A Wealthy merchant had a son who was very dear to him and who said to him one day, "O my father, I have a boon to beg of you." the merchant said, "O my son, what is it, that I may give it you and bring you to your desire, though it were the light of my eyes." the youth said, "Give me money, that I may journey with the merchants to the city of Baghdad and see its sights and sail on the Tigris and look upon the palace of the Caliphs; for the sons of the merchants have described these things to me and I long to see them for myself." Said the father, "O my child, O my little son, how can I endure to part from you?" But the youth replied, "I have said my say and there is no help for it but I journey to Baghdad with your consent or even without it: such a longing for its sight has fallen upon me as can only be assuaged by the going here."—

When it was the Five Hundred and Ninety ninth night

Now when the father saw that there was no help for it, he provided his son with goods to the value of thirty thousand gold pieces and sent him with certain merchants in whom he trusted, committing him to their charge. Then he took leave of the youth, who journeyed with his friends the merchants till they reached Baghdad, the House of Peace, where he entered the market and hired him a house, so handsome and delectable and spacious and elegant that on seeing it he well near lost his wits for admiration; for within it were pavilions facing one another, with floors of coloured marbles and ceilings inlaid with gold and lapis lazuli, and its gardens were full of warbling birds. So he asked the door keeper what was its monthly rent, and he replied, "Ten dinars." the young man said, "Speakest you truly or do you but jest with me?" the porter said, "By God, I speak nothing but the truth, for none who takes up his abode in this house lodgs in it more than a week or two." "And how is that?" the said,youth; and the porter said, "O my son, whoever dwells in this house comes not forth of it, except sick or dead, Why it is known amongst all the folk of Baghdad so that none offers to inhabit it, and thus comes it that its rent is fallen so low."

Hearing this the young merchant marvelled with exceeding marvel and said, "Needs must there be some reason for this sickening and perishing." However after considering awhile and seeking refuge with Allah from Satan the Stoned, he rented the house and took up his abode there. Then he put away apprehension from his thought and busied himself with selling and buying; and some days passed by without any such ill case befalling him in the house, as the doorkeeper had mentioned. One day as he sat upon the bench before his door, there came up a grizzled crone, as she were a snake speckled white and black, calling aloud on the name of Allah, magnifying Him inordinately and, at the same time, putting away the stones and other obstacles from the path. Seeing the youth sitting there, she looked at him and marvelled at his case; where upon he said to her, "O woman, do you know me or am I like any you know?" When she heard him speak, she toddled up to him and saluting him with the salam, asked, "How long have you dwelt in this house?" Answered he, "Two months, O my mother;" and she said, "It was at this I marvelled; for I, O my son, know you not, neither do you know me, nor yet are you like unto any one I know; but I marvelled for that none other than you has taken up his abode in this house but has gone forth from it, dead or dying, saving you alone. Doubtless, O my son, you have perilled your young years; but I suppose you have not gone up to the upper story neither looked out from the belvedere there."

So saying, she went her way and he fell a pondering her words and said to himself, "I have not gone up to the top of the house; nor did I know that there was a belvedere there." Then he arose directly and going in, searched the by ways of the house till he espied, in a wall corner among the trees, a narrow door between whose posts the spider had woven her webs, and said in himself, "Perhaps the spider has not webbed over the door, but because death and doom is within." However, he heartened himself with the saying of God the Most High, "Say, nothing shall befall us but what Allah has written for us;" and opening the door, ascended a narrow flight of stairs, till he came to the terrace roof, where he found a belvedere, in which he sat down to rest and solace himself with the view. Presently, he caught sight of a fine house and a well cared for close by, surmounted by a lofty belvedere, over looking the whole of Baghdad, in which sat a damsel fair as a Houri. Her beauty took possession of his whole heart and made away with his reason, bequeathing to him the pains and patience of Job and the grief and weeping of Jacob. And as he looked at her and considered her curiously, an object to enamour an ascetic and make a devotee lovesick, fire was lighted in his vitals and he cried, "Folk say that whoever takes up his abode in this house dies or sickens. An this be so, that damsel is assuredly the cause. Would Heaven I knew how I shall win free of this affair, for my wits are clean gone!"

