The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, vol 14 by Sir Richard Francis Burton (the best books to read TXT) π
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- Author: Sir Richard Francis Burton
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She continued to enjoy herself in the gladsomest way till at length I was emboldened to say to her, βO my lady, an thy words to me be after the fashion of thy will, remember the proverb, βWhen a kindness is to be done, this is its time.ββ βBy Allah, O
youth, there cannot be a more fortunate day than this present.β
βO my lady, what shall I apportion to thee for dowry?β βThe dowry hath been paid to me in the value of the stuffs which thou entrustedst to this ancient dame who is my mother!β βThat cannot suffice.β βBy Allah, naught shall be added; but, O youth, βtis my intention forthright to send after the Kazi and his Assessors and I will choose me a trustee[FN#78] that they may tie together us twain without delay; and thou shalt come in to me this coming evening. But all such things be upon one condition.β βAnd what may be thy condition?β βThis, that thou swear never to address or to draw near any woman save myself.β And I, O our lord the Sultan, being unmarried and eager to possess so beautiful a bride, said to her, βThis be thine; and I will never contrary thee by word or by deed.β She then sent to summon the Kazi and his witnesses and appointed an agent; upon which they knotted the knot. After the marriage ceremony was ended she ordered coffee[FN#79] and sherbets and gave somewhat of dirhams to the Kazi and a robe of honour to her trustee; and this done, all went their several ways. I was lost in astonishment and said in my mind, βDo I dream or am I on wake?β She then commanded her damsels to clear the Hammam-bath and cleanse it and fill it afresh and get ready towels and waist-cloths and silken napkins[FN#80] and scented woods and essences, as virgin ambergris and ottars and perfumes of vari-coloured hues and kinds. And when they had executed her orders, she ordered the Eunuchry standing in her service to take me and bear me to the Bath, largessing each one with a sumptuous dress. They led me into a Hammam which had been made private and I saw a place tongue is powerless to portray. And as we arrived there they spread vari-coloured carpets upon which I sat me down and doffed what clothing was upon me: then I entered the hot rooms and smelt delicious scents diffused from the sides of the hall, sandal-wood, Comorin lign-aloes and other such fragrant substances. Here they came up to me and seated me, lathering me with perfumed soaps and shampooβd me till my body became silver-bright; when they fetched the metal tasses and I washed with water luke-warm after which they brought me cold water mingled with rose water and I sprinkled it over me. After this they supplied me with silken napkins and drying-towels of palm-fibre[FN#81] wherewith I rubbed me and then repaired to the cool room outside the calidarium[FN#82] where I found a royal dress. The Eunuchry arrayed me therein and after fumigating me with the smoke of lign-aloes served up somewhat of confections[FN#83] and coffee and sherbets of sundry sorts; so I drank after eating the Maβjun. About eventide I left the Baths with all the Eunuchry in attendance on me and we walked till we entered the Palace and they led me into a closet spread with kingly carpets and cushions. And behold, she came up to me attired in a new habit more sumptuous than that I had seen her wearing erewhile.βAnd Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, βHow sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!β Quoth she, βAnd where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?β Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Fifty-first Night, Dunyazad said to her, βAllah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!β She replied, βWith love and good will!β It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the youth continued:βAnd I, O our lord the Sultan, went into the closet and behold, she met me wearing a habit of the most sumptuous: so when I sighted her she seemed to me from the richness of her ornaments like an enchanted hoard wherefrom the talisman had been newly removed. She sat down beside me and bent lovingly over me and I rose up for I could no longer contain my passion and wrought that work which was to be worked.[FN#84] Presently she again disappeared but soon returned in vestments even richer than the last and she did with me as before and I embraced her once more. In short, O our lord the Sultan, we ceased not dwelling together, I and she, in joyaunce and enjoyment, laughter and disport and delicious converse for a space of twenty days. At the end of this time I called to mind my lady-mother, and said to the dame I had espoused, βO my lady, βtis long since I have been absent from home and βtis long since my parent hath seen me or wotteth aught concerning me: needs must she be pining and grieving for my sake. So do thou give me leave to visit her and look after my mother and also after my shop.β Quoth she, βNo harm in that: thou mayst visit thy mother daily and busy thyself about thy shop-business; but this ancient dame (my mother) is she who must lead thee out and bring thee back.β Whereto I replied, ββTis well.β Upon this the old woman came in and tied a kerchief over my eyes according to custom and fared forth with me till we reached the spot where she had been wont to remove the bandage.
Here she unbound it saying, βWeβll expect thee to-morrow about noontide and when thou comest to this place, thou shalt see me awaiting thee.β I left her and repaired to my mother whom I found grieving and weeping at my absence; and upon seeing me she rose up and threw her arms round my neck with tears of joy. I said, βWeep not, O my mother, for the cause of my absence hath been a certain matter which be thus and thus.β I then related to her my adventure and she on hearing it was rejoiced thereby and exclaimed, βO my son, may Allah give thee gladness; but I pray thee solace me[FN#85] at least every two days with a visit that my longing for thee may be satisfied.β I replied,βThis shall be done;β and thenceforth, O our lord the Sultan, I went to my shop and busied myself as was my wont till noontide, when I returned to the place appointed and found the old woman awaiting me. Nor did I ever fare forth from the mansion without her binding my eyes with the kerchief which she loosed only when we reached my own house; and whenever I asked her of this she would answer, βOn our way be sundry houses whose doors are open and the women sitting in the vestibules of their homes, so that haply thy glance may alight upon some one of them, matron or maid: all sniff up love like water,[FN#86] and we fear for thee lest thy heart be netted in the net of
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