to them and admitted them.  Then the parent and her children rose up and welcomed them respectfully and seated them and did them honour and set before them somewhat of food which they ate and were gladdened.  Presently the King said, “O damsels, ye cannot but know that the Sultan proclaimed forbiddal of wick-burning; but ye have lighted your lamps and have not obeyed him when all the citizens have accepted his commandment.”  Upon this the youngest sister accosted him saying, “O Darwaysh, verily the Sultan’s order should not be obeyed save in commandments which be reasonable; but this his proclamation forbidding lights is sinful to accept; and indeed the right direction[FN#146] wherein man should walk is according to Holy Law which saith, ’No obedience to the creature in a matter of sin against the Creator.’  The Sultan (Allah make him prevail!) herein acteth against the Law and imitateth the doings of Satan.  For we be three sisters with our mother, making four in the household, and every night we sit together by lamp-light and weave a half-pound weight of linen web[FN#147] which our mother taketh in the morning for sale to the Bazar and buyeth us therewith half a pound of raw flax and with the remainder what sufficeth us of victual.”  The Sultan now turned to his Minister and said, “O Wazir, this damsel astonisheth me by her questions and answers.  What case of casuistry can we propose to her and what disputation can we set up?  Do thou contrive us somewhat shall pose and perplex her.”  “O my lord,” replied the Wazir, “we are here in the guise of Darwayshes and are become to these folk as guests:  how then can we disturb them with troublesome queries in their own home?” Quoth the Sultan, “Needs must thou address them;” so the Wazir said to the girl, “O noble one, obedience to the royal orders is incumbent upon you as upon all lieges.”  Said she, “True, he is our Sovran; but how can he know whether we be starving or full-fed?” “Let us see,” rejoined the Wazir, “when he shall send for you and set you before the presence and question you concerning your disobeying his orders, what thou wilt say?” She retorted, “I would say to the Sultan, ’Thou hast contraried Holy Law.’” At this the Minister resumed, “An he ask thee sundry questions wilt thou answer them?” and she replied “Indeed I will.”  Hereat the Minister turned to the King and said, “Let us leave off question and answer with this maiden on points of conscience and Holy Law and ask if she understand the fine arts.”  Presently the Sultan put the question when she replied, “How should I not understand them when I am their father and their mother?” Quoth he, “Allah upon thee, O my lady, an thou wouldst favour us, let us hear one of thine airs and its words.”  So she rose and retired but presently returning with a lute sat down and set it upon her lap and ordered the strings and smote it with a masterly touch:  then she fell to singing amongst other verses these ordered couplets:—­