Then he descended from the terrace, pondering his case, and sat down in the house, but being unable to rest, he went out and took his seat at the door, absorbed in melancholy thought when, behold, up came the old woman a foot, praising and magnifying Allah as she went. When he saw her, he rose and accosting her with a courteous salam and wishes for her life being prolonged said to her, "O my mother, I was healthy and hearty till you made mention to me of the door leading to the belvedere; so I opened it and ascending to the top of the house, saw thence what stole away my senses; and now I think I am a lost man, and I know no physician for me but yourself." When she heard this, she laughed and said, "No harm shall befall you God willing so Allah please!" Whereupon he rose and went into the house and coming back with an hundred dinars in his sleeve, said to her, "Take this, O my mother, and deal with me the dealing of lords with slaves and succour me quickly for, if I die, a claim for my blood will meet you on the Day of Doom."

Answered she, "With love and gladness; but, O my son, I expect you lend me yours aid in some small matter, by which hangs the winning of your wish." he said, "What would you have me do, O my mother?" she said, "Go to the silk market and enquire for the shop of Abú al-Fath bin Kaydám. Sit you down on his counter and salute him and say to him, 'Give me the face veil you have by you orfrayed with gold:' for he has none handsomer in his shop. Then buy it of him, O my son, at his own price however high and keep it till I come to you to morrow, Allah Almighty willing." So saying, she went away and he passed the night upon live coals of the Ghaza wood. Next morning he took a thousand ducats in his pocket and repairing to the silk market, sought out the shop of Abu al-Fath to whom he was directed by one of the merchants. He found him a man of dignified aspect, surrounded by pages, eunuchs and attendants; for he was a merchant of great wealth and consideration befriended by the Caliph; and of the blessings which Allah the Most High had bestowed upon him was the damsel who had ravished the young man's heart. She was his wife and had not her match for beauty, nor was her like to be found with any of the sons of the Kings. The young man saluted him and Abu al-Fath returned his salam and bade him be seated. So he sat down by him and said to him, "O merchant, I wish to look at such a face veil." Accordingly he bade his slave bring him a bundle of silk from the inner shop and opening it, brought out a number of veils, whose beauty amazed the youth. Among them was the veil he sought; so he bought it for fifty gold pieces and bore it home well pleased.—

When it was the Six Hundredth night

; and she answered, "I, such an one." Now the damsel knew her for a friend of her mother so, when she heard her voice, she came out and opening the door to her said, "What brought you here, O my mother? My mamma has left me and gone to her own house." Replied the old woman, "O my daughter, I know your mother is not with you, for I have been with her in her home, and I come not to you, but because I fear to pass the hour of prayer; Why I desire to make my Wuzu ablution with you, for I know you are clean and your house pure." The damsel admitted the old trot who saluted her and called down blessings upon her. Then she took the ewer and went into the wash house, where she made her ablutions and prayed in a place there. Presently, she came out again and said to the damsel, "O my daughter, I suspect your handmaidens have been in that place and defiled it; so do you show me another place where I may pray, for the prayer I have prayed I account null and void." Thereupon the damsel took her by the hand and said to her, "O my mother, come and pray on my carpet, where my husband sits."

So she stood there and prayed and worshipped, bowed and prostrated; and presently, she took the damsel unawares and made shift to slip the veil under the cushion, unseen of her. Then she blessed her and went her ways. Now as the day was closing Abu al-Fath came home and sat down upon the carpet, whilst his wife brought him food and he ate of it his sufficiency and washed his hands; after which he leant back upon the cushion. Presently, he caught sight of a corner of the veil protruding from under the cushion; so he pulled it out and considered it straitly, when, knowing it for that he had sold to the young man, he at once suspected his wife of unchastity. Thereupon he called her and said, "from where had you this veil?" And she swore an oath to him, saying, "None has come to me but you." The merchant was silent for fear of scandal, and said to himself, "If I open up this chapter, I shall be put to shame before all Baghdad;" for he was one of the intimates of the Caliph and so he could do nothing save hold his peace. So he asked no questions, but said to his wife, whose name was Mahziyah, "It has reached me that your mother lies ill of heart ache and all the women are with her, weeping over her; Why I order you to go to her."

