ranks with him； 〃Heard ye her words？ 〃 They answered； 〃Yes。〃 And he said to me； 〃Take thy wife and depart with her。〃 So I took her and went away； but the ambassador sent after me in haste and said； 〃Her mother sent her a charge by me； saying； 'My daughter is a captive and naked： and I would have thee carry her this chest。' So take it thou and deliver it to her。〃
Accordingly I carried the chest home and gave it to her。 She opened it and found in it all her clothes； and therein I saw the two purses of fifty and a hundred dinars； that I had given her； untouched and tied up with my own tying； wherefore I praised God the Most High。 These are my children by her and she is yet alive and it was she dressed you this food。' And we marvelled at his story and at that which had befallen him of good fortune； and God ＇alone＇ is ＇All＇knowing。
THE RUINED MAN OF BAGHDAD AND HIS SLAVEGIRL。
There was once at Baghdad； of old time； a man of condition； who had inherited wealth galore from his father。 He fell in love with a slavegirl； so he bought her and she loved him as he loved her； and he ceased not to spend upon her； till all his wealth was gone and naught remained thereof； wherefore he sought a means of getting his livelihood； but availed not thereunto。 Now he had been used； in the days of his blies of those who were versed in the art of singing and had thus attained to the utmost skill therein。
So he took counsel with one of his friends； who said to him； 'Meseems thou canst not do better than sing； thou and thy slavegirl； ＇for your living＇ ； for on this wise thou wilt get money in plenty and wilt eat and drink。' But he misliked this； he and the damsel； and she said to him； 'I have bethought me of a means of relief for thee。' 'What is it？' asked he and she said； 'Do thou sell me； so shall we win quit of this strait； thou and I； and I shall be in affluence； for none will buy the like of me save a man of fortune； and with this I will contrive for my return to thee。'
So he carried her to the market and the first who saw her was a Hashimi （125） of Bassora； a man of taste and breeding and generosity； who bought her for fifteen hundred dinars。 （Quoth the young man； the girl's owner）。 When I had received the price； I repented me and wept； I and the damsel； and I sought to cancel the sale； but the purchaser would not consent。 So I took the money in a bag； knowing not whither I should go； now my house was desolate of her； and buffeted my face and wept and wailed as I had never done。 Then I entered a mosque and sat weeping； till I was stupefied and losing my senses； fell asleep； with the bag of money under my head for a pillow。 Presently； before I could be ware； a man pulled the bag from under my head and ran off with it： whereupon I started up in affright and would have run after him； but lo； my feet were bound with a rope and I fell on my face。 So I fell aweeping and buffeting myself； saying； 'Thy soul （126） hath left thee and thy wealth is lost！' Then； of the excess of my chagrin； I betook myself to the Tigris and wrapping my face in my gown； cast myself into the river。
The bystanders saw me and said； 'Sure； ＇he hath done＇ this because of some great trouble that hath betided him。' So they cast themselves in after me and bringing me ashore； questioned me of my case。 I told them what had befallen me and they condoled with me。 Then an old man of them came to me and said； 'Thou hast lost thy money； but why goest thou about to do away thy life and bee of the people of the fire？ （127） Arise； e with me； that I may see thine abode。' So I went with him to my house and he sat with me awhile； till I became calmer； when I thanked him and he went away。 When he was gone； I was like to kill myself； but bethought me of the life to e and the fire； so I fled forth my house to one of my friends and told him what had befallen me。 He wept for pity of me and gave me fifty dinars； saying； 'Take my advice and go out forthright from Baghdad and let this provide thee till thy heart be diverted from the love of her and thou fet her。 Thou art a man of letters and clerkship and thy handwriting is good and thy breeding excellent： seek out； then； whom thou wilt of the viceroys （128） and throw thyself on his bounty。 It may be God will reunite thee with thy slavegirl。'
I hearkened to his words （and indeed my mind was fortified and I was somewhat forted） and resolved to betake myself to Wasit； （129） where I had kinsfolk。 So I went down to the riverside； where I saw a ship moored and the sailors carrying goods and rich stuffs on board。 I asked them to take me with them and carry me to Wasit； but they replied； 'We cannot do that； for the ship belongs to a Hashimi。' However； I tempted them with ＇promise of＇ reward； and they said； 'We cannot take thee on this fashion； （130） if it must be； put off those fine clothes of thine and don sailors' clothes and sit with us； as thou wert one of us。' So I went away and buying sailors' clothes； put them on； after which I bought me somewhat of victual ＇for the voyage＇ and returning to the vessel； which was bound for Bassora； embarked with the crew。
Before long I saw my slavegirl herself ＇e on board＇ ； attended by two waitingwomen； whereupon my chagrin subsided and I said in myself 'Now shall I see her and hear her singing； till we e to Bassora。' Soon after； up rode the Hashimi； with a party of folk； and they embarked in the ship； which dropped down the river with them。 Presently the Hashimi brought out food and ate with the damsel； whilst the rest ate amidships。 Then said he to her； 'How long wilt thou abstain from singing and persist in this mourning and weeping？ Thou art not the first that hath been parted from a beloved one。' Wherefore I knew what she suffered for love of me。 Then he hung a curtain before her in the side of the ship and calling those who ate apart； sat down with them without the curtain； and I enquired concerning them and behold； they were his brethren。 （131） Then he set before them what they needed of wine and dessert； and they ceased not to press the damsel to sing； till she called for the lute and tuning it； sang the following verses：
