Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 8.djvu/267

255 neither speech nor deed, for indeed I have heard tell that many men have come to ruin through their women, and amongst others [I have heard tell of] a certain man who perished, for that he obeyed his wife’s commandment and had to do with her [at an unseasonable time].’ ‘How was that?’ asked the king, and Shimas answered, saying, ‘They tell that THE MAN AND HIS WILFUL WIFE.

A certain man had a wife whom he loved and honoured, giving ear to her speech and doing according to her counsel. Moreover, he had a garden, which he had newly planted with his own hand, and was wont to go thither every day, to tend and water it. One day his wife said to him, “What hast thou planted in thy garden?” And he answered, “All that thou lovest and desirest, and I am assiduous in tending and watering it.” Quoth she, “Wilt thou not carry me thither and show it to me, so I may see it and offer thee up a prayer [for its prosperity], for that my prayers are effectual?” “I will well,” answered he; “but have patience with me till the morrow, when I will come and take thee.” So, on the morrow, he carried her to the garden and entered with her therein.

Now two young men saw them enter from afar and said to each other, “Yonder man is an adulterer and yonder woman an adulteress, and they have not entered this garden but to do adultery therein.” So they followed them, to see what they would do, and hid themselves in a corner of the garden. The man and his wife abode awhile therein, and presently he said to her, “Pray me the prayer thou didst promise me;” but she answered, saying, “I will not pray for thee, until thou fulfil my desire of that which women seek from men.” “Out on