, and went to the _sarai_. _Mubarak_ said,
"Well, prince, rejoice, God has favoured you, and your labours are not
thrown away." I answered, "I have to-day used many fair speeches, but
that infidel old man will not consent; God knows if he will give her
to me or not." My mind was in such a state that I passed the night in
great restlessness, and wished the morning was come that I might return
[and see her]; I sometimes fancied, that if the father should be kind
and agree to my wishes, _Mubarak_ would carry her away for _Maliki
Sadik_. I then said to myself, "Well, let us once get possession of
her; I will then get over _Mubarak_, and enjoy her." Again my heart
was filled with apprehensions, that even if _Mubarak_ should likewise
agree to my project, the _jinns_ would serve me as they had served
the prince; moreover the king of this city will never consent, that
after the murder of his son, another should enjoy [his bride].

I passed the whole night without sleep, agitated by this project. When
the day appeared, I issued forth, and went to the _chauk_, and
purchased some pieces of fine cloth and lace, and fresh and dried
fruits; and carried them to the old man. He was greatly pleased, and
said, "That to every one nothing is dearer than life, but even if my
life could be of any use to thee, I would not grieve to sacrifice
it, and give thee now my daughter; but I fear that by doing so, I
might endanger thy life, and the stain of this reproach would remain
upon me to the day of judgment." I answered, "I am now in this city,
helpless, it is true, and you are my father in every respect, temporal
and spiritual, but [consider] what pains, fatigues and miseries I
have undergone, and what buffetings I have for a long while suffered
to attain the object of my wishes, before I arrived here. God has
likewise made you kind towards me, since you consent to marry her to
me, and only hesitate on account of my safety; be just for a moment,
and reflect that to save our heads from the sword of love, and screen
our lives from its danger, is not commendable in any religion; let
what will happen, I have lost myself in every way; and to possess
the object of my love, I consider as my existence. I do not care if
I live or perish; moreover, despair will finish my days without the
assistance of fate, and I will stand forth as your accuser on the
day of judgment."

In short, in such altercations, in hesitations between refusal
and acquiescence, a