Pagina 347 de 1116

But the fame of this good man hath this very night come to the

Sultan of our city who designeth to visit him on the morrow on

account of his daughter." "What aileth his daughter?" asked one,

and another answered "She is possessed of a spirit; for Maymun,

son of Damdam, is madly in love with her; but, if this pious man

knew the remedy, her cure would be as easy as could be." Hereupon

one of them inquired, "And what is the medicine?" and he replied,

"The black tom cat which is with him in the oratory hath, on the

end of his tail, a white spot, the size of a dirham; let him

pluck seven white hairs from the spot, then let him fumigate her

therewith and the Marid will flee from her and not return; so she

shall be sane for the rest of her life." All this took place, O

Ifrit, within earshot of the Envied who listened readily.