ddin； but his wife withheld him； and he swore； by the oath of divorcement from her； that； as soon as it was day； he would assuredly cut off his son's right hand。 When she heard her husband's words； her breast was straitened and she feared for her son and ceased not to soothe and appease Tajeddin； till sleep overcame him。
Then she waited till the moon was risen； when she went in to her son； whose drunkenness had now ceased from him； and said to him； 'O Noureddin' what is this foul thing thou hast done with thy father？' 'And what did I with him？' asked he。 Quoth she； 'Thou dealtest him a buffet on the right eye and struckest it out； and he hath sworn by the oath of divorcement that； as soon as it is day； he will without fail cut off thy right hand。' Noureddin repented him of that which he had done； whenas repentance profited him nothing； and his mother said to him； 'O my son； this repentance will not profit thee； nor will aught serve thee but that thou arise forthright and seek safety in flight。 Go forth the house privily and take refuge with one of thy friends and there await what God shall do； for He changeth case after case。'
Then she opened a chest and taking out a purse of a hundred dinars； said to Noureddin； 'O my son； take these dinars and provide thyself therewith； and when they are at an end； send and give me to know thereof that I may send thee other than these； and at the same time send me news of thyself privily。 It may be God will decree thee relief and thou shalt return to thy dwelling。' And she bade him farewell and wept passing sore。 Noureddin took the purse and was about to go forth； when he espied a great purse containing a thousand dinars； which his mother had fotten beside the chest。 So he took this also and tying the two purses about his middle； set out before dawn in the direction of Boulac； where he arrived whenas the day broke and all creatures arose； attesting the unity of God the Opener ＇of the gates of sustenance and mercy＇ and went forth each upon his several business； to suffer that which God had allotted to him。
He walked on along the riverbank till he saw a ship with her gangway out and her four grapnels made fast to the land。 The folk were going up into her and ing down from her； and Noureddin； seeing some sailors standing there； asked them whither they were bound。 'To the city of Rosetta；' answered they； and he said； 'Take me e and fair wele to thee； O goodly youth！' So he betook himself forthright to the market and buying what he needed of victual and bedding and covering ＇for the voyage；＇ returned to the port and went on board the ship； which was ready to sail and tarried with him but a little while before it weighed anchor and fared on； without stopping； till it reached Rosetta； where Noureddin saw a small boat going to Alexandria。 So he embarked in it and traversing the ＇Mehmoudiyeh＇ canal； fared on till he came to a bridge called El Jami； where he landed and entered Alexandria by the gate called the Gate of the Lotetree。
God protected him； so that none of those who stood At the gate saw him； and he entered the city； which he found a strongly fortified city； goodly of pleasaunces； delightful to its inhabitants and inviting to abide therein。 The season of winter had departed from it with its cold and the season of spring was e to it with its roses： its flowers were in blossom and its trees in full leaf； its fruits were ripe and its waters welled forth。 Indeed； it was a city goodly of ordinance and construction； its folk were of the best of men； and when the gate thereof were shut； its people were in safety。 And it was even as is said of it in the following verses：
'Describe Alexandria； I pray；' Quoth I to a rade one day；
A man of glib speech and quick wit。 ''Tis a fair frontier town；' （59） did he say。
Quoth I； 'Is there living therein？' And he； 'If the wind blow that way。'
Or as saith one of the poets：
Alexandria's a frontier seat； （60） The water of its lips is sweet。 How fair the ing to it is； So one therein no raven meet！
Noureddin walked about the city till he came to the merchants' bazaar； whence he passed on to the bazaar of the moneychangers and so on in turn to those of the confectioners and fruiterers and druggists； marvelling； as he went at the city； for that its qualities accorded with its name。 （61） As he walked in the druggists' bazaar； an old man came down from his shop and saluting him； took him by the hand and carried him to a fair bystreet； swept and sprinkled； whereon the zephyr blew and was pleasant and the leaves of the trees overshaded it。 Therein stood three houses and at the upper end a mansion； whose foundations were stablished in the water and its roofs rose up to the confines of the sky。 The space before it was paved with marble； swept and sprinkled； and those who approached it smelt the fragrance of flowers； borne on the zephyr； which breathed upon the place； an it were one of the gardens of Paradise。
The old man carried Noureddin into the house and set food before him； whereof he ate with him。 When they had made an end of eating； the druggist said to him； 'When camest thou hither from Cairo？' And Noureddin old man； 'What is thy name？' And he replied； 'Ali Noureddin。' 'O my son； O Noureddin；' said the druggist； 'be the triple divorcement incumbent on me； if thou leave me so long as thou abidest in this town； and I will set thee apart a place y lord； let me know more of thee。' And the other answered； 'Know； O my son； that years ago I came to Cairo with merchandise； which I sold there and bought other； and I had occasion for a thousand dinars。 So thy father paid them down for me； for all he had no knowledge of me； and would take no security of me； but had patience with me till I returned hither and sent him the amount by one of my servants； together with a present。 I saw thee； whilst thou wast little； and if it please God the Most High； I will repay thee somewhat of the kindness thy father did me。' When Noureddin heard the old man's story； he smiled and showed joy and pulling out the purse of a thousand dinars； gave it to his host and said to him； 'Take charge of this for me； against I buy me therewith somewhat of merchandise whereon to trade。'
