The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, vol 9 | Page 4

of this volume. Your long residence in Egypt and your extensive acquaintance with its "politic," private and public, make you a thouroughly competent judge of the merits and demerits of this volume; and encourage me to hope that in reading it you will take something of the pleasure I have had in writing it..
Ever yours sincerely,
Richard F. Burton.
Tangier, December 31, 1885.
Contents of the Ninth Volume
Ali Nur Al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-Girl (continued) 159. The Man of Upper Egypt and His Frankish Wife 160. The Ruined Man of Baghdad and his Slave-Girl 161. King Jali'ad of Hind and His Wazir Shimas: Followed by the History of King Wird Khan, son of King Jali'ad with His Women and Wizars a. The Mouse and the Cat b. The Fakir and His Jar of Butter c. The Fishes and the Crab d. The Crow and the Serpent e. The Wild Ass and the Jackal f. The Unjust King and the Pilgrim Prince g. The Crows and the Hawk h. The Serpent-Charmer and His Wife i. The Spider and the Wind j. The Two Kings k. The Blind Man and the Cripple l. The Foolish Fisherman m. The Boy and the Thieves n. The Man and his Wife o. The Merchant and the Robbers p. The Jackals and the Wolf q. The Shepherd and the Rogue r. The Francolin and the Tortoises 162. Abu Kir the Dyer and Abu Sir the Barber 163. Abdullah the Fisherman and Abdullah the Merman 164. Harun Al-Rashid and Abu Hasan, The Merchant of Oman 165. Ibrahim and Jamilah 166. Abu Al-Hasan of Khorasan 167. Kamar Al-Zaman and the Jeweller's Wife 168. Abdullah Bin Fazil and His Brothers

The Book Of The THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT

When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night,
She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur al-Din heard the voice singing these verses he said in himself, "Verily this be the Lady Miriam chanting without hesitation or doubt or suspicion of one from without.[FN#1] Would Heaven I knew an my thought be true and if it be indeed she herself or other self!" And regrets redoubled upon him and he bemoaned himself and recited these couplets,
"When my blamer saw me beside my love * Whom I met in a site that lay open wide, I spake not at meeting a word of reproach * Though oft it comfort sad heart to chide; Quoth the blamer, 'What means this silence that bars * Thy making answer that hits his pride?' And quoth I, 'O thou who as fool dost wake, * To misdoubt of lovers and Love deride; The sign of lover whose love is true * When he meets his beloved is mum to bide.'"
When he had made an end of these verses, the Lady Miriam fetched inkcase and paper and wrote therein: "After honour due to the Basmalah,[FN#2] may the peace of Allah be upon thee and His mercy and blessings be! I would have thee know that thy slavegirl Miriam saluteth thee, who longeth sore for thee; and this is her message to thee. As soon as this letter shall fall into thy hands, do thou arise without stay and delay and apply thyself to that we would have of thee with all diligence and beware with all wariness of transgressing her commandment and of sleeping. When the first third of the night is past, (for that hour is of the most favourable of times) apply thee only to saddling the two stallions and fare forth with them both to the Sultan's Gate.[FN#3] If any ask thee whither thou wend, answer, 'I am going to exercise the steeds,' and none will hinder thee; for the folk of this city trust to the locking of the gates." Then she folded the letter in a silken kerchief and threw it out of the latticed window to Nur al-Din, who took it and reading it, knew it for the handwriting of the Lady Miriam and comprehended all its contents. So he kissed the letter and laid it between his eyes; then, calling to mind that which had betided him with her of the sweets of love-liesse, he poured forth his tears whilst he recited these couplets,
"Came your writ to me in the dead of the night * And desire for you stirred heart and sprite; And, remembered joys we in union joyed, * Praised the Lord who placed us in parting plight."
As soon as it was dark Nur al-Din busied himself with making ready the stallions and patiented till the first watch of the night was past; when, without a moment delay, Nur al-Din the lover full of teen, saddled them with saddles of the goodliest, and leading them forth of the stable, locked the door after him and repaired with them