essengers had foregone them thither by a day and the governor of Damascus knew that he was manded to lay hands on them； so； when they entered the city； the police accosted them and asked them their names。 They told them the truth and acquainted them with their story； whereupon they knew them for those of whom they were in search and seizing them； carried them before the governor of the city。 He despatched them to the city of Baghdad ＇under escort of some of his officers＇； who； when they came thither； sought an audience of the Khalif and kissing the earth before him； said； 'O mander of the Faithful； this is Meryem； daughter of the King of France； and this is the captive Noureddin； son of the merchant Tajeddin of Cairo； who debauched her from her father and fled with her to Damascus； where we came upon them； as they entered the city； and questioned them。 They told us the truth of their case： so we laid hands on them and brought them to thee。'
The Khalif looked at Meryem and saw that she was slender and elegant of form and figure； the handsomest of the folk of her day and the unique pearl of her age and her time。 Moreover； ＇he spoke with her and found her＇ sweet of speech and fluent of tongue； stable of soul and stout of heart。 So she kissed the earth before him and wished him continuance of glory and prosperity and cease of evil and enmity。 He was charmed with the beauty of her shape and the sweetness of her voice and the quickness of her answers and said to her； 'Art thou Meryem； daughter of the King of France？' 'Yes；' answered she； 'O mander of the Faithful and High Priest of those that believe in the Unity of God and Defender of the Faith and Cousin of the Prince of Apostles！'
Then the Khalif turned to Noureddin and seeing him to be a ely youth； as he were the shining full moon on its fourteenth night； said to him； 'And thou； art thou Ali Noureddin； son of the merchant Tajeddin of Cairo？' 'Yes； O mander of the Faithful and stay of those who seek ＇after righteousness＇！' replied he。 'How es it；' asked the Khalif； 'that thou hast taken this young lady and fled forth with her of her father's kingdom？' So Noureddin proceeded to relate to the mander of the Faithful all that had befallen him； first and last； whereat the latter was beyond measure astonished and diverted and exclaimed； 'How manifold are the things that men suffer！'
Then he turned to the princess and said to her； 'Know； O Meryem； that thy father； the King of France； hath written to me； concerning thee。 What sayst thou？' 'O Vicar of God in His earth；' replied she； 'and Executor of His ordinances and the precepts of His prophet； may He vouchsafe thee eternal happiness and preserve thee from evil and enmity！ Thou art Vicar of God in His earth and I have entered thy faith； for that it is the true and righteous one； and have left the religion of the infidels； who make the Messiah a liar （112） and I am bee a true believer in God the Bountiful and in the revelation of His passionate Apostle。 I serve God （blessed and exalted be He！） and acknowledge Him to be the One God and prostrate myself humbly before Him and glorify Him； and I say before the Khalif； 'Verily； I testify that there is no god but God and I testify that Mohammed is the apostle of God； whom He sent with guidance ＇into the right way＇ and the true faith。 that he might cause it to prevail over faiths； all of them； in despite of the idolaters。〃 （113） Is it； therefore； permitted to thee； O mander of the Faithful； to ply with the letter of the king of the heretics and send me back to the land of those who deny the Faith and give partners to the Allwise King； who magnify the Cross and believe in the divinity of Jesus； for all he was ＇but＇ a creature？ If thou deal thus with me； O Vicegerent of God； I will lay hold upon thy skirts on the day of appearing before God and make my plaint of thee to thy cousin the Apostle of Allah （whom God bless and preserve！） on the day when wealth availeth not neither children ＇nor aught＇； except one e unto God with a whole heart。' （114）
'O Meryem；' answered the Khalif； 'God forbid that I should do this ever！ How can I send back a Muslim woman and a true believer in the unity of God and in His Apostle to that which they have forbidden？' Quoth she； 'I testify that there is no god but God and that Mohammed is His Apostle！' 'O Meryem；' rejoined the Khalif； 'may God bless and stablish thee in the way of righteousness！ Since thou art a Muslim and a believer in the unity of God； I owe thee an imperative duty； and it is that I should never transgress against thee nor forsake thee； though the world full of gold and jewels be lavished unto me on thine account。 So be of good heart and cheerful eye and be thy breast dilated and thy mind at ease。 Art thou willing that this youth Ali of Cairo should be thy husband and thou his wife？' 'How should I be other than willing；' replied Meryem； 'seeing that he bought me with his money and hath entreated me with the utmost kindness and for crown of his good offices； he hath ventured his life many times for my sake？'
