Pagina 872 di 1116

Then he went to look for the young lady; and when she saw him her

reason fled and she cried out piteously "Aman![FN#679] Mercy!" So

he spared her and asked, "What made thee consort with this

blackamoor?", and she answered, "I was slave to a certain

merchant, and the old woman used to visit me till I took a liking

to her. One day she said to me, 'We have a marriage festival at

our house the like of which was never seen and I wish thee to

enjoy the sight.' 'To hear is to obey,' answered I, and rising

arrayed myself in my finest raiment and ornaments, and took with

me a purse containing an hundred gold pieces.