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.'
So one merchant said'I bid five hundred dinars for her.'And ten，'said another. 'Six hundred，'cried an old man named Reshideddinblue-eyed and foul of face. 'And ten，'quoth another. 'I bid a thousand，'rejoined Reshideddin；whereupon the other merchants were silent and the broker took counsel with the girl's ownerwho said'I have sworn not to sell her save to whom she shall choose；consult her.'So the broker went up to Zumurrud and said to her'O mistress of moonsyonder merchant hath a mind to buy thee.'She looked as Reshideddin and finding him as we have saidreplied'I will not be sold to a grey-beardwhom decrepitude hath brought to evil plight.'Bravo，'quoth I'for one who saith：
I asked her for a kiss one daybut she my hoary head Sawthough of wealth and worldly good I had great plentihead；
Sowith a proud and flouting airher back she turned on me And，'Noby Him who fashioned men from nothingness！'she said.
'Nowby God's truthI never had a mind to hoary hairsAnd shall my mouth be stuffedforsoothwith cottonere I'm dead？'
'By Allah，'quoth the broker'thou art excusableand thy value is ten thousand dinars！'So he told her owner that she would not accept of Reshideddinand he said'Ask her of another.'
Thereupon another man came forward and said'I will take her at the same price.'She looked at him and seeing that his beard was dyedsaid'What is this lewd and shameful fashion and blackening of the face of hoariness？'And she made a great show of amazement and repeated the following verses：
A sightand what a sightdid such a one present To me！ A neck，to beat with shoesby Allahmeant！
And eke a beard for lie a coursing-ground that was And brows for binding on of ropes all crook'd and bent.
Thou that my cheeks and shape have ravishedwith a lie Thou dost disguise thyself and reck'st notimpudent；
Dyeing thy hoary hairs disgracefully with black And hiding what appearswith fraudulent intent；As of the puppet-men thou wertwith one beard go'st And with another com'st againincontinent.
And how well saith another：
Quoth she to me'I see thou dy'st thy hoariness；'and I'I do but hide it from thy sightO thou my ear and eye！'
She laughed out mockingly and said'A wonder 'tis indeed！ Thou so aboundest in deceit that even thy hair's a lie.'
'By Allah，'quoth the broker'thou hast spoken truly！'The merchant asked what she said： so the broker repeated the verses to himand he knew that she was in the right and desisted from buying her. Then another came forward and would have bought her at the same price；but she looked at him and seeing that he had but one eyesaid'This man is one-eyed；and it is of such as he that the poet saith：
Consort not with him that is one-eyed a dayAnd be on thy guard'gainst his mischief and lies：
For Godif in him aught of good had been foundHad not curst him with blindness in one of his eyes.'
Then the broker brought her another bidder and said to her'Wilt thou be sold to this man？'She looked at him and seeing that he was short of stature and had a beard that reached to his navel，said'This is he of whom the poet speakswhen he says：
I have a friendwho has a beardthat God Caused flourish without profittillbehold.
'Tisas it wereto look upona night Of middle winterlong and dark and cold.'
