第47章

Bravo，Isaac！ indeed，he excelleth in this art.'I rejoined，'Glory be to Allah who hath given this man what he hath vouchsafed unto none other！'Then she said 'And how would it be，an thou heard this song from himself？'This wise we went on till break of day dawn，when there came to her an old woman，as she were her nurse，and said to her，'Verily，the time is come.'So she rose in haste and said to me，'Keep what hath passed between us to thyself； for such meetings are in confidence；''--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-first Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that the damsel whispered，''Keep what hath passed between us to thyself，for such meetings are in confidence；'and I replied，'May I be thy ransom！ I needed no charge to this.'Then I took leave of her and she sent a handmaid to show me the way and open the house door；

so I went forth and returned to my own place，where I prayed the morning prayer and slept.Now after a time there came to me a messenger from Al-Maamun，so I went to him and passed the day in his company.And when the night fell I called to mind my yesternight's pleasure，a thing from which none but an ignoramus would abstain，and betook myself to the street，where I found the basket，and seating myself therein，was drawn up to the place in which I had passed the previous night.When the lady saw me，she said，'Indeed，thou hast been assiduous；'and I answered，'Meseemeth rather that I am neglectful.'Then we fell to discoursing and passed the night as before in general-conversation and reciting verses and telling rare tales，each in turn，till daybreak，when I wended me home； and I prayed the dawn prayer and slept.Presently there came to me a messenger from Al-Maamun； so I went to him and spent my day with him till nightfall，when the Commander of the Faithful said to me，'I

conjure thee to sit here，whilst I go out for a want and come back.'As soon as the Caliph was gone，and quite gone，my thoughts began to tempt and try me and，calling to mind my late delight，I recked little what might befal me from the Prince of True Believers.So I sprang up and turning my back upon the sitting-room，ran to the street aforesaid，where I sat down in the basket and was drawn up as before.When the lady saw me，she said，'I begin to think thou art a sincere friend to us.'Quoth I，'Yea，by Allah！'and quoth she，'Hast thou made our house thine abiding-place？'I replied，'May I be thy ransom！ A guest claimeth guest right for three days and if I return after this，ye are free to spill my blood.'Then we passed the night as before； and when the time of departure drew near，I bethought me that Al Maamun would assuredly question me nor would ever be content save with a full explanation： so I said to her，'I see thee to be of those who delight in singing.Now I have a cousin，the son of my father's brother，who is fairer than I in face and higher of rank and better of breeding； and he is the most intimate of Allah's creatures with Isaac.'Quoth she，'Art thou a parasite[179] and an importunate one？'Quoth I，'It is for thee to decide in this matter；'and she，'If thy cousin be as thou hast described him，it would not mislike us to make acquaintance with him.'Then，as the time was come，I left her and returned to my house，but hardly had I reached it，ere the Caliph's runners came down on me and carried me before him by main force and roughly enough.'--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-second Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that Isaac of Mosul continued，'And hardly had I reached my house ere the Caliph's runners came down upon me and carried me before him by main force and roughly enough.I found him seated on a chair，wroth with me，and he said to me，'O Isaac，art thou a traitor to thine allegiance？'replied I，'No，by Allah，O Commander of the Faithful！'and he rejoined，'What hast thou then to say？ tell me the whole truth；'and I，'Yes，I will，but in private.'So he signed to his attendants，who withdrew to a distance，and I told him the case，adding，'I promised her to bring thee，'and he said，'Thou didst well.'Then we spent the day in our usual-pleasures，but Al-Maamun's heart was taken up with her，and hardly was the appointed time come，when we set out.As we went along，I cautioned him，saying，'Look that thou call me not by my name before her； and I will demean myself like thine attendant.'

And having agreed upon this，we fared forth till we came to the place，where we found two baskets hanging ready.So we sat down in them and were drawn up to the usual-place，where the damsel came forward and saluted us.Now when Al Maamun saw her，he was amazed at her beauty and loveliness； and she began to entertain him with stories and verses.Presently，she called for wine and we fell to drinking she paying him special attention and he repaying her in kind.Then she took the lute and sang these verses，'My lover came in at the close of night，* I rose till he sat and remained upright；

And said 'Sweet heart，hast thou come this hour？*Nor feared on the watch and ward to 'light：'

Quoth he 'The lover had cause to fear，* But Love deprived him of wits and fright.'