All the ladies that were by took pity on me, when they heard the cutting off of my hand spoken of.  Dear madam, dear sister, said they to the favourite lady, you carry your resentment too far.  We own he is a man quite ignorant of the world, that he does not observe your quality, and the regards that are due to you; but we beseech you to overlook and pardon the fault he has committed.  I have not received suitable satisfaction, said she; I will teach him to know the world, make him bear the sensible marks of his impertinence, and be cautious hereafter how he tastes a garlic ragoo without washing his hands.  However, they still continued their solicitations, and fell down at her feet, and kissing her fair hand, Good madam, said they, in the name of God, moderate your wrath, and grant the favour we request.  She answered never a word, but got up, and, after throwing out a thousand hard words against me, walked out of the chamber, with the ladies, leaving me in inconceivable affliction.

I continued here ten days, without seeing any body but an old woman-slave who brought me victuals.  I asked the old woman what was become of the favourite lady?  She is sick, said the old woman, of the poisoned smell you infected her with.  Why did you not take care to wash your hands after eating of that cursed ragoo?  Is it possible, thought I to myself, that these ladies can be so nice and vindictive for so small a fault?  In the mean time I loved my wife, notwithstanding all her cruelty.  One day the old woman told me that my spouse was recovered and gone to bathe, and would come to see me the next day; so, said she, I would have you to call up your patience, and endeavour to accommodate yourself to her humour.  Besides, she is a woman of good sense and discretion, and entirely beloved by all the ladies about Zobeide’s court.  Accordingly my wife came next night, and accosted me thus:  You see I am too good in seeing you again, after the affront you have offered me; but still I cannot stoop to be reconciled to you, till I have punished you according to your demerit, in not washing your hands after eating the garlic ragoo.  This said, she called the ladies, who, by her order, threw me upon the ground, and, after binding me fast, had the barbarity to cut off my thumbs and great toes with a razor.  One of the ladies applied a certain root to staunch the blood; but by the bleeding and pain I swooned away.  When I came to myself, they gave me wine to drink to recruit my strength.  Ah! madam, said I to my wife, if ever I eat of garlic ragoo again, I solemnly swear to wash my hands an hundred and twenty times with the herb alcali, with the ashes of the same plant, and with soap.  Well, replied my wife, upon that condition I am willing to forget what is past, and live with you as my husband.  This, continued the Bagdad merchant, addressing himself to the company, is the reason why I refused to eat of the garlic ragoo now upon the table.