Fro' me such awful penalty as suiteth froward loon：
I swear by Him who moulded man from gout of clotted blood，[34] Who lit the Sun to shine by day and lit for night the moon，An thou return to mention that thou spakest in thy pride，Upon a cross of tree for boon I'll have thee crucified！'
Then she folded the letter and handing it to the old woman said，'Give him this and say him，'Cease from this talk！' 'Hearkening and obedience，'replied she，and taking the letter with joy，returned to her own house，where she passed the night； and when morning dawned she betook herself to the shop of Taj alMuluk whom she found expecting her.When he saw her，he was ready to fly[35] for delight，and when she came up to him，he stood to her on his feet and seated her by his side.Then she brought out the letter and gave it to him，saying，'Read what is in this；'adding 'When Princess Dunya read thy letter she was angry； but Icoaxed her and jested with her till I made her laugh，and she had pity on thee and she hath returned thee an answer.'He thanked her for her kindness and bade Aziz give her a thousand gold pieces： then he perused the letter and understanding it fell to weeping a weeping so sore that the old woman's heart was moved to ruth for him，and his tears and complaints were grievous to her.
Presently she asked him，'O my son，what is there in this letter to make thee weep？'Answered he，'She hath threatened me with death and crucifixion and she forbiddeth me to write to her，but if I write not my death were better than my life.So take thou my answer to the letter and let her work her will.'Rejoined the old woman，'By the life of thy youth，needs must I risk my existence for thee，that I may bring thee to thy desire and help thee to win what thou hast at heart！'And Taj alMuluk said，'Whatever thou dost，I will requite thee for it and do thou weigh it in the scales of thy judgement，for thou art experienced in managing matters，and skilled in reading the chapters of the book of intrigue： all hard matters to thee are easy doings； and Allah can bring about everything.'Then he took a sheet of paper and wrote thereon these improvised couplets，'Yestre'en my love with slaughter menaced me，But sweet were slaughter and Death's foreordained：