Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand and One Nights — Volume 2 (of 6)
General
Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand and One Nights — Volume 2 (of 6)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
When he had concluded his recital, the lady despatched a
servant to procure a suitable dress for the prince, which when he had
put on, she said, “I see it all: the kází, no doubt, believes that by
this time we are all overwhelmed with shame and grief. But what must be
his feelings when he learns that he has been a benefactor to his
enemies! Before you disclose to him your real rank, however, we must
contrive to punish him for his malicious intentions. There is a dyer in
this town who has a frightfully ugly daughter—but leave this affair in
my hands.”
The lady then dressed herself in plain but becoming apparel, and went
out of the house alone. She proceeded to the court of the kází, who no
sooner cast his eyes upon her than he was struck with her elegant form.
He sent an officer to inquire of her who she was and what she had come
about. She made answer that she was the daughter of an artisan in the
city, and that she desired to have some private conversation with the
kází. When the officer reported the lady’s reply, the kází directed her
to be conducted into a private chamber, where he presently joined her,
and gallantly placed his services at her disposal. The lady now removed
her veil, and asked him whether he saw anything ugly or repulsive in her
features. The kází on seeing her beautiful face was suddenly plunged in
the sea of love, and declared that her forehead was of polished silver,
her eyes were sparkling diamonds, her mouth a ruby casket containing a
bracelet of pearls. Then she displayed her arms, so white and plump, the
sight of which threw the kází into ecstasies and almost caused him to
faint. Quoth the lady, “I must tell you, my lord, that with all the
beauty I possess, my father, a dyer in the city, keeps me secluded, and
declares to all who come to ask me in marriage that I am an ugly,
deformed monster, a mere skeleton, lame, and full of diseases.” On this
the kází burst into a tirade against the brutal father who could thus
traduce so much beauty, and vowed that he would make her his wife that
same day. The lady, after expressing her fears that he would not find it
easy to gain her father’s consent, took her leave and returned home.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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