 Section 46, Volume 2 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, translated by Richard Burton. This is a LibriVox recording, or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Reading by Lars Rolander. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 2, Section 46 When it was the one hundred and seventeenth night, she said, It hath reached me, o auspicious king, that the young merchant continued his tale to touch al-Muluk. Thereupon quoth I to the daughter of my uncle. Tell me what to do, and have pity on me, so may Allah have pity on thee. As the daughter of my uncle loved me with great love, she replied, On my head and eyes. But, oh my cousin, I repeat what I have told thee often times. If I could go in and out at will, I would at once bring you two together, And cover me you both with my skirt. Nor would I do this but hoping to win thy favor in Salah. I will do my utmost to endeavor to unite you. But hear my words and do my bidding. Go thou to the very same place and sit down where thou saddest before, And at suppotide, look, though eat not, for eating endueth this sleep, And have a care though slumber not, for she will not come to thee till a fourth part of the night be passed, And the Almighty avert her mischief from thee. Now, when I heard these words, I rejoiced and besought Allah to hasten the night, And as soon as it was dark, I was minded to go, And my cousin said to me, When thou shalt have met her, repeat to her the couplet I taught thee before at the time of thy lead-taking. Replied I, on my head and eyes, and went out and repaired to the garden, But I found all made ready in the same state as on the previous night, With every requisite of meat and drink, dried fruits, sweet scented flowers, and so forth. I went up into the pavilion and smelled the odour of the vines and my spirit lusted after them, But I possessed my soul in patience for a while, Till at last I could no longer withstand temptation. So I arose from my seat and went up to the table, And, racing its cover, found a dish of fowls surrounded by four saucers containing four several meats. I ate a mouthful of each kind and as much as I would of the sweet meats and a piece of meat. Then I drank from the saucer a sauce yellowed with saffron, And as it pleased me, I sucked it up by the spoonful till I was satisfied, and my stomach was full. Upon this my eyelids drooped, so I took a cushion and set it under my head saying, Happily I can recline upon it without going to sleep. Then I closed my eyes and slept, nor did I wake till the sun had risen when I found on my stomach a cube of bone, A single tip-cat stick, the stone of a green date, and a carob pod. There was no furniture nor ought else in the place, and it was as if there had been nothing there yesterday. So I rose unshaking all these things of me, fared forth in a fury, And going home found my cousin groaning and versifying with these caplets. A wasted body, heart in pierced to core, And tears that down my poor cheeks poor and poor, And lover cure of axis, but, but still, not say what's fair can come from fairest flower. O cousin mine, thou fills my soul with pain, And from these tears mine eyelids ache full sore. I cheered the daughter of my uncle and abused her, Whereas she wept, then wiping away her tears, She came up to me and kissed me, and began pressing me to her bosom, Whilst I held back from her blaming myself. Then said she to me, O my cousin, it seemed thou sleptest again this night. Replied I, yes, and when I awoke I found on my stomach a cube of bone, A single tip-cat stick, a stone of a green date, and a carob pod, And I know not why she did this. Then I wept and went up to her and said, Expound to me her meaning in so doing, And tell me, how shall I act and aid me in my soar straight? She answered, On my head and eyes, By the single tip-cat stick and the cube of bone, Which she placed upon thy stomach, she said to thee, Thy body is present, but thy heart is absent, And she meaneth, love is not thus. So do not reckon thyself among lovers. As for the date-stone, it is as if she said to thee, And thou word in love thy heart would be burning with passion, And thou wouldst not taste the delight of sleep, For the sweet of love is like a green date, Which kindled a coal of fire in the vitals. As for the carob pod, it signified to thee, The lover's heart is wearid, and thereby she said, Be patient under our separation with the patience of job. When I heard this interpretation, Fire started into my vitals like a dart and grief redoubled upon my heart, And I cried out, saying, Allah decreed sleep to me for my ill fortune. Then I said to her, O my cousin, by my life devise me some devise, Whereby I may win my will of her. She wept and answered, O Assis, O son of my uncle, Verily my heart is full of sad thought, which I cannot speak, But go thou again tonight to the same place, And beware thou sleep not, and thou shalt surely attain thy desire. This is my counsel, and peace be with thee. Quoth I, if Allah please, I will not sleep, but will do as thou bidest me. Then my cousin rose and brought me food, saying, Eat now what may suffice thee, that nothing might divert thy heart. So I ate my fill, and when night came, My cousin