burton--1001-nights--sample

had not, adding, “And we heard her with our own ears.” Upon this the
woman bade one of the girls to set a hand-mill under the cage and
grind therewith and a second to sprinkle water through the cage-roof
and a third to run about, right and left, flashing a mirror of bright steel
through the livelong night. Next morning when the husband returned
home after being entertained by one of his friends, he bade bring the
Parrot before him and asked what had taken place whilst he was away.
“Pardon me, O my master,” quoth the bird, “I could neither hear
nor see aught by reason of the exceeding murk and the thunder and
lightning which lasted throughout the night.” As it happened to be the
summer-tide the master was astounded and cried, “But we are now in
mid Tammúz, 32 and this is not the time for rains and storms.”
“Ay, by Allah,” rejoined the bird, “I saw with these eyes what my
tongue hath told thee.” Upon this the man, not knowing the case nor
smoking the plot, waxed exceeding wroth; and, holding that his wife
had been wrongously accused, put forth his hand and pulling the
Parrot from her cage dashed her upon the ground with such force that
he killed her on the spot. Some days afterwards one of his slave-girls
confessed to him the whole truth, yet would he not believe it till he saw
the young Turk, his wife’s lover, coming out of her chamber, when he
bared his blade and slew him by a blow on the back of the neck; and
he did the same by the adulteress; and thus the twain, laden with
mortal sin, went straightways to Eternal Fire. Then the merchant knew
that the Parrot had told him the truth anent all she had seen and he
mourned grievously for her loss, when mourning availed him not.
The Minister, hearing the words of King Yunan, rejoined, “O
Monarch, high in dignity, and what harm have I done him, or what evil
32
The Hebrew-Syrian month July used to express the height of summer.
92