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named him Kemerezzeman and rejoiced in him with exceeding joy and bade decorate the city in his honour. So they decorated the city seven days, whilst the drums beat and the messengers bore the glad tidings abroad. Meanwhile nurses and attendants were provided for the boy and he was reared in splendour and delight, until he reached the age of fifteen. He grew up of surpassing beauty and symmetry, and his father loved him very dear, so that he could not brook to be parted from him day or night. One day, he complained to one of his Viziers of the excess of his love for his son, saying, ‘O Vizier, of a truth I fear the shifts and accidents of fortune for my son Kemerezzeman and fain would I marry him in my lifetime.’ ‘O King,’ answered the Vizier, ‘marriage is one of the most honourable of actions, and thou wouldst indeed do well to marry thy son in thy lifetime, ere thou make him king.’ Quoth the King, ‘Fetch me my son;’ so Kemerezzeman came and bowed his head before his father, out of modesty. ‘O Kemerezzeman,’ said the King, ‘I desire to marry thee and rejoice in thee in my lifetime.’ ‘O my father,’ answered the prince, ‘know that I have no wish to marry, nor doth my soul incline to women; for that I have read many books and heard much talk concerning their craft and perfidy, even as saith the poet:
If ye would know of women and question of their case, Lo, I am versed in their fashions and skilled all else above.
When a man’s head grows grizzled or for the nonce his wealth Fails from his hand, then, trust me, he hath no part in their love.
And again:
Gainsay women; he obeyeth Allah best who saith them nay, And he prospers not who giveth them his bridle-rein to sway;
For they’ll hinder him from winning to perfection in his gifts, Though a thousand years he study, seeking after wisdom’s way.
Wherefore (continued Kemerezzeman) marriage is a thing to which I will never consent; no, not though I
