Calcutta (1814-18) Text.

Note.

The following story occupies the last five Nights (cxcv-cc) of the unfinished Calcutta Edition of 1814-18.  The only other text of it known to me is that published by Monsieur Langles (Paris, 1814), as an appendix to his Edition of the Voyages of Sindbad, and of this I have freely availed myself in making the present translation, comparing and collating with it the Calcutta (1814-18) Text and filling up and correcting omissions and errors that occur in the latter.  In the Calcutta (1814-18) Text this story (Vol.  II. pp. 367-378) is immediately succeeded by the Seven Voyages of Sindbad (Vol.  II. pp. 378-458), which conclude the work.

Women’scraft.

It is told that there was once, in the city of Baghdad, a comely and well-bred youth, fair of face, tall of stature and slender of shape.  His name was Alaeddin and he was of the chiefs of the sons of the merchants and had a shop wherein he sold and bought One day, as he sat in his shop, there passed by him a girl of the women of pleasure,[FN#253] who raised her eyes and casting a glance at the young merchant, saw written in a flowing hand on the forepart[FN#254] of the door of his shop, these words, “Verily, there is no craft but men’s craft, forasmuch as it OVERCOMETH women’s craft.”  When she beheld this, she was wroth and took counsel with herself, saying, “As my head liveth, I will assuredly show him a trick of the tricks of women and prove the untruth of[FN#255] this his inscription!”

So, on the morrow, she made her ready and donning the costliest of apparel, adorned herself with the most magnificent of ornaments and the highest of price and stained her hands with henna.  Then she let down her tresses upon her shoulders and went forth, walking along with coquettish swimming gait and amorous grace, followed by her slave-girls, till she came to the young merchant’s shop and sitting down thereat, under colour of seeking stuffs, saluted him and demanded of him somewhat of merchandise.  So he brought out to her various kinds of stuffs and she took them and turned them over, talking with him the while.  Then said she to him, “Look at the goodliness of my shape and my symmetry.  Seest thou in me any default?” And he answered, “No, O my lady.”  “Is it lawful,” continued she, “in any one that he should slander me and say that I am humpbacked?”

Then she discovered to him a part of her bosom, and when he saw her breasts, his reason took flight from his head and he said to her, “Cover it up, so may God have thee in His safeguard!” Quoth she, “Is it fair of any one to missay of my charms?” And he answered, “How shall any missay of thy charms, and thou the sun of loveliness?” Then said she, “Hath any the right to say of me that I am lophanded?  “And tucking up her sleeves, showed him forearms, as they were crystal; after which