第135章 GHANIM BEN EYOUB THE SLAVE OF LOVE.(9)

He opened his eyes and weptbut made them no answer；whereuponone of themseeing that he was starvingbrought him a saucerful of honey and two cakes of bread. So he ate a little and they sat with him till sunrisewhen they went about their occupations. He abode with them in this state for a monthwhilst sickness and infirmity increased upon himand they wept for him and pitying his conditiontook counsel together of his case and agreed to send him to the hospital at Baghdad. Meanwhilethere came into the mosque two beggar womenwho were none other than Ghanim's mother and sister；and when he saw themhe gave them the bread that was at his head and they slept by his side that nightbut he knew them not. Next day the villagers fetched a camel and said to the driver'Put this sick man on thy camel and carry him to Baghdad and set him down at the door of the hospitalso haply he may be medicined and recover his health，and God will reward thee.'I hear and obey，'said the camel-driver. So they brought Ghanimwho was asleepout of the mosque and laid himmat and allon the back of the camel；and his mother and sister came out with the rest of the people to look on himbut knew him not. Howeverafter considering him，they said'Verilyhe favours our Ghanim！Can this sick man be he？'Presentlyhe awoke and finding himself bound with ropes on the back of a camelbegan to weep and complainand the people of the village saw his mother and sister weeping over himthough they knew him not. Then they set out for Baghdadwhither the camel-driver forewent them and setting Ghanim down at the door of the hospitalwent away. He lay there till morningand when the people began to go about the waysthey saw him and stood gazing on himfor indeed he was become as thin as a skewertill the syndic of the market came up and drove them awaysaying'I will gain Paradise through this poor fellow；for if they take him into the hospitalthey will kill him in one day.'Then he made his servants carry him to his own housewhere he spread him a new bedwith a new pillowand said to his wife'Tend him faithfully.'Good，'answered she；'on my head be it！'Then she tucked up her sleeves and heating some waterwashed his hands and feet and bodyafter which she clothed him in a gown belonging to one of her slave-girls and gave him a cup of wine to drink and sprinkled rose-water over him. So he revived and moanedas he thought of his beloved Cout el Culoub！and sorrows were sore upon him.

MeanwhileCout el Culoub abode in duresse fourscore daysat the end of which timethe Khalif chancing one day to pass the place in which she washeard her repeating verses and saying'O my belovedO Ghanimhow great is thy goodness and how chaste is thy nature！Thou didst good to him who hath injured theethou guardedst his honour who hath violated thineand didst protect the harem of him who hath despoiled thee and thine！But thou wilt surely standwith the Commander of the Faithfulbefore the Just Judge and be justified of him on the day when the judge shall be the Lord of all （to whom belong might and majesty） and the witnesses the angels！'When the Khalif heard her complainthe knew that she had been wrongfully entreated and returning to his palace sent Mesrour the eunuch for her. She came before himwith bowed headtearful-eyed and mournful-heartedand he said to her'O Cout el CuloubI find thou taxest me with injustice and tyranny and avouchest that I have wronged him who did me good.

Who is this that hath guarded my honour and whose honour I have violatedand who hath protected my haremwhilst I have enslaved his？'Ghanim ben Eyoub，'replied she；'for by thy munificenceO Commander of the Faithfulhe never approached me by way of lewdness nor with evil intent！'Then said the Khalif'There is no power and no virtue but in God！Ask what thou wilt of meO Cout el Culouband it shall be granted to thee.'O Commander of the Faithful，'said she'I ask of thee my beloved Ghanim ben Eyoub.'The Khalif granted her prayerand she said'O Commander of the Faithfulif I bring him to theewilt thou bestow me on him？'If he come，'replied the Khalif'I will bestow thee on himthe gift of a generous man who does not go back on his giving.'O Commander of the Faithful，'said she'suffer me to go in quest of him： it may be God will unite me with him.'Do what seemeth good to thee，'answered he. So she rejoiced and taking with her a thousand dinarswent out and visited the elders of the various religious orders and gave alms for Ghanim's sake. Next day she went to the merchants'bazaar and told the chief of the market what she sought and gave him moneysaying，'Bestow this in alms on strangers.'The following week she took other thousand dinars and going to the market of the goldsmiths and jewellerscalled the syndic and gave him the moneysaying，'Bestow this in alms on strangers.'The syndicwho was none other than Ghanim's benefactorlooked at her and said'O my ladywilt thou go to my house and look upon a strange youth I have there and see how goodly and elegant he is？'（Now this stranger was Ghanimbut the syndic had no knowledge of him and thought him to be some unfortunate debtorwho had been despoiled of his propertyor a lover parted from his beloved.） When she heard his wordsher heart fluttered and her bowels yearnedand she said to him'Send with me some one who shall bring me to thy house.'So he sent a little boywho led her thither and she thanked him for this. When she reached the houseshe went in and saluted the syndic's wifewho rose and kissed the ground before herknowing her. Then said Cout el Culoub'Where is the sick man who is with thee？'O my lady，'replied sheweeping'here he islying on this bed. By Allahhe is a man of condition and bears traces of gentle breeding！'So Cout el Culoub turned and looked at himbut he was as if disguised in her eyesbeing worn and wasted till he was become as thin as a skewerso that his case was doubtful to her and she was not certain that it was he.