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,