There was once a bath-keeper, to whom resorted the notables of
the folk and head men, and one day there came in to him a
handsome youth of the sons of Wazirs who was fat and bulky of
body. So he stood to serve him and when the young man put off his
clothes
[FN#187] he saw not his yard, for that it was hidden
between his thighs, by reason of the excess of his fat, and there
appeared thereof but what was like unto a filbert.
[FN#188] At
this the bath-keeper fell a-lamenting and smiting hand upon hand,
which when the youth saw, he said to him, "What ails thee, O
bath-keeper, to lament thus?" And he answered, saying, "O my
lord, my lamentation is for thee, because thou art in sore
straits, for all thy fair fortune and goodliness and exceeding
comeliness, seeing thou hast naught wherewithal to do and receive
delight, like unto other men." Quoth the youth, "Thou sayst
sooth, but thou mindest me of somewhat I had forgotten." "What is
that?" asked the bathkeeper, and the youth answered, "Take this
gold piece and fetch me a pretty woman, that I may prove my
nature on her." So he took the money and betaking himself to his
wife, said to her, "O woman, there is come to me in the bath a
young man of the sons of the Wazirs, as he were the moon on the
fullest night; but he hath no prickle like other men, for that
which he hath is but some small matter like unto a filbert. I
lamented over his youth and he gave me this dinar and asked me to
fetch him a woman on whom he might approve himself. Now thou art
worthier of the money than another, and from this no harm shall
betide us, for I will protect thee. So do thou sit with him
awhile and laugh at him and take this dinar from him." So the
good wife took the dinar and rising, adorned herself and donned
the richest of her raiment. Now she was the fairest woman of her
time. Then she went out with her husband and he carried her in to
the Wazir's son in a privy place. When she came in to him, she
looked at him and finding him a handsome youth, fair of favour as
he were the moon at full, was confounded at his beauty and
loveliness; and on like wise his heart and wit were amazed at the
first sight of her and the sweetness of her smile. So he rose
forthright and locking the door, took the damsel in his arms and
pressed her to his bosom and they embraced, whereupon the young
man's yard swelled and rose on end, as it were that of a jackass,
and he rode upon her breast and futtered her, whilst she sobbed
and sighed and writhed and wriggled under him. Now the bathkeeper
was standing behind the door, awaiting what should betide between
them, and he began to call her saying, "O Umm Abdillah, enough!
Come out, for the day is long upon thy sucking child." Quoth the
youth, "Go forth to thy boy and come back;" but quoth she, "If I
go forth from thee, my soul will depart my body; as regards the
child, so I must either leave him to die of weeping or let him be
reared an orphan, without a mother." So she ceased not to abide
with him till he had done his desire of her ten times running,
while her husband stood at the door, calling her and crying out
and weeping and imploring succour. But none came to aid him and
he ceased not to do thus, saying, "I will slay myself!"; till at
last, finding no way of access to his wife, and being distraught
with rage and jealousy, to hear her sighing and murmuring and
breathing hard under the young man, he went up to the top of the
bath and, casting himself down therefrom, died. "Moreover, O
King" (continued the Wazir), "there hath reached me another story
of the malice of women." "What is that?" asked the King, and the
Wazir said, "Know, O King, that it is anent
The Wife's Device to Cheat her Husband."
