صفحة 222 من 1116

So he sleepeth and wotteth not whither she goeth, nor what she

doeth; but we know that after giving him the drugged wine, she

donneth her richest raiment and perfumeth herself and then she

fareth out from him to be away till break of day; then she cometh

to him, and burneth a pastile under his nose and he awaketh from

his deathlike sleep." When I heard the slave girl's words, the

light became black before my sight and I thought night would

never-fall. Presently the daughter of my uncle came from the

baths; and they set the table for us and we ate and sat together

a fair half hour quaffing our wine as was ever our wont. Then she

called for the particular wine I used to drink before sleeping

and reached me the cup; but, seeming to drink it according to my

wont, I poured the contents into my bosom; and, lying down, let

her hear that I was asleep.