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Then he repeated to the slave, "Smite her, O Sa'ad!" And when the

slave who was sitting upon me made sure of the command he bent

down to me and said, "O my mistress, repeat the profession of

Faith and bethink thee if there be any thing thou wouldst have

done; for verily this is the last hour of thy life." "O good

slave," said I, "wait but a little while and get off my head that

I may charge thee with my last injunctions." Then I raised my

head and saw the state I was in, how I had fallen from high

degree into lowest disgrace; and into death after life (and such

life!) and how I had brought my punishment on myself by my own

sin; where upon the tears streamed from mine eyes and I wept with

exceed ing weeping. But he looked on me with eyes of wrath, and

began repeating:-