So he spoke her fair and excused himself to her till he appeased her and returned, repenting him of having bespoken her thus, to his shop, where he sat, in sore disquiet and exceeding anxiety, between belief and disbelief, till eventide. Then he went home, but brought not Kemerezzeman with him; whereupon quoth his wife, ‘Where is the merchant?’ And he said, ‘In his house.’ ‘Is the friendship between thee and him grown cold?’ asked she. ‘By Allah,’ replied he, ‘I have taken an aversion to him, because of that which hath betided me from him.’ Quoth she, ‘Go and fetch him, to please me.’ So he arose and went in to Kemerezzeman in his house, where he saw his own goods strewn about and knew them. At this sight, fire was kindled in his heart and he fell asighing. Quoth Kemerezzeman, ‘How is it that I see thee melancholy?’ Ubeid was ashamed to say, ‘Here are my goods in thy house: who brought them hither?’ So he answered only, ‘A vexation hath betided me; but come thou with me to my house, that we may divert ourselves there.’ ‘Let me be in my place,’ said Kemerezzeman. ‘I will not go with thee.’ But the jeweller conjured him [to come] and taking him, [carried him to his house,] where they supped and passed the evening together, Kemerezzeman talking with the jeweller, who was drowned in the sea of solicitude and answered him but one word for a hundred wherewith he bespoke him.
Presently, the maid brought them two cups of drink, as usual, and they drank; whereupon Ubeid fell asleep, but Kemerezzeman abode on wake, for that his cup was not drugged. Then came Helimeh and said to her lover,
‘How deemest thou of yonder cuckold, who is drunken in his heedlessness and knoweth not the wiles of women? Needs must I cozen him into putting me away. To-morrow, I will disguise myself as a slave-girl and follow thee to his shop, where do thou say to him,” O master, I went to-day into the khan of E1 Yesirjiyeh, where I saw this damsel and bought her for a thousand dinars. Look at her and tell me whether she was cheap or dear at that price.” Then uncover to him my face and breasts and show me to him; after which do thou carry me back to thy house, whence I will go to my chamber by the secret passage, so I may see the issue of our affair with him.’
Then they passed the night in mirth and converse and pleasance and good cheer and dalliance and delight till the morning, when she returned to her own place and sent the maid to arouse the two men. So they arose and prayed the morning-prayer and broke their fast and drank coffee, after which Ubeid repaired to his shop and Kemerezzeman betook himself to his own house. Presently, in came Helimeh to him by the underground passage, in the disguise of a slave-girl, and indeed she was a slave-girl by birth. Then he went out and she followed him, till he came to the jeweller’s shop and saluting him, sat down and said, ‘O master, I went into the khan of El Yesirjiyeh to-day, to look about me, and saw this damsel in the broker’s hands. She pleased me; so I bought her for a thousand diners and I would have thee look upon her and see if she be cheap at that price or no.’ So saying, he uncovered her face and the jeweller saw her to be his own wife, dressed in her richest clothes and tricked out in her finest ornaments and adorned with kohl and henna, even as she was wont to adorn herself before him in the house.
He knew her but too well by her face and clothes and trinkets, for that he had wrought the latter with his own hand, and he saw on her fingers the rings he had newly made for Kemerezzeman, whereby he was certified that she was indeed his wife. So he said to her, ‘What is thy name, O slave-girl?’ And she answered, ‘Helimeh,’ naming to him her own name; whereat he was amazed and said to Kemerezzeman, ‘For how much didst thou buy her?’ ‘For a thousand dinars,’ answered he. ‘Then,’ rejoined the jeweller, ‘thou hast gotten her for nothing; for her rings and clothes and trinkets are worth more than that.’ ‘May God rejoice thee with good news!’ said Kemerezzeman. ‘Since she pleases thee, I will carry her to my house.’ And Ubeid answered, ‘Do thy will. So he carried her to his house, whence she passed through the secret passage to her own apartment and sat there.
