my eldest sisters by one mother and father; and these two others, she
who beareth upon her the signs of stripes and the third our procuratrix
are my sisters by another mother. When my father died, each took her
share of the heritage and, after a while my mother also deceased,
leaving me and my sisters-german three thousand dinars; so each
daughter received her portion of a thousand dinars and I the same, albe
the youngest. In due course of time my sisters married with the usual
festivities and lived with their husbands, who bought merchandise with
their wives' monies and set out on their travels together. Thus they
threw me off. My brothers-in-law were absent with their wives five
years, during which period they spent all the money they had and,
becoming bankrupt, deserted my sisters in foreign parts amid stranger
folk. After five years my eldest sister returned to me in beggar's gear
with her clothes in rags and tatters[302] and a dirty old
mantilla;[303] and truly she was in the foulest and sorriest plight. At
first sight I did not know my own sister; but presently I recognised
her and said "What state is this?" "O our sister," she replied, "Words
cannot undo the done; and the reed of Destiny hath run through what
Allah decreed." Then I sent her to the bath and dressed her in a suit
of mine own, and boiled for her a bouillon and brought her some good
wine and said to her, "O my sister, thou art the eldest, who still
standest to us in the stead of father and mother; and, as for the
inheritance which came to me as to you twain, Allah hath blessed it and
prospered it to me with increase; and my circumstances are easy, for I
have made much money by spinning and cleaning silk; and I and you will
share my wealth alike." I entreated her with all kindliness and she
abode with me a whole year, during which our thoughts and fancies were
always full of our other sister. Shortly after she too came home in yet
fouler and sorrier plight than that of my eldest sister; and I dealt by
her still more honorably than I had done by the first, and each of them
had a share of my substance. After a time they said to me, "O our
sister, we desire to marry again, for indeed we have not patience to
drag on our days without husbands and to lead the lives of widows
bewitched;" and I replied, "O eyes of me![304] ye have hitherto seen
scanty weal in wedlock, for now-a-days good men and true are become
rareties and curiosities; nor do I deem your projects advisable, as ye
have already made trial of matrimony and have failed." But they would
not accept my advice and married without my consent: nevertheless I
gave them outfit and dowries out of my money; and they fared forth with
their mates. In a mighty little time their husbands played them false
and, taking whatever they could lay hands upon, levanted and left them
in the lurch. Thereupon they came to me ashamed and in abject case and
made their excuses to me, saying, "Pardon our fault and be not wroth
with us;[305] for although thou art younger in years yet art thou older
in wit; henceforth we will never make mention of marriage; so take us
back as thy handmaidens that we may eat our mouthful." Quoth I,
"Welcome to you, O my sisters, there is naught dearer to me than you."
And I took them in and redoubled my kindness to them. We ceased not to
live after this loving fashion for a full year, when I resolved to sell
my wares abroad and first to fit me a conveyance for Bassorah; so I
equipped a large ship, and loaded her with merchandise and valuable
goods for traffic, and with provaunt and all needful for a voyage, and
said to my sisters, "Will ye abide at home whilst I travel, or would ye
prefer to accompany me on the voyage?" "We will travel with thee,"
answered they, "for we cannot bear to be parted from thee." So I
divided my monies into two parts, one to accompany me and the other to
be left in charge of a trusty person, for, as I said to myself, "Haply
some accident may happen to the ship and yet we remain alive; in which
case we shall find on our return what may stand us in good stead." I
took my two sisters and we went a-voyaging some days and nights; but
the master was careless enough to miss his course, and the ship went
astray with us and entered a sea other than the sea we sought. For a
time we knew naught of this; and the wind blew fair for us ten days,
after which the look-out man went aloft to see about him and cried,
"Good news!" Then he came down rejoicing and said, "I have seen what
seemeth to be a city as 'twere a pigeon." Hereat we rejoiced and, ere
an hour of the day had passed, the buildings showed plain in the offing
and we asked the Captain, "What is the name of yonder city?" and he
answered, "By Allah I wot not, for I never saw it before and never
sailed these seas in my life: but, since our troubles have ended in
safety, remains for you only to land there with your merchandise and,
if you find selling profitable, sell and make your market of what is
there; and if not, we will rest here two days and provision ourselves
and fare away." So we entered the port and the Captain went up town and
was absent awhile, after which he returned to us and said, "Arise; go
up into the city and marvel at the works of Allah with His creatures
and pray to be preserved from His righteous wrath!" So we landed and
going up into the city, saw at the gate men hending staves in hand; but
when we drew near them, behold, they had been translated[306] by the
anger of Allah and had become stones. Then we entered the city and
