The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night/The Stolen Purse

by Unknown

THE STOLEN PURSE.

Four merchants once owned a thousand dinars in common; so they laid them in one purse and set out to buy goods therewith. On their way, they happened on a beautiful garden; so they left the purse with a woman who kept the garden and entered. After they had walked about awhile and eaten and drunken and made merry, one of them said to the others, “I have with me scented fuller’s earth; come, let us wash our heads therewith in this running water.” Quoth another, “We lack a comb;” and a third, “Let us ask the keeper; belike she hath a comb.” Thereupon one of them arose and accosting the keeper, whereas his comrades could see him, but not hear what he said, said to her, “Give me the purse.” Quoth she, “I will not give it up, except ye be all present or thy fellows bid me give it thee.” Then he called to his companions, saying, “She will not give it me.” And they said to her, “Give it him,” thinking he meant the comb. So she gave him the purse and he took it and made off.

When the three others were weary of waiting, they went to the keeper and said to her, “Why wilt thou not give him the comb?” “He asked me for nought but the purse,” answered she, “and I gave it not but with your consent, and he went his way with it.” When they heard this, they buffeted their faces and said to her, “We authorized thee only to give him the comb.” And she, “He named not a comb to me.” Then they laid hands on her and haled her before the Cadi, to whom they made their complaint, and he condemned her to make good the purse and bound a number of her debtors surety for her. Night dcvi.So she went forth, confounded and knowing not what she should do.

Presently, she met a five-year-old boy, who, seeing her troubled, said to her, “What ails thee, O my mother?” But she gave him no answer, making no account of him, because of his tender age, and he repeated his question a second and a third time, till, at last, she told him all that had passed. “Give me a dirhem, to buy sweetmeats withal,” said the boy; “and I will tell thee how thou mayst acquit thyself.” So she gave him a dirhem and said to him, “What hast thou to say?” “Return to the Cadi,” quoth he, “and say to him, ‘It was agreed between myself and them that I should not give them back the purse, except all four of them were present. Let them all four come and I will give them the purse, as was agreed.’” So she went back to the Cadi and said to him as the boy had counselled; and he said to the merchants, “Was it thus agreed between you?” “Yes,” answered they. “Then bring me your fellow,” said the Cadi, “and take the purse.” So they went in quest of their fellow, whilst the keeper came off scot free and went her way without hindrance.’

Return to The Malice of Women.

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