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mother arose and went with the dish to the Sultan’s Divan, but found it closed; so she asked the folk and they said to her, “The Sultan holdeth a Divan but thrice a week;” wherefore she was compelled[1] to return home. Then she proceeded to go every day, and whenas she found the Divan open, she would stand before the door,[2] till it broke up, when she would return home; and whiles she went and found the Divan closed.[3] On this wise she abode a week’s space[4] and the Sultan saw her at each Divan; so, when she went on the last day [of the week] and stood, according to her wont, before the Divan, till it was ended, but could not muster courage to enter[5] or say aught, the Sultan arose and entering the harem, turned to his chief Vizier, who was with him, and said to him, “O Vizier, these six or seven days[6] past I have seen yonder old woman come hither at every Divan and I note that she still carrieth somewhat under her veil.[7] Hast thou any knowledge of her, O Vizier, and knowest thou what is
- ↑ Illezemet. Burton, “she determined.”
- ↑ Lit. “the Divan;” but the door of the presence-chamber is meant, as appears by the sequel.
- ↑ Burton, “and when it was shut, she would go to make sure thereof.”
- ↑ Muddeh jumah. Burton, “the whole month.”
- ↑ Burton, “come forward.”
- ↑ Burton, “levée days.”
- ↑ Izar. Burton, “mantilla.”
