It has reached me, O august King, that long ago and in times and ages long gone before, during the Caliphate of Harun al-Rashid, there was a merchant who named his son Abú al-Hasan Ali bin Táhir; and the same was great of goods and grace, while his son was fair of form and face and held in favour by all folk. He used to enter the royal palace without asking leave, for all the Caliph's concubines and slave girls loved him, and he was wont to be companion with Al-Rashid in his cups and recite verses to him and tell him curious tales and witty. as well he sold and bought in the merchants' bazar, and there used to sit in his shop a youth named Ali bin Bakkár, of the sons of the Persian Kings who was formous of form and symmetrical of shape and perfect of figure, with cheeks red as roses and joined eyebrows; sweet of speech, laughing lipped and delighting in mirth and gaiety. Now it chanced one day, as the two sat talking and laughing behold, there came up ten damsels like moons, every one of them complete in beauty and loveliness, and elegance and grace; and amongst them was a young lady riding on a she mule with a saddle of brocade and stirrups of gold. She wore an outer veil of fine stuff, and her waist was girt with a girdle of gold embroidered silk; and she was even as says the poet,

"Silky her skin and silk that zonèd waist; Sweet voice; words not over many nor too few: Two eyes Allah said,'Be,' and they became; And work like wine on hearts they make to rue: O love I feel! grow greater every night: O solace! Doom day bring our interview."

And when the cortege reached Abu al-Hasan's shop, she alighted from her mule, and sitting down on the front board, saluted him, and he returned her salam. When Ali bin Bakkar saw her, she ravished his understanding and he rose to go away; but she said to him, "Sit in your place. We came to you and you go away: this is not fair!" he replied, "O my lady, By God, I flee from what I see; for the tongue of the case says,

'She is a sun which towers high a sky; So ease your heart with cure by Patience lent: You to her skyey height will fail to fly; Nor she from skyey height can make descent.'"

When she heard this, she smiled and asked Abu al-Hasan, "What is the name of this young man?"; who answered, "He is a stranger;" and she enquired, "What countryman is he?"; whereto the merchant replied, "He is a descendant of the Persian Kings; his name is Ali son of Bakkar and the stranger deserves honour." Rejoined she, "When my damsel comes to you, come you at once to us and bring him with you, that we may entertain him in our abode, lest he blame us and say, 'There is no hospitality in the people of Baghdad'; for niggardliness is the worst fault a man can have. You hear what I say to you and, if you disobey me, you will incur my displeasure and I will never again visit you or salute you." Abu al-Hasan said, "On my head and my eyes: Allah preserve me from your displeasure, fair lady!" Then she rose and went her way. Such was her case; but as regards Ali bin Bakkar he remained in a state of bewilderment. Now after an hour the damsel came to Abu al-Hasan and said to him, "Of a truth my lady Shams al-Nahár, the favourite of the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, bids you to her, you and your friend, my lord Ali bin Bakkar."

So he rose and, taking Ali with him, followed the girl to the Caliph's palace, where she carried them into a chamber and made them sit down. They talked together awhile, when behold, trays of food were set before them, and they ate and washed their hands. Then she brought them wine, and they drank deep and made merry; after which she bade them rise and carried them into another chamber, vaulted upon four columns, furnished after the goodliest fashion with various kinds of furniture, and adorned with decorations as it were one of the pavilions of Paradise. They were amazed at the rarities they saw; and, as they were enjoying a review of these marvels, suddenly up came ten slave girls, like moons, swaying and swimming in beauty's pride, dazzling the sight and confounding the sprite; and they ranged themselves. in two ranks as if they were of the black eyed Brides of Paradise. And after a while in came other ten damsels, bearing in their hands lutes and divers instruments of mirth and music; and these, having saluted the two guests, sat down and fell to tuning their lute strings. Then they rose and standing before them, played and sang and recited verses: and indeed each one of them was a seduction to the servants of the Lord. Whilst they were thus busied there entered other ten damsels like unto them, high bosomed maids and of an equal age, with black eyes and cheeks like the rose, joined eyebrows and looks languorous; a very fascination to every faithful people and to all who looked upon them a delight; clad in various kinds of coloured silks, with ornaments that amazed man's intelligence. They took up their station at the door, and there succeeded them yet other ten damsels even fairer than they, clad in gorgeous array, such as no tongue can say; and they also stationed themselves by the doorway.

Then in came a band of twenty damsels and amongst them the lady, Shams al-Nahar called, as she were the moon among the stars swaying from side to side, with luring gait and in beauty's pride. And she was veiled to the middle with the luxuriance of her locks, and clad in a robe of azure blue and a mantilla of silk embroidered with gold and gems of price; and her waist was girt with a zone set with various kinds of precious stones. She did not stop to advance with her graceful and coquettish swaying, till she came to the couch that stood at the upper end of the chamber and seated herself thereon. But when Ali bin Bakkar saw her, he versified with these verses,

"Source of my evils, truly, she alone 's, Of long love longing and my groans and moans; Near her I find my soul in melting mood, For love of her and wasting of my bones."

And finishing his poetry he said to Abu al-Hasan, "Had you dealt more kindly with me you had forewarned me of these things before I came here, that I might have made up my mind and taken patience to support what has befallen me." And he wept and groaned and complained. Replied Abu al-Hasan, "O my brother, I meant you nothing but good; but I feared to tell you this, lest such transport should happen you as might hinder you from foregathering with her, and be a stumbling block between you and her. But be of good cheer and keep yours eyes cool and clear, for she to you inclins and to favour you designs." Asked Ali bin Bakkar, "What is this young lady's name?" Answered Abu al-Hasan, "She is called Shams al-Nahar, one of the favourites of the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, and this is the palace of the Caliphate." Then Shams al-Nahar sat gazing upon the charms of Ali bin Bakkar and he upon hers, till both were engrossed with love for each other. Presently, she commanded the damsels, one and all, to be seated, each in her rank and place, and all sat on a couch before one of the windows, and she bade them sing; whereupon one of them took up the lute and began carolling,

"Give you my message twice Bring clear reply in trice! To you, O Prince of Beauty with complaint I rise My lord, as heart blood dear And Life's most precious prize! Give me one kiss in gift Or loan, if you devise: And if you crave for more Take all that satisfies. You donn'st me sickness dress You with health's weed I bless."

Her singing charmed Ali bin Bakkar, and he said to her, "Sing me more of the like of these verses." So she struck the strings and began to chaunt these lines,

"By stress of parting, O beloved one, You mad'st these eyelids torrent race to run: Oh gladness of my sight and dear desire, Goal of my wishes, my religion! Pity the youth whose eyne are drowned in tears Of lover gone distraught and clean undone."

When she had finished her verses, Shams al-Nahar said to another damsel, "Let us hear something from you!" So she played a lively measure and, began these couplets,

"His looks have made me drunken, not his wine; His grace of gait disgraced sleep to these eyne: Dazed me no cup, but cop with curly crop; His gifts overcame me not the gifts of vine: His winding locks my patience clue unwound: His robed beauties robbed all Wits of mine."

When Shams Al-Nahar heard this recital from the damsel, she sighed heavily and the song pleased her. Then she bade another damsel sing; so she took the lute and began chanting,

"Face that with Sol in Heaven lamping vies; Youth tide's fair fountain which begins to rise; Whose curly side beard writes writ of love, And in each curl conceals mysteries: Beauty cried, 'When I met this youth I knew 'Tis Allah's loom such gorgeous robe supplies.'"

When she had finished her song, Ali bin Bakkar said to the slave maiden nearest him, "Sing us somewhat, you O damsel." So she took the lute and began singing,

"Our trysting time is all too short For this long coyish coquetry: How long this 'Nay, Nay!' and 'Wait, wait?' This is not old nobility! And now that Time deigns lend delight Profit of th' opportunity."

When she ended, Ali bin Bakkar followed up her song with flowing tears; and, as Shams al-Nahar saw him weeping and groaning and complaining, she burned with love longing and desire; and passion and transport consumed her. So she rose from the sofa and came to the door of the alcove, where Ali met her and they embraced with arms round the neck, and fell down fainting in the doorway; whereupon the damsels came to them and carrying them into the alcove, sprinkled rose water upon them both. When they recovered, they found not Abu al-Hasan who had hidden himself by the side of a couch, and the young lady said, "Where is Abu al-Hasan?" So he showed himself to her from beside the couch and she saluted him, saying, "I pray Allah to give me the means of requiting you, O kindest of men!" Then she turned to Ali bin Bakkar and said to him, "O my lord, passion has not reached this extreme pass with you without my feeling the like; but we have nothing to do save to bear patiently what calamity has befallen us." he replied, "By God, O my lady, union with you may not content me nor gazing upon you assuage the fire you have lighted, nor shall leave me the love of you which has mastered my heart but with the leaving of my life."

