Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/45

27 refuge in this place, becansebecause [sic] Salih and his men made war on my father and slew his troops and took him prisoner, with some of his men; wherefore I fled, fearing for my life, and know not what fortune hath done with my father.’

When Bedr heard this, he marvelled exceedingly at the strange chance and said in himself, ‘Doubtless I have come to my desire by the taking of her father.’ Then he looked at Jauhereh and said to her, ‘Come down, O my lady; for I am one slain for love of thee and thine eyes have captived me. Know that all these broils and troubles are on thine account and mine; for I am Bedr Basim, King of the Persians, and Salih is my uncle, and he it is who came to thy father to demand thee in marriage. As for me, I have left my kingdom for thy sake, and our meeting here is a rare coincidence. So come down to me and let us go to thy father’s palace, that I may beseech my uncle Salih to release him and take thee to wife according to the law.’ When Jauhereh heard his words, she said in herself, ‘It was on this vile wretch’s account, then, that all this hath befallen and that my father hath been made a prisoner and his guards and chamberlains slain and I constrained to flee far away from my palace and seek refuge in this island, a miserable exile. But, an I go not about with him, to defend myself against him, he will possess himself of me and take his will of me; for he is in love and a lover is not blamed for aught that he doth.’

Then she beguiled him with [fair] words and soft speeches, whilst he knew not the perfidy she purposed against him, and said to him, ‘O my lord and light of my eyes, art thou indeed King Bedr Basim, son of Queen Julnar?’ And he answered, ‘Yes, O my lady.’ ‘May God cut off my father,’ rejoined she, ‘and make his kingdom to cease from him and heal not his heart neither avert from him strangerhood, if he could desire a comelier than thou or