Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/326

300 When the Cadi heard this, his colour changed and he was troubled and waxed exceeding wroth and was like to burst for excess of rage. Then said he to the merchant, “God forbid that this should be! How shall it be permitted that the daughter of the Cadi of the Muslims abide with a man of the dancers and vile of origin? By Allah, except thou divorce her forthright, I will bid beat thee and cast thee into prison till thou die! Had I foreknown that thou wast of them, I had not suffered thee to approach me, but had spat in thy face, for that thou art filthier than a dog or a hog.” Then he gave him a push and casting him down from his stead, commanded him to divorce; but he said, “Be clement to me, O Effendi, for that God is clement, and hasten not. I will not divorce my wife, though thou give me the kingdom of Irak.”

The Cadi was perplexed and knew that constraint was not permitted of the law; so he spoke the young merchant fair and said to him, “Protect me, so may God protect thee. If thou divorce her not, this disgrace