So saying, he wept and the tears ran down upon his cheeks like thridded pearls; and when Shams al-Nahar saw him weep, she wept for his weeping. But Abu al-Hasan exclaimed, "By God, I wonder at your case and am confounded at your condition; of a truth, your affair is amazing and your chance dazing. What! This weeping while you are yet together: then how will it be what time you are parted and far separated?" And he continued, "Indeed, this is no tide for weeping and wailing, but a season for meeting and merry making; rejoice, therefore, and take your pleasure and shed no more tears!" Then Shams al-Nahar signed to a slave girl, who arose and presently returned with handmaids bearing a table, whose dishes of silver were full of various rich viands they set the table before the pair and Shams al-Nahar began to eat and to place tid bits in the mouth of Ali bin Bakkar; and they did not stop so doing till they were satisfied, when the table was removed and they washed their hands. Then the waiting women fetched censers with all kinds of incense, aloe wood and ambergris and mixed scents; and sprinkling flasks full of rose water were also brought and they were fumigated and perfumed.

After this the slaves set on vessels of graven gold, containing all kinds of sherbets, besides fruits fresh and dried, that heart can desire and eye delight in; and lastly one brought a flagon of carnelion full of old wine. Then Shams al-Nahar chose out ten handmaids to attend on them and ten singing women; and, dismissing the rest to their apartments, bade some of those who remained strike the lute. They did as she bade them and one of them began to sing,

"My soul to him who smiled back my salute, In breast reviving hopes that were no mo'e: The hand o' Love my secret brought to light, And censor's tongues what lies my ribs below: My tear drops ever press twixt me and him, As though my tear drops showing love would flow."

When she had finished her singing, Shams al-Nahar rose and, filling a goblet, drank it off, then crowned it again and handed it to Ali bin Bakkar;—

When it was the One Hundred and Fifty fourth night

And when she ended her recitation, Ali bin Bakkar drained his cup and returned it to Shams al-Nahar. She filled it again and gave it to Abu al-Hasan who tossed it off. Then she took the lute, saying, "None shall sing over my cup save myself;" so she screwed up the strings and intoned these verses,

"The tears run down his cheeks in double row, And in his breast high flams lover lowe: He weeps when near, a fearing to be far; And, whether far or near, his tear drops flow."

And the words of another,

"Our life to you, O cup boy Beauty dressed! From parted hair to calves; from black to white: Sol beams from your hands, and from your lips Pleiads, and full Moon through your collar's night, Good truth the cups, which made our heads fly round, Are those yours eyes pass round to daze the sight: No wonder lovers hail you as full moon Waning to them, for self ever waxing bright: Are you a deity to kill and quicken, Bidding this fere, forbidding other people? Allah from model of your form made Beauty and the Zephyr scented with your sprite. You are not of this order of humanity but angel lent by Heaven to man."

When Ali bin Bakkar and Abu al-Hasan and those present heard Shams al-Nahar's song, they were like to fly for joy, and sported and laughed; but while they were thus enjoying themselves lo! up came a damsel, trembling for fear and said, "O my lady, the Commander of the Faithful's eunuchs are at the door, Afíf and Masrúr and Marján and others whom know I not."

When they heard this they were like to die with fright, but Shams al-Nahar laughed and said, "Have no fear!" Then she said to the damsel "Keep answering them whilst we remove hence." And she caused the doors of the alcove to be closed upon Ali and Abu al-Hasan, and let down the curtains over the entrance (they being still within); after which she shut the door of the saloon and went out by the privy wicket into the flower garden, where she seated herself on a couch she had there and made one of the damsels knead her feet. Then she dismissed the rest of her women to their rooms and bade the portress admit those who were at the door; whereupon Masrur entered, he and his company of twenty with drawn swords. And when they saluted her, she asked, "Why come you?"; whereto they answered, "The Commander of the Faithful saluts you. Indeed he is desolated for want of your sight; he letts you know that this be to him a day of joy and great gladness and he wishes to seal his day and complete his pleasure with your company at this very hour. So say, will go to him or shall he come to you?"

Upon this she rose and, kissing the earth replied, "I hear and I obey the commandment of the Prince of True Believers!" Then she summoned the women guards of her household and other slave damsels, who lost no time in attending upon her and made a show of obeying the Caliph's orders. And albeit everything about the place was in readiness, she said to the eunuchs, "Go to the Commander of the Faithful and tell him that I await him after a little space, that I may make ready for him a place with carpets and other matters." So they returned in haste to the Caliph, whilst Shams al-Nahar, doffing her outer gear, repaired to her lover, Ali bin Bakkar, and drew him to her bosom and bade him farewell, at which he wept sore and said, "O my lady, this leave taking will cause the ruin of my very self and the loss of my very soul; but I pray Allah grant me patience to support the passion wherewith he has afflicted me!" she replied, "By God, none shall suffer perdition save I; for you will fare forth to the bazar and consort with those that shall divert you, and your life will be sound and your love hidden forsure; but I shall fall into trouble and tristesse nor find any to console me, more by token that I have given the Caliph a tryst, in which Perhaps great peril shall happen me by reason of my love for you and my longing for you and my grief at being parted from you. For with what tongue shall I sing and with what heart shall I present my self before the Caliph? and with what speech shall I company the Commander of the Faithful in his cups? and with what eyes shall I look upon a place where you are absent? and with what taste shall I drink wine of which you drink not?"

Abu al-Hasan said, "Be not troubled but take patience and be not remiss in entertaining the Commander of the Faithful this night, neither show him any neglect, but be of good heart." Now at this juncture, behold, up came a damsel, who said to Shams al-Nahar, "O my lady, the Caliph's pages are come." So she hastily rose to her feet and said to the maid, "Take Abu al-Hasan and his friend and carry them to the upper balcony giving upon the garden and there leave them till darkness come on; when do you contrive to carry them forth." Accordingly the girl led them up to the balcony and, locking the door upon them both, went her way. As they sat I looking on the garden lo! the Caliph appeared escorted by near an hundred eunuchs, with drawn swords in hand and girt about with a score of damsels, as they were moons, all clad in the richest of raiment and on each one's head was a crown set with jewels and rubies; while each carried a lighted flambeau. The Caliph walked in their midst, they encompassing him about on all sides, and Masrur and Afíf and Wasíf went before him and he bore himself with a graceful gait.

So Shams al-Nahar and her maidens rose to receive him and, meeting him at the garden door, kissed ground between his hands; nor did they cease to go before him till they brought him to the couch on which he sat down, whilst all the waiting women who were in the garden and the eunuchs stood before him and there came fair handmaids and concubines holding in hand lighted candles and perfumes and incense and instruments of mirth and music. Then the Sovereign bade the singers sit down, each in her place, and Shams al-Nahar came up and, seating herself on a stool by the side of the Caliph's couch, began to converse with him; all this happening whilst Abu al-Hasan and Ali bin Bakkar looked on and listened, unseen of the King. Presently, the Caliph fell to jesting and toying with Shams al-Nahar and both were in the highest spirits, glad and gay, when he bade them throw open the garden pavilion. So they opened the doors and windows and lighted the tapers till the place shone in the season of darkness even as the day. Then the eunuchs removed there the wine service and (Abu said,al-Hasan) "I saw drinking vessels and rarities whose like my eyes never beheld, vases of gold and silver and all manner of noble metals and precious stones, such as no power of description can describe, till indeed it seemed to me I was dreaming, for excess of amazement at what I saw!"

But as for Ali bin Bakkar, from the moment Shams al-Nahar left him, he lay strown on the ground for stress of love and desire; and, when he revived, he fell to gazing upon these things that had not their like and saying to Abu al-Hasan, "O my brother, I fear lest the Caliph see us or come to know of our case; but the most of my fear is for you. For myself, of a truth I know that I am about to be lost past recourse, and the cause of my destruction is nothing but love and longing and excess of desire and distraction, and disunion from my beloved after union with her; but I beseech Allah to deliver us from this perilous predicament." And they did not stop to look out of the balcony on the Caliph who was taking his pleasure, till the banquet was spread before him, when he turned to one of the damsels and said to her, "O Gharám, let us hear some of yours enchanting songs." So she took the lute and tuning it, began singing,

"The longing of a Bedouin maid, whose folks are far away, Who yearns after the willow of the Hejaz and the bay, Whose tears, when she on travellers lights, might for their water serve And eke her passion, with its heat, their bivouac fire provide, — Is not more fierce nor ardent than my longing for my love, Who deems that I commit a crime in loving him alway."

