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drink and he said, ‘If it please thee, sing us a song.’ So Younus sang this verse:
Charms, never in one mortal yet combined compriseth she, And tears and wakefulness are sweet, for love of her, to me.
At which the stranger rejoiced exceedingly and Younus gave him to drink again and again, till drunkenness got the better of him and he said, ‘Bid thy slave-girl sing.’ So she sang this verse:
A houri, by whose charms my heart confounded is, ah me! Nor wand nor sun nor moon, indeed, may evened with her be.
The stranger was much pleased with this and they sat drinking till nightfall, when they prayed the evening-prayer and the youth said to Younus, ‘What brings thee hither?’ He answered, ‘[I come in quest of] wherewithal to discharge my debts and better my case.’ Quoth the stranger, ‘Wilt thou sell me this thy slave-girl for thirty thousand dirhems?’ ‘I must have more than that,’ answered Younus. ‘Will forty thousand content thee?’ asked the other; but Younus said, ‘That would only pay my debts, and I should remain empty-handed.’ Quoth the stranger, ‘I will take her of thee at fifty thousand dirhems[1] and give thee a suit of clothes to boot and the expenses of thy journey and make thee a sharer in my estate, as long as thou livest.’ ‘I sell her to thee on these terms,’ answered Younus. Then said the young man, ‘Wilt thou let me take her with me and trust me to bring thee the money to-morrow, or shall she abide with thee till I bring thee her price?’ And the fumes of the wine and shamefastness and awe of the stranger led Younus to reply, ‘I will trust thee; take her and may God bless thee in her!’ Whereupon the stranger bade one of his servants take her up before him on his beast, and mounting his own horse, took leave of Younus and rode away.
- ↑ About £1250.
