ken with a giddiness, and fell down, and
that is the whole matter."

At these words my husband lost all patience.

"I have," said he, "too long listened to your tales."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and in came three slaves. "Strike,"
said he; "cut her in two, and then throw her into the Tigris. This is
the punishment I inflict on those to whom I have given my heart, when
they falsify their promise."

I had recourse to entreaties and prayers; but I supplicated in vain,
when the old woman, who had been his nurse, coming in just at that
moment, fell down upon her knees and endeavored to appease his wrath.

"My son," said she, "since I have been your nurse, and brought you up,
let me beg you to consider, 'he who kills shall be killed,' and that
you will stain your reputation and forfeit the esteem of mankind."

She spoke these words in such an affecting manner, accompanied with
tears, that she prevailed upon him at last to abandon his purpose.

"Well, then," said he to his nurse, "for your sake I will spare her
life; but she shall bear about her person some marks to make her
remember her offense."

When he had thus spoken, one of the slaves, by his order, gave me upon
my sides and breast so many blows[38] with a little cane, that he
tore away both skin and flesh, which threw me into a swoon. In this
state he caused the same slaves, the executioners of his will, to
carry me into the house, where the old woman took care of me. I kept
my bed for four months. At last I recovered. The scars which, contrary
to my wish, you saw yesterday, have remained ever since.

[Footnote 38: The Mussulmans are allowed by the Koran to beat their
wives, so long as they do not make a bruise. The husband on this
occasion must have broken the law.

Some such permission was given by an English judge, Sir John Buller;
who declared the stick used must not be thicker than his thumb, from
whence he obtained the sobriquet of "Thumb Buller."]

As soon as I was able to walk and go abroad, I resolved to retire to
the house which was left me by my first husband, but I could not find
the site whereon it stood, as my second husband had caused it to be
leveled with the ground.

Being thus left destitute and helpless, I had recourse to my dear
sister Zobeide. She received me with her accustomed goodness, and
advised me to bear with patience my affliction, from which, she said,
none are free. In confirmation of her remark, she gave me an acco