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d make their plaint to him； that he might do them justice on their adversary。 'How can we go to him；' replied Zein el Mewasif； 'seeing the door is locked on us and our feet shackled and the Jeith； 'I will make keys for the locks and open the door and the shackles therewith。' 'But who will show us the Cadi's house？' asked she； and he said； 'I will describe it to you。' 'But how；' continued she； 'can we appear before him； clad as we are in haircloth； smoked with sulphur？' And he answered； 'He will not reproach this to you； considering your case。' So saying； he went forthright and made keys for the locks； wherewith he opened the door and the shackles； and loosing the latter from their legs； carried them forth and directed them to the Cadi's house。 Then Huboub did off the haircloth garments from her mistress's body and carried her to the bath； where she washed her and clad her in silken raiment； and her colour returned to her。
Now； as luck would have it； her husband was abroad at a bridefeast in the house of one of the merchants； so she adorned herself after the fairest fashion and betook herself to the Cadi； who rose to receive her。 She saluted him with dulcet speech and sweet words； transfixing him the while with the arrows of her glances； and said； 'May God prolong the life of our lord the Cadi and strengthen him to do justice！' Then she acquainted him with the affair of the blacksmith and that which he had done them of kindness and with the heartconfounding torments that the Jew had inflicted on her and her women and how they had been like to perish； nor was there any deliverance found for them ＇till the smith set them free＇。 'O damsel；' said the Cadi； 'what is thy name？' 'My name is Zein el Mewasif；' answered she； 'and this my maid's name is Huboub。' Quoth he； 'Thy name accordeth with its owner and its words conform to its meaning。' Whereupon she smiled and veiled her face； and he said to her； 'O Zein el Mewasif； hast thou a husband or not？' 'I have no husband；' answered she。 'And what is thy faith？' asked he。 'That of Islam；' replied she； 'and the religion of the best of men。' Quoth he； 'Swear to me by the Law； full of instances and admonitions； that thou art a Muslim。' So she swore to him and pronounced the profession of the faith。
Then said he； 'How es it that thou wastest thy youth with this Jew？' And she answered； 'Know； O Cadi （may God prolong thy days in contentment and bring thee to thy hopes and seal thine acts with benefits！）； that my father left me； after his death； fifteen thousand dinars； which he put into the hands of this Jew； that he might trade therewith and share the profit with me； the capital being secured by acknowledgment according to law。 When my father died； the Jew coveted me and sought me in marriage of my mother； who said； 〃How shall I cause her leave her faith and bee a Jewess？ By Allah； I will denounce thee to the authorities！〃 He was affrighted at her words and taking the money； fled to the town of Aden。 When we heard where he was； we came to Aden in search of him； and when we foregathered with him； he told us that he was trading in stuffs ＇with the money＇ and buying goods upon goods。 So we believed him and he ceased not to beguile us till he cast us into prison and fettered us and tortured us exceeding sore； and we are strangers and have no helper save God the Most High and our lord the Cadi。'
When the Cadi heard this； he said to Huboub； 'Is this indeed thy mistress and are ye strangers and is she unmarried？' And she ansarry her to me and be manumission ＇of my slaves＇ and fasting and pilgrimage and almsgiving ＇of all my estate＇ incumbent on me； if I do you not justice on this dog and punish him for that which he hath done！' And she answered； 'I hear and obey。' Then said he； 'Go； fort thy heart and that of thy lady； and tomorrow； if it please God the Most High； I will send for this infidel and do you justice on him and ye shall see wonders of his punishment。' So Huboub called down blessings upon him and went forth from him； ＇she and her mistress；＇ leaving him distracted with passion and lovelonging and desire。 Then they enquired for the house of the second Cadi and presenting themselves before him； told him the same story。 On likewise did she with the third and the fourth； till she had made her plaint to all the four Cadis； each of whom lusted after her and besought her to marry him； to which she consented； nor knew any one of the four that which had happened to the others。 All this passed without the knowledge of the Jew； who slept the night in the house of the bridefeast。
On the morrow； Huboub clad her mistress in her richest raiment and presented herself with her before the four Cadis in the hall of justice。 As soon as she entered； she uncovered her face and saluted the magistrates； who returned her salutation and every one of them knew her。 One was writing； and the pen dropped from his hand； another was talking； and his tongue became embarrassed； and a third was reckoning and blundered in his reckoning； and they said to her； 'O delightsome of attributes and surpassing of loveliness； be not thy heart other than easy； for we will assuredly do thee justice and bring thee to thy desire。' So she called down blessings on them and going forth； proceeded to beseech the notaries and scribes to succour her against that unbelieving miscreant and deliver her from the torment she suffered from him。 Then she wrote a letter to Mesrour； setting forth to him all that the Jew had done with her from first to last and ending with the following verses：
Rain down tears； O mine eyes； as the deluge they were； So perchance in their flood may be quenched my despair。
Once I clad me in raiment of goldwroughten silk： Now the raiment of monks and of friars I wear；
Yea； and sulphur's the scent of my clothes； betwixt that And sweet basil and musk what a difference is there！
Thou wouldst never permit my abasement； Mesrour； Nor my bondage； if but of my case thou wert ware；
And Huboub too's in fetters with one who denies The One； the Requiter of foul and of fair。
