Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/148

124 me my mistress.’ Accordingly they brought a brasier of gold and setting it before him, kindled therein fire and cast on drugs, whereupon there arose therefrom green and blue and yellow flames and the King and all who were present prostrated themselves before the brasier, whilst Gherib and Sehim ceased not to magnify God and attest His greatness and omnipotence. Presently, Muraash raised his head and seeing the two princes standing, said to them, ‘O dogs, why do ye not prostrate yourselves?’ ‘Out on thee, O accursed one!’ replied Gherib. ‘Prostration befits not, save to the Worshipful King, who bringeth forth all creatures into being from nothingness and maketh water to well from the barren rock, Him who inclineth the heart of the father unto his new-born child and who may not be described as sitting or standing, the God of Noah and Salih and Houd and Abraham the Friend, who created Paradise and Hell-fire and trees and fruit, for He is God, the One, the All-powerful.’

When Muraash heard this, his eyes started from his head and he cried out to his guards, saying, ‘Bind these two dogs and sacrifice them to my mistress.’ So they bound them and were about to cast them into the fire, when, behold, one of the merlons of the parapet fell down upon the brasier and broke it and did out the fire, which became ashes flying in the air. Then said Gherib, ‘God is Most Great! He giveth aid and victory and forsaketh those who deny Him and worship the Fire, not the Almighty King!’ Quoth Muraash, ‘Thou art a sorcerer and hast bewitched my mistress, so that this thing hath befallen her.’ ‘O madman,’ answered Gherib, ‘if the fire had soul or movement, it would ward off from itself that which doth it hurt.’ When Muraash heard this, he roared and bellowed and reviled the Fire, saying, ‘By my faith, I will not kill you save by the fire!’