Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/269

241 of her hair clinked as she went, till they reached the bazaar of the merchants. Presently, they came to the shop of a young merchant, by name Sidi Hassan, who had no hair on his face and was very handsome. He saw the lady coming and fell to casting stolen glances at her, which when the old woman saw, she beckoned to her and said, ‘Sit down in this shop, till I return to thee.’ So Khatoun sat down before the shop of the young merchant, who cast one glance at her, that cost him a thousand sighs. Then the old woman accosted him and saluted him, saying, ‘Is not thy name Sidi Hassan, son of the merchant Muhsin?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he; ‘who told thee my name?’ Quoth she, ‘Folk of repute directed me to thee. Know that this young lady is my daughter and her father was a merchant, who died and left her much good. She is come of marriageable age and the wise say, “Offer thy daughter in marriage and not thy son;” and all her life she hath not come forth the house till this day. Now I have had a divine advertisement and it hath been commanded me in secret to marry her to thee; so, if thou art poor, I will give thee capital and will open thee two shops, instead of one.’

When the young merchant heard this, he said in himself, ‘I asked God for a bride, and He hath given me three things, coin and caze and clothing.’ Then he said to the old woman, ‘O my mother, that which thou proposest to me is well; but this long while my mother saith to me, “I wish to marry thee,” and I reply, “I will not marry, except on the sight of mine own eyes.”’ ‘Rise and follow me,’ answered Delileh, ‘and I will show her to thee, naked.’ So he rose and shut his shop and took a purse of a thousand dinars, saying in himself, ‘Belike we may need to buy somewhat or pay the fees for drawing up the [marriage] contract.’ The old woman bade him walk behind the young lady, so as to keep her in sight, and

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