon him longsome shall be
+and he craveth reunion and meeting to see and whenas the breezes
+of love and longing shake him dolefully let him leave his native
+land and journey to the Islands of Wak and seek me.' This, then,
+is her story and what befel in thine absence."--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that as soon
+as Hasan's mother had made an end of her story, he gave a great
+cry and fell down in a fainting fit which continued till the end
+of day, when he revived and fell to buffeting his face and
+writhing on the floor like a scotched snake.  His mother sat
+weeping by his head until midnight, when he came to himself and
+wept sore and recited these couplets',[FN#101]
+
+"Pause ye and see his sorry state since when ye fain withdrew; *
+     Haply, when wrought your cruelty, you'll have the grace to
+     rue:
+For an ye look on him, you'll doubt of him by sickness-stress *
+     As though, by Allah, he were one before ye never knew.
+He dies for nothing save for love of you, and he would be *
+     Numbered amid the dead did not he moan and groan for you.
+And deem not pangs of severance sit all lightly on his soul; *
+     'Tis heavy load on lover-wight; 'twere lighter an ye slew."
+
+Then having ended his verse he rose and went round about the
+house, weeping and wailing, groaning and bemoaning himself, five
+days, during which he tasted nor meat nor drink.  His mother came
+to him and conjured him, till he broke his fast, and besought him
+to leave weeping; but he hearkened not to her and continued to
+shed tears and lament, whilst she strove to comfort him and he
+heeded her not.  Then he recited these couplets,[FN#102]
+
+"Beareth for love a burden sore this soul of me, * Could break a
+     mortal's back however strong that be;
+I am distraught to see my case and languor grows * Making my day
+     and night indifferent in degree:
+I own to having dreaded Death before this day: * This day I hold
+     my death mine only remedy."
+
+And Hasan ceased not to do thus till daybreak, when his eyes
+closed and he saw in a dream his wife grief-full and repentant
+for that which she had done.  So he started up from sleep crying
+out and reciting these two couplets,
+
+"Their image bides with me, ne'er quits me, ne'er shall fly; *
+     But holds within my heart most honourable stead;
+But for reunion-hope, I'd see me die forthright, * And but for
+     phantom-form of thee my sleep had fled."
+
+And as morning morrowed he redoubled his lamentations.  He abode
+weeping-eyed and heavy-hearted, wakeful by night and eating
+little, for a whole month, at the end of which he bethought him
+to repair to his sisters and take counsel with them in the matter
+of his wife, so haply they might help him to regain her.
+Accordingly he summoned the dromedaries and loading fifty of them
+with rarities of Al-Irak, committed the house to his mother's
+care and deposited all his goods in safe keeping, except some few
+he left at home.  Then he mounted one of the beasts and set out
+on his journey single handed, intent upon obtaining aidance from
+the Princesses, and he stayed not till he reached the Palace of
+the Mountain of Clouds, when he went in to the damsels and gave
+them the presents in which they rejoiced. Then they wished him
+joy of his safety and said to him, "O our brother, what can ail
+thee to come again so soon, seeing thou wast with us but two
+months since?"  Whereupon he wept and improvised these couplets,
+
+"My soul for loss of lover sped I sight; * Nor life enjoying
+     neither  life's delight:
+My case is one whose cure is all unknown; * Can any cure the sick
+     but doctor wight?
+O who hast reft my sleep-joys, leaving me * To ask the breeze
+     that blew from that fair site,--
+Blew from my lover's land (the land that owns * Those charms so
+     sore a grief in soul excite),
+'O breeze, that visitest her land, perhaps * Breathing her scent,
+     thou mayst revive my sprite!'"
+
+And when he ended his verse he gave a great cry and fell down in
+a fainting-fit.  The Princesses sat round him, weeping over him,
+till he recovered and repeated these two couplets,
+
+"Haply and happily may Fortune bend her rein * Bringing my love,
+     for Time's a freke of jealous strain;[FN#103]
+Fortune may prosper me, supply mine every want, * And bring a
+     blessing where before were ban and bane."
+
+Then he wept till he fainted again, and presently coming to
+himself recited the two following couplets,
+
+"My wish, mine illness, mine unease! by Allah, own * Art thou
+     content? then I in love contented wone!
+Dost thou forsake me thus sans crime or sin * Meet me in ruth, I
+     pray, and be our parting gone."
+
+Then he wept till he swooned away once more and when he revived
+he repeated these couplets,
+
+"Sleep fled me, by my side wake ever shows * And hoard of
+     tear-drops from these eyne aye flows;
+For love they weep with beads cornelian-like * And growth of
+     distance greater dolence grows:
+Lit up my longing, O my love, in me * Flames burning 'neath my
+     ribs with fiery throes!
+Remembering thee a tear I never shed * But in it thunder roars
+     and leven glows."
+
+Then he wept till he fainted away a fourth time, and presently
+recovering, recited these couplets,
+
+"Ah! for lowe of love and longing suffer ye as suffer we? * Say,
+     as pine we and as yearn we for you are pining ye?
+Allah do the death of Love, what a bitter draught is his! * Would
+     I  wot of Love what plans and what projects nurseth he!
+Your faces radiant-fair though afar from me they shine, * Are
+     mirrored in our eyes whatsoever the distance be;
+My heart must ever dwell on the memories of your tribe; * And the
+     turtle-dove reneweth all as oft as moaneth she:
+Ho thou dove, who passest night-tide in calling on thy fere, *
+     Thou doublest my repine, bringing grief for company;
+And leavest thou mine eyelids with weeping unfulfilled * For the
+     dearlings who departed, whom we never more may see:
+I melt for the thought of you at every time and hour, * And I
+     long for you when Night showeth cheek of blackest blee."
+
+Now when his sister heard these words and saw his condition and
+how he lay fainting on the floor, she screamed and beat her face
+and the other Princesses hearing her scream came out and learning
+his misfortune and the transport of love and longing and the
+passion and distraction that possessed him they questioned him of
+his case.  He wept and told them what had befallen in his absence
+and how his wife had taken flight with her children, wherefore
+they grieved for him and asked him what she said at leave-taking.
+Answered he, "O my sisters, she said to my mother, 'Tell thy son,
+whenas he cometh to thee and the nights of severance upon him
+longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and meeting to see, and
+whenas the winds of love and longing shake him dolefully, let him
+fare in the Islands of Wak to me." When they heard his words they
+signed one to other with their eyes and shook their heads, and
+each looked at her sister, whilst Hasan looked at them all.  Then
+they bowed their heads groundwards and bethought themselves
+awhile; after which they raised their heads and said, "There is
+no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the
+Great!"; presently adding, "Put forth thy hand to heaven and when
+thou reach thither, then shalt thou win to thy wife.--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+Princesses said to Hasan, "Put forth thy hand to Heaven and when
+thou reach thither, then shalt thou win to wife and children,"
+thereat the tears ran down his cheeks like rain and wet his
+clothes, and he recited these couplets,
+
+"Pink cheeks and eyes enpupil'd black have dealt me sore
+     despight; * And whenas wake overpowered sleep my patience
+     fled in fright:
+The fair and sleek-limbed maidens hard of heart withal laid waste
+     * My very bones till not a breath is left for man to sight:
+Houris, who fare with gait of grace as roes o'er sandy-mound: *
+     Did Allah's saints behold their charms they'd doat thereon
+     forthright;
+Faring as fares the garden breeze that bloweth in the dawn. * For
+     love of them a sore unrest and troubles rack my sprite:
+I hung my hopes upon a maid, a loveling fair of them, * For whom
+     my heart still burns with lowe in Laz�-hell they light;--
+A dearling soft of sides and haught and graceful in her gait, *
+     Her grace is white as morning, but her hair is black as
+     night:
+She stirreth me!  But ah, how many heroes have her cheeks *
+     Upstirred for love, and eke her eyes that mingle black and
+     white."
+
+Then he wept, whilst the Princesses wept for his weeping, and
+they were moved to compassion and jealousy for him.  So they fell
+to comforting him and exhorting him to patience and offering up
+prayers for his reunion with his wife; whilst his sister said to
+him, "O my brother, be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and
+clear and be patient; so shalt thou win thy will; for whoso hath
+patience and waiteth, that he seeketh attaineth.  Patience
+holdeth the keys of relief and indeed the poet saith,
+
+'Let destiny with slackened rein its course appointed fare!  And
+     lie thou down to sleep by night, with heart devoid of care;
+For 'twixt the closing of an eye and th' opening thereof, God
+     hath it in His power to change a case from foul to
+     fair."[FN#104]
+
+So hearten thy heart and brace up thy resolve, for the son of ten
+years dieth not in the ninth.[FN#105]  Weeping and grief and
+mourning gender sickness and disease; wherefore do thou abide
+with us till thou be rested, and I will devise some device for
+thy winning to thy wife and children, Inshallah--so it please
+Allah the Most High!"  And he wept sore and recited these verses,
+
+"An I be healed of disease in frame, * I'm unhealed of illness in
+     heart and sprite:
+There is no healing disease of love, * Save lover and loved one
+     to re-unite."
+
+Then he sat down beside her and she proceeded to talk with him
+and comfort him and question him of the cause and the manner of
+his wife's departure. So he told her and she said, "By Allah, O
+my brother, I was minded to bid thee burn the feather-dress, but
+Satan made me forget it."  She ceased not to converse with him
+and caress him and company with him other ten days, whilst sleep
+visited him not and he delighted not in food; and when the case
+was longsome upon him and unrest waxed in him, he versified with
+these couplets,
+
+"A beloved familiar o'erreigns my heart * And Allah's ruling
+     reigns evermore:
+She hath all the Arabs' united charms * This gazelle who feeds on
+     my bosom's core.
+Though my skill and patience for love of her fail, * I weep
+     whilst I wot that 'tis vain to deplore.
+The dearling hath twice seven years, as though * She were moon of
+     five nights and of five plus four."[FN#106]
+
+When the youngest Princess saw him thus distracted for love and
+longing-for passion and the fever-heat of desire, she went in to
+her sisterhood weeping-eyed and woeful-hearted, and shedding
+copious tears threw herself upon them, kissed their feet and
+besought them to devise some device for bringing Hasan to the
+Islands of Wak and effecting his reunion with his wife and wees.
+She ceased not to conjure them to further her brother in the
+accomplishment of his  desire and to weep before them, till she
+made them weep and they said to her, "Hearten thy heart:  we will
+do our best endeavour to bring about his reunion with his family,
+Inshallah!" And he abode with them a whole year, during which his
+eyes never could retain their tears.  Now the sisterhood had an
+uncle, brother-german to their sire and his name was Abd
+al-Kadd�s, or Slave of the Most Holy; and he loved the eldest
+with exceeding love and was wont to visit her once a year and do
+all she desired. They had told him of Hasan's adventure with the
+Magian and how he had been able to slay him; whereat he rejoiced
+and gave the eldest Princess a pouch[FN#107] which contained
+certain perfumes, saying, "O daughter of my brother, an thou be
+in concern for aught, or if aught irk thee, or thou stand in any
+need, cast of these perfumes upon fire naming my name and I will
+be with thee forthright and will do thy desire." This speech was
+spoken on the first of Moharram[FN#108]; and the eldest Princess
+said to one of the sisterhood, "Lo, the year is wholly past and
+my uncle is not come.  Rise, bring me the fire-sticks and the box
+of perfumes." So the damsel arose rejoicing and, fetching what
+she sought, laid it before her sister, who opened the box and
+taking thence a little of the perfume, cast it into the fire,
+naming her unde's name; nor was it burnt out ere appeared a
+dust-cloud at the farther end of the Wady; and presently lifting,
+it discovered a Shaykh riding on an elephant, which moved at a
+swift and easy pace, and trumpeted under the rider.  As soon as
+he came within sight of the Princesses, he began making signs to
+them with his hands and feet; nor was it long ere he reached the
+castle and, alighting from the elephant, came in to them,
+whereupon they embraced him and kissed his hands and saluted him
+with the salam.  Then he sat down, whilst the girls talked with
+him and questioned him of his absence. Quoth he, "I was sitting
+but now with my wife, your aunt, when I smelt the perfumes and
+hastened to you on this elephant.  What wouldst thou, O daughter
+of my brother?"  Quoth she, "O uncle, indeed we longed for thee,
+as the year is past and 'tis not thy wont to be absent from us
+more than a twelvemonth." Answered he, "I was busy, but I
+purposed to come to you to-morrow." Wherefore they thanked him
+and blessed him and sat talking with him.--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+             When it was the Eight Hundredth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+girls sat down to chat with their uncle the eldest said to him, "O
+my uncle, we told thee the tale of Hasan of Bassorah, whom Bahram
+the Magian brought and how he slew the wizard and how, after
+enduring all manner of hardships and horrors, he made prize of
+the Supreme King's daughter and took her to wife and journeyed
+with her to his native land?" Replied he, "Yes, and what befel
+him after that?" Quoth the Princess, "She played him false after
+he was blest with two sons by her; for she took them in his
+absence and fled with them to her own country, saying to his
+mother: 'Whenas thy son returneth to thee and asketh for me and
+upon him the nights of severance longsome shall be and he craveth
+reunion and meeting to see and whenas the breezes of love and
+longing shake him dolefully, let him come in the Islands of Wak
+to me.'" When Abd al-Kaddus heard this, he shook his head and bit
+his forefinger; then, bowing his brow groundwards he began to
+make marks on the earth with his finger-tips;[FN#109] after which
+he again shook his head and looked right and left and shook his
+head a third time, whilst Hasan watched him from a place where he
+was hidden from him.  Then said the Princesses to their uncle,
+"Return us some answer, for our hearts are rent in sunder." But
+he shook his head at them, saying, "O my daughters, verily hath
+this man wearied himself in vain and cast himself into grievous
+predicament and sore peril; for he may not gain access to the
+Islands of Wak." With this the Princesses called Hasan, who came
+forth and, advancing to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, kissed his hand and
+saluted him.  The old man rejoiced in him and seated him by his
+side; whereupon quoth the damsels, "O uncle, acquaint our brother
+Hasan with that thou hast told us."  So he said to Hasan, "O my
+son, put away from thee this peine forte et dure; for thou canst
+never gain access to the Islands of Wak, though the Flying Jinn
+and the Wandering Stars were with thee; for that betwixt thee and
+these islands are seven Wadys and seven seas and seven mighty
+mountains.  How then canst thou come at this stead and who shall
+bring thee thither?  Wherefore, Allah upon thee, O my son, do
+thou reckon thy spouse and sons as dead and turn back forthright
+and weary not thy sprite!  Indeed, I give thee good counsel, an
+thou wilt but accept it."  Hearing these words from the Shaykh,
+Hasan wept till he fainted, and the Princesses sat round him,
+weeping for his weeping, whilst the youngest sister rent her
+raiment and buffeted her face, till she swooned away.  When
+Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus saw them in this transport of grief and
+trouble and mourning, he was moved to ruth for them and cried,
+"Be ye silent!"  Then said he to Hasan, "O my son, hearten thy
+heart and rejoice in the winning of thy wish, an it be the will
+of Allah the Most High;" presently adding, "Rise, O my son, take
+courage and follow me."  So Hasan arose forthright and after he
+had taken leave of the Princesses followed him, rejoicing in the
+fulfilment of his wish. Then the Shaykh called the elephant and
+mounting, took Hasan up behind him and fared on three days with
+their nights, like the blinding leven, till he came to a vast
+blue mountain, whose stones were all of azure hue and amiddlemost
+of which was a cavern, with a door of Chinese iron.  Here he took
+Hasan's hand and let him down and alighting dismissed the
+elephant.  Then he went up to the door and knocked, whereupon it
+opened and there came out to him a black slave, hairless, as he
+were an Ifrit, with brand in right hand and targe of steel in
+left.  When he saw Abd al-Kaddus, he threw sword and buckler from
+his grip and coming up to the Shaykh kissed his hand.  Thereupon
+the old man took Hasan by the hand and entered with him, whilst
+the slave shut the door behind them; when Hasan found himself in
+a vast cavern and a spacious, through which ran an arched
+corridor and they ceased not faring on therein a mile or so, till
+it abutted upon a great open space and thence they made for an
+angle of the mountain wherein were two huge doors cast of solid
+brass.  The old man opened one of them and said to Hasan, "Sit at
+the door, whilst I go within and come back to thee in haste, and
+beware lest thou open it and enter." Then he fared inside and,
+shutting the door after him, was absent during a full sidereal
+hour, after which he returned, leading a black stallion, thin of
+flank and short of nose, which was ready bridled and saddled,
+with velvet housings; and when it ran it flew, and when it flew,
+the very dust in vain would pursue; and brought it to Hasan,
+saying, "Mount!" So he mounted and Abd al-Kaddus opened the
+second door, beyond which appeared a vast desert.  Then the twain
+passed through the door into that desert and the old man said to
+him, "O my son, take this scroll and wend thou whither this steed
+will carry thee.  When thou seest him stop at the door of a
+cavern like this, alight and throw the reins over the saddle-bow
+and let him go.  He will enter the cavern, which do thou not
+enter with him, but tarry at the door five days, without being
+weary of waiting.  On the sixth day there will come forth to thee
+a black Shaykh, clad all in sable, with a long white beard,
+flowing down to his navel. As soon as thou seest him, kiss his
+hands and seize his skirt and lay it on thy head and weep before
+him, till he take pity on thee and he will ask thee what thou
+wouldst have.  When he saith to thee, 'What is thy want?' give
+him this scroll which he will take without speaking and go in and
+leave thee.  Wait at the door other five days, without wearying,
+and on the sixth day expect him; and if he come out to thee
+himself, know that thy wish will be won, but, if one of his pages
+come forth to thee, know that he who cometh forth to thee,
+purposeth to kill thee; and--the Peace![FN#110]  For know, O my
+son, that whoso self imperilleth doeth himself to death;"--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+         When it was the Eight Hundred and First Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after
+handing the scroll to Hasan, Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus told him what
+would befal him and said, "Whoso self imperilleth doeth himself
+to death; but also who ventureth naught advantageth naught.
+However an thou fear for thy life, cast it not into danger of
+destruction; but, an thou fear not, up and do thy will, for I
+have expounded to thee the whole case.  Yet shouldest thou be
+minded to return to thy friends the elephant is still here and
+he will carry thee to my nieces, who will restore thee to thy
+country and return thee to thy home, and Allah will vouchsafe
+thee a better than this girl, of whom thou art enamoured." Hasan
+answered the Shaykh, saying, "And how shall life be sweet to me,
+except I win my wish?  By Allah, I will never turn back, till I
+regain my beloved or my death overtake me!" And he wept and
+recited these couplets,
+
+"For loss of lover mine and stress of love I dree, * I stood
+     bewailing self in deep despondency.
+Longing for him, the Spring-camp's dust I kissed and kissed, *
+     But this bred more of grief and galling reverie.
+God guard the gone, who in our hearts must e'er abide * With
+     nearing woes and joys which still the farther flee.
+They say me, 'Patience!' But they bore it all away: * On
+     parting-day, and left me naught save tormentry.
+And naught affrighted me except the word he said, * 'Forget me
+     not when gone nor drive from memory.'
+To whom shall turn I? hope in whom when you are lost? * Who were
+     my only hopes and joys and woes of me?
+But ah, the pang of home-return when parting thus! * How joyed at
+     seeing me return mine enemy.
+Then well-away! this 'twas I guarded me against! * And ah, thou
+     lowe of Love double thine ardency![FN#111]
+An fled for aye my friends I'll not survive the flight; * Yet an
+     they deign return, Oh joy!  Oh ecstacy!
+Never, by Allah tears and weeping I'll contain * For loss of you,
+     but tears on tears and tears will rain."
+
+When Abd al-Kaddus heard his verse he knew that he would not turn
+back from his desire nor would words have effect on him, and was
+certified that naught would serve him but he must imperil
+himself, though it lose him his life.  So he said to him, "Know,
+O my son, that the Islands of Wak are seven islands, wherein is a
+mighty host, all virgin girls, and the Inner Isles are peopled by
+Satans and Marids and warlocks and various tribesmen of the Jinn;
+and whoso entereth their land never returneth thence; at least
+none hath done so to this day.  So, Allah upon thee, return
+presently to thy people, for know that she whom thou seekest is
+the King's daughter of all these islands: and how canst thou
+attain to her?  Hearken to me, O my son, and haply Allah will
+vouchsafe thee in her stead a better than she."  "O my lord,"
+answered Hasan, though for the love of her I were cut in pieces
+yet should I but redouble in love and transport!  There is no
+help but that I enter the Wak Islands and come to the sight of my
+wife and children; and Inshallah, I will not return save with her
+and with them." Said the Shaykh, "Then nothing will serve thee
+but thou must make the journey?" Hasan replied "Nothing! and I
+only ask of thee thy prayers for help and aidance; so haply Allah
+will reunite me with my wife and children right soon." Then he
+wept for stress of longing and recited these couplets,
+
+"You are my wish, of creatures brightest-light * I deem you lief
+     as hearing, fain as sight:
+You hold my heart which hath become your home * And since you
+     left me, lords, right sore's my plight:
+Then think not I have yielded up your love, * Your love which set
+     this wretch in fierce affright:
+You went and went my joy whenas you went; * And waned and wax'ed
+     wan the brightest light:
+You left me lone to watch the stars in woe: * Railing tears
+     likest rain-drops infinite.
+Thou'rt longsome to the wight, who pining lies * On wake,
+     moon-gazing through the night,
+O Night! Wind! an thou pass the tribe where they abide * Give
+     them my greeting, life is fain of flight.
+And tell them somewhat of the pangs I bear: * The loved one
+     kenneth not my case aright."
+
+Then he wept with sore weeping till he fainted away; and when he
+came to himself, Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus said to him, "O my son,
+thou hast a mother; make her not taste the torment of thy loss."
+Hasan replied, "By Allah, O my lord, I will never return except
+with my wife, or my death shall overtake me." And he wept and
+wailed and recited these couplets,
+
+"By Love's right! naught of farness thy slave can estrange * Nor
+     am I one to fail in my fealty:
+I suffer such pains did I tell my case * To folk, they'd cry,
+     'Madness! clean witless is he!'
+Then ecstasy, love-longing, transport and lowe! * Whose case is
+     such case how shall ever he be?"
+
+With this the old man knew that he would not turn from his
+purpose, though it cost him his life; so he handed him the scroll
+and prayed for him and charged him how he should do, saying "I
+have in this letter given a strict charge concerning thee to Ab�
+al-Ruwaysh,[FN#112] son of Bilk�s, daughter of Mu'in, for he is
+my Shaykh and my teacher, and all, men and Jinn, humble
+themselves to him and stand in awe of him.  And now go with the
+blessing of God." Hasan forthright set out giving the horse the
+rein, and it flew off with him swiftlier than lightning, and
+stayed not in its course ten days, when he saw before him a vast
+loom black as night, walling the world from East to West.  As he
+neared it, the stallion neighed under him, whereupon there
+flocked to it horses in number as the drops of rain, none could
+tell their tale or against them prevail, and fell to rubbing
+themselves against it.  Hasan was affrighted at them and fared
+forwards surrounded by the horses, without drawing rein till he
+came to the cavern which Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus had described to
+him.  The steed stood still at the door and Hasan alighted and
+bridged the bridle over the saddle-bow[FN#113]; whereupon the
+steed entered the cavern, whilst the rider abode without, as the
+old man had charged him, pondering the issue of his case in
+perplexity and distraction and unknowing what would befal
+him.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+        When it was the Eight Hundred and Second Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan,
+dismounting from the steed, stood at the cavern-mouth pondering
+the issue of his case and unknowing what might befal him.  He
+abode standing on the same spot five days with their nights,
+sleepless, mournful, tearful-eyed; distracted, perplexed,
+pondering his severance from home and family, comrades and
+friends, with weeping eye-lids and heavy heart. Then he bethought
+him of his mother and of what might yet happen to him and of his
+separation from his wife and children and of all that he had
+suffered, and he recited these couplets,
+
+"With you is my heart-cure a heart that goes; * And from
+     hill-foot of eyelids the tear-rill flows:
+And parting and sorrow and exile and dole * And farness from
+     country and throe that o'erthrows:
+Naught am I save a lover distracted by love, * Far parted from
+     loved one and wilted by woes.
+And 'tis Love that hath brought me such sorrow, say where * Is
+     the noble of soul who such sorrow unknows?"
+
+Hardly had Hasan made an end of his verses, when out came the
+Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh, a blackamoor and clad in black raiment,
+and at first sight he knew him by the description that Abd
+al-Kaddus had given him.  He threw himself at his feet and rubbed
+his cheeks on them and seizing his skirt, laid it on his head and
+wept before him.  Quoth the old man, "What wantest thou, O my
+son?" Whereupon he put out his hand to him with the letter, and
+Abu al-Ruwaysh took it and re-entered the cavern, without making
+him any answer.  So Hasan sat down at the cave-mouth in his place
+other five days as he had been bidden, whilst concern grew upon
+him and terror redoubled on him and restlessness gat hold of him,
+and he fell to weeping and bemoaning himself for the anguish of
+estrangement and much watching. And he recited these couplets,
+
+"Glory to Him who guides the skies! * The lover sore in sorrow
+     lies.
+Who hath not tasted of Love's food * Knows not what mean its
+     miseries.
+Did I attempt to stem my tears * Rivers of blood would fount and
+     rise.
+How many an intimate is hard * Of heart, and pains in sorest
+     wise!
+An she with me her word would keep, * Of tears and sighs I'd fain
+     devise,
+But I'm forgone, rejected quite * Ruin on me hath cast her eyes.
+At my fell pangs fell wildlings weep * And not a bird for me but
+     cries."
+
+Hasan ceased not to weep till dawn of the sixth day, when Shaykh
+Abu al-Ruwaysh came forth to him, clad in white raiment, and with
+his hand signed[FN#114] to him to enter.  So he went in,
+rejoicing and assured of the winning of his wish, and the old man
+took him by the hand and leading him into the cavern, fared on
+with him half a day's journey, till they reached an arched
+doorway with a door of steel.  The Shaykh opened the door and
+they two entered a vestibule vaulted with onyx stones and
+arabesqued with gold, and they stayed not walking till they came
+to a great hall and a wide, paved and walled with marble.  In its
+midst was a flower-garden containing all manner trees and flowers
+and fruits, with birds warbling on the boughs and singing the
+praises of Allah the Almighty Sovran; and there were four da�ses,
+each facing other, and in each da�s a jetting fountain, at whose
+corners stood lions of red gold, spouting gerbes from their
+mouths into the basin.  On each da�s stood a chair, whereon sat
+an elder, with exceeding store of books before him[FN#115] and
+censers of gold, containing fire and perfumes, and before each
+elder were students, who read the books to him.  Now when the
+twain entered, the elders rose to them and did them honour;
+whereupon Abu al-Ruwaysh signed to them to dismiss their scholars
+and they did so.  Then the four arose and seating themselves
+before that Shaykh, asked him of the case of Hasan to whom he
+said, "Tell the company thy tale and all that hath betided thee
+from the beginning of thine adventure to the end." So Hasan wept
+with sore weeping and related to them his story with Bahram;
+whereupon all the Shaykhs cried out and said, "Is this indeed he
+whom the Magian caused to climb the Mountain of Clouds by means
+of the vultures, sewn up in the camel-hide?" And Hasan said,
+"Yes."  So they turned to the Shaykh, Abu al-Ruwaysh and said to
+him, "O our Shaykh, of a truth Bahram contrived his mounting to
+the mountaintop; but how came he down and what marvels saw he
+there?" And Abu al-Ruwaysh said, "O Hasan, tell them how thou
+camest down and acquaint them with what thou sawest of marvels."
+So he told them all that had befallen him, first and last; how he
+had gotten the Magian into his power and slain him, how he had
+delivered the youth from him and sent him back to his own
+country, and how he had captured the King's daughter of the Jinn
+and married her; yet had she played him false and taken the two
+boys she had borne him and flown away; brief, he related to them
+all the hardships and horrors he had undergone; whereat they
+marvelled, each and every, and said to Abu al-Ruwaysh, "O elder
+of elders, verily by Allah, this youth is to be pitied!  But
+belike thou wilt aid him to recover his wife and wees."--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+         When it was the Eight Hundred and Third Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan told his tale to the elders, they said to Shaykh Abu
+al-Ruwaysh, "This youth is to be pitied and haply thou wilt aid
+him to recover his wife and wees." He replied, "O my brothers, in
+very sooth this is a grave matter and a perilous; and never saw I
+any loathe his life save this youth.  You know that the Islands
+of Wak are hard of access and that none may come to them but at
+risk of life; and ye know also the strength of their people and
+their guards.  Moreover I have sworn an oath not to tread their
+soil nor transgress against them in aught; so how shall this man
+come at the daughter of the Great King, and who hath power to
+bring him to her or help him in this matter?" Replied the other,
+"O Shaykh of Shaykhs, verily this man is consumed with desire and
+he hath endangered himself to bring thee a scroll from thy
+brother Abd al-Kaddus; wherefore it behoveth thee to help him."
+And Hasan arose and kissed Abu al-Ruwaysh's feet and raising the
+hem of his garment laid it on his head, weeping and crying, "I
+beseech thee, by Allah, to reunite me with my wife and children,
+though it cost me my life and my soul!"  The four elders all wept
+for his weeping and said to Abu al-Ruwaysh, "Deal generously with
+this unhappy and show him kindness for the sake of thy brother
+Abd al-Kaddus and profit by this occasion to earn reward from
+Allah for helping him." Quoth he, "This wilful youth weeteth not
+what he undertaketh; but Inshallah! we will help him after the
+measure of our means, nor leave aught feasible undone." When
+Hasan heard the Shaykh's word he rejoiced and kissed the hands of
+the five elders, one after other, imploring their aidance.
+Thereupon Abd al-Ruwaysh took inkcase and a sheet of paper and
+wrote a letter, which he sealed and gave to Hasan, together with
+a pouch of perfumed leather,[FN#116] containing incense and
+fire-sticks[FN#117] and other needs, and said to him, "Take
+strictest care of this pouch, and whenas thou fallest into any
+strait, burn a little of the incense therein and name my name,
+whereupon I will be with thee forthright and save thee from thy
+stress." Moreover, he bade one of those present fetch him an
+Ifrit of the Flying Jinn; and he did so incontinently; whereupon
+quoth Abu al-Ruwaysh to the fire-drake, "What is thy name!"
+Replied the Ifrit, "Thy thrall is hight Dahnash bin Faktash." And
+the Shaykh said "Draw near to me!" So Dahnash drew near to him
+and he put his mouth to his ear and said somewhat to him, whereat
+the Ifrit shook his head and answered, "I accept, O elder of
+elders!" Then said Abu al-Ruwaysh to Hasan, "Arise, O my son,
+mount the shoulders of this Ifrit, Dahnash the Flyer; but, when
+he heaveth thee heaven-wards and thou hearest the angels
+glorifying God a-welkin with 'Subh�na 'll�h,' have a care lest
+thou do the like; else wilt thou perish and he too." Hasan
+replied, "I will not say a word; no, never;" and the old man
+continued, "O Hasan, after faring with thee all this day,
+to-morrow at peep of dawn he will set thee down in a land cleanly
+white, like unto camphor, whereupon do thou walk on ten days by
+thyself, till thou come to the gate of a city.  Then enter and
+enquire for the King of the city; and when thou comest to his
+presence, salute him with the salam and kiss his hand: then give
+him this scroll and consider well whatso he shall counsel thee."
+Hasan replied, "Hearing and obeying," and rose up and mounted the
+Ifrit's shoulders, whilst the elders rose and offered up prayers
+for him and commended him to the care of Dahnash the Firedrake.
+And when he had perched on the Flyer's back the Ifrit soared with
+him to the very confines of the sky, till he heard the angels
+glorifying God in Heaven, and flew on with him a day and a night
+till at dawn of the next day he set him down in a land white as
+camphor, and went his way, leaving him there.  When Hasan found
+himself in the land aforesaid with none by his side he fared on
+night and day for ten days, till he came to the gate of the city
+in question and entering, enquired for the King.  They directed
+him to him and told him that his name was King Hass�n,[FN#118]
+Lord of the Land of Camphor, and that he had troops and soldiers
+enough to fill the earth in its length and breadth.  So he sought
+audience of him and, being admitted to his presence, found him a
+mighty King and kissed ground between his hands. Quoth the King,
+"What is thy want?" Whereupon Hasan kissed the letter and gave it
+to him.  The King read it and shook his head awhile, then said to
+one of his officers, "Take this youth and lodge him in the house
+of hospitality."  So he took him and stablished him in the
+guest-house, where he tarried three days, eating and drinking and
+seeing none but the eunuch who waited on him and who entertained
+him with discourse and cheered him with his company, questioning
+him of his case and how he came to that city; whereupon he told
+him his whole story, and the perilous condition wherein he was.
+On the fourth day, that eunuch carried him before the King, who
+said to him, "O Hasan, thou comest to me, seeking to enter the
+Islands of Wak, as the Shaykh of Shaykhs adviseth me. O my son, I
+would send thee thither this very day, but that by the way are
+many perils and thirsty wolds full of terrors; yet do thou have
+patience and naught save fair shall befal thee, for needs must I
+devise to bring thee to thy desire, Inshallah!  Know, O my son,
+that here is a mighty host,[FN#119] equipped with arms and steeds
+and warlike gear, who long to enter the Wak Islands and lack
+power thereto.  But, O my son, for the sake of the Shaykh Abu
+al-Ruwaysh, son of Bilkis,[FN#120] the daughter of Mu'in, I may
+not send thee back to him unfulfilled of thine affair.  Presently
+there will come to us ships from the Islands of Wak and the first
+that shall arrive I will send thee on board of her and give thee
+in charge to the sailors, so they may take care of thee and carry
+thee to the Islands.  If any question thee of thy case and
+condition, answer him saying, 'I am kinsman to King Hassun, Lord
+of the Land of Camphor;' and when the ship shall make fast to the
+shore of the Islands of Wak and the master shall bid thee land,
+do thou land.  Now as soon as thou comest ashore, thou wilt see a
+multitude of wooden settles all about the beach, of which do thou
+choose thee one and crouch under it and stir not.  And when dark
+night sets in, thou wilt see an army of women appear and flock
+about the goods landed from the ship, and one of them will sit
+down on the settle, under which thou hast hidden thyself,
+whereupon do thou put forth thy hand to her and take hold of her
+and implore her protection. And know thou, O my son, that an she
+accord thee protection, thou wilt win thy wish and regain thy
+wife and children; but, if she refuse to protect thee, make thy
+mourning for thyself and give up all hope of life, and make sure
+of death for indeed thou art a dead man.  Understand, O my son,
+that thou adventurest thy life and this is all I can do for thee,
+and--the peace!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+        When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourth Night,
+
+She said,  It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King
+Hassun spake these words to Hasan and charged him as we have
+related, ending with, "This is all I can do for thee and know
+that except the Lord of Heaven had aided thee, thou hadst not
+come hither!" The youth wept till he swooned away, and when he
+recovered, he recited these two couplets,
+
+
+"A term decreed my lot I 'spy; * And, when its days shall end, I
+     die.
+Though lions fought with me in lair * If Time be mine I'd beat
+     them, I!"
+
+Then having ended his verse he kissed the ground before the
+Sovran and said to him, "O mighty King, how many days remain till
+the coming of the ships?" Replied the other, "In a month's time
+they will come and will tarry here, selling their cargueson,
+other two months, after which they will return to their own
+country; so hope not to set out save after three whole months."
+Then the King bade him return to the house of hospitality and
+bade supply him with all that he needed of meat and drink and
+raiment fit for Kings.  Hasan abode in the guest-house a month,
+at the end of which the vessels arrived and the King and the
+merchants went forth to them, taking Hasan with them. Amongst
+them he saw a ship with much people therein, like the shingles
+for number; none knew their tale save He who created them.  She
+was anchored in mid-harbour and had cocks which transported her
+lading to the shore.  So Hasan abode till the crew had landed all
+the goods and sold and bought and to the time of departure there
+wanted but three days; whereupon the King sent for him and
+equipped him with all he required and gave him  great gifts:
+after which he summoned the captain of the great ship and said to
+him, "Take this youth with thee in the vessel, so none may know
+of him save thou, and carry him to the Islands of Wak and leave
+him there; and bring him not back."  And the Rais said, "To hear
+is to obey: with love and gladness!" Then quoth the King to
+Hasan, "Look thou tell none of those who are with thee in the
+ship thine errand nor discover to them aught of thy case; else
+thou art a lost man;" and quoth he, "Hearing and obedience!" With
+this he farewelled the King, after he had wished him long life
+and victory over his enviers and his enemies; wherefore the King
+thanked him and wished him safety and the winning of his wish.
+Then he committed him to the captain, who laid him in a chest
+which he embarked in a dinghy, and bore him aboard, whilst the
+folk were busy in breaking bulk and no man doubted but the chest
+contained somewhat of merchandise.  After this, the vessels set
+sail and fared on without ceasing ten days, and on the eleventh
+day they made the land.  So the Rais set Hasan ashore and, as he
+walked up the beach, he saw wooden settles[FN#121] without
+number, none knew their count save Allah, even as the King had
+told him. He went on, till he came to one that had no fellow and
+hid under it till nightfall, when there came up a mighty many of
+women, as they were locusts over-swarming the land and they
+marched afoot and armed cap-�-pie in hauberks and strait-knit
+coats of mail hending drawn swords in their hands, who, seeing
+the merchandise landed from the ships, busied themselves
+therewith. Presently they sat down to rest themselves, and one of
+them seated herself on the settle under which Hasan had crouched:
+whereupon he took hold of the hem of her garment and laid it on
+his head and throwing himself before her, fell to kissing her
+hands and feet and weeping and crying, "Thy protection! thy
+good-will!" Quoth she, "Ho, thou!  Arise and stand up, ere any
+see thee and slay thee." So he came forth and springing up kissed
+her hands and wept and said to her, "O my mistress, I am under
+thy protection!"; adding, "Have ruth on one who is parted from
+his people and wife and children, one who hath haste to rejoin
+them and one who adventureth life and soul for their sake! Take
+pity on me and be assured that therefor Paradise will be thy
+reward; or, an thou wilt not receive me, I beseech thee, by Allah
+the Great, the Concealer, to conceal my case!" The merchants
+stared to see him talking with her; and she, hearing his words
+and beholding his humility, was moved to ruth for him; her heart
+inclined to him and she knew that he had not ventured himself and
+come to that place, save for a grave matter.  So she said to him,
+"O my son, be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear,
+hearten thy heart and take courage and return to thy hiding-place
+till the coming night, and Allah shall do as He will." Then she
+took leave of him and Hasan crept under the wooden settle as
+before, whilst the troops lighted flambeaux of wax mixed with
+aloes-wood and Nadd-perfume and crude ambergris[FN#122] and
+passed the night in sport and delight till the morning.  At
+daybreak, the boats returned to the shore and the merchants
+busied themselves with buying and selling and the transport of
+the goods and gear till nightfall, whilst Hasan lay hidden
+beneath the settle, weeping-eyed and woeful-hearted, knowing not
+what was decreed to him in the secret preordainment of Allah.  As
+he was thus, behold, the merchant-woman with whom he had taken
+refuge came up to him and giving him a habergeon and a helmet, a
+spear, a sword and a gilded girdle, bade him don them and seat
+himself on the settle after which she left him, for fear of the
+troops. So he arose and donned the mail-coat and helmet and
+clasped the girdle about his middle; then he slung the sword over
+his shoulder till it hung under his armpit, and taking the spear
+in his hand, sat down on that settle, whilst his tongue neglected
+not to name Allah Almighty and call on Him for protection.--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+         When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan received the weapons which the merchant-woman had given to
+him, saying, "Sit thee upon the settle and let none wot thy
+case," he armed himself and took his seat, whilst his tongue
+neglected not to name Allah Almighty and to call upon Him for
+protection.  And behold, there appeared cressets and lanthorns
+and flambeaux and up came the army of women.  So he arose and
+mingling with them, became as one of them.  A little before
+daybreak, they set out, and Hasan with them, and fared on till
+they came to their camp, where they dispersed each to her tent,
+and Hasan followed one of them and lo! it was hers for whose
+protection he had prayed.  When she entered, she threw down her
+arms and doffed her hauberk and veil.  So Hasan did the like and
+looking at his companion, saw her to be a grizzled old woman
+blue-eyed and big-nosed, a calamity of calamities, the foulest of
+all created things, with face pock-marked and eyebrows bald,
+gap-toothed and chap-fallen, with hair hoary, nose running and
+mouth slavering;[FN#123] even as saith the like of her the poet,
+
+"In her cheek-corners nine calamities * Wone, and when shown,
+     each one Jehannam is:
+Hideous the face and favour foulest foul * As cheek of hog; yea,
+     'tis a cesspool phiz."
+
+And indeed she was like a pied snake or a scald she-wolf.  Now
+when the old woman looked at Hasan, she marvelled and said, "How
+came this one to these lands and in which of the ships was he and
+how arrived he hither in safety?"  And she fell to questioning
+him of his case and admiring at his arrival, whereupon he fell at
+her feet and rubbed his face on them and wept till he fainted;
+and, when he recovered himself, he recited these couplets,
+
+"When will Time grant we meet, when shall we be * Again united
+     after severance stark?
+And I shall win my choicest wish and view? * Blame end and Love
+     abide without remark?
+Were Nile to flow as freely as my tears, * 'Twould leave no
+     region but with water-mark:
+'Twould overthrow Hijaz and Egypt-land * 'Twould deluge Syria and
+     'twould drown Ir�k.
+This, O my love, is caused by thy disdain, * Be kind and promise
+     meeting fair and fain!"
+
+Then he took the crone's skirt and laid it on his head and fell
+to weeping and craving her protection.  When she saw his ardency
+and transport and anguish and distress, her heart softened to him
+and she promised him her safeguard, saying, "Have no fear
+whatsoever." Then she questioned him of his case and he told her
+the manner of his coming thither and all that had befallen him
+from beginning to end, whereat she marvelled and said, "This that
+hath betide thee, methinks, never betided any save thyself and
+except thou hadst been vouchsafed the especial protection of
+Allah, thou hadst not been saved: but now, O my son, take comfort
+and be of good courage; thou hast nothing more to fear, for
+indeed thou hast won thy wish and attained thy desire, if it
+please the Most High!"  Thereat Hasan rejoiced with joy exceeding
+and she sent to summon the captains of the army to her presence,
+and it was the last day of the month.  So they presented
+themselves and the old woman said to them, "Go out and proclaim
+to all the troops that they come forth to-morrow at daybreak and
+let none tarry behind, for whoso tarryeth shall be slain." They
+replied, "We hear and we obey," and going forth, made
+proclamation to all the host anent a review next morning, even as
+she bade them, after which they returned and told her of this;
+whereby Hasan knew that she was the Commander-in-chief of the
+army and the Viceregent in authority over them; and her name was
+Shawah� the Fascinator, entituled Umm al-Daw�hi, or Mother of
+Calamities.[FN#124] She ceased not to bid and forbid and Hasan
+doffed not off his arms from his body that day.  Now when the
+morning broke, all the troops fared forth from their places, but
+the old woman came not out with them, and as soon as they were
+sped and the stead was clear of them, she said to Hasan, "Draw
+near unto me, O my son[FN#125]." So he drew near unto her and
+stood between her hands.  Quoth she, "Why and wherefore hast thou
+adventured thyself so boldly as to enter this land, and how came
+thy soul to consent to its own undoing?  Tell me the truth and
+the whole truth and fear aught of ill come of it, for thou hast
+my plighted word and I am moved to compassion for thy case and
+pity thee and have taken thee under my protection.  So, if thou
+tell me the truth, I will help thee to win thy wish, though it
+involve the undoing of souls and the destruction of bodies; and
+since thou hast come to seek me, no hurt shall betide thee from
+me, nor will I suffer any to have at thee with harm of all who be
+in the Islands of Wak." So he told her his tale from first to
+last, acquainting her with the matter of his wife and of the
+birds; how he had captured her as his prize from amongst the ten
+and married her and abode with her, till she had borne him two
+sons, and how she had taken her children and flown away with
+them, whenas she knew the way to the feather-dress.  Brief, he
+concealed from her no whit of his case, from the beginning to
+that day.  But when Shawahi heard his relation, she shook her
+head and said to him, "Glory be to God who hath brought thee
+hither in safety and made thee hap upon me!  For, hadst thou
+happened on any but myself, thou hadst lost thy life without
+winning thy wish; but the truth of thine intent and thy fond
+affection and the excess of thy love-longing for thy wife and
+yearning for thy children, these it was that have brought thee to
+the attainment of thine aim.  Didst thou not love her and love
+her to distraction, thou hadst not thus imperilled thyself, and
+Alhamdolillah--Praised be Allah--for thy safety!  Wherefore it
+behoveth us to do thy desire and conduce to thy quest, so thou
+mayst presently attain that thou seekest, if it be the will of
+Almighty Allah.  But know, O my son, that thy wife is not here,
+but in the seventh of the Islands of Wak and between us and it is
+seven months' journey, night and day. From here we go to an
+island called the Land of Birds, wherein, for the loud crying of
+the birds and the flapping of their wings, one cannot hear other
+speak."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+         When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old
+woman said to Hasan, "Indeed thy wife is in the Seventh
+Island,[FN#126] the greatest amongst the Islands of Wak and
+betwixt us and it is a seven-months' journey.  From here we fare
+for the Land of Birds, whereon for the force of their flying and
+the flapping of their wings, we cannot hear one other speak.
+Over that country we journey night and day, eleven days, after
+which we come forth of it to another called the Land of Ferals
+where, for stress of roaring of lions and howling of wolves and
+laughing of hy�nas and the crying of other beasts of prey we
+shall hear naught, and therein we travel twenty days' journey.
+Then we issue therefrom and come to a third country, called the
+Land of the J�nn, where, for stress of the crying of the Jinn and
+the flaming of fires and the flight of sparks and smoke from
+their mouths and the noise of their groaning and their arrogance
+in blocking up the road before us, our ears will be deafened and
+our eyes blinded, so that we shall neither hear nor see, nor dare
+any look behind him, or he perisheth: but there horseman boweth
+head on saddle-bow and raiseth it not for three days.  After
+this, we abut upon a mighty mountain and a running river
+contiguous with the Isles of Wak, which are seven in number and
+the extent whereof is a whole year's journey for a well-girt
+horseman.  And thou must know, O my son, that these troops are
+all virgin girls, and that the ruler over us is a woman of the
+Archipelago of Wak. On the bank of the river aforesaid is another
+mountain, called Mount Wak, and it is thus named by reason of a
+tree which beareth fruits like heads of the Sons of Adam.[FN#127]
+When the sun riseth on them, the heads cry out all, saying in
+their cries:-- 'Wak!  Wak!  Glory be to the Creating King,
+Al-Khall�k!' And when we hear their crying, we know that the sun
+is risen.  In like manner, at sundown, the heads set up the same
+cry, 'Wak! Wak!  Glory to Al-Khallak!' and so we know that the
+sun hath set.  No man may abide with us or reach to us or tread
+our earth; and betwixt us and the abiding-place of the Queen who
+ruleth over us is a month's journey from this shore, all the
+lieges whereof are under her hand, as are also the tribes of the
+Jinn, Marids and Satans, while of the warlocks none kenneth the
+number save He who created them.  Wherefore, an thou be afraid, I
+will send with thee one who will convey thee to the coast and
+there bring one who will embark thee on board a ship that bear
+thee to thine own land.  But an thou be content to tarry with us,
+I will not forbid thee and thou shalt be with me in mine
+eye,[FN#128] till thou win thy wish, Inshallah!" Quoth he, "O my
+lady, I will never quit thee till I foregather with my wife or
+lose my life!"; and quoth she, "This is a light matter; be of
+good heart, for soon shalt thou come to thy desire, Allah
+willing; and there is no help but that I let the Queen know of
+thee, that she may help thee to attain thine aim." Hasan blessed
+her and kissed her head and hands, thanking her for her good deed
+and exceeding kindness and firm will.  Then he set out with her,
+pondering the issue of his case and the horrors of his
+strangerhood; wherefore he fell a-weeping and a-wailing and
+recited these couplets,
+
+"A Zephyr bloweth from the lover's site; * And thou canst view me
+     in the saddest plight:
+The Night of Union is as brilliant morn; * And black the
+     Severance-day as blackest night:
+Farewelling friend is sorrow sorest sore * Parting from lover's
+     merest undelight.
+I will not blame her harshness save to her, * And 'mid mankind
+     nor friend nor fere I sight:
+How can I be consoled for loss of you? * Base censor's blame
+     shall not console my sprite!
+O thou in charms unique, unique's my love; * O peerless thou, my
+     heart hath peerless might!
+Who maketh semblance that he loveth you * And dreadeth blame is
+     most blame-worthy wight."
+
+Then the old woman bade beat the kettle-drums for departure and
+the army set out.  Hasan fared with her, drowned in the sea of
+solicitude and reciting verses like those above, whilst she
+strave to comfort him and exhorted him to patience; but he awoke
+not from his tristesse and heeded not her exhortations.  They
+journeyed thus till they came to the boundaries of the Land of
+Birds[FN#129] and when they entered it, it seemed to Hasan as if
+the world were turned topsy-turvy for the exceeding clamour.  His
+head ached and his mind was dazed, his eyes were blinded and his
+ears deafened, and he feared with exceeding fear and made certain
+of death, saying to himself, "If this be the Land of Birds, how
+will be the Land of Beasts?" But, when the crone hight Shawahi
+saw him in this plight, she laughed at him, saying, "O my son, if
+this be thy case in the first island, how will it fare with thee,
+when thou comest to the others?"  So he prayed to Allah and
+humbled himself before the Lord, beseeching Him to assist him
+against that wherewith He had afflicted him and bring him to his
+wishes; and they ceased not going till they passed out of the
+Land of Birds and, traversing the Land of Beasts, came to the
+Land of the Jann which when Hasan saw, he was sore affrighted and
+repented him of having entered it with them.  But he sought aid
+of Allah the Most High and fared on with them, till they were
+quit of the Land of the Jann and came to the river and set down
+their loads at the foot of a vast mountain and a lofty, and
+pitched their tents by the stream-bank.  Then they rested and ate
+and drank and slept in security, for they were come to their own
+country.  On the morrow the old woman set Hasan a couch of
+alabaster, inlaid with pearls and jewels and nuggets of red gold,
+by the river-side, and he sat down thereon, having first bound
+his face with a chin-kerchief, that discovered naught of him but
+his eyes.  Then she bade proclaim among the troops that they
+should all assemble before her tent and put off their clothes and
+go down into the stream and wash; and this she did that she might
+parade before him all the girls, so haply his wife should be
+amongst them and he know her.  So the whole army mustered before
+her and putting off their clothes, went down into the stream, and
+Hasan seated on his couch watched them washing their white skins
+and frolicking and making merry, whilst they took no heed of his
+inspecting them, deeming him to be of the daughters of the Kings.
+When he beheld them stripped of their clothes, his chord
+stiffened for that looking at them mother-naked he saw what was
+between their thighs, and that of all kinds, soft and rounded,
+plump and cushioned; large-lipped, perfect, redundant and
+ample,[FN#130] and their faces were as moons and their hair as
+night upon day, for that they were of the daughters of the Kings.
+When they were clean, they came up out of the water, stark naked,
+as the moon on the night of fullness and the old woman questioned
+Hasan of them, company by company, if his wife were among them;
+but, as often as she asked him of a troop, he made answer, "She
+is not among these, O my lady."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+        When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventh Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old
+woman questioned Hasan of the girls, company after company, if
+haply his wife were among them; but as often as she asked him of
+a troop, he made answer, "She is not among these, O my lady!"
+Last of all, there came up a damsel, attended by ten slave-girls
+and thirty waiting-women, all of them high-bosomed maidens.  They
+put off their clothes and went down into the river, where the
+damsel fell to riding the high horse over her women, throwing
+them down and ducking them.  On this wise she continued for a
+full hour, after which all came up out of the water and sat down;
+and they brought her napkins[FN#131] of gold-purfled silk, with
+which she dried herself.  Then they brought her clothes and
+jewels and ornaments of the handiwork of the Jinn, and she donned
+them and rose and walked with graceful pace among the troops, she
+and her maidens.  When Hasan saw her, his heart was ready to fly
+from his breast and he said, "Verily this girl is the likest of
+all folk to the bird I saw in the basin atop of the palace of my
+sisters the Princesses, and she lorded it over her lieges even as
+doth this one." The old woman asked, "O Hasan, is this thy
+wife?"; and he answered, "No, by thy life, O my lady; this is not
+my wife, nor ever in my life have I set eyes on her; neither
+among all the girls I have seen in these islands is there the
+like of my wife nor her match for symmetry and grace and beauty
+and loveliness!" Then said Shawaki, "Describe her to me and
+acquaint me with all her attributes, that I may have her in my
+mind; for I know every girl in the Islands of Wak, being
+commander of the army of maids and governor over them; wherefore,
+an thou describe her to me, I shall know her and will contrive
+for thee to take her." Quoth he, "My wife hath the fairest face
+and a form all grace; smooth is she of cheeks and high of breasts
+with eyes of liquid light, calves and thighs plump to sight,
+teeth snowy white, with dulcet speech dight; in speech soft and
+bland as she were a willow-wand; her gifts are a moral and lips
+are red as coral; her eyes wear natural Kohl-dye and her lower
+labia[FN#132] in softness lie.  On her right cheek is a mole and
+on her waist, under her navel, is a sign; her face shines as the
+rondure of the moon in sheen, her waist is slight, her hips a
+heavy weight, and the water of her mouth the sick doth heal, as
+it were Kausar or Salsabil."[FN#133] Said the old woman, "Give me
+an increased account of her, Allah increase thee of passion for
+her!" Quoth he, "My wife hath a face the fairest fair and oval
+cheeks the rarest rare; neck long and spare and eyes that Kohl
+wear; her side face shows the Anemones of Nu'uman, her mouth is
+like a seal of cornelian and flashing teeth that lure and stand
+one in stead of cup and ewer.  She is cast in the mould of
+pleasantness and between her thighs is the throne of the
+Caliphate, there is no such sanctuary among the Holy Places; as
+saith in its praise the poet,
+
+"The name of what drave me distraught * Hath letters renowned
+     among men:
+A four into five multiplied * And a multiplied six into
+     ten.[FN#134]"
+
+Then Hasan wept and chanted the following Maww�l,[FN#135]
+
+"O heart, an lover false thee, shun the parting bane * Nor to
+     forgetfulness thy thoughts constrain:
+Be patient; thou shalt bury all thy foes; * Allah ne'er falseth
+     man of patience fain."
+
+And this also,
+
+"An wouldst be life,long safe, vaunt not delight; * Never
+     despair, nor wone o'erjoyed in sprite!
+Forbear, rejoice not, mourn not o'er thy plight * And in ill day
+     'Have not we oped?'--recite."[FN#136]
+
+Thereupon the old woman bowed her head groundwards awhile, then,
+raising it, said, "Laud be to the Lord, the Mighty of Award!
+Indeed I am afflicted with thee, O Hasan!  Would Heaven I had
+never known thee!  This woman, whom thou describest to me as thy
+wife, I know by description and I know her to be none other than
+the eldest daughter of the Supreme King, she who ruleth over all
+the Islands of Wak.  So open both eyes and consider thy case; and
+if thou be asleep, awake; for, if this woman be indeed thy wife,
+it is impossible for thee ever to obtain her, and though thou
+come to her, yet couldst thou not avail to her possession, since
+between thee and her the distance is as that between earth and
+Heaven.  Wherefore, O my son, return presently and cast not
+thyself into destruction nor cast me with thee; for meseemeth
+thou hast no lot in her; so return whence thou camest lest our
+lives be lost."  And she feared for herself and for him.  When
+Hasan heard her words, he wept till he fainted and she left not
+sprinkling water on his face, till he came to himself, when he
+continued to weep, so that he drenched his dress with tears, for
+the much cark and care and chagrin which betided him by reason of
+her words.  And indeed he despaired of life and said to the old
+woman, "O my lady, and how shall I go back, after having come
+hither?  Verily, I thought not thou wouldst forsake me nor fail
+of the winning of my wish, especially as thou art the
+Commander-in-chief of the army of the girls." Answered Shawahl,
+"O my son, I doubted not but thy wife was a maid of the maids,
+and had I known she was the King's daughter, I had not suffered
+thee to come hither nor had I shown the troops to thee, for all
+the love I bear thee.  But now, O my son, thou hast seen all the
+girls naked; so tell me which of them pleaseth thee and I will
+give her to thee, in lieu of thy wife, and do thou put it that
+thy wife and children are dead and take her and return to thine
+own country in safety, ere thou fall into the King's hand and I
+have no means of delivering thee.  So, Allah upon thee, O my son,
+hearken unto me.  Choose thyself one of these damsels, in the
+stead of yonder woman, and return presently to thy country in
+safety and cause me not quaff the cup of thine anguish!  For, by
+Allah, thou hast cast thyself into affliction sore and peril
+galore, wherefrom none may avail to deliver thee evermore!" But
+Hasan hung down his head and wept with long weeping and recited
+these couplets,
+
+"'Blame not!' said I to all who blam�d me; * 'Mine eye-lids
+     naught but tears were made to dree:'
+The tears that brim these orbs have overflowed * My checks, for
+     lovers and love's cruelty.
+Leave me to love though waste this form of me! * For I of Love
+     adore the insanity:
+And, Oh my dearling, passion grows on me * For you--and you, why
+     grudge me clemency?
+You wronged me after swearing troth and plight, * Falsed my
+     companionship and turned to flee:
+And cup of humbling for your rigours sore * Ye made me drain what
+     day departed ye:
+Then melt, O heart, with longing for their sight * And, O mine
+     eyes, with crowns of tears be dight."
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+        When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+old woman said to Hasan, "By Allah, O my son, hearken to my
+words!  Choose thee one of these girls in lieu of thy wife and
+presently return to thy country in safety," he hung down his head
+and recited the couplets quoted above.  Then he wept till he
+swooned away and Shawahl sprinkled water on his face till he
+revived, when she addressed him, "O my lord, I have no shift
+left; because if I carry thee to the city thy life is lost and
+mine also: for, when the Queen cometh to know of this, she will
+blame me for admitting thee into her lands and islands, whereto
+none of Adam's sons hath access, and will slay me for bringing
+thee with me and for suffering mortal to look upon the virgins
+seen by thee in the sea, whom ne'er touched male, neither
+approached mate." And Hasan sware that he had never looked on
+them with evil of eye.  She resumed, "O my son, hearken to me and
+return to thy country and I will give thee wealth and treasures
+and things of price, such as shall suffice thee for all the women
+in the world. Moreover, I will give thee a girl of the best of
+them, so lend an ear to my words and return presently and imperil
+not thyself; indeed I counsel thee with good counsel." But he
+wept and rubbed both cheeks against her feet, saying, "O my lady
+and mistress and coolth of mine eyes, how can I turn back now
+that I have made my way hither, without the sight of those I
+desire, and now that I have come near the beloved's site, hoping
+for meeting forthright, so haply there may be a portion in
+reunion to my plight?"  And he improvised these couplets,
+
+"O Kings of beauty, grace to prisoner ta'en * Of eyelids fit to
+     rule the Chosro�s' reign:
+Ye pass the wafts of musk in perfumed breath; * Your cheeks the
+     charms of blooming rose disdain.
+The softest Zephyr breathes where pitch ye camp * And thence
+     far-scattered sweetness fills the plain:
+Censor of me, leave blame and stint advice! * Thou bringest
+     wearying words and wisdom vain:
+Why heat my passion with this flame and up- * braid me when
+     naught thou knowest of its bane?
+Captured me eyes with passion maladifs, * And overthrew me with
+     Love's might and main:
+I scatter tears the while I scatter verse; * You are my theme for
+     rhyme and prosy strain.
+Melted my vitals glow of rosy cheeks * And in the Laz�-lowe my
+     heart is lain:
+Tell me, an I leave to discourse of you, * What speech my breast
+     shall broaden?
+Tell me deign! Life-long I loved the lovelings fair, but ah, * To
+     grant my wish eke Allah must be fain!"
+
+Hearing his verses the old woman was moved to ruth for him and
+Allah planted the seed of affection for him in her heart; so
+coming up to him she consoled him, saying, "Be of good cheer and
+keep thine eyes cool and clear and put away trouble from thy
+thought, for, by Allah, I will venture my life with thee, till
+thou attain thine aim or death undo me!" With this, Hasan's heart
+was comforted and his bosom broadened and he sat talking with the
+old woman till the end of the day, when all the girls dispersed,
+some entering their town-mansions and others nighting in the
+tents.  Then the old woman carried him into the city and lodged
+him in a place apart, lest any should come to know of him and
+tell the Queen of him and she should slay him and slay her who
+had brought him thither.  Moreover, she served him herself and
+strave to put him in fear of the awful majesty of the Supreme
+King, his wife's father; whilst he wept before her and said, "O
+my lady, I choose death for myself and loathe this worldly life,
+if I foregather not with my wife and children: I have set my
+existence on the venture and will either attain my aim or die."
+So the old woman fell to pondering the means of bringing him and
+his wife together and casting about how to do in the case of this
+unhappy one, who had thrown himself into destruction and would
+not be diverted from his purpose by fear or aught else; for,
+indeed he recked not of his life and the sayer of bywords saith,
+"Lover in nowise hearkeneth he to the speech of the man who is
+fancy-free." Now the name of the Queen of the island wherein they
+were was N�r al-Hud�,[FN#137] eldest daughter of the Supreme
+King, and she had six virgin sisters, abiding with their father,
+whose capital and court were in the chief city of that region and
+who had made her ruler over all the lands and islands of Wak.  So
+when the ancient dame saw Hasan on fire with yearning after his
+wife and children, she rose up and repaired to the palace and
+going in to Queen Nur al-Huda kissed ground before her; for she
+had a claim on her favour because she had reared the King's
+daughters one and all and had authority over each and every of
+them and was high in honour and consideration with them and with
+the King.  Nur al-Huda rose to her as she entered and embracing
+her, seated her by her side and asked her of her journey.  She
+answered, "By  Allah, O my lady 'twas a blessed journey and I
+have brought thee a gift which I will presently present to thee,"
+adding, "O my daughter, O Queen of the age and the time, I have a
+favour to crave of thee and I fain would discover it to thee,
+that thou mayst help me to accomplish it, and but for my
+confidence that thou wilt not gainsay me therein, I would not
+expose it to thee." Asked the Queen, "And what is thy need?
+Expound it to me, and I will accomplish it to thee, for I and my
+kingdom and troops are all at thy commandment and disposition."
+Therewithal the old woman quivered as quivereth the reed on a day
+when the storm-wind is abroad and saying in herself, "O[FN#138]
+Protector, protect me from the Queen's mischief!"[FN#139] fell
+down before her and acquainted her with Hasan's case, saying, "O
+my lady, a man, who had hidden himself under my wooden settle on
+the seashore, sought my protection; so I took him under my
+safeguard and carried him with me among the army of girls armed
+and accoutred so that none might know him, and brought him into
+the city; and indeed I have striven to affright him with thy
+fierceness, giving him to know of thy power and prowess; but, as
+often as I threatened him, he weepeth and reciteth verses and
+sayeth, 'Needs must I have my wife and children or die, and I
+will not return to my country without them.' And indeed he hath
+adventured himself and come to the Islands of Wak, and never in
+all my days saw I mortal heartier of heart than he or doughtier
+of derring-do, save that love hath mastered him to the utmost of
+mastery."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+         When it was the Eight Hundred and Ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+old woman related to Queen Nur al-Huda the adventure of Hasan,
+ending with, "Never I saw any one heartier of heart than he save
+that love hath mastered him to the utmost of mastery," the Queen,
+after lending an attentive ear and comprehending the case, waxed
+wroth at her with exceeding wrath and bowed her head awhile
+groundwards; then, raising it, she looked at Shawahi and said to
+her, "O ill-omened beldam, art thou come to such a pass of
+lewdness that thou carriest males, men, with thee into the
+Islands of Wak and bringest them into me, unfearing of my
+mischief?  Who hath foregone thee with this fashion, that thou
+shouldst do thus?  By the head of the King, but for thy claim on
+me for fosterage and service, I would forthwith do both him and
+thee to die the foulest of deaths, that travellers might take
+warning by thee, O accursed, lest any other do the like of this
+outrageous deed thou hast done, which none durst hitherto!  But
+go and bring him hither forthright, that I may see him; or I will
+strike off thy head, O accursed." So the old woman went out from
+her, confounded, unknowing whither she went and saying, "All this
+calamity hath Allah driven upon me from this Queen because of
+Hasan!" and going in to him, said, "Rise, speak with the Queen, O
+wight whose last hour is at hand!" So he rose and went with her,
+whilst his tongue ceased not to call upon Almighty Allah and say,
+"O my God, be gracious to me in Thy decrees and deliver me from
+this Thine affliction!"[FN#140] And Shawahi went with him
+charging him by the way how he should speak with the Queen.  When
+he stood before Nur al-Huda, he found that she had donned the
+chinveil[FN#141]; so he kissed ground before her and saluted her
+with the salam, improvising these two couplets,
+
+"God make thy glory last in joy of life; * Allah confirm the
+     boons he deigned bestow:
+Thy grace and grandeur may our Lord increase * And aye Th'
+     Almighty aid thee o'er thy foe!"
+
+When he ended his verse Nur al-Huda bade the old woman ask him
+questions before her, that she might hear his answers: so she
+said to him, "The Queen returneth thy salam-greeting and saith to
+thee, 'What is thy name and that of thy country, and what are the
+names of thy wife and children, on whose account thou art come
+hither?"' Quoth he, and indeed he had made firm his heart and
+destiny aided him, "O Queen of the age and tide and peerless
+jewel of the epoch and the time, my name is Hasan the fullfilled
+of sorrow, and my native city is Bassorah.  I know not the name
+of my wife[FN#142] but my children's names are N�sir and Mans�r."
+When the Queen heard his reply and his provenance, she bespoke
+him herself and said, "And whence took she her children?" He
+replied, "O Queen, she took them from the city of Baghdad and the
+palace of the Caliphate."  Quoth Nur al-Huda, "And did she say
+naught to thee at the time she flew away?;" and quoth he, "Yes;
+she said to my mother, 'Whenas thy son cometh to thee and the
+nights of severance upon him longsome shall be and he craveth
+meeting and reunion to see, and whenas the breezes of love and
+longing shake him dolefully let him come in the Islands of Wak to
+me.'"  Whereupon Queen Nur al-Huda shook her head and said to
+him, "Had she not desired thee she had not said to thy mother
+this say, and had she not yearned for reunion with thee, never
+had she bidden thee to her stead nor acquainted thee with her
+abiding-place."  Rejoined Hasan, "O mistress of Kings and asylum
+of prince and pauper, whatso happened I have told thee and have
+concealed naught thereof, and I take refuge from evil with Allah
+and with thee; wherefore oppress me not, but have compassion on
+me and earn recompense and requital for me in the world to come,
+and aid me to regain my wife and children.  Grant me my urgent
+need and cool mine eyes with my children and help me to the sight
+of them." Then he wept and wailed and lamenting his lot recited
+these two couplets,
+
+"Yea, I will laud thee while the ring-dove moans, * Though fail
+     my wish of due and lawful scope:
+Ne'er was I whirled in bliss and joys gone by * Wherein I found
+     thee not both root and rope."[FN#143]
+
+The Queen shook her head and bowed it in thought a long time;
+then, raising it, she said to Hasan (and indeed she was wroth),
+"I have ruth on thee and am resolved to show thee in review all
+the girls in the city and in the provinces of my island; and in
+case thou know thy wife, I will deliver her to thee; but, an thou
+know her not and know not her place, I will put thee to death and
+crucify thee over the old woman's door." Replied Hasan, "I accept
+this from thee, O Queen of the Age, and am content to submit to
+this thy condition.  There is no Majesty and there is no Might
+save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"  And he recited these
+couplets,
+
+"You've roused my desire and remain at rest,-- * Waked my wounded
+     lids while you slept with zest.
+And ye made me a vow ye would not hang back * But your guile when
+     you chained me waxt manifest.
+I loved you in childhood unknowing Love; * Then slay me not who
+     am sore opprest.
+Fear ye not from Allah when slaying a friend * Who gazeth on
+     stars when folk sleep their best?
+By Allah, my kinsmen, indite on my tomb * 'This man was the slave
+     of Love's harshest hest!'
+Haps a noble youth, like me Love's own thrall, * When he sees my
+     grave on my name shall call."
+
+Then Queen Nur al-Huda commanded that not a girl should abide in
+the city but should come up to the palace and pass in review
+before Hasan and moreover she bade Shawahi go down in person and
+bring them up herself.  Accordingly all the maidens in the city
+presented themselves before the Queen, who caused them to go in
+to Hasan, hundred after hundred, till there was no girl left in
+the place, but she had shown her to him; yet he saw not his wife
+amongst them.  Then said she to him, "Seest thou her amongst
+these?"; and he replied, "By thy life, O Queen, she is not
+amongst them." With this she was sore enraged against him and
+said to the old woman, "Go in and bring out all who are in the
+palace and show them to him." So she displayed to him every one
+of the palace-girls, but he saw not his wife among them and said
+to the Queen, "By the life of thy head, O Queen, she is not among
+these." Whereat the Queen was wroth and cried out at those around
+her, saying, "Take him and hale him along, face to earth, and cut
+off his head, least any adventure himself after him and intrude
+upon us in our country and spy out our estate by thus treading
+the soil of our islands." So they threw him down on his face and
+dragged him along; then, covering his eyes with his skirt, stood
+at his head with bared brands awaiting royal permission.
+Thereupon Shawahi came forward and kissing the ground before the
+Queen, took the hem of her garment and laid it on her head,
+saying, "O Queen, by my claim for fosterage, be not hasty with
+him, more by token of thy knowledge that this poor wretch is a
+stranger, who hath adventured himself and suffered what none ever
+suffered before him, and Allah (to whom belong Might and
+Majesty,) preserved him from death, for that his life was
+ordained to be long.  He heard of thine equity and entered thy
+city and guarded site;[FN#144] wherefore, if thou put him to
+death, the report will dispread abroad of thee, by means of the
+travellers, that thou hatest strangers and slayest them.  He is
+in any case at thy mercy and the slain of thy sword, if his wife
+be not found in thy dominions; and whensoever thou desireth his
+presence, I can bring him back to thee.  Moreover, in very sooth
+I took him under my protection only of my trust in thy
+magnanimity through my claim on thee for fosterage, so that I
+engaged to him that thou wouldst bring him to his desire, for my
+knowledge of thy justice and quality of mercy.  But for this, I
+had not brought him into thy kingdom; for I said to myself: 'The
+Queen will take pleasure in looking upon him, and hearing him
+speak his verses and his sweet discourse and eloquent which is
+like unto pearls strung on string.' Moreover, he hath entered our
+land and eaten of our meat; wherefore he hath a claim upon
+us."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+         When it was the Eight Hundred and Tenth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Queen Nur al-Huda bade her pages seize Hasan and smite his neck,
+the old woman, Shawahi, began to reason with her and say, "Verily
+he hath entered our land and eaten of our meat, wherefore he hath
+a claim upon us, the more especially since I promised him to
+bring him in company with thee; and thou knowest that, parting is
+a grievous ill and severance hath power to kill, especially
+separation from children.  Now he hath seen all our women, save
+only thyself; so do thou show him thy face?" The Queen smiled and
+said, "How can he be my husband and have had children by me, that
+I should show him my face?" Then she made them bring Hasan before
+her and when he stood in the presence, she unveiled her face,
+which when he saw, he cried out with a great cry and fell down
+fainting.  The old woman ceased not to tend him, till he came to
+himself and as soon as he revived he recited these couplets,
+
+"O breeze that blowest from the land Irak * And from their
+     corners whoso cry 'Wak!  Wak!'
+Bear news of me to friends and say for me * I've tasted
+     passion-food of bitter smack.
+O dearlings of my love, show grace and ruth * My heart is melted
+     for this severance-rack."
+
+When he ended his verse he rose and looking on the Queen's face,
+cried out with a great cry, for stress whereof the palace was
+like to fall upon all therein.  Then he swooned away again and
+the old woman ceased not to tend him till he revived, when she
+asked him what ailed him and he answered, "In very sooth this
+Queen is either my wife or else the likest of all folk to my
+wife."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Eight Hundred and Eleventh Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+old woman asked Hasan what ailed him, he answered, "In very sooth
+this Queen is either my wife or else the likest of all folk to my
+wife." Quoth Nur al-Huda to the old woman, "Woe to thee, O nurse!
+This stranger is either Jinn-mad or out of his mind, for he
+stareth me in the face with wide eyes and saith I am his wife."
+Quoth the old woman, "O Queen, indeed he is excusable; so blame
+him not, for the saying saith, 'For the lovesick is no remedy and
+alike are the madman and he.'" And Hasan wept with sore weeping
+and recited these two couplets,
+
+"I sight their track and pine for longing love; * And o'er their
+     homesteads weep I and I yearn:
+And I pray Heaven who will�d we should part, * Will deign to
+     grant us boon of safe return."
+
+Then said Hasan to the Queen once more, "By Allah, thou art not
+my wife, but thou art the likest of all folk to her!" Hereupon
+Nur al-Huda laughed till she fell backwards and rolled round on
+her side.[FN#145] Then she said to him, "O my friend, take thy
+time and observe me attentively: answer me at thy leisure what I
+shall ask thee and put away from thee insanity and perplexity and
+inadvertency for relief is at hand." Answered Hasan, "O mistress
+of Kings and asylum of all princes and paupers, when I looked
+upon thee, I was distracted, seeing thee to be either my wife or
+the likest of all folk to her; but now ask me whatso thou wilt."
+Quoth she, "What is it in thy wife that resembleth me?"; and
+quoth he, "O my lady, all that is in thee of beauty and
+loveliness, elegance and amorous grace, such as the symmetry of
+thy shape and the sweetness of thy speech and the blushing of thy
+cheeks and the jutting of thy breasts and so forth, all
+resembleth her and thou art her very self in thy faculty of
+parlance and the fairness of thy favour and the brilliancy of thy
+brow."[FN#146] When the Queen heard this, she smiled and gloried
+in her beauty and loveliness and her cheeks reddened and her eyes
+wantoned; then she turned to Shawahi Umm Dawahi and said to her,
+"O my mother, carry him back to the place where he tarried with
+thee and tend him thyself, till I examine into his affair; for,
+an he be indeed a man of manliness and mindful of friendship and
+love and affection, it behoveth we help him to win his wish, more
+by token that he hath sojourned in our country and eaten of our
+victual, not to speak of the hardships of travel he hath suffered
+and the travail and horrors he hath undergone.  But, when thou
+hast brought him to thy house, commend him to the care of thy
+dependents and return to me in all haste; and Allah Almighty
+willing![FN#147] all shall be well." Thereupon Shawahi carried
+him back to her lodging and charged her handmaids and servants
+and suite wait upon him and bring him all he needed nor fail in
+what was his due. Then she returned to Queen Nur al-Huda, who
+bade her don her arms and set out, taking with her a thousand
+doughty horsemen.  So she obeyed and donned her war-gear and
+having collected the thousand riders reported them ready to the
+Queen, who bade her march upon the city of the Supreme King, her
+father, there to alight at the abode of her youngest sister,
+Man�r al-San�[FN#148] and say to her, "Clothe thy two sons in the
+coats of mail which their aunt hath made them and send them to
+her; for she longeth for them." Moreover the Queen charged her
+keep Hasan's affair secret and say to Manar al-Sana, after
+securing her children, "Thy sister inviteth thee to visit her."
+"Then," she continued, "bring the children to me in haste and let
+her follow at her leisure.  Do thou come by a road other than her
+road and journey night and day and beware of discovering this
+matter to any.  And I swear by all manner oaths that, if my
+sister prove to be his wife and it appear that her children are
+his, I will not hinder him from taking her and them and departing
+with them to his own country."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+        When it was the Eight Hundred and Twelfth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+Oueen said, "I swear by Allah and by all manner of oaths that if
+she prove to be his wife, I will not hinder him from taking her
+but will aid him thereto and eke to departing with them to his
+mother-land." And the old woman put faith in her words, knowing
+not what she purposed in her mind, for the wicked Jezebel had
+resolved that if she were not his wife she would slay him; but if
+the children resembled him, she would believe him.  The Queen
+resumed, "O my mother, an my thought tell me true, my sister
+Manar al-Sana is his wife, but Allah alone is All-knowing! seeing
+that these traits of surpassing beauty and excelling grace, of
+which he spoke, are found in none except my sisters and
+especially in the youngest." The old woman kissed her hand and
+returning to Hasan, told him what the Queen had said, whereat he
+was like to fly for joy and coming up to her, kissed her head.
+Quoth she, "O my son, kiss not my head, but kiss me on the mouth
+and be this kiss by way of sweetmeat for thy salvation.[FN#149]
+Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear and grudge
+not to kiss my mouth, for I and only I was the means of thy
+foregathering with her.  So take comfort, and hearten thy heart
+and broaden thy breast and gladden thy glance and console thy
+soul for, Allah willing, thy desire shall be accomplished at my
+hand." So saying, she bade him farewell and departed, whilst he
+recited these two couplets,
+
+"Witnesses unto love of thee I've four; * And wants each case two
+     witnesses; no more!
+A heart aye fluttering, limbs that ever quake, * A wasted frame
+     and tongue that speech forswore."
+
+And also these two,
+
+"Two things there be, an blood-tears thereover * Wept eyes till
+     not one trace thou couldst discover,
+Eyes ne'er could pay the tithe to them is due * The prime of
+     youth and severance from lover."
+
+Then the old woman armed herself and, taking with her a thousand
+weaponed horsemen, set out and journeyed till she came to the
+island and the city where dwelt the Lady Manar al-Sana and
+between which and that of her sister Queen Nur al-Huda was three
+days' journey.  When Shawahi reached the city, she went in to the
+Princess and saluting her, gave her her sister's salam and
+acquainted her with the Queen's longing for her and her children
+and that she reproached her for not visiting her. Quoth Manar
+al-Sana, "Verily, I am beholden to my sister and have failed of
+my duty to her in not visiting her, but I will do so forthright."
+Then she bade pitch her tents without the city and took with her
+for her sister a suitable present of rare things. Presently, the
+King her father looked out of a window of his palace, and seeing
+the tents pitched by the road, asked of them, and they answered
+him, "The Princess Manar al-Sana hath pitched her tents by the
+way-side, being minded to visit her sister Queen Nur al-Huda."
+When the  King heard this, he equipped troops to escort her to
+her sister and brought out to her from his treasuries meat and
+drink and monies and jewels and rarities which beggar
+description.  Now the King had seven daughters, all
+sisters-german by one mother and father except the youngest: the
+eldest was called N�r al-Hud�, the second Najm al-Sab�h, the
+third Shams al-Zuh�, the fourth Shajarat al-Durr, the fifth K�t
+al-Kul�b, the sixth Sharaf al-Ban�t and the youngest Manar
+al-Sana, Hasan's wife, who was their sister by the father's side
+only.[FN#150]  Anon the old woman again presented herself and
+kissed ground before the Princess, who said to her, "Hast thou
+any need, O my mother?"  Quoth Shawahi, "Thy sister, Queen Nur
+al-Huda, biddeth thee clothe thy sons in the two habergeons which
+she fashioned for them and send them to her by me, and I will
+take them and forego thee with them and be the harbinger of glad
+tidings and the announcer of thy coming to her." When the
+Princess heard these words, her colour changed and she bowed her
+head a long while, after which she shook it and looking up, said
+to the old woman, "O my mother, my vitals tremble and my heart
+fluttereth when thou namest my children; for, from the time of
+their birth none hath looked on their faces either Jinn or man,
+male or female, and I am jealous for them of the zephyr when it
+breatheth in the night." Exclaimed the old woman, "What words are
+these, O my lady?  Dost thou fear for them from thy sister?"--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old
+woman said to the Princess Manar al-Sana, "What words be these, O
+my lady?  Dost thou fear for them from thy sister? Allah
+safeguard thy reason!  Thou mayst not cross the Queen's majesty
+in this matter, for she would be wroth with thee.  However, O my
+lady, the children are young, and thou art excusable in fearing
+for them, for those that love well are wont to deem ill: but, O
+my daughter, thou knowest my tenderness and mine affection for
+thee and thy children, for indeed I reared thee before them.  I
+will take them in my charge and make my cheek their pillow and
+open my heart and set them within, nor is it needful to charge me
+with care of them in the like of this case; so be of cheerful
+heart and tearless eye and send them to her, for, at the most, I
+shall but precede thee with them a day or at most two days."  And
+she ceased not to urge her, till she gave way, fearing her
+sister's fury and unknowing what lurked for her in the dark
+future, and consented to send them with the old woman.  So she
+called them and bathed them and equipped them and changed their
+apparel.  Then she clad them in the two little coats of mail and
+delivered them to Shawahi, who took them and sped on with them
+like a bird, by another road than that by which their mother
+should travel, even as the Queen had charged her; nor did she
+cease to fare on with all diligence, being fearful for them, till
+she came in sight of Nur al-Huda's city, when she crossed the
+river and entering the town, carried them in to their aunt.  The
+Queen rejoiced at their sight and embraced them, and pressed them
+to her breast; after which she seated them, one upon the right
+thigh and the other upon the left; and turning round said to the
+old woman, "Fetch me Hasan forthright, for I have granted him my
+safeguard and have spared him from my sabre and he hath sought
+asylum in my house and taken up his abode in my courts, after
+having endured hardships and horrors and passed through all
+manner mortal risks, each terribler than other; yet hitherto is
+he not safe from drinking the cup of death and from cutting off
+his breath." --And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+to say her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourteenth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Queen Nur al-Huda bade the old woman bring Hasan she said,
+"Verily he hath endured hardships and horrors and passed through
+all manner mortal risks each terribler than other; yet hitherto
+he is not safe from death and from the cutting off of his
+breath." Replied Shawahi, "An I bring him to thee, wilt thou
+reunite him with these his children?  Or, if they prove not his,
+wilt thou pardon him and restore him to his own country?"
+Hearing these her words the Queen waxed exceeding wroth and cried
+to her, "Fie upon thee, O ill-omened old woman!  How long wilt
+thou false us in the matter of this strange man who hath dared to
+intrude himself upon us and hath lifted our veil and pried into
+our conditions? Say me: thinkest thou that he shall come to our
+land and look upon our faces and betray our honour, and after
+return in safety to his own country and expose our affairs to his
+people, wherefore our report will be bruited abroad among all the
+Kings of the quarters of the earth and the merchants will journey
+bearing tidings of us in all directions, saying, 'A mortal
+entered the Isles of Wak and traversed the Land of the Jinn and
+the lands of the Wild Beasts and the Islands of Birds and set
+foot in the country of the Warlocks and the Enchanters and
+returned in safety?' This shall never be; no, never; and I swear
+by Him who made the Heavens and builded them; yea, by Him who
+dispread the earth and smoothed it, and who created all creatures
+and counted them, that, an they be not his children, I will
+assuredly slay him and strike his neck with mine own hand!" Then
+she cried out at the old woman, who fell down for fear; and set
+upon her the Chamberlain and twenty Mamelukes, saying, "Go with
+this crone and fetch me in haste the youth who is in her house."
+So they dragged Shawahi along, yellow with fright and with
+side-muscles quivering, till they came to her house, where she
+went in to Hasan, who rose to her and kissed her hands and
+saluted her.  She returned not his salam, but said to him, "Come;
+speak the Queen.  Did I not say to thee: 'Return presently to
+thine own country and I will give thee that to which no mortal
+may avail?' And did I forbid thee from all this?  But thou
+wouldst not obey me nor listen to my words; nay, thou rejectedst
+my counsel and chosest to bring destruction on me and on thyself.
+Up, then, and take that which thou hast chosen; for death is near
+hand.  Arise: speak with yonder vile harlot[FN#151] and tyrant
+that she is!" So Hasan arose, broken-spirited, heavy-hearted,
+and full of fear, and crying, "O Preserver, preserve Thou me! O
+my God, be gracious to me in that which Thou hast decreed to me
+of Thine affliction and protect me, O Thou the most Merciful of
+the Mercifuls!" Then, despairing of his life, he followed the
+twenty Mamelukes, the Chamberlain and the crone to the Queen's
+presence, where he found his two sons Nasir and Mansur sitting in
+her lap, whilst she played and made merry with them.  As soon as
+his eyes fell on them, he knew them and crying a great cry fell
+down a-fainting for excess of joy at the sight of his
+children.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan's eyes fell upon his two sons, he knew them both and crying
+a great cry fell down a-fainting.  They also knew him[FN#152] and
+natural affection moved them so that they freed themselves from
+the Queen's lap and fell upon Hasan, and Allah (to whom belong
+Might and Majesty,) made them speak and say to him, "O our
+father!" Whereupon the old woman and all who were present wept
+for pity and tenderness over them and said, "Praised be Allah,
+who hath reunited you with your Sire!"  Presently, Hasan came to
+himself and embracing his children, wept till again he swooned
+away, and when he revived, he recited these verses,
+
+"By rights of you, this heart of mine could ne'er aby * Severance
+     from you albeit Union death imply!
+Your phantom saith to me, 'A-morrow we shall meet!' * Shall I
+     despite the foe the morrow-day espy?
+By rights of you I swear, my lords, that since the day * Of
+     severance ne'er the sweets of lips enjoy�d I!
+An Allah bade me perish for the love of you, * Mid greatest
+     martyrs for your love I lief will die.
+Oft a gazelle doth make my heart her browsing stead * The while
+     her form of flesh like sleep eludes mine eye:
+If in the lists of Law my bloodshed she deny, * Prove it two
+     witnesses those cheeks of ruddy dye."
+
+When Nur al-Huda was assured that the little ones were indeed
+Hasan's children and that her sister, the Princess Manar al-Sana,
+was his wife, of whom he was come in quest, she was wroth against
+her with wrath beyond measure.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixteenth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur
+al-Huda was certified that the little ones were Hasan's children
+and that her sister Manar al-Sana was his wife of whom he had
+come in quest, she raged with exceeding rage, too great to be
+assuaged and screamed in Hasan's face and reviled him and kicked
+him in the breast, so that he fell on his back in a swoon. Then
+she cried out at him, saying, "Arise! fly for thy life.  But that
+I swore that no evil should betide thee from me, should thy tale
+prove true, I would slay thee with mine own hand forthright!" And
+she cried out at the old woman, who fell on her face for fear,
+and said to her, "By Allah, but that I am loath to break the oath
+that I swore, I would put both thee and him to death after the
+foulest fashion!"; presently adding, "Arise, go out from before
+me in safety and return to thine own country, for I swear by my
+fortune, if ever mine eye espy thee or if any bring thee in to me
+after this, I will smite off thy head and that of whoso bringeth
+thee!" Then she cried out to her officers, saying, "Put him out
+from before me!" So they thrust him out, and when he came to
+himself, he recited these couplets,
+
+"You're far, yet to my heart you're nearest near; * Absent yet
+     present in my sprite you appear:
+By Allah, ne'er to other I've inclined * But tyranny of Time in
+     patience bear!
+Nights pass while still I love you and they end, * And burns my
+     breast with flames of fell Sa'ir;[FN#153]
+I was a youth who parting for an hour * Bore not, then what of
+     months that make a year?
+Jealous am I of breeze-breath fanning thee; * Yea jealous-mad of
+     fair soft-sided fere!"
+
+Then he once more fell down in a swoon, and when he came to
+himself, he found himself without the palace whither they had
+dragged him on his face; so he rose, stumbling over his skirts
+and hardly crediting his escape from Nur al-Huda.  Now this was
+grievous to Shawahi; but she dared not remonstrate with the Queen
+by reason of the violence of her wrath.  And forthright Hasan
+went forth, distracted and knowing not whence to come or whither
+to go; the world, for all its wideness, was straitened upon him
+and he found none to speak a kind word with him and comfort him,
+nor any to whom he might resort for counsel or to apply for
+refuge; wherefore he made sure of death for that he could not
+journey to his own country and knew none to travel with him,
+neither wist he the way thither nor might he pass through the
+Wady of the Jann and the Land of Beasts and the Islands of Birds.
+So giving himself up for lost he bewept himself, till he fainted,
+and when he revived, he bethought him of his children and his
+wife and of that might befal her with her sister, repenting him
+of having come to those countries and of having hearkened to
+none, and recited these couplets,
+
+"Suffer mine eye-babes weep lost of love and tears express: *
+     Rare is my solace and increases my distress:
+The cup of Severance-chances to the dregs I've drained; * Who is
+     the man to bear love-loss with manliness?
+Ye spread the Carpet of Disgrace[FN#154] betwixt us twain; * Ah,
+     when shalt be uprolled, O Carpet of Disgrace?
+I watched the while you slept; and if you deemed that I * Forgot
+     your love I but forget forgetfulness:
+Woe's me! indeed my heart is pining for the love * Of you, the
+     only leaches who can cure my case:
+See ye not what befel me from your fell disdain? * Debased am I
+     before the low and high no less.
+I hid my love of you but longing laid it bare, * And burns my
+     heart wi' fire of passion's sorest stress:
+Ah! deign have pity on my piteous case, for I * Have kept our
+     troth in secresy and patent place!
+Would Heaven I wot shall Time e'er deign us twain rejoin! * You
+     are my heart's desire, my sprite's sole happiness:
+My vitals bear the Severance-wound: would Heaven that you * With
+     tidings from your camp would deign my soul to bless!"
+
+Then he went on, till he came without the city, where he found
+the river, and walked along its bank, knowing not whither he
+went.  Such was Hasan's case; but as regards his wife Manar
+al-Sana, as she was about to carry out her purpose and to set
+out, on the second day after the departure of the old woman with
+her children, behold, there came in to her one of the
+chamberlains of the King her sire, and kissed ground between his
+hands,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventeenth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Manar al-Sana was about to set out upon the journey, behold, a
+chamberlain of the King, her sire, came in to her and kissing the
+ground before her, said, "O Princess, the Supreme King, thy
+father saluteth thee and biddeth thee to him." So she rose and
+accompanied the chamberlain to learn what was required by her
+father, who seated her by his side on the couch, and said to her,
+"O my daughter, know that I have this night had a dream which
+maketh me fear for thee and that long sorrow will betide thee
+from this thy journey." Quoth she, "How so, O my father, and what
+didst thou see in thy dream?" and quoth he, "I dreamt that I
+entered a hidden hoard, wherein was great store of monies, of
+jewels, of jacinths and of other riches; but 'twas as if naught
+pleased me of all this treasure and jewelry save seven bezels,
+which were the finest things there. I chose out one of the seven
+jewels, for it was the smallest, finest and most lustrous of them
+and its water pleased me; so I took it in my hand-palm and fared
+forth of the treasury.  When I came without the door, I opened my
+hand, rejoicing, and turned over the jewel, when, behold, there
+swooped down on me out of the welkin a strange bird from a far
+land (for it was not of the birds of our country) and, snatching
+it from my hand, returned with it whence it came.[FN#155]
+Whereupon sorrow and concern and sore vexation overcame me and my
+exceeding chagrin so troubled me that I awoke, mourning and
+lamenting for the loss of the jewel.  At once on awaking I
+summoned the interpreters and expounders of dreams and declared
+to them my dream,[FN#156] and they said to me: 'Thou hast seven
+daughters, the youngest of whom thou wilt lose, and she will be
+taken from thee perforce, without thy will.'  Now thou, O my
+girl, art the youngest and dearest of my daughters and the most
+affectionate of them to me, and look'ye thou art about to journey
+to thy sister, and I know not what may befal thee from her; so go
+thou not; but return to thy palace." But when the Princess heard
+her father's words, her heart fluttered and she feared for her
+children and bent earthwards her head awhile: then she raised it
+and said to her sire, "O King, Queen Nur al-Huda hath made ready
+for me an entertainment and awaiteth my coming to her, hour by
+hour.  These four years she hath not seen me and if I delay to
+visit her, she will be wroth with me.  The utmost of my stay with
+her shall be a month and then I will return to thee. Besides, who
+is the mortal who can travel our land and make his way to the
+Islands of Wak?  Who can gain access to the White Country and the
+Black Mountain and come to the Land of Camphor and the Castle of
+Crystal, and how shall he traverse the Island of Birds and the
+Wady of Wild Beasts and the Valley of the Jann and enter our
+Islands?  If any stranger came hither, he would be drowned in the
+seas of destruction: so be of good cheer and eyes without a tear
+anent my journey; for none may avail to tread our earth." And she
+ceased not to persuade him, till he deigned give her leave to
+depart.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+Princess ceased not to persuade him till he deigned give her
+leave to depart, and bade a thousand horse escort her to the
+river and abide there, till she entered her sister's city and
+palace and returned to them, when they should take her and carry
+her back to him.  Moreover, he charged her tarry with her sister
+but two days and return to him in haste; and she answered,
+"Hearing and obedience." Then rising up she went forth and he
+with her and farewelled her.  Now his words had sunken deep into
+her heart and she feared for her children; but it availeth not to
+fortify herself by any device against the onset of Destiny.  So
+she set out and fared on diligently three days, till she came to
+the river and pitched her tents on its bank.  Then she crossed
+the stream, with some of her counsellors, pages and suite and,
+going up to the city and the palace, went in to Queen Nur
+al-Huda, with whom she found her children who ran to her weeping
+and crying out, "O our father!"  At this, the tears railed from
+her eyes and she wept; then she strained them to her bosom,
+saying, "What! Have you seen your sire at this time?  Would the
+hour had never been, in which I left him!  If I knew him to be in
+the house of the world, I would carry you to him." Then she
+bemoaned herself and her husband and her children weeping and
+reciting these couplets,
+
+"My friends, despight this distance and this cruelty, * I pine
+     for you, incline to you where'er you be.
+My glance for ever turns toward your hearth and home * And mourns
+     my heart the bygone days you woned with me,
+How many a night foregathered we withouten fear * One loving,
+     other faithful ever fain and free!"
+
+When her sister saw her fold her children to her bosom, saying,
+"'Tis I who have done thus with myself and my children and have
+ruined my own house!" she saluted her not, but said to her, "O
+whore, whence haddest thou these children?  Say, hast thou
+married unbeknown to thy sire or hast thou committed
+fornication?[FN#157]  An thou have played the piece, it behoveth
+thou be exemplarily punished; and if thou have married sans our
+knowledge, why didst thou abandon thy husband and separate thy
+sons from thy sire and bring them hither?"--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Nineteenth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth
+Nur al-Huda, the Queen, to her sister Manar al-Sana, the
+Princess, "An thou have married sans our knowledge, why didst
+thou abandon thy husband and separate thy sons from their sire
+and bring them to our land?  Thou hast hidden thy children from
+us.  Thinkest thou we know not of this?  Allah Almighty, He who
+is cognisant of the concealed, hath made known to us thy case and
+revealed thy condition and bared thy nakedness." Then she bade
+her guards seize her and pinion her elbows and shackle her with
+shackles of iron.  So they did as she commanded and she beat her
+with a grievous beating, so that her skin was torn, and hanged
+her up by the hair; after which she cast her in prison and wrote
+the King her father a writ acquainting him with her case and
+saying, "There hath appeared in our land a man, a mortal, by name
+Hasan, and our sister Manar al-Sana avoucheth that she is
+lawfully married to him and bare him two sons, whom she hath
+hidden from us and thee; nor did she discover aught of herself
+till there came to us this man and informed us that he wedded her
+and she tarried with him a long while; after which she took her
+children and departed, without his knowledge, bidding as she went
+his mother tell her son, whenas longing began to rack to come to
+her in the Islands of Wak.  So we laid hands on the man and sent
+the old woman Shawahi to fetch her and her offspring, enjoining
+her to bring us the children in advance of her.  And she did so,
+whilst Manar al-Sana equipped herself and set out to visit me.
+When the boys were brought to me and ere the mother came, I sent
+for Hasan the mortal who claimeth her to wife, and he on entering
+and at first sight knew them and they knew him; whereby was I
+certified that the children were indeed his children and that she
+was his wife and I learned that the man's story was true and he
+was not to blame, but that the reproach and the infamy rested
+with my sister.  Now I feared the rending of our honour-veil
+before the folk of our Isles; so when this wanton, this
+traitress, came in to me, I was incensed against her and cast her
+into prison and bastinado'd her grievously and hanged her up by
+the hair.  Behold, I have acquainted thee with her case and it is
+thine to command, and whatso thou orderest us that we will do.
+Thou knowest that in this affair is dishonour and disgrace to our
+name and to thine, and haply the islanders will hear of it, and
+we shall become amongst them a byword; wherefore it befitteth
+thou return us an answer with all speed."  Then she delivered the
+letter to a courier and he carried it to the King, who, when he
+read it, was wroth with exceeding wrath with his daughter Manar
+al-Sana and wrote to Nur al-Huda, saying, "I commit her case to
+thee and give thee command over her life; so, if the matter be as
+thou sayest, kill her without consulting me." When the Queen had
+received and read her father's letter, she sent for Manar al-Sana
+and they set before her the prisoner drowned in her blood and
+pinioned with her hair, shackled with heavy iron shackles and
+clad in hair-cloth; and they made her stand in the presence
+abject and abashed.  When she saw herself in this condition of
+passing humiliation and exceeding abjection, she called to mind
+her former high estate and wept with sore weeping and recited
+these two couplets,
+
+"O Lord my foes are fain to slay me in despight * Nor deem I
+     anywise to find escape by flight:
+I have recourse to Thee t' annul what they have done; * Thou art
+     th' asylum, Lord, of fearful suppliant wight."
+
+Then wept she grievously, till she fell down in a swoon, and
+presently coming to herself, repeated these two couplets,[FN#158]
+
+"Troubles familiar with my heart are grown and I with them, *
+     Erst shunning; for the generous are sociable still.
+Not one mere kind alone of woe doth lieger with me lie; * Praised
+     be God! There are with me thousands of kinds of ill."
+
+And also these,
+
+"Oft times Mischance shall straiten noble breast * With grief,
+     whence issue is for Him to shape:
+But when the meshes straitest, tightest, seem * They loose,
+     though deemed I ne'er to find escape."
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Eight Hundred and Twentieth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Queen Nur al-Huda ordered into the presence her sister Princess
+Manar al-Sana, they set her between her hands and she, pinioned
+as she was recited the verses aforesaid.  Then the Queen[FN#159]
+sent for a ladder of wood and made the eunuchs lay her on her
+back, with her arms spread out and bind her with cords thereto;
+after which she bared her head and wound her hair about the
+ladder-rungs and indeed all pity for her was rooted out from her
+heart.  When Manar al-Sana saw herself in this state of abjection
+and humiliation, she cried out and wept; but none succoured her.
+Then said she to the Queen, "O my sister, how is thy heart
+hardened against me? Hast thou no mercy on me nor pity on these
+little children?" But her words only hardened her sister's heart
+and she insulted her, saying, "O Wanton! O harlot!  Allah have no
+ruth on whoso sueth for thee!  How should I have compassion on
+thee, O traitress?" Replied Manar al-Sana who lay stretched on
+the ladder, "I appeal from thee to the Lord of the Heavens,
+concerning that wherewith thou revilest me and whereof I am
+innocent! By Allah, I have done no whoredom, but am lawfully
+married to him, and my Lord knoweth an I speak sooth or not!
+Indeed, my heart is wroth with thee, by reason of thine excessive
+hardheartedness against me!  How canst thou cast at me the charge
+of harlotry, without knowledge?  But my Lord will deliver me from
+thee and if that whoredom whereof thou accusest me be true, may
+He presently punish me for it!" Quoth Nur al-Huda after a few
+moments of reflection "How durst thou bespeak me thus?" and rose
+and beat her till she fainted away;[FN#160] whereupon they
+sprinkled water on her face till she revived; and in truth her
+charms were wasted for excess of beating and the straitness of
+her bonds and the sore insults she had suffered.  Then she
+recited these two couplets,
+
+"If aught I've sinned in sinful way, * Or done ill deed and gone
+     astray,
+The past repent I and I come * To you and for your pardon pray!"
+
+When Nur al-Huda heard these lines, her wrath redoubled and she
+said to her, "Wilt speak before me in verse, O whore, and seek to
+excuse thyself for the mortal sins thou hast sinned?  'Twas my
+desire that thou shouldst return to thy husband, that I might
+witness thy wickedness and matchless brazenfacedness; for thou
+gloriest in thy lewdness and wantonness and mortal heinousness."
+Then she called for a palm-stick and, whenas they brought the
+Jar�d, she arose and baring arms to elbows, beat her sister from
+head to foot; after which she called for a whip of plaited
+thongs, wherewith if one smote an elephant, he would start off at
+full speed, and came down therewith on her back and her stomach
+and every part of her body, till she fainted.  When the old woman
+Shawahi saw this, she fled forth from the Queen's presence,
+weeping and cursing her; but Nur al-Huda cried out to her
+eunuchs, saying, "Fetch her to me!" So they ran after her and
+seizing her, brought her back to the Queen, who bade throw her on
+the ground and making them lay hold of her, rose and took the
+whip, with which she beat her, till she swooned away, when she
+said to her waiting-women, "Drag this ill-omened beldam forth on
+her face and put her out." And they did as she bade them.  So far
+concerning them; but as regards Hasan, he walked on beside the
+river, in the direction of the desert, distracted, troubled, and
+despairing of life; and indeed he was dazed and knew not night
+from day for stress of affliction.  He ceased not faring  on
+thus, till he came to a tree whereto he saw a scroll hanging:  so
+he took it and found written thereon these couplets,
+
+"When in thy mother's womb thou wast, * I cast thy case the
+     bestest best;
+And turned her heart to thee, so she * Foster�d thee on fondest
+     breast.
+We will suffice thee in whate'er * Shall cause thee trouble or
+     unrest;
+We'll aid thee in thine enterprise * So rise and bow to our
+     behest."
+
+When he had ended reading this scroll, he made sure of
+deliverance from trouble and of winning reunion with those he
+loved.  Then he walked forward a few steps and found himself
+alone in a wild and perilous wold wherein there was none to
+company with him; upon which his heart sank within him for horror
+and loneliness and his side-muscles trembled, for that fearsome
+place, and he recited these couplets,
+
+"O Zephyr of Morn, an thou pass where the dear ones dwell, * Bear
+     greeting of lover who ever in love-longing wones!
+And tell them I'm pledged to yearning and pawned to pine * And
+     the might of my passion all passion of lovers unthrones.
+Their sympathies haply shall breathe in a Breeze like thee * And
+     quicken forthright this framework of rotting bones."[FN#161]
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-first Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan read the scroll he was certified of deliverance from his
+trouble and made sure of winning reunion with those he loved.
+Then he walked forward a couple of steps and stopped finding
+himself alone in a wild and perilous wold wherein was none to
+company with him, so he wept sore and recited the verses before
+mentioned.  Then he walked on a few steps farther beside the
+river, till he came upon two little boys of the sons of the
+sorcerers, before whom lay a rod of copper graven with talismans,
+and beside it a skull-cap[FN#162] of leather, made of three gores
+and wroughten in steel with names and characts.  The cap and rod
+were upon the ground and the boys were disputing and beating each
+other, till the blood ran down between them; whilst each cried,
+"None shall take the wand but I."  So Hasan interposed and parted
+them, saying, "What is the cause of your contention?" and they
+replied, "O uncle, be thou judge of our case, for Allah the Most
+High hath surely sent thee to do justice between us." Quoth
+Hasan, "Tell me your case, and I will judge between you;"  and
+quoth one of them, "We twain are brothers-german and our sire was
+a mighty magician, who dwelt in a cave on yonder mountain. He
+died and left us this cap and rod; and my brother saith, 'None
+shall have the rod but I,' whilst I say the like; so be thou
+judge between us and deliver us each from other." Hasan asked,
+"What is the difference between the rod and the cap and what is
+their value?  The rod appears to be worth six coppers[FN#163] and
+the cap three;" whereto they answered, "Thou knowest not their
+properties." "And what are their properties?" "Each of them hath
+a wonderful secret virtue, wherefore the rod is worth the revenue
+of all the Islands of Wak and their provinces and dependencies,
+and the cap the like!" "By Allah, O my sons, discover to me their
+secret virtues." So they said, "O uncle, they are extraordinary;
+for our father wrought an hundred and thirty and five years at
+their contrivance, till he brought them to perfection and
+ingrafted them with secret attributes which might serve him
+extraordinary services and engraved them after the likeness of
+the revolving sphere, and by their aid he dissolved all spells;
+and when he had made an end of their fashion, Death, which all
+needs must suffer, overtook him.  Now the hidden virtue of the
+cap is, that whoso setteth it on his head is concealed from all
+folks' eyes, nor can any see him, whilst it remaineth on his
+head; and that of the rod is that whoso owneth it hath authority
+over seven tribes of the Jinn, who all serve the order and
+ordinance of the rod; and whenever he who possesseth it smiteth
+therewith on the ground, their Kings come to do him homage, and
+all the Jinn are at his service." Now when Hasan heard these
+words, he bowed his head groundwards awhile, then said in
+himself, "By Allah, I shall conquer every foe by means of this
+rod and cap, Inshallah! and I am worthier of them both than these
+two boys.  So I will go about forthright to get them from the
+twain by craft, that I may use them to free myself and my wife
+and children from yonder tyrannical Queen, and then we will
+depart from this dismal stead, whence there is no deliverance for
+mortal man nor flight.  Doubtless, Allah caused me not to fall in
+with these two lads, but that I might get the rod and cap from
+them." Then he raised his head and said to the two boys, "If ye
+would have me decide the case, I will make trial of you and see
+what each of you deserveth. He who overcometh his brother shall
+have the rod and he who faileth shall have the cap." They
+replied, "O uncle, we depute thee to make trial of us and do thou
+decide between us as thou deems fit."  Hasan asked, "Will ye
+hearken to me and have regard to my words?"; and they answered,
+"Yes." Then said he, "I will take a stone and throw it and he who
+outrunneth his brother thereto and picketh it up shall take the
+rod, and the other who is outraced shall take the cap." And they
+said, "We accept and consent to this thy proposal." Then Hasan
+took a stone and threw it with his might, so that it disappeared
+from sight. The two boys ran under and after it and when they
+were at a distance, he donned the cap and hending the rod in
+hand, removed from his place that he might prove the truth of
+that which the boys had said, with regard to their scant
+properties.  The younger outran the elder and coming first to the
+stone, took it and returned with it to the place where they had
+left Hasan, but found no signs of him.  So he called to his
+brother, saying, "Where is the man who was to be umpire between
+us?" Quoth the other, "I espy him not neither wot I whether he
+hath flown up to heaven above or sunk into earth beneath." Then
+they sought for him, but saw him not, though all the while he was
+standing in his stead hard by them.  So they abused each other,
+saying, "Rod and Cap are both gone; they are neither mine nor
+thine: and indeed our father warned us of this very thing; but we
+forgot whatso he said." Then they retraced their steps and Hasan
+also entered the city, wearing the cap and bearing the rod; and
+none saw him. Now when he was thus certified of the truth of
+their speech, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and making the
+palace, went up into the lodging of Shawahi, who saw him not,
+because of the cap.  Then he walked up to a shelf[FN#164] over
+her head upon which were vessels of glass and chinaware, and
+shook it with his hand, so that what was thereon fell to the
+ground.  The old woman cried out and beat her face; then she rose
+and restored the fallen things to their places,[FN#165] saying in
+herself, "By Allah, methinks Queen Nur al-Huda hath sent a Satan
+to torment me, and he hath tricked me this trick!  I beg Allah
+Almighty deliver me from her and preserve me from her wrath,
+for, O Lord, if she deal thus abominably with her half-sister,
+beating and hanging her, dear as she is to her sire, how will she
+do with a stranger like myself, against whom she is
+incensed?"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the ancient
+Lady of Calamities cried, "When Queen Nur al-Huda doeth such
+misdeed to her sister, what will she do to a stranger like
+myself, against whom she is incensed?" Then said she, "I conjure
+thee, O devil, by the Most Compassionate, the Bountiful-great,
+the High of Estate, of Dominion Elate who man and Jinn did
+create, and by the writing upon the seal of Solomon David-son (on
+both be the Peace!) speak to me and answer me;" Quoth Hasan, "I
+am no devil; I am Hasan, the afflicted, the distraught." Then he
+raised the cap from his head and appeared to the old woman, who
+knew him and taking him apart, said to him, "What is come to thy
+reason, that thou returnest hither?  Go hide thee; for, if this
+wicked woman have tormented thy wife with such torments, and she
+her sister, what will she do, an she light on thee?" Then she
+told him all that had befallen his spouse and that wherein she
+was of travail and torment and tribulation, and straitly
+described all the pains she endured adding, "And indeed the Queen
+repenteth her of having let thee go and hath sent one after thee,
+promising him an hundred-weight of gold and my rank in her
+service; and she hath sworn that, if he bring thee back, she will
+do thee and thy wife and children dead." And she shed tears and
+discovered to Hasan what the Queen had done with herself, whereat
+he wept and said, "O my lady, how shall I do to escape from this
+land and deliver myself and my wife and children from this
+tyrannical Queen and how devise to return with them in safety to
+my own country?" Replied the old woman, "Woe to thee!  Save
+thyself." Quoth he, "There is no help but I deliver her and my
+children from the Queen perforce and in her despite;" and quoth
+Shawahi, "How canst thou forcibly rescue them from her?  Go and
+hide thyself, O my son, till Allah Almighty empower thee." Then
+Hasan showed her the rod and the cap, whereat she rejoiced with
+joy exceeding and cried, "Glory be to Him who quickeneth the
+bones, though they be rotten!  By Allah, O my son, thou and thy
+wife were but of lost folk; now, however, thou art saved, thou
+and thy wife and children!  For I know the rod and I know its
+maker, who was my Shaykh in the science of Gramarye.  He was a
+mighty magician and spent an hundred and thirty and five years
+working at this rod and cap, till he brought them to perfection,
+when Death the Inevitable overtook him.  And I have heard him say
+to his two boys, 'O my sons, these two things are not of your
+lot, for there will come a stranger from a far country, who will
+take them from you by force, and ye shall not know how he taketh
+them.' Said they, 'O our father, tell us how he will avail to
+take them.'  But he answered, 'I wot not.' And O my son," added
+she, "how availedst thou to take them?" So he told her how he had
+taken them from the two boys, whereat she rejoiced and said, "O
+my son, since thou hast gotten the whereby to free thy wife and
+children, give ear to what I shall say to thee.  For me there is
+no woning with this wicked woman, after the foul fashion in which
+she durst use me; so I am minded to depart from her to the caves
+of the Magicians and there abide with them until I die.  But do
+thou, O my son, don the cap and hend the rod in hand and enter
+the place where thy wife and children are.  Unbind her bonds and
+smite the earth with the rod saying, 'Be ye present, O servants
+of these names!' whereupon the servants of the rod will appear;
+and if there present himself one of the Chiefs of the Tribes,
+command him whatso thou shalt wish and will." So he farewelled
+her and went forth, donning the cap and hending the rod, and
+entered the place where his wife was. He found her well-nigh
+lifeless, bound to the ladder by her hair, tearful-eyed and
+woeful-hearted, in the sorriest of plights, knowing no way to
+deliver herself.  Her children were playing under the ladder,
+whilst she looked at them and wept for them and herself, because
+of the barbarities and sore treatings and bitter penalties which
+had befallen her; and he heard her repeat these couplets[FN#166],
+
+"There remaineth not aught save a fluttering breath and an eye
+     whose owner is confounded.
+And a desirous lover whose bowels are burned with fire
+     notwithstanding which she is silent.
+The exulting foe pitieth her at the sight of her.  Alas for her
+     whom the exulting foe pitieth!"
+
+When Hasan saw her in this state of torment and misery and
+ignominy and infamy, he wept till he fainted; and when he
+recovered he saw his children playing and their mother aswoon for
+excess of pain; so he took the cap from his head and the children
+saw him and cried out, "O our father!" Then he covered his head
+again and the Princess came to herself, hearing their cry, but
+saw only her children weeping and shrieking, "O our father!" When
+she heard them name their sire and weep, her heart was broken and
+her vitals rent asunder and she said to them, "What maketh you in
+mind of your father at this time?" And she wept sore and cried
+out, from a bursten liver and an aching bosom, "Where are ye and
+where is your father?" Then she recalled the days of her union
+with Hasan and what had befallen her since her desertion of him
+and wept with sore weeping till her cheeks were seared and
+furrowed and her face was drowned in a briny flood.  Her tears
+ran down and wetted the ground and she had not a hand loose to
+wipe them from her cheeks, whilst the flies fed their fill on her
+skin, and she found no helper but weeping and no solace but
+improvising verses. Then she repeated these couplets,
+
+"I call to mind the parting-day that rent our loves in twain,
+     When, as I turned away, the tears in very streams did rain.
+The cameleer urged on his beasts with them, what while I found
+     Nor strength nor fortitude, nor did my heart with me remain.
+Yea, back I turned, unknowing of the road nor might shake off The
+     trance of grief and longing love that numbed my heart and
+     brain;
+And worst of all betided me, on my return, was one Who came to
+     me, in lowly guise, to glory in my pain.
+Since the belov�d's gone, O soul, forswear the sweet of life Nor
+     covet its continuance, for, wanting him, 'twere vain.
+List, O my friend, unto the tale of love, and God forbid That I
+     should speak and that thy heart to hearken should not deign!
+As 'twere El Asma� himself, of passion I discourse Fancies rare
+     and marvellous, linked in an endless chain."[FN#167]
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-third Night,
+
+She continued, When Hasan went in to his wife he saw his children
+and heard her repeating the verses afore mentioned.[FN#168] Then
+she turned right and left, seeking the cause of her children's
+crying out, "O our father!" but saw no one and marvelled that her
+sons should name their sire at that time and call upon him.  But
+when Hasan heard her verses, he wept till he swooned away and the
+tears railed down his cheeks like rain.  Then he drew near the
+children and raised the cap from his head unseen of his wife,
+whereupon they saw him and they knew him and cried out, saying,
+"O our father!" Their mother fell a-weeping again, when she heard
+them name their sire's name and said, "There is no avoiding the
+doom which Almighty Allah hath decreed!" adding, "O Strange!
+What garreth them think of their father at this time and call
+upon him, albeit it is not of their wont?" Then she wept and
+recited these couplets,
+
+"The land of lamping moon is bare and drear; * O eyne of me pour
+     forth the brimming tear!
+They marched: how shall I now be patient? * That I nor heart nor
+     patience own I swear!
+O ye, who marched yet bide in heart of me, * Will you, O lords of
+     me, return to that we were?
+What harm if they return and I enjoy * Meeting, and they had ruth
+     on tears of care?
+Upon the parting-day they dimmed these eyne, * For sad surprise,
+     and lit the flames that flare.
+Sore longed I for their stay, but Fortune stayed * Longings and
+     turned my hope to mere despair.
+Return to us (O love!) by Allah, deign! * Enow of tears have
+     flowed for absence-bane."
+
+Then Hasan could no longer contain himself, but took the cap from
+his head; whereupon his wife saw him and recognising him screamed
+a scream which startled all in the palace, and said to him, "How
+camest thou hither?  From the sky hast thou dropped or through
+the earth hast thou come up?" And her eyes brimmed with tears and
+Hasan also wept.  Quoth she, "O man, this be no time for tears or
+blame.  Fate hath had its course and the sight was blinded and
+the Pen hath run with what was ordained of Allah when Time was
+begun: so, Allah upon thee, whencesoever thou comest, go hide,
+lest any espy thee and tell my sister and she do thee and me
+die!" Answered he, "O my lady and lady of all Queens, I have
+adventured myself and come hither, and either I will die or I
+will deliver thee from this strait and travel with thee and my
+children to my country, despite the nose of this thy wickedest
+sister."  But as she heard his words she smiled and for awhile
+fell to shaking her head and said, "Far, O my life, far is it
+from the power of any except Allah Almighty to deliver me from
+this my strait! Save thyself by flight and wend thy ways and cast
+not thyself into destruction; for she hath conquering hosts none
+may withstand.  Given that thou tookest me and wentest forth, how
+canst thou make thy country and escape from these islands and the
+perils of these awesome places?  Verily, thou hast seen on thy
+way hither, the wonders, the marvels, the dangers and the terrors
+of the road, such as none may escape, not even one of the rebel
+Jinns. Depart, therefore, forthright and add not cark to my cark
+and care to my care, neither do thou pretend to rescue me from
+this my plight; for who shall carry me to thy country through all
+these vales and thirsty wolds and fatal steads?" Rejoined Hasan,
+"By thy life, O light of mine eyes, I will not depart this place
+nor fare but with thee!" Quoth she, "O man!  How canst thou avail
+unto this thing and what manner of man art thou?  Thou knowest
+not what thou sayest!  None can escape from these realms, even
+had he command over Jinns, Ifrits, magicians, chiefs of tribes
+and Marids.  Save thyself and leave me; perchance Allah will
+bring about good after ill." Answered Hasan, "O lady of fair
+ones, I came not save to deliver thee with this rod and with this
+cap." And he told her what had befallen him with the two boys;
+but, whilst he was speaking, behold, up came the Queen and heard
+their speech.  Now when he was ware of her, he donned the cap and
+was hidden from sight, and she entered and said to the Princess,
+"O wanton, who is he with whom thou wast talking?" Answered Manar
+al-Sanar, "Who is with me that should talk with me, except these
+children?" Then the Quee took the whip and beat her, whilst Hasan
+stood by and looked on, nor did she leave beating her till she
+fainted; whereupon she bade transport her to another place.  So
+they loosed her and carried her to another chamber whilst Hasan
+followed unseen.  There they cast her down, senseless, and stood
+gazing upon her, till she revived and recited these
+couplets,[FN#169]
+
+"I have sorrowed on account of our disunion with a sorrow that
+     made the tears to overflow from my eyelids;
+And I vowed that if Fortune reunite us, I would never again
+     mention our separation;
+And I would say to the envious, Die ye with regret; By Allah I
+     have now attained my desire!
+Joy hath overwhelmed me to such a degree that by its excess it
+     hath made me weep.
+O eye, how hath weeping become thy habit?  Thou weepest in joy as
+     well, as in sorrows."
+
+When she ceased her verse the slave-girls went out from her and
+Hasan took off the cap; whereupon his wife said to him, "See, O
+man, all this befel me not save by reason of my having rebelled
+against thee and transgressed thy commandment and gone forth
+without thy leave.[FN#170] So, Allah upon thee blame me not for
+my sins and know that women never wot a man's worth till they
+have lost him.  Indeed, I have offended and done evil; but I
+crave pardon of Allah Almighty for whatso I did, and if He
+reunite us, I will never again gainsay thee in aught, no,
+never!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan's
+wife besought pardon of him saying, "Blame me not for my sin; and
+indeed I crave mercy of Allah Almighty." Quoth Hasan (and indeed
+his heart ached for her), "'Twas not thou that wast in fault;
+nay, the fault was mine and mine only, for I fared forth and left
+thee with one who knew not thy rank, neither thy worth nor thy
+degree.  But know, O beloved of my heart and fruit of my vitals
+and light of mine eyes, that Allah (blessed be He!) hath ordained
+to me power of releasing thee; so, say me, wouldst thou have me
+carry thee to thy father's home, there to accomplish what Allah
+decreeth unto thee, or wilt thou forthright depart with me to
+mine own country, now that relief is come to thee?" Quoth she,
+"Who can deliver me save the Lord of the Heavens? Go to thy
+mother-land and put away from thee false hope; for thou knowest
+not the perils of these parts which, an thou obey me not, soon
+shalt thou sight." And she improvised these couplets,
+
+"On me and with me bides thy volunty; * Why then such anger such
+     despite to me?
+Whate'er befel us Heaven forbid that love * Fade for long time or
+     e'er forgotten be!
+Ceased not the spy to haunt our sides, till seen * Our love
+     estranged and then estranged was he:
+In truth I trusted to fair thoughts of thine * Though spake the
+     wicked spy maliciously.
+We'll keep the secret 'twixt us twain and hold * Although the
+     brand of blame unsheathed we see.
+The livelong day in longing love I spend * Hoping acceptance-
+     message from my friend."
+
+Then wept she and her children, and the handmaidens heard them:
+so they came in to them and found them weeping, but saw not Hasan
+with them; wherefore they wept for ruth of them and damned Queen
+Nur al-Huda.  Then Hasan took patience till night came on and her
+guards had gone to their sleeping-places, when he arose and
+girded his waist; then went up to her and, loosing her kissed
+her on the head and between the eyes and pressed her to his
+bosom, saying, "How long have we wearied for our mother-land and
+for reunion there!  Is this our meeting in sleep, or on wake?"
+Then he took up the elder boy and she took up the younger and
+they went forth the palace; and Allah veiled them with the veil
+of His protection, so that they came safe to the outer gate which
+closed the entrance to the Queen's Serraglio. But finding it
+locked from without, Hasan said, "There is no Majesty and there
+is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  Verily we
+are Allah's and unto Him shall we return!" With this they
+despaired of escape and Hasan beat hand upon hand, saying, "O
+Dispeller of dolours!  Indeed, I had bethought me of every thing
+and considered its conclusion but this; and now, when it is
+daybreak, they will take us, and what device have we in this
+case?" And he recited the following two couplets,[FN#171]
+
+"Thou madest fair thy thought of Fate, whenas the days were fair,
+     And fearedst not the unknown ills that they to thee might
+     bring.
+The nights were fair and calm to thee; thou wast deceived by
+     them, For in the peace of night is born full many a
+     troublous thing."
+
+Then Hasan wept and his wife wept for his weeping and for the
+abasement she had suffered and the cruelties of Time and Fortune,
+
+"Baulks me my Fate as tho' she were my foe; * Each day she
+     showeth me new cark and care:
+Fate, when I aim at good, brings clear reverse, * And lets foul
+     morrow wait on day that's fair."
+
+And also these,
+
+"Irks me my Fate and clean unknows that I * Of my high worth her
+     shifts and shafts despise.
+She nights parading what ill-will she works: * I night parading
+     Patience to her eyes."
+
+Then his wife said to him, "By Allah, there is no relief for us
+but to kill ourselves and be at rest from this great and weary
+travail; else we shall suffer grievous torment on the morrow."
+At this moment, behold, they heard a voice from without the door
+say, "By Allah, O my lady Manar al-Sana, I will not open to thee
+and thy husband Hasan, except ye obey me in whatso I shall say to
+you!" When they heard these words they were silent for excess of
+fright and would have returned whence they came; when lo! the
+voice spake again saying, "What aileth you both to be silent and
+answer me not?"  Therewith they knew the speaker for the old
+woman Shawahi, Lady of Calamities, and said to her, "Whatsoever
+thou biddest us, that will we do; but first open the door to us;
+this being no time for talk." Replied she, "By Allah, I will not
+open to you until ye both swear to me that you will take me with
+you and not leave me with yonder whore: so, whatever befalleth
+you shall befal me and if ye escape, I shall escape, and if ye
+perish, I shall perish: for yonder abominable woman,
+tribade[FN#172] that she is! entreateth me with indignity and
+still tormenteth me on your account; and thou, O my daughter,
+knowest my worth." Now recognising her they trusted in her and
+sware to her an oath such as contented her, whereupon she opened
+the door to them and they fared forth and found her riding on a
+Greek jar of red earthenware with a rope of palm-fibres about its
+neck,[FN#173] which rolled under her and ran faster than a Najdi
+colt, and she came up to them, and said, "Follow me and fear
+naught, for I know forty modes of magic by the least of which I
+could make this city a dashing sea, swollen with clashing
+billows, and ensorcel each damsel therein to a fish, and all
+before dawn.  But I was not able to work aught of my mischief,
+for fear of the King her father and of regard to her sisters, for
+that they are formidable, by reason of their many guards and
+tribesmen and servants.  However, soon will I show you wonders of
+my skill in witchcraft; and now let us on, relying upon the
+blessing of Allah and His good aid." Now Hasan and his wife
+rejoiced in this, making sure of escape, --And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Hasan and his wife, accompanied by the ancient dame Shawahi,
+fared forth from the palace, they made sure of deliverance and
+they walked on till they came without the city, when he fortified
+his heart and, smiting the earth with the rod, cried, "Ho, ye
+servants of these names, appear to me and acquaint me with your
+conditions!" Thereupon the earth clave asunder and out came
+ten[FN#174] Ifrits, with their feet in the bowels of the earth
+and their heads in the clouds.  They kissed the earth three times
+before Hasan and said as with one voice, "Adsumus!  Here are we
+at thy service, O our lord and ruler over us! What dost thou bid
+us do? For we hear and obey thy commandment.  An thou wilt, we
+will dry thee up seas and remove mountains from their places." So
+Hasan rejoiced in their words and at their speedy answer to his
+evocation; then taking courage and bracing up his resolution, he
+said to them, "Who are ye and what be your names and your races,
+and to what tribes and clans and companies appertain ye?" They
+kissed the earth once more and answered as with one voice,
+saying, "We are seven Kings, each ruling over seven tribes of the
+Jinn of all conditions, and Satans and Marids, flyers and divers,
+dwellers in mountains and wastes and wolds and haunters of the
+seas: so bid us do whatso thou wilt; for we are thy servants and
+thy slaves, and whoso possesseth this rod hath dominion over all
+our necks and we owe him obedience."  Now when Hasan heard this,
+he rejoiced with joy exceeding, as did his wife and the old
+woman, and presently he said to the Kings of the Jinn, "I desire
+of you that ye show me your tribes and hosts and guards." "O our
+lord," answered they, "if we show thee our tribes, we fear for
+thee and these who are with thee, for their name is legion and
+they are various in form and fashion, figure and favour.  Some of
+us are heads sans bodies and others bodies sans heads, and others
+again are in the likeness of wild beasts and ravening lions.
+However, if this be thy will, there is no help but we first show
+thee those of us who are like unto wild beasts.  But, O our lord,
+what wouldst thou of us at this present?"  Quoth Hasan, "I would
+have you carry me forthwith to the city of Baghdad, me and my
+wife and this honest woman." But, hearing his words they hung
+down their heads and were silent, whereupon Hasan asked them,
+"Why do ye not reply?" And they answered as with one voice, "O
+our lord and ruler over us, we are of the covenant of Solomon son
+of David (on the twain be Peace!) and he sware us in that we
+would bear none of the sons of Adam on our backs; since which
+time we have borne no mortal on back or shoulder: but we will
+straightway harness thee horses of the Jinn, that shall carry
+thee and thy company to thy country." Hasan enquired, "How far
+are we from Baghdad?" and they, "Seven years' journey for a
+diligent horseman." Hasan marvelled at this and said to them,
+"Then how came I hither in less than a year?"; and they said,
+"Allah softened to thee the hearts of His pious servants else
+hadst thou never come to this country nor hadst thou set eyes on
+these regions; no, never!  For the Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, who
+mounted thee on the elephant and the magical horse, traversed
+with thee, in ten days, three years' journey for a well-girt
+rider, and the Ifrit Dahnash, to whom the Shaykh committed thee,
+carried thee a three years' march in a day and a night; all which
+was of the blessing of Allah Almighty, for that the Shaykh Abu
+al-Ruwaysh is of the seed of �saf bin Barkhiy�[FN#175] and
+knoweth the Most Great name of Allah.[FN#176]  Moreover, from
+Baghdad to the palace of the damsels is a year's journey, and
+this maketh up the seven years." When Hasan heard this, he
+marvelled with exceeding marvel and cried, "Glory be to God,
+Facilitator of the hard, Fortifier of the weak heart,
+Approximator of the far and Humbler of every froward tyrant, Who
+hath eased us of every accident and carried me to these countries
+and subjected to me these creatures and reunited me with my wife
+and children!  I know not whether I am asleep or awake or if I be
+sober or drunken!" Then he turned to the Jinn and asked, "When ye
+have mounted me upon your steeds, in how many days will they
+bring us to Baghdad?"; and they answered, "They will carry you
+thither under the year, but not till after ye have endured
+terrible perils and hardships and horrors and ye have traversed
+thirsty Wadys and frightful wastes and horrible steads without
+number; and we cannot promise thee safety, O our lord, from the
+people of these islands,"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Jann
+said to Hasan, "We cannot promise thee safety, O our lord, from
+this Islandry, nor from the mischief of the Supreme King and his
+enchanters and warlocks.  It may be they will overcome us and
+take you from us and we fall into affliction with them, and all
+to whom the tidings shall come after this will say to us: 'Ye are
+wrong-doers!  How could ye go against the Supreme King and carry
+a mortal out of his dominions, and eke the King's daughter with
+him?' adding, 'Wert thou alone with us the thing were light; but
+He who conveyed thee hither is capable to carry thee back to thy
+country and reunite thee with thine own people forthright and in
+readiest plight.  So take heart and put thy trust in Allah and
+fear not; for we are at thy service, to convey thee to thy
+country." Hasan thanked them therefor and said, "Allah requite
+you with good! but now make haste with the horses;" they replied,
+"We hear and we obey," and struck the ground with their feet,
+whereupon it opened and they disappeared within it and were
+absent awhile, after which they suddenly reappeared with three
+horses, saddled and bridled, and on each saddle-bow a pair of
+saddle-bags, with a leathern bottle of water in one pocket and
+the other full of provaunt.  So Hasan mounted one steed and took
+a child before him, whilst his wife mounted a second and took the
+other child before her.  Then the old woman alighted from the jar
+and bestrode the third horse and they rode on, without ceasing,
+all night.  At break of day, they turned aside from the road and
+made for the mountain, whilst their tongues ceased not to name
+Allah. Then they fared on under the highland all that day, till
+Hasan caught sight of a black object afar as it were a tall
+column of smoke a-twisting skywards; so he recited somewhat of
+the Koran and Holy Writ, and sought refuge with Allah from Satan
+the Stoned.  The black thing grew plainer as they drew near, and
+when hard by it, they saw that it was an Ifrit, with a head like
+a huge dome and tusks like grapnels and jaws like a lane and
+nostrils like ewers and ears like leathern targes and mouth like
+a cave and teeth like pillars of stone and hands like winnowing
+forks and legs like masts: his head was in the cloud and his feet
+in the bowels of the earth had plowed.  Whenas Hasan gazed upon
+him he bowed himself and kissed the ground before him, saying, "O
+Hasan, have no fear of me; for I am the chief of the dwellers in
+this land, which is the first of the Isles of Wak, and I am a
+Moslem and an adorer of the One God.  I have heard of you and
+your coming and when I knew of your case, I desired to depart
+from the land of the magicians to another land, void of
+inhabitants and far from men and Jinn, that I might dwell there
+alone and worship Allah till my fated end came upon me.  So I
+wish to accompany you and be your guide, till ye fare forth of
+the Wak Islands; and I will not appear save at night; and do ye
+hearten your hearts on my account; for I am a Moslem, even as ye
+are Moslems." When Hasan heard the Ifrit's words, he rejoiced
+with exceeding joy and made sure of deliverance; and he said to
+him, "Allah requite thee weal!  Go with us relying upon the
+blessing of Allah!" So the Ifrit forewent them and they followed,
+talking and making merry, for their hearts were pleased and their
+breasts were eased and Hasan fell to telling his wife all that
+had befallen him and all the hardships he had undergone, whilst
+she excused herself to him and told him, in turn, all she had
+seen and suffered. They ceased not faring all that night.--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+    When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they ceased
+not faring all that night and the horses bore them like the
+blinding leven, and when the day rose all put their hands to the
+saddle-bags and took forth provaunt which they ate and water
+which they drank.  Then they sped diligently on their way,
+preceded by the Ifrit, who turned aside with them from the beaten
+track into another road, till then untrodden, along the sea-shore,
+and they ceased not faring on, without stopping, across Wadys and
+wolds a whole month, till on the thirty-first day there arose
+before them a dust-cloud, that walled the world and darkened the
+day; and when Hasan saw this, he was confused and turned pale;
+and more so when a frightful crying and clamour struck their
+ears.  Thereupon the old woman said to him, "O my son, this is
+the army of the Wak Islands, that hath overtaken us; and
+presently they will lay violent hands on us." Hasan asked, "What
+shall I do, O my mother?"; and she answered, "Strike the earth
+with the rod." He did so whereupon the Seven Kings presented
+themselves and saluted him with the salam, kissing ground before
+him and saying, "Fear not neither grieve." Hasan rejoiced at
+these words and answered them, saying, "Well said, O Princes of
+the Jinn and the Ifrits!  This is your time!" Quoth they, "Get ye
+up to the mountain-top, thou and thy wife and children and she
+who is with thee and leave us to deal with them, for we know that
+you all are in the right and they in the wrong and Allah will aid
+us against them."  So Hasan and his wife and children and the old
+woman dismounted and dismissing the horses, ascended the flank of
+the mountain.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan
+with his wife, his children and the ancient dame ascended the
+mountain-flank after they had dismissed the coursers.  Presently,
+up came Queen Nur al-Huda, with the troops right and left, and
+the captains went round about among the host and ranged them rank
+by rank in battle array.  Then the hosts charged down upon each
+other and clashed together the twain with a mighty strain, the
+brave pressed on amain and the coward to fly was fain and the
+Jinn cast flames of fire from their mouths, whilst the smoke of
+them rose up to the confines of the sky and the two armies
+appeared and disappeared.  The champions fought and heads flew
+from trunks and the blood ran in rills; nor did brand leave to
+play and blood to flow and battle fire to flow, till the murk o'
+night came, when the two hosts drew apart and, alighting from
+their steeds rested upon the field by the fires they had kindled.
+Therewith the Seven Kings went up to Hasan and kissed the earth
+before him.  He pressed forwards to meet them and thanked them
+and prayed Allah to give them the victory and asked them how they
+had fared with the Queen's troops.  Quoth they, "They will not
+withstand us more than three days, for we had the better of them
+to-day, taking some two thousand of them prisoners and slaying of
+them much folk whose compt may not be told.  So be of good cheer
+and broad of breast." Then they farewelled him and went down to
+look after the safety of their troops; and they ceased not to
+keep up the fires till the morning rose with its sheen and shone,
+when the fighting-men mounted their horses of noble strain and
+smote one another with thin-edged skean and with brawn of bill
+they thrust amain nor did they cease that day battle to darraign.
+Moreover, they passed the night on horseback clashing together
+like dashing seas; raged among them the fires of war and they
+stinted not from battle and jar, till the armies of Wak were
+defeated and their power broken and their courage quelled; their
+feet slipped and whither they fled soever defeat was before them;
+wherefore they turned tail and of flight began to avail: but the
+most part of them were slain and their Queen and her chief
+officers and the grandees of her realm were captive ta'en.  When
+the morning morrowed, the Seven Kings presented themselves before
+Hasan and set for him a throne of alabaster inlaid with pearls
+and jewels, and he sat down thereon.  They also set thereby a
+throne of ivory, plated with glittering gold, for the Princess
+Manar al-Sana and another for the ancient dame Shawahi Zat
+al-Dawahi.  Then they brought before them the prisoners and among
+the rest, Queen Nur al-Huda with elbows pinioned and feet
+fettered, whom when Shawahi saw, she said to her, "Thy
+recompense, O harlot, O tyrant, shall be that two bitches be
+starved and two mares stinted of water, till they be athirst:
+then shalt thou be bound to the mares' tails and these driven to
+the river, with the bitches following thee that they may rend thy
+skin; and after, thy flesh shall be cut off and given them to
+eat.  How couldst thou do with thy sister such deed, O strumpet,
+seeing that she was lawfully married, after the ordinance of
+Allah and of His Apostle?  For there is no monkery in Al-Islam
+and marriage is one of the institutions of the Apostles (on whom
+be the Peace!)[FN#177] nor were women created but for men." Then
+Hasan commanded to put all the captives to the sword and the old
+woman cried out, saying, "Slay them all and spare none[FN#178]!"
+But, when Princess Manar al-Sana saw her sister in this plight, a
+bondswoman and in fetters, she wept over her and said, "O my
+sister, who is this hath conquered us and made us captives in our
+own country?" Quoth Nur al-Huda, "Verily, this is a mighty
+matter.  Indeed this man Hasan hath gotten the mastery over us
+and Allah hath given him dominion over us and over all our realm
+and he hath overcome us, us and the Kings of the Jinn." And quoth
+her sister, "Indeed, Allah aided him not against you nor did he
+overcome you nor capture you save by means of this cap and rod."
+So Nur al-Huda was certified and assured that he had conquered
+her by means thereof and humbled herself to her sister, till she
+was moved to ruth for her and said to her husband, "What wilt
+thou do with my sister? Behold, she is in thy hands and she hath
+done thee no misdeed that thou shouldest punish her." Replied
+Hasan, "Her torturing of thee was misdeed enow." But she
+answered, saying, "She hath excuse for all she did with me. As
+for thee, thou hast set my father's heart on fire for the loss of
+me, and what will be his case, if he lose my sister also?" And he
+said to her, "'Tis thine to decide; do whatso thou wilt." So she
+bade loose her sister and the rest of the captives, and they did
+her bidding.  Then she went up to Queen Nur al-Huda and embraced
+her, and they wept together a long while; after which quoth the
+Queen, "O my sister, bear me not malice for that I did with
+thee;" and quoth Manar al-Sana, "O my sister, this was
+foreordained to me by Fate." Then they sat on the couch talking
+and Manar al-Sana made peace between the old woman and her
+sister, after the goodliest fashion, and their hearts were set at
+ease.  Thereupon Hasan dismissed the servants of the rod thanking
+them for the succour which they had afforded him against his
+foes, and Manar al-Sana related to her sister all that had
+befallen her with Hasan her husband and every thing he had
+suffered for her sake, saying, "O my sister, since he hath done
+these deeds and is possessed of this might and Allah Almighty
+hath gifted him with such exceeding prowess, that he hath entered
+our country and beaten thine army and taken thee prisoner and
+defied our father, the Supreme King, who hath dominion over all
+the Princes of the Jinn, it behoveth us to fail not of what is
+due to him." Replied Nur al-Huda, "By Allah, O my sister, thou
+sayest sooth in whatso thou tellest me of the marvels which this
+man hath seen and suffered; and none may fail of respect to him.
+But was all this on thine account, O my sister?"--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Princess Manar al-Sana repeated to her sister these praises of
+Hasan, the other replied, "By Allah, this man can claim all
+respect more by token of his generosity. But was all this on
+thine account?" "Yes," answered Manar al-Sana, and they passed
+the night in converse till the morning morrowed and the sun rose
+and they were minded to depart.  So they farewelled one another
+and Manar al-Sana gave God-speed to the ancient dame after the
+reconciling her with Queen Nur al-Huda.  Thereupon Hasan smote
+the earth with the rod and its servants the Jinn appeared and
+saluted him, saying, "Praised be Allah, who hath set thy soul at
+rest!  Command us what thou wilt, and we will do it for thee in
+less than the twinking of an eye." He thanked them for their
+saying and said to them  "Allah requite you with good! Saddle me
+two steeds of the best."  So they brought him forthwith two
+saddled coursers, one of which he mounted, taking his elder son
+before him, and his wife rode the other, taking the younger son
+in front of her.  Then the Queen and the old woman also backed
+horse and departed, Hasan and his wife following the right and
+Nur al-Huda and Shawahi the left hand road.  The spouses fared on
+with their children, without stopping, for a whole month, till
+they drew in sight of a city, which they found compassed about
+with trees and streams and making the trees dismounted beneath
+them thinking to rest there.  As they sat talking, behold, they
+saw many horsemen coming towards them, whereupon Hasan rose and
+going to meet them, saw that it was King Hassun, lord of the Land
+of Camphor and Castle of Crystal, with his attendants.  So Hasan
+went up to the King and kissed his hands and saluted him; and
+when Hassun saw him, he dismounted and seating himself with Hasan
+upon carpets under the trees returned his salam and gave him joy
+of his safety and rejoiced in him with exceeding joy, saying to
+him, "O Hasan, tell me all that hath befallen thee, first and
+last."  So he told him all of that, whereupon the King marvelled
+and said to him, "O my son, none ever reached the Islands of Wak
+and returned thence but thou, and indeed thy case is wondrous;
+but Alhamdolillah--praised be God--for safety!"  Then he mounted
+and bade Hasan ride with his wife and children into the city,
+where he lodged them in the guest-house of his palace; and they
+abode with him three days, eating and drinking in mirth and
+merriment, after which Hasan sought Hassun's leave to depart to
+his own country and the King granted it.  Accordingly they took
+horse and the King rode with them ten days, after which he
+farewelled them and turned back, whilst Hasan and his wife and
+children fared on a whole month, at the end of which time they
+came to a great cavern, whose floor was of brass.  Quoth Hasan to
+his wife, "Kennest thou yonder cave?"; and quoth she, "No."  Said
+he, "Therein dwelleth a Shaykh, Abu al-Ruwaysh hight, to whom I
+am greatly beholden, for that he was the means of my becoming
+acquainted with King Hassun." Then he went on to tell her all
+that had passed between him and Abu al-Ruwaysh, and as he was
+thus engaged, behold, the Shaykh himself issued from the
+cavern-mouth. When Hasan saw him, he dismounted from his steed and
+kissed his hands, and the old man saluted him and gave him joy of
+his safety and rejoiced in him.  Then he carried him into the
+antre and sat down with him, whilst Hasan related to him what had
+befallen him in the Islands of Wak; whereat the Elder marvelled
+with exceeding marvel and said, "O Hasan, how didst thou deliver
+thy wife and children?" So he told them the tale of the cap and
+the rod, hearing which he wondered and said, "O Hasan, O my son,
+but for this rod and the cap, thou hadst never delivered thy wife
+and children." And he replied, "Even so, O my lord." As they were
+talking, there came a knocking at the door and Abu al-Ruwaysh
+went out and found Abd al-Kaddus mounted on his elephant.  So he
+saluted him and brought him into the cavern, where he embraced
+Hasan and congratulated him on his safety, rejoicing greatly in
+his return.  Then said Abu al-Ruwaysh to Hasan, "Tell the Shaykh
+Abd al-Kaddus all that hath befallen thee, O Hasan." He repeated
+to him every thing that had passed, first and last, till he came
+to the tale of the rod and cap,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirtieth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan
+began relating to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus and Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh
+(who sat chattting in the cave) all that had passed, first and
+last, till he came to the tale of the rod and cap; whereupon
+quoth Abd al-Kaddus, "O my son, thou hast delivered thy wife and
+thy children and hast no further need of the two.  Now we were
+the means of thy winning to the Islands of Wak, and I have done
+thee kindness for the sake of my nieces, the daughters of my
+brother; wherefore I beg thee, of thy bounty and favour, to give
+me the rod and the Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh the cap." When Hasan
+heard this, he hung down his head, being ashamed to reply, "I
+will not give them to you," and said in his mind, "Indeed these
+two Shaykhs have done me great kindness and were the means of my
+winning to the Islands of Wak, and but for them I had never made
+the place, nor delivered my children, nor had I gotten me this
+rod and cap." So he raised his head and answered, "Yes, I will
+give them to you: but, O my lords, I fear lest the Supreme King,
+my wife's father, come upon me with his commando and combat with
+me in my own country, and I be unable to repel them, for want of
+the rod and the cap." Replied Abd al-Kaddus, "Fear not, O my son;
+we will continually succour thee and keep watch and ward for thee
+in this place; and whosoever shall come against thee from thy
+wife's father or any other, him we will fend off from thee;
+wherefore be thou of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool of tear,
+and hearten thy heart and broaden thy breast and feel naught
+whatsoever of fear, for no harm shall come to thee." When Hasan
+heard this he was abashed and gave the cap to Abu al-Ruwaysh,
+saying to Abd al-Kaddus, "Accompany me to my own country and I
+will give thee the rod." At this the two elders rejoiced with
+exceeding joy and made him ready riches and treasures which
+beggar all description. He abode with them three days, at the end
+of which he set out again and the Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus made ready
+to depart with him.  So he and his wife mounted their beasts and
+Abd al-Kaddus whistled when, behold, a mighty big elephant
+trotted up with fore hand and feet on amble from the heart of the
+desert and he took it and mounted it. Then they farewelled Abu
+al-Ruwaysh who disappeared within his cavern; and they fared on
+across country traversing the land in its length and breadth
+wherever Abd al-Kaddus guided them by a short cut and an easy
+way, till they drew near the land of the Princesses; whereupon
+Hasan rejoiced at finding himself once more near his mother, and
+praised Allah for his safe return and reunion with his wife and
+children after so many hardships and perils; and thanked Him for
+His favours and bounties, reciting these couplets,
+
+"Haply shall Allah deign us twain unite * And lockt in strict
+     embrace we'll hail the light:
+And wonders that befel me I'll recount, * And all I suffered from
+     the Severance-blight:
+And fain I'll cure mine eyes by viewing you * For ever yearned my
+     heart to see your sight:
+I hid a tale for you my heart within * Which when we meet o' morn
+     I'll fain recite:
+I'll blame you for the deeds by you were done * But while blame
+     endeth love shall stay in site."
+
+Hardly had he made an end of these verses, when he looked and
+behold, there rose to view the Green Dome[FN#179] and the jetting
+Fount and the Emerald Palace, and the Mountain of Clouds showed
+to them from afar; whereupon quoth Abd al-Kaddus, "Rejoice, O
+Hasan, in good tidings: to-night shalt thou be the guest of my
+nieces!" At this he joyed with exceeding joy and as also did his
+wife, and they alighted at the domed pavilion, where they took
+their rest[FN#180] and ate and drank; after which they mounted
+horse again and rode on till they came upon the palace. As they
+drew near, the Princesses who were daughters of the King, brother
+to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, came forth to meet them and saluted them
+and their uncle who said to them, "O daughters of my brother,
+behold, I have accomplished the need of this your brother Hasan
+and have helped him to regain his wife and children." So they
+embraced him and gave him joy of his return in safety and health
+and of his reunion with his wife and children, and it was a day
+of festival[FN#181] with them.  Then came forward Hasan's sister,
+the youngest Princess, and embraced him, weeping with sore
+weeping, whilst he also wept for his long desolation: after which
+she complained to him of that which she had suffered for the
+pangs of separation and weariness of spirit in his absence and
+recited these two couplets,
+
+"After thy faring never chanced I 'spy * A shape, but did thy form
+     therein descry:
+Nor closed mine eyes in sleep but thee I saw, * E'en as though
+     dwelling 'twixt the lid and eye."
+
+When she had made an end of her verses, she rejoiced with joy
+exceeding and Hasan said to her, "O my sister, I thank none in
+this matter save thyself over all thy sisters, and may Allah
+Almighty vouchsafe thee aidance and countenance!" Then he related
+to her all that had past in his journey, from first to last, and
+all that he had undergone, telling her what had betided him with
+his wife's sister and how he had delivered his wife and wees and
+he also described to her all that he had seen of marvels and
+grievous perils, even to how Queen Nur al-Huda would have slain
+him and his spouse and children and none saved them from her but
+the Lord the Most High.  Moreover, he related to her the
+adventure of the cap and the rod and how Abd al-Kaddus and Abu
+al-Ruwaysh had asked for them and he had not agreed to give them
+to the twain save for her sake; wherefore she thanked him and
+blessed him wishing him long life; and he cried, "By Allah, I
+shall never forget all the kindness thou hast done me from incept
+to conclusion."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan
+foregathered with the Princesses, he related to his sister all
+that he had endured and said to her, "Never will I forget what
+thou hast done for me from incept to conclusion." Then she turned
+to his wife Manar al-Sana and embraced her and pressed her
+children to her breast, saying to her, "O daughter of the Supreme
+King, was there no pity in thy bosom, that thou partedst him and
+his children and settedst his heart on fire for them?  Say me,
+didst thou desire by this deed that he should die?" The Princess
+laughed and answered, "Thus was it ordained of Allah (extolled
+and exalted be He!) and whoso beguileth folk, him shall Allah
+begule."[FN#182]  Then they set on somewhat of meat and drink,
+and they all ate and drank and made merry.  They abode thus ten
+days in feast and festival, mirth and merry-making, at the end of
+which time Hasan prepared to continue his journey.  So his sister
+rose and made him ready riches and rarities, such as defy
+description.  Then she strained him to her bosom, because of
+leave-taking, and threw her arms round his neck whilst he recited
+on her account these couplets,
+
+"The solace of lovers is naught but far, * And parting is naught
+     save grief singular:
+And ill-will and absence are naught but woe, * And the victims of
+     Love naught but martyrs are;
+And how tedious is night to the loving wight * From his true love
+     parted 'neath evening star!
+His tears course over his cheeks and so * He cries, 'O tears be
+     there more to flow?'"
+
+With this Hasan gave the rod to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, who joyed
+therein with exceeding joy and thanking him and securing it
+mounted and returned to his own place.  Then Hasan took horse
+with his wife and children and departed from the Palace of the
+Princesses, who went forth[FN#183] with him, to farewell him.
+Then they turned back and Hasan fared on, over wild and wold, two
+months and ten days, till he came to the city of Baghdad, the
+House of Peace, and repairing to his home by the private postern
+which gave upon the open country, knocked at the door.  Now his
+mother, for long absence, had forsworn sleep and given herself to
+mourning and weeping and wailing, till she fell sick and ate no
+meat, neither took delight in slumber but shed tears night and
+day.  She ceased not to call upon her son's name albeit she
+despaired of his returning to her; and as he stood at the door,
+he heard her weeping and reciting these couplets,
+
+"By Allah, heal, O my lords, the unwhole * Of wasted frame and
+     heart worn with dole:
+An you grant her a meeting 'tis but your grace * Shall whelm in
+     the boons of the friend her soul:
+I despair not of Union the Lord can grant * And to weal of
+     meeting our woes control!"
+
+When she had ended her verses, she heard her son's voice at the
+door, calling out, "O mother, mother ah! fortune hath been kind
+and hath vouchsafed our reunion!"  Hearing his cry she knew his
+voice and went to the door, between belief and misbelief; but,
+when she opened it she saw him standing there and with him his
+wife and children; so she shrieked aloud, for excess of joy, and
+fell to the earth in a fainting-fit.  Hasan ceased not soothing
+her, till she recovered and embraced him; then she wept with joy,
+and presently she called his slaves and servants and bade them
+carry all his baggage into the house.[FN#184]  So they brought in
+every one of the loads, and his wife and children entered also,
+whereupon Hasan's mother went up to the Princess and kissed her
+head and bussed her feet, saying, "O daughter of the Supreme
+King, if I have failed of thy due, behold, I crave pardon of
+Almighty Allah." Then she turned to Hasan and said to him, "O my
+son, what was the cause of this long strangerhood?" He related to
+her all his adventures from beginning to end; and when she heard
+tell of all that had befallen him, she cried a great cry and fell
+down a-fainting at the very mention of his mishaps.  He solaced
+her, till she came to herself and said, "By Allah, O my son, thou
+hast done unwisely in parting with the rod and the cap for, hadst
+thou kept them with the care due to them, thou wert master of the
+whole earth, in its breadth and length; but praised be Allah, for
+thy safety, O my son, and that of thy wife and children!" They
+passed the night in all pleasance and happiness, and on the
+morrow Hasan changed his clothes and donning a suit of the
+richest apparel, went down into the bazar and bought black slaves
+and slave-girls and the richest stuffs and ornaments and
+furniture such as carpets and costly vessels and all manner other
+precious things, whose like is not found with Kings.  Moreover,
+he purchased houses and gardens and estates and so forth and
+abode with his wife and his children and his mother, eating and
+drinking and pleasuring: nor did they cease from all joy of life
+and its solace till there came to them the Destroyer of delights
+and the Severer of societies.  And Glory be to Him who hath
+dominion over the Seen and the Unseen,[FN#185] who is the Living,
+the Eternal, Who dieth not at all!  And men also recount the
+adventures of
+
+
+
+
+               Khalifah the Fisherman of Baghdad
+
+
+
+There was once in tides of yore and in ages and times long gone
+before in the city of Baghdad a fisherman, Khal�fah hight, a
+pauper wight, who had never once been married in all his days.
+[FN#186]  It chanced one morning, that he took his net and went
+with it to the river, as was his wont, with the view of fishing
+before the others came.  When he reached the bank, he girt
+himself and tucked up his skirts; then stepping into the water,
+he spread his net and cast it a first cast and a second but it
+brought up naught.  He ceased not to throw it, till he had made
+ten casts, and still naught came up therein; wherefore his breast
+was straitened and his mind perplexed concerning his case and he
+said, "I crave pardon of God the Great, there is no god but He,
+the Living, the Eternal, and unto Him I repent.  There is no
+Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the
+Great!  Whatso He willeth is and whatso He nilleth is not!  Upon
+Allah (to whom belong Honour and Glory!) dependeth daily bread!
+Whenas He giveth to His servant, none denieth him; and whenas He
+denieth a servant, none giveth to him."  And of the excess of his
+distress, he recited these two couplets,
+
+"An Fate afflict thee, with grief manifest, * Prepare thy
+     patience and make broad thy breast;
+For of His grace the Lord of all the worlds * Shall send to wait
+     upon unrest sweet Rest."
+
+Then he sat awhile pondering his case, and with his head bowed
+down recited also these couplets,
+
+"Patience, with sweet and with bitter Fate! * And weet that His
+     will He shall consummate:
+Night oft upon woe as on abscess acts * And brings it up to the
+     bursting state:
+And Chance and Change shall pass o'er the youth * And fleet from
+     his thoughts and no more shall bait."
+
+Then he said in his mind, "I will make this one more cast,
+trusting in Allah, so haply He may not disappoint my hope;" and
+he rose and casting into the river the net as far as his arm
+availed, gathered the cords in his hands and waited a full hour,
+after which he pulled at it and, finding it heavy,--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-second Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Khalifah the Fisherman had cast his net sundry times into the
+stream, yet had it brought up naught, he pondered his case and
+improvised the verses afore quoted.  Then he said in his mind, "I
+will make this one more cast, trusting in Allah who haply will
+not disappoint my hope."  So he rose and threw the net and waited
+a full hour, after which time he pulled at it and, finding it
+heavy, handled it gently and drew it in, little by little, till
+he got it ashore, when lo and behold! he saw in it a one-eyed,
+lame-legged ape.  Seeing this quoth Khalifah, "There is no
+Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! verily, we are
+Allah's and to Him we are returning!  What meaneth this heart-
+breaking, miserable ill-luck and hapless fortune?  What is come
+to me this blessed day?  But all this is of the destinies of
+Almighty Allah!"  Then he took the ape and tied him with a cord
+to a tree which grew on the river-bank, and grasping a whip he
+had with him, raised his arm in the air, thinking to bring down
+the scourge upon the quarry, when Allah made the ape speak with a
+fluent tongue, saying, "O Khalifah, hold thy hand and beat me
+not, but leave me bounden to this tree and go down to the river
+and cast thy net, confiding in Allah; for He will give thee thy
+daily bread."  Hearing this Khalifah went down to the river and
+casting his net, let the cords run out.  Then he pulled it in and
+found it heavier than before; so he ceased not to tug at it, till
+he brought it to land, when, behold, there was another ape in it,
+with front teeth wide apart, [FN#187] Kohl-darkened eyes and
+hands stained with Henna-dyes; and he was laughing and wore a
+tattered waistcloth about his middle.  Quoth Khalifah, "Praised
+be Allah who hath changed the fish of the river into apes!"
+[FN#188]  then, going up to the first ape, who was still tied to
+the tree, he said to him, "See, O unlucky, how fulsome was the
+counsel thou gavest me!  None but thou made me light on this
+second ape: and for that thou gavest me good-morrow with thy one
+eye and thy lameness, [FN#189] I am become distressed and weary,
+without dirham or dinar."  So saying, he hent in hand a stick
+[FN#190] and flourishing it thrice in the air, was about to come
+down with it upon the lame ape, when the creature cried out for
+mercy and said to him, "I conjure thee, by Allah, spare me for
+the sake of this my fellow and seek of him thy need; for he will
+guide thee to thy desire!"  So he held his hand from him and
+throwing down the stick, went up to and stood by the second ape,
+who said to him, "O Khalifah, this my speech [FN#191] will profit
+thee naught, except thou hearken to what I say to thee; but, an
+thou do my bidding and cross me not, I will be the cause of thine
+enrichment."  Asked Khalifah, "And what hast thou to say to me
+that I may obey there therein?"  The Ape answered, "Leave me
+bound on the bank and hie thee down to the river; then cast thy
+net a third time, and after I will tell thee what to do."  So he
+took his net and going down to the river, cast it once more and
+waited awhile.  Then he drew it in and finding it heavy, laboured
+at it and ceased not his travail till he got it ashore, when he
+found in it yet another ape; but this one was red, with a blue
+waistcloth about his middle; his hands and feet were stained with
+Henna and his eyes blackened with Kohl.  When Khalifah saw this,
+he exclaimed, "Glory to God the Great!  Extolled be the
+perfection of the Lord of Dominion!  Verily, this is a blessed
+day from first to last: its ascendant was fortunate in the
+countenance of the first ape, and the scroll [FN#192] is known by
+its superscription!  Verily, to-day is a day of apes: there is
+not a single fish left in the river, and we are come out to-day
+but to catch monkeys!"  Then he turned to the third ape and said,
+"And what thing art thou also, O unlucky?"  Quoth the ape, "Dost
+thou not know me, O Khalifah!"; and quoth he, "Not I!"  The ape
+cried, "I am the ape of Abu al-Sa'�d�t [FN#193] the Jew, the
+shroff."  Asked Khalifah, "And what dost thou for him?"; and the
+ape answered, "I give him good-morrow at the first of the day,
+and he gaineth five ducats; and again at the end of the day, I
+give him good-even and he gaineth other five ducats."  Whereupon
+Khalifah turned to the first ape and said to him, "See, O
+unlucky, what fine apes other folks have!  As for thee, thou
+givest me good-morrow with thy one eye and thy lameness and thy
+ill-omened phiz and I become poor and bankrupt and hungry!"  So
+saying, he took the cattle-stick and flourishing it thrice in the
+air, was about to come down with it on the first ape, when Abu
+al-Sa'adat's ape said to him, "Let him be, O Khalifah, hold thy
+hand and come hither to me, that I may tell thee what to do." So
+Khalifah threw down the stick and walking up to him cried, "And
+what hast thou to say to me, O monarch of all monkeys?"  Replied
+the ape, "Leave me and the other two apes here, and take thy net
+and cast it into the river; and whatever cometh up, bring it to
+me, and I will tell thee what shall gladden thee."--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-third Night
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the ape
+of Abu al-Sa'adat said to Khalifah, "Take thy net and cast it
+into the river; and whatever cometh up, bring it to me, and I
+will tell thee what shall gladden thee."  He replied, "I hear and
+obey," and took the net and gathered it on his shoulder, reciting
+these couplets,
+
+"When straitened is my breast I will of my Creator pray, * Who
+     may and can the heaviest weight lighten in easiest way;
+For ere man's glance can turn or close his eye by God His grace *
+     Waxeth the broken whole and yieldeth jail its prison-prey.
+Therefore with Allah one and all of thy concerns commit * Whose
+     grace and favour men of wit shall nevermore gainsay."
+
+And also these twain,
+
+"Thou art the cause that castest men in ban and bane; * Sorrow
+     e'en so and sorrow's cause Thou canst assain:
+Make me not covet aught that lies beyond my reach; * How many a
+     greedy wight his wish hath failed to gain!"
+
+Now when Khalifah had made an end of his verse, he went down to
+the river and casting his net, waited awhile; after which he drew
+it up and found therein a fine young fish, [FN#194] with a big
+head, a tail like a ladle and eyes like two gold pieces.  When
+Khalifah saw this fish, he rejoiced, for he had never in his life
+caught its like, so he took it, marvelling, and carried it to the
+ape of Abu al-Sa'adat the Jew, as 'twere he had gotten possession
+of the universal world.  Quoth the ape, "O Khalifah, what wilt
+thou do with this and with thine ape?"; and quoth the Fisherman,
+"I will tell thee, O monarch of monkeys all I am about to do.
+Know then that first, I will cast about to make away with yonder
+accursed, my ape, and take thee in his stead and give thee every
+day to eat of whatso thou wilt."  Rejoined the ape, "Since thou
+hast made choice of me, I will tell thee how thou shalt do
+wherein, if it please Allah Almighty, shall be the mending of thy
+fortune.  Lend thy mind, then, to what I say to thee and 'tis
+this!:  Take another cord and tie me also to a tree, where leave
+me and go to the midst of The Dyke [FN#195] and cast thy net into
+the Tigris. [FN#196]  Then after waiting awhile, draw it up and
+thou shalt find therein a fish, than which thou never sawest a
+finer in thy whole life.  Bring it to me and I will tell thee how
+thou shalt do after this."  So Khalifah rose forthright and
+casting his net into the Tigris, drew up a great cat-fish
+[FN#197] the bigness of a lamb; never had he set eyes on its
+like, for it was larger than the first fish.  He carried it to
+the ape, who said to him, "Gather thee some green grass and set
+half of it in a basket; lay the fish therein and cover it with
+the other moiety.  Then, leaving us here tied, shoulder the
+basket and betake thee to Baghdad.  If any bespeak thee or
+question thee by the way, answer him not, but fare on till thou
+comest to the market-street of the money-changers, at the upper
+end whereof thou wilt find the shop of Master [FN#198] Abu al-
+Sa'adat the Jew, Shaykh of the shroffs, and wilt see him sitting
+on a mattress, with a cushion behind him and two coffers, one for
+gold and one for silver, before him, while around him stand his
+Mamelukes and negro-slaves and servant-lads.  Go up to him and
+set the basket before him, saying,: 'O Abu al-Sa'adat, verily I
+went out to-day to fish and cast my net in thy name and Allah
+Almighty sent me this fish.'  He will ask, 'Hast thou shown it to
+any but me?;' and do thou answer, "No, by Allah!'  then will he
+take it of thee and give thee a dinar.  Give it him back and
+he will give thee two dinars; but do thou return them also and so
+do with everything he may offer thee; and take naught from him,
+though he give thee the fish's weight in gold.  Then will he say
+to thee, 'Tell me what thou wouldst have;' and do thou reply, "By
+Allah, I will not sell the fish save for two words!'  He will
+ask, 'What are they?' and do thou answer, 'Stand up and say,
+'Bear witness, O ye who are present in the market, that I give
+Khalifah the fisherman my ape in exchange for his ape, and that I
+barter for his lot my lot and luck for his luck.'  This is the
+price of the fish, and I have no need of gold.'  If he do this, I
+will every day give thee good-morrow and good-even, and every day
+thou shalt gain ten dinars of good gold; whilst this one-eyed,
+lame-legged ape shall daily give the Jew good-morrow, and Allah
+shall afflict him every day with an avanie [FN#199] which he must
+needs pay, nor will he cease to be thus afflicted till he is
+reduced to beggary and hath naught.  Hearken then to my words; so
+shalt thou prosper and be guided aright."  Quoth Khalifah, "I
+accept thy counsel, O monarch of all the monkeys!  But, as for
+this unlucky, may Allah never bless him!  I know not what to do
+with him."  Quoth the ape, "Let him go [FN#200] into the water,
+and let me go also."  "I hear and obey," answered Khalifah and
+unbound the three apes, and they went down into the river.  Then
+he took up the cat-fish [FN#201] which he washed then laid it in
+the basket upon some green grass, and covered it with other; and
+lastly shouldering his load, set out chanting the following
+Maww�l, [FN#202]
+
+"Thy case commit to a Heavenly Lord and thou shalt safety see; *
+     Act kindly through thy worldly life and live repentance-
+    free.
+Mate not with folk suspected, lest eke thou shouldst suspected be
+     * And from reviling keep thy tongue lest men revile at
+     thee!"
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khalifah
+the fisherman, after ending his song, set out with the basket
+upon his shoulder and ceased not faring till he entered the city
+of Baghdad.  And as he threaded the streets the folk knew him and
+cried out to him, saying, "What hast thou there, O Khalifah?" But
+he paid no heed to them and passed on till he came to the market-
+street of the money-changers and fared between the shops, as the
+ape had charged him, till he found the Jew seated at the upper
+end, with his servants in attendance upon him, as he were a King
+of the Kings of Khorason.  He knew him at first sight; so he went
+up to him and stood before him, whereupon Abu al-Sa'adat raised
+his eyes and recognising him, said, "Welcome, O Khalifah!  What
+wantest thou and what is thy need?  If any have missaid thee or
+spited thee, tell me and I will go with thee to the Chief of
+Police, who shall do thee justice on him."  Replied Khalifah,
+"Nay, as thy head liveth, O chief of the Jews, none hath missaid
+me.  But I went forth this morning to the river and, casting my
+net into the Tigris on thy luck, brought up this fish."
+Therewith he opened the basket and threw the fish before the Jew
+who admired it and said, "By the Pentateuch and the Ten
+Commandments, [FN#203] I dreamt last night that the Virgin came
+to me and said, 'Know, O Abu al-Sa'adat, that I have sent thee a
+pretty present!'  and doubtless 'tis this fish."  Then he turned
+to Khalifah and said to him, "By thy faith, hath any seen it but
+I?"  Khalifah replied, "No, by Allah, and by Abu Bakr the
+Veridical, [FN#204] none hath seen it save thou, O chief of the
+Jews!"  Whereupon the Jew turned to one of his lads and said to
+him, "Come, carry this fish to my house and bid Sa'�dah [FN#205]
+dress it and fry and broil it, against I make an end of my
+business and hie me home."  And Khalifah said, "Go, O my lad; let
+the master's wife fry some of it and broil the rest."  Answered
+the boy, "I hear and I obey, O my lord" and, taking the fish,
+went away with it to the house.  Then the Jew put out his hand
+and gave Khalifah the fisherman a dinar, saying, "Take this for
+thyself, O Khalifah, and spend it on thy family."  When Khalifah
+saw the dinar on his palm, he took it, saying, "Laud to the Lord
+of Dominion!" as if he had never seen aught of gold in his life;
+and went somewhat away, but, before he had gone far, he was
+minded of the ape's charge and turning back threw down the ducat,
+saying, "Take thy gold and give folk back their fish!  Dost thou
+make a laughing stock of folk?"  The Jew hearing this thought he
+was jesting and offered him two dinars upon the other, but
+Khalifah said, "Give me the fish and no nonsense.  How knewest
+thou I would sell it at this price?"  Whereupon the Jew gave him
+two more dinars and said, "Take these five ducats for thy fish
+and leave greed."  So Khalifah hent the five dinars in hand and
+went away, rejoicing, and gazing and marvelling at the gold and
+saying, "Glory be to God!  There is not with the Caliph of
+Baghdad what is with me this day!"  Then he ceased not faring on
+till he came to the end of the market-street, when he remembered
+the words of the ape and his charge, and returning to the Jew,
+threw him back the gold.  Quoth he, "What aileth thee, O
+Khalifah?  Dost thou want silver in exchange for gold?"  Khalifah
+replied,  "I want nor dirhams nor dinars.  I only want thee to
+give me back folk's fish."  With this the Jew waxed wroth and
+shouted out at him, saying, "O fisherman, thou bringest me a fish
+not worth a sequin and I give thee five for it; yet art thou not
+content!  Art thou Jinn-mad?  Tell me for how much thou wilt sell
+it."  Answered Khalifah, "I will not sell it for silver nor for
+gold, only for two sayings [FN#206] thou shalt say me."  When the
+Jew heard speak of the "Two Sayings," his eyes sank into his
+head, he breathed hard and ground his teeth for rage and said to
+him, "O nail-paring of the Moslems, wilt thou have me throw off
+my faith for the sake of thy fish, and wilt thou debauch me from
+my religion and stultify my belief and my conviction which I
+inherited of old from my forbears?"  Then he cried out to the
+servants who were in waiting and said, "Out on you!  Bash me this
+unlucky rogue's neck and bastinado him soundly!"  So they came
+down upon him with blows and ceased not beating him till he fell
+beneath the shop, and the Jew said to them, "Leave him and let
+him rise."  Whereupon Khalifah jumped up, as if naught ailed him,
+and the Jew said to him, "Tell me what price thou asketh for this
+fish and I will give it thee: for thou hast gotten but scant good
+of us this day."  Answered the Fisherman, "Have no fear for me, O
+master, because of the beating; for I can eat ten donkeys'
+rations of stick."  The Jew laughed at his words and said, "Allah
+upon thee, tell me what thou wilt have and by the right of my
+Faith, I will give it thee!"  The Fisherman replied, "Naught from
+thee will remunerate me for this fish save the two words whereof
+I spake."  And the Jew said, "Meseemeth thou wouldst have me
+become a Moslem?" [FN#207]  Khalifah rejoined, "By Allah, O Jew,
+an thou islamise 'twill nor advantage the Moslems nor damage the
+Jews; and in like manner, an thou hold to thy misbelief 'twill
+nor damage the Moslems nor advantage the Jews.  But what I desire
+of thee is that thou rise to thy feet and say, 'Bear witness
+against me, O people of the market, that I barter my ape for the
+ape of Khalifah the Fisherman and my lot in the world for his lot
+and my luck for his luck.'"  Quoth the Jew, "If this be all thou
+desirest 'twill sit lightly upon me."  --And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Jew
+said to Khalifah the Fisherman, "If this be all thou desirest,
+'twill sit lightly upon me."  So he rose without stay or delay
+and standing on his feet, repeated the required words; after
+which he turned to the Fisherman and asked him, "Hast thou aught
+else to ask of me?"  "No," answered he, and the Jew said, "Go in
+peace!"  Hearing this Khalifah sprung to his feet forthright;
+took up his basket and net and returned straight to the Tigris,
+where he threw his net and pulled it in.  He found it heavy and
+brought it not ashore but with travail, when he found it full of
+fish of all kinds.  Presently, up came a woman with a dish, who
+gave him a dinar, and he gave her fish for it; and after her an
+eunuch, who also bought a dinar's worth of fish, and so forth
+till he had sold ten dinars' worth.  And he continued to sell ten
+dinars' worth of fish daily for ten days, till he had gotten an
+hundred dinars.  Now Khalifah the Fisherman had quarters in the
+Passage of the Merchants, [FN#208] and, as he lay one night in
+his lodging much bemused with Hashish, he said to himself, "O
+Khalifah, the folk all know thee for a poor fisherman, and now
+thou hast gotten an hundred golden dinars.  Needs must the
+Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, hear of this from
+some one, and haply he will be wanting money and will send for
+thee and say to thee, 'I need a sum of money and it hath reached
+me that thou hast an hundred dinars: so do thou lend them to me
+those same.'  I shall answer, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I am
+a poor man, and whoso told thee that I had an hundred dinars lied
+against me; for I have naught of this.'  Thereupon he will commit
+me to the Chief of Police, saying, "Strip him of his clothes and
+torment him with the bastinado till he confess and give up the
+hundred dinars in his possession.  Wherefore, meseemeth to
+provide against this predicament, the best thing I can do, is to
+rise forthright and bash myself with the whip, so to use myself
+to beating."  And his Hashish [FN#209] said to him, "Rise, doff
+thy dress."  So he stood up and putting off his clothes, took a
+whip he had by him and set handy a leathern pillow; then he fell
+to lashing himself, laying every other blow upon the pillow and
+roaring out the while, "Alas! Alas! By Allah, 'tis a false
+saying, O my lord, and they have lied against me; for I am a poor
+fisherman and have naught of the goods of the world!"  The noise
+of the whip falling on the pillow and on his person resounded in
+the still of night and the folk heard it, and amongst others the
+merchants, and they said, "Whatever can ail the poor fellow, that
+he crieth and we hear the noise of blows falling on him?
+'Twould seem robbers have broken in upon him and are tormenting
+him."  Presently they all came forth of their lodgings, at the
+noise of the blows and the crying, and repaired to Khalifah's
+room, but they found the door locked and said one to other,
+"Belike the robbers have come in upon him from the back of the
+adjoining saloon.  It behoveth us to climb over by the roofs."
+So they clomb over the roofs and coming down through the sky-
+light, [FN#210] saw him naked and flogging himself and asked him,
+"What aileth thee, O Khalifah?"  He answered, "Know, O folk, that
+I have gained some dinars and fear lest my case be carried up to
+the Prince of True Believers, Harun al-Rashid, and he send for me
+and demand of me those same gold pieces; whereupon I should
+deny, and I fear that, if I deny, he will torture me, so I am
+torturing myself, by way of accustoming me to what may come."
+The merchants laughed at him and said, "Leave this fooling, may
+Allah not bless thee and the dinars thou hast gotten!  Verily
+thou hast disturbed us this night and hast troubled our hearts."
+So Khalifah left flogging himself and slept till the morning,
+when he rose and would have gone about his business, but
+bethought him of his hundred dinars and said in his mind, "An I
+leave them at home, thieves will steal them, and if I put them in
+a belt [FN#211] about my waist, peradventure some one will see me
+and lay in wait for me till he come upon me in some lonely place
+and slay me and take the money: but I have a device that should
+serve me well, right well."  So he jumped up forthright and made
+him a pocket in the collar of his gaberdine and tying the hundred
+dinars up in a purse, laid them in the collar-pocket.  Then he
+took his net and basket and staff and went down to the Tigris, --
+And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khalifah
+the Fisherman, having set his hundred dinars in the collar-pocket
+took basket, staff and net and went down to the Tigris, where he
+made a cast but brought up naught.  So he removed from that place
+to another and threw again, but once more the net came up empty;
+and he went on removing from place to place till he had gone half
+a day's journey from the city, ever casting the net which kept
+bringing up naught.  So he said to himself, "By Allah, I will
+throw my net a-stream but his once more, whether ill come of it
+or weal!" [FN#212]  Then he hurled the net with all his force, of
+the excess of his wrath and the purse with the hundred dinars
+flew out of his collar-pocket and, lighting in mid-stream, was
+carried away by the strong current; whereupon he threw down the
+net and plunged into the water after the purse.  He dived for it
+nigh a hundred times, till his strength was exhausted and he came
+up for sheer fatigue without chancing on it.  When he despaired
+of finding the purse, he returned to the shore, where he saw
+nothing but staff, net and basket and sought for his clothes, but
+could light on no trace of them: so he said in himself, "O vilest
+of those wherefor was made the byword, 'The pilgrimage is not
+perfected save by copulation with the camel!" [FN#213]  Then he
+wrapped the net about him and taking staff in one hand and basket
+in other, went trotting about like a camel in rut, running right
+and left and backwards and forwards, dishevelled and dusty, as he
+were a rebel Marid let loose from Solomon's prison. [FN#214]  So
+far for what concerns the Fisherman Khalifah; but as regards the
+Caliph Harun al-Rashid, he had a friend, a jeweller called Ibn
+al-Kirn�s, [FN#215] and all the traders, brokers and middle-men
+knew him for the Caliph's merchant; wherefore there was naught
+sold in Baghdad, by way of rarities and things of price or
+Mamelukes or handmaidens, but was first shown to him.  As he sat
+one day in his shop, behold, there came up to him the Shaykh of
+the brokers, with a slave-girl, whose like seers never saw, for
+she was of passing beauty and loveliness, symmetry and perfect
+grace, and among her gifts was that she knew all arts and
+sciences and could make verses and play upon all manner musical
+instruments.  So Ibn al-Kirnas bought her for five thousand
+golden dinars and clothed her with other thousand; after which he
+carried her to the Prince of True Believers, with whom she lay
+the night and who made trial of her in every kind of knowledge
+and accomplishment and found her versed in all sorts of arts and
+sciences, having no equal in her time.  Her name was K�t al-Kul�b
+[FN#216] and she was even as saith the poet,
+
+"I fix my glance on her, whene'er she wends; * And non-acceptance
+     of my glance breeds pain:
+She favours graceful-necked gazelle at gaze; * And 'Graceful as
+     gazelle' to say we're fain."
+
+And where is this [FN#217] beside the saying of another?
+
+"Give me brunettes; the Syrian spears, so limber and so straight,
+     Tell of the slender dusky maids, so lithe and proud of gait.
+Languid of eyelids, with a down like silk upon her cheek, Within
+     her wasting lover's heart she queens it still in state."
+
+On the morrow the Caliph sent for Ibn al-Kirnas the Jeweller, and
+bade him receive ten thousand dinars as to her price.  And his
+heart was taken up with the slave-girl Kut al-Kulub and he
+forsook the Lady Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, for all she was the
+daughter of his father's brother [FN#218] and he abandoned all
+his favorite concubines and abode a whole month without stirring
+from Kut al-Kulub's side save to go to the Friday prayers and
+return to her in all haste.  This was grievous to the Lords of
+the Realm and they complained thereof to the Wazir Ja'afar the
+Barmecide, who bore with the Commander of the Faithful and waited
+till the next Friday, when he entered the cathedral-mosque and,
+foregathering with the Caliph, related to him all that occurred
+to him of extra-ordinary stories anent seld-seen love and lovers
+with intent to draw out what was in his mind.  Quoth the Caliph,
+"By Allah, O Ja'afar, this is not of my choice; but my heart is
+caught in the snare of love and wot I not what is to be done!"
+The Wazir Ja'afar replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, thou
+knowest how this girl Kut al-Kulub is become at thy disposal and
+of the number of thy servants, and that which hand possesseth
+soul coveteth not.  Moreover, I will tell thee another thing
+which is that the highest boast of Kings and Princes is in
+hunting and the pursuit of sport and victory; and if thou apply
+thyself to this, perchance it will divert thee from her, and it
+may be thou wilt forget her."  Rejoined the Caliph, "Thou sayest
+well, O Ja'afar; come let us go a-hunting forthright, without
+stay or delay."  So soon as Friday prayers were prayed, they left
+the mosque and at once mounting their she-mules rode forth to the
+chase. --And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+    When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+the Caliph Harun al-Rashid and the Wazir Ja'afar would go forth
+a-hunting and a-chasing, they mounted two she-mules and fared on
+into the open country, occupied with talk, and their attendants
+outwent them.  Presently the heat became overhot and Al-Rashid
+said to his Wazir, "O Ja'afar, I am sore athirst."  Then he
+looked around and espying a figure in the distance on a high
+mound, asked Ja'afar, "Seest thou what I see?"  Answered the
+Wazir, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful; I see a dim figure on a
+high mound; belike he is the keeper of a garden or of a cucumber-
+plot, and in whatso wise water will not be lacking in his
+neighborhood;" presently adding, "I will go to him and fetch thee
+some."  But Al-Rashid said, "My mule is swifter than thy mule; so
+do thou abide here, on account of the troops, whilst I go myself
+to him and get of this person [FN#219] drink and return."  So
+saying, he urged his she-mule, which started off like racing wind
+or railing-water and, in the twinkling of an eye, made the mound,
+where he found the figure he had seen to be none other than
+Khalifah the Fisherman, naked and wrapped in the net; and indeed
+he was horrible to behold, as to and fro he rolled with eyes for
+very redness like cresset-gleam and dusty hair in dishevelled
+trim, as he were an Ifrit or a lion grim.  Al-Rashid saluted him
+and he returned his salutation; but he was wroth and fires might
+have been lit at his breath.  Quoth the Caliph, "O man, hast thou
+any water?"; and quoth Khalifah, "Ho thou, art thou blind, or
+Jinn-mad?  Get thee to the river Tigris, for 'tis behind this
+mound."  So Al-Rashid went around the mound and going down to the
+river, drank and watered his mule: then without a moment's delay
+he returned to Khalifah and said to him, "What aileth thee, O
+man, to stand here, and what is thy calling?" The Fisherman
+cried, "This is a stranger and sillier question than that about
+the water!  Seest thou not the gear of my craft on my shoulder?"
