Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/96

78 Abdurrehman, ‘the merchants [of whom thou speakest] lack of money; so they send their sons abroad for the sake of profit and gain and the getting of the goods of the world. But I have wealth in plenty nor do I covet [more]: so why should I exile thee [from thy native land?] Indeed, I cannot brook to be parted from thee an hour, more by token that thou art unique in beauty and grace and perfection and I fear for thee.’ But Kemerezzeman said, ‘O my father, nothing will serve but thou must furnish me with merchandise wherewithal to travel; else will I take thee at unawares and flee, though without goods or money. So, if thou wish to pleasure my heart, make ready for me merchandise, that I may travel and divert myself by viewing foreign countries.’

Abdurrehman, seeing his son enamoured of travel, acquainted his wife with this, saying, ‘Thy son would have me provide him with merchandise, so he may travel therewith in strange countries, albeit travel is travail.’ ‘What is there should mislike thee in this?’ answered she. ‘This is the wont of the sons of the merchants and they all vie with one another in glorying in travel and gain.’ Quoth he, ‘Most of the merchants are poor and seek increase of good; but I have wealth galore.’ ‘More of a good thing hurteth not,’ replied she; ‘and if thou comply not with his wish, I will furnish him of my own monies.’ Quoth Abdurrehman, ‘I fear strangerhood for him, for it is rife in trouble.’ But she said, ‘There is no harm in strangerhood, when it leads to gain; and [if we do not according to his wish], our son will go away and we shall seek him and find him not and be dishonoured among the folk.’ The merchant accepted his wife’s counsel and provided his son with merchandise, to the value of fourscore and ten thousand dinars, whilst his mother gave him a purse containing forty jewels of price, the least of the value of one of which was five hundred