Thousand & One Nights: 123rd Night The Young Baghdad Man & Zubaida's Maid
The story told by the steward, and later included in her collections by Shahrazad, the frame story teller.
This is the second part of the story.
The merchant of Baghdad sat in his shop in the early morning. No other shops in the market were opened. The lady came riding a she-mule accompanied by two slaves and a eunuch. She dismounted, leaving the she-mule at the gate, entered the only shop opened and sat in front of the young man.
She lifted her veil and looked into the eyes of the man, from whom came a sigh of appreciation when he saw the beautiful face of the lady.
"Do you have any fabrics?" she asked.
He replied, "My lady, your servant is poor, wait until the other merchants open their shops. I will get you whatever you wish." They sat talking for a while, and the young man was beginning to feel an overwhelming passion for her. When the other merchants opened their shops, he rose and went out. Then he returned with the fabrics of her desire. She gave the fabrics to the eunuch and the slave brought her the she-mule. She went out, mounted the she-mule, and rode away. The young man stood dumbfound. She did not leave with him the price of the goods, or the information as to where she lived. The merchant vouched other merchants for the value of the goods and incurred a debt of five thousand dirhams. Then he went home drunk with love.
The break of dawn
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