Pagina 623 de 1116

While she was bemoaning herself after this fashion, behold, the

Wazir went in to her and saluted her and informed her that he was

her husband's brother; and, telling her all that had passed

between them, laid open before her the whole story, how her son

Badr al-Din Hasan had spent a whole night with his daughter full

ten years ago but had disappeared in the morning. And he ended

with saying, "My daughter conceived by thy son and bare a male

child who is now with me, and he is thy son and thy son's son by

my daughter." When she heard the tidings that her boy, Badr

al-Din, was still alive and saw her brother-in-law, she rose up

to him and threw herself at his feet and kissed them, reciting

these lines:-

"Allah be good to him that gives glad tidings of thy steps; * In

very sooth for better news mine ears would never sue: Were he

content with worn-out robe, upon his back I'd throw * A heart to

pieces rent and torn when heard the word Adieu."