Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/255

227 a beloved enter, who standeth at the door?’ Quoth I, ‘Meseems the plant of my desire hath fruited.’ So I went to the door and found my mistress, with a long green skirt wrapped about her and a kerchief of brocade on her head, to fend her from the rain. She was covered with mud to her knees and all that was upon her was drenched with water from the gutters; in short, she was in a rare pickle. So I said to her, ‘O my lady, what brings thee hither through all this mud?’ Quoth she, ‘Thy messenger came to me and set forth to me that which was with thee of love and longing, so that I could not choose but yield and hasten to thee.’ I marvelled at this, but was ashamed to tell her that I had sent no messenger; so I said, ‘Praised be God that He hath brought us together, after all I have suffered for the pangs of patience! Verily, hadst thou delayed an hour longer, I must have run to thee, because of my much love and longing for thee.’

Then I called to my boy for water, that I might better her plight, and he brought a kettle full of hot water. I bade them pour it over her feet, whilst I set to work to wash them myself; after which I made her doff what she had on and calling for one of my richest dresses, clad her therein. Then I would have called for food, but she refused and I said to her, ‘Art thou for wine?’ ‘Yes,’ answered she. So I fetched cups and she said to me, ‘Who shall sing?’ ‘I, O my lady,’ answered I. But she said, ‘I care not for that.’ ‘One of my damsels?’ suggested I. ‘I have no mind to that either,’ said she. ‘Then,’ quoth I, ‘do thou sing thyself;’ ‘Not I,’ replied she. ‘Who then shall sing for thee?’ asked I. Quoth she, ‘Go out and seek some one to sing for me.’ So I went out, in obedience to her, though I despaired of finding any one at such a time, and fared on till I came to the main street, where I saw a blind man striking the earth with his staff and saying, ‘May God not requite with good