and lovelonging and desire。 Then they enquired for the house of the second Cadi and presenting themselves before him； told him the same story。 On likewise did she with the third and the fourth； till she had made her plaint to all the four Cadis； each of whom lusted after her and besought her to marry him； to which she consented； nor knew any one of the four that which had happened to the others。 All this passed without the knowledge of the Jew； who slept the night in the house of the bridefeast。
On the morrow； Huboub clad her mistress in her richest raiment and presented herself with her before the four Cadis in the hall of justice。 As soon as she entered； she uncovered her face and saluted the magistrates； who returned her salutation and every one of them knew her。 One was writing； and the pen dropped from his hand； another was talking； and his tongue became embarrassed； and a third was reckoning and blundered in his reckoning； and they said to her； 'O delightsome of attributes and surpassing of loveliness； be not thy heart other than easy； for we will assuredly do thee justice and bring thee to thy desire。' So she called down blessings on them and going forth； proceeded to beseech the notaries and scribes to succour her against that unbelieving miscreant and deliver her from the torment she suffered from him。 Then she wrote a letter to Mesrour； setting forth to him all that the Jew had done with her from first to last and ending with the following verses：
Rain down tears； O mine eyes； as the deluge they were； So perchance in their flood may be quenched my despair。
Once I clad me in raiment of goldwroughten silk： Now the raiment of monks and of friars I wear；
Yea； and sulphur's the scent of my clothes； betwixt that And sweet basil and musk what a difference is there！
Thou wouldst never permit my abasement； Mesrour； Nor my bondage； if but of my case thou wert ware；
And Huboub too's in fetters with one who denies The One； the Requiter of foul and of fair。
Lo； the ways of the Jews and their faith I've renounced And my faith is the noblest of faiths hence fore'er。
To the Clement a Muslim's prostration I make And to follow the law of Mohammed I swear。
Fet not our loves of old time； O Mesrour； And keep thou our vows and our troth plight with care。
My faith for thy love and thy sake I have changed And my secret for passion I'll never declare；
So； if； like to the noble； our love thou've preserved； Be no laggard； but hasten to us to repair。
Then she folded the letter and gave it to her maid Huboub； saying； 'Keep it in thy pocket； till we send it to Mesrour。'
Presently in came the Jew and seeing them joyous； said to them； 'How es it that I find you merry？ Hath a letter reached you from your friend Mesrour？' 'We have no helper against thee save God； blessed and exalted be He！' replied Zein el Mewasif。 'He will deliver us from thy tyranny； and except thou restore to us our country and home； we will plain of thee tomorrow to the Cadi and governor of this town。' Quoth he； 'Who did off the shackles from your legs？ But needs must I let make each of you shackles ten pounds in weight and go round about the city with you。' 'All that thou purposest against us；' replied Huboub； 'thou shalt fall into thyself； so it please God the Most High； by token that thou hast exiled us from our homes； and tomorrow we shall stand； we and thou； before the governor of the city。'
On this wise they passed the night and the next morning the Jew went out to order fresh shackles； whereupon Zein el Mewasif rose and repaired with her women to the courthouse； where she found the four Cadis and saluted them。 They all returned her salutation and the Chief Cadi said to those about him； 'Verily this damsel is lovely as Ez Zehra （20） and all who see her love her and prostrate themselves to her beauty and grace。' Then he despatched four sergeants； who were sherifs； （21） to fetch the Jew after the most abject fashion： so； when he returned with the shackles and found none in the house； he was confounded； but； as he abode in perplexity； up came the officers and laying hold of him； beat him soundly and dragged him face； downward； before the Cadi。 When the latter saw him； he cried out in his face and said to him； 'Out on thee； O enemy of God； is it e to such a pass with thee that thou dost thus and bringest these women far from their country and stealest their good and wouldst make them Jews？ How darest thou seek to pervert Muslims？' 'O my lord；' answered the Jew； 'this woman is my wife。'
When the Cadis heard this； they all cried out； saying； 'Cast this dog on the ground and smite him on the face with your sandals and beat him soundly； for his offence is unpardonable。' So they pulled off his silken clothes and clad him in his wife's raiment of haircloth； after which they threw him down and plucked out his beard and belaboured him about the face with sandals。 Then they set him on an ass； face to crupper； and causing him take its tail in his hand； paraded him round about the town； after which they brought him back to the Cadis； who all condemned him to have his feet and hands cut off and after be crucified。 When the accursed wretch heard this； his wit forsook him and he was confounded and said； 'O my lords the Cadis； what would ye of me？' 'Say；' answered they； 〃'This damsel is not my wife and the money is her money； and I have transgressed against her and brought her far from her country。〃' So he confessed to this and the Cadis recorded his confession in legal form and taking the money from him； gave it to Zein el Mewasif； together with their voucher。 Then she went away and all who saw her were confounded at her beauty and grace； whilst each of the Cadis looked for her to fall to his share。 But； when she came to her lodging； she made ready all that she needed and waited till night。 Then she took what was light of carriage and heavy of worth； and setting out with her maids； under cover of the darkness； fared on three days and three nights without stopping。
