Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 4.djvu/111

87 nor speech. I spoke to him, but he answered me not; and one of his servants said to me, “O my lord, if thou know aught of verse, repeat it, and raise thy voice; and he will be aroused by this and speak with thee.” So I recited the following verses:

When he heard this, he opened his eyes and said, “Welcome, O Ibn Mensour! Verily, the jest is become earnest.” “O my lord,” said I, “is there aught thou wouldst have me do for thee?” “Yes,” answered he; “I would fain write her a letter and send it to her by thee. If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt have of me a thousand dinars; and if not, two hundred for thy pains.” “Do what seemeth good to thee,” said I. So he called to one of his slave-girls for inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses:

Then he sealed the letter and gave it to me. I took it and repairing to Budour’s house, raised the curtain of the door, little by little, as of wont, and looking in, saw ten damsels, high-bosomed maids, like moons, and the lady Budour sitting in their midst, as she were the full moon among stars or the sun, when it is clear of clouds; nor