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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 4, by Richard F. Burton
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
+the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 4
+
+Author: Richard F. Burton
+
+Release Date: June 12, 2001 [EBook #3438]
+Last updated: December 11, 2022
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS ***
+*******************************************************************
+THIS EBOOK WAS ONE OF PROJECT GUTENBERG'S EARLY FILES PRODUCED AT A
+TIME WHEN PROOFING METHODS AND TOOLS WERE NOT WELL DEVELOPED. THERE
+IS AN IMPROVED EDITION OF THIS TITLE WHICH MAY BE VIEWED AS EBOOK
+(#53254) at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53254
+*******************************************************************
+
+
+
+
+This etext was scanned by J.C. Byers and proofread by Doris Ringbloom
+
+
+
+
+THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT
+
+A Plain and Literal Translation
+
+of the Arabian Nights Entertainments
+
+
+Translated and Annotated by Richard F. Burton
+
+VOLUME FOUR
+
+To Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot.
+
+My Dear Arbuthnot,
+
+I have no fear that a friend, whose friendship has lasted nearly a
+third of a century, will misunderstand my reasons for inscribing his
+name upon these pages. You have lived long enough in the East and, as
+your writings show, observantly enough, to detect the pearl which lurks
+in the kitchen-midden, and to note that its lustre is not dimmed nor
+its value diminished by its unclean surroundings.
+
+                    Ever yours sincerely,
+
+
+                    Richard F. Burton.
+
+
+
+Athenжum Club, October 1, 1885
+
+
+Contents of the Fourth Volume
+
+
+Contents
+
+
+ Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman (continued) a.   Ni'amar Bin Al-Rabi'a and
+ Naomi His Slave-girl b.   Conclusion of the Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman 22.
+  Ala Al-Din Abu Al-Shamat 23.  Hatim of the Trive of Tayy 24.  Ma'an
+ the Son of Zaidah 25.  Ma'an the Son of Zaidah and the Badawi 26.  The
+ City of Labtayt 27.  The Caliph Hisham and the Arab Youth 28.  Ibrahim
+ Bin Al-Mahdi and the Barber-Surgeon 29.  The City of Many-Columned
+ Iram and Abdullah Son of Abi Kilabah 30.  Isaac of Mosul 31.  The
+ Sweep and the Noble Lady 32.  The Mock Caliph 33.  Ali the Persian 34.
+  Haru Al-Rashid and the Slave-Girl and the Iman Abu Yusuf 35.  The
+ Lover Who Feigned Himself A Thief 36.  Ja'afar the Barmecide and the
+ Bean-Seller 37.  Abu Mohammed Hight Lazybones 38.  Generous Dealing of
+ Yahya Bin Khбlid The Barmecide with Mansur 39.  Generous Dealing of
+ Yahya Son of Khбlid with a Man Who Forged a Letter in his Name 40. 
+ Caliph Al-Maamum and the Strange Scholar 41.  Ali Shar and Zumurrud
+ 42.  The Loves of Jubayr Bin Umayr and the Lady Budur 43.  The Man of
+ Al-Yaman and His Six Slave-Girls 44.  Harun Al-Rashid and the Damsel
+ and Abu Nowas 45.  The Man Who Stole the Dish of Gold Wherein The Dog
+ Ate 46.  The Sharper of Alexandria and the Chief of Police 47. 
+ Al-Malik Al-Nasir and the Three Chiefs of Police a.   Story of the
+ Chief of Police of Cairo b.   Story of the Chief of the Bulak Police
+ c.   Story of the Chief of the Old Cairo Police 48.  The Thief and the
+ Shroff 49.  The Chief of the Kus Police and the Sharper 50.  Ibrahim
+ Bin Al-Mahdi and the Merchant's Sister 51.  The Woman Whose Hands were
+ Cut Off For Giving Alms to the Poor 52.  The Devout Israelite 53.  Abu
+ Hassan Al-Ziyadi and the Khorasan 54.  The Poor Man and His Friend in
+ Need 55.  The Ruined Man Who became Rich Again Through A Dream 56. 
+ Caliph Al-Mutawakkil and His Concubine Mahbubah 57.  Wardan the
+ Butcher; His Adventure With the Lady and the Bear 58.  The King's
+ Daughter and the Ape
+
+
+
+The Book of the Thousand Nights and A Night
+
+
+
+Ni'amah bin al-Rabi'a and Naomi his Slave-girl.
+
+There lived once in the city of Cufa[FN#1] a man called Al-Rabн'a bin
+Hбtim, who was one of the chief men of the town, a wealthy and a
+healthy, and Heaven had vouchsafed him a son, whom he named Ni'amah
+Allah.[FN#2] One day, being in the slave-brokers' mart, he saw a woman
+exposed for sale with a little maid of wonderful beauty and grace on
+her arm. So he beckoned to the broker and asked him, "How much for this
+woman and her daughter?" He answered "Fifty dinars." Quoth Al-Rabi'a
+"Write the contract of sale and take the money and give it to her
+owner." Then he gave the broker the price and his brokerage and taking
+the woman and her child, carried them to his house. Now when the
+daughter of his uncle who was his wife saw the slave, she said to her
+husband, "O my cousin, what is this damsel?" He replied, "Of a truth, I
+bought her for the sake of the little one on her arm; for know that,
+when she groweth up, there will not be her like for beauty, either in
+the land of the Arabs or the Ajams." His wife remarked, "Right was thy
+rede", and said to the woman "What is thy name?" She replied, "O my
+lady, my name is Tauflнk.[FN#3]" "And what is thy daughter's name?"
+asked she? Answered the slave, "Sa'ad, the happy." Rejoined her
+mistress; "Thou sayst sooth, thou art indeed happy, and happy is he who
+hath bought thee." Then quoth she to her husband, "O my cousin, what
+wilt thou call her?"; and quoth he, "Whatso thou chooses"; so she said,
+"Then let us call her Naomi," and he rejoined "Good is thy device." The
+little Naomi was reared with Al-Rabi'a's son Ni'amah in one cradle, so
+to speak, till the twain reached the age of ten and each grew handsomer
+than the other; and the boy used to address her, "O my sister!" and
+she, "O my brother!", till they came to that age when Al-Rabi'a said to
+Ni'amah, "O my son, Naomi is not thy sister but thy slave. I bought her
+in thy name whilst thou wast yet in the cradle; so call her no more
+sister from this day forth." Quoth Ni'amah, "If that be so, I will take
+her to wife." Then he went to his mother and told her of this, and she
+said to him, "O my son, she is thy handmaid." So he wedded and went in
+unto Naomi and loved her; and two[FN#4] years passed over them whilst
+in this condition, nor was there in all Cufa a fairer girl than Naomi,
+or a sweeter or a more graceful. As she grew up she learnt the Koran
+and read works of science and excelled in music and playing upon all
+kinds of instruments; and in the beauty of her singing she surpassed
+all the folk of her time. Now one day as she sat with her husband in
+the wine chamber, she took the lute, tightened the strings, and sang
+these two couplets,
+
+"While thou'rt my lord whose bounty's my estate, * A sword
+
+
+     whereby my woes to annihilate,
+
+
+Recourse I never need to Amru or Zayd,[FN#5] * Nor aught save
+
+
+     thee if way to me grow strait!"
+
+
+
+Ni'amah was charmed with these verses and said to her, "By my life, O
+Naomi, sing to us with the tambourine and other instruments!" So she
+sang these couplets to a lively measure,
+
+"By His life who holds my guiding rein, I swear * I'll meet on
+
+
+     love ground parlous foe nor care:
+
+
+Good sooth I'll vex revilers, thee obey * And quit my slumbers
+
+
+     and all joy forswear:
+
+
+And for thy love I'll dig in vitals mine * A grave, nor shall my
+
+
+     vitals weet 'tis there!"
+
+
+
+And Ni'amah exclaimed, "Heaven favoured art thou, O Naomi!" But whilst
+they led thus the most joyous life, behold! Al-Hajjбj,[FN#6] the
+Viceroy of Cufa said to himself, "Needs must I contrive to take this
+girl named Naomi and send her to the Commander of the Faithful, Abd
+al-Malik bin Marwбn, for he hath not in his palace her like for beauty
+and sweet singing." So he summoned an old woman of the duennas of his
+wives and said to her, "Go to the house of Al-Rabi'a and foregather
+with the girl Naomi and combine means to carry her off; for her like is
+not to be found on the face of the earth." She promised to do his
+bidding; the next morning she donned the woollen clothes of a devotee
+and hung around her neck a rosary of beads by the thousand; and,
+henting in hand a staff and a leather water bottle of Yamani
+manufacture.— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman
+promised to do the bidding of Al-Hajjaj, and whenas it was morning she
+donned the woollen clothes of a devotee[FN#7] and hung around her neck
+a rosary of beads by the thousand and hent in hand a staff and a
+leather water bottle of Yamani manufacture and fared forth crying,
+"Glory be to Allah! Praised be Allah! There is no god but the God!
+Allah is Most Great! There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in
+Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" Nor did she leave off her lauds and
+her groaning in prayer whilst her heart was full of guile and wiles,
+till she came to the house of Ni'amah bin al-Rabi'a at the hour of noon
+prayer, and knocked at the door. The doorkeeper opened and said to her,
+"What dost thou want?" Quoth she, "I am a poor pious woman, whom the
+time of noon prayer hath overtaken, and fief would I pray in this
+blessed place." Answered the porter, "O old woman, this is no mosque
+nor oratory, but the house of Ni'amah son of al Rabi'a." She replied,
+"I know there is neither cathedral-mosque nor oratory like the house of
+Ni'amah bin al-Rabi'a. I am a chamberwoman of the palace of the Prince
+of True Believers and am come out for worship and the visitation of
+Holy Places." But the porter rejoined, "Thou canst not enter;" and many
+words passed between them, till at last she caught hold and hung to him
+saying, "Shall the like of me be denied admission to the house of
+Ni'amah bin al-Rabi'a, I who have free access to the houses of Emirs
+and Grandees?" Anon, out came Ni'amah and, hearing their loud language,
+laughed and bade the old woman enter after him. So she followed him
+into the presence of Naomi, whom she saluted after the godliest and
+goodliest fashion, and, when she looked on her, she was confounded at
+her exceeding seemliness and said to her, "O my lady, I commend thee to
+the safeguard of Allah, who made thee and thy lord fellows in beauty
+and loveliness!" Then she stood up in the prayer niche and betook
+herself to inclination and prostration and prayer, till day departed
+and night darkened and starkened, when Naomi said to her, "O my mother,
+rest thy legs and feet awhile." Replied the old woman "O my lady, whoso
+seeketh the world to come let him weary him in this world, and whoso
+wearieth not himself in this world shall not attain the dwellings of
+the just in the world to come." Then Naomi brought her food and said to
+her, "Eat of my bread and pray Heaven to accept my penitence and to
+have mercy on me." But she cried, "O my lady, I am fasting. As for
+thee, thou art but a girl and it befitteth thee to eat and drink and
+make merry; Allah be indulgent to thee!; for the Almighty saith: All
+shall be punished except him who shall repent and believe and shall
+work a righteous work."[FN#8] So Naomi continued sitting with the old
+woman in talk and presently said to Ni'amah, "O my lord, conjure this
+ancient dame to sojourn with us awhile, for piety and devotion are
+imprinted on her countenance." Quoth he, "Set apart for her a chamber
+where she may say her prayers; and suffer no one to go in to her:
+peradventure, Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) shall prosper us by
+the blessing of her presence and never separate us." So the old woman
+passed her night in praying and reciting the Koran; and when Allah
+caused the morn to dawn, she went in to Ni'amah and Naomi and, giving
+them good morning, said to them, "I pray Allah have you in His holy
+keeping!" Quoth Naomi, "Whither away, O my mother? My lord hath bidden
+me set apart for thee a chamber, where thou mayst seclude thee for thy
+devotions." Replied the old woman, "Allah give him long life, and
+continue His favour to you both! But I would have you charge the
+doorkeeper not to stay my coming in to you; and, Inshallah! I will go
+the round of the Holy Places and pray for you two at the end of my
+devotions every day and night." Then she went out (whilst Naomi wept
+for parting with her knowing not the cause of her coming), and returned
+to Al-Hajjaj who said to her, "As thou do my bidding soon, thou shalt
+have of me abundant good." Quoth she, "I ask of thee a full month;" and
+quoth he "Take the month." Thereupon the old hag fell to daily visiting
+Ni'amah's house and frequented his slave-wife, Naomi.— And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old hag fell
+to visiting daily Ni'amah's house and frequenting his slave wife,
+Naomi; and both ceased not to honour her, and she used to go in to them
+morning and evening and all in the house respected her till, one day,
+being alone with Naomi, she said to her, "O my lady! by Allah, when I
+go to the Holy Places, I will pray for thee; and I only wish thou wert
+with me, that thou mightest look on the Elders of the Faith who resort
+thither, and they should pray for thee, according to thy desire." Naomi
+cried, "I conjure thee by Allah take me with thee!"; and she replied,
+"Ask leave of thy mother in law, and I will take thee." So Naomi said
+to her husband's mother, "O my lady, ask my master to let us go forth,
+me and thee, one day with this my old mother, to prayer and worship
+with the Fakirs in the Holy Places." Now when Ni'amah came in and sat
+down, the old woman went up to him and would have kissed his hand, but
+he forbade her; so she invoked blessings[FN#9] on him and left the
+house. Next day she came again, in the absence of Ni'amah, and she
+addressed Naomi, saying, "We prayed for thee yesterday; but arise now
+and divert thyself and return ere thy lord come home." So Naomi said to
+her mother-in-law, "I beseech thee, for Allah's sake, give me leave to
+go with this pious woman, that I may sight the saints of Allah in the
+Holy Places, and return speedily ere my lord come back." Quoth
+Ni'amah's mother, "I fear lest thy lord know;" but said the old woman,
+"By Allah, I will not let her take seat on the floor; no, she shall
+look, standing on her feet, and not tarry." So she took the damsel by
+guile and, carrying her to Al-Hajjaj's palace, told him of her coming,
+after placing her in a lonely chamber; whereupon he went in to her and,
+looking upon her, saw her to be the loveliest of the people of the day,
+never had he beheld her like. Now when Naomi caught sight of him she
+veiled her face from him; but he left her not till he had called his
+Chamberlain, whom he commanded to take fifty horsemen; and he bade him
+mount the damsel on a swift dromedary, and bear her to Damascus and
+there deliver her to the Commander of the Faithful, Abd al-Malik bin
+Marwan. Moreover, he gave him a letter for the Caliph, saying, "Bear
+him this letter and bring me his answer and hasten thy return to me."
+So the Chamberlain, without losing time, took the damsel (and she
+tearful for separation from her lord) and, setting out with her on a
+dromedary, gave not over journeying till he reached Damascus. There he
+sought audience of the Commander of the Faithful and, when it was
+granted, the Chamberlain delivered the damsel and reported the
+circumstance. The Caliph appointed her a separate apartment and going
+into his Harim, said to his wife, "Al Hajjaj hath bought me a
+slave-girl of the daughters of the Kings of Cufa[FN#10] for ten
+thousand dinars, and hath sent me this letter."— And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Fortieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph
+acquainted his wife with the story of the slave-girl, she said to him,
+"Allah increase to thee His favour!" Then the Caliph's sister went in
+to the supposed slave-girl and, when she saw her, she said, "By Allah,
+not unlucky is the man who hath thee in his house, were thy cost an
+hundred thousand dinars!" And Naomi replied, "O fair of face, what
+King's palace is this, and what is the city?" She answered, "This is
+the city of Damascus, and this is the palace of my brother, the
+Commander of the Faithful, Abd al-Malik bin Marwan.[FN#11]" Then she
+resumed, "Didst thou not know all this?" Naomi said, "By Allah, O my
+lady, I had no knowledge of it!"; when the other asked, "And he who
+sold thee and took thy price did he not tell thee that the Caliph had
+bought thee?" Now when Naomi heard these words, she shed tears and said
+to herself, "Verily, I have been tricked and the trick hath succeeded,"
+adding to herself, "If I speak, none will credit me; so I will hold my
+peace and take patience, for I know that the relief of Allah is near."
+Then she bent her head for shame, and indeed her cheeks were tanned by
+the journey and the sun. So the Caliph's sister left her that day and
+returned to her on the morrow with clothes and necklaces of jewels, and
+dressed her; after which the Caliph came in to her and sat down by her
+side, and his sister said to him, "Look on this handmaid in whom Allah
+hath conjoined every perfection of beauty and loveliness." So he said
+to Naomi, "Draw back the veil from thy face;" but she would not unveil,
+and he beheld not her face. However, he saw her wrists and love of her
+entered his heart; and he said to his sister, "I will not go in unto
+her for three days, till she be cheered by thy converse." Then he arose
+and left her, but Naomi ceased not to brood over her case and sigh for
+her separation from her master, Ni'amah, till she fell sick of a fever
+during the night and ate not nor drank; and her favour faded and her
+charms were changed. They told the Caliph of this and her condition
+grieved him; so he visited her with physicians and men of skill, but
+none could come at a cure for her. This is how it fared with her; but
+as regards Ni'amah, when he returned home he sat down on his bed and
+cried, "Ho, Naomi!" But she answered not; so he rose in haste and
+called out, yet none came to him, as all the women in the house had
+hidden themselves for fear of him. Then he went out to his mother, whom
+he found sitting with her cheek on her hand, and said to her, "O my
+mother, where is Naomi?" She answered, "O my son, she is with one who
+is worthier than I to be trusted with her, namely, the devout old
+woman; she went forth with her to visit devotionally the Fakirs and
+return." Quoth Ni'amah, "Since when hath this been her habit and at
+what hour went she forth?" Quoth his mother, "She went out early in the
+morning." He asked, "And how camest thou to give her leave for this?";
+and she answered, "O my son, 'twas she persuaded me." "There is no
+Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"
+exclaimed Ni'amah and, going forth from his home in a state of
+distraction, he repaired to the Captain of the Watch to whom said he,
+"Doss thou play tricks upon me and steal-my slave-girl away from my
+house? I will assuredly complain of thee to the Commander of the
+Faithful." Said the Chief of Police, "Who hath taken her?" and Ni'amah
+replied, "An old woman of such and such a mien, clad in woollen raiment
+and carrying a rosary of beads numbered by thousands." Rejoined the
+other, "Find me the old woman and I will get thee back thy slave-girl."
+"And who knows the old woman?" retorted Ni'amah. "And who knows the
+hidden things save Allah (may He be extolled and exalted!)?" cried the
+Chief, who knew her for Al-Hajjaj's procuress. Cried Ni'amah, "I look
+to thee for my slave-girl, and Al-Hajjaj shall judge between thee and
+me;" and the Master of Police answered, "Go to whom thou wilt." So
+Ni'amah went to the palace of Al-Hajjaj, for his father was one of the
+chief men of Cufa; and, when he arrived there, the Chamberlain went in
+to the Governor and told him the case; whereupon Al-Hajjaj said,
+"Hither with him!" and when he stood before him enquired, "What be thy
+business?" Said Ni'amah, "Such and such things have befallen me;" and
+the Governor said, "Bring me the Chief of Police, and we will commend
+him to seek for the old woman." Now he knew that the Chief of Police
+was acquainted with her; so, when he came, he said to him, "I wish thee
+to make search for the slave-girl of Ni'amah son of Al-Rabi'a." And he
+answered, "None knoweth the hidden things save Almighty Allah."
+Rejoined Al-Hajjaj, "There is no help for it but thou send out horsemen
+and look for the damsel in all the roads, and seek for her in the
+towns."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-First Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Al-Hajjaj said to
+the Captain of the Watch, "There is no help for it but thou send out
+horsemen, and look for the damsel on all the roads and seek for her in
+the towns." Then he turned to Ni'amah and said to him, "And thy
+slave-girl return not, I will give thee ten slave-girls from my house
+and ten from that of the Chief of Police." And he again bade the
+Captain of the Watch, "Go and seek for the girl." So he went out, and
+Ni'amah returned home full of trouble and despairing of life; for he
+had now reached the age of fourteen and there was yet no hair on his
+side cheeks. So he wept and lamented and shut himself up from his
+household; and ceased not to weep and lament, he and his mother, till
+the morning, when his father came in to him and said, "O my son, of a
+truth, Al-Hajjaj hath put a cheat upon the damsel and hath taken her;
+but from hour to hour Allah giveth relief." However grief redoubled on
+Ni'amah, so that he knew not what he said nor knew he who came in to
+him, and he fell sick for three months his charms were changed, his
+father despaired of him and the physicians visited him and said, "There
+is no remedy for him save the damsel." Now as his father was sitting
+one day, behold he heard tell of a skillful Persian physician, whom the
+folk gave out for perfect in medicine and astrology and geomancy. So
+Al-Rabi'a sent for him and, seating him by his side, entreated him with
+honour and said to him, "Look into my son's case." Thereupon quoth he
+to Ni'amah, "Give me thy hand." The young man gave him his hand and he
+felt his pulse and his joints and looked in his face; then he laughed
+and, turning to his father, said, "Thy son's sole ailment is one of the
+heart."[FN#12] He replied, Thou sayest sooth, O sage, but apply thy
+skill to his state and case, and acquaint me with the whole thereof and
+hide naught from me of his condition." Quoth the Persian, "Of a truth
+he is enamoured of a slave-girl and this slave-girl is either in
+Bassorah or Damascus; and there is no remedy for him but reunion with
+her." Said Al-Rabi'a, "An thou bring them together, thou shalt live all
+thy life in wealth and delight." Answered the Persian, "In good sooth
+this be an easy matter and soon brought about," and he turned to
+Ni'amah and said to him, "No hurt shall befall thee; so be of good
+cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear." Then quoth he to Al-Rabi'a,
+"Bring me out four thousand dinars of your money;" so he gave them to
+him, and he added, "I wish to carry thy son with me to Damascus; and
+Almighty Allah willing, I will not return thence but with the damsel."
+Then he turned to the youth and asked, "What is thy name?"; and he
+answered "Ni'amah." Quoth the Persian, "O Ni'amah, sit up and be of
+good heart, for Allah will reunite thee with the damsel." And when he
+sat up the leach continued, "Be of good cheer for we set out for
+Damascus this very day: put thy trust in the Lord and eat and drink and
+be cheerful so as to fortify thyself for travel." Upon this the Persian
+began making preparation of all things needed, such as presents and
+rarities; and he took of Al-Rabi'a in all the sum of ten thousand
+dinars, together with horses and camels and beasts of burden and other
+requisites. Then Ni'amah farewelled his father and mother and journeyed
+with the physician to Aleppo. They could find no news of Naomi there so
+they fared on to Damascus, where they abode three days, after which the
+Persian took a shop and he adorned even the shelves with vessels of
+costly porcelain, with covers of silver, and with gildings and stuffs
+of price. Moreover, he set before himself vases and flagons of glass
+full of all manner of ointments and ups, and he surrounded them with
+cups of crystal—and, placing astrolabe and geomantic tablet facing him,
+he donned a physician's habit and took his seat in the shop. Then he
+set Ni'amah standing before him clad in a shirt and gown of silk and,
+girding his middle with a silken kerchief gold-embroidered, said to
+him, "O Ni'amah, henceforth thou art my son; so call me naught but
+sire, and I will call thee naught but son." And he replied, "I hear and
+I obey." Thereupon the people of Damascus flocked to the Persian's shop
+that they might gaze on the youth's goodliness and the beauty of the
+shop and its contents, whilst the physician spoke to Ni'amah in Persian
+and he answered him in the same tongue, for he knew the language, after
+the wont of the sons of the notables. So that Persian doctor soon
+became known among the townsfolk and they began to acquaint him with
+their ailments, and he to prescribe for them remedies. Moreover, they
+brought him the water of the sick in phials,[FN#13] and he would test
+it and say, "He, whose water this is, is suffering from such and such a
+disease," and the patient would declare, "Verily this physician sayeth
+sooth." So he continued to do the occasions of the folk and they to
+flock to him, till his fame spread throughout the city and into the
+houses of the great. Now, one day as he sat in his-shop, behold, there
+came up an old woman riding on an ass with a stuffed saddle of brocade
+embroidered with jewels; and, stopping before the Persian's shop, drew
+rein and beckoned him, saying, "Take my hand." He took her hand, and
+she alighted and asked him "Art thou the Persian physician from Irak?"
+"Yes," answered he, and she said, "Know that I have a sick daughter."
+Then she brought out to him a phial—and the Persian looked at it and
+said to her, "O my mistress, tell me thy daughter's name, that I may
+calculate her horoscope and learn the hour in which it will befit her
+to drink medicine." She replied, "O my brother the Persian,[FN#14] her
+name is Naomi."— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Persian
+heard the name of Naomi, he fell to calculating and writing on his hand
+and presently said, "O my lady, I cannot prescribe a medicine for her
+till I know what country woman she is, because of the difference of
+climate: so tell me in what land she was brought up and what is her
+age." The old woman replied "She is fourteen years old and she was
+brought up in Cufa of Irak." He asked, "And how long hath she sojourned
+in this country?" "But a few months," answered she. Now when Ni'amah
+heard the old woman's words and recognised the name of his slave- girl,
+his heart fluttered and he was like to faint. Then said the Persian,
+"Such and such medicines will suit her case;" and the old woman
+rejoined, "Then make them up and give me what thou hast mentioned, with
+the blessing of Almighty Allah." So saying, she threw upon the shop
+board ten gold pieces, and he looked at Ni'amah and bade him prepare
+the necessary drugs; whereupon she also looked at the youth and
+exclaimed, "Allah have thee in his keeping, O my son! Verily, she
+favoureth thee in age and mien." Then said she to the physician, "O my
+brother the Persian, is this thy slave or thy son?" "He is my son,"
+answered he. So Ni'amah put up the medicine and, placing it in a little
+box, took a piece of paper and wrote thereon these two couplets,[FN#15]
+
+"If Naomi bless me with a single glance, * Let Su'adб sue and
+
+
+     Juml joy to
+
+
+They said, "Forget her: twenty such thou'lt find." * But none is
+
+
+     like her—I will not forget!"
+
+
+
+He pressed the paper into the box and, sealing it up, wrote upon the
+cover the following words in Cufic characters, "I am Ni'amah of
+al-Rabi'a of Cufa." Then he set it before the old woman who took it and
+bade them farewell and returned to the Caliph's palace, and when she
+went up with the drugs to the damsel she placed the little box of
+medicine at her feet, saying, "O my lady, know that there is lately
+come to our town a Persian physician, than whom I never saw a more
+skilful nor a better versed in matters of malady. I told him thy name,
+after showing him the water-bottle, and forthwith he knew thine ailment
+and prescribed a remedy. Then he bade his son make thee up this
+medicine; and there is not in Damascus a comelier or a seemlier youth
+than this lad of his, nor hath anyone a shop the like of his shop." So
+Naomi took the box and, seeing the names of her lord and his father
+written on the cover, changed colour and said to herself, "Doubtless,
+the owner of this shop is come in search of me." So she said to the old
+woman, "Describe to me this youth." Answered the old woman, "His name
+is Ni'amah, he hath a mole on his right eyebrow, is richly clad and is
+perfectly handsome." Cried Naomi, "Give me the medicine, whereon be the
+blessing and help of Almighty Allah!" So she drank off the potion (and
+she laughing) and said, "Indeed, it is a blessed medicine!" Then she
+sought in the box and, finding the paper, opened it, read it,
+understood it and knew that this was indeed her lord, whereas her heart
+was solaced and she rejoiced. Now when the old woman saw her laughing,
+she exclaimed, "This is indeed a blessed day!"; and Naomi said, "O
+nurse, I have a mind for something to eat and drink." The old woman
+said to the serving women, "Bring a tray of dainty viands for your
+mistress;" whereupon they set food before her and she sat down to eat.
+And behold in came the Caliph who, seeing her sitting at meat,
+rejoiced; and the old woman said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful,
+I give thee joy of thy hand maid Naomi's recovery! And the cause is
+that there is lately come to this our city a physician than whom I
+never saw a better versed in diseases and their remedies. I fetched her
+medicine from him and she hath drunken of it but once and is restored
+to health." Quoth he, "Take a thousand dinars and apply thyself to her
+treatment, till she be completely recovered." And he went away,
+rejoicing in the damsel's recovery, whilst the old woman betook herself
+to the Persian's house and delivered the thousand dinars, giving him to
+know that she was become the Caliph's slave and also handing him a
+letter which Naomi had written. He took it and gave the letter to
+Ni'amah, who at first sight knew her hand and fell down in a swoon.
+When he revived he opened the letter and found these words written
+therein: "From the slave despoiled of her Ni'amah, her delight; her
+whose reason hath been beguiled and who is parted from the core of her
+heart. But afterwards of a truth thy letter hath reached me and hath
+broadened my breast, and solaced my soul, even as saith the poet,
+
+"Thy note came: long lost hungers wrote that note, * Till drop
+
+
+     they sweetest scents for what they wrote:
+
+
+Twas Moses to his mother's arms restored; * 'Twas Jacob's eye-
+
+
+     sight cured by Joseph's coat!"[FN#16]
+
+
+
+When Ni'amah read these verses, his eyes ran over with tears and the
+old woman said to him, "What maketh thee to weep, O my son? Allah never
+cause thine eye to shed tears!" Cried the Persian, "O my lady, how
+should my son not weep, seeing that this is his slave-girl and he her
+lord, Ni'amah son of al-Rabi'a of Cufa; and her health dependeth on her
+seeing him, for naught aileth her but loving him.—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian cried
+out to the old woman, "How shall my son not weep, seeing that this is
+his slave-girl and he her lord, Ni'amah son of al-Rabi'a of Cufa; and
+the health of this damsel dependeth on her seeing him and naught aileth
+her but loving him. So, do thou, O my lady, take these thousand dinars
+to thyself and thou shalt have of me yet more than this; only look on
+us with eyes of rush; for we know not how to bring this affair to a
+happy end save through thee." Then she said to Ni'amah, "Say, art thou
+indeed her lord?" He replied, "Yes," and she rejoined, "Thou sayest
+sooth; for she ceaseth not continually to name thee." Then he told her
+all that had passed from first to last, and she said, "O youth, thou
+shalt owe thy reunion with her to none but myself." So she mounted and,
+at once returning to Naomi, looked in her face and laughed saying, "It
+is just, O my daughter, that thou weep and fall sick for thy separation
+from thy master, Ni'amah, son of Al-Rabi'a of Cufa." Quoth Naomi,
+"Verily, the veil hath been withdrawn for thee and the truth revealed
+to thee." Rejoined the old woman, "Be of good cheer and take heart, for
+I will assuredly bring you together, though it cost me my life." Then
+she returned to Ni'amah and said to him, "I went to thy slave- girl and
+conversed with her, and I find that she longeth for thee yet more than
+thou for her; for although the Commander of the Faithful is minded to
+become intimate with her, she refuseth herself to him. But if thou be
+stout of purpose and firm of heart, I will bring you together and
+venture my life for you, and play some trick and make shift to carry
+thee into the Caliph's palace, where thou shalt meet her, for she
+cannot come forth." And Ni'amah answered, "Allah requite thee with
+good!" Then she took leave of him and went back to Naomi and said, "Thy
+lord is indeed dying of love for thee and would fain see thee and
+foregather with thee. What sayest thou?" Naomi replied, "And I too am
+longing for his sight and dying for his love." Whereupon the old woman
+took a parcel of women's clothes and ornaments and, repairing to
+Ni'amah, said to him, "Come with me into some place apart." So he
+brought her into the room behind the shop where she stained his hands
+and decked his wrists and plaited his hair, after which she clad him in
+a slave-girl's habit and adorned him after the fairest fashion of
+woman's adornment, till he was as one of the Houris of the Garden of
+Heaven, and when she saw him thus she exclaimed, "Blessed be Allah,
+best of Creators! By Allah, thou art handsomer than the damsel.[FN#17]
+Now, walk with thy left shoulder forwards and thy right well behind,
+and sway thy hips from side to side."[FN#18] So he walked before her,
+as she bade him; and, when she saw he had caught the trick of woman's
+gait, she said to him, "Expect me tomorrow night, and Allah willing, I
+will take and carry thee to the palace. But when thou seest the
+Chamberlains and the Eunuchs be bold, and bow thy head and speak not
+with any, for I will prevent their speech; and with Allah is success!"
+Accordingly, when the morning dawned, she returned and, carrying him to
+the palace, entered before him and he after her step by step. The
+Chamberlain would have stopped his entering, but the old woman said to
+him, "O most ill omened of slaves, this is the handmaid of Naomi, the
+Caliph's favourite. How durst thou stay her when she would enter?" Then
+said she, "Come in, O damsel!"; and the old woman went in and they
+ceased not faring on, till they drew near the door leading to the inner
+piazza of the palace, when she said to him, "O Ni'amah, hearten thyself
+and take courage and enter and turn to the left: then count five doors
+and pass through the sixth, for it is that of the place prepared for
+thee. Fear nothing, and if any speak to thee, answer not, neither
+stop." Then she went up with him to the door, and the Chamberlain there
+on guard accosted her, saying "What damsel is this?"—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+Chamberlain accosted the old woman, saying, "What damsel is this?";
+quoth the ancient dame, "Our lady hath a mind to buy her;" and he
+rejoined, "None may enter save by leave of the Commander of the
+Faithful; so do thou go back with her. I can not let her pass for thus
+am I commanded." Replied the old woman, "O Chief Chamberlain, use thy
+reason. Thou knowest that Naomi, the Caliph's slave-girl, of whom he is
+enamoured, is but now restored to health and the Commander of the
+Faithful hardly yet crediteth her recovery. She is minded to buy this
+hand maid; so oppose thou not her entrance, lest haply it come to
+Naomi's knowledge and she be wroth with thee and suffer a relapse and
+this cause thy head to be cut off." Then said she to Ni'amah, "Enter, O
+damsel; pay no heed to what he saith and tell not the Queen-consort
+that her Chamberlain opposed thine entrance." So Ni'amah bowed his head
+and entered the palace, and would have turned to the left, but mistook
+the direction and walked to his right; and, meaning to count five doors
+and enter the sixth, he counted six and entering the seventh, found
+himself in a place whose floor was carpeted with brocade and whose
+walls were hung with curtains of gold- embroidered silk. And therein
+stood censers of aloes-wood and ambergris and strong-scented musk, and
+at the upper end was a couch bespread with cloth of gold on which he
+seated himself, marvelling at the magnificence he saw and knowing not
+what was written for him in the Secret Purpose. As he sat musing on his
+case, the Caliph's sister, followed by her handmaid, came in upon him;
+and, seeing the youth seated there took him for a slave-girl and
+accosted him and said, "Who art thou O damsel? and what is thy case and
+who brought thee hither?" He made no reply, and was silent, when she
+continued, "O damsel! if thou be one of my brother's concubines and he
+be wroth with thee, I will intercede with him for thee and get thee
+grace." But he answered her not a word; so she said to her slave-girl,
+"Stand at the door and let none enter." Then she went up to Ni'amah and
+looking at him was amazed at his beauty and said to him, "O lady, tell
+me who thou art and what is thy name and how thou camest here; for I
+have never seen thee in our palace." Still he answered not, whereat she
+was angered and, putting her hand to his bosom, found no breasts and
+would have unveiled him, that she might know who he was; but he said to
+her, "O my lady, I am thy slave and I cast myself on thy protection: do
+thou protect me." She said, "No harm shall come to thee, but tell me
+who thou art and who brought thee into this my apartment." Answered he,
+"O Princess, I am known as Ni'amah bin al-Rabi'a of Cufa and I have
+ventured my life for the sake of my slave-girl, Naomi, whom Al-Hajjaj
+took by sleight and sent hither." Said she, "Fear not: no harm shall
+befall thee;" then, calling her maid, she said to her, "Go to Naomi's
+chamber and send her to me." Meanwhile the old woman went to Naomi's
+bedroom and said to her, "Hath thy lord come to thee?" "No, by Allah!"
+answered Naomi, and the other said, "Belike he hath gone astray and
+entered some chamber other than thine and lost himself." So Naomi
+cried, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
+Glorious, the Great! Our last hour is come and we are all lost." And
+while they were sitting and sadly enough pondering their case, in came
+the Princess's handmaid and saluting Naomi said to her, "My lady
+biddeth thee to her banquet." "I hear and I obey," answered the damsel
+and the old woman said, "Belike thy lord is with the Caliph's sister
+and the veil of secrecy hath been rent." So Naomi at once sprang up and
+betook herself to the Princess, who said to her, "Here is thy lord
+sitting with me; it seemeth he hath mistaken the place; but, please
+Allah, neither thou nor he has any cause for fear." When Naomi heard
+these words, she took heart of grace and went up to Ni'amah; and her
+lord when he saw her.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ni'amah saw
+his handmaid Naomi, he rose to meet her and strained her to his bosom
+and both fell to the ground fainting. As soon as they came to
+themselves, the Caliph's sister said to them, "Sit ye down and take we
+counsel for your deliverance from this your strait." And they answered,
+"O our lady, we hear and obey: it is thine to command." Quoth she, "By
+Allah, no harm shall befall you from us!" Then she bade her handmaids
+bring meat and drink which was done, and they sat down and ate till
+they had enough, after which they sat drinking. Then the cup went round
+amongst them and their cares ceased from them; but Ni'amah said, "Would
+I knew how this will end." The Princess asked, "O Ni'amah, dost thou
+love thy slave Naomi?"; and he answered, "Of a truth it is my passion
+for her which hath brought me to this state of peril for my life." Then
+said she to the damsel, "O Naomi, dost thou love thy lord Ni'amah?";
+and she replied, "O my lady, it is the love of him which hath wasted my
+body and brought me to evil case." Rejoined the Princess, "By Allah,
+since ye love each other thus, may he not be who would part you! Be of
+good cheer and keep your eyes cool and clear." At this they both
+rejoiced and Naomi called for a lute and, when they brought it, she
+took it and tuned it and played a lively measure which enchanted the
+hearers, and after the prelude sang these couplets,
+
+"When the slanderers cared but to part us twain, * We owed no
+
+
+     blood-debt could raise their ire
+
+
+And they poured in our ears all the din of war, * And aid failed
+
+
+     and friends, when my want was dire:
+
+
+I fought them hard with mine eyes and tears; * With breath and
+
+
+     sword, with the stream and fire!"
+
+
+
+Then Naomi gave the lute to her master, Ni'amah, saying, "Sing thou to
+us some verse." So he took it and playing a lively measure, intoned
+these couplets,
+
+"Full Moon if unfreckled would favour thee, * And Sun uneclipsed
+
+
+     would reflect thy blee:
+
+
+I wonder (but love is of wonders full * And ardour and passion
+
+
+     and ecstasy)
+
+
+How short the way to my love I fare, * Which, from her faring, so
+
+
+     long I see."
+
+
+
+Now when he had made an end of his song, Naomi filled the cup and gave
+it to him, and he took it and drank it off; then she filled again and
+gave the cup to the Caliph's sister who also emptied it; after which
+the Princess in her turn took the lute and tightened the strings and
+tuned it and sang these two couplets,
+
+"Grief, cark and care in my heart reside, * And the fires of love
+
+
+     in my breast
+
+
+My wasted form to all eyes shows clear; * For Desire my body hath
+
+
+     mortified."
+
+
+
+Then she filled the cup and gave it to Naomi, who drank it off and
+taking the lute, sang these two couplets,
+
+"O to whom I gave soul which thou tortures", * And in vain I'd
+
+
+     recover from fair Unfaith
+
+
+Do grant thy favours my care to cure * Ere I die, for this be my
+
+
+     latest breath."
+
+
+
+And they ceased not to sing verses and drink to the sweet sound of the
+strings, full of mirth and merriment and joy and jollity till behold!
+in came the Commander of the Faithful. Now when they saw him, they rose
+and kissed the ground before him; and he, seeing Naomi with the lute in
+her hand, said to her, "O Naomi, praised be Allah who hath done away
+from thee sickness and suffering!" Then he looked at Ni'amah (who was
+still disguised as a woman), and said to the Princess, "O my sister,
+what damsel is this by Naomi's side?" She replied, "O Commander of the
+Faithful, thou hast here a handmaid, one of thy concubines and the
+bosom friend of Naomi who will neither eat nor drink without her." And
+she repeated the words of the poet,
+
+"Two contraries, and both concur in opposite charms, * And charms so
+contraried by contrast lovelier show."
+
+Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah Omnipotent, verily she is as handsome as
+Naomi, and to-morrow I will appoint her a separate chamber beside that
+of her friend and send her furniture and stuffs and all that befitteth
+her, in honour of Naomi." Then the Princess called for food and set it
+before her brother, who ate and made himself at home in their place and
+company. Then filling a cup he signed to Naomi to sing; so she took the
+lute, after draining two of them and sang these two couplets,
+
+"Since my toper-friend in my hand hath given * Three cups that
+
+
+     brim and bubble, e'er since
+
+
+I've trailed my skirts throughout night for pride * As tho',
+
+
+     Prince of the Faithful, I were thy Prince!"
+
+
+
+The Prince of True Believers was delighted and filling another cup,
+gave it to Naomi and bade her sing again; so after draining the cup and
+sweeping the strings, she sang as follows:—
+
+"O most noble of men in this time and stound, * Of whom none may
+
+
+     boast he is equal-found!
+
+
+O matchless in greatness of soul and gifts, * O thou Chief, O
+
+
+     thou King amongst all renowned:
+
+
+Lord, who dealest large boons to the Lords of Earth, * Whom thou
+
+
+     vexest not nor dost hold them bound
+
+
+The Lord preserve thee, and spoil thy foes, * And ne'er cease thy
+
+
+     lot with good Fortune crowned!"
+
+
+
+Now when the Caliph heard these couplets, he exclaimed, "By Allah,
+good! By Allah, excellent! Verily the Lord hath been copious[FN#19] to
+thee, O Naomi! How clever is thy tongue and how dear is thy speech!"
+And they ceased not their mirth and good cheer till midnight, when the
+Caliph's sister said to him, "Give ear, O Commander of the Faithful to
+a tale I have read in books of a certain man of rank." "And what is
+this tale?" quoth he. Quoth she "Know, O Prince of the Faithful that
+there lived once in the city of Cufa a youth called Ni'amah, son of
+Al-Rabi'a, and he had a slave-girl whom he loved and who loved him.
+They had been reared in one bed; but when they grew up and mutual-love
+get hold of them, Fortune smote them with her calamities and Time, the
+tyrant, brought upon them his adversity and decreed separation unto
+them. Thereupon designing and slanderous folk enticed her by sleight
+forth of his house and, stealing her away from his home, sold her to
+one of the Kings for ten thousand dinars. Now the girl loved her lord
+even as he loved her, so he left kith and kin and house and home and
+the gifts of fortune, and set out to search for her and when she was
+found he devised means to gain access to her".—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph's
+sister said, "And Ni'amah ceased not absenting himself from his kith
+and kin and patrial-stead, that he might gain access to his handmaid,
+and he incurred every peril and lavished his life till he gained access
+to her, and her name was Naomi, like this slave-girl. But the interview
+was short; they had not been long in company when in came the King, who
+had bought her of her kidnapper, and hastily ordered them to be slain,
+without doing justice by his own soul and delaying to enquire into the
+matter before the command was carried out. Now what sayest thou, O
+Commander of the Faithful, of this King's wrongous conduct?" Answered
+the Caliph; "This was indeed a strange thing: it behoved that King to
+pardon when he had the power to punish; and he ought to have regarded
+three things in their favour. The first was that they loved each other;
+the second that they were in his house and in his grasp; and the third
+that it befitteth a King to be deliberate in judging and ordering
+between folk, and how much more so in cases where he himself is
+concerned! Wherefore this King thus did an unkingly deed." Then said
+his sister, "O my brother, by the King of the heavens and the earth, I
+conjure thee, bid Naomi sing and hearken to that she shall sing!" So he
+said "O Naomi, sing to me;" whereupon she played a lively measure and
+sang these couplets,
+
+"Beguiled us Fortune who her guile displays, * Smiting the heart,
+
+
+     bequeathing thoughts that craze
+
+
+And parting lovers whom she made to meet, * Till tears in torrent
+
+
+     either cheek displays:
+
+
+They were and I was and my life was glad, * While Fortune often
+
+
+     joyed to join our ways;
+
+
+I will pour tear flood, will rain gouts of blood, * Thy loss
+
+
+     bemoaning through the nights and days!"
+
+
+
+Now when the Commander of the Faithful heard this verse, he was moved
+to great delight and his sister said to him, "O my brother, whoso
+decideth in aught against himself, him it behoveth to abide by it and
+do according to his word; and thou hast judged against thyself by this
+judgement." Then said she, "O Ni'amah, stand up and do thou likewise up
+stand, O Naomi!" So they stood up and she continued, "O Prince of True
+Believers, she who standeth before thee is Naomi the stolen, whom
+Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf al-Sakafi kidnapped and sent to thee, falsely
+pretending in his letter to thee that he had bought her for ten
+thousand gold pieces. And this other who standeth before thee is her
+lord, Ni'amah, son of Al-Rabi'a; and I beseech thee, by the honour of
+thy pious forebears and by Hamzah and Ukayl and Abbas,[FN#20] to pardon
+them both and overlook their offence and bestow them one on the other,
+that thou mayst win rich reward in the next world of thy just dealing
+with them; for they are under thy hand and verily they have eaten of
+thy meat and drunken of thy drink; and behold, I make intercession for
+them and beg of thee the boon of their blood." Thereupon quoth the
+Caliph, "Thou speakest sooth: I did indeed give judgement as thou
+sayst, and I am not one to pass sentence and to revoke it." Then said
+he, "O Naomi, say, be this thy lord?" And she answered "Even so, O
+Commander of the Faithful." Then quoth he, "No harm shall befall you, I
+give you each to other;" adding to the young man, "O Ni'amah, who told
+thee where she was and taught thee how to get at this place?" He
+replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, hearken to my tale and give ear
+to my history; for, by the virtue of thy pious forefathers, I will hide
+nothing from thee!" And he told him all that had passed between himself
+and the Persian physician and the old nurse, and how she had brought
+him into the palace and he had mistaken the doors; whereat the Caliph
+wondered with exceeding wonder and said, "Fetch me the Persian." So
+they brought him into the presence and he was made one of his chief
+officers. Moreover the King bestowed on him robes of honour and ordered
+him a handsome present, saying, "When a man hath shown like this man
+such artful management, it behoveth us to make him one of our chief
+officers." The Caliph also loaded Ni'amah and Naomi with gifts and
+honours and rewarded the old nurse; and they abode with him seven days
+in joy and content and all delight of life, when Ni'amah craved leave
+to return to Cufa with his slave-girl. The Caliph gave them permission
+and they departed and arrived in due course at Cufa, where Ni'amah was
+restored to his father and mother, and they abode in all the joys and
+jollities of life, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights
+and the Sunderer of societies. Now when Amjad and As'ad heard from
+Bahram this story, they marvelled with extreme marvel and said, "By
+Allah, this is indeed a rare tale!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Amjad and
+As'ad heard this story from Bahram the Magian who had become a Moslem,
+they marvelled with extreme marvel and thus passed that night; and when
+the next morning dawned, they mounted and riding to the palace, sought
+an audience of the King who granted it and received them with high
+honour. Now as they were sitting together talking, of a sudden they
+heard the towns folk crying aloud and shouting to one another and
+calling for help; and the Chamberlain came in to the King and said to
+him, "Some King hath encamped before the city, he and his host, with
+arms and weapons displayed, and we know not their object and aim." The
+King took counsel with his Wazir Amjad and his brother As'ad; and Amjad
+said, "I will go out to him and learn the cause of his coming." So he
+took horse and, riding forth from the city, repaired to the stranger's
+camp, where he found the King and with him a mighty many and mounted
+Mamelukes. When the guards saw him, they knew him for an envoy from the
+King of the city; so they took him and brought him before their Sultan.
+Then Amjad kissed the ground before him; but lo! the King was a Queen,
+who was veiled with a mouth-veil, and she said to Amjad, "Know that I
+have no design on this your city and that I am come hither only in
+quest of a beardless slave of mine, whom if I find with you, I will do
+you no harm, but if I find him not, then shall there befall sore
+onslaught between me and you." Asked Amjad, "O Queen, what like is thy
+slave and what is his story and what may be his name?" Said she, "His
+name is As'ad and my name is Marjanah, and this slave came to my town
+in company of Bahram, a Magian, who refused to sell him to me; so I
+took him by force, but his master fell upon him by night and bore him
+away by stealth and he is of such and such a favour." When Amjad heard
+that, he knew it was indeed his brother As'ad whom she sought and said
+to her, "O Queen of the age, Alhamdolillah, praised be Allah, who hath
+brought us relief! Verily this slave whom thou seekest is my brother."
+Then he told her their story and all that had befallen them in the land
+of exile, and acquainted her with the cause of their departure from the
+Islands of Ebony, whereat she marvelled and rejoiced to have found
+As'ad. So she bestowed a dress of honour upon Amjad and he returned
+forthright to the King and told him what had passed, at which they all
+rejoiced and the King went forth with Amjad and As'ad to meet Queen
+Marjanah. When they were admitted to her presence and sat down to
+converse with her and were thus pleasantly engaged, behold, a dust
+cloud rose and flew and grew, till it walled the view. And after a
+while it lifted and showed beneath it an army dight for victory, in
+numbers like the swelling sea, armed and armoured cap-а-pie who, making
+for the city, encompassed it around as the ring encompasseth the little
+finger;[FN#21] and a bared brand was in every hand. When Amjad and
+As'ad saw this, they exclaimed, "Verily to Allah we belong and to Him
+we shall return! What is this mighty host? Doubtless, these are
+enemies, and except we agree with this Queen Marjanah to fight them,
+they will take the town from us and slay us. There is no resource for
+us but to go out to them and see who they are." So Amjad arose and took
+horse and passed through the city gate to Queen Marjanah's camp; but
+when he reached the approaching army he found it to be that of his
+grand sire, King Ghayur, father of his mother Queen Budur.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Amjad
+reached the approaching host, he found it to be that of his grandsire,
+Lord of the Isles and the Seas and the Seven Castles; and when he went
+into the presence, he kissed the ground between his hands and delivered
+to him the message. Quoth the King, "My name is King Ghayur and I come
+wayfaring in quest of my daughter Budur whom fortune hath taken from
+me, for she left me and returned not to me, nor have I heard any
+tidings of her or of her husband Kamar al-Zaman. Have ye any news of
+them?" When Amjad heard this, he hung his head towards the ground for a
+while in thought till he felt assured that this King was none other
+than his grandfather, his mother's father; where upon he raised his
+head and, kissing ground before him, told him that he was the son of
+his daughter Budur; on hearing which Ghayur threw himself upon him and
+they both fell a weeping.[FN#22] Then said Ghayur, "Praised be Allah, O
+my son, for safety, since I have foregathered with thee," and Amjad
+told him that his daughter Budur was safe and sound, and her husband
+Kamar al-Zaman likewise, and acquainted him that both abode in a city
+called the City of Ebony. Moreover, he related to him how his father,
+being wroth with him and his brother, had commended that both be put to
+death, but that his treasurer had taken pity on them and let them go
+with their lives. Quoth King Ghayur, "I will go back with thee and thy
+brother to your father and make your peace with him." So Amjad kissed
+the ground before him in huge delight and the King bestowed a dress of
+honour upon him, after which he returned, smiling, to the King of the
+City of the Magians and told him what he had learnt from King Ghayur,
+whereat he wondered with exceeding wonder. Then he despatched
+guest-gifts of sheep and horses and camels and forage and so forth to
+King Ghayur, and did the like by Queen Marjanah; and both of them told
+her what chanced; whereupon quoth she, "I too will accompany you with
+my troops and will do my endeavour to make this peace." Meanwhile
+behold, there arose another dust cloud and flew and grew till it walled
+the view and blackened the day's bright hue; and under it they heard
+shouts and cries and neighing of steeds and beheld sword glance and the
+glint of levelled lance. When this new host drew near the city and saw
+the two other armies, they beat their drums and the King of the Magians
+exclaimed, "This is indeed naught but a blessed day. Praised be Allah
+who hath made us of accord with these two armies; and if it be His
+will, He shall give us peace with yon other as well." Then said he to
+Amjad and As'ad, "Fare forth and fetch us news of these troops, for
+they are a mighty host, never saw I a mightier." So they opened the
+city gates, which the King had shut for fear of the beleaguering
+armies, and Amjad and As'ad went forth and, coming to the new host,
+found that it was indeed a mighty many. But as soon as they came to it
+behold, they knew that it was the army of the King of the Ebony
+Islands, wherein was their father, King Kamar al-Zaman in person. Now
+when they looked upon him, they kissed ground and wept; but, when he
+beheld them, he threw himself upon them weeping, with sore weeping, and
+strained them to his breast for a full hour. Then he excused himself to
+them and told them what desolation he had suffered for their loss and
+exile; and they acquainted him with King Ghayur's arrival, whereupon he
+mounted with his chief officers and taking with him his two sons,
+proceeded to that King's camp. As they drew near, one of the Princes
+rode forward and informed King Ghayur of Kamar al-Zaman's coming,
+whereupon he came out to meet him and they joined company, marvelling
+at these things and how they had chanced to foregather in that place.
+Then the townsfolk made them banquets of all manner of meats and
+sweetmeats and presented to them horses and camels and fodder and other
+guest-gifts and all that the troops needed. And while this was doing,
+behold, yet another cloud of dust arose and flew till it walled the
+view, whilst earth trembled with the tramp of steed and tabors sounded
+like stormy winds. After a while, the dust lifted and discovered an
+army clad in coats of mail and armed cap-а-pie; but all were in black
+garb, and in their midst rode a very old man whose beard flowed down
+over his breast and he also was clad in black. When the King of the
+city and the city folk saw this great host, he said to the other Kings,
+"Praised be Allah by whose omnipotent command ye are met here, all in
+one day, and have proved all known one to the other! But what vast and
+victorious army is this which hemmeth in the whole land like a wall?"
+They answered, "Have no fear of them; we are three Kings, each with a
+great army, and if they be enemies, we will join thee in doing battle
+with them, were they three times as many as they now are." Meanwhile,
+up came an envoy from the approaching host, making for the city. So
+they brought him before Kamar al-Zaman, King Ghayur, Queen Marjanah and
+the King of the city; and he kissed the ground and said, "My liege lord
+cometh from Persia-land; for many years ago he lost his son and he is
+seeking him in all countries. If he find him with you, well and good;
+but if he find him not, there will be war between him and you and he
+will waste your city." Rejoined Kamar al-Zaman, "It shall not come to
+that; but how is thy master called in Ajam land?" Answered the envoy,
+"He is called King Shahriman, lord of the Khбlidan Islands; and he hath
+levied these troops in the lands traversed by him, whilst seeking his
+son." No-vv when Kamar al-Zaman heard these words, he cried out with a
+great cry and fell down in a fainting fit which lasted a long while;
+and anon coming to himself he wept bitter tears and said to Amjad and
+As'ad, "Go ye, O my sons, with the herald, salute your grandfather and
+my father, King Shahriman and give him glad tidings of me, for he
+mourneth my loss and even to the present time he weareth black raiment
+for my sake." Then he told the other Kings all that had befallen him in
+the days of his youth, at which they wondered and, going down with him
+from the city, repaired to his father, whom he saluted, and they
+embraced and fell to the ground senseless for excess of joy. And when
+they revived after a while, Kamar al-Zaman acquainted his father with
+all his adventures and the other Kings saluted Shahriman. Then, after
+having married Marjanah to As'ad, they sent her back to her kingdom,
+charging her not to cease correspondence with them; so she took leave
+and went her way. Moreover they married Amjad to Bostan, Bahram's
+daughter, and they all set out for the City of Ebony. And when they
+arrived there, Kamar al-Zaman went in to his father-in-law, King
+Armanus, and told him all that had befallen him and how he had found
+his sons; whereat Armanus rejoiced and gave him joy of his safe return.
+Then King Ghayur went in to his daughter, Queen Budur,[FN#23] and
+saluted her and quenched his longing for her company, and they all
+abode a full month's space in the City of Ebony; after which the King
+and his daughter returned to their own country.—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say,
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Ghayur set
+out with his daughter and his host for his own land, and they took with
+them Amjad and returned home by easy marches. And when Ghayur was
+settled again in his kingdom, he made his grandson King in his stead;
+and as to Kamar al-Zaman he also made As'ad king in his room over the
+capital of the Ebony Islands, with the consent of his grandfather, King
+Armanus and set out himself, with his father, King Shahriman, till the
+two made the Islands of Khбlidan. Then the lieges decorated the city in
+their honour and they ceased not to beat the drums for glad tidings a
+whole month; nor did Kamar al-Zaman leave to govern in his father's
+place, till there overtook them the Destroyer of delights and the
+Sunderer of societies; and Allah knoweth all things! Quoth King
+Shahryar, "O Shahrazad, this is indeed a most wonderful tale!" And she
+answered, "O King, it is not more wonderful than that of
+
+
+
+ALA AL-DIN ABU AL-SHAMAT.[FN#24]
+
+"What is that?" asked he, and she said, It hath reached me that there
+lived, in times of yore and years and ages long gone before, a merchant
+of Cairo[FN#25] named Shams al-Din, who was of the best and truest
+spoken of the traders of the city; and he had eunuchs and servants and
+negro-slaves and handmaids and Mame lukes and great store of money.
+Moreover, he was Consul[FN#26] of the Merchants of Cairo and owned a
+wife, whom he loved and who loved him; except that he had lived with
+her forty years, yet had not been blessed with a son or even a
+daughter. One day, as he sat in his shop, he noted that the merchants,
+each and every, had a son or two sons or more sitting in their shops
+like their sires. Now the day being Friday, he entered the Hammam-bath
+and made the total-ablution: after which he came out and took the
+barber's glass and looked in it, saying, "I testify that there is no
+god but the God and I testify that Mohammed is the Messenger of God!"
+Then he considered his beard and, seeing that the white hairs in it
+covered the black, bethought himself that hoariness is the harbinger of
+death. Now his wife knew the time of his coming home and had washed and
+made herself ready for him, so when he came in to her, she said, "Good
+evening," but he replied "I see no good." Then she called to the
+handmaid, "Spread the supper-tray;" and when this was done quoth she to
+her husband "Sup, O my lord." Quoth he, "I will eat nothing," and
+pushing the tray away with his foot, turned his back upon her. She
+asked, "Why dost thou thus? and what hath vexed thee?"; and he
+answered, "Thou art the cause of my vexation."—And Shahrazed perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say,
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Shams al-Din said
+to his wife, "Thou art the cause of my vexation." She asked,
+"Wherefore?" and he answered, "When I opened my shop this morning, I
+saw that each and every of the merchants had with him a son or two sons
+or more, sitting in their shops like their fathers; and I said to
+myself:—He who took thy sire will not spare thee. Now the night I first
+visited thee,[FN#27] thou madest me swear that I would never take a
+second wife over thee nor a concubine, Abyssinian or Greek or handmaid
+of other race; nor would lie a single night away from thee: and behold,
+thou art barren, and having thee is like boring into the rock."
+Rejoined she, "Allah is my witness that the fault lies with thee, for
+that thy seed is thin." He asked, "And what showeth the man whose semen
+is thin?" And she answered, "He cannot get women with child, nor beget
+children." Quoth he, "What thickeneth the seed? tell me and I will buy
+it: haply, it will thicken mine." Quoth she, "Enquire for it of the
+druggists." So he slept with her that night and arose on the morrow,
+repenting of having spoken angrily to her; and she also regretted her
+cross words. Then he went to the market and, finding a druggist,
+saluted him; and when his salutation was returned said to him, "Say,
+hast thou with thee a seed-thickener?" He replied, "I had it, but am
+out of it: enquire thou of my neighbour." Then Shams al-Din made the
+round till he had asked every one, but they all laughed at him, and
+presently he returned to his shop and sat down, sore troubled. Now
+there was in the bazar a man who was Deputy Syndic of the brokers and
+was given to the use of opium and electuary and green hashish.[FN#28]
+He was called Shaykh Mohammed Samsam and being poor he used to wish
+Shams al-Din good morrow every day. So he came to him according to his
+custom and saluted him. The merchant returned his salute, but in
+ill-temper, and the other, seeing him vexed, said, "O my lord, what
+hath crossed thee?" Thereupon Shams al-Din told him all that occurred
+between himself and his wife, adding, "These forty years have I been
+married to her yet hath she borne me neither son nor daughter; and they
+say:—The cause of thy failure to get her with child is the thinness of
+thy seed; so I have been seeking a some thing wherewith to thicken my
+semen but found it not." Quoth Shaykh Mohammed, "O my lord, I have a
+seed-thickener, but what wilt thou say to him who causeth thy wife to
+conceive by thee after these forty years have passed?" Answered the
+merchant, "If thou do this, I will work thy weal—and reward thee."
