255
this, my senses failed me and I bepissed myself for terror, and the water ran out of the chest. Then said she to the eunuch, ‘O chief, thou hast undone me and thyself also, for thou hast spoiled that which is worth ten thousand dinars. This box contains coloured dresses and four flasks of Zemzem water; and now one of the bottles has broken loose and the water is running out over the clothes and their colours will be ruined.’ Then said the eunuch, ‘Take up thy chests and begone with God’s malison!’ So the slaves took up the chests and hurried on with them, till suddenly I heard a voice saying, ‘Alas! Alas! the Khalif! the Khalif!’ When I heard this, my heart died within me and I spoke the words which whoso says shall not be confounded, that is to say, ‘There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme! I have brought this affliction on myself.’ Presently I heard the Khalif say to my mistress, ‘Harkye, what is in those chests of thine?’ ‘Clothes for the Lady Zubeideh,’ answered she; and he said, ‘Open them to me.’ When I heard this, I gave myself up for lost and said, ‘By Allah, this is the last of my worldly days!’ and began to repeat the profession of the Faith.Night xxviii. Then I heard the lady say to the Khalif, ‘These chests have been committed to my charge by the Lady Zubeideh, and she does not wish their contents to be seen of any one.’ ‘No matter,’ said he; ‘I must open them and see what is in them.’ And he cried out to the eunuchs saying, ‘Bring them to me.’ At this, I made sure of death and swooned away. Then the slaves brought the chests up to him and opened them, one after another, and he saw in them perfumes and stuffs and rich clothes, till none remained unopened but that in which I was. They put their hands to it to open it, but the lady made haste and said to the Khalif, ‘This one thou shalt see in the Lady Zubeideh’s presence, for that which is in it is her secret.’ When he heard this, he ordered them to carry in the
