AND LOWER EGYPT. 249 



excellent. Such is the one that follows, which I 

 committed to memory, because it is short and 

 poignant. 



<( A Turk had repeated to hits wife a sermon 

 " delivered by the Iman of his mosque. The 

 " priest had been declaiming on the sacredness 

 " and the obligations of wedlock. * All those,' 

 " said he, * who acquit themselves of their duties 

 " early in the night, perform a work as merito- 

 " rious as if they sacrificed a sheep. Those who, 

 " in the middle of the night, render a second tri- 

 " bute, do as much in the eyes of the gods, as if 

 " they sacrificed a camel. Those, finally, who, 

 Cl at sun-rising, render a third homage to the 

 " sanctity of their union, merit as much as if they 

 " had ransomed a slave.' The wife, deeply con- 

 " cerned about her husband's salvation, says to 

 <c him, as the evening approached : ' My friend, 

 <c let us sacrifice a sheep;' and the sheep was sa- 

 " crificcd. At midnight the Turk was awaked; 

 " * Come, my friend,' said she, * let us sacrifice a 

 ° camel :' this sacrifice too was offered up. Scarcc- 

 " ly had the day begun to dawn, when the fervent 

 u Mussulman-iadv admonished her spouse that 

 " the moment was come for ransoming a slave; 

 " when turning towards her, with outstretched 

 " arms: ' Alas ! my dear soul,' said he, ' it is I who 

 (i am thy slave ; 1 conjure thee set me at liberty.'" 



If 