found all who therein woned into black stones enstoned: not an
inhabited house appeared to the espier, nor was there a blower of
fire.[307] We were awe struck at the sight and threaded the market
streets where we found the goods and gold and silver left lying in
their places; and we were glad and said, "Doubtless there is some
mystery in all this." Then we dispersed about the thoroughfares and
each busied himself with collecting the wealth and money and rich
stuffs, taking scanty heed of friend or comrade. As for myself I went
up to the castle which was strongly fortified; and, entering the King's
palace by its gate of red gold, found all the vaiselle of gold and
silver, and the King himself seated in the midst of his Chamberlains
and Nabobs and Emirs and Wazirs; all clad in raiment which confounded
man's art. I drew nearer and saw him sitting on a throne incrusted and
inlaid with pearls and gems; and his robes were of gold-cloth adorned
with jewels of every kind, each one flashing like a star. Around him
stood fifty Mamelukes, white slaves, clothed in silks of divers sorts
holding their drawn swords in their hands; but when I drew near to them
lo! all were black stones. My understanding was confounded at the
sight, but I walked on and entered the great hall of the Harím,[308]
whose walls I found hung with tapestries of gold-striped silk and
spread with silken carpets embroidered with golden flowers. Here I saw
the Queen lying at full length arrayed in robes purfled with fresh
young[309] pearls; on her head was a diadem set with many sorts of gems
each fit for a ring[310] and around her neck hung collars and
necklaces. All her raiment and her ornaments were in natural state but
she had been turned into a black stone by Allah's wrath. Presently I
espied an open door for which I made straight and found leading to it a
flight of seven steps. So I walked up and came upon a place pargetted
with marble and spread and hung with gold-worked carpets and tapestry,
amiddlemost of which stood a throne of juniper-wood inlaid with pearls
and precious stones and set with bosses of emeralds. In the further
wall was an alcove whose curtains, bestrung with pearls, were let down
and I saw a light issuing therefrom; so I drew near and perceived that
the light came from a precious stone as big as an ostrich-egg, set at
the upper end of the alcove upon a little chryselephantine couch of
ivory and gold; and this jewel, blazing like the sun, cast its rays
wide and side. The couch also was spread with all manner of silken
stuffs amazing the gazer with their richness and beauty. I marvelled
much at all this, especially when seeing in that place candles ready
lighted; and I said in my mind, "Needs must some one have lighted these
candles." Then I went forth and came to the kitchen and thence to the
buttery and the King's treasure-chambers; and continued to explore the
palace and to pace from place to place; I forgot myself in my awe and
marvel at these matters and I was drowned in thought till the night
came on. Then I would have gone forth, but knowing not the gate I lost
my way, so I returned to the alcove whither the lighted candles
directed me and sat down upon the couch; and wrapping myself in a
coverlet, after I had repeated somewhat from the Koran, I would have
slept but could not, for restlessness possessed me. When night was at
its noon I heard a voice chanting the Koran in sweetest accents; but
the tone thereof was weak; so I rose, glad to hear the silence broken,
and followed the sound until I reached a closet whose door stood ajar.
Then peeping through a chink I considered the place and lo! it was an
oratory wherein was a prayer-niche[311] with two wax candles burning
and lamps hanging from the ceiling. In it too was spread a
prayer-carpet whereupon sat a youth fair to see; and before him on its
stand[312] was a copy of the Koran, from which he was reading. I
marvelled to see him alone alive amongst the people of the city and
entering saluted him; whereupon he raised his eyes and returned my
salam. Quoth I, "Now by the Truth of what thou readest in Allah's Holy
Book, I conjure thee to answer my question." He looked upon me with a
smile and said, "O handmaid of Allah, first tell me the cause of thy
coming hither, and I in turn will tell what hath befallen both me and
the people of this city, and what was the reason of my escaping their
doom." So I told him my story whereat he wondered; and I questioned him
of the people of the city, when he replied, "Have patience with me for
awhile, O my sister!" and, reverently closing the Holy Book, he laid it
up in a satin bag. Then he seated me by his side; and I looked at him
and behold, he was as the moon at its full, fair of face and rare of
form, soft-sided and slight, of well-proportioned height, and cheek
smoothly bright and diffusing light; in brief a sweet, a
sugar-stick,[313] even as saith the poet of the like of him in these
couplets:—
That night th' astrologer a scheme of planets drew, ✿ And lo! a
graceful shape of youth appeared in view:
Saturn had stained his locks with Saturninest jet, ✿ And spots of
nut-brown musk on rosy side-face blew:[314]
Mars tinctured either cheek with tinct of martial red; ✿ Sagittal shots
from eyelids Sagittarius threw:
Dowered him Mercury with bright mercurial wit; ✿ Bore off the Bear[315]
what all man's evil glances grew:
Amazed stood Astrophil to sight the marvel-birth ✿ When louted low the
Moon at full to buss the Earth.
