第82章 KEMEREZZEMAN AND BUDOUR.(44)

Then，calling an old woman，one of his body-servants，he said to her，'Go to Er Rebyas house and foregather with the girl Num and cast about to steal her away，for her like is not to be found on the face of the earth.'She promised to do his bidding；so next morning she donned clothes of wool[79] and threw round her neck a rosary of thousands of beads；then，taking in her hand a staff and water-bottle of Yemen make，went forth，exclaiming，'Glory be to God！Praised be God！There is no god but God！God is most great！There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High，the Supreme！'Nor did she leave making devout ejaculations，whilst her heart was full of craft and fraud，till she came to Nimehs house，at the hour of noonday-prayer，and knocked at the door.The doorkeeper opened and said to her，'What dost thou want？'Quoth she，'I am a poor pious woman，whom the time of noonday-prayer hath overtaken，and I would fain pray in this blessed place.'O old woman，'answered the porter，'this is no mosque nor oratory，but the house of Nimeh ben er Rebya.'I know there is neither mosque nor oratory like the house of Nimeh ben er Rebya，'rejoined she.'I am a chamberwoman of the palace of the Commander of the Faithful and am come out upon a pilgrimage of devotion.'But the porter replied，'Thou canst not enter；' and many words passed between them，till at last she caught hold of him，saying，'Shall the like of me，who have free access to the houses of Amirs and grandees，be denied admission to the house of Nimeh ben er Rebya？'Presently，out came Nimeh and hearing their dispute，laughed and bade the old woman enter.So she followed him into the presence of Num，whom she saluted after the goodliest fashion；and when she looked on her，she was confounded at her exceeding beauty and said to her，'O my lady，I commend thee to the safeguard of God，who made thee and thy lord to accord in beauty and grace！'Then she stood up in the prayer-niche and betook herself to inclination and prostration and prayer，till the day departed and the night came with the darkness，when Num said to her，'O my mother，rest thy feet awhile.'O my lady，'answered the old woman，'whoso seeketh the world to come must weary himself in this world，and whoso wearieth not himself in this world shall not attain the dwellings of the just in the world to come.'Then Num brought her food and said to her，'O my mother，eat of my victual and pray that God may relent towards me and have mercy on me.'But she replied，'O my lady，I am fasting.As for thee，thou art but a girl and it befits thee to eat and drink and make merry.May God be indulgent to thee！Quoth the Most High，（None shall be saved） except those that repent and believe and work the works of righteousness.'[80] Num sat awhile，conversing with the old woman，and presently said to Nimeh，'O my lord，conjure this old woman to sojourn with us awhile，for piety is imprinted on her face.'Quoth he，'Set apart for her a chamber，where she may do her devotions，and let none go in to her： peradventure God （glorified and exalted be He！） shall prosper us by the blessing of her presence and part us not.'The old woman passed the night in prayer and recitation，[81] till daybreak，when she went in to Nimeh and Num and giving them good morning，said to them，'I pray God to have you in His holy keeping！'Whither away，O my mother？'said Num.'My lord hath bidden me set apart for thee a chamber，where thou mayst retire for thy devotions.'God give him long life，'replied the old woman，'and continue His favour to you both！I would have you charge the doorkeeper not to stay my coming in to you，and （God willing） I will go the round of the Holy Places and pray for you at the end of my devotions every day and night.'Then she went out （whilst Num wept for parting with her，knowing not the purpose of her coming） and returned to El Hejjaj，who said to her，'What news？'She answered，'I have seen the girl，and indeed never bore woman of her day a lovelier than she.'And El Hejjaj said to her，'So thou do my bidding，thou shalt have of me abundant good.'Quoth she，'I ask of thee a months time.'And he replied，'It is well.'Then she fell to paying frequent visits to Nimeh and Num，who redoubled in honour and kindness to her，and she used to go in to them morning and evening，and all in the house welcomed her，till，one day，being alone with Num，she said to her，'By Allah，O my lady，when I go to the Holy Places，I will pray for thee；but I should love thee to go thither with me，that thou mightest look on the Elders of the Faith that resort thither，and they should pray for thee，according to thy desire.'O my mother，'said Num，'I conjure thee by Allah，take me with thee！'Ask leave of thy mother-in-law，'replied the old woman，'and I will take thee.'