40
and presently she came back and fell to kissing him and jesting with him; but he answered her not a word, being sore incensed against her. She saw what was to do with him and was assured that he had seen what befell between her and the black bird; yet she discovered to him nothing, but concealed that which ailed her. When he had done her occasion, he said to her, ‘O queen, give me leave to go to my uncle’s shop, for I long after him and have not seen him these forty days.’ ‘Go,’ answered she, ‘but do not tarry from me, for I cannot brook to be parted from thee, nor can I endure without thee an hour.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ said he and mounting, rode to the shop of the grocer, who received him with open arms and said to him, ‘How hast thou fared with yonder idolatress?’ ‘I was well, in health and prosperity,’ answered Bedr, ‘till this last night,’—and told him what had passed in the garden.
When the old man heard this, he said, ‘Beware of her, for know that the birds upon the tree were all young men and strangers, whom she loved and enchanted and turned into birds. The black bird thou sawest was one of her officers, whom she loved with an exceeding love, till he cast his eyes upon one of her women, Night dcclv.wherefore she changed him into a black bird; and whenas she longs after him, she transforms herself into a she-bird, that he may swive her, for she still loves him passionately. When she found that thou knewest of her case, she plotted evil against thee, for she loves thee not truly. But no harm shall betide thee from her, whilst I protect thee; so fear nothing; for I am a Muslim, by name Abdallah, and there is none in my day better skilled in magic than I; yet do I not make use of the art except upon constraint. Many a time have I put to nought the sorceries of yonder accursed witch and delivered folk from her, and I care not for her, for she can do me no hurt: nay, she fears me with an exceeding fear, as do all in the city who, like her, are
