Pagina 586 di 1116

Now by the order of Him who predestineth all things, they

alighted at Damascus of Syria, and the Ifritah set down her

burden at one of the city-gates and flew away. When day arose and

the doors were opened, the folks who came forth saw a handsome

youth, with no other raiment but his blue shirt of

gold-embroidered silk and skull-cap,[FN#431] lying upon the

ground drowned in sleep after the hard labour of the night which

had not suffered him to take his rest. So the folk looking at him

said, "O her luck with whom this one spent the night! but would

he had waited to don his garments." Quoth another, "A sorry lot

are the sons of great families!