So the Khalif summoned the Cadi and the witnesses and married her to him。 Moreover； he assigned her a dowry and caused the grandees of his realm be present at their marriage； and it was a notable day。 Then he turned to the French king's vizier； who was present； and said to him； 'Hast thou heard her words？ How can I send her back to her father the infidel； seeing that she is a Muslim and a believer in the Unity of God？ Belike he will evil entreat her and deal harshly with her； more by token that she hath slain his sons； and I shall be accountable to her therefor on the Day of Resurrection。 And indeed quoth God the Most High； 〃God shall in nowise give the infidels power over the truebelievers。' （115） So return to thy king and say to him； 〃Turn from this thing and hope not to e at thy desire thereof。〃'
Now this vizier was a fool： so he said to the Khalif； 'O mander of the Faithful； by the virtue of the Messiah and the true faith； were she forty times a Muslim and forty times thereto； I may not depart from thee without Meryem！ And if thou send her not back with me of free will； I will return to her father and cause him despatch thee an army； wherewith I will e upon you from the landward and the seaward and the van whereof shall be at your capital city； whilst the rear is yet on the Euphrates； and they shall lay waste thy dominions。' When the Khalif heard these words from the vizier of the King of France； the light in his face became darkness and he was exceeding wroth at his speech and said to him； 'O accursed one； O dog of the Nazarenes； who art thou that thou shouldst dare to e out against me with the King of the Franks？' ＇Then to his guards；＇ 'Take this accursed fellow and put him to death；' and he repeated the following verse：
This is the repense of those Who their superiors' will oppose。
Then he manded to cut off the vizier's head and burn his body； but Meryem said； 'O mander of the Faithful； defile not thy sword with the blood of this accursed wretch。' So saying； she drew her sword and smote him and made his head fly from his body； and he went to the house of perdition； his abode was Gehenna and evil is the abidingplace ＇to which he went＇。 The Khalif marvelled at the power of her arm and the strength of her mind； and they carried the dead vizier forth of the palace and burnt him。 Then the mander of the Faithful bestowed upon Noureddin a splendid dress of honour and assigned them a lodging in his palace。 Moreover； he appointed them stipends and allowances and manded to supply them with all that they needed of raiment and furniture and vessels of price。
They sojourned awhile in Baghdad in all delight and solace of life； till Noureddin longed for his mother and father。 So he expounded the matter to the Khalif and sought his permission to repair to his native land and visit his kinsfolk； and he granted him the leave he sought and calling for Meryem； mended them to each other。 Moreover； he loaded them with costly presents and rarities and bade write letters to the amirs and scribes and notables of Cairo the ＇God＇guarded； mending Noureddin and his wife and parents to their care and charging them entreat them with the utmost honour。
When the news reached Cairo； the merchant Tajeddin rejoiced in the return of his son and Noureddin's mother likewise rejoiced therein with an exceeding joy。 The amirs and notables of the city went forth to meet him； in obedience to the Khalif's injunction； and indeed it was for them a notable day； wherein the lover and the beloved foregathered and the seeker attained the sought。 Moreover； all the amirs made them bridefeasts； each on his own day； and rejoiced in them with an exceeding joy and vied with each other in doing them honour。 When Noureddin foregathered with his father and mother； they rejoiced in each other with the utmost joy and care and affliction ceased from them； whilst his parents rejoiced no less in the Princess Meryem and entreated her with the utmost honour。 Every day； there came to them presents from all the amirs and great merchants； and they were daily in new delight and gladness exceeding the gladness of festival。 Then they abode in joy and pleasance and good cheer and abounding prosperity； eating and drinking and making merry； till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of panies； he who layeth waste houses and palaces and peopleth the bellies of the tombs。 So they were removed from the world and became of the number of the dead； and glory be to the Living One； who dieth not and in whose hand are the keys of the Seen and the Unseen！
THE MAN OF UPPER EGYPT AND HIS FRANK WIFE。
（Quoth the Amir Shijaeddin； Prefect of New Cairo） We lay one night in the house of a man of Upper Egypt； and he entertained us and entreated us with the utmost hospitality。 Now he was an old man； exceeding swarthy of favour； and he had little children； who were white； of a white mingled with red。 So we said to him； 'Harkye； such an one； how es it that these thy children are white； whilst thou thyself art exceeding sother was a Frank woman； whom I took in the days of El Melik en Nasir Selaheddin； （116） after the battle of Hittin； （117） when I was a young man。' 'And how gottest thou her？' as