Meanwhile, fire flamed in the jeweller’s heart and he said to himself, ‘I will go see my wife. If she be at home, this slave-girl must be her counterpart, and glory be to Him who [only] hath no counterpart! But, if she be not at home, it is she herself without a doubt.’ Then he set off, running, and coming to his house, found his wife sitting in the same clothes and ornaments he had seen upon her in the shop; whereupon he beat hand upon hand, saying, ‘There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme!’ ‘O man,’ said she, ‘art thou mad or what aileth thee? It is not thy wont to do thus, and it must be that something hath befallen thee.’ ‘If thou wilt have me tell thee,’ answered he, ‘be not vexed.’ ‘Say on,’ quoth she. So he said, ‘Our friend the merchant hath bought a slave-girl, whose shape is as thy shape and her height as thy height; moreover, her name is even as thine and her apparel is the like of thine apparel. Brief, she resembles thee in all her attributes, and on her fingers are rings like thy rings and her trinkets are like unto thy trinkets. So, when he showed her to me, methought it was thyself and I was perplexed about my case. Would we had never seen this merchant nor companied with him and would he had never left his own country and we had not known him, for he hath troubled my life, that before was serene, causing unkindness to succeed good faith and making doubt to enter into my heart!’ ‘Look in my face,’ said she. ‘Belike I am she who was with him and he is my lover and I disguised myself as a slave-girl and agreed with him that he should show me to thee, so he might lay a snare for thee.’ ‘What words are these?’ answered he. ‘Indeed, I never thought that thou wouldst do the like of this thing.’
Now this jeweller was unversed in women’s wiles and knew not how they do with men, nor had he heard the saying of the poet:
A heart that is eath of moving hath carried thee off in chase Of the fair, when youth hath left thee and hoariness comes apace.
Leila to me is costly and her enjoyment remote And many a foe and peril ‘twixt her and me have place.
If thou wouldst ask of women and question of their concerns, Lo, I am versed in their fashions, a leach well skilled in their case.
When a man’s head grows grizzled or for the nonce his wealth Fails from his hand, believe me, be hath no part in their grace.
Nor that of another:
Gainsay women; he obeyeth Allah best, who saith them nay And he prospers not who giveth them his bridle-rein to sway;
For they’ll hinder him from winning to perfection in his gifts, Though a thousand years he study, seeking after wisdom’s way.
And a third:
Women are very devils, made to work us dole and death: Refuge I seek with God Most High from all their craft and scaith.
Prime source are they of all the ills that overtake mankind, Both in the fortunes of this world and matters of the faith.
‘Here am I sitting in my chamber,’ said she. So go thou to him forthright and knock at the door and make shift to go in to him quickly. If thou see the damsel with him, it is a slave-girl of his who resembles me, and glory be to Him who hath no like! But, if thou see no slave-girl with him, then am I myself she whom thou sawest with him in the shop, and thine ill thought of me will be confirmed.’ ‘True,’ answered Ubeid and went out, whereupon she passed through the hidden way and seating herself by Kemerezzeman, told him what had passed, saying, ‘Open the door quickly and show me to him.’
As they were talking, there came a knocking at the door. Quoth Kemerezzeman, ‘ Who is at the door?’ ‘I, thy friend,’ answered the jeweller; ‘thou showedst me thy slave-girl in the bazaar, and I rejoiced in her for thee: but my joy in her was not completed; so open the door and let me look at her again.’ ‘So be it,’ rejoined Kemerezzeman and opened the door to him, whereupon he saw his wife sitting by him. She rose and kissed their hands; and he looked at her. Moreover, she talked with him awhile and he saw her not to be distinguished from his wife in aught and said, ‘God createth what He will.’ Then he went away, more perplexed than ever, and returned to his own house, where he found his wife sitting
in her chamber, for she had foregone him thither by the secret passage. Quoth she, ‘What hast thou seen?’ ‘I found her with her master,’ answered he; ‘and she resembleth thee.’ Then said she, ‘Go to thy shop and let this suffice thee of suspicion and never again deem ill of me.’ ‘So be it,’ replied he; ‘bear me not malice for what is past.’ ‘God pardon thee!’ said she; whereupon he kissed her right and left and went back to his shop.
No sooner was he gone than she again betook herself to Kemerezzeman through the underground passage, with four bags of money, and said to him, ‘Equip thyself for present departure and be ready to carry off the treasure without delay, against I put in action for thee the device I have in mind.’ So he went out forthright and bought mules and loaded them and made ready a travelling litter. Moreover he bought slaves and servants and sending the whole without the city, returned to Helimeh and said to her, ‘I have made an end of my affairs.’ Quoth she, ‘And I too am ready; for I have transported to thy house all the rest of his money and treasures and have left him nothing, little or much, whereof he may avail himself. All this is of my love for thee, O darling of my heart, for I would sacrifice to thee a thousand husbands. But now thou must go to him and take leave of him, saying, “I purpose to depart after three days and am come to bid thee farewell. So do thou reckon what I owe thee for the rent of the house, that I may send it to thee and acquit my conscience.” Note his reply and return to me and tell me; for I can no more. I have done my utmost, by cozening him, to anger him with me and cause him divorce me, but find him still infatuated with me. So nothing will serve us but to depart to shine own country.’ ‘O rare!’ replied he. ‘If but the dreams prove true!’
