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Then he bade the hangman cut off my right hand, and he did so; after which he would have cut off my left foot also; but the trooper took pity on me and interceded for me with the prefect, who left me and went away; whilst the folk remained round me and gave me a cup of wine to drink. As for the trooper, he gave me the purse, saying, ‘Thou art a comely youth, and it befits not that thou be a thief.’ And I repeated the following verses:
By Allah, trusty brother mine, I am indeed no thief, Nor, O most bountiful of men, a highwayman am I.
But the vicissitudes of fate overthrew me suddenly, And care and stress and penury full sorely did me try.
It was not thou, but God who cast the fatal shaft at me, The shaft that made from off my head the crown of honour fly.
Then he left me, and I went away, after having wrapt my hand in a piece of rag and thrust it into my bosom. I betook me to my mistress’s house, faint and ill at ease and pale by reason of what had befallen me, and threw myself on the couch. She saw that my colour was changed and said to me, ‘What ails thee and why do I see thee thus changed?’ ‘My head irks me,’ answered I; ‘I am not well.’ When she heard this, she was vexed and concerned for me and said to me, ‘Fret not my heart, O my lord! Sit up and raise thy head and let me know what has happened to thee to-day, for thy face tells me a tale.’ ‘Spare me this talk,’ replied I. But she wept and said, ‘Meseems thou art tired of me, for I see that thou art contrary to thy wont.’ But I was silent, and she continued to talk to me, though I made her no answer, till nightfall, when she brought me food: but I refused it, fearing to let her see me eat with my left hand, and said to her, ‘I do not care to eat at present.’ Quoth she, ‘Tell me what has befallen thee to-day and what ails thee, that thou art troubled and broken in heart and spirit.’ ‘Presently,’ replied I; ‘I will tell thee at my leisure.’ Then she