+Said the Caliph, "Belike thou art a fisherman?"; and he replied,
+"Yes."  Asked Al-Rashid, "Where is thy gaberdine, [FN#220] and
+where are thy waistcloth and girdle and where be the rest of thy
+raiment?"  Now these were the very things which had been taken
+from Khalifah, like for like; so, when he heard the Caliph name
+them, he got into his head that it was he who had stolen his
+clothes from the river-bank and coming down from the top of the
+mound, swiftlier than the blinding leven, laid hold of the mule's
+bridle, saying, "Harkye, man, bring me back my things and leave
+jesting and joking."  Al-Rashid replied, "By Allah, I have not
+seen thy clothes nor know aught of them!"  Now the Caliph had
+large cheeks and a small mouth; [FN#221] so Khalifah said to him,
+"Belike, thou art by trade a singer or a piper on pipes?  But
+bring me back my clothes fairly and without more ado, or I will
+bash thee with this my staff till thou bepiss thyself and befoul
+they clothes."  When Al-Rashid saw the staff in the Fisherman's
+hand and that he had the vantage of him, he said to himself, "By
+Allah, I cannot brook from this mad beggar half a blow of that
+staff!"  Now he had on a satin gown; so he pulled it off and gave
+it to Khalifah, saying, "O man, take this in place of thy
+clothes." The Fisherman took it and turned it about and said, "My
+clothes are worth ten of this painted 'Ab�-cloak;" and rejoined
+the Caliph, "Put it on till I bring thee thy gear."  So Khalifah
+donned the gown, but finding it too long for him, took a knife he
+had with him, tied to the handle of his basket, [FN#222] and cut
+off nigh a third of the skirt, so that it fell only beneath his
+knees.  Then he turned to Al-Rashid and said to him, "Allah upon
+thee, O piper, tell me what wage thou gettest every month from
+thy master, for thy craft of piping."  Replied the Caliph, "My
+wage is ten dinars a month," and Khalifah continued, "By Allah,
+my poor fellow, thou makest me sorry for thee!  Why, I make thy
+ten dinars every day!  Hast thou a mind to take service with me
+and I will teach thee the art of fishing and share my gain with
+thee?  So shalt thou make five dinars a day and be my slavey and
+I will protect thee against thy master with this staff."  Quoth
+Al-Rashid, "I will well"; and quoth Khalifah, "Then get off thy
+she-ass and tie her up, so she may serve us to carry the fish
+hereafter, and come hither, that I may teach thee to fish
+forthright."  So Al-Rashid alighted and hobbling his mule, tucked
+his skirts into his girdle, and Khalifah said to him, "O piper,
+lay hold of the net thus and put it over thy forearm thus and
+cast it into the Tigris thus."  Accordingly, the Caliph took
+heart of grace and, doing as the fisherman showed him, threw the
+net and pulled at it, but could not draw it up.  So Khalifah came
+to his aid and tugged at it with him; but the two together could
+not hale it up: whereupon said the fisherman, "O piper of ill-
+omen, for the first time I took thy gown in place of my clothes;
+but this second time I will have thine ass and will beat thee to
+boot, till thou bepiss and beskite thyself!  An I find my net
+torn."  Quoth Al-Rashid, "Let the twain of us pull at once."  So
+they both pulled together and succeeded with difficulty in
+hauling that net ashore, when they found it full of fish of all
+kinds and colours;--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Khalifah the Fisherman and the Caliph hauled that net ashore,
+they found it full of fish of all kinds; and Khalifah said to Al-
+Rashid, "By Allah, O piper, thou art foul of favor but, an thou
+apply thyself to fishing, thou wilt make a mighty fine fisherman.
+But now 'twere best thou bestraddle thine ass and make for the
+market and fetch me a pair of frails, [FN#223] and I will look
+after the fish till thou return, when I and thou will load it on
+thine ass's back.  I have scales and weights and all we want, so
+we can take them with us and thou wilt have nothing to do but to
+hold the scales and pouch the price; for here we have fish worth
+twenty dinars.  So be fast with the frails and loiter not."
+Answered the Caliph, "I hear and obey" and mounting, left him
+with his fish, and spurred his mule, in high good humour, and
+ceased not laughing over his adventures with the Fisherman, till
+he came up to Ja'afar, who said to him, "O Commander of the
+Faithful, belike, when thou wentest down to drink, thou foundest a
+pleasant flower-garden and enteredst and tookest thy pleasure
+therein alone?"  At this Al-Rashid fell a laughing again and all
+the Barmecides rose and kissed the ground before him, saying, "O
+Commander of the Faithful, Allah make joy to endure for thee and
+do away annoy from thee!  What was the cause of thy delaying when
+thou faredst to drink and what hath befallen thee?"  Quoth the
+Caliph, "Verily, a right wondrous tale and a joyous adventure
+and a wondrous hath befallen me."  And he repeated to them what
+had passed between himself and the Fisherman and his words, "Thou
+stolest my clothes!" and how he had given him his gown and how he
+had cut off a part of it, finding it too long for him.  Said
+Ja'afar, "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I had it in mind
+to beg the gown of thee; but now I will go straight to the
+Fisherman and buy it of him."  The Caliph replied, "By Allah, he
+hath cut off a third part of the skirt and spoilt it!  But, O
+Ja'afar, I am tired with fishing in the river, for I have caught
+great store of fish which I left on the bank with my master
+Khalifah, and he is watching them and waiting for me to return to
+him with a couple of frails and a matchet. [FN#224]  Then we are
+to go, I and he, to the market and sell the fish and share the
+price."  Ja'afar rejoined, "O Commander of the Faithful, I will
+bring you a purchaser for your fish."  And Al-Rashid retorted, "O
+Ja'afar, by the virtue of my holy forefathers, whoso bringeth me
+one of the fish that are before Khalifah, who taught me angling,
+I will give him for it a gold dinar."  So the crier proclaimed
+among the troops that they should go forth and buy fish for the
+Caliph, and they all arose and made for the river-side.  Now,
+while Khalifah was expecting the Caliph's return with the two
+frails, behold, the Mamelukes swooped down upon him like vultures
+and took the fish and wrapped them in gold-embroidered kerchiefs,
+beating one another in their eagerness to get at the Fisherman.
+Whereupon quoth Khalifah, "Doubtless these are of the fish of
+Paradise!" [FN#225] and hending two fish in right hand and left,
+plunged into the water up to his neck and fell a-saying, "O
+Allah, by the virtue of these fish, let Thy servant the piper, my
+partner, come to me at this very moment."  And suddenly up to him
+came a black slave which was the chief of the Caliph's negro
+eunuchs.  He had tarried behind the rest, by reason of his horse
+having stopped to make water by the way, and finding that naught
+remained of the fish, little or much, looked right and left, till
+he espied Khalifah standing in the stream, with a fish in either
+hand, and said to him, "Come hither, O Fisherman!"  But Khalifah
+replied, "Begone and none of your impudence!" [FN#226]  So the
+eunuch went up to him and said, "Give me the fish and I will pay
+thee their price."  Replied the Fisherman, "Art thou little of
+wit?  I will not sell them."  Therewith the eunuch drew his mace
+upon him, and Khalifah cried out, saying, "Strike not, O loon!
+Better largesse than the mace." [FN#227]  So saying, he threw the
+two fishes to the eunuch, who took them and laid them in his
+kerchief.  Then he put hand in pouch, but found not a single
+dirham and said to Khalifah, "O Fisherman, verily thou art out of
+luck for, by Allah, I have not a silver about me!  But come to-
+morrow to the Palace of the Caliphate and ask for the eunuch
+Sandal; whereupon the castratos will direct thee to me and by
+coming thither thou shalt get what falleth to thy lot and
+therewith wend thy ways."  Quoth Khalifah, "Indeed, this is a
+blessed day and its blessedness was manifest from the first of
+it!"[FN#228] Then he shouldered his net and returned to Baghdad;
+and as he passed through the streets, the folk saw the Caliph's
+gown on him and stared at him till he came to the gate of his
+quarter, by which was the shop of the Caliph's tailor.  When the
+man saw him wearing a dress of the apparel of the Caliph, worth a
+thousand dinars, he said to him, "O Khalifah, whence hadst thou
+that gown?"  Replied the Fisherman, "What aileth thee to be
+impudent?  I had it of one whom I taught to fish and who is
+become my apprentice. I forgave him the cutting off of his hand
+[FN#229] for that he stole my clothes and gave me this cape in
+their place."  So the tailor knew that the Caliph had come upon
+him as he was fishing and jested with him and given him the
+gown;--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,
+
+She resume, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+Caliph came upon Khalifah the Fisherman and gave him his own gown
+in jest wherewith the man fared home.  Such was his case; but as
+regards Harun al-Rashid, he had gone out a-hunting and a-fishing
+only to divert his thoughts from the damsel, Kut al-Kulub.  But
+when Zubaydah heard of her and of the Caliph's devotion to her,
+the Lady was fired with the jealousy which the more especially
+fireth women, so that she refused meat and drink and rejected the
+delights of sleep and awaited the Caliph's going forth on a
+journey or what not, that she might set a snare for the damsel.
+So when she learnt that he was gone hunting and fishing, she bade
+her women furnish the Palace fairly and decorate it splendidly
+and serve up viands and confections; and amongst the rest she
+made a China dish of the daintiest sweetmeats that can be made
+wherein she had put Bhang.  Then she ordered one of her eunuchs
+go to the damsel Kut al-Kulub and bid her to the banquet, saying,
+"The Lady Zubaydah bint Al-Kasim, the wife of the Commander of
+the Faithful, hath drunken medicine to-day and, having heard tell
+of the sweetness of thy singing, longeth to divert herself
+somewhat of thine art."  Kut al-Kulub replied, "Hearing and
+obedience are due to Allah and the Lady Zubaydah," and rose
+without stay or delay, unknowing what was hidden for her in the
+Secret Purpose.  Then she took with her what instruments she
+needed and, accompanying the eunuch, ceased not fairing till she
+stood in the presence of the Princess.  When she entered she
+kissed ground before her again and again, then rising to her
+feet, said, "Peace be on the Lady of the exalted seat and the presence whereto none may avail, daughter of the
+house Abb�s� and
+scion of the Prophet's family!  May Allah fulfil thee of peace
+and prosperity in the days and the years!" [FN#230] Then she
+stood with the rest of the women and eunuchs, and presently the
+Lady Zubaydah raised her eyes and considered her beauty and
+loveliness.  She saw a damsel with cheeks smooth as rose and
+breasts like granado, a face moon-bright, a brow flower-white and
+great eyes black as night; her eyelids were langour-dight and her
+face beamed with light, as if the sun from her forehead arose and
+the murks of the night from the locks of her brow; and the
+fragrance of musk from her breath strayed and flowers bloomed in
+her lovely face inlaid; the moon beamed from her forehead and in
+her slender shape the branches swayed.  She was like the full
+moon shining in the nightly shade; her eyes wantoned, her
+eyebrows were like a bow arched and her lips of coral moulded.
+Her beauty amazed all who espied her and her glances amated all
+who eyed her.  Glory be to Him who formed her and fashioned her
+and perfected her!  Brief, she was even as saith the poet of one
+who favoured her,
+
+"When she's incensed thou seest folk like slain, * And when she's
+     pleased, their souls are quick again:
+Her eyne are armed with glances magical * Wherewith she kills and
+     quickens as she's fain.
+The Worlds she leadeth captive with her eyes * As tho' the Worlds
+     were all her slavish train."
+
+Quoth the Lady Zubaydah, "Well come, and welcome and fair cheer
+to thee, O Kut al-Kulub!  Sit and divert us with thine art and
+the goodliness of thine accomplishments."  Quoth the damsel, "I
+hear and I obey"; and, putting out her hand, took the tambourine,
+whereof one of its praisers speaketh in the following verses,
+
+"Ho thou o' the tabret, my heart takes flight * And love-smit
+     cries while thy fingers smite!
+Thou takest naught but a wounded heart, * The while for
+     acceptance longs the wight:
+So say thou word or heavy or light; * Play whate'er thou please
+     it will charm the sprite.
+Sois bonne, unveil thy cheek, ma belle * Rise, deftly dance and
+     all hearts delight."
+
+Then she smote the tambourine briskly and so sang thereto, that
+she stopped the birds in the sky and the place danced with them
+blithely; after which she laid down the tambourine and took the
+pipe [FN#231] whereof it is said,
+
+"She hath eyes whose babes wi' their fingers sign * To sweet
+     tunes without a discordant line."
+
+And as the poet also said in this couplet,
+
+"And, when she announceth the will to sing, * For Union-joy 'tis
+     a time divine!"
+
+Then she laid down the pipe, after she had charmed therewith all
+who were present, and took up the lute, whereof saith the poet,
+
+"How many a blooming bough in glee-girl's hand is fain * as
+     lute to 'witch great souls by charm of cunning strain!
+She sweeps tormenting lute strings by her artful touch * Wi'
+     finger-tips that surely chain with endless chain."
+
+Then she tightened its pegs and tuned its strings and laying it
+in her lap, bended over it as mother bendeth over child; and it
+seemed as it were of her and her lute that the poet spoke in
+these couplets,
+
+"Sweetly discourses she on Persian string * And Unintelligence
+     makes understand.
+And teaches she that Love's a murtherer, * Who oft the reasoning
+     Moslem hath unmann'd.
+A maid, by Allah, in whose palm a thing * Of painted wood like
+     mouth can speech command.
+With lute she stauncheth flow of Love; and so * Stops flow of
+     blood the cunning leach's hand."
+
+Then she preluded in fourteen different modes and sang to the
+lute an entire piece, so as to confound the gazers and delight
+her hearers.  After which she recited these two couplets,
+
+"The coming unto thee is blest: * Therein new joys for aye
+     attend:
+Its blisses are continuous * Its blessings never end."
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Eight Hundred and Fortieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the maiden,
+Kut al-Kulub, after singing these songs and sweeping the strings
+in presence of the Lady Zubaydah, rose and exhibited tricks of
+sleight of hand and legerdemain and all manner pleasing arts,
+till the Princess came near to fall in love with her and said to
+herself, "Verily, my cousin Al-Rashid is not to blame for loving
+her!"  Then the damsel kissed ground before Zubaydah and sat
+down, whereupon they set food before her.  Presently they brought
+her the drugged dish of sweetmeats and she ate thereof; and
+hardly had it settled in her stomach when her head fell backward
+and she sank on the ground sleeping.  With this, the Lady said to
+her women, "Carry her up to one of the chambers, till I summon
+her"; and they replied, "We hear and we obey."  Then said she to
+one of her eunuchs, "Fashion me a chest and bring it hitherto to
+me!", and shortly afterwards she bade make the semblance of a
+tomb and spread the report that Kut al-Kulub had choked and died,
+threatening her familiars that she would smite the neck of
+whoever should say, "She is alive."  Now, behold, the Caliph
+suddenly returned from the chase, and the first enquiry he made
+was for the damsel.  So there came to him one of his eunuchs,
+whom the Lady Zubaydah had charged to declare she was dead, if
+the Caliph should ask for her and, kissing ground before him,
+said, "May thy head live, O my lord!  Be certified that Kut al-
+Kulub choked in eating and is dead."  Whereupon cried Al-Rashid,
+"God never gladden thee with good news, O thou bad slave!" and
+entered the Palace, where he heard of her death from every one
+and asked, "Where is her tomb?"  So they brought him to the
+sepulchre and showed him the pretended tomb, saying, "This is her
+burial-place."  When he saw it, he cried out and wept and
+embraced it, quoting these two couplets, [FN#232]
+
+"By Allah, O tomb, have her beauties ceased and disappeared from
+     sight * And is the countenance changed and wan, that shone
+     so wonder-bright?
+O tomb, O tomb, thou art neither heaven nor garden, verily: * How
+     comes it then that swaying branch and moon in thee unite?
+
+The Caliph, weeping sore for her, abode by the tomb a full hour,
+after which he arose and went away, in the utmost distress and
+the deepest melancholy.  So the Lady Zubaydah saw that her plot
+had succeeded and forthright sent for the eunuch and said,
+"Hither with the chest!"  He set it before her, when she bade
+bring the damsel and locking her up therein, said to the Eunuch,
+"Take all pains to sell this chest and make it a condition with
+the purchaser that he buy it locked; then give alms with its
+price." [FN#233]  So he took it and went forth, to do her
+bidding.  Thus fared it with these; but as for Khalifah the
+Fisherman, when morning morrowed and shone with its light and
+sheen, he said to himself, "I cannot do aught better to-day than
+visit the Eunuch who bought the fish of me, for he appointed me
+to come to him in the Palace of the Caliphate."  So he went forth
+of his lodging, intending for the palace, and when he came
+thither, he found Mamelukes, negro-slaves and eunuchs standing
+and sitting; and looking at them, behold, seated amongst them was
+the Eunuch who had taken the fish of him, with the white slaves
+waiting on him.  Presently, one of the Mameluke-lads called out
+to him; whereupon the Eunuch turned to see who he was an lo! it
+was the Fisherman.  Now when Khalifah was ware that he saw him
+and recognized him, he said to him, "I have not failed thee, O my
+little Tulip! [FN#234]  On this wise are men of their word."
+Hearing his address, Sandal the Eunuch [FN#235] laughed and
+replied, "By Allah, thou art right, O Fisherman," and put his
+hand to his pouch, to give him somewhat; but at that moment there
+arose a great clamour.  So he raised his head to see what was to
+do and finding that it was the Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide coming
+forth from the Caliph's presence, he rose to him and forewent
+him, and they walked about, conversing for a longsome time.
+Khalifah the Fisherman waited awhile; then, growing weary of
+standing and finding that the Eunuch took no heed of him, he set
+himself in his way and beckoned to him from afar, saying, "O my
+lord Tulip, give me my due and let me go!"  The Eunuch heard him,
+but was ashamed to answer him because of the minister's presence;
+so he went on talking with Ja'afar and took no notice whatever of
+the Fisherman.  Whereupon quoth Khalifah, "O Slow o' Pay!
+[FN#236]  May Allah put to shame all churls and all who take
+folks's goods and are niggardly with them!  I put myself under
+thy protection, O my lord Bran-belly, [FN#237] to give me my due
+and let me go!"  The Eunuch heard him, but was ashamed to answer
+him before Ja'afar; and the Minister saw the Fisherman beckoning
+and talking to him, though he knew not what he was saying; so he
+said to Sandal, misliking his behaviour, "O Eunuch, what would
+yonder beggar with thee?"  Sandal replied, "Dost thou not know
+him, O my lord the Wazir?"; and Ja'afar answered, "By Allah, I
+know him not!  How should I know a man I have never seen but at
+this moment?"  Rejoined the Eunuch, "O my lord, this is the
+Fisherman whose fish we seized on the banks of the Tigris.  I
+came too late to get any and was ashamed to return to the Prince
+of True Believers, empty-handed, when all the Mamelukes had some.
+Presently I espied the Fisherman standing in mid-stream, calling
+on Allah, with four fishes in his hands, and said to him, 'Give
+me what thou hast there and take their worth.'  He handed me the
+fish and I put my hand into my pocket, purposing to gift him with
+somewhat, but found naught therein and said, 'Come to me in the
+Palace, and I will give thee wherewithal to aid thee in thy
+poverty.  So he came to me to-day and I was putting hand to
+pouch, that I might give him somewhat, when thou camest forth and
+I rose to wait on thee and was diverted with thee from him, till
+he grew tired of waiting; and this is the whole story, how he
+cometh to be standing here." --And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-first Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Sandal the Eunuch related to Ja'afar the Barmecide the tale of
+Khalifah the Fisherman, ending with, "This is the whole story and
+how he cometh to be standing here!" the Wazir, hearing this
+account, smiled and said, "O Eunuch, how is it that this
+Fisherman cometh in his hour of need and thou satisfiest him not?
+Dost thou not know him, O Chief of the Eunuchs?"  "No," answered
+Sandal and Ja'afar said, "This is the Master of the Commander of
+the Faithful, and his partner and our lord the Caliph has arisen
+this morning, strait of breast, heavy of heart and troubled of
+thought, nor is there aught will broaden his breast save this
+fisherman.  So let him not go, till I crave the Caliph's pleasure
+concerning him and bring him before him; perchance Allah will
+relieve him of his oppression and console him for the loss of Kut
+al-Kulub, by means of the Fisherman's presence, and he will give
+him wherewithal to better himself; and thou wilt be the cause of
+this."  Replied Sandal, "O my lord, do as thou wilt and may Allah
+Almighty long continue thee a pillar of the dynasty of the
+Commander of the Faithful, whose shadow Allah perpetuate [FN#238]
+and prosper it, root and branch!"  Then the Wazir Ja'afar rose up
+and went in to the Caliph, and Sandal ordered the Mamelukes not
+to leave the Fisherman; whereupon Khalifah cried, "How goodly is
+thy bounty, O Tulip! The seeker is become the sought.  I come to
+seek my due, and they imprison me for debts in arrears!" [FN#239]
+When Ja'afar came in to the presence of the Caliph, he found him
+sitting with his head bowed earthwards, breast straitened and
+mind melancholy, humming the verses of the poet,
+
+"My blamers instant bid that I for her become consoled; * But I,
+     what can I do, whose heart declines to be controlled?
+And how can I in patience bear the loss of lovely maid, * When
+     fails me patience for a love that holds with firmest hold!
+Ne'er I'll forget her nor the bowl that 'twixt us both went round
+     * And wine of glances maddened me with drunkenness
+     ensoul'd."
+
+Whenas Ja'afar stood in the presence, he said, "Peace be upon
+thee, O Commander of the Faithful, Defender of the honour of the
+Faith and descendant of the uncle of the Prince of the Apostles,
+Allah assain him and save him and his family one and all!"  The
+Caliph raised his head and answered, "And on thee be peace and
+the mercy of Allah and His blessings!"  Quoth Ja'afar; "With
+leave of the Prince of True Believers, his servant would speak
+without restraint."  Asked the Caliph, "And when was restraint
+put upon thee in speech and thou the Prince of Wazirs?  Say what
+thou wilt."  Answered Ja'afar, "When I went out, O my lord, from
+before thee, intending for my house, I saw standing at the door
+thy master and teacher and partner, Khalifah the Fisherman, who
+was aggrieved at thee and complained of thee saying, 'Glory be to
+God!  I taught him to fish and he went away to fetch me a pair of
+frails, but never came back: and this is not the way of a good
+partner or of a good apprentice.'  So, if thou hast a mind to
+partnership, well and good; and if not, tell him, that he may
+take to partner another."  Now when the Caliph heard these words
+he smiled and his straitness of breast was done away with and he
+said, "My life on thee, is this the truth thou sayest, that the
+Fisherman standeth at the door?" and Ja'afar replied, "By thy
+life, O Commander of the Faithful, he standeth at the door."
+Quoth the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, by Allah, I will assuredly do my
+best to give him his due!  If Allah at my hands send him misery,
+he shall have it; and if prosperity he shall have it."  Then he
+took a piece of paper and cutting it in pieces, said to the
+Wazir, "O Ja'afar, write down with thine own hand twenty sums of
+money, from one dinar to a thousand, and the names of all kinds
+of offices and dignities from the least appointment to the
+Caliphate; also twenty kinds of punishment from the lightest
+beating to death." [FN#240]  "I hear and obey, O Commander of the
+Faithful," answered Ja'afar, and did as he was bidden.  Then said
+the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, I swear by my holy forefathers and by my
+kinship to Hamzah [FN#241] and Akil, [FN#242] that I mean to
+summon the fisherman and bid him take one of these papers, whose
+contents none knowesth save thou and I; and whatsoever is written
+in the paper which he shall choose, I will give it to him; though
+it be the Caliphate I will divest myself thereof and invest him
+therewith and grudge it not to him; and, on the other hand, if
+there be written therein hanging or mutilation or death, I will
+execute it upon him.  Now go and fetch him to me."  When Ja'afar
+heard this, he said to himself, "There is no Majesty and there is
+no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  It may be
+somewhat will fall to this poor wretch's lot that will bring
+about his destruction, and I shall be the cause.  But the Caliph
+hath sworn; so nothing remains now but to bring him in, and
+naught will happen save whatso Allah willeth."  Accordingly he
+went out to Khalifah the Fisherman and laid hold of his hand to
+carry him in to the Caliph, whereupon his reason fled and he said
+in himself, "What a stupid I was to come after yonder ill-omened
+slave, Tulip, whereby he hath brought me in company with Bran-
+belly!"  Ja'afar fared on with him, with Mamelukes before and
+behind, whilst he said, "Doth not arrest suffice, but these must
+go behind and before me, to hinder my making off?" till they had
+traversed seven vestibules, when the Wazir said to him, "Mark my
+words, O Fisherman!  Thou standest before the Commander of the
+Faithful and Defender of the Faith!"  Then he raised the great
+curtain and Khalifah's eyes fell on the Caliph, who was seated on
+his couch, with the Lords of the realm standing in attendance
+upon him.  As soon as he knew him, he went up to him and said,
+"Well come, and welcome to thee, O piper! 'Twas not right of thee
+to make thyself a Fisherman and go away, leaving me sitting to
+guard the fish, and never to return!  For, before I was aware,
+there came up Mamelukes on beasts of all manner colours, and
+snatched away the fish from me, I standing alone, and this was
+all of thy fault; for, hadst thou returned with the frails
+forthright, we had sold an hundred dinars' worth of fish.  And
+now I come to seek my due, and they have arrested me. But thou,
+who hath imprisoned thee also in this place?"  The Caliph smiled
+and raising a corner of the curtain, put forth his head and said
+to the Fisherman, "Come hither and take thee one of these
+papers."  Quoth Khalifah the Fisherman, "Yesterday thou wast a
+fisherman, and to-day thou hast become an astrologer; but the
+more trades a man hath, the poorer he waxeth."  Thereupon
+Ja'afar said, "Take the paper at once, and do as the Commander
+of the Faithful biddeth thee without prating."  So he came
+forward and put forth his hand saying, "Far be it from me that
+this piper should ever again be my knave and fish with me!"  Then
+taking the paper he handed it to the Caliph, saying, "O piper,
+what hath come out for me therein? Hide naught thereof."--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-second Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Khalifah the Fisherman took up one of the papers and handed it to
+the Caliph he said, "O piper, what have come out to me therein?
+Hide naught thereof."  So Al-Rashid received it and passed it on
+to Ja'afar and said to him, "Read what is therein."  He looked at
+it and said, "There is no Majesty there is no Might save in
+Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"  Said the Caliph, "Good news,
+[FN#243] O Ja'afar?  What seest thou therein?"  Answered the
+Wazir, "O Commander of the Faithful, there came up from the
+paper, 'Let the Fisherman receive an hundred blows with a
+stick.'"  So the Caliph commanded to beat the Fisherman and they
+gave him an hundred sticks: after which he rose, saying, "Allah
+damn this, O Bran-belly!  Are jail and sticks part of the game?"
+Then said Ja'afar, "O Commander of the Faithful, this poor devil
+is come to the river, and how shall he go away thirsting?  We
+hope that among the alms-deeds of the Commander of the Faithful,
+he may have leave to take another paper, so haply somewhat may
+come out wherewithal he may succor his poverty." Said the Caliph,
+"By Allah, O Ja'afar, if he take another paper and death be
+written therein, I will assuredly kill him, and thou wilt be the
+cause."  Answered Ja'afar, "If he die he will be at rest."  But
+Khalifah the Fisherman said to him, "Allah ne'er gladden thee
+with good news!  Have I made Baghdad strait upon you, that ye
+seek to slay me?"  Quoth Ja'afar, "Take thee a paper and crave
+the blessing of Allah Almighty!"  So he put out his hand and
+taking a paper, gave it to Ja'afar, who read it and was silent.
+The Caliph asked, "Why art thou silent, O son of Yahya?"; and he
+answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, there hath come out on
+this paper, 'Naught shall be given to the Fisherman.'"  Then said
+the Caliph, "His daily bread will not come from us: bid him fare
+forth from before our face."  Quoth Ja'afar, "By the claims of
+thy pious forefathers, let him take a third paper, it may be it
+will bring him alimony;" and quoth the Caliph, "Let him take one
+and no more."  So he put out his hand and took a third paper, and
+behold, therein was written, "Let the Fisherman be given one
+dinar."  Ja'afar cried to him, "I sought good fortune for thee,
+but Allah willed not to thee aught save this dinar."  And
+Khalifah answered, "Verily, a dinar for every hundred sticks were
+rare good luck, may Allah not send thy body health!"  The Caliph
+laughed at him and Ja'afar took him by the hand and led him out.
+When he reached the door, Sandal the eunuch saw him and said to
+him, "Hither, O Fisherman!  Give us portion of that which the
+Commander of the Faithful hath bestowed on thee, whilst jesting
+with thee."  Replied Khalifah, "By Allah, O Tulip, thou art
+right!  Wilt thou share with me, O nigger?  Indeed, I have eaten stick
+to the tune of an hundred blows and have earned one dinar, and
+thou art but too welcome to it."  So saying, he threw him the
+dinar and went out, with the tears flowing down the plain of his
+cheeks.  When the Eunuch saw him in this plight, he knew that he
+had spoken sooth and called to the lads to fetch him back: so
+they brought him back and Sandal, putting his hand to his pouch,
+pulled out a red purse, whence he emptied an hundred golden
+dinars into the Fisherman's hand, saying, "Take this gold in
+payment of thy fish and wend thy ways."  So Khalifah, in high
+good humor, took the hundred ducats and the Caliph's one dinar
+and went his way, and forgot the beating.  Now, as Allah willed
+it for the furthering of that which He had decreed, he passed by
+the mart of the hand-maidens and seeing there a mighty ring where
+many folks were foregathering, said to himself, "What is this
+crowd?"  So he brake through the merchants and others, who said,
+"Make wide the way for Skipper Rapscallion, [FN#244] and let him
+pass."  Then he looked and behold, he saw a chest, with an eunuch
+seated thereon and an old man standing by it, and the Shaykh was
+crying, "O merchants, O men of money, who will hasten and hazard
+his coin for this chest of unknown contents from the Palace of
+the Lady Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, wife of the Commander of the
+Faithful?  How much shall I say for you, Allah bless you all!"
+Quoth one of the merchants, "By Allah, this is a risk!  But I
+will say one word and no blame to me.  Be it mine for twenty
+dinars."  Quoth another, "Fifty," and they went on bidding, one
+against other, till the price reached an hundred ducats.  Then
+said the crier, "Will any of you bid more, O merchants?"  And
+Khalifah the Fisherman said, "Be it mine for an hundred dinars
+and one dinar."  The merchants, hearing these words, thought he
+was jesting and laughed at him, saying, "O eunuch sell it to
+Khalifah for an hundred dinars and one dinar!"  Quoth the eunuch,
+"By Allah, I will sell it to none but him!  Take it, O Fisherman,
+the Lord bless thee in it, and here with thy gold."  So Khalifah
+pulled out the ducats and gave them to the eunuch, who, the
+bargain being duly made, delivered to him the chest and bestowed
+the price in alms on the spot; after which he returned to the
+Palace and acquainted the Lady Zubaydah with what he had done,
+whereat she rejoiced.  Meanwhile the Fisherman hove the chest on
+shoulder, but could not carry it on this wise for the excess of
+its weight; so he lifted it on to his head and thus bore it to
+the quarter where he lived.  Here he set it down and being weary,
+sat awhile, bemusing what had befallen him and saying in himself,
+"Would Heaven I knew what is in this chest!"  Then he opened the
+door of his lodging and haled the chest until he got it into his
+closet; after which he strove to open it, but failed.  Quoth he,
+"What folly possessed me to buy this chest?  There is no help for
+it but to break it open and see what is herein."  So he applied
+himself to the lock, but could not open it, and said to himself,
+"I will leave it till to-morrow."  Then he would have stretched
+him out to sleep, but could find no room; for the chest filled
+the whole closet.  So he got upon it and lay him down; but, when
+he had lain awhile, behold, he felt something stir under him
+whereat sleep forsook him and his reason fled.--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-third Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Khalifah the Fisherman lay down upon the chest and thus tarried
+awhile, behold, something stirred beneath him; whereat he was
+affrighted and his reason fled.  So he arose and cried, "Meseems
+there be Jinns in the chest.  Praise to Allah who suffered me not
+to open it!  For, had I done so, they had risen against me in the
+dark and slain me, and from them would have befallen me naught of
+good."  Then he lay down again when, lo! the chest moved a second
+time, more than before; whereupon he sprang to his feet and said,
+"There it goes again: but this is terrible!"  And he hastened to
+look for the lamp, but could not find it and had not the
+wherewithal to buy another.  So he went forth and cried out, "Ho,
+people of the quarter!"  Now the most part of the folk were
+asleep; but they awoke at his crying and asked, "What aileth
+thee, O Khalifah?"  He answered, "Bring me a lamp, for the Jinn
+are upon me."  They laughed at him and gave him a lamp, wherewith
+he returned to his closet.  Then he smote the lock of the chest
+with a stone and broke it and opening it, saw a damsel like a
+Houri lying asleep within.  Now she had been drugged with Bhang,
+but at that moment she threw up the stuff and awoke; then she
+opened her eyes and feeling herself confined and cramped, moved.
+At this sight quoth Khalifah, "By Allah, O my lady, whence art
+thou?"; and quoth she, "Bring me Jessamine, and Narcissus."
+[FN#245]  and Khalifah answered, "There is naught here but Henna-
+flowers." [FN#246]  thereupon she came to herself and considering
+Khalifah, said to him, "What art thou?" presently adding, "And
+where am I?"  He said, "Thou art in my lodging."  Asked she, "Am
+I not in the Palace of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid?"  And quoth
+he, "What manner of thing is Al-Rashid? [FN#247]  O madwoman,
+Thou art naught but my slave-girl: I bought thee this very day
+for an hundred dinars and one dinar, and brought thee home, and
+thou wast asleep in this here chest."  When she had heard these
+words she said to him, "What is thy name?"  Said he, "My name is
+Khalifah.  How comes my star to have grown propitious, when I
+know my ascendant to have been otherwise?"  She laughed and
+cried, "Spare me this talk!  Hast thou anything to eat?"  Replied
+he, "No, by Allah, nor yet to drink!  I have not eaten these two
+days and am now in want of a morsel."  She asked, "Hast thou no
+money?"; and he said, "Allah keep this chest which hath beggared
+me: I gave all I had for it and am become bankrupt." The damsel
+laughed at him and said, "Up with thee and seek of thy neighbours
+somewhat for me to eat, for I am hungry."  So he went forth and
+cried out, "Ho, people of the quarter!"  Now the folk were
+asleep; but they awoke and asked, "What aileth thee, O Khalifah?"
+Answered he, "O my neighbours, I am hungry and have nothing to
+eat."  So one came down to him with a bannock and another with
+broken meats and a third with a bittock of cheese and a fourth with
+a cucumber; and so on till he lap was full and he returned to his
+closet and laid the whole between her hands, saying, "Eat."  But
+she laughed at him, saying, "How can I eat of this, when I have
+not a mug of water whereof to drink?  I fear to choke with a
+mouthful and die."  Quoth he, "I will fill thee this
+pitcher."[FN#248]  So he took the pitcher and going forth, stood
+in the midst of the street and cried out, saying, "Ho, people of
+the quarter!"  Quoth they, "What calamity is upon thee to-night,
+[FN#249] O Khalifah!"  And he said, "Ye gave me food and I ate;
+but now I am a-thirst; so give me to drink."  Thereupon one came
+down to him with a mug and another with an ewer and a third with
+a gugglet; and he filled his pitcher and, bearing it back, said
+to the damsel, "O my lady, thou lackest nothing now."  Answered
+she, "True, I want nothing more at this present."  Quoth he,
+"Speak to me and say me thy story."  And quoth she, "Fie upon
+thee! An thou knowest me not, I will tell thee who I am.  I am
+Kut al-Kulub, the Caliph's handmaiden, and the Lady Zubaydah was
+jealous of me; so she drugged me with Bhang and set me in this
+chest," presently adding, "Alhamdolillah--praised be God--for
+that the matter hath come to easy issue and no worse!  But this
+befel me not save for thy good luck, for thou wilt certainly get
+of the Caliph Al-Rashid money galore, that will be the means of
+thine enrichment."  Quoth Khalifah, "Is not Al-Rashid he in whose
+Palace I was imprisoned?"  "Yes," answered she; and he said, "By
+Allah, never saw I more niggardly wight than he, that piper
+little of good and wit!  He gave me an hundred blows with a stick
+yesterday and but one dinar, for all I taught him to fish and
+made him my partner; but he played me false."  Replied she,
+"Leave this unseemly talk, and open thine eyes and look thou bear
+thyself respectfully, whenas thou seest him after this, and thou
+shalt win thy wish."  When he heard her words, it was if he had
+been asleep and awoke; and Allah removed the veil from his
+judgment, because of his good luck, [FN#250] and he answered, "On
+my head and eyes!"  Then said he to her, "Sleep, in the name of
+Allah." [FN#251]  So she lay down and fell asleep (and he afar
+from her) till the morning, when she sought of him inkcase
+[FN#252] and paper and, when they were brought wrote to Ibn al-
+Kirnas, the Caliph's friend, acquainting him with her case and
+how at the end of all that had befallen her she was with Khalifah
+the Fisherman, who had bought her.  Then she gave him the scroll,
+saying, "Take this and hie thee to the jewel-market and ask for
+the shop of Ibn al-Kirnas the Jeweller and give him this paper
+and speak not."  "I hear and I obey," answered Khalifah and going
+with the scroll to the market, enquired for the shop of Ibn al-
+Kirnas.  They directed him to thither and on entering it he
+saluted the merchant, who returned his salam with contempt and
+said to him, "What dost thou want?"  Thereupon he gave him the
+letter and he took it, but read it not, thinking the Fisherman a
+beggar, who sought an alms of him, and said to one of his lads,
+"Give him half a dirham."  Quoth Khalifah, "I want no alms; read
+the paper."  So Ibn al-Kirnas took the letter and read it; and no
+sooner knew its import than he kissed it and laying it on his
+head--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-fourth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ibn
+al-Kirnas read the letter and knew its import, he kissed it and
+laid it on his head; then he arose and said to Khalifah, "O my
+brother, where is thy house?"  Asked Khalifah, "What wantest thou
+with my house?  Wilt thou go thither and steal my slave-girl?"
+Then Ibn al-Kirnas answered, "No so: on the contrary, I will buy
+thee somewhat whereof you may eat, thou and she."  So he said,
+"My house is in such a quarter;" and the merchant rejoined, "Thou
+hast done well.  May Allah not give thee health, O unlucky one!"
+[FN#253]  Then he called out to two of his slaves and said to
+them, "Carry this man to the shop of Mohsin the Shroff and say to
+him, 'O Mohsin, give this man a thousand dinars of gold;' then
+bring him back to me in haste."  So they carried him to the
+money-changer, who paid him the money, and returned with him to
+their master, whom they found mounted on a dapple she-mule worth
+a thousand dinars, with Mamelukes and pages about him, and by his
+side another mule like his own, saddled and bridled.  Quoth the
+jeweller to Khalifah, "Bismillah, mount this mule."  Replied he,
+"I won't; for by Allah, I fear she throw me;" and quoth Ibn al-
+Kirnas, "By God, needs must thou mount."  So he came up and
+mounting her, face to crupper, caught hold of her tail and cried
+out; whereupon she threw him on the ground and they laughed at
+him; but he rose and said, "Did I not tell thee I would not mount
+this great jenny-ass?"  Thereupon Ibn al-Kirnas left him in the
+market and repairing to the Caliph, told him of the damsel; after
+which he returned and removed her to his own house.  Meanwhile,
+Khalifah went home to look after the handmaid and found the
+people of the quarter foregathering and saying, "Verily, Khalifah
+is to-day in a terrible pickle! [FN#254]  Would we knew whence he
+can have gotten this damsel?"  Quoth one of them, "He is a mad
+pimp; haply he found her lying on the road drunken, and carried
+her to his own house, and his absence showeth that he knoweth his offence."  As
+they were talking, behold, up came Khalifah, and they said to
+him, "What a plight is thine, O unhappy! Knowest thou not what is
+come to thee?"  He replied, "No, by Allah!" and they said, "But
+just now there came Mamelukes and took away thy slave-girl whom
+thou stolest, and sought for thee, but found thee not."  Asked
+Khalifah, "And how came they to take my slave-girl?"; and quoth
+one, "Had he falled in their way, they had slain him."  But he,
+so far from heeding  them, returned running to the shop of Ibn
+al-Kirnas, whom he met riding, and said to him, "By Allah, 'twas
+not right of thee to wheedle me and meanwhile send thy Mamelukes
+to take my slave-girl!"  Replied the jeweller, "O idiot, come
+with me and hold thy tongue."  So he took him and carried him
+into a house handsomely builded, where he found the damsel seated
+on a couch of gold, with ten slave-girls like moons round her.
+Sighting her Ibn al-Kirnas kissed ground before her and she said,
+"What hast thou done with my new master, who bought me with all
+he owned?"  He replied, "O my lady, I gave him a thousand golden
+dinars;" and related to her Khalifah's history from first to
+last, whereat she laughed and said, "Blame him not; for he is but
+a common wight.  These other thousand dinars are a gift from me
+to him and Almighty Allah willing, he shall win of the Caliph
+what shall enrich him."  As they were talking, there came an
+eunuch from the Commander of the Faithful, in quest of Kut al-
+Kulub, for, when he knew that she was in the house of Ibn al-
+Kirnas, he could not endure the severance, but bade bring her
+forthwith.  So she repaired to the Palace, taking Khalifah with
+her, and going into the presence, kissed ground before the
+Caliph, who rose to her, saluting and welcoming her, and asked
+her how she had fared with him who had bought her.  She replied,
+"He is a man, Khalifah the Fisherman hight, and there he standeth
+at the door.  He telleth me that he hath an account to settle
+with the Commander of the Faithful, by reason of a partnership
+between him and the Caliph in fishing."  Asked Al-Rashid, "Is he
+at the door?" and she answered, "Yes."  So the Caliph sent for
+him and he kissed ground before him and wished him endurance of
+glory and prosperity.  The Caliph marvelled at him and laughed at
+him and said to him, "O Fisherman, wast thou in very deed my
+partner [FN#255] yesterday?"  Khalifah took his meaning and
+heartening his heart and summoning spirit replied, "By Him who
+bestowed upon thee the succession to thy cousin, [FN#256] I know
+her not in anywise and have had no commerce with her save by way
+of sight and speech!"  Then he repeated to him all that had
+befallen him, since he last saw him, [FN#257] whereat the Caliph
+laughed and his breast broadened and he said to Khalifah, "Ask of
+us what thou wilt, O thou who bringest to owners their own!"  But
+he was silent; so the Caliph ordered him fifty thousand dinars of
+gold and a costly dress of honour such as great Sovrans don, and
+a she-mule, and gave him black slaves of the S�d�n to serve him,
+so that he became as he were one of the Kings of that time.  The
+Caliph was rejoiced at the recovery of his favourite and knew
+that all this was the doing of his cousin-wife, the Lady
+Zubaydah,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph
+rejoiced at the recovery of Kut al-Kulub and knew that all this
+was the doing of the Lady Zubaydah, his cousin-wife; wherefore he
+was sore enraged against her and held aloof from her a great
+while, visiting her not neither inclining to pardon her.  When
+she was certified of this, she was sore concerned for his wrath
+and her face, that was wont to be rosy, waxed pale and wan till,
+when her patience was exhausted, she sent a letter to her cousin,
+the Commander of the Faithful making her excuses to him and
+confessing her offences, and ending with these verses
+
+"I long once more the love that was between us to regain, * That
+     I may quench the fire of grief and bate the force of bane.
+O lords of me, have ruth upon the stress my passion deals *
+     Enough to me is what you doled of sorrow and of pain.
+'Tis life to me an deign you keep the troth you deigned to plight
+     * 'Tis death to me an troth you break and fondest vows
+     profane:
+Given I've sinned a sorry sin, ye grant me ruth, for naught * By
+     Allah, sweeter is than friend who is of pardon fain."
+
+When the Lady Zubaydah's letter reached the Caliph, and reading
+it he saw that she confessed her offence and sent her excuses to
+him therefor, he said to himself, "Verily, all sins doth Allah
+forgive; aye, Gracious, Merciful is He!" [FN#258]  And he
+returned her an answer, expressing satisfaction and pardon and
+forgiveness for what was past, whereat she rejoiced greatly.  As
+for Khalifah, the Fisherman, the Caliph assigned him a monthly
+solde of fifty dinars and took him into especial favour, which
+would lead to rank and dignity, honour and worship.  Then he
+kissed ground before the Commander of the Faithful and went forth
+with stately gait.  When he came to the door, the Eunuch Sandal,
+who had given him the hundred dinars, saw him and knowing him,
+said to him, "O Fisherman, whence all this?"  So he told him all
+that had befallen him, first and last, whereat Sandal rejoiced,
+because he had been the cause of his enrichment, and said to him,
+"Wilt thou not give me largesse of this wealth which is now become
+thine?"  So Khalifah put hand to pouch and taking out a purse
+containing a thousand dinars, gave it to the Eunuch, who said,
+"Keep thy coins and Allah bless thee therein!" and marvelled at
+his manliness and at the liberality of his soul, for all his late
+poverty. [FN#259]  Then leaving the eunuch, Khalifah mounted his
+she-mule and rode, with the slaves' hands on her crupper, till he
+came to his lodging at the Khan, whilst the folk stared at him in
+surprise for that which had betided him of advancement.  When he
+alighted from his beast they accosted him and enquired the cause
+of his change from poverty to prosperity, and he told them all
+that had happened to him from incept to conclusion.  Then he
+bought a fine mansion and laid out thereon much money, till it
+was perfect in all points.  And he took up his abode therein and
+was wont to recite thereon these two couplets,
+
+"Behold a house that's like the Dwelling of Delight; [FN#260] *
+     Its aspect heals the sick and banishes despite.
+Its sojourn for the great and wise appointed it, * And Fortune
+     fair therein abideth day and night."
+
+Then, as soon as he was settled in his house, he sought him in
+marriage the daughter of one of the chief men of the city, a
+handsome girl, and went in unto her and led a life of solace and
+satisfaction, joyaunce and enjoyment; and he rose to passing
+affluence and exceeding prosperity.  So, when he found himself in
+this fortunate condition, he offered up thanks to Allah (extolled
+and excelled be He!) for what He had bestowed on him of wealth
+exceeding and of favours ever succeeding, praising his Lord with
+the praise of the grateful and chanting the words of the poet,
+
+"To Thee be praise, O Thou who showest unremitting grace; * O
+     Thou whose universal bounties high and low embrace!
+To Thee be praise from me! Then deign accept my praise for I *
+     Accept Thy boons and gifts with grateful soul in every case.
+Thou hast with favours overwhelmed me, benefits and largesse *
+     And gracious doles my memory ne'er ceaseth to retrace.
+All men from mighty main, Thy grace and goodness, drain and
+     drink; * And in their need Thou, only Thou, to them art
+     refuge-place!
+So for the sake of him who came to teach mankind in ruth *
+     Prophet, pure, truthful-worded scion of the noblest race;
+Ever be Allah's blessing and His peace on him and all * His aids
+     [FN#261] and kin while pilgrims fare his noble tomb to face!
+And on his helpmeets [FN#262] one and all, Companions great and
+     good, * Through time Eternal while the bird shall sing in
+     shady wood!"
+
+And thereafter Khalifah continued to pay frequent visits to the
+Caliph Harun al-Rashid, with whom he found acceptance and who
+ceased not to overwhelm him with boons and bounty: and he abode
+in the enjoyment of the utmost honour and happiness and joy and
+gladness and in riches more than sufficing and in rank ever
+rising; brief, a sweet life and a savoury, pure as pleasurable,
+till there came to him the Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer
+of societies; and extolled be the perfection of Him to whom
+belong glory and permanence and He is the Living, the Eternal,
+who shall never die!
+
+
+
+NOTE.  I have followed the example of Mr. Payne and have
+translated in its entirety the Tale of Khalifah the Fisherman
+from the Breslau Edit. (Vol. iv. pp. 315-365, Night cccxxi-
+cccxxxii.) in preference to the unsatisfactory process of
+amalgamating it with that of the Mac. Edit. given above.
+
+
+
+
+               Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad.
+
+
+
+There was once, in days of yore and in ages and times long gone
+before, in the city of Baghdad, a fisherman, by name Khal�f, a
+man of muckle talk and little luck. One day, as he sat in his
+cell,[FN#263] he bethought himself and said, "There is no Majesty
+and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!
+Would Heaven I knew what is my offence in the sight of my Lord
+and what caused the blackness of my fortune and my littleness of
+luck among the fishermen, albeit (and I say it who should not) in
+the city of Baghdad there is never a fisherman like myself." Now
+he lodged in a ruined place called a Khan, to wit, an
+inn,[FN#264] without a door, and when he went forth to fish, he
+would shoulder the net, without basket or fish-slicers,[FN#265]
+and when the folk would stare at him and say to him, "O Khalif,
+why not take with thee a basket, to hold the fish thou
+catchest?"; he would reply, "Even as I carry it forth empty, so
+would it come back, for I never manage to catch aught." One night
+he arose, in the darkness before dawn, and taking his net on his
+shoulder, raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Allah mine, O Thou
+who subjectedst the sea to Moses son of Imr�n, give me this day
+my daily bread, for Thou art the best of bread-givers!" Then he
+went down to the Tigris and spreading his net, cast it into the
+river and waited till it had settled down, when he haled it in
+and drew it ashore, but behold, it held naught save a dead dog.
+So he cast away the carcase, saying, "O morning of ill doom! What
+a handsel is this dead hound, after I had rejoiced in its
+weight[FN#266]!" Then he mended the rents in the net, saying,
+"Needs must there after this carrion be fish in plenty, attracted
+by the smell," and made a second cast. After awhile, he drew up
+and found in the net the hough[FN#267] of a camel, that had
+caught in the meshes and rent them right and left. When Khalif
+saw his net in this state, he wept and said, "There is no Majesty
+and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! I
+wonder what is my offence and the cause of the blackness of my
+fortune and the littleness of my luck, of all folk, so that I
+catch neither cat-fish nor sprat,[FN#268] that I may broil on the
+embers and eat, for all I dare say there is not in the city of
+Baghdad a fisherman like me." Then with a Bismillah he cast his
+net a third time, and presently drawing it ashore found therein
+an ape scurvy and one-eyed, mangy, and limping hending an ivory
+rod in forehand. When Khalif saw this, he said, "This is indeed a
+blessed opening! What art thou, O ape?" "Dost thou not know me?"
+"No, by Allah, I have no knowledge of thee!" "I am thine ape!"
+"What use is there in thee, O my ape?" "Every day I give thee
+good-morrow, so Allah may not open to thee the door of daily
+bread." "Thou failest not of this, O one-eye[FN#269] of ill-omen!
+May Allah never bless thee! Needs must I pluck out thy sound eye
+and cut off thy whole leg, so thou mayst become a blind cripple
+and I be quit of thee. But what is the use of that rod thou
+hendest in hand?" "O Khalif, I scare the fish therewith, so they
+may not enter thy net." "Is it so?: then this very day will I
+punish thee with a grievous punishment and devise thee all manner
+torments and strip thy flesh from thy bones and be at rest from
+thee, sorry bit of goods that thou art!" So saying, Khalif the
+Fisherman unwound from his middle a strand of rope and binding
+him to a tree by his side, said, "Lookee, O dog of an ape! I mean
+to cast the net again and if aught come up therein, well and
+good; but, if it come up empty, I will verily and assuredly make
+an end of thee, with the cruellest tortures and be quit of thee,
+thou stinking lot." So he cast the net and drawing it ashore,
+found in it another ape and said, "Glory be to God the Great! I
+was wont to pull naught but fish out of this Tigris, but now it
+yieldeth nothing but apes." Then he looked at the second ape and
+saw him fair of form and round of face with pendants of gold in
+his ears and a blue waistcloth about his middle, and he was like
+unto a lighted taper. So he asked him, "What art thou, thou also,
+O ape?"; and he answered, saying, "O Khalif, I am the ape of Ab�
+al-Sa'�d�t the Jew, the Caliph's Shroff. Every day, I give him
+good-morrow, and he maketh a profit of ten gold pieces." Cried
+the Fisherman, "By Allah, thou art a fine ape, not like this
+ill-omened monkey o' mine!" So saying, he took a stick[FN#270]
+and came down upon the sides of the ape, till he broke his ribs
+and he jumped up and down. And the other ape, the handsome one,
+answered him, saying, "O Khalif, what will it profit thee to beat
+him, though thou belabour him till he die?" Khalif replied, "How
+shall I do? Shall I let him wend his ways that he may scare me
+the fish with his hang-dog face and give me good-even and
+good-morrow every day, so Allah may not open to me the door of
+daily bread? Nay, I will kill him and be quit of him and I will
+take thee in his stead; so shalt thou give me good-morrow and I
+shall gain ten golden dinars a day." Thereupon the comely ape
+made answer, "I will tell thee a better way than that, and if
+thou hearken to me, thou shalt be at rest and I will become thine
+ape in lieu of him." Asked the Fisherman, "And what dost thou
+counsel me?"; and the ape answered, saying, "Cast thy net and
+thou shalt bring up a noble fish, never saw any its like, and I
+will tell thee how thou shalt do with it." Replied Khalif,
+"Lookee, thou too! An I throw my net and there come up therein a
+third ape, be assured that I will cut the three of you into six
+bits." And the second ape rejoined, "So be it, O Khalif. I agree
+to this thy condition." Then Khalif spread the net and cast it
+and drew it up, when behold, in it was a fine young
+barbel[FN#271] with a round head, as it were a milking-pail,
+which when he saw, his wits fled for joy and he said, "Glory be
+to God! What is this noble creature? Were yonder apes in the
+river, I had not brought up this fish." Quoth the seemly ape, "O
+Khalif, an thou give ear to my rede, 'twill bring thee good
+fortune"; and quoth the Fisherman, "May God damn him who would
+gainsay thee henceforth!" Thereupon the ape said, "O Khalif, take
+some grass and lay the fish thereon in the basket[FN#272] and
+cover it with more grass and take also somewhat of basil[FN#273]
+from the greengrocer's and set it in the fish's mouth. Cover it
+with a kerchief and push thee through the bazar of Baghdad.
+Whoever bespeaketh thee of selling it, sell it not but fare on,
+till thou come to the market street of the jewellers and
+money-changers. Then count five shops on the right-hand side and
+the sixth shop is that of Abu al-Sa'adat the Jew, the Caliph's
+Shroff. When thou standest before him, he will say to thee, 'What
+seekest thou?'; and do thou make answer, 'I am a fisherwight, I
+threw my net in thy name and took this noble barbel, which I have
+brought thee as a present.' If he give thee aught of silver, take
+it not, be it little or mickle, for it will spoil that which thou
+wouldst do, but say to him, 'I want of thee naught save one word,
+that thou say to me, 'I sell thee my ape for thine ape and my
+luck for thy luck.' An the Jew say this, give him the fish and I
+shall become thine ape and this crippled, mangy and one-eyed ape
+will be his ape." Khalif replied, "Well said, O ape," nor did he
+cease faring Baghdad-wards and observing that which the ape had
+said to him, till he came to the Jew's shop and saw the Shroff
+seated, with eunuchs and pages about him, bidding and forbidding
+and giving and taking. So he set down his basket, saying, "O
+Sultan of the Jews, I am a fisher-wight and went forth to-day to
+the Tigris and casting my net in thy name, cried, 'This is for
+the luck of Abu al-Sa'adat;' and there came up to me this Banni
+which I have brought thee by way of present." Then he lifted the
+grass and discovered the fish to the Jew, who marvelled at its
+make and said, "Extolled be the perfection of the Most Excellent
+Creator!" Then he gave the fisherman a dinar, but he refused it
+and he gave him two. This also he refused and the Jew stayed not
+adding to his offer, till he made it ten dinars; but he still
+refused and Abu al-Sa'adat said to him, "By Allah, thou art a
+greedy one. Tell me what thou wouldst have, O Moslem!" Quoth
+Khalif, "I would have of thee but a single word. [FN#274]" When
+the Jew heard this, he changed colour and said, "Wouldst thou
+oust me from my faith? Wend thy ways;" and Khalif said to him,
+"By Allah, O Jew, naught mattereth an thou become a Moslem or a
+Nazarene!" Asked the Jew, "Then what wouldst thou have me say?";
+and the fisherman answered, "Say, I sell thee my ape for thy ape
+and my luck for thy luck." The Jew laughed, deeming him little of
+wit, and said by way of jest, "I sell thee my ape for thy ape and
+my luck for thy luck. Bear witness against him, O merchants! By
+Allah, O unhappy, thou art debarred from further claim on me!" So
+Khalif turned back, blaming himself and saying, "There is no
+Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the
+Great! Alas that I did not take the gold!" and fared on blaming
+himself in the matter of the money till he came to the Tigris,
+but found not the two apes, whereupon he wept and slapped his
+face and strewed dust on his head, saying, "But that the second
+ape wheedled me and put a cheat on me, the one-eyed ape had not
+escaped." And he gave not over wailing and weeping, till heat and
+hunger grew sore on him: so he took the net, saying, "Come, let
+us make a cast, trusting in Allah's blessing; belike I may catch
+a cat-fish or a barbel which I may boil and eat." So he threw the
+net and waiting till it had settled, drew it ashore and found it
+full of fish, whereat he was consoled and rejoiced and busied
+himself with unmeshing the fish and casting them on the earth.
+Presently, up came a woman seeking fish and crying out, "Fish is
+not to be found in the town." She caught sight of Khalif, and
+said to him, "Wilt thou sell this fish, O Master?" Answered
+Khalif, "I am going to turn it into clothes, 'tis all for sale,
+even to my beard.[FN#275] Take what thou wilt." So she gave him a
+dinar and he filled her basket. Then she went away and behold, up
+came another servant, seeking a dinar's worth of fish; nor did
+the folk cease till it was the hour of mid-afternoon prayer and
+Khalif had sold ten golden dinars' worth of fish. Then, being
+faint and famisht, he folded and shouldered his net and,
+repairing to the market, bought himself a woollen gown, a calotte
+with a plaited border and a honey-coloured turband for a dinar
+receiving two dirhams by way of change, wherewith he purchased
+fried cheese and a fat sheep's tail and honey and setting them in
+the oilman's platter, ate till he was full and his ribs felt
+cold[FN#276] from the mighty stuffing. Then he marched off to his
+lodgings in the magazine, clad in the gown and the honey-coloured
+turband and with the nine golden dinars in his mouth, rejoicing
+in what he had never in his life seen. He entered and lay down,
+but could not sleep for anxious thoughts and abode playing with
+the money half the night. Then said he in himself, "Haply the
+Caliph may hear that I have gold and say to Ja'afar, 'Go to
+Khalif the Fisherman and borrow us some money of him.' If I give
+it him, it will be no light matter to me, and if I give it not,
+he will torment me; but torture is easier to me than the giving
+up of the cash.[FN#277] However, I will arise and make trial of
+myself if I have a skin proof against stick or not." So he put
+off his clothes and taking a sailor's plaited whip, of an hundred
+and sixty strands, ceased not beating himself, till his sides and
+body were all bloody, crying out at every stroke he dealt himself
+and saying "O Moslems! I am a poor man! O Moslems, I am a poor
+man! O Moslems, whence should I have gold, whence should I have
+coin?" till the neighbours, who dwelt with him in that place,
+hearing him crying and saying, "Go to men of wealth and take of
+them," thought that thieves were torturing him, to get money from
+him, and that he was praying for aidance. Accordingly they
+flocked to him each armed with some weapon and finding the door
+of his lodging locked and hearing him roaring out for help,
+deemed that the thieves had come down upon him from the
+terrace-roof; so they fell upon the door and burst it open. Then
+they entered and found him mother-naked and bareheaded with body
+dripping blood, and altogether in a sad pickle; so they asked
+him, "What is this case in which we find thee? Hast thou lost thy
+wits and hath Jinn-madness betided thee this night?" And he
+answered them, "Nay; but I have gold with me and I feared lest
+the Caliph send to borrow of me and it were no light matter to
+give him aught; yet, an I gave not to him 'tis only too sure that
+he would put me to the torture; wherefore I arose to see if my
+skin were stick-proof or not." When they heard these words they
+said to him, "May Allah not assain thy body, unlucky madman that
+thou art! Of a surety thou art fallen mad to-night! Lie down to
+sleep, may Allah never bless thee! How many thousand dinars hast
+thou, that the Caliph should come and borrow of thee?" He
+replied, "By Allah, I have naught but nine dinars." And they all
+said, "By Allah, he is not otherwise than passing rich!" Then
+they left him wondering at his want of wit, and Khalif took his
+cash and wrapped it in a rag, saying to himself, "Where shall I
+hide all this gold? An I bury it, they will take it, and if I put
+it out on deposit, they will deny that I did so, and if I carry
+it on my head,[FN#278] they will snatch it, and if I tie it to my
+sleeve, they will cut it away." Presently, he espied a little
+breast-pocket in the gown and said, "By Allah, this is fine! 'Tis
+under my throat and hard by my mouth: if any put out his hand to
+hend it, I can come down on it with my mouth and hide it in my
+throttle." So he set the rag containing the gold in the pocket
+and lay down, but slept not that night for suspicion and trouble
+and anxious thought. On the morrow, he fared forth of his lodging
+on fishing intent and, betaking himself to the river, went down
+into the water, up to his knees. Then he threw the net and shook
+it with might and main; whereupon the purse fell down into the
+stream. So he tore off gown and turband and plunged in after it,
+saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah,
+the Glorious, the Great!" Nor did he give over diving and
+searching the stream-bed, till the day was half spent, but found
+not the purse. Now one saw him from afar diving and plunging and
+his gown and turband lying in the sun at a distance from him,
+with no one by them; so he watched him, till he dived again when
+he dashed at the clothes and made off with them. Presently,
+Khalif came ashore and, missing his gown and turband, was
+chagrined for their loss with passing cark and care and ascended
+a mound, to look for some passer-by, of whom he might enquire
+concerning them, but found none. Now the Caliph Harun al-Rashid
+had gone a-hunting and chasing that day; and, returning at the
+time of the noon heat, was oppressed thereby and thirsted; so he
+looked for water from afar and seeing a naked man standing on the
+mound said to Ja'afar, "Seest thou what I see?" Replied the
+Wazir, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful; I see a man standing on
+a hillock." Al-Rashid asked, "What is he?"; and Ja'afar answered,
+"Haply he is the guardian of a cucumber-plot." Quoth the Caliph,
+"Perhaps he is a pious man[FN#279]; I would fain go to him,
+alone, and desire of him his prayers; and abide ye where you
+are." So he went up to Khalif and saluting him with the salam
+said to him, "What art thou, O man?" Replied the fisherman, "Dost
+thou not know me? I am Khalif the Fisherman;" and the Caliph
+rejoined, "What? The Fisherman with the woollen gown and the
+honey-coloured turband[FN#280]?" When Khalif heard him name the
+clothes he had lost, he said in himself, "This is he who took my
+duds: belike he did but jest with me." So he came down from the
+knoll and said, "Can I not take a noontide nap[FN#281] but thou
+must trick me this trick? I saw thee take my gear and knew that
+thou wast joking with me." At this, laughter got the better of
+the Caliph and he said; "What clothes hast thou lost? I know
+nothing of that whereof thou speakest, O Khalif." Cried the
+Fisherman, "By God the Great, except thou bring me back the gear,
+I will smash thy ribs with this staff!" (For he always carried a
+quarterstaff.) Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, I have not seen the
+things whereof thou speakest!"; and quoth Khalif "I will go with
+thee and take note of thy dwelling-place and complain of thee to
+the Chief of Police, so thou mayst not trick me this trick again.
+By Allah, none took my gown and turband but thou, and except thou
+give them back to me at once, I will throw thee off the back of
+that she-ass thou ridest and come down on thy pate with this
+quarterstaff, till thou canst not stir!" Thereupon he tugged at
+the bridle of the mule so that she reared up on her hind legs and
+the Caliph said to himself, "What calamity is this I have fallen
+into with this madman?" Then he pulled off a gown he had on,
+worth an hundred dinars, and said to Khalif, "Take this gown in
+lieu of thine own." He took it and donning it saw it was too
+long; so he cut it short at the knees and turbanded his head with
+the cut-off piece; then said to the Caliph, "What art thou and
+what is thy craft? But why ask? Thou art none other than a
+trumpeter." Al-Rashid asked, "What showed thee that I was a
+trumpeter by trade?"; and Khalif answered, "Thy big nostrils and
+little mouth." Cried the Caliph, "Well guessed! Yes, I am of that
+craft." Then said Khalif, "An thou wilt hearken to me, I will
+teach thee the art of fishing: 'twill be better for thee than
+trumpeting and thou wilt eat lawfully[FN#282]." Replied the
+Caliph, "Teach it me so that I may see whether I am capable of
+learning it." And Khalif said, "Come with me, O trumpeter." So
+the Caliph followed him down to the river and took the net from
+him, whilst he taught him how to throw it. Then he cast it and
+drew it up, when, behold, it was heavy, and the fisherman said,
+"O trumpeter, an the net be caught on one of the rocks, drag it
+not too hard, or 'twill break and by Allah, I will take thy
+she-ass in payment thereof!" The Caliph laughed at his words and
+drew up the net, little by little, till he brought it ashore and
+found it full of fish; which when Khalif saw, his reason fled for
+joy and presently he cried, "By Allah, O trumpeter, thy luck is
+good in fishing! Never in my life will I part with thee! But now
+I mean to send thee to the fish-bazar, where do thou enquire for
+the shop of Humayd the fisherman and say to him, 'My master
+Khalif saluteth thee and biddeth thee send him a pair of frails
+and a knife, so he may bring thee more fish than yesterday.' Run
+and return to me forthright!" The Caliph replied (and indeed he
+was laughing), "On my head, O master!" and, mounting his mule,
+rode back to Ja'afar, who said to him, "Tell me what hath
+betided thee." So the Caliph told him all that had passed between
+Khalif the Fisherman and himself, from first to last, adding, "I
+left him awaiting my return to him with the baskets and I am
+resolved that he shall teach me how to scale fish and clean
+them." Quoth Ja'afar, "And I will go with thee to sweep up the
+scales and clean out the shop." And the affair abode thus, till
+presently the Caliph cried, "O Ja'afar, I desire of thee that
+thou despatch the young Mamelukes, saying to them, 'Whoso
+bringeth me a fish from before yonder fisherman, I will give him
+a dinar;' for I love to eat of my own fishing." Accordingly
+Ja'afar repeated to the young white slaves what the Caliph had
+said and directed them where to find the man. They came down upon
+Khalif and snatched the fish from him; and when he saw them and
+noted their goodliness, he doubted not but that they were of the
+black-eyed Houris of Paradise: so he caught up a couple of fish
+and ran into the river, saying, "O Allah mine, by the secret
+virtue of these fish, forgive me!" Suddenly, up came the chief
+eunuch, questing fish, but he found none; so seeing Khalif
+ducking and rising in the water, with the two fish in his hands,
+called out to him, saying, "O Khalif, what hast thou there?"
+Replied the fisherman, "Two fish," and the eunuch said, "Give
+them to me and take an hundred dinars for them." Now when Khalif
+heard speak of an hundred dinars, he came up out of the water and
+cried, "Hand over the hundred dinars." Said the eunuch, "Follow
+me to the house of Al-Rashid and receive thy gold, O Khalif;" and,
+taking the fish, made off to the Palace of the Caliphate.
+Meanwhile Khalif betook himself to Baghdad, clad as he was in the
+Caliph's gown, which reached only to above his knees,[FN#283]
+turbanded with the piece he had cut off therefrom and girt about
+his middle with a rope, and he pushed through the centre of the
+city. The folk fell a-laughing and marvelling at him and saying,
+"Whence hadst thou that robe of honour?" But he went on, asking,
+"Where is the house of Al-Rash�d[FN#284]?;" and they answered,
+"Say, 'The house of Al-Rash�d';" and he rejoined, "'Tis all the
+same," and fared on, till he came to the Palace of the Caliphate.
+Now he was seen by the tailor, who had made the gown and who was
+standing at the door, and when he noticed it upon the Fisherman,
+he said to him, "For how many years hast thou had admission to
+the palace?" Khalif replied, "Ever since I was a little one;" and
+the tailor asked, "Whence hadest thou that gown thou hast spoilt
+on this wise?" Khalif answered, "I had it of my apprentice the
+trumpeter." Then he went up to the door, where he found the Chief
+Eunuch sitting with the two fishes by his side: and seeing him
+sable-black of hue, said to him, "Wilt thou not bring the hundred
+dinars, O uncle Tulip?" Quoth he, "On my head, O Khalif," when,
+behold, out came Ja'afar from the presence of the Caliph and
+seeing the fisherman talking with the Eunuch and saying to him,
+"This is the reward of goodness, O nuncle Tulip," went in to
+Al-Rashid and said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, thy
+master the Fisherman is with the Chief Eunuch, dunning him for an
+hundred dinars." Cried the Caliph, "Bring him to me, O Ja'afar;"
+and the Minister answered, "Hearing and obeying." So he went out
+to the Fisherman and said to him, "O Khalif, thine apprentice the
+trumpeter biddeth thee to him;" then he walked on, followed by
+the other till they reached the presence-chamber, where he saw
+the Caliph seated, with a canopy over his head. When he entered,
+Al-Rashid wrote three scrolls and set them before him, and the
+Fisherman said to him, "So thou hast given up trumpeting and
+turned astrologer!" Quoth the Caliph to him, "Take thee a
+scroll." Now in the first he had written, "Let him be given a
+gold piece," in the second, "An hundred dinars," and in the
+third, "Let him be given an hundred blows with a whip." So Khalif
+put out his hand and by the decree of the Predestinator, it
+lighted on the scroll wherein was written, "Let him receive an
+hundred lashes," and Kings, whenas they ordain aught, go not back
+therefrom. So they threw him prone on the ground and beat him an
+hundred blows, whilst he wept and roared for succour, but none
+succoured him, and said, "By Allah, this is a good joke O
+trumpeter! I teach thee fishing and thou turnest astrologer and
+drawest me an unlucky lot. Fie upon thee,[FN#285] in thee is
+naught of good!" When the Caliph heard his speech, he fell
+fainting in a fit of laughter and said, "O Khalif, no harm shall
+betide thee: fear not. Give him an hundred gold pieces." So they
+gave him an hundred dinars, and he went out, and ceased not
+faring forth till he came to the trunk-market, where he found the
+folk assembled in a ring about a broker, who was crying out and
+saying, "At an hundred dinars, less one dinar! A locked chest!"
+So he pressed on and pushed through the crowd and said to the
+broker, "Mine for an hundred dinars!" The broker closed with him
+and took his money, whereupon there was left him nor little nor
+much. The porters disputed awhile about who should carry the
+chest and presently all said, "By Allah, none shall carry this
+chest but Zurayk!"[FN#286] And the folk said, "Blue-eyes hath the
+best right to it." So Zurayk shouldered the chest, after the
+goodliest fashion, and walked a-rear of Khalif. As they went
+along, the Fisherman said in himself, "I have nothing left to
+give the porter; how shall I rid myself of him? Now I will
+traverse the main streets with him and lead him about, till he be
+weary and set it down and leave it, when I will take it up and
+carry it to my lodging." Accordingly, he went round about the
+city with the porter from noontide to sundown, till the man began
+to grumble and said, "O my lord, where is thy house?" Quoth
+Khalif, "Yesterday I knew it, but to-day I have forgotten it."
+And the porter said, "Give me my hire and take thy chest." But
+Khalif said, "Go on at thy leisure, till I bethink me where my
+house is," presently adding, "O Zurayk, I have no money with me.
+'Tis all in my house and I have forgotten where it is." As they
+were talking, there passed by them one who knew the Fisherman and
+said to him, "O Khalif, what bringeth thee hither?" Quoth the
+porter, "O uncle, where is Khalif's house?" and quoth he, "'Tis
+in the ruined Khan in the Raw�s�n Quarter."[FN#287] Then said
+Zurayk to Khalif, "Go to; would Heaven thou hadst never lived nor
+been!" And the Fisherman trudged on, followed by the porter, till
+they came to the place when the Hammal said, "O thou whose daily
+bread Allah cut off in this world, have we not passed this place
+a score of times? Hadst thou said to me, 'Tis in such a stead,
+thou hadst spared me this great toil; but now give me my wage and
+let me wend my way." Khalif replied "Thou shalt have silver, if
+not gold. Stay here, till I bring thee the same." So he entered
+his lodging and taking a mallet he had there, studded with forty
+nails (wherewith an he smote a camel, he had made an end of it),
+rushed upon the porter and raised his forearm to strike him
+therewith; but Zurayk cried out at him, saying, "Hold thy hand! I
+have no claim on thee," and fled. Now having got rid of the
+Hammal, Khalif carried the chest into the Khan, whereupon the
+neighbours came down and flocked about him, saying, "O Khalif,
+whence hadst thou this robe and this chest?" Quoth he, "From my
+apprentice Al-Rashid who gave them to me," and they said, "The
+pimp is mad! Al-Rashid will assuredly hear of his talk and hang
+him over the door of his lodging and hang all in the Khan on
+account of the droll. This is a fine farce!" Then they helped him
+to carry the chest into his lodging and it filled the whole
+closet.[FN#288] Thus far concerning Khalif; but as for the
+history of the chest, it was as follows: The Caliph had a Turkish
+slave-girl, by name Kut al-Kul�b, whom he loved with love
+exceeding and the Lady Zubaydah came to know of this from himself
+and was passing jealous of her and secretly plotted mischief
+against her. So, whilst the Commander of the Faithful was absent
+a-sporting and a-hunting, she sent for Kut al-Kulub and, inviting
+her to a banquet, set before her meat and wine, and she ate and
+drank. Now the wine was drugged with Bhang; so she slept and
+Zubaydah sent for her Chief Eunuch and putting her in a great
+chest, locked it and gave it to him, saying, "Take this chest and
+cast it into the river." Thereupon he took it up before him on a
+he-mule and set out with it for the sea, but found it unfit to
+carry; so, as he passed by the trunk-market, he saw the Shaykh of
+the brokers and salesmen and said to him, "Wilt thou sell me this
+chest, O uncle?" The broker replied, "Yes, we will do this much."
+"But," said the Eunuch, "look thou sell it not except locked;"
+and the other, "'Tis well; we will do that also."[FN#289] So he
+set down the chest, and they cried it for sale, saying, "Who will
+buy this chest for an hundred dinars?"; and behold, up came
+Khalif the Fisherman and bought the chest after turning it over
+right and left; and there passed between him and the porter that
+which hath been before set out. Now as regards Khalif the
+Fisherman; he lay down on the chest to sleep, and presently Kut
+al-Kulub awoke from her Bhang and finding herself in the chest,
+cried out and said, "Alas!" Whereupon Khalif sprang off the
+chest-lid and cried out and said, "Ho, Moslems! Come to my help!
+There are Ifrits in the chest." So the neighbours awoke from
+sleep and said to him, "What mattereth thee, O madman?" Quoth he,
+"The chest is full of Ifrits;" and quoth they, "Go to sleep; thou
+hast troubled our rest this night may Allah not bless thee! Go in
+and sleep, without madness." He ejaculated, "I cannot sleep;" but
+they abused him and he went in and lay down once more. And
+behold, Kut al-Kulub spoke and said, "Where am I?" Upon which
+Khalif fled forth the closet and said, "O neighbours of the
+hostelry, come to my aid!" Quoth they, "What hath befallen thee?
+Thou troublest the neighbours' rest." "O folk, there be Ifrits in
+the chest, moving and speaking." "Thou liest: what do they say?"
+"They say, 'Where am I?'" "Would Heaven thou wert in Hell! Thou
+disturbest the neighbours and hinderest them of sleep. Go to
+sleep, would thou hadst never lived nor been!" So Khalif went in
+fearful because he had no place wherein to sleep save upon the
+chest-lid when lo! as he stood, with ears listening for speech,
+Kut al-Kulub spake again and said, "I'm hungry." So in sore
+affright he fled forth and cried out, "Ho neighbours! ho dwellers
+in the Khan, come aid me!" Said they, "What is thy calamity
+now?"[FN#290] And he answered, "The Ifrits in the chest say, 'We
+are hungry.'" Quoth the neighbours one to other, "'Twould seem
+Khalif is hungry; let us feed him and give him the supper-orts;
+else he will not let us sleep to-night." So they brought him
+bread and meat and broken victuals and radishes and gave him a
+basket full of all kinds of things, saying, "Eat till thou be
+full and go to sleep and talk not, else will we break thy ribs
+and beat thee to death this very night." So he took the basket
+with the provaunt and entered his lodging. Now it was a moonlight
+night and the moon shone in full sheen upon the chest and lit up
+the closet with its light, seeing this he sat down on his
+purchase and fell to eating of the food with both hands.
+Presently Kut al-Kulub spake again and said, "Open to me and have
+mercy upon me, O Moslems!" So Khalif arose and taking a stone he
+had by him, broke the chest open and behold, therein lay a young
+lady as she were the sun's shining light with brow flower-white,
+face moonbright, cheeks of rose-hue exquisite and speech sweeter
+than sugar-bite, and in dress worth a thousand dinars and more
+bedight. Seeing this his wits flew from his head for joy and he
+said, "By Allah, thou art of the fair!" She asked him, "What art
+thou, O fellow?" and he answered, "O my lady, I am Khalif the
+Fisherman." Quoth she, "Who brought me hither?"; and quoth he, "I
+bought thee, and thou art my slave-girl." Thereupon said she, "I
+see on thee a robe of the raiment of the Caliph." So he told her
+all that had betided him, from first to last, and how he had
+bought the chest; wherefore she knew that the Lady Zubaydah had
+played her false; and she ceased not talking with him till the
+morning, when she said to him, "O Khalif, seek me from some one
+inkcase and reed-pen and paper and bring them to me." So he found
+with one of the neighbours what she sought and brought it to her,
+whereupon she wrote a letter and folded it and gave it to him,
+saying, "O Khalif, take this paper and carry it to the
+jewel-market, where do thou enquire for the shop of Abu al-Hasan
+the jeweller and give it to him." Answered the Fisherman, "O my
+lady, this name is difficult to me; I cannot remember it." And
+she rejoined, "Then ask for the shop of Ibn al-'Uk�b."[FN#291]
+Quoth he, "O my lady, what is an 'Ukab?"; and quoth she, "'Tis a
+bird which folk carry on fist with eyes hooded." And he
+exclaimed, "O my lady, I know it." Then he went forth from her
+and fared on, repeating the name, lest it fade from his memory;
+but, by the time he reached the jewel-market, he had forgotten
+it. So he accosted one of the merchants and said to him, "Is
+there any here named after a bird?" Replied the merchant, "Yes,
+thou meanest Ibn al-Ukab." Khalif cried, "That's the man I want,"
+and making his way to him, gave him the letter, which when he
+read and knew the purport thereof, he fell to kissing it and
+laying it on his head; for it is said that Abu al-Hasan was the
+agent of the Lady Kut al-Kulub and her intendant over all her
+property in lands and houses. Now she had written to him, saying,
+"From Her Highness the Lady Kut al-Kulub to Sir Abu al-Hasan the
+jeweller. The instant this letter reacheth thee, set apart for us
+a saloon completely equipped with furniture and vessels and
+negro-slaves and slave-girls and what not else is needful for our
+residence and seemly, and take the bearer of the missive and
+carry him to the bath. Then clothe him in costly apparel and do
+with him thus and thus." So he said "Hearing and obeying," and
+locking up his shop, took the Fisherman and bore him to the bath,
+where he committed him to one of the bathmen, that he might serve
+him, according to custom. Then he went forth to carry out the
+Lady Kut al-Kulub's orders. As for Khalif, he concluded, of his
+lack of wit and stupidity, that the bath was a prison and said to
+the bathman, "What crime have I committed that ye should lay me
+in limbo?" They laughed at him and made him sit on the side of
+the tank, whilst the bathman took hold of his legs, that he might
+shampoo them. Khalif thought he meant to wrestle with him and
+said to himself, "This is a wrestling-place[FN#292] and I knew
+naught of it." Then he arose and seizing the bathman's legs,
+lifted him up and threw him on the ground and broke his ribs. The
+man cried out for help, whereupon the other bathmen came in a
+crowd and fell upon Khalif and overcoming him by dint of numbers,
+delivered their comrade from his clutches and tunded him till he
+came to himself. Then they knew that the Fisherman was a
+simpleton and served him till Abu al-Hasan came back with a dress
+of rich stuff and clad him therein; after which he brought him a
+handsome she-mule, ready saddled, and taking him by the hand,
+carried him forth of the bath and said to him, "Mount." Quoth he,
+"How shall I mount? I fear lest she throw me and break my ribs
+into my belly." Nor would he back the mule, save after much
+travail and trouble, and they stinted not faring on, till they
+came to the place which Abu al-Hasan had set apart for the Lady
+Kut al-Kulub. Thereupon Khalif entered and found her sitting,
+with slaves and eunuchs about her and the porter at the door,
+staff in hand, who when he saw the Fisherman sprang up and
+kissing his hand, went before him, till he brought him within the
+saloon. Here the Fisherman saw what amazed his wit, and his eye
+was dazzled by that which he beheld of riches past count and
+slaves and servants, who kissed his hand and said, "May the bath
+be a blessing to thee!"[FN#293] When he entered the saloon and
+drew near unto Kut al-Kulub, she sprang up to him and taking him
+by the hand, seated him on a high-mattrassed divan. Then she
+brought him a vase of sherbet of sugar, mingled with rosewater
+and willow-water, and he took it and drank it off and left not a
+single drop. Moreover, he ran his finger round the inside of the
+vessel[FN#294] and would have licked it, but she forbade him,
+saying, "That is foul." Quoth he, "Silence; this is naught but
+good honey;" and she laughed at him and set before him a tray of
+meats, whereof he ate his sufficiency. Then they brought an ewer
+and basin of gold, and he washed his right hand and abode in the
+gladdest of life and the most honourable. Now hear what befel the
+Commander of the Faithful. When he came back from his journey and
+found not Kut al-Kulub, he questioned the Lady Zubaydah of her
+and she said, "She is verily dead, may thy head live, O Prince of
+True Believers!" But she had bidden dig a grave amiddlemost the
+Palace and had built over it a mock tomb, for her knowledge of
+the love the Caliph bore to Kut al-Kulub: so she said to him, "O
+Commander of the Faithful, I made her a tomb amiddlemost the
+Palace and buried her there." Then she donned black,[FN#295] a
+mere sham and pure pretence; and feigned mourning a great while.
+Now Kut al-Kulub knew that the Caliph was come back from his
+hunting excursion; so she turned to Khalif and said to him,
+"Arise; hie thee to the bath and come back." So he rose and went
+to the Hammam-bath, and when he returned, she clad him in a dress
+worth a thousand dinars and taught him manners and respectful
+bearing to superiors. Then said she to him, "Go hence to the
+Caliph and say to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, 'tis my
+desire that this night thou deign be my guest.'" So Khalif arose
+and mounting his she-mule, rode, with pages and black slaves
+before him, till he came to the Palace of the Caliphate. Quoth
+the wise, "Dress up a stick and 'twill look chique."[FN#296] And
+indeed his comeliness was manifest and his goodliness and the
+folk marvelled at this. Presently, the Chief Eunuch saw him, the
+same who had given him the hundred dinars that had been the cause
+of his good fortune; so he went in to the Caliph and said to him,
+"O Commander of the Faithful, Khalif the Fisherman is become a
+King, and on him is a robe of honour worth a thousand dinars."
+The Prince of True Believers bade admit him; so he entered and
+said, "Peace be with thee, O Commander of the Faithful and
+Vice-regent of the Lord of the three Worlds and Defender of the
+folk of the Faith! Allah Almighty prolong thy days and honour thy
+dominion and exalt thy degree to the highmost height!" The Caliph
+looked at him and marvelled at him and how fortune had come to
+him at unawares; then he said to him, "O Khalif, whence hadst
+thou that robe which is upon thee?" He replied, "O Commander of
+the Faithful, it cometh from my house." Quoth the Caliph, "Hast
+thou then a house?"; and quoth Khalif, "Yea, verily! and thou, O
+Commander of the Faithful, art my guest this day." Al-Rashid
+said, "I alone, O Khalif, or I and those who are with me?"; and
+he replied, "Thou and whom thou wilt." So Ja'afar turned to him
+and said, "We will be thy guests this night;" whereupon he kissed
+ground again and withdrawing, mounted his mule and rode off,
+attended by his servants and suite of Mamelukes leaving the
+Caliph marvelling at this and saying to Ja'afar, "Sawest thou
+Khalif, with his mule and dress, his white slaves and his
+dignity? But yesterday I knew him for a buffoon and a jester."
+And they marvelled at this much. Then they mounted and rode, till
+they drew near Khalif's house, when the Fisherman alighted and,
+taking a bundle from one of his attendants, opened it and pulled
+out therefrom a piece of tabby silk[FN#297] and spread it under
+the hoofs of the Caliph's she-mule; then he brought out a piece
+of velvet-Kimcob[FN#298] and a third of fine satin and did with
+them likewise; and thus he spread well nigh twenty pieces of rich
+stuffs, till Al-Rashid and his suite had reached the house; when
+he came forward and said, "Bismillah,[FN#299] O Commander of the
+Faithful!" Quoth Al-Rashid to Ja'afar, "I wonder to whom this
+house may belong," and quoth he, "It belongeth to a man hight Ibn
+al-Ukab, Syndic of the jewellers." So the Caliph dismounted and
+entering, with his courtiers, saw a high-builded saloon, spacious
+and boon, with couches on da�s and carpets and divans strown in
+place. So he went up to the couch that was set for himself on
+four legs of ivory, plated with glittering gold and covered with
+seven carpets. This pleased him and behold, up came Khalif, with
+eunuchs and little white slaves, bearing all manner sherbets,
+compounded with sugar and lemon and perfumed with rose and
+willow-water and the purest musk. The Fisherman advanced and
+drank and gave the Caliph to drink, and the cup-bearers came
+forward and served the rest of the company with the sherbets.
+Then Khalif brought a table spread with meats of various colours
+and geese and fowls and other birds, saying, "In the name of
+Allah!" So they ate their fill; after which he bade remove the
+tables and kissing the ground three times before the Caliph
+craved his royal leave to bring wine and music.[FN#300] He
+granted him permission for this and turning to Ja'afar, said to
+him, "As my head liveth, the house and that which is therein is
+Khalif's; for that he is ruler over it and I am in admiration at
+him, whence there came to him this passing prosperity and
+exceeding felicity! However, this is no great matter to Him who
+saith to a thing, 'Be!' and it becometh; what I most wonder at is
+his understanding, how it hath increased, and whence he hath
+gotten this loftiness and this lordliness; but, when Allah
+willeth weal unto a man, He amendeth his intelligence before
+bringing him to worldly affluence." As they were talking, behold,
+up came Khalif, followed by cup-bearer lads like moons, belted
+with zones of gold, who spread a cloth of siglaton[FN#301] and
+set thereon flagons of chinaware and tall flasks of glass and
+cups of crystal and bottles and hanaps[FN#302] of all colours;
+and those flagons they filled with pure clear and old wine, whose
+scent was as the fragrance of virgin musk and it was even as
+saith the poet,
+
+"Ply me and also my mate be plied * With pure wine prest in the
+     olden tide.[FN#303]
+Daughter of nobles[FN#304] they lead her forth[FN#305] * In
+     raiment of goblets beautified.
+They belt her round with the brightest gems, * And pearls and
+     unions, the Ocean's pride;
+So I by these signs and signets know * Wherefore the Wine is
+     entitled 'Bride.'[FN#306]"
+
+And round about these vessels were confections and flowers, such
+as may not be surpassed. When Al-Rashid saw this from Khalif, he
+inclined to him and smiled upon him and invested him with an
+office; so Khalif wished him continuance of honour and endurance
+of days and said, "Will the Commander of the Faithful deign give
+me leave to bring him a singer, a lute-player her like was never
+heard among mortals ever?" Quoth the Caliph, "Thou art
+permitted!" So he kissed ground before him and going to a secret
+closet, called Kut al-Kulub, who came after she had disguised and
+falsed and veiled herself, tripping in her robes and trinkets;
+and she kissed ground before the Commander of the Faithful. Then
+she sat down and tuning the lute, touched its strings and played
+upon it, till all present were like to faint for excess of
+delight; after which she improvised these verses,
+
+"Would Heaven I wot, will ever Time bring our beloveds back
+     again? * And, ah! will Union and its bliss to bless two
+     lovers deign?
+Will Time assure to us united days and join�d joy, * While from
+     the storms and stowres of life in safety we remain?
+Then O Who bade this pleasure be, our parting past and gone, *
+     And made one house our meeting-stead throughout the Nights
+     contain;
+By him, draw near me, love, and closest cling to side of me *
+     Else were my wearied wasted life, a vanity, a bane."
+
+When the Caliph heard this, he could not master himself, but rent
+his raiment and fell down a-swoon; whereupon all who were present
+hastened to doff their dress and throw it over him, whilst Kut
+al-Kulub signed to Khalif and said to him, "Hie to yonder chest
+and bring us what is therein;" for she had made ready therein a
+suit of the Caliph's wear against the like of such hour as this.
+So Khalif brought it to her and she threw it over the Commander
+of the Faithful, who came to himself and knowing her for Kut al-
+Kulub, said, "Is this the Day of Resurrection and hath Allah
+quickened those who are in the tombs; or am I asleep and is this
+an imbroglio of dreams?" Quoth Kut al-Kulub, "We are on wake, not
+on sleep, and I am alive, nor have I drained the cup of death."
+Then she told him all that had befallen her, and indeed, since he
+lost her, life had not been light to him nor had sleep been
+sweet, and he abode now wondering, then weeping and anon afire
+for longing. When she had made an end of her story, the Caliph
+rose and took her by the hand, intending for her palace, after he
+had kissed her inner lips, and had strained her to his bosom;
+whereupon Khalif rose and said, "By Allah, O Commander of the
+Faithful! Thou hast already wronged me once, and now thou
+wrongest me again." Quoth Al-Rashid, "Indeed thou speakest sooth,
+O Khalif," and bade the Wazir Ja'afar give him what should
+satisfy him. So he straightway gifted him with all for which he
+wished and assigned him a village, the yearly revenues whereof
+were twenty thousand dinars. Moreover Kut al-Kulub generously
+presented him the house and all that was therein of furniture and
+hangings and white slaves and slave-girls and eunuchs great and
+small. So Khalif became possessed of this passing affluence and
+exceeding wealth and took him a wife, and prosperity taught him
+gravity and dignity, and good fortune overwhelmed him. The Caliph
+enrolled him among his equerries and he abode in all solace of
+life and its delights till he deceased and was admitted to the
+mercy of Allah. Furthermore they relate a tale anent[FN#307]
+
+
+
+
+              MASRUR AND ZAYN AL-MAWASIF.[FN#308]
+
+
+
+There was once in days of yore and in ages and times long gone
+before a man and a merchant Masr�r hight, who was of the
+comeliest of the folk of his tide, a wight of wealth galore and
+in easiest case; but he loved to take his pleasure in vergiers
+and flower-gardens and to divert himself with the love of the
+fair. Now it fortuned one night, as he lay asleep, he dreamt that
+he was in a garth of the loveliest, wherein were four birds, and
+amongst them a dove, white as polished silver. That dove pleased
+him and for her grew up in his heart an exceeding love.
+Presently, he beheld a great bird swoop down on him and snatch
+the dove from his hand, and this was grievous to him. After which
+he awoke and not finding the bird strave with his yearnings till
+morning, when he said in himself, "There is no help but that I go
+to-day to some one who will expound to me this vision."--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+the merchant awoke, he strave with his yearnings till morning
+when he said to himself, "There is no help but that I go this day
+to some one who will expound to me this vision." So he went forth
+and walked right and left, till he was far from his
+dwelling-place, but found none to interpret the dream to him.
+Then he would have returned, but on his way behold, the fancy
+took him to turn aside to the house of a certain trader, a man of
+the wealthiest, and when he drew near to it, suddenly he heard
+from within a plaintive voice from a sorrowful heart reciting
+these couplets,
+
+"The breeze o' Morn blows uswards from her trace * Fragrant, and
+     heals the love-sick lover's case.
+I stand like captive on the mounds and ask * While tears make
+     answer for the ruined place:
+Quoth I, 'By Allah, Breeze o' Morning, say * Shall Time and
+     Fortune aye this stead regrace?
+Shall I enjoy a fawn whose form bewitched * And langourous
+     eyelids wasted frame and face?'"
+
+When Masrur heard this, he looked in through the doorway and saw
+a garden of the goodliest of gardens, and at its farther end a
+curtain of red brocade, purfled with pearls and gems, behind
+which sat four damsels, and amongst them a young lady over four
+feet and under five in height, as she were the rondure of the
+lune and the full moon shining boon: she had eyes Kohl'd with
+nature's dye and joined eyebrows, a mouth as it were Solomon's
+seal and lips and teeth bright with pearls and coral's light; and
+indeed she ravished all wits with her beauty and loveliness and
+symmetry and perfect grace. When Masrur espied her, he entered
+the porch and went on entering till he came to the curtain:
+whereupon she raised her head and glanced at him. So he saluted
+her and she returned his salam with sweetest speech; and, when he
+considered her more straitly, his reason was dazed and his heart
+amazed. Then he looked at the garden and saw that it was full of
+jessamine and gilly flowers and violets and roses and orange
+blossoms and all manner sweet-scented blooms and herbs. Every
+tree was girt about with fruits and there coursed down water from
+four da�ses, which faced one another and occupied the four
+corners of the garden. He looked at the first L�w�n and found
+written around it with vermilion these two couplets,
+
+"Ho thou the House! Grief never home in thee; * Nor Time work
+     treason on thine owner's head:
+All good betide the House which every guest * Harbours, when sore
+     distrest for way and stead!"
+
+Then he looked at the second da�s and found written thereon in
+red gold these couplets,
+
+"Robe thee, O House, in richest raiment Time, * Long as the
+     birdies on the branchlets chime!
+And sweetest perfumes breathe within thy walls * And lover meet
+     beloved in bliss sublime.
+And dwell thy dwellers all in joy and pride * Long as the
+     wandering stars Heaven-hill shall climb."
+
+Then he looked at the third, whereon he found written in
+ultramarine these two couplets,
+
+"Ever thy pomp and pride, O House! display * While starkeneth
+     Night and shineth sheeny Day!
+Boon Fortune bless all entering thy walls, * And whomso dwell in
+     thee, for ever and aye!"
+
+Then he looked at the fourth and saw painted in yellow characters
+this couplet,
+
+"This garden and this lake in truth * Are fair sitting-steads, by
+     the Lord of Ruth!"
+
+Moreover, in that garden were birds of all breeds, ring-dove and
+cushat and nightingale and culver, each singing his several song,
+and amongst them the lady, swaying gracefully to and fro in her
+beauty and grace and symmetry and loveliness and ravishing all
+who saw her. Presently quoth she to Masrur, "Hola man! what
+bringeth thee into a house other than thy house and wherefore
+comest thou in unto women other than thy women, without leave of
+their owner?" Quoth he, "O my lady, I saw this garden, and the
+goodliness of its greenery pleased me and the fragrance of its
+flowers and the carolling of its birds; so I entered, thinking to
+gaze on it awhile and wend my way." Said she, "With love and
+gladness!"; and Masrur was amazed at the sweetness of her speech
+and the coquetry of her glances and the straightness of her
+shape, and transported by her beauty and seemlihead and the
+pleasantness of the garden and the birds. So in the disorder of
+his spirits he recited these couplets,
+
+"As a crescent-moon in the garth her form * 'Mid Basil and
+     jasmine and Rose I scan;
+And Violet faced by the Myrtle-spray * And Nu'um�n's bloom and
+     Myrobalan:
+By her perfume the Zephyrs perfum�d breathe * And with scented
+     sighings the branches fan.
+O Garden, thou perfect of beauty art * All charms comprising in
+     perfect plan;
+And melodious birdies sing madrigals * And the Full Moon[FN#309]
+     shineth in branchshade wan;
+Its ring-dove, its culver, its mocking-bird * And its Philomel
+     sing my soul t' unman;
+And the longing of love all my wits confuseth * For her charms,
+     as the man whom his wine bemuseth."
+
+Now when Zayn al-Maw�sif heard his verse, she glanced at him with
+eyes which bequeathed a thousand sighs and utterly ravished his
+wisdom and wits and replied to him in these lines,
+
+"Hope not of our favours to make thy prey * And of what thou
+     wishest thy greed allay:
+And cease thy longing; thou canst not win * The love of the Fair
+     thou'rt fain t' essay,
+My glances to lovers are baleful and naught * I reek of thy
+     speech: I have said my say!"
+
+"Ho, thou! Begone about thy business, for we are none of the
+woman-tribe who are neither thine nor another's.[FN#310]" And he
+answered, "O my lady, I said nothing ill." Quoth she, "Thou
+soughtest to divert thyself[FN#311] and thou hast had thy
+diversion; so wend thy ways." Quoth he, "O my lady, belike thou
+wilt give me a draught of water, for I am athirst." Whereupon she
+cried, "How canst thou drink of a Jew's water, and thou a
+Nazarene?" But he replied, "O my lady, your water is not
+forbidden to us nor ours unlawful to you, for we are all as one
+creation." So she said to her slave-girl, "Give him to drink;"
+and she did as she was bidden. Then she called for the table of
+food, and there came four damsels, high-bosomed maids, bearing
+four trays of meats and four gilt flagons full of strong
+old-wine, as it were the tears of a slave of love for clearness,
+and a table around whose edge were graven these couplets,
+
+"For eaters a table they brought and set * In the banquet-hall
+     and 'twas dight with gold:
+Like th' Eternal Garden that gathers all * Man wants of meat and
+     wines manifold."
+
+And when the high-breasted maids had set all this before him,
+quoth she, "Thou soughtest to drink of our drink; so up and at
+our meat and drink!" He could hardly credit what his ears had
+heard and sat down at the table forthright; whereupon she bade
+her nurse[FN#312] give him a cup, that he might drink. Now her
+slave-girls were called, one Hub�b, another Khut�b and the third
+Suk�b,[FN#313] and she who gave him the cup was Hubub. So he took
+the cup and looking at the outside there saw written these
+couplets,
+
+"Drain not the bowl but with lovely wight * Who loves thee and
+     wine makes brighter bright.
+And 'ware her Scorpions[FN#314] that o'er thee creep * And guard
+     thy tongue lest thou vex her sprite."
+
+Then the cup went round and when he emptied it he looked inside
+and saw written,
+
+"And 'ware her Scorpions when pressing them, * And hide her
+     secrets from foes' despight."
+
+Whereupon Masrur laughed her-wards and she asked him, "What
+causeth thee to laugh?" "For the fulness of my joy," quoth he.
+Presently, the breeze blew on her and the scarf[FN#315] fell from
+her head and discovered a fillet[FN#316] of glittering gold, set
+with pearls and gems and jacinths; and on her breast was a
+necklace of all manner ring-jewels and precious stones, to the
+centre of which hung a sparrow of red gold, with feet of red
+coral and bill of white silver and body full of Nadd-powder and
+pure ambergris and odoriferous musk. And upon its back was
+engraved,
+
+"The Nadd is my wine-scented powder, my bread; * And the bosom's
+     my bed and the breasts my stead:
+And my neck-nape complains of the weight of love, * Of my pain,
+     of my pine, of my drearihead."
+
+Then Masrur looked at the breast of her shift and behold, thereon
+lay wroughten in red gold this verse,
+
+"The fragrance of musk from the breasts of the fair * Zephyr
+     borrows, to sweeten the morning air."
+
+Masrur marvelled at this with exceeding wonder and was dazed by
+her charms and amazement gat hold upon him. Then said Zayn
+al-Maw�sif to him, "Begone from us and go about thy business,
+lest the neighbours hear of us and even us with the lewd." He
+replied, "By Allah, O my lady, suffer my sight to enjoy the view
+of thy beauty and loveliness." With this she was wroth with him
+and leaving him, walked in the garden, and he looked at her
+shift-sleeve and saw upon it embroidered these lines,
+
+"The weaver-wight wrote with gold-ore bright * And her wrists on
+     brocade rained a brighter light:
+Her palms are adorned with a silvern sheen; * And favour her
+     fingers the ivory's white:
+For their tips are rounded like priceless pearl; * And her charms
+     would enlighten the nightiest night."
+
+And, as she paced the garth, Masrur gazed at her slippers and saw
+written upon them these pleasant lines,
+
+"The slippers that carry these fair young feet * Cause her form
+     to bend in its gracious bloom:
+When she paces and waves in the breeze she owns, * She shines
+     fullest moon in the murkiest gloom."
+
+She was followed by her women leaving Hubub with Masrur by the
+curtain, upon whose edge were embroidered these couplets,
+
+"Behind the veil a damsel sits with gracious beauty dight, *
+     Praise to the Lord who decked her with these inner gifts of
+     sprite!
+Guards her the garden and the bird fain bears her company; *
+     Gladden her wine-draughts and the bowl but makes her
+     brighter-bright.
+Apple and Cassia-blossom show their envy of her cheeks; * And
+     borrows Pearl resplendency from her resplendent light;
+As though the sperm that gendered her were drop of
+     marguerite[FN#317] * Happy who kisses her and spends in her
+     embrace the night."
+
+So Masrur entered into a long discourse with Hubub and presently
+said to her, "O Hubub, hath thy mistress a husband or not?" She
+replied, "My lady hath a husband; but he is actually abroad on a
+journey with merchandise of his." Now whenas he heard that her
+husband was abroad on a journey, his heart lusted after her and
+he said, "O Hubub, glorified be He who created this damsel and
+fashioned her! How sweet is her beauty and her loveliness and her
+symmetry and perfect grace! Verily, into my heart is fallen sore
+travail for her. O Hubub, so do that I come to enjoy her, and
+thou shalt have of me what thou wilt of wealth and what not
+else." Replied Hubub, "O Nazarene, if she heard thee speak thus,
+she would slay thee, or else she would kill herself, for she is
+the daughter of a Zealot[FN#318] of the Jews nor is there her
+like amongst them: she hath no need of money and she keepeth
+herself ever cloistered, discovering not her case to any." Quoth
+Masrur, "O Hubub, an thou wilt but bring me to enjoy her, I will
+be to thee slave and foot page and will serve thee all my life
+and give thee whatsoever thou seekest of me." But quoth she, "O
+Masrur, in very sooth this woman hath no lust for money nor yet
+for men, because my lady Zayn al-Mawasif is of the cloistered,
+going not forth her house-door in fear lest folk see her; and but
+that she bore with thee by reason of thy strangerhood, she had
+not permitted thee to pass her threshold; no, not though thou
+wert her brother." He replied, "O Hubub, be thou our go-between
+and thou shalt have of me an hundred gold dinars and a dress
+worth as much more, for that the love of her hath gotten hold of
+my heart." Hearing this she said, "O man, let me go about with
+her in talk and I will return thee and answer and acquaint thee
+with what she saith. Indeed, she loveth those who berhyme her and
+she affecteth those who set forth her charms and beauty and
+loveliness in verse, and we may not prevail over her save by
+wiles and soft speech and beguilement." Thereupon Hubub rose and
+going up to her mistress, accosted her with privy talk of this
+and that and presently said to her, "O my lady, look at yonder
+young man, the Nazarene; how sweet is his speech and how shapely
+his shape!" When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, she turned to her
+and said, "An thou like his comeliness love him thyself. Art thou
+not ashamed to address the like of me with these words? Go, bid
+him begone about his business; or I will make it the worse for
+him." So Hubub returned to Masrur, but acquainted him not with
+that which her mistress had said. Then the lady bade her hie to
+the door and look if she saw any of the folk, lest foul befal
+them. So she went and returning, said, "O my lady, without are
+folk in plenty and we cannot let him go forth this night." Quoth
+Zayn al-Mawasif, "I am in dole because of a dream I have seen and
+am fearful therefrom." And Masrur said, "What sawest thou? Allah
+never trouble thy heart!" She replied, "I was asleep in the
+middle of the night, when suddenly an eagle swooped down upon me
+from the highest of the clouds and would have carried me off from
+behind the curtain, wherefore I was affrighted at him. Then I
+awoke from sleep and bade my women bring me meat and drink, so
+haply, when I had drunken, the dolour of the dream would cease
+from me." Hearing this, Masrur smiled and told her his dream from
+first to last and how he had caught the dove, whereat she
+marvelled with exceeding marvel. Then he went on to talk with her
+at great length and said, "I am now certified of the truth of my
+dream, for thou art the dove and I the eagle, and there is no
+hope but that this must be, for, the moment I set eyes on thee,
+thou tookest possession of my vitals and settest my heart a-fire
+for love of thee!" Thereupon Zayn al-Mawasif became wroth with
+exceeding wrath and said to him, "I take refuge with Allah from
+this! Allah upon thee, begone about thy business ere the
+neighbours espy thee and there betide us sore reproach," adding,
+"Harkye, man! Let not thy soul covet that it shall not obtain.
+Thou weariest thyself in vain; for I am a merchant's wife and a
+merchant's daughter and thou art a druggist; and when sawest thou
+a druggist and a merchant's daughter conjoined by such
+sentiment?" He replied, "O my lady, never lacked love-liesse
+between folk[FN#319]; so cut thou not off from me hope of this
+and whatsoever thou seekest of me of money and raiment and
+ornaments and what not else, I will give thee." Then he abode
+with her in discourse and mutual blaming whilst she still
+redoubled in anger, till it was black night, when he said to her,
+"O my lady, take this gold piece and fetch me a little wine, for
+I am athirst and heavy hearted." So she said to the slave-girl
+Hubub, "Fetch him wine and take naught from him, for we have no
+need of his dinar." So she went whilst Masrur held his peace and
+bespake not the lady, who suddenly improvised these lines,
+
+"Leave this thy design and depart, O man! * Nor tread paths where
+     lewdness and crime trepan!
+Love is a net shall enmesh thy sprite, * Make thee rise a-morning
+     sad, weary and wan:
+For our spy thou shalt eke be the cause of talk; * And for thee
+     shall blame me my tribe and clan:
+Yet scant I marvel thou lovest a Fair:-- * Gazelles hunting lions
+     we aye shall scan!"
+
+And he answered her with these,
+
+"Joy of boughs, bright branch of Myrobalan! * Have ruth on the
+     heart all thy charms unman:
+Death-cup to the dregs thou garrest me drain * And don weed of
+     Love with its bane and ban:
+How can soothe I a heart which for stress of pine * Burns with
+     living coals which my longings fan?"
+
+Hearing these lines she exclaimed, "Away from me! Quoth the saw
+'Whoso looseth his sight wearieth his sprite.' By Allah, I am
+tired of discourse with thee and chiding, and indeed thy soul
+coveteth that shall never become thine; nay, though thou gave me
+my weight in gold, thou shouldst not get thy wicked will of me;
+for, I know naught of the things of the world, save pleasant
+life, by the boon of Allah Almighty!" He answered, "O my lady
+Zayn al-Mawasif, ask of me what thou wilt of the goods of the
+world." Quoth she, "What shall I ask of thee? For sure thou wilt
+fare forth and prate of me in the highway and I shall become a
+laughing-stock among the folk and they will make a byword of me
+in verse, me who am the daughter of the chief of the merchants
+and whose father is known of the notables of the tribe. I have no
+need of money or raiment and such love will not be hidden from
+the people and I shall be brought to shame, I and my kith and
+kin." With this Masrur was confounded and could make her no
+answer; but presently she said, "Indeed, the master-thief, if he
+steal, stealeth not but what is worth his neck, and every woman
+who doth lewdness with other than her husband is styled a thief;
+so, if it must be thus and no help[FN#320], thou shalt give me
+whatsoever my heart desireth of money and raiment and ornaments
+and what not." Quoth he, "An thou sought of me the world and all
+its regions contain from its East to its West, 'twere but a
+little thing, compared with thy favour;" and quoth she, "I will
+have of thee three suits, each worth a thousand Egyptian dinars,
+and adorned with gold and fairly purfled with pearls and jewels
+and jacinths, the best of their kind. Furthermore I require that
+thou swear to me thou wilt keep my secret nor discover it to any
+and that thou wilt company with none but me; and I in turn will
+swear to thee a true oath that I will never false thee in love."
+So he sware to her the oath she required and she sware to him,
+and they agreed upon this; after which she said to her nurse
+Hubub, "To-morrow go thou with Masrur to his lodging and seek
+somewhat of musk and ambergris and Nadd and rose-water and see
+what he hath. If he be a man of condition, we will take him into
+favour; but an he be otherwise we will leave him." Then said she
+to him, "O Masrur, I desire somewhat of musk and ambergris and
+aloes-wood and Nadd; so do thou send it me by Hubub;" and he
+answered, "With love and gladness; my shop is at thy disposal!"
+Then the wine went round between them and their s�ance was sweet:
+but Masrur's heart was troubled for the passion and pining which
+possessed him; and when Zayn al-Mawasif saw him in this plight,
+she said to her slave-girl Sukub, "Arouse Masrur from his stupor;
+mayhap he will recover." Answered Sukub, "Hearkening and
+obedience," and sang these couplets,
+
+"Bring gold and gear an a lover thou, * And hymn thy love so
+     success shalt row;
+Joy the smiling fawn with the black-edged eyne * And the bending
+     lines of the Cassia-bough:
+On her look, and a marvel therein shalt sight, * And pour out thy
+     life ere thy life-term show:
+Love's affect be this, an thou weet the same; * But, an gold
+     deceive thee, leave gold and go!"
+
+Hereupon Masrur understood her and said, "I hear and apprehend.
+Never was grief but after came relief, and after affliction
+dealing He will order the healing." Then Zayn al-Mawasif recited
+these couplets,
+
+"From Love-stupor awake, O Masrur, 'twere best; * For this day I
+     dread my love rend thy breast;
+And to-morrow I fear me folks' marvel-tale * Shall make us a
+     byword from East to West:
+Leave love of my like or thou'lt gain thee blame; * Why turn thee
+     us-wards? Such love's unblest!
+For one strange of lineage whose kin repel * Thou shalt wake
+     ill-famed, of friends dispossest:
+I'm a Zealot's child and affright the folk: * Would my life were
+     ended and I at rest!"
+
+Then Masrur answered her improvisation and began to say these
+lines,
+
+"To grief leave a heart that to love ne'er ceased; * Nor blame,
+     for your blame ever love increased:
+You misrule my vitals in tyrant-guise; * Morn and Eve I wend not
+     or West or East;
+Love's law forbids me to do me die; * They say Love's victim is
+     ne'er released:
+Well-away! Could I find in Love's Court a judge * I'd 'plain and
+     win to my rights at least."
+
+They ceased not from mutual chiding till morning morrowed, when
+Zayn al-Mawasif said, "O Masrur 'tis time for thee to depart,
+lest one of the folk see thee and foul befal us twain." So he
+arose and accompanied by nurse Hubub fared on, till they came to
+his lodging, where he talked with her and said to her, "All thou
+seekest of me is ready for thee, so but thou wilt bring me to
+enjoy her." Hubub replied, "Hearten thy heart;" whereupon he rose
+and gave her an hundred dinars, saying "O Hubub, I have by me a
+dress worth an hundred gold pieces." Answered she, "O Masrur,
+make haste with the trinkets and other things promised her, ere
+she change her mind, for we may not take her, save with wile and
+guile, and she loveth the saying of verse." Quoth he, "Hearing
+and obeying," and bringing her the musk and ambergris and
+lign-aloes and rose-water, returned with her to Zayn al-Mawasif
+and saluted her. She returned his salam with the sweetest speech,
+and he was dazed by her beauty and improvised these lines,
+
+"O thou sheeniest Sun who in night dost shine! * O who stole my
+     soul with those large black eyne!
+O slim-shaped fair with the graceful neck! * O who shamest Rose
+     wi' those cheeks o' thine!
+Blind not our sight wi' thy fell disdain, * Disdain, that shall
+     load us with pain and pine;
+Passion homes in our inmost, nor will be quenched * The fire of
+     yearning in vitals li'en:
+Your love has hous�d in heart of me * And of issue but you see I
+     ne'er a sign:
+Then haply you'll pity this hapless wight * Thy sad lover and
+     then--O the Morn divine!"
+
+When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she cast at him a glance
+of eyes, that bequeathed him a thousand regrets and sighs and his
+wits and soul were ravished in such wise, and answered him with
+these couplets[FN#321],
+
+"Think not from her, of whom thou art enamoured aye * To win
+     delight; so put desire from thee away.
+Leave that thou hop'st, for 'gainst her rigours whom thou lov'st
+     * Among the fair, in vain is all thou canst essay.
+My looks to lovers bring discomfiture and woe: Indeed, * I make
+     no count of that which thou dost say."
+
+When Masrur heard this, he hardened his heart and took patience
+concealing his case and saying in himself, "There is nothing for
+it against calamity save long-suffering;" and after this fashion
+they abode till nightfall when Zayn al-Mawasif called for food
+and they set before her a tray wherein were all manner of dishes,
+quails and pigeons and mutton and so forth, whereof they ate
+their sufficiency. Then she bade take away the tables and they
+did so and fetched the lavatory gear; and they washed their
+hands, after which she ordered her women to bring the
+candlesticks, and they set on candelabra and candles therein of
+camphorated wax. Thereupon quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "By Allah, my
+breast is straitened this night and I am afevered;" and quoth
+Masrur, "Allah broaden thy breast and banish thy bane!" Then she
+said, "O Masrur, I am used to play at chess: say me, knowest
+aught of the game?" He replied, "Yes; I am skilled therein;"
+whereupon she commanded her handmaid Hubub fetch her the
+chessboard. So she went away and presently returning with the
+board, set it before her, and behold, it was of ivory-marquetried
+ebony with squares marked in glittering gold, and its pieces of
+pearl and ruby.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif bade the chessboard be brought, they set it between
+her hands; and Masrur was amazed at this, when she turned to him
+and said, "Wilt have red or white?" He replied, "O Princess of
+the fair and adornment of morning air, do thou take the red for
+they formous are and fitter for the like of thee to bear and
+leave the white to my care." Answered she, "So be it;" and,
+taking the red pieces, ranged them opposite the white, then put
+out her hand to a piece purposing the first pass into the
+battle-plain. Masrur considered her fingers, which were white as
+paste, and was confounded at their beauty and shapely shape;
+whereupon she turned to him and said, "O Masrur, be not bedazed,
+but take patience and calm thyself." He rejoined, "O thou whose
+beauty shameth the moon, how shall a lover look on thee and have
+patience-boon?" And while this was doing she cried,
+"Checkmate[FN#322]!" and beat him; wherefore she knew that he was
+Jinn-mad for love of her and said to him, "O Masrur, I will not
+play with thee save for a set stake." He replied, "I hear and
+obey," and she rejoined, "Swear to me and I will swear to thee
+that neither of us will cheat[FN#323] the adversary." So both
+sware this and she said, "O Masrur, an I beat thee, I will have
+ten dinars of thee, but an thou beat me, I will give thee a mere
+nothing." He expected to win, so he said, "O my lady, be not
+false to thine oath, for I see thou art an overmatch for me at
+this game!" "Agreed," said she and they ranged their men and fell
+again to playing and pushing on their pawns and catching them up
+with the queens and aligning and matching them with the castles
+and solacing them with the onslaught of the knights. Now the
+"Adornment of Qualities" wore on head a kerchief of blue brocade
+so she loosed it off and tucking up her sleeve, showed a wrist
+like a shaft of light and passed her palm over the red pieces,
+saying to him, "Look to thyself." But he was dazzled at her
+beauty, and the sight of her graces bereft him of reason, so that
+he became dazed and amazed and put out his hand to the white men,
+but it alit upon the red. Said she, "O Masrur, where be thy wits?
+The red are mine and the white thine;" and he replied, "Whoso
+looketh at thee perforce loseth all his senses." Then, seeing how
+it was with him, she took the white from him and gave him the
+red, and they played and she beat him. He ceased not to play with
+her and she to beat him, whilst he paid her each time ten dinars,
+till, knowing him to be distraught for love of her, she said, "O
+Masrur, thou wilt never win to thy wish, except thou beat me, for
+such was our understanding; and henceforth, I will not play with
+thee save for a stake of an hundred dinars a game." "With love
+and gladness," answered he and she went on playing and ever
+beating him and he paid her an hundred dinars each time; and on
+this wise they abode till the morning, without his having won a
+single game, when he suddenly sprang to his feet. Quoth she,
+"What wilt thou do, O Masrur?"; and quoth he, "I mean to go to my
+lodging and fetch somewhat of money: it may be I shall come to my
+desire." "Do whatso seemeth good to thee," said she; so he went
+home and taking all the money he had, returned to her improvising
+these two couplets,
+
+"In dream I saw a bird o'er speed (meseem'd), * Love's garden
+     decked with blooms that smiled and gleamed:
+But I shall ken, when won my wish and will * Of thee, the
+     truthful sense of what I dreamed."
+
+Now when Masrur returned to her with all his monies they fell
+a-playing again; but she still beat him and he could not beat her
+once; and in such case they abode three days, till she had gotten
+of him the whole of his coin; whereupon said she, "O Masrur, what
+wilt thou do now?"; and he replied, "I will stake thee a
+druggist's shop." "What is its worth?" asked she; and he
+answered, "Five hundred dinars." So they played five bouts and
+she won the shop of him. Then he betted his slave-girls, lands,
+houses, gardens, and she won the whole of them, till she had
+gotten of him all he had; whereupon she turned to him and said,
+"Hast thou aught left to lay down?" Cried he, "By Him who made me
+fall into the snare of thy love, I have neither money to touch
+nor aught else left, little or much!" She rejoined, "O Masrur,
+the end of whatso began in content shall not drive man to repent;
+wherefore, an thou regret aught, take back thy good and begone
+from us about thy business and I will hold thee quit towards me."
+Masrur rejoined, "By Him who decreed these things to us, though
+thou sought to take my life 'twere a wee thing to stake for thine
+approof, because I love none but thee!" Then said she, "O Masrur,
+fare forthright and fetch the Kazi and the witnesses and make
+over to me by deed all thy lands and possessions." "Willingly,"
+replied he and, going forth without stay or delay, brought the
+Kazi and the witnesses and set them before her. When the judge
+saw her, his wits fled and his mind was amazed and his reason was
+dazed for the beauty of her fingers, and he said to her, "O my
+lady, I will not write out the writ of conveyance, save upon
+condition that thou buy the lands and mansions and slave-girls
+and that they all pass under thy control and into thy
+possession." She rejoined, "We're agreed upon that. Write me a
+deed, whereby all Masrur's houses and lands and slave-girls and
+whatso his right hand possesseth shall pass to Zayn al-Mawasif
+and become her property at such a price." So the Kazi wrote out
+the writ and the witnesses set hands thereto; whereupon she took
+it.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-eighth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Zayn al-Mawasif took from the Kazi the deed which made over her
+lover's property to her, she said to him, "O Masrur, now gang thy
+gait." But her slave-girl Hubub turned to him and said, "Recite
+us some verses." So he improvised upon that game of chess these
+couplets,
+
+"Of Time and what befel me I complain, * Mourning my loss by
+     chess and eyes of bane.
+For love of gentlest, softest-sided fair * Whose like is not of
+     maids or mortal strain:
+The shafts of glances from those eyne who shot * And led her
+     conquering host to battle-plain
+Red men and white men and the clashing Knights * And, crying
+     'Look to thee!' came forth amain:
+And, when down charging, finger-tips she showed * That gloomed
+     like blackest night for sable stain,
+The Whites I could not rescue, could not save * While ecstasy
+     made tear-floods rail and rain:
+The Pawns and Castles with their Queens fell low * And fled the
+     Whites nor could the brunt sustain:
+Yea, with her shaft of glance at me she shot * And soon that
+     shaft had pierced my heart and brain:
+She gave me choice between her hosts, and I * The Whites like
+     moonlight first to choose was fain,
+Saying, 'This argent folk best fitteth me * I love them, but the
+     Red by thee be ta'en!'
+She play�d me for free accepted stake * Yet amorous mercy I could
+     ne'er obtain:
+O fire of heart, O pine and woe of me, * Wooing a fair like moon
+     mid starry train:
+Burns not my heart O no! nor aught regrets * Of good or land, but
+     ah! her eyes' disdain!
+Amazed I'm grown and dazed for drearihead * And blame I Time who
+     brought such pine and pain.
+Quoth she, 'Why art thou so bedazed!' quoth I * 'Wine-drunken
+     wight shall more of wine assain?'
+That mortal stole my sense by silk-soft shape, * Which doth for
+     heart-core hardest rock contain.
+I nerv�d self and cried, 'This day she's mine' * By bet, nor fear
+     I prove she unhum�ne:
+My heart ne'er ceased to seek possession, till * Beggared I found
+     me for conditions twain:
+Will youth you loveth shun the Love-dealt blow, * Tho' were he
+     whelmed in Love's high-surging main?
+So woke the slave sans e'en a coin to turn, * Thralled to repine
+     for what he ne'er shall gain!"
+
+Zayn al-Mawasif hearing these words marvelled at the eloquence of
+his tongue and said to him, "O Masrur, leave this madness and
+return to thy right reason and wend thy ways; for thou hast
+wasted all thy moveables and immoveables at the chess-game, yet
+hast not won thy wish, nor hast thou any resource or device
+whereby thou mayst attain to it." But he turned to her and said,
+"O my lady, ask of me whatso thou wilt and thou shalt have it;
+for I will bring it to thee and lay it at thy feet." Answered
+she, "O Masrur, thou hast no money left." "O goal of all hopes,
+if I have no money, the folk will help me." "Shall the giver turn
+asker?" "I have friends and kinsfolk, and whatsoever I seek of
+them, they will give me." "O Masrur, I will have of thee four
+pods of musk and four vases of civet[FN#324] and four pounds of
+ambergris and four thousand dinars and four hundred pieces of
+royal brocade, purfled with gold. An thou bring me these things,
+O Masrur, I will grant thee my favours." "This is a light matter
+to me, O thou that puttest the moons to shame," replied he and
+went forth to fetch her what she sought. She sent her maid Hubub
+after him, to see what worth he had with the folk of whom he had
+spoken to her; but, as he walked along the highways he turned and
+seeing her afar off, waited till she came up to him and said to
+her, "Whither away, O Hubub?" So she said to him, "My mistress
+sent me to follow for this and that," and he replied, "By Allah,
+O Hubub, I have nothing to hand!" She asked, "Then why didst thou
+promise her?"; and he answered, "How many a promise made is
+unkept of its maker! Fine words in love-matters needs must be."
+When she heard this from him, she said, "O Masrur, be of good
+cheer and eyes clear for, by Allah, most assuredly I will be the
+means of thy coming to enjoy her!" Then she left him nor ceased
+walking till she stood before her mistress weeping with sore
+weeping, and said, "O my lady, indeed he is a man of great
+consideration, and good repute among the folk." Quoth Zayn
+al-Mawasif, "There is no device against the destiny of Almighty
+Allah! Verily, this man found not in me a pitiful heart, for that
+I despoiled him of his substance and he got of me neither
+affection nor complaisance in granting him amorous joy; but, if I
+incline to his inclination, I fear lest the thing be bruited
+abroad." Quoth Hubub, "O my lady, verily, grievous upon us is his
+present plight and the loss of his good and thou hast with thee
+none save thyself and thy slave-girl Sukub; so which of us two
+would dare prate of thee, and we thy handmaids?" With this, she
+bowed her head for a while ground-wards and the damsels said to
+her, "O my lady, it is our rede that thou send after him and show
+him grace and suffer him not ask of the sordid; for how bitter is
+such begging!" So she accepted their counsel and calling for
+inkcase and paper, wrote him these couplets,
+
+"Joy is nigh, O Masr�r, so rejoice in true rede; * Whenas night
+     shall fall thou shalt do kind-deed:
+Crave not of the sordid a loan, fair youth, * Wine stole my wits
+     but they now take heed:
+All thy good I reft shall return to thee, * O Masr�r, and I'll
+     add to them amorous meed;
+For indeed th' art patient, and sweet of soul * When wronged by
+     thy lover's tyrannic greed.
+So haste to enjoy us and luck to thee! * Lest my folk come
+     between us speed, love, all speed!
+Hurry uswards thou, nor delay, and while * My mate is far, on
+     Love's fruit come feed."
+
+Then she folded the paper and gave it to Hubub the handmaid, who
+carried it to Masrur and found him weeping and reciting in a
+transport of passion and love-longing these lines,
+
+"A breeze of love on my soul did blow * That consumed my liver
+     for stress of lowe;
+When my sweetheart went all my longings grew; * And with tears in
+     torrent mine eyelids flow:
+Such my doubt and fears, did I tell their tale * To deaf rocks
+     and pebbles they'd melt for woe.
+Would Heaven I wot shall I sight delight, * And shall win my wish
+     and my friend shall know!
+Shall be folded up nights that doomed us part * And I be healed
+     of what harms my heart?"
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-ninth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that while
+Masrur, transported by passion and love-longing, was repeating
+his couplets in sing-song tone Hubub knocked at his door; so he
+rose and opened to her, and she entered and gave him the letter.
+He read it and said to her, "O Hubub, what is behind thee of thy
+lady's news[FN#325]?" She answered, "O my lord, verily, in this
+letter is that dispenseth me from reply, for thou art of those
+who readily descry!" Thereat he rejoiced with joy exceeding and
+repeated these two couplets,
+
+"Came the writ whose contents a new joy revealed, * Which in
+     vitals mine I would keep ensealed:
+And my longings grew when I kissed that writ, * As were pearl of
+     passion therein concealed."
+
+Then he wrote a letter answering hers and gave it to Hubub, who
+took it and returned with it to her mistress and forthright fell
+to extolling his charms to her and expiating on his good gifts
+and generosity; for she was become a helper to him, to bring
+about his union with her lady. Quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "O Hubub,
+indeed he tarrieth to come to us;" and quoth Hubub, "He will
+certainly come soon." Hardly had she made an end of speaking when
+behold, he knocked at the door, and she opened to him and brought
+him in to her mistress, who saluted him with the salam[FN#326]
+and welcomed him and seated him by her side. Then she said to
+Hubub, "Bring me a suit of brocade;" so she brought a robe
+broidered with gold and Zayn al-Mawasif threw it over him, whilst
+she herself donned one of the richest dresses and crowned her
+head with a net of pearls of the freshest water. About this she
+bound a fillet of brocade, purfled with pearls, jacinths and
+other jewels, from beneath which she let down two tresses[FN#327]
+each looped with a pendant of ruby, charactered with glittering
+gold, and she loosed her hair, as it were the sombrest night; and
+lastly she incensed herself with aloes-wood and scented herself
+with musk and ambergris, and Hubub said to her, "Allah save thee
+from the evil eye!" Then she began to walk, swaying from side to
+side with gracefullest gait, whilst Hubub who excelled in
+verse-making, recited in her honour these couplets,
+
+"Shamed is the bough of B�n by pace of her; * And harmed are
+     lovers by the gaze of her.
+A moon she rose from murks, the hair of her, * A sun from locks
+     the brow encase of her:
+Blest he she nights with by the grace of her, * Who dies in her
+     with oath by days of her!"
+
+So Zayn al-Mawasif thanked her and went up to Masrur, as she were
+full moon displayed. But when he saw her, he rose to his feet and
+exclaimed, "An my thought deceive me not, she is no human, but
+one of the brides of Heaven!" Then she called for food and they
+brought a table, about whose marge were written these
+couplets,[FN#328]
+
+"Dip thou with spoons in saucers four and gladden heart and eye *
+     With many a various kind of stew and fricassee and fry.
+Thereon fat quails (ne'er shall I cease to love and tender them)
+     * And rails and fowls and dainty birds of all the kinds that
+     fly.
+Glory to God for the Kabobs, for redness all aglow, * And
+     potherbs, steeped in vinegar, in porringers thereby!
+Fair fall the rice with sweet milk dressed, wherein the hands did
+     plunge * And eke the forearms of the fair were buried,
+     bracelet-high!
+How my heart yearneth with regret over two plates of fish * That
+     by two manchet-cakes of bread of Tewarij[FN#329] did lie!"
+
+Then they ate and drank and made mirth and merriment, after which
+the servants removed the table of food and set on the wine
+service; so cup and tasse[FN#330] passed round between them and
+they were gladdened in soul. Then Masrur filled the cup and
+saying, "O whose thrall am I and who is my mistress!"[FN#331]
+chanted these improvised couplets,
+
+"Mine eyes I admire that can feed their fill * On charms of a
+     girl rising worlds to light:
+In her time she hath none to compare for gifts * Of spirit and
+     body a mere delight.
+Her shape breeds envy in Cassia-tree * When fares she forth in
+     her symmetry dight:
+With luminous brow shaming moon of dark * And crown-like crescent
+     the brightest bright.
+When treads she earth's surface her fragrance scents * The Zephyr
+     that breathes over plain and height."
+
+When he ended his extempore song she said, "O Masrur, whoso
+religiously keepeth his faith and hath eaten our bread and salt,
+it behoveth us to give him his due; so put away from thee all
+thought of what hath been and I will restore thee thy lands and
+houses and all we have taken from thee." He replied, "O my lady,
+I acquit thee of that whereof thou speakest, though thou hadst
+been false to the oath and covenant between us; for I will go and
+become a Moslem." Zayn al-Mawasif protested that she would follow
+suit[FN#332] when Hubub cried to her, "O my lady, thou art young
+of years and knowest many things, and I claim the intercession of
+Almighty Allah with thee for, except thou do my bidding and heal
+my heart, I will not lie the night with thee in the house." And
+she replied, "O Hubub, it shall be as thou wilt. Rise and make us
+ready another sitting-room." So she sprang to her feet and gat
+ready a room and adorned and perfumed it after fairest fashion
+even as her lady loved and preferred; after which she again set
+on food and wine, and the cup went round between them and their
+hearts were glad.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Eight Hundred and Fiftieth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Zayn al-Mawasif bade her maid Hubub make ready a private
+sitting-room she arose and did her bidding, after which she again
+set food and wine before them and cup and tasse went round
+gladdening their hearts. Presently quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "O
+Masrur, come is the time of Union and favour; so, as thou
+studiest my love to savour recite us some verses surpassing of
+flavour. " Upon this he recited the following ode[FN#333],
+
+"I am taken: my heart bums with living flame
+For Union shorn whenas Severance came,
+In the love of a damsel who forced my soul
+And with delicate cheeklet my reason stole.
+She hath eyebrows united and eyes black-white
+And her teeth are leven that smiles in light:
+The tale of her years is but ten plus four;
+Tears like Dragon's blood[FN#334] for her love I pour.
+First I saw that face 'mid parterre and rill,
+Outshining full Lune on horizon-hill;
+And stood like a captive for awe, and cried,
+'Allah's Peace, O who in demesne[FN#335] doth hide!'
+She returned my salam, gaily answering
+With the sweetest speech likest pearls a-string.
+But when heard my words, she right soon had known
+My want and her heart waxed hard as stone,
+And quoth she, 'Be not this a word silly-bold?'
+But quoth I, 'Refrain thee nor flyte and scold!
+An to-day thou consent such affair were light;
+They like is the loved, mine the lover-wight!'
+When she knew my mind she but smiled in mirth
+And cried, 'Now, by the Maker of Heaven and Earth!
+I'm a Jewess of Jewry's driest e'er seen
+And thou art naught save a Nazarene.
+Why seek my favours? Thine's other caste;
+An this deed thou do thou'lt repent the past.
+Say, does Love allow with two Faiths to play?
+Men shall blame thee like me, at each break of day!
+Wilt thou laugh at beliefs and deride their rite,
+And in thine and mine prove thee sinful sprite?
+An thou lovedest me thou hadst turn�d Jew,
+Losing worlds for love and my favours due;
+And by the Evangel strong oath hadst sworn
+To keep our secret intact from scorn!'
+So I took the Torah and sware strong oath
+I would hold to the covenant made by both.
+Then by law, religion and creed I sware,
+And bound her by oaths that most binding were;
+And asked her, 'Thy name, O my dear delight?'
+And she, 'Zayn al-Maw�sif at home I'm hight!'
+'O Zayn al-Mawasif!' (cried I) 'Hear my call:
+Thy love hath made me thy veriest thrall!'
+Then I peeped 'neath her chin-veil and 'spied such charms
+That the longing of love filled my heart with qualms.
+'Neath the curtain I ceased not to humble me,
+And complain of my heart-felt misery;
+But when she saw me by Love beguiled
+She raised her face-veil and sweetly smiled:
+And when breeze of Union our faces kiss'd
+With musk-pod she scented fair neck and wrist;
+And the house with her essences seemed to drip,
+And I kissed pure wine from each smiling lip:
+Then like branch of B�n 'neath her robe she swayed
+And joys erst unlawful[FN#336] she lawful made:
+And joined, conjoined through our night we lay
+With clip, kiss of inner lip, langue fourr�e.
+The world hath no grace but the one loved fere
+In thine arms to clasp with possession sheer!
+With the morn she rose and she bade Good-bye
+While her brow shone brighter than moon a-sky;
+Reciting at parting (while tear-drops hung
+On her cheeks, these scattered and other strung),[FN#337]
+'Allah's pact in mind all my life I'll bear
+And the lovely nights and strong oath I sware.'"
+
+Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted and said to him, "O Masrur, how
+goodly are thy inner gifts! May he live not who would harm thy
+heart!" Then she entered her boudoir and called him: so he went
+in to her and taking her in his arms, embraced her and hugged her
+and kissed her and got of her that which he had deemed impossible
+and rejoiced in winning the sweet of amorous will. Then said she,
+"O Masrur, thy good is unlawful to me and is lawfully thine again
+now that we are become lovers." So she returned to him all she
+had taken of him and asked him, "O Masrur, hast thou a
+flower-garden whither we may wend and take our pleasure?";
+whereto he answered, "Yes, O my lady, I have a garden that hath
+not its like." Then he returned to his lodgings and bade his
+slave-girls make ready a splendid banquet in a handsome room;
+after which he summoned Zayn al-Mawasif who came surrounded by
+her damsels, and they ate and drank and made mirth and merriment,
+whilst the cup passed round between them and their spirits rose
+high. Then lover withdrew with beloved and Zayn al-Mawasif said
+to Masrur, "I have bethought me of some dainty verses, which I
+would fain sing to the lute." He replied, "Do sing them"; so she
+took the lute and tuning it, sang to a pleasant air these
+couplets,
+
+"Joy from stroke of string doth to me incline, * And sweet is
+     a-morning our early wine;
+Whenas Love unveileth the amourist's heart, * And by rending the
+     veil he displays his sign,
+With a draught so pure, so dear, so bright, * As in hand of
+     Moons[FN#338] the Sun's sheeny shine
+O' nights it cometh with joy to 'rase * The hoar of sorrow by
+     boon divine."
+
+Then ending her verse, she said to him, "O Masrur, recite us
+somewhat of thy poetry and favour us with the fruit of thy
+thought." So he recited these two couplets,
+
+"We joy in full Moon who the wine bears round, * And in concert
+     of lutes that from gardens sound;
+Where the dove moans at dawn and where bends the bough * To Morn,
+     and all pathways of pleasure are found."
+
+When he had finished his recitation she said to him, "Make us
+some verses on that which hath passed between us an thou be
+occupied with love of me."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-first Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Zayn al-Mawasif said to Masrur, "An thou be occupied with love of
+me, make us some verses on that hath passed between us," "With
+love and gladness," he replied and improvised the following
+Kas�dah[FN#339],
+
+"Stand thou and hear what fell to me * For love of you gazelle to
+     dree!
+Shot me a white doe with her shaft * O' glances wounding
+     woundily.
+Love was my ruin, for was I * Straitened by longing ecstasy:
+I loved and woo'd a young coquette * Girded by strong artillery,
+Whom in a garth I first beheld * A form whose sight was symmetry.
+I greeted her and when she deigned * Greeting return, 'Sal�m,'
+     quoth she
+'What be thy name?' said I, she said, * 'My name declares my
+     quality![FN#340]'
+'Zayn al-Maw�sif I am hight.' * Cried I, 'Oh deign I mercy see,'
+'Such is the longing in my heart * No lover claimeth rivalry!'
+Quoth she, 'With me an thou 'rt in love * And to enjoy me
+     pleadest plea,
+I want of thee oh! muchel wealth; * Beyond all compt my wants o'
+     thee!
+I want o' thee full many a robe * Of sendal, silk and damaskry;
+A quarter quintal eke of musk: * These of one night shall pay the
+     fee.
+Pearls, unions and carnelian[FN#341]-stones * The bestest best of
+     jewelry!'
+Of fairest patience showed I show * In contrariety albe:
+At last she favoured me one night * When rose the moon a crescent
+     wee;
+An stranger blame me for her sake * I say, 'O blamers listen ye!
+She showeth locks of goodly length * And black as blackest night
+     its blee;
+While on her cheeks the roses glow * Like Laz�-flame incendiary:
+In every eyelash is a sword * And every glance hath archery:
+Her liplets twain old wine contain, * And dews of fount-like
+     purity:
+Her teeth resemble strings o' pearls, * Arrayed in line and fresh
+     from sea:
+Her neck is like the neck of doe, * Pretty and carven perfectly:
+Her bosom is a marble slab * Whence rise two breasts like towers
+     on lea:
+And on her stomach shows a crease * Perfumed with rich perfumery;
+Beneath which same there lurks a Thing * Limit of mine
+     expectancy.
+A something rounded, cushioned-high * And plump, my lords, to
+     high degree:
+To me 'tis likest royal throne * Whither my longings wander free;
+There 'twixt two pillars man shall find * Benches of high-built
+     tracery.
+It hath specific qualities * Drive sanest men t' insanity;
+Full mouth it hath like mouth of neck * Or well begirt by stony
+     key;
+Firm lips with camelry's compare * And shows it eye of cramoisie.
+An draw thou nigh with doughty will * To do thy doing lustily,
+Thou'll find it fain to face thy bout * And strong and fierce in
+     valiancy.
+It bendeth backwards every brave * Shorn of his battle-bravery.
+At times imberbe, but full of spunk * To battle with the
+     Paynimry.
+'T will show thee liveliness galore * And perfect in its
+     raillery:
+Zayn al-Mawasif it is like * Complete in charms and courtesy.
+To her dear arms one night I came * And won meed given lawfully:
+I passed with her that self-same night * (Best of my nights!) in
+     gladdest glee;
+And when the morning rose, she rose * And crescent like her
+     visnomy:
+Then swayed her supple form as sway * The lances lopt from limber
+     tree;
+And when farewelling me she cried, * 'When shall such nights
+     return to me?'
+Then I replied, 'O eyen-light, * When He vouchsafeth His
+     decree!'"[FN#342]
+
+Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted with this Ode and the utmost
+gladness gat hold of her. Then said she, "O Masrur day-dawn
+draweth nigh and there is naught for it save to fly for fear of
+scandal and spy!" He replied, "I hear and obey," and rising led
+her to her lodging, after which he returned to his
+quarters[FN#343] and passed the rest of the night pondering on
+her charms. When the morning morrowed with its sheen and shone,
+he made ready a splendid present and carried it to her and sat by
+her side. And thus they abode awhile, in all solace of life and
+its delight, till one day there came to Zayn al-Mawasif a letter
+from her husband reporting to her his speedy return. Thereupon
+she said in herself, "May Allah not keep him nor quicken him! If
+he come hither, our life will be troubled: would Heaven I might
+despair of him!" Presently entered Masrur and sat with her at
+chat, as was his wont, whereupon she said to him, "O Masrur, I
+have received a missive from my mate, announcing his speedy
+return from his wayfaring. What is to be done, since neither of
+us without other can live?" He replied, "I know not; but thou art
+better able to judge, being acquainted with the ways of thy man,
+more by token that thou art one of the sharpest-witted of women
+and past mistress of devices such as devise that whereof fail the
+wise." Quoth she, "He is a hard man and jealous of his household:
+but, when he shall come home and thou hearest of his coming, do
+thou repair to him and salute him and sit down by his side,
+saying, 'O my brother, I am a druggist.' Then buy of him somewhat
+of drugs and spices of sorts and call upon him frequently and
+prolong thy talks with him and gainsay him not in whatsoever he
+shall bid thee; so haply that I would contrive may betide, as it
+were by chance." "I hear and I obey," quoth Masrur and fared
+forth from her, with heart a-fire for love. When her husband came
+home, she rejoiced in meeting him and after saluting him bade him
+welcome; but he looked in her face and seeing it pale and sallow
+(for she had washed it with saffron, using one of women's arts),
+asked her of her case. She answered that she had been sick, she
+and her women, from the time of his wayfaring, adding, "Verily,
+our hearts have been engrossed with thoughts of thee because of
+the length of thine absence." And she went on to complain to him
+of the misery of separation and to pour forth copious tears,
+saying, "Hadst thou but a companion with thee, my heart had not
+borne all this cark and care for thee. So, Allah upon thee, O my
+lord, travel not again without a comrade and cut me not off from
+news of thee, that my heart and mind may be at rest concerning
+thee!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif said to her mate, "Travel not without comrade and cut
+me not off from news of thee, that my heart and mind may be at
+rest concerning thee," he replied, "With love and gladness! By
+Allah thy bede is good indeed and right is thy rede! By thy life,
+it shall be as thou dost heed." Then he unpacked some of his
+stock-in-trade and carrying the goods to his shop, opened it and
+sat down to sell in the Soko.[FN#344] No sooner had he taken his
+place than lo and behold! up came Masrur and saluting him, sat
+down by his side and began talking and talked with him awhile.
+Then he pulled out a purse and taking forth gold, handed it to
+Zayn al-Mawasif's man and said, "Give me the worth of these
+dinars in drugs and spices of sorts, that I may sell them in my
+shop." The Jew replied, "I hear and I obey," and gave him what he
+sought. And Masrur continued to pay him frequent visits till, one
+day, the merchant said to him, "I have a mind to take me a man to
+partner in trade." Quoth Masrur, "And I also, desire to take a
+partner; for my father was a merchant in the land of Al-Yaman and
+left me great store of money and I fear lest it fare from me."
+Quoth the Jew, turning towards him, "Wilt thou be my partner, and
+I will be thy partner and a true friend and comrade to thee at
+home and abroad; and I will teach thee selling and buying, giving
+and taking?" And Masrur rejoined, "With all my heart." So the
+merchant carried him to his place and seated him in the
+vestibule, whilst he went in to his wife and said to her, "I have
+provided me with a partner and have bidden him hither as a guest;
+so do thou get us ready good guest-cheer." Whenas she heard this,
+she rejoiced divining that it was Masrur, and made ready a
+magnificent banquet,[FN#345] of her delight in the success of her
+device. Then, when the guest drew nigh, her husband said to her,
+"Come out with me to him and bid him welcome and say, 'Thou
+gladdenest us[FN#346]!'" But Zayn al-Mawasif made a show of
+anger, crying, "Wilt thou have me display myself before a strange
+man? I take refuge with Allah! Though thou cut me to bits, I will
+not appear before him!" Rejoined he, "Why shouldst thou be
+abashed at him, seeing that he is a Nazarene and we are Jews and,
+to boot, we are become chums, he and I?" Quoth she, "I am not
+minded to present myself before a strange man, on whom I have
+never once set eyes and whom I know not any wise." Her husband
+thought she spoke sooth and ceased not to importune her, till she
+rose and veiling herself, took the food and went out to Masrur
+and welcomed him; whereupon he bowed his head groundwards, as he
+were ashamed, and the Jew, seeing such dejection said in himself,
+"Doubtless, this man is a devotee." They ate their fill and the
+table being removed, wine was set on. As for Zayn al-Mawasif, she
+sat over against Masrur and gazed on him and he gazed on her till
+ended day, when he went home, with a heart to fire a prey. But
+the Jew abode pondering the grace and the comeliness of him; and,
+as soon as it was night, his wife according to custom served him
+with supper and they seated themselves before it. Now he had a
+mockingbird which was wont, whenever he sat down to meat, to come
+and eat with him and hover over his head; but in his absence the
+fowl was grown familiar with Masrur and used to flutter about him
+as he sat at meals. Now when Masrur disappeared and the master
+returned, it knew him not and would not draw near him, and this
+made him thoughtful concerning his case and the fowl's
+withdrawing from him. As for Zayn al-Mawasif, she could not sleep
+with her heart thinking of Masrur, and thus it was with her a
+second and even a third night, till the Jew became aware of her
+condition and, watching her while she sat distraught, began to
+suspect somewhat wrong. On the fourth night, he awoke in the
+middle thereof and heard his wife babbling in her sleep and
+naming Masrur, what while she lay on her husband's bosom,
+wherefore he misdoubted her; but he dissembled his suspicions and
+when morning morrowed he repaired to his shop and sat therein.
+Presently, up came Masrur and saluted him. He returned his salam
+and said to him, "Welcome, O my brother!" adding anon, "I have
+wished for thee;" and he sat talking with him for an hour or so,
+after which he said to him, "Rise, O my brother, and hie with me
+to my house, that we may enter into the pact of
+brotherhood."[FN#347] Replied Masrur, "With joy and goodly gree,"
+and they repaired to the Jew's house, where the master went in
+and told his wife of Masrur's visit, for the purpose of
+conditioning their partnership, and said, "Make us ready a goodly
+entertainment, and needs must thou be present and witness our
+brotherhood." But she replied, "Allah upon thee, cause me not
+show myself to this strange man, for I have no mind to company
+with him." So he held his peace and forbore to press her and bade
+the waiting-women bring food and drink. Then he called the
+mocking-bird but it knew not its lord and settled upon Masrur's
+lap; and the Jew said to him, "O my master, what is thy name?" He
+answered, "My name is Masrur;" whereupon the Jew remembered that
+this was the name which his wife had repeated all night long in
+her sleep. Presently, he raised his head and saw her making
+signs[FN#348] with her forefingers to Masrur and motioning to him
+with her eyes, wherefore he knew that he had been completely
+cozened and cuckolded and said, "O my lord, excuse me awhile,
+till I fetch my kinsmen, so they may be present at our swearing
+brotherhood." Quoth Masrur, "Do what seemeth good to thee;"
+whereupon the Jew went forth the house and returning privily by a
+back way.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-third Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn
+al-Mawasif's husband said to Masrur, "Excuse me awhile, till I
+fetch my cousins to witness the brother-bond between me and
+thee." Then he went forth and, privily returning behind the
+sitting-room, there took his station hard by a window which gave
+upon the saloon and whence he could watch them without their
+seeing him. Suddenly quoth Zayn al-Mawasif to her maid Sukub,
+"Whither is thy master gone?"; and quoth she, "He is gone without
+the house." Cried the mistress, "Lock the door and bar it with
+iron and open thou not till he knock, after thou hast told me."
+Answered Sukub, "So shall it be done." Then, while her husband
+watched them, she rose and filling a cup with wine, flavoured
+with powdered musk and rose-water, went close to Masrur, who
+sprang up to meet her, saying, "By Allah, the water of thy mouth
+is sweeter than this wine!" "Here it is for thee," said she and
+filling her mouth with wine, gave him to drink thereof, whilst he
+gave her the like to drink; after which she sprinkled him with
+rose-water from front to foot, till the perfume scented the whole
+place. All this while, the Jew was looking on and marvelling at
+the stress of love that was between them, and his heart was filled
+with fury for what he saw and he was not only wroth, but jealous
+with exceeding jealousy. Then he went out again and coming to the
+door found it locked and knocked a loud knock of the excess of
+his rage; whereupon quoth Sukub, "O my lady, here is my master;"
+and quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "Open to him; would that Allah had not
+brought him back in safety!" So Sukub went and opened the door to
+the Jew, who said to her, "What ailed thee to lock the door?"
+Quoth she, "It hath never ceased to be locked thus during thine
+absence; nor hath it been opened night nor day;" and cried he,
+"Thou hast done well; this pleaseth me." Then he went in to
+Masrur, laughing and dissembling his chagrin, and said to him, "O
+Masrur, let us put off the conclusion of our pact of brotherhood
+this day and defer it to another." Replied Masrur, "As thou
+wilt," and hied him home, leaving the Jew pondering his case and
+knowing not what to do; for his heart was sore troubled and he
+said in himself, "Even the mocking-bird disowneth me and the
+slave-girls shut the door in my face and favour another." And of
+his exceeding chagrin, he fell to reciting these couplets,
+
+"Masrur joys life made fair by all delight of days, * Fulfilled
+     of boons, while mine the sorest grief displays.
+The Days have falsed me in the breast of her I love * And in my
+     heart are fires which all-consuming blaze:
+Yea, Time was clear for thee, but now 'tis past and gone * While
+     yet her lovely charms thy wit and senses daze:
+Espied these eyes of mine her gifts of loveliness: * Oh, hard my
+     case and sore my woe on spirit weighs!
+I saw the maiden of the tribe deal rich old wine * Of lips like
+     Salsab�l to friend my love betrays:
+E'en so, O mocking-bird, thou dost betray my breast * And to a
+     rival teachest Love and lover-ways:
+Strange things indeed and wondrous saw these eyne of me * Which
+     were they sleep-drowned still from Sleep's abyss would raise:
+I see my best belov�d hath forsworn my love * And eke like my
+     mocking-bird fro' me a-startled strays.
+By truth of Allah, Lord of Worlds who, whatso wills * His Fate,
+     for creatures works and none His hest gainsays,
+Forsure I'll deal to that ungodly wight his due * Who but to sate
+     his wicked will her heart withdrew!"
+
+When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, her side-muscles trembled and
+quoth she to her handmaid, "Heardest thou those lines?";
+whereupon quoth the girl, "I never heard him in my born days
+recite the like of these verses; but let him say what he will."
+Then having assured himself of the truth of his suspicions, the
+Jew began to sell all his property, saying to himself, "Unless I
+part them by removing her from her mother land the twain will not
+turn back from this that they are engaged in, no, never!" So,
+when he had converted all his possessions into coin, he forged a
+letter and read it to Zayn al-Mawasif, declaring that it had come
+from his kinsmen, who invited him to visit them, him and his
+wife. She asked, "How long shall we tarry with them?" and he
+answered, "Twelve days." Accordingly she consented to this and
+said, "Shall I take any of my maids with me?"; whereto he
+replied, "Take Hubub and Sukub and leave Khutub here." Then he
+made ready a handsome camel-litter[FN#349] for his spouse and her
+women and prepared to set out with them; whilst she sent to her
+leman, telling him what had betided her and saying, "O Masrur, an
+the trysting-time[FN#350] that is between us pass and I come not
+back, know that he hath cheated and cozened us and planned a plot
+to separate us each from other, so forget thou not the plighted
+faith betwixt us, for I fear that he hath found out our love and
+I dread his craft and perfidy." Then, whilst her man was busy
+about his march she fell a-weeping and lamenting and no peace was
+left her, night or day. Her husband saw this, but took no note
+thereof; and when she saw there was scant help for it, she
+gathered together her clothes and gear and deposited them with
+her sister, telling her what had befallen her. Then she
+farewelled her and going out from her, drowned in tears, returned
+to her own house, where she found her husband had brought the
+camels and was busy loading them, having set apart the handsomest
+dromedary for her riding, and when she saw this and knew that
+needs must she be separated from Masrur, she waxt clean
+distraught. Presently it chanced that the Jew went out on some
+business of his; so she fared forth to the first or outer door
+and wrote thereon these couplets,--And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Zayn al-Mawasif saw her spouse summon the camels and knew that
+the march needs must be, she waxt clean distraught. Presently it
+chanced that the Jew went out on some business so she fared forth
+to the first door and wrote thereon these couplets,
+
+"Bear our salams, O Dove, from this our stead * From lover to
+     beloved far sever�d!
+Bid him fro' me ne'er cease to yearn and mourn * O'er happy days
+     and hours for ever fled:
+Eke I in grief shall ever mourn and yearn, * Dwelling on days of
+     love and lustihead;
+Long was our joyance, seeming aye to last, * When night and
+     morning to reunion led;
+Till croaked the Raven[FN#351] of the Wold one day * His cursed
+     croak and did our union dead.
+We sped and left the homestead dark and void * Its gates
+     unpeopled and its dwellers sped."
+
+Then she went to the second door and wrote thereon these
+couplets,
+
+"O who passest this doorway, by Allah, see * The charms of my
+     fere in the glooms and make plea
+For me, saying, 'I think of the Past and weep * Yet boot me no
+     tears flowing full and free.'
+Say, 'An fail thee patience for what befel * Scatter earth and
+     dust on the head of thee!
+And o'er travel lands East and West, and deem * God sufficeth thy
+     case, so bear patiently!'"
+
+Then she went to the third door and wept sore and thereon wrote
+these couplets,
+
+"Fare softly, Masr�r! an her sanctuary * Thou seek, and read what
+     a-door writ she.
+Ne'er forget Love-plight, if true man; how oft * Hast savoured
+     Nights' bitter and sweetest gree!
+O Masr�r! forget not her neighbourhood * For wi' thee must her
+     gladness and joyance flee!
+But beweep those dearest united days * When thou camest veil�d in
+     secresy;
+Wend for sake of us over farthest wone; * Span the wold for us,
+     for us dive in sea;
+Allah bless the past days! Ah, how glad they were * When in
+     Gardens of Fancy the flowers pluckt we!
+The nights of Union from us are fled * And parting-glooms dim
+     their radiancy;
+Ah! had this lasted as hop�d we, but * He left only our breasts
+     and the rosery.
+Will revolving days on Re-union dawn? * Then our vow to the Lord
+     shall accomplisht be.
+Learn thou our lots are in hand of Him * Who on lines of
+     skull[FN#352] writes our destiny!"
+
+Then she wept with sore weeping and returned to the house,
+wailing and remembering what had passed and saying, "Glory be to
+God who hath decreed to us this!" And her affliction redoubled
+for severance from her beloved and her departure from her
+mother-land, and she recited these couplets,
+
+"Allah's peace on thee, House of Vacancy! * Ceased in thee all
+     our joys, all our jubilee.
+O thou Dove of the homestead, ne'er cease to bemoan * Whose moons
+     and full moons[FN#353] sorest severance dree:
+Masr�r, fare softly and mourn our loss; * Loving thee our eyes
+     lose their brilliancy:
+Would thy sight had seen, on our marching day, * Tears shed by a
+     heart in Hell's flagrancy!
+Forget not the plight in the garth-shade pledged * When we sat
+     enveil�d in privacy:"
+
+Then she presented herself before her husband, who lifted her
+into the litter he had let make for her; and, when she found
+herself on the camel's back, she recited these couplets,
+
+"The Lord, empty House! to thee peace decree * Long we bore
+     therein growth of misery:
+Would my life-thread were shorn in that safe abode * And o' night
+     I had died in mine ecstasy!
+Home-sickness I mourn, and my strangerhood * Irks my soul, nor
+     the riddle of future I ree.
+Would I wot shall I ever that house resee * And find it, as erst,
+     home of joy and glee!"
+
+Said her husband, "O Zayn al-Mawasif grieve not for thy departure
+from thy dwelling; for thou shalt return to it ere long
+Inshallah!" And he went on to comfort her heart and soothe her
+sorrow. Then all set out and fared on till they came without the
+town and struck into the high road, whereupon she knew that
+separation was certain and this was very grievous to her. And
+while such things happened Masrur sat in his quarters, pondering
+his case and that of his mistress, and his heart forewarned him
+of severance. So he rose without stay and delay and repairing to
+her house, found the outer door padlocked and read the couplets
+she had written thereon; upon which he fell down in a fainting
+fit. When he came to himself, he opened the first door and
+entering, read what was written upon the second and likewise upon
+the third doors; wherefore passion and love-longing and
+distraction grew on him. So he went forth and hastened in her
+track, till he came up with the light caravan[FN#354] and found
+her at the rear, whilst her husband rode in the van, because of
+his merchandise. When he saw her, he clung to the litter, weeping
+and wailing for the anguish of parting, and recited these
+couplets,
+
+"Would I wot for what crime shot and pierced are we * Thro' the
+     days with Estrangement's archery!
+O my heart's desire, to thy door I came * One day, when high waxt
+     mine expectancy:
+But I found the home waste as the wold and void * And I 'plained
+     my pine and groaned wretchedly:
+And I asked the walls of my friends who fared * With my heart in
+     pawn and in pendency;
+And they said, 'All marched from the camp and left *An ambushed
+     sorrow on hill and lea;'
+And a writ on the walls did they write, as write * Folk who keep
+     their faith while the Worlds are three."
+
+Now when Zayn al-Mawasif heard these lines, she knew that it was
+Masrur.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif heard these lines she knew that it was Masrur and
+wept, she and her handmaids, and said to him, "O Masrur, I
+conjure thee by Allah, turn back, lest my husband see us twain
+together!" At her words he swooned away; and when he revived,
+they took leave each of other and he recited the following
+couplets,
+
+"The Caravan-chief calleth loud o' night * Ere the Breeze bear
+     his cry in the morning-light:
+They girded their loads and prepared to fare, * And hurried while
+     murmured the leader-wight.
+They scent the scene on its every side, * As their march through
+     the valley they expedite.
+After winning my heart by their love they went * O' morn when
+     their track could deceive my sight.
+O my neighbour fair, I reckt ne'er to part, * Or the ground
+     bedewed with my tears to sight!
+Woe betide my heart, now hath Severance hand * To heart and
+     vitals dealt bane and blight."
+
+Then he clung to the litter, weeping and wailing, whilst she
+besought him to turn back ere morn for fear of scorn. So he came
+up to her Haudaj and farewelling her a second time, fell down in
+a swoon. He lay an hour or so without life, and when he revived
+he found the caravan had fared forth of sight. So he turned in
+the direction of their wayfare and scenting the breeze which blew
+from their quarter, chanted these improvised lines,
+
+"No breeze of Union to the lover blows * But moan he maketh burnt
+     with fiery woes:
+The Zephyr fans him at the dawn o' day; * But when he wakes the
+     horizon lonely shows:
+On bed of sickness strewn in pain he lies, * And weeps he bloody
+     tears in burning throes,
+For the fair neighbour with my heart they bore * 'Mid travellers
+     urging beasts with cries and blows.
+By Allah from their stead no Zephyr blew * But sniffed I as the
+     wight on eyeballs goes;[FN#355]
+And snuff the sweetest South as musk it breathes * And on the
+     longing lover scent bestows."
+
+Then Masrur returned, mad with love-longing, to her house, and
+finding it lone from end to end[FN#356] and forlorn of friend,
+wept till he wet his clothes; after which he swooned away and his
+soul was like to leave his body. When he revived, he recited
+these two couplets,
+
+"O Spring-camp have ruth on mine overthrowing * My abjection, my
+     leanness, my tears aye flowing,
+Waft the scented powder[FN#357] of breezes they breathe * In hope
+     it cure heart of a grief e'er growing."
+
+Then he returned to his own lodging confounded and tearful-eyed,
+and abode there for the space of ten days. Such was his case; but
+as regards the Jew, he journeyed on with Zayn al-Mawasif half a
+score days, at the end of which he halted at a certain city and
+she, being by that time assured that her husband had played her
+false, wrote to Masrur a letter and gave it to Hubub, saying,
+"Send this to Masrur, so he may know how foully and fully we have
+been tricked and how the Jew hath cheated us." So Hubub took it
+and despatched it to Masrur, and when it reached, its news was
+grievous to him and he wept till he watered the ground. Then he
+wrote a reply and sent it to his mistress, subscribing it with
+these two couplets,
+
+"Where is the way to Consolation's door * How shall console him
+     flames burn evermore?
+How pleasant were the days of yore all gone: * Would we had
+     somewhat of those days of yore!"
+
+When the missive reached Zayn al-Mawasif, she read it and again
+gave it to her handmaid Hubub, saying to her, "Keep it secret!"
+However, the husband came to know of their correspondence and
+removed with her and her two women to another city, at a distance
+of twenty days' march. Thus it befel Zayn al-Mawasif; but as
+regards Masrur, sleep was not sweet to him nor was peace peaceful
+to him or patience left to him, and he ceased not to be thus
+till, one night, his eyes closed for weariness and he dreamt that
+he saw Zayn al-Mawasif come to him in the garden and embrace him;
+but presently he awoke and found her not: whereupon his reason
+fled and his wits wandered and his eyes ran over with tears;
+love-longing to the utterest gat hold of his heart and he recited
+these couplets,
+
+"Peace be to her, who visits me in sleeping phantasy * Stirring
+     desire and growing love to uttermost degree:
+Verily from that dream I rose with passion madden�d * For sight
+     of fairest phantom come in piece to visit me:
+Say me, can dreams declare the truth anent the maid I love, * And
+     quench the fires of thirst and heal my love-sick malady?
+Anon to me she is liberal and she strains me to her breast; *
+     Anon she soothes mine anxious heart with sweetest
+     pleasantry:
+From off her dark-red damask lips the dew I wont to sip * The
+     fine old wine that seemed to reek of musk's perfumery.
+I wondered at the wondrous things between us done in dreams, *
+     And won my wish and all my will of things I hoped to see;
+And from that dreamery I rose, yet ne'er could hope to find *
+     Trace of my phantom save my pain and fiery misery:
+And when I looked on her a-morn, 'twas as a lover mad * And every
+     eve was drunken yet no wine brought jollity.
+O breathings of the northern breeze, by Allah fro' me bear *
+     Them-wards the greetings of my love and best salams that be:
+Say them, 'The wight with whom ye made that plight of fealty *
+     Time with his changes made him drain Death's cup and slain
+     is he!'"
+
+Then he went out and ceased not to weep till he came to her house
+and looking on it, saw it empty and void. Presently, it seemed to
+him he beheld her form before him, whereupon fires flamed in him
+and his griefs redoubled and he fell down aswoon;--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Masrur saw the vision of Zayn al-Mawasif and felt her embrace, he
+joyed with passing joy. As soon as he awoke he sought her house,
+but finding it empty and void he fell down a-swoon; and when he
+came to himself, he recited these couplets,
+
+"Fro' them inhale I scent of Ottar and of B�n; * So fare with
+     heart which ecstasies of love unman:
+I'd heal thy longings (love-sick lover!) by return * To site of
+     beauty void sans friend or mate to scan:
+But still it sickeneth me with parting's ban and bane * Minding
+     mine olden plight with friend and partisan."
+
+When he had made an end of these verses, he heard a raven croak
+beside the house and wept, saying, "Glory be to God! The raven
+croaketh not save over a ruined homestead." Then he moaned and
+groaned and recited these couplets,
+
+"What ails the Raven that he croaks my lover's house hard by, *
+     And in my vitals lights a fire that flameth fierce and high?
+For times now past and gone I spent in joyance of their love *
+     With love my heart hath gone to waste and I sore pain aby:
+I die of longing love and lowe still in my liver raging * And
+     wrote to her but none there is who with the writ may hie:
+Ah well-away for wasted frame! Hath far�d forth my friend * And
+     if she will o' nights return Oh would that thing wot I!
+Then, Ho thou Breeze of East, and thou by morn e'er visit her; *
+     Greet her from me and stand where doth her tribe encamp�d
+     lie!"
+
+Now Zayn al-Mawasif had a sister, by name Nas�m--the Zephyr--who
+stood espying him from a high place; and when she saw him in this
+plight, she wept and sighed and recited these couplets,
+
+"How oft bewailing the place shall be this coming and going, *
+     While the House bemoaneth its builder with tear-flood ever
+     a-flowing?
+Here was bestest joy ere fared my friend with the caravan hieing
+     * And its dwellers and brightest-suns[FN#358] ne'er ceased
+     in its walls a-glowing:
+Where be those fullest moons that here were always arising? *
+     Bedimmed them the Shafts of Days their charms of spirit
+     unknowing:
+Leave then what is past of the Fair thou wast ever with love
+     espying * And look; for haply the days may restore them
+     without foreshowing:
+For hadst thou not been, its dwellers had never departed flying *
+     Nor haddest thou seen the Crow with ill-omened croak
+     a-crying."
+
+Masrur wept sore hearing these verses and apprehending their
+significance. Now Nasim knew that which was between him and her
+sister of love and longing, ecstasy and passion; so she said to
+him, "Allah upon thee, O Masrur, away from this house, lest any
+see thee and deem thou comest on my account! Indeed thou hast
+caused my sister quit it and now thou wouldst drive me also away.
+Thou knowest that, but for thee, the house would not now be void
+of its dwellers: so be consoled for her loss and leave her: what
+is past is past." When he heard this, he wept bitterly and said
+to her, "O Nasim, if I could, I should fly for longing after her;
+so how can I be comforted for her?" Quoth she, "Thou hast no
+device save patience;" and quoth he, "I beseech thee, for Allah's
+sake, write me a writ to her, as from thyself, and get me an
+answer from her, to comfort my heart and quench the fire in my
+vitals." She replied, "With love and gladness," and took inkcase
+and paper, whilst Masrur began to set out to her the violence of
+his longing and what tortures he suffered for the anguish of
+severance, saying, "This letter is from the lover despairing and
+sorrowful * the bereaved, the woeful * with whom no peace can
+stay * nor by night nor by day * but he weepeth copious tears
+alway. * Indeed, tears his eyelids have ulcerated and his sorrows
+have kindled in his liver a fire unsated. His lamentation is
+lengthened and restlessness is strengthened and he is as he were
+a bird unmated * While for sudden death he awaiteth * Alas, my
+desolation for the loss of thee * and alas, my yearning
+affliction for the companionship of thee! * Indeed, emaciation
+hath wasted my frame * and my tears a torrent became * mountains
+and plains are straitened upon me for grame * and of the excess
+of my distress, I go saying,
+
+"Still cleaves to this homestead mine ecstasy, * And redoubled
+     pine for its dwellers I dree;
+And I send to your quarters the tale of my love * And the cup of
+     your love gave the Cup-boy to me.
+And for faring of you and your farness from home * My wounded
+     lids are from tears ne'er free:
+O thou leader of litters, turn back with my love * For my heart
+     redoubleth its ardency:
+Greet my love and say him that naught except * Those brown-red
+     lips deals me remedy:
+They bore him away and our union rent * And my vitals with
+     Severance-shaft shot he:
+My love, my lowe and my longing to him * Convey, for of parting
+     no cure I see:
+I swear an oath by your love that I * Will keep pact and covenant
+     faithfully,
+To none I'll incline or forget your love * How shall love-sick
+     lover forgetful be?
+So with you be the peace and my greeting fair * In letters that
+     perfume of musk-pod bear."
+
+Her sister Nasim admired his eloquence of tongue and the
+goodliness of his speech and the elegance of the verses he sang,
+and was moved to ruth for him. So she sealed the letter with
+virgin musk and incensed it with Nadd-scent and ambergris, after
+which she committed it to a certain of the merchants saying,
+"Deliver it not to any save to Zayn al-Mawasif or to her handmaid
+Hubub." Now when the letter reached her sister, she knew it for
+Masrur's dictation and recognised himself in the grace of its
+expression. So she kissed it and laid it on her eyes, whilst the
+tears streamed from her lids and she gave not over weeping, till
+she fainted. As soon as she came to herself, she called for
+pencase and paper and wrote him the following answer; complaining
+the while of her desire and love-longing and ecstasy and what was
+hers to endure of pining for her lover and yearning to him and
+the passion she had conceived for him.--And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn
+al-Mawasif wrote the following reply to Masrur's missive: "This
+letter to my lord and master I indite * the king of my heart and
+my secret sprite * Indeed, wakefulness agitateth me * and
+melancholy increaseth on me * and I have no patience to endure
+the absence of thee * O thou who excellest sun and moon in
+brilliancy * Desire of repose despoileth me * and passion
+destroyeth me * and how should it be otherwise with me, seeing
+that I am of the number of the dying? *O glory of the world and
+Ornament of life, she whose vital spirits are cut off shall her
+cup be sweet to quaff? * For that she is neither with the quick
+nor with the dead." And she improvised these couplets and said,
+
+"Thy writ, O Masr�r, stirred my sprite to pine * For by Allah,
+     all patience and solace I tyne:
+When I read thy scripture, my vitals yearned * And watered the
+     herbs of the wold these eyne.
+On Night's wings I'd fly an a bird * And sans thee I weet not the
+     sweets of wine:
+Life's unlawful to me since thou faredst far * To bear parting-
+     lowe is no force of mine."
+
+Then she sprinkled the letter with powder of musk and ambergris
+and, having sealed it with her signet, committed it to a
+merchant, saying, "Deliver it to none save to my sister." When it
+reached Nasim she sent it to Masrur, who kissed it and laid it on
+his eyes and wept till he fell into a trance. Such was their
+case; but as regards the Jew, he presently heard of their
+correspondence and began again to travel from place to place with
+Zayn al-Mawasif and her damsels, till she said to him, "Glory to
+God! How long wilt thou fare with us and bear us afar from our
+homes?" Quoth he, "I will fare on with you a year's journey, so
+no more letters may reach you from Masrur. I see how you take all
+my monies and give them to him; so all that I miss I shall
+recover from you: and I shall see if Masrur will profit you or
+have power to deliver you from my hand." Then he repaired to a
+blacksmith, after stripping her and her damsels of their silken
+apparel and clothing them in raiment of hair-cloth, and bade him
+make three pairs of iron shackles. When they were ready, he
+brought the smith in to his wife, having said to him, "Put the
+shackles on the legs of these three slave-girls." The first that
+came forward was Zayn al-Mawasif, and when the blacksmith saw
+her, his sense forsook him and he bit his finger tips and his wit
+fled forth his head and his transport grew sore upon him. So he
+said to the Jew, "What is the crime of these damsels?" Replied
+the other, "They are my slave-girls, and have stolen my good and
+fled from me." Cried the smith, "Allah disappoint thy jealous
+whims! By the Almighty, were this girl before the Kazi of
+Kazis,[FN#359] he would not even reprove her, though she
+committed a thousand crimes a day. Indeed, she showeth not
+thief's favour and she cannot brook the laying of irons on her
+legs." And he asked him as a boon not to fetter her, interceding
+with him to forbear the shackles. When she saw the blacksmith
+taking her part in this wise she said to her husband, "I conjure
+thee, by Allah, bring me not forth before yonder strange man!"
+Said he, "Why then camest thou forth before Masrur?"; and she
+made him no reply. Then he accepted the smith's intercession, so
+far as to allow him to put a light pair of irons on her legs, for
+that she had a delicate body, which might not brook harsh usage,
+whilst he laid her handmaids in heavy bilboes, and they ceased
+not, all three, to wear hair-cloth night and day till their
+bodies became wasted and their colour changed. As for the
+blacksmith, exceeding love had fallen on his heart for Zayn
+al-Mawasif; so he returned home in great concern and he fell to
+reciting extempore these couplets,
+
+"Wither thy right, O smith, which made her bear * Those iron
+     chains her hands and feet to wear!
+Thou hast ensoiled a lady soft and bright, * Marvel of marvels,
+     fairest of the fair:
+Hadst thou been just, those anklets ne'er had been * Of iron: nay
+     of purest gold they were:
+By Allah! did the K�zis' K�zi sight * Her charms, he'd seat her
+     in the highest chair."
+
+Now it chanced that the Kazi of Kazis passed by the smith's house
+and heard him improvise these lines; so he sent for him and as
+soon as he saw him said to him, "O blacksmith, who is she on whom
+thou callest so instantly and eloquently and with whose love thy
+heart is full filled?" The smith sprang to his feet and kissing
+the Judge's hand, answered, "Allah prolong the days of our lord
+the Kazi and ample his life!" Then he described to him Zayn
+al-Mawasif's beauty and loveliness, brilliancy and perfection,
+and symmetry and grace and how she was lovely faced and had a
+slender waist and heavily based; and acquainted him with the
+sorry plight wherein she was for abasement and durance vile and
+lack of victual. When the Kazi heard this, he said, "O
+blacksmith, send her to us and show her that we may do her
+justice, for thou art become accountable for the damsel and
+unless thou guide her to us, Allah will punish thee at the Day of
+Doom." "I hear and obey," replied the smith and betook himself
+without stay and delay to Zayn al-Mawasif's lodging, but found
+the door barred and heard a voice of plaintive tone that came
+from heart forlorn and lone; and it was Zayn al-Mawasif reciting
+these couplets,
+
+"I and my love in union were unite; * And filled my friend to me
+     cups clearly bright
+Between us reigned high mirth and jollity, * Nor Eve nor Morn
+     brought 'noyance or affright
+Indeed we spent most joyous time, with cup * And lute and
+     dulcimer to add delight,
+Till Time estranged our fair companionship; * My lover went and
+     blessing turned to blight.
+Ah would the Severance-raven's croak were stilled * And
+     Union-dawn of Love show bless�d light!"
+
+When the blacksmith heard this, he wept like the weeping of the
+clouds. Then he knocked at the door and the women said, "Who is
+at the door?" Answered he, "'Tis I, the blacksmith," and told
+them what the Kazi had said and how he would have them appear
+before him and make their complaint to him, that he might do them
+justice on their adversary.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say,
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+blacksmith told Zayn al-Mawasif what the Kazi had said, and how
+he summoned them that he might apply the Lex Talionis to their
+adversary, she rejoined, "How can we go to him, seeing the door
+is locked on us and our feet shackled and the Jew hath the keys?"
+The smith replied, "I will make the keys for the padlocks and
+therewith open door and shackles." Asked she, "But who will show
+us the Kazi's house?"; and he answered, "I will describe it to
+you." She enquired, "But how can we appear before him, clad as we
+are in haircloth reeking with sulphur?" And the smith rejoined,
+"The Kazi will not reproach this to you, considering your case."
+So saying, he went forthright and made keys for the padlocks,
+wherewith he opened the door and the shackles, and loosing the
+irons from their legs, carried them forth and guided them to the
+Kazi's mansion. Then Hubub did off the hair-cloth garments from
+her lady's body and carried her to the Hammam, where she bathed
+her and attired her in silken raiment, and her colour returned to
+her. Now it happened, by exceeding good fortune, that her husband
+was abroad at a bride-feast in the house of one of the merchants;
+so Zayn al-Mawasif, the Adornment of Qualities, adorned herself
+with the fairest ornaments and repaired to the Kazi, who at once
+on espying her rose to receive her. She saluted him with softest
+speech and winsomest words, shooting him through the vitals the
+while with the shafts of her glances, and said, "May Allah
+prolong the life of our lord the Kazi and strengthen him to judge
+between man and man!" Then she acquainted him with the affair of
+the blacksmith and how he had done nobly by them, whenas the Jew
+had inflicted on her and her women heart-confounding torments;
+and how his victims deathwards he drave, nor was there any found
+to save. "O damsel," quoth the Kazi, "what is thy name?" "My name
+is Zayn al Mawasif,--Adomment of Qualities--and this my
+handmaid's name is Hubub." "Thy name accordeth with the named and
+its sound conformeth with its sense." Whereupon she smiled and
+veiled her face, and he said to her, "O Zayn al-Mawasif, hast
+thou a husband or not?" "I have no husband"; "And what is thy
+Faith?" "That of Al-Islam, and the religion of the Best of Men."
+"Swear to me by Holy Law replete with signs and instances that
+thou ownest the creed of the Best of Mankind." So she swore to
+him and pronounced the profession of the Faith. Then asked the
+Kazi, "How cometh it that thou wastest thy youth with this Jew?"
+And she answered, "Know, O Kazi (may Allah prolong thy days in
+contentment and bring thee to thy will and thine acts with
+benefits seal!), that my father left me, after his death, fifteen
+thousand dinars, which he placed in the hands of this Jew, that
+he might trade therewith and share his gains with me, the head of
+the property[FN#360] being secured by legal acknowledgment. When
+my father died, the Jew coveted me and sought me in marriage of
+my mother, who said, 'How shall I drive her from her Faith and
+cause to become a Jewess? By Allah, I will denounce thee to the
+rulers!' He was affrighted at her words and taking the money,
+fled to the town of Adan.[FN#361] When we heard where he was, we
+came to Adan in search of him, and when we foregathered with him
+there, he told us that he was trading in stuffs with the monies
+and buying goods upon goods. So we believed him and he ceased not
+to cozen us till he cast us into jail and fettered us and
+tortured us with exceeding sore torments; and we are strangers in
+the land and have no helper save Almighty Allah and our lord the
+Kazi." When the judge heard this tale he asked Hubub the nurse,
+"Is this indeed thy lady and are ye strangers and is she
+unmarried?", and she answered, "Yes." Quoth he, "Marry her to me
+and on me be incumbent manumission of my slaves and fasting and
+pilgrimage and almsgiving of all my good an I do you not justice
+on this dog and punish him for that he hath done!" And quoth she,
+"I hear and obey." Then said the Kazi, "Go, hearten thy heart and
+that of thy lady; and to-morrow, Inshallah, I will send for this
+Miscreant and do you justice on him and ye shall see prodigies of
+his punishment." So Hubub called down blessings upon him and went
+forth from him with her mistress, leaving him with passion and
+love-longing fraught and with distress and desire distraught.
+Then they enquired for the house of the second Kazi and
+presenting themselves before him, told him the same tale. On like
+wise did the twain, mistress and maid with the third and the
+fourth, till Zayn al-Mawasif had made her complaint to all the
+four Kazis, each of whom fell in love with her and besought her
+to wed him, to which she consented with a "Yes"; nor wist any one
+of the four that which had happened to the others. All this
+passed without the knowledge of the Jew, who spent the night in
+the house of the bridefeast. And when morning morrowed, Hubub
+arose and gat ready her lady's richest raiment; then she clad her
+therewith and presented herself with her before the four Kazis in
+the court of justice. As soon as she entered, she veiled her face
+and saluted the judges, who returned her salam and each and every
+of them recognised her. One was writing, and the reed-pen dropped
+from his hand, another was talking, and his tongue became tied,
+and a third was reckoning and blundered in his reckoning; and
+they said to her, "O admirable of attributes and singular among
+beauties! be not thy heart other than hearty, for we will
+assuredly do thee justice and bring thee to thy desire." So she
+called down blessings on them and farewelled them and went her
+ways.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+Kazis said to Zayn al-Mawasif, "O admirable of attributes and
+singular among beauties! Be not thy heart other than hearty for
+our doing thy desire and thy winning to thy will." So she called
+down blessings on them and farewelled them and went her ways, the
+while her husband abode with his friends at the marriage-banquet
+and knew naught of her doings. Then she proceeded to beseech the
+notaries and scribes and the notables and the Chiefs of Police to
+succour her against that unbelieving miscreant and deliver her
+from the torment she suffered from him. Then she wept with sore
+weeping and improvised these couplets,
+
+"Rain showers of torrent tears, O Eyne and see * An they will
+     quench the fires that flame in me:
+After my robes of gold-embroidered silk * I wake to wear the
+     frieze of monkery:
+And all my raiment reeks of sulphur-fumes * When erst my shift
+     shed musky fragrancy:
+And hadst thou, O Masr�r, my case descried, * Ne'er hadst thou
+     borne my shame and ignomy.
+And eke Hub�b in iron chains is laid * By Miscreant who unknows
+     God's Unity.
+The creed of Jewry I renounce and home, * The Moslem's Faith
+     accepting faithfully
+Eastwards[FN#362] I prostrate self in fairest guise * Holding the
+     only True Belief that be:
+Masr�r! forget not love between us twain * And keep our vows and
+     troth with goodly gree:
+I've changed my faith for sake of thee, and I * For stress of
+     love will cleave to secrecy:
+So haste to us, an us in heart thou bear, * As noble spirit, nor
+     as laggard fare."
+
+After this she wrote a letter to Masrur, describing to him all
+that the Jew had done with her from first to last and enclosed
+the verses aforesaid. Then she folded the scroll and gave it to
+her maid Hubub, saying, "Keep this in thy pocket, till we send it
+to Masrur." Upon these doings lo and behold! in came the Jew and
+seeing them joyous, said to them, "How cometh it that I find you
+merry? Say me, hath a letter reached you from your bosom friend
+Masrur?" Replied Zayn al-Mawasif, "We have no helper against thee
+save Allah, extolled and exalted be He! He will deliver us from
+thy tyranny, and except thou restore us to our birth-place and
+homestead, we will complain of thee tomorrow to the Governor of
+this town and to the Kazi." Quoth he, "Who struck off the
+shackles from your legs? But needs must I let make for each of
+you fetters ten pounds in weight and go round about the city with
+you." Replied Hubub, "All that thou purposest against us thou
+shall fall into thyself, so it please Allah the Most High, by
+token that thou hast exiled us from our homes, and to-morrow we
+shall stand, we and thou, before the Governor of the city." They
+nighted on this wise and next morning the Jew rose up in haste
+and went out to order new shackles, whereupon Zayn al-Mawasif
+arose and repaired with her women to the court-house, where she
+found the four Kazis and saluted them. They all returned her
+salutation and the Kazi of Kazis said to those about him, "Verily
+this damsel is lovely as the Venus-star[FN#363] and all who see
+her love her and bow before her beauty and loveliness." Then he
+despatched four sergeants, who were Shar�fs,[FN#364] saying,
+"Bring ye the criminal after abjectest fashion." So, when the Jew
+returned with the shackles and found none in the house, he was
+confounded; but, as he abode in perplexity, suddenly up came the
+officers and laying hold of him beat him with a sore beating and
+dragged him face downwards before the Kazi. When the judge saw
+him, he cried out in his face and said to him, "Woe to thee, O
+foe of God, is it come to such a pass with thee that thou doest
+the deed thou hast done and bringest these women far from their
+country and stealest their monies and wouldst make them Jews? How
+durst thou seek to make miscreants of Moslems?" Answered the Jew,
+"O my lord this woman is my wife." Now when the Kazis heard this,
+they all cried out, saying, "Throw this hound on the ground and
+come down on his face with your sandals and beat him with sore
+blows, for his offence is unpardonable." So they pulled off his
+silken gear and clad him in his wife's raiment of hair-cloth,
+after which they threw him down and plucked out his beard and
+belaboured him about the face with sandals. Then they sat him on
+an ass, face to crupper, arsi-versy, and making him take its tail
+in his hand, paraded him round about the city, ringing the bell
+before him in every street; after which they brought him back to
+the judges in sorriest plight; and the four Kazis with one voice
+condemned him to have his feet and hands cut off and lastly to be
+crucified. When the accursed heard this sentence his sense
+forsook him and he was confounded and said, "O my lords the
+Kazis, what would ye of me?" They replied, "Say thou, 'This
+damsel is not my wife and the monies are her monies, and I have
+transgressed against her and brought her far from her country.'"
