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in verse and seek to excuse thyself for the heinous sins thou hast done? It was my desire that thou shouldst return to thy husband, that I might witness thy depravity and assurance; for thou gloriest in thy lewdness and profligacy and the heinousness of thy conduct.’ Then she called for a palm-stick and tucking up her sleeves, beat her from head to foot; after which she called for a whip of plaited thongs, wherewith if one smote an elephant, he would start off at speed, and beat her on her back and stomach and every part of her body, till she swooned away.
When the old woman Shewahi saw this, she fled forth from the queen’s presence, weeping and cursing her; but Nour el Huda cried out to her guards, saying, ‘Fetch her to me!’ So they ran after her and seizing her, brought her back to the queen, who caused throw her on the ground and bidding them lay hold of her, rose and took the whip, with which she beat her, till she fainted, when she said to her waiting-women, ‘Drag this ill-omened old woman forth on her face and put her out.’ And they did as she bade them.
Meanwhile, Hassan walked on beside the river, in the direction of the desert, distracted, troubled and despairing of life; and indeed he was dazed and knew not night from day, for stress of affliction. He fared on thus, till he came to a tree, to which he saw a scroll hanging so he took it and found these verses written thereon:
I ordered thy case, without hindrance or let, Whilst thou in the womb of thy mother wast yet.
I made her heart yearn to thee, so she was fain To tend thee and thee to her bosom to set.
We will compensate thee and requite thee for all That hath wrought to afflict thee of trouble and fret;
So up and submit thee to Us, for indeed We will aid thee to that thou desirest to get.
