had not long left home, when the brother, instigated
by passion, made love to his sister-in-law, which
she rejected with scorn; being, however, unwilling
to expose so near a relative to her husband, she endeavoured
to divert him from his purpose by argument on the
heinousness of his intended crime, but in vain.
The abominable wretch, instead of repenting, a gain
and again offered his love, and at last threatened,
if she would not accept his love, to accuse her of
adultery, and bring upon her the punishment of the
law. This threat having no effect, the atrocious
villain suborned evidences to swear that they had seen
her in the act of infidelity, and she was sentenced
to receive one hundred strokes with a knotted whip,
and be banished from the city. Having endured
this disgraceful punishment, the unhappy lady was
led through Bagdad by the public executioner, amid
the taunts and scorns of the populace; after which
she was thrust oat of the gates and left to shift
for herself. Relying on Providence, and without
complaining of its decrees, she resolved to travel
to Mecca, in hopes of meeting her husband, and clearing
her defamed character to him, whose opinion alone she
valued. When advanced some days on her journey
she entered a city, and perceived a great crowd of
people following the executioner, who led a young
man by a rope tied about his neck. Inquiring the
crime of the culprit, she was informed that he owed
a hundred deenars, which being unable to pay, he was
sentenced to be hung, such being the punishment of
insolvent debtors in that city. The cauzee’s
wife, moved with compassion, immediately tendered the
sum, being nearly all she had, when the young man was
released, and falling upon his knees before her, vowed
to dedicate his life to her service. She related
to him her intention of making the pilgrimage to Mecca,
upon which the young man requested to accompany and
protect her, to which she consented. They set
out on their journey; but had not proceeded many days,
when the youth forgot his obligations, and giving
way to impulse, insulted his benefactress by offering
her his love. The unfortunate lady reasoned with
him on the ingratitude of his conduct, and the youth
seemed to be convinced and repentant, but revenge rankled
in his heart. Some days after this they reached
the sea-shore, where the young man perceiving a ship,
made a signal to speak with it, and the master letting
down his boat sent it to land; upon which the young
man going on board the vessel, informed the master
that he had for sale a handsome female slave, for whom
he asked a thousand deenars. The master, who
had been used to purchase slaves upon that coast,
went on shore, and looking at the cauzee’s wife,
paid the money to the wicked young man, who went his
way, and the lady was carried on board the ship, supposing
that her companion had taken the opportunity of easing
her fatigue, by procuring her a passage to some sea-port
near Mecca: but her persecution was not to end