Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/118

Rh double globes of ivory; whereat his inclination for her redoubled and he desired her with exceeding hot desire. He would have awakened her but she would not awake, for Dahnash had made her sleep heavy; so he shook her and moved her, saying:

"O my beloved, awake and look on me; I am Kamar al-Zaman."

But she awoke not, neither moved her head; whereupon he considered her case for a long hour and said to himself:

"If I guess aright, this is the damsel to whom my father would have married me, and these three years I have refused her; but Inshallah!—God willing—as soon as it is dawn, I will say to him: Marry me to her, that I may enjoy her; nor will I let half the day pass ere I possess her and take my fill of her beauty and loveliness."

Then he bent over Budur to buss her, whereat the Jinniyah Maymunah trembled and was abashed and Dahnash, the Ifrit, was like to fly for joy. But as Kamar al-Zaman was about to kiss her on the mouth, he was ashamed before Allah and turned away his head and averted his face, saying to his heart: "Have patience."

Then he took thought awhile and said:

"I will be patient; haply my father when he was wroth with me and sent me to his jail, may have brought my young lady and made her lie by my side to try me with her, and may have charged her not to be readily awakened when I would arouse her, and may have said to her:

"'Whatever thing Kamar al-Zaman do to thee, make me ware thereof';

"Or belike my sire standeth hidden in some