Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/61

43 craft in her. And do thou also make a show of love to her and say to her, “O my lady and light of mine eyes, eat of this parched barley and see how delicious it is.” And if she eat thereof, though it be but a grain, take water in thy hand and cast it in her face, saying, “Quit this human form for—” what form soever thou wilt have her take. Then leave her and come to me and I will counsel thee what to do.’

Bedr took leave of him and returning to the palace, went in to the queen, who said to him, ‘Welcome and fair welcome to thee!’ And she rose and kissed him, saying, ‘Thou hast tarried long from me, O my lord.’ ‘I have been with my uncle,’ answered he, ‘and he gave me to eat of this parched barley.’ Quoth she, ‘We have better than that.’ Then she laid his parched grain in one dish and hers in another and said to him, ‘Eat of this, for it is better than thine.’ So he feigned to eat of it, and when she thought he had done so, she took water in her hand and sprinkled him therewith, saying, ‘Quit this form, vile wretch that thou art, and take that of a one-eyed mule, foul of favour!’ But he changed not; which when she saw, she went up to him and kissed him between the eyes, saying, ‘O my beloved, I did but jest with thee; bear me no malice because of this.’

‘O my lady,’ answered he, ‘I bear thee no whit of malice; nay, I am assured that thou lovest me: but eat of this my parched barley.’ So she took a mouthful of Abdallah’s barley and ate it; but no sooner had she swallowed it than she was convulsed; and Bedr took water in his hand and cast it in her face, saying, ‘Quit this human form and take that of a dapple mule.’ No sooner had he spoken than she found herself changed into a mule, whereupon the tears rolled down her cheeks and she fell to rubbing her muzzle against his feet. Then he would have bridled her, but she would not take the