Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/46

28 willing, therefore, in case thou foregather with her and get possession of her, to show her to me, if but for a moment from afar?’ ‘Yes,’ answered Ibrahim, and the painter rejoined, ‘This being so, abide with me till thou set out.’ ‘I cannot tarry longer,’ replied the youth; ‘for my heart is all afire with love of her.’ ‘Have patience three days,’ said Es Sendelani, ‘till I fit thee out a ship, wherein thou mayst go to Bassora.’ So he waited whilst the painter equipped him a ship and stored it with all that he needed of meat and drink and so forth.

When the three days were past, he said to Ibrahim, ‘Make ready for the voyage; for I have equipped thee a ship and furnished it with all thou requirest. The ship is my property and the sailors are of my servants. In the vessel is what will suffice thee till thy return, and I have charged the crew to serve thee till thou come back in safety.’ So Ibrahim took leave of his host and embarking, sailed down the river till he came to Bassora, where he took out a hundred dinars and offered them to the sailors; but they said, ‘We have gotten our hire of our master.’ ‘Take this by way of largesse,’ answered he; ‘and I will not acquaint him therewith.’ So they took it and blessed him.

Then he landed and entering the town, enquired for the merchants’ lodging and was directed to a khan called the Khan of Hemdan. So he betook himself to the market where stood the khan in question, and all eyes were attracted to him by reason of his exceeding beauty and grace. He entered the khan, with one of the sailors in his company, and enquiring for the porter, was directed to an old man of reverend aspect. He saluted him and the porter returned his greeting; after which Ibrahim said to him, ‘O uncle, hast thou a decent chamber?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he and taking him and the sailor, opened to them an elegant chamber, decorated with gold, and said,