+So he confessed to this and the Kazis recorded his confession in
+legal form and taking the money from him, gave it to Zayn
+al-Mawasif, together with the document. Then she went away and
+all who saw her were confounded at her beauty and loveliness,
+whilst each of the Kazis looked for her committing herself to
+him. But, when she came to her lodging, she made ready all
+matters she needed and waited till night. Then she took what was
+light of load and weighty of worth, and setting out with her
+maids under cover of the murks three days with their nights fared
+on without stopping. Thus it was with her; but as regards the
+Kazis they ordered the Jew to prison.--And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixtieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Kazis
+ordered the Jew to prison and on the morrow they looked for Zayn
+al-Mawasif coming to them, they and their assessors; but she
+presented herself not to any of them. Then said the Chief Kazi,
+"I wish to-day to make an excursion without the town on business
+there." So he mounted his she-mule and taking his page with him,
+went winding about the streets of the town, searching its length
+and width for Zayn al-Mawasif, but never finding her. On this
+errand he came upon the other three Kazis, going about on the
+same, each deeming himself the only one to whom she had given
+tryst. He asked them whither they were riding and why they were
+going about the streets; when they told him their business,
+whereby he saw that their plight was as his plight and their
+quest as his quest. So they all four rode throughout the city,
+seeking her, but could hit on no trace of her and returned to
+their houses, sick for love, and lay down on the bed of langour.
+Presently the Chief Kazi bethought himself of the blacksmith; so
+he sent for him and said to him, "O blacksmith, knowest thou
+aught of the damsel whom thou didst direct to me? By Allah, an
+thou discover her not to me, I will whack thee with whips." Now
+when the smith heard this, he recited these couplets[FN#365],
+
+"She who my all of love by love of her hath won * Owns every
+     Beauty and for others leaves she none:
+She gazes, a gazelle; she breathes, fresh ambergris * She waves,
+     a lake; she sways, a bough; she shines, a Sun."
+
+Then said the blacksmith, "By Allah, O my lord, since she fared
+forth from thy worshipful presence,[FN#366] I have not set eyes
+on her; no, not once. Indeed she took possession of my heart and
+wits and all my talk and thoughts are of her. I went to her
+lodging but found her not, nor found I any who could give me news
+of her, and it is as if she had dived into the depths of the sea
+or had ascended to the sky." Now when the Kazi heard this, he
+groaned a groan, that his soul was like to depart therefor, and
+he said, "By Allah, well it were had we never seen her!" Then the
+smith went away, whilst the Kazi fell down on his bed and became
+sick of langour for her sake, and on like wise fared it with the
+other three Kazis and assessors. The mediciners paid them
+frequent calls, but found in them no ailment requiring a leach:
+so the city-notables went in to the Chief Kazi and saluting him,
+questioned him of his case; whereupon he sighed and showed them
+that was in his heart, reciting these couplets,
+
+"Stint ye this blame; enough I suffer from Love's malady * Nor
+     chide the Kazi frail who fain must deal to folk decree!
+Who doth accuse my love let him for me find some excuse: * Nor
+     blame; for lovers blameless are in lover-slavery!
+I was a K�zi whom my Fate deigned aid with choicest aid * By writ
+     and reed and rais�d me to wealth and high degree;
+Till I was shot by sharpest shaft that knows nor leach nor cure *
+     By Damsel's glance who came to spill my blood and murther
+     me.
+To me came she, a Moslemah and of her wrongs she 'plained * With
+     lips that oped on Orient-pearls ranged fair and orderly:
+I looked beneath her veil and saw a wending moon at full * Rising
+     below the wings of Night engloomed with blackest blee:
+A brightest favour and a mouth bedight with wondrous smiles; *
+     Beauty had brought the loveliest garb and robed her
+     cap-�-pie.
+By Allah, ne'er beheld my eyes a face so ferly fair * Amid
+     mankind whoever are, Arab or Ajam�.
+My Fair! What promise didst thou make what time to me thou
+     said'st * 'Whenas I promise I perform, O Kazi, faithfully.'
+Such is my stead and such my case calamitous and dire * And ask
+     me not, ye men of spunk, what dreadful teen I dree."
+
+When he ended his verse he wept with sore weeping and sobbed one
+sob and his spirit departed his body, which seeing they washed
+him and shrouded him and prayed over him and buried him graving
+on his tomb these couplets,
+
+"Perfect were lover's qualities in him was brought a-morn, *
+     Slain by his love and his beloved, to this untimely grave:
+K�zi was he amid the folk, and aye 'twas his delight * To foster
+     all the folk and keep a-sheath the Justice-glaive:
+Love caused his doom and ne'er we saw among mankind before * The
+     lord and master louting low before his thrall�d slave."
+
+Then they committed him to the mercy of Allah and went away to
+the second Kazi, in company with the physician, but found in him
+nor injury nor ailment needing a leach. Accordingly they
+questioned him of his case and what preoccupied him; so he told
+them what ailed him, whereupon they blamed him and chid him for
+his predicament and he answered them with these couplets,
+
+"Blighted by her yet am I not to blame; * Struck by the dart at
+     me her fair hand threw.
+Unto me came a woman called Hub�b * Chiding the world from year
+     to year anew:
+And brought a damsel showing face that shamed * Full moon that
+     sails through Night-tide's blackest hue,
+She showed her beauties and she 'plained her plain * Which tears
+     in torrents from her eyelids drew:
+I to her words gave ear and gazed on her * Whenas with smiling
+     lips she made me rue.
+Then with my heart she fared where'er she fared * And left me
+     pledged to sorrows soul subdue.
+Such is my tale! So pity ye my case * And this my page with
+     Kazi's gear indue."
+
+Then he sobbed one sob and his soul fled his flesh; whereupon
+they gat ready his funeral and buried him commending him to the
+mercy of Allah; after which they repaired to the third Kazi and
+the fourth, and there befel them the like of what befel their
+brethren.[FN#367] Furthermore, they found the Assessors also sick
+for love of her, and indeed all who saw her died of her love or,
+an they died not, lived on tortured with the lowe of passion.--
+And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-first Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the city
+folk found all the Kazis and the Assessors sick for love of her,
+and all who saw her died lovesick or, an they died not, lived on
+tortured with the lowe of passion for stress of pining to no
+purpose--Allah have mercy on them one and all! Meanwhile Zayn al-
+Mawasif and her women drave on with all diligence till they were
+far distant from the city and it so fortuned that they came to a
+convent by the way, wherein dwelt a Prior called Danis and forty
+monks.[FN#368] When the Prior saw her beauty, he went out to her
+and invited her to alight, saying, "Rest with us ten days and
+after wend your ways." So she and her damsels alighted and
+entered the convent; and when Danis saw her beauty and
+loveliness, she debauched his belief and he was seduced by her:
+wherefore he fell to sending the monks, one after other with
+love-messages; but each who saw her fell in love with her and
+sought her favours for himself, whilst she excused and denied
+herself to them. But Danis ceased not his importunities till he
+had dispatched all the forty, each one of whom fell love-sick at
+first sight and plied her with blandishments never even naming
+Danis; whilst she refused and rebuffed them with harsh replies.
+At last when Danis's patience was at an end and his passion was
+sore on him, he said in himself, "Verily, the sooth-sayer saith,
+'Naught scratcheth my skin but my own nail and naught like my own
+feet for mine errand may avail.'" So up he rose and made ready
+rich meats, and it was the ninth day of her sojourn in the
+convent where she had purposed only to rest. Then he carried them
+in to her and set them before her, saying, "Bismillah, favour us
+by tasting the best of the food at our command." So she put forth
+her hand, saying, "For the name of Allah the Compassionating, the
+Compassionate!" and ate, she and her handmaidens. When she had
+made an end of eating, he said to her, "O my lady, I wish to
+recite to thee some verses." Quoth she, "Say on," and he recited
+these couplets,
+
+"Thou hast won my heart by cheek and eye of thee, * I'll praise
+     for love in prose and poesy.
+Wilt fly a lover, love-sick, love-distraught * Who strives in
+     dreams some cure of love to see?
+Leave me not fallen, passion-fooled, since I * For pine have left
+     uncared the Monast'ry:
+O Fairest, 'tis thy right to shed my blood, * So rue my case and
+     hear the cry of me!"
+
+When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she answered him with
+these two couplets,
+
+"O who suest Union, ne'er hope such delight * Nor solicit my
+     favours, O hapless wight!
+Cease to hanker for what thou canst never have: * Next door are
+     the greedy to sore despight."
+
+Hearing this he returned to his place, pondering in himself and
+knowing not how he should do in her affair, and passed the night
+in the sorriest plight. But, as soon as the darkness was darkest
+Zayn al-Mawasif arose and said to her handmaids, "Come, let us
+away, for we cannot avail against forty men, monks, each of whom
+requireth me for himself." Quoth they, "Right willingly!" So they
+mounted their beasts and issued forth the convent gate,--
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-second Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn
+al-Mawasif and her handmaids issued forth the convent gate and,
+under favour of the night, rode on till they overtook a caravan,
+with which they mingled and found it came from the city of 'Adan
+wherein the lady had dwelt. Presently, Zayn al-Mawasif heard the
+people of the caravan discoursing of her own case and telling how
+the Kazis and Assessors were dead of love for her and how the
+townsfolk had appointed in their stead others who released her
+husband from prison. Whereupon she turned to her maids and asked
+them, "Heard ye that?"; and Hubub answered, "If the monks were
+ravished with love of thee, whose belief it is that shunning
+women is worship, how should it be with the Kazis, who hold that
+there is no monkery in Al-Islam? But let us make our way to our
+own country, whilst our affair is yet hidden." So they drave on
+with all diligence. Such was their case; but as regards the
+monks, on the morrow, as soon as it was day they repaired to Zayn
+al-Mawasif's lodging, to salute her, but found the place empty,
+and their hearts sickened within them. So the first monk rent his
+raiment and improvised these couplets,
+
+"Ho ye, my friends, draw near, for I forthright * From you
+     depart, since parting is my lot:
+My vitals suffer pangs o' fiery love; * Flames of desire in heart
+     burn high and hot,
+For sake of fairest girl who sought our land * Whose charms th'
+     horizon's full moon evens not.
+She fared and left me victimed by her love * And slain by shaft
+     those lids death-dealing shot."
+
+Then another monk recited the following couplets,
+
+"O ye who with my vitals fled, have ruth * On this unhappy: haste
+     ye homeward-bound:
+They fared, and fared fair Peace on farthest track * Yet lingers
+     in mine ear that sweetest sound:
+Fared far, and far their fane; would Heaven I saw Their shade in
+     vision float my couch around:
+And when they went wi' them they bore my heart * And in my
+     tear-floods all of me left drowned."
+
+A third monk followed with these extempore lines,
+
+"Throne you on highmost stead, heart, ears and sight * Your
+     wone's my heart; mine all's your dwelling-site:
+Sweeter than honey is your name a-lip, * Running, as 'neath my
+     ribs runs vital sprite:
+For Love hath made me as a tooth-pick[FN#369] lean * And drowned
+     in tears of sorrow and despight:
+Let me but see you in my sleep, belike * Shall clear my cheeks of
+     tears that lovely sight."
+
+Then a fourth recited the following couplets,
+
+"Dumb is my tongue and scant my speech for thee * And Love the
+     direst torture gars me dree:
+O thou full Moon, whose place is highest Heaven, * For thee but
+     double pine and pain in me."
+
+And a fifth these,[FN#370]
+
+"I love a moon of comely shapely form * Whose slender waist hath
+     title to complain:
+Whose lip-dews rival must and long-kept wine; * Whose heavy
+     haunches haunt the minds of men:
+My heart each morning burns with pain and pine * And the
+     night-talkers note I'm passion-slain;
+While down my cheeks carnelian-like the tears * Of rosy red
+     shower down like railing rain."
+
+And a sixth the following,
+
+"O thou who shunnest him thy love misled! * O Branch of B�n, O
+     star of highmost stead!
+To thee of pine and passion I complain, * O thou who fired me
+     with cheeks rosy-red.
+Did e'er such lover lose his soul for thee, * Or from prostration
+     and from prayers fled?"
+
+And a seventh these,
+
+"He seized my heart and freed my tears to flow * Brought strength
+     to Love and bade my Patience go.
+His charms are sweet as bitter his disdain; * And shafts of love
+     his suitors overthrow.
+Stint blame, O blamer, and for past repent * None will believe
+     thee who dost Love unknow!"
+
+And on like wise all the rest of the monks shed tears and
+repeated verses. As for Danis, the Prior, weeping and wailing
+redoubled on him, for that he found no way to her enjoyment, and
+he chanted the following couplets[FN#371],
+
+"My patience failed me when my lover went * And fled that day
+     mine aim and best intent.
+O Guide o' litters lead their camels fair, * Haply some day
+     they'll deign with me to tent!
+On parting-day Sleep parted from my lids * And grew my grieving
+     and my joy was shent.
+I moan to Allah what for Love I dree'd * My wasted body and my
+     forces spent."
+
+Then, despairing of her, they took counsel together and with one
+mind agreed to fashion her image and set it up with them, and
+applied themselves to this till there came to them the Destroyer
+of delights and Severer of societies. Meanwhile, Zayn al-Mawasif
+fared on, without ceasing, to find her lover Masrur, till she
+reached her own house. She opened the doors, and entered; then
+she sent to her sister Nasim, who rejoiced with exceeding joy at
+the news of her return and brought her the furniture and precious
+stuffs left in her charge. So she furnished the house and dressed
+it, hanging the curtains over the doors and burning aloes-wood
+and musk and ambergris and other essences till the whole place
+reeked with the most delightful perfumes: after which the
+Adornment of Qualities donned her finest dress and decorations
+and sat talking with her maids, whom she had left behind when
+journeying, and related to them all that had befallen her first
+and last. Then she turned to Hubub and giving her dirhams, bade
+her fetch them something to eat. So she brought meat and drink
+and when they had made an end of eating and drinking,[FN#372]
+Zayn al-Mawasif bade Hubub go and see where Masrur was and how it
+fared with him. Now he knew not of her return; but abode with
+concern overcast and sorrow might not be overpast;--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn
+al-Mawasif entered her house she was met by her sister Nasim who
+brought her the furniture and stuffs wherewith she furnished the
+place; and then she donned her finest dress. But Masrur knew
+naught of her return and abode with concern overcast and sorrow
+might not be overpast; no peace prevailed with him nor was
+patience possible to him. Whenas pine and passion, desire and
+distraction waxed on him, he would solace himself by reciting
+verse and go to the house and set him its walls to buss. It
+chanced that he went out that day to the place where he had
+parted from his mistress and repeated this rare song,
+
+"My wrongs hide I, withal they show to sight; * And now mine eyes
+     from sleep to wake are dight.
+I cry when melancholy tries my sprite * Last not, O world nor
+     work more despight;
+          Lo hangs my soul 'twixt hardship and affright.
+Were the Sultan hight Love but fair to me, * Slumber mine eyes'
+     companion were to me,
+My Lords, some little mercy spare to me, * Chief of my tribe: be
+     debonnair to me,
+          Whom Love cast down, erst rich now pauper-wight!
+
+Censors may blame thee but I look beyond * Mine ears I stop and
+     leave their lies unconned
+And keep my pact wi' those I love so fond: * They say, 'Thou
+     lov'st a runaway!' I respond,
+          'Whist! whenas Fate descends she blinds the sight!'"
+
+Then he returned to his lodging and sat there weeping, till sleep
+overcame him, when he saw in a dream as if Zayn al-Mawasif were
+come to the house, and awoke in tears. So he set off to go
+thither, improvising these couplets,
+
+"Shall I be consoled when Love hath mastered the secret of me *
+     And my heart is aglow with more than the charcoal's ardency?
+I love her whose absence I plain before Allah for parting-stower
+     * And the shifts of the days and doom which allotted me
+     Destiny:
+When shall our meeting be, O wish O' my heart and will? * O
+     favour of fullest Moon, when shall we Re-union see?"
+
+As he made an end of his recitation, he found himself walking
+adown in Zayn al-Mawasif's street and smelt the sweet savour of
+the pastiles wherewithal she had incensed the house; wherefore
+his vitals fluttered and his heart was like to leave his breast
+and desire flamed up in him and distraction redoubled upon him;
+when lo, and behold! Hubub, on her way to do her lady's errand
+suddenly appeared at the head of the street and he rejoiced with
+joy exceeding. When she saw him, she went up to him and saluting
+him, gave him the glad news of her mistress's return, saying,
+"She hath sent me to bid thee to her." Whereat he was glad
+indeed, with gladness naught could exceed; and she took him and
+returned with him to the house. When Zayn al-Mawasif saw him, she
+came down to him from the couch and kissed him and he kissed her
+and she embraced him and he embraced her; nor did they leave
+kissing and embracing till both swooned away for stress of
+affection and separation. They lay a long while senseless, and
+when they revived, Zayn al-Mawasif bade Hubub fetch her a gugglet
+of sherbet of sugar and another of sherbet of lemons. So she
+brought what she desired and they sat eating and drinking nor
+ceased before nightfall, when they fell to recalling all that had
+befallen them from commencement to conclusion. Then she
+acquainted him with her return to Al-Islam, whereat he rejoiced
+and he also became a Moslem. On like wise did her women, and they
+all repented to Allah Almighty of their infidelity. On the morrow
+she made send for the Kazi and the witnesses and told them that
+she was a widow and had completed the purification-period and was
+minded to marry Masrur. So they drew up the wedding-contract
+between them and they abode in all delight of life. Meanwhile,
+the Jew, when the people of Adan released him from prison, set
+out homewards and fared on nor ceased faring till he came within
+three days' journey of the city. Now as soon as Zayn al-Mawasif
+heard of his coming she called for her handmaid Hubub and said to
+her, "Go to the Jews' burial-place and there dig a grave and
+plant on it sweet basil and jessamine and sprinkle water
+thereabout. If the Jew come and ask thee of me, answer, 'My
+mistress died twenty days ago of chagrin on thine account.' If he
+say, show me her tomb, take him to the grave and after weeping
+over it and making moan and lament before him, contrive to cast
+him therein and bury him alive."[FN#373] And Hubub answered, "I
+hear and I obey." Then they laid up the furniture in the store
+closets, and Zayn al-Mawasif removed to Masrur's lodging, where
+he and she abode eating and drinking, till the three days were
+past; at the end of which the Jew arrived and knocked at the door
+of his house. Quoth Hubub, "Who's at the door?"; and quoth he,
+"Thy master." So she opened to him and he saw the tears railing
+down her cheeks and said, "What aileth thee to weep and where is
+thy mistress?" She replied, "My mistress is dead of chagrin on
+thine account." When he heard this, he was perplexed and wept
+with sore weeping and presently said, "O Hubub, where is her
+tomb?" So she carried him to the Jews' burial-ground and showed
+him the grave she had dug; whereupon he shed bitter tears and
+recited this pair of couplets,[FN#374]
+
+"Two things there are, for which if eyes wept tear on tear * Of
+     blood, till they were like indeed to disappear,
+They never could fulfil the Tithe of all their due: * And these
+     are prime of youth and loss of loveling dear."
+
+Then he wept again with bitter tears and recited these also,
+
+"Alack and Alas! Patience taketh flight: * And from parting of
+     friend to sore death I'm dight:
+O how woeful this farness from dear one, and oh * How my heart is
+     rent by mine own unright!
+Would Heaven my secret I erst had kept * Nor had told the pangs
+     and my liver-blight:
+I lived in all solace and joyance of life * Till she left and
+     left me in piteous plight:
+O Zayn al-Mawasif, I would there were * No parting departing my
+     frame and sprite:
+I repent me for troth-breach and blame my guilt * Of unruth to
+     her whereon hopes I built."
+
+When he had made an end of this verse, he wept and groaned and
+lamented till he fell down a-swoon, whereupon Hubub made haste to
+drag him to the grave and throw him in, whilst he was insensible
+yet quick withal. Then she stopped up the grave on him and
+returning to her mistress acquainted her with what had passed,
+whereat she rejoiced with exceeding joy and recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"The world sware that for ever 'twould gar me grieve: *Tis false,
+     O world, so thine oath retrieve[FN#375]!
+The blamer is dead and my love's in my arms: * Rise to herald of
+     joys and tuck high thy sleeve[FN#376]!"
+
+Then she and Masrur abode each with other in eating and drinking
+and sport and pleasure and good cheer, till there came to them
+the Destroyer of delights and Sunderer of societies and Slayer of
+sons and daughters. And I have also heard tell the following tale
+of
+
+
+
+
+
+                 ALI NUR AL-DIN AND MIRIAM THE
+                      GIRDLE-GIRL[FN#377]
+
+
+
+There was once in days of yore and in ages and times long gone
+before in the parts of Cairo, a merchant named T�j al-D�n who was
+of the most considerable of the merchants and of the chiefs of
+the freeborn. But he was given to travelling everywhere and loved
+to fare over wild and wold, waterless lowland and stony waste,
+and to journey to the isles of the seas, in quest of dirhams and
+dinars: wherefore he had in his time encountered dangers and
+suffered duresse of the way such as would grizzle little children
+and turn their black hair grey. He was possessed of black slaves
+and Mamelukes, Eunuchs and concubines, and was the wealthiest of
+the merchants of his time and the goodliest of them in speech,
+owning horses and mules and Bactrian camels and dromedaries;
+sacks great and small of size; goods and merchandise and stuffs
+such as muslins of Hums, silks and brocades of Ba'allak, cotton
+of Mery, stuffs of India, gauzes of Baghdad, burnouses of
+Moorland and Turkish white slaves and Abyssinian castratos and
+Grecian girls and Egyptian boys; and the coverings of his bales
+were silk with gold purfled fair, for he was wealthy beyond
+compare. Furthermore he was rare of comeliness, accomplished in
+goodliness, and gracious in his kindliness, even as one of his
+describers doth thus express,
+
+"A merchant I spied whose lovers * Were fighting in furious
+     guise:
+Quoth he, 'Why this turmoil of people?' * Quoth I, 'Trader, for
+     those fine eyes!'"
+
+And saith another in his praise and saith well enough to
+accomplish the wish of him,
+
+"Came a merchant to pay us a visit * Whose glance did my heart
+     surprise:
+Quoth he, 'What surprised thee so?' * Quoth I, 'Trader, 'twas
+     those fine eyes.'"
+
+Now that merchant had a son called Ali Nur al-Din, as he were the
+full moon whenas it meeteth the sight on its fourteenth night, a
+marvel of beauty and loveliness, a model of form and symmetrical
+grace, who was sitting one day as was his wont, in his father's
+shop, selling and buying, giving and taking when the sons of the
+merchants girt him around and he was amongst them as moon among
+stars, with brow flower-white and cheeks of rosy light in down
+the tenderest dight, and body like alabaster-bright even as saith
+of him the poet,
+
+"'Describe me!' a fair one said. * Said I, 'Thou art Beauty's
+     queen.'
+And, speaking briefest speech, * 'All charms in thee are seen.'"
+
+And as saith of him one of his describers,
+
+"His mole upon plain of cheek is like * Ambergr�s-crumb on marble
+     plate,
+And his glances likest the sword proclaim * To all Love's rebels
+     'The Lord is Great!'"[FN#378]
+
+The young merchants invited him saying, "O my lord Nur al-Din, we
+wish thee to go this day a-pleasuring with us in such a garden."
+And he answered, "Wait till I consult my parent, for I cannot go
+without his consent." As they were talking, behold, up came Taj
+al-Din, and his son looked at him and said, "O father mine, the
+sons of the merchants have invited me to wend a-pleasuring with
+them in such a garden. Dost thou grant me leave to go?" His
+father replied, "Yes, O my son, fare with them;" and gave him
+somewhat of money. So the young men mounted their mules and asses
+and Nur al-Din mounted a she-mule and rode with them to a garden,
+wherein was all that soul desireth and that eye charmeth. It was
+high of walls which from broad base were seen to rise; and it had
+a gateway vault-wise with a portico like a saloon and a door
+azure as the skies, as it were one of the gates of Paradise: the
+name of the door-keeper was Rizw�n,[FN#379] and over the gate
+were trained an hundred trellises which grapes overran; and these
+were of various dyes, the red like coralline, the black like the
+snouts of S�d�n[FN#380]-men and the white like egg of the
+pigeon-hen. And in it peach and pomegranate were shown and pear,
+apricot and pomegranate were grown and fruits with and without
+stone hanging in clusters or alone,--And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+the sons of the merchants entered the vergier, they found therein
+all that soul desireth or eye charmeth, grapes of many hues
+grown, hanging in bunches or alone, even as saith of them the
+poet,
+
+"Grapes tasting with the taste of wine * Whose coats like
+     blackest Raven's shine:
+Their sheen, amid the leafage shows, * Like women's fingers
+     henna'd fine."
+
+And as saith another on the same theme,
+
+"Grape-bunches likest as they sway * A-stalk, my body frail and
+     snell:
+Honey and water thus in jar, * When sourness past, make
+     Hydromel."
+
+Then they entered the arbour of the garden and saw there Rizwan
+the gate-keeper sitting, as he were Rizwan the Paradise-guardian,
+and on the door were written these lines,
+
+"Garth Heaven-watered wherein clusters waved * On boughs which
+     full of sap to bend were fain:
+And, when the branches danced on Zephyr's palm, * The Pleiads
+     shower'd as gifts[FN#381] fresh pearls for rain."
+
+And within the arbour were written these two couplets,
+
+"Come with us, friend, and enter thou * This garth that cleanses
+     rust of grief:
+Over their skirts the Zephyrs trip[FN#382] * And flowers in sleeve
+     to laugh are lief."[FN#383]
+
+So they entered and found all manner fruits in view and birds of
+every kind and hue, such as ringdove, nightingale and curlew; and
+the turtle and the cushat sang their love lays on the sprays.
+Therein were rills that ran with limpid wave and flowers suave;
+and bloom for whose perfume we crave and it was even as saith of
+it the poet in these two couplets,
+
+"The Zephyr breatheth o'er its branches, like * Fair girls that
+     trip as in fair skirts they pace:
+Its rills resemble swords in hands of knights * Drawn from the
+     scabbard and containing-case."[FN#384]
+
+And again as singeth the songster,
+
+"The streamlet swings by branchy wood and aye * Joys in its
+     breast those beauties to display;
+And Zephyr noting this, for jealousy * Hastens and bends the
+     branches other way."
+
+On the trees of the garden were all manner fruits, each in two
+sorts, and amongst them the pomegranate, as it were a ball of
+silver-dross,[FN#385] whereof saith the poet and saith right
+well,
+
+"Granados of finest skin, like the breasts * Of maid
+     firm-standing in sight of male;
+When I strip the skin, they at once display * The rubies
+     compelling all sense to quail."
+
+And even as quoth another bard,
+
+"Close prest appear to him who views th' inside * Red rubies in
+     brocaded skirts bedight:
+Granado I compare with marble dome * Or virgin's breasts
+     delighting every sight:
+Therein is cure for every ill as e'en * Left an Had�s the Prophet
+     pure of sprite;
+And Allah (glorify His name) eke deigned * A noble say in Holy
+     Book indite.[FN#386]
+
+The apples were the sugared and the musky and the D�m�ni, amazing
+the beholder, whereof saith Hassan the poet,
+
+"Apple which joins hues twain, and brings to mind * The cheek of
+     lover and beloved combined:
+Two wondrous opposites on branch they show * This dark[FN#387]
+     and that with hue incarnadined
+The twain embraced when spied the spy and turned * This red, that
+     yellow for the shame designed."[FN#388]
+
+There also were apricots of various kinds, almond and camphor and
+J�l�ni and 'Ant�bi,[FN#389] wereof saith the poet,
+
+"And Almond-apricot suggesting swain * Whose lover's visit all
+     his wits hath ta'en.
+Enough of love-sick lovers' plight it shows * Of face deep yellow
+     and heart torn in twain."[FN#390]
+
+And saith another and saith well,
+
+"Look at that Apricot whose bloom contains * Gardens with
+     brightness gladding all men's eyne:
+Like stars the blossoms sparkle when the boughs * Are clad in
+     foliage dight with sheen and shine."
+
+There likewise were plums and cherries and grapes, that the sick
+of all diseases assain and do away giddiness and yellow choler
+from the brain; and figs the branches between, varicoloured red
+and green, amazing sight and sense, even as saith the poet,
+
+"'Tis as the Figs with clear white skins outthrown * By foliaged
+     trees, athwart whose green they peep,
+Were sons of Roum that guard the palace-roof * When shades close
+     in and night-long ward they keep."[FN#391]
+
+And saith another and saith well,
+
+"Welcome[FN#392] the Fig! To us it comes * Ordered in handsome
+     plates they bring:
+Likest a Sufrah[FN#393]-cloth we draw * To shape of bag without a
+     ring."
+
+And how well saith a third,
+
+"Give me the Fig sweet-flavoured, beauty-clad, * Whose inner
+     beauties rival outer sheen:
+And when it fruits thou tastest it to find * Chamomile's scent
+     and Sugar's saccharine:
+And eke it favoureth on platters poured * Puff-balls of silken
+     thread and sendal green."
+
+And how excellent is the saying of one of them,
+
+"Quoth they (and I had trained my taste thereto * Nor cared for
+     other fruits whereby they swore),
+'Why lovest so the Fig?' whereto quoth I * 'Some men love Fig and
+     others Sycamore.[FN#394]'"
+
+And are yet goodlier those of another,
+
+"Pleaseth me more the fig than every fruit * When ripe and
+     hanging from the sheeny bough;
+Like Devotee who, when the clouds pour rain, * Sheds tears and
+     Allah's power doth avow."
+
+And in that garth were also pears of various kinds
+Sina�tic,[FN#395] Aleppine and Grecian growing in clusters and
+alone, parcel green and parcel golden.--And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+merchants' sons went down into the garth they saw therein all the
+fruits we mentioned and found pears Sina�tic, Aleppine and
+Grecian of every hue, which here clustering there single grew,
+parcel green and parcel yellow to the gazer a marvel-view, as
+saith of them the poet,
+
+
+"With thee that Pear agree, whose hue a-morn * Is hue of hapless
+     lover yellow pale;
+Like virgin cloistered strait in strong Har�m * Whose face like
+     racing steed outstrips the veil."
+
+And Sultani[FN#396] peaches of shades varied, yellow and red,
+whereof saith the poet,
+
+"Like Peach in vergier growing * And sheen of Andam[FN#397]
+     showing:
+Whose balls of yellow gold * Are dyed with blood-gouts flowing."
+
+There were also green almonds of passing sweetness, resembling
+the cabbage[FN#398] of the palm-tree, with their kernels within
+three tunics lurking of the Munificent King's handiworking, even
+as is said of them,
+
+"Three coats yon freshest form endue * God's work of varied shape
+     and hue:
+Hardness surrounds it night and day; * Prisoning without a sin to
+     rue."
+
+And as well saith another,
+
+"Seest not that Almond plucked by hand * Of man from bough where
+     wont to dwell:
+Peeling it shows the heart within * As union-pearl in oyster-
+     shell."
+
+And as saith a third better than he,
+
+"How good is Almond green I view! * The smallest fills the hand
+     of you:
+Its nap is as the down upon * The cheeks where yet no beardlet
+     grew:
+Its kernels in the shell are seen, * Or bachelors or married two,
+As pearls they were of lucent white * Cas�d and lapped in
+     Jasper's hue."
+
+And as saith yet another and saith well,
+
+"Mine eyes ne'er looked on aught the Almond like * For charms,
+     when blossoms[FN#399] in the Prime show bright:
+Its head to hoariness of age inclines * The while its cheek by
+     youth's fresh down is dight."
+
+And jujube-plums of various colours, grown in clusters and alone
+whereof saith one, describing them,
+
+"Look at the Lote-tree, note on boughs arrayed * Like goodly
+     apricots on reed-strown floor,[FN#400]
+Their morning-hue to viewer's eye is like * Cascavels[FN#401]
+     cast of purest golden ore."
+
+And as saith another and saith right well,
+
+"The Jujube-tree each Day * Robeth in bright array.
+As though each pome thereon * Would self to sight display.
+Like falcon-bell of gold * Swinging from every spray."
+
+And in that garth grew blood oranges, as they were the
+Khaulanj�n,[FN#402] whereof quoth the enamoured poet,[FN#403]
+
+"Red fruits that fill the hand, and shine with sheen * Of fire,
+     albe the scarf-skin's white as snow.
+'Tis marvel snow on fire doth never melt * And, stranger still,
+     ne'er burns this living lowe!"
+
+And quoth another and quoth well,
+
+"And trees of Orange fruiting ferly fair * To those who straitest
+     have their charms surveyed;
+Like cheeks of women who their forms have decked * For holiday in
+     robes of gold brocade."
+
+And yet another as well,
+
+"Like are the Orange-hills[FN#404] when Zephyr breathes * Swaying
+     the boughs and spray with airy grace,
+Her cheeks that glow with lovely light when met * At greeting-
+     tide by cheeks of other face."
+
+And a fourth as fairly,
+
+"And fairest Fawn, we said to him 'Portray * This garth and
+     oranges thine eyes survey:'
+And he, 'Your garden favoureth my face * Who gathereth orange
+     gathereth fire alway.'"
+
+In that garden too grew citrons, in colour as virgin gold,
+hanging down from on high and dangling among the branches, as
+they were ingots of growing gold;[FN#405] and saith thereof the
+'namoured poet,
+
+"Hast seen a Citron-copse so weighed adown * Thou fearest bending
+     roll their fruit on mould;
+And seemed, when Zephyr passed athwart the tree * Its branches
+     hung with bells of purest gold?"
+
+And shaddocks,[FN#406] that among their boughs hung laden as
+though each were the breast of a gazelle-like maiden, contenting
+the most longing wight, as saith of them the poet and saith
+aright,
+
+"And Shaddock mid the garden-paths, on bough * Freshest like
+     fairest damsel met my sight;
+And to the blowing of the breeze it bent * Like golden ball to
+     bat of chrysolite."
+
+And the lime sweet of scent, which resembleth a hen's egg, but
+its yellowness ornamenteth its ripe fruit, and its fragrance
+hearteneth him who plucketh it, as saith the poet who singeth it,
+
+"Seest not the Lemon, when it taketh form, * Catch rays of light
+     and all to gaze constrain;
+Like egg of pullet which the huckster's hand * Adorneth dyeing
+     with the saffron-stain?"
+
+Moreover in this garden were all manner of other fruits and
+sweet-scented herbs and plants and fragrant flowers, such as
+jessamine and henna and water-lilies[FN#407] and
+spikenard[FN#408] and roses of every kind and plantain[FN#409]
+and myrtle and so forth; and indeed it was without compare,
+seeming as it were a piece of Paradise to whoso beheld it. If a
+sick man entered it, he came forth from it like a raging lion,
+and tongue availeth not to its description, by reason of that
+which was therein of wonders and rarities which are not found but
+in Heaven: and how should it be otherwise when its doorkeeper's
+name was Rizwan? Though widely different were the stations of
+those twain! Now when the sons of the merchants had walked about
+gazing at the garden after taking their pleasure therein, they
+say down in one of its pavilions and seated Nur al-Din in their
+midst.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night,
+
+She resume, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+sons of the merchants sat down in the pavilion they seated Nur
+al-Din in their midst on a rug of gold-purfled leather of
+Al-T�if,[FN#410] leaning on a pillow[FN#411] of minever, stuffed
+with ostrich down. And they gave him a fan of ostrich feathers,
+whereon were written these two couplets,
+
+"A fan whose breath is fraught with fragrant scent; * Minding of
+     happy days and times forspent,
+Wafting at every time its perfumed air * O'er face of noble youth
+     on honour bent."
+
+Then they laid by their turbands and outer clothes and sat
+talking and chatting and inducing one another to discourse, while
+they all kept their eyes fixed on Nur al-Din and gazed on his
+beauteous form. After the sitting had lasted an hour or so, up
+came a slave with a tray on his head, wherein were platters of
+china and crystal containing viands of all sorts (for one of the
+youths had so charged his people before coming to the garden);
+and the meats were of whatever walketh earth or wingeth air or
+swimmeth waters, such as Kat�-grouse and fat quails and
+pigeon-poults and mutton and chickens and the delicatest fish.
+So, the tray being sat before them, they fell to and ate their
+fill; and when they had made an end of eating, they rose from
+meat and washed their hands with pure water and musk-scented
+soap, and dried them with napery embroidered in silk and bugles;
+but to Nur al-Din they brought a napkin laced with red gold
+whereon he wiped his hands. Then coffee[FN#412] was served up and
+each drank what he would, after which they sat talking, till
+presently the garden-keeper who was young went away and returning
+with a basket full of roses, said to them, "What say ye, O my
+masters, to flowers?" Quoth one of them, "There is no harm in
+them,[FN#413] especially roses, which are not to be resisted."
+Answered the gardener, "'Tis well, but it is of our wont not to
+give roses but in exchange for pleasant converse; so whoever
+would take aught thereof, let him recite some verses suitable to
+the situation." Now they were ten sons of merchants of whom one
+said, "Agreed: give me thereof and I will recite thee somewhat of
+verse apt to the case." Accordingly the gardener gave him a bunch
+of roses[FN#414] which he took and at once improvised these three
+couplets,
+
+"The Rose in highest stead I rate * For that her charms ne'er
+     satiate;
+All fragrant flow'rs be troops to her * Their general of high
+     estate:
+Where she is not they boast and vaunt; * But, when she comes,
+     they stint their prate."
+
+Then the gardener gave a bunch to another and he recited these
+two couplets,
+
+"Take, O my lord, to thee the Rose * Recalling scent by mush be
+     shed.
+Like virginette by lover eyed * Who with her sleeves[FN#415]
+     enveileth head."
+
+Then he gave a bunch to a third who recited these two couplets,
+
+"Choice Rose that gladdens heart to see her sight; * Of Nadd
+     recalling fragrance exquisite.
+The branchlets clip her in her leaves for joy, * Like kiss of
+     lips that never spake in spite."
+
+Then he gave a bunch to a fourth and he recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"Seest not that rosery where Rose a-flowering displays * Mounted
+     upon her steed of stalk those marvels manifold?
+As though the bud were ruby-stone and girded all around * With
+     chrysolite and held within a little hoard of gold."
+
+Then he gave a posy to a fifth and he recited these two couplets,
+
+"Wands of green chrysolite bare issue, which * Were fruits like
+     ingots of the growing gold.[FN#416]
+And drops, a dropping from its leaves, were like * The tears my
+     languorous eyelids railed and rolled."
+
+Then he gave a sixth a bunch and he recited these two couplets,
+
+"O Rose, thou rare of charms that dost contain * All gifts and
+     Allah's secrets singular,
+Thou'rt like the loved one's cheek where lover fond * And fain of
+     Union sticks the gold dinar."[FN#417]
+
+Then he gave a bunch to a seventh and he recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"To Rose quoth I, 'What gars thy thorns to be put forth * For all
+     who touch thee cruellest injury?'
+Quoth she, 'These flowery troops are troops of me * Who be their
+     lord with spines for armoury.'"
+
+And he gave an eighth a bunch and he recited these two couplets,
+
+"Allah save the Rose which yellows a-morn * Florid, vivid and
+     likest the nugget-ore;
+And bless the fair sprays that displayed such flowers * And mimic
+     suns gold-begilded bore."
+
+Then he gave a bunch to a ninth and he recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"The bushes of golden-hued Rose excite * In the love-sick lover
+     joys manifold:
+'Tis a marvel shrub watered every day * With silvern lymph and it
+     fruiteth gold."
+
+Then he gave a bunch of roses to the tenth and last and he
+recited these two couplets,
+
+"Seest not how the hosts of the Rose display * Red hues and
+     yellow in rosy field?
+I compare the Rose and her arming thorn * To emerald lance
+     piercing golden shield."
+
+And whilst each one hent bunch in hand, the gardener brought the
+wine-service and setting it before them, on a tray of porcelain
+arabesqued with red gold, recited these two couplets,
+
+"Dawn heralds day-light: so wine pass round, * Old wine, fooling
+     sage till his wits he tyne:
+Wot I not for its purest clarity * An 'tis wine in cup or 'tis
+     cup in wine."[FN#418]
+
+Then the gardener filled and drank and the cup went round, till
+it came to Nur al-Din's turn, whereupon the man filled and handed
+it to him; but he said, "This thing I wot it not nor have I ever
+drunken thereof, for therein is great offence and the Lord of
+All-might hath forbidden it in His Book." Answered the gardener,
+"O my Lord Nur al-Din, an thou forbear to drink only by reason of
+the sin, verily Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) is bountiful,
+of sufferance great, forgiving and compassionate and pardoneth
+the mortalest sins: His mercy embraceth all things, Allah's ruth
+be upon the poet who saith,
+
+'Be as thou wilt, for Allah is bountiful * And when thou sinnest
+     feel thou naught alarm:
+But 'ware of twofold sins nor ever dare * To give God partner or
+     mankind to harm.'"
+
+Then quoth one of the sons of the merchants, "My life on thee, O
+my lord Nur al-Din, drink of this cup!" And another conjured him
+by the oath of divorce and yet another stood up persistently
+before him, till he was ashamed and taking the cup from the
+gardener, drank a draught, but spat it out again, crying, "'Tis
+bitter." Said the young gardener, "O my lord Nur al-Din, knowest
+thou not that sweets taken by way of medicine are bitter?  Were
+this not bitter, 'twould lack of the manifold virtues it
+possesseth; amongst which are that it digesteth food and
+disperseth cark and care and dispelleth flatulence and clarifieth
+the blood and cleareth the complexion and quickeneth the body and
+hearteneth the hen-hearted and fortifieth the sexual power in
+man; but to name all its virtues would be tedious. Quoth one of
+the poets,
+
+'We'll drink and Allah pardon sinners all * And cure of ills by
+     sucking cups I'll find:
+Nor aught the sin deceives me; yet said He * 'In it there be
+     advantage[FN#419] to mankind.'"
+
+Then he sprang up without stay or delay and opened one of the
+cupboards in the pavilion and taking out a loaf of refined sugar,
+broke off a great slice which he put into Nur al-Din's cup,
+saying, "O my lord, an thou fear to drink wine, because of its
+bitterness, drink now, for 'tis sweet." So he took the cup and
+emptied it: whereupon one of his comrades filled him another,
+saying, "O my lord Nur al-Din, I am thy slave," and another did
+the like, saying, "I am one of thy servants," and a third said,
+"For my sake!" and a fourth, "Allah upon thee, O my lord Nur
+al-Din, heal my heart!" And so they ceased not plying him with
+wine, each and every of the ten sons of merchants till they had
+made him drink a total of ten cups. Now Nur al-Din's body was
+virgin of wine-bibbing, or never in all his life had he drunken
+vine-juice till that hour, wherefore its fumes wrought in his
+brain and drunkenness was stark upon him and he stood up (and
+indeed his tongue was thick and his speech stammering) and said,
+"O company, by Allah, ye are fair and your speech is goodly and
+your place pleasant; but there needeth hearing of sweet music;
+for drink without melody lacks the chief of its essentiality,
+even as saith the poet,
+
+'Pass round the cup to the old and the young man, too, And take
+     the bowl from the hand of the shining moon,[FN#420]
+But without music, I charge you, forbear to drink; I see even
+     horses drink to a whistled tune.'"[FN#421]
+
+
+Therewith up sprang the gardener lad and mounting one of the
+young men's mules, was absent awhile, after which he returned
+with a Cairene girl, as she were a sheep's tail, fat and
+delicate, or an ingot of pure silvern ore or a dinar on a
+porcelain plate or a gazelle in the wold forlore. She had a face
+that put to shame the shining sun and eyes Babylonian[FN#422] and
+brows like bows bended and cheeks rose-painted and teeth
+pearly-hued and lips sugared and glances languishing and breast
+ivory white and body slender and slight, full of folds and with
+dimples dight and hips like pillows stuffed and thighs like
+columns of Syrian stone, and between them what was something like
+a sachet of spices in wrapper swathed. Quoth the poet of her in
+these couplets,
+
+"Had she shown her shape to idolaters' sight, * They would gaze
+     on her face and their gods detest:
+And if in the East to a monk she'd show'd, * He'd quit Eastern
+     posture and bow to West.[FN#423]
+An she crached in the sea and the briniest sea * Her lips would
+     give it the sweetest zest."
+
+And quoth another in these couplets,
+
+"Brighter than Moon at full with kohl'd eyes she came * Like Doe,
+     on chasing whelps of Lioness intent:
+Her night of murky locks lets fall a tent on her * A tent of
+     hair[FN#424] that lacks no pegs to hold the tent;
+And roses lighting up her roseate cheeks are fed * By hearts and
+     livers flowing fire for languishment:
+An 'spied her all the Age's Fair to her they'd rise *
+     Humbly,[FN#425] and cry 'The meed belongs to precedent!'"
+
+And how well saith a third bard,[FN#426]
+
+"Three things for ever hinder her to visit us, for fear Of the
+     intriguing spy and eke the rancorous envier;
+Her forehead's lustre and the sound of all her ornaments And the
+     sweet scent her creases hold of ambergris and myrrh.
+Grant with the border of her sleeve she hide her brow and doff
+     Her ornaments, how shall she do her scent away from her?"
+
+She was like the moon when at fullest on its fourteenth night,
+and was clad in a garment of blue, with a veil of green,
+over brow flower-white that all wits amazed and those of
+understanding amated.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+gardener brought a girl whom we have described possessed of the
+utmost beauty and loveliness and fine stature and symmetrical
+grace as it were she the poet signified when he said,[FN#427]
+
+"She came apparelled in a vest of blue,
+That mocked the skies and shamed their azure hue;
+I thought thus clad she burst upon my sight,
+Like summer moonshine on a wintry night."
+
+And how goodly is the saying of another and how excellent,
+
+"She came thick veiled, and cried I, 'O display * That face like
+     full moon bright with pure-white ray.'
+Quoth she, 'I fear disgrace,' quoth I, 'Cut short * This talk, no
+     shift of days thy thoughts affray.'
+Whereat she raised her veil from fairest face * And crystal spray
+     on gems began to stray:
+And I forsooth was fain to kiss her cheek, * Lest she complain of
+     me on Judgment-Day.
+And at such tide before the Lord on High * We first of lovers
+     were redress to pray:
+So 'Lord, prolong this reckoning and review' * (Prayed I) 'that
+     longer I may sight my may.'"
+
+Then said the young gardener to her, "Know thou, O lady of the
+fair, brighter than any constellation which illumineth air we
+sought, in bringing thee hither naught but that thou shouldst
+entertain with converse this comely youth, my lord Nur al-Din,
+for he hath come to this place only this day." And the girl
+replied, "Would thou hadst told me, that I might have brought
+what I have with me!" Rejoined the gardener, "O my lady, I will
+go and fetch it to thee." "As thou wilt," said she: and he, "Give
+me a token." So she gave him a kerchief and he fared forth in
+haste and returned after awhile, bearing a green satin bag with
+slings of gold. The girl took the bag from him and opening it
+shook it, whereupon there fell thereout two-and-thirty pieces of
+wood, which she fitted one into other, male into female and
+female into male[FN#428] till they became a polished lute of
+Indian workmanship. Then she uncovered her wrists and laying the
+lute in her lap, bent over it with the bending of mother over
+babe, and swept the strings with her finger-tips; whereupon it
+moaned and resounded and after its olden home yearned; and it
+remembered the waters that gave it drink and the earth whence it
+sprang and wherein it grew and it minded the carpenters who
+cut it and the polishers who polished it and the merchants who
+made
+it their merchandise and the ships that shipped it; and it cried
+and called aloud and moaned and groaned; and it was as if she
+asked it of all these things and it answered her with the tongue
+of the case, reciting these couplets,[FN#429]
+
+"A tree whilere was I the Bulbul's home * To whom for love I
+     bowed my grass-green head:
+They moaned on me, and I their moaning learnt * And in that moan
+     my secret all men read:
+The woodman felled me falling sans offence, * And slender lute of
+     me (as view ye) made:
+But, when the fingers smite my strings, they tell * How man
+     despite my patience did me dead;
+Hence boon-companions when they hear my moan * Distracted wax as
+     though by wine misled:
+And the Lord softens every heart to me, * And I am hurried to the
+     highmost stead:
+All who in charms excel fain clasp my waist; * Gazelles of
+     languid eyne and Houri maid:
+Allah ne'er part fond lover from his joy * Nor live the loved one
+     who unkindly fled."
+
+Then the girl was silent awhile, but presently taking the lute in
+lap, again bent over it, as mother bendeth over child, and
+preluded in many different modes; then, returning to the first,
+she sang these couplets,
+
+"Would they [FN#430] the lover seek without ado, * He to his
+     heavy grief had bid adieu:
+With him had vied the Nightingale[FN#431] on bough * As one far
+     parted from his lover's view:
+Rouse thee! awake! The Moon lights Union-night * As tho' such
+     Union woke the Morn anew.
+This day the blamers take of us no heed * And lute-strings bid us
+     all our joys ensue.
+Seest not how four-fold things conjoin in one * Rose, myrtle,
+     scents and blooms of golden hue.[FN#432]
+Yea, here this day the four chief joys unite * Drink and dinars,
+     beloved and lover true:
+So win thy worldly joy, for joys go past * And naught but storied
+     tales and legends last."
+
+When Nur al-Din heard the girl sing these lines he looked on her
+with eyes of love and could scarce contain himself for the
+violence of his inclination to her; and on like wise was it with
+her, because she glanced at the company who were present of the
+sons of the merchants and she saw that Nur al-Din was amongst the
+rest as moon among stars; for that he was sweet of speech and
+replete with amorous grace, perfect in stature and symmetry,
+brightness and loveliness, pure of all defect, than the breeze of
+morn softer, than Tasnim blander, as saith of him the
+poet,[FN#433]
+
+"By his cheeks' unfading damask and his smiling teeth I swear, By
+     the arrows that he feathers with the witchery of his air,
+By his sides so soft and tender and his glances bright and keen,
+     By the whiteness of his forehead and the blackness of his
+     hair,
+By his arched imperious eyebrows, chasing slumber from my lids
+     With their yeas and noes that hold me 'twixt rejoicing and
+     despair,
+By the Scorpions that he launches from his ringlet-clustered
+     brows, Seeking still to slay his lovers with his rigours
+     unaware,
+By the myrtle of his whiskers and the roses of his cheek, By his
+     lips' incarnate rubies and his teeth's fine pearls and rare,
+By the straight and tender sapling of his shape, which for its
+     fruit Doth the twin pomegranates, shining in his snowy
+     bosom, wear,
+By his heavy hips that tremble, both in motion and repose, And
+     the slender waist above them, all too slight their weight to
+     bear,
+By the silk of his apparel and his quick and sprightly wit, By
+     all attributes of beauty that are fallen to his share;
+Lo, the musk exhales its fragrance from his breath, and eke the
+     breeze From his scent the perfume borrows, that it scatters
+     everywhere.
+Yea, the sun in all his splendour cannot with his brightness vie
+     And the crescent moon's a fragment that he from his nails
+     doth pare."
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur
+al-Din was delighted with the girl's verses and he swayed from
+side to side for drunkenness and fell a-praising her and saying,
+
+"A lutanist to us inclined * And stole our wits bemused with
+     wine:
+And said to us her lute, 'The Lord * Bade us discourse by voice
+     divine.'"
+
+When she heard him thus improvise the girl gazed at him with
+loving eyes and redoubled in passion and desire for him increased
+upon her, and indeed she marvelled at his beauty and loveliness,
+symmetry and grace, so that she could not contain herself, but
+took the lute in lap again and sang these couplets,
+
+"He blames me for casting on him my sight * And parts fro' me
+     bearing my life and sprite:
+He repels me but kens what my heart endures * As though Allah
+     himself had inspired the wight:
+I portrayed his portrait in palm of hand * And cried to mine
+     eyes, 'Weep your doleful plight.'
+For neither shall eyes of me spy his like * Nor my heart have
+     patience to bear its blight:
+Wherefore, will I tear thee from breast, O Heart * As one who
+     regards him with jealous spite.
+And when say I, 'O heart be consoled for pine,' * 'Tis that heart
+     to none other shall e'er incline:"
+
+Nur al-Din wondered at the charms of her verse and the elegance
+of her expression and the sweetness of her voice and the
+eloquence of her speech and his wit fled for stress of love and
+longing, and ecstasy and distraction, so that he could not
+refrain from her a single moment, but bent to her and strained
+her to his bosom: and she in like manner bowed her form over his
+and abandoned herself to his embrace and bussed him between the
+eyes. Then he kissed her on the mouth and played with her at
+kisses, after the manner of the billing of doves; and she met him
+with like warmth and did with him as she was done by till the
+others were distracted and rose to their feet; whereupon Nur
+al-Din was ashamed and held his hand from her. Then she took her
+lute and, preluding thereon in manifold modes, lastly returned to
+the first and sang these couplets,
+
+"A Moon, when he bends him those eyes lay bare * A brand that
+     gars gazing gazelle despair:
+A King, rarest charms are the host of him * And his lance-like
+     shape men with cane compare:
+Were his softness of sides to his heart transferred * His friend
+     had not suffered such cark and care:
+Ah for hardest heart and for softest sides! * Why not that to
+     these alter, make here go there?
+O thou who accusest my love excuse: * Take eternal and leave me
+     the transient share."[FN#434]
+
+When Nur al-Din heard the sweetness of her voice and the rareness
+of her verse, he inclined to her for delight and could not
+contain himself for excess of wonderment; so he recited these
+couplets,
+
+"Methought she was the forenoon sun until she donned the veil *
+     But lit she fire in vitals mine still flaring fierce and
+     high,
+How had it hurt her an she deigned return my poor sal�m * With
+     fingertips or e'en vouchsafed one little wink of eye?
+The cavalier who spied her face was wholly stupefied * By charms
+     that glorify the place and every charm outvie.
+'Be this the Fair who makes thee pine and long for love liesse? *
+     Indeed thou art excused!' 'This is my fairest she;'(quoth I)
+Who shot me with the shaft of looks nor deigns to rue my woes *
+     Of strangerhood and broken heart and love I must aby:
+I rose a-morn with vanquished heart, to longing love a prey * And
+     weep I through the live long day and all the night I cry."
+
+The girl marvelled at his eloquence and elegance and taking her
+lute, smote thereon with the goodliest of performance, repeating
+all the melodies, and sang these couplets,
+
+"By the life o' thy face, O thou life o' my sprite! * I'll ne'er
+     leave thy love for despair or delight:
+When art cruel thy vision stands hard by my side * And the
+     thought of thee haunts me when far from sight:
+O who saddenest my glance albe weeting that I * No love but thy
+     love will for ever requite?
+Thy cheeks are of Rose and thy lips-dews are wine; * Say, wilt
+     grudge them to us in this charming site?"
+
+Hereat Nur al-Din was gladdened with extreme gladness and
+wondered with the utmost wonder, so he answered her verse with
+these couplets,
+
+"The sun yellowed not in the murk gloom li'en * But lay pearl
+     enveiled 'neath horizon-chine;
+Nor showed its crest to the eyes of Morn * But took refuge from
+     parting with Morning-shine.[FN#435]
+Take my tear-drops that trickle as chain on chain * And they'll
+     tell my case with the clearest sign.
+An my tears be likened to Nile-flood, like * Malak's[FN#436]
+     flooded flat be this love o'mine.
+Quoth she, 'Bring thy riches!' Quoth I, 'Come, take!' * 'And thy
+     sleep?' 'Yes, take it from lids of eyne!'"
+
+When the girl heard Nur al-Din's words and noted the beauty of
+his eloquence her senses fled and her wit was dazed and love of
+him gat hold upon her whole heart. So she pressed him to her
+bosom and fell to kissing him like the billing of doves, whilst
+he returned her caresses with successive kisses; but preeminence
+appertaineth to precedence.[FN#437] When she had made an end of
+kissing, she took the lute and recited these couplets,
+
+"Alas, alack and well-away for blamer's calumny! * Whether or not
+     I make my moan or plead or show no plea:
+O spurner of my love I ne'er of thee so hard would deem * That I
+     of thee should be despised, of thee my property.
+I wont at lovers' love to rail and for their passion chide, * But
+     now I fain debase myself to all who rail at thee:
+Yea, only yesterday I wont all amourists to blame * But now I
+     pardon hearts that pine for passion's ecstasy;
+And of my stress of parting-stowre on me so heavy weighs * At
+     morning prayer to Him I'll cry, 'In thy name, O Ali!'"
+
+And also these two couplets,
+
+"His lovers said, 'Unless he deign to give us all a drink * Of
+     wine, of fine old wine his lips deal in their purity;
+We to the Lord of Threefold Worlds will pray to grant our prayer'
+     * And all exclaim with single cry 'In thy name, O Ali!'"
+
+Nur al-Din, hearing these lines and their rhyme, marvelled at the
+fluency of her tongue and thanked her, praising her grace and
+passing seductiveness; and the damsel, delighted at his praise,
+arose without stay or delay and doffing that was upon her of
+outer dress and trinkets till she was free of all encumbrance sat
+down on his knees and kissed him between the eyes and on his
+cheek-mole. Then she gave him all she had put off.--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the girl
+gave to Nur al-Din all she had doffed, saying, "O beloved of my
+heart, in very sooth the gift is after the measure of the giver."
+So he accepted this from her and gave it back to her and kissed
+her on the mouth and cheeks and eyes. When this was ended and
+done, for naught is durable save the Living, the Eternal,
+Provider of the peacock and the owl,[FN#438] Nur al-Din rose from
+the s�ance and stood upon his feet, because the darkness was now
+fallen and the stars shone out; whereupon quoth the damsel to
+him, "Whither away, O my lord?"; and quoth he, "To my father's
+home." Then the sons of the merchants conjured him to night with
+them, but he refused and mounting his shemule, rode, without
+stopping, till he reached his parent's house, where his mother
+met him and said to him, "O my son, what hath kept thee away till
+this hour? By Allah, thou hast troubled myself and thy sire by
+thine absence from us, and our hearts have been occupied with
+thee." Then she came up to him, to kiss him on his mouth, and
+smelling the fumes of the wine, said, "O my son, how is it that, after prayer and worship thou hast become a wine-bibber and a
+rebel against Him to whom belong creation and commandment?" But
+Nur al-Din threw himself down on the bed and lay there. Presently
+in came his sire and said, "What aileth Nur al-Din to lie thus?";
+and his mother answered, "'Twould seem his head acheth for the
+air of the garden." So Taj al-Din went up to his son, to ask him
+of his ailment, and salute him, and smelt the reek of
+wine.[FN#439] Now the merchant loved not wine-drinkers; so he
+said to Nur al-Din, "Woe to thee, O my son! Is folly come to such
+a pass with thee, that thou drinkest wine?" When Nur al-Din heard
+his sire say this, he raised his hand, being yet in his
+drunkenness, and dealt him a buffet, when by decree of the
+Decreer the blow lit on his father's right eye which rolled down
+on his cheek; whereupon he fell a-swoon and lay therein awhile.
+They sprinkled rose-water on him till he recovered, when he would
+have beaten his son; but the mother withheld him, and he swore,
+by the oath of divorce from his wife that, as soon as morning
+morrowed, he would assuredly cut off his son's right
+hand.[FN#440] When she heard her husband's words, her breast was
+straitened and she feared for her son and ceased not to soothe and
+appease his sire, till sleep overcame him. Then she waited till
+moon-rise, when she went in to her son, whose drunkenness had now
+departed from him, and said to him, "O Nur al-Din, what is this
+foul deed thou diddest with thy sire?" He asked, "And what did I
+with him?"; and answered she, "Thou dealtest him a buffet on the
+right eye and struckest it out so that it rolled down his cheek;
+and he hath sworn by the divorce-oath that, as soon as morning
+shall morrow he will without fail cut off thy right hand." Nur
+al-Din repented him of that he had done, whenas repentance
+profited him naught, and his mother said to him, "O my son, this
+penitence will not profit thee; nor will aught avail thee but
+that thou arise forthwith and seek safety in flight: go forth the
+house privily and take refuge with one of thy friends and there
+what Allah shall do await, for he changeth case after case and
+state upon state." Then she opened a chest and taking out a purse
+of an hundred dinars said, "O my son, take these dinars and
+provide thy wants therewith, and when they are at an end, O my
+son, send and let me know thereof, that I may send thee other
+than these, and at the same time covey to me news of thyself
+privily: haply Allah will decree thee relief and thou shalt
+return to thy home." And she farewelled him and wept passing sore,
+nought could be more. Thereupon Nur al-Din took the purse of gold
+and was about to go forth, when he espied a great purse
+containing a thousand dinars, which his mother had forgotten by
+the side of the chest. So he took this also and binding the two
+purses about his middle,[FN#441] set out before dawn threading
+the streets in the direction of B�l�k, where he arrived when day
+broke and all creatures arose, attesting the unity of Allah the
+Opener and went forth each of them upon his several business, to
+win that which Allah had unto him allotted. Reaching Bulak he
+walked on along the riverbank till he sighted a ship with her
+gangway out and her four anchors made fast to the land. The folk
+were going up into her and coming down from her, and Nur al-Din,
+seeing some sailors there standing, asked them whither they were
+bound, and they answered, "To Rosetta-city." Quoth he, "Take me
+with you;" and quoth they, "Well come, and welcome to thee, to
+thee, O goodly one!" So he betook himself forthright to the
+market and buying what he needed of vivers and bedding and
+covering, returned to the port and went on board the ship, which
+was ready to sail and tarried with him but a little while before
+she weighed anchor and fared on, without stopping, till she
+reached Rosetta,[FN#442] where Nur al-Din saw a small boat going
+to Alexandria. So he embarked in it and traversing the sea-arm of
+Rosetta fared on till he came to a bridge called Al-J�m�, where
+he landed and entered Alexandria by the gate called the Gate of
+the Lote-tree. Allah protected him, so that none of those who
+stood on guard at the gate saw him, and he walked on till he
+entered the city.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+      When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventieth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur
+al-Din entered Alexandria he found it a city goodly of
+pleasaunces, delightful to its inhabitants and inviting to
+inhabit therein. Winter had fared from it with his cold and Prime
+was come to it with his roses: its flowers were kindly ripe and
+welled forth its rills. Indeed, it was a city goodly of ordinance
+and disposition; its folk were of the best of men, and when the
+gates thereof were shut, its folk were safe.[FN#443] And it was
+even as is said of it in these couplets,
+
+"Quoth I to a comrade one day, * A man of good speech and rare,
+'Describe Alexandria.' * Quoth he, 'Tis a march-town fair.'
+Quoth I, 'Is there living therein?' * And he, 'An the wind blow
+     there.'"
+
+Or as saith one of the poets,
+
+"Alexandria's a frontier;[FN#444] Whose dews of lips are sweet
+     and clear;
+How fair the coming to it is, * So one therein no raven speer!"
+
+
+Nur al-Din walked about the city and ceased not walking till he
+came to the merchants' bazar, whence he passed on to the mart of
+the money-changers and so on in turn to the markets of the
+confectioners and fruiterers and druggists, marvelling, as he
+went, at the city, for that the nature of its qualities accorded
+with its name.[FN#445] As he walked in the druggists' bazar,
+behold, an old man came down from his shop and saluting him, took
+him by the hand and carried him to his home. And Nur al-Din saw a
+fair bystreet, swept and sprinkled, whereon the zephyr blew and
+made pleasantness pervade it and the leaves of the trees
+overshaded it. Therein stood three houses and at the upper end a
+mansion, whose foundations were firm sunk in the water and its
+walls towered to the confines of the sky. They had swept the
+space before it and they had sprinkled it freshly; so it exhaled
+the fragrance of flowers, borne on the zephyr which breathed upon
+the place; and the scent met there who approached it on such wise
+as it were one of the gardens of Paradise. And, as they had
+cleaned and cooled the by-street's head, so was the end of it with
+marble spread. The Shaykh carried Nur al-Din into the house and
+setting somewhat of food before him ate with his guest. When they
+had made an end of eating, the druggist said to him, "When camest
+thou hither from Cairo?"; and Nur al-Din replied, "This very
+night, O my father." Quoth the old man, "What is thy name?"; and
+quoth he, "Ali Nur al-Din." Said the druggist, "O my son, O Nur
+al-Din, be the triple divorce incumbent on me, an thou leave me
+so long as thou abidest in this city; and I will set thee apart a
+place wherein thou mayst dwell." Nur al-Din asked, "O my lord the
+Shaykh, let me know more of thee"; and the other answered, "Know,
+O my son, that some years ago I went to Cairo with merchandise,
+which I sold there and bought other, and I had occasion for a
+thousand dinars. So thy sire Taj al-Din weighed them out[FN#446]
+for me, all unknowing me, and would take no written word of me,
+but had patience with me till I returned hither and sent him the
+amount by one of my servants, together with a gift. I saw thee,
+whilst thou wast little; and, if it please Allah the Most High, I
+will repay thee somewhat of the kindness thy father did me." When
+Nur al-Din heard the old man's story, he showed joy and pulling
+out with a smile the purse of a thousand dinars, gave it to his
+host the Shaykh and said to him, "Take charge of this deposit for
+me, against I buy me somewhat of merchandise whereon to trade."
+Then he abode some time in Alexandria city taking his pleasure
+every day in its thoroughfares, eating and drinking ad indulging
+himself with mirth and merriment till he had made an end of the
+hundred dinars he had kept by way of spending-money; whereupon he
+repaired to the old druggist, to take of him somewhat of the
+thousand dinars to spend, but found him not in his shop and took
+a seat therein to await his return. He sat there gazing right and
+left and amusing himself with watching the merchants and
+passers-by, and as he was thus engaged behold, there came into
+the bazar a Persian riding on a she-mule and carrying behind him
+a damsel; as she were argent of alloy free or a fish
+Balti[FN#447] in mimic sea or a doe-gazelle on desert lea. Her
+face outshone the sun in shine and she had witching eyne and
+breasts of ivory white, teeth of marguerite, slender waist and
+sides dimpled deep and calves like tails of fat sheep;[FN#448]
+and indeed she was perfect in beauty and loveliness, elegant
+stature and symmetrical grace, even as saith one, describing
+her,[FN#449]
+
+"'Twas as by will of her she was create * Nor short nor long, but
+     Beauty's mould and mate:
+Rose blushes reddest when she sees those cheeks * And fruits the
+     bough those marvel charms amate:
+Moon is her favour, Musk the scent of her * Branch is her shape:–
+     she passeth man's estate:
+'Tis e'en as were she cast in freshest pearl * And every limblet
+     shows a moon innate."
+
+Presently the Persian lighted down from his she-mule and making
+the damsel also dismount loudly summoned the broker and said to
+him as soon as he came, "Take this damsel and cry her for sale in
+the market." So he took her and leading her to the middlemost of
+the bazar disappeared for a while and presently he returned with
+a stool of ebony, inlaid with ivory, and setting it upon the
+ground, seated her thereon. Then he raised her veil and
+discovered a face as it were a Median targe[FN#450] or a cluster
+of pearls:[FN#451] and indeed she was like the full moon, when it
+filleth on its fourteenth night, accomplished in brilliant
+beauty. As saith the poet,
+
+"Vied the full moon for folly with her face, * But was
+     eclipsed[FN#452] and split for rage full sore;
+And if the spiring B�n with her contend * Perish her hands who
+     load of fuel bore!"[FN#453]
+
+And how well saith another,
+
+"Say to the fair in the wroughten veil * How hast made that
+     monk-like worshipper ail?
+Light of veil and light of face under it * Made the hosts of
+     darkness to fly from bale;
+And, when came my glance to steal look at cheek. * With a
+     meteor-shaft the Guard made me quail."[FN#454]
+
+Then said the broker to the merchants,[FN#455] "How much do ye
+bid for the union-pearl of the diver and prize-quarry of the
+fowler?" Quoth one, "She is mine for an hundred dinars." And
+another said, "Two hundred," and a third, "Three hundred"; and
+they ceased not to bid, one against other, till they made her
+price nine hundred and fifty dinars, and there the biddings
+stopped awaiting acceptance and consent.[FN#456]--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+merchants bid one against other till they made the price of the
+girl nine hundred and fifty dinars. Then the broker went up to
+her Persian master and said to him, "The biddings for this thy
+slave-girl have reached nine hundred and fifty dinars: so say me,
+wilt thou sell her at that price and take the money?" Asked the
+Persian, "Doth she consent to this? I desire to fall in with her
+wishes, for I sickened on my journey hither and this handmaid
+tended me with all possible tenderness, wherefore I sware not to
+sell her but to him whom she should like and approve, and I have
+put her sale in her own hand. So do thou consult her and if she
+say, 'I consent,' sell her to whom thou wilt: but an she say,
+'No,' sell her not." So the broker went up to her and asked her,
+"O Princess of fair ones, know that thy master putteth thy sale
+in thine own hands, and thy price hath reached nine hundred and
+fifty dinars; dost thou give me leave to sell thee?" She
+answered, "Show me him who is minded to buy me before clinching
+the bargain." So he brought her up to one of the merchants a man
+stricken with years and decrepit; and she looked at him a long
+while, then turned to the broker and said to him, "O broker, art
+thou Jinn-mad or afflicted in thy wit?" Replied he, "Why dost
+thou ask me this, O Princess of fair ones?"; and said she, "Is it
+permitted thee of Allah to sell the like of me to yonder decrepit
+old man, who saith of his wife's case these couplets,
+
+'Quoth she to me,--and sore enraged for wounded pride was she, *
+     For she in sooth had bidden me to that which might not be,--
+'An if thou swive me not forthright, as one should swive his
+     wife, * Thou be made a cuckold straight, reproach it not to
+     me.
+Meseems thy yard is made of wax, for very flaccidness; * For when
+     I rub it with my hand, it softens instantly.'[FN#457]
+
+And said he likewise of his yard,
+
+'I have a yard that sleeps in base and shameful way * When grants
+     my lover boon for which I sue and pray:
+But when I wake o' mornings[FN#458] all alone in bed, * 'Tis fain
+     o' foin and fence and fierce for futter-play.'
+
+And again quoth he thereof of his yard,
+
+'I have a froward yard of temper ill * Dishonoring him who shows
+     it most regard:
+It stands when sleep I, when I stand it sleeps * Heaven pity not
+     who pitieth that yard!'"
+
+When the old merchant heard this ill flouting from the damsel, he
+was wroth with wrath exceeding beyond which was no proceeding and
+said to the broker, "O most ill-omened of brokers, thou hast not
+brought into the market this ill-conditioned wench but to gibe me
+and make mock of me before the merchants." Then the broker took
+her aside and said to her, "O my lady, be not wanting in
+self-respect. The Shaykh at whom thou didst mock is the Syndic of
+the bazar and Inspector[FN#459] thereof and a committee-man of
+the council of the merchants." But she laughed and improvised
+these two couplets,
+
+"It behoveth folk who rule in our time, * And 'tis one of the
+     duties of magistrateship,
+To hand up the Wali above his door * And beat with a whip the
+     Mohtasib!"
+
+Adding, "By Allah, O my lord, I will not be sold to yonder old
+man; so sell me to other than him, for haply he will be abashed
+at me and vend me again and I shall become a mere servant[FN#460]
+and it beseemeth not that I sully myself with menial service; and
+indeed thou knowest that the matter of my sale is committed to
+myself." He replied, "I hear and I obey," and carried her to a
+man which was one of the chief merchants. And when standing hard
+by him the broker asked, "How sayst thou, O my lady? Shall I sell
+thee to my lord Shar�f al-D�n here for nine hundred and fifty
+gold pieces?" She looked at him and, seeing him to be an old man
+with a dyed beard, said to the broker, "Art thou silly, that thou
+wouldst sell me to this worn out Father Antic? Am I cotton refuse
+or threadbare rags that thou marchest me about from greybeard to
+greybeard, each like a wall ready to fall or an Ifrit smitten
+down of a fire-ball? As for the first, the poet had him in mind
+when he said,[FN#461]
+
+'I sought of a fair maid to kiss her lips of coral red, But, 'No,
+     by Him who fashioned things from nothingness!' she said.
+Unto the white of hoary hairs I never had a mind, And shall my
+     mouth be stuffed, forsooth, with cotton, ere I'm dead?'
+
+And how goodly is the saying of the poet,
+
+'The wise have said that white of hair is light that shines and
+     robes * The face of man with majesty and light that awes the
+     sight;
+Yet until hoary seal shall stamp my parting-place of hair * I
+     hope and pray that same may be black as the blackest night.
+Albe Time-whitened beard of man be like the book he bears[FN#462]
+     * When to his Lord he must return, I'd rather 'twere not
+     white,'
+
+And yet goodlier is the saying of another,
+
+'A guest hath stolen on my head and honour may he lack! * The
+     sword a milder deed hath done that dared these locks to
+     hack.
+Avaunt, O Whiteness,[FN#463] wherein naught of brightness
+     gladdens sight * Thou 'rt blacker in the eyes of me than
+     very blackest black!'
+
+As for the other, he is a model of wantonness and scurrilousness
+and a blackener of the face of hoariness; his dye acteth the
+foulest of lies: and the tongue of his case reciteth these
+lines,[FN#464]
+
+
+'Quoth she to me, 'I see thou dy'st thy hoariness;' and I, 'I do
+     but hide it from thy sight, O thou mine ear and eye!'
+She laughed out mockingly and said, 'A wonder 'tis indeed! Thou
+     so aboundest in deceit that even thy hair's a lie.'
+
+And how excellent is the saying of the poet,
+
+'O thou who dyest hoariness with black, * That youth wi' thee
+     abide, at least in show;
+Look ye, my lot was dy�d black whilome * And (take my word!) none
+     other hue 'twill grow.'"
+
+When the old man with dyed beard heard such words from the
+slave-girl, he raged with exceeding rage in fury's last stage and
+said to the broker, "O most ill-omened of brokers, this day thou
+hast brought to our market naught save this gibing baggage to
+flout at all who are therein, one after other, and fleer at them
+with flyting verse and idle jest?" And he came down from his shop
+and smote on the face the broker who took her an angered and
+carried her away saying to her, "By Allah, never in my life saw
+I a more shameless wench than thyself![FN#465] Thou hast cut off
+my daily bread and thine own this day and all the merchants will
+bear me a grudge on thine account." Then they saw on the way a
+merchant called Shihab al-D�n who bid ten dinars more for her,
+and the broker asked her leave to sell her to him. Quoth she,
+"Trot him out that I may see him and question him of a certain
+thing, which if he have in his house, I will be sold to him; and
+if not, then not." So the broker left her standing there and
+going up to Shihab al-Din, said to him, "O my lord, know that
+yonder damsel tells me she hath a mind to ask thee somewhat,
+which an thou have, she will be sold to thee. Now thou hast heard
+what she said to thy fellows, the merchants,"--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+    When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-second Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+broker said to the merchant, "Thou hast heard what this handmaid
+said to thy fellows, the traders, and by Allah, I fear to bring
+her to thee, lest she do with thee like as she did with thy
+neighbours and so I fall into disgrace with thee: but, an thou
+bid me bring her to thee, I will bring her." Quoth the merchant,
+"Hither with her to me." "Hearing and obeying," answered the
+broker and fetched for the purchaser the damsel, who looked at
+him and said, "O my lord, Shihab al-Din, hast thou in thy house
+round cushions stuffed with ermine strips?" Replied Shihab
+al-Din, "Yes, O Princess of fair ones, I have at home half a
+score such cushions; but I conjure thee by Allah, tell me, what
+will thou do with them?" Quoth she, "I will bear with thee till
+thou be asleep, when I will lay them on thy mouth and nose and
+press them down till thou die." Then she turned to the broker and
+said to him, "O thou refuse of brokers, meseemeth thou art mad,
+in that thou showest me this hour past, first to a pair of
+greybeards, in each of whom are two faults, and then thou
+proferrest me to my lord Shihab al-Din wherein be three defects;
+firstly, he is dwarfish, secondly, he hath a nose which is
+big, and thirdly, he hath a beard which is long. Of him quoth one
+of the poets,
+
+'We never heard of wight nor yet espied * Who amid men three
+     gifts hath unified:
+To wit, a beard one cubit long, a snout * Span-long and figure
+     tall a finger wide:'
+
+And quoth another poet,
+
+'From the plain of his face springs a minaret * Like a bezel of
+     ring on his finger set:
+Did creation enter that vasty nose * No created thing would
+     elsewhere be met.'"
+
+When Shihab al-Din heard this, he came down from his shop and
+seized the broker by the collar, saying, "O scurviest of brokers,
+what aileth thee to bring us a damsel to flout and make mock of
+us, one after other, with her verses and talk that a curse is?"
+So the broker took her and carried her away from before him and
+fared, saying, "By Allah, all my life long, since I have plied
+this profession never set I eyes on the like of thee for
+unmannerliness nor aught more curst to me than thy star, for thou
+hast cut off my livelihood this day and I have gained no profit
+by thee save cuffs on the neck-nape and catching by the collar!"
+Then he brought her to the shop of another merchant, owner of
+negro slaves and white servants, and stationing her before him,
+said to her, "Wilt thou be sold to this my lord 'Al� al-D�n?" She
+looked at him and seeing him hump-backed, said, "This is a Gobbo,"
+and quoth the poet of him,
+
+'Drawn in thy shoulders are and spine thrust out, * As seeking
+     star which Satan gave the lout;[FN#466]
+Or as he tasted had first smack of scourge * And looked in marvel
+     for a second bout.'
+
+And saith another on the same theme,
+
+'As one of you who mounted mule, * A sight for me to ridicule:
+Is 't not a farce? Who feels surprise * An start and bolt with
+     him the mule?'
+
+And another on a similar subject,
+
+'Oft hunchback addeth to his bunchy back * Faults which gar folk
+     upon his front look black:
+Like branch distort and dried by length of days * With citrons
+     hanging from it loose and slack.'"
+
+With this the broker hurried up to her and, carrying her to
+another merchant, said to her, "Wilt thou be sold to this one?"
+She looked at him and said, "In very sooth this man is
+blue-eyed;[FN#467] how wilt thou sell me to him?" Quoth one of
+the poets,
+
+'His eyelids sore and bleared * Weakness of frame denote:
+Arise, ye folk and see * Within his eyes the mote!'"
+
+Then the broker carried her to another and she looked at him and
+seeing that he had a long beard, said to the broker, "Fie upon
+thee! This is a ram, whose tail hath sprouted from his gullet.
+Wilt thou sell me to him, O unluckiest of brokers? Hast thou not
+heard say: 'All long of beard are little of wits? Indeed, after
+the measure of the length of the beard is the lack of sense; and
+this is a well-known thing among men of understanding.' As saith
+one of the poets,
+
+'Ne'er was a man with beard grown overlong, * Tho' be he therefor
+     reverenced and fear'd,
+But who the shortness noted in his wits * Added to longness noted
+     in his beard.'
+
+And quoth another,[FN#468]
+
+'I have a friend with a beard which God hath made to grow to a
+     useless length,
+It is like unto one of the nights of winter long and dark and
+     cold.'"
+
+With this the broker took her and turned away with her, and she
+asked, "Whither goest thou with me?" He answered, "Back to thy
+master the Persian; it sufficeth me what hath befallen me because
+of thee this day; for thou hast been the means of spoiling both
+my trade and his by thine ill manners." Then she looked about the
+market right and left, front and rear till, by the decree of the
+Decreer her eyes fell on Ali Nur al-Din the Cairene. So she gazed
+at him and saw him[FN#469] to be a comely youth of straight slim
+form and smooth of face, fourteen years old, rare in beauty and
+loveliness and elegance and amorous grace like the full moon on
+the fourteenth night with forehead flower-white, and cheeks rosy
+red, neck like alabaster and teeth than jewels finer and dews of lips
+sweeter than sugar, even as saith of him one of his describers,
+
+"Came to match him in beauty and loveliness rare * Full moons and
+     gazelles but quoth I, 'Soft fare!
+Fare softly, gazelles, nor yourselves compare * With him and, O
+     Moons, all your pains forbear!'"
+
+And how well saith another bard,
+
+"Slim-waisted loveling, from his hair and brow * Men wake a-morn
+     in night and light renewed.
+Blame not the mole that dwelleth on his cheek * For Nu'uman's
+     bloom aye shows spot negro-hued."
+
+When the slave-girl beheld Nur al-Din he interposed between her
+and her wits; she fell in love to him with a great and sudden
+fall and her heart was taken with affection for him;--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-third Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+slave-girl beheld Nur al-Din, her heart was taken with affection
+for him; so she turned to the broker and said to him, "Will not
+yonder young merchant who is sitting among the traders in the
+gown of striped broadcloth bid somewhat more for me?" The broker
+replied, "O lady of fair ones, yonder young man is a stranger
+from Cairo, where his father is chief of the trader-guild and
+surpasseth all the merchants and notables of the place. He is but
+lately come to this our city and lodgeth with one of his father's
+friends; but he hath made no bid for thee nor more nor less."
+When the girl heard the broker's words, she drew from her finger
+a costly signet-ring of ruby and said to the man, "Carry me to
+yonder youth, and if he buy me, this ring shall be thine, in
+requital of thy travail with me this day." The broker rejoiced at
+this and brought her up to Nur al-Din, and she considered him
+straitly and found him like the full moon, perfect in loveliness
+and a model of fine stature and symmetric grace, even as saith of
+him one of his describers.
+
+"Waters of beauty o'er his cheeks flow bright, * And rain his
+     glances shafts that sorely smite:
+Choked are his lovers an he deal disdain's * Bitterest draught
+     denaying love-delight.
+His forehead and his stature and my love * Are perfect perfected
+     perfection-dight;
+His raiment folds enfold a lovely neck * As crescent moon in
+     collar buttoned tight:
+His eyne and twinn�d moles and tears of me * Are night that
+     nighteth to the nightliest night.
+His eyebrows and his features and my frame[FN#470] * Crescents on
+     crescents are as crescents slight:
+His pupils pass the wine-cup to his friends * Which, albe sweet,
+     tastes bitter to my sprite;
+And to my thirsty throat pure drink he dealt * From smiling lips
+     what day we were unite:
+Then is my blood to him, my death to him * His right and rightful
+     and most righteous right."
+
+The girl gazed at Nur al-Din and said, "O my lord, Allah upon
+thee, am I not beautiful?"; and he replied, "O Princess of fair
+ones, is there in the world a comelier than thou?" She rejoined,
+"Then why seest thou all the other merchants bid high for me and
+art silent nor sayest a word neither addest one dinar to my
+price? 'Twould seem I please thee not, O my lord!" Quoth he, "O
+my lady, were I in my own land, I had bought thee with all that
+my hand possesseth of monies;" and quoth she, "O my lord, I said
+not, 'Buy me against thy will,' yet, didst thou but add somewhat
+to my price, it would hearten my heart, though thou buy me not,
+so the merchants may say, 'Were not this girl handsome, yonder
+merchant of Cairo had not bidden for her, for the Cairenes are
+connoisseurs in slave-girls.'" These words abashed Nur al-Din and
+he blushed and said to the broker, "How high are the biddings for
+her?" He replied, "Her price hath reached nine hundred and sixty
+dinars,[FN#471] besides brokerage, as for the Sultan's dues, they
+fall on the seller." Quoth Nur al-Din, "Let me have her for a
+thousand dinars, brokerage and price." And the damsel hastening
+to the fore and leaving the broker, said, "I sell myself to this
+handsome young man for a thousand dinars." But Nur al-Din held
+his peace. Quoth one, "We sell to him;" and another, "He
+deserveth her;" and a third, "Accursed, son of accursed, is he
+who biddeth and doth not buy!"; and a fourth, "By Allah, they
+befit each other!" Then, before Nur al-Din could think, the
+broker fetched Kazis and witnesses, who wrote out a contract of
+sale and purchase; and the broker handed the paper to Nur al-Din,
+saying, "Take thy slave-girl and Allah bless thee in her for she
+beseemeth none but thee and none but thou beseemeth her." And he
+recited these two couplets,
+
+"Boon Fortune sought him in humblest way[FN#472] * And came to
+     him draggle-tailed, all a-stir:
+And none is fittest for him but she * And none is fittest but he
+     for her."
+
+Hereat Nur al-Din was abashed before the merchants; so he arose
+without stay or delay and weighed out the thousand dinars which
+he had left as a deposit with his father's friend the druggist,
+and taking the girl, carried her to the house wherein the Shaykh
+had lodged him. When she entered and saw nothing but ragged
+patched carpets and worn out rugs, she said to him, "O my lord,
+have I no value to thee and am I not worthy that thou shouldst
+bear me to thine own house and home wherein are thy goods, that
+thou bringest me into thy servant's lodging? Why dost thou not
+carry me to thy father's dwelling?" He replied, "By Allah, O
+Princess of fair ones, this is my house wherein I dwell; but it
+belongeth to an old man, a druggist of this city, who hath set it
+apart for me and lodged me therein. I told thee that I was a
+stranger and that I am of the sons of Cairo city." She rejoined,
+"O my lord, the least of houses sufficeth till thy return to thy
+native place; but, Allah upon thee, O my lord, go now and fetch
+us somewhat of roast meat and wine and dried fruit and dessert."
+Quoth Nur al-Din, "By Allah, O Princess of fair ones, I had no
+money with me but the thousand dinars I paid down to thy price
+nor possess I any other good. The few dirhams I owned were spent
+by me yesterday." Quoth she, "Hast thou no friend in the town, of
+whom thou mayst borrow fifty dirhams and bring them to me, that I
+may tell thee what thou shalt do therewith?" And he said, "I have
+no intimate but the druggist." Then he betook himself forthright
+to the druggist and said to him, "Peace be with thee, O uncle!"
+He returned his salam and said to him, "O my son, what hast thou
+bought for a thousand dinars this day?" Nur al-Din replied, "I
+have bought a slave-girl;" and the oldster rejoined, "O my son,
+art thou mad that thou givest a thousand dinars for one
+slave-girl? Would I knew what kind of slave-girl she is?" Said
+Nur al-Din, "She is a damsel of the children of the Franks;"--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+    When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur
+al-Din said to the ancient druggist, "The damsel is of the
+children of the Franks;" and the Shaykh said, "O my son, the best
+of the girls of the Franks are to be had in this our town for an
+hundred dinars, and by Allah, O my son, they have cheated thee in
+the matter of this damsel! However, an thou have taken a fancy to
+her, lie with her this night and do thy will of her and to-morrow
+morning go down with her to the market and sell her, though thou
+lose by her two hundred dinars, and reckon that thou hast lost
+them by shipwreck or hast been robbed of them on the road." Nur
+al-Din replied, "Right is thy rede, O uncle, but thou knowest
+that I had but the thousand dinars wherewith I purchased the
+damsel, and now I have not a single dirham left to spend; so I
+desire of thy favour and bounty that thou lend me fifty dirhams,
+to provide me withal, till to-morrow, when I will sell her and
+repay thee out of her price." Said the old man, "Willingly, O my
+son," and counted out to him the fifty dirhams. Then he said to
+him, "O my son, thou art but young in years and the damsel is
+fair, so belike thy heart will be taken with her and it will be
+grievous to thee to vend her. Now thou hast nothing to live on
+and these fifty dirhams will readily be spent and thou wilt come
+to me and I shall lend thee once and twice and thrice, and so on
+up to ten times; but, an thou come to me after this, I will not
+return thy salam[FN#473] and our friendship with thy father will
+end ill." Nur al-Din took the fifty dirhams and returned with
+them to the damsel, who said to him, "O my lord, wend thee at
+once to the market and fetch me twenty dirhams' worth of stained
+silk of five colours and with the other thirty buy meat and bread
+and fruit and wine and flowers." So he went to the market and
+purchasing for her all she sought, brought it to her, whereupon
+she rose and tucking up her sleeves, cooked food after the most
+skilful fashion, and set it before him. He ate and she ate with
+him, till they had enough, after which she set on the wine, and
+she drank and he drank, and she ceased not to ply him with drink
+and entertain him with discourse, till he became drunken and fell
+asleep. Thereupon she arose without stay or delay and taking out
+of her bundle a budget of T�if� leather,[FN#474] opened it and
+drew forth a pair of knitting needles, wherewith she fell to work
+and stinted not till she had made a beautiful zone, which she
+folded up in a wrapper after cleaning it and ironing it, and laid
+it under her pillow. Then she doffed her dress till she was
+mother-naked and lying down beside Nur al-Din shampoo'd him till
+he awoke from his heavy sleep. He found by his side a maiden like
+virgin silver, softer than silk and delicater than a tail of
+fatted sheep, than standard more conspicuous and goodlier than
+the red camel,[FN#475] in height five feet tall with breasts firm
+and full, brows like bended bows, eyes like gazelles' eyes and
+cheeks like blood-red anemones, a slender waist with dimples
+laced and a navel holding an ounce of the unguent benzoin, thighs
+like bolsters stuffed with ostrich-down, and between them what
+the tongue fails to set forth and at mention whereof the tears
+jet forth. Brief it was as it were she to whom the poet alluded
+in these two couplets,
+
+"From her hair is Night, from her forehead Noon * From her
+     side-face Rose; from her lip wine boon:
+From her Union Heaven, her Severance Hell: * Pearls from her
+     teeth; from her front full Moon."
+
+And how excellent is the saying of another bard,[FN#476]
+
+"A Moon she rises, Willow-wand she waves * Breathes ambergris and
+     gazeth a gazelle.
+Meseems that sorrow wooes my heart and wins * And when she wends
+     makes haste therein to dwell.
+Her face is fairer than the Stars of Wealth[FN#477] * And sheeny
+     brows the crescent Moon excel."
+
+And quoth a third also,
+
+"They shine fullest Moons, unveil Crescent-bright; *
+     Sway tenderest Branches and turn wild kine;
+'Mid which is a Dark-eyed for love of whose charms *
+     The Sailors[FN#478] would joy to be ground low-li'en."
+
+So Nur al-Din turned to her at once and clasping her to his
+bosom, sucked first her upper lip and then her under lip and slid
+his tongue between the twain into her mouth. Then he rose to her
+and found her a pearl unthridden and a filly none but he had
+ridden. So he abated her maidenhead and had of her amorous
+delight and there was knitted between them a love-bond which
+might never know breach nor severance.[FN#479] He rained upon her
+cheeks kisses like the falling of pebbles into water, and struck
+with stroke upon stroke, like the thrusting of spears in battle
+brunt; for that Nur al-Din still yearned after clipping of necks
+and sucking of lips and letting down of tress and pressing of
+waist and biting of cheek and cavalcading on breast with Cairene
+buckings and Yamani wrigglings and Abyssinian sobbings and Hind�
+pamoisons and Nubian lasciviousness and R�f� leg-liftings[FN#480]
+and Damiettan moanings and Sa'�d�[FN#481] hotness and Alexandrian
+languishment[FN#482] and this damsel united in herself all these
+virtues, together with excess of beauty and loveliness, and
+indeed she was even as saith of her the poet,
+
+"This is she I will never forget till I die * Nor draw near but
+     to those who to her draw nigh.
+A being for semblance like Moon at full * Praise her Maker, her
+     Modeller glorify!
+Tho' be sore my sin seeking love-liesse * On esperance-day ne'er
+     repent can I;
+A couplet reciting which none can know * Save the youth who in
+     couplets and rhymes shall cry,
+'None weeteth love but who bears its load * Nor passion, save
+     pleasures and pains he aby.'"
+
+So Nur al-Din lay with the damsel through the night in solace and
+delight,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din
+lay with that damsel through the night in solace and delight, the
+twain garbed in the closely buttoned garments of embrace, safe
+and secure against the misways of nights and days, and they
+passed the dark hours after the goodliest fashion, fearing
+naught, in their joys love-fraught, from excess of talk and
+prate. As saith of them the right excellent poet,[FN#483]
+
+"Go, visit her thou lovest, and regard not
+The words detractors utter; envious churls
+Can never favour love. Oh! sure the merciful
+Ne'er make a thing more fair to look upon,
+Than two fond lovers in each other's arms,
+Speaking their passion in a mute embrace.
+When heart has turned to heart, the fools would part them
+Strike idly on cold steel. So when thou'st found
+One purely, wholly thine, accept her true heart,
+And live for her alone. Oh! thou that blamest
+The love-struck for their love, give o'er thy talk
+How canst thou minister to a mind diseased?"
+
+When the morning morrowed in sheen and shone, Nur al-Din awoke
+from deep sleep and found that she had brought water:[FN#484] so
+they made the Ghusl-ablution, he and she, and he performed that
+which behoved him of prayer to his Lord, after which she set
+before him meat and drink, and he ate and drank. Then the damsel
+put her hand under her pillow and pulling out the girdle which
+she had knitted during the night, gave it to Nur al-Din, who
+asked, "Whence cometh this girdle?"[FN#485] Answered she, "O my
+lord, 'tis the silk thou boughtest yesterday for twenty dirhams.
+Rise now and go to the Persian bazar and give it to the broker,
+to cry for sale, and sell it not for less than twenty gold pieces
+in ready money." Quoth Nur al-Din, "O Princess of fair ones how
+can a thing, that cost twenty dirhams and will sell for as many
+dinars, be made in a single night?"; and quoth she, "O my lord,
+thou knowest not the value of this thing; but go to the market
+therewith and give it to the broker, and when he shall cry it,
+its worth will be made manifest to thee." Herewith he carried the
+zone to the market and gave it to the broker, bidding him cry it,
+whilst he himself sat down on a masonry bench before a shop. The
+broker fared forth and returning after a while said to him, "O my
+lord, rise take the price of thy zone, for it hath fetched twenty
+dinars money down." When Nur al-Din heard this, he marvelled with
+exceeding marvel and shook with delight. Then he rose, between
+belief and misbelief, to take the money and when he had received
+it, he went forthright and spent it all on silk of various
+colours and returning home, gave his purchase to the damsel,
+saying, "Make this all into girdles and teach me likewise how to
+make them, that I may work with thee; for never in the length of
+my life saw I a fairer craft than this craft nor a more abounding
+in gain and profit. By Allah, 'tis better than the trade of a
+merchant a thousand times!" She laughed at his language and said,
+"O my lord, go to thy friend the druggist and borrow other thirty
+dirhams of him, and to-morrow repay him from the price of the
+girdle the thirty together with the fifty already loaned to
+thee." So he rose and repaired to the druggist and said to him,
+"O Uncle, lend me other thirty dirhams, and to-morrow, Almighty
+Allah willing, I will repay thee the whole fourscore." The old
+man weighed him out thirty dirhams, wherewith he went to the
+market and buying meat and bread, dried fruits, and flowers as
+before, carried them home to the damsel whose name was
+Miriam,[FN#486] the Girdle-girl. She rose forthright and making
+ready rich meats, set them before her lord Nur al-Din; after
+which she brought the wine-service and they drank and plied each
+other with drink. When the wine began to play with their wits,
+his pleasant address and inner grace pleased her, and she recited
+these two couplets,
+
+"Said I to Slim-waist who the wine engraced * Brought in
+     musk-scented bowl and a superfine,
+'Was it prest from thy cheek?' He replied 'Nay, nay! * When did
+     man from Roses e'er press the Wine?'"
+
+And the damsel ceased not to carouse with her lord and ply him
+with cup and bowl and require him to fill for her and give her to
+drink of that which sweeteneth the spirits, and whenever he put
+forth hand to her, she drew back from him, out of coquetry. The
+wine added to her beauty and loveliness, and Nur al-Din recited
+these two couplets,
+
+"Slim-waist craved wine from her companeer; * Cried (in meeting
+     of friends when he feared for his fere,)
+'An thou pass not the wine thou shalt pass the night, * A-banisht
+     my bed!' And he felt sore fear."
+
+They ceased not drinking till drunkenness overpowered Nur al-Din
+and he slept; whereupon she rose forthright and fell to work upon
+a zone, as was her wont. When she had wrought it to end, she
+wrapped it in paper and doffing her clothes, lay down by his side
+and enjoyed dalliance and delight till morn appeared.--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Miriam
+the Girdle-girl, having finished her zone and wrapped it in paper
+doffed her dress and lay down by the side of her lord; and then
+happened to them what happened of dalliance and delight; and he
+did his devoir like a man. On the morrow, she gave him the girdle
+and said to him, "Carry this to the market and sell it for twenty
+dinars, even as thou soldest its fellow yesterday." So he went to
+the bazar and sold the girdle for twenty dinars, after which he
+repaired to the druggist and paid him back the eighty dirhams,
+thanking him for the bounties and calling down blessings upon
+him. He asked, "O my son, hast thou sold the damsel?"; and Nur
+al-Din answered, "Wouldst thou have me sell the soul out of my
+body?" and he told him all that had passed, from commencement to
+conclusion, whereat the druggist joyed with joy galore, than
+which could be no more and said to him, "By Allah, O my son, thou
+gladdenest me! Inshallah, mayst thou ever be in prosperity!
+Indeed I wish thee well by reason of my affection for thy father
+and the continuance of my friendship with him." Then Nur al-Din
+left the Shaykh and straightway going to the market, bought meat
+and fruit and wine and all that he needed according to his custom
+and returned therewith to Miriam. They abode thus a whole year in
+eating and drinking and mirth and merriment and love and good
+comradeship, and every night she made a zone and he sold it on
+the morrow for twenty dinars, wherewith he bought their needs and
+gave the rest to her, to keep against a time of necessity. After
+the twelvemonth she said to him one day, "O my lord, whenas thou
+sellest the girdle to-morrow, buy for me with its price silk of
+six colours, because I am minded to make thee a kerchief to wear
+on thy shoulders, such as never son of merchant, no, nor King's
+son, ever rejoiced in its like." So next day he fared forth to
+the bazar and after selling the zone brought her the dyed silks
+she sought and Miriam the Girdle-girl wrought at the kerchief a
+whole week, for, every night, when she had made an end of the
+zone, she would work awhile at the kerchief till it was finished.
+Then she gave it to Nur al-Din, who put it on his shoulders and
+went out to walk in the market-place, whilst all the merchants
+and folk and notables of the town crowded about him, to gaze on
+his beauty and that of the kerchief which was of the most
+beautiful. Now it chanced that one night, after this, he awoke
+from sleep and found Miriam weeping passing sore and reciting
+these couplets,
+
+"Nears my parting fro' my love, nigher draws the Severance-day *
+     Ah well-away for parting! and again ah well-away!
+And in tway is torn my heart and O pine I'm doomed to bear * For
+     the nights that erst witnessed our pleasurable play!
+No help for it but Envier the twain of us espy * With evil eye
+     and win to us his lamentable way.
+For naught to us is sorer than the jealousy of men * And the
+     backbiter's eyne that with calumny affray."
+
+He said, "O my lady Miriam,[FN#487] what aileth thee to weep?";
+and she replied, "I weep for the anguish of parting for my heart
+presageth me thereof." Quoth he, "O lady of fair ones, and who
+shall interpose between us, seeing that I love thee above all
+creatures and tender thee the most?"; and quoth she, "And I love
+thee twice as well as thou me; but fair opinion of fortune still
+garreth folk fall into affliction, and right well saith the
+poet,[FN#488]
+
+'Think'st thou thyself all prosperous, in days which prosp'rous
+     be,
+Nor fearest thou impending ill, which comes by Heaven's decree?
+We see the orbs of heav'n above, how numberless they are,
+But sun and moon alone eclips'd, and ne'er a lesser star!
+And many a tree on earth we see, some bare, some leafy green,
+Of them, not one is hurt with stone save that has fruitful been!
+See'st not th' refluent ocean, bear carrion on its tide,
+While pearls beneath its wavy flow, fixed in the deep, abide?'"
+
+Presently she added, "O my lord Nur al-Din, an thou desire to
+nonsuit separation, be on thy guard against a swart-visaged
+oldster, blind of the right eye and lame of the left leg; for he
+it is who will be the cause of our severance. I saw him enter the
+city and I opine that he is come hither in quest of me." Replied
+Nur al-Din, "O lady of fair ones, if my eyes light on him, I will
+slay him and make an example of him." Rejoined she, "O my lord,
+slay him not; but talk not nor trade with him, neither buy nor
+sell with him nor sit nor walk with him nor speak one word to
+him, no, not even the answer prescribed by law,[FN#489] and I
+pray Allah to preserve us from his craft and his mischief." Next
+morning, Nur al-Din took the zone and carried it to the market,
+where he sat down on a shop-bench and talked with the sons of the
+merchants, till the drowsiness preceding slumber overcame him and
+he lay down on the bench and fell asleep. Presently, behold, up
+came the Frank whom the damsel had described to him, in company
+with seven others, and seeing Nur al-Din lying asleep on the
+bench, with his head wrapped in the kerchief which Miriam had
+made for him and the edge thereof in his grasp, sat down by him
+and hent the end of the kerchief in hand and examined it, turning
+it over for some time. Nur al-Din sensed that there was something
+and awoke; then, seeing the very man of whom Miriam had warned
+him sitting by his side, cried out at him with a great cry which
+startled him. Quoth the Frank, "What aileth thee to cry out thus
+at us? Have we taken from thee aught?"; and quoth Nur al-Din, "By
+Allah, O accursed, haddest thou taken aught from me, I would
+carry thee before the Chief of Police!" Then said the Frank, "O
+Moslem, I conjure thee by thy faith and by that wherein thou
+believest, inform me whence thou haddest this kerchief;" and Nur
+al-Din replied, "Tis the handiwork of my lady mother,"--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+    When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+Frank asked Nur al-Din anent the maker of the kerchief, he
+answered, saying, "In very sooth this kerchief is the handiwork
+of my mother, who made it for me with her own hand." Quoth the
+Frank "Wilt thou sell it to me and take ready money for it?," and
+quoth Nur al-Din, "By Allah, I will not sell it to thee or to any
+else, for she made none other than it." "Sell it to me and I will
+give thee to its price this very moment five hundred dinars,
+money down; and let her who made it make thee another and a
+finer." "I will not sell it at all, for there is not the like of
+it in this city." "O my lord, wilt thou sell it for six hundred
+ducats of fine gold?" And the Frank went on to add to his offer
+hundred by hundred, till he bid nine hundred dinars; but Nur
+al-Din said, "Allah will open to me otherwise than by my vending
+it. I will never sell it, not for two thousand dinars nor more
+than that; no, never." The Frank ceased not to tempt him with
+money, till he bid him a thousand dinars, and the merchants
+present said, "We sell thee the kerchief at that price:[FN#490]
+pay down the money." Quoth Nur al-Din, "I will not sell it, I
+swear by Allah!"[FN#491] But one of the merchants said to him,
+"Know thou, O my son, that the value of this kerchief is an
+hundred dinars at most and that to an eager purchaser, and if
+this Frank pay thee down a thousand for it, thy profit will be
+nine hundred dinars, and what gain canst thou desire greater than
+this gain? Wherefore 'tis my rede that thou sell him this
+kerchief at that price and bid her who wrought it make thee other
+finer than it: so shalt thou profit nine hundred dinars by this
+accursed Frank, the enemy of Allah and of The Faith." Nur al-Din
+was abashed at the merchants and sold the kerchief to the Frank,
+who, in their presence, paid him down the thousand dinars, with
+which he would have returned to his handmaid to congratulate her
+on what had passed; but the stranger said, "Harkye, O company of
+merchants, stop my lord Nur al-Din, for you and he are my guests
+this night. I have a jar of old Greek wine and a fat lamb, fresh
+fruit, flowers and confections; wherefore do ye all cheer me with
+your company to-night and not one of you tarry behind." So the
+merchants said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, we desire that thou be
+with us on the like of this night, so we may talk together, we
+and thou, and we pray thee, of thy favour and bounty, to bear us
+company, so we and thou, may be the guests of this Frank, for he
+is a liberal man." And they conjured him by the oath of
+divorce[FN#492] and hindered him by main force from going home.
+Then they rose forthright and shutting up their shops, took Nur
+al-Din and fared with the Frank, who brought them to a goodly and
+spacious saloon, wherein were two da�ses. Here he made them sit
+and set before them a scarlet tray-cloth of goodly workmanship
+and unique handiwork, wroughten in gold with figures of breaker
+and broken, lover and beloved, asker and asked, whereon he ranged
+precious vessels of porcelain and crystal, full of the costliest
+confections, fruits and flowers, and brought them a flagon of old
+Greek wine. Then he bade slaughter a fat lamb and kindling fire,
+proceeded to roast of its flesh and feed the merchants therewith
+and give them draughts of that wine, winking at them the while to
+ply Nur al-Din with drink. Accordingly they ceased not plying him
+with wine till he became drunken and took leave of his wits; so
+when the Frank saw that he was drowned in liquor, he said to him,
+"O my lord Nur al-Din, thou gladdenest us with thy company
+to-night: welcome, and again welcome to thee." Then he engaged
+him awhile in talk, till he could draw near to him, when he said,
+with dissembling speech, "O my lord, Nur al-Din, wilt thou sell
+me thy slave-girl, whom thou boughtest in presence of these
+merchants a year ago for a thousand dinars? I will give thee at
+this moment five thousand gold pieces for her and thou wilt thus
+make four thousand ducats profit." Nur al-Din refused, but the
+Frank ceased not to ply him with meat and drink and lure him with
+lucre, still adding to his offers, till he bid him ten thousand
+dinars for her; whereupon Nur al-Din, in his drunkenness, said
+before the merchants, "I sell her to thee for ten thousand
+dinars: hand over the money." At this the Frank rejoiced with joy
+exceeding and took the merchants to witness the sale. They passed
+the night in eating and drinking, mirth and merriment, till the
+morning, when the Frank cried out to his pages, saying, "Bring me
+the money." So they brought it to him and he counted out ten
+thousand dinars to Nur al-Din, saying, "O my lord, take the price
+of thy slave-girl, whom thou soldest to me last night, in the
+presence of these Moslem merchants." Replied Nur al-Din, "O
+accursed, I sold thee nothing and thou liest anent me, for I have
+no slave-girls." Quoth the Frank, "In very sooth thou didst sell
+her to me and these merchants were witnesses to the bargain."
+Thereupon all said, "Yes, indeed! thou soldest him thy slave-girl
+before us for ten thousand dinars, O Nur al-Din and we will all
+bear witness against thee of the sale. Come, take the money and
+deliver him the girl, and Allah will give thee a better than she
+in her stead. Doth it irk thee, O Nur al-Din, that thou boughtest
+the girl for a thousand dinars and hast enjoyed for a year and a
+half her beauty and loveliness and taken thy fill of her converse
+and her favours? Furthermore thou hast gained some ten thousand
+golden dinars by the sale of the zones which she made thee every
+day and thou soldest for twenty sequins, and after all this thou
+hast sold her again at a profit of nine thousand dinars over and
+above her original price. And withal thou deniest the sale and
+belittlest and makest difficulties about the profit! What gain is
+greater than this gain and what profit wouldst thou have
+profitabler than this profit? An thou love her thou hast had thy
+fill of her all this time: so take the money and buy thee another
+handsomer than she; or we will marry thee to one of our daughters, lovelier than she, at a dowry of less than half this price, and
+the rest of the money will remain in thy hand as capital." And
+the merchants ceased not to ply him with persuasion and special
+arguments till he took the ten thousand dinars, the price of the
+damsel, and the Frank straightway fetched Kazis and witnesses,
+who drew up the contract of sale by Nur al-Din of the handmaid
+hight Miriam the Girdle-girl. Such was his case; but as regards
+the damsel's, she sat awaiting her lord from morning till sundown
+and from sundown till the noon of night; and when he returned
+not, she was troubled and wept with sore weeping. The old
+druggist heard her sobbing and sent his wife, who went in to
+her and finding her in tears, said to her, "O my lady, what
+aileth thee to weep?" Said she, "O my mother, I have sat waiting
+the return of my lord, Nur al-Din all day; but he cometh not, and
+I fear lest some one have played a trick on him, to make him sell
+me, and he have fallen into the snare and sold me."--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+    When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Miriam
+the Girdle-girl said to the druggist's wife, "I am fearful lest
+some one have been playing a trick on my lord to make him sell
+me, and he have fallen into the snare and sold me." Said the
+other, "O my lady Miriam, were they to give thy lord this hall
+full of gold as thy price, yet would he not sell thee, for what I
+know of his love to thee. But, O my lady, belike there be a
+company come from his parents at Cairo and he hath made them an
+entertainment in the lodging where they alighted, being ashamed
+to bring them hither, for that the place is not spacious enough
+for them or because their condition is less than that he should
+bring them to his own house; or belike he preferred to conceal
+thine affair from them, so passed the night with them; and
+Inshallah! to-morrow he will come to thee safe and sound. So
+burden not thy soul with cark and care, O my lady, for of a
+certainty this is the cause of his absence from thee last night
+and I will abide with thee this coming night and comfort thee,
+until thy lord return to thee." So the druggist's wife abode with
+her and cheered her with talk throughout the dark hours and, when
+it was morning, Miriam saw her lord enter the street followed by
+the Frank and amiddlemost a company of merchants, at which sight
+her side-muscles quivered and her colour changed and she fell
+a-shaking, as ship shaketh in mid-ocean for the violence of the
+gale. When the druggist's wife saw this, she said to her, "O my
+lady Miriam what aileth thee that I see thy case changed and thy
+face grown pale and show disfeatured?" Replied she, "By Allah, O
+my lady, my heart forebodeth me of parting and severance of
+union!" And she bemoaned herself with the saddest sighs, reciting
+these couplets,[FN#493]
+
+"Incline not to parting, I pray; * For bitter its savour is aye.
+E'en the sun at his setting turns pale * To think he must part
+     from the day;
+And so, at his rising, for joy * Of reunion, he's radient and
+     gay."
+
+Then Miriam wept passing sore wherethan naught could be more,
+making sure of separation, and cried to the druggist's wife, "O
+my mother, said I not to thee that my lord Nur al-Din had been
+tricked into selling me? I doubt not but he hath sold me this
+night to yonder Frank, albeit I bade him beware of him; but
+deliberation availeth not against destiny. So the truth of my
+words is made manifest to thee." Whilst they were talking,
+behold, in came Nur al-Din, and the damsel looked at him and saw
+that his colour was changed and that he trembled and there
+appeared on his face signs of grief and repentance: so she said
+to him, "O my lord Nur al-Din, meseemeth thou hast sold me."
+Whereupon he wept with sore weeping and groaned and lamented and
+recited these couplets,[FN#494]
+
+"When e'er the Lord 'gainst any man,
+Would fulminate some harsh decree,
+And he be wise, and skilled to hear,
+And used to see;
+He stops his ears, and blinds his heart,
+And from his brain ill judgment tears,
+And makes it bald as 'twere a scalp,
+Reft of its hairs;[FN#495]
+Until the time when the whole man
+Be pierced by this divine command;
+Then He restores him intellect
+To understand."
+
+Then Nur al-Din began to excuse himself to his handmaid, saying,
+"By Allah, O my lady Miriam, verily runneth the Reed with whatso
+Allah hath decreed. The folk put a cheat on me to make me sell
+thee, and I fell into the snare and sold thee. Indeed, I have
+sorely failed of my duty to thee; but haply He who decreed our
+disunion will vouchsafe us reunion." Quoth she, "I warned thee
+against this, for this it was I dreaded." Then she strained him
+to her bosom and kissed him between the eyes, reciting these
+couplets,
+
+"Now, by your love! your love I'll ne'er forget, * Though lost my
+     life for stress of pine and fret:
+I weep and wail through livelong day and night * As moans the
+     dove on sandhill-tree beset.
+O fairest friends, your absence spoils my life; * Nor find I
+     meeting-place as erst we met."
+
+At this juncture, behold, the Frank came in to them and went up
+to Miriam, to kiss her hands; but she dealt him a buffet with her
+palm on the cheek, saying, "Avaunt, O accursed! Thou hast
+followed after me without surcease, till thou hast cozened my
+lord into selling me! But O accursed, all shall yet be well,
+Inshallah!" The Frank laughed at her speech and wondered at her
+deed and excused himself to her, saying, "O my lady Mirian, what
+is my offence? Thy lord Nur al-Din here sold thee of his full
+consent and of his own free will. Had he loved thee, by the right
+of the Messiah, he had not transgressed against thee! And had he
+not fulfilled his desire of thee, he had not sold thee." Quoth
+one of the poets,
+
+'Whom I irk let him fly fro' me fast and faster * If I name his
+     name I am no directer.
+Nor the wide wide world is to me so narrow * That I act expecter
+     to this rejecter.'"[FN#496]
+
+Now this handmaid was the daughter of the King of France, the
+which is a wide and spacious city,[FN#497] abounding in
+manufactures and rarities and trees and flowers and other
+growths, and resembleth the city of Constantinople; and for her
+going forth of her father's city there was a wondrous cause and
+thereby hangeth a marvellous tale which we will set out in due
+order, to divert and delight the hearer.[FN#498]--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the cause
+of Miriam the Girdle-girl leaving her father and mother was a
+wondrous and thereby hangeth a marvellous tale. She was reared
+with her father and mother in honour and indulgence and learnt
+rhetoric and penmanship and arithmetic and cavalarice and all
+manner crafts, such as broidery and sewing and weaving and
+girdle-making and silk-cord making and damascening gold on silver
+and silver on gold, brief all the arts both of men and women,
+till she became the union-pearl of her time and the unique gem of
+her age and day. Moreover, Allah (to whom belong Might and
+Majesty!) had endowed her with such beauty and loveliness and
+elegance and perfection of grace that she excelled therein all
+the folk of her time, and the Kings of the isles sought her in
+marriage of her sire, but he refused to give her to wife to any
+of her suitors, for that he loved her with passing love and could
+not bear to be parted from her a single hour. Moreover, he had no
+other daughter than herself, albeit he had many sons, but she was
+dearer to him than all of them. It fortuned one year that she
+fell sick of an exceeding sickness and came nigh upon death,
+werefore she made a vow that, if she recovered from her malady,
+she would make the pilgrimage to a certain monastery, situate in
+such an island, which was high in repute among the Franks, who
+used to make vows to it and look for a blessing therefrom. When
+Miriam recovered from her sickness, she wished to accomplish her
+vow anent the monastery and her sire despatched her to the
+convent in a little ship, with sundry daughters of the
+city-notables to wait upon her and patrician Knights to protect
+them all. As they drew near the island, there came out upon them
+a ship of the ships of the Moslems, champions of The Faith,
+warring in Allah's way, who boarded the vessel and making prize
+of all therein, knights and maidens, gifts and monies, sold their
+booty in the city of Kayraw�n.[FN#499] Miriam herself fell into
+the hands of a Persian merchant, who was born impotent[FN#500]
+and for whom no woman had ever discovered her nakedness; so he
+set her to serve him. Presently, he fell ill and sickened well
+nigh unto death, and the sickness abode with him two months,
+during which she tended him after the goodliest fashion, till
+Allah made him whole of his malady, when he recalled her
+tenderness and loving-kindness to him and the persistent zeal
+with which she had nurst him and being minded to requite her the
+good offices she had done him, said to her, "Ask a boon of me?"
+She said, "O my lord, I ask of thee that thou sell me not but to
+the man of my choice." He answered, "So be it. I guarantee thee.
+By Allah, O Miriam, I will not sell thee but to him of whom thou
+shalt approve, and I put thy sale in thine own hand." And she
+rejoiced herein with joy exceeding. Now the Persian had expounded
+to her Al-Islam and she became a Moslemah and learnt of him the
+rules of worship. Furthermore during that period the Perisan had
+taught her the tenets of The Faith and the observances incumbent
+upon her: he had made her learn the Koran by heart and master
+somewhat of the theological sciences and the traditions of the
+Prophet; after which, he brought her to Alexandria-city and sold
+her to Nur al-Din, as we have before set out. Meanwhile, when her
+father, the King of France, heard what had befallen his daughter
+and her company, he saw Doomsday break and sent after her ships
+full of knights and champions, horsemen and footmen; but they
+fell not in any trace of her whom they sought in the
+Islands[FN#501] of the Moslems; so all returned to him, crying
+out and saying, "Well-away!" and "Ruin!" and "Well worth the
+day!" The King grieved for her with exceeding grief and sent
+after her that one-eyed lameter, blind of the left,[FN#502] for
+that he was his chief Wazir, a stubborn tyrant and a froward
+devil,[FN#503] full of craft and guile, bidding him make search
+for her in all the lands of the Moslems and buy her, though with
+a ship-load of gold. So the accursed sought her, in all the
+islands of the Arabs and all the cities of the Moslems, but found
+no sign of her till he came to Alexandria-city where he made
+quest for her and presently discovered that she was with Nur
+al-Din Ali the Cairene, being directed to the trace of her by the
+kerchief aforesaid, for that none could have wrought it in such
+goodly guise but she. Then he bribed the merchants to help him in
+getting her from Nur al-Din and beguiled her lord into selling
+her, as hath been already related. When he had her in his
+possession, she ceased not to weep and wail: so he said to her,
+"O my lady Miriam, put away from thee this mourning and grieving
+and return with me to the city of thy sire, the seat of thy
+kingship and the place of thy power and thy home, so thou mayst
+be among thy servants and attendants and be quit of this
+abasement and this strangerhood. Enough hath betided me of
+travail, of travel and of disbursing monies on thine account, for
+thy father bade me buy thee back, though with a shipload of gold;
+and now I have spent nigh a year and a half in seeking thee." And
+he fell to kissing her hands and feet and humbling himself to
+her; but the more he kissed and grovelled she only redoubled in
+wrath against him, and said to him, "O accursed, may Almighty
+Allah not vouchsafe thee to win thy wish!" Presently his pages
+brought her a she-mule with gold-embroidered housings and mounting
+her thereon, raised over her head a silken canopy, with staves of
+gold and silver, and the Franks walked round about her, till they
+brought her forth the city by the sea-gate,[FN#504] where they
+took boat with her and rowing out to a great ship in harbor
+embarked therein. Then the monocular Wazir cried out to the
+sailors, saying, "Up with the mast!" So they set it up forthright
+and spreading the newly bent sails and the colours manned the
+sweeps and put out to sea. Meanwhile Miriam continued to gaze
+upon Alexandria, till it disappeared from her eyes, when she fell
+a-weeping in her privacy with sore weeping.--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+       When it was the Eight Hundred and Eightieth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+the Wazir of the Frankish King put out to sea in the ship bearing
+Miriam the Girdle-girl, she gazed Alexandria-wards till the city
+was hidden from her sight when she wailed and wept copious tears
+and recited these couplets,
+
+"O dwelling of my friends say is there no return * Uswards? But
+     what ken I of matters Allah made?
+Still fare the ships of Severance, sailing hastily * And in my
+     wounded eyelids tear have ta'en their stead,
+For parting from a friend who was my wish and will * Healed every
+     ill and every pain and pang allay'd.
+Be thou, O Allah, substitute of me for him * Such charge some day
+     the care of Thee shall not evade."
+
+Then she could not refrain from weeping and wailing. So the
+patrician[FN#505] knights came up to her and would have comforted
+her, but she heeded not their consoling words, being distracted
+by the claims of passion and love-longing. And she shed tears and
+moaned and complained and recited these couplets,
+
+"The tongue of Love within my vitals speaketh * Saying, 'This
+     lover boon of Love aye seeketh!'
+And burn my liver hottest coals of passion * And parting on my
+     heart sore suffering wreaketh.
+How shall I face this fiery love concealing * When fro' my
+     wounded lids the tear aye leaketh?
+
+In this plight Miriam abode during all the voyage; no peace was
+left her at all nor would patience come at her call. Such was her
+case in company with the Wazir, the monocular, the lameter; but
+as regards Nur al-Din the Cairene, when the ship had sailed with
+Miriam, the world was straitened upon him and he had neither
+peace nor patience. He returned to the lodging where they twain
+had dwelt, and its aspect was black and gloomy in his sight. Then
+he saw the m�tier wherewith she had been wont to make the zones
+and her dress that had been upon her beauteous body: so he
+pressed them to his breast, whilst the tears gushed from his eyes
+and he recited these couplets,
+
+"Say me, will Union after parting e'er return to be * After
+     long-lasting torments, after hopeless misery?
+Alas! Alas! what wont to be shall never more return * But grant
+     me still return of dearest her these eyne may see.
+I wonder me will Allah deign our parted lives unite * And will my
+     dear one's plighted troth preserve with constancy!
+Naught am I save the prey of death since parting parted us; * And
+     will my friends consent that I a weird so deadly dree?
+Alas my sorrow! Sorrowing the lover scant avails; * Indeed I melt
+     away in grief and passion's ecstasy:
+Past is the time of my delight when were we two conjoined: *
+     Would Heaven I wot if Destiny mine esperance will degree!
+Redouble then, O Heart, thy pains and, O mine eyes, o'erflow *
+     With tears till not a tear remain within these eyne of me?
+Again alas for loved ones lost and loss of patience eke! * For
+     helpers fail me and my griefs are grown beyond decree.
+The Lord of Threefold Worlds I pray He deign to me return * My
+     lover and we meet as wont in joy and jubilee."
+
+Then Nur al-Din wept with weeping galore than which naught could
+be more; and peering into ever corner of the room, recited these
+two couplets,
+
+"I view their traces and with pain I pine * And by their sometime
+     home I weep and yearn;
+And Him I pray who parting deigned decree * Some day He deign
+     vouchsafe me their return!"
+
+Then Nur al-Din sprang to his feet and locking the door of the
+house, fared forth running at speed, to the sea shore whence he
+fixed his eyes on the place of the ship which had carried off his
+Miriam whilst sighs burst from his breast and tears from his lids
+as he recited these couplets,
+
+"Peace be with you, sans you naught compensateth me * The near,
+     the far, two cases only here I see:
+I yearn for you at every hour and tide as yearns * For
+     water-place wayfarer plodding wearily.
+With you abide my hearing, heart and eyen-sight * And (sweeter
+     than the honeycomb) your memory.
+Then, O my Grief when fared afar your retinue * And bore that
+     ship away my sole expectancy."
+
+And Nur al-Din wept and wailed, bemoaned himself and complained,
+crying out and saying, "O Miriam! O Miriam! Was it but a vision
+of thee I saw in sleep or in the allusions of dreams?" And by
+reason of that which grew on him of regrets, he recited these
+couplets,[FN#506]
+
+"Mazed with thy love no more I can feign patience,
+This heart of mine has held none dear but thee!
+And if mine eye hath gazed on other's beauty,
+Ne'er be it joyed again with sight of thee!
+I've sworn an oath I'll ne'er forget to love thee,
+And sad's this breast that pines to meet with thee!
+Thou'st made me drink a love-cup full of passion,
+Blest time! When I may give the draught to thee!
+Take with thee this my form where'er thou goest,
+And when thou 'rt dead let me be laid near thee!
+Call on me in my tomb, my bones shall answer
+And sigh responses to a call from thee!
+If it were asked, 'What wouldst thou Heaven should order?'
+'His will,' I answer, 'First, and then what pleases thee.'"
+
+As Nur al-Din was in this case, weeping and crying out, "O
+Miriam! O Miriam!" behold, an old man landed from a vessel and
+coming up to him, saw him shedding tears and heard him reciting
+these verses,
+
+"O Maryam of beauty[FN#507] return, for these eyne * Are as
+     densest clouds railing drops in line:
+Ask amid mankind and my railers shall say * That mine eyelids are
+     drowning these eyeballs of mine."
+
+Said the old man, "O my son, meseems thou weepest for the damsel
+who sailed yesterday with the Frank?" When Nur al-Din heard these
+words of the Shaykh he fell down in a swoon and lay for a long
+while without life; then, coming to himself, he wept with sore
+weeping and improvised these couplets,
+
+"Shall we e'er be unite after severance-tide * And return in the
+     perfectest cheer to bide?
+In my heart indeed is a lowe of love * And I'm pained by the
+     spies who my pain deride:
+My days I pass in amaze distraught, * And her image a-nights I
+     would see by side:
+By Allah, no hour brings me solace of love * And how can it when
+     makebates vex me and chide?
+A soft-sided damsel of slenderest waist * Her arrows of eyne on
+     my heart hath plied?
+Her form is like B�n[FN#508]-tree branch in garth * Shame her
+     charms the sun who his face most hide:
+Did I not fear God (be He glorified!) * 'My Fair be glorified!'
+     Had I cried."
+
+The old man looked at him and noting his beauty and grace and
+symmetry and the fluency of his tongue and the seductiveness of
+his charms, had ruth on him and his heart mourned for his case.
+Now that Shaykh was the captain of a ship, bound to the damsel's
+city, and in this ship were a hundred Moslem merchants, men of
+the Saving Faith; so he said to Nur al-Din, "Have patience and
+all will yet be well; I will bring thee to her an it be the will
+of Allah, extolled and exalted be He!"--And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-first Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+old skipper said to Nur al-Din, "I will bring thee to her,
+Inshallah!" the youth asked, "When shall we set out?" and the
+other said, "Come but three days more and we will depart in peace
+and prosperity." Nur al-Din rejoiced at the captain's words with
+joy exceeding and thanked him for his bounty and benevolence.
+Then he recalled the days of love-liesse dear and union with his
+slave-girl without peer, and he shed bitter tears and recited
+these couplets,
+
+"Say, will to me and you the Ruthful union show * My lords! Shall
+     e'er I win the wish of me or no?
+A visit-boon by you will shifty Time vouchsafe? * And seize your
+     image eye-lids which so hungry grow?
+With you were Union to be sold, I fain would buy; * But ah, I see
+     such grace doth all my means outgo!"
+
+Then Nur al-Din went forthright to the market and bought what he
+needed of viaticum and other necessaries for the voyage and
+returned to the Rais, who said to him, "O my son, what is that
+thou hast with thee?" said he, "My provisions and all whereof I
+have need for the voyage." Thereupon quoth the old man, laughing,
+"O my son, art thou going a-pleasuring to Pompey's
+Pillar?[FN#509] Verily, between thee and that thou seekest is two
+months' journey and the wind be fair and the weather favourable."
+Then he took of him somewhat of money and going to the bazar,
+bought him a sufficiency of all that he needed for the voyage and
+filled him a large earthen jar[FN#510] with fresh water. Nur
+al-Din abode in the ship three days until the merchants had made
+an end of their precautions and preparations and embarked, when
+they set sail and putting out to sea, fared on one-and-fifty
+days. After this, there came out upon them corsairs,[FN#511]
+pirates who sacked the ship and taking Nur al-Din and all therein
+prisoners, carried them to the city of France and paraded them
+before the King, who bade cast them into jail, Nur al-Din amongst
+the number. As they were being led to prison the galleon[FN#512]
+arrived with the Princess Miriam and the one-eyed Wazir, and when
+it made the harbour, the lameter landed and going up to the King
+gave him the glad news of his daughter's safe return: whereupon
+they beat the kettledrums for good tidings and decorated the city
+after the goodliest fashion. Then the King took horse, with all
+his guards and lords and notables and rode down to the sea to
+meet her. The moment the ship cast anchor she came ashore, and
+the King saluted her and embraced her and mounting her on a
+bloodsteed, bore her to the palace, where her mother received her
+with open arms, and asked her of her case and whether she was a
+maid as before or whether she had become a woman carnally known
+by man.[FN#513] She replied, "O my mother, how should a girl, who
+hath been sold from merchant to merchant in the land of Moslems,
+a slave commanded, abide a virgin? The merchant who bought me
+threatened me with the bastinado and violenced me and took my
+maidenhead, after which he sold me to another and he again to a
+third." When the Queen heard these her words, the light in her
+eyes became night and she repeated her confession to the King who
+was chagrined thereat and his affair was grievous to him. So he
+expounded her case to his Grandees and Patricians[FN#514] who
+said to him, "O King, she hath been defiled by the Moslems and
+naught will purify her save the striking off of an hundred
+Mohammedan heads." Whereupon the King sent for the True Believers
+he had imprisoned; and they decapitated them, one after another,
+beginning with the captain, till none was left save Nur al-Din.
+They tare off a strip of his skirt and binding his eyes
+therewith, led him to the rug of blood and were about to smite
+his neck, when behold, an ancient dame came up to the King at
+that very moment and said, "O my lord, thou didst vow to bestow
+upon each and every church five Moslem captives, to help us in
+the service thereof, so Allah would restore thee thy daughter the
+Princess Miriam; and now she is restored to thee, so do thou
+fulfil thy vow." The King replied, "O my mother, by the virtue of
+the Messiah and the Veritable Faith, there remaineth to me of the
+prisoners but this one captive, whom they are about to put to
+death: so take him with thee to help in the service of the
+church, till there come to me more prisoners of the Moslems, when
+I will send thee other four. Hadst thou come earlier, before they
+hewed off the heads of these, I had given thee as many as thou
+wouldest have." The old woman thanked the King for his boon and
+wished him continuance of life, glory and prosperity. Then
+without loss of time she went up to Nur al-Din, whom she raised
+from the rug of blood; and, looking narrowly at him saw a comely
+youth and a dainty, with a delicate skin and a face like the moon
+at her full; whereupon she carried him to the church and said to
+him, "O my son, doff these clothes which are upon thee, for they
+are fit only for the service of the Sultan."[FN#515] So saying
+the ancient dame brought him a gown and hood of black wool and a
+broad girdle,[FN#516] in which she clad and cowled him; and,
+after binding on his belt, bade him do the service of the church.
+Accordingly, he served the church seven days, at the end of which
+time behold, the old woman came up to him and said, "O Moslem,
+don thy silken dress and take these ten dirhams and go out
+forthright and divert thyself abroad this day, and tarry not here
+a single moment, lest thou lose thy life." Quoth he, "What is to
+do, O my mother?"; and quoth she, "Know, O my son, that the
+King's daughter, the Princess Miriam the Girdle-girl, hath a mind
+to visit the church this day, to seek a blessing by pilgrimage
+and to make oblation thereto, a douceur[FN#517] of thank-offering
+for her deliverance from the land of the Moslems and in
+fulfilment of the vows she vowed to the Messiah, so he would save
+her. With her are four hundred damsels, not one of whom but is
+perfect in beauty and loveliness and all of them are daughters of
+Wazirs and Emirs and Grandees: they will be here during this very
+hour and if their eyes fall on thee in this church, they will hew
+thee in pieces with swords." Thereupon Nur al-Din took the ten
+dirhams from the ancient dame, and donning his own dress, went
+out to the bazar and walked about the city and took his pleasure
+therein, till he knew its highways and gates,--And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-second Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur
+al-Din, after donning his own dress and taking the ten dirhams
+from the ancient dame, fared forth to the market streets and
+wandered about a while till he knew every quarter of the city,
+after which he returned to the church[FN#518] and saw the
+Princess Miriam the Girdle-girl, daughter of the King of France
+come up to the fane, attended by four hundred damsels,
+high-bosomed maids like moons, amongst whom was the daughter of
+the one-eyed Wazir and those of the Emirs and Lords of the realm;
+and she walked in their midst as she were moon among stars. When
+his eyes fell upon her Nur al-Din could not contain himself, but
+cried out from the core of his heart, "O Miriam! O Miriam!" When
+the damsels heard his outcry they ran at him with swords shining
+bright like flashes of leven-light and would have slain him
+forthright. But the Princess turned and looking on him, knew him
+with fullest knowledge, and said to her maidens, "Leave this
+youth; doubtless he is mad, for the signs of madness be manifest
+on his face." When Nur al-Din heard this, he uncovered his head
+and rolled his eyes and made signs with his hands and twisted his
+legs, foaming the while at the mouth. Quoth the Princess, "Said I
+not that the poor youth was mad? Bring him to me and stand off
+from him, that I may hear what he saith; for I know the speech of
+the Arabs and will look into his case and see if his madness
+admit of cure or not." So they laid hold of him and brought him
+to her; after which they withdrew to a distance and she said to
+him, "Hast thou come hither on my account and ventured thy life
+for my sake and feignest thyself mad?" He replied, "O my lady,
+hast thou not heard the saying of the poet?,[FN#519]
+
+'Quoth they, 'Thou'rt surely raving mad for her thou lov'st;' and
+     I, 'There is no pleasantness in life but for the mad,'
+     reply.
+Compare my madness with herself for whom I rave; if she Accord
+     therewith, then blame me not for that which I aby.'"
+
+Miriam replied, "By Allah, O Nur al-Din, indeed thou hast sinned
+against thyself, for I warned thee of this before it befell thee:
+yet wouldst thou not hearken to me, but followedst thine own lust:
+albeit that whereof I gave thee to know I learnt not by means of
+inspiration nor physiognomy[FN#520] nor dreams, but by
+eye-witness and very sight; for I saw the one-eyed Wazir and knew
+that he was not come to Alexandria but in quest of me." Said he,
+"O my lady Miriam, we seek refuge with Allah from the error of
+the intelligent!"[FN#521] Then his affliction redoubled on him
+and he recited this saying,[FN#522]
+
+"Pass o'er my fault, for 'tis the wise man's wont
+Of other's sins to take no harsh account;
+And as all crimes have made my breast their site,
+So thine all shapes of mercy should unite.
+Who from above would mercy seek to know,
+Should first be merciful to those below."
+
+Then Nur al-Din and Princess Miriam ceased not from lovers'
+chiding which to trace would be tedious, relating each to other
+that which had befallen them and reciting verses and making moan,
+one to other, of the violence of passion and the pangs of pine
+and desire, whilst the tears ran down their cheeks like rivers,
+till there was left them no strength to say a word and so they
+continued till day deprated and night darkened. Now the Princess
+was clad in a green dress, purfled with red gold and broidered
+with pearls and gems which enhanced her beauty and loveliness and
+inner grace; and right well quoth the poet of her,[FN#523]
+
+"Like the full moon she shineth in garments all of green, With
+     loosened vest and collars and flowing hair beseen.
+'What is thy name?' I asked her, and she replied, 'I'm she Who
+     roasts the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen.
+I am the pure white silver, ay, and the gold wherewith The
+     bondsmen from strait prison and dour releas�d been.'
+Quoth I, 'I'm all with rigours consumed;' but 'On a rock,' Said
+     she, 'such as my heart is, thy plaints are wasted clean.'
+'Even if thy heart,' I answered, 'be rock in very deed, Yet hath
+     God caused fair water well from the rock, I ween.'"
+
+And when night darkened on them the Lady Miriam went up to her
+women and asked them, "Have ye locked the door?"; and they
+answered, "Indeed we have locked it." So she took them and went
+with them to a place called the Chapel of the Lady Mary the
+Virgin, Mother of Light, because the Nazarenes hold that there
+are her heart and soul. The girls betook themselves to prayer for
+blessings from above and circuited all the church; and when they
+had made an end of their visitation, the Princess turned to them
+and said, "I desire to pass the night alone in the Virgin's
+chapel and seek a blessing thereof, for that yearning after it
+hath betided me, by reason of my long absence in the land of the
+Moslems; and as for you, when ye have made an end of your
+visitation, do ye sleep whereso ye will." Replied they, "With
+love and goodly gree: be it as thou wilt!"; and leaving her alone
+in the chapel, dispersed about the church and slept. The Lady
+Miriam waited till they were out of sight and hearing, then went
+in search of Nur al-Din, whom she found sitting in a corner on
+live coals, awaiting her. He rose and kissed her hands and feet
+and she sat down and seated him by her side. Then she pulled off
+all that was upon her of raiment and ornaments and fine linen and
+taking Nur al-Din in her arms strained him to her bosom. And they
+ceased not, she and he, from kissing and clipping and strumming
+to the tune of "hocus-pocus,"[FN#524] saying the while, "How
+short are the nights of Union and the nights of Disunion how long
+are they!" and reciting these verses,
+
+"O Night of Union, Time's virginal prized, * White star of the
+     Nights with auroral dyes,
+Thou garrest Dawn after Noon to rise * Say art thou Kohl in
+     Morning's Eyes,
+Or wast thou Slumber to bleared eye lief?
+O Night of Parting, how long thy stay * Whose latest hours aye
+     the first portray,
+This endless circle that noways may * Show breach till the coming
+     of Judgment-day,
+Day when dies the lover of parting-grief."[FN#525]
+
+As they were in this mighty delight and joy engrossing they heard
+one of the servants of the Saint[FN#526] smite the gong[FN#527]
+upon the roof, to call the folk to the rites of their worship,
+and he was even as saith the poet,
+
+"I saw him strike the gong and asked of him straightway, * Who
+     made the Fawn[FN#528] at striking going so knowing, eh?'
+And to my soul, 'What smiting irketh thee the more-- * Striking
+     the gong or striking note of going,[FN#529] say?'"
+
+--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din
+and Miriam the Girdle-girl rose forthwith and donned her clothes
+and ornaments; but this was grievous to Nur al-Din, and his
+gladness was troubled; the tears streamed from his eyes and he
+recited these couplets,
+
+"I ceas�d not to kiss that cheek with budding roses dight * And
+     eyes down cast and bit the same with most emphatic bite;
+Until we were in gloria[FN#530] and lay him down the spy * And
+     sank his eyes within his brain declining further sight:
+And struck the gongs as they that had the charge of them were
+     like * Muezzin crying duty-prayers in Allah's book indite.
+Then rose she up right hastily and donned the dress she'd doffed
+     * Sore fearing lest a shooting-star[FN#531] upon our heads
+     alight.
+And cried, 'O wish and will of me, O end of all my hopes! *
+     Behold the morning comes to us in brightest whitest light.'
+I swear if but one day of rule were given to my life * And I were
+     made an Emperor of majesty and might,
+Adown I'd break the buttresses of churches one and all * And by
+     their slaughter rid the earth of every shaveling wight."
+
+Then the Lady Miriam pressed him to her bosom and kissed his
+cheek and asked him, "O Nur al-Din, how long hast thou been in
+this town?" "Seven days." "Hast thou walked about in it, and dost
+thou know its ways and issues and its sea-gates and land gates?"
+"Yes!" "Knowest thou the way to the offertory-chest[FN#532] of
+the church?" "Yes!" "Since thou knowest all this, as soon as the
+first third[FN#533] of the coming night is over, go to the
+offertory-chest and take thence what thou wishest and willest.
+Then open the door that giveth upon the tunnel[FN#534] leading to
+the sea, and go down to the harbour, where thou wilt find a
+little ship and ten men therein, and when the Rais shall see
+thee, he will put out his hand to thee. Give him thy hand and he
+will take thee up into the ship, and do thou wait there till I
+come to thee. But 'ware and have a care lest sleep overtake thee
+this night, or thou wilt repent whenas repentance shall avail
+thee naught." Then the Princess farewelled him and going forth
+from Nur al-Din, aroused from sleep her women and the rest of the
+damsels, with whom she betook herself to the church door and
+knocked; whereupon the ancient dame opened to her and she went
+forth and found the knights and varlets standing without. They
+brought her a dapple she-mule and she mounted: whereupon they
+raised over her head a canopy[FN#535] with curtains of silk, and
+the knights took hold of the mule's halter. Then the
+guards[FN#536] encompassed her about, drawn brand in hand, and
+fared on with her, followed by her, till they brought her to the
+palace of the King her father. Meanwhile, Nur al-Din abode
+concealed behind the curtain, under cover of which Miriam and he
+had passed the night, till it was broad day, when the main door
+was opened and the church became full of people. Then he mingled
+with the folk and accosted the old Prioress, the guardian[FN#537]
+of the shrine, who said to him, "Where didst thou lie last
+night?" Said he, "In the town as thou badest me." Quoth she, "O
+my son, thou hast done the right thing; for, hadst thou nighted
+in the Church, she had slain thee on the foulest wise." And quoth
+he, "Praised be Allah who hath delivered me from the evil of this
+night!" Then he busied himself with the service of the church and
+ceased not busying till day departed and night with darkness
+starkened when he arose and opened the offertory-chest and took
+thence of jewels whatso was light of weight and weighty of worth.
+Then he tarried till the first watch of the night was past, when
+he made his way to the postern of the tunnel and opening it, went
+forth, calling on Allah for protection, and ceased not faring on
+until, after finding and opening the door, he came to the sea.
+Here he discovered the vessel moored to the shore near the gate;
+and her skipper, a tall old man of comely aspect with a long
+beard, standing in the waist, his ten men being ranged before
+him. Nur al-Din gave him his hand, as Miriam had bidden him, and
+the captain took it and pulling him on board of the ship cried
+out to his crew, saying, "Cast off the moorings and put out to
+sea with us, ere day break." Said one of the ten, "O my lord the
+Captain, how shall we put out now, when the King hath notified us
+that to-morrow he will embark in this ship and go round about the
+sea, being fearful for his daughter Miriam from the Moslem
+thieves?" But the Rais cried out at them saying, "Woe to you, O
+accursed; Dare ye gainsay me and bandy words with me?" So saying
+the old captain bared his blade and with it dealt the sailor who
+had spoken a thrust in the throat, that the steel came out
+gleaming from his nape; and quoth another of the sailors, "What
+hath our comrade done of crime, that thou shouldst cut his
+throat?" Thereupon the captain clapped hand to sword and smote
+off the speaker's head, nor did he leave smiting the rest of the
+sailors till he had slain them all, one after other, and cast the
+ten bodies ashore. Then he turned to Nur al-Din and cried out at
+him with a terrible great cry, that made him tremble, saying, "Go
+down and pull up the mooring-stake." Nur al-Din feared lest he
+should strike him also with the sword; so he sprang up and leapt
+ashore and pulling up the stake jumped aboard again, swiftlier
+than the dazzling leven. The captain ceased not to bid him do
+this and do that and tack and wear hither and thither and look at
+the stars, and Nur al-Din did all that he bade him, with heart
+a-quaking for affright; whilst he himself spread the sails, and
+the ship fared with the twain into the dashing sea, swollen with
+clashing billows.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+the old skipper had made sail he drave the ship, aided by Nur
+al-Din, into the dashing sea before a favouring gale. Meanwhile,
+Nur al-Din held on to the tackle immersed in deep thought, and
+drowned in the sea of solicitude, knowing not what was hidden for
+him in the future; and whenever he looked at the captain, his
+heart quaked and he knew not whither the Rais went with him. He
+abode thus, preoccupied with care and doubt, till it was high
+day, when he looked at the skipper and saw him take hold of his
+long beard and pull at it, whereupon it came off in his hand and
+Nur al-Din, examining it, saw that it was but a false beard glued
+on. So he straitly considered that same Rais, and behold, it was
+the Princess Miriam, his mistress and the dearling of his heart,
+who had contrived to waylay the captain and slay him and skinned
+off his beard, which she had stuck on to her own face. At this
+Nur al-Din was transported for joy, and his breast broadened and
+he marvelled at her prowess and the stoutness of her heart and
+said to her, "Welcome, O my hope and my desire and the end of
+mine every wish!" Then love and gladness agitated him and he made
+sure of winning to his hopes and his expectancy; wherefore he
+broke out into song and chanted these couplets,
+
+"To all who unknown my love for the May * From whom Fate disjoins
+     me O say, I pray,
+'Ask my kith and kin of my love that aye * Ensweetens my verses
+     to lovely lay:
+          For the loss of the tribesmen my life o'er sway!'
+
+Their names when named heal all malady; * Cure and chase from
+     heart every pain I dree:
+And my longings for love reach so high degree * That my Sprite is
+     maddened each morn I see,
+     And am grown of the crowd to be saw and say.
+
+No blame in them will I e'er espy: * No! nor aught of solace sans
+     them descry:
+Your love hath shot me with pine, and I * Bear in heart a flame
+     that shall never die,
+          But fire my liver with fiery ray.
+
+All folk my sickness for marvel score * That in darkest night I
+     wake evermore
+What ails them to torture this heart forlore * And deem right for
+     loving my blood t' outpour:
+          And yet--how justly unjust are they!
+
+Would I wot who 'twas could obtain of you * To wrong a youth
+     who's so fain of you:
+By my life and by Him who made men of you * And the spy tell
+     aught I complain of you
+          He lies, by Allah, in foulest way!
+
+May the Lord my sickness never dispel, * Nor ever my heart of its
+     pains be well,
+What day I regret that in love I fell * Or laud any land but
+     wherein ye dwell:
+          Wring my heart and ye will or make glad and gay!
+
+I have vitals shall ever be true to you * Though racked by the
+     rigours not new to you
+Ere this wrong and this right I but sue to you: * Do what you
+     will to thrall who to you
+          Shall ne'er grudge his life at your feet to lay."
+
+When Nur al-Din ceased to sing, the Princess Miriam marvelled at
+his song and thanked him therefor, saying, "Whoso's case is thus
+it behoveth him to walk the ways of men and never do the deed of
+curs and cowards." Now she was stout of heart and cunning in the
+sailing of ships over the salt sea, and she knew all the winds
+and their shiftings and every course of the main. So Nur al-Din
+said, "O my lady, hadst thou prolonged this case on me,[FN#538] I
+had surely died for stress of affright and chagrin, more by token
+of the fire of passion and love-longing and the cruel pangs of
+separation." She laughed at his speech and rising without stay or
+delay brought out somewhat of food and liquor; and they ate and
+drank and enjoyed themselves and made merry. Then she drew forth
+rubies and other gems and precious stones and costly trinkets of
+gold and silver and all manner things of price, light of weight
+and weighty of worth, which she had taken from the palace of her
+sire and his treasuries, and displayed them to Nur al-Din, who
+rejoiced therein with joy exceeding. All this while the wind blew
+fair for them and merrily sailed the ship nor ceased sailing till
+they drew near the city of Alexandria and sighted its landmarks,
+old and new, and Pompey's Pillar. When they made the port, Nur
+al-Din landed forthright and securing the ship to one of the
+Fulling-Stones,[FN#539] took somewhat of the treasures that
+Miriam had brought with her, and said to her, "O my lady, tarry
+in the ship, against I return and carry thee up into the city in
+such way as I should wish and will." Quoth she, "It behoveth that
+this be done quickly, for tardiness in affairs engendereth
+repentance." Quoth he, "There is no tardiness in me;" and,
+leaving her in the ship, went up into the city to the house of
+the druggist his father's old fried, to borrow of his wife for
+Miriam veil and mantilla, and walking boots and
+petticoat-trousers after the usage of the women of Alexandria,
+unknowing that there was appointed to betide him of the shifts of
+Time, the Father of Wonders, that which was far beyond his
+reckoning. Thus it befel Nur al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-girl;
+but as regards her sire the King of France, when he arose in the
+morning, he missed his daughter and questioned her women and her
+eunuchs of her. Answered they, "O our lord, she went out last
+night, to go to Church and after that we have no tidings of her."
+But, as the King talked with them, behold, there arose so great a
+clamour of cries below the palace, that the place rang thereto,
+and he said, "What may be the news?" The folk replied, "O King,
+we have found ten men slain on the sea-shore, and the royal yacht
+is missing. Moreover we saw the postern of the Church, which
+giveth upon the tunnel leading to the sea, wide open; and the
+Moslem prisoner, who served in the Church, is missing." Quoth the
+King, "An my ship be lost, without doubt or dispute."--And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night,
+
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+King of France missed his daughter they brought him tidings of
+her, saying, "Thy yacht is lost"; and he replied, "An the craft
+be lost, without dispute or doubt my daughter is in it." So he
+summoned without stay or delay the Captain of the Port and cried
+out at him, saying, "By the virtue[FN#540] of the Messiah and the
+Faith which is no liar, except thou and thy fighting men overtake
+my ship forthright and bring it back to me, with those who are
+therein, I will do thee die the foulest of deaths and make a
+terrible example of thee!" Thereupon the captain went out from
+before him, trembling, and betook himself to the ancient dame of
+the Church, to whom said he, 'Heardest thou aught from the
+captive, that was with thee, anent his native land and what
+countryman he was?" And she answered, "He used to say, I come
+from the town of Alexandria." When the captain heard the old
+woman's words he returned forthright to the port and cried out to
+the sailors, "Make ready and set sail." So they did his bidding
+and straightway putting out to sea, fared night and day till they
+sighted the city of Alexandria at the very time when Nur al-Din
+landed, leaving the Princess in the ship. They soon espied the
+royal yacht and knew her; so they moored their own vessel at a
+distance therefrom and putting off in a little frigate they had
+with them, which drew but two cubits of water and in which were
+an hundred fighting-men, amongst them the one-eyed Wazir (for
+that he was a stubborn tyrant and a froward devil and a wily
+thief, none could avail against his craft, as he were Abu
+Mohammed al-Batt�l[FN#541]), they ceased not rowing till they
+reached the bark and boarding her, all at once, found none
+therein save the Princess Miriam. So they took her and the ship,
+and returning to their own vessel, after they had landed and
+waited a long while,[FN#542] set sail forthright for the land of
+the Franks, having accomplished their errand, without a fight or
+even drawing sword. The wind blew fair for them and they sailed
+on, without ceasing and with all diligence, till they reached the
+city of France and landing with the Princess Miriam carried her
+to her father, who received her, seated on the throne of his
+Kingship. As soon as he saw her, he said to her, "Woe to thee, O
+traitress! What ailed thee to leave the faith of thy fathers and
+forefathers and the safeguard of the Messiah, on whom is our
+reliance, and follow after the faith of the Vagrants,[FN#543] to
+wit, the faith of Al-Islam, the which arose with the sword
+against the Cross and the Images?" Replied Miriam, "I am not at
+fault, I went out by night to the church, to visit the Lady Mary
+and seek a blessing of her, when there fell upon me unawares a
+band of Moslem robbers, who gagged me and bound me fast and
+carrying me on board the barque, set sail with me for their own
+country. However, I beguiled them and talked with them of their
+religion, till they loosed my bonds; and ere I knew it thy men
+overtook me and delivered me. And by the virtue of the Messiah
+and the Faith which is no liar and the Cross and the Crucified
+thereon, I rejoiced with joy exceeding in my release from them
+and my bosom broadened and I was glad for my deliverance from the
+bondage of the Moslems!" Rejoined the King, "Thou liest, O whore!
+O adultress! By the virtue of that which is revealed of
+prohibition and permission in the manifest Evangel,[FN#544] I
+will assuredly do thee die by the foulest of deaths and make thee
+the vilest of examples! Did it not suffice thee to do as thou
+didst the first time and put off thy lies upon us, but thou must
+return upon us with thy deceitful inventions?" Thereupon the King
+bade kill her and crucify her over the palace gate; but, at that
+moment the one-eyed Wazir, who had long been enamoured of the
+Princess, came in to him and said, "Ho King! slay her not, but
+give her to me to wife, and I will watch over her with the utmost
+warding, nor will I go in unto her, till I have built her a
+palace of solid stone, exceeding high of foundation, so no
+thieves may avail to climb up to its terrace-roof; and when I
+have made an end of building it, I will sacrifice thirty Moslems
+before the gate thereof, as an expiatory offering to the Messiah
+for myself and for her." The King granted his request and bade
+the priests and monks and patriarchs marry the Princess to him;
+so they did his bidding, whereupon he bade set about building a
+strong and lofty palace, befitting her rank and the workmen fell
+to work upon it. On this wise it betided the Princess Miriam and
+her sire and the one-eyed Wazir; but as regards Nur al-Din, when
+he came back with the petticoat-trousers and mantilla and walking
+boots and all the attire of Alexandrian women which he had
+borrowed of the druggist's wife, he "found the air void and the
+fane afar[FN#545]";--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night,
+
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur
+al-Din, "found the air void[FN#546] and the fane afar," his
+heart sank within him and he wept floods of tears and recited
+these verses,[FN#547]
+
+"The phantom of Soada came by night to wake me towards morning
+     while my companions were sleeping in the desert:
+But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air
+     vacant, and the place of visitation distant."
+
+Then Nur al-Din walked on along the sea-shore and turned right
+and left, till he saw folk gathered together on the beach and
+heard them say, "O Moslems, there remaineth no honour to
+Alexandria-city, since the Franks enter it and snatch away those
+who are therein and return to their own land, at their
+leisure[FN#548] nor pursued of any of the Moslems or fighters for
+the Faith!" Quoth Nur al-Din to them, "What is to do?"; and quoth
+they, "O my son, one of the ships of the Franks, full of armed
+men, came down but now upon the port and carried off a ship which
+was moored here, with her that was therein, and made unmolested
+for their own land." Nur al-Din fell down a-swoon, on hearing
+these words; and when he recovered they questioned him of his
+case and he told them all that had befallen him first and last;
+whereupon they all took to reviling him and railing at him,
+saying, "Why couldst thou not bring her up into the town without
+mantilla and muffler?" And all and each of the folk gave him some
+grievous word, berating him with sharp speech, and shooting at
+him some shaft of reproach, albeit one said, "Let him be; that
+which hath befallen him sufficeth him," till he again fell down
+in a fainting-fit. And behold, at this moment, up came the old
+druggist, who, seeing the folk gathered together, drew near to
+learn what was the matter and found Nur al-Din lying a-swoon in
+their midst. So he sat down at his head and arousing him, said to
+him as soon as he recovered, "O my son, what is this case in
+which I see thee?" Nur al-Din said, "O uncle, I had brought back
+in a barque my lost slave-girl from her father's city, suffering
+patiently all I suffered of perils and hardships; and when I came
+with her to this port, I made the vessel fast to the shore and
+leaving her therein, repaired to thy dwelling and took of thy
+consort what was needful for her, that I might bring her up into
+the town; but the Franks came and capturing barque and damsel
+made off unhindered, and returned to their own land." Now when
+the Shaykh, the druggist, heard this, the light in his eyes
+became night and he grieved with sore grieving for Nur al-Din and
+said to him, "O my son, why didst thou not bring her out of the
+ship into the city without mantilla? But speech availeth not at
+this season; so rise, O my son, and come up with me to the city;
+haply Allah will vouchsafe thee a girl fairer than she, who shall
+console thee for her. Alhamdolillah-praised be Allah-who hath not
+made thee lose aught by her! Nay, thou hast gained by her. And
+bethink thee, O my son, that Union and Disunion are in the hands
+of the Most High King." Replied Nur al-Din, "By Allah, O uncle,
+I can never be consoled for her loss nor will I ever leave
+seeking her, though on her account I drink the cup of death!"
+Rejoined the druggist, "O my son, and what art thou minded to
+do?" Quoth Nur al-Din, "I am minded to return to the land of the
+Franks[FN#549] and enter the city of France and emperil myself
+there; come what may, loss of life or gain of life." Quoth the
+druggist, "O my son, there is an old saw, 'Not always doth the
+crock escape the shock'; and if they did thee no hurt the first
+time, belike they will slay thee this time, more by token that
+they know thee now with full knowledge." Quoth Nur al-Din, "O my
+uncle, let me set out and be slain for the love of her
+straightway and not die of despair for her loss by slow
+torments." Now as Fate determined there was then a ship in port
+ready to sail, for its passengers had made an end of their
+affairs[FN#550] and the sailors had pulled up the mooring-stakes,
+when Nur al-Din embarked in her. So they shook out their canvas
+and relying on the Compassionate, put out to sea and sailed many
+days, with fair wind and weather, till behold, they fell in with
+certain of the Frank cruisers, which were scouring those waters
+and seizing upon all ships they saw, in their fear for the King's
+daughter from the Moslem corsairs: and as often as they made
+prize of a Moslem ship, they carried all her people to the King
+of France, who put them to death in fulfilment of the vow he had
+vowed on account of his daughter Miriam. So, seeing the ship
+wherein was Nur al-Din they boarded her and taking him and the
+rest of the company prisoners, to the number of an hundred
+Moslems, carried them to the King and set them between his hands.
+He bade cut their throats. Accordingly they slaughtered them all
+forthwith, one after another, till there was none left but Nur
+al-Din, whom the headsman had left to the last, in pity of his
+tender age and slender shape. When the King saw him, he knew him
+right well and said to him, "Art thou not Nur al-Din, who was
+with us before?" Said he, "I was never with thee: and my name is
+not Nur al-Din, but Ibrahim." Rejoined the King; "Thou liest,
+thou art Nur al-Din, he whom I gave to the ancient dame the
+Prioress, to help her in the service of the church." But Nur
+al-Din replied, "O my lord, my name is Ibrahim." Quoth the King,
+"Wait a while," and bade his knights fetch the old woman
+forthright, saying, "When she cometh and seeth thee, she will
+know an thou be Nur al-Din or not." At this juncture, behold, in
+came the one-eyed Wazir who had married the Princess and kissing
+the earth before the King said to him, "Know, O King, that the
+palace is finished; and thou knowest how I vowed to the Messiah
+that, when I had made an end of building it, I would cut thirty
+Moslems' throats before its doors; wherefore I am come to take
+them of thee, that I may sacrifice them and so fulfil my vow to
+the Messiah. They shall be at my charge, by way of loan, and
+whenas there come prisoners to my hands, I will give thee other
+thirty in lieu of them." Replied the King, 'By the virtue of the
+Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, I have but this one
+captive left!" And he pointed to Nur al-Din, saying, "Take him
+and slaughter him at this very moment and the rest I will send
+thee when there come to my hands other prisoners of the Moslems."
+Thereupon the one-eyed Wazir arose and took Nur al-Din and
+carried him to his palace, thinking to slaughter him on the
+threshold of the gate; but the painters said to him, "O my lord,
+we have two days' painting yet to do: so bear with us and delay
+to cut the throat of this captive, till we have made an end of
+our work; haply by that time the rest of the thirty will come, so
+thou mayst despatch them all at one bout and accomplish thy vow
+in a single day." Thereupon the Wazir bade imprison Nur
+al-Din.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+    When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+Wazir bade imprison Nur al-Din, they carried him to the stables
+and left him there in chains, hungering and thirsting and making
+moan for himself; for indeed he saw death face to face. Now it
+fortuned, by the ordinance of Destiny and fore-ordained Fate,
+that the King had two stallions, own brothers,[FN#551] such as
+the Chosroe Kings might sigh in vain to possess themselves of one
+of them; they were called S�bik and L�hik[FN#552] and one of them
+was pure silvern white while the other was black as the darksome
+night. And all the Kings of the isles had said, "Whoso stealeth
+us one of these stallions, we will give him all he seeketh of red
+gold and pearls and gems;" but none could avail to steal them.
+Now one of them fell sick of a jaundice and there came a
+whiteness over his eyes;[FN#553] whereupon the King gathered
+together all the farriers in the city to treat him; but they all
+failed of his cure. Presently the Wazir came into the King; and
+finding him troubled because of the horse, thought to do away his
+concern and said to him, "O King, give me the stallion and I will
+cure him," The King consented and caused carry the horse to the
+stable wherein Nur al-Din lay chained; but, when he missed his
+brother, he cried out with an exceeding great cry and neighed, so
+that he affrighted all the folk. The Wazir, seeing that he did
+thus but because he was parted from his brother, went to tell the
+King, who said, "If this, which is but a beast, cannot brook to
+be parted from his brother, how should it be with those that have
+reason?" And he bade his grooms take the other horse and put him
+with his brother in the Wazir's stables, saying, "Tell the
+Minister that the two stallions be a gift from me to him, for the
+sake of my daughter Miriam." Nur al-Din was lying in the stable,
+chained and shackled, when they brought in the two stallions and
+he saw that one of them had a film over his eyes. Now he had some
+knowledge of horses and of the doctoring of their diseases; so he
+said to himself, "This by Allah is my opportunity! I will go to
+the Wazir and lie to him, saying, 'I will heal thee this horse':
+then will I do with him somewhat that shall destroy his eyes, and
+he will slay me and I shall be at rest from this woe-full life."
+So he waited till the Wazir entered the stable, to look upon the
+steed, and said to him, "O my lord, what will be my due, an I
+heal this horse, and make his eyes whole again?" Replied the
+Wazir, "As my head liveth, an thou cure him, I will spare thy
+life and give thee leave to crave a boon of me!" And Nur al-Din
+said, "O my lord, bid my hands be unbound!" So the Wazir bade
+unbind him and he rose and taking virgin glass,[FN#554] brayed it
+and mixed it with unslaked lime and a menstruum of onion-juice.
+Then he applied the whole to the horse's eyes and bound them up,
+saying in himself, "Now will his eyes be put out and they will
+slay me and I shall be at rest from this woe-full life." Then he
+passed the night with a heart free from the uncertainty[FN#555]
+of cark and care, humbling himself to Allah the Most High and
+saying, "O Lord, in Thy knowledge is that which dispenseth with
+asking and craving!" Now when the morning morrowed and the sun
+shone, the Wazir came to the stable and, loosing the bandage from
+the horse's eyes considered them and found them finer than
+before, by the ordinance of the King who openeth evermore. So he
+said to Nur al-Din, "O Moslem, never in the world saw I the like
+of thee for the excellence of thy knowledge. By the virtue of the
+Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, thou makest me with
+wonder to admire, for all the farriers of our land have failed to
+heal this horse!" Then he went up to Nur al-Din and, doing off
+his shackles with his own hand, clad him in a costly dress and
+made him his master of the Horse; and he appointed him stipends
+and allowances and lodged him in a story over the stables. So Nur
+al-Din abode awhile, eating and drinking and making merry and
+bidding and forbidding those who tended the horses; and whoso
+neglected or failed to fodder those tied up in the stable wherein
+was his service, he would throw down and beat with grievous
+beating and lay him by the legs in bilboes of iron. Furthermore,
+he used every day to descend and visit the stallions and rub them
+down with his own hand, by reason of that which he knew of their
+value in the Wazir's eyes and his love for them; wherefore the
+Minister rejoiced in him with joy exceeding and his breast
+broadened and he was right glad, unknowing what was to be the
+issue of his case. Now in the new palace, which the one-eyed
+Wazir had bought for Princess Miriam, was a lattice-window
+overlooking his old house and the flat wherein Nur al-Din lodged.
+The Wazir had a daughter, a virgin of extreme loveliness, as she
+were a fleeing gazelle or a bending branchlet, and it chanced
+that she sat one day at the lattice aforesaid and behold, she
+heard Nur al-Din, singing and solacing himself under his sorrows
+by improvising these verses,
+
+"O my Censor who wakest a-morn to see * The joys of life and its
+     jubilee!
+Had the fangs of Destiny bitten thee * In such bitter case thou
+     hadst pled this plea,
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+But from Fate's despight thou art safe this day;- * From her
+     falsest fay and her crying 'Nay!'
+Yet blame him not whom his woes waylay * Who distraught shall say
+     in his agony,
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+Excuse such lovers in flight abhorr'd * Nor to Love's distreses
+     thine aid afford:
+Lest thy self be bound by same binding cord * And drink of Love's
+     bitterest injury.
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+In His service I wont as the days went by * With freest heart
+     through the nights to lie;
+Nor tasted wake, nor of Love aught reckt * Ere my heart to
+     subjection summoned he:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+None weet of Love and his humbling wrong * Save those he sickened
+     so sore, so long,
+Who have lost their wits 'mid the lover-throng * Draining
+     bitterest cup by his hard decree:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+How oft in Night's gloom he cause wake to rue * Lovers' eyne, and
+     from eyelids their sleep withdrew;
+Till tears to the railing of torrents grew, * Overflowing cheeks
+    , unconfined and free:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+How many a man he has joyed to steep * In pain, and for pine hath
+     he plundered sleep,--
+Made don garb of mourning the deepest deep * And even his
+     dreaming forced to flee:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+How oft sufferance fails me! How bones are wasted * And down my
+     cheeks torrent tear-drops hasted:
+And embittered She all the food I tasted * However sweet it was
+     wont to be:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+Most hapless of men who like me must love, * And must watch when
+     Night droops her wing from above,
+Who, swimming the main where affection drove * Must sign and sink
+     in that gloomy sea:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+Who is he to whom Love e'er stinted spite * And who scaped his
+     springes and easy sleight;
+Who free from Love lived in life's delight? * Where is he can
+     boast of such liberty?
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'
+Deign Lord such suffering wight maintain * Then best Protector,
+     protect him deign!
+Establish him and his life assain * And defend him from all
+     calamity:
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'"
+
+And when Nur al-Din ended his say and ceased to sing his rhyming
+lay, the Wazir's daughter said to herself, "By the virtue of the
+Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, verily this Moslem is a
+handsome youth! But doubtless he is a lover separated from his
+mistress. Would Heaven I wot an the beloved of this fair one is
+fair like unto him and if she pine for him as he for her! An she
+be seemly as he is, it behoveth him to pour forth tears and make
+moan of passion; but, an she be other than fair, his days are
+wasted in vain regrets and he is denied the taste of
+delights."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+     When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
+Wazir's daughter said to herself, "An his beloved be fair as he,
+it behoveth him to pour forth tears; and, if other than fair, his
+heart is wasted in vain regrets!" Now Miriam the Girdle-girl, the
+Minister's consort, had removed to the new palace the day before
+and the Wazir's daughter knew that she was straitened of breast;
+so she was minded to seek her and talk with her and tell her the
+tidings of the young man and the rhymes and verses she had heard
+him recite; but, before she could carry out her design the
+Princess sent for her to cheer her with her converse. So she went
+to her and found her heavy at heart and her tears hurrying down
+her cheeks; and whilst she was weeping with sore weeping she
+recited these couplets,
+
+"My life is gone but love-longings remain * And my breast is
+     straitened with pine and pain:
+And my heart for parting to melt is fain * Yet hoping that union
+     will come again,
+     And join us in one who now are twain.
+Stint your blame to him who in heart's your thrall * With the
+     wasted frame which his sorrows gall,
+Nor with aim of arrow his heart appal * For parted lover is
+     saddest of all,
+     And Love's cup of bitters is sweet to drain!"
+
+Quoth the Wazir's daughter to her, "What aileth thee, O Princess,
+to be thus straitened in breast and sorrowful of thought?"
+Whereupon Miriam recalled the greatness of the delights that were
+past and recited these two couplets,
+
+"I will bear in patience estrangement of friend * And on cheeks
+     rail tears that like torrents wend:
+Haply Allah will solace my sorrow, for He * Neath the ribs of
+     unease maketh ease at end."
+
+Said the Wazir's daughter, "O Princess, let not thy breast be
+straitened, but come with me straightway to the lattice; for
+there is with us in the stable[FN#556] a comely young man,
+slender of shape and sweet of speech, and meseemeth he is a
+parted lover." Miriam asked, "And by what sign knowest thou that
+he is a parted lover?"; and she answered, "O Queen, I know it by
+his improvising odes and verses all watches of the night and
+tides of the day." Quoth the Princess in herself, "If what the
+Wazir's daughter says be true, these are assuredly the traits of
+the baffled, the wretched Ali Nur al-Din. Would I knew if indeed
+he be the youth of whom she speaketh?" At this thought,
+love-longing and distraction of passion redoubled on her and she
+rose at once and walking with the maiden to the lattice, looked
+down upon the stables, where she saw her love and lord Nur al-Din
+and fixing her eyes steadfastly upon him, knew him with the
+bestest knowledge of love, albeit he was sick, of the greatness
+of his affection for her and of the fire of passion, and the
+anguish of separation and yearning and distraction. Sore upon him
+was emaciation and he was improvising and saying,
+
+"My heart is a thrall; my tears ne'er abate * And their rains the
+     railing of clouds amate;
+'Twixt my weeping and watching and wanting love; * And whining
+     and pining for dearest mate.
+Ah my burning heat, my desire, my lowe! * For the plagues that
+     torture my heart are eight;
+And five upon five are in suite of them; * So stand and listen to
+     all I state:
+Mem'ry, madding thoughts, moaning languishment, * Stress of
+     longing love, plight disconsolate;
+In travail, affliction and strangerhood, * And annoy and joy when
+     on her I wait.
+Fail me patience and stay for engrossing care * And sorrows my
+     suffering soul regrate.
+On my heart the possession of passion grows * O who ask of what
+     fire in my heart's create,
+Why my tears in vitals should kindle flame, * Burning heart with
+     ardours insatiate,
+Know, I'm drowned in Deluge[FN#557] of tears and my soul * From
+     Laz�-lowe fares to H�wiyah-goal."[FN#558]
+
+When the Princess Miriam beheld Nur al-Din and heard his loquence
+and verse and speech, she made certain that it was indeed her
+lord Nur al-Din; but she concealed her case from the Wazir's
+daughter and said to her, "By the virtue of the Messiah and the
+Faith which is no liar, I thought not thou knewest of my
+sadness!" Then she arose forthright and withdrawing from the
+window, returned to her own place, whilst the Wazir's daughter
+went to her own occupations. The Princess awaited patiently
+awhile, then returned to the window and sat there, gazing upon
+her beloved Nur al-Din and delighting her eyes with his beauty
+and inner and outer grace. And indeed, she saw that he was like
+unto moon at full on fourteenth night; but he was ever sighing
+with tears never drying, for that he recalled whatso he had been
+abying. So he recited these couplets,
+
+"I hope for Union with my love which I may ne'er obtain * At all,
+     but bitterness of life is all the gain I gain:
+My tears are likest to the main for ebb and flow of tide; * But
+     when I meet the blamer-wight to staunch my tears I'm fain.
+Woe to the wretch who garred us part by spelling of his
+     spells;[FN#559] * Could I but hend his tongue in hand I'd
+     cut his tongue in twain:
+Yet will I never blame the days for whatso deed they did *
+     Mingling with merest, purest gall the cup they made me
+     drain!
+To whom shall I address myself; and whom but you shall seek * A
+     heart left hostage in your Court, by you a captive ta'en?
+Who shall avenge my wrongs on you,[FN#560] tyrant despotical *
+     Whose tyranny but grows the more, the more I dare complain?
+I made him regnant of my soul that he the reign assain * But me
+     he wasted wasting too the soul I gave to reign.
+Ho thou, the Fawn, whom I so lief erst gathered to my breast *
+     Enow of severance tasted I to own its might and main,
+Thou'rt he whose favours joined in one all beauties known to man,
+     * Yet I thereon have wasted all my Patience' fair domain.
+I entertained him in my heart whereto he brought unrest * But I
+     am satisfied that I such guest could entertain.
+My tears for ever flow and flood, likest the surging sea * And
+     would I wot the track to take that I thereto attain.
+Yet sore I fear that I shall die in depths of my chagrin * And
+     must despair for evermore to win the wish I'd win."
+
+When Miriam heard the verses of Nur al-Din the loving-hearted,
+the parted; they kindled in her vitals a fire of desire, and
+while her eyes ran over with tears, she recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"I longed for him I love; but, when we met, * I was amazed nor
+     tongue nor eyes I found.
+I had got ready volumes of reproach; * But when we met, could
+     syllable no sound."
+
+When Nur al-Din heard the voice of Princess Miriam, he knew it
+and wept bitter tears, saying, "By Allah, this is the chanting of
+the Lady Miriam."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Volume 8.
+
+
+
+
+
+                    Arabian Nights, Volume 8
+                           Footnotes
+
+
+
+
+[FN#1]  Ironic�; we are safe as long as we are defended by such a
+brave.
+
+[FN#2]  Blue, azure. This is hardly the place for a protest, but
+I must not neglect the opportunity of cautioning my readers
+against rendering Bahr al-Azrak ("Blue River") by "Blue Nile." No
+Arab ever knew it by that name or thereby equalled it with the
+White Nile. The term was a pure invention of Abyssinian Bruce who
+was well aware of the unfact he was propagating, but his
+inordinate vanity and self-esteem, contrasting so curiously with
+many noble qualities, especially courage and self-reliance,
+tempted him to this and many other a traveller's tale.
+
+[FN#3]  This is orthodox Moslem doctrine and it does something
+for the dignity of human nature which has been so unwisely
+depreciated and degraded by Christianity. The contrast of Moslem
+dignity and Christian abasement in the East is patent to every
+unblind traveller.
+
+[FN#4]  Here ends vol. iii. of the Mac. Edit.
+
+[FN#5]  This famous tale is a sister prose-poem to the "Arabian
+Odyssey" Sindbad the Seaman; only the Bassorite's travels are in
+Jinn-land and Japan.  It has points of resemblance in
+"fundamental outline" with the Persian Romance of the Fairy Hasan
+B�n� and King Bahr�m-i-G�r. See also the Kath� (s.s.) and the two
+sons of the As�ra M�y�; the Tartar "Sidhi K�r" (Tales of a
+Vampire or Enchanted Corpse) translated by Mr. W. J. Thoms (the
+Father of "Folk-lore" in 1846,) in "Lays and Legends of various
+Nations"; the Persian Bah�r-i-D�nish (Prime of Lore). Miss
+Stokes' "Indian Fairy Tales"; Miss Frere's "Old Deccan Days" and
+Mrs. F. A. Steel's "Tale of the King and his Seven Sons," with
+notes by Lieutenant (now Captain) R. C. Temple (Folk-lore of the
+Panjab, Indian Antiquary of March, 1882).
+
+[FN#6]  In the Mac.  Edit. (vol. iv. i.) the merchant has two
+sons who became one a brazier ("dealer in copper-wares" says Lane
+iii. 385) and the other a goldsmith.  The Bresl.  Edit. (v. 264)
+mentions only one son, Hasan, the hero of the story which is
+entitled, "Tale of Hasan al-Basr� and the Isles of W�k W�k."
+
+[FN#7]  Arab.  "Sh�sh Abyaz:" this distinctive sign of the True
+Believer was adopted by the Persian to conceal his being a
+fire-worshipper, Magian or "Guebre." The latter word was
+introduced from the French by Lord Byron and it is certainly far
+superior to Moore's "Gheber."
+
+[FN#8]  Persians being always a suspected folk.
+
+[FN#9]  Arab.  "Al-B�dikah" afterwards used (Night dcclxxix) in
+the sense of crucible or melting-pot, in modern parlance a
+pipe-bowl; and also written "B�takah," an Arab distortion of the
+Persian "B�tah."
+
+[FN#10]  Arab.  "Sind�n" or "Sindiy�n" (Dozy).  "Sand�n," anvil;
+"Sind�n," big, strong (Steingass).
+
+[FN#11]  Arab.  "K�miya," (see vol. i. 305) properly the
+substance which transmutes metals, the "philosopher's stone"
+which, by the by, is not a stone; and comes from {chyme�a,chym�s} = a fluid, a wet drug, as opposed to Iks�r (Al-)  {Xer�n, X�rion}, a dry
+drug.  Those who care to see how it is still studied will consult
+my History of Sindh (chapt. vii) and my experience which pointed
+only to the use made of it in base coinage. Hence in mod. tongue
+K�miy�wi, an alchemist, means a coiner, a smasher. The reader
+must not suppose that the transmutation of metals is a dead
+study: I calculate that there are about one hundred workers in
+London alone.
+
+[FN#12]  Arab.  "Al-K�r," a bellows also = K�r, a furnace.  For
+the full meaning of this sentence, see my "Book of the Sword," p.
+119.
+
+[FN#13]  Lit.  "bade him lean upon it with the shears" (Al-K�z).
+
+[FN#14]  There are many kinds of Kohls (Hindos.  Surm� and
+Kajjal) used in medicine and magic.  See Herklots, p. 227.
+
+[FN#15]  Arab. "Sab�kah" = bar, lamina, from "Sabk" = melting,
+smelting: the lump in the crucible would be hammered out into an
+ingot in order to conceal the operation
+
+[FN#16]  i.e. �375.
+
+[FN#17]  Such report has cost many a life: the suspicion was and
+is still deadly as heresy in a "new Christian" under the
+Inquisition.
+
+[FN#18]  Here there is a double entendre: openly it means, "Few
+men recognise as they should the bond of bread and salt:" the
+other sense would be (and that accounts for the smile), "What the
+deuce do I care for the bond?"
+
+[FN#19]  Arab.  "Kabb�t" in the Bresl. Edit. "Ka'ab�n ": Lane
+(iii. 519) reads "Ka'�b plur. of Ka'ab a cup."
+
+[FN#20]  A most palpable sneer.  But Hasan is purposely
+represented as a "softy" till aroused and energized by the magic
+of Love.
+
+[FN#21]  Arab.  "Al-iks�r" (see Night dcclxxix, supra p. 9): the
+Greek word       which has returned from a trip to Arabia and
+reappeared in Europe as "Elixir."
+
+[FN#22]  "Aw�k" plur. of "Uk�yah," the well-known "oke," or
+"ocque," a weight varying from 1 to 2 lbs.  In Morocco it is
+pronounced "Wuk�yah," and = the Spanish ounce (p. 279 Rudimentos
+del Arabe Vulgar, etc., by Fr. Jos� de Lorchundi, Madrid,
+Rivadeneyra, 1872).
+
+[FN#23]  These lines have occurred in vol. iv. 267, where
+references to other places are given.  I quote Lane by way of
+variety.  In the text they are supposed to have been written by
+the Persian, a hint that Hasan would never be seen again.
+
+[FN#24]  i.e. a superfetation of iniquity.
+
+[FN#25]  Arab.  "Kurb�n," Heb. { }Corban = offering, oblation to be brought to
+the priest's house or to the altar of the tribal God Yahveh,
+Jehovah (Levit. ii, 2-3 etc.). Amongst the Maronites Kurban is
+the host (-wafer) and amongst the Turks 'Id al-Kurban
+(sacrifice-feast) is the Greater Bayram, the time of Pilgrimage.
+
+[FN#26]  N�r = fire, being feminine, like the names of the other
+"elements."
+
+[FN#27]  The Egyptian Kurb�j of hippopotamus-hide (Burkh. Nubia,
+pp. 62,282) or elephant-hide (Turner ii. 365).  Hence the Fr.
+Cravache (as Cravat is from Croat).
+
+[FN#28]  In Mac. Edit. "Bahriyah": in Bresl. Edit. "Naw�t�yah."
+See vol. vi. 242, for {Na�tes}, navita, nauta.
+
+[FN#29]  In Bresl. Edit. (iv. 285) "Y� Khw�jah," for which see
+vol. vi. 46.
+
+[FN#30]  Arab.  "Tabl" (vulg. baz) = a kettle-drum about half a
+foot broad held in the left hand and beaten with a stick or
+leathern thong.  Lane refers to his description (M.E. ii. chapt.
+v.) of the Dervish's drum of tinned copper with parchment face,
+and renders Zakhmah or Zukhmah (strap, stirrup-leather) by
+"plectrum," which gives a wrong idea. The Bresl. Edit. ignores
+the strap.
+
+[FN#31]  The "Spartivento" of Italy, mostly a tall headland which
+divides the clouds.  The most remarkable feature of the kind is
+the Dalmatian Island, Pelagosa.
+
+[FN#32]  The "Rocs" (Al-Arkh�kh) in the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 290).
+The Rakham = aquiline vulture.
+
+[FN#33]  Lane here quotes a similar incident in the romance "Sayf
+Z� al-Yazan," so called from the hero, whose son, Misr, is sewn
+up in a camel's hide by Bahr�m, a treacherous Magian, and is
+carried by the Rukhs to a mountain-top.
+
+[FN#34]  These lines occurred in Night xxvi. vol. i. 275: I quote
+Mr. Payne for variety.
+
+[FN#35]  Thus a Moslem can not only circumcise and marry himself
+but can also bury canonically himself.  The form of this prayer
+is given by Lane M. E. chapt. xv.
+
+[FN#36]  i.e. If I fail in my self-imposed duty, thou shalt
+charge me therewith on the Judgment-day.
+
+[FN#37]  Arab.  "Al-Alw�n," plur. of laun (colour).  The latter
+in Egyptian Arabic means a "dish of meat." See Burckhardt No.
+279. I repeat that the great traveller's "Arabic Proverbs" wants
+republishing for two reasons.  First he had not sufficient
+command of English to translate with the necessary laconism and
+assonance: secondly in his day British Philistinism was too
+rampant to permit a literal translation. Consequently the book
+falls short of what the Oriental student requires; and I have
+prepared it for my friend Mr. Quaritch.
+
+[FN#38]  i.e. Lofty, high-builded. See Night dcclxviii. vol. vii.
+p. 347. In the Bresl. Edit. Al-Mas�d (as in Al-Kazw�ni): in the
+Mac. Edit. Al-Mashid
+
+[FN#39]  Arab. "Munkati" here = cut off from the rest of the
+world. Applied to a man, and a popular term of abuse in Al-Hij�z,
+it means one cut off from the blessings of Allah and the benefits
+of mankind; a pauvre sire. (Pilgrimage ii. 22.)
+
+[FN#40]  Arab. "Baras au Juz�m," the two common forms of leprosy.
+See vol. iv. 51. Popular superstition in Syria holds that coition
+during the menses breeds the Juz�m, D�a al-Kab�r (Great Evil) or
+D�a al-F�l (Elephantine Evil), i.e. Elephantiasis and that the
+days between the beginning of the flow (Sab�l) to that of coition
+shows the age when the progeny will be attacked; for instance if
+it take place on the first day, the disease will appear in the
+tenth year, on the fourth the fortieth and so on.  The only
+diseases really dreaded by the Badawin are leprosy and small-pox.