+"Then give me a dinar," rejoined the broker, and Shams al-Din said,
+"Take these two dinars." He took them and said, "Give me also yonder
+big bowl of porcelain." So he gave it to him and the broker betook
+himself to a hashish-seller, of whom he bought two ounces of
+concentrated Roumi opium and equal-parts of Chinese cubebs, cinnamon,
+cloves, cardamoms, ginger, white pepper and mountain skink[FN#29]; and,
+pounding them all together, boiled them in sweet olive-oil; after which
+he added three ounces of male frankincense in fragments and a cupful of
+coriander-seed; and, macerating the whole, made it into an electuary
+with Roumi bee honey. Then he put the confection in the bowl and
+carried it to the merchant, to whom he delivered it, saying, "Here is
+the seed-thickener, and the manner of using it is this. Take of my
+electuary with a spoon after supping, and wash it down with a sherbet
+made of rose conserve; but first sup off mutton and house pigeon
+plentifully seasoned and hotly spiced." So the merchant bought all this
+and sent the meat and pigeons to his wife, saying, "Dress them deftly
+and lay up the seed-thickener until I want it and call for it." She did
+his bidding and, when she served up the meats, he ate the evening meal,
+after which he called for the bowl and ate of the electuary. It pleased
+him well, so he ate the rest and knew his wife. That very night she
+conceived by him and, after three months, her courses ceased, no blood
+came from her and she knew that she was with child. When the days of
+her pregnancy were accomplished, the pangs of labour took her and they
+raised loud lullilooings and cries of joy. The midwife delivered her
+with difficulty, by pronouncing over the boy at his birth the names of
+Mohammed and Ali, and said, "Allah is Most Great!"; and she called in
+his ear the call to prayer. Then she wrapped him up and passed him to
+his mother, who took him and gave him the breast; and he sucked and was
+full and slept. The midwife abode with them three days, till they had
+made the mothering-cakes of sugared bread and sweetmeats; and they
+distributed them on the seventh day. Then they sprinkled salt against
+the evil eye and the merchant, going in to his wife, gave her joy of
+her safe delivery, and said, "Where is Allah's deposit?" So they
+brought him a babe of surpassing beauty, the handiwork of the Orderer
+who is ever present and, though he was but seven days old, those who
+saw him would have deemed him a yearling child. So the merchant looked
+on his face and, seeing it like a shining full moon, with moles on
+either cheek, said he to his wife, "What hast thou named him?" Answered
+she, "If it were a girl I had named her; but this is a boy, so none
+shall name him but thou." Now the people of that time used to name
+their children by omens; and, whilst the merchant and his wife were
+taking counsel of the name, behold, one said to his friend, "Ho my
+lord, Ala al-Din!" So the merchant said, "We will call him Ala al-Din
+Abъ al-Shбmбt."[FN#30] Then he committed the child to the nurse, and he
+drank milk two years, after which they weaned him and he grew up and
+throve and walked upon the floor. When he came to seven years old, they
+put him in a chamber under a trap-door, for fear of the evil eye, and
+his father said, "He shall not come out, till his beard grow." So he
+gave him in charge to a handmaid and a blackamoor; the girl dressed him
+his meals and the slave carried them to him. Then his father
+circumcised him and made him a great feast; after which he brought him
+a doctor of the law, who taught him to write and read and repeat the
+Koran, and other arts and sciences, till he became a good scholar and
+an accomplished. One day it so came to pass that the slave, after
+bringing him the tray of food went away and left the trap door open: so
+Ala al-Din came forth from the vault and went in to his mother, with
+whom was a company of women of rank. As they sat talking, behold, in
+came upon them the youth as he were a white slave drunken[FN#31] for
+the excess of his beauty; and when they saw him, they veiled their
+faces and said to his mother, "Allah requite thee, O such an one! How
+canst thou let this strange Mameluke in upon us? Knowest thou not that
+modesty is a point of the Faith?" She replied, "Pronounce Allah's
+name[FN#32] and cry Bismillah! this is my son, the fruit of my vitals
+and the heir of Consul Shams al-Din, the child of the nurse and the
+collar and the crust and the crumb."[FN#33] Quoth they, "Never in our
+days knew we that thou hadst a son"; and quoth she, "Verily his father
+feared for him the evil eye and reared him in an under-ground
+chamber;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Fifty-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ala al-Din's
+mother said to her lady-friends, "Verily his father feared for him the
+evil eye and reared him in an underground chamber; and haply the slave
+forgot to shut the door and he fared forth; but we did not mean that he
+should come out, before his beard was grown." The women gave her joy of
+him, and the youth went out from them into the court yard where he
+seated himself in the open sitting room; and behold, in came the slaves
+with his father's she mule, and he said to them, "Whence cometh this
+mule?" Quoth they, "We escorted thy father when riding her to the shop,
+and we have brought her back." He asked, "What may be my father's
+trade?"; and they answered, "Thy father is Consul of the merchants in
+the land of Egypt and Sultan of the Sons of the Arabs." Then he went in
+to his mother and said to her, "O my mother, what is my father's
+trade?" Said she, "O my son, thy sire is a merchant and Consul of the
+merchants in the land of Egypt and Sultan of the Sons of the Arabs. His
+slaves consult him not in selling aught whose price is less than one
+thousand gold pieces, but merchandise worth him an hundred and less
+they sell at their own discretion; nor cloth any merchandise whatever,
+little or much, leave the country without passing through his hands and
+he disposeth of it as he pleaseth; nor is a bale packed and sent abroad
+amongst folk but what is under his disposal. And "Almighty Allah, O my
+son, hath given thy father monies past compt." He rejoined, "O my
+mother, praised be Allah, that I am son of the Sultan of the Sons of
+the Arabs and that my father is Consul of the merchants! But why, O my
+mother, do ye put me in the underground chamber and leave me prisoner
+there?" Quoth she, "O my son, we imprisoned thee not save for fear of
+folks' eyes: 'the evil eye is a truth,'[FN#34] and most of those in
+their long homes are its victims." Quoth he, "O my mother, and where is
+a refuge-place against Fate? Verily care never made Destiny forbear;
+nor is there flight from what is written for every wight. He who took
+my grandfather will not spare myself nor my father; for, though he live
+to day he shall not live tomorrow. And when my father dieth and I come
+forth and say, 'I am Ala al-Din, son of Shams al-Din the merchant',
+none of the people will believe me, but men of years and standing will
+say, 'In our lives never saw we a son or a daughter of Shams al-Din.'
+Then the public Treasury will come down and take my father's estate,
+and Allah have mercy on him who said, 'The noble dieth and his wealth
+passeth away, and the meanest of men take his women.' Therefore, O my
+mother, speak thou to my father, that he carry me with him to the bazar
+and open for me a shop; so may I sit there with my merchandise, and
+teach me to buy and sell and take and give." Answered his mother, "O my
+son, as soon as thy sire returneth I will tell him this." So when the
+merchant came home, he found his son Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat sitting
+with his mother and said to her, "Why hast thou brought him forth of
+the underground chamber?" She replied, "O son of my uncle, it was not I
+that brought him out; but the servants forgot to shut the door and left
+it open; so, as I sat with a company of women of rank, behold, he came
+forth and walked in to me." Then she went on to repeat to him his son's
+words; so he said, "O my son, to-morrow, Inshallah! I will take thee
+with me to the bazar; but, my boy, sitting in markets and shops
+demandeth good manners and courteous carriage in all conditions." Ala
+al-Din passed the night rejoicing in his father's promise and, when the
+morrow came, the merchant carried him to the Hammam and clad him in a
+suit worth a mint of money. As soon as they had broken their fast and
+drunk their sherbets, Shams al-Din mounted his she mule and putting his
+son upon another, rode to the market, followed by his boy. But when the
+market folk saw their Consul making towards them, foregoing a youth as
+he were a slice of the full moon on the fourteenth night, they said,
+one to other, "See thou yonder boy behind the Consul of the merchants;
+verily, we thought well of him, but he is, like the leek, gray of head
+and green at heart."[FN#35] And Shaykh Mohammed Samsam, Deputy Syndic
+of the market, the man before mentioned, said to the dealers, "O
+merchants, we will not keep the like of him for our Shaykh; no, never!"
+Now it was the custom anent the Consul when he came from his house of a
+morning and sat down in his shop, for the Deputy Syndic of the market
+to go and recite to him and to all the merchants assembled around him
+the Fбtihah or opening chapter of the Koran,[FN#36] after which they
+accosted him one by one and wished him good morrow and went away, each
+to his business place. But when Shams al-Din seated himself in his shop
+that day as usual, the traders came not to him as accustomed; so he
+called the Deputy and said to him, "Why come not the merchants together
+as usual?" Answered Mohammed Samsam, "I know not how to tell thee these
+troubles, for they have agreed to depose thee from the Shaykh ship of
+the market and to recite the Fatihah to thee no more." Asked Shams
+al-Din, "What may be their reason?"; and asked the Deputy, "What boy is
+this that sitteth by thy side and thou a man of years and chief of the
+merchants? Is this lad a Mameluke or akin to thy wife? Verily, I think
+thou lovest him and inclines lewdly to the boy." Thereupon the Consul
+cried out at him, saying, "Silence, Allah curse thee, genus and
+species! This is my son." Rejoined the Deputy, "Never in our born days
+have we seen thee with a son," and Shams al-Din answered, "When thou
+gavest me the seed-thickener, my wife conceived and bare this youth;
+but I reared him in a souterrain for fear of the evil eye, nor was it
+my purpose that he should come forth, till he could take his beard in
+his hand.[FN#37] However, his mother would not agree to this, and he on
+his part begged I would stock him a shop and teach him to sell and
+buy." So the Deputy Syndic returned to the other traders and acquainted
+them with the truth of the case, whereupon they all arose to accompany
+him; and, going in a body to Shams al-Din's shop, stood before him and
+recited the "Opener" of the Koran; after which they gave him joy of his
+son and said to him, "The Lord prosper root and branch! But even the
+poorest of us, when son or daughter is born to him, needs must cook a
+pan-full of custard[FN#38] and bid his friends and kith and kin; yet
+hast thou not done this." Quoth he, "This I owe you; be our meeting in
+the garden."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Fifty-second Night,
+
+Her sister Dunyazad said to her, "Pray continue thy story for us, as
+thou be awake and not inclined to sleep." Quoth she:—With pleasure and
+goodwill: it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Consul of the
+merchants promised them a banquet and said "Be our meeting in the
+garden." So when morning dawned he despatched the carpet layer to the
+saloon of the garden-pavilion and bade him furnish the two. Moreover,
+he sent thither all that was needful for cooking, such as sheep and
+clarified butter and so forth, according to the requirements of the
+case; and spread two tables, one in the pavilion and another in the
+saloon. Then Shams al-Din and his boy girded themselves, and he said to
+Ala al-Din "O my son, whenas a greybeard entereth, I will meet him and
+seat him at the table in the pavilion; and do thou, in like manner,
+receive the beardless youths and seat them at the table in the saloon."
+He asked, "O my father, why dost thou spread two tables, one for men
+and another for youths?"; and he answered, "O my son, the beardless is
+ashamed to eat with the bearded." And his son thought this his answer
+full and sufficient. So when the merchants arrived, Shams al-Din
+received the men and seated them in the pavilion, whilst Ala al-Din
+received the youths and seated them in the saloon. Then the food was
+set on and the guests ate and drank and made merry and sat over their
+wine, whilst the attendants perfumed them with the smoke of scented
+woods, and the elders fell to conversing of matters of science and
+traditions of the Prophet. Now there was amongst them a merchant called
+Mahmъd of Balkh, a professing Moslem but at heart a Magian, a man of
+lewd and mischievous life who loved boys. And when he saw Ala al-Din
+from whose father he used to buy stuffs and merchandise, one sight of
+his face sent him a thousand sighs and Satan dangled the jewel before
+his eyes, so that he was taken with love-longing and desire and
+affection and his heart was filled with mad passion for him. Presently
+he arose and made for the youths, who stood up to receive him; and at
+this moment Ala Al-Din being taken with an urgent call of Nature,
+withdrew to make water; whereupon Mahmud turned to the other youths and
+said to them, "If ye will incline Ala al-Din's mind to journeying with
+me, I will give each of you a dress worth a power of money." Then he
+returned from them to the men's party; and, as the youths were sitting,
+Ala al-Din suddenly came back, when all rose to receive him and seated
+him in the place of highest honour. Presently, one of them said to his
+neighbour, "O my lord Hasan, tell me whence came to thee the
+capital—whereon thou trades"." He replied, "When I grew up and came to
+man's estate, I said to my sire, 'O my father, give me merchandise.'
+Quoth he, 'O my son, I have none by me; but go thou to some merchant
+and take of him money and traffic with it; and so learn to buy and
+sell, give and take.' So I went to one of the traders and borrowed of
+him a thousand dinars, wherewith I bought stuffs and carrying them to
+Damascus, sold them there at a profit of two for one. Then I bought
+Syrian stuffs and carrying them to Aleppo, made a similar gain of them;
+after which I bought stuffs of Aleppo and repaired with them to
+Baghdad, where I sold them with like result, two for one; nor did I
+cease trading upon my capital till I was worth nigh ten thousand
+ducats." Then each of the others told his friend some such tale, till
+it came to Ala al-Din's turn to speak, when they said to him, "And
+thou, O my lord Ala al-Din?" Quoth he, "I was brought up in a chamber
+underground and came forth from it only this week; and I do but go to
+the shop and return home from the shop." They remarked, "Thou art used
+to wone at home and wottest not the joys of travel, for travel is for
+men only." He replied, "I reck not of voyaging and wayfaring cloth not
+tempt me." Whereupon quoth one to the other, "This one is like the
+fish: when he leaveth the water he dieth." Then they said to him, "O
+Ala al Din, the glory of the sons of the merchants is not but in travel
+for the sake of gain." Their talk angered him; so he left them
+weeping-eyed and heavy-hearted and mounting his mule returned home. Now
+his mother saw him in tears and in bad temper and asked him, "What hath
+made thee weep, O my son?"; and he answered, "Of a truth, all the sons
+of the merchants put me to shame and said, 'Naught is more glorious for
+a merchant's son than travel for gain and to get him gold.'"—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Fifty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ala al-Din said
+to his mother, "Of a truth all the sons of the merchants put me to
+shame and said, 'Naught is more honourable for a merchant's son than
+travel for gain.'" "O my son, hast thou a mind to travel?" "Even so!"
+"And whither wilt thou go?" "To the city of Baghdad; for there folk
+make double the cost price on their goods." "O my son, thy father is a
+very rich man and, if he provide thee not with merchandise, I will
+supply it out of my own monies." "The best favour is that which is
+soonest bestowed; if this kindness is to be, now is the time." So she
+called the slaves and sent them for cloth packers, then, opening a
+store house, brought out ten loads of stuffs, which they made up into
+bales for him. Such was his case; but as regards his father, Shams
+al-Din, he looked about and failed to find Ala al-Din in the garden and
+enquiring after him, was told that he had mounted mule and gone home;
+so he too mounted and followed him. Now when he entered the house, he
+saw the bales ready bound and asked what they were; whereupon his wife
+told him what had chanced between Ala al-Din and the sons of the
+merchants; and he cried, "O my son, Allah's malison on travel and
+stranger-hood! Verily Allah's Apostle (whom the Lord bless and
+preserve!) hath said, 'It is of a man's happy fortune that he eat his
+daily bread in his own land', and it was said of the ancients, 'Leave
+travel, though but for a mile.'" Then quoth he to his son, "Say, art
+thou indeed resolved to travel and wilt thou not turn back from it?"
+Quoth the other, "There is no help for it but that I journey to Baghdad
+with merchandise, else will I doff clothes and don dervish gear and
+fare a-wandering over the world." Shams al-Din rejoined, "I am no
+penniless pauper but have great plenty of wealth;" then he showed him
+all he owned of monies and stuffs and stock-in-trade and observed,
+"With me are stuffs and merchandise befitting every country in the
+world." Then he showed him among the rest, forty bales ready bound,
+with the price, a thousand dinars, written on each, and said, "O my son
+take these forty loads, together with the ten which thy mother gave
+thee, and set out under the safeguard of Almighty Allah. But, O my
+child, I fear for thee a certain wood in thy way, called the Lion's
+Copse,[FN#39] and a valley highs the Vale of Dogs, for there lives are
+lost without mercy." He said, "How so, O my father?"; and he replied,
+"Because of a Badawi bandit named Ajlan." Quoth Ala al-Din, "Such is
+Allah's luck; if any share of it be mine, no harm shall hap to me."
+Then they rode to the cattle bazar, where behold, a cameleer[FN#40]
+alighted from his she mule and kissing the Consul's hand, said to him,
+"O my lord, it is long, by Allah, since thou hast employed us in the
+way of business." He replied, "Every time hath its fortune and its
+men,[FN#41] and Allah have truth on him who said,
+
+'And the old man crept o'er the worldly ways * So bowed, his
+
+
+     beard o'er his knees down flow'th:
+
+
+Quoth I, 'What gars thee so doubled go?' * Quoth he (as to me his
+
+
+     hands he show'th)
+
+
+'My youth is lost, in the dust it lieth; * And see, I bend me to
+
+
+     find my youth.'"[FN#42]
+
+
+
+Now when he had ended his verses, he said, "O chief of the caravan, it
+is not I who am minded to travel, but this my son." Quoth the cameleer,
+"Allah save him for thee." Then the Consul made a contract between Ala
+al-Din and the man, appointing that the youth should be to him as a
+son, and gave him into his charge, saying, "Take these hundred gold
+pieces for thy people." More-over he bought his son threescore mules
+and a lamp and a tomb-covering for the Sayyid Abd al-Kadir of
+Gнlбn[FN#43] and said to him, "O my son, while I am absent, this is thy
+sire in my stead: whatsoever he biddeth thee, do thou obey him." So
+saying, he returned home with the mules and servants and that night
+they made a Khitmah or perfection of the Koran and held a festival—in
+honour of the Shaykh Abd al-Kadir al-Jilбni. And when the morrow
+dawned, the Consul gave his son ten thousand dinars, saying, "O my son,
+when thou comest to Baghdad, if thou find stuffs easy of sale, sell
+them; but if they be dull, spend of these dinars." Then they loaded the
+mules and, taking leave of one another, all the wayfarers setting out
+on their journey, marched forth from the city. Now Mahmud of Balkh had
+made ready his own venture for Baghdad and had moved his bales and set
+up his tents without the walls, saying to himself, "Thou shalt not
+enjoy this youth but in the desert, where there is neither spy nor
+marplot to trouble thee." It chanced that he had in hand a thousand
+dinars which he owed to the youth's father, the balance of a
+business-transaction between them; so he went and bade farewell to the
+Consul, who charged him, "Give the thousand dinars to my son Ala
+al-Din;" and commended the lad to his care, saying, "He is as it were
+thy son." Accordingly, Ala al-Din joined company with Mahmud of
+Balkh.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ala al-Din joined
+company with Mahmud of Balkh who, before beginning the march, charged
+the youth's cook to dress nothing for him, but himself provided him and
+his company with meat and drink. Now he had four houses, one in Cairo,
+another in Damascus, a third in Aleppo and a fourth in Baghdad. So they
+set out and ceased not journeying over waste and wold till they drew
+near Damascus when Mahmud sent his slave to Ala al-Din, whom he found
+sitting and reading. He went up to him and kissed his hands, and Ala
+al-Din having asked him what he wanted, he answered, "My master
+saluteth thee and craveth thy company to a banquet at his place." Quoth
+the youth, "Not till I consult my father Kamal al-Din, the captain of
+the caravan." So he asked advice of the Makaddam,[FN#44] who said, "Do
+not go." Then they left Damascus and journeyed on till they came to
+Aleppo, where Mahmud made a second entertainment and sent to invite Ala
+al-Din; but he consulted the Chief Cameleer who again forbade him. Then
+they marched from Aleppo and fared on, till there remained between them
+and Baghdad only a single stage. Here Mahmud prepared a third feast and
+sent to bid Ala al-Din to it: Kamal-al-Din once more forbade his
+accepting it, but he said, "I must needs go." So he rose and, slinging
+a sword over his shoulder, under his clothes, repaired to the tent of
+Mahmud of Balkh, who came to meet him and saluted him. Then he set
+before him a sumptuous repast and they ate and drank and washed hands.
+At last Mahmud bent towards Ala al-Din to snatch a kiss from him, but
+the youth received the kiss on the palm of his hand and said to him,
+"What wouldest thou be at?" Quoth Mahmud, "In very sooth I brought thee
+hither that I might take my pleasure with thee in this jousting ground,
+and we will comment upon the words of him who saith,
+
+'Say, canst not come to us one momentling, * Like milk of ewekin
+
+
+     or aught glistening
+
+
+And eat what liketh thee of dainty cake, * And take thy due of
+
+
+     fee in silverling,
+
+
+And bear whatso thou wilt, without mislike, * Of spanling,
+
+
+     fistling or a span long thing?'"
+
+
+
+Then Mahmud of Balkh would have laid hands on Ala al-Din to ravish him;
+but he rose and baring his brand, said to him, "Shame on thy gray
+hairs! Hast thou no fear of Allah, and He of exceeding awe?[FN#45] May
+He have mercy on him who saith,
+
+'Preserve thy hoary hairs from soil and stain, * For whitest colours
+are the easiest stained!'"
+
+And when he ended his verses he said to Mahmud of Balkh, "Verily this
+merchandise[FN#46] is a trust from Allah and may not be sold. If I sold
+this property to other than thee for gold, I would sell it to thee for
+silver; but by Allah, O filthy villain, I will never again company with
+thee; no, never!" Then he returned to Kamal-Al-Din the guide and said
+to him, "Yonder man is a lewd fellow, and I will no longer consort with
+him nor suffer his company by the way." He replied, "O my son, did I
+not say to thee, 'Go not near him'? But if we part company with him, I
+fear destruction for ourselves; so let us still make one caravan." But
+Ala al-Din cried, "It may not be that I ever again travel with him." So
+he loaded his beasts and journeyed onwards, he and his company, till
+they came to a valley, where Ala al-Din would have halted, but the
+Cameleer said to him, "Do not halt here; rather let us fare forwards
+and press our pace, so haply we make Baghdad before the gates are
+closed, for they open and shut them with the sun, in fear lest the
+Rejectors[FN#47] should take the city and throw the books of religious
+learning into the Tigris." But Ala al Din replied to him, "O my father,
+I came not forth from home with this merchandise, or travelled hither
+for the sake of traffic, but to divert myself with the sight of foreign
+lands and folks;" and he rejoined, "O my son, we fear for thee and for
+thy goods from the wild Arabs." Whereupon the youth answered "Harkye,
+fellow, art thou master or man? I will not enter Baghdad till the
+morning, that the sons of the city may see my merchandise and know me."
+"Do as thou wilt," said the other "I have given thee the wisest advice,
+but thou art the best judge of thine own case." Then Ala al-Din bade
+them unload the mule; and pitch the tent; so they did his bidding and
+abode there till the middle of the night, when he went out to obey a
+call of nature and suddenly saw something gleaming afar off. So he said
+to Kamal-al-Din, "O captain, what is yonder glittering?" The Cameleer
+sat up and, considering it straitly, knew it for the glint of spear
+heads and the steel of Badawi weapons and swords. And lo and behold!
+this was a troop of wild Arabs under a chief called Ajlбn Abъ Nбib,
+Shaykh of the Arabs, and when they neared the camp and saw the bales
+and baggage, they said one to another, "O night of loot!" Now when
+Kamal-al-Din heard these their words he cried, "Avaunt, O vilest of
+Arabs!" But Abu Naib so smote him with his throw spear in the breast,
+that the point came out gleaming from his back, and he fell down dead
+at the tent door. Then cried the water carrier,[FN#48] "Avaunt, O
+foulest of Arabs!" and one of them smote him with a sword upon the
+shoulder, that it issued shining from the tendons of the throat, and he
+also fell down dead. (And all this while Ala Al-Din stood looking on.)
+Then the Badawin surrounded and charged the caravan from every side and
+slew all Ala al-Din's company without sparing a man: after which they
+loaded the mules with the spoil and made off. Quoth Ala al-Din to
+himself, "Nothing will slay thee save thy mule and thy dress!"; so he
+arose and put off his gown and threw it over the back of a mule,
+remaining in his shirt and bag trousers only; after which he looked
+towards the tent door and, seeing there a pool of gore flowing from the
+slaughtered, wallowed in it with his remaining clothes till he was as a
+slain man drowned in his own blood. Thus it fared with him; but as
+regards the Shaykh of the wild Arabs, Ajlan, he said to his banditti,
+"O Arabs, was this caravan bound from Egypt for Baghdad or from Baghdad
+for Egypt?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Badawi
+asked his banditti, "O Arabs, was this caravan bound from Egypt for
+Baghdad or from Baghdad for Egypt?"; they answered, "'Twas bound from
+Egypt for Baghdad;" and he said, "Return ye to the slain, for methinks
+the owner of this caravan is not dead." So they turned back to the
+slain and fell to prodding and slashing them with lance and sword till
+they came to Ala al-Din, who had thrown himself down among the corpses.
+And when they came to him, quoth they, "Thou dost but feign thyself
+dead, but we will make an end of thee," and one of the Badawin levelled
+his javelin and would have plunged it into his breast when he cried
+out, "Save me, O my lord Abd al-Kadir, O Saint of Gilan!" and behold,
+he saw a hand turn the lance away from his breast to that of
+Kamal-al-Din the cameleer, so that it pierced him and spared
+himself.[FN#49] Then the Arabs made off; and, when Ala al-Din saw that
+the birds were flown with their god send, he sat up and finding no one,
+rose and set off running; but, behold! Abu Nбib the Badawi looked back
+and said to his troop, "I see somewhat moving afar off, O Arabs!" So
+one of the bandits turned back and, spying Ala al-Din running, called
+out to him, saying, "Flight shall not forward thee and we after thee;"
+and he smote his mare with his heel and she hastened after him. Then
+Ala al-Din seeing before him a watering tank and a cistern beside it,
+climbed up into a niche in the cistern and, stretching himself at full
+length, feigned to be asleep and said, "O gracious Protector, cover me
+with the veil of Thy protection which may not be torn away!" And lo!
+the Badawi came up to the cistern and, standing in his stirrup irons
+put out his hand to lay hold of Ala al-Din; but he said, "O my lady
+Nafнsah[FN#50]! Now is thy time!" And behold, a scorpion stung the
+Badawi in the palm and he cried out, saying, "Help, O Arabs! I am
+stung;" and he alighted from his mare's back. So his comrades came up
+to him and mounted him again, asking, "What hath befallen thee?"
+whereto he answered, "A young scorpion[FN#51] stung me." So they
+departed, with the caravan. Such was their case; but as regards Ala
+al-Din, he tarried in the niche, and Mahmud of Balkh bade load his
+beasts and fared forwards till he came to the Lion's Copse where he
+found Ala al-Din's attendants all lying slain. At this he rejoiced and
+went on till he reached the cistern and the reservoir. Now his mule was
+athirst and turned aside to drink, but she saw Ala al-Din's shadow in
+the water and shied and started; whereupon Mahmud raised his eyes and,
+seeing Ala al-Din lying in the niche, stripped to his shirt and bag
+trousers, said to him, "What man this deed to thee hath dight and left
+thee in this evil plight?" Answered Ala alDin, "The Arabs," and Mahmud
+said, "O my son, the mules and the baggage were thy ransom; so do thou
+comfort thyself with his saying who said,
+
+'If thereby man can save his head from death, * His good is worth him
+but a slice of nail!'
+
+But now, O my son, come down and fear no hurt." Thereupon he descended
+from the cistern-niche and Mahmud mounted him on a mule, and they fared
+on till they reached Baghdad, where he brought him to his own house and
+carried him to the bath, saying to him, "The goods and money were the
+ransom of thy life, O my son; but, if thou wilt hearken to me, I will
+give thee the worth of that thou hast lost, twice told." When he came
+out of the bath, Mahmud carried him into a saloon decorated with gold
+with four raised floors, and bade them bring a tray with all manner of
+meats. So they ate and drank and Mahmud bent towards Ala al-Din to
+snatch a kiss from him; but he received it upon the palm of his hand
+and said, "What, dost thou persist in thy evil designs upon me? Did I
+not tell thee that, were I wont to sell this merchandise to other than
+thee for gold, I would sell it thee for silver?" Quoth Mahmud, "I will
+give thee neither merchandise nor mule nor clothes save at this price;
+for I am gone mad for love of thee, and bless him who said,
+
+'Told us, ascribing to his Shaykhs, our Shaykh * Abъ Bilбl, these
+
+
+     words they wont to utter:[FN#52]
+
+
+Unhealed the lover wones of love desire, * By kiss and clip, his
+
+
+     only cure's to futter!'"
+
+
+
+Ala al-Din replied, "Of a truth this may never be, take back thy dress
+and thy mule and open the door that I may go out." So he opened the
+door, and Ala al-Din fared forth and walked on, with the dogs barking
+at his heels, and he went forwards through the dark when behold, he saw
+the door of a mosque standing open and, entering the vestibule, there
+took shelter and concealment; and suddenly a light approached him and
+on examining it he saw that it came from a pair of lanthorns borne by
+two slaves before two merchants. Now one was an old man of comely face
+and the other a youth; and he heard the younger say to the elder, "O my
+uncle,, I conjure thee by Allah, give me back my cousin!" The old man
+replied, "Did I not forbid thee, many a time, when the oath of divorce
+was always in thy mouth, as it were Holy Writ?" Then he turned to his
+right and, seeing Ala al-Din as he were a slice of the full moon, said
+to him, "Peace be with thee! who art thou, O my son?" Quoth he,
+returning the salutation of peace, "I am Ala al-Din, son of Shams
+al-Din, Consul of the merchants for Egypt. I besought my father for
+merchandise; so he packed me fifty loads of stuffs and goods."—And
+Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ala al-Din
+continued, "So he packed me fifty loads of goods and gave me ten
+thousand dinars, wherewith I set out for Baghdad; but when I reached
+the Lion's Copse, the wild Arabs came out against me and took all my
+goods and monies. So I entered the city knowing not where to pass the
+night and, seeing this place, I took shelter here." Quoth the old man,
+"O my son, what sayest thou to my giving thee a thousand dinars and a
+suit of clothes and a mule worth other two thousand?" Ala al-Din asked,
+"To what end wilt thou give me these things, O my uncle?" and the other
+answered, 'This young man who accompanieth me is the son of my brother
+and an only son; and I have a daughter called Zubaydah[FN#53] the
+lutist, an only child who is a model of beauty and loveliness, so I
+married her to him. Now he loveth her, but she loatheth him; and when
+he chanced to take an oath of triple divorcement and broke it,
+forthright she left him. Whereupon he egged on all the folk to
+intercede with me to restore her to him; but I told him that this could
+not lawfully be save by an intermediate marriage, and we have agreed to
+make some stranger the intermediary[FN#54] in order that none may taunt
+and shame him with this affair. So, as thou art a stranger, come with
+us and we will marry thee to her; thou shalt lie with her to-night and
+on the morrow divorce her and we will give thee what I said." Quoth Ala
+al-Din to himself, "By Allah, to bide the night with a bride on a bed
+in a house is far better than sleeping in the streets and vestibules!"
+So he went with them to the Kazi whose heart, as soon as he saw Ala
+al-Din, was moved to love him, and who said to the old man, "What is
+your will?" He replied, "We wish to make this young man an intermediary
+husband for my daughter; but we will write a bond against him binding
+him to pay down by way of marriage-settlement ten thousand gold pieces.
+Now if after passing the night with her he divorce her in the morning,
+we will give him a mule and dress each worth a thousand dinars, and a
+third thousand of ready money; but if he divorce her not, he shall pay
+down the ten thousand dinars according to contract." So they agreed to
+the agreement and the father of the bride-to-be received his bond for
+the marriage-settlement. Then he took Ala al-Din and, clothing him
+anew, carried him to his daughter's house and there he left him
+standing at the door, whilst he himself went in to the young lady and
+said, "Take the bond of thy marriage-settlement, for I have wedded thee
+to a handsome youth by name Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat: so do thou use
+him with the best of usage." Then he put the bond into her hands and
+left her and went to his own lodging. Now the lady's cousin had an old
+duenna who used to visit Zubaydah, and he had done many a kindness to
+this woman, so he said to her, "O my mother, if my cousin Zubaydah see
+this handsome young man, she will never after accept my offer; so I
+would fain have thee contrive some trick to keep her and him apart."
+She answered, "By the life of thy youth,[FN#55] I will not suffer him
+to approach her!" Then she went to Ala al-Din and said to him, "O my
+son, I have a word of advice to give thee, for the love of Almighty
+Allah and do thou accept my counsel, as I fear for thee from this young
+woman: better thou let her lie alone and feel not her person nor draw
+thee near to her." He asked, "Why so?"; and she answered, "Because her
+body is full of leprosy and I dread lest she infect thy fair and seemly
+youth." Quoth he, "I have no need of her." Thereupon she went to the
+lady and said the like to her of Ala al-Din, and she replied, "I have
+no need of him, but will let him lie alone, and on the morrow he shall
+gang his gait." Then she called a slave-girl and said to her, "Take the
+tray of food and set it before him that he may sup." So the handmaid
+carried him the tray of food and set it before him and he ate his fill:
+after which he sat down and raised his charming voice and fell to
+reciting the chapter called Y. S.[FN#56] The lady listened to him and
+found his voice as melodious as the psalms of David sung by David
+himself,[FN#57] which when she heard, she exclaimed, "Allah disappoint
+the old hag who told me that he was affected with leprosy! Surely this
+is not the voice of one who hath such a disease; and all was a lie
+against him."[FN#58] Then she took a lute of India-land workmanship
+and, tuning the strings, sang to it in a voice so sweet its music would
+stay the birds in the heart of heaven; and began these two couplets,
+
+"I love a fawn with gentle white black eyes, * Whose walk the
+
+
+     willow-wand with envy kills:
+
+
+Forbidding me he bids for rival-mine, * 'Tis Allah's grace who
+
+
+     grants to whom He wills!"
+
+
+
+And when he heard her chant these lines he ended his recitation of the
+chapter, and began also to sing and repeated the following couplet,
+
+"My Salбm to the Fawn in the garments concealed, * And to roses in
+gardens of cheek revealed."
+
+The lady rose up when she heard this, her inclination for him redoubled
+and she lifted the curtain; and Ala al-Din, seeing her, recited these
+two couplets,
+
+"She shineth forth, a moon, and bends, a willow wand, * And
+
+
+     breathes out ambergris, and gazes, a gazelle.
+
+
+Meseems as if grief loved my heart and when from her *
+
+
+     Estrangement I abide possession to it fell."[FN#59]
+
+
+
+Thereupon she came forward, swinging her haunches and gracefully
+swaying a shape the handiwork of Him whose boons are hidden; and each
+of them stole one glance of the eyes that cost them a thousand sighs.
+And when the shafts of the two regards which met rankled in his heart,
+he repeated these two couplets,
+
+"She 'spied the moon of Heaven, reminding me * Of nights when met
+
+
+     we in the meadows li'en:
+
+
+True, both saw moons, but sooth to say, it was * Her very eyes I
+
+
+     saw, and she my eyne."
+
+
+
+And when she drew near him, and there remained but two paces between
+them, he recited these two couplets,
+
+"She spread three tresses of unplaited hair * One night, and
+
+
+     showed me nights not one but four;
+
+
+And faced the moon of Heaven with her brow, * And showed me two-
+
+
+    fold moons in single hour."
+
+
+
+And as she was hard by him he said to her, "Keep away from me, lest
+thou infect me." Whereupon she uncovered her wrist[FN#60] to him, and
+he saw that it was cleft, as it were in two halves, by its veins and
+sinews and its whiteness was as the whiteness of virgin silver. Then
+said she, "Keep away from me, thou! for thou art stricken with leprosy,
+and maybe thou wilt infect me." He asked, "Who told thee I was a
+leper?" and she answered, "The old woman so told me." Quoth he, "'Twas
+she told me also that thou wast afflicted with white scurvy;" and so
+saying, he bared his forearms and showed her that his skin was also
+like virgin silver. Thereupon she pressed him to her bosom and he
+pressed her to his bosom and the twain embraced with closest embrace,
+then she took him and, lying down on her back, let down her petticoat
+trousers, and in an instant that which his father had left him rose up
+in rebellion against him and he said, "Go it, O Shayth Zachary[FN#61]
+of shaggery, O father of veins!"; and putting both hands to her flanks,
+he set the sugar-stick[FN#62] to the mouth of the cleft and thrust on
+till he came to the wicket called "Pecten." His passage was by the Gate
+of Victories[FN#63] and therefrom he entered the Monday market, and
+those of Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday,[FN#64] and, finding the
+carpet after the measure of the dais floor,[FN#65] he plied the box
+within its cover till he came to the end of it. And when morning dawned
+he cried to her, "Alas for delight which is not fulfilled! The
+raven[FN#66] taketh it and flieth away!" She asked, "What meaneth this
+saying?"; and he answered, "O my lady, I have but this hour to abide
+with thee." Quoth she "Who saith so?" and quoth he, "Thy father made me
+give him a written bond to pay ten thousand dinars to thy
+wedding-settlement; and, except I pay it this very day, they will
+imprison me for debt in the Kazi's house; and now my hand lacketh
+one-half dirham of the sum." She asked, "O my lord, is the
+marriage-bond in thy hand or in theirs?"; and he answered, "O my lady,
+in mine, but I have nothing." She rejoined, "The matter is easy; fear
+thou nothing. Take these hundred dinars: an I had more, I would give
+thee what thou lackest; but of a truth my father, of his love for my
+cousin, hath transported all his goods, even to my jewellery from my
+lodging to his. But when they send thee a serjeant of the
+Ecclesiastical Court,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young lady
+rejoined to Ala al-Din, "And when they send thee at an early hour a
+serjeant of the Ecclesiastical-Court, and the Kazi and my father bid
+thee divorce me, do thou reply, By what law is it lawful and right that
+I should marry at nightfall and divorce in the morning? Then kiss the
+Kazi's hand and give him a present, and in like manner kiss the
+Assessors' hands and give each of them ten gold pieces. So they will
+all speak with thee, and if they ask thee, 'Why dost thou not divorce
+her and take the thousand dinars and the mule and suit of clothes,
+according to contract duly contracted?' do thou answer, 'Every hair of
+her head is worth a thousand ducats to me and I will never put her
+away, neither will I take a suit of clothes nor aught else.' And if the
+Kazi say to thee, 'Then pay down the marriage-settlement,' do thou
+reply, 'I am short of cash at this present;' whereupon he and the
+Assessors will deal in friendly fashion with thee and allow thee time
+to pay." Now whilst they were talking, behold, the Kazi's officer
+knocked at the door; so Ala al-Din went down and the man said to him,
+"Come, speak the Efendi,[FN#67] for thy fatherinlaw summoneth thee." So
+Ala al-Din gave him five dinars and said to him, "O Summoner, by what
+law am I bound to marry at nightfall and divorce next morning?" The
+serjeant answered, "By no law of ours at all, at all; and if thou be
+ignorant of the religious law, I will act as thine advocate." Then they
+went to the divorce court and the Kazi said to Ala al-Din, "Why dost
+thou not put away the woman and take what falleth to thee by the
+contract?" Hearing this he went up to the Kazi; and, kissing his hand,
+put fifty dinars in it and said, "O our lord the Kazi, by what law is
+it lawful and right that I should marry at nightfall and divorce in the
+morning in my own despite?" The Kazi, answered, "Divorce as a
+compulsion and by force is sanctioned by no school of the Moslems."
+Then said the young lady's father, "If thou wilt not divorce, pay me
+the ten thousand dinars, her marriage-settlement." Quoth Ala al-Din,
+"Give me a delay of three days;" but the Kazi, said, "Three days is not
+time enough; he shall give thee ten." So they agreed to this and bound
+him after ten days either to pay the dowry or to divorce her. And after
+consenting he left them and taking meat and rice and clarified
+butter[FN#68] and what else of food he needed, returned to the house
+and told the young woman all that had passed; whereupon she said,
+"'Twixt night and day, wonders may display; and Allah bless him for his
+say:—
+
+'Be mild when rage shall come to afflict thy soul; * Be patient
+
+
+     when calamity breeds ire;
+
+
+Lookye, the Nights are big with child by Time, * Whose pregnancy
+
+
+     bears wondrous things and dire.'"
+
+
+
+Then she rose and made ready food and brought the tray, and they two
+ate and drank and were merry and mirthful. Presently Ala al-Din
+besought her to let him hear a little music; so she took the lute and
+played a melody that had made the hardest stone dance for glee, and the
+strings cried out in present ecstacy, "O Loving One!'';[FN#69] after
+which she passed from the adagio into the presto and a livelier
+measure. As they thus spent their leisure in joy and jollity and mirth
+and merriment, behold, there came a knocking at the door and she said
+to him; "Go see who is at the door." So he went down and opened it and
+finding four Dervishes standing without, said to them, "What want ye?"
+They replied, "O my lord, we are foreign and wandering religious
+mendicants, the viands of whose souls are music and dainty verse, and
+we would fain take our pleasure with thee this night till morning cloth
+appear, when we will wend our way, and with Almighty Allah be thy
+reward; for we adore music and there is not one of us but knoweth by
+heart store of odes and songs and ritornellos."[FN#70] He answered,
+"There is one I must consult;" and he returned and told Zubaydah who
+said, "Open the door to them." So he brought them up and made them sit
+down and welcomed them; then he fetched them food, but they would not
+eat and said, "O our lord, our meat is to repeat Allah's name in our
+hearts and to hear music with our ears: and bless him who saith,
+
+'Our aim is only converse to enjoy, * And eating joyeth only
+cattle-kind.'[FN#71]
+
+And just now we heard pleasant music in thy house, but when we entered,
+it ceased; and fain would we know whether the player was a slave-girl,
+white or black, or a maiden of good family." He answered, "It was this
+my wife," and told them all that had befallen him, adding, "Verily my
+father-in-law hath bound me to pay a marriage-settlement of ten
+thousand dinars for her, and they have given me ten days' time." Said
+one of the Dervishes, "Have no care and think of naught but good; for I
+am Shaykh of the Convent and have forty Dervishes under my orders. I
+will presently collect from them the ten thousand dinars and thou shalt
+pay thy father-in-law the wedding settlement. But now bid thy wife make
+us music that we may be gladdened and pleasured; for to some folk music
+is meat, to others medicine and to others refreshing as a fan." Now
+these four Dervishes were none other than the Caliph Harun al-Rashid,
+his Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide, Abu al-Nowбs al-Hasan son of
+Hбni[FN#72] and Masrur the sworder; and the reason of their coming to
+the house was that the Caliph, being heavy at heart, had summoned his
+Minister and said, "O Wazir! it is our will to go down to the city and
+pace its streets, for my breast is sore straitened." So they all four
+donned dervish dress and went down and walked about, till they came to
+that house where, hearing music, they were minded to know the cause.
+They spent the night in joyance and harmony and telling tale after tale
+until morning dawned, when the Caliph laid an hundred gold pieces under
+the prayer-carpet and all taking leave of Ala al-Din, went their way.
+Now when Zubaydah lifted the carpet she found beneath it the hundred
+dinars and she said to her husband, "Take these hundred dinars which I
+have found under the prayer-carpet; assuredly the Dervishes when about
+to leave us laid them there, without our knowledge." So Ala al-Din took
+the money and, repairing to the market, bought therewith meat and rice
+and clarified butter and all they required. And when it was night, he
+lit the wax-candles and said to his wife, "The mendicants, it is true,
+have not brought the ten thousand dinars which they promised me; but
+indeed they are poor men." As they were talking, behold, the Dervishes
+knocked at the door and she said, "Go down and open to them." So he did
+her bidding and bringing them up, said to them, "Have you brought me
+the ten thousand dinars you promised me?" They answered, "We have not
+been able to collect aught thereof as yet; but fear nothing: Inshallah,
+tomorrow we will compound for thee some alchemical-cookery. But now bid
+thy wife play us her very best pieces and gladden our hearts for we
+love music." So she took her lute and made them such melody that had
+caused the hardest rocks to dance with glee; and they passed the night
+in mirth and merriment, converse and good cheer, till morn appeared
+with its sheen and shone, when the Caliph laid an hundred gold pieces
+under the prayer-carpet and all, after taking leave of Ala al-Din, went
+their way. And they ceased not to visit him thus every night for nine
+nights; and each morning the Caliph put an hundred dinars under the
+prayer carpet, till the tenth night, when they came not. Now the reason
+of their failure to come was that the Caliph had sent to a great
+merchant, saying to him, "Bring me fifty loads of stuffs, such as come
+from Cairo,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Prince of
+True Believers said to that merchant, "Bring me fifty loads of stuffs
+such as come from Cairo, and let each one be worth a thousand dinars,
+and write on each bale its price; and bring me also a male Abyssinian
+slave." The merchant did the bidding of the Caliph who committed to the
+slave a basin and ewer of gold and other presents, together with the
+fifty loads; and wrote a letter to Ala al-Din as from his father Shams
+al-Din and said to him, "Take these bales and what else is with them,
+and go to such and such a quarter wherein dwelleth the Provost of the
+merchants and say, 'Where be Ala al-Din Abu al Shamat?' till folk
+direct thee to his quarter and his house." So the slave took the letter
+and the goods and what else and fared forth on his errand. Such was his
+case; but as regards Zubaydah's cousin and first husband, he went to
+her father and said to him, "Come let us go to Ala al-Din and make him
+divorce the daughter of my uncle." So they set out both together and,
+when they came to the street in which the house stood, they found fifty
+he mules laden with bales of stuffs, and a blackamoor riding on a she
+mule. So they said to him, "Whose loads are these?" He replied, "They
+belong to my lord Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat; for his father equipped him
+with merchandise and sent him on a journey to Baghdad-city; but the
+wild Arabs came forth against him and took his money and goods and all
+he had. So when the ill news reached his father, he despatched me to
+him with these loads, in lieu of those he had lost; besides a mule
+laden with fifty thousand dinars, a parcel of clothes worth a power of
+money, a robe of sables[FN#73] and a basin and ewer of gold." Whereupon
+the lady's father said, "He whom thou seekest is my son-in-law and I
+will show thee his house." Meanwhile Ala al-Din was sitting at home in
+huge concern, when lo! one knocked at the door and he said, "O
+Zubaydah, Allah is all-knowing! but I fear thy father hath sent me an
+officer from the Kazi or the Chief of Police." Quoth she, "Go down and
+see what it is." So he went down; and, opening the door, found his
+father-in-law, the Provost of the merchants with an Abyssinian slave,
+dusky complexioned and pleasant of favour, riding on a mule. When the
+slave saw him he dismounted and kissed his hands, and Ala al-Din said,
+"What dost thou want?" He replied, "I am the slave of my lord Ala
+al-Din Abu al-Shamat, son of Shams al-Din, Consul of the merchants for
+the land of Egypt, who hath sent me to him with this charge." Then he
+gave him the letter and Ala al-Din opening it found written what
+followeth:[FN#74]
+
+"Ho thou my letter! when my friend shall see thee, * Kiss thou
+
+
+     the ground and buss his sandal-shoon:
+
+
+Look thou hie softly and thou hasten not, * My life and rest are
+
+
+     in those hands so boon.
+
+
+
+"After hearty salutations and congratulations and high estimation from
+Shams al-Din to his son, Abu al-Shamat. Know, O my son, that news hath
+reached me of the slaughter of thy men and the plunder of thy monies
+and goods; so I send thee herewith fifty loads of Egyptian stuffs,
+together with a suit of clothes and a robe of sables and a basin and
+ewer of gold. Fear thou no evil, and the goods thou hast lost were the
+ransom of thy life; so regret them not and may no further grief befall
+thee. Thy mother and the people of the house are doing well in health
+and happiness and all greet thee with abundant greetings. Moreover, O
+my son, it hath reached me that they have married thee, by way of
+intermediary, to the lady Zubaydah the lutist and they have imposed on
+thee a marriage-settlement of ten thousand dinars; wherefore I send
+thee also fifty thousand dinars by the slave Salнm."[FN#75] Now when
+Ala al-Din had made an end of reading the letter, he took possession of
+the loads and, turning to the Provost, said to him, "O my
+father-in-law, take the ten thousand dinars, the marriage-settlement of
+thy daughter Zubaydah, and take also the loads of goods and dispose of
+them, and thine be the profit; only return me the cost price." He
+answered, "Nay, by Allah, I will take nothing; and, as for thy wife's
+settlement, do thou settle the matter with her." Then, after the goods
+had been brought in, they went to Zuhaydah and she said to her sire, "O
+my father, whose loads be these?" He said, "These belong to thy
+husband, Ala al-Din: his father hath sent them to him instead of those
+whereof the wild Arabs spoiled him. Moreover, he hath sent him fifty
+thousand dinars with a parcel of clothes, a robe of sables, a she mule
+for riding and a basin and ewer of gold. As for the marriage-settlement
+that is for thy recking." Thereupon Ala al-Din rose and, opening the
+money box, gave her her settlement and the lady's cousin said, "O my
+uncle, let him divorce to me my wife;" but the old man replied, "This
+may never be now; for the marriage tie is in his hand." Thereupon the
+young man went out, sore afflicted and sadly vexed and, returning home,
+fell sick, for his heart had received its death blow; so he presently
+died. But as for Ala al-Din, after receiving his goods he went to the
+bazar and buying what meats and drinks he needed, made a banquet as
+usual—against the night, saying to Zubaydah, "See these lying
+Dervishes; they promised us and broke their promises." Quoth she, "Thou
+art the son of a Consul of the merchants, yet was thy hand short of
+half a dirham; how then should it be with poor Dervishes?" Quoth he,
+"Almighty Allah hath enabled us to do without them; but if they come to
+us never again will I open the door to them." She asked, "Why so,
+whenas their coming footsteps brought us good luck; and, moreover, they
+put an hundred dinars under the prayer carpet for us every night?
+Perforce must thou open the door to them an they come." So when day
+departed with its light and in gloom came night, they lighted the wax
+candles and he said to her, "Rise, Zubaydah, make us music;" and
+behold, at this moment some one knocked at the door, and she said, "Go
+and look who is at the door." So he went down and opened it and seeing
+the Dervishes, said, "Oh, fair welcome to the liars! Come up."
+Accordingly they went up with him and he seated them and brought them
+the tray of food; and they ate and drank and became merry and mirthful,
+and presently said to him, "O my lord, our hearts have been troubled
+for thee: what hath passed between thee and thy father-in-law?" He
+answered, "Allah compensated us beyond and above our desire." Rejoined
+they, "By Allah, we were in fear for thee".—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and and Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Dervishes
+thus addressed Ala al-Din, "By Allah, we were in fear for thee and
+naught kept us from thee but our lack of cash and coin." Quoth he,
+"Speedy relief hath come to me from my Lord; for my father hath sent me
+fifty thousand dinars and fifty loads of stuffs, each load worth a
+thousand dinars; besides a riding-mule, a robe of sables, an Abyssinian
+slave and a basin and ewer of gold. Moreover, I have made my peace with
+my father-in-law and my wife hath become my lawful wife by my paying
+her settlement; so laud to Allah for that!" Presently the Caliph rose
+to do a necessity; whereupon Ja'afar bent him towards Ala al-Din and
+said, "Look to thy manners, for thou art in the presence of the
+Commander of the Faithful " Asked he, "How have I failed in good
+breeding before the Commander of the Faithful, and which of you is he?"
+Quoth Ja'afar, "He who went out but now to make water is the Commander
+of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, and I am the Wazir Ja'afar; and this
+is Masrur the executioner and this other is Abu Nowas Hasan bin Hani..
+And now, O Ala al-Din, use thy reason and bethink thee how many days'
+journey it is between Cairo and Baghdad." He replied, "Five and forty
+days' journey;" and Ja'afar rejoined, "Thy baggage was stolen only ten
+days ago; so how could the news have reached thy father, and how could
+he pack thee up other goods and send them to thee five-and-forty days'
+journey in ten days' time?" Quoth Ala al-Din, "O my lord and whence
+then came they?" "From the Commander of the Faithful," replied Ja'afar,
+"of his great affection for thee." As they were speaking, lo! the
+Caliph entered and Ala al-Din rising, kissed the ground before him and
+said, "Allah keep thee, O Prince of the Faithful, and give thee long
+life; and may the lieges never lack thy bounty and beneficence!"
+Replied the Caliph, "O Ala al-Din, let Zubaydah play us an air, by way
+of house-warming[FN#76] for thy deliverance." Thereupon she played him
+on the lute so rare a melody that the very stones shook for glee, and
+the strings cried out for present ecstasy, "O Loving One!" They spent
+the night after the merriest fashion, and in the morning the Caliph
+said to Ala al-Din, "Come to the Divan to-morrow." He answered,
+"Hearkening and obedience, O Commander of the Faithful; so Allah will
+and thou be well and in good case!" On the morrow he took ten trays
+and, putting on each a costly present, went up with them to the palace;
+and the Caliph was sitting on the throne when, behold, Ala al-Din
+appeared at the door of the Divan, repeating these two couplets,
+
+"Honour and Glory wait on thee each morn! * Thine enviers' noses
+
+
+     in the dust be set!
+
+
+Ne'er cease thy days to be as white as snow; * Thy foeman's days
+
+
+     to be as black as jet!"
+
+
+
+"Welcome, O Ala Al-Din!" said the Caliph, and he replied, "O Commander
+of the Faithful, the Prophet (whom Allah bless and assain!)[FN#77] was
+wont to accept presents; and these ten trays, with what is on them, are
+my offering to thee." The Caliph accepted his gift and, ordering him a
+robe of honour, made him Provost of the merchants and gave him a seat
+in the Divan. And as he was sitting behold, his father-in-law came in
+and, seeing Ala al-Din seated in his place and clad in a robe of
+honour, said to the Caliph, "O King of the age, why is this man sitting
+in my place and wearing this robe of honour?" Quoth the Caliph, "I have
+made him Provost of the merchants, for offices are by investiture and
+not in perpetuity, and thou art deposed." Answered the merchant, "Thou
+hast done well, O Commander of the Faithful, for he is ours and one of
+us. Allah make the best of us the managers of our affairs! How many a
+little one hath become great!" Then the Caliph wrote Ala al-Din a
+Firman[FN#78] of investiture and gave it to the Governor who gave it to
+the crier,[FN#79] and the crier made proclamation in the Divan saying,
+"None is Provost of the merchants but Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat, and his
+word is to be heard, and he must be obeyed with due respect paid, and
+he meriteth homage and honour and high degree!" Moreover, when the
+Divan broke up, the Governor went down with the crier before Ala
+Al-Din!" and the crier repeated the proclamation and they carried Ala
+al-Din through the thoroughfares of Baghdad, making proclamation of his
+dignity. Next day, Ala al-Din opened a shop for his slave Salim and set
+him therein, to buy and sell, whilst he himself rode to the palace and
+took his place in the Caliph's Divan.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Sixtieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ala al-Din rode
+to the palace and took his place in the Caliph's Divan. Now it came to
+pass one day, when he sat in his stead as was his wont, behold, one
+said to the Caliph, "O Commander of the Faithful, may thy head survive
+such an one the cup-companion!; for he is gone to the mercy of Almighty
+Allah, but be thy life prolonged!"[FN#80] Quoth the Caliph, "Where is
+Ala al-Din Abu al-al-Shamat?" So he went up to the Commander of the
+Faithful, who at once clad him in a splendid dress of honour and made
+him his boon-companion; appointing him a monthly pay and allowance of a
+thousand dinars. He continued to keep him company till, one day, as he
+sat in the Divan, according to his custom attending upon the Caliph, lo
+and behold! an Emir came up with sword and shield in hand and said, "O
+Commander of the Faithful, may thy head long outlive the Head of the
+Sixty, for he is dead this day;" whereupon the Caliph ordered Ala
+al-Din a dress of honour and made him Chief of the Sixty, in place of
+the other who had neither wife nor son nor daughter. So Ala al-Din laid
+hands on his estate and the Caliph said to him, "Bury him in the earth
+and take all he hath left of wealth and slaves and handmaids."[FN#81]
+Then he shook the handkerchief[FN#82] and dismissed the Divan,
+whereupon Ala al-Din went forth, attended by Ahmad al-Danaf, captain of
+the right, and Hasan Shъmбn, captain of the left, riding at his either
+stirrup, each with his forty men.[FN#83] Presently, he turned to Hasan
+Shuman and his men and said to them, "Plead ye for me with the Captain
+Ahmad al-Danaf that he please to accept me as his son by covenant
+before Allah." And Ahmad assented, saying, "I and my forty men will go
+before thee to the Divan every morning." Now after this Ala al-Din
+continued in the Caliph's service many days; till one day it chanced
+that he left the Divan and returning home, dismissed Ahmad al-Danaf and
+his men and sat down with his wife Zubaydab, the lute-player, who
+lighted the wax candles and went out of the room upon an occasion.
+Suddenly he heard a loud shriek; so he rose up and running in haste to
+see what was the matter, found that it was his wife who had cried out.
+She was lying at full length on the ground and, when he put his hand to
+her breast, he found her dead. Now her father's house faced that of Ala
+al-Din, and he, hearing the shriek, came in and said, "What is the
+matter, O my lord Ala al-Din?" He replied, "O my father, may thy head
+outlive thy daughter Zubaydah! But, O my father, honour to the dead is
+burying them." So when the morning dawned, they buried her in the earth
+and her husband and father condoled with and mutually consoled each
+other. Thus far concerning her; but as regards Ala al-Din he donned
+mourning dress and declined the Divan, abiding tearful-eyed and
+heavy-hearted at home. After a while, the Caliph said to Ja'afar, "O
+Watir, what is the cause of Ala al-Din's absence from the Divan?" The
+Minister answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, he is in mourning for
+his wife Zubaydah; and is occupied in receiving those who come to
+console him;" and the Caliph said, "It behoveth us to pay him a visit
+of condolence." "I hear and I obey," replied Ja'afar. So they took
+horse, the Caliph and the Minister and a few attendants, and rode to
+Ala al-Din's house and, as he was sitting at home, behold, the party
+came in upon him; whereupon he rose to receive them and kissed the
+ground before the Caliph, who said to him, "Allah make good thy loss to
+thee!" Answered Ala Al-Din, "May Allah preserve thee to us, O Commander
+of the Faithful!" Then said the Caliph, "O Ala al-Din, why hast thou
+absented thyself from the Divan?" And he replied, "Because of my
+mourning for my wife, Zubaydah, O Commander of the Faithful." The
+Caliph rejoined, "Put away grief from thee: verily she is dead and gone
+to the mercy of Almighty Allah and mourning will avail thee nothing;
+no, nothing." But Ala al-Din said "O Commander of the Faithful, I shall
+never leave mourning for her till I die and they bury me by her side."
+Quoth the Caliph, "In Allah is compensation for every decease, and
+neither device nor riches can deliver from death; and divinely gifted
+was he who said,
+
+'All sons of woman, albe long preserved, * Are borne upon the
+
+
+     bulging bier some day.[FN#84]
+
+
+How then shall 'joy man joy or taste delight, * Upon whose cheeks
+
+
+     shall rest the dust and clay?'"
+
+
+
+When the Caliph had made an end of condoling with him, he charged him
+not to absent himself from the Divan and returned to his palace. And
+Ala Al-Din, after a last sorrowful night, mounted early in the morning
+and, riding to the court, kissed the ground before the Commander of the
+Faithful who made a movement if rising from the throne[FN#85] to greet
+and welcome him; and bade him take his appointed place in the Divan,
+saying, "O Ala al-Din, thou art my guest to-night." So presently he
+carried him into his serraglio and calling a slave-girl named Kъt
+al-Kulъb, said to her, "Ala al-Din had a wife called Zubaydah, who used
+to sing to him and solace him of cark and care; but she is gone to the
+mercy of Almighty Allah, and now I would have thee play him an air upon
+the lute,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Sixty-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph said
+to the damsel Kut al-Kulub, "I would have thee play him upon the lute
+an air, of fashion sweet and rare, that he may be solaced of his cark
+and care." So she rose and made sweet music; and the Caliph said to Ala
+al-Din, "What sayst thou of this damsel's voice?" He replied, "Verily,
+O Commander of the Faithful, Zubaydah's voice was the finer; but she is
+skilled in touching the lute cunningly and her playing would make a
+rock dance with glee." The Caliph asked, "Doth she please thee?'' and
+he answered, "She doth, O Commander of the Faithful;" whereupon the
+King said, "By the life of my head and the tombs of my forefathers, she
+is a gift from me to thee, she and her waiting- women!" Ala al-Din
+fancied that the Caliph was jesting with him; but, on the morrow, the
+King went in to Kut al-Kulub and said to her, "I have given thee to Ala
+Al-Din, whereat she rejoiced, for she had seen and loved him. Then the
+Caliph returned from his serraglio palace to the Divan; and, calling
+porters, said to them, "Set all the goods of Kut al-Kulub and her
+waiting-women in a litter, and carry them to Ala al-Din's home." So
+they conducted her to the house and showed her into the pavilion,
+whilst the Caliph sat in the hall of audience till the dose of day,
+when the Divan broke up and he retired to his harem. Such was his case;
+but as regards Kut al-Kulub, when she had taken up her lodging in Ala
+al-Din's mansion, she and her women, forty in all, besides the
+eunuchry, she called two of these caponised slaves and said to them,
+"Sit ye on stools, one on the right and another on the left hand of the
+door; and, when Ala al-Din cometh home, both of you kiss his hands and
+say to him, "Our mistress Kut al-Kulub requesteth thy presence in the
+pavilion, for the Caliph hath given her to thee, her and her women."
