The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights: Volume 3 (The Arabian Nights or Tales from 1001 Nights) by Penguin

Author:Penguin [Penguin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141943565
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2010-02-04T07:00:00+00:00

Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the eight hundred and ninety-eighth night, SHE CONTINUED:

I have heard, O fortunate king, that THE YOUNG MAN SAID:

I then went back to my place in the ship before the others returned from the shore. Both land and river were bathed in moonlight, and the Hashimite said to the girl: ‘For God’s sake, don’t spoil our pleasure.’ She picked up the lute, but on touching it she gave such a groan that they thought that she was dead. Then she exclaimed: ‘By God, my teacher is here with us on this ship!’ The Hashimite swore: ‘Were he here, I would get him to join our company, as this would perhaps comfort you and allow us to enjoy your singing, but it is not likely that he can be on board.’ She told him: ‘I cannot play the lute or improvise on the airs when my teacher is here.’ He said that he would question the crew. ‘Go ahead,’ she replied and so he asked them: ‘Have you taken anyone on board with you?’ They said no, and, as I was afraid that the questioning might end there, I laughed and said: ‘Yes, I am her instructor and I taught her when I was her master.’ ‘By God, this is my master’s voice!’ she exclaimed, and the Hashimite’s servants came and took me to him. He recognized me when he saw me and asked me what was wrong and what had reduced me to this state, so I told him all that had happened.

The tears that I shed were accompanied by loud sobbing from the girl behind the curtain, and the Hashimite, for his part, wept bitterly, together with his relatives, out of sympathy for me. ‘By God,’ he said, ‘I have not approached her or slept with her and not until today have I heard her sing. I am a man to whom God has granted riches and I only came to Baghdad to listen to singing and to get the payments granted me by the Commander of the Faithful. When I had done both these things, I was intending to leave for home, but I told myself that I wanted to hear some more Baghdadi singing and so I bought the girl, not knowing that the two of you were in love. I call God to witness that when I get to Basra I shall free her, marry her to you and give you an allowance that will be more than enough for you. This is on condition that whenever I want to listen to singing, she will sing to me from behind a curtain that will be hung for her, and you will be included among my relations and companions.’ I was delighted by this and the Hashimite then put his head through the curtain and asked the girl whether she would agree, at which she started to call down blessings on him and to thank him.

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