hold； up came Huboub； on her way to do her mistress's errand。 When she saw him； she went up to him and saluting him； gave him the glad news of her mistress's return； saying； 'She hath sent me to bid thee to her。' Whereat he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and she took him and returned with him to the house。
When Zein el Mewasif saw him； she came down to him from the couch and kissed him and embraced him and he her； nor did they leave kissing and embracing till they swooned away for stress of love and separation。 They lay a long while senseless； and when they revived； Zein el Mewasif bade Huboub fetch her a gugglet of sherbet of sugar and another of sherbet of lemons。 So she brought what she desired and they sat eating and drinking till nightfall； when they fell to recalling all that had befallen them； first and last。 Then she acquainted him with her conversion to Islam； whereat he rejoiced and became a Muslim。 On like wise did her women； and they all repented to God the Most High ＇of their infidelity＇。 On the morrow she sent for the Cadi and the witnesses and told them that she was a widow and had pleted the period of purification and was minded to marry Mesrour。 So they drew up the marriagecontract between them and they abode in all delight of life。
Meanwhile； the Jew； when the people of Aden released him from prison； set out homeward and fared on； without stopping； till he came within three days' journey of the city； when Zein el Mewasif heard of his ing and calling Huboub； said to her； 'Go to the Jews' burialplace and there dig a grave and plant on it sweet basil and jessamine and sprinkle water thereabout。 If the Jew e and ask thee of me； answer； 〃My mistress died twenty days ago of chagrin on thine account。〃 If he say； 〃Show me her tomb；〃 take him to the ＇mock＇ grave and weep over it and make moan and lament before him。' （22） And Huboub answered； 'I hear and obey。' Then they laid up the furniture in the storeclosets； and Zein el Mewasif removed to Mesrour's lodging； where he and she abode eating and drinking； till the three days were past； at the end of which time the Jew arrived and knocked at the door of his house。 Quoth Huboub； 'Who is at the door？' And he answered； 'Thy master。' So she opened to him and he saw the tears coursing down her cheeks and said to her； 'What ails thee to weep and where is thy mistress？' Quoth she； 'My mistress is dead of chagrin on thine account。' When he heard this； he wept sore and was confounded and said； 'O Huboub； where is her tomb？' So she carried him to the Jews' burialground and showed him the grave she had dug； and he wept sore and recited the following verses：
Two things there are； for which if eyes wept tear on tear Of blood； till they were like； indeed； to disappear；
They never could fulfil the tithe of all their due； And these are prime of youth and loss of lovelings dear。
Then he wept again and recited these also：
Alas my grief！ My fortitude bewrays me for my fair： Since she I love is gone； I die of misery and despair。
Woe's me for my beloved's loss！ How sore it is on me！ And O the rending of my heart for that I did whilere！
Would I my secret in my time had not revealed and eke The passion in my heart that seethed had still kept hidden there！
I was in all delight of life and solace； now she's gone； To misery and abjectness； alack！ I'm vowed fore'er。
Huboub； thou stirred me to lament with tidings of her death Who of all creatures was my stay and solace against care。
Zein el Mewasif； would to God that severance had not been！ Would he； （23） through whom my soul forsook my body； had been ne'er！
I do repent me of the breach of vows and blame myself For my neglect of her on whom my hopes still builded were。
When he had made an end of saying this； he wept and groaned and lamented till he fell down in a swoon； whereupon Huboub made haste to drag him to the grave and throw him in； whilst he was yet insensible。 Then she stopped up the grave on him and returning to her mistress； told her what had passed； whereat she rejoiced with an exceeding joy and recited the following verses：
Fate swore 'twould plague me without cease nor leave to make me rue： Thine oath is broken； Fate； so look thou fitting penance do。
The censor's dead and he I love conjoined is with me； Up then unto the summoner of joys； and quickly too！
Then she and Mesrour abode with each other in eating and drinking and sport and pleasure and good cheer； till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of panies and Slayer of sons and daughters。
ALI NOUREDDIN AND THE FRANK KING'S DAUGHTER。
There was once； of old days and in bygone ages and times； in the parts of Cairo； a merchant named Tajeddin； who was of the most considerable of the merchants and of the chiefs of the freeborn ＇of the city＇。 He was given to travelling to all parts and loved to fare over desert and down and stony waste and to journey to the islands of the sesame in quest of dirhems and dinars： wherefore he had in his time encountered dangers and suffered hardships of gavel； such as would make little children gray。 He was possessed of slaves and servants； white and black and male and female； and was the wealthiest of the merchants of his time and the goodliest of them in speech； owning horses and mules and Bactrian and other camels and sacks； great and small； and goods and merchandise and stuffs beyond pare； such as Hems muslins and Baalbek silks and brocades and Merv cottons and Indian stuffs and Baghdad gauzes and Moorish burnouses and Turkish white slaves and Abyssinian eunuchs and Greek slavegirls and Egyptian boys； and the coverings of his bales were of goldembroidered silk； for he was abundantly wealthy。 Moreover he was acplished in goodliness； stately of Port and pleasant of position； even as saith of him one of his describers：
