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But during the twenty days of his brother's absence Nur al-Din

had travelled far and had reached Bassorah; so after diligent

search the messengers failed to come at any news of him and

returned. Thereupon Shams al-Din despaired of finding his brother

and said, "Indeed I went beyond all bounds in what I said to him

with reference to the marriage of our children. Would that I had

not done so! This all cometh of my lack of wit and want of

caution." Soon after this he sought in marriage the daughter of a

Cairene merchant, [FN#382] and drew up the marriage contract and

went in to her. And it so chanced that, on the very same night

when Shams al-Din went in to his wife, Nur al-Din also went in to

his wife the daughter of the Wazir of Bassorah; this being in

accordance with the will of Almighty Allah, that He might deal

the decrees of Destiny to His creatures.