The pany have passed away with those whom I adore； By night they went nor to depart with my desire forbore。
And since their caravan fared hence； live coals of tamariskwood Within the lover's heart rage high and higher evermore。
Then weeping overpowered her and she threw down the lute and left singing； whereat the folk were troubled and I fell down in a swoon。 They thought I was possessed （132） and one of them fell to reciting exorcisms in my ear； nor did they cease to fort her and beseech her to sing； till she tuned the lute again and sang these verses：
I stand lamenting travelers who bound their burdens on； Within my heart their dwelling is； though far away they're gone
Hard by the ruined camp I stand and question it of them： Waste is the campingplace and void the dwellings thereupon。
Then she fell down in a swoon and weeping arose amongst the folk； and I also cried out and fainted away。 The sailors were vexed with me and one of the Hashimi's servants said to them； 'How came ye to take this madman on board？' So they said to each other； 'When we e to the next village； we will put him ashore and rid us of him。' When I heard this； I was sore troubled and summoned up all my courage； saying to myself； 'Nothing will serve me to deliver myself from their hands； except I make shift to acquaint her with my presence in the ship； so she may prevent my putting out。'
Then we sailed on till eventide； when we came to a hamlet （133） and the captain said； 'e； let us go ashore。' So they all landed； ＇leaving me in the ship＇ ： whereupon I rose and going behind the curtain took the lute and changed its accord； course （134） by course； and tuning it after a fashion of my own； （135） that she had learnt of me； returned to my place in the ship。 Presently； they came on board again and the moon shone out upon the river and bank。 Then said the Hashimi to the damsel； 'God upon thee； trouble not our lives！' So she took the lute； and touching it with her hand； gave a sob； that they thought her soul had departed ＇her body＇ ； and said； 'By Allah； my master is with us in the ship！' 'By Allah；' answered the Hashimi； 'were this so； I would not forbid him our pany！ Haply he would lighten thy chagrin； so we might enjoy thy singing： but it cannot be that he is on board。' But she said； 'I cannot sing nor play whilst my lord is i； 'Let us ask the sailors。' And she said； 'Do so。' So he questioned them； saying； 'Have ye carried any one with you？' And they said； 'No。'
Then I feared lest the enquiry should end there； so I laughed and said； 'Yes； I am her master and taught her； when I was her lord。' 'By Allah；' said she； 'that is my lord's voice！' So the servants carried me to the Hashimi； who knew me at once and said to me； 'Out on thee！ What plight is this in which I see thee and what has brought thee to this pass？' So I told him all that had befallen of my affair； weeping the while； and the damsel wailed aloud from behind the curtain。 The Hashimi wept sore； he and his brethren； for pity of me； and he said； 'By Allah； I have not drawn near the damsel nor lain with her； nor have I even heard her sing till this day！ I am a man to whom God hath been bountiful and I came to Baghdad but to hear singing and seek my allowances of the mander of the Faithful。 I acplished both my occasions and being about to return home； said to myself； 〃Let us hear somewhat of the singing of Baghdad。〃 Wherefore I bought this damsel； knowing not how it was with you both； and I take God to witness that； when I reach Bassora； I will free her and marry her to thee and assign you what shall suffice you； and more： but on condition that； whenever I have a mind to hear music； a curtain shall be hung for her and she shall sing to me from behind it； and thou shalt be of the number of my brethren and boonpanions。'
At this I rejoiced and he put his head within the curtain and said to her； 'Will that content thee？' Whereupon she fell to blessing and thanking him。 Then he called a servant and said to him； 'Take this young man and do off his clothes and clothe him in costly raiment and incense him （136） and bring him back to us。' So the servant did with me as his master bade him and brought me back to him； and he set wine before me； even as before the rest of the pany。 Then the damsel fell to singing after the goodliest fashion and chanted these verses：
They rail at me because； upon the parting day； I wept； when my belov'd farewell to me did say。
They never knew the taste of severance nor felt The fire that in my breast for sorrow rageth aye。
Only th' afflicted one of passion knoweth； he Whose heart amongst these steads is lost and gone astray。
The folk rejoiced in her song with an exceeding joy and my gladness redoubled； so that I took the lute from her and preluding after the most melodious fashion； sang the following verses：
Ask favours； if thou needs must ask； Of generous men； Who affluence all their lives have known and happy fate。
O' the generous to ask brings honour； but upon The asking from a churl blame and dishonour wait。
When thou must needs abase thyself； if thou must ask； I rede thee still abase thyself unto