Sayfa 271 / 1116

Thereupon said they to the Porter, "Bismillah,[FN#164] O our

master, up and on with those sorry old shoes of thine and turn

thy face and show us the breadth of thy shoulders!" Said he, "By

Allah, to part with my soul would be easier for me than departing

from you: come let us join night to day, and tomorrow morning we

will each wend our own way." "My life on you," said the

procuratrix, "suffer him to tarry with us, that we may laugh at

him: we may live out our lives and never meet with his like, for

surely he is a right merry rogue and a witty."[FN#165] So they

said, "Thou must not remain with us this night save on condition

that thou submit to our commands, and that whatso thou seest,

thou ask no questions there anent, nor enquire of its cause."

"All right," rejoined he, and they said, "Go read the writing

over the door." So he rose and went to the entrance and there

found written in letters of gold wash; WHOSO SPEAKETH OF WHAT

CONCERNETH HIM NOT, SHALL HEAR WHAT PLEASETH HIM NOT![FN#166] The

Porter said, Be ye witnesses against me that I will not speak on

whatso concerneth me not." Then the cateress arose, and set food

before them and they ate; after which they changed their

drinking-place for another, and she lighted the lamps and candles

and burned ambergris and aloes wood, and set on fresh fruit and

the wine service, when they fell to carousing and talking of

their lovers.