。
Then he went to the market and bought what he needed of victual and other necessaries for the voyage and returned to the captain； who said to him； 〃O my son； what is that thou hast with thee？' 'My provisions and that whereof I have need for the voyage；' answered Noureddin。 'O my son；' said the old man； laughing； 'art thou going apleasuring to Pompey's Pillar？ Verily； between thee and that thou seekest is two months' journey； if the wind be favourable and the weather fair。' Then he took of him somewhat of money and going to the market； bought him all that he needed for the voyage and filled him a cask with fresh water。 Noureddin abode in the ship three days； till the merchants had made an end of their preparations and embarked； when they set sail and putting out to sea； fared on oneandfifty days。 After this； there came out upon them corsairs； who sacked the ship and taking Noureddin and the rest prisoners； carried them to the city of France and showed them to the king； who bade cast them into prison。
At this moment the galleon arrived with the Princess Meryem and the oneeyed vizier； and when it reached the harbour； the latter landed and going up to the king； gave him the glad news of his daughter's safe return： whereupon they beat the drums for good tidings and decorated the city after the goodliest fashion。 Then the king took horse； with all his guards and nobles； and rode down to the sea to meet her。 Presently； she landed and the king embraced her and mounting her on a horse； carried her to the palace； where her mother received her with open arms and asked her how she did and whether she was yet a maid。 'O my mother；' replied Meryem； 'how should a girl who has been sold from merchant to merchant in the land of the Muslims； ＇a slave＇ manded； abide a maid ？ The merchant who bought me threatened me with beating and forced me and did away my maidenhead； after which he sold me to another and he fain to a third。'
When the queen heard this； the light in her eyes became darkness and she repeated her words to the king； who was sore chagrined thereat and his affair was grievous to him。 So he expounded her case to his grandees and patriarchs； （82） who said to him； 'O king； she hath been defiled by the Muslims； and nothing will purify her save the striking off of a hundred of their heads。' Whereupon the king sent for the prisoners and manded to strike off their heads。 So they beheaded them； one after another； beginning with the captain； till there was none left but Noureddin。 They tore off a strip of his skirt and binding his eyes therewith； set him on the carpet of blood and were about to cut off his head； when an old woman came up to the king and said； 'O my lord； thou didst vow to bestow upon the church five Muslim captives； to help us in the service thereof； so God would restore thee thy daughter the Princess Meryem； and now she is restored to thee； so do thou fulfil thy vow。' 'O my mother；' replied the king； 'by the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith； there remaih to me but this one captive； whom they are about to put to death： so take him to help thee in the service of the church； till there e to me ＇other＇ prisoners of the Muslims； when I will send thee other four。 Hadst thou e earlier； before they cut of the heads of these； I had given thee as many as thou wouldst。'
The old woman thanked him and wished him continuance Of life and glory and prosperity。 Then she went up to Noureddin and seeing him to be a ely and elegant youth； with a delicate skin and a face like the moon at her full； carried him to the church； where she said to him； 'O my son； put of these clothes that are upon thee； for they are fit only for the king's service。' So saying； she brought him a gown and cowl of black wool and a broad girdle； in which she clad him； and bade him do the service of the church。 Accordingly； he tended the church seven days； at the end of which time the old woman came up to him and said； 'O Muslim； don thy silken clothes and take these ten dirhems and go out forthright and divert thyself abroad this day； and tarry not here a moment； lest thou lose thy life。' Quoth he； 'What is to do； O my mother？' And she answered； 'Know； O my son； that the king's daughter； the Princess Meryem； hath a mind to visit the church today； to seek a blessing thereof and to make oblation thereto； by way of thankoffering for her deliverance from the land of the Muslims and in fulfilment of the vows she made to the Messiah； so he would deliver her。 With her are four hundred damsels； not one of whom but is perfect in beauty and grace； and they will be here forthwith； and if their eyes fall on thee； they will hew thee in pieces with swords。'
So Noureddin took the ten dirhems and donning his own clothes； went out to the market and walked about the city； till he knew its highways and gates； after which he returned to the church and saw the Princess Meryem e up； attended by four hundred damsels； highbosomed maids like moons； amongst whom was the daughter of the oneeyed vizier and those of the amirs and grandees of the realm； and she walked in their midst as she were the moon among the stars。 When he saw her； he could not contain himself but cried out from the bottom of his heart； saying； 'O Meryem！ O Meryem！' Which when the damsels heard； they ran at him with shining swords like flashes of lightning and would have killed him forthright。 But the princess turned and looking on him； knew him but too well and said to her maidens； 'Leave this youth； doubtless he is mad； for the signs of madness appear on his face。'