rose and bringing me is sumptuous you to close, clad me therein. Then she made me swear I would repeat to my lover the verse aforesaid, And bade me beware of sleeping. So I left her and repaired to the garden, And went up into that same pavilion, Where I occupied myself in holding my eyelids open with my fingers, And nodding my head as the night darkened on me. And Sharassad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased to say her permitted save. When it was the one hundred and eighteenth night, She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That the young merchant continued to touch al-Muluk. So I repaired to the garden, And went up into that same pavilion, And occupied myself in gazing upon the flower beds, And in holding my eyelids open with my fingers, And nodding my head as the night darkened on me. And presently I grew hungry with watching, And the smell of the meats being wafted towards me, My appetite increased. So I went up to the table and took off the cover And ate a mouthful of every dish and a bit of meat, After which I turned to the flag on a wine, Saying to myself, I will drink one cup. I drank it, and then I drank a second and a third, Till I had drunk full ten, when the cool air smote me, And I fell to the earth like a felled man. I ceased not to lie thus till day arose, And when I awoke and found myself outside the garden, And on my stomach were a butcher's knife and a drum-weight of iron. Thereet I trembled, and taking them with me went home, Where I found my cousin saying, Verily, I am in this house wretched and sorrowful, Having no helper but weeping. Now when I entered, I fell down at full length, And throwing the knife and the drum-weight from my hand. I fainted clean away. As soon as I came to myself, I told her what had befallen me, And said, Indeed, I shall never enjoy my desire. But when she saw my tears and my passion, They redoubled her distress on my account, and she cried, Verily, I am helpless. I warned thee against sleeping, But thou wouldst not hearken to my warning, Nor did my words profit the ought. I rejoined, By Allah I conjure thee to explain to me the meaning of the knife and the iron-dram-weight. By the drum-weight, replied my cousin, She alluded to her right eye, And she sweareth by it and said, By the Lord of all creatures and by my right eye, If thou come here again and sleep, I will cut thy throat with this very knife. And indeed I fear for thee, O my cousin, from her malice. My heart is full of anguish for thee, And I cannot speak. Nevertheless, if thou can be sure of thyself not to sleep, When thou returnest to her, Return to her and beware of sleeping, And thou shalt attain thy desire. But if when returning to her thou wilt sleep, As is thy want, She will surely slaughter thee. Asked I, What shall I do, O daughter of my uncle? I beg thee by Allah to help me in this my calamity. Answered she, On my head and eyes, If thou will harken to my words and do my bidding, Thou shalt have thy will. Quoth I, I will indeed harken to thy words and do thy bidding. And quoth she, When it is time for thee to go, I will tell thee, Then she pressed me to her bosom, And laying me on the bed, Shampooed my feet, Till drowsiness overcame me, And I was drowned in sleep. Then she took a fan and seated herself by my head, With a fan in her hand, And she was weeping till her clothes were wet with tears. Now, when she saw that I was awake, She wiped away the drops and fetched me some food, And set it before me. I refused it, But she said to me, Did I not tell thee that thou must do my bidding? Eat! So I ate and thwarted her not, And she proceeded to put the food into my mouth, And I domesticated till I was full. Then she made me drink jujube sherbet and sugar, And washed my hands and dried them with a kerchief, After which she sprinkled me with rose water, And I sat with her awhile in the best of spirits. When the darkness had closed in, She dressed me and said to me, Oh, son of my uncle, Watch through the whole night and sleep not, For she will not come to thee, This tide till the last of the dark hours, And, Allah willing, Thou shalt be at one with her this night, But forget not my charge. Then she wept, And my heart was pained for her by reason of her over-much weeping, And I asked, What is the charge thou gazed me? She answered, When thou take a sleeve of her, Repeat to her the verse before mentioned. So full of joy I left her, And repairing to the garden went up into the pavilion, Where, being satiated with food, I sat down and watched till a fourth part of the dark hours was passed. That night seemed longsum to me as it were a year, But I remained awake till it was three-quarters spent and the cocks crew, And I was famished for long-watching. Accordingly I went up to the table and ate my fill, Whereupon my head grew heavy, And I wanted to sleep, When, behold, a light appeared making towards me from afar. I sprang up and washed my hands and mouth and roused myself, And before long she came with ten damsels, In whose midst she was like the full moon among the stars. She was clad in a dress of green satin, Purpled with red gold, And she was aseth the poet. She lords it over our heart in grass-green gown, With buttons loose and locks