ly it is good fortune;" and without fear, I entered along with
him into the garden.

At last, he led me to a place where [the young man was sitting]; on
seeing him, I made him a very low [237] _salam_; he beckoned me to sit
down; I sat down with respect. What do I see but the young man sitting
alone on a _masnad_, with the tools of a goldsmith lying before him;
and he had just finished a branch of emeralds. When the time came for
him to rise up, all the slaves that were around the place concealed
themselves in [different] rooms; I also from fear hid myself in a
small closet. The young man rose up, and having fastened the chains
of all the apartments, he went towards the corner of the garden, and
began to beat the bull he usually rode. The noise of the animal's
roaring reached my ear, and my heart quaked [with fear]; but as I
had ran all these risks to develop this mystery, I forced the door,
though trembling with fear, and under the screen of the trunk [238]
of a tree, I stood and saw [what was going on]. The young man threw
down the club with which he was beating [the bull], and unlocked
a room and entered it. Then, instantly coming out, he stroked the
bull's back with his hand, and kissed its mouth; and having given
it some grain and grass, he came towards me. On perceiving this,
I ran off quickly, and hid myself in the room.

The young man unfastened the chains of all the rooms, and the whole
of the slaves came out, bringing with them a small carpet, a wash-hand
basin, and a water pot. After washing his hands and face, he stood up
to pray; when he had finished his prayers, he called out, "Where is the
pilgrim?" On hearing myself called, I ran out and stood before him;
he desired me to sit down; after making him a _salam_, I sat down;
the dinner was served; he partook of it, and gave me some, which I
also ate. When the dishes were removed, and we had washed our hands,
he dismissed his slaves and told them to go to rest. When no one
[except ourselves] remained in the apartment, he then spoke to me,
and asked, "O friend, what great misfortune has befallen thee that
thou goest about seeking thy death?" I related in full detail all the
adventures of my life, from beginning to end, and added, that, "from
your goodness, I have hopes of obtaining my wishes." On hearing this,
he heaving a deep sigh, went raving mad, and began to say, "O God! who
except thee is acquainted with the tortures of love! He whose chilblain
has not