A certain merchant once I did espy； Between whose lovers war raged fierce and high。
Quoth he； 'What ails the folk to clamour thus？' ''Tis for thy sake； O merchant；' answered I。
And saith another in his praise lad sail well and acplisheth the wish of him：
A merchant came to visit us； whoso eye Did with its glance my heart still stupefy。
Quoth he； 'What ails thee to be thus amazed？' 'On thine account； O merchant；' answered I。
He had a son called Ali Noureddin； as he were the full moon whenas it waxeth on its fourteenth night； a marvel of beauty and grace； elegant of shape and acplished in symmetry who was sitting one day in his father's shop； selling and buying and giving and taking； as was his wont； when the sons of the merchants enpassed him about and he was amongst them as the moon among stars； with flowerwhite forehead and rosy cheeks； covered with tender down； and body like alabaster； even as saith of him the poet：
A fair one said； 'Describe me well；' And I； 'In grace thou dost excel。
Yea； speaking briefly； all in thee Is lovely and acceptable。'
And as saith of him one of his describers：
A mole on as cheek he hath； as 'twere a grain Of ambergris on alabaster plate；
And swordlike glances that proclaim aloud Against Love's rebels； 'Allah is Most Great。' （24）
The young merchants invited him ＇to go with them＇； saying； 'O my lord Noureddin； we wish thee to go this day apleasuring with us in such a garden。' And he answered； '＇Wait＇ till I consult my father； for I cannot go without his consent。' As they were talking； up came Tajeddin； and his son turned to him and said； 'O my father； the sons of the merchants have invited me to go apleasuring with them in such a garden。 Dost thou give me leave to go？' 'Yes； O my son；' answered his father； 'go with them；' and gave him money。
So he mounted a mule and the other young men mounted mules and asses； and they all rode till they came to a garden； wherein was all the soul desireth and that charmeth the eye。 It was high walled and had a vaulted gateway； with a portico like a saloon and a skyblue door； as it were one of the gates of Paradise。 Moreover； the name of the doorkeeper was Rizwan； （25） and over the gate were trained a hundred trellises of grapes of various colours； the red like coral； the black like negroes' faces and the white like pigeons' eggs； growing in clusters and singly： even as saith of them the poet：
Grapes； as the taste of wine their savour is； I trow： The black thereof in hue are as the corbycrow；
And shining midst the leaves； like women's fingers dipped In henna or the like of dye； the white grapes show。
And as saith another：
Grapeclusters； that show； on their stalks as they sway； Like my body for languishment wasted away。
Like honey and water in vases are they And their juice bees wine； after sourness； one day。
Then they entered the arbour ＇that led into the garden＇ and saw there the gatekeeper sitting； as he were Rizwan； guardian of Paradise； and on the door were written these verses：
A garden watered was of God； until its clusters leant And dangled all and for excess of drink； its branches bent。
When in the Eastern zephyr's hand its sapling dance and sway； The clouds with fresh pearls handsel （26） them for very ravishment。
And within the arbour were written the following verses：
Enter with us； O friend； this garden fair； That cleanses from the heart its rust of care。
Its zephyrs stumble in their skirts ＇for haste＇ And in their sleeve （27） its flowers laugh everywhere。
So they entered and found within fruits of all kinds and birds of all sorts and colours； such as the ringdove and the nightingale and the curlew and the turtle and the cushat； carolling on the branches。 Therein were streams that ran with limpid water and delightsome flowers； and it was even as saith of it the poet：
The zephyr o'er its branches breathes and sways them to and fro； As they were girls that in their skirts still stumble as they go；
And like to swords； whenas the hands of horsemen draw them forth From out their scabbards' enveloped its silver channels show。
And again：
The river passes by and laves the branches with its flood And still it mirrors in its heart the younglings of the wood；
Which when the zephyr notes； it hastes to them for jealousy And forces them to bend away from out its neighbourhood。
On the trees of the garden were all manner fruits； each in two kinds； and amongst them the pomegranate； as it were a ball of silver dross； whereof saith the poet and saith well：
Pomegranates； fineskinned； like the breasts of a maid； Whenas； rounded and firm； to the sight they're displayed。
When I peel them； appear to us rubies galore； Such as well may the wit with amazement invade。
And as quoth another：
To him； who seeks to e at its inside； there are displayed Rubies together pressed and clad in raiment of brocade。
I liken the pomegranate； when I look on it； to domes Of alabaster or to breasts of unpolluted maid。
Therein is healing for the sick and thereanent to us A saying （28） of the Prophet pure tradition hath conveyed。
Yea； and a word most eloquent； written in the Book； （29） thereof God （may His majesty fore'er be magnified！） hath said。 （30）
There were apples； sugar and musk and Damani； amazing the beholder； whereof saith the poet：
The apple in itself two hues； that image to the sight The cheeks of lover and belov