Thousand & One Nights: 181st Night: The Wealthy Man & The Slave Girl - 11

The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that the maid said to Abu al-Hasan:

I tried to revive her, rubbing her feet and sprinkling her with rose water.  When she came to herself, I said to her, "Tonight you are going to bring ruin on yourself and on all your household.  By the life of your beloved, steel yourself and be patient, even though you are going through hell."

Shams al-Nahar replied, "Can anything happen to me worse than death, which will deliver me from torment?"

While we were talking, another girl, called Dawn of the Forlorn began to sing the following verses:

They say, patience bring consolation 
Without him how can I be patient?
At our last embrace we pledged: cut 
The cords of patience with our paths.

When Shams al-Nahar heard the song, she swooned again, and the Commander of the Faithful noticed her and rushed to her, and when he looked at her she seemed almost dead.  He bade wine be removed and each girl return to her chamber, while he spent the rest of the night with Shams al-Nahar, who remained unconscious.

When she awoke in the morning, the Commander of the Faithful, not knowing what ailed her and unaware of her passion, summoned the physicians and ordered them to treat her.  He stayed with her until he thought she was beginning to feel better.  Then he left a group of his concubines and maids with her and returned to his quarters, still concerned about her health.  In the morning she bade me to go to you and bring her news of my lord Ali ibn Bakkar.

Abu al-Hasan replied, "I have already told you what had happened to Ali ibn Bakkar, and how he feels.  Convey my greetings to Shams al-Nahar; do all you can, to counsel her, and spare no effort to keep her secret hidden.  I myself will acquaint the young man with what you have told me about her."
The girl thanked him, took her leave and departed.

Later, Abu al-Hasan gave the following account:

I spent the rest of the day by buying and selling.  Then I went to Ali ibn Bakkar.  I found him in the same condition in which I had left him.  He welcomed me, but he looked dismayed. He said to me, "Lord, I did not dispatch anyone to reassure you, knowing the burden that I have placed on you and for which I shall be thankful to you to the end of my days."

I replied, "Leave this talk, Could I ransom you with my life, I would give my life for you, and could I protect you with my eyes, I could give my eyes for you.  Today Shams al-Nahar's maid came to see me." Abul al-Hasan repeated to him what the maid had told him.  But the young man's torment grew worse, and he fretted, lamented and wept, wondering what to do about this misfortune.  Then he asked Abu al-Hasan to spend the night with him. He agreed to, but he slept very little.

Next dawn, Abu al-Hasan left the young man and went to his shop, where he found the maid already waiting for him.  He met her before opening his shop.  She saluted him, conveyed the greetings of her mistress, and asked him, "How is my lord Ali ibn Bakkar?"

"He is the same, how is your lady?"
"She is worse.  She wrote him a letter, and give it to me, and she said bring an answer and do whatever Abu al-Hasan bids you." 
Without opening my shop I returned to Ali ibn Bakkar, and the maid followed me with the letter.

Morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.





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