When they had thrown off the robes of mourning, and folded up the carpet of sorrow, observing the usual compliment of sending variety of confections and sweet­meats, different meats and perfumes at several times, I by degrees established and confirmed the bands of intimacy and connections of friendship; till at length, the customary approaches to a union took place, and the interchange of sending rarities and valuables was performed between us. After this, hav­ing disclosed my wishes, I requested to lay the foundation of unanimity, and tie the knot of matrimony. Her mother, for some time pretending impediments and disinclination, at last, attending to the calls of our friendship and intimacy, strung the precious gem of the casket of purity on my marriage thread.

From excessive joy that such a Hoori was become my companion, and so beau­tiful an angel the partner of my bed, my heart expanded as the blossom of the rose, and, from swelling exultation, I could not contain myself in my vest. I used my utmost endeavours to win the approbation of her heart and gain her love; so that at length the loadstone of my fondness attracted her soul, and the beloved in turn became the lover. Among our relations and mutual intimates, the account of our attachment and regard for each other became the sub­ject of remark, and, by degrees, the theme of conversation among high and low throughout our vicinity; so that, at last, the true love and cordial friendship of my wife reached the highest pitch. She exceeded me in every respect; and in the duties of attention, submission, and chastity, bore away the ball of superior activity.

Some time thus passed, and the basis of our unanimity and affection seemed firmly settled, when lo, one night, about twelve o’clock, while the drums* of the imperial palace were sounding, I chanced to awake, and on looking around, found not my wife in bed; but supposing that she might have risen on some necessary household occasion, and sleep overpowering me, I laid my head again on the pillow, and sunk to rest. The same circumstance, however, occurred again the following night; when my doubts of her virtue became somewhat roused, and on the third night the same happened. Long did I distend my eyelids in the path of impatience for her return, when at the very close of night, nearly upon the crowing of the cock and the call of the Muezzin to the prayer of dawn, the tread of her feet reached my ears, and the creaking of the house-door in opening and shutting was plain. This time my suspicions became confirmed, and the rent of crim­nality appeared clearly in the vestment of her purity. My heart became set upon unravelling this enigma, and anxious impatience possessed my soul.

One night, in order to loosen the knot from the proceedings of the unworthy woman, and find out the mystery, I sat up, and would not recline my head to sleep. I saw clearly, that from my wakefulness the tokens of gloom appeared on the countenance of the star-slumbering* wretch, and with winks and nods,* she tempted me to repose. As I had gained knowledge of her unworthy designs, out of policy I laid my head upon the pillow, and pulling the quilt over it, began to make long breathings, like one fast asleep. The black-visaged* woman, innately wicked, when she sup­posed me, like her own star, locked in slumber, without delay arose from bed, and clambered over our court wall. I got up also; and concealing a short sabre under my arm, and veiling my head in a cloth, followed her. The evil and abominably acting jade, with swift pace, took her way towards the country. About the distance of two miles was a grove of tamarind trees, under which was a hermitage. Within it a collinder, thick-necked as a buffalo, pounding bang,* and every now and then twist­ing his whiskers in anger, sat waiting for her by a fire he had kindled. She went to him, and I stood close to the hut, under the concealment of the trunk of a tree.

The collinder,* instantly on her arrival, rose up in a fury. With the club, which was the instrument to pound his bang, having softened her back and sides, he beat her most severely, and with cruel violence dragged her by the hair out of the hut. My wife, opening her mouth in apology, said, “Though I have cer­tainly offended, yet my fault only proceeded from inability; for my evil-starred and black-fated tyrant to-night was wakeful. When sleep overtook him, I hurried running to your presence. Pardon, then, this involuntary delay, and cover my crimes with the veil of forgiveness.” After some time the ferment of the col­linder’s passion subsided; and having admitted the vicious and naturally base woman within the hut, he scattered the ashes of sin on the head of his fortunes, and made her, as well as himself, abominable in the eyes of both worlds.

