Then he ceased not to squander his wealth all tides of the day and watches of the nighttill he had made away with it all and abode in evil case and troubled at heart. So he sold his shop and lands and so forthand after this he sold the clothes off his bodyleaving himself but one suit. Then drunkenness left him and thought came to himand he fell into melancholy.
One daywhen he had sat from day-break to mid-afternoon without breaking his fasthe said in himself'I will go round to those on whom I spent my wealth： it may be one of them will feed me this day.'So he went the round of them all；butas often as he knocked at any one's doorthe man denied himself and hid from himtill he was consumed with hunger. Then he betook himself to the bazaarwhere he found a crowd of peopleassembled in a ring round somewhatand said in himself'I wonder what ails the folk to crowd together thus？ By AllahI will not remove hencetill I see what is within yonder ring！'So he made his way into the ring and found that the crowd was caused by a damsel exposed for sale.
She was five feet highslender of shaperosy-cheeked and high-bosomed and surpassed all the people of her time in beauty and grace and elegance and perfection；even as saith onedescribing her：
As she wishedshe was createdafter such a wise that lo！ She in beauty's mould was fashionedperfectneither less no mo'.
Loveliness itself enamoured of her lovely aspect is；Coyness decks her and upon herpride and pudour sweetly show.
In her face the full moon glitters and the branch is as her shape；Musk her breath isnor midst mortals is her equal，high or low.
'Tis as if she had been moulded out of water of pure pearls；In each member of her beauty is a very moonI trow.
And her name was Zumurrud.
When Ali Shar saw herhe marvelled at her beauty and grace and said'By AllahI will not stir hence till I see what price this girl fetches and know who buys her！'So he stood with the rest of the merchantsand they thought he had a mind to buy herknowing the wealth he had inherited from his parents. Then the broker stood at the damsel's head and said'Homerchants！ Homen of wealth！ Who will open the biddings for this damselthe mistress of moonsthe splendid pearlZumurrud the Curtain-makerthe aim of the seeker and the delight of the desirous？ Open the biddings，and on the opener be nor blame nor reproach.'