[FN#52] The "Mahr," or Arab dowry consists of two parts, one paid down on consummation and the other agreed to be paid to the wife, contingently upon her being divorced by her husband. If she divorce him this portion, which is generally less than the half, cannot be claimed by her; and I have related the Persian abomination which compels the woman to sacrifice her rights. See vol. iii. p. 304, [FN#343].
[FN#53] i.e. the cost of her maintenance during the four months of single blessedness which must or ought to elapse before she can legally marry again.
[FN#54] Lane translates most incompletely, "To Him, then, be praise, first and last!"
[FN#55] Lane omits because it is "extremely puerile" this most characteristic tale, one of the two oldest in The Nights which Al Mas'udi mentions as belonging to the Hazбr Afsбneh (See Terminal Essay). Von Hammer (Preface in Trйbutien's translation p. xxv ) refers the fables to an Indian (Egyptian ?) origin and remarks, "sous le rapport de leur antiquitй et de la morale qu'ils renferment, elles mйritent la plus grande attention, mais d'un autre cфtй elles ne sont rien moins qu'amusantes."
[FN#56] Lane (iii. 579) writes the word "Shemmas": the Bresl.
Edit. (viii. 4) "Shнmбs."
[FN#57] i.e. When the tale begins.
[FN#58] Arab. "Khafz al-jinбh" drooping the wing as a brooding bird. In the Koran ([vii. 88) lowering the wing" = demeaning oneself gently.
[FN#59] The Bresl. Edit. (viii. 3) writes "Kil'бd": Trйbutien (iii. 1) "le roi Djilia."
[FN#60] As the sequel shows the better title would be, "The Cat and the Mouse" as in the headings of the Mac. Edit. and "What befel the Cat with the Mouse," as a punishment for tyranny. But all three Edits. read as in the text and I have not cared to change it. In our European adaptations the mouse becomes a rat.
[FN#61] So that I may not come to grief by thus daring to foretell evil things.