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thousand dinars or more and said to her, ‘This is of that which I have brought hither.’ When the old woman saw it, it pleased her and she said, ‘What is the price of this dress, O perfect in beauty?’ ‘I will take no price for it,’ answered he; whereupon she thanked him and repeated her question; but he said, ‘By Allah, I will take no price for it! If the princess will not accept it, I make thee a present of it and it is a guess-gift from me to thee. Praised be God who hath brought us together, so that, if one day I have a want, I shall find thee a helper to me in its accomplishment!’ She marvelled at the goodliness of his speech and the excess of his generosity and courtesy, and said to him, ‘What is thy name, O my lord?’ ‘My name is Ardeshir,’ answered he; and she said, ‘By Allah, this is a rare name! Therewith are kings’ sons named, and thou art in the guise of the sons of the merchants.’ Quoth he, ‘Of the love my father bore me, he gave me this name, but a name signifies nothing.’ And she wondered at him and said, ‘O my son, take the price of thy goods.’ But he swore that he would take nothing.
Then said she to him, ‘O my son, truth is the greatest of all things and thou hadst not dealt thus generously by me but for a special reason: so tell me thy case and thy secret thought; belike thou hast some need to the accomplishment of which I may help thee.’ Thereupon he laid his hand in hers and swearing her to secrecy, told her the whole story of his passion for the princess and his sufferings by reason thereof. The old woman shook her head and said, ‘True, O my son; but the wise say, in the current adage, “If thou wouldst be obeyed, abstain from ordering that which may not be;” and thou, my son, thy name is “Merchant,” and though thou hadst the keys of the hidden treasures, yet wouldst thou be called nought but “Merchant.” If thou have a find to advance thyself in rank according to thy station, seek the hand of
