answered Ali ben Bekkar，do as thou wilt and may God requite thee for me！What thou deemest fit will be right： but be not long about it，lest I die of this anguish.'So I abode with him （quoth the jeweller） that night，entertaining him with converse，till daybreak，when I prayed the morning prayers and going out from him，returned to my house. Hardly had I done so，when the damsel came up and saluted me. I returned her greeting and told her what had passed between Ali ben Bekkar and myself；and she said，Know that the Khalif has left us and there is none in our lodging，and it is safer for us and better.'True，'replied I；yet it is not like my house yonder，which is both surer and fitter for us.'Be it as thou wilt，'rejoined she. I will go to my lady and tell her what thou sayest.'So she went away and presently returned and said to me，It is to be as thou sayest： so make us ready the place and expect us.'Then she took out a purse of diners and said to me，My lady salutes thee and bids thee take this and provide therewith what the case calls for.'But I swore that I would have nought of it；so she took the purse and returning to her mistress，said to her，He would not take the money，but gave it back to me.'No matter，'answered Shemsennehar. As soon as she was gone，I betook myself to my other house and transported thither all that was needful，by way of furniture and utensils and rich carpets and vessels of china and glass and gold and silver，and made ready meat and drink for the occasion. When the damsel came and saw what I had done，it pleased her and she bade me fetch Ali ben Bekkar；but I said，None shall fetch him but thou.'Accordingly she went to him and brought him back，dressed to perfection and looking his best. I met him and welcomed him and ****** him sit down on a couch befitting his condition，set before him sweet-scented flowers in vases of china and crystal of various colours. Then I set on a tray of vari-coloured meats，of such as rejoice the heart with their sight，and sat talking with him and diverting him，whist the girl went away and was absent till after sundown，when she returned with Shemsennehar，attended by two maids and no more. When Ali saw her，he rose and embraced her and they both fell down in a swoon. They lay awhile insensible，then，coming to themselves，began to complain to each other of the pains of separation. They sat awhile，conversing with eloquence and tenderness，after which they perfumed themselves and fell to thanking me for what I had done. Said I，Have ye a mind for food？Yes，'answered they. So I set food before them，and they ate till they were satisfied and washed their hands，after which I carried them to another room and brought them wine. So they drank and grew merry with wine and inclined to one another，and Shemsennehar said to me，O my lord，complete thy kindness by bringing us a lute or other instrument of music that the measure of our joy may be filled.'On my head and eyes，'answered I and rising，brought her a lute. She took it and tuned it，then laying it in her lap，made masterly music，at once exciting to sorrowful thoughts and cheering the afflicted；
after which she sang the following verses：
I wake and I watch till it seemeth as I were in love with unrest And I waste and I languish，as sickness，meseemeth，were born in my breast.
The tides of my tears，ever flowing，have burnt up my cheeks with their heat： Would I knew if our loves，after sevrance，with union again will be blest！
She went on to sing song after song，choice words set to various airs，till our minds were bewitched and it seemed as if the very room would dance with excess of pleasure for the marvel of her sweet singing and there was nor thought nor reason left in us.
When we had sat awhile and the cup had gone round amongst us，the damsel took the lute and sang the following verses to a lively measure：
My love a visit promised me and did fulfil his plight One night that I shall reckon aye for many and many a night.
O night of raptures that the fates vouchsafed unto us twain；
Unheeded of the railing tribe and in the spies despite！
My loved one lay the night with me and I of my content Clipped him with my left hand，while he embraced me with his right.
I strained him to my breast and drank his lips sweet wine，what while I of the honey and of him who sells it had delight.
Whilst we were thus drowned in the sea of gladness，in came a little maid，trembling，and said，O my lady，look how you may go away，for the folk are upon us and have surrounded the house，and we know not the cause of this.'When I heard this，I arose in affright，and behold，in came a slave-girl，who said，Calamity hath overtaken you！'At the same moment，the door was burst open and there rushed in upon us half a score masked men，with poniards in their hands and swords by their sides，and as many more behind them. When I saw this，the world，for all its wideness，was straitened on me and I looked to the door，but saw no way out；so I sprang （from the roof） into the house of one of my neighbours and hid myself there. Thence I heard a great uproar in my house and concluded that the Khalif had gotten wind of us and sent the chief of the police to seize us and bring us before him. So I abode confounded and remained in my place，without daring to move，till midnight，when the master of the house became aware of me and being greatly affrighted，made at me with a drawn sword in his hand，saying，Who is this in my house？
Quoth I，I am thy neighbour，the jeweller；and he knew me and held his hand. Then he fetched a light and coming up to me，said，O my brother，indeed that which hath befallen thee this night is grievous to me.'O my brother，'answered I，tell me who it was entered my house and broke in the door，for I fled to thee，not knowing what was the matter.'Quoth he，The robbers，who visited our neighbours yesterday and slew such an one and took his goods，saw thee yesterday bringing hither furniture and what not；so they broke in upon thee and stole thy goods and slew thy guests.'
