' The Cogia thinking that what
she said was truth, took a spoonful of the broth, and burning his mouth
began to cry and bellow. 'What is the matter with you?' said his wife;
'why do you cry?' Said the Cogia, 'You cry because your mother is gone,
but I cry because her daughter is here.'
One day the Cogia's wife went to the hall of preaching; and, after
listening to the sermon, came home. Said the Cogia, 'O wife, what did
the preacher say?' 'He said,' replied the wife, 'that if any one has a
night's copulation with his lawful wife the Almighty God will build for
him a mansion in paradise.' After they had gone to bed the Cogia said,
'Come, let us build a house in paradise.' Thereupon they copulated.
Shortly afterwards the wife said, 'O Cogia, you have built a house for
yourself, pray now build a house for me!' Said the Cogia, 'I could
easily build a house for you, but I fear that I should have to build
houses for your father and mother, and not only for them, but for all
your family and relations, so that the Master Builder above would become
angry. Come, one house must suffice for us two.'
One day the Cogia met a company of young students and said unto them,
'Pray come along with me to our house.' So he led them to the door of
the house and then said, 'Pray stay here a little, whilst I go in.
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