Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/191

162 'O son of my brother! what hinders thee from choosing the daughter of thy uncle?' I made answer, 'She is to me the dearest of beings created by the Most High; but, verily, when ere now I sought her thou didst refuse me.' He said, 'On the contrary, the refusal was on the part of her mother; and now she is quite reconciled to it and pleased at it.' So I said, 'Do as thou wilt.' Then he returned to his wife and made my words known to her. And she assembled her kindred, and married me to the very girl. After which, I said, 'Hasten as thou wilt to bring me the daughter of my uncle; afterwards I will show thee the jar.' So she was brought to my house, and her mother did not omit anything that is customary amongst the most noble ladies; but led her daughter to me in procession, and provided her with everything that came in her way. And my uncle bought ten thousand dirhems' worth of goods from the merchants. And every morning for some time there came to us gifts and offerings on the part of her relations. But when some days had gone by, my uncle came to me and said, 'O son of my brother! verily I bought from the merchants ten thousand dirhems' worth of goods; and they are