Now when Shams al-Nahar heard these verses she slipped off the stool on which she sat and fell to the earth fainting and became insensible to the world around her; upon which the damsels came and lifted her up. And when Ali bin Bakkar saw this from the balcony he also slipped down senseless, and Abu al-Hasan said, "truly Fate has divided love desire equally upon you twain!" As he spoke lo! in came the damsel who had led them up to the balcony and said to him, "O Abu al-Hasan, arise you and your friend and come down, for of a truth the world has grew strait upon us and I fear lest our case be discovered or the Caliph become aware of you; unless you descend at once we are dead ones." he said, "And how shall this youth descend with me seeing that he has no strength to rise?" Thereupon the damsel began sprinkling rose water on Ali bin Bakkar till he came to his senses, when Abu al-Hasan lifted him up and the damsel made him lean upon her. So they went down from the balcony and walked on awhile till the damsel opened a little iron door, and made the two friends pass through it, and they came upon a bench by the Tigris' bank. Thereupon the slave girl clapped her hands and there came up a man with a little boat to whom she said, "Take up these two young men and land them on the opposite side." So both entered the boat and, as the man rowed off with them and they left the garden behind them, Ali bin Bakkar looked back towards the Caliph's palace and the pavilion and the grounds; and bade them farewell with these two couplets,

"I offered this weak hand as last farewell, While to heart burning fire that hand is guided: O let not this end union! Let not this Be last provision for long road provided!"

Thereupon the damsel said to the boatman, "Make haste with them both." So he plied his oars deftly (the slave girl being still with them); —And Shahrazad perceived the dawning day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Fifty fifth night

Then she turned back, whilst Ali bin Bakkar lay prostrate on the ground before Abu al-Hasan and by no manner of means could he rise, till his friend said to him, "Indeed this place is not sure and I fear lest we lose our lives in this very spot, by reason of the lewd fellows who infest it and highwaymen and men of lawlessness." Upon this Ali bin Bakkar arose and walked a little but could not continue walking. Now Abu al-Hasan had friends in that quarter; so he made search for one of them, in whom he trusted, and who was of his intimates, and knocked at the door. The man came out quickly and seeing them, bade them welcome and brought them into his house, where he seated them and talked with them and asked them from where they came. Abu al-Hasan said, "We came out but now, being obliged thereto by a person with whom I had dealings and who has in his hands dirhams of mine. And it reached me that he designed to flee into foreign parts with my monies; so I fared forth to night in quest of him, taking with me for company this youth, Ali bin Bakkar; but, when we came hoping to see the debtor, he hid from us and we could get no sight of him. Accordingly we turned back, empty handed without a doit, but it was irksome to us to return home at this hour of the night; so weeting not where to go, we came to you, well knowing your kindness and wonted courtesy." "You are welcome and well come!"

The host answered, and studied to do them honour; so the twain abode with him the rest of their night and as soon as the daylight dawned, they left him and made their way back without anything of delay to the city. When they came to the house of Abu al-Hasan, he conjured his comrade to enter; so they went in and lying down on the bed, slept awhile. As soon as they awoke, Abu al-Hasan bade his servants spread the house with rich carpets, saying in his mind, "Needs must I divert this youth and distract him from thinking of his affliction, for I know his case better than another." Then he called for water for Ali bin Bakkar who, when it was brought, rose up from his bed and making his ablutions, prayed the obligatory prayers which he had omitted for the past day and night; after which he sat down and began to solace himself by talking with his friend. When Abu al-Hasan saw this, he turned to him and said, "O my lord, it were fitter for your case that you abide with me this night, so your breast may be broadened and the distress of love longing that is upon you be dispelled and you make merry with us, so Perhaps the fire of your heart may thus be quenched."

Ali replied, "O my brother, do what seems good to you; for I may not on any wise escape from what calamity has befallen me; so act as you will." Accordingly, Abu al-Hasan arose and bade his servants summon some of the choicest of his friends and sent for singers and musicians who came; and meanwhile he made ready meat and drink for them; so they sat eating and drinking and making merry through the rest of the day till nightfall. Then they lit the candles, and the cups of friendship and good fellowship went round amongst them and the time passed pleasantly with them. Presently, a singing woman took the lute and began singing,

"I've been shot by Fortune, and shaft of eye Down struck me and parted from fondest friend: Time has proved him foe and my patience failed, Yet I ever expected it thus would end."

When Ali bin Bakkar heard her words, he fell to the earth in a swoon and did not stop lying in his fainting fit till day break; and Abu al-Hasan despaired of him. But, with the dawning, he came to himself and sought to go home; nor could his friend hinder him, for fear of the issue of his affair. So he made his servants bring a she mule and, mounting Ali thereon, carried him to his lodgings, he and one of his men. When he was safe at home, Abu al-Hasan thanked Allah for his deliverance from that sore peril and sat awhile with him, comforting him; but Ali could not contain himself, for the violence of his love and longing. So Abu al-Hasan rose to take leave of him and return to his own place. —

When it was the One Hundred and Fifty sixth night

"I hear and obey," replied the other; and immediately went away and, repairing to his shop, opened it and sat there all day, expecting news of Shams al-Nahar. But none came. He passed the night in his own house and, when dawned the day, he walked to Ali bin Bakkar's lodging and went in and found him thrown on his bed, with his friends about him and physicians around him prescribing something or other, and the doctors feeling his pulse. When he saw Abu al-Hasan enter he smiled, and the visitor, after saluting him, enquired how he did and sat with him till the folk withdrew, when he said to him, "What plight is this?" Ali bin Bakkar said, "It was bruited abroad that I was ill and my comrades heard the report; and I have no strength to rise and walk so as to give him the lie who noised abroad my sickness, but continue lying strown here as you see. So my friends came to visit me; say, however, O my brother, have you seen the slave girl or heard any news of her?" He replied, "I have not seen her, since the day we parted from her on Tigris' bank;" and he presently added, "O my brother, beware you of scandal and leave this weeping." Rejoined Ali, "O my brother, indeed, I have no control over myself;" and he sighed and began reciting,

"She gives her woman's hand a force that fails the hand of me, And with red dye on wrist she gars my patience fail and flee: And for her hand she fears so sore what shafts her eyes discharge, She's glad to clothe and guard her hand with mail ring panoply: The leach in ignorance felt my pulse the while to him I cried, 'Sick is my heart, so quit my hand which has no malady:' she to that fair nightly vision favoured me and fled said 'By God picture him nor add nor 'bate in least degree!' The Dream replied, 'I leave him though he die of thirst,' I cry, 'Stand off from water pit and say why this persistency.' Rained tear pearls her Narcissus eyes, and rose on cheek belit She made my sherbet, and the lote with bits of hail she bit."

And when his recital was ended he said, "O Abu al-Hasan, I am smitten with an affliction from which I deemed myself in perfect surety, and there is no greater ease for me than death." he replied, "Be patient, Perhaps Allah will heal you!" Then he went out from him and repairing to his shop opened it, nor had he sat long, when suddenly up came the handmaid who saluted him.

He returned her salam and looking at her, saw that her heart was palpitating and that she was in sore trouble and showed signs of great affliction: so he said to her, "You are welcome and well come! How is it with Shams al-Nahar?" She answered, "I will presently tell you, but first let me know how does Ali bin Bakkar." So he told her all that had passed and how his case stood, at which she grieved and sighed and lamented and marvelled at his condition. Then she said, "My lady's case is still stranger than this; for when you went away and fared homewards, I turned back, my heart beating hard on your account and hardly crediting your escape. On entering I found her lying prostrate in the pavilion, speaking not nor answering any, whilst the Commander of the Faithful sat by her head not knowing what ailed her and finding none who could make known to him anything of her ailment. She did not stop from her swoon till midnight, when she recovered and the Prince of the Faithful said to her, 'What harm has happened to you, O Shams al-Nahar, and what has befallen you this night?'

Now when she heard the Caliph's words she kissed his feet and said, 'Allah make me your ransom, O Prince of True Believers! Truly a sourness of stomach lighted a fire in my body, so that I lost my senses for excess of pain, and I know no more of my condition.' The Caliph asked, 'What have you eaten to day?'; and she answered, 'I broke my fast on something I had never tasted before.' Then she feigned to be recovered and calling for a something of wine, drank it, and begged the Sovereign to resume his diversion. So he sat down again on his couch in the pavilion and the sitting was resumed; but when she saw me, she asked me how you fared. I told her what I had done with you both and repeated to her the verses which Ali bin Bakkar had composed at parting tide, at which she wept secretly, but presently held her peace. After awhile, the Commander of the Faithful ordered a damsel to sing, and she began reciting,

'Life has no sweet for me since forth you fared, Would Heaven I know how fare you who forsake: 'Twere only fit my tears were tears of blood, Since you are weeping for my absence sake.'