+They answered, "We hear and obey;" and did as she bade them. So, when
+Ala al-Din returned, he found two of the Caliph's eunuchs sitting at
+the door and was amazed at the matter and said to himself, "Surely,
+this is not my own house; or else what can have happened?" Now when the
+eunuchs saw him, they rose to him and, kissing his hands, said to him,
+"We are of the Caliph's household and slaves to Kut al-Kulub, who
+saluteth thee, giving thee to know that the Caliph hath bestowed her on
+thee, her and her women, and requesteth thy presence." Quoth Ala
+al-Din, "Say ye to her, 'Thou art welcome; but so long as thou shalt
+abide with me, I will not enter the pavilion wherein thou art, for what
+was the master's should not become the man's;' and furthermore ask her,
+'What was the sum of thy day's expenditure in the Caliph's palace?'" So
+they went in and did his errand to her, and she answered, "An hundred
+dinars a day;" whereupon quoth he to himself, "There was no need for
+the Caliph to give me Kut al-Kulub, that I should be put to such
+expense for her; but there is no help for it." So she abode with him
+awhile and he assigned her daily an hundred dinars for her maintenance;
+till, one day, he absented himself from the Divan and the Caliph said
+to Ja'afar, "O Watir, I gave not Kut al-Kulub unto Ala al-Din but that
+she might console him for his wife; why, then, doth he still hold aloof
+from us?" Answered Ja'afar, "O Commander of the Faithful, he spake
+sooth who said, 'Whoso findeth his fere, forgetteth his friends.'"
+Rejoined the Caliph, "Haply he hath not absented himself without
+excuse, but we will pay him a visit." Now some days before this, Ala
+al-Din had said to Ja'afar, "I complained to the Caliph of my grief and
+mourning for the loss of my wife Zubaydah and he gave me Kut al-Kulub;"
+and the Minister replied, "Except he loved thee, he had not given her
+to thee. Say hast thou gone in unto her, O Ala al-Din?" He rejoined,
+"No, by Allah! I know not her length from her breadth." He asked "And
+why?" and he answered, "O Wazir, what befitteth the lord befitteth not
+the liege." Then the Caliph and Ja'afar disguised themselves and went
+privily to visit Ala al-Din; but he knew them and rising to them kissed
+the hands of the Caliph, who looked at him and saw signs of sorrow in
+his face. So he said to him, "O Al-Din, whence cometh this sorrow
+wherein I see thee? Hast thou not gone in unto Kut al-Kulub?" He
+replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, what befitteth the lord
+befitteth not the thrall. No, as yet I have not gone in to visit her
+nor do I know her length from her breadth; so pray quit me of her."
+Quoth the Caliph, "I would fain see her and question her of her case;"
+and quoth Ala al-Din, "I hear and I obey, O Commander of the Faithful."
+So the Caliph went in,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Sixty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph went
+in to Kut al-Kulub, who rose to him on sighting him and kissed the
+ground between his hands; when he said to her, "Hath Ala al-Din gone in
+unto thee?" and she answered, "No, O Commander of the Faithful, I sent
+to bid him come, but he would not." So the Caliph bade carry her back
+to the Harim and saying to Ala Al-Din, "Do not absent thyself from us,"
+returned to his palace. Accordingly, next morning, Ala Al-Din, mounted
+and rode to the Divan, where he took his seat as Chief of the Sixty.
+Presently the Caliph ordered his treasurer to give the Wazir Ja'afar
+ten thousand dinars and said when his order was obeyed, "I charge thee
+to go down to the bazar where handmaidens are sold and buy Ala Al-Din,
+a slave-girl with this sum." So in obedience to the King, Ja'afar took
+Ala al-Din and went down with him to the bazar. Now as chance would
+have it, that very day, the Emir Khбlid, whom the Caliph had made
+Governor of Baghdad, went down to the market to buy a slave-girl for
+his son and the cause of his going was that his wife, Khбtъn by name,
+had borne him a son called Habzalam Bazбzah,[FN#86] and the same was
+foul of favour and had reached the age of twenty, without learning to
+mount horse; albeit his father was brave and bold, a doughty rider
+ready to plunge into the Sea of Darkness.[FN#87] And it happened that
+on a certain night he had a dream which caused nocturnal-pollution
+whereof he told his mother, who rejoiced and said to his father, "I
+want to find him a wife, as he is now ripe for wedlock." Quoth Khбlid,
+"The fellow is so foul of favour and withal-so rank of odour, so sordid
+and beastly that no woman would take him as a gift." And she answered,
+"We will buy him a slave-girl." So it befell, for the accomplishing of
+what Allah Almighty had decreed, that on the same day, Ja'afar and Ala
+al-Din, the Governor Khбlid and his son went down to the market and
+behold, they saw in the hands of a broker a beautiful girl, lovely
+faced and of perfect shape, and the Wazir said to him, "O broker, ask
+her owner if he will take a thousand dinars for her." And as the broker
+passed by the Governor with the slave, Hahzalam Bazazah cast at her one
+glance of the eyes which entailed for himself one thousand sighs; and
+he fell in love with her and passion got hold of him and he said, "O my
+father, buy me yonder slave-girl." So the Emir called the broker, who
+brought the girl to him, and asked her her name. She replied, "My name
+is Jessamine;" and he said to Hahzalam Bazazah, "O my son, as she
+please thee, do thou bid higher for her." Then he asked the broker,
+"What hath been bidden for her?" and he replied, "A thousand dinars."
+Said the Governor's son, "She is mine for a thousand pieces of gold and
+one more;" and the broker passed on to Ala al-Din who bid two thousand
+dinars for her; and as often as the Emir's son bid another dinar, Ala
+al-Din bid a thousand. The ugly youth was vexed at this and said, "O
+broker! who is it that outbiddeth me for the slave-girl?" Answered the
+broker, "It is the Wazir Ja'afar who is minded to buy her for Ala
+al-Din Abu al-Shamat." And Ala al-Din continued till he brought her
+price up to ten thousand dinars, and her owner was satisfied to sell
+her for that sum. Then he took the girl and said to her, "I give thee
+thy freedom for the love of Almighty Allah;" and forthwith wrote his
+contract of marriage with her and carried her to his house. Now when
+the broker returned, after having received his brokerage, the Emir's
+son summoned him and said to him, "Where is the girl?" Quoth he, "She
+was bought for ten thousand dinars by Ala al-Din, who hath set her free
+and married her." At this the young man was greatly vexed and cast down
+and, sighing many a sigh, returned home, sick for love of the damsel;
+and he threw himself on his bed and refused food, for love and longing
+were sore upon him. Now when his mother saw him in this plight, she
+said to him, "Heaven assain thee, O my son! What aileth thee?" And he
+answered, "Buy me Jessamine, O my mother." Quoth she, "When the
+flower-seller passeth I will buy thee a basketful of jessamine." Quoth
+he, "It is not the jessamine one smells, but a slave-girl named
+Jessamine, whom my father would not buy for me." So she said to her
+husband, "Why and wherefore didest thou not buy him the girl?" and he
+replied, "What is fit for the lord is not fit for the liege and I have
+no power to take her: no less a man bought her than Ala Al-Din, Chief
+of the Sixty." Then the youth's weakness redoubled upon him, till he
+gave up sleeping and eating, and his mother bound her head with the
+fillets of mourning. And while in her sadness she sat at home,
+lamenting over her son, behold, came in to her an old woman, known as
+the mother of Ahmad Kamбkim[FN#88] the arch-thief, a knave who would
+bore through a middle wall and scale the tallest of the tall and steal
+the very kohl off the eye-ball.[FN#89] From his earliest years he had
+been given to these malpractices, till they made him Captain of the
+Watch, when he stole a sum of money; and the Chief of Police, coming
+upon him in the act, carried him to the Caliph, who bade put him to
+death on the common execution-ground.[FN#90] But he implored protection
+of the Wazir whose intercession the Caliph never rejected, so he
+pleaded for him with the Commander of the Faithful who said, "How canst
+thou intercede for this pest of the human race?" Ja'afar answered, "O
+Commander of the Faithful, do thou imprison him; whoso built the first
+jail was a sage, seeing that a jail is the grave of the living and a
+joy for the foe." So the Caliph bade lay him in bilboes and write
+thereon, "Appointed to remain here until death and not to be loosed but
+on the corpse washer's bench;" and they cast him fettered into limbo.
+Now his mother was a frequent visitor to the house of the Emir Khбlid,
+who was Governor and Chief of Police; and she used to go in to her son
+in jail and say to him, "Did I not warn thee to turn from thy wicked
+ways?''[FN#91] And he would always answer her, "Allah decreed this to
+me; but, O my mother, when thou visitest the Emir's wife make her
+intercede for me with her husband." So when the old woman came into the
+Lady Khatun, she found her bound with the fillets of mourning and said
+to her, "Wherefore dost thou mourn?" She replied, "For my son Habzalam
+Bazazah;" and the old woman exclaimed, "Heaven assain thy son!; what
+hath befallen him?" So the mother told her the whole story, and she
+said, "What thou say of him who should achieve such a feat as would
+save thy son?" Asked the lady, "And what feat wilt thou do?" Quoth the
+old woman, "I have a son called Ahmad Kamakim, the arch-thief, who
+lieth chained in jail and on his bilboes is written, 'Appointed to
+remain till death'; so do thou don thy richest clothes and trick thee
+out with thy finest jewels and present thyself to thy husband with an
+open face and smiling mien; and when he seeketh of thee what men seek
+of women, put him off and baulk him of his will and say, 'By Allah,
+'tis a strange thing! When a man desireth aught of his wife he dunneth
+her till she doeth it; but if a wife desire aught of her husband, he
+will not grant it to her.' Then he will say, 'What dost thou want?';
+and do thou answer, 'First swear to grant my request.' If he swear to
+thee by his head or by Allah, say to him, 'Swear to me the oath of
+divorce', and do not yield to him, except he do this. And whenas he
+hath sworn to thee the oath of divorce, say to him, 'Thou keepest in
+prison a man called Ahmad Kamakim, and he hath a poor old mother, who
+hath set upon me and who urgeth me in the matter and who saith, 'Let
+thy husband intercede for him with the Caliph, that my son may repent
+and thou gain heavenly guerdon.'" And the Lady Khatun replied, "I hear
+and obey." So when her husband came into her—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Sixty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Governor came
+in to his wife, who spoke to him as she had been taught and made him
+swear the divorce-oath before she would yield to his wishes. He lay
+with her that night and, when morning dawned, after he had made the
+Ghusl-ablution and prayed the dawn- prayer, he repaired to the prison
+and said, "O Ahmad Kamakim, O thou arch-thief, dost thou repent of thy
+works?"; whereto he replied, "I do indeed repent and turn to Allah and
+say with heart and tongue, 'I ask pardon of Allah.'" So the Governor
+took him out of jail and carried him to the Court (he being still in
+bilboes) and, approaching the Caliph, kissed ground before him. Quoth
+the King, "O Emir Khбlid, what seekest thou?"; whereupon he brought
+forward Ahmad Kamakim, shuffling and tripping in his fetters, and the
+Caliph said to him, "What! art thou yet alive, O Kamakim?" He replied,
+"O Commander of the Faithful, the miserable are long-lived." Quoth the
+Caliph to the Emir, "Why hast thou brought him hither?"; and quoth he,
+"O Commander of the Faithful, he hath a poor old mother cut off from
+the world who hath none but this son and she hath had recourse to thy
+slave, imploring him to intercede with thee to strike off his chains,
+for he repenteth of his evil courses; and to make him Captain of the
+Watch as before." The Caliph asked Ahmad Kamakim, "Doss thou repent of
+thy sins?" "I do indeed repent me to Allah, O Commander of the
+Faithful," answered he; whereupon the Caliph called for the blacksmith
+and made him strike off his irons on the corpse- washer's bench.[FN#92]
+Moreover, he restored him to his former office and charged him to walk
+in the ways of godliness and righteousness. So he kissed the Caliph's
+hands and, being invested with the uniform of Captain of the Watch, he
+went forth, whilst they made proclamation of his appointment. Now for a
+long time he abode in the exercise of his office, till one day his
+mother went in to the Governor's wife, who said to her, "Praised be
+Allah who hath delivered thy son from prison and restored him to health
+and safety! But why dost thou not bid him contrive some trick to get
+the girl Jessamine for my son Hahzalam Bazazah?" "That will I,"
+answered she and, going out from her, repaired to her son. She found
+him drunk with wine and said to him, "O my son, no one caused thy
+release from jail but the wife of the Governor, and she would have thee
+find some means to slay Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat and get his slave-girl
+Jessamine for her son Habzalam Bazazah." He answered, "That will be the
+easiest of things; and I must needs set about it this very night." Now
+this was the first night of the new month, and it was the custom of the
+Caliph to spend that night with the Lady Zubaydah, for the setting free
+of a slave-girl or a Mameluke or something of the sort. Moreover, on
+such occasions he used to doff his royal-habit, together with his
+rosary and dagger-sword and royal-signet, and set them all upon a chair
+in the sitting- saloon: and he had also a golden lanthorn, adorned with
+three jewels strung on a wire of gold, by which he set great store; and
+he would commit all these things to the charge of the eunuchry, whilst
+he went into the Lady Zubaydah's apartment. So arch-thief Ahmad Kamakin
+waited till midnight, when Canopus shone bright, and all creatures to
+sleep were dight whilst the Creator veiled them with the veil of night.
+Then he took his drawn sword in his right and his grappling hook in his
+left and, repairing to the Caliph's sitting-saloon planted his scaling
+ladder and cast his grapnel on to the side of the terrace-roof; then,
+raising the trap-door, let himself down into the saloon, where he found
+the eunuchs asleep. He drugged them with hemp-fumes;[FN#93] and, taking
+the Caliph's dress; dagger, rosary, kerchief, signet-ring and the
+lanthorn whereupon were the pearls, returned whence he came and betook
+himself to the house of Ala al-Din, who had that night celebrated his
+wedding festivities with Jessamine and had gone in unto her and gotten
+her with child. So arch-thief Ahmad Kamakim climbed over into his
+saloon and, raising one of the marble slabs from the sunken part of the
+floor,[FN#94] dug a hole under it and laid the stolen things therein,
+all save the lanthorn, which he kept for himself. Then he plastered
+down the marble slab as it before was, and returning whence he came,
+went back to his own house, saying, "I will now tackle my drink and set
+this lanthorn before me and quaff the cup to its light."[FN#95] Now as
+soon as it was dawn of day, the Caliph went out into the
+sitting-chamber; and, seeing the eunuchs drugged with hemp, aroused
+them. Then he put his hand to the chair and found neither dress nor
+signet nor rosary nor dagger-sword nor kerchief nor lanthorn; whereat
+he was exceeding wroth and donning the dress of anger, which was a
+scarlet suit,[FN#96] sat down in the Divan. So the Wazir Ja'afar came
+forward and kissing the ground before him, said, "Allah avert all evil
+from the Commander of the Faithful!" Answered the Caliph, "O Wazir, the
+evil is passing great!" Ja'afar asked, "What has happened?" so he told
+him what had occurred; and, behold, the Chief of Police appeared with
+Ahmad Kamakim the robber at his stirrup, when he found the Commander of
+the Faithful sore enraged. As soon as the Caliph saw him, he said to
+him, "O Emir Khбlid, how goes Baghdad?" And he answered, "Safe and
+secure." Cried he "Thou liest!" "How so, O Prince of True Believers?"
+asked the Emir. So he told him the case and added, "I charge thee to
+bring me back all the stolen things." Replied the Emir, "O Commander of
+the Faithful, the vinegar worm is of and in the vinegar, and no
+stranger can get at this place."[FN#97] But the Caliph said, "Except
+thou bring me these things, I will put thee to death." Quoth he, "Ere
+thou slay me, slay Ahmad Kamakim, for none should know the robber and
+the traitor but the Captain of the Watch." Then came forward Ahmad
+Kamakim and said to the Caliph, "Accept my intercession for the Chief
+of Police, and I will be responsible to thee for the thief and will
+track his trail till I find him; but give me two Kazis and two
+Assessors for he who did this thing feareth thee not, nor cloth he fear
+the Governor nor any other." Answered the Caliph, "Thou shalt have what
+thou wantest; but let search be made first in my palace and then in
+those of the Wazir and the Chief of the Sixty." Rejoined Ahmad Kamakim,
+"Thou sayest well, O Commander of the Faith ful; belike the man that
+did this ill deed be one who hath been reared in the King's household
+or in that of one of his officers." Cried the Caliph, "As my head
+liveth, whosoever shall have done the deed I will assuredly put him to
+death, be it mine own son!" Then Ahmad Kamakim received a written
+warrant to enter and perforce search the houses;—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ahmad Kamakim got
+what he wanted, and received a written warrant to enter and perforce
+search the houses; so he fared forth, taking in his hand a rod[FN#98]
+made of bronze and copper, iron and steel, of each three equal-parts.
+He first searched the palace of the Caliph, then that of the Wazir
+Ja'afar; after which he went the round of the houses of the
+Chamberlains and the Viceroys till he came to that of Ala al-Din. Now
+when the Chief of the Sixty heard the clamour before his house, he left
+his wife Jessamine and went down and, opening the door, found the
+Master of Police without in the midst of a tumultuous crowd. So he
+said, "What is the matter, O Emir Khбlid?" Thereupon the Chief told him
+the case and Ala al-Din said, "Enter my house and search it." The
+Governor replied, "Pardon, O my lord; thou art a man in whom trust is
+reposed and Allah forfend that the trusty turn traitor!" Quoth Ala
+al-Din, "There is no help for it but that my house be searched." So the
+Chief of Police entered, attended by the Kazi and his Assessors;
+whereupon Ahmad Kamakim went straight to the depressed floor of the
+saloon and came to the slab, under which he had buried the stolen goods
+and let the rod fall upon it with such violence that the marble broke
+in sunder and behold something glittered underneath. Then said he,
+"Bismillah; in the name of Allah! Mashallah; whatso Allah willeth! By
+the blessing of our coming a hoard hath been hit upon, wait while we go
+down into this hiding-place and see what is therein." So the Kazi and
+Assessors looked into the hole and finding there the stolen goods, drew
+up a statement[FN#99] of how they had discovered them in Ala al-Din's
+house, to which they set their seals. Then, they bade seize upon Ala
+al-Din and took his turban from his head, and officially registered all
+his monies and effects which were in the mansion. Meanwhile, arch-thief
+Ahmad Kamakim laid hands on Jessamine, who was with child by Ala
+al-Din, and committed her to his mother, saying, "Deliver her to
+Khatun, the Governor's lady:" so the old woman took her and carried her
+to the wife of the Master of Police. Now as soon as Habzalam Bazazah
+saw her, health and heart returned to him and he arose without stay or
+delay and joyed with exceeding joy and would have drawn near her; but
+she plucks a dagger from her girdle and said, "Keep off from me, or I
+will kill thee and kill myself after." Exclaimed his mother, "O
+strumpet, let my son have his will of thee!" But Jessamine answered "O
+bitch, by what law is it lawful for a woman to marry two men; and how
+shall the dog be admitted to the place of the lion?" With this, the
+ugly youth's love-longing redoubled and he sickened for yearning and
+unfulfilled desire; and refusing food returned to his pillow. Then said
+his mother to her, "O harlot, how canst thou make me thus to sorrow for
+my son? Needs must I punish thee with torture, and as for Ala al-Din,
+he will assuredly be hanged." "And I will die for love of him,"
+answered Jessamine. Then the Governor's wife arose and stripped her of
+her jewels and silken raiment and, clothing her in petticoat-trousers
+of sack-cloth and a shift of hair-cloth, sent her down into the kitchen
+and made her a scullery-wench, saying, "The reward for thy constancy
+shall be to break up fire-wood and peel onions and set fire under the
+cooking-pots." Quoth she, "I am willing to suffer all manner of
+hardships and servitude, but I will not suffer the sight of thy son."
+However, Allah inclined the hearts of the slave-girls to her and they
+used to do her service in the kitchen. Such was the case with
+Jessamine; but as regards Ala al-Din they carried him, together with
+the stolen goods, to the Divan where the Caliph still sat upon his
+throne. And behold, the King looked upon his effects and said, "Where
+did ye find them?" They replied, "In the very middle of the house
+belonging to Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat;" whereat the Caliph was filled
+with wrath and took the things, but found not the lanthorn among them
+and said, "O Ala al-Din, where is the lanthorn?" He answered "I stole
+it not, I know naught of it; I never saw it; I can give no information
+about it!" Said the Caliph, "O traitor, how cometh it that I brought
+thee near unto me and thou hast cast me out afar, and I trusted in thee
+and thou betrayest me?" And he commanded to hang him. So the Chief of
+Police took him and went down with him into the city, whilst the crier
+preceded them proclaiming aloud and saying, "This is the reward and the
+least of the reward he shall receive who doth treason against the
+Caliphs of True Belief!" And the folk flocked to the place where the
+gallows stood. Thus far concerning him; but as regards Ahmad al-Danaf,
+Ala al-Din's adopted father, he was sitting making merry with his
+followers in a garden, and carousing and pleasuring when lo! in came
+one of the water-carriers of the Divan and, kissing the hand of Ahmad
+al-Danaf, said to him, "O Captain Ahmad, O Danaf! thou sittest at thine
+ease with water flowing at thy feet,[FN#100] and thou knowest not what
+hath happened." Asked Ahmad, "What is it?" and the other answered,
+"They have gone down to the gallows with thy son Ala al-Din, adopted by
+a covenant before Allah!" Quoth Ahmad, "What is the remedy here, O
+Hasan Shuuman, and what sayst thou of this?" He replied, "Assuredly Ala
+al-Din is innocent and this blame hath come to him from some one
+enemy."[FN#101] Quoth Ahmad, "What counsellest thou?" and Hasan said,
+"We must rescue him, Inshallah!" Then he went to the jail and said to
+the gaolor, "Give us some one who deserveth death." So he gave him one
+that was likest of men to Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat; and they covered
+his head and carried him to the place of execution between Ahmad
+al-Danaf and Ali al-Zaybak of Cairo.[FN#102] Now they had brought Ala
+al-Din to the gibbet, to hang him, but Ahmad al-Danaf came forward and
+set his foot on that of the hangman, who said, "Give me room to do my
+duty." He replied, "O accursed, take this man and hang him in Ala
+al-Din's stead; for he is innocent and we will ransom him with this
+fellow, even as Abraham ransomed Ishmael with the ram."[FN#103] So the
+hangman seized the man and hanged him in lieu of Ala al-Din; whereupon
+Ahmad and Ali took Ala al-Din and carried him to Ahmad's quarters and,
+when there, Ala al-Din turned to him and said, "O my sire and chief,
+Allah requite thee with the best of good!" Quoth he, "O Ala al-Din"—
+And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Calamity Ahmad
+cried, "O Ala al-Din, what is this deed thou hast done? The mercy of
+Allah be on him who said, 'Whoso trusteth thee betray him not, e'en if
+thou be a traitor.' Now the Caliph set thee in high place about him and
+styled thee 'Trusty' and 'Faithful'; how then couldst thou deal thus
+with him and steal his goods?" "By the Most Great Name, O my father and
+chief," replied Ala al-Din, "I had no hand in this, nor did I such
+deed, nor know I who did it." Quoth Ahmad, "Of a surety none did this
+but a manifest enemy and whoso doth aught shall be requited for his
+deed; but, O Ala al-Din, thou canst sojourn no longer in Baghdad, for
+Kings, O my son, may not pass from one thing to another, and when they
+go in quest of a man, ah! longsome is his travail." "Whither shall I
+go, O my chief?" asked Ala al-Din; and he answered, "O my son, I will
+bring thee to Alexandria, for it is a blessed place; its threshold is
+green and its sojourn is agreeable." And Ala al-Din rejoined, "I hear
+and I obey, O my chief." So Ahmad said to Hasan Shuuman, "Be mindful
+and, when the Caliph asketh for me, say, 'He is gone touring about the
+provinces'." Then, taking Ala al-Din, he went forth of Baghdad and
+stayed not going till they came to the outlying vineyards and gardens,
+where they met two Jews of the Caliph's tax-gatherers, riding on mules.
+Quoth Ahmad Al-Danaf to these, "Give me the black-mail."[FN#104] and
+quoth they, "Why should we pay thee black mail?" whereto he replied,
+"Because I am the watchman of this valley." So they gave him each an
+hundred gold pieces, after which he slew them and took their mules, one
+of which he mounted, whilst Ala al-Din bestrode the other. Then they
+rode on till they came to the city of Ayбs[FN#105] and put up their
+beasts for the night at the Khan. And when morning dawned, Ala al-Din
+sold his own mule and committed that of Ahmad to the charge of the
+door-keeper of the caravanserai, after which they took ship from Ayas
+port and sailed to Alexandria. Here they landed and walked up to the
+bazar and behold, there was a broker crying a shop and a chamber behind
+it for nine hundred and fifty dinars. Upon this Ala al-Din bid a
+thousand which the broker accepted, for the premises belonged to the
+Treasury; and the seller handed over to him the keys and the buyer
+opened the shop and found the inner parlour furnished with carpets and
+cushions. Moreover, he found there a store-room full of sails and
+masts, cordage and seamen's chests, bags of beads and cowrie[FN#106]-
+shells, stirrups, battle-axes, maces, knives, scissors and such
+matters, for the last owner of the shop had been a dealer in
+second-hand goods.[FN#107]ook his seat in the shop and Ahmad al-Danaf
+said to him, "O my son, the shop and the room and that which is therein
+are become thine; so tarry thou here and buy and sell; and repine not
+at thy lot for Almighty Allah blesseth trade." After this he abode with
+him three days and on the fourth he took leave of him, saying, "Abide
+here till I go back and bring thee the Caliph's pardon and learn who
+hath played thee this trick." Then he shipped for Ayas, where he took
+the mule from the inn and, returning to Baghdad met Pestilence Hasan
+and his followers, to whom said he, "Hath the Caliph asked after me?";
+and he replied, "No, nor hast thou come to his thought." So he resumed
+his service about the Caliph's person and set himself to sniff about
+for news of Ala al-Din's case, till one day he heard the Caliph say to
+the Watir, "See, O Ja'afar, how Ala al-Din dealt with me!" Replied the
+Minister, "O Commander of the Faithful, thou hast requited him with
+hanging and hath he not met with his reward?" Quoth he, "O Wazir, I
+have a mind to go down and see him hanging;" and the Wazir answered,
+"Do what thou wilt, O Commander of the Faithful." So the Caliph,
+accompanied by Ja'afar, went down to the place of execution and,
+raising his eyes, saw the hanged man to be other than Ala al-Din Abu
+al-Shamat, surnamed the Trusty, and said, "O Wazir, this is not Ala
+al-Din!" "How knowest thou that it is not he?" asked the Minister, and
+the Caliph answered, "Ala al-Din was short and this one is tall " Quoth
+Ja'afar, "Hanging stretcheth." Quoth the Caliph, "Ala al-Din was fair
+and this one's face is black." Said Ja'afar "Knowest thou not, O
+Commander of the Faithful, that death is followed by blackness?" Then
+the Caliph bade take down the body from the gallows tree and they found
+the names of the two Shaykhs, Abu Bakr and Omar, written on its
+heels[FN#108] whereupon cried the Caliph, "O Wazir, Ala al Din was a
+Sunnite, and this fellow is a Rejecter, a Shi'ah." He answered, "Glory
+be to Allah who knoweth the hidden things, while we know not whether
+this was Ala al-Din or other than he." Then the Caliph bade bury the
+body and they buried it; and Ala al-Din was forgotten as though he
+never had been. Such was his case; but as regards Habzalam Bazazah, the
+Emir Khбlid's son, he ceased not to languish for love and longing till
+he died and they joined him to the dust. And as for the young wife
+Jessamine, she accomplished the months of her pregnancy and, being
+taken with labour-pains, gave birth to a boy-child like unto the moon.
+And when her fellow slave-girls said to her, "What wilt thou name him?"
+she answered, "Were his father well he had named him; but now I will
+name him Aslбn."[FN#109] She gave him suck for two successive years,
+then weaned him, and he crawled and walked. Now it so came to pass that
+one day, whilst his mother was busied with the service of the kitchen,
+the boy went out and, seeing the stairs, mounted to the
+guest-chamber.[FN#110] And the Emir Khбlid who was sitting there took
+him upon his lap and glorified his Lord for that which he had created
+and fashioned then closely eyeing his face, the Governor saw that he
+was the likest of all creatures to Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat. Presently,
+his mother Jessamine sought for him and finding him not, mounted to the
+guest-chamber, where she saw the Emir seated, with the child playing in
+his lap, for Allah had inclined his heart to the boy. And when the
+child espied his mother, he would have thrown himself upon her; but the
+Emir held him tight to his bosom and said to Jessamine, "Come hither, O
+damsel." So she came to him, when he said to her, "Whose son is this?";
+and she replied, "He is my son and the fruit of my vitals." "And who is
+his father?" asked the Emir; and she answered, "His father was Ala
+al-Din Abu al-Shamat, but now he is become thy son." Quoth Khбlid, "In
+very sooth Ala al-Din was a traitor." Quoth she, "Allah deliver him
+from treason! the Heavens forfend and forbid that the 'Trusty' should
+be a traitor!" Then said he, "When this boy shall grow up and reach
+man's estate and say to thee, 'Who is my father?' say to him, 'Thou art
+the son of the Emir Khбlid, Governor and Chief of Police.'" And she
+answered, "I hear and I obey." Then he circumcised the boy and reared
+him with the goodliest rearing, and engaged for him a professor of law
+and religious science, and an expert penman who taught him to read and
+write; so he read the Koran twice and learnt it by heart and he grew
+up, saying to the Emir, "O my father!" Moreover, the Governor used to
+go down with him to the tilting-ground and assemble horsemen and teach
+the lad the fashion of fight and fray, and the place to plant
+lance-thrust and sabre-stroke; so that by the time he was fourteen
+years old, he became a valiant wight and accomplished knight and gained
+the rank of Emir. Now it chanced one day that Aslan fell in with Ahmad
+Kamakim, the arch-thief, and accompanied him as cup- companion to the
+tavern[FN#111] and behold, Ahmad took out the jewelled lanthorn he had
+stolen from the Caliph and, setting it before him, pledged the wine cup
+to its light, till he became drunken. So Aslan said to him, "O Captain,
+give me this lanthorn;" but he replied, "I cannot give it to thee."
+Asked Aslan, "Why not?"; and Ahmad answered, "Because lives have been
+lost for it." "Whose life?" enquired Aslan; and Ahmad rejoined, "There
+came hither a man who was made Chief of the Sixty; he was named Ala
+al-Din Abu al-Shamat and he lost his life through this lanthorn." Quoth
+Aslan, "And what was that story, and what brought about his death?"
+Quoth Ahmad Kamakim, "Thou hadst an elder brother by name Hahzalam
+Bazazah, and when he reached the age of sixteen and was ripe for
+marriage, thy father would have bought him a slave-girl named
+Jessamine." And he went on to tell him the whole story from first to
+last of Habzalam Bazazah's illness and what befell Ala al-Din in his
+innocence. When Aslan heard this, he said in thought, "Haply this
+slave-girl was my mother Jessamine, and my father was none other than
+Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat." So the boy went out from him sorrowful, and
+met Calamity Ahmad, who at sight of him exclaimed, "Glory be to Him
+unto whom none is like!" Asked Hasan the Pestilence, "Whereat dost thou
+marvel, O my chief?" and Ahmad the Calamity replied, "At the make of
+yonder boy Aslan, for he is the likest of human creatures to Ala al-Din
+Abu al-Shamat." Then he called the lad and said to him, "O Aslan what
+is thy mother's name?"; to which he replied, "She is called the damsel
+Jessamine;" and the other said, "Harkye, Aslan, be of good cheer and
+keep thine eyes cool and clear; for thy father was none other than Ala
+al-Din Abu al-Shamat: but, O my son, go thou in to thy mother and
+question her of thy father." He said, "Hearkening and obedience," and,
+going in to his mother put the question; whereupon quoth she, "Thy sire
+is the Emir Khбlid!" "Not so," rejoined he, "my father was none other
+than Ala al-Din Abu al Shamat." At this the mother wept and said, "Who
+acquainted thee with this, O my son?" And he answered "Ahmad al-Danaf,
+Captain of the Guard." So she told him the whole story, saying, "O my
+son, the True hath prevailed and the False hath failed:[FN#112] know
+that Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat was indeed thy sire, but it was none save
+the Emir Khбlid who reared thee and adopted thee as his son. And now, O
+my child, when thou seest Ahmad al-Danaf the captain, do thou say to
+him, 'I conjure thee, by Allah, O my chief, take my blood-revenge on
+the murderer of my father Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat!'" So he went out
+from his mother,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Aslan went out
+from his mother and, betaking himself to Calamity Ahmad, kissed his
+hand. Quoth the captain, "What aileth thee, O Aslan?" and quoth he, "I
+know now for certain that my father was Ali al-Din Abu al-Shamat and I
+would have thee take my blood-revenge on his murderer." He asked, "And
+who was thy father's murderer?" whereto Aslan answered, "Ahmad Kamakim
+the arch-thief." "Who told thee this?" enquired he, and Aslan rejoined,
+"I saw in his hand the jewelled lanthorn which was lost with the rest
+of the Caliph's gear, and I said to him, 'Give me this lanthorn!' but
+he refused, saying, 'Lives have been lost on account of this'; and told
+me it was he who had broken into the palace and stolen the articles and
+deposited them in my father's house." Then said Ahmad al-Danaf, "When
+thou seest the Emir Khбlid don his harness of war, say to him, 'Equip
+me like thyself and take me with thee.' Then do thou go forth and
+perform some feat of prowess before the Commander of the Faithful, and
+he will say to thee, 'Ask a boon of me, O Aslan!' And do thou make
+answer, 'I ask of thee this boon, that thou take my blood-revenge on my
+father's murderer.' If he say, 'Thy father is yet alive and is the Emir
+Khбlid, the Chief of the Police'; answer thou, 'My father was Ala
+al-Din Abu al-Shamat, and the Emir Khбlid hath a claim upon me only as
+the foster-father who adopted me.' Then tell him all that passed
+between thee and Ahmad Kamakim and say, 'O Prince of True Believers,
+order him to be searched and I will bring the lanthorn forth from his
+bosom.'" Thereupon said Aslan to him, "I hear and obey;" and, returning
+to the Emir Khбlid, found him making ready to repair to the Caliph's
+court and said to him, "I would fain have thee arm and harness me like
+thyself and take me with thee to the Divan." So he equipped him and
+carried him thither. Then the Caliph sallied forth of Baghdad with his
+troops and they pitched tents and pavilions without the city; whereupon
+the host divided into two parties and forming ranks fell to playing
+Polo, one striking the ball with the mall, and another striking it back
+to him. Now there was among the troops a spy, who had been hired to
+slay the Caliph; so he took the ball and smiting it with the bat drove
+it straight at the Caliph's face, when behold, Aslan fended it off and
+catching it drove it back at him who smote it, so that it struck him
+between the shoulders and he fell to the ground. The Caliph exclaimed,
+"Allah bless thee, O Aslan!" and they all dismounted and sat on chairs.
+Then the Caliph bade them bring the smiter of the ball before him and
+said, "Who tempted thee to do this thing and art thou friend or foe?"
+Quoth he, "I am thy foe and it was my purpose to kill thee." Asked the
+Caliph "And wherefore? Art not a Moslem?" Replied the spy; "No' I am a
+Rejecter.''[FN#113] So the Caliph bade them put him to death and said
+to Aslan, "Ask a boon of me." Quoth he, "I ask of thee this boon, that
+thou take my blood-revenge on my father's murderer." He said, "Thy
+father is alive and there he stands on his two feet." "And who is he?"
+asked Aslan, and the Caliph answered, "He is the Emir Khбlid, Chief of
+Police." Rejoined Aslan, "O Commander of the Faithful, he is no father
+of mine, save by right of fosterage; my father was none other than Ala
+al-Din Abu al Shamat." "Then thy father was a traitor," cried the
+Caliph. "Allah forbid, O Commander of the Faithful," rejoined Aslan,
+"that the 'Trusty' should be a traitor! But how did he betray thee?"
+Quoth the Caliph, "He stole my habit and what was therewith." Aslan
+retorted, "O Commander of the Faithful, Allah forfend that my father
+should be a traitor! But, O my lord, when thy habit was lost and found
+didst thou likewise recover the lanthorn which was stolen from thee?"
+Answered the Caliph, "We never got it back," and Aslan said, "I saw it
+in the hands of Ahmad Kamakim and begged it of him; but he refused to
+give it me, saying, 'Lives have been lost on account of this.' Then he
+told me of the sickness of Habzalam Bazazah, son of the Emir Khбlid, by
+reason of his passion for the damsel Jessamine, and how he himself was
+released from bonds and that it was he who stole the habit and the
+lamp: so do thou, O Commander of the Faithful, take my blood-revenge
+for my father on him who murdered him." At once the Caliph cried,
+"Seize ye Ahmad Kamakim!" and they seized him, whereupon he asked,
+"Where be the Captain, Ahmad al-Danaf?" And when he was summoned the
+Caliph bade him search Kamakim; so he put his hand into the thief's
+bosom and pulled out the lanthorn. Said the Caliph, "Come hither, thou
+traitor: whence hadst thou this lanthorn?" and Kamakim replied, "I
+bought it, O Commander of the Faithful!" The Caliph rejoined, "Where
+didst thou buy it?" Then they beat him till he owned that he had stolen
+the lanthorn, the habit and the rest, and the Caliph said "What moved
+thee to do this thing O traitor, and ruin Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat, the
+Trusty and Faithful?" Then he bade them lay hands on him and on the
+Chief of Police, but the Chief said, "O Commander of the Faithful,
+indeed I am unjustly treated thou badest me hang him, and I had no
+knowledge of this trick, for the plot was contrived between the old
+woman and Ahmad Kamakim and my wife. I crave thine
+intercession,[FN#114] O Aslan." So Aslan interceded for him with the
+Caliph, who said, "What hath Allah done with this youngster's mother?"
+Answered Khбlid, "She is with me," and the Caliph continued, "I command
+that thou order thy wife to dress her in her own clothes and ornaments
+and restore her to her former degree, a lady of rank; and do thou
+remove the seals from Ala al-Din's house and give his son possession of
+his estate." "I hear and obey," answered Khбlid; and, going forth, gave
+the order to his wife who clad Jessamine in her own apparel; whilst he
+himself removed the seals from Ala al-Din's house and gave Aslan the
+keys. Then said the Caliph, "Ask a boon of me, O Aslan;" and he
+replied, "I beg of thee the boon to unite me with my father." Whereat
+the Caliph wept and said, "Most like thy sire was he that was hanged
+and is dead; but by the life of my forefathers, whoso bringeth me the
+glad news that he is yet in the bondage of this life, I will give him
+all he seeketh!" Then came forward Ahmad al-Danaf and, kissing the
+ground between his hands, said, "Grant me indemnity, O Commander of the
+Faithful!" "Thou hast it," answered the Caliph; and Calamity Ahmad
+said, "I give thee the good news that Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat, the
+Trusty, the Faithful, is alive and well." Quoth the Caliph "What is
+this thou sayest?" Quoth Al-Danaf, "As thy head liveth I say sooth; for
+I ransomed him with another, of those who deserved death; and carried
+him to Alexandria, where I opened for him a shop and set him up as a
+dealer in second hand goods." Then said the Prince of True
+Believers,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph
+ordered Calamity Ahmad, saying, "I charge thee fetch him to me;" and
+the other replied, "To hear is to obey;" whereupon the Caliph bade them
+give him ten thousand gold pieces and he fared forth for Alexandria. On
+this wise it happed with Aslan; but as regards his father, Ala al-Din
+Abu al-Shamat, he sold in course of time all that was in his shop
+excepting a few things and amongst them a long bag of leather. And
+happening to shake the bag there fell out a jewel which filled the palm
+of the hand, hanging to a chain of gold and having many facets but
+especially five, whereon were names and talismanic characters, as they
+were ant-tracks. So he rubbed each face; but none answered him[FN#115]
+and he said to himself, "Doubtless it is a piece of variegated onyx;"
+and then hung it up in the shop. And behold, a Consul[FN#116] passed
+along the street; and, raising his eyes, saw the jewel hanging up; so
+he seated himself over against the shop and said to Ala al-Din, "O my
+lord, is the jewel for sale?" He answered, "All I have is for sale."
+Thereupon the Frank said, "Wilt thou sell me that same for eighty
+thousand dinars?" "Allah open!" replied Ala al-Din. The Frank asked,
+"Wilt thou sell it for an hundred thousand dinars?", and he answered,
+"I sell it to thee for a hundred thousand dinars; pay me down the
+monies." Quoth the Consul, "I cannot carry about such sum as its price,
+for there be robbers and sharpers in Alexandria; but come with me to my
+ship and I will pay thee the price and give thee to boot a bale of
+Angora wool, a bale of satin, a bale of velvet and a bale of
+broadcloth." So Ala al-Din rose and locked up his shop, after giving
+the jewel to the Frank, and committed the keys to his neighbour,
+saying, "Keep these keys in trust for me, whilst I go with this Consul
+to his ship and return with the price of my jewel. If I be long absent
+and there come to thee Ahmad al-Danaf, the Captain who stablished me in
+this shop, give him the keys and tell him where I am." Then he went
+with the Consul to his ship and no sooner had he boarded it than the
+Prank set him a stool and, making him sit down, said to his men, "Bring
+the money." So they brought it and he paid him the price of the jewel
+and gave him the four bales he had promised him and one over; after
+which he said to him, "O my lord, honour me by accepting a bite or a
+sup." And Ala al-Din answered, "If thou have any water, give me to
+drink." So the Frank called for sherbets and they brought drink drugged
+with Bhang, of which no sooner had Ala al-Din drunk, than he fell over
+on his back; whereupon they stowed away the chairs and shipped the
+shoving-poles and made sail. Now the wind blew fair for them till it
+drove them into blue water, and when they were beyond sight of land the
+Kaptбn[FN#117] bade bring Ala al-Din up out of the hold and made him
+smell the counter-drug of Bhang; whereupon he opened his eyes and said,
+"Where am I?" He replied, "Thou art bound and in my power and if thou
+hadst said, Allah open! to an hundred thousand dinars for the jewel, I
+would have bidden thee more." "What art thou?" asked Ala al-Din, and
+the other answered, "I am a sea-captain and mean to carry thee to my
+sweetheart." Now as they were talking, behold, a strip hove in sight
+carrying forty Moslem merchants; so the Frank captain attacked the
+vessel and made fast to it with grappling-irons; then he boarded it
+with his men and took it and plundered it; after which he sailed on
+with his prize, till he reached the city of Genoa. There the Kaptan,
+who was carrying off Ala al-Din, landed and repaired to a palace whose
+pastern gave upon the sea, and behold, there came down to him a damsel
+in a chin-veil who said, "Hast thou brought the jewel and the owner?"
+"I have brought them both," answered he; and she said, "Then give me
+the jewel." So he gave it to her; and, returning to the port, fired his
+cannon to announce his safe return; whereupon the King of the city,
+being notified of that Kaptan's arrival, came down to receive him and
+asked him, "How hath been this voyage?" He answered, "A right
+prosperous one, and while voyaging I have made prize of a ship with
+one-and-forty Moslem merchants." Said the King, "Land them at the
+port:" so he landed the merchants in irons and Ala al-Din among the
+rest; and the King and the Kaptan mounted and made the captives walk
+before them till they reached the audience-chamber, when the Franks
+seated themselves and caused the prisoners to pass in parade order, one
+by one before the King who said to the first, "O Moslem, whence comest
+thou?" He answered, "From Alexandria;" whereupon the King said, "O
+headsman, put him to death." So the sworder smote him with the sword
+and cut off his head: and thus it fared with the second and the third,
+till forty were dead and there remained but Ala al-Din, who drank the
+cup of his comrades' sighs and agony and said to himself, "Allah have
+mercy on thee, O Ala al-Din Thou art a dead man." Then said the King to
+him, "And thou, what countryman art thou?" He answered, "I am of
+Alexandria," and the King said, "O headsman, strike off his head." So
+the sworder raised arm and sword, and was about to strike when behold,
+an old woman of venerable aspect presented herself before the King, who
+rose to do her honour, and said to him, "O King, did I not bid thee
+remember, when the Captain came back with captives, to keep one or two
+for the convent, to serve in the church?" The King replied, "O my
+mother, would thou hadst come a while earlier! But take this one that
+is left." So she turned to Ala al-Din and said to him, "Say, wilt thou
+serve in the church, or shall I let the King slay thee?" Quoth he, "I
+will serve in the church." So she took him and carried him forth of the
+court and went to the church, where he said to her, "What service must
+I do?" She replied, "Thou must rise with the dawn and take five mules
+and go with them to the forest and there cut dry fire-wood and saw it
+short and bring it to the convent-kitchen. Then must thou take up the
+carpets and sweep and wipe the stone and marble pavements and lay the
+carpets down again, as they were; after which thou must take two
+bushels and a half of wheat and bolt it and grind it and knead it and
+make it into cracknels[FN#118] for the convent; and thou must take also
+a bushel of lentils[FN#119] and sift and crush and cook them. Then must
+thou fetch water in barrels and fill the four fountains; after which
+thou must take three hundred and threescore and six wooden bowls and
+crumble the cracknels therein and pour of the lentil-pottage over each
+and carry every monk and patriarch his bowl." Said Ala al-Din,[FN#120]
+"Take me back to the King and let him kill me, it were easier to me
+than this service." Replied the old woman, "If thou do truly and
+rightly the service that is due from thee thou shalt escape death; but,
+if thou do it not, I will let the King kill thee." And with these words
+Ala al-Din was left sitting heavy at heart. Now there were in the
+church ten blind cripples, and one of them said to him, "Bring me a
+pot." So he brought it him and he cacked and eased himself therein and
+said, "Throw away the ordure." He did so, and the blind man said, "The
+Messiah's blessing be upon thee, O servant of the church!" Presently
+behold, the old woman came in and said to him, "Why hast thou not done
+thy service in the church?" Answered he, "How many hands have I, that I
+should suffice for all this work?" She rejoined, 'Thou fool, I brought
+thee not hither except to work;" and she added, "Take, O my son, this
+rod (which was of copper capped with a cross) and go forth into the
+highway and, when thou meetest the governor of the city, say to him, 'I
+summon thee to the service of the church, in the name of our Lord the
+Messiah.' And he will not disobey thee. Then make him take the wheat,
+sift, grind, bolt, knead, and bake it into cracknels; and if any
+gainsay thee, beat him and fear none." "To hear is to obey," answered
+he and did as she said, and never ceased pressing great and small into
+his service; nor did he leave to do thus for the space of seventeen
+years. Now one day as he sat in church, lo! the old woman came to him
+and said, "Go forth of the convent." He asked, "Whither shall I go?"
+and she answered, "Thou canst pass the night in a tavern or with one of
+thy comrades." Quoth he, "Why dost thou send me forth of the church?"
+and quote she, "The Princess Husn Maryam, daughter of Yohannб,[FN#121]
+King of this city, purposeth to visit the church and it befitteth not
+that any abide in her way." So he made a show of obeying her orders and
+rose up and pretended that he was leaving the church; but he said in
+his mind, "I wonder whether the Princess is like our women or fairer
+than they! At any rate I will not go till I have had a look at her." So
+he hid himself in a closet with a window looking into the church and,
+as he watched, behold, in came the King's daughter. He cast at her one
+glance of eyes that cost him a thousand sighs, for he found her like
+the full moon when it cometh swimming out of the clouds; and he saw
+with her a young lady,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ala al-Din
+looked at the King's daughter, he saw with her a young lady to whom he
+heard her say, "Thy company hath cheered me, O Zubaydah." So he looked
+straitly at the damsel and found her to be none other than his dead
+wife, Zubaydah the Lutist. Then the Princess said to Zubaydah, "Come,
+play us an air on the lute." But she answered, "I will make no music
+for thee, till thou grant my wish and keep thy word to me." Asked the
+Princess, "And what did I promise thee?"; and Zubaydah answered, "That
+thou wouldst reunite me with my husband Ala al-Din Abu al-Shamat, the
+Trusty, the Faithful." Rejoined the Princess, "O Zubaydah, be of good
+cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear; play us a piece as a
+thank-offering and an ear-feast for reunion with thy husband Ala
+al-Din." "Where is he?" asked Zubaydah, and Maryam answered, "He is in
+yonder closet listening to our words." So Zubaydah played on the lute a
+melody which had made a rock dance for glee; and when Ala al-Din heard
+it, his bowels yearned towards her and he came forth from the closet
+and, throwing himself upon his wife Zubaydah, strained her to his
+bosom. She also knew him and the twain embraced and fell to the ground
+in a swoon. Then came forward the Princess Husn Maryam and sprinkled
+rose water on them, till they revived when she said to them, "Allah
+hath reunited you." Replied Ala al-Din, "By thy kind of offices, O
+lady." Then, turning to his wife, he said to her, "O Zubaydah, thou
+didst surely die and we tombed thee in the tomb: how then returnedst
+thou to life and camest thou to this place?" She answered, "O my lord,
+I did not die; but an Aun[FN#122] of the Jinn snatched me up and dew
+with me hither. She whom thou buriedst was a Jinniyah, who shaped
+herself to my shape and feigned herself dead; but when you entombed her
+she broke open the tomb and came forth from it and returned to the
+service of this her mistress, the Princess Husn Maryam. As for me I was
+possessed[FN#123] and, when I opened my eyes, I found myself with this
+Princess thou seest; so I said to her, 'Why hast thou brought me
+hither?' Replied she, 'I am predestined to marry thy husband, Ala
+al-Din Abu al-Shamat: wilt thou then, O Zubaydah, accept me to
+co-consort, a night for me and a night for thee?' Rejoined I, 'To hear
+is to obey, O my lady, but where is my husband?' Quoth she, 'Upon his
+forehead is written what Allah hath decreed to him; as soon as the
+writing which is there writ is fulfilled to him, there is no help for
+it but he come hither, and we will beguile the time of our separation
+from him with songs and playing upon instruments of music, till it
+please Allah to unite us with him.' So I abode all these days with her
+till Allah brought us together in this church." Then Husn Maryam turned
+to him and said, "O my lord, Ala al-Din, wilt thou be to me baron and I
+be to thee femme?" Quoth he, "O my lady, I am a Moslem and thou art a
+Nazarene; so how can I intermarry with thee?" Quoth she, "Allah forbid
+that I should be an infidel! Nay, I am a Moslemah; for these eighteen
+years I have held fast the Faith of Al-Islam and I am pure of any creed
+other than that of the Islamite." Then said he, "O my lady, I desire a
+return to my native land;" and she replied, "Know that I see written on
+thy forehead things which thou must needs accomplish, and then thou
+shalt win to thy will. Moreover, be fief and fain, O Ala al-Din, that
+there hath been born to thee a son named Aslan; who now being arrived
+at age of discretion, sitteth in thy place with the Caliph. Know also
+that Truth hath prevailed and that Falsehood naught availed; and that
+the Lord hath withdrawn the curtain of secrecy from him who stole the
+Caliph's goods, that is, Ahmad Kamakim the arch-thief and traitor; and
+he now lieth bound and in jail. And know further 'twas I who sent thee
+the jewel and had it put in the bag where thou foundest it, and 'twas I
+who sent the captain that brought thee and the jewel; for thou must
+know that the man is enamoured of me and seeketh my favours and would
+possess me; but I refused to yield to his wishes or let him have his
+will of me; and I said him, 'Thou shalt never have me till thou bring
+me the jewel and its owner.' So I gave him an hundred purses and
+despatched him to thee, in the habit of a merchant, whereas he is a
+captain and a war-man; and when they led thee to thy death after
+slaying the forty captives, I also sent thee this old woman to save
+thee from slaughter." Said he, "Allah requite thee for us with all
+good! Indeed thou hast done well." Then Husn Maryam renewed at his
+hands her profession of Al-Islam; and, when he was assured of the truth
+of her speech, he said to her, O my lady, tell me what are the virtues
+of this jewel and whence cometh it?" She answered, "This jewel came
+from an enchanted hoard, and it hath five virtues which will profit us
+in time of need. Now my lady grandmother, the mother of my father, was
+an enchantress and skilled in solving secrets and finding hidden
+treasures from one of which came the jewel into her hands. And as I
+grew up and reached the age of fourteen, I read the Evangel and other
+books and I found the name of Mohammed (whom Allah bless and preserve!)
+in the four books, namely the Evangel, the Pentateuch, the Psalms and
+the Koran;[FN#124] so I believed in Mohammed and became a Moslemah,
+being certain and assured that none is worship worth save Allah
+Almighty, and that to the Lord of all mankind no faith is acceptable
+save that of Al-Islam. Now when my lady-grandmother fell sick, she gave
+me this jewel and taught me its five virtues. Moreover, before she
+died, my father said to her, 'Take thy tablets of geomancy and throw a
+figure, and tell us the issue of my affair and what will befal-me.' And
+she foretold him that the far off one[FN#125] should die, slain by the
+hand of a captive from Alexandria. So he swore to kill every prisoner
+from that place and told the Kaptan of this, saying, 'There is no help
+for it but thou fall on the ships of the Moslems and seize them and
+whomsoever thou findest of Alexandria, kill him or bring him to me.'
+The Captain did his bidding until he had slain as many in number as the
+hairs of his head. Then my grandmother died and I took a geomantic
+tablet, being minded and determined to know the future, and I said to
+myself, 'Let me see who will wed me!' Whereupon I threw a figure and
+found that none should be my husband save one called Ala al-Din Abu
+al-Shamat, the Trusty, the Faithful. At this I marvelled and waited
+till the times were accomplished and I foregathered with thee." So Ala
+al-Din took her to wife and said to her, "I desire to return to my own
+country." Quoth she, "If it be so, rise up and come with me." Then she
+took him and, hiding him in a closet of her palace, went in to her
+father, who said to her, "O my daughter, my heart is exceeding heavy
+this day; sit down and let us make merry with wine, I and thou." So she
+sat down with him and he called for a table of wine; and she plied him
+till he lost his wits, when she drugged a cup with Bhang and he drank
+it off and fell upon his back. Then she brought Ala al-Din out of the
+closet and said to him, "Come; verily thine enemy lieth prostrate, for
+I made him drunk and drugged him; so do thou with him as thou wilt."
+Accordingly Ala al-Din went to the King and, finding him lying drugged
+and helpless, pinioned him fast and manacled and fettered him with
+chains. Then he gave him the counter-drug and he came to himself,—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ala al-Din gave
+the antidote of Bhang to King Yohanna, father of Husn Maryam, and he
+came to himself and found Ala al-Din and his daughter sitting on his
+breast. So he said to her, "O my daughter, dost thou deal thus with
+me?" She answered "If I be indeed thy daughter, become a Moslem, even
+as I became a Moslemah, for the truth was shown to me and I attested
+it; and the false, and I deserted it. I have submitted myself unto
+Allah, The Lord of the Three Worlds, and am pure of all faiths contrary
+to that of Al-Islam in this world and in the next world. Wherefore, if
+thou wilt become a Moslem, well and good; if not, thy death were better
+than thy life." Ala al-Din also exhorted him to embrace the True Faith;
+but he refused and was contumacious; so Ala al-Din drew a dagger and
+cut his throat from ear to ear.[FN#126] Then he wrote a scroll, setting
+forth what had happened and laid it on the brow of the dead, after
+which they took what was light of load and weighty of worth and turned
+from the palace and returned to the church. Here the Princess drew
+forth the jewel and, placing her hand upon the facet where was figured
+a couch, rubbed it; and behold, a couch appeared before her and she
+mounted upon it with Ala al-Din and his wife Zubaydah, the lutist,
+saying, "I conjure thee by the virtue of the names and talismans and
+characts engraver on this jewel, rise up with us, O Couch!" And it rose
+with them into the air and flew, till it came to a Wady wholly bare of
+growth, when the Princess turned earthwards the facet on which the
+couch was figured, and it sank with them to the ground. Then she turned
+up the face where on was fashioned a pavilion and tapping it said, "Let
+a pavilion be pitched in this valley;" and there appeared a pavilion,
+wherein they seated themselves. Now this Wady was a desert waste,
+without grass or water; so she turned a third face of the jewel towards
+the sky, and said, "By the virtue of the names of Allah, let trees
+upgrow here and a river flow beside them!" And forthwith trees sprang
+up and by their side ran a river plashing and dashing. They made the
+ablution and prayed and drank of the stream; after which the Princess
+turned up the three other facets till she came to the fourth, whereon
+was portrayed a table of good, and said, "By the virtue of the names of
+Allah, let the table be spread!" And behold, there appeared before them
+a table, spread with all manner of rich meats, and they ate and drank
+and made merry and were full of joy. Such was their case; but as
+regards Husn Maryam's father, his son went in to waken him and found
+him slain; and, seeing Ala al-Din's scroll, took it and read it, and
+readily understood it. Then he sought his sister and finding her not,
+betook himself to the old woman in the church, of whom he enquired for
+her, but she said, "Since yesterday I have not seen her." So he
+returned to the troops and cried out, saying, "To horse, ye horsemen!"
+Then he told them what had happened, so they mounted and rode after the
+fugitives, till they drew near the pavilion. Presently Husn Maryam
+arose and looked up and saw a cloud of dust which spread till it walled
+the view, then it lifted and flew, and lo! stood disclosed her brother
+and his troops, crying aloud, "Whither will ye fly, and we on your
+track!" Then said she to Ala al-Din, "Are thy feet firm in fight?" He
+replied, "Even as the stake in bran, I know not war nor battle, nor
+swords nor spears." So she pulled out the jewel and rubbed the fifth
+face, that on which were graven a horse and his rider, and behold,
+straightway a cavalier appeared out of the desert and ceased not to do
+battle with the pursuing host and smite them with the sword, till he
+routed them and put them to flight. Then the Princess asked Ala al-Din,
+"Wilt thou go to Cairo or to Alexandria?"; and he answered, "To
+Alexandria." So they mounted the couch and she pronounced over it the
+conjuration, whereupon it set off with them and, in the twinkling of an
+eye, brought them to Alexandria. They alighted without the city and Ala
+al-Din hid the women in a cavern, whilst he went into Alexandria and
+fetched them outer clothing, wherewith he covered them. Then he carried
+them to his shop and, leaving them in the "ben"[FN#127] walked forth to
+fetch them the morning-meal, and behold he met Calamity Ahmad who
+chanced to be coming from Baghdad. He saw him in the street and
+received him with open arms, saluting him and welcoming him. Whereupon
+Ahmad al-Danaf gave him the good news of his son Aslan and how he was
+now come to the age of twenty: and Ala al-Din, in his turn, told the
+Captain of the Guard all that had befallen him from first to last,
+whereat he marvelled with exceeding marvel. Then he brought him to his
+shop and sitting room where they passed the night; and next day he sold
+his place of business and laid its price with other monies. Now Ahmad
+al-Danaf had told him that the Caliph sought him; but he said, "I am
+bound first for Cairo, to salute my father and mother and the people of
+my house." So they all mounted the couch and it carried them to Cairo
+the God-guarded; and here they alighted in the street called
+Yellow,[FN#128] where stood the house of Shams al-Din. Then Ala al-Din
+knocked at the door, and his mother said, "Who is at the door, now that
+we have lost our beloved for evermore?" He replied, " 'Tis I! Ala
+al-Din!" whereupon they came down and embraced him. Then he sent his
+wives and baggage into the house and entering himself with Ahmad
+al-Danaf, rested there three days, after which he was minded to set out
+for Baghdad. His father said, "Abide with me, O my son;" but he
+answered; "I cannot bear to be parted from my child Aslan." So he took
+his father and mother and fared forth for Baghdad. Now when they came
+thither, Ahmad al-Danaf went in to the Caliph and gave him the glad
+tidings of Ala al-Din's arrival—and told him his story whereupon the
+King went forth to greet him taking the youth Aslan, and they met and
+embraced each other. Then the Commander of the Faithful summoned the
+arch-thief Ahmad Kamakim and said to Ala al-Din, "Up and at thy foe!"
+So he drew his sword and smote off Ahmad Kamakim's head. Then the
+Caliph held festival for Ala al-Din and, summoning the Kazis and
+witnesses, wrote the contract and married him to the Princess Husn
+Maryam; and he went in unto her and found her an unpierced pearl.
+Moreover, the Caliph made Aslan Chief of the Sixty and bestowed upon
+him and his father sumptuous dresses of honour; and they abode in the
+enjoyment of all joys and joyance of life, till there came to them the
+Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of societies. But the tales of
+generous men are manifold and amongst them is the story of
+
+
+
+HATIM OF THE TRIBE OF TAYY.
+
+It is told of Hбtim of the tribe of Tayy,[FN#129] that when he died,
+they buried him on the top of a mountain and set over his grave two
+troughs hewn out of two rocks and stone girls with dishevelled hair. At
+the foot of the hill was a stream of running water, and when wayfarers
+camped there, they heard loud crying and keening in the night, from
+dark till daybreak; but when they arose in the morning, they found
+nothing but the girls carved in stone. Now when Zъ 'l-Kurб'a,[FN#130]
+King of Himyar, going forth of his tribe, came to that valley, he
+halted to pass the night there,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Seventieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zu 'l-
+Kura'a passed by the valley he righted there, and, when he drew near
+the mountain, he heard the keening and said, "What lamenting is that on
+yonder hill?" They answered him, saying, "Verily this be the tomb of
+Hatim al-Tбyy, over which are two troughs of stone and stone figures of
+girls with dishevelled hair; and all who camp in this place by night
+hear this crying and keening." So he said jestingly, "O Hatim of Tayy!
