Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/241

217 When she read this, she had compassion upon him and said to Behram, ‘Sell me this slave.’ ‘O my lady,’ answered he, ‘I cannot sell him, for he is the only slave I have left.’ Quoth she, ‘I must have him of thee, either by purchase or as a gift.’ But Behram said, ‘I will neither sell him nor give him.’ Whereat she was wroth and taking Asaad by the hand, carried him up to the palace and sent to Behram, saying, ‘Except thou set sail and depart our city this very night, I will seize all thy goods and break up thy ship.’ When the message reached the Magian, he was sore troubled and said, ‘Verily, this voyage is every way unfortunate.’ Then he made ready and took all he needed and awaited the coming of the night, to resume his voyage, saying to the sailors, ‘Provide yourselves and fill the water-skins, that we may set sail at the last of the night.’ So the sailors did their occasions and awaited the coming of the night.

To return to Queen Merjaneh. When she had brought Asaad into the palace, she opened the windows overlooking the sea and bade her handmaids bring food. Accordingly, they set food before Asaad and herself, and they ate, after which the queen called for wine and fell to drinking with him. Now God (may He be exalted and glorified!) filled her heart with love for Asaad and she plied him with wine, till his reason fled and presently he rose and left the hall, to do an occasion. Seeing a door open, he went out and walked on, till he came to a vast garden full of all manner fruits and flowers and sitting down under a tree, did his occasion. Then he went up to a fountain in the garden and made the ablution and washed his hands and face, after which he would have risen to go away; but the air smote him and he fell back, with his clothes undone, and slept, and night overcame him thus.

Meanwhile, Behram, the night being come, cried out to the sailors to spread sail and depart. ‘We hear and obey,’