doing as I wish, whatever you ask, it shall be given you."
These words of the King filled with joy the Bedouin's heart. He said to himself:
"Here is a good piece of work. For an old tattered cloak I will kill a man. Why
then should I hesitate a moment for a superb cloak of scarlet?"
Taking leave of the King, the Bedouin set out promptly and went toward Syria in
search of Hatim-Thai. After a while he arrived at a village near to Syria, and
there he met a young man of a rare beauty. His face bore the marks of virtue, his
language was full of sweetness and affability, his soul was righteous, and his
heart compassionate. He asked the Bedouin where he was going. The latter
answered, "I am from the country of Yemen, and am going to Syria."
The young man replied: "O my brother! I wish you would do me the favor to rest
for a day and a night in my house, and I will do the best to entertain you. After
that you shall go on your journey when you wish."
The Bedouin heard these words with pleasure, and went into the young man's
house. There he was treated magnificently and regaled so lavishly that he
thought he had never seen and eaten so much. He slept peacefully all night. At
dawn he said farewell, eager to gain the end of his journey. The young man said
to him: "O my brother, if it is possible, stay two or three days longer, I beg you,
so that by my hospitality I may show all the sincere affection that my heart feels
for you."
The Bedouin replied: "O my brother, truly would I remain some time longer
here, had I not a most important and delicate mission to fulfil. It is impossible
for me to stay and enjoy myself here, while I have not yet accomplished my
errand."
The young man answered: "O my brother, what is this difficult and delicate
affair which prevents you from staying here? If you will tell me, doubtless I shall
find some means of coming to your aid, and lightening the burden which weighs
so heavily upon your heart. But, now, what can I do since you tell me nothing?"
Hearing these words, the Bedouin kept silence. He said to himself: "This affair is
not easy to execute. It might be of use for me to have a prudent and discreet
companion to confer with him about it. Perhaps I should do well to talk of it to
this young man and ask his advice."