Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/290

262 did so, and he answered, ‘I know her not; but charge Hassan Shouman to lay hands on her, for he knows her and her daughter also.’ Then Hassan interceded for her with the Khalif, saying, ‘Indeed, she hath played off these tricks, not because she coveted the folk’s goods, but to show her address and that of her daughter, to the intent that thou shouldst continue to her her husband’s stipend and that of her father to her daughter. So, if thou wilt spare her life, I will fetch her to thee.’ ‘By the life of my ancestors,’ said Er Reshid, ‘if she restore the people’s goods, I will pardon her, on thine intercession!’ And he gave him the handkerchief of pardon.

So Hassan repaired to Delileh’s house and called to her. Her daughter Zeyneb answered him and he said to her, ‘Where is thy mother?’ ‘Upstairs,’ answered she; and he said, ‘Bid her take the people’s goods and come with me to the Khalif; for I have brought her the handkerchief of pardon, and if she will not come with a good grace, let her blame none but herself.’ So Delileh tied the kerchief [of truce] about her neck and coming down, gave him the people’s goods on the ass and the Bedouin’s horse. Quoth he, ‘There remain the clothes of my chief and his men.’ ‘By the Most Great Name,’ replied she, ‘it was not I who stripped them!’ ‘Thou sayst sooth,’ rejoined Hassan; ‘it was thy daughter Zeyneb’s doing, and this was a good turn she did thee.’ Then he carried her to the Divan and laid the people’s goods before the Khalif, who, as soon as he saw the old woman, commanded to throw her down on the carpet of blood. Quoth she, ‘I cast myself on thy protection, O Shouman!’ So he rose and kissing the Khalif’s hands, said, ‘Pardon, O Commander of the Faithful! Indeed, thou gavest me the handkerchief of pardon.’ ‘I pardon her for thy sake,’ said Er Reshid. ‘Come hither, O old woman; what is thy name?’ ‘My name is Delileh,’ answered she, and the