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as the case now is, and he say to the folk, “I am the son of the merchant Abdurrehman,” they will not believe him, but will say, “We have never seen thee and knew not that he had a son;” wherefore the magistrates will take thy goods and thy son will be despoiled. In like manner, I mean to make my daughter known among the folk, so haply some one of her own condition may demand her in marriage and we will marry her to him and rejoice in her.’ Night dcccclxiv.Quoth he, ‘[I did thus] of my fear for them of the eyes of the folk and because I love them and love is exceeding jealous, and well saith he who made the following verses:
I’m jealous of myself and of my sight for thee And of thy self and place and time and Fate’s decree.
Though in mine eye for aye I set thee, ne’er, I trow, Of union strait and close should I aweary be.
Ay, if with me thou wert united every hour Until the Judgment Day, ’twould scarce suffice to me.’
‘Put thy trust in God,’ said his wife, ‘for no harm betideth him whom He protecteth, and carry him with thee this very day to the shop.’
Then she clad the boy in the richest of clothes and he became a ravishment to all who looked on him and an affliction to the hearts of lovers. His father took him and carried him to the market, whilst all who saw him were ravished with him and accosted him, kissing his hand and saluting him. Quoth one, ‘The sun hath risen in such a place and shineth in the market,’ and another, ‘The place of rising of the full moon is in such a quarter;’ and a third, ‘The new moon of the Festival [of the breaking of the fast of Ramazan] hath appeared to the creatures of God.’ And they went on to allude to the boy in talk and call down blessings upon him.
Abdurrehman rated the folk for following the boy, to gaze upon him, for they crowded upon him, behind