Meanwhile； the Cadis ordered the Jew to prison and on the morrow they looked for her ing to them； they and their assessors； but she presented herself not to any of them。 Then said the Chief Cadi； 'I wish today to go apleasuring without the town on an occasion I have。' So he mounted his mule and taking his servant with him； went coasting about the streets of the town； searching high and low for Zein el Mewasif； but to no effect。
Presently he came upon the other three Cadis； going about on the same errand； each deeming himself the only one to whom she had pledged herself。 He asked them what they did there and they told him their business； whereby he saw that their plight was as his plight and their quest as his quest。 So they all four went round about the city； seeking her； but could light on no trace of her and returned to their houses； sick for love； and lay down on the bed of languor。 Presently the Chief Cadi bethought himself of the blacksmith； so he sent for him and said to him； 'O blacksmith； knowest thou what is e of the damsel whom thou didst direct to me？ By Allah； an thou discover her not to me； I will beat thee with whips。' When the smith heard this； he recited the following verses：
Her； that possesseth me in love； kind Fortune did endow With beauty all nor aught thereof to others did allow。
The eye of a gazelle she hath； her scent is ambergris； She shines； a sun； and undulates； a lake； and sways； a bough。
Then said he； 'By Allah； O my lord； since she went out from thy worshipful presence； I have not set eyes on her！ Indeed； she took possession of my heart and senses and all my talk and thought is of her。 I went to her house； but found her not； nor found I any who could give me news of her； and it is as if she had plunged into the abysses of the sea or been caught up into the sky。'
When the Cadi heard this； he gave a groan； that his soul was like to depart therefor； and said； 'By Allah； it would have been well； had we never seen her！' Then the smith went away； whilst the Cadi fell down on his bed and became sick of languor for her sake； and on like wise fared it with the other three Cadis and the assessors。 The physicians paid them frequent visits； but found in them no ailment requiring a leach： so the chief men of the city went in to the Chief Cadi and saluting him； questioned him of his case； whereupon he sighed and discovered to them that which was in his heart； reciting the following verses：
Spare me your blame； for sickness' pains enough on me are keen； And hold excused the Cadi who doth judge the folk between。
Let him who blameth me for love excuse me and not blame； For still unblameworthy the slain of passion are； I ween。
Cadi was I and fortune fair raised me to high estate； By script and pen； and life to me was pleasant and serene；
Till from a girl's looks； who to shed my blood came； with a shaft I was transfixed； whose deadly stroke no leach might countervene。
A Muslim maid； she came to me； plaining of unright； Her mouth with teeth like strings of pearls unvalued was beseen。
Under her veil I looked and she a full moon straight displayed That through the middle dark of night breaks out in all its sheen。
A lustrous visage； sugared lips and smiling； wondersweet； Beauty indeed enveloped her from head to foot； my queen。
'Midst Arabs and barbarians； by Allah； to mine eyes； To see the like of her fair face hath ne'er vouchsafed been！
Sweet； what didst promise me and saidst； 'O Cadi of the folk； Whenas I promise； I perform； and what I say I mean。'
This is my case and that wherewith I have afflicted been； So question me no more； good folk； of this my dole and teen。
Then he wept sore and gave one sob and his soul departed his body。 When they saw this； they washed him and shrouded him and prayed over him and buried him； graving the following verses on his tomb：
The traits of lovers were fulfilled in him who es； by her He loved and by her rigours slain； unto the sepulchre。
Cadi above the folk was he and him it did rejoice The sword of justice in its sheath to keep a prisoner。
But Fate against him did decree； nor e'er before his time Saw we the lord unto his slave abase him and defer。
Then they mitted him to the mercy of God and went away to the second Cadi； in pany with the physician； but found in him no hurt or ailment requiring a leach。 So they questioned him of his case and he told them what ailed him； whereupon they blamed him and chid him for his folly； and he answered them with these verses：
I'm cursed with her；my like was blameless ayeand dead I'm shotten with a shaft from hand of archer sped。
A woman unto me there came； Huboub by name； plaining of unright and Fortune's drearihead；
And with her came a girl； who showed a face that passed The full moon's light athwart the middle darkness spread。
Her beauties she displayed and her plaint preferred What while in floods there ran the tears her eyelids shed。
I hearkened to her speech and looked upon her face And sore she made me pine with smiling lips and red。
Then with my heart away she fared and left me here； The hostage of desire。 Ah； whither hath she fled？
This then is all my case； have ruth upon my plight And take my servant here to Cadi in my stead。
The