Then he went to the jeweller’s shop and sitting down by him, said to him, ‘O master, I set out for home in three days’ time, and am come to take leave of thee. So I would have thee reckon what I owe thee for the hire of the house, that I may give it to thee and acquit my conscience.’ ‘What talk is this?’ answered Ubeid. ‘Verily, it is I who am indebted to thee. By Allah, I will take nothing from thee for the rent of the house, for thou hast brought down blessings upon us! But thou desolatest me by thy departure, and but that it is forbidden to me, I would certainly oppose thee and hinder thee from returning to thy country and family.’ Then he took leave of him, whilst they both wept exceeding sore, and the jeweller shut his shop, saying in himself, ‘Needs must I bring my friend on his way.’
So, as often as he went on an occasion, the jeweller went with him, and when they entered Kemerezzeman’s house, they found Helimeh there, and she stood before them and served them; but, when Ubeid entered his own house, he found her sitting there; nor did he cease to see her thus in each house in turn, for the space of three days, at the end of which time she said to Kemerezzeman, ‘Now have I transported to thee all that he hath of treasures and carpets and things of price, and there remains with him but the slave-girl, who used to come in to you with the night drink: but I cannot part with her, for that she is my kinswoman and confidant and she is dear to me. So I will [feign to] beat her and be wroth with her and when my husband comes home, I will say to him, “ I will no longer put up with this slave-girl nor abide in the house with her; take her and sell her.” So he will sell her and do thou buy her, that we may carry her with us.’ ‘Good,’ answered he. So she beat the girl and when the jeweller came in, he found her weeping and asked her why she wept. Quoth she, ‘My mistress hath beaten me.’ So he went in to his wife and said to her, ‘What hath that accursed girl done, that thou hast beaten her?’ ‘O man,’ answered she, ‘I have but one word to say to thee, and it is that I can no longer brook the sight of this girl; so take her and sell her, or else divorce me.’ Quoth he, ‘I will sell her, for I may not cross thee in aught.’ So, when he went out to go to the shop, he took her and passed with her by Kemerezzeman.
No sooner had he gone out than his wife slipped through the underground passage to Kemerezzeman, who placed her in the litter, before her husband reached him. When he came up and Kemerezzeman saw the slave-girl with him he said to him, ‘What girl is this?’ ‘It is my slave girl,’ answered Ubeid, ‘who used to serve us with wine; she hath disobeyed her mistress, who is wroth with her and hath bidden me sell her.’ Quoth Kemerezzeman, ‘If her mistress have taken an aversion to her, there is no abiding for her with her; but sell her to me, that I may smell your scent in her, and I will make her handmaid to my slave Helimeh.’ ‘Good,’ answered Ubeid ‘Take her.’ ‘What is her price?’ asked Kemerezzeman. But the jeweller said, ‘I will take nothing from thee, for thou hast been bountiful to us.’
So he accepted her from him and said to Helimeh, ‘Kiss thy lord’s hand.’ Accordingly, she came out from the litter and kissing Ubeid’s hand, remounted, whilst he looked at her. Then said Kemerezzeman, ‘I commend thee to God, O Master Ubeid! Acquit me of responsibility. ‘ ‘God acquit thee,’ answered the jeweller, ‘and bring thee in safety to thy family!’ Then he bade him farewell and went to his shop, weeping, and indeed it was grievous to him to part from Kemerezzeman, for that he had been his friend and friendship hath its claims; yet he rejoiced in the dispelling of the doubts that had betided him concerning his wife, since the young man was now gone and his suspicions had not been confirmed.
Meanwhile Helimeh said to her lover, ‘If thou wish for safety, travel by other than the accustomed road.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered he and taking a road other than that commonly used, fared on, without ceasing, till he reached the confines of Egypt and sent his father a letter by a runner. Now Abdurrehman was sitting in the market among the merchants, with a heart on fire for separation from his son, for that no news of the latter had reached him, since the day of his departure, when the runner came up and said, ‘O my lords, which of you is called the merchant Abdurrehman?’ ‘What wouldst thou with him?’ asked they; and he said, ‘I have a letter for him from his son Kemerezzeman, whom I left at El Arish.
