पृष्ठ 430 / 1116

My thought was stunned at the sight and I said to myself, "These

be things methinks united which could not be found save in the

treasuries of a King of Kings, nor could the monarchs of the

world have collected the like of these!" And my heart dilated and

my sorrows ceased, "For," quoth I, "now verily am I the monarch

of the age, since by Allah's grace this enormous wealth is mine;

and I have forty damsels under my hand nor is there any to claim

them save myself." Then I gave not over opening place after place

until nine and thirty days were passed and in that time I had

entered every chamber except that one whose door the Princesses

had charged me not to open. But my thoughts, O my mistress, ever

ran on that forbidden fortieth[FN#296] and Satan urged me to open

it for my own undoing; nor had I patience to forbear, albeit

there wanted of the trysting time but a single day.