Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/143



THE UNWISE SCHOOLMASTER WHO FELL IN LOVE BY REPORT

Quoth one of the learned, I passed once by a school, wherein a schoolmaster was teaching children; so I entered, finding him a good-looking man and a well-dressed; when he rose to me and made me sit with him. Then I examined him in the Koran and in syntax and prosody and lexicography; and behold, he was perfect in all required of him, so I said to him, Allah strengthen thy purpose! Thou art indeed versed in all that is requisite, thereafter I frequented him a while, discovering daily some new excellence in him, and quoth I to myself, This is indeed a wonder in any dominie; for the wise are agreed upon a lack of wit in childrens teachers.  Then I separated myself from him and sought him and visited him only every few days, till coming to see him one day as of wont, I found the school shut and made enquiry of his neighbors, who replied, Some one is dead in his house.  So I said in my mind, It behoveth me to pay him a visit of condolence, and going to his house, knocked at the door, when a slave-girl came out to me and asked, What dost thou want? and I answered, I want thy master.  She replied, He is sitting alone, mourning; and I rejoined, Tell him that his friend so and so seeketh to console him.  She went in and told him; and he said, Admit him.  So she brought me in to him, and I found him seated alone and his head bound with mourning fillets. So I said to him, Allah requite thee amply! this is a path all must perforce tread, and it behoveth thee to take patience; adding, But who is dead unto thee?  He answered, One who was dearest of the folk to me, and best beloved. Perhaps thy father? No!  Thy brother?  No!  One of thy kindred?  No!  Then asked I, What relation was the dead to thee?; and he answered, My lover.  Quoth I to myself, This is the first proof to swear by his lack of wit.  So I said to him, Assuredly there be others than she and fairer; and he made answer, I never saw her, that I might judge whether or no there be others fairer than she.  Quoth I to myself, This is another proof positive.  Then I said to him, And how couldst thou fall in love with one thou hast never seen?  He replied 