One Thousand and One Nights

she came in and said, smiling, ‘You made it, my hero, and Lady Zubeida is on her way to meet you. I pray to God that she will like you so that you will win my hand and be the happiest of men.’

‘What does a cock do with his life other than eat, drink and fuck?’

I was surprised and shocked by her words, and so I asked her, ‘Hurt me? But are we not lovers, does each of us not feel only compassion and loyalty to the other?’ ‘You’re so young,’ she answered, ‘and your heart is innocent, while we women have our wiles and tricks. You must promise not to trust any woman, young or old, except for me, especially no

jealousy destroys the very thing it loves

my beautiful youngest daughter. This girl is like a shining star, so attached am I to her, and she loves me in return with the innocence and naivety of a child. She would often say to me, ‘Oh father, how I wish you were so small that I could put you in my pocket and take you out each time I missed you.’ I felt agonised at the thought of being parte