Page 522 sur 1116

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:-