Nor doth her forehead meet the eye o' the morning； but。 outfaced By contrast； to the break of day for refuge it takes flight。 （57）
Take of the currents of my tears； as； chain on chain； they fall； And on the readiest way of ways； the tale of love recite。
Oft unto her； who shoots at me her arrows； have I said； 'Hold thou thy hand； indeed my heart is cleft in sunder quite。
An if unto the River Nile my tears may likened be； Meseems the love I bear to thee El Melec （58） should be hight。'
Quoth she； 'Then bring me all thy good。' 'Take it；' said I and she； 'And thy sleep。' '＇Take it＇ from mine eyes；' I answered her forthright。
When she heard Noureddin's words and noted the beauty of his eloquence； she was transported and her wit was dazed and love of him got hold upon her whole heart。 So she pressed him to her bosom and fell to kissing him after the manner of doves billing； whilst he returned her caresses； but the vantage is to the first er。 When she had made an end of kissing； she took the lute and recited the following verses：
Ah； woe's us for a blamer； to censure ever prone； Whether or no of passion to him I make my moan！
O thou that dost reject me； I had not thought that I Should in thy love abasement meet with； and thou mine own。
I used to rail at lovers for love； and now to those； Who blame thee； my abasement for thee I have made known。
The votaries of passion whilom I blamed； but now I do excuse all lovers for passion overthrown；
And if； for thine estrangement； distress be sore on me； God in thy name； O Ali； I'll pray and thine alone。
And also these：
Quoth his lovers； 'Except of the nectar so rare of his mouth he vouchsafe us to drink； debonair；
To the Lord of all creatures we'll make our plaint And 〃O Ali！〃 we'll say with one voice in our prayer。'
Noureddin marvelled at the fluency of her tongue and praised her grace and exceeding seductiveness； whereupon she rose and putting off all that was upon her of ＇outer＇ clothes and trinkets； sat down on his knees and kissed him between the eyes and on the mole of his cheek。 Then she gave him all she had put off； saying； 'O beloved of my heart； the gift is after the measure of the giver's capacity。' So he accepted this from her and gave it back to her and kissed her on the mouth and cheeks and eyes。
When this was done； （for nought endureth save God； the Living； the Eternal； Provider of the peacock and the owl）； Noureddin rose from the place of session and stood upon his feet； for the darkness was now fallen and the stars shone out； sel to him； 'Whither away； O my lord？' And he said； 'To my father's house。' Then the sons of the merchants conjured him to pass the night with them； but he refused and mounting his mule； rode； without stopping； till he reached his father's house； where his mother met him and said to him； 'O my son； what hath kept thee abroad till this hour？ By Allah； thou hast troubled thy father and myself by thine absence from us； and our hearts have been occupied with thee。' Then she came up to him； to kiss him on his mouth； and smelling the fumes of the wine； said； 'O my son； how is this？ Art thou； after prayer and worship； bee a winebibber and a transgressor of His word to whom belong creation and mandment？' But Noureddin threw himself down on the bed and lay there。
Presently in came his father and said：； 'What ails Noureddin to lie thus？' And his mother answered； saying； 'It would seem his head irketh him for the air of the garden。' So Tajeddin went up to his son； to question him of his ailment and salute him； and smelt the wine he had drunk。 Now he loved not winedrinkers； so he said to Noureddin； 'Out on thee； O my son！ Is folly e to such a pass with thee； that thou drinkest wine？' When Noureddin heard this； he raised his hand； being yet in his drunkenness； and dealt him a buffet。 As fate would leave it； the blow lit on his father's right eye ＇and struck it out＇ and it ran down on his cheek； whereupon he fell down in a swoon and lay therein awhile。 They sprinkled rosewater on him till he came to himself； when he would have beaten Noureddin； but his wife withheld him； and he swore； by the oath of divorcement from her； that； as soon as it was day； he would assuredly cut off his son's right hand。 When she heard her husband's words； her breast was straitened and she feared for her son and ceased not to soothe and appease Tajeddin； till sleep overcame him。
Then she waited till the moon was risen； when she went in to her son； whose drunkenness had now ceased from him； and said to him； 'O Noureddin' what is this foul thing thou hast done with thy father？' 'And what did I with him？' asked he。 Quoth she； 'Thou dealtest him a buffet on the right eye and struckest it out； and he hath sworn by the oath of divorcement that； as soon as it is day； he will without fail cut off thy right hand。' Noureddin repented him of that which he had done； whenas repentance profited him nothing； and his mother said to him； 'O my son； this repentance will not profit thee； nor will aught serve thee but that thou arise forthright and seek safety in flight。 Go forth the house privily and take refuge with one of thy friends and there await what God shall do； for He changeth case after case。'
