Pagina 178 di 1116

Some days afterwards one of his slave girls confessed to him the

whole truth,[FN#93] yet would he not believe it till he saw the

young Turk, his wife's lover, coming out of her chamber, when he

bared his blade [FN#94] and slew him by a blow on the back of the

neck; and he did the same by the adulteress; and thus the twain,

laden with mortal sin, went straightways to Eternal Fire. Then

the merchant knew that the Parrot had told him the truth anent

all she had seen and he mourned grievously for her loss, when

mourning availed him not. The Minister, hearing the words of King

Yunan, rejoined, 'O Monarch, high in dignity, and what harm have

I done him, or what evil have I seen from him that I should

compass his death?