138
the cistern. Quoth she, ‘They came and told me that a wolf had eaten thee in the valley. As for them, they are become merchants and own houses and shops, and the world is grown wide for them. But every day they bring me meat and drink, and thus have they done since I lost thee.’ ‘To-morrow,’ said Hasib, ‘do thou go to them and say, “My son Hasib hath returned from his travels; so come ye and salute him.’”
Accordingly, on the morrow, she repaired to the wood-cutters’ houses and delivered to them her son’s message, which when they heard, they changed colour and gave her each a suit of silk, embroidered with gold, saying, ‘Give this to thy son and tell him that we will be with him to-morrow.’ So she returned to Hasib and gave him their presents and message. Meanwhile, the woodcutters called together a number of merchants and acquainting them with all that had passed between themselves and Hasib, took counsel with them what they should do. Quoth the merchants, ‘It behoves each one of you to give him half his goods and slaves;’ and they agreed to do this.
So, next day, each of them took half his wealth and going in to Hasib, saluted him and kissed his hands. Then they laid before him what they had brought, saying, ‘This of thy bounties, and we are in thy hands.’ He accepted their peace-offering and said to them, ‘What is past is past: that which befell us was decreed of God and destiny avoideth precaution.’ Quoth they, ‘Come, let us walk about and take our pleasure in the city and visit the bath.’ ‘Not so,’ answered he. ‘I have taken an oath never again to enter the bath, so long as I live.’ ‘At least,’ rejoined they, ‘come to our houses, that we may entertain thee.’ He agreed to this, and each of them entertained him for a night and a day; nor did they cease to do thus for a whole week [for they were seven in number]
