Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/115

93 Jew said, ‘The merchants pretend that it is seven-and-twenty months’ journey from their land hither.’ ‘And when does the caravan come?’ asked Janshah. ‘Next year it will come,’ replied his host; whereat the prince wept and fell a-sorrowing for himself and his followers and lamenting his separation from his father and mother and all that had befallen him in his wanderings. Then said the Jew, ‘O young man, do not weep, but abide with us till the caravan comes, when we will send thee with it to thine own country.’ So he abode with the Jew two whole months and every day he went out a-walking in the streets of the city for his diversion.

One day, as he walked about the streets, as of wont, he heard a man crying aloud and saying, ‘Who will earn a thousand dinars and a slave-girl of surpassing beauty and grace, at the price of half a day’s labour?’ But none answered him and Janshah said in himself, ‘Were not the work perilous and difficult, he would not offer such a price for half a day’s labour.’ Then he accosted the crier and said to him, ‘I will do the work.’ So the man took him by the hand and carried him to a lofty and splendid house, where they found a Jew merchant seated on a chair of ebony, to whom said the crier, ‘O merchant, I have cried [for thee] every day these three months, and none hath answered, save this young man.’ The Jew bade Janshah welcome and taking him by the hand, carried him into a magnificent saloon and called for food. So the servants spread the table and set on all manner meats, of which the merchant and Janshah ate and washed their hands. Then wine was set on and they drank; after which the Jew rose and bringing Janshah a purse of a thousand dinars and a slave-girl of ravishing beauty, said to him, ‘Take the girl and money to thy hire. The work thou shalt do to-morrow.’ So saying, he withdrew and Janshah lay with the damsel that night.