If thou find my words true, let me go my
way and write me a patent under thy hand that I am thy freedman,
so none of the Jinn, whether of the air or the earth, divers or
flyers,[FN#24] may do me let or hindrance.' 'And what is it thou
hast seen this night, O liar, O accursed one?' rejoined
Maimouneh. 'Tell me without leasing and think not to escape from
my hand with lies, for I swear to thee by the inscription on the
beazel of the ring of Solomon son of David (on whom be peace,)
except thy speech be true, I will pluck out thy feathers with
mine own hand and strip off thy skin and break thy bones.' 'I
accept this condition, O my lady,' answered Dehnesh, son of
Shemhourish the Flyer. 'Know that I come to-night from the
Islands of the Inland Sea in the parts of Cathay, which are the
dominions of King Gha?our, lord of the Islands and the Seas and
the Seven Palaces. There I saw a daughter of his, than whom God
hath made none fairer in her time,--I cannot picture her to thee,
for my tongue would fail to describe her aright; but I will name
to thee somewhat of her charms, by way of approximation. Her
hair is like the nights of estrangement and separation and her
face like the days of union; and the poet hath well described her
when he says:
She took up three locks of her hair and spread them out one night
And straight four nights discovered at once unto my sight.
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