+Coition during the menses is forbidden by all Eastern faiths
+under the severest penalties. Al-Mas'�di relates how a man thus
+begotten became a determined enemy of Ali; and the ancient Jews
+attributed the magical powers of Joshua Nazarenus to this
+accident of his birth, the popular idea being that sorcerers are
+thus impurely engendered.
+
+[FN#41]  By adoption - See vol. iii. 151. This sudden affection
+(not love) suggests the "Come to my arms, my slight
+acquaintance!" of the Anti-Jacobin.  But it is true to Eastern
+nature; and nothing can be more charming than this fast
+friendship between the Princess and Hasan.
+
+[FN#42]  En tout bien et en tout honneur, be it understood.
+
+[FN#43]  He had done nothing of the kind; but the feminine mind
+is prone to exaggeration. Also Hasan had told them a fib, to
+prejudice them against the Persian.
+
+[FN#44]  These nervous movements have been reduced to a system in
+the Turk. "Ihtil�jn�meh" = Book of palpitations, prognosticating
+from the subsultus tendinum and other involuntary movements of
+the body from head to foot; according to Ja'afar the Just, Daniel
+the Prophet, Alexander the Great; the Sages of Persia and the
+Wise Men of Greece. In England we attend chiefly to the eye and
+ear.
+
+[FN#45]  Revenge, amongst the Arabs, is a sacred duty; and, in
+their state of civilization, society could not be kept together
+without it. So the slaughter of a villain is held to be a
+sacrifice to Allah, who amongst Christians claims for Himself the
+monopoly of vengeance.
+
+[FN#46]  Arab.  "Zind�k." See vol. v. 230.
+
+[FN#47]  Lane translates this "put for him the remaining food and
+water;" but Al-�khar (Mac.  Edit.) evidently refers to the Naj�b
+(dromedary).
+
+[FN#48]  We can hardly see the heroism of the deed, but it must
+be remembered that Bahram was a wicked sorcerer, whom it was
+every good  Moslem's bounden duty to slay.  Compare the treatment
+of witches in England two centuries ago.
+
+[FN#49]  The mother in Arab tales is ma m�re, now becoming
+somewhat ridiculous in France on account of the over use of that
+venerable personage.
+
+[FN#50]  The forbidden closet occurs also in Sayf Z� al-Yazan,
+who enters it and finds the bird-girls.  Tr�butien ii, 208 says,
+"Il est assez remarquable qu'il existe en Allemagne une tradition
+� peu pr�s semblable, et qui a fourni le sujet d'un des contes de
+Musaeus, entitul�, le voile enlev�." Here Hasan is artfully left
+alone in a large palace without other companions but his thoughts
+and the reader is left to divine the train of ideas which drove
+him to open the door.
+
+[FN#51]  Arab.  "Buhayrah" (Bresl. Edit. "Bahrah"), the tank or
+cistern in the Hosh (court-yard) of an Eastern house.  Here,
+however, it is a rain-cistern on the flat roof of the palace (See
+Night dcccviii).
+
+[FN#52]  This description of the view is one of the most gorgeous
+in The Nights.
+
+[FN#53]  Here again are the "Swan-maidens" (See vol. v. 346) "one
+of the primitive myths, the common heritage of the whole Aryan
+(Iranian) race." In Persia Bahram-i-G�r when carried off by the
+D�v Sap�d seizes the Peri's dove-coat: in Santh�li folk-lore
+Torica, the Goatherd, steals the garment doffed by one of the
+daughters of the sun; and hence the twelve birds of Russian
+Story.  To the same cycle belong the Seal-tales of the Faroe
+Islands (Thorpe's Northern Mythology) and the wise women or
+mermaids of Shetland (Hibbert).  Wayland the smith captures a
+wife by seizing a mermaid's raiment and so did Sir Hag�n by
+annexing the wardrobe of a Danubian water-nymph.  Lettsom, the
+translator, mixes up this swan-raiment with that of the Valkyries
+or Choosers of the Slain. In real life stealing women's clothes
+is an old trick and has often induced them, after having been
+seen naked, to offer their persons spontaneously.  Of this I knew
+two cases in India, where the theft is justified by divine
+example.  The blue god Krishna, a barbarous and grotesque Hindu
+Apollo, robbed the raiment of the pretty Gop�l�s (cowherdesses)
+who were bathing in the Arjun River and carried them to the top
+of a Kunduna tree; nor would he restore them till he had reviewed
+the naked girls and taken one of them to wife.  See also Imr
+al-Kays (of the Mu'allakah) with "Onaiza" at the port of
+Daratjuljul (Clouston's Arabian Poetry, p.4). A critic has
+complained of my tracing the origin of the Swan-maiden legend to
+the physical resemblance between the bird and a high-bred girl
+(vol. v. 346). I should have explained my theory which is
+shortly, that we must seek a material basis for all so-called
+supernaturalisms, and that anthropomorphism satisfactorily
+explains the Swan-maiden, as it does the angel and the devil.
+There is much to say on the subject; but this is not the place
+for long discussion.
+
+[FN#54]  Arab.  "Nafs Amm�rah," corresponding with our canting
+term "The Flesh." Nafs al-N�t�kah is the intellectual soul or
+function; Nafs al-Ghazab�yah = the animal function and Nafs al
+Shahw�n�yah = the vegetative property.
+
+[FN#55]  The lines occur in vol. ii. 331: I have quoted Mr.
+Payne.  Here they are singularly out of place.
+
+[FN#56]  Not the "green gown" of Anglo-India i.e. a white
+ball-dress with blades of grass sticking to it in consequence of
+a "fall backwards."
+
+[FN#57]  These lines occur in vol. i. 219: I have borrowed from
+Torrens (p. 219).
+
+[FN#58]  The appearance of which ends the fast and begins the
+Lesser Festival.  See vol. i. 84.
+
+[FN#59]  See note, vol. i. 84, for notices of the large navel;
+much appreciated by Easterns.
+
+[FN#60]  Arab.  "Sh�'ir Al-Walah�n" = the love-distraught poet;
+Lane has "a distracted poet."  My learned friend Professor Aloys
+Sprenger has consulted, upon the subject of Al-Walah�n the
+well-known Professor of Arabic at Halle, Dr. Thorbeck, who
+remarks that the word (here as further on) must be an adjective,
+mad, love-distraught, not a "lakab" or poetical cognomen.  He
+generally finds it written Al-Sh�'ir al-Walah�n (the
+love-demented poet) not Al-Walah�n al-Sh�'ir = Walah�n the Poet.
+Note this burst of song after the sweet youth falls in love: it
+explains the cause of verse-quotation in The Nights, poetry being
+the natural language of love and battle.
+
+[FN#61]  "Them" as usual for "her."
+
+[FN#62]  Here Lane proposes a transposition, for "Wa-huw� (and
+he) fi'l-hubbi," to read "Fi 'l-hubbi wa huwa (wa-hwa);" but the
+latter is given in the Mac. Edit.
+
+[FN#63]  For the pun in "Sabr"=aloe or patience.  See vol. i.
+138. In Herr Landberg (i. 93) we find a misunderstanding of the
+couplet--
+
+     "Aw'�kibu s-sabri (K�la ba'azuhum)
+      Mahm�dah:  Kultu, 'khshi an takhirrin�.'"
+
+"The effects of patience" (or aloes) quoth one "are
+praiseworthy!" Quoth I, "Much I fear lest it make me stool."
+Mahm�dah is not only un laxatif, but a slang name for a
+confection of aloes.
+
+[FN#64]  Arab. "Ak�na fid�-ka." Fid� = ransom, self-sacrifice and
+Fid�'an = instead of.  The phrase, which everywhere occurs in The
+Nights, means, "I would give my life to save thine "
+
+[FN#65]  Thus accounting for his sickness, improbably enough but
+in flattering way.  Like a good friend (feminine) she does not
+hesitate a moment in prescribing a fib.
+
+[FN#66]  i.e. the 25,000 Amazons who in the Bresl. Edit. (ii.
+308) are all made to be the King's Ban�t" = daughters or
+prot�g�es. The Amazons of Dahome (see my "Mission") who may now
+number 5,000 are all officially wives of the King and are called
+by the lieges "our mothers."
+
+[FN#67]  The tale-teller has made up his mind about the damsel;
+although in this part of the story she is the chief and eldest
+sister and subsequently she appears as the youngest daughter of
+the supreme Jinn King.  The mystification is artfully explained
+by the extraordinary likeness of the two sisters. (See Night
+dcccxi.)
+
+[FN#68]  This is a reminiscence of the old-fashioned "marriage by
+capture," of which many traces survive, even among the civilised
+who wholly ignore their origin.
+
+[FN#69]  Meaning her companions and suite.
+
+[FN#70]  Arab.  "'Ab�ah" vulg.  "'Ab�yah."  See vol. ii. 133.
+
+[FN#71]  Feet in the East lack that development of sebaceous
+glands which afflicts Europeans.
+
+[FN#72]  i.e. cutting the animals' throats after Moslem law.
+
+[FN#73]  In Night dcclxxviii. supra p.5, we find the orthodox
+Moslem doctrine that "a single mortal is better in Allah's sight
+than a thousand Jinns."  For, I repeat, Al-Islam systematically
+exalts human nature which Christianity takes infinite trouble to
+degrade and debase.  The results of its ignoble teaching are only
+too evident in the East: the Christians of the so-called (and
+miscalled) "Holy Land" are a disgrace to the faith and the
+idiomatic Persian term for a Nazarene is "Tars�" = funker,
+coward.
+
+[FN#74]  Arab.  "Sakaba K�rah�;" the forge in which children are
+hammered out?
+
+[FN#75]  Arab.  "M� al-Mal�hat" = water (brilliancy) of beauty.
+
+[FN#76]  The fourth of the Seven Heavens, the "Garden of
+Eternity," made of yellow coral.
+
+[FN#77]  How strange this must sound to the Young Woman of London
+in the nineteenth century.
+
+[FN#78]  "Forty days" is a quasi-religious period amongst Moslem
+for praying, fasting and religious exercises: here it represents
+our "honey-moon." See vol. v. p. 62.
+
+[FN#79]  Y� layta, still popular.  Herr Carlo Landberg (Proverbes
+et Dictons du Peuple Arabe, vol. i. of Syria, Leyden, E. J.
+Brill, 1883) explains layta for rayta (=raayta) by permutation of
+liquids and argues that the contraction is ancient (p. 42).  But
+the Herr is no Arabist: "Layta" means "would to Heaven," or,
+simply "I wish," "I pray" (for something possible or impossible);
+whilst "La'alla" (perhaps, it may be) prays only for the
+possible:  and both are simply particles governing the noun in
+the oblique or accusative case.
+
+[FN#80]  "His" for "her," i.e. herself, making somewhat of
+confusion between her state and that of her son.
+
+[FN#81]  i.e. his mother; the words are not in the Mac. Edit.
+
+[FN#82]  Baghdad is called House of Peace, amongst other reasons,
+from the Dijlah (Tigris) River and Valley "of Peace." The word
+was variously written Baghd�d, B�ghd�d, (our old Bughdaud and
+Bagdat), Baghz�z, Baghz�n, Baghd�n, Baghz�m and Maghd�d as Makkah
+and Bakkah (Koran iii. 90).  Religious Moslems held B�gh (idol)
+and D�d (gift) an ill-omened conjunction, and the Greeks changed
+it to Eirenopolis. (See Ouseley's Oriental Collcctions, vol. i.
+pp. 18-20.)
+
+[FN#83]  This is a popular saying but hardly a "vulgar proverb."
+(Lane iii. 522.) It reminds rather of Shakespear's:
+
+     "So loving to my mother,
+      That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
+      Visit her face too roughly."
+
+[FN#84]  i.e. God forbid that I should oppose thee!
+
+[FN#85]  Here the writer again forgets apparently, that Shahrazad
+is speaking: she may, however, use the plural for the singular
+when speaking of herself.
+
+[FN#86]  i.e. She would have pleaded ill-treatment and lawfully
+demanded to be sold.
+
+[FN#87]  The Hindus speak of "the only bond that woman knows--her
+heart."
+
+[FN#88]  i.e. a rarity, a present (especially in Persian).
+
+[FN#89]  Arab.  "Al-bis�t" wa'l-masnad lit. the carpet and the
+cushion.
+
+[FN#90]  For "B�b al-bahr" and "B�b al-Barr" see vol. iii. 281.
+
+[FN#91]  She was the daughter of Ja'afar bin Mans�r; but, as will
+be seen, The Nights again and again called her father Al-K�sim.
+
+[FN#92]  This is an error for the fifth which occurs in the
+popular saying, "Is he the fifth of the sons of Al-Abb�s!" i.e.
+Harun al-Rashid.  Lane (note, in loco) thus accounts for the
+frequent mention of the Caliph, the greatest of the Abbasides in
+The Nights.  But this is a causa non causa.
+
+[FN#93]  i.e. I find thy beauty all-sufficient.  So the proverb
+"The son of the quarter (young neighbour) filleth not the eye,"
+which prefers a stranger.
+
+[FN#94]  They are mere doggerel, like most of the pi�ces de
+circonstance.
+
+[FN#95]  Afterwards called W�k W�k, and in the Bresl. Edit. W�k
+al-W�k. See Lane's notes upon these Islands.  Arab Geographers
+evidently speak of two Wak Waks.  Ibn al-Fakih and Al-Mas'�di
+(Fr. Transl., vol. iii. 6-7) locate one of them in East Africa
+beyond Zanzibar and Sofala. "Le territoire des Zendjes
+(Zanzibar-Negroids) commence au canal (Al-Khalij) d�riv� du haut
+Nil (the Juln River?) et se prolonge jusqu'au pays de Sofalah et
+des Wak-Wak." It is simply the peninsula of Guardafui (Jard
+Hafun) occupied by the Gallas, pagans and Christians, before
+these were ousted by the Moslem Somal; and the former perpetually
+ejaculated "Wak" (God) as Moslems cry upon Allah.  This
+identification explains a host of other myths such as the
+Amazons, who as Marco Polo tells us held the "Female Island"
+Socotra (Yule ii. 396).  The fruit which resembled a woman's head
+(whence the puell� Wakwakienses hanging by the hair from trees),
+and which when ripe called out "Wak Wak" and "Allah al-Khall�k"
+(the Creator) refers to the Calabash-tree (Adausonia digitata),
+that grotesque growth, a vegetable elephant, whose gourds,
+something larger than a man's head, hang by a slender filament.
+Similarly the "cocoa" got its name, in Port. = Goblin, from the
+fancied face at one end. The other Wak Wak has been identified in
+turns with the Seychelles, Madagascar, Malacca, Sunda or Java
+(this by Langl�s), China and Japan.  The learned Prof. de Goeje
+(Arabishe Berichten over Japan, Amsterdam, Muller, 1880) informs
+us that in Canton the name of Japan is Wo-Kwok, possibly a
+corruption of Koku-tan, the ebony-tree (Diospyros ebenum) which
+Ibn Khor-d�bah and others find together with gold in an island
+4,500 parasangs from Suez and East of China.  And we must
+remember that Basrah was the chief starting-place for the
+Celestial Empire during the rule of the Tang dynasty (seventh and
+ninth centuries). Colonel J. W. Watson of Bombay suggests New
+Guinea or the adjacent islands where the Bird of Paradise is said
+to cry "Wak Wak!" Mr. W. F. Kirby in the Preface (p. ix.) to his
+neat little book "The New Arabian Nights," says: "The Islands of
+Wak-Wak, seven years' journey from Bagdad, in the story of Hasan,
+have receded to a distance of a hundred and fifty years' journey
+in that of Majin (of Khorasan).  There is no doubt(?) that the
+Cora Islands, near New Guinea, are intended; for the wonderful
+fruits which grow there are Birds of Paradise, which settle in
+flocks on the trees at sunset and sunrise, uttering this very
+cry." Thus, like Ophir, Wak Wak has wandered all over the world
+and has been found even in Peru by the Turkish work T�rikh
+al-Hind al-Gharbi = History of the West Indies (Orient. Coll. iii
+189).
+
+[FN#96]  I accept the emendation of Lane's Shaykh, "Nas�m "
+(Zephyr) for "Nad�m " (cup-companion).
+
+[FN#97]  "Jannat al-N�'im" = Garden of Delights is No. V Heaven,
+made of white diamond.
+
+[FN#98]  This appears to her very prettily put.
+
+[FN#99]  This is the "House of Sadness" of our old chivalrous
+Romances. See chapt. vi. of "Palmerin of England," by Francisco
+de Moraes (ob. 1572), translated by old Anthony Munday (dateless,
+1590?) and "corrected" (read spoiled) by Robert Southey, London,
+Longmans, 1807.
+
+[FN#100]  The lines have occurred in Night clix. (vol. iii. 183),
+I quote Mr. Payne who, like Lane, prefers "in my bosom" to
+"beneath my ribs."
+
+[FN#101]  In this tale the Bresl. Edit. more than once adds "And
+let us and you send a blessing to the Lord of Lords" (or to
+"Mohammed," or to the "Prophet"); and in vol. v. p. 52 has a long
+prayer.  This is an act of contrition in the tale-teller for
+romancing against the expressed warning of the Founder of
+Al-Islam.
+
+[FN#102]  From Bresl. Edit. (vi. 29): the four in the Mac. Edit.
+are too irrelevant.
+
+[FN#103]  Arab.  "Ghay�r"--jealous, an admirable epithet which
+Lane dilutes to "changeable"--making a truism of a metaphor.
+
+[FN#104]  These lines have occurred before.  I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#105]  i.e. One fated to live ten years.
+
+[FN#106]  This poetical way of saying "fourteen" suggests Camoens
+(The Lusiads) Canto v. 2.
+
+[FN#107]  Arab.  "Surrah," lit. = a purse: a few lines lower down
+it is called "'Ulbah" = a box which, of course, may have
+contained the bag.
+
+[FN#108]  The month which begins the Moslem year.
+
+[FN#109]  As an Arab often does when deep in thought.  Lane
+appositely quotes John viii. 6. "Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground." Mr. Payne translates, "He fell a-drumming on the earth with his fingers," but this does not complete the sense.
+
+[FN#110]  i.e."And the peace of Allah be upon thee! that will end
+thy story."  The Arab formula, "Wa al-Sal�m" (pron.  Wassal�m) is
+used in a variety of senses.
+
+[FN#111]  Like Camoens, one of the model lovers, he calls upon
+Love to torment him still more--ad majorem Dei (amoris) gloriam.
+
+[FN#112]  Pron.  Aboor-Ruwaysh.  "The Father of the little
+Feather": he is afterwards called "Son of the daughter of the
+accursed Iblis"; yet, as Lane says, "he appears to be a virtuous
+person."
+
+[FN#113]  Arab.  "Kantara al-lij�m fi Karb�s (bow) sarjih."
+
+[FN#114]  I do not translate "beckoned" because the word would
+give a wrong idea.  Our beckoning with the finger moved towards
+the beckoner makes the so-beckoned Eastern depart in all haste.
+To call him you must wave the hand from you.
+
+[FN#115]  The Arabs knew what large libraries were; and a learned
+man could not travel without camel-loads of dictionaries.
+
+[FN#116]  Arab.  "Adim;" now called Bulgh�r, our Moroccan
+leather.
+
+[FN#117]  Arab.  "Zin�d," which Lane renders by "instruments for
+striking fire," and Mr. Payne, after the fashion of the
+translators of Al-Hariri, "flint and steel."
+
+[FN#118]  A congener of Hasan and Husayn, little used except in
+Syria where it is a favourite name for Christians.  The Muh�t of
+Butrus Al-Bost�ni (s.v.) tells us that it also means a bird
+called Ab� Hasan and supplies various Egyptian synonyms.  In Mod.
+Arab. Grammar the form Fa''�l is a diminutive as Hamm�d for
+Ahmad, 'Amm�r for 'Amr�. So the fem. form, Fa''�lah, e.g.
+Khadd�gah = little Khadijah and Naff�sah=little Nafisah; Ar'�rah
+= little clitoris - whereas in Heb. it is an incrementative e.g.
+dabb�lah a large dablah (cake or lump of dried figs, etc.).
+
+[FN#119]  In the Mac. Edit. "Soldiers of Al-Daylam" i.e. warlike
+as the Daylamites or Medes.  See vol. ii. 94.
+
+[FN#120]  Bilk�s, it will be remembered, is the Arab. name of the
+Queen of Sheba who visited Solomon.  In Abyssinia she is termed
+Kebra z� negest or z� makad�, the latter (according to Ferdinand
+Werne's "African Wanderings," Longmans, 1852) being synonymous
+with Ityopia or Habash (Ethiopia or Abyssinia).
+
+[FN#121]  Arab.  "Dakkah," which Lane translates by "settee."
+
+[FN#122]  Arab. "Ambar al-Kh�m" the latter word (raw) being pure
+Persian.
+
+[FN#123]  The author neglects to mention the ugliest part of
+old-womanhood in the East, long empty breasts like
+tobacco-pouches. In youth the bosom is beautifully high, arched
+and rounded, firm as stone to the touch, with the nipples erect
+and pointing outwards.  But after the girl-mother's first child
+(in Europe le premier embellit) all changes.  Nature and bodily
+power have been overtasked; then comes the long suckling at the
+mother's expense: the extension of the skin and the enlargement
+of its vessels are too sudden and rapid for the diminished
+ability of contraction and the bad food aids in the continual
+consumption of vitality.  Hence, among Eastern women age and
+ugliness are synonymous.  It is only in the highest civilisation
+that we find the handsome old woman.
+
+[FN#124]  The name has occurred in the Knightly tale of King Omar
+and his sons, Vol. ii. 269.  She is here called Mother of
+Calamities,but in p. 123, Vol. iv. of the Mac. Edit. she becomes
+"Lady (Z�t) al-Daw�hi." It will be remembered that the title
+means calamitous to the foe.
+
+[FN#125]  By this address she assured him that she had no design
+upon his chastity. In Moslem lands it is always advisable to
+accost a strange woman, no matter how young, with, "Y� Umm�!" = O
+my mother. This is pledging one's word, as it were, not to make
+love to her.
+
+[FN#126]  Apparently the Wakites numbered their Islands as the
+Anglo-Americans do their streets.  For this they have been
+charged with "want of imagination"; but the custom is strictly
+classical. See at Pompeii "Reg (io) I; Ins (ula) I, Via Prima,
+Secunda," etc.
+
+[FN#127]  These are the Puell� Wakwakienses of whom Ibn Al-Wardi
+relates after an ocular witness, "Here too is a tree which bears
+fruits like women who have fair faces and are hung by their hair.
+They come forth from integuments like large leathern bags
+(calabash-gourds?) and when they sense air and sun they cry 'Wak!
+Wak!' (God!  God!) till their hair is cut, and when it is cut
+they die; and the islanders understand this cry wherefrom they
+augure ill." The Aj�ib al-Hind (chapt. xv.) places in Wak-land
+the Samandal, a bird which enters the fire without being burnt
+evidently the Egyptian "Pi-Benni," which the Greeks metamorphised
+to "Ph�nix." It also mentions a hare-like animal, now male then
+female, and the Somal behind Cape Guardafui tell the same tale of
+their Cynhy�nas.
+
+[FN#128]  i.e. I will keep thee as though thou wert the apple of
+my eye.
+
+[FN#129]  A mere exaggeration of the "Gull-fairs" noted by
+travellers in sundry islands as Ascension and the rock off
+Brazilian Santos.
+
+[FN#130]  Arab.  "K�mil wa Bas�t wa W�fir" = the names of three
+popular metres, for which see the Terminal Essay.
+
+[FN#131]  Arab.  "Man�shif" = drying towels, Plur. of Minshafah,
+and the popular term which Dr. Jonathan Swift corrupted to
+"Munnassaf." Lane (Nights, Introduct. p. ix.).
+
+[FN#132]  Arab.  "Shafaif" opposed to "Shafah" the mouth-lips.
+
+[FN#133]  Fountains of Paradise. This description is a fair
+instance of how the Saj'a (prose-rhyme) dislocates the order; an
+Arab begins with hair, forehead, eyebrows and lashes and when he
+reaches the nose, he slips down to the toes for the sake of the
+assonance.  If the latter be neglected the whole list of charms
+must be otherwise ordered; and the student will compare Mr.
+Payne's version of this passage with mine.
+
+[FN#134]  A fair specimen of the Arab logogriph derived from the
+Abjad Alphabet which contains only the Hebrew and Syriac letters
+not the six Arabic.  Thus 4 X 5=20 which represents the Kaf (K)
+and 6 X 10=60, or Sin (S).  The whole word is thus "Kus", the
+Greek {kys�s} or {kyss�s}, and the lowest word, in Persian as in
+Arabic, for the female pudenda, extensively used in vulgar abuse.
+In my youth we had at the University something of the kind,
+
+     To five and five and fifty-five
+     The first of letters add
+     To make a thing to please a King
+     And drive a wise man mad.
+
+Answer VVLVA.  Very interesting to the anthropological student is
+this excursus of Hasan, who after all manner of hardships and
+horrors and risking his life to recover his wife and children,
+breaks out into song on the subject of her privities.  And it can
+hardly be tale-teller's gag as both verse and prose show
+considerable art in composition. (See p. 348.)
+
+Supplementary Note To Hasan of Bassorah.
+
+Note(p.93)--There is something wondrous na�ve in a lover who,
+when asked by his mistress to sing a song in her honour, breaks
+out into versical praises of her parts.  But even the classical
+Arab authors did not disdain such themes.  See in Al-Har�r� (Ass.
+of Mayy�farik�n) where Ab� Zayd laments the impotency of old age
+in form of a Rasy or funeral oration (Preston p. 484, and Chenery
+p. 221).  It completely deceived Sir William Jones, who inserted
+it into the chapter "De Poesi Funebri," p. 527 (Poeseos Asiatic�
+Commentarii), gravely noting, "H�c Elegia non admodum dissimilis
+esse videtur pulcherrimi illius carminis de Sauli et Jonathani
+obitu; at que ade� versus iste 'ubi provocant adversarios nunquam
+rediit a pugn� contentione sine spiculo sanguine imbuto,' ex
+Hebr�o reddi videtur,
+
+          A sanguine occisorum, a fortium virorum adipe,
+          Arcus Jonathani non rediit irritus."
+
+I need hardly say with Captain Lockett (226) that this "Sabb
+warrior," this Arabian Achilles, is the celebrated Bonus Deus or
+Hellespontiacus of the Ancients.  The oration runs thus:--
+
+          O folk I have a wondrous tale, so rare
+          Much shall it profit hearers wise and ware!
+          I saw in salad-years a potent Brave
+          And sharp of edge and point his warrior glaive;
+          Who entered joust and list with hardiment
+          Fearless of risk, of victory confident,
+          His vigorous onset straitest places oped
+          And easy passage through all narrows groped:
+          He ne'er encountered foe in single fight
+          But came from tilt with spear in blood stained bright;
+          Nor stormed a fortress howso strong and stark--
+          With fenc�d gates defended deep and dark--
+          When shown his flag without th' auspicious cry
+          "Aidance from Allah and fair victory nigh!" �
+          Thus wise full many a night his part he played
+          In strength and youthtide's stately garb arrayed,
+          Dealing to fair young girl delicious joy
+          And no less welcome to the blooming boy.
+          But Time ne'er ceased to stint his wondrous strength
+          (Steadfast and upright as the gallow's length)
+          Until the Nights o'erthrew him by their might
+          And friends contemned him for a feckless wight;
+          Nor was a wizard but who wasted skill
+          Over his case, nor leach could heal his ill.
+          Then he abandoned arms abandoned him
+          Who gave and took salutes so fierce and grim;
+          And now lies prostrate drooping haughty crest;
+          For who lives longest him most ills molest.
+          Then see him, here he lies on bier for bet;--
+          Who will a shroud bestow on stranger dead?
+
+A fair measure of the difference between Eastern and Western
+manners is afforded by such a theme being treated by their
+gravest writers and the verses being read and heard by the
+gravest and most worshipful men, whilst amongst us Preston and
+Chenery do not dare even to translate them.  The latter, indeed,
+had all that immodest modesty for which English professional
+society is notable in this xixth century.  He spoiled by
+needlessly excluding from a scientific publication (Mem. R.A.S.)
+all of my Proverbia Communia Syriaca (see Unexplored Sryia, i.
+364) and every item which had a shade of double entendre.  But
+Nemesis frequently found him out: during his short and obscure
+rule in Printing House Square, The Thunderer was distinguished by
+two of the foulest indecencies that ever appeared in an English
+paper.
+
+�  The well-known Koranic verse, whereby Allah is introduced into
+an indecent tale and "Holy Writ" is punned upon.  I have noticed
+(iii. 206) that victory Fat'h lit.=opening everything (as e.g. a
+maidenhead).
+
+[FN#135]  Egyptian and Syrian vulgar term for Maw�l�yah or
+Maw�liyah, a short poem on subjects either classical or vulgar.
+It generally consists of five lines all rhyming except the
+penultimate.  The metre is a species of the Bas�t which, however,
+admits of considerable poetical license; this being according to
+Lane the usual "Weight,"
+
+         /   /    /  .
+
+The scheme is distinctly anap�stic and Mr. Lyall (Translations of
+Ancient Arabic Poetry) compares with a cognate metre, the Taw�l,
+certain lines in Abt Vogler, e.g.
+
+     "Ye know why the forms are fair, ye hear how the tale is
+told."
+
+[FN#136]  i.e. repeat the chapter of the Koran termed The
+Opening, and beginning with these words, "Have we not opened thy
+breast for thee and eased thee of thy burden which galled thy
+back? *** Verily with the difficulty cometh ease!"--Koran xciv.
+vol. 1, 5.
+
+[FN#137]  Lane renders Nur al-Hud� (Light of Salvation) by Light
+of Day which would be Nur al-Had�.
+
+[FN#138]  In the Bresl. Edit.  "Y� Sal�m"=O safety!--a vulgar
+ejaculation.
+
+[FN#139]  A favourite idiom meaning from the mischief which may
+(or will) come from the Queen.
+
+[FN#140]  He is not strong-minded but his feminine persistency of
+purpose, likest to that of a sitting hen, is confirmed by the
+"Consolations of religion."  The character is delicately drawn.
+
+[FN#141]  In token that she intended to act like a man.
+
+[FN#142]  This is not rare even in real life: Moslem women often
+hide and change their names for superstitious reasons, from the
+husband and his family.
+
+[FN#143]  Arab.  "Sabab" which also means cause.  Vol. ii. 14.
+There is the same metaphorical use of "Habl"= cord and cause.
+
+[FN#144]  Arab. "Him�," a word often occurring in Arab poetry,
+domain, a pasture or watered land forcibly kept as far as a dog's
+bark would sound by some masterful chief like "King Kulayb." (See
+vol. ii. 77.) This tenure was forbidden by Mohammed except for
+Allah and the Apostle (i.e. himself).  Lane translates it
+"asylum."
+
+[FN#145]  She was a maid and had long been of marriageable age.
+
+[FN#146]  The young man had evidently "kissed the Blarney stone";
+but the flattery is the more telling as he speaks from the heart.
+
+[FN#147]  "Inshallah " here being= D. V.
+
+[FN#148]  i.e. The "Place of Light" (Pharos), or of Splendour.
+Here we find that Hasan's wife is the youngest sister, but with
+an extraordinary resemblance to the eldest, a very masterful
+young person.  The anagnorisis is admirably well managed.
+
+[FN#149]  i.e. the sweetmeats of the feast provided for the
+returning traveller.  The old woman (like others) cannot resist
+the temptation of a young man's lips.  Happily for him she goes
+so far and no farther.
+
+[FN#150]  The first, fourth, fifth and last names have already
+occurred: the others are in order, Star o' Morn, Sun of Undurn
+and Honour of Maidenhood.  They are not merely fanciful, but are
+still used in Egypt and Syria.
+
+[FN#151]  Arab.  "F�jirah" and elsewhere "�hirah," =whore and
+strumpet used often in loose talk as mere abuse without special
+meaning.
+
+[FN#152]  This to Westerns would seem a most improbable detail,
+but Easterns have their own ideas concerning "Al-Muhabbat
+al-ghariziyah" =natural affection, blood speaking to blood, etc.
+
+[FN#153]  One of the Hells (see vol. iv. 143).  Here it may be
+advisable to give the names of the Seven Heavens (which are
+evidently based upon Ptolemaic astronomy) and which correspond
+with the Seven Hells after the fashion of Arabian system-mania.
+(1) Dar al-Jal�l (House of Glory) made of pearls; (2) D�r
+al-Sal�m (of Rest), rubies and jacinths; (3) Jannat al-Maaw�
+(Garden of Mansions, not "of mirrors," as Herklots has it, p.
+98), made of yellow copper; (4) Jannat al-Khuld (of Eternity),
+yellow coral; (5) Jannat al-Na'�m (of Delights), white diamond;
+(6) Jannat al-Firdaus (of Paradise), red gold; and (7) Jannat
+al-'Adn (of Eden, or Al-Kar�r= of everlasting abode, which some
+make No. 8), of red pearls or pure musk.  The seven Hells are
+given in vol. v. 241; they are intended for Moslems (Jahannam);
+Christians (Laz�); Jews (Hutamah); Sabians (Sa'ir); Guebres
+(Sakar); Pagans or idolaters (Jah�m); and Hypocrites (H�wiyah).
+
+[FN#154]  Arab.  "'Atb," more literally= "blame," "reproach."
+
+[FN#155]  Bresl. Edit.  In the Mac.  "it returned to the place
+whence I had brought it"--an inferior reading.
+
+[FN#156]  The dreams play an important part in the Romances of
+Chivalry, e.g. the dream of King Perion in Amadis de Gaul, chapt.
+ii. (London; Longmans, 1803).
+
+[FN#157]  Amongst Moslems bastardy is a sore offence and a
+love-child is exceedingly rare.  The girl is not only carefully
+guarded but she also guards herself knowing that otherwise she
+will not find a husband.  Hence seduction is all but unknown. The
+wife is equally well guarded and lacks opportunities hence
+adultery is found difficult except in books.  Of the Ibn (or
+Walad) Har�m (bastard as opposed to the Ibn Hal�l) the proverb
+says, "This child is not thine, so the madder he be the more is
+thy glee!" Yet strange to say public prostitution has never been
+wholly abolished in Al-Islam.  Al-Mas'�di tells us that in Arabia
+were public prostitutes'(Bagh�y�), even before the days of the
+Apostle, who affected certain quarters as in our day the
+Tart�shah of Alexandria and the Hosh Bardak of Cairo. Here says
+Herr Carlo Landberg (p. 57, Syrian Proverbs) "Elles parlent une
+langue toute � elle."  So pretentious and dogmatic a writer as
+the author of Proverbes et Dictons de la Province de Syrie, ought
+surely to have known that the Hosh Bardak is the head-quarters of
+the Cairene Gypsies. This author, who seems to write in order to
+learn, reminds me of an acute Oxonian undergraduate of my day
+who, when advised to take a "coach," became a "coach" himself.
+
+[FN#158]  These lines occur in vol. vii. p. 340. I quote Mr.
+Payne.
+
+[FN#159]  She shows all the semi-maniacal rancour of a good
+woman, or rather a woman who has not broken the eleventh
+commandment, "Thou shalt not be found out," against an erring
+sister who has been discovered.  In the East also these unco'g�id
+dames have had, and too often have, the power to carry into
+effect the cruelty and diabolical malignity which in London and
+Paris must vent itself in scan. mag. and anonymous letters.
+
+[FN#160]  These faintings and trances are as common in the
+Romances of Chivalry e.g. Amadis of Gaul, where they unlace the
+garments to give more liberty, pour cold water on the face and
+bathe the temples and pulses with diluted vinegar (for rose
+water) exactly as they do in The Nights.
+
+[FN#161]  So Hafiz, "B�d-i-Sab� chu bugzar�" etc.
+
+[FN#162]  Arab. "Takiyah." See vol. i. 224 and for the Tarn-Kappe
+vol. iv. p. 176. In the Sinth�sana Dwatrinsati (vulgo.  Singh�san
+Batt�s�), or Thirty-two Tales of a Throne, we find a bag always
+full of gold, a bottomless purse; earth which rubbed on the
+forehead overcomes all; a rod which during the first watch of the
+night furnishes jewelled ornaments; in the second a beautiful
+girl; in the third invisibility, and in the fourth a deadly foe
+or death; a flower-garland which renders the possessor invisible
+and an unfading lotus-flower which produces a diamond every day.
+
+[FN#163]  Arab.  "Judad," plur. of Jad�d, lit.= new coin, ergo
+applied to those old and obsolete; 10 Judad were= one nusf or
+half dirham.
+
+[FN#164]  Arab.  "Raff," a shelf proper, running round the room
+about 7-7� feet from the ground.  During my day it was the
+fashion in Damascus to range in line along the Raff splendid
+porcelain bowls brought by the Caravans in olden days from China,
+whilst on the table were placed French and English specimens of
+white and gold "china" worth perhaps a franc each.
+
+[FN#165]  Lane supposes that the glass and china-ware had fallen
+upon the divan running round the walls under the Raff and were
+not broken.
+
+[FN#166]  These lines have occurred in Night dclxxxix. vol. vii.
+p. 119. I quote Lane.
+
+[FN#167]  The lines have occurred before.  I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#168]  This formula, I repeat, especially distinguishes the
+Tale of Hasan of Bassorah.
+
+[FN#169]  These lines have occurred in vol. 1. 249. I quote Lane.
+
+[FN#170]  She speaks to the "Gallery," who would enjoy a loud
+laugh against Mistress Gadabout. The end of the sentence must
+speak to the heart of many a widow.
+
+[FN#171]  These lines occur in vol. i. 25: so I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#172]  Arab.  "Mus�hikah;" the more usual term for a Tribade
+is "Sah�kah" from "Sahk" in the sense of rubbing: both also are
+applied to onanists and masturbators of the gender feminine.
+
+[FN#173]  i.e. by way of halter.  This jar is like the cask in
+Auerbach's Keller; and has already been used by witches; Night
+dlxxxvii. vol. vi. 158.
+
+[FN#174]  Here they are ten but afterwards they are reduced to
+seven: I see no reason for changing the text with Lane and Payne.
+
+[FN#175]  Wazir of Solomon.  See vol. i. 42; and vol. iii. 97.
+
+[FN#176]  Arab.  "Ism al-A'azam," the Ineffable Name, a
+superstition evidently derived from the Talmudic fancies of the
+Jews concerning their tribal god, Yah or Yahvah.
+
+[FN#177]  The tradition is that Moh�mmed asked Ak�f al-Wad�'ah
+"Hast a wife?"; and when answered in the negative, "Then thou
+appertainest to the brotherhood of Satans!  An thou wilt be one
+of the Christian monks then company therewithal; but an thou be
+of us, know that it is our custom to marry!"
+
+[FN#178]  The old woman, in the East as in the West, being the
+most vindictive of her kind.  I have noted (Pilgrimage iii. 70)
+that a Badawi will sometimes though in shame take the blood-wit;
+but that if it be offered to an old woman she will dash it to the
+ground and clutch her knife and fiercely swear by Allah that she
+will not eat her son's blood.
+
+[FN#179]  Neither dome nor fount etc. are mentioned before, the
+normal inadvertency.
+
+[FN#180]  In Eastern travel the rest comes before the eating and
+drinking.
+
+[FN#181]  Arab.  "'Id" (pron.'Eed) which I have said (vol. i. 42,
+317) is applied to the two great annual festivals, the "F�te of
+Sacrifice," and the "Break-Fast."  The word denotes restoration
+to favour and Moslems explain as the day on which Adam (and Eve)
+who had been expelled from Paradise for disobedience was
+re-established (U'�da) by the relenting of Allah.  But the name
+doubtless dates amongst Arabs from days long before they had
+heard of the "Lord Nomenclator."
+
+[FN#182]  Alluding to Hasan seizing her feather dress and so
+taking her to wife.
+
+[FN#183]  Arab.  "Kharaj�"=they (masc.) went forth, a vulgarism
+for "Kharajna" (fem.)
+
+[FN#184]  Note the notable housewife who, at a moment when youth
+would forget everything, looks to the main chance.
+
+[FN#185]  Arab. "Al-Malak�t" (not "Malk�t" as in Freytag) a Sufi
+term for the world of Spirits (De Lacy Christ, Ar. i. 451).
+Amongst Eastern Christians it is vulgarly used in the fem. and
+means the Kingdom of Heaven, also the preaching of the Gospel.
+
+[FN#186]  This is so rare, even amongst the poorest classes in
+the East, that it is mentioned with some emphasis.
+
+[FN#187]  A beauty among the Egyptians, not the Arabs.
+
+[FN#188]  True Fellah--"chaff."
+
+[FN#189]  Alluding to the well-known superstition, which has
+often appeared in The Nights, that the first object seen in the
+morning, such as a crow, a cripple, or a cyclops determines the
+fortunes of the day.  Notices in Eastern literature are as old as
+the days of the Hitopadesa; and there is a something instinctive
+in the idea to a race of early risers.  At an hour when the
+senses are most impressionable the aspect of unpleasant
+spectacles has double effect.
+
+[FN#190]  Arab.  "Mas�kah," the stick used for driving cattle,
+b�ton gourdin (Dozy).  Lane applies the word to a wooden plank
+used for levelling the ground.
+
+[FN#191]  i.e. the words I am about to speak to thee.
+
+[FN#192]  Arab. "Sahifah," which may mean "page" (Lane) or "book"
+(Payne).
+
+[FN#193]  Pronounce, "Abussa'�d�t" = Father of Prosperities:
+Lane imagines that it came from the Jew's daughter being called
+"Sa'adat."  But the latter is the Jew's wife (Night dcccxxxiii)
+and the word in the text is plural.
+
+[FN#194]  Arab.  "Furkh samak" lit. a fish-chick, an Egyptian
+vulgarism.
+
+[FN#195]  Arab.  "Al-Rasif"; usually a river-quay, lev�e, an
+embankment.  Here it refers to the great dyke which distributed
+the Tigris-water.
+
+[FN#196]  Arab.  "Dajlah," see vol. i, p 180.  It is evidently
+the origin of the biblical "Hid-dekel" "Hid" = fierceness,
+swiftness.
+
+[FN#197]  Arab.  "Bay�z" a kind of Silurus (S. Bajad, Forsk.)
+which Sonnini calls Bayatto, Saksatt and H�bed�; also Bogar
+(Bakar, an ox).  The skin is lubricous, the flesh is soft and
+insipid and the fish often grows to the size of a man.  Captain
+Speke and I found huge specimens in the Tangany ika Lake.
+
+[FN#198]  Arab.  "Mu'allim," vulg. "M'allim," prop.= teacher,
+master esp. of a trade, a craft.  In Egypt and Syria it is a
+civil address to a Jew or a Christian, as H�jj is to a Moslem.
+
+[FN#199]  Arab.  "Ghar�mah," an exaction, usually on the part of
+government like a corv�e etc.  The Europeo-Egyptian term is
+Avania (Ital.) or Avanie (French).
+
+[FN#200]  Arab.  "Sayyib-hu" an Egyptian vulgarism found also in
+Syria.  Hence S�ibah, a woman who lets herself go (a-whoring)
+etc.  It is syn. with "Dashar," which Dozy believes to be a
+softening of Jashar; and Jashsh became Dashsh.
+
+[FN#201]  The Silurus is generally so called in English on
+account of its feeler-acting mustachios.
+
+[FN#202]  See Night dcccvii, vol. viii. p. 94.
+
+[FN#203]  This extraordinary confusion of two distinct religious
+mythologies cannot be the result of ignorance.  Educated Moslems
+know at least as much as Christians do, on these subjects, but
+the Rawi or story-teller speaks to the "Gallery."  In fact it
+becomes a mere 'chaff' and The Nights give some neat specimens of
+our modern linguistic.
+
+[FN#204]  See vol. ii. 197.  "Al-Sidd�kah" (fem.) is a title of
+Ayishah, who, however, does not appear to have deserved it.
+
+[FN#205]  The Jew's wife.
+
+[FN#206]  Here is a double entendre.  The fisherman meant a word
+or two.  The Jew understood the Shibboleth of the Moslem Creed,
+popularly known as the "Two Words,"--I testify that there is no
+Ilah (god) but Allah (the God) and I testify that Mohammed is the
+Messenger of Allah.  Pronouncing this formula would make the Jew
+a Moslem.  Some writers are surprised to see a Jew ordering a
+Moslem to be flogged; but the former was rich and the latter was
+poor.  Even during the worst days of Jewish persecutions their
+money-bags were heavy enough to lighten the greater part, if not
+the whole of their disabilities.  And the Moslem saying is, "The
+Jew is never your (Moslem or Christian) equal: he must be either
+above you or below you."  This is high, because unintentional
+praise of the (self-) Chosen People.
+
+[FN#207]  He understands the "two words" (Kalmat�ni) the Moslem's
+double profession of belief; and Khalifah's reply embodies the
+popular idea that the number of Moslems (who will be saved) is
+preordained and that no art of man can add to it or take from it.
+
+[FN#208]  Arab.  "Mamarr al-Tujj�r" (passing-place of the
+traders) which Lane renders "A chamber within the place through
+which the traders passed."  At the end of the tale (Night
+dccxlv.) we find him living in a Khan and the Bresl. Edit. (see
+my terminal note) makes him dwell in a magazine (i.e. ground-
+floor store-room) of a ruined Khan.
+
+[FN#209]  The text is somewhat too concise and the meaning is
+that the fumes of the Hashish he had eaten ("his mind under the
+influence of hasheesh," says Lane) suggested to him, etc.
+
+[FN#210]  Arab. "Mamrak" either a simple aperture in ceiling or
+roof for light and air or a more complicated affair of lattice-
+work and plaster; it is often octagonal and crowned with a little
+dome.  Lane calls it "Memrak," after the debased Cairene
+pronunciation, and shows its base in his sketch of a Ka'�h (M.E.,
+Introduction).
+
+[FN#211]  Arab.  "Kamar."  This is a practice especially amongst
+pilgrims.  In Hindostan the girdle, usually a waist-shawl, is
+called Kammar-band our old "Cummerbund."  Easterns are too
+sensible not to protect the pit of the stomach, that great
+ganglionic centre, against sun, rain and wind, and now our
+soldiers in India wear flannel-belts on the march.
+
+[FN#212]  Arab.  "Fa-imm� 'alayh� wa-imm� bih�," i.e. whether
+(luck go) against it or (luck go) with it.
+
+[FN#213]  "O vilest of sinners!" alludes to the thief.  "A
+general plunge into worldly pursuits and pleasures announced the
+end of the pilgrimage-ceremonies.  All the devotees were now
+"whitewashed"--the book of their sins was a tabula rasa: too many
+of them lost no time in making a new departure down South and in
+opening a fresh account" (Pilgrimage iii. 365).  I have noticed
+that my servant at Jeddah would carry a bottle of Raki, uncovered
+by a napkin, through the main streets.
+
+[FN#214]  The copper cucurbites in which Solomon imprisoned the
+rebellious Jinns, often alluded to in The Nights.
+
+[FN#215]  i.e. Son of the Chase: it is prob. a corruption of the
+Persian Kurnas, a pimp, a cuckold, and introduced by way of
+chaff, intelligible only to a select few "fast" men.
+
+[FN#216]  For the name see vol. ii.61, in the Tale of Gh�nim bin
+'Ayy�b where the Caliph's concubine is also drugged by the Lady
+Zubaydah.
+
+[FN#217]  We should say, "What is this?" etc.  The lines have
+occurred before so I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#218]  Zubaydah, I have said, was the daughter of Ja'afar, son
+of the Caliph al-Mansur, second Abbaside.  The story-teller
+persistently calls her daughter of Al-K�sim for some reason of
+his own; and this he will repeat in Night dcccxxxix.
+
+[FN#219]  Arab.  "Shakhs," a word which has travelled as far as
+Hindostan.
+
+[FN#220]  Arab.  "Shamlah" described in dictionaries, as a cloak
+covering the whole body.  For Hiz�m (girdle) the Bresl. Edit.
+reads "Hir�m" vulg. "Ehr�m," the waist-cloth, the Pilgrim's
+attire.
+
+[FN#221]  He is described by Al-Siy�ti (p. 309) as "very fair,
+tall handsome and of captivating appearance."
+
+[FN#222]  Arab.  "Uzn al-Kuffah" lit. "Ear of the basket," which
+vulgar Egyptians pronounce "Wizn," so "Wajh" (face) becomes
+"Wishsh" and so forth.
+
+[FN#223]  Arab.  "Bi-fardayn" = with two baskets, lit. "two
+singles," but the context shows what is meant.  English Frail and
+French Fraile are from Arab.  "Farsalah" a parcel (now esp. of
+coffee-beans) evidently derived from the low Lat. "Parcella" (Du
+Cange, Paris, firmin Didot 1845).  Compare "ream," vol. v. 109.
+
+[FN#224]  Arab.  "S�t�r," a kind of chopper which here would be
+used for the purpose of splitting and cleaning and scaling the
+fish.
+
+[FN#225]  And, consequently, that the prayer he is about to make
+will find ready acceptance.
+
+[FN#226]  Arab. "Ruh bil� Fuz�l" (lit. excess, exceeding) still a
+popular phrase.
+
+[FN#227]  i.e. better give the fish than have my head broken.
+
+[FN#228]  Said ironic�, a favourite figure of speech with the
+Fellah: the day began badly and threatened to end unluckily.
+
+[FN#229]  The penalty of Theft.  See vol. i. 274.
+
+[FN#230]  This is the model of a courtly compliment; and it would
+still be admired wherever Arabs are not "frankified."
+
+[FN#231]  Arab.  "Shib�bah;" Lane makes it a kind of reed-
+flageolet.
+
+[FN#232]  These lines occur in vol. i. 76: I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#233]  The instinctive way of juggling with Heaven like our
+sanding the sugar and going to church.
+
+[FN#234]  Arab.  "Y� Shukayr," from Shakar, being red (clay,
+etc.): Shuk�r is an anemone or a tulip and Shukayr is its dim.
+Form. Lane's Shaykh made it a dim. of "Ashkar" = tawny, ruddy (of
+complexion), so the former writes, "O Shukeyr."  Mr. Payne
+prefers "O Rosy cheeks."
+
+[FN#235]  For "Sandal," see vol. ii. {55}.  Sandal� properly means
+an Eunuch clean ras�, but here Sandal is a P.N. = Sandal-wood.
+
+[FN#236]  Arab.  "Y� mum�til," one who retards payment.
+
+[FN#237]  Arab. "Kirsh al-Nukh�l" = Guts of bran, a term
+little fitted for the handsome and distinguished Persian.  But
+Khalifah is a Fellah-grazioso of normal assurance shrewd withal;
+he blunders like an Irishman of the last generation and he uses
+the first epithet that comes to his tongue.  See Night dcccxliii.
+for the sudden change in Khalifah.
+
+[FN#238]  So the Persian "May your shadow never be less" means, I
+have said, the shadow which you throw over your servant. Shade,
+cold water and fresh breezes are the joys of life in arid Arabia.
+
+[FN#239]  When a Fellah demanded money due to him by the
+Government of Egypt, he was a once imprisoned for arrears of
+taxes and thus prevented from being troublesome.  I am told that
+matters have improved under English rule, but I "doubt the fact."
+
+[FN#240]  This freak is of course not historical.  The tale-
+teller introduces it to enhance the grandeur and majesty of Harun
+al-Rashid, and the vulgar would regard it as a right kingly
+diversion.  Westerns only wonder that such things could be.
+
+[FN#241]  Uncle of the Prophet: for his death see Pilgrimage ii.
+248.
+
+[FN#242]  First cousin of the Prophet, son of Ab� T�lib, a
+brother of Al-Abbas from whom the Abbasides claimed descent.
+
+[FN#243]  i.e. I hope thou hast or Allah grant thou have good
+tidings to tell me.
+
+[FN#244]  Arab.  "N�kh�zah Zulayt."  The former, from the Persian
+N�khod� or ship-captain which is also used in a playful sense "a
+godless wight," one owning no (n�) God (Khud�).  Zulayt = a low
+fellow, blackguard.
+
+[FN#245]  Y�sam�n and Narjis, names of slave-girls or eunuchs.
+
+[FN#246]  Arab.  Tamar-hann�, the cheapest of dyes used ever by
+the poorest classes.  Its smell, I have said, is that of newly
+mown hay, and is prized like that of the tea-rose.
+
+[FN#247]  The formula (meaning, "What has he to do here?") is by
+no means complimentary.
+
+[FN#248]  Arab.  "Jarrah" (pron. "Garrah") a "jar."  See Lane
+(M.E. chapt. v.) who was deservedly reproached by Baron von
+Hammer for his superficial notices.  The "Jarrah" is of pottery,
+whereas the "Dist" is a large copper chauldron and the Khalkinah
+one of lesser size.
+
+[FN#249]  i.e. What a bother thou art, etc.
+
+[FN#250]  This sudden transformation, which to us seems
+exaggerated and unnatural, appears in many Eastern stories and in
+the biographies of their distinguished men, especially students.
+A youth cannot master his lessons; he sees a spider climbing a
+slippery wall and after repeated falls succeeding.  Allah opens
+the eyes of his mind, his studies become easy to him, and he ends
+with being an All�mah (doctissimus).
+
+[FN#251]  Arab.  "Bismillah, N�m�!" here it is not a blessing,
+but a simple invitation, "Now please go to sleep."
+
+[FN#252]  The modern inkcase of the Universal East is a lineal
+descendant of the wooden palette with writing reeds.  See an
+illustration of that of "Am�sis, the good god and lord of the two
+lands" (circ. B.C. 1350) in British Museum (p. 41, "The Dwellers
+on the Nile," by E. A. Wallis Bridge, London, 56, Paternoster
+Row, 1885).
+
+[FN#253]  This is not ironical, as Lane and Payne suppose, but a
+specimen of inverted speech--Thou art in luck this time!
+
+[FN#254]  Arab.  "Marh�b" = terrible:  Lane reads "Mar'�b" =
+terrified.  But the former may also mean, threatened with
+something terrible.
+
+[FN#255]  i.e. in Kut al-Kul�b.
+
+[FN#256]  Lit. to the son of thy paternal uncle, i.e. Mohammed.
+
+[FN#257]  In the text he tells the whole story beginning with
+the eunuch and the hundred dinars, the chest, etc.: but -- "of no
+avail is a twice-told tale."
+
+[FN#258]  Koran xxxix. 54.  I have quoted Mr. Rodwell who affects
+the Arabic formula, omitting the normal copulatives.
+
+[FN#259]  Easterns find it far easier to "get the chill of
+poverty out of their bones" than Westerns.
+
+[FN#260]  Arab.  "Dar al-Na'�m."  Name of one of the seven stages
+of the Moslem heaven.  This style of inscription dates from the
+days of the hieroglyphs.  A papyrus describing the happy town of
+Raamses ends with these lines.--
+
+     Daily is there a supply of food:
+     Within it gladness doth ever brood
+     *              *               *               *
+     Prolonged, increased; abides there Joy, etc., etc.
+
+[FN#261]  Arab.  "Ans�r" = auxiliaries, the men of Al-Medinah
+(Pilgrimage ii. 130, etc.).
+
+[FN#262]  Arab.  "Ash�b" = the companions of the Prophet who may
+number 500 (Pilgrimage ii. 81, etc.).
+
+[FN#263]  Arab. "H�silah" prob. a corner of a "Godown" in some
+Khan or Caravanserai.
+
+[FN#264]  Arab. "Funduk" from the Gr. {pandoche�on}, whence the
+Italian Fondaco e.g. at Venice the Fondaco de' Turchi.
+
+[FN#265]  Arab. "Ast�r" plur. of Satr: in the Mac. Edit. S�t�r,
+both (says Dozy) meaning "Couperet" (a hatchet). Habicht
+translates it "a measure for small fish," which seems to be a
+shot and a bad shot as the text talks only of means of carrying
+fish. Nor can we accept Dozy's emendation Ast�l (plur. of Satl)
+pails, situl�. In Petermann's Reisen (i. 89) Satr=assiette.
+
+[FN#266]  Which made him expect a heavy haul.
+
+[FN#267]  Arab. "Urk�b" = tendon Achilles in man hough or pastern
+in beast, etc. It is held to be an incrementative form of 'Akab
+(heel); as Kur'�b of Ka'b (heel) and Khurt�m of Khatm (snout).
+
+[FN#268]  Arab. "Karm�t" and "Zakz�k." The former (pronounced
+Garm�t) is one of the many Siluri (S. Carmoth Niloticus) very
+common and resembling the Sh�l. It is smooth and scaleless with
+fleshy lips and soft meat and as it haunts muddy bottoms it was
+forbidden to the Ancient Egyptians. The Zakz�k is the young of
+the Sh�l (Synodontis Schal: Seetzen); its plural form Zak�zik
+(pronounced Zig�zig) gave a name to the flourishing town which
+has succeeded to old Bubastis and of which I have treated in
+"Midian" and "Midian Revisited."
+
+[FN#269]  "Y� A'awar"=O one-eye! i.e.. the virile member. So the
+vulgar insult "Ya ibn al-aur" (as the vulgar pronounce it) "O son
+of a yard!" When Al-Mas'�di writes (Fr. Trans. vii. 106), "Udkhul
+usbu'ak f� aynih," it must not be rendered "Il faut lui faire
+violence": thrust thy finger into his eye ('Ayn) means "put thy
+penis up his fundament!" ('Ayn being=Dubur). The French remarks,
+"On en trouverait l'�quivalent dans les bas-fonds de notre
+langue." So in English "pig's eye," "blind eye," etc.
+
+[FN#270]  Arab. "Nabb�t"=a quarterstaff: see vol. i. 234.
+
+[FN#271]  Arab. "Bann�," vulg. Benni and in Lane (Lex. Bunni) the
+Cyprinus Bynni (Forsk.), a fish somewhat larger than a barbel
+with lustrous silvery scales and delicate flesh, which Sonnini
+believes may be the "Lepidotes" (smooth-scaled) mentioned by
+Athen�us. I may note that the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 332) also affects
+the Egyptian vulgarism "Farkh-Banni" of the Mac. Edit. (Night
+dcccxxxii.).
+
+[FN#272]  The story-teller forgets that Khalif had neither basket
+nor knife.
+
+[FN#273]  Arab. "Rayh�n" which may here mean any scented herb.
+
+[FN#274]  In the text "Fard Kalmah," a vulgarism. The Mac. Edit.
+(Night dcccxxxv.) more aptly says, "Two words" (Kalmat�ni, vulg.
+Kalmatayn) the Twofold Testimonies to the Unity of Allah and the
+Mission of His Messenger.
+
+[FN#275]  The lowest Cairene chaff which has no respect for
+itself or others.
+
+[FN#276]  Arab. "Karrat azl� h�": alluding to the cool skin of
+healthy men when digesting a very hearty meal.
+
+[FN#277]  This is the true Fellah idea. A peasant will go up to
+his proprietor with the "rint" in gold pieces behind his teeth
+and undergo an immense amount of flogging before he spits them
+out. Then he will return to his wife and boast of the number of
+sticks he has eaten instead of paying at once and his spouse will
+say, "Verily thou art a man." Europeans know nothing of the
+Fellah. Napoleon Buonaparte, for political reasons, affected
+great pity for him and horror of his oppressors, the Beys and
+Pashas; and this affectation gradually became public opinion. The
+Fellah must either tyrannise or be tyrannised over; he is never
+happier than under a strong-handed despotism and he has never
+been more miserable than under British rule or rather misrule.
+Our attempts to constitutionalise him have made us the
+laughing-stock of Europe.
+
+[FN#278]  The turban is a common substitute for a purse with the
+lower classes of Egyptians; and an allusion to the still popular
+practice of turban-snatching will be found in vol. i. p. 259.
+
+[FN#279]  Arab. "S�lih," a devotee; here, a naked Dervish.
+
+[FN#280]  Here Khalif is made a conspicuous figure in Baghdad
+like Boccaccio's Calandrino and Co. He approaches in type the old
+Irishman now extinct, destroyed by the reflux action of
+Anglo-America (U.S.) upon the miscalled "Emerald Isle." He
+blunders into doing and saying funny things whose models are the
+Hibernian "bulls" and acts purely upon the impulse of the moment,
+never reflecting till (possibly) after all is over.
+
+[FN#281]  Arab. "Kayl�lah," explained in vol. i. 51.
+
+[FN#282]  i.e. thy bread lawfully gained. The "Baww�k"
+(trumpeter) like the "Zamm�r" (piper of the Mac. Edit.) are
+discreditable craftsmen, associating with Almahs and loose women
+and often serving as their panders.
+
+[FN#283]  i.e. he was indecently clad. Man's "shame" extends from
+navel to knees. See vol vi. 118.
+
+[FN#284]  Rash�d would be=garden-cresses or stones: Rash�d the
+heaven-directed.
+
+[FN#285]  Arab. "Uff 'alayka"=fie upon thee! Uff=lit. Sordes
+Aurium and Tuff (a similar term of disgust)=Sordes unguinum. To
+the English reader the blows administered to Khalif appear rather
+hard measure. But a Fellah's back is thoroughly broken to the
+treatment and he would take ten times as much punishment for a
+few piastres.
+
+[FN#286]  Arab. "Zurayk" dim. of Azrak=blue-eyed. See vol. iii.
+104.
+
+[FN#287]  Of Baghdad.
+
+[FN#288]  Arab. "H�sil," i.e. cell in a Khan for storing goods:
+elsewhere it is called a Makhzan (magazine) with the same sense.
+
+[FN#289]  The Bresl. text (iv. 347) abbreviates, or rather omits;
+so that in translation details must be supplied to make sense.
+
+[FN#290]  Arab. "Kam�n," vulgar Egyptian, a contraction from
+Kam� (as) + anna (since, because). So " Kam�n shuwayh"=wait a
+bit; " Kam�n marrah"=once more and "Wa Kam�na-ka"=that is why.
+
+[FN#291]  i.e. Son of the Eagle: See vol. iv. 177. Here, however,
+as the text shows it is hawk or falcon. The name is purely
+fanciful and made mnemonically singular.
+
+[FN#292]  The Egyptian Fellah knows nothing of boxing like the
+Haus� man; but he is fond of wrestling after a rude and
+uncultivated fashion, which would cause shouts of laughter in
+Cumberland and Cornwall. And there are champions in this line,
+See vol. ii. 93.
+
+[FN#293]  The usual formula. See vol. ii. 5.
+
+[FN#294]  As the Fellah still does after drinking a cuplet
+("fing�n" he calls it) of sugared coffee.
+
+[FN#295]  He should have said "white," the mourning colour under
+the Abbasides.
+
+[FN#296]  Anglic�, "Fine feathers make fine birds"; and in
+Eastern parlance, "Clothe the reed and it will become a bride."
+(Labbis al-B�sah tabk� 'Ar�sah, Spitta Bey, No. 275.) I must
+allow myself a few words of regret for the loss of this Savant,
+one of the most singleminded men known to me. He was vilely
+treated by the Egyptian Government, under the rule of the
+Jew-Moslem Riy�z; and, his health not allowing him to live in
+Austria, he died shortly after return home.
+
+[FN#297]  Arab. " Saub (Tobe) 'At�bi": see vol. iii. 149.
+
+[FN#298]  In text "Kimkh�," which Dozy also gives Kumkh=chenille,
+tissu de soie veloutee: Damasqu�te de soie or et argent de
+Venise, du Levant , � fleurs, etc. It comes from Kamkh�b or
+Kimkh�b, a cloth of gold, the well-known Indian "Kimcob."
+
+[FN#299]  Here meaning=Enter in Allah's name!
+
+[FN#300]  The Arabs have a saying, "Wine breeds gladness, music
+merriment and their offspring is joy."
+
+[FN#301]  Arab. "Jokh al-Sakl�t," rich kind of brocade on
+broadcloth.
+
+[FN#302]  Arab. "Hanab�t," which Dozy derives from O. German
+Hnapf, Hnap now Napf: thence too the Lat. Hanapus and Hanaperium:
+Ital. Anappo, Nappo; Provenc. Enap and French and English
+"Hanap"= rich bowl, basket, bag. But this is known even to the
+dictionaries.
+
+[FN#303]  Arab. " Kir�m," nobles, and " Kur�m," vines, a word
+which appears in Carmel=Karam-El (God's vineyard).
+
+[FN#304]  Arab. "Sul�f al-Khandar�s�," a contradiction. Sul�f=the
+ptisane of wine. Khandar�s�, from Greek {ch�ndros}, lit. gruel,
+applies to old wine.
+
+[FN#305]  i.e. in bridal procession.
+
+[FN#306]  Arab. "Al-'Ar�s, one of the innumerable tropical names
+given to wine by the Arabs. Mr. Payne refers to Grangeret de la
+Grange, Anthologie Arabe, p. 190.
+
+[FN#307]  Here the text of the Mac. Edition is resumed.
+
+[FN#308]  i.e. "Adornment of (good) Qualities." See the name
+punned on in Night dcccli. Lane omits this tale because it
+contains the illicit "Amours of a Christian and a Jewess who
+dupes her husband in various abominable ways." The text has been
+taken from the Mac. and the Bresl. Edits. x. 72 etc. In many
+parts the former is a mere Epitome.
+
+[FN#309]  The face of her who owns the garden.
+
+[FN#310]  i.e. I am no public woman.
+
+[FN#311]  i.e. with the sight of the garden and its mistress--
+purposely left vague.
+
+[FN#312]  Arab. "D�dat." Night dcclxxvi. vol. vii. p. 372.
+
+[FN#313]  Meaning respectively "Awaking" (or blowing hard),
+"Affairs" (or Misfortunes) and "Flowing" (blood or water). They
+are evidently intended for the names of Jewish slave-girls.
+
+[FN#314]  i.e. the brow-curls, or accroche-cœurs. See vol. i.
+168.
+
+[FN#315]  Arab. "Wish�h" usually applied to woman's broad belt,
+stomacher (Al-Hariri Ass. of Rayy).
+
+[FN#317]  The old Greek "Stephane."
+
+[FN#317]  Alluding to the popular fancy of the rain-drop which
+becomes a pearl.
+
+[FN#318]  Arab. "Gh�z�"=one who fights for the faith.
+
+[FN#319]  i.e. people of different conditions.
+
+[FN#320]  The sudden change appears unnatural to Europeans; but
+an Eastern girl talking to a strange man in a garden is already
+half won. The beauty, however, intends to make trial of her
+lover's generosity before yielding.
+
+[FN#321]  These lines have occurred in the earlier part of the
+Night: I quote Mr. Payne for variety.
+
+[FN#322]  Arab. "Al-Sh�h m�t"=the King is dead, Pers. and Arab.
+grotesquely mixed: Europeans explain "Checkmate" in sundry ways,
+all more or less wrong.
+
+[FN#323]  Cheating (Ghadr) is so common that Easterns who have no
+tincture of Western civilisation look upon it not only as venial
+but laudable when one can take advantage of a simpleton. No idea
+of "honour" enters into it. Even in England the old lady
+whist-player of the last generation required to be looked after
+pretty closely--if Mr. Charles Dickens is to be trusted.
+
+[FN#324]  Arab. "Al-Gh�liyah," whence the older English Algallia.
+See vol. i., 128. The Voyage of Linschoten, etc. Hakluyt Society
+MDCCCLXXXV., with notes by my learned friend the late Arthur Coke
+Burnell whose early death was so sore a loss to Oriental
+students.
+
+[FN#325]  A favourite idiom, "What news bringest thou?" ("O
+As�m!" Arab. Prov. ii. 589) used by H�ris bin Amr�, King of
+Kindah, to the old woman As�m whom he had sent to inspect a girl
+he purposed marrying.
+
+[FN#326]  Amongst the Jews the Arab Sal�m becomes "Shal�m" and a
+Jewess would certainly not address this ceremonial greeting to a
+Christian. But Eastern storytellers care little for these
+minuti�; and the "Adornment of Qualities," was not by birth a
+Jewess as the sequel will show.
+
+[FN#327]  Arab. "S�lifah," the silken plaits used as adjuncts.
+See vol. iii, 313.
+
+[FN#328]  I have translated these lines in vol. i. 131, and
+quoted Mr. Torrens in vol. iv. 235. Here I borrow from Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#329]  Mr. Payne notes:--Apparently some place celebrated for
+its fine bread, as Gonesse in seventeenth-century France. It
+occurs also in Bresl. Edit. (iv. 203) and Dozy does not
+understand it. But Arj the root=good odour.
+
+[FN#330]  Arab. "T�s," from Pers. T�sah. M. Charbonneau a
+Professor of Arabic at Constantine and Member of the Asiatic Soc.
+Paris, who published the Histoire de Chams-Eddine et Nour-Eddine
+with Maghrabi punctuation (Paris, Hachette, 1852) remarks the
+similarity of this word to Tazza and a number of other whimsical
+coincidences as Zauj, {zyg�s} jugum; Ink�r, negare; matrah,
+matelas; Ishtir�, acheter, etc. To which I may add wasat, waist;
+zabad, civet; B�s, buss (kiss); uzrub (pron. Zrub), drub; Kat',
+cut; Tar�k, track; etc., etc.
+
+[FN#331]  We should say "To her (I drink)" etc.
+
+[FN#332]  This is ad captandum. The lovers becoming Moslems would
+secure the sympathy of the audience. In the sequel (Night
+dccclviii) we learn that the wilful young woman was a born
+Moslemah who had married a Jew but had never Judaized.
+
+[FN#333]  The doggerel of this Kasidah is not so phenomenal as
+some we have seen.
+
+[FN#334]  Arab. "'Andam"=Brazil wood, vol. iii. 263.
+
+[FN#335]  Arab. " Him�." See supra, p. 102.
+
+[FN#336]  i.e. her favours were not lawful till the union was
+sanctified by heartwhole (if not pure) love.
+
+[FN#337]  Arab. "Mans�r wa munazzam=oratio soluta et ligata.
+
+[FN#338]  i.e. the cupbearers.
+
+[FN#339]  Which is not worse than usual.
+
+[FN#340]  i.e. "Ornament of Qualities."
+
+[FN#341]  The 'Ak�k, a mean and common stone, ranks high in
+Moslem poetry on account of the saying of Mohammed recorded by
+Ali and Ayishah "Seal with seals of Carnelian." ('Akik.)
+
+[FN#342]  See note ii. at the end of this volume.
+
+[FN#343]  Arab. "Mahall" as opposed to the lady's "Manzil," which
+would be better "Mak�m." The Arabs had many names for their old
+habitations, e.g.; Kubbah, of brick; Sutrah, of sun-dried mud;
+Haz�rah, of wood; Tir�f, a tent of leather; Khab�a, of wool;
+Kash'a, of skins; Nakh�d, of camel's or goat's hair; Khaymah, of
+cotton cloth; Wabar, of soft hair as the camel's undercoat and
+Fust�t (the well-known P.N.) a tent of horsehair or any hair
+(Sha'ar) but Wabar.
+
+[FN#344]  This is the Maghribi form of the Arab. S�k=a
+bazar-street, known from Tanjah (Tangiers) to Timbuctoo.
+
+[FN#345]  Arab. "Wal�mah" usually=a wedding-feast. According to
+the learned Nas�f al-Yazaj� the names of entertainments are as
+follows: Al-Jafal�=a general invitation, opp. to Al-Nakar�,
+especial; Khurs, a childbirth feast; 'Ak�kah, when the boy-babe
+is first shaved; A'z�r=circumcision-feast; Hiz�k, when the boy
+has finished his perlection of the Koran; Mil�k, on occasion of
+marriage-offer; Waz�mah, a mourning entertainment; Wak�rah=a
+"house-warming"; Nak�'ah, on returning from wayfare; 'Ak�rah, at
+beginning of the month Rajab; Kir�=a guest-feast and Maadubah, a
+feast for other cause; any feast.
+
+[FN#346]  Arab. "Anistan�" the pop. phrase=thy company gladdens
+us.
+
+[FN#347]  Here "Mu�kh�t" or making mutual brotherhood would
+be=entering into a formal agreement for partnership. For the
+forms of "making brotherhood," see vol. iii. {151}.
+
+[FN#348]  Arab. "Ish�rah" in classical Arab. signs with the
+finger (beckoning); Aum� with the hand; Ramz, with the lips;
+Khalaj, with the eyelids (wink); and Ghamz with the eye. Aum�z is
+a furtive glance, especially of women, and Ilh�z, a side-glance
+from lahaza, limis oculis intuitus est. See Preston's Al-Hariri,
+p. 181.
+
+[FN#349]  Arab. "Haudaj" (Hind. Haudah, vulg.
+Howda=elephant-saddle), the women's camel-litter, a cloth
+stretched over a wooden frame. See the Prize-poem of Lebid, v.
+12.
+
+[FN#350]  i.e. the twelve days' visit.
+
+[FN#351]  See note, vol. vii. {226}. So Dryden (Virgil):--
+
+          "And the hoarse raven on the blasted bough
+          By croaking to the left presaged the coming blow."
+
+And Gay (Fable xxxvii.),
+
+          "That raven on the left-hand oak,
+          Curse on his ill-betiding croak!"
+
+In some Persian tales two crows seen together are a good omen.
+
+[FN#352]  Vulgar Moslems hold that each man's fate is written in
+the sutures of his skull but none can read the lines. See vol.
+iii. 123.
+
+[FN#353]  i.e. cease not to bemoan her lot whose moon-faced
+beloved ones are gone.
+
+[FN#354]  Arab. "Rukb" used of a return caravan; and also meaning
+travellers on camels. The vulgar however apply "R�kib" (a
+camel-rider) to a man on horseback who is properly F�ris plur.
+"Khayy�lah," while "Khayy�l" is a good rider. Other names are
+"Fayy�l" (elephant-rider), Baghgh�l (mule-rider) and Hamm�r
+(donkey-rider).
+
+[FN#355]  A popular exaggeration. See vol. i. 117
+
+[FN#356]  Lit. Empty of tent-ropes (Atn�b).
+
+[FN#357]  Arab. "'Ab�r," a fragrant powder sprinkled on face,
+body and clothes. In India it is composed of rice flower or
+powdered bark of the mango, Deodar (uvaria longifolia),
+Sandalwood, lign-aloes or curcuma (zerumbat or zedoaria) with
+rose-flowers, camphor, civet and anise-seed. There are many of
+these powders: see in Herklots Chiks�, Phul, Ood, Sundul, Uggur,
+and Urgujja.
+
+[FN#358]  i.e. fair faced boys and women. These lines are from
+the Bresl. Edit. x. 160.
+
+[FN#359]  i.e. the Chief Kazi. For the origin of the Office and
+title see vol. ii. 90, and for the Kazi al-Arab who administers
+justice among the Badawin see Pilgrimage iii. 45.
+
+[FN#360]  Arab. "Raas al-M�l"=capital, as opposed to Rib� or
+Ribh=interest. This legal expression has been adopted by all
+Moslem races.
+
+[FN#361]  Our Aden which is thus noticed by Abulfeda (A.D. 1331):
+"Aden in the lowlands of Teh�mah * * * also called Abyana from a
+man (who found it?), built upon the seashore, a station (for land
+travellers) and a sailing-place for merchant ships India-bound,
+is dry and sunparcht (Kashifah, squalid, scorbutic) and sweet
+water must be imported. * * * It lies 86 parasangs from San'� but
+Ibn Haukal following the travellers makes it three stages. The
+city, built on the skirt of a wall-like mountain, has a watergate
+and a landgate known as Bab al-S�kayn. But 'Adan L�'ah (the
+modest, the timid, the less known as opposed to Abyan, the better
+known?) is a city in the mountains of Sabir, Al-Yaman, whence
+issued the supporters of the Fatimite Caliphs of Egypt." 'Adan
+etymologically means in Arab. and Heb. pleasure ({h�done}), Eden
+(the garden), the Heaven in which spirits will see Allah and our
+"Coal-hole of the East," which we can hardly believe ever to have
+been an Eden. Mr. Badger who supplied me with this note described
+the two Adens in a paper in Ocean Highways, which he cannot now
+find. In the 'Aj�ib al-Makhl�k�t, Al-Kazw�ni (ob. A.D. 1275)
+derives the name from Ibn Sin�n bin Ibrah�m; and is inclined
+there to place the B�r al-Mu'attal (abandoned well) and the Kasr
+alMash�d (lofty palace) of Koran xxii. 44; and he adds "Kasr
+al-Misyad" to those mentioned in the tale of Sayf al-Mul�k and
+Bad�'a al-Jam�l.
+
+[FN#362]  Meaning that she had been carried to the Westward of
+Meccah.
+
+[FN#363]  Arab. "Zahraw�yah" which contains a kind of double
+entendre. F�timah the Prophet's only daughter is entitled
+Al-Zahr� the "bright-blooming"; and this is also an epithet of
+Zohrah the planet Venus. For Fatimah see vol. vi. 145. Of her
+Mohammed said, "Love your daughters, for I too am a father of
+daughters" and, "Love them, they are the comforters, the
+dearlings." The Lady appears in Moslem history a dreary young
+woman (died �t. 28) who made this world, like Honorius, a hell in
+order to win a next-world heaven. Her titles are Zahr� and Bat�l
+(Pilgrimage ii. 90) both signifying virgin. Burckhardt translates
+Zahr� by "bright blooming" (the etymological sense): it denotes
+literally a girl who has not menstruated, in which state of
+purity the Prophet's daughter is said to have lived and died.
+"Bat�l" has the sense of a "clean maid" and is the title given by
+Eastern Christians to the Virgin Mary. The perpetual virginity of
+Fatimah even after motherhood (Hasan and Husayn) is a point of
+orthodoxy in Al-Islam as Juno's with the Romans and Um�'s with
+the Hind� worshippers of Shiva. During her life Mohammed would
+not allow Ali a second wife, and he held her one of the four
+perfects, the other three being Asia wife of "Pharaoh," the
+Virgin Mary and Khadijah his own wife. She caused much scandal
+after his death by declaring that he had left her the Fadak
+estate (Abulfeda I, 133, 273) a castle with a fine palm-orchard
+near Khaybar. Abu Bakr dismissed the claim quoting the Apostle's
+Hadis, "We prophets are folk who will away nothing: what we leave
+is alms-gift to the poor," and Sh�'ahs greatly resent his
+decision. (See Dabistan iii. 51�52 for a different rendering of
+the words.) I have given the popular version of the Lady
+Fatimah's death and burial (Pilgrimage ii. 315) and have remarked
+that Moslem historians delight in the obscurity which hangs over
+her last resting-place, as if it were an honour even for the
+receptacle of her ashes to be concealed from the eyes of men. Her
+repute is a curious comment on Tom Hood's
+
+          "Where woman has never a soul to save."
+
+[FN#364]  For Sharif and Sayyid, descendants of Mohammed, see
+vol. iv. 170.
+
+[FN#365]  These lines have occurred with variants in vol. iii.
+257, and iv. 50.
+
+[FN#366]  Arab. "Hazrat," esp. used in India and corresponding
+with our medi�val "pr�sentia vostra."
+
+[FN#367]  This wholesale slaughter by the tale-teller of
+worshipful and reverend men would bring down the gallery like a
+Spanish tragedy in which all the actors are killed.
+
+[FN#368]  They are called indifferently "Ruhb�n"=monks or
+"Bat�rikah"=patriarchs. See vol. ii. 89.
+
+[FN#369]  Arab. "Khil�l." The toothpick, more esteemed by the
+Arabs than by us, is, I have said, often used by the poets as an
+emblem of attenuation without offending good taste. Nizami (Layla
+u Majn�n) describes a lover as "thin as a toothpick." The
+"elegant" Hariri (Ass. of Barkaid) describes a toothpick with
+feminine attributes, "shapely of shape, attractive, provocative
+of appetite, delicate as the leanest of lovers, polished as a
+poinard and bending as a green bough."
+
+[FN#370]  From Bresl. Edit. x. 194.
+
+[FN#371]  Tr�butien (vol. ii. 344 et seq.) makes the seven monks
+sing as many anthems, viz. (1) Congregamini; (2) Vias tuas
+demonstra mihi; (3) Dominus illuminatis; (4) Custodi linguam; (5)
+Unam petii a Domino; (6) Nec adspiciat me visus, and (7) Turbatus
+est a furore oculus meus. D�nis the Abbot chaunts Anima mea
+turbata est vald�.
+
+[FN#372]  A neat and characteristic touch: the wilful beauty eats
+and drinks before she thinks of her lover. Alas for Masrur
+married.
+
+[FN#373]  The unfortunate Jew, who seems to have been a model
+husband (Orientally speaking), would find no pity with a
+coffee-house audience because he had been guilty of marrying a
+Moslemah. The union was null and void therefore the deliberate
+murder was neither high nor petty treason. But, The Nights,
+though their object is to adorn a tale, never deliberately
+attempt to point a moral and this is one of their many charms.
+
+[FN#374]  These lines have repeatedly occurred. I quote Mr.
+Payne.
+
+[FN#375]  i.e. by the usual expiation. See vol. {ii. 186}.
+
+[FN#376]  Arab. "Shammir�"=up and ready!
+
+[FN#377]  I borrow the title from the Bresl. Edit. x. 204. Mr.
+Payne prefers "Ali Noureddin and the Frank King's Daughter." Lane
+omits also this tale because it resembles Ali Shar and Zumurrud
+(vol. iv. 187) and Al� al-Din Abu al-Sh�m�t (vol. iv. 29),
+"neither of which is among the text of the collection." But he
+has unconsciously omitted one of the highest interest. Dr. Bacher
+(Germ. Orient. Soc.) finds the original in Charlemagne's daughter
+Emma and his secretary Eginhardt as given in Grimm's Deutsche
+Sagen. I shall note the points of resemblance as the tale
+proceeds. The correspondence with the King of France may be a
+garbled account of the letters which passed between Harun
+al-Rashid and Nicephorus, "the Roman dog."
+
+[FN#378]  Arab. "Allaho Akbar," the Moslem slogan or war-cry. See
+vol. ii. 89.
+
+[FN#379]  The gate-keeper of Paradise. See vol. iii. 15, 20.
+
+[FN#380]  Negroes. Vol. iii. 75.
+
+[FN#381]  Arab. "Nakat," with the double meaning of to spot and
+to handsel especially dancing and singing women; and, as Mr.
+Payne notes in this acceptation it is practically equivalent to
+the English phrase "to mark (or cross) the palm with silver." I
+have translated "Anw�" by Pleiads; but it means the setting of
+one star and simultaneous rising of another foreshowing rain.
+There are seven Anw� (plur. of nawa) in the Solar year viz.
+Al-Badri (Sept.-Oct.); Al-Wasmiyy (late autumn and December);
+Al-Waliyy (to April); Al-Gham�r (June); Al-Busriyy (July); B�rih
+al-Kayz (August) and Ahr�k al-Haw� extending to September 8.
+These are tokens of approaching rain, metaphorically used by the
+poets to express "bounty". See Preston's Hariri (p. 43) and
+Chenery upon the Ass. of the Banu Haram.
+
+[FN#382]  i.e. They trip and stumble in their hurry to get there.
+
+[FN#383]  Arab. "Kumm" = sleeve or petal. See vol. v. 32.
+
+[FN#384]  Arab. "Kir�b" = sword-case of wood, the sheath being of
+leather.
+
+[FN#385]  Arab. "Akr kayraw�n," both rare words.
+
+[FN#386]  A doubtful tradition in the Mishk�t al-Mas�bih declares
+that every pomegranate contains a grain from Paradise. See vol.
+i. 134. The Koranic reference is to vi. 99.
+
+[FN#387]  Arab. "Aswad," lit. black but used for any dark colour,
+here green as opposed to the lighter yellow.
+
+[FN#388]  The idea has occurred in vol. i. 158.
+
+[FN#389]  So called from the places where they grow.
+
+[FN#390]  See vol. vii. for the almond-apricot whose stone is
+cracked to get at the kernel.
+
+[FN#391]  For Roum see vol. iv. 100: in Morocco "Roumi" means
+simply a European. The tetrastich alludes to the beauty of the
+Greek slaves.
+
+[FN#392]  Arab. "Ahlan" in adverb form lit. = "as one of the
+household": so in the greeting "Ahlan wa Sahlan" (and at thine
+ease), wa Marhab� (having a wide free place).
+
+[FN#393]  For the Sufrah table-cloth see vol. i. 178.
+
+[FN#394]  See vol. iii. 302, for the unclean allusion in fig and
+sycamore.
+
+[FN#395]  In the text "of Tor": see vol. ii. 242. The pear is
+mentioned by Homer and grows wild in South Europe. Dr. Victor
+Hehn (The Wanderings of Plants, etc.) comparing the Gr.{�pios}
+with the Lat. Pyrus, suggests that the latter passed over to the
+Kelts and Germans amongst whom the fruit was not indigenous. Our
+fine pears are mostly from the East. e.g. the "bergamot" is the
+Beg Armud, Prince of Pears, from Angora.
+
+[FN#396]  i.e. "Royal," it may or may not come from Sultan�yah, a
+town near Baghdad. See vol. i. 83; where it applies to oranges
+and citrons.
+
+[FN#397]  'Andam = Dragon's blood: see vol. iii. 263.
+
+[FN#398]  Arab. "Jam�r," the palm-pith and cabbage, both eaten by
+Arabs with sugar.
+
+[FN#399]  Arab. "Anw�r" = lights, flowers (mostly yellow): hence
+the Moroccan "N'w�r," with its usual abuse of Wakf or quiescence.
+
+[FN#400]  Mr. Payne quotes Eug�ne Fromentin, "Un Et� dans le
+Sahara," Paris, 1857, p. 194. Apricot drying can be seen upon all
+the roofs at Damascus where, however, the season for each fruit
+is unpleasantly short, ending almost as soon as it begins.
+
+[FN#401]  Arab. "Jal�jal" = small bells for falcons: in Port.
+cascaveis, whence our word.
+
+[FN#402]  Khulanj�n. Sic all editions; but Khalanj, or Khaulanj
+adj. Khalanji, a tree with a strong-smelling wood which held in
+hand as a chaplet acts as perfume, as is probably intended. In
+Span. Arabic it is the Erica-wood. The "Muhit" tells us that is a
+tree parcel yellow and red growing in parts of India and China,
+its leaf is that of the Tamarisk (Tarf�); its flower is coloured
+red, yellow and white; it bears a grain like mustard-seed
+(Khardal) and of its wood they make porringers. Hence the poet
+sings,
+
+"Yut 'amu 'l-shahdu f� 'l-jif�ni, wa yuska * Labanu 'l-Bukhti fi
+Kus�'i 'l-Khalanji:
+Honey's served to them in platters for food; * Camels' milk in
+bowls of the Khalanj wood."
+
+The pl. Khal�nij is used by Himy�n bin Kah�fah in this "bayt",
+
+"Hatt� iz� m� qazati 'l-Haw�ij� * Wa malaat Hal�ba-h�
+'l-Khal�nij�:
+Until she had done every work of hers * And with sweet milk had
+filled the porringers."
+
+[FN#403]  In text Al-Sh�'ir Al-Walah�n, vol. iii. 226.
+
+[FN#404]  The orange I have said is the growth of India and the
+golden apples of the Hesperides were not oranges but probably
+golden nuggets. Captain Rolleston (Globe, Feb. 5, '84, on
+"Morocco-Lixus") identifies the Garden with the mouth of the
+Lixus River while M. Antichan would transfer it to the hideous
+and unwholesome Bissagos Archipelago.
+
+[FN#405]  Arab. "Iky�n," the living gold which is supposed to
+grow in the ground.
+
+[FN#406]  For the Kubbad or Captain Shaddock's fruit see vol. ii.
+310, where it is misprinted Kub�d.
+
+[FN#407]  Full or Fill in Bresl. Edit. = Arabian jessamine or
+cork-tree ({phell�n}. The Bul. and Mac. Edits. read "filfil" =
+pepper or palm-fibre.
+
+[FN#408]  Arab. "Sumbul al-'Anbari"; the former word having been
+introduced into England by patent medicines. "Sumbul" in Arab.
+and Pers. means the hyacinth, the spikenard or the Sign Virgo.
+
+[FN#409]  Arab. "Lis�n al-Hamal" lit. = Lamb's tongue.
+
+[FN#410]  See in Bresl. Edit. X, 221. Taif, a well-known town in
+the mountain region East of Meccah, and not in the Holy Land, was
+once famous for scented goat's leather. It is considered to be a
+"fragment of Syria" (Pilgrimage ii. 207) and derives its name =
+the circumambulator from its having circuited pilgrim-like round the
+Ka'abah (Ibid.).
+
+[FN#411]  Arab. "Mikhaddah" = cheek-pillow: Ital. guanciale. In
+Bresl. Edit. Mudawwarah (a round cushion) Sinjabiyah (of Ermine).
+For "Mudawwarah" see vol. iv. 135.
+
+[FN#412]  "Coffee" is here evidently an anachronism and was
+probably inserted by the copyist. See vol. v. 169, for its first
+metnion. But "Kahwah" may have preserved its original meaning =
+strong old wine (vol. ii. 261); and the amount of wine-drinking
+and drunkenness proves that the coffee movement had not set in.
+
+[FN#413]  i.e. they are welcome. In Marocco "L� baas" means, "I
+am pretty well" (in health).
+
+[FN#414]  The Rose (Ward) in Arab. is masculine, sounding to us
+most uncouth. But there is a fem. form Wardah = a single rose.
+
+[FN#415]  Arab. "Akm�m," pl. of Kumm, a sleeve, a petal. See vol.
+iv. 107 and supra p. 267. The Moslem woman will show any part of
+her person rather than her face, instinctively knowing that the
+latter may be recognised whereas the former cannot. The traveller
+in the outer East will see ludicrous situations in which the
+modest one runs away with hind parts bare and head and face
+carefully covered.
+
+[FN#416]  Arab. "Iky�n" which Mr. Payne translates "vegetable
+gold" very picturesquely but not quite preserving the idea. See
+supra p. 272.
+
+[FN#417]  It is the custom for fast youths, in Egypt, Syria, and
+elsewhere to stick small gold pieces, mere spangles of metal on
+the brows, cheeks and lips of the singing and dancing girls and
+the perspiration and mask of cosmetics make them adhere for a
+time till fresh movement shakes them off.
+
+[FN#418]  See the same idea in vol. i. 132, and 349.
+
+[FN#419]  "They will ask thee concerning wine and casting of
+lots; say: 'In both are great sin and great advantages to
+mankind; but the sin of them both is greater than their
+advantage.'" See Koran ii. 216. Mohammed seems to have made up
+his mind about drinking by slow degrees; and the Koranic law is
+by no means so strict as the Mullahs have made it. The
+prohibitions, revealed at widely different periods and varying in
+import and distinction, have been discussed by Al-Bayz�wi in his
+commentary on the above chapter. He says that the first
+revelation was in chapt. xvi. 69 but, as the passage was
+disregarded, Omar and others consulted the Apostle who replied to
+them in chapt. ii. 216. Then, as this also was unnoticed, came
+the final decision in chapt. v. 92, making wine and lots the work
+of Satan. Yet excuses are never wanting to the Moslem, he can
+drink Champagne and Cognac, both unknown in Mohammed's day and he
+can use wine and spirits medicinally, like sundry of ourselves,
+who turn up the nose of contempt at the idea of drinking for
+pleasure.
+
+[FN#420]  i.e. a fair-faced cup-bearer. The lines have occurred
+before: so I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#421]  It is the custom of the Arabs to call their cattle to
+water by whistling; not to whistle to them, as Europeans do,
+whilst making water.
+
+[FN#422]  i.e. bewitching. See vol. i. 85. These incompatible
+metaphors are brought together by the Saj'a (prose rhyme)
+in--"iyah."
+
+[FN#423]  Mesopotamian Christians, who still turn towards
+Jerusalem, face the West, instead of the East, as with Europeans:
+here the monk is so dazed that he does not know what to do.
+
+[FN#424]  Arab. "Bayt Sha'ar" = a house of hair (tent) or a
+couplet of verse. Watad (a tentpeg) also is prosodical, a foot
+when the two first letters are "moved" (vowelled) and the last is
+jazmated (quiescent), e.g. Lakad. It is termed Majm�'a (united),
+as opposed to "Mafr�k" (separated), e.g. Kabla, when the "moved"
+consonants are disjoined by a quiescent.
+
+[FN#425]  Lit. standing on their heads, which sounds ludicrous
+enough in English, not in Arabic.
+
+[FN#426]  These lines are in vol. iii. 251. I quote Mr. Payne who
+notes "The bodies of Eastern women of the higher classes by dint
+of continual maceration, Esther-fashion, in aromatic oils and
+essences, would naturally become impregnated with the sweet
+scents of the cosmetics used."
+
+[FN#427]  These lines occur in vol. i. 218: I quote Torrens for
+variety.
+
+[FN#428]  So we speak of a "female screw." The allusion is to the
+dove-tailing of the pieces. This personification of the lute has
+occurred before: but I solicit the reader's attention to it; it
+has a fulness of Oriental flavour all its own.
+
+[FN#429]  I again solicit the reader's attention to the
+simplicity, the pathos and the beauty of this personification of
+the lute.
+
+[FN#430]  "They" for she.
+
+[FN#431]  The Arabs very justly make the "'Andalib" =
+nightingale, masculine.
+
+[FN#432]  Anw�r = lights or flowers: See Night dccclxv. supra p.
+270.
+
+[FN#433]  These couplets have occurred in vol. i. 168; so I quote
+Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#434]  i.e. You may have his soul but leave me his body:
+company with him in the next world and let me have him in this.
+
+[FN#435]  Alluding to the Koranic (cxiii. 1.), "I take refuge
+with the Lord of the Daybreak from the mischief of that which He
+hath created, etc." This is shown by the first line wherein
+occurs the Koranic word "Gh�sik" (cxiii. 3) which may mean the
+first darkness when it overspreadeth or the moon when it is
+eclipsed.
+
+[FN#436]  "Malak" = level ground; also tract on the Nile sea.
+Lane M.E. ii. 417, and Bruckhardt Nubia 482.
+
+[FN#437]  This sentiment has often been repeated.
+
+[FN#438]  The owl comes in because "B�m" (pron. boom) rhymes with
+Kayy�m = the Eternal.
+
+[FN#439]  For an incident like this see my Pilgrimmage (vol. i.
+176). How true to nature the whole scene is; the fond mother
+excusing her boy and the practical father putting the excuse
+aside. European paternity, however, would probably exclaim, "The
+beast's in liquor!"
+
+[FN#440]  In ancient times this seems to have been the universal
+and perhaps instinctive treatment of the hand that struck a
+father. By Nur al-Din's flight the divorce-oath became
+technically null and void for Taj al-Din had sworn to mutilate
+his son next morning.
+
+[FN#441]  So Roderic Random and his companions "sewed their money
+between the lining and the waistband of their breeches, except
+some loose silver for immediate expense on the road." For a
+description of these purses see Pilgrimage i. 37.
+
+[FN#442]  Arab. Rashid (our Rosetta), a corruption of the Coptic
+Trashit; ever famous for the Stone.
+
+[FN#443]  For a parallel passage in praise of Alexandria see vol.
+i. 290, etc. The editor or scribe was evidently an Egyptian.
+
+[FN#444]  Arab. "Saghr" (Thagr), the opening of the lips showing
+the teeth. See vol. i. p. 156.
+
+[FN#445]  Iskandariyah, the city of Iskandar or Alexander the
+Great, whose "Soma" was attractive to the Greeks as the corpse of
+the Prophet Daniel afterwards was to the Moslems. The choice of
+site, then occupied only by the pauper village of Rhacotis, is
+one proof of many that the Macedonian conqueror had the
+inspiration of genius.
+
+[FN#446]  i.e. paid them down. See vol. i. 281; vol. ii. 145.
+
+[FN#447]  Arab. "Baltiyah," Sonnini's "Bolti" and N�buleux
+(because it is dozid-coloured when fried), the Labrus Niloticus
+from its labra or large fleshy lips. It lives on the "leaves of
+Paradise" hence the flesh is delicate and savoury and it is
+caught with the �pervier or sweep-net in the Nile, canals and
+pools.
+
+[FN#448]  Arab. "Liyyah," not a delicate comparison, but
+exceedingly apt besides rhyming to "Baltiyah." The cauda of the
+"five-quarter sheep, whose tails are so broad and thick that
+there is as much flesh upon them as upon a quarter of their
+body," must not be confounded with the lank appendage of our
+English muttons. See i. 25, Dr. Burnell's Linschoten (Hakluyt
+Soc. 1885).
+
+[FN#449]  A variant occurs in vol. iv. 191.
+
+[FN#450]  Arab. "Tars Daylami," a small shield of bright metal.
+
+[FN#451]  Arab. "Kaukab al-durri," see Pilgrimage ii. 82.
+
+[FN#452]  Arab. "Kus�f" applied to the moon; Khus�f being the
+solar eclipse.
+
+[FN#453]  May Ab� Lahab's hands perish. . . and his wife be a
+bearer of faggots!" Koran cxi. 1 & 4. The allusion is neat.
+
+[FN#454]  Alluding to the Angels who shoot down the Jinn. See
+vol. i. 224. The index misprints "Shib�h."
+
+[FN#455]  For a similar scene see Ali Shar and Zumurrud, vol. iv.
+187.
+
+[FN#456]  i.e. of the girl whom as the sequel shows, her owner
+had promised not to sell without her consent. This was and is a
+common practice. See vol. iv. 192.
+
+[FN#457]  These lines have occurred in vol. iii. p. 303. I quote
+Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#458]  Alluding to the erectio et distensio penis which comes
+on before dawn in tropical lands and which does not denote any
+desire for women. Some Anglo-Indians term the symptom signum
+salutis, others a urine-proud pizzle.
+
+[FN#459]  Arab. "Mohtasib," in the Maghrib "Mohtab," the officer
+charged with inspecting weights and measures and with punishing
+fraud in various ways such as nailing the cheat's ears to his
+shop's shutter, etc.
+
+[FN#460]  Every where in the Moslem East the slave holds himself
+superior to the menial freeman, a fact which I would impress upon
+the several Anti-slavery Societies, honest men whose zeal mostly
+exceeds their knowledge, and whose energy their discretion.
+
+[FN#461]  These lines, extended to three couplets, occur in vol.
+iv. 193. I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#462]  "At this examination (on Judgment Day) Mohammedans also
+believe that each person will have the book, wherein all the
+actions of his life are written, delivered to him; which books
+the righteous will receive in their right hand, and read with
+great pleasure and satisfaction; but the ungodly will be obliged
+to take them, against their wills, in their left (Koran xvii.
+xviii. lxix, and lxxxiv.), which will be bound behind their
+backs, their right hand being tied to their necks." Sale,
+Preliminary Discourse; Sect. iv.
+
+[FN#463]  "Whiteness" (bay�z) also meaning lustre, honour.
+
+[FN#464]  This again occurs in vol. iv. 194. So I quote Mr.
+Payne.
+
+[FN#465]  Her impudence is intended to be that of a captive
+Princess.
+
+[FN#466]  i.e. bent groundwards.
+
+[FN#467]  See vol. iv. 192. In Marocco Za'ar is applied to a man
+with fair skin, red hair and blue eyes (Gothic blood?) and the
+term is not complimentary as "Sultan Yazid Za'ar."
+
+[FN#468]  The lines have occurred before (vol. iv. 194). I quote
+Mr. Lane ii. 440. Both he and Mr. Payne have missed the point in
+"ba'zu lay�li" a certain night when his mistress had left him so
+lonely.
+
+[FN#469]  Arab. "Raat-hu." This apparently harmless word suggests
+one similar in sound and meaning which gave some trouble in its
+day. Says Mohammed in the Koran (ii. 98) "O ye who believe! say
+not (to the Apostle) R�'in� (look at us) but Unzurn� (regard
+us)." "R�'in�" as pronounced in Hebrew means "our bad one."
+
+[FN#470]  By reason of its leanness.
+
+[FN#471]  In the Mac. Edit. "Fifty." For a scene which
+illustrates this mercantile transaction see my Pilgrimage i. 88,
+and its deduction. "How often is it our fate, in the West as in
+the East, to see in bright eyes and to hear from rosy lips an
+implied, if not an expressed 'Why don't you buy me?' or, worse
+still, 'Why can't you buy me?'"
+
+[FN#472]  See vol. ii. 165 dragging or trailing the skirts =
+walking without the usual strut or swagger: here it means
+assuming the humble manners of a slave in presence of the master.
+
+[FN#473]  This is the Moslem form of "boycotting": so amongst
+early Christians they refused to give one another God-speed.
+Amongst Hind�s it takes the form of refusing "Hukkah (pipe) and
+water" which practically makes a man an outcast. In the text the
+old man expresses the popular contempt for those who borrow and
+who do not repay. He had evidently not read the essay of Elia on
+the professional borrower.
+
+[FN#474]  See note p. 273.
+
+[FN#475]  i.e. the best kind of camels.
+
+[FN#476]  This first verse has occurred three times.
+
+[FN#477]  Arab. "Surayy�" in Dictionaries a dim. of Sarw� =
+moderately rich. It may either denote abundance of rain or a
+number of stars forming a constellation. Hence in Job (xxxviii.
+31) it is called a heap (k�mah).
+
+[FN#478]  Pleiads in Gr. the Stars whereby men sail.
+
+[FN#479]  This is the Eastern idea of the consequence of
+satisfactory coition which is supposed to be the very seal of
+love. Westerns have run to the other extreme.
+
+[FN#480]  "Al-R�f" simply means lowland: hence there is a R�f in
+the Nile-delta. The word in Europe is applied chiefly to the
+Maroccan coast opposite Gibraltar (not, as is usually supposed
+the North-Western seaboard) where the Berber-Shilh� race, so
+famous as the "Rif pirates" still closes the country to
+travellers.
+
+[FN#481]  i.e. Upper Egypt.
+
+[FN#482]  These local excellencies of coition are described
+jocosely rather than anthropologically.
+
+[FN#483]  See vol. i. 223: I take from Torrens, p. 223.
+
+[FN#484]  For the complete ablution obligatory after copulation
+before prayers can be said. See vol. v. 199.
+
+[FN#485]  Arab. "Zunn�r," the Greek {zoon�rion}, for which, see vol.
+ii. 215.
+
+[FN#486]  Miriam (Arabic Maryam), is a Christian name, in Moslem
+lands. Ab� Maryam "Mary's father" (says Motarrazi on Al-Hariri,
+Ass. of Alexandria) is a term of contempt, for men are called
+after sons (e.g. Abu Zayd), not after daughters. In more modern
+authors Abu Maryam is the name of ushers and lesser officials in
+the Kazi's court.
+
+[FN#487]  This formality, so contrary to our Western familiarity
+after possession, is an especial sign of good breeding amongst
+Arabs and indeed all Eastern nations. It reminds us of the "grand
+manner" in Europe two hundred years ago, not a trace of which now
+remains.
+
+[FN#488]  These lines are in Night i. ordered somewhat
+differently: so I quote Torrens (p. 14).
+
+[FN#489]  i.e. to the return Sal�m--"And with thee be peace and
+the mercy of Allah and His blessings!" See vol. ii. 146. The
+enslaved Princess had recognised her father's Wazir and knew that
+he could have but one object, which being a man of wit and her
+lord a "raw laddie," he was sure to win.
+
+[FN#490]  It is quite in Moslem manners for the bystanders to
+force the sale seeing a silly lad reject a most advantageous
+offer for sentimental reasons. And the owner of the article would
+be bound by their consent.
+
+[FN#491]  Arab. "Wa'llahi." "Bi" is the original particle of
+swearing, a Harf al-jarr (governing the genitive as Bi'll�hi) and
+suggesting the idea of adhesion: "Wa" (noting union) is its
+substitute in oath-formul� and "Ta" takes the place of Wa as
+Ta'll�hi. The three-fold forms are combined in a great "swear."
+
+[FN#492]  i.e. of divorcing their own wives.
+
+[FN#493]  These lines have occurred before: I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#494]  These lines are in Night xxvi., vol. i. 275: I quote
+Torrens (p. 277), with a correction for "when ere."
+
+[FN#495]  This should be "draws his senses from him as one pulls
+hair out of pate."
+
+[FN#496]  R�ghib and Z�hid: see vol. v. 141.
+
+[FN#497]  Carolus Magnus then held court in Paris; but the text
+evidently alludes to one of the port-cities of Provence as
+Marseille which we English will miscall Marseilles.
+
+[FN#498]  Here the writer, not the young wife, speaks; but as a
+tale-teller he says "hearer" not "reader."
+
+[FN#499]  Kayraw�n, the Arab. form of the Greek Cyrene which has
+lately been opened to travellers and has now lost the mystery
+which enshrouded it. In Hafiz and the Persian poets it is the
+embodiment of remoteness and secrecy; as we till the last quarter
+century spoke of the "deserts of Central Africa."
+
+[FN#500]  Arab. "'Inn�n": alluding to all forms of impotence,
+from dislike, natural deficiency or fascination, the favourite
+excuse. Easterns seldom attribute it to the true cause, weak
+action of the heart; but the Romans knew the truth when they
+described one of its symptoms as cold feet. "Clino-pedalis, ad
+venerem invalidus, ab ea antiqua opinione, frigiditatem pedum
+concubituris admodum officere." Hence St. Francis and the
+bare-footed Friars. See Glossarium Eroticum Linguae Latin�,
+Parisiis, Dondey-Dupr�, MDCCCXXVI.
+
+[FN#501]  I have noted the use of "island" for "land" in general.
+So in the European languages of the sixteenth century, insula was
+used for peninsula, e.g. Insula de Cori = the Corean peninsula.
+
+[FN#502]  As has been noticed (vol. i. 333), the monocular is
+famed for mischief and men expect the mischief to come from his
+blinded eye.
+
+[FN#503]  Here again we have a specimen of "inverted speech"
+(vol. ii. 265); abusive epithets intended for a high compliment,
+signifying that the man was a tyrant over rebels and a froward
+devil to the foe.
+
+[FN#504]  Arab. "Bab al-Bahr," see vol. iii. 281.
+
+[FN#505]  Arab. "Bat�rikah" see vol. ii. 89. The Templars,
+Knights of Malta and other orders half ecclesiastic, half
+military suggested the application of the term.
+
+[FN#506]  These lines have occurred in vol. i. 280--I quote
+Torrens (p. 283).
+
+[FN#507]  Maryam al-Husn containing a double entendre, "O place
+of the white doe (R�m) of beauty!" The girl's name was Maryam the
+Arab. form of Mary, also applied to the B.V. by Eastern
+Christians. Hence a common name of Syrian women is "Husn Maryam"
+= (one endowed with the spiritual beauties of Mary: vol. iv. 87).
+I do not think that the name was "manufactured by the Arab
+story-tellers after the pattern of their own names (e.g. Nur
+al-Din or Noureddin, light of the faith, Tajeddin, crown of
+faith, etc.) for the use of their imaginary Christian female
+characters."
+
+[FN#508]  I may here remind readers that the B�n, which some
+Orientalists will write "Ben," is a straight and graceful species
+of Moringa with plentiful and intensely green foliage.
+
+[FN#509]  Arab. "Am�d al-Saw�ri" = the Pillar of Masts, which is
+still the local name of Diocletian's column absurdly named by
+Europeans "Pompey's Pillar."
+
+[FN#510]  Arab. "Batiyah," also used as a wine-jar (amphora), a
+flagon.
+
+[FN#511]  Arab. "Al-Kurs�n," evidently from the Ital. "Corsaro,"
+a runner. So the Port. "Cabo Corso," which we have corrupted to
+"Cape Coast Castle" (Gulf of Guinea), means the Cape of Tacking.
+
+[FN#512]  Arab. "Ghur�b," which Europeans turn to "Grab."
+
+[FN#513]  Arab. "Sayyib" (Thayyib) a rare word: it mostly applies
+to a woman who leaves her husband after lying once with him.
+
+[FN#514]  Arab. "Bat�rikah:" here meaning knights, leaders of
+armed men as in Night dccclxii., supra p. 256, it means "monks."
+
+[FN#515]  i.e. for the service of a temporal monarch.
+
+[FN#516]  Arab. "Sayr" = a broad strip of leather still used by
+way of girdle amongst certain Christian religions in the East.
+
+[FN#517]  Arab. "Hal�wat al-Sal�mah," the sweetmeats offered to
+friends after returning from a journey or escaping sore peril.
+See vol. iv. 60.
+
+[FN#518]  So Eginhardt was an Erzcapellan and belonged to the
+ghostly profession.
+
+[FN#519]  These lines are in vols. iii. 258 and iv. 204. I quote
+Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#520]  Arab. "Fir�sah," lit. = skill in judging of horse flesh
+(Faras) and thence applied, like "Kiy�fah," to physiognomy. One
+K�ri was the first to divine man's future by worldly signs
+(Al-Mayd�ni, Arab. prov. ii. 132) and the knowledge was
+hereditary in the tribe Mash�j.
+
+[FN#521]  Reported to be a "Hadis" or saying of Mohammed, to whom
+are attributed many such shrewd aphorisms, e.g. "Allah defend us
+from the ire of the mild (tempered)."
+
+[FN#522]  These lines are in vol. i. 126. I quote Torrens (p.
+120).
+
+[FN#523]  These lines have occurred before. I quote Mr. Payne.
+
+[FN#524]  Arab. "Kh�k-b�k," an onomatopœia like our flip-flap and
+a host of similar words. This profaning a Christian Church which
+contained the relics of the Virgin would hugely delight the
+coffee-house habitu�s, and the Egyptians would be equally
+flattered to hear that the son of a Cairene merchant had made the
+conquest of a Frankish Princess Royal. That he was an arrant
+poltroon mattered very little, as his cowardice only set of his
+charms.
+
+[FN#525]  i.e. after the rising up of the dead.
+
+[FN#526]  Arab. "Naf�sah," the precious one i.e. the Virgin.
+
+[FN#527]  Arab. "N�k�s," a wooden gong used by Eastern Christians
+which were wisely forbidden by the early Moslems.
+
+[FN#528]  i.e. a graceful, slender youth.
+
+[FN#529]  There is a complicatd pun in this line: made by
+splitting the word after the fashion of punsters. "Zarbu
+'l-Naw�k�s�" = the striking of the gongs, and "Zarbu 'l Naw�,
+K�s� = striking the departure signal: decide thou (fem. addressed
+to the Nafs, soul or self)" I have attempted a feeble imitation.
+
+[FN#530]  The modern Italian term of the venereal finish.
+
+[FN#531]  Arab. "Najm al-Munkazzi," making the envious spy one of
+the prying Jinns at whom is launched the Shih�b or shooting-star
+by the angels who prevent them listening at the gates of Heaven.
+See vol. i. 224.
+
+[FN#532]  Arab. "Sand�k al-Nuzur," lit. "the box of vowed
+oblations." This act of sacrilege would find high favour with the
+auditory.
+
+[FN#533]  The night consisting like the day of three watches. See
+vol. i.
+
+[FN#534]  Arab. "Al-Khaukhah," a word now little used.
+
+[FN#535]  Arab. "N�m�siyah," lit. mosquito curtains.
+
+[FN#536]  Arab. "J�washiyah," see vol. ii. 49.
+
+[FN#537]  Arab. "Kayyimah," the fem. of "Kayyim," misprinted
+"Kayim" in vol. ii. 93.
+
+[FN#538]  i.e. hadst thou not disclosed thyself. He has one great
+merit in a coward of not being ashamed for his cowardice; and
+this is a characteristic of the modern Egyptian, whose proverb
+is, "He ran away, Allah shame him! is better than, He was slain,
+Allah bless him!"
+
+[FN#539]  Arab. "Ahjar al-Kass�r�n" nor forgotten. In those days
+ships anchored in the Eastern port of Alexandria which is now
+wholly abandoned on account of the rocky bottom and the dangerous
+"Levanter," which as the Gibraltar proverb says
+
+          "Makes the stones canter."
+
+[FN#540]  Arab. "Hakk" = rights, a word much and variously used.
+To express the possessive "mine" a Badawi says "Hakki" (pron.
+Haggi) and "L�l�;" a Syrian "Sh�t�" for Shayyati, my little thing
+or "taba 'i" my dependent; an Egyptian "Bit�' i" my portion and a
+Maghribi "M't� 'i" and "diyy�li" (di allaz� l� = this that is to
+me). Thus "mine" becomes a shibboleth.
+
+[FN#541]  i.e. The "Good for nothing," the "Bad'un;" not some
+forgotten ruffian of the day, but the hero of a tale antedating
+The Nights in their present form. See Terminal Essay, x. ii.
+
+[FN#542]  i.e. Hoping to catch Nur al-Din.
+
+[FN#543]  Arab. "Saww�h�n" = the Wanderers, Pilgrims, wandering
+Arabs, whose religion, Al-Islam, so styled by its Christain
+opponents. And yet the new creed was at once accepted by whole
+regions of Christians, and Mauritania, which had rejected Roman
+paganism and Gothic Christianity. This was e.g. Syria and the
+so-called "Holy Land," not because, as is fondly asserted by
+Christians, al-Islam was forced upon them by the sword, but on
+account of its fulfilling a need, its supplying a higher belief,
+unity as opposed to plurality, and its preaching a more manly
+attitude of mind and a more sensible rule of conduct. Arabic
+still preserves a host of words special to the Christian creed;
+and many of them have been adopted by Moslems but with changes of
+signification.
+
+[FN#544]  i.e. of things commanded and things prohibited. The
+writer is thinking of the Koran in which there are not a few
+abrogated injunctions.
+
+[FN#545]  See below for the allusion.
+
+[FN#546]  Arab. "Kafr�" = desert place. It occurs in this
+couplet,
+
+          "Wa Kabrun Harbin f�-mak�nin Kafrin;
+           Wa laysa Kurba Kabri Harbin Kabrun."
+     "Harb's corse is quartered in coarse wold accurst;
+     Nor close to corse of Harb is other corse;--"
+
+words made purposely harsh because uttered by a Jinni who killed
+a traveller named "Harb."
+So Homer:--
+
+{poll� d' h�nanta, k�tanta, p�rant� te dachm�a t' �lthon.}
+
+and Pope:--
+
+"O'er hills, o'er dales, o'er crags, o'er rocks they go, etc."
+
+See Preface (p. v.) to Captain A. Lockett's learned and whimsical
+volume, "The Muit Amil" etc. Calcutta, 1814.
+
+[FN#547]  These lines have occurred vol. iv. 267. I quote Mr.
+Lane.
+
+[FN#548]  The topethesia is here designedly made absurd.
+Alexandria was one of the first cities taken by the Moslems (A.H.
+21 = 642) and the Christian pirates preferred attacking weaker
+places, Rosetta and Damietta.
+
+[FN#549]  Arab. "Bil�d al-R�m," here and elsewhere applied to
+France.
+
+[FN#550]  Here the last line of p. 324, vol. iv. in the Mac.
+Edit. is misplaced and belongs to the next page.
+
+[FN#551]  Arab. "Akhaw�n shak�k�n" = brothers german (of men and
+beasts) born of one father and mother, sire and dam.
+
+[FN#552]  "The Forerunner" and "The Overtaker," terms borrowed
+from the Arab Epsom.
+
+[FN#553]  Known to us as "the web and pin," it is a film which
+affects Arab horses in the damp hot regions of Malabar and
+Zanzibar and soon blinds them. This equine cataract combined with
+loin-disease compels men to ride Pegu and other ponies.
+
+[FN#554]  Arab. "Zuj�j bikr" whose apparent meaning would be
+glass in the lump and unworked. Zaj �j bears, however, the
+meaning of clove-nails (the ripe bud of the clove-shrub) and may
+possibly apply to one of the manifold "Alf�z Adwiyah" (names of
+drugs). Here, however, pounded glass would be all sufficient to
+blind a horse: it is much used in the East especially for dogs
+affected by intestinal vermicules.
+
+[FN#555]  Alluding to the Arab saying "The two rests"
+(Al-r�hat�ni) "certainty of success or failure," as opposed to
+"Wisw�s" when the mind fluctuates in doubt.
+
+[FN#556]  She falls in love with the groom, thus anticipating the
+noble self-devotion of Miss Aurora Floyd.
+
+[FN#557]  Arab. "T�f�n" see vol. {iv. 136}: here it means the
+"Deluge of Noah."
+
+[FN#558]  Two of the Hells. See vol. v. 240.
+
+[FN#559]  Lit. "Out upon a prayer who imprecated our parting!"
+
+[FN#560]  The use of masculine for feminine has frequently been
+noted. I have rarely changed the gender or the number the plural
+being often employed for the singular (vol. i. 98). Such change
+may avoid "mystification and confusion" but this is the very
+purpose of the substitution which must be preserved if "local
+colour" is to be respected.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, V8
+
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8, by Richard F. Burton
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
+the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8
+
+Author: Richard F. Burton
+
+Release Date: July 31, 2001 [EBook #3442]
+Last updated: May 27, 2019
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS ***
+
+
+
+
+This etext was scanned by J.C. Byers and proofread by Doris Ringbloom
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<h1>THE BOOK OF THE<br/> THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT</h1>
+
+<h4>A Plain and Literal Translation<br/>
+of the Arabian Nights Entertainments<br/></h4>
+
+<h2>Translated and Annotated by<br/> Richard F. Burton </h2>
+
+<h3>VOLUME EIGHT</h3>
+
+<h5>Privately Printed By The Burton Club</h5>
+
+<p>
+                          A Message to<br/>
+
+                       Frederick Hankey,<br/>
+
+            formerly of No. 2, Rue Laffitte, Paris.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+My Dear Fred,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+If there be such a thing as "continuation," you will see these lines in the far
+Spirit-land and you will find that your old friend has not forgotten you and
+Annie.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Richard F. Burton.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Contents of the Eighth Volume</h3>
+
+<table summary="" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: auto">
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap01">King Mohammed Bin Sabaik and the Merchant Hasan (continued)</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap01">a. Story of Prince Sayf Al-Muluk and the Princess Badi'a Al-Jamal (continued)</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap03">155. Hassan of Bassorah</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap04">156. Khalifah The Fisherman Of Baghdad</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap05">The same from the Breslau Edition</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap06">157. Masrur and Zayn Al-Mawasif</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap07">158. Ali Nur Al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-Girl</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+</table>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h3>
+The Book Of The<br/>
+THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT<br/>
+</h3>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p class="center">
+<a name="chap01"></a>When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old Queen
+heard the handmaid's words she was wroth with sore wrath because of her and
+cried, "How shall there be accord between man and Jinn?" But Sayf al-Muluk
+replied, "Indeed, I will conform to thy will and be thy page and die in thy
+love and will keep with thee covenant and regard non but thee: so right soon
+shalt thou see my truth and lack of falsehood and the excellence of my manly
+dealing with thee, Inshallah!" The old woman pondered for a full hour with brow
+earthwards bent; after which she raised her head and said to him, "O thou
+beautiful youth, wilt thou indeed keep compact and covenant?" He replied, "Yes,
+by Him who raised the heavens and dispread the earth upon the waters, I will
+indeed keep faith and troth!" Thereupon quoth she, "I will win for thee thy
+wish, Inshallah! but for the present go thou into the garden and take thy
+pleasure therein and eat of its fruits, that have neither like in the world nor
+equal, whilst I send for my son Shahyal and confabulate with him of the matter.
+Nothing but good shall come of it, so Allah please, for he will not gainsay me
+nor disobey my commandment and I will marry thee with his daughter Badi'a
+al-Jamal. So be of good heart for she shall assuredly be thy wife, O Sayf
+al-Muluk." The Prince thanked her for those words and kissing her hands and
+feet, went forth from her into the garden; whilst she turned to Marjanah and
+said to her, "Go seek my son Shahyal wherever he is and bring him to me." So
+Marjanah went out in quest of King Shahyal and found him and set him before his
+mother. On such wise fared it with them; but as regards Sayf al-Muluk, whilst
+he walked in the garden, lo and behold! five Jinn of the people of the Blue
+King espied him and said to one another, "Whence cometh yonder wight and who
+brought him hither? Haply 'tis he who slew the son and heir of our lord and
+master the Blue King;" presently adding, 'But we will go about with him and
+question him and find out all from him." So they walked gently and softly up to
+him, as he sat in a corner of the garden, and sitting down by him, said to him,
+"O beauteous youth, thou didst right well in slaying the son of the Blue King
+and delivering from him Daulat Khatun; for he was a treacherous hound and had
+tricked her, and had not Allah appointed thee to her, she had never won free;
+no, never! But how diddest thou slay him?" Sayf al-Muluk looked at them and
+deeming them of the gardenfolk, answered, "I slew him by means of this ring
+which is on my finger." Therewith they were assured that it was he who had
+slain him; so they seized him, two of them holding his hands, whilst other two
+held his feet and the fifth his mouth, lest he should cry out and King
+Shahyal's people should hear him and rescue him from their hands. Then they
+lifted him up and flying away with him ceased not their flight till they came
+to their King and set him down before him, saying, "O King of the Age, we bring
+thee the murderer of thy son." "Where is he?" asked the King and they answered,
+"This is he." So the Blue King said to Sayf al-Muluk, "How slewest thou my son,
+the core of my heart and the light of my sight, without aught of right, for all
+he had done thee no ill deed?" Quoth the Prince, "Yea, verily! I slew him
+because of his violence and frowardness, in that he used to seize Kings'
+daughters and sever them from their families and carry them to the Ruined Well
+and the High-builded Castle of Japhet son of Noah and entreat them lewdly by
+debauching them. I slew him by means of this ring on my finger, and Allah
+hurried his soul to the fire and the abiding-place dire." Therewithal the King
+was assured that this was indeed he who slew his son; so presently he called
+his Wazirs and said to them, "This is the murtherer of my son sans shadow of
+doubt: so how do you counsel me to deal with him? Shall I slay him with the
+foulest slaughter or torture him with the terriblest torments or how?" Quoth
+the Chief Minister, "Cut off his limbs, one a day." Another, "Beat him with a
+grievous beating every day till he die." A third, "Cut him across the middle."
+A fourth, "Chop off all his fingers and burn him with fire." A fifth, "Crucify
+him;" and so on, each speaking according to his rede. Now there was with the
+Blue King an old Emir, versed in the vicissitudes and experienced in the
+exchanges of the times, and he said, "O King of the Age, verily I would say to
+thee somewhat, and thine is the rede whether thou wilt hearken or not to my
+say." Now he was the King's privy Councillor and the Chief Officer of his
+empire, and the Sovran was wont to give ear to his word and conduct himself by
+his counsel and gainsay him not in aught. So he rose and kissing ground before
+his liege lord, said to him, "O King of the Age, if I advise thee in this
+matter, wilt thou follow my advice and grant me indemnity?" Quoth the King,
+"Set forth thine opinion, and thou shalt have immunity." Then quoth he, "O King
+of the Age, an thou slay this one nor accept my advice nor hearken to my word,
+in very sooth I say that his death were now inexpedient, for that he his thy
+prisoner and in thy power, and under thy protection; so whenas thou wilt, thou
+mayst lay hand on him and do with him what thou desirest. Have patience, then,
+O King of the Age, for he hath entered the garden of Iram and is become the
+betrothed of Badi'a al-Jamal, daughter of King Shahyal, and one of them. Thy
+people seized him there and brought him hither and he did not hide his case
+from them or from thee. So an thou slay him, assuredly King Shahyal will seek
+blood-revenge and lead his host against thee for his daughter's sake, and thou
+canst not cope with him nor make head against his power." So the King hearkened
+to his counsel and commanded to imprison the captive. Thus fared it with Sayf
+al-Muluk; but as regards the old Queen, grandmother of Badi'a al-Jamal, when
+her son Shahyal came to her she despatched Marjanah in search of Sayf al-Muluk;
+but she found him not and returning to her mistress, said, "I found him not in
+the garden." So the ancient dame sent for the gardeners and questioned them of
+the Prince. Quoth they, "We saw him sitting under a tree when behold, five of
+the Blue King's folk alighted by him and spoke with him, after which they took
+him up and having gagged him flew away with him." When the old Queen heard the
+damsel's words it was no light matter to her and she was wroth with exceeding
+wrath: so she rose to her feet and said to her son, King Shahyal, "Art a King
+and shall the Blue King's people come to our garden and carry off our guests
+unhindered, and thou alive?" And she proceeded to provoke him, saying, "It
+behoveth not that any transgress against us during thy lifetime."[FN#1]
+Answered he, "O mother of me, this man slew the Blue King's son, who was a
+Jinni and Allah threw him into his hand. He is a Jinni and I am a Jinni: how
+then shall I go to him and make war on him for the sake of a mortal?" But she
+rejoined, "Go to him and demand our guest of him, and if he be still alive and
+the Blue King deliver him to thee, take him and return; but an he have slain
+him, take the King and all his children and Harim and household depending on
+him; then bring them to me alive that I may cut their throats with my own hand
+and lay in ruins his reign. Except thou go to him and do my bidding, I will not
+acquit thee of my milk and my rearing of thee shall be counted unlawful."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the grandmother of Badi'a
+al-Jamal said to Shahyal, "Fare thee to the Blue King and look after Sayf
+al-Muluk: if he be still in life come with him hither; but an he have slain him
+take that King and all his children and Harim and the whole of his dependents
+an protégés and bring them here alive that I may cut their throats with my own
+hand and ruin his realm. Except thou go to him and do my bidding, I will not
+acquit thee of my milk and my rearing of thee shall be accounted unlawful."
+Thereupon Shahyal rose and assembling his troops, set out, in deference to his
+mother, desiring to content her and her friends, and in accordance with whatso
+had been fore-ordained from eternity without beginning; nor did they leave
+journeying till they came to the land of the Blue King, who met them with his
+army and gave them battle. The Blue King's host was put to the rout and the
+conquerors having taken him and all his sons, great and small, and Grandees and
+officers bound and brought them before King Shahyal, who said to the captive,
+"O Azrak,[FN#2] where is the mortal Sayf al-Muluk who whilome was my guest?"
+Answered the Blue King, "O Shahyal, thou art a Jinni and I am a Jinni and is't
+on account of a mortal who slew my son that thou hast done this deed; yea, the
+murtherer of my son, the core of my liver and solace of my soul. How couldest
+thou work such work and spill the blood of so many thousand Jinn?" He replied,
+"Leave this talk! Knowest thou not that a single mortal is better, in Allah's
+sight, than a thousand Jinn?[FN#3] If he be alive, bring him to me, and I will
+set thee free and all whom I have taken of thy sons and people; but an thou
+have slain him, I will slaughter thee and thy sons." Quoth the Malik al-Azrak,
+"O King, is this man of more account with thee than my son?"; and quoth
+Shahyal, "Verily, thy son was an evildoer who kidnapped Kings' daughters and
+shut them up in the Ruined Well and the High-builded Castle of Japhet son of
+Noah and entreated them lewdly." Then said the Blue King, "He is with me; but
+make thou peace between us." So he delivered the Prince to Shahyal, who made
+peace between him and the Blue King, and Al-Azrak gave him a bond of absolution
+for the death of his son. Then Shahyal conferred robes of honour on them and
+entertained the Blue King and his troops hospitably for three days, after which
+he took Sayf al-Muluk and carried him back to the old Queen, his own mother,
+who rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy, and Shahyal marvelled at the beauty
+of the Prince and his loveliness and his perfection. Then the Prince related to
+him his story from beginning to end, especially what did befal him with Badi'a
+al-Jamal and Shahyal said, "O my mother, since 'tis thy pleasure that this
+should be, I hear and I obey all that to command it pleaseth thee; wherefore do
+thou take him and bear him to Sarandib and there celebrate his wedding and
+marry him to her in all state, for he is a goodly youth and hath endured
+horrors for her sake." So she and her maidens set out with Sayf al-Muluk for
+Sarandib and, entering the Garden belonging to the Queen of Hind, foregathered
+with Daulat Khatun and Badi'a al-Jamal. Then the lovers met, and the old Queen
+acquainted the two Princesses with all that had passed between Sayf al-Muluk
+and the Blue King and how the Prince had been nearhand to a captive's death;
+but in repetition is no fruition. Then King Taj al-Muluk father of Daulat
+Khatun assembled the lords of his land and drew up the contract of marriage
+between Sayf al-Muluk and Badi'a al-Jamal; and he conferred costly robes of
+honour and gave banquets to the lieges. Then Sayf al-Muluk rose and, kissing
+ground before the King, said to him, "O King, pardon! I would fain ask of thee
+somewhat but I fear lest thou refuse it to my disappointment." Taj al-Muluk
+replied, "By Allah, though thou soughtest my soul of me, I would not refuse it
+to thee, after all the kindness thou hast done me!" Quoth Sayf al-Muluk, "I
+wish thee to marry the Princess Daulat Khatun to my brother Sa'id, and we will
+both be thy pages." "I hear and obey," answered Taj al-Muluk, and assembling
+his Grandees a second time, let draw up the contract of marriage between his
+daughter and Sa'id; after which they scattered gold and silver and the King
+bade decorate the city. So they held high festival and Sayf al-Muluk went in
+unto Badi'a al-Jamal and Sa'id went in unto Daulat Khatun on the same night.
+Moreover Sayf al-Muluk abode forty days with Badi'a al-Jamal, at the end of
+which she said to him, "O King's son, say me, is there left in thy heart any
+regret for aught?" And he replied, "Allah forfend! I have accomplished my quest
+and there abideth no regret in my heart at all: but I would fain meet my father
+and my mother in the land of Egypt and see if they continue in welfare or not."
+So she commanded a company of her slaves to convey them to Egypt, and they
+carried them to Cairo, where Sayf al-Muluk and Sa'id foregathered with their
+parents and abode with them a week; after which they took leave of them and
+returned to Sarandib-city; and from this time forwards, whenever they longed
+for their folk, they used to go to them and return. Then Sayf al-Muluk and
+Badi'a al-Jamal abode in all solace of life and its joyance as did Sa'id and
+Daulat Khatun, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and Severer of
+societies; and they all died good Moslems. So glory be to the Living One who
+dieth not, who createth all creatures and decreeth to them death and who is the
+First, without beginning, and the Last, without end! This is all that hath come
+down to us of the story of Sayf al-Muluk and Badi'a al-Jamal. And Allah alone
+wotteth the truth.[FN#4] But not less excellent than this tale is the History
+of
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h3><a name="chap03"></a>HASAN OF BASSORAH.[FN#5]</h3>
+
+<p>
+There was once of days of yore and in ages and times long gone before, a
+merchant, who dwelt in the land of Bassorah and who owned two sons and wealth
+galore.  But in due time Allah, the All-hearing the All-knowing, decreed that
+he should be admitted to the mercy of the Most High; so he died, and his two
+sons laid him out and buried him, after which they divided his gardens and
+estates equally between them and of his portion each one opened a shop.[FN#6] 
+Presently the elder son, Hasan hight, a youth of passing beauty and loveliness,
+symmetry and perfect grace, betook himself to the company of lewd folk, women
+and low boys, frolicking with them in gardens and feasting them with meat and
+wine for months together and occupying himself not with his business like as
+his father had done, for that he exulted in the abundance of his good. After
+some time he had wasted all his ready money, so he sold all his father's lands
+and houses and played the wastrel until there remained in his hand nothing,
+neither little nor muchel, nor was one of his comrades left who knew him.  He
+abode thus anhungred, he and his widowed mother, three days, and on the fourth
+day, as he walked along, unknowing whither to wend, there met him a man of his
+father's friends, who questioned him of his case. He told him what had befallen
+him and the other said, "O my son, I have a brother who is a goldsmith; an thou
+wilt, thou shalt be with him and learn his craft and become skilled therein."
+Hasan consented and accompanied him to his brother, to whom he commended him,
+saying, "In very sooth this is my son; do thou teach him for my sake."  So
+Hasan abode with the goldsmith and busied himself with the craft; and Allah
+opened to him the door of gain and in due course he set up shop for himself.
+One day, as he sat in his booth in the bazar, there came up to him an 'Ajamí, a
+foreigner, a Persian, with a great white beard and a white turband[FN#7] on his
+head, having the semblance of a merchant who, after saluting him, looked at his
+handiwork and examined it knowingly.  It pleased him and he shook his head,
+saying, "By Allah, thou art a cunning goldsmith!  What may be thy name?"
+"Hasan," replied the other, shortly.[FN#8]  The Persian continued to look at
+his wares, whilst Hasan read in an old book[FN#9] he hent in hand and the folk
+were taken up with his beauty and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace,
+till the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when the shop became clear of people and
+the Persian accosted the young man, saying, "O my son, thou art a comely youth!
+ What book is that?  Thou hast no sire and I have no son, and I know an art,
+than which there is no goodlier in the world."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian accosted the
+young man saying, "O my son, thou art a comely youth!  Thou hast no sire and I
+have no son, and I know an art than which there is no goodlier in the world. 
+Many have sought of me instruction therein, but I consented not to instruct any
+of them in it; yet hath my soul consented that I teach it to thee, for thy love
+hath gotten hold upon my heart and I will make thee my son and set up between
+thee and poverty a barrier, so shalt thou be quit of this handicraft and toil
+no more with hammer and anvil,[FN#10] charcoal and fire."  Hasan asked, "O my
+lord and when wilt thou teach me this?"; and the Persian answered, "To-morrow,
+Inshallah, I will come to thee betimes and make thee in thy presence fine gold
+of this copper."  Whereupon Hasan rejoiced and sat talking with the Persian
+till nightfall, when he took leave of him and going in to his mother, saluted
+her with the salam and ate with her; but he was dazed, without memory or
+reason, for that the stranger's words had gotten hold upon his heart. So she
+questioned him and he told her what had passed between himself and the Persian,
+which when she heard, her heart fluttered and she strained him to her bosom,
+saying, "O my son, beware of hearkening to the talk of the folk, and especially
+of the Persians, and obey them not in aught; for they are sharpers and
+tricksters, who profess the art of alchemy[FN#11] and swindle people and take
+their money and devour it in vain."  Replied Hasan, "O my mother, we are
+paupers and have nothing he may covet, that he should put a cheat on us. 
+Indeed, this Persian is a right worthy Shaykh and the signs of virtue are
+manifest on him; Allah hath inclined his heart to me and he hath adopted me to
+son."  She was silent in her chagrin, and he passed the night without sleep,
+his heart being full of what the Persian had said to him; nor did slumber visit
+him for the excess of his joy therein.  But when morning morrowed, he rose and
+taking the keys, opened the shop, whereupon behold, the Persian accosted him.
+Hasan stood up to him and would have kissed his hands; but he forbade him from
+this and suffered it not, saying, "O Hasan, set on the crucible and apply the
+bellows."[FN#12]  So he did as the stranger bade him and lighted the charcoal. 
+Then said the Persian, "O my son, hast thou any copper?" and he replied, "I
+have a broken platter." So he bade him work the shears[FN#13] and cut it into
+bittocks and cast it into the crucible and blow up the fire with the bellows,
+till the copper became liquid, when he put hand to turband and took therefrom a
+folded paper and opening it, sprinkled thereout into the pot about half a
+drachm of somewhat like yellow Kohl or eyepowder.[FN#14]  Then he bade Hasan
+blow upon it with the bellows, and he did so, till the contents of the crucible
+became a lump of gold.[FN#15]  When the youth saw this, he was stupefied and at
+his wits' end for the joy he felt and taking the ingot from the crucible
+handled it and tried it with the file and found it pure gold of the finest
+quality: whereupon his reason fled and he was dazed with excess of delight and
+bent over the Persian's hand to kiss it. But he forbade him, saying, "Art thou
+married?" and when the youth replied "No!" he said, "Carry this ingot to the
+market and sell it and take the price in haste and speak not."  So Hasan went
+down into the market and gave the bar to the broker, who took it and rubbed it
+upon the touchstone and found it pure gold.  So they opened the biddings at ten
+thousand dirhams and the merchants bid against one another for it up to fifteen
+thousand dirhams,[FN#16] at which price he sold it and taking the money, went
+home and told his mother all that had passed, saying, "O my mother, I have
+learnt this art and mystery."  But she laughed at him, saying, "There is no
+Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eightieth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the
+goldsmith told his mother what he had done with the Ajami and cried, "I have
+learnt this art and mystery," she laughed at him, saying, "There is no Majesty
+and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"; and she was
+silent for vexation.  Then of his ignorance, he took a metal mortar and
+returning to the shop, laid it before the Persian, who was still sitting there
+and asked him, "O my son, what wilt thou do with this mortar?"  Hasan answered,
+"Let us put it in the fire, and make of it lumps of gold." The Persian laughed
+and rejoined, "O my son, art thou Jinn-mad that thou wouldst go down into the
+market with two ingots of gold in one day?  Knowest thou not that the folk
+would suspect us and our lives would be lost? Now, O my son, an I teach thee
+this craft, thou must practise it but once in each twelvemonth; for that will
+suffice thee from year to year."  Cried Hasan, "True, O my lord," and sitting
+down in his open shop, set on the crucible and cast more charcoal on the fire. 
+Quoth the Persian, "What wilt thou, O my son?"; and quoth Hasan, "Teach me this
+craft."  "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
+Glorious, the Great!" exclaimed the Persian, laughing; "Verily, O my son, thou
+art little of wit and in nowise fitted for this noble craft.  Did ever any
+during all his life learn this art on the beaten way or in the bazars?  If we
+busy ourselves with it here, the folk will say of us, These practise alchemy;
+and the magistrates will hear of us, and we shall lose our lives.[FN#17] 
+Wherefore, O my son, an thou desire to learn this mystery forthright, come thou
+with me to my house."  So Hasan barred his shop and went with that Ajamí; but
+by the way he remembered his mother's words and thinking in himself a thousand
+thoughts he stood still, with bowed head.  The Persian turned and seeing him
+thus standing laughed and said to him, "Art thou mad?  What!  I in my heart
+purpose thee good and thou misdoubtest I will harm thee!" presently adding,
+"But, if thou fear to go with me to my house, I will go with thee to thine and
+teach thee there."  Hasan replied, "'Tis well, O uncle," and the Persian
+rejoined, "Go thou before me."  So Hasan led the way to his own house, and
+entering, told his mother of the Persian's coming, for he had left him standing
+at the door.  She ordered the house for them and when she had made an end of
+furnishing and adorning it, her son bade her go to one of the neighbours'
+lodgings.  So she left her home to them and wended her way, whereupon Hasan
+brought in the Persian, who entered after asking leave.  Then he took in hand a
+dish and going to the market, returned with food, which he set before the
+Persian, saying, "Eat, O my lord, that between us there may be bread and salt
+and may Almighty Allah do vengeance upon the traitor to bread and salt!"  The
+Persian replied with a smile, "True, O my son!  Who knoweth the virtue and
+worth of bread and salt?"[FN#18]  Then he came forward and ate with Hasan, till
+they were satisfied; after which the Ajami said, "O my son Hasan, bring us
+somewhat of sweetmeats."  So Hasan went to the market, rejoicing in his words,
+and returned with ten saucers[FN#19] of sweetmeats, of which they both ate and
+the Persian said, "May Allah abundantly requite thee, O my son!  It is the like
+of thee with whom folk company and to whom they discover their secrets and
+teach what may profit him!"[FN#20]  Then said he, "O Hasan bring the gear." 
+But hardly did Hasan hear these words than he went forth like a colt let out to
+grass in spring-tide, and hastening to the shop, fetched the apparatus and set
+it before the Persian, who pulled out a piece of paper and said, "O Hasan, by
+the bond of bread and salt, wert thou not dearer to me than my son, I would not
+let thee into the mysteries of this art, for I have none of the Elixir[FN#21]
+left save what is in this paper; but by and by I will compound the simples
+whereof it is composed and will make it before thee.  Know, O my son Hasan,
+that to every ten pounds of copper thou must set half a drachm of that which is
+in this paper, and the whole ten will presently become unalloyed virgin gold;"
+presently adding, "O my son, O Hasan, there are in this paper three
+ounces,[FN#22] Egyptian measure, and when it is spent, I will make thee other
+and more."  Hasan took the packet and finding therein a yellow powder, finer
+than the first, said to the Persian, "O my lord, what is the name of this
+substance and where is it found and how is it made?"  But he laughed, longing
+to get hold of the youth, and replied, "Of what dost thou question? Indeed thou
+art a froward boy!  Do thy work and hold thy peace." So Hasan arose and
+fetching a brass platter from the house, shore it in shreds and threw it into
+the melting-pot; then he scattered on it a little of the powder from the paper
+and it became a lump of pure gold.  When he saw this, he joyed with exceeding
+joy and was filled with amazement and could think of nothing save the gold;
+but, whilst he was occupied with taking up the lumps of metal from the
+melting-pot, the Persian pulled out of his turband in haste a packet of Cretan
+Bhang, which if an elephant smelt, he would sleep from night to night, and
+cutting off a little thereof, put it in a piece of the sweetmeat.  Then said
+he, "O Hasan, thou art become my very son and dearer to me than soul and
+wealth, and I have a daughter whose like never have eyes beheld for beauty and
+loveliness, symmetry and perfect grace. Now I see that thou befittest none but
+her and she none but thee; wherefore, if it be Allah's will, I will marry thee
+to her." Replied Hasan, "I am thy servant and whatso good thou dost with me
+will be a deposit with the Almighty!" and the Persian rejoined, "O my son, have
+fair patience and fair shall betide thee." Therewith he gave him the piece of
+sweetmeat and he took it and kissing his hand, put it in his mouth, knowing not
+what was hidden for him in the after time for only the Lord of Futurity knoweth
+the Future.  But hardly had he swallowed it, when he fell down, head foregoing
+heels, and was lost to the world; whereupon the Persian, seeing him in such
+calamitous case, rejoiced exceedingly and cried, "Thou hast fallen into my
+snares, O gallows-carrion, O dog of the Arabs! This many a year have I sought
+thee and now I have found thee, O Hasan!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-first Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the
+goldsmith ate the bit of sweetmeat given to him by the Ajami and fell fainting
+to the ground, the Persian rejoiced exceedingly and cried, "This many a year
+have I sought thee and now I have found thee!"  Then he girt himself and
+pinioned Hasan's arms and binding his feet to his hands laid him in a chest,
+which he emptied to that end and locked it upon him. Moreover, he cleared
+another chest and laying therein all Hasan's valuables, together with the piece
+of the first gold-lump and the second ingot which he had made locked it with a
+padlock.  Then he ran to the market and fetching a porter, took up the two
+chests and made off with them to a place within sight of the city, where he set
+them down on the sea-shore, hard by a vessel at anchor there.  Now this craft
+had been freighted and fitted out by the Persian and her master was awaiting
+him; so, when the crew saw him, they came to him and bore the two chests on
+board.  Then the Persian called out to the Rais or Captain, saying, "Up and let
+us be off, for I have done my desire and won my wish."  So the skipper sang out
+to the sailors, saying, "Weigh anchor and set sail!" And the ship put out to
+sea with a fair wind.  So far concerning the Persian; but as regards Hasan's
+mother, she awaited him till supper-time but heard neither sound nor news of
+him; so she went to the house and finding it thrown open, entered and saw none
+therein and missed the two chests and their valuables; wherefore she knew that
+her son was lost and that doom had overtaken him; and she buffeted her face and
+rent her raiment crying out and wailing and saying, "Alas, my son, ah!  Alas,
+the fruit of my vitals, ah!"  And she recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"My patience fails me and grows anxiety; * And with your absence<br/>
+
+     growth of grief I see.<br/>
+
+By Allah, Patience went what time ye went! * Loss of all Hope how<br/>
+
+     suffer patiently?<br/>
+
+When lost my loved one how can' joy I sleep? * Who shall enjoy<br/>
+
+     such life of low degree?<br/>
+
+Thou 'rt gone and, desolating house and home, * Hast fouled the<br/>
+
+     fount erst flowed from foulness free:<br/>
+
+Thou wast my fame, my grace 'mid folk, my stay; * Mine aid wast<br/>
+
+     thou in all adversity!<br/>
+
+Perish the day, when from mine eyes they bore * My friend, till<br/>
+
+     sight I thy return to me!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And she ceased not to weep and wail till the dawn, when the neighbours came in
+to her and asked her of her son, and she told them what had befallen him with
+the Persian, assured that she should never, never see him again.  Then she went
+round about the house, weeping, and wending she espied two lines written upon
+the wall; so she sent for a scholar, who read them to her; and they were these,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Leyla's phantom came by night, when drowsiness had overcome me,<br/>
+
+     towards morning while my companions were sleeping in the<br/>
+
+     desert,<br/>
+
+But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air<br/>
+
+     vacant and the place of visitation was distant."[FN#23]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Hasan's mother heard these lines, she shrieked and said, "Yes, O my son! 
+Indeed, the house is desolate and the visitation-place is distant!"  Then the
+neighbours took leave of her and after they had prayed that she might be
+vouchsafed patience and speedy reunion with her son, went away; but she ceased
+not to weep all watches of the night and tides of the day and she built
+amiddlemost the house a tomb whereon she let write Hasan's name and the date of
+his loss, and thenceforward she quitted it not, but made a habit of incessantly
+biding thereby night and day. Such was her case; but touching her son Hasan and
+the Ajami, this Persian was a Magian, who hated Moslems with exceeding hatred
+and destroyed all who fell into his power.  He was a lewd and filthy villain, a
+hankerer after alchemy, an astrologer and a hunter of hidden hoards, such an
+one as he of whom quoth the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A dog, dog-fathered, by dog-grandsire bred; * No good in dog<br/>
+
+     from dog race issued:<br/>
+
+E'en for a gnat no resting-place gives he * Who is composed of<br/>
+
+     seed by all men shed."[FN#24]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The name of this accursed was Bahrám the Guebre, and he was wont, every year,
+to take a Moslem and cut his throat for his own purposes.  So, when he had
+carried out his plot against Hasan the goldsmith, they sailed on from dawn till
+dark, when the ship made fast to the shore for the night, and at sunrise, when
+they set sail again, Bahram bade his black slaves and white servants bring him
+the chest wherein were Hasan.  They did so, and he opened it and taking out the
+young man, made him sniff up vinegar and blew a powder into his nostrils. 
+Hasan sneezed and vomited the Bhang; then, opening his eyes, he looked about
+him right and left and found himself amiddleward the sea on aboard a ship in
+full sail, and saw the Persian sitting by him; wherefore he knew that the
+accursed Magian had put a cheat on him and that he had fallen into the very
+peril against which his mother had warned him.  So he spake the saying which
+shall never shame the sayer, to wit, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might
+save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  Verity, we are Allah's and unto Him we
+are returning! O my God, be Thou gracious to me in Thine appointment and give
+me patience to endure this Thine affliction, O Lord of the three Worlds!"  Then
+he turned to the Persian and bespoke him softly, saying, "O my father, what
+fashion is this and where is the covenant of bread and salt and the oath thou
+swarest to me?"[FN#25]  But Bahram stared at him and replied, "O dog, knoweth
+the like of me bond of bread and salt? I have slain of youths like thee a
+thousand, save one, and thou shalt make up the thousand."  And he cried out at
+him and Hasan was silent, knowing that the Fate-shaft had shot him.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-second Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan beheld
+himself fallen into the hands of the damned Persian he bespoke him softly but
+gained naught thereby for the Ajami cried out at him in wrath, so he was
+silent, knowing that the Fate-shaft had shot him.  Then the accursed bade loose
+his pinion-bonds and they gave him a little water to drink, whilst the Magian
+laughed and said, "By the virtue of the Fire and the Light and the Shade and
+the Heat, methought not thou wouldst fall into my nets!  But the Fire empowered
+me over thee and helped me to lay hold upon thee, that I might win my wish and
+return and make thee a sacrifice, to her[FN#26] so she may accept of me." Quoth
+Hasan, "Thou hast foully betrayed bread and salt"; whereupon the Magus raised
+his hand and dealt him such a buffet that he fell and, biting the deck with his
+fore-teeth, swooned away, whilst the tears trickled down his cheeks.  Then the
+Guebre bade his servants light him a fire and Hasan said, "What wilt thou do
+with it?" Replied the Magian, "This is the Fire, lady of light and sparkles
+bright!  This it is I worship, and if thou wilt worship her even as I, verily I
+will give thee half my monies and marry thee to my maiden daughter."  Thereupon
+Hasan cried angrily at him, "Woe to thee!  Thou art a miscreant Magian who to
+Fire dost pray in lieu of the King of Omnipotent sway, Creator of Night and
+Day; and this is naught but a calamity among creeds!" At this the Magian was
+wroth and said to him, "Wilt thou not then conform with me, O dog of the Arabs,
+and enter my faith?"  But Hasan consented not to this: so the accursed Guebre
+arose and prostrating himself to the fire, bade his pages throw him flat on his
+face. They did so, and he beat him with a hide whip of plaited thongs[FN#27]
+till his flanks were laid open, whilst he cried aloud for aid but none aided
+him, and besought protection, but none protected him. Then he raised his eyes
+to the All-powerful King and sought of Him succour in the name of the Chosen
+Prophet.  And indeed patience failed him; his tears ran down his cheeks, like
+rain, and he repeated these couplets twain,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"In patience, O my God, Thy doom forecast * I'll bear, an thereby<br/>
+
+     come Thy grace at last:<br/>
+
+They've dealt us wrong, transgressed and ordered ill; * Haply Thy<br/>
+
+     Grace  shall pardon what is past."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the Magian bade his negro-slaves raise him to a sitting posture and bring
+him somewhat of meat and drink.  So they sat food before him; but he consented
+not to eat or drink; and Bahram ceased not to torment him day and night during
+the whole voyage, whilst Hasan took patience and humbled himself in
+supplication before Almighty Allah to whom belong Honour and Glory; whereby the
+Guebre's heart was hardened against him. They ceased not to sail the sea three
+months, during which time Hasan was continually tortured till Allah Almighty
+sent forth upon them a foul wind and the sea grew black and rose against the
+ship, by reason of the fierce gale; whereupon quoth the captain and
+crew,[FN#28] "By Allah, this is all on account of yonder youth, who hath been
+these three months in torture with this Magian. Indeed, this is not allowed of
+God the Most High."  Then they rose against the Magian and slew his servants
+and all who were with him; which when he saw, he made sure of death and feared
+for himself.  So he loosed Hasan from his bonds and pulling off the ragged
+clothes the youth had on, clad him in others; and made excuses to him and
+promised to teach him the craft and restore him to his native land, saying, "O
+my son, return me not evil for that I have done with thee."  Quoth Hasan, "How
+can I ever rely upon thee again?"; and quoth Bahram, "O my son, but for sin,
+there were no pardon.  Indeed, I did all these doings with thee, but to try thy
+patience, and thou knowest that the case is altogether in the hands of Allah." 
+So the crew and captain rejoiced in Hasan's release, and he called down
+blessings on them and praised the Almighty and thanked Him.  With this the wind
+was stilled and the sky cleared and with a fair breeze they continued their
+voyage. Then said Hasan to Bahram, "O Master,[FN#29] whither wendest thou?" 
+Replied the Magian, "O my son, I am bound for the Mountain of Clouds, where is
+the Elixir which we use in alchemy."  And the Guebre swore to him by the Fire
+and the Light that he had no longer any cause to fear him.  So Hasan's heart
+was set at ease and rejoicing at the Persian's words, he continued to eat and
+drink and sleep with the Magian, who clad him in his own raiment.  They ceased
+not sailing on other three months, when the ship came to anchor off a long
+shoreline of many- coloured pebbles, white and yellow and sky-blue and black
+and every other hue, and the Magian sprang up and said, "O Hasan, come, let us
+go ashore for we have reached the place of our wish and will."  So Hasan rose
+and landed with Bahram, after the Persian had commended his goods to the
+captain's care. They walked on inland, till they were far enough from the ship
+to be out of sight, when Bahram sat down and taking from his pocket a
+kettle-drum[FN#30] of copper and a silken strap, worked in gold with characts,
+beat the drum with the strap, until there arose a cloud of dust from the
+further side of the waste.  Hasan marvelled at the Magian's doings and was
+afraid of him: he repented of having come ashore with him and his colour
+changed. But Bahram looked at him and said, "What aileth thee, O my son? By the
+truth of the Fire and the Light, thou hast naught to fear from me; and, were it
+not that my wish may never be won save by thy means, I had not brought thee
+ashore.  So rejoice in all good; for yonder cloud of dust is the dust of
+somewhat we will mount and which will aid us to cut across this wold and make
+easy to us the hardships thereof."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-third Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian said to
+Hasan, "In very sooth yonder dust-cloud is the cloud of something we will mount
+and which will aid us to cut across this wold and will make easy to us the
+hardships thereof." Presently the dust lifted off three she-dromedaries, one of
+which Bahram mounted and Hasan another.  Then they loaded their victual on the
+third and fared on seven days, till they came to a wide champaign and,
+descending into its midst, they saw a dome vaulted upon four pilasters of red
+gold; so they alighted and entering thereunder, ate and drank and took their
+rest.  Anon Hasan chanced to glance aside and seeing from afar a something
+lofty said to the Magian, "What is that, O nuncle?"  Bahram replied, "'Tis a
+palace," and quoth Hasan, "Wilt thou not go thither, that we may enter and
+there repose ourselves and solace ourselves with inspecting it?"  But the
+Persian was wroth and said, "Name not to me yonder palace; for therein dwelleth
+a foe, with whom there befel me somewhat whereof this is no time to tell thee."
+ Then he beat the kettle-drum and up came the dromedaries, and they mounted and
+fared on other seven days.  On the eighth day, the Magian said, "O Hasan, what
+seest thou?"  Hasan replied, "I see clouds and mists twixt east and west." 
+Quoth Bahram, "That is neither clouds nor mists, but a vast mountain and a
+lofty whereon the clouds split,[FN#31] and there are no clouds above it, for
+its exceeding height and surpassing elevation.  Yon mount is my goal and
+thereon is the need we seek. 'Tis for that I brought thee hither, for my wish
+may not be won save at thy hands."  Hasan hearing this gave his life up for
+lost and said to the Magian, "By the right of that thou worshippest and by the
+faith wherein thou believest, I conjure thee to tell me what is the object
+wherefor thou hast brought me!"  Bahram replied, "The art of alchemy may not be
+accomplished save by means of a herb which groweth in the place where the
+clouds pass and whereon they split. Such a site is yonder mountain upon whose
+head the herb groweth and I purpose to send thee up thither to fetch it; and
+when we have it, I will show thee the secret of this craft which thou desirest
+to learn."  Hasan answered, in his fear, "'Tis well, O my master;" and indeed
+he despaired of life and wept for his parting from his parent and people and
+patrial stead, repenting him of having gainsaid his mother and reciting these
+two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Consider but thy Lord, His work shall bring * Comfort to thee,<br/>
+
+     with quick  relief and near:<br/>
+
+Despair not when thou sufferest sorest bane: * In bane how many<br/>
+
+     blessed  boons appear!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They ceased not faring on till they came to the foothills of that mountain
+where they halted; and Hasan saw thereon a palace and asked Bahram, "What be
+yonder palace?"; whereto he answered, "'Tis the abode of the Jann and Ghuls and
+Satans."  Then the Magian alighted and making Hasan also dismount from his
+dromedary kissed his head and said to him, "Bear me no ill will anent that I
+did with thee, for I will keep guard over thee in thine ascent to the palace;
+and I conjure thee not to trick and cheat me of aught thou shalt bring
+therefrom; and I and thou will share equally therein."  And Hasan replied, "To
+hear is to obey." Then Bahram opened a bag and taking out a handmill and a
+sufficiency of wheat, ground the grain and kneaded three round cakes of the
+flour; after which he lighted a fire and baked the bannocks. Then he took out
+the copper kettle-drum and beat it with the broidered strap, whereupon up came
+the dromedaries. He chose out one and said, "Hearken, O my son, O Hasan, to
+what I am about to enjoin on thee;" and Hasan replied, "'Tis well."  Bahram
+continued, "Lie down on this skin and I will sew thee up therein and lay thee
+on the ground; whereupon the Rakham birds[FN#32] will come to thee and carry
+thee up to the mountain-top.  Take this knife with thee; and, when thou feelest
+that the birds have done flying and have set thee down, slit open therewith the
+skin and come forth.  The vultures will then take fright at thee and fly away;
+whereupon do thou look down from the mountain head and speak to me, and I will
+tell thee what to do."  So he sewed him up in the skin, placing therein three
+cakes and a leathern bottle full of water, and withdrew to a distance.
+Presently a vulture pounced upon him and taking him up, flew away with him to
+the mountain-top and there set him down.  As soon as Hasan felt himself on the
+ground, he slit the skin and coming forth, called out to the Magian, who
+hearing his speech rejoiced and danced for excess of joy, saying to him, "Look
+behind thee and tell me what thou seest."  Hasan looked and seeing many rotten
+bones and much wood, told Bahram, who said to him, "This be what we need and
+seek. Make six bundles of the wood and throw them down to me, for this is
+wherewithal we do alchemy."  So he threw him the six bundles and when he had
+gotten them into his power he said to Hasan, "O gallows bird, I have won my
+wish of thee; and now, if thou wilt, thou mayst abide on this mountain, or cast
+thyself down to the earth and perish.  So saying, he left him[FN#33] and went
+away, and Hasan exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in
+Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  This hound hath played the traitor with me." 
+And he sat bemoaning himself and reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"When God upon a man possessed of reasoning, Hearing and sight<br/>
+
+     His will in aught to pass would bring,<br/>
+
+He stops his ears and blinds his eyes and draws his wit, From<br/>
+
+     him, as one  draws out the hairs to paste that cling;<br/>
+
+Till, His decrees fulfilled, He gives him back His wit, That<br/>
+
+     therewithal he  may receive admonishing.<br/>
+
+So say thou not of aught that haps, 'How happened it?' For Fate<br/>
+
+     and  fortune fixed do order everything.[FN#34]"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Magian sent
+Hasan to the mountain-top and made him throw down all he required he presently
+reviled him and left him and wended his ways and the youth exclaimed, "There is
+no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This
+damned hound hath played the traitor."  Then he rose to his feet and looked
+right and left, after which he walked on along the mountain top, in mind making
+certain of death.  He fared on thus till he came to the counterslope of the
+mountain, along which he saw a dark-blue sea, dashing with billows clashing and
+yeasting waves each as it were a lofty mount.  So he sat down and repeated what
+he might of the Koran and besought Allah the Most High to ease him of his
+troubles, or by death or by deliverance from such strait.  Then he recited for
+himself the funeral-prayer[FN#35] and cast himself down into the main; but, the
+waves bore him up by Allah's grace, so that he reached the water unhurt, and
+the angel in whose charge is the sea watched over him, so that the billows bore
+him safe to land, by the decree of the Most High. Thereupon he rejoiced and
+praised Almighty Allah and thanked Him; after which he walked on in quest of
+something to eat, for stress of hunger, and came presently to the place where
+he had halted with the Magian, Bahram.  Then he fared on awhile, till behold,
+he caught sight of a great palace, rising high in air, and knew it for that of
+which he had questioned the Persian and he had replied, "Therein dwelleth a
+foe, of mine."  Hasan said to himself, "By Allah, needs must I enter yonder
+palace; perchance relief awaiteth me there."  So coming to it and finding the
+gate open, he entered the vestibule, where he saw seated on a bench two girls
+like twin moons with a chess-cloth before them and they were at play.  One of
+them raised her head to him and cried out for joy saying, "By Allah, here is a
+son of Adam, and methinks 'tis he whom Bahram the Magian brought hither this
+year!" So Hasan hearing her words cast himself at their feet and wept with sore
+weeping and said, "Yes, O my ladies, by Allah, I am indeed that unhappy." Then
+said the younger damsel to her elder sister, "Bear witness against me,[FN#36] O
+my sister, that this is my brother by covenant of Allah and that I will die for
+his death and live for his life and joy for his joy and mourn for his
+mourning." So saying, she rose and embraced him and kissed him and presently
+taking him by the hand and her sister with her, led him into the palace, where
+she did off his ragged clothes and brought him a suit of King's raiment
+wherewith she arrayed him. Moreover, she made ready all manner viands[FN#37]
+and set them before him, and sat and ate with him, she and her sister. Then
+said they to him, "Tell us thy tale with yonder dog, the wicked, the wizard,
+from the time of thy falling into his hands to that of thy freeing thee from
+him; and after we will tell thee all that hath passed between us and him, so
+thou mayst be on thy guard against him an thou see him again." Hearing these
+words and finding himself thus kindly received, Hasan took heart of grace and
+reason returned to him and he related to them all that had befallen him with
+the Magian from first to last.  Then they asked, "Didst thou ask him of this
+palace?"; and he answered, "Yes, but he said, 'Name it not to me; for it
+belongeth to Ghuls and Satans.'" At this, the two damsels waxed wroth with
+exceeding wrath and said, "Did that miscreant style us Ghuls and Satans?" And
+Hasan answered, "Yes." Cried the younger sister, "By Allah, I will assuredly do
+him die with the foulest death and make him to lack the wind of the world!" 
+Quoth Hasan, "And how wilt thou get at him, to kill him, for he is a crafty
+magician?"; and quoth she, "He is in a garden by name Al-Mushayyad,[FN#38] and
+there is no help but that I slay him before long."  Then said her sister,
+"Sooth spake Hasan in everything he hath recounted to us of this cur; but now
+tell him our tale, that all of it may abide in his memory."  So the younger
+said to him, "Know, O my brother, that we are the daughters of a King of the
+mightiest Kings of the Jann, having Marids for troops and guards and servants,
+and Almighty Allah blessed him with seven daughters by one wife; but of his
+folly such jealousy and stiff-neckedness and pride beyond compare gat hold upon
+him that he would not give us in marriage to any one and, summoning his Wazirs
+and Emirs, he said to them, 'Can ye tell me of any place untrodden by the tread
+of men and Jinn and abounding in trees and fruits and rills?' And quoth they,
+'What wilt thou therewith, O King of the Age?' And quoth he, 'I desire there to
+lodge my seven daughters.' Answered they, 'O King, the place for them is the
+Castle of the Mountain of Clouds, built by an Ifrit of the rebellious Jinn, who
+revolted from the covenant of our lord Solomon, on whom be the Peace! Since his
+destruction, none hath dwelt there, nor man nor Jinni, for 'tis cut off[FN#39]
+and none may win to it.  And the Castle is girt about with trees and fruits and
+rills, and the water running around it is sweeter than honey and colder than
+snow: none who is afflicted with leprosy or elephantiasis[FN#40] or what not
+else drinketh thereof but he is healed forthright. Hearing this our father sent
+us hither, with an escort of his troops and guards and provided us with all
+that we need here. When he is minded to ride to us he beateth a kettle-drum,
+whereupon all his hosts present themselves before him and he chooseth whom he
+shall ride and dismisseth the rest; but, when he desireth that we shall visit
+him, he commandeth his followers, the enchanters, to fetch us and carry us to
+the presence; so he may solace himself with our society and we accomplish our
+desire of him; after which they again carry us back hither.  Our five other
+sisters are gone a-hunting in our desert, wherein are wild beasts past compt or
+calculation and, it being our turn to do this we two abode at home, to make
+ready for them food.  Indeed, we had besought Allah (extolled and exalted be
+He!) to vouchsafe us a son of Adam to cheer us with his company and praised be
+He who hath brought thee to us!  So be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool
+and clear, for no harm shall befal thee."  Hasan rejoiced and said,
+"Alhamdolillah, laud to the Lord who guideth us into the path of deliverance
+and inclineth hearts to us!" Then his sister[FN#41] rose and taking him by the
+hand, led him into a private chamber, where she brought out to him linen and
+furniture that no mortal can avail unto.  Presently, the other damsels returned
+from hunting and birding and their sisters acquainted them with Hasan's case;
+whereupon they rejoiced in him and going into him in his chamber, saluted him
+with the salam and gave him joy of his safety.  Then he abode with them in all
+the solace of life and its joyance, riding out with them to the chase and
+taking his pleasure with them whilst they entreated him courteously and cheered
+him with converse, till his sadness ceased from him and he recovered health and
+strength and his body waxed stout and fat, by dint of fair treatment and
+pleasant time among the seven moons in that fair palace with its gardens and
+flowers; for indeed he led the delightsomest of lives with the damsels who
+delighted in him and he yet more in them.  And they used to give him drink of
+the honey-dew of their lips[FN#42] these beauties with the high bosoms, adorned
+with grace and loveliness, the perfection of brilliancy and in shape very
+symmetry.  Moreover the youngest Princess told her sisters how Bahram the
+Magian had made them of the Ghuls and Demons and Satans,[FN#43] and they sware
+that they would surely slay him. Next year the accursed Guebre again made his
+appearance, having with him a handsome young Moslem, as he were the moon, bound
+hand and foot and tormented with grievous tortures, and alighted with him below
+the palace-walls. Now Hasan was sitting under the trees by the side of the
+stream; and when he espied Bahram, his heart fluttered,[FN#44] his hue changed
+and he smote hand upon hand.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the
+goldsmith saw the Magian, his heart fluttered, his hue changed and he smote
+hand upon hand.  Then he said to the Princesses, "O my sisters, help me to the
+slaughter of this accursed, for here he is come back and in your grasp, and he
+leadeth with him captive a young Moslem of the sons of the notables, whom he is
+torturing with all manner grievous torments. Lief would I kill him and console
+my heart of him; and, by delivering the young Moslem from his mischief and
+restoring him to his country and kith and kin and friends, fain would I lay up
+merit for the world to come, by taking my wreak of him.[FN#45] This will be an
+almsdeed from you and ye will reap the reward thereof from Almighty Allah." 
+"We hear and we obey Allah and thee, O our brother, O Hasan," replied they and
+binding chin-veils, armed themselves and slung on their swords: after which
+they brought Hasan a steed of the best and equipped him in panoply and weaponed
+him with goodly weapons.  Then they all sallied out and found the Magian who
+had slaughtered and skinned a camel, ill-using the young Moslem, and saying to
+him, "Sit thee in this hide."  So Hasan came behind him, without his knowledge,
+and cried out at him till he was dazed and amazed.  Then he came up to him,
+saying, "Hold thy hand, O accursed! O enemy of Allah and foe of the Moslems! O
+dog! O traitor! O thou that flame dost obey! O thou that walkest in the wicked
+ones' ways, worshipping the fire and the light and swearing by the shade and
+the heat!" Herewith the Magian turned and seeing Hasan, thought to wheedle him
+and said to him, "O my son, how diddest thou escape and who brought thee down
+to earth?" Hasan replied, "He delivered me, who hath appointed the taking of
+thy life to be at my hand, and I will torture thee even as thou torturedst me
+the whole way long. O miscreant, O atheist,[FN#46] thou hast fallen into the
+twist and the way thou hast missed; and neither mother shall avail thee nor
+brother, nor friend nor solemn covenant shall assist thee; for thou saidst, O
+accursed, Whoso betrayeth bread and salt, may Allah do vengeance upon him! And
+thou hast broken the bond of bread and salt; wherefore the Almighty hath thrown
+thee into my grasp, and far is thy chance of escape from me."  Rejoined Bahram,
+"By Allah, O my son, O Hasan, thou art dearer to me than my sprite and the
+light of mine eyes!" But Hasan stepped up to him and hastily smote him between
+the shoulders, that the sword issued gleaming from his throat-tendons and Allah
+hurried his soul to the fire, and abiding-place dire.  Then Hasan took the
+Magian's bag and opened it, then having taken out the kettle-drum he struck it
+with the strap, whereupon up came the dromedaries like lightning.  So he
+unbound the youth from his bonds and setting him on one of the camels, loaded
+him another with victual and water,[FN#47] saying, "Wend whither thou wilt." 
+So he departed, after Almighty Allah had thus delivered him from his strait at
+the hands of Hasan.  When the damsels saw their brother slay the Magian they
+joyed in him with exceeding joy and gat round him, marvelling at his valour and
+prowess,[FN#48] and thanked him for his deed and gave him joy of his safety,
+saying, "O Hasan thou hast done a deed, whereby thou hast healed the burning of
+him that thirsteth for vengeance and pleased the King of Omnipotence!"  Then
+they returned to the palace, and he abode with them, eating and drinking and
+laughing and making merry; and indeed his sojourn with them was joyous to him
+and he forgot his mother;[FN#49] but while he led with them this goodly life
+one day, behold, there arose from the further side of the desert a great cloud
+of dust that darkened the welkin and made towards them.  When the Princesses
+saw this, they said to him, "Rise, O Hasan, run to thy chamber and conceal
+thyself; or an thou wilt, go down into the garden and hide thyself among the
+trees and vines; but fear not, for no harm shall befal thee." So he arose and
+entering his chamber, locked the door upon himself, and lay lurking in the
+palace.  Presently the dust opened out and showed beneath it a great conquering
+host, as it were a surging sea, coming from the King, the father of the
+damsels. Now when the troops reached the castle, the Princesses received them
+with all honour and hospitably entertained them three days; after which they
+questioned them of their case and tidings and they replied saying, "We come
+from the King in quest of you."  They asked, "And what would the King with
+us?"; and the officers answered, "One of the Kings maketh a marriage festival,
+and your father would have you be present thereat and take your pleasure
+therewith." The damsels enquired, "And how long shall we be absent from our
+place?"; and they rejoined, "The time to come and go, and to sojourn may be two
+months." So the Princesses arose and going in to the palace sought Hasan,
+acquainted him with the case and said to him, "Verily this place is thy place
+and our house is thy house; so be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and
+clear and feel nor grief nor fear, for none can come at thee here; but keep a
+good heart and a glad mind, till we return to thee.  The keys of our chambers
+we leave with thee; but, O our brother, we beseech thee, by the bond of
+brotherhood, in very deed not to open such a door, for thou hast no need
+thereto." Then they farewelled him and fared forth with the troops, leaving
+Hasan alone in the palace.  It was not long before his breast grew straitened
+and his patience shortened: solitude and sadness were heavy on him and he
+sorrowed for his severance from them with passing chagrin.  The palace for all
+its vastness, waxed small to him and finding himself sad and solitary, he
+bethought him of the damsels and their pleasant converse and recited these
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The wide plain is narrowed before these eyes * And the landscape<br/>
+
+     troubles  this heart of mine.<br/>
+
+Since my friends went forth, by the loss of them * Joy fled and<br/>
+
+     these  eyelids rail floods of brine:<br/>
+
+Sleep shunned these eyeballs for parting woe * And my mind is<br/>
+
+     worn with  sore pain and pine:<br/>
+
+Would I wot an Time shall rejoin our lots * And the joys of love<br/>
+
+     with night-talk combine."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after the departure of
+the damsels, Hasan sat in the palace sad and solitary and his breast was
+straitened by severance.  He used to ride forth a-hunting by himself in the
+wold and bring back the game and slaughter it and eat thereof alone: but
+melancholy and disquiet redoubled on him, by reason of his loneliness.  So he
+arose and went round about the palace and explored its every part; he opened
+the Princesses' apartments and found therein riches and treasures fit to ravish
+the beholder's reason; but he delighted not in aught thereof, by reason of
+their absence.  His heart was fired by thinking of the door they had charged
+him not to approach or open on any account and he said in himself, "My sister
+had never enjoined me not to open this door, except there were behind it
+somewhat whereof she would have none to know; but, by Allah, I will arise and
+open it and see what is within, though within it were sudden death!" Then he
+took the key and, opening the door,[FN#50] saw therein no treasure but he
+espied a vaulted and winding staircase of Yamani onyx at the upper end of the
+chamber.  So he mounted the stair, which brought him out upon the terrace- roof
+of the palace, whence he looked down upon the gardens and vergiers, full of
+trees and fruits and beasts and birds warbling praises of Allah, the One, the
+All-powerful; and said in himself "This is that they forbade to me."   He gazed
+upon these pleasaunces and saw beyond a surging sea, dashing with clashing
+billows, and he ceased not to explore the palace right and left, till he ended
+at a pavilion builded with alternate courses, two bricks of gold and one of
+silver and jacinth and emerald and supported by four columns.  And in the
+centre he saw a sitting- room paved and lined with a mosaic of all manner
+precious stones such as rubies and emeralds and balasses and other jewels of
+sorts; and in its midst stood a basin[FN#51] brimful of water, over which was a
+trellis-work of sandalwood and aloes-wood reticulated with rods of red gold and
+wands of emerald and set with various kinds of jewels and fine pearls, each
+sized as a pigeon's egg.  The trellis was covered with a climbing vine, bearing
+grapes like rubies, and beside the basin stood a throne of lign-aloes latticed
+with red gold, inlaid with great pearls and comprising vari-coloured gems of
+every sort and precious minerals,  each kind fronting each and symmetrically
+disposed. About it the birds warbled with sweet tongues and various voices
+celebrating the praises of Allah the Most High: brief, it was a palace such as
+nor Cćsar nor Chosroës ever owned; but Hasan saw therein none of the creatures
+of Allah, whereat he marvelled and said in himself, "I wonder to which of the
+Kings this place pertaineth, or is it Many-Columned Iram whereof they tell, for
+who among mortals can avail to the like of this?"   And indeed he was amazed at
+the spectacle and sat down in the pavilion and cast glances around him
+marvelling at the beauty of its ordinance and at the lustre of the pearls and
+jewels and the curious works which therein were, no less than at the gardens
+and orchards aforesaid and at the birds that hymned the praises of Allah, the
+One, the Almighty; and he abode pondering the traces of him whom the Most High
+had enabled to rear that structure, for indeed He is muchel of might.[FN#52]
+And presently, behold, he espied ten birds[FN#53] flying towards the pavilion
+from the heart of the desert and knew that they were making the palace and
+bound for the basin, to drink of its waters: so he hid himself, for fear they
+should see him and take flight.  They lighted on a great tree and a goodly and
+circled round about it; and he saw amongst them a bird of marvel-beauty, the
+goodliest of them all, and the nine stood around it and did it service; and
+Hasan marvelled to see it peck them with its bill and lord it over them while
+they fled from it.  He stood gazing at them from afar as they entered the
+pavilion and perched on the couch; after which each bird rent open its
+neck-skin with its claws and issued out of it; and lo! it was but a garment of
+feathers, and there came forth therefrom ten virgins, maids whose beauty shamed
+the brilliancy of the moon.  They all doffed their clothes and plunging into
+the basin, washed and fell to playing and sporting one with other; whilst the
+chief bird of them lifted up the rest and ducked them down and they fled from
+her and dared not put forth their hands to her.  When Hasan beheld her thus he
+took leave of his right reason and his sense was enslaved, so he knew that the
+Princesses had not forbidden him to open the door save because of this; for he
+fell passionately in love with her, for what he saw of her beauty and
+loveliness, symmetry and perfect grace, as she played and sported and splashed
+the others with the water.  He stood looking upon them whilst they saw him not,
+with eye gazing and heart burning and soul[FN#54] to evil prompting; and he
+sighed to be with them and wept for longing, because of the beauty and
+loveliness of the chief damsel.  His mind was amazed at her charms and his
+heart taken in the net of her love; lowe was loosed in his heart for her sake
+and there waxed on him a flame, whose sparks might not be quenched, and desire,
+whose signs might not be hidden.  Presently, they came up out of that basin,
+whilst Hasan marvelled at their beauty and loveliness and the tokens of inner
+gifts in the elegance of their movements. Then he cast a glance at the chief
+damsel who stood mother- naked and there was manifest to him what was between
+her thighs a goodly rounded dome on pillars borne, like a bowl of silver or
+crystal, which recalled to him the saying of the poet,[FN#55]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"When I took up her shift and discovered the terrace-roof of her<br/>
+
+     kaze, I found it as strait as my humour or eke my worldly<br/>
+
+     ways:<br/>
+
+So I thrust it, incontinent, in, halfway, and she heaved a sigh.<br/>
+
+     'For what dost thou sigh?' quoth I. 'For the rest of it<br/>
+
+     sure,' she says."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then coming out of the water they all put on their dresses and ornaments, and
+the chief maiden donned a green dress,[FN#56] wherein she surpassed for
+loveliness all the fair ones of the world and the lustre of her face outshone
+the resplendent full moons: she excelled the branches with the grace of her
+bending gait and confounded the wit with apprehension of disdain; and indeed
+she was as saith the poet,[FN#57]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A maiden 'twas, the dresser's art had decked with cunning<br/>
+
+     sleight;<br/>
+
+The sun thou 'd'st say had robbed her cheek and shone with<br/>
+
+     borrowed light.<br/>
+
+She came to us apparelled fair in under vest of green,<br/>
+
+Like as the ripe pomegranate hides beneath its leafy screen;<br/>
+
+And when we asked her what might be the name of what she wore,<br/>
+
+She answered in a quaint reply that double meaning bore:<br/>
+
+The desert's heart we penetrate in such apparel dressed,<br/>
+
+And Pierce-heart therefore is the name by which we call the<br/>
+
+     vest."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan saw the
+damsels issue forth the basin, the chief maiden robbed his reason with her
+beauty and loveliness compelling him to recite the couplets forequoted.  And
+after dressing they sat talking and laughing, whilst he stood gazing on them,
+drowned in the sea of his love, burning in the flames of passion and wandering
+in the Wady of his melancholy thought.  And he said to himself, "By Allah, my
+sister forbade me not to open the door, but for cause of these maidens and for
+fear lest I should fall in love with one of them!  How, O Hasan shalt thou woo
+and win them? How bring down a bird flying in the vasty firmament?  By Allah
+thou hast cast thyself into a bottomless sea and snared thyself in a net whence
+there is no escape!  I shall die desolate and none shall wot of my death."  And
+he continued to gaze on the charms of the chief damsel, who was the lovliest
+creature Allah had made in her day, and indeed she outdid in beauty all human
+beings. She had a mouth magical as Solomon's seal and hair blacker than the
+night of estrangement to the love-despairing man; her brow was bright as the
+crescent moon of the Feast of Ramazán[FN#58] and her eyes were like eyes
+wherewith gazelles scan; she had a polished nose straight as a cane and cheeks
+like blood-red anemones of Nu'uman, lips like coralline and teeth like strung
+pearls in carcanets of gold virgin to man, and a neck like an ingot of silver,
+above a shape like a wand of Bán: her middle was full of folds, a dimpled plain
+such as enforceth the distracted lover to magnify Allah and extol His might and
+main, and her navel[FN#59] an ounce of musk, sweetest of savour could contain:
+she had thighs great and plump, like marble columns twain or bolsters stuffed
+with down from ostrich ta'en, and between them a somewhat, as it were a hummock
+great of span or a hare with ears back lain while terrace-roof and pilasters
+completed the plan; and indeed she surpassed the bough of the myrobalan with
+her beauty and symmetry, and the Indian rattan, for she was even as saith of
+them the poet whom love did unman,[FN#60]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Her lip-dews rival honey-sweets, that sweet virginity; *<br/>
+
+     Keener than Hindi scymitar the glance she casts at thee:<br/>
+
+She shames the bending bough of Bán with graceful movement slow *<br/>
+
+     And as she smiles her teeth appear with leven's brilliancy:<br/>
+
+When I compared with rose a-bloom the tintage of her cheeks, *<br/>
+
+     She laughed in scorn and cried, 'Whoso compares with rosery<br/>
+
+My hue and breasts, granados terms, is there no shame in him? *<br/>
+
+     How should pomegranates bear on bough such fruit in form or<br/>
+
+     blee?<br/>
+
+Now by my beauty and mine eyes and heart and eke by Heaven *<br/>
+
+     Of favours mine and by the Hell of my unclemency,<br/>
+
+They say 'She is a garden-rose in very pride of bloom'; *<br/>
+
+     And yet no rose can ape my cheek nor branch my symmetry!<br/>
+
+If any garden own a thing which unto me is like, *<br/>
+
+     What then is that he comes to crave of me and only me?"'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They ceased not to laugh and play, whilst Hasan stood still a-watching them,
+forgetting meat and drink, till near the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when the
+beauty, the chief damsel, said to her mates, "O Kings' daughters, it waxeth
+late and our land is afar and we are weary of this stead.  Come, therefore, let
+us depart to our own place." So they all arose and donned their feather vests,
+and becoming birds as they were before, flew away all together, with the chief
+lady in their midst.  Then, Hasan, despairing of their return, would have
+arisen and gone down into the palace  but could not move or even stand;
+wherefore the tears ran down his cheeks and passion was sore on him and he
+recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"May God deny me boon of troth if I * After your absence sweets<br/>
+
+     of slumber know:<br/>
+
+Yea; since that sev'rance never close mine eyes, * Nor rest<br/>
+
+     repose me since departed you!<br/>
+
+'Twould seem as though you saw me in your sleep; * Would Heaven<br/>
+
+     the dreams of sleep were real-true!<br/>
+
+Indeed I dote on sleep though needed not, * For sleep may bring<br/>
+
+     me that dear form to view."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Hasan walked on, little by little, heeding not the way he went, till he
+reached the foot of the stairs, whence he dragged himself to his own chamber;
+then he entered and shutting the door, lay sick eating not nor drinking and
+drowned in the sea of his solitude.  He spent the night thus, weeping and
+bemoaning himself, till the morning, and when it morrowed he repeated these
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The birds took flight at eve and winged their way; * And sinless<br/>
+
+     he who died of Love's death-blow.<br/>
+
+I'll keep my love-tale secret while I can * But, an desire<br/>
+
+     prevail, its needs must show:<br/>
+
+Night brought me nightly vision, bright as dawn; * While nights<br/>
+
+     of my desire lack morning-glow.<br/>
+
+I mourn for them[FN#61] while they heart-freest sleep * And winds<br/>
+
+     of love on me their plaything blow:<br/>
+
+Free I bestow my tears, my wealth, my heart * My wit, my sprite:Â<br/>
+
+     most gain who most bestow!<br/>
+
+The worst of woes and banes is enmity * Beautiful maidens deal us<br/>
+
+     to our woe.<br/>
+
+Favour they say's forbidden to the fair * And shedding lovers'<br/>
+
+     blood their laws allow;<br/>
+
+That naught can love-sicks do but lavish soul, * And stake in<br/>
+
+     love-play life on single throw:[FN#62]<br/>
+
+I cry in longing ardour for my love: * Lover can only weep and<br/>
+
+     wail Love-lowe."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the sun rose he opened the door, went forth of the chamber and mounted to
+the stead where he was before: then he sat down facing the pavilion and awaited
+the return of the birds till nightfall; but they returned not; wherefore he
+wept till he fell to the ground in a fainting-fit. When he came to after his
+swoon, he dragged himself down the stairs to his chamber; and indeed, the
+darkness was come and straitened upon him was the whole world and he ceased not
+to weep and wail himself through the livelong night, till the day broke and the
+sun rained over hill and dale its rays serene.  He ate not nor drank nor slept,
+nor was there any rest for him; but by day he was distracted and by night
+distressed, with sleeplessness delirious and drunken with melancholy thought
+and excess of love-longing.  And he repeated the verses of the love-distraught
+poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O thou who shamest sun in morning sheen * The branch<br/>
+
+     confounding, yet with nescience blest;<br/>
+
+Would Heaven I wot an Time shall bring return * And quench the<br/>
+
+     fires which flame unmanifest,—<br/>
+
+Bring us together in a close embrace, * Thy cheek upon my cheek,<br/>
+
+     thy breast abreast!<br/>
+
+Who saith, In Love dwells sweetness? when in Love * Are bitterer<br/>
+
+     days than Aloës[FN#63] bitterest."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the
+goldsmith felt love redouble upon him, he recited those lines; and, as he abode
+thus in the stress of his love-distraction, alone and finding none to cheer him
+with company, behold, there arose a dust-cloud from the desert, wherefore he
+ran down and hid himself knowing that the Princesses who owned the castle had
+returned.  Before long, the troops halted and dismounted round the palace and
+the seven damsels alighted and entering, put off their arms and armour of war. 