+we are thy guests this night, and we are lank with hunger." Then sleep
+overcame him, but presently he awoke in affright and cried out, saying,
+"Help, O Arabs! Look to my beast!" So they came to him, and finding his
+she-camel struggling and struck down, they stabbed her in the throat
+and roasted her flesh and ate. Then they asked him what had happened
+and he said, "When I closed my eyes, I saw in my sleep Hatim of Tayy
+who came to me sword in hand and cried, 'Thou comest to us and we have
+nothing by us.' Then he smote my she- camel with his sword, and she had
+surely died even though ye had not come to her and slaughtered
+her."[FN#131] Now when morning dawned the King mounted the beast of one
+of his companions and, taking the owner up behind him, set out and
+fared on till midday, when they saw a man coming towards them, mounted
+on a camel and leading another, and said to him, "Who art thou?" He
+answered, "I am Adi,[FN#132] son of Hatim of Tayy; where is Zu
+'l-Kura'a, Emir of Himyar?" Replied they, "This is he;" and he said to
+the prince, "Take this she-camel in place of thy beast which my father
+slaughtered for thee." Asked Zu 'l Kura'a, "Who told thee of this?" and
+Adi answered, "My father appeared to me in a dream last night and said
+to me, 'Harkye, Adi; Zu 'l Kura'a King of Himyar, sought the guest-rite
+of me and I, having naught to give him, slaughtered his she-camel, that
+he might eat: so do thou carry him a she-camel to ride, for I have
+nothing.'" And Zu 'l-Kura'a took her, marvelling at the generosity of
+Hatim of Tayy alive and dead. And amongst instances of generosity is
+the
+
+
+
+TALE OF MA'AN THE SON OF ZAIDAH.[FN#133]
+
+It is told of Ma'an bin Zбidah that, being out one day a-chasing and
+a-hunting, he became athirst but his men had no water with them; and
+while thus suffering behold, three damsels met him bearing three skins
+of water;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Seventy-first Night,[FN#134]
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that three girls met
+him bearing three skins of water; so he begged drink of them, and they
+gave him to drink. Then he sought of his men somewhat to give the
+damsels but they had no money; so he presented to each girl ten golden
+piled arrows from his quiver. Whereupon quoth one of them to her
+friend, "Well-a-day! These fashions pertain to none but Ma'an bin
+Zaidah! so let each one of us say somewhat of verse in his praise."
+Then quoth the first,
+
+"He heads his arrows with piles of gold, * And while shooting his
+
+
+     foes is his bounty doled:
+
+
+Affording the wounded a means of cure, * And a sheet for the
+
+
+     bider beneath the mould!"
+
+
+
+And quoth the second,
+
+"A warrior showing such open hand, * His boons all friends and
+
+
+     all foes enfold:
+
+
+The piles of his arrows of or are made, * So that battle his
+
+
+     bounty may not withhold!"
+
+
+
+And quoth the third,
+
+"From that liberal-hand on his foes he rains * Shafts aureate-
+
+
+    headed and manifold:
+
+
+Wherewith the hurt shall chirurgeon pay, * And for slain the
+
+
+     shrouds round their corpses roll'd."[FN#135]
+
+
+
+And there is also told a tale of
+
+
+
+MA'AN SON OF ZAIDAH AND THE BADAWI.
+
+Now Ma'an bin Zбidah went forth one day to the chase with his company,
+and they came upon a herd of gazelles; so they separated in pursuit and
+Ma'an was left alone to chase one of them. When he had made prize of it
+he alighted and slaughtered it; and as he was thus engaged, he espied a
+person[FN#136] coming forth out of the desert on an ass. So he
+remounted and riding up to the new- comer, saluted him and asked him,
+"Whence comest thou?" Quoth he, "I come from the land of Kuzб'ah, where
+we have had a two years' dearth; but this year it was a season of
+plenty and I sowed early cucumbers.[FN#137] They came up before their
+time, so I gathered what seemed the best of them and set out to carry
+them to the Emir Ma'an bin Zaidah, because of his well-known
+beneficence and notorious munificence." Asked Ma'an, "How much dost
+thou hope to get of him?"; and the Badawi answered, "A thousand
+dinars." Quoth the Emir, "What if he say this is too much?" Said the
+Badawi, "Then I will ask five hundred dinars." "And if he say, too
+much?" "Then three hundred!" "And if he say yet, too much?" "Then two
+hundred!" "And if he say yet, too much?" "Then one hundred!" "And if he
+say yet, too much?" "Then, fifty!" "And if he say yet, too much?" "Then
+thirty!" "And if he say still, too much?" asked Ma'an bin Zaidah.
+Answered the Badawi, "I will make my ass set his four feet in his
+Honour's home[FN#138] and return to my people, disappointed and empty-
+handed." So Ma'an laughed at him and urged his steed till he came up
+with his suite and returned to his place, when he said to his
+chamberlain, "An there come to thee a man with cucumbers and riding on
+an ass admit him to me." Presently up came the Badawi and was admitted
+to Ma'an's presence; but knew not the Emir for the man he had met in
+the desert, by reason of the gravity and majesty of his semblance and
+the multitude of his eunuchs and attendants, for he was seated on his
+chair of state with his officers ranged in lines before him and on
+either side. So he saluted him and Ma'an said to him "What bringeth
+thee, O brother of the Arabs?" Answered the Badawi, "I hoped in the
+Emir, and have brought him curly cucumbers out of season." Asked Ma'an,
+"And how much dost thou expect of us?" "A thousand dinars," answered
+the Badawi. "This is far too much," quoth Ma'an. Quoth he, "Five
+hundred." "Too much!" "Then three hundred." "Too much!" "Two hundred."
+"Too much!" "One hundred." "Too much!" "Fifty." "Too much!" At last the
+Badawi came down to thirty dinars; but Ma'an still replied, "Too much!"
+So the Badawi cried, "By Allah, the man who met me in the desert
+brought me bad luck! But I will not go lower than thirty dinars." The
+Emir laughed and said nothing; whereupon the wild Arab knew that it was
+he whom he had met and said, "O my lord, except thou bring the thirty
+dinars, see ye, there is the ass tied ready at the door and here sits
+Ma'an, his honour, at home." So Ma'an laughed, till he fell on his
+back; and, calling his steward, said to him, "Give him a thousand
+dinars and five hundred and three hundred and two hundred and one
+hundred and fifty and thirty; and leave the ass tied up where he is."
+So the Arab to his amazement, received two thousand one hundred and
+eighty dinars, and Allah have mercy on them both and on all generous
+men! And I have also heard, O auspicious King, a tale of
+
+
+
+THE CITY OF LABTAYT.[FN#139]
+
+There was once a royal-city in the land of Roum, called the City of
+Labtayt wherein stood a tower which was always shut. And whenever a
+King died and another King of the Greeks took the Kingship after him,
+he set on the tower a new and strong lock, till there were
+four-and-twenty locks upon the gate, according to the number of the
+Kings. After this time, there came to the throne a man who was not of
+the old royal-house, and he had a mind to open these locks, that he
+might see what was within the tower. The grandees of his kingdom
+forbade him this and pressed him to desist and reproved him and blamed
+him; but he persisted saying, "Needs must this place be opened." Then
+they offered him all that their hands possessed of monies and treasures
+and things of price, if he would but refrain; still he would not be
+baulked,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Seventy-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the grandees
+offered that King all their hands possessed of monies and treasures if
+he would but refrain; still he would not be baulked and said "There is
+no help for it but I open this tower." So he pulled off the locks and
+entering, found within the tower figures of Arabs on their horses and
+camels, habited in turbands[FN#140] hanging down at the ends, with
+swords in baldrick-belts thrown over their shoulders and bearing long
+lances in their hands. He found there also a scroll which he greedily
+took and read, and these words were written therein, "Whenas this door
+is opened will conquer this country a raid of the Arabs, after the
+likeness of the figures here depicted; wherefore beware, and again
+beware of opening it." Now this city was in Andalusia; and that very
+year Tбrik ibn Ziyбd conquered it, during the Caliphate of Al-Walнd son
+of Abd al-Malik[FN#141] of the sons of Umayyah; and slew this King
+after the sorriest fashion and sacked the city and made prisoners of
+the women and boys therein and got great loot. Moreover, he found there
+immense treasures; amongst the rest more than an hundred and seventy
+crowns of pearls and jacinths and other gems of price; and he found a
+saloon, wherein horsemen might throw the spears, full of vessels of
+gold and silver, such as no description can comprise. Moreover, he
+found there the table of food for the Prophet of Allah, Solomon, son of
+David (peace with both of them!), which is extant even now in a city of
+the Greeks, it is told that it was of grass-green emerald with vessels
+of gold and platters of jasper. Likewise he found the Psalms written in
+the old Ionian[FN#142] characters on leaves of gold bezel'd with
+jewels; together with a book setting forth the properties of stones and
+herbs and minerals, as well as the use of characts and talismans and
+the canons of the art of alchymy; and he found a third volume which
+treated of the art of cutting and setting rubies and other precious
+stones and of the preparation of poisons and theriacks. There found he
+also a mappa mundi figuring the earth and the seas and the different
+cities and countries and villages of the world; and he found a vast
+saloon full of hermetic powder, one drachm of which elixir would turn a
+thousand drachms of silver into fine gold; likewise a marvellous
+mirror, great and round, of mixed metals, which had been made for
+Solomon, son of David (on the twain be peace!) wherein whoso looked
+might see the counterfeit presentment of the seven climates of the
+world; and he beheld a chamber full of Brahmini[FN#143] jacinths for
+which no words can suffice. So he despatched all these things to Walid
+bin Abd al-Malik, and the Arabs spread all over the cities of Andalusia
+which is one of the finest of lands. This is the end of the story of
+the City of Labtayt. And a tale is also told of
+
+
+
+THE CALIPH HISHAM AND THE ARAB YOUTH.
+
+The Caliph Hishбm bin Abd al-Malik bin Marwan, was hunting one day,
+when he sighted an antelope and pursued it with his dogs. As he was
+following the quarry, he saw an Arab youth pasturing sheep and said to
+him, "Ho boy, up and after yonder antelope, for it escapeth me!" The
+youth raised his head to him and replied, "O ignorant of what to the
+deserving is due, thou lookest on me with disdain and speakest to me
+with contempt; thy speaking is that of a tyrant true and thy doing what
+an ass would do." Quoth Hisham, "Woe to thee, dost thou not know me?"
+Rejoined the youth, "Verily thine unmannerliness hath made thee known
+to me, in that thou spakest to me, without beginning by the
+salutation."[FN#144] Repeated the Caliph, "Fie upon thee! I am Hisham
+bin Abd al-Malik." "May Allah not favour thy dwelling-place," replied
+the Arab, "nor guard thine abiding place! How many are thy words and
+how few thy generous deeds!" Hardly had he ended speaking, when up came
+the troop from all sides and surrounded him as the white encircleth the
+black of the eye, all and each saying, "Peace be with thee, O Commander
+of the Faithful!" Quoth Hisham, "Cut short this talk and seize me
+yonder boy." So they laid hands on him; and when he saw the multitude
+of Chamberlains and Wazirs and Lords of State, he was in nowise
+concerned and questioned not of them, but let his chin drop on his
+breast and looked where his feet fell, till they brought him to the
+Caliph[FN#145] when he stood before him, with head bowed groundwards
+and saluted him not and spoke him not. So one of the eunuchs said to
+him, "O dog of the Arabs, what hindereth thy saluting the Commander of
+the Faithful?" The youth turned to him angrily and replied, "O
+packsaddle of an ass, it was the length of the way that hindered me
+from this and the steepness of the steps and the profuseness of my
+sweat." Then said Hisham (and indeed he was exceeding wroth), "O boy,
+verily thy days are come to their latest hour; thy hope is gone from
+thee and thy life is past out of thee." He answered, "By Allah, O
+Hisham, verily an my life-term be prolonged and Fate ordain not its
+cutting short, thy words irk me not, be they long or short." Then said
+the Chief Chamberlain to him, "Doth it befit thy degree, O vilest of
+the Arabs, to bandy words with the Commander of the Faithful?" He
+answered promptly, "Mayest thou meet with adversity and may woe and
+wailing never leave thee! Hast thou not heard the saying of Almighty
+Allah?, 'One day, every soul shall come to defend itself.'"[FN#146]
+Hereupon Hisham rose, in great wrath, and said, "O headsman, bring me
+the head of this lad; for indeed he exceedeth in talk, such as passeth
+conception." So the sworder took him and, making him kneel on the
+carpet of blood, drew his sword above him and said to the Caliph, "O
+Commander of the Faithful, this thy slave is misguided and is on the
+way to his grave; shall I smite off his head and be quit of his blood?"
+"Yes," replied Hisham. He repeated his question and the Caliph again
+answered in the affirmative. Then he asked leave a third time; and the
+youth, knowing that, if the Caliph assented yet once more, it would be
+the signal of his death, laughed till his wisdom-teeth showed;
+whereupon Hisham's wrath redoubled and he said to him, "O boy, meseems
+thou art mad; seest thou not that thou art about to depart the world?
+Why then dost thou laugh in mockery of thyself?" He replied, "O
+Commander of the Faithful, if a larger life-term befell me, none can
+hurt me, great or small; but I have bethought me of some couplets,
+which do thou hear, for my death cannot escape thee." Quoth Hisham,
+"Say on and be brief;" so the Arab repeated these couplets,
+
+"It happed one day a hawk pounced on a bird, * A wildling sparrow
+
+
+     driven by destiny;
+
+
+And held in pounces spake the sparrow thus, * E'en as the hawk
+
+
+     rose ready home to hie:—
+
+
+'Scant flesh have I to fill the maw of thee * And for thy lordly
+
+
+     food poor morsel I.
+
+
+Then smiled the hawk in flattered vanity * And pride, so set the
+
+
+     sparrow free to fly.
+
+
+
+At this Hisham smiled and said, "By the truth of my kinship to the
+Apostle of Allah (whom Allah bless and keep!), had he spoken this
+speech at first and asked for aught except the Caliphase, verily I
+would have given it to him. Stuff his mouth with jewels,[FN#147] O
+eunuch and entreat him courteously;" so they did as he bade them and
+the Arab went his way. And amongst pleasant tales is that of
+
+
+
+IBRAHIM BIN AL-MAHDI AND THE BARBER-SURGEON.
+
+They relate that Ibrahнm, son of al-Mahdн,[FN#148] brother of Harun
+al-Rashid, when the Caliphate devolved to Al-Maamun, the son of his
+brother Harun, refused to acknowledge his nephew and betook himself to
+Rayy[FN#149]; where he claimed the throne and abode thus a year and
+eleven months and twelve days. Meanwhile his nephew, Al-Maamun, awaited
+his return to allegiance and his accepting a dependent position till,
+at last, despairing of this, he mounted with his horsemen and footmen
+and repaired to Rayy in quest of him. Now when the news came to
+Ibrahim, he found nothing for it but to flee to Baghdad and hide there,
+fearing for his life; and Maamun set a price of a hundred thousand gold
+pieces upon his head, to be paid to whoso might betray him. (Quoth
+Ibrahim) "When I heard of this price I feared for my head"—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Seventy-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ibrahim
+continued, "Now when I heard of this price I feared for my head and
+knew not what to do: so I went forth of my house in disguise at
+mid-day, knowing not whither I should go. Presently I entered a broad
+street which was no thoroughfare and said in my mind, 'Verily, we are
+Allah's and unto Him we are returning! I have exposed my life to
+destruction. If I retrace my steps, I shall arouse suspicion.' Then,
+being still in disguise I espied, at the upper end of the street, a
+negro-slave standing at his door; so I went up to him and said to him,
+'Hast thou a place where I may abide for an hour of the day?' 'Yes,'
+answered he, and opening the door admitted me into a decent house,
+furnished with carpets and mats and cushions of leather. Then he shut
+the door on me and went away; and I misdoubted me he had heard of the
+reward offered for me, and said to myself, 'He hath gone to inform
+against me.' But, as I sat pondering my case and boiling like cauldron
+over fire, behold, my host came back, accompanied by a porter loaded
+with bread and meat and new cooking-pots and gear and a new jar and new
+gugglets and other needfuls. He made the porter set them down and,
+dismissing him, said to me, 'I offer my life for thy ransom! I am a
+barber-surgeon, and I know it would disgust thee to eat with me'
+because of the way in which I get my livelihood;[FN#150] so do thou
+shift for thyself and do what thou please with these things whereon no
+hand hath fallen.' (Quoth Ibrahim), Now I was in sore need of food so I
+cooked me a pot of meat whose like I remember not ever to have eaten;
+and, when I had satisfied my want, he said to me, 'O my lord, Allah
+make me thy ransom! Art thou for wine?; for indeed it gladdeneth the
+soul and doeth away care.' 'I have no dislike to it,' replied I, being
+desirous of the barber's company; so he brought me new flagons of glass
+which no hand had touched and a jar of excellent wine, and said to me,
+'Strain for thyself, to thy liking;' whereupon I cleared the wine and
+mixed me a most delectable draught. Then he brought me a new cup and
+fruits and flowers in new vessels of earthenware; after which he said
+to me, 'Wilt thou give me leave to sit apart and drink of my own wine
+by myself, of my joy in thee and for thee?' 'Do so,' answered I. So I
+drank and he drank till the wine began to take effect upon us, when the
+barber rose and, going to a closet, took out a lute of polished wood
+and said to me, 'O my lord, it is not for the like of me to ask the
+like of thee to sing, but it behoveth thine exceeding generosity to
+render my respect its due; so, if thou see fit to honour thy slave,
+thine is the high decision.' Quoth I (and indeed I thought not that he
+knew me), 'How knowest thou that I excel in song?' He replied, 'Glory
+be to Allah, our lord is too well renowned for that! Thou art my lord
+Ibrahim, son of Al-Mahdi, our Caliph of yesterday, he on whose head
+Al-Maamun hath set a price of an hundred thousand dinars to be paid to
+thy betrayer: but thou art in safety with me.' (Quoth Ibrahim), When I
+heard him say this, he was magnified in my eyes and his loyalty and
+noble nature were certified to me; so I complied with his wish and took
+the lute and tuned it, and sang. Then I bethought me of my severance
+from my children and my family and I began to say,
+
+'Belike Who Yъsuf to his kin restored * And honoured him in goal,
+
+
+     a captive wight,
+
+
+May grant our prayer to reunite our lots, * For Allah, Lord of
+
+
+     Worlds, hath all of might.'
+
+
+
+When the barber heard this, exceeding joy took possession of him. and
+he was of great good cheer; for it is said that when Ibrahim's
+neighbours heard him only sing out, 'Ho, boy, saddle the mule!' they
+were filled with delight. Then, being overborne by mirth, he said to
+me, 'O my lord, wilt thou give me leave to say what is come to my mind,
+albeit I am not of the folk of this craft?' I answered, 'Do so; this is
+of thy great courtesy and kindness.' So he took the lute and sang these
+verses,
+
+'To our beloveds we moaned our length of night; * Quoth they,
+
+
+     'How short the nights that us benight!'
+
+
+'Tis for that sleep like hood enveils their eyes * Right soon,
+
+
+     but from our eyes is fair of flight:
+
+
+When night-falls, dread and drear to those who love, * We mourn;
+
+
+     they joy to see departing light:
+
+
+Had they but dree'd the weird, the bitter dole * We dree, their
+
+
+     beds like ours had bred them blight.'
+
+
+
+(Quoth Ibrahim), So I said to him, 'By Allah, thou hast shown me a
+kindness, O my friend, and hast done away from me the pangs of sorrow.
+Let me hear more trifles of thy fashion.' So he sang these couplets,
+
+'When man keeps honour bright without a stain, * Pair sits
+
+
+     whatever robe to robe he's fain!
+
+
+She jeered at me because so few we are; * Quoth I:—'There's ever
+
+
+     dearth of noble men!'
+
+
+Naught irks us we are few, while neighbour tribes * Count many;
+
+
+     neighbours oft are base-born strain:
+
+
+We are a clan which holds not Death reproach, * Which A'mir and
+
+
+     Samъl[FN#151] hold illest bane:
+
+
+Leads us our love of death to fated end; * They hate that ending
+
+
+     and delay would gain:
+
+
+We to our neighbours' speech aye give the lie, * But when we
+
+
+     speak none dare give lie again.'
+
+
+
+(Quoth Ibrahim), When I heard these lines, I was filled with huge
+delight and marvelled with exceeding marvel. Then I slept and awoke not
+till past night-fall, when I washed my face, with a mind full of the
+high worth of this barber-surgeon and his passing courtesy; after which
+I wakened him and, taking out a purse I had by me containing a number
+of gold pieces, threw it to him, saying, 'I commend thee to Allah, for
+I am about to go forth from thee, and pray thee to expend what is in
+this purse on thine requirements; and thou shalt have an abounding
+reward of me, when I am quit of my fear.' (Quoth Ibrahim), But he
+resumed the bag to me, saying, 'O my lord, paupers like myself are of
+no value in thine eyes; but how, with due respect to my own generosity,
+can I take a price for the boon which fortune hath vouchsafed me of thy
+favour and thy visit to my poor abode? Nay, if thou repeat thy words
+and throw the purse to me again I will slay myself.' So I put in my
+sleeve[FN#152] the purse whose weight was irksome to me."—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ibrahim son of
+Al-Mahdi continued, "So I put in my sleeve the purse whose weight was
+irksome to me; and turned to depart, but when I came to the house door
+he said, 'O my lord, of a truth this is a safer hiding-place for thee
+than any other, and thy keep is no burden to me; so do thou abide with
+me, till Allah be pleased grant thee relief.' Accordingly, I turned
+back, saying, 'On condition that thou spend of the money in this
+purse.' He made me think that he consented to this arrangement, and I
+abode with him some days in the utmost comfort; but, perceiving that he
+spent none of the contents of the purse, I revolted at the idea of
+abiding at his charge and thought it shame to be a burthen on him; so I
+left the house disguised in women's apparel, donning short yellow
+walking- boots[FN#153] and veil. Now as soon as I found myself in the
+street, I was seized with excessive fear, and going to pass the bridge
+behold, I came to a place sprinkled with water,[FN#154] where a
+trooper, who been in my service, looked at me and knowing me, cried
+out, saying, 'This is he whom Al-Maamun wanteth.' Then he laid hold of
+me but the love of sweet life lent me strength and I gave him and his
+horse a push which threw them down in that slippery place, so that he
+became an example to those who will take example; and the folk hastened
+to him. Meanwhile, I hurried my pace over the bridge and entered a main
+street, where I saw the door of a house open and a woman standing upon
+the threshold. So I said to her, 'O my lady, have pity on me and save
+my life; for I am a man in fear.' Quoth she, 'Enter and welcome;' and
+carried me into an upper dining-room, where she spread me a bed and
+brought me food, saying 'Calm thy fear, for not a soul shall know of
+thee.' As she spoke lo! there came a loud knocking at the door; so she
+went and opened, and suddenly, my friend, whom I had thrown down on the
+bridge, appeared with his head bound up, the blood running down upon
+his clothes and without his horse. She asked, 'O so and so, what
+accident hath befallen thee?'; and he answered, 'I made prize of the
+young man whom the Caliph seeketh and he escaped from me;' whereupon he
+told her the whole story. So she brought out tinder[FN#155] and,
+putting it into a piece of rag bandaged his head; after which she
+spread him a bed and he lay sick. Then she came up to me and said,
+'Methinks thou art the man in question?' 'Even so,' answered I, and she
+said, 'Fear not: no harm shall befall thee,' and redoubled in kindness
+to me. So I tarried with her three days, at the end of which time she
+said to me, 'I am in fear for thee, lest yonder man happen upon thee
+and betray thee to what thou dreadest; so save thyself by flight.' I
+besought her to let me stay till nightfall, and she said, 'There is no
+harm in that.' So, when the night came, I put on my woman's gear and
+betook me to the house of a freed-woman who had once been our slave.
+When she saw me she wept and made a show of affliction and praised
+Almighty Allah for my safety. Then she went forth, as if she would go
+to market intent on hospitable thoughts, and I fancied all was right;
+but, ere long, suddenly I espied Ibrahim al-Mosili[FN#156] for the
+house amongst his troopers and servants, and led by a woman on foot;
+and looking narrowly at her behold, she was the freed-woman, the
+mistress of the house, wherein I had taken refuge. So she delivered me
+into their hands, and I saw death face to face. They carried me, in my
+woman's attire, to Al-Maamun who called a general-council and had me
+brought before him. When I entered I saluted him by the title of
+Caliph, saying, 'Peace be on thee, O Commander of the Faithful!' and he
+replied, 'Allah give thee neither peace nor long life.' I rejoined,
+'According to thy good pleasure, O Commander of the Faithful!; it is
+for the claimant of blood- revenge[FN#157] to decree punishment or
+pardon; but mercy is nigher to piety; and Allah hath set thy pardon
+above all other pardon, even as He made my sin to excel all other sin.
+So, if thou punish, it is of thine equity, and if thou pardon, it is of
+thy bounty.' And I repeated these couplets,
+
+'My sin to thee is great, * But greater thy degree:
+
+
+So take revenge, or else * Remit in clemency:
+
+
+An I in deeds have not* Been generous, generous be!
+
+
+
+(Quoth Ibrahim), At this Al-Maamun raised his head to me and I hastened
+to add these two couplets,
+
+'I've sinned enormous sin, * But pardon in thee lies:
+
+
+If pardon thou, 'tis grace; * Justice an thou chastise!'
+
+
+
+Then Al-Maamun bowed his head and repeated,
+
+'I am (when friend would raise a rage that mote * Make spittle
+
+
+     choke me, sticking in my throat)
+
+
+His pardoner, and pardon his offense, * Fearing lest I should
+
+
+     live a friend without.'
+
+
+
+(Quoth Ibrahim), Now when I heard these words I scented mercy, knowing
+his disposition to clemency.[FN#158] Then he turned to his son Al Abbas
+and his brother Abu Ishak and all his chief officers there present and
+said to them, 'What deem ye of his case?' They all counselled him to do
+me dead, but they differed as to the manner of my death. Then said he
+to his Wazir Ahmad bin al-Khбlid, 'And what sayest thou, O Ahmad?' He
+answered, 'O Commander of the Faithful, an thou slay him, we find the
+like of thee who hath slain the like of him; but an thou pardon him, we
+find not the like of thee that hath pardoned the like of him.'"— And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Al Maamun,
+Prince of the Faithful, heard the words of Ahmad bin al-Khбlid, he
+bowed his head and began repeating,
+
+"My tribe have slain that brother mine, Umaym, * Yet would shoot
+
+
+     back what shafts at them I aim:
+
+
+If I deal-pardon, noble pardon 'tis; * And if I shoot, my bones
+
+
+     'twill only maim."[FN#159]
+
+
+
+And he also recited,
+
+"Be mild to brother mingling * What is wrong with what is right:
+
+Kindness to him continue * Whether good or graceless wight:
+
+
+Abstain from all reproaching, * An he joy or vex thy sprite:
+
+
+Seest not that what thou lovest * And what hatest go unite?
+
+
+That joys of longer life-tide * Ever fade with hair turned
+
+
+     white?
+
+
+That thorns on branches growing * For the plucks fruit catch thy
+
+
+     sight?
+
+
+Who never hath done evil,* Doing good for sole delight?
+
+
+When tried the sons of worldli-* ness they mostly work upright."
+
+
+
+Quoth Ibrahim, "Now when I heard these couplets, I withdrew my woman's
+veil from my head and cried out, with my loudest voice, 'Allah is Most
+Great! By Allah, the Commander of the Faithful pardoneth me!' Quoth he,
+'No harm shall come to thee, O uncle;' and I rejoined, 'O Commander of
+the Faithful, my sin is too sore for me to excuse it and thy mercy is
+too much for me to speak thanks for it.' And I chanted these couplets
+to a lively motive,
+
+'Who made all graces all collected He * In Adam's loins, our
+
+
+     Seventh Imam, for thee,[FN#160]
+
+
+Thou hast the hearts of men with reverence filled, * Enguarding
+
+
+     all with heart-humility
+
+
+Rebelled I never by delusion whelmed * For object other than thy
+
+
+     clemency ;[FN#161]
+
+
+And thou hast pardoned me whose like was ne'er * Pardoned before,
+
+
+     though no man pled my plea:
+
+
+Hast pitied little ones like Katб's[FN#162] young, * And mother's
+
+
+     yearning heart a son to see.'
+
+
+
+Quoth Maamun, 'I say, following our lord Joseph (on whom and on our
+Prophet be blessing and peace!) let there be no reproach cast on you
+this day. Allah forgiveth you; for He is the most merciful of those who
+show mercy.[FN#163] Indeed I pardon thee, and restore to thee thy goods
+and lands, O uncle, and no harm shall befall thee.' So I offered up
+devout prayers for him and repeated these couplets,
+
+'Thou hast restored my wealth sans greed, and ere * So didst,
+
+
+     thou deignиdest my blood to spare:
+
+
+Then if I shed my blood and wealth, to gain * Thy grace, till
+
+
+     even shoon from foot I tear,
+
+
+Twere but repaying what thou lentest me, * And what unloaned no
+
+
+     man to blame would care:
+
+
+Were I ungrateful for thy lavish boons, * Baser than thou'rt
+
+
+     beneficent I were!'
+
+
+
+Then Al-Maamun showed me honour and favour and said to me, 'O uncle,
+Abu Ishak and Al-Abbas counselled me to put thee to death.' So I
+answered, 'And they both counselled thee right, O Commander of the
+Faithful, but thou hast done after thine own nature and hast put away
+what I feared with what I hoped.' Rejoined Al Maamun, 'O uncle, thou
+didst extinguish my rancour with the modesty of thine excuse, and I
+have pardoned thee without making thee drink the bitterness of
+obligation to intercessors.' Then he prostrated himself in prayer a
+long while, after which he raised his head and said to me, 'O uncle,
+knowest thou why I prostrated myself?' Answered I, 'Haply thou didst
+this in thanksgiving to Allah, for that He hath given thee the mastery
+over thine enemy.' He replied, 'Such was not my design, but rather to
+thank Allah for having inspired me to pardon thee and for having
+cleared my mind towards thee. Now tell me thy tale.' So I told him all
+that had befallen me with the barber, the trooper and his wife and with
+my freed-woman who had betrayed me. So he summoned the freed-woman, who
+was in her house, expecting the reward to be sent to her, and when she
+came before him he said to her, 'What moved thee to deal thus with thy
+lord?' Quoth she, 'Lust of money.' Asked the Caliph 'Hast thou a child
+or a husband?'; and she answered 'No;' whereupon he bade them give her
+an hundred stripes with a whip and imprisoned her for life. Then he
+sent for the trooper and his wife and the barber-surgeon and asked the
+soldier what had moved him to do thus. 'Lust of money,' quoth he;
+whereupon quoth the Caliph, 'It befitteth thee to be a
+barber-cupper,'[FN#164] and committed him to one whom he charged to
+place him in a barber-cupper's shop, where he might learn the craft.
+But he showed honour to the trooper's wife and lodged her in his
+palace, saying, 'This is a woman of sound sense and fit for matters of
+moment.' Then said he to the barber-cupper, 'Verily, thou hast shown
+worth and generosity which call for extraordinary honour.' So he
+commanded the trooper's house and all that was therein to be given him
+and bestowed on him a dress of honour and in addition fifteen thousand
+dinars to be paid annually. And men tell the following tale concerning
+
+
+
+THE CITY OF MANY COLUMNED IRAM AND ABDULLAH SON OF ABI KILABAH.[FN#165]
+
+It is related that Abdullah bin Abi Kilбbah went forth in quest of a
+she-camel which had strayed from him; and, as he was wandering in the
+deserts of Al-Yaman and the district of Sabб,[FN#166] behold, he came
+upon a great city girt by a vast castle around which were palaces and
+pavilions that rose high into middle air. He made for the place
+thinking to find there folk of whom he might ask concerning his
+she-camel; but, when he reached it, he found it desolate, without a
+living soul in it. So (quoth he) "I alighted and, hobbling my
+dromedary,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abdullah bin Abi
+Kilabah continued, "I dismounted and hobbling my dromedary, and
+composing my mind, entered into the city. Now when I came to the
+castle, I found it had two vast gates (never in the world was seen
+their like for size height) inlaid with all manner of jewels and
+jacinths, white and red, yellow and green. Beholding this I marvelled
+with great marvel and thought the case mighty wondrous; then entering
+the citadel in a flutter of fear and dazed with surprise and affright,
+I found it long and wide, about equalling Al-Medinah[FN#167] in point
+of size; and therein were lofty palaces laid out in pavilions all built
+of gold and silver and inlaid with many-coloured jewels and jacinths
+and chrysolites and pearls. And the door-leaves in the pavilions were
+like those of the castle for beauty; and their floors were strewn with
+great pearls and balls, no smaller than hazel nuts, of musk and
+ambergris and saffron. Now when I came within the heart of the city and
+saw therein no created beings of the Sons of Adam I was near swooning
+and dying for fear. Moreover, I looked down from the great roofs of the
+pavilion-chambers and their balconies and saw rivers running under
+them; and in the main streets were fruit-laden trees and tall palms;
+and the manner of their building was one brick of gold and one of
+silver. So I said in myself, 'Doubtless this is the Paradise promised
+for the world to come.' Then I loaded me with the jewels of its gravel
+and the musk of its dust as much as I could carry and returned to my
+own country, where I told the folk what I had seen. After a time the
+news reached Mu'бwiyah, son of Abu Sufyбn, who was then Caliph in
+Al-Hijaz; so he wrote to his lieutenant in San'б of Al-Yaman to send
+for the teller of the story and question him of the truth of the case.
+Accordingly the lieutenant summoned me and questioned me of my
+adventure and of all appertaining to it; and I told him what I had
+seen, whereupon he despatched me to Mu'awiyah, before whom I repeated
+the story of the strange sights; but he would not credit it. So I
+brought out to him some of the pearls and balls of musk and ambergris
+and saffron, in which latter there was still some sweet savour; but the
+pearls were grown yellow and had lost pearly colour."—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abdullah son of
+Abu Kilabah continued, "But the pearls were grown yellow and had lost
+pearly colour. Now Mu'awiyah wondered at this and, sending for Ka'ab
+al-Ahbar[FN#168] said to him, 'O Ka'ab, I have sent for thee to
+ascertain the truth of a certain matter and hope that thou wilt be able
+to certify me thereof.' Asked Ka'ab, 'What is it, O Commander of the
+Faithful?'; and Mu'awiyah answered, 'Wottest thou of any city founded
+by man which is builded of gold and silver, the pillars whereof are of
+chrysolite and rubies and its gravel pearls and balls of musk and
+ambergris and saffron?' He replied, 'Yes, O Commander of the Faithful,
+this is 'Iram with pillars decked and dight, the like of which was
+never made in the lands,'[FN#169] and the builder was Shaddad son of Ad
+the Greater.' Quoth the Caliph, 'Tell us something of its history,' and
+Ka'ab said, 'Ad the Greater[FN#170] had two sons, Shadнd and Shaddбd
+who, when their father died, ruled conjointly in his stead, and there
+was no King of the Kings of the earth but was subject to them. After
+awhile Shadid died and his brother Shaddad reigned over the earth
+alone. Now he was fond of reading in antique books; and, happening upon
+the description of the world to come and of Paradise, with its
+pavilions and galleries and trees and fruits and so forth, his soul
+moved him to build the like thereof in this world, after the fashion
+aforesaid. Now under his hand were an hundred thousand Kings, each
+ruling over an hundred thousand chiefs, commanding each an hundred
+thousand warriors; so he called these all before him and said to them,
+'I find in ancient books and annals a description of Paradise, as it is
+to be in the next world, and I desire to build me its like in this
+world. Go ye forth therefore to the goodliest tract on earth and the
+most spacious and build me there a city of gold and silver, whose
+gravel shall be chrysolite and rubies and pearls; and for support of
+its vaults make pillars of jasper. Fill it with palaces, whereon ye
+shall set galleries and balconies and plant its lanes and thoroughfares
+with all manner trees bearing yellow-ripe fruits and make rivers to run
+through it in channels of gold and silver.' Whereat said one and all,
+'How are we able to do this thing thou hast commanded, and whence shall
+we get the chrysolites and rubies and pearls whereof thou speakest?'
+Quoth he, 'What! weet ye not that the Kings of the world are subject to
+me and under my hand and that none therein dare gainsay my word?'
+Answered they, 'Yes, we know that.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the lieges
+answered, "Yes, we know that;" whereupon the King rejoined, "Fare ye
+then to the mines of chrysolites and rubies and pearls and gold and
+silver and collect their produce and gather together all of value that
+is in the world and spare no pains and leave naught; and take also for
+me such of these things as be in men's hands and let nothing escape
+you: be diligent and beware of disobedience." And thereupon he wrote
+letters to all the Kings of the world and bade them gather together
+whatso of these things was in their subjects' hands, and get them to
+the mines of precious stones and metals, and bring forth all that was
+therein, even from the abysses of the seas. This they accomplished in
+the space of 20 years, for the number of rulers then reigning over the
+earth was three hundred and sixty Kings, and Shaddad presently
+assembled from all lands and countries architects and engineers and men
+of art and labourers and handicraftsmen, who dispersed over the world
+and explored all the wastes and words and tracts and holds. At last
+they came to an uninhabited spot, a vast and fair open plain clear of
+sand-hills and mountains, with founts flushing and rivers rushing, and
+they said, "This is the manner of place the King commanded us to seek
+and ordered us to find." So they busied themselves in building the city
+even as bade them Shaddad, King of the whole earth in its length and
+breadth; leading the fountains in channels and laying the foundations
+after the prescribed fashion. Moreover, all the Kings of earth's
+several-reigns sent thither jewels and precious stones and pearls large
+and small and carnelian and refined gold and virgin silver upon camels
+by land, and in great ships over the waters, and there came to the
+builders' hands of all these materials so great a quantity as may
+neither be told nor counted nor conceived. So they laboured at the work
+three hundred years; and, when they had brought it to end, they went to
+King Shaddad and acquainted him therewith. Then said he, "Depart and
+make thereon an impregnable castle, rising and towering high in air,
+and build around it a thousand pavilions, each upon a thousand columns
+of chrysolite and ruby and vaulted with gold, that in each pavilion a
+Wazir may dwell." So they returned forthwith and did this in other
+twenty years; after which they again presented themselves before King
+Shaddad and informed him of the accomplishment of his will. Then he
+commanded his Wazirs, who were a thousand in number, and his Chief
+Officers and such of his troops and others as he put trust in, to
+prepare for departure and removal to Many-columned Iram, in the suite
+and at the stirrup of Shaddad, son of Ad, King of the World; and he
+bade also such as he would of his women and his Harim and of his
+handmaids and eunuchs make them ready for the journey. They spent
+twenty years in preparing for departure, at the end of which time
+Shaddad set out with his host.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Shaddad bin Ad
+fared forth, he and his host, rejoicing in the attainment of his desire
+till there remained but one day's journey between him and Iram of the
+Pillars. Then Allah sent down on him and on the stubborn unbelievers
+with him a mighty rushing sound from the Heavens of His power, which
+destroyed them all with its vehement clamour, and neither Shaddad nor
+any of his company set eyes on the city.[FN#171] Moreover, Allah
+blotted out the road which led to the city, and it stands in its stead
+unchanged until the Resurrection Day and the Hour of Judgement." So
+Mu'awiyah wondered greatly at Ka'ab al-Ahbar's story and said to him,
+"Hath any mortal ever made his way to that city?" He replied, "Yes; one
+of the companions of Mohammed (on whom be blessing and peace!) reached
+it, doubtless and forsure after the same fashion as this man here
+seated." "And (quoth Al-Sha'abi[FN#172]) it is related, on the
+authority of learned men of Himyar in Al-Yaman that Shaddad, when
+destroyed with all his host by the sound, was succeeded in his Kingship
+by his son Shaddad the Less, whom he left vice-regent in
+Hazramaut[FN#173] and Saba, when he and his marched upon Many-columned
+Iram. Now as soon as he heard of his father's death on the road, he
+caused his body to be brought back from the desert to Hazramaut and
+bade them hew him out a tomb in a cave, where he laid the body on a
+throne of gold and threw over the corpse threescore and ten robes of
+cloth of gold, purfled with precious stones. Lastly at his sire's head
+he set up a tablet of gold whereon were graven these verses,
+
+     'Take warning O proud, * And in length o' life vain!
+
+
+     I'm Shaddбd son of Ad, * Of the forts castellain;
+
+
+     Lord of pillars and power,* Lord of tried might and main,
+
+
+     Whom all earth-sons obeyed* For my mischief and bane
+
+
+     And who held East and West* In mine awfullest reign.
+
+
+     He preached me salvation * Whom God did assain,[FN#174]
+
+
+     But we crossed him and asked * 'Can no refuge be ta'en?'
+
+
+     When a Cry on us cried * From th' horizon plain,
+
+
+     And we fell on the field * Like the harvested grain,
+
+
+     And the Fixt Day await * We, in earth's bosom lain!'"
+
+
+
+Al-Sa'alibi also relateth, "It chanced that two men once entered this
+cave and found steps at its upper end; so they descended and came to an
+underground chamber, an hundred cubits long by forty wide and an
+hundred high. In the midst stood a throne of gold, whereon lay a man of
+huge bulk, filling the whole length and breadth of the throne. He was
+covered with jewels and raiment gold-and-silver wrought, and at his
+head was a tablet of gold bearing an inscription. So they took the
+tablet and carried it off, together with as many bars of gold and
+silver and so forth as they could bear away." And men also relate the
+tale of
+
+
+
+ISAAC OF MOSUL.
+
+Quoth Isaac of Mosul,[FN#175] "I went out one night from Al Maamun's
+presence, on my way to my house; and, being taken with a pressing need
+to make water, I turned aside into a by-street and stood in the middle
+fearing lest something might hurt me, if I squatted against a
+wall.[FN#176] Presently, I espied something hanging down from one of
+the houses; so I felt it to find out what it might be and found that it
+was a great four-handled basket,[FN#177] covered with brocade. Said I
+to myself, 'There must be some reason for this,' and knew not what to
+think; then drunkenness led me to seat myself in the basket, and
+behold, the people of the house pulled me up, thinking me to be the
+person they expected. Now when I came to the top of the wall; lo! four
+damsels were there, who said to me, 'Descend and welcome and joy to
+thee!' Then one of them went before me with a wax candle and brought me
+down into a mansion, wherein were furnished sitting- chambers, whose
+like I had never seen save in the palace of the Caliphate. So I sat
+down and, after a while, the curtains were suddenly drawn from one side
+of the room and, behold, in came damsels walking in procession and
+hending hand lighted flambeaux of wax and censers full of Sumatran
+aloes-wood, and amongst them a young lady as she were the rising full
+moon. So I stood up to her and she said, 'Welcome to thee for a
+visitor!' and then she made me sit down again and asked me how I came
+thither. Quoth I, 'I was returning home from the house of an intimate
+friend and went astray in the dark; then, being taken in the street
+with an urgent call to make water, I turned aside into this lane, where
+I found a basket let down. The strong wine which I had drunk led me to
+seat myself in it and it was drawn up with me into this house, and this
+is my story.' She rejoined, 'No harm shall befall thee, and I hope thou
+wilt have cause to praise the issue of thine adventure.' Then she
+added, 'But what is thy condition?' I said, 'A merchant in the Baghdad
+bazar' and she, 'Canst thou repeat any verses?' 'Some small matter,'
+quoth I. Quoth she 'Then call a few to mind and let us hear some of
+them.' But I said, 'A visitor is bashful and timid; do thou begin.'
+'True,' replied she and recited some verses of the poets, past and
+present, choosing their choicest pieces; and I listened not knowing
+whether more to marvel at her beauty and loveliness or at the charm of
+her style of declamation. Then said she, 'Is that bashfulness of thine
+gone?' and I said, 'Yes, by Allah!' so she rejoined, 'Then, if thou
+wilt, recite us somewhat.' So I repeated to her a number of poems by
+old writers, and she applauded, saying, 'By Allah, I did not think to
+find such culture among the trade folk, the sons of the bazar!' Then
+she called for food" Whereupon quoth Shahrazad's sister Dunyazad, "How
+pleasant is this tale and enjoyable and sweet to the ear and sound to
+the sense!" But she answered, "And what is this story compared with
+that which thou shalt hear on the morrow's night, if I be alive and the
+King deign spare me!" Then Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Eightieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Isaac of Mosul
+continued, "Then the damsel called for food and, when it was served to
+her, she fell to eating it and setting it before me; and the sitting
+room was full of all manner sweet-scented flowers and rare fruits, such
+as are never found save in Kings' houses. Presently, she called for
+wine and drank a cup, after which she filled another and gave it to me,
+saying, 'Now is the time for converse and story-telling.' So I
+bethought myself and began to say, 'It hath reached me that such and
+such things happened and there was a man who said so and so,' till I
+had told her a number of pleasing tales and adventures with which she
+was delighted and cried, ''Tis marvellous that a merchant should bear
+in memory such store of stories like these, for they are fit for
+Kings.' Quoth I, 'I had a neighbour who used to consort with Kings and
+carouse with them; so, when he was at leisure, I visited his house and
+he hath often told me what thou hast heard.' Thereupon she exclaimed
+'By my life, but thou hast a good memory!' So we continued to converse
+thus, and as often as I was silent, she would begin, till in this way
+we passed the most part of the night, whilst the burning aloes-wood
+diffused its fragrance and I was in such case that if Al-Maamun had
+suspected it, he would have flown like a bird with longing for it. Then
+said she to me, 'Verily, thou art one of the most pleasant of men,
+polished, passing well-bred and polite; but there lacketh one thing.'
+'What is that?' asked I, and she answered, If thou only knew how to
+sing verses to the lute!' I answered, 'I was passionately fond of this
+art aforetime, but finding I had no taste for it, I abandoned it,
+though at times my heart yearneth after it. Indeed, I should love to
+sing somewhat well at this moment and fulfil my night's enjoyment.'
+Then said she, 'Meseemeth thou hintest a wish for the lute to be
+brought?' and I, 'It is thine to decide, if thou wilt so far favour me,
+and to thee be the thanks.' So she called for a lute and sang a song in
+a voice whose like I never heard, both for sweetness of tone and skill
+in playing, and perfection of art. Then said she, Knowest thou who
+composed this air and whose are the words of this song?'"No," answered
+I; and she said, The words are so and so's and the air is Isaac's.' I
+asked 'And hath Isaac then (may I be thy sacrifice!) such a talent?'
+She replied, 'Bravo![FN#178] Bravo, Isaac! indeed, he excelleth in this
+art.' I rejoined, 'Glory be to Allah who hath given this man what he
+hath vouchsafed unto none other!' Then she said 'And how would it be,
+an thou heard this song from himself?' This wise we went on till break
+of day dawn, when there came to her an old woman, as she were her
+nurse, and said to her, 'Verily, the time is come.' So she rose in
+haste and said to me, 'Keep what hath passed between us to thyself; for
+such meetings are in confidence;'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel
+whispered, "'Keep what hath passed between us to thyself, for such
+meetings are in confidence;' and I replied, 'May I be thy ransom! I
+needed no charge to this.' Then I took leave of her and she sent a
+handmaid to show me the way and open the house door; so I went forth
+and returned to my own place, where I prayed the morning prayer and
+slept. Now after a time there came to me a messenger from Al-Maamun, so
+I went to him and passed the day in his company. And when the night
+fell I called to mind my yesternight's pleasure, a thing from which
+none but an ignoramus would abstain, and betook myself to the street,
+where I found the basket, and seating myself therein, was drawn up to
+the place in which I had passed the previous night. When the lady saw
+me, she said, 'Indeed, thou hast been assiduous;' and I answered,
+'Meseemeth rather that I am neglectful.' Then we fell to discoursing
+and passed the night as before in general-conversation and reciting
+verses and telling rare tales, each in turn, till daybreak, when I
+wended me home; and I prayed the dawn prayer and slept. Presently there
+came to me a messenger from Al-Maamun; so I went to him and spent my
+day with him till nightfall, when the Commander of the Faithful said to
+me, 'I conjure thee to sit here, whilst I go out for a want and come
+back.' As soon as the Caliph was gone, and quite gone, my thoughts
+began to tempt and try me and, calling to mind my late delight, I
+recked little what might befal me from the Prince of True Believers. So
+I sprang up and turning my back upon the sitting-room, ran to the
+street aforesaid, where I sat down in the basket and was drawn up as
+before. When the lady saw me, she said, 'I begin to think thou art a
+sincere friend to us.' Quoth I, 'Yea, by Allah!' and quoth she, 'Hast
+thou made our house thine abiding-place?' I replied, 'May I be thy
+ransom! A guest claimeth guest right for three days and if I return
+after this, ye are free to spill my blood.' Then we passed the night as
+before; and when the time of departure drew near, I bethought me that
+Al Maamun would assuredly question me nor would ever be content save
+with a full explanation: so I said to her, 'I see thee to be of those
+who delight in singing. Now I have a cousin, the son of my father's
+brother, who is fairer than I in face and higher of rank and better of
+breeding; and he is the most intimate of Allah's creatures with Isaac.'
+Quoth she, 'Art thou a parasite[FN#179] and an importunate one?' Quoth
+I, 'It is for thee to decide in this matter;' and she, 'If thy cousin
+be as thou hast described him, it would not mislike us to make
+acquaintance with him.' Then, as the time was come, I left her and
+returned to my house, but hardly had I reached it, ere the Caliph's
+runners came down on me and carried me before him by main force and
+roughly enough."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Isaac of Mosul
+continued, "And hardly had I reached my house ere the Caliph's runners
+came down upon me and carried me before him by main force and roughly
+enough. I found him seated on a chair, wroth with me, and he said to
+me, 'O Isaac, art thou a traitor to thine allegiance?' replied I, 'No,
+by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful!' and he rejoined, 'What hast
+thou then to say? tell me the whole truth;' and I, 'Yes, I will, but in
+private.' So he signed to his attendants, who withdrew to a distance,
+and I told him the case, adding, 'I promised her to bring thee,' and he
+said, 'Thou didst well.' Then we spent the day in our usual-pleasures,
+but Al-Maamun's heart was taken up with her, and hardly was the
+appointed time come, when we set out. As we went along, I cautioned
+him, saying, 'Look that thou call me not by my name before her; and I
+will demean myself like thine attendant.' And having agreed upon this,
+we fared forth till we came to the place, where we found two baskets
+hanging ready. So we sat down in them and were drawn up to the
+usual-place, where the damsel came forward and saluted us. Now when Al
+Maamun saw her, he was amazed at her beauty and loveliness; and she
+began to entertain him with stories and verses. Presently, she called
+for wine and we fell to drinking she paying him special attention and
+he repaying her in kind. Then she took the lute and sang these verses,
+
+'My lover came in at the close of night, * I rose till he sat and
+
+
+     remained upright;
+
+
+And said 'Sweet heart, hast thou come this hour? * Nor feared on
+
+
+     the watch and ward to 'light:'
+
+
+Quoth he 'The lover had cause to fear, * But Love deprived him of
+
+
+     wits and fright.'
+
+
+
+And when she ended her song she said to me, 'And is thy cousin also a
+merchant?' I answered, 'Yes,' and she said, 'Indeed, ye resemble each
+other nearly.' But when Al-Maamun had drunk three pints,[FN#180] he
+grew merry with wine and called out, saying, 'Ho, Isaac!' And I
+replied, 'Labbayk, Adsum, O Commander of the Faithful,' whereupon quoth
+he, 'Sing me this air.' Now when the young lady learned that he was the
+Caliph, she withdrew to another place and disappeared; and, as I had
+made an end of my song, Al-Maamun said to me, 'See who is the master of
+this house', whereupon an old woman hastened to make answer, saying,
+'It belongs to Hasan bin Sahl.'[FN#181] 'Fetch him to me,' said the
+Caliph. So she went away and after a while behold, in came Hasan, to
+whom said Al-Maamun 'Hast thou a daughter?' He said, 'Yes, and her name
+is Khadijah.' Asked the Caliph, 'Is she married?' Answered Hasan, 'No,
+by Allah!' Said Al-Maamun, Then I ask her of thee in marriage.' Replied
+her father, 'O Commander of the Faithful, she is thy handmaid and at
+thy commandment.' Quoth Al-Maamun, 'I take her to wife at a present
+settlement of thirty thousand dinars, which thou shalt receive this
+very morning, and, when the money has been paid thee, do thou bring her
+to us this night.' And Hasan answered, 'I hear and I obey.' Thereupon
+we went forth and the Caliph said to me, 'O Isaac, tell this story to
+no one.' So I kept it secret till Al-Maamun's death. Surely never did
+man's life gather such pleasures as were mine these four days' time,
+whenas I companied with Al-Maamun by day and Khadijah by night; and, by
+Allah, never saw I among men the like of Al-Maamun nor among women have
+I ever set eyes on the like of Khadijah; no, nor on any that came near
+her in lively wit and pleasant speech! And Allah is All knowing. But
+amongst stories is that of
+
+
+
+THE SWEEP AND THE NOBLE LADY.
+
+During the season of the Meccan pilgrimage, whilst the people were
+making circuit about the Holy House and the place of compassing was
+crowded, behold, a man laid hold of the covering of the Ka'abah[FN#182]
+and cried out, from the bottom of his heart, saying, 'I beseech thee, O
+Allah, that she may once again be wroth with her husband and that I may
+know her!' A company of the pilgrims heard him and seized him and
+carried him to the Emir of the pilgrims, after a sufficiency of blows;
+and, said they, 'O Emir, we found this fellow in the Holy Places,
+saying thus and thus.' So the Emir commanded to hang him; but he cried,
+'O Emir, I conjure thee, by the virtue of the Apostle (whom Allah bless
+and preserve!), hear my story and then do with me as thou wilt.' Quoth
+the Emir, 'Tell thy tale forthright.' 'Know then, O Emir,' quoth the
+man, 'that I am a sweep who works in the sheep- slaughterhouses and
+carries off the blood and the offal to the rubbish-heaps outside the
+gates. And it came to pass as I went along one day with my ass loaded,
+I saw the people running away and one of them said to me, 'Enter this
+alley, lest haply they slay thee.' Quoth I, 'What aileth the folk
+running away?' and one of the eunuchs, who were passing, said to me,
+'This is the Harim[FN#183] of one of the notables and her eunuchs drive
+the people out of her way and beat them all, without respect to
+persons.' So I turned aside with the donkey'"—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the man,
+"So I turned aside with the donkey and stood still awaiting the
+dispersal of the crowd; and I saw a number of eunuchs with staves in
+their hands, followed by nigh thirty women slaves, and amongst them a
+lady as she were a willow-wand or a thirsty gazelle, perfect in beauty
+and grace and amorous languor, and all were attending upon her. Now
+when she came to the mouth of the passage where I stood, she turned
+right and left and, calling one of the Castratos, whispered in his ear;
+and behold, he came up to me and laid hold of me, whilst another eunuch
+took my ass and made off with it. And when the spectators fled, the
+first eunuch bound me with a rope and dragged me after him till I knew
+not what to do; and the people followed us and cried out, saying, 'This
+is not allowed of Allah! What hath this poor scavenger done that he
+should be bound with ropes?' and praying the eunuchs, 'Have pity on him
+and let him go, so Allah have pity on you!' And I the while said in my
+mind, 'Doubtless the eunuchry seized me, because their mistress smelt
+the stink of the offal and it sickened her. Belike she is with child or
+ailing; but there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah,
+the Glorious, the Great!' So I continued walking on behind them, till
+they stopped at the door of a great house; and, entering before me,
+brought me into a big hall—I know not how I shall describe its
+magnificence—furnished with the finest furniture. And the women also
+entered the hall; and I bound and held by the eunuch and saying to
+myself, 'Doubtless they will torture me here till I die and none know
+of my death.' However, after a while, they carried me into a neat
+bath-room leading out of the hall; and as I sat there, behold, in came
+three slave-girls who seated themselves round me and said to me, 'Strip
+off thy rags and tatters.' So I pulled off my threadbare clothes and
+one of them fell a-rubbing my legs and feet whilst another scrubbed my
+head and a third shampooed my body. When they had made an end of
+washing me, they brought me a parcel of clothes and said to me, 'Put
+these on'; and I answered, 'By Allah, I know not how!' So they came up
+to me and dressed me, laughing together at me the while; after which
+they brought casting-bottles full of rose-water, and sprinkled me
+therewith. Then I went out with them into another saloon; by Allah, I
+know not how to praise its splendour for the wealth of paintings and
+furniture therein; and entering it, I saw a person seated on a couch of
+Indian rattan"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the sweep
+continued, "When I entered that saloon I saw a person seated on a couch
+of Indian rattan, with ivory feet and before her a number of damsels.
+When she saw me she rose to me and called me; so I went up to her and
+she seated me by her side. Then she bade her slave-girls bring food,
+and they brought all manner of rich meats, such as I never saw in all
+my life; I do not even know the names of the dishes, much less their
+nature. So I ate my fill and when the dishes had been taken away and we
+had washed our hands, she called for fruits which came without stay or
+delay and ordered me eat of them; and when we had ended eating she bade
+one of the waiting-women bring the wine furniture. So they set on
+flagons of divers kinds of wine and burned perfumes in all the censers,
+what while a damsel like the moon rose and served us with wine to the
+sound of the smitten strings; and I drank, and the lady drank, till we
+were seized with wine and the whole time I doubted not but that all
+this was an illusion of sleep. Presently, she signed to one of the
+damsels to spread us a bed in such a place, which being done, she rose
+and took me by the hand and led me thither, and lay down and I lay with
+her till the morning, and as often as I pressed her to my breast I
+smelt the delicious fragrance of musk and other perfumes that exhaled
+from her and could not think otherwise but that I was in Paradise or in
+the vain phantasies of a dream. Now when it was day, she asked me where
+I lodged and I told her, 'In such a place;' whereupon she gave me leave
+to depart, handing to me a kerchief worked with gold and silver and
+containing somewhat tied in it, and took leave of me, saying, 'Go to
+the bath with this.' I rejoiced and said to myself, 'If there be but
+five coppers here, it will buy me this day my morning meal.' Then I
+left her, as though I were leaving Paradise, and returned to my poor
+crib where I opened the kerchief and found in it fifty miskals of gold.
+So I buried them in the ground and, buying two farthings' worth of
+bread and 'kitchen,'[FN#184] seated me at the door and broke my fast;
+after which I sat pondering my case and continued so doing till the
+time of afternoon, prayer, when lo! a slave-girl accosted me saying,
+'My mistress calleth for thee.' I followed her to the house aforesaid
+and, after asking permission, she carried me into the lady, before whom
+I kissed the ground, and she commanded me to sit and called for meat
+and wine as on the previous day; after which I again lay with her all
+night. On the morrow, she gave me a second kerchief, with other fifty
+dinars therein, and I took it and going home, buried this also. In such
+pleasant condition I continued eight days running, going in to her at
+the hour of afternoon prayer and leaving her at daybreak; but, on the
+eighth night, as I lay with her, behold, one of her slave-girls came
+running in and said to me, 'Arise, go up into yonder closet.' So I rose
+and went into the closet, which was over the gate, and presently I
+heard a great clamour and tramp of horse; and, looking out of the
+window which gave on the street in front of the house, I saw a young
+man as he were the rising moon on the night of fulness come riding up
+attended by a number of servants and soldiers who were about him on
+foot. He alighted at the door and entering the saloon found the lady
+seated on the couch; so he kissed the ground between her hands then
+came up to her and kissed her hands; but she would not speak to him.
+However, he continued patiently to humble himself, and soothe her and
+speak her fair, till he made his peace with her, and they lay together
+that night."—And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the scavenger
+continued, "Now when her husband had made his peace with the young
+lady, he lay with her that night; and next morning, the soldiers came
+for him and he mounted and rode away; whereupon she drew near to me and
+said, 'Sawst thou yonder man?' I answered, 'Yes;' and she said, 'He is
+my husband, and I will tell thee what befell me with him. It came to
+pass one day that we were sitting, he and I, in the garden within the
+house, and behold, he rose from my side and was absent a long while,
+till I grew tired of waiting and said to myself: Most like, he is in
+the privy. So I arose and went to the water-closet, but not finding him
+there, went down to the kitchen, where I saw a slave-girl; and when I
+enquired for him, she showed him to me lying with one of the cookmaids.
+Hereupon, I swore a great oath that I assuredly would do adultery with
+the foulest and filthiest man in Baghdad; and the day the eunuch laid
+hands on thee, I had been four days going round about the city in quest
+of one who should answer to this description, but found none fouler nor
+filthier than thy good self. So I took thee and there passed between us
+that which Allah fore ordained to us; and now I am quit of my oath.'
+Then she added, 'If, however, my husband return yet again to the
+cookmaid and lie with her, I will restore thee to thy lost place in my
+favours.' Now when I heard these words from her lips, what while she
+pierced my heart with the shafts of her glances, my tears streamed
+forth, till my eyelids were chafed sore with weeping, and I repeated
+the saying of the poet,
+
+'Grant me the kiss of that left hand ten times; * And learn it
+
+
+hath than right hand higher grade;[FN#185]
+
+
+For 'tis but little since that same left hand * Washed off Sir
+
+
+Reverence when ablution made.'
