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Wottest thou not that we are brothers and both by Allah's grace

Wazirs and equal in office? It behoveth thee to offer thy

daughter to my son without marriage settlement; or if one need

be, it should represent a mere nominal value by way of show to

the world: for thou knowest that the masculine is worthier than

the feminine, and my son is a male and our memory will be

preserved by him, not by thy daughter." "But what," said Shams

al-Din, "is she to have?"; and Nur al-Din continued, "Through her

we shall not be remembered among the Emirs of the earth; but I

see thou wouldest do with me according to the saying:-An thou

wouldst bluff off a buyer, ask him high price and higher; or as

did a man who, they say, went to a friend and asked something of

him being in necessity and was answered, 'Bismillah, [FN#366] in

the name of Allah, I will do all what thou requirest but come

to-morrow!' Whereupon the other replied in this verse:-