whereupon they all took to reviling him and railing at him；saying，'Why couldst thou not bring her up into the town without mantilla and muffler？'And all and each of the folk gave him some grievous word，berating him with sharp speech，and shooting at him some shaft or reproach，albeit one said，'Let him be；that which hath befallen him sufficeth him，'till he again fell down in a fainting-fit.And behold，at this moment，up came the old druggist，who，seeing the folk gathered together，drew near to learn what was the matter and found Nur al-Din lying a-swoon in their midst.So he sat down at his head and arousing him，said to him as soon as he recovered，'O my son，what is this case in which I see thee？'Nur al-Din said，'O uncle，I had brought back in a barque my lost slave-girl from her father's city，suffering patiently all I suffered of perils and hardships；and when I came with her to this port，I made the vessel fast to the shore and leaving her therein，repaired to thy dwelling and took of thy consort what was needful for her，that I might bring her up into the town；but the Franks came and capturing barque and damsel made off unhindered，and returned to their own land.'Now when the Shaykh，the druggist，heard this，the light in his eyes became night and he grieved with sore grieving for Nur al-Din and said to him，'O my son，why didst thou not bring her out of the ship into the city without mantilla？ But speech availeth not at this season；so rise，O my son，and come up with me to the city；
haply Allah will vouchsafe thee a girl fairer than she，who shall console thee for her.Alhamdolillah-praised be Allah-who hath not made thee lose aught by her！ Nay，thou hast gained by her.And bethink thee，O my son，that Union and Disunion are in the hands of the Most High King..'Replied Nur al-Din，'By Allah，O uncle；I can never be consoled for her loss nor will I ever leave seeking her，though on her account I drink the cup of death！'