第35章 STORY OF ALI BEN BEKKAR AND SHEMSENNEHAR.(15)

Yes，'answered they. Some of them have come back： and the manner of their coming was that a man came and threw them down in the doorway and we saw him not.'So I comforted myself and abode two days，unable to rise，at the end of which time I began to regain strength and went to the bath，for I was worn out with fatigue and troubled at heart for Ali ben Bekkar and Shemsennehar，because I had no news of them all this time and could neither get to Alis house nor rest in my own，out of fear for myself. And I repented to God the Most High of what I had done and praised Him for my safety. Then I bethought me to go to such and such a place and see the folk and divert myself；so I went to the stuff-market and sat awhile with a friend of mine there. When I rose to go，I saw a woman standing in my road；so I looked at her，and behold it was Shemsennehars slave-girl. When I saw her，the world grew dark in my eyes and I hurried on. She followed me，but I was afraid and fled from her，trembling whenever I looked at her，whilst she pursued me，saying，Stop，that I may tell thee somewhat.'But I heeded her not and went on，till I reached a mosque in an unfrequented spot，and she said to me，Enter the mosque，that I may say a word to thee，and fear nothing.'And she conjured me： so I entered the mosque，and she after me. I prayed a two-bow prayer，after which I turned to her，sighing，and said，What dost thou want？She asked me how I did，and I told her all that had befallen myself and Ali ben Bekkar and asked her for news of herself. Know，'answered she，that when I and the two maids saw the robbers break open thy door，we doubted not but they were the Khalifs officers and would seize us and our mistress and we perish forthright： so we fled over the roofs and casting ourselves down from a high place，took refuge with some people，who harboured us and brought us to the palace，where we arrived in the sorriest of plights. We concealed our case and abode on coals of fire till nightfall，when I opened the river-gate and calling the boatman who had carried us the night before，said to him，'I know not what is come of my mistress；so take me in thy boat，that we may seek her on the river： it may be I shall chance on some news of her.'So he took me into the boat and rowed about with me till midnight，when I spied a boat making towards the water-gate，with one man rowing and another standing up and a woman lying prostrate between them. When they reached the shore and the woman landed，I looked at her，and behold，it was Shemsennehar. So I landed and joined her，dazed for joy，after having lost hope of her. When I came up to her，she bade me give the man who had brought her thither a thousand diners，and I and the two maids carried her in and laid her on her bed，and she at deaths door. She abode thus all that day and the next day and I forbade the eunuchs and women to go in to her；but on the third day，she revived and I found her as she had come out of the grave. So I sprinkled rose-water upon her face and changed her clothes and washed her hands and feet，nor did I cease to persuade her，till I brought her to eat a little and drink some wine，though she had no mind to it. As soon as she had breathed the air and strength began to return to her，I fell to upbraiding her，saying，'Consider，O my lady，and have pity on thyself；thou seest what has betided us Surely，enough of evil hath befallen thee and thou hast been nigh upon death.'By Allah，O good damsel，'replied she，'death were easier to me than what hath befallen me；for I had renounced all hope of deliverance and gave myself up for lost. When the robbers took us from the jewellers house，they asked me who I was；I replied，I am a singing-girl，

and they believed me. Then they said to Ali ben Bekkar，And who art thou and what is thy condition？And he answered，I am of the common people.'So they carried us to their abode，and we hurried on with them for fear；but when they had us with them in the house，they looked at me and seeing the clothes I wore and my necklaces and jewellery，believed me not and said to me，No singing-girl ever had such jewels as these；tell us the truth of thy case.'I returned them no answer，saying in myself，Now will they kill me for my clothes and ornaments；and I spoke not a word. Then they turned to Ali ben Bekkar and said to him，And thou，who and whence art thou？For thy favour is not as that of the common folk.'But he was silent and we ceased not to keep our counsel and weep，till God inclined the rogues hearts towards us and they said to us，Who is the owner of the house in which you were？Such an one，the jeweller，'answered we；whereupon quoth one of them，I know him well and where he lives，and I will engage to bring him to you forthright.'Then they agreed to set me in a place by myself and Ali ben Bekkar in a place by himself，and said to us，Be at rest and fear not lest your secret be divulged；ye are safe from us.'Meanwhile their comrade went away and returned with the jeweller，who made known to them our case，and we joined company with him；after which one of the band fetched a boat，in which they embarked us all three and rowing us over the river，landed us on the opposite bank and went away；

whereupon up came a horse-patrol and asked us who we were. So I spoke with the captain and said to him，I am Shemsennehar，the Khalifs favourite；I had drunken wine and went out to visit certain of my acquaintance of the wives of the Viziers，when yonder rogues laid hold of me and brought me hither；but when they saw you，they fled. I met these men with them；so do thou escort me and them to a place of safety and I will requite thee.'