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Then he returned to his slave-girl, and indeed his concern was doubled, and she said to him, ‘O my lord, did I not tell thee that they would not profit thee aught?’ ‘By Allah,’ replied he, ‘not one of them would show me his face or take any notice of me!’ ‘O my lord,’ said she, ‘sell some of the furniture and household stuff, little by little, and live on the proceed, against God the Most High provide.’ So he sold all that was in the house, till there was nothing left, when he turned to her and said, ‘What is to be done now?’ ‘O my lord,’ replied she, ‘it is my advice that thou rise and take me down to the market and sell me. Thou knowest that thy father bought me for ten thousand dinars; perhaps God may help thee to near that price, and if it be His will that we be reunited, we shall meet again.’ ‘O Enis el Jelis,’ replied Noureddin, ‘by Allah, I cannot endure to be parted from thee for a single hour!’ ‘By Allah, O my lord,’ rejoined she, ‘nor is it easy to me; but necessity compels, as says the poet:
Necessity in life oft drives one into ways That to the courteous mind are foreign and abhorred.
We do not trust our weight unto a rope, unless It be to do some thing adapted to the cord.’
With this, he rose to his feet and took her, whilst the tears streamed down his cheeks like rain and he recited with the tongue of the case what follows:
Stay and vouchsafe me one more look before our parting hour, To soothe the anguish of a heart well-nigh for reverence slain!
Yet, if it irk thee anywise to grant my last request, Far rather let me die of love than cause thee aught of pain!
Then he went down to the market and delivered the damsel to a broker, to whom he said, ‘O Hajj[1] Hassan, I would have thee note the value of her thou hast to offer for
- ↑ Or Hajji, pilgrim; title given to those who have made the pilgrimage to Mecca.
