Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 3.djvu/58

40 it! Is it of the sons of Adam or of the Jinn?” She laughed and said, “Verily, thou art even as those of whom the poet speaketh, when as he saith....” And she repeated the following verses:

The old man laughed at her speech and her verses pleased him. Then said she to him, “I desire of thee a lute.” So he arose and brought her a piece of firewood. Quoth she, “What is that?” And he said, “Didst thou not bid me bring thee wood?” “I do not want this,” answered she, and he rejoined, “What then is it that is called wood, other than this?” She laughed and said, “The lute is an instrument of music, whereunto I sing.” Quoth he, “Where is this thing found and of whom shall I get it for thee?” And she said, “Of him who gave thee the wine.” So he arose and betaking himself to his neighbour the Jew, said to him, “Thou favouredst us aforetime with the wine; so now complete thy favours and look me out a thing called a lute, to wit, an instrument for singing; for that she seeketh this of me and I know it not.” “Hearkening and obedience,” replied the Jew and going into his house, brought him a lute. [The old man took it and carried