long flowing down. Quoth I, What is thy name? Quoth she, I'm she, Who burns the lover-heart like coals upon. I made my plain to her of loving lobe. Laught she to stone thy most useless moan, Quoth I, And be of hardest stone thy heart, Allar drew sweetest spring from hardest stone. When she saw me she laughed and said, How is it that thou art awake, And that sleep overcame thee not? For as much as thou hast watched through the night, I know that thou art a lover, For night-watching is the mark of lovers displaying Brave endurance of their desires. Then she turned to her women and signed to them, And they went away from her. Whereupon she came up to me and strained me to her breast And kissed me whilst I kissed her. And she sucked my upper lip whilst I sucked her lower lip. I put my hand to her waist and pressed it, And we came not to the ground save at the same moment. Then she undid her petticoat trousers, Which slipped down to her anklets, And we fell to clasping and embracing and toying and speaking softly, And biting and intertwining of legs and going round about the holy house, And the corners thereof, till her joints became relaxed for love delight, And she swooned away. I entered the sanctuary, and indeed that night Was a joy to the sprite and a solace to the sight, Even as sith the poet. Sweetest of nights the world can show to me that night, When cups went round and round as fed by ceaseless spring. There utter severance made, I twixed mine eyes and sleep, And rejoined, rejoined, mine air dropped with the anklet ring. We lay together in close embrace till the morning, When I would have gone away, but she stopped me and said, Stay till I tell thee something. And Sharassad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 46 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Vol. 2 Read by Lars Rolander Section 47, Vol. 2 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Translated by Richard Burton This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Reading by Lars Rolander The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Vol. 2 Section 47 When it was the one hundred and nineteenth night, She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That the young merchant continued his recital to touch al-Muluk. When I would have gone away, she stopped me and said, Stay till I tell thee something and charge thee with a charge. So I stayed whilst she unfolded a kachif And drew out this piece of linen and spread it open before me. I found worked on it these two figures of gazelles And admired it within great admiration. Then I took the piece of linen and went away, Joyful after we had agreed that I should visit her every night in the garden. But in my joy, I forgot to repeat to her the verse my cousin had taught me. For when giving me the piece of linen with the gazelles, She had said to me, Keep this carefully, as it is my sister's handiwork. I asked her, What is thy sister's name? And she answered, Her name is Nur al-Huda. When I went to my cousin, I found her lying down. But as soon as she saw me, she rose with the tears running from her eyes And came up to me and kissed me on the breast and said, Didst thou do as I enjoined thee, and repeat the verse to her? I forgot it, replied I, And nothing drew it out of my mind but these two figured gazelles. And I threw the piece of linen on the floor before her. She rose and sat down again, but was unable to contain herself for impatience, And her eyes ran over with tears, while she repeated these two couplets. O thou who seeks parting softly fair, let not the pair delude with cunning art. Par softly, fortune's nature is to guile, and end of every meeting is to part. And when she ended her recitation, she said, O my cousin, give me this piece of linen. So I gave it to her, and she took it and unfolding it, so what was therein? When the trist came for me going to my lover, The daughter of my uncle said to me, Go, and peace attend thee, and when thou art about to leave her, Recite to her the verse I taught thee long ago, and which thou didst forget. Quoth I, tell it me again, and she repeated it. Then I went to the garden, and entered the pavilion, where I found the young lady awaiting me. When she saw me, she rose and kissed me, and made me sit in her lap, and we ate and drank, and did our desire as before. In the morning I repeated to her my cousin's verse, which was this, Ho lovers all, by Allah, say me sooth, what shall he do when love saw vexeth youth? When she heard this, her eyes filled with tears, and she answered and said, Strive he to cure his case, to hide the truth, patiently humble self, and sue for rush. I committed it to memory, and returned home, rejoicing at having done my cousin's bidding. When I entered the house, I found her lying down, and my mother at her head weeping over her case. But as soon as I went in to her, my mother said to me, A foul plague on such a cousin, how couldst thou leave the daughter of thy uncle ailing, and not ask what ailed her? But when my cousin saw me, she raised her head and sat up and asked me, O assis, did thou repeat to her the couplet I taught thee? I answered, yes, and when she heard it she wept and recited in answer another couplet, which I committed to memory. Quoth