पृष्ठ 862 / 1116

Presently her mother comes in to me, and kissing[FN#668] my head

and hand, says to me, 'O my lord, look upon thine handmaid who

longs for thy favour; so heal her broken spirit!' I give her no

answer; and when she sees this she rises and busses my feet many

times and says, 'O my lord, in very sooth my daughter is a

beautiful maid, who hath never known man; and if thou show her

this backwardness and aversion, her heart will break; so do thou

incline to her and speak to her and soothe her mind and spirit.'

Then she rises and fetches a cup of wine; and says to her

daughter, 'Take it and hand it to thy lord.' But as she

approaches me I leave her standing between my hands and sit,

propping my elbow on a round cushion purfled with gold thread,

leaning lazily back, and without looking at her in the majesty of

my spirit, so that she may deem me indeed a Sultan and a mighty

man.