Strona 268 z 1116

When the lady heard his verses she came up out of the basin and,

seating herself upon his lap and knees, pointed to her genitory

and said, "O my lordling, what be the name of this?" Quoth he,

"The basil of the bridges;" but she said, "Bah, bah!" Quoth he,

"The husked sesame;" quoth she, "Pooh, pooh!" Then said he, "Thy

womb;" and she cried, "Fie, Fie! art thou not ashamed of

thyself?" and cuffed him on the nape of the neck. And whatever

name he gave declaring " 'Tis so," she beat him and cried "No!

no!" till at last he said, "O my sisters, and what is its name?"

She replied, "It is entitled the Khan[FN#162] of Abu Mansur;"

whereupon the Porter replied, "Ha! ha! O Allah be praised for

safe deliverance! O Khan of Abu Mansur!" Then she came forth and

dressed and the cup went round a full hour. At last the Porter

rose up, and stripping off all his clothes, jumped into the tank

and swam about and washed under his bearded chin and armpits,

even as they had done.