Thousand & One Nights 184th Night: The Wealthy Man & The Slave Girl - 14

The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, when Abu al-Hasan took his leave of the girl and went to his shop, feeling depressed, he began to think about his situation and what the two lovers had done to him, he became convinced that because of them, he was going to lose his business, ruin himself and come to no good.  He continued in such thoughts the rest of that day and night. The next day he went to visit Ali ibn Bakkar and found people congregated there as usual.  He waited until everybody left. When Ali ibn Bakkar began to complain, he said, "Listen! I have never seen or heard of one like you in your love.  Such torment, sickness, and weariness befit the one whose lover is insincear and unfaithful, whereas the woman you love and wish to possess loves you and wishes to be with you.  What would happen to you, if the one you loved was contrary, disdainful, and perfidious?  If you continue like this, your case will be discovered.  Rise, mix with people, and keep yourself busy.  Go riding, excercise, and keep your heart at bay, or else you will surely destroy yourself."  

Abu al-Hasan related later:
He listened my advice, and thanked me, and I took my leave and went to my shop.  What he did afterwards, I was not to find out until much later.

There was a friend of mine, a jeweller by trade, who used to visit me in my shop, and who knew of my involvement in the affair between Ali ibn-Bakkar and Shams al-Nahar.  One day he asked me about her, and I answered him evasively, saying, "All I know is that she is not herself.  I am keeping nothing from you, save perhaps what only God knows.  But yesterday I resolved on a plan on which I would like to consult you.  As you know, I am a well-known man, with dealing among the notables, both men and women, and I fear that the affair of these two may be disclosed, and may become the cause of my death, the seizure of my my goods, and the ruin of my family.  Nor can I disengage from them, after having spent such good times with them; therefore I resolved to settle my debts, set my affairs in order, and prepare myself to go to the city of Basra, where I will live, unknown to anyone, until I see God determines their fate and what comes of their affair.  For love has so possessed them that it will not leave them alone until they perish.  Their go between is a maid who till now has kept their secret, but I fear that she may get vexed with them or find herself in a fix and divulge their secret, make the affair public and cause my ruin.  Should this happen, my own open and rash meddling would be the cause my destruction and death, for I have no excuse for God or man.

Abu al-Hasan's friend replied, "You have acquainted me with a grave matter, the like of which should worry the discerning and frighten the wise. 
Your resolve is a sound one; may God protect you from the harm you dread, and reward you with a good solution."

The Jeweler related later, "Abu al-Hasan asked me to keep this conversation a secret."

Morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.





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