but being strangers in Baghdadwe lost ourselves and could not find our way back to our khan： so we hopeof your courtesythat you will admit us to pass the night with youand God will requite you.'The portress looked at them and saw that they were dressed like merchants and appeared respectable；so she returned to her sisters and repeated to them Jaafer's storyand they took compassion on the supposed strangers and bade her admit them. So she resumed and opened the gate to themand they said'Have we thy leave to enter？'Enter，'answered she；whereupon the Khalif and Jaafer and Mesrour entered；and when the girls saw themthey rose and welcomed them and made them sit down and served them，saying'Ye are welcome as our guestsbut on one condition.'
'What is that？'asked they；and the mistress of the house answered'It is that you be eyes without tongues and that，whatever you seeyou enquire not thereof nor speak of that which concerns you notlest you hear what will not please you.'
'Good，'answered they： 'we are no meddlers.'Then they sat down to carouse；whilst the Khalif looked at the three Calenders and marvelled for that they were all blind of the right eyeand gazed upon the ladies and was amazed at their beauty and goodliness. They fell to drinking and talking and said to the Khalif'Drink.'But he answered'Excuse mefor I am vowed to the pilgrimage.'Whereupon the portress rose and spreading a gold-embroidered cloth before himset thereon a china bowl，into which she poured willow-flower waterwith a spoonful of snow and some pounded sugar-candy. The Khalif thanked her and said to himself'By AllahI will reward her to-morrow for her kind office！'Then they addressed themselves to carouseltill the wine began to work upon themwhen the eldest lady rose and making an obeisance to her gueststook the cateress by the hand and said'Comesisterslet us do our duty.'And they answered，'It is well.'So the portress rose and cleared the middle of the saloonafter she had removed the table service and thrown away the remains of the banquet. Then she renewed the perfumes in the censers and made the Calenders sit down on a sofa by the dais and the Khalif and his companions on a sofa at the other end；after which she called to the portersaying'How dull and slothful thou art！Come and help us： thou art no strangerbut one of the household！'So he rose and girt his middle and said'What would you have me do？'And she answered'Stay where thou art.'Then the cateress rose and setting a chair in the middle of the room，went to a closetwhich she openedsaying to the porter'Come and help me.'So he went to her and she brought out two black bitcheswith chains round their necksand gave them to him，saying'Take them.'So he took them and carried them to the middle of the saloon；whereupon the mistress of the house tucked up her sleeves and taking a whipsaid to the porter'Bring me one of the bitches.'So he brought it to her by the chain；and the bitch wept and shook its head at the damselwho brought the whip down on itwhilst the porter held it by the chain. The bitch howled and whinedbut the lady ceased not to beat it till her arm was tired；when she threw away the whip and pressing the bitch to her bosomkissed it on the head and wiped away its tears. Then she said to the porter'Take it back and bring the other.'He did as she bade himand she did with the second bitch as she had done with the first. The Khalif's mind was troubled at her doings and his breast contracted and he could not restrain his impatience to know the meaning of all this. So he winked to Jaafer to askbut the latter turned and signed to him as who should say'Be silent： this is no time for impertinent curiosity.'Then said the portress to the mistress of the house，'O my ladyrise and go up to thy placethat I in turn may do my part.'It is well，'answered she and went up and sat down on the couch of juniper-woodat the upper end of the dais；whilst the portress sat down on a chair and said to the cateress'Do what thou hast to do.'So the latter rose and going to a closet，brought out a bag of yellow satinwith cords of green silk and tassels of goldand came and sat down before the portress. Then she opened the bag and took out a lutewhich she tunedand sang the following versesaccompanying herself on the lute：
Thou art my wishthou art my end；And in thy presenceO my friend，There is for me abiding joy： Thine absence sets my heart a-flame For thee distraughtwith thee possestThou reignest ever in my breast，Nor in the love I bear to thee Is there for me reproach or shame.
Life's veil for me was torn apartWhen Love gat hold upon my heart For Love still rends the veils in twain And brings dishonour on fair fame.
The cloak of sickness I did on；And straight my fault appeared and shone.
Since that my heart made choice of thee And love and longing on me came，My eyes are ever wet with tearsAnd all my secret thought appears，When with my tears'tumultuous flow Exhales the secret of thy name.
Heal thou my painsfor thou to me Art both disease and remedy.
Yet himwhose cure is in thy handAffliction shall for ever claim，Thy glances set my heart on fireSlay me with swords of my desire：
How manytrulyof the best Have fallen beneath Love's sword of flame？
Yet may I not from passion cease Nor in forgetting seek release；
For love's my comfortpride and lawPublic and privateaye the same.
Blest eyes that have of thee their fill And look upon thee at their will！
Ayof my own unforced intentThe slave of passion I became.
When the portress heard this foursome songshe cried out'Alas！
Alas！Alas！'and tore her clothes and fell down in a swoon；and the Khalif saw on her body the marks of beating with rods and whipsand wondered greatly. Then the cateress rose and sprinkled water upon her and brought her a fresh dress and put it on her.