And of a truth Allah the Most High had robed him in the raiment of
perfect grace and had purfled and fringed it with a cheek all beauty
and loveliness, even as the poet saith of such an one:—
By his eyelids shedding perfume and his fine slim waist I swear, ✿ By
the shooting of his shafts barbed with sorcery passing rare;
By the softness of his sides,[316] and glances' lingering light; ✿ And
brow of dazzling day-tide ray and night within his hair;
By his eyebrows which deny to who look upon them rest, ✿ Now bidding
now forbidding, ever dealing joy and care;
By the rose that decks his cheek, and the myrtle of its moss;[317] ✿ By
jacinths bedded in his lips and pearl his smile lays bare;
By his graceful bending neck and the curving of his breast; ✿ Whose
polished surface beareth those granados, lovely pair;
By his heavy hips that quiver as he passeth in his pride; ✿ Or he
resteth with that waist which is slim beyond compare;
By the satin of his skin, by that fine unsullied sprite; ✿ By the
beauty that containeth all things bright and debonnair;
By that ever-open hand; by the candour of his tongue; ✿ By noble blood
and high degree whereof he's hope and heir;
Musk from him borrows muskiness she loveth to exhale; ✿ And all the
airs of ambergris through him perfume the air;
The sun, methinks, the broad bright sun, before my love would pale; ✿
And sans his splendour would appear a paring of his nail.[318]
I glanced at him with one glance of eyes which caused me a thousand
sighs; and my heart was at once taken captive-wise; so I asked him, "O
my lord and my love, tell me that whereof I questioned thee;" and he
answered, "Hearing is obeying! Know, O handmaid of Allah, that this
city was the capital of my father who is the King thou sawest on the
throne transfigured by Allah's wrath to a black stone, and the Queen
thou foundest in the alcove is my mother. They and all the people of
the city were Magians who fire adored in lieu of the Omnipotent
Lord[319] and were wont to swear by lowe and heat and shade and light,
and the spheres revolving day and night. My father had ne'er a son till
he was blest with me near the last of his days; and he reared me till I
grew up and prosperity anticipated me in all things. Now it so fortuned
there was with us an old woman well stricken in years, a Moslemah who,
inwardly believing in Allah and His Apostle, conformed outwardly with
the religion of my people; and my father placed thorough confidence in
her for that he knew her to be trustworthy and virtuous; and he treated
her with ever-increasing kindness believing her to be of his own
belief. So when I was well-nigh grown up my father committed me to her
charge saying:—Take him and educate him and teach him the rules of our
faith; let him have the best instructions and cease not thy fostering
care of him. So she took me and taught me the tenets of Al-Islam with
the divine ordinances[320] of the Wuzu-ablution and the five daily
prayers and she made me learn the Koran by rote, often repeating:—Serve
none save Allah Almighty! When I had mastered this much of knowledge
she said to me:—O my son, keep this matter concealed from thy sire and
reveal naught to him lest he slay thee. So I hid it from him and I
abode on this wise for a term of days when the old woman died, and the
people of the city redoubled in their impiety[321] and arrogance and
the error of their ways. One day, while they were as wont, behold, they
heard a loud and terrible sound and a crier crying out with a voice
like roaring thunder so every ear could hear, far and near:—O folk of
this city leave ye your fire-worshipping and adore Allah the
All-compassionate King! At this, fear and terror fell upon the citizens
and they crowded to my father (he being King of the city) and asked
him:—What is this awesome voice we have heard, for it hath confounded
us with the excess of its terror?; and he answered:—Let not a voice
fright you nor shake your steadfast sprite nor turn you back from the
faith which is right. Their hearts inclined to his words and they
ceased not to worship the fire and they persisted in rebellion for a
full year from the time they heard the first voice; and on the
anniversary came a second cry and a third at the head of the third
year, each year once. Still they persisted in their malpractices till
one day at break of dawn, judgment and the wrath of Heaven descended
upon them with all suddenness, and by the visitation of Allah all were
metamorphosed into black stones,[322] they and their beasts and their
cattle; and none was saved save myself who at the time was engaged in
my devotions. From that day to this I am in the case thou seest,
constant in prayer and fasting and reading and reciting the Koran; but
I am indeed grown weary by reason of my loneliness, having none to bear
me company." Then said I to him (for in very sooth he had won my heart
and was the lord of my life and soul), "O youth, wilt thou fare with me
to Baghdad city and visit the Olema and men learned in the law and
doctors of divinity and get thee increase of wisdom and understanding
and theology? And know that she who standeth in thy presence will be
thy handmaid, albeit she be head of her family and mistress over men
and eunuchs and servants and slaves. Indeed my life was no life before
it fell in with thy youth. I have here a ship laden with merchandise;
and in very truth Destiny drove me to this city that I might come to
the knowledge of these matters, for it was fated that we should meet.
