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When he had ended his verses he again cried out to the slave,

"Cut her in half and free us from her, for we have no profit of

her. So the slave drew near me, O Commander of the Faithful and I

ceased bandying verses and made sure of death and, despairing of

life, committed my affairs to Almighty Allah, when behold, the

old woman rushed in and threw herself at my husband's feet and

kissed them and wept and said, "O my son, by the rights of my

fosterage and by my long service to thee, I conjure thee pardon

this young lady, for indeed she hath done nothing deserving such

doom. Thou art a very young man and I fear lest her death be laid

at thy door; for it is said:-Whoso slayeth shall be slain.