The Shaving of Shagpat | Page 9

of it--which is resoluteness, strength of mind, sternness in pursuit
of the object!'
Then she softened her tone to persuasiveness, saying, ''Twas written I
should be the head of thy fortune, O Shibli Bagarag! and thou'lt be
enviable among men by my aid, so look upon me, and (for I know thee
famished) thou shah presently be supplied with viands and bright wines
and sweetmeats, delicacies to cheer thee.'
Now, the promise of food and provision was powerful with Shibli
Bagarag, and he looked up gloomily. And the old woman smiled archly
at him, and wriggled in her seat like a dusty worm, and said, 'Dost thou

find me charming, thou fair youth?'
He was nigh laughing in her face, but restrained himself to reply, 'Thou
art that thou art!'
Said she, 'Not so, but that I shall be.' Then she said, 'O youth, pay me
now a compliment!'
Shibli Bagarag was at a loss what further to say to the old woman, for
his heart cursed her for her persecutions, and ridiculed her for her
vanities. At last he bethought himself of the saying of the poet, truly the
offspring of fine wit, where he says:
Expect no flatteries from me, While I am empty of good things; I'll call
thee fair, and I'll agree Thou boldest Love in silken strings, When thou
bast primed me from thy plenteous store! But, oh! till then a clod am I:
No seed within to throw up flowers: All's drouthy to the fountain dry:
To empty stomachs Nature lowers: The lake was full where heaven
look'd fair of yore!
So, when he had spoken that, the old woman laughed and exclaimed,
'Thou art apt! it is well said! Surely I excuse thee till that time! Now
listen! 'Tis written we work together, and I know it by divination. Have
I not known thee wandering, and on thy way to this city of Shagpat,
where thou'lt some day sit throned? Now I propose to thee this--and 'tis
an excellent proposal--that I lead thee to great things, and make thee
glorious, a sitter in high seats, Master of an Event?'
Cried he, 'A proposal honourable to thee, and pleasant in the ear.'
She added, 'Provided thou marry me in sweet marriage.'
Thereat he stared on vacancy with a serious eye, and he could scarce
credit her earnestness, but she repeated the same. So presently he
thought, 'This old hag appeareth deep in the fountain of events, and she
will be a right arm to me in the mastering of one, a torch in darkness,
seeing there is wisdom in her as well as wickedness. The thwackings?--
sad was their taste, but they're in the road leading to greatness, and I

cannot say she put me out of that road in putting me where they were.
Her age?--shall I complain of that when it is a sign she goeth shortly
altogether?'
As he was thus debating he regarded the old woman stealthily, and she
was in agitation, so that her joints creaked like forest branches in a
wind, and the puckers of her visage moved as do billows of the sea to
and fro, and the anticipations of a fair young bride are not more eager
than what was visible in the old woman. Wheedlingly she looked at
him, and shaped her mouth like a bird's bill to soften it; and she drew
together her dress, to give herself the look of slimness, using all
fascinations. He thought, ''Tis a wondrous old woman! Marriage would
seem a thing of moment to her, yet is the profit with me, and I'll agree
to it.' So he said, ''Tis a pact between us, O old woman!'
Now, the eyes of the old woman brightened when she heard him, and
were as the eyes of a falcon that eyeth game, hungry with red fire, and
she looked brisk with impatience, laughing a low laugh and saying, 'O
youth, I must claim of thee, as is usual in such cases, the kiss of
contract.'
So Shibli Bagarag was mindful of what is written,
If thou wouldst take the great leap, be ready for the little jump,
and he stretched out his mouth to the forehead of the old woman. When
he had done so, it was as though she had been illuminated, as when
light is put in the hollow of a pumpkin. Then said she, 'This is well! this
is a fair beginning! Now look, for thy fortune will of a surety follow.
Call me now sweet bride, and knocker at the threshold of hearts!'
So Shibli Bagarag sighed, and called her this, and he said, 'Forget not
my condition, O old woman, and that I am nigh famished.'
Upon that she nodded gravely, and arose and shook her garments