And I ceased not to persuade him and speak him fair and use every art
till he consented."——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Eighteenth Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the lady
ceased not persuading with soft speech the youth to depart with her
till he consented and said "Yes." She slept that night lying at his
feet and hardly knowing where she was for excess of joy. As soon as the
next morning dawned (she pursued, addressing the Caliph), I arose and
we entered the treasuries and took thence whatever was light in weight
and great in worth; then we went down side by side from the castle to
the city, where we were met by the Captain and my sisters and slaves
who had been seeking for me. When they saw me they rejoiced and asked
what had stayed me, and I told them all I had seen and related to them
the story of the young Prince and the transformation wherewith the
citizens had been justly visited. Hereat all marvelled, but when my two
sisters (these two bitches, O Commander of the Faithful!) saw me by the
side of my young lover they jaloused me on his account and were wroth
and plotted mischief against me. We awaited a fair wind and went on
board rejoicing and ready to fly for joy by reason of the goods we had
gotten, but my own greatest joyance was in the youth; and we waited
awhile till the wind blew fair for us and then we set sail and fared
forth. Now as we sat talking, my sisters asked me, "And what wilt thou
do with this handsome young man?"; and I answered, "I purpose to make
him my husband!" Then I turned to him and said, "O my lord, I have that
to propose to thee wherein thou must not cross me; and this it is that,
when we reach Baghdad, my native city, I offer thee my life as thy
handmaiden in holy matrimony, and thou shalt be to me baron and I will
be femme to thee." He answered, "I hear and I obey!; thou art my lady
and my mistress and whatso thou doest I will not gainsay." Then I
turned to my sisters and said, "This is my gain; I content me with this
youth and those who have gotten aught of my property let them keep it
as their gain with my good will." "Thou sayest and doest well,"
answered the twain, but they imagined mischief against me. We ceased
not spooning before a fair wind till we had exchanged the sea of peril
for the seas of safety and, in a few days, we made Bassorah-city, whose
buildings loomed clear before us as evening fell. But after we had
retired to rest and were sound asleep, my two sisters arose and took me
up, bed and all, and threw me into the sea: they did the same with the
young Prince who, as he could not swim, sank and was drowned and Allah
enrolled him in the noble army of Martyrs.[323] As for me would Heaven
I had been drowned with him, but Allah deemed that I should be of the
saved; so when I awoke and found myself in the sea and saw the ship
making off like a flash of lightning, He threw in my way a piece of
timber which I bestrided, and the waves tossed me to and fro till they
cast me upon an island coast, a high land and an uninhabited. I landed
and walked about the island the rest of the night and, when morning
dawned, I saw a rough track barely fit for child of Adam to tread,
leading to what proved a shallow ford connecting island and mainland.
