Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/66

48 in great concern, said to her, ‘What hath befallen thee?’ Quoth she, ‘Thou sentest to me yesternight men who purposed ill to me, and I have been sore troubled with them.’ At this, he was wroth and going in to the King, made his complaint to him. Now the King loved the two brothers, for that which he had noted in them of virtue and trustworthiness; so he summoned them forthwith and sending for the woman, that he might hear from her own lips what she had to say against them, said to her, ‘O woman, what complaint hast thou against these two men?’ ‘O King,’ replied she, ‘I conjure thee, by the Great God, the Bountiful One, the Lord of the Ninth heaven, bid them repeat the words they spoke yesternight.’ So he said to them, ‘Repeat what ye said and conceal nought thereof.’ Accordingly, they repeated their conversation, and behold, the King gave a great cry and rising from his throne, threw himself upon them, saying, ‘By Allah, ye are my very sons!’ Therewith the woman discovered her face and said, ‘And I am their mother.’ So they were all united and abode in all delight and solace of life, until death separated them. So glory be to Him who delivereth His servant, whenas he resorteth to Him, and disappointeth not his hope and his trust in Him! And how well saith the poet on the subject:

Each thing hath its appointed time, to its predestinate: With God, my brother, to confirm it lies or abrogate. Repine thou not at any thing wherewith thou stricken art; For troubles oft in prosperous times do lie for us in wait. How many an one lies down to sleep, afflicted with what seems A strait, but is at heart a cause of joy and fortunate! How many a wretch, on whom men’s eyes look hatred and contempt, Is by God’s wonder-working grace redeemed from low estate! Lo, this is one who did endure affliction aforetime; Hurt and distress were sore on him and unrelenting fate. Time severed him from those he held most dear, and each from each, After long union of their loves, was forced to separate.