Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/126

106 a truth, the king honoureth me with an exceeding honour [in entrusting me] with this damsel.’ And he answeredanswered, [sic] ‘With all my heart.’

When the king had departed on his journey, the vizier said in himself, ‘Needs must I look upon this damsel whom the king loveth with all this love.’ So he hid himself in a place, that he might look upon her, and saw her overpassing description; wherefore he was confounded at her and his wit was dazed and love got the mastery of him, so that he said to her, saying, ‘Have pity on me, for indeed I perish for the love of thee.’ She sent back to him, saying, ‘O vizier, thou art in the place of trust and confidence, so do not thou betray thy trust, but make thine inward like unto thine outward and occupy thyself with thy wife and that which is lawful to thee. As for this, it is lust and [women are all of] one taste. And if thou wilt not be forbidden from this talk, I will make thee a byword and a reproach among the folk.’ When the vizier heard her answer, he knew that she was chaste of soul and body; wherefore he repented with the utmost of repentance and feared for himself from the king and said, ‘Needs must I contrive a device wherewithal I may destroy her; else shall I be disgraced with the king.’

When the king returned from his journey, he questioned his vizier of the affairs of his kingdom and the latter answered, ‘All is well, O king, save a vile matter, which