第47章 THE PORTER AND THE THREE LADIES OF BAGHDAD.(22)

It may be Fate at last shall draw its bridle-rein And bring me happy chance；for Fortune changes still；And things shall happen yetdespite the things fordoneTo further forth my hopes and bring me to my will.

When I drew near the supposed firebeholdit was a palacewith a gate of brasswhereonwhen the sun shoneit gleamed and glistened and showed from afaras it were a fire. I rejoiced at the sight and sat down before the palace gate；but hardly had I done sowhen there came up ten young mensumptuously clad and all blind of the right eye. They were accompanied by an old man；

and I marvelled at their appearance and at their being all blind of the same eye. They saluted me and questioned me of my conditionwhereupon I told them all that had befallen me. They wondered at my story and carried me into the palacewhere I saw ten coucheswith beds and coverlets of blue stuffranged in a circlewith a like couch of smaller size in the midst. As we enteredeach of the young men went up to his own couchand the old man seated himself on the smaller one in the middle. Then said they unto me'O youthsit down on the ground and enquire not of our doings nor of the loss of our right eyes.'Presently the old man rose and brought each one of the young men and myself his portion of meat and drink in separate vessels；and we sat talkingthey questioning me of my adventures and I replying，till the night was far spent. Then said they to the old man'O elderwilt thou not bring us our ordinary？ The time is come.'

'Willingly，'answered heand rose and entering a closet，disappeared and presently returnedbearing on his head ten disheseach covered with a piece of blue stuff. He set a dish before each youth and lighting ten wax-candlesset one upon each dish；after which he uncovered the dishesand lothey were full of ashes and powdered charcoal and soot. Then all the young men tucked up their sleeves and fell to weeping and lamenting；and they blackened their faces and rent their clothes and buffeted their cheeks and beat their breastsexclaiming 'We were seated at our easebut our impertinent curiosity would not let us be！'

They ceased not to do thus till near daybreakwhen the old man rose and heated water for themand they washed their faces and put on fresh clothes. When I saw thismy senses left me for wonderment and my heart was troubled and my mind perplexedfor their strange behaviourtill I forgot what had befallen me and could not refrain from questioning them；so I said to them'What makes you do thusafter our sport and merry-making together？

Praised be Godye are whole of wityet these are the doings of madmen！I conjure youby all that is most precious to youtell me why you behave thus and how ye came to lose each an eye！'At thisthey turned to me and said'O young manlet not thy youth beguile theebut leave thy questioning.'Then they slept and I with themand when we awokethe old man served up food；and after we had eaten and the vessels had been removedwe sat conversing till nightfallwhen the old man rose and lit the candles and lamps and set meat and drink before us. We ate and sat talking and carousing till midnightwhen they said to the old man'Bring us our ordinaryfor the hour of sleep is at hand.'So he rose and brought them the dishes of soot and ashes，and they did as they had done on the preceding night. I abode with them on this wise for a monthduring which time they blackened their faces every nightthen washed them and changed their clothes and my trouble and amazement increased upon me till I could neither eat nor drink. At lastI lost patience and said to them'O young menif ye will not relieve my concern and acquaint me with the reason of your blackening your faces and the meaning of your words'We were seated at our easebut our impertinent curiosity would not let us be，'let me leave you and return to my own people and be at rest from seeing these things，for as says the proverb，'Twere wiser and better your presence to leaveFor when the eye sees notthe heart does not grieve.'