Страница 223 из 1116

Then, behold, she cried, "Sleep out the night, and never wake

again: by Allah, I loathe thee and I loathe thy whole body, and

my soul turneth in disgust from cohabiting with thee; and I see

not the moment when Allah shall snatch away thy life!" Then she

rose and donned her fairest dress and perfumed her person and

slung my sword over her shoulder; and, opening the gates of the

palace, went her ill way. I rose and followed her as she left the

palace and she threaded the streets until she came to the city

gate, where she spoke words I understood not, and the padlocks

dropped of themselves as if broken and the gate leaves opened.

She went forth (and I after her without her noticing aught) till

she came at last to the outlying mounds[FN#120] and a reed fence

built about a round roofed hut of mud bricks. As she entered the

door, I climbed upon the roof which commanded a view of the

interior, and lo!