+As for the youngest, she stayed not to doff her weapons and gear, but went
+straight to Hasan's chamber, where finding him not, she sought for him, till
+she lighted on him in one of the sleeping closets hidden, feeble and thin, with
+shrunken body and wasted bones and indeed his colour was changed and his eyes
+sunken in his face for lack of food and drink and for much weeping, by reason
+of his love and longing for the young lady.  When she saw him in this plight,
+she was confounded and lost her wits; but presently she questioned him of his
+case and what had befallen him, saying, "Tell me what aileth thee, O my
+brother, that I may contrive to do away thine affliction, and I will be thy
+ransom!"[FN#64] Whereupon he wept with sore weeping and by way of reply he
+began reciting,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Lover, when parted from the thing he loves, * Has naught save<br/>
+
+     weary woe and bane to bear.<br/>
+
+Inside is sickness, outside living lowe, * His first is fancy and<br/>
+
+     his last despair."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When his sister heard this, she marvelled at his eloquence and loquent speech
+and his readiness at answering her in verse and said to him, "O my brother,
+when didst thou fall into this thy case and what hath betided thee, that I find
+thee speaking in song and shedding tears that throng?  Allah upon thee, O my
+brother, and by the honest love which is between us, tell me what aileth thee
+and discover to me thy secret, nor conceal from me aught of that which hath
+befallen thee in our absence; for my breast is straitened and my life is
+troubled because of thee." He sighed and railed tears like rain, after which he
+said, "I fear, O my sister, if I tell thee, that thou wilt not aid me to win my
+wish but wilt leave me to die wretchedly in mine anguish." She replied, "No, by
+Allah, O my brother, I will not abandon thee, though it cost me my life!"  So
+he told her all that had befallen him, and that the cause of his distress and
+affliction was the passion he had conceived for the young lady whom he had seen
+when he opened the forbidden door; and how he had not tasted meat nor drink for
+ten days past.  Then he wept with sore weeping and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Restore my heart as 'twas within my breast, * Let mine eyes<br/>
+
+     sleep again, then fly fro' me.<br/>
+
+Deem ye the nights have had the might to change * Love's vow?<br/>
+
+     Who changeth may he never be!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His sister wept for his weeping and was moved to ruth for his case and pitied
+his strangerhood; so she said to him, "O my brother, be of good cheer and keep
+thine eyes cool and clear, for I will venture being and risk existence to
+content thee and devise thee a device wherewith, though it cost me my dear life
+and all I hold dear, thou mayst get possession of her and accomplish thy
+desire, if such be the will of Allah Almighty. But I charge thee, O my brother,
+keep the matter secret from my sisterhood and discover not thy case to any one
+of them, lest my life be lost with thy life.  An they question thee of opening
+the forbidden door, reply to them, 'I opened it not; no, never; but I was
+troubled at heart for your absence and by my loneliness here and yearning for
+you.'"[FN#65] And he answered, "Yes: this is the right rede."  So he kissed her
+head and his heart was comforted and his bosom broadened.  He had been nigh
+upon death for excess of affright, for he had gone in fear of her by reason of
+his having opened the door; but now his life and soul returned to him. Then he
+sought of her somewhat of food and after serving it she left him, and went in
+to her sisters, weeping and mourning for him.  They questioned her of her case
+and she told them how she was heavy at heart for her brother, because he was
+sick and for ten days no food had found way into his stomach.  So they asked
+the cause of his sickness and she answered, "The reason was our severance from
+him and our leaving him desolate; for these days we have been absent from him
+were longer to him than a thousand years and scant blame to him, seeing he is a
+stranger, and solitary and we left him alone, with none to company with him or
+hearten his heart; more by token that he is but a youth and may be he called to
+mind his family and his mother, who is a woman in years, and bethought him that
+she weepeth for him all whiles of the day and watches of the night, ever
+mourning his loss; and we used to solace him with our society and divert him
+from thinking of her." When her sisters heard these words they wept in the
+stress of their distress for him and said, "Wa'lláhi—'fore Allah, he is not to
+blame!" Then they went out to the army and dismissed it, after which they went
+into Hasan and saluted him with the salam.  When they saw his charms changed
+with yellow colour and shrunken body, they wept for very pity and sat by his
+side and comforted him and cheered him with converse, relating to him all they
+had seen by the way of wonders and rarities and what had befallen the
+bridegroom with the bride. They abode with him thus a whole month, tendering
+him and caressing him with words sweeter than syrup; but every day sickness was
+added to his sickness, which when they saw, they bewept him with sore weeping,
+and the youngest wept even more than the rest.  At the end of this time, the
+Princesses having made up their minds to ride forth a-hunting and a-birding
+invited their sister to accompany them, but she said, "By Allah, O my sisters,
+I cannot go forth with you whilst my brother is in this plight, nor indeed till
+he be restored to health and there cease from him that which is with him of
+affliction.  Rather will I sit with him and comfort him." They thanked her for
+her kindness and said to her, "Allah will requite thee all thou dost with this
+stranger." Then they left her with him in the palace and rode forth taking with
+them twenty days' victual;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Princesses mounted
+and rode forth a-hunting and a-birding, after leaving in the palace their
+youngest sister sitting by Hasan's side; and as soon as the damsel knew that
+they had covered a long distance from home, she went in to him and said, "O my
+brother, come, show me the place where thou sawest the maidens." He rejoiced in
+her words, making sure of winning his wish, and replied, "Bismillah! On my
+head!" Then he essayed to rise and show her the place, but could not walk; so
+she took him up in her arms, holding him to her bosom between her breasts; and,
+opening the staircase-door, carried him to the top of the palace, and he showed
+her the pavilion where he had seen the girls and the basin of water, wherein
+they had bathed.  Then she said to him, "Set forth to me, O my brother, their
+case and how they came."  So he described to her whatso he had seen of them and
+especially the girl of whom he was enamoured; but hearing these words she knew
+her and her cheeks paled and her case changed. Quoth he, "O my sister, what
+aileth thee to wax wan and be troubled?"; and quoth she, "O my brother, know
+thou that this young lady is the daughter of a Sovran of the Jann, of one of
+the most puissant of their Kings, and her father had dominion over men and Jinn
+and wizards and Cohens and tribal chiefs and guards and countries and cities
+and islands galore and hath immense wealth in store.  Our father is a Viceroy
+and one of his vassals and none can avail against him, for the multitude of his
+many and the extent of his empire and the muchness of his monies.  He hath
+assigned to his offspring, the daughters thou sawest, a tract of country, a
+whole year's journey in length and breadth, a region girt about with a great
+river and a deep; and thereto none may attain, nor man nor Jann.  He hath an
+army of women, smiters with swords and lungers with lances, five-and-twenty
+thousand in number, each of whom, whenas she mounteth steed and donneth
+battle-gear, eveneth a thousand knights of the bravest.  Moreover, he hath
+seven daughters, who in valour and prowess equal and even excel their
+sisters,[FN#66] and he hath made the eldest of them, the damsel whom thou
+sawest,[FN#67] queen over the country aforesaid and who is the wisest of her
+sisters and in valour and horsemanship and craft and skill and magic excels all
+the folk of her dominions. The girls who companied with her are the ladies of
+her court and guards and grandees of her empire, and the plumed skins wherewith
+they fly are the handiwork of enchanters of the Jann.  Now an thou wouldst get
+possession of this queen and wed this jewel seld-seen and enjoy her beauty and
+loveliness and grace, do thou pay heed to my words and keep them in thy memory.
+ They resort to this place on the first day of every month; and thou must take
+seat here and watch for them; and when thou seest them coming hide thee near
+the pavilion sitting where thou mayst see them, without being seen of them, and
+beware, again beware lest thou show thyself, or we shall all lose our lives.
+When they doff their dress note which is the feather-suit of her whom thou
+lovest and take it, and it only, for this it is that carrieth her to her
+country, and when thou hast mastered it, thou hast mastered her.  And beware
+lest she wile thee, saying, 'O thou who hast robbed my raiment, restore it to
+me, because here am I in thine hands and at thy mercy!' For, an thou give it
+her, she will kill thee and break down over us palace and pavilion and slay our
+sire: know, then, thy case and how thou shalt act.  When her companions see
+that her feather-suit is stolen, they will take flight and leave her to thee,
+and beware lest thou show thyself to them, but wait till they have flown away
+and she despaireth of them: whereupon do thou go in to her and hale her by the
+hair of her head[FN#68] and drag her to thee; which being done, she will be at
+thy mercy.  And I rede thee discover not to her that thou hast taken the
+feather-suit, but keep it with care; for, so long as thou hast it in hold, she
+is thy prisoner and in thy power, seeing that she cannot fly to her country
+save with it.  And lastly carry her down to thy chamber where she will be
+thine." When Hasan heard her words his heart became at ease, his trouble ceased
+and affliction left him; so he rose to his feet and kissing his sister's head,
+went down from the terrace with her into the palace, where they slept that
+night.  He medicined himself till morning morrowed; and when the sun rose, he
+sprang up and opened the staircase-door and ascending to the flat roof sat
+there till supper-tide when his sister brought him up somewhat of meat and
+drink and a change of clothes and he slept. And thus they continued doing, day
+by day until the end of the month. When he saw the new moon, he rejoiced and
+began to watch for the birds, and while he was thus, behold, up they came, like
+lightning. As  soon as he espied them, he hid himself where he could watch
+them, unwatched by them, and they lighted down one and all of them, and putting
+off their clothes, descended into the basin. All this took place near the stead
+where Hasan lay concealed, and as soon as he caught sight of the girl he loved,
+he arose and crept under cover, little by little, towards the dresses, and
+Allah veiled him so that none marked his approach for they were laughing and
+playing with one another, till he laid hand on the dress.  Now when they had
+made an end of their diversion, they came forth of the basin and each of them
+slipped on her feather-suit.  But the damsel he loved sought for her plumage
+that she might put it on, but found it not; whereupon she shrieked and beat her
+cheeks and rent her raiment.  Her sisterhood[FN#69] came to her and asked what
+ailed her, and she told them that her feather-suit was missing; wherefore they
+wept and shrieked and buffeted their faces: and they were confounded, wotting
+not the cause of this, and knew not what to do. Presently the night overtook
+them and they feared to abide with her lest that which had befallen her should
+befal them also; so they farewelled her and flying away left her alone upon the
+terrace-roof of the palace, by the pavilion basin.—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninetieth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan had carried
+off the girl's plumery, she sought it but found it not and her sisterhood flew
+away leaving her alone. When they were out of sight, Hasan gave ear to her and
+heard her say, "O who hast taken my dress and stripped me, I beseech thee to
+restore it to me and cover my shame, so may Allah never make thee taste of my
+tribulation!" But when Hasan heard her speak thus, with speech sweeter than
+syrup, his love for her redoubled, passion got the mastery of his reason and he
+had not patience to endure from her. So springing up from his hiding-place, he
+rushed upon her and laying hold of her by the hair dragged her to him and
+carried her down to the basement of the palace and set her in his own chamber,
+where he threw over her a silken cloak[FN#70] and left her weeping and biting
+her hands.  Then he shut the door upon her and going to his sister, informed
+her how he had made prize of his lover and carried her to his sleeping-closet,
+"And there," quoth he, "she is now sitting, weeping and biting her hands." 
+When his sister heard this, she rose forthright and betook herself to the
+chamber, where she found the captive weeping and mourning.  So she kissed
+ground before her and saluted her with the salam and the young lady said to
+her, "O King's daughter, do folk like you do such foul deed with the daughters
+of Kings?  Thou knowest that my father is a mighty Sovran and that all the
+liege lords of the Jinn stand in awe of him and fear his majesty: for that
+there are with him magicians and sages and Cohens and Satans and Marids, such
+as none may cope withal, and under his hand are folk whose number none knoweth
+save Allah.  How then doth it become you, O daughters of Kings, to harbour
+mortal men with you and disclose to them our case and yours?  Else how should
+this man, a stranger, come at us?" Hasan's sister made reply, "O King's
+daughter, in very sooth this human is perfect in nobleness and purposeth thee
+no villainy; but he loveth thee, and women were not made save for men.  Did he
+not love thee, he had not fallen sick for thy sake and well-nigh given up the
+ghost for desire of thee." And she told her the whole tale how Hasan had seen
+her bathing in the basin with her attendants, and fallen in love with her, and
+none had pleased him but she, for the rest were all her handmaids, and none had
+availed to put forth a hand to her. When the Princess heard this, she despaired
+of deliverance and presently Hasan's sister went forth and brought her a costly
+dress, wherein she robed her. Then she set before her somewhat of meat and
+drink and ate with her and heartened her heart and soothed her sorrows.  And
+she ceased not to speak her fair with soft and pleasant words, saying, "Have
+pity on him who saw thee once and became as one slain by thy love;" and
+continued to console her and caress her, quoting fair says and pleasant
+instances. But she wept till daybreak, when her trouble subsided and she left
+shedding tears, knowing that she had fallen into the net and that there was no
+deliverance for her.  Then said she to Hasan's sister, "O King's daughter, with
+this my strangerhood and severance from my country and sisterhood which Allah
+wrote upon my brow, patience becometh me to support what my Lord hath
+foreordained."  Therewith the youngest Princess assigned her a chamber in the
+palace, than which there was none goodlier and ceased not to sit with her and
+console her and solace her heart, till she was satisfied with her lot and her
+bosom was broadened and she laughed and there ceased from her what trouble and
+oppression possessed her, by reason of her separation from her people and
+country and sisterhood and parents.  Thereupon Hasan's sister repaired to him,
+and said, "Arise, go in to her in her chamber and kiss her hands and
+feet."[FN#71]  So he went in to her and did this and bussed her between the
+eyes, saying, "O Princess of fair ones and life of sprites and beholder's
+delight, be easy of heart, for I took thee only that I might be thy bondsman
+till the Day of Doom, and this my sister will be thy servant; for I, O my lady,
+desire naught but to take thee to wife, after the law of Allah and the practice
+of His Apostle, and whenas thou wilt, I will journey with thee to my country
+and carry thee to Baghdad-city and abide with thee there: moreover, I will buy
+thee handmaidens and negro chattels; and I have a mother, of the best of women,
+who will do thee service.  There is no goodlier land than our land; everything
+therein is better than elsewhere and its folk are a pleasant people and bright
+of face."  Now as he bespake her thus and strave to comfort her, what while she
+answered him not a syllable, lo! there came a knocking at the palace-gate.  So
+Hasan went out to see who was at the door and found there the six Princesses,
+who had returned from hunting and birding, whereat he rejoiced and went to meet
+them and welcomed them.  They wished him safety and health and he wished them
+the like; after which they dismounted and going each to her chamber doffed
+their soiled clothes and donned fine linen.  Then they came forth and demanded
+the game, for they had taken a store of gazelles and wild cows, hares and
+lions, hyaenas, and others; so their suite brought out some thereof for
+butchering, keeping the rest by them in the palace, and Hasan girt himself and
+fell to slaughtering for them in due form,[FN#72] whilst they sported and made
+merry, joying with great joy to see him standing amongst them hale and hearty
+once more.  When they had made an end of slaughtering, they sat down and
+addressed themselves to get ready somewhat for breaking their fast, and Hasan,
+coming up to the eldest Princess, kissed her head and on like wise did he with
+the rest, one after other. Whereupon said they to him, "Indeed, thou humblest
+thyself to us passing measure, O our brother, and we marvel at the excess of
+the affection thou showest us.  But Allah forfend that thou shouldst do this
+thing, which it behoveth us rather to do with thee, seeing thou art a man and
+therefor worthier than we, who are of the Jinn."[FN#73] Thereupon his eyes
+brimmed with tears and he wept sore; so they said to him, "What causeth thee to
+weep?  Indeed, thou troublest our pleasant lives with thy weeping this day. 
+'Twould seem thou longest after thy mother and native land.  An things be so,
+we will equip thee and carry thee to thy home and thy friends."  He replied,
+"By Allah, I desire not to part from you!" Then they asked, "Which of us hath
+vexed thee, that thou art thus troubled?"  But he was ashamed to say, "Naught
+troubleth me save love of a damsel," lest they should deny and disavow him: so
+he was silent and would tell them nothing of his case. Then his sister came
+forward and said to them, "He hath caught a bird from the air and would have
+you help him to tame her." Whereupon they all turned to him and cried, "We are
+at thy service every one of us and whatsoever thou seekest that will we do: but
+tell us thy tale and conceal from us naught of thy case." So he said to his
+sister, "Do thou tell them, for I am ashamed before them nor can I face them
+with these words."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-first Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan said to his sister,
+"Do thou tell them my tale, for before them I stand abashed nor can I face them
+with these words."  So she said to them, "O my sisters, when we went away and
+left alone this unhappy one, the palace was straitened upon him and he feared
+lest some one should come in to him, for ye know that the sons of Adam are
+light of wits.  So, he opened the door of the staircase leading to the roof, of
+his loneliness and trouble, and sat there, looking upon the Wady and watching
+the gate, in his fear lest any should come thither.  One day, as he sat thus,
+suddenly he saw ten birds approach him, making for the palace, and they lighted
+down on the brink of the basin which is in the pavilion-terrace.  He watched
+these birds and saw, amongst them, one goodlier than the rest, which pecked the
+others and flouted them, whilst none of them dared put out a claw to it. 
+Presently, they set their nails to their neck-collars and, rending their
+feather-suits, came forth therefrom and became damsels, each and every, like
+the moon on fullest night.  Then they doffed their dress and plunging into the
+water, fell to playing with one another, whilst the chief damsel ducked the
+others, who dared not lay a finger on her and she was fairest of favour and
+most famous of form and most feateous of finery.  They ceased not to be in this
+case till near the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when they came forth of the
+basin and, donning their feather-shifts, flew away home.  Thereupon he waxed
+distracted, with a heart afire for love of the chief damsel and repenting him
+that he had not stolen her plumery.  Wherefore he fell sick and abode on the
+palace-roof expecting her return and abstaining from meat and drink and sleep,
+and he ceased not to be so till the new moon showed, when behold, they again
+made their appearance according to custom and doffing their dresses went down
+into the basin.  So he stole the chief damsel's feather-suit, knowing that she
+could not fly save therewith, hiding himself carefully lest they sight him and
+slay him.  Then he waited till the rest had flown away, when he arose and
+seizing the damsel, carried her down from the terrace into the castle." Her
+sisters asked, "Where is she?"; and she answered, "She is with him in such a
+chamber." Quoth they, "Describe her to us, O our sister:" so quoth she, "She is
+fairer than the moon on the night of fullness and her face is sheenier than the
+sun; the dew of her lips is sweeter than honey and her shape is straighter and
+slenderer than the cane; one with eyes black as night and brow flower-white; a
+bosom jewel-bright, breasts like pomegranates twain and cheeks like apples
+twain, a waist with dimples overlain, a navel like a casket of ivory full of
+musk in grain, and legs like columns of alabastrine vein.  She ravisheth all
+hearts with Nature-kohl'd eyne, and a waist slender-fine and hips of heaviest
+design and speech that heals all pain and pine: she is goodly of shape and
+sweet of smile, as she were the moon in fullest sheen and shine."  When the
+Princesses heard these praises, they turned to Hasan and said to him, "Show her
+to us."  So he arose with them, all love-distraught, and carrying them to the
+chamber wherein was the captive damsel, opened the door and entered, preceding
+the seven Princesses.  Now when they saw her and noted her loveliness, they
+kissed the ground between her hands, marvelling at the fairness of her favour
+and the significance which showed her inner gifts, and said to her, "By Allah,
+O daughter of the Sovran Supreme, this is indeed a mighty matter: and haddest
+thou heard tell of this mortal among women thou haddest marvelled at him all
+thy days.  Indeed, he loveth thee with passionate love; yet, O King's daughter,
+he seeketh not lewdness, but desireth thee only in the way of lawful wedlock. 
+Had we known that maids can do without men, we had impeached him from his
+intent, albeit he sent thee no messenger, but came to thee in person; and he
+telleth us he hath burnt the feather dress; else had we taken it from him." 
+Then one of them agreed with the Princess and becoming her deputy in the matter
+of the wedding contract, performed the marriage ceremony between them, whilst
+Hasan clapped palms with her, laying his hand in hers, and she wedded him to
+the damsel by consent; after which they celebrated her bridal feast, as
+beseemeth Kings' daughters, and brought Hasan in to her.  So he rose and rent
+the veil and oped the gate and pierced the forge[FN#74] and brake the seal,
+whereupon affection for her waxed in him and he redoubled in love and longing
+for her.  Then, since he had gotten that which he sought, he gave himself joy
+and improvised these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Thy shape's temptation, eyes as Houri's fain * And sheddeth<br/>
+
+     Beauty's sheen[FN#75] that radiance rare:<br/>
+
+My glance portrayed thy glorious portraiture: * Rubies one-half<br/>
+
+     and gems the third part were:<br/>
+
+Musk made a fifth: a sixth was ambergris * The sixth a pearl but<br/>
+
+     pearl without compare.<br/>
+
+Eve never bare a daughter evening thee * Nor breathes thy like in<br/>
+
+     Khuld's[FN#76] celestial air.<br/>
+
+An thou would torture me 'tis wont of Love * And if thou pardon<br/>
+
+     'tis thy choice I swear:<br/>
+
+Then, O world bright'ner and O end of wish! * Loss of thy charms<br/>
+
+     who could in patience bear?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-second Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan went in
+unto the King's daughter and did away her maidenhead, he enjoyed her with
+exceeding joy and affection for her waxed in him and he redoubled in
+love-longing for her; so he recited the lines aforesaid.  Now the Princesses
+were standing at the door and when they heard his verses, they said to her, "O
+King's daughter, hearest thou the words of this mortal?  How canst thou blame
+us, seeing that he maketh poetry for love of thee and indeed he hath so done a
+thousand times."[FN#77]  When she heard this she rejoiced and was glad and felt
+happy and Hasan abode with her forty[FN#78] days in all solace and delight,
+joyance and happiest plight, whilst the damsels renewed festivities for him
+every day and overwhelmed him with bounty and presents and rarities; and the
+King's daughter became reconciled to her sojourn amongst them and forgot her
+kith and kin.  At the end of the forty days, Hasan saw in a dream, one night,
+his mother mourning for him and indeed her bones were wasted and her body had
+waxed shrunken and her complexion had yellowed and her favour had changed the
+while he was in excellent case.  When she saw him in this state, she said to
+him, "O my son, O Hasan, how is it that thou livest thy worldly life at thine
+ease and forgettest me?  Look at my plight since thy loss!  I do not forget
+thee, nor will my tongue cease to name thy name till I die; and I have made
+thee a tomb in my house, that I may never forget thee.  Would Heaven I
+knew[FN#79] if I shall live, O my son, to see thee by my side and if we shall
+ever again foregather as we were."  Thereupon Hasan awoke from sleep, weeping
+and wailing, the tears railed down his cheeks like rain and he became mournful
+and melancholy; his tears dried not nor did sleep visit him, but he had no
+rest, and no patience was left to him.  When he arose, the Princesses came in
+to him and gave him good-morrow and made merry with him as was their wont; but
+he paid no heed to them; so they asked his wife concerning his case and she
+said, "I ken not."  Quoth they, "Question him of his condition."  So she went
+up to him and said, "What aileth thee, O my lord?" Whereupon he moaned and
+groaned and told her what he had seen in his dream and repeated these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Indeed afflicted sore are we and all distraught, * Seeking for<br/>
+
+     union; yet we find no way:<br/>
+
+And Love's calamities upon us grow * And Love though light with<br/>
+
+     heaviest weight doth weigh."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His wife repeated to the Princesses what he said and they, hearing the verses,
+had pity on him and said to him, "In Allah's name, do as thou wilt, for we may
+not hinder thee from visiting thy mother; nay, we will help thee to thy wish by
+what means we may.  But it behoveth that thou desert us not, but visit us,
+though it be only once a year." And he answered, "To hear is to obey: be your
+behest on my head and eyes!" Then they arose forthright and making him ready
+victual for the voyage, equipped the bride for him with raiment and ornaments
+and everything of price, such as defy description, and they bestowed on him
+gifts and presents which pens of ready writers lack power to set forth. Then
+they beat the magical kettle-drum and up came the dromedaries from all sides. 
+They chose of them such as could carry all the gear they had prepared; amongst
+the rest five-and-twenty chests of gold and fifty of silver; and, mounting
+Hasan and his bride on others, rode with them three days, wherein they
+accomplished a march of three months.  Then they bade them farewell and
+addressed themselves to return; whereupon his sister, the youngest damsel,
+threw herself on Hasan's neck and wept till she fainted. When she came to
+herself, she repeated these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Ne'er dawn the severance-day on any wise * That robs of sleep<br/>
+
+     these heavy-lidded eyes.<br/>
+
+From us and thee it hath fair union torn * It wastes our force<br/>
+
+     and makes our forms its prize."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Her verses finished she farewelled him, straitly charging him, whenas he should
+have come to his native land and have foregathered with his mother and set his
+heart at ease, to fail not of visiting her once in every six months and saying,
+"If aught grieve thee or thou fear aught of vexation, beat the Magian's
+kettle-drum, whereupon the dromedaries shall come to thee; and do thou mount
+and return to us and persist not in staying away."  He swore thus to do and
+conjured them to go home. So they returned to the palace, mourning for their
+separation from him, especially the youngest, with whom no rest would stay nor
+would Patience her call obey, but she wept night and day. Thus it was with
+them; but as regards Hasan and his wife, they fared on by day and night over
+plain and desert site and valley and stony heights through noon-tide glare and
+dawn's soft light; and Allah decreed them safety, so that they reached
+Bassorah-city without hindrance and made their camels kneel at the door of his
+house.  Hasan then dismissed the dromedaries and, going up to the door to open
+it, heard his mother weeping and in a faint strain, from a heart worn with
+parting-pain and on fire with consuming bane, reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"How shall he taste of sleep who lacks repose * Who wakes a-night<br/>
+
+     when all in slumber wone?<br/>
+
+He ownčd wealth and family and fame * Yet fared from house and<br/>
+
+     home an exile lone:<br/>
+
+Live coal beneath his[FN#80] ribs he bears for bane, * And mighty<br/>
+
+     longing, mightier ne'er was known:<br/>
+
+Passion hath seized him, Passion mastered him; * Yet is he<br/>
+
+     constant while he maketh moan:<br/>
+
+His case for Love proclaimeth aye that he, * (As prove his tears)<br/>
+
+     is  wretched, woebegone."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Hasan heard his mother weeping and wailing he wept also and knocked at the
+door a loud knock.  Quoth she, "Who is at the door?"; and quoth he, "Open!"
+Whereupon she opened the door and knowing him at first sight fell down in a
+fainting fit; but he ceased not to tend her till she came to herself, when he
+embraced her and she embraced him and kissed him, whilst his wife looked on
+mother and son.  Then he carried his goods and gear into the house, whilst his
+mother, for that her heart was comforted and Allah had reunited her with her
+son versified with these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Fortune had ruth upon my plight * Pitied my long long bane and<br/>
+
+     blight;<br/>
+
+Gave me what I would liefest sight; * And set me free from all<br/>
+
+     afright.<br/>
+
+So pardon I the sin that sin * nčd she in days evanisht quite;<br/>
+
+E'en to the sin she sinned when she * Bleached my hair-parting<br/>
+
+     silvern white."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-third Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan with his mother
+then sat talking and she asked him, "How faredst thou, O my son, with the
+Persian?" whereto he answered, "O my mother, he was no Persian, but a Magian,
+who worshipped the fire, not the All-powerful Sire."  Then he told her how he
+dealt with him, in that he had journeyed with him to the Mountain of Clouds and
+sewed him up in the camel's skin, and how the vultures had taken him up and set
+him down on the summit and what he had seen there of dead folk, whom the Magian
+had deluded and left to die on the crest after they had done his desire. And he
+told her how he had cast himself from the mountain-top into the sea and Allah
+the Most High had preserved him and brought him to the palace of the seven
+Princesses and how the youngest of them had taken him to brother and he had
+sojourned with them till the Almighty brought the Magian to the place where he
+was and he slew him. Moreover, he told her of his passion for the King's
+daughter and how he had made prize of her and of his seeing her[FN#81] in sleep
+and all else that had befallen him up to the time when Allah vouchsafed them
+reunion.  She wondered at his story and praised the Lord who had restored him
+to her in health and safety.  Then she arose and examined the baggage and loads
+and questioned him of them.  So he told her what was in them, whereat she joyed
+with exceeding joy. Then she went up to the King's daughter, to talk with her
+and bear her company; but, when her eyes fell on her, her wits were confounded
+at her brilliancy and she rejoiced and marvelled at her beauty and loveliness
+and symmetry and perfect grace: and she sat down beside her, cheering her and
+comforting her heart while she never ceased to repeat "Alhamdolillah, O my son,
+for thy return to me safe and sound!" Next morning early she went down into the
+market and bought mighty fine furniture and ten suits of the richest raiment in
+the city, and clad the young wife and adorned her with everything seemly.  Then
+said she to Hasan, "O my son, we cannot tarry in this town with all this
+wealth; for thou knowest that we are poor folk and the people will suspect us
+of practising alchemy.  So come, let us depart to Baghdad, the House[FN#82] of
+Peace, where we may dwell in the Caliph's Sanctuary, and thou shalt sit in a
+shop to buy and sell, in the fear of Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!)
+and He shall open to thee the door of blessings with this wealth." Hasan
+approved her counsel and going forth straightway, sold the house and summoned
+the dromedaries, which he loaded with all his goods and gear, together with his
+mother and wife.  Then he went down to the Tigris, where he hired him a craft
+to carry them to Baghdad and embarked therein all his possessions and his
+mother and wife. They sailed up the river with a fair wind for ten days till
+they drew in sight of Baghdad, at which they all rejoiced, and the ship landed
+them in the city, where without stay or delay Hasan hired a storehouse in one
+of the caravanserais and transported his goods thither.  He lodged that night
+in the Khan and on the morrow, he changed his clothes and going down into the
+city, enquired for a broker.  The folk directed him to one, and when the broker
+saw him, he asked him what he lacked.  Quoth he, "I want a house, a handsome
+one and a spacious." So the broker showed him the houses at his disposal and he
+chose one that belonged to one of the Wazirs and buying it of him for an
+hundred thousand golden dinars, gave him the price. Then he returned to his
+caravanserai and removed all his goods and monies to the house; after which he
+went down to the market and bought all the mansion needed of vessels and
+carpets and other household stuff, besides servants and eunuchs, including a
+little black boy for the house.  He abode with his wife in all solace and
+delight of life three years, during which time he was vouchsafed by her two
+sons, one of whom he named Násir and the other Mansúr: but, at the end of this
+time he bethought him of his sisters, the Princesses, and called to mind all
+their goodness to him and how they had helped him to his desire.  So he longed
+after them and going out to the marketstreets of the city, bought trinkets and
+costly stuffs and fruit-confections, such as they had never seen or known. His
+mother asked him the reason of his buying these rarities and he answered, "I
+purpose to visit my sisters, who showed me every kind of kindness and all the
+wealth that I at present enjoy is due to their goodness and munificence:
+wherefore I will journey to them and return soon, Inshallah!" Quoth she, "O my
+son, be not long absent from me;" and quoth he, "Know, O my mother, how thou
+shalt do with my wife.  Here is her feather-dress in a chest, buried under
+ground in such a place; do thou watch over it, lest haply she hap on it and
+take it, for she would fly away, she and her children, and I should never hear
+of them again and should die of grieving for them; wherefore take heed, O my
+mother, while I warn thee that thou name this not to her.  Thou must know that
+she is the daughter of a King of the Jinn, than whom there is not a greater
+among the Sovrans of the Jann nor a richer in troops and treasure, and she is
+mistress of her people and dearest to her father of all he hath. Moreover, she
+is passing high-spirited, so do thou serve her thyself and suffer her not to go
+forth the door neither look out of window nor over the wall, for I fear the air
+for her when it bloweth,[FN#83] and if aught befel her of the calamities of
+this world, I should slay myself for her sake." She replied, "O my son, I take
+refuge with Allah[FN#84] from gainsaying thee!  Am I mad that thou shouldst lay
+this charge on me and I disobey thee therein?  Depart, O my son, with heart at
+ease, and please Allah, soon thou shalt return in safety and see her and she
+shall tell thee how I have dealt with her: but tarry not, O my son, beyond the
+time of travel."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-fourth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan had
+determined to visit the Princesses, he gave his mother the orders we have
+mentioned.[FN#85]  Now, as Fate would have it, his wife heard what he said to
+his mother and neither of them knew it. Then Hasan went without the city and
+beat the kettle-drum, whereupon up came the dromedaries and he loaded twenty of
+them with rarities of Al-Irak; after which he returned to his mother and
+repeated his charge to her and took leave of her and his wife and children, one
+of whom was a yearling babe and the other two years old.  Then he mounted and
+fared on, without stopping night or day, over hills and valleys and plains and
+wastes for a term of ten days till, on the eleventh, he reached the palace and
+went in to his sisters, with the gifts he had brought them. The Princesses
+rejoiced at his sight and gave him joy of his safety, whilst his sister
+decorated the palace within and without.  Then they took the presents and,
+lodging him in a chamber as before, asked him of his mother and his wife, and
+he told them that she had borne him two sons.  And the youngest Princess,
+seeing him well and in good case, joyed with exceeding joy and repeated this
+couplet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I ever ask for news of you from whatso breezes pass * And never any but
+yourselves can pass across my mind."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he abode with them in all honour and hospitality, for three months,
+spending his time in feasting and merrymaking, joy and delight, hunting and
+sporting.  So fared it with him; but as regards his wife, she abode with his
+mother two days after her husband's departure, and on the third day, she said
+to her, "Glory be to God!  Have I lived with him three years and shall I never
+go to the bath?" Then she wept and Hasan's mother had pity on her condition and
+said to her, "O my daughter, here we are strangers and thy husband is abroad. 
+Were he at home, he would serve thee himself, but, as for me, I know no one. 
+However, O my daughter, I will heat thee water and wash thy head in the
+Hammam-bath which is in the house." Answered the King's daughter, "O my lady,
+hadst thou spoken thus to one of the slave-girls, she had demanded to be sold
+in the Sultan's open market and had not abode with thee.[FN#86] Men are
+excusable, because they are jealous and their reason telleth them that, if a
+woman go forth the house, haply she will do frowardness.  But women, O my lady,
+are not all equal and alike and thou knowest that, if woman have a mind to
+aught, whether it be the Hammam or what not else, none hath power over her to
+guard her or keep her chaste or debar her from her desire; for she will do
+whatso she willeth and naught restraineth her but her reason and her
+religion."[FN#87] Then she wept and cursed fate and bemoaned herself and her
+strangerhood, till Hasan's mother was moved to ruth for her case and knew that
+all she said was but truth and that there was nothing for it but to let her
+have her way.  So she committed the affair to Allah (extolled and exalted be
+He!) and making ready all that they needed for the bath, took her and went with
+her to the Hammam. She carried her two little sons with her, and when they
+entered, they put off their clothes and all the women fell to gazing on the
+Princess and glorifying God (to whom belong Might and Majesty!) for that He had
+created so fair a form. The women of the city, even those who were passing by,
+flocked to gaze upon her, and the report of her was noised abroad in Baghdad
+till the bath was crowded that there was no passing through it.  Now it chanced
+there was present on that day and on that rare occasion with the rest of the
+women in the Hammam, one of the slave-girls of the Commander of the Faithful,
+Harun al-Rashid, by name Tohfah[FN#88] the Lutanist, and she, finding the
+Hammam over crowded and no passing for the throng of women and girls, asked
+what was to do; and they told her of the young lady.  So she walked up to her
+and, considering her closely, was amazed at her grace and loveliness and
+glorified God (magnified be His majesty!) for the fair forms He hath created. 
+The sight hindered her from her bath, so that she went not farther in nor
+washed, but sat staring at the Princess, till she had made an end of bathing
+and coming forth of the caldarium donned her raiment, whereupon beauty was
+added to her beauty.  She sat down on the divan,[FN#89] whilst the women gazed
+upon her; then she looked at them and veiling herself, went out.  Tohfah went
+out with her and followed her, till she saw where she dwelt, when she left her
+and returned to the Caliph's palace; and ceased not wending till she went in to
+the Lady Zubaydah and kissed ground between her hands; whereupon quoth her
+mistress, "O Tohfah, why hast thou tarried in the Hammam?"  She replied, "O my
+lady, I have seen a marvel, never saw I its like amongst men or women, and this
+it was that distracted me and dazed my wit and amazed me, so that I forgot even
+to wash my head."  Asked Zubaydah, "And what was that?" ; and Tohfah answered,
+"O my lady, I saw a damsel in the bath, having with her two little boys like
+moons, eye never espied her like, nor before her nor after her, neither is
+there the fellow of her form in the whole world nor her peer amongst Ajams or
+Turks or Arabs.  By the munificence, O my lady, an thou toldest the Commander
+of the Faithful of her, he would slay her husband and take her from him, for
+her like is not to be found among women.  I asked of her mate and they told me
+that he is a merchant Hasan of Bassorah hight.  Moreover, I followed her from
+the bath to her own house and found it to be that of the Wazir, with the two
+gates, one opening on the river and the other on the land.[FN#90]  Indeed, O my
+lady, I fear lest the Prince of True Believers hear of her and break the law
+and slay her husband and take love-liesse with her."—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Tohfah, after
+seeing the King's daughter, described her beauty to the Lady Zubaydah ending
+with, "Indeed, O my mistress, I fear lest the Prince of True Believers hear of
+her and break the law and slay her mate and take her to wife," Zubaydah cried,
+"Woe to thee, O Tohfah, say me, doth this damsel display such passing beauty
+and loveliness that the Commander of the Faithful should, on her account,
+barter his soul's good for his worldly lust and break the Holy Law!  By Allah,
+needs must I look on her, and if she be not as thou sayest, I will bid strike
+off thy head! O strumpet, there are in the Caliph's Serraglio three hundred and
+three score slave girls, after the number of the days of the year, yet is there
+none amongst them so excellent as thou describest!" Tohfah replied, "No, by
+Allah, O my lady!: nor is there her like in all Baghdad; no, nor amongst the
+Arabs or the Daylamites nor hath Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!)
+created the like of her!" Thereupon Zuhaydah called for Masrur, the eunuch, who
+came and kissed the ground before her, and she said to him, "O Masrur, go to
+the Wazir's house, that with the two gates, one giving on the water and the
+other on the land, and bring me the damsel who dwelleth there, also her two
+children and the old woman who is with her, and haste thou and tarry not." Said
+Masrur, "I hear and I obey," and repairing to Hasan's house, knocked at the
+door.  Quoth the old woman, "Who is at the door?" and quoth he, "Masrur, the
+eunuch of the Commander of the Faithful."   So she opened the door and he
+entered and saluted her with the salam; whereupon she returned his salute and
+asked his need; and he replied, "The Lady Zubaydah, daughter of Al-Kasim[FN#91]
+and queen-spouse of the Commander of the Faithful Harun al-Rashid sixth[FN#92]
+of the sons of Al-Abbas, paternal uncle of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and
+keep!) summoneth thee to her, thee and thy son's wife and her children; for the
+women have told her anent her and her beauty." Rejoined the old woman, "O my
+lord Masrur, we are foreigner folk and the girl's husband (my son) who is
+abroad and far from home hath strictly charged me not to go forth nor let her
+go forth in his absence, neither show her to any of the creatures of Allah
+Almighty; and I fear me, if aught befal her and he come back, he will slay
+himself; wherefore of thy favour I beseech thee, O Masrur, require us not of
+that whereof we are unable." Masrur retorted, "O my lady, if I knew aught to be
+feared for you in this, I would not require you to go; the Lady Zubaydah
+desireth but to see her and then she may return.  So disobey not or thou wilt
+repent; and like as I take you, I will bring you both back in safety,
+Inshallah!" Hasan's mother could not gainsay him; so she went in and making the
+damsel ready, brought her and her children forth and they all followed Masrur
+to the palace of the Caliphate where he carried them in and seated them on the
+floor before the Lady Zubaydah. They kissed ground before her and called down
+blessings upon her; and Zubaydah said to the young lady (who was veiled), "Wilt
+thou not uncover thy face, that I may look on it?" So she kissed the ground
+between her hands and discovered a face which put to shame the full moon in the
+height of heaven.  Zubaydah fixed her eyes on her and let their glances wander
+over her, whilst the palace was illumined by the light of her countenance;
+whereupon the Queen and the whole company were amazed at her beauty and all who
+looked on her became Jinn-mad and unable to bespeak one another. As for
+Zubaydah, she rose and making the damsel stand up, strained her to her bosom
+and seated her by herself on the couch. Moreover, she bade decorate the palace
+in her honour and calling for a suit of the richest raiment and a necklace of
+the rarest ornaments put them upon her.  Then said she to her, "O liege lady of
+fair ones, verily thou astoundest me and fillest mine eyes.[FN#93] What arts
+knowest thou?" She replied, "O my lady, I have a dress of feathers, and could I
+but put it on before thee, thou wouldst see one of the fairest of fashions and
+marvel thereat, and all who saw it would talk of its goodliness, generation
+after generation."  Zubaydah asked, "And where is this dress of thine?"; and
+the damsel answered, "'Tis with my husband's mother.  Do thou seek it for me of
+her." So Zubaydah said to the old woman, "O my lady the pilgrimess, O my
+mother, go forth and fetch us her feather-dress, that we may solace ourselves
+by looking on what she will do, and after take it back again." Replied the old
+woman, "O my lady, this damsel is a liar. Hast thou ever seen any of womankind
+with a dress of feathers? Indeed, this belongeth only to birds." But the damsel
+said to the Lady Zubaydah, "As thou livest, O my lady, she hath a feather-dress
+of mine and it is in a chest, which is buried in such a store-closet in the
+house." So Zubaydah took off her neck a rivičre of jewels, worth all the
+treasures of Chosroe and Cćsar, and gave it to the old woman, saying, "O my
+mother, I conjure thee by my life, take this necklace and go and fetch us this
+dress, that we may divert ourselves with the sight thereof, and after take it
+again!"  But she sware to her that she had never seen any such dress and wist
+not what the damsel meant by her speech.  Then the Lady Zubaydah cried out at
+her and taking the key from her, called Masrur and said to him as soon as her
+came, "Take this key and go to the house; then open it and enter a store-closet
+there whose door is such and such and amiddlemost of it thou wilt find a chest
+buried.  Take it out and break it open and bring me the feather-dress which is
+therein and set it before me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Lady Zubaydah, having
+taken the key from Hasan's mother, handed it to Masrur, saying, "Take this key
+and open such a closet; then bring forth of it the chest; break it open; bring
+me the feather-dress which is therein and set it before me." "Hearkening and
+obedience," replied he and taking the key went forth, whereupon the old woman
+arose and followed him, weeping-eyed and repenting her of having given ear to
+the damsel and gone with her to the bath, for her desire to go thither was but
+a device.  So she went with him to the house and opened the door of the closet,
+and he entered and brought out the chest.  Then he took therefrom the
+feather-dress and wrapping it in a napkin, carried it to the Lady Zubaydah, who
+took it and turned it about, marvelling at the beauty of its make; after which
+she gave it to the damsel, saying, "Is this thy dress of feathers?"  She
+replied, "Yes, O my lady," and at once putting forth her hand, took it
+joyfully. Then she examined it and rejoiced to find it whole as it was, not a
+feather gone.  So she rose and came down from beside the Lady Zubaydah and
+taking her sons in her bosom, wrapped herself in the feather-dress and became a
+bird, by the ordinance of Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!), whereat
+Zubaydah marvelled as did all who were present.  Then she walked with a swaying
+and graceful gait and danced and sported and flapped her wings, whilst all eyes
+were fixed on her and all marvelled at what she did.  Then said she with fluent
+tongue, "Is this goodly, O my ladies?"; and they replied, "Yes, O Princess of
+the fair! All thou dost is goodly." Said she, "And this, O my mistresses, that
+I am about to do is better yet." Then she spread her wings and flying up with
+her children to the dome of the palace, perched on the saloon-roof whilst they
+all looked at her, wide-eyed and said, "By Allah, this is indeed a rare and
+peregrine fashion! Never saw we its like." Then, as she was about to take
+flight for her own land, she bethought her of Hasan and said, "Hark ye, my
+mistresses!" and she improvised these couplets,[FN#94]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O who hast quitted these abodes and faredst lief and light * To<br/>
+
+     other objects of thy love with fain and fastest flight!<br/>
+
+Deem'st thou that 'bided I with you in solace and in joy * Or<br/>
+
+     that my days amid you all were clear of bane and blight?<br/>
+
+When I was captive ta'en of Love and snarčd in his snare, * He<br/>
+
+     made of Love my prison and he fared fro' me forthright:<br/>
+
+So when my fear was hidden, he made sure that ne'er should I *<br/>
+
+     Pray to the One, th' Omnipotent to render me my right:<br/>
+
+He charged his mother keep the secret with all the care she<br/>
+
+     could, * In closet shut and treated me with enemy's<br/>
+
+     despight:<br/>
+
+But I o'erheard their words and held them fast in memory * And<br/>
+
+     hoped for fortune fair and weal and blessings infinite:<br/>
+
+My faring to the Hammam-bath then proved to me the means * Of<br/>
+
+     making minds of folk to be confounded at my sight:<br/>
+
+Wondered the Bride of Al-Rashid to see my brilliancy * When she<br/>
+
+     beheld me right and left with all of beauty dight:<br/>
+
+Then quoth I, 'O our Caliph's wife, I once was wont to own * A<br/>
+
+     dress of feathers rich and rare that did the eyes delight:<br/>
+
+An it were now on me thou shouldst indeed see wondrous things *<br/>
+
+     That would efface all sorrows and disperse all sores of<br/>
+
+     sprite:'<br/>
+
+Then deigned our Caliph's Bride to cry, 'Where is that dress of<br/>
+
+     thine?' * And I replied, 'In house of him kept darkling as<br/>
+
+     the night.'<br/>
+
+So down upon it pounced Masrúr and brought it unto her, * And<br/>
+
+     when 'twas there each feather cast a ray of beaming light:<br/>
+
+Therewith I took it from his hand and opened it straightway * And<br/>
+
+     saw its plumčd bosom and its buttons pleased my sight:<br/>
+
+And so I clad myself therein and took with me my babes; * And<br/>
+
+     spread my wings and flew away with all my main and might;<br/>
+
+Saying, 'O husband's mother mine tell him when cometh he * An<br/>
+
+     ever wouldest meet her thou from house and home must flee."'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When she had made an end of her verses, the Lady Zubaydah said to her, "Wilt
+thou not come down to us, that we may take our fill of thy beauty, O fairest of
+the fair?  Glory be to Him who hath given thee eloquence and brilliance!" But
+she said, "Far be from me that the Past return should see!" Then said she to
+the mother of the hapless, wretched Hasan, "By Allah, O my lady, O mother of my
+husband, it irketh me to part from thee; but, whenas thy son cometh to thee and
+upon him the nights of severance longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and
+meeting to see and whenas breezes of love and longing shake him dolefully, let
+him come in the islands of Wák[FN#95] to me." Then she took flight with her
+children and sought her own country, whilst the old woman wept and beat her
+face and moaned and groaned till she swooned away. When she came to herself,
+she said to the Lady Zubaydah,  "O my lady, what is this thou hast done?"  And
+Zubaydah said to her, "O my lady the pilgrimess, I knew not that this would
+happen and hadst thou told me of the case and acquainted me with her condition,
+I had not gainsaid thee.  Nor did I know until now that she was of the Flying
+Jinn; else had I not suffered her to don the dress nor permitted her to take
+her children: but now, O my lady, words profit nothing; so do thou acquit me of
+offence against thee."  And the old woman could do no otherwise than shortly
+answer, "Thou art acquitted!" Then she went forth the palace of the Caliphate
+and returned to her own house, where she buffeted her face till she swooned
+away, When she came to herself, she pined for her daughter-in-law and her
+grandchildren and for the sight of her son and versified with these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Your faring on the parting-day drew many a tear fro' me, * Who<br/>
+
+     must your flying from the home long mourn in misery:<br/>
+
+And cried I for the parting pang in anguish likest fire * And<br/>
+
+     tear-floods chafed mine eyelids sore that ne'er of tears<br/>
+
+     were free;<br/>
+
+'Yes, this is Severance, Ah, shall we e'er joy return of you? *<br/>
+
+     For your departure hath deprived my power of privacy!'<br/>
+
+Ah, would they had returned to me in covenant of faith * An they<br/>
+
+     return perhaps restore of past these eyne may see."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then arising she dug in the house three graves and betook herself to them with
+weeping all whiles of the day and watches of the night; and when her son's
+absence was longsome upon her and grief and yearning and unquiet waxed upon
+her, she recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Deep in mine eye-balls ever dwells the phantom-form of thee * My<br/>
+
+     heart when throbbing or at rest holds fast thy memory:<br/>
+
+And love of thee doth never cease to course within my breast, *<br/>
+
+     As course the juices in the fruits which deck the branchy<br/>
+
+     tree:<br/>
+
+And every day I see thee not my bosom straightened is * And even<br/>
+
+     censurers excuse the woes in me they see:<br/>
+
+O thou whose love hath gotten hold the foremost in the heart * Of<br/>
+
+     me whose fondness is excelled by mine insanity:<br/>
+
+Fear the Compassionate in my case and some compassion show! *<br/>
+
+     Love of thee makes me taste of death in bitterest pungency."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan's mother
+bewept through the watches of the night and the whiles of the day her
+separation from her son and his wife and children.  On this wise it fared with
+her; but as regards Hasan, when he came to the Princesses, they conjured him to
+tarry with them three months, after which long sojourn they gave him five loads
+of gold and the like of silver and one load of victual and accompanied him on
+his homeward way till he conjured them to return, whereupon they farewelled him
+with an embrace; but the youngest came up to him, to bid him adieu and clasping
+his neck wept till she fainted. Then she recited these two  couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"When shall the severance-fire be quenched by union, love, with<br/>
+
+     you? * When shall I win my wish of you and days that were<br/>
+
+     renew?<br/>
+
+The parting-day affrighted me and wrought me dire dismay * And<br/>
+
+     doubleth woe, O master mine, by the sad word 'Adieu.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Anon came forward the second Princess and embraced him and recited these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Farewelling thee indeed is like to bidding life farewell * And<br/>
+
+     like the loss of Zephyr[FN#96] 'tis to lose thee far our<br/>
+
+     sight:<br/>
+
+Thine absence is a flaming fire which burneth up my heart * And<br/>
+
+     in thy presence I enjoy the Gardens of Delight."[FN#97]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Presently came forward the third and embraced him and recited these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"We left not taking leave of thee (when bound to other goal) *<br/>
+
+     From aught of ill intention or from weariness and dole:<br/>
+
+Thou art my soul, my very soul, the only soul of me: * And how<br/>
+
+     shall I farewell myself and say, 'Adieu my Soul?'"[FN#98]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After her came forward the fourth and embraced him and recited these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Nought garred me weep save where and when of severance spake he,<br/>
+
+     * Persisting in his cruel will with sore persistency:<br/>
+
+Look at this pearl-like ornament I've hung upon mine ear: * 'Tis<br/>
+
+     of the tears of me compact, this choicest jewelry!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In her turn came forward the fifth and embraced him and recited these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Ah, fare thee not; for I've no force thy faring to endure, * Nor<br/>
+
+     e'en to say the word farewell before my friend is sped:<br/>
+
+Nor any patience to support the days of severance, * Nor any<br/>
+
+     tears on ruined house and wasted home to shed."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Next came the sixth and embraced him and recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I cried, as the camels went off with them, * And Love pained my<br/>
+
+     vitals with sorest pain:<br/>
+
+Had I a King who would lend me rule * I'd seize every ship that<br/>
+
+     dares sail the Main."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lastly came forward the seventh and embraced him and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"When thou seest parting, be patient still, * Nor let foreign<br/>
+
+     parts deal thy soul affright:<br/>
+
+But abide, expecting a swift return, * For all hearts hold<br/>
+
+     parting in sore despight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And eke these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Indeed I'm heartbroken to see thee start, * Nor can I farewell<br/>
+
+     thee ere thou depart;<br/>
+
+Allah wotteth I left not to say adieu * Save for fear that saying<br/>
+
+     would melt your heart."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Hasan also wept for parting from them, till he swooned, and repeated these
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Indeed, ran my tears on the severance-day * Like pearls I<br/>
+
+     threaded in necklace-way:<br/>
+
+The cameleer drove his camels with song * But I lost heart,<br/>
+
+     patience and strength and stay:<br/>
+
+I bade them farewell and retired in grief * From tryst-place and<br/>
+
+     camp where my dearlings lay:<br/>
+
+I turned me unknowing the way nor joyed * My soul, but in hopes<br/>
+
+     to return some day.<br/>
+
+Oh listen, my friend, to the words of love * God forbid thy heart<br/>
+
+     forget all I say!<br/>
+
+O my soul when thou partest wi' them, part too * With all joys of<br/>
+
+     life nor for living pray!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he farewelled them and fared on diligently night and day, till he came to
+Baghdad, the House of Peace and Sanctuary of the Abbaside Caliphs, unknowing
+what had passed during his wayfare. At once entering his house he went in to
+his mother to salute her, but found her worn of body and wasted of bones, for
+excess of mourning and watching, weeping and wailing, till she was grown thin
+as a tooth-pick and could not answer him a word.  So he dismissed the
+dromedaries then asked her of his wife and children and she wept till she
+fainted, and he seeing her in this state searched the house for them, but found
+no trace of them.  Then he went to the store-closet and finding it open and the
+chest broken and the feather-dress missing, knew forthright that his wife had
+possessed herself thereof and flown away with her children.  Then he returned
+to his mother and, finding her recovered from her fit, questioned her of his
+spouse and babes, whereupon she wept and said, "O my son, may Allah amply
+requite thee their loss! These are their three tombs."[FN#99] When Hasan heard
+these words of his mother, he shrieked a loud shriek and fell down in a
+fainting-fit in which he lay from the first of the day till noon-tide;
+whereupon anguish was added to his mother's anguish and she despared of his
+life.  However, after a-while, he came to himself and wept and buffeted his
+face and rent his raiment and went about the house clean distraught, reciting
+these two couplets,[FN#100]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Folk have made moan of passion before me, of past years, * And<br/>
+
+     live and dead for absence have suffered pains and fears;<br/>
+
+But that within my bosom I harbour, with mine eyes * I've never<br/>
+
+     seen the like of nor heard with mine ears."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then finishing his verses he bared his brand and coming up to his mother, said 
+to her, "Except thou tell me the truth of the case, I will strike off thy head
+and kill myself." She replied, "O my son, do not such deed: put up thy sword
+and sit down, till I tell thee what hath passed."  So he sheathed his scymitar
+and sat by her side, whilst she recounted to him all that had happened in his
+absence from first to last, adding, "O my son, but that I saw her weep in her
+longing for the bath and feared that she would go and complain to thee on thy
+return, and thou wouldst be wroth with me, I had never carried her thither; and
+were it not that the Lady Zubaydah was wroth with me and took the key from me
+by force, I had never brought out the feather-dress, though I died for it. But
+thou knowest, O my son, that no hand may measure length with that of the
+Caliphate.  When they brought her the dress, she took it and turned it over,
+fancying that somewhat might be lost thereof, but she found it uninjured;
+wherefore she rejoiced and making her children fast to her waist, donned the
+feather-vest, after the Lady Zubaydah had pulled off to her all that was upon
+herself and clad her therein, in honour of her and because of her beauty.  No
+sooner had she donned the dress than she shook and becoming a bird, promenaded
+about the palace, whilst all who were present gazed at her and marvelled at her
+beauty and loveliness.  Then she flew up to the palace roof and perching
+thereon, looked at me and said: 'Whenas thy son cometh to thee and the nights
+of separation upon him longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and meeting to
+see and whenas the breezes of love and longing shake him dolefully let him
+leave his native land and journey to the Islands of Wak and seek me.' This,
+then, is her story and what befel in thine absence."—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that as soon as Hasan's
+mother had made an end of her story, he gave a great cry and fell down in a
+fainting fit which continued till the end of day, when he revived and fell to
+buffeting his face and writhing on the floor like a scotched snake.  His mother
+sat weeping by his head until midnight, when he came to himself and wept sore
+and recited these couplets',[FN#101]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Pause ye and see his sorry state since when ye fain withdrew; *<br/>
+
+     Haply, when wrought your cruelty, you'll have the grace to<br/>
+
+     rue:<br/>
+
+For an ye look on him, you'll doubt of him by sickness-stress *<br/>
+
+     As though, by Allah, he were one before ye never knew.<br/>
+
+He dies for nothing save for love of you, and he would be *<br/>
+
+     Numbered amid the dead did not he moan and groan for you.<br/>
+
+And deem not pangs of severance sit all lightly on his soul; *<br/>
+
+     'Tis heavy load on lover-wight; 'twere lighter an ye slew."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then having ended his verse he rose and went round about the house, weeping and
+wailing, groaning and bemoaning himself, five days, during which he tasted nor
+meat nor drink.  His mother came to him and conjured him, till he broke his
+fast, and besought him to leave weeping; but he hearkened not to her and
+continued to shed tears and lament, whilst she strove to comfort him and he
+heeded her not.  Then he recited these couplets,[FN#102]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Beareth for love a burden sore this soul of me, * Could break a<br/>
+
+     mortal's back however strong that be;<br/>
+
+I am distraught to see my case and languor grows * Making my day<br/>
+
+     and night indifferent in degree:<br/>
+
+I own to having dreaded Death before this day: * This day I hold<br/>
+
+     my death mine only remedy."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Hasan ceased not to do thus till daybreak, when his eyes closed and he saw
+in a dream his wife grief-full and repentant for that which she had done.  So
+he started up from sleep crying out and reciting these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Their image bides with me, ne'er quits me, ne'er shall fly; *<br/>
+
+     But holds within my heart most honourable stead;<br/>
+
+But for reunion-hope, I'd see me die forthright, * And but for<br/>
+
+     phantom-form of thee my sleep had fled."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as morning morrowed he redoubled his lamentations.  He abode weeping-eyed
+and heavy-hearted, wakeful by night and eating little, for a whole month, at
+the end of which he bethought him to repair to his sisters and take counsel
+with them in the matter of his wife, so haply they might help him to regain
+her. Accordingly he summoned the dromedaries and loading fifty of them with
+rarities of Al-Irak, committed the house to his mother's care and deposited all
+his goods in safe keeping, except some few he left at home.  Then he mounted
+one of the beasts and set out on his journey single handed, intent upon
+obtaining aidance from the Princesses, and he stayed not till he reached the
+Palace of the Mountain of Clouds, when he went in to the damsels and gave them
+the presents in which they rejoiced. Then they wished him joy of his safety and
+said to him, "O our brother, what can ail thee to come again so soon, seeing
+thou wast with us but two months since?"  Whereupon he wept and improvised
+these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"My soul for loss of lover sped I sight; * Nor life enjoying<br/>
+
+     neither  life's delight:<br/>
+
+My case is one whose cure is all unknown; * Can any cure the sick<br/>
+
+     but doctor wight?<br/>
+
+O who hast reft my sleep-joys, leaving me * To ask the breeze<br/>
+
+     that blew from that fair site,—<br/>
+
+Blew from my lover's land (the land that owns * Those charms so<br/>
+
+     sore a grief in soul excite),<br/>
+
+'O breeze, that visitest her land, perhaps * Breathing her scent,<br/>
+
+     thou mayst revive my sprite!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when he ended his verse he gave a great cry and fell down in a
+fainting-fit.  The Princesses sat round him, weeping over him, till he
+recovered and repeated these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Haply and happily may Fortune bend her rein * Bringing my love,<br/>
+
+     for Time's a freke of jealous strain;[FN#103]<br/>
+
+Fortune may prosper me, supply mine every want, * And bring a<br/>
+
+     blessing where before were ban and bane."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he wept till he fainted again, and presently coming to himself recited the
+two following couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"My wish, mine illness, mine unease! by Allah, own * Art thou<br/>
+
+     content? then I in love contented wone!<br/>
+
+Dost thou forsake me thus sans crime or sin * Meet me in ruth, I<br/>
+
+     pray, and be our parting gone."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he wept till he swooned away once more and when he revived he repeated
+these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Sleep fled me, by my side wake ever shows * And hoard of<br/>
+
+     tear-drops from these eyne aye flows;<br/>
+
+For love they weep with beads cornelian-like * And growth of<br/>
+
+     distance greater dolence grows:<br/>
+
+Lit up my longing, O my love, in me * Flames burning 'neath my<br/>
+
+     ribs with fiery throes!<br/>
+
+Remembering thee a tear I never shed * But in it thunder roars<br/>
+
+     and leven glows."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he wept till he fainted away a fourth time, and presently recovering,
+recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Ah! for lowe of love and longing suffer ye as suffer we? * Say,<br/>
+
+     as pine we and as yearn we for you are pining ye?<br/>
+
+Allah do the death of Love, what a bitter draught is his! * Would<br/>
+
+     I  wot of Love what plans and what projects nurseth he!<br/>
+
+Your faces radiant-fair though afar from me they shine, * Are<br/>
+
+     mirrored in our eyes whatsoever the distance be;<br/>
+
+My heart must ever dwell on the memories of your tribe; * And the<br/>
+
+     turtle-dove reneweth all as oft as moaneth she:<br/>
+
+Ho thou dove, who passest night-tide in calling on thy fere, *<br/>
+
+     Thou doublest my repine, bringing grief for company;<br/>
+
+And leavest thou mine eyelids with weeping unfulfilled * For the<br/>
+
+     dearlings who departed, whom we never more may see:<br/>
+
+I melt for the thought of you at every time and hour, * And I<br/>
+
+     long for you when Night showeth cheek of blackest blee."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now when his sister heard these words and saw his condition and how he lay
+fainting on the floor, she screamed and beat her face and the other Princesses
+hearing her scream came out and learning his misfortune and the transport of
+love and longing and the passion and distraction that possessed him they
+questioned him of his case.  He wept and told them what had befallen in his
+absence and how his wife had taken flight with her children, wherefore they
+grieved for him and asked him what she said at leave-taking. Answered he, "O my
+sisters, she said to my mother, 'Tell thy son, whenas he cometh to thee and the
+nights of severance upon him longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and
+meeting to see, and whenas the winds of love and longing shake him dolefully,
+let him fare in the Islands of Wak to me." When they heard his words they
+signed one to other with their eyes and shook their heads, and each looked at
+her sister, whilst Hasan looked at them all.  Then they bowed their heads
+groundwards and bethought themselves awhile; after which they raised their
+heads and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
+Glorious, the Great!"; presently adding, "Put forth thy hand to heaven and when
+thou reach thither, then shalt thou win to thy wife.—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Princesses
+said to Hasan, "Put forth thy hand to Heaven and when thou reach thither, then
+shalt thou win to wife and children," thereat the tears ran down his cheeks
+like rain and wet his clothes, and he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Pink cheeks and eyes enpupil'd black have dealt me sore<br/>
+
+     despight; * And whenas wake overpowered sleep my patience<br/>
+
+     fled in fright:<br/>
+
+The fair and sleek-limbed maidens hard of heart withal laid waste<br/>
+
+     * My very bones till not a breath is left for man to sight:<br/>
+
+Houris, who fare with gait of grace as roes o'er sandy-mound: *<br/>
+
+     Did Allah's saints behold their charms they'd doat thereon<br/>
+
+     forthright;<br/>
+
+Faring as fares the garden breeze that bloweth in the dawn. * For<br/>
+
+     love of them a sore unrest and troubles rack my sprite:<br/>
+
+I hung my hopes upon a maid, a loveling fair of them, * For whom<br/>
+
+     my heart still burns with lowe in Lazá-hell they light;—<br/>
+
+A dearling soft of sides and haught and graceful in her gait, *<br/>
+
+     Her grace is white as morning, but her hair is black as<br/>
+
+     night:<br/>
+
+She stirreth me!  But ah, how many heroes have her cheeks *<br/>
+
+     Upstirred for love, and eke her eyes that mingle black and<br/>
+
+     white."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he wept, whilst the Princesses wept for his weeping, and they were moved
+to compassion and jealousy for him.  So they fell to comforting him and
+exhorting him to patience and offering up prayers for his reunion with his
+wife; whilst his sister said to him, "O my brother, be of good cheer and keep
+thine eyes cool and clear and be patient; so shalt thou win thy will; for whoso
+hath patience and waiteth, that he seeketh attaineth.  Patience holdeth the
+keys of relief and indeed the poet saith,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Let destiny with slackened rein its course appointed fare!  And<br/>
+
+     lie thou down to sleep by night, with heart devoid of care;<br/>
+
+For 'twixt the closing of an eye and th' opening thereof, God<br/>
+
+     hath it in His power to change a case from foul to<br/>
+
+     fair."[FN#104]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So hearten thy heart and brace up thy resolve, for the son of ten years dieth
+not in the ninth.[FN#105]  Weeping and grief and mourning gender sickness and
+disease; wherefore do thou abide with us till thou be rested, and I will devise
+some device for thy winning to thy wife and children, Inshallah—so it please
+Allah the Most High!"  And he wept sore and recited these verses,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"An I be healed of disease in frame, * I'm unhealed of illness in<br/>
+
+     heart and sprite:<br/>
+
+There is no healing disease of love, * Save lover and loved one<br/>
+
+     to re-unite."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he sat down beside her and she proceeded to talk with him and comfort him
+and question him of the cause and the manner of his wife's departure. So he
+told her and she said, "By Allah, O my brother, I was minded to bid thee burn
+the feather-dress, but Satan made me forget it."  She ceased not to converse
+with him and caress him and company with him other ten days, whilst sleep
+visited him not and he delighted not in food; and when the case was longsome
+upon him and unrest waxed in him, he versified with these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A beloved familiar o'erreigns my heart * And Allah's ruling<br/>
+
+     reigns evermore:<br/>
+
+She hath all the Arabs' united charms * This gazelle who feeds on<br/>
+
+     my bosom's core.<br/>
+
+Though my skill and patience for love of her fail, * I weep<br/>
+
+     whilst I wot that 'tis vain to deplore.<br/>
+
+The dearling hath twice seven years, as though * She were moon of<br/>
+
+     five nights and of five plus four."[FN#106]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the youngest Princess saw him thus distracted for love and longing-for
+passion and the fever-heat of desire, she went in to her sisterhood
+weeping-eyed and woeful-hearted, and shedding copious tears threw herself upon
+them, kissed their feet and besought them to devise some device for bringing
+Hasan to the Islands of Wak and effecting his reunion with his wife and wees.
+She ceased not to conjure them to further her brother in the accomplishment of
+his  desire and to weep before them, till she made them weep and they said to
+her, "Hearten thy heart:  we will do our best endeavour to bring about his
+reunion with his family, Inshallah!" And he abode with them a whole year,
+during which his eyes never could retain their tears.  Now the sisterhood had
+an uncle, brother-german to their sire and his name was Abd al-Kaddús, or Slave
+of the Most Holy; and he loved the eldest with exceeding love and was wont to
+visit her once a year and do all she desired. They had told him of Hasan's
+adventure with the Magian and how he had been able to slay him; whereat he
+rejoiced and gave the eldest Princess a pouch[FN#107] which contained certain
+perfumes, saying, "O daughter of my brother, an thou be in concern for aught,
+or if aught irk thee, or thou stand in any need, cast of these perfumes upon
+fire naming my name and I will be with thee forthright and will do thy desire."
+This speech was spoken on the first of Moharram[FN#108]; and the eldest
+Princess said to one of the sisterhood, "Lo, the year is wholly past and my
+uncle is not come.  Rise, bring me the fire-sticks and the box of perfumes." So
+the damsel arose rejoicing and, fetching what she sought, laid it before her
+sister, who opened the box and taking thence a little of the perfume, cast it
+into the fire, naming her unde's name; nor was it burnt out ere appeared a
+dust-cloud at the farther end of the Wady; and presently lifting, it discovered
+a Shaykh riding on an elephant, which moved at a swift and easy pace, and
+trumpeted under the rider.  As soon as he came within sight of the Princesses,
+he began making signs to them with his hands and feet; nor was it long ere he
+reached the castle and, alighting from the elephant, came in to them, whereupon
+they embraced him and kissed his hands and saluted him with the salam.  Then he
+sat down, whilst the girls talked with him and questioned him of his absence.
+Quoth he, "I was sitting but now with my wife, your aunt, when I smelt the
+perfumes and hastened to you on this elephant.  What wouldst thou, O daughter
+of my brother?"  Quoth she, "O uncle, indeed we longed for thee, as the year is
+past and 'tis not thy wont to be absent from us more than a twelvemonth."
+Answered he, "I was busy, but I purposed to come to you to-morrow." Wherefore
+they thanked him and blessed him and sat talking with him.—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundredth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the girls sat down
+to chat with their uncle the eldest said to him, "O my uncle, we told thee the
+tale of Hasan of Bassorah, whom Bahram the Magian brought and how he slew the
+wizard and how, after enduring all manner of hardships and horrors, he made
+prize of the Supreme King's daughter and took her to wife and journeyed with
+her to his native land?" Replied he, "Yes, and what befel him after that?"
+Quoth the Princess, "She played him false after he was blest with two sons by
+her; for she took them in his absence and fled with them to her own country,
+saying to his mother: 'Whenas thy son returneth to thee and asketh for me and
+upon him the nights of severance longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and
+meeting to see and whenas the breezes of love and longing shake him dolefully,
+let him come in the Islands of Wak to me.'" When Abd al-Kaddus heard this, he
+shook his head and bit his forefinger; then, bowing his brow groundwards he
+began to make marks on the earth with his finger-tips;[FN#109] after which he
+again shook his head and looked right and left and shook his head a third time,
+whilst Hasan watched him from a place where he was hidden from him.  Then said
+the Princesses to their uncle, "Return us some answer, for our hearts are rent
+in sunder." But he shook his head at them, saying, "O my daughters, verily hath
+this man wearied himself in vain and cast himself into grievous predicament and
+sore peril; for he may not gain access to the Islands of Wak." With this the
+Princesses called Hasan, who came forth and, advancing to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus,
+kissed his hand and saluted him.  The old man rejoiced in him and seated him by
+his side; whereupon quoth the damsels, "O uncle, acquaint our brother Hasan
+with that thou hast told us."  So he said to Hasan, "O my son, put away from
+thee this peine forte et dure; for thou canst never gain access to the Islands
+of Wak, though the Flying Jinn and the Wandering Stars were with thee; for that
+betwixt thee and these islands are seven Wadys and seven seas and seven mighty
+mountains.  How then canst thou come at this stead and who shall bring thee
+thither?  Wherefore, Allah upon thee, O my son, do thou reckon thy spouse and
+sons as dead and turn back forthright and weary not thy sprite!  Indeed, I give
+thee good counsel, an thou wilt but accept it."  Hearing these words from the
+Shaykh, Hasan wept till he fainted, and the Princesses sat round him, weeping
+for his weeping, whilst the youngest sister rent her raiment and buffeted her
+face, till she swooned away.  When Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus saw them in this
+transport of grief and trouble and mourning, he was moved to ruth for them and
+cried, "Be ye silent!"  Then said he to Hasan, "O my son, hearten thy heart and
+rejoice in the winning of thy wish, an it be the will of Allah the Most High;"
+presently adding, "Rise, O my son, take courage and follow me."  So Hasan arose
+forthright and after he had taken leave of the Princesses followed him,
+rejoicing in the fulfilment of his wish. Then the Shaykh called the elephant
+and mounting, took Hasan up behind him and fared on three days with their
+nights, like the blinding leven, till he came to a vast blue mountain, whose
+stones were all of azure hue and amiddlemost of which was a cavern, with a door
+of Chinese iron.  Here he took Hasan's hand and let him down and alighting
+dismissed the elephant.  Then he went up to the door and knocked, whereupon it
+opened and there came out to him a black slave, hairless, as he were an Ifrit,
+with brand in right hand and targe of steel in left.  When he saw Abd
+al-Kaddus, he threw sword and buckler from his grip and coming up to the Shaykh
+kissed his hand.  Thereupon the old man took Hasan by the hand and entered with
+him, whilst the slave shut the door behind them; when Hasan found himself in a
+vast cavern and a spacious, through which ran an arched corridor and they
+ceased not faring on therein a mile or so, till it abutted upon a great open
+space and thence they made for an angle of the mountain wherein were two huge
+doors cast of solid brass.  The old man opened one of them and said to Hasan,
+"Sit at the door, whilst I go within and come back to thee in haste, and beware
+lest thou open it and enter." Then he fared inside and, shutting the door after
+him, was absent during a full sidereal hour, after which he returned, leading a
+black stallion, thin of flank and short of nose, which was ready bridled and
+saddled, with velvet housings; and when it ran it flew, and when it flew, the
+very dust in vain would pursue; and brought it to Hasan, saying, "Mount!" So he
+mounted and Abd al-Kaddus opened the second door, beyond which appeared a vast
+desert.  Then the twain passed through the door into that desert and the old
+man said to him, "O my son, take this scroll and wend thou whither this steed
+will carry thee.  When thou seest him stop at the door of a cavern like this,
+alight and throw the reins over the saddle-bow and let him go.  He will enter
+the cavern, which do thou not enter with him, but tarry at the door five days,
+without being weary of waiting.  On the sixth day there will come forth to thee
+a black Shaykh, clad all in sable, with a long white beard, flowing down to his
+navel. As soon as thou seest him, kiss his hands and seize his skirt and lay it
+on thy head and weep before him, till he take pity on thee and he will ask thee
+what thou wouldst have.  When he saith to thee, 'What is thy want?' give him
+this scroll which he will take without speaking and go in and leave thee.  Wait
+at the door other five days, without wearying, and on the sixth day expect him;
+and if he come out to thee himself, know that thy wish will be won, but, if one
+of his pages come forth to thee, know that he who cometh forth to thee,
+purposeth to kill thee; and—the Peace![FN#110]  For know, O my son, that whoso
+self imperilleth doeth himself to death;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and First Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after handing the
+scroll to Hasan, Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus told him what would befal him and said,
+"Whoso self imperilleth doeth himself to death; but also who ventureth naught
+advantageth naught. However an thou fear for thy life, cast it not into danger
+of destruction; but, an thou fear not, up and do thy will, for I have expounded
+to thee the whole case.  Yet shouldest thou be minded to return to thy friends
+the elephant is still here and he will carry thee to my nieces, who will
+restore thee to thy country and return thee to thy home, and Allah will
+vouchsafe thee a better than this girl, of whom thou art enamoured." Hasan
+answered the Shaykh, saying, "And how shall life be sweet to me, except I win
+my wish?  By Allah, I will never turn back, till I regain my beloved or my
+death overtake me!" And he wept and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"For loss of lover mine and stress of love I dree, * I stood<br/>
+
+     bewailing self in deep despondency.<br/>
+
+Longing for him, the Spring-camp's dust I kissed and kissed, *<br/>
+
+     But this bred more of grief and galling reverie.<br/>
+
+God guard the gone, who in our hearts must e'er abide * With<br/>
+
+     nearing woes and joys which still the farther flee.<br/>
+
+They say me, 'Patience!' But they bore it all away: * On<br/>
+
+     parting-day, and left me naught save tormentry.<br/>
+
+And naught affrighted me except the word he said, * 'Forget me<br/>
+
+     not when gone nor drive from memory.'<br/>
+
+To whom shall turn I? hope in whom when you are lost? * Who were<br/>
+
+     my only hopes and joys and woes of me?<br/>
+
+But ah, the pang of home-return when parting thus! * How joyed at<br/>
+
+     seeing me return mine enemy.<br/>
+
+Then well-away! this 'twas I guarded me against! * And ah, thou<br/>
+
+     lowe of Love double thine ardency![FN#111]<br/>
+
+An fled for aye my friends I'll not survive the flight; * Yet an<br/>
+
+     they deign return, Oh joy!  Oh ecstacy!<br/>
+
+Never, by Allah tears and weeping I'll contain * For loss of you,<br/>
+
+     but tears on tears and tears will rain."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Abd al-Kaddus heard his verse he knew that he would not turn back from his
+desire nor would words have effect on him, and was certified that naught would
+serve him but he must imperil himself, though it lose him his life.  So he said
+to him, "Know, O my son, that the Islands of Wak are seven islands, wherein is
+a mighty host, all virgin girls, and the Inner Isles are peopled by Satans and
+Marids and warlocks and various tribesmen of the Jinn; and whoso entereth their
+land never returneth thence; at least none hath done so to this day.  So, Allah
+upon thee, return presently to thy people, for know that she whom thou seekest
+is the King's daughter of all these islands: and how canst thou attain to her? 
+Hearken to me, O my son, and haply Allah will vouchsafe thee in her stead a
+better than she."  "O my lord," answered Hasan, though for the love of her I
+were cut in pieces yet should I but redouble in love and transport!  There is
+no help but that I enter the Wak Islands and come to the sight of my wife and
+children; and Inshallah, I will not return save with her and with them." Said
+the Shaykh, "Then nothing will serve thee but thou must make the journey?"
+Hasan replied "Nothing! and I only ask of thee thy prayers for help and
+aidance; so haply Allah will reunite me with my wife and children right soon."
+Then he wept for stress of longing and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"You are my wish, of creatures brightest-light * I deem you lief<br/>
+
+     as hearing, fain as sight:<br/>
+
+You hold my heart which hath become your home * And since you<br/>
+
+     left me, lords, right sore's my plight:<br/>
+
+Then think not I have yielded up your love, * Your love which set<br/>
+
+     this wretch in fierce affright:<br/>
+
+You went and went my joy whenas you went; * And waned and wax'ed<br/>
+
+     wan the brightest light:<br/>
+
+You left me lone to watch the stars in woe: * Railing tears<br/>
+
+     likest rain-drops infinite.<br/>
+
+Thou'rt longsome to the wight, who pining lies * On wake,<br/>
+
+     moon-gazing through the night,<br/>
+
+O Night! Wind! an thou pass the tribe where they abide * Give<br/>
+
+     them my greeting, life is fain of flight.<br/>
+
+And tell them somewhat of the pangs I bear: * The loved one<br/>
+
+     kenneth not my case aright."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he wept with sore weeping till he fainted away; and when he came to
+himself, Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus said to him, "O my son, thou hast a mother; make
+her not taste the torment of thy loss." Hasan replied, "By Allah, O my lord, I
+will never return except with my wife, or my death shall overtake me." And he
+wept and wailed and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"By Love's right! naught of farness thy slave can estrange * Nor<br/>
+
+     am I one to fail in my fealty:<br/>
+
+I suffer such pains did I tell my case * To folk, they'd cry,<br/>
+
+     'Madness! clean witless is he!'<br/>
+
+Then ecstasy, love-longing, transport and lowe! * Whose case is<br/>
+
+     such case how shall ever he be?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With this the old man knew that he would not turn from his purpose, though it
+cost him his life; so he handed him the scroll and prayed for him and charged
+him how he should do, saying "I have in this letter given a strict charge
+concerning thee to Abú al-Ruwaysh,[FN#112] son of Bilkís, daughter of Mu'in,
+for he is my Shaykh and my teacher, and all, men and Jinn, humble themselves to
+him and stand in awe of him.  And now go with the blessing of God." Hasan
+forthright set out giving the horse the rein, and it flew off with him
+swiftlier than lightning, and stayed not in its course ten days, when he saw
+before him a vast loom black as night, walling the world from East to West.  As
+he neared it, the stallion neighed under him, whereupon there flocked to it
+horses in number as the drops of rain, none could tell their tale or against
+them prevail, and fell to rubbing themselves against it.  Hasan was affrighted
+at them and fared forwards surrounded by the horses, without drawing rein till
+he came to the cavern which Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus had described to him.  The
+steed stood still at the door and Hasan alighted and bridged the bridle over
+the saddle-bow[FN#113]; whereupon the steed entered the cavern, whilst the
+rider abode without, as the old man had charged him, pondering the issue of his
+case in perplexity and distraction and unknowing what would befal him.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Second Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan, dismounting
+from the steed, stood at the cavern-mouth pondering the issue of his case and
+unknowing what might befal him.  He abode standing on the same spot five days
+with their nights, sleepless, mournful, tearful-eyed; distracted, perplexed,
+pondering his severance from home and family, comrades and friends, with
+weeping eye-lids and heavy heart. Then he bethought him of his mother and of
+what might yet happen to him and of his separation from his wife and children
+and of all that he had suffered, and he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"With you is my heart-cure a heart that goes; * And from<br/>
+
+     hill-foot of eyelids the tear-rill flows:<br/>
+
+And parting and sorrow and exile and dole * And farness from<br/>
+
+     country and throe that o'erthrows:<br/>
+
+Naught am I save a lover distracted by love, * Far parted from<br/>
+
+     loved one and wilted by woes.<br/>
+
+And 'tis Love that hath brought me such sorrow, say where * Is<br/>
+
+     the noble of soul who such sorrow unknows?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Hardly had Hasan made an end of his verses, when out came the Shaykh Abu
+al-Ruwaysh, a blackamoor and clad in black raiment, and at first sight he knew
+him by the description that Abd al-Kaddus had given him.  He threw himself at
+his feet and rubbed his cheeks on them and seizing his skirt, laid it on his
+head and wept before him.  Quoth the old man, "What wantest thou, O my son?"
+Whereupon he put out his hand to him with the letter, and Abu al-Ruwaysh took
+it and re-entered the cavern, without making him any answer.  So Hasan sat down
+at the cave-mouth in his place other five days as he had been bidden, whilst
+concern grew upon him and terror redoubled on him and restlessness gat hold of
+him, and he fell to weeping and bemoaning himself for the anguish of
+estrangement and much watching. And he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Glory to Him who guides the skies! * The lover sore in sorrow<br/>
+
+     lies.<br/>
+
+Who hath not tasted of Love's food * Knows not what mean its<br/>
+
+     miseries.<br/>
+
+Did I attempt to stem my tears * Rivers of blood would fount and<br/>
+
+     rise.<br/>
+
+How many an intimate is hard * Of heart, and pains in sorest<br/>
+
+     wise!<br/>
+
+An she with me her word would keep, * Of tears and sighs I'd fain<br/>
+
+     devise,<br/>
+
+But I'm forgone, rejected quite * Ruin on me hath cast her eyes.<br/>
+
+At my fell pangs fell wildlings weep * And not a bird for me but<br/>
+
+     cries."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Hasan ceased not to weep till dawn of the sixth day, when Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh
+came forth to him, clad in white raiment, and with his hand signed[FN#114] to
+him to enter.  So he went in, rejoicing and assured of the winning of his wish,
+and the old man took him by the hand and leading him into the cavern, fared on
+with him half a day's journey, till they reached an arched doorway with a door
+of steel.  The Shaykh opened the door and they two entered a vestibule vaulted
+with onyx stones and arabesqued with gold, and they stayed not walking till
+they came to a great hall and a wide, paved and walled with marble.  In its
+midst was a flower-garden containing all manner trees and flowers and fruits,
+with birds warbling on the boughs and singing the praises of Allah the Almighty
+Sovran; and there were four daďses, each facing other, and in each daďs a
+jetting fountain, at whose corners stood lions of red gold, spouting gerbes
+from their mouths into the basin.  On each daďs stood a chair, whereon sat an
+elder, with exceeding store of books before him[FN#115] and censers of gold,
+containing fire and perfumes, and before each elder were students, who read the
+books to him.  Now when the twain entered, the elders rose to them and did them
+honour; whereupon Abu al-Ruwaysh signed to them to dismiss their scholars and
+they did so.  Then the four arose and seating themselves before that Shaykh,
+asked him of the case of Hasan to whom he said, "Tell the company thy tale and
+all that hath betided thee from the beginning of thine adventure to the end."
+So Hasan wept with sore weeping and related to them his story with Bahram;
+whereupon all the Shaykhs cried out and said, "Is this indeed he whom the
+Magian caused to climb the Mountain of Clouds by means of the vultures, sewn up
+in the camel-hide?" And Hasan said, "Yes."  So they turned to the Shaykh, Abu
+al-Ruwaysh and said to him, "O our Shaykh, of a truth Bahram contrived his
+mounting to the mountaintop; but how came he down and what marvels saw he
+there?" And Abu al-Ruwaysh said, "O Hasan, tell them how thou camest down and
+acquaint them with what thou sawest of marvels." So he told them all that had
+befallen him, first and last; how he had gotten the Magian into his power and
+slain him, how he had delivered the youth from him and sent him back to his own
+country, and how he had captured the King's daughter of the Jinn and married
+her; yet had she played him false and taken the two boys she had borne him and
+flown away; brief, he related to them all the hardships and horrors he had
+undergone; whereat they marvelled, each and every, and said to Abu al-Ruwaysh,
+"O elder of elders, verily by Allah, this youth is to be pitied!  But belike
+thou wilt aid him to recover his wife and wees."—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Third Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan told his
+tale to the elders, they said to Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh, "This youth is to be
+pitied and haply thou wilt aid him to recover his wife and wees." He replied,
+"O my brothers, in very sooth this is a grave matter and a perilous; and never
+saw I any loathe his life save this youth.  You know that the Islands of Wak
+are hard of access and that none may come to them but at risk of life; and ye
+know also the strength of their people and their guards.  Moreover I have sworn
+an oath not to tread their soil nor transgress against them in aught; so how
+shall this man come at the daughter of the Great King, and who hath power to
+bring him to her or help him in this matter?" Replied the other, "O Shaykh of
+Shaykhs, verily this man is consumed with desire and he hath endangered himself
+to bring thee a scroll from thy brother Abd al-Kaddus; wherefore it behoveth
+thee to help him." And Hasan arose and kissed Abu al-Ruwaysh's feet and raising
+the hem of his garment laid it on his head, weeping and crying, "I beseech
+thee, by Allah, to reunite me with my wife and children, though it cost me my
+life and my soul!"  The four elders all wept for his weeping and said to Abu
+al-Ruwaysh, "Deal generously with this unhappy and show him kindness for the
+sake of thy brother Abd al-Kaddus and profit by this occasion to earn reward
+from Allah for helping him." Quoth he, "This wilful youth weeteth not what he
+undertaketh; but Inshallah! we will help him after the measure of our means,
+nor leave aught feasible undone." When Hasan heard the Shaykh's word he
+rejoiced and kissed the hands of the five elders, one after other, imploring
+their aidance. Thereupon Abd al-Ruwaysh took inkcase and a sheet of paper and
+wrote a letter, which he sealed and gave to Hasan, together with a pouch of
+perfumed leather,[FN#116] containing incense and fire-sticks[FN#117] and other
+needs, and said to him, "Take strictest care of this pouch, and whenas thou
+fallest into any strait, burn a little of the incense therein and name my name,
+whereupon I will be with thee forthright and save thee from thy stress."
+Moreover, he bade one of those present fetch him an Ifrit of the Flying Jinn;
+and he did so incontinently; whereupon quoth Abu al-Ruwaysh to the fire-drake,
+"What is thy name!" Replied the Ifrit, "Thy thrall is hight Dahnash bin
+Faktash." And the Shaykh said "Draw near to me!" So Dahnash drew near to him
+and he put his mouth to his ear and said somewhat to him, whereat the Ifrit
+shook his head and answered, "I accept, O elder of elders!" Then said Abu
+al-Ruwaysh to Hasan, "Arise, O my son, mount the shoulders of this Ifrit,
+Dahnash the Flyer; but, when he heaveth thee heaven-wards and thou hearest the
+angels glorifying God a-welkin with 'Subhána 'lláh,' have a care lest thou do
+the like; else wilt thou perish and he too." Hasan replied, "I will not say a
+word; no, never;" and the old man continued, "O Hasan, after faring with thee
+all this day, to-morrow at peep of dawn he will set thee down in a land cleanly
+white, like unto camphor, whereupon do thou walk on ten days by thyself, till
+thou come to the gate of a city.  Then enter and enquire for the King of the
+city; and when thou comest to his presence, salute him with the salam and kiss
+his hand: then give him this scroll and consider well whatso he shall counsel
+thee." Hasan replied, "Hearing and obeying," and rose up and mounted the
+Ifrit's shoulders, whilst the elders rose and offered up prayers for him and
+commended him to the care of Dahnash the Firedrake. And when he had perched on
+the Flyer's back the Ifrit soared with him to the very confines of the sky,
+till he heard the angels glorifying God in Heaven, and flew on with him a day
+and a night till at dawn of the next day he set him down in a land white as
+camphor, and went his way, leaving him there.  When Hasan found himself in the
+land aforesaid with none by his side he fared on night and day for ten days,
+till he came to the gate of the city in question and entering, enquired for the
+King.  They directed him to him and told him that his name was King
+Hassún,[FN#118] Lord of the Land of Camphor, and that he had troops and
+soldiers enough to fill the earth in its length and breadth.  So he sought
+audience of him and, being admitted to his presence, found him a mighty King
+and kissed ground between his hands. Quoth the King, "What is thy want?"
+Whereupon Hasan kissed the letter and gave it to him.  The King read it and
+shook his head awhile, then said to one of his officers, "Take this youth and
+lodge him in the house of hospitality."  So he took him and stablished him in
+the guest-house, where he tarried three days, eating and drinking and seeing
+none but the eunuch who waited on him and who entertained him with discourse
+and cheered him with his company, questioning him of his case and how he came
+to that city; whereupon he told him his whole story, and the perilous condition
+wherein he was. On the fourth day, that eunuch carried him before the King, who
+said to him, "O Hasan, thou comest to me, seeking to enter the Islands of Wak,
+as the Shaykh of Shaykhs adviseth me. O my son, I would send thee thither this
+very day, but that by the way are many perils and thirsty wolds full of
+terrors; yet do thou have patience and naught save fair shall befal thee, for
+needs must I devise to bring thee to thy desire, Inshallah!  Know, O my son,
+that here is a mighty host,[FN#119] equipped with arms and steeds and warlike
+gear, who long to enter the Wak Islands and lack power thereto.  But, O my son,
+for the sake of the Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh, son of Bilkis,[FN#120] the daughter
+of Mu'in, I may not send thee back to him unfulfilled of thine affair. 
+Presently there will come to us ships from the Islands of Wak and the first
+that shall arrive I will send thee on board of her and give thee in charge to
+the sailors, so they may take care of thee and carry thee to the Islands.  If
+any question thee of thy case and condition, answer him saying, 'I am kinsman
+to King Hassun, Lord of the Land of Camphor;' and when the ship shall make fast
+to the shore of the Islands of Wak and the master shall bid thee land, do thou
+land.  Now as soon as thou comest ashore, thou wilt see a multitude of wooden
+settles all about the beach, of which do thou choose thee one and crouch under
+it and stir not.  And when dark night sets in, thou wilt see an army of women
+appear and flock about the goods landed from the ship, and one of them will sit
+down on the settle, under which thou hast hidden thyself, whereupon do thou put
+forth thy hand to her and take hold of her and implore her protection. And know
+thou, O my son, that an she accord thee protection, thou wilt win thy wish and
+regain thy wife and children; but, if she refuse to protect thee, make thy
+mourning for thyself and give up all hope of life, and make sure of death for
+indeed thou art a dead man.  Understand, O my son, that thou adventurest thy
+life and this is all I can do for thee, and—the peace!"—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said,  It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Hassun spake these
+words to Hasan and charged him as we have related, ending with, "This is all I
+can do for thee and know that except the Lord of Heaven had aided thee, thou
+hadst not come hither!" The youth wept till he swooned away, and when he
+recovered, he recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A term decreed my lot I 'spy; * And, when its days shall end, I<br/>
+
+     die.<br/>
+
+Though lions fought with me in lair * If Time be mine I'd beat<br/>
+
+     them, I!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then having ended his verse he kissed the ground before the Sovran and said to
+him, "O mighty King, how many days remain till the coming of the ships?"
+Replied the other, "In a month's time they will come and will tarry here,
+selling their cargueson, other two months, after which they will return to
+their own country; so hope not to set out save after three whole months." Then
+the King bade him return to the house of hospitality and bade supply him with
+all that he needed of meat and drink and raiment fit for Kings.  Hasan abode in
+the guest-house a month, at the end of which the vessels arrived and the King
+and the merchants went forth to them, taking Hasan with them. Amongst them he
+saw a ship with much people therein, like the shingles for number; none knew
+their tale save He who created them.  She was anchored in mid-harbour and had
+cocks which transported her lading to the shore.  So Hasan abode till the crew
+had landed all the goods and sold and bought and to the time of departure there
+wanted but three days; whereupon the King sent for him and equipped him with
+all he required and gave him  great gifts: after which he summoned the captain
+of the great ship and said to him, "Take this youth with thee in the vessel, so
+none may know of him save thou, and carry him to the Islands of Wak and leave
+him there; and bring him not back."  And the Rais said, "To hear is to obey:
+with love and gladness!" Then quoth the King to Hasan, "Look thou tell none of
+those who are with thee in the ship thine errand nor discover to them aught of
+thy case; else thou art a lost man;" and quoth he, "Hearing and obedience!"
+With this he farewelled the King, after he had wished him long life and victory
+over his enviers and his enemies; wherefore the King thanked him and wished him
+safety and the winning of his wish. Then he committed him to the captain, who
+laid him in a chest which he embarked in a dinghy, and bore him aboard, whilst
+the folk were busy in breaking bulk and no man doubted but the chest contained
+somewhat of merchandise.  After this, the vessels set sail and fared on without
+ceasing ten days, and on the eleventh day they made the land.  So the Rais set
+Hasan ashore and, as he walked up the beach, he saw wooden settles[FN#121]
+without number, none knew their count save Allah, even as the King had told
+him. He went on, till he came to one that had no fellow and hid under it till
+nightfall, when there came up a mighty many of women, as they were locusts
+over-swarming the land and they marched afoot and armed cap-ŕ-pie in hauberks
+and strait-knit coats of mail hending drawn swords in their hands, who, seeing
+the merchandise landed from the ships, busied themselves therewith. Presently
+they sat down to rest themselves, and one of them seated herself on the settle
+under which Hasan had crouched: whereupon he took hold of the hem of her
+garment and laid it on his head and throwing himself before her, fell to
+kissing her hands and feet and weeping and crying, "Thy protection! thy
+good-will!" Quoth she, "Ho, thou!  Arise and stand up, ere any see thee and
+slay thee." So he came forth and springing up kissed her hands and wept and
+said to her, "O my mistress, I am under thy protection!"; adding, "Have ruth on
+one who is parted from his people and wife and children, one who hath haste to
+rejoin them and one who adventureth life and soul for their sake! Take pity on
+me and be assured that therefor Paradise will be thy reward; or, an thou wilt
+not receive me, I beseech thee, by Allah the Great, the Concealer, to conceal
+my case!" The merchants stared to see him talking with her; and she, hearing
+his words and beholding his humility, was moved to ruth for him; her heart
+inclined to him and she knew that he had not ventured himself and come to that
+place, save for a grave matter.  So she said to him, "O my son, be of good
+cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear, hearten thy heart and take courage
+and return to thy hiding-place till the coming night, and Allah shall do as He
+will." Then she took leave of him and Hasan crept under the wooden settle as
+before, whilst the troops lighted flambeaux of wax mixed with aloes-wood and
+Nadd-perfume and crude ambergris[FN#122] and passed the night in sport and
+delight till the morning.  At daybreak, the boats returned to the shore and the
+merchants busied themselves with buying and selling and the transport of the
+goods and gear till nightfall, whilst Hasan lay hidden beneath the settle,
+weeping-eyed and woeful-hearted, knowing not what was decreed to him in the
+secret preordainment of Allah.  As he was thus, behold, the merchant-woman with
+whom he had taken refuge came up to him and giving him a habergeon and a
+helmet, a spear, a sword and a gilded girdle, bade him don them and seat
+himself on the settle after which she left him, for fear of the troops. So he
+arose and donned the mail-coat and helmet and clasped the girdle about his
+middle; then he slung the sword over his shoulder till it hung under his
+armpit, and taking the spear in his hand, sat down on that settle, whilst his
+tongue neglected not to name Allah Almighty and call on Him for protection.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan received
+the weapons which the merchant-woman had given to him, saying, "Sit thee upon
+the settle and let none wot thy case," he armed himself and took his seat,
+whilst his tongue neglected not to name Allah Almighty and to call upon Him for
+protection.  And behold, there appeared cressets and lanthorns and flambeaux
+and up came the army of women.  So he arose and mingling with them, became as
+one of them.  A little before daybreak, they set out, and Hasan with them, and
+fared on till they came to their camp, where they dispersed each to her tent,
+and Hasan followed one of them and lo! it was hers for whose protection he had
+prayed.  When she entered, she threw down her arms and doffed her hauberk and
+veil.  So Hasan did the like and looking at his companion, saw her to be a
+grizzled old woman blue-eyed and big-nosed, a calamity of calamities, the
+foulest of all created things, with face pock-marked and eyebrows bald,
+gap-toothed and chap-fallen, with hair hoary, nose running and mouth
+slavering;[FN#123] even as saith the like of her the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"In her cheek-corners nine calamities * Wone, and when shown,<br/>
+
+     each one Jehannam is:<br/>
+
+Hideous the face and favour foulest foul * As cheek of hog; yea,<br/>
+
+     'tis a cesspool phiz."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And indeed she was like a pied snake or a scald she-wolf.  Now when the old
+woman looked at Hasan, she marvelled and said, "How came this one to these
+lands and in which of the ships was he and how arrived he hither in safety?" 
+And she fell to questioning him of his case and admiring at his arrival,
+whereupon he fell at her feet and rubbed his face on them and wept till he
+fainted; and, when he recovered himself, he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"When will Time grant we meet, when shall we be * Again united<br/>
+
+     after severance stark?<br/>
+
+And I shall win my choicest wish and view? * Blame end and Love<br/>
+
+     abide without remark?<br/>
+
+Were Nile to flow as freely as my tears, * 'Twould leave no<br/>
+
+     region but with water-mark:<br/>
+
+'Twould overthrow Hijaz and Egypt-land * 'Twould deluge Syria and<br/>
+
+     'twould drown Irák.<br/>
+
+This, O my love, is caused by thy disdain, * Be kind and promise<br/>
+
+     meeting fair and fain!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he took the crone's skirt and laid it on his head and fell to weeping and
+craving her protection.  When she saw his ardency and transport and anguish and
+distress, her heart softened to him and she promised him her safeguard, saying,
+"Have no fear whatsoever." Then she questioned him of his case and he told her
+the manner of his coming thither and all that had befallen him from beginning
+to end, whereat she marvelled and said, "This that hath betide thee, methinks,
+never betided any save thyself and except thou hadst been vouchsafed the
+especial protection of Allah, thou hadst not been saved: but now, O my son,
+take comfort and be of good courage; thou hast nothing more to fear, for indeed
+thou hast won thy wish and attained thy desire, if it please the Most High!" 
+Thereat Hasan rejoiced with joy exceeding and she sent to summon the captains
+of the army to her presence, and it was the last day of the month.  So they
+presented themselves and the old woman said to them, "Go out and proclaim to
+all the troops that they come forth to-morrow at daybreak and let none tarry
+behind, for whoso tarryeth shall be slain." They replied, "We hear and we
+obey," and going forth, made proclamation to all the host anent a review next
+morning, even as she bade them, after which they returned and told her of this;
+whereby Hasan knew that she was the Commander-in-chief of the army and the
+Viceregent in authority over them; and her name was Shawahí the Fascinator,
+entituled Umm al-Dawáhi, or Mother of Calamities.[FN#124] She ceased not to bid
+and forbid and Hasan doffed not off his arms from his body that day.  Now when
+the morning broke, all the troops fared forth from their places, but the old
+woman came not out with them, and as soon as they were sped and the stead was
+clear of them, she said to Hasan, "Draw near unto me, O my son[FN#125]." So he
+drew near unto her and stood between her hands.  Quoth she, "Why and wherefore
+hast thou adventured thyself so boldly as to enter this land, and how came thy
+soul to consent to its own undoing?  Tell me the truth and the whole truth and
+fear aught of ill come of it, for thou hast my plighted word and I am moved to
+compassion for thy case and pity thee and have taken thee under my protection. 
+So, if thou tell me the truth, I will help thee to win thy wish, though it
+involve the undoing of souls and the destruction of bodies; and since thou hast
+come to seek me, no hurt shall betide thee from me, nor will I suffer any to
+have at thee with harm of all who be in the Islands of Wak." So he told her his
+tale from first to last, acquainting her with the matter of his wife and of the
+birds; how he had captured her as his prize from amongst the ten and married
+her and abode with her, till she had borne him two sons, and how she had taken
+her children and flown away with them, whenas she knew the way to the
+feather-dress.  Brief, he concealed from her no whit of his case, from the
+beginning to that day.  But when Shawahi heard his relation, she shook her head
+and said to him, "Glory be to God who hath brought thee hither in safety and
+made thee hap upon me!  For, hadst thou happened on any but myself, thou hadst
+lost thy life without winning thy wish; but the truth of thine intent and thy
+fond affection and the excess of thy love-longing for thy wife and yearning for
+thy children, these it was that have brought thee to the attainment of thine
+aim.  Didst thou not love her and love her to distraction, thou hadst not thus
+imperilled thyself, and Alhamdolillah—Praised be Allah—for thy safety! 
+Wherefore it behoveth us to do thy desire and conduce to thy quest, so thou
+mayst presently attain that thou seekest, if it be the will of Almighty Allah. 
+But know, O my son, that thy wife is not here, but in the seventh of the
+Islands of Wak and between us and it is seven months' journey, night and day.
+From here we go to an island called the Land of Birds, wherein, for the loud
+crying of the birds and the flapping of their wings, one cannot hear other
+speak."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman said to
+Hasan, "Indeed thy wife is in the Seventh Island,[FN#126] the greatest amongst
+the Islands of Wak and betwixt us and it is a seven-months' journey.  From here
+we fare for the Land of Birds, whereon for the force of their flying and the
+flapping of their wings, we cannot hear one other speak. Over that country we
+journey night and day, eleven days, after which we come forth of it to another
+called the Land of Ferals where, for stress of roaring of lions and howling of
+wolves and laughing of hyćnas and the crying of other beasts of prey we shall
+hear naught, and therein we travel twenty days' journey. Then we issue
+therefrom and come to a third country, called the Land of the Jánn, where, for
+stress of the crying of the Jinn and the flaming of fires and the flight of
+sparks and smoke from their mouths and the noise of their groaning and their
+arrogance in blocking up the road before us, our ears will be deafened and our
+eyes blinded, so that we shall neither hear nor see, nor dare any look behind
+him, or he perisheth: but there horseman boweth head on saddle-bow and raiseth
+it not for three days.  After this, we abut upon a mighty mountain and a
+running river contiguous with the Isles of Wak, which are seven in number and
+the extent whereof is a whole year's journey for a well-girt horseman.  And
+thou must know, O my son, that these troops are all virgin girls, and that the
+ruler over us is a woman of the Archipelago of Wak. On the bank of the river
+aforesaid is another mountain, called Mount Wak, and it is thus named by reason
+of a tree which beareth fruits like heads of the Sons of Adam.[FN#127] When the
+sun riseth on them, the heads cry out all, saying in their cries:— 'Wak!  Wak! 
+Glory be to the Creating King, Al-Khallák!' And when we hear their crying, we
+know that the sun is risen.  In like manner, at sundown, the heads set up the
+same cry, 'Wak! Wak!  Glory to Al-Khallak!' and so we know that the sun hath
+set.  No man may abide with us or reach to us or tread our earth; and betwixt
+us and the abiding-place of the Queen who ruleth over us is a month's journey
+from this shore, all the lieges whereof are under her hand, as are also the
+tribes of the Jinn, Marids and Satans, while of the warlocks none kenneth the
+number save He who created them.  Wherefore, an thou be afraid, I will send
+with thee one who will convey thee to the coast and there bring one who will
+embark thee on board a ship that bear thee to thine own land.  But an thou be
+content to tarry with us, I will not forbid thee and thou shalt be with me in
+mine eye,[FN#128] till thou win thy wish, Inshallah!" Quoth he, "O my lady, I
+will never quit thee till I foregather with my wife or lose my life!"; and
+quoth she, "This is a light matter; be of good heart, for soon shalt thou come
+to thy desire, Allah willing; and there is no help but that I let the Queen
+know of thee, that she may help thee to attain thine aim." Hasan blessed her
+and kissed her head and hands, thanking her for her good deed and exceeding
+kindness and firm will.  Then he set out with her, pondering the issue of his
+case and the horrors of his strangerhood; wherefore he fell a-weeping and
+a-wailing and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A Zephyr bloweth from the lover's site; * And thou canst view me<br/>
+
+     in the saddest plight:<br/>
+
+The Night of Union is as brilliant morn; * And black the<br/>
+
+     Severance-day as blackest night:<br/>
+
+Farewelling friend is sorrow sorest sore * Parting from lover's<br/>
+
+     merest undelight.<br/>
+
+I will not blame her harshness save to her, * And 'mid mankind<br/>
+
+     nor friend nor fere I sight:<br/>
+
+How can I be consoled for loss of you? * Base censor's blame<br/>
+
+     shall not console my sprite!<br/>
+
+O thou in charms unique, unique's my love; * O peerless thou, my<br/>
+
+     heart hath peerless might!<br/>
+
+Who maketh semblance that he loveth you * And dreadeth blame is<br/>
+
+     most blame-worthy wight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the old woman bade beat the kettle-drums for departure and the army set
+out.  Hasan fared with her, drowned in the sea of solicitude and reciting
+verses like those above, whilst she strave to comfort him and exhorted him to
+patience; but he awoke not from his tristesse and heeded not her exhortations. 
+They journeyed thus till they came to the boundaries of the Land of
+Birds[FN#129] and when they entered it, it seemed to Hasan as if the world were
+turned topsy-turvy for the exceeding clamour.  His head ached and his mind was
+dazed, his eyes were blinded and his ears deafened, and he feared with
+exceeding fear and made certain of death, saying to himself, "If this be the
+Land of Birds, how will be the Land of Beasts?" But, when the crone hight
+Shawahi saw him in this plight, she laughed at him, saying, "O my son, if this
+be thy case in the first island, how will it fare with thee, when thou comest
+to the others?"  So he prayed to Allah and humbled himself before the Lord,
+beseeching Him to assist him against that wherewith He had afflicted him and
+bring him to his wishes; and they ceased not going till they passed out of the
+Land of Birds and, traversing the Land of Beasts, came to the Land of the Jann
+which when Hasan saw, he was sore affrighted and repented him of having entered
+it with them.  But he sought aid of Allah the Most High and fared on with them,
+till they were quit of the Land of the Jann and came to the river and set down
+their loads at the foot of a vast mountain and a lofty, and pitched their tents
+by the stream-bank.  Then they rested and ate and drank and slept in security,
+for they were come to their own country.  On the morrow the old woman set Hasan
+a couch of alabaster, inlaid with pearls and jewels and nuggets of red gold, by
+the river-side, and he sat down thereon, having first bound his face with a
+chin-kerchief, that discovered naught of him but his eyes.  Then she bade
+proclaim among the troops that they should all assemble before her tent and put
+off their clothes and go down into the stream and wash; and this she did that
+she might parade before him all the girls, so haply his wife should be amongst
+them and he know her.  So the whole army mustered before her and putting off
+their clothes, went down into the stream, and Hasan seated on his couch watched
+them washing their white skins and frolicking and making merry, whilst they
+took no heed of his inspecting them, deeming him to be of the daughters of the
+Kings. When he beheld them stripped of their clothes, his chord stiffened for
+that looking at them mother-naked he saw what was between their thighs, and
+that of all kinds, soft and rounded, plump and cushioned; large-lipped,
+perfect, redundant and ample,[FN#130] and their faces were as moons and their
+hair as night upon day, for that they were of the daughters of the Kings. When
+they were clean, they came up out of the water, stark naked, as the moon on the
+night of fullness and the old woman questioned Hasan of them, company by
+company, if his wife were among them; but, as often as she asked him of a
+troop, he made answer, "She is not among these, O my lady."—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman
+questioned Hasan of the girls, company after company, if haply his wife were
+among them; but as often as she asked him of a troop, he made answer, "She is
+not among these, O my lady!" Last of all, there came up a damsel, attended by
+ten slave-girls and thirty waiting-women, all of them high-bosomed maidens. 
+They put off their clothes and went down into the river, where the damsel fell
+to riding the high horse over her women, throwing them down and ducking them. 
+On this wise she continued for a full hour, after which all came up out of the
+water and sat down; and they brought her napkins[FN#131] of gold-purfled silk,
+with which she dried herself.  Then they brought her clothes and jewels and
+ornaments of the handiwork of the Jinn, and she donned them and rose and walked
+with graceful pace among the troops, she and her maidens.  When Hasan saw her,
+his heart was ready to fly from his breast and he said, "Verily this girl is
+the likest of all folk to the bird I saw in the basin atop of the palace of my
+sisters the Princesses, and she lorded it over her lieges even as doth this
+one." The old woman asked, "O Hasan, is this thy wife?"; and he answered, "No,
+by thy life, O my lady; this is not my wife, nor ever in my life have I set
+eyes on her; neither among all the girls I have seen in these islands is there
+the like of my wife nor her match for symmetry and grace and beauty and
+loveliness!" Then said Shawaki, "Describe her to me and acquaint me with all
+her attributes, that I may have her in my mind; for I know every girl in the
+Islands of Wak, being commander of the army of maids and governor over them;
+wherefore, an thou describe her to me, I shall know her and will contrive for
+thee to take her." Quoth he, "My wife hath the fairest face and a form all
+grace; smooth is she of cheeks and high of breasts with eyes of liquid light,
+calves and thighs plump to sight, teeth snowy white, with dulcet speech dight;
+in speech soft and bland as she were a willow-wand; her gifts are a moral and
+lips are red as coral; her eyes wear natural Kohl-dye and her lower
+labia[FN#132] in softness lie.  On her right cheek is a mole and on her waist,
+under her navel, is a sign; her face shines as the rondure of the moon in
+sheen, her waist is slight, her hips a heavy weight, and the water of her mouth
+the sick doth heal, as it were Kausar or Salsabil."[FN#133] Said the old woman,
+"Give me an increased account of her, Allah increase thee of passion for her!"
+Quoth he, "My wife hath a face the fairest fair and oval cheeks the rarest
+rare; neck long and spare and eyes that Kohl wear; her side face shows the
+Anemones of Nu'uman, her mouth is like a seal of cornelian and flashing teeth
+that lure and stand one in stead of cup and ewer.  She is cast in the mould of
+pleasantness and between her thighs is the throne of the Caliphate, there is no
+such sanctuary among the Holy Places; as saith in its praise the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The name of what drave me distraught * Hath letters renowned<br/>
+
+     among men:<br/>
+
+A four into five multiplied * And a multiplied six into<br/>
+
+     ten.[FN#134]"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Hasan wept and chanted the following Mawwál,[FN#135]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O heart, an lover false thee, shun the parting bane * Nor to<br/>
+
+     forgetfulness thy thoughts constrain:<br/>
+
+Be patient; thou shalt bury all thy foes; * Allah ne'er falseth<br/>
+
+     man of patience fain."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And this also,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"An wouldst be life,long safe, vaunt not delight; * Never<br/>
+
+     despair, nor wone o'erjoyed in sprite!<br/>
+
+Forbear, rejoice not, mourn not o'er thy plight * And in ill day<br/>
+
+     'Have not we oped?'—recite."[FN#136]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon the old woman bowed her head groundwards awhile, then, raising it,
+said, "Laud be to the Lord, the Mighty of Award! Indeed I am afflicted with
+thee, O Hasan!  Would Heaven I had never known thee!  This woman, whom thou
+describest to me as thy wife, I know by description and I know her to be none
+other than the eldest daughter of the Supreme King, she who ruleth over all the
+Islands of Wak.  So open both eyes and consider thy case; and if thou be
+asleep, awake; for, if this woman be indeed thy wife, it is impossible for thee
+ever to obtain her, and though thou come to her, yet couldst thou not avail to
+her possession, since between thee and her the distance is as that between
+earth and Heaven.  Wherefore, O my son, return presently and cast not thyself
+into destruction nor cast me with thee; for meseemeth thou hast no lot in her;
+so return whence thou camest lest our lives be lost."  And she feared for
+herself and for him.  When Hasan heard her words, he wept till he fainted and
+she left not sprinkling water on his face, till he came to himself, when he
+continued to weep, so that he drenched his dress with tears, for the much cark
+and care and chagrin which betided him by reason of her words.  And indeed he
+despaired of life and said to the old woman, "O my lady, and how shall I go
+back, after having come hither?  Verily, I thought not thou wouldst forsake me
+nor fail of the winning of my wish, especially as thou art the
+Commander-in-chief of the army of the girls." Answered Shawahl, "O my son, I
+doubted not but thy wife was a maid of the maids, and had I known she was the
+King's daughter, I had not suffered thee to come hither nor had I shown the
+troops to thee, for all the love I bear thee.  But now, O my son, thou hast
+seen all the girls naked; so tell me which of them pleaseth thee and I will
+give her to thee, in lieu of thy wife, and do thou put it that thy wife and
+children are dead and take her and return to thine own country in safety, ere
+thou fall into the King's hand and I have no means of delivering thee.  So,
+Allah upon thee, O my son, hearken unto me.  Choose thyself one of these
+damsels, in the stead of yonder woman, and return presently to thy country in
+safety and cause me not quaff the cup of thine anguish!  For, by Allah, thou
+hast cast thyself into affliction sore and peril galore, wherefrom none may
+avail to deliver thee evermore!" But Hasan hung down his head and wept with
+long weeping and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"'Blame not!' said I to all who blamčd me; * 'Mine eye-lids<br/>
+
+     naught but tears were made to dree:'<br/>
+
+The tears that brim these orbs have overflowed * My checks, for<br/>
+
+     lovers and love's cruelty.<br/>
+
+Leave me to love though waste this form of me! * For I of Love<br/>
+
+     adore the insanity:<br/>
+
+And, Oh my dearling, passion grows on me * For you—and you, why<br/>
+
+     grudge me clemency?<br/>
+
+You wronged me after swearing troth and plight, * Falsed my<br/>
+
+     companionship and turned to flee:<br/>
+
+And cup of humbling for your rigours sore * Ye made me drain what<br/>
+
+     day departed ye:<br/>
+
+Then melt, O heart, with longing for their sight * And, O mine<br/>
+
+     eyes, with crowns of tears be dight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman said
+to Hasan, "By Allah, O my son, hearken to my words!  Choose thee one of these
+girls in lieu of thy wife and presently return to thy country in safety," he
+hung down his head and recited the couplets quoted above.  Then he wept till he
+swooned away and Shawahl sprinkled water on his face till he revived, when she
+addressed him, "O my lord, I have no shift left; because if I carry thee to the
+city thy life is lost and mine also: for, when the Queen cometh to know of
+this, she will blame me for admitting thee into her lands and islands, whereto
+none of Adam's sons hath access, and will slay me for bringing thee with me and
+for suffering mortal to look upon the virgins seen by thee in the sea, whom
+ne'er touched male, neither approached mate." And Hasan sware that he had never
+looked on them with evil of eye.  She resumed, "O my son, hearken to me and
+return to thy country and I will give thee wealth and treasures and things of
+price, such as shall suffice thee for all the women in the world. Moreover, I
+will give thee a girl of the best of them, so lend an ear to my words and
+return presently and imperil not thyself; indeed I counsel thee with good
+counsel." But he wept and rubbed both cheeks against her feet, saying, "O my
+lady and mistress and coolth of mine eyes, how can I turn back now that I have
+made my way hither, without the sight of those I desire, and now that I have
+come near the beloved's site, hoping for meeting forthright, so haply there may
+be a portion in reunion to my plight?"  And he improvised these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O Kings of beauty, grace to prisoner ta'en * Of eyelids fit to<br/>
+
+     rule the Chosroës' reign:<br/>
+
+Ye pass the wafts of musk in perfumed breath; * Your cheeks the<br/>
+
+     charms of blooming rose disdain.<br/>
+
+The softest Zephyr breathes where pitch ye camp * And thence<br/>
+
+     far-scattered sweetness fills the plain:<br/>
+
+Censor of me, leave blame and stint advice! * Thou bringest<br/>
+
+     wearying words and wisdom vain:<br/>
+
+Why heat my passion with this flame and up- * braid me when<br/>
+
+     naught thou knowest of its bane?<br/>
+
+Captured me eyes with passion maladifs, * And overthrew me with<br/>
+
+     Love's might and main:<br/>
+
+I scatter tears the while I scatter verse; * You are my theme for<br/>
+
+     rhyme and prosy strain.<br/>
+
+Melted my vitals glow of rosy cheeks * And in the Lazá-lowe my<br/>
+
+     heart is lain:<br/>
+
+Tell me, an I leave to discourse of you, * What speech my breast<br/>
+
+     shall broaden?<br/>
+
+Tell me deign! Life-long I loved the lovelings fair, but ah, * To<br/>
+
+     grant my wish eke Allah must be fain!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Hearing his verses the old woman was moved to ruth for him and Allah planted
+the seed of affection for him in her heart; so coming up to him she consoled
+him, saying, "Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear and put away
+trouble from thy thought, for, by Allah, I will venture my life with thee, till
+thou attain thine aim or death undo me!" With this, Hasan's heart was comforted
+and his bosom broadened and he sat talking with the old woman till the end of
+the day, when all the girls dispersed, some entering their town-mansions and
+others nighting in the tents.  Then the old woman carried him into the city and
+lodged him in a place apart, lest any should come to know of him and tell the
+Queen of him and she should slay him and slay her who had brought him thither. 
+Moreover, she served him herself and strave to put him in fear of the awful
+majesty of the Supreme King, his wife's father; whilst he wept before her and
+said, "O my lady, I choose death for myself and loathe this worldly life, if I
+foregather not with my wife and children: I have set my existence on the
+venture and will either attain my aim or die." So the old woman fell to
+pondering the means of bringing him and his wife together and casting about how
+to do in the case of this unhappy one, who had thrown himself into destruction
+and would not be diverted from his purpose by fear or aught else; for, indeed
+he recked not of his life and the sayer of bywords saith, "Lover in nowise
+hearkeneth he to the speech of the man who is fancy-free." Now the name of the
+Queen of the island wherein they were was Núr al-Hudŕ,[FN#137] eldest daughter
+of the Supreme King, and she had six virgin sisters, abiding with their father,
+whose capital and court were in the chief city of that region and who had made
+her ruler over all the lands and islands of Wak.  So when the ancient dame saw
+Hasan on fire with yearning after his wife and children, she rose up and
+repaired to the palace and going in to Queen Nur al-Huda kissed ground before
+her; for she had a claim on her favour because she had reared the King's
+daughters one and all and had authority over each and every of them and was
+high in honour and consideration with them and with the King.  Nur al-Huda rose
+to her as she entered and embracing her, seated her by her side and asked her
+of her journey.  She answered, "By  Allah, O my lady 'twas a blessed journey
+and I have brought thee a gift which I will presently present to thee," adding,
+"O my daughter, O Queen of the age and the time, I have a favour to crave of
+thee and I fain would discover it to thee, that thou mayst help me to
+accomplish it, and but for my confidence that thou wilt not gainsay me therein,
+I would not expose it to thee." Asked the Queen, "And what is thy need? Expound
+it to me, and I will accomplish it to thee, for I and my kingdom and troops are
+all at thy commandment and disposition." Therewithal the old woman quivered as
+quivereth the reed on a day when the storm-wind is abroad and saying in
+herself, "O[FN#138] Protector, protect me from the Queen's mischief!"[FN#139]
+fell down before her and acquainted her with Hasan's case, saying, "O my lady,
+a man, who had hidden himself under my wooden settle on the seashore, sought my
+protection; so I took him under my safeguard and carried him with me among the
+army of girls armed and accoutred so that none might know him, and brought him
+into the city; and indeed I have striven to affright him with thy fierceness,
+giving him to know of thy power and prowess; but, as often as I threatened him,
+he weepeth and reciteth verses and sayeth, 'Needs must I have my wife and
+children or die, and I will not return to my country without them.' And indeed
+he hath adventured himself and come to the Islands of Wak, and never in all my
+days saw I mortal heartier of heart than he or doughtier of derring-do, save
+that love hath mastered him to the utmost of mastery."—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Ninth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman
+related to Queen Nur al-Huda the adventure of Hasan, ending with, "Never I saw
+any one heartier of heart than he save that love hath mastered him to the
+utmost of mastery," the Queen, after lending an attentive ear and comprehending
+the case, waxed wroth at her with exceeding wrath and bowed her head awhile
+groundwards; then, raising it, she looked at Shawahi and said to her, "O
+ill-omened beldam, art thou come to such a pass of lewdness that thou carriest
+males, men, with thee into the Islands of Wak and bringest them into me,
+unfearing of my mischief?  Who hath foregone thee with this fashion, that thou
+shouldst do thus?  By the head of the King, but for thy claim on me for
+fosterage and service, I would forthwith do both him and thee to die the
+foulest of deaths, that travellers might take warning by thee, O accursed, lest
+any other do the like of this outrageous deed thou hast done, which none durst
+hitherto!  But go and bring him hither forthright, that I may see him; or I
+will strike off thy head, O accursed." So the old woman went out from her,
+confounded, unknowing whither she went and saying, "All this calamity hath
+Allah driven upon me from this Queen because of Hasan!" and going in to him,
+said, "Rise, speak with the Queen, O wight whose last hour is at hand!" So he
+rose and went with her, whilst his tongue ceased not to call upon Almighty
+Allah and say, "O my God, be gracious to me in Thy decrees and deliver me from
+this Thine affliction!"[FN#140] And Shawahi went with him charging him by the
+way how he should speak with the Queen.  When he stood before Nur al-Huda, he
+found that she had donned the chinveil[FN#141]; so he kissed ground before her
+and saluted her with the salam, improvising these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"God make thy glory last in joy of life; * Allah confirm the<br/>
+
+     boons he deigned bestow:<br/>
+
+Thy grace and grandeur may our Lord increase * And aye Th'<br/>
+
+     Almighty aid thee o'er thy foe!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he ended his verse Nur al-Huda bade the old woman ask him questions before
+her, that she might hear his answers: so she said to him, "The Queen returneth
+thy salam-greeting and saith to thee, 'What is thy name and that of thy
+country, and what are the names of thy wife and children, on whose account thou
+art come hither?"' Quoth he, and indeed he had made firm his heart and destiny
+aided him, "O Queen of the age and tide and peerless jewel of the epoch and the
+time, my name is Hasan the fullfilled of sorrow, and my native city is
+Bassorah.  I know not the name of my wife[FN#142] but my children's names are
+Násir and Mansúr." When the Queen heard his reply and his provenance, she
+bespoke him herself and said, "And whence took she her children?" He replied,
+"O Queen, she took them from the city of Baghdad and the palace of the
+Caliphate."  Quoth Nur al-Huda, "And did she say naught to thee at the time she
+flew away?;" and quoth he, "Yes; she said to my mother, 'Whenas thy son cometh
+to thee and the nights of severance upon him longsome shall be and he craveth
+meeting and reunion to see, and whenas the breezes of love and longing shake
+him dolefully let him come in the Islands of Wak to me.'"  Whereupon Queen Nur
+al-Huda shook her head and said to him, "Had she not desired thee she had not
+said to thy mother this say, and had she not yearned for reunion with thee,
+never had she bidden thee to her stead nor acquainted thee with her
+abiding-place."  Rejoined Hasan, "O mistress of Kings and asylum of prince and
+pauper, whatso happened I have told thee and have concealed naught thereof, and
+I take refuge from evil with Allah and with thee; wherefore oppress me not, but
+have compassion on me and earn recompense and requital for me in the world to
+come, and aid me to regain my wife and children.  Grant me my urgent need and
+cool mine eyes with my children and help me to the sight of them." Then he wept
+and wailed and lamenting his lot recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Yea, I will laud thee while the ring-dove moans, * Though fail<br/>
+
+     my wish of due and lawful scope:<br/>
+
+Ne'er was I whirled in bliss and joys gone by * Wherein I found<br/>
+
+     thee not both root and rope."[FN#143]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The Queen shook her head and bowed it in thought a long time; then, raising it,
+she said to Hasan (and indeed she was wroth), "I have ruth on thee and am
+resolved to show thee in review all the girls in the city and in the provinces
+of my island; and in case thou know thy wife, I will deliver her to thee; but,
+an thou know her not and know not her place, I will put thee to death and
+crucify thee over the old woman's door." Replied Hasan, "I accept this from
+thee, O Queen of the Age, and am content to submit to this thy condition. 
+There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the
+Great!"  And he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"You've roused my desire and remain at rest,— * Waked my wounded<br/>
+
+     lids while you slept with zest.<br/>
+
+And ye made me a vow ye would not hang back * But your guile when<br/>
+
+     you chained me waxt manifest.<br/>
+
+I loved you in childhood unknowing Love; * Then slay me not who<br/>
+
+     am sore opprest.<br/>
+
+Fear ye not from Allah when slaying a friend * Who gazeth on<br/>
+
+     stars when folk sleep their best?<br/>
+
+By Allah, my kinsmen, indite on my tomb * 'This man was the slave<br/>
+
+     of Love's harshest hest!'<br/>
+
+Haps a noble youth, like me Love's own thrall, * When he sees my<br/>
+
+     grave on my name shall call."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Queen Nur al-Huda commanded that not a girl should abide in the city but
+should come up to the palace and pass in review before Hasan and moreover she
+bade Shawahi go down in person and bring them up herself.  Accordingly all the
+maidens in the city presented themselves before the Queen, who caused them to
+go in to Hasan, hundred after hundred, till there was no girl left in the
+place, but she had shown her to him; yet he saw not his wife amongst them. 
+Then said she to him, "Seest thou her amongst these?"; and he replied, "By thy
+life, O Queen, she is not amongst them." With this she was sore enraged against
+him and said to the old woman, "Go in and bring out all who are in the palace
+and show them to him." So she displayed to him every one of the palace-girls,
+but he saw not his wife among them and said to the Queen, "By the life of thy
+head, O Queen, she is not among these." Whereat the Queen was wroth and cried
+out at those around her, saying, "Take him and hale him along, face to earth,
+and cut off his head, least any adventure himself after him and intrude upon us
+in our country and spy out our estate by thus treading the soil of our
+islands." So they threw him down on his face and dragged him along; then,
+covering his eyes with his skirt, stood at his head with bared brands awaiting
+royal permission. Thereupon Shawahi came forward and kissing the ground before
+the Queen, took the hem of her garment and laid it on her head, saying, "O
+Queen, by my claim for fosterage, be not hasty with him, more by token of thy
+knowledge that this poor wretch is a stranger, who hath adventured himself and
+suffered what none ever suffered before him, and Allah (to whom belong Might
+and Majesty,) preserved him from death, for that his life was ordained to be
+long.  He heard of thine equity and entered thy city and guarded site;[FN#144]
+wherefore, if thou put him to death, the report will dispread abroad of thee,
+by means of the travellers, that thou hatest strangers and slayest them.  He is
+in any case at thy mercy and the slain of thy sword, if his wife be not found
+in thy dominions; and whensoever thou desireth his presence, I can bring him
+back to thee.  Moreover, in very sooth I took him under my protection only of
+my trust in thy magnanimity through my claim on thee for fosterage, so that I
+engaged to him that thou wouldst bring him to his desire, for my knowledge of
+thy justice and quality of mercy.  But for this, I had not brought him into thy
+kingdom; for I said to myself: 'The Queen will take pleasure in looking upon
+him, and hearing him speak his verses and his sweet discourse and eloquent
+which is like unto pearls strung on string.' Moreover, he hath entered our land
+and eaten of our meat; wherefore he hath a claim upon us."—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Tenth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen Nur
+al-Huda bade her pages seize Hasan and smite his neck, the old woman, Shawahi,
+began to reason with her and say, "Verily he hath entered our land and eaten of
+our meat, wherefore he hath a claim upon us, the more especially since I
+promised him to bring him in company with thee; and thou knowest that, parting
+is a grievous ill and severance hath power to kill, especially separation from
+children.  Now he hath seen all our women, save only thyself; so do thou show
+him thy face?" The Queen smiled and said, "How can he be my husband and have
+had children by me, that I should show him my face?" Then she made them bring
+Hasan before her and when he stood in the presence, she unveiled her face,
+which when he saw, he cried out with a great cry and fell down fainting.  The
+old woman ceased not to tend him, till he came to himself and as soon as he
+revived he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O breeze that blowest from the land Irak * And from their<br/>
+
+     corners whoso cry 'Wak!  Wak!'<br/>
+
+Bear news of me to friends and say for me * I've tasted<br/>
+
+     passion-food of bitter smack.<br/>
+
+O dearlings of my love, show grace and ruth * My heart is melted<br/>
+
+     for this severance-rack."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he ended his verse he rose and looking on the Queen's face, cried out with
+a great cry, for stress whereof the palace was like to fall upon all therein. 
+Then he swooned away again and the old woman ceased not to tend him till he
+revived, when she asked him what ailed him and he answered, "In very sooth this
+Queen is either my wife or else the likest of all folk to my wife."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eleventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman
+asked Hasan what ailed him, he answered, "In very sooth this Queen is either my
+wife or else the likest of all folk to my wife." Quoth Nur al-Huda to the old
+woman, "Woe to thee, O nurse! This stranger is either Jinn-mad or out of his
+mind, for he stareth me in the face with wide eyes and saith I am his wife."
+Quoth the old woman, "O Queen, indeed he is excusable; so blame him not, for
+the saying saith, 'For the lovesick is no remedy and alike are the madman and
+he.'" And Hasan wept with sore weeping and recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I sight their track and pine for longing love; * And o'er their<br/>
+
+     homesteads weep I and I yearn:<br/>
+
+And I pray Heaven who willčd we should part, * Will deign to<br/>
+
+     grant us boon of safe return."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then said Hasan to the Queen once more, "By Allah, thou art not my wife, but
+thou art the likest of all folk to her!" Hereupon Nur al-Huda laughed till she
+fell backwards and rolled round on her side.[FN#145] Then she said to him, "O
+my friend, take thy time and observe me attentively: answer me at thy leisure
+what I shall ask thee and put away from thee insanity and perplexity and
+inadvertency for relief is at hand." Answered Hasan, "O mistress of Kings and
+asylum of all princes and paupers, when I looked upon thee, I was distracted,
+seeing thee to be either my wife or the likest of all folk to her; but now ask
+me whatso thou wilt." Quoth she, "What is it in thy wife that resembleth me?";
+and quoth he, "O my lady, all that is in thee of beauty and loveliness,
+elegance and amorous grace, such as the symmetry of thy shape and the sweetness
+of thy speech and the blushing of thy cheeks and the jutting of thy breasts and
+so forth, all resembleth her and thou art her very self in thy faculty of
+parlance and the fairness of thy favour and the brilliancy of thy
+brow."[FN#146] When the Queen heard this, she smiled and gloried in her beauty
+and loveliness and her cheeks reddened and her eyes wantoned; then she turned
+to Shawahi Umm Dawahi and said to her, "O my mother, carry him back to the
+place where he tarried with thee and tend him thyself, till I examine into his
+affair; for, an he be indeed a man of manliness and mindful of friendship and
+love and affection, it behoveth we help him to win his wish, more by token that
+he hath sojourned in our country and eaten of our victual, not to speak of the
+hardships of travel he hath suffered and the travail and horrors he hath
+undergone.  But, when thou hast brought him to thy house, commend him to the
+care of thy dependents and return to me in all haste; and Allah Almighty
+willing![FN#147] all shall be well." Thereupon Shawahi carried him back to her
+lodging and charged her handmaids and servants and suite wait upon him and
+bring him all he needed nor fail in what was his due. Then she returned to
+Queen Nur al-Huda, who bade her don her arms and set out, taking with her a
+thousand doughty horsemen.  So she obeyed and donned her war-gear and having
+collected the thousand riders reported them ready to the Queen, who bade her
+march upon the city of the Supreme King, her father, there to alight at the
+abode of her youngest sister, Manár al-Saná[FN#148] and say to her, "Clothe thy
+two sons in the coats of mail which their aunt hath made them and send them to
+her; for she longeth for them." Moreover the Queen charged her keep Hasan's
+affair secret and say to Manar al-Sana, after securing her children, "Thy
+sister inviteth thee to visit her." "Then," she continued, "bring the children
+to me in haste and let her follow at her leisure.  Do thou come by a road other
+than her road and journey night and day and beware of discovering this matter
+to any.  And I swear by all manner oaths that, if my sister prove to be his
+wife and it appear that her children are his, I will not hinder him from taking
+her and them and departing with them to his own country."—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twelfth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Oueen said, "I
+swear by Allah and by all manner of oaths that if she prove to be his wife, I
+will not hinder him from taking her but will aid him thereto and eke to
+departing with them to his mother-land." And the old woman put faith in her
+words, knowing not what she purposed in her mind, for the wicked Jezebel had
+resolved that if she were not his wife she would slay him; but if the children
+resembled him, she would believe him.  The Queen resumed, "O my mother, an my
+thought tell me true, my sister Manar al-Sana is his wife, but Allah alone is
+All-knowing! seeing that these traits of surpassing beauty and excelling grace,
+of which he spoke, are found in none except my sisters and especially in the
+youngest." The old woman kissed her hand and returning to Hasan, told him what
+the Queen had said, whereat he was like to fly for joy and coming up to her,
+kissed her head. Quoth she, "O my son, kiss not my head, but kiss me on the
+mouth and be this kiss by way of sweetmeat for thy salvation.[FN#149] Be of
+good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear and grudge not to kiss my mouth,
+for I and only I was the means of thy foregathering with her.  So take comfort,
+and hearten thy heart and broaden thy breast and gladden thy glance and console
+thy soul for, Allah willing, thy desire shall be accomplished at my hand." So
+saying, she bade him farewell and departed, whilst he recited these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Witnesses unto love of thee I've four; * And wants each case two<br/>
+
+     witnesses; no more!<br/>
+
+A heart aye fluttering, limbs that ever quake, * A wasted frame<br/>
+
+     and tongue that speech forswore."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And also these two,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Two things there be, an blood-tears thereover * Wept eyes till<br/>
+
+     not one trace thou couldst discover,<br/>
+
+Eyes ne'er could pay the tithe to them is due * The prime of<br/>
+
+     youth and severance from lover."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the old woman armed herself and, taking with her a thousand weaponed
+horsemen, set out and journeyed till she came to the island and the city where
+dwelt the Lady Manar al-Sana and between which and that of her sister Queen Nur
+al-Huda was three days' journey.  When Shawahi reached the city, she went in to
+the Princess and saluting her, gave her her sister's salam and acquainted her
+with the Queen's longing for her and her children and that she reproached her
+for not visiting her. Quoth Manar al-Sana, "Verily, I am beholden to my sister
+and have failed of my duty to her in not visiting her, but I will do so
+forthright." Then she bade pitch her tents without the city and took with her
+for her sister a suitable present of rare things. Presently, the King her
+father looked out of a window of his palace, and seeing the tents pitched by
+the road, asked of them, and they answered him, "The Princess Manar al-Sana
+hath pitched her tents by the way-side, being minded to visit her sister Queen
+Nur al-Huda." When the  King heard this, he equipped troops to escort her to
+her sister and brought out to her from his treasuries meat and drink and monies
+and jewels and rarities which beggar description.  Now the King had seven
+daughters, all sisters-german by one mother and father except the youngest: the
+eldest was called Núr al-Hudŕ, the second Najm al-Sabáh, the third Shams
+al-Zuhŕ, the fourth Shajarat al-Durr, the fifth Kút al-Kulúb, the sixth Sharaf
+al-Banát and the youngest Manar al-Sana, Hasan's wife, who was their sister by
+the father's side only.[FN#150]  Anon the old woman again presented herself and
+kissed ground before the Princess, who said to her, "Hast thou any need, O my
+mother?"  Quoth Shawahi, "Thy sister, Queen Nur al-Huda, biddeth thee clothe
+thy sons in the two habergeons which she fashioned for them and send them to
+her by me, and I will take them and forego thee with them and be the harbinger
+of glad tidings and the announcer of thy coming to her." When the Princess
+heard these words, her colour changed and she bowed her head a long while,
+after which she shook it and looking up, said to the old woman, "O my mother,
+my vitals tremble and my heart fluttereth when thou namest my children; for,
+from the time of their birth none hath looked on their faces either Jinn or
+man, male or female, and I am jealous for them of the zephyr when it breatheth
+in the night." Exclaimed the old woman, "What words are these, O my lady?  Dost
+thou fear for them from thy sister?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirteenth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman said to the
+Princess Manar al-Sana, "What words be these, O my lady?  Dost thou fear for
+them from thy sister? Allah safeguard thy reason!  Thou mayst not cross the
+Queen's majesty in this matter, for she would be wroth with thee.  However, O
+my lady, the children are young, and thou art excusable in fearing for them,
+for those that love well are wont to deem ill: but, O my daughter, thou knowest
+my tenderness and mine affection for thee and thy children, for indeed I reared
+thee before them.  I will take them in my charge and make my cheek their pillow
+and open my heart and set them within, nor is it needful to charge me with care
+of them in the like of this case; so be of cheerful heart and tearless eye and
+send them to her, for, at the most, I shall but precede thee with them a day or
+at most two days."  And she ceased not to urge her, till she gave way, fearing
+her sister's fury and unknowing what lurked for her in the dark future, and
+consented to send them with the old woman.  So she called them and bathed them
+and equipped them and changed their apparel.  Then she clad them in the two
+little coats of mail and delivered them to Shawahi, who took them and sped on
+with them like a bird, by another road than that by which their mother should
+travel, even as the Queen had charged her; nor did she cease to fare on with
+all diligence, being fearful for them, till she came in sight of Nur al-Huda's
+city, when she crossed the river and entering the town, carried them in to
+their aunt.  The Queen rejoiced at their sight and embraced them, and pressed
+them to her breast; after which she seated them, one upon the right thigh and
+the other upon the left; and turning round said to the old woman, "Fetch me
+Hasan forthright, for I have granted him my safeguard and have spared him from
+my sabre and he hath sought asylum in my house and taken up his abode in my
+courts, after having endured hardships and horrors and passed through all
+manner mortal risks, each terribler than other; yet hitherto is he not safe
+from drinking the cup of death and from cutting off his breath." —And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourteenth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen Nur
+al-Huda bade the old woman bring Hasan she said, "Verily he hath endured
+hardships and horrors and passed through all manner mortal risks each terribler
+than other; yet hitherto he is not safe from death and from the cutting off of
+his breath." Replied Shawahi, "An I bring him to thee, wilt thou reunite him
+with these his children?  Or, if they prove not his, wilt thou pardon him and
+restore him to his own country?" Hearing these her words the Queen waxed
+exceeding wroth and cried to her, "Fie upon thee, O ill-omened old woman!  How
+long wilt thou false us in the matter of this strange man who hath dared to
+intrude himself upon us and hath lifted our veil and pried into our conditions?
+Say me: thinkest thou that he shall come to our land and look upon our faces
+and betray our honour, and after return in safety to his own country and expose
+our affairs to his people, wherefore our report will be bruited abroad among
+all the Kings of the quarters of the earth and the merchants will journey
+bearing tidings of us in all directions, saying, 'A mortal entered the Isles of
+Wak and traversed the Land of the Jinn and the lands of the Wild Beasts and the
+Islands of Birds and set foot in the country of the Warlocks and the Enchanters
+and returned in safety?' This shall never be; no, never; and I swear by Him who
+made the Heavens and builded them; yea, by Him who dispread the earth and
+smoothed it, and who created all creatures and counted them, that, an they be
+not his children, I will assuredly slay him and strike his neck with mine own
+hand!" Then she cried out at the old woman, who fell down for fear; and set
+upon her the Chamberlain and twenty Mamelukes, saying, "Go with this crone and
+fetch me in haste the youth who is in her house." So they dragged Shawahi
+along, yellow with fright and with side-muscles quivering, till they came to
+her house, where she went in to Hasan, who rose to her and kissed her hands and
+saluted her.  She returned not his salam, but said to him, "Come; speak the
+Queen.  Did I not say to thee: 'Return presently to thine own country and I
+will give thee that to which no mortal may avail?' And did I forbid thee from
+all this?  But thou wouldst not obey me nor listen to my words; nay, thou
+rejectedst my counsel and chosest to bring destruction on me and on thyself.
+Up, then, and take that which thou hast chosen; for death is near hand.  Arise:
+speak with yonder vile harlot[FN#151] and tyrant that she is!" So Hasan arose,
+broken-spirited, heavy-hearted, and full of fear, and crying, "O Preserver,
+preserve Thou me! O my God, be gracious to me in that which Thou hast decreed
+to me of Thine affliction and protect me, O Thou the most Merciful of the
+Mercifuls!" Then, despairing of his life, he followed the twenty Mamelukes, the
+Chamberlain and the crone to the Queen's presence, where he found his two sons
+Nasir and Mansur sitting in her lap, whilst she played and made merry with
+them.  As soon as his eyes fell on them, he knew them and crying a great cry
+fell down a-fainting for excess of joy at the sight of his children.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifteenth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan's eyes fell
+upon his two sons, he knew them both and crying a great cry fell down
+a-fainting.  They also knew him[FN#152] and natural affection moved them so
+that they freed themselves from the Queen's lap and fell upon Hasan, and Allah
+(to whom belong Might and Majesty,) made them speak and say to him, "O our
+father!" Whereupon the old woman and all who were present wept for pity and
+tenderness over them and said, "Praised be Allah, who hath reunited you with
+your Sire!"  Presently, Hasan came to himself and embracing his children, wept
+till again he swooned away, and when he revived, he recited these verses,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"By rights of you, this heart of mine could ne'er aby * Severance<br/>
+
+     from you albeit Union death imply!<br/>
+
+Your phantom saith to me, 'A-morrow we shall meet!' * Shall I<br/>
+
+     despite the foe the morrow-day espy?<br/>
+
+By rights of you I swear, my lords, that since the day * Of<br/>
+
+     severance ne'er the sweets of lips enjoyčd I!<br/>
+
+An Allah bade me perish for the love of you, * Mid greatest<br/>
+
+     martyrs for your love I lief will die.<br/>
+
+Oft a gazelle doth make my heart her browsing stead * The while<br/>
+
+     her form of flesh like sleep eludes mine eye:<br/>
+
+If in the lists of Law my bloodshed she deny, * Prove it two<br/>
+
+     witnesses those cheeks of ruddy dye."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Nur al-Huda was assured that the little ones were indeed Hasan's children
+and that her sister, the Princess Manar al-Sana, was his wife, of whom he was
+come in quest, she was wroth against her with wrath beyond measure.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixteenth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur al-Huda was
+certified that the little ones were Hasan's children and that her sister Manar
+al-Sana was his wife of whom he had come in quest, she raged with exceeding
+rage, too great to be assuaged and screamed in Hasan's face and reviled him and
+kicked him in the breast, so that he fell on his back in a swoon. Then she
+cried out at him, saying, "Arise! fly for thy life.  But that I swore that no
+evil should betide thee from me, should thy tale prove true, I would slay thee
+with mine own hand forthright!" And she cried out at the old woman, who fell on
+her face for fear, and said to her, "By Allah, but that I am loath to break the
+oath that I swore, I would put both thee and him to death after the foulest
+fashion!"; presently adding, "Arise, go out from before me in safety and return
+to thine own country, for I swear by my fortune, if ever mine eye espy thee or
+if any bring thee in to me after this, I will smite off thy head and that of
+whoso bringeth thee!" Then she cried out to her officers, saying, "Put him out
+from before me!" So they thrust him out, and when he came to himself, he
+recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"You're far, yet to my heart you're nearest near; * Absent yet<br/>
+
+     present in my sprite you appear:<br/>
+
+By Allah, ne'er to other I've inclined * But tyranny of Time in<br/>
+
+     patience bear!<br/>
+
+Nights pass while still I love you and they end, * And burns my<br/>
+
+     breast with flames of fell Sa'ir;[FN#153]<br/>
+
+I was a youth who parting for an hour * Bore not, then what of<br/>
+
+     months that make a year?<br/>
+
+Jealous am I of breeze-breath fanning thee; * Yea jealous-mad of<br/>
+
+     fair soft-sided fere!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he once more fell down in a swoon, and when he came to himself, he found
+himself without the palace whither they had dragged him on his face; so he
+rose, stumbling over his skirts and hardly crediting his escape from Nur
+al-Huda.  Now this was grievous to Shawahi; but she dared not remonstrate with
+the Queen by reason of the violence of her wrath.  And forthright Hasan went
+forth, distracted and knowing not whence to come or whither to go; the world,
+for all its wideness, was straitened upon him and he found none to speak a kind
+word with him and comfort him, nor any to whom he might resort for counsel or
+to apply for refuge; wherefore he made sure of death for that he could not
+journey to his own country and knew none to travel with him, neither wist he
+the way thither nor might he pass through the Wady of the Jann and the Land of
+Beasts and the Islands of Birds. So giving himself up for lost he bewept
+himself, till he fainted, and when he revived, he bethought him of his children
+and his wife and of that might befal her with her sister, repenting him of
+having come to those countries and of having hearkened to none, and recited
+these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Suffer mine eye-babes weep lost of love and tears express: *<br/>
+
+     Rare is my solace and increases my distress:<br/>
+
+The cup of Severance-chances to the dregs I've drained; * Who is<br/>
+
+     the man to bear love-loss with manliness?<br/>
+
+Ye spread the Carpet of Disgrace[FN#154] betwixt us twain; * Ah,<br/>
+
+     when shalt be uprolled, O Carpet of Disgrace?<br/>
+
+I watched the while you slept; and if you deemed that I * Forgot<br/>
+
+     your love I but forget forgetfulness:<br/>
+
+Woe's me! indeed my heart is pining for the love * Of you, the<br/>
+
+     only leaches who can cure my case:<br/>
+
+See ye not what befel me from your fell disdain? * Debased am I<br/>
+
+     before the low and high no less.<br/>
+
+I hid my love of you but longing laid it bare, * And burns my<br/>
+
+     heart wi' fire of passion's sorest stress:<br/>
+
+Ah! deign have pity on my piteous case, for I * Have kept our<br/>
+
+     troth in secresy and patent place!<br/>
+
+Would Heaven I wot shall Time e'er deign us twain rejoin! * You<br/>
+
+     are my heart's desire, my sprite's sole happiness:<br/>
+
+My vitals bear the Severance-wound: would Heaven that you * With<br/>
+
+     tidings from your camp would deign my soul to bless!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he went on, till he came without the city, where he found the river, and
+walked along its bank, knowing not whither he went.  Such was Hasan's case; but
+as regards his wife Manar al-Sana, as she was about to carry out her purpose
+and to set out, on the second day after the departure of the old woman with her
+children, behold, there came in to her one of the chamberlains of the King her
+sire, and kissed ground between his hands,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventeenth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Manar al-Sana was
+about to set out upon the journey, behold, a chamberlain of the King, her sire,
+came in to her and kissing the ground before her, said, "O Princess, the
+Supreme King, thy father saluteth thee and biddeth thee to him." So she rose
+and accompanied the chamberlain to learn what was required by her father, who
+seated her by his side on the couch, and said to her, "O my daughter, know that
+I have this night had a dream which maketh me fear for thee and that long
+sorrow will betide thee from this thy journey." Quoth she, "How so, O my
+father, and what didst thou see in thy dream?" and quoth he, "I dreamt that I
+entered a hidden hoard, wherein was great store of monies, of jewels, of
+jacinths and of other riches; but 'twas as if naught pleased me of all this
+treasure and jewelry save seven bezels, which were the finest things there. I
+chose out one of the seven jewels, for it was the smallest, finest and most
+lustrous of them and its water pleased me; so I took it in my hand-palm and
+fared forth of the treasury.  When I came without the door, I opened my hand,
+rejoicing, and turned over the jewel, when, behold, there swooped down on me
+out of the welkin a strange bird from a far land (for it was not of the birds
+of our country) and, snatching it from my hand, returned with it whence it
+came.[FN#155] Whereupon sorrow and concern and sore vexation overcame me and my
+exceeding chagrin so troubled me that I awoke, mourning and lamenting for the
+loss of the jewel.  At once on awaking I summoned the interpreters and
+expounders of dreams and declared to them my dream,[FN#156] and they said to
+me: 'Thou hast seven daughters, the youngest of whom thou wilt lose, and she
+will be taken from thee perforce, without thy will.'  Now thou, O my girl, art
+the youngest and dearest of my daughters and the most affectionate of them to
+me, and look'ye thou art about to journey to thy sister, and I know not what
+may befal thee from her; so go thou not; but return to thy palace." But when
+the Princess heard her father's words, her heart fluttered and she feared for
+her children and bent earthwards her head awhile: then she raised it and said
+to her sire, "O King, Queen Nur al-Huda hath made ready for me an entertainment
+and awaiteth my coming to her, hour by hour.  These four years she hath not
+seen me and if I delay to visit her, she will be wroth with me.  The utmost of
+my stay with her shall be a month and then I will return to thee. Besides, who
+is the mortal who can travel our land and make his way to the Islands of Wak? 
+Who can gain access to the White Country and the Black Mountain and come to the
+Land of Camphor and the Castle of Crystal, and how shall he traverse the Island
+of Birds and the Wady of Wild Beasts and the Valley of the Jann and enter our
+Islands?  If any stranger came hither, he would be drowned in the seas of
+destruction: so be of good cheer and eyes without a tear anent my journey; for
+none may avail to tread our earth." And she ceased not to persuade him, till he
+deigned give her leave to depart.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighteenth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Princess ceased not
+to persuade him till he deigned give her leave to depart, and bade a thousand
+horse escort her to the river and abide there, till she entered her sister's
+city and palace and returned to them, when they should take her and carry her
+back to him.  Moreover, he charged her tarry with her sister but two days and
+return to him in haste; and she answered, "Hearing and obedience." Then rising
+up she went forth and he with her and farewelled her.  Now his words had sunken
+deep into her heart and she feared for her children; but it availeth not to
+fortify herself by any device against the onset of Destiny.  So she set out and
+fared on diligently three days, till she came to the river and pitched her
+tents on its bank.  Then she crossed the stream, with some of her counsellors,
+pages and suite and, going up to the city and the palace, went in to Queen Nur
+al-Huda, with whom she found her children who ran to her weeping and crying
+out, "O our father!"  At this, the tears railed from her eyes and she wept;
+then she strained them to her bosom, saying, "What! Have you seen your sire at
+this time?  Would the hour had never been, in which I left him!  If I knew him
+to be in the house of the world, I would carry you to him." Then she bemoaned
+herself and her husband and her children weeping and reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"My friends, despight this distance and this cruelty, * I pine<br/>
+
+     for you, incline to you where'er you be.<br/>
+
+My glance for ever turns toward your hearth and home * And mourns<br/>
+
+     my heart the bygone days you woned with me,<br/>
+
+How many a night foregathered we withouten fear * One loving,<br/>
+
+     other faithful ever fain and free!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When her sister saw her fold her children to her bosom, saying, "'Tis I who
+have done thus with myself and my children and have ruined my own house!" she
+saluted her not, but said to her, "O whore, whence haddest thou these children?
+ Say, hast thou married unbeknown to thy sire or hast thou committed
+fornication?[FN#157]  An thou have played the piece, it behoveth thou be
+exemplarily punished; and if thou have married sans our knowledge, why didst
+thou abandon thy husband and separate thy sons from thy sire and bring them
+hither?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Nineteenth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth Nur al-Huda,
+the Queen, to her sister Manar al-Sana, the Princess, "An thou have married
+sans our knowledge, why didst thou abandon thy husband and separate thy sons
+from their sire and bring them to our land?  Thou hast hidden thy children from
+us.  Thinkest thou we know not of this?  Allah Almighty, He who is cognisant of
+the concealed, hath made known to us thy case and revealed thy condition and
+bared thy nakedness." Then she bade her guards seize her and pinion her elbows
+and shackle her with shackles of iron.  So they did as she commanded and she
+beat her with a grievous beating, so that her skin was torn, and hanged her up
+by the hair; after which she cast her in prison and wrote the King her father a
+writ acquainting him with her case and saying, "There hath appeared in our land
+a man, a mortal, by name Hasan, and our sister Manar al-Sana avoucheth that she
+is lawfully married to him and bare him two sons, whom she hath hidden from us
+and thee; nor did she discover aught of herself till there came to us this man
+and informed us that he wedded her and she tarried with him a long while; after
+which she took her children and departed, without his knowledge, bidding as she
+went his mother tell her son, whenas longing began to rack to come to her in
+the Islands of Wak.  So we laid hands on the man and sent the old woman Shawahi
+to fetch her and her offspring, enjoining her to bring us the children in
+advance of her.  And she did so, whilst Manar al-Sana equipped herself and set
+out to visit me. When the boys were brought to me and ere the mother came, I
+sent for Hasan the mortal who claimeth her to wife, and he on entering and at
+first sight knew them and they knew him; whereby was I certified that the
+children were indeed his children and that she was his wife and I learned that
+the man's story was true and he was not to blame, but that the reproach and the
+infamy rested with my sister.  Now I feared the rending of our honour-veil
+before the folk of our Isles; so when this wanton, this traitress, came in to
+me, I was incensed against her and cast her into prison and bastinado'd her
+grievously and hanged her up by the hair.  Behold, I have acquainted thee with
+her case and it is thine to command, and whatso thou orderest us that we will
+do. Thou knowest that in this affair is dishonour and disgrace to our name and
+to thine, and haply the islanders will hear of it, and we shall become amongst
+them a byword; wherefore it befitteth thou return us an answer with all speed."
+ Then she delivered the letter to a courier and he carried it to the King, who,
+when he read it, was wroth with exceeding wrath with his daughter Manar al-Sana
+and wrote to Nur al-Huda, saying, "I commit her case to thee and give thee
+command over her life; so, if the matter be as thou sayest, kill her without
+consulting me." When the Queen had received and read her father's letter, she
+sent for Manar al-Sana and they set before her the prisoner drowned in her
+blood and pinioned with her hair, shackled with heavy iron shackles and clad in
+hair-cloth; and they made her stand in the presence abject and abashed.  When
+she saw herself in this condition of passing humiliation and exceeding
+abjection, she called to mind her former high estate and wept with sore weeping
+and recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O Lord my foes are fain to slay me in despight * Nor deem I<br/>
+
+     anywise to find escape by flight:<br/>
+
+I have recourse to Thee t' annul what they have done; * Thou art<br/>
+
+     th' asylum, Lord, of fearful suppliant wight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then wept she grievously, till she fell down in a swoon, and presently coming
+to herself, repeated these two couplets,[FN#158]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Troubles familiar with my heart are grown and I with them, *<br/>
+
+     Erst shunning; for the generous are sociable still.<br/>
+
+Not one mere kind alone of woe doth lieger with me lie; * Praised<br/>
+
+     be God! There are with me thousands of kinds of ill."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And also these,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Oft times Mischance shall straiten noble breast * With grief,<br/>
+
+     whence issue is for Him to shape:<br/>
+
+But when the meshes straitest, tightest, seem * They loose,<br/>
+
+     though deemed I ne'er to find escape."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twentieth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen Nur al-Huda
+ordered into the presence her sister Princess Manar al-Sana, they set her
+between her hands and she, pinioned as she was recited the verses aforesaid. 
+Then the Queen[FN#159] sent for a ladder of wood and made the eunuchs lay her
+on her back, with her arms spread out and bind her with cords thereto; after
+which she bared her head and wound her hair about the ladder-rungs and indeed
+all pity for her was rooted out from her heart.  When Manar al-Sana saw herself
+in this state of abjection and humiliation, she cried out and wept; but none
+succoured her. Then said she to the Queen, "O my sister, how is thy heart
+hardened against me? Hast thou no mercy on me nor pity on these little
+children?" But her words only hardened her sister's heart and she insulted her,
+saying, "O Wanton! O harlot!  Allah have no ruth on whoso sueth for thee!  How
+should I have compassion on thee, O traitress?" Replied Manar al-Sana who lay
+stretched on the ladder, "I appeal from thee to the Lord of the Heavens,
+concerning that wherewith thou revilest me and whereof I am innocent! By Allah,
+I have done no whoredom, but am lawfully married to him, and my Lord knoweth an
+I speak sooth or not! Indeed, my heart is wroth with thee, by reason of thine
+excessive hardheartedness against me!  How canst thou cast at me the charge of
+harlotry, without knowledge?  But my Lord will deliver me from thee and if that
+whoredom whereof thou accusest me be true, may He presently punish me for it!"
+Quoth Nur al-Huda after a few moments of reflection "How durst thou bespeak me
+thus?" and rose and beat her till she fainted away;[FN#160] whereupon they
+sprinkled water on her face till she revived; and in truth her charms were
+wasted for excess of beating and the straitness of her bonds and the sore
+insults she had suffered.  Then she recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"If aught I've sinned in sinful way, * Or done ill deed and gone<br/>
+
+     astray,<br/>
+
+The past repent I and I come * To you and for your pardon pray!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Nur al-Huda heard these lines, her wrath redoubled and she said to her,
+"Wilt speak before me in verse, O whore, and seek to excuse thyself for the
+mortal sins thou hast sinned?  'Twas my desire that thou shouldst return to thy
+husband, that I might witness thy wickedness and matchless brazenfacedness; for
+thou gloriest in thy lewdness and wantonness and mortal heinousness." Then she
+called for a palm-stick and, whenas they brought the Jaríd, she arose and
+baring arms to elbows, beat her sister from head to foot; after which she
+called for a whip of plaited thongs, wherewith if one smote an elephant, he
+would start off at full speed, and came down therewith on her back and her
+stomach and every part of her body, till she fainted.  When the old woman
+Shawahi saw this, she fled forth from the Queen's presence, weeping and cursing
+her; but Nur al-Huda cried out to her eunuchs, saying, "Fetch her to me!" So
+they ran after her and seizing her, brought her back to the Queen, who bade
+throw her on the ground and making them lay hold of her, rose and took the
+whip, with which she beat her, till she swooned away, when she said to her
+waiting-women, "Drag this ill-omened beldam forth on her face and put her out."
+And they did as she bade them.  So far concerning them; but as regards Hasan,
+he walked on beside the river, in the direction of the desert, distracted,
+troubled, and despairing of life; and indeed he was dazed and knew not night
+from day for stress of affliction.  He ceased not faring  on thus, till he came
+to a tree whereto he saw a scroll hanging:  so he took it and found written
+thereon these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"When in thy mother's womb thou wast, * I cast thy case the<br/>
+
+     bestest best;<br/>
+
+And turned her heart to thee, so she * Fosterčd thee on fondest<br/>
+
+     breast.<br/>
+
+We will suffice thee in whate'er * Shall cause thee trouble or<br/>
+
+     unrest;<br/>
+
+We'll aid thee in thine enterprise * So rise and bow to our<br/>
+
+     behest."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he had ended reading this scroll, he made sure of deliverance from trouble
+and of winning reunion with those he loved.  Then he walked forward a few steps
+and found himself alone in a wild and perilous wold wherein there was none to
+company with him; upon which his heart sank within him for horror and
+loneliness and his side-muscles trembled, for that fearsome place, and he
+recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O Zephyr of Morn, an thou pass where the dear ones dwell, * Bear<br/>
+
+     greeting of lover who ever in love-longing wones!<br/>
+
+And tell them I'm pledged to yearning and pawned to pine * And<br/>
+
+     the might of my passion all passion of lovers unthrones.<br/>
+
+Their sympathies haply shall breathe in a Breeze like thee * And<br/>
+
+     quicken forthright this framework of rotting bones."[FN#161]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-first Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan read the
+scroll he was certified of deliverance from his trouble and made sure of
+winning reunion with those he loved. Then he walked forward a couple of steps
+and stopped finding himself alone in a wild and perilous wold wherein was none
+to company with him, so he wept sore and recited the verses before mentioned. 
+Then he walked on a few steps farther beside the river, till he came upon two
+little boys of the sons of the sorcerers, before whom lay a rod of copper
+graven with talismans, and beside it a skull-cap[FN#162] of leather, made of
+three gores and wroughten in steel with names and characts.  The cap and rod
+were upon the ground and the boys were disputing and beating each other, till
+the blood ran down between them; whilst each cried, "None shall take the wand
+but I."  So Hasan interposed and parted them, saying, "What is the cause of
+your contention?" and they replied, "O uncle, be thou judge of our case, for
+Allah the Most High hath surely sent thee to do justice between us." Quoth
+Hasan, "Tell me your case, and I will judge between you;"  and quoth one of
+them, "We twain are brothers-german and our sire was a mighty magician, who
+dwelt in a cave on yonder mountain. He died and left us this cap and rod; and
+my brother saith, 'None shall have the rod but I,' whilst I say the like; so be
+thou judge between us and deliver us each from other." Hasan asked, "What is
+the difference between the rod and the cap and what is their value?  The rod
+appears to be worth six coppers[FN#163] and the cap three;" whereto they
+answered, "Thou knowest not their properties." "And what are their properties?"
+"Each of them hath a wonderful secret virtue, wherefore the rod is worth the
+revenue of all the Islands of Wak and their provinces and dependencies, and the
+cap the like!" "By Allah, O my sons, discover to me their secret virtues." So
+they said, "O uncle, they are extraordinary; for our father wrought an hundred
+and thirty and five years at their contrivance, till he brought them to
+perfection and ingrafted them with secret attributes which might serve him
+extraordinary services and engraved them after the likeness of the revolving
+sphere, and by their aid he dissolved all spells; and when he had made an end
+of their fashion, Death, which all needs must suffer, overtook him.  Now the
+hidden virtue of the cap is, that whoso setteth it on his head is concealed
+from all folks' eyes, nor can any see him, whilst it remaineth on his head; and
+that of the rod is that whoso owneth it hath authority over seven tribes of the
+Jinn, who all serve the order and ordinance of the rod; and whenever he who
+possesseth it smiteth therewith on the ground, their Kings come to do him
+homage, and all the Jinn are at his service." Now when Hasan heard these words,
+he bowed his head groundwards awhile, then said in himself, "By Allah, I shall
+conquer every foe by means of this rod and cap, Inshallah! and I am worthier of
+them both than these two boys.  So I will go about forthright to get them from
+the twain by craft, that I may use them to free myself and my wife and children
+from yonder tyrannical Queen, and then we will depart from this dismal stead,
+whence there is no deliverance for mortal man nor flight.  Doubtless, Allah
+caused me not to fall in with these two lads, but that I might get the rod and
+cap from them." Then he raised his head and said to the two boys, "If ye would
+have me decide the case, I will make trial of you and see what each of you
+deserveth. He who overcometh his brother shall have the rod and he who faileth
+shall have the cap." They replied, "O uncle, we depute thee to make trial of us
+and do thou decide between us as thou deems fit."  Hasan asked, "Will ye
+hearken to me and have regard to my words?"; and they answered, "Yes." Then
+said he, "I will take a stone and throw it and he who outrunneth his brother
+thereto and picketh it up shall take the rod, and the other who is outraced
+shall take the cap." And they said, "We accept and consent to this thy
+proposal." Then Hasan took a stone and threw it with his might, so that it
+disappeared from sight. The two boys ran under and after it and when they were
+at a distance, he donned the cap and hending the rod in hand, removed from his
+place that he might prove the truth of that which the boys had said, with
+regard to their scant properties.  The younger outran the elder and coming
+first to the stone, took it and returned with it to the place where they had
+left Hasan, but found no signs of him.  So he called to his brother, saying,
+"Where is the man who was to be umpire between us?" Quoth the other, "I espy
+him not neither wot I whether he hath flown up to heaven above or sunk into
+earth beneath." Then they sought for him, but saw him not, though all the while
+he was standing in his stead hard by them.  So they abused each other, saying,
+"Rod and Cap are both gone; they are neither mine nor thine: and indeed our
+father warned us of this very thing; but we forgot whatso he said." Then they
+retraced their steps and Hasan also entered the city, wearing the cap and
+bearing the rod; and none saw him. Now when he was thus certified of the truth
+of their speech, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and making the palace, went up
+into the lodging of Shawahi, who saw him not, because of the cap.  Then he
+walked up to a shelf[FN#164] over her head upon which were vessels of glass and
+chinaware, and shook it with his hand, so that what was thereon fell to the
+ground.  The old woman cried out and beat her face; then she rose and restored
+the fallen things to their places,[FN#165] saying in herself, "By Allah,
+methinks Queen Nur al-Huda hath sent a Satan to torment me, and he hath tricked
+me this trick!  I beg Allah Almighty deliver me from her and preserve me from
+her wrath, for, O Lord, if she deal thus abominably with her half-sister,
+beating and hanging her, dear as she is to her sire, how will she do with a
+stranger like myself, against whom she is incensed?"—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-second Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the ancient Lady of
+Calamities cried, "When Queen Nur al-Huda doeth such misdeed to her sister,
+what will she do to a stranger like myself, against whom she is incensed?" Then
+said she, "I conjure thee, O devil, by the Most Compassionate, the
+Bountiful-great, the High of Estate, of Dominion Elate who man and Jinn did
+create, and by the writing upon the seal of Solomon David-son (on both be the
+Peace!) speak to me and answer me;" Quoth Hasan, "I am no devil; I am Hasan,
+the afflicted, the distraught." Then he raised the cap from his head and
+appeared to the old woman, who knew him and taking him apart, said to him,
+"What is come to thy reason, that thou returnest hither?  Go hide thee; for, if
+this wicked woman have tormented thy wife with such torments, and she her
+sister, what will she do, an she light on thee?" Then she told him all that had
+befallen his spouse and that wherein she was of travail and torment and
+tribulation, and straitly described all the pains she endured adding, "And
+indeed the Queen repenteth her of having let thee go and hath sent one after
+thee, promising him an hundred-weight of gold and my rank in her service; and
+she hath sworn that, if he bring thee back, she will do thee and thy wife and
+children dead." And she shed tears and discovered to Hasan what the Queen had
+done with herself, whereat he wept and said, "O my lady, how shall I do to
+escape from this land and deliver myself and my wife and children from this
+tyrannical Queen and how devise to return with them in safety to my own
+country?" Replied the old woman, "Woe to thee!  Save thyself." Quoth he, "There
+is no help but I deliver her and my children from the Queen perforce and in her
+despite;" and quoth Shawahi, "How canst thou forcibly rescue them from her?  Go
+and hide thyself, O my son, till Allah Almighty empower thee." Then Hasan
+showed her the rod and the cap, whereat she rejoiced with joy exceeding and
+cried, "Glory be to Him who quickeneth the bones, though they be rotten!  By
+Allah, O my son, thou and thy wife were but of lost folk; now, however, thou
+art saved, thou and thy wife and children!  For I know the rod and I know its
+maker, who was my Shaykh in the science of Gramarye.  He was a mighty magician
+and spent an hundred and thirty and five years working at this rod and cap,
+till he brought them to perfection, when Death the Inevitable overtook him. 
+And I have heard him say to his two boys, 'O my sons, these two things are not
+of your lot, for there will come a stranger from a far country, who will take
+them from you by force, and ye shall not know how he taketh them.' Said they,
+'O our father, tell us how he will avail to take them.'  But he answered, 'I
+wot not.' And O my son," added she, "how availedst thou to take them?" So he
+told her how he had taken them from the two boys, whereat she rejoiced and
+said, "O my son, since thou hast gotten the whereby to free thy wife and
+children, give ear to what I shall say to thee.  For me there is no woning with
+this wicked woman, after the foul fashion in which she durst use me; so I am
+minded to depart from her to the caves of the Magicians and there abide with
+them until I die.  But do thou, O my son, don the cap and hend the rod in hand
+and enter the place where thy wife and children are.  Unbind her bonds and
+smite the earth with the rod saying, 'Be ye present, O servants of these
+names!' whereupon the servants of the rod will appear; and if there present
+himself one of the Chiefs of the Tribes, command him whatso thou shalt wish and
+will." So he farewelled her and went forth, donning the cap and hending the
+rod, and entered the place where his wife was. He found her well-nigh lifeless,
+bound to the ladder by her hair, tearful-eyed and woeful-hearted, in the
+sorriest of plights, knowing no way to deliver herself.  Her children were
+playing under the ladder, whilst she looked at them and wept for them and
+herself, because of the barbarities and sore treatings and bitter penalties
+which had befallen her; and he heard her repeat these couplets[FN#166],
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"There remaineth not aught save a fluttering breath and an eye<br/>
+
+     whose owner is confounded.<br/>
+
+And a desirous lover whose bowels are burned with fire<br/>
+
+     notwithstanding which she is silent.<br/>
+
+The exulting foe pitieth her at the sight of her.  Alas for her<br/>
+
+     whom the exulting foe pitieth!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Hasan saw her in this state of torment and misery and ignominy and infamy,
+he wept till he fainted; and when he recovered he saw his children playing and
+their mother aswoon for excess of pain; so he took the cap from his head and
+the children saw him and cried out, "O our father!" Then he covered his head
+again and the Princess came to herself, hearing their cry, but saw only her
+children weeping and shrieking, "O our father!" When she heard them name their
+sire and weep, her heart was broken and her vitals rent asunder and she said to
+them, "What maketh you in mind of your father at this time?" And she wept sore
+and cried out, from a bursten liver and an aching bosom, "Where are ye and
+where is your father?" Then she recalled the days of her union with Hasan and
+what had befallen her since her desertion of him and wept with sore weeping
+till her cheeks were seared and furrowed and her face was drowned in a briny
+flood.  Her tears ran down and wetted the ground and she had not a hand loose
+to wipe them from her cheeks, whilst the flies fed their fill on her skin, and
+she found no helper but weeping and no solace but improvising verses. Then she
+repeated these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I call to mind the parting-day that rent our loves in twain,<br/>
+
+     When, as I turned away, the tears in very streams did rain.<br/>
+
+The cameleer urged on his beasts with them, what while I found<br/>
+
+     Nor strength nor fortitude, nor did my heart with me remain.<br/>
+
+Yea, back I turned, unknowing of the road nor might shake off The<br/>
+
+     trance of grief and longing love that numbed my heart and<br/>
+
+     brain;<br/>
+
+And worst of all betided me, on my return, was one Who came to<br/>
+
+     me, in lowly guise, to glory in my pain.<br/>
+
+Since the belovčd's gone, O soul, forswear the sweet of life Nor<br/>
+
+     covet its continuance, for, wanting him, 'twere vain.<br/>
+
+List, O my friend, unto the tale of love, and God forbid That I<br/>
+
+     should speak and that thy heart to hearken should not deign!<br/>
+
+As 'twere El Asmaď himself, of passion I discourse Fancies rare<br/>
+
+     and marvellous, linked in an endless chain."[FN#167]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-third Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, When Hasan went in to his wife he saw his children and heard her
+repeating the verses afore mentioned.[FN#168] Then she turned right and left,
+seeking the cause of her children's crying out, "O our father!" but saw no one
+and marvelled that her sons should name their sire at that time and call upon
+him.  But when Hasan heard her verses, he wept till he swooned away and the
+tears railed down his cheeks like rain.  Then he drew near the children and
+raised the cap from his head unseen of his wife, whereupon they saw him and
+they knew him and cried out, saying, "O our father!" Their mother fell
+a-weeping again, when she heard them name their sire's name and said, "There is
+no avoiding the doom which Almighty Allah hath decreed!" adding, "O Strange!
+What garreth them think of their father at this time and call upon him, albeit
+it is not of their wont?" Then she wept and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The land of lamping moon is bare and drear; * O eyne of me pour<br/>
+
+     forth the brimming tear!<br/>
+
+They marched: how shall I now be patient? * That I nor heart nor<br/>
+
+     patience own I swear!<br/>
+
+O ye, who marched yet bide in heart of me, * Will you, O lords of<br/>
+
+     me, return to that we were?<br/>
+
+What harm if they return and I enjoy * Meeting, and they had ruth<br/>
+
+     on tears of care?<br/>
+
+Upon the parting-day they dimmed these eyne, * For sad surprise,<br/>
+
+     and lit the flames that flare.<br/>
+
+Sore longed I for their stay, but Fortune stayed * Longings and<br/>
+
+     turned my hope to mere despair.<br/>
+
+Return to us (O love!) by Allah, deign! * Enow of tears have<br/>
+
+     flowed for absence-bane."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Hasan could no longer contain himself, but took the cap from his head;
+whereupon his wife saw him and recognising him screamed a scream which startled
+all in the palace, and said to him, "How camest thou hither?  From the sky hast
+thou dropped or through the earth hast thou come up?" And her eyes brimmed with
+tears and Hasan also wept.  Quoth she, "O man, this be no time for tears or
+blame.  Fate hath had its course and the sight was blinded and the Pen hath run
+with what was ordained of Allah when Time was begun: so, Allah upon thee,
+whencesoever thou comest, go hide, lest any espy thee and tell my sister and
+she do thee and me die!" Answered he, "O my lady and lady of all Queens, I have
+adventured myself and come hither, and either I will die or I will deliver thee
+from this strait and travel with thee and my children to my country, despite
+the nose of this thy wickedest sister."  But as she heard his words she smiled
+and for awhile fell to shaking her head and said, "Far, O my life, far is it
+from the power of any except Allah Almighty to deliver me from this my strait!
+Save thyself by flight and wend thy ways and cast not thyself into destruction;
+for she hath conquering hosts none may withstand.  Given that thou tookest me
+and wentest forth, how canst thou make thy country and escape from these
+islands and the perils of these awesome places?  Verily, thou hast seen on thy
+way hither, the wonders, the marvels, the dangers and the terrors of the road,
+such as none may escape, not even one of the rebel Jinns. Depart, therefore,
+forthright and add not cark to my cark and care to my care, neither do thou
+pretend to rescue me from this my plight; for who shall carry me to thy country
+through all these vales and thirsty wolds and fatal steads?" Rejoined Hasan,
+"By thy life, O light of mine eyes, I will not depart this place nor fare but
+with thee!" Quoth she, "O man!  How canst thou avail unto this thing and what
+manner of man art thou?  Thou knowest not what thou sayest!  None can escape
+from these realms, even had he command over Jinns, Ifrits, magicians, chiefs of
+tribes and Marids.  Save thyself and leave me; perchance Allah will bring about
+good after ill." Answered Hasan, "O lady of fair ones, I came not save to
+deliver thee with this rod and with this cap." And he told her what had
+befallen him with the two boys; but, whilst he was speaking, behold, up came
+the Queen and heard their speech.  Now when he was ware of her, he donned the
+cap and was hidden from sight, and she entered and said to the Princess, "O
+wanton, who is he with whom thou wast talking?" Answered Manar al-Sanar, "Who
+is with me that should talk with me, except these children?" Then the Quee took
+the whip and beat her, whilst Hasan stood by and looked on, nor did she leave
+beating her till she fainted; whereupon she bade transport her to another
+place.  So they loosed her and carried her to another chamber whilst Hasan
+followed unseen.  There they cast her down, senseless, and stood gazing upon
+her, till she revived and recited these couplets,[FN#169]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I have sorrowed on account of our disunion with a sorrow that<br/>
+
+     made the tears to overflow from my eyelids;<br/>
+
+And I vowed that if Fortune reunite us, I would never again<br/>
+
+     mention our separation;<br/>
+
+And I would say to the envious, Die ye with regret; By Allah I<br/>
+
+     have now attained my desire!<br/>
+
+Joy hath overwhelmed me to such a degree that by its excess it<br/>
+
+     hath made me weep.<br/>
+
+O eye, how hath weeping become thy habit?  Thou weepest in joy as<br/>
+
+     well, as in sorrows."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When she ceased her verse the slave-girls went out from her and Hasan took off
+the cap; whereupon his wife said to him, "See, O man, all this befel me not
+save by reason of my having rebelled against thee and transgressed thy
+commandment and gone forth without thy leave.[FN#170] So, Allah upon thee blame
+me not for my sins and know that women never wot a man's worth till they have
+lost him.  Indeed, I have offended and done evil; but I crave pardon of Allah
+Almighty for whatso I did, and if He reunite us, I will never again gainsay
+thee in aught, no, never!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan's wife besought
+pardon of him saying, "Blame me not for my sin; and indeed I crave mercy of
+Allah Almighty." Quoth Hasan (and indeed his heart ached for her), "'Twas not
+thou that wast in fault; nay, the fault was mine and mine only, for I fared
+forth and left thee with one who knew not thy rank, neither thy worth nor thy
+degree.  But know, O beloved of my heart and fruit of my vitals and light of
+mine eyes, that Allah (blessed be He!) hath ordained to me power of releasing
+thee; so, say me, wouldst thou have me carry thee to thy father's home, there
+to accomplish what Allah decreeth unto thee, or wilt thou forthright depart
+with me to mine own country, now that relief is come to thee?" Quoth she, "Who
+can deliver me save the Lord of the Heavens? Go to thy mother-land and put away
+from thee false hope; for thou knowest not the perils of these parts which, an
+thou obey me not, soon shalt thou sight." And she improvised these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"On me and with me bides thy volunty; * Why then such anger such<br/>
+
+     despite to me?<br/>
+
+Whate'er befel us Heaven forbid that love * Fade for long time or<br/>
+
+     e'er forgotten be!<br/>
+
+Ceased not the spy to haunt our sides, till seen * Our love<br/>
+
+     estranged and then estranged was he:<br/>
+
+In truth I trusted to fair thoughts of thine * Though spake the<br/>
+
+     wicked spy maliciously.<br/>
+
+We'll keep the secret 'twixt us twain and hold * Although the<br/>
+
+     brand of blame unsheathed we see.<br/>
+
+The livelong day in longing love I spend * Hoping acceptance-<br/>
+
+     message from my friend."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then wept she and her children, and the handmaidens heard them: so they came in
+to them and found them weeping, but saw not Hasan with them; wherefore they
+wept for ruth of them and damned Queen Nur al-Huda.  Then Hasan took patience
+till night came on and her guards had gone to their sleeping-places, when he
+arose and girded his waist; then went up to her and, loosing her kissed her on
+the head and between the eyes and pressed her to his bosom, saying, "How long
+have we wearied for our mother-land and for reunion there!  Is this our meeting
+in sleep, or on wake?" Then he took up the elder boy and she took up the
+younger and they went forth the palace; and Allah veiled them with the veil of
+His protection, so that they came safe to the outer gate which closed the
+entrance to the Queen's Serraglio. But finding it locked from without, Hasan
+said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious,
+the Great!  Verily we are Allah's and unto Him shall we return!" With this they
+despaired of escape and Hasan beat hand upon hand, saying, "O Dispeller of
+dolours!  Indeed, I had bethought me of every thing and considered its
+conclusion but this; and now, when it is daybreak, they will take us, and what
+device have we in this case?" And he recited the following two
+couplets,[FN#171]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Thou madest fair thy thought of Fate, whenas the days were fair,<br/>
+
+     And fearedst not the unknown ills that they to thee might<br/>
+
+     bring.<br/>
+
+The nights were fair and calm to thee; thou wast deceived by<br/>
+
+     them, For in the peace of night is born full many a<br/>
+
+     troublous thing."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Hasan wept and his wife wept for his weeping and for the abasement she had
+suffered and the cruelties of Time and Fortune,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Baulks me my Fate as tho' she were my foe; * Each day she<br/>
+
+     showeth me new cark and care:<br/>
+
+Fate, when I aim at good, brings clear reverse, * And lets foul<br/>
+
+     morrow wait on day that's fair."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And also these,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Irks me my Fate and clean unknows that I * Of my high worth her<br/>
+
+     shifts and shafts despise.<br/>
+
+She nights parading what ill-will she works: * I night parading<br/>
+
+     Patience to her eyes."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then his wife said to him, "By Allah, there is no relief for us but to kill
+ourselves and be at rest from this great and weary travail; else we shall
+suffer grievous torment on the morrow." At this moment, behold, they heard a
+voice from without the door say, "By Allah, O my lady Manar al-Sana, I will not
+open to thee and thy husband Hasan, except ye obey me in whatso I shall say to
+you!" When they heard these words they were silent for excess of fright and
+would have returned whence they came; when lo! the voice spake again saying,
+"What aileth you both to be silent and answer me not?"  Therewith they knew the
+speaker for the old woman Shawahi, Lady of Calamities, and said to her,
+"Whatsoever thou biddest us, that will we do; but first open the door to us;
+this being no time for talk." Replied she, "By Allah, I will not open to you
+until ye both swear to me that you will take me with you and not leave me with
+yonder whore: so, whatever befalleth you shall befal me and if ye escape, I
+shall escape, and if ye perish, I shall perish: for yonder abominable woman,
+tribade[FN#172] that she is! entreateth me with indignity and still tormenteth
+me on your account; and thou, O my daughter, knowest my worth." Now recognising
+her they trusted in her and sware to her an oath such as contented her,
+whereupon she opened the door to them and they fared forth and found her riding
+on a Greek jar of red earthenware with a rope of palm-fibres about its
+neck,[FN#173] which rolled under her and ran faster than a Najdi colt, and she
+came up to them, and said, "Follow me and fear naught, for I know forty modes
+of magic by the least of which I could make this city a dashing sea, swollen
+with clashing billows, and ensorcel each damsel therein to a fish, and all
+before dawn.  But I was not able to work aught of my mischief, for fear of the
+King her father and of regard to her sisters, for that they are formidable, by
+reason of their many guards and tribesmen and servants.  However, soon will I
+show you wonders of my skill in witchcraft; and now let us on, relying upon the
+blessing of Allah and His good aid." Now Hasan and his wife rejoiced in this,
+making sure of escape, —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan and his
+wife, accompanied by the ancient dame Shawahi, fared forth from the palace,
+they made sure of deliverance and they walked on till they came without the
+city, when he fortified his heart and, smiting the earth with the rod, cried,
+"Ho, ye servants of these names, appear to me and acquaint me with your
+conditions!" Thereupon the earth clave asunder and out came ten[FN#174] Ifrits,
+with their feet in the bowels of the earth and their heads in the clouds.  They
+kissed the earth three times before Hasan and said as with one voice, "Adsumus!
