Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/208

182 however, which is better than bees’ honey; and where will be the harm, if it be with drip-honey?’

Marouf was ashamed to object, because the cook was to have patience with him for the price, and said, ‘Give it me with drip-honey.’ So he fried it for him with butter and drenched it with drip-honey, till it was fit to present to kings. Then he said to him, ‘Dost thou want bread and cheese?’ And Marouf answered, ‘Yes.’ So he gave him four paras’ worth of bread and one of cheese, and the vermicelli was ten paras. Then said he, ‘Know, O Marouf, that thou owest me fifteen paras, so go to thy wife and make merry and take this para for the bath; and thou shalt have credit for a day or two or three till God provide thee. And straiten not thy wife, for I will have patience with thee till such time as thou shalt have money to spare.’ So Marouf took the vermicelli and bread and cheese and went away, with a heart at ease, blessing the cook and saying, ‘Extolled be Thy perfection, O my Lord! How bountiful art Thou!’

When he came home, his wife said to him, ‘Hast thou brought the vermicelli?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he and set it before her. She looked at it and seeing that it was dressed with cane-honey, said to him, ‘Did I not bid thee bring it with bees’ honey? Wilt thou do contrary to my wish and have it dressed with cane-honey?’ He excused himself to her, saying, ‘I bought it not save on credit;’ but she answered, ‘This talk is idle; I will not eat it, save with bees’ honey.’ And she was wroth with it and threw it in his face, saying, ‘Begone, thou cuckold, and bring me other than this!’ Then she dealt him a buffet on the chops and knocked out one of his teeth. The blood ran down upon his breast and for stress of anger he smote her one slight blow on the head; whereupon she clutched his