第68章 NOUREDDIN ALI OF CAIRO AND HIS SON BEDREDDIN HASSA

The sable torrent of her locks falls down unto her hips；Beware the serpents of her curlsI counsel theebeware！

Indeedher glanceher sides are softbut none the lessalas！

Her heart is harder than the rock；there is no mercy there.

The starry arrows of her looks she darts above her veil；They hit and never miss the markthough from afar they fare.

When I clasp hands about her waistto press her to my heartThe swelling apples of her breast compel me to forbear.

Alasher beauty！it outdoes all other loveliness；Her shape transcends the willow-wand and makes the branch despair.

Then they unveiled her in the sixth dresswhich was green. In this she reached the utmost bounds of lovelinessoutvying in slender straightness the tawny spear-shaftand in suppleness and flexile grace the bending branchwhilst the splendours of her face outshone the radiance of the full moon. Indeedshe transcended the fair of all quarters of the world and all hearts were broken by her loveliness；for she was even as says the poet：

A damsel made for love and decked with subtle grace；You'd say the very sun had borrowed from her face.

She came in robes of greenthe likeness of the leaf That the pomegranate flower cloth in the bud encase.

'How call'st thou this thy dress？'we said to herand she Made answer with a word full of malicious grace.

'Breaker of Hearts，'quoth she'I call itfor therewith I've broken many a heart among the human race.'

Then they dressed her in the seventh dresswhich was of a colour between saffron and orangeeven as says the poet：

Scented with sandal and musk and ambergrislo！she comes. The blended hues of her dress 'twixt orange and saffron show.

Slender and shapely she is；vivacity bids her ariseBut the weight of her hips says'Sitor softly and slowly go.'

When I solicit her kiss and sue for my heart's desire'Be gracious，'her beauty saysbut her coquetry answers'No.'

They unveiled the bridein all her seven dressesbefore Bedreddin Hassanleaving the hunchback sitting by himself；and when she opened her eyesshe said'O my Godgrant that this youth may be my husband and deliver me from this humpbacked groom.'Then they dismissed the company and all who were present retiredexcept Bedreddin Hassan and the hunchbackwhilst the tire-women carried off the bride to undress her and prepare her for the bridegroom. Thereupon the hunchback came up to Bedreddin Hassan and said to him'O my lordthou hast cheered us with thy company tonight and overwhelmed us with thy favours. Wilt thou not now rise and depart？'In the name of God，'replied Bedreddinand risingwent out of the doorwhere the Afrit met him and said to him'Stay where thou artand when the hunchback goes out to the draught-houseenter thou the bride chamber and do not hesitatebut sit down in the alcoveand when the bride comessay to her''Tis I who am thy husbandfor the King only played this trick on theeto conjure the evil eye from us；and he whom thou sawest is one of our grooms.'Then go up to her and uncover her face and fear nothingfor jealousy hath taken us of this affair and none is worthy to enjoy her youth but thyself.'

As he was yet speakingthe groom came out and entering the closetsat down on the stool. Hardly had he done sowhen the Afrit appeared to him in the shape of a mouseissuing from the water-troughand cried 'Queek！'Quoth the hunchback，'What ails thee？'And the mouse increased till it became a cat and said'Miaou！Miaou！'Then it grew still more and became a dog and cried'Bow！Wow！'When the hunchback saw thishe was terrified and exclaimed'BegoneO unlucky one！'The dog increased and became an ass-coltthat brayed and cried out in his face'Heehaw！Heehaw！'Whereupon the hunchback quaked and cried out'Come to my aidO people of the house！'But the ass increased and swelledtill it became a buffalo and barred the way against him and said with a human voice'Out on thee，hunchbackthou stinkard！'The groom was seized with a colic and sat down on the jakes with his clothes on and his teeth chattering. Quoth the Afrit'Is the world so small that thou canst find none to marry but my mistress？''But he was silent，and the Afrit said'Answer meor I will make thee a dweller in the dust.'By Allah，'replied the hunchback'I am not to blame，for they forced me to marry herand I knew not that she had a buffalo for a gallant；but I repent to God and to thee. What wilt thou have me do？'Quoth the Afrit'I swear to thee thatif thou leave this place or speak before sunriseI will wring thy neck！

When the sun risesgo thy way and never return to this house.'

So sayinghe seized the hunchback and set him upside down against the wallwith his head in the slit and his feet in the airand said to him'I will leave thee here and watch thee till sunrise；and if thou stir before thenI will seize thee by the feet and dash out thy brains against the wall.'Meanwhile Bedreddin Hassan entered the bride chamber and sat down in the alcove. Presentlyin came the brideattended by an old woman，who stopped at the door of the chamber and said'O father of symmetryarise and take what God sends thee.'Then the old woman went awayand the bridewhose name was the Lady of Beautyenteredheart-broken and saying to herself'By AllahI will never yield myself to himthough he kill me！'When she came to the alcoveshe saw Bedreddin sitting there and said'O my friendthou here at this hour！By AllahI was wishing that thou wast my husband or that thou and the groom were partners in me！'