Pagina 433 di 1116

After a full hour of flight he descended and alighted on a

terrace roof and shaking me off his back lashed me on the face

with his tail and gouged out my left eye causing it roll along my

cheek. Then he flew away. I went down from the terrace and found

myself again amongst the ten one eyed youths sitting upon their

ten couches with blue covers; and they cried out when they saw

me, "No welcome to thee, nor aught of good cheer! We all lived of

lives the happiest and we ate and drank of the best; upon

brocades and cloths of gold we took our rest and we slept with

our heads on beauty's breast, but we could not await one day to

gain the delights of a year!" Quoth I, "Behold I have become one

like unto you and now I would have you bring me a tray full of

blackness, wherewith to blacken my face, and receive me into your

society." "No, by Allah," quoth they, "thou shalt not sojourn

with us and now get thee hence!" So they drove me away.