第75章

But I beg thee，of thy favour，to be my helper and comforter in all my affairs till Allah fulfil whatso be His will； and I will not gainsay thee with a single word.'Quoth the jeweller，'Nothing will quench thy fire save union with her whom thou lovest； and the meeting must be in other than this perilous place. Better it were in a house of mine where the girl and her mistress met me； which place she chose for herself，to the intent that ye twain may there meet and complain each to other of what you have suffered from the pangs of love.'Quoth Ali bin Bakkar，'O good Sir，do as thou wilt and with Allah be thy reward！； and what thou deemest is right do it forthright： but be not long in doing it，lest I perish of this anguish.''So I abode with him （said the jeweller） that night conversing with him till the morning morrowed，'And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Sixtythird Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that the jeweller continued：'So I abode with him that night conversing with him till the morning morrowed，when I prayed the dawnprayers and，going out from him，returned to my house.

Hardly had I settled down when the damsel came up and saluted me；and I returned her salutation and told her what had passed between myself and Ali bin Bakkar，and she said，'Know that the Caliph hath left us and there is no one in our place and it is safer for us and better.' Replied I，'Sooth thou sayest； yet is it not like my other house which is both fitter and surer for us；' and the slavegirl rejoined 'Be it as thou seest fit. I am now going to my lady and will tell her what thou sayest and acquaint her with all thou hast mentioned.' So she went away and sought her mistress and laid the project before her，and presently returned and said to me，'It is to be as thou sayest：

so make us ready the place and expect us.' Then she took out of her breastpocket a purse of dinars and gave this message，'My lady saluteth thee and saith to thee，'Take this and provide therewith what the case requireth.' But I swore that I would accept naught of it； so she took the purse and returning to her mistress，told her，'He would not receive the money，but gave it back to me.' 'No matter，' answered Shams alNahar. As soon as the slavegirl was gone'（continued the jeweller），'I arose and betook myself to my other house and transported thither all that was needful，by way of vessels and furniture and rich carpets；and I did not forget china vases and cups of glass and gold and silver； and I made ready meat and drink required for the occasion. When the damsel came and saw what I had done，it pleased her and she bade me fetch Ali bin Bakkar； but I said，'None shall bring him save thou.' Accordingly she went to him and brought him back perfectly dressed and looking his best. I met him and greeted him and then seated him upon a divan befitting his condition，and set before him sweetscented flowers in vases of china and varicoloured glass.[211] Then I set on a tray of manytinted meats such as broaden the breast with their sight，and sat talking with him and diverting him，whilst the slavegirl went away and was absent till after sundownprayers，when she returned with Shams alNahar，attended by two maids and none else. Now as soon as she saw Ali bin Bakkar and he saw her，he rose and embraced her，and she on her side embraced him and both fell in a fit to the ground. They lay for a whole hour insensible； then，coming to themselves，they began mutually to complain of the pains of separation. Thereupon they drew near to each other and sat talking charmingly，softly，tenderly； after which they somewhat perfumed themselves and fell to thanking me for what I had done for them. Quoth I，'Have ye a mind for food？'

'Yes，' quoth they. So I set before them a small matter of food and they ate till they were satisfied and then washed their hands； after which I led them to another sittingroom and brought them wine. So they drank and drank deep and inclined to each other； and presently Shams alNahar said to me，'O my master，complete thy kindness by bringing us a lute or other instrument of mirth and music that the measure of our joy may be fully filled.' I replied，'On my head and eyes！' and rising brought her a lute，which she took and tuned； then laying it in her lap she touched it with a masterly touch，at once exciting to sadness and changing sorrow to gladness； after which she sang these two couplets，'My sleeplessness would show I love to bide on wake；

And would my leanness prove that sickness is my make：

And tearfloods course adown the cheeks they only scald；Would I knew union shall disunion overtake！'

Then she went on to sing the choicest and most affecting poesy to many and various modes，till our senses were bewitched and the very room danced with excess of delight and surprise at her sweet singing； and neither thought nor reason was left in us. When we had sat awhile and the cup had gone round amongst us，the damsel took the lute and sang to a lively measure these couplets，'My love a meeting promised me and kept it faithfully，

One night as many I shall count in number and degree：

O Night of joyance Fate vouchsafed to faithful lovers tway，

Uncaring for the railer loon and all his company！

My lover lay the Night with me and clipt me with his right，

While I with left embraced him，afaint for ecstasy；

And hugged him to my breast and sucked the sweet wine of his lips，Full savouring the honeydraught the honeyman sold to me.'