When Noureddin heard this； he uncovered his head and made signs with his hands and twisted his legs； rolling his eyes and foaming at the mouth。 'Did I not tell you he was mad？' said the princess。 'Bring him to me and stand off from him； that I may hear what he saith； for I know the speech of the Arabs and will look into his case and see if his madness be curable or not。' So they laid hold of him and brought him to her； after which they withdrew to a distance and she said to him； 'Hast thou e hither on my account and ventured thy life and feignest thyself mad？' 'O my lady；' answered he； 'hast thou not heard the saying of the poet：
Quoth they； 〃Thou'rt surely raving mad for her thou lov'st；〃 and I； 〃There is no pleasantness in life but for the mad；〃 reply。
〃pare my madness with herself for whom I rave； if she Accord therewith； then blame me not for that which I aby。〃'
'By Allah； O Noureddin；' rejoined she； 'thou hast sinned against thyself； for I warned thee of this before it fell out； yet wouldst thou not hearken to me； but followedst thine own inclinations； albeit that whereof I gave thee to know I learnt not by means of divination nor augury nor dreams； but by eyewitness and very sight； for I saw the oneeyed vizier and knew that he was not e to Alexandria but in quest of me。' 'O my lady Meryem；' replied he； 'we seek refuge with God from the error of the intelligent！' （83） Then his affliction redoubled on him and he recited these verses：
Pardon his fault whose slipping feet caused bite in error fall； And let the master's clemency embrace his erring thrall。
All that an evildoer can is to repent his fault； Although too late repentance e to profit him at all。
Lo； by confession I have done what courtesy requires： Where then is that for which good grace and generous mercy call？
And they ceased not from lovers' chiding； which to set out would be tedious； relating to each other that which had befallen them and reciting verses and making moan； one to the other； of the violence of passion and the pangs of longing and desire； whilst the tears ran down their cheeks like rivers； till there was left them no strength to say a word。 Now the princess was clad in a green dress； inwoven with red gold and broidered with pearls and jewels； which added to her beauty and grace； and right well saith the poet of her：
Like the full moon she shih in garments all of green； With loosened vest and collars and flowing hair beseen。
'What is thy name？' I asked her； and she replied； 'I'm she Who roasts the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen。
I am the pure white silver； ay； and the gold wherewith The bondmen from strait prison and dour released been。'
Quoth I； 'I'm all with rigours consumed；' but 'On a rock；' Said she； 'such as my heart is； thy plaints are wasted clean。'
'Even if thy heart；' I answered； 'be rock in very deed； Yet hath God caused fair water well from the rock； I ween。'
They abode thus till the day departed and night darkened on them； when Meryem went up to her women and said to them； 'Have ye locked the door？' And they answered； 'We have locked it。' So she took them and went with them to a place called the Chapel of the Lady Mary the Virgin； Mother of Light； because the Christians pretend that her heart and soul are there。 The girls betook themselves to prayer and worship and made the round of all the church； and when they had made an end of their visitation； the princess said to them； 'I desire to pass the night alone in the Virgin's chapel and seek a blessing thereof； for that yearning thereafter hath betided me； by reason of my long absence in the land of the Muslims： and as for you； when ye have made an end of your visitation； do ye sleep where ye will。' 'Be it as thou wilt；' replied they； and leaving her alone in the chapel； dispersed about the church and slept。
The lady Meryem waited till they were out of sight and hearing； then went in search of Noureddin； whom she found sitting on coals of fire in a corner； awaiting her。 He rose and kissed her hands and she sat down and made him sit by her side。 Then she pulled off all that was upon her of clothes and ornaments and fine linen and taking Noureddin in her arms； strained him to her bosom。 And they ceased not from kissing and clipping and clicketing to the tune of 'In and out；' saying the while； 'How short are the nights of union and how long the nights of separation！' and reciting the following cinquains：
O night of delight and first fruits of fair fate； Forefront of white nights； with glad fortune elate；
Thou brought'st me the morn （84） in the afternoon late。 Thee as kohl in the eyes of the dawn shall we rate
Or as slumber on eyes of ophthalmiac shed？
The night of estrangement； how lonesome was it！ Its first and its last； one with other； were knit；
As a ring； sans beginning or ending to wit； And the Day of Uprising broke； ere it would flit；
For estrangement； thereafter； （85） the lover is dead。
As they were in this great delight and engrossing joy； they heard one of the servants of the Saint （86） smite the gong （87） upon the roof； to call the folk to the rites of their worship； and he was even as saith the poet：
I saw him smite upon the gong and unto him did say； 'Who taught the antelope （88） to smite upon the gong； I pray？'
And to my soul； 'Which irks thee most； the smiting of the gongs Or signal for departure given？ （89） Decide betwixt the tway。'
Then she rose forthwith and donned her clothes and ornaments： but this was grievous to Noureddin； and his gladness was troubled； the tears streamed from his eyes and he recited the following verses：
The rose of a soft cheek； all through the livelong night； I stinted not to kiss and bite