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ieves may avail to climb up to its roof； and when I have made an end of building it； I will sacrifice thirty Muslims before the gate thereof； as an expiatory offering to the Messiah for her and for myself。' The king granted his request and bade the priests and monks and patriarchs marry the princess to him； so they did his bidding； whereupon he gave mandment to set about building a strong and lofty palace； befitting her； and the workmen fell to work upon it。
To return to Noureddin。 When he came back with the veils and what not else he had borrowed of the druggist's wife； he 'found the air empty and the place of visitation distant；' whereupon his heart sank within him and he wept floods of tears and recited the following verses：
The phantom of Saada came to me by night； near the break of day； And roused me； whenas my rades all in the desert sleeping lay：
But； when I awoke to the dream of the night； that came to visit me； I found the air void and the wonted place of our rendezvous far away。
Then he walked on along the beach and turned right and left； till he saw people gathered together on the beach and heard them say； 'O Muslims； there abideth no sanctity in the city of Alexandria； since the Franks enter it and snatch away those who are therein and return to their own land at their leisure； unpursued of any of the Muslims or menofwar！' Quoth Noureddin to them； 'What is to do？' And they answered； 'O my son； one of the ships of the Franks； full of armed men； came down but now upon the harbour and carried off a ship that was moored here； with her who was therein； and made for their own land unhindered。' Noureddin fell down in a swoon； on hearing these words； and when he came to himself； they questioned him of his case and he told them all that had befallen him； whereupon they all fell to blaming him and railing at him； saying； 'Why couldst thou not bring her up into the town without veil and muffler？' And each gave him some grievous word； berating him with sharp speech； and shot at him each his shaft of reproach； albeit some said； 'Let him be； that which hath befallen him sufficeth him；' till he again fell down in a swoon。
At this moment； up came the old druggist； who； seeing the folk gathered together； drew near to learn what was the matter and found Noureddin lying aswoon in their midst。 So he sat down at his head and arousing him； said to him； 'O my son； what is this case in which I see thee？' 'O uncle；' replied Noureddin； 'I had brought back my slavegirl； whom I lost； from her father's city； after suffering all manner of perils and hardships； and when I came hither with her； I made the vessel fast to the shore and leaving her therein； repaired to thy dwelling and took of thy wife what was needful for her； that I might bring her up into the city； but the Franks came and taking the ship and the damsel therein； made off unhindered； and returned to their own land。'
When the druggist heard this； the light in his eyes became darkness and he grieved sore for Noureddin and said to him； 'O my son； why didst thou not bring her out of the ship into the city without a veil？ But talk availeth not at this season； so rise； O my son； and e up with me to the city； it may be God will vouchsafe thee a girl fairer than she； who shall console thee for her。 Praised be God who hath not made thee lose aught by her！ Nay； thou hast gained by her。 And bethink thee； O my son； that union and separation are in the hands of the Most High King。' 'By Allah； O uncle；' replied Noureddin； 'I can never be consoled for her loss nor will I ever leave seeking her； though I drink the cup of death on her account！' 'O my son；' rejoined the druggist； 'and what dost thou purpose to do？' Quoth Noureddin； 'I purpose to return to the land of the Franks and enter the city of France and venture myself there； e what may。' 'O my son；' said the druggist； 'quoth the current byword； 〃Not always es the pitcher off unbroken；〃 and if they did thee no hurt before； belike they will slay thee this time； more by token that they know thee now but too well。' 'O my uncle；' replied Noureddin； 'let me set out and be slain presently for the love of her； and not die slowly of despair for her loss。'
Now； as fate would have it； there was then a ship in the port ready to sail； for its passengers had made an end of their affairs and the sailors had pulled up the mooring stakes； when Noureddin embarked in her。 So they put out to sea and sailed many days； with fair wind and weather； till they fell in with certain of the Frank cruisers； that were scouring those waters and seizing upon all ships they saw； in their fear for the king's daughter from the Muslim corsairs： and as often as they made prize of a Muslim ship； they carried all her people to the King of France； who put them to death in acplishment of the vow he had made on account of his daughter Meryem。 So they boarded the ship in which was Noureddin and taking him and the rest of the pany prisoners； to the number of a hundred Muslims； carried them to the king； who bade cut their throats。 So they slaughtered them all； one after another； till there was none left but Noureddin； whom the headsman had left till the last； in pity of his tender age and slender shape。
When the king saw him； he knew him right well and said to him； 'Art thou not Noureddin； that was with us before？' 'I was never with thee；' answered he； 'and my name is not Noureddin； but Ibrahim。' 'Thou liest；' rejoined the king； 'thou art Noureddin； he whom I gave to the old woman； the prioress； to help her in the service of the church。' But Noureddin said； 'O my lord； my name is Ibrahim。' Quoth the king； 'Wait awhile；' and bade his knights fetch the old woman forthright； saying； 'When she es and sees thee； she will know if thou be Noureddin or not。' At this juncture； in came the one eyed vizier and kissing the earth before the king； said to him； 'Know； O king； that the palace is finished； and thou knoweth that I vowed to the Messiah that； when I had made an end of building it； I would slaughter thirty Muslims before its gate； wherefore I am e to get them of thee； that I may sacrifice them and so fulfil my vow to the Messiah。 They shall be at my charge； by way of loan and whenas there e prisoners to my hands； I will give thee other thirty in their stead。' 'By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith；' replied the king； 'I have but this one captive left！' And he pointed to Noureddin。 'Take him and slaughter him now； and the rest I will send thee； whenas there e to my hands ＇other＇ prisoners of the Muslims。'
So the vizier took Noureddin and carried him to his palace； thinking to slaughter him on the threshold of the gate； but the painters said to him； 'O my lord； we have two days' painting yet to do； so have patience with us and delay to slaughter this captive； till we have made an end of our work； belike by that time the rest of the thirty will e； so thou mayst despatch them all at one but and acplish thy vow in one day。' So the vizier bade imprison him and they carried him to the stables and left him there in chains； hungering and thirsting and making moan for himself； for indeed he saw death face to face。
Now it chanced； by the ordinance of destiny and for