Page 239 of 1116

dost thou deserve that I talk to thee and speak with thee?" "Why

and wherefore?" rejoined she; and he replied "The why is that all

the livelong day thou tormentest thy hubby; and he keeps calling

on 'eaven for aid until sleep is strange to me even from evenin'

till mawnin', and he prays and damns, cussing us two, me and

thee, causing me disquiet and much bother: were this not so, I

should long ago have got my health; and it is this which prevents

my answering thee." Quoth she, "With thy leave I will release him

from what spell is on him;"and quoth the King, "Release him and

let's have some rest!" She cried, "To hear is to obey;" and,

going from the cenotaph to the palace, she took a metal bowl and

filled it with water and spake over it certain words which made

the contents bubble and boil as a cauldron seetheth over the

fire.