ABSTRACT

The king said: ‘Your situation and mine resemble that of a certain warrior who possessed a comely wife. Now the husband was afraid that his wife might become frustrated and commit fornication. Therefore he instructed his wife and said to her: “If you should feel the urge and cannot withstand your flesh, let down the hair of your head. And when I see this, I will fulfil your desire, and you will not fall into sin.” One day, enemies approached and there was an alarm; and that champion arrayed himself to go out and fight. But when his wife saw him in his panoply, she was seized with passion and promptly let down her hair. When the champion saw this signal that he had taught her, he turned back and fulfilled his wife’s desire. By the time he emerged, the pursuers had already turned the enemy to flight and were returning home, and they reprimanded that warrior for sallying forth too late. But he said to them: “My private foe was battling with me and I have driven him out. And it was he who prevented me from arriving in time.” 111—Now, Thedma, cure for me the one whom I fondly love. Afterwards, if you allay my disquiet through this, then I will perform the service of the idols.’