Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
When she found, that we were very well satisfied with each other,
she clapped her hands a second time, and the cadi immediately
entered, who made a contract for our marriage, signed it, and had it
also witnessed by four persons whom he brought with him for that
purpose. There was one condition, and it was the only one my new
husband required of me; and this was, that I should neither see nor
speak to any other man than himself. He then took an oath that if I
preserved these terms, I should have every reason to be satisfied
with him. Our marriage was then concluded, and thus I became a
principal person concerned, when I only thought of being a
spectator, and a guest.
About a month after our marriage, having occasion to purchase some
silk stuff, I asked leave of my husband to go out and execute this
commission. This he immediately granted; and I took with me by way
of companion, the old woman of whom I have already spoken, and who
lived in the house, and two of my female slaves.
When we had come to that street in which the merchants reside, the
old woman said to me, “Since you are come, my good mistress, to
look for silk stuff, I will take you to a young merchant whom I am
very well acquainted with here; he has some of every sort; and
without, therefore, fatiguing yourself by running from shop to shop,
I assure you that at his you will find whatever you may want.” I
suffered her to conduct me; and we entered a shop, where there was a
young merchant, who was very well made. I sat down, and desired him,
by means of the old woman, to show me some of the most beautiful
silk stuffs that he had. The old woman wished me to make the request
myself, but I told her that one of the conditions of our marriage
was, not to speak to any man besides my husband; and I did not
intend to infringe it.
The merchant showed me a variety of sorts; one of which pleased me
more than the rest, and I desired her to ask the price of it. In
answer to her, he said, “I will sell it to her for neither silver
nor gold; but I will make her a present of it if she will have the
condescension to permit me to kiss her cheek.” I desired the old
woman to tell him, that his proposal was a very rude and impertinent
one. But instead of doing what I ordered, she told me she thought
that what the merchant required was a matter of no importance; that
he did not ask me to speak, but I had only to present my cheek to
him, which was merely the business of a moment. My desire to possess
the silk was so great, I was foolish enough to follow the old
woman’s advice. She and my slaves immediately stood up before me,
that no person might observe me; I then drew aside my veil, when,
instead of kissing me, the merchant gave me such a bite, that the
blood flowed from the wound.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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