my cousin, tell it me, I did so, and when she heard it she wept with much weeping, and repeated the following verses. How shall youth cure the care his life undoth, and every day his heart in peace his youth? In sooth he would be patient, but he findeth not save a heart which love with pains imbues. Then added my cousin, when thou ghost to her as a want, repeat to her also these two couplets which thou hast heard. I replied, hawking and obedience, and I went at the wanted time to the garden, whether past between my mistress and myself, what tongue faileth to describe. When I was about to leave her, I repeated to her those two couplets of my cousins, whereupon the tears streamed from her eyes, and she replied, If he of patients fail the truth to hide, for him no cure save death my vision views. I committed them to memory, and returned home, and when I went in to my cousin, I found her fallen into a fit, and my mother sitting at her head. When she heard my voice, she opened her eyes and asked, Oh, a sis, didst thou repeat the two couplets to her? Where too I answered. Yes, but she wept on hearing them, and she replied with this couplet beginning, If he of patients fail to the end, and I repeated it, whereupon my cousin swooned again, and when she came to herself, she recited these two couplets. Harking, obeying, with my dying mouth, I gree to joy of union never allow, Pair fall all happy loves, and fair befall the hapless lover dying in his drowth. Again when it was night, I repaired to the garden as usual where I found the young lady awaiting me. We sat down and ate and drank, after which we did all we wanted and slept till the morning, and as I was going away, I repeated to her the saying of my cousin. When she heard the couplet, she cried out with a loud cry, and was greatly moved and exclaimed, Ava, Ava, by Allah, she who spake these lines is dead. Then she wept and said to me, Woe to thee! How is she who spoke thus related to thee? Replied I, she is the daughter of my father's brother. Thou liest, rejoined she, by Allah, were she thy cousin, Thou had sporn her the same love as she bore thee. It is thou who has slain her, and may the Almighty kill thee as thou killidst her. By Allah, hadst thou told me thou hadst a cousin, I would not have admitted thee to my favours. Quoth I! Verily, it was she who interpreted to me the signs thou madeest, and it was she who taught me how to come to thee and how I should deal with thee. And, but for her, I should never have been united to thee. She then asked me, Did thy cousin then know of us? And I answered, Yes, whereupon she exclaimed, Allah give thee sorrow of thy youth, even as thou hast sorrowed her youth. Then she cried to me, Go now, and see after her. So I went away, travelled at heart, and ceased not walking till I reached our street, when I heard sounds of wailing, and asking about it was answered. A sisa, we found her dead behind the door. I entered the house, and when my mother saw me, she said, Her death lie heavy on thy neck, and may Allah not acquit thee of her blood. And Charasad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and twentyth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the jang merchant continued to touch al-maluk. So I entered the house, and when my mother saw me, she said, Her death lie heavy on thy neck, and may Allah not acquit thee of her blood. A plague on such a cousin. Then came my father, and we laid her out, and get ready her beer, and buried her. And we had recitations of the whole Quran over her tomb, and we abode by her grave three days, after which we return to our home, and I grieving for her grievously. Then my mother came to me and said, I would faint know what thou didst to her to break her heart for, O my son. I questioned her at all times of the course of her complaint, but she would tell me nothing, nor let me know out of it. So Allah upon thee tell me what thou hast been doing to her that she died. Quoth I, I did nothing. Quoth my mother, Allah, a venture on thee. Verily she told me not, but kept her secret till she died over love longings for thee. But when she died, I was with her, and she opened her eyes and said to me, O wife of my uncle, may Allah hold thy son guiltless of my blood, and punish him not for what he hath done by me. And now Allah transported me from the house of the world which is perishable to the house of the other world which is eternal. Said I, O my daughter, Allah preserve thee and preserve thy youth. And as I questioned her of the course of her illness, she made me no answer, but she smiled and said, O wife of my uncle, bid thy son whenever he would go wither he goeth every day. Repeat these two source at his going away. Faith is fair, unfaith is foul, for this is of my tender affection to him that I am solicitous concerning him during my lifetime and after my death. Then she gave me somewhat for thee, and sware me that I would not give it until I see thee weeping for her and lamenting her death. The thing is with me, and when I have seen thy case as I have said, I will make it over to thee. Show it me, cried I, but she would not. Then I gave myself up to love delights, and thought no more of my cousin's death, for my mind was unsettled and