Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/82

64 When he saw me, he misdoubted of me exceedingly and said to his attendants, “Hasten and bring me yonder damsel.” So they brought me back to him and raised the veil from my face, which when he saw, he knew me and questioned me of my case. I told him the whole truth, hiding nought, and when he heard my story, he bethought himself awhile, then rose and going into Shejeret ed Durr’s chamber, said to her, “How couldst thou prefer one of the sons of the merchants before me?” She kissed the earth before him and told him her story from first to last, in accordance with the truth; wherewith he had compassion upon her and his heart relented to her and he excused her by reason of love and its conditions. Then he went away and her servant came in to her and said, “Be of good cheer; for, when thy lover came before the Khalif, he questioned him and he told him that which thou toldest him, word by word.”

Presently the Khalif returned and calling me before him, said to me, “What made thee dare to violate the palace of the Khalifate?” “O Commander of the Faithful,” answered I, “it was my ignorance and passion and my confidence in thy clemency and generosity that led me to this.” And I wept and kissed the earth before him. Then said he, “I pardon you both,” and bade me be seated. So I sat down and he sent for the Cadi Ahmed ibn Abi Dawud and married me to her. Then he commanded to make over to me all that was hers and they brought her to me in bridal procession in her lodging. After three days, I went forth and transported all her goods and gear to my own house; so all that thou hast seen, O Commander