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I abode with them after this fashion for the space of a month

during which time they used to blacken their faces with ashes

every night, and to wash and change their raiment when the morn

was young; and I but marvelled the more and my scruples and

curiosity increased to such a point that I had to forego even

food and drink.

At last, I lost command of myself, for my heart was aflame with

fire unquenchable and lowe unconcealable and I said, "O young

men, will ye not relieve my trouble and acquaint me with the

reason of thus blackening your faces and the meaning of your

words:-We were sitting at our ease but our frowardness brought us

unease?" Quoth they "'Twere better to keep these things secret."

Still I was bewildered by their doings to the point of abstaining

from eating and drinking and, at last wholly losing patience,

quoth I to them, There is no help for it: ye must acquaint me

with what is the reason of these doings." They replied, "We kept

our secret only for thy good: to gratify thee will bring down

evil upon thee and thou wilt become a monocular even as we are."

I repeated "There is no help for it and, if ye will not, let me

leave you and return to mine own people and be at rest from

seeing these things, for the proverb saith:-