第4章

Quoth Ni'amah，'Since when hath this been her habit and at what hour went she forth？' Quoth his mother，'She went out early in the morning.' He asked，'And how camest thou to give her leave for this？'； and she answered，'O my son，'twas she persuaded me.'

'There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah，the Glorious，the Great！' exclaimed Ni'amah and，going forth from his home in a state of distraction，he repaired to the Captain of the Watch to whom said he，'Doss thou play tricks upon me and steal-my slave-girl away from my house？ I will assuredly complain of thee to the Commander of the Faithful.' Said the Chief of Police，'Who hath taken her？' and Ni'amah replied，'An old woman of such and such a mien，clad in woollen raiment and carrying a rosary of beads numbered by thousands.' Rejoined the other，'Find me the old woman and I will get thee back thy slave-girl.' 'And who knows the old woman？' retorted Ni'amah.'And who knows the hidden things save Allah （may He be extolled and exalted！）？'

cried the Chief，who knew her for Al-Hajjaj's procuress.Cried Ni'amah，'I look to thee for my slave-girl，and Al-Hajjaj shall judge between thee and me；' and the Master of Police answered，'Go to whom thou wilt.' So Ni'amah went to the palace of Al-Hajjaj，for his father was one of the chief men of Cufa； and，when he arrived there，the Chamberlain went in to the Governor and told him the case； whereupon Al-Hajjaj said，'Hither with him！' and when he stood before him enquired，'What be thy business？' Said Ni'amah，'Such and such things have befallen me；'

and the Governor said，'Bring me the Chief of Police，and we will commend him to seek for the old woman.' Now he knew that the Chief of Police was acquainted with her； so，when he came，he said to him，'I wish thee to make search for the slave-girl of Ni'amah son of Al-Rabi'a.' And he answered，'None knoweth the hidden things save Almighty Allah.' Rejoined Al-Hajjaj，'There is no help for it but thou send out horsemen and look for the damsel in all the roads，and seek for her in the towns.'--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-First Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that Al-Hajjaj said to the Captain of the Watch，'There is no help for it but thou send out horsemen，and look for the damsel on all the roads and seek for her in the towns.' Then he turned to Ni'amah and said to him，'And thy slave-girl return not，I will give thee ten slave-girls from my house and ten from that of the Chief of Police.' And he again bade the Captain of the Watch，'Go and seek for the girl.' So he went out，and Ni'amah returned home full of trouble and despairing of life； for he had now reached the age of fourteen and there was yet no hair on his side cheeks.So he wept and lamented and shut himself up from his household； and ceased not to weep and lament，he and his mother，till the morning，when his father came in to him and said，'O my son，of a truth，Al-Hajjaj hath put a cheat upon the damsel and hath taken her；

but from hour to hour Allah giveth relief.' However grief redoubled on Ni'amah，so that he knew not what he said nor knew he who came in to him，and he fell sick for three months his charms were changed，his father despaired of him and the physicians visited him and said，'There is no remedy for him save the damsel.' Now as his father was sitting one day，behold he heard tell of a skillful Persian physician，whom the folk gave out for perfect in medicine and astrology and geomancy.So Al-Rabi'a sent for him and，seating him by his side，entreated him with honour and said to him，'Look into my son's case.'

Thereupon quoth he to Ni'amah，'Give me thy hand.' The young man gave him his hand and he felt his pulse and his joints and looked in his face； then he laughed and，turning to his father，said，'Thy son's sole ailment is one of the heart.'[12] He replied，Thou sayest sooth，O sage，but apply thy skill to his state and case，and acquaint me with the whole thereof and hide naught from me of his condition.' Quoth the Persian，'Of a truth he is enamoured of a slave-girl and this slave-girl is either in Bassorah or Damascus； and there is no remedy for him but reunion with her.' Said Al-Rabi'a，'An thou bring them together，thou shalt live all thy life in wealth and delight.' Answered the Persian，'In good sooth this be an easy matter and soon brought about，' and he turned to Ni'amah and said to him，'No hurt shall befall thee； so be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear.' Then quoth he to Al-Rabi'a，'Bring me out four thousand dinars of your money；' so he gave them to him，and he added，'I wish to carry thy son with me to Damascus； and Almighty Allah willing，I will not return thence but with the damsel.' Then he turned to the youth and asked，'What is thy name？'； and he answered 'Ni'amah.' Quoth the Persian，'O Ni'amah，sit up and be of good heart，for Allah will reunite thee with the damsel.' And when he sat up the leach continued，'Be of good cheer for we set out for Damascus this very day： put thy trust in the Lord and eat and drink and be cheerful so as to fortify thyself for travel.'