Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/33

15 I looked and behold, my child amongst them. So I threw myself upon him and said, ‘O folk, this is my child: how came ye by him?’ ‘As we were sailing along [yesterday],’ quoth they, ‘the ship suddenly stood still in the sea and behold, [that which stayed us was] a [sea] beast, as it were a great city, and this child on its back, sucking his thumbs; so we took him up into the ship.’ When I heard this, I told them all that had befallen me and returned thanks to my Lord and vowed to Him that I would never stir from His House nor swerve from His service [whilst I lived]; and since then, I have never required of Him aught but He hath given it me.’

When she had made an end of her story (adds the Seyyid), I put my hand to my alms-pouch and would have given to her, but she exclaimed, ‘Away, idle man! Have I not told thee of His bounties and the graciousness of His dealings [with me] and shall I take an alms from other than His hand?’ And I could not prevail with her to take aught of me; so I left her and went away, reciting the following verses:

And she ceased not from the service of her Lord, cleaving unto His [Holy] House, till death came to her.