In my early years I had a cousin, the daughter of my paternal uncle, who loved me and I loved her whilst her father loathed me. So one day she sent to me saying, "Do you fare forth and demand me in marriage from my sire;" and, as I was poor and her father was a wealthy merchant, she sent me to her dowry fifty gold pieces which I took; and, accompanied by four of my comrades, I went to the house of my father's brother and there arrived I went within. But when he looked upon me his face showed wrath and my friends said to him, "truly, your nephew seeks in marriage the daughter of his uncle;" and as soon as he heard these words he cried aloud at them and reviled me and drave me from his doors. So I went from him well near broken hearted and I wept till I returned to my mother who cried, "What is to do with you, O my son!" I related to her all that had befallen me from my uncle and she said to me, "O my child, to a man who loves you not you go, indeed, to ask his daughter in marriage!"

Whereto I replied, "O mother mine, she sent a message bidding me so do and truly she loves me." my mother said, "Take patience, O my son!" I heartened my heart, and my parent promised me all welfare and favour from my cousin; moreover she was thinking of me at all times and presently she again sent to me and promised me that she never would love any other. Then behold, a party of folk repaired to her father and he asked to wife of him and prepared to take her away. But when the tidings reached her that her parent purposed marrying her to one of those people, she sent to me saying, "Get you ready for this midnight and I will come to you." When night was at its noon she appeared, carrying a pair of saddle bags in which was a something of money and raiment, and she was leading a she mule belonging to her father whereupon her saddle bags were packed. "Up with us," she cried, so I arose with her in that outer darkness and we went forth the town directly and the Veiler veiled us, nor did we stint faring till morning when we hid ourselves in fear lest we be overtaken. And when the next night fell we made ready and set out again, but we knew not where we were going,

The Third Larrikin. 261 for the Predestinator exists and what is decided for us is like Destiny. At last we came to a wide and open place where the heat smote us, and we sat down under a tree to smell the air. Presently, sleep came upon me and I was drowned in slumber from the excess of my toil and travail, when suddenly a dog faced baboon came up to the daughter of my uncle Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet and tasteful is your tale, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I should relate to you on the coming night if the King permits me to survive?"

Now when it was the next night and that was

The Four Hundred and Seventy first Night

Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me,the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Larrikin continued his tale saying to the King:—And as I was drowned in slumber a dog faced baboon came up to the daughter of my uncle and assaulted her and knew her carnally; then, having taken her pucelage he ran away, but I knew nothing of it from being fast asleep.

Now when I awoke I found my cousin was changed of case and her colour had grew pale and she was in saddest condition; so I he asked and she told me all that had happened her and said to me, "O son of my uncle, from Fate there is no flight, even as says one of those who knows:

'And when death shall claw with his firm fixt nail I saw that spells were of scant avail.'

The Third Larrikin. 263

And one of them also said:

When God would execute His will in anything On one endowed with sight, hearing and reasoning, He stops his ears and blinds his eyes and draws his will From him, as one draws out the hairs to paste that cling; Till, His decrees fulfilled, He gives him back his wit, That therewithal he may receive admonishing.' "

Then she spoke concerning the predestination of the Creator till she could say no more of it. Presently, we departed that stead and we travelled till we came to a town of the towns frequented by merchants, where we hired us a lodging and furnished it with mats and necessaries. Here I asked for a Kazi and they pointed out to me one of them amongst the judges of the place whom I summoned with two of his witnesses; then I made one of them deputy for my cousin and was married to her and went in unto her and I said to myself, "All things depend upon Fate and Lot." After that I tarried with her for a full told year in that same town, a disease befell her and she drew close to death. at this she said to me, "in God's name, O son of my uncle, when I shall be dead and gone and the Destiny of Allah shall come upon you and drive you to marry again, take not to wife any but a virgin girl or Perhaps do you wed one who has known man but once; for By God, O my cousin, I will say you nothing but truth when I tell you that the delight of that dog faced baboon who deflowered me has remained with me ever since."

So saying she expired and her soul fled forth her flesh. I brought to her a woman who washes the dead and shrouded her and buried her; and after her decease I went forth from the town until Time bore me along and I became a wanderer and my condition was changed and I fell into this case. And no one knew me or anything of my affairs till I came and made friends with that two men. Now the King hearing these words marvelled at his adventure and what had happened him from the Shifts of Time and his heart was softened to him and he largessed him and his comrades and sent them about their business. Then one of the bystanders to the King said, "O Sultan, I know a tale still rarer than this;" and the King said, "Out with it;" at which the man began to relate