第77章 NOUREDDIN ALI OF CAIRO AND HIS SON BEDREDDIN HASSA
But praised be God who caused all this to happen to me in sleep and not on wake！'The Lady of Beauty laughed and pressed him to her bosomand he returned her caresses；then he thought again and said'By AllahI cannot help thinking it must have been a reality after all！Indeed I know not what to think of it all.'Then he lay down and passed the night in a state of perplexitysaying now'I was dreaming，'and now'I was awake，'till the morningwhen his uncle Shemseddin entered and saluted him. When Bedreddin saw himhe said to him'By Allahart thou not he who gave orders to bind me and demolish my shop and would have nailed me on a cross，and all because a mess of pomegranate-seed lacked pepper？'O my son，'replied the Vizier'know that the truth has appeared and that which was hidden is divulged. Thou art my brother's sonand I did all this with thee but that I might certify myself that thou wast indeed he who lay with my daughter on her wedding-night. I could not be sure of thistill I saw that thou knewest the chamber and thy turban and clothes and purse and the scrolls in thy handwriting and that of my brotherfor I had never seen thee and did not know thee；and I have brought thy mother with me from Bassora.'So sayinghe threw himself on him and they embraced and wept for excess of joy. Then said the Vizier to Bedreddin'O my sonall this came of what passed between thy father and myself.'And he told him what had taken place between them and the manner of his father's flight to Bassora；after which he sent for Agiband when his father saw himhe exclaimed'This is he who threw the stone at me！'Quoth the Vizier'This is thy son.'And Bedreddin threw himself on Agib and repeated the following verses：
Long time have I bewailed the sev'rance of our lovesWith tears that from my lids streamed down like burning rain，And vowed thatif the days should reunite us twoMy lips should never speak of severance again.
Joy hath o'erwhelmed me sothat for the very stress Of that which gladdens meto weeping I am fain.
Tears are become to you a habitO my eyes！So that ye weep as well for gladness as for pain.
PresentlyBedreddin's mother came in and fell on himrepeating the following verses：
When we metto each other we both did complain Of the manifold things that we each had to say；For the lover's complaint of the anguish he feels The tongue of a messenger cannot convey.
Then she wept and related to him what had befallen her since his departureand he told her what he had suffered and they thanked God the Most High for their reunion with one another. Two days after his arrivalthe Vizier went in to the Sultan and kissing the earth before himsaluted him after the fashion of salutation to kings. The Sultan rejoiced at his return and received him with distinguished favour. Then he desired to hear what had befallen him in his travels；so the Vizier told him all that had passed，and the Sultan said'Praised be God for that thou hast attained thy desire and returned in safety to thy kinsfolk and family！I must see thy brother's sonso do thou bring him to the Divan tomorrow.'Shemseddin replied'God willingthy slave shall be present tomorrow.'Then he saluted him and returning to his own houseinformed his nephew of the King's wish to see himto which Bedreddin replied'The slave is obedient to his lord's commands.'So next day he accompanied his uncle to the Divan and after saluting the Sultan in the most punctilious and elegant mannerrepeated the following verses：
All ranks and classes kiss the earthin homage to thy stateFor lo I through thee their every wish is crowned with happy fate.
For thou the fount of honour art for those that hope in theeAnd from thy hand the bounties flow that make there rich and great.
The Sultan smiled and signed to him to sit down. So he sat down beside the Vizierand the King enquired his name. Quoth Bedreddin'The meanest of thy slaves is known as Bedreddin Hassan of Bassorawho prays for thee day and night.'The Sultan was pleased at his words and being minded to try him and prove his knowledge and good-breedingsaid to him'Dost thou remember any verses in praise of a mole on the cheek？'Yes，'replied Bedreddinand repeated the following：
When I think of my loved onethe sighs from my breast Burst up and the tears to my eyes quickly start.
She's a molethat resemblesin beauty and hueThe black of the eye and the core of the heart.
The Sultan liked these verses and said'Let us have some more.
Heaven bless thy sire！May thy tongue never tire！'So he repeated the following：
The mole's black spot upon her cheek they liken to a grain Of musk；yet wonder not at thatfor wonder were in vain.
But rather wonder at her facewherein all beauty is： There is no particle of grace that it doth not contain.
The Sultan shook with delight and said to him'More！God bless thy life！'So he repeated the following：
O thouthe moles upon whose cheek recall Globules of musk upon cornelian strewed，Grant me thy favoursbe not hard of heartO thoumy heart's desiremy spirit's food！