Pagina 255 van 1116

Also he marvelled with exceeding marvel, especially to see no man

in the place and delayed his going; whereupon quoth the eldest

lady, "What aileth thee that goest not; haply thy wage be too

little?" And, turning to her sister the cateress, she said, "Give

him another diner!" But the Porter answered, "By Allah, my lady,

it is not for the wage; my hire is never more than two dirhams;

but in very sooth my heart and my soul are taken up with you and

your condition. I wonder to see you single with ne'er a man about

you and not a soul to bear you company; and well you wot that the

minaret toppleth o'er unless it stand upon four, and you want

this same fourth; and women's pleasure without man is short of

measure, even as the poet said:-