The Book Of The Thousand Nights And A Night, Vol 1 Page-259

The Book Of The Thousand Nights And A Night, Vol 1

A plain and literal translation of the arabian nights entertainments

Then she set food before me, but I refused it fearing lest she see me eating with my left hand and said to her, “I have no stomach to eat at present.” Quoth she, “Tell me what hath befallen thee to day, and why art thou so sorrowful and broken in spirit and heart?” Quoth I, “Wait awhile; I will tell thee all at my leisure.” Then she brought me wine, saying, “Down with it, this will dispel thy grief: thou must indeed drink and tell me of thy tidings.” I asked her, “Perforce must I tell thee?”; and she answered, “Yes.” Then said I, “If it needs must be so, then give me to drink with thine own hand.” She filled and drank,[FN#547] and filled again and gave me the cup which I took from her with my left hand and wiped the tears from my eyelids and began repeating: “When Allah willeth aught befall a man * Who hath of ears and eyes and wits full share: His ears He deafens and his eyes He blinds * And draws his wits e’en as we draw a hair[FN#548] Till, having wrought His purpose, He restores * Man’s wits, that warned more circumspect he fare.” When I ended my verses I wept, and she cried out with an exceeding loud cry, “What is the cause of thy tears? Thou burnest my heart! What makes thee take the cup with thy left hand?” Quoth I, “Truly I have on my right hand a boil;” and quoth she, “Put it out and I will open it for thee.”[FN#549] “It is not yet time to open it,” I replied, “so worry me not with thy words, for I will not take it out of the bandage at this hour.” Then I drank off the cup, and she gave not over plying me with drink until drunkenness overcame me and I fell asleep in the place where I was sitting; whereupon she looked at my right hand and saw a wrist without a fist. So she searched me closely and found with me the purse of gold and my severed hand wrapped up in the bit of rag.[FN#550] With this such sorrow came upon her as never overcame any and she ceased not lamenting on my account till the morning. When I awoke I found that she had dressed me a dish of broth of four boiled chickens, which she brought to me together with a cup of wine. I ate and drank and laying down the purse, would have gone out; but she said to me, “Whither away?”; and I answered, “Where my business