Tales from the Arabic, vol 3 | Page 5

Allah, 'mongst all
creatures, none I love save thee alone! Yea, for I am grown thy
bondman, by the troth betwixt us plight. Peace upon thee! Ah, how
bitter were the severance from thee! Be not this thy troth-plight's
ending nor the last of our delight!

Therewithal the young man was moved to delight and exclaimed, "By
Allah, thou sayest well, O Sitt el Milan! Let me hear more." Then he
handselled her with fifty dinars and they drank and the cups went round
among them; and her seller said to her, "O Sitt el Milah, this is the
season of leave-taking; so let us hear somewhat on the subject."
Accordingly she struck the lute and avouching that which was in her
heart, sang the following verses:
I am filled full of longing pain and memory and dole, That from the
wasted body's wounds distract the anguished soul. Think not, my lords,
that I forget: the case is still the same. When such a fever fills the heart,
what leach can make it whole? And if a creature in his tears could swim,
as in a sea, I to do this of all that breathe were surely first and sole. O
skinker of the wine of woe, turn from a love-sick maid, Who drinks her
tears still, night and morn, thy bitter-flavoured bowl. I had not left you,
had I known that severance would prove My death; but what is past is
past, Fate stoops to no control.
As they were thus in the enjoyment of all that in most delicious of
easance and delight, and indeed the wine was sweet to them and the
talk pleasant, behold, there came a knocking at the door. So the master
of the house went out, that he might see what was to do, and found ten
men of the Khalif's eunuchs at the door. When he saw this, he was
amazed and said to them, "What is to do?" Quoth they, "The
Commander of the Faithful saluteth thee and requireth of thee the
slave-girl whom thou hast for sale and whose name is Sitt el Milah." By
Allah," answered the other, "I have sold her." And they said, "Swear by
the head of the Commander of the Faithful that she is not in thy
dwelling." He made oath that he had sold her and that she was no
longer at his disposal; but they paid no *need to his word and forcing
their way into the house, found the damsel and the young Damascene
in the sitting-chamber. So they laid hands upon her, and the youth said,
"This is my slave-girl, whom I have bought with my money." But they
hearkened not to his speech and taking her, carried her off to the
Commander of the Faithful.
Therewithal Noureddin's life was troubled; so he arose and donned his
clothes, and his host said, "Whither away this night, O my lord?" Quoth
Noureddin, "I mean to go to my lodging, and to-morrow I will betake
myself to the palace of the Commander of the Faithful and demand my

slave-girl." "Sleep till the morning," said the other, "and go not forth at
the like of this hour." But he answered, "Needs must I go;" and the host
said to him, "[Go] in the safeguard of God." So Noureddin went forth,
and drunkenness had got the mastery of him, wherefore he threw
himself down on [a bench before one of] the shops. Now the watch
were at that hour making their round and they smelt the sweet scent [of
essences] and wine that exhaled from him; so they made for it and
found the youth lying on the bench, without sense or motion. They
poured water upon him, and he awoke, whereupon they carried him to
the house of the Chief of the Police and he questioned him of his affair.
"O my lord," answered Noureddin, "I am a stranger in this town and
have been with one of my friends. So I came forth from his house and
drunkenness overcame me."
The prefect bade carry him to his lodging; but one of those in
attendance upon him, by name El Muradi, said to him, "What wilt thou
do? This man is clad in rich clothes and on his finger is a ring of gold,
the beazel whereof is a ruby of great price; so we will carry him away
and slay him and take that which is upon him of raiment [and what not
else] and bring it to thee; for that thou wilt not [often] see profit the like
thereof, more by token that this fellow is a stranger and there is none to
enquire concerning him." Quoth the prefect, "This fellow is a thief and
that which he saith is leasing." And Noureddin said,