faint would I have been with my lover the live long day and night. So hardly had I perceived the darkness fall when I betook myself to the garden where I found the young lady sitting on coals of fire for much impatience. As soon as she was sure that she saw me, she ran to me and throwing her arms about my neck, inquired of the daughter of my uncle. I replied, soothed to say she is dead, and we have caused sicker litanis and recitations of the Quran to be performed for her, and it is now four nights, and this be the fifth since she is gone. When she heard that, she shrieked aloud and wept and said, Did I not tell thee that thou hast slain her? Hadst thou let me know of her before her death, I would have requited her the kindness she did me, in that she served me and united thee to me. For without her we had never foregathered we twain, and I fearless sung calamity before thee because of thy sin against her. Quoth I, she acquitted me of offence ere she died, and I repeated to her what my mother had told me. Quoth she, Allah upon thee, when thou returnest to thy mother, learn what things she keepeth for thee. I rejoined. My mother also said to me, Before the daughter of thy uncle died, she laid a charge upon me, saying, Whenever thy son would go wither his want to go, teach him these two source. Faith is fair, unfaith is foul. When my lady heard this, she exclaimed, The mercy of Almighty Allah be upon her. Indeed, she hath delivered thee from me, for I minded to do thee a mischief, but now I will not harm thee nor trouble thee. I wandered at this and asked her, What then was thou minded to do with me in time past, and we too being in bond of love? Answered she, Thou art infatuated with me, for thou art young in life and a raw laddie. Thy heart is void of gale, and thou wheat is not our malice and deceit. Were she yet alive, she would protect thee, for she is the cause of thy preservation, and she hath delivered thee from destruction. And now I charge thee, speak not with any woman, neither a cost one of our sex, be she young or be she old. And again I say, beware, for thou art simple and raw, and knowest not the wiles of women and their malice, and she who interpreted the signs to thee is dead. And indeed I fear for thee, lest thou fall into some disgrace, and find none to deliver thee from it. Now the daughter of thy uncle is no more. And Charasad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and twenty first night, she said, It hath reached me, O specious king, that a yang merchant continued to touch al-mulu. Then the yang lady said to me, I fear for thee, lest thou fall into some disgrace, and find none to deliver thee from it. As for thy cousin and ah, the pity of her, would I had known her before her death, that I might have requited by waiting upon her the fair service she did me. The mercy of Allah Almighty be upon her, for she kept her secret, and revealed not what she suffered. And but for her thou hadst never foregathered with me. No, never, but there is one thing I desire of thee. I asked, What is it? And she answered, It is that thou bring me to her grave, that I may visit her in the tomb wherein she is, and write some couplets thereon. I rejoined, Tomorrow if Allah please. I slept with her that night, and she ceased not saying after every hour, Would thou hadst told me of thy cousin before her death? And I asked her, What is the meaning of the two souls she taught me? Faith is fair, unfaith is foul, but she made no answer. As soon as it was day she rose, and taking a purse of gold pieces said to me, Come, show me her tomb, that I may visit it, and grave some verses thereon, and build a dome over it, and commend her to Allah's mercy, and bestow these dinars in arms for her soul. I replied, To hear is to obey, and walked on before her, whilst she followed me, giving alms as she went, and saying to all upon whom she lavished bounty. This is an alms for the soul of Assisa, who kept her counsel till she drank the cup of death, and never told the secret of her love, and she stinted not thus to give alms and say, For Assisa's soul, till the purse was empty, and we came to the grave. And when she looked at the tomb, she wept and threw herself on it, then pulling out a chisel of steel and a light hammer, she graved their width upon the headstone, in fine small characters these couplets. I passed by broken tomb amid a garth-right sheen, whereon seven blooms of nooman glowed with caramoise. Quoth I, who sleepeth in this tomb, quoth answering earth, before a lover hardest tomb bend reverently. Quoth I, may Allah help thee, O thou slain of love, and grant thee home in heaven and paradise high to sea. Hapless are lovers all even-tuned in their tombs, where amid living fork the dust weighs heavily. Pain would I plant a garden blooming round thy grave, and water every flower with teardrops flowing free. Then she turned away in tears, and I with her, and returned to the garden where she said to me, By Allah, I conjure thee never leave me. To hear is to obey, replied I. Then I gave myself fully up to her, and paid her frequent visits. She was good and generous to me, and as often as I passed the night with her, she would make much of me, and would ask me of the two souls my cousin