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'When he who is asked a favour saith "To-morrow," * The wise man

wots 'tis vain to beg or borrow.'"

Quoth Shams al-Din, "Basta! [FN#367] I see thee fail in respect

to me by making thy son of more account than my daughter; and

'tis plain that thine understanding is of the meanest and that

thou lackest manners. Thou remindest me of thy partnership in the

Wazirate, when I admitted thee to share with me only in pity for

thee, and not wishing to mortify thee; and that thou mightest

help me as a manner of assistant. But since thou talkest on this

wise, by Allah, I will never marry my daughter to thy son; no,

not for her weight in gold!" When Nur al-Din heard his brother's

words he waxed wroth and said, "And I too, I will never, never

marry my son to thy daughter; no, not to keep from my lips the

cup of death." Shams al-Din replied, "I would not accept him as a

husband for her, and he is not worth a paring of her nail. Were I

not about to travel I would make an example of thee; however when

I return thou shalt see, and I will show thee, how I can assert

my dignity and vindicate my honour.