Lo； the ways of the Jews and their faith I've renounced And my faith is the noblest of faiths hence fore'er。
To the Clement a Muslim's prostration I make And to follow the law of Mohammed I swear。
Fet not our loves of old time； O Mesrour； And keep thou our vows and our troth plight with care。
My faith for thy love and thy sake I have changed And my secret for passion I'll never declare；
So； if； like to the noble； our love thou've preserved； Be no laggard； but hasten to us to repair。
Then she folded the letter and gave it to her maid Huboub； saying； 'Keep it in thy pocket； till we send it to Mesrour。'
Presently in came the Jew and seeing them joyous； said to them； 'How es it that I find you merry？ Hath a letter reached you from your friend Mesrour？' 'We have no helper against thee save God； blessed and exalted be He！' replied Zein el Mewasif。 'He will deliver us from thy tyranny； and except thou restore to us our country and home； we will plain of thee tomorrow to the Cadi and governor of this town。' Quoth he； 'Who did off the shackles from your legs？ But needs must I let make each of you shackles ten pounds in weight and go round about the city with you。' 'All that thou purposest against us；' replied Huboub； 'thou shalt fall into thyself； so it please God the Most High； by token that thou hast exiled us from our homes； and tomorrow we shall stand； we and thou； before the governor of the city。'
On this wise they passed the night and the next morning the Jew went out to order fresh shackles； whereupon Zein el Mewasif rose and repaired with her women to the courthouse； where she found the four Cadis and saluted them。 They all returned her salutation and the Chief Cadi said to those about him； 'Verily this damsel is lovely as Ez Zehra （20） and all who see her love her and prostrate themselves to her beauty and grace。' Then he despatched four sergeants； who were sherifs； （21） to fetch the Jew after the most abject fashion： so； when he returned with the shackles and found none in the house； he was confounded； but； as he abode in perplexity； up came the officers and laying hold of him； beat him soundly and dragged him face； downward； before the Cadi。 When the latter saw him； he cried out in his face and said to him； 'Out on thee； O enemy of God； is it e to such a pass with thee that thou dost thus and bringest these women far from their country and stealest their good and wouldst make them Jews？ How darest thou seek to pervert Muslims？' 'O my lord；' answered the Jew； 'this woman is my wife。'
When the Cadis heard this； they all cried out； saying； 'Cast this dog on the ground and smite him on the face with your sandals and beat him soundly； for his offence is unpardonable。' So they pulled off his silken clothes and clad him in his wife's raiment of haircloth； after which they threw him down and plucked out his beard and belaboured him about the face with sandals。 Then they set him on an ass； face to crupper； and causing him take its tail in his hand； paraded him round about the town； after which they brought him back to the Cadis； who all condemned him to have his feet and hands cut off and after be crucified。 When the accursed wretch heard this； his wit forsook him and he was confounded and said； 'O my lords the Cadis； what would ye of me？' 'Say；' answered they； 〃'This damsel is not my wife and the money is her money； and I have transgressed against her and brought her far from her country。〃' So he confessed to this and the Cadis recorded his confession in legal form and taking the money from him； gave it to Zein el Mewasif； together with their voucher。 Then she went away and all who saw her were confounded at her beauty and grace； whilst each of the Cadis looked for her to fall to his share。 But； when she came to her lodging； she made ready all that she needed and waited till night。 Then she took what was light of carriage and heavy of worth； and setting out with her maids； under cover of the darkness； fared on three days and three nights without stopping。
Meanwhile； the Cadis ordered the Jew to prison and on the morrow they looked for her ing to them； they and their assessors； but she presented herself not to any of them。 Then said the Chief Cadi； 'I wish today to go apleasuring without the town on an occasion I have。' So he mounted his mule and taking his servant with him； went coasting about the streets of the town； searching high and low for Zein el Mewasif； but to no effect。
Presently he came upon the other three Cadis； going about on the same errand； each deeming himself the only one to whom she had pledged herself。 He asked them what they did there and they told him their business； whereby he saw that their plight was as his plight and their quest as his quest。 So they all four went round about the city； seeking her； but could light on no trace of her and returned to their houses； sick for love； and lay down on the bed of languor。 Presently the Chief Cadi bethought himself of the blacksmith； so he sent for him and said to him； 'O blacksmith； knowest thou what is e of the damsel whom thou didst direct to me？ By Allah； an thou discover her not to me； I will beat thee with whips。' When the smith heard this； he recited the following verses：
Her； that possesseth me in love； kind Fortune did endow With beauty all nor aught thereof to others did allow。
The eye of a gazelle she hath； her scent is ambergris； She shines； a sun； and undulates； a lake； and sways； a bough。
Then said he； 'By Allah； O my lord； since she went out from thy worshipful presence； I have not set eyes on her！ Indeed； she took possession of my heart and senses and all my talk and thought is of her。 I went to her house； but found her not； nor found I any who could give me news of her； and it is as if she had plunged into the abysses of the sea or been caught up into the sky。'
When the Cadi heard this； he gave a groan； that his soul was like to depart therefor； and said； 'By Allah； it would have been well； had we never seen her！' Then the smith went away； whilst the Cadi fell down on his bed and became sick of languor for her sake； and on like wise fared it with the other three Cadis and the assessors。 The physicians paid them frequent visits； but found in them