Assisa told my mother, and I would repeat them to her. And matter ceased not to be on this voice, and I continued for a whole year, eating and drinking and enjoying dallions, and wearing change of rich raiment, until I waxed cross and fat, so that I lost all thought of sowing and mourning, and I clean forgot my cousin Assisa. And on New Year's Day I went to the bath, where I refreshed myself, and put on a suit of sumptuous clothes. Then, coming out, I drank a cup of wine, and smelled the scent of my new gear, which was perfumed with various essences, and my breast was broadened thereby. For I knew not the tricks of fate, nor the changing ways of time. When the hour of night prayer came, I was minded to repair to my lover, but, being the worse for wine, I knew not when going to her wither I went, so my drunkenness turned me into a by-street, called Sindic Street, and the while I walked up that street, behold, I caught sight of an old woman, fairing with a lighted taper in one hand, and in the other a folded letter. And Charasad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 47 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 2 Read by Lars Rolander Section 48 Volume 2 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Translated by Richard Burton Richard Burton This is a LibriVox recording, or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Reading by Lars Rolander The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 2 Section 48 When it was the one hundred and twenty-second night, she said, it hath reached me, o auspicious king, that the young merchant, whose name was Assis, continued to touch Almolok. And when I entered the street, called Sindic Street, behold, I caught sight of an old woman, walking with a lighted taper in one hand, and in the other a folded letter, and I drew near her, and lo, she was weeping and repeating these couplets. O glad news bearer, welcome, welcome hail, how sweet thy speech to me, what treat thy tale. O messenger from him whose wheel I love, God bless thee long as pre this soft morning gale. Now when she saw me, she asked, O my son, canst thou read? And I answered of my officiousness, Yes, old nonte, rejoin she, then take this letter, and read it to me. And when she handed it to me, I took it, and unfolding it, read it to her, and behold, it was from an absent man to his friends and lovers whom he greeted. And when she heard its purport, she rejoiced at the good tidings, and blessed me, saying, Alla, dispel thine anxiety, even as thou has dispelled mine. Then she took the letter and walked on. Meanwhile I was urged by a call of nature, and sat down on my heels to make water. When I had ended, I stood up and wiped the orifice with a pebble, and then letting down my clothes, I was about to end my way, when suddenly the old woman came up to me again, and bending down over my hand kissed it and said, O my master, the Lord give thee joy of thy youth. I entreat thee to walk with me a few steps as far as yonder door, for I told them what thou didst read to me of the letter, and they believe me not. So come with me two steps and read them the letter from behind the door, and accept the prayers of a righteous woman. I inquired, What is the history of this letter? And she replied, O my son, this letter is from my son, who hath been absent for a term of ten years. He set out with a stock of merchandise, and tarried long in foreign parts, till we lost hope of him, and supposed him to be dead. Now, after all that delay, cometh this letter from him, and he hath a sister who weepeth for him night and day. So I said to her, He is well and all right, but she will not believe me, and declares, There is no help but thou bring me one who will read this letter in my presence, that my heart may be at rest and my mind at ease. Thou knowest, O my son, that all who love are want to think evil. So be good enough to go with me and read to her this letter, standing behind the curtain, whilst I call his sister, to listen within the door. So shall thou dispel our heed and fulfill our need. Verily quoth the apostle of Allah, whom Allah bless and preserve. Whoso iseth the trouble the one of the troubles of this troublesome world, Allah will ease him of an hundred troubles, and according to another tradition, whoso iseth his brother of one of the troubles of this troublesome world, Allah shall relieve him of seventy and two troubles on the day of resurrection. And I have betaken myself to thee, so disappoint me not. Replied I, To hear is to obey, do thou go before me? So she walked on devancing me, and I followed her a little way, and she came to the gate of a large and handsome mansion whose door was plated with copper. I stood behind the door whilst the old woman cried out in Persian, and ere I knew it, a damsel run up with light and nimble step. She had tucked up her trousers to her knees so that I saw a pair of calves that confounded thinker and lighter, and the maid herself was aseth the poet describing her. O thou who bearest leg calf, better to suggest, for passion-madded armorist, better things above. Towards its lover cloth the ball go round and run, cup and cup-bearer only drive a staffed with love. Now these legs were like two pillars of