+ Here are we at thy service, O our lord and ruler over us! What dost thou bid
+us do? For we hear and obey thy commandment.  An thou wilt, we will dry thee up
+seas and remove mountains from their places." So Hasan rejoiced in their words
+and at their speedy answer to his evocation; then taking courage and bracing up
+his resolution, he said to them, "Who are ye and what be your names and your
+races, and to what tribes and clans and companies appertain ye?" They kissed
+the earth once more and answered as with one voice, saying, "We are seven
+Kings, each ruling over seven tribes of the Jinn of all conditions, and Satans
+and Marids, flyers and divers, dwellers in mountains and wastes and wolds and
+haunters of the seas: so bid us do whatso thou wilt; for we are thy servants
+and thy slaves, and whoso possesseth this rod hath dominion over all our necks
+and we owe him obedience."  Now when Hasan heard this, he rejoiced with joy
+exceeding, as did his wife and the old woman, and presently he said to the
+Kings of the Jinn, "I desire of you that ye show me your tribes and hosts and
+guards." "O our lord," answered they, "if we show thee our tribes, we fear for
+thee and these who are with thee, for their name is legion and they are various
+in form and fashion, figure and favour.  Some of us are heads sans bodies and
+others bodies sans heads, and others again are in the likeness of wild beasts
+and ravening lions. However, if this be thy will, there is no help but we first
+show thee those of us who are like unto wild beasts.  But, O our lord, what
+wouldst thou of us at this present?"  Quoth Hasan, "I would have you carry me
+forthwith to the city of Baghdad, me and my wife and this honest woman." But,
+hearing his words they hung down their heads and were silent, whereupon Hasan
+asked them, "Why do ye not reply?" And they answered as with one voice, "O our
+lord and ruler over us, we are of the covenant of Solomon son of David (on the
+twain be Peace!) and he sware us in that we would bear none of the sons of Adam
+on our backs; since which time we have borne no mortal on back or shoulder: but
+we will straightway harness thee horses of the Jinn, that shall carry thee and
+thy company to thy country." Hasan enquired, "How far are we from Baghdad?" and
+they, "Seven years' journey for a diligent horseman." Hasan marvelled at this
+and said to them, "Then how came I hither in less than a year?"; and they said,
+"Allah softened to thee the hearts of His pious servants else hadst thou never
+come to this country nor hadst thou set eyes on these regions; no, never!  For
+the Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, who mounted thee on the elephant and the magical
+horse, traversed with thee, in ten days, three years' journey for a well-girt
+rider, and the Ifrit Dahnash, to whom the Shaykh committed thee, carried thee a
+three years' march in a day and a night; all which was of the blessing of Allah
+Almighty, for that the Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh is of the seed of Ásaf bin
+Barkhiyá[FN#175] and knoweth the Most Great name of Allah.[FN#176]  Moreover,
+from Baghdad to the palace of the damsels is a year's journey, and this maketh
+up the seven years." When Hasan heard this, he marvelled with exceeding marvel
+and cried, "Glory be to God, Facilitator of the hard, Fortifier of the weak
+heart, Approximator of the far and Humbler of every froward tyrant, Who hath
+eased us of every accident and carried me to these countries and subjected to
+me these creatures and reunited me with my wife and children!  I know not
+whether I am asleep or awake or if I be sober or drunken!" Then he turned to
+the Jinn and asked, "When ye have mounted me upon your steeds, in how many days
+will they bring us to Baghdad?"; and they answered, "They will carry you
+thither under the year, but not till after ye have endured terrible perils and
+hardships and horrors and ye have traversed thirsty Wadys and frightful wastes
+and horrible steads without number; and we cannot promise thee safety, O our
+lord, from the people of these islands,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Jann said to Hasan,
+"We cannot promise thee safety, O our lord, from this Islandry, nor from the
+mischief of the Supreme King and his enchanters and warlocks.  It may be they
+will overcome us and take you from us and we fall into affliction with them,
+and all to whom the tidings shall come after this will say to us: 'Ye are
+wrong-doers!  How could ye go against the Supreme King and carry a mortal out
+of his dominions, and eke the King's daughter with him?' adding, 'Wert thou
+alone with us the thing were light; but He who conveyed thee hither is capable
+to carry thee back to thy country and reunite thee with thine own people
+forthright and in readiest plight.  So take heart and put thy trust in Allah
+and fear not; for we are at thy service, to convey thee to thy country." Hasan
+thanked them therefor and said, "Allah requite you with good! but now make
+haste with the horses;" they replied, "We hear and we obey," and struck the
+ground with their feet, whereupon it opened and they disappeared within it and
+were absent awhile, after which they suddenly reappeared with three horses,
+saddled and bridled, and on each saddle-bow a pair of saddle-bags, with a
+leathern bottle of water in one pocket and the other full of provaunt.  So
+Hasan mounted one steed and took a child before him, whilst his wife mounted a
+second and took the other child before her.  Then the old woman alighted from
+the jar and bestrode the third horse and they rode on, without ceasing, all
+night.  At break of day, they turned aside from the road and made for the
+mountain, whilst their tongues ceased not to name Allah. Then they fared on
+under the highland all that day, till Hasan caught sight of a black object afar
+as it were a tall column of smoke a-twisting skywards; so he recited somewhat
+of the Koran and Holy Writ, and sought refuge with Allah from Satan the Stoned.
+ The black thing grew plainer as they drew near, and when hard by it, they saw
+that it was an Ifrit, with a head like a huge dome and tusks like grapnels and
+jaws like a lane and nostrils like ewers and ears like leathern targes and
+mouth like a cave and teeth like pillars of stone and hands like winnowing
+forks and legs like masts: his head was in the cloud and his feet in the bowels
+of the earth had plowed.  Whenas Hasan gazed upon him he bowed himself and
+kissed the ground before him, saying, "O Hasan, have no fear of me; for I am
+the chief of the dwellers in this land, which is the first of the Isles of Wak,
+and I am a Moslem and an adorer of the One God.  I have heard of you and your
+coming and when I knew of your case, I desired to depart from the land of the
+magicians to another land, void of inhabitants and far from men and Jinn, that
+I might dwell there alone and worship Allah till my fated end came upon me.  So
+I wish to accompany you and be your guide, till ye fare forth of the Wak
+Islands; and I will not appear save at night; and do ye hearten your hearts on
+my account; for I am a Moslem, even as ye are Moslems." When Hasan heard the
+Ifrit's words, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and made sure of deliverance; and
+he said to him, "Allah requite thee weal!  Go with us relying upon the blessing
+of Allah!" So the Ifrit forewent them and they followed, talking and making
+merry, for their hearts were pleased and their breasts were eased and Hasan
+fell to telling his wife all that had befallen him and all the hardships he had
+undergone, whilst she excused herself to him and told him, in turn, all she had
+seen and suffered. They ceased not faring all that night.—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they ceased not faring
+all that night and the horses bore them like the blinding leven, and when the
+day rose all put their hands to the saddle-bags and took forth provaunt which
+they ate and water which they drank.  Then they sped diligently on their way,
+preceded by the Ifrit, who turned aside with them from the beaten track into
+another road, till then untrodden, along the sea-shore, and they ceased not
+faring on, without stopping, across Wadys and wolds a whole month, till on the
+thirty-first day there arose before them a dust-cloud, that walled the world
+and darkened the day; and when Hasan saw this, he was confused and turned pale;
+and more so when a frightful crying and clamour struck their ears.  Thereupon
+the old woman said to him, "O my son, this is the army of the Wak Islands, that
+hath overtaken us; and presently they will lay violent hands on us." Hasan
+asked, "What shall I do, O my mother?"; and she answered, "Strike the earth
+with the rod." He did so whereupon the Seven Kings presented themselves and
+saluted him with the salam, kissing ground before him and saying, "Fear not
+neither grieve." Hasan rejoiced at these words and answered them, saying, "Well
+said, O Princes of the Jinn and the Ifrits!  This is your time!" Quoth they,
+"Get ye up to the mountain-top, thou and thy wife and children and she who is
+with thee and leave us to deal with them, for we know that you all are in the
+right and they in the wrong and Allah will aid us against them."  So Hasan and
+his wife and children and the old woman dismounted and dismissing the horses,
+ascended the flank of the mountain.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan with his wife,
+his children and the ancient dame ascended the mountain-flank after they had
+dismissed the coursers.  Presently, up came Queen Nur al-Huda, with the troops
+right and left, and the captains went round about among the host and ranged
+them rank by rank in battle array.  Then the hosts charged down upon each other
+and clashed together the twain with a mighty strain, the brave pressed on amain
+and the coward to fly was fain and the Jinn cast flames of fire from their
+mouths, whilst the smoke of them rose up to the confines of the sky and the two
+armies appeared and disappeared.  The champions fought and heads flew from
+trunks and the blood ran in rills; nor did brand leave to play and blood to
+flow and battle fire to flow, till the murk o' night came, when the two hosts
+drew apart and, alighting from their steeds rested upon the field by the fires
+they had kindled. Therewith the Seven Kings went up to Hasan and kissed the
+earth before him.  He pressed forwards to meet them and thanked them and prayed
+Allah to give them the victory and asked them how they had fared with the
+Queen's troops.  Quoth they, "They will not withstand us more than three days,
+for we had the better of them to-day, taking some two thousand of them
+prisoners and slaying of them much folk whose compt may not be told.  So be of
+good cheer and broad of breast." Then they farewelled him and went down to look
+after the safety of their troops; and they ceased not to keep up the fires till
+the morning rose with its sheen and shone, when the fighting-men mounted their
+horses of noble strain and smote one another with thin-edged skean and with
+brawn of bill they thrust amain nor did they cease that day battle to darraign.
+Moreover, they passed the night on horseback clashing together like dashing
+seas; raged among them the fires of war and they stinted not from battle and
+jar, till the armies of Wak were defeated and their power broken and their
+courage quelled; their feet slipped and whither they fled soever defeat was
+before them; wherefore they turned tail and of flight began to avail: but the
+most part of them were slain and their Queen and her chief officers and the
+grandees of her realm were captive ta'en.  When the morning morrowed, the Seven
+Kings presented themselves before Hasan and set for him a throne of alabaster
+inlaid with pearls and jewels, and he sat down thereon.  They also set thereby
+a throne of ivory, plated with glittering gold, for the Princess Manar al-Sana
+and another for the ancient dame Shawahi Zat al-Dawahi.  Then they brought
+before them the prisoners and among the rest, Queen Nur al-Huda with elbows
+pinioned and feet fettered, whom when Shawahi saw, she said to her, "Thy
+recompense, O harlot, O tyrant, shall be that two bitches be starved and two
+mares stinted of water, till they be athirst: then shalt thou be bound to the
+mares' tails and these driven to the river, with the bitches following thee
+that they may rend thy skin; and after, thy flesh shall be cut off and given
+them to eat.  How couldst thou do with thy sister such deed, O strumpet, seeing
+that she was lawfully married, after the ordinance of Allah and of His Apostle?
+ For there is no monkery in Al-Islam and marriage is one of the institutions of
+the Apostles (on whom be the Peace!)[FN#177] nor were women created but for
+men." Then Hasan commanded to put all the captives to the sword and the old
+woman cried out, saying, "Slay them all and spare none[FN#178]!" But, when
+Princess Manar al-Sana saw her sister in this plight, a bondswoman and in
+fetters, she wept over her and said, "O my sister, who is this hath conquered
+us and made us captives in our own country?" Quoth Nur al-Huda, "Verily, this
+is a mighty matter.  Indeed this man Hasan hath gotten the mastery over us and
+Allah hath given him dominion over us and over all our realm and he hath
+overcome us, us and the Kings of the Jinn." And quoth her sister, "Indeed,
+Allah aided him not against you nor did he overcome you nor capture you save by
+means of this cap and rod." So Nur al-Huda was certified and assured that he
+had conquered her by means thereof and humbled herself to her sister, till she
+was moved to ruth for her and said to her husband, "What wilt thou do with my
+sister? Behold, she is in thy hands and she hath done thee no misdeed that thou
+shouldest punish her." Replied Hasan, "Her torturing of thee was misdeed enow."
+But she answered, saying, "She hath excuse for all she did with me. As for
+thee, thou hast set my father's heart on fire for the loss of me, and what will
+be his case, if he lose my sister also?" And he said to her, "'Tis thine to
+decide; do whatso thou wilt." So she bade loose her sister and the rest of the
+captives, and they did her bidding.  Then she went up to Queen Nur al-Huda and
+embraced her, and they wept together a long while; after which quoth the Queen,
+"O my sister, bear me not malice for that I did with thee;" and quoth Manar
+al-Sana, "O my sister, this was foreordained to me by Fate." Then they sat on
+the couch talking and Manar al-Sana made peace between the old woman and her
+sister, after the goodliest fashion, and their hearts were set at ease. 
+Thereupon Hasan dismissed the servants of the rod thanking them for the succour
+which they had afforded him against his foes, and Manar al-Sana related to her
+sister all that had befallen her with Hasan her husband and every thing he had
+suffered for her sake, saying, "O my sister, since he hath done these deeds and
+is possessed of this might and Allah Almighty hath gifted him with such
+exceeding prowess, that he hath entered our country and beaten thine army and
+taken thee prisoner and defied our father, the Supreme King, who hath dominion
+over all the Princes of the Jinn, it behoveth us to fail not of what is due to
+him." Replied Nur al-Huda, "By Allah, O my sister, thou sayest sooth in whatso
+thou tellest me of the marvels which this man hath seen and suffered; and none
+may fail of respect to him. But was all this on thine account, O my
+sister?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Princess Manar
+al-Sana repeated to her sister these praises of Hasan, the other replied, "By
+Allah, this man can claim all respect more by token of his generosity. But was
+all this on thine account?" "Yes," answered Manar al-Sana, and they passed the
+night in converse till the morning morrowed and the sun rose and they were
+minded to depart.  So they farewelled one another and Manar al-Sana gave
+God-speed to the ancient dame after the reconciling her with Queen Nur al-Huda.
+ Thereupon Hasan smote the earth with the rod and its servants the Jinn
+appeared and saluted him, saying, "Praised be Allah, who hath set thy soul at
+rest!  Command us what thou wilt, and we will do it for thee in less than the
+twinking of an eye." He thanked them for their saying and said to them  "Allah
+requite you with good! Saddle me two steeds of the best."  So they brought him
+forthwith two saddled coursers, one of which he mounted, taking his elder son
+before him, and his wife rode the other, taking the younger son in front of
+her.  Then the Queen and the old woman also backed horse and departed, Hasan
+and his wife following the right and Nur al-Huda and Shawahi the left hand
+road.  The spouses fared on with their children, without stopping, for a whole
+month, till they drew in sight of a city, which they found compassed about with
+trees and streams and making the trees dismounted beneath them thinking to rest
+there.  As they sat talking, behold, they saw many horsemen coming towards
+them, whereupon Hasan rose and going to meet them, saw that it was King Hassun,
+lord of the Land of Camphor and Castle of Crystal, with his attendants.  So
+Hasan went up to the King and kissed his hands and saluted him; and when Hassun
+saw him, he dismounted and seating himself with Hasan upon carpets under the
+trees returned his salam and gave him joy of his safety and rejoiced in him
+with exceeding joy, saying to him, "O Hasan, tell me all that hath befallen
+thee, first and last."  So he told him all of that, whereupon the King
+marvelled and said to him, "O my son, none ever reached the Islands of Wak and
+returned thence but thou, and indeed thy case is wondrous; but
+Alhamdolillah—praised be God—for safety!"  Then he mounted and bade Hasan ride
+with his wife and children into the city, where he lodged them in the
+guest-house of his palace; and they abode with him three days, eating and
+drinking in mirth and merriment, after which Hasan sought Hassun's leave to
+depart to his own country and the King granted it.  Accordingly they took horse
+and the King rode with them ten days, after which he farewelled them and turned
+back, whilst Hasan and his wife and children fared on a whole month, at the end
+of which time they came to a great cavern, whose floor was of brass.  Quoth
+Hasan to his wife, "Kennest thou yonder cave?"; and quoth she, "No."  Said he,
+"Therein dwelleth a Shaykh, Abu al-Ruwaysh hight, to whom I am greatly
+beholden, for that he was the means of my becoming acquainted with King
+Hassun." Then he went on to tell her all that had passed between him and Abu
+al-Ruwaysh, and as he was thus engaged, behold, the Shaykh himself issued from
+the cavern-mouth. When Hasan saw him, he dismounted from his steed and kissed
+his hands, and the old man saluted him and gave him joy of his safety and
+rejoiced in him.  Then he carried him into the antre and sat down with him,
+whilst Hasan related to him what had befallen him in the Islands of Wak;
+whereat the Elder marvelled with exceeding marvel and said, "O Hasan, how didst
+thou deliver thy wife and children?" So he told them the tale of the cap and
+the rod, hearing which he wondered and said, "O Hasan, O my son, but for this
+rod and the cap, thou hadst never delivered thy wife and children." And he
+replied, "Even so, O my lord." As they were talking, there came a knocking at
+the door and Abu al-Ruwaysh went out and found Abd al-Kaddus mounted on his
+elephant.  So he saluted him and brought him into the cavern, where he embraced
+Hasan and congratulated him on his safety, rejoicing greatly in his return. 
+Then said Abu al-Ruwaysh to Hasan, "Tell the Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus all that hath
+befallen thee, O Hasan." He repeated to him every thing that had passed, first
+and last, till he came to the tale of the rod and cap,—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirtieth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan began relating
+to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus and Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh (who sat chattting in the
+cave) all that had passed, first and last, till he came to the tale of the rod
+and cap; whereupon quoth Abd al-Kaddus, "O my son, thou hast delivered thy wife
+and thy children and hast no further need of the two.  Now we were the means of
+thy winning to the Islands of Wak, and I have done thee kindness for the sake
+of my nieces, the daughters of my brother; wherefore I beg thee, of thy bounty
+and favour, to give me the rod and the Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh the cap." When
+Hasan heard this, he hung down his head, being ashamed to reply, "I will not
+give them to you," and said in his mind, "Indeed these two Shaykhs have done me
+great kindness and were the means of my winning to the Islands of Wak, and but
+for them I had never made the place, nor delivered my children, nor had I
+gotten me this rod and cap." So he raised his head and answered, "Yes, I will
+give them to you: but, O my lords, I fear lest the Supreme King, my wife's
+father, come upon me with his commando and combat with me in my own country,
+and I be unable to repel them, for want of the rod and the cap." Replied Abd
+al-Kaddus, "Fear not, O my son; we will continually succour thee and keep watch
+and ward for thee in this place; and whosoever shall come against thee from thy
+wife's father or any other, him we will fend off from thee; wherefore be thou
+of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool of tear, and hearten thy heart and
+broaden thy breast and feel naught whatsoever of fear, for no harm shall come
+to thee." When Hasan heard this he was abashed and gave the cap to Abu
+al-Ruwaysh, saying to Abd al-Kaddus, "Accompany me to my own country and I will
+give thee the rod." At this the two elders rejoiced with exceeding joy and made
+him ready riches and treasures which beggar all description. He abode with them
+three days, at the end of which he set out again and the Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus
+made ready to depart with him.  So he and his wife mounted their beasts and Abd
+al-Kaddus whistled when, behold, a mighty big elephant trotted up with fore
+hand and feet on amble from the heart of the desert and he took it and mounted
+it. Then they farewelled Abu al-Ruwaysh who disappeared within his cavern; and
+they fared on across country traversing the land in its length and breadth
+wherever Abd al-Kaddus guided them by a short cut and an easy way, till they
+drew near the land of the Princesses; whereupon Hasan rejoiced at finding
+himself once more near his mother, and praised Allah for his safe return and
+reunion with his wife and children after so many hardships and perils; and
+thanked Him for His favours and bounties, reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Haply shall Allah deign us twain unite * And lockt in strict<br/>
+
+     embrace we'll hail the light:<br/>
+
+And wonders that befel me I'll recount, * And all I suffered from<br/>
+
+     the Severance-blight:<br/>
+
+And fain I'll cure mine eyes by viewing you * For ever yearned my<br/>
+
+     heart to see your sight:<br/>
+
+I hid a tale for you my heart within * Which when we meet o' morn<br/>
+
+     I'll fain recite:<br/>
+
+I'll blame you for the deeds by you were done * But while blame<br/>
+
+     endeth love shall stay in site."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Hardly had he made an end of these verses, when he looked and behold, there
+rose to view the Green Dome[FN#179] and the jetting Fount and the Emerald
+Palace, and the Mountain of Clouds showed to them from afar; whereupon quoth
+Abd al-Kaddus, "Rejoice, O Hasan, in good tidings: to-night shalt thou be the
+guest of my nieces!" At this he joyed with exceeding joy and as also did his
+wife, and they alighted at the domed pavilion, where they took their
+rest[FN#180] and ate and drank; after which they mounted horse again and rode
+on till they came upon the palace. As they drew near, the Princesses who were
+daughters of the King, brother to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, came forth to meet them
+and saluted them and their uncle who said to them, "O daughters of my brother,
+behold, I have accomplished the need of this your brother Hasan and have helped
+him to regain his wife and children." So they embraced him and gave him joy of
+his return in safety and health and of his reunion with his wife and children,
+and it was a day of festival[FN#181] with them.  Then came forward Hasan's
+sister, the youngest Princess, and embraced him, weeping with sore weeping,
+whilst he also wept for his long desolation: after which she complained to him
+of that which she had suffered for the pangs of separation and weariness of
+spirit in his absence and recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"After thy faring never chanced I 'spy * A shape, but did thy form<br/>
+
+     therein descry:<br/>
+
+Nor closed mine eyes in sleep but thee I saw, * E'en as though<br/>
+
+     dwelling 'twixt the lid and eye."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When she had made an end of her verses, she rejoiced with joy exceeding and
+Hasan said to her, "O my sister, I thank none in this matter save thyself over
+all thy sisters, and may Allah Almighty vouchsafe thee aidance and
+countenance!" Then he related to her all that had past in his journey, from
+first to last, and all that he had undergone, telling her what had betided him
+with his wife's sister and how he had delivered his wife and wees and he also
+described to her all that he had seen of marvels and grievous perils, even to
+how Queen Nur al-Huda would have slain him and his spouse and children and none
+saved them from her but the Lord the Most High.  Moreover, he related to her
+the adventure of the cap and the rod and how Abd al-Kaddus and Abu al-Ruwaysh
+had asked for them and he had not agreed to give them to the twain save for her
+sake; wherefore she thanked him and blessed him wishing him long life; and he
+cried, "By Allah, I shall never forget all the kindness thou hast done me from
+incept to conclusion."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-first Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan foregathered
+with the Princesses, he related to his sister all that he had endured and said
+to her, "Never will I forget what thou hast done for me from incept to
+conclusion." Then she turned to his wife Manar al-Sana and embraced her and
+pressed her children to her breast, saying to her, "O daughter of the Supreme
+King, was there no pity in thy bosom, that thou partedst him and his children
+and settedst his heart on fire for them?  Say me, didst thou desire by this
+deed that he should die?" The Princess laughed and answered, "Thus was it
+ordained of Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) and whoso beguileth folk, him
+shall Allah begule."[FN#182]  Then they set on somewhat of meat and drink, and
+they all ate and drank and made merry.  They abode thus ten days in feast and
+festival, mirth and merry-making, at the end of which time Hasan prepared to
+continue his journey.  So his sister rose and made him ready riches and
+rarities, such as defy description.  Then she strained him to her bosom,
+because of leave-taking, and threw her arms round his neck whilst he recited on
+her account these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The solace of lovers is naught but far, * And parting is naught<br/>
+
+     save grief singular:<br/>
+
+And ill-will and absence are naught but woe, * And the victims of<br/>
+
+     Love naught but martyrs are;<br/>
+
+And how tedious is night to the loving wight * From his true love<br/>
+
+     parted 'neath evening star!<br/>
+
+His tears course over his cheeks and so * He cries, 'O tears be<br/>
+
+     there more to flow?'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With this Hasan gave the rod to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, who joyed therein with
+exceeding joy and thanking him and securing it mounted and returned to his own
+place.  Then Hasan took horse with his wife and children and departed from the
+Palace of the Princesses, who went forth[FN#183] with him, to farewell him.
+Then they turned back and Hasan fared on, over wild and wold, two months and
+ten days, till he came to the city of Baghdad, the House of Peace, and
+repairing to his home by the private postern which gave upon the open country,
+knocked at the door.  Now his mother, for long absence, had forsworn sleep and
+given herself to mourning and weeping and wailing, till she fell sick and ate
+no meat, neither took delight in slumber but shed tears night and day.  She
+ceased not to call upon her son's name albeit she despaired of his returning to
+her; and as he stood at the door, he heard her weeping and reciting these
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"By Allah, heal, O my lords, the unwhole * Of wasted frame and<br/>
+
+     heart worn with dole:<br/>
+
+An you grant her a meeting 'tis but your grace * Shall whelm in<br/>
+
+     the boons of the friend her soul:<br/>
+
+I despair not of Union the Lord can grant * And to weal of<br/>
+
+     meeting our woes control!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When she had ended her verses, she heard her son's voice at the door, calling
+out, "O mother, mother ah! fortune hath been kind and hath vouchsafed our
+reunion!"  Hearing his cry she knew his voice and went to the door, between
+belief and misbelief; but, when she opened it she saw him standing there and
+with him his wife and children; so she shrieked aloud, for excess of joy, and
+fell to the earth in a fainting-fit.  Hasan ceased not soothing her, till she
+recovered and embraced him; then she wept with joy, and presently she called
+his slaves and servants and bade them carry all his baggage into the
+house.[FN#184]  So they brought in every one of the loads, and his wife and
+children entered also, whereupon Hasan's mother went up to the Princess and
+kissed her head and bussed her feet, saying, "O daughter of the Supreme King,
+if I have failed of thy due, behold, I crave pardon of Almighty Allah." Then
+she turned to Hasan and said to him, "O my son, what was the cause of this long
+strangerhood?" He related to her all his adventures from beginning to end; and
+when she heard tell of all that had befallen him, she cried a great cry and
+fell down a-fainting at the very mention of his mishaps.  He solaced her, till
+she came to herself and said, "By Allah, O my son, thou hast done unwisely in
+parting with the rod and the cap for, hadst thou kept them with the care due to
+them, thou wert master of the whole earth, in its breadth and length; but
+praised be Allah, for thy safety, O my son, and that of thy wife and children!"
+They passed the night in all pleasance and happiness, and on the morrow Hasan
+changed his clothes and donning a suit of the richest apparel, went down into
+the bazar and bought black slaves and slave-girls and the richest stuffs and
+ornaments and furniture such as carpets and costly vessels and all manner other
+precious things, whose like is not found with Kings.  Moreover, he purchased
+houses and gardens and estates and so forth and abode with his wife and his
+children and his mother, eating and drinking and pleasuring: nor did they cease
+from all joy of life and its solace till there came to them the Destroyer of
+delights and the Severer of societies.  And Glory be to Him who hath dominion
+over the Seen and the Unseen,[FN#185] who is the Living, the Eternal, Who dieth
+not at all!  And men also recount the adventures of
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h3><a name="chap04"></a>Khalifah the Fisherman of Baghdad</h3>
+
+<p>
+There was once in tides of yore and in ages and times long gone before in the
+city of Baghdad a fisherman, Khalífah hight, a pauper wight, who had never once
+been married in all his days. [FN#186]  It chanced one morning, that he took
+his net and went with it to the river, as was his wont, with the view of
+fishing before the others came.  When he reached the bank, he girt himself and
+tucked up his skirts; then stepping into the water, he spread his net and cast
+it a first cast and a second but it brought up naught.  He ceased not to throw
+it, till he had made ten casts, and still naught came up therein; wherefore his
+breast was straitened and his mind perplexed concerning his case and he said,
+"I crave pardon of God the Great, there is no god but He, the Living, the
+Eternal, and unto Him I repent.  There is no Majesty and there is no Might save
+in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  Whatso He willeth is and whatso He nilleth
+is not!  Upon Allah (to whom belong Honour and Glory!) dependeth daily bread!
+Whenas He giveth to His servant, none denieth him; and whenas He denieth a
+servant, none giveth to him."  And of the excess of his distress, he recited
+these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"An Fate afflict thee, with grief manifest, * Prepare thy<br/>
+
+     patience and make broad thy breast;<br/>
+
+For of His grace the Lord of all the worlds * Shall send to wait<br/>
+
+     upon unrest sweet Rest."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he sat awhile pondering his case, and with his head bowed down recited
+also these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Patience, with sweet and with bitter Fate! * And weet that His<br/>
+
+     will He shall consummate:<br/>
+
+Night oft upon woe as on abscess acts * And brings it up to the<br/>
+
+     bursting state:<br/>
+
+And Chance and Change shall pass o'er the youth * And fleet from<br/>
+
+     his thoughts and no more shall bait."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he said in his mind, "I will make this one more cast, trusting in Allah,
+so haply He may not disappoint my hope;" and he rose and casting into the river
+the net as far as his arm availed, gathered the cords in his hands and waited a
+full hour, after which he pulled at it and, finding it heavy,—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-second Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Khalifah the
+Fisherman had cast his net sundry times into the stream, yet had it brought up
+naught, he pondered his case and improvised the verses afore quoted.  Then he
+said in his mind, "I will make this one more cast, trusting in Allah who haply
+will not disappoint my hope."  So he rose and threw the net and waited a full
+hour, after which time he pulled at it and, finding it heavy, handled it gently
+and drew it in, little by little, till he got it ashore, when lo and behold! he
+saw in it a one-eyed, lame-legged ape.  Seeing this quoth Khalifah, "There is
+no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! verily, we are Allah's and to
+Him we are returning!  What meaneth this heart- breaking, miserable ill-luck
+and hapless fortune?  What is come to me this blessed day?  But all this is of
+the destinies of Almighty Allah!"  Then he took the ape and tied him with a
+cord to a tree which grew on the river-bank, and grasping a whip he had with
+him, raised his arm in the air, thinking to bring down the scourge upon the
+quarry, when Allah made the ape speak with a fluent tongue, saying, "O
+Khalifah, hold thy hand and beat me not, but leave me bounden to this tree and
+go down to the river and cast thy net, confiding in Allah; for He will give
+thee thy daily bread."  Hearing this Khalifah went down to the river and
+casting his net, let the cords run out.  Then he pulled it in and found it
+heavier than before; so he ceased not to tug at it, till he brought it to land,
+when, behold, there was another ape in it, with front teeth wide apart,
+[FN#187] Kohl-darkened eyes and hands stained with Henna-dyes; and he was
+laughing and wore a tattered waistcloth about his middle.  Quoth Khalifah,
+"Praised be Allah who hath changed the fish of the river into apes!" [FN#188] 
+then, going up to the first ape, who was still tied to the tree, he said to
+him, "See, O unlucky, how fulsome was the counsel thou gavest me!  None but
+thou made me light on this second ape: and for that thou gavest me good-morrow
+with thy one eye and thy lameness, [FN#189] I am become distressed and weary,
+without dirham or dinar."  So saying, he hent in hand a stick [FN#190] and
+flourishing it thrice in the air, was about to come down with it upon the lame
+ape, when the creature cried out for mercy and said to him, "I conjure thee, by
+Allah, spare me for the sake of this my fellow and seek of him thy need; for he
+will guide thee to thy desire!"  So he held his hand from him and throwing down
+the stick, went up to and stood by the second ape, who said to him, "O
+Khalifah, this my speech [FN#191] will profit thee naught, except thou hearken
+to what I say to thee; but, an thou do my bidding and cross me not, I will be
+the cause of thine enrichment."  Asked Khalifah, "And what hast thou to say to
+me that I may obey there therein?"  The Ape answered, "Leave me bound on the
+bank and hie thee down to the river; then cast thy net a third time, and after
+I will tell thee what to do."  So he took his net and going down to the river,
+cast it once more and waited awhile.  Then he drew it in and finding it heavy,
+laboured at it and ceased not his travail till he got it ashore, when he found
+in it yet another ape; but this one was red, with a blue waistcloth about his
+middle; his hands and feet were stained with Henna and his eyes blackened with
+Kohl.  When Khalifah saw this, he exclaimed, "Glory to God the Great!  Extolled
+be the perfection of the Lord of Dominion!  Verily, this is a blessed day from
+first to last: its ascendant was fortunate in the countenance of the first ape,
+and the scroll [FN#192] is known by its superscription!  Verily, to-day is a
+day of apes: there is not a single fish left in the river, and we are come out
+to-day but to catch monkeys!"  Then he turned to the third ape and said, "And
+what thing art thou also, O unlucky?"  Quoth the ape, "Dost thou not know me, O
+Khalifah!"; and quoth he, "Not I!"  The ape cried, "I am the ape of Abu
+al-Sa'ádát [FN#193] the Jew, the shroff."  Asked Khalifah, "And what dost thou
+for him?"; and the ape answered, "I give him good-morrow at the first of the
+day, and he gaineth five ducats; and again at the end of the day, I give him
+good-even and he gaineth other five ducats."  Whereupon Khalifah turned to the
+first ape and said to him, "See, O unlucky, what fine apes other folks have! 
+As for thee, thou givest me good-morrow with thy one eye and thy lameness and
+thy ill-omened phiz and I become poor and bankrupt and hungry!"  So saying, he
+took the cattle-stick and flourishing it thrice in the air, was about to come
+down with it on the first ape, when Abu al-Sa'adat's ape said to him, "Let him
+be, O Khalifah, hold thy hand and come hither to me, that I may tell thee what
+to do." So Khalifah threw down the stick and walking up to him cried, "And what
+hast thou to say to me, O monarch of all monkeys?"  Replied the ape, "Leave me
+and the other two apes here, and take thy net and cast it into the river; and
+whatever cometh up, bring it to me, and I will tell thee what shall gladden
+thee."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-third Night
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the ape of Abu
+al-Sa'adat said to Khalifah, "Take thy net and cast it into the river; and
+whatever cometh up, bring it to me, and I will tell thee what shall gladden
+thee."  He replied, "I hear and obey," and took the net and gathered it on his
+shoulder, reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"When straitened is my breast I will of my Creator pray, * Who<br/>
+
+     may and can the heaviest weight lighten in easiest way;<br/>
+
+For ere man's glance can turn or close his eye by God His grace *<br/>
+
+     Waxeth the broken whole and yieldeth jail its prison-prey.<br/>
+
+Therefore with Allah one and all of thy concerns commit * Whose<br/>
+
+     grace and favour men of wit shall nevermore gainsay."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And also these twain,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Thou art the cause that castest men in ban and bane; * Sorrow<br/>
+
+     e'en so and sorrow's cause Thou canst assain:<br/>
+
+Make me not covet aught that lies beyond my reach; * How many a<br/>
+
+     greedy wight his wish hath failed to gain!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now when Khalifah had made an end of his verse, he went down to the river and
+casting his net, waited awhile; after which he drew it up and found therein a
+fine young fish, [FN#194] with a big head, a tail like a ladle and eyes like
+two gold pieces.  When Khalifah saw this fish, he rejoiced, for he had never in
+his life caught its like, so he took it, marvelling, and carried it to the ape
+of Abu al-Sa'adat the Jew, as 'twere he had gotten possession of the universal
+world.  Quoth the ape, "O Khalifah, what wilt thou do with this and with thine
+ape?"; and quoth the Fisherman, "I will tell thee, O monarch of monkeys all I
+am about to do. Know then that first, I will cast about to make away with
+yonder accursed, my ape, and take thee in his stead and give thee every day to
+eat of whatso thou wilt."  Rejoined the ape, "Since thou hast made choice of
+me, I will tell thee how thou shalt do wherein, if it please Allah Almighty,
+shall be the mending of thy fortune.  Lend thy mind, then, to what I say to
+thee and 'tis this!:  Take another cord and tie me also to a tree, where leave
+me and go to the midst of The Dyke [FN#195] and cast thy net into the Tigris.
+[FN#196]  Then after waiting awhile, draw it up and thou shalt find therein a
+fish, than which thou never sawest a finer in thy whole life.  Bring it to me
+and I will tell thee how thou shalt do after this."  So Khalifah rose
+forthright and casting his net into the Tigris, drew up a great cat-fish
+[FN#197] the bigness of a lamb; never had he set eyes on its like, for it was
+larger than the first fish.  He carried it to the ape, who said to him, "Gather
+thee some green grass and set half of it in a basket; lay the fish therein and
+cover it with the other moiety.  Then, leaving us here tied, shoulder the
+basket and betake thee to Baghdad.  If any bespeak thee or question thee by the
+way, answer him not, but fare on till thou comest to the market-street of the
+money-changers, at the upper end whereof thou wilt find the shop of Master
+[FN#198] Abu al- Sa'adat the Jew, Shaykh of the shroffs, and wilt see him
+sitting on a mattress, with a cushion behind him and two coffers, one for gold
+and one for silver, before him, while around him stand his Mamelukes and
+negro-slaves and servant-lads.  Go up to him and set the basket before him,
+saying,: 'O Abu al-Sa'adat, verily I went out to-day to fish and cast my net in
+thy name and Allah Almighty sent me this fish.'  He will ask, 'Hast thou shown
+it to any but me?;' and do thou answer, "No, by Allah!'  then will he take it
+of thee and give thee a dinar.  Give it him back and he will give thee two
+dinars; but do thou return them also and so do with everything he may offer
+thee; and take naught from him, though he give thee the fish's weight in gold. 
+Then will he say to thee, 'Tell me what thou wouldst have;' and do thou reply,
+"By Allah, I will not sell the fish save for two words!'  He will ask, 'What
+are they?' and do thou answer, 'Stand up and say, 'Bear witness, O ye who are
+present in the market, that I give Khalifah the fisherman my ape in exchange
+for his ape, and that I barter for his lot my lot and luck for his luck.'  This
+is the price of the fish, and I have no need of gold.'  If he do this, I will
+every day give thee good-morrow and good-even, and every day thou shalt gain
+ten dinars of good gold; whilst this one-eyed, lame-legged ape shall daily give
+the Jew good-morrow, and Allah shall afflict him every day with an avanie
+[FN#199] which he must needs pay, nor will he cease to be thus afflicted till
+he is reduced to beggary and hath naught.  Hearken then to my words; so shalt
+thou prosper and be guided aright."  Quoth Khalifah, "I accept thy counsel, O
+monarch of all the monkeys!  But, as for this unlucky, may Allah never bless
+him!  I know not what to do with him."  Quoth the ape, "Let him go [FN#200]
+into the water, and let me go also."  "I hear and obey," answered Khalifah and
+unbound the three apes, and they went down into the river.  Then he took up the
+cat-fish [FN#201] which he washed then laid it in the basket upon some green
+grass, and covered it with other; and lastly shouldering his load, set out
+chanting the following Mawwál, [FN#202]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Thy case commit to a Heavenly Lord and thou shalt safety see; *<br/>
+
+     Act kindly through thy worldly life and live repentance-<br/>
+
+    free.<br/>
+
+Mate not with folk suspected, lest eke thou shouldst suspected be<br/>
+
+     * And from reviling keep thy tongue lest men revile at<br/>
+
+     thee!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khalifah the
+fisherman, after ending his song, set out with the basket upon his shoulder and
+ceased not faring till he entered the city of Baghdad.  And as he threaded the
+streets the folk knew him and cried out to him, saying, "What hast thou there,
+O Khalifah?" But he paid no heed to them and passed on till he came to the
+market- street of the money-changers and fared between the shops, as the ape
+had charged him, till he found the Jew seated at the upper end, with his
+servants in attendance upon him, as he were a King of the Kings of Khorason. 
+He knew him at first sight; so he went up to him and stood before him,
+whereupon Abu al-Sa'adat raised his eyes and recognising him, said, "Welcome, O
+Khalifah!  What wantest thou and what is thy need?  If any have missaid thee or
+spited thee, tell me and I will go with thee to the Chief of Police, who shall
+do thee justice on him."  Replied Khalifah, "Nay, as thy head liveth, O chief
+of the Jews, none hath missaid me.  But I went forth this morning to the river
+and, casting my net into the Tigris on thy luck, brought up this fish."
+Therewith he opened the basket and threw the fish before the Jew who admired it
+and said, "By the Pentateuch and the Ten Commandments, [FN#203] I dreamt last
+night that the Virgin came to me and said, 'Know, O Abu al-Sa'adat, that I have
+sent thee a pretty present!'  and doubtless 'tis this fish."  Then he turned to
+Khalifah and said to him, "By thy faith, hath any seen it but I?"  Khalifah
+replied, "No, by Allah, and by Abu Bakr the Veridical, [FN#204] none hath seen
+it save thou, O chief of the Jews!"  Whereupon the Jew turned to one of his
+lads and said to him, "Come, carry this fish to my house and bid Sa'ádah
+[FN#205] dress it and fry and broil it, against I make an end of my business
+and hie me home."  And Khalifah said, "Go, O my lad; let the master's wife fry
+some of it and broil the rest."  Answered the boy, "I hear and I obey, O my
+lord" and, taking the fish, went away with it to the house.  Then the Jew put
+out his hand and gave Khalifah the fisherman a dinar, saying, "Take this for
+thyself, O Khalifah, and spend it on thy family."  When Khalifah saw the dinar
+on his palm, he took it, saying, "Laud to the Lord of Dominion!" as if he had
+never seen aught of gold in his life; and went somewhat away, but, before he
+had gone far, he was minded of the ape's charge and turning back threw down the
+ducat, saying, "Take thy gold and give folk back their fish!  Dost thou make a
+laughing stock of folk?"  The Jew hearing this thought he was jesting and
+offered him two dinars upon the other, but Khalifah said, "Give me the fish and
+no nonsense.  How knewest thou I would sell it at this price?"  Whereupon the
+Jew gave him two more dinars and said, "Take these five ducats for thy fish and
+leave greed."  So Khalifah hent the five dinars in hand and went away,
+rejoicing, and gazing and marvelling at the gold and saying, "Glory be to God! 
+There is not with the Caliph of Baghdad what is with me this day!"  Then he
+ceased not faring on till he came to the end of the market-street, when he
+remembered the words of the ape and his charge, and returning to the Jew, threw
+him back the gold.  Quoth he, "What aileth thee, O Khalifah?  Dost thou want
+silver in exchange for gold?"  Khalifah replied,  "I want nor dirhams nor
+dinars.  I only want thee to give me back folk's fish."  With this the Jew
+waxed wroth and shouted out at him, saying, "O fisherman, thou bringest me a
+fish not worth a sequin and I give thee five for it; yet art thou not content! 
+Art thou Jinn-mad?  Tell me for how much thou wilt sell it."  Answered
+Khalifah, "I will not sell it for silver nor for gold, only for two sayings
+[FN#206] thou shalt say me."  When the Jew heard speak of the "Two Sayings,"
+his eyes sank into his head, he breathed hard and ground his teeth for rage and
+said to him, "O nail-paring of the Moslems, wilt thou have me throw off my
+faith for the sake of thy fish, and wilt thou debauch me from my religion and
+stultify my belief and my conviction which I inherited of old from my
+forbears?"  Then he cried out to the servants who were in waiting and said,
+"Out on you!  Bash me this unlucky rogue's neck and bastinado him soundly!"  So
+they came down upon him with blows and ceased not beating him till he fell
+beneath the shop, and the Jew said to them, "Leave him and let him rise." 
+Whereupon Khalifah jumped up, as if naught ailed him, and the Jew said to him,
+"Tell me what price thou asketh for this fish and I will give it thee: for thou
+hast gotten but scant good of us this day."  Answered the Fisherman, "Have no
+fear for me, O master, because of the beating; for I can eat ten donkeys'
+rations of stick."  The Jew laughed at his words and said, "Allah upon thee,
+tell me what thou wilt have and by the right of my Faith, I will give it thee!"
+ The Fisherman replied, "Naught from thee will remunerate me for this fish save
+the two words whereof I spake."  And the Jew said, "Meseemeth thou wouldst have
+me become a Moslem?" [FN#207]  Khalifah rejoined, "By Allah, O Jew, an thou
+islamise 'twill nor advantage the Moslems nor damage the Jews; and in like
+manner, an thou hold to thy misbelief 'twill nor damage the Moslems nor
+advantage the Jews.  But what I desire of thee is that thou rise to thy feet
+and say, 'Bear witness against me, O people of the market, that I barter my ape
+for the ape of Khalifah the Fisherman and my lot in the world for his lot and
+my luck for his luck.'"  Quoth the Jew, "If this be all thou desirest 'twill
+sit lightly upon me."  —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Jew said to
+Khalifah the Fisherman, "If this be all thou desirest, 'twill sit lightly upon
+me."  So he rose without stay or delay and standing on his feet, repeated the
+required words; after which he turned to the Fisherman and asked him, "Hast
+thou aught else to ask of me?"  "No," answered he, and the Jew said, "Go in
+peace!"  Hearing this Khalifah sprung to his feet forthright; took up his
+basket and net and returned straight to the Tigris, where he threw his net and
+pulled it in.  He found it heavy and brought it not ashore but with travail,
+when he found it full of fish of all kinds.  Presently, up came a woman with a
+dish, who gave him a dinar, and he gave her fish for it; and after her an
+eunuch, who also bought a dinar's worth of fish, and so forth till he had sold
+ten dinars' worth.  And he continued to sell ten dinars' worth of fish daily
+for ten days, till he had gotten an hundred dinars.  Now Khalifah the Fisherman
+had quarters in the Passage of the Merchants, [FN#208] and, as he lay one night
+in his lodging much bemused with Hashish, he said to himself, "O Khalifah, the
+folk all know thee for a poor fisherman, and now thou hast gotten an hundred
+golden dinars.  Needs must the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, hear
+of this from some one, and haply he will be wanting money and will send for
+thee and say to thee, 'I need a sum of money and it hath reached me that thou
+hast an hundred dinars: so do thou lend them to me those same.'  I shall
+answer, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I am a poor man, and whoso told thee that
+I had an hundred dinars lied against me; for I have naught of this.'  Thereupon
+he will commit me to the Chief of Police, saying, "Strip him of his clothes and
+torment him with the bastinado till he confess and give up the hundred dinars
+in his possession.  Wherefore, meseemeth to provide against this predicament,
+the best thing I can do, is to rise forthright and bash myself with the whip,
+so to use myself to beating."  And his Hashish [FN#209] said to him, "Rise,
+doff thy dress."  So he stood up and putting off his clothes, took a whip he
+had by him and set handy a leathern pillow; then he fell to lashing himself,
+laying every other blow upon the pillow and roaring out the while, "Alas! Alas!
+By Allah, 'tis a false saying, O my lord, and they have lied against me; for I
+am a poor fisherman and have naught of the goods of the world!"  The noise of
+the whip falling on the pillow and on his person resounded in the still of
+night and the folk heard it, and amongst others the merchants, and they said,
+"Whatever can ail the poor fellow, that he crieth and we hear the noise of
+blows falling on him? 'Twould seem robbers have broken in upon him and are
+tormenting him."  Presently they all came forth of their lodgings, at the noise
+of the blows and the crying, and repaired to Khalifah's room, but they found
+the door locked and said one to other, "Belike the robbers have come in upon
+him from the back of the adjoining saloon.  It behoveth us to climb over by the
+roofs." So they clomb over the roofs and coming down through the sky- light,
+[FN#210] saw him naked and flogging himself and asked him, "What aileth thee, O
+Khalifah?"  He answered, "Know, O folk, that I have gained some dinars and fear
+lest my case be carried up to the Prince of True Believers, Harun al-Rashid,
+and he send for me and demand of me those same gold pieces; whereupon I should
+deny, and I fear that, if I deny, he will torture me, so I am torturing myself,
+by way of accustoming me to what may come." The merchants laughed at him and
+said, "Leave this fooling, may Allah not bless thee and the dinars thou hast
+gotten!  Verily thou hast disturbed us this night and hast troubled our
+hearts." So Khalifah left flogging himself and slept till the morning, when he
+rose and would have gone about his business, but bethought him of his hundred
+dinars and said in his mind, "An I leave them at home, thieves will steal them,
+and if I put them in a belt [FN#211] about my waist, peradventure some one will
+see me and lay in wait for me till he come upon me in some lonely place and
+slay me and take the money: but I have a device that should serve me well,
+right well."  So he jumped up forthright and made him a pocket in the collar of
+his gaberdine and tying the hundred dinars up in a purse, laid them in the
+collar-pocket.  Then he took his net and basket and staff and went down to the
+Tigris, — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khalifah the Fisherman,
+having set his hundred dinars in the collar-pocket took basket, staff and net
+and went down to the Tigris, where he made a cast but brought up naught.  So he
+removed from that place to another and threw again, but once more the net came
+up empty; and he went on removing from place to place till he had gone half a
+day's journey from the city, ever casting the net which kept bringing up
+naught.  So he said to himself, "By Allah, I will throw my net a-stream but his
+once more, whether ill come of it or weal!" [FN#212]  Then he hurled the net
+with all his force, of the excess of his wrath and the purse with the hundred
+dinars flew out of his collar-pocket and, lighting in mid-stream, was carried
+away by the strong current; whereupon he threw down the net and plunged into
+the water after the purse.  He dived for it nigh a hundred times, till his
+strength was exhausted and he came up for sheer fatigue without chancing on it.
+ When he despaired of finding the purse, he returned to the shore, where he saw
+nothing but staff, net and basket and sought for his clothes, but could light
+on no trace of them: so he said in himself, "O vilest of those wherefor was
+made the byword, 'The pilgrimage is not perfected save by copulation with the
+camel!" [FN#213]  Then he wrapped the net about him and taking staff in one
+hand and basket in other, went trotting about like a camel in rut, running
+right and left and backwards and forwards, dishevelled and dusty, as he were a
+rebel Marid let loose from Solomon's prison. [FN#214]  So far for what concerns
+the Fisherman Khalifah; but as regards the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, he had a
+friend, a jeweller called Ibn al-Kirnás, [FN#215] and all the traders, brokers
+and middle-men knew him for the Caliph's merchant; wherefore there was naught
+sold in Baghdad, by way of rarities and things of price or Mamelukes or
+handmaidens, but was first shown to him.  As he sat one day in his shop,
+behold, there came up to him the Shaykh of the brokers, with a slave-girl,
+whose like seers never saw, for she was of passing beauty and loveliness,
+symmetry and perfect grace, and among her gifts was that she knew all arts and
+sciences and could make verses and play upon all manner musical instruments. 
+So Ibn al-Kirnas bought her for five thousand golden dinars and clothed her
+with other thousand; after which he carried her to the Prince of True
+Believers, with whom she lay the night and who made trial of her in every kind
+of knowledge and accomplishment and found her versed in all sorts of arts and
+sciences, having no equal in her time.  Her name was Kút al-Kulúb [FN#216] and
+she was even as saith the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I fix my glance on her, whene'er she wends; * And non-acceptance<br/>
+
+     of my glance breeds pain:<br/>
+
+She favours graceful-necked gazelle at gaze; * And 'Graceful as<br/>
+
+     gazelle' to say we're fain."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And where is this [FN#217] beside the saying of another?
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Give me brunettes; the Syrian spears, so limber and so straight,<br/>
+
+     Tell of the slender dusky maids, so lithe and proud of gait.<br/>
+
+Languid of eyelids, with a down like silk upon her cheek, Within<br/>
+
+     her wasting lover's heart she queens it still in state."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+On the morrow the Caliph sent for Ibn al-Kirnas the Jeweller, and bade him
+receive ten thousand dinars as to her price.  And his heart was taken up with
+the slave-girl Kut al-Kulub and he forsook the Lady Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, for
+all she was the daughter of his father's brother [FN#218] and he abandoned all
+his favorite concubines and abode a whole month without stirring from Kut
+al-Kulub's side save to go to the Friday prayers and return to her in all
+haste.  This was grievous to the Lords of the Realm and they complained thereof
+to the Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide, who bore with the Commander of the Faithful
+and waited till the next Friday, when he entered the cathedral-mosque and,
+foregathering with the Caliph, related to him all that occurred to him of
+extra-ordinary stories anent seld-seen love and lovers with intent to draw out
+what was in his mind.  Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, O Ja'afar, this is not of
+my choice; but my heart is caught in the snare of love and wot I not what is to
+be done!" The Wazir Ja'afar replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, thou knowest
+how this girl Kut al-Kulub is become at thy disposal and of the number of thy
+servants, and that which hand possesseth soul coveteth not.  Moreover, I will
+tell thee another thing which is that the highest boast of Kings and Princes is
+in hunting and the pursuit of sport and victory; and if thou apply thyself to
+this, perchance it will divert thee from her, and it may be thou wilt forget
+her."  Rejoined the Caliph, "Thou sayest well, O Ja'afar; come let us go
+a-hunting forthright, without stay or delay."  So soon as Friday prayers were
+prayed, they left the mosque and at once mounting their she-mules rode forth to
+the chase. —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph
+Harun al-Rashid and the Wazir Ja'afar would go forth a-hunting and a-chasing,
+they mounted two she-mules and fared on into the open country, occupied with
+talk, and their attendants outwent them.  Presently the heat became overhot and
+Al-Rashid said to his Wazir, "O Ja'afar, I am sore athirst."  Then he looked
+around and espying a figure in the distance on a high mound, asked Ja'afar,
+"Seest thou what I see?"  Answered the Wazir, "Yes, O Commander of the
+Faithful; I see a dim figure on a high mound; belike he is the keeper of a
+garden or of a cucumber- plot, and in whatso wise water will not be lacking in
+his neighborhood;" presently adding, "I will go to him and fetch thee some." 
+But Al-Rashid said, "My mule is swifter than thy mule; so do thou abide here,
+on account of the troops, whilst I go myself to him and get of this person
+[FN#219] drink and return."  So saying, he urged his she-mule, which started
+off like racing wind or railing-water and, in the twinkling of an eye, made the
+mound, where he found the figure he had seen to be none other than Khalifah the
+Fisherman, naked and wrapped in the net; and indeed he was horrible to behold,
+as to and fro he rolled with eyes for very redness like cresset-gleam and dusty
+hair in dishevelled trim, as he were an Ifrit or a lion grim.  Al-Rashid
+saluted him and he returned his salutation; but he was wroth and fires might
+have been lit at his breath.  Quoth the Caliph, "O man, hast thou any water?";
+and quoth Khalifah, "Ho thou, art thou blind, or Jinn-mad?  Get thee to the
+river Tigris, for 'tis behind this mound."  So Al-Rashid went around the mound
+and going down to the river, drank and watered his mule: then without a
+moment's delay he returned to Khalifah and said to him, "What aileth thee, O
+man, to stand here, and what is thy calling?" The Fisherman cried, "This is a
+stranger and sillier question than that about the water!  Seest thou not the
+gear of my craft on my shoulder?" Said the Caliph, "Belike thou art a
+fisherman?"; and he replied, "Yes."  Asked Al-Rashid, "Where is thy gaberdine,
+[FN#220] and where are thy waistcloth and girdle and where be the rest of thy
+raiment?"  Now these were the very things which had been taken from Khalifah,
+like for like; so, when he heard the Caliph name them, he got into his head
+that it was he who had stolen his clothes from the river-bank and coming down
+from the top of the mound, swiftlier than the blinding leven, laid hold of the
+mule's bridle, saying, "Harkye, man, bring me back my things and leave jesting
+and joking."  Al-Rashid replied, "By Allah, I have not seen thy clothes nor
+know aught of them!"  Now the Caliph had large cheeks and a small mouth;
+[FN#221] so Khalifah said to him, "Belike, thou art by trade a singer or a
+piper on pipes?  But bring me back my clothes fairly and without more ado, or I
+will bash thee with this my staff till thou bepiss thyself and befoul they
+clothes."  When Al-Rashid saw the staff in the Fisherman's hand and that he had
+the vantage of him, he said to himself, "By Allah, I cannot brook from this mad
+beggar half a blow of that staff!"  Now he had on a satin gown; so he pulled it
+off and gave it to Khalifah, saying, "O man, take this in place of thy
+clothes." The Fisherman took it and turned it about and said, "My clothes are
+worth ten of this painted 'Abá-cloak;" and rejoined the Caliph, "Put it on till
+I bring thee thy gear."  So Khalifah donned the gown, but finding it too long
+for him, took a knife he had with him, tied to the handle of his basket,
+[FN#222] and cut off nigh a third of the skirt, so that it fell only beneath
+his knees.  Then he turned to Al-Rashid and said to him, "Allah upon thee, O
+piper, tell me what wage thou gettest every month from thy master, for thy
+craft of piping."  Replied the Caliph, "My wage is ten dinars a month," and
+Khalifah continued, "By Allah, my poor fellow, thou makest me sorry for thee! 
+Why, I make thy ten dinars every day!  Hast thou a mind to take service with me
+and I will teach thee the art of fishing and share my gain with thee?  So shalt
+thou make five dinars a day and be my slavey and I will protect thee against
+thy master with this staff."  Quoth Al-Rashid, "I will well"; and quoth
+Khalifah, "Then get off thy she-ass and tie her up, so she may serve us to
+carry the fish hereafter, and come hither, that I may teach thee to fish
+forthright."  So Al-Rashid alighted and hobbling his mule, tucked his skirts
+into his girdle, and Khalifah said to him, "O piper, lay hold of the net thus
+and put it over thy forearm thus and cast it into the Tigris thus." 
+Accordingly, the Caliph took heart of grace and, doing as the fisherman showed
+him, threw the net and pulled at it, but could not draw it up.  So Khalifah
+came to his aid and tugged at it with him; but the two together could not hale
+it up: whereupon said the fisherman, "O piper of ill- omen, for the first time
+I took thy gown in place of my clothes; but this second time I will have thine
+ass and will beat thee to boot, till thou bepiss and beskite thyself!  An I
+find my net torn."  Quoth Al-Rashid, "Let the twain of us pull at once."  So
+they both pulled together and succeeded with difficulty in hauling that net
+ashore, when they found it full of fish of all kinds and colours;—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Khalifah the
+Fisherman and the Caliph hauled that net ashore, they found it full of fish of
+all kinds; and Khalifah said to Al- Rashid, "By Allah, O piper, thou art foul
+of favor but, an thou apply thyself to fishing, thou wilt make a mighty fine
+fisherman. But now 'twere best thou bestraddle thine ass and make for the
+market and fetch me a pair of frails, [FN#223] and I will look after the fish
+till thou return, when I and thou will load it on thine ass's back.  I have
+scales and weights and all we want, so we can take them with us and thou wilt
+have nothing to do but to hold the scales and pouch the price; for here we have
+fish worth twenty dinars.  So be fast with the frails and loiter not." Answered
+the Caliph, "I hear and obey" and mounting, left him with his fish, and spurred
+his mule, in high good humour, and ceased not laughing over his adventures with
+the Fisherman, till he came up to Ja'afar, who said to him, "O Commander of the
+Faithful, belike, when thou wentest down to drink, thou foundest a pleasant
+flower-garden and enteredst and tookest thy pleasure therein alone?"  At this
+Al-Rashid fell a laughing again and all the Barmecides rose and kissed the
+ground before him, saying, "O Commander of the Faithful, Allah make joy to
+endure for thee and do away annoy from thee!  What was the cause of thy
+delaying when thou faredst to drink and what hath befallen thee?"  Quoth the
+Caliph, "Verily, a right wondrous tale and a joyous adventure and a wondrous
+hath befallen me."  And he repeated to them what had passed between himself and
+the Fisherman and his words, "Thou stolest my clothes!" and how he had given
+him his gown and how he had cut off a part of it, finding it too long for him. 
+Said Ja'afar, "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I had it in mind to beg
+the gown of thee; but now I will go straight to the Fisherman and buy it of
+him."  The Caliph replied, "By Allah, he hath cut off a third part of the skirt
+and spoilt it!  But, O Ja'afar, I am tired with fishing in the river, for I
+have caught great store of fish which I left on the bank with my master
+Khalifah, and he is watching them and waiting for me to return to him with a
+couple of frails and a matchet. [FN#224]  Then we are to go, I and he, to the
+market and sell the fish and share the price."  Ja'afar rejoined, "O Commander
+of the Faithful, I will bring you a purchaser for your fish."  And Al-Rashid
+retorted, "O Ja'afar, by the virtue of my holy forefathers, whoso bringeth me
+one of the fish that are before Khalifah, who taught me angling, I will give
+him for it a gold dinar."  So the crier proclaimed among the troops that they
+should go forth and buy fish for the Caliph, and they all arose and made for
+the river-side.  Now, while Khalifah was expecting the Caliph's return with the
+two frails, behold, the Mamelukes swooped down upon him like vultures and took
+the fish and wrapped them in gold-embroidered kerchiefs, beating one another in
+their eagerness to get at the Fisherman. Whereupon quoth Khalifah, "Doubtless
+these are of the fish of Paradise!" [FN#225] and hending two fish in right hand
+and left, plunged into the water up to his neck and fell a-saying, "O Allah, by
+the virtue of these fish, let Thy servant the piper, my partner, come to me at
+this very moment."  And suddenly up to him came a black slave which was the
+chief of the Caliph's negro eunuchs.  He had tarried behind the rest, by reason
+of his horse having stopped to make water by the way, and finding that naught
+remained of the fish, little or much, looked right and left, till he espied
+Khalifah standing in the stream, with a fish in either hand, and said to him,
+"Come hither, O Fisherman!"  But Khalifah replied, "Begone and none of your
+impudence!" [FN#226]  So the eunuch went up to him and said, "Give me the fish
+and I will pay thee their price."  Replied the Fisherman, "Art thou little of
+wit?  I will not sell them."  Therewith the eunuch drew his mace upon him, and
+Khalifah cried out, saying, "Strike not, O loon! Better largesse than the
+mace." [FN#227]  So saying, he threw the two fishes to the eunuch, who took
+them and laid them in his kerchief.  Then he put hand in pouch, but found not a
+single dirham and said to Khalifah, "O Fisherman, verily thou art out of luck
+for, by Allah, I have not a silver about me!  But come to- morrow to the Palace
+of the Caliphate and ask for the eunuch Sandal; whereupon the castratos will
+direct thee to me and by coming thither thou shalt get what falleth to thy lot
+and therewith wend thy ways."  Quoth Khalifah, "Indeed, this is a blessed day
+and its blessedness was manifest from the first of it!"[FN#228] Then he
+shouldered his net and returned to Baghdad; and as he passed through the
+streets, the folk saw the Caliph's gown on him and stared at him till he came
+to the gate of his quarter, by which was the shop of the Caliph's tailor.  When
+the man saw him wearing a dress of the apparel of the Caliph, worth a thousand
+dinars, he said to him, "O Khalifah, whence hadst thou that gown?"  Replied the
+Fisherman, "What aileth thee to be impudent?  I had it of one whom I taught to
+fish and who is become my apprentice. I forgave him the cutting off of his hand
+[FN#229] for that he stole my clothes and gave me this cape in their place." 
+So the tailor knew that the Caliph had come upon him as he was fishing and
+jested with him and given him the gown;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resume, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph came upon
+Khalifah the Fisherman and gave him his own gown in jest wherewith the man
+fared home.  Such was his case; but as regards Harun al-Rashid, he had gone out
+a-hunting and a-fishing only to divert his thoughts from the damsel, Kut
+al-Kulub.  But when Zubaydah heard of her and of the Caliph's devotion to her,
+the Lady was fired with the jealousy which the more especially fireth women, so
+that she refused meat and drink and rejected the delights of sleep and awaited
+the Caliph's going forth on a journey or what not, that she might set a snare
+for the damsel. So when she learnt that he was gone hunting and fishing, she
+bade her women furnish the Palace fairly and decorate it splendidly and serve
+up viands and confections; and amongst the rest she made a China dish of the
+daintiest sweetmeats that can be made wherein she had put Bhang.  Then she
+ordered one of her eunuchs go to the damsel Kut al-Kulub and bid her to the
+banquet, saying, "The Lady Zubaydah bint Al-Kasim, the wife of the Commander of
+the Faithful, hath drunken medicine to-day and, having heard tell of the
+sweetness of thy singing, longeth to divert herself somewhat of thine art." 
+Kut al-Kulub replied, "Hearing and obedience are due to Allah and the Lady
+Zubaydah," and rose without stay or delay, unknowing what was hidden for her in
+the Secret Purpose.  Then she took with her what instruments she needed and,
+accompanying the eunuch, ceased not fairing till she stood in the presence of
+the Princess.  When she entered she kissed ground before her again and again,
+then rising to her feet, said, "Peace be on the Lady of the exalted seat and
+the presence whereto none may avail, daughter of the house Abbásí and scion of
+the Prophet's family!  May Allah fulfil thee of peace and prosperity in the
+days and the years!" [FN#230] Then she stood with the rest of the women and
+eunuchs, and presently the Lady Zubaydah raised her eyes and considered her
+beauty and loveliness.  She saw a damsel with cheeks smooth as rose and breasts
+like granado, a face moon-bright, a brow flower-white and great eyes black as
+night; her eyelids were langour-dight and her face beamed with light, as if the
+sun from her forehead arose and the murks of the night from the locks of her
+brow; and the fragrance of musk from her breath strayed and flowers bloomed in
+her lovely face inlaid; the moon beamed from her forehead and in her slender
+shape the branches swayed.  She was like the full moon shining in the nightly
+shade; her eyes wantoned, her eyebrows were like a bow arched and her lips of
+coral moulded. Her beauty amazed all who espied her and her glances amated all
+who eyed her.  Glory be to Him who formed her and fashioned her and perfected
+her!  Brief, she was even as saith the poet of one who favoured her,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"When she's incensed thou seest folk like slain, * And when she's<br/>
+
+     pleased, their souls are quick again:<br/>
+
+Her eyne are armed with glances magical * Wherewith she kills and<br/>
+
+     quickens as she's fain.<br/>
+
+The Worlds she leadeth captive with her eyes * As tho' the Worlds<br/>
+
+     were all her slavish train."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Quoth the Lady Zubaydah, "Well come, and welcome and fair cheer to thee, O Kut
+al-Kulub!  Sit and divert us with thine art and the goodliness of thine
+accomplishments."  Quoth the damsel, "I hear and I obey"; and, putting out her
+hand, took the tambourine, whereof one of its praisers speaketh in the
+following verses,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Ho thou o' the tabret, my heart takes flight * And love-smit<br/>
+
+     cries while thy fingers smite!<br/>
+
+Thou takest naught but a wounded heart, * The while for<br/>
+
+     acceptance longs the wight:<br/>
+
+So say thou word or heavy or light; * Play whate'er thou please<br/>
+
+     it will charm the sprite.<br/>
+
+Sois bonne, unveil thy cheek, ma belle * Rise, deftly dance and<br/>
+
+     all hearts delight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she smote the tambourine briskly and so sang thereto, that she stopped the
+birds in the sky and the place danced with them blithely; after which she laid
+down the tambourine and took the pipe [FN#231] whereof it is said,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"She hath eyes whose babes wi' their fingers sign * To sweet tunes without a
+discordant line."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as the poet also said in this couplet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"And, when she announceth the will to sing, * For Union-joy 'tis<br/>
+
+     a time divine!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she laid down the pipe, after she had charmed therewith all who were
+present, and took up the lute, whereof saith the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"How many a blooming bough in glee-girl's hand is fain * as<br/>
+
+     lute to 'witch great souls by charm of cunning strain!<br/>
+
+She sweeps tormenting lute strings by her artful touch * Wi'<br/>
+
+     finger-tips that surely chain with endless chain."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she tightened its pegs and tuned its strings and laying it in her lap,
+bended over it as mother bendeth over child; and it seemed as it were of her
+and her lute that the poet spoke in these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Sweetly discourses she on Persian string * And Unintelligence<br/>
+
+     makes understand.<br/>
+
+And teaches she that Love's a murtherer, * Who oft the reasoning<br/>
+
+     Moslem hath unmann'd.<br/>
+
+A maid, by Allah, in whose palm a thing * Of painted wood like<br/>
+
+     mouth can speech command.<br/>
+
+With lute she stauncheth flow of Love; and so * Stops flow of<br/>
+
+     blood the cunning leach's hand."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she preluded in fourteen different modes and sang to the lute an entire
+piece, so as to confound the gazers and delight her hearers.  After which she
+recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The coming unto thee is blest: * Therein new joys for aye<br/>
+
+     attend:<br/>
+
+Its blisses are continuous * Its blessings never end."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fortieth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the maiden, Kut al-Kulub,
+after singing these songs and sweeping the strings in presence of the Lady
+Zubaydah, rose and exhibited tricks of sleight of hand and legerdemain and all
+manner pleasing arts, till the Princess came near to fall in love with her and
+said to herself, "Verily, my cousin Al-Rashid is not to blame for loving her!" 
+Then the damsel kissed ground before Zubaydah and sat down, whereupon they set
+food before her.  Presently they brought her the drugged dish of sweetmeats and
+she ate thereof; and hardly had it settled in her stomach when her head fell
+backward and she sank on the ground sleeping.  With this, the Lady said to her
+women, "Carry her up to one of the chambers, till I summon her"; and they
+replied, "We hear and we obey."  Then said she to one of her eunuchs, "Fashion
+me a chest and bring it hitherto to me!", and shortly afterwards she bade make
+the semblance of a tomb and spread the report that Kut al-Kulub had choked and
+died, threatening her familiars that she would smite the neck of whoever should
+say, "She is alive."  Now, behold, the Caliph suddenly returned from the chase,
+and the first enquiry he made was for the damsel.  So there came to him one of
+his eunuchs, whom the Lady Zubaydah had charged to declare she was dead, if the
+Caliph should ask for her and, kissing ground before him, said, "May thy head
+live, O my lord!  Be certified that Kut al- Kulub choked in eating and is
+dead."  Whereupon cried Al-Rashid, "God never gladden thee with good news, O
+thou bad slave!" and entered the Palace, where he heard of her death from every
+one and asked, "Where is her tomb?"  So they brought him to the sepulchre and
+showed him the pretended tomb, saying, "This is her burial-place."  When he saw
+it, he cried out and wept and embraced it, quoting these two couplets, [FN#232]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"By Allah, O tomb, have her beauties ceased and disappeared from<br/>
+
+     sight * And is the countenance changed and wan, that shone<br/>
+
+     so wonder-bright?<br/>
+
+O tomb, O tomb, thou art neither heaven nor garden, verily: * How<br/>
+
+     comes it then that swaying branch and moon in thee unite?<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The Caliph, weeping sore for her, abode by the tomb a full hour, after which he
+arose and went away, in the utmost distress and the deepest melancholy.  So the
+Lady Zubaydah saw that her plot had succeeded and forthright sent for the
+eunuch and said, "Hither with the chest!"  He set it before her, when she bade
+bring the damsel and locking her up therein, said to the Eunuch, "Take all
+pains to sell this chest and make it a condition with the purchaser that he buy
+it locked; then give alms with its price." [FN#233]  So he took it and went
+forth, to do her bidding.  Thus fared it with these; but as for Khalifah the
+Fisherman, when morning morrowed and shone with its light and sheen, he said to
+himself, "I cannot do aught better to-day than visit the Eunuch who bought the
+fish of me, for he appointed me to come to him in the Palace of the Caliphate."
+ So he went forth of his lodging, intending for the palace, and when he came
+thither, he found Mamelukes, negro-slaves and eunuchs standing and sitting; and
+looking at them, behold, seated amongst them was the Eunuch who had taken the
+fish of him, with the white slaves waiting on him.  Presently, one of the
+Mameluke-lads called out to him; whereupon the Eunuch turned to see who he was
+an lo! it was the Fisherman.  Now when Khalifah was ware that he saw him and
+recognized him, he said to him, "I have not failed thee, O my little Tulip!
+[FN#234]  On this wise are men of their word." Hearing his address, Sandal the
+Eunuch [FN#235] laughed and replied, "By Allah, thou art right, O Fisherman,"
+and put his hand to his pouch, to give him somewhat; but at that moment there
+arose a great clamour.  So he raised his head to see what was to do and finding
+that it was the Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide coming forth from the Caliph's
+presence, he rose to him and forewent him, and they walked about, conversing
+for a longsome time. Khalifah the Fisherman waited awhile; then, growing weary
+of standing and finding that the Eunuch took no heed of him, he set himself in
+his way and beckoned to him from afar, saying, "O my lord Tulip, give me my due
+and let me go!"  The Eunuch heard him, but was ashamed to answer him because of
+the minister's presence; so he went on talking with Ja'afar and took no notice
+whatever of the Fisherman.  Whereupon quoth Khalifah, "O Slow o' Pay! [FN#236] 
+May Allah put to shame all churls and all who take folks's goods and are
+niggardly with them!  I put myself under thy protection, O my lord Bran-belly,
+[FN#237] to give me my due and let me go!"  The Eunuch heard him, but was
+ashamed to answer him before Ja'afar; and the Minister saw the Fisherman
+beckoning and talking to him, though he knew not what he was saying; so he said
+to Sandal, misliking his behaviour, "O Eunuch, what would yonder beggar with
+thee?"  Sandal replied, "Dost thou not know him, O my lord the Wazir?"; and
+Ja'afar answered, "By Allah, I know him not!  How should I know a man I have
+never seen but at this moment?"  Rejoined the Eunuch, "O my lord, this is the
+Fisherman whose fish we seized on the banks of the Tigris.  I came too late to
+get any and was ashamed to return to the Prince of True Believers,
+empty-handed, when all the Mamelukes had some. Presently I espied the Fisherman
+standing in mid-stream, calling on Allah, with four fishes in his hands, and
+said to him, 'Give me what thou hast there and take their worth.'  He handed me
+the fish and I put my hand into my pocket, purposing to gift him with somewhat,
+but found naught therein and said, 'Come to me in the Palace, and I will give
+thee wherewithal to aid thee in thy poverty.  So he came to me to-day and I was
+putting hand to pouch, that I might give him somewhat, when thou camest forth
+and I rose to wait on thee and was diverted with thee from him, till he grew
+tired of waiting; and this is the whole story, how he cometh to be standing
+here." —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-first Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sandal the
+Eunuch related to Ja'afar the Barmecide the tale of Khalifah the Fisherman,
+ending with, "This is the whole story and how he cometh to be standing here!"
+the Wazir, hearing this account, smiled and said, "O Eunuch, how is it that
+this Fisherman cometh in his hour of need and thou satisfiest him not? Dost
+thou not know him, O Chief of the Eunuchs?"  "No," answered Sandal and Ja'afar
+said, "This is the Master of the Commander of the Faithful, and his partner and
+our lord the Caliph has arisen this morning, strait of breast, heavy of heart
+and troubled of thought, nor is there aught will broaden his breast save this
+fisherman.  So let him not go, till I crave the Caliph's pleasure concerning
+him and bring him before him; perchance Allah will relieve him of his
+oppression and console him for the loss of Kut al-Kulub, by means of the
+Fisherman's presence, and he will give him wherewithal to better himself; and
+thou wilt be the cause of this."  Replied Sandal, "O my lord, do as thou wilt
+and may Allah Almighty long continue thee a pillar of the dynasty of the
+Commander of the Faithful, whose shadow Allah perpetuate [FN#238] and prosper
+it, root and branch!"  Then the Wazir Ja'afar rose up and went in to the
+Caliph, and Sandal ordered the Mamelukes not to leave the Fisherman; whereupon
+Khalifah cried, "How goodly is thy bounty, O Tulip! The seeker is become the
+sought.  I come to seek my due, and they imprison me for debts in arrears!"
+[FN#239] When Ja'afar came in to the presence of the Caliph, he found him
+sitting with his head bowed earthwards, breast straitened and mind melancholy,
+humming the verses of the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"My blamers instant bid that I for her become consoled; * But I,<br/>
+
+     what can I do, whose heart declines to be controlled?<br/>
+
+And how can I in patience bear the loss of lovely maid, * When<br/>
+
+     fails me patience for a love that holds with firmest hold!<br/>
+
+Ne'er I'll forget her nor the bowl that 'twixt us both went round<br/>
+
+     * And wine of glances maddened me with drunkenness<br/>
+
+     ensoul'd."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Whenas Ja'afar stood in the presence, he said, "Peace be upon thee, O Commander
+of the Faithful, Defender of the honour of the Faith and descendant of the
+uncle of the Prince of the Apostles, Allah assain him and save him and his
+family one and all!"  The Caliph raised his head and answered, "And on thee be
+peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings!"  Quoth Ja'afar; "With leave of
+the Prince of True Believers, his servant would speak without restraint." 
+Asked the Caliph, "And when was restraint put upon thee in speech and thou the
+Prince of Wazirs?  Say what thou wilt."  Answered Ja'afar, "When I went out, O
+my lord, from before thee, intending for my house, I saw standing at the door
+thy master and teacher and partner, Khalifah the Fisherman, who was aggrieved
+at thee and complained of thee saying, 'Glory be to God!  I taught him to fish
+and he went away to fetch me a pair of frails, but never came back: and this is
+not the way of a good partner or of a good apprentice.'  So, if thou hast a
+mind to partnership, well and good; and if not, tell him, that he may take to
+partner another."  Now when the Caliph heard these words he smiled and his
+straitness of breast was done away with and he said, "My life on thee, is this
+the truth thou sayest, that the Fisherman standeth at the door?" and Ja'afar
+replied, "By thy life, O Commander of the Faithful, he standeth at the door."
+Quoth the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, by Allah, I will assuredly do my best to give him
+his due!  If Allah at my hands send him misery, he shall have it; and if
+prosperity he shall have it."  Then he took a piece of paper and cutting it in
+pieces, said to the Wazir, "O Ja'afar, write down with thine own hand twenty
+sums of money, from one dinar to a thousand, and the names of all kinds of
+offices and dignities from the least appointment to the Caliphate; also twenty
+kinds of punishment from the lightest beating to death." [FN#240]  "I hear and
+obey, O Commander of the Faithful," answered Ja'afar, and did as he was bidden.
+ Then said the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, I swear by my holy forefathers and by my
+kinship to Hamzah [FN#241] and Akil, [FN#242] that I mean to summon the
+fisherman and bid him take one of these papers, whose contents none knowesth
+save thou and I; and whatsoever is written in the paper which he shall choose,
+I will give it to him; though it be the Caliphate I will divest myself thereof
+and invest him therewith and grudge it not to him; and, on the other hand, if
+there be written therein hanging or mutilation or death, I will execute it upon
+him.  Now go and fetch him to me."  When Ja'afar heard this, he said to
+himself, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
+Glorious, the Great!  It may be somewhat will fall to this poor wretch's lot
+that will bring about his destruction, and I shall be the cause.  But the
+Caliph hath sworn; so nothing remains now but to bring him in, and naught will
+happen save whatso Allah willeth."  Accordingly he went out to Khalifah the
+Fisherman and laid hold of his hand to carry him in to the Caliph, whereupon
+his reason fled and he said in himself, "What a stupid I was to come after
+yonder ill-omened slave, Tulip, whereby he hath brought me in company with
+Bran- belly!"  Ja'afar fared on with him, with Mamelukes before and behind,
+whilst he said, "Doth not arrest suffice, but these must go behind and before
+me, to hinder my making off?" till they had traversed seven vestibules, when
+the Wazir said to him, "Mark my words, O Fisherman!  Thou standest before the
+Commander of the Faithful and Defender of the Faith!"  Then he raised the great
+curtain and Khalifah's eyes fell on the Caliph, who was seated on his couch,
+with the Lords of the realm standing in attendance upon him.  As soon as he
+knew him, he went up to him and said, "Well come, and welcome to thee, O piper!
+'Twas not right of thee to make thyself a Fisherman and go away, leaving me
+sitting to guard the fish, and never to return!  For, before I was aware, there
+came up Mamelukes on beasts of all manner colours, and snatched away the fish
+from me, I standing alone, and this was all of thy fault; for, hadst thou
+returned with the frails forthright, we had sold an hundred dinars' worth of
+fish.  And now I come to seek my due, and they have arrested me. But thou, who
+hath imprisoned thee also in this place?"  The Caliph smiled and raising a
+corner of the curtain, put forth his head and said to the Fisherman, "Come
+hither and take thee one of these papers."  Quoth Khalifah the Fisherman,
+"Yesterday thou wast a fisherman, and to-day thou hast become an astrologer;
+but the more trades a man hath, the poorer he waxeth."  Thereupon Ja'afar said,
+"Take the paper at once, and do as the Commander of the Faithful biddeth thee
+without prating."  So he came forward and put forth his hand saying, "Far be it
+from me that this piper should ever again be my knave and fish with me!"  Then
+taking the paper he handed it to the Caliph, saying, "O piper, what hath come
+out for me therein? Hide naught thereof."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-second Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Khalifah the
+Fisherman took up one of the papers and handed it to the Caliph he said, "O
+piper, what have come out to me therein? Hide naught thereof."  So Al-Rashid
+received it and passed it on to Ja'afar and said to him, "Read what is
+therein."  He looked at it and said, "There is no Majesty there is no Might
+save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"  Said the Caliph, "Good news, [FN#243]
+O Ja'afar?  What seest thou therein?"  Answered the Wazir, "O Commander of the
+Faithful, there came up from the paper, 'Let the Fisherman receive an hundred
+blows with a stick.'"  So the Caliph commanded to beat the Fisherman and they
+gave him an hundred sticks: after which he rose, saying, "Allah damn this, O
+Bran-belly!  Are jail and sticks part of the game?" Then said Ja'afar, "O
+Commander of the Faithful, this poor devil is come to the river, and how shall
+he go away thirsting?  We hope that among the alms-deeds of the Commander of
+the Faithful, he may have leave to take another paper, so haply somewhat may
+come out wherewithal he may succor his poverty." Said the Caliph, "By Allah, O
+Ja'afar, if he take another paper and death be written therein, I will
+assuredly kill him, and thou wilt be the cause."  Answered Ja'afar, "If he die
+he will be at rest."  But Khalifah the Fisherman said to him, "Allah ne'er
+gladden thee with good news!  Have I made Baghdad strait upon you, that ye seek
+to slay me?"  Quoth Ja'afar, "Take thee a paper and crave the blessing of Allah
+Almighty!"  So he put out his hand and taking a paper, gave it to Ja'afar, who
+read it and was silent. The Caliph asked, "Why art thou silent, O son of
+Yahya?"; and he answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, there hath come out on
+this paper, 'Naught shall be given to the Fisherman.'"  Then said the Caliph,
+"His daily bread will not come from us: bid him fare forth from before our
+face."  Quoth Ja'afar, "By the claims of thy pious forefathers, let him take a
+third paper, it may be it will bring him alimony;" and quoth the Caliph, "Let
+him take one and no more."  So he put out his hand and took a third paper, and
+behold, therein was written, "Let the Fisherman be given one dinar."  Ja'afar
+cried to him, "I sought good fortune for thee, but Allah willed not to thee
+aught save this dinar."  And Khalifah answered, "Verily, a dinar for every
+hundred sticks were rare good luck, may Allah not send thy body health!"  The
+Caliph laughed at him and Ja'afar took him by the hand and led him out. When he
+reached the door, Sandal the eunuch saw him and said to him, "Hither, O
+Fisherman!  Give us portion of that which the Commander of the Faithful hath
+bestowed on thee, whilst jesting with thee."  Replied Khalifah, "By Allah, O
+Tulip, thou art right!  Wilt thou share with me, O nigger?  Indeed, I have
+eaten stick to the tune of an hundred blows and have earned one dinar, and thou
+art but too welcome to it."  So saying, he threw him the dinar and went out,
+with the tears flowing down the plain of his cheeks.  When the Eunuch saw him
+in this plight, he knew that he had spoken sooth and called to the lads to
+fetch him back: so they brought him back and Sandal, putting his hand to his
+pouch, pulled out a red purse, whence he emptied an hundred golden dinars into
+the Fisherman's hand, saying, "Take this gold in payment of thy fish and wend
+thy ways."  So Khalifah, in high good humor, took the hundred ducats and the
+Caliph's one dinar and went his way, and forgot the beating.  Now, as Allah
+willed it for the furthering of that which He had decreed, he passed by the
+mart of the hand-maidens and seeing there a mighty ring where many folks were
+foregathering, said to himself, "What is this crowd?"  So he brake through the
+merchants and others, who said, "Make wide the way for Skipper Rapscallion,
+[FN#244] and let him pass."  Then he looked and behold, he saw a chest, with an
+eunuch seated thereon and an old man standing by it, and the Shaykh was crying,
+"O merchants, O men of money, who will hasten and hazard his coin for this
+chest of unknown contents from the Palace of the Lady Zubaydah bint al-Kasim,
+wife of the Commander of the Faithful?  How much shall I say for you, Allah
+bless you all!" Quoth one of the merchants, "By Allah, this is a risk!  But I
+will say one word and no blame to me.  Be it mine for twenty dinars."  Quoth
+another, "Fifty," and they went on bidding, one against other, till the price
+reached an hundred ducats.  Then said the crier, "Will any of you bid more, O
+merchants?"  And Khalifah the Fisherman said, "Be it mine for an hundred dinars
+and one dinar."  The merchants, hearing these words, thought he was jesting and
+laughed at him, saying, "O eunuch sell it to Khalifah for an hundred dinars and
+one dinar!"  Quoth the eunuch, "By Allah, I will sell it to none but him!  Take
+it, O Fisherman, the Lord bless thee in it, and here with thy gold."  So
+Khalifah pulled out the ducats and gave them to the eunuch, who, the bargain
+being duly made, delivered to him the chest and bestowed the price in alms on
+the spot; after which he returned to the Palace and acquainted the Lady
+Zubaydah with what he had done, whereat she rejoiced.  Meanwhile the Fisherman
+hove the chest on shoulder, but could not carry it on this wise for the excess
+of its weight; so he lifted it on to his head and thus bore it to the quarter
+where he lived.  Here he set it down and being weary, sat awhile, bemusing what
+had befallen him and saying in himself, "Would Heaven I knew what is in this
+chest!"  Then he opened the door of his lodging and haled the chest until he
+got it into his closet; after which he strove to open it, but failed.  Quoth
+he, "What folly possessed me to buy this chest?  There is no help for it but to
+break it open and see what is herein."  So he applied himself to the lock, but
+could not open it, and said to himself, "I will leave it till to-morrow."  Then
+he would have stretched him out to sleep, but could find no room; for the chest
+filled the whole closet.  So he got upon it and lay him down; but, when he had
+lain awhile, behold, he felt something stir under him whereat sleep forsook him
+and his reason fled.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-third Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Khalifah the
+Fisherman lay down upon the chest and thus tarried awhile, behold, something
+stirred beneath him; whereat he was affrighted and his reason fled.  So he
+arose and cried, "Meseems there be Jinns in the chest.  Praise to Allah who
+suffered me not to open it!  For, had I done so, they had risen against me in
+the dark and slain me, and from them would have befallen me naught of good." 
+Then he lay down again when, lo! the chest moved a second time, more than
+before; whereupon he sprang to his feet and said, "There it goes again: but
+this is terrible!"  And he hastened to look for the lamp, but could not find it
+and had not the wherewithal to buy another.  So he went forth and cried out,
+"Ho, people of the quarter!"  Now the most part of the folk were asleep; but
+they awoke at his crying and asked, "What aileth thee, O Khalifah?"  He
+answered, "Bring me a lamp, for the Jinn are upon me."  They laughed at him and
+gave him a lamp, wherewith he returned to his closet.  Then he smote the lock
+of the chest with a stone and broke it and opening it, saw a damsel like a
+Houri lying asleep within.  Now she had been drugged with Bhang, but at that
+moment she threw up the stuff and awoke; then she opened her eyes and feeling
+herself confined and cramped, moved. At this sight quoth Khalifah, "By Allah, O
+my lady, whence art thou?"; and quoth she, "Bring me Jessamine, and Narcissus."
+[FN#245]  and Khalifah answered, "There is naught here but Henna- flowers."
+[FN#246]  thereupon she came to herself and considering Khalifah, said to him,
+"What art thou?" presently adding, "And where am I?"  He said, "Thou art in my
+lodging."  Asked she, "Am I not in the Palace of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid?" 
+And quoth he, "What manner of thing is Al-Rashid? [FN#247]  O madwoman, Thou
+art naught but my slave-girl: I bought thee this very day for an hundred dinars
+and one dinar, and brought thee home, and thou wast asleep in this here chest."
+ When she had heard these words she said to him, "What is thy name?"  Said he,
+"My name is Khalifah.  How comes my star to have grown propitious, when I know
+my ascendant to have been otherwise?"  She laughed and cried, "Spare me this
+talk!  Hast thou anything to eat?"  Replied he, "No, by Allah, nor yet to
+drink!  I have not eaten these two days and am now in want of a morsel."  She
+asked, "Hast thou no money?"; and he said, "Allah keep this chest which hath
+beggared me: I gave all I had for it and am become bankrupt." The damsel
+laughed at him and said, "Up with thee and seek of thy neighbours somewhat for
+me to eat, for I am hungry."  So he went forth and cried out, "Ho, people of
+the quarter!"  Now the folk were asleep; but they awoke and asked, "What aileth
+thee, O Khalifah?" Answered he, "O my neighbours, I am hungry and have nothing
+to eat."  So one came down to him with a bannock and another with broken meats
+and a third with a bittock of cheese and a fourth with a cucumber; and so on
+till he lap was full and he returned to his closet and laid the whole between
+her hands, saying, "Eat."  But she laughed at him, saying, "How can I eat of
+this, when I have not a mug of water whereof to drink?  I fear to choke with a
+mouthful and die."  Quoth he, "I will fill thee this pitcher."[FN#248]  So he
+took the pitcher and going forth, stood in the midst of the street and cried
+out, saying, "Ho, people of the quarter!"  Quoth they, "What calamity is upon
+thee to-night, [FN#249] O Khalifah!"  And he said, "Ye gave me food and I ate;
+but now I am a-thirst; so give me to drink."  Thereupon one came down to him
+with a mug and another with an ewer and a third with a gugglet; and he filled
+his pitcher and, bearing it back, said to the damsel, "O my lady, thou lackest
+nothing now."  Answered she, "True, I want nothing more at this present." 
+Quoth he, "Speak to me and say me thy story."  And quoth she, "Fie upon thee!
+An thou knowest me not, I will tell thee who I am.  I am Kut al-Kulub, the
+Caliph's handmaiden, and the Lady Zubaydah was jealous of me; so she drugged me
+with Bhang and set me in this chest," presently adding, "Alhamdolillah—praised
+be God—for that the matter hath come to easy issue and no worse!  But this
+befel me not save for thy good luck, for thou wilt certainly get of the Caliph
+Al-Rashid money galore, that will be the means of thine enrichment."  Quoth
+Khalifah, "Is not Al-Rashid he in whose Palace I was imprisoned?"  "Yes,"
+answered she; and he said, "By Allah, never saw I more niggardly wight than he,
+that piper little of good and wit!  He gave me an hundred blows with a stick
+yesterday and but one dinar, for all I taught him to fish and made him my
+partner; but he played me false."  Replied she, "Leave this unseemly talk, and
+open thine eyes and look thou bear thyself respectfully, whenas thou seest him
+after this, and thou shalt win thy wish."  When he heard her words, it was if
+he had been asleep and awoke; and Allah removed the veil from his judgment,
+because of his good luck, [FN#250] and he answered, "On my head and eyes!" 
+Then said he to her, "Sleep, in the name of Allah." [FN#251]  So she lay down
+and fell asleep (and he afar from her) till the morning, when she sought of him
+inkcase [FN#252] and paper and, when they were brought wrote to Ibn al- Kirnas,
+the Caliph's friend, acquainting him with her case and how at the end of all
+that had befallen her she was with Khalifah the Fisherman, who had bought her. 
+Then she gave him the scroll, saying, "Take this and hie thee to the
+jewel-market and ask for the shop of Ibn al-Kirnas the Jeweller and give him
+this paper and speak not."  "I hear and I obey," answered Khalifah and going
+with the scroll to the market, enquired for the shop of Ibn al- Kirnas.  They
+directed him to thither and on entering it he saluted the merchant, who
+returned his salam with contempt and said to him, "What dost thou want?" 
+Thereupon he gave him the letter and he took it, but read it not, thinking the
+Fisherman a beggar, who sought an alms of him, and said to one of his lads,
+"Give him half a dirham."  Quoth Khalifah, "I want no alms; read the paper." 
+So Ibn al-Kirnas took the letter and read it; and no sooner knew its import
+than he kissed it and laying it on his head—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-fourth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ibn al-Kirnas
+read the letter and knew its import, he kissed it and laid it on his head; then
+he arose and said to Khalifah, "O my brother, where is thy house?"  Asked
+Khalifah, "What wantest thou with my house?  Wilt thou go thither and steal my
+slave-girl?" Then Ibn al-Kirnas answered, "No so: on the contrary, I will buy
+thee somewhat whereof you may eat, thou and she."  So he said, "My house is in
+such a quarter;" and the merchant rejoined, "Thou hast done well.  May Allah
+not give thee health, O unlucky one!" [FN#253]  Then he called out to two of
+his slaves and said to them, "Carry this man to the shop of Mohsin the Shroff
+and say to him, 'O Mohsin, give this man a thousand dinars of gold;' then bring
+him back to me in haste."  So they carried him to the money-changer, who paid
+him the money, and returned with him to their master, whom they found mounted
+on a dapple she-mule worth a thousand dinars, with Mamelukes and pages about
+him, and by his side another mule like his own, saddled and bridled.  Quoth the
+jeweller to Khalifah, "Bismillah, mount this mule."  Replied he, "I won't; for
+by Allah, I fear she throw me;" and quoth Ibn al- Kirnas, "By God, needs must
+thou mount."  So he came up and mounting her, face to crupper, caught hold of
+her tail and cried out; whereupon she threw him on the ground and they laughed
+at him; but he rose and said, "Did I not tell thee I would not mount this great
+jenny-ass?"  Thereupon Ibn al-Kirnas left him in the market and repairing to
+the Caliph, told him of the damsel; after which he returned and removed her to
+his own house.  Meanwhile, Khalifah went home to look after the handmaid and
+found the people of the quarter foregathering and saying, "Verily, Khalifah is
+to-day in a terrible pickle! [FN#254]  Would we knew whence he can have gotten
+this damsel?"  Quoth one of them, "He is a mad pimp; haply he found her lying
+on the road drunken, and carried her to his own house, and his absence showeth
+that he knoweth his offence."  As they were talking, behold, up came Khalifah,
+and they said to him, "What a plight is thine, O unhappy! Knowest thou not what
+is come to thee?"  He replied, "No, by Allah!" and they said, "But just now
+there came Mamelukes and took away thy slave-girl whom thou stolest, and sought
+for thee, but found thee not."  Asked Khalifah, "And how came they to take my
+slave-girl?"; and quoth one, "Had he falled in their way, they had slain him." 
+But he, so far from heeding  them, returned running to the shop of Ibn
+al-Kirnas, whom he met riding, and said to him, "By Allah, 'twas not right of
+thee to wheedle me and meanwhile send thy Mamelukes to take my slave-girl!" 
+Replied the jeweller, "O idiot, come with me and hold thy tongue."  So he took
+him and carried him into a house handsomely builded, where he found the damsel
+seated on a couch of gold, with ten slave-girls like moons round her. Sighting
+her Ibn al-Kirnas kissed ground before her and she said, "What hast thou done
+with my new master, who bought me with all he owned?"  He replied, "O my lady,
+I gave him a thousand golden dinars;" and related to her Khalifah's history
+from first to last, whereat she laughed and said, "Blame him not; for he is but
+a common wight.  These other thousand dinars are a gift from me to him and
+Almighty Allah willing, he shall win of the Caliph what shall enrich him."  As
+they were talking, there came an eunuch from the Commander of the Faithful, in
+quest of Kut al- Kulub, for, when he knew that she was in the house of Ibn al-
+Kirnas, he could not endure the severance, but bade bring her forthwith.  So
+she repaired to the Palace, taking Khalifah with her, and going into the
+presence, kissed ground before the Caliph, who rose to her, saluting and
+welcoming her, and asked her how she had fared with him who had bought her. 
+She replied, "He is a man, Khalifah the Fisherman hight, and there he standeth
+at the door.  He telleth me that he hath an account to settle with the
+Commander of the Faithful, by reason of a partnership between him and the
+Caliph in fishing."  Asked Al-Rashid, "Is he at the door?" and she answered,
+"Yes."  So the Caliph sent for him and he kissed ground before him and wished
+him endurance of glory and prosperity.  The Caliph marvelled at him and laughed
+at him and said to him, "O Fisherman, wast thou in very deed my partner
+[FN#255] yesterday?"  Khalifah took his meaning and heartening his heart and
+summoning spirit replied, "By Him who bestowed upon thee the succession to thy
+cousin, [FN#256] I know her not in anywise and have had no commerce with her
+save by way of sight and speech!"  Then he repeated to him all that had
+befallen him, since he last saw him, [FN#257] whereat the Caliph laughed and
+his breast broadened and he said to Khalifah, "Ask of us what thou wilt, O thou
+who bringest to owners their own!"  But he was silent; so the Caliph ordered
+him fifty thousand dinars of gold and a costly dress of honour such as great
+Sovrans don, and a she-mule, and gave him black slaves of the Súdán to serve
+him, so that he became as he were one of the Kings of that time.  The Caliph
+was rejoiced at the recovery of his favourite and knew that all this was the
+doing of his cousin-wife, the Lady Zubaydah,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-fifth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph rejoiced at
+the recovery of Kut al-Kulub and knew that all this was the doing of the Lady
+Zubaydah, his cousin-wife; wherefore he was sore enraged against her and held
+aloof from her a great while, visiting her not neither inclining to pardon her.
+ When she was certified of this, she was sore concerned for his wrath and her
+face, that was wont to be rosy, waxed pale and wan till, when her patience was
+exhausted, she sent a letter to her cousin, the Commander of the Faithful
+making her excuses to him and confessing her offences, and ending with these
+verses
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I long once more the love that was between us to regain, * That<br/>
+
+     I may quench the fire of grief and bate the force of bane.<br/>
+
+O lords of me, have ruth upon the stress my passion deals *<br/>
+
+     Enough to me is what you doled of sorrow and of pain.<br/>
+
+'Tis life to me an deign you keep the troth you deigned to plight<br/>
+
+     * 'Tis death to me an troth you break and fondest vows<br/>
+
+     profane:<br/>
+
+Given I've sinned a sorry sin, ye grant me ruth, for naught * By<br/>
+
+     Allah, sweeter is than friend who is of pardon fain."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the Lady Zubaydah's letter reached the Caliph, and reading it he saw that
+she confessed her offence and sent her excuses to him therefor, he said to
+himself, "Verily, all sins doth Allah forgive; aye, Gracious, Merciful is He!"
+[FN#258]  And he returned her an answer, expressing satisfaction and pardon and
+forgiveness for what was past, whereat she rejoiced greatly.  As for Khalifah,
+the Fisherman, the Caliph assigned him a monthly solde of fifty dinars and took
+him into especial favour, which would lead to rank and dignity, honour and
+worship.  Then he kissed ground before the Commander of the Faithful and went
+forth with stately gait.  When he came to the door, the Eunuch Sandal, who had
+given him the hundred dinars, saw him and knowing him, said to him, "O
+Fisherman, whence all this?"  So he told him all that had befallen him, first
+and last, whereat Sandal rejoiced, because he had been the cause of his
+enrichment, and said to him, "Wilt thou not give me largesse of this wealth
+which is now become thine?"  So Khalifah put hand to pouch and taking out a
+purse containing a thousand dinars, gave it to the Eunuch, who said, "Keep thy
+coins and Allah bless thee therein!" and marvelled at his manliness and at the
+liberality of his soul, for all his late poverty. [FN#259]  Then leaving the
+eunuch, Khalifah mounted his she-mule and rode, with the slaves' hands on her
+crupper, till he came to his lodging at the Khan, whilst the folk stared at him
+in surprise for that which had betided him of advancement.  When he alighted
+from his beast they accosted him and enquired the cause of his change from
+poverty to prosperity, and he told them all that had happened to him from
+incept to conclusion.  Then he bought a fine mansion and laid out thereon much
+money, till it was perfect in all points.  And he took up his abode therein and
+was wont to recite thereon these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Behold a house that's like the Dwelling of Delight; [FN#260] *<br/>
+
+     Its aspect heals the sick and banishes despite.<br/>
+
+Its sojourn for the great and wise appointed it, * And Fortune<br/>
+
+     fair therein abideth day and night."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then, as soon as he was settled in his house, he sought him in marriage the
+daughter of one of the chief men of the city, a handsome girl, and went in unto
+her and led a life of solace and satisfaction, joyaunce and enjoyment; and he
+rose to passing affluence and exceeding prosperity.  So, when he found himself
+in this fortunate condition, he offered up thanks to Allah (extolled and
+excelled be He!) for what He had bestowed on him of wealth exceeding and of
+favours ever succeeding, praising his Lord with the praise of the grateful and
+chanting the words of the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"To Thee be praise, O Thou who showest unremitting grace; * O<br/>
+
+     Thou whose universal bounties high and low embrace!<br/>
+
+To Thee be praise from me! Then deign accept my praise for I *<br/>
+
+     Accept Thy boons and gifts with grateful soul in every case.<br/>
+
+Thou hast with favours overwhelmed me, benefits and largesse *<br/>
+
+     And gracious doles my memory ne'er ceaseth to retrace.<br/>
+
+All men from mighty main, Thy grace and goodness, drain and<br/>
+
+     drink; * And in their need Thou, only Thou, to them art<br/>
+
+     refuge-place!<br/>
+
+So for the sake of him who came to teach mankind in ruth *<br/>
+
+     Prophet, pure, truthful-worded scion of the noblest race;<br/>
+
+Ever be Allah's blessing and His peace on him and all * His aids<br/>
+
+     [FN#261] and kin while pilgrims fare his noble tomb to face!<br/>
+
+And on his helpmeets [FN#262] one and all, Companions great and<br/>
+
+     good, * Through time Eternal while the bird shall sing in<br/>
+
+     shady wood!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thereafter Khalifah continued to pay frequent visits to the Caliph Harun
+al-Rashid, with whom he found acceptance and who ceased not to overwhelm him
+with boons and bounty: and he abode in the enjoyment of the utmost honour and
+happiness and joy and gladness and in riches more than sufficing and in rank
+ever rising; brief, a sweet life and a savoury, pure as pleasurable, till there
+came to him the Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of societies; and
+extolled be the perfection of Him to whom belong glory and permanence and He is
+the Living, the Eternal, who shall never die!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+NOTE.  I have followed the example of Mr. Payne and have translated in its
+entirety the Tale of Khalifah the Fisherman from the Breslau Edit. (Vol. iv.
+pp. 315-365, Night cccxxi- cccxxxii.) in preference to the unsatisfactory
+process of amalgamating it with that of the Mac. Edit. given above.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h3><a name="chap05"></a>Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad.</h3>
+
+<p>
+There was once, in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before, in the
+city of Baghdad, a fisherman, by name Khalíf, a man of muckle talk and little
+luck. One day, as he sat in his cell,[FN#263] he bethought himself and said,
+"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the
+Great! Would Heaven I knew what is my offence in the sight of my Lord and what
+caused the blackness of my fortune and my littleness of luck among the
+fishermen, albeit (and I say it who should not) in the city of Baghdad there is
+never a fisherman like myself." Now he lodged in a ruined place called a Khan,
+to wit, an inn,[FN#264] without a door, and when he went forth to fish, he
+would shoulder the net, without basket or fish-slicers,[FN#265] and when the
+folk would stare at him and say to him, "O Khalif, why not take with thee a
+basket, to hold the fish thou catchest?"; he would reply, "Even as I carry it
+forth empty, so would it come back, for I never manage to catch aught." One
+night he arose, in the darkness before dawn, and taking his net on his
+shoulder, raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Allah mine, O Thou who
+subjectedst the sea to Moses son of Imrán, give me this day my daily bread, for
+Thou art the best of bread-givers!" Then he went down to the Tigris and
+spreading his net, cast it into the river and waited till it had settled down,
+when he haled it in and drew it ashore, but behold, it held naught save a dead
+dog. So he cast away the carcase, saying, "O morning of ill doom! What a
+handsel is this dead hound, after I had rejoiced in its weight[FN#266]!" Then
+he mended the rents in the net, saying, "Needs must there after this carrion be
+fish in plenty, attracted by the smell," and made a second cast. After awhile,
+he drew up and found in the net the hough[FN#267] of a camel, that had caught
+in the meshes and rent them right and left. When Khalif saw his net in this
+state, he wept and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in
+Allah, the Glorious, the Great! I wonder what is my offence and the cause of
+the blackness of my fortune and the littleness of my luck, of all folk, so that
+I catch neither cat-fish nor sprat,[FN#268] that I may broil on the embers and
+eat, for all I dare say there is not in the city of Baghdad a fisherman like
+me." Then with a Bismillah he cast his net a third time, and presently drawing
+it ashore found therein an ape scurvy and one-eyed, mangy, and limping hending
+an ivory rod in forehand. When Khalif saw this, he said, "This is indeed a
+blessed opening! What art thou, O ape?" "Dost thou not know me?" "No, by Allah,
+I have no knowledge of thee!" "I am thine ape!" "What use is there in thee, O
+my ape?" "Every day I give thee good-morrow, so Allah may not open to thee the
+door of daily bread." "Thou failest not of this, O one-eye[FN#269] of ill-omen!
+May Allah never bless thee! Needs must I pluck out thy sound eye and cut off
+thy whole leg, so thou mayst become a blind cripple and I be quit of thee. But
+what is the use of that rod thou hendest in hand?" "O Khalif, I scare the fish
+therewith, so they may not enter thy net." "Is it so?: then this very day will
+I punish thee with a grievous punishment and devise thee all manner torments
+and strip thy flesh from thy bones and be at rest from thee, sorry bit of goods
+that thou art!" So saying, Khalif the Fisherman unwound from his middle a
+strand of rope and binding him to a tree by his side, said, "Lookee, O dog of
+an ape! I mean to cast the net again and if aught come up therein, well and
+good; but, if it come up empty, I will verily and assuredly make an end of
+thee, with the cruellest tortures and be quit of thee, thou stinking lot." So
+he cast the net and drawing it ashore, found in it another ape and said, "Glory
+be to God the Great! I was wont to pull naught but fish out of this Tigris, but
+now it yieldeth nothing but apes." Then he looked at the second ape and saw him
+fair of form and round of face with pendants of gold in his ears and a blue
+waistcloth about his middle, and he was like unto a lighted taper. So he asked
+him, "What art thou, thou also, O ape?"; and he answered, saying, "O Khalif, I
+am the ape of Abú al-Sa'ádát the Jew, the Caliph's Shroff. Every day, I give
+him good-morrow, and he maketh a profit of ten gold pieces." Cried the
+Fisherman, "By Allah, thou art a fine ape, not like this ill-omened monkey o'
+mine!" So saying, he took a stick[FN#270] and came down upon the sides of the
+ape, till he broke his ribs and he jumped up and down. And the other ape, the
+handsome one, answered him, saying, "O Khalif, what will it profit thee to beat
+him, though thou belabour him till he die?" Khalif replied, "How shall I do?
+Shall I let him wend his ways that he may scare me the fish with his hang-dog
+face and give me good-even and good-morrow every day, so Allah may not open to
+me the door of daily bread? Nay, I will kill him and be quit of him and I will
+take thee in his stead; so shalt thou give me good-morrow and I shall gain ten
+golden dinars a day." Thereupon the comely ape made answer, "I will tell thee a
+better way than that, and if thou hearken to me, thou shalt be at rest and I
+will become thine ape in lieu of him." Asked the Fisherman, "And what dost thou
+counsel me?"; and the ape answered, saying, "Cast thy net and thou shalt bring
+up a noble fish, never saw any its like, and I will tell thee how thou shalt do
+with it." Replied Khalif, "Lookee, thou too! An I throw my net and there come
+up therein a third ape, be assured that I will cut the three of you into six
+bits." And the second ape rejoined, "So be it, O Khalif. I agree to this thy
+condition." Then Khalif spread the net and cast it and drew it up, when behold,
+in it was a fine young barbel[FN#271] with a round head, as it were a
+milking-pail, which when he saw, his wits fled for joy and he said, "Glory be
+to God! What is this noble creature? Were yonder apes in the river, I had not
+brought up this fish." Quoth the seemly ape, "O Khalif, an thou give ear to my
+rede, 'twill bring thee good fortune"; and quoth the Fisherman, "May God damn
+him who would gainsay thee henceforth!" Thereupon the ape said, "O Khalif, take
+some grass and lay the fish thereon in the basket[FN#272] and cover it with
+more grass and take also somewhat of basil[FN#273] from the greengrocer's and
+set it in the fish's mouth. Cover it with a kerchief and push thee through the
+bazar of Baghdad. Whoever bespeaketh thee of selling it, sell it not but fare
+on, till thou come to the market street of the jewellers and money-changers.
+Then count five shops on the right-hand side and the sixth shop is that of Abu
+al-Sa'adat the Jew, the Caliph's Shroff. When thou standest before him, he will
+say to thee, 'What seekest thou?'; and do thou make answer, 'I am a
+fisherwight, I threw my net in thy name and took this noble barbel, which I
+have brought thee as a present.' If he give thee aught of silver, take it not,
+be it little or mickle, for it will spoil that which thou wouldst do, but say
+to him, 'I want of thee naught save one word, that thou say to me, 'I sell thee
+my ape for thine ape and my luck for thy luck.' An the Jew say this, give him
+the fish and I shall become thine ape and this crippled, mangy and one-eyed ape
+will be his ape." Khalif replied, "Well said, O ape," nor did he cease faring
+Baghdad-wards and observing that which the ape had said to him, till he came to
+the Jew's shop and saw the Shroff seated, with eunuchs and pages about him,
+bidding and forbidding and giving and taking. So he set down his basket,
+saying, "O Sultan of the Jews, I am a fisher-wight and went forth to-day to the
+Tigris and casting my net in thy name, cried, 'This is for the luck of Abu
+al-Sa'adat;' and there came up to me this Banni which I have brought thee by
+way of present." Then he lifted the grass and discovered the fish to the Jew,
+who marvelled at its make and said, "Extolled be the perfection of the Most
+Excellent Creator!" Then he gave the fisherman a dinar, but he refused it and
+he gave him two. This also he refused and the Jew stayed not adding to his
+offer, till he made it ten dinars; but he still refused and Abu al-Sa'adat said
+to him, "By Allah, thou art a greedy one. Tell me what thou wouldst have, O
+Moslem!" Quoth Khalif, "I would have of thee but a single word. [FN#274]" When
+the Jew heard this, he changed colour and said, "Wouldst thou oust me from my
+faith? Wend thy ways;" and Khalif said to him, "By Allah, O Jew, naught
+mattereth an thou become a Moslem or a Nazarene!" Asked the Jew, "Then what
+wouldst thou have me say?"; and the fisherman answered, "Say, I sell thee my
+ape for thy ape and my luck for thy luck." The Jew laughed, deeming him little
+of wit, and said by way of jest, "I sell thee my ape for thy ape and my luck
+for thy luck. Bear witness against him, O merchants! By Allah, O unhappy, thou
+art debarred from further claim on me!" So Khalif turned back, blaming himself
+and saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
+Glorious, the Great! Alas that I did not take the gold!" and fared on blaming
+himself in the matter of the money till he came to the Tigris, but found not
+the two apes, whereupon he wept and slapped his face and strewed dust on his
+head, saying, "But that the second ape wheedled me and put a cheat on me, the
+one-eyed ape had not escaped." And he gave not over wailing and weeping, till
+heat and hunger grew sore on him: so he took the net, saying, "Come, let us
+make a cast, trusting in Allah's blessing; belike I may catch a cat-fish or a
+barbel which I may boil and eat." So he threw the net and waiting till it had
+settled, drew it ashore and found it full of fish, whereat he was consoled and
+rejoiced and busied himself with unmeshing the fish and casting them on the
+earth. Presently, up came a woman seeking fish and crying out, "Fish is not to
+be found in the town." She caught sight of Khalif, and said to him, "Wilt thou
+sell this fish, O Master?" Answered Khalif, "I am going to turn it into
+clothes, 'tis all for sale, even to my beard.[FN#275] Take what thou wilt." So
+she gave him a dinar and he filled her basket. Then she went away and behold,
+up came another servant, seeking a dinar's worth of fish; nor did the folk
+cease till it was the hour of mid-afternoon prayer and Khalif had sold ten
+golden dinars' worth of fish. Then, being faint and famisht, he folded and
+shouldered his net and, repairing to the market, bought himself a woollen gown,
+a calotte with a plaited border and a honey-coloured turband for a dinar
+receiving two dirhams by way of change, wherewith he purchased fried cheese and
+a fat sheep's tail and honey and setting them in the oilman's platter, ate till
+he was full and his ribs felt cold[FN#276] from the mighty stuffing. Then he
+marched off to his lodgings in the magazine, clad in the gown and the
+honey-coloured turband and with the nine golden dinars in his mouth, rejoicing
+in what he had never in his life seen. He entered and lay down, but could not
+sleep for anxious thoughts and abode playing with the money half the night.
+Then said he in himself, "Haply the Caliph may hear that I have gold and say to
+Ja'afar, 'Go to Khalif the Fisherman and borrow us some money of him.' If I
+give it him, it will be no light matter to me, and if I give it not, he will
+torment me; but torture is easier to me than the giving up of the cash.[FN#277]
+However, I will arise and make trial of myself if I have a skin proof against
+stick or not." So he put off his clothes and taking a sailor's plaited whip, of
+an hundred and sixty strands, ceased not beating himself, till his sides and
+body were all bloody, crying out at every stroke he dealt himself and saying "O
+Moslems! I am a poor man! O Moslems, I am a poor man! O Moslems, whence should
+I have gold, whence should I have coin?" till the neighbours, who dwelt with
+him in that place, hearing him crying and saying, "Go to men of wealth and take
+of them," thought that thieves were torturing him, to get money from him, and
+that he was praying for aidance. Accordingly they flocked to him each armed
+with some weapon and finding the door of his lodging locked and hearing him
+roaring out for help, deemed that the thieves had come down upon him from the
+terrace-roof; so they fell upon the door and burst it open. Then they entered
+and found him mother-naked and bareheaded with body dripping blood, and
+altogether in a sad pickle; so they asked him, "What is this case in which we
+find thee? Hast thou lost thy wits and hath Jinn-madness betided thee this
+night?" And he answered them, "Nay; but I have gold with me and I feared lest
+the Caliph send to borrow of me and it were no light matter to give him aught;
+yet, an I gave not to him 'tis only too sure that he would put me to the
+torture; wherefore I arose to see if my skin were stick-proof or not." When
+they heard these words they said to him, "May Allah not assain thy body,
+unlucky madman that thou art! Of a surety thou art fallen mad to-night! Lie
+down to sleep, may Allah never bless thee! How many thousand dinars hast thou,
+that the Caliph should come and borrow of thee?" He replied, "By Allah, I have
+naught but nine dinars." And they all said, "By Allah, he is not otherwise than
+passing rich!" Then they left him wondering at his want of wit, and Khalif took
+his cash and wrapped it in a rag, saying to himself, "Where shall I hide all
+this gold? An I bury it, they will take it, and if I put it out on deposit,
+they will deny that I did so, and if I carry it on my head,[FN#278] they will
+snatch it, and if I tie it to my sleeve, they will cut it away." Presently, he
+espied a little breast-pocket in the gown and said, "By Allah, this is fine!
+'Tis under my throat and hard by my mouth: if any put out his hand to hend it,
+I can come down on it with my mouth and hide it in my throttle." So he set the
+rag containing the gold in the pocket and lay down, but slept not that night
+for suspicion and trouble and anxious thought. On the morrow, he fared forth of
+his lodging on fishing intent and, betaking himself to the river, went down
+into the water, up to his knees. Then he threw the net and shook it with might
+and main; whereupon the purse fell down into the stream. So he tore off gown
+and turband and plunged in after it, saying, "There is no Majesty and there is
+no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" Nor did he give over diving
+and searching the stream-bed, till the day was half spent, but found not the
+purse. Now one saw him from afar diving and plunging and his gown and turband
+lying in the sun at a distance from him, with no one by them; so he watched
+him, till he dived again when he dashed at the clothes and made off with them.
+Presently, Khalif came ashore and, missing his gown and turband, was chagrined
+for their loss with passing cark and care and ascended a mound, to look for
+some passer-by, of whom he might enquire concerning them, but found none. Now
+the Caliph Harun al-Rashid had gone a-hunting and chasing that day; and,
+returning at the time of the noon heat, was oppressed thereby and thirsted; so
+he looked for water from afar and seeing a naked man standing on the mound said
+to Ja'afar, "Seest thou what I see?" Replied the Wazir, "Yes, O Commander of
+the Faithful; I see a man standing on a hillock." Al-Rashid asked, "What is
+he?"; and Ja'afar answered, "Haply he is the guardian of a cucumber-plot."
+Quoth the Caliph, "Perhaps he is a pious man[FN#279]; I would fain go to him,
+alone, and desire of him his prayers; and abide ye where you are." So he went
+up to Khalif and saluting him with the salam said to him, "What art thou, O
+man?" Replied the fisherman, "Dost thou not know me? I am Khalif the
+Fisherman;" and the Caliph rejoined, "What? The Fisherman with the woollen gown
+and the honey-coloured turband[FN#280]?" When Khalif heard him name the clothes
+he had lost, he said in himself, "This is he who took my duds: belike he did
+but jest with me." So he came down from the knoll and said, "Can I not take a
+noontide nap[FN#281] but thou must trick me this trick? I saw thee take my gear
+and knew that thou wast joking with me." At this, laughter got the better of
+the Caliph and he said; "What clothes hast thou lost? I know nothing of that
+whereof thou speakest, O Khalif." Cried the Fisherman, "By God the Great,
+except thou bring me back the gear, I will smash thy ribs with this staff!"
+(For he always carried a quarterstaff.) Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, I have not
+seen the things whereof thou speakest!"; and quoth Khalif "I will go with thee
+and take note of thy dwelling-place and complain of thee to the Chief of
+Police, so thou mayst not trick me this trick again. By Allah, none took my
+gown and turband but thou, and except thou give them back to me at once, I will
+throw thee off the back of that she-ass thou ridest and come down on thy pate
+with this quarterstaff, till thou canst not stir!" Thereupon he tugged at the
+bridle of the mule so that she reared up on her hind legs and the Caliph said
+to himself, "What calamity is this I have fallen into with this madman?" Then
+he pulled off a gown he had on, worth an hundred dinars, and said to Khalif,
+"Take this gown in lieu of thine own." He took it and donning it saw it was too
+long; so he cut it short at the knees and turbanded his head with the cut-off
+piece; then said to the Caliph, "What art thou and what is thy craft? But why
+ask? Thou art none other than a trumpeter." Al-Rashid asked, "What showed thee
+that I was a trumpeter by trade?"; and Khalif answered, "Thy big nostrils and
+little mouth." Cried the Caliph, "Well guessed! Yes, I am of that craft." Then
+said Khalif, "An thou wilt hearken to me, I will teach thee the art of fishing:
+'twill be better for thee than trumpeting and thou wilt eat lawfully[FN#282]."
+Replied the Caliph, "Teach it me so that I may see whether I am capable of
+learning it." And Khalif said, "Come with me, O trumpeter." So the Caliph
+followed him down to the river and took the net from him, whilst he taught him
+how to throw it. Then he cast it and drew it up, when, behold, it was heavy,
+and the fisherman said, "O trumpeter, an the net be caught on one of the rocks,
+drag it not too hard, or 'twill break and by Allah, I will take thy she-ass in
+payment thereof!" The Caliph laughed at his words and drew up the net, little
+by little, till he brought it ashore and found it full of fish; which when
+Khalif saw, his reason fled for joy and presently he cried, "By Allah, O
+trumpeter, thy luck is good in fishing! Never in my life will I part with thee!
+But now I mean to send thee to the fish-bazar, where do thou enquire for the
+shop of Humayd the fisherman and say to him, 'My master Khalif saluteth thee
+and biddeth thee send him a pair of frails and a knife, so he may bring thee
+more fish than yesterday.' Run and return to me forthright!" The Caliph replied
+(and indeed he was laughing), "On my head, O master!" and, mounting his mule,
+rode back to Ja'afar, who said to him, "Tell me what hath betided thee." So the
+Caliph told him all that had passed between Khalif the Fisherman and himself,
+from first to last, adding, "I left him awaiting my return to him with the
+baskets and I am resolved that he shall teach me how to scale fish and clean
+them." Quoth Ja'afar, "And I will go with thee to sweep up the scales and clean
+out the shop." And the affair abode thus, till presently the Caliph cried, "O
+Ja'afar, I desire of thee that thou despatch the young Mamelukes, saying to
+them, 'Whoso bringeth me a fish from before yonder fisherman, I will give him a
+dinar;' for I love to eat of my own fishing." Accordingly Ja'afar repeated to
+the young white slaves what the Caliph had said and directed them where to find
+the man. They came down upon Khalif and snatched the fish from him; and when he
+saw them and noted their goodliness, he doubted not but that they were of the
+black-eyed Houris of Paradise: so he caught up a couple of fish and ran into
+the river, saying, "O Allah mine, by the secret virtue of these fish, forgive
+me!" Suddenly, up came the chief eunuch, questing fish, but he found none; so
+seeing Khalif ducking and rising in the water, with the two fish in his hands,
+called out to him, saying, "O Khalif, what hast thou there?" Replied the
+fisherman, "Two fish," and the eunuch said, "Give them to me and take an
+hundred dinars for them." Now when Khalif heard speak of an hundred dinars, he
+came up out of the water and cried, "Hand over the hundred dinars." Said the
+eunuch, "Follow me to the house of Al-Rashid and receive thy gold, O Khalif;"
+and, taking the fish, made off to the Palace of the Caliphate. Meanwhile Khalif
+betook himself to Baghdad, clad as he was in the Caliph's gown, which reached
+only to above his knees,[FN#283] turbanded with the piece he had cut off
+therefrom and girt about his middle with a rope, and he pushed through the
+centre of the city. The folk fell a-laughing and marvelling at him and saying,
+"Whence hadst thou that robe of honour?" But he went on, asking, "Where is the
+house of Al-Rashád[FN#284]?;" and they answered, "Say, 'The house of
+Al-Rashíd';" and he rejoined, "'Tis all the same," and fared on, till he came
+to the Palace of the Caliphate. Now he was seen by the tailor, who had made the
+gown and who was standing at the door, and when he noticed it upon the
+Fisherman, he said to him, "For how many years hast thou had admission to the
+palace?" Khalif replied, "Ever since I was a little one;" and the tailor asked,
+"Whence hadest thou that gown thou hast spoilt on this wise?" Khalif answered,
+"I had it of my apprentice the trumpeter." Then he went up to the door, where
+he found the Chief Eunuch sitting with the two fishes by his side: and seeing
+him sable-black of hue, said to him, "Wilt thou not bring the hundred dinars, O
+uncle Tulip?" Quoth he, "On my head, O Khalif," when, behold, out came Ja'afar
+from the presence of the Caliph and seeing the fisherman talking with the
+Eunuch and saying to him, "This is the reward of goodness, O nuncle Tulip,"
+went in to Al-Rashid and said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, thy master
+the Fisherman is with the Chief Eunuch, dunning him for an hundred dinars."
+Cried the Caliph, "Bring him to me, O Ja'afar;" and the Minister answered,
+"Hearing and obeying." So he went out to the Fisherman and said to him, "O
+Khalif, thine apprentice the trumpeter biddeth thee to him;" then he walked on,
+followed by the other till they reached the presence-chamber, where he saw the
+Caliph seated, with a canopy over his head. When he entered, Al-Rashid wrote
+three scrolls and set them before him, and the Fisherman said to him, "So thou
+hast given up trumpeting and turned astrologer!" Quoth the Caliph to him, "Take
+thee a scroll." Now in the first he had written, "Let him be given a gold
+piece," in the second, "An hundred dinars," and in the third, "Let him be given
+an hundred blows with a whip." So Khalif put out his hand and by the decree of
+the Predestinator, it lighted on the scroll wherein was written, "Let him
+receive an hundred lashes," and Kings, whenas they ordain aught, go not back
+therefrom. So they threw him prone on the ground and beat him an hundred blows,
+whilst he wept and roared for succour, but none succoured him, and said, "By
+Allah, this is a good joke O trumpeter! I teach thee fishing and thou turnest
+astrologer and drawest me an unlucky lot. Fie upon thee,[FN#285] in thee is
+naught of good!" When the Caliph heard his speech, he fell fainting in a fit of
+laughter and said, "O Khalif, no harm shall betide thee: fear not. Give him an
+hundred gold pieces." So they gave him an hundred dinars, and he went out, and
+ceased not faring forth till he came to the trunk-market, where he found the
+folk assembled in a ring about a broker, who was crying out and saying, "At an
+hundred dinars, less one dinar! A locked chest!" So he pressed on and pushed
+through the crowd and said to the broker, "Mine for an hundred dinars!" The
+broker closed with him and took his money, whereupon there was left him nor
+little nor much. The porters disputed awhile about who should carry the chest
+and presently all said, "By Allah, none shall carry this chest but
+Zurayk!"[FN#286] And the folk said, "Blue-eyes hath the best right to it." So
+Zurayk shouldered the chest, after the goodliest fashion, and walked a-rear of
+Khalif. As they went along, the Fisherman said in himself, "I have nothing left
+to give the porter; how shall I rid myself of him? Now I will traverse the main
+streets with him and lead him about, till he be weary and set it down and leave
+it, when I will take it up and carry it to my lodging." Accordingly, he went
+round about the city with the porter from noontide to sundown, till the man
+began to grumble and said, "O my lord, where is thy house?" Quoth Khalif,
+"Yesterday I knew it, but to-day I have forgotten it." And the porter said,
+"Give me my hire and take thy chest." But Khalif said, "Go on at thy leisure,
+till I bethink me where my house is," presently adding, "O Zurayk, I have no
+money with me. 'Tis all in my house and I have forgotten where it is." As they
+were talking, there passed by them one who knew the Fisherman and said to him,
+"O Khalif, what bringeth thee hither?" Quoth the porter, "O uncle, where is
+Khalif's house?" and quoth he, "'Tis in the ruined Khan in the Rawásín
+Quarter."[FN#287] Then said Zurayk to Khalif, "Go to; would Heaven thou hadst
+never lived nor been!" And the Fisherman trudged on, followed by the porter,
+till they came to the place when the Hammal said, "O thou whose daily bread
+Allah cut off in this world, have we not passed this place a score of times?
+Hadst thou said to me, 'Tis in such a stead, thou hadst spared me this great
+toil; but now give me my wage and let me wend my way." Khalif replied "Thou
+shalt have silver, if not gold. Stay here, till I bring thee the same." So he
+entered his lodging and taking a mallet he had there, studded with forty nails
+(wherewith an he smote a camel, he had made an end of it), rushed upon the
+porter and raised his forearm to strike him therewith; but Zurayk cried out at
+him, saying, "Hold thy hand! I have no claim on thee," and fled. Now having got
+rid of the Hammal, Khalif carried the chest into the Khan, whereupon the
+neighbours came down and flocked about him, saying, "O Khalif, whence hadst
+thou this robe and this chest?" Quoth he, "From my apprentice Al-Rashid who
+gave them to me," and they said, "The pimp is mad! Al-Rashid will assuredly
+hear of his talk and hang him over the door of his lodging and hang all in the
+Khan on account of the droll. This is a fine farce!" Then they helped him to
+carry the chest into his lodging and it filled the whole closet.[FN#288] Thus
+far concerning Khalif; but as for the history of the chest, it was as follows:
+The Caliph had a Turkish slave-girl, by name Kut al-Kulúb, whom he loved with
+love exceeding and the Lady Zubaydah came to know of this from himself and was
+passing jealous of her and secretly plotted mischief against her. So, whilst
+the Commander of the Faithful was absent a-sporting and a-hunting, she sent for
+Kut al-Kulub and, inviting her to a banquet, set before her meat and wine, and
+she ate and drank. Now the wine was drugged with Bhang; so she slept and
+Zubaydah sent for her Chief Eunuch and putting her in a great chest, locked it
+and gave it to him, saying, "Take this chest and cast it into the river."
+Thereupon he took it up before him on a he-mule and set out with it for the
+sea, but found it unfit to carry; so, as he passed by the trunk-market, he saw
+the Shaykh of the brokers and salesmen and said to him, "Wilt thou sell me this
+chest, O uncle?" The broker replied, "Yes, we will do this much." "But," said
+the Eunuch, "look thou sell it not except locked;" and the other, "'Tis well;
+we will do that also."[FN#289] So he set down the chest, and they cried it for
+sale, saying, "Who will buy this chest for an hundred dinars?"; and behold, up
+came Khalif the Fisherman and bought the chest after turning it over right and
+left; and there passed between him and the porter that which hath been before
+set out. Now as regards Khalif the Fisherman; he lay down on the chest to
+sleep, and presently Kut al-Kulub awoke from her Bhang and finding herself in
+the chest, cried out and said, "Alas!" Whereupon Khalif sprang off the
+chest-lid and cried out and said, "Ho, Moslems! Come to my help! There are
+Ifrits in the chest." So the neighbours awoke from sleep and said to him, "What
+mattereth thee, O madman?" Quoth he, "The chest is full of Ifrits;" and quoth
+they, "Go to sleep; thou hast troubled our rest this night may Allah not bless
+thee! Go in and sleep, without madness." He ejaculated, "I cannot sleep;" but
+they abused him and he went in and lay down once more. And behold, Kut al-Kulub
+spoke and said, "Where am I?" Upon which Khalif fled forth the closet and said,
+"O neighbours of the hostelry, come to my aid!" Quoth they, "What hath befallen
+thee? Thou troublest the neighbours' rest." "O folk, there be Ifrits in the
+chest, moving and speaking." "Thou liest: what do they say?" "They say, 'Where
+am I?'" "Would Heaven thou wert in Hell! Thou disturbest the neighbours and
+hinderest them of sleep. Go to sleep, would thou hadst never lived nor been!"
+So Khalif went in fearful because he had no place wherein to sleep save upon
+the chest-lid when lo! as he stood, with ears listening for speech, Kut
+al-Kulub spake again and said, "I'm hungry." So in sore affright he fled forth
+and cried out, "Ho neighbours! ho dwellers in the Khan, come aid me!" Said
+they, "What is thy calamity now?"[FN#290] And he answered, "The Ifrits in the
+chest say, 'We are hungry.'" Quoth the neighbours one to other, "'Twould seem
+Khalif is hungry; let us feed him and give him the supper-orts; else he will
+not let us sleep to-night." So they brought him bread and meat and broken
+victuals and radishes and gave him a basket full of all kinds of things,
+saying, "Eat till thou be full and go to sleep and talk not, else will we break
+thy ribs and beat thee to death this very night." So he took the basket with
+the provaunt and entered his lodging. Now it was a moonlight night and the moon
+shone in full sheen upon the chest and lit up the closet with its light, seeing
+this he sat down on his purchase and fell to eating of the food with both
+hands. Presently Kut al-Kulub spake again and said, "Open to me and have mercy
+upon me, O Moslems!" So Khalif arose and taking a stone he had by him, broke
+the chest open and behold, therein lay a young lady as she were the sun's
+shining light with brow flower-white, face moonbright, cheeks of rose-hue
+exquisite and speech sweeter than sugar-bite, and in dress worth a thousand
+dinars and more bedight. Seeing this his wits flew from his head for joy and he
+said, "By Allah, thou art of the fair!" She asked him, "What art thou, O
+fellow?" and he answered, "O my lady, I am Khalif the Fisherman." Quoth she,
+"Who brought me hither?"; and quoth he, "I bought thee, and thou art my
+slave-girl." Thereupon said she, "I see on thee a robe of the raiment of the
+Caliph." So he told her all that had betided him, from first to last, and how
+he had bought the chest; wherefore she knew that the Lady Zubaydah had played
+her false; and she ceased not talking with him till the morning, when she said
+to him, "O Khalif, seek me from some one inkcase and reed-pen and paper and
+bring them to me." So he found with one of the neighbours what she sought and
+brought it to her, whereupon she wrote a letter and folded it and gave it to
+him, saying, "O Khalif, take this paper and carry it to the jewel-market, where
+do thou enquire for the shop of Abu al-Hasan the jeweller and give it to him."
+Answered the Fisherman, "O my lady, this name is difficult to me; I cannot
+remember it." And she rejoined, "Then ask for the shop of Ibn
+al-'Ukáb."[FN#291] Quoth he, "O my lady, what is an 'Ukab?"; and quoth she,
+"'Tis a bird which folk carry on fist with eyes hooded." And he exclaimed, "O
+my lady, I know it." Then he went forth from her and fared on, repeating the
+name, lest it fade from his memory; but, by the time he reached the
+jewel-market, he had forgotten it. So he accosted one of the merchants and said
+to him, "Is there any here named after a bird?" Replied the merchant, "Yes,
+thou meanest Ibn al-Ukab." Khalif cried, "That's the man I want," and making
+his way to him, gave him the letter, which when he read and knew the purport
+thereof, he fell to kissing it and laying it on his head; for it is said that
+Abu al-Hasan was the agent of the Lady Kut al-Kulub and her intendant over all
+her property in lands and houses. Now she had written to him, saying, "From Her
+Highness the Lady Kut al-Kulub to Sir Abu al-Hasan the jeweller. The instant
+this letter reacheth thee, set apart for us a saloon completely equipped with
+furniture and vessels and negro-slaves and slave-girls and what not else is
+needful for our residence and seemly, and take the bearer of the missive and
+carry him to the bath. Then clothe him in costly apparel and do with him thus
+and thus." So he said "Hearing and obeying," and locking up his shop, took the
+Fisherman and bore him to the bath, where he committed him to one of the
+bathmen, that he might serve him, according to custom. Then he went forth to
+carry out the Lady Kut al-Kulub's orders. As for Khalif, he concluded, of his
+lack of wit and stupidity, that the bath was a prison and said to the bathman,
+"What crime have I committed that ye should lay me in limbo?" They laughed at
+him and made him sit on the side of the tank, whilst the bathman took hold of
+his legs, that he might shampoo them. Khalif thought he meant to wrestle with
+him and said to himself, "This is a wrestling-place[FN#292] and I knew naught
+of it." Then he arose and seizing the bathman's legs, lifted him up and threw
+him on the ground and broke his ribs. The man cried out for help, whereupon the
+other bathmen came in a crowd and fell upon Khalif and overcoming him by dint
+of numbers, delivered their comrade from his clutches and tunded him till he
+came to himself. Then they knew that the Fisherman was a simpleton and served
+him till Abu al-Hasan came back with a dress of rich stuff and clad him
+therein; after which he brought him a handsome she-mule, ready saddled, and
+taking him by the hand, carried him forth of the bath and said to him, "Mount."
+Quoth he, "How shall I mount? I fear lest she throw me and break my ribs into
+my belly." Nor would he back the mule, save after much travail and trouble, and
+they stinted not faring on, till they came to the place which Abu al-Hasan had
+set apart for the Lady Kut al-Kulub. Thereupon Khalif entered and found her
+sitting, with slaves and eunuchs about her and the porter at the door, staff in
+hand, who when he saw the Fisherman sprang up and kissing his hand, went before
+him, till he brought him within the saloon. Here the Fisherman saw what amazed
+his wit, and his eye was dazzled by that which he beheld of riches past count
+and slaves and servants, who kissed his hand and said, "May the bath be a
+blessing to thee!"[FN#293] When he entered the saloon and drew near unto Kut
+al-Kulub, she sprang up to him and taking him by the hand, seated him on a
+high-mattrassed divan. Then she brought him a vase of sherbet of sugar, mingled
+with rosewater and willow-water, and he took it and drank it off and left not a
+single drop. Moreover, he ran his finger round the inside of the vessel[FN#294]
+and would have licked it, but she forbade him, saying, "That is foul." Quoth
+he, "Silence; this is naught but good honey;" and she laughed at him and set
+before him a tray of meats, whereof he ate his sufficiency. Then they brought
+an ewer and basin of gold, and he washed his right hand and abode in the
+gladdest of life and the most honourable. Now hear what befel the Commander of
+the Faithful. When he came back from his journey and found not Kut al-Kulub, he
+questioned the Lady Zubaydah of her and she said, "She is verily dead, may thy
+head live, O Prince of True Believers!" But she had bidden dig a grave
+amiddlemost the Palace and had built over it a mock tomb, for her knowledge of
+the love the Caliph bore to Kut al-Kulub: so she said to him, "O Commander of
+the Faithful, I made her a tomb amiddlemost the Palace and buried her there."
+Then she donned black,[FN#295] a mere sham and pure pretence; and feigned
+mourning a great while. Now Kut al-Kulub knew that the Caliph was come back
+from his hunting excursion; so she turned to Khalif and said to him, "Arise;
+hie thee to the bath and come back." So he rose and went to the Hammam-bath,
+and when he returned, she clad him in a dress worth a thousand dinars and
+taught him manners and respectful bearing to superiors. Then said she to him,
+"Go hence to the Caliph and say to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, 'tis my
+desire that this night thou deign be my guest.'" So Khalif arose and mounting
+his she-mule, rode, with pages and black slaves before him, till he came to the
+Palace of the Caliphate. Quoth the wise, "Dress up a stick and 'twill look
+chique."[FN#296] And indeed his comeliness was manifest and his goodliness and
+the folk marvelled at this. Presently, the Chief Eunuch saw him, the same who
+had given him the hundred dinars that had been the cause of his good fortune;
+so he went in to the Caliph and said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful,
+Khalif the Fisherman is become a King, and on him is a robe of honour worth a
+thousand dinars." The Prince of True Believers bade admit him; so he entered
+and said, "Peace be with thee, O Commander of the Faithful and Vice-regent of
+the Lord of the three Worlds and Defender of the folk of the Faith! Allah
+Almighty prolong thy days and honour thy dominion and exalt thy degree to the
+highmost height!" The Caliph looked at him and marvelled at him and how fortune
+had come to him at unawares; then he said to him, "O Khalif, whence hadst thou
+that robe which is upon thee?" He replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, it
+cometh from my house." Quoth the Caliph, "Hast thou then a house?"; and quoth
+Khalif, "Yea, verily! and thou, O Commander of the Faithful, art my guest this
+day." Al-Rashid said, "I alone, O Khalif, or I and those who are with me?"; and
+he replied, "Thou and whom thou wilt." So Ja'afar turned to him and said, "We
+will be thy guests this night;" whereupon he kissed ground again and
+withdrawing, mounted his mule and rode off, attended by his servants and suite
+of Mamelukes leaving the Caliph marvelling at this and saying to Ja'afar,
+"Sawest thou Khalif, with his mule and dress, his white slaves and his dignity?
+But yesterday I knew him for a buffoon and a jester." And they marvelled at
+this much. Then they mounted and rode, till they drew near Khalif's house, when
+the Fisherman alighted and, taking a bundle from one of his attendants, opened
+it and pulled out therefrom a piece of tabby silk[FN#297] and spread it under
+the hoofs of the Caliph's she-mule; then he brought out a piece of
+velvet-Kimcob[FN#298] and a third of fine satin and did with them likewise; and
+thus he spread well nigh twenty pieces of rich stuffs, till Al-Rashid and his
+suite had reached the house; when he came forward and said, "Bismillah,[FN#299]
+O Commander of the Faithful!" Quoth Al-Rashid to Ja'afar, "I wonder to whom
+this house may belong," and quoth he, "It belongeth to a man hight Ibn al-Ukab,
+Syndic of the jewellers." So the Caliph dismounted and entering, with his
+courtiers, saw a high-builded saloon, spacious and boon, with couches on daďs
+and carpets and divans strown in place. So he went up to the couch that was set
+for himself on four legs of ivory, plated with glittering gold and covered with
+seven carpets. This pleased him and behold, up came Khalif, with eunuchs and
+little white slaves, bearing all manner sherbets, compounded with sugar and
+lemon and perfumed with rose and willow-water and the purest musk. The
+Fisherman advanced and drank and gave the Caliph to drink, and the cup-bearers
+came forward and served the rest of the company with the sherbets. Then Khalif
+brought a table spread with meats of various colours and geese and fowls and
+other birds, saying, "In the name of Allah!" So they ate their fill; after
+which he bade remove the tables and kissing the ground three times before the
+Caliph craved his royal leave to bring wine and music.[FN#300] He granted him
+permission for this and turning to Ja'afar, said to him, "As my head liveth,
+the house and that which is therein is Khalif's; for that he is ruler over it
+and I am in admiration at him, whence there came to him this passing prosperity
+and exceeding felicity! However, this is no great matter to Him who saith to a
+thing, 'Be!' and it becometh; what I most wonder at is his understanding, how
+it hath increased, and whence he hath gotten this loftiness and this
+lordliness; but, when Allah willeth weal unto a man, He amendeth his
+intelligence before bringing him to worldly affluence." As they were talking,
+behold, up came Khalif, followed by cup-bearer lads like moons, belted with
+zones of gold, who spread a cloth of siglaton[FN#301] and set thereon flagons
+of chinaware and tall flasks of glass and cups of crystal and bottles and
+hanaps[FN#302] of all colours; and those flagons they filled with pure clear
+and old wine, whose scent was as the fragrance of virgin musk and it was even
+as saith the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Ply me and also my mate be plied * With pure wine prest in the<br/>
+
+     olden tide.[FN#303]<br/>
+
+Daughter of nobles[FN#304] they lead her forth[FN#305] * In<br/>
+
+     raiment of goblets beautified.<br/>
+
+They belt her round with the brightest gems, * And pearls and<br/>
+
+     unions, the Ocean's pride;<br/>
+
+So I by these signs and signets know * Wherefore the Wine is<br/>
+
+     entitled 'Bride.'[FN#306]"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And round about these vessels were confections and flowers, such as may not be
+surpassed. When Al-Rashid saw this from Khalif, he inclined to him and smiled
+upon him and invested him with an office; so Khalif wished him continuance of
+honour and endurance of days and said, "Will the Commander of the Faithful
+deign give me leave to bring him a singer, a lute-player her like was never
+heard among mortals ever?" Quoth the Caliph, "Thou art permitted!" So he kissed
+ground before him and going to a secret closet, called Kut al-Kulub, who came
+after she had disguised and falsed and veiled herself, tripping in her robes
+and trinkets; and she kissed ground before the Commander of the Faithful. Then
+she sat down and tuning the lute, touched its strings and played upon it, till
+all present were like to faint for excess of delight; after which she
+improvised these verses,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Would Heaven I wot, will ever Time bring our beloveds back<br/>
+
+     again? * And, ah! will Union and its bliss to bless two<br/>
+
+     lovers deign?<br/>
+
+Will Time assure to us united days and joinčd joy, * While from<br/>
+
+     the storms and stowres of life in safety we remain?<br/>
+
+Then O Who bade this pleasure be, our parting past and gone, *<br/>
+
+     And made one house our meeting-stead throughout the Nights<br/>
+
+     contain;<br/>
+
+By him, draw near me, love, and closest cling to side of me *<br/>
+
+     Else were my wearied wasted life, a vanity, a bane."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the Caliph heard this, he could not master himself, but rent his raiment
+and fell down a-swoon; whereupon all who were present hastened to doff their
+dress and throw it over him, whilst Kut al-Kulub signed to Khalif and said to
+him, "Hie to yonder chest and bring us what is therein;" for she had made ready
+therein a suit of the Caliph's wear against the like of such hour as this. So
+Khalif brought it to her and she threw it over the Commander of the Faithful,
+who came to himself and knowing her for Kut al- Kulub, said, "Is this the Day
+of Resurrection and hath Allah quickened those who are in the tombs; or am I
+asleep and is this an imbroglio of dreams?" Quoth Kut al-Kulub, "We are on
+wake, not on sleep, and I am alive, nor have I drained the cup of death." Then
+she told him all that had befallen her, and indeed, since he lost her, life had
+not been light to him nor had sleep been sweet, and he abode now wondering,
+then weeping and anon afire for longing. When she had made an end of her story,
+the Caliph rose and took her by the hand, intending for her palace, after he
+had kissed her inner lips, and had strained her to his bosom; whereupon Khalif
+rose and said, "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful! Thou hast already
+wronged me once, and now thou wrongest me again." Quoth Al-Rashid, "Indeed thou
+speakest sooth, O Khalif," and bade the Wazir Ja'afar give him what should
+satisfy him. So he straightway gifted him with all for which he wished and
+assigned him a village, the yearly revenues whereof were twenty thousand
+dinars. Moreover Kut al-Kulub generously presented him the house and all that
+was therein of furniture and hangings and white slaves and slave-girls and
+eunuchs great and small. So Khalif became possessed of this passing affluence
+and exceeding wealth and took him a wife, and prosperity taught him gravity and
+dignity, and good fortune overwhelmed him. The Caliph enrolled him among his
+equerries and he abode in all solace of life and its delights till he deceased
+and was admitted to the mercy of Allah. Furthermore they relate a tale
+anent[FN#307]
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h3><a name="chap06"></a>MASRUR AND ZAYN AL-MAWASIF.[FN#308]</h3>
+
+<p>
+There was once in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before a man and
+a merchant Masrúr hight, who was of the comeliest of the folk of his tide, a
+wight of wealth galore and in easiest case; but he loved to take his pleasure
+in vergiers and flower-gardens and to divert himself with the love of the fair.
+Now it fortuned one night, as he lay asleep, he dreamt that he was in a garth
+of the loveliest, wherein were four birds, and amongst them a dove, white as
+polished silver. That dove pleased him and for her grew up in his heart an
+exceeding love. Presently, he beheld a great bird swoop down on him and snatch
+the dove from his hand, and this was grievous to him. After which he awoke and
+not finding the bird strave with his yearnings till morning, when he said in
+himself, "There is no help but that I go to-day to some one who will expound to
+me this vision."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the merchant
+awoke, he strave with his yearnings till morning when he said to himself,
+"There is no help but that I go this day to some one who will expound to me
+this vision." So he went forth and walked right and left, till he was far from
+his dwelling-place, but found none to interpret the dream to him. Then he would
+have returned, but on his way behold, the fancy took him to turn aside to the
+house of a certain trader, a man of the wealthiest, and when he drew near to
+it, suddenly he heard from within a plaintive voice from a sorrowful heart
+reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The breeze o' Morn blows uswards from her trace * Fragrant, and<br/>
+
+     heals the love-sick lover's case.<br/>
+
+I stand like captive on the mounds and ask * While tears make<br/>
+
+     answer for the ruined place:<br/>
+
+Quoth I, 'By Allah, Breeze o' Morning, say * Shall Time and<br/>
+
+     Fortune aye this stead regrace?<br/>
+
+Shall I enjoy a fawn whose form bewitched * And langourous<br/>
+
+     eyelids wasted frame and face?'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Masrur heard this, he looked in through the doorway and saw a garden of
+the goodliest of gardens, and at its farther end a curtain of red brocade,
+purfled with pearls and gems, behind which sat four damsels, and amongst them a
+young lady over four feet and under five in height, as she were the rondure of
+the lune and the full moon shining boon: she had eyes Kohl'd with nature's dye
+and joined eyebrows, a mouth as it were Solomon's seal and lips and teeth
+bright with pearls and coral's light; and indeed she ravished all wits with her
+beauty and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace. When Masrur espied her,
+he entered the porch and went on entering till he came to the curtain:
+whereupon she raised her head and glanced at him. So he saluted her and she
+returned his salam with sweetest speech; and, when he considered her more
+straitly, his reason was dazed and his heart amazed. Then he looked at the
+garden and saw that it was full of jessamine and gilly flowers and violets and
+roses and orange blossoms and all manner sweet-scented blooms and herbs. Every
+tree was girt about with fruits and there coursed down water from four daďses,
+which faced one another and occupied the four corners of the garden. He looked
+at the first Líwán and found written around it with vermilion these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Ho thou the House! Grief never home in thee; * Nor Time work<br/>
+
+     treason on thine owner's head:<br/>
+
+All good betide the House which every guest * Harbours, when sore<br/>
+
+     distrest for way and stead!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he looked at the second daďs and found written thereon in red gold these
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Robe thee, O House, in richest raiment Time, * Long as the<br/>
+
+     birdies on the branchlets chime!<br/>
+
+And sweetest perfumes breathe within thy walls * And lover meet<br/>
+
+     beloved in bliss sublime.<br/>
+
+And dwell thy dwellers all in joy and pride * Long as the<br/>
+
+     wandering stars Heaven-hill shall climb."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he looked at the third, whereon he found written in ultramarine these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Ever thy pomp and pride, O House! display * While starkeneth<br/>
+
+     Night and shineth sheeny Day!<br/>
+
+Boon Fortune bless all entering thy walls, * And whomso dwell in<br/>
+
+     thee, for ever and aye!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he looked at the fourth and saw painted in yellow characters this couplet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"This garden and this lake in truth * Are fair sitting-steads, by<br/>
+
+     the Lord of Ruth!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Moreover, in that garden were birds of all breeds, ring-dove and cushat and
+nightingale and culver, each singing his several song, and amongst them the
+lady, swaying gracefully to and fro in her beauty and grace and symmetry and
+loveliness and ravishing all who saw her. Presently quoth she to Masrur, "Hola
+man! what bringeth thee into a house other than thy house and wherefore comest
+thou in unto women other than thy women, without leave of their owner?" Quoth
+he, "O my lady, I saw this garden, and the goodliness of its greenery pleased
+me and the fragrance of its flowers and the carolling of its birds; so I
+entered, thinking to gaze on it awhile and wend my way." Said she, "With love
+and gladness!"; and Masrur was amazed at the sweetness of her speech and the
+coquetry of her glances and the straightness of her shape, and transported by
+her beauty and seemlihead and the pleasantness of the garden and the birds. So
+in the disorder of his spirits he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"As a crescent-moon in the garth her form * 'Mid Basil and<br/>
+
+     jasmine and Rose I scan;<br/>
+
+And Violet faced by the Myrtle-spray * And Nu'umán's bloom and<br/>
+
+     Myrobalan:<br/>
+
+By her perfume the Zephyrs perfumčd breathe * And with scented<br/>
+
+     sighings the branches fan.<br/>
+
+O Garden, thou perfect of beauty art * All charms comprising in<br/>
+
+     perfect plan;<br/>
+
+And melodious birdies sing madrigals * And the Full Moon[FN#309]<br/>
+
+     shineth in branchshade wan;<br/>
+
+Its ring-dove, its culver, its mocking-bird * And its Philomel<br/>
+
+     sing my soul t' unman;<br/>
+
+And the longing of love all my wits confuseth * For her charms,<br/>
+
+     as the man whom his wine bemuseth."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now when Zayn al-Mawásif heard his verse, she glanced at him with eyes which
+bequeathed a thousand sighs and utterly ravished his wisdom and wits and
+replied to him in these lines,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Hope not of our favours to make thy prey * And of what thou<br/>
+
+     wishest thy greed allay:<br/>
+
+And cease thy longing; thou canst not win * The love of the Fair<br/>
+
+     thou'rt fain t' essay,<br/>
+
+My glances to lovers are baleful and naught * I reek of thy<br/>
+
+     speech: I have said my say!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Ho, thou! Begone about thy business, for we are none of the woman-tribe who
+are neither thine nor another's.[FN#310]" And he answered, "O my lady, I said
+nothing ill." Quoth she, "Thou soughtest to divert thyself[FN#311] and thou
+hast had thy diversion; so wend thy ways." Quoth he, "O my lady, belike thou
+wilt give me a draught of water, for I am athirst." Whereupon she cried, "How
+canst thou drink of a Jew's water, and thou a Nazarene?" But he replied, "O my
+lady, your water is not forbidden to us nor ours unlawful to you, for we are
+all as one creation." So she said to her slave-girl, "Give him to drink;" and
+she did as she was bidden. Then she called for the table of food, and there
+came four damsels, high-bosomed maids, bearing four trays of meats and four
+gilt flagons full of strong old-wine, as it were the tears of a slave of love
+for clearness, and a table around whose edge were graven these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"For eaters a table they brought and set * In the banquet-hall<br/>
+
+     and 'twas dight with gold:<br/>
+
+Like th' Eternal Garden that gathers all * Man wants of meat and<br/>
+
+     wines manifold."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when the high-breasted maids had set all this before him, quoth she, "Thou
+soughtest to drink of our drink; so up and at our meat and drink!" He could
+hardly credit what his ears had heard and sat down at the table forthright;
+whereupon she bade her nurse[FN#312] give him a cup, that he might drink. Now
+her slave-girls were called, one Hubúb, another Khutúb and the third
+Sukúb,[FN#313] and she who gave him the cup was Hubub. So he took the cup and
+looking at the outside there saw written these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Drain not the bowl but with lovely wight * Who loves thee and<br/>
+
+     wine makes brighter bright.<br/>
+
+And 'ware her Scorpions[FN#314] that o'er thee creep * And guard<br/>
+
+     thy tongue lest thou vex her sprite."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the cup went round and when he emptied it he looked inside and saw
+written,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"And 'ware her Scorpions when pressing them, * And hide her<br/>
+
+     secrets from foes' despight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Whereupon Masrur laughed her-wards and she asked him, "What causeth thee to
+laugh?" "For the fulness of my joy," quoth he. Presently, the breeze blew on
+her and the scarf[FN#315] fell from her head and discovered a fillet[FN#316] of
+glittering gold, set with pearls and gems and jacinths; and on her breast was a
+necklace of all manner ring-jewels and precious stones, to the centre of which
+hung a sparrow of red gold, with feet of red coral and bill of white silver and
+body full of Nadd-powder and pure ambergris and odoriferous musk. And upon its
+back was engraved,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The Nadd is my wine-scented powder, my bread; * And the bosom's<br/>
+
+     my bed and the breasts my stead:<br/>
+
+And my neck-nape complains of the weight of love, * Of my pain,<br/>
+
+     of my pine, of my drearihead."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Masrur looked at the breast of her shift and behold, thereon lay wroughten
+in red gold this verse,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The fragrance of musk from the breasts of the fair * Zephyr<br/>
+
+     borrows, to sweeten the morning air."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Masrur marvelled at this with exceeding wonder and was dazed by her charms and
+amazement gat hold upon him. Then said Zayn al-Mawásif to him, "Begone from us
+and go about thy business, lest the neighbours hear of us and even us with the
+lewd." He replied, "By Allah, O my lady, suffer my sight to enjoy the view of
+thy beauty and loveliness." With this she was wroth with him and leaving him,
+walked in the garden, and he looked at her shift-sleeve and saw upon it
+embroidered these lines,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The weaver-wight wrote with gold-ore bright * And her wrists on<br/>
+
+     brocade rained a brighter light:<br/>
+
+Her palms are adorned with a silvern sheen; * And favour her<br/>
+
+     fingers the ivory's white:<br/>
+
+For their tips are rounded like priceless pearl; * And her charms<br/>
+
+     would enlighten the nightiest night."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And, as she paced the garth, Masrur gazed at her slippers and saw written upon
+them these pleasant lines,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The slippers that carry these fair young feet * Cause her form<br/>
+
+     to bend in its gracious bloom:<br/>
+
+When she paces and waves in the breeze she owns, * She shines<br/>
+
+     fullest moon in the murkiest gloom."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She was followed by her women leaving Hubub with Masrur by the curtain, upon
+whose edge were embroidered these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Behind the veil a damsel sits with gracious beauty dight, *<br/>
+
+     Praise to the Lord who decked her with these inner gifts of<br/>
+
+     sprite!<br/>
+
+Guards her the garden and the bird fain bears her company; *<br/>
+
+     Gladden her wine-draughts and the bowl but makes her<br/>
+
+     brighter-bright.<br/>
+
+Apple and Cassia-blossom show their envy of her cheeks; * And<br/>
+
+     borrows Pearl resplendency from her resplendent light;<br/>
+
+As though the sperm that gendered her were drop of<br/>
+
+     marguerite[FN#317] * Happy who kisses her and spends in her<br/>
+
+     embrace the night."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Masrur entered into a long discourse with Hubub and presently said to her,
+"O Hubub, hath thy mistress a husband or not?" She replied, "My lady hath a
+husband; but he is actually abroad on a journey with merchandise of his." Now
+whenas he heard that her husband was abroad on a journey, his heart lusted
+after her and he said, "O Hubub, glorified be He who created this damsel and
+fashioned her! How sweet is her beauty and her loveliness and her symmetry and
+perfect grace! Verily, into my heart is fallen sore travail for her. O Hubub,
+so do that I come to enjoy her, and thou shalt have of me what thou wilt of
+wealth and what not else." Replied Hubub, "O Nazarene, if she heard thee speak
+thus, she would slay thee, or else she would kill herself, for she is the
+daughter of a Zealot[FN#318] of the Jews nor is there her like amongst them:
+she hath no need of money and she keepeth herself ever cloistered, discovering
+not her case to any." Quoth Masrur, "O Hubub, an thou wilt but bring me to
+enjoy her, I will be to thee slave and foot page and will serve thee all my
+life and give thee whatsoever thou seekest of me." But quoth she, "O Masrur, in
+very sooth this woman hath no lust for money nor yet for men, because my lady
+Zayn al-Mawasif is of the cloistered, going not forth her house-door in fear
+lest folk see her; and but that she bore with thee by reason of thy
+strangerhood, she had not permitted thee to pass her threshold; no, not though
+thou wert her brother." He replied, "O Hubub, be thou our go-between and thou
+shalt have of me an hundred gold dinars and a dress worth as much more, for
+that the love of her hath gotten hold of my heart." Hearing this she said, "O
+man, let me go about with her in talk and I will return thee and answer and
+acquaint thee with what she saith. Indeed, she loveth those who berhyme her and
+she affecteth those who set forth her charms and beauty and loveliness in
+verse, and we may not prevail over her save by wiles and soft speech and
+beguilement." Thereupon Hubub rose and going up to her mistress, accosted her
+with privy talk of this and that and presently said to her, "O my lady, look at
+yonder young man, the Nazarene; how sweet is his speech and how shapely his
+shape!" When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, she turned to her and said, "An thou
+like his comeliness love him thyself. Art thou not ashamed to address the like
+of me with these words? Go, bid him begone about his business; or I will make
+it the worse for him." So Hubub returned to Masrur, but acquainted him not with
+that which her mistress had said. Then the lady bade her hie to the door and
+look if she saw any of the folk, lest foul befal them. So she went and
+returning, said, "O my lady, without are folk in plenty and we cannot let him
+go forth this night." Quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "I am in dole because of a dream I
+have seen and am fearful therefrom." And Masrur said, "What sawest thou? Allah
+never trouble thy heart!" She replied, "I was asleep in the middle of the
+night, when suddenly an eagle swooped down upon me from the highest of the
+clouds and would have carried me off from behind the curtain, wherefore I was
+affrighted at him. Then I awoke from sleep and bade my women bring me meat and
+drink, so haply, when I had drunken, the dolour of the dream would cease from
+me." Hearing this, Masrur smiled and told her his dream from first to last and
+how he had caught the dove, whereat she marvelled with exceeding marvel. Then
+he went on to talk with her at great length and said, "I am now certified of
+the truth of my dream, for thou art the dove and I the eagle, and there is no
+hope but that this must be, for, the moment I set eyes on thee, thou tookest
+possession of my vitals and settest my heart a-fire for love of thee!"
+Thereupon Zayn al-Mawasif became wroth with exceeding wrath and said to him, "I
+take refuge with Allah from this! Allah upon thee, begone about thy business
+ere the neighbours espy thee and there betide us sore reproach," adding,
+"Harkye, man! Let not thy soul covet that it shall not obtain. Thou weariest
+thyself in vain; for I am a merchant's wife and a merchant's daughter and thou
+art a druggist; and when sawest thou a druggist and a merchant's daughter
+conjoined by such sentiment?" He replied, "O my lady, never lacked love-liesse
+between folk[FN#319]; so cut thou not off from me hope of this and whatsoever
+thou seekest of me of money and raiment and ornaments and what not else, I will
+give thee." Then he abode with her in discourse and mutual blaming whilst she
+still redoubled in anger, till it was black night, when he said to her, "O my
+lady, take this gold piece and fetch me a little wine, for I am athirst and
+heavy hearted." So she said to the slave-girl Hubub, "Fetch him wine and take
+naught from him, for we have no need of his dinar." So she went whilst Masrur
+held his peace and bespake not the lady, who suddenly improvised these lines,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Leave this thy design and depart, O man! * Nor tread paths where<br/>
+
+     lewdness and crime trepan!<br/>
+
+Love is a net shall enmesh thy sprite, * Make thee rise a-morning<br/>
+
+     sad, weary and wan:<br/>
+
+For our spy thou shalt eke be the cause of talk; * And for thee<br/>
+
+     shall blame me my tribe and clan:<br/>
+
+Yet scant I marvel thou lovest a Fair:— * Gazelles hunting lions<br/>
+
+     we aye shall scan!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he answered her with these,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Joy of boughs, bright branch of Myrobalan! * Have ruth on the<br/>
+
+     heart all thy charms unman:<br/>
+
+Death-cup to the dregs thou garrest me drain * And don weed of<br/>
+
+     Love with its bane and ban:<br/>
+
+How can soothe I a heart which for stress of pine * Burns with<br/>
+
+     living coals which my longings fan?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Hearing these lines she exclaimed, "Away from me! Quoth the saw 'Whoso looseth
+his sight wearieth his sprite.' By Allah, I am tired of discourse with thee and
+chiding, and indeed thy soul coveteth that shall never become thine; nay,
+though thou gave me my weight in gold, thou shouldst not get thy wicked will of
+me; for, I know naught of the things of the world, save pleasant life, by the
+boon of Allah Almighty!" He answered, "O my lady Zayn al-Mawasif, ask of me
+what thou wilt of the goods of the world." Quoth she, "What shall I ask of
+thee? For sure thou wilt fare forth and prate of me in the highway and I shall
+become a laughing-stock among the folk and they will make a byword of me in
+verse, me who am the daughter of the chief of the merchants and whose father is
+known of the notables of the tribe. I have no need of money or raiment and such
+love will not be hidden from the people and I shall be brought to shame, I and
+my kith and kin." With this Masrur was confounded and could make her no answer;
+but presently she said, "Indeed, the master-thief, if he steal, stealeth not
+but what is worth his neck, and every woman who doth lewdness with other than
+her husband is styled a thief; so, if it must be thus and no help[FN#320], thou
+shalt give me whatsoever my heart desireth of money and raiment and ornaments
+and what not." Quoth he, "An thou sought of me the world and all its regions
+contain from its East to its West, 'twere but a little thing, compared with thy
+favour;" and quoth she, "I will have of thee three suits, each worth a thousand
+Egyptian dinars, and adorned with gold and fairly purfled with pearls and
+jewels and jacinths, the best of their kind. Furthermore I require that thou
+swear to me thou wilt keep my secret nor discover it to any and that thou wilt
+company with none but me; and I in turn will swear to thee a true oath that I
+will never false thee in love." So he sware to her the oath she required and
+she sware to him, and they agreed upon this; after which she said to her nurse
+Hubub, "To-morrow go thou with Masrur to his lodging and seek somewhat of musk
+and ambergris and Nadd and rose-water and see what he hath. If he be a man of
+condition, we will take him into favour; but an he be otherwise we will leave
+him." Then said she to him, "O Masrur, I desire somewhat of musk and ambergris
+and aloes-wood and Nadd; so do thou send it me by Hubub;" and he answered,
+"With love and gladness; my shop is at thy disposal!" Then the wine went round
+between them and their séance was sweet: but Masrur's heart was troubled for
+the passion and pining which possessed him; and when Zayn al-Mawasif saw him in
+this plight, she said to her slave-girl Sukub, "Arouse Masrur from his stupor;
+mayhap he will recover." Answered Sukub, "Hearkening and obedience," and sang
+these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Bring gold and gear an a lover thou, * And hymn thy love so<br/>
+
+     success shalt row;<br/>
+
+Joy the smiling fawn with the black-edged eyne * And the bending<br/>
+
+     lines of the Cassia-bough:<br/>
+
+On her look, and a marvel therein shalt sight, * And pour out thy<br/>
+
+     life ere thy life-term show:<br/>
+
+Love's affect be this, an thou weet the same; * But, an gold<br/>
+
+     deceive thee, leave gold and go!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Hereupon Masrur understood her and said, "I hear and apprehend. Never was grief
+but after came relief, and after affliction dealing He will order the healing."
+Then Zayn al-Mawasif recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"From Love-stupor awake, O Masrur, 'twere best; * For this day I<br/>
+
+     dread my love rend thy breast;<br/>
+
+And to-morrow I fear me folks' marvel-tale * Shall make us a<br/>
+
+     byword from East to West:<br/>
+
+Leave love of my like or thou'lt gain thee blame; * Why turn thee<br/>
+
+     us-wards? Such love's unblest!<br/>
+
+For one strange of lineage whose kin repel * Thou shalt wake<br/>
+
+     ill-famed, of friends dispossest:<br/>
+
+I'm a Zealot's child and affright the folk: * Would my life were<br/>
+
+     ended and I at rest!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Masrur answered her improvisation and began to say these lines,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"To grief leave a heart that to love ne'er ceased; * Nor blame,<br/>
+
+     for your blame ever love increased:<br/>
+
+You misrule my vitals in tyrant-guise; * Morn and Eve I wend not<br/>
+
+     or West or East;<br/>
+
+Love's law forbids me to do me die; * They say Love's victim is<br/>
+
+     ne'er released:<br/>
+
+Well-away! Could I find in Love's Court a judge * I'd 'plain and<br/>
+
+     win to my rights at least."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They ceased not from mutual chiding till morning morrowed, when Zayn al-Mawasif
+said, "O Masrur 'tis time for thee to depart, lest one of the folk see thee and
+foul befal us twain." So he arose and accompanied by nurse Hubub fared on, till
+they came to his lodging, where he talked with her and said to her, "All thou
+seekest of me is ready for thee, so but thou wilt bring me to enjoy her." Hubub
+replied, "Hearten thy heart;" whereupon he rose and gave her an hundred dinars,
+saying "O Hubub, I have by me a dress worth an hundred gold pieces." Answered
+she, "O Masrur, make haste with the trinkets and other things promised her, ere
+she change her mind, for we may not take her, save with wile and guile, and she
+loveth the saying of verse." Quoth he, "Hearing and obeying," and bringing her
+the musk and ambergris and lign-aloes and rose-water, returned with her to Zayn
+al-Mawasif and saluted her. She returned his salam with the sweetest speech,
+and he was dazed by her beauty and improvised these lines,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O thou sheeniest Sun who in night dost shine! * O who stole my<br/>
+
+     soul with those large black eyne!<br/>
+
+O slim-shaped fair with the graceful neck! * O who shamest Rose<br/>
+
+     wi' those cheeks o' thine!<br/>
+
+Blind not our sight wi' thy fell disdain, * Disdain, that shall<br/>
+
+     load us with pain and pine;<br/>
+
+Passion homes in our inmost, nor will be quenched * The fire of<br/>
+
+     yearning in vitals li'en:<br/>
+
+Your love has housčd in heart of me * And of issue but you see I<br/>
+
+     ne'er a sign:<br/>
+
+Then haply you'll pity this hapless wight * Thy sad lover and<br/>
+
+     then—O the Morn divine!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she cast at him a glance of eyes, that
+bequeathed him a thousand regrets and sighs and his wits and soul were ravished
+in such wise, and answered him with these couplets[FN#321],
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Think not from her, of whom thou art enamoured aye * To win<br/>
+
+     delight; so put desire from thee away.<br/>
+
+Leave that thou hop'st, for 'gainst her rigours whom thou lov'st<br/>
+
+     * Among the fair, in vain is all thou canst essay.<br/>
+
+My looks to lovers bring discomfiture and woe: Indeed, * I make<br/>
+
+     no count of that which thou dost say."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Masrur heard this, he hardened his heart and took patience concealing his
+case and saying in himself, "There is nothing for it against calamity save
+long-suffering;" and after this fashion they abode till nightfall when Zayn
+al-Mawasif called for food and they set before her a tray wherein were all
+manner of dishes, quails and pigeons and mutton and so forth, whereof they ate
+their sufficiency. Then she bade take away the tables and they did so and
+fetched the lavatory gear; and they washed their hands, after which she ordered
+her women to bring the candlesticks, and they set on candelabra and candles
+therein of camphorated wax. Thereupon quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "By Allah, my
+breast is straitened this night and I am afevered;" and quoth Masrur, "Allah
+broaden thy breast and banish thy bane!" Then she said, "O Masrur, I am used to
+play at chess: say me, knowest aught of the game?" He replied, "Yes; I am
+skilled therein;" whereupon she commanded her handmaid Hubub fetch her the
+chessboard. So she went away and presently returning with the board, set it
+before her, and behold, it was of ivory-marquetried ebony with squares marked
+in glittering gold, and its pieces of pearl and ruby.—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif bade
+the chessboard be brought, they set it between her hands; and Masrur was amazed
+at this, when she turned to him and said, "Wilt have red or white?" He replied,
+"O Princess of the fair and adornment of morning air, do thou take the red for
+they formous are and fitter for the like of thee to bear and leave the white to
+my care." Answered she, "So be it;" and, taking the red pieces, ranged them
+opposite the white, then put out her hand to a piece purposing the first pass
+into the battle-plain. Masrur considered her fingers, which were white as
+paste, and was confounded at their beauty and shapely shape; whereupon she
+turned to him and said, "O Masrur, be not bedazed, but take patience and calm
+thyself." He rejoined, "O thou whose beauty shameth the moon, how shall a lover
+look on thee and have patience-boon?" And while this was doing she cried,
+"Checkmate[FN#322]!" and beat him; wherefore she knew that he was Jinn-mad for
+love of her and said to him, "O Masrur, I will not play with thee save for a
+set stake." He replied, "I hear and obey," and she rejoined, "Swear to me and I
+will swear to thee that neither of us will cheat[FN#323] the adversary." So
+both sware this and she said, "O Masrur, an I beat thee, I will have ten dinars
+of thee, but an thou beat me, I will give thee a mere nothing." He expected to
+win, so he said, "O my lady, be not false to thine oath, for I see thou art an
+overmatch for me at this game!" "Agreed," said she and they ranged their men
+and fell again to playing and pushing on their pawns and catching them up with
+the queens and aligning and matching them with the castles and solacing them
+with the onslaught of the knights. Now the "Adornment of Qualities" wore on
+head a kerchief of blue brocade so she loosed it off and tucking up her sleeve,
+showed a wrist like a shaft of light and passed her palm over the red pieces,
+saying to him, "Look to thyself." But he was dazzled at her beauty, and the
+sight of her graces bereft him of reason, so that he became dazed and amazed
+and put out his hand to the white men, but it alit upon the red. Said she, "O
+Masrur, where be thy wits? The red are mine and the white thine;" and he
+replied, "Whoso looketh at thee perforce loseth all his senses." Then, seeing
+how it was with him, she took the white from him and gave him the red, and they
+played and she beat him. He ceased not to play with her and she to beat him,
+whilst he paid her each time ten dinars, till, knowing him to be distraught for
+love of her, she said, "O Masrur, thou wilt never win to thy wish, except thou
+beat me, for such was our understanding; and henceforth, I will not play with
+thee save for a stake of an hundred dinars a game." "With love and gladness,"
+answered he and she went on playing and ever beating him and he paid her an
+hundred dinars each time; and on this wise they abode till the morning, without
+his having won a single game, when he suddenly sprang to his feet. Quoth she,
+"What wilt thou do, O Masrur?"; and quoth he, "I mean to go to my lodging and
+fetch somewhat of money: it may be I shall come to my desire." "Do whatso
+seemeth good to thee," said she; so he went home and taking all the money he
+had, returned to her improvising these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"In dream I saw a bird o'er speed (meseem'd), * Love's garden<br/>
+
+     decked with blooms that smiled and gleamed:<br/>
+
+But I shall ken, when won my wish and will * Of thee, the<br/>
+
+     truthful sense of what I dreamed."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now when Masrur returned to her with all his monies they fell a-playing again;
+but she still beat him and he could not beat her once; and in such case they
+abode three days, till she had gotten of him the whole of his coin; whereupon
+said she, "O Masrur, what wilt thou do now?"; and he replied, "I will stake
+thee a druggist's shop." "What is its worth?" asked she; and he answered, "Five
+hundred dinars." So they played five bouts and she won the shop of him. Then he
+betted his slave-girls, lands, houses, gardens, and she won the whole of them,
+till she had gotten of him all he had; whereupon she turned to him and said,
+"Hast thou aught left to lay down?" Cried he, "By Him who made me fall into the
+snare of thy love, I have neither money to touch nor aught else left, little or
+much!" She rejoined, "O Masrur, the end of whatso began in content shall not
+drive man to repent; wherefore, an thou regret aught, take back thy good and
+begone from us about thy business and I will hold thee quit towards me." Masrur
+rejoined, "By Him who decreed these things to us, though thou sought to take my
+life 'twere a wee thing to stake for thine approof, because I love none but
+thee!" Then said she, "O Masrur, fare forthright and fetch the Kazi and the
+witnesses and make over to me by deed all thy lands and possessions."
+"Willingly," replied he and, going forth without stay or delay, brought the
+Kazi and the witnesses and set them before her. When the judge saw her, his
+wits fled and his mind was amazed and his reason was dazed for the beauty of
+her fingers, and he said to her, "O my lady, I will not write out the writ of
+conveyance, save upon condition that thou buy the lands and mansions and
+slave-girls and that they all pass under thy control and into thy possession."
+She rejoined, "We're agreed upon that. Write me a deed, whereby all Masrur's
+houses and lands and slave-girls and whatso his right hand possesseth shall
+pass to Zayn al-Mawasif and become her property at such a price." So the Kazi
+wrote out the writ and the witnesses set hands thereto; whereupon she took
+it.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif
+took from the Kazi the deed which made over her lover's property to her, she
+said to him, "O Masrur, now gang thy gait." But her slave-girl Hubub turned to
+him and said, "Recite us some verses." So he improvised upon that game of chess
+these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Of Time and what befel me I complain, * Mourning my loss by<br/>
+
+     chess and eyes of bane.<br/>
+
+For love of gentlest, softest-sided fair * Whose like is not of<br/>
+
+     maids or mortal strain:<br/>
+
+The shafts of glances from those eyne who shot * And led her<br/>
+
+     conquering host to battle-plain<br/>
+
+Red men and white men and the clashing Knights * And, crying<br/>
+
+     'Look to thee!' came forth amain:<br/>
+
+And, when down charging, finger-tips she showed * That gloomed<br/>
+
+     like blackest night for sable stain,<br/>
+
+The Whites I could not rescue, could not save * While ecstasy<br/>
+
+     made tear-floods rail and rain:<br/>
+
+The Pawns and Castles with their Queens fell low * And fled the<br/>
+
+     Whites nor could the brunt sustain:<br/>
+
+Yea, with her shaft of glance at me she shot * And soon that<br/>
+
+     shaft had pierced my heart and brain:<br/>
+
+She gave me choice between her hosts, and I * The Whites like<br/>
+
+     moonlight first to choose was fain,<br/>
+
+Saying, 'This argent folk best fitteth me * I love them, but the<br/>
+
+     Red by thee be ta'en!'<br/>
+
+She playčd me for free accepted stake * Yet amorous mercy I could<br/>
+
+     ne'er obtain:<br/>
+
+O fire of heart, O pine and woe of me, * Wooing a fair like moon<br/>
+
+     mid starry train:<br/>
+
+Burns not my heart O no! nor aught regrets * Of good or land, but<br/>
+
+     ah! her eyes' disdain!<br/>
+
+Amazed I'm grown and dazed for drearihead * And blame I Time who<br/>
+
+     brought such pine and pain.<br/>
+
+Quoth she, 'Why art thou so bedazed!' quoth I * 'Wine-drunken<br/>
+
+     wight shall more of wine assain?'<br/>
+
+That mortal stole my sense by silk-soft shape, * Which doth for<br/>
+
+     heart-core hardest rock contain.<br/>
+
+I nervčd self and cried, 'This day she's mine' * By bet, nor fear<br/>
+
+     I prove she unhumŕne:<br/>
+
+My heart ne'er ceased to seek possession, till * Beggared I found<br/>
+
+     me for conditions twain:<br/>
+
+Will youth you loveth shun the Love-dealt blow, * Tho' were he<br/>
+
+     whelmed in Love's high-surging main?<br/>
+
+So woke the slave sans e'en a coin to turn, * Thralled to repine<br/>
+
+     for what he ne'er shall gain!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Zayn al-Mawasif hearing these words marvelled at the eloquence of his tongue
+and said to him, "O Masrur, leave this madness and return to thy right reason
+and wend thy ways; for thou hast wasted all thy moveables and immoveables at
+the chess-game, yet hast not won thy wish, nor hast thou any resource or device
+whereby thou mayst attain to it." But he turned to her and said, "O my lady,
+ask of me whatso thou wilt and thou shalt have it; for I will bring it to thee
+and lay it at thy feet." Answered she, "O Masrur, thou hast no money left." "O
+goal of all hopes, if I have no money, the folk will help me." "Shall the giver
+turn asker?" "I have friends and kinsfolk, and whatsoever I seek of them, they
+will give me." "O Masrur, I will have of thee four pods of musk and four vases
+of civet[FN#324] and four pounds of ambergris and four thousand dinars and four
+hundred pieces of royal brocade, purfled with gold. An thou bring me these
+things, O Masrur, I will grant thee my favours." "This is a light matter to me,
+O thou that puttest the moons to shame," replied he and went forth to fetch her
+what she sought. She sent her maid Hubub after him, to see what worth he had
+with the folk of whom he had spoken to her; but, as he walked along the
+highways he turned and seeing her afar off, waited till she came up to him and
+said to her, "Whither away, O Hubub?" So she said to him, "My mistress sent me
+to follow for this and that," and he replied, "By Allah, O Hubub, I have
+nothing to hand!" She asked, "Then why didst thou promise her?"; and he
+answered, "How many a promise made is unkept of its maker! Fine words in
+love-matters needs must be." When she heard this from him, she said, "O Masrur,
+be of good cheer and eyes clear for, by Allah, most assuredly I will be the
+means of thy coming to enjoy her!" Then she left him nor ceased walking till
+she stood before her mistress weeping with sore weeping, and said, "O my lady,
+indeed he is a man of great consideration, and good repute among the folk."
+Quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "There is no device against the destiny of Almighty
+Allah! Verily, this man found not in me a pitiful heart, for that I despoiled
+him of his substance and he got of me neither affection nor complaisance in
+granting him amorous joy; but, if I incline to his inclination, I fear lest the
+thing be bruited abroad." Quoth Hubub, "O my lady, verily, grievous upon us is
+his present plight and the loss of his good and thou hast with thee none save
+thyself and thy slave-girl Sukub; so which of us two would dare prate of thee,
+and we thy handmaids?" With this, she bowed her head for a while ground-wards
+and the damsels said to her, "O my lady, it is our rede that thou send after
+him and show him grace and suffer him not ask of the sordid; for how bitter is
+such begging!" So she accepted their counsel and calling for inkcase and paper,
+wrote him these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Joy is nigh, O Masrúr, so rejoice in true rede; * Whenas night<br/>
+
+     shall fall thou shalt do kind-deed:<br/>
+
+Crave not of the sordid a loan, fair youth, * Wine stole my wits<br/>
+
+     but they now take heed:<br/>
+
+All thy good I reft shall return to thee, * O Masrúr, and I'll<br/>
+
+     add to them amorous meed;<br/>
+
+For indeed th' art patient, and sweet of soul * When wronged by<br/>
+
+     thy lover's tyrannic greed.<br/>
+
+So haste to enjoy us and luck to thee! * Lest my folk come<br/>
+
+     between us speed, love, all speed!<br/>
+
+Hurry uswards thou, nor delay, and while * My mate is far, on<br/>
+
+     Love's fruit come feed."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she folded the paper and gave it to Hubub the handmaid, who carried it to
+Masrur and found him weeping and reciting in a transport of passion and
+love-longing these lines,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A breeze of love on my soul did blow * That consumed my liver<br/>
+
+     for stress of lowe;<br/>
+
+When my sweetheart went all my longings grew; * And with tears in<br/>
+
+     torrent mine eyelids flow:<br/>
+
+Such my doubt and fears, did I tell their tale * To deaf rocks<br/>
+
+     and pebbles they'd melt for woe.<br/>
+
+Would Heaven I wot shall I sight delight, * And shall win my wish<br/>
+
+     and my friend shall know!<br/>
+
+Shall be folded up nights that doomed us part * And I be healed<br/>
+
+     of what harms my heart?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-ninth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that while Masrur,
+transported by passion and love-longing, was repeating his couplets in
+sing-song tone Hubub knocked at his door; so he rose and opened to her, and she
+entered and gave him the letter. He read it and said to her, "O Hubub, what is
+behind thee of thy lady's news[FN#325]?" She answered, "O my lord, verily, in
+this letter is that dispenseth me from reply, for thou art of those who readily
+descry!" Thereat he rejoiced with joy exceeding and repeated these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Came the writ whose contents a new joy revealed, * Which in<br/>
+
+     vitals mine I would keep ensealed:<br/>
+
+And my longings grew when I kissed that writ, * As were pearl of<br/>
+
+     passion therein concealed."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he wrote a letter answering hers and gave it to Hubub, who took it and
+returned with it to her mistress and forthright fell to extolling his charms to
+her and expiating on his good gifts and generosity; for she was become a helper
+to him, to bring about his union with her lady. Quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "O
+Hubub, indeed he tarrieth to come to us;" and quoth Hubub, "He will certainly
+come soon." Hardly had she made an end of speaking when behold, he knocked at
+the door, and she opened to him and brought him in to her mistress, who saluted
+him with the salam[FN#326] and welcomed him and seated him by her side. Then
+she said to Hubub, "Bring me a suit of brocade;" so she brought a robe
+broidered with gold and Zayn al-Mawasif threw it over him, whilst she herself
+donned one of the richest dresses and crowned her head with a net of pearls of
+the freshest water. About this she bound a fillet of brocade, purfled with
+pearls, jacinths and other jewels, from beneath which she let down two
+tresses[FN#327] each looped with a pendant of ruby, charactered with glittering
+gold, and she loosed her hair, as it were the sombrest night; and lastly she
+incensed herself with aloes-wood and scented herself with musk and ambergris,
+and Hubub said to her, "Allah save thee from the evil eye!" Then she began to
+walk, swaying from side to side with gracefullest gait, whilst Hubub who
+excelled in verse-making, recited in her honour these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Shamed is the bough of Bán by pace of her; * And harmed are<br/>
+
+     lovers by the gaze of her.<br/>
+
+A moon she rose from murks, the hair of her, * A sun from locks<br/>
+
+     the brow encase of her:<br/>
+
+Blest he she nights with by the grace of her, * Who dies in her<br/>
+
+     with oath by days of her!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Zayn al-Mawasif thanked her and went up to Masrur, as she were full moon
+displayed. But when he saw her, he rose to his feet and exclaimed, "An my
+thought deceive me not, she is no human, but one of the brides of Heaven!" Then
+she called for food and they brought a table, about whose marge were written
+these couplets,[FN#328]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Dip thou with spoons in saucers four and gladden heart and eye *<br/>
+
+     With many a various kind of stew and fricassee and fry.<br/>
+
+Thereon fat quails (ne'er shall I cease to love and tender them)<br/>
+
+     * And rails and fowls and dainty birds of all the kinds that<br/>
+
+     fly.<br/>
+
+Glory to God for the Kabobs, for redness all aglow, * And<br/>
+
+     potherbs, steeped in vinegar, in porringers thereby!<br/>
+
+Fair fall the rice with sweet milk dressed, wherein the hands did<br/>
+
+     plunge * And eke the forearms of the fair were buried,<br/>
+
+     bracelet-high!<br/>
+
+How my heart yearneth with regret over two plates of fish * That<br/>
+
+     by two manchet-cakes of bread of Tewarij[FN#329] did lie!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they ate and drank and made mirth and merriment, after which the servants
+removed the table of food and set on the wine service; so cup and tasse[FN#330]
+passed round between them and they were gladdened in soul. Then Masrur filled
+the cup and saying, "O whose thrall am I and who is my mistress!"[FN#331]
+chanted these improvised couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Mine eyes I admire that can feed their fill * On charms of a<br/>
+
+     girl rising worlds to light:<br/>
+
+In her time she hath none to compare for gifts * Of spirit and<br/>
+
+     body a mere delight.<br/>
+
+Her shape breeds envy in Cassia-tree * When fares she forth in<br/>
+
+     her symmetry dight:<br/>
+
+With luminous brow shaming moon of dark * And crown-like crescent<br/>
+
+     the brightest bright.<br/>
+
+When treads she earth's surface her fragrance scents * The Zephyr<br/>
+
+     that breathes over plain and height."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he ended his extempore song she said, "O Masrur, whoso religiously keepeth
+his faith and hath eaten our bread and salt, it behoveth us to give him his
+due; so put away from thee all thought of what hath been and I will restore
+thee thy lands and houses and all we have taken from thee." He replied, "O my
+lady, I acquit thee of that whereof thou speakest, though thou hadst been false
+to the oath and covenant between us; for I will go and become a Moslem." Zayn
+al-Mawasif protested that she would follow suit[FN#332] when Hubub cried to
+her, "O my lady, thou art young of years and knowest many things, and I claim
+the intercession of Almighty Allah with thee for, except thou do my bidding and
+heal my heart, I will not lie the night with thee in the house." And she
+replied, "O Hubub, it shall be as thou wilt. Rise and make us ready another
+sitting-room." So she sprang to her feet and gat ready a room and adorned and
+perfumed it after fairest fashion even as her lady loved and preferred; after
+which she again set on food and wine, and the cup went round between them and
+their hearts were glad.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fiftieth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif
+bade her maid Hubub make ready a private sitting-room she arose and did her
+bidding, after which she again set food and wine before them and cup and tasse
+went round gladdening their hearts. Presently quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "O Masrur,
+come is the time of Union and favour; so, as thou studiest my love to savour
+recite us some verses surpassing of flavour. " Upon this he recited the
+following ode[FN#333],
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I am taken: my heart bums with living flame<br/>
+
+For Union shorn whenas Severance came,<br/>
+
+In the love of a damsel who forced my soul<br/>
+
+And with delicate cheeklet my reason stole.<br/>
+
+She hath eyebrows united and eyes black-white<br/>
+
+And her teeth are leven that smiles in light:<br/>
+
+The tale of her years is but ten plus four;<br/>
+
+Tears like Dragon's blood[FN#334] for her love I pour.<br/>
+
+First I saw that face 'mid parterre and rill,<br/>
+
+Outshining full Lune on horizon-hill;<br/>
+
+And stood like a captive for awe, and cried,<br/>
+
+'Allah's Peace, O who in demesne[FN#335] doth hide!'<br/>
+
+She returned my salam, gaily answering<br/>
+
+With the sweetest speech likest pearls a-string.<br/>
+
+But when heard my words, she right soon had known<br/>
+
+My want and her heart waxed hard as stone,<br/>
+
+And quoth she, 'Be not this a word silly-bold?'<br/>
+
+But quoth I, 'Refrain thee nor flyte and scold!<br/>
+
+An to-day thou consent such affair were light;<br/>
+
+They like is the loved, mine the lover-wight!'<br/>
+
+When she knew my mind she but smiled in mirth<br/>
+
+And cried, 'Now, by the Maker of Heaven and Earth!<br/>
+
+I'm a Jewess of Jewry's driest e'er seen<br/>
+
+And thou art naught save a Nazarene.<br/>
+
+Why seek my favours? Thine's other caste;<br/>
+
+An this deed thou do thou'lt repent the past.<br/>
+
+Say, does Love allow with two Faiths to play?<br/>
+
+Men shall blame thee like me, at each break of day!<br/>
+
+Wilt thou laugh at beliefs and deride their rite,<br/>
+
+And in thine and mine prove thee sinful sprite?<br/>
+
+An thou lovedest me thou hadst turnčd Jew,<br/>
+
+Losing worlds for love and my favours due;<br/>
+
+And by the Evangel strong oath hadst sworn<br/>
+
+To keep our secret intact from scorn!'<br/>
+
+So I took the Torah and sware strong oath<br/>
+
+I would hold to the covenant made by both.<br/>
+
+Then by law, religion and creed I sware,<br/>
+
+And bound her by oaths that most binding were;<br/>
+
+And asked her, 'Thy name, O my dear delight?'<br/>
+
+And she, 'Zayn al-Mawásif at home I'm hight!'<br/>
+
+'O Zayn al-Mawasif!' (cried I) 'Hear my call:<br/>
+
+Thy love hath made me thy veriest thrall!'<br/>
+
+Then I peeped 'neath her chin-veil and 'spied such charms<br/>
+
+That the longing of love filled my heart with qualms.<br/>
+
+'Neath the curtain I ceased not to humble me,<br/>
+
+And complain of my heart-felt misery;<br/>
+
+But when she saw me by Love beguiled<br/>
+
+She raised her face-veil and sweetly smiled:<br/>
+
+And when breeze of Union our faces kiss'd<br/>
+
+With musk-pod she scented fair neck and wrist;<br/>
+
+And the house with her essences seemed to drip,<br/>
+
+And I kissed pure wine from each smiling lip:<br/>
+
+Then like branch of Bán 'neath her robe she swayed<br/>
+
+And joys erst unlawful[FN#336] she lawful made:<br/>
+
+And joined, conjoined through our night we lay<br/>
+
+With clip, kiss of inner lip, langue fourrée.<br/>
+
+The world hath no grace but the one loved fere<br/>
+
+In thine arms to clasp with possession sheer!<br/>
+
+With the morn she rose and she bade Good-bye<br/>
+
+While her brow shone brighter than moon a-sky;<br/>
+
+Reciting at parting (while tear-drops hung<br/>
+
+On her cheeks, these scattered and other strung),[FN#337]<br/>
+
+'Allah's pact in mind all my life I'll bear<br/>
+
+And the lovely nights and strong oath I sware.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted and said to him, "O Masrur, how goodly are thy
+inner gifts! May he live not who would harm thy heart!" Then she entered her
+boudoir and called him: so he went in to her and taking her in his arms,
+embraced her and hugged her and kissed her and got of her that which he had
+deemed impossible and rejoiced in winning the sweet of amorous will. Then said
+she, "O Masrur, thy good is unlawful to me and is lawfully thine again now that
+we are become lovers." So she returned to him all she had taken of him and
+asked him, "O Masrur, hast thou a flower-garden whither we may wend and take
+our pleasure?"; whereto he answered, "Yes, O my lady, I have a garden that hath
+not its like." Then he returned to his lodgings and bade his slave-girls make
+ready a splendid banquet in a handsome room; after which he summoned Zayn
+al-Mawasif who came surrounded by her damsels, and they ate and drank and made
+mirth and merriment, whilst the cup passed round between them and their spirits
+rose high. Then lover withdrew with beloved and Zayn al-Mawasif said to Masrur,
+"I have bethought me of some dainty verses, which I would fain sing to the
+lute." He replied, "Do sing them"; so she took the lute and tuning it, sang to
+a pleasant air these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Joy from stroke of string doth to me incline, * And sweet is<br/>
+
+     a-morning our early wine;<br/>
+
+Whenas Love unveileth the amourist's heart, * And by rending the<br/>
+
+     veil he displays his sign,<br/>
+
+With a draught so pure, so dear, so bright, * As in hand of<br/>
+
+     Moons[FN#338] the Sun's sheeny shine<br/>
+
+O' nights it cometh with joy to 'rase * The hoar of sorrow by<br/>
+
+     boon divine."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then ending her verse, she said to him, "O Masrur, recite us somewhat of thy
+poetry and favour us with the fruit of thy thought." So he recited these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"We joy in full Moon who the wine bears round, * And in concert<br/>
+
+     of lutes that from gardens sound;<br/>
+
+Where the dove moans at dawn and where bends the bough * To Morn,<br/>
+
+     and all pathways of pleasure are found."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he had finished his recitation she said to him, "Make us some verses on
+that which hath passed between us an thou be occupied with love of me."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-first Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif
+said to Masrur, "An thou be occupied with love of me, make us some verses on
+that hath passed between us," "With love and gladness," he replied and
+improvised the following Kasídah[FN#339],
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Stand thou and hear what fell to me * For love of you gazelle to<br/>
+
+     dree!<br/>
+
+Shot me a white doe with her shaft * O' glances wounding<br/>
+
+     woundily.<br/>
+
+Love was my ruin, for was I * Straitened by longing ecstasy:<br/>
+
+I loved and woo'd a young coquette * Girded by strong artillery,<br/>
+
+Whom in a garth I first beheld * A form whose sight was symmetry.<br/>
+
+I greeted her and when she deigned * Greeting return, 'Salám,'<br/>
+
+     quoth she<br/>
+
+'What be thy name?' said I, she said, * 'My name declares my<br/>
+
+     quality![FN#340]'<br/>
+
+'Zayn al-Mawásif I am hight.' * Cried I, 'Oh deign I mercy see,'<br/>
+
+'Such is the longing in my heart * No lover claimeth rivalry!'<br/>
+
+Quoth she, 'With me an thou 'rt in love * And to enjoy me<br/>
+
+     pleadest plea,<br/>
+
+I want of thee oh! muchel wealth; * Beyond all compt my wants o'<br/>
+
+     thee!<br/>
+
+I want o' thee full many a robe * Of sendal, silk and damaskry;<br/>
+
+A quarter quintal eke of musk: * These of one night shall pay the<br/>
+
+     fee.<br/>
+
+Pearls, unions and carnelian[FN#341]-stones * The bestest best of<br/>
+
+     jewelry!'<br/>
+
+Of fairest patience showed I show * In contrariety albe:<br/>
+
+At last she favoured me one night * When rose the moon a crescent<br/>
+
+     wee;<br/>
+
+An stranger blame me for her sake * I say, 'O blamers listen ye!<br/>
+
+She showeth locks of goodly length * And black as blackest night<br/>
+
+     its blee;<br/>
+
+While on her cheeks the roses glow * Like Lazá-flame incendiary:<br/>
+
+In every eyelash is a sword * And every glance hath archery:<br/>
+
+Her liplets twain old wine contain, * And dews of fount-like<br/>
+
+     purity:<br/>
+
+Her teeth resemble strings o' pearls, * Arrayed in line and fresh<br/>
+
+     from sea:<br/>
+
+Her neck is like the neck of doe, * Pretty and carven perfectly:<br/>
+
+Her bosom is a marble slab * Whence rise two breasts like towers<br/>
+
+     on lea:<br/>
+
+And on her stomach shows a crease * Perfumed with rich perfumery;<br/>
+
+Beneath which same there lurks a Thing * Limit of mine<br/>
+
+     expectancy.<br/>
+
+A something rounded, cushioned-high * And plump, my lords, to<br/>
+
+     high degree:<br/>
+
+To me 'tis likest royal throne * Whither my longings wander free;<br/>
+
+There 'twixt two pillars man shall find * Benches of high-built<br/>
+
+     tracery.<br/>
+
+It hath specific qualities * Drive sanest men t' insanity;<br/>
+
+Full mouth it hath like mouth of neck * Or well begirt by stony<br/>
+
+     key;<br/>
+
+Firm lips with camelry's compare * And shows it eye of cramoisie.<br/>
+
+An draw thou nigh with doughty will * To do thy doing lustily,<br/>
+
+Thou'll find it fain to face thy bout * And strong and fierce in<br/>
+
+     valiancy.<br/>
+
+It bendeth backwards every brave * Shorn of his battle-bravery.<br/>
+
+At times imberbe, but full of spunk * To battle with the<br/>
+
+     Paynimry.<br/>
+
+'T will show thee liveliness galore * And perfect in its<br/>
+
+     raillery:<br/>
+
+Zayn al-Mawasif it is like * Complete in charms and courtesy.<br/>
+
+To her dear arms one night I came * And won meed given lawfully:<br/>
+
+I passed with her that self-same night * (Best of my nights!) in<br/>
+
+     gladdest glee;<br/>
+
+And when the morning rose, she rose * And crescent like her<br/>
+
+     visnomy:<br/>
+
+Then swayed her supple form as sway * The lances lopt from limber<br/>
+
+     tree;<br/>
+
+And when farewelling me she cried, * 'When shall such nights<br/>
+
+     return to me?'<br/>
+
+Then I replied, 'O eyen-light, * When He vouchsafeth His<br/>
+
+     decree!'"[FN#342]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted with this Ode and the utmost gladness gat hold of
+her. Then said she, "O Masrur day-dawn draweth nigh and there is naught for it
+save to fly for fear of scandal and spy!" He replied, "I hear and obey," and
+rising led her to her lodging, after which he returned to his quarters[FN#343]
+and passed the rest of the night pondering on her charms. When the morning
+morrowed with its sheen and shone, he made ready a splendid present and carried
+it to her and sat by her side. And thus they abode awhile, in all solace of
+life and its delight, till one day there came to Zayn al-Mawasif a letter from
+her husband reporting to her his speedy return. Thereupon she said in herself,
+"May Allah not keep him nor quicken him! If he come hither, our life will be
+troubled: would Heaven I might despair of him!" Presently entered Masrur and
+sat with her at chat, as was his wont, whereupon she said to him, "O Masrur, I
+have received a missive from my mate, announcing his speedy return from his
+wayfaring. What is to be done, since neither of us without other can live?" He
+replied, "I know not; but thou art better able to judge, being acquainted with
+the ways of thy man, more by token that thou art one of the sharpest-witted of
+women and past mistress of devices such as devise that whereof fail the wise."
+Quoth she, "He is a hard man and jealous of his household: but, when he shall
+come home and thou hearest of his coming, do thou repair to him and salute him
+and sit down by his side, saying, 'O my brother, I am a druggist.' Then buy of
+him somewhat of drugs and spices of sorts and call upon him frequently and
+prolong thy talks with him and gainsay him not in whatsoever he shall bid thee;
+so haply that I would contrive may betide, as it were by chance." "I hear and I
+obey," quoth Masrur and fared forth from her, with heart a-fire for love. When
+her husband came home, she rejoiced in meeting him and after saluting him bade
+him welcome; but he looked in her face and seeing it pale and sallow (for she
+had washed it with saffron, using one of women's arts), asked her of her case.
+She answered that she had been sick, she and her women, from the time of his
+wayfaring, adding, "Verily, our hearts have been engrossed with thoughts of
+thee because of the length of thine absence." And she went on to complain to
+him of the misery of separation and to pour forth copious tears, saying, "Hadst
+thou but a companion with thee, my heart had not borne all this cark and care
+for thee. So, Allah upon thee, O my lord, travel not again without a comrade
+and cut me not off from news of thee, that my heart and mind may be at rest
+concerning thee!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-second Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif said
+to her mate, "Travel not without comrade and cut me not off from news of thee,
+that my heart and mind may be at rest concerning thee," he replied, "With love
+and gladness! By Allah thy bede is good indeed and right is thy rede! By thy
+life, it shall be as thou dost heed." Then he unpacked some of his
+stock-in-trade and carrying the goods to his shop, opened it and sat down to
+sell in the Soko.[FN#344] No sooner had he taken his place than lo and behold!
+up came Masrur and saluting him, sat down by his side and began talking and
+talked with him awhile. Then he pulled out a purse and taking forth gold,
+handed it to Zayn al-Mawasif's man and said, "Give me the worth of these dinars
+in drugs and spices of sorts, that I may sell them in my shop." The Jew
+replied, "I hear and I obey," and gave him what he sought. And Masrur continued
+to pay him frequent visits till, one day, the merchant said to him, "I have a
+mind to take me a man to partner in trade." Quoth Masrur, "And I also, desire
+to take a partner; for my father was a merchant in the land of Al-Yaman and
+left me great store of money and I fear lest it fare from me." Quoth the Jew,
+turning towards him, "Wilt thou be my partner, and I will be thy partner and a
+true friend and comrade to thee at home and abroad; and I will teach thee
+selling and buying, giving and taking?" And Masrur rejoined, "With all my
+heart." So the merchant carried him to his place and seated him in the
+vestibule, whilst he went in to his wife and said to her, "I have provided me
+with a partner and have bidden him hither as a guest; so do thou get us ready
+good guest-cheer." Whenas she heard this, she rejoiced divining that it was
+Masrur, and made ready a magnificent banquet,[FN#345] of her delight in the
+success of her device. Then, when the guest drew nigh, her husband said to her,
+"Come out with me to him and bid him welcome and say, 'Thou gladdenest
+us[FN#346]!'" But Zayn al-Mawasif made a show of anger, crying, "Wilt thou have
+me display myself before a strange man? I take refuge with Allah! Though thou
+cut me to bits, I will not appear before him!" Rejoined he, "Why shouldst thou
+be abashed at him, seeing that he is a Nazarene and we are Jews and, to boot,
+we are become chums, he and I?" Quoth she, "I am not minded to present myself
+before a strange man, on whom I have never once set eyes and whom I know not
+any wise." Her husband thought she spoke sooth and ceased not to importune her,
+till she rose and veiling herself, took the food and went out to Masrur and
+welcomed him; whereupon he bowed his head groundwards, as he were ashamed, and
+the Jew, seeing such dejection said in himself, "Doubtless, this man is a
+devotee." They ate their fill and the table being removed, wine was set on. As
+for Zayn al-Mawasif, she sat over against Masrur and gazed on him and he gazed
+on her till ended day, when he went home, with a heart to fire a prey. But the
+Jew abode pondering the grace and the comeliness of him; and, as soon as it was
+night, his wife according to custom served him with supper and they seated
+themselves before it. Now he had a mockingbird which was wont, whenever he sat
+down to meat, to come and eat with him and hover over his head; but in his
+absence the fowl was grown familiar with Masrur and used to flutter about him
+as he sat at meals. Now when Masrur disappeared and the master returned, it
+knew him not and would not draw near him, and this made him thoughtful
+concerning his case and the fowl's withdrawing from him. As for Zayn
+al-Mawasif, she could not sleep with her heart thinking of Masrur, and thus it
+was with her a second and even a third night, till the Jew became aware of her
+condition and, watching her while she sat distraught, began to suspect somewhat
+wrong. On the fourth night, he awoke in the middle thereof and heard his wife
+babbling in her sleep and naming Masrur, what while she lay on her husband's
+bosom, wherefore he misdoubted her; but he dissembled his suspicions and when
+morning morrowed he repaired to his shop and sat therein. Presently, up came
+Masrur and saluted him. He returned his salam and said to him, "Welcome, O my
+brother!" adding anon, "I have wished for thee;" and he sat talking with him
+for an hour or so, after which he said to him, "Rise, O my brother, and hie
+with me to my house, that we may enter into the pact of brotherhood."[FN#347]
+Replied Masrur, "With joy and goodly gree," and they repaired to the Jew's
+house, where the master went in and told his wife of Masrur's visit, for the
+purpose of conditioning their partnership, and said, "Make us ready a goodly
+entertainment, and needs must thou be present and witness our brotherhood." But
+she replied, "Allah upon thee, cause me not show myself to this strange man,
+for I have no mind to company with him." So he held his peace and forbore to
+press her and bade the waiting-women bring food and drink. Then he called the
+mocking-bird but it knew not its lord and settled upon Masrur's lap; and the
+Jew said to him, "O my master, what is thy name?" He answered, "My name is
+Masrur;" whereupon the Jew remembered that this was the name which his wife had
+repeated all night long in her sleep. Presently, he raised his head and saw her
+making signs[FN#348] with her forefingers to Masrur and motioning to him with
+her eyes, wherefore he knew that he had been completely cozened and cuckolded
+and said, "O my lord, excuse me awhile, till I fetch my kinsmen, so they may be
+present at our swearing brotherhood." Quoth Masrur, "Do what seemeth good to
+thee;" whereupon the Jew went forth the house and returning privily by a back
+way.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-third Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn al-Mawasif's
+husband said to Masrur, "Excuse me awhile, till I fetch my cousins to witness
+the brother-bond between me and thee." Then he went forth and, privily
+returning behind the sitting-room, there took his station hard by a window
+which gave upon the saloon and whence he could watch them without their seeing
+him. Suddenly quoth Zayn al-Mawasif to her maid Sukub, "Whither is thy master
+gone?"; and quoth she, "He is gone without the house." Cried the mistress,
+"Lock the door and bar it with iron and open thou not till he knock, after thou
+hast told me." Answered Sukub, "So shall it be done." Then, while her husband
+watched them, she rose and filling a cup with wine, flavoured with powdered
+musk and rose-water, went close to Masrur, who sprang up to meet her, saying,
+"By Allah, the water of thy mouth is sweeter than this wine!" "Here it is for
+thee," said she and filling her mouth with wine, gave him to drink thereof,
+whilst he gave her the like to drink; after which she sprinkled him with
+rose-water from front to foot, till the perfume scented the whole place. All
+this while, the Jew was looking on and marvelling at the stress of love that
+was between them, and his heart was filled with fury for what he saw and he was
+not only wroth, but jealous with exceeding jealousy. Then he went out again and
+coming to the door found it locked and knocked a loud knock of the excess of
+his rage; whereupon quoth Sukub, "O my lady, here is my master;" and quoth Zayn
+al-Mawasif, "Open to him; would that Allah had not brought him back in safety!"
+So Sukub went and opened the door to the Jew, who said to her, "What ailed thee
+to lock the door?" Quoth she, "It hath never ceased to be locked thus during
+thine absence; nor hath it been opened night nor day;" and cried he, "Thou hast
+done well; this pleaseth me." Then he went in to Masrur, laughing and
+dissembling his chagrin, and said to him, "O Masrur, let us put off the
+conclusion of our pact of brotherhood this day and defer it to another."
+Replied Masrur, "As thou wilt," and hied him home, leaving the Jew pondering
+his case and knowing not what to do; for his heart was sore troubled and he
+said in himself, "Even the mocking-bird disowneth me and the slave-girls shut
+the door in my face and favour another." And of his exceeding chagrin, he fell
+to reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Masrur joys life made fair by all delight of days, * Fulfilled<br/>
+
+     of boons, while mine the sorest grief displays.<br/>
+
+The Days have falsed me in the breast of her I love * And in my<br/>
+
+     heart are fires which all-consuming blaze:<br/>
+
+Yea, Time was clear for thee, but now 'tis past and gone * While<br/>
+
+     yet her lovely charms thy wit and senses daze:<br/>
+
+Espied these eyes of mine her gifts of loveliness: * Oh, hard my<br/>
+
+     case and sore my woe on spirit weighs!<br/>
+
+I saw the maiden of the tribe deal rich old wine * Of lips like<br/>
+
+     Salsabíl to friend my love betrays:<br/>
+
+E'en so, O mocking-bird, thou dost betray my breast * And to a<br/>
+
+     rival teachest Love and lover-ways:<br/>
+
+Strange things indeed and wondrous saw these eyne of me * Which<br/>
+
+     were they sleep-drowned still from Sleep's abyss would raise:<br/>
+
+I see my best belovčd hath forsworn my love * And eke like my<br/>
+
+     mocking-bird fro' me a-startled strays.<br/>
+
+By truth of Allah, Lord of Worlds who, whatso wills * His Fate,<br/>
+
+     for creatures works and none His hest gainsays,<br/>
+
+Forsure I'll deal to that ungodly wight his due * Who but to sate<br/>
+
+     his wicked will her heart withdrew!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, her side-muscles trembled and quoth she to her
+handmaid, "Heardest thou those lines?"; whereupon quoth the girl, "I never
+heard him in my born days recite the like of these verses; but let him say what
+he will." Then having assured himself of the truth of his suspicions, the Jew
+began to sell all his property, saying to himself, "Unless I part them by
+removing her from her mother land the twain will not turn back from this that
+they are engaged in, no, never!" So, when he had converted all his possessions
+into coin, he forged a letter and read it to Zayn al-Mawasif, declaring that it
+had come from his kinsmen, who invited him to visit them, him and his wife. She
+asked, "How long shall we tarry with them?" and he answered, "Twelve days."
+Accordingly she consented to this and said, "Shall I take any of my maids with
+me?"; whereto he replied, "Take Hubub and Sukub and leave Khutub here." Then he
+made ready a handsome camel-litter[FN#349] for his spouse and her women and
+prepared to set out with them; whilst she sent to her leman, telling him what
+had betided her and saying, "O Masrur, an the trysting-time[FN#350] that is
+between us pass and I come not back, know that he hath cheated and cozened us
+and planned a plot to separate us each from other, so forget thou not the
+plighted faith betwixt us, for I fear that he hath found out our love and I
+dread his craft and perfidy." Then, whilst her man was busy about his march she
+fell a-weeping and lamenting and no peace was left her, night or day. Her
+husband saw this, but took no note thereof; and when she saw there was scant
+help for it, she gathered together her clothes and gear and deposited them with
+her sister, telling her what had befallen her. Then she farewelled her and
+going out from her, drowned in tears, returned to her own house, where she
+found her husband had brought the camels and was busy loading them, having set
+apart the handsomest dromedary for her riding, and when she saw this and knew
+that needs must she be separated from Masrur, she waxt clean distraught.
+Presently it chanced that the Jew went out on some business of his; so she
+fared forth to the first or outer door and wrote thereon these couplets,—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif
+saw her spouse summon the camels and knew that the march needs must be, she
+waxt clean distraught. Presently it chanced that the Jew went out on some
+business so she fared forth to the first door and wrote thereon these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Bear our salams, O Dove, from this our stead * From lover to<br/>
+
+     beloved far severčd!<br/>
+
+Bid him fro' me ne'er cease to yearn and mourn * O'er happy days<br/>
+
+     and hours for ever fled:<br/>
+
+Eke I in grief shall ever mourn and yearn, * Dwelling on days of<br/>
+
+     love and lustihead;<br/>
+
+Long was our joyance, seeming aye to last, * When night and<br/>
+
+     morning to reunion led;<br/>
+
+Till croaked the Raven[FN#351] of the Wold one day * His cursed<br/>
+
+     croak and did our union dead.<br/>
+
+We sped and left the homestead dark and void * Its gates<br/>
+
+     unpeopled and its dwellers sped."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she went to the second door and wrote thereon these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O who passest this doorway, by Allah, see * The charms of my<br/>
+
+     fere in the glooms and make plea<br/>
+
+For me, saying, 'I think of the Past and weep * Yet boot me no<br/>
+
+     tears flowing full and free.'<br/>
+
+Say, 'An fail thee patience for what befel * Scatter earth and<br/>
+
+     dust on the head of thee!<br/>
+
+And o'er travel lands East and West, and deem * God sufficeth thy<br/>
+
+     case, so bear patiently!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she went to the third door and wept sore and thereon wrote these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Fare softly, Masrúr! an her sanctuary * Thou seek, and read what<br/>
+
+     a-door writ she.<br/>
+
+Ne'er forget Love-plight, if true man; how oft * Hast savoured<br/>
+
+     Nights' bitter and sweetest gree!<br/>
+
+O Masrúr! forget not her neighbourhood * For wi' thee must her<br/>
+
+     gladness and joyance flee!<br/>
+
+But beweep those dearest united days * When thou camest veilčd in<br/>
+
+     secresy;<br/>
+
+Wend for sake of us over farthest wone; * Span the wold for us,<br/>
+
+     for us dive in sea;<br/>
+
+Allah bless the past days! Ah, how glad they were * When in<br/>
+
+     Gardens of Fancy the flowers pluckt we!<br/>
+
+The nights of Union from us are fled * And parting-glooms dim<br/>
+
+     their radiancy;<br/>
+
+Ah! had this lasted as hopčd we, but * He left only our breasts<br/>
+
+     and the rosery.<br/>
+
+Will revolving days on Re-union dawn? * Then our vow to the Lord<br/>
+
+     shall accomplisht be.<br/>
+
+Learn thou our lots are in hand of Him * Who on lines of<br/>
+
+     skull[FN#352] writes our destiny!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she wept with sore weeping and returned to the house, wailing and
+remembering what had passed and saying, "Glory be to God who hath decreed to us
+this!" And her affliction redoubled for severance from her beloved and her
+departure from her mother-land, and she recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Allah's peace on thee, House of Vacancy! * Ceased in thee all<br/>
+
+     our joys, all our jubilee.<br/>
+
+O thou Dove of the homestead, ne'er cease to bemoan * Whose moons<br/>
+
+     and full moons[FN#353] sorest severance dree:<br/>
+
+Masrúr, fare softly and mourn our loss; * Loving thee our eyes<br/>
+
+     lose their brilliancy:<br/>
+
+Would thy sight had seen, on our marching day, * Tears shed by a<br/>
+
+     heart in Hell's flagrancy!<br/>
+
+Forget not the plight in the garth-shade pledged * When we sat<br/>
+
+     enveiléd in privacy:"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she presented herself before her husband, who lifted her into the litter
+he had let make for her; and, when she found herself on the camel's back, she
+recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The Lord, empty House! to thee peace decree * Long we bore<br/>
+
+     therein growth of misery:<br/>
+
+Would my life-thread were shorn in that safe abode * And o' night<br/>
+
+     I had died in mine ecstasy!<br/>
+
+Home-sickness I mourn, and my strangerhood * Irks my soul, nor<br/>
+
+     the riddle of future I ree.<br/>
+
+Would I wot shall I ever that house resee * And find it, as erst,<br/>
+
+     home of joy and glee!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Said her husband, "O Zayn al-Mawasif grieve not for thy departure from thy
+dwelling; for thou shalt return to it ere long Inshallah!" And he went on to
+comfort her heart and soothe her sorrow. Then all set out and fared on till
+they came without the town and struck into the high road, whereupon she knew
+that separation was certain and this was very grievous to her. And while such
+things happened Masrur sat in his quarters, pondering his case and that of his
+mistress, and his heart forewarned him of severance. So he rose without stay
+and delay and repairing to her house, found the outer door padlocked and read
+the couplets she had written thereon; upon which he fell down in a fainting
+fit. When he came to himself, he opened the first door and entering, read what
+was written upon the second and likewise upon the third doors; wherefore
+passion and love-longing and distraction grew on him. So he went forth and
+hastened in her track, till he came up with the light caravan[FN#354] and found
+her at the rear, whilst her husband rode in the van, because of his
+merchandise. When he saw her, he clung to the litter, weeping and wailing for
+the anguish of parting, and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Would I wot for what crime shot and pierced are we * Thro' the<br/>
+
+     days with Estrangement's archery!<br/>
+
+O my heart's desire, to thy door I came * One day, when high waxt<br/>
+
+     mine expectancy:<br/>
+
+But I found the home waste as the wold and void * And I 'plained<br/>
+
+     my pine and groaned wretchedly:<br/>
+
+And I asked the walls of my friends who fared * With my heart in<br/>
+
+     pawn and in pendency;<br/>
+
+And they said, 'All marched from the camp and left *An ambushed<br/>
+
+     sorrow on hill and lea;'<br/>
+
+And a writ on the walls did they write, as write * Folk who keep<br/>
+
+     their faith while the Worlds are three."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now when Zayn al-Mawasif heard these lines, she knew that it was Masrur.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif
+heard these lines she knew that it was Masrur and wept, she and her handmaids,
+and said to him, "O Masrur, I conjure thee by Allah, turn back, lest my husband
+see us twain together!" At her words he swooned away; and when he revived, they
+took leave each of other and he recited the following couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The Caravan-chief calleth loud o' night * Ere the Breeze bear<br/>
+
+     his cry in the morning-light:<br/>
+
+They girded their loads and prepared to fare, * And hurried while<br/>
+
+     murmured the leader-wight.<br/>
+
+They scent the scene on its every side, * As their march through<br/>
+
+     the valley they expedite.<br/>
+
+After winning my heart by their love they went * O' morn when<br/>
+
+     their track could deceive my sight.<br/>
+
+O my neighbour fair, I reckt ne'er to part, * Or the ground<br/>
+
+     bedewed with my tears to sight!<br/>
+
+Woe betide my heart, now hath Severance hand * To heart and<br/>
+
+     vitals dealt bane and blight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he clung to the litter, weeping and wailing, whilst she besought him to
+turn back ere morn for fear of scorn. So he came up to her Haudaj and
+farewelling her a second time, fell down in a swoon. He lay an hour or so
+without life, and when he revived he found the caravan had fared forth of
+sight. So he turned in the direction of their wayfare and scenting the breeze
+which blew from their quarter, chanted these improvised lines,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"No breeze of Union to the lover blows * But moan he maketh burnt<br/>
+
+     with fiery woes:<br/>
+
+The Zephyr fans him at the dawn o' day; * But when he wakes the<br/>
+
+     horizon lonely shows:<br/>
+
+On bed of sickness strewn in pain he lies, * And weeps he bloody<br/>
+
+     tears in burning throes,<br/>
+
+For the fair neighbour with my heart they bore * 'Mid travellers<br/>
+
+     urging beasts with cries and blows.<br/>
+
+By Allah from their stead no Zephyr blew * But sniffed I as the<br/>
+
+     wight on eyeballs goes;[FN#355]<br/>
+
+And snuff the sweetest South as musk it breathes * And on the<br/>
+
+     longing lover scent bestows."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Masrur returned, mad with love-longing, to her house, and finding it lone
+from end to end[FN#356] and forlorn of friend, wept till he wet his clothes;
+after which he swooned away and his soul was like to leave his body. When he
+revived, he recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O Spring-camp have ruth on mine overthrowing * My abjection, my<br/>
+
+     leanness, my tears aye flowing,<br/>
+
+Waft the scented powder[FN#357] of breezes they breathe * In hope<br/>
+
+     it cure heart of a grief e'er growing."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he returned to his own lodging confounded and tearful-eyed, and abode
+there for the space of ten days. Such was his case; but as regards the Jew, he
+journeyed on with Zayn al-Mawasif half a score days, at the end of which he
+halted at a certain city and she, being by that time assured that her husband
+had played her false, wrote to Masrur a letter and gave it to Hubub, saying,
+"Send this to Masrur, so he may know how foully and fully we have been tricked
+and how the Jew hath cheated us." So Hubub took it and despatched it to Masrur,
+and when it reached, its news was grievous to him and he wept till he watered
+the ground. Then he wrote a reply and sent it to his mistress, subscribing it
+with these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Where is the way to Consolation's door * How shall console him<br/>
+
+     flames burn evermore?<br/>
+
+How pleasant were the days of yore all gone: * Would we had<br/>
+
+     somewhat of those days of yore!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the missive reached Zayn al-Mawasif, she read it and again gave it to her
+handmaid Hubub, saying to her, "Keep it secret!" However, the husband came to
+know of their correspondence and removed with her and her two women to another
+city, at a distance of twenty days' march. Thus it befel Zayn al-Mawasif; but
+as regards Masrur, sleep was not sweet to him nor was peace peaceful to him or
+patience left to him, and he ceased not to be thus till, one night, his eyes
+closed for weariness and he dreamt that he saw Zayn al-Mawasif come to him in
+the garden and embrace him; but presently he awoke and found her not: whereupon
+his reason fled and his wits wandered and his eyes ran over with tears;
+love-longing to the utterest gat hold of his heart and he recited these
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Peace be to her, who visits me in sleeping phantasy * Stirring<br/>
+
+     desire and growing love to uttermost degree:<br/>
+
+Verily from that dream I rose with passion maddenčd * For sight<br/>
+
+     of fairest phantom come in piece to visit me:<br/>
+
+Say me, can dreams declare the truth anent the maid I love, * And<br/>
+
+     quench the fires of thirst and heal my love-sick malady?<br/>
+
+Anon to me she is liberal and she strains me to her breast; *<br/>
+
+     Anon she soothes mine anxious heart with sweetest<br/>
+
+     pleasantry:<br/>
+
+From off her dark-red damask lips the dew I wont to sip * The<br/>
+
+     fine old wine that seemed to reek of musk's perfumery.<br/>
+
+I wondered at the wondrous things between us done in dreams, *<br/>
+
+     And won my wish and all my will of things I hoped to see;<br/>
+
+And from that dreamery I rose, yet ne'er could hope to find *<br/>
+
+     Trace of my phantom save my pain and fiery misery:<br/>
+
+And when I looked on her a-morn, 'twas as a lover mad * And every<br/>
+
+     eve was drunken yet no wine brought jollity.<br/>
+
+O breathings of the northern breeze, by Allah fro' me bear *<br/>
+
+     Them-wards the greetings of my love and best salams that be:<br/>
+
+Say them, 'The wight with whom ye made that plight of fealty *<br/>
+
+     Time with his changes made him drain Death's cup and slain<br/>
+
+     is he!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he went out and ceased not to weep till he came to her house and looking
+on it, saw it empty and void. Presently, it seemed to him he beheld her form
+before him, whereupon fires flamed in him and his griefs redoubled and he fell
+down aswoon;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Masrur saw the
+vision of Zayn al-Mawasif and felt her embrace, he joyed with passing joy. As
+soon as he awoke he sought her house, but finding it empty and void he fell
+down a-swoon; and when he came to himself, he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Fro' them inhale I scent of Ottar and of Bán; * So fare with<br/>
+
+     heart which ecstasies of love unman:<br/>
+
+I'd heal thy longings (love-sick lover!) by return * To site of<br/>
+
+     beauty void sans friend or mate to scan:<br/>
+
+But still it sickeneth me with parting's ban and bane * Minding<br/>
+
+     mine olden plight with friend and partisan."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he had made an end of these verses, he heard a raven croak beside the
+house and wept, saying, "Glory be to God! The raven croaketh not save over a
+ruined homestead." Then he moaned and groaned and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"What ails the Raven that he croaks my lover's house hard by, *<br/>
+
+     And in my vitals lights a fire that flameth fierce and high?<br/>
+
+For times now past and gone I spent in joyance of their love *<br/>
+
+     With love my heart hath gone to waste and I sore pain aby:<br/>
+
+I die of longing love and lowe still in my liver raging * And<br/>
+
+     wrote to her but none there is who with the writ may hie:<br/>
+
+Ah well-away for wasted frame! Hath farčd forth my friend * And<br/>
+
+     if she will o' nights return Oh would that thing wot I!<br/>
+
+Then, Ho thou Breeze of East, and thou by morn e'er visit her; *<br/>
+
+     Greet her from me and stand where doth her tribe encampčd<br/>
+
+     lie!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now Zayn al-Mawasif had a sister, by name Nasím—the Zephyr—who stood espying
+him from a high place; and when she saw him in this plight, she wept and sighed
+and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"How oft bewailing the place shall be this coming and going, *<br/>
+
+     While the House bemoaneth its builder with tear-flood ever<br/>
+
+     a-flowing?<br/>
+
+Here was bestest joy ere fared my friend with the caravan hieing<br/>
+
+     * And its dwellers and brightest-suns[FN#358] ne'er ceased<br/>
+
+     in its walls a-glowing:<br/>
+
+Where be those fullest moons that here were always arising? *<br/>
+
+     Bedimmed them the Shafts of Days their charms of spirit<br/>
+
+     unknowing:<br/>
+
+Leave then what is past of the Fair thou wast ever with love<br/>
+
+     espying * And look; for haply the days may restore them<br/>
+
+     without foreshowing:<br/>
+
+For hadst thou not been, its dwellers had never departed flying *<br/>
+
+     Nor haddest thou seen the Crow with ill-omened croak<br/>
+
+     a-crying."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Masrur wept sore hearing these verses and apprehending their significance. Now
+Nasim knew that which was between him and her sister of love and longing,
+ecstasy and passion; so she said to him, "Allah upon thee, O Masrur, away from
+this house, lest any see thee and deem thou comest on my account! Indeed thou
+hast caused my sister quit it and now thou wouldst drive me also away. Thou
+knowest that, but for thee, the house would not now be void of its dwellers: so
+be consoled for her loss and leave her: what is past is past." When he heard
+this, he wept bitterly and said to her, "O Nasim, if I could, I should fly for
+longing after her; so how can I be comforted for her?" Quoth she, "Thou hast no
+device save patience;" and quoth he, "I beseech thee, for Allah's sake, write
+me a writ to her, as from thyself, and get me an answer from her, to comfort my
+heart and quench the fire in my vitals." She replied, "With love and gladness,"
+and took inkcase and paper, whilst Masrur began to set out to her the violence
+of his longing and what tortures he suffered for the anguish of severance,
+saying, "This letter is from the lover despairing and sorrowful * the bereaved,
+the woeful * with whom no peace can stay * nor by night nor by day * but he
+weepeth copious tears alway. * Indeed, tears his eyelids have ulcerated and his
+sorrows have kindled in his liver a fire unsated. His lamentation is lengthened
+and restlessness is strengthened and he is as he were a bird unmated * While
+for sudden death he awaiteth * Alas, my desolation for the loss of thee * and
+alas, my yearning affliction for the companionship of thee! * Indeed,
+emaciation hath wasted my frame * and my tears a torrent became * mountains and
+plains are straitened upon me for grame * and of the excess of my distress, I
+go saying,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Still cleaves to this homestead mine ecstasy, * And redoubled<br/>
+
+     pine for its dwellers I dree;<br/>
+
+And I send to your quarters the tale of my love * And the cup of<br/>
+
+     your love gave the Cup-boy to me.<br/>
+
+And for faring of you and your farness from home * My wounded<br/>
+
+     lids are from tears ne'er free:<br/>
+
+O thou leader of litters, turn back with my love * For my heart<br/>
+
+     redoubleth its ardency:<br/>
+
+Greet my love and say him that naught except * Those brown-red<br/>
+
+     lips deals me remedy:<br/>
+
+They bore him away and our union rent * And my vitals with<br/>
+
+     Severance-shaft shot he:<br/>
+
+My love, my lowe and my longing to him * Convey, for of parting<br/>
+
+     no cure I see:<br/>
+
+I swear an oath by your love that I * Will keep pact and covenant<br/>
+
+     faithfully,<br/>
+
+To none I'll incline or forget your love * How shall love-sick<br/>
+
+     lover forgetful be?<br/>
+
+So with you be the peace and my greeting fair * In letters that<br/>
+
+     perfume of musk-pod bear."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Her sister Nasim admired his eloquence of tongue and the goodliness of his
+speech and the elegance of the verses he sang, and was moved to ruth for him.
+So she sealed the letter with virgin musk and incensed it with Nadd-scent and
+ambergris, after which she committed it to a certain of the merchants saying,
+"Deliver it not to any save to Zayn al-Mawasif or to her handmaid Hubub." Now
+when the letter reached her sister, she knew it for Masrur's dictation and
+recognised himself in the grace of its expression. So she kissed it and laid it
+on her eyes, whilst the tears streamed from her lids and she gave not over
+weeping, till she fainted. As soon as she came to herself, she called for
+pencase and paper and wrote him the following answer; complaining the while of
+her desire and love-longing and ecstasy and what was hers to endure of pining
+for her lover and yearning to him and the passion she had conceived for
+him.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn al-Mawasif wrote
+the following reply to Masrur's missive: "This letter to my lord and master I
+indite * the king of my heart and my secret sprite * Indeed, wakefulness
+agitateth me * and melancholy increaseth on me * and I have no patience to
+endure the absence of thee * O thou who excellest sun and moon in brilliancy *
+Desire of repose despoileth me * and passion destroyeth me * and how should it
+be otherwise with me, seeing that I am of the number of the dying? *O glory of
+the world and Ornament of life, she whose vital spirits are cut off shall her
+cup be sweet to quaff? * For that she is neither with the quick nor with the
+dead." And she improvised these couplets and said,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Thy writ, O Masrúr, stirred my sprite to pine * For by Allah,<br/>
+
+     all patience and solace I tyne:<br/>
+
+When I read thy scripture, my vitals yearned * And watered the<br/>
+
+     herbs of the wold these eyne.<br/>
+
+On Night's wings I'd fly an a bird * And sans thee I weet not the<br/>
+
+     sweets of wine:<br/>
+
+Life's unlawful to me since thou faredst far * To bear parting-<br/>
+
+     lowe is no force of mine."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she sprinkled the letter with powder of musk and ambergris and, having
+sealed it with her signet, committed it to a merchant, saying, "Deliver it to
+none save to my sister." When it reached Nasim she sent it to Masrur, who
+kissed it and laid it on his eyes and wept till he fell into a trance. Such was
+their case; but as regards the Jew, he presently heard of their correspondence
+and began again to travel from place to place with Zayn al-Mawasif and her
+damsels, till she said to him, "Glory to God! How long wilt thou fare with us
+and bear us afar from our homes?" Quoth he, "I will fare on with you a year's
+journey, so no more letters may reach you from Masrur. I see how you take all
+my monies and give them to him; so all that I miss I shall recover from you:
+and I shall see if Masrur will profit you or have power to deliver you from my
+hand." Then he repaired to a blacksmith, after stripping her and her damsels of
+their silken apparel and clothing them in raiment of hair-cloth, and bade him
+make three pairs of iron shackles. When they were ready, he brought the smith
+in to his wife, having said to him, "Put the shackles on the legs of these
+three slave-girls." The first that came forward was Zayn al-Mawasif, and when
+the blacksmith saw her, his sense forsook him and he bit his finger tips and
+his wit fled forth his head and his transport grew sore upon him. So he said to
+the Jew, "What is the crime of these damsels?" Replied the other, "They are my
+slave-girls, and have stolen my good and fled from me." Cried the smith, "Allah
+disappoint thy jealous whims! By the Almighty, were this girl before the Kazi
+of Kazis,[FN#359] he would not even reprove her, though she committed a
+thousand crimes a day. Indeed, she showeth not thief's favour and she cannot
+brook the laying of irons on her legs." And he asked him as a boon not to
+fetter her, interceding with him to forbear the shackles. When she saw the
+blacksmith taking her part in this wise she said to her husband, "I conjure
+thee, by Allah, bring me not forth before yonder strange man!" Said he, "Why
+then camest thou forth before Masrur?"; and she made him no reply. Then he
+accepted the smith's intercession, so far as to allow him to put a light pair
+of irons on her legs, for that she had a delicate body, which might not brook
+harsh usage, whilst he laid her handmaids in heavy bilboes, and they ceased
+not, all three, to wear hair-cloth night and day till their bodies became
+wasted and their colour changed. As for the blacksmith, exceeding love had
+fallen on his heart for Zayn al-Mawasif; so he returned home in great concern
+and he fell to reciting extempore these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Wither thy right, O smith, which made her bear * Those iron<br/>
+
+     chains her hands and feet to wear!<br/>
+
+Thou hast ensoiled a lady soft and bright, * Marvel of marvels,<br/>
+
+     fairest of the fair:<br/>
+
+Hadst thou been just, those anklets ne'er had been * Of iron: nay<br/>
+
+     of purest gold they were:<br/>
+
+By Allah! did the Kázis' Kázi sight * Her charms, he'd seat her<br/>
+
+     in the highest chair."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now it chanced that the Kazi of Kazis passed by the smith's house and heard him
+improvise these lines; so he sent for him and as soon as he saw him said to
+him, "O blacksmith, who is she on whom thou callest so instantly and eloquently
+and with whose love thy heart is full filled?" The smith sprang to his feet and
+kissing the Judge's hand, answered, "Allah prolong the days of our lord the
+Kazi and ample his life!" Then he described to him Zayn al-Mawasif's beauty and
+loveliness, brilliancy and perfection, and symmetry and grace and how she was
+lovely faced and had a slender waist and heavily based; and acquainted him with
+the sorry plight wherein she was for abasement and durance vile and lack of
+victual. When the Kazi heard this, he said, "O blacksmith, send her to us and
+show her that we may do her justice, for thou art become accountable for the
+damsel and unless thou guide her to us, Allah will punish thee at the Day of
+Doom." "I hear and obey," replied the smith and betook himself without stay and
+delay to Zayn al-Mawasif's lodging, but found the door barred and heard a voice
+of plaintive tone that came from heart forlorn and lone; and it was Zayn
+al-Mawasif reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I and my love in union were unite; * And filled my friend to me<br/>
+
+     cups clearly bright<br/>
+
+Between us reigned high mirth and jollity, * Nor Eve nor Morn<br/>
+
+     brought 'noyance or affright<br/>
+
+Indeed we spent most joyous time, with cup * And lute and<br/>
+
+     dulcimer to add delight,<br/>
+
+Till Time estranged our fair companionship; * My lover went and<br/>
+
+     blessing turned to blight.<br/>
+
+Ah would the Severance-raven's croak were stilled * And<br/>
+
+     Union-dawn of Love show blessčd light!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the blacksmith heard this, he wept like the weeping of the clouds. Then he
+knocked at the door and the women said, "Who is at the door?" Answered he,
+"'Tis I, the blacksmith," and told them what the Kazi had said and how he would
+have them appear before him and make their complaint to him, that he might do
+them justice on their adversary.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the blacksmith
+told Zayn al-Mawasif what the Kazi had said, and how he summoned them that he
+might apply the Lex Talionis to their adversary, she rejoined, "How can we go
+to him, seeing the door is locked on us and our feet shackled and the Jew hath
+the keys?" The smith replied, "I will make the keys for the padlocks and
+therewith open door and shackles." Asked she, "But who will show us the Kazi's
+house?"; and he answered, "I will describe it to you." She enquired, "But how
+can we appear before him, clad as we are in haircloth reeking with sulphur?"
+And the smith rejoined, "The Kazi will not reproach this to you, considering
+your case." So saying, he went forthright and made keys for the padlocks,
+wherewith he opened the door and the shackles, and loosing the irons from their
+legs, carried them forth and guided them to the Kazi's mansion. Then Hubub did
+off the hair-cloth garments from her lady's body and carried her to the Hammam,
+where she bathed her and attired her in silken raiment, and her colour returned
+to her. Now it happened, by exceeding good fortune, that her husband was abroad
+at a bride-feast in the house of one of the merchants; so Zayn al-Mawasif, the
+Adornment of Qualities, adorned herself with the fairest ornaments and repaired
+to the Kazi, who at once on espying her rose to receive her. She saluted him
+with softest speech and winsomest words, shooting him through the vitals the
+while with the shafts of her glances, and said, "May Allah prolong the life of
+our lord the Kazi and strengthen him to judge between man and man!" Then she
+acquainted him with the affair of the blacksmith and how he had done nobly by
+them, whenas the Jew had inflicted on her and her women heart-confounding
+torments; and how his victims deathwards he drave, nor was there any found to
+save. "O damsel," quoth the Kazi, "what is thy name?" "My name is Zayn al
+Mawasif,—Adomment of Qualities—and this my handmaid's name is Hubub." "Thy name
+accordeth with the named and its sound conformeth with its sense." Whereupon
+she smiled and veiled her face, and he said to her, "O Zayn al-Mawasif, hast
+thou a husband or not?" "I have no husband"; "And what is thy Faith?" "That of
+Al-Islam, and the religion of the Best of Men." "Swear to me by Holy Law
+replete with signs and instances that thou ownest the creed of the Best of
+Mankind." So she swore to him and pronounced the profession of the Faith. Then
+asked the Kazi, "How cometh it that thou wastest thy youth with this Jew?" And
+she answered, "Know, O Kazi (may Allah prolong thy days in contentment and
+bring thee to thy will and thine acts with benefits seal!), that my father left
+me, after his death, fifteen thousand dinars, which he placed in the hands of
+this Jew, that he might trade therewith and share his gains with me, the head
+of the property[FN#360] being secured by legal acknowledgment. When my father
+died, the Jew coveted me and sought me in marriage of my mother, who said, 'How
+shall I drive her from her Faith and cause to become a Jewess? By Allah, I will
+denounce thee to the rulers!' He was affrighted at her words and taking the
+money, fled to the town of Adan.[FN#361] When we heard where he was, we came to
+Adan in search of him, and when we foregathered with him there, he told us that
+he was trading in stuffs with the monies and buying goods upon goods. So we
+believed him and he ceased not to cozen us till he cast us into jail and
+fettered us and tortured us with exceeding sore torments; and we are strangers
+in the land and have no helper save Almighty Allah and our lord the Kazi." When
+the judge heard this tale he asked Hubub the nurse, "Is this indeed thy lady
+and are ye strangers and is she unmarried?", and she answered, "Yes." Quoth he,
+"Marry her to me and on me be incumbent manumission of my slaves and fasting
+and pilgrimage and almsgiving of all my good an I do you not justice on this
+dog and punish him for that he hath done!" And quoth she, "I hear and obey."
+Then said the Kazi, "Go, hearten thy heart and that of thy lady; and to-morrow,
+Inshallah, I will send for this Miscreant and do you justice on him and ye
+shall see prodigies of his punishment." So Hubub called down blessings upon him
+and went forth from him with her mistress, leaving him with passion and
+love-longing fraught and with distress and desire distraught. Then they
+enquired for the house of the second Kazi and presenting themselves before him,
+told him the same tale. On like wise did the twain, mistress and maid with the
+third and the fourth, till Zayn al-Mawasif had made her complaint to all the
+four Kazis, each of whom fell in love with her and besought her to wed him, to
+which she consented with a "Yes"; nor wist any one of the four that which had
+happened to the others. All this passed without the knowledge of the Jew, who
+spent the night in the house of the bridefeast. And when morning morrowed,
+Hubub arose and gat ready her lady's richest raiment; then she clad her
+therewith and presented herself with her before the four Kazis in the court of
+justice. As soon as she entered, she veiled her face and saluted the judges,
+who returned her salam and each and every of them recognised her. One was
+writing, and the reed-pen dropped from his hand, another was talking, and his
+tongue became tied, and a third was reckoning and blundered in his reckoning;
+and they said to her, "O admirable of attributes and singular among beauties!
+be not thy heart other than hearty, for we will assuredly do thee justice and
+bring thee to thy desire." So she called down blessings on them and farewelled
+them and went her ways.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Kazis said to
+Zayn al-Mawasif, "O admirable of attributes and singular among beauties! Be not
+thy heart other than hearty for our doing thy desire and thy winning to thy
+will." So she called down blessings on them and farewelled them and went her
+ways, the while her husband abode with his friends at the marriage-banquet and
+knew naught of her doings. Then she proceeded to beseech the notaries and
+scribes and the notables and the Chiefs of Police to succour her against that
+unbelieving miscreant and deliver her from the torment she suffered from him.
+Then she wept with sore weeping and improvised these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Rain showers of torrent tears, O Eyne and see * An they will<br/>
+
+     quench the fires that flame in me:<br/>
+
+After my robes of gold-embroidered silk * I wake to wear the<br/>
+
+     frieze of monkery:<br/>
+
+And all my raiment reeks of sulphur-fumes * When erst my shift<br/>
+
+     shed musky fragrancy:<br/>
+
+And hadst thou, O Masrúr, my case descried, * Ne'er hadst thou<br/>
+
+     borne my shame and ignomy.<br/>
+
+And eke Hubúb in iron chains is laid * By Miscreant who unknows<br/>
+
+     God's Unity.<br/>
+
+The creed of Jewry I renounce and home, * The Moslem's Faith<br/>
+
+     accepting faithfully<br/>
+
+Eastwards[FN#362] I prostrate self in fairest guise * Holding the<br/>
+
+     only True Belief that be:<br/>
+
+Masrúr! forget not love between us twain * And keep our vows and<br/>
+
+     troth with goodly gree:<br/>
+
+I've changed my faith for sake of thee, and I * For stress of<br/>
+
+     love will cleave to secrecy:<br/>
+
+So haste to us, an us in heart thou bear, * As noble spirit, nor<br/>
+
+     as laggard fare."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After this she wrote a letter to Masrur, describing to him all that the Jew had
+done with her from first to last and enclosed the verses aforesaid. Then she
+folded the scroll and gave it to her maid Hubub, saying, "Keep this in thy
+pocket, till we send it to Masrur." Upon these doings lo and behold! in came
+the Jew and seeing them joyous, said to them, "How cometh it that I find you
+merry? Say me, hath a letter reached you from your bosom friend Masrur?"
+Replied Zayn al-Mawasif, "We have no helper against thee save Allah, extolled
+and exalted be He! He will deliver us from thy tyranny, and except thou restore
+us to our birth-place and homestead, we will complain of thee tomorrow to the
+Governor of this town and to the Kazi." Quoth he, "Who struck off the shackles
+from your legs? But needs must I let make for each of you fetters ten pounds in
+weight and go round about the city with you." Replied Hubub, "All that thou
+purposest against us thou shall fall into thyself, so it please Allah the Most
+High, by token that thou hast exiled us from our homes, and to-morrow we shall
+stand, we and thou, before the Governor of the city." They nighted on this wise
+and next morning the Jew rose up in haste and went out to order new shackles,
+whereupon Zayn al-Mawasif arose and repaired with her women to the court-house,
+where she found the four Kazis and saluted them. They all returned her
+salutation and the Kazi of Kazis said to those about him, "Verily this damsel
+is lovely as the Venus-star[FN#363] and all who see her love her and bow before
+her beauty and loveliness." Then he despatched four sergeants, who were
+Sharífs,[FN#364] saying, "Bring ye the criminal after abjectest fashion." So,
+when the Jew returned with the shackles and found none in the house, he was
+confounded; but, as he abode in perplexity, suddenly up came the officers and
+laying hold of him beat him with a sore beating and dragged him face downwards
+before the Kazi. When the judge saw him, he cried out in his face and said to
+him, "Woe to thee, O foe of God, is it come to such a pass with thee that thou
+doest the deed thou hast done and bringest these women far from their country
+and stealest their monies and wouldst make them Jews? How durst thou seek to
+make miscreants of Moslems?" Answered the Jew, "O my lord this woman is my
+wife." Now when the Kazis heard this, they all cried out, saying, "Throw this
+hound on the ground and come down on his face with your sandals and beat him
+with sore blows, for his offence is unpardonable." So they pulled off his
+silken gear and clad him in his wife's raiment of hair-cloth, after which they
+threw him down and plucked out his beard and belaboured him about the face with
+sandals. Then they sat him on an ass, face to crupper, arsi-versy, and making
+him take its tail in his hand, paraded him round about the city, ringing the
+bell before him in every street; after which they brought him back to the
+judges in sorriest plight; and the four Kazis with one voice condemned him to
+have his feet and hands cut off and lastly to be crucified. When the accursed
+heard this sentence his sense forsook him and he was confounded and said, "O my
+lords the Kazis, what would ye of me?" They replied, "Say thou, 'This damsel is
+not my wife and the monies are her monies, and I have transgressed against her
+and brought her far from her country.'" So he confessed to this and the Kazis
+recorded his confession in legal form and taking the money from him, gave it to
+Zayn al-Mawasif, together with the document. Then she went away and all who saw
+her were confounded at her beauty and loveliness, whilst each of the Kazis
+looked for her committing herself to him. But, when she came to her lodging,
+she made ready all matters she needed and waited till night. Then she took what
+was light of load and weighty of worth, and setting out with her maids under
+cover of the murks three days with their nights fared on without stopping. Thus
+it was with her; but as regards the Kazis they ordered the Jew to prison.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixtieth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Kazis ordered the Jew
+to prison and on the morrow they looked for Zayn al-Mawasif coming to them,
+they and their assessors; but she presented herself not to any of them. Then
+said the Chief Kazi, "I wish to-day to make an excursion without the town on
+business there." So he mounted his she-mule and taking his page with him, went
+winding about the streets of the town, searching its length and width for Zayn
+al-Mawasif, but never finding her. On this errand he came upon the other three
+Kazis, going about on the same, each deeming himself the only one to whom she
+had given tryst. He asked them whither they were riding and why they were going
+about the streets; when they told him their business, whereby he saw that their
+plight was as his plight and their quest as his quest. So they all four rode
+throughout the city, seeking her, but could hit on no trace of her and returned
+to their houses, sick for love, and lay down on the bed of langour. Presently
+the Chief Kazi bethought himself of the blacksmith; so he sent for him and said
+to him, "O blacksmith, knowest thou aught of the damsel whom thou didst direct
+to me? By Allah, an thou discover her not to me, I will whack thee with whips."
+Now when the smith heard this, he recited these couplets[FN#365],
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"She who my all of love by love of her hath won * Owns every<br/>
+
+     Beauty and for others leaves she none:<br/>
+
+She gazes, a gazelle; she breathes, fresh ambergris * She waves,<br/>
+
+     a lake; she sways, a bough; she shines, a Sun."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then said the blacksmith, "By Allah, O my lord, since she fared forth from thy
+worshipful presence,[FN#366] I have not set eyes on her; no, not once. Indeed
+she took possession of my heart and wits and all my talk and thoughts are of
+her. I went to her lodging but found her not, nor found I any who could give me
+news of her, and it is as if she had dived into the depths of the sea or had
+ascended to the sky." Now when the Kazi heard this, he groaned a groan, that
+his soul was like to depart therefor, and he said, "By Allah, well it were had
+we never seen her!" Then the smith went away, whilst the Kazi fell down on his
+bed and became sick of langour for her sake, and on like wise fared it with the
+other three Kazis and assessors. The mediciners paid them frequent calls, but
+found in them no ailment requiring a leach: so the city-notables went in to the
+Chief Kazi and saluting him, questioned him of his case; whereupon he sighed
+and showed them that was in his heart, reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Stint ye this blame; enough I suffer from Love's malady * Nor<br/>
+
+     chide the Kazi frail who fain must deal to folk decree!<br/>
+
+Who doth accuse my love let him for me find some excuse: * Nor<br/>
+
+     blame; for lovers blameless are in lover-slavery!<br/>
+
+I was a Kázi whom my Fate deigned aid with choicest aid * By writ<br/>
+
+     and reed and raisčd me to wealth and high degree;<br/>
+
+Till I was shot by sharpest shaft that knows nor leach nor cure *<br/>
+
+     By Damsel's glance who came to spill my blood and murther<br/>
+
+     me.<br/>
+
+To me came she, a Moslemah and of her wrongs she 'plained * With<br/>
+
+     lips that oped on Orient-pearls ranged fair and orderly:<br/>
+
+I looked beneath her veil and saw a wending moon at full * Rising<br/>
+
+     below the wings of Night engloomed with blackest blee:<br/>
+
+A brightest favour and a mouth bedight with wondrous smiles; *<br/>
+
+     Beauty had brought the loveliest garb and robed her<br/>
+
+     cap-ŕ-pie.<br/>
+
+By Allah, ne'er beheld my eyes a face so ferly fair * Amid<br/>
+
+     mankind whoever are, Arab or Ajamí.<br/>
+
+My Fair! What promise didst thou make what time to me thou<br/>
+
+     said'st * 'Whenas I promise I perform, O Kazi, faithfully.'<br/>
+
+Such is my stead and such my case calamitous and dire * And ask<br/>
+
+     me not, ye men of spunk, what dreadful teen I dree."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he ended his verse he wept with sore weeping and sobbed one sob and his
+spirit departed his body, which seeing they washed him and shrouded him and
+prayed over him and buried him graving on his tomb these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Perfect were lover's qualities in him was brought a-morn, *<br/>
+
+     Slain by his love and his beloved, to this untimely grave:<br/>
+
+Kázi was he amid the folk, and aye 'twas his delight * To foster<br/>
+
+     all the folk and keep a-sheath the Justice-glaive:<br/>
+
+Love caused his doom and ne'er we saw among mankind before * The<br/>
+
+     lord and master louting low before his thrallčd slave."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they committed him to the mercy of Allah and went away to the second Kazi,
+in company with the physician, but found in him nor injury nor ailment needing
+a leach. Accordingly they questioned him of his case and what preoccupied him;
+so he told them what ailed him, whereupon they blamed him and chid him for his
+predicament and he answered them with these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Blighted by her yet am I not to blame; * Struck by the dart at<br/>
+
+     me her fair hand threw.<br/>
+
+Unto me came a woman called Hubúb * Chiding the world from year<br/>
+
+     to year anew:<br/>
+
+And brought a damsel showing face that shamed * Full moon that<br/>
+
+     sails through Night-tide's blackest hue,<br/>
+
+She showed her beauties and she 'plained her plain * Which tears<br/>
+
+     in torrents from her eyelids drew:<br/>
+
+I to her words gave ear and gazed on her * Whenas with smiling<br/>
+
+     lips she made me rue.<br/>
+
+Then with my heart she fared where'er she fared * And left me<br/>
+
+     pledged to sorrows soul subdue.<br/>
+
+Such is my tale! So pity ye my case * And this my page with<br/>
+
+     Kazi's gear indue."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he sobbed one sob and his soul fled his flesh; whereupon they gat ready
+his funeral and buried him commending him to the mercy of Allah; after which
+they repaired to the third Kazi and the fourth, and there befel them the like
+of what befel their brethren.[FN#367] Furthermore, they found the Assessors
+also sick for love of her, and indeed all who saw her died of her love or, an
+they died not, lived on tortured with the lowe of passion.— And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-first Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the city folk found
+all the Kazis and the Assessors sick for love of her, and all who saw her died
+lovesick or, an they died not, lived on tortured with the lowe of passion for
+stress of pining to no purpose—Allah have mercy on them one and all! Meanwhile
+Zayn al- Mawasif and her women drave on with all diligence till they were far
+distant from the city and it so fortuned that they came to a convent by the
+way, wherein dwelt a Prior called Danis and forty monks.[FN#368] When the Prior
+saw her beauty, he went out to her and invited her to alight, saying, "Rest
+with us ten days and after wend your ways." So she and her damsels alighted and
+entered the convent; and when Danis saw her beauty and loveliness, she
+debauched his belief and he was seduced by her: wherefore he fell to sending
+the monks, one after other with love-messages; but each who saw her fell in
+love with her and sought her favours for himself, whilst she excused and denied
+herself to them. But Danis ceased not his importunities till he had dispatched
+all the forty, each one of whom fell love-sick at first sight and plied her
+with blandishments never even naming Danis; whilst she refused and rebuffed
+them with harsh replies. At last when Danis's patience was at an end and his
+passion was sore on him, he said in himself, "Verily, the sooth-sayer saith,
+'Naught scratcheth my skin but my own nail and naught like my own feet for mine
+errand may avail.'" So up he rose and made ready rich meats, and it was the
+ninth day of her sojourn in the convent where she had purposed only to rest.
+Then he carried them in to her and set them before her, saying, "Bismillah,
+favour us by tasting the best of the food at our command." So she put forth her
+hand, saying, "For the name of Allah the Compassionating, the Compassionate!"
+and ate, she and her handmaidens. When she had made an end of eating, he said
+to her, "O my lady, I wish to recite to thee some verses." Quoth she, "Say on,"
+and he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Thou hast won my heart by cheek and eye of thee, * I'll praise<br/>
+
+     for love in prose and poesy.<br/>
+
+Wilt fly a lover, love-sick, love-distraught * Who strives in<br/>
+
+     dreams some cure of love to see?<br/>
+
+Leave me not fallen, passion-fooled, since I * For pine have left<br/>
+
+     uncared the Monast'ry:<br/>
+
+O Fairest, 'tis thy right to shed my blood, * So rue my case and<br/>
+
+     hear the cry of me!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she answered him with these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O who suest Union, ne'er hope such delight * Nor solicit my<br/>
+
+     favours, O hapless wight!<br/>
+
+Cease to hanker for what thou canst never have: * Next door are<br/>
+
+     the greedy to sore despight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Hearing this he returned to his place, pondering in himself and knowing not how
+he should do in her affair, and passed the night in the sorriest plight. But,
+as soon as the darkness was darkest Zayn al-Mawasif arose and said to her
+handmaids, "Come, let us away, for we cannot avail against forty men, monks,
+each of whom requireth me for himself." Quoth they, "Right willingly!" So they
+mounted their beasts and issued forth the convent gate,— Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-second Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn al-Mawasif and
+her handmaids issued forth the convent gate and, under favour of the night,
+rode on till they overtook a caravan, with which they mingled and found it came
+from the city of 'Adan wherein the lady had dwelt. Presently, Zayn al-Mawasif
+heard the people of the caravan discoursing of her own case and telling how the
+Kazis and Assessors were dead of love for her and how the townsfolk had
+appointed in their stead others who released her husband from prison. Whereupon
+she turned to her maids and asked them, "Heard ye that?"; and Hubub answered,
+"If the monks were ravished with love of thee, whose belief it is that shunning
+women is worship, how should it be with the Kazis, who hold that there is no
+monkery in Al-Islam? But let us make our way to our own country, whilst our
+affair is yet hidden." So they drave on with all diligence. Such was their
+case; but as regards the monks, on the morrow, as soon as it was day they
+repaired to Zayn al-Mawasif's lodging, to salute her, but found the place
+empty, and their hearts sickened within them. So the first monk rent his
+raiment and improvised these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Ho ye, my friends, draw near, for I forthright * From you<br/>
+
+     depart, since parting is my lot:<br/>
+
+My vitals suffer pangs o' fiery love; * Flames of desire in heart<br/>
+
+     burn high and hot,<br/>
+
+For sake of fairest girl who sought our land * Whose charms th'<br/>
+
+     horizon's full moon evens not.<br/>
+
+She fared and left me victimed by her love * And slain by shaft<br/>
+
+     those lids death-dealing shot."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then another monk recited the following couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O ye who with my vitals fled, have ruth * On this unhappy: haste<br/>
+
+     ye homeward-bound:<br/>
+
+They fared, and fared fair Peace on farthest track * Yet lingers<br/>
+
+     in mine ear that sweetest sound:<br/>
+
+Fared far, and far their fane; would Heaven I saw Their shade in<br/>
+
+     vision float my couch around:<br/>
+
+And when they went wi' them they bore my heart * And in my<br/>
+
+     tear-floods all of me left drowned."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A third monk followed with these extempore lines,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Throne you on highmost stead, heart, ears and sight * Your<br/>
+
+     wone's my heart; mine all's your dwelling-site:<br/>
+
+Sweeter than honey is your name a-lip, * Running, as 'neath my<br/>
+
+     ribs runs vital sprite:<br/>
+
+For Love hath made me as a tooth-pick[FN#369] lean * And drowned<br/>
+
+     in tears of sorrow and despight:<br/>
+
+Let me but see you in my sleep, belike * Shall clear my cheeks of<br/>
+
+     tears that lovely sight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then a fourth recited the following couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Dumb is my tongue and scant my speech for thee * And Love the<br/>
+
+     direst torture gars me dree:<br/>
+
+O thou full Moon, whose place is highest Heaven, * For thee but<br/>
+
+     double pine and pain in me."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And a fifth these,[FN#370]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I love a moon of comely shapely form * Whose slender waist hath<br/>
+
+     title to complain:<br/>
+
+Whose lip-dews rival must and long-kept wine; * Whose heavy<br/>
+
+     haunches haunt the minds of men:<br/>
+
+My heart each morning burns with pain and pine * And the<br/>
+
+     night-talkers note I'm passion-slain;<br/>
+
+While down my cheeks carnelian-like the tears * Of rosy red<br/>
+
+     shower down like railing rain."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And a sixth the following,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O thou who shunnest him thy love misled! * O Branch of Bán, O<br/>
+
+     star of highmost stead!<br/>
+
+To thee of pine and passion I complain, * O thou who fired me<br/>
+
+     with cheeks rosy-red.<br/>
+
+Did e'er such lover lose his soul for thee, * Or from prostration<br/>
+
+     and from prayers fled?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And a seventh these,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"He seized my heart and freed my tears to flow * Brought strength<br/>
+
+     to Love and bade my Patience go.<br/>
+
+His charms are sweet as bitter his disdain; * And shafts of love<br/>
+
+     his suitors overthrow.<br/>
+
+Stint blame, O blamer, and for past repent * None will believe<br/>
+
+     thee who dost Love unknow!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And on like wise all the rest of the monks shed tears and repeated verses. As
+for Danis, the Prior, weeping and wailing redoubled on him, for that he found
+no way to her enjoyment, and he chanted the following couplets[FN#371],
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"My patience failed me when my lover went * And fled that day<br/>
+
+     mine aim and best intent.<br/>
+
+O Guide o' litters lead their camels fair, * Haply some day<br/>
+
+     they'll deign with me to tent!<br/>
+
+On parting-day Sleep parted from my lids * And grew my grieving<br/>
+
+     and my joy was shent.<br/>
+
+I moan to Allah what for Love I dree'd * My wasted body and my<br/>
+
+     forces spent."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then, despairing of her, they took counsel together and with one mind agreed to
+fashion her image and set it up with them, and applied themselves to this till
+there came to them the Destroyer of delights and Severer of societies.
+Meanwhile, Zayn al-Mawasif fared on, without ceasing, to find her lover Masrur,
+till she reached her own house. She opened the doors, and entered; then she
+sent to her sister Nasim, who rejoiced with exceeding joy at the news of her
+return and brought her the furniture and precious stuffs left in her charge. So
+she furnished the house and dressed it, hanging the curtains over the doors and
+burning aloes-wood and musk and ambergris and other essences till the whole
+place reeked with the most delightful perfumes: after which the Adornment of
+Qualities donned her finest dress and decorations and sat talking with her
+maids, whom she had left behind when journeying, and related to them all that
+had befallen her first and last. Then she turned to Hubub and giving her
+dirhams, bade her fetch them something to eat. So she brought meat and drink
+and when they had made an end of eating and drinking,[FN#372] Zayn al-Mawasif
+bade Hubub go and see where Masrur was and how it fared with him. Now he knew
+not of her return; but abode with concern overcast and sorrow might not be
+overpast;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-third Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif
+entered her house she was met by her sister Nasim who brought her the furniture
+and stuffs wherewith she furnished the place; and then she donned her finest
+dress. But Masrur knew naught of her return and abode with concern overcast and
+sorrow might not be overpast; no peace prevailed with him nor was patience
+possible to him. Whenas pine and passion, desire and distraction waxed on him,
+he would solace himself by reciting verse and go to the house and set him its
+walls to buss. It chanced that he went out that day to the place where he had
+parted from his mistress and repeated this rare song,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"My wrongs hide I, withal they show to sight; * And now mine eyes<br/>
+
+     from sleep to wake are dight.<br/>
+
+I cry when melancholy tries my sprite * Last not, O world nor<br/>
+
+     work more despight;<br/>
+
+          Lo hangs my soul 'twixt hardship and affright.<br/>
+
+Were the Sultan hight Love but fair to me, * Slumber mine eyes'<br/>
+
+     companion were to me,<br/>
+
+My Lords, some little mercy spare to me, * Chief of my tribe: be<br/>
+
+     debonnair to me,<br/>
+
+          Whom Love cast down, erst rich now pauper-wight!<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Censors may blame thee but I look beyond * Mine ears I stop and<br/>
+
+     leave their lies unconned<br/>
+
+And keep my pact wi' those I love so fond: * They say, 'Thou<br/>
+
+     lov'st a runaway!' I respond,<br/>
+
+          'Whist! whenas Fate descends she blinds the sight!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he returned to his lodging and sat there weeping, till sleep overcame him,
+when he saw in a dream as if Zayn al-Mawasif were come to the house, and awoke
+in tears. So he set off to go thither, improvising these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Shall I be consoled when Love hath mastered the secret of me *<br/>
+
+     And my heart is aglow with more than the charcoal's ardency?<br/>
+
+I love her whose absence I plain before Allah for parting-stower<br/>
+
+     * And the shifts of the days and doom which allotted me<br/>
+
+     Destiny:<br/>
+
+When shall our meeting be, O wish O' my heart and will? * O<br/>
+
+     favour of fullest Moon, when shall we Re-union see?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As he made an end of his recitation, he found himself walking adown in Zayn
+al-Mawasif's street and smelt the sweet savour of the pastiles wherewithal she
+had incensed the house; wherefore his vitals fluttered and his heart was like
+to leave his breast and desire flamed up in him and distraction redoubled upon
+him; when lo, and behold! Hubub, on her way to do her lady's errand suddenly
+appeared at the head of the street and he rejoiced with joy exceeding. When she
+saw him, she went up to him and saluting him, gave him the glad news of her
+mistress's return, saying, "She hath sent me to bid thee to her." Whereat he
+was glad indeed, with gladness naught could exceed; and she took him and
+returned with him to the house. When Zayn al-Mawasif saw him, she came down to
+him from the couch and kissed him and he kissed her and she embraced him and he
+embraced her; nor did they leave kissing and embracing till both swooned away
+for stress of affection and separation. They lay a long while senseless, and
+when they revived, Zayn al-Mawasif bade Hubub fetch her a gugglet of sherbet of
+sugar and another of sherbet of lemons. So she brought what she desired and
+they sat eating and drinking nor ceased before nightfall, when they fell to
+recalling all that had befallen them from commencement to conclusion. Then she
+acquainted him with her return to Al-Islam, whereat he rejoiced and he also
+became a Moslem. On like wise did her women, and they all repented to Allah
+Almighty of their infidelity. On the morrow she made send for the Kazi and the
+witnesses and told them that she was a widow and had completed the
+purification-period and was minded to marry Masrur. So they drew up the
+wedding-contract between them and they abode in all delight of life. Meanwhile,
+the Jew, when the people of Adan released him from prison, set out homewards
+and fared on nor ceased faring till he came within three days' journey of the
+city. Now as soon as Zayn al-Mawasif heard of his coming she called for her
+handmaid Hubub and said to her, "Go to the Jews' burial-place and there dig a
+grave and plant on it sweet basil and jessamine and sprinkle water thereabout.
+If the Jew come and ask thee of me, answer, 'My mistress died twenty days ago
+of chagrin on thine account.' If he say, show me her tomb, take him to the
+grave and after weeping over it and making moan and lament before him, contrive
+to cast him therein and bury him alive."[FN#373] And Hubub answered, "I hear
+and I obey." Then they laid up the furniture in the store closets, and Zayn
+al-Mawasif removed to Masrur's lodging, where he and she abode eating and
+drinking, till the three days were past; at the end of which the Jew arrived
+and knocked at the door of his house. Quoth Hubub, "Who's at the door?"; and
+quoth he, "Thy master." So she opened to him and he saw the tears railing down
+her cheeks and said, "What aileth thee to weep and where is thy mistress?" She
+replied, "My mistress is dead of chagrin on thine account." When he heard this,
+he was perplexed and wept with sore weeping and presently said, "O Hubub, where
+is her tomb?" So she carried him to the Jews' burial-ground and showed him the
+grave she had dug; whereupon he shed bitter tears and recited this pair of
+couplets,[FN#374]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Two things there are, for which if eyes wept tear on tear * Of<br/>
+
+     blood, till they were like indeed to disappear,<br/>
+
+They never could fulfil the Tithe of all their due: * And these<br/>
+
+     are prime of youth and loss of loveling dear."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he wept again with bitter tears and recited these also,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Alack and Alas! Patience taketh flight: * And from parting of<br/>
+
+     friend to sore death I'm dight:<br/>
+
+O how woeful this farness from dear one, and oh * How my heart is<br/>
+
+     rent by mine own unright!<br/>
+
+Would Heaven my secret I erst had kept * Nor had told the pangs<br/>
+
+     and my liver-blight:<br/>
+
+I lived in all solace and joyance of life * Till she left and<br/>
+
+     left me in piteous plight:<br/>
+
+O Zayn al-Mawasif, I would there were * No parting departing my<br/>
+
+     frame and sprite:<br/>
+
+I repent me for troth-breach and blame my guilt * Of unruth to<br/>
+
+     her whereon hopes I built."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he had made an end of this verse, he wept and groaned and lamented till he
+fell down a-swoon, whereupon Hubub made haste to drag him to the grave and
+throw him in, whilst he was insensible yet quick withal. Then she stopped up
+the grave on him and returning to her mistress acquainted her with what had
+passed, whereat she rejoiced with exceeding joy and recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The world sware that for ever 'twould gar me grieve: *Tis false,<br/>
+
+     O world, so thine oath retrieve[FN#375]!<br/>
+
+The blamer is dead and my love's in my arms: * Rise to herald of<br/>
+
+     joys and tuck high thy sleeve[FN#376]!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she and Masrur abode each with other in eating and drinking and sport and
+pleasure and good cheer, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and
+Sunderer of societies and Slayer of sons and daughters. And I have also heard
+tell the following tale of
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h3><a name="chap07"></a>ALI NUR AL-DIN AND MIRIAM THE GIRDLE-GIRL[FN#377]</h3>
+
+<p>
+There was once in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before in the
+parts of Cairo, a merchant named Táj al-Dín who was of the most considerable of
+the merchants and of the chiefs of the freeborn. But he was given to travelling
+everywhere and loved to fare over wild and wold, waterless lowland and stony
+waste, and to journey to the isles of the seas, in quest of dirhams and dinars:
+wherefore he had in his time encountered dangers and suffered duresse of the
+way such as would grizzle little children and turn their black hair grey. He
+was possessed of black slaves and Mamelukes, Eunuchs and concubines, and was
+the wealthiest of the merchants of his time and the goodliest of them in
+speech, owning horses and mules and Bactrian camels and dromedaries; sacks
+great and small of size; goods and merchandise and stuffs such as muslins of
+Hums, silks and brocades of Ba'allak, cotton of Mery, stuffs of India, gauzes
+of Baghdad, burnouses of Moorland and Turkish white slaves and Abyssinian
+castratos and Grecian girls and Egyptian boys; and the coverings of his bales
+were silk with gold purfled fair, for he was wealthy beyond compare.
+Furthermore he was rare of comeliness, accomplished in goodliness, and gracious
+in his kindliness, even as one of his describers doth thus express,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A merchant I spied whose lovers * Were fighting in furious<br/>
+
+     guise:<br/>
+
+Quoth he, 'Why this turmoil of people?' * Quoth I, 'Trader, for<br/>
+
+     those fine eyes!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And saith another in his praise and saith well enough to accomplish the wish of
+him,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Came a merchant to pay us a visit * Whose glance did my heart<br/>
+
+     surprise:<br/>
+
+Quoth he, 'What surprised thee so?' * Quoth I, 'Trader, 'twas<br/>
+
+     those fine eyes.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now that merchant had a son called Ali Nur al-Din, as he were the full moon
+whenas it meeteth the sight on its fourteenth night, a marvel of beauty and
+loveliness, a model of form and symmetrical grace, who was sitting one day as
+was his wont, in his father's shop, selling and buying, giving and taking when
+the sons of the merchants girt him around and he was amongst them as moon among
+stars, with brow flower-white and cheeks of rosy light in down the tenderest
+dight, and body like alabaster-bright even as saith of him the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"'Describe me!' a fair one said. * Said I, 'Thou art Beauty's<br/>
+
+     queen.'<br/>
+
+And, speaking briefest speech, * 'All charms in thee are seen.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as saith of him one of his describers,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"His mole upon plain of cheek is like * Ambergrís-crumb on marble<br/>
+
+     plate,<br/>
+
+And his glances likest the sword proclaim * To all Love's rebels<br/>
+
+     'The Lord is Great!'"[FN#378]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The young merchants invited him saying, "O my lord Nur al-Din, we wish thee to
+go this day a-pleasuring with us in such a garden." And he answered, "Wait till
+I consult my parent, for I cannot go without his consent." As they were
+talking, behold, up came Taj al-Din, and his son looked at him and said, "O
+father mine, the sons of the merchants have invited me to wend a-pleasuring
+with them in such a garden. Dost thou grant me leave to go?" His father
+replied, "Yes, O my son, fare with them;" and gave him somewhat of money. So
+the young men mounted their mules and asses and Nur al-Din mounted a she-mule
+and rode with them to a garden, wherein was all that soul desireth and that eye
+charmeth. It was high of walls which from broad base were seen to rise; and it
+had a gateway vault-wise with a portico like a saloon and a door azure as the
+skies, as it were one of the gates of Paradise: the name of the door-keeper was
+Rizwán,[FN#379] and over the gate were trained an hundred trellises which
+grapes overran; and these were of various dyes, the red like coralline, the
+black like the snouts of Súdán[FN#380]-men and the white like egg of the
+pigeon-hen. And in it peach and pomegranate were shown and pear, apricot and
+pomegranate were grown and fruits with and without stone hanging in clusters or
+alone,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the sons of the
+merchants entered the vergier, they found therein all that soul desireth or eye
+charmeth, grapes of many hues grown, hanging in bunches or alone, even as saith
+of them the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Grapes tasting with the taste of wine * Whose coats like<br/>
+
+     blackest Raven's shine:<br/>
+
+Their sheen, amid the leafage shows, * Like women's fingers<br/>
+
+     henna'd fine."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as saith another on the same theme,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Grape-bunches likest as they sway * A-stalk, my body frail and<br/>
+
+     snell:<br/>
+
+Honey and water thus in jar, * When sourness past, make<br/>
+
+     Hydromel."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they entered the arbour of the garden and saw there Rizwan the gate-keeper
+sitting, as he were Rizwan the Paradise-guardian, and on the door were written
+these lines,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Garth Heaven-watered wherein clusters waved * On boughs which<br/>
+
+     full of sap to bend were fain:<br/>
+
+And, when the branches danced on Zephyr's palm, * The Pleiads<br/>
+
+     shower'd as gifts[FN#381] fresh pearls for rain."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And within the arbour were written these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Come with us, friend, and enter thou * This garth that cleanses<br/>
+
+     rust of grief:<br/>
+
+Over their skirts the Zephyrs trip[FN#382] * And flowers in sleeve<br/>
+
+     to laugh are lief."[FN#383]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they entered and found all manner fruits in view and birds of every kind and
+hue, such as ringdove, nightingale and curlew; and the turtle and the cushat
+sang their love lays on the sprays. Therein were rills that ran with limpid
+wave and flowers suave; and bloom for whose perfume we crave and it was even as
+saith of it the poet in these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The Zephyr breatheth o'er its branches, like * Fair girls that<br/>
+
+     trip as in fair skirts they pace:<br/>
+
+Its rills resemble swords in hands of knights * Drawn from the<br/>
+
+     scabbard and containing-case."[FN#384]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And again as singeth the songster,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The streamlet swings by branchy wood and aye * Joys in its<br/>
+
+     breast those beauties to display;<br/>
+
+And Zephyr noting this, for jealousy * Hastens and bends the<br/>
+
+     branches other way."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+On the trees of the garden were all manner fruits, each in two sorts, and
+amongst them the pomegranate, as it were a ball of silver-dross,[FN#385]
+whereof saith the poet and saith right well,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Granados of finest skin, like the breasts * Of maid<br/>
+
+     firm-standing in sight of male;<br/>
+
+When I strip the skin, they at once display * The rubies<br/>
+
+     compelling all sense to quail."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And even as quoth another bard,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Close prest appear to him who views th' inside * Red rubies in<br/>
+
+     brocaded skirts bedight:<br/>
+
+Granado I compare with marble dome * Or virgin's breasts<br/>
+
+     delighting every sight:<br/>
+
+Therein is cure for every ill as e'en * Left an Hadís the Prophet<br/>
+
+     pure of sprite;<br/>
+
+And Allah (glorify His name) eke deigned * A noble say in Holy<br/>
+
+     Book indite.[FN#386]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The apples were the sugared and the musky and the Dámáni, amazing the beholder,
+whereof saith Hassan the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Apple which joins hues twain, and brings to mind * The cheek of<br/>
+
+     lover and beloved combined:<br/>
+
+Two wondrous opposites on branch they show * This dark[FN#387]<br/>
+
+     and that with hue incarnadined<br/>
+
+The twain embraced when spied the spy and turned * This red, that<br/>
+
+     yellow for the shame designed."[FN#388]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There also were apricots of various kinds, almond and camphor and<br/>
+
+Jíláni and 'Antábi,[FN#389] wereof saith the poet,<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"And Almond-apricot suggesting swain * Whose lover's visit all<br/>
+
+     his wits hath ta'en.<br/>
+
+Enough of love-sick lovers' plight it shows * Of face deep yellow<br/>
+
+     and heart torn in twain."[FN#390]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And saith another and saith well,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Look at that Apricot whose bloom contains * Gardens with<br/>
+
+     brightness gladding all men's eyne:<br/>
+
+Like stars the blossoms sparkle when the boughs * Are clad in<br/>
+
+     foliage dight with sheen and shine."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There likewise were plums and cherries and grapes, that the sick of all
+diseases assain and do away giddiness and yellow choler from the brain; and
+figs the branches between, varicoloured red and green, amazing sight and sense,
+even as saith the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"'Tis as the Figs with clear white skins outthrown * By foliaged<br/>
+
+     trees, athwart whose green they peep,<br/>
+
+Were sons of Roum that guard the palace-roof * When shades close<br/>
+
+     in and night-long ward they keep."[FN#391]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And saith another and saith well,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Welcome[FN#392] the Fig! To us it comes * Ordered in handsome<br/>
+
+     plates they bring:<br/>
+
+Likest a Sufrah[FN#393]-cloth we draw * To shape of bag without a<br/>
+
+     ring."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And how well saith a third,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Give me the Fig sweet-flavoured, beauty-clad, * Whose inner<br/>
+
+     beauties rival outer sheen:<br/>
+
+And when it fruits thou tastest it to find * Chamomile's scent<br/>
+
+     and Sugar's saccharine:<br/>
+
+And eke it favoureth on platters poured * Puff-balls of silken<br/>
+
+     thread and sendal green."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And how excellent is the saying of one of them,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Quoth they (and I had trained my taste thereto * Nor cared for<br/>
+
+     other fruits whereby they swore),<br/>
+
+'Why lovest so the Fig?' whereto quoth I * 'Some men love Fig and<br/>
+
+     others Sycamore.[FN#394]'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And are yet goodlier those of another,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Pleaseth me more the fig than every fruit * When ripe and<br/>
+
+     hanging from the sheeny bough;<br/>
+
+Like Devotee who, when the clouds pour rain, * Sheds tears and<br/>
+
+     Allah's power doth avow."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And in that garth were also pears of various kinds Sinaďtic,[FN#395] Aleppine
+and Grecian growing in clusters and alone, parcel green and parcel golden.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the merchants'
+sons went down into the garth they saw therein all the fruits we mentioned and
+found pears Sinaďtic, Aleppine and Grecian of every hue, which here clustering
+there single grew, parcel green and parcel yellow to the gazer a marvel-view,
+as saith of them the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"With thee that Pear agree, whose hue a-morn * Is hue of hapless<br/>
+
+     lover yellow pale;<br/>
+
+Like virgin cloistered strait in strong Harím * Whose face like<br/>
+
+     racing steed outstrips the veil."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Sultani[FN#396] peaches of shades varied, yellow and red, whereof saith the
+poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Like Peach in vergier growing * And sheen of Andam[FN#397]<br/>
+
+     showing:<br/>
+
+Whose balls of yellow gold * Are dyed with blood-gouts flowing."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There were also green almonds of passing sweetness, resembling the
+cabbage[FN#398] of the palm-tree, with their kernels within three tunics
+lurking of the Munificent King's handiworking, even as is said of them,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Three coats yon freshest form endue * God's work of varied shape<br/>
+
+     and hue:<br/>
+
+Hardness surrounds it night and day; * Prisoning without a sin to<br/>
+
+     rue."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as well saith another,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Seest not that Almond plucked by hand * Of man from bough where<br/>
+
+     wont to dwell:<br/>
+
+Peeling it shows the heart within * As union-pearl in oyster-<br/>
+
+     shell."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as saith a third better than he,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"How good is Almond green I view! * The smallest fills the hand<br/>
+
+     of you:<br/>
+
+Its nap is as the down upon * The cheeks where yet no beardlet<br/>
+
+     grew:<br/>
+
+Its kernels in the shell are seen, * Or bachelors or married two,<br/>
+
+As pearls they were of lucent white * Casčd and lapped in<br/>
+
+     Jasper's hue."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as saith yet another and saith well,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Mine eyes ne'er looked on aught the Almond like * For charms,<br/>
+
+     when blossoms[FN#399] in the Prime show bright:<br/>
+
+Its head to hoariness of age inclines * The while its cheek by<br/>
+
+     youth's fresh down is dight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And jujube-plums of various colours, grown in clusters and alone whereof saith
+one, describing them,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Look at the Lote-tree, note on boughs arrayed * Like goodly<br/>
+
+     apricots on reed-strown floor,[FN#400]<br/>
+
+Their morning-hue to viewer's eye is like * Cascavels[FN#401]<br/>
+
+     cast of purest golden ore."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as saith another and saith right well,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The Jujube-tree each Day * Robeth in bright array.<br/>
+
+As though each pome thereon * Would self to sight display.<br/>
+
+Like falcon-bell of gold * Swinging from every spray."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And in that garth grew blood oranges, as they were the<br/>
+
+Khaulanján,[FN#402] whereof quoth the enamoured poet,[FN#403]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Red fruits that fill the hand, and shine with sheen * Of fire,<br/>
+
+     albe the scarf-skin's white as snow.<br/>
+
+'Tis marvel snow on fire doth never melt * And, stranger still,<br/>
+
+     ne'er burns this living lowe!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And quoth another and quoth well,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"And trees of Orange fruiting ferly fair * To those who straitest<br/>
+
+     have their charms surveyed;<br/>
+
+Like cheeks of women who their forms have decked * For holiday in<br/>
+
+     robes of gold brocade."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And yet another as well,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Like are the Orange-hills[FN#404] when Zephyr breathes * Swaying<br/>
+
+     the boughs and spray with airy grace,<br/>
+
+Her cheeks that glow with lovely light when met * At greeting-<br/>
+
+     tide by cheeks of other face."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And a fourth as fairly,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"And fairest Fawn, we said to him 'Portray * This garth and<br/>
+
+     oranges thine eyes survey:'<br/>
+
+And he, 'Your garden favoureth my face * Who gathereth orange<br/>
+
+     gathereth fire alway.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In that garden too grew citrons, in colour as virgin gold, hanging down from on
+high and dangling among the branches, as they were ingots of growing
+gold;[FN#405] and saith thereof the 'namoured poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Hast seen a Citron-copse so weighed adown * Thou fearest bending<br/>
+
+     roll their fruit on mould;<br/>
+
+And seemed, when Zephyr passed athwart the tree * Its branches<br/>
+
+     hung with bells of purest gold?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And shaddocks,[FN#406] that among their boughs hung laden as though each were
+the breast of a gazelle-like maiden, contenting the most longing wight, as
+saith of them the poet and saith aright,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"And Shaddock mid the garden-paths, on bough * Freshest like<br/>
+
+     fairest damsel met my sight;<br/>
+
+And to the blowing of the breeze it bent * Like golden ball to<br/>
+
+     bat of chrysolite."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the lime sweet of scent, which resembleth a hen's egg, but its yellowness
+ornamenteth its ripe fruit, and its fragrance hearteneth him who plucketh it,
+as saith the poet who singeth it,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Seest not the Lemon, when it taketh form, * Catch rays of light<br/>
+
+     and all to gaze constrain;<br/>
+
+Like egg of pullet which the huckster's hand * Adorneth dyeing<br/>
+
+     with the saffron-stain?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Moreover in this garden were all manner of other fruits and sweet-scented herbs
+and plants and fragrant flowers, such as jessamine and henna and
+water-lilies[FN#407] and spikenard[FN#408] and roses of every kind and
+plantain[FN#409] and myrtle and so forth; and indeed it was without compare,
+seeming as it were a piece of Paradise to whoso beheld it. If a sick man
+entered it, he came forth from it like a raging lion, and tongue availeth not
+to its description, by reason of that which was therein of wonders and rarities
+which are not found but in Heaven: and how should it be otherwise when its
+doorkeeper's name was Rizwan? Though widely different were the stations of
+those twain! Now when the sons of the merchants had walked about gazing at the
+garden after taking their pleasure therein, they say down in one of its
+pavilions and seated Nur al-Din in their midst.—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resume, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the sons of the
+merchants sat down in the pavilion they seated Nur al-Din in their midst on a
+rug of gold-purfled leather of Al-Táif,[FN#410] leaning on a pillow[FN#411] of
+minever, stuffed with ostrich down. And they gave him a fan of ostrich
+feathers, whereon were written these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A fan whose breath is fraught with fragrant scent; * Minding of<br/>
+
+     happy days and times forspent,<br/>
+
+Wafting at every time its perfumed air * O'er face of noble youth<br/>
+
+     on honour bent."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they laid by their turbands and outer clothes and sat talking and chatting
+and inducing one another to discourse, while they all kept their eyes fixed on
+Nur al-Din and gazed on his beauteous form. After the sitting had lasted an
+hour or so, up came a slave with a tray on his head, wherein were platters of
+china and crystal containing viands of all sorts (for one of the youths had so
+charged his people before coming to the garden); and the meats were of whatever
+walketh earth or wingeth air or swimmeth waters, such as Katá-grouse and fat
+quails and pigeon-poults and mutton and chickens and the delicatest fish. So,
+the tray being sat before them, they fell to and ate their fill; and when they
+had made an end of eating, they rose from meat and washed their hands with pure
+water and musk-scented soap, and dried them with napery embroidered in silk and
+bugles; but to Nur al-Din they brought a napkin laced with red gold whereon he
+wiped his hands. Then coffee[FN#412] was served up and each drank what he
+would, after which they sat talking, till presently the garden-keeper who was
+young went away and returning with a basket full of roses, said to them, "What
+say ye, O my masters, to flowers?" Quoth one of them, "There is no harm in
+them,[FN#413] especially roses, which are not to be resisted." Answered the
+gardener, "'Tis well, but it is of our wont not to give roses but in exchange
+for pleasant converse; so whoever would take aught thereof, let him recite some
+verses suitable to the situation." Now they were ten sons of merchants of whom
+one said, "Agreed: give me thereof and I will recite thee somewhat of verse apt
+to the case." Accordingly the gardener gave him a bunch of roses[FN#414] which
+he took and at once improvised these three couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The Rose in highest stead I rate * For that her charms ne'er<br/>
+
+     satiate;<br/>
+
+All fragrant flow'rs be troops to her * Their general of high<br/>
+
+     estate:<br/>
+
+Where she is not they boast and vaunt; * But, when she comes,<br/>
+
+     they stint their prate."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the gardener gave a bunch to another and he recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Take, O my lord, to thee the Rose * Recalling scent by mush be<br/>
+
+     shed.<br/>
+
+Like virginette by lover eyed * Who with her sleeves[FN#415]<br/>
+
+     enveileth head."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he gave a bunch to a third who recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Choice Rose that gladdens heart to see her sight; * Of Nadd<br/>
+
+     recalling fragrance exquisite.<br/>
+
+The branchlets clip her in her leaves for joy, * Like kiss of<br/>
+
+     lips that never spake in spite."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he gave a bunch to a fourth and he recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Seest not that rosery where Rose a-flowering displays * Mounted<br/>
+
+     upon her steed of stalk those marvels manifold?<br/>
+
+As though the bud were ruby-stone and girded all around * With<br/>
+
+     chrysolite and held within a little hoard of gold."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he gave a posy to a fifth and he recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Wands of green chrysolite bare issue, which * Were fruits like<br/>
+
+     ingots of the growing gold.[FN#416]<br/>
+
+And drops, a dropping from its leaves, were like * The tears my<br/>
+
+     languorous eyelids railed and rolled."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he gave a sixth a bunch and he recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O Rose, thou rare of charms that dost contain * All gifts and<br/>
+
+     Allah's secrets singular,<br/>
+
+Thou'rt like the loved one's cheek where lover fond * And fain of<br/>
+
+     Union sticks the gold dinar."[FN#417]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he gave a bunch to a seventh and he recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"To Rose quoth I, 'What gars thy thorns to be put forth * For all<br/>
+
+     who touch thee cruellest injury?'<br/>
+
+Quoth she, 'These flowery troops are troops of me * Who be their<br/>
+
+     lord with spines for armoury.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he gave an eighth a bunch and he recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Allah save the Rose which yellows a-morn * Florid, vivid and<br/>
+
+     likest the nugget-ore;<br/>
+
+And bless the fair sprays that displayed such flowers * And mimic<br/>
+
+     suns gold-begilded bore."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he gave a bunch to a ninth and he recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The bushes of golden-hued Rose excite * In the love-sick lover<br/>
+
+     joys manifold:<br/>
+
+'Tis a marvel shrub watered every day * With silvern lymph and it<br/>
+
+     fruiteth gold."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he gave a bunch of roses to the tenth and last and he recited these two
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Seest not how the hosts of the Rose display * Red hues and<br/>
+
+     yellow in rosy field?<br/>
+
+I compare the Rose and her arming thorn * To emerald lance<br/>
+
+     piercing golden shield."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And whilst each one hent bunch in hand, the gardener brought the wine-service
+and setting it before them, on a tray of porcelain arabesqued with red gold,
+recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Dawn heralds day-light: so wine pass round, * Old wine, fooling<br/>
+
+     sage till his wits he tyne:<br/>
+
+Wot I not for its purest clarity * An 'tis wine in cup or 'tis<br/>
+
+     cup in wine."[FN#418]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the gardener filled and drank and the cup went round, till it came to Nur
+al-Din's turn, whereupon the man filled and handed it to him; but he said,
+"This thing I wot it not nor have I ever drunken thereof, for therein is great
+offence and the Lord of All-might hath forbidden it in His Book." Answered the
+gardener, "O my Lord Nur al-Din, an thou forbear to drink only by reason of the
+sin, verily Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) is bountiful, of sufferance
+great, forgiving and compassionate and pardoneth the mortalest sins: His mercy
+embraceth all things, Allah's ruth be upon the poet who saith,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Be as thou wilt, for Allah is bountiful * And when thou sinnest<br/>
+
+     feel thou naught alarm:<br/>
+
+But 'ware of twofold sins nor ever dare * To give God partner or<br/>
+
+     mankind to harm.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then quoth one of the sons of the merchants, "My life on thee, O my lord Nur
+al-Din, drink of this cup!" And another conjured him by the oath of divorce and
+yet another stood up persistently before him, till he was ashamed and taking
+the cup from the gardener, drank a draught, but spat it out again, crying,
+"'Tis bitter." Said the young gardener, "O my lord Nur al-Din, knowest thou not
+that sweets taken by way of medicine are bitter?  Were this not bitter, 'twould
+lack of the manifold virtues it possesseth; amongst which are that it digesteth
+food and disperseth cark and care and dispelleth flatulence and clarifieth the
+blood and cleareth the complexion and quickeneth the body and hearteneth the
+hen-hearted and fortifieth the sexual power in man; but to name all its virtues
+would be tedious. Quoth one of the poets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'We'll drink and Allah pardon sinners all * And cure of ills by<br/>
+
+     sucking cups I'll find:<br/>
+
+Nor aught the sin deceives me; yet said He * 'In it there be<br/>
+
+     advantage[FN#419] to mankind.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he sprang up without stay or delay and opened one of the cupboards in the
+pavilion and taking out a loaf of refined sugar, broke off a great slice which
+he put into Nur al-Din's cup, saying, "O my lord, an thou fear to drink wine,
+because of its bitterness, drink now, for 'tis sweet." So he took the cup and
+emptied it: whereupon one of his comrades filled him another, saying, "O my
+lord Nur al-Din, I am thy slave," and another did the like, saying, "I am one
+of thy servants," and a third said, "For my sake!" and a fourth, "Allah upon
+thee, O my lord Nur al-Din, heal my heart!" And so they ceased not plying him
+with wine, each and every of the ten sons of merchants till they had made him
+drink a total of ten cups. Now Nur al-Din's body was virgin of wine-bibbing, or
+never in all his life had he drunken vine-juice till that hour, wherefore its
+fumes wrought in his brain and drunkenness was stark upon him and he stood up
+(and indeed his tongue was thick and his speech stammering) and said, "O
+company, by Allah, ye are fair and your speech is goodly and your place
+pleasant; but there needeth hearing of sweet music; for drink without melody
+lacks the chief of its essentiality, even as saith the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Pass round the cup to the old and the young man, too, And take<br/>
+
+     the bowl from the hand of the shining moon,[FN#420]<br/>
+
+But without music, I charge you, forbear to drink; I see even<br/>
+
+     horses drink to a whistled tune.'"[FN#421]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Therewith up sprang the gardener lad and mounting one of the young men's mules,
+was absent awhile, after which he returned with a Cairene girl, as she were a
+sheep's tail, fat and delicate, or an ingot of pure silvern ore or a dinar on a
+porcelain plate or a gazelle in the wold forlore. She had a face that put to
+shame the shining sun and eyes Babylonian[FN#422] and brows like bows bended
+and cheeks rose-painted and teeth pearly-hued and lips sugared and glances
+languishing and breast ivory white and body slender and slight, full of folds
+and with dimples dight and hips like pillows stuffed and thighs like columns of
+Syrian stone, and between them what was something like a sachet of spices in
+wrapper swathed. Quoth the poet of her in these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Had she shown her shape to idolaters' sight, * They would gaze<br/>
+
+     on her face and their gods detest:<br/>
+
+And if in the East to a monk she'd show'd, * He'd quit Eastern<br/>
+
+     posture and bow to West.[FN#423]<br/>
+
+An she crached in the sea and the briniest sea * Her lips would<br/>
+
+     give it the sweetest zest."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And quoth another in these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Brighter than Moon at full with kohl'd eyes she came * Like Doe,<br/>
+
+     on chasing whelps of Lioness intent:<br/>
+
+Her night of murky locks lets fall a tent on her * A tent of<br/>
+
+     hair[FN#424] that lacks no pegs to hold the tent;<br/>
+
+And roses lighting up her roseate cheeks are fed * By hearts and<br/>
+
+     livers flowing fire for languishment:<br/>
+
+An 'spied her all the Age's Fair to her they'd rise *<br/>
+
+     Humbly,[FN#425] and cry 'The meed belongs to precedent!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And how well saith a third bard,[FN#426]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Three things for ever hinder her to visit us, for fear Of the<br/>
+
+     intriguing spy and eke the rancorous envier;<br/>
+
+Her forehead's lustre and the sound of all her ornaments And the<br/>
+
+     sweet scent her creases hold of ambergris and myrrh.<br/>
+
+Grant with the border of her sleeve she hide her brow and doff<br/>
+
+     Her ornaments, how shall she do her scent away from her?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She was like the moon when at fullest on its fourteenth night, and was clad in
+a garment of blue, with a veil of green, over brow flower-white that all wits
+amazed and those of understanding amated.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the gardener brought a
+girl whom we have described possessed of the utmost beauty and loveliness and
+fine stature and symmetrical grace as it were she the poet signified when he
+said,[FN#427]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"She came apparelled in a vest of blue,<br/>
+
+That mocked the skies and shamed their azure hue;<br/>
+
+I thought thus clad she burst upon my sight,<br/>
+
+Like summer moonshine on a wintry night."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And how goodly is the saying of another and how excellent,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"She came thick veiled, and cried I, 'O display * That face like<br/>
+
+     full moon bright with pure-white ray.'<br/>
+
+Quoth she, 'I fear disgrace,' quoth I, 'Cut short * This talk, no<br/>
+
+     shift of days thy thoughts affray.'<br/>
+
+Whereat she raised her veil from fairest face * And crystal spray<br/>
+
+     on gems began to stray:<br/>
+
+And I forsooth was fain to kiss her cheek, * Lest she complain of<br/>
+
+     me on Judgment-Day.<br/>
+
+And at such tide before the Lord on High * We first of lovers<br/>
+
+     were redress to pray:<br/>
+
+So 'Lord, prolong this reckoning and review' * (Prayed I) 'that<br/>
+
+     longer I may sight my may.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then said the young gardener to her, "Know thou, O lady of the fair, brighter
+than any constellation which illumineth air we sought, in bringing thee hither
+naught but that thou shouldst entertain with converse this comely youth, my
+lord Nur al-Din, for he hath come to this place only this day." And the girl
+replied, "Would thou hadst told me, that I might have brought what I have with
+me!" Rejoined the gardener, "O my lady, I will go and fetch it to thee." "As
+thou wilt," said she: and he, "Give me a token." So she gave him a kerchief and
+he fared forth in haste and returned after awhile, bearing a green satin bag
+with slings of gold. The girl took the bag from him and opening it shook it,
+whereupon there fell thereout two-and-thirty pieces of wood, which she fitted
+one into other, male into female and female into male[FN#428] till they became
+a polished lute of Indian workmanship. Then she uncovered her wrists and laying
+the lute in her lap, bent over it with the bending of mother over babe, and
+swept the strings with her finger-tips; whereupon it moaned and resounded and
+after its olden home yearned; and it remembered the waters that gave it drink
+and the earth whence it sprang and wherein it grew and it minded the carpenters
+who cut it and the polishers who polished it and the merchants who made it
+their merchandise and the ships that shipped it; and it cried and called aloud
+and moaned and groaned; and it was as if she asked it of all these things and
+it answered her with the tongue of the case, reciting these couplets,[FN#429]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A tree whilere was I the Bulbul's home * To whom for love I<br/>
+
+     bowed my grass-green head:<br/>
+
+They moaned on me, and I their moaning learnt * And in that moan<br/>
+
+     my secret all men read:<br/>
+
+The woodman felled me falling sans offence, * And slender lute of<br/>
+
+     me (as view ye) made:<br/>
+
+But, when the fingers smite my strings, they tell * How man<br/>
+
+     despite my patience did me dead;<br/>
+
+Hence boon-companions when they hear my moan * Distracted wax as<br/>
+
+     though by wine misled:<br/>
+
+And the Lord softens every heart to me, * And I am hurried to the<br/>
+
+     highmost stead:<br/>
+
+All who in charms excel fain clasp my waist; * Gazelles of<br/>
+
+     languid eyne and Houri maid:<br/>
+
+Allah ne'er part fond lover from his joy * Nor live the loved one<br/>
+
+     who unkindly fled."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the girl was silent awhile, but presently taking the lute in lap, again
+bent over it, as mother bendeth over child, and preluded in many different
+modes; then, returning to the first, she sang these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Would they [FN#430] the lover seek without ado, * He to his<br/>
+
+     heavy grief had bid adieu:<br/>
+
+With him had vied the Nightingale[FN#431] on bough * As one far<br/>
+
+     parted from his lover's view:<br/>
+
+Rouse thee! awake! The Moon lights Union-night * As tho' such<br/>
+
+     Union woke the Morn anew.<br/>
+
+This day the blamers take of us no heed * And lute-strings bid us<br/>
+
+     all our joys ensue.<br/>
+
+Seest not how four-fold things conjoin in one * Rose, myrtle,<br/>
+
+     scents and blooms of golden hue.[FN#432]<br/>
+
+Yea, here this day the four chief joys unite * Drink and dinars,<br/>
+
+     beloved and lover true:<br/>
+
+So win thy worldly joy, for joys go past * And naught but storied<br/>
+
+     tales and legends last."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Nur al-Din heard the girl sing these lines he looked on her with eyes of
+love and could scarce contain himself for the violence of his inclination to
+her; and on like wise was it with her, because she glanced at the company who
+were present of the sons of the merchants and she saw that Nur al-Din was
+amongst the rest as moon among stars; for that he was sweet of speech and
+replete with amorous grace, perfect in stature and symmetry, brightness and
+loveliness, pure of all defect, than the breeze of morn softer, than Tasnim
+blander, as saith of him the poet,[FN#433]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"By his cheeks' unfading damask and his smiling teeth I swear, By<br/>
+
+     the arrows that he feathers with the witchery of his air,<br/>
+
+By his sides so soft and tender and his glances bright and keen,<br/>
+
+     By the whiteness of his forehead and the blackness of his<br/>
+
+     hair,<br/>
+
+By his arched imperious eyebrows, chasing slumber from my lids<br/>
+
+     With their yeas and noes that hold me 'twixt rejoicing and<br/>
+
+     despair,<br/>
+
+By the Scorpions that he launches from his ringlet-clustered<br/>
+
+     brows, Seeking still to slay his lovers with his rigours<br/>
+
+     unaware,<br/>
+
+By the myrtle of his whiskers and the roses of his cheek, By his<br/>
+
+     lips' incarnate rubies and his teeth's fine pearls and rare,<br/>
+
+By the straight and tender sapling of his shape, which for its<br/>
+
+     fruit Doth the twin pomegranates, shining in his snowy<br/>
+
+     bosom, wear,<br/>
+
+By his heavy hips that tremble, both in motion and repose, And<br/>
+
+     the slender waist above them, all too slight their weight to<br/>
+
+     bear,<br/>
+
+By the silk of his apparel and his quick and sprightly wit, By<br/>
+
+     all attributes of beauty that are fallen to his share;<br/>
+
+Lo, the musk exhales its fragrance from his breath, and eke the<br/>
+
+     breeze From his scent the perfume borrows, that it scatters<br/>
+
+     everywhere.<br/>
+
+Yea, the sun in all his splendour cannot with his brightness vie<br/>
+
+     And the crescent moon's a fragment that he from his nails<br/>
+
+     doth pare."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din was
+delighted with the girl's verses and he swayed from side to side for
+drunkenness and fell a-praising her and saying,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A lutanist to us inclined * And stole our wits bemused with<br/>
+
+     wine:<br/>
+
+And said to us her lute, 'The Lord * Bade us discourse by voice<br/>
+
+     divine.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When she heard him thus improvise the girl gazed at him with loving eyes and
+redoubled in passion and desire for him increased upon her, and indeed she
+marvelled at his beauty and loveliness, symmetry and grace, so that she could
+not contain herself, but took the lute in lap again and sang these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"He blames me for casting on him my sight * And parts fro' me<br/>
+
+     bearing my life and sprite:<br/>
+
+He repels me but kens what my heart endures * As though Allah<br/>
+
+     himself had inspired the wight:<br/>
+
+I portrayed his portrait in palm of hand * And cried to mine<br/>
+
+     eyes, 'Weep your doleful plight.'<br/>
+
+For neither shall eyes of me spy his like * Nor my heart have<br/>
+
+     patience to bear its blight:<br/>
+
+Wherefore, will I tear thee from breast, O Heart * As one who<br/>
+
+     regards him with jealous spite.<br/>
+
+And when say I, 'O heart be consoled for pine,' * 'Tis that heart<br/>
+
+     to none other shall e'er incline:"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Nur al-Din wondered at the charms of her verse and the elegance of her
+expression and the sweetness of her voice and the eloquence of her speech and
+his wit fled for stress of love and longing, and ecstasy and distraction, so
+that he could not refrain from her a single moment, but bent to her and
+strained her to his bosom: and she in like manner bowed her form over his and
+abandoned herself to his embrace and bussed him between the eyes. Then he
+kissed her on the mouth and played with her at kisses, after the manner of the
+billing of doves; and she met him with like warmth and did with him as she was
+done by till the others were distracted and rose to their feet; whereupon Nur
+al-Din was ashamed and held his hand from her. Then she took her lute and,
+preluding thereon in manifold modes, lastly returned to the first and sang
+these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A Moon, when he bends him those eyes lay bare * A brand that<br/>
+
+     gars gazing gazelle despair:<br/>
+
+A King, rarest charms are the host of him * And his lance-like<br/>
+
+     shape men with cane compare:<br/>
+
+Were his softness of sides to his heart transferred * His friend<br/>
+
+     had not suffered such cark and care:<br/>
+
+Ah for hardest heart and for softest sides! * Why not that to<br/>
+
+     these alter, make here go there?<br/>
+
+O thou who accusest my love excuse: * Take eternal and leave me<br/>
+
+     the transient share."[FN#434]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Nur al-Din heard the sweetness of her voice and the rareness of her verse,
+he inclined to her for delight and could not contain himself for excess of
+wonderment; so he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Methought she was the forenoon sun until she donned the veil *<br/>
+
+     But lit she fire in vitals mine still flaring fierce and<br/>
+
+     high,<br/>
+
+How had it hurt her an she deigned return my poor salám * With<br/>
+
+     fingertips or e'en vouchsafed one little wink of eye?<br/>
+
+The cavalier who spied her face was wholly stupefied * By charms<br/>
+
+     that glorify the place and every charm outvie.<br/>
+
+'Be this the Fair who makes thee pine and long for love liesse? *<br/>
+
+     Indeed thou art excused!' 'This is my fairest she;'(quoth I)<br/>
+
+Who shot me with the shaft of looks nor deigns to rue my woes *<br/>
+
+     Of strangerhood and broken heart and love I must aby:<br/>
+
+I rose a-morn with vanquished heart, to longing love a prey * And<br/>
+
+     weep I through the live long day and all the night I cry."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The girl marvelled at his eloquence and elegance and taking her lute, smote
+thereon with the goodliest of performance, repeating all the melodies, and sang
+these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"By the life o' thy face, O thou life o' my sprite! * I'll ne'er<br/>
+
+     leave thy love for despair or delight:<br/>
+
+When art cruel thy vision stands hard by my side * And the<br/>
+
+     thought of thee haunts me when far from sight:<br/>
+
+O who saddenest my glance albe weeting that I * No love but thy<br/>
+
+     love will for ever requite?<br/>
+
+Thy cheeks are of Rose and thy lips-dews are wine; * Say, wilt<br/>
+
+     grudge them to us in this charming site?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Hereat Nur al-Din was gladdened with extreme gladness and wondered with the
+utmost wonder, so he answered her verse with these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The sun yellowed not in the murk gloom li'en * But lay pearl<br/>
+
+     enveiled 'neath horizon-chine;<br/>
+
+Nor showed its crest to the eyes of Morn * But took refuge from<br/>
+
+     parting with Morning-shine.[FN#435]<br/>
+
+Take my tear-drops that trickle as chain on chain * And they'll<br/>
+
+     tell my case with the clearest sign.<br/>
+
+An my tears be likened to Nile-flood, like * Malak's[FN#436]<br/>
+
+     flooded flat be this love o'mine.<br/>
+
+Quoth she, 'Bring thy riches!' Quoth I, 'Come, take!' * 'And thy<br/>
+
+     sleep?' 'Yes, take it from lids of eyne!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the girl heard Nur al-Din's words and noted the beauty of his eloquence
+her senses fled and her wit was dazed and love of him gat hold upon her whole
+heart. So she pressed him to her bosom and fell to kissing him like the billing
+of doves, whilst he returned her caresses with successive kisses; but
+preeminence appertaineth to precedence.[FN#437] When she had made an end of
+kissing, she took the lute and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Alas, alack and well-away for blamer's calumny! * Whether or not<br/>
+
+     I make my moan or plead or show no plea:<br/>
+
+O spurner of my love I ne'er of thee so hard would deem * That I<br/>
+
+     of thee should be despised, of thee my property.<br/>
+
+I wont at lovers' love to rail and for their passion chide, * But<br/>
+
+     now I fain debase myself to all who rail at thee:<br/>
+
+Yea, only yesterday I wont all amourists to blame * But now I<br/>
+
+     pardon hearts that pine for passion's ecstasy;<br/>
+
+And of my stress of parting-stowre on me so heavy weighs * At<br/>
+
+     morning prayer to Him I'll cry, 'In thy name, O Ali!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And also these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"His lovers said, 'Unless he deign to give us all a drink * Of<br/>
+
+     wine, of fine old wine his lips deal in their purity;<br/>
+
+We to the Lord of Threefold Worlds will pray to grant our prayer'<br/>
+
+     * And all exclaim with single cry 'In thy name, O Ali!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Nur al-Din, hearing these lines and their rhyme, marvelled at the fluency of
+her tongue and thanked her, praising her grace and passing seductiveness; and
+the damsel, delighted at his praise, arose without stay or delay and doffing
+that was upon her of outer dress and trinkets till she was free of all
+encumbrance sat down on his knees and kissed him between the eyes and on his
+cheek-mole. Then she gave him all she had put off.—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the girl gave to Nur
+al-Din all she had doffed, saying, "O beloved of my heart, in very sooth the
+gift is after the measure of the giver." So he accepted this from her and gave
+it back to her and kissed her on the mouth and cheeks and eyes. When this was
+ended and done, for naught is durable save the Living, the Eternal, Provider of
+the peacock and the owl,[FN#438] Nur al-Din rose from the séance and stood upon
+his feet, because the darkness was now fallen and the stars shone out;
+whereupon quoth the damsel to him, "Whither away, O my lord?"; and quoth he,
+"To my father's home." Then the sons of the merchants conjured him to night
+with them, but he refused and mounting his shemule, rode, without stopping,
+till he reached his parent's house, where his mother met him and said to him,
+"O my son, what hath kept thee away till this hour? By Allah, thou hast
+troubled myself and thy sire by thine absence from us, and our hearts have been
+occupied with thee." Then she came up to him, to kiss him on his mouth, and
+smelling the fumes of the wine, said, "O my son, how is it that, after prayer
+and worship thou hast become a wine-bibber and a rebel against Him to whom
+belong creation and commandment?" But Nur al-Din threw himself down on the bed
+and lay there. Presently in came his sire and said, "What aileth Nur al-Din to
+lie thus?"; and his mother answered, "'Twould seem his head acheth for the air
+of the garden." So Taj al-Din went up to his son, to ask him of his ailment,
+and salute him, and smelt the reek of wine.[FN#439] Now the merchant loved not
+wine-drinkers; so he said to Nur al-Din, "Woe to thee, O my son! Is folly come
+to such a pass with thee, that thou drinkest wine?" When Nur al-Din heard his
+sire say this, he raised his hand, being yet in his drunkenness, and dealt him
+a buffet, when by decree of the Decreer the blow lit on his father's right eye
+which rolled down on his cheek; whereupon he fell a-swoon and lay therein
+awhile. They sprinkled rose-water on him till he recovered, when he would have
+beaten his son; but the mother withheld him, and he swore, by the oath of
+divorce from his wife that, as soon as morning morrowed, he would assuredly cut
+off his son's right hand.[FN#440] When she heard her husband's words, her
+breast was straitened and she feared for her son and ceased not to soothe and
+appease his sire, till sleep overcame him. Then she waited till moon-rise, when
+she went in to her son, whose drunkenness had now departed from him, and said
+to him, "O Nur al-Din, what is this foul deed thou diddest with thy sire?" He
+asked, "And what did I with him?"; and answered she, "Thou dealtest him a
+buffet on the right eye and struckest it out so that it rolled down his cheek;
+and he hath sworn by the divorce-oath that, as soon as morning shall morrow he
+will without fail cut off thy right hand." Nur al-Din repented him of that he
+had done, whenas repentance profited him naught, and his mother said to him, "O
+my son, this penitence will not profit thee; nor will aught avail thee but that
+thou arise forthwith and seek safety in flight: go forth the house privily and
+take refuge with one of thy friends and there what Allah shall do await, for he
+changeth case after case and state upon state." Then she opened a chest and
+taking out a purse of an hundred dinars said, "O my son, take these dinars and
+provide thy wants therewith, and when they are at an end, O my son, send and
+let me know thereof, that I may send thee other than these, and at the same
+time covey to me news of thyself privily: haply Allah will decree thee relief
+and thou shalt return to thy home." And she farewelled him and wept passing
+sore, nought could be more. Thereupon Nur al-Din took the purse of gold and was
+about to go forth, when he espied a great purse containing a thousand dinars,
+which his mother had forgotten by the side of the chest. So he took this also
+and binding the two purses about his middle,[FN#441] set out before dawn
+threading the streets in the direction of Búlák, where he arrived when day
+broke and all creatures arose, attesting the unity of Allah the Opener and went
+forth each of them upon his several business, to win that which Allah had unto
+him allotted. Reaching Bulak he walked on along the riverbank till he sighted a
+ship with her gangway out and her four anchors made fast to the land. The folk
+were going up into her and coming down from her, and Nur al-Din, seeing some
+sailors there standing, asked them whither they were bound, and they answered,
+"To Rosetta-city." Quoth he, "Take me with you;" and quoth they, "Well come,
+and welcome to thee, to thee, O goodly one!" So he betook himself forthright to
+the market and buying what he needed of vivers and bedding and covering,
+returned to the port and went on board the ship, which was ready to sail and
+tarried with him but a little while before she weighed anchor and fared on,
+without stopping, till she reached Rosetta,[FN#442] where Nur al-Din saw a
+small boat going to Alexandria. So he embarked in it and traversing the sea-arm
+of Rosetta fared on till he came to a bridge called Al-Jámí, where he landed
+and entered Alexandria by the gate called the Gate of the Lote-tree. Allah
+protected him, so that none of those who stood on guard at the gate saw him,
+and he walked on till he entered the city.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventieth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur al-Din
+entered Alexandria he found it a city goodly of pleasaunces, delightful to its
+inhabitants and inviting to inhabit therein. Winter had fared from it with his
+cold and Prime was come to it with his roses: its flowers were kindly ripe and
+welled forth its rills. Indeed, it was a city goodly of ordinance and
+disposition; its folk were of the best of men, and when the gates thereof were
+shut, its folk were safe.[FN#443] And it was even as is said of it in these
+couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Quoth I to a comrade one day, * A man of good speech and rare,<br/>
+
+'Describe Alexandria.' * Quoth he, 'Tis a march-town fair.'<br/>
+
+Quoth I, 'Is there living therein?' * And he, 'An the wind blow<br/>
+
+     there.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Or as saith one of the poets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Alexandria's a frontier;[FN#444] Whose dews of lips are sweet<br/>
+
+     and clear;<br/>
+
+How fair the coming to it is, * So one therein no raven speer!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Nur al-Din walked about the city and ceased not walking till he came to the
+merchants' bazar, whence he passed on to the mart of the money-changers and so
+on in turn to the markets of the confectioners and fruiterers and druggists,
+marvelling, as he went, at the city, for that the nature of its qualities
+accorded with its name.[FN#445] As he walked in the druggists' bazar, behold,
+an old man came down from his shop and saluting him, took him by the hand and
+carried him to his home. And Nur al-Din saw a fair bystreet, swept and
+sprinkled, whereon the zephyr blew and made pleasantness pervade it and the
+leaves of the trees overshaded it. Therein stood three houses and at the upper
+end a mansion, whose foundations were firm sunk in the water and its walls
+towered to the confines of the sky. They had swept the space before it and they
+had sprinkled it freshly; so it exhaled the fragrance of flowers, borne on the
+zephyr which breathed upon the place; and the scent met there who approached it
+on such wise as it were one of the gardens of Paradise. And, as they had
+cleaned and cooled the by-street's head, so was the end of it with marble
+spread. The Shaykh carried Nur al-Din into the house and setting somewhat of
+food before him ate with his guest. When they had made an end of eating, the
+druggist said to him, "When camest thou hither from Cairo?"; and Nur al-Din
+replied, "This very night, O my father." Quoth the old man, "What is thy
+name?"; and quoth he, "Ali Nur al-Din." Said the druggist, "O my son, O Nur
+al-Din, be the triple divorce incumbent on me, an thou leave me so long as thou
+abidest in this city; and I will set thee apart a place wherein thou mayst
+dwell." Nur al-Din asked, "O my lord the Shaykh, let me know more of thee"; and
+the other answered, "Know, O my son, that some years ago I went to Cairo with
+merchandise, which I sold there and bought other, and I had occasion for a
+thousand dinars. So thy sire Taj al-Din weighed them out[FN#446] for me, all
+unknowing me, and would take no written word of me, but had patience with me
+till I returned hither and sent him the amount by one of my servants, together
+with a gift. I saw thee, whilst thou wast little; and, if it please Allah the
+Most High, I will repay thee somewhat of the kindness thy father did me." When
+Nur al-Din heard the old man's story, he showed joy and pulling out with a
+smile the purse of a thousand dinars, gave it to his host the Shaykh and said
+to him, "Take charge of this deposit for me, against I buy me somewhat of
+merchandise whereon to trade." Then he abode some time in Alexandria city
+taking his pleasure every day in its thoroughfares, eating and drinking ad
+indulging himself with mirth and merriment till he had made an end of the
+hundred dinars he had kept by way of spending-money; whereupon he repaired to
+the old druggist, to take of him somewhat of the thousand dinars to spend, but
+found him not in his shop and took a seat therein to await his return. He sat
+there gazing right and left and amusing himself with watching the merchants and
+passers-by, and as he was thus engaged behold, there came into the bazar a
+Persian riding on a she-mule and carrying behind him a damsel; as she were
+argent of alloy free or a fish Balti[FN#447] in mimic sea or a doe-gazelle on
+desert lea. Her face outshone the sun in shine and she had witching eyne and
+breasts of ivory white, teeth of marguerite, slender waist and sides dimpled
+deep and calves like tails of fat sheep;[FN#448] and indeed she was perfect in
+beauty and loveliness, elegant stature and symmetrical grace, even as saith
+one, describing her,[FN#449]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"'Twas as by will of her she was create * Nor short nor long, but<br/>
+
+     Beauty's mould and mate:<br/>
+
+Rose blushes reddest when she sees those cheeks * And fruits the<br/>
+
+     bough those marvel charms amate:<br/>
+
+Moon is her favour, Musk the scent of her * Branch is her shape:Â<br/>
+
+     she passeth man's estate:<br/>
+
+'Tis e'en as were she cast in freshest pearl * And every limblet<br/>
+
+     shows a moon innate."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Presently the Persian lighted down from his she-mule and making the damsel also
+dismount loudly summoned the broker and said to him as soon as he came, "Take
+this damsel and cry her for sale in the market." So he took her and leading her
+to the middlemost of the bazar disappeared for a while and presently he
+returned with a stool of ebony, inlaid with ivory, and setting it upon the
+ground, seated her thereon. Then he raised her veil and discovered a face as it
+were a Median targe[FN#450] or a cluster of pearls:[FN#451] and indeed she was
+like the full moon, when it filleth on its fourteenth night, accomplished in
+brilliant beauty. As saith the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Vied the full moon for folly with her face, * But was<br/>
+
+     eclipsed[FN#452] and split for rage full sore;<br/>
+
+And if the spiring Bán with her contend * Perish her hands who<br/>
+
+     load of fuel bore!"[FN#453]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And how well saith another,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Say to the fair in the wroughten veil * How hast made that<br/>
+
+     monk-like worshipper ail?<br/>
+
+Light of veil and light of face under it * Made the hosts of<br/>
+
+     darkness to fly from bale;<br/>
+
+And, when came my glance to steal look at cheek. * With a<br/>
+
+     meteor-shaft the Guard made me quail."[FN#454]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then said the broker to the merchants,[FN#455] "How much do ye bid for the
+union-pearl of the diver and prize-quarry of the fowler?" Quoth one, "She is
+mine for an hundred dinars." And another said, "Two hundred," and a third,
+"Three hundred"; and they ceased not to bid, one against other, till they made
+her price nine hundred and fifty dinars, and there the biddings stopped
+awaiting acceptance and consent.[FN#456]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-first Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the merchants bid one
+against other till they made the price of the girl nine hundred and fifty
+dinars. Then the broker went up to her Persian master and said to him, "The
+biddings for this thy slave-girl have reached nine hundred and fifty dinars: so
+say me, wilt thou sell her at that price and take the money?" Asked the
+Persian, "Doth she consent to this? I desire to fall in with her wishes, for I
+sickened on my journey hither and this handmaid tended me with all possible
+tenderness, wherefore I sware not to sell her but to him whom she should like
+and approve, and I have put her sale in her own hand. So do thou consult her
+and if she say, 'I consent,' sell her to whom thou wilt: but an she say, 'No,'
+sell her not." So the broker went up to her and asked her, "O Princess of fair
+ones, know that thy master putteth thy sale in thine own hands, and thy price
+hath reached nine hundred and fifty dinars; dost thou give me leave to sell
+thee?" She answered, "Show me him who is minded to buy me before clinching the
+bargain." So he brought her up to one of the merchants a man stricken with
+years and decrepit; and she looked at him a long while, then turned to the
+broker and said to him, "O broker, art thou Jinn-mad or afflicted in thy wit?"
+Replied he, "Why dost thou ask me this, O Princess of fair ones?"; and said
+she, "Is it permitted thee of Allah to sell the like of me to yonder decrepit
+old man, who saith of his wife's case these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Quoth she to me,—and sore enraged for wounded pride was she, *<br/>
+
+     For she in sooth had bidden me to that which might not be,—<br/>
+
+'An if thou swive me not forthright, as one should swive his<br/>
+
+     wife, * Thou be made a cuckold straight, reproach it not to<br/>
+
+     me.<br/>
+
+Meseems thy yard is made of wax, for very flaccidness; * For when<br/>
+
+     I rub it with my hand, it softens instantly.'[FN#457]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And said he likewise of his yard,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'I have a yard that sleeps in base and shameful way * When grants<br/>
+
+     my lover boon for which I sue and pray:<br/>
+
+But when I wake o' mornings[FN#458] all alone in bed, * 'Tis fain<br/>
+
+     o' foin and fence and fierce for futter-play.'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And again quoth he thereof of his yard,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'I have a froward yard of temper ill * Dishonoring him who shows<br/>
+
+     it most regard:<br/>
+
+It stands when sleep I, when I stand it sleeps * Heaven pity not<br/>
+
+     who pitieth that yard!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the old merchant heard this ill flouting from the damsel, he was wroth
+with wrath exceeding beyond which was no proceeding and said to the broker, "O
+most ill-omened of brokers, thou hast not brought into the market this
+ill-conditioned wench but to gibe me and make mock of me before the merchants."
+Then the broker took her aside and said to her, "O my lady, be not wanting in
+self-respect. The Shaykh at whom thou didst mock is the Syndic of the bazar and
+Inspector[FN#459] thereof and a committee-man of the council of the merchants."
+But she laughed and improvised these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"It behoveth folk who rule in our time, * And 'tis one of the<br/>
+
+     duties of magistrateship,<br/>
+
+To hand up the Wali above his door * And beat with a whip the<br/>
+
+     Mohtasib!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Adding, "By Allah, O my lord, I will not be sold to yonder old man; so sell me
+to other than him, for haply he will be abashed at me and vend me again and I
+shall become a mere servant[FN#460] and it beseemeth not that I sully myself
+with menial service; and indeed thou knowest that the matter of my sale is
+committed to myself." He replied, "I hear and I obey," and carried her to a man
+which was one of the chief merchants. And when standing hard by him the broker
+asked, "How sayst thou, O my lady? Shall I sell thee to my lord Sharíf al-Dín
+here for nine hundred and fifty gold pieces?" She looked at him and, seeing him
+to be an old man with a dyed beard, said to the broker, "Art thou silly, that
+thou wouldst sell me to this worn out Father Antic? Am I cotton refuse or
+threadbare rags that thou marchest me about from greybeard to greybeard, each
+like a wall ready to fall or an Ifrit smitten down of a fire-ball? As for the
+first, the poet had him in mind when he said,[FN#461]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'I sought of a fair maid to kiss her lips of coral red, But, 'No,<br/>
+
+     by Him who fashioned things from nothingness!' she said.<br/>
+
+Unto the white of hoary hairs I never had a mind, And shall my<br/>
+
+     mouth be stuffed, forsooth, with cotton, ere I'm dead?'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And how goodly is the saying of the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'The wise have said that white of hair is light that shines and<br/>
+
+     robes * The face of man with majesty and light that awes the<br/>
+
+     sight;<br/>
+
+Yet until hoary seal shall stamp my parting-place of hair * I<br/>
+
+     hope and pray that same may be black as the blackest night.<br/>
+
+Albe Time-whitened beard of man be like the book he bears[FN#462]<br/>
+
+     * When to his Lord he must return, I'd rather 'twere not<br/>
+
+     white,'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And yet goodlier is the saying of another,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'A guest hath stolen on my head and honour may he lack! * The<br/>
+
+     sword a milder deed hath done that dared these locks to<br/>
+
+     hack.<br/>
+
+Avaunt, O Whiteness,[FN#463] wherein naught of brightness<br/>
+
+     gladdens sight * Thou 'rt blacker in the eyes of me than<br/>
+
+     very blackest black!'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As for the other, he is a model of wantonness and scurrilousness and a
+blackener of the face of hoariness; his dye acteth the foulest of lies: and the
+tongue of his case reciteth these lines,[FN#464]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Quoth she to me, 'I see thou dy'st thy hoariness;' and I, 'I do<br/>
+
+     but hide it from thy sight, O thou mine ear and eye!'<br/>
+
+She laughed out mockingly and said, 'A wonder 'tis indeed! Thou<br/>
+
+     so aboundest in deceit that even thy hair's a lie.'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And how excellent is the saying of the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'O thou who dyest hoariness with black, * That youth wi' thee<br/>
+
+     abide, at least in show;<br/>
+
+Look ye, my lot was dyčd black whilome * And (take my word!) none<br/>
+
+     other hue 'twill grow.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the old man with dyed beard heard such words from the slave-girl, he raged
+with exceeding rage in fury's last stage and said to the broker, "O most
+ill-omened of brokers, this day thou hast brought to our market naught save
+this gibing baggage to flout at all who are therein, one after other, and fleer
+at them with flyting verse and idle jest?" And he came down from his shop and
+smote on the face the broker who took her an angered and carried her away
+saying to her, "By Allah, never in my life saw I a more shameless wench than
+thyself![FN#465] Thou hast cut off my daily bread and thine own this day and
+all the merchants will bear me a grudge on thine account." Then they saw on the
+way a merchant called Shihab al-Dín who bid ten dinars more for her, and the
+broker asked her leave to sell her to him. Quoth she, "Trot him out that I may
+see him and question him of a certain thing, which if he have in his house, I
+will be sold to him; and if not, then not." So the broker left her standing
+there and going up to Shihab al-Din, said to him, "O my lord, know that yonder
+damsel tells me she hath a mind to ask thee somewhat, which an thou have, she
+will be sold to thee. Now thou hast heard what she said to thy fellows, the
+merchants,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-second Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the broker said to
+the merchant, "Thou hast heard what this handmaid said to thy fellows, the
+traders, and by Allah, I fear to bring her to thee, lest she do with thee like
+as she did with thy neighbours and so I fall into disgrace with thee: but, an
+thou bid me bring her to thee, I will bring her." Quoth the merchant, "Hither
+with her to me." "Hearing and obeying," answered the broker and fetched for the
+purchaser the damsel, who looked at him and said, "O my lord, Shihab al-Din,
+hast thou in thy house round cushions stuffed with ermine strips?" Replied
+Shihab al-Din, "Yes, O Princess of fair ones, I have at home half a score such
+cushions; but I conjure thee by Allah, tell me, what will thou do with them?"
+Quoth she, "I will bear with thee till thou be asleep, when I will lay them on
+thy mouth and nose and press them down till thou die." Then she turned to the
+broker and said to him, "O thou refuse of brokers, meseemeth thou art mad, in
+that thou showest me this hour past, first to a pair of greybeards, in each of
+whom are two faults, and then thou proferrest me to my lord Shihab al-Din
+wherein be three defects; firstly, he is dwarfish, secondly, he hath a nose
+which is big, and thirdly, he hath a beard which is long. Of him quoth one of
+the poets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'We never heard of wight nor yet espied * Who amid men three<br/>
+
+     gifts hath unified:<br/>
+
+To wit, a beard one cubit long, a snout * Span-long and figure<br/>
+
+     tall a finger wide:'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And quoth another poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'From the plain of his face springs a minaret * Like a bezel of<br/>
+
+     ring on his finger set:<br/>
+
+Did creation enter that vasty nose * No created thing would<br/>
+
+     elsewhere be met.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Shihab al-Din heard this, he came down from his shop and seized the broker
+by the collar, saying, "O scurviest of brokers, what aileth thee to bring us a
+damsel to flout and make mock of us, one after other, with her verses and talk
+that a curse is?" So the broker took her and carried her away from before him
+and fared, saying, "By Allah, all my life long, since I have plied this
+profession never set I eyes on the like of thee for unmannerliness nor aught
+more curst to me than thy star, for thou hast cut off my livelihood this day
+and I have gained no profit by thee save cuffs on the neck-nape and catching by
+the collar!" Then he brought her to the shop of another merchant, owner of
+negro slaves and white servants, and stationing her before him, said to her,
+"Wilt thou be sold to this my lord 'Alá al-Dín?" She looked at him and seeing
+him hump-backed, said, "This is a Gobbo," and quoth the poet of him,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Drawn in thy shoulders are and spine thrust out, * As seeking<br/>
+
+     star which Satan gave the lout;[FN#466]<br/>
+
+Or as he tasted had first smack of scourge * And looked in marvel<br/>
+
+     for a second bout.'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And saith another on the same theme,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'As one of you who mounted mule, * A sight for me to ridicule: Is 't not a
+farce? Who feels surprise * An start and bolt with him the mule?'
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And another on a similar subject,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Oft hunchback addeth to his bunchy back * Faults which gar folk<br/>
+
+     upon his front look black:<br/>
+
+Like branch distort and dried by length of days * With citrons<br/>
+
+     hanging from it loose and slack.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With this the broker hurried up to her and, carrying her to another merchant,
+said to her, "Wilt thou be sold to this one?" She looked at him and said, "In
+very sooth this man is blue-eyed;[FN#467] how wilt thou sell me to him?" Quoth
+one of the poets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'His eyelids sore and bleared * Weakness of frame denote:<br/>
+
+Arise, ye folk and see * Within his eyes the mote!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the broker carried her to another and she looked at him and seeing that he
+had a long beard, said to the broker, "Fie upon thee! This is a ram, whose tail
+hath sprouted from his gullet. Wilt thou sell me to him, O unluckiest of
+brokers? Hast thou not heard say: 'All long of beard are little of wits?
+Indeed, after the measure of the length of the beard is the lack of sense; and
+this is a well-known thing among men of understanding.' As saith one of the
+poets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Ne'er was a man with beard grown overlong, * Tho' be he therefor<br/>
+
+     reverenced and fear'd,<br/>
+
+But who the shortness noted in his wits * Added to longness noted<br/>
+
+     in his beard.'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And quoth another,[FN#468]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'I have a friend with a beard which God hath made to grow to a<br/>
+
+     useless length,<br/>
+
+It is like unto one of the nights of winter long and dark and<br/>
+
+     cold.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With this the broker took her and turned away with her, and she asked, "Whither
+goest thou with me?" He answered, "Back to thy master the Persian; it sufficeth
+me what hath befallen me because of thee this day; for thou hast been the means
+of spoiling both my trade and his by thine ill manners." Then she looked about
+the market right and left, front and rear till, by the decree of the Decreer
+her eyes fell on Ali Nur al-Din the Cairene. So she gazed at him and saw
+him[FN#469] to be a comely youth of straight slim form and smooth of face,
+fourteen years old, rare in beauty and loveliness and elegance and amorous
+grace like the full moon on the fourteenth night with forehead flower-white,
+and cheeks rosy red, neck like alabaster and teeth than jewels finer and dews
+of lips sweeter than sugar, even as saith of him one of his describers,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Came to match him in beauty and loveliness rare * Full moons and<br/>
+
+     gazelles but quoth I, 'Soft fare!<br/>
+
+Fare softly, gazelles, nor yourselves compare * With him and, O<br/>
+
+     Moons, all your pains forbear!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And how well saith another bard,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Slim-waisted loveling, from his hair and brow * Men wake a-morn<br/>
+
+     in night and light renewed.<br/>
+
+Blame not the mole that dwelleth on his cheek * For Nu'uman's<br/>
+
+     bloom aye shows spot negro-hued."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the slave-girl beheld Nur al-Din he interposed between her and her wits;
+she fell in love to him with a great and sudden fall and her heart was taken
+with affection for him;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-third Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the slave-girl
+beheld Nur al-Din, her heart was taken with affection for him; so she turned to
+the broker and said to him, "Will not yonder young merchant who is sitting
+among the traders in the gown of striped broadcloth bid somewhat more for me?"
+The broker replied, "O lady of fair ones, yonder young man is a stranger from
+Cairo, where his father is chief of the trader-guild and surpasseth all the
+merchants and notables of the place. He is but lately come to this our city and
+lodgeth with one of his father's friends; but he hath made no bid for thee nor
+more nor less." When the girl heard the broker's words, she drew from her
+finger a costly signet-ring of ruby and said to the man, "Carry me to yonder
+youth, and if he buy me, this ring shall be thine, in requital of thy travail
+with me this day." The broker rejoiced at this and brought her up to Nur
+al-Din, and she considered him straitly and found him like the full moon,
+perfect in loveliness and a model of fine stature and symmetric grace, even as
+saith of him one of his describers.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Waters of beauty o'er his cheeks flow bright, * And rain his<br/>
+
+     glances shafts that sorely smite:<br/>
+
+Choked are his lovers an he deal disdain's * Bitterest draught<br/>
+
+     denaying love-delight.<br/>
+
+His forehead and his stature and my love * Are perfect perfected<br/>
+
+     perfection-dight;<br/>
+
+His raiment folds enfold a lovely neck * As crescent moon in<br/>
+
+     collar buttoned tight:<br/>
+
+His eyne and twinnčd moles and tears of me * Are night that<br/>
+
+     nighteth to the nightliest night.<br/>
+
+His eyebrows and his features and my frame[FN#470] * Crescents on<br/>
+
+     crescents are as crescents slight:<br/>
+
+His pupils pass the wine-cup to his friends * Which, albe sweet,<br/>
+
+     tastes bitter to my sprite;<br/>
+
+And to my thirsty throat pure drink he dealt * From smiling lips<br/>
+
+     what day we were unite:<br/>
+
+Then is my blood to him, my death to him * His right and rightful<br/>
+
+     and most righteous right."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The girl gazed at Nur al-Din and said, "O my lord, Allah upon thee, am I not
+beautiful?"; and he replied, "O Princess of fair ones, is there in the world a
+comelier than thou?" She rejoined, "Then why seest thou all the other merchants
+bid high for me and art silent nor sayest a word neither addest one dinar to my
+price? 'Twould seem I please thee not, O my lord!" Quoth he, "O my lady, were I
+in my own land, I had bought thee with all that my hand possesseth of monies;"
+and quoth she, "O my lord, I said not, 'Buy me against thy will,' yet, didst
+thou but add somewhat to my price, it would hearten my heart, though thou buy
+me not, so the merchants may say, 'Were not this girl handsome, yonder merchant
+of Cairo had not bidden for her, for the Cairenes are connoisseurs in
+slave-girls.'" These words abashed Nur al-Din and he blushed and said to the
+broker, "How high are the biddings for her?" He replied, "Her price hath
+reached nine hundred and sixty dinars,[FN#471] besides brokerage, as for the
+Sultan's dues, they fall on the seller." Quoth Nur al-Din, "Let me have her for
+a thousand dinars, brokerage and price." And the damsel hastening to the fore
+and leaving the broker, said, "I sell myself to this handsome young man for a
+thousand dinars." But Nur al-Din held his peace. Quoth one, "We sell to him;"
+and another, "He deserveth her;" and a third, "Accursed, son of accursed, is he
+who biddeth and doth not buy!"; and a fourth, "By Allah, they befit each
+other!" Then, before Nur al-Din could think, the broker fetched Kazis and
+witnesses, who wrote out a contract of sale and purchase; and the broker handed
+the paper to Nur al-Din, saying, "Take thy slave-girl and Allah bless thee in
+her for she beseemeth none but thee and none but thou beseemeth her." And he
+recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Boon Fortune sought him in humblest way[FN#472] * And came to<br/>
+
+     him draggle-tailed, all a-stir:<br/>
+
+And none is fittest for him but she * And none is fittest but he<br/>
+
+     for her."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Hereat Nur al-Din was abashed before the merchants; so he arose without stay or
+delay and weighed out the thousand dinars which he had left as a deposit with
+his father's friend the druggist, and taking the girl, carried her to the house
+wherein the Shaykh had lodged him. When she entered and saw nothing but ragged
+patched carpets and worn out rugs, she said to him, "O my lord, have I no value
+to thee and am I not worthy that thou shouldst bear me to thine own house and
+home wherein are thy goods, that thou bringest me into thy servant's lodging?
+Why dost thou not carry me to thy father's dwelling?" He replied, "By Allah, O
+Princess of fair ones, this is my house wherein I dwell; but it belongeth to an
+old man, a druggist of this city, who hath set it apart for me and lodged me
+therein. I told thee that I was a stranger and that I am of the sons of Cairo
+city." She rejoined, "O my lord, the least of houses sufficeth till thy return
+to thy native place; but, Allah upon thee, O my lord, go now and fetch us
+somewhat of roast meat and wine and dried fruit and dessert." Quoth Nur al-Din,
+"By Allah, O Princess of fair ones, I had no money with me but the thousand
+dinars I paid down to thy price nor possess I any other good. The few dirhams I
+owned were spent by me yesterday." Quoth she, "Hast thou no friend in the town,
+of whom thou mayst borrow fifty dirhams and bring them to me, that I may tell
+thee what thou shalt do therewith?" And he said, "I have no intimate but the
+druggist." Then he betook himself forthright to the druggist and said to him,
+"Peace be with thee, O uncle!" He returned his salam and said to him, "O my
+son, what hast thou bought for a thousand dinars this day?" Nur al-Din replied,
+"I have bought a slave-girl;" and the oldster rejoined, "O my son, art thou mad
+that thou givest a thousand dinars for one slave-girl? Would I knew what kind
+of slave-girl she is?" Said Nur al-Din, "She is a damsel of the children of the
+Franks;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din said to the
+ancient druggist, "The damsel is of the children of the Franks;" and the Shaykh
+said, "O my son, the best of the girls of the Franks are to be had in this our
+town for an hundred dinars, and by Allah, O my son, they have cheated thee in
+the matter of this damsel! However, an thou have taken a fancy to her, lie with
+her this night and do thy will of her and to-morrow morning go down with her to
+the market and sell her, though thou lose by her two hundred dinars, and reckon
+that thou hast lost them by shipwreck or hast been robbed of them on the road."
+Nur al-Din replied, "Right is thy rede, O uncle, but thou knowest that I had
+but the thousand dinars wherewith I purchased the damsel, and now I have not a
+single dirham left to spend; so I desire of thy favour and bounty that thou
+lend me fifty dirhams, to provide me withal, till to-morrow, when I will sell
+her and repay thee out of her price." Said the old man, "Willingly, O my son,"
+and counted out to him the fifty dirhams. Then he said to him, "O my son, thou
+art but young in years and the damsel is fair, so belike thy heart will be
+taken with her and it will be grievous to thee to vend her. Now thou hast
+nothing to live on and these fifty dirhams will readily be spent and thou wilt
+come to me and I shall lend thee once and twice and thrice, and so on up to ten
+times; but, an thou come to me after this, I will not return thy salam[FN#473]
+and our friendship with thy father will end ill." Nur al-Din took the fifty
+dirhams and returned with them to the damsel, who said to him, "O my lord, wend
+thee at once to the market and fetch me twenty dirhams' worth of stained silk
+of five colours and with the other thirty buy meat and bread and fruit and wine
+and flowers." So he went to the market and purchasing for her all she sought,
+brought it to her, whereupon she rose and tucking up her sleeves, cooked food
+after the most skilful fashion, and set it before him. He ate and she ate with
+him, till they had enough, after which she set on the wine, and she drank and
+he drank, and she ceased not to ply him with drink and entertain him with
+discourse, till he became drunken and fell asleep. Thereupon she arose without
+stay or delay and taking out of her bundle a budget of Táifí leather,[FN#474]
+opened it and drew forth a pair of knitting needles, wherewith she fell to work
+and stinted not till she had made a beautiful zone, which she folded up in a
+wrapper after cleaning it and ironing it, and laid it under her pillow. Then
+she doffed her dress till she was mother-naked and lying down beside Nur al-Din
+shampoo'd him till he awoke from his heavy sleep. He found by his side a maiden
+like virgin silver, softer than silk and delicater than a tail of fatted sheep,
+than standard more conspicuous and goodlier than the red camel,[FN#475] in
+height five feet tall with breasts firm and full, brows like bended bows, eyes
+like gazelles' eyes and cheeks like blood-red anemones, a slender waist with
+dimples laced and a navel holding an ounce of the unguent benzoin, thighs like
+bolsters stuffed with ostrich-down, and between them what the tongue fails to
+set forth and at mention whereof the tears jet forth. Brief it was as it were
+she to whom the poet alluded in these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"From her hair is Night, from her forehead Noon * From her<br/>
+
+     side-face Rose; from her lip wine boon:<br/>
+
+From her Union Heaven, her Severance Hell: * Pearls from her<br/>
+
+     teeth; from her front full Moon."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And how excellent is the saying of another bard,[FN#476]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"A Moon she rises, Willow-wand she waves * Breathes ambergris and<br/>
+
+     gazeth a gazelle.<br/>
+
+Meseems that sorrow wooes my heart and wins * And when she wends<br/>
+
+     makes haste therein to dwell.<br/>
+
+Her face is fairer than the Stars of Wealth[FN#477] * And sheeny<br/>
+
+     brows the crescent Moon excel."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And quoth a third also,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"They shine fullest Moons, unveil Crescent-bright; *<br/>
+
+     Sway tenderest Branches and turn wild kine;<br/>
+
+'Mid which is a Dark-eyed for love of whose charms *<br/>
+
+     The Sailors[FN#478] would joy to be ground low-li'en."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Nur al-Din turned to her at once and clasping her to his bosom, sucked first
+her upper lip and then her under lip and slid his tongue between the twain into
+her mouth. Then he rose to her and found her a pearl unthridden and a filly
+none but he had ridden. So he abated her maidenhead and had of her amorous
+delight and there was knitted between them a love-bond which might never know
+breach nor severance.[FN#479] He rained upon her cheeks kisses like the falling
+of pebbles into water, and struck with stroke upon stroke, like the thrusting
+of spears in battle brunt; for that Nur al-Din still yearned after clipping of
+necks and sucking of lips and letting down of tress and pressing of waist and
+biting of cheek and cavalcading on breast with Cairene buckings and Yamani
+wrigglings and Abyssinian sobbings and Hindí pamoisons and Nubian
+lasciviousness and Rífí leg-liftings[FN#480] and Damiettan moanings and
+Sa'ídí[FN#481] hotness and Alexandrian languishment[FN#482] and this damsel
+united in herself all these virtues, together with excess of beauty and
+loveliness, and indeed she was even as saith of her the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"This is she I will never forget till I die * Nor draw near but<br/>
+
+     to those who to her draw nigh.<br/>
+
+A being for semblance like Moon at full * Praise her Maker, her<br/>
+
+     Modeller glorify!<br/>
+
+Tho' be sore my sin seeking love-liesse * On esperance-day ne'er<br/>
+
+     repent can I;<br/>
+
+A couplet reciting which none can know * Save the youth who in<br/>
+
+     couplets and rhymes shall cry,<br/>
+
+'None weeteth love but who bears its load * Nor passion, save<br/>
+
+     pleasures and pains he aby.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Nur al-Din lay with the damsel through the night in solace and delight,—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din lay with that
+damsel through the night in solace and delight, the twain garbed in the closely
+buttoned garments of embrace, safe and secure against the misways of nights and
+days, and they passed the dark hours after the goodliest fashion, fearing
+naught, in their joys love-fraught, from excess of talk and prate. As saith of
+them the right excellent poet,[FN#483]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Go, visit her thou lovest, and regard not<br/>
+
+The words detractors utter; envious churls<br/>
+
+Can never favour love. Oh! sure the merciful<br/>
+
+Ne'er make a thing more fair to look upon,<br/>
+
+Than two fond lovers in each other's arms,<br/>
+
+Speaking their passion in a mute embrace.<br/>
+
+When heart has turned to heart, the fools would part them<br/>
+
+Strike idly on cold steel. So when thou'st found<br/>
+
+One purely, wholly thine, accept her true heart,<br/>
+
+And live for her alone. Oh! thou that blamest<br/>
+
+The love-struck for their love, give o'er thy talk<br/>
+
+How canst thou minister to a mind diseased?"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the morning morrowed in sheen and shone, Nur al-Din awoke from deep sleep
+and found that she had brought water:[FN#484] so they made the Ghusl-ablution,
+he and she, and he performed that which behoved him of prayer to his Lord,
+after which she set before him meat and drink, and he ate and drank. Then the
+damsel put her hand under her pillow and pulling out the girdle which she had
+knitted during the night, gave it to Nur al-Din, who asked, "Whence cometh this
+girdle?"[FN#485] Answered she, "O my lord, 'tis the silk thou boughtest
+yesterday for twenty dirhams. Rise now and go to the Persian bazar and give it
+to the broker, to cry for sale, and sell it not for less than twenty gold
+pieces in ready money." Quoth Nur al-Din, "O Princess of fair ones how can a
+thing, that cost twenty dirhams and will sell for as many dinars, be made in a
+single night?"; and quoth she, "O my lord, thou knowest not the value of this
+thing; but go to the market therewith and give it to the broker, and when he
+shall cry it, its worth will be made manifest to thee." Herewith he carried the
+zone to the market and gave it to the broker, bidding him cry it, whilst he
+himself sat down on a masonry bench before a shop. The broker fared forth and
+returning after a while said to him, "O my lord, rise take the price of thy
+zone, for it hath fetched twenty dinars money down." When Nur al-Din heard
+this, he marvelled with exceeding marvel and shook with delight. Then he rose,
+between belief and misbelief, to take the money and when he had received it, he
+went forthright and spent it all on silk of various colours and returning home,
+gave his purchase to the damsel, saying, "Make this all into girdles and teach
+me likewise how to make them, that I may work with thee; for never in the
+length of my life saw I a fairer craft than this craft nor a more abounding in
+gain and profit. By Allah, 'tis better than the trade of a merchant a thousand
+times!" She laughed at his language and said, "O my lord, go to thy friend the
+druggist and borrow other thirty dirhams of him, and to-morrow repay him from
+the price of the girdle the thirty together with the fifty already loaned to
+thee." So he rose and repaired to the druggist and said to him, "O Uncle, lend
+me other thirty dirhams, and to-morrow, Almighty Allah willing, I will repay
+thee the whole fourscore." The old man weighed him out thirty dirhams,
+wherewith he went to the market and buying meat and bread, dried fruits, and
+flowers as before, carried them home to the damsel whose name was
+Miriam,[FN#486] the Girdle-girl. She rose forthright and making ready rich
+meats, set them before her lord Nur al-Din; after which she brought the
+wine-service and they drank and plied each other with drink. When the wine
+began to play with their wits, his pleasant address and inner grace pleased
+her, and she recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Said I to Slim-waist who the wine engraced * Brought in<br/>
+
+     musk-scented bowl and a superfine,<br/>
+
+'Was it prest from thy cheek?' He replied 'Nay, nay! * When did<br/>
+
+     man from Roses e'er press the Wine?'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the damsel ceased not to carouse with her lord and ply him with cup and
+bowl and require him to fill for her and give her to drink of that which
+sweeteneth the spirits, and whenever he put forth hand to her, she drew back
+from him, out of coquetry. The wine added to her beauty and loveliness, and Nur
+al-Din recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Slim-waist craved wine from her companeer; * Cried (in meeting<br/>
+
+     of friends when he feared for his fere,)<br/>
+
+'An thou pass not the wine thou shalt pass the night, * A-banisht<br/>
+
+     my bed!' And he felt sore fear."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They ceased not drinking till drunkenness overpowered Nur al-Din and he slept;
+whereupon she rose forthright and fell to work upon a zone, as was her wont.
+When she had wrought it to end, she wrapped it in paper and doffing her
+clothes, lay down by his side and enjoyed dalliance and delight till morn
+appeared.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Miriam the
+Girdle-girl, having finished her zone and wrapped it in paper doffed her dress
+and lay down by the side of her lord; and then happened to them what happened
+of dalliance and delight; and he did his devoir like a man. On the morrow, she
+gave him the girdle and said to him, "Carry this to the market and sell it for
+twenty dinars, even as thou soldest its fellow yesterday." So he went to the
+bazar and sold the girdle for twenty dinars, after which he repaired to the
+druggist and paid him back the eighty dirhams, thanking him for the bounties
+and calling down blessings upon him. He asked, "O my son, hast thou sold the
+damsel?"; and Nur al-Din answered, "Wouldst thou have me sell the soul out of
+my body?" and he told him all that had passed, from commencement to conclusion,
+whereat the druggist joyed with joy galore, than which could be no more and
+said to him, "By Allah, O my son, thou gladdenest me! Inshallah, mayst thou
+ever be in prosperity! Indeed I wish thee well by reason of my affection for
+thy father and the continuance of my friendship with him." Then Nur al-Din left
+the Shaykh and straightway going to the market, bought meat and fruit and wine
+and all that he needed according to his custom and returned therewith to
+Miriam. They abode thus a whole year in eating and drinking and mirth and
+merriment and love and good comradeship, and every night she made a zone and he
+sold it on the morrow for twenty dinars, wherewith he bought their needs and
+gave the rest to her, to keep against a time of necessity. After the
+twelvemonth she said to him one day, "O my lord, whenas thou sellest the girdle
+to-morrow, buy for me with its price silk of six colours, because I am minded
+to make thee a kerchief to wear on thy shoulders, such as never son of
+merchant, no, nor King's son, ever rejoiced in its like." So next day he fared
+forth to the bazar and after selling the zone brought her the dyed silks she
+sought and Miriam the Girdle-girl wrought at the kerchief a whole week, for,
+every night, when she had made an end of the zone, she would work awhile at the
+kerchief till it was finished. Then she gave it to Nur al-Din, who put it on
+his shoulders and went out to walk in the market-place, whilst all the
+merchants and folk and notables of the town crowded about him, to gaze on his
+beauty and that of the kerchief which was of the most beautiful. Now it chanced
+that one night, after this, he awoke from sleep and found Miriam weeping
+passing sore and reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Nears my parting fro' my love, nigher draws the Severance-day *<br/>
+
+     Ah well-away for parting! and again ah well-away!<br/>
+
+And in tway is torn my heart and O pine I'm doomed to bear * For<br/>
+
+     the nights that erst witnessed our pleasurable play!<br/>
+
+No help for it but Envier the twain of us espy * With evil eye<br/>
+
+     and win to us his lamentable way.<br/>
+
+For naught to us is sorer than the jealousy of men * And the<br/>
+
+     backbiter's eyne that with calumny affray."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He said, "O my lady Miriam,[FN#487] what aileth thee to weep?"; and she
+replied, "I weep for the anguish of parting for my heart presageth me thereof."
+Quoth he, "O lady of fair ones, and who shall interpose between us, seeing that
+I love thee above all creatures and tender thee the most?"; and quoth she, "And
+I love thee twice as well as thou me; but fair opinion of fortune still garreth
+folk fall into affliction, and right well saith the poet,[FN#488]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Think'st thou thyself all prosperous, in days which prosp'rous<br/>
+
+     be,<br/>
+
+Nor fearest thou impending ill, which comes by Heaven's decree?<br/>
+
+We see the orbs of heav'n above, how numberless they are,<br/>
+
+But sun and moon alone eclips'd, and ne'er a lesser star!<br/>
+
+And many a tree on earth we see, some bare, some leafy green,<br/>
+
+Of them, not one is hurt with stone save that has fruitful been!<br/>
+
+See'st not th' refluent ocean, bear carrion on its tide,<br/>
+
+While pearls beneath its wavy flow, fixed in the deep, abide?'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Presently she added, "O my lord Nur al-Din, an thou desire to nonsuit
+separation, be on thy guard against a swart-visaged oldster, blind of the right
+eye and lame of the left leg; for he it is who will be the cause of our
+severance. I saw him enter the city and I opine that he is come hither in quest
+of me." Replied Nur al-Din, "O lady of fair ones, if my eyes light on him, I
+will slay him and make an example of him." Rejoined she, "O my lord, slay him
+not; but talk not nor trade with him, neither buy nor sell with him nor sit nor
+walk with him nor speak one word to him, no, not even the answer prescribed by
+law,[FN#489] and I pray Allah to preserve us from his craft and his mischief."
+Next morning, Nur al-Din took the zone and carried it to the market, where he
+sat down on a shop-bench and talked with the sons of the merchants, till the
+drowsiness preceding slumber overcame him and he lay down on the bench and fell
+asleep. Presently, behold, up came the Frank whom the damsel had described to
+him, in company with seven others, and seeing Nur al-Din lying asleep on the
+bench, with his head wrapped in the kerchief which Miriam had made for him and
+the edge thereof in his grasp, sat down by him and hent the end of the kerchief
+in hand and examined it, turning it over for some time. Nur al-Din sensed that
+there was something and awoke; then, seeing the very man of whom Miriam had
+warned him sitting by his side, cried out at him with a great cry which
+startled him. Quoth the Frank, "What aileth thee to cry out thus at us? Have we
+taken from thee aught?"; and quoth Nur al-Din, "By Allah, O accursed, haddest
+thou taken aught from me, I would carry thee before the Chief of Police!" Then
+said the Frank, "O Moslem, I conjure thee by thy faith and by that wherein thou
+believest, inform me whence thou haddest this kerchief;" and Nur al-Din
+replied, "Tis the handiwork of my lady mother,"—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Frank asked
+Nur al-Din anent the maker of the kerchief, he answered, saying, "In very sooth
+this kerchief is the handiwork of my mother, who made it for me with her own
+hand." Quoth the Frank "Wilt thou sell it to me and take ready money for it?,"
+and quoth Nur al-Din, "By Allah, I will not sell it to thee or to any else, for
+she made none other than it." "Sell it to me and I will give thee to its price
+this very moment five hundred dinars, money down; and let her who made it make
+thee another and a finer." "I will not sell it at all, for there is not the
+like of it in this city." "O my lord, wilt thou sell it for six hundred ducats
+of fine gold?" And the Frank went on to add to his offer hundred by hundred,
+till he bid nine hundred dinars; but Nur al-Din said, "Allah will open to me
+otherwise than by my vending it. I will never sell it, not for two thousand
+dinars nor more than that; no, never." The Frank ceased not to tempt him with
+money, till he bid him a thousand dinars, and the merchants present said, "We
+sell thee the kerchief at that price:[FN#490] pay down the money." Quoth Nur
+al-Din, "I will not sell it, I swear by Allah!"[FN#491] But one of the
+merchants said to him, "Know thou, O my son, that the value of this kerchief is
+an hundred dinars at most and that to an eager purchaser, and if this Frank pay
+thee down a thousand for it, thy profit will be nine hundred dinars, and what
+gain canst thou desire greater than this gain? Wherefore 'tis my rede that thou
+sell him this kerchief at that price and bid her who wrought it make thee other
+finer than it: so shalt thou profit nine hundred dinars by this accursed Frank,
+the enemy of Allah and of The Faith." Nur al-Din was abashed at the merchants
+and sold the kerchief to the Frank, who, in their presence, paid him down the
+thousand dinars, with which he would have returned to his handmaid to
+congratulate her on what had passed; but the stranger said, "Harkye, O company
+of merchants, stop my lord Nur al-Din, for you and he are my guests this night.
+I have a jar of old Greek wine and a fat lamb, fresh fruit, flowers and
+confections; wherefore do ye all cheer me with your company to-night and not
+one of you tarry behind." So the merchants said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, we
+desire that thou be with us on the like of this night, so we may talk together,
+we and thou, and we pray thee, of thy favour and bounty, to bear us company, so
+we and thou, may be the guests of this Frank, for he is a liberal man." And
+they conjured him by the oath of divorce[FN#492] and hindered him by main force
+from going home. Then they rose forthright and shutting up their shops, took
+Nur al-Din and fared with the Frank, who brought them to a goodly and spacious
+saloon, wherein were two daďses. Here he made them sit and set before them a
+scarlet tray-cloth of goodly workmanship and unique handiwork, wroughten in
+gold with figures of breaker and broken, lover and beloved, asker and asked,
+whereon he ranged precious vessels of porcelain and crystal, full of the
+costliest confections, fruits and flowers, and brought them a flagon of old
+Greek wine. Then he bade slaughter a fat lamb and kindling fire, proceeded to
+roast of its flesh and feed the merchants therewith and give them draughts of
+that wine, winking at them the while to ply Nur al-Din with drink. Accordingly
+they ceased not plying him with wine till he became drunken and took leave of
+his wits; so when the Frank saw that he was drowned in liquor, he said to him,
+"O my lord Nur al-Din, thou gladdenest us with thy company to-night: welcome,
+and again welcome to thee." Then he engaged him awhile in talk, till he could
+draw near to him, when he said, with dissembling speech, "O my lord, Nur
+al-Din, wilt thou sell me thy slave-girl, whom thou boughtest in presence of
+these merchants a year ago for a thousand dinars? I will give thee at this
+moment five thousand gold pieces for her and thou wilt thus make four thousand
+ducats profit." Nur al-Din refused, but the Frank ceased not to ply him with
+meat and drink and lure him with lucre, still adding to his offers, till he bid
+him ten thousand dinars for her; whereupon Nur al-Din, in his drunkenness, said
+before the merchants, "I sell her to thee for ten thousand dinars: hand over
+the money." At this the Frank rejoiced with joy exceeding and took the
+merchants to witness the sale. They passed the night in eating and drinking,
+mirth and merriment, till the morning, when the Frank cried out to his pages,
+saying, "Bring me the money." So they brought it to him and he counted out ten
+thousand dinars to Nur al-Din, saying, "O my lord, take the price of thy
+slave-girl, whom thou soldest to me last night, in the presence of these Moslem
+merchants." Replied Nur al-Din, "O accursed, I sold thee nothing and thou liest
+anent me, for I have no slave-girls." Quoth the Frank, "In very sooth thou
+didst sell her to me and these merchants were witnesses to the bargain."
+Thereupon all said, "Yes, indeed! thou soldest him thy slave-girl before us for
+ten thousand dinars, O Nur al-Din and we will all bear witness against thee of
+the sale. Come, take the money and deliver him the girl, and Allah will give
+thee a better than she in her stead. Doth it irk thee, O Nur al-Din, that thou
+boughtest the girl for a thousand dinars and hast enjoyed for a year and a half
+her beauty and loveliness and taken thy fill of her converse and her favours?
+Furthermore thou hast gained some ten thousand golden dinars by the sale of the
+zones which she made thee every day and thou soldest for twenty sequins, and
+after all this thou hast sold her again at a profit of nine thousand dinars
+over and above her original price. And withal thou deniest the sale and
+belittlest and makest difficulties about the profit! What gain is greater than
+this gain and what profit wouldst thou have profitabler than this profit? An
+thou love her thou hast had thy fill of her all this time: so take the money
+and buy thee another handsomer than she; or we will marry thee to one of our
+daughters, lovelier than she, at a dowry of less than half this price, and the
+rest of the money will remain in thy hand as capital." And the merchants ceased
+not to ply him with persuasion and special arguments till he took the ten
+thousand dinars, the price of the damsel, and the Frank straightway fetched
+Kazis and witnesses, who drew up the contract of sale by Nur al-Din of the
+handmaid hight Miriam the Girdle-girl. Such was his case; but as regards the
+damsel's, she sat awaiting her lord from morning till sundown and from sundown
+till the noon of night; and when he returned not, she was troubled and wept
+with sore weeping. The old druggist heard her sobbing and sent his wife, who
+went in to her and finding her in tears, said to her, "O my lady, what aileth
+thee to weep?" Said she, "O my mother, I have sat waiting the return of my
+lord, Nur al-Din all day; but he cometh not, and I fear lest some one have
+played a trick on him, to make him sell me, and he have fallen into the snare
+and sold me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Miriam the Girdle-girl
+said to the druggist's wife, "I am fearful lest some one have been playing a
+trick on my lord to make him sell me, and he have fallen into the snare and
+sold me." Said the other, "O my lady Miriam, were they to give thy lord this
+hall full of gold as thy price, yet would he not sell thee, for what I know of
+his love to thee. But, O my lady, belike there be a company come from his
+parents at Cairo and he hath made them an entertainment in the lodging where
+they alighted, being ashamed to bring them hither, for that the place is not
+spacious enough for them or because their condition is less than that he should
+bring them to his own house; or belike he preferred to conceal thine affair
+from them, so passed the night with them; and Inshallah! to-morrow he will come
+to thee safe and sound. So burden not thy soul with cark and care, O my lady,
+for of a certainty this is the cause of his absence from thee last night and I
+will abide with thee this coming night and comfort thee, until thy lord return
+to thee." So the druggist's wife abode with her and cheered her with talk
+throughout the dark hours and, when it was morning, Miriam saw her lord enter
+the street followed by the Frank and amiddlemost a company of merchants, at
+which sight her side-muscles quivered and her colour changed and she fell
+a-shaking, as ship shaketh in mid-ocean for the violence of the gale. When the
+druggist's wife saw this, she said to her, "O my lady Miriam what aileth thee
+that I see thy case changed and thy face grown pale and show disfeatured?"
+Replied she, "By Allah, O my lady, my heart forebodeth me of parting and
+severance of union!" And she bemoaned herself with the saddest sighs, reciting
+these couplets,[FN#493]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Incline not to parting, I pray; * For bitter its savour is aye.<br/>
+
+E'en the sun at his setting turns pale * To think he must part<br/>
+
+     from the day;<br/>
+
+And so, at his rising, for joy * Of reunion, he's radient and<br/>
+
+     gay."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Miriam wept passing sore wherethan naught could be more, making sure of
+separation, and cried to the druggist's wife, "O my mother, said I not to thee
+that my lord Nur al-Din had been tricked into selling me? I doubt not but he
+hath sold me this night to yonder Frank, albeit I bade him beware of him; but
+deliberation availeth not against destiny. So the truth of my words is made
+manifest to thee." Whilst they were talking, behold, in came Nur al-Din, and
+the damsel looked at him and saw that his colour was changed and that he
+trembled and there appeared on his face signs of grief and repentance: so she
+said to him, "O my lord Nur al-Din, meseemeth thou hast sold me." Whereupon he
+wept with sore weeping and groaned and lamented and recited these
+couplets,[FN#494]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"When e'er the Lord 'gainst any man,<br/>
+
+Would fulminate some harsh decree,<br/>
+
+And he be wise, and skilled to hear,<br/>
+
+And used to see;<br/>
+
+He stops his ears, and blinds his heart,<br/>
+
+And from his brain ill judgment tears,<br/>
+
+And makes it bald as 'twere a scalp,<br/>
+
+Reft of its hairs;[FN#495]<br/>
+
+Until the time when the whole man<br/>
+
+Be pierced by this divine command;<br/>
+
+Then He restores him intellect<br/>
+
+To understand."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Nur al-Din began to excuse himself to his handmaid, saying, "By Allah, O
+my lady Miriam, verily runneth the Reed with whatso Allah hath decreed. The
+folk put a cheat on me to make me sell thee, and I fell into the snare and sold
+thee. Indeed, I have sorely failed of my duty to thee; but haply He who decreed
+our disunion will vouchsafe us reunion." Quoth she, "I warned thee against
+this, for this it was I dreaded." Then she strained him to her bosom and kissed
+him between the eyes, reciting these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Now, by your love! your love I'll ne'er forget, * Though lost my<br/>
+
+     life for stress of pine and fret:<br/>
+
+I weep and wail through livelong day and night * As moans the<br/>
+
+     dove on sandhill-tree beset.<br/>
+
+O fairest friends, your absence spoils my life; * Nor find I<br/>
+
+     meeting-place as erst we met."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At this juncture, behold, the Frank came in to them and went up to Miriam, to
+kiss her hands; but she dealt him a buffet with her palm on the cheek, saying,
+"Avaunt, O accursed! Thou hast followed after me without surcease, till thou
+hast cozened my lord into selling me! But O accursed, all shall yet be well,
+Inshallah!" The Frank laughed at her speech and wondered at her deed and
+excused himself to her, saying, "O my lady Mirian, what is my offence? Thy lord
+Nur al-Din here sold thee of his full consent and of his own free will. Had he
+loved thee, by the right of the Messiah, he had not transgressed against thee!
