Now my heart began to sink and I asked Houman what was to happen to
me.

"This, O Egyptian slayer of lions. You will be laid upon a bed in a
little boat upon the river and another boat will be placed over you,
for these boats are called the Twins, Egyptian, in such a fashion that
your head and your hands will project at one end and your feet at the
other. There you will be left, comfortable as a baby in its cradle,
and twice every day the best of food and drink will be brought to you.
Should your appetite fail, moreover, it will be my duty to revive it
by pricking your eyes with the point of a knife until it returns. Also
after each meal I shall wash your face, your hands and your feet with
milk and honey, lest the flies that buzz about them should suffer
hunger, and to preserve your skin from burning by the sun. Thus slowly
you will grow weaker and at length fall asleep. The last one who went
into the boat--he, unlucky man, had by accident wandered into the
court of the House of Women and seen some of the ladies there unveiled
--only lived for twelve days, but you, being so strong, may hope to
last for eighteen. Is there anything more that I can tell you? If so,
ask it quickly for we draw near to the river."

Now when I heard this and understood all the horror of my fate, I
forgot the vision of my great uncle, the holy Tanofir, and his
comfortable prophecies, and my heart failed me altogether, so that I
stood stock still.

"What, Lion-hunter and Bearder of kings, do you think it is too early
to go to bed?" mocked this devilish eunuch. "On with you!" and he
began to beat me about the face with the handle of his fly-whisk.