Then she opened a chest and taking out a purse of a hundred dinars； said to Noureddin； 'O my son； take these dinars and provide thyself therewith； and when they are at an end； send and give me to know thereof that I may send thee other than these； and at the same time send me news of thyself privily。 It may be God will decree thee relief and thou shalt return to thy dwelling。' And she bade him farewell and wept passing sore。 Noureddin took the purse and was about to go forth； when he espied a great purse containing a thousand dinars； which his mother had fotten beside the chest。 So he took this also and tying the two purses about his middle； set out before dawn in the direction of Boulac； where he arrived whenas the day broke and all creatures arose； attesting the unity of God the Opener ＇of the gates of sustenance and mercy＇ and went forth each upon his several business； to suffer that which God had allotted to him。
He walked on along the riverbank till he saw a ship with her gangway out and her four grapnels made fast to the land。 The folk were going up into her and ing down from her； and Noureddin； seeing some sailors standing there； asked them whither they were bound。 'To the city of Rosetta；' answered they； and he said； 'Take me e and fair wele to thee； O goodly youth！' So he betook himself forthright to the market and buying what he needed of victual and bedding and covering ＇for the voyage；＇ returned to the port and went on board the ship； which was ready to sail and tarried with him but a little while before it weighed anchor and fared on； without stopping； till it reached Rosetta； where Noureddin saw a small boat going to Alexandria。 So he embarked in it and traversing the ＇Mehmoudiyeh＇ canal； fared on till he came to a bridge called El Jami； where he landed and entered Alexandria by the gate called the Gate of the Lotetree。
God protected him； so that none of those who stood At the gate saw him； and he entered the city； which he found a strongly fortified city； goodly of pleasaunces； delightful to its inhabitants and inviting to abide therein。 The season of winter had departed from it with its cold and the season of spring was e to it with its roses： its flowers were in blossom and its trees in full leaf； its fruits were ripe and its waters welled forth。 Indeed； it was a city goodly of ordinance and construction； its folk were of the best of men； and when the gate thereof were shut； its people were in safety。 And it was even as is said of it in the following verses：
'Describe Alexandria； I pray；' Quoth I to a rade one day；
A man of glib speech and quick wit。 ''Tis a fair frontier town；' （59） did he say。
Quoth I； 'Is there living therein？' And he； 'If the wind blow that way。'
Or as saith one of the poets：
Alexandria's a frontier seat； （60） The water of its lips is sweet。 How fair the ing to it is； So one therein no raven meet！
Noureddin walked about the city till he came to the merchants' bazaar； whence he passed on to the bazaar of the moneychangers and so on in turn to those of the confectioners and fruiterers and druggists； marvelling； as he went at the city； for that its qualities accorded with its name。 （61） As he walked in the druggists' bazaar； an old man came down from his shop and saluting him； took him by the hand and carried him to a fair bystreet； swept and sprinkled； whereon the zephyr blew and was pleasant and the leaves of the trees overshaded it。 Therein stood three houses and at the upper end a mansion； whose foundations were stablished in the water and its roofs rose up to the confines of the sky。 The space before it was paved with marble； swept and sprinkled； and those who approached it smelt the fragrance of flowers； borne on the zephyr； which breathed upon the place； an it were one of the gardens of Paradise。
The old man carried Noureddin into the house and set food before him； whereof he ate with him。 When they had made an end of eating； the druggist said to him； 'When camest thou hither from Cairo？' And Noureddin old man； 'What is thy name？' And he replied； 'Ali Noureddin。' 'O my son； O Noureddin；' said the druggist； 'be the triple divorcement incumbent on me； if thou leave me so long as thou abidest in this town； and I will set thee apart a place y lord； let me know more of thee。' And the other answered； 'Know； O my son； that years ago I came to Cairo with merchandise； which I sold there and bought other； and I had occasion for a thousand dinars。 So thy father paid them down for me； for all he had no knowledge of me； and would take no security of me； but had patience with me till I returned hither and sent him the amount by one of my servants； together with a present。 I saw thee； whilst thou wast little； and if it please God the Most High； I will repay thee somewhat of the kindness thy father did me。' When Noureddin heard the old man's story； he smiled and showed joy and pulling out the purse of a thousand dinars； gave it to his host and said to him； 'Take charge of this for me； against I buy me therewith somewhat