第69章 NOUREDDIN ALI OF CAIRO AND HIS SON BEDREDDIN HASSA
'How should the groom have access to thee，'asked Bedreddin，'and how should he share with me in thee？'Quoth she 'Who is my husbandthou or he？'O Lady of Beauty，'replied Bedreddin'all this was only a device to conjure the evil eye from us. Thy father hired the hunchback for ten diners to that endand now he has taken his wage and gone away. Didst thou not see the singers and tire-women laughing at him and how thy people displayed thee before me？'When the Lady of Beauty heard thisshe smiled and rejoiced and laughed softly. Then she said to him'Thou hast quenched the fire of my heartsoby Allahtake me and press me to thy bosom.'Now she was without clothes；so she threw open the veil in which she was wrapped and showed her hidden charms. At this sightdesire stirred in Bedreddinand he rose and put off his clothes. The purse of a thousand dinars he had received of the Jew he wrapped in his trousers and laid them under the mattress；then took off his turban and hung it on the settle，remaining in a skull-cap and shirt of fine silklaced with gold.
With this arose the Lady of Beauty and drew him to herand he did the like with her. Then he took her to his embrace and pointing the engine that batters down the fortalice of virginity，stormed the citadel and found her an unpierced pearl and a filly that none but he had ridden. So he took her maidenhead and enjoyed her dower of youth；nor did he stint to return to the assault till he had furnished fifteen coursesand she conceived by him. Then he laid his hand under her head and she did the likeand they embraced and fell asleep in each other's arms，whilst the tongue of the case spoke the words of the poet：
Cleave fast to her thou lov'st and let the envious rail amain，For calumny and envy ne'er to favour love were fain.
Lo！the Compassionate hath made no fairer thing to see Than when one couch in its embrace enfoldeth lovers twain，Each to the other's bosom claspedclad in their own delight，Whilst hand with hand and arm with arm about their necks enchain.
Lo！when two hearts are straitly knit in passion and desireBut on cold iron smite the folk that chide at them in vain.
If in thy time thou find but one to love thee and be trueI rede thee cast the world away and with that one remain.
As soon as Bedreddin was asleepthe Afrit said to the Afriteh，'Comelet us take up the young man and carry him back to his placeere the dawn overtake usfor the day is near.'So she took up Bedreddinas he lay asleepclad only in his shirt and skull-capand flew away with himaccompanied by the Afrit. But the dawn overtook them midway and the muezzins began to chant the call to morning-prayer. Then God let His angels cast at the Afrit with shooting-starsand he was consumed；but the Afriteh escaped and lighted down with Bedreddinfearing to carry him further，lest he should come to harm. Now as fate would have itshe had reached the city of Damascusso she laid Bedreddin down before one of its gates and flew away. As soon as it was daythe gate was thrown open and the folk came outand seeing a handsome young manclad in nothing but a shirt and skull-caplying on the grounddrowned in sleep by reason of his much swink of the night beforesaid'Happy she with whom this youth lay the night！Would he had waited to put on his clothes！'Quoth another，'A sorry race are young men of family！Belikethis fellow but now came forth of the tavern on some occasion or otherbut being overcome with drunkennessmissed the place he was making for and strayed till he came to the city gateand finding it shutlay down and fell asleep.'As they were bandying words about himthe breeze blew on him and raising his shirtshowed a stomach and navel and legs and thighsfirm and clear as crystal and softer than cream；whereupon the bystanders exclaimed'By Allahit is good！'And made such a noisethat Bedreddin awoke and finding himself lying at the gate of a cityin the midst of a crowd of peoplewas astonished and said to them'O good peoplewhere am Iand why do you crowd round me thus？'We found thee lying here asleepat the time of the call to morning-prayer，'replied they'and this is all we know of the matter. Where didst thou lie last night？'By Allahgood people，'answered he'I lay last night in Cairo！'Quoth one'Thou hast eaten hashish.'And another'Thou art mad；how couldst thou lie yesternight in Cairo and awake this morning in Damascus？'By Allahgood people，'rejoined he'I do not lie to you；indeed I lay last night in the city of Cairo and yesterday I was in Bassora.'Good，'said one；and another'This youth is mad.'And they clapped their hands at him and said to each other'Alackthe pity of his youth！By Allahthere is no doubt of his madness.'Then said they to him，'Collect thyself and return to thy senses. How couldst thou be in Bassora yesterday and in Cairo last night and yet awake in Damascus this morning？'But he said'IndeedI was a bridegroom in Cairo last night.'Doubtless thou hast been dreaming，'rejoined they'and hast seen all this in sleep.'So he bethought himself awhilethen said to them'By Allahit was no dream！I certainly went to Cairo and they displayed the bride before me，in the presence of the hunchback. By AllahO my brethrenthis was no dream；or if it was a dreamwhere is the purse of gold I had with me and my turban and trousers and the rest of my clothes？'Then he rose and entered the town and passed through its streets and markets；but the people followed him and pressed on himcrying out'Madman！Madman！'till he took refuge in a cook's shop. Now this cook had been a robber and a sharperbut God had made him repent and turn from his evil ways and open a cookshop；and all the people of Damascus stood in awe of him and feared his mischief. So when they saw Bedreddin enter his shop，they dispersed for fear of him and went their ways. The cook looked at Bedreddin and noting his beauty and gracefell in love with him and said to him'Whence comest thouO youth？