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Quoth I, "Now by the Truth of what thou readest in Allah's Holy

Book, I conjure thee to answer my question." He looked upon me

with a smile and said, "O handmaid of Allah, first tell me the

cause of thy coming hither, and I in turn will tell what hath

befallen both me and the people of this city, and what was the

reason of my escaping their doom." So I told him my story whereat

he wondered; and I questioned him of the people of the city, when

he replied, "Have patience with me for a while, O my sister!"

and, reverently closing the Holy Book, he laid it up in a satin

bag. Then he seated me by his side; and I looked at him and

behold, he was as the moon at its full, fair of face and rare of

form, soft sided and slight, of well proportioned height, and

cheek smoothly bright and diffusing light; in brief a sweet, a

sugar stick,[FN#313]. even as saith the poet of the like of him

in these couplets:-