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queen espied a curtain of silk, whereon were these words written: “O my son, marvel not at these great riches, whereto I have won by dint of sore travail; but know that there existeth also another image whose worth is more than that of these [eight] images twenty times told. Wherefore, an thou wouldst come thereby, get thee to Cairo, where thou wilt find a slave of mine, by name Mubarek, who will take thee and bring thee in company[1] with the ninth image. When thou enterest Cairo, the first man whom thou encounterest will direct thee to Mubarek’s house, for he is known in all Egypt.”[2] When Zein ul Asnam read this inscription, he said, “O my mother, it is my wish to journey to Cairo, so I may make search for the ninth image. Tell me, how deemest thou of my dream? Was it true or was it not? Wilt thou still say[3] to me, ‘These be idle tales’? But I, O my mother, needs must I journey to Cairo.” “O my son,” answered the queen, “since thou art under
- ↑ Lit. “till he join thee with.”
- ↑ Or “Cairo,” the name Misr being common to the country and its capital.
- ↑ Badki tecouli[na]. Badki (lit. after thee) is here used in the modern sense of “still” or “yet.” The interrogative prefix A appears to have dropped out, as is not uncommon in manuscripts of this kind. Burton, “After thou assuredst me, saying, &c.”
