There was oncein the city of Bokharaa water-carrierwho used to carry water to the house of a goldsmith and had done thus thirty years. Now the goldsmith had a wife of exceeding beauty and elegance and withal renowned for modestychastity and piety. One daythe water-carrier cameas of wontand poured the water into the cisterns. Now the woman was standing in the midst of the court；so he went up to her and taking her handstroked it and pressed itthen went away and left her.
When her husband came home from the bazaarshe said to him'I would have thee tell me what thou hast done in the bazaar，todayto anger God the Most High.'Quoth he'I have done nothing.'Nay，'rejoined she'butby Allahthou hast indeed done something to anger God；and except thou tell me the truth，I will not abide in thy houseand thou shalt not see menor will I see thee.'I will tell thee the truth，'answered he.
'As I was sitting in my shop this daya woman came up to me and bade me make her a bracelet. Then she went away and I wrought her a bracelet of gold and laid it aside. Presently，she returned and I brought her out the bracelet. She put out her hand and I clasped the bracelet on her wrist；and I wondered at the whiteness of her hand and the beauty of her wrist and recalled what the poet says：
Braceletsupon her wristsof glittering virgin gold She hath，like fire ablaze on running water cold.
It is as if the wrists and bracelets thereabout Were water girt with fireright wondrous to behold.