Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/342

312 a Cadi’s daughter or an Amir’s; but why, O my son, aspirest thou to none but the daughter of the King of the age and the time, and she a clean maid, who knows nought of the things of the world and has never in her life seen aught but her palace in which she dwells? Yet, for all her tender age, she is intelligent, shrewd, vivacious and quick-witted, well-advised and prudent in action. Her father hath no other child than her and she is dearer to him than his life. Every morning he comes to her and gives her good-morrow, and all who dwell in the palace stand in awe of her. Think not, O my son, that any dare bespeak her with aught of these words; as for me, there is no way for me thereto. By Allah, O my son, my heart and bowels love thee and were it in my power to give thee access to her, I would assuredly do it; but I will tell thee somewhat, wherein Allah may haply appoint the healing of thy heart, and will venture my life and my goods for thee, till I accomplish thy desire for thee.’ ‘And what is that, O my mother?’ asked he. ‘Seek of me the daughter of a Vizier or an Amir,’ answered she, ‘and I will grant thy request; but it may not be that one should mount from earth to heaven at one bound.’

When the prince heard this, he replied to her with courtesy and reasonableness, saying, ‘O my mother, thou art a woman of sense and knowest how things go. Doth a man, when his head irketh him, bind up his hand?’ ‘No, by Allah, O my son,’ said she. ‘Even so,’ rejoined he, ‘my heart seeketh none but her and nought slayeth me but the love of her. By Allah, I am a lost man, an I find not one to counsel me aright and succour me! God on thee, O my mother, have pity on my strangerhood and the streaming of my tears!’ ‘By Allah, O my son,’ answered the old woman, ‘thy words rend my heart, but I know not how to help thee.’ Quoth he, ‘I beseech thee of thy favour, carry her a letter and kiss her hands for me.’ So she took