The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 16 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 591 pages of information about The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 16.

The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 16 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 591 pages of information about The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 16.
sent the dinar to thee desireth to mate with thee;” and quoth she, “An he can pay me my dower and my money down,[FN#95] I will become his bride.”  Hereat Ja’afar said in his thought, “whence can the Prince of True Believers find her dower and her money down?  Doubtless we shall have to ask a loan for him;"[FN#96] and presently he enquired of her what might be the amount of both.  Replied she, “As for the pin-money, this shall be the annual revenue of Ispahan, and the income of Khorasan-city shall form the settlement.”  So Ja’afar wagged his head and going back to the Commander of the Faithful repeated her terms; wherewith Harun was satisfied and bespake him, “Hie thee to her and say, ’He hath accepted this and thou hast professed thyself contented.’” Hearing his words she rejoined, “What be his worth, yonder man, and how may he attain unto such sum?” and he retorted, “Of a truth he is the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid.”  When this reply reached her ears she veiled her hands and feet crying, “To Allah be laud and gratitude;” adding to Ja’afar, “An he be the Prince of True Believers, I am satisfied therewith.”  Accordingly the Wazir returned to the Caliph and reported her consent, whereafter the twain repaired homewards and the Caliph despatched to her a duenna and a train of handmaidens who went and bore her to the Hammam within the palace and bathed her.  Then they brought her out and robed her in sumptuous raiment, such as becometh the women of the Kings, and ornaments and jewellery and what not:  after which they led her to a fine apartment which was set apart and private for her wherein also were meat and drink and furniture, arras[FN#97] and curtains and all necessaries of such sort.  In fine they fared to the Caliph and apprized him of what they had done and he presently gave command to summon the four Kazis who wrote her marriage-lines.  When it was night he paid her the first visit and taking seat opposite her he asked, “Daughter of whom mayst thou be amongst the folk that thou demandedst of me this dower?” “Allah advance in honour the Commander of the Faithful,” answered she; “verily thy hand-maid is of the seed of Kisra Anushirwan; but the shifts of time and tide brought me down and low down.”  Replied he, “They relate that thine ancestor, the Chosroe, wronged his lieges with mighty sore wronging;"[FN#98] and she rejoined, “Wherefor and because of such tyranny over the folk hath his seed come to beg their bread at the highway-heads.”  Quoth he, “They also make mention of him that in after-times he did justice to such degree that he decided causes between birds and beasts;” and quoth she, “Wherefor hath Allah exalted his posterity from the highway-head and hath made them Harim to the Prince of True Believers.”  Hearing this the Caliph was wroth with mighty great wrath[FN#99] and sware that he would not go in unto her for full told year, and arising forthright went forth from her.  But when the twelvemonth had passed and the fete-day of Arafat came round again,
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The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 16 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.