you do not so much as vouchsafe to look upon her:  she is wearied with standing so long; bid her at least sit down.  I will give no answer to this discourse, which will increase their surprise and grief; they will lay themselves at my feet; and, after they have done so a considerable time, begging me to relent, I will at last lift up my head, and give her a careless look.  Afterwards I will return to my former posture; and then will they think that my wife is not well enough, nor handsome enough dressed, and will take her to her closet to change her apparel.  At the same time I will get up and put on a more magnificent suit than before:  they will return and hold the discourse with me as before; and I shall have the pleasure not so much as to look upon my wife, till they have prayed and entreated as long as they did at first.  Thus I will begin, on the first day of marriage, to teach her what she is to expect during the rest of her life.

After the ceremonies of the marriage are over, said Alnaschar, I will take from one of my servants, who shall be about me, a purse of five hundred pieces of gold, which I will give to the tire-women, that they may leave me alone with my spouse.  “When they are retired, my wife shall go to bed first, and then I will lie down beside her, with my back towards her, and will not speak even one word to her the whole night.  The next morning she will certainly complain of my contempt of her, and of my pride, to her mother, the grand vizier’s wife, which will rejoice me extremely.  Her mother will then wait upon me, respectfully kiss my hands, and say to me, Sir, (for she will not dare to call me her son-in-law, for fear of provoking me by such familiarity), I pray you not to disdain my daughter, by refusing to approach her:  I assure you that her chief study is to please you; and that she loves you with all her heart.  But my mother-in-law might as well hold her peace; I will not make her the least answer, but keep my gravity.  Then she will prostrate herself at my feet, kiss them, and say to me, Sir, is it possible that you can suspect my daughter’s chastity?  I assure you that I never let her go out of my sight.  You are the first man that ever saw her face; do not, then, mortify her so much.  Do her the favour to look upon her, to speak to her, and confirm her in her good intentions to satisfy you in every thing.  But nothing of this shall prevail; upon which my mother-in-law will take a glass of wine, and, putting it into the hand of her daughter, will say, Go, present him with this glass of wine yourself; perhaps he will not be so cruel as to refuse it from so fair a hand.  My wife will come with the glass, and stand trembling before me; and when she finds that I do not look towards her, and that I continue my disdain, she will say to me, with tears in her eyes, My heart! my dear soul! my amiable lord!  I conjure you, by the favours which Heaven bestows upon you, to receive this glass of wine from the hand of your most humble servant!  But I will not look upon her still, nor answer her.  My charming spouse! she will then say, redoubling her tears, and putting the glass to my mouth, I will never leave off till I prevail with you to drink!  Then, being fatigued with her entreaties, I will dart a terrible look at her, give her a good box on the cheek, and such a kick with my foot, as will throw her quite off the alcove.