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dirhems of him； and tomorrow pay him the whole eighty from the price of the girdles。'
So he repaired to the druggist and said to him； 'O uncle； lend me other thirty dirhems； and tomorrow； God willing； I will repay thee the whole fourscore。' The old man counted him out thirty dirhems； with which he went to the market and buying meat and bread and dessert and fruit and flowers as before； carried them home to the damsel； whose name was Meryem； the girdlemaker。 She rose forthright and making ready rich meats； set them before Noureddin； after which she brought wine； and they drank and plied each other with liquor。 When the wine began to sport with their senses； his beauty and grace pleased her and the elegance of his manners； and she recited the following verses：
Unto a slender one； who with a goblet came With musk from out his breath perfumed； to give it zest。
Quoth I； 'Was't not express from out thy cheeks？' But 'Nay；' He answered； 'when was wine from roses yet exprest？'
And she ceased not to carouse with him and ply him that he should fill to her and give her to drink of that which sweetens the spirits； and whenever he laid his hand on her； she drew back from him； out of coquetry。 The wine added to her beauty and gee； and Noureddin recited these verses：
A slender one； desiring wine； unto her lover said； In an assembly； whenas he did sickness for her dread；
'An if thou give me not to drink； I'll banish thee my bed This night：' wherefore he feared and filled to her the vinejuice red。
They gave not over drinking till drunkenness got the mastery of Noureddin and he slept； whereupon she rose and fell to work upon a girdle； according to her wont。 When she had wrought it to end； she wrapped it in paper and putting off her clothes； lay down by his side； and they passed the night in dalliance and delight。
On the morrow； she gave him the girdle and bade him carry it to the market and sell it for twenty dinars； like as he had sold its fellow the day before。 So he went to the market and sold the girdle for twenty dinars； after which he repaired to the druggist and paid him back the four score diadems； thanking him for his bounties and calling down blessings upon him。 'O my son；' said he； 'hast thou sold the damsel？' 'Wouldst thou have me sell the soul out of my body？' answered Noureddin and told him all that had passed； whereat the druggist was mightily pleased and said to him； 'By Allah； O my son； thou rejoicest me！ So God please； mayst thou still abide in prosperity！ Indeed I wish thee well by reason of my affection for thy father and the continuance of our friendship。' Then he took leave of him and going to the market； bought meat and fruit and wine and all that he needed； as of wont； and returned therewith to Meryem。
They abode thus a whole year in eating and drinking and sport and merriment and love and good cheer； and every night she made a girdle and he sold it on the morrow for twenty dinars； wherewith he bought what they needed and gave the rest to her； to keep against a time of need。 After this； she said to him one day； 'O my lord； when thou sellest the girdle tomorrow； buy me silk of six colours with its price； for I have a mind to make thee a kerchief to wear on thy shoulders； such as never son of merchant； no； nor king's son； ever rejoiced in its fellow。' So next day he brought her what she aught and she wrought at the kerchief a whole week； for； every night； when she had made an end of the girdle； she would work awhile at the kerchief。 When it was finished； she gave it to Noureddin； who put it on his shoulders and went out to walk in the market； whilst all the merchants and people and notables of the town crowded about him； to gaze on his beauty and that of the kerchief。
One night； after this； he awoke from sleep and found Meryem weeping passing sore and reciting the following verses：
The severance of friends draws near and nearer aye： Alas for severance！ Alas； the parting day！
My heart is rent in twain； and O my grief for those The nights of our delight that now are past away！
Needs must the envier look on us with evil eye And e to his desire of that he doth essay；
For nought can irk us more than envy and the eyes Of backbiters and spies； nor work us more dismay。
'O my lady Meryem；' said he； 'what ails thee to weep？' 'I weep for the anguish of parting；' answered she； 'for my heart forebodes me thereof。' Quoth he； 'O lady of fair ones； and who shall part us； seeing that I love and tender thee above all creatures？' And she replied； 'And I love thee twice as well as thou me； but ＇blind＇ confidence in fortune still causes folk fall into affliction； and right well saith the poet：
