Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/45

27 grace of God the Most High entered into me and I said to myself, “Out on thee! This woman, weak of wit and faith, hath forborne food, till she can endure from it no longer, for stress of hunger; and lo, she refuseth time after time, and thou still persistest in disobedience to God the Most High!” And I said, “O my God, I repent to Thee of that which I purposed!” Then I took the food and carrying it in to her, said, “Eat and [fear not:] no harm shall betide thee. It is for the love of God, to whom belong might and majesty.” When she heard this, she raised her eyes to heaven and said, “O my God, if this man be sincere, I pray Thee forbid fire to do him hurt in this world and the next, for Thou art He that answereth prayer and art powerful to do whatsoever thou wilt!”

Then I left her and went to put out the fire in the brasier. Now the time was the winter-cold, and a hot coal fell on my body; but, by the ordinance of God, (to whom belong might and majesty), I felt no pain and it was borne in upon me that her prayer had been answered. So I took the coal in my hand, (and it burnt me not,) and going in to her, said, “Rejoice, for God hath granted thy prayer!” And she dropped the morsel from her hand and said, “O my God, now that Thou hast shown me my desire of him and hast granted me my prayer for him, take Thou my soul, for Thou art Almighty!” And straightway He took her soul to Him, the mercy of God be upon her! And the tongue of the case recited and spoke the following verses on the subject:

She prayed and God answered the voice of her prayer And the sinner, who wooed her to lewdness, did spare. He showed her her wishes accomplished on him And gave her the death that she sought then and there. She came to his door, hoping succour to get, And sought of him solace to ease her despair.