61
wilt thou play fast and loose with us at thy pleasure, O stinkard, O bitch, O vilest of whites?” When I heard and saw what passed between them, the world grew dark in my eyes and I knew not where I was; whilst my wife stood weeping and humbling herself to him and saying, “O my love and fruit of my heart, if thou be angry with me, who is left me, and if thou reject me, who shall shelter me, O my beloved and light of mine eyes?” And she ceased not to weep and implore him till he forgave her. Then she was glad and rose and putting off her clothes, said to the slave, “O my lord, hast thou aught here for thy handmaid to eat?” “Take the cover off yonder basin,” answered he; “thou wilt find under it cooked rats’ bones, and there is a little millet beer left in this pot. Eat and drink.” So she ate and drank and washed her hands and mouth; then lay down, naked, upon the rushes, beside the slave, and covered herself with the rags. When I saw this, I became as one distraught and coming down from the roof, went in by the door. Then I took the sword she had brought and drew it, thinking to kill them both. I struck first at the slave’s neck and thought I had made an end of him; but the blow only severed the flesh and the gullet, without dividing the jugulars.Night viii. He gave a loud gurgling groan and roused my wife, whereupon I drew back, after I had restored the sword to its place, and resuming to the palace, lay down on my bed till morning, when my wife came and awoke me, and I saw that she had cut off her hair and put on mourning garments. “O my cousin,” said she, “do not blame me for this I have done; for I have news that my mother is dead, that my father has fallen in battle and that both my brothers are dead also, one of a snake-bite and the other of a fall from a precipice, so that I have good reason to weep and lament.” When I heard this, I did not reproach her, but said to her, “Do what thou wilt: I will not baulk thee.” She
