Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 2.djvu/123

96 which thou wilt enjoy but a little while and whereof thou wilt be questioned at length and for the rendering an account whereof thou wilt be as a pledge?’ ‘Whither shall I flee,’ asked the King, ‘and where is that I must seek?’ ‘Abide in thy kingship,’ replied the other, ‘and apply thyself to obey the commandments of God the Most High; or else don thy worn-out clothes and devote thyself to the service of thy Lord, till thine appointed hour come to thee.’ Then he left him, saying, ‘I will come to thee again at daybreak.’ So he knocked at his door at dawn and found that the King had put off his crown and resolved to become an anchorite, for the stress of his exhortation.” When Hisham heard this, he wept till his beard was drenched and putting off his rich apparel, shut himself up in his palace. Then the grandees and courtiers came to me and said, “What is this thou hast done with the Commander of the Faithful? Thou hast marred his cheer and troubled his life!”’ But (continued Nuzhet ez Zeman, addressing herself to Sherkan) how many admonitory instances are there not that bear upon this branch of the subject! Indeed, it is beyond my power to report all that pertains to this head in one sitting; but, with length of days, O King of the age, all will be well.”

Then said the Cadis, “O King, of a truth this damsel is the wonder of the time and the unique pearl of the age! Never in all our lives heard we the like.” And they called down blessings on Sherkan and went away. Then said he to his attendants, “Prepare the wedding festivities and make ready food of all kinds.” So they addressed themselves to do his bidding, and he bade the wives of the amirs and viziers and grandees depart not until the time of the wedding-banquet and of the unveiling of the bride. Hardly was the time of afternoon-prayer come, when the tables were spread with roast meats and geese and fowls and all that the heart can desire or that can delight the eye; and all