.

"On the seventh day, towards evening, the old woman came and informed
me that my wife was waiting impatiently for my arrival. As I was
equally impatient to rejoin her, I needed no entreaties to persuade me
to follow my guide. The same mystery as before was still observed in
conducting me to the palace, where my presence was expected, and I was
received at the first door by my charming wife, who loosened the
bandage with her own hands.

"I passed another fortnight, still happier than the former, in those
enjoyments which mutual love bestows, and amid those delights,
pleasures, and amusements which the eager wishes and riches of my
spouse could bring together. At the conclusion of this period, which
seemed very short, I returned to my father's house, and afterwards to
my business. My parents received me with the greatest affection; but
scarcely did I enjoy it before I sighed for the return of the seventh
day, when the old woman would come to blindfold me, and conduct me to
an abode which I now considered as a celestial Paradise.

"My wife appeared to feel with equal force the pangs of separation.
During my absence from the palace, the only method which she pursued
to divert her attention was to play upon a musical instrument, or to
sing in concert with her slaves.

"One day, during my absence, while my mistress and her slaves were
singing my praises and our loves, Zaliza, one of the slaves, hearing a
couplet in praise of my fidelity, affected to drop her lute, as if
through impatience, and did not take it up again.

"'Why,' said my spouse, 'do you leave your lute lying upon the
ground?'

"'I cannot sing the fidelity of men,' answered Zaliza, 'for I do not
believe it. Halechalbe,' continued she, 'is very amiable; he
undoubtedly loves you, and who would not? But I do not believe that
his affection is equal to yours, or that he is more faithful than
another: of this I can give proofs whenever they are required.'

"These base and perfidious words infused the most fatal jealousy into
the heart of my spouse: she gave me no opportunity, however, of
perceiving that she entertained any suspicions. At the time fixed
between us, I returned to my father's house and my ordinary business,
and when I went back to the lady I was received as kindly and
affectionately as before.

"One day I was in my shop, when, about two hours before the usual time
of the old woman's arrival to conduct me to my spouse, the public
crier procl