where she turned, and standing cried out in a loud voice,
"Who art thou, sirrah, that breakest in on our pasture as if thou wert
charging an army? Whence comest thou and whither art thou bound? Speak
the truth and it shall profit thee, and do not lie, for lying is of the
losel's fashion. Doubtless thou hast strayed this night from thy road,
that thou hast happened on this place. So tell me what thou seekest: if
thou wouldst have us set thee in the right road, we will do so; or if
thou seek help we will help thee."

When Sherkan heard her words he replied, "I am a stranger of the
Muslims, who am come out by myself in quest of booty, and I have found
no fairer purchase this moonlit night than these ten damsels; so I will
take them and rejoin my comrades with them." Quoth she, "I would have
thee to know that thou hast not yet come at the booty; and as for these
ten damsels, by Allah, they are no purchase for thee! Indeed the fairest
purchase thou canst look for is to win free of this place: for thou art
in a mead, where, if we gave one cry, there would be with us anon four
thousand knights. Did I not tell thee that lying is shameful?" And he
said, "The fortunate man is he to whom God sufficeth, and who hath no
need of other than him." "By the virtue of the Messiah," replied she,
"did I not fear to have thy death at my hand, I would give a cry that
would fill the meadow on thee, with horse and foot! but I have pity on
the stranger; so, if thou seek booty, I require of thee that thou
dismount from thy horse, and swear to me by thy faith that thou wilt
not approach me with aught of arms, and we will wrestle--I and thou. If
thou throw me, lay me on thy horse and take all of us to thy booty; and
if I throw thee, thou shalt be at my commandment. Swear this to me; for
I fear thy perfidy, since experience has it that as long as perfidy is
in men's natures, to trust in every one is weakness. But if thou wilt
swear I will come over to thee." Quoth Sherkan, "Impose on me whatever
oath thou deemest binding, and I will swear not to draw near thee until
thou hast made thy preparations, and sayest 'Come wrestle with me.' If
thou throw me I have wealth wherewith to ransom myself, and if I throw
thee I shall get fine purchase." Then said she, "Swear to me by Him who
hath lodged the soul in the body and given laws to mankind that thou
wilt not hurt me with aught of violence save in the way of
wrestling--else mayest thou die out of the pale o