+And had he not fulfilled his desire of thee, he had not sold thee." Quoth one
+of the poets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Whom I irk let him fly fro' me fast and faster * If I name his<br/>
+
+     name I am no directer.<br/>
+
+Nor the wide wide world is to me so narrow * That I act expecter<br/>
+
+     to this rejecter.'"[FN#496]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now this handmaid was the daughter of the King of France, the which is a wide
+and spacious city,[FN#497] abounding in manufactures and rarities and trees and
+flowers and other growths, and resembleth the city of Constantinople; and for
+her going forth of her father's city there was a wondrous cause and thereby
+hangeth a marvellous tale which we will set out in due order, to divert and
+delight the hearer.[FN#498]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the cause of Miriam the
+Girdle-girl leaving her father and mother was a wondrous and thereby hangeth a
+marvellous tale. She was reared with her father and mother in honour and
+indulgence and learnt rhetoric and penmanship and arithmetic and cavalarice and
+all manner crafts, such as broidery and sewing and weaving and girdle-making
+and silk-cord making and damascening gold on silver and silver on gold, brief
+all the arts both of men and women, till she became the union-pearl of her time
+and the unique gem of her age and day. Moreover, Allah (to whom belong Might
+and Majesty!) had endowed her with such beauty and loveliness and elegance and
+perfection of grace that she excelled therein all the folk of her time, and the
+Kings of the isles sought her in marriage of her sire, but he refused to give
+her to wife to any of her suitors, for that he loved her with passing love and
+could not bear to be parted from her a single hour. Moreover, he had no other
+daughter than herself, albeit he had many sons, but she was dearer to him than
+all of them. It fortuned one year that she fell sick of an exceeding sickness
+and came nigh upon death, werefore she made a vow that, if she recovered from
+her malady, she would make the pilgrimage to a certain monastery, situate in
+such an island, which was high in repute among the Franks, who used to make
+vows to it and look for a blessing therefrom. When Miriam recovered from her
+sickness, she wished to accomplish her vow anent the monastery and her sire
+despatched her to the convent in a little ship, with sundry daughters of the
+city-notables to wait upon her and patrician Knights to protect them all. As
+they drew near the island, there came out upon them a ship of the ships of the
+Moslems, champions of The Faith, warring in Allah's way, who boarded the vessel
+and making prize of all therein, knights and maidens, gifts and monies, sold
+their booty in the city of Kayrawán.[FN#499] Miriam herself fell into the hands
+of a Persian merchant, who was born impotent[FN#500] and for whom no woman had
+ever discovered her nakedness; so he set her to serve him. Presently, he fell
+ill and sickened well nigh unto death, and the sickness abode with him two
+months, during which she tended him after the goodliest fashion, till Allah
+made him whole of his malady, when he recalled her tenderness and
+loving-kindness to him and the persistent zeal with which she had nurst him and
+being minded to requite her the good offices she had done him, said to her,
+"Ask a boon of me?" She said, "O my lord, I ask of thee that thou sell me not
+but to the man of my choice." He answered, "So be it. I guarantee thee. By
+Allah, O Miriam, I will not sell thee but to him of whom thou shalt approve,
+and I put thy sale in thine own hand." And she rejoiced herein with joy
+exceeding. Now the Persian had expounded to her Al-Islam and she became a
+Moslemah and learnt of him the rules of worship. Furthermore during that period
+the Perisan had taught her the tenets of The Faith and the observances
+incumbent upon her: he had made her learn the Koran by heart and master
+somewhat of the theological sciences and the traditions of the Prophet; after
+which, he brought her to Alexandria-city and sold her to Nur al-Din, as we have
+before set out. Meanwhile, when her father, the King of France, heard what had
+befallen his daughter and her company, he saw Doomsday break and sent after her
+ships full of knights and champions, horsemen and footmen; but they fell not in
+any trace of her whom they sought in the Islands[FN#501] of the Moslems; so all
+returned to him, crying out and saying, "Well-away!" and "Ruin!" and "Well
+worth the day!" The King grieved for her with exceeding grief and sent after
+her that one-eyed lameter, blind of the left,[FN#502] for that he was his chief
+Wazir, a stubborn tyrant and a froward devil,[FN#503] full of craft and guile,
+bidding him make search for her in all the lands of the Moslems and buy her,
+though with a ship-load of gold. So the accursed sought her, in all the islands
+of the Arabs and all the cities of the Moslems, but found no sign of her till
+he came to Alexandria-city where he made quest for her and presently discovered
+that she was with Nur al-Din Ali the Cairene, being directed to the trace of
+her by the kerchief aforesaid, for that none could have wrought it in such
+goodly guise but she. Then he bribed the merchants to help him in getting her
+from Nur al-Din and beguiled her lord into selling her, as hath been already
+related. When he had her in his possession, she ceased not to weep and wail: so
+he said to her, "O my lady Miriam, put away from thee this mourning and
+grieving and return with me to the city of thy sire, the seat of thy kingship
+and the place of thy power and thy home, so thou mayst be among thy servants
+and attendants and be quit of this abasement and this strangerhood. Enough hath
+betided me of travail, of travel and of disbursing monies on thine account, for
+thy father bade me buy thee back, though with a shipload of gold; and now I
+have spent nigh a year and a half in seeking thee." And he fell to kissing her
+hands and feet and humbling himself to her; but the more he kissed and
+grovelled she only redoubled in wrath against him, and said to him, "O
+accursed, may Almighty Allah not vouchsafe thee to win thy wish!" Presently his
+pages brought her a she-mule with gold-embroidered housings and mounting her
+thereon, raised over her head a silken canopy, with staves of gold and silver,
+and the Franks walked round about her, till they brought her forth the city by
+the sea-gate,[FN#504] where they took boat with her and rowing out to a great
+ship in harbor embarked therein. Then the monocular Wazir cried out to the
+sailors, saying, "Up with the mast!" So they set it up forthright and spreading
+the newly bent sails and the colours manned the sweeps and put out to sea.
+Meanwhile Miriam continued to gaze upon Alexandria, till it disappeared from
+her eyes, when she fell a-weeping in her privacy with sore weeping.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eightieth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir of
+the Frankish King put out to sea in the ship bearing Miriam the Girdle-girl,
+she gazed Alexandria-wards till the city was hidden from her sight when she
+wailed and wept copious tears and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O dwelling of my friends say is there no return * Uswards? But<br/>
+
+     what ken I of matters Allah made?<br/>
+
+Still fare the ships of Severance, sailing hastily * And in my<br/>
+
+     wounded eyelids tear have ta'en their stead,<br/>
+
+For parting from a friend who was my wish and will * Healed every<br/>
+
+     ill and every pain and pang allay'd.<br/>
+
+Be thou, O Allah, substitute of me for him * Such charge some day<br/>
+
+     the care of Thee shall not evade."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she could not refrain from weeping and wailing. So the patrician[FN#505]
+knights came up to her and would have comforted her, but she heeded not their
+consoling words, being distracted by the claims of passion and love-longing.
+And she shed tears and moaned and complained and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The tongue of Love within my vitals speaketh * Saying, 'This<br/>
+
+     lover boon of Love aye seeketh!'<br/>
+
+And burn my liver hottest coals of passion * And parting on my<br/>
+
+     heart sore suffering wreaketh.<br/>
+
+How shall I face this fiery love concealing * When fro' my<br/>
+
+     wounded lids the tear aye leaketh?<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In this plight Miriam abode during all the voyage; no peace was left her at all
+nor would patience come at her call. Such was her case in company with the
+Wazir, the monocular, the lameter; but as regards Nur al-Din the Cairene, when
+the ship had sailed with Miriam, the world was straitened upon him and he had
+neither peace nor patience. He returned to the lodging where they twain had
+dwelt, and its aspect was black and gloomy in his sight. Then he saw the métier
+wherewith she had been wont to make the zones and her dress that had been upon
+her beauteous body: so he pressed them to his breast, whilst the tears gushed
+from his eyes and he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Say me, will Union after parting e'er return to be * After<br/>
+
+     long-lasting torments, after hopeless misery?<br/>
+
+Alas! Alas! what wont to be shall never more return * But grant<br/>
+
+     me still return of dearest her these eyne may see.<br/>
+
+I wonder me will Allah deign our parted lives unite * And will my<br/>
+
+     dear one's plighted troth preserve with constancy!<br/>
+
+Naught am I save the prey of death since parting parted us; * And<br/>
+
+     will my friends consent that I a weird so deadly dree?<br/>
+
+Alas my sorrow! Sorrowing the lover scant avails; * Indeed I melt<br/>
+
+     away in grief and passion's ecstasy:<br/>
+
+Past is the time of my delight when were we two conjoined: *<br/>
+
+     Would Heaven I wot if Destiny mine esperance will degree!<br/>
+
+Redouble then, O Heart, thy pains and, O mine eyes, o'erflow *<br/>
+
+     With tears till not a tear remain within these eyne of me?<br/>
+
+Again alas for loved ones lost and loss of patience eke! * For<br/>
+
+     helpers fail me and my griefs are grown beyond decree.<br/>
+
+The Lord of Threefold Worlds I pray He deign to me return * My<br/>
+
+     lover and we meet as wont in joy and jubilee."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Nur al-Din wept with weeping galore than which naught could be more; and
+peering into ever corner of the room, recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I view their traces and with pain I pine * And by their sometime<br/>
+
+     home I weep and yearn;<br/>
+
+And Him I pray who parting deigned decree * Some day He deign<br/>
+
+     vouchsafe me their return!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Nur al-Din sprang to his feet and locking the door of the house, fared
+forth running at speed, to the sea shore whence he fixed his eyes on the place
+of the ship which had carried off his Miriam whilst sighs burst from his breast
+and tears from his lids as he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Peace be with you, sans you naught compensateth me * The near,<br/>
+
+     the far, two cases only here I see:<br/>
+
+I yearn for you at every hour and tide as yearns * For<br/>
+
+     water-place wayfarer plodding wearily.<br/>
+
+With you abide my hearing, heart and eyen-sight * And (sweeter<br/>
+
+     than the honeycomb) your memory.<br/>
+
+Then, O my Grief when fared afar your retinue * And bore that<br/>
+
+     ship away my sole expectancy."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Nur al-Din wept and wailed, bemoaned himself and complained, crying out and
+saying, "O Miriam! O Miriam! Was it but a vision of thee I saw in sleep or in
+the allusions of dreams?" And by reason of that which grew on him of regrets,
+he recited these couplets,[FN#506]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Mazed with thy love no more I can feign patience,<br/>
+
+This heart of mine has held none dear but thee!<br/>
+
+And if mine eye hath gazed on other's beauty,<br/>
+
+Ne'er be it joyed again with sight of thee!<br/>
+
+I've sworn an oath I'll ne'er forget to love thee,<br/>
+
+And sad's this breast that pines to meet with thee!<br/>
+
+Thou'st made me drink a love-cup full of passion,<br/>
+
+Blest time! When I may give the draught to thee!<br/>
+
+Take with thee this my form where'er thou goest,<br/>
+
+And when thou 'rt dead let me be laid near thee!<br/>
+
+Call on me in my tomb, my bones shall answer<br/>
+
+And sigh responses to a call from thee!<br/>
+
+If it were asked, 'What wouldst thou Heaven should order?'<br/>
+
+'His will,' I answer, 'First, and then what pleases thee.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As Nur al-Din was in this case, weeping and crying out, "O Miriam! O Miriam!"
+behold, an old man landed from a vessel and coming up to him, saw him shedding
+tears and heard him reciting these verses,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O Maryam of beauty[FN#507] return, for these eyne * Are as<br/>
+
+     densest clouds railing drops in line:<br/>
+
+Ask amid mankind and my railers shall say * That mine eyelids are<br/>
+
+     drowning these eyeballs of mine."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Said the old man, "O my son, meseems thou weepest for the damsel who sailed
+yesterday with the Frank?" When Nur al-Din heard these words of the Shaykh he
+fell down in a swoon and lay for a long while without life; then, coming to
+himself, he wept with sore weeping and improvised these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Shall we e'er be unite after severance-tide * And return in the<br/>
+
+     perfectest cheer to bide?<br/>
+
+In my heart indeed is a lowe of love * And I'm pained by the<br/>
+
+     spies who my pain deride:<br/>
+
+My days I pass in amaze distraught, * And her image a-nights I<br/>
+
+     would see by side:<br/>
+
+By Allah, no hour brings me solace of love * And how can it when<br/>
+
+     makebates vex me and chide?<br/>
+
+A soft-sided damsel of slenderest waist * Her arrows of eyne on<br/>
+
+     my heart hath plied?<br/>
+
+Her form is like Bán[FN#508]-tree branch in garth * Shame her<br/>
+
+     charms the sun who his face most hide:<br/>
+
+Did I not fear God (be He glorified!) * 'My Fair be glorified!'<br/>
+
+     Had I cried."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The old man looked at him and noting his beauty and grace and symmetry and the
+fluency of his tongue and the seductiveness of his charms, had ruth on him and
+his heart mourned for his case. Now that Shaykh was the captain of a ship,
+bound to the damsel's city, and in this ship were a hundred Moslem merchants,
+men of the Saving Faith; so he said to Nur al-Din, "Have patience and all will
+yet be well; I will bring thee to her an it be the will of Allah, extolled and
+exalted be He!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-first Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old skipper
+said to Nur al-Din, "I will bring thee to her, Inshallah!" the youth asked,
+"When shall we set out?" and the other said, "Come but three days more and we
+will depart in peace and prosperity." Nur al-Din rejoiced at the captain's
+words with joy exceeding and thanked him for his bounty and benevolence. Then
+he recalled the days of love-liesse dear and union with his slave-girl without
+peer, and he shed bitter tears and recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Say, will to me and you the Ruthful union show * My lords! Shall<br/>
+
+     e'er I win the wish of me or no?<br/>
+
+A visit-boon by you will shifty Time vouchsafe? * And seize your<br/>
+
+     image eye-lids which so hungry grow?<br/>
+
+With you were Union to be sold, I fain would buy; * But ah, I see<br/>
+
+     such grace doth all my means outgo!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Nur al-Din went forthright to the market and bought what he needed of
+viaticum and other necessaries for the voyage and returned to the Rais, who
+said to him, "O my son, what is that thou hast with thee?" said he, "My
+provisions and all whereof I have need for the voyage." Thereupon quoth the old
+man, laughing, "O my son, art thou going a-pleasuring to Pompey's
+Pillar?[FN#509] Verily, between thee and that thou seekest is two months'
+journey and the wind be fair and the weather favourable." Then he took of him
+somewhat of money and going to the bazar, bought him a sufficiency of all that
+he needed for the voyage and filled him a large earthen jar[FN#510] with fresh
+water. Nur al-Din abode in the ship three days until the merchants had made an
+end of their precautions and preparations and embarked, when they set sail and
+putting out to sea, fared on one-and-fifty days. After this, there came out
+upon them corsairs,[FN#511] pirates who sacked the ship and taking Nur al-Din
+and all therein prisoners, carried them to the city of France and paraded them
+before the King, who bade cast them into jail, Nur al-Din amongst the number.
+As they were being led to prison the galleon[FN#512] arrived with the Princess
+Miriam and the one-eyed Wazir, and when it made the harbour, the lameter landed
+and going up to the King gave him the glad news of his daughter's safe return:
+whereupon they beat the kettledrums for good tidings and decorated the city
+after the goodliest fashion. Then the King took horse, with all his guards and
+lords and notables and rode down to the sea to meet her. The moment the ship
+cast anchor she came ashore, and the King saluted her and embraced her and
+mounting her on a bloodsteed, bore her to the palace, where her mother received
+her with open arms, and asked her of her case and whether she was a maid as
+before or whether she had become a woman carnally known by man.[FN#513] She
+replied, "O my mother, how should a girl, who hath been sold from merchant to
+merchant in the land of Moslems, a slave commanded, abide a virgin? The
+merchant who bought me threatened me with the bastinado and violenced me and
+took my maidenhead, after which he sold me to another and he again to a third."
+When the Queen heard these her words, the light in her eyes became night and
+she repeated her confession to the King who was chagrined thereat and his
+affair was grievous to him. So he expounded her case to his Grandees and
+Patricians[FN#514] who said to him, "O King, she hath been defiled by the
+Moslems and naught will purify her save the striking off of an hundred
+Mohammedan heads." Whereupon the King sent for the True Believers he had
+imprisoned; and they decapitated them, one after another, beginning with the
+captain, till none was left save Nur al-Din. They tare off a strip of his skirt
+and binding his eyes therewith, led him to the rug of blood and were about to
+smite his neck, when behold, an ancient dame came up to the King at that very
+moment and said, "O my lord, thou didst vow to bestow upon each and every
+church five Moslem captives, to help us in the service thereof, so Allah would
+restore thee thy daughter the Princess Miriam; and now she is restored to thee,
+so do thou fulfil thy vow." The King replied, "O my mother, by the virtue of
+the Messiah and the Veritable Faith, there remaineth to me of the prisoners but
+this one captive, whom they are about to put to death: so take him with thee to
+help in the service of the church, till there come to me more prisoners of the
+Moslems, when I will send thee other four. Hadst thou come earlier, before they
+hewed off the heads of these, I had given thee as many as thou wouldest have."
+The old woman thanked the King for his boon and wished him continuance of life,
+glory and prosperity. Then without loss of time she went up to Nur al-Din, whom
+she raised from the rug of blood; and, looking narrowly at him saw a comely
+youth and a dainty, with a delicate skin and a face like the moon at her full;
+whereupon she carried him to the church and said to him, "O my son, doff these
+clothes which are upon thee, for they are fit only for the service of the
+Sultan."[FN#515] So saying the ancient dame brought him a gown and hood of
+black wool and a broad girdle,[FN#516] in which she clad and cowled him; and,
+after binding on his belt, bade him do the service of the church. Accordingly,
+he served the church seven days, at the end of which time behold, the old woman
+came up to him and said, "O Moslem, don thy silken dress and take these ten
+dirhams and go out forthright and divert thyself abroad this day, and tarry not
+here a single moment, lest thou lose thy life." Quoth he, "What is to do, O my
+mother?"; and quoth she, "Know, O my son, that the King's daughter, the
+Princess Miriam the Girdle-girl, hath a mind to visit the church this day, to
+seek a blessing by pilgrimage and to make oblation thereto, a douceur[FN#517]
+of thank-offering for her deliverance from the land of the Moslems and in
+fulfilment of the vows she vowed to the Messiah, so he would save her. With her
+are four hundred damsels, not one of whom but is perfect in beauty and
+loveliness and all of them are daughters of Wazirs and Emirs and Grandees: they
+will be here during this very hour and if their eyes fall on thee in this
+church, they will hew thee in pieces with swords." Thereupon Nur al-Din took
+the ten dirhams from the ancient dame, and donning his own dress, went out to
+the bazar and walked about the city and took his pleasure therein, till he knew
+its highways and gates,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-second Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din, after
+donning his own dress and taking the ten dirhams from the ancient dame, fared
+forth to the market streets and wandered about a while till he knew every
+quarter of the city, after which he returned to the church[FN#518] and saw the
+Princess Miriam the Girdle-girl, daughter of the King of France come up to the
+fane, attended by four hundred damsels, high-bosomed maids like moons, amongst
+whom was the daughter of the one-eyed Wazir and those of the Emirs and Lords of
+the realm; and she walked in their midst as she were moon among stars. When his
+eyes fell upon her Nur al-Din could not contain himself, but cried out from the
+core of his heart, "O Miriam! O Miriam!" When the damsels heard his outcry they
+ran at him with swords shining bright like flashes of leven-light and would
+have slain him forthright. But the Princess turned and looking on him, knew him
+with fullest knowledge, and said to her maidens, "Leave this youth; doubtless
+he is mad, for the signs of madness be manifest on his face." When Nur al-Din
+heard this, he uncovered his head and rolled his eyes and made signs with his
+hands and twisted his legs, foaming the while at the mouth. Quoth the Princess,
+"Said I not that the poor youth was mad? Bring him to me and stand off from
+him, that I may hear what he saith; for I know the speech of the Arabs and will
+look into his case and see if his madness admit of cure or not." So they laid
+hold of him and brought him to her; after which they withdrew to a distance and
+she said to him, "Hast thou come hither on my account and ventured thy life for
+my sake and feignest thyself mad?" He replied, "O my lady, hast thou not heard
+the saying of the poet?,[FN#519]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+'Quoth they, 'Thou'rt surely raving mad for her thou lov'st;' and<br/>
+
+     I, 'There is no pleasantness in life but for the mad,'<br/>
+
+     reply.<br/>
+
+Compare my madness with herself for whom I rave; if she Accord<br/>
+
+     therewith, then blame me not for that which I aby.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Miriam replied, "By Allah, O Nur al-Din, indeed thou hast sinned against
+thyself, for I warned thee of this before it befell thee: yet wouldst thou not
+hearken to me, but followedst thine own lust: albeit that whereof I gave thee
+to know I learnt not by means of inspiration nor physiognomy[FN#520] nor
+dreams, but by eye-witness and very sight; for I saw the one-eyed Wazir and
+knew that he was not come to Alexandria but in quest of me." Said he, "O my
+lady Miriam, we seek refuge with Allah from the error of the
+intelligent!"[FN#521] Then his affliction redoubled on him and he recited this
+saying,[FN#522]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Pass o'er my fault, for 'tis the wise man's wont<br/>
+
+Of other's sins to take no harsh account;<br/>
+
+And as all crimes have made my breast their site,<br/>
+
+So thine all shapes of mercy should unite.<br/>
+
+Who from above would mercy seek to know,<br/>
+
+Should first be merciful to those below."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Nur al-Din and Princess Miriam ceased not from lovers' chiding which to
+trace would be tedious, relating each to other that which had befallen them and
+reciting verses and making moan, one to other, of the violence of passion and
+the pangs of pine and desire, whilst the tears ran down their cheeks like
+rivers, till there was left them no strength to say a word and so they
+continued till day deprated and night darkened. Now the Princess was clad in a
+green dress, purfled with red gold and broidered with pearls and gems which
+enhanced her beauty and loveliness and inner grace; and right well quoth the
+poet of her,[FN#523]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Like the full moon she shineth in garments all of green, With<br/>
+
+     loosened vest and collars and flowing hair beseen.<br/>
+
+'What is thy name?' I asked her, and she replied, 'I'm she Who<br/>
+
+     roasts the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen.<br/>
+
+I am the pure white silver, ay, and the gold wherewith The<br/>
+
+     bondsmen from strait prison and dour releasčd been.'<br/>
+
+Quoth I, 'I'm all with rigours consumed;' but 'On a rock,' Said<br/>
+
+     she, 'such as my heart is, thy plaints are wasted clean.'<br/>
+
+'Even if thy heart,' I answered, 'be rock in very deed, Yet hath<br/>
+
+     God caused fair water well from the rock, I ween.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when night darkened on them the Lady Miriam went up to her women and asked
+them, "Have ye locked the door?"; and they answered, "Indeed we have locked
+it." So she took them and went with them to a place called the Chapel of the
+Lady Mary the Virgin, Mother of Light, because the Nazarenes hold that there
+are her heart and soul. The girls betook themselves to prayer for blessings
+from above and circuited all the church; and when they had made an end of their
+visitation, the Princess turned to them and said, "I desire to pass the night
+alone in the Virgin's chapel and seek a blessing thereof, for that yearning
+after it hath betided me, by reason of my long absence in the land of the
+Moslems; and as for you, when ye have made an end of your visitation, do ye
+sleep whereso ye will." Replied they, "With love and goodly gree: be it as thou
+wilt!"; and leaving her alone in the chapel, dispersed about the church and
+slept. The Lady Miriam waited till they were out of sight and hearing, then
+went in search of Nur al-Din, whom she found sitting in a corner on live coals,
+awaiting her. He rose and kissed her hands and feet and she sat down and seated
+him by her side. Then she pulled off all that was upon her of raiment and
+ornaments and fine linen and taking Nur al-Din in her arms strained him to her
+bosom. And they ceased not, she and he, from kissing and clipping and strumming
+to the tune of "hocus-pocus,"[FN#524] saying the while, "How short are the
+nights of Union and the nights of Disunion how long are they!" and reciting
+these verses,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O Night of Union, Time's virginal prized, * White star of the<br/>
+
+     Nights with auroral dyes,<br/>
+
+Thou garrest Dawn after Noon to rise * Say art thou Kohl in<br/>
+
+     Morning's Eyes,<br/>
+
+Or wast thou Slumber to bleared eye lief?<br/>
+
+O Night of Parting, how long thy stay * Whose latest hours aye<br/>
+
+     the first portray,<br/>
+
+This endless circle that noways may * Show breach till the coming<br/>
+
+     of Judgment-day,<br/>
+
+Day when dies the lover of parting-grief."[FN#525]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As they were in this mighty delight and joy engrossing they heard one of the
+servants of the Saint[FN#526] smite the gong[FN#527] upon the roof, to call the
+folk to the rites of their worship, and he was even as saith the poet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I saw him strike the gong and asked of him straightway, * Who<br/>
+
+     made the Fawn[FN#528] at striking going so knowing, eh?'<br/>
+
+And to my soul, 'What smiting irketh thee the more— * Striking<br/>
+
+     the gong or striking note of going,[FN#529] say?'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-third Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din and Miriam the
+Girdle-girl rose forthwith and donned her clothes and ornaments; but this was
+grievous to Nur al-Din, and his gladness was troubled; the tears streamed from
+his eyes and he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I ceasčd not to kiss that cheek with budding roses dight * And<br/>
+
+     eyes down cast and bit the same with most emphatic bite;<br/>
+
+Until we were in gloria[FN#530] and lay him down the spy * And<br/>
+
+     sank his eyes within his brain declining further sight:<br/>
+
+And struck the gongs as they that had the charge of them were<br/>
+
+     like * Muezzin crying duty-prayers in Allah's book indite.<br/>
+
+Then rose she up right hastily and donned the dress she'd doffed<br/>
+
+     * Sore fearing lest a shooting-star[FN#531] upon our heads<br/>
+
+     alight.<br/>
+
+And cried, 'O wish and will of me, O end of all my hopes! *<br/>
+
+     Behold the morning comes to us in brightest whitest light.'<br/>
+
+I swear if but one day of rule were given to my life * And I were<br/>
+
+     made an Emperor of majesty and might,<br/>
+
+Adown I'd break the buttresses of churches one and all * And by<br/>
+
+     their slaughter rid the earth of every shaveling wight."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the Lady Miriam pressed him to her bosom and kissed his cheek and asked
+him, "O Nur al-Din, how long hast thou been in this town?" "Seven days." "Hast
+thou walked about in it, and dost thou know its ways and issues and its
+sea-gates and land gates?" "Yes!" "Knowest thou the way to the
+offertory-chest[FN#532] of the church?" "Yes!" "Since thou knowest all this, as
+soon as the first third[FN#533] of the coming night is over, go to the
+offertory-chest and take thence what thou wishest and willest. Then open the
+door that giveth upon the tunnel[FN#534] leading to the sea, and go down to the
+harbour, where thou wilt find a little ship and ten men therein, and when the
+Rais shall see thee, he will put out his hand to thee. Give him thy hand and he
+will take thee up into the ship, and do thou wait there till I come to thee.
+But 'ware and have a care lest sleep overtake thee this night, or thou wilt
+repent whenas repentance shall avail thee naught." Then the Princess farewelled
+him and going forth from Nur al-Din, aroused from sleep her women and the rest
+of the damsels, with whom she betook herself to the church door and knocked;
+whereupon the ancient dame opened to her and she went forth and found the
+knights and varlets standing without. They brought her a dapple she-mule and
+she mounted: whereupon they raised over her head a canopy[FN#535] with curtains
+of silk, and the knights took hold of the mule's halter. Then the
+guards[FN#536] encompassed her about, drawn brand in hand, and fared on with
+her, followed by her, till they brought her to the palace of the King her
+father. Meanwhile, Nur al-Din abode concealed behind the curtain, under cover
+of which Miriam and he had passed the night, till it was broad day, when the
+main door was opened and the church became full of people. Then he mingled with
+the folk and accosted the old Prioress, the guardian[FN#537] of the shrine, who
+said to him, "Where didst thou lie last night?" Said he, "In the town as thou
+badest me." Quoth she, "O my son, thou hast done the right thing; for, hadst
+thou nighted in the Church, she had slain thee on the foulest wise." And quoth
+he, "Praised be Allah who hath delivered me from the evil of this night!" Then
+he busied himself with the service of the church and ceased not busying till
+day departed and night with darkness starkened when he arose and opened the
+offertory-chest and took thence of jewels whatso was light of weight and
+weighty of worth. Then he tarried till the first watch of the night was past,
+when he made his way to the postern of the tunnel and opening it, went forth,
+calling on Allah for protection, and ceased not faring on until, after finding
+and opening the door, he came to the sea. Here he discovered the vessel moored
+to the shore near the gate; and her skipper, a tall old man of comely aspect
+with a long beard, standing in the waist, his ten men being ranged before him.
+Nur al-Din gave him his hand, as Miriam had bidden him, and the captain took it
+and pulling him on board of the ship cried out to his crew, saying, "Cast off
+the moorings and put out to sea with us, ere day break." Said one of the ten,
+"O my lord the Captain, how shall we put out now, when the King hath notified
+us that to-morrow he will embark in this ship and go round about the sea, being
+fearful for his daughter Miriam from the Moslem thieves?" But the Rais cried
+out at them saying, "Woe to you, O accursed; Dare ye gainsay me and bandy words
+with me?" So saying the old captain bared his blade and with it dealt the
+sailor who had spoken a thrust in the throat, that the steel came out gleaming
+from his nape; and quoth another of the sailors, "What hath our comrade done of
+crime, that thou shouldst cut his throat?" Thereupon the captain clapped hand
+to sword and smote off the speaker's head, nor did he leave smiting the rest of
+the sailors till he had slain them all, one after other, and cast the ten
+bodies ashore. Then he turned to Nur al-Din and cried out at him with a
+terrible great cry, that made him tremble, saying, "Go down and pull up the
+mooring-stake." Nur al-Din feared lest he should strike him also with the
+sword; so he sprang up and leapt ashore and pulling up the stake jumped aboard
+again, swiftlier than the dazzling leven. The captain ceased not to bid him do
+this and do that and tack and wear hither and thither and look at the stars,
+and Nur al-Din did all that he bade him, with heart a-quaking for affright;
+whilst he himself spread the sails, and the ship fared with the twain into the
+dashing sea, swollen with clashing billows.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old skipper
+had made sail he drave the ship, aided by Nur al-Din, into the dashing sea
+before a favouring gale. Meanwhile, Nur al-Din held on to the tackle immersed
+in deep thought, and drowned in the sea of solicitude, knowing not what was
+hidden for him in the future; and whenever he looked at the captain, his heart
+quaked and he knew not whither the Rais went with him. He abode thus,
+preoccupied with care and doubt, till it was high day, when he looked at the
+skipper and saw him take hold of his long beard and pull at it, whereupon it
+came off in his hand and Nur al-Din, examining it, saw that it was but a false
+beard glued on. So he straitly considered that same Rais, and behold, it was
+the Princess Miriam, his mistress and the dearling of his heart, who had
+contrived to waylay the captain and slay him and skinned off his beard, which
+she had stuck on to her own face. At this Nur al-Din was transported for joy,
+and his breast broadened and he marvelled at her prowess and the stoutness of
+her heart and said to her, "Welcome, O my hope and my desire and the end of
+mine every wish!" Then love and gladness agitated him and he made sure of
+winning to his hopes and his expectancy; wherefore he broke out into song and
+chanted these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"To all who unknown my love for the May * From whom Fate disjoins<br/>
+
+     me O say, I pray,<br/>
+
+'Ask my kith and kin of my love that aye * Ensweetens my verses<br/>
+
+     to lovely lay:<br/>
+
+          For the loss of the tribesmen my life o'er sway!'<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Their names when named heal all malady; * Cure and chase from<br/>
+
+     heart every pain I dree:<br/>
+
+And my longings for love reach so high degree * That my Sprite is<br/>
+
+     maddened each morn I see,<br/>
+
+     And am grown of the crowd to be saw and say.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+No blame in them will I e'er espy: * No! nor aught of solace sans<br/>
+
+     them descry:<br/>
+
+Your love hath shot me with pine, and I * Bear in heart a flame<br/>
+
+     that shall never die,<br/>
+
+          But fire my liver with fiery ray.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+All folk my sickness for marvel score * That in darkest night I<br/>
+
+     wake evermore<br/>
+
+What ails them to torture this heart forlore * And deem right for<br/>
+
+     loving my blood t' outpour:<br/>
+
+          And yet—how justly unjust are they!<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Would I wot who 'twas could obtain of you * To wrong a youth<br/>
+
+     who's so fain of you:<br/>
+
+By my life and by Him who made men of you * And the spy tell<br/>
+
+     aught I complain of you<br/>
+
+          He lies, by Allah, in foulest way!<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+May the Lord my sickness never dispel, * Nor ever my heart of its<br/>
+
+     pains be well,<br/>
+
+What day I regret that in love I fell * Or laud any land but<br/>
+
+     wherein ye dwell:<br/>
+
+          Wring my heart and ye will or make glad and gay!<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+I have vitals shall ever be true to you * Though racked by the<br/>
+
+     rigours not new to you<br/>
+
+Ere this wrong and this right I but sue to you: * Do what you<br/>
+
+     will to thrall who to you<br/>
+
+          Shall ne'er grudge his life at your feet to lay."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Nur al-Din ceased to sing, the Princess Miriam marvelled at his song and
+thanked him therefor, saying, "Whoso's case is thus it behoveth him to walk the
+ways of men and never do the deed of curs and cowards." Now she was stout of
+heart and cunning in the sailing of ships over the salt sea, and she knew all
+the winds and their shiftings and every course of the main. So Nur al-Din said,
+"O my lady, hadst thou prolonged this case on me,[FN#538] I had surely died for
+stress of affright and chagrin, more by token of the fire of passion and
+love-longing and the cruel pangs of separation." She laughed at his speech and
+rising without stay or delay brought out somewhat of food and liquor; and they
+ate and drank and enjoyed themselves and made merry. Then she drew forth rubies
+and other gems and precious stones and costly trinkets of gold and silver and
+all manner things of price, light of weight and weighty of worth, which she had
+taken from the palace of her sire and his treasuries, and displayed them to Nur
+al-Din, who rejoiced therein with joy exceeding. All this while the wind blew
+fair for them and merrily sailed the ship nor ceased sailing till they drew
+near the city of Alexandria and sighted its landmarks, old and new, and
+Pompey's Pillar. When they made the port, Nur al-Din landed forthright and
+securing the ship to one of the Fulling-Stones,[FN#539] took somewhat of the
+treasures that Miriam had brought with her, and said to her, "O my lady, tarry
+in the ship, against I return and carry thee up into the city in such way as I
+should wish and will." Quoth she, "It behoveth that this be done quickly, for
+tardiness in affairs engendereth repentance." Quoth he, "There is no tardiness
+in me;" and, leaving her in the ship, went up into the city to the house of the
+druggist his father's old fried, to borrow of his wife for Miriam veil and
+mantilla, and walking boots and petticoat-trousers after the usage of the women
+of Alexandria, unknowing that there was appointed to betide him of the shifts
+of Time, the Father of Wonders, that which was far beyond his reckoning. Thus
+it befel Nur al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-girl; but as regards her sire the
+King of France, when he arose in the morning, he missed his daughter and
+questioned her women and her eunuchs of her. Answered they, "O our lord, she
+went out last night, to go to Church and after that we have no tidings of her."
+But, as the King talked with them, behold, there arose so great a clamour of
+cries below the palace, that the place rang thereto, and he said, "What may be
+the news?" The folk replied, "O King, we have found ten men slain on the
+sea-shore, and the royal yacht is missing. Moreover we saw the postern of the
+Church, which giveth upon the tunnel leading to the sea, wide open; and the
+Moslem prisoner, who served in the Church, is missing." Quoth the King, "An my
+ship be lost, without doubt or dispute."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the King of
+France missed his daughter they brought him tidings of her, saying, "Thy yacht
+is lost"; and he replied, "An the craft be lost, without dispute or doubt my
+daughter is in it." So he summoned without stay or delay the Captain of the
+Port and cried out at him, saying, "By the virtue[FN#540] of the Messiah and
+the Faith which is no liar, except thou and thy fighting men overtake my ship
+forthright and bring it back to me, with those who are therein, I will do thee
+die the foulest of deaths and make a terrible example of thee!" Thereupon the
+captain went out from before him, trembling, and betook himself to the ancient
+dame of the Church, to whom said he, 'Heardest thou aught from the captive,
+that was with thee, anent his native land and what countryman he was?" And she
+answered, "He used to say, I come from the town of Alexandria." When the
+captain heard the old woman's words he returned forthright to the port and
+cried out to the sailors, "Make ready and set sail." So they did his bidding
+and straightway putting out to sea, fared night and day till they sighted the
+city of Alexandria at the very time when Nur al-Din landed, leaving the
+Princess in the ship. They soon espied the royal yacht and knew her; so they
+moored their own vessel at a distance therefrom and putting off in a little
+frigate they had with them, which drew but two cubits of water and in which
+were an hundred fighting-men, amongst them the one-eyed Wazir (for that he was
+a stubborn tyrant and a froward devil and a wily thief, none could avail
+against his craft, as he were Abu Mohammed al-Battál[FN#541]), they ceased not
+rowing till they reached the bark and boarding her, all at once, found none
+therein save the Princess Miriam. So they took her and the ship, and returning
+to their own vessel, after they had landed and waited a long while,[FN#542] set
+sail forthright for the land of the Franks, having accomplished their errand,
+without a fight or even drawing sword. The wind blew fair for them and they
+sailed on, without ceasing and with all diligence, till they reached the city
+of France and landing with the Princess Miriam carried her to her father, who
+received her, seated on the throne of his Kingship. As soon as he saw her, he
+said to her, "Woe to thee, O traitress! What ailed thee to leave the faith of
+thy fathers and forefathers and the safeguard of the Messiah, on whom is our
+reliance, and follow after the faith of the Vagrants,[FN#543] to wit, the faith
+of Al-Islam, the which arose with the sword against the Cross and the Images?"
+Replied Miriam, "I am not at fault, I went out by night to the church, to visit
+the Lady Mary and seek a blessing of her, when there fell upon me unawares a
+band of Moslem robbers, who gagged me and bound me fast and carrying me on
+board the barque, set sail with me for their own country. However, I beguiled
+them and talked with them of their religion, till they loosed my bonds; and ere
+I knew it thy men overtook me and delivered me. And by the virtue of the
+Messiah and the Faith which is no liar and the Cross and the Crucified thereon,
+I rejoiced with joy exceeding in my release from them and my bosom broadened
+and I was glad for my deliverance from the bondage of the Moslems!" Rejoined
+the King, "Thou liest, O whore! O adultress! By the virtue of that which is
+revealed of prohibition and permission in the manifest Evangel,[FN#544] I will
+assuredly do thee die by the foulest of deaths and make thee the vilest of
+examples! Did it not suffice thee to do as thou didst the first time and put
+off thy lies upon us, but thou must return upon us with thy deceitful
+inventions?" Thereupon the King bade kill her and crucify her over the palace
+gate; but, at that moment the one-eyed Wazir, who had long been enamoured of
+the Princess, came in to him and said, "Ho King! slay her not, but give her to
+me to wife, and I will watch over her with the utmost warding, nor will I go in
+unto her, till I have built her a palace of solid stone, exceeding high of
+foundation, so no thieves may avail to climb up to its terrace-roof; and when I
+have made an end of building it, I will sacrifice thirty Moslems before the
+gate thereof, as an expiatory offering to the Messiah for myself and for her."
+The King granted his request and bade the priests and monks and patriarchs
+marry the Princess to him; so they did his bidding, whereupon he bade set about
+building a strong and lofty palace, befitting her rank and the workmen fell to
+work upon it. On this wise it betided the Princess Miriam and her sire and the
+one-eyed Wazir; but as regards Nur al-Din, when he came back with the
+petticoat-trousers and mantilla and walking boots and all the attire of
+Alexandrian women which he had borrowed of the druggist's wife, he "found the
+air void and the fane afar[FN#545]";—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur al-Din,
+"found the air void[FN#546] and the fane afar," his heart sank within him and
+he wept floods of tears and recited these verses,[FN#547]
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The phantom of Soada came by night to wake me towards morning<br/>
+
+     while my companions were sleeping in the desert:<br/>
+
+But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air<br/>
+
+     vacant, and the place of visitation distant."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Nur al-Din walked on along the sea-shore and turned right and left, till
+he saw folk gathered together on the beach and heard them say, "O Moslems,
+there remaineth no honour to Alexandria-city, since the Franks enter it and
+snatch away those who are therein and return to their own land, at their
+leisure[FN#548] nor pursued of any of the Moslems or fighters for the Faith!"
+Quoth Nur al-Din to them, "What is to do?"; and quoth they, "O my son, one of
+the ships of the Franks, full of armed men, came down but now upon the port and
+carried off a ship which was moored here, with her that was therein, and made
+unmolested for their own land." Nur al-Din fell down a-swoon, on hearing these
+words; and when he recovered they questioned him of his case and he told them
+all that had befallen him first and last; whereupon they all took to reviling
+him and railing at him, saying, "Why couldst thou not bring her up into the
+town without mantilla and muffler?" And all and each of the folk gave him some
+grievous word, berating him with sharp speech, and shooting at him some shaft
+of reproach, albeit one said, "Let him be; that which hath befallen him
+sufficeth him," till he again fell down in a fainting-fit. And behold, at this
+moment, up came the old druggist, who, seeing the folk gathered together, drew
+near to learn what was the matter and found Nur al-Din lying a-swoon in their
+midst. So he sat down at his head and arousing him, said to him as soon as he
+recovered, "O my son, what is this case in which I see thee?" Nur al-Din said,
+"O uncle, I had brought back in a barque my lost slave-girl from her father's
+city, suffering patiently all I suffered of perils and hardships; and when I
+came with her to this port, I made the vessel fast to the shore and leaving her
+therein, repaired to thy dwelling and took of thy consort what was needful for
+her, that I might bring her up into the town; but the Franks came and capturing
+barque and damsel made off unhindered, and returned to their own land." Now
+when the Shaykh, the druggist, heard this, the light in his eyes became night
+and he grieved with sore grieving for Nur al-Din and said to him, "O my son,
+why didst thou not bring her out of the ship into the city without mantilla?
+But speech availeth not at this season; so rise, O my son, and come up with me
+to the city; haply Allah will vouchsafe thee a girl fairer than she, who shall
+console thee for her. Alhamdolillah-praised be Allah-who hath not made thee
+lose aught by her! Nay, thou hast gained by her. And bethink thee, O my son,
+that Union and Disunion are in the hands of the Most High King." Replied Nur
+al-Din, "By Allah, O uncle, I can never be consoled for her loss nor will I
+ever leave seeking her, though on her account I drink the cup of death!"
+Rejoined the druggist, "O my son, and what art thou minded to do?" Quoth Nur
+al-Din, "I am minded to return to the land of the Franks[FN#549] and enter the
+city of France and emperil myself there; come what may, loss of life or gain of
+life." Quoth the druggist, "O my son, there is an old saw, 'Not always doth the
+crock escape the shock'; and if they did thee no hurt the first time, belike
+they will slay thee this time, more by token that they know thee now with full
+knowledge." Quoth Nur al-Din, "O my uncle, let me set out and be slain for the
+love of her straightway and not die of despair for her loss by slow torments."
+Now as Fate determined there was then a ship in port ready to sail, for its
+passengers had made an end of their affairs[FN#550] and the sailors had pulled
+up the mooring-stakes, when Nur al-Din embarked in her. So they shook out their
+canvas and relying on the Compassionate, put out to sea and sailed many days,
+with fair wind and weather, till behold, they fell in with certain of the Frank
+cruisers, which were scouring those waters and seizing upon all ships they saw,
+in their fear for the King's daughter from the Moslem corsairs: and as often as
+they made prize of a Moslem ship, they carried all her people to the King of
+France, who put them to death in fulfilment of the vow he had vowed on account
+of his daughter Miriam. So, seeing the ship wherein was Nur al-Din they boarded
+her and taking him and the rest of the company prisoners, to the number of an
+hundred Moslems, carried them to the King and set them between his hands. He
+bade cut their throats. Accordingly they slaughtered them all forthwith, one
+after another, till there was none left but Nur al-Din, whom the headsman had
+left to the last, in pity of his tender age and slender shape. When the King
+saw him, he knew him right well and said to him, "Art thou not Nur al-Din, who
+was with us before?" Said he, "I was never with thee: and my name is not Nur
+al-Din, but Ibrahim." Rejoined the King; "Thou liest, thou art Nur al-Din, he
+whom I gave to the ancient dame the Prioress, to help her in the service of the
+church." But Nur al-Din replied, "O my lord, my name is Ibrahim." Quoth the
+King, "Wait a while," and bade his knights fetch the old woman forthright,
+saying, "When she cometh and seeth thee, she will know an thou be Nur al-Din or
+not." At this juncture, behold, in came the one-eyed Wazir who had married the
+Princess and kissing the earth before the King said to him, "Know, O King, that
+the palace is finished; and thou knowest how I vowed to the Messiah that, when
+I had made an end of building it, I would cut thirty Moslems' throats before
+its doors; wherefore I am come to take them of thee, that I may sacrifice them
+and so fulfil my vow to the Messiah. They shall be at my charge, by way of
+loan, and whenas there come prisoners to my hands, I will give thee other
+thirty in lieu of them." Replied the King, 'By the virtue of the Messiah and
+the Faith which is no liar, I have but this one captive left!" And he pointed
+to Nur al-Din, saying, "Take him and slaughter him at this very moment and the
+rest I will send thee when there come to my hands other prisoners of the
+Moslems." Thereupon the one-eyed Wazir arose and took Nur al-Din and carried
+him to his palace, thinking to slaughter him on the threshold of the gate; but
+the painters said to him, "O my lord, we have two days' painting yet to do: so
+bear with us and delay to cut the throat of this captive, till we have made an
+end of our work; haply by that time the rest of the thirty will come, so thou
+mayst despatch them all at one bout and accomplish thy vow in a single day."
+Thereupon the Wazir bade imprison Nur al-Din.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir bade
+imprison Nur al-Din, they carried him to the stables and left him there in
+chains, hungering and thirsting and making moan for himself; for indeed he saw
+death face to face. Now it fortuned, by the ordinance of Destiny and
+fore-ordained Fate, that the King had two stallions, own brothers,[FN#551] such
+as the Chosroe Kings might sigh in vain to possess themselves of one of them;
+they were called Sábik and Láhik[FN#552] and one of them was pure silvern white
+while the other was black as the darksome night. And all the Kings of the isles
+had said, "Whoso stealeth us one of these stallions, we will give him all he
+seeketh of red gold and pearls and gems;" but none could avail to steal them.
+Now one of them fell sick of a jaundice and there came a whiteness over his
+eyes;[FN#553] whereupon the King gathered together all the farriers in the city
+to treat him; but they all failed of his cure. Presently the Wazir came into
+the King; and finding him troubled because of the horse, thought to do away his
+concern and said to him, "O King, give me the stallion and I will cure him,"
+The King consented and caused carry the horse to the stable wherein Nur al-Din
+lay chained; but, when he missed his brother, he cried out with an exceeding
+great cry and neighed, so that he affrighted all the folk. The Wazir, seeing
+that he did thus but because he was parted from his brother, went to tell the
+King, who said, "If this, which is but a beast, cannot brook to be parted from
+his brother, how should it be with those that have reason?" And he bade his
+grooms take the other horse and put him with his brother in the Wazir's
+stables, saying, "Tell the Minister that the two stallions be a gift from me to
+him, for the sake of my daughter Miriam." Nur al-Din was lying in the stable,
+chained and shackled, when they brought in the two stallions and he saw that
+one of them had a film over his eyes. Now he had some knowledge of horses and
+of the doctoring of their diseases; so he said to himself, "This by Allah is my
+opportunity! I will go to the Wazir and lie to him, saying, 'I will heal thee
+this horse': then will I do with him somewhat that shall destroy his eyes, and
+he will slay me and I shall be at rest from this woe-full life." So he waited
+till the Wazir entered the stable, to look upon the steed, and said to him, "O
+my lord, what will be my due, an I heal this horse, and make his eyes whole
+again?" Replied the Wazir, "As my head liveth, an thou cure him, I will spare
+thy life and give thee leave to crave a boon of me!" And Nur al-Din said, "O my
+lord, bid my hands be unbound!" So the Wazir bade unbind him and he rose and
+taking virgin glass,[FN#554] brayed it and mixed it with unslaked lime and a
+menstruum of onion-juice. Then he applied the whole to the horse's eyes and
+bound them up, saying in himself, "Now will his eyes be put out and they will
+slay me and I shall be at rest from this woe-full life." Then he passed the
+night with a heart free from the uncertainty[FN#555] of cark and care, humbling
+himself to Allah the Most High and saying, "O Lord, in Thy knowledge is that
+which dispenseth with asking and craving!" Now when the morning morrowed and
+the sun shone, the Wazir came to the stable and, loosing the bandage from the
+horse's eyes considered them and found them finer than before, by the ordinance
+of the King who openeth evermore. So he said to Nur al-Din, "O Moslem, never in
+the world saw I the like of thee for the excellence of thy knowledge. By the
+virtue of the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, thou makest me with
+wonder to admire, for all the farriers of our land have failed to heal this
+horse!" Then he went up to Nur al-Din and, doing off his shackles with his own
+hand, clad him in a costly dress and made him his master of the Horse; and he
+appointed him stipends and allowances and lodged him in a story over the
+stables. So Nur al-Din abode awhile, eating and drinking and making merry and
+bidding and forbidding those who tended the horses; and whoso neglected or
+failed to fodder those tied up in the stable wherein was his service, he would
+throw down and beat with grievous beating and lay him by the legs in bilboes of
+iron. Furthermore, he used every day to descend and visit the stallions and rub
+them down with his own hand, by reason of that which he knew of their value in
+the Wazir's eyes and his love for them; wherefore the Minister rejoiced in him
+with joy exceeding and his breast broadened and he was right glad, unknowing
+what was to be the issue of his case. Now in the new palace, which the one-eyed
+Wazir had bought for Princess Miriam, was a lattice-window overlooking his old
+house and the flat wherein Nur al-Din lodged. The Wazir had a daughter, a
+virgin of extreme loveliness, as she were a fleeing gazelle or a bending
+branchlet, and it chanced that she sat one day at the lattice aforesaid and
+behold, she heard Nur al-Din, singing and solacing himself under his sorrows by
+improvising these verses,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O my Censor who wakest a-morn to see * The joys of life and its<br/>
+
+     jubilee!<br/>
+
+Had the fangs of Destiny bitten thee * In such bitter case thou<br/>
+
+     hadst pled this plea,<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/>
+
+But from Fate's despight thou art safe this day;- * From her<br/>
+
+     falsest fay and her crying 'Nay!'<br/>
+
+Yet blame him not whom his woes waylay * Who distraught shall say<br/>
+
+     in his agony,<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/>
+
+Excuse such lovers in flight abhorr'd * Nor to Love's distreses<br/>
+
+     thine aid afford:<br/>
+
+Lest thy self be bound by same binding cord * And drink of Love's<br/>
+
+     bitterest injury.<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/>
+
+In His service I wont as the days went by * With freest heart<br/>
+
+     through the nights to lie;<br/>
+
+Nor tasted wake, nor of Love aught reckt * Ere my heart to<br/>
+
+     subjection summoned he:<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/>
+
+None weet of Love and his humbling wrong * Save those he sickened<br/>
+
+     so sore, so long,<br/>
+
+Who have lost their wits 'mid the lover-throng * Draining<br/>
+
+     bitterest cup by his hard decree:<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/>
+
+How oft in Night's gloom he cause wake to rue * Lovers' eyne, and<br/>
+
+     from eyelids their sleep withdrew;<br/>
+
+Till tears to the railing of torrents grew, * Overflowing cheeks<br/>
+
+    , unconfined and free:<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/>
+
+How many a man he has joyed to steep * In pain, and for pine hath<br/>
+
+     he plundered sleep,—<br/>
+
+Made don garb of mourning the deepest deep * And even his<br/>
+
+     dreaming forced to flee:<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/>
+
+How oft sufferance fails me! How bones are wasted * And down my<br/>
+
+     cheeks torrent tear-drops hasted:<br/>
+
+And embittered She all the food I tasted * However sweet it was<br/>
+
+     wont to be:<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/>
+
+Most hapless of men who like me must love, * And must watch when<br/>
+
+     Night droops her wing from above,<br/>
+
+Who, swimming the main where affection drove * Must sign and sink<br/>
+
+     in that gloomy sea:<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/>
+
+Who is he to whom Love e'er stinted spite * And who scaped his<br/>
+
+     springes and easy sleight;<br/>
+
+Who free from Love lived in life's delight? * Where is he can<br/>
+
+     boast of such liberty?<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/>
+
+Deign Lord such suffering wight maintain * Then best Protector,<br/>
+
+     protect him deign!<br/>
+
+Establish him and his life assain * And defend him from all<br/>
+
+     calamity:<br/>
+
+     'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/>
+
+     My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when Nur al-Din ended his say and ceased to sing his rhyming lay, the
+Wazir's daughter said to herself, "By the virtue of the Messiah and the Faith
+which is no liar, verily this Moslem is a handsome youth! But doubtless he is a
+lover separated from his mistress. Would Heaven I wot an the beloved of this
+fair one is fair like unto him and if she pine for him as he for her! An she be
+seemly as he is, it behoveth him to pour forth tears and make moan of passion;
+but, an she be other than fair, his days are wasted in vain regrets and he is
+denied the taste of delights."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir's daughter
+said to herself, "An his beloved be fair as he, it behoveth him to pour forth
+tears; and, if other than fair, his heart is wasted in vain regrets!" Now
+Miriam the Girdle-girl, the Minister's consort, had removed to the new palace
+the day before and the Wazir's daughter knew that she was straitened of breast;
+so she was minded to seek her and talk with her and tell her the tidings of the
+young man and the rhymes and verses she had heard him recite; but, before she
+could carry out her design the Princess sent for her to cheer her with her
+converse. So she went to her and found her heavy at heart and her tears
+hurrying down her cheeks; and whilst she was weeping with sore weeping she
+recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"My life is gone but love-longings remain * And my breast is<br/>
+
+     straitened with pine and pain:<br/>
+
+And my heart for parting to melt is fain * Yet hoping that union<br/>
+
+     will come again,<br/>
+
+     And join us in one who now are twain.<br/>
+
+Stint your blame to him who in heart's your thrall * With the<br/>
+
+     wasted frame which his sorrows gall,<br/>
+
+Nor with aim of arrow his heart appal * For parted lover is<br/>
+
+     saddest of all,<br/>
+
+     And Love's cup of bitters is sweet to drain!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Quoth the Wazir's daughter to her, "What aileth thee, O Princess, to be thus
+straitened in breast and sorrowful of thought?" Whereupon Miriam recalled the
+greatness of the delights that were past and recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I will bear in patience estrangement of friend * And on cheeks<br/>
+
+     rail tears that like torrents wend:<br/>
+
+Haply Allah will solace my sorrow, for He * Neath the ribs of<br/>
+
+     unease maketh ease at end."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Said the Wazir's daughter, "O Princess, let not thy breast be straitened, but
+come with me straightway to the lattice; for there is with us in the
+stable[FN#556] a comely young man, slender of shape and sweet of speech, and
+meseemeth he is a parted lover." Miriam asked, "And by what sign knowest thou
+that he is a parted lover?"; and she answered, "O Queen, I know it by his
+improvising odes and verses all watches of the night and tides of the day."
+Quoth the Princess in herself, "If what the Wazir's daughter says be true,
+these are assuredly the traits of the baffled, the wretched Ali Nur al-Din.
+Would I knew if indeed he be the youth of whom she speaketh?" At this thought,
+love-longing and distraction of passion redoubled on her and she rose at once
+and walking with the maiden to the lattice, looked down upon the stables, where
+she saw her love and lord Nur al-Din and fixing her eyes steadfastly upon him,
+knew him with the bestest knowledge of love, albeit he was sick, of the
+greatness of his affection for her and of the fire of passion, and the anguish
+of separation and yearning and distraction. Sore upon him was emaciation and he
+was improvising and saying,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"My heart is a thrall; my tears ne'er abate * And their rains the<br/>
+
+     railing of clouds amate;<br/>
+
+'Twixt my weeping and watching and wanting love; * And whining<br/>
+
+     and pining for dearest mate.<br/>
+
+Ah my burning heat, my desire, my lowe! * For the plagues that<br/>
+
+     torture my heart are eight;<br/>
+
+And five upon five are in suite of them; * So stand and listen to<br/>
+
+     all I state:<br/>
+
+Mem'ry, madding thoughts, moaning languishment, * Stress of<br/>
+
+     longing love, plight disconsolate;<br/>
+
+In travail, affliction and strangerhood, * And annoy and joy when<br/>
+
+     on her I wait.<br/>
+
+Fail me patience and stay for engrossing care * And sorrows my<br/>
+
+     suffering soul regrate.<br/>
+
+On my heart the possession of passion grows * O who ask of what<br/>
+
+     fire in my heart's create,<br/>
+
+Why my tears in vitals should kindle flame, * Burning heart with<br/>
+
+     ardours insatiate,<br/>
+
+Know, I'm drowned in Deluge[FN#557] of tears and my soul * From<br/>
+
+     Lazá-lowe fares to Háwiyah-goal."[FN#558]<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the Princess Miriam beheld Nur al-Din and heard his loquence and verse and
+speech, she made certain that it was indeed her lord Nur al-Din; but she
+concealed her case from the Wazir's daughter and said to her, "By the virtue of
+the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, I thought not thou knewest of my
+sadness!" Then she arose forthright and withdrawing from the window, returned
+to her own place, whilst the Wazir's daughter went to her own occupations. The
+Princess awaited patiently awhile, then returned to the window and sat there,
+gazing upon her beloved Nur al-Din and delighting her eyes with his beauty and
+inner and outer grace. And indeed, she saw that he was like unto moon at full
+on fourteenth night; but he was ever sighing with tears never drying, for that
+he recalled whatso he had been abying. So he recited these couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I hope for Union with my love which I may ne'er obtain * At all,<br/>
+
+     but bitterness of life is all the gain I gain:<br/>
+
+My tears are likest to the main for ebb and flow of tide; * But<br/>
+
+     when I meet the blamer-wight to staunch my tears I'm fain.<br/>
+
+Woe to the wretch who garred us part by spelling of his<br/>
+
+     spells;[FN#559] * Could I but hend his tongue in hand I'd<br/>
+
+     cut his tongue in twain:<br/>
+
+Yet will I never blame the days for whatso deed they did *<br/>
+
+     Mingling with merest, purest gall the cup they made me<br/>
+
+     drain!<br/>
+
+To whom shall I address myself; and whom but you shall seek * A<br/>
+
+     heart left hostage in your Court, by you a captive ta'en?<br/>
+
+Who shall avenge my wrongs on you,[FN#560] tyrant despotical *<br/>
+
+     Whose tyranny but grows the more, the more I dare complain?<br/>
+
+I made him regnant of my soul that he the reign assain * But me<br/>
+
+     he wasted wasting too the soul I gave to reign.<br/>
+
+Ho thou, the Fawn, whom I so lief erst gathered to my breast *<br/>
+
+     Enow of severance tasted I to own its might and main,<br/>
+
+Thou'rt he whose favours joined in one all beauties known to man,<br/>
+
+     * Yet I thereon have wasted all my Patience' fair domain.<br/>
+
+I entertained him in my heart whereto he brought unrest * But I<br/>
+
+     am satisfied that I such guest could entertain.<br/>
+
+My tears for ever flow and flood, likest the surging sea * And<br/>
+
+     would I wot the track to take that I thereto attain.<br/>
+
+Yet sore I fear that I shall die in depths of my chagrin * And<br/>
+
+     must despair for evermore to win the wish I'd win."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Miriam heard the verses of Nur al-Din the loving-hearted, the parted; they
+kindled in her vitals a fire of desire, and while her eyes ran over with tears,
+she recited these two couplets,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"I longed for him I love; but, when we met, * I was amazed nor<br/>
+
+     tongue nor eyes I found.<br/>
+
+I had got ready volumes of reproach; * But when we met, could<br/>
+
+     syllable no sound."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Nur al-Din heard the voice of Princess Miriam, he knew it and wept bitter
+tears, saying, "By Allah, this is the chanting of the Lady Miriam."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+End of Volume 8.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+                    Arabian Nights, Volume 8<br/>
+
+                           Footnotes<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#1]  Ironicč; we are safe as long as we are defended by such a brave.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#2]  Blue, azure. This is hardly the place for a protest, but I must not
+neglect the opportunity of cautioning my readers against rendering Bahr
+al-Azrak ("Blue River") by "Blue Nile." No Arab ever knew it by that name or
+thereby equalled it with the White Nile. The term was a pure invention of
+Abyssinian Bruce who was well aware of the unfact he was propagating, but his
+inordinate vanity and self-esteem, contrasting so curiously with many noble
+qualities, especially courage and self-reliance, tempted him to this and many
+other a traveller's tale.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#3]  This is orthodox Moslem doctrine and it does something for the dignity
+of human nature which has been so unwisely depreciated and degraded by
+Christianity. The contrast of Moslem dignity and Christian abasement in the
+East is patent to every unblind traveller.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#4]  Here ends vol. iii. of the Mac. Edit.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#5]  This famous tale is a sister prose-poem to the "Arabian<br/>
+
+Odyssey" Sindbad the Seaman; only the Bassorite's travels are in<br/>
+
+Jinn-land and Japan.  It has points of resemblance in<br/>
+
+"fundamental outline" with the Persian Romance of the Fairy Hasan<br/>
+
+Bánú and King Bahrám-i-Gúr. See also the Kathá (s.s.) and the two<br/>
+
+sons of the Asúra Máyá; the Tartar "Sidhi Kúr" (Tales of a<br/>
+
+Vampire or Enchanted Corpse) translated by Mr. W. J. Thoms (the<br/>
+
+Father of "Folk-lore" in 1846,) in "Lays and Legends of various<br/>
+
+Nations"; the Persian Bahár-i-Dánish (Prime of Lore). Miss<br/>
+
+Stokes' "Indian Fairy Tales"; Miss Frere's "Old Deccan Days" and<br/>
+
+Mrs. F. A. Steel's "Tale of the King and his Seven Sons," with<br/>
+
+notes by Lieutenant (now Captain) R. C. Temple (Folk-lore of the<br/>
+
+Panjab, Indian Antiquary of March, 1882).<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#6]  In the Mac.  Edit. (vol. iv. i.) the merchant has two sons who became
+one a brazier ("dealer in copper-wares" says Lane iii. 385) and the other a
+goldsmith.  The Bresl.  Edit. (v. 264) mentions only one son, Hasan, the hero
+of the story which is entitled, "Tale of Hasan al-Basrí and the Isles of Wák
+Wák."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#7]  Arab.  "Shásh Abyaz:" this distinctive sign of the True Believer was
+adopted by the Persian to conceal his being a fire-worshipper, Magian or
+"Guebre." The latter word was introduced from the French by Lord Byron and it
+is certainly far superior to Moore's "Gheber."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#8]  Persians being always a suspected folk.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#9]  Arab.  "Al-Búdikah" afterwards used (Night dcclxxix) in the sense of
+crucible or melting-pot, in modern parlance a pipe-bowl; and also written
+"Bútakah," an Arab distortion of the Persian "Bútah."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#10]  Arab.  "Sindán" or "Sindiyán" (Dozy).  "Sandán," anvil;<br/>
+
+"Sindán," big, strong (Steingass).<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#11]  Arab.  "Kímiya," (see vol. i. 305) properly the substance which
+transmutes metals, the "philosopher's stone" which, by the by, is not a stone;
+and comes from {chymeía,chymós} = a fluid, a wet drug, as opposed to Iksír
+(Al-)  {Xerón, Xérion}, a dry drug.  Those who care to see how it is still
+studied will consult my History of Sindh (chapt. vii) and my experience which
+pointed only to the use made of it in base coinage. Hence in mod. tongue
+Kímiyáwi, an alchemist, means a coiner, a smasher. The reader must not suppose
+that the transmutation of metals is a dead study: I calculate that there are
+about one hundred workers in London alone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#12]  Arab.  "Al-Kír," a bellows also = Kúr, a furnace.  For the full
+meaning of this sentence, see my "Book of the Sword," p. 119.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#13]  Lit.  "bade him lean upon it with the shears" (Al-Káz).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#14]  There are many kinds of Kohls (Hindos.  Surmá and<br/>
+
+Kajjal) used in medicine and magic.  See Herklots, p. 227.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#15]  Arab. "Sabíkah" = bar, lamina, from "Sabk" = melting, smelting: the
+lump in the crucible would be hammered out into an ingot in order to conceal
+the operation
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#16]  i.e. Ł375.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#17]  Such report has cost many a life: the suspicion was and is still
+deadly as heresy in a "new Christian" under the Inquisition.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#18]  Here there is a double entendre: openly it means, "Few men recognise
+as they should the bond of bread and salt:" the other sense would be (and that
+accounts for the smile), "What the deuce do I care for the bond?"
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#19]  Arab.  "Kabbát" in the Bresl. Edit. "Ka'abán ": Lane (iii. 519) reads
+"Ka'áb plur. of Ka'ab a cup."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#20]  A most palpable sneer.  But Hasan is purposely represented as a
+"softy" till aroused and energized by the magic of Love.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#21]  Arab.  "Al-iksír" (see Night dcclxxix, supra p. 9): the Greek word    
+  which has returned from a trip to Arabia and reappeared in Europe as
+"Elixir."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#22]  "Awák" plur. of "Ukíyah," the well-known "oke," or "ocque," a weight
+varying from 1 to 2 lbs.  In Morocco it is pronounced "Wukíyah," and = the
+Spanish ounce (p. 279 Rudimentos del Arabe Vulgar, etc., by Fr. José de
+Lorchundi, Madrid, Rivadeneyra, 1872).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#23]  These lines have occurred in vol. iv. 267, where references to other
+places are given.  I quote Lane by way of variety.  In the text they are
+supposed to have been written by the Persian, a hint that Hasan would never be
+seen again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#24]  i.e. a superfetation of iniquity.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#25]  Arab.  "Kurbán," Heb. { }Corban = offering, oblation to be brought to
+the priest's house or to the altar of the tribal God Yahveh, Jehovah (Levit.
+ii, 2-3 etc.). Amongst the Maronites Kurban is the host (-wafer) and amongst
+the Turks 'Id al-Kurban (sacrifice-feast) is the Greater Bayram, the time of
+Pilgrimage.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#26]  Nár = fire, being feminine, like the names of the other "elements."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#27]  The Egyptian Kurbáj of hippopotamus-hide (Burkh. Nubia, pp. 62,282) or
+elephant-hide (Turner ii. 365).  Hence the Fr. Cravache (as Cravat is from
+Croat).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#28]  In Mac. Edit. "Bahriyah": in Bresl. Edit. "Nawátíyah."<br/>
+
+See vol. vi. 242, for {Naýtes}, navita, nauta.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#29]  In Bresl. Edit. (iv. 285) "Yá Khwájah," for which see vol. vi. 46.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#30]  Arab.  "Tabl" (vulg. baz) = a kettle-drum about half a foot broad held
+in the left hand and beaten with a stick or leathern thong.  Lane refers to his
+description (M.E. ii. chapt. v.) of the Dervish's drum of tinned copper with
+parchment face, and renders Zakhmah or Zukhmah (strap, stirrup-leather) by
+"plectrum," which gives a wrong idea. The Bresl. Edit. ignores the strap.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#31]  The "Spartivento" of Italy, mostly a tall headland which divides the
+clouds.  The most remarkable feature of the kind is the Dalmatian Island,
+Pelagosa.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#32]  The "Rocs" (Al-Arkhákh) in the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 290).<br/>
+
+The Rakham = aquiline vulture.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#33]  Lane here quotes a similar incident in the romance "Sayf Zú al-Yazan,"
+so called from the hero, whose son, Misr, is sewn up in a camel's hide by
+Bahrám, a treacherous Magian, and is carried by the Rukhs to a mountain-top.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#34]  These lines occurred in Night xxvi. vol. i. 275: I quote<br/>
+
+Mr. Payne for variety.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#35]  Thus a Moslem can not only circumcise and marry himself but can also
+bury canonically himself.  The form of this prayer is given by Lane M. E.
+chapt. xv.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#36]  i.e. If I fail in my self-imposed duty, thou shalt charge me therewith
+on the Judgment-day.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#37]  Arab.  "Al-Alwán," plur. of laun (colour).  The latter in Egyptian
+Arabic means a "dish of meat." See Burckhardt No. 279. I repeat that the great
+traveller's "Arabic Proverbs" wants republishing for two reasons.  First he had
+not sufficient command of English to translate with the necessary laconism and
+assonance: secondly in his day British Philistinism was too rampant to permit a
+literal translation. Consequently the book falls short of what the Oriental
+student requires; and I have prepared it for my friend Mr. Quaritch.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#38]  i.e. Lofty, high-builded. See Night dcclxviii. vol. vii. p. 347. In
+the Bresl. Edit. Al-Masíd (as in Al-Kazwíni): in the Mac. Edit. Al-Mashid
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#39]  Arab. "Munkati" here = cut off from the rest of the world. Applied to
+a man, and a popular term of abuse in Al-Hijáz, it means one cut off from the
+blessings of Allah and the benefits of mankind; a pauvre sire. (Pilgrimage ii.
+22.)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#40]  Arab. "Baras au Juzám," the two common forms of leprosy. See vol. iv.
+51. Popular superstition in Syria holds that coition during the menses breeds
+the Juzám, Dáa al-Kabír (Great Evil) or Dáa al-Fíl (Elephantine Evil), i.e.
+Elephantiasis and that the days between the beginning of the flow (Sabíl) to
+that of coition shows the age when the progeny will be attacked; for instance
+if it take place on the first day, the disease will appear in the tenth year,
+on the fourth the fortieth and so on.  The only diseases really dreaded by the
+Badawin are leprosy and small-pox. Coition during the menses is forbidden by
+all Eastern faiths under the severest penalties. Al-Mas'údi relates how a man
+thus begotten became a determined enemy of Ali; and the ancient Jews attributed
+the magical powers of Joshua Nazarenus to this accident of his birth, the
+popular idea being that sorcerers are thus impurely engendered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#41]  By adoption - See vol. iii. 151. This sudden affection (not love)
+suggests the "Come to my arms, my slight acquaintance!" of the Anti-Jacobin. 
+But it is true to Eastern nature; and nothing can be more charming than this
+fast friendship between the Princess and Hasan.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#42]  En tout bien et en tout honneur, be it understood.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#43]  He had done nothing of the kind; but the feminine mind is prone to
+exaggeration. Also Hasan had told them a fib, to prejudice them against the
+Persian.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#44]  These nervous movements have been reduced to a system in the Turk.
+"Ihtilájnámeh" = Book of palpitations, prognosticating from the subsultus
+tendinum and other involuntary movements of the body from head to foot;
+according to Ja'afar the Just, Daniel the Prophet, Alexander the Great; the
+Sages of Persia and the Wise Men of Greece. In England we attend chiefly to the
+eye and ear.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#45]  Revenge, amongst the Arabs, is a sacred duty; and, in their state of
+civilization, society could not be kept together without it. So the slaughter
+of a villain is held to be a sacrifice to Allah, who amongst Christians claims
+for Himself the monopoly of vengeance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#46]  Arab.  "Zindík." See vol. v. 230.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#47]  Lane translates this "put for him the remaining food and water;" but
+Al-Ákhar (Mac.  Edit.) evidently refers to the Najíb (dromedary).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#48]  We can hardly see the heroism of the deed, but it must be remembered
+that Bahram was a wicked sorcerer, whom it was every good  Moslem's bounden
+duty to slay.  Compare the treatment of witches in England two centuries ago.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#49]  The mother in Arab tales is ma mčre, now becoming somewhat ridiculous
+in France on account of the over use of that venerable personage.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#50]  The forbidden closet occurs also in Sayf Zú al-Yazan, who enters it
+and finds the bird-girls.  Trébutien ii, 208 says, "Il est assez remarquable
+qu'il existe en Allemagne une tradition ŕ peu prčs semblable, et qui a fourni
+le sujet d'un des contes de Musaeus, entitulé, le voile enlevé." Here Hasan is
+artfully left alone in a large palace without other companions but his thoughts
+and the reader is left to divine the train of ideas which drove him to open the
+door.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#51]  Arab.  "Buhayrah" (Bresl. Edit. "Bahrah"), the tank or cistern in the
+Hosh (court-yard) of an Eastern house.  Here, however, it is a rain-cistern on
+the flat roof of the palace (See Night dcccviii).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#52]  This description of the view is one of the most gorgeous in The
+Nights.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#53]  Here again are the "Swan-maidens" (See vol. v. 346) "one of the
+primitive myths, the common heritage of the whole Aryan (Iranian) race." In
+Persia Bahram-i-Gúr when carried off by the Dív Sapíd seizes the Peri's
+dove-coat: in Santháli folk-lore Torica, the Goatherd, steals the garment
+doffed by one of the daughters of the sun; and hence the twelve birds of
+Russian Story.  To the same cycle belong the Seal-tales of the Faroe Islands
+(Thorpe's Northern Mythology) and the wise women or mermaids of Shetland
+(Hibbert).  Wayland the smith captures a wife by seizing a mermaid's raiment
+and so did Sir Hagán by annexing the wardrobe of a Danubian water-nymph. 
+Lettsom, the translator, mixes up this swan-raiment with that of the Valkyries
+or Choosers of the Slain. In real life stealing women's clothes is an old trick
+and has often induced them, after having been seen naked, to offer their
+persons spontaneously.  Of this I knew two cases in India, where the theft is
+justified by divine example.  The blue god Krishna, a barbarous and grotesque
+Hindu Apollo, robbed the raiment of the pretty Gopálís (cowherdesses) who were
+bathing in the Arjun River and carried them to the top of a Kunduna tree; nor
+would he restore them till he had reviewed the naked girls and taken one of
+them to wife.  See also Imr al-Kays (of the Mu'allakah) with "Onaiza" at the
+port of Daratjuljul (Clouston's Arabian Poetry, p.4). A critic has complained
+of my tracing the origin of the Swan-maiden legend to the physical resemblance
+between the bird and a high-bred girl (vol. v. 346). I should have explained my
+theory which is shortly, that we must seek a material basis for all so-called
+supernaturalisms, and that anthropomorphism satisfactorily explains the
+Swan-maiden, as it does the angel and the devil. There is much to say on the
+subject; but this is not the place for long discussion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#54]  Arab.  "Nafs Ammárah," corresponding with our canting term "The
+Flesh." Nafs al-Nátíkah is the intellectual soul or function; Nafs
+al-Ghazabíyah = the animal function and Nafs al Shahwáníyah = the vegetative
+property.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#55]  The lines occur in vol. ii. 331: I have quoted Mr.<br/>
+
+Payne.  Here they are singularly out of place.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#56]  Not the "green gown" of Anglo-India i.e. a white ball-dress with
+blades of grass sticking to it in consequence of a "fall backwards."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#57]  These lines occur in vol. i. 219: I have borrowed from<br/>
+
+Torrens (p. 219).<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#58]  The appearance of which ends the fast and begins the<br/>
+
+Lesser Festival.  See vol. i. 84.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#59]  See note, vol. i. 84, for notices of the large navel; much appreciated
+by Easterns.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#60]  Arab.  "Shá'ir Al-Walahán" = the love-distraught poet; Lane has "a
+distracted poet."  My learned friend Professor Aloys Sprenger has consulted,
+upon the subject of Al-Walahán the well-known Professor of Arabic at Halle, Dr.
+Thorbeck, who remarks that the word (here as further on) must be an adjective,
+mad, love-distraught, not a "lakab" or poetical cognomen.  He generally finds
+it written Al-Shá'ir al-Walahán (the love-demented poet) not Al-Walahán
+al-Shá'ir = Walahán the Poet. Note this burst of song after the sweet youth
+falls in love: it explains the cause of verse-quotation in The Nights, poetry
+being the natural language of love and battle.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#61]  "Them" as usual for "her."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#62]  Here Lane proposes a transposition, for "Wa-huwá (and he) fi'l-hubbi,"
+to read "Fi 'l-hubbi wa huwa (wa-hwa);" but the latter is given in the Mac.
+Edit.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#63]  For the pun in "Sabr"=aloe or patience.  See vol. i. 138. In Herr
+Landberg (i. 93) we find a misunderstanding of the couplet—
+</p>
+
+<p>
+     "Aw'ákibu s-sabri (Kála ba'azuhum)<br/>
+
+      Mahmúdah:  Kultu, 'khshi an takhirriní.'"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"The effects of patience" (or aloes) quoth one "are praiseworthy!" Quoth I,
+"Much I fear lest it make me stool." Mahmúdah is not only un laxatif, but a
+slang name for a confection of aloes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#64]  Arab. "Akúna fidá-ka." Fidá = ransom, self-sacrifice and<br/>
+
+Fidá'an = instead of.  The phrase, which everywhere occurs in The<br/>
+
+Nights, means, "I would give my life to save thine "<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#65]  Thus accounting for his sickness, improbably enough but in flattering
+way.  Like a good friend (feminine) she does not hesitate a moment in
+prescribing a fib.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#66]  i.e. the 25,000 Amazons who in the Bresl. Edit. (ii. 308) are all made
+to be the King's Banát" = daughters or protégées. The Amazons of Dahome (see my
+"Mission") who may now number 5,000 are all officially wives of the King and
+are called by the lieges "our mothers."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#67]  The tale-teller has made up his mind about the damsel; although in
+this part of the story she is the chief and eldest sister and subsequently she
+appears as the youngest daughter of the supreme Jinn King.  The mystification
+is artfully explained by the extraordinary likeness of the two sisters. (See
+Night dcccxi.)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#68]  This is a reminiscence of the old-fashioned "marriage by capture," of
+which many traces survive, even among the civilised who wholly ignore their
+origin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#69]  Meaning her companions and suite.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#70]  Arab.  "'Abáah" vulg.  "'Abáyah."  See vol. ii. 133.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#71]  Feet in the East lack that development of sebaceous glands which
+afflicts Europeans.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#72]  i.e. cutting the animals' throats after Moslem law.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#73]  In Night dcclxxviii. supra p.5, we find the orthodox Moslem doctrine
+that "a single mortal is better in Allah's sight than a thousand Jinns."  For,
+I repeat, Al-Islam systematically exalts human nature which Christianity takes
+infinite trouble to degrade and debase.  The results of its ignoble teaching
+are only too evident in the East: the Christians of the so-called (and
+miscalled) "Holy Land" are a disgrace to the faith and the idiomatic Persian
+term for a Nazarene is "Tarsá" = funker, coward.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#74]  Arab.  "Sakaba Kúrahá;" the forge in which children are hammered out?
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#75]  Arab.  "Má al-Maláhat" = water (brilliancy) of beauty.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#76]  The fourth of the Seven Heavens, the "Garden of<br/>
+
+Eternity," made of yellow coral.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#77]  How strange this must sound to the Young Woman of London in the
+nineteenth century.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#78]  "Forty days" is a quasi-religious period amongst Moslem for praying,
+fasting and religious exercises: here it represents our "honey-moon." See vol.
+v. p. 62.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#79]  Yá layta, still popular.  Herr Carlo Landberg (Proverbes et Dictons du
+Peuple Arabe, vol. i. of Syria, Leyden, E. J. Brill, 1883) explains layta for
+rayta (=raayta) by permutation of liquids and argues that the contraction is
+ancient (p. 42).  But the Herr is no Arabist: "Layta" means "would to Heaven,"
+or, simply "I wish," "I pray" (for something possible or impossible); whilst
+"La'alla" (perhaps, it may be) prays only for the possible:  and both are
+simply particles governing the noun in the oblique or accusative case.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#80]  "His" for "her," i.e. herself, making somewhat of confusion between
+her state and that of her son.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#81]  i.e. his mother; the words are not in the Mac. Edit.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#82]  Baghdad is called House of Peace, amongst other reasons, from the
+Dijlah (Tigris) River and Valley "of Peace." The word was variously written
+Baghdád, Bághdád, (our old Bughdaud and Bagdat), Baghzáz, Baghzán, Baghdán,
+Baghzám and Maghdád as Makkah and Bakkah (Koran iii. 90).  Religious Moslems
+held Bágh (idol) and Dád (gift) an ill-omened conjunction, and the Greeks
+changed it to Eirenopolis. (See Ouseley's Oriental Collcctions, vol. i. pp.
+18-20.)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#83]  This is a popular saying but hardly a "vulgar proverb."<br/>
+
+(Lane iii. 522.) It reminds rather of Shakespear's:<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+     "So loving to my mother,<br/>
+
+      That he might not beteem the winds of heaven<br/>
+
+      Visit her face too roughly."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#84]  i.e. God forbid that I should oppose thee!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#85]  Here the writer again forgets apparently, that Shahrazad is speaking:
+she may, however, use the plural for the singular when speaking of herself.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#86]  i.e. She would have pleaded ill-treatment and lawfully demanded to be
+sold.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#87]  The Hindus speak of "the only bond that woman knows—her heart."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#88]  i.e. a rarity, a present (especially in Persian).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#89]  Arab.  "Al-bisát" wa'l-masnad lit. the carpet and the cushion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#90]  For "Báb al-bahr" and "Báb al-Barr" see vol. iii. 281.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#91]  She was the daughter of Ja'afar bin Mansúr; but, as will be seen, The
+Nights again and again called her father Al-Kásim.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#92]  This is an error for the fifth which occurs in the popular saying, "Is
+he the fifth of the sons of Al-Abbás!" i.e. Harun al-Rashid.  Lane (note, in
+loco) thus accounts for the frequent mention of the Caliph, the greatest of the
+Abbasides in The Nights.  But this is a causa non causa.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#93]  i.e. I find thy beauty all-sufficient.  So the proverb "The son of the
+quarter (young neighbour) filleth not the eye," which prefers a stranger.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#94]  They are mere doggerel, like most of the pičces de circonstance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#95]  Afterwards called Wák Wák, and in the Bresl. Edit. Wák al-Wák. See
+Lane's notes upon these Islands.  Arab Geographers evidently speak of two Wak
+Waks.  Ibn al-Fakih and Al-Mas'údi (Fr. Transl., vol. iii. 6-7) locate one of
+them in East Africa beyond Zanzibar and Sofala. "Le territoire des Zendjes
+(Zanzibar-Negroids) commence au canal (Al-Khalij) dérivé du haut Nil (the Juln
+River?) et se prolonge jusqu'au pays de Sofalah et des Wak-Wak." It is simply
+the peninsula of Guardafui (Jard Hafun) occupied by the Gallas, pagans and
+Christians, before these were ousted by the Moslem Somal; and the former
+perpetually ejaculated "Wak" (God) as Moslems cry upon Allah.  This
+identification explains a host of other myths such as the Amazons, who as Marco
+Polo tells us held the "Female Island" Socotra (Yule ii. 396).  The fruit which
+resembled a woman's head (whence the puellć Wakwakienses hanging by the hair
+from trees), and which when ripe called out "Wak Wak" and "Allah al-Khallák"
+(the Creator) refers to the Calabash-tree (Adausonia digitata), that grotesque
+growth, a vegetable elephant, whose gourds, something larger than a man's head,
+hang by a slender filament. Similarly the "cocoa" got its name, in Port. =
+Goblin, from the fancied face at one end. The other Wak Wak has been identified
+in turns with the Seychelles, Madagascar, Malacca, Sunda or Java (this by
+Langlčs), China and Japan.  The learned Prof. de Goeje (Arabishe Berichten over
+Japan, Amsterdam, Muller, 1880) informs us that in Canton the name of Japan is
+Wo-Kwok, possibly a corruption of Koku-tan, the ebony-tree (Diospyros ebenum)
+which Ibn Khor-dábah and others find together with gold in an island 4,500
+parasangs from Suez and East of China.  And we must remember that Basrah was
+the chief starting-place for the Celestial Empire during the rule of the Tang
+dynasty (seventh and ninth centuries). Colonel J. W. Watson of Bombay suggests
+New Guinea or the adjacent islands where the Bird of Paradise is said to cry
+"Wak Wak!" Mr. W. F. Kirby in the Preface (p. ix.) to his neat little book "The
+New Arabian Nights," says: "The Islands of Wak-Wak, seven years' journey from
+Bagdad, in the story of Hasan, have receded to a distance of a hundred and
+fifty years' journey in that of Majin (of Khorasan).  There is no doubt(?) that
+the Cora Islands, near New Guinea, are intended; for the wonderful fruits which
+grow there are Birds of Paradise, which settle in flocks on the trees at sunset
+and sunrise, uttering this very cry." Thus, like Ophir, Wak Wak has wandered
+all over the world and has been found even in Peru by the Turkish work Tárikh
+al-Hind al-Gharbi = History of the West Indies (Orient. Coll. iii 189).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#96]  I accept the emendation of Lane's Shaykh, "Nasím "<br/>
+
+(Zephyr) for "Nadím " (cup-companion).<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#97]  "Jannat al-Ná'im" = Garden of Delights is No. V Heaven, made of white
+diamond.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#98]  This appears to her very prettily put.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#99]  This is the "House of Sadness" of our old chivalrous Romances. See
+chapt. vi. of "Palmerin of England," by Francisco de Moraes (ob. 1572),
+translated by old Anthony Munday (dateless, 1590?) and "corrected" (read
+spoiled) by Robert Southey, London, Longmans, 1807.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#100]  The lines have occurred in Night clix. (vol. iii. 183), I quote Mr.
+Payne who, like Lane, prefers "in my bosom" to "beneath my ribs."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#101]  In this tale the Bresl. Edit. more than once adds "And let us and you
+send a blessing to the Lord of Lords" (or to "Mohammed," or to the "Prophet");
+and in vol. v. p. 52 has a long prayer.  This is an act of contrition in the
+tale-teller for romancing against the expressed warning of the Founder of
+Al-Islam.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#102]  From Bresl. Edit. (vi. 29): the four in the Mac. Edit. are too
+irrelevant.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#103]  Arab.  "Ghayúr"—jealous, an admirable epithet which<br/>
+
+Lane dilutes to "changeable"—making a truism of a metaphor.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#104]  These lines have occurred before.  I quote Mr. Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#105]  i.e. One fated to live ten years.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#106]  This poetical way of saying "fourteen" suggests Camoens<br/>
+
+(The Lusiads) Canto v. 2.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#107]  Arab.  "Surrah," lit. = a purse: a few lines lower down it is called
+"'Ulbah" = a box which, of course, may have contained the bag.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#108]  The month which begins the Moslem year.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#109]  As an Arab often does when deep in thought.  Lane appositely quotes
+John viii. 6. "Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground."
+Mr. Payne translates, "He fell a-drumming on the earth with his fingers," but
+this does not complete the sense.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#110]  i.e."And the peace of Allah be upon thee! that will end thy story." 
+The Arab formula, "Wa al-Salám" (pron.  Wassalám) is used in a variety of
+senses.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#111]  Like Camoens, one of the model lovers, he calls upon<br/>
+
+Love to torment him still more—ad majorem Dei (amoris) gloriam.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#112]  Pron.  Aboor-Ruwaysh.  "The Father of the little Feather": he is
+afterwards called "Son of the daughter of the accursed Iblis"; yet, as Lane
+says, "he appears to be a virtuous person."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#113]  Arab.  "Kantara al-lijám fi Karbús (bow) sarjih."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#114]  I do not translate "beckoned" because the word would give a wrong
+idea.  Our beckoning with the finger moved towards the beckoner makes the
+so-beckoned Eastern depart in all haste. To call him you must wave the hand
+from you.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#115]  The Arabs knew what large libraries were; and a learned man could not
+travel without camel-loads of dictionaries.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#116]  Arab.  "Adim;" now called Bulghár, our Moroccan leather.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#117]  Arab.  "Zinád," which Lane renders by "instruments for striking
+fire," and Mr. Payne, after the fashion of the translators of Al-Hariri, "flint
+and steel."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#118]  A congener of Hasan and Husayn, little used except in Syria where it
+is a favourite name for Christians.  The Muhít of Butrus Al-Bostáni (s.v.)
+tells us that it also means a bird called Abú Hasan and supplies various
+Egyptian synonyms.  In Mod. Arab. Grammar the form Fa''úl is a diminutive as
+Hammúd for Ahmad, 'Ammúr for 'Amrú. So the fem. form, Fa''úlah, e.g. Khaddúgah
+= little Khadijah and Naffúsah=little Nafisah; Ar'úrah = little clitoris -
+whereas in Heb. it is an incrementative e.g. dabbúlah a large dablah (cake or
+lump of dried figs, etc.).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#119]  In the Mac. Edit. "Soldiers of Al-Daylam" i.e. warlike as the
+Daylamites or Medes.  See vol. ii. 94.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#120]  Bilkís, it will be remembered, is the Arab. name of the<br/>
+
+Queen of Sheba who visited Solomon.  In Abyssinia she is termed<br/>
+
+Kebra zá negest or zá makadá, the latter (according to Ferdinand<br/>
+
+Werne's "African Wanderings," Longmans, 1852) being synonymous<br/>
+
+with Ityopia or Habash (Ethiopia or Abyssinia).<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#121]  Arab.  "Dakkah," which Lane translates by "settee."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#122]  Arab. "Ambar al-Khám" the latter word (raw) being pure<br/>
+
+Persian.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#123]  The author neglects to mention the ugliest part of old-womanhood in
+the East, long empty breasts like tobacco-pouches. In youth the bosom is
+beautifully high, arched and rounded, firm as stone to the touch, with the
+nipples erect and pointing outwards.  But after the girl-mother's first child
+(in Europe le premier embellit) all changes.  Nature and bodily power have been
+overtasked; then comes the long suckling at the mother's expense: the extension
+of the skin and the enlargement of its vessels are too sudden and rapid for the
+diminished ability of contraction and the bad food aids in the continual
+consumption of vitality.  Hence, among Eastern women age and ugliness are
+synonymous.  It is only in the highest civilisation that we find the handsome
+old woman.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#124]  The name has occurred in the Knightly tale of King Omar and his sons,
+Vol. ii. 269.  She is here called Mother of Calamities,but in p. 123, Vol. iv.
+of the Mac. Edit. she becomes "Lady (Zát) al-Dawáhi." It will be remembered
+that the title means calamitous to the foe.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#125]  By this address she assured him that she had no design upon his
+chastity. In Moslem lands it is always advisable to accost a strange woman, no
+matter how young, with, "Yá Ummí!" = O my mother. This is pledging one's word,
+as it were, not to make love to her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#126]  Apparently the Wakites numbered their Islands as the Anglo-Americans
+do their streets.  For this they have been charged with "want of imagination";
+but the custom is strictly classical. See at Pompeii "Reg (io) I; Ins (ula) I,
+Via Prima, Secunda," etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#127]  These are the Puellć Wakwakienses of whom Ibn Al-Wardi relates after
+an ocular witness, "Here too is a tree which bears fruits like women who have
+fair faces and are hung by their hair. They come forth from integuments like
+large leathern bags (calabash-gourds?) and when they sense air and sun they cry
+'Wak! Wak!' (God!  God!) till their hair is cut, and when it is cut they die;
+and the islanders understand this cry wherefrom they augure ill." The Ajáib
+al-Hind (chapt. xv.) places in Wak-land the Samandal, a bird which enters the
+fire without being burnt evidently the Egyptian "Pi-Benni," which the Greeks
+metamorphised to "Phnix." It also mentions a hare-like animal, now male then
+female, and the Somal behind Cape Guardafui tell the same tale of their
+Cynhyćnas.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#128]  i.e. I will keep thee as though thou wert the apple of my eye.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#129]  A mere exaggeration of the "Gull-fairs" noted by travellers in sundry
+islands as Ascension and the rock off Brazilian Santos.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#130]  Arab.  "Kámil wa Basít wa Wáfir" = the names of three popular metres,
+for which see the Terminal Essay.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#131]  Arab.  "Manáshif" = drying towels, Plur. of Minshafah, and the
+popular term which Dr. Jonathan Swift corrupted to "Munnassaf." Lane (Nights,
+Introduct. p. ix.).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#132]  Arab.  "Shafaif" opposed to "Shafah" the mouth-lips.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#133]  Fountains of Paradise. This description is a fair instance of how the
+Saj'a (prose-rhyme) dislocates the order; an Arab begins with hair, forehead,
+eyebrows and lashes and when he reaches the nose, he slips down to the toes for
+the sake of the assonance.  If the latter be neglected the whole list of charms
+must be otherwise ordered; and the student will compare Mr. Payne's version of
+this passage with mine.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#134]  A fair specimen of the Arab logogriph derived from the Abjad Alphabet
+which contains only the Hebrew and Syriac letters not the six Arabic.  Thus 4 X
+5=20 which represents the Kaf (K) and 6 X 10=60, or Sin (S).  The whole word is
+thus "Kus", the Greek {kysňs} or {kyssňs}, and the lowest word, in Persian as
+in Arabic, for the female pudenda, extensively used in vulgar abuse. In my
+youth we had at the University something of the kind,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+     To five and five and fifty-five<br/>
+
+     The first of letters add<br/>
+
+     To make a thing to please a King<br/>
+
+     And drive a wise man mad.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Answer VVLVA.  Very interesting to the anthropological student is this excursus
+of Hasan, who after all manner of hardships and horrors and risking his life to
+recover his wife and children, breaks out into song on the subject of her
+privities.  And it can hardly be tale-teller's gag as both verse and prose show
+considerable art in composition. (See p. 348.)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Supplementary Note To Hasan of Bassorah.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Note(p.93)—There is something wondrous naďve in a lover who, when asked by his
+mistress to sing a song in her honour, breaks out into versical praises of her
+parts.  But even the classical Arab authors did not disdain such themes.  See
+in Al-Harírí (Ass. of Mayyáfarikín) where Abú Zayd laments the impotency of old
+age in form of a Rasy or funeral oration (Preston p. 484, and Chenery p. 221). 
+It completely deceived Sir William Jones, who inserted it into the chapter "De
+Poesi Funebri," p. 527 (Poeseos Asiaticć Commentarii), gravely noting, "Hćc
+Elegia non admodum dissimilis esse videtur pulcherrimi illius carminis de Sauli
+et Jonathani obitu; at que adeň versus iste 'ubi provocant adversarios nunquam
+rediit a pugnć contentione sine spiculo sanguine imbuto,' ex Hebrćo reddi
+videtur,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+          A sanguine occisorum, a fortium virorum adipe,<br/>
+
+          Arcus Jonathani non rediit irritus."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+I need hardly say with Captain Lockett (226) that this "Sabb warrior," this
+Arabian Achilles, is the celebrated Bonus Deus or Hellespontiacus of the
+Ancients.  The oration runs thus:—
+</p>
+
+<p>
+          O folk I have a wondrous tale, so rare<br/>
+
+          Much shall it profit hearers wise and ware!<br/>
+
+          I saw in salad-years a potent Brave<br/>
+
+          And sharp of edge and point his warrior glaive;<br/>
+
+          Who entered joust and list with hardiment<br/>
+
+          Fearless of risk, of victory confident,<br/>
+
+          His vigorous onset straitest places oped<br/>
+
+          And easy passage through all narrows groped:<br/>
+
+          He ne'er encountered foe in single fight<br/>
+
+          But came from tilt with spear in blood stained bright;<br/>
+
+          Nor stormed a fortress howso strong and stark—<br/>
+
+          With fencčd gates defended deep and dark—<br/>
+
+          When shown his flag without th' auspicious cry<br/>
+
+          "Aidance from Allah and fair victory nigh!"<br/>
+
+          Thus wise full many a night his part he played<br/>
+
+          In strength and youthtide's stately garb arrayed,<br/>
+
+          Dealing to fair young girl delicious joy<br/>
+
+          And no less welcome to the blooming boy.<br/>
+
+          But Time ne'er ceased to stint his wondrous strength<br/>
+
+          (Steadfast and upright as the gallow's length)<br/>
+
+          Until the Nights o'erthrew him by their might<br/>
+
+          And friends contemned him for a feckless wight;<br/>
+
+          Nor was a wizard but who wasted skill<br/>
+
+          Over his case, nor leach could heal his ill.<br/>
+
+          Then he abandoned arms abandoned him<br/>
+
+          Who gave and took salutes so fierce and grim;<br/>
+
+          And now lies prostrate drooping haughty crest;<br/>
+
+          For who lives longest him most ills molest.<br/>
+
+          Then see him, here he lies on bier for bet;—<br/>
+
+          Who will a shroud bestow on stranger dead?<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A fair measure of the difference between Eastern and Western manners is
+afforded by such a theme being treated by their gravest writers and the verses
+being read and heard by the gravest and most worshipful men, whilst amongst us
+Preston and Chenery do not dare even to translate them.  The latter, indeed,
+had all that immodest modesty for which English professional society is notable
+in this xixth century.  He spoiled by needlessly excluding from a scientific
+publication (Mem. R.A.S.) all of my Proverbia Communia Syriaca (see Unexplored
+Sryia, i. 364) and every item which had a shade of double entendre.  But
+Nemesis frequently found him out: during his short and obscure rule in Printing
+House Square, The Thunderer was distinguished by two of the foulest indecencies
+that ever appeared in an English paper.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The well-known Koranic verse, whereby Allah is introduced into an indecent tale
+and "Holy Writ" is punned upon.  I have noticed (iii. 206) that victory Fat'h
+lit.=opening everything (as e.g. a maidenhead).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#135]  Egyptian and Syrian vulgar term for Mawálíyah or Mawáliyah, a short
+poem on subjects either classical or vulgar. It generally consists of five
+lines all rhyming except the penultimate.  The metre is a species of the Basít
+which, however, admits of considerable poetical license; this being according
+to Lane the usual "Weight,"
+</p>
+
+<p>
+/   /    /  .
+/   /    / 
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The scheme is distinctly anapćstic and Mr. Lyall (Translations of Ancient
+Arabic Poetry) compares with a cognate metre, the Tawíl, certain lines in Abt
+Vogler, e.g.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Ye know why the forms are fair, ye hear how the tale is told."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#136]  i.e. repeat the chapter of the Koran termed The Opening, and
+beginning with these words, "Have we not opened thy breast for thee and eased
+thee of thy burden which galled thy back? *** Verily with the difficulty cometh
+ease!"—Koran xciv. vol. 1, 5.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#137]  Lane renders Nur al-Hudŕ (Light of Salvation) by Light of Day which
+would be Nur al-Hadŕ.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#138]  In the Bresl. Edit.  "Yá Salám"=O safety!—a vulgar ejaculation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#139]  A favourite idiom meaning from the mischief which may (or will) come
+from the Queen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#140]  He is not strong-minded but his feminine persistency of purpose,
+likest to that of a sitting hen, is confirmed by the "Consolations of
+religion."  The character is delicately drawn.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#141]  In token that she intended to act like a man.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#142]  This is not rare even in real life: Moslem women often hide and
+change their names for superstitious reasons, from the husband and his family.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#143]  Arab.  "Sabab" which also means cause.  Vol. ii. 14.<br/>
+
+There is the same metaphorical use of "Habl"= cord and cause.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#144]  Arab. "Himŕ," a word often occurring in Arab poetry, domain, a
+pasture or watered land forcibly kept as far as a dog's bark would sound by
+some masterful chief like "King Kulayb." (See vol. ii. 77.) This tenure was
+forbidden by Mohammed except for Allah and the Apostle (i.e. himself).  Lane
+translates it "asylum."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#145]  She was a maid and had long been of marriageable age.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#146]  The young man had evidently "kissed the Blarney stone"; but the
+flattery is the more telling as he speaks from the heart.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#147]  "Inshallah " here being= D. V.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#148]  i.e. The "Place of Light" (Pharos), or of Splendour. Here we find
+that Hasan's wife is the youngest sister, but with an extraordinary resemblance
+to the eldest, a very masterful young person.  The anagnorisis is admirably
+well managed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#149]  i.e. the sweetmeats of the feast provided for the returning
+traveller.  The old woman (like others) cannot resist the temptation of a young
+man's lips.  Happily for him she goes so far and no farther.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#150]  The first, fourth, fifth and last names have already occurred: the
+others are in order, Star o' Morn, Sun of Undurn and Honour of Maidenhood. 
+They are not merely fanciful, but are still used in Egypt and Syria.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#151]  Arab.  "Fájirah" and elsewhere "Áhirah," =whore and strumpet used
+often in loose talk as mere abuse without special meaning.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#152]  This to Westerns would seem a most improbable detail, but Easterns
+have their own ideas concerning "Al-Muhabbat al-ghariziyah" =natural affection,
+blood speaking to blood, etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#153]  One of the Hells (see vol. iv. 143).  Here it may be advisable to
+give the names of the Seven Heavens (which are evidently based upon Ptolemaic
+astronomy) and which correspond with the Seven Hells after the fashion of
+Arabian system-mania. (1) Dar al-Jalál (House of Glory) made of pearls; (2) Dár
+al-Salám (of Rest), rubies and jacinths; (3) Jannat al-Maawá (Garden of
+Mansions, not "of mirrors," as Herklots has it, p. 98), made of yellow copper;
+(4) Jannat al-Khuld (of Eternity), yellow coral; (5) Jannat al-Na'ím (of
+Delights), white diamond; (6) Jannat al-Firdaus (of Paradise), red gold; and
+(7) Jannat al-'Adn (of Eden, or Al-Karár= of everlasting abode, which some make
+No. 8), of red pearls or pure musk.  The seven Hells are given in vol. v. 241;
+they are intended for Moslems (Jahannam); Christians (Lazŕ); Jews (Hutamah);
+Sabians (Sa'ir); Guebres (Sakar); Pagans or idolaters (Jahím); and Hypocrites
+(Háwiyah).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#154]  Arab.  "'Atb," more literally= "blame," "reproach."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#155]  Bresl. Edit.  In the Mac.  "it returned to the place whence I had
+brought it"—an inferior reading.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#156]  The dreams play an important part in the Romances of Chivalry, e.g.
+the dream of King Perion in Amadis de Gaul, chapt. ii. (London; Longmans,
+1803).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#157]  Amongst Moslems bastardy is a sore offence and a love-child is
+exceedingly rare.  The girl is not only carefully guarded but she also guards
+herself knowing that otherwise she will not find a husband.  Hence seduction is
+all but unknown. The wife is equally well guarded and lacks opportunities hence
+adultery is found difficult except in books.  Of the Ibn (or Walad) Harám
+(bastard as opposed to the Ibn Halál) the proverb says, "This child is not
+thine, so the madder he be the more is thy glee!" Yet strange to say public
+prostitution has never been wholly abolished in Al-Islam.  Al-Mas'údi tells us
+that in Arabia were public prostitutes'(Bagháyá), even before the days of the
+Apostle, who affected certain quarters as in our day the Tartúshah of
+Alexandria and the Hosh Bardak of Cairo. Here says Herr Carlo Landberg (p. 57,
+Syrian Proverbs) "Elles parlent une langue toute ŕ elle."  So pretentious and
+dogmatic a writer as the author of Proverbes et Dictons de la Province de
+Syrie, ought surely to have known that the Hosh Bardak is the head-quarters of
+the Cairene Gypsies. This author, who seems to write in order to learn, reminds
+me of an acute Oxonian undergraduate of my day who, when advised to take a
+"coach," became a "coach" himself.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#158]  These lines occur in vol. vii. p. 340. I quote Mr.<br/>
+
+Payne.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#159]  She shows all the semi-maniacal rancour of a good woman, or rather a
+woman who has not broken the eleventh commandment, "Thou shalt not be found
+out," against an erring sister who has been discovered.  In the East also these
+unco'gúid dames have had, and too often have, the power to carry into effect
+the cruelty and diabolical malignity which in London and Paris must vent itself
+in scan. mag. and anonymous letters.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#160]  These faintings and trances are as common in the Romances of Chivalry
+e.g. Amadis of Gaul, where they unlace the garments to give more liberty, pour
+cold water on the face and bathe the temples and pulses with diluted vinegar
+(for rose water) exactly as they do in The Nights.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#161]  So Hafiz, "Bád-i-Sabá chu bugzarí" etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#162]  Arab. "Takiyah." See vol. i. 224 and for the Tarn-Kappe vol. iv. p.
+176. In the Sinthásana Dwatrinsati (vulgo.  Singhásan Battísí), or Thirty-two
+Tales of a Throne, we find a bag always full of gold, a bottomless purse; earth
+which rubbed on the forehead overcomes all; a rod which during the first watch
+of the night furnishes jewelled ornaments; in the second a beautiful girl; in
+the third invisibility, and in the fourth a deadly foe or death; a
+flower-garland which renders the possessor invisible and an unfading
+lotus-flower which produces a diamond every day.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#163]  Arab.  "Judad," plur. of Jadíd, lit.= new coin, ergo applied to those
+old and obsolete; 10 Judad were= one nusf or half dirham.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#164]  Arab.  "Raff," a shelf proper, running round the room about 7-7˝ feet
+from the ground.  During my day it was the fashion in Damascus to range in line
+along the Raff splendid porcelain bowls brought by the Caravans in olden days
+from China, whilst on the table were placed French and English specimens of
+white and gold "china" worth perhaps a franc each.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#165]  Lane supposes that the glass and china-ware had fallen upon the divan
+running round the walls under the Raff and were not broken.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#166]  These lines have occurred in Night dclxxxix. vol. vii. p. 119. I
+quote Lane.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#167]  The lines have occurred before.  I quote Mr. Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#168]  This formula, I repeat, especially distinguishes the<br/>
+
+Tale of Hasan of Bassorah.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#169]  These lines have occurred in vol. 1. 249. I quote Lane.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#170]  She speaks to the "Gallery," who would enjoy a loud laugh against
+Mistress Gadabout. The end of the sentence must speak to the heart of many a
+widow.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#171]  These lines occur in vol. i. 25: so I quote Mr. Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#172]  Arab.  "Musáhikah;" the more usual term for a Tribade is "Sahíkah"
+from "Sahk" in the sense of rubbing: both also are applied to onanists and
+masturbators of the gender feminine.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#173]  i.e. by way of halter.  This jar is like the cask in Auerbach's
+Keller; and has already been used by witches; Night dlxxxvii. vol. vi. 158.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#174]  Here they are ten but afterwards they are reduced to seven: I see no
+reason for changing the text with Lane and Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#175]  Wazir of Solomon.  See vol. i. 42; and vol. iii. 97.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#176]  Arab.  "Ism al-A'azam," the Ineffable Name, a superstition evidently
+derived from the Talmudic fancies of the Jews concerning their tribal god, Yah
+or Yahvah.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#177]  The tradition is that Mohámmed asked Akáf al-Wadá'ah "Hast a wife?";
+and when answered in the negative, "Then thou appertainest to the brotherhood
+of Satans!  An thou wilt be one of the Christian monks then company
+therewithal; but an thou be of us, know that it is our custom to marry!"
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#178]  The old woman, in the East as in the West, being the most vindictive
+of her kind.  I have noted (Pilgrimage iii. 70) that a Badawi will sometimes
+though in shame take the blood-wit; but that if it be offered to an old woman
+she will dash it to the ground and clutch her knife and fiercely swear by Allah
+that she will not eat her son's blood.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#179]  Neither dome nor fount etc. are mentioned before, the normal
+inadvertency.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#180]  In Eastern travel the rest comes before the eating and drinking.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#181]  Arab.  "'Id" (pron.'Eed) which I have said (vol. i. 42, 317) is
+applied to the two great annual festivals, the "Fęte of Sacrifice," and the
+"Break-Fast."  The word denotes restoration to favour and Moslems explain as
+the day on which Adam (and Eve) who had been expelled from Paradise for
+disobedience was re-established (U'ída) by the relenting of Allah.  But the
+name doubtless dates amongst Arabs from days long before they had heard of the
+"Lord Nomenclator."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#182]  Alluding to Hasan seizing her feather dress and so taking her to
+wife.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#183]  Arab.  "Kharajú"=they (masc.) went forth, a vulgarism for "Kharajna"
+(fem.)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#184]  Note the notable housewife who, at a moment when youth would forget
+everything, looks to the main chance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#185]  Arab. "Al-Malakút" (not "Malkút" as in Freytag) a Sufi term for the
+world of Spirits (De Lacy Christ, Ar. i. 451). Amongst Eastern Christians it is
+vulgarly used in the fem. and means the Kingdom of Heaven, also the preaching
+of the Gospel.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#186]  This is so rare, even amongst the poorest classes in the East, that
+it is mentioned with some emphasis.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#187]  A beauty among the Egyptians, not the Arabs.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#188]  True Fellah—"chaff."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#189]  Alluding to the well-known superstition, which has often appeared in
+The Nights, that the first object seen in the morning, such as a crow, a
+cripple, or a cyclops determines the fortunes of the day.  Notices in Eastern
+literature are as old as the days of the Hitopadesa; and there is a something
+instinctive in the idea to a race of early risers.  At an hour when the senses
+are most impressionable the aspect of unpleasant spectacles has double effect.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#190]  Arab.  "Masúkah," the stick used for driving cattle, bâton gourdin
+(Dozy).  Lane applies the word to a wooden plank used for levelling the ground.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#191]  i.e. the words I am about to speak to thee.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#192]  Arab. "Sahifah," which may mean "page" (Lane) or "book"<br/>
+
+(Payne).<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#193]  Pronounce, "Abussa'ádát" = Father of Prosperities:<br/>
+
+Lane imagines that it came from the Jew's daughter being called<br/>
+
+"Sa'adat."  But the latter is the Jew's wife (Night dcccxxxiii)<br/>
+
+and the word in the text is plural.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#194]  Arab.  "Furkh samak" lit. a fish-chick, an Egyptian vulgarism.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#195]  Arab.  "Al-Rasif"; usually a river-quay, levée, an embankment.  Here
+it refers to the great dyke which distributed the Tigris-water.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#196]  Arab.  "Dajlah," see vol. i, p 180.  It is evidently the origin of
+the biblical "Hid-dekel" "Hid" = fierceness, swiftness.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#197]  Arab.  "Bayáz" a kind of Silurus (S. Bajad, Forsk.) which Sonnini
+calls Bayatto, Saksatt and Hébedé; also Bogar (Bakar, an ox).  The skin is
+lubricous, the flesh is soft and insipid and the fish often grows to the size
+of a man.  Captain Speke and I found huge specimens in the Tangany ika Lake.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#198]  Arab.  "Mu'allim," vulg. "M'allim," prop.= teacher, master esp. of a
+trade, a craft.  In Egypt and Syria it is a civil address to a Jew or a
+Christian, as Hájj is to a Moslem.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#199]  Arab.  "Gharámah," an exaction, usually on the part of government
+like a corvée etc.  The Europeo-Egyptian term is Avania (Ital.) or Avanie
+(French).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#200]  Arab.  "Sayyib-hu" an Egyptian vulgarism found also in Syria.  Hence
+Sáibah, a woman who lets herself go (a-whoring) etc.  It is syn. with "Dashar,"
+which Dozy believes to be a softening of Jashar; and Jashsh became Dashsh.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#201]  The Silurus is generally so called in English on account of its
+feeler-acting mustachios.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#202]  See Night dcccvii, vol. viii. p. 94.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#203]  This extraordinary confusion of two distinct religious mythologies
+cannot be the result of ignorance.  Educated Moslems know at least as much as
+Christians do, on these subjects, but the Rawi or story-teller speaks to the
+"Gallery."  In fact it becomes a mere 'chaff' and The Nights give some neat
+specimens of our modern linguistic.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#204]  See vol. ii. 197.  "Al-Siddíkah" (fem.) is a title of<br/>
+
+Ayishah, who, however, does not appear to have deserved it.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#205]  The Jew's wife.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#206]  Here is a double entendre.  The fisherman meant a word or two.  The
+Jew understood the Shibboleth of the Moslem Creed, popularly known as the "Two
+Words,"—I testify that there is no Ilah (god) but Allah (the God) and I testify
+that Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah.  Pronouncing this formula would make
+the Jew a Moslem.  Some writers are surprised to see a Jew ordering a Moslem to
+be flogged; but the former was rich and the latter was poor.  Even during the
+worst days of Jewish persecutions their money-bags were heavy enough to lighten
+the greater part, if not the whole of their disabilities.  And the Moslem
+saying is, "The Jew is never your (Moslem or Christian) equal: he must be
+either above you or below you."  This is high, because unintentional praise of
+the (self-) Chosen People.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#207]  He understands the "two words" (Kalmatáni) the Moslem's double
+profession of belief; and Khalifah's reply embodies the popular idea that the
+number of Moslems (who will be saved) is preordained and that no art of man can
+add to it or take from it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#208]  Arab.  "Mamarr al-Tujjár" (passing-place of the traders) which Lane
+renders "A chamber within the place through which the traders passed."  At the
+end of the tale (Night dccxlv.) we find him living in a Khan and the Bresl.
+Edit. (see my terminal note) makes him dwell in a magazine (i.e. ground- floor
+store-room) of a ruined Khan.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#209]  The text is somewhat too concise and the meaning is that the fumes of
+the Hashish he had eaten ("his mind under the influence of hasheesh," says
+Lane) suggested to him, etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#210]  Arab. "Mamrak" either a simple aperture in ceiling or roof for light
+and air or a more complicated affair of lattice- work and plaster; it is often
+octagonal and crowned with a little dome.  Lane calls it "Memrak," after the
+debased Cairene pronunciation, and shows its base in his sketch of a Ka'áh
+(M.E., Introduction).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#211]  Arab.  "Kamar."  This is a practice especially amongst pilgrims.  In
+Hindostan the girdle, usually a waist-shawl, is called Kammar-band our old
+"Cummerbund."  Easterns are too sensible not to protect the pit of the stomach,
+that great ganglionic centre, against sun, rain and wind, and now our soldiers
+in India wear flannel-belts on the march.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#212]  Arab.  "Fa-immá 'alayhá wa-immá bihá," i.e. whether (luck go) against
+it or (luck go) with it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#213]  "O vilest of sinners!" alludes to the thief.  "A general plunge into
+worldly pursuits and pleasures announced the end of the pilgrimage-ceremonies. 
+All the devotees were now "whitewashed"—the book of their sins was a tabula
+rasa: too many of them lost no time in making a new departure down South and in
+opening a fresh account" (Pilgrimage iii. 365).  I have noticed that my servant
+at Jeddah would carry a bottle of Raki, uncovered by a napkin, through the main
+streets.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#214]  The copper cucurbites in which Solomon imprisoned the rebellious
+Jinns, often alluded to in The Nights.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#215]  i.e. Son of the Chase: it is prob. a corruption of the Persian
+Kurnas, a pimp, a cuckold, and introduced by way of chaff, intelligible only to
+a select few "fast" men.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#216]  For the name see vol. ii.61, in the Tale of Ghánim bin<br/>
+
+'Ayyúb where the Caliph's concubine is also drugged by the Lady<br/>
+
+Zubaydah.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#217]  We should say, "What is this?" etc.  The lines have occurred before
+so I quote Mr. Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#218]  Zubaydah, I have said, was the daughter of Ja'afar, son of the Caliph
+al-Mansur, second Abbaside.  The story-teller persistently calls her daughter
+of Al-Kásim for some reason of his own; and this he will repeat in Night
+dcccxxxix.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#219]  Arab.  "Shakhs," a word which has travelled as far as<br/>
+
+Hindostan.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#220]  Arab.  "Shamlah" described in dictionaries, as a cloak covering the
+whole body.  For Hizám (girdle) the Bresl. Edit. reads "Hirám" vulg. "Ehrám,"
+the waist-cloth, the Pilgrim's attire.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#221]  He is described by Al-Siyúti (p. 309) as "very fair, tall handsome
+and of captivating appearance."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#222]  Arab.  "Uzn al-Kuffah" lit. "Ear of the basket," which vulgar
+Egyptians pronounce "Wizn," so "Wajh" (face) becomes "Wishsh" and so forth.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#223]  Arab.  "Bi-fardayn" = with two baskets, lit. "two singles," but the
+context shows what is meant.  English Frail and French Fraile are from Arab. 
+"Farsalah" a parcel (now esp. of coffee-beans) evidently derived from the low
+Lat. "Parcella" (Du Cange, Paris, firmin Didot 1845).  Compare "ream," vol. v.
+109.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#224]  Arab.  "Sátúr," a kind of chopper which here would be used for the
+purpose of splitting and cleaning and scaling the fish.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#225]  And, consequently, that the prayer he is about to make will find
+ready acceptance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#226]  Arab. "Ruh bilá Fuzúl" (lit. excess, exceeding) still a popular
+phrase.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#227]  i.e. better give the fish than have my head broken.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#228]  Said ironicč, a favourite figure of speech with the<br/>
+
+Fellah: the day began badly and threatened to end unluckily.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#229]  The penalty of Theft.  See vol. i. 274.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#230]  This is the model of a courtly compliment; and it would still be
+admired wherever Arabs are not "frankified."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#231]  Arab.  "Shibábah;" Lane makes it a kind of reed- flageolet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#232]  These lines occur in vol. i. 76: I quote Mr. Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#233]  The instinctive way of juggling with Heaven like our sanding the
+sugar and going to church.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#234]  Arab.  "Yá Shukayr," from Shakar, being red (clay, etc.): Shukár is
+an anemone or a tulip and Shukayr is its dim. Form. Lane's Shaykh made it a
+dim. of "Ashkar" = tawny, ruddy (of complexion), so the former writes, "O
+Shukeyr."  Mr. Payne prefers "O Rosy cheeks."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#235]  For "Sandal," see vol. ii. {55}.  Sandalí properly means an Eunuch
+clean rasé, but here Sandal is a P.N. = Sandal-wood.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#236]  Arab.  "Yá mumátil," one who retards payment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#237]  Arab. "Kirsh al-Nukhál" = Guts of bran, a term little fitted for the
+handsome and distinguished Persian.  But Khalifah is a Fellah-grazioso of
+normal assurance shrewd withal; he blunders like an Irishman of the last
+generation and he uses the first epithet that comes to his tongue.  See Night
+dcccxliii. for the sudden change in Khalifah.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#238]  So the Persian "May your shadow never be less" means, I have said,
+the shadow which you throw over your servant. Shade, cold water and fresh
+breezes are the joys of life in arid Arabia.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#239]  When a Fellah demanded money due to him by the Government of Egypt,
+he was a once imprisoned for arrears of taxes and thus prevented from being
+troublesome.  I am told that matters have improved under English rule, but I
+"doubt the fact."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#240]  This freak is of course not historical.  The tale- teller introduces
+it to enhance the grandeur and majesty of Harun al-Rashid, and the vulgar would
+regard it as a right kingly diversion.  Westerns only wonder that such things
+could be.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#241]  Uncle of the Prophet: for his death see Pilgrimage ii. 248.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#242]  First cousin of the Prophet, son of Abú Tálib, a brother of Al-Abbas
+from whom the Abbasides claimed descent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#243]  i.e. I hope thou hast or Allah grant thou have good tidings to tell
+me.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#244]  Arab.  "Nákhúzah Zulayt."  The former, from the Persian Nákhodá or
+ship-captain which is also used in a playful sense "a godless wight," one
+owning no (ná) God (Khudá).  Zulayt = a low fellow, blackguard.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#245]  Yásamín and Narjis, names of slave-girls or eunuchs.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#246]  Arab.  Tamar-hanná, the cheapest of dyes used ever by the poorest
+classes.  Its smell, I have said, is that of newly mown hay, and is prized like
+that of the tea-rose.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#247]  The formula (meaning, "What has he to do here?") is by no means
+complimentary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#248]  Arab.  "Jarrah" (pron. "Garrah") a "jar."  See Lane (M.E. chapt. v.)
+who was deservedly reproached by Baron von Hammer for his superficial notices. 
+The "Jarrah" is of pottery, whereas the "Dist" is a large copper chauldron and
+the Khalkinah one of lesser size.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#249]  i.e. What a bother thou art, etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#250]  This sudden transformation, which to us seems exaggerated and
+unnatural, appears in many Eastern stories and in the biographies of their
+distinguished men, especially students. A youth cannot master his lessons; he
+sees a spider climbing a slippery wall and after repeated falls succeeding. 
+Allah opens the eyes of his mind, his studies become easy to him, and he ends
+with being an Allámah (doctissimus).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#251]  Arab.  "Bismillah, Námí!" here it is not a blessing, but a simple
+invitation, "Now please go to sleep."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#252]  The modern inkcase of the Universal East is a lineal descendant of
+the wooden palette with writing reeds.  See an illustration of that of "Amásis,
+the good god and lord of the two lands" (circ. B.C. 1350) in British Museum (p.
+41, "The Dwellers on the Nile," by E. A. Wallis Bridge, London, 56, Paternoster
+Row, 1885).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#253]  This is not ironical, as Lane and Payne suppose, but a specimen of
+inverted speech—Thou art in luck this time!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#254]  Arab.  "Marhúb" = terrible:  Lane reads "Mar'úb" = terrified.  But
+the former may also mean, threatened with something terrible.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#255]  i.e. in Kut al-Kulúb.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#256]  Lit. to the son of thy paternal uncle, i.e. Mohammed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#257]  In the text he tells the whole story beginning with the eunuch and
+the hundred dinars, the chest, etc.: but — "of no avail is a twice-told tale."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#258]  Koran xxxix. 54.  I have quoted Mr. Rodwell who affects the Arabic
+formula, omitting the normal copulatives.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#259]  Easterns find it far easier to "get the chill of poverty out of their
+bones" than Westerns.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#260]  Arab.  "Dar al-Na'ím."  Name of one of the seven stages of the Moslem
+heaven.  This style of inscription dates from the days of the hieroglyphs.  A
+papyrus describing the happy town of Raamses ends with these lines.—
+</p>
+
+<p>
+     Daily is there a supply of food:<br/>
+
+     Within it gladness doth ever brood<br/>
+
+     *              *               *               *<br/>
+
+     Prolonged, increased; abides there Joy, etc., etc.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#261]  Arab.  "Ansár" = auxiliaries, the men of Al-Medinah<br/>
+
+(Pilgrimage ii. 130, etc.).<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#262]  Arab.  "Asháb" = the companions of the Prophet who may number 500
+(Pilgrimage ii. 81, etc.).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#263]  Arab. "Hásilah" prob. a corner of a "Godown" in some<br/>
+
+Khan or Caravanserai.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#264]  Arab. "Funduk" from the Gr. {pandocheîon}, whence the<br/>
+
+Italian Fondaco e.g. at Venice the Fondaco de' Turchi.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#265]  Arab. "Astár" plur. of Satr: in the Mac. Edit. Sátúr, both (says
+Dozy) meaning "Couperet" (a hatchet). Habicht translates it "a measure for
+small fish," which seems to be a shot and a bad shot as the text talks only of
+means of carrying fish. Nor can we accept Dozy's emendation Astál (plur. of
+Satl) pails, situlć. In Petermann's Reisen (i. 89) Satr=assiette.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#266]  Which made him expect a heavy haul.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#267]  Arab. "Urkúb" = tendon Achilles in man hough or pastern in beast,
+etc. It is held to be an incrementative form of 'Akab (heel); as Kur'úb of Ka'b
+(heel) and Khurtúm of Khatm (snout).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#268]  Arab. "Karmút" and "Zakzúk." The former (pronounced Garmút) is one of
+the many Siluri (S. Carmoth Niloticus) very common and resembling the Shál. It
+is smooth and scaleless with fleshy lips and soft meat and as it haunts muddy
+bottoms it was forbidden to the Ancient Egyptians. The Zakzúk is the young of
+the Shál (Synodontis Schal: Seetzen); its plural form Zakázik (pronounced
+Zigázig) gave a name to the flourishing town which has succeeded to old
+Bubastis and of which I have treated in "Midian" and "Midian Revisited."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#269]  "Yá A'awar"=O one-eye! i.e.. the virile member. So the vulgar insult
+"Ya ibn al-aur" (as the vulgar pronounce it) "O son of a yard!" When Al-Mas'údi
+writes (Fr. Trans. vii. 106), "Udkhul usbu'ak fí aynih," it must not be
+rendered "Il faut lui faire violence": thrust thy finger into his eye ('Ayn)
+means "put thy penis up his fundament!" ('Ayn being=Dubur). The French remarks,
+"On en trouverait l'équivalent dans les bas-fonds de notre langue." So in
+English "pig's eye," "blind eye," etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#270]  Arab. "Nabbút"=a quarterstaff: see vol. i. 234.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#271]  Arab. "Banní," vulg. Benni and in Lane (Lex. Bunni) the Cyprinus
+Bynni (Forsk.), a fish somewhat larger than a barbel with lustrous silvery
+scales and delicate flesh, which Sonnini believes may be the "Lepidotes"
+(smooth-scaled) mentioned by Athenćus. I may note that the Bresl. Edit. (iv.
+332) also affects the Egyptian vulgarism "Farkh-Banni" of the Mac. Edit. (Night
+dcccxxxii.).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#272]  The story-teller forgets that Khalif had neither basket nor knife.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#273]  Arab. "Rayhán" which may here mean any scented herb.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#274]  In the text "Fard Kalmah," a vulgarism. The Mac. Edit.<br/>
+
+(Night dcccxxxv.) more aptly says, "Two words" (Kalmatáni, vulg.<br/>
+
+Kalmatayn) the Twofold Testimonies to the Unity of Allah and the<br/>
+
+Mission of His Messenger.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#275]  The lowest Cairene chaff which has no respect for itself or others.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#276]  Arab. "Karrat azlá hú": alluding to the cool skin of healthy men when
+digesting a very hearty meal.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#277]  This is the true Fellah idea. A peasant will go up to his proprietor
+with the "rint" in gold pieces behind his teeth and undergo an immense amount
+of flogging before he spits them out. Then he will return to his wife and boast
+of the number of sticks he has eaten instead of paying at once and his spouse
+will say, "Verily thou art a man." Europeans know nothing of the Fellah.
+Napoleon Buonaparte, for political reasons, affected great pity for him and
+horror of his oppressors, the Beys and Pashas; and this affectation gradually
+became public opinion. The Fellah must either tyrannise or be tyrannised over;
+he is never happier than under a strong-handed despotism and he has never been
+more miserable than under British rule or rather misrule. Our attempts to
+constitutionalise him have made us the laughing-stock of Europe.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#278]  The turban is a common substitute for a purse with the lower classes
+of Egyptians; and an allusion to the still popular practice of turban-snatching
+will be found in vol. i. p. 259.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#279]  Arab. "Sálih," a devotee; here, a naked Dervish.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#280]  Here Khalif is made a conspicuous figure in Baghdad like Boccaccio's
+Calandrino and Co. He approaches in type the old Irishman now extinct,
+destroyed by the reflux action of Anglo-America (U.S.) upon the miscalled
+"Emerald Isle." He blunders into doing and saying funny things whose models are
+the Hibernian "bulls" and acts purely upon the impulse of the moment, never
+reflecting till (possibly) after all is over.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#281]  Arab. "Kaylúlah," explained in vol. i. 51.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#282]  i.e. thy bread lawfully gained. The "Bawwák" (trumpeter) like the
+"Zammár" (piper of the Mac. Edit.) are discreditable craftsmen, associating
+with Almahs and loose women and often serving as their panders.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#283]  i.e. he was indecently clad. Man's "shame" extends from navel to
+knees. See vol vi. 118.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#284]  Rashád would be=garden-cresses or stones: Rashíd the heaven-directed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#285]  Arab. "Uff 'alayka"=fie upon thee! Uff=lit. Sordes Aurium and Tuff (a
+similar term of disgust)=Sordes unguinum. To the English reader the blows
+administered to Khalif appear rather hard measure. But a Fellah's back is
+thoroughly broken to the treatment and he would take ten times as much
+punishment for a few piastres.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#286]  Arab. "Zurayk" dim. of Azrak=blue-eyed. See vol. iii. 104.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#287]  Of Baghdad.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#288]  Arab. "Hásil," i.e. cell in a Khan for storing goods: elsewhere it is
+called a Makhzan (magazine) with the same sense.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#289]  The Bresl. text (iv. 347) abbreviates, or rather omits; so that in
+translation details must be supplied to make sense.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#290]  Arab. "Kamán," vulgar Egyptian, a contraction from Kamá (as) + anna
+(since, because). So " Kamán shuwayh"=wait a bit; " Kamán marrah"=once more and
+"Wa Kamána-ka"=that is why.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#291]  i.e. Son of the Eagle: See vol. iv. 177. Here, however, as the text
+shows it is hawk or falcon. The name is purely fanciful and made mnemonically
+singular.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#292]  The Egyptian Fellah knows nothing of boxing like the<br/>
+
+Hausá man; but he is fond of wrestling after a rude and<br/>
+
+uncultivated fashion, which would cause shouts of laughter in<br/>
+
+Cumberland and Cornwall. And there are champions in this line,<br/>
+
+See vol. ii. 93.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#293]  The usual formula. See vol. ii. 5.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#294]  As the Fellah still does after drinking a cuplet ("fingán" he calls
+it) of sugared coffee.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#295]  He should have said "white," the mourning colour under the Abbasides.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#296]  Anglicč, "Fine feathers make fine birds"; and in Eastern parlance,
+"Clothe the reed and it will become a bride." (Labbis al-Búsah tabkí 'Arúsah,
+Spitta Bey, No. 275.) I must allow myself a few words of regret for the loss of
+this Savant, one of the most singleminded men known to me. He was vilely
+treated by the Egyptian Government, under the rule of the Jew-Moslem Riyáz;
+and, his health not allowing him to live in Austria, he died shortly after
+return home.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#297]  Arab. " Saub (Tobe) 'Atábi": see vol. iii. 149.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#298]  In text "Kimkhá," which Dozy also gives Kumkh=chenille,<br/>
+
+tissu de soie veloutee: Damasqučte de soie or et argent de<br/>
+
+Venise, du Levant , ŕ fleurs, etc. It comes from Kamkháb or<br/>
+
+Kimkháb, a cloth of gold, the well-known Indian "Kimcob."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#299]  Here meaning=Enter in Allah's name!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#300]  The Arabs have a saying, "Wine breeds gladness, music merriment and
+their offspring is joy."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#301]  Arab. "Jokh al-Saklát," rich kind of brocade on broadcloth.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#302]  Arab. "Hanabát," which Dozy derives from O. German<br/>
+
+Hnapf, Hnap now Napf: thence too the Lat. Hanapus and Hanaperium:<br/>
+
+Ital. Anappo, Nappo; Provenc. Enap and French and English<br/>
+
+"Hanap"= rich bowl, basket, bag. But this is known even to the<br/>
+
+dictionaries.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#303]  Arab. " Kirám," nobles, and " Kurúm," vines, a word which appears in
+Carmel=Karam-El (God's vineyard).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#304]  Arab. "Suláf al-Khandarísí," a contradiction. Suláf=the ptisane of
+wine. Khandarísí, from Greek {chóndros}, lit. gruel, applies to old wine.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#305]  i.e. in bridal procession.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#306]  Arab. "Al-'Arús, one of the innumerable tropical names given to wine
+by the Arabs. Mr. Payne refers to Grangeret de la Grange, Anthologie Arabe, p.
+190.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#307]  Here the text of the Mac. Edition is resumed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#308]  i.e. "Adornment of (good) Qualities." See the name punned on in Night
+dcccli. Lane omits this tale because it contains the illicit "Amours of a
+Christian and a Jewess who dupes her husband in various abominable ways." The
+text has been taken from the Mac. and the Bresl. Edits. x. 72 etc. In many
+parts the former is a mere Epitome.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#309]  The face of her who owns the garden.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#310]  i.e. I am no public woman.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#311]  i.e. with the sight of the garden and its mistress— purposely left
+vague.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#312]  Arab. "Dádat." Night dcclxxvi. vol. vii. p. 372.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#313]  Meaning respectively "Awaking" (or blowing hard), "Affairs" (or
+Misfortunes) and "Flowing" (blood or water). They are evidently intended for
+the names of Jewish slave-girls.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#314]  i.e. the brow-curls, or accroche-cÂurs. See vol. i. 168.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#315]  Arab. "Wisháh" usually applied to woman's broad belt, stomacher
+(Al-Hariri Ass. of Rayy).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#317]  The old Greek "Stephane."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#317]  Alluding to the popular fancy of the rain-drop which becomes a pearl.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#318]  Arab. "Ghází"=one who fights for the faith.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#319]  i.e. people of different conditions.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#320]  The sudden change appears unnatural to Europeans; but an Eastern girl
+talking to a strange man in a garden is already half won. The beauty, however,
+intends to make trial of her lover's generosity before yielding.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#321]  These lines have occurred in the earlier part of the<br/>
+
+Night: I quote Mr. Payne for variety.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#322]  Arab. "Al-Sháh mát"=the King is dead, Pers. and Arab. grotesquely
+mixed: Europeans explain "Checkmate" in sundry ways, all more or less wrong.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#323]  Cheating (Ghadr) is so common that Easterns who have no tincture of
+Western civilisation look upon it not only as venial but laudable when one can
+take advantage of a simpleton. No idea of "honour" enters into it. Even in
+England the old lady whist-player of the last generation required to be looked
+after pretty closely—if Mr. Charles Dickens is to be trusted.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#324]  Arab. "Al-Gháliyah," whence the older English Algallia.<br/>
+
+See vol. i., 128. The Voyage of Linschoten, etc. Hakluyt Society<br/>
+
+MDCCCLXXXV., with notes by my learned friend the late Arthur Coke<br/>
+
+Burnell whose early death was so sore a loss to Oriental<br/>
+
+students.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#325]  A favourite idiom, "What news bringest thou?" ("O<br/>
+
+Asám!" Arab. Prov. ii. 589) used by Háris bin Amrú, King of<br/>
+
+Kindah, to the old woman Asám whom he had sent to inspect a girl<br/>
+
+he purposed marrying.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#326]  Amongst the Jews the Arab Salám becomes "Shalúm" and a<br/>
+
+Jewess would certainly not address this ceremonial greeting to a<br/>
+
+Christian. But Eastern storytellers care little for these<br/>
+
+minutić; and the "Adornment of Qualities," was not by birth a<br/>
+
+Jewess as the sequel will show.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#327]  Arab. "Sálifah," the silken plaits used as adjuncts.<br/>
+
+See vol. iii, 313.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#328]  I have translated these lines in vol. i. 131, and quoted Mr. Torrens
+in vol. iv. 235. Here I borrow from Mr. Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#329]  Mr. Payne notes:—Apparently some place celebrated for its fine bread,
+as Gonesse in seventeenth-century France. It occurs also in Bresl. Edit. (iv.
+203) and Dozy does not understand it. But Arj the root=good odour.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#330]  Arab. "Tás," from Pers. Tásah. M. Charbonneau a Professor of Arabic
+at Constantine and Member of the Asiatic Soc. Paris, who published the Histoire
+de Chams-Eddine et Nour-Eddine with Maghrabi punctuation (Paris, Hachette,
+1852) remarks the similarity of this word to Tazza and a number of other
+whimsical coincidences as Zauj, {zygós} jugum; Inkár, negare; matrah, matelas;
+Ishtirá, acheter, etc. To which I may add wasat, waist; zabad, civet; Bás, buss
+(kiss); uzrub (pron. Zrub), drub; Kat', cut; Tarík, track; etc., etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#331]  We should say "To her (I drink)" etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#332]  This is ad captandum. The lovers becoming Moslems would secure the
+sympathy of the audience. In the sequel (Night dccclviii) we learn that the
+wilful young woman was a born Moslemah who had married a Jew but had never
+Judaized.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#333]  The doggerel of this Kasidah is not so phenomenal as some we have
+seen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#334]  Arab. "'Andam"=Brazil wood, vol. iii. 263.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#335]  Arab. " Himŕ." See supra, p. 102.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#336]  i.e. her favours were not lawful till the union was sanctified by
+heartwhole (if not pure) love.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#337]  Arab. "Mansúr wa munazzam=oratio soluta et ligata.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#338]  i.e. the cupbearers.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#339]  Which is not worse than usual.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#340]  i.e. "Ornament of Qualities."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#341]  The 'Akík, a mean and common stone, ranks high in<br/>
+
+Moslem poetry on account of the saying of Mohammed recorded by<br/>
+
+Ali and Ayishah "Seal with seals of Carnelian." ('Akik.)<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#342]  See note ii. at the end of this volume.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#343]  Arab. "Mahall" as opposed to the lady's "Manzil," which would be
+better "Makám." The Arabs had many names for their old habitations, e.g.;
+Kubbah, of brick; Sutrah, of sun-dried mud; Hazírah, of wood; Tiráf, a tent of
+leather; Khabáa, of wool; Kash'a, of skins; Nakhád, of camel's or goat's hair;
+Khaymah, of cotton cloth; Wabar, of soft hair as the camel's undercoat and
+Fustát (the well-known P.N.) a tent of horsehair or any hair (Sha'ar) but
+Wabar.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#344]  This is the Maghribi form of the Arab. Súk=a bazar-street, known from
+Tanjah (Tangiers) to Timbuctoo.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#345]  Arab. "Walímah" usually=a wedding-feast. According to the learned
+Nasíf al-Yazají the names of entertainments are as follows: Al-Jafalŕ=a general
+invitation, opp. to Al-Nakarŕ, especial; Khurs, a childbirth feast; 'Akíkah,
+when the boy-babe is first shaved; A'zár=circumcision-feast; Hizák, when the
+boy has finished his perlection of the Koran; Milák, on occasion of
+marriage-offer; Wazímah, a mourning entertainment; Wakírah=a "house-warming";
+Nakí'ah, on returning from wayfare; 'Akírah, at beginning of the month Rajab;
+Kirŕ=a guest-feast and Maadubah, a feast for other cause; any feast.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#346]  Arab. "Anistaná" the pop. phrase=thy company gladdens us.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#347]  Here "Muákhát" or making mutual brotherhood would be=entering into a
+formal agreement for partnership. For the forms of "making brotherhood," see
+vol. iii. {151}.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#348]  Arab. "Ishárah" in classical Arab. signs with the finger (beckoning);
+Aumá with the hand; Ramz, with the lips; Khalaj, with the eyelids (wink); and
+Ghamz with the eye. Aumáz is a furtive glance, especially of women, and Ilház,
+a side-glance from lahaza, limis oculis intuitus est. See Preston's Al-Hariri,
+p. 181.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#349]  Arab. "Haudaj" (Hind. Haudah, vulg. Howda=elephant-saddle), the
+women's camel-litter, a cloth stretched over a wooden frame. See the Prize-poem
+of Lebid, v. 12.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#350]  i.e. the twelve days' visit.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#351]  See note, vol. vii. {226}. So Dryden (Virgil):—
+</p>
+
+<p>
+          "And the hoarse raven on the blasted bough<br/>
+
+          By croaking to the left presaged the coming blow."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Gay (Fable xxxvii.),
+</p>
+
+<p>
+          "That raven on the left-hand oak,<br/>
+
+          Curse on his ill-betiding croak!"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In some Persian tales two crows seen together are a good omen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#352]  Vulgar Moslems hold that each man's fate is written in the sutures of
+his skull but none can read the lines. See vol. iii. 123.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#353]  i.e. cease not to bemoan her lot whose moon-faced beloved ones are
+gone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#354]  Arab. "Rukb" used of a return caravan; and also meaning travellers on
+camels. The vulgar however apply "Rákib" (a camel-rider) to a man on horseback
+who is properly Fáris plur. "Khayyálah," while "Khayyál" is a good rider. Other
+names are "Fayyál" (elephant-rider), Baghghál (mule-rider) and Hammár
+(donkey-rider).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#355]  A popular exaggeration. See vol. i. 117
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#356]  Lit. Empty of tent-ropes (Atnáb).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#357]  Arab. "'Abír," a fragrant powder sprinkled on face, body and clothes.
+In India it is composed of rice flower or powdered bark of the mango, Deodar
+(uvaria longifolia), Sandalwood, lign-aloes or curcuma (zerumbat or zedoaria)
+with rose-flowers, camphor, civet and anise-seed. There are many of these
+powders: see in Herklots Chiksá, Phul, Ood, Sundul, Uggur, and Urgujja.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#358]  i.e. fair faced boys and women. These lines are from the Bresl. Edit.
+x. 160.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#359]  i.e. the Chief Kazi. For the origin of the Office and title see vol.
+ii. 90, and for the Kazi al-Arab who administers justice among the Badawin see
+Pilgrimage iii. 45.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#360]  Arab. "Raas al-Mál"=capital, as opposed to Ribá or<br/>
+
+Ribh=interest. This legal expression has been adopted by all<br/>
+
+Moslem races.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#361]  Our Aden which is thus noticed by Abulfeda (A.D. 1331): "Aden in the
+lowlands of Tehámah * * * also called Abyana from a man (who found it?), built
+upon the seashore, a station (for land travellers) and a sailing-place for
+merchant ships India-bound, is dry and sunparcht (Kashifah, squalid, scorbutic)
+and sweet water must be imported. * * * It lies 86 parasangs from San'á but Ibn
+Haukal following the travellers makes it three stages. The city, built on the
+skirt of a wall-like mountain, has a watergate and a landgate known as Bab
+al-Sákayn. But 'Adan Lá'ah (the modest, the timid, the less known as opposed to
+Abyan, the better known?) is a city in the mountains of Sabir, Al-Yaman, whence
+issued the supporters of the Fatimite Caliphs of Egypt." 'Adan etymologically
+means in Arab. and Heb. pleasure ({hédone}), Eden (the garden), the Heaven in
+which spirits will see Allah and our "Coal-hole of the East," which we can
+hardly believe ever to have been an Eden. Mr. Badger who supplied me with this
+note described the two Adens in a paper in Ocean Highways, which he cannot now
+find. In the 'Ajáib al-Makhlúkát, Al-Kazwíni (ob. A.D. 1275) derives the name
+from Ibn Sinán bin Ibrahím; and is inclined there to place the Bír al-Mu'attal
+(abandoned well) and the Kasr alMashíd (lofty palace) of Koran xxii. 44; and he
+adds "Kasr al-Misyad" to those mentioned in the tale of Sayf al-Mulúk and
+Badí'a al-Jamál.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#362]  Meaning that she had been carried to the Westward of<br/>
+
+Meccah.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#363]  Arab. "Zahrawíyah" which contains a kind of double entendre. Fátimah
+the Prophet's only daughter is entitled Al-Zahrá the "bright-blooming"; and
+this is also an epithet of Zohrah the planet Venus. For Fatimah see vol. vi.
+145. Of her Mohammed said, "Love your daughters, for I too am a father of
+daughters" and, "Love them, they are the comforters, the dearlings." The Lady
+appears in Moslem history a dreary young woman (died ćt. 28) who made this
+world, like Honorius, a hell in order to win a next-world heaven. Her titles
+are Zahrá and Batúl (Pilgrimage ii. 90) both signifying virgin. Burckhardt
+translates Zahrá by "bright blooming" (the etymological sense): it denotes
+literally a girl who has not menstruated, in which state of purity the
+Prophet's daughter is said to have lived and died. "Batúl" has the sense of a
+"clean maid" and is the title given by Eastern Christians to the Virgin Mary.
+The perpetual virginity of Fatimah even after motherhood (Hasan and Husayn) is
+a point of orthodoxy in Al-Islam as Juno's with the Romans and Umá's with the
+Hindú worshippers of Shiva. During her life Mohammed would not allow Ali a
+second wife, and he held her one of the four perfects, the other three being
+Asia wife of "Pharaoh," the Virgin Mary and Khadijah his own wife. She caused
+much scandal after his death by declaring that he had left her the Fadak estate
+(Abulfeda I, 133, 273) a castle with a fine palm-orchard near Khaybar. Abu Bakr
+dismissed the claim quoting the Apostle's Hadis, "We prophets are folk who will
+away nothing: what we leave is alms-gift to the poor," and Shí'ahs greatly
+resent his decision. (See Dabistan iii. 5152 for a different rendering of the
+words.) I have given the popular version of the Lady Fatimah's death and burial
+(Pilgrimage ii. 315) and have remarked that Moslem historians delight in the
+obscurity which hangs over her last resting-place, as if it were an honour even
+for the receptacle of her ashes to be concealed from the eyes of men. Her
+repute is a curious comment on Tom Hood's
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Where woman has never a soul to save."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#364]  For Sharif and Sayyid, descendants of Mohammed, see vol. iv. 170.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#365]  These lines have occurred with variants in vol. iii. 257, and iv. 50.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#366]  Arab. "Hazrat," esp. used in India and corresponding with our
+medićval "prćsentia vostra."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#367]  This wholesale slaughter by the tale-teller of worshipful and
+reverend men would bring down the gallery like a Spanish tragedy in which all
+the actors are killed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#368]  They are called indifferently "Ruhbán"=monks or<br/>
+
+"Batárikah"=patriarchs. See vol. ii. 89.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#369]  Arab. "Khilál." The toothpick, more esteemed by the Arabs than by us,
+is, I have said, often used by the poets as an emblem of attenuation without
+offending good taste. Nizami (Layla u Majnún) describes a lover as "thin as a
+toothpick." The "elegant" Hariri (Ass. of Barkaid) describes a toothpick with
+feminine attributes, "shapely of shape, attractive, provocative of appetite,
+delicate as the leanest of lovers, polished as a poinard and bending as a green
+bough."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#370]  From Bresl. Edit. x. 194.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#371]  Trébutien (vol. ii. 344 et seq.) makes the seven monks sing as many
+anthems, viz. (1) Congregamini; (2) Vias tuas demonstra mihi; (3) Dominus
+illuminatis; (4) Custodi linguam; (5) Unam petii a Domino; (6) Nec adspiciat me
+visus, and (7) Turbatus est a furore oculus meus. Dánis the Abbot chaunts Anima
+mea turbata est valdč.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#372]  A neat and characteristic touch: the wilful beauty eats and drinks
+before she thinks of her lover. Alas for Masrur married.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#373]  The unfortunate Jew, who seems to have been a model husband
+(Orientally speaking), would find no pity with a coffee-house audience because
+he had been guilty of marrying a Moslemah. The union was null and void
+therefore the deliberate murder was neither high nor petty treason. But, The
+Nights, though their object is to adorn a tale, never deliberately attempt to
+point a moral and this is one of their many charms.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#374]  These lines have repeatedly occurred. I quote Mr.<br/>
+
+Payne.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#375]  i.e. by the usual expiation. See vol. {ii. 186}.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#376]  Arab. "Shammirí"=up and ready!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#377]  I borrow the title from the Bresl. Edit. x. 204. Mr. Payne prefers
+"Ali Noureddin and the Frank King's Daughter." Lane omits also this tale
+because it resembles Ali Shar and Zumurrud (vol. iv. 187) and Alá al-Din Abu
+al-Shámát (vol. iv. 29), "neither of which is among the text of the
+collection." But he has unconsciously omitted one of the highest interest. Dr.
+Bacher (Germ. Orient. Soc.) finds the original in Charlemagne's daughter Emma
+and his secretary Eginhardt as given in Grimm's Deutsche Sagen. I shall note
+the points of resemblance as the tale proceeds. The correspondence with the
+King of France may be a garbled account of the letters which passed between
+Harun al-Rashid and Nicephorus, "the Roman dog."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#378]  Arab. "Allaho Akbar," the Moslem slogan or war-cry. See vol. ii. 89.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#379]  The gate-keeper of Paradise. See vol. iii. 15, 20.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#380]  Negroes. Vol. iii. 75.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#381]  Arab. "Nakat," with the double meaning of to spot and to handsel
+especially dancing and singing women; and, as Mr. Payne notes in this
+acceptation it is practically equivalent to the English phrase "to mark (or
+cross) the palm with silver." I have translated "Anwá" by Pleiads; but it means
+the setting of one star and simultaneous rising of another foreshowing rain.
+There are seven Anwá (plur. of nawa) in the Solar year viz. Al-Badri
+(Sept.-Oct.); Al-Wasmiyy (late autumn and December); Al-Waliyy (to April);
+Al-Ghamír (June); Al-Busriyy (July); Bárih al-Kayz (August) and Ahrák al-Hawá
+extending to September 8. These are tokens of approaching rain, metaphorically
+used by the poets to express "bounty". See Preston's Hariri (p. 43) and Chenery
+upon the Ass. of the Banu Haram.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#382]  i.e. They trip and stumble in their hurry to get there.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#383]  Arab. "Kumm" = sleeve or petal. See vol. v. 32.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#384]  Arab. "Kiráb" = sword-case of wood, the sheath being of leather.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#385]  Arab. "Akr kayrawán," both rare words.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#386]  A doubtful tradition in the Mishkát al-Masábih declares that every
+pomegranate contains a grain from Paradise. See vol. i. 134. The Koranic
+reference is to vi. 99.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#387]  Arab. "Aswad," lit. black but used for any dark colour, here green as
+opposed to the lighter yellow.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#388]  The idea has occurred in vol. i. 158.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#389]  So called from the places where they grow.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#390]  See vol. vii. for the almond-apricot whose stone is cracked to get at
+the kernel.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#391]  For Roum see vol. iv. 100: in Morocco "Roumi" means simply a
+European. The tetrastich alludes to the beauty of the Greek slaves.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#392]  Arab. "Ahlan" in adverb form lit. = "as one of the household": so in
+the greeting "Ahlan wa Sahlan" (and at thine ease), wa Marhabá (having a wide
+free place).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#393]  For the Sufrah table-cloth see vol. i. 178.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#394]  See vol. iii. 302, for the unclean allusion in fig and sycamore.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#395]  In the text "of Tor": see vol. ii. 242. The pear is mentioned by
+Homer and grows wild in South Europe. Dr. Victor Hehn (The Wanderings of
+Plants, etc.) comparing the Gr.{ápios} with the Lat. Pyrus, suggests that the
+latter passed over to the Kelts and Germans amongst whom the fruit was not
+indigenous. Our fine pears are mostly from the East. e.g. the "bergamot" is the
+Beg Armud, Prince of Pears, from Angora.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#396]  i.e. "Royal," it may or may not come from Sultaníyah, a town near
+Baghdad. See vol. i. 83; where it applies to oranges and citrons.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#397]  'Andam = Dragon's blood: see vol. iii. 263.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#398]  Arab. "Jamár," the palm-pith and cabbage, both eaten by<br/>
+
+Arabs with sugar.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#399]  Arab. "Anwár" = lights, flowers (mostly yellow): hence the Moroccan
+"N'wár," with its usual abuse of Wakf or quiescence.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#400]  Mr. Payne quotes Eugčne Fromentin, "Un Eté dans le Sahara," Paris,
+1857, p. 194. Apricot drying can be seen upon all the roofs at Damascus where,
+however, the season for each fruit is unpleasantly short, ending almost as soon
+as it begins.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#401]  Arab. "Jalájal" = small bells for falcons: in Port. cascaveis, whence
+our word.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#402]  Khulanján. Sic all editions; but Khalanj, or Khaulanj adj. Khalanji,
+a tree with a strong-smelling wood which held in hand as a chaplet acts as
+perfume, as is probably intended. In Span. Arabic it is the Erica-wood. The
+"Muhit" tells us that is a tree parcel yellow and red growing in parts of India
+and China, its leaf is that of the Tamarisk (Tarfá); its flower is coloured
+red, yellow and white; it bears a grain like mustard-seed (Khardal) and of its
+wood they make porringers. Hence the poet sings,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Yut 'amu 'l-shahdu fí 'l-jifáni, wa yuska * Labanu 'l-Bukhti fi<br/>
+
+Kusá'i 'l-Khalanji:<br/>
+
+Honey's served to them in platters for food; * Camels' milk in<br/>
+
+bowls of the Khalanj wood."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The pl. Khalánij is used by Himyán bin Kaháfah in this "bayt",
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Hattá izá má qazati 'l-Hawáijá * Wa malaat Halába-há<br/>
+
+'l-Khalánijá:<br/>
+
+Until she had done every work of hers * And with sweet milk had<br/>
+
+filled the porringers."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#403]  In text Al-Shá'ir Al-Walahán, vol. iii. 226.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#404]  The orange I have said is the growth of India and the golden apples
+of the Hesperides were not oranges but probably golden nuggets. Captain
+Rolleston (Globe, Feb. 5, '84, on "Morocco-Lixus") identifies the Garden with
+the mouth of the Lixus River while M. Antichan would transfer it to the hideous
+and unwholesome Bissagos Archipelago.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#405]  Arab. "Ikyán," the living gold which is supposed to grow in the
+ground.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#406]  For the Kubbad or Captain Shaddock's fruit see vol. ii. 310, where it
+is misprinted Kubád.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#407]  Full or Fill in Bresl. Edit. = Arabian jessamine or cork-tree
+({phellón}. The Bul. and Mac. Edits. read "filfil" = pepper or palm-fibre.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#408]  Arab. "Sumbul al-'Anbari"; the former word having been introduced
+into England by patent medicines. "Sumbul" in Arab. and Pers. means the
+hyacinth, the spikenard or the Sign Virgo.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#409]  Arab. "Lisán al-Hamal" lit. = Lamb's tongue.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#410]  See in Bresl. Edit. X, 221. Taif, a well-known town in the mountain
+region East of Meccah, and not in the Holy Land, was once famous for scented
+goat's leather. It is considered to be a "fragment of Syria" (Pilgrimage ii.
+207) and derives its name = the circumambulator from its having circuited
+pilgrim-like round the Ka'abah (Ibid.).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#411]  Arab. "Mikhaddah" = cheek-pillow: Ital. guanciale. In<br/>
+
+Bresl. Edit. Mudawwarah (a round cushion) Sinjabiyah (of Ermine).<br/>
+
+For "Mudawwarah" see vol. iv. 135.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#412]  "Coffee" is here evidently an anachronism and was probably inserted
+by the copyist. See vol. v. 169, for its first metnion. But "Kahwah" may have
+preserved its original meaning = strong old wine (vol. ii. 261); and the amount
+of wine-drinking and drunkenness proves that the coffee movement had not set
+in.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#413]  i.e. they are welcome. In Marocco "Lá baas" means, "I am pretty well"
+(in health).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#414]  The Rose (Ward) in Arab. is masculine, sounding to us most uncouth.
+But there is a fem. form Wardah = a single rose.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#415]  Arab. "Akmám," pl. of Kumm, a sleeve, a petal. See vol. iv. 107 and
+supra p. 267. The Moslem woman will show any part of her person rather than her
+face, instinctively knowing that the latter may be recognised whereas the
+former cannot. The traveller in the outer East will see ludicrous situations in
+which the modest one runs away with hind parts bare and head and face carefully
+covered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#416]  Arab. "Ikyán" which Mr. Payne translates "vegetable gold" very
+picturesquely but not quite preserving the idea. See supra p. 272.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#417]  It is the custom for fast youths, in Egypt, Syria, and elsewhere to
+stick small gold pieces, mere spangles of metal on the brows, cheeks and lips
+of the singing and dancing girls and the perspiration and mask of cosmetics
+make them adhere for a time till fresh movement shakes them off.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#418]  See the same idea in vol. i. 132, and 349.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#419]  "They will ask thee concerning wine and casting of lots; say: 'In
+both are great sin and great advantages to mankind; but the sin of them both is
+greater than their advantage.'" See Koran ii. 216. Mohammed seems to have made
+up his mind about drinking by slow degrees; and the Koranic law is by no means
+so strict as the Mullahs have made it. The prohibitions, revealed at widely
+different periods and varying in import and distinction, have been discussed by
+Al-Bayzáwi in his commentary on the above chapter. He says that the first
+revelation was in chapt. xvi. 69 but, as the passage was disregarded, Omar and
+others consulted the Apostle who replied to them in chapt. ii. 216. Then, as
+this also was unnoticed, came the final decision in chapt. v. 92, making wine
+and lots the work of Satan. Yet excuses are never wanting to the Moslem, he can
+drink Champagne and Cognac, both unknown in Mohammed's day and he can use wine
+and spirits medicinally, like sundry of ourselves, who turn up the nose of
+contempt at the idea of drinking for pleasure.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#420]  i.e. a fair-faced cup-bearer. The lines have occurred before: so I
+quote Mr. Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#421]  It is the custom of the Arabs to call their cattle to water by
+whistling; not to whistle to them, as Europeans do, whilst making water.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#422]  i.e. bewitching. See vol. i. 85. These incompatible metaphors are
+brought together by the Saj'a (prose rhyme) in—"iyah."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#423]  Mesopotamian Christians, who still turn towards Jerusalem, face the
+West, instead of the East, as with Europeans: here the monk is so dazed that he
+does not know what to do.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#424]  Arab. "Bayt Sha'ar" = a house of hair (tent) or a couplet of verse.
+Watad (a tentpeg) also is prosodical, a foot when the two first letters are
+"moved" (vowelled) and the last is jazmated (quiescent), e.g. Lakad. It is
+termed Majmú'a (united), as opposed to "Mafrúk" (separated), e.g. Kabla, when
+the "moved" consonants are disjoined by a quiescent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#425]  Lit. standing on their heads, which sounds ludicrous enough in
+English, not in Arabic.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#426]  These lines are in vol. iii. 251. I quote Mr. Payne who notes "The
+bodies of Eastern women of the higher classes by dint of continual maceration,
+Esther-fashion, in aromatic oils and essences, would naturally become
+impregnated with the sweet scents of the cosmetics used."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#427]  These lines occur in vol. i. 218: I quote Torrens for variety.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#428]  So we speak of a "female screw." The allusion is to the dove-tailing
+of the pieces. This personification of the lute has occurred before: but I
+solicit the reader's attention to it; it has a fulness of Oriental flavour all
+its own.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#429]  I again solicit the reader's attention to the simplicity, the pathos
+and the beauty of this personification of the lute.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#430]  "They" for she.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#431]  The Arabs very justly make the "'Andalib" = nightingale, masculine.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#432]  Anwár = lights or flowers: See Night dccclxv. supra p. 270.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#433]  These couplets have occurred in vol. i. 168; so I quote<br/>
+
+Mr. Payne.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#434]  i.e. You may have his soul but leave me his body: company with him in
+the next world and let me have him in this.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#435]  Alluding to the Koranic (cxiii. 1.), "I take refuge with the Lord of
+the Daybreak from the mischief of that which He hath created, etc." This is
+shown by the first line wherein occurs the Koranic word "Ghásik" (cxiii. 3)
+which may mean the first darkness when it overspreadeth or the moon when it is
+eclipsed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#436]  "Malak" = level ground; also tract on the Nile sea.<br/>
+
+Lane M.E. ii. 417, and Bruckhardt Nubia 482.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#437]  This sentiment has often been repeated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#438]  The owl comes in because "Búm" (pron. boom) rhymes with<br/>
+
+Kayyúm = the Eternal.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#439]  For an incident like this see my Pilgrimmage (vol. i. 176). How true
+to nature the whole scene is; the fond mother excusing her boy and the
+practical father putting the excuse aside. European paternity, however, would
+probably exclaim, "The beast's in liquor!"
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#440]  In ancient times this seems to have been the universal and perhaps
+instinctive treatment of the hand that struck a father. By Nur al-Din's flight
+the divorce-oath became technically null and void for Taj al-Din had sworn to
+mutilate his son next morning.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#441]  So Roderic Random and his companions "sewed their money between the
+lining and the waistband of their breeches, except some loose silver for
+immediate expense on the road." For a description of these purses see
+Pilgrimage i. 37.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#442]  Arab. Rashid (our Rosetta), a corruption of the Coptic<br/>
+
+Trashit; ever famous for the Stone.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#443]  For a parallel passage in praise of Alexandria see vol. i. 290, etc.
+The editor or scribe was evidently an Egyptian.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#444]  Arab. "Saghr" (Thagr), the opening of the lips showing the teeth. See
+vol. i. p. 156.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#445]  Iskandariyah, the city of Iskandar or Alexander the Great, whose
+"Soma" was attractive to the Greeks as the corpse of the Prophet Daniel
+afterwards was to the Moslems. The choice of site, then occupied only by the
+pauper village of Rhacotis, is one proof of many that the Macedonian conqueror
+had the inspiration of genius.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#446]  i.e. paid them down. See vol. i. 281; vol. ii. 145.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#447]  Arab. "Baltiyah," Sonnini's "Bolti" and Nébuleux (because it is
+dozid-coloured when fried), the Labrus Niloticus from its labra or large fleshy
+lips. It lives on the "leaves of Paradise" hence the flesh is delicate and
+savoury and it is caught with the épervier or sweep-net in the Nile, canals and
+pools.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#448]  Arab. "Liyyah," not a delicate comparison, but exceedingly apt
+besides rhyming to "Baltiyah." The cauda of the "five-quarter sheep, whose
+tails are so broad and thick that there is as much flesh upon them as upon a
+quarter of their body," must not be confounded with the lank appendage of our
+English muttons. See i. 25, Dr. Burnell's Linschoten (Hakluyt Soc. 1885).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#449]  A variant occurs in vol. iv. 191.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#450]  Arab. "Tars Daylami," a small shield of bright metal.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#451]  Arab. "Kaukab al-durri," see Pilgrimage ii. 82.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#452]  Arab. "Kusúf" applied to the moon; Khusúf being the solar eclipse.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#453]  May Abú Lahab's hands perish. . . and his wife be a bearer of
+faggots!" Koran cxi. 1 &amp; 4. The allusion is neat.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#454]  Alluding to the Angels who shoot down the Jinn. See vol. i. 224. The
+index misprints "Shibáh."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#455]  For a similar scene see Ali Shar and Zumurrud, vol. iv. 187.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#456]  i.e. of the girl whom as the sequel shows, her owner had promised not
+to sell without her consent. This was and is a common practice. See vol. iv.
+192.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#457]  These lines have occurred in vol. iii. p. 303. I quote<br/>
+
+Mr. Payne.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#458]  Alluding to the erectio et distensio penis which comes on before dawn
+in tropical lands and which does not denote any desire for women. Some
+Anglo-Indians term the symptom signum salutis, others a urine-proud pizzle.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#459]  Arab. "Mohtasib," in the Maghrib "Mohtab," the officer charged with
+inspecting weights and measures and with punishing fraud in various ways such
+as nailing the cheat's ears to his shop's shutter, etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#460]  Every where in the Moslem East the slave holds himself superior to
+the menial freeman, a fact which I would impress upon the several Anti-slavery
+Societies, honest men whose zeal mostly exceeds their knowledge, and whose
+energy their discretion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#461]  These lines, extended to three couplets, occur in vol. iv. 193. I
+quote Mr. Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#462]  "At this examination (on Judgment Day) Mohammedans also believe that
+each person will have the book, wherein all the actions of his life are
+written, delivered to him; which books the righteous will receive in their
+right hand, and read with great pleasure and satisfaction; but the ungodly will
+be obliged to take them, against their wills, in their left (Koran xvii. xviii.
+lxix, and lxxxiv.), which will be bound behind their backs, their right hand
+being tied to their necks." Sale, Preliminary Discourse; Sect. iv.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#463]  "Whiteness" (bayáz) also meaning lustre, honour.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#464]  This again occurs in vol. iv. 194. So I quote Mr.<br/>
+
+Payne.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#465]  Her impudence is intended to be that of a captive<br/>
+
+Princess.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#466]  i.e. bent groundwards.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#467]  See vol. iv. 192. In Marocco Za'ar is applied to a man with fair
+skin, red hair and blue eyes (Gothic blood?) and the term is not complimentary
+as "Sultan Yazid Za'ar."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#468]  The lines have occurred before (vol. iv. 194). I quote Mr. Lane ii.
+440. Both he and Mr. Payne have missed the point in "ba'zu layáli" a certain
+night when his mistress had left him so lonely.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#469]  Arab. "Raat-hu." This apparently harmless word suggests one similar
+in sound and meaning which gave some trouble in its day. Says Mohammed in the
+Koran (ii. 98) "O ye who believe! say not (to the Apostle) Rá'iná (look at us)
+but Unzurná (regard us)." "Rá'iná" as pronounced in Hebrew means "our bad one."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#470]  By reason of its leanness.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#471]  In the Mac. Edit. "Fifty." For a scene which illustrates this
+mercantile transaction see my Pilgrimage i. 88, and its deduction. "How often
+is it our fate, in the West as in the East, to see in bright eyes and to hear
+from rosy lips an implied, if not an expressed 'Why don't you buy me?' or,
+worse still, 'Why can't you buy me?'"
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#472]  See vol. ii. 165 dragging or trailing the skirts = walking without
+the usual strut or swagger: here it means assuming the humble manners of a
+slave in presence of the master.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#473]  This is the Moslem form of "boycotting": so amongst early Christians
+they refused to give one another God-speed. Amongst Hindús it takes the form of
+refusing "Hukkah (pipe) and water" which practically makes a man an outcast. In
+the text the old man expresses the popular contempt for those who borrow and
+who do not repay. He had evidently not read the essay of Elia on the
+professional borrower.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#474]  See note p. 273.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#475]  i.e. the best kind of camels.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#476]  This first verse has occurred three times.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#477]  Arab. "Surayyá" in Dictionaries a dim. of Sarwá = moderately rich. It
+may either denote abundance of rain or a number of stars forming a
+constellation. Hence in Job (xxxviii. 31) it is called a heap (kímah).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#478]  Pleiads in Gr. the Stars whereby men sail.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#479]  This is the Eastern idea of the consequence of satisfactory coition
+which is supposed to be the very seal of love. Westerns have run to the other
+extreme.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#480]  "Al-Ríf" simply means lowland: hence there is a Ríf in the
+Nile-delta. The word in Europe is applied chiefly to the Maroccan coast
+opposite Gibraltar (not, as is usually supposed the North-Western seaboard)
+where the Berber-Shilhá race, so famous as the "Rif pirates" still closes the
+country to travellers.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#481]  i.e. Upper Egypt.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#482]  These local excellencies of coition are described jocosely rather
+than anthropologically.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#483]  See vol. i. 223: I take from Torrens, p. 223.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#484]  For the complete ablution obligatory after copulation before prayers
+can be said. See vol. v. 199.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#485]  Arab. "Zunnár," the Greek {zoonárion}, for which, see vol. ii. 215.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#486]  Miriam (Arabic Maryam), is a Christian name, in Moslem lands. Abú
+Maryam "Mary's father" (says Motarrazi on Al-Hariri, Ass. of Alexandria) is a
+term of contempt, for men are called after sons (e.g. Abu Zayd), not after
+daughters. In more modern authors Abu Maryam is the name of ushers and lesser
+officials in the Kazi's court.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#487]  This formality, so contrary to our Western familiarity after
+possession, is an especial sign of good breeding amongst Arabs and indeed all
+Eastern nations. It reminds us of the "grand manner" in Europe two hundred
+years ago, not a trace of which now remains.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#488]  These lines are in Night i. ordered somewhat differently: so I quote
+Torrens (p. 14).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#489]  i.e. to the return Salám—"And with thee be peace and the mercy of
+Allah and His blessings!" See vol. ii. 146. The enslaved Princess had
+recognised her father's Wazir and knew that he could have but one object, which
+being a man of wit and her lord a "raw laddie," he was sure to win.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#490]  It is quite in Moslem manners for the bystanders to force the sale
+seeing a silly lad reject a most advantageous offer for sentimental reasons.
+And the owner of the article would be bound by their consent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#491]  Arab. "Wa'llahi." "Bi" is the original particle of swearing, a Harf
+al-jarr (governing the genitive as Bi'lláhi) and suggesting the idea of
+adhesion: "Wa" (noting union) is its substitute in oath-formulć and "Ta" takes
+the place of Wa as Ta'lláhi. The three-fold forms are combined in a great
+"swear."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#492]  i.e. of divorcing their own wives.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#493]  These lines have occurred before: I quote Mr. Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#494]  These lines are in Night xxvi., vol. i. 275: I quote<br/>
+
+Torrens (p. 277), with a correction for "when ere."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#495]  This should be "draws his senses from him as one pulls hair out of
+pate."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#496]  Rághib and Záhid: see vol. v. 141.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#497]  Carolus Magnus then held court in Paris; but the text evidently
+alludes to one of the port-cities of Provence as Marseille which we English
+will miscall Marseilles.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#498]  Here the writer, not the young wife, speaks; but as a tale-teller he
+says "hearer" not "reader."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#499]  Kayrawán, the Arab. form of the Greek Cyrene which has lately been
+opened to travellers and has now lost the mystery which enshrouded it. In Hafiz
+and the Persian poets it is the embodiment of remoteness and secrecy; as we
+till the last quarter century spoke of the "deserts of Central Africa."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#500]  Arab. "'Innín": alluding to all forms of impotence, from dislike,
+natural deficiency or fascination, the favourite excuse. Easterns seldom
+attribute it to the true cause, weak action of the heart; but the Romans knew
+the truth when they described one of its symptoms as cold feet. "Clino-pedalis,
+ad venerem invalidus, ab ea antiqua opinione, frigiditatem pedum concubituris
+admodum officere." Hence St. Francis and the bare-footed Friars. See Glossarium
+Eroticum Linguae Latinć, Parisiis, Dondey-Dupré, MDCCCXXVI.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#501]  I have noted the use of "island" for "land" in general. So in the
+European languages of the sixteenth century, insula was used for peninsula,
+e.g. Insula de Cori = the Corean peninsula.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#502]  As has been noticed (vol. i. 333), the monocular is famed for
+mischief and men expect the mischief to come from his blinded eye.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#503]  Here again we have a specimen of "inverted speech" (vol. ii. 265);
+abusive epithets intended for a high compliment, signifying that the man was a
+tyrant over rebels and a froward devil to the foe.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#504]  Arab. "Bab al-Bahr," see vol. iii. 281.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#505]  Arab. "Batárikah" see vol. ii. 89. The Templars, Knights of Malta and
+other orders half ecclesiastic, half military suggested the application of the
+term.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#506]  These lines have occurred in vol. i. 280—I quote<br/>
+
+Torrens (p. 283).<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#507]  Maryam al-Husn containing a double entendre, "O place of the white
+doe (Rím) of beauty!" The girl's name was Maryam the Arab. form of Mary, also
+applied to the B.V. by Eastern Christians. Hence a common name of Syrian women
+is "Husn Maryam" = (one endowed with the spiritual beauties of Mary: vol. iv.
+87). I do not think that the name was "manufactured by the Arab story-tellers
+after the pattern of their own names (e.g. Nur al-Din or Noureddin, light of
+the faith, Tajeddin, crown of faith, etc.) for the use of their imaginary
+Christian female characters."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#508]  I may here remind readers that the Bán, which some Orientalists will
+write "Ben," is a straight and graceful species of Moringa with plentiful and
+intensely green foliage.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#509]  Arab. "Amúd al-Sawári" = the Pillar of Masts, which is still the
+local name of Diocletian's column absurdly named by Europeans "Pompey's
+Pillar."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#510]  Arab. "Batiyah," also used as a wine-jar (amphora), a flagon.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#511]  Arab. "Al-Kursán," evidently from the Ital. "Corsaro," a runner. So
+the Port. "Cabo Corso," which we have corrupted to "Cape Coast Castle" (Gulf of
+Guinea), means the Cape of Tacking.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#512]  Arab. "Ghuráb," which Europeans turn to "Grab."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#513]  Arab. "Sayyib" (Thayyib) a rare word: it mostly applies to a woman
+who leaves her husband after lying once with him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#514]  Arab. "Batárikah:" here meaning knights, leaders of armed men as in
+Night dccclxii., supra p. 256, it means "monks."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#515]  i.e. for the service of a temporal monarch.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#516]  Arab. "Sayr" = a broad strip of leather still used by way of girdle
+amongst certain Christian religions in the East.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#517]  Arab. "Haláwat al-Salámah," the sweetmeats offered to friends after
+returning from a journey or escaping sore peril. See vol. iv. 60.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#518]  So Eginhardt was an Erzcapellan and belonged to the ghostly
+profession.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#519]  These lines are in vols. iii. 258 and iv. 204. I quote<br/>
+
+Mr. Payne.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#520]  Arab. "Firásah," lit. = skill in judging of horse flesh<br/>
+
+(Faras) and thence applied, like "Kiyáfah," to physiognomy. One<br/>
+
+Kári was the first to divine man's future by worldly signs<br/>
+
+(Al-Maydáni, Arab. prov. ii. 132) and the knowledge was<br/>
+
+hereditary in the tribe Mashíj.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#521]  Reported to be a "Hadis" or saying of Mohammed, to whom are
+attributed many such shrewd aphorisms, e.g. "Allah defend us from the ire of
+the mild (tempered)."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#522]  These lines are in vol. i. 126. I quote Torrens (p. 120).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#523]  These lines have occurred before. I quote Mr. Payne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#524]  Arab. "Khák-bák," an onomatopÂia like our flip-flap and a host of
+similar words. This profaning a Christian Church which contained the relics of
+the Virgin would hugely delight the coffee-house habitués, and the Egyptians
+would be equally flattered to hear that the son of a Cairene merchant had made
+the conquest of a Frankish Princess Royal. That he was an arrant poltroon
+mattered very little, as his cowardice only set of his charms.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#525]  i.e. after the rising up of the dead.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#526]  Arab. "Nafísah," the precious one i.e. the Virgin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#527]  Arab. "Nákús," a wooden gong used by Eastern Christians which were
+wisely forbidden by the early Moslems.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#528]  i.e. a graceful, slender youth.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#529]  There is a complicatd pun in this line: made by splitting the word
+after the fashion of punsters. "Zarbu 'l-Nawákísí" = the striking of the gongs,
+and "Zarbu 'l Nawá, Kísí = striking the departure signal: decide thou (fem.
+addressed to the Nafs, soul or self)" I have attempted a feeble imitation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#530]  The modern Italian term of the venereal finish.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#531]  Arab. "Najm al-Munkazzi," making the envious spy one of the prying
+Jinns at whom is launched the Shiháb or shooting-star by the angels who prevent
+them listening at the gates of Heaven. See vol. i. 224.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#532]  Arab. "Sandúk al-Nuzur," lit. "the box of vowed oblations." This act
+of sacrilege would find high favour with the auditory.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#533]  The night consisting like the day of three watches. See vol. i.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#534]  Arab. "Al-Khaukhah," a word now little used.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#535]  Arab. "Námúsiyah," lit. mosquito curtains.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#536]  Arab. "Jáwashiyah," see vol. ii. 49.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#537]  Arab. "Kayyimah," the fem. of "Kayyim," misprinted<br/>
+
+"Kayim" in vol. ii. 93.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#538]  i.e. hadst thou not disclosed thyself. He has one great merit in a
+coward of not being ashamed for his cowardice; and this is a characteristic of
+the modern Egyptian, whose proverb is, "He ran away, Allah shame him! is better
+than, He was slain, Allah bless him!"
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#539]  Arab. "Ahjar al-Kassárín" nor forgotten. In those days ships anchored
+in the Eastern port of Alexandria which is now wholly abandoned on account of
+the rocky bottom and the dangerous "Levanter," which as the Gibraltar proverb
+says
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"Makes the stones canter."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#540]  Arab. "Hakk" = rights, a word much and variously used. To express the
+possessive "mine" a Badawi says "Hakki" (pron. Haggi) and "Lílí;" a Syrian
+"Shítí" for Shayyati, my little thing or "taba 'i" my dependent; an Egyptian
+"Bitá' i" my portion and a Maghribi "M'tá 'i" and "diyyáli" (di allazí lí =
+this that is to me). Thus "mine" becomes a shibboleth.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#541]  i.e. The "Good for nothing," the "Bad'un;" not some forgotten ruffian
+of the day, but the hero of a tale antedating The Nights in their present form.
+See Terminal Essay, x. ii.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#542]  i.e. Hoping to catch Nur al-Din.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#543]  Arab. "Sawwáhún" = the Wanderers, Pilgrims, wandering Arabs, whose
+religion, Al-Islam, so styled by its Christain opponents. And yet the new creed
+was at once accepted by whole regions of Christians, and Mauritania, which had
+rejected Roman paganism and Gothic Christianity. This was e.g. Syria and the
+so-called "Holy Land," not because, as is fondly asserted by Christians,
+al-Islam was forced upon them by the sword, but on account of its fulfilling a
+need, its supplying a higher belief, unity as opposed to plurality, and its
+preaching a more manly attitude of mind and a more sensible rule of conduct.
+Arabic still preserves a host of words special to the Christian creed; and many
+of them have been adopted by Moslems but with changes of signification.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#544]  i.e. of things commanded and things prohibited. The writer is
+thinking of the Koran in which there are not a few abrogated injunctions.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#545]  See below for the allusion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#546]  Arab. "Kafrá" = desert place. It occurs in this couplet,
+</p>
+
+<p>
+          "Wa Kabrun Harbin fí-makánin Kafrin;<br/>
+
+           Wa laysa Kurba Kabri Harbin Kabrun."<br/>
+
+     "Harb's corse is quartered in coarse wold accurst;<br/>
+
+     Nor close to corse of Harb is other corse;—"<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+words made purposely harsh because uttered by a Jinni who killed a traveller
+named "Harb." So Homer:—
+</p>
+
+<p>
+{pollŕ d' hánanta, kátanta, párantá te dachmía t' ęlthon.}
+</p>
+
+<p>
+and Pope:—
+</p>
+
+<p>
+"O'er hills, o'er dales, o'er crags, o'er rocks they go, etc."
+</p>
+
+<p>
+See Preface (p. v.) to Captain A. Lockett's learned and whimsical volume, "The
+Muit Amil" etc. Calcutta, 1814.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#547]  These lines have occurred vol. iv. 267. I quote Mr.<br/>
+
+Lane.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#548]  The topethesia is here designedly made absurd. Alexandria was one of
+the first cities taken by the Moslems (A.H. 21 = 642) and the Christian pirates
+preferred attacking weaker places, Rosetta and Damietta.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#549]  Arab. "Bilád al-Rúm," here and elsewhere applied to<br/>
+
+France.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#550]  Here the last line of p. 324, vol. iv. in the Mac.<br/>
+
+Edit. is misplaced and belongs to the next page.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#551]  Arab. "Akhawán shakíkán" = brothers german (of men and beasts) born
+of one father and mother, sire and dam.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#552]  "The Forerunner" and "The Overtaker," terms borrowed from the Arab
+Epsom.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#553]  Known to us as "the web and pin," it is a film which affects Arab
+horses in the damp hot regions of Malabar and Zanzibar and soon blinds them.
+This equine cataract combined with loin-disease compels men to ride Pegu and
+other ponies.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#554]  Arab. "Zujáj bikr" whose apparent meaning would be glass in the lump
+and unworked. Zaj áj bears, however, the meaning of clove-nails (the ripe bud
+of the clove-shrub) and may possibly apply to one of the manifold "Alfáz
+Adwiyah" (names of drugs). Here, however, pounded glass would be all sufficient
+to blind a horse: it is much used in the East especially for dogs affected by
+intestinal vermicules.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#555]  Alluding to the Arab saying "The two rests"<br/>
+
+(Al-ráhatáni) "certainty of success or failure," as opposed to<br/>
+
+"Wiswás" when the mind fluctuates in doubt.<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#556]  She falls in love with the groom, thus anticipating the noble
+self-devotion of Miss Aurora Floyd.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#557]  Arab. "Túfán" see vol. {iv. 136}: here it means the<br/>
+
+"Deluge of Noah."<br/>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#558]  Two of the Hells. See vol. v. 240.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#559]  Lit. "Out upon a prayer who imprecated our parting!"
+</p>
+
+<p>
+[FN#560]  The use of masculine for feminine has frequently been noted. I have
+rarely changed the gender or the number the plural being often employed for the
+singular (vol. i. 98). Such change may avoid "mystification and confusion" but
+this is the very purpose of the substitution which must be preserved if "local
+colour" is to be respected.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
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