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When I looked upon her I prostrated myself before Him who had

created her, for the beauty and loveliness He had shaped in her,

and she looked at me and said, "Art thou man or Jinni?" "I am a

man," answered I, and she, "Now who brought thee to this place

where I have abided five and twenty years without even yet seeing

man in it?" Quoth I (and indeed I found her words wonder sweet,

and my heart was melted to the core by them), "O my lady, my good

fortune led me hither for the dispelling of my cark and care."

Then I related to her all my mishap from first to last, and my

case appeared to her exceeding grievous; so she wept and said, "I

will tell thee my story in my turn.