great wealth and became in high honour and great favour with the
King and his household and grandees. I abode thus till, one day,
as I was sitting with the King in all respect and contentment, he
said to me, "Know thou, O such an one, thou art become one of us,
dear as a brother, and we hold thee in such regard and affection
that we cannot part with thee nor suffer thee to leave our city;
wherefore I desire of thee obedience in a certain matter, and I
will not have thee gainsay me." Answered I, "O King, what is it
thou desirest of me? Far be it from me to gainsay thee in aught,
for I am indebted to thee for many favours and bounties and much
kindness, and (praised be Allah!) I am become one of thy
servants." Quoth he, "I have a mind to marry thee to a fair,
clever and agreeable wife who is wealthy as she is beautiful; so
thou mayst be naturalised and domiciled with us: I will lodge
thee with me in my palace; wherefore oppose me not neither cross
me in this." When I heard these words I was ashamed and held my
peace nor could make him any answer,[FN#46] by reason of my much
bashfulness before him. Asked he, "Why dost thou not reply to me,
O my son?"; and I answered saying, "O my master, it is thine to
command, O King of the age!" So he summoned the Kazi and the
witnesses and married me straightway to a lady of a noble tree
and high pedigree; wealthy in moneys and means; the flower of an
ancient race; of surpassing beauty and grace, and the owner of
farms and estates and many a dwelling-place.--And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Five Hundred and Fifty-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman continued in these words:--Now after the King my master