for him； so she turned to the broker and said to him； 'Will not yonder young merchant in the striped gown bid for me？' 'O lady of fair ones；' replied the broker； 'yonder young man is a stranger from Cairo； where his father is chief of the merchants and hath the pass over all the merchants and notables of the place。 He is but lately e to our city and lodgeth with one of his father's friends； but he hath made no bid for thee； more nor less。'
When she heard this； she drew from her finger a ruby ring of price and said to the broker； 'Carry me to yonder youth； and if he buy me； this ring shall be thine； in requital of thy toil with me this day。' The broker rejoiced at this and brought her up to Noureddin； and she considered him straitly and found him like the full moon； acplished in grace and elegance and symmetry； even as saith of him one of his describers：
The waters of grace in his visage run clear And his glances cast arrows at all who draw near：
Sweet his favours； but lovers still choke； if he give Them to drink of the gall of his rigours austere。
His brow is perfection； perfection his shape； And my love is perfection； so true and sincere。
The folds of his raiment the new moon （69） enclose； From his collars she Rises； as if from a sphere。
His eyes and his moles and my tears are as nights Upon nights upon nights； full of blackness and fear；
And his eyebrows and face and my body （70） new moon On new moon on new moon to the aspect appear。
His eyes fill his lovers a goblet of wine； Which； though bitter； is sweet to my sorrowful cheer。
With a smile of his mouth； on the day of delights My thirst he allayed with sweet water and clear。
My slaughter's with him； ay； the shedding my blood Is thrice lawful to him whom I tender so dear。
Then said she to Noureddin； 'God on thee； O my lord； am I not handsome？' And he answered； 'O princess of fair ones； is there in the world a goodlier than thou？' 'Then why；' rejoined she； 'seest thou the other merchants bid for me and art silent nor sayest a word neither addest one dinar to my price？ It would seem I please thee not； O my lord！' Quoth he； 'O my lady； were I in mine own land； I had bought thee with all that my hand possesseth of good。' 'O my lord；' replied she； 'I would not have thee buy me against thy will； yet； didst thou but add somewhat to my price； it would fort my heart； though thou buy me not； so the merchants may say； 〃Were not this girl handsome； yonder merchant of Cairo had not bidden for her； for the people of Cairo are connoisseurs in slave girls。〃'
Her words abashed Noureddin and he blushed and said to the broker； 'How stand the biddings for her？' 'Her price hath reached nine hundred and sixty dinars；' answered he； 'besides brokerage。 As for the Sultan's dues； they fall on the seller。' Quoth Noureddin； 'Let me have her for a thousand dinars； price and brokerage。' And the damsel hastened to leave the broker； saying； 'I sell myself to this handsome young man for a thousand dinars。' Quoth one； 'We sell to him；' and another； 'He deserves her；' and a third； 'Accursed； son of accursed； is he who bids and does not buy！' and a fourth； 'By Allah； they befit one another！' Then； before Noureddin could think； the broker fetched cadis and witnesses； who drew up a contract of sale and purchase； which the broker handed to Noureddin； saying； 'Take thy slavegirl and may God make her a blessing to thee； for she beseemeth none but thee and none but thou beseemeth her。' And he recited the following verses：
Unto him fair fortune all unbidden hies； Drags her skirts （71） tohimward on obsequious wise。
None but she befitteth him and none but he Of the maid is worthy； underneath the skies。
Noureddin was abashed before the merchants； so he paid down the thousand dinars； that he had left with his friend the druggist； and taking the girl； carried her to the house in which the latter had lodged him。 When she entered and saw nothing but patched carpets and worn out rugs； she said to him； 'O my lord； have I no value in thine eyes and am I not worthy that thou shouldst carry me to thine own house wherein are thy goods； that thou bringest me into thy servant's lodging？ Why dost thou not carry me to thy father's dwelling？' 'By Allah； O princess of fair ones；' answered he； 'this is my house wherein I dwell； but it belongs to an old man； a druggist of this city； who hath set it apart for me and lodged me therein。 I told thee that I was a stranger and that I am of the people of Cairo。' 'O my lord；' rejoined she； 'the least of houses will serve till thy return to thy native place； but； God on thee； O my lord； go now and fetch me somewhat of roast meat and wine and fruit and dessert。' 'By Allah； O princess of fair ones；' answered he； 'I had no money with me but the thousand dinars I paid down to thy price！ The few dirhems I had I spent yesterday。' Quoth she； 'Hast thou no friend in the town； of whom thou mayst borrow fifty dirhems and bring them to me； that I may tell thee what thou shalt do therewith？' And he said； 'I have no friend but the druggist。'
Then he betook himself forthright to the druggist and said to him； 'Peace be on thee； O uncle！' He returned his salutation and said to him； 'O my son； what hast thou bought for a thousand dinars this day？' 'I have bought a slavegirl；' answered Noureddin。 'O my son；' rejoined the old man； 'art thou mad that thou givest a thousand dinars for one slavegirl？ What kind of slavegirl is she？' 'She is a damsel of the children of the Franks；' replied Noureddin and the druggist said； 'O my son； the best of the girls of the Franks are to be had in this town for a hundred dinars； and by Allah； they have put a cheat on thee in the matter of this damsel！ However； if thou hast a mind to her； lie with her this night and do thy will of her and tomorrow morning go down with her to the market and sell her； through thou lose two hundred dinars by her； and put it that thou hast been robbed of them or lost them by shipwreck。' 'Thou sayst well； O uncle；' replied Noureddin； 'but thou knowest that I had but the thousand dinars wherewith I bought the damsel； and now I have not a single dirhem left to spend； so I desire of thy favour and goodness that thou lend me fifty dirhems； to provide me withal； till tomorrow； when I will sell her and repay thee out of her price。' 'Willingly； O my son；' said the old man and counted out to him the fifty dirhems。
Then he said to him； 'O my son； thou art young and the damsel is fair； and belike thy heart will be taken with her and it will be grievous to thee to part from her。 Now thou hast nothing to live on and the fifty dirhems will ＇soon＇ be spent and thou wilt e to me and I shall lend thee once or twice and thrice and so on up to ten times； but； if thou e to me after this； I will not return thee the legal salutation （72） and our friendship with thy father will e to nought。' Noureddin took the fifty dirhems and returned with them to the damsels who said to him； 'O my lord； go straight to the market and fetch me twenty dirhems' worth of silk of five colours and with the other thirty buy meat and bread and wine and fruit and flowers。' So he went to the market and buying her all she sought； returned to her there