THE KING AND THE HANDMAIDEN
13
Masters and towns, one by one, she told of, and about
dwelling-place and bread and salt.
She told stories of many a town and many a house, (and still) no vein of her quivered nor did her cheek grow pale.
Her pulse remained in its normal state, unimpaired, till he asked about Samarcand, the (city) sweet as candy.
(Thereat) her pulse jumped and her face went red and pale (by turns), for she had been parted from a man of Samarcand, a goldsmith.
When the physician found out this secret from the sick (girl), he discerned the source of that grief and woe.
He said: "Which is his quarter in passing (through the town)?"
"Sar-i Pul (Bridge-head)," she replied, "and Ghátafar street."
Said he: "I know what your illness is and I will at once display the arts of magic in delivering you[1].
Be glad and care-free and have no fear, for I will do to you that which rain does to the meadow.
I will be anxious for you, be not you anxious: I am kinder to you than a hundred fathers.
Beware! tell not this secret to any one, not though the king should make much inquiry from you.
When your heart becomes the grave of your secret, that desire of yours will be gained more quickly,"
The Prophet said that any one who hides his inmost thought will soon attain to the object of his desire[2].
When seeds are hidden in the earth, their inward secret becomes the verdure of the garden.
If gold and silver were not hidden, how would they get nourishment (grow and ripen) in the mine?
The promises and soothing words of the physician made the sick (girl) safe (free) from fear.
There are true promises, grateful to the heart; there are false promises, fraught with disquietude.
The promise of the noble is current (sterling) coin; the promise of the unworthy becomes anguish of soul.
How the saint, having discovered the (cause of) the illness, laid it before the king.
Then he arose and went to see the king and acquainted him with a portion of that matter.
"The (best) plan," said he, "is that we should bring the man here for the sake of (curing) this malady.
Summon the goldsmith from that far country; beguile him with gold and robes of honour."