Thousand & One Nights: 189th Night: The Wealthy Man & Slave Girl -19

The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King that Shams al-Nahar admonished the jeweler.

Shams al-Nahar said: 
"No secret is confided without trust nor is an endeavour undertaken without ability; no success is achieved save with the help of generous, nor is a serious matter entrusted save to a man of nobility and honour.  Each man deserves to be honoured according to the kindliness of his intentions, the extend of his application, and the efficacy of his deeds.  As for you, no man exceeds you in humanity and generosity.  You know my secret, understand my situation, and see that I have been driven beyond endurance.  This girl, as you well know, I hold in trust and high favour, for she keeps my counsel and transacts my affairs; therefore, trust her in everything she tells you or asks you to do, and you will be pleased; besides, you will.be safe from any danger, for we will not ask you to come to any place before making sure that it is secure.  She will bring you news from me and act as your go between." After this long passage, she rose, and I saw her to the door of the house, and returned; having seen of her beauty, witnessed her actions, and heard of her speech what dazzled my eyes and captivated my mind.

I changed my clothes and went to Ali ibn Bakkar's house.  His servants rushed towards me from all directions and took me to him.  He was lying prostrate on his bed; and when he saw me, he said, "Welcome!  You have tarried too long and added worry to my worries.  I have not closed my eyes since I last saw you.  Yesterday the girl came to me with a sealed letter," he went on to tell me all that had passed, and added, "I am perplexed, and my patience fails me, for I have neither the knowledge nor the power to find relief, for Abu al-Hasan was of great help and comfort to me because she knew him and liked him."

I laughed and he said, "Why do you laugh at my tears and the tale of my trial and woe?" Then he recited the following verses:

He who laughs at my tears would now have wept, 
Had he suffered like me the pain I know, 
For none can feel compassion for the damned, 
Save one like him who knows protracted woe."

The Jeweler told Ali ibn Bakkar all that had passed since he left.  And when he finished, Ali ibn Bakkar wept bitterly and said, "I am lost.  May God grant me a speedy end.  I have lost all satisfaction, all patience, and all reserve, and were it not for you, I would have wasted away with passion and died of sorrow.  You will be my comfort in my affliction.  I will be your slave, and I will contradict you in nothing, but follow you in everything."

The Jeweler said to him, "O Lord, nothing will quench this fire, save your reunion, but this must not be in my house, which is exposed to danger and harmful consequences, but in another more suitable place of mine.  There, the two of you will meet to converse, complain to each other of your suffering, and renew your vows, and you will be all by yourselves."

He replied, "Do what you wish."
I stayed with him that night, entertaining him with conversation, till daybreak.

Morning overtook, and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.





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