Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 25, 2025
Be of good cheer, and grieve no more either for the wives who are dead or for the brown-haired wife whom it is my gracious pleasure to accept from you. For I will send you four wives; and thus you shall be as you were before your misfortunes, and before you gave me your brown-haired wife. And, as he said this, the Sultan looked very full and significantly in the face of Ashimullah.
"I do not object to a little temper," observed the Sultan, stroking his beard again. "It is a sauce to beauty, and keeps a man alive." "It is only toward one another that they are fierce," said the Sultana. "For all spoke with the greatest love of Ashimullah, and with the most dutiful respect." "I do not see on what account they are so fond of Ashimullah," said the Sultan, frowning.
But Ashimullah would not be comforted, and cried out that he had done better never to forswear his religion, but to have died at once, as a holy martyr. "It is too late to think of that," said Lallakalla.
I am a man that hears reason, and does not exact more than Fate will allow! A man can give only what he has. I shall be well pleased with her of the brown hair, Ashimullah." Then Ashimullah crawled to the feet of the Sultan, and said: "Ruler of the World, great is the honor that you purpose for the meanest of your servants.
Accordingly Ashimullah, having divorced Lallakalla according to the formalities of the law, set her in the litter, and she, being brought to the palace, was soon visited by the Sultan, who was full of curiosity to see her. But, when he entered, he gave a loud cry of surprise. For, behold, the hair on Lallakalla's head was red. But then he smiled and said to her: "Take off the wig, my daughter."
Nay, so great was his anxiety concerning them that he determined to send one of his Sultanas to pay a visit to the harem of Ashimullah, in order that, while seeming to render honor to Ashimullah, she might report to him of the beauty of Ashimullah's wives. "We must make ready for the visit of the Sultana," observed Lallakalla, with a smile.
"Surely I am a most unhappy man," mused Ashimullah. "For if I do not obey, I shall be put to death; and if I do obey, I fear greatly that I shall be damned." And he went home looking so sorrowful and perplexed that all men conceived that he was out of favor with the Sultan.
And he came and took her by the hand, and said to her: "Behold a woman who loves her husband better than her beauty, and to be his wife rather than mine! Return, then, to Ashimullah and be his wife again." "My lord," said she, "suffer me also to take back with me the other wives of Ashimullah," and she pointed to the heads of hair that lay upon the ground. "Take them," said he, laughing.
Now Ashimullah, being come to his house, went immediately to his wife, and told her of the Sultan's commands, adding that the matter was a sore grief to him, and not less on her account than on his own. "For you know well, Star of my Heart," said he, "that I desire no wife but you!" "I know it well, Ashimullah," answered Lallakalla tenderly.
"For they are all," said she, "and each in her own way, houris for beauty." "And this man was a Christian dog once!" murmured the Sultan. Then his brow suddenly grew smooth, and he observed: "Ashimullah himself will know; and, indeed, it is time that I gave a new sign of my favor to my trusted servant Ashimullah." Therefore he sent for Ashimullah, and spoke to him with unbounded graciousness.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking