Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/292

 on talking thus to him, whilst he raised not his eyes from the ground, for shame before Allah Almighty and fear of the pains and penalties of His punishment; even as saith the poet,

"'Twixt me and riding many a noble dame, * Was naught but shame which kept me chaste and pure: My shame was cure to her; but haply were * Shame to depart, she ne'er had known a cure."

The man strove to free himself from her, but could not; so he said to her, "I want one thing of thee." She asked, "What is that?": and he answered, "I wish for pure water that I may carry it to the highest place of thy house and do somewhat therewith and cleanse myself of an impurity, which I may not disclose to thee." Quoth she, "The house is large and hath closets and corners and privies at command." But he replied, "I want nothing but to be at a height." So she said to her slave-girl, "Carry him up to the belvedere on the house-terrace." Accordingly the maid took him up to the very top and, giving him a vessel of water, went down and left him. Then he made the ablution and prayed a two-bow prayer; after which he looked at the ground, thinking to throw himself down, but seeing it afar off, feared to be dashed to pieces by the fall. [FN#477] Then he bethought him of his disobedience to Allah, and the consequences of his sin; so it became a light matter to him to offer up his life and shed his blood; and he said, "O my God and my Lord, Thou seest that which is fallen on me; neither is my case hidden from Thee. Thou indeed over all things art Omnipotent and the tongue of my case reciteth and saith,

'I show my heart and thoughts to Thee, and Thou * Alone my secret's secrecy canst know. If I address Thee fain I cry aloud; * Or, if I'm mute, my signs for speech I show. O Thou to whom no second be conjoined! * A wretched lover seeks Thee in his woe. I have a hope my thoughts as true confirm; * And heart that fainteth as right well canst trow. To lavish life is hardest thing that be, * Yet easy an Thou bid me life forego; But, an it be Thy will to save from stowre, * Thou, O my Hope, to work this work hast power!'"