+
+
+
+Then she made them give me other fifty dinars (making in all four
+hundred gold pieces I had of her) and bade me depart. So I went out
+from her and came hither, that I might pray Allah (extolled and exalted
+be He!) to make her husband return to the cookmaid, that haply I might
+be again admitted to her favours.' When the Emir of the pilgrims heard
+the man's story, he set him free and said to the bystanders, 'Allah
+upon you, pray for him, for indeed he is excusable.'" And men also tell
+the tale of
+
+
+
+THE MOCK CALIPH.
+
+It is related that the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, was one night restless
+with extreme restlessness, so he summoned his Wazir Ja'afar the
+Barmecide, and said to him, "My breast is straitened and I have a
+desire to divert myself to-night by walking about the streets of
+Baghdad and looking into folks' affairs; but with this precaution that
+we disguise ourselves in merchants' gear, so none shall know us." He
+answered, "Hearkening and obedience." They rose at once and doffing the
+rich raiment they wore, donned merchants' habits and sallied forth
+three in number, the Caliph, Ja'afar and Masrur the sworder. Then they
+walked from place to place, till they came to the Tigris and saw an old
+man sitting in a boat; so they went up to him and saluting him, said,
+"O Shaykh, we desire thee of thy kindness and favour to carry us a-
+pleasuring down the river, in this thy boat, and take this dinar to thy
+hire."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they said to
+the old man, "We desire thee to carry us a-pleasuring in this thy boat
+and take this dinar;" he answered, "Who may go a- pleasuring on the
+Tigris? The Caliph Harun al-Rashid every night cometh down Tigris
+stream in his state-barge[FN#186] and with him one crying aloud: 'Ho,
+ye people all, great and small, gentle and simple, men and boys, whoso
+is found in a boat on the Tigris by night, I will strike off his head
+or hang him to the mast of his craft!' And ye had well nigh met him;
+for here cometh his carrack." But the Caliph and Ja'afar said, "O
+Shaykh, take these two dinars, and run us under one of yonder arches,
+that we may hide there till the Caliph's barge have passed." The old
+man replied, "Hand over your gold and rely we on Allah, the Almighty!"
+So he took the two dinars and embarked them in the boat; and he put off
+and rowed about with them awhile, when behold, the barge came down the
+river in mid-stream, with lighted flambeaux and cressets flaming
+therein. Quoth the old man, "Did not I tell you that the Caliph passed
+along the river every night?"; and ceased not muttering, "O Protector,
+remove not the veils of Thy protection!" Then he ran the boat under an
+arch and threw a piece of black cloth over the Caliph and his
+companions, who looked out from under the covering and saw, in the bows
+of the barge, a man holding in hand a cresset of red gold which he fed
+with Sumatran lign-aloes and the figure was clad in a robe of red
+satin, with a narrow turband of Mosul shape round on his head, and over
+one of his shoulders hung a sleeved cloak[FN#187] of cramoisy satin,
+and on the other was a green silk bag full of the aloes-wood, with
+which he fed the cresset by way of firewood. And they sighted in the
+stern another man, clad like the first and bearing a like cresset, and
+in the barge were two hundred white slaves, standing ranged to the
+right and left; and in the middle a throne of red gold, whereon sat a
+handsome young man, like the moon, clad in a dress of black,
+embroidered with yellow gold. Before him they beheld a man, as he were
+the Wazir Ja'afar, and at his head stood an eunuch, as he were Masrur,
+with a drawn sword in his hand; besides a score of cup-companions. Now
+when the Caliph saw this, he turned and said, "O Ja'afar," and the
+Minister replied, "At thy service, O Prince of True Believers." Then
+quoth the Caliph, "Belike this is one of my sons, Al Amin or
+Al-Maamun." Then he examined the young man who sat on the throne and
+finding him perfect in beauty and loveliness and stature and symmetric
+grace, said to Ja'afar, "Verily, this young man abateth nor jot nor
+tittle of the state of the Caliphate! See, there standeth before him
+one as he were thyself, O Ja'afar; yonder eunuch who standeth at his
+head is as he were Masrur and those courtiers as they were my own. By
+Allah, O Ja'afar, my reason is confounded and I am filled with
+amazement this matter!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph
+saw this spectacle his reason was confounded and he cried, "By Allah, I
+am filled with amazement at this matter!" and Ja'afar replied, "And I
+also, by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful." Then the barge passed on
+and disappeared from sight whereupon the boatman pushed out again into
+the stream, saying, "Praised be Allah for safety, since none hath
+fallen in with us!" Quoth the Caliph, "O old man, doth the Caliph come
+down the Tigris-river every night?" The boatman answered, "Yes, O my
+lord; and on such wise hath he done every night this year past." "O
+Shaykh," rejoined Al-Rashid, "we wish thee of thy favour to await us
+here to-morrow night and we will give thee five golden dinars, for we
+are stranger folk, lodging in the quarter Al-Khandak, and we have a
+mind to divert ourselves." Said the oldster, "With joy and good will!"
+Then the Caliph and Ja'afar and Masrur left the boatman and returned to
+the palace; where they doffed their merchants' habits and, donning
+their apparel of state, sat down each in his several-stead; and came
+the Emirs and Wazirs and Chamberlains and Officers, and the Divan
+assembled and was crowded as of custom. But when day ended and all the
+folk had dispersed and wended each his own way, the Caliph said to his
+Wazir, "Rise, O Ja'afar, let us go and amuse ourselves by looking on
+the second Caliph." At this, Ja'afar and Masrur laughed, and the three,
+donning merchants' habits, went forth by a secret pastern and made
+their way through the city, in great glee, till they came to the
+Tigris, where they found the graybeard sitting and awaiting them. They
+embarked with him in the boat and hardly had they sat down before up
+came the mock Caliph's barge; and, when they looked at it attentively,
+they saw therein two hundred Mamelukes other than those of the previous
+night, while the link- bearers cried aloud as of wont. Quoth the
+Caliph, "O Wazir, had I heard tell of this, I had not believed it; but
+I have seen it with my own sight." Then said he to the boatman, "Take,
+O Shaykh' these ten dinars and row us along abreast of them, for they
+are in the light and we in the shade, and we can see them and amuse
+ourselves by looking on them, but they cannot see us." So the man took
+the money and pushing off ran abreast of them in the shadow of the
+barge,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph Harun
+al-Rashid said to the old man, "Take these ten dinars and row us
+abreast of them;" to which he replied, "I hear and I obey." And he
+fared with them and ceased not going in the blackness of the barge,
+till they came amongst the gardens that lay alongside of them and
+sighted a large walled enclosure; and presently, the barge cast anchor
+before a postern door, where they saw servants standing with a she mule
+saddled and bridled. Here the mock Caliph landed and, mounting the
+mule, rode away with his courtiers and his cup-companions preceded by
+the cresset-bearers crying aloud, and followed by his household which
+busied itself in his service. Then Harun al-Rashid, Ja'afar and Masrur
+landed also and, making their way through the press of servants, walked
+on before them. Presently, the cresset-bearers espied them and seeing
+three persons in merchants' habits, and strangers to the country, took
+offense at them; so they pointed them out and brought them before the
+other Caliph, who looked at them and asked, "How came ye to this place
+and who brought you at this tide?" They answered, "O our lord, we are
+foreign merchants and far from our homes, who arrived here this day and
+were out a- walking to-night, and behold, ye came up and these men laid
+hands on us and brought us to thy presence; and this is all our story."
+Quoth the mock Caliph, "Since ye be stranger folk no harm shall befall
+you; but had ye been of Baghdad, I had struck off your heads." Then he
+turned to his Wazir and said to him, "Take these men with thee; for
+they are our guests to-night." "To hear is to obey, O our lord,"
+answered he; and they companied him till they came to a lofty and
+splendid palace set upon the firmest base; no Sultan possesseth such a
+place; rising from the dusty mould and upon the merges of the clouds
+laying hold. Its door was of Indian teak-wood inlaid with gold that
+glowed; and through it one passed into a royal-hall in whose midst was
+a jetting fount girt by a raised estrade. It was provided with carpets
+and cushions of brocade and small pillows and long settees and hanging
+curtains; it was furnished with a splendour that dazed the mind and
+dumbed the tongue, and upon the door were written these two couplets,
+
+"A Palace whereon be blessings and praise! * Which with all their
+
+
+     beauty have robed the Days:
+
+
+Where marvels and miracle-sights abound, * And to write its
+
+
+     honours the pen affrays."
+
+
+
+The false Caliph entered with his company, and sat down on a throne of
+gold set with jewels and covered with a prayer carpet of yellow silk;
+whilst the boon-companions took their seats and the sword bearer of
+high works stood before him. Then the tables were laid and they ate;
+after which the dishes were removed and they washed their hands and the
+wine-service was set on with flagons and bowls in due order. The cup
+went round till it came to the Caliph, Harun al-Rashid, who refused the
+draught, and the mock Caliph said to Ja'afar, "What mattereth thy
+friend that he drinketh not?" He replied, "O my lord, indeed 'tis a
+long while he hath drunk naught of this." Quoth the sham Caliph, "I
+have drink other than this, a kind of apple-wine,[FN#188] that will
+suit thy companion." So he bade them bring the cider which they did
+forthright; when the false Caliph, coming up to Harun al-Rashid, said
+to him, "As often as it cometh to thy turn drink thou of this." Then
+they continued to drink and make merry and pass the cup till the wine
+rose to their brains and mastered their wits;—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the false Caliph
+and his co sitters sat at their cups and gave not over drinking till
+the wine rose to their brains and mastered their wits; and Harun
+al-Rashid said to the Minister, "O Ja'afar, by Allah, we have no such
+vessels as these. Would to Heaven I knew what manner of man this youth
+is!" But while they were talking privily the young man cast a glance
+upon them and seeing the Wazir whisper the Caliph said, "'Tis rude to
+whisper." He replied, "No rudeness was meant: this my friend did but
+say to me, 'Verily I have travelled in most countries and have caroused
+with the greatest of Kings and I have companied with noble captains;
+yet never saw I a goodlier ordering than this entertainment nor passed
+a more delightful night; save that the people of Baghdad are wont to
+say, Wine without music often leaves you sick.'"When the second Caliph
+heard this, he smiled pleasantly and struck with a rod he had in his
+hand a round gong;[FN#189] and behold, a door opened and out came a
+eunuch, bearing a chair of ivory, inlaid with gold glittering fiery red
+and followed by a damsel of passing beauty and loveliness, symmetry and
+grace. He set down the chair and the damsel seated herself on it, as
+she were the sun shining sheen in a sky serene. In her hand she had a
+lute of Hindu make, which she laid in her lap and bent down over it as
+a mother bendeth over her little one, and sang to it, after a prelude
+in four-and-twenty modes, amazing all wits. Then she returned to the
+first mode and to a lively measure chanted these couplets,
+
+"Love's tongue within my heart speaks plain to thee, * Telling
+
+
+     thee clearly I am fain of thee
+
+
+Witness the fevers of a tortured heart, * And ulcered eyelid
+
+
+     tear-flood rains for thee
+
+
+God's fate o'ertaketh all created things! * I knew not love till
+
+
+     learnt Love's pain of thee."
+
+
+
+Now when the mock Caliph heard these lines sung by the damsel, he cried
+with a great cry and rent his raiment to the very skirt, whereupon they
+let down a curtain over him and brought him a fresh robe, handsomer
+than the first. He put it on and sat as before, till the cup came round
+to him, when he struck the gong a second time and lo! a door opened and
+out of it came a eunuch with a chair of gold, followed by a damsel
+fairer than the first, bearing a lute, such as would strike the envious
+mute. She sat down on the chair and sang to her instrument these two
+couplets,
+
+"How patient bide, with love in sprite of me, * And tears in
+
+
+     tempest[FN#190] blinding sight of me?
+
+
+By Allah, life has no delight of me! * How gladden heart whose
+
+
+     core is blight of me?"
+
+
+
+No sooner had the youth heard this poetry than he cried out with a loud
+cry and rent his raiment to the skirt: whereupon they let down the
+curtain over him and brought him another suit of clothes. He put it on
+and, sitting up as before, fell again to cheerful talk, till the cup
+came round to him, when he smote once more upon the gong and out came a
+eunuch with a chair, followed by a damsel fairer than she who forewent
+her. So she sat down on the chair, with a lute in her hand, and sang
+thereto these couplets,
+
+"Cease ye this farness; 'bate this pride of you, * To whom my
+
+
+     heart clings, by life-tide of you!
+
+
+Have ruth on hapless, mourning, lover-wretch, * Desire-full,
+
+
+     pining, passion-tried of you:
+
+
+Sickness hath wasted him, whose ecstasy * Prays Heaven it may be
+
+
+     satisfied of you:
+
+
+Oh fullest moons[FN#191] that dwell in deepest heart! * How can I
+
+
+     think of aught by side of you?"
+
+
+
+Now when the young man heard these couplets, he cried out with a great
+cry and rent his raiment, whereupon they let fall the curtain over him
+and brought him other robes. Then he returned to his former case with
+his boon-companions and the bowl went round as before, till the cup
+came to him, when he struck the gong a fourth time and the door
+opening, out came a page-boy bearing a chair followed by a damsel. He
+set the chair for her and she sat down thereon and taking the lute,
+tuned it and sang to it these couplets,
+
+"When shall disunion and estrangement end? * When shall my bygone
+
+
+     joys again be kenned?
+
+
+Yesterday we were joined in same abode; * Conversing heedless of
+
+
+     each envious friend:[FN#192]
+
+
+Trickt us that traitor Time, disjoined our lot * And our waste
+
+
+     home to desert fate condemned:
+
+
+Wouldst have me, Grumbler! from my dearling fly? * I find my
+
+
+     vitals blame will not perpend:
+
+
+Cease thou to censure; leave me to repine; * My mind e'er findeth
+
+
+     thoughts that pleasure lend.
+
+
+O Lords[FN#193] of me who brake our troth and plight, * Deem not
+
+
+     to lose your hold of heart and sprite!"
+
+
+
+When the false Caliph heard the girl's song, he cried out with a loud
+outcry and rent his raiment,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Ninetieth Night,
+
+She said, When the false Caliph heard the girl's song, he cried with a
+loud outcry and rent his raiment and fell to the ground fainting;
+whereupon they would have let down the curtain over him, as of custom;
+but its cords stuck fast and Harun al-Rashid, after considering him
+carefully, saw on his body the marks of beating with palm-rods and said
+to Ja'afar, "By Allah, he is a handsome youth, but a foul thief!"
+"Whence knowest thou that, O Commander of the Faithful?" asked Ja'afar,
+and the Caliph answered, "Sawest thou not the whip-scars on his ribs?"
+Then they let fall the curtain over him and brought him a fresh dress,
+which he put on and sat up as before with his courtiers and cup-
+companions. Presently he saw the Caliph and Ja'afar whispering together
+and said to them, "What is the matter, fair sirs?" Quoth Ja'afar, "O my
+lord, all is well,[FN#194] save that this my comrade, who (as is not
+unknown to thee) is of the merchant company and hath visited all the
+great cities and countries of the world and hath consorted with kings
+and men of highest consideration, saith to me: 'Verily, that which our
+lord the Caliph hath done this night is beyond measure extravagant,
+never saw I any do the like doings in any country; for he hath rent
+such and such dresses, each worth a thousand dinars and this is surely
+excessive unthriftiness.'" Replied the second Caliph, "Ho thou, the
+money is my money and the stuff my stuff, and this is by way of
+largesse to my suite and servants; for each suit that is rent belongeth
+to one of my cup-companions here present, and I assign to them with
+each suit of clothes the sum of five hundred dinars." The Wazir Ja'afar
+replied, "Well is whatso thou doest, O our lord," and recited these two
+couplets,
+
+"Virtue in hand of thee hath built a house, * And to mankind thou
+
+
+     dost thy wealth expose:
+
+
+If an the virtues ever close their doors, * That hand would be a
+
+
+     key the lock to unclose."
+
+
+
+Now when the young man heard these verses recited by the Minister
+Ja'afar, he ordered him to be gifted with a thousand dinars and a dress
+of honour. Then the cup went round among them and the wine was sweet to
+them; but, after a while quoth the Caliph to Ja'afar, "Ask him of the
+marks on his sides, that we may see what he will say by way of reply."
+Answered Ja'afar, "Softly, O my lord, be not hasty and soothe thy mind,
+for patience is more becoming." Rejoined the Caliph, "By the life of my
+head and by the revered tomb of Al Abbas,[FN#195] except thou ask him,
+I will assuredly stop thy breath!" With this the young man turned
+towards the Minister and said to him, "What aileth thee and thy friend
+to be whispering together? Tell me what is the matter with you." "It is
+nothing save good," replied Ja'afar; but the mock Caliph rejoined, "I
+conjure thee, by Allah, tell me what aileth you and hide from me
+nothing of your case." Answered the Wazir "O my lord, verily this one
+here saw on thy sides the marks of beating with whips and palm-fronds
+and marvelled thereat with exceeding marvel, saying, 'How came the
+Caliph to be beaten?'; and he would fain know the cause of this." Now
+when the youth heard this, he smiled and said, "Know ye that my story
+is wondrous and my case marvellous; were it graven with needles on the
+eye corners, it would serve as a warner to whoso would be warned." And
+he sighed and repeated these couplets,
+
+"Strange is my story, passing prodigy; * By Love I swear, my ways
+
+
+     wax strait on me!
+
+
+An ye desire to hear me, listen, and * Let all in this assembly
+
+
+     silent be.
+
+
+Heed ye my words which are of meaning deep, * Nor lies my speech;
+
+
+     'tis truest verity.
+
+
+I'm slain[FN#196] by longing and by ardent love; * My slayer's
+
+
+     the pearl of fair virginity.
+
+
+She hath a jet black eye like Hindi blade, * And bowиd eyebrows
+
+
+     shoot her archery
+
+
+My heart assures me our Imam is here, * This age's Caliph, old
+
+
+     nobility:
+
+
+Your second, Ja'afar highs, is his Wazir; * A Sahib,[FN#197]
+
+
+     Sahib-son of high degree:
+
+
+The third is called Masrur who wields the sword: * Now, if in
+
+
+     words of mine some truth you see
+
+
+I have won every wish by this event * Which fills my heart with
+
+
+     joy and gladdest greet"
+
+
+
+When they heard these words Ja'afar swore to him an ambiguous oath that
+they were not those he named, whereupon he laughed and said: "Know, O
+my lords, that I am not the Commander of the Faithful and that I do but
+style myself thus, to win my will of the sons of the city. My true name
+is Mohammed Ali, son of Ali the Jeweller, and my father was one of the
+notables of Baghdad, who left me great store of gold and silver and
+pearls and coral and rubies and chrysolites and other jewels, besides
+messuages and lands, Hammam-baths and brickeries, orchards and flower-
+gardens. Now as I sat in my shop one day surrounded by my eunuchs and
+dependents, behold, there came up a young lady, mounted on a she-mule
+and attended by three damsels like moons. Riding up to my shop she
+alighted and seated herself by my side and said 'Art thou Mohammed the
+Jeweller?' Replied I, 'Even so! I am he, thy Mameluke, thy chattel.'
+She asked, 'Hast thou a necklace of jewels fit for me?' and I answered,
+'O my lady, I will show thee what I have; and lay all before thee and,
+if any please thee, it will be of thy slave's good luck; if they please
+thee not, of his ill fortune.' Now I had by me an hundred necklaces and
+showed them all to her; but none of them pleased her and she said, 'I
+want a better than those I have seen.' I had a small necklace which my
+father had bought at an hundred thousand dinars and whose like was not
+to be found with any of the great kings; so I said to her, 'O my lady,
+I have yet one necklace of fine stones fit for bezels, the like of
+which none possesseth, great or small. Said she, Show it to me,' so I
+showed it to her, and she said, 'This is what I wanted and what I have
+wished for all my life;' adding, 'What is its price?' Quoth I, 'It cost
+my father an hundred thousand dinars;' and she said, 'I will give thee
+five thousand dinars to thy profit.' I answered, 'O my lady, the
+necklace and its owner are at thy service and I cannot gainsay thee.'
+But she rejoined, 'Needs must thou have the profit, and I am still most
+grateful to thee.' Then she rose without stay or delay; and, mounting
+the mule in haste, said to me, 'O my lord, in Allah's name, favour us
+with thy company to receive the money; for this thy day with us is
+white as milk.'[FN#198] So I shut the shop and accompanied her, in all
+security, till we came to a house, on which were manifest the signs of
+wealth and rank; for its door was wrought with gold and silver and
+ultramarine, and thereon were written these two couplets,
+
+'Hole, thou mansion! woe ne'er enter thee; * Nor be thine owner
+
+
+     e'er misused of Fate
+
+
+Excellent mansion to all guests art thou, * When other mansions
+
+
+     to the guest are strait.'
+
+
+
+The young lady dismounted and entered the house, bidding me sit down on
+the bench at the gate, till the money-changer should arrive. So I sat
+awhile, when behold, a damsel came out to me and said, 'O my lord,
+enter the vestibule; for it is a dishonour that thou shouldst sit at
+the gate.' Thereupon I arose and entered the vestibule and sat down on
+the settle there, and, as I sat, lo! another damsel came out and said
+to me, 'O my lord my mistress biddeth thee enter and sit down at the
+door of the saloon, to receive thy money.' I entered and sat down, nor
+had I sat a moment when behold, a curtain of silk which concealed a
+throne of gold was drawn aside, and I saw seated thereon the lady who
+had made the purchase, and round her neck she wore the necklace which
+looked pale and wan by the side of a face as it were the rounded moon;
+At her sight, my wit was troubled and my mind confounded, by reason of
+her exceeding beauty and loveliness, but when she saw me she rose from
+her throne and coming close up to me, said, 'O light of mine eyes, is
+every handsome one like thee pitiless to his mistress?' I answered, 'O
+my lady, beauty, all of it, is in thee and is but one of thy hidden
+charms.' And she rejoined, 'O Jeweller, know that I love thee and can
+hardly credit that I have brought thee hither.' Then she bent towards
+me and I kissed her and she kissed me and, as she caressed me, drew me
+towards her and to her breast she pressed me."—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Jeweller
+continued: "Then she bent towards me and kissed and caressed me; and,
+as she caressed me, drew me towards her and to her breast she pressed
+me. Now she knew by my condition that I had a mind to enjoy her; so she
+said to me, 'O my lord, wouldst thou foregather with me unlawfully? By
+Allah, may he not live who would do the like of this sin and who takes
+pleasure in talk unclean! I am a maid, a virgin whom no man hath
+approached, nor am I unknown in the city. Knowest thou who I am?' Quoth
+I, 'No, by Allah, O my lady!'; and quoth she, 'I am the Lady Dunyб,
+daughter of Yбhyб bin Khбlid the Barmecide and sister of Ja'afar, Wazir
+to the Caliph.' Now as I heard this, I drew back from her, saying, 'O
+my lady, it is no fault of mine if I have been over- bold with thee; it
+was thou didst encourage me to aspire to thy love, by giving me access
+to thee.' She answered, 'No harm shall befal-thee, and needs must thou
+attain thy desire in the only way pleasing to Allah. I am my own
+mistress and the Kazi shall act as my guardian in consenting to the
+marriage contract; for it is my will that I be to thee wife and thou be
+to me man.' Then she sent for the Kazi and the witnesses and busied
+herself with making ready; and, when they came, she said to them,
+'Mohammed Ali, bin Ali the Jeweller, seeketh me in wedlock and hath
+given me the necklace to my marriage-settlement; and I accept and
+consent.' So they wrote out the contract of marriage between us; and
+ere I went in to her the servants brought the wine-furniture and the
+cups passed round after the fairest fashion and the goodliest ordering;
+and, when the wine mounted to our heads, she ordered a damsel, a
+lute-player,[FN#199] to sing. So she took the lute and sang to a
+pleasing and stirring motive these couplets,
+
+'He comes; and fawn and branch and moon delight these eyne *
+
+
+     Fie[FN#200] on his heart who sleeps o' nights without repine
+
+
+Pair youth, for whom Heaven willed to quench in cheek one light,
+
+
+     * And left another light on other cheek bright li'en:
+
+
+I fain finesse my chiders when they mention him, * As though the
+
+
+     hearing of his name I would decline;
+
+
+And willing ear I lend when they of other speak; * Yet would my
+
+
+     soul within outflow in foods of brine:
+
+
+Beauty's own prophet, he is all a miracle * Of heavenly grace,
+
+
+     and greatest shows his face for sign.[FN#201]
+
+
+To prayer Bilбl-like cries that Mole upon his cheek * To ward
+
+
+     from pearly brow all eyes of ill design:[FN#202]
+
+
+The censors of their ignorance would my love dispel * But after
+
+
+     Faith I can't at once turn Infidel.'
+
+
+
+We were ravished by the sweet music she made striking the strings, and
+the beauty of the verses she sang; and the other damsels went on to
+sing and to recite one after another, till ten had so done; when the
+Lady Dunya took the lute and playing a lively measure, chanted these
+couplets,
+
+'I swear by swayings of that form so fair, * Aye from thy parting
+
+
+     fiery
+
+
+Pity a heart which burneth in thy love, * O bright as fullest
+
+
+     moon in blackest air!
+
+
+Vouchsafe thy boons to him who ne'er will cease * In light of
+
+
+     wine-cup all thy charms declare,
+
+
+Amid the roses which with varied hues * Are to the myrtle-
+
+
+    bush[FN#203] a mere despair.'
+
+
+
+When she had finished her verse I took the lute from her hands and,
+playing a quaint and not vulgar prelude sang the following verses,
+
+'Laud to my Lord who gave thee all of loveliness; * Myself amid
+
+
+     thy thralls I willingly confess:
+
+
+O thou, whose eyes and glances captivate mankind, * Pray that I
+
+
+     'scape those arrows shot with all thy stress!
+
+
+Two hostile rivals water and enflaming fire * Thy cheek hath
+
+
+     married, which for marvel I profess:
+
+
+Thou art Sa'нr in heart of me and eke Na'нm;[FN#204] * Thou agro-
+
+
+    dolce, eke heart's sweetest bitterness.'
+
+
+
+When she heard this my song she rejoiced with exceeding joy; then,
+dismissing her slave women, she brought me to a most goodly place,
+where they had spread us a bed of various colours. She did off her
+clothes and I had a lover's privacy of her and found her a pearl
+unpierced and a filly unridden. So I rejoiced in her and never in my
+born days spent I a more delicious night."—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Mohammed bin Ali
+the Jeweller continued: "So I went in unto the Lady Dunya, daughter of
+Yahya bin Khбlid the Barmecide, and I found her a pearl unthridden and
+a filly unridden. So I rejoiced in her and repeated these couplets,
+
+'O Night here stay! I want no morning light; * My lover's face to
+
+
+     me is lamp and light:[FN#205]
+
+
+As ring of ring-dove round his necks my arm; * And made my palm
+
+
+     his mouth-veil, and, twas right.
+
+
+This be the crown of bliss, and ne'er we'll cease * To clip, nor
+
+
+     care to be in other plight.'
+
+
+
+And I abode with her a whole month, forsaking shop and family and home,
+till one day she said to me, 'O light of my eyes, O my lord Mohammed, I
+have determined to go to the Hammam to day; so sit thou on this couch
+and rise not from thy place, till I return to thee.' 'I hear and I
+obey,' answered I, and she made me swear to this; after which she took
+her women and went off to the bath. But by Allah, O my brothers, she
+had not reached the head of the street ere the door opened and in came
+an old woman, who said to me, 'O my lord Mohammed, the Lady Zubaydah
+biddeth thee to her, for she hath heard of thy fine manners and
+accomplishments and skill in singing.' I answered, 'By Allah, I will
+not rise from my place till the Lady Dunya come back.' Rejoined the old
+woman, 'O my lord, do not anger the Lady Zubaydah with thee and vex her
+so as to make her thy foe: nay, rise up and speak with her and return
+to thy place.' So I rose at once and followed her into the presence of
+the Lady Zubaydah and, when I entered her presence she said to me, 'O
+light of the eye, art thou the Lady Dunya's beloved?' 'I am thy
+Mameluke, thy chattel,' replied I. Quoth she, 'Sooth spake he who
+reported thee possessed of beauty and grace and good breeding and every
+fine quality; indeed, thou surpassest all praise and all report. But
+now sing to me, that I may hear thee.' Quoth I, 'Hearkening and
+obedience;' so she brought me a lute, and I sang to it these couplets,
+
+'The hapless lover's heart is of his wooing weary grown, * And
+
+
+     hand of sickness wasted him till naught but skin and bone
+
+
+Who should be amid the riders which the haltered camels urge, *
+
+
+     But that same lover whose beloved cloth in the litters wone:
+
+
+To Allah's charge I leave that moon-like Beauty in your tents *
+
+
+     Whom my heart loves, albe my glance on her may ne'er be
+
+
+     thrown.
+
+
+Now she is fain; then she is fierce: how sweet her coyness shows;
+
+
+     * Yea sweet whatever cloth or saith to lover loved one!'
+
+
+
+When I had finished my song she said to me, 'Allah assain thy body and
+thy voice! Verily, thou art perfect in beauty and good breeding and
+singing. But now rise and return to thy place, ere the Lady Dunya come
+back, lest she find thee not and be wroth with thee.' Then I kissed the
+ground before her and the old woman forewent me till I reached the door
+whence I came. So I entered and, going up to the couch, found that my
+wife had come back from the bath and was lying asleep there. Seeing
+this I sat down at her feet and rubbed them; whereupon she opened her
+eyes and seeing me, drew up both her feet and gave me a kick that threw
+me off the couch,[FN#206] saying, 'O traitor, thou hast been false to
+thine oath and hast perjured thyself. Thou swarest to me that thou
+wouldst not rise from thy place; yet didst thou break thy promise and
+go to the Lady Zubaydah. By Allah, but that I fear public scandal, I
+would pull down her palace over her head!' Then said she to her black
+slave, 'O Sawбb, arise and strike off this lying traitor's head, for we
+have no further need of him.' So the slave came up to me and, tearing a
+strip from his skirt, bandaged with it my eyes[FN#207] and would have
+struck off my head;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Mohammed the
+Jeweller continued: "So the slave came up to me and, tearing a strip
+from his skirt, bandaged with it my eyes and would have struck off my
+head, but all her women, great and small, rose and came up to her and
+said to her, 'O our lady, this is not the first who hath erred: indeed,
+he knew not thy humour and hath done thee no offence deserving death.'
+Replied she, 'By Allah, I must needs set my mark on him.' And she bade
+them bash me; so they beat me on my ribs and the marks ye saw are the
+scars of that fustigation. Then she ordered them to cast me out, and
+they carried me to a distance from the house and threw me down like a
+log. After a time I rose and dragged myself little by little to my own
+place, where I sent for a surgeon and showed him my hurts; and he
+comforted me and did his best to cure me. As soon as I was recovered I
+went to the Hammam and, as my pains and sickness had left me, I
+repaired to my shop and took and sold all that was therein. With the
+proceeds, I bought me four hundred white slaves, such as no King ever
+got together, and caused two hundred of them to ride out with me every
+day. Then I made me yonder barge whereon I spent five thousand gold
+pieces; and styled myself Caliph and appointed each of my servants to
+the charge of some one of the Caliph's officers and clad him in
+official habit. Moreover, I made proclamation, 'Whoso goeth
+a-pleasuring on the Tigris by night, I will strike off his head,
+without ruth or delay;' and on such wise have I done this whole year
+past, during which time I have heard no news of the lady neither
+happened upon any trace of her." Then wept he copiously and repeated
+these couplets,
+
+"By Allah! while the days endure ne'er shall forget her I, * Nor
+
+
+     draw to any nigh save those who draw her to me nigh
+
+
+Like to the fullest moon her form and favour show to me, * Laud
+
+
+     to her All-creating Lord, laud to the Lord on high,
+
+
+She left me full of mourning, sleepless, sick with pine and pain
+
+
+     * And ceaseth not my heart to yearn her mystery[FN#208] to
+
+
+     espy."
+
+
+
+Now when Harun al-Rashid heard the young man's story and knew the
+passion and transport and love lowe that afflicted him, he was moved to
+compassion and wonder and said, "Glory be to Allah, who hath appointed
+to every effect a cause!" Then they craved the young man's permission
+to depart; which being granted, they took leave of him, the Caliph
+purposing to do him justice meet, and him with the utmost munificence
+entreat; and they returned to the palace of the Caliphate, where they
+changed clothes for others befitting their state and sat down, whilst
+Masrur the Sworder of High Justice stood before them. After awhile,
+quoth the Caliph to Ja'afar, "O Wazir, bring me the young man'—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Two hundred and Ninety-fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the Caliph
+to his Minister, "Bring me the young man with whom we were last night."
+"I hear and obey," answered Ja'afar and, going to the youth, saluted
+him, saying, "Obey the summons of the Commander of the Faithful, the
+Caliph Harun al-Rashid." So he returned with him to the palace, in
+great anxiety by reason of the summons; and, going in to the King,
+kissed ground before him; and offered up a prayer for the endurance of
+his glory and prosperity, for the accomplishment of his desires, for
+the continuance of his beneficence and for the cessation of evil and
+punishment; ordering his speech as best he might and ending by saying,
+"Peace be on thee, O Prince of True Believers and Protector of the folk
+of the Faith!" Then he repeated these two couplets,
+
+"Kiss thou his fingers which no fingers are; * Keys of our daily
+
+
+     bread those fingers ken:
+
+
+And praise his actions which no actions are, * But precious
+
+
+     necklaces round necks of men."
+
+
+
+So the Caliph smiled in his face and returned his salute, looking on
+him with the eye of favour; then he bade him draw near and sit down
+before him and said to him, "O Mohammed Ali, I wish thee to tell me
+what befel thee last night, for it was strange and passing strange."
+Quoth the youth, "Pardon, O Commander of the Faithful, give me the
+kerchief of immunity, that my dread may be appeased and my heart
+eased." Replied the Caliph, "I promise thee safety from fear and woes."
+So the young man told him his story from first to last, whereby the
+Caliph knew him to be a lover and severed from his beloved and said to
+him, "Desirest thou that I restore her to thee?" "This were of the
+bounty of the Commander of the Faithful," answered the youth and
+repeated these two couplets.
+
+"Ne'er cease thy gate be Ka'abah to mankind; * Long may its
+
+
+     threshold dust man's brow beseem!
+
+
+That o'er all countries it may be proclaimed, * This is the Place
+
+
+     and thou art Ibrahim."[FN#209]
+
+
+
+Thereupon the Caliph turned to his Minister and said to him, "O
+Ja'afar, bring me thy sister, the Lady Dunya, daughter of the Wazir
+Yahya bin Khбlid!" "I hear and I obey," answered he and fetched her
+without let or delay. Now when she stood before the Caliph he said to
+her, "Doss thou know who this is?"; and she replied, "O Commander of
+the Faithful, how should women have knowledge of men?"[FN#210] So the
+Caliph smiled and said, "O Dunya this is thy beloved, Mohammed bin Ali
+the Jeweller. We are acquainted with his case, for we have heard the
+whole story from beginning to end, and have apprehended its inward and
+its outward; and it is no more hidden from me, for all it was kept in
+secrecy." Replied she, "O Commander of the Faithful, this was written
+in the Book of Destiny; I crave the forgiveness of Almighty Allah for
+the wrong I have wrought, and pray thee to pardon me of thy favour." At
+this the Caliph laughed and, summoning the Kazi and witnesses, renewed
+the marriage-contract between the Lady Dunya and her husband, Mohammed
+Ali son of the Jeweller, whereby there betided them, both her and him
+the utmost felicity, and to their enviers mortification and misery.
+Moreover, he made Mohammed Ali one of his boon-companions, and they
+abode in joy and cheer and gladness, till there came to them the
+Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of societies. And men also
+relate the pleasant tale of
+
+
+
+ALI THE PERSIAN.
+
+It is said that the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, being restless one night,
+sent for his Wazir and said to him, "O Ja'afar, I am sore wakeful and
+heavy-hearted this night, and I desire of thee what may solace my
+spirit and cause my breast to broaden with amuse meet." Quoth Ja'afar,
+"O Commander of the Faithful, I have a friend, by name Ali the Persian,
+who hath store of tales and plea sent stories, such as lighten the
+heart and make care depart." Quoth the Caliph, "Fetch him to me," and
+quoth Ja'afar, "Hearkening and obedience;" and, going out from before
+him, sent to seek Ali the Persian and when he came said to him, "Answer
+the summons of the Commander of the Faithful." "To hear is to obey,"
+answered Ali;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian
+replied, "To hear is to obey;" and at once followed the Wazir into the
+presence of the Caliph who bade him be seated and said to him, "O Ali,
+my heart is heavy within me this night and it hath come to my ear that
+thou hast great store of tales and anecdotes; so I desire of thee that
+thou let me hear what will relieve my despondency and brighten my
+melancholy." Said he, "O Commander of the Faithful, shall I tell thee
+what I have seen with my eyes or what I have heard with my ears?" He
+replied, "An thou have seen aught worth the telling, let me hear that."
+Replied Ali: "Hearkening and obedience. Know thou, O Commander of the
+Faithful, that some years ago I left this my native city of Baghdad on
+a journey, having with me a lad who carried a light leathern bag.
+Presently we came to a certain city, where, as I was buying and
+selling, behold, a rascally Kurd fell on me and seized my wallet
+perforce, saying, 'This is my bag, and all which is in it is my
+property.' Thereupon, I cried aloud 'Ho Moslems,[FN#211] one and all,
+deliver me from the hand of the vilest of oppressors!' But the folk
+said, 'Come, both of you, to the Kazi and abide ye by his judgment with
+joint consent.' So I agreed to submit myself to such decision and we
+both presented ourselves before the Kazi, who said, 'What bringeth you
+hither and what is your case and your quarrel?' Quoth I, 'We are men at
+difference, who appeal to thee and make complaint and submit ourselves
+to thy judgment.' Asked the Kazi, 'Which of you is the complainant?';
+so the Kurd came forward[FN#212] and said, 'Allah preserve our lord the
+Kazi! Verily, this bag is my bag and all that is in it is my swag. It
+was lost from me and I found it with this man mine enemy.' The Kazi
+asked, 'When didst thou lose it?'; and the Kurd answered, 'But
+yesterday, and I passed a sleepless night by reason of its loss.' 'An
+it be thy bag,' quoth the Kazi, 'tell me what is in it.' Quoth the
+Kurd, 'There were in my bag two silver styles for eye-powder and
+antimony for the eyes and a kerchief for the hands, wherein I had laid
+two gilt cups and two candlesticks. Moreover it contained two tents and
+two platters and two spoons and a cushion and two leather rugs and two
+ewers and a brass tray and two basins and a cooking-pot and two water-
+jars and a ladle and a sacking-needle and a she-cat and two bitches and
+a wooden trencher and two sacks and two saddles and a gown and two fur
+pelisses and a cow and two calves and a she-goat and two sheep and an
+ewe and two lambs and two green pavilions and a camel and two
+she-camels and a lioness and two lions and a she-bear and two jackals
+and a mattress and two sofas and an upper chamber and two saloons and a
+portico and two sitting-rooms and a kitchen with two doors and a
+company of Kurds who will bear witness that the bag is my bag.' Then
+said the Kazi to me, 'And thou, sirrah, what sayest thou?' So I came
+forward, O Commander of the Faithful (and indeed the Kurd's speech had
+bewildered me) and said, 'Allah advance our lord the Kazi! Verily,
+there was naught in this my wallet, save a little ruined tenement and
+another without a door and a dog house and a boys' school and youths
+playing dice and tents and tent-ropes and the cities of Bassorah and
+Baghdad and the palace of Shaddad bin Ad and an ironsmith's forge and a
+fishing-net and cudgels and pickets and girls and boys and a thousand
+pimps who will testify that the bag is my bag.' Now when the Kurd heard
+my words, he wept and wailed and said, 'O my lord the Kazi, this my bag
+is known and what is in it is a matter of renown; for in this bag there
+be castles and citadels and cranes and beasts of prey and men playing
+chess and draughts. Furthermore, in this my bag is a brood-mare and two
+colts and a stallion and two blood-steeds and two long lances; and it
+containeth eke a lion and two hares and a city and two villages and a
+whore and two sharking panders and an hermaphrodite and two gallows
+birds and a blind man and two wights with good sight and a limping
+cripple and two lameters and a Christian ecclesiastic and two deacons
+and a patriarch and two monks and a Kazi and two assessors, who will be
+evidence that the bag is my bag.' Quoth the Kazi to me, 'And what sayst
+thou, O Ali?' So, O Commander of the Faithful, being filled with rage,
+I came forward and said, 'Allah keep our lord the Kazi!'"—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian
+continued: "So being filled with rage, O Commander of the Faithful, I
+came forward and said, 'Allah keep our lord the Kazi I had in this my
+wallet a coat of mail and a broadsword and armouries and a thousand
+fighting rams and a sheep-fold with its pasturage and a thousand
+barking dogs and gardens and vines and flowers and sweet smelling herbs
+and figs and apples and statues and pictures and flagons and goblets
+and fair-faced slave-girls and singing-women and marriage-feasts and
+tumult and clamour and great tracts of land and brothers of success,
+which were robbers, and a company of daybreak-raiders with swords and
+spears and bows and arrows and true friends and dear ones and Intimates
+and comrades and men imprisoned for punishment and cup-companions and a
+drum and flutes and flags and banners and boys and girls and brides (in
+all their wedding bravery), and singing-girls and five Abyssinian women
+and three Hindi maidens and four damsels of Al-Medinah and a score of
+Greek girls and eighty Kurdish dames and seventy Georgian ladies and
+Tigris and Euphrates and a fowling net and a flint and steel and
+Many-columned Iram and a thousand rogues and pimps and horse-courses
+and stables and mosques and baths and a builder and a carpenter and a
+plank and a nail and a black slave with his flageolet and a captain and
+a caravan leader and towns and cities and an hundred thousand dinars
+and Cufa and Anbбr[FN#213] and twenty chests full of stuffs and twenty
+storehouses for victuals and Gaza and Askalon and from Damietta to
+Al-Sawбn[FN#214]; and the palace of Kisra Anushirwan and the kingdom of
+Solomon and from Wadi Nu'umбn to the land of Khorasбn and Balkh and
+Ispahбn and from India to the Sudбn. Therein also (may Allah prolong
+the life of our lord the Kazi!) are doublets and cloths and a thousand
+sharp razors to shave off the Kazi's beard, except he fear my
+resentment and adjudge the bag to be my bag.' Now when the Kazi heard
+what I and the Kurd avouched, he was confounded and said, 'I see ye
+twain be none other than two pestilent fellows, atheistical-villains
+who make sport of Kazis and magistrates and stand not in fear of
+reproach. Never did tongue tell nor ear hear aught more extraordinary
+than that which ye pretend. By Allah, from China to Shajarat Umm
+Ghaylбn, nor from Fars to Sudan nor from Wadi Nu'uman to Khorasan, was
+ever heard the like of what ye avouch or credited the like of what ye
+affirm. Say, fellows, be this bag a bottomless sea or the Day of
+Resurrection that shall gather together the just and unjust?' Then the
+Kazi bade them open the bag; so I opened it and behold, there was in it
+bread and a lemon and cheese and olives. So I threw the bag down before
+the Kurd and ganged my gait." Now when the Caliph heard this tale from
+Ali the Persian, he laughed till he fell on his back and made him a
+handsome present.[FN#215] And men also relate a
+
+
+
+TALE OF HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE SLAVE-GIRL AND THE IMAM ABU YUSUF.
+
+It is said that Ja'afar the Barmecide was one night carousing with Al
+Rashid, who said, "O Ja'afar, it hath reached me that thou hast bought
+such and such a slave-girl. Now I have long sought her for she is
+passing fair; and my heart is taken up with love of her, so do thou
+sell her to me." He replied, "I will not sell her, O Commander of the
+Faithful." Quoth he, "Then give her to me." Quoth the other, "Nor will
+I give her." Then Al-Rashid exclaimed, "Be Zubaydah triply divorced an
+thou shall not either sell or give her to me!" Then Ja'afar exclaimed,
+"Be my wife triply divorced an I either sell or give her to thee!"
+After awhile they recovered from their tipsiness and were aware of
+having fallen into a grave dilemma, but knew not by what device to
+extricate themselves. Then said Al-Rashid, "None can help us in this
+strait but Abъ Yъsuf."[FN#216] So they sent for him, and this was in
+the middle of the night; and when the messenger reached him, he arose
+in alarm, saying to himself, "I should not be sent for at this tide and
+time, save by reason of some question of moment to Al-Islam." So he
+went out in haste and mounted his she-mule, saying to his servant,
+"Take the mule's nose-bag with thee; it may be she hath not finished
+her feed; and when we come to the Caliph's palace, put the bag on her,
+that she may eat what is left of her fodder, during the last of the
+night." And the man replied, "I hear and obey." Now when the Imam was
+admitted to the presence, Al-Rashid rose to receive him and seated him
+on the couch beside himself (where he was wont to seat none save the
+Kazi), and said to him, "We have not sent for thee at this untimely
+time and tide save to advise us upon a grave matter, which is such and
+such and wherewith we know not how to deal." And he expounded to him
+the case. Abu Yusuf answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, this is the
+easiest of things." Then he turned to Ja'afar and said, "O Ja'afar,
+sell half of her to the Commander of the Faithful and give him the
+other half; so shall ye both be quit of your oaths." The Caliph was
+delighted with this and both did as he prescribed. Then said Al-Rashid,
+"Bring me the girl at once,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph Harun
+al-Rashid commanded, "Bring me the girl at once, for I long for her
+exceedingly." So they brought her and the Caliph said to Abu Yusuf, I
+have a mind to have her forthright, for I cannot bear to abstain from
+her during the prescribed period of purification; now how is this to be
+done?" Abu Yusuf replied, "Bring me one of thine own male slaves who
+hath never been manumitted." So they brought one and Abu Yusuf said,
+"Give me leave to marry her to him; then let him divorce her before
+consummation; and thus shall it be lawful for thee to lie with her
+before purification." This second expedient pleased the Caliph yet more
+than the first; he sent for the Mameluke and, whenas he came, said to
+the Kazi "I authorise thee to marry her to him." So the Imam proposed
+the marriage to the slave, who accepted it, and performed the ceremony;
+after which he said to the slave, "Divorce her, and thou shalt have an
+hundred dinars." But he replied, "I won't do this;" and the Imam went
+on to increase his offer, and the slave to refuse till he bid him a
+thousand dinars. Then the man asked him, "Doth it rest with me to
+divorce her, or with thee or with the Commander of the Faithful?" He
+answered, "It is in thy hand." "Then by Allah," quoth the slave, "I
+will never do it; no, never!" Hearing these words the Caliph was
+exceeding wroth and said to the Imam, "What is to be done, O Abu
+Yusuf?" Replied he, "Be not concerned, O Commander of the Faithful; the
+thing is easy. Make this slave the damsel's chattel." Quoth Al-Rashid,
+"I give him to her;" and the Imam said to the girl, "Say: I accept." So
+she said, I accept;" whereon quoth Abu Yusuf, "I pronounce separation
+from bed and board and divorce between them, for that he hath become
+her property, and so the marriage is annulled." With this, Al-Rashid
+rose to his feet and exclaimed, "It is the like of thee that shall be
+Kazi in my time." Then he called for sundry trays of gold and emptied
+them before Abu Yusuf, to whom he said, "Hast thou wherein to put
+this?" The Imam bethought him of the mule's nose-bag; so he sent for it
+and, filling it with gold, took it and went home. And on the morrow, he
+said to his friends, "There is no easier nor shorter road to the goods
+of this world and the next, than that of religious learning; for, see,
+I have gotten all this money by answering two or three questions." So
+consider thou, O polite reader,[FN#217] the pleasantness of this
+anecdote, for it compriseth divers goodly features, amongst which are
+the complaisance of Ja'afar to Al Rashid, and the wisdom of the Caliph
+who chose such a Kazi and the excellent learning of Abu Yusuf, may
+Almighty Allah have mercy on their souls one and all! And they also
+tell the
+
+
+
+TALE OF THE LOVER WHO FEIGNED HIMSELF A THIEF.
+
+When Khбlid bin Abdallah al-Kasri[FN#218] was Emir of Bassorah, there
+came to him one day a company of men dragging a youth of exceeding
+beauty and lofty bearing and perfumed attire; whose aspect expressed
+good breeding, abundant wit and dignity of the gravest. They brought
+him before the Governor, who asked what it was and they replied, "This
+fellow is a thief, whom we caught last night in our dwelling-house."
+Whereupon Khбlid looked at him and was pleased with his
+well-favouredness and elegant aspect; so he said to the others, "Loose
+him," and going up to the young man, asked what he had to say for
+himself. He replied, "Verily the folk have spoken truly and the case is
+as they have said." Quoth Khбlid, "And what moved thee to this and thou
+so noble of port and comely of mien?" Quoth the other "The lust after
+worldly goods, and the ordinance of Allah (extolled exalted be He!)."
+Rejoined Khбlid, "Be thy mother bereaved of thee![FN#219] Hadst thou
+not, in thy fair face and sound sense and good breeding, what should
+restrain thee from thieving?" Answered the young man, "O Emir, leave
+this talk and proceed to what Almighty Allah hath ordained; this is
+what my hands have earned, and, 'God is not unjust towards
+mankind.'"[FN#220] So Khбlid was silent awhile considering the matter
+then he bade the young man draw near him and said, "Verily, thy
+confession before witnesses perplexeth me, for I cannot believe thee to
+be a thief: haply thou hast some story that is other than one of theft;
+and if so tell it me." Replied the youth "O Emir, imagine naught other
+than what I have confessed to in thy presence; for I have no tale to
+tell save that verily I entered these folks' house and stole what I
+could lay hands on and they caught me and took the stuff from me and
+carried me before thee." Then Khalid bade clap him in gaol and
+commended a crier to cry throughout Bassorah, "O yes! O yes! Whoso be
+minded to look upon the punishment of such an one, the thief, and the
+cutting-off of his hand, let him be present to- morrow morning at such
+a place!" Now when the young man found himself in prison, with irons on
+his feet, he sighed heavily and with tears streaming from his eyes
+extemporized these couplets,
+
+"When Khбlid menaced off to strike my hand * If I refuse to tell
+
+
+     him of her case;
+
+
+Quoth I, 'Far, far fro' me that I should tell * A love, which
+
+
+     ever shall my heart engrace;
+
+
+Loss of my hand for sin I have confessed * To me were easier than
+
+
+     to shame her face.'"
+
+
+
+The warders heard him and went and told Khбlid who, when it was dark
+night, sent for the youth and conversed with him. He found him clever
+and well-bred, intelligent, lively and a pleasant companion; so he
+ordered him food and he ate. Then after an hour's talk said Khбlid, "I
+know indeed thou hast a story to tell that is no thief's; so when the
+Kazi shall come to-morrow morning and shall question thee about this
+robbery, do thou deny the charge of theft and avouch what may avert the
+pain and penalty of cutting off thy hand; for the Apostle (whom Allah
+bless and keep!) saith, 'In cases of doubt, eschew punishment.'" Then
+he sent him back to prison,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khбlid, after
+conversing with the youth, sent him back to prison, where he passed the
+night. And when morning dawned the folk assembled to see his hand cut
+off, nor was there a soul in Bassorah, man or woman, but was present to
+look upon the punishment of that handsome youth. Then Khбlid mounted in
+company of the notables of the city and others; and, summoning all four
+Kazis, sent for the young man, who came hobbling and stumbling in his
+fetters. There was none saw him but wept over him and the women all
+lifted up their voices in lamentation as for the dead. Then the Kazi
+bade silence the women and said to the prisoner, "These folk avouch
+that thou didst enter their dwelling-house and steal their goods:
+belike thou stolest less than a quarter dinar[FN#221]?" Replied he,
+"Nay, I stole that and more." "Peradventure," rejoined the Kazi "thou
+art partner with the folk in some of the goods?" Quoth the young man;
+"Not so: it was all theirs, and I had no right in it." At this the
+Khбlid was wroth and rose and smote him on the face with his whip,
+applying to his own case this couplet,
+
+"Man wills his wish to him accorded be; * But Allah naught accords save
+what He wills."
+
+Then he called for the butcher to do the work, who came and drew forth
+his knife and taking the prisoner's hand set the blade to it, when,
+behold, a damsel pressed through the crowd of women, clad in tattered
+clothes,[FN#222] and cried out and threw herself on the young man. Then
+she unveiled and showed a face like the moon whereupon the people
+raised a mighty clamour and there was like to have been a riot amongst
+them and a violent scene. But she cried out her loudest, saying, "I
+conjure thee, by Allah, O Emir, hasten not to cut off this man's hand,
+till thou have read what is in this scroll!" So saying, she gave him a
+scroll, and Khбlid took it and opened it and read therein these
+couplets,
+
+"Ah Khбlid! this one is a slave of love distraught, * And these
+
+
+     bowed eye-lashes sent shaft that caused his grief:
+
+
+Shot him an arrow sped by eyes of mine, for he, * Wedded to
+
+
+     burning love of ills hath no relief:
+
+
+He hath avowed a deed he never did, the while * Deeming this
+
+
+     better than disgrace of lover fief:
+
+
+Bear then, I pray, with this distracted lover mine * Whose noble
+
+
+     nature falsely calls himself a thief!"
+
+
+
+When Khбlid had read these lines he withdrew himself from the people
+and summoned the girl and questioned her; and she told him that the
+young man was her lover and she his mistress; and that thinking to
+visit her he came to the dwelling of her people and threw a stone into
+the house, to warn her of his coming. Her father and brothers heard the
+noise of the stone and sallied out on him; but he, hearing them coming,
+caught up all the household stuff and made himself appear a robber to
+cover his mistress's honour. "Now when they saw him they seized him
+(continued she), crying:—A thief! and brought him before thee,
+whereupon he confessed to the robbery and persisted in his confession,
+that he might spare me disgrace; and this he did, making himself a
+thief, of the exceeding nobility and generosity of his nature." Khбlid
+answered, "He is indeed worthy to have his desire;" and, calling the
+young man to him, kissed him between the eyes. Then he sent for the
+girl's father and bespoke him, saying, "O Shaykh, we thought to carry
+out the law of mutilation in the case of this young man; but Allah (to
+whom be Honour and Glory!) hath preserved us from this, and I now
+adjudge him the sum of ten thousand dirhams, for that he would have
+given his hand for the preservation of thine honour and that of thy
+daughter and for the sparing of shame to you both. Moreover, I adjudge
+other ten thousand dirhams to thy daughter, for that she made known to
+me the truth of the case; and I ask thy leave to marry her to him."
+Rejoined the old man, "O Emir, thou hast my consent." So Khбlid praised
+Allah and thanked Him and improved the occasion by preaching a goodly
+sermon and a prayerful;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khбlid praised
+Allah and thanked Him and improved the occasion by preaching a goodly
+sermon and a prayerful; after which he said to the young man, "I give
+thee to wife the damsel, such an one here present, with her own
+permission and her father's consent; and her wedding settlement shall
+be this money, to wit, ten thousand dirhams." "I accept this marriage
+at thy hands," replied the youth; and Khбlid bade them carry the money
+on brass trays in procession to the young man's house, whilst the
+people dispersed, fully satisfied. "And surely (quoth he who tells the
+tale[FN#223]) never saw I a rarer day than this, for that it began with
+tears and annoy; and it ended with smiles and joy." And in contrast of
+this story is this piteous tale of
+
+
+
+JA'AFAR THE BARMECIDE AND THE BEAN SELLER.
+
+When Harun al-Rashid crucified Ja'afar the Barmecide[FN#224] he
+commended that all who wept or made moan for him should also be
+crucified; so the folk abstained from that. Now it chanced that a wild
+Arab, who dwelt in a distant word, used every year to bring to the
+aforesaid Ja'afar an ode[FN#225] in his honour, for which he rewarded
+him with a thousand dinars; and the Badawi took them and, returning to
+his own country, lived upon them, he and his family, for the rest of
+the year. Accordingly, he came with his ode at the wonted time and,
+finding that Ja'afar had been crucified, betook himself to the place
+where his body was hanging, and there made his camel kneel down and
+wept with sore weeping and mourned with grievous mourning; and he
+recited his ode and fell asleep. Presently Ja'afar the Barmecide
+appeared to him in a vision and said, "Verily thou hast wearied thyself
+to come to us and findest us as thou seest; but go to Bassorah and ask
+for a man there whose name is such and such, one of the merchants of
+the town, and say to him, 'Ja'afar, the Barmecide, saluteth thee and
+biddeth thee give me a thousand dinars, by the token of the bean.'" Now
+when the wild Arab awoke, he repaired to Bassorah, where he sought out
+the merchant and found him and repeated to him what Ja'afar had said in
+the dream; whereupon he wept with weeping so sore that he was like to
+depart the world. Then he welcomed the Badawi and seated him by his
+side and made his stay pleasant and entertained him three days as an
+honoured guest; and when he was minded to depart he gave him a thousand
+and five hundred dinars, saying, "The thousand are what is commanded to
+thee, and the five hundred are a gift from me to thee; and every year
+thou shalt have of me a thousand gold pieces." Now when the Arab was
+about to take leave, he said to the merchant, "Allah upon thee, tell me
+the story of the bean, that I may know the origin of all this." He
+answered: "In the early part of my life I was poor and hawked hot
+beans[FN#226] about the streets of Baghdad to keep me alive. So I went
+out one raw and rainy day, without clothes enough on my body to protect
+me from the weather; now shivering for excess of cold and now stumbling
+into the pools of rain-water, and altogether in so piteous a plight as
+would make one shudder with goose-skin to look upon. But it chanced
+that Ja'afar that day was seated with his officers and his concubines,
+in an upper chamber overlooking the street when his eyes fell on me; so
+he took pity on my case and, sending one of his dependents to fetch me
+to him, said as soon as he saw me, 'Sell thy beans to my people.' So I
+began to mete out the beans with a measure I had by me; and each who
+took a measure of beans filled the measure with gold pieces till all my
+store was gone and my basket was clean empty. Then I gathered together
+the gold I had gotten, and Ja'afar said to me, 'Hast thou any beans
+left?' 'I know not,' answered I, and then sought in the basket, but
+found only one bean. So Ja'afar took from me the single bean and,
+splitting it in twain, kept one half himself and gave the other to one
+of his concubines, saying, 'For how much wilt thou buy this half bean?'
+She replied, 'For the tale of all this gold twice-told;' whereat I was
+confounded and said to myself, 'This is impossible.' But, as I stood
+wondering, behold, she gave an order to one of her hand-maids and the
+girl brought me the sum of the collected monies twice-told. Then said
+Ja'afar, 'And I will buy the half I have by me for double the sum of
+the whole,' presently adding, 'Now take the price of thy bean.' And he
+gave an order to one of his servants, who gathered together the whole
+of the money and laid it in my basket; and I took it and went my ways.
+Then I betook myself to Bassorah, where I traded with the monies and
+Allah prospered me amply, to Him be the praise and the thanks! So, if I
+give thee every year a thousand dinars of the bounty of Ja'afar, it
+will in no wise injure me. Consider then the munificence of Ja'afar's
+nature and how he was praised both alive and dead, the mercy of Allah
+Almighty be upon him! And men also recount the tale of
+
+
+
+ABU MOHAMMED HIGHT LAZYBONES.
+
+It is told that Harun al-Rashid was sitting one day on the throne of
+the Caliphate, when there came in to him a youth of his eunuchry,
+bearing a crown of red gold, set with pearls and rubies and all manner
+of other gems and jewels, such as money might not buy; and, bussing the
+ground between his hands, said, "O Commander of the Faithful, the Lady
+Zubaydah kisseth the earth before thee"—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. Whereupon quoth her
+sister Dunyazad, "How pleasant is thy tale and profitable; and how
+sweet is thy speech and how delectable!" "And where is this," replied
+Shahrazad, "compared with what I shall tell you next night an I live
+and the King grant me leave!" Thereupon quoth the King to himself, "By
+Allah, I will not slay her until I hear the end of her tale."
