The Perfumed Garden of the Shaykh Nefwazi | Page 8

what will excite and satisfy her. Oh, my
mistress, who should know the art of coition if it is not I?'
Hamdonna was the daughter of Mamoum, and the wife of the Grand Vizir. She was
endowed with the most perfect beauty; of a superb figure and harmonious form. No one
in her time surpassed her in grace and perfection. Heroes on seeing her became humble
and submissive, and looked down to the ground for fear of temptation, so many charms
and perfections had God lavished on her. Those who looked steadily at her were troubled
in their mind, and oh! how many heroes imperilled themselves for her sake. For this very
reason Bahloul had always avoided meeting her for fear of succumbing to the temptation;
and, apprehensive for his peace of mind, had never, until then, been in her presence.
Bahloul began to converse with her. Now he looked at her and anon bent his eyes to the
ground, fearful of not being able to command his passion. Hamdonna burnt with desire to
have the robe, and he would not give it up without king paid for it.
'What price do you demand,' she asked. To which he replied, 'Coition, O apple of my
eye.'
'You know what that is, O Bahloul?' said she.
'By God,' he cried; 'no man knows women better than I; they are the occupation of my
life. No one has studied all their concerns more than I. I know what they are fond of; for
learn, oh, lady mine, that men choose different occupations according to their genius and
their bent. The one takes, the other gives; this one sells, the other buys. My only thought
is of love and of the possession of beautiful women. I heal those that are lovesick, and
carry a solace to their thirsting vaginas.'
Hamdonna was surprised at his words and the sweetness of his language. 'Could you

recite me some verses on this subject?' she asked.
'Certainly,' he answered.
'Very well, O Bahloul, let me hear what you have to say.' Bahloul recited as follows:
Men are divided according to their affairs and doings; Some are always in spirits and
joyful, others in tears. There are those whose life is restless and full of misery, While, on
the contrary, others are steeped in good fortune, Always in luck's happy way, and
favoured in all things. I alone am indifferent to all such matters. What care I for
Turkomans, Persians, and Arabs? My whole ambition is in love and coition with women,
No doubt nor mistake about that! If my member is without vulva, my state becomes
frightful, My heart then burns with a fire which cannot be quenched. Look at my member
erect! There it is--admire its beauty! It calms the heat of love and quenches the hottest
fires By its movement in and out between your thighs. Oh, my hope and my apple, oh,
noble and generous lady, If one time will not suffice to appease thy fire, I shall do it again,
so as to give satisfaction; No one may reproach thee, for all the world does the same. But
if you choose to deny me, then send me away! Chase me away from thy presence without
any fear or remorse! Yet bethink thee, and speak and augment not my trouble, But, in the
name of God, forgive me and do not reproach me. While I am here let thy words be kind
and forgiving. Let them not fall upon me like sword-blades, keen and cuffing! Let me
come to you and do not repel me. Let me come to you like one that brings drink to the
thirsty; Hasten and let my hungry eyes look at thy bosom. Do not withhold from me
love's joys, and do not be bashful, Give yourself up to me--I shall never cause you trouble,
Even were you to fill me with sickness from head to foot. I shall always remain as I am,
and you as you are, Knowing that I am the servant, and you are the mistress ever. Then
shall our love be veiled? It shall be hidden for all time, For I keep it a secret and I shall be
mute and muzzled. It is by God's will that everything happens, And he has filled me with
love; but today my luck is ill.
While Hamdonna was listening she nearly swooned, and set herself to examine the
member of Bahloul, which stood erect like a column between his thighs. Now she said to
herself: 'I shall give myself up to him,' and now, 'No I will not.' During this uncertainty
she felt a yearning for pleasure deep within her parts privy; and Eblis made flow from her
natural parts a moisture, the forerunner of pleasure. She