id to him； 'Take charge of this for me； against I buy me therewith somewhat of merchandise whereon to trade。'
Then he abode some days in Alexandria； eating and drinking and making merry and taking his pleasure in its thoroughfares； till he had made an end of the hundred dinars he had kept by way of spendingmoney； whereupon he repaired to the old druggist； to take of him somewhat of the thousand dinars to spend； but found him not in his shop and sat down there； to await his return。 As he sat thus； gazing right and left and amusing himself with watching the merchants and passersby； there came into the bazaar a Persian riding on a mule and having behind him a damsel； as she were virgin silver or a turbot in a tank or a gazelle in the desert。 Her face outvied the shining sun and she had bewitching eyes and breasts of ivory； teeth of pearl； slender body and dimpled sides and legs like fat sheep's tails； and indeed she was perfect in beauty and grace and symmetry； even as saith one； describing her：
As she wished； she was created； after such a wise that lo； She in beauty's mould was fashioned； perfect； neither less nor mo'。
In her cheeks the roses redden for confusion and the fruit （62） On the sapling of her figure makes a fair and stately show。
In her face the full moon glitters and the branch is as her shape： Musk her breath is； nor midst mortals is her equal； high or low。
'Tis as if she had been moulded out of water of pure pearls： In each member of her beauty is a very moon； I trow。
The Persian lighted down from his mule and making the damsel alight also； called the broker and said to him； 'Take this damsel and cry her for sale in the market。' So he fetched a stool of ebony； inlaid with ivory； and setting it amiddleward the bazaar； seated her thereon。 Then he raised her veil and discovered a face as it were a Median targe （63） or a sparkling star： and indeed she was like the full moon； when it appears on its fourteenth night； acplished to the utmost in surpassing beauty。 As saith the poet：
The full moon ignorantly vied in beauty with her face； But was eclipsed and split in twain for wrath at its disgrace；
And if the willowwand be fit to even with her shape； Perish her hands who is bee o' the faggotbearing race！ （64）
And how well saith another：
Say to the fair in the muffler laced and wrought with gold； 'Hark ye！ What hast thou done with a pious man was like a monk to be？'
The gleam of the veil and the brilliancy of thy visage under it The hosts of the darkness put to rout and cause them turn and flee；
And when my glance eth to steal a look at thy cheek so fresh and fair； Its guardian sprites with a shooting star still cast at them and me。 （65）
Then said the broker to the merchants； 'How much do ye bid for the pearl of the diver and prize of the foine for a hundred dinars。' And another said； 'Two hundred；' and a third； 'Three hundred；' and they ceased not to bid； one against another； till they made her price nine hundred and fifty dinars； and there the biddings stopped。 Then the broker went up to the Persian and said to him； 'The biddings for this thy slavegirl have reached nine hundred and fifty dinars： wilt thou sell her at that price and take the money？' 'Doth she consent to this？' asked the Persian。 'I desire to consult her wishes； for I fell sick on my journey hither and she tended me with all possible care； wherefore I swore not to sell her but to him of whom she should approve； and I have put her sale in her own hand。 So do thou consult her and if she say； 〃I consent；〃 sell her to whom thou wilt： but if she say 〃No；〃 sell her not。'
So the broker went up to her and said to her； 'Know； O princess of fair ones； that thy master putteth thy sale in thine own hands； and thy price hath reached nine hundred and fifty dinars； dost thou give me leave to sell thee？' 'Show me him who is minded to buy me；' answered she； 'before thou clinch the bargain。' So he brought her up to one of the merchants； a very old and decrepit man； and she looked at him awhile； then turned to the broker and said to him； 'O broker； art thou mad or afflicted in thy wit？' 'Why dost thou ask me this； O princess of fair ones？' said he。 And she answered； 'Is it permitted of God to sell the like of me to yonder decrepit old man； who saith of his wife's case the following verses：
Quoth she to me；and sore enraged for wounded pride was she； For she in sooth had bidden me to that which might not be；
〃An if thou swine me not forthright； as one should swive his wife； If thou be made a cuckold straight； reproach it not to me。
Meseems thy yard is made of wax； for very flaccidness； For when I rub it with my hand； it softens instantly。〃
And quoth he likewise of his yard：
I leave a yard that sleeps on base and shameful wise； Whenever one I love with my desire plies；
But； when I'm by myself； at home； it's all agog To thrust and ply its lone the amorous exercise。
And again quoth he thereof：
I have an ill yard； passing froward； to wit： Him who honoureth it； with reproach it doth quit。
If I sleep； it stands up； if I rise； it lies down； God no ruth have on him who hath ruth upon it！'
