When the damsel saw him she sprang to her feet and，taking firm stand on the bank of the stream，whose breadth was six ells，the normal cubits，made one bound and landed clear on the farther side，[169] where she turned and cried out with a loud voice，'Who art thou，O thou fellow，that breakest in upon our privacy and pastime，and that too hanger in hand as if charging a host？
Whence camest thou and whither art thou going？Speak sooth，for truth will stand thee in good stead，and lie not，for lies come of villein breed Doubtless thou hast wandered this night from thy way，that thou chancedst upon this place whence escape were the greatest of mercies；for thou art now in an open plain and，did we shout but a single shout，would come to our rescue four thousand knights.[170] So tell me what thou wantest；and if thou wouldst only have us set thee on the right road，we will do so.' When Sharrkan heard her words he replied，'I am a stranger of the Moslems，who fared forth this night single handed，seeking for spoil；nor could this moonlight show me a fairer booty than these ten maidens；so I shall seize them and rejoin my comrades with them.' Quoth she，'I would have thee know that as for the booty thou hast not come at it；and，as for the handmaids，by Allah，they shall never be thy spoil.Have I not told thee that to lie is villein vile？' Quoth he，'The wise man is he who taketh warning by others.' Thereupon quoth she，'By the truth of the Messiah，did I not fear that thy death would be on my hands，I would shout a shout should fill the mead for thee with war steeds and with men of might，but I take pity upon the stranger.So，if thou seek booty，I require of thee that thou alight from thy steed and swear to me，by thy faith，that thou wilt not advance against me aught like arms in hand，and we will wrestle，I and thou.If thou throw me，set me on thy steed and take all of us to thy booty；but if I throw thee，thou shalt become under my command.Swear this to me，for I fear thy treachery： indeed it hath become a common saw，'Where Perfidy is innate there Trust is a weakly mate.' Now an thou wilt swear I will return and draw near to thee and tackle thee.' Answered Sharrkan （and indeed he lusted to seize her and said in his soul，'Truly she knoweth not that I am a champion of champions'）；'Swear me by what oath thou wilt and by what thou deemest most binding，and I will not approach thee with aught till thou hast made thy preparation and sayest，'Draw near that I wrestle with thee.' If thou throw me，I have money where withal to ransom myself；and if I throw thee，'twill be booty and booty enough for me！' Rejoined the damsel，'I am content herewith！' and Sharrkan was astounded at her words and said，'And by the truth of the Apostle （whom Allah bless and keep！） I too am content on the other part！' Then said she，'Swear to me by Him who sprite in body dight and dealt laws to rule man kind aright，that thou wilt not offer me aught of violence save by way of wrestling；else mayst thou die without the pale of Al-Islam.' Sharrkan replied，'By Allah！were a Kazi to swear me，even though he were a Kazi of the Kazis，[171] he would not impose upon me such an oath as this！' Then he sware to her by all she named and tied his steed to a tree；but he was drowned in the sea of thought，saying in himself，'Praise be to Him who fashioned her from dirty water！'[172] Then he girt himself and made ready for wrestling，and said to her，'Cross the stream to me；' but she replied，'It is not for me to come over to thee： if thou wilt，pass thou over here to me.' 'I cannot do that，' quoth he，and quoth she，'O boy，I will come across to thee.' So she tucked up her skirts and，leaping，landed on the other side of the stream by his side；whereupon he drew near to her and bent him forwards and clapped palms.[173] But he was confounded by her beauty and loveliness；for he saw a shape which the Hand of Power had tanned with the dye leaves of the Jann，which had been fostered by the Hand of Beneficence and fanned by the Zephyrs of fair fortune and whose birth a propitious ascendant had greeted.
