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efore him； when up came the Princess Meryem； carrying the two pairs of saddlebags。 She took the black for Noureddin and handed him one pair of bags； which he laid on one of the horses： after which she gave him the other pair and he laid it on the other horse； without word said。 Then they mounted and rode out of the gate （106） in silence。 'O my lord Noureddin；' quoth she； 'what aileth thee to be silent？' Whereupon the black turned to her and said angrily； 'What sayst thou； O damsel？' When she heard his outlandish speech； she knew that he was not Noureddin： so she looked at him and saw that he was a black slave； snubnosed and widemouthed； with nostrils like ewers； whereupon the light in her eyes became darkness and she said to him； 'Who art thou； O sheikh of the sons of Ham and what is thy name among men？' 'O daughter of the base；' replied he； 'my name is Mesoud； and I steal horses； when folk are asleep。' She made him no answer； but drawing her sabre forthright； smote him on the nape and the blade came out； gleaming； from the tendons of his throat； whereupon he fell to the ground； weltering in his blood； and God hurried his soul to the fire and ill is the abiding place ＇to which he went＇。
Then she took the other horse by the bridle and retraced her steps in search of Noureddin； whom she found lying； asleep and snoring； in the place where she had appointed him to meet her； with the halters in his hand and knowing not his hands from his feet。 So she dismounted and gave him a cuff； whereupon he awoke in affright and said to her； 'O my lady； praised be God for thy safe ing！' 'Rise；' answered she； 'and mount this steed and speak not。' So he rose and mounted one of the horses； whilst she bestrode the other； and they went forth the city and rode on awhile in silence。 Then said she to him； 'Did I not bid thee beware of sleeping？ Verily； he prospers not who sleeps。' 'O my lady；' answered he； 'I slept not but because of the solacement of my heart by reason of thy promise。 But what hath happened； O my lady？' So she told him her adventure with the black； and he said； 'Praised be God for safety！'
Then they fared on at full speed； mitting their affair to the Subtle； the Allwise and conversing as they went； till they came to the place where the black lay prostrate in the dusty as he were an Afrit； and Meryem said to Noureddin； 'Dismount； strip him of his clothes and take his arms。' 'By Allah； O my lady；' answered he； 'I dare not dismount nor approach him。' And indeed he marvelled at the black's stature and at the valour and stoutheartedness of the princess and praised her for her deed。 They fared on loftily all that night and halted not till the day broke and the sun shone out upon the hills and plains； when they came to a wide champaign； abounding in herbs and fruits of all kinds。 Therein were gazelles frisking and birds singing lustily on the branches： its slopes for flowers were like serpents' bellies and many and various were its channels of running water。 And indeed it was as saith the poet and saith well and acplisheth desire：
As 'twere a sunscorched tract； a valley ruddy red； With twice the mon tale of herbs and flowers o'erspread。
We halted midst its groves； and it above us bent； As o'er a weanling child the nurses bend the head；
And limpid water sweet； more pleasant than old wine To boonpanion is； to quench our thirst it shed。
It still shut out the sun； from whatsoever side It smote us； but let in the breeze to cool our bed。
Its pebbles fragrant were as maids with trinkets decked And seemed unto the touch like heaps of pearl athread。
And as saith another：
When its birds sing in the dawn o'er its limpid lake； El Welhan longs for its sight ere morning break；
For as at were Paradise 'tis with its fragrant gales And its fruit and its streams that run through its shady brake。
Here the two lovers alighted to rest and turning the horses loose to pasture in the valley； ate of its fruits and drank of its streams； after which they sat talking and recalling all that had befallen them and plaining one to the other of the anguish of separation and of that which they had suffered for estrangement and lovelonging。 As they were thus engaged； there arose in the distance a cloud of dust； which spread till it walled the world； and they heard the neighing of horses and clank of arms。
Now the reason of this was； that the king had gone forth at daybreak； to give the vizier and his daughter good morrow； after the custom of kings with their daughter ＇on the morrow of their weddingnight；＇ taking with him silken stuffs ＇as a present＇ and scattering gold and silver among the eunuchs and tirewomen； that they might scramble for it： but when he came to the new palace； he and one of his pages； he found the vizier prostrate on the carpet； knowing not his head from his feet； and searched the palace right and left for his daughter； but found her not； whereat he was sore troubled and concerned and his wit forsook him。
Then he called for hot water and frankincense and virgin vinegar and mingling them together； blew the mixture into the vizier's nostrils and shook him； whereupon he cast the henbane forth of his stomach； as it were a piece of cheese。 He repeated the injection； whereupon the vizier came to himself and the king questioned him of his case and that of his daughter。 'O mighty king；' answered the vizier； 'I have no knowledge of her save that she poured me out a cup of wine with her own hand； and from that moment to this I have no recollection of aught nor know I what is e of her。' When the king heard this； the light in his eyes became darkness； and he drew his sword and smote the vizier on the head； that the steel came out gleaming from between his teeth。 Then he called the grooms and stablemen and demanded the two horses of them； but they said； 'O king； when we awoke in the morning； we found all the doors open and the two chargers missing； and our chief； the master of the horse； is also missing。' Quoth the king； 'By my faith and all wherein my belief is stablished； none but my daughter hath taken the horses； she and the Muslim captive that used to tend the church and who took her aforetime！ Indeed I knew him right well and none delivered him from my hand save this oneeyed vizier； but now is he requited his deed。'
Then he called his three sons； who were three doughty champions； each of whom could cope with a thousand horse in the field and the stead of strife； and bade them mount。 So they took horse forthwith and the King and the flower of his knights and nobles and officers mounted with them and followed in the track of the fugitives till they came up with them in the valley aforesaid。 When Meryem saw them； she mounted her horse and girt on her sword and took her arms。 Then she said to Noureddin； 'How is it with thee and how is thy stomach for battle and strife and contention？' Quoth he； 'Verily； my steadfastness in battle is as the steadfastness of the stake in bran。' And he recited the following verses：
I prithee； Meryem； spare me reproaches and despite And do not thou my slaughter or torment long invite。
I whom a raven's croaking affeareth passing sore； How should I be a warrior or have a mind to fight？
Lo；