“Thanks be to Allah, yes!”
“Then, O, shepherd and dear! according to the law of the Prophet, will you marry her to me?”
To which the father made answer, “My lord, is a shepherd’s daughter worthy to marry such an one as you?”
“I have found her so,” was the answer; and, after further words, he led the two to his own home and engaged the girl to himself.
Afterward he consulted the bird, which assured him that the shepherd’s daughter had never seen anything of the world; that her life had been plain and simple, and that her heart was pure and good.
At this the young man was filled with delight. He cried, “I have found the one whom my heart has been seeking all my life.”
Let these stay here while we go to the rich men, whose daughters this youth had slighted.
When they learned that he, who had spurned their daughters, was about to marry a simple shepherd lass, they became filled with indignation and determined to bring him before the law. [[179]]
Upon receipt of the summons the accused young man went, most willingly, to appear in court. There he found gathered together, with their friends, all those who were against him. After the assembly was called to order, the plaintiffs arose and said, each after the other:
“Verily, O, coffee-maker! you married my daughter in accordance with the divine law; but you left her at once after the marriage. I demand your reason for such action. What fault have you against my daughter? Now I learn that you are about to marry—and with satisfaction—a shepherd’s daughter. Is such an act worthy of you? Know, then, that I am bringing a suit at law against you.”