But when my lady heard this verse she fell back on the sofa in a swoon,"

When it was the One Hundred and Fifty seventh night

When Abu al-Hasan heard her story, he marvelled and said, "By God, I have acquainted you with his whole case; so now return to your mistress; and salute her for me and diligently exhort her to have patience and say to her, 'Keep your secret!'; and tell her that I know all her case which is indeed hard and one which calls for nice conduct." She thanked him and taking leave of him, returned to her mistress. So far concerning her; but as regards Abu al-Hasan, he did not stop to abide in his shop till the end of the day, when he arose and shut it and locked it and betaking himself to Ali bin Bakkar's house knocked at the door. One of the servants came out and admitted him; and when Ali saw him, he smiled and congratulated himself on his coming, saying,

"O Abu al-Hasan, you have desolated me by yours absence this day; for indeed my soul is pledged to you during the rest of my time." The other answered, "Leave this talk! Were your healing at the price of my hand, I would cut it off before you could ask me; and, could I ransom you with my life, I had already laid it down for you. Now this very day, Shams al-Nahar's handmaid has been with me and told me that what hindered her coming before this was the Caliph's sojourn with her mistress; and she acquainted me with everything which had happened her." And he went on to repeat to him all that the girl had told him of Shams al-Nahar; at which Ali bin Bakkar lamented sore and wept and said to him, "in God's name, O my brother, help me in this affliction and teach me what course I shall take. Moreover, I beg you of your grace to abide with me this night, that I may have the solace of your society." Abu al-Hasan agreed to this request, replying that he would readily night there; so they talked together till eventide darkened, when Ali bin Bakkar groaned aloud and lamented and wept copious tears, reciting these couplets,

"Yours image in these eyne, a lip your name, My heart your home; how could you disappear? How sore I grieve for life which comes to end, Nor see I boon of union far or near."

And these the words of another,

"She split my casque of courage with eye swords that sorely smite; She pierced my patience' ring mail with her shape like cane spear light: Patched by the musky mole on cheek was to our sight displayed Camphor set round with ambergris, light dawning through the night. Her soul was sorrowed and she bit carnelion stone with pearls Whose unions in a sugared tank ever to lurk unite: Restless she sighed and smote with palm the snows that clothe her breast, And left a mark on which I looked and never beheld such sight, Pens, fashioned of her coral nails with ambergris for ink, Five lines on crystal page of breast did cruelly indite:

O swordsmen armed with trusty steel! I bid you all beware When she on you bends deadly glance which fascinates the sprite: And guard yourself, O you of spear! whenas she draws near To tilt with slender quivering shape, like the nut brown spear."

And when Ali bin Bakkar ended his verse, he cried out with a great cry and fell down in a fit. Abu al-Hasan thought that his soul had fled his body and he did not stop from his swoon till day break, when he came to himself and talked with his friend, who continued to sit with him till the forenoon. Then he left him and repaired to his shop; and hardly had he opened it, when lo! the damsel came and stood by his side. As soon as he saw her, she made him a sign of salutation which he returned; and she delivered to him the greeting message of her mistress and asked, "How does Ali bin Bakkar?" he answered, "O handmaid of good, ask me not of his case nor what he suffers for excess of love longing; he sleeps not by night neither rests he by day; wakefulness wasts him and care has conquered him and his condition is a consternation to his friend." she said, "My lady saluts you and him, and she has written him a letter, for indeed she is in worse case than he; and she entrusted the same to me, saying, 'Do not return save with the answer; and do you obey my bidding.' Here now is the letter, so say, will you go with me to him that we may get his reply?" "I hear and obey," answered Abu al-Hasan, and locking his shop and taking with him the girl he went, by a way different from that by which he came, to Ali bin Bakkar's house, where he left her standing at the door and walked in. —

When it was the One Hundred and Fifty eighth night

; and he signed to him that it was Shams al-Nahar's slave girl. Ali understood his signal and answered, "Bring her in" and when he saw her, he shook for joy and signed to her, "How does your lord?; Allah grant him health and healing!" "He is well," she answered and pulling out the letter gave it to him. He took it and kissing it, opened and read it; after which he handed it to Abu al-Hasan, who found these verses written within it,

"This messenger shall give my news to you; Patience what while my sight you can not see: A lover leave in love's insanity, Whose eyne abide on wake incessantly: I suffer patience pangs in woes that none Of men can medicine;—such my destiny! Keep cool yours eyes; never shall my heart forget, Nor without dream of you one day shall be. Look what befell your wasted frame, and thence Argue what I am doomed for love to dree! "

And afterwards: Without fingers I have written to you, and without tongue I have spoken to you to resume my case, I have an eye where from sleeplessness departs not and a heart from where sorrowful thought stirrs not It is with me as though health I had never known nor in sadness ever ceased to wone nor spent an hour in pleasant place but it is as if I were made up of pine and of the pain of passion and chagrin Sickness unceasingly troubls and my yearning ever redoubls desire still grows and longing in my heart still glows I pray Allah to hasten our union and dispel of my mind the confusion And I would glad you favour me with some words of yours that I may cheer my heart in pain and repine More over, I would have you put on a patience gladly, until Allah vouch safe relief And His peace be with you."

When Ali bin Bakkar had read this letter he said in weak accents and feeble voice, "With what hand shall I write and with what tongue shall I make moan and lament? Indeed she adds sickness to my sickness and draws death upon my death!" Then he sat up and taking in hand ink case and paper, wrote the following reply, "In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate! Your letter has reached me, O my lady, and has given ease to a sprite worn out with passion and love longing, and has brought healing to a wounded heart cankered with languishment and sickness; for indeed I am become even as says the poet,

'Straitenèd bosom; reveries dispread; Slumberless eyelids; body wearièd Patience cut short disunion longsomest; Reason deranged and heart whose life is fled!'

And know that complaining is unavailing; but it eases him, whom lovelonging disorders and separation destroys and, with repeating, 'Union,' I keep myself comforted and how fine is the saying of the poet who said,

'Did not in love plight joys and sorrows meet, How would the message or the writ be sweet?'"

When he had made an end of this letter, he handed it to Abu al-Hasan, saying, "Read it and give it to the damsel." So he took it and read it and its words stirred his soul and its meaning wounded his vitals. Then he committed it to the girl, and when she took it Ali bin Bakkar said to her, "Salute your lady for me and acquaint her with my love and longing and how passion is blended with my flesh and my bones; and say to her that in very deed I need a woman who shall snatch me from the sea of destruction and save me from this dilemma; for of a truth Fortune oppresses me with her vicissitudes; and is there any helper to free me from her turpitudes?"

And he wept and the damsel wept for his weeping. Then she took leave of him and went forth and Abu al-Hasan went out with her and farewelled her. So she ganged her gait and he returned to his shop, which he opened and sat down there, as was his wont;—

When it was the One Hundred and Fifty ninth night

And these of another poet,

"I have borne for your love what never bore For his fair, Kays the 'Daft one' called of old: Yet I chase not the wildlings of wold and wild Like Kays, for madness is manifold."

Thereupon Abu al-Hasan said, "Never did I see or hear of one like unto you in your love! When you sufferest all this transport and sickness and trouble being enamoured of one who returns your passion, how would it be with you if she whom you love were contrary and contumelious, and your case were discovered through her perfidy?" "And Ali the son of Bakkar" (says Abu al-Hasan) "was pleased with my words and he relied upon them and he thanked me for what I had said and done. I had a friend" (continued Abu al-Hasan), "to whom I discovered my affair and that of Ali and who knew that we were intimates; but none other than he was acquainted with what was betwixt us. He was wont to come to me and enquire how Ali did and after a little, he began to ask me about the damsel; but I fenced him off, saying, 'She invited him to her and there was between him and her as much as can possibly take place, and this is the end of their affair; but I have devised me a plan and an idea which I would submit to you.'" Asked his friend, "And what is that?"

Answered Abu al-Hasan, "I am a person well known to have much dealing among men and women, and I fear, O my brother, lest the affair of these twain come to light and this lead to my death and the seizure of my goods and the rending of my repute and that of my family. Why I have resolved to get together my monies and make ready directly and repair to the city of Bassorah and there abide, till I see what comes of their case, that none may know of me; for love has lorded over both and correspondence passes between them. At this present their go between and confidante is a slave girl who has till now kept their counsel, but I fear lest Perhaps anxiety get the better of her and she discover their secret to some one and the matter, being bruited abroad, might bring me to great grief and prove the cause of my ruin; for I have no excuse to offer my accusers." Rejoined his friend, "You have acquainted me with a perilous affair, from the like of which the wise and understanding will shrink with fear. Allah avert from you the evil you dread with such dread and save you from the consequences you apprehendest! Assuredly your recking is aright."

