Pagina 265 di 1116

At last he turned upon them asking, And what do you women call

this article?" Whereto the damsel made answer, "The basil of the

bridges."[FN#159] Cried the Porter, "Thank Allah for my safety:

aid me and be thou propitious, O basil of the bridges!" They

passed round the cup and tossed off the bowl again, when the

second lady stood up; and, stripping off all her clothes, cast

herself into the cistern and did as the first had done; then she

came out of the water and throwing her naked form on the Porter's

lap pointed to her machine and said, "O light of mine eyes, do

tell me what is the name of this concern?" He replied as before,

"Thy slit;" and she rejoined, "Hath such term no shame for thee?"

and cuffed him and buffeted him till the saloon rang with the

blows. Then quoth she, "O fie! O fie! how canst thou say this

without blushing?" He suggested, "The basil of the bridges;" but

she would not have it and she said, "No! no!" and struck him and

slapped him on the back of the neck.