As I sat one day in my shop, there came up to me a fair woman, as
she were the moon at its rising, and with her a slave-girl. Now I
was a handsome man in my time; so the lady sat down on [the bench
before] my shop and buying stuffs of me, paid down the price and
went away. I questioned the girl of her and she said, "I know not
her name." Quoth I, "Where is her abode?" "In heaven," answered
the slave-girl; and I said, "She is presently on the earth; so
when doth she ascend to heaven and where is the ladder by which
she goeth up?" Quoth the girl, "She hath her lodging in a palace
between two rivers,[FN#181] to wit, the palace of El Mamoun el
Hakim bi Amrillah."[FN#182] Then said I, "I am a dead man,
without recourse; "but she replied, "Have patience, for needs
must she return unto thee and buy stuffs of thee yet again." "And
how cometh it," asked I, "that the Commander of the Faithful
trusteth her to go out?" "He loveth her with an exceeding love,"
answered she, "and is wrapped up in her and gainsayeth her not."

Then the girl went away, running, after her mistress, whereupon I
left the shop and set out after them, so I might see her
abiding-place. I followed after them all the way, till she
disappeared from mine eyes, when I returned to my place, with a
heart on fire. Some days after, she came to me again and bought
stuffs of me. I refused to take the price and she said, "We have
no need of thy goods." Quoth I, "O my lady, accept them from me
as a gift;" but she said, "[Wait] till I try thee and make proof
of thee." Then she brought out of her pocket a purse and gave me
therefrom a thousand dinars, saying, "Trade with this till I
return to thee." So I took the purse and she went away [and