Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 3.djvu/330

302 a proposal of fruition, so henceforward cease from denial and coyness, for the commandment of Allah is a decree foreordained: indeed, I have more reason than thou to fear falling and by sin to be misled; and well inspired was he who said,

My prickle is big and the little one said, ○ Thrust boldly in vitals with lion-like stroke! Then I, 'Tis a sin!; and he, No sin to me! ○ So I had him at once with a counterfeit poke."

When Kamar al-Zaman heard these words, the light became darkness in his sight and he said, "O King, thou hast in thy household fair women and female slaves, who have not their like in this age: shall not these suffice thee without me? Do thy will with them and let me go!" She replied, "Thou sayest sooth, but it is not with them that one who loveth thee can heal himself of torment and can abate his fever; for, when tastes and inclinations are corrupted by vice, they hear and obey other than good advice. So leave arguing and listen to what the poet saith,

Seest not the bazar with its fruit in rows? ○ These men are for figs and for sycamore those!

And what another saith,