When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighth Night； She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that when the old woman said to Hasan，'By Allah，O my son，hearken to my words！ Choose thee one of these girls in lieu of thy wife and presently return to thy country in safety，'he hung down his head and recited the couplets quoted above.Then he wept till he swooned away and Shawahl sprinkled water on his face till he revived，when she addressed him，'O my lord，I have no shift left；because if I carry thee to the city thy life is lost and mine also： for，when the Queen cometh to know of this，she will blame me for admitting thee into her lands and islands，whereto none of Adam's sons hath access，and will slay me for bringing thee with me and for suffering mortal to look upon the virgins seen by thee in the sea，whom ne'er touched male，neither approached mate.'And Hasan sware that he had never looked on them with evil of eye.She resumed，'O my son，hearken to me and return to thy country and I will give thee wealth and treasures and things of price，such as shall suffice thee for all the women in the world.Moreover，I will give thee a girl of the best of them，so lend an ear to my words and return presently and imperil not thyself；indeed I counsel thee with good counsel.'But he wept and rubbed both cheeks against her feet，saying，'O my lady and mistress and coolth of mine eyes，how can I turn back now that I have made my way hither，without the sight of those I
desire，and now that I have come near the beloved's site，hoping for meeting forthright，so haply there may be a portion in reunion to my plight？' And he improvised these couplets；'O Kings of beauty，grace to prisoner ta'en * Of eyelids fit to rule the Chosro‰s' reign：
Ye pass the wafts of musk in perfumed breath；* Your cheeks the charms of blooming rose disdain.
The softest Zephyr breathes where pitch ye camp * And thence far-scattered sweetness fills the plain：
Censor of me，leave blame and stint advice！ * Thou bringest wearying words and wisdom vain：
Why heat my passion with this flame and up- * braid me when naught thou knowest of its bane？
Captured me eyes with passion maladifs，* And overthrew me with Love's might and main：
I scatter tears the while I scatter verse；* You are my theme for rhyme and prosy strain.
Melted my vitals glow of rosy cheeks * And in the Laz -lowe my heart is lain：
Tell me，an I leave to discourse of you，* What speech my breast shall broaden？
Tell me deign！ Life-long I loved the lovelings fair，but ah，* To grant my wish eke Allah must be fain！'
Hearing his verses the old woman was moved to ruth for him and Allah planted the seed of affection for him in her heart；so coming up to him she consoled him，saying，'Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear and put away trouble from thy thought，for，by Allah，I will venture my life with thee，till thou attain thine aim or death undo me！'With this，Hasan's heart was comforted and his bosom broadened and he sat talking with the old woman till the end of the day，when all the girls dispersed；some entering their town-mansions and others nighting in the tents.Then the old woman carried him into the city and lodged him in a place apart，lest any should come to know of him and tell the Queen of him and she should slay him and slay her who had brought him thither.Moreover，she served him herself and strave to put him in fear of the awful majesty of the Supreme King，his wife's father；whilst he wept before her and said，'O my fady，I choose death for myself and loathe this worldly life；if I foregather not with my wife and children： I have set my existence on the venture and will either attain my aim or die.'
So the old woman fell to pondering the means of bringing him and his wife together and casting about how to do in the case of this unhappy one，who had thrown himself into destruction and would not be diverted from his purpose by fear or aught else；for；indeed he reeked not of his life and the sayer of bywords saith；'Lover in nowise hearkeneth he to the speech of the man who is fancy-free.'Now the name of the Queen of the island wherein they were was Nār al-Hud…，[137] eldest daughter of the Supreme King，and she had six virgin sisters，abiding with their father；whose capital and court were in the chief city of that region and who had made her ruler over all the lands and islands of Wak.So when the ancient dame saw Hasan on fire with yearning after his wife and children，she rose up and repaired to the palace and going in to Queen Nur al-Huda kissed ground before her；for she had a claim on her favour because she had reared the King's daughters one and all and had authority over each and every of them and was high in honour and consideration with them and with the King.Nur al-Huda rose to her as she entered and embracing her，seated her by her side and asked her of her journey.She answered，'By Allah，O my lady'twas a blessed journey and I have brought thee a gift which I will presently present to thee，'adding，'O my daughter，O Queen of the age and the time，I have a favour to crave of thee and I fain would discover it to thee；that thou mayst help me to accomplish it，and but for my confidence that thou wilt not gainsay me therein，I would not expose it to thee.'Asked the Queen，'And what is thy need？
Expound it to me，and I will accomplish it to thee，for I and my kingdom and troops are all at thy commandment and disposition.'
Therewithal the old woman quivered as quivereth the reed on a day when the storm-wind is abroad and saying in herself，'O[138]Protector，protect me from the Queen's mischief！'