So Abu al-Hasan returned to his place and began ordering his affairs and preparing for his travel; nor had three days passed before he made an end of his business and fared forth Bassorah wards. His friend came to visit him three days after but finding him not, asked of him from the neighbours who answered, "He set out for Bassorah three days ago, for he had dealings with its merchants and he is gone there to collect monies from his debtors; but he will soon return." The young man was confounded at the news and knew not where to go; and he said in his mind, "Would I had not parted from Abu al-Hasan!" Then he bethought him of some plan by which he should gain access to Ali bin Bakkar; so he went to his lodging, and said to one of his servants, "Ask leave for me of your lord that I may go in and salute him." The servant entered and told his master and presently returning, invited the man to walk in. So he entered and found Ali bin Bakkar thrown back on the pillow and saluted him. Ali returned his greeting and bade him welcome; whereupon the young man began to excuse himself for having held aloof from him all that while and added, "O my lord, between Abu al-Hasan and myself there was close friendship, so that I used to trust him with my secrets and could not sever myself from him an hour.

Now it so chanced that I was absent three days' space on certain business with a company of my friends; and, when I came back and went to him, I found his shop locked up; so I asked the neighbours about him and they replied, 'He is gone to Bassorah.' Now I know he had no surer friend than you; so, By God, tell me what you know of him." When Ali bin Bakkar heard this, his colour changed and he was troubled and answered, "I never heard till this day of his departure and, if the case be as you say, weariness is come upon me." And he began repeating,

"For joys that are no more I wont to weep, While friends and lovers stood by me unscattered This day when disunited me and them Fortune, I weep lost loves and friendship shattered."

Then he hung his head ground wards in thought awhile and presently raising it and looking to one of his servants said, "Go to Abu al-Hasan's house and enquire anent him whether he be at home or journeying abroad. If they say, 'He is abroad'; ask where he be gone." The servant went out and returning after a while said to his master, "When I asked for Abu al-Hasan, his people told me that he was gone on a journey to Bassorah; but I saw a damsel standing at the door who, knowing me by sight, though I knew her not, said to me, 'Are you not servant to Ali bin Bakkar?' 'Even so,' answered I; and she rejoined, 'I bear a message for him from one who is the dearest of all folk to him.' So she came with me and she is now standing at the door." Ali bin Bakkar said, "Bring her in." The servant went out to her and brought her in, and the man who was with Ali looked at her and found her pretty. Then she advanced to the son of Bakkar and saluted him.—

When it was the One Hundred and Sixties night

"Who told you of this?" asked Ali; and the jeweller answered, "I know it by that damsel who is Shams al-Nahar's slave girl; for she came to me a while since with a note in which was written that she wanted a necklace of jewels; and I sent her a costly collar." But when Ali bin Bakkar heard this, he was greatly troubled, so that the jeweller feared to see him give up the ghost, yet after a while he recovered himself and said, "O my brother, I conjure you By God to tell me truly how you know her." he replied, "Do not press this question upon me;" and Ali rejoined, "Indeed, I will not turn from you till you tell me the whole truth." the jeweller said, "I will tell you all, on condition that you distrust me not, and that my words cause you no restraint; nor will I conceal anything from you by way of secret but will discover to you the truth of the affair, provided that you acquaint me with the true state of your case and the cause of your sickness." Then he told him all that had passed from beginning to end between Abu al-Hasan and himself, adding, "I acted thus only out of friendship for you and of my desire to serve you;" and assured him that he would keep his secret and venture life and good in his service.

So Ali in turn told him his story and added, "By God, O my brother, nothing moved me to keep my case secret from you and from others but my fear lest folk should lift the veils of protection from certain persons." Rejoined the jeweller, "And I desired not to foregather with you but of the great affection I bear you and my zeal for you in every case, and my compassion for the anguish your heart endurs from severance. Perhaps I may be a comforter to you in the room of my friend, Abu al-Hasan, during the length of his absence: so be you of good cheer and keep yours eyes cool and clear." Thereupon Ali thanked him and repeated these couplets,

"An say I, 'Patient I can bear his faring,' My tears and sighings give my say the lie How can I hide these tears that course adown This plain, my cheek, for friend too glad to fly?"

Then he was silent awhile, and presently said to the jeweller "Know you what secret the girl whispered to me?" he answered, "Not I, By God, O my lord!" Ali said, "She fancied that I directed Abu al-Hasan to go to Bassorah and that I had devised this device to put a stop to our correspondence and consorting. I swore to her that this was on nowise so; but she would not credit me and went away to her mistress, persisting in her injurious suspicions; for she inclined to Abu al-Hasan and gave ear to his word." Answered the young jeweller, "O my brother, I understood as much from the girl's manner; but I will win for you your wish, God willing!" Rejoined Ali bin Bakkar, "Who can be with me in this and how will you do with her, when she shies and flies like a wildling of the wold?" Cried the jeweller "By God, needs must I do my utmost to help you and contrive to scrape acquaintance with her without exposure or mischief!" Then he asked leave to depart and Ali bin Bakkar said, "O my brother, mind you keep my counsel;" and he looked at him and wept. The jeweller bade him good bye and fared forth. —

When it was the One Hundred and Sixty first night

So he opened it and found these words written within it,

"A messenger from you came bringing union hope, But that he erred somehow with me the thought prevailed; So I rejoiced not; rather grew my grief still more, Weeting my messenger of wits and wit had failed. "

But afterwards: Know, O my lord! That I ken not the reason why our correspondence between you and me has been broken off: but, if the cruelty arise from your part, I will requite it with fidelity, and if your love have departed, I will remain constant to my love of the parted, for I am with you even as says the poet,

'Be proud; I'll crouch! Bully; I'll bear! Despise, I'll pray! Go, I will come! Speak; I will hear! Bid; I'll obey!' "

As he was reading lo! up came the slave girl, looking right and left, and seeing the paper in the jeweller's hand, said to him, "O my master, this letter is one I let fall." He made her no answer, but walked on, and she walked behind him, till he came to his house, when he entered and she after him, saying, "O my master, give me back this letter, for it fell from me." Thereon he turned to her and said, "O handmaid of good, fear not neither grieve, for truly Allah the Protector loves those who protect; but tell me in truthful way your case, as I am one who keeps counsel. I conjure you by an oath not to hide from me anything of your lady's affairs; for Perhaps Allah shall help me to further her wishes and make easy by my hand that which is hard." When the slave girl heard these words she said, "O my lord, indeed a secret is not lost whereof you are the secretist; nor shall any affair come to nothing for which you strivest. Know that my heart inclins to you and would interest you with my tidings, but do you give me the letter."

Then she told him the whole story, adding, "Allah is witness to whatever I say." he said, "You have spoken truly, for I am acquainted with the root of the matter." Then he told her his tale of Ali bin Bakkar and how he had learned his state of mind; and related to her all that had passed from beginning to end, at which she rejoiced; and they two agreed that she should take the letter and carry it to Ali and return and acquaint the jeweller with all that happened. So he gave her the letter and she took it and sealed it up as it was before, saying, "My mistress Shams al-Nahar gave it to me sealed; and when he has read it and given me its reply, I will bring it to you." Then she took leave and repaired to Ali bin Bakkar, whom she found waiting, and gave him the letter. He read it and writing a paper by way of reply, gave it to her; and she carried it to the jeweller, who tore asunder the seal and read it and found written within it these two couplets,

"The messenger, who kept our commerce hid, Has failed, and shows wrath without disguise Choose one more leal from your many friends Who, truth approving, disapproves of lies. "

To proceed:

truly, I have not entered upon perfidy nor have I abandoned fidelity I have not used cruelty neither have I put off lealty no covenant has been broken by me nor has love tie been severed by me I have not parted from penitence or have I found anything but misery and ruin after severance I know nothing of that you avouchest or do I love anything but that which you love By Him who knows the secret of hidden things none discover have no desire save union with my lover and my one business is my passion to conceal albeit with sore sickness I ail This is the exposition of my case and now all hail!"

When the jeweller read this letter and learnt its contents he wept with sore weeping, and the slave girl said to him, "Leave not this place till I return to you; for he suspects me of such and such things, in which he is excusable; so it is my desire to bring about a meeting between you and my mistress, Shams al-Nahar, however I may trick you to it. For the present I left her prostrate, awaiting my return with the reply." Then she went away and the jeweller passed the night with a troubled mind. And when day dawned he prayed his dawn prayer and sat expecting the girl's coming; and behold, she came in to him rejoicing with much joy and he asked, "What news, O damsel?" She answered, "After leaving you I went to my mistress and gave her the letter written by Ali bin Bakkar; and, when she read it and understood it, she was troubled and confounded; but I said to her, 'O my lady, have no fear of your affair being frustrated by Abu al-Hasan's disappearance, for I have found one to take his place, better than he and more of worth and a good man to keep secrets.'

