Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/64

46 the murderer to death and sending for Ibrahim, smiled in his face and said to him, ‘Tell me thy story and that which hath betided thee.’ So he told him his story from first to last, and it was grievous to the Khalif, who called Mesrour, his swordbearer, and said to him, ‘Go straightway and fall upon the house of Aboulcasim es Sendelani and bring me him and the young lady.’ So he went forth at once and breaking into the house, found Jemileh bound with her hair and nigh upon death. So he loosed her and taking the painter, carried them both to the Khalif, who marvelled at Jemileh’s beauty. Then he turned to Es Sendelani and said, ‘Take him and cut off his hands, wherewith he beat this young lady; then crucify him and deliver his goods and possessions to Ibrahim.’

They did his bidding, and as they were thus, in came Aboulleith, governor of Bassora, the lady Jemileh’s father, seeking aid of the Khalif against Ibrahim ben el Khesib and complaining to him that the latter had taken his daughter. Quoth Er Reshid, ‘He hath been the means of delivering her from torture and death.’ Then he sent for Ibrahim, and when he came, he said to Aboulleith, ‘Wilt thou not accept of this young man, son of the Sultan of Egypt, as husband to thy daughter?’ ‘Hearkening and obedience [are due] to God and to thee, O Commander of the Faithful,’ replied Aboulleith; whereupon the Khalif summoned the Cadi and the witnesses and married the young lady to Ibrahim. Moreover, he gave him all Es Sendelani’s good and equipped him for his return to his own country, where he abode with Jemileh in the utmost of delight and the most perfect of contentment, till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and glory be to the [Ever-]Living One who dieth not!