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anoint me, to boot, with somewhat, so my face may become like unto thine in colour.” Accordingly Fatimeh went within the cavern and bringing out a vial of ointment, took thereof in her palm and anointed his face withal, whereupon it became like unto hers in colour. Then she gave him her staff and taught him how he should walk and how he should do, whenas he went down into the city; moreover, she put her rosary on his neck and finally giving him the mirror, said to him, “Look now; thou differest not from me in aught.” So he looked and saw himself as he were Fatimeh herself.[1] Then, when he had gotten his desire, he broke his oath and sought of her a rope; so she brought him a rope and he took her and strangled her therewith in the cavern. When she was dead, he dragged her forth and cast her into a pit therewithout; then,[2] returning to her cavern, he slept there till the day broke, when he arose and going down into the city, came under Alaeddin’s pavilion.[3]
The folk gathered about him, believing him to be
- ↑ The text adds here, “she went not and came not” (la rahet wa la jaët). Burton translates, “as though she had never gone or come,” and adds, in a note, by way of gloss, “i.e. as she was in her own home;” but I confess that his explanation seems to me as obscure as the text.
- ↑ Night DLXXXVIII.
- ↑ Keszr.
