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As for this wanton (since thou deemest her such) drive her out

from thy doors, from thy love and from thy heart." And she ceased

not to weep and importune him till he relented and said, 'I

pardon her, but needs must I set on her my mark which shall show

upon her all her life." Then he bade the slaves drag me along the

ground and lay me out at full length, after stripping me of all

my clothes;[FN#350] and when the slaves had so sat upon me that I

could not move, he fetched in a rod of quince tree and came down

with it upon my body, and continued beating me on the back and

sides till I lost consciousness from excess of pain, and I

despaired of life. Then he commanded the slaves to take me away

as soon as it was dark, together with the old woman to show them

the way and throw me upon the floor of the house wherein I dwelt

before my marriage. They did their lord's bidding and cast me

down in my old home and went their ways.