Thou thoughtest well of Fate； whilst yet the days for thee were fair； And fearedst not the unknown ills that destiny might bring。
The nights were calm and safe for thee； thou wast deceived by them； For in the peace of night betides full many a troublous thing。
Lo； in the skies are many stars； no one can tell their tale； But to the sun and moon alone eclipse brings darkening。
The earth bears many a pleasant herb and many a plant and tree； But none is stoned save only that to which the fair fruits cling。
Seest not the sea and how the waifs float up upon the foam？ But in its deepest depths of blue the pearls have sojourning。
O my lord Noureddin；' added she； 'if thou desire to avert separation； be on thy guard against a swartvisaged； bushybearded old Frank； blind of the right eye and lame of the left leg； for he it is who will be the cause of our separation。 I saw him enter the city ＇today＇ and methinks he is e hither in quest of me。' 'O lady of fair ones；' replied Noureddin； 'if my eyes light on him； I will slay him and make an example of him。' 'O my lord；' rejoined she； 'slay him not； but talk not nor trade with him； neither buy nor sell with him nor sit nor walk with him nor speak one word to him； no； not even to make the prescribed answer； （78） and I pray God to keep us from his craft and mischief！'
Next morning； Noureddin carried the girdle to the market； where he sat down on a bench before a shop and talked with the young merchants； till drowsiness overcame him and he lay down on the bench and fell asleep。 Presently； up came the Frank whom the damsel had described to him； in pany of seven others； and seeing Noureddin lying asleep on the bench； with his head wrapped in the kerchief which Meryem had made him and the end thereof in his hand； sat down by him and took the end of the kerchief in his hand and examined it。 This disturbed Noureddin and he awoke and seeing the very man sitting by him of whom Meryem had warned him； cried out at him with a great cry； that startled him。 Quoth the Frank； 'What ails thee to cry out thus at us？ Have we taken aught from thee？' 'By Allah； O accursed one；' replied Noureddin； 'hadst thou taken aught from me； I would hale thee before the master of police！'
Then said the Frank； 'O Muslim； I conjure thee by thy faith and by that in which thou believest； tell me whence thou hadst that kerchief。' And Noureddin answered； 'It is the handiwork of my mother； who made it for me with her own hand。' 'Wilt thou sell it to me？' asked the Frank。 'By Allah； O accursed one；' replied Noureddin； 'I will not sell it to thee nor to any other； for she made none other than it。' 'Sell it to me；' repeated the Frank； 'and I will give thee to its price eve hundred dinars ready money； and let her who made it make thee another and handsomer。' But Noureddin said； 'I will not sell it at all； for there is not the like of it in this city。' 'O my lord；' insisted the Frank； 'wilt thou sell it for six hundred dinars of fine gold？' And he went on to add to his offer hundred by hundred； till he bid nine hundred dinars； but Noureddin said； 'God will provide me otherwise than by my selling it。 I will never sell it； no； not for two thousand dinars nor more than that。'
Then the Frank went on to tempt him with money； till he bid him a thousand dinars； and the merchants present said； 'We sell thee the kerchief at that price： pay down the money。' Quoth Noureddin； 'By Allah； I will not sell it！' But one of the merchants said to him； 'O my son； the worth of this kerchief is a hundred dinars at most and that to an eager purchaser； and if this Frank pay thee down a thousand for it； thy profit will be nine hundred dinars； and what profit canst thou desire greater than that？ Wherefore it is my counsel that thou sell him the kerchief at that price and gain nine hundred dinars by this accursed Frank； the enemy of God and of the faith； and bid her who wrought it make thee other or handsomer than it。'
Noureddin was abashed at the merchants and sold the kerchief to the Frank； who； in their presence； paid him down the thousand dinars； with which he would have returned to Meryem； to tell her what had passed； but the stranger said； 'Harkye； O pany of merchants； stop my lord Noureddin； for you and he are my guests this night。 I have a pitcher of old Greek wine and a fat lamb and fruit and flowers and confections； wherefore needs must ye all cheer me with your pany tonight and not one of you tarry behind。' So the merchants said to Noureddin； 'O my lord Noureddin； we desire that thou be with us on the like of this n