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cteth me。'
Now this damsel was the daughter of the King of France； the which is a wide and spacious city； （79） abounding in arts and manufactures and rarities and trees and flowers and other plants； and resembleth the city of Constantinople： and for her going forth of her father's city there was an extraordinary cause and thereby hangs a rare story； that we will set out in due order； to divert and delight the reader。 She was reared with her father and mother in honour and indulgence and learnt rhetoric and penmanship and arithmetic and martial exercises and all manner crafts both of men and women； such as broidery and sewing and weaving and girdlemaking and silkcord making and enamelling gold on silver and silver on gold； till she became the pearl of her time and the unique ＇jewel＇ of her age and her day。 Moreover； God （to whom belong might and majesty） had endowed her with such beauty and grace and elegance and perfection that she excelled therein all the folk of her time； and the kings of the isles sought her in marriage of her father； but he refused to give her to wife to any of her suitors； for that he loved her with an exceeding love and could not brook to be parted from her an hour。 Moreover； he had no other daughter than herself albeit he had many sons； but she was dearer to him than they。
It chanced one year that she fell sick of an exceeding sickness and came nigh upon death； wherefore she made a vow that； if she recovered from her sickness； she would make the pilgrimage to a certain monastery； situate in much an island； which was high in repute among the Franks who used to make vows to it and look for a blessing therefrom。 When she was whole of her sickness she wished to acplish her vow and her father despatched her to the convent in a little ship； with sundry knights and daughters of the chief men of the city to wait upon her。 As they drew near the island； there came out upon them a ship of the ships of the Muslims； champions of the faith； warring in the way of God； who boarded the vessel and making prize of all who were therein； sold their booty in the city of Cairawan。 Meryem herself fell into the hands of a Persian merchant； who was impotent and for whom no woman had ever discovered her nakedness； and he set her to serve him。
Presently he fell ill and sickened wellnigh unto death； and the sickness abode with him two months； during which time she tended him after the goodliest fashion； till God made him whole of his malady； when he recalled her lovingkindness to him and the zeal with which she had tended him and being minded to requite her the good offices she had done him； bade her ask a boon of him。 'O my lord；' said she； 'I ask of thee that thou sell me not but to the man of my choice。' 'So be it；' answered he； 'I grant thee this。 By Allah； O Meryem； I will not sell thee but to him of whom thou shalt approve； and I put thy sale in thine own hand！' And she rejoiced mightily in this。 Now the Persian had expounded Islam to her and she became a Muslim and learnt of him the tes and observances of the faith。 Moreover； he made her get the Koran by heart and taught her somewhat of the theological sciences and the traditions of the Prophet； after which； he brought her to Alexandria and sold her to Noureddin； as hath been before set out。
Meanwhile； when her father； the King of France； heard what had befallen his daughter and her pany； he was sore concerned and despatched after her ships full of knights and champions； horsemen and footmen： but they all returned to him； crying out and saying； 'Alas！' and 'Ruin！' and 'Woe worth the day！' after having searched the islands of the Muslims and e on no tidings of her。 The king grieved for her with an exceeding grief and sent after her that oneeyed lameter； for that he was his chief vizier； a stubborn tyrant and a froward devil； （80） full of craft and guile； bidding him make search for her in all the lands of the Muslims and buy her； though with a shipload of gold。 So the accursed wretch sought her in all the lands of the seas and all the cities of the Muslims； but found no sign of her till he came to Alexandria； when he discovered that she was with Noureddin Ali of Cairo； being directed to the trace of her by the kerchief aforesaid； ＇in which he recognized her handiwork；＇ for that none could have wrought it on such goodly wise but she。 Then he bribed the merchants to help him in getting her from Noureddin and beguiled the latter into selling her； as hath been already related。
