صفحة 405 من 1116

Then said he, "O my brother, cut me up a water melon, and sweeten

it with a little sugar candy."[FN#275] So I went to the store

room and bringing out a fine water melon I found there, set it on

a platter and laid it before him saying, "O my master hast thou

not a knife?" "Here it is," answered he, "over my head upon the

high shelf." So I got up in haste and taking the knife drew it

from its sheath; but my foot slipped in stepping down and I fell

heavily upon the youth holding in my hand the knife which

hastened to fulfil what had been written on the Day that decided

the destinies of man, and buried itself, as if planted, in the

youth's heart. He died on the instant. When I saw that he was

slain and knew that I had slain him, maugre myself, I cried out

with an exceeding loud and bitter cry and beat my face and rent

my raiment and said, "Verily we be Allah's and unto Him we be

returning, O Moslems! O folk fain of Allah!