Said the Wazir，'Bring me her master.'So the broker brought him at once and， behold， he was a Persian of whom there was left only what the days had left； for he was as a vulture bald and scald and a wall trembling to its fall.Time had buffetted him with sore smart， yet was he not willing this world to depart； even as said the poet，'Time hath shattered all my frame， Oh！ how time hath shattered me.
Time with lordly might can tame Manly strength and vigour free.
Time was in my youth， that none Sped their way more fleet and fast：
Time is and my strength is gone，Youth is sped， and speed is past.[9]'
The Wazir asked him，'Art thou content to sell this slave-girl to the Sultan for ten thousand dinars？'； and the Persian answered，'By Allah， if I offer her to the King for naught， it were but my devoir.'[ 10] So the Minister bade bring the monies and saw them weighed out to the Persian， who stood up before him and said，'By the leave of our lord the Wazir， I have somewhat to say；'and the Wazir replied，'Out with all thou hast！' 'It is my opinion，'continued the slave-dealer，'that thou shouldst not carry the maid to the King this day； for she is newly off a journey； the change of air[11] hath affected her and the toils of trouble have fretted her.But keep her quiet in thy palace some ten days， that she may recover her looks and become again as she was.Then send her to the Hammam and clothe her in the richest of clothes and go up with her to the Sultan： this will be more to thy profit.'The Wazir pondered the Persian's words and approved of their wisdom； so he carried her to his palace， where he appointed her private rooms， and allowed her every day whatever she wanted of meat and drink and so forth.And on this wise she abode a while.Now the Wazir Al-Fazl had a son like the full moon when sheeniest dight， with face radiant in light， cheeks ruddy bright， and a mole like a dot of ambergris on a downy site； as said of him the poet and said full right，'A moon which blights you[12] if you dare behold；A branch which folds you in its waving fold：
Locks of the Zanj[13] and golden glint of hair；Sweet gait and form a spear to have and hold：
Ah！ hard of heart with softest slenderest waist，That evil to this weal why not remould？[14]
Were thy form's softness placed in thy heart， Ne'er would thy lover find thee harsh and cold：
Oh thou accuser！ be my love's excuser，Nor chide if love-pangs deal me woes untold！
I bear no blame：'tis all my hear and eyne；So leave thy blaming， let me yearn and pine.'
Now the handsome youth knew not the affair of the damsel； and his father had enjoined her closely， saying，'Know， O my daughter， that I have bought thee as a bedfellow for our King， Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni； and I have a son who is a Satan for girls and leaves no maid in the neighbourhood without taking her maidenhead； so be on thy guard against him and beware of letting him see thy face or hear they voice.''Hearkening and obedience，'
said the girl； and he left her and fared forth.Some days after this it happened by decree of Destiny， that the damsel repaired to the baths in the house， where some of the slave women bathed her； after which she arrayed herself in sumptuous raiment； and her beauty and loveliness were thereby redoubled.Then she went in to the Wazir's wife and kissed her hand； and the dame said to her，'Naiman！May it benefit thee，[15] O Anis al-Jalis！[16] Are not our baths handsome？''O my mistress，'she replied，'I lacked naught there save thy gracious presence.'
Thereupon the lady said to her slave-women，'Come with us to the Hammam， for it is some days since we went there：'they answered，'To hear is to obey！'and rose and all accompanied her. Now she had set two little slave-girls to keep the door of the private chamber wherein was Anis al-Jalis and had said to them，'Suffer none go in to the damsel.' Presently， as the beautiful maiden sat resting in her rooms， suddenly came in the Wazir's son whose name was Nur al-Din Ali，[17] and asked after his mother and her women， to which the two little slave-girls replied，'They are in the Hammam.'But the damsel， Anis al-Jalis， had heard from within Nur al-Din Ali's voice and had said to herself，'O would Heaven I saw what like is this youth against whom the Wazir warned me， saying that he hath not left a virgin in the neighbourhood without taking her virginity： by Allah， I do long to have sight of him！'So she sprang to her feet with the freshness of the bath on her and， stepping to the door， looked at Nur al-Din Ali and saw a youth like the moon in its full and the sight bequeathed her a thousand sighs. The young man also glanced at her and the look make him heir to a thousand thoughts of care；
and each fell into Love's ready snare.Then he stepped up to the two little slave-girls and cried aloud at them； whereupon both fled before him and stood afar off to see what he would do.And behold， he walked to the door of the damsel's chamber and， opening it， went in and asked her'Art thou she my father bought for me？'and she answered'Yes.'Thereupon the youth， who was warm with wine， came up to her and embraced her； then he took her legs and passed them round his waist and she wound her arms about his neck， and met him with kisses and murmurs of pleasure and amorous toyings.Next he sucked her tongue and she sucked his， and lastly， he loosed the strings of her petticoat-trousers and abated her maidenhead.When the two little slave-girls saw their young master get in unto the damsel， Anis al-Jalis， they cried out and shrieked； so as soon as the youth had had his wicked will of her， he rose and fled forth fearing the consequences of his ill-doing.When the Wazir's wife heard the slave-girls'cries， she sprang up and came out of the baths with the perspiration pouring from her face， saying，'What is this unseemly clamour in the house[18]？' Then she came up to the two little slave-
