to them and admitted them. Then the parent and
her children rose up and welcomed them respectfully
and seated them and did them honour and set before
them somewhat of food which they ate and were gladdened.
Presently the King said, “O damsels, ye cannot
but know that the Sultan proclaimed forbiddal of wick-burning;
but ye have lighted your lamps and have not obeyed
him when all the citizens have accepted his commandment.”
Upon this the youngest sister accosted him saying,
“O Darwaysh, verily the Sultan’s order
should not be obeyed save in commandments which be
reasonable; but this his proclamation forbidding lights
is sinful to accept; and indeed the right direction[FN#146]
wherein man should walk is according to Holy Law which
saith, ’No obedience to the creature in a matter
of sin against the Creator.’ The Sultan
(Allah make him prevail!) herein acteth against the
Law and imitateth the doings of Satan. For we
be three sisters with our mother, making four in the
household, and every night we sit together by lamp-light
and weave a half-pound weight of linen web[FN#147]
which our mother taketh in the morning for sale to
the Bazar and buyeth us therewith half a pound of
raw flax and with the remainder what sufficeth us of
victual.” The Sultan now turned to his Minister
and said, “O Wazir, this damsel astonisheth
me by her questions and answers. What case of
casuistry can we propose to her and what disputation
can we set up? Do thou contrive us somewhat shall
pose and perplex her.” “O my lord,”
replied the Wazir, “we are here in the guise
of Darwayshes and are become to these folk as guests:
how then can we disturb them with troublesome queries
in their own home?” Quoth the Sultan, “Needs
must thou address them;” so the Wazir said to
the girl, “O noble one, obedience to the royal
orders is incumbent upon you as upon all lieges.”
Said she, “True, he is our Sovran; but how can
he know whether we be starving or full-fed?”
“Let us see,” rejoined the Wazir, “when
he shall send for you and set you before the presence
and question you concerning your disobeying his orders,
what thou wilt say?” She retorted, “I
would say to the Sultan, ’Thou hast contraried
Holy Law.’” At this the Minister resumed,
“An he ask thee sundry questions wilt thou answer
them?” and she replied “Indeed I will.”
Hereat the Minister turned to the King and said, “Let
us leave off question and answer with this maiden
on points of conscience and Holy Law and ask if she
understand the fine arts.” Presently the
Sultan put the question when she replied, “How
should I not understand them when I am their father
and their mother?” Quoth he, “Allah upon
thee, O my lady, an thou wouldst favour us, let us
hear one of thine airs and its words.” So
she rose and retired but presently returning with
a lute sat down and set it upon her lap and ordered
the strings and smote it with a masterly touch:
then she fell to singing amongst other verses these
ordered couplets:—