When the old merchant heard this scurvy gibing from the damsel； he was exceeding wroth and said to the broker； 'O unluckiest of brokers； thou hast not brought this illconditioned wench into the market but to flout me and make mock of me before the merchants。' Then the broker took her aside and said to her； 'O my lady； be not lacking in manners。 The old man whom thou didst mock at is the syndic of the bazaar and inspector of weights and measures thereof and one of the council of the merchants。' But she laughed and said：
'It behoveth the folk that bear rule in our time； Yea； 'tis one of the duties of magistrateship；
To hang up the chief of police o'er his door And beat the inspector of weights with a whip。
By Allah； O my lord；' added she； 'I will not be sold to yonder old man； so sell me to other than him； for belike he will be abashed at me and sell me again and I shall bee a servant and it beseems not that I sully myself with menial service； and indeed thou knowest that the matter of my sale is mitted to myself。' 'I hear and obey；' answered he and carried her to one of the chief merchants。 'How sayst thou； O my lady？' asked he。 hundred and fifty dinars？' She looked at him and seeing him to be an old man； with a dyed beard； said to the broker； 'Art thou mad； that thou wouldst sell me to this wornout old man？ Am I cotton refuse or threadbare rags that thou marchest me about from graybeard to graybeard； each like a wall ready to fall or an Afrit smitten down of a ＇shooting＇ star？ As for the first； the poet had him in mind when he said：
'I sought of a fair maid to kiss her lips of coral red； But； 〃No； by Him who fashioned things from nothingness！〃 she said。
〃Unto the white of hoary hairs I never had a mind； And shall my mouth be stuffed； forsooth； with cotton； ere I'm dead？〃 （66）
And how goodly is the saying of the poet：
They say that hoary hair is as a shining light； The face with venerance and lustre that doth dight；
Yet； till the writ of eld appear upon my crown； I hope I may not lack o' the colour of the night。
Although the beard of him； who's hoary grown； should be His book （67） i' the world to e； I would not choose it white。
And yet goodlier is the saying of another：
A guest unhonoured on my head hath stolen by surprise； With my sidelocks the sword than he had dealt on milder wise。
Begone from me； O whiteness foul； wherein no whiteness （68） is！ Indeed； than very darkness' self thou'rt blacker in mine eyes。
As for the other； he is a reprobate and a lewd fellow and a blackener of the face of hoariness； he acts the foulest of lies； and the tongue of his case reciteth the following verses：
Quoth she to me； 〃I see thou dy'st thy hoariness；〃 and I； 〃I do but hide it from thy sight； O thou mine ear and eye！〃
She laughed out mockingly and said； 〃A wonder 'tis indeed！ Thou so abounded in deceit that even thy hair's a lie。〃
And how excellent is the saying of the poet：
O thou with black that drest thy hoariness； that so Lost youth with thee may tarry or e to thee once mo'；
Of old my worldly portion was dyed in grain with black； 'Twill never fade； believe me； nor othercoloured grow。'
When the old man with the dyed beard heard this； he was exceeding wroth and said to the broker； 'O most illomened of brokers； what aileth thee to bring this crack brained wench into our market； to gibe at all who are therein； one after other； and flout them with mocking verses and idle jests？' And he came down from his shop and smote the broker on the face。 So he took her and carried her away； in a rage； saying to her； 'By Allah； never in my life saw I a more impudent wench than thyself！ Thou hast spoilt my trade and thine own this day and all the merchants will bear me a grudge on thine account。'
Then they saw in the way a merchant called Shihabeddin； who bid ten dinars more for her； and the broker asked her leave to sell her to him。 Quoth she； 'Let me see him and question him of a certain thing； which if he have in his house； I will be sold to him； and if not； not。' So the broker left her standing there and going up to Shihabeddin； said to him； 'O my lord； know that yonder damsel tells me she hath a mind to ask thee of somewhat； which if thou have in thy house； she will be sold to thee。 Now thou hast heard what she said to thy fellows the ＇other＇ merchants； and by Allah； I fear to bring her to thee； lest she do with thee like as she did with thy neighbours and so I fall into disgrace with thee： but； if thou bid me bring her to thee； I erchant； 'Bring her to me。' 'I hear and obey；' answered the broker and fetched the damsel； who looked at him and said； 'O my lord Shihabeddin； hast thou in thy house cushions stuffed with minever parings？' 'Yes； O princess of fair ones；' replied Shihabeddin； 'I have half a score such cushions at home； but I conjure thee by Allah； tell me； what wilt thou do with them？' Quoth she； 'I will wait till thou be asleep； when I will lay them on thy mouth and nose ＇and press on them＇ till thou die。'
Then she turned to the broker and said to him； 'O filthiest of brokers； meseemeth