alabaster adorned with anklets of gold, wherein were set stones of prize, and the damsel had tucked up down under her armpit, and had rolled up her sleeves to the elbow so that I could see her white wrists whereon were two pairs of bracelets with clasps of great pearls, and round her neck was a collar of costly gems. Her ears were adorned with pendants of pearls, and on her head she wore a kachifa brocade, brand new and broided with jewels of prize, and she had thrust her skirt into her trousers string being busy with some household business. So when I saw her in this undress I was confounded at her beauty, for she was like a shining sun. Then she said with soft-choice speech Never heard I sweet her. Oh, my mother, is this he who cometh to read the letter? It is, replied the old woman, and she put out her hand to me with the letter. Now between her and the door was a distance of about half a rod, so I stretched forth my hand to take the letter from her and thrust head and shoulders within the door, thinking to draw near her and read the letter when, before I knew what her design was, the old woman butted her head against my back and pushed me forwards with the letter in my hand so that ere I could take thought in the middle of the hall far beyond the vestibule. Then she entered faster than a flash of blinding leaven and had not to do but to shut the door. And Charasad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and twenty-third night she said it hath reached me, oh, auspicious king, that the youth, Asis, pursued to Tash al-Muluk when the old woman pushed me forwards I found myself ere I could think inside the vestibule and the old woman entered faster than a flash of blinding leaven and had not to do but to shut the door. When the girl saw me in the vestibule she came up to me and strained me to her bosom and threw me to the floor then she sat a straddle upon my breast and kneaded my belly with her fingers till I well and I lost my senses. Thereupon she took me by the hand and led me unable to resist for the violence of her pressure through seven vestibules whilst the old woman forwent us with the lighted candle till we came to a great saloon with four strads whereon a horseman might play polo. Here she released me saying, open thine eyes so I opened them still giddy for the excess of her embracing and pressing and saw that the whole saloon was built of the finest marbles and alabasters and all its furniture was of silk and brocade even to the cushions and mattresses. Therein also were two benches of yellow brass and a couch of red gold set with pearls and precious stones befitting nuns-save kings like thyself and of the saloon were smaller sitting rooms and the whole place was redolent of wealth. Then she asked, O assis which is lever to thee life or death? Life answered I and she said if life be lever to thee marry me. Quoth I indeed I should hate to marry the like of thee if thou marry me thou wilt at least be safe from the daughter of Dalila the wily one. I asked and who be that daughter of the wily one? Whereupon she laughed and replied to she who hath accompanied with thee this day for a year and four months may the almighty destroy and afflict her with one worse than herself. By Allah with not a more perfidious than she how many men hath she not slain before thee and what deeds hath she not done nor can I understand how thou has been all the time in her company yet she hath not killed thee nor done thee a mischief. When I heard her words I marveled with exceeding marvel and said O my lady who made thee to know her said she I know her as the age knoweth its calamities but now I would feign have thee tell me all that hath passed between you two that I may ken the course of thy deliverance from her so I told her all that hath happened between us including the story of my cousin Assisa she expressed her pity when she heard of the death and her eyes ran over with tears and she claps hand on hand and cried out her youth was lost on Allah's way and may the Lord bless thee for her good works by Allah O Assis she who died for thee was the cause of thy preservation from the daughter of Dahlia the Wiley and but for her thou hadst been lost and now she is dead from the crafty ones perfidy and mischief but my throat is choking and I cannot speak quoth I I by Allah all this happened even as thou sayest and she shook her head and cried there liveth not this day the likes of Assisa I continued and on her deathbed she bade me repeat to my love earth unfair unfaith is foul when she heard me say this she exclaimed O Assis by Allah those same words saved thee from dying by her hand and now my heart is at ease for thee from her for she will never kill thee and the daughter of thy uncle preserved thee during her lifetime and after her death by Allah I have decided to get at thee till this time when I tricked thee and outwitted thee for thou art a raw youth and knows not the wiles of young women nor the deadly giel of old women rejoined I know by Allah then said she to me be of good cheer and eyes clear the dead hath found a last grace and the life shall be in good case thou art a handsome youth and I do not decide thee but according to the ordinance of Allah and his apostle on whom be