At sight of such wickedness, the fire of agony inflamed my whole frame, and the trembling of rage shook my body. While I was in this state, the collinder came out, and advancing to the tree behind which I stood, sat down. As I was perfect in the exercise of the sabre, I struck it with all my force at his neck, cast his impure head like a ball to the earth; and ascending the tree, remained hidden among the leaves. When, after this, a short interval had elapsed, my black-famed wife coming from within, called to the collinder. No sound arose, because the headless fowl* could not crow. When she advanced nearer, beheld his head fallen from the body, and his blood flowing in currents, at such a sight, the flames of grief seized upon her wicked mind, and she returned terrified into the hut. From thence, however, she speedily re-appeared, bearing in one hand a keen scymetar, and in the other a light.

Now, like a maniac, she began to search every part of the grove, that she might wreak her vengeance on the per­petrator of the deed. She was so filled with rage and fury, that had an hungry tyger met her she would have attacked him. When she could find no trace of the murderer, she returned despondingly; and having wrapped the corpse in a mat, took it upon her shoulders, and carrying it about the distance of two miles, cast it into a watercourse, from which, sorrow­ful and gloomy, she retired towards the city.

Hastening swiftly homewards, I reached my house before the adulteress could arrive, and went to bed, drawing the quilt over me as before. When the abominable wretch came in, she thought me asleep, and, her mind being satisfied on that point, sat down in sullenness on the edge of the bed. When the dark­ness of night was past, and morning began to dawn, rising up, according to my usual custom, I employed myself in offering up my prayers. My adulterous wife had seven brothers, professed fight­ers, and strong as Isfindiar,* but wholly ignorant, unlettered, and without the least shame or sense of family honour. From dread of these blockheads, I could not immediately chastise my wicked partner, but resolved to bring it about by degrees; and, having insured my own safety, to put her to death. Out of policy, and the exigence of the times, I betrayed no knowledge of the late event, and let not the least hint of it pass my tongue.

My wife constantly, like the afflicted for the dead, was immersed in gloomi­ness and sorrow, and privately fulfilled the offices of mourning. At length, one day, when I was preparing for my devo­tions by the customary ablution, there stood in the court a small vessel of water, near which my wife sat upon a stool. I requested her to reach it me; upon which the treacherous wretch arose with much unwillingness. With affected delicacy stretching out her hand, she immediately withdrew it, exclaiming, “It is so very heavy, I cannot possibly lift it.” Without consideration, from my tongue this exclamation involuntarily, like an arrow from the bent of chance, escaped; “At all events it cannot be heavier than the cursed collinder’s body.”

Instantaneously as this observation was uttered, the flames of the woman’s anger blazed on high; and her colour changing, the moisture of passion appeared upon her countenance. With won­derful agility, she fetched from within the same collinder-killing sabre, and before I could look around and prevent it, like lightning darting upon me, with all her force aimed a stroke at my face. Before I could adjust my dress (like Euclid finishing his sketches) these strange figures and odd characters became stamped upon my visage. At length I over­powered the cursed demon; and having tied her hands behind her back, sent for her brothers, and informed them of the disgraceful adventure. I then gave up all domestic concerns, and estranging my heart from dependance on worldly affairs, chose freedom from care like the sosun.* Having robed myself in ashy-coloured habiliments, I entered into the order of devotees, and have never since shewn my face among the followers of fortune. The brothers of the infamous woman, having consumed her in the fire of their rage, dispatched her soul to the infernal regions.

O my prince, the divine Framer of the Universe has ordained sovereigns for the benefit of the public, and selected their sacred persons from the mass of mankind, for the protection of the people entrusted to them by the Creator. It is not then befitting that they should sacrifice their religion and hearts to the moles, dimples, tresses, and eyebrows of this frail sex, whose composition is deceit and cunning, and from whose rosy cheeks, to be gratified with the perfume of con­stancy is impossible; nor should they thus make themselves pointed at by the finger of man for such weakness and folly.