In short, when I arrived at the city gate, the night was far advanced, and the door-keepers and guards had shut them.  I made much entreaty, and added, “I am a traveller, who has come a long journey, at a great rate; if you would kindly open the gates, I could get into the city and procure some refreshment for myself and my horse.”  They rudely replied from within, “There is no order to open the gates at this hour; why have you come so late in the night?” When I heard this plain answer of theirs, I alighted from my horse under the walls of the city, and spreading my housing, I sat down; but to keep awake, I often rose up and walked about.  When it was exactly midnight, [112] there was a dead silence.  What do I see but a chest descending slowly from the walls of the fortress!  When I beheld this [strange sight], I was filled with surprise, thinking what talisman is this! perhaps God, taking pity on my perplexity and my misfortunes, has sent me here some bounty from his hidden treasure.  When the chest rested on the ground, I approached it with much fear, and perceived it was of wood.  Instigated by curiosity, I opened it; I beheld in it a beautiful lovely woman (at the sight of whom the senses would vanish), wounded and weltering in her blood, with her eyes closed, and in extreme agonies.  By degrees her lips moved, and these sounds issued slowly from her mouth, “O faithless wretch!  O barbarous tyrant!  Is this deed which thou hast done, the return I merited for all my affection and kindness!  Well, well! give me another blow [and complete thy cruelty]:  I entrust to God the executing of justice between myself and thee.”  After pronouncing these words, even in that insensible state, she drew the end of her dopatta [113] over her face; she did not look towards me.

Gazing on her, and hearing her exclamations, I became torpid.  It occurred to me, what savage tyrant could wound so beautiful a lady! what [demon] possessed his heart, and how could he lift his hand against her! she still loves him, [114] and even in this agony of death, she recollects him!  I was muttering this to myself; the sound reached her ear; drawing at once her veil from her face, she looked at me.  The moment her looks met mine, I nearly fainted, and my heart throbbed with difficulty; I supported myself by a strong effort, and taking courage, I asked her, “tell me true, who art you, and what sad occurrence is this I see; if you will explain it, then it will give ease to my heart.”  On hearing these words, though she had scarce strength to speak, yet she slowly uttered, “I thank you! how can I speak? my condition, owing to my wounds, is what you see; I am your guest for a few moments only; when my spirit shall depart, then, for God’s sake, act like a man, and bury unfortunate me in some place, in this chest; then I shall be freed from the tongue of the good and bad, and you will earn for yourself a future reward.”  After pronouncing these words, she became silent.