Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/41

21 him forth and cast him down without the treasure and the doors shut of themselves as before, whilst the waters of the river returned to their bed. When the Moor saw this, he took Jouder up in haste and repeated conjurations over him, till he came to his senses, when he said to him, ‘What hast thou done, O dolt?’ ‘O my brother,’ answered Jouder, ‘I undid all the enchantments, till I came to my mother and there befell between her and myself a long contention. But I made her put off her clothes, till but her trousers remained upon her and she said to me, “Do not dishonour me; for to discover one’s nakedness is forbidden.” So I left her her trousers out of pity, and behold, she cried out and said, “He hath made default: beat him!” Whereupon there came out upon me folk, whence I know not, and beating me till I was nigh upon death, thrust me out; nor do I know what befell me after this.’ Quoth the Moor, ‘Did I not warn thee not to swerve from my directions? Verily, thou hast done ill by me and by thyself: for if thou hadst made her take off her trousers, we had attained our desire; but now thou must abide with me till this day next year.’

Then he cried out to the two slaves, who struck the tent forthright and loaded it [on muleback;] then they were absent awhile and presently returned with the two mules; and they mounted and rode back to the city of Fez, where Jouder abode with the Moor, eating and drinking well and donning a rich dress every day, till the appointed day arrived, when the Moor said to him, ‘Come with me, for this is the appointed day.’ And Jouder said, ‘It is well.’ So the Moor carried him without the city, where they found the two slaves with the mules, and mounting, rode on till they came to the river. Here the slaves pitched the tent and furnished it and the Moor brought forth the tray of food and they ate the morning meal;morning-meal; [sic] after which Abdussemed brought out the wand and the tablets as before