第31章 THE PORTER AND THE THREE LADIES OF BAGHDAD.(6)

When the company saw thistheir minds were troubledfor they understood not the reason of these things. And the Khalif said to Jaafer'Didst thou not see the marks of beating with rods upon the girl's body！I cannot keep silence nor be at restexcept I come at the truth of all this and know the story of this damsel and the two bitches.'O my lord，'answered Jaafer'they made it a condition with us that we should not speak of what concerns us notunder pain of hearing what should not please us.'Then said the portress 'By Allah！O my sistercome and complete thy service to me.'With all my heart！'answered the cateress and took the lute and leant it against her breasts. Then she swept the strings with her finger-tips and sang the following verses：

If we complain of absencewhat alas！shall we say？Or if longing assail uswhere shall we take our way？

Ifto interpret for uswe trust to a messengerHow can a message rightly a lover's plaint convey？

Or if we put on patienceshort is a lover's lifeAfter his heart's beloved is torn from him away.

Nothingalas！is left me but sorrow and despair And tears that adown my cheeks without cessation stray.

Thou that art ever absent from my desireful sightThou that art yet a dweller within my heart alway，Hast thou kept trothI wonderwith one who loves thee dear，Whose faithwhilst time endurethnever shall know decay？

Or hast thou e'en forgotten her who for love of theeIn tears and sickness and passionhath wasted many a day？

Alas！though Love unite us again in one embraceReproach for thy past rigour with me full long shall stay.

When the portress heard this second songshe gave a loud scream and exclaimed'By Allah！it is good！'and putting her hand to her clothestore them as before and fell down in a swoon.

Whereupon the cateress rose and brought her another dressafter she had sprinkled water on her. Then she sat up again and said to the cateress 'To it again and help me to do the rest of my duty；for there remains but one more song.'So the cateress took the lute and sang the following verses：

How longah me！shall this rigour last and this inhumanity？ Are not the tears that I have shed enough to soften thee？

If thouof thy relentless willestrangement do prolong，Intending my despiteat lastI praycontented be！

If treacherous fortune were but just to lovers and their woe，They would not watch the weary night in sleepless agony.

Have ruth on mefor thy disdain is heavy on my heart；Is it not time that thou relent at lastmy kingto me？

To whom but thee that slayest me should I reveal my pain？ What grief is theirs who love and prove the loved one's perfidy！

Love and affliction hour by hour redouble in my breast：The days of exile are prolonged；no end to them I see.

Muslimsavenge a slave of lovethe host of wakefulnessWhose patience hath been trampled out by passion's tyranny！

Can it be lawfulO my wishthat thou another bless With thine embraceswhilst I diein spite of Love's decree？

Yet in thy presenceby my sidewhat peace should I enjoySince he I love doth ever strive to heap despite on me？

When the portress heard this third songshe screamed out and putting forth her handtore her clothes even to the skirt and fell down in a swoon for the third timeand there appeared once more on her body the marks of beat ing with rods. Then said the three Calenders'Would God we had never entered this housebut had slept on the rubbish-heaps！for verily our entertainment hath been troubled by things that rend the heart.'The Khalif turned to them and said'How so？'And they answered'Indeedour minds are troubled about this matter.'Quoth he'Are you not then of the household？'No，'replied they；'nor did we ever see the place till now.'Said the Khalif'There is the man by you： he will surely know the meaning of all this.'And he winked at the porter. So they questioned the latter and he replied'By the Almightywe are all in one boat！I was brought up at Baghdad，but never in my life did I enter this house till to-dayand the manner of my coming in company with them was curious.'By Allah，'said they'we thought thee one of themand now we see thou art but as one of ourselves.'Then said the Khalif'We are here seven menand they are but three women：so let us question them of their caseand if they do not answer willinglythey shall do so by force.'They all agreed to thisexcept Jaafer，who said'This is not well-advised： let them befor we are their guestsand as ye knowthey imposed on us a conditionto which we all agreed. Wherefore it is better that we keep silence concerning this affairfor but a little remains of the night，and each go about his business.'And he winked to the Khalif and whispered to him'There is but a little longer to waitand to-morrow I will bring them before thee and thou canst then question them of their story.'But the Khalif lifted his head and cried out angrily'I have not patience to wait till then：

let the Calenders ask them.'And Jaafer said'This is not well-advised.'Then they consulted togetherand there was much talk and dispute between themwho should put the question，before they fixed upon the porter. The noise drew the notice of the lady of the housewho said to them'O guestswhat is the matter and what are you talking about？'Then the porter came forward and said to her'O ladythe company desire that thou acquaint them with the history of the two bitches and why thou didst beat them and after fellest to kissing and weeping over them and also concerning thy sister and why she has been beaten with rodslike a man. This is what they charge me to ask thee，and peace be on thee.'When she heard thisshe turned to the others and said to them 'Is this true that he says of you？'And they all replied 'Yes；'except Jaaferwho held his peace. Then said she'By Allah！O guestsye have done us a grievous wrong，for we made it a previous condition with you that whoso spoke of what concerned him notshould hear what should not please him.