+
+When it was the Three Hundredth Night,
+
+Quoth Dunyazad, "favour us, O my sister, with thy tale," and she
+replied, 'With joy and good will, if the King accord me leave;"
+whereupon the King said, "Tell thy tale, O Shahrazad." So she pursued:
+It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth said to the
+Caliph, "The Lady Zubaydah kisseth the earth before thee and saith to
+thee, Thou knowest she hath bidden make this crown, which lacketh a
+great jewel for its dome-top; and she hath made search among her
+treasures, but cannot find a jewel of size to suit her mind." Quoth the
+Caliph to his Chamberlains and Viceregents, Make search for a great
+jewel, such as Zubaydah desireth." So they sought, but found nothing
+befitting her and told the Caliph who, vexed and annoyed thereat,
+exclaimed, "How am I Caliph and King of the Kings of the earth and
+cannot find so small a matter as a jewel? Woe to you! Ask of the
+merchants." So they enquired of the traders, who replied, "Our lord the
+Caliph will not find a jewel such as he requireth save with a man of
+Bassorah, by name Abъ Mohammed highs Lazybones." Thereupon they
+acquainted the Caliph with this and he bade his Wazir Ja'afar send a
+note to the Emir Mohammed al-Zubaydн, Governor of Bassorah, commanding
+him to equip Abu Mohammed Lazybones and bring him into the presence of
+the Commander of the Faithful. The Minister accordingly wrote a note to
+that effect and despatched it by Masrur, who set out forthright for the
+city of Bassorah, and went in to the Emir Mohammed al-Zubaydi, who
+rejoiced in him and treated him with the high-most honour. Then Masrur
+read him the mandate of the Prince of True Believers, Harun al-Rashid,
+to which he replied, "I hear and I obey," and forthwith despatched him,
+with a company of his followers, to Abu Mohammed's house. When they
+reached it, they knocked at the door, whereupon a page came out and
+Masrur said to him, "Tell thy lord, The Commander of the Faithful
+summoneth thee." The servant went in and told his master, who came out
+and found Masrur, the Caliph's Chamberlain, and a company of the
+Governor's men at the door. So he kissed ground before Masrur and said,
+"I hear and obey the summons of the Commander of the Faithful; but
+first enter ye my house." They replied, "We cannot do that, save in
+haste; even as the Prince of True Believers commanded us, for he
+awaiteth thy coming." But he said, "Have patience with me a little,
+till I set my affairs in order." So after much pressure and abundant
+persuasion, they entered the house with him and found the vestibule
+hung with curtains of azure brocade, purfled with red gold, and Abu
+Mohammed Lazybones bade one of his servants carry Masrur to the private
+Hammam. Now this bath was in the house and Masrur found its walls and
+floors of rare and precious marbles, wrought with gold and silver, and
+its waters mingled with rose-water. Then the servants served Masrur and
+his company with the perfection of service; and, on their going forth
+of the Hammam, clad them in robes of honour, brocade-work interwoven
+with gold. And after leaving the bath Masrur and his men went in to Abu
+Mohammed Lazybones and found him seated in his upper chamber; and over
+his head hung curtains of gold-brocade, wrought with pearls and jewels,
+and the pavilion was spread with cushions, embroidered in red gold. Now
+the owner was sitting softly upon a quilted cloth covering a settee
+inlaid with stones of price; and, when he saw Masrur, he went forward
+to meet him and bidding him welcome, seated him by his side. Then he
+called for the food-trays; so they brought them, and when Masrur saw
+the tables, he exclaimed, "By Allah, never did I behold the like of
+these appointments in the palace of the Commander of the Faithful!" For
+indeed the trays contained every manner of meat all served in dishes of
+gilded porcelain.[FN#227] "So we ate and drank and made merry till the
+end of the day (quoth Masrur) when the host gave to each and every of
+us five thousand dinars, and on the morrow he clad us in dresses of
+honour of green and gold and entreated us with the utmost worship."
+Then said Masrur to him, "We can tarry no longer for fear of the
+Caliph's displeasure." Answered Abu Mohammed Lazybones, "O my lord,
+have patience with us till the morrow, that we may equip ourselves, and
+we will then depart with you." So they tarried with him that day and
+slept the night; and next morning Abu Mohammed's servants saddled him a
+she mule with selle and trappings of gold, set with all manner of
+pearls and stones of price; whereupon quoth Masrur to himself, "I
+wonder, when Abu Mohammed shall present himself in such equipage, if
+the Caliph will ask him how he came by all this wealth." Thereupon they
+took leave of Al-Zubaydi and, setting out from Bassorah, fared on,
+without ceasing to fare till they reached Baghdad-city and presented
+themselves before the Caliph, who bade Abu Mohammed be seated. He sat
+down and addressed the Caliph in courtly phrase, saying, "O Commander
+of the Faithful, I have brought with me an humble offering by way of
+homage: have I thy gracious permission to produce it?" Al-Rashid
+replied, "There is no harm in that,"[FN#228] whereupon Abu Mohammed
+bade his men bring in a chest, from which he took a number of rarities,
+and amongst the rest, trees of gold with leaves of white
+emeraid,[FN#229] and fruits of pigeon blood rubies and topazes and new
+pearls and bright. And as the Caliph was struck with admiration he
+fetched a second chest and brought out of it a tent of brocade, crowned
+with pearls and jacinths and emeralds and jaspers and other precious
+stones; its poles were of freshly cut Hindi aloes-wood, and its skirts
+were set with the greenest smaragds. Thereon were depicted all manner
+of animals such as beasts and birds, spangled with precious stones,
+rubies, emeralds, chrysolites and balasses and every kind of precious
+metal. Now when Al-Rashid saw these things, he rejoiced with exceeding
+joy and Abu Mohammed Lazybones said to him, "O Commander of the
+Faithful, deem not that I have brought these to thee, fearing aught or
+coveting anything; but I knew myself to be but a man of the people and
+that such things befitted none save the Commander of the Faithful. And
+now, with thy leave, I will show thee, for thy diversion, something of
+what I can do." Al-Rashid replied, "Do what thou wilt, that we may
+see." "To hear is to obey," said Abu Mohammed and, moving his lips,
+beckoned the palace battlements,[FN#230] whereupon they inclined to
+him; then he made another sign to them, and they returned to their
+place. Presently he made a sign with his eye, and there appeared before
+him closets with closed doors, to which he spoke, and lo! the voices of
+birds answered him from within. The Caliph marvelled with passing
+marvel at this and said to him, "How camest thou by all this, seeing
+that thou art known only as Abu Mohammed Lazybones, and they tell me
+that thy father was a cupper serving in a public Hammam, who left thee
+nothing?" Whereupon he answered, "Listen to my story" And Shahrazed
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and First Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abu Mohammed
+Lazybones thus spake to the Caliph: "O Prince of True Believers, listen
+to my story, for it is a marvellous and its particulars are wondrous;
+were it graven with graver-needles upon the eye-corners it were a
+warner to whose would be warned." Quoth Al-Rashid, "Let us hear all
+thou hast to say, O Abu Mohammed!" So he began "Know then, O Commander
+of the Faithful (Allah prolong to thee glory and dominion!), the report
+of the folk; that I am known as the Lazybones and that my father left
+me nothing, is true; for he was, as thou hast said, nothing but a
+barber-cupper in a Hammam. And I throughout my youth was the idlest
+wight on the face of the earth; indeed, so great was my sluggishness
+that, if I lay at full length in the sultry season and the sun came
+round upon me, I was too lazy to rise and remove from the sun to the
+shade. And thus I abode till I reached my fifteenth year, when my
+father deceased in the mercy of Allah Almighty and left me nothing.
+However, my mother used to go out a-charing and feed me and give me to
+drink, whilst I lay on my side. Now it came to pass that one day she
+came in to me with five silver dirhams, and said to me, 'O my son, I
+hear that Shaykh Abъ al-Muzaffar[FN#231] is about to go a voyage to
+China.' (Now this Shaykh was a good and charitable man who loved the
+poor.) 'So come, my son, take these five silver bits; and let us both
+carry them to him and beg him to buy thee therewith somewhat from the
+land of China; so haply thou mayst make a profit of it by the bounty of
+Allah, whose name be exalted!' I was too idle to move for her; but she
+swore by the Almighty that, except I rose and went with her, she would
+bring me neither meat nor drink nor come in to me, but would leave me
+to die of hunger and thirst. Now when I heard her words, O Commander of
+the Faithful, I knew she would do as she threatened for her knowledge
+of my sluggishness; so I said to her, 'Help me to sit up.' She did so,
+and I wept the while and said to her, 'Bring me my shoes.' Accordingly,
+she brought them and I said, 'Put them on my feet.' She put them on my
+feet and I said, 'Lift me up off the ground.' So she lifted me up and I
+said, 'Support me, that I may walk.' So she supported me and I
+continued to fare a foot, at times stumbling over my skirts, till we
+came to the river bank, where we saluted the Shaykh and I said to him,
+'O my uncle, art thou Abu al-Muzaffar?' 'At thy service,' answered he,
+and I, 'Take these dirhams and with them buy me somewhat from the land
+of China: haply Allah may vouchsafe me a profit of it.' Quoth the
+Shaykh to his companions, 'Do ye know this youth?' They answered, 'Yes,
+he is known as Abu Mohammed Lazybones, and we never saw him stir from
+his house till this moment.' Then said he to me, 'O my son, give me the
+silver with the blessing of Almighty Allah!' So he took the money,
+saying, 'Bismillah in the name of Allah!' and I returned home with my
+mother. Presently Shaykh Abu al-Muzaffar set sail, with a company of
+merchants, and stayed not till they reached the land of China, where he
+and his bought and sold; and, having won what they wished, set out on
+their homeward voyage. When they had been three days at sea, the Shaykh
+said to his company, 'Stay the vessel!' They asked, 'What dost thou
+want?' and he answered, 'Know that I have forgotten the commission
+wherewith Abu Mohammed Lazybones charged me; so let us turn back that
+we may lay out his money on somewhat whereby he may profit.' They
+cried, 'We conjure thee, by Allah Almighty turn not back with us; for
+we have traversed a long distance and a sore, and while so doing we
+have endured sad hardship and many terrors.' Quoth he, 'There is no
+help for it but we return;' and they said, 'Take from us double the
+profit of the five dirhams, and turn us not back.' He agreed to this
+and they collected for him an ample sum of money. Thereupon they sailed
+on, till they came to an island wherein was much people; when they
+moored thereto and the merchants went ashore, to buy thence a stock of
+precious metals and pearls and jewels and so forth. Presently Abu
+al-Muzaffar saw a man seated, with many apes before him, and amongst
+them one whose hair had been plucked off; and as often as their owner's
+attention was diverted from them, the other apes fell upon the plucked
+one and beat him and threw him on their master; whereupon the man rose
+and bashed them and bound them and punished them for this; and all the
+apes were wroth with the plucked ape on this account and funded him the
+more. When Shaykh Abu al-Muzaffar saw this, he felt for and took
+compassion upon the plucked ape and said to his master, 'Wilt thou sell
+me yonder monkey?' Replied the man, 'Buy,' and Abu al-Muzaffar
+rejoined, 'I have with me five dirhams, belonging to an orphan lad.
+Wilt thou sell it me for that sum?' Answered the monkey-merchant, 'It
+is a bargain; and Allah give thee a blessing of him!' So he made over
+the beast and received his money; and the Shaykh's slaves took the ape
+and tied him up in the ship. Then they loosed sail and made for another
+island, where they cast anchor; and there came down divers, who plunged
+for precious stones, pearls and other gems; so the merchants hired them
+to dive for money and they dived. Now when the ape saw them doing this,
+he loosed himself from his bonds and, jumping off the ship's side,
+plunged with them, whereupon quoth Abu al-Muzaffar, 'There is no
+Majesty and there is no Might, save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!
+The monkey is lost to us with the luck of the poor fellow for whom we
+bought him.' And they despaired of him; but, after a while, the company
+of divers rose to the surface, and behold, among them was the ape, with
+his hands full of jewels of price, which he threw down before Abu
+al-Muzaffar. The Shaykh marvelled at this and said, 'There is much
+mystery in this monkey!' Then they cast off and sailed till they came
+to a third island, called the Isle of the Zunъj,[FN#232] who are a
+people of the blacks, which eat the flesh of the sons of Adam. When the
+blacks saw them, they boarded them in dug-outs[FN#233] and, taking all
+in the vessel, pinioned them and carried them to their King, who bade
+slaughter certain of the merchants. So they slaughtered them by cutting
+their throats and ate their flesh; and the rest of the traders passed
+the night in bonds and were in sore concern. But when it was midnight,
+the ape arose and going up to Abu al-Muzaffar, loosed his bonds; and,
+as the others saw him free, they said, 'Allah grant our deliverance may
+be at thy hands, O Abu al-Muzaffar!' But he replied, 'Know that he who
+delivered me, by leave of Allah Almighty, was none other than this
+monkey'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abu al-Muzaffar
+declared, "None loosed me, by leave of Allah Al-mighty, save this
+monkey and I buy my release of him at a thousand dinars!" whereupon the
+merchants rejoined, 'And we likewise, each and every, will pay him a
+thousand dinars if he release us.' With this the ape arose and went up
+to them and loosed their bonds one by one, till he had freed them all,
+when they made for the vessel and boarding her, found all safe and
+nothing missing from her. So they cast off and set sail; and presently
+Abu al-Muzaffar said to them, 'O merchants, fulfil your promise to the
+monkey.' 'We hear and we obey,' answered they; and each one paid him
+one thousand dinars, whilst Abu al-Muzaffar brought out to him the like
+sum of his own monies, so that a great heap of coin was collected for
+the ape. Then they fared on till they reached Bassorah-city where their
+friends came out to meet them; and when they had landed, the Shaykh
+said, 'Where is Abu Mohammed Lazybones?' The news reached my mother,
+who came to me as I lay asleep and said to me, 'O my son, verily the
+Shaykh Abu al-Muzaffar hath come back and is now in the city; so rise
+and go thou to him and salute him and enquire what he hath brought
+thee; it may be Allah Almighty have opened to thee the door of fortune
+with somewhat.' Quoth I, 'Lift me from the ground and prop me up,
+whilst I go forth and walk to the river bank.' After which I went out
+and walked on, stumbling over my skirts, till I met the Shaykh, who
+exclaimed at sight of me, 'Welcome to him whose money hath been the
+means of my release and that of these merchants, by the will of
+Almighty Allah.' Then he continued, 'Take this monkey I bought for thee
+and carry him home and wait till I come to thee.' So I took the ape and
+went off, saying in my mind, 'By Allah, this is naught but rare
+merchandise!' and led it home, where I said to my mother, 'Whenever I
+lie down to sleep, thou biddest me rise and trade; see now this
+merchandise with thine own eyes.' Then I sat me down and as I sat, up
+came the slaves of Abu al-Muzaffar and said to me, 'Art thou Abu
+Mohammed Lazybones?' 'Yes' answered I; and behold, Abu al-Muzaffar
+appeared behind them. So I rose up to him and kissed his hands: and he
+said, 'Come with me to my home.' 'Hearkening and obedience,' answered I
+and accompanied him to his house, where he bade his servants bring me
+what money the monkey had earned for me. So they brought it and he said
+to me, 'O my son, Allah hath blessed thee with this wealth, by way of
+profit on thy five dirhams.' Then the slaves set down the treasure in
+chests, which they had carried on their heads, and Abu al-Muzaffar gave
+me the keys saying, 'Go before the slaves to thy house; for in sooth
+all this wealth is thine.' So I returned to my mother, who rejoiced in
+this and said to me, 'O my son, Allah hath blessed thee with all these
+riches; so put off thy laziness and go down to the bazar and sell and
+buy.' At once I shook off my dull sloth, and opened a shop in the
+bazar, where the ape used to sit on the same divan with me eating with
+me when I ate and drinking when I drank. But, every day, he was absent
+from dawn till noon, when he came back bringing with him a purse of a
+thousand dinars, which he laid by my side, and sat down; and he ceased
+not so doing for a great while, till I amassed much wealth, wherewith,
+O Commander of the Faithful, I purchased houses and lands, and I
+planted gardens and I bought me white slaves and negroes and
+concubines. Now it came to pass one day, as I sat in my shop, with the
+ape sitting at my side on the same carpet, behold, he began to turn
+right and left, and I said to myself, 'What aileth the beast?' Then
+Allah made the ape speak with a ready tongue, and he said to me, 'O Abu
+Mohammed!' Now when I heard him speak, I was sore afraid; but he said
+to me, 'Fear not; I will tell thee my case. I am a Marid of the Jinn
+and came to thee because of thy poor estate; but today thou knowest not
+the amount of thy wealth; and now I have need of thee and if thou do my
+will, it shall be well for thee.' I asked, 'What is it?' and he
+answered, 'I have a mind to marry thee to a girl like the full moon.'
+Quoth I, 'How so?'; and quoth he, 'Tomorrow don thou thy richest dress
+and mount thy mule, with the saddle of gold and ride to the Haymarket.
+There enquire for the shop of the Sharif[FN#234] and sit down beside
+him and say to him, 'I come to thee as a suitor craving thy daughter's
+hand.' 'If he say to thee, 'Thou hast neither cash nor rank nor
+family'; pull out a thousand dinars and give them to him, and if he ask
+more, give him more and tempt him with money.' Whereto I replied, 'To
+hear is to obey; I will do thy bidding, Inshallah!' So on the next
+morning I donned my richest clothes, mounted my she mule with trappings
+of gold and rode to the Haymarket where I asked for the Sharif's shop,
+and finding him there seated, alighted and saluted him and seated
+myself beside him"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abu Mohammed
+Lazybones continued: "So I alighted and, saluting him, seated myself
+beside him, and my Mamelukes and negro-slaves stood before me. Said the
+Sharif, 'Haply, thou hast some business with us which we may have
+pleasure of transacting?' Replied I, 'Yes, I have business with thee.'
+Asked he, 'And what is it?'; and I answered, 'I come to thee as a
+suitor for thy daughter's hand.' So he said, 'Thou hast neither cash
+nor rank nor family;' whereupon I pulled him out a purse of a thousand
+dinars, red gold, and said to him, 'This is my rank[FN#235] and my
+family; and he (whom Allah bless and keep!) hath said, The best of
+ranks is wealth. And how well quoth the poet,
+
+'Whoso two dithams hath, his lips have learnt * Speech of all
+
+
+     kinds with eloquence bedight:
+
+
+Draw near[FN#236] his brethren and crave ear of him, * And him
+
+
+     thou seest haught in pride-full height:
+
+
+Were 't not for dirhams wherein glories he, * Hadst found him
+
+
+     'mid man kind in sorry plight.
+
+
+When richard errs in words they all reply, * "Sooth thou hast
+
+
+     spoken and hast said aright!"
+
+
+When pauper speaketh truly all reply * 'Thou liest;' and they
+
+
+     hold his sayings light.[FN#237]
+
+
+Verily dirhams in earth's every stead * Clothe men with rank and
+
+
+     make them fair to sight
+
+
+Gold is the very tongue of eloquence; * Gold is the best of arms
+
+
+     for might who'd fight!'
+
+
+
+Now when the Sharif heard these my words and understood my verse, he
+bowed his head awhile groundwards then raising it, said, 'If it must be
+so, I will have of thee other three thousand gold pieces.' 'I hear and
+I obey,' answered I, and sent one of my Mamelukes home for the money.
+As soon as he came back with it, I handed it to the Sharif who, when he
+saw it in his hands, rose, and bidding his servants shut his shop,
+invited his brother merchants of the bazar the wedding; after which he
+carried me to his house and wrote out my contract of marriage with his
+daughter saying to me, 'After ten days, I will bring thee to pay her
+the first visit.' So I went home rejoicing and, shutting myself up with
+the ape, told him what had passed; and he said 'Thou hast done well.'
+Now when the time appointed by the Sharif drew near, the ape said to
+me, 'There is a thing I would have thee do for me; and thou shalt have
+of me (when it is done) whatso thou wilt.' I asked, 'What is that?' and
+he answered, 'At the upper end of the chamber wherein thou shalt meet
+thy bride, the Sharif's daughter, stands a cabinet, on whose door is a
+ring-padlock of copper and the keys under it. Take the keys and open
+the cabinet in which thou shalt find a coffer of iron with four flags,
+which are talismans, at its corners; and in its midst stands a brazen
+basin full of money, wherein is tied a white cock with a cleft comb;
+while on one side of the coffer are eleven serpents and on the other a
+knife. Take the knife and slaughter the cock; cut away the flags and
+upset the chest, then go back to the bride and do away her maidenhead.
+This is what I have to ask of thee.' 'Hearkening and obedience,'
+answered I, and betook myself to the house of the Sharif. So as soon as
+I entered the bride-chamber, I looked for the cabinet and found it even
+as the ape had described it. Then I went in unto the bride and
+marvelled at her beauty and loveliness and stature and
+symmetrical-grace, for indeed they were such as no tongue can set
+forth. I rejoiced in her with exceeding joy; and in the middle of the
+night, when my bride slept, I rose and, taking the keys, opened the
+cabinet. Then I seized the knife and slew the cock and threw down the
+flags and upset the coffer, whereupon the girl awoke and, seeing the
+closet open and the cock with cut throat, exclaimed, 'There is no
+Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!
+The Marid hath got hold of me!' Hardly had she made an end of speaking,
+when the Marid swooped down upon the house and, snatching up the bride,
+flew away with her; whereupon there arose a mighty clamour and behold,
+in came the Sharif, buffetting his face and crying, 'O Abu Mohammed,
+what is this deed thou hast done? Is it thus thou requiitest us? I made
+this talisman in the cabinet fearing for my daughter from this accursed
+one who, for these six years, hath sought to steal-away the girl, but
+could not. But now there is no more abiding for thee with us, so wend
+thy ways.' Thereupon I went forth and returned to my own house, where I
+made search for the ape but could not find him nor any trace of him;
+whereby I knew that it was he who was the Marid, and that he had
+carried off my wife and had tricked me into destroying the talisman and
+the cock, the two things which hindered him from taking her, and I
+repented, rending my raiment and cuffing my face. And there was no land
+but was straitened upon me; so I made for the desert forthright and
+ceased not wandering on till night overtook me, for I knew not whither
+I was going. And whilst I was deep in sad thought behold, I met two
+serpents, one tawny and the other white, and they were fighting to kill
+each other. So I took up a stone and with one cast slew the tawny
+serpent, which was the aggressor; whereupon the white serpent glided
+away and was absent for a while, but presently she returned accompanied
+by ten other white serpents which glided up to the dead serpent and
+tore her in pieces, so that only the head was left. Then they went
+their ways and I fell prostrate for weariness on the ground where I
+stood; but as I lay, pondering my case lo! I heard a Voice though I saw
+no one and the Voice versified with these two couplets,
+
+'Let Fate with slackened bridle fare her pace, * Nor pass the
+
+
+     night with mind which cares an ace
+
+
+Between eye-closing and its opening, * Allah can foulest change
+
+
+     to fairest case.'
+
+
+
+Now when I heard this, O Commander of the Faithful, great concern get
+hold of me and I was beyond measure troubled, and behold, I heard a
+Voice from behind me extemporise these couplets,
+
+'O Moslem! thou whose guide is Alcorбn, * Joy in what brought
+
+
+     safe peace to thee, O man.
+
+
+Fear not what Satan haply whispered thee, * And in us see a
+
+
+     Truth-believing
+
+
+
+Then said I, 'I conjure thee, by the truth of Him thou wore shippest,
+let me know who thou art!' Thereupon the Invisible Speaker assumed the
+form of a man and said, 'Fear not; for the report of thy good deed hath
+reached us, and we are a people of the true-believing Jinn. So, if thou
+lack aught, let us know it that we may have the pleasure of fulfilling
+thy want.' Quoth I, 'Indeed I am in sore need, for I am afflicted with
+a grievous affliction and no one was ever afflicted as I am!' Quoth he,
+'Perchance thou art Abu Mohammed Lazybones?' and I replied, 'Yes.' He
+rejoined, 'I, O Abu Mohammed, am the brother of the white serpent,
+whose foe thou slewest, we are four brothers by one father and mother,
+and we are all indebted to thee for thy kindness. And know thou that he
+who played this trick on thee in the likeness of an ape, is a Marid of
+the Marids of the Jinn; and had he not used this artifice, he had never
+been able to get the girl; for he hath loved her and had a mind to take
+her this long while, but he was hindered of that talisman; and had it
+remained as it was, he could never have found access to her. However,
+fret not thyself for that; we will bring thee to her and kill the
+Marid; for thy kindness is not lost upon us.' Then he cried out with a
+terrible outcry"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Ifrit
+continued, "'Verily thy kindness is not lost upon us.' Then he cried
+out with a terrible outcry in a horrible voice, and behold, there
+appeared a troop of the Jinn, of whom he enquired concerning the ape;
+and one of them said, 'I know his abiding- place;' and the other asked
+'Where abideth he?' Said the speaker 'He is in the City of Brass
+whereon sun riseth not.' Then said the first Jinni to me, 'O Abu
+Mohammed, take one of these our slaves, and he will carry thee on his
+back and teach thee how thou shalt get back the girl; but know that
+this slave is a Marid of the Marids and beware, whilst he is carrying
+thee, lest thou utter the name of Allah, or he will flee from thee and
+thou wilt fall and be destroyed.' 'I hear and obey,' answered I and
+chose out one of the slaves, who bent down and said to me, 'Mount.' So
+I mounted on his back, and he flew up with me into the firmament, till
+I lost sight of the earth and saw the stars as they were the mountains
+of earth fixed and firm[FN#238] and heard the angels crying, 'Praise be
+to Allah,' in heaven while the Marid held me in converse, diverting me
+and hindering me from pronouncing the name of Almighty Allah.[FN#239]
+But, as we flew, behold, One clad in green raiment,[FN#240] with
+streaming tresses and radiant face, holding in his hand a javelin
+whence flew sparks of fire, accosted me, saying, 'O Abu Mohammed,
+say:—There is no god but the God and Mohammed is the Apostle of God; or
+I will smite thee with this javelin.' Now already I felt heart-broken
+by my forced silence as regards calling on the name of Allah; so I
+said, 'There is no god but the God, and Mohammed is the Apostle of God.
+Whereupon the shining One smote the Marid with his javelin and he
+melted away and became ashes; whilst I was thrown from his back and
+fell headlong towards the earth, till I dropped into the midst of a
+dashing sea, swollen with clashing surge. And behold I fell hard by a
+ship with five sailors therein, who seeing me, made for me and took me
+up into the vessel; and they began to speak to me in some speech I knew
+not; but I signed to them that I understood not their speech. So they
+fared on till the last of the day, when they cast out a net and caught
+a great fish and they broiled it and gave me to eat; after which they
+ceased not sailing on till they reached their city and carried me to
+their King and set me in his presence. So I kissed ground before him,
+and he bestowed on me a dress of honour and said to me in Arabic (which
+he knew well), 'I appoint thee one of my officers.' Thereupon I asked
+him the name of the city, and he replied, 'It is called Hanбd[FN#241]
+and is in the land of China.' Then he committed me to his Wazir,
+bidding him show me the city, which was formerly peopled by Infidels,
+till Almighty Allah turned them into stones; and there I abode a
+month's space, diverting myself with viewing the place, nor saw I ever
+greater plenty of trees and fruits than there. And when this time had
+past, one day, as I sat on the bank of a river, behold, there accosted
+me a horseman, who said to me, 'Art thou not Abu Mohammed Lazybones?'
+'Yes,' answered I; whereupon, he said, 'Fear not, for the report of thy
+good deed hath reached us.' Asked I, 'Who art thou?' and he answered,
+'I am a brother of the white serpent, and thou art hard by the place
+where is the damsel whom thou seekest.' So saying, he took off his
+clothes and clad me therein, saying, 'Fear not, for the slave who
+perished under thee was one of our slaves.' Then the horseman took me
+up behind him and rode on with me to a desert place, when he said,
+'Dismount now and walk on between these two mountains, till thou seest
+the City of Brass;[FN#242] then halt afar off and enter it not, ere I
+return to thee and tell thee how thou shalt do.' 'To hear is to obey,'
+replied I and, dismounting from behind him, walked on till I came to
+the city, the walls whereof I found of brass. Then I began to pace
+round about it, hoping to find a gate, but found none; and presently as
+I persevered, behold, the serpent's brother rejoined me and gave me a
+charmed sword which should hinder any from seeing me,[FN#243] then went
+his way. Now he had been gone but a little while, when lo! I heard a
+noise of cries and found myself in the midst of a multitude of folk
+whose eyes were in their breasts; and seeing me quoth they, 'Who art
+thou and what cast thee into this place?' So I told them my story, and
+they said, 'The girl thou seekest is in this city with the Marid; but
+we know not what he hath done with her. Now we are brethren of the
+white serpent,' adding, 'Go thou to yonder spring and note where the
+water entereth, and enter thou with it; for it will bring thee into the
+city.' I did as they bade me, and followed the water-course, till it
+brought me to a Sardab, a vaulted room under the earth, from which I
+ascended and found myself in the midst of the city. Here I saw the
+damsel seated upon a throne of gold, under a canopy of brocade, girt
+round by a garden full of trees of gold, whose fruits were jewels of
+price, such as rubies and chrysolites, pearls and coral. And the moment
+she saw me, she knew me and accosted me with the Moslem salutation,
+saying, 'O my lord, who guided thee hither?' So I told her all that had
+passed, and she said, 'Know, that the accursed Marid, of the greatness
+of his love for me, hath told me what bringeth him bane and what
+bringeth him gain; and that there is here a talisman by means whereof
+he could, an he would, destroy the city and all that are therein; and
+whoso possesseth it, the Ifrits will do his commandment in everything.
+It standeth upon a pillar'—Whereat I asked her, 'And where is the
+pillar?' and she answered, 'It is in such a place.' 'And what manner of
+thing may the talisman be?' said I: said she, 'It is in the semblance
+of a vulture[FN#244] and upon it is a writing which I cannot read. So
+go thou thither and seize it, and set it before thee and, taking a
+chafing dish, throw into it a little musk, whereupon there will arise a
+smoke which will draw the Ifrits to thee, and they will all present
+themselves before thee, nor shall one be absent; also they shall be
+subject to thy word and, whatsoever thou biddest them, that will they
+do. Arise therefore and fall to this thing, with the blessing of
+Almighty Allah.' I answered, 'Hearkening and obedience' and, going to
+the column, did as she bade me, where- upon the Ifrits all presented
+themselves before me saying, 'Here are we, O our lord! Whatsoever thou
+biddest us, that will we do.' Quoth I, 'Bind the Marid who brought the
+damsel hither from her home.' Quoth they, 'We hear and obey,' and off
+they flew and bound that Marid in straitest bonds and returned after a
+while, saying, 'We have done thy bidding.' Then I dismissed them and,
+repairing to my wife, told her what had happened and said to her, 'O my
+bride, wilt thou go with me?' 'Yes,' answered she. So I carried her
+forth of the vaulted chamber whereby I had entered the city and we
+fared on, till we fell in with the folk who had shown me the way to
+find her." And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
+her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that he continued on
+this wise: "And we fared on till we fell in with the folk who had shown
+me the way to her. So I said to them, 'Point me out a path which shall
+lead me to my home,' and they did accordingly, and brought us a-foot to
+the sea-shore and set us aboard a vessel which sailed on before us with
+a fair wind, till we reached Bassorah-city. And when we entered the
+house of my father-in-law and her people saw my wife, they rejoiced
+with exceeding joy. Then I fumigated the vulture with musk and lo! the
+Ifrits flocked to me from all sides, saying, 'At thy service what wilt
+thou have us do?' So I bade them transport all that was in the City of
+Brass of monies and noble metals and stones of price to my house in
+Bassorah, which they did; and I then ordered them to bring me the ape.
+They brought him before me, abject and contemptible, and I said to him,
+'O accursed, why hast thou dealt thus perfidiously with me?' Then I com
+mended the Ifrits to shut him in a brazen vessel[FN#245] so they put
+him in a brazen cucurbite and sealed it with lead. But I abode with my
+wife in joy and delight; and now, O Commander of the Faithful, I have
+under my hand precious things in such measure and rare jewels and other
+treasure and monies on such wise as neither reckoning may express nor
+may limits comprise; and, if thou lust after wealth or aught else, I
+will command the Jinn at once to do thy desire. But all this is of the
+bounty of Almighty Allah." Thereupon the Commander of the Faithful
+wondered greatly and bestowed on him imperial gifts, in exchange for
+his presents, and entreated him with the favour he deserved. And men
+also tell the tale of the
+
+
+
+GENEROUS DEALING OF YAHYA BIN KHALID THE BARMECIDE WITH MANSUR.
+
+It is told that Harun al-Rashid, in the days before he became jealous
+of the Barmecides, sent once for one of his guards, Salih by name, and
+said to him, "O Sбlih, go to Mansъr[FN#246] and say to him: 'Thou owest
+us a thousand thousand dirhams and we require of thee immediate payment
+of this amount.' And I command thee, O Salih, unless he pay it between
+this hour and sundown, sever his head from his body and bring it to
+me." "To hear is to obey," answered Salih and, going to Mansur,
+acquainted him with what the Caliph had said, whereupon quoth he, "I am
+a lost man, by Allah; for all my estate and all my hand owneth, if sold
+for their utmost value, would not fetch a price of more than an hundred
+thousand dirhams. Whence then, O Salih, shall I get the other nine
+hundred thousand?" Salih replied, "Contrive how thou mayst speedily
+acquit thyself, else thou art a dead man; for I cannot grant thee an
+eye-twinkling of delay after the time appointed me by the Caliph; nor
+can I fail of aught which the Prince of True Believers hath enjoined on
+me. Hasten, therefore, to devise some means of saving thyself ere the
+time expire." Quoth Mansur, "O Salih, I beg thee of thy favour to bring
+me to my house, that I may take leave of my children and family and
+give my kinsfolk my last injunctions." Now Salih relateth: "So I went
+with him to his house where he fell to bidding his family farewell, and
+the house was filled with a clamour of weeping and lamentations and
+calling for help on Almighty Allah. Thereupon I said to him, 'I have
+bethought me that Allah may haply vouchsafe thee relief at the hands of
+the Barmecides. Come, let us go to the house of Yбhyб bin Khбlid.' So
+we went to Yahya's house, and Mansur told him his case, whereat he was
+sore concerned and bowed him groundwards for a while, then raising his
+head, he called his treasurer and said to him, 'How much have we in our
+treasury?' 'A matter of five thousand dirhams,' answered the treasurer,
+and Yahya bade him bring them and sent a messenger to his son, Al-Fazl,
+saying, 'I am offered for sale a splendid estate which may never be
+laid waste; so send me somewhat of money.' Al-Fazl sent him a thousand
+thousand dirhams, and he despatched a mes senger with a like message to
+his son Ja'afar, saying, 'We have a matter of much moment and for it we
+want money;' whereupon Ja'afar at once sent him a thousand thousand
+dirhams; nor did Yahya leave sending to his kinsmen of the Barmecides,
+till he had collected from them a great sum of money for Mansur. But
+Salih and the debtor knew not of this; and Mansur said to Yahya, 'O my
+lord, I have laid hold upon thy skirt, for I know not whither to look
+for the money but to thee, in accordance with thy wonted generosity; so
+discharge thou the rest of my debt for me and make me thy freed slave.'
+Thereupon Yahya hung down his head and wept; then he said to a page,
+'Harkye, boy, the Commander of the Faithful gave our slave- girl
+Danбnнr a jewel of great price: go thou to her and bid her send it to
+us.' The page went out and presently returned with the jewel, whereupon
+quoth Yahya, 'O Mansur, I bought this jewel of the merchant for the
+Commander of the Faithful, at a price of two hundred thousand
+dinars,[FN#247] and he gave it to our slave-girl Dananir, the
+lute-player; and when he sees it with thee, he will know it and spare
+thy blood and do thee honour for our sake; and now, O Mansur, verily
+thy money is complete.' (Salih continued) So I took the money and the
+jewel and carried them to al-Rashid together with Mansur, but on the
+way I heard him repeat this couplet, applying it to his own case,
+
+‘'Twas not of love that fared my feet to them; * 'Twas that I feared me
+lest they shoot their shafts!'
+
+Now when I heard this, I marvelled at his evil nature and his depravity
+and mischief-making and his ignoble birth and provenance and, turning
+upon him, I said, 'There is none on the face of the earth better or
+more righteous than the Barmecides, nor any baser nor more wrongous
+than thou; for they bought thee off from death and delivered thee from
+destruction, giving thee what should save thee; yet thou thankest them
+not nor praises" them, neither acquittest thee after the manner of the
+noble; nay, thou meetest their benevolence with this speech.' Then I
+went to Al-Rashid and acquainted him with all that had passed" And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Salih con tinued:
+"So I acquainted the Commander of the Faithful with all that passed and
+Al-Rashid marvelled at the generosity and benevolence of Yahya and the
+vileness and ingratitude of Mansur, and bade restore the jewel to
+Yahya, saying, 'Whatso we have given it befitteth us not to take
+again.' After that Salih returned to Yahya and acquainted him with the
+tale of Mansur and his ill-conduct; whereupon replied he, 'O Salih,
+when a man is in want, sick at heart and sad of thought, he is not to
+be blamed for aught that falleth from him; for it cometh not from the
+heart;' and on this wise he took to seeking excuse for Mansur. But
+Salih wept and exclaimed, 'Never shall the revolving heavens bring
+forth into being the like of thee, O Yahya! Alas, and well- away, that
+one of such noble nature and generosity should be laid in the dust!'
+And he repeated these two couplets,
+
+'Haste to do kindness thou cost intend; * Thou canst not always
+
+
+     on boons expend:
+
+
+How many from bounty themselves withheld, * Till means of bounty
+
+
+     had come to end!'"
+
+
+
+And men tell another tale of the
+
+
+
+GENEROUS DEALING OF YAHYA SON OF KHБLID WITH A MAN WHO FORGED A LETTER
+IN HIS NAME.
+
+There was between Yбhyб bin Khбlid and Abdullah bin Mбlik al-
+Khuzб'i,[FN#248] an enmity which they kept secret; the reason of the
+hatred being that Harun al-Rashid loved Abdullah with exceeding love,
+so that Yahya and his sons were wont to say that he had bewitched the
+Commander of the Faithful. And thus they abode a long while, with
+rancour in their hearts, till it fell out that the Caliph invested
+Abdullah with the government of Armenia[FN#249] and despatched him
+thither. Now soon after he had settled himself in his seat of
+government, there came to him one of the people of Irak, a man of good
+breeding and excellent parts and abundant cleverness; but he had lost
+his money and wasted his wealth and his estate was come to ill case; so
+he forged a letter to Abdullah bin Malik in the name of Yahya bin
+Khбlid and set out therewith for Armenia. Now when he came to the
+Governor's gate, he gave the letter to one of the Chamberlains, who
+took it and carried it to his master. Abdullah opened it and read it
+and, considering it attentively, knew it to be forged; so he sent for
+the man, who presented himself before him and called down blessings
+upon him and praised him and those of his court. Quoth Abdullah to him,
+"What moved thee to weary thyself on this wise and bring me a forged
+letter? But be of good heart; for we will not disappoint thy travail."
+Replied the other, "Allah prolong the life of our lord the Wazir! If my
+coming annoy thee, cast not about for a pretext to repel me, for
+Allah's earth is wide and He who giveth daily bread still liveth.
+Indeed, the letter I bring thee from Yahya bin Khalid is true and no
+forgery." Quoth Abdullah, "I will write a letter to my agent[FN#250] at
+Baghdad and command him enquire concerning this same letter. If it be
+true, as thou sayest, and genuine and not forged by thee, I will bestow
+on thee the Emirship of one of my cities; or, if thou prefer a present,
+I will give thee two hundred thousand dirhams, besides horses and
+camels of price and a robe of honour. But, if the letter prove a
+forgery, I will order thou be beaten with two hundred blows of a stick
+and thy beard be shaven." So Abdullah bade confine him in a chamber and
+furnish him therein with all he needed, till his case should be made
+manifest. Then he despatched a letter to his agent at Baghdad, to the
+following effect: "There is come to me a man with a letter purporting
+to be from Yahya bin Khбlid. Now I have my suspicions of this letter:
+therefore delay thou not in the matter, but go thyself and look
+carefully into the case and let me have an answer with all speed, in
+order that we may know what is true and what is untrue." When the
+letter reached Baghdad, the agent mounted at once,—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the agent of
+Abdullah, son of Malik al-Khuza'i, on receipt of the letter at Baghdad,
+mounted at once and repaired to the house of Yahya bin Khбlid, whom he
+found sitting with his officers and boon- companions. After the usual
+salute he gave him the letter and Yahya read it and said to the agent,
+"Come back to me tomorrow for my written answer." Now when the agent
+had gone away, Yahya turned to his companions and said, "What doth he
+deserve who forgeth a letter in my name and carrieth it to my foe?"
+They answered all and each, saying this and that, and every one
+proposing some kind of punishment; but Yahya said, "Ye err in that ye
+say and this your counsel is of the baseness of your spirits and the
+meanness of your minds. Ye all know the close favour of Abdullah with
+the Caliph and ye weet of what is between him and us of anger and
+enmity; and now Almighty Allah hath made this man the means of
+reconciliation between us; and hath fitted him for such purpose and
+hath appointed him to quench the fire of ire in our hearts, which hath
+been growing these twenty years; and by his means our differences shall
+be adjusted. Wherefore it behoveth me to requite such man by verifying
+his assertion and amending his estate; so I will write him a letter to
+Abdullah son of Malik, praying that he may use him with increase of
+honour and continue to him his liberality." Now when his companions
+heard what he said, they called down blessings on him and marvelled at
+his generosity and the greatness of his magnanimity. Then he called for
+paper and ink and wrote Abdullah a letter in his own hand, to the
+following effect: "In the name of Allah, the Compassionating' the
+Compassionate! Of a truth thy letter hath reached me (Allah give thee
+long life!) and I am glad to hear of thy safety and am pleased to be
+assured of thine immunity and prosperity. It was thy thought that a
+certain worthy man had forged a letter in my name and that he was not
+the bearer of any message from the same; but the case is not so, for
+the letter I myself wrote, and it was no forgery; and I hope, of thy
+courtesy and consideration and the nobility of thy nature, that thou
+wilt gratify this generous and excellent man of his hope and wish, and
+honour him with the honour he deserveth and bring him to his desire and
+make him the special-object of thy favour and munificence. Whatso thou
+dost with him, it is to me that thou dost the kindness, and I am
+thankful to thee accordingly." Then he superscribed the letter and
+after sealing it, delivered it to the agent, who despatched it to
+Abdullah. Now when the Governor read it, he was charmed with its
+contents, and sending for the man, said to him, "Whichever of the two
+promised boons is the more acceptable to thee that will I give thee."
+The man replied, "The money gift were more acceptable to me than aught
+else," whereupon Abdullah ordered him two hundred thousand dirhams and
+ten Arab horses, five with housings of silk and other five with richly
+ornamented saddles, used in state processions; besides twenty chests of
+clothes and ten mounted white slaves and a proportionate quantity of
+jewels of price. Moreover, he bestowed on him a dress of honour and
+sent him to Baghdad in great splendour. So when he came thither, he
+repaired to the door of Yahya's house, before he went to his own folk,
+and craved permission to enter and have audience. The Chamberlain went
+in to Yahya and said to him, "O my lord, there is one at the door who
+craveth speech of thee; and he is a man of apparent wealth, courteous
+in manner, comely of aspect and attended by many servants." Then Yahya
+bade admit him; and, when he entered and kissed the ground before him,
+Yahya asked him, "Who art thou?" He answered, "Hear me, O my lord, I am
+he who was done dead by the tyranny of fortune, but thou didst raise me
+to life again from the grave of calamities and exalt me to the paradise
+of my desires. I am the man who forged a letter in thy name and carried
+it to Abdullah bin Malik al-Khuza'i." Yahya asked, "How hath he dealt
+with thee and what did he give thee?"; and the man answered, "He hath
+given me, thanks to thy hand and thy great liberality and benevolence
+and to thy comprehensive kindness and lofty magnanimity and thine
+all-embracing generosity, that which hath made me a wealthy man and he
+hath distinguished me with his gifts and favours. And now I have
+brought all that he gave me and here it is at thy door; for it is thine
+to decide and the command is in thy hand." Rejoined Yahya, "Thou hast
+done me better service than I did thee and I owe thee a heavy debt of
+gratitude and every gift the white hand[FN#251] can give, for that thou
+hast changed into love and amity the hate and enmity that were between
+me and a man whom I respect and esteem. Wherefore I will give thee the
+like of what Abdullah bin Malik gave thee." Then he ordered him money
+and horses and chests of apparel, such as Abdullah had given him; and
+thus that man's fortune was restored to him by the munificence of these
+two generous ones. And folk also relate the tale of the
+
+
+
+CALIPH AL-MAAMUN AND THE STRANGE SCHOLAR.
+
+It is said of Al-Maamun that, among the Caliphs of the house of Abbas,
+there was none more accomplished in all branches of knowledge than he.
+Now on two days in each week, he was wont to preside at conferences of
+the learned, when the lawyers and theologians disputed in his presence,
+each sitting in his several-rank and room. One day as he sat thus,
+there came into the assembly a stranger, clad in ragged white clothes,
+who took seat in an obscure place behind the doctors of the law. Then
+the assembly began to speak and debate difficult questions, it being
+the custom that the various propositions should be submitted to each in
+turn, and that whoso bethought him of some subtle addition or rare
+conceit, should make mention of it. So the question went round till it
+came to the strange man, who spake in his turn and made a goodlier
+answer than any of the doctors' replies; and the Caliph approved his
+speech.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph
+Al-Maamun approved his speech and ordered him to come up from his low
+place to a high stead. Now when the second question came to him, he
+made a still more notable answer, and Al-Maamun ordered him to be
+preferred to a yet higher seat; and when the third question reached
+him, he made answer more justly and appropriately than on the two
+previous occasions, and Al-Maamun bade him come up and sit near
+himself. Presently the discussion ended when water was brought and they
+washed their hands after which food was set on and they ate; and the
+doctors arose and withdrew; but Al-Maamun forbade the stranger to
+depart with them and, calling him to himself, treated him with
+especial-favour and promised him honour and profit. Thereupon they made
+ready the sйance of wassail; the fair-faced cup-companions came and the
+pure wine[FN#252] went round amongst them, till the cup came to the
+stranger, who rose to his feet and spake thus, "If the Commander of the
+Faithful permit me, I will say one word." Answered the Caliph, "Say
+what thou wilt." Quoth the man "Verily the Exalted Intelligence (whose
+eminence Allah increase!) knoweth that his slave was this day, in the
+august assembly, one of the unknown folk and of the meanest of the
+company; and the Commander of the Faithful raised his rank and brought
+him near to himself, little as were the wit and wisdom he displayed,
+preferring him above the rest and advancing him to a station and a
+degree where to his thought aspired not. But now he is minded to part
+him from that small portion of intellect which raised him high from his
+lowness and made him great after his littleness. Heaven forfend and
+forbid that the Commander of the Faithful should envy his slave what
+little he hath of understanding and worth and renown! Now, if his slave
+should drink wine, his reason would depart far from him and ignorance
+draw near to him and steal-away his good breeding, so would he revert
+to that low and contemptible degree, whence he sprang, and become
+ridiculous and despicable in the eyes of the folk. I hope, therefore,
+that the August Intelligence, of his power and bounty and
+royal-generosity and magnanimity, will not despoil his slave of this
+jewel." When the Caliph Al-Maamun heard his speech, he praised him and
+thanked him and making him sit down again in his place, showed him high
+honour and ordered him a present of an hundred thousand silver pieces.
+Moreover he mounted him upon a horse and gave him rich apparel; and in
+every assembly he was wont to exalt him and show him favour over all
+the other doctors of law and religion till he became the highest of
+them all in rank. And Allah is All knowing.[FN#253] Men also tell a
+tale of
+
+
+
+ALI SHAR[FN#254] AND ZUMURRUD.
+
+There lived once in the days of yore and the good old times long gone
+before, in the land of Khorasan, a merchant called Majd al-Dнn, who had
+great wealth and many slaves and servants, white and black, young and
+old; but he had not been blessed with a child until he reached the age
+of threescore, when Almighty Allah vouchsafed him a son, whom he named
+Alн Shбr. The boy grew up like the moon on the night of fulness; and
+when he came to man's estate and was endowed with all kinds of
+perfections, his father fell sick of a death-malady and, calling his
+son to him, said, "O my son, the fated hour of my decease is at hand,
+and I desire to give thee my last injunctions." He asked, "And what are
+they, O my father?"; and he answered, "O my son, I charge thee, be not
+over-familiar with any[FN#255] and eschew what leadeth to evil and
+mischief. Beware lest thou sit in company with the wicked; for he is
+like the blacksmith; if his fire burn thee not, his smoke shall bother
+thee: and how excellent is the saying of the poet,[FN#256]
+
+'In thy whole world there is not one,
+
+
+Whose friendship thou may'st count upon,
+
+
+Nor plighted faith that will stand true,
+
+
+When times go hard, and hopes are few.
+
+
+Then live apart and dwell alone,
+
+
+Nor make a prop of any one,
+
+
+I've given a gift in that I've said,
+
+
+Will stand thy friend in every stead:'
+
+
+
+And what another saith,
+
+'Men are a hidden malady; * Rely not on the sham in them:
+
+
+For perfidy and treachery * Thou'lt find, if thou examine them.'
+
+
+
+And yet a third saith,
+
+'Converse with men hath scanty weal, except * To while away the
+
+
+     time in chat and prate:
+
+
+Then shun their intimacy, save it be * To win thee lore, or
+
+
+     better thine estate.'
+
+
+
+And a fourth saith,
+
+'If a sharp-witted wight e'er tried mankind, * I've eaten that
+
+
+     which only tasted he:[FN#257]
+
+
+Their amity proved naught but wile and guile, * Their faith I
+
+
+     found was but hypocrisy.'"
+
+
+
+Quoth Ali, "O my father, I have heard thee and I will obey thee what
+more shall I do?" Quoth he, "Do good whereas thou art able; be ever
+kind and courteous to men and regard as riches every occasion of doing
+a good turn; for a design is not always easily carried out; and how
+well saith the poet,
+
+"Tis not at every time and tide unstable, * We can do kindly acts
+
+
+     and charitable:
+
+
+When thou art able hasten thee to act, * Lest thine endeavour
+
+
+     prove anon unable!'"
+
+
+
+Said Ali, "I have heard thee and I will obey thee."—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth
+replied, "I have heard thee and I will obey thee; what more?" And his
+sire continued, "Be thou, O my son, mindful of Allah, so shall He be
+mindful of thee. Ward thy wealth and waste it not; for an thou do, thou
+wilt come to want the least of mankind. Know that the measure of a
+man's worth is according to that which his right hand hendeth: and how
+well saith the poet,[FN#258]
+
+'When fails my wealth no friend will deign befriend, * And when
+
+
+     it waxeth all men friendship show:
+
+
+How many a foe for wealth became my friend, * Wealth lost, how
+
+
+     many a friend became a foe!'"
+
+
+
+Asked Ali, "What more?" And Majd al-Din answered, "O my son, take
+counsel of those who are older than thou and hasten not to do thy
+heart's desire. Have compassion on those who are below thee, so shall
+those who are above thee have compassion on thee; and oppress none,
+lest Allah empower one who shall oppress thee. How well saith the poet,
+
+'Add other wit to thy wit, counsel craving, * For man's true
+
+
+     course hides not from minds of two
+
+
+Man is a mirror which but shows his face, * And by two mirrors he
+
+
+     his back shall view.'
+
+
+
+And as saith another,[FN#259]
+
+'Act on sure grounds, nor hurry fast,
+
+
+To gain the purpose that thou hast
+
+
+And be thou kindly to all men
+
+
+So kindly thou'lt be called again;
+
+
+For not a deed the hand can try,
+
+
+Save 'neath the hand of God on high,
+
+
+Nor tyrant harsh work tyranny,
+
+
+Uncrushed by tyrant harsh as he.'
+
+
+
+And as saith yet another,[FN#260]
+
+'Tyrannize not, if thou hast the power to do so; for the
+
+
+     tyrannical-is in danger of revenges.
+
+
+Thine eye will sleep while the oppressed, wakeful, will call down
+
+
+     curses on thee, and God's eye sleepeth not.'
+
+
+
+Beware of wine-bibbing, for drink is the root of all evil: it doeth
+away the reason and bringeth to contempt whoso useth it; and how well
+saith the poet,
+
+'By Allah, wine shall not disturb me, while my soul * Join body,
+
+
+     nor while speech the words of me explain:
+
+
+No day will I be thralled to wine-skin cooled by breeze[FN#261] *
+
+
+     Nor choose a friend save those who are of cups unfair.'
+
+
+
+This, then, is my charge to thee; bear it before thine eyes, and Allah
+stand to thee in my stead." Then he swooned away and kept silent
+awhile; and, when he came to himself, he besought pardon of Allah and
+pronounced the profession of the Faith, and was admitted to the mercy
+of the Almighty. So his son wept and lamented for him and presently
+made proper preparation for his burial; great and small walked in his
+funeral-procession and Koran readers recited Holy Writ about his bier;
+nor did Ali Shar omit aught of what was due to the dead. Then they
+prayed over him and committed him to the dust and wrote these two
+couplets upon his tomb,
+
+'Thou west create of dust and cam'st to life, * And learned'st in
+
+
+     eloquence to place thy trust;
+
+
+Anon, to dust returning, thou becamest * A corpse, as though
+
+
+     ne'er taken from the dust."
+
+
+
+Now his son Ali Shar grieved for him with sore grief and mourned him
+with the ceremonies usual among men of note; nor did he cease to weep
+the loss of his father till his mother died also, not long afterwards,
+when he did with her as he had done with his sire. Then he sat in the
+shop, selling and buying and consorting with none of Almighty Allah's
+creatures, in accordance with his father's injunction. This wise he
+continued to do for a year, at the end of which time there came in to
+him by craft certain whoreson fellows and consorted with him, till he
+turned after their example to lewdness and swerved from the way of
+righteousness, drinking wine in flowing bowls and frequenting fair
+women night and day; for he said to himself, "Of a truth my father
+amassed this wealth for me, and if I spend it not, to whom shall I
+leave it? By Allah, I will not do save as saith the poet,
+
+'An through the whole of life * Thou gett'st and gain'st for
+
+
+     self;
+
+
+Say, when shalt thou enjoy * Thy gains and gotten pelf?'"
+
+
+
+And Ali Shar ceased not to waste his wealth all whiles of the day and
+all watches of the night, till he had made away with the whole of his
+riches and abode in pauper case and troubled at heart. So he sold his
+shop and lands and so forth, and after this he sold the clothes off his
+body, leaving himself but one suit; and, as drunkenness quitted him and
+thoughtfulness came to him, he fell into grief and sore care. One day,
+when he had sat from day-break to mid-afternoon without breaking his
+fast, he said in his mind, "I will go round to those on whom I spent my
+monies: perchance one of them will feed me this day." So he went the
+round of them all; but, as often as he knocked at any one's door of
+them, the man denied himself and hid from him, till his stomach ached
+with hunger. Then he betook himself to the bazar of the merchants,—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Tenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ali Shar feeling
+his stomach ache with hunger, betook himself to the merchants' bazar
+where he found a crowd of people assembled in ring, and said to
+himself, "I wonder what causeth these folk to crowd together thus? By
+Allah, I will not budge hence till I see what is within yonder ring!"
+So he made his way into the ring and found therein a damsel exposed for
+sale who was five feet tall,[FN#262] beautifully proportioned, rosy of
+cheek and high of breast; and who surpassed all the people of her time
+in beauty and loveliness and elegance and grace; even as saith one,
+describing her,
+
+"As she willиd she was made, and in such a way that when * She
+
+
+     was cast in Nature's mould neither short nor long was she:
+
+
+Beauty woke to fall in love with the beauties of her form, *
+
+
+     Where combine with all her coyness her pride and pudency:
+
+
+The full moon is her face[FN#263]and the branchlet is her shape,
+
+
+     * And the musk-pod is her scent—what like her can there be?
+
+
+'Tis as though she were moulded from water of the pearl, * And in
+
+
+     every lovely limblet another moon we see!"
+
+
+
+And her name was Zumurrud—the Smaragdine. So when Ali Shar saw her, he
+marvelled at her beauty and grace and said, "By Allah, I will not stir
+hence till I see how much this girl fetcheth, and know who buyeth her!"
+So he took standing-place amongst the merchants, and they thought he
+had a mind to buy her, knowing the wealth he had inherited from his
+parents. Then the broker stood at the damsel's head and said, "Ho,
+merchants! Ho, ye men of money! Who will open the gate of biddings for
+this damsel, the mistress of moons, the union pearl, Zumurrud the
+curtain-maker, the sought of the seeker and the delight of the
+desirous? Open the biddings' door and on the opener be nor blame nor
+reproach for evermore." Thereupon quoth one merchant, "Mine for five
+hundred dinars;" "And ten," quoth another. "Six hundred," cried an old
+man named Rashнd al-Din, blue of eye[FN#264] and foul of face. "And
+ten," cried another. "I bid a thousand," rejoined Rashid al-Din;
+whereupon the rival merchants were tongue-tied, and held their peace
+and the broker took counsel with the girl's owner, who said, "I have
+sworn not to sell her save to whom she shall choose: so consult her."
+Thereupon the broker went up to Zumurrud and said to her, "O mistress
+of moons this merchant hath a mind to buy thee." She looked at Rashid
+al-Din and finding him as we have said, replied, "I will not be sold to
+a gray-beard, whom decrepitude hath brought to such evil plight. Allah
+inspired his saying who saith,
+
+'I craved of her a kiss one day; but soon as she beheld * My
+
+
+     hoary hairs, though I my luxuries and wealth display'd;
+
+
+She proudly turned away from me, showed shoulders, cried aloud:—
+
+
+     * 'No! no! by Him, whose hest mankind from nothingness hath
+
+
+     made
+
+
+For hoary head and grizzled chin I've no especial-love: * What!
+
+
+     stuff my mouth with cotton[FN#265] ere in sepulchre I'm
+
+
+     laid?'"
+
+
+
+Now when the broker heard her words he said, "By Allah, thou art
+excusable, and thy price is ten thousand gold pieces!" So he told her
+owner that she would not accept of old man Rashid al-Din, and he said,
+"Consult her concerning another." Thereupon a second man came forward
+and said, "Be she mine for what price was offered by the oldster she
+would have none of;" but she looked at him and seeing that his beard
+was dyed, said "What be this fashion lewd and base and the blackening
+of the hoary face?" And she made a great show of wonderment and
+repeated these couplets,
+
+"Showed me Sir Such-an-one a sight and what a frightful sight! *
+
+
+     A neck by Allah, only made for slipper-sole to smite[FN#266]
+
+
+A beard the meetest racing ground where gnats and lice contend, *
+
+
+     A brow fit only for the ropes thy temples chafe and
+
+
+     bite.[FN#267]
+
+
+O thou enravish" by my cheek and beauties of my form, * Why so
+
+
+     translate thyself to youth and think I deem it right?
+
+
+Dyeing disgracefully that white of reverend aged hairs, * And
+
+
+     hiding for foul purposes their venerable white!
+
+
+Thou goest with one beard and comest back with quite another, *
+
+
+     Like Punch-and-Judy man who works the Chinese shades by
+
+
+     night.[FN#268]
+
+
+
+And how well saith another'
+
+Quoth she, 'I see thee dye thy hoariness:'[FN#269] * 'To hide, O
+
+
+     ears and eyes! from thee,' quoth I:
+
+
+She roared with laugh and said, 'Right funny this; * Thou art so
+
+
+     lying e'en
+
+
+
+Now when the broker heard her verse he exclaimed, "By Allah thou hast
+spoken sooth!" The merchant asked what she said: so the broker repeated
+the verses to him; and he knew that she was in the right while he was
+wrong and desisted from buying her. Then another came forward and said,
+"Ask her if she will be mine at the same price;" but, when he did so,
+she looked at him and seeing that he had but one eye, said, "This man
+is one-eyed; and it is of such as he that the poet saith,[FN#270]
+
+'Consort not with the Cyclops e'en a day; * Beware his falsehood
+
+
+     and his mischief fly:
+
+
+Had this monocular a jot of good, * Allah had ne'er brought
+
+
+     blindness to his eye!'"
+
+
+
+Then said the broker, pointing to another bidder, "Wilt thou be sold to
+this man?" She looked at him and seeing that he was short of
+stature[FN#271] and had a beard that reached to his navel, cried, "This
+is he of whom the poet speaketh,
+
+'I have a friend who hath a beard * Allah to useless length
+
+
+     unroll'd:
+
+
+'Tis like a certain[FN#272] winter night, * Longsome and
+
+
+     darksome, drear and cold.'"
+
+
+
+Said the broker, "O my lady, look who pleaseth thee of these that are
+present, and point him out, that I may sell thee to him." So she looked
+round the ring of merchants, examining one by one their physiognomies,
+till her glance fell on Ali Shar,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Eleventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the girl's
+glance fell on Ali Shar, she cast at him a look with longing eyes,
+which cost her a thousand sighs, and her heart was taken with him; for
+that he was of favour passing fair and pleasanter than zephyr or
+northern air; and she said, "O broker, I will be sold to none but to
+this my lord, owner of the handsome face and slender form whom the poet
+thus describeth,
+
+'Displaying that fair face * The tempted they assailed
+
+
+Who, had they wished me safe * That lovely face had veiled!'
+
+
+
+For none shall own me but he, because his cheek is smooth and the water
+of his mouth sweet as Salsabil;[FN#273] his spittle is a cure for the
+sick and his charms daze and dazzle poet and proser, even as saith one
+of him,
+
+'His honey dew of lips is wine; his breath * Musk and those
+
+
+     teeth, smile shown, are camphor's hue:
+
+
+Rizwбn[FN#274] hath turned him out o' doors, for fear * The
+
+
+     Houris lapse from virtue at the view
+
+
+Men blame his bearing for its pride, but when * In pride the full
+
+
+     moon sails, excuse is due.'
+
+
+
+Lord of the curling locks and rose red cheeks and ravishing look of
+whom saith the poet,
+
+'The fawn-like one a meeting promised me * And eye expectant
+
+
+     waxed and heart unstirred:
+
+
+His eyelids bade me hold his word as true; * But, in their
+
+
+     languish,[FN#275] can he keep his word?'
+
+
+
+And as saith another,
+
+'Quoth they, 'Black letters on his cheek are writ! * How canst
+
+
+     thou love him and a side-beard see?'
+
+
+Quoth I, 'Cease blame and cut your chiding short; * If those be
+
+
+     letters 'tis a forgery:'
+
+
+Gather his charms all growths of Eden garth * Whereto those
+
+
+     Kausar[FN#276]-lips bear testimony.'"
