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I have lately heard that my brother died at Bassorah, where he

had married the daughter of the Wazir and that she bare him a

son; and I will not marry my daughter but to him in honour of my

brother's memory. I recorded the date of my marriage and the

conception of my wife and the birth of my daughter; and from her

horoscope I find that her name is conjoined with that of her

cousin; [FN#401] and there are damsels in foison for our lord the

Sultan.' The King, hearing his Minister's answer and refusal,

waxed wroth with exceeding wrath and cried, 'When the like of me

asketh a girl in marriage of the like of thee, he conferreth an

honour, and thou rejectest me and puttest me off with cold

[FN#402] excuses! Now, by the life of my head I will marry her to

the meanest of my men in spite of the nose of thee!