Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/374

344 old woman turned right and left, as if she knew not of his presence, and said, ‘Who can have taught this youth the way into the garden?’ Quoth Heyat en Nufous, ‘Who shall give us news of him? Glory be to Him who created men! Dost thou know him, O my nurse?’ ‘O my lady,’ answered the old woman, ‘he is the young merchant who wrote to thee by me.’ Quoth the princess (and indeed she was drowned in the sea of her desire and the fire of her passion and love-longing), ‘O my nurse, how goodly is this youth! Indeed he is fair of favour. Methinks, there is not on the face of the earth a goodlier than he!’

When the old woman was assured that the love of him had gotten possession of the princess, she said to her, ‘O my lady, did I not tell thee that he was a comely youth of a bright visage?’ ‘O my nurse,’ replied Heyat en Nufous, ‘kings’ daughters know not the ways of the world nor the manners of those that be therein, for that they company with none, neither give nor take. But how shall I do to present myself to him, and what shall I say to him and what will he say to me?’ ‘What device is left me?’ said the old woman. ‘Indeed, we were confounded in this matter by thy behaviour.’ And the princess said, ‘Know, O my nurse, that if any ever died of passion, I shall do so, and behold, I look for nothing but instant death, by reason of the fire of my love-longing.’ When the old woman heard her words and saw the transport of her passion for him, she answered, saying, ‘O my lady, as for his coming to thee, there is no way thereto; and indeed thou art excused from going to him, because of thy tender age; but follow me and I will accost him. So shalt thou not be put to shame, and in the twinkling of an eye there shall betide familiarity between you.’ ‘Go before me,’ said the princess; ‘for the decree of God may not be averted.’

So they went up to the place where Ardeshir sat, as he