Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/166

 them he hid himself and watched, and when they were all playing and laughing in the water, he laid his hand on his ladylove's feather garment. And when she came to put it on and found it not she shrieked and wept, and all her ladies shrieked and wept with her. But they were obliged to leave her lest they, too, might be deprived of their garments, so she was left alone by the pavilion basin.

And when Hasan heard the beautiful damsel bewail her lot, he sprang from his hiding-place and dragged her down to his own room, where he threw a silken cloak over her and left her weeping. And he went and told the youngest Princess, who came into her and saluted her. And the beautiful captive said: "O king's daughter, how cometh it that you harbor mortal men and disclose to them our case and yours?" And Hasan's sister replied: "O king's daughter, this mortal is perfect and will do thee no harm, for he loveth thee, in sooth, he hath nearly died for love of thee." Then she brought her costly raiment, and ate with her, and ceased not to plead Hasan's cause. And when she had assigned her a chamber in the palace and comforted her, she went to Hasan and said: "Arise, go to her, and kiss her hands and feet." And Hasan went and kissed her, and said: "O Princess of fair ones, I took thee only that I might be thy bondsman till the day of doom, and I ask naught of thee but to take thee to wife after the law of Allah. And when thou wilt I will take thee to my country, and thou shalt have handmaidens of thine own, and my mother