Thousand & One Nights: 188th Night: The Wealthy Man & The Slave Girl -18

The following Night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that the girl said to the jeweler, "If you tell me the truth, I too, will tell you the truth, and entrust my lady's secret to your care."

The Jeweler related later: I told her what I had told young Ali ibn Bakkar, how I acted with Abu al-Hasan ibn Tahir until I won him over, how I found the letter she had dropped.

"All of this shows my Goodwill," said l, "which I have been reluctant to meddle with.  The girl was astonished, and urged me to swear again to keep the secret of the lovers, while I too made her swear to hide nothing of their affair from me.  Then she took the letter and, sealing it up, said, "I will tell him that it was given to me sealed and that I would like him to seal his own answer with his own seal, so that I may assume no responsibility. I will go to him now, get his answer, stop see you before I take it to Shams al-Nahar." 

She bade me goodbye and went away.

But she was not gone for long before she returned with a sealed letter which read:

In the name of God, Compassionate and Merciful:

Our messenger who did our secrets keep, 

Has now in anger betrayed you and me.

Choose then another one we can trust, 

One who shuns falsehood and loves to be true.

I have neither committed a breach, nor betrayed a trust, neither broken a vow nor severed a friendship. I have met with nothing but affliction after parting, nor ever parted from sorrow, nor have I received any news or have found any trace of the one you have mentioned. I long to be with my love, but she is far away.  I desire reunion, but how can I?  You will know from my looks and disposition, my plight, and from my words my sad state. Peace be with you.

"When I read the letter I wept." The girl who shared the jeweler's feeling and wept with him, said, "Do not meet with Ali ibn Bakkar or leave your house until I return to you tomorrow.  He suspects me, and he is to be excused. And I in turn have suspected him and I too am to be excused, as I will explain later.  I will endeavour in every way possible to bring you together with my lady, whom I left lying prostrate, awaiting news from his confidant."

The Jeweler related later: The next day she came in, looking cheerful.  I asked her the letter, and when she seemed upset and worried, I said to her that she should not worry, fear or grieve that Abu al-Hasan's absence would harm her relation with Ali ibn Bakkar, adding that I had found another man to take his place.  Then I told her about your friendship with Abu al-Hasan, and how you gained confidence, about your relationship with Ali ibn Bakkar, and about our understanding, and how in my distraction I lost the letter, how you found it, and how you agreed to keep the affair secret.  When she heard my account she was astonished and said that she wished to hear it from your own mouth, so that she might find comfort, assure herrself of your 

commitment, and confirm her resolve to carry out what you had kindly offered to do.  So get ready to go with me to her, with Gods blessings and help.

When the jeweler heard the girl's words, he saw that what she proposed was a grave matter, not to be taken lightly, or entered into rashly, and he said to her, " You should know that I am not a man of high rank like Abu al-Hasan, who used his wares for an excuse to enter the Caliph's palace.  Indeed when he used to relate to me what he did there, I trembled with fear.  If your lady wishes to speak with me, it must be in a place other than Caliph's palace. The girl assured him protection, but he was not comfortable.  Finally she assured him that the lady would come to his place, but he must guarantee his presence.  She went away in a hurry, and returned and said, "You must be alone here, and nobody must be with you."

I replied, "There is no one with me."

As agreed the lady came with the girl. The lady was accompanied by two maids. The scent of perfume accompanied her. I sprang to my feet and offered her a cushion. When she was seated I sat before her. She remained silent for a while, and then unveiled herself.  I thought it was a full moon or rising Sun. We exchanged our greetings. She praised me, and she placed her trust and confidence in me.  She inquired about my situation and about my family.  I acquainted with my circumstances. She asked me how I was involved in this affair. I told her about Abu al-Hasan and his distress in the affair because of Ali ibn Bakkar's flickering moods.  She expressed her sadness over the absence of Abu al-Hasan, and invoked blessings on him.  Then she said, "You should know that minds of men are alike in desires, although different in situation and purpose, and although men are diverse in their pursuits, no task is accomplished without speech, no wish is fulfilled without endeavour, and no rest is enjoyed without toil."

But morning overtook Shahrazad and she lapsed into silence.