’He whom the randy motts entrap *
     Shall never see deliverance! 
Though build he forts a thousand-fold, *
     Whose mighty strength lead-plates enhance,[FN#227]
Their force shall be of no avail; *
     These fortresses have not a chance! 
Women aye deal in treachery *
     To far and near o’er earth’s expanse
With fingers dipt in Henna-blood *
     And locks in braids that mad the glance;
And eyelids painted o’er with Kohl *
     They gar us drink of dire mischance.’

And how excellently saith another,

’Women, for all the chastity they claim, *
     Are offal cast by kites where’er they list: 
This night their talk and secret charms are shine, *
     That night another joyeth calf and wrist: 
Like inn, whence after night thou far’st at dawn, *
     And lodges other wight thou hast not wist.’"[FN#228]

Now when King Shahriman heard these his son’s words and learnt the import of his verses and poetical quotations, he made no answer, of his excessive love for him, but redoubled in graciousness and kindness to him.  He at once broke up the audience and, as soon as the seance was over, he summoned his Minister and taking him apart, said to him, “O thou the Wazir! tell me how I shall deal with my son in the matter of marriage."- -And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted stay.

     When it was the One Hundred and Seventy-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King summoned his Minister; and, taking him apart, said to him, “O thou the Wazir, tell me what I shall do with my son in the matter of marriage.  Of a truth I took counsel with thee thereon and thou didst counsel me to marry him, before making him King.  I have spoken with him of wedlock time after time and he still gainsaid me; so do thou, O Wazir, forthright advise me what to do.”  Answered the Minister, “O King, wait another year and, if after that thou be minded to speak to him on the matter of marriage, speak not to him privily, but address him on a day of state, when all the Emirs and Wazirs are present with the whole of the army standing before thee.  And when all are in crowd then send for thy son, Kamar al-Zaman, and summon him; and, when he cometh, broach to him the matter of marriage before the Wazirs and Grandees and Officers of state and Captains; for he will surely be bashful and daunted by their presence and will not dare to oppose thy will.”  Now when King Shahriman heard his Wazir’s words, he rejoiced with exceeding joy, seeing success in the project, and bestowed on him a splendid robe of honour.  Then he took patience with his son another year, whilst, with every day that passed over him, Kamar al-Zaman increased in beauty and loveliness, and elegance and perfect grace, till he was nigh twenty years old.  Indeed Allah had clad him in the cloak of comeliness and had crowned him with the crown of