Then I told her what was between yourself and Abu al-Hasan and how you came by his confidence and that of Ali bin Bakkar and how that note was dropped and you came by it; and I also showed her how we arranged matters betwixt me and you." The jeweller marvelled with much wonder, when she resumed, "And now my mistress would hear whatever you say, that she may be assured by your speech of the covenants between you and him; so get you ready to go with me to her immediately." When the jeweller heard the slave girl's words, he saw that the proposed affair was grave and a great peril to brave, not lightly to be undertaken or suddenly entered upon, and he said to her, "O my sister, truly, I am of the ordinary and not like unto Abu al-Hasan; for he being of high rank and of well known repute, was wont to frequent the Caliph's household, because of their need of his merchandise. As for me, he used to talk with me and I trembled before him the while. So, if your mistress would speak with me, our meeting must be in some place other than the Caliph's palace and far from the abode of the Commander of the Faithful; for my common sense will not let me consent to what you proposest." in this way he refused to go with her and she went on to say that she would be surety for his safety, adding, "Take heart and fear no harm!" And pressed him to courage till he consented to accompany her; as well, his legs bent and shivered and his hands quivered and he exclaimed, "Allah forbid that I should go with you! Indeed, I have not strength to do this thing!"

she replied, "Hearten your heart, if it be hard for you to go to the Caliph's palace and you can not muster up courage to accompany me, I will make her come to you; so budge not from your place till I return to you with her." Then the slave girl went away and was absent for a while, but a short while, after which she returned to the jeweller and said to him, "Take you care that there be with you none save yourself, neither man slave nor girl slave." he said, "I have but a negress, who is in years and who waits on me." So she arose and locked the door between his negress and the jeweller and sent his man servants out of the place; after which she fared forth and presently returned, followed by a lady who, entering the house, filled it with the sweet scent of her perfumes. When the jeweller saw her, he sprang up and set her a couch and a cushion; and she sat down while he seated himself before her. She abode awhile without speaking till she had rested herself, when she unveiled her face and it seemed to the jeweller's fancy as if the sun had risen in his home.

Then she he asked slave girl, "Is this the man of whom you spoke to me?" "Yes," she answered; whereupon the lady turned to the jeweller and said to him, "How is it with you?" he replied, "Right well! I pray Allah for your preservation and that of the Commander of the Faithful." she said, "You have moved us to come to you and possess you with what we hold secret." Then she questioned him of his household and family; and he disclosed to her all his circumstance and his condition and said to her, "I have a house other than this; and I have set it apart for gathering together my friends and brethren; and there is none there save the old negress, of whom I spoke to your handmaid." She asked him on what wise he came first to know how the affair began and the matter of Abu al-Hasan and the cause of his wayfaring: accordingly he told her all he knew and how he had advised the journey. Thereupon she bewailed the loss of Abu al-Hasan and said to the jeweller, "Know, O such an one, that men's souls are active in their lusts and that men are still men; and that deeds are not done without words nor is end ever reached without endeavour.

Rest is won only by work." —

When it was the One Hundred and Sixty second night

So saying, she rose, scarcely able to rise, and fared forth, the jeweller faring before her to the door of her house, after which he returned and sat down again in his place, having seen of her beauty and heard of her speech what dazzled him and dazed his wit, and having witnessed of her grace and courtesy what bewitched his sprite. He sat musing on her perfections till his mind grew tranquil, when he called for food and ate enough to keep soul and body together. Then he changed his clothes and went out; and, repairing to the house of the youth Ali bin Bakkar, knocked at the door. The servants hastened to admit him and walked before him till they had brought him to their master, whom he found strown upon his bed. Now when he saw the jeweller, he said to him, "You have tarried long from me, and that has heaped care upon my care." Then he dismissed his servants and bade the doors be shut; after which he said to the jeweller, "By God, O my brother, I have not closed my eyes since the day I saw you last; for the slave girl came to me yesterday with a sealed letter from her mistress Shams al-Nahar;" and went on to tell him all that had passed with her, adding, "By the Lord, I am indeed perplexed concerning my affair and my patience fails me: for Abu al-Hasan was a comforter who cheered me because he knew the slave girl." When the jeweller heard his words, he laughed; and Ali said, "Why do you laugh at my words, you on whose coming I congratulated myself and to whom I looked for provision against the shifts of fortune?" Then he sighed and wept and repeated these couplets,.

"Full many laugh at tears they see me shed Who had shed tears an bore they what I bore; None feels pity for th' afflicted's woe, Save one as anxious and in woe galore: My passion, yearning, sighing, thought, repine Are for me cornered in my heart's deep core: He made a home there which he never quits, Yet rare our meetings, not as heretofore: No friend to stablish in his place I see; No intimate but only he and ———he."

Now when the jeweller heard these lines and understood their significance, he wept also and told him all that had passed betwixt himself and the slave girl and her mistress since he left him. And Ali bin Bakkar gave ear to his speech, and at every word he heard his colour shifted from white to red and his body grew now stronger and then weaker till the tale came to an end, when he wept and said, "O my brother, I am a lost man in any case: would my end were near, that I might be at rest from all this! But I beg you, of your favour, to be my helper and comforter in all my affairs till Allah fulfil whatever be His will; and I will not gainsay you with a single word." the jeweller said, "Nothing will quench your fire save union with her whom you love; 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 you twain may there meet and complain each to other of what you have suffered from the pangs of love." Ali bin Bakkar said, "O good Sir, do as you will and with Allah be your reward!; and what you think is right do it directly: 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," —

When it was the One Hundred and Sixty third night

(continued the jeweller), "I arose and betook myself to my other house and transported there 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 you.' 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 sweet scented flowers in vases of china and vari coloured glass. Then I set on a tray of many tinted meats such as broaden the breast with their sight, and sat talking with him and diverting him, whilst the slave girl went away and was absent till after sundown prayers, when she returned with Shams al-Nahar, 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. I said, 'Have you a mind for food?' 'Yes,' They said. 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 sitting room and brought them wine. So they drank and drank deep and inclined to each other; and presently Shams al-Nahar said to me, 'O my master, complete your 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 tear floods 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, a faint for ecstasy; And hugged him to my breast and sucked the sweet wine of his lips, Full savouring the honey draught the honey man sold to me.'

Whilst we were thus drowned in the sea of gladness" (continued the jeweller) "behold, there came in to us a little maid trembling and said, 'O my lady, look how you may go away for the folk have found you out and have surrounded the house; and we know not the cause of this!' When I heard her words, I arose startled and lo! in rushed a slave girl who cried, 'Calamity has come upon you.' At the same moment the door was burst open and there rushed in upon us ten men masked in kerchiefs with hangers in their hands and swords by their sides, and as many more behind them. When I saw this, the world was straitened on me for all its wideness, and I looked to the door but saw no issue; so I sprang from the terrace into the house of one of my neighbours and there hid myself. Thence I found that folk had entered my lodgings and were making a mighty hubbub; and I concluded that the Caliph had got wind of us and had sent his Chief of the Watch to seize us and bring us before him. So I abode confounded and did not stop remaining in my place, without any possibility of quitting it till midnight. And presently the housemaster arose, for he had heard me moving, and he feared with exceeding great fear of me; so he came forth from his room with drawn brand in hand and made at me, saying, 'Who is this in my house?'

I said, 'I am your neighbour the jeweller;' and he knew me and retired. Then he fetched a light and coming up to me said, 'O my brother, indeed that which has befallen you this night is no light matter to me.' I replied, 'O my brother, tell me who was in my house and entered it breaking in my door; for I fled to you not knowing what was to do.' He answered, 'Of a truth the robbers who attacked our neighbours yesterday and slew such an one and took his goods, saw you on the same day bringing furniture into this house; so they broke in upon you and stole your goods and slew your guests.' Then we arose" (pursued the jeweller), "I and he, and repaired to my house, which we found empty without a stick remaining in it; so I was confounded at the case and said to myself, 'As for the gear I care nothing about its loss, albeit I borrowed part of the stuff from my friends and it has come to grief; yet is there no harm in that, for they know my excuse in the plunder of my property and the pillage of my place. But as for Ali bin Bakkar and the Caliph's favourite concubine, I fear lest their case get bruited abroad and this cause the loss of my life.'

