Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/37

19 the princess’s malady returned to her, wherefore great grief betided the king and he gave me much money, saying, ‘Go thou to Saadullah and let him make her another amulet, in the stead of that which is lost.’ So I journeyed to Babel, but found the Sheikh dead; whereupon I returned and told the king, who sent me and ten others to go round about in all countries, so haply we might find a remedy for her: and now God hath caused me happen on it with thee.” So saying, he took the amulet and departed.

As for me, I repaired to Baghdad, carrying all my wealth with me, and took up my abode in the house which I had occupied aforetime. On the morrow, as soon as it was light, I donned my clothes and betook myself to the house of Tahir ibn el Alaa, so haply I might see her whom I loved, for the love of her had never ceased to increase upon my heart. When I came to the house, I saw the balcony broken down and the lattice stopped up; so I stood awhile, pondering my case and the shifts of time, till there came up a serving-man and I questioned him, saying, “What hath God done with Tahir ibn el Alaa?” He answered, “O my brother, he hath repented to God the Most High [and renounced his unlawful trade].” Quoth I, “What was the cause of his repentance?” And he said, “O my brother, in such a year there came to him a merchant, by name Aboulhusn the Omani, who abode with his daughter awhile, till his money was all spent, when the old man turned him out, broken-hearted. Now the girl loved him with an exceeding love, and when she was parted from him, she sickened of a sore sickness and came nigh upon death. When her father knew how it was with her, he sought for Aboulhusn high and low, promising whoso should bring