Accordingly, she repaired to her mother's house and found her in the best of health, and she he asked daughter, "What brings you here at this hour?" So she told her what her husband had said and sat with her awhile; when behold, up came porters, who brought her clothes from her husband's house, and transporting all her paraphernalia and what not else belonged to her of goods and vessels, deposited them in her mother's lodging. When the mother saw this, she said to her daughter, "Tell me what has passed between you and your husband, to bring about this." But she swore to her that she knew not the cause of it and that there had befallen nothing between them to call for this conduct Her mother said, "Needs must there be a cause for this." And she answered, saying, "I know of none, and after this with Almighty Allah be it to make provision!" Whereupon her mother fell aweeping and lamented her daughter's separation from the like of this man, by reason of his sufficiency and fortune and the greatness of his rank and dignity In this way things abode some days, after which the curst, ill omened old woman, whose name was Miryam the Koranist, paid a visit to Mahziyah in her mother's house and saluted her cordially, saying, "What ails you, O my daughter, O my darling? Indeed, you have troubled my mind."

Then she went in to her mother and said to her, "O my sister, what is this business about your daughter and her husband? It has reached me that he has divorced her! What has she done to call for this?" the mother said, "Perhaps her husband will return to her by the blessed influence of your prayers, O Háfizah; so do you pray for her, O my sister, for you are a day faster and a night prayer." Then the three fell to talking together and the old woman said to the damsel, "O my daughter, grieve not for, if Allah please, I will make peace between you and your husband before many days." Then she left them and going to the young merchant, said to him, "Get ready a handsome entertainment for us, for I will bring her to you this very night." So he sprang up and went forth and provided all that was fitting of meat and drink and so forth, then sat down to await the twain whilst the old woman returned to the girl's mother and said to her, "O my sister, we have a splendid bride feast tonight, so let your daughter go with me, that she may divert herself and make merry with us and throw off her cark and care, and forget the ruin of her home. I will bring her back to you even as I took her away."

The mother dressed her daughter in her finest dress and costliest jewels and accompanied her to the door, where she commended her to the old woman's charge, saying, " 'Ware lest you let any of Almighty Allah's creatures look upon her, for you know her husband's rank with the Caliph; and do not tarry, but bring her back to me as soon as possible." The old woman carried the girl to the young man's house which she entered, thinking it the place where the wedding was to be held: but as soon as she came into the sitting saloon,—

When it was the Six Hundred and First night

So the damsel sat down shame fast and in great confusion; but the young man jested and toyed with her and entertained her with laughable stories and loving verses, till her breast broadened and she became at her ease. Then she ate and drank and growing warm with wine, took the lute and sang these couplets,

"My friend who went has returned once more; Oh, the welcome light that such beauty shows! And but for the fear of those arrowy eyes, From his lovely cheek I had culled the rose."

And when the youth saw that she to his beauty did incline he waxt drunken without wine and his life was a light matter to him compared with his love. Presently, the old woman went out and left them alone together to enjoy their loves till the next morning, when she went into them and gave them both good morrow and asked the damsel, "How have you passed the night, O my lady?" Answered the girl, "Right well, thanks to your adroitness and the excellence of your going between." Then said the old woman, "Up, let us go back to your mother." At these words the young man pulled our an hundred sequins and gave them to her, saying, "Take this and leave her with me to night." So she left them and repaired to the girl's mother, to whom she said,

