Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 2.djvu/326

291 dissolved and her reason was overcome by his beauty and elegance. So she said to the old woman, ‘O my nurse this is indeed a handsome youth.’ ‘Thou art in the right O my lady!’ replied the nurse and signed to Taj el Mulouk to go home. So he went away, not daring to cross her though desire flamed in him and he was distraught for love and longing, and taking leave of the gardener, returned to his lodging, where he told the Vizier and Aziz all that had passed. They exhorted him to patience, saying, ‘Did not the old woman know that there was an object to be gained by thy departure, she had not signed to thee to return home.’

Meanwhile, desire and passion redoubled upon the princess, and she was overcome with love-longing and said to the old woman, ‘I know not how I shall foregather with this youth, but through thee.’ ‘God be my refuge from Satan the Accursed!’ exclaimed the old woman. ‘Thou that art averse from men! How comes it that thou art thus afflicted with love of this young man? Though, by Allah, none is worthy of thy youth but he!’ ‘O my nurse,’ said the princess, ‘help me to foregather with him, and thou shalt have of me a thousand dinars and a dress worth as much more: but if thou aid me not to come at him, I shall assuredly die.’ ‘Go to thy palace,’ replied the nurse, ‘and leave me to devise means for bringing you together. I will risk my life to content you both.’ So the princess returned to her palace, and the old woman betook herself to Taj el Mulouk, who rose to receive her and entreated her with respect and honour, making her sit by his side. Then said she, ‘The device hath succeeded,’ and told him all that had passed between the princess and herself. ‘When is our meeting to be?’ asked he. ‘To-morrow,’ replied the old woman. So he gave her a thousand dinars and a dress of equal value, and she took them and returned to the princess, who said to her, as soon as she saw her, ‘O