Then he abode some days in Alexandria； eating and drinking and making merry and taking his pleasure in its thoroughfares； till he had made an end of the hundred dinars he had kept by way of spendingmoney； whereupon he repaired to the old druggist； to take of him somewhat of the thousand dinars to spend； but found him not in his shop and sat down there； to await his return。 As he sat thus； gazing right and left and amusing himself with watching the merchants and passersby； there came into the bazaar a Persian riding on a mule and having behind him a damsel； as she were virgin silver or a turbot in a tank or a gazelle in the desert。 Her face outvied the shining sun and she had bewitching eyes and breasts of ivory； teeth of pearl； slender body and dimpled sides and legs like fat sheep's tails； and indeed she was perfect in beauty and grace and symmetry； even as saith one； describing her：
As she wished； she was created； after such a wise that lo； She in beauty's mould was fashioned； perfect； neither less nor mo'。
In her cheeks the roses redden for confusion and the fruit （62） On the sapling of her figure makes a fair and stately show。
In her face the full moon glitters and the branch is as her shape： Musk her breath is； nor midst mortals is her equal； high or low。
'Tis as if she had been moulded out of water of pure pearls： In each member of her beauty is a very moon； I trow。
The Persian lighted down from his mule and making the damsel alight also； called the broker and said to him； 'Take this damsel and cry her for sale in the market。' So he fetched a stool of ebony； inlaid with ivory； and setting it amiddleward the bazaar； seated her thereon。 Then he raised her veil and discovered a face as it were a Median targe （63） or a sparkling star： and indeed she was like the full moon； when it appears on its fourteenth night； acplished to the utmost in surpassing beauty。 As saith the poet：
The full moon ignorantly vied in beauty with her face； But was eclipsed and split in twain for wrath at its disgrace；
And if the willowwand be fit to even with her shape； Perish her hands who is bee o' the faggotbearing race！ （64）
And how well saith another：
Say to the fair in the muffler laced and wrought with gold； 'Hark ye！ What hast thou done with a pious man was like a monk to be？'
The gleam of the veil and the brilliancy of thy visage under it The hosts of the darkness put to rout and cause them turn and flee；
And when my glance eth to steal a look at thy cheek so fresh and fair； Its guardian sprites with a shooting star still cast at them and me。 （65）
Then said the broker to the merchants； 'How much do ye bid for the pearl of the diver and prize of the foine for a hundred dinars。' And another said； 'Two hundred；' and a third； 'Three hundred；' and they ceased not to bid； one against another； till they made her price nine hundred and fifty dinars； and there the biddings stopped。 Then the broker went up to the Persian and said to him； 'The biddings for this thy slavegirl have reached nine hundred and fifty dinars： wilt thou sell her at that price and take the money？' 'Doth she consent to this？' asked the Persian。 'I desire to consult her wishes； for I fell sick on my journey hither and she tended me with all possible care； wherefore I swore not to sell her but to him of whom she should approve； and I have put her sale in her own hand。 So do thou consult her and if she say； 〃I consent；〃 sell her to whom thou wilt： but if she say 〃No；〃 sell her not。'
So the broker went up to her and said to her； 'Know； O princess of fair ones； that thy master putteth thy sale in thine own hands； and thy price hath reached nine hundred and fifty dinars； dost thou give me leave to sell thee？' 'Show me him who is minded to buy me；' answered she； 'before thou clinch the bargain。' So he brought her up to one of the merchants； a very old and decrepit man； and she looked at him awhile； then turned to the broker and said to him； 'O broker； art thou mad or afflicted in thy wit？' 'Why dost thou ask me this； O princess of fair ones？' said he。 And she answered； 'Is it permitted of God to sell the like of me to yonder decrepit old man； who saith of his wife's case the following verses：
Quoth she to me；and sore enraged for wounded pride was she； For she in sooth had bidden me to that which might not be；
〃An if thou swine me not forthright； as one should swive his wife； If thou be made a cuckold straight； reproach it not to me。
Meseems thy yard is made of wax； for very flaccidness； For when I rub it with my hand； it softens instantly。〃
And quoth he likewise of his yard：
I leave a yard that sleeps on base and shameful wise； Whenever one I love with my desire plies；
But； when I'm by myself； at home； it's all agog To thrust and ply its lone the amorous exercise。
And again quoth he thereof：
I have an ill yard； passing froward； to wit： Him who honoureth it； with reproach it doth quit。
If I sleep； it stands up； if I rise； it lies down； God no ruth have on him who hath ruth upon it！'
When the old mer