Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/231

201 and silver.’ So he brought gold and silver and Marouf went round among the merrymakers and gave to each performer by the handful. Moreover, he gave alms to the poor and needy and clad the naked and it was a clamorous festival. The treasurer could not bring money fast enough from the treasury, and the vizier’s heart was like to burst for rage; but he dared not say a word, whilst Ali marvelled at this waste of wealth and said to Marouf, ‘God and the saints [visit this] upon thy head! Doth it not suffice thee to squander the merchants’ money, but thou must squander that of the king to boot?’ ‘It is none of thy concern,’ replied Marouf; ‘when my baggage comes, I will requite the king manifold.’ And he went on lavishing money and saying in himself, ‘A burning plague! What will happen will happen and there is no escape from that which is decreed.’

The festivities ceased not for the space of forty days, and on the one-and-fortieth day, they made the bride’s procession and all the amirs and troops walked before her. When they brought her in before Marouf, he fell to scattering gold on the people’s heads, and they made her a magnificent procession, whilst Marouf expended in her honour vast sums of money. Then they brought him in to her and he sat down on the high divan; after which they let fall the curtains and shut the doors and withdrew, leaving him alone with his bride; whereupon he smote hand upon hand and sat awhile sorrowful and saying, ‘There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the Supreme!’ Till the princess said to him, ‘O my lord, God preserve thee! What ails thee, that thou art troubled?’ Quoth he, ‘And how should I be other than troubled, seeing that thy father hath embarrassed me and done with me that which is like the burning of green corn?’ ‘And what hath my father done with thee?’ asked she. ‘Tell me.’ And he answered, ‘He hath