Thousand & One Nights: 177th Night: The Wealthy Man & The Slave Girl - 7

The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, when Ali ibn Bakkar and his friend Abu al-Hasan al-Attar heard what the girl said, they were terrified.  But Shams al-Nahar laughed and said to the girl, "Stall them while we cover our tracks."

Abul al-Hasan related later, what happened next: Still looking at the young man, Shams al-Nahar forced herself to rise, and bidding the doors of the alcove be shut and the drapes be drawn upon us, she closed doors of the hall behind her and went out into the garden.  Then she  bade the other couches be removed, seated herself in her couch, and bade one of her damsels sit and rub her feet.  Then she said to one of the maids, 'Give them permission to come in.'  The three chief eunuchs came with twenty eunuchs, all dressed in elegant and  beautiful uniforms, girdled with golden belts, with swords in their hands.  They saluted in the best of manners, and Shams al-Nahar saluted back and received them with respect and good cheer.

Then turning to Masrur she asked, "What is your wish?"

He replied, "The Commander of the Faithful saluted you and inquires after your health.  He longs to see you and sends me to inform you that this has been such a joyous day that he wishes to culminate his joy by seeing you and spending the night with you in your quarters.  Adorn your apartment and make yourself ready to receive him."  She kissed the ground before him and said, "I hear and obey the command of God and the Commander of the Faithful."  Then she turned to the damsel and bid her bring the housekeepers, who came and busied themselves around 

the garden and apartment, for although the apartment was perfectly ready with carpets, drapes, and everything else, Shams al-Nahar wanted to make show of her compliance with the command.  Then she said to the eunuchs, "Go with God's protection and care and tell the Commander of the Faithful, what you have seen, so that he may wait while until I may arrange the furniture and make the place ready."

The eunuchs left hurriedly.  Shams al-Nahar rose and went to her beloved and his friend.  They looked like startled birds.  She embraced Nur al-Din Ali, pressing him hard to her breast, and wept bitterly. He said to her, "O my lady, this separation will lead to my destruction and death.  May God grant me patience until I see you again, and may he grant me another opportunity to be with you."

She replied, "You yourself will leave safely; your passion will remain concealed, your love will be safeguarded, and no one will know how you feel.  I however, will face doom and destruction, for the Caliph expects, what he is used to from me, something in which I can no longer satisfy him because of my great love for you and my grief at parting from you.  With what voice shall I sing for him and with what heart shall I face him and take care of him?  With what strength shall I serve him, with what 

mind shall I speak with those who will come with him, and with what wit

shall I exceed them in gaining his favour?"  

Abu al-Hasan al-Attar said to her, "I implore you to steal yourself and be as patient as you can tonight, and may the beneficent God unite you again."

He related later, "While we were conversing, came a damsel, who said, "The eunuchs are approaching 

while you are still standing here.". Shams al-Nahar replied, "Listen you, hurry, take them upstairs to the gsllery overlooking the garden, and when it gets dark, help them go home graciously."  

The damsel replied, "I hear and obey."

Then, Shams al-Nahar bade goodbye to them and left, hardly able to walk, while her maid took the two men to the upstairs gallery, which had many chambers, with one side overlooking the garden and another overlooking the Tigris River.  She seated them and, closing the door on them, left them until it was dark.

Morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.