+
+
+
+When the broker heard the verses she repeated on the charms of Ali
+Shar, he marvelled at her eloquence, no less than at the brightness of
+her beauty; but her owner said to him, "Marvel not at her splendour
+which shameth the noonday sun, nor that her memory is stored with the
+choicest verses of the poets; for besides this, she can repeat the
+glorious Koran, according to the seven readings,[FN#277] and the august
+Traditions, after ascription and authentic transmission; and she
+writeth the seven modes of handwriting[FN#278] and she knoweth more
+learning and knowledge than the most learned. Moreover, her hands are
+better than gold and silver; for she maketh silken curtains and selleth
+them for fifty gold pieces each; and it taketh her but eight days to
+make a curtain." Exclaimed the broker, "O happy the man who hath her in
+his house and maketh her of his choicest treasures!"; and her owner
+said to him, "Sell her to whom she will." So the broker went up to Ali
+Shar and, kissing his hands, said to him, "O my lord, buy thou this
+damsel, for she hath made choice of thee."[FN#279] Then he set forth to
+him all her charms and accomplishments, and added, "I give thee joy if
+thou buy her, for this be a gift from Him who is no niggard of His
+giving." Whereupon Ali bowed his head groundwards awhile, laughing at
+himself and secretly saying, "Up to this hour I have not broken my
+fast; yet I am ashamed before the merchants to own that I have no money
+wherewith to buy her." The damsel, seeing him hang down his head, said
+to the broker, "Take my hand and lead me to him, that I may show my
+beauty to him and tempt him to buy me; for I will not be sold to any
+but to him." So the broker took her hand and stationed her before Ali
+Shar, saying, "What is thy good pleasure, O my lord?" But he made him
+no answer, and the girl said to him, "O my lord and darling of my
+heart, what aileth thee that thou wilt not bid for me? Buy me for what
+thou wilt and I will bring thee good fortune." So he raised his eyes to
+her and said, "Is buying perforce? Thou art dear at a thousand dinars."
+Said she, "Then buy me, O my lord, for nine hundred." He cried, "No,"
+and she rejoined, "Then for eight hundred;" and though he again said,
+"Nay," she ceased not to abate the price, till she came to an hundred
+dinars. Quoth he, "I have not by me a full hundred." So she laughed and
+asked, "How much dost thou lack of an hundred?" He answered, "By Allah,
+I have neither an hundred dinars, nor any other sum; for I own neither
+white coin nor red cash, neither dinar nor dirham. So look out thou for
+another and a better customer." And when she knew that he had nothing,
+she said to him, "Take me by the hand and carry me aside into a by-
+lane, as if thou wouldst examine me privily." He did so and she drew
+from her bosom a purse containing a thousand dinars, which she gave
+him, saying, "Pay down nine hundred to my price and let the hundred
+remain with thee by way of provision." He did as she bid him and,
+buying her for nine hundred dinars, paid down the price from her own
+purse and carried her to his house. When she entered it, she found a
+dreary desolate saloon without carpets or vessels; so she gave him
+other thousand dinars, saying, "Go to the bazar and buy three hundred
+dinars' worth of furniture and vessels for the house and three dinars'
+worth of meat and drink."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Twelfth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King that quoth the
+slave-girl, "Bring us meat and drink for three dinars, furthermore a
+piece of silk, the size of a curtain, and bring golden and silvern
+thread and sewing silk of seven colours." Thus he did, and she
+furnished the house and they sat down to eat and drink; after which
+they went to bed and took their pleasure one of the other. And they lay
+the night embraced behind the curtain and were even as saith the
+poet,[FN#280]
+
+"Cleave fast to her thou lovestand let the envious rail amain,
+
+
+     For calumny and envy ne'er to favour love were fain.
+
+
+Lo, whilst I slept, in dreams I saw thee lying by my side And,
+
+
+     from thy lips the sweetest, sure, of limpid springs did
+
+
+     drain.
+
+
+Yea, true and certain all I saw is, as I will avouch, And 'spite
+
+
+     the envier, thereto I surely will attain.
+
+
+There is no goodlier sight, indeed, for eyes to look upon, Than
+
+
+     when one couch in its embrace enfoldeth lovers twain.
+
+
+Each to the other's bosom clasped, clad in their twinned delight,
+
+
+     Whilst hand with hand and arm with arm about their necks
+
+
+     enchain
+
+
+Lo, when two hearts are straitly knit in passion and desire, But
+
+
+     on cold iron smite the folk who chide at them in vain.
+
+
+Thou, that for loving censurest the votaries of love, Canst thou
+
+
+     assain a heart diseased or heal-a cankered brain?
+
+
+If in thy time thou kind but one to love thee and be true, I rede
+
+
+     thee cast the world away and with that one remain."
+
+
+
+So they lay together till the morning and love for the other waxed
+firmly fixed in the heart of each. And on rising, Zumurrud took the
+curtain and embroidered it with coloured silks and purpled it with
+silver and gold thread and she added thereto a border depicting round
+about it all manner of birds and beasts; nor is there in the world a
+feral but she wrought his semblance. This she worked in eight days,
+till she had made an end of it, when she trimmed it and glazed and
+ironed it and gave it to her lord, saying, "Carry it to the bazar and
+sell it to one of the merchants at fifty dinars; but beware lest thou
+sell it to a passer-by, as this would cause a separation between me and
+thee, for we have foes who are not unthoughtful of us." "I hear and I
+obey," answered he and, repairing to the bazar, sold the curtain to a
+merchant, as she bade him; after which he bought a piece of silk for
+another curtain and gold and silver and silken thread as before and
+what they needed of food, and brought all this to her, giving her the
+rest of the money. Now every eight days she made a curtain, which he
+sold for fifty dinars, and on this wise passed a whole year. At the end
+of that time, he went as usual to the bazar with a curtain, which he
+gave to the broker; and there came up to him a Nazarene who bid him
+sixty dinars for it; but he refused, and the Christian continued
+bidding higher and higher, till he came to an hundred dinars and bribed
+the broker with ten ducats. So the man returned to Ali Shar and told
+him of the proffered price and urged him to accept the offer and sell
+the article at the Nazarene's valuation, saying, "O my lord, be not
+afraid of this Christian for that he can do thee no hurt." The
+merchants also were urgent with him; so he sold the curtain to the
+Christian, albeit his heart misgave him; and, taking the money, set off
+to return home. Presently, as he walked, he found the Christian walking
+behind him; so he said to him, "O Nazarene,[FN#281] why dost thou
+follow in my footsteps?" Answered the other "O my lord, I want a
+something at the end of the street, Allah never bring thee to want!";
+but Ali Shar had barely reached his place before the Christian overtook
+him; so he said to him, "O accursed, what aileth thee to follow me
+wherever I go?" Replied the other, "O my lord, give me a draught of
+water, for I am athirst; and with Allah be thy reward!"[FN#282] Quoth
+Ali Shar to himself, "Verily, this man is an Infidel who payeth tribute
+and claimeth our protection[FN#283] and he asketh me for a draught of
+water; by Allah, I will not baulk him!"—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth Ali Shar to
+himself, "This man is a tributary Unbeliever and he asked me for a
+draught of water; by Allah, I will not baulk him!" So he entered the
+house and took a gugglet of water; but the slave-girl Zumurrud saw him
+and said to him, "O my love, hast thou sold the curtain?" He replied,
+"Yes;" and she asked, "To a merchant or to a passer-by? for my heart
+presageth a parting." And he answered, "To whom but to a merchant?"
+Thereupon she rejoined, "Tell me the truth of the case, that I may
+order my affair; and why take the gugglet of water?" And he, To give
+the broker to drink," upon which she exclaimed, There is no Majesty and
+there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"; and she
+repeated these two couplets,[FN#284]
+
+"O thou who seekest separation, act leisurely, and let not the
+
+
+     embrace of the beloved deceive thee!
+
+
+Act leisurely; for the nature of fortune is treacherous, and the
+
+
+     end of every union is disjunction.
+
+
+
+Then he took the gugglet and, going out, found the Christian within the
+vestibule and said to him, "How comest thou here and how darest thou, O
+dog, enter my house without my leave?" Answered he, "O my lord, there
+is no difference between the door and the vestibule, and I never
+intended to stir hence, save to go out; and my thanks are due to thee
+for thy kindness and favour, thy bounty and generosity." Then he took
+the mug and emptying it, returned it to Ali Shar, who received it and
+waited for him to rise up and to go; but he did not move. So Ali said
+to him, "Why dost thou not rise and wend thy way?"; and he answered, "O
+my lord, be not of those who do a kindness and then make it a reproach,
+nor of those of whom saith the poet,[FN#285]
+
+'They're gone who when thou stoodest at their door * Would for
+
+
+     thy wants so generously cater:
+
+
+But stand at door of churls who followed them, * They'd make high
+
+
+     favour of a draught of water!'"
+
+
+
+And he continued, "O my lord, I have drunk, and now I would have thee
+give me to eat of whatever is in the house, though it be but a bit of
+bread or a biscuit with an onion." Replied Ali Shar, "Begone, without
+more chaffer and chatter; there is nothing in the house." He persisted,
+"O my lord, if there be nothing in the house, take these hundred dinars
+and bring us something from the market, if but a single scone, that
+bread and salt may pass between us."[FN#286] With this, quoth Ali Shar
+to himself, "This Christian is surely mad; I will take his hundred
+dinars and bring him somewhat worth a couple of dirhams and laugh at
+him." And the Nazarene added, "O my lord, I want but a small matter to
+stay my hunger, were it but a dry scone and an onion; for the best food
+is that which doeth away appetite, not rich viands; and how well saith
+the poet,
+
+'Hunger is sated with a bone-dry scone, * How is it then[FN#287]
+
+
+     in woes of want I wone?
+
+
+Death is all-justest, lacking aught regard * For Caliph-king and
+
+
+     beggar woe-begone.'"
+
+
+
+Then quoth Ali Shar, "Wait here, while I lock the saloon and fetch thee
+somewhat from the market;" and quoth the Christian, "To hear is to
+obey." So Ali Shar shut up the saloon and, locking the door with a
+padlock, put the key in his pocket: after which he went to market and
+bought fried cheese and virgin honey and bananas[FN#288] and bread,
+with which he returned to the house. Now when the Christian saw the
+provision, he said, "O my lord, this is overmuch; 'tis enough for half
+a score of men and I am alone; but belike thou wilt eat with me."
+Replied Ali, "Eat by thyself, I am full;" and the Christian rejoined,
+"O my lord, the wise say, Whoso eateth not with his guest is a son of a
+whore." Now when Ali Shar heard these words from the Nazarene, he sat
+down and ate a little with him, after which he would have held his
+hand;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fourteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ali Shar sat down
+and ate a little with him, after which he would have held his hand; but
+the Nazarene privily took a banana and peeled it; then, splitting it in
+twain, put into one half concentrated Bhang, mixed with opium, a drachm
+whereof would over throw an elephant; and he dipped it in the honey and
+gave it to Ali Shar, saying, "O my lord, by the truth of thy religion,
+I adjure thee to take this." So Ali Shar, being ashamed to make him
+forsworn, took it and swallowed it; but hardly had it settled well in
+his stomach, when his head forwent both his feet and he was as though
+he had been a year asleep. As soon as the Nazarene saw this, rose to
+his feet as he had been a scald wolf or a cat-o'-mount[FN#289] at bay
+and, taking the saloon key, left Ali Shar prostrate and ran off to
+rejoin his brother. And the cause of his so doing was that the
+Nazarene's brother was the same decrepit old man who purposed to buy
+Zumurrud for a thousand dinars, but she would none of him and jeered
+him in verse. He was an Unbeliever inwardly, though a Moslem outwardly,
+and had called himself Rashid al-Din;[FN#290] and when Zumurrud mocked
+him and would not accept of him, he complained to his brother the
+aforesaid Christian who played this sleight to take her from her master
+Ali Shar; whereupon his brother, Barsum by name said to him, "Fret not
+thyself about the business, for I will make shift to seize her for
+thee, without expending either diner or dirham. Now he was a skilful
+wizard, crafty and wicked; so he watched his time and ceased not his
+practices till he played Ali Shar the trick before related; then,
+taking the key, he went to his brother and acquainted him with what had
+passed. Thereupon Rashid al-Din mounted his she mule and repaired with
+his brother and his servants to the house of Ali Shar, taking with him
+a purse of a thousand dinars, wherewith to bribe the Chief of Police,
+should he meet him. He opened the saloon door and the men who were with
+him rushed in upon Zumurrud and forcibly seized her, threatening her
+with death, if she spoke, but they left the place as it was and took
+nothing therefrom. Lastly they left Ali Shar lying in the vestibule
+after they had shut the door on him and laid the saloon key by his
+side. Then the Christian carried the girl to his own house and setting
+her amongst his handmaids and concubines, said to her, "O strumpet, I
+am the old man whom thou didst reject and lampoon; but now I have thee,
+without paying diner or dirham." Replied she (and her eyes streamed
+with tears), "Allah requite thee, O wicked old man, for sundering me
+and my lord!" He rejoined, "Wanton minx and whore that thou art, thou
+shalt see how I will punish thee! By the truth of the Messiah and the
+Virgin, except thou obey me and embrace my faith, I will torture thee
+with all manner of torture!" She replied, "By Allah, though thou cut my
+flesh to bits I will not forswear the faith of Al-Islam! It may be
+Almighty Allah will bring me speedy relief, for He cloth even as He is
+fief, and the wise say: 'Better body to scathe than a flaw in faith.'"
+Thereupon the old man called his eunuchs and women, saying, "Throw her
+down!" So they threw her down and he ceased not to beat her with
+grievous beating, whilst she cried for help and no help came; then she
+no longer implored aid but fell to saying, "Allah is my sufficiency,
+and He is indeed all-sufficient!" till her groans ceased and her breath
+failed her and she fell into a fainting-fit. Now when his heart was
+soothed by bashing her, he said to the eunuchs, "Drag her forth by the
+feet and cast her down in the kitchen, and give her nothing to eat."
+And after quietly sleeping that night, on the morrow the accursed old
+man sent for her and beat her again, after which he bade the Castrato
+return her to her place. When the burning of the blows had cooled, she
+said, "There is no god but the God and Mohammed is the Apostle of God!
+Allah is my sufficiency and excellent is my Guardian!" And she called
+for succour upon our Lord Mohammed (whom Allah bless and keep!)—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fifteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zumurrud called
+for succour upon our Lord Mohammed (whom Allah bless and keep!). Such
+was her case; but as regards Ali Shar, he ceased not sleeping till next
+day, when the Bhang quitted his brain and he opened his eyes and cried
+out, "O Zumurrud"; but no one answered him. So he entered the saloon
+and found the empty air and the fane afar;[FN#291] whereby he knew that
+it was the Nazarene who had played him this trick. And he groaned and
+wept and lamented and again shed tears, repeating these couplets,
+
+"O Love thou'rt instant in thy cruellest guise; * Here is my
+
+
+     heart 'twixt fears and miseries:
+
+
+Pity, O lords, a thrall who, felled on way * Of Love, erst
+
+
+     wealthy now a beggar lies:
+
+
+What profits archer's art if, when the foe * Draw near, his
+
+
+     bowstring snap ere arrow {lies:
+
+
+And when griefs multiply on generous man * And urge, what fort
+
+
+     can fend from destinies?
+
+
+How much and much I warded parting, but * 'When Destiny descends
+
+
+     she blinds our eyes?'"
+
+
+
+And when he had ended his verse, he sobbed with loud sobs and repeated
+also these couplets,
+
+"Enrobes with honour sands of camp her foot step wandering lone,
+
+
+     * Pines the poor mourner as she wins the stead where wont to
+
+
+     wane
+
+
+She turns to resting-place of tribe, and yearns thereon to view *
+
+
+     The spring-camp lying desolate with ruins overstrown
+
+
+She stands and questions of the site, but with the tongue of case
+
+
+     * The mount replies, 'There is no path that leads to union,
+
+
+     none!
+
+
+'Tis as the lightning flash erewhile bright glittered o'er the
+
+
+     camp * And died in darkling air no more to be for ever
+
+
+     shown.'"
+
+
+
+And he repented when repentance availed him naught, and wept and rent
+his raiment. Then he hent in hand two stones and went round about the
+city, beating his breast with the stones and crying "O Zumurrud!"
+whilst the small boys flocked round him, calling out, "A madman! A
+madman!" and all who knew him wept for him, saying, "This is such an
+one: what evil hath befallen him?" Thus he continued doing all that day
+and, when night darkened on him, he lay down in one of the city lanes
+and sleet till morning On the morrow, he went round about town with the
+stones till eventide, when he returned to his saloon to pass therein
+the night. Presently, one of his neighbours saw him, and this worthy
+old woman said to him, "O my son, Heaven give thee healing! How long
+hast thou been mad?" And he answered her with these two
+couplets,[FN#292]
+
+"They said, Thou revest upon the person thou lovest. * And I
+
+
+     replied, The sweets of life are only for the mad.
+
+
+Drop the subject of my madness, and bring her upon whom I rave *
+
+
+     If she cure my madness do not blame me."
+
+
+
+So his old neighbour knew him for a lover who had lost his beloved and
+said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might, save in Allah, the
+Glorious, the Great! O my son, I wish thou wouldest acquaint me with
+the tale of thine affliction. Peradventure Allah may enable me to help
+thee against it, if it so please Him." So he told her all that had
+befallen him with Barsum the Nazarene and his brother the wizard who
+had named himself Rashid al-Din and, when she understood the whole
+case, she said, "O my son, indeed thou hast excuse." And her eyes
+railed tears and she repeated these two couplets,
+
+"Enough for lovers in this world their ban and bane: * By Allah,
+
+
+     lover ne'er in fire of Sakar fries:
+
+
+For, sure, they died of love-desire they never told * Chastely,
+
+
+     and to this truth tradition testifies."[FN#293]
+
+
+
+And after she had finished her verse, she said, "O my son, rise at once
+and buy me a crate, such as the jewel-pedlars carry; buy also bangles
+and seal-rings and bracelets and ear-rings and other gewgaws wherein
+women delight and grudge not the cash. Put all the stock into the crate
+and bring it to me and I will set it on my head and go round about, in
+the guise of a huckstress and make search for her in all the houses,
+till I happen on news of her— Inshallah!" So Ali Shar rejoiced in her
+words and kissed her hands, then, going out, speedily brought her all
+she required; whereupon she rose and donned a patched gown and threw
+over her head a honey-yellow veil, and took staff in hand and, with the
+basket on her head, began wandering about the passages and the houses.
+She ceased not to go from house to house and street to street and
+quarter to quarter, till Allah Almighty led her to the house of the
+accursed Rashid al-Din the Nazarene where, hearing groans within, she
+knocked at the door,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Sixteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old
+woman heard groans within the house, she knocked at the door, whereupon
+a slave-girl came down and opening to her, saluted her. Quoth the old
+woman, "I have these trifles for sale: is there any one with you who
+will buy aught of them?" "Yes," answered the damsel and, carrying her
+indoors, made her sit down; whereupon all the slave-girls came round
+her and each bought something of her. And as the old woman spoke them
+fair and was easy with them as to price, all rejoiced in her, because
+of her kind ways and pleasant speech. Meanwhile, she looked narrowly at
+the ins and outs of the place to see who it was she had heard groaning,
+till her glance fell on Zumurrud, when she knew her and she began to
+show her customers yet more kindness. At last she made sure that
+Zumurrud was laid prostrate; so she wept and said to the girls, "O my
+children, how cometh yonder young lady in this plight?" Then the
+slave-girls told her all what had passed, adding, "Indeed this matter
+is not of our choice; but our master commanded us to do thus, and he is
+now on a journey." She said, "O my children, I have a favour to ask of
+you, and it is that you loose this unhappy damsel of her bonds, till
+you know of your lord's return, when do ye bind her again as she was;
+and you shall earn a reward from the Lord of all creatures." "We hear
+and obey," answered they and at once loosing Zumurrud, gave her to eat
+and drink. Thereupon quoth the old woman, "Would my leg had been
+broken, ere I entered your house!" And she went up to Zumurrud and said
+to her, "O my daughter, Heaven keep thee safe; soon shall Allah bring
+thee relief." Then she privily told her that she came from her lord,
+Ali Shar, and agreed with her to be on the watch for sounds that night,
+saying, "Thy lord will come and stand by the pavilion-bench and
+whistle[FN#294] to thee; and when thou hearest him, do thou whistle
+back to him and let thyself down to him by a rope from the window, and
+he will take thee and go away with thee." So Zumurrud thanked the old
+woman, who went forth and returned to Ali Shar and told him what she
+had done, saying, "Go this night, at midnight, to such a quarter, for
+the accursed carle's house is there and its fashion is thus and thus.
+Stand under the window of the upper chamber and whistle; whereupon she
+will let herself down to thee; then do thou take her and carry her
+whither thou wilt." He thanked her for her good offices and with
+flowing tears repeated these couplets,
+
+"Now with their says and saids[FN#295] no more vex me the chiding
+
+
+     race; * My heart is weary and I'm worn to bone by their
+
+
+     disgrace:
+
+
+And tears a truthful legend[FN#296] with a long ascription-chain
+
+
+     * Of my desertion and distress the lineage can trace.
+
+
+O thou heart-whole and free from dole and dolours I endure, * Cut
+
+
+     short thy long persistency nor question of my case:
+
+
+A sweet-lipped one and soft of sides and cast in shapeliest mould
+
+
+     * Hath stormed my heart with honied lure and honied words of
+
+
+     grace.
+
+
+No rest my heart hath known since thou art gone, nor ever close *
+
+
+     These eyes, nor patience aloe scape the hopes I dare to
+
+
+     trace:
+
+
+Ye have abandoned me to be the pawn of vain desire, * In squalid
+
+
+     state 'twixt enviers and they who blame to face:
+
+
+As for forgetting you or love 'tis thing I never knew; * Nor in
+
+
+     my thought shall ever pass a living thing but you."
+
+
+
+And when he ended his verses, he sighed and shed tears and repeated
+also these couplets,
+
+"Divinely were inspired his words who brought me news of you; *
+
+
+     For brought he unto me a gift was music in mine ear:
+
+
+Take he for gift, if him content, this worn-out threadbare robe,
+
+
+     * My heart, which was in pieces torn when parting from my
+
+
+     fete."
+
+
+
+He waited till night darkened and, when came the appointed time, he
+went to the quarter she had described to him and saw and recognised the
+Christian's house; so he sat down on the bench under the gallery.
+Presently drowsiness overcame him and he slept (Glory be to Him who
+sleepeth not!?, for it was long since he had tasted sleep, by reason of
+the violence of his passion, and he became as one drunken with slumber.
+And while he was on this wise,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Seventeenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that while he lay
+asleep, behold, a certain thief, who had come out that night and
+prowled about the skirts of the city to steal-somewhat, happened by the
+decree of Destiny, on the Nazarene's house. He went round about it, but
+found no way of climbing up into it, and presently on his circuit he
+came to the bench, where he saw Ali Shar asleep and stole his turband;
+and, as he was taking it suddenly Zumurrud looked out and seeing the
+thief standing in the darkness, took him for her lord; whereupon she
+let herself down to him by the rope with a pair of saddle-bags full of
+gold. Now when the robber saw that, he said to himself, "This is a
+wondrous thing, and there must needs be some marvellous cause to it."
+Then he snatched up the saddle-bags, and threw Zumurrud over his
+shoulders and made off with both like the blinding lightening. Quoth
+she, "Verily, the old woman told me that thou west weak with illness on
+my account; and here thou art, stronger than a horse." He made her no
+reply; so she put her hand to his face and felt a beard like the broom
+of palm-frond used for the Hammam,[FN#297] as if he were a hog which
+had swallowed feathers and they had come out of his gullet; whereat she
+took fright and said to him, "What art thou?" "O strumpet," answered
+he, "I am the sharper Jawбn[FN#298] the Kurd, of the band of Ahmad
+al-Danaf; we are forty sharpers, who will all piss our tallow into thy
+womb this night, from dusk to dawn." When she heard his words, she wept
+and beat her face, knowing that Fate had gotten the better of her and
+that she had no resource but resignation and to put her trust in Allah
+Almighty. So she took patience and submitted herself to the ordinance
+of the Lord, saying, "There is no god but the God! As often as we
+escape from one woe, we fall into a worse." Now the cause of Jawan's
+coming thither was this: he had said to Calamity-Ahmad, "O
+Sharper-captain,[FN#299] I have been in this city before and know a
+cavern without the walls which will hold forty souls; so I will go
+before you thither and set my mother therein. Then will I return to the
+city and steal-somewhat for the luck of all of you and keep it till you
+come; so shall you be my guests and I will show you hospitality this
+day." Replied Ahmad al-Danaf, "Do what thou wilt." So Jawan went forth
+to the place before them and set his mother in the cave; but, as he
+came out he found a trooper lying asleep, with his horse picketed
+beside him; so he cut his throat and, taking his clothes and his
+charger and his arms, hid them with his mother in the cave, where also
+he tethered the horse. Then he betook himself to the city and prowled
+about, till he happened on the Christian's house and did with Ali
+Shar's turband and Zumurrud and her saddle-bags as we have said. He
+ceased not to run, with Zumurrud on his back, till he came to the
+cavern, where he gave her in charge of his mother, saying, "Keep thou
+watch over her till I return to thee at first dawn of day," and went
+his ways.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Eighteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth Kurdish
+Jawan to his mother, "Keep thou watch over her till I come back to thee
+at first dawn of day," and went his ways. Now Zumurrud said to herself,
+"Why am I so heedless about saving my life and wherefore await till
+these forty men come?: they will take their turns to board me, till
+they make me like a water- logged ship at sea." Then she turned to the
+old woman, Jawan's mother, and said to her, "O my aunt, wilt thou not
+rise up and come without the cave, that I may louse thee in the
+sun?"[FN#300] Replied the old woman, "Ay, by Allah, O my daughter: this
+long time have I been out of reach of the bath; for these hogs cease
+not to carry me from place to place." So they went without the cavern,
+and Zumurrud combed out her head hair and killed the lice on her locks,
+till the tickling soothed her and she fell asleep; whereupon Zumurrud
+arose and, donning the clothes of the murdered trooper, girt her waist
+with his sword and covered her head with his turband, so that she
+became as she were a man. Then, mounting the horse after she had taken
+the saddle-bags full of gold, she breathed a prayer, "O good Protector,
+protect me I adjure thee by the glory of Mohammed (whom Allah bless and
+preserve!)," adding these words in thought, "If I return to the city
+belike one of the trooper's folk will see me, and no good will befal
+me." So she turned her back on the town and rode forth into the wild
+and the waste. And she ceased not faring forth with her saddle-bags and
+the steed, eating of the growth of the earth and drinking of its
+waters, she and her horse, for ten days and, on the eleventh, she came
+in sight of a city pleasant and secure from dread, and established in
+happy stead. Winter had gone from it with his cold showers, and Prime
+had come to it with his roses and orange- blossoms and varied flowers;
+and its blooms were brightly blowing; its streams were merrily flowing
+and its birds warbled coming and going. And she drew near the dwellings
+and would have entered the gate when she saw the troops and Emirs and
+Grandees of the place drawn up, whereat she marvelled seeing them in
+such unusual-case and said to herself, "The people of the city are all
+gathered at its gate: needs must there be a reason for this." Then she
+made towards them; but, as she drew near, the soldiery dashed forward
+to meet her and, dismounting all, kissed the ground between her hands
+and said, "Aid thee Allah, O our lord the Sultan!" Then the notables
+and dignitaries ranged themselves before her in double line, whilst the
+troops ordered the people in, saying, "Allah aid thee and make thy
+coming a blessing to the Moslems, O Sultan of all creatures! Allah
+establish thee, O King of the time and union-pearl of the day and the
+tide!" Asked Zumurrud, "What aileth you, O people of this city?" And
+the Head Chamberlain answered, "Verily, He hath given to thee who is no
+niggard in His giving; and He hath been bountiful to thee and hath made
+thee Sultan of this city and ruler over the necks of all who are
+therein; for know thou it is the custom of the citizens, when their
+King deceaseth leaving no son, that the troops should sally forth to
+the suburbs and sojourn there three days: and whoever cometh from the
+quarter whence thou hast come, him they make King over them. So praised
+be Allah who hath sent us of the sons of the Turks a well-favoured man;
+for had a lesser than thou presented himself, he had been Sultan." Now
+Zumurrud was clever and well-advised in all she did: so she said,
+"Think not that I am of the common folk of the Turks! nay, I am of the
+sons of the great, a man of condition; but I was wroth with my family,
+so I went forth and left them. See these saddle-bags full of gold which
+I have brought under me that, by the way, I might give alms thereof to
+the poor and the needy." So they called down blessings upon her and
+rejoiced in her with exceeding joy and she also joyed in them and said
+in herself, "Now that I have attained to this"—And Shahrazad perceived
+the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Nineteenth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth Zumurrud to
+herself, "Now that I have attained to this case, haply Allah will
+reunite me with my lord in this place, for He can do whatso He
+willeth." Then the troops escorted her to the city and, all
+dismounting, walked before her to the palace. Here she alighted and the
+Emirs and Grandees, taking her under both armpits,[FN#301] carried her
+into the palace and seated her on the throne; after which they all
+kissed ground before her. And when duly enthroned she bade them open
+the treasuries and gave largesse to all the troops, who offered up
+prayers for the continuance of her reign, and all the townsfolk
+accepted her rule and all the lieges of the realm. Thus she abode
+awhile bidding and forbidding, and all the people came to hold her in
+exceeding reverence and heartily to love her, by reason of her
+continence and generosity; for taxes she remitted and prisoners she
+released and grievances she redressed; but, as often as she bethought
+her of her lord, she wept and besought Allah to reunite her and him;
+and one night, as she chanced to be thinking of him and calling to mind
+the days she had passed with him, her eyes ran over with tears and she
+versified in these two couplets,
+
+"My yearning for thee though long is fresh, * And the tears which
+
+
+     chafe these eyelids increase
+
+
+When I weep, I weep from the burn of love, * For to lover
+
+
+     severance is decease."[FN#302]
+
+
+
+And when she had ended her verse, she wiped away her tears and
+repairing to the palace, betook herself to the Harim, where she
+appointed to the slave-girls and concubines separate lodgings and
+assigned them pensions and allowances, giving out that she was minded
+to live apart and devote herself to works of piety. So she applied
+herself to fasting and praying, till the Emirs said, "Verily this
+Sultan is eminently devout;" nor would she suffer any male attendants
+about her, save two little eunuchs to serve her. And on this wise she
+held the throne a whole year, during which time she heard no news of
+her lord, and failed to hit upon his traces, which was exceeding
+grievous to her; so, when her distress became excessive, she summoned
+her Wazirs and Chamberlains and bid them fetch architects and builders
+and make her in front of the palace a horse-course, one parasang long
+and the like broad. They hastened to do her bidding, and lay out the
+place to her liking; and, when it was completed, she went down into it
+and they pitched her there a great pavilion, wherein the chairs of the
+Emirs were ranged in due order. Moreover, she bade them spread on the
+racing-plain tables with all manners of rich meats and when this was
+done she ordered the Grandees to eat. So they ate and she said to them,
+"It is my will that, on seeing the new moon of each month, ye do on
+this wise and proclaim in the city that no man shall open his shop, but
+that all our lieges shall come and eat of the King's banquet, and that
+whoso disobeyeth shall be hanged over his own door."[FN#303] So they
+did as she bade them, and ceased not so to do till the first new moon
+of the second year appeared; when Zumurrud went down into the
+horse-course and the crier proclaimed aloud, saying, "Ho, ye lieges and
+people one and all, whoso openeth store or shop or house shall straight
+way be hanged over his own door; for it behoveth you to come in a body
+and eat of the King's banquet." And when the proclamation became known,
+they laid the tables and the subjects came in hosts; so she bade them
+sit down at the trays and eat their fill of all the dishes. Accordingly
+they sat down and she took place on her chair of state, watching them,
+whilst each who was at meat said to himself, "Verily the King looketh
+at none save me." Then they fell to eating and the Emirs said to them,
+"Eat and be not ashamed; for this pleaseth the King." So they ate their
+fill and went away, blessing the Sovereign and saying, one to the
+other, "Never in our days saw we a Sultan who loved the poor as doth
+this Sultan." And they wished him length of life. Upon this Zumurrud
+returned to her palace,— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Twentieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Queen Zumurrud
+returned to her palace, rejoicing in her device and saying to herself,
+"Inshallah, I shall surely by this means happen on news of my lord Ali
+Shar." When the first day of the second month came round, she did as
+before and when they had spread the tables she came down from her
+palace and took place on her throne and commanded the lieges to sit
+down and fall to. Now as she sat on her throne, at the head of the
+tables, watching the people take their places company by company and
+one by one, behold her eye fell on Barsum, the Nazarene who had bought
+the curtain of her lord; and she knew him and said in her mind, "This
+is the first of my joy and the winning of my wish." Then Barsum came up
+to the table and, sitting down with the rest to eat, espied a dish of
+sweet rice, sprinkled with sugar; but it was far from him, so he pushed
+up to it through the crowd and, putting out his hand to it, seized it
+and set it before himself. His next neighbour said to him, "Why dost
+thou not eat of what is before thee? Is not this a disgrace to thee?
+How canst thou reach over for a dish which is distant from thee? Art
+thou not ashamed?" Quoth Barsum, "I will eat of none save this same."
+Rejoined the other, "Eat then, and Allah give thee no good of it!" But
+another man, a Hashish-eater, said, "Let him eat of it, that I may eat
+with him." Replied his neighbour, "O unluckiest of Hashish- eaters,
+this is no meat for thee; it is eating for Emirs. Let it be, that it
+may return to those for whom it is meant and they eat it." But Barsum
+heeded him not and took a mouthful of the rice and put it in his mouth;
+and was about to take a second mouthful when the Queen, who was
+watching him, cried out to certain of her guards, saying, "Bring me
+yonder man with the dish of Sweet rice before him and let him not eat
+the mouthful he hath read but throw it from his hand."[FN#304] So four
+of the guards went up to Barsum and haled him along on his face, after
+throwing the mouthful of rice from his hand, and set him standing
+before Zumurrud, whilst all the people left eating and said to one
+another, By Allah, he did wrong in not eating of the food meant for the
+likes of him." Quoth one, "For me I was content with this
+porridge[FN#305] which is before me." And the Hashish-eater said,
+"Praised be Allah who hindered me from eating of the dish of sugared
+rice for I expected it to stand before him and was waiting only for him
+to have his enjoyment of it, to eat with him, when there befel him what
+we see." And the general said, one to other, "Wait till we see what
+shall befal him." Now as they brought him before Queen Zumurrud she
+cried, "Woe to thee, O blue eyes! What is thy name and why comest thou
+to our country?" But the accursed called himself out of his name having
+a white turband[FN#306] on, and answered, "O King, my name is Ali; I
+work as a weaver and I came hither to trade." Quoth Zumurrud, "Bring me
+a table of sand and a pen of brass," and when they brought her what she
+sought, she took the sand and the pen, and struck a geomantic figure in
+the likeness of a baboon; then, raising her head, she looked hard at
+Barsum for an hour or so and said to him, "O dog, how darest thou lie
+to Kings? Art thou not a Nazarene, Barsum by name, and comest thou not
+hither in quest of somewhat? Speak the truth, or by the glory of the
+Godhead, I will strike off thy head!" At this Barsum was confounded and
+the Emirs and bystanders said, "Verily, this King understandeth
+geomancy: blessed be He who hath gifted him!" Then she cried out upon
+the Christian and said, 'Tell me the truth, or I will make an end of
+thee!" Barsum replied, "Pardon, O King of the age; thou art right as
+regards the table, for the far one[FN#307] is indeed a Nazarene,—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Twenty-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Barsum replied,
+"Pardon, O King of the age; thou art right as regards the table, for
+thy slave is indeed a Nazarene." Whereupon all present, gentle and
+simple, wondered at the King's skill in hitting upon the truth by
+geomancy, and said, "Verily this King is a diviner, whose like there is
+not in the world." Thereupon Queen Zumurrud bade flay the Nazarene and
+stuff his skin with straw and hang it over the gate of the race-course.
+Moreover, she commended to dig a pit without the city and burn therein
+his flesh and bones and throw over his ashes offal and ordure. "We hear
+and obey," answered they, and did with him all she bade; and, when the
+folk saw what had befallen the Christian, they said, "Serve him right;
+but what an unlucky mouthful was that for him!" And another said, "Be
+the far one's wife divorced if this vow be broken: never again to the
+end of my days will I eat of sugared rice!"; and the Hashish-eater
+cried "Praised be Allah, who spared me this fellow's fate by saving me
+from eating of that same rice!" Then they all went out, holding it
+thenceforth unlawful to sit over against the dish of sweet rice as the
+Nazarene had sat. Now when the first day of the third month came, they
+laid the tables according to custom, and covered them with dishes and
+chargers, and Queen Zumurrud came down and sat on her throne, with her
+guards in attendance, as of wont, in awe of her dignity and majesty.
+Then the townsfolk entered as before and went round about the tables,
+looking for the place of the dish of sweet rice, and quoth one to
+another, "Hark ye, O Hбjн[FN#308] Khalaf!"; and the other answered, "At
+thy service, O Hбjн Khбlid." Said Khбlid, "Avoid the dish of sweet rice
+and look thou eat not thereof; for, if thou do, by early morning thou
+will be hanged."[FN#309] Then they sat down to meat around the table;
+and, as they were eating, Queen Zumurrud chanced to look from her
+throne and saw a man come running in through the gate of the
+horse-course; and having considered him attentively, she knew him for
+Jawan the Kurdish thief who murdered the trooper. Now the cause of his
+coming was this: when he left his mother, he went to his comrades and
+said to them, "I did good business yesterday; for I slew a trooper and
+took his horse. Moreover there fell to me last night a pair of
+saddle-bags, full of gold, and a young lady worth more than the money
+in pouch; and I have left all that with my mother in the cave." At this
+they rejoiced and repaired to the cavern at night-fall, whilst Jawan
+the Kurd walked in front and the rest behind; he wishing to bring them
+the booty of which he had boasted. But he found the place clean empty
+and questioned his mother, who told him all that had befallen her;
+whereupon he bit his hands for regret and exclaimed, "By Allah, I will
+assuredly make search for the harlot and take her, wherever she is,
+though it be in the shell of a pistachio-nut,[FN#310] and quench my
+malice on her!" So he went forth in quest of her and ceased not
+journeying from place to place, till he came to Queen Zumurrud's city.
+On entering he found the town deserted and, enquiring of some women
+whom he saw looking from the windows, they told him that it was the
+Sultan's custom to make a banquet for the people on the first of each
+month and that all the lieges were bound to go and eat of it.
+Furthermore the women directed him to the racing-ground, where the
+feast was spread. So he entered at a shuffling trot; and, finding no
+place empty, save that before the dish of sweet rice already noticed,
+took his seat right opposite it and stretched out his hand towards the
+dish; whereupon the folk cried out to him, saying, "O our brother, what
+wouldst thou do?" Quoth he, "I would eat my fill of this dish."
+Rejoined one of the people, "If thou eat of it thou wilt assuredly find
+thyself hanged to-morrow morning." But Jawan said, "Hold thy tongue and
+talk not so unpleasantly." Then he stretched out his hand to the dish
+and drew it to him; but it so chanced that the Hashish-eater of whom we
+have spoken, was sitting by him; and when he saw him take the dish, the
+fumes of the Hashish left his head and he fled from his place and sat
+down afar off, saying, "I will have nothing to do with yonder dish."
+Then Jawan the Kurd put out his hand (which was very like a raven's
+claws,[FN#311] scooped up therewith half the dishful and drew out his
+neave as it were a camel's hoof,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Twenty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Jawan the Kurd
+drew his neave from the dish as it were a camel's hoof and rolled the
+lump of rice in the palm of his hand, till it was like a big orange,
+and threw it ravenously into his mouth; and it rolled down his gullet,
+with a rumble like thunder and the bottom of the deep dish appeared
+where said mouthful had been. Thereupon quoth to him one sitting by his
+side, "Praised be Allah for not making me meat between thy hands; for
+thou hast cleared the dish at a single mouthful;" and quoth the
+Hashish-eater, "Let him eat; methinks he hath a hanging face." Then,
+turning to Jawan he added, "Eat and Allah give thee small good of it."
+So Jawan put out his hand again and taking another mouthful, was
+rolling it in his palm like the first, when behold, the Queen cried out
+to the guards saying, "Bring me yonder man in haste and let him not eat
+the mouthful in his hand." So they ran and seizing him as he hung over
+the dish, brought him to her, and set him in her presence, whilst the
+people exulted over his mishap and said one to the other, "Serve him
+right, for we warned him, but he would not take warning. Verily, this
+place is bound to be the death of whoso sitteth therein, and yonder
+rice bringeth doom to all who eat of it." Then said Queen Zumurrud to
+Jawan, "What is thy name and trade and wherefore comest thou to our
+city?" Answered he, "O our lord the Sultan, my name is Othman; I work
+as a gardener and am come hither in quest of somewhat I have lost."
+Quoth Zumurrud, "Here with a table of sand!" So they brought it, and
+she took the pen and drawing a geomantic scheme, considered it awhile,
+then raising her head, exclaimed, "Woe to thee, thou loser! How darest
+thou lie to Kings? This sand telleth me that of a truth thy name is
+Jawan the Kurd and that thou art by trade a robber, taking men's goods
+in the way of unright and slaying those whom Allah hath forbidden to
+slay save for just cause." And she cried out upon him, saying, "O hog,
+tell me the truth of thy case or I will cut off thy head on the spot."
+Now when he heard these words, he turned yellow and his teeth
+chattered; then, deeming that he might save himself by truth-telling,
+he replied, "O King, thou sayest sooth; but I repent at thy hands
+henceforth and turn to Allah Almighty!" She answered, "It were not
+lawful for me to leave a pest in the way of Moslems;" and cried to her
+guards, "Take him and skin him and do with him as last month ye did by
+his like." They obeyed her commandment; and, when the Hashish- eater
+saw the soldiers seize the man, he turned his back upon the dish of
+rice, saying, "'Tis a sin to present my face to thee!" And after they
+had made an end of eating, they dispersed to their several homes and
+Zumurrud returned to her palace and dismissed her attendants. Now when
+the fourth month came round, they went to the race-course and made the
+banquet, according to custom, and the folk sat awaiting leave to begin.
+Presently Queen Zumurrud entered and, sitting down on her throne,
+looked at the tables and saw that room for four people was left void
+before the dish of rice, at which she wondered. Now as she was looking
+around, behold, she saw a man come trotting in at the gate of the
+horse- course; and he stayed not till he stood over the food-trays;
+and, finding no room save before the dish of rice, took his seat there.
+She looked at him and knowing him for the accursed Christian who called
+himself Rashid al-Din, said in her mind, "How blessed is this device of
+the food,[FN#312] into whose toils this infidel hath fallen" Now the
+cause of his coming was extraordinary, and it was on this wise. When he
+returned from his travels,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Twenty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
+accursed, who had called himself Rashid al-Din, returned from travel,
+his household informed him that Zumurrud was missing and with her a
+pair of saddle-bags full of money; on hearing which ill tidings he rent
+his raiment and buffeted his face and plucked out his beard. Then he
+despatched his brother Barsum in quest of her to lands adjoining and,
+when he was weary of awaiting news of him, he went forth himself, to
+seek for him and for the girl, whenas fate led him to the city of
+Zumurrud. He entered it on the first day of the month and finding the
+streets deserted and the shops shut and women idling at the windows, he
+asked them the reason why, and they told him that the King made a
+banquet on the first of each month for the people, all of whom were
+bound to attend it, nor might any abide in his house or shop that day;
+and they directed him to the racing-plain. So he betook himself thither
+and found the people crowding about the food, and there was never a
+place for him save in front of the rice-dish now well-known. Here then
+he sat and put forth his hand to eat thereof, whereupon Zumurrud cried
+out to her guards, saying, "Bring me him who sitteth over against the
+dish of rice." So they knew him by what had before happened and laid
+hands on him and brought him before Queen Zumurrud, who said to him,
+"Out on thee! What is thy name and trade, and what bringeth thee to our
+city?" Answered he, "O King of the age, my name is Rustam[FN#313] and I
+have no occupation, for I am a poor dervish." Then said she to her
+attendants, "Bring me table of sand and pen of brass." So they brought
+her what she sought, as of wont; and she took the pen and made the dots
+which formed the figure and considered it awhile, then raising her head
+to Rashid al-Din, she said, "O dog, how darest thou lie to Kings? Thy
+name is Rashid al-Din the Nazarene, thou art outwardly a Moslem, but a
+Christian at heart, and thine occupation is to lay snares for the
+slave-girls of the Moslems and make them captives. Speak the truth, or
+I will smite off thy head." He hesitated and stammered, then replied,
+"Thou sayest sooth, O King of the age!" Whereupon she commanded to
+throw him down and give him an hundred blows with a stick on each sole
+and a thousand stripes with a whip on his body; after which she bade
+flay him and stuff his skin with herds of flax and dig a pit without
+the city, wherein they should burn his corpse and cast on his ashes
+offal-and ordure. They did as she bade them and she gave the people
+leave to eat. So they ate and when they had eaten their fill they went
+their ways, while Queen Zumurrud returned to her palace, saying, "I
+thank Allah for solacing my heart of those who wronged me." Then she
+praised the Creator of the earth and the heavens and repeated these
+couplets,
+
+"They ruled awhile and theirs was harsh tyrannic rule, * But soon
+
+
+     that rule went by as though it never were:
+
+
+If just they had won justice; but they sinned, and so * The world
+
+
+     collected all its bane for them to bear:
+
+
+So died they and their case's tongue declares aloud * This is for
+
+
+     that so of the world your blaming spare."
+
+
+
+And when her verse was ended she called to mind her lord Ali Shar and
+wept flowing tears; but presently recovered herself and said, "Haply
+Allah, who hath given mine enemies into my hand, will vouchsafe me the
+speedy return of my beloved;" and she begged forgiveness of Allah (be
+He extolled and exalted')—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen begged
+forgiveness of Allah (be He extolled and exalted!), and said, "Haply He
+will vouchsafe me speedy reunion with my beloved Ali Shar for He can do
+what He willeth and to His servants showeth grace, ever mindful of
+their case!" Then she praised Allah and again besought forgiveness of
+Him, submitting herself to the decrees of destiny, assured that each
+beginning hath his end, and repeating the saying of the poet,
+
+"Take all things easy; for all worldly things * In Allah's hand
+
+
+     are ruled by Destiny:
+
+
+Ne'er shall befal thee aught of things forbidden, * Nor what is
+
+
+     bidden e'er shall fail to thee!"
+
+
+
+And what another saith.
+
+"Roll up thy days[FN#314] and easy shall they roll * Through
+
+
+     life, nor haunt the house of grief and dole:
+
+
+Full many a thing, which is o'er hard to find,* Next hour shall
+
+
+     bring thee to delight thy soul."
+
+
+
+And what a third saith,[FN#315]
+
+"Be mild what time thou'rt ta'en with anger and despite * And
+
+
+     patient, if there fall misfortune on thy head.
+
+
+Indeed, the nights are quick and great with child by Time * And
+
+
+     of all wondrous things are hourly brought to bed."
+
+
+
+And what a fourth saith,
+
+"Take patience which breeds good if patience thou can learn; * Be
+
+
+     calm soured, scaping anguish-draughts that gripe and bren:
+
+
+Know, that if patience with good grace thou dare refuse, * With
+
+
+     ill-graced patience thou shalt bear what wrote the Pen."
+
+
+
+After which she abode thus another whole month's space, judging the
+folk and bidding and forbidding by day, and by night weeping and
+bewailing her separation from her lord Ali Shar. On the first day of
+the fifth month, she bade them spread the banquet on the race-plain,
+according to custom, and sat down at the head of the tables, whilst the
+lieges awaited the signal to fall to, leaving the place before the dish
+of rice vacant. She sat with eyes fixed upon the gate of the
+horse-course, noting all who entered and saying in her soul, "O Thou
+who restoredest Joseph to Jacob and diddest away the sorrows of
+Job,[FN#316] vouchsafe of Thy might and Thy majesty to restore me my
+lord Ali Shar; for Thou over all things art Omnipotent, O Lord of the
+Worlds! O Guide of those who go astray! O Hearer of those that cry! O
+Answerer of those who pray, answer Thou my prayer, O Lord of all
+creatures." Now hardly had she made an end of her prayer and
+supplication when behold, she saw entering the gate of the horse-plain
+a young man, in shape like a willow branch, the comeliest of youths and
+the most accomplished, save that his face was wan and his form wasted
+by weariness. Now as he entered and came up to the tables, he found no
+seat vacant save that over against the dish of sweet rice so he sat
+down there; and, when Zumurrud looked upon him, her heart fluttered
+and, observing him narrowly, she knew him for her lord Ali Shar, and
+was like to have cried out for joy, but restrained herself, fearing
+disgrace before the folk and, albeit her bowels yearned over him and
+her heart beat wildly, she hid what she felt. Now the cause of his
+coming thither was on this wise. After he fell asleep upon the bench
+and Zumurrud let herself down to him and Jawan the Kurd seized her, he
+presently awoke and found himself lying with his head bare, so he knew
+that some one had come upon him and had robbed him of his turband
+whilst he slept. So he spoke the saying which shall never shame its
+sayer and, which is, "Verily, we are Allah's and to Him are we
+returning!" and, going back to the old woman's house, knocked at the
+door. She came out and he wept before her, till he fell down in a
+fainting fit. Now when he came to himself, he told her all that had
+passed, and she blamed him and chid him for his foolish doings saying,
+"Verily thine affliction and calamity come from thyself." And she gave
+not over reproaching him, till the blood streamed from his nostrils and
+he again fainted away. When he recovered from his swoon,—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ali Shar
+recovered from his swoon he saw the old woman bewailing his griefs and
+weeping over him; so he complained of his hard lot and repeated these
+two couplets,
+
+"How bitter to friends is a parting, * And a meeting how sweet to
+
+
+     the lover!
+
+
+Allah join all the lovers He parteth, * And save me who of love
+
+
+     ne'er recover."[FN#317]
+
+
+
+The old woman mourned over him and said to him, "Sit here, whilst I go
+in quest of news for thee and return to thee in haste." "To hear is to
+obey," answered he. So she left him on her good errand and was absent
+till midday, when she returned and said to him, "O Ali, I fear me thou
+must die in thy grief; thou wilt never see thy beloved again save on
+the bridge Al-Sirбt;[FN#318] for the people of the Christian's house,
+when they arose in the morning, found the window giving on the garden
+torn from its hinges and Zumurrud missing, and with her a pair of
+saddle-bags full of the Christian's money. And when I came thither, I
+saw the Chief of Police standing at the door, he and his many, and
+there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious,
+the Great!" Now, as Ali Shar heard these words, the light in his sight
+was changed to the darkness of night and he despaired of life and made
+sure of death; nor did he leave weeping, till he lost his senses. When
+he revived, love and longing were sore upon him; there befel him a
+grievous sickness and he kept his house a whole year; during which the
+old woman ceased not to bring him doctors and ply him with ptisanes and
+diet-drinks and make him savoury broths till, after the twelve-month
+ended, his life returned to him. Then he recalled what had passed and
+repeated these couplets,
+
+"Severance-grief nighmost, Union done to death, * Down-railing
+
+
+     tear-drops, heart fire tortureth!
+
+
+Redoubleth pine in one that hath no peace * For love and wake and
+
+
+     woe he suffereth:
+
+
+O Lord, if there be thing to joy my soul * Deign Thou bestow it
+
+
+     while I breathe my breath."
+
+
+
+When the second year began, the old woman said to him, "O my son, all
+this thy weeping and wailing will not bring thee back thy mistress.
+Rise, therefore, gird the loins of resolution and seek for her in the
+lands: peradventure thou shalt light on some news of her." And she
+ceased not to exhort and hearten him, till he took courage and she
+carried him to the Hammam. Then she made him drink strong wine and eat
+white meats, and thus she did with him for a whole month, till he
+regained strength; and setting out journeyed without ceasing till he
+arrived at Zumurrud's city where he went to the horse-course, and sat
+down before the dish of sweet rice and put out his hand to eat of it.
+Now when the folk saw this, they were concerned for him and said to
+him, "O young man, eat not of that dish, for whoso eateth thereof,
+misfortune befalleth him." Answered he, "Leave me to eat of it, and let
+them do with me what they will, so haply shall I be at rest from this
+wearying life." Accordingly he ate a first mouthful, and Zumurrud was
+minded to have him brought before her, but then she bethought her that
+belike he was an hungered and said to herself, "It were properer to let
+him eat his fill." So he went on eating, whilst the folk looked at him
+in astonishment, waiting to see what would betide him; and, when he had
+satisfied himself, Zumurrud said to certain of her eunuchry, "Go to
+yonder youth who eateth of the rice and bring him to me in courteous
+guise, saying: 'Answer the summons of the King who would have a word
+with thee on some slight matter.'" They replied, "We hear and obey,"
+and going straightways up to Ali Shar, said to him, "O my lord, be
+pleased to answer the summons of the King and let thy heart be at
+ease." Quoth he, "Hearkening and obedience;" and followed the
+eunuchs,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ali Shar
+rejoined, "Hearkening and obedience;" and followed the eunuchs, whilst
+the people said to one another, "There is no Majesty and there is no
+Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! I wonder what the King
+will do with him!" And others said, "He will do him naught but good:
+for had he intended to harm him, he had not suffered him to eat his
+fill." Now when the Castratos set him in presence of Zumurrud he
+saluted and kissed the earth before her, whilst she returned his
+salutation and received him with honour. Then she asked him, "What may
+be thy name and trade, and what brought thee to our city?"; and he
+answered, "O King my name is Ali Shar; I am of the sons of the
+merchants of Khorasan; and the cause of my coming hither is to seek for
+a slave-girl whom I have lost for she was dearer to me than my hearing
+and my seeing, and indeed my soul cleaveth to her, since I lost her;
+and such is my tale." So saying he wept, till he swooned away;
+whereupon she bade them sprinkle rose-water on his face, which they did
+till he revived, when she said, "Here with the table of sand and the
+brass pen." So they brought them and she took the pen and struck a
+geomantic scheme which she considered awhile; and then cried, "Thou
+hast spoken sooth, Allah will grant thee speedy reunion with her; so be
+not troubled." Upon this she commanded her head- chamberlain to carry
+him to the bath and afterwards to clothe him in a handsome suit of
+royal-apparel, and mount him on one of the best of the King's horses
+and finally bring him to the palace at the last of the day. So the
+Chamberlain, after saying "I hear and I obey," took him away, whilst
+the folk began to say to one another, "What maketh the King deal thus
+courteously with yonder youth?" And quoth one, "Did I not tell you that
+he would do him no hurt?; for he is fair of aspect; and this I knew,
+ever since the King suffered him to eat his fill." And each said his
+say; after which they all dispersed and went their ways. As for
+Zumurrud, she thought the night would never come, that she might be
+alone with the beloved of her heart. As soon as it was dark, she
+withdrew to her sleeping-chamber and made her attendants think her
+overcome with sleep; and it was her wont to suffer none to pass the
+night with her save those two little eunuchs who waited upon her. After
+a while when she had composed herself, she sent for her dear Ali Shar
+and sat down upon the bed, with candles burning over her head and feet,
+and hanging lamps of gold lighting up the place like the rising sun.
+When the people heard of her sending for Ali Shar, they marvelled
+thereat and each man thought his thought and said his say; but one of
+them declared, "At all events the King is in love with this young man,
+and to- morrow he will make him generalissimo of the army."[FN#319] Now
+when they brought him into her, he kissed the ground between her hands
+and called down blessings her, and she said in her mind, "There is no
+help for it but that I jest with him awhile, before I make myself known
+to him.''[FN#320] Then she asked him, "O Ali, say me, hast thou been to
+the Hammam?"[FN#321] and he answered, "Yes, O my lord." Quoth she,
+"Come, eat of this chicken and meat, and drink of this wine and sherbet
+of sugar; for thou art weary; and after that come thou hither." "I hear
+and I obey," replied he and did as she commanded him do. Now when he
+had made an end of eating and drinking, she said to him, "Come up with
+me on the couch and shampoo[FN#322] my feet." So he fell to rubbing
+feet and kneading calves, and found them softer than silk. Then said
+she, "Go higher with the massage;" and he, "Pardon me, O my lord, to
+the knee but no farther!" Whereupon quoth she, "Durst thou disobey me?:
+it shall be an ill-omened night for thee!"—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zumurrud cried to
+her lord, Ali Shar, "Durst thou disobey me?: it shall be an ill-omened
+night for thee! Nay, but it behoveth thee to do my bidding and I will
+make thee my minion and appoint thee one of my Emirs." Asked Ali Shar,
+"And in what must I do thy bidding, O King of the age?" and she
+answered, "Doff thy trousers and lie down on thy face." Quoth he, "That
+is a thing in my life I never did; and if thou force me thereto, verily
+I will accuse thee thereof before Allah on Resurrection-day. Take
+everything thou hast given me and let me go from thy city." And he wept
+and lamented; but she said, "Doff thy trousers and lie down on thy
+face, or I will strike off thy head." So he did as she bade him and she
+mounted upon his back; and he felt what was softer than silk and
+smoother than cream and said in himself, "Of a truth, this King is
+nicer than all the women!" Now for a time she abode on his back, then
+she turned over on the bed, and he said to himself, "Praised be Allah!
+It seemeth his yard is not standing." Then said she, "O Ali, it is of
+the wont of my prickle that it standeth not, except they rub it with
+their hands; so, come, rub it with thy hand, till it be at stand, else
+will I slay thee." So saying, she lay down on her back and taking his
+hand, set it to her parts, and he found these same parts softer than
+silk; white, plumply-rounded, protuberant, resembling for heat the hot
+room of the bath or the heart of a lover whom love-longing hath wasted.
+Quoth Ali in himself, "Verily, our King hath a coynte; this is indeed a
+wonder of wonders!" And lust get hold on him and his yard rose and
+stood upright to the utmost of its height; which when Zumurrud saw, she
+burst out laughing and said to him, "O my lord, all this happeneth and
+yet thou knowest me not!" He asked "And who art thou, O King?"; and she
+answered, "I am thy slave- girl Zumurrud." Now whenas he knew this and
+was certified that she was indeed his very slave-girl, Zumurrud, he
+kissed her and embraced her and threw himself upon her as the lion upon
+the lamb. Then he sheathed his steel rod in her scabbard and ceased not
+to play the porter at her door and the preacher in her pulpit and the
+priest[FN#323] at her prayer niche, whilst she with him ceased not from
+inclination and prostration and rising up and sitting down,
+accompanying her ejaculations of praise and of "Glory to Allah!" with
+passionate movements and wrigglings and claspings of his member[FN#324]
+and other amorous gestures, till the two little eunuchs heard the
+noise. So they came and peeping from behind the curtains saw the King
+lying on his back and upon him Ali Shar, thrusting and slashing whilst
+she puffed and blew and wriggled. Quoth they, "Verily, this be no man's
+wriggle: belike this King is a woman.''[FN#325] But they concealed
+their affair and discovered it to none. And when the morrow came,
+Zumurrud summoned all the troops and the lords of the realm and said to
+them, "I am minded to journey to this man's country; so choose you a
+viceroy, who shall rule over you till I return to you." And they
+answered, "We hear and we obey." Then she applied herself to making
+ready the wants of the way, to wit provaunt and provender, monies and
+rarities for presents, camels and mules and so forth; after which she
+set out from her city with Ali Shar, and they ceased not faring on,
+till they arrived at his native place, where he entered his house and
+gave many gifts to his friends and alms and largesse to the poor. And
+Allah vouchsafed him children by her, and they both lived the gladdest
+and happiest of lives, till there came to them the Destroyer of
+delights and the Severer of societies and the Garnerer of graves. And
+glorified be He the Eternal without cease, and praised be He in every
+case! And amongst other tales they tell one of
+
+
+
+THE LOVES OF JUBAYR BIN UMAYR AND THE LADY BUDUR.