So I turned to my neighbour and said to him, 'You are my brother and my neighbour and will cover my nakedness; what then do you advise me to do?' The man answered, 'What I counsel you to do is to keep quiet and wait; for they who entered your house and took your goods have murdered the best men of a party from the palace of the Caliphate and have killed not a few of the watchmen: the government officers and guards are now in quest of them on every road and Perhaps they will hit upon them, where by your wish will come about without effort of yours.' " The jeweller hearing these words returned to his other house, that in which he dwelt, —

When it was the One Hundred and Sixty fourth night

Presently, the pillage of his pleasure house was noised abroad among the folk, and they came to him from all sides and places, some exulting in his misfortune and others excusing him and condoling with his sorrow; whilst he bewailed himself to them and for grief neither ate meat nor drank drink. And as he sat, repenting him of what he had done, behold one of his servants came in to him and said, "There is a person at the door who asks for you, and I know him not." The jeweller went forth to him and saluted him who was a stranger; and the man whispered to him, "I have something to say between our two selves." Thereupon he brought him in and asked him, "What have you to tell me?" the man said, "Come with me to yours other house;" and the jeweller enquired, "Do you then know my other house?" The other replied, "I know all about you and I know that also by which Allah will dispel your dolours." "So I said to myself" (continued the jeweller) "'I will go with him where he will;' and went out and walked on till we came to my second house; and when the man saw it he said to me, 'It is without door or doorkeeper, and we cannot possibly sit in it; so come you with me to another place.'

Then the man continued passing from stead to stead (and I with him) till night overtook us. Yet I put no question to him of the matter in hand and we did not stop to walk on, till we reached the open country. He kept saying, 'Follow me,' and quickened his pace to a trot, whilst I trotted after him heartening my heart to go on, until we reached the river, where he took boat with me, and the boatman rowed us over to the other bank. Then he landed from the boat and I landed after him; and he took my hand and led me to a street which I had never entered in all my days, nor do I know in what quarter it was. Presently, the man stopped at the door of a house, and opening it entered and made me enter with him; after which he locked the door with an iron padlock, and led me along the vestibule, till he brought me in the presence of ten men who were as though they were one and the same man; they being brothers. We saluted them" (continued the jeweller) "and they returned our greeting and bade us be seated; so we sat down.

Now I was like to die for excess of weariness; but they brought me rose water and sprinkled it on my face; after which they gave me a sherbet to drink and set before me food whereof some of them ate with me. I said to myself, 'Were there anything harmful in the food, they would not eat with me.' So I ate, and when we had washed our hands, each of us returned to his place. Then they asked me, 'Do you know us?' and I answered, 'No! Nor in my life have I ever seen you; nay, I know not even him who brought me here.' they said, 'Tell us your tidings and lie not at all.' Replied I, 'Know then that my case is wondrous and my affair marvellous; but know you anything about me?' They rejoined, 'Yes! It was we took your goods yesternight and carried off your friend and her who was singing to him.' I said, 'Allah let down His veil over you! Where be my friend and she who was singing to him?' They pointed with their hands to one side and replied, 'that, but, By God, O our brother, the secret of their case is known to none save to you, for from the time we brought the twain here up to this day, we have not looked upon them nor questioned them of their condition, seeing them to be persons of rank and dignity.

Now this and this only it was that hindered our killing them: so tell us the truth of their case and you will be assured of your safety and of theirs.' When I heard this" (continued the jeweller) "I almost died of fright and horror, and I said to them, 'Know you, O my brethren, that if generosity were lost, it would not be found save with you; and had I a secret which I feared to reveal, none but your breasts would conceal it.' And I went on exaggerating their praises in this fashion, till I saw that frankness and readiness to speak out would profit me more than concealing facts; so I told them all that had happened me to the very end of the tale. When they heard it, they said, 'And is this young man Ali Bakkar son and this lady Shams al-Nahar?' I replied, 'Yes.' Now this was grievous to them and they rose and made their excuses to the two and then they said to me, 'Of what we took from your house part is spent, but here is what is left of it.' So speaking, they gave me back most of my goods and they engaged to return them to their places in my house, and to restore me the rest as soon as they could. My heart was set at ease till they split into two parties, one with me and the other against me; and we fared forth from that house and such was my case. But as regards Ali bin Bakkar and Shams al-Nahar; they were well near dying for excess of fear, when I went up to them and saluting them, asked, 'What happened to the damsel and the two maids, and where be they gone?', and they answered only, 'We know nothing of them.'

Then we walked on and did not stop till we came to the river bank where the barque lay; and we all boarded it, for it was the same which had brought me over on the day before. The boatman rowed us to the other side; but hardly had we landed and taken seat on the bank to rest, when a troop of horse swooped down on us like eagles and surrounded us on all sides and places, where upon the robbers with us sprang up in haste like vultures, and the boat put back for them and took them in and the boatman pushed off into mid stream, leaving us on the river bank, unable to move or to stand still. Then the chief horseman said to us, 'from where be you!'; and we were perplexed for an answer, but I said" (continued the jeweller), "'Those you saw with us are rogues; we know them not. As for us, we are singers, and they intended taking us to sing for them, nor could we get free of them, save by subtlety and soft words; so on this occasion they let us go, their works being such as you have seen.'

But they looked at Shams al-Nahar and Ali bin Bakkar and said to me, 'You have not spoken truth but, if your tale be true, tell us who you are and from where you are; and what be your place and in what quarter you dwell.' I knew not what to answer them, but Shams al-Nahar sprang up and approaching the Captain of the horsemen spoke with him privily, whereupon he dismounted from his steed and, setting her on horse back, took the bridle and began to lead his beast. And two of his men did the like with the youth, Ali bin Bakkar, and it was the same with myself. The Commandant of the troop did not stop faring on with us, till they reached a certain part of the river bank, when he sang out in some barbarous jargon and there came to us a number of men with two boats. Then the Captain embarked us in one of them (and he with us) whilst the rest of his men put off in the other, and rowed on with us till we arrived at the palace of the Caliphate where Shams al-Nahar landed. And all the while we endured the agonies of death for excess of fear, and they did not stop faring till they came to a place from where there was a way to our quarter. Here we landed and walked on, escorted by some of the horsemen, till we came to Ali bin Bakkar's house; and when we entered it, our escort took leave of us and went their way. We abode there, unable to stir from the place and not knowing the difference between morning and evening; and in such case we continued till the dawn of the next day. And when it was again nightfall, I came to myself and saw Ali bin Bakkar and the women and men of his household weeping over him, for he was stretched out without sense or motion. Some of them came to me and thoroughly arousing me said, 'Tell us what has befallen our son and say how came he in this plight?' Replied I, 'O folk, hearken to me!'" —

When it was the One Hundred and Sixty fifth night

' —

When it was the One Hundred and Sixty sixth night

When it was the One Hundred and Sixty seventh night

(continued the jeweller) "into my hand, saying, 'O my master, in what place shall we meet?' I said, 'I will start and go to my house at once and suffer hard things for your sake and contrive how you may win access to him, for such access is difficult at this present.' she said, 'Let me know some spot, where I shall come to you,' and I answered, 'In my other house; I will go there directly and have the doors mended and the place made safe again, and henceforth we will meet there.' Then she took leave of me and went her way, whilst I carried the money home, and counting it, found it five thousand dinars. So I gave my people some of it and to all who had lent me anything I made good their loss, after which I arose and took my servants and repaired to my other house from where the things had been stolen; and I brought builders and carpenters and masons who restored it to its former state. Moreover, I placed my negress slave there and forgot the mishaps which had befallen me. Then I fared forth and repaired to Ali bin Bakkar's house and, when I reached it, his slave servants accosted me, saying, 'Our lord calls for you night and day, and has promised to free whichever of us brings you to him; so they have been wandering about in quest of you everywhere but knew not in what part to find you. Our master is by way of recovering strength, but at times he revives and at times he relapses; and whenever he revives he nams you, and says, 'Needs must you bring him to me, though but for the twinkling of an eye;' and then he sinks back into his torpor.'

Accordingly" (continued the jeweller) "I accompanied the slave and went in to Ali bin Bakkar; and, finding him unable to speak, sat down at his head, whereupon he opened his eyes and seeing me, wept and said, 'Welcome and well come!' I raised him and making him sit up, strained him to my bosom, and he said, 'Know, O my brother, that, from the hour I took to my bed, I have not sat up till now: praise to Allah that I see you again!' And I did not stop to prop him and support him until I made him stand on his feet and walk a few steps, after which I changed his clothes and he drank some wine: but all this he did for my satisfaction. Then, seeing him somewhat restored, I told him what had befallen me with the slave girl (none else hearing me), and said to him, 'Take heart and be of good courage, I know what you sufferest.' He smiled and I added, 'truly nothing shall happen you save what shall rejoice you and medicine you.' Thereupon he called for food, which being brought, he signed to his pages, and they withdrew. Then he said to me, 'O my brother, have you seen what has befallen me?'; and he made excuses to me and asked how I had fared all that while. I told him everything that had befallen me, from beginning to end, at which he wondered and calling his servants said, 'Bring me such and such things.'

