Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/207

181 bring me this night vermicelli dressed with bees’ honey.’ ‘So God the Most High vouchsafe me its price,’ answered he, ‘I will bring it thee. By Allah, I have no money to-day, but our Lord will provide.’ ‘I have nothing to do with that,’ rejoined she. ‘Whether He provide or not, look thou come not to me save with the vermicelli and bees’ honey thereon; else will I make thy night like unto thy fortune whenas thou marriedst me and fellest into my hand.’ Quoth he, ‘God is bountiful!’ and went out, full of trouble. He prayed the morning prayermorning-prayer [sic] and opened his shop, saying, ‘I beseech thee, O Lord, to vouchsafe me the price of the vermicelli and save me from the mischief of yonder wicked woman this night!’

He sat in the shop till midday, but no work came to him and his fear of his wife redoubled. So he arose and shutting his shop, went out, knowing not how he should do in the matter of the vermicelli, for that he had not [even] wherewithal to buy bread. Presently he came to the shop of the vermicelli-seller and stood before it, perplexed, whilst his eyes filled with tears. The cook glanced at him and said, ‘O Master Marouf, why dost thou weep? Tell me what ails thee?’ So he acquainted him with his case, saying, ‘My wife is a curst shrew and would have me bring her vermicelli; but I have sat in my shop half the day and have gotten nought, not even the price of bread; wherefore I am in fear of her.’ The cook laughed and said, ‘No harm shall come to thee. How many pounds wilt thou have?’ ‘Five pounds,’ answered Marouf. So the cook weighed him out five pounds of vermicelli and said to him, ‘I have butter, but no bees’ honey. Here is drip-honey,