"Your daughter saluts you, and the bride's mother has sworn her to abide with her this night." Replied the mother, "O my sister, bear her my salam, and, if it please and amuse the girl, there is no harm in her staying the night; so let her do this and divert herself and come back to me at her leisure, for all I fear for her is chagrin on account of an angry husband." The old woman did not stop to make excuse after excuse to the girl's mother and to put off cheat upon cheat upon her, till Mahziyah had tarried seven days with the young man, of whom she took an hundred dinars each day for herself; while he enjoyed all the solace of life and coition. But at the end of this time, the girl's mother said to her, "Bring my daughter back to me directly; for I am uneasy about her, because she has been so long absent, and I misdoubt me of this." So the old woman went out saying, "Woe to you Shall such words be spoken to the like of me?"; and, going to the young man's house, took the girl by the hand and carried her away (leaving him lying asleep on his bed, for he was drunken with wine) to her mother. She received her with pleasure and gladness and seeing her in redoubled beauty and brilliancy rejoiced in her with exceeding joy, saying, "O my daughter, my heart was troubled about you and in my uneasiness I offended against this my sister the Koranist with a speech that wounded her."

Replied Mahziyah, "Rise and kiss her hands and feet, for she has been to me as a servant in my hour of need, and if you do it not you are no mamma of mine, nor am I your girl." So the mother went up at once to the old woman and made her peace with her. Meanwhile, the young man recovered from his drunkenness and missed the damsel, but congratulated himself on having enjoyed his desire. Presently, Miryam the old Koranist came in to him and saluted him, saying, "What think you of my feat?" he said, "Excellently well conceived and contrived of you was that same." Then she said, "Come, let us mend what we have marred and restore this girl to her husband, for we have been the cause of their separation and it is unrighteous." he asked, "How shall I do?" and she answered, "Go to Abu al-Fath's shop and salute him and sit down by him, till you see me pass by, when do you rise in haste and catch hold of my dress and abuse me and threaten me, demanding of me the veil. And do you say to the merchant, You know, O my lord, the face veil I bought of you for fifty dinars? It so chanced that my handmaid put it on and burnt a corner of it by accident; so she gave it to this old woman, who took it, promising to get it fine drawn and return it, and went away, nor have I seen her from that day to this.' " "With joy and good will," replied the young man, and rising directly, walked to the shop of the silk merchant, with whom he sat awhile till behold, the old woman passed telling her beads on a rosary she held in hand; whereupon he sprang up and laying hold of her dress began to abuse and rail at her, whilst she answered him with fair words, saying, "Indeed, my son, you are excusable."

So the people of the bazar flocked round the two, saying, "What is the matter?" and he replied, "O folk, I bought of this merchant a veil for fifty dinars and gave it to my slave girl, who wore it awhile, then sat down to fumigate it with perfume. Presently, a spark flew out of the censer and, lighting on the edge of the veil, burnt a hole in it. So we committed it to this pestilent old woman, that she might give it to who should fine draw it and return it to us; but from that time we have never set eyes on her again till this day." Answered the old woman, "This young man speaks truth. I had the veil from him, but I took it with me into one of the houses where I am wont to visit and forgot it there, nor do I know where I left it; and, being a poor woman, I feared its owner and dared not face him." Now the girl's husband was listening to all they said,—

When it was the Six Hundred and Second night

And he praised the Lord who had discovered to him the truth. Then he accosted the old woman and said to her, "Do you use to visit us?" she replied, "O my son, I visit you and other than you, for the sake of alms; but from that day to this, none has given me news of the veil." Asked the merchant, "Have you enquired at my house?" and she answered, "O my lord, I did indeed go to your house and ask; but they told me that the person of the house had been divorced by the merchant; so I went away and asked no farther; nor have I enquired of anybody else until this day." Hereupon the merchant turned to the young man and said, "Let the old woman go her way; for the veil is with me." So saying he brought it out from the shop and gave it to the fine drawer before all present. Then he betook himself to his wife and, giving her something of money, took her to himself again, after making abundance of excuses to her and asking pardon of Allah, because he knew not what the old woman had done. (Said the Wazir), "This then, O King, is an instance of the malice of women and for another to the same purport, I have heard tell the following tale anent