If in thy time thou find but one to love thee and be trueI rede thee cast the world away and with that one remain.
They lay together till the morning and love for the other was stablished in the heart of each of them. On the morrowZumurrud took the curtain and embroidered it with coloured silks and gold and silver threaddepicting thereon all manner birds and beasts；
nor is there in the world a beast but she wrought on the curtain the semblant thereof. Moreovershe made thereto a bandwith figures of birdsand wrought at it eight daystill she had made an end of itwhen she trimmed it and ironed it and gave it to Alisaying'Carry it to the bazaar and sell it to one of the merchants for fifty dinars；but beware lest thou sell it to a passer-byfor this would bring about a separation between us，because we have enemies who are not unmindful of us.'I hear and obey，'answered he and repairing to the bazaarsold the curtain to a merchantas she bade him；after which he bought stuff for another curtain and silk and gold and silver thread as before and what they needed of foodand brought all this to hertogether with the rest of the money.
They abode thus a whole yearand every eight days she made a curtainwhich he sold for fifty dinars. At the end of the year，he went to the bazaaras usualwith a curtainwhich he gave to the broker；and there came up to him a Christianwho bid him threescore dinars for the curtain；but he refusedand the Christian went on to bid higher and highertill he came to a hundred dinars and bribed the broker with ten gold pieces. So the latter returned to Ali and told him of this and urged him to accept the offersaying'O my lordbe not afraid of this Christianfor he can do thee no hurt.'The merchants also were instant with him to accept the offer；so he sold the curtain to the Christianthough his heart misgave himand taking the priceset off to return home.
Presentlyhe found the Christian walking behind him；so he said to him'O Nazarenewhy dost thou follow me？'O my lord，'
answered the other'I have a need at the end of the streetmay God never bring thee to need！'Ali went onbutas he came to the door of his housethe Christian overtook him；so he said to him'O accursed onewhat ails thee to follow me wherever I go？'
'O my lord，'replied the other'give me a draught of waterfor I am athirst；and with God the Most High be thy reward！'Quoth Ali in himself'Verilythis man is a tributary [of the Khalifate] and seeks a draught of water of me；by AllahI will not disappoint him！'So he entered the house and took a mug of water；but Zumurrud saw him and said to him'O my lovehast thou sold the curtain？'Yes，'answered he. 'To a merchant or a passer-by？'asked she. 'For my heart forethinketh me of separation.'To a merchantof course，'replied he. But she rejoined'Tell me the truth of the casethat I may order my affair；and what wantest thou with the mug of water？'To give the broker a drink，'answered he；whereupon she exclaimed'There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most Highthe Supreme！'
And repeated the following verses：
O thou that seekest partingstay thy feet： Let clips and kisses not delude thy spright.
Softlyfor fortune's nature is deceit And parting is the end of love-delight.
Then he took the mug and going outfound the Christian within the vestibule and said to him'O doghow darest thou enter my house without my leave？'O my lord，'answered he'there is no difference between the door and the vestibule and I will not budge hencesave to go out；and I am beholden to thee for thy kindness.'Then he took the mug and emptying itreturned it to Aliwho took it and waited for him to go；but he did not move.
So Ali said to him'Why dost thou not rise and go thy way？'O my lord，'answered the Christian'be not of those that do a kindness and after make a reproach of itnor one of whom saith the poet：
Gonegone are they whoif thou stoodst before their door of oldHadat thy seekinghandselled thee with benefits untold！
And if thou stoodest at their door who follow after themThese latter would begrudge to thee a draught of water cold.
O my lord，'continued he'I have drunkand now I would have thee give me to eat of whatever is in the housethough it be but a crust of bread or a biscuit and an onion.'Begonewithout more talk，'replied Ali；'There is nothing in the house.'O my lord，'insisted the Christian'if there be nothing in the house，take these hundred dinars and fetch us somewhat from the market，if but a cake of breadthat bread and salt may pass between us.'
With thisquoth Ali to himself'This Christian is surely mad；I will take the hundred dinars and bring somewhat worth a couple of dirhems and laugh at him.'O my lord，'added the Christian'I want but somewhat to stay my hungerwere it but a cake of dry bread and an onion；for the best food is that which does away hungernot rich meats；and how well saith the poet：
A cake of dry stale bread will hunger out to flight： Why then are grief and care so heavy on my spright？
Death isindeedmost justsincewith an equal handKhalif and beggar-wretchimpartialit doth smite.'
Then said Ali'Wait herewhilst I lock the saloon and fetch thee somewhat from the market.'I hear and obey，'said the Christian. So Ali shut up the saloon and locking the door with a padlockput the key in his pocket： after which he repaired to the market and bought fried cheese and virgin honey and bananas and breadwith which he returned to the Christian. When the latter saw thishe said'O my lordthis is [too] much；thou hast brought enough for half a score men and I am alone；but belike thou wilt eat with me.'Eat by thyself，'replied Ali；'I am full.'O my lord，'rejoined the Christian'the wise say'He who eats not with his guest is a base-born churl.'
When Ali heard thishe sat down and ate a little with himafter which he would have held his hand： but [whilst he was not looking] the Christian took a banana and peeled itthen，splitting it in twainput into one half concentrated henbane，mixed with opiuma drachm whereof would overthrow an elephant.
