第561页 / 共1116页

Then he brought him rich raiment and clothed him therein and,

giving him a lighted flambeau, said, "Know that I have brought

thee hither, meaning to do thee a good turn for the love of

Allah: so take this torch and mingle with the people at the

Hammam-door and walk on with them without stopping till thou

reach the house of the wedding-festival; then go boldly forward

and enter the great saloon; and fear none, but take thy stand at

the right hand of the Hunchback bridegroom; and, as often as any

of the nurses and tirewomen and singing-girls come up to thee,

[FN#405] put thy hand into thy pocket which thou wilt find filled

with gold. Take it out and throw it to them and spare not; for as

often as thou thrustest fingers in pouch thou shalt find it full

of coin.