第102章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(24)

My second brother's name was Becbac and he was the paralytic. One dayas he was going about his businessan old woman accosted him and said to him'Harkyestop a littlethat I may tell thee of somewhatwhichif it please theethou shalt do for me.'My brother stopped and she went on'I will put thee in the way of a certain thingso thy words be not many.'Say on，'replied my brother；and she'What sayest thou to a handsome house and a pleasant gardenwith running waters and fruits and wine and a fair-faced one to hold in thine arms from dark till dawn？'And is all this in the world？'asked my brother. 'Yes，'answered she；

'and it shall be thineso thou be reasonable and leave impertinent curiosity and many words and do as I bid thee.'I will wellO my lady，'rejoined my brother；'but what made thee choose me of all men for this affair and what is it pleases thee in me？'Quoth she'Did I not bid thee be sparing of speech？ Hold thy peace and follow me. Thou must know that the young ladyto whom I shall carry theeloves to have her own way and hates to be crossedso if thou fall in with her humourthou shalt come to thy desire of her.'And my brother said'I will not thwart her in aught.'Then she went on and he followed hereager to enjoy what she had promised himtill she brought him to a fine large houserichly furnished and full of servantsand carried him to an upper story. When the people of the house saw himthey said to him'What dost thou here？'But the old woman bade them，'Let him be and trouble him not；for he is a workman and we have occasion for him.'Then she brought him into a fine great gallerywith a fair garden in its midstand made him sit down upon a handsome couch. He had not sat longbefore he heard a great noise and in came a troop of damselswith a lady in their midstas she were the moon on the night of its full. When he saw herhe rose and made an obeisance to her；whereupon she bade him welcome and ordered him to be seated. So he sat down and she said to him. 'God advance thee！Is all well with thee？'O my lady，'replied my brother'all is well.'Then she called for foodand they brought her a table richly served. So she sat down to eat，making a show of affection to my brother and jesting with him，though all the while she could not keep from laughing： but as often as he looked at hershe signed towards the waiting-maids，as if she laughed at them. My ass of a brother understood nothingbut concludedin the blindness of his dotingthat the lady was in love with him and would admit him to his desire. When they had finished eatingthey set on wineand there came in ten damsels like moonswith strung lutes in their handsand fell a singing right melodiously；whereupon delight got hold upon him and he took the cup from the lady's hands and drank it off. Then she drank a cup of wineand he rose and bowed to hersaying，'Health to thee！'She filled him another cup and he drank it off，and she gave him a cuff on the nape of his neck；whereupon he rose and went out in a rage；but the old woman followed him and winked to him to return. So he came back and the lady bade him sitand he sat down without speaking. Then she dealt him a second cuffand nothing would serve her but she must make all her maids cuff him also. Quoth he to the old woman'Never saw I aught finer than this！'And she kept saying'EnoughenoughI conjure theeO my lady！'The women cuffed him till he was well-nigh senselessand he rose and went out again in a rage；but the old woman followed him and said'Wait a littleand thou shalt come to what thou wishest.'How much longer must I wait？'

asked he. 'Indeed I am faint with cuffing.'As soon as she is warm with wine，'answered she'thou shalt have thy desire.'So he returned to his place and sat downwhereupon all the damsels rose and the lady bade them fumigate him and sprinkle rose-water on his face. Then said she to him'God advance thee！Thou hast entered my house and submitted to my conditions；for whoso thwarts meI turn him awaybut he who is patient has his desire.'O my lady，'replied he'I am thy slave and in the hollow of thy hand.'Know then，'continued she'that God has made me passionately fond of frolicand whoso falls in with my humour comes by what he wishes.'Then she ordered the damsels to sing with loud voicesand they sangtill the whole company was in ecstasy： after which she said to one of the maids'Take thy lord and do what is wanting to him and bring him back to me forthright.'So the damsel took my brotherwho knew not what she would do with him；but the old woman came up to him and said'Be patient；there remains but little to do.'At this his face cleared and he said'Tell me what she would have the maid do with me.'Nothing but good，'replied sheas I am thy ransom.

She only wishes to dye thine eyebrows and pluck out thy moustaches.'Quoth he'As for the dyeing of my eyebrowsthat will come off with washingbut the plucking out of my moustaches will be irksome.'Beware of crossing her，'said the old woman；