173
the blood ran from the corners of their eyes. Then they made at Gherib, to seize him; but he smote one of them with his fist and killed him, and so did he with another and another, till he had slain five-and-twenty of them and the rest fled to Queen Janshah, crying out. Quoth she, ‘What is the matter?’ And they said, ‘The prisoner hath broken thine idol and slain thy men,’ and told her all that had passed. When she heard this, she cast her crown to the ground and said, ‘There is no worth left in idols!’ Then she mounted with a thousand fighting-men and rode to the temple, where she found Gherib had gotten him a sword and come forth and was slaying men and overthrowing warriors. When she saw his prowess, her heart was drowned in the love of him and she said in herself, ‘I have no need of the idol and care for nought but this Gherib, that he may lie in my bosom the rest of my life.’ Then she bade her men hold aloof from Gherib, and going up to him, muttered certain magical words, whereupon his arm became benumbed and the sword dropped from his grasp. So they seized him and bound him, as he stood confounded and stupefied.
Then the Queen returned to her palace and seating herself on her throne, bade her people withdraw and leave Gherib with her. When they were alone, she said to him, ‘O dog of the Arabs, wilt thou break my idol and slay my men?’ ‘O accursed woman,’ answered he, ‘had he been a god, he had defended himself!’ Quoth she, ‘Lie with me and I will forgive thee that which thou hast done.’ But he replied, saying, ‘I will do nought of this.’ And she said, ‘By the virtue of my faith, I will punish thee grievously!’ So she took water and conjuring over it, sprinkled it upon him and he became an ape. And she used to feed and keep him in a closet, appointing one to care for him; and in this plight he abode two years. Then she called him to her one day and said to him, ‘Wilt
