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and all said, ‘Never heard we this name.’ At Shimaoun he made enquiry for the city of the Jews, and they directed him the road thither. So he set out and journeyed nights and days till he came to the place, where he had given the apes the slip, and continued his journey thence to the river, on the opposite bank of which stood the city of the Jews. He sat down on the shore and waited till Saturday came round and the river dried up, when he crossed over to the opposite bank and entering the city, betook himself to the house of his former host. The Jew and his family rejoiced in his return and set meat and drink before him, saying, ‘Where hast thou been during thine absence?’ ‘In the kingdom of God the Most High,’[1] answered he and lay with them that night.
On the morrow he went out to walk about the city and presently heard a crier crying aloud and saying, ‘O folk, who will earn a thousand dinars and a handsome slave-girl and do half a day’s work for us?’ So Janshah went up to him and said, ‘I am your man.’ Quoth the crier, ‘Follow me,’ and carrying him to the house of the Jew merchant, where he had been aforetime, said to the latter, ‘This young man will do thy work.’ The merchant gave him welcome [not recognizing him] and carried him into the harem, where he set meat and drink before him, and he ate and drank. Then he brought him the dinars and the fair slave, with whom he lay that night.
On the morrow, he took the money and the damsel and committing them to his host, returned to the merchant, who mounted and rode out with him, till they came to the foot of the mountain, where they halted and the merchant, bringing out a knife and cords, bade Janshah throw down the mare on which he rode and bind her legs with the cords. So he threw her down and bound her
- ↑ A formula of evasion.
