MA'ARUF THE COBBLER AND HIS WIFE FATIMAH.
There dwelt once upon a time in the God-guarded city of Cairo a cobbler who lived by patching old shoes.¹ His name was Ma'aruf² and he had a wife called Fatimah, whom the folk had nicknamed "The Dung ;"³ for that she was a whorish, worthless wretch, scanty of shame and mickle of mischief. She ruled her spouse and used to abuse him and curse him a thousand times a day; and he feared her malice and dreaded her misdoings; for that he was a sensible man and careful of his repute, but poor-conditioned. When he earned much, he spent it on her, and when he gained little, she revenged herself on his body that night, leaving him no peace and making his night black as her book;4 for she was even as of one like her saith the poet:—
How manifold nights have I passed with my wife ○ In the saddest plight with all misery rife:
Would Heaven when first I went in to her ○ With a cup of cold poison I'd ta'en her life.
Amongst other afflictions which befel him from her one day she said to him, "O Ma'aruf, I wish thee to bring me this night a vermicelli-cake dressed with bees' honey,"5 He replied, "So Allah
¹ Arab. "Zarábín" (pl. of zarbún), lit. slaves' shoes or sandals (see vol. iii. p. 336) the chaussure worn by Mamelukes. Here the word is used in its modern sense of stout shoes or walking boots.
² The popular word means goodness, etc., e.g. "A'mil al-Ma'arúf"=have the kindness; do me the favour.
³ Dozy translates "'Urrah"=Une Mégère: Lane terms it a "vulgar word signifying a wicked, mischievous shrew." But it is the fern. form of 'Urr=dung; not a bad name for a daughter of Billingsgate; and reminds us of the term "Dung-beardlings " applied by the amiable Hallgerda to her enemy's sons. (The Story of Burnt Njal, ii. 47.)
4 i.e. black like the book of her actions which would be shown to her on Doomsday. (See Night dccclxxi.) The ungodly hold it in the left hand, the right being bound behind their backs and they appear in ten foul forms, apes, swine, etc., for which see Sale sect. iv.
5 The "Kunáfah" (vermicelli-cake) is a favourite dish of wheaten flour, worked somewhat finer than our vermicelli, fried with samn (butter melted and clarified) and sweetened with honey or sugar. See Lane M. E. chapt. v. Bees' honey is opposed to various syrups which are used as sweeteners. See vol. v. 300.
VOL. X.
