As it was then night, the whole apartment of the ladies was lighted up so as to equal the brightness of day.  Nothing was to be heard through the palace but musical instruments, dances, and acclamations of joy.  My bride and I were introduced into a great hall, where we were placed upon two thrones.  The women who attended her made her robe herself several times, according to the usual custom on wedding days; and they shewed her to me every time she changed her habit.

All these ceremonies being over, we were conducted to the nuptial chamber:  as soon as the company retired, I approached my wife; but instead of returning my transports, she pushed me away, and cried out, upon which all the ladies of the apartment came running in to inquire the cause:  and for my own part, I was so thunderstruck, that I stood like a statue, without the power of even asking what she meant.  “Dear sister,” said they to her, “what has happened since we left you?  Let us know, that we may try to relieve you.”  “Take,” said she, “take that vile fellow out of my sight.”  “Why, madam?” I asked, “wherein have I deserved your displeasure?” “You are a villain,” said she in a furious passion, “to eat garlic, and not wash your hands!  Do you think I would suffer such a polluted wretch to poison me?  Down with him, down with him on the ground,” continued she, addressing herself to the ladies, “and bring me a bastinado.”  They immediately did as they were desired; and while some held my hands, and others my feet, my wife, who was presently furnished with a weapon, laid on me as long as she could stand.  She then said to the ladies, “Take him, send him to the judge, and let the hand be cut off with which he fed upon the garlic dish.”

“Alas!” cried I, “must I be beaten unmercifully, and, to complete my affliction, have my hand cut off, for partaking of a dish seasoned with garlic, and forgetting to wash my hands?  What proportion is there between the punishment and the crime?  Curse on the dish, on the cook who dressed it, and on him who served it up.”

“All the ladies who had seen me receive the thousand strokes, took pity on me, when they heard the cutting off of my hand mentioned.  “Dear madam, dear sister,” said they to the favourite lady, “you carry your resentment too far.  We own he is a man quite ignorant of the world, of your quality, and the respect that is due to you:  but we beseech you to overlook and pardon his fault.”  “I have not received adequate satisfaction,” said she; “I will teach him to know the world; I will make him bear sensible marks of his impertinence, and be cautious hereafter how he tastes a dish seasoned with garlic without washing his hands.”  They renewed their solicitations, fell down at her feet, and kissing her fair hands, said, “Good madam, moderate your anger, and grant us the favour we supplicate.”  She made no reply, but got up, and after uttering a thousand reproaches against me, walked out of the chamber:  all the ladies followed her, leaving me in inconceivable affliction.