At this Abdurrehman rejoiced and his heart was lightened and the merchants rejoiced for him and gave him joy of [his son’s] safety. Then he opened the letter and read as follows: ‘From Kemerezzeman to the merchant Abdurrehman. Peace be upon thee and upon all the merchants! If ye ask concerning us, to God be the praise and the thanks! Indeed we have sold and bought and profited and are come back in health and wealth and safety.’ Whereupon Abdurrehman opened the chapter of rejoicing and made banquets and gave feasts and entertainments galore, sending for instruments of music and addressing himself to hold high festival after the rarest fashion When Kemerezzeman came to Es Salehiyeh,’ his father and all the merchants went forth to meet him, and Abdurrehman embraced him and strained him to his bosom and wept till he swooned away. When he came to himself, he said, ‘O my son, [this is] a blessed day, since the Omnipotent Protector hath reunited us with thee!’ And he repeated the following verses:
The loved one’s return is the crowning of glee And the joy-cup between us once more circles free.
So welcome, fair welcome and full to the light Of the time, the lull moon of full moons, still say we.
Then, for excess of joy, the tears flowed from his eyes and he recited these verses also:
The moon o’ the time, unveiling, in splendour doth appear, Whenas, his travels ended, to us he draweth near.
Even as the night of his absence his hair in colour is, But yet the sun’s uprising is from his collars’ sphere.
Then the merchants came up to Kemerezzeman and saluting him, saw with him many loads and servants and a travelling litter enclosed in a spacious canopy. So they took him and carried him home; and when Helimeh came forth from the litter, his father saw her a ravishment to all who beheld her. So they opened her an upper chamber, as it were a treasure from which the talismans had been loosed; and when his mother saw her, she was ravished with her and deemed her a queen of the wives of the kings. So she rejoiced in her and questioned her; and she answered, saying, ‘I am thy son’s wife.’ ‘Since he is married to thee,’ rejoined the other, ‘we must
make thee a splendid bride-feast, that we may rejoice in thee and in my son.’
When the folk had dispersed and each had gone his way, Abdurrehman foregathered with his son and said to him, ‘O my son, what is this slave-girl thou hast brought with thee and for how much didst thou buy her?’ ‘O my father,’ answered Kemerezzeman, ‘she is no slave- girl; but it is she who was the cause of my going abroad. ‘How so?’ asked his father, and he said, ‘It is she whom the dervish described to us the night he lay with us; for indeed my hopes clove to her from that hour and I sought not to travel but on her account. The wild Arabs came out upon me by the way and stripped me and took my goods, so that I entered Bassora alone and there befell me there such and such things;’ and he went on to relate to him all that had befallen him from beginning to end.
When he had made an end of his story, his father said to him, ‘O my son, and after all this didst thou marry her?’ ‘ No,’ answered Kemerezzeman; ‘but I have promised her marriage.’ ‘Is it thine intent to marry her?’ asked Abdurrehman and he replied, ‘If thou bid me marry her, I will do so; otherwise, I will not marry her.’ Quoth his father, ‘If thou marry her, I am quit of thee in this world and the next, and I shall be sore incensed against thee. How canst thou marry her, seeing that she hath dealt thus with her husband? For, even as she did with him for thy sake, so will she do the like with thee for another’s sake, because she is a traitress and there is no trusting in a traitor. Wherefore, if thou disobey me, I shall be wroth with thee; but, if thou give ear to my word, I will seek thee out a girl handsomer than she, who shall be pure and virtuous, and marry thee to her, though I spend all my wealth upon her. Moreover, I will make thee a wedding without equal and will glory in thee and in her; for it is better that folk should say, “Such an one hath married such an one’s daughter,” than that they should say, “He hath taken to wife a slave-girl without birth or worth.”’ And he went on to persuade his son to give up marrying her, supporting his arguments by citing saws and proofs and stories and examples and verses and moral instances, till Kemerezzeman said, ‘Since the case is thus, it boots not that I marry her.’ Whereupon his father kissed him between the eyes, saying, ‘Thou art my true son, and as I live, O my son, I will assuredly marry thee to a girl who hath not her equal!’
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