As soon as the sun had risen I spread my garments to dry in its rays;
and ate of the fruits of the island and drank of its waters; then I set
out along the foot-track and ceased not walking till I reached the
mainland. Now when there remained between me and the city but a two
hours' journey behold, a great serpent, the bigness of a date-palm,
came fleeing towards me in all haste, gliding along now to the right
then to the left till she was close upon me, whilst her tongue lolled
ground-wards a span long and swept the dust as she went. She was
pursued by a Dragon[324] who was not longer than two lances, and of
slender build about the bulk of a spear and, although her terror lent
her speed, and she kept wriggling from side to side, he overtook her
and seized her by the tail, whereat her tears streamed down and her
tongue was thrust out in her agony. I took pity on her and, picking up
a stone and calling upon Allah for aid, threw it at the Dragon's head
with such force that he died then and there; and the serpent opening a
pair of wings flew into the lift and disappeared from before my eyes. I
sat down marvelling over that adventure, but I was weary and,
drowsiness overcoming me, I slept where I was for a while. When I awoke
I found a jet-black damsel sitting at my feet shampooing them; and by
her side stood two black bitches (my sisters, O Commander of the
Faithful!). I was ashamed before her[325] and, sitting up, asked her,
"O my sister, who and what art thou?"; and she answered, "How soon hast
thou forgotten me! I am she for whom thou wroughtest a good deed and
sowedest the seed of gratitude and slewest her foe; for I am the
serpent whom by Allah's aidance thou didst just now deliver from the
Dragon. I am a Jinniyah and he was a Jinn who hated me, and none saved
my life from him save thou. As soon as thou freedest me from him I flew
on the wind to the ship whence thy sisters threw thee, and removed all
that was therein to thy house. Then I ordered my attendant Marids to
sink the ship and I transformed thy two sisters into these black
bitches; for I know all that hath passed between them and thee; but as
for the youth, of a truth he is drowned. So saying she flew up with me
and the bitches, and presently set us down on the terrace-roof of my
house, wherein I found ready stored the whole of what property was in
my ship, nor was aught of it missing. Now (continued the serpent that
was), I swear by all engraven on the seal-ring of Solomon[326] (with
whom be peace!) unless thou deal to each of these bitches three hundred
stripes every day I will come and imprison thee for ever under the
earth." I answered, "Hearkening and obedience!"; and away she flew. But
before going she again charged me saying, "I again swear by Him who
made the two seas flow[327] (and this be my second oath) if thou
gainsay me I will come and transform thee like thy sisters." Since then
I have never failed, O Commander of the Faithful, to beat them with
that number of blows till their blood flows with my tears, I pitying
them the while, and well they wot that their being scourged is no fault
of mine and they accept my excuses. And this is my tale and my history!
The Caliph marvelled at her adventures and then signed to Ja'afar who
said to the second lady, the Portress, "And thou, how camest thou by
the welts and wheals upon thy body?" So she began the
[Illustration]
_TALE OF THE PORTRESS._
Know, O Commander of the Faithful, that I had a father who, after
fulfilling his time, deceased and left me great store of wealth. I
remained single for a short time and presently married one of the
richest of his day. I abode with him a year when he also died, and my
share of his property amounted to eighty thousand dinars in gold
according to the holy law of inheritance.[328] Thus I became passing
rich and my reputation spread far and wide, for I had made me ten
changes of raiment, each worth a thousand dinars. One day as I was
sitting at home, behold, there came in to me an old woman[329] with
lantern jaws and cheeks sucked in, and eyes rucked up, and eyebrows
scant and scald, and head bare and bald; and teeth broken by time and
mauled, and back bending and neck-nape nodding, and face blotched, and
rheum running, and hair like a snake black-and-white-speckled, in
complexion a very fright, even as saith the poet of the like of her:—
Ill-omened hag! unshriven be her sins ✿ Nor mercy visit her on dying
bed:
Thousand head-strongest he-mules would her guiles, ✿ Despite their
bolting, lead with spider thread.
And as saith another:—
A hag to whom th' unlawful lawfullest ✿ And witchcraft wisdom in her
sight are grown:
A mischief-making brat, a demon-maid, ✿ A whorish woman and a pimping
crone.[330]
When the old woman entered she salamed to me and kissing the ground
before me, said, "I have at home an orphan daughter and this night are
her wedding and her displaying.[331] We be poor folks and strangers in
this city knowing none inhabitant and we are broken-hearted. So do thou
earn for thyself a recompense and a reward in Heaven by being present
at her displaying and, when the ladies of this city shall hear that
thou art to make act of presence, they also will present themselves; so
shalt thou comfort her affliction, for she is sore bruised in spirit
and she hath none to look to save Allah the Most High." Then she wept
and kissed my feet reciting these couplets:—
Thy presence bringeth us a grace ✿ We own before thy winsome face:
And wert thou absent ne'er an one ✿ Could stand in stead or take thy
place.
