e clothes upon his back.

Having nothing wherewithal to still the cravings of hunger, the youth
might now be seen daily roaming about the streets, idle and listless.
One day in this sad condition he was loitering about in the great
square of the city, when his attention was attracted by a crowd of
people, who seemed to be gathered around one who sold some merchandise
by auction. He drew near, and, mixing among the assemblage, saw that
the business was the selling of a beautiful young slave, who stood in
the midst with a form of the most fascinating elegance, cheeks that
outshone the rose, and beauty more dazzling than the reflection of the
full moon in a fountain of dissolved pearls. Scarcely had he looked
upon her ere love seized him and mastered him; he knew not what to do
or to say, but remained like a stone in the midst of the crowd,
gazing. The bystanders, who were ignorant that Alischar had so soon
dissipated his patrimony, never doubted that he had come in order to
be a bidder for the beautiful slave. The crier moved his situation so
as to stand right opposite to him, with the girl in his hand, and
began to call out the usual words more loudly than before, "Ye rich
merchants, ye honourable wholesale dealers, gentlemen all of worth and
condition, what say ye for this brunette slave, who is the mistress of
the moon of heaven, whose name is called Smaragdine, and whose fame is
purer than the pearl in the depths of the Red Sea? Say your bidding,
great and small."

At first five hundred and twenty-five ducats were offered; but
immediately there came forward an old man, by name Beschadeddin,
shapeless in his form and shuffling in his gait,--the aversion of
every eye that rested on him. This old man came forward across the
market-place, and offered without hesitation a thousand ducats.

The crier cast his eyes around, but the former bidders remained
silent, and then asked the master of the slave if he was satisfied
with this offer.

"I am," said the merchant, "but upon condition that the girl herself
is so also; for I have sworn to her, that she shall be sold to no one
for whose service she does not herself feel an inclination."

Upon this the crier turned to the girl, and asked her what she had to
say to the matter. She cast her bright eyes upon the hateful old man,
and replied, "Know ye not the verse of the old poet, how he says:

"'Grey hairs were never formed to give me delight;
Sooner would I twist m