When he had her in his possession； she ceased not to weep and lament： so he said to her； 'O my lady Meryem； put away from thee this mourning and weeping and return with me to thy father's city； the seat of thy royalty and the place of thy power and thy home； so thou mayst be among thy servants and attendants and be quit of this abasement and stranglehold。 Enough hath betided me of travel and weariness and expense on thine account； for thy father bade me buy thee back though with a shipload of gold； and now I have spent nigh a year and a half in travel and toil and ravishment of wealth。' And he fell to kissing her feet and hands and humbling himself to her； but she only redoubled in wrath against him； for all he could do to appease her； and said to him； 'O Accursed one； may God the Most High not bring thee to thy desire！'
Then his servants brought her a mule with gold embroidered housings and mounting her thereon； raised over her head a silken canopy； with staves of gold and silver； and the Franks walked about her； till they brought her forth the city by the seagate； where they took boat with her and rowing out to a great ship ＇that lay in the harbour＇； embarked her therein。 Then the vizier cried out to the sailors； saying； 'Up with the mast！' So they set up the mast and spreading the sails and the pendants； manned the sweeps and put out to sea。 Meryem continued to gaze upon Alexandria till it disappeared from her eyes； when she fell aweeping and lamenting passing sore and recited the following verses：
O dwelling of the loved； shall there returning ever be To thee？ But what know I of that which Allah shall decree？
The ships of separation fare with us in haste away： Mine eyes be blotted out with tears that flow unceasingly；
For severance from a friend； who was the end of my desire； With whom my sicknesses were healed and pains effaced from me。
Be thou my substitute with him； O God； for that which is mitted to Thy charge one day shall not be lost with Thee。
The knights came up to her and would have forted her； but she heeded them not； being distracted with passion and lovelonging。 And she wept and moaned and plained and recited the following verses：
The tongue of passion in my heart bespeaketh thee of me And giveth thee to know that I enamoured am of thee。
I have a liver all consumed with passion's coals of fire； A heart； sore wounded by thy loss； that throbs incessantly。
How shall I hide the love that burns my life away？ My lids Are ulcered and my tears adown my cheeks for ever flee。
In this plight she abode during all the voyage； no peace was left her nor would patience e at her call。
Meanwhile； when the ship had sailed with Meryem； the world was straitened upon Noureddin and he had neither peace nor patience。 He returned to the lodging where they had dwelt he and she； and it appeared black and gloomy in his sight。 Then he saw the pins and silk with which she had been wont to make the girdles and her clothes that had been upon her body： so he pressed them to his breast； whilst the tears streamed from his eyes and he recited the following verses：
Will union after severance return to me some day； After my longcontinued tale of sorrow and dismay？
Shall I with my love's pany be ever blest again？ Now God forfend that what is past should ne'er return！ I say。
I wonder will He yet rebait our separated loves And will my dear ones keep the troth we plighted； I and they？
And will she yet preserve my love； whom of my ignorance I lost； and guard our plighted troth and friendship from decay？
Since they departed； as one dead am I： will my belov'd Consent that he who loves them dear should fall to death a prey？
Alas； my sorrow！ But lament the mourner profits not。 For stress of yearning and regret I'm melted all away。
Lost are the days of my delight： will Fortune e'er vouchsafe To me； I wonder； my desire and so my pains allay？
O heart； redouble in desire and O mine eyes； o'erflow With tears。 till not a tear to weep within mine eyelids stay。
Alas for loved ones far away and patience lost to me！ My helpers fail me and my woes full sorely on me weigh。
To God the Lord of all； that He vouchsafe me the return Of my belov'd and our delight； as of old time； I pray。
Then he wept passing sore and looking about the place； recited these verses also：
I see their traces and pine for longing pain； My tears rain down on the empty dwellingplace；
And I pray to God； who willed that we should part One day to grant us reunion； of His grace。
Then he rose and locking the door of the house； went out； running； to the shore of the sea； where he fixed his eyes on the place of the ship that had carried her off； whilst sighs burst from his breast and he recited the followin