So pity gat hold on me and compassion and I said, "Hearing is
consenting and, please Allah, I will do somewhat more for her; nor
shall she be shown to her bridegroom save in my raiment and ornaments
and jewelry." At this the old woman rejoiced and bowed her head to my
feet and kissed them, saying, "Allah requite thee weal, and comfort thy
heart even as thou has comforted mine! But, O my lady, do not trouble
thyself to do me this service at this hour; be thou ready by
supper-time,[332] when I will come and fetch thee." So saying she
kissed my hand and went her ways. I set about stringing my pearls and
donning my brocades and making my toilette, little recking what Fortune
had in womb for me, when suddenly the old woman stood before me,
simpering and smiling till she showed every tooth stump, and quoth she,
"O my mistress, the city madams have arrived and when I apprized them
that thou promisedst to be present, they were glad and they are now
awaiting thee and looking eagerly for thy coming and for the honour of
meeting thee." So I threw on my mantilla and, making the old crone walk
before me and my handmaidens behind me, I fared till we came to a
street well watered and swept neat, where the winnowing breeze blew
cool and sweet. Here we were stopped by a gate arched over with a dome
of marble stone firmly seated on solidest foundation, and leading to a
Palace whose walls from earth rose tall and proud, and whose pinnacle
was crowned by the clouds,[333] and over the doorway were writ these
couplets:—
I am the wone where Mirth shall ever smile; ✿ The home of Joyance
through my lasting while:
And 'mid my court a fountain jets and flows, ✿ Nor tears nor troubles
shall that fount defile:
The marge with royal Nu'uman's[334] bloom is dight, ✿ Myrtle,
Narcissus-flower and Chamomile.
Arrived at the gate, before which hung a black curtain, the old woman
knocked and it was opened to us; when we entered and found a vestibule
spread with carpets and hung around with lamps all alight and wax
candles in candelabra adorned with pendants of precious gems and noble
ores. We passed on through this passage till we entered a saloon, whose
like for grandeur and beauty is not to be found in this world. It was
hung and carpeted with silken stuffs, and was illuminated with
branches, sconces and tapers ranged in double row, an avenue abutting
on the upper or noble end of the saloon, where stood a couch of
juniper-wood encrusted with pearls and gems and surmounted by a
baldaquin with mosquito-curtains of satin looped up with margarites.
And hardly had we taken note of this when there came forth from the
baldaquin a young lady and I looked, O Commander of the Faithful, upon
a face and form more perfect than the moon when fullest, with a favour
brighter than the dawn gleaming with saffron-hued light, even as the
poet sang when he said:—
Thou pacest the palace a marvel-sight, ✿ A bride for a Kisrá's or
Kaisar's night!
Wantons the rose on thy roseate cheek, ✿ O cheek as the blood of the
dragon[335] bright!
Slim-waisted, languorous, sleepy-eyed, ✿ With charms which promise all
love-delight:
And the tire which attires thy tiara'd brow ✿ Is a night of woe on a
morn's glad light.
The fair young girl came down from the estrade and said to me, "Welcome
and well come and good cheer to my sister, the dearly-beloved, the
illustrious, and a thousand greetings!" Then she recited these
couplets:—
An but the house could know who cometh 'twould rejoice, ✿ And kiss the
very dust whereon thy foot was placed;
And with the tongue of circumstance the walls would say, ✿ "Welcome and
hail to one with generous gifts engraced!"
Then sat she down and said to me, "O my sister, I have a brother who
hath had sight of thee at sundry wedding-feasts and festive seasons: he
is a youth handsomer than I, and he hath fallen desperately in love
with thee, for that bounteous Destiny hath garnered in thee all beauty
and perfection; and he hath given silver to this old woman that she
might visit thee; and she hath contrived on this wise to foregather us
twain. He hath heard that thou art one of the nobles of thy tribe nor
is he aught less in his; and, being desirous to ally his lot with thy
lot, he hath practised this device to bring me in company with thee;
for he is fain to marry thee after the ordinance of Allah and his
Apostle; and in what is lawful and right there is no shame." When I
heard these words and saw myself fairly entrapped in the house, I said,
"Hearing is consenting." She was delighted at this and clapped her
hands;[336] whereupon a door opened and out of it came a young man
blooming in the prime of life, exquisitely dressed, a model of beauty
and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace, with gentle winning
manners and eyebrows like a bended bow and shaft on cord, and eyes
which bewitched all hearts with sorcery lawful in the sight of the
Lord; even as saith some rhymer describing the like of him:—