第74章 NOUREDDIN ALI OF CAIRO AND HIS SON BEDREDDIN HASSA

Then he walked on till he came to the lodging of his brother's widow. Now from the day of her son's disappearanceshe had given herself up to weeping and lamentation day and night；and when the years grew long upon hershe made him a tomb of marble midmost the saloon and there wept for him day and nightsleeping not but thereby. When the Vizier drew near her apartmenthe heard her weeping and repeating versesso he went in to her and saluting herinformed her that he was her husband's brother and told her all that had passed between themand how her son Bedreddin Hassan had spent a whole night with his daughtertwelve years agobut had disappeared in the morningand how she had conceived by him and borne a sonwhom he had brought with him.

When Bedreddin's mother heard this news of her son and grandson and that the former was haply still alive and saw her husband's brothershe threw herself at his feet and kissed themrepeating the following verses：

May God be good to him who brought me news that they were come；For never more delightful news unto my ears were borne.

If he would take a worn-out weds for boonI'd proffer him A heart that at the parting hour was all to pieces torn.

Then the Vizier sent for Agib；and his grandmother embraced him and weptbut Shemseddin said to her'This is no time for weeping；it behoves thee to make ready to go with us to Egypt；perhaps God will reunite us with thy sonmy nephew.'I hear and obey，'answered sheand rising at oncecollected her goods and treasures and equipped herself and her handmaids for the journey，whilst the Vizier went to take his leave of the Sultan of Bassorawho sent by him gifts and rarities to the Sultan of Egypt. Then he set out at once on his homeward journey and travelled till he came to Damascuswhere he halted and pitched his tents as beforesaying to his suite'We will halt here a weekto buy presents and curiosities for the Sultan.'Now the tie of blood drew Agib to his fatherso he said to the eunuch，'O LaicI have a mind to go a-walking；so comelet us go down into the streets of Damascus and see what is become of the cook whose victuals we ate and whose head we brokefor indeed he was kind to us and we used him scurvily.'The eunuch replied'I hear and obey.'So they left the tents and going down into the city，stayed not till they came to the cookshopwhere they found Bedreddin Hassan standing at the door. It was near the time of afternoon-prayerand as chance would have ithe had just prepared a mess of pomegranate-seed. Agib looked at him and saw the scar of the blow on his forehead；wherefore his heart yearned to him and he said'Peace be on thee！Know that my heart is with thee.'When Bedreddin saw himhis bowels were troubled and his heart throbbedand he bowed his head and would have spokenbut could not. Then he raised his head and looked at his son humbly and imploringly and repeated the following verses：

I longed to look on him I love；but when I saw his faceI was as one amazed and lost the use of tongue and eyes.

I bowed my head down to his feet for reverence and aweAnd would have hidden what I feltbut could it not disguise.

Volumes of plaining and reproach I had within my heart；Yetwhen we metno word I spoke nor uttered aught but sighs.

Then he said to them'Heal my heart and eat of my foodforby AllahI cannot look at you but my heart throbs！I should not have followed you the other daybut that I was beside myself.'

'By Allah，'replied Agib'thou art too fond of us！We ate with thee before and thou madest us repent of itin that thou followedst us and wouldst have put us to shame；so we will not eat with theeexcept thou swear not to go out after us nor follow us. Else we will not visit thee again during our present stayfor we abide here a weekthat my grandfather may take presents for the King.'And Bedreddin said'I grant you this.'

So Agib and the eunuch enteredand Bedreddin set before them a dish of pomegranate-seed. Quoth Agib'Sit down and eat with us，so haply God may grant us relief.'At this Bedreddin was glad and sat down and ate with themwith his eyes fixed on Agib's face，for indeed his heart and entrails were taken with his lovetill the boy said to him'What a tiresome dotard thou art！Leave thy staring in my face.'When Bedreddin heard thishe repeated the following verses：

Thy face excites in all men's hearts a love they do not own；Folded in silence and concealedit may not be made known.

O thou whose beauty puts to shame the splendour of the moon，Whose grace recalls the shining sight of morning newly blown，In thy bright visage is a sign that may not be fulfilledAnd there all beauties that incite to tenderness are shown.

Must I then die of thirstwhat while thy lips with nectar flow？

Thy face is Paradise to me；must I in hell-fire groan？

So they ate till they were satisfiedwhen Bedreddin rose and poured water on their handswiping them with a napkin of silk，which he loosed from his waist；after which he sprinkled rose-water on them from a casting-bottle he had by him. Then he went out and returned with a pitcher of sherbetflavoured with rose-water and muskwhich he set before themsaying'Complete your favours to meby drinking of this sherbet.'So Agib took the pitcher and drank and passed it to the eunuchand it went round amongst them till their stomachs were fullfor they had eaten and drunken beyond their wont. Then they went away and made haste in walking till they reached the tentsand Agib went in to his grandmotherwho kissed himand thinking of her son Bedreddin Hassanwept and repeated the following verses：

But for my hope that God would yet our severed loves uniteI had not lived for life to me is void of all delight.

I swear there's nothing in my heart but love of thee aloneBy Godwho reads the heart and brings the hidden things to light！