Pagina 476 di 1116

What harm will it do thee if he get a kiss from thee and thou

gettest what thou seekest at that price?" Replied I, "I take

refuge with Allah from such action! Knowest thou not that I am

bound by an oath?"[FN#343] But she answered, "Now whist! just let

him kiss thee and neither speak to him nor lean over him, so

shalt thou keep thine oath and thy silver, and no harm whatever

shall befal thee." And she ceased not to persuade me and

importune me and make light of the matter till evil entered into

my mind and I put my head in the poke[FN#344] and, declaring I

would ne'er consent, consented. So I veiled my eyes and held up

the edge of my mantilla between me and the people passing and he

put his mouth to my cheek under the veil. But while kissing me he

bit me so hard a bite that it tore the flesh from my

cheek,[FN#345] and blood flowed fast and faintness came over me.