Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 1.djvu/175

157 When I looked at him, my heart inclined to him and I loved him; and he sat down by me and talked with me awhile. Presently the young lady clapped her hands a second time, and behold, a side door opened and there came out a Cadi and four witnesses, who saluted and sitting down, drew up the contract of marriage between me and the young man and retired. Then he turned to me and said, “May our night be blessed! O my mistress, I have a condition to lay on thee.” Quoth I, “O my lord, what is it?” Whereupon he rose and fetching a copy of the Koran, said to me, “Swear to me that thou wilt never look upon another man than myself, nor incline to him.” I did as he wished and he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and embraced me and my whole heart was taken with love of him. Presently they set food before us and we ate and drank, till we were satisfied and night closed in upon us. Then he took me and went to bed with me and ceased not to kiss and embrace me till the morning. I lived with him in all delight and happiness for a month, at the end of which time I asked his leave to go to the bazaar to buy certain stuffs that I wanted, and he gave me leave. So I veiled myself and taking with me the old woman and a serving-maid, went to the bazaar, where I sat down in the shop of a young merchant, whom the old woman knew and had recommended to me, saying, “The father of this young man died, when he was a boy, and left him great wealth: he has great store of goods, and thou wilt find what thou seekest with him, for none in the bazaar has finer stuffs than he.” So she said to him, “Show this lady thy finest stuffs.” And he answered, “I hear and obey.” Then she began to sound his praises; but I said, “I have no concern with thy praises of him; all I want is to buy what I need of him and return home.” So he brought me what I sought, and I offered him the price, but he refused to take it, saying, “It is a guest-gift to thee on the occasion