صفحة 389 من 1116

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the

third Kalandar said to the lady (the rest of the party sitting

fast bound and the slaves standing with swords drawn over their

heads):-And after calling on the name of Almighty Allah and

passionately beseeching Him, I breasted the ascent, clinging to

the steps and notches hewn in the stone, and mounted little by

little. And the Lord stilled the wind and aided me in the ascent,

so that I succeeded in reaching the summit. There I found no

resting place save the dome, which I entered, joying with

exceeding joy at my escape; and made the Wuzu-ablution[FN#260]

and prayed a two bow prayer,[FN#261] a thanksgiving to God for my

preservation. Then I fell asleep under the dome, and heard in my

dream a mysterious Voice[FN#262] saying, "O son of Khazib! when

thou wakest from thy sleep dig under thy feet and thou shalt find

a bow of brass and three leaden arrows, inscribed with talismans

and characts.