The Shaving of Shagpat · The Betrothal (2/2)

“ ‘Whatever enterprise man hath,

For waking love or curbing wrath,

’Tis the first step that makes a path.’

“And how have ye determined as to that first step?”

Noorna replied, “O my father! we have not decided, and there hath been yet no deliberation between us as to that.”

Then he said, “All this while have ye talked, and no deliberation as to that! Lo, I have drawn the Qadi to our plot, and bribed him with a mighty bribe; and I have prepared possible disguises for this nephew of the barber; and I have had the witnesses of thy betrothal despatched to foreign parts, far kingdoms in the land of Roum, to prevent tattling and gabbling; and ye that were left alone for debating as to the great deed, ye have not yet deliberated as to that! Is’t known to ye, O gabblers, aught of the punishment inflicted by Shahpesh, the Persian, on Khipil, the Builder?⁠—a punishment that, by Allah!”

Shibli Bagarag said, “How of that punishment, O Vizier?”

And the Vizier narrated as followeth.