They brought in fine carpets and hangings and, besides that, vessels of gold and silver, more than I had lost, and he gave them all to me; so I sent them to my house and abode with him that night. When the day began to yellow, he said to me, 'Know you that as to all things there is an end, so the end of love is either death or accomplishment of desire. I am nearer unto death, would I had died before this befell!, and had not Allah favoured us, we had been found out and put to shame. And now I know not what shall deliver me from this my strait, and were it not that I fear Allah, I would hasten my own death; for know, O my brother, that I am like bird in cage and that my life is of a surety perished, choked by the distresses which have befallen me; yet has it a period stablished firm and an appointed term.' And he wept and groaned and began repeating,

'Enough of tears has shed the lover people, When grief outcast all patience from his sprite: He hid the secrets which united us, But now His eye parts what He did unite!'

When he had finished his verses, the jeweller said to him, "O my lord, I now intend returning to my house." He answered, "There be no harm in that; go and come back to me with news as fast as possible, for you see my case." "So I took leave of him" (continued the jeweller) "and went home, and hardly had I sat down, when up came the damsel, choked with long weeping. I asked, 'What is the matter'?; and she answered, 'O my lord, know then that what we feared has befallen us; for, when I left you yesterday and returned to my lady, I found her in a fury with one of the two maids who were with us the other night, and she ordered her to be beaten. The girl was frightened and ran away; but, as she was leaving the house, one of the door porters and guards of the gate met her and took her up and would have sent her back to her mistress. However, she let fall some hints, which were a disclosure to him; so he cajoled her and led her on to talk, and she tattled about our case and let him know of all our doings. This affair came to the ears of the Caliph, who bade remove my mistress, Shams al-Nahar, and all her gear to the palace of the Caliphate; and set over her a guard of twenty eunuchs. Since then to the present hour he has not visited her nor has given her to know the reason of his action, but I suspect this to be the cause; Why I am in fear for my life and am sore troubled, O my lord, knowing not what I shall do, nor with what contrivance I shall order my affair and hers; for she has none by her more trusted or more trustworthy than myself.'" —

When it was the One Hundred and Sixty eighth night

(continued the jeweller), "I was seized with sore trouble and the world grew dark in my sight for the slave girl's words; and when she was about to go, I said to her, 'What reckon you and what is to be done?' she said, 'My counsel is that you hasten to Ali bin Bakkar, if you be indeed his friend and desire to save him; yours be it to carry him this news at once without anything of stay and delay, or regard for far and near; and mine be it to sniff about for further news.' Then she took her leave of me and went away: so I rose and followed her track and, betaking myself to Ali bin Bakkar, found him flattering himself with impossible expectations. When he saw me returning to him so soon, he said, 'I see you have come back to me immediately and only too soon.' I answered, 'Patience, and cut short this foolish connection and shake off the preoccupation in which you are, for there has befallen that which may bring about the loss of your life and good.' Now when he heard this, he was troubled and strongly moved; and he said to me, 'O my brother, tell me what has happened.'

Replied I, 'O my lord, know that such and such things have happened and you are lost without recourse, if you abide in this your house till the end of the day.' At this, he was confounded and his soul well near departed his body, but he recovered himself and said to me, 'What shall I do, O my brother, and what counsel have you to offer.' Answered I, 'My advice is that you take what you can of your property and whom of your slaves you trust, and flee with us to a land other than this, before this very day come to an end.' And he said, 'I hear and I obey.' So he rose, confused and dazed like one in epilepsy, now walking and now falling, and took what came under his hand. Then he made an excuse to his household and gave them his last injunctions, after which he loaded three camels and mounted his beast; and I did likewise. We went forth privily in disguise and fared on and did not stop our journey the rest of that day and all its night, till almost morning, when we unloaded and, hobbling our camels, lay down to sleep. But we were worn with fatigue and we neglected to keep watch, so that there fell upon us robbers, who stripped us of all we had and slew our slaves, when these would have beaten them off, leaving us naked and in the sorriest of plights, after they had taken our money and lifted our beasts and disappeared.

As soon as they were gone we arose and walked on till morning dawned, when we came to a village which we entered, and finding a mosque took refuge within it for we were naked. So we sat in a corner all that day and we passed the next night without meat or drink; and at day break we prayed our dawn prayer and sat down again. Presently, behold, a man entered and saluting us prayed a two bow prayer, after which he turned to us and said, 'O folk, are you strangers?' We replied, 'Yes: the bandits waylaid us and stripped us naked, and we came to this town but know none here with whom we may shelter.' he said, 'What say you? will you come home with me?' And" (pursued the jeweller) "I said to Ali bin Bakkar, 'Up and let us go with him, and we shall escape two evils; the first, our fear lest some one who knows us enter this mosque and recognise us, so that we come to disgrace; and the second, that we are strangers and have no place in which to lodge.' And he answered helplessly, 'As you will.' Then the man said to us again, 'O you poor folk, give ear unto me and come with me to my place,' and I replied, 'I hear and I obey;' whereupon he pulled off a part of his own clothes and covered us therewith and made his excuses to us and spoke kindly to us.

Then we arose and accompanied him to his house and he knocked at the door, whereupon a little slave boy came out and opened to us. The host entered and we followed him; when he called for a bundle of clothes and muslins for turbands, and gave us each a suit and a piece; so we dressed and turbanded ourselves and sat us down. Presently, in came a damsel with a tray of food and set it before us, saying, 'Eat.' We ate some small matter and she took away the tray: after which we abode with our host till nightfall, when Ali bin Bakkar sighed and said to me, 'Know, O my brother, that I am a dying man past hope of life and I would charge you with a charge: it is that, when you see me dead, you go to my parent and tell her of my decease and bid her come here that she may be here to receive the visits of condolence and be present at the washing of my corpse; and do you exhort her to bear my loss with patience.' Then he fell down in a fainting fit and, when he recovered he heard a damsel singing afar off and making verses as she sang. Thereupon he addressed himself to give ear to her and hearken to her voice; and now he was insensible, absent from the world, and now he came to himself; and soon he wept for grief and mourning at the love which had befallen him. Presently, he heard the damsel who was singing repeat these couplets,

'Parting ran up to part from lover twain Free converse, perfect concord, friendship glad: The Nights with shifting drifted us apart, Would heaven I know if we shall meet again: How bitter after meeting 'tis to part, May lovers never endure so bitter pain! Death grip, death choke, lasts for an hour and ends, But parting tortures aye in heart remain: Could we but trace where Parting's house is placed, We would make Parting eke of parting taste!'

When Ali son of Bakkar heard the damsel's song, he sobbed one sob and his soul quitted his body. As soon as I saw that he was dead" (continued the jeweller), "I committed his corpse to the care of the housemaster and said to him, 'Know you, that I am going to Baghdad, to tell his mother and kinsfolk, that they may come here and conduct his burial.' So I betook myself to Baghdad and, going to my house, changed my clothes; after which I repaired to Ali bin Bakkar's lodging. Now when his servants saw me, they came to me and questioned me of him, and I bade them ask permission for me to go in to his mother. She gave me leave; so I entered and saluting her said, 'truly Allah orders the lives of all creatures by His commandment and when He decres anything, there is no escaping its fulfilment; nor can any soul depart but by leave of Allah, according to the Writ which affirms the appointed term.' She guessed by these words that her son was dead and wept with sore weeping, then she said to me, 'in God's name! Tell me, is my son dead?' I could not answer her for tears and excess of grief, and when she saw me thus, she was choked with weeping and fell to the ground in a fit. As soon as she came to herself she said to me, 'Tell me how it was with my son.' I replied, 'May Allah abundantly compensate you for his loss!' and I told her all that had befallen him from beginning to end. She then asked, 'Did he give you any charge?'; and I answered, 'Yes,' and told her what he had said, adding 'Hasten to perform his funeral.' When she heard these words, she swooned away again; and, when she recovered, she addressed herself to do as I charged her. Then I returned to my house; and as I went along musing sadly upon the fair gifts of his youth, behold, a woman caught hold of my hand;" —

When it was the One Hundred and Sixty ninth night

And yet is not their tale (continued Shahrazad) more wonderful than that of King Shahrimán. The King he asked, "And what was his tale?"—

When it was the One Hundred and Seventies night

She said, It has reached me,as regards the