SOBEIDE. Lord, shouldst thou waken in the night and find Me weeping thus whenas I seem to sleep, Then wake me, lest I do what thy good right Forbids me. For in dreams upon thy bed I shall be seeing then another man And longing for him; this were not becoming, And makes me shudder at myself to think it. Oh promise me that thou wilt then awake me! [Pause. The MERCHANT is silent; deep feeling darkens his face.] No question who it is? Does that not matter? No? But thy face is gloomy and thou breathest With effort? Then I will myself confess it: Thou hast beheld him at our house ere now, His name is Ganem--son of old Shalnassar, The carpet-dealer--and 'tis three years now Since first I knew him. But since yesteryear I have not seen him more. This I have said, this last thing I reveal, Because I will permit no sediment Of secrecy and lies to lurk within me. I care not thou shouldst know: I am no vessel Sold off as pure, but lined with verdigris To eat its bottom out--and then because I wanted to be spared his frequent visits In this abode--for that were hard to bear. MERCHANT (threateningly, but soon choked by wrath and pain). Thou! Thou hast ... thou hast ... [He claps his hands to his face.]