salutation and salvation whatever thou requires of money and stuff thou shalt have forthright without stint and I will not impose any toll on thee no never for there is with me always bread bake hot and water in pot of thee is that thou do with me even as the cock doth I asked and what doth the cock upon this she laughed and clapped her hands and fell over on her back for excess of merriment then she sat up and smiled and said oh light oh my eyes really dost thou not know what cock's duty is no by Allah and she the cock's duty is to eat and drink and tread I was abashed at her words and asked is that the cock's duty yes answered she and all I ask of thee now is to gird thy loins and strengthen thy will and futter thy best then she clapped her hands and cried out saying oh my mother and behold in came the old woman accompanied by four lawful witnesses and carrying a veil of silk then she lighted four candles whilst the witnesses saluted me and sat down and the girl veiled herself with a veil and deputed one of them to execute the contract on her behalf so they wrote out the marriage bond and she testified to have received the whole sum sold upon her both the half in advance and the half in arrears and that she was indebted to me in the sum of 10,000 dirhams and Sharasad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the 124th night she said it had reached me oh Spicious King that the young merchant continued to touch Almolo when they wrote out the marriage contract she testified to having received the whole sum settled upon her the half in advance and the half in arrears and that she was indebted to me in the sum of 10,000 dirhams she paid the witnesses their wage and they withdrew whence they came there upon she arose and cast off her clothes and stood in a shemise of fine silk edged with gold lace and seized my hand and led me up to the couch saying there is no sin in a lawful put-in she lay down on the couch outspread upon her back and drawing me on to her breast heaved a sigh and followed it up with a wriggle by way of being coy then she pulled up the shift above her breasts and when I saw her in this pose I could not withhold myself from thrusting it into her after I had sucked her lips while she whimpered and shamed shame and wept when no tears came and then said she oh my beloved do it and do thy best indeed the case reminded me of his saying who said when I drew up her shift from the roof of her cointe I found it straight as my mind and my money so I drew it half way I thought I why this sigh for the rest of it honey and she repeated oh my beloved let the finish be made for I am thine hand made my life on thee up with it give it me all of it that I may take it in my hand and thrust it into my very vitals and she ceased not to excite me in the jobs and sighs and amorous cries in the intervals of kissing and clasping until amid our murmurs of pleasure we attained the supreme delight and the term we had incite we slept together till the morning when I would have gone out but lo she came up to me laughing and said so so thinkest thou that going into the house is the same as going out does thou deem me to be the like of the daughter of Dalila the wily one beware of such a thought for thou art my husband by contract and according to law if thou be drunken return to thy right mind and know that the house were in thou art openeth but one day in every year go down and look at the great door I rose and went down and found the door locked and manailed up and returned and told her of the locking and nailing oh assist said she we have in this house floor, grain, fruits and pomegranates, sugar meat, sheep, poultry and so forth enough for many years and the door will not be open till after the laps of a whole twelve month and you will not find thyself without this house till then quoth I there is no majesty and there is no might saving a law the glorious the great and how can this harm thee rejoin she seeing thou most cox duty whereof I told thee then she laughed and I laughed too and I conformed and eating and drinking and futtering for a year of full twelve months during which time she conceived by me and I was blessed with a baby by her on the new year's day I heard the door open and behold men came in with cakes and floor and sugar upon this I would have gone out but my wife said in the hour of night prayer and was about to go forth in fear and trembling when she stopped me saying by Allah I will not let thee go until thou swear to come back this night before the closing of the door I agreed to this and she swore me a solemn oath on blade and book and the oath of divorce to boot that I would return to her then I left her the door open as usual whereat I was angry and said to myself I have been absent this whole year and come here unawares and find the place open as a want I wonder if the damsel still here as before I needs must enter and see before I go to my mother more by reason that it is now nightfall so I entered and Sharassad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say end of section 48 of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 2 and also end of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 2 thank you for listening read by Lash Rolander