1116페이지 중 492페이지

At first I was minded to slay them, but I feared it would be

grievous to her, so I transformed them to bitches; but if thou

desire their release, O Commander of the Faithful, I will release

them to pleasure thee and her for I am of the Moslems." Quoth the

Caliph, "Release them and after we will look into the affair of

the beaten lady and consider her case carefully; and if the truth

of her story be evidenced I will exact retaliation[FN#352] from

him who wronged her." Said the Ifritah, "O Commander of the

Faithful, I will forthwith release them and will discover to thee

the man who did that deed by this lady and wronged her and took

her property, and he is the nearest of all men to thee!" So

saying she took a cup of water and muttered a spell over it and

uttered words there was no understanding; then she sprinkled some

of the water over the faces of the two bitches, saying, "Return

to your former human shape!" whereupon they were restored to

their natural forms and fell to praising their Creator.