+
+It is related that the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid was
+uneasy[FN#326] one night and could not sleep; so that he ceased not to
+toss from side to side for very restlessness, till, growing weary of
+this, he called Masrur and said to him, "Ho, Masrur, find me some one
+who may solace me in this my wakefulness." He answered, "O Prince of
+True Believers, wilt thou walk in the palace-garden and divert thyself
+with the sight of its blooms and gaze upon the stars and constellations
+and note the beauty of their ordinance and the moon among them rising
+in sheen over the water?" Quoth the Caliph, "O Masrur, my heart
+inclineth not to aught of this." Quoth he, "O my lord, there are in thy
+palace three hundred concubines, each of whom hath her separate
+chamber. Do thou bid all and every retire into her own apartment and
+then do thou go thy rounds and amuse thyself with gazing on them
+without their knowledge." The Caliph replied, "O Masrur, the palace is
+my palace and the girls are my property: furthermore my soul inclineth
+not to aught of this." Then Masrur rejoined, "O my lord, summon the
+doctors of law and religion and the sages of science and poets, and bid
+them contend before thee in argument and disputation and recite to thee
+songs and verses and tell thee tales and anecdotes." Replied the
+Caliph, "My soul inclineth not to aught of this;" and Masrur rejoined,
+"O my lord, bid pretty boys and the wits and the cup-companions attend
+thee and solace thee with witty sallies." "O Masrur," ejaculated the
+Caliph, "indeed my soul inclineth not to aught of this." "Then, O my
+lord," cried Masrur, "strike off my head;"—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Masrur cried out
+to the Caliph, "O my lord, strike off my head; haply that will dispel
+thine unease and do away the restlessness that is upon thee." So
+Al-Rashid laughed at his saying and said, "See which of the
+boon-companions is at the door." Thereupon he went out and returning,
+said, "O my lord, he who sits without is Ali bin Mansur of Damascus,
+the Wag."[FN#327] "Bring him to me," quoth Harun: and Masrur went out
+and returned with Ibn Mansur, who said, on entering, "Peace be with
+thee, O Commander of the Faithful!" The Caliph returned his salutation
+and said to him, "O Ibn Mansur, tell us some of thy stories." Said the
+other, "O Commander of the Faithful, shall I tell thee what I have seen
+with my eyes or what I have only heard tell?" Replied the Caliph, "If
+thou have seen aught worth telling, let us hear it; for hearing is not
+like seeing." Said Ibn Mansur, "O Commander of the Faithful, lend me
+thine ear and thy heart;" and he answered, "O Ibn Mansur, behold, I am
+listening to thee with mine ears and looking at thee with mine eyes and
+attending to thee with my heart." So Ibn Mansur began: "Know then, O
+Commander of the Faithful, that I receive a yearly allowance from
+Mohammed bin Sulaymбn al-Hбshimi, Sultan of Bassorah; so I went to him
+once upon a time, as usual, and found him ready to ride out hunting and
+birding. I saluted him and he returned my salute, and said, 'O son of
+Mansur, mount and come with us to the chase:' but I said, 'O my lord, I
+can no longer ride; so do thou station me in the guest-house and give
+thy chamberlains and lieutenants charge over me.' And he did so and
+departed for his sport. His people entreated me with the utmost honour
+and entertained me with the greatest hospitality; but said I to myself,
+'By Allah, it is a strange thing that for so long I have been in the
+habit of coming from Baghdad to Bassorah, yet know no more of this town
+than from palace to garden and from garden to palace. When shall I find
+an occasion like this to view the different parts and quarters of
+Bassorah? I will rise forthwith and walk forth alone and divert myself
+and digest what I have eaten.' Accordingly I donned my richest dress
+and went out a walking about Bassorah. Now it is known to thee, O
+Commander of the Faithful, that it hath seventy streets, each seventy
+leagues[FN#328] long, the measure of Irak; and I lost myself in its
+by-streets and thirst overcame me. Presently, as I went along, O Prince
+of True Believers, behold, I came to a great door, whereon were two
+rings of brass,[FN#329] with curtains of red brocade drawn before it.
+And on either side of the door was a stone bench and over it was a
+trellis, covered with a creeping vine that hung down and shaded the
+door way. I stood still to gaze upon the place, and presently heard a
+sorrowful voice, proceeding from a heart which did not rejoice, singing
+melodiously and chanting these cinquains,
+
+'My body bides the sad abode of grief and malady, * Caused by a
+
+
+     fawn whose land and home are in a far countrie:
+
+
+O ye two Zephyrs of the wold which caused such pain in me * By
+
+
+     Allah, Lord of you! to him my heart's desire, go ye
+
+
+           And chide him so perchance ye soften him I pray.
+
+
+
+And tell us all his words if he to hear your speech shall deign,
+
+
+     * And unto him the tidings bear of lovers 'twixt you twain:
+
+
+And both vouchsafe to render me a service free and fain, * And
+
+
+     lay my case before him showing how I e'er complain:
+
+
+          And say, 'What ails thy bounder thrall this wise to
+
+
+               drive away,
+
+
+
+Without a fault committed and without a sin to show; * Or heart
+
+
+     that leans to other wight or would thy love forego:
+
+
+Or treason to our plighted troth or causing thee a throe?' * And
+
+
+     if he smile then say ye twain in accents soft and slow,
+
+
+          'An thou to him a meeting grant 'twould be the kindest
+
+
+               way!
+
+
+
+For he is gone distraught for thee, as well indeed, he might *
+
+
+     His eyes are wakeful and he weeps and wails the livelong
+
+
+     night :'
+
+
+If seem he satisfied by this why then 'tis well and right, * But
+
+
+     if he show an angry face and treat ye with despite,
+
+
+          Trick him and 'Naught we know of him!' I beg you both
+
+
+               to say.'
+
+
+
+Quoth I to myself, 'Verily, if the owner of this voice be fair, she
+conjoineth beauty of person and eloquence and sweetness of voice.' Then
+I drew near the door, and began raising the curtain little by little,
+when lo! I beheld a damsel, white as a full moon when it mooneth on its
+fourteenth night, with joined eyebrows twain and languorous lids of
+eyne, breasts like pomegranates twin and dainty, lips like double
+carnelian, a mouth as it were the seal-of Solomon, and teeth ranged in
+a line that played with the reason of proser and rhymer, even as saith
+the poet,
+
+'O pearly mouth of friend, who set those pretty pearls in line, *
+
+
+     And filled thee full of whitest chamomile and reddest wine?
+
+
+Who lent the morning-glory in thy smile to shimmer and shine *
+
+
+     Who with that ruby-padlock dared thy lips to seal-and sign!
+
+
+Who looks on thee at early morn with stress of joy and bliss *
+
+
+     Goes mad for aye, what then of him who wins a kiss of
+
+
+     thine?'[FN#330]
+
+
+
+And as saith another,
+
+    'O pearl-set mouth of friend * Pity poor Ruby's cheek
+
+
+     Boast not o'er one who owns * Thee, union and unique.'
+
+
+
+In brief she comprised all varieties of loveliness and was a seduction
+to men and women, nor could the gazer satisfy himself with the sight of
+her charms; for she was as the poet hath said of her,
+
+'When comes she, slays she; and when back he turns, * She makes
+
+
+     all men regard with loving eyes:
+
+
+A very sun! a very moon! but still * Prom hurt and harmful ills
+
+
+     her nature flies.
+
+
+Opes Eden's garden when she shows herself, * And full moon see we
+
+
+     o'er her necklace rise.'
+
+
+
+How as I was looking at her through an opening of the curtain, behold,
+she turned; and, seeing me standing at the door, said to her handmaid,
+'See who is at the door.' So the slave-girl came up to me and said, 'O
+Shaykh, hast thou no shame, or do impudent airs suit hoary hairs?'
+Quoth I, 'O my mistress, I confess to the hoary hairs, but as for
+impudent airs, I think not to be guilty of unmannerliness.' Then the
+mistress broke in, 'And what can be more unmannerly than to intrude
+thyself upon a house other than thy house and gaze on a Harim other
+than thy Harim?' I pleaded, 'O my lady, I have an excuse;' and when she
+asked, 'And what is thine excuse?' I answered, 'I am a stranger and so
+thirsty that I am well nigh dead of thirst.' She rejoined, 'We accept
+thine excuse,' —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When It was the Three Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young lady
+rejoined, 'We accept thine excuse,' and calling one of her slave maids,
+said to her, 'O Lutf,[FN#331] give him to drink in the golden tankard.'
+So she brought me a tankard of red gold, set with pearls and gems of
+price, full of water mingled with virgin musk and covered with a napkin
+of green silk, and I addressed myself to drink and was long about my
+drinking, for I stole glances at her the while, till I could prolong my
+stay no longer. Then I returned the tankard to the girl, but did not
+offer to go; and she said to me, 'O Shaykh, wend thy way.' But I said,
+'O my lady, I am troubled in mind.' She asked me 'for what?' and I
+answered, 'For the turns of Time and the change of things.' Replied
+she, 'Well mayst thou be troubled thereat for Time breedeth wonders.
+But what hast thou seen of such surprises that thou shouldst muse upon
+them?' Quoth I, 'I was thinking of the whilom owner of this house, for
+he was my intimate in his lifetime.' Asked she, 'What was his name?';
+and I answered, 'Mohammed bin Ali the Jeweller and he was a man of
+great wealth. Tell me did he leave any children?' Said she, 'Yes, he
+left a daughter, Budur by name, who inherited all his wealth?' Quoth I,
+'Meseemeth thou art his daughter?' 'Yes,' answered she, laughing; then
+added, 'O Shaykh, thou best talked long enough; now wend thy ways.'
+Replied I, 'Needst must I go, but I see thy charms are changed by being
+out of health; so tell me thy case; it may be Allah will give thee
+comfort at my hands.' Rejoined she, 'O Shayth, if thou be a man of
+discretion, I will discover to thee my secret; but first tell me who
+thou art, that I may know whether thou art worthy of confidence or not;
+for the poet saith,[FN#332]
+
+'None keepeth a secret but a faithful person: with the best of
+
+
+     mankind remaineth concealed.
+
+
+I have kept my secret in a house with a lock, whose key is lost
+
+
+     and whose door is sealed.'
+
+
+
+Thereto I replied, 'O my lady, an thou wouldest know who I am, I am Ali
+bin Mansъr of Damascus, the Wag, cup-companion to the Commander of the
+Faithful, Harun al-Rashid.' Now when she heard my name, she came down
+from her seat and saluting me, said, 'Welcome, O Ibn Mansur! Now will I
+tell thee my case and entrust thee with my secret. I am a lover
+separated from her beloved.' I answered, 'O my lady, thou art fair and
+shouldest be on love terms with none but the fair. Whom then dost thou
+love?' Quoth she, 'I love Jubayr bin Umayr al-Shaybбni, Emir of the
+Banъ Shaybбn;[FN#333]' and she described to me a young man than whom
+there was no prettier fellow in Bassorah. I asked, 'O my lady, have
+interviews or letters passed between you?' and she answered 'Yes, but
+our love was tongue-love souls, not heart and souls- love; for he kept
+not his trust nor was he faithful to his troth.' Said I, 'O my lady,
+and what was the cause of your separation?', and she replied, 'I was
+sitting one day whilst my handmaid here combed my hair. When she had
+made an end of combing it, she plaited my tresses, and my beauty and
+loveliness charmed her; so she bent over me and kissed my
+cheek.[FN#334] At that moment he came in unawares, and, seeing the girl
+kiss my cheek, straightways turned away in anger, vowing
+eternal-separation and repeating these two couplets,
+
+'If another share in the thing I love, * I abandon my love and
+
+
+     live lorn of love.
+
+
+My beloved is worthless if aught she will, * Save that which her
+
+
+     lover doth most approve.
+
+
+
+And from the time he left me to this present hour, O Ibn Mansur, he
+hath neither written to me nor answered my letters.' Quoth I, 'And what
+purposes" thou to do?' Quoth she, 'I have a mind to send him a letter
+by thee. If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt have of me five
+hundred gold pieces; and if not, then an hundred for thy trouble in
+going and coming.' I answered, 'Do what seemeth good to thee; I hear
+and I obey thee.' Whereupon she called to one of her slave-girls,
+'Bring me ink case and paper,' and she wrote thereon these couplets,
+
+'Beloved, why this strangeness, why this hate? * When shall thy
+
+
+     pardon reunite us two?
+
+
+Why dost thou turn from me in severance? * Thy face is not the
+
+
+     face I am wont to know.
+
+
+Yes, slanderers falsed my words, and thou to them * Inclining,
+
+
+     madest spite and envy grow.
+
+
+An hast believed their tale, the Heavens forbid * Now thou
+
+
+     believe it when dost better bow!
+
+
+By thy life tell what hath reached thine ear, * Thou know'st what
+
+
+     said they and so justice show.
+
+
+An it be true I spoke the words, my words * Admit interpreting
+
+
+     and change allow:
+
+
+Given that the words of Allah were revealed, * Folk changed the
+
+
+     Torah[FN#335] and still changing go:
+
+
+What slanders told they of mankind before! * Jacob heard Joseph
+
+
+     blamed by tongue of foe.
+
+
+Yea, for myself and slanderer and thee * An awful day of
+
+
+     reckoning there shall be.'
+
+
+
+Then she sealed the letter and gave it to me; and I took it and carried
+it to the house of Jubayr bin Umayr, whom I found absent a hunting. So
+I sat down to wait for him; and behold, he returned from the chase; and
+when I saw him, O Prince of True Believers, come riding up, my wit was
+confounded by his beauty and grace. As soon as he sighted me sitting at
+the house-door, he dismounted and coming up to me embraced me and
+saluted me; and meseemed I embraced the world and all therein. Then he
+carried me into his house and, seating me on his own couch, called for
+food. They brought a table of Khalanj-wood of Khorasan with feet of
+gold, whereon were all manners of meats, fried and roasted and the
+like. So I seated myself at the table and examining it with care found
+these couplets engraved upon it:"[FN#336]—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say,
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirtieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ali son of
+
+
+Mansur continued: "So I seated myself at the table of Jubayr bin
+
+
+Umayr al-Shaybani and, examining it with care, found these
+
+
+couplets engraved upon it,
+
+
+
+          'On these which once were-chicks,
+
+
+          Your mourning glances fix,
+
+
+Late dwellers in the mansion of the cup,
+
+
+          Now nearly eaten up!
+
+
+               Let tears bedew
+
+
+          The memory of that stew,
+
+
+          Those partridges, once roast,
+
+
+               Now lost!
+
+
+
+The daughters of the grouse in plaintive strain
+
+
+Bemourn, and still bemourn, and mourn again!
+
+
+          The children of the fry,
+
+
+               We lately saw
+
+
+          Half smothered in pilau
+
+
+With buttery mutton fritters smoking by!
+
+
+          Alas! my heart, the fish!
+
+
+               Who filled his dish,
+
+
+
+With flaky form in varying colours spread
+
+
+On the round pastry cake of household bread!
+
+
+          Heaven sent us that kabob!
+
+
+               For no one could
+
+
+          (Save heaven he should rob)
+
+
+Produce a thing so excellently good,
+
+
+          Or give us roasted meat
+
+
+With basting oil so savourily replete!
+
+
+
+But, oh! mine appetite, alas! for thee!
+
+
+          Who on that furmeaty
+
+
+So sharpset west a little while ago—
+
+
+That furmeaty, which mashed by hands of snow,
+
+
+          A light reflection bore,
+
+
+Of the bright bracelets that those fair hands wore;
+
+
+          Again remembrance glads my sense
+
+
+          With visions of its excellence!
+
+
+
+          Again I see the cloth unrolled
+
+
+          Rich worked in many a varied fold!
+
+
+          Be patient, oh! my soul, they say
+
+
+          Fortune rules all that's new and strange,
+
+
+          And though she pinches us to day,
+
+
+To-morrow brings full rations, and a change!'[FN#337]
+
+
+
+Then said Jubayr, 'Put forth thy hand to our food and ease our heart by
+eating of our victual.' Answered I, 'By Allah, I will not eat a
+mouthful, till thou grant me my desire.' He asked, 'What is thy
+desire?'; so I brought out the letter and gave it to him; but, when he
+had read it and mastered its contents, he tore it in pieces and
+throwing it on the floor, said to me, 'O Ibn Mansur, I will grant thee
+whatever thou askest save thy desire which concerneth the writer of
+this letter, for I have no answer to her.' At this I rose in anger; but
+he caught hold of my skirts, saying, 'O Ibn Mansur, I will tell thee
+what she said to thee, albeit I was not present with you.' I asked,
+'And what did she say to me?'; and he answered, 'Did not the writer of
+this letter say to thee, If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt
+have of me five hundred ducats; and if not, an hundred for thy pains?'
+'Yes,' replied I; and he rejoined, 'Abide with me this day and eat and
+drink and enjoy thyself and make merry, and thou shalt have thy five
+hundred ducats.' So I sat with him and ate and drank and made merry and
+enjoyed myself and entertained him with talk deep in to the
+night;[FN#338] after which I said to him, 'O my master, is there no
+music in thy house.' He answered, 'Verily for many a day we have drunk
+without music.' Then he called out, saying, 'Ho, Shajarat al-Durr?'
+Whereupon a slave- girl answered him from her chamber and came in to
+us, with a lute of Hindu make, wrapped in a silken bag. And she sat
+down and, laying the lute in her lap, preluded in one and twenty modes;
+then, returning to the first, she sang to a lively measure these
+couplets,
+
+'We have ne'er tasted of Love's sweets and bitter draught, * No
+
+
+     difference kens 'twixt presence-bliss and absence-stress;
+
+
+And so, who hath declined from Love's true road, * No diference
+
+
+     kens 'twixt smooth and ruggedness:
+
+
+I ceased not to oppose the votaries of love, * Till I had tried
+
+
+     its sweets and bitters not the less:
+
+
+How many a night my pretty friend conversed with me * And sipped
+
+
+     I from his lips honey of love liesse:
+
+
+Now have I drunk its cup of bitterness, until * To bondman and to
+
+
+     freedman I have proved me base.
+
+
+How short-aged was the night together we enjoyed, * When seemed
+
+
+     it daybreak came on nightfall's heel to press!
+
+
+But Fate had vowed to disunite us lovers twain, * And she too
+
+
+     well hath kept her vow, that votaress.
+
+
+Fate so decreed it! None her sentence can withstand: * Where is
+
+
+     the wight who dares oppose his Lord's command?'
+
+
+
+Hardly had she finished her verses, when her lord cried out with a
+great cry and fell down in a fit; whereupon exclaimed the damsel, 'May
+Allah not punish thee, O old man! This long time have we drunk without
+music, for fear the like of this falling sickness befal our lord. But
+now go thou to yonder chamber and there sleep.' So I went to the
+chamber which she showed me and slept till the morning, when behold, a
+page brought me a purse of five hundred dinars and said to me, 'This is
+what my master promised thee; but return thou not to the damsel who
+sent thee, god let it be as though neither thou nor we had ever heard
+of this matter.' 'Hearkening and obedience,' answered I and taking the
+purse, went my way. Still I said to myself, 'The lady must have
+expected me since yesterday; and by Allah there is no help but I return
+to her and tell her what passed between me and him: otherwise she will
+revile me and revile all who come from my country.' So I went to her
+and found her standing behind the door; and when she saw me she said,
+'O Ibn Mansur, thou hast done nothing for me?' I asked, 'Who told thee
+of this?'; and she answered, 'O Ibn Mansur, yet another thing hath been
+revealed to me;[FN#339] and it is that, when thou handedst him the
+letter, he tore it in pieces. and throwing it on the floor, said to
+thee: 'O Ibn Mansur, I will grant thee whatever thou askest save thy
+desire which concerneth the writer of this letter; for I have no answer
+to her missive.' Then didst thou rise from beside him in anger; but he
+laid hold of thy skirts, saying: 'O son of Mansur, abide with me to
+day, for thou art my guest, and eat and drink and make merry; and thou
+shalt have thy five hundred ducats.' So thou didst sit with him, eating
+and drinking and making merry, and entertainedst him with talk deep
+into the night and a slave- girl sang such an air and such verses,
+whereupon he fell down in a fit.' So, O Commander of the Faithful, I
+asked her 'West thou then with us?'; and she answered, 'O Ibn Mansur,
+hast thou not heard the saying of the poet,
+
+'The hearts of lovers have eyes I ken, * Which see the unseen by vulgar
+men.'
+
+However, O Ibn Mansur, the night and day shift not upon anything but
+they bring to it change.'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the lady
+exclaimed, 'O Ibn Mansur, the night and the day shift not upon anything
+but they bring to it change!' Then she raised her glance to heaven and
+said, 'O my God and my Leader and my Lord, like as Thou hast afflicted
+me with love of Jubayr bin Umayr, even so do Thou afflict him with love
+of me, and transfer the passion from my heart to his heart!'[FN#340]
+Then she gave me an hundred sequins for my trouble in going and coming
+and I took it and returned to the palace, where I found the Sultan come
+home from the chase; so I got my pension of him and fared back to
+Baghdad. And when next year came, I repaired to Bassorah, as usual, to
+seek my pension, and the Sultan paid it to me; but, as I was about to
+return to Baghdad, I bethought me of the Lady Budur and said to myself,
+'By Allah, I must needs go to her and see what hath befallen between
+her and her lover!' So I went to her house and finding the street
+before her door swept and sprinkled and eunuchs and servants and pages
+standing before the entrance, said to myself, 'Most like grief hath
+broken the lady's heart and she is dead, and some Emir or other hath
+taken up his abode in her house.' So I left it and went on to the house
+of Jubayr, son of Umayr the Shaybani, where I found the benches of the
+porch broken down and ne'er a page at the door, as of wont and said to
+myself, 'Haply he too is dead.' Then I stood still before the door of
+his house and with my eyes running over with tears, bemoaned it in
+these couplets,
+
+'O Lords of me, who fared but whom my heart e'er followeth, *
+
+
+     Return and so my festal-days with you shall be renewed!
+
+
+I stand before the home of you, bewailing your abode; * Quiver
+
+
+     mine eyelids and my eyes with tears are ever dewed:
+
+
+I ask the house and its remains that seem to weep and wail, *
+
+
+     'Where is the man who whilom wont to lavish goods and
+
+
+good?''
+
+
+It saith, 'Go, wend thy way; those friends like travellers have
+
+
+     fared * From Springtide-camp, and buried lie of earth and
+
+
+     worms the food!'
+
+
+Allah ne'er desolate us so we lose their virtues' light * In
+
+
+     length and breadth, but ever be the light in spirit viewed!'
+
+
+
+As I, O Prince of True Believers, was thus keening over the folk of the
+house,[FN#341] behold, out came a black slave therefrom and said to me,
+'Hold thy peace, O Shaykh! May thy mother be reft of thee! Why do I see
+thee bemoaning the house in this wise?' Quoth I, 'I frequented it of
+yore, when it belonged to a good friend of mine.' Asked the slave,
+'What was his name?'; and I answered, 'Jubayr bin Umayr the Shaybani.'
+Rejoined he, And what hath befallen him? Praised be Allah, he is yet
+here with us in the enjoyment of property and rank and prosperity,
+except that Allah hath stricken him with love of a damsel called the
+Lady Budur;, and he is so whelmed by his love of her and his longing
+for her, that he is like a great rock cumbering the ground. If he
+hunger, he saith not, 'Give me meat;' nor, if he thirst, doth he say,
+'Give me drink.' Quoth I, 'Ask leave for me to go in to him.' Said the
+slave, 'O my lord, wilt thou go in to one who understandeth or to one
+who understandeth not?'; and I said 'There is no help for it but I see
+him whatever be the case.' Accordingly he went in to ask and presently
+returned with permission for me to enter, whereupon I went in to Jubayr
+and found him like a rock that cumbereth the ground, understanding
+neither sign nor speech; and when I spoke to him he answered me not.
+Then said one of his servants, 'O my lord, if thou remember aught of
+verse, repeat it and raise thy voice; and he will be aroused by this
+and speak with thee.' So I versified in these two couplets,
+
+'Hast quit the love of Moons[FN#342] or dost persist? * Dost wake
+
+
+     o' nights or close in sleep thine eyes?
+
+
+If aye thy tears in torrents flow, then learn * Eternal-thou
+
+
+     shalt dwell in Paradise.'[FN#343]
+
+
+
+When he heard these verses he opened his eyes and said; 'Welcome, O son
+of Mansur! Verily, the jest is become earnest.' Quoth I, 'O my lord, is
+there aught thou wouldst have me do for thee?' Answered he, 'Yes, I
+would fain write her a letter and send it to her by thee. If thou bring
+me back her answer, thou shalt have of me a thousand dinars; and if
+not, two hundred for thy pains.' So I said, 'Do what seemeth good to
+thee;'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ibn Mansur
+continued: "So I said, 'Do what seemeth good to thee;' whereupon he
+called to one of his slave-girls, 'Bring me ink case and paper;' and
+wrote these couplets,
+
+'I pray in Allah's name, O Princess mine, be light * On me, for
+
+
+     Love hath robbed me of my reason's sight'
+
+
+'Slaved me this longing and enthralled me love of you; * And clad
+
+
+     in sickness garb, a poor and abject wight.
+
+
+I wont ere this to think small things of Love and hold, * O
+
+
+     Princess mine, 'twas silly thing and over-slight.
+
+
+But when it showed me swelling surges of its sea, * To Allah's
+
+
+     hest I bowed and pitied lover's plight.
+
+
+An will you, pity show and deign a meeting grant, * An will you
+
+
+     kill me still forget not good requite.'[FN#344]
+
+
+
+Then he sealed the letter and gave it to me. So I took it and,
+repairing to Budur's house, raised the door-curtain little by little,
+as before, and looking in behold, I saw ten damsels, high-bosomed
+virgins, like moons, and the Lady Budur as she were the full moon among
+the stars, sitting in their midst, or the sun, when it is clear of
+clouds and mist; nor was there on her any trace of pain or care. And as
+I looked and marvelled at her case, she turned her glance upon me and,
+seeing me standing at the door, said to me, 'Well come, and welcome and
+all hail to thee, O Ibn Mansur! Come in.' So I entered and saluting her
+gave her the letter; and she read it and when she understood it, she
+said laughingly to me, 'O Ibn Mansur, the poet lied not when he sang,
+
+'Indeed I'll bear my love for thee with firmest soul, * Until from thee
+to me shall come a messenger.
+
+'Look'ye, O Ibn Mansur, I will write thee an answer, that he may give
+thee what he promised thee.' And I answered, 'Allah requite thee with
+good!' So she called out to a handmaid, 'Bring inkcase and paper,' and
+wrote these couplets,
+
+'How comes it I fulfilled my vow the while that vow broke you? *
+
+
+     And, seen me lean to equity, iniquity wrought you?
+
+
+'Twas you initiated wrongous dealing and despite: * You were the
+
+
+     treachetour and treason came from only you!
+
+
+I never ceased to cherish mid the sons of men my troth, * And
+
+
+     keep your honour brightest bright and swear by name of you
+
+
+Until I saw with eyes of me what evil you had done; * Until I
+
+
+     heard with ears of me what foul report spread you.
+
+
+Shall I bring low my proper worth while raising yours so high? *
+
+
+     By Allah had you me eke I had honoured you!
+
+
+But now uprooting severance I will fain console my heart, * And
+
+
+     wring my fingers clean of you for evermore to part!'
+
+
+
+Quoth I, 'By Allah, O my lady, between him and death there is but the
+reading of this letter!' So I tore it in pieces and said to her, 'Write
+him other than these lines.' 'I hear and obey answered she and wrote
+the following couplets,
+
+'Indeed I am consolиd now and sleep without a tear, * And all
+
+
+     that happened slandering tongues have whispered in mine ear:
+
+
+My heart obeyed my hest and soon forgot thy memory, * And learnt
+
+
+     mine eyelids 'twas the best to live in severance sheer:
+
+
+He lied who said that severance is a bitterer thing than gall: *
+
+
+     It never disappointed me, like wine I find it cheer:
+
+
+I learnt to hate all news of thee, e'en mention of thy name, *
+
+
+     And turn away and look thereon with loathing pure and mere:
+
+
+Lookye! I cast thee out of heart and far from vitals mine; * Then
+
+
+     let the slanderer wot this truth and see I am sincere.'
+
+
+
+Quoth I, 'By Allah, O my lady, when he shall read these verses, his
+soul will depart his body!' Quoth she, 'O Ibn Mansur, is passion indeed
+come to such a pass with him that thou sayest this saying?' Quoth I,
+'Had I said more than this verily it were but the truth: but mercy is
+of the nature of the noble.' Now when she heard this her eyes brimmed
+over with tears and she wrote him a note, I swear by Allah, O Commander
+of the Faithful, there is none in thy Chancery could write the like of
+it; and therein were these couplets,
+
+'How long shall I thy coyness and thy great aversion see? * Thou
+
+
+     hast satisfied my censurers and pleased their enmity:
+
+
+I did amiss and wot it not; so deign to tell me now * Whatso they
+
+
+     told thee, haply 'twas the merest calumny.
+
+
+I wish to welcome thee, dear love, even as welcome I * Sleep to
+
+
+     these eyes and eyelids in the place of sleep to be.
+
+
+And since 'tis thou hast made me drain th' unmixиd cup of love, *
+
+
+     If me thou see with wine bemused heap not thy blame on me!'
+
+
+
+And when she had written the missive,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Budur had
+written the missive, she sealed it and gave it to me; and I said, 'O my
+lady, in good sooth this thy letter will make the sick man whole and
+ease the thirsting soul.' Then I took it and went from her, when she
+called me back and said to me, 'O son of Mansur, say to him: 'She will
+be thy guest this night.' At this I joyed with exceeding great joy and
+carried the letter to Jubayr, whom I found with his eyes fixed intently
+on the door, expecting the reply and as soon as I gave him the letter
+and he opened and read it and understood it, he uttered a great cry and
+fell down in a fainting fit. When he came to himself, he said to me, 'O
+Ibn Mansur, did she indeed write this note with her hand and feel it
+with her fingers?' Answered I, 'O my lord, do folk write with their
+feet?' And by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I had not done
+speaking these words, when we heard the tinkle-tinkle of her anklets in
+the vestibule and she entered. And seeing her he sprang to his feet as
+though nothing pained or ailed him and embraced her like the letter L
+embraceth the letter A;[FN#345] and the infirmity, that erst would not
+depart at once left him.[FN#346] Then he sat down, but she abode
+standing and I said to her, 'O my lady, why dost thou not sit?' Said
+she, 'O Ibn Mansur, save on a condition that is between us, I will not
+sit.' I asked, 'And what is that?'; and she answered, 'None may know
+lovers' secrets,' and putting her mouth to Jubayr's ear whispered to
+him; where upon he replied, 'I hear and I obey.' Then he rose and said
+somewhat in a whisper to one of his slaves, who went out and returned
+in a little while with a Kazi and two witnesses. Thereupon Jubayr stood
+up and taking a bag containing an hundred thousand dinars, said, O
+Kazi, marry me to this young lady and write this sum to her
+marriage-settlement.' Quoth the Kazi to her, 'Say thou, I consent to
+this.' 'I consent to this,' quoth she, whereupon he drew up the
+contract of marriage and she opened the bag; and, taking out a handful
+of gold, gave it to the Kazi and the witnesses and handed the rest to
+Jubayr. Thereupon the Kazi and the witnesses withdrew, and I sat with
+them, in mirth and merriment, till the most part of the night was past,
+when I said in my mind, 'These are lovers and they have been this long
+while separated. I will now arise and go sleep in some place afar from
+them and leave them to their privacy, one with other.' So I rose, but
+she caught hold of my skirts, saying, 'What thinkest thou to do?'
+'Nothing but so and so,' answered I; upon which she rejoined, 'Sit thee
+down; and when we would be rid of thee, we will send thee away.' So I
+sat down with them till near daybreak, when she said to me, 'O Ibn
+Mansur, go to yonder chamber; for we have furnished it for thee and it
+is thy sleeping-place.' Thereupon I arose and went thither and slept
+till morning, when a page brought me basin and ewer, and I made the
+ablution and prayed the dawn-prayer. Then I sat down and presently,
+behold, Jubayr and his beloved came out of the bath in the house, and I
+saw them both wringing their locks.[FN#347] So I wished them good
+morning and gave them joy of their safety and reunion, saying to
+Jubayr, 'That which began with constraint and conditions hath ended in
+cordial-contentment.' He answered, 'Thou sayest well, and indeed thou
+deservest thy honorarium;' and he called his treasurer, and said,
+'Bring hither three thousand dinars.' So he brought a purse containing
+the gold pieces and Jubayr gave it to me, saying, 'Favour us by
+accepting this.' But I replied, 'I will not accept it till thou tell me
+the manner of the transfer of love from her to thee, after so huge an
+aversion.' Quoth he, 'Hearkening and obedience! Know that we have a
+festival-called New Year's day,[FN#348] when all the people fare forth
+and take boat and go a-pleasuring on the river. So I went out with my
+comrades, and saw a skiff, wherein were ten damsels like moons and
+amongst them, the Lady Budur lute in hand. She preluded in eleven
+modes, then, returning to the first, sang these two couplets,
+
+'Fire is cooler than fires in my breast, * Rock is softer than
+
+
+     heart of my lord
+
+
+Marvel I that he's formиd to hold * In water soft frame heart
+
+
+     rock-hard!'
+
+
+
+Said I to her, 'Repeat the couplets and the air!' But she would
+not:'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Jubayr
+continued, 'So cried I to her, Repeat the couplets and the air!' But
+she would not; whereupon I bade the boatmen pelt her with oranges, and
+they pelted her till we feared her boat would founder Then she went her
+way, and this is how the love was transferred from her heart to mine.'
+So I wished them joy of their union and, taking the purse with its
+contents, I returned to Baghdad." Now when the Caliph heard Ibn
+Mansur's story his heart was lightened and the restlessness and
+oppression from which he suffered forsook him. And they also tell the
+tale of
+
+
+
+THE MAN OF AI-YAMAN AND HIS SIX SlAVE-GIRLS.
+
+The Caliph Al-Maamun was sitting one day in his palace, surrounded by
+his Lords of the realm and Officers of state, and there were present
+also before him all his poets and cup- companions amongst the rest one
+named Mohammed of Bassorah. Presently the Caliph turned and said to
+him, "O Mohammed, I wish thee forthwith to tell me something that I
+have never before heard." He replied, "O Commander of the Faithful,
+dost thou wish me to tell thee a thing I have heard with my ears or a
+thing I have seen with my eyes?" Quoth Al-Maamun, "Tell me whichever is
+the rarer; so Mohammed al-Basri began: "Know, then, O Commander of the
+Faithful that there lived once upon a time wealthy man, who was a
+native of Al-Yaman;but he emigrated from his native land and came to
+this city of Baghdad, whose sojourn so pleased him that he transported
+hither his family and possessions. Now he had six slave-girls, like
+moons one and all; the first white, the second brown, the third fat,
+the fourth lean, the fifth yellow and the sixth lamp-black; and all six
+were comely of countenance and perfect in accomplishments and skilled
+in the arts of singing and playing upon musical-instruments. Now it so
+chanced that, one day, he sent for the girls and called for meat and
+wine; and they ate and drank and were mirthful and made merry Then he
+filled the cup and, taking it in his hand, said to the blonde girl, 'O
+new moon face, let us hear somewhat of thy pleasant songs.' So she took
+the lute and tuning it, made music thereon with such sweet melody that
+the place danced with glee; after which she played a lively measure and
+sang these couplets,
+
+'I have a friend, whose form is fixed within mine eyes,[FN#349] *
+
+
+     Whose name deep buried in my very vitals lies:
+
+
+Whenas remembers him my mind all heart am I, * And when on him my
+
+
+     gaze is turned I am all eyes.
+
+
+My censor saith, 'Forswear, forget, the love of him,' * 'Whatso
+
+
+     is not to be, how shall's be?' My reply is.
+
+
+Quoth I, 'O Censor mine, go forth from me, avaunt! * And make not
+
+
+     light of that on humans heavy lies.'
+
+
+
+Hereat their master rejoiced and, drinking off his cup, gave the
+damsels to drink, after which he said to the berry-brown girl, 'O
+brasier-light[FN#350] and joy of the sprite, let us hear thy lovely
+voice, whereby all that hearken are ravished with delight.' So she took
+the lute and thereon made harmony till the place was moved to glee;
+then, captivating all hearts with her graceful swaying, she sang these
+couplets,
+
+'I swear by that fair face's life, I'll love but thee * Till
+
+
+     death us part, nor other love but thine I'll see:
+
+
+O full moon, with thy loveliness mantilla'd o'er, * The loveliest
+
+
+     of our earth beneath thy banner be:
+
+
+Thou, who surpassest all the fair in pleasantness * May Allah,
+
+
+     Lord of worlds, be everywhere with thee!'
+
+
+
+The master rejoiced and drank off his cup and gave the girls to drink;
+after which he filled again; and, taking the goblet in his hand, signed
+to the fat girl and bade her sing and play a different motive. So she
+took the lute and striking a grief- dispelling measure, sang these
+couplets,
+
+'An thou but deign consent, O wish to heart affied! * I care not
+
+
+     wrath and rage to all mankind betide.
+
+
+And if thou show that fairest face which gives me life, * I reck
+
+
+     not an dimimshed heads the Kings go hide.
+
+
+I seek thy favours only from this 'versal-world: * O thou in whom
+
+
+     all beauty cloth firm-fixt abide!'
+
+
+
+The man rejoiced and, emptying his cup, gave the girls to drink. Then
+he signed to the thin girl and said to her, 'O Houri of Paradise, feed
+thou our ears with sweet words and sounds.' So she took the lute; and,
+tuning it, preluded and sang these two couplets,
+
+'Say me, on Allah's path[FN#351] hast death not dealt to me, *
+
+
+     Turning from me while I to thee turn patiently:
+
+
+Say me, is there no judge of Love to judge us twain, * And do me
+
+
+     justice wronged, mine enemy, by thee?'
+
+
+
+Their lord rejoiced and, emptying the cup, gave the girls to drink.
+Then filling another he signed to the yellow girl and said to her, O
+sun of the day, let us hear some nice verses.' So she took the lute
+and, preluding after the goodliest fashion, sang these couplets,
+
+'I have a lover and when drawing him, * He draws on me a sword-
+
+
+    blade glancing grim:
+
+
+Allah avenge some little of his wrongs, * Who holds my heart yet
+
+
+     wreaks o erbearing whim
+
+
+Oft though I say, 'Renounce him, heart!' yet heart * Will to none
+
+
+     other turn excepting him.
+
+
+He is my wish and will of all men, but * Fate's envious hand to
+
+
+     me's aye grudging him.'
+
+
+
+The master rejoiced and drank and gave the girls to drink; then he
+filled the cup and taking it in hand, signed to the black girl, saying,
+'O pupil of the eye, let us have a taste of thy quality, though it be
+but two words.' So she took the lute and tuning it and tightening the
+strings, preluded in various modes, then returned to the first and sang
+to a lively air these couplets,
+
+'Ho ye, mine eyes, let prodigal-tears go free; * This ecstasy
+
+
+     would see my being unbe:[FN#352]
+
+
+All ecstasies I dreefor sake of friend * I fondle, maugre
+
+
+     enviers' jealousy:
+
+
+Censors forbid me from his rosy cheek, * Yet e'er inclines my
+
+
+     heart to rosery:
+
+
+Cups of pure wine, time was, went circuiting * In joy, what time
+
+
+     the lute sang melody,
+
+
+While kept his troth the friend who madded me, * Yet made me
+
+
+     rising star of bliss to see:
+
+
+But—with Time, turned he not by sin of mine; * Than such a turn
+
+
+     can aught more bitter be?
+
+
+Upon his cheek there grows and glows a rose, * Nay two, whereof
+
+
+     grant Allah one to me!
+
+
+An were prostration[FN#353] by our law allowed * To aught but
+
+
+     Allah, at his feet I had bowed.'
+
+
+
+Thereupon rose the six girls and, kissing the ground before their lord,
+said to him, 'Do thou justice between us, O our lord!' So he looked at
+their beauty and loveliness and the contrast of their colours and
+praised Almighty Allah and glorified Him. Then said he, 'There is none
+of you but hath learnt the Koran by heart, and mastered the musical-art
+and is versed in the chronicles' of yore and the doings of peoples
+which have gone before; so it is my desire that each one of you rise
+and, pointing finger at her opposite, praise herself and dispraise her
+co-concubine; that is to: say, let the blonde point to the brunette,
+the plump to the slenderer and the yellow to the black girl; after
+which the rivals, each in her turn, shall do the like with the former;
+and be this illustrated with citations from Holy Writ and somewhat of
+anecdotes and,; verse, so as to show forth your fine breeding and
+elegance of your pleading.' And they answered him, 'We hear and we
+obey!;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the handmaids
+answered the man of Al-Yaman, "'We hear and we obey!' Accordingly the
+blonde rose first and, pointing at the black girl, said to her: 'Out on
+thee, blackamoor! It is told by tradition that whiteness saith, 'I am
+the shining light, I am the rising moon of the fourteenth night. My hue
+is patent and my brow is resplendent and of my beauty quoth the poet,'
+
+'White girl with softly rounded polished cheeks * As if a pearl
+
+
+     concealed by Beauty's boon:
+
+
+Her stature Alif-like;[FN#354] her smile like Mнm[FN#355] * And
+
+
+     o'er her eyes two brows that bend like Nъn.[FN#356]
+
+
+'Tis as her glance were arrow, and her brows * Bows ever bent to
+
+
+     shoot Death-dart eftsoon:
+
+
+If cheek and shape thou view, there shalt thou find * Rose,
+
+
+     myrtle, basil and Narcissus wone.
+
+
+Men wont in gardens plant and set the branch, * How many garths
+
+
+     thy stature-branch cloth own!'
+
+
+
+'So my colour is like the hale and healthy day and the newly culled
+orange spray and the star of sparkling ray;[FN#357] and indeed quoth
+Almighty Allah, in His precious Book, to his prophet Moses (on whom be
+peace!), Put thy hand into thy bosom; it shall come forth white,
+without hurt.'[FN#358] And again He saith, But they whose faces shall
+become white, shall be in the mercy of Allah; therein shall they remain
+forever.'[FN#359] My colour is a sign, a miracle, and my loveliness
+supreme and my beauty a term extreme. It is on the like of me that
+raiment showeth fair and fine and to the like of me that hearts
+incline. Moreover, in whiteness are many excellences; for instance, the
+snow falleth white from heaven, and it is traditional-that the
+beautifullest of a colours white. The Moslems also glory in white
+turbands, but I should be tedious, were I to tell all that may be told
+in praise of white; little and enough is better than too much of
+unfilling stuff. So now I will begin with thy dispraise, O black, O
+colour of ink and blacksmith's dust, thou whose face is like the raven
+which bringeth about the parting of lovers. Verily, the poet saith in
+praise of white and blame of black,
+
+'Seest not that pearls are prized for milky hue, * But with a
+
+
+     dirham buy we coals in load?
+
+
+And while white faces enter Paradise, * Black faces crowd
+
+
+     Gehenna's black abode.'
+
+
+
+And indeed it is told in certain histories, related on the authority of
+devout men, that Noah (on whom be peace!) was sleeping one day, with
+his sons Cham and Shem seated at his head, when a wind sprang up and,
+lifting his clothes, uncovered his nakedness; whereat Cham looked and
+laughed and did not cover him: but Shem arose and covered him.
+Presently, their sire awoke and learning, what had been done by his
+sons, blessed Shem and cursed Cham. So Shem's face was whitened and
+from him sprang the prophets and the orthodox Caliphs and Kings; whilst
+Cham's face was blackened and he fled forth to the land of Abyssinia,
+and of his lineage came the blacks.[FN#360] All people are of one mind
+in affirming the lack of understanding of the blacks, even as saith the
+adage, 'How shall one find a black with a mind?' Quoth her master, 'Sit
+thee down, thou hast given us sufficient and even excess.' Thereupon he
+signed to the negress, who rose and, pointing her finger at the blonde,
+said: Dost thou not know that in the Koran sent down to His prophet and
+apostle, is transmitted the saying of God the Most High, 'By the night
+when it covereth all things with darkness; by the day when it shineth
+forth!'[FN#361] If the night were not the more illustrious, verily
+Allah had not sworn by it nor had given it precedence of the day. And
+indeed all men of wit and wisdom accept this. Knowest thou not that
+black is the ornament of youth and that, when hoariness descendeth upon
+the head, delights pass away and the hour of death draweth in sight?
+Were not black the most illustrious of things, Allah had not set it in
+the core of the heart[FN#362] and the pupil of the eye; and how
+excellent is the saying of the poet,
+
+'I love not black girls but because they show * Youth's colour,
+
+
+     tinct of eye and heartcore's hue;
+
+
+Nor are in error who unlove the white, * And hoary hairs and
+
+
+     winding-sheet eschew.'
+
+
+
+And that said of another,
+
+'Black[FN#363] girls, not white, are they * All worthy love I
+
+
+     see:
+
+
+Black girls wear dark-brown lips;[FN#364] * Whites, blotch of
+
+
+     leprosy.'
+
+
+
+And of a third,
+
+'Black girls in acts are white, and 'tis as though * Like eyes,
+
+
+     with purest shine and sheen they show;
+
+
+If I go daft for her, be not amazed; * Black bile[FN#365] drives
+
+
+     melancholic-mad we know
+
+
+'Tis as my colour were the noon of night; * For all no moon it
+
+
+     be, its splendours glow.
+
+
+
+Moreover, is the foregathering of lovers good but in the night? Let
+this quality and profit suffice thee. What protecteth lovers from spies
+and censors like the blackness of night's darkness; and what causeth
+them to fear discovery like the whiteness of the dawn's brightness? So,
+how many claims to honour are there not in blackness and how excellent
+is the saying of the poet,
+
+'I visit them, and night-black lendeth aid to me * Seconding love, but
+dawn-white is mine enemy.'
+
+And that of another,
+
+'How many a night I've passed with the beloved of me, * While
+
+
+     gloom with dusky tresses veilиd our desires:
+
+
+But when the morn-light showed it caused me sad affright; * And I
+
+
+     to Morning said, 'Who worship light are liars!'[FN#366]
+
+
+
+And saith a third,
+
+'He came to see me, hiding neath the skirt of night, * Hasting
+
+
+     his steps as wended he in cautious plight.
+
+
+I rose and spread my cheek upon his path like rug, * Abject, and
+
+
+     trailed my skirt to hide it from his sight;
+
+
+But rose the crescent moon and strave its best to show * The
+
+
+     world our loves like nail-slice raying radiant
+
+
+     light:[FN#367]
+
+
+Then what befel befel: I need not aught describe; * But think thy
+
+
+     best, and ask me naught of wrong or right.
+
+
+Meet not thy lover save at night for fear of slander * The Sun's
+
+
+     a tittle-tattler and the Moon's a pander.'
+
+
+
+And a fifth,
+
+'I love not white girls blown with fat who puff and pant; * The
+
+
+     maid for me is young brunette embonpoint-scant.
+
+
+I'd rather ride a colt that's darn upon the day * Of race, and
+
+
+     set my friends upon the elephant.'
+
+
+
+And a sixth,
+
+My lover came to me one night, * And clips we both with fond
+
+
+     embrace;
+
+
+And lay together till we saw * The morning come with swiftest
+
+
+     pace.
+
+
+Now I pray Allah and my Lord * To reunite us of His grace
+
+
+And make night last me long as he * Lies in the arms that tightly
+
+
+     lace.'
+
+
+
+Were I to set forth all the praises of blackness, my tale would be
+tedious; but little and enough is better than too much of unfilling
+stuff. As for thee, O blonde, thy colour is that of leprosy and thine
+embrace is suffocation;[FN#368] and it is of report that hoar-frost and
+icy cold[FN#369] are in Gehenna for the torment of the wicked. Again,
+of things black and excellent is ink, wherewith is written Allah's
+word; and were it not for black ambergris and black musk, there would
+be no perfumes to carry to Kings. How many glories I may not mention
+dwell in blackness, and how well saith the poet,
+
+'Seest not that musk, the nut brown musk, e'er claims the highest
+
+
+     price * Whilst for a load of whitest lime none more than
+
+
+     dirham bids?
+
+
+And while white speck upon the eye deforms the loveliest youth, *
+
+
+     Black eyes discharge the sharpest shafts in lashes from
+
+
+     their lids.'
+
+
+
+Quoth her master, 'Sit thee down: this much sufficeth.' So she sat down
+and he signed to the fat girl, who rose"—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the man of
+Al-Yaman, the master of the handmaids, signed to the fat girl who rose
+and, pointing her finger at the slim girl, bared her calves and wrists
+and uncovered her stomach, showing its dimples and the plump rondure of
+her navel. Then she donned a shift of fine stuff, that exposed her
+whole body, and said: 'Praised be Allah who created me, for that He
+beautified my face and made me fat and fair of the fattest and fairest;
+and likened me to branches laden with fruit, and bestowed upon me
+abounding beauty and brightness: and praised be He no less, for that He
+hath given me the precedence and honoured me, when He mentioneth me in
+His holy Book! Quoth the Most High, 'And he brought a fatted
+calf.'[FN#370] And He hath made me like unto a vergier full of peaches
+and pomegranates. In very sooth even as the townsfolk long for fat
+birds and eat of them and love not lean birds, so do the sons of Adam
+desire fat meat and eat of it. How many vauntful attributes are there
+not in fatness, and how well saith the poet,
+
+'Farewell thy love, for see, the Cafilah's[FN#371] on the move: *
+
+
+     O man, canst bear to say adieu and leave thy love?
+
+
+'Tis as her going were to seek her neighbour's tent, * The gait
+
+
+     of fat fair maid, whom hearts shall all approve.'
+
+
+
+Sawest thou ever one stand before a flesher's stall but sought of him
+fat flesh? The wise say, 'Joyance is in three things, eating meat and
+riding meat and putting meat into meat.'[FN#372] As for thee, O thin
+one, thy calves are like the shanks of sparrows or the pokers of
+furnaces; and thou art a cruciform plank of a piece of flesh poor and
+rank; there is naught in thee to gladden the heart; even as saith the
+poet,
+
+'With Allah take I refuge from whatever driveth me * To bed with
+
+
+     one like footrasp[FN#373] or the roughest ropery:
+
+
+In every limb she hath a horn that butteth me whene'er * I fain
+
+
+     would rest, so morn and eve I wend me wearily.'
+
+
+
+Quoth her master, 'Sit thee down: this much sufficeth.' So she sat down
+and he signed to the slender girl, who rose, as she were a willow-wand,
+or a rattan-frond or a stalk of sweet basil, and said: 'Praised be
+Allah who created me and beautified me and made my embraces the end of
+all desire and likened me to the branch, whereto all hearts incline. If
+I rise, I rise lightly; if I sit, I sit prettily; I am nimble-witted at
+a jest and merrier-souled than mirth itself. Never heard I one describe
+his mistress, saying, 'My beloved is the bigness of an elephant or like
+a mountain long and broad;' but rather, 'My lady hath a slender waist
+and a slim shape.'[FN#374] Furthermore a little food filleth me and a
+little water quencheth my thirst; my sport is agile and my habit
+active; for I am sprightlier than the sparrow and lighter-skipping than
+the starling. My favours are the longing of the lover and the delight
+of the desirer; for I am goodly of shape, sweet of smile and graceful
+as the bending willow-wand or the rattan-cane[FN#375] or the stalk of
+the basil- plant; nor is there any can compare with me in loveliness,
+even as saith one of me,
+
+'Thy shape with willow branch I dare compare, * And hold thy
+
+
+     figure as my fortunes fair:
+
+
+I wake each morn distraught, and follow thee, * And from the
+
+
+     rival's eye in fear I fare.'
+
+
+
+It is for the like of me that amourists run mad and that those who
+desire me wax distracted. If my lover would draw me to him, I am drawn
+to him; and if he would have me incline to him, I incline to him and
+not against him. But now, as for thee, O fat of body, thine eating is
+the feeding of an elephant, and neither much nor little filleth thee.
+When thou liest with a man who is lean, he hath no ease of thee; nor
+can he anyways take his pleasure of thee; for the bigness of thy belly
+holdeth him off from going in unto thee and the fatness of thy thighs
+hindereth him from coming at thy slit. What goodness is there in thy
+grossness, and what courtesy or pleasantness in thy coarseness? Fat
+flesh is fit for naught but the flasher, nor is there one point therein
+that pleadeth for praise. If one joke with thee, thou art angry; if one
+sport with thee, thou art sulky; if thou sleep, thou snorest if thou
+walk, thou lollest out thy tongue! if thou eat, thou art never filled.
+Thou art heavier than mountains and fouler than corruption and crime.
+Thou hast in thee nor agility nor benedicite nor thinkest thou of aught
+save meat and sleep. When thou pissest thou swishes"; if thou turd thou
+gruntest like a bursten wine skin or an elephant transmogrified. If
+thou go to the water closet, thou needest one to wash thy gap and pluck
+out the hairs which overgrow it; and this is the extreme of sluggish
+ness and the sign, outward and visible, of stupidity[FN#376] In short,
+there is no good thing about thee, and indeed the poet Title of thee,
+
+'Heavy and swollen like an urine-bladder blown, * With hips and
+
+
+     thighs like mountain propping piles of stone;
+
+
+Whene'er she walks in Western hemisphere, her tread * Makes the
+
+
+     far Eastern world with weight to moan and groan.'
+
+
+
+Quoth her master, 'Sit thee down, this sufficeth;' so she sat down and
+he signed to the yellow girl, who rose to her feet and praised Allah
+Almighty and magnified His name, calling down peace and blessing on
+Mohammed the best of His creatures; after which she pointed her finger
+at the brunette and said to her," And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night,
+
+She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the yellow
+girl stood up and praised Almighty Allah and magnified His name; after
+which she pointed her finger at the brown girl and said to her: 'I am
+the one praised in the Koran, and the Compassionate hath described my
+complexion and its excellence over all other hues in His manifest Book,
+where Allah saith, 'A yellow, pure yellow, whose colour gladdeneth the
+beholders.'[FN#377] Wherefore my colour is a sign and portent and my
+grace is supreme and my beauty a term extreme; for that my tint is the
+tint of a ducat and the colour of the planets and moons and the hue of
+ripe apples. My fashion is the fashion of the fair, and the dye of
+saffron outvieth all other dyes; so my semblance is wondrous and my
+colour marvellous. I am soft of body and of high price, comprising all
+qualities of beauty. My colour is essentially precious as virgin gold,
+and how many boasts and glories cloth it not unfold! Of the like of me
+quoth the poet,
+
+'Her golden yellow is the sheeny sun's; * And like gold sequins
+
+
+     she delights the sight:
+
+
+Saffron small portion of her glance can show; * Nay,[FN#378] she
+
+
+     outvies the moon when brightest bright.'
+
+
+
+And I shall at once begin in thy dispraise, O berry-brown girl! Thy
+tincture is that of the buffalo, and all souls shudder at thy sight. If
+thy colour be in any created thing, it is blamed; if it be in food, it
+is poisoned; for thy hue is the hue of the dung- fly; it is a mark of
+ugliness even in dogs; and among the colours it is one which strikes
+with amazement and is of the signs of mourning. Never heard I of brown
+gold or brown pearls or brown gems. If thou enter the privy, thy colour
+changeth, and when thou comest out, thou addest ugliness to ugliness.
+Thou art a non- descript; neither black, that thou mayst be recognised,
+nor white, that thou mayst be described; and in thee there is no good
+quality, even as saith the poet,
+
+'The hue of dusty motes is hers; that dull brown hue of hers * Is
+
+
+     mouldy like the dust and mud by Cossid's foot
+
+
+     upthrown:[FN#379]
+
+
+ I never look upon her brow, e'en for eye-twinkling's space, *
+
+
+     But in brown study fall I and my thoughts take browner
+
+
+     tone.'
+
+
+
+Quoth her master, 'Sit thee down; this much sufficeth;' so she sat down
+and he signed to the brunette. Now she was a model of beauty and
+loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace; soft of skin, slim of shape,
+of stature rare, and coal-black hair; with cheeks rosy-pink, eyes black
+rimmed by nature's hand, face fair, and eloquent tongue; moreover
+slender-waisted and heavy-hipped. So she rose and said: 'Praise be to
+Allah who hath created me neither leper-white nor bile-yellow nor
+charcoal-black, but hath made my colour to be beloved of men of wit and
+wisdom, for all the poets extol berry-brown maids in every tongue and
+exalt their colour over all other colours. To 'brown of hue (they say)
+praise is due;' and Allah bless him who singeth,
+
+'And in brunettes is mystery, could'st" thou but read it right, *
+
+
+     Thy sight would never dwell on others, be they red or white:
+
+
+Free-flowing conversation, amorous coquettishness * Would teach
+
+
+     Hбrut himself a mightier spell of magic might.'
+
+
+
+And saith another,
+
+'Give me brunettes, so limber, lissom, lithe of sway, * Brunettes
+
+
+     tall, slender straight like Samhar's nut-brown
+
+
+     lance;[FN#380]
+
+
+Languid of eyelids and with silky down on either cheek, * Who
+
+
+     fixed in lover's heart work to his life mischance.'
+
+
+
+And yet another,
+
+'Now, by my life, brown hue hath point of comeliness * Leaves
+
+
+     whiteness nowhere and high o'er the Moon takes place;
+
+
+But an of whiteness aught it borrowed self to deck, * 'Twould
+
+
+     change its graces and would pale for its disgrace:
+
+
+Not with his must[FN#381] I'm drunken, but his locks of musk *
+
+
+     Are wine inebriating all of human race.
+
+
+His charms are jealous each of each, and all desire * To be the
+
+
+     down that creepeth up his lovely face.'
+
+
+
+And again another,
+
+'Why not incline me to that show of silky down, * On cheeks of
+
+
+     dark brunette, like bamboo spiring brown?
+
+
+Whenas high rank in beauty poets sing, they say * Brown ant-like
+
+
+     specklet worn by nenuphar in crown.
+
+
+And see I sundry lovers tear out others' eyne * For the brown
+
+
+     mole beneath that jetty pupil shown,
+
+
+Then why do censors blame me for one all a mole? * Allah I pray
+
+
+     demolish each molesting clown!'[FN#382]
+
+
+
+My form is all grace and my shape is built on heavy base; Kings desire
+my colour which all adore, rich and poor. I am pleasant, active,
+handsome, elegant, soft of skin and prized for price: eke I am perfect
+in seemlibead and breeding and eloquence; my aspect is comely and my
+tongue witty; my temper is bright and my play a pretty sight. As for
+thee, thou art like unto a mallow growing about the Lъk Gate;[FN#383]
+in hue sallow and streaked-yellow and made all of sulphur. Aroynt thee,
+O copper-worth of jaundiced sorrel, O rust of brass-pot, O face of owl
+in gloom, and fruit of the Hell-tree Zakkъm;[FN#384] whose bedfellow,
+for heart-break, is buried in the tomb. And there is no good thing in
+thee, even as saith the poet of the like of thee,
+
+'Yellowness, tincturing her tho' nowise sick or sorry, *
+
+
+     Straitens my hapless heart and makes my head sore ache;
+
+
+An thou repent not, Soul! I'll punish thee with kissing[FN#385] *
+
+
+     Her lower face that shall mine every grinder break!'
+
+
+
+And when she ended her lines, quoth her master, 'Sit thee down, this
+much sufficeth!'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
+saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "when the yellow
+girl ended her recitation, quoth her master, 'Sit thee down; this much
+sufficeth!' Then he made peace between them and clad them all in
+sumptuous robes of honour and hanselled them with precious jewels of
+land and sea. And never have I seen, O Commander of the Faithful, any
+when or any where, aught fairer than these six damsels fair." Now when
+Al-Maamun heard this story from Mohammed of Bassorah, he turned to him
+and said, "O Mohammed, knowest thou the abiding-place of these damsels
+and their master, and canst thou contrive to buy them of him for us?"
+He answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, indeed I have heard that
+their lord is wrapped up in them and cannot bear to be parted from
+them." Rejoined the Caliph, "Take thee ten thousand gold pieces for
+each girl, that is sixty thousand for the whole purchase; and carry the
+coin to his house and buy them of him." So Mohammed of Bassorah took
+the money and, betaking himself to the Man of Al-Yaman, acquainted him
+with the wish of the Prince of True Believers. He consented to part
+with them at that price to pleasure the Caliph; and despatched them to
+Al-Maamun, who assigned them an elegant abode and therein used to sit
+with them as cup-companions; marvelling at their beauty and loveliness,
+at their varied colours and at the excellence of their conversation.
+Thus matters stood for many a day; but, after awhile, when their former
+owner could no longer bear to be parted from them, he sent a letter to
+the Commander of the Faithful complaining to him of his own ardent
+love-longing for them and containing, amongst other contents, these
+couplets,
+
+"Captured me six, all bright with youthful blee; * Then on all
+
+
+     six be best salams from me!
+
+
+They are my hearing, seeing, very life; * My meat, my drink, my
+
+
+     joy, my jollity:
+
+
+I'll ne'er forget the favours erst so charmed * Whose loss hath
+
+
+     turned my sleep to insomny:
+
+
+Alack, O longsome pining and O tears! * Would I had farewelled
+
+
+     all humanity:
+
+
+Those eyes, with bowed and well arched eyebrows[FN#386] dight, *
+
+
+     Like bows have struck me with their archery."
+
+
+
+Now when the letter came to the hands of Al-Maamun, he robed the six
+damsels in rich raiment; and, giving them threescore thousand dinars,
+sent them back to their lord who joyed in them with exceeding
+joy[FN#387] (more especially for the monies they brought him), and
+abode with them in all the comfort and pleasance of life, till there
+came to them the Destroyer of delights and the Severer of societies.
+And men also recount the tale of
+
+
+
+HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE DAMSEL AND ABU NOWAS.
+
+The Caliph, Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, being one night
+exceedingly restless and thoughtful with sad thought, rose from his
+couch and walked about the by-ways of his palace, till he came to a
+chamber, over whose doorway hung a curtain. He raised that curtain and
+saw, at the upper end of the room, a bedstead whereon lay something
+black, as it were a man asleep, with a wax taper on his right hand and
+another on his left; and as the Caliph stood wondering at the sight,
+behold, he remarked a flagon full of old wine whose mouth was covered
+by the cup. The Caliph wondered even more at this, saying, "How came
+this black by such wine-service?" Then, drawing near the bedstead, he
+found that it was a girl lying asleep there, curtained by her hair; so
+he uncovered her face and saw that it was like the moon, on the night
+of his fulness.[FN#388] So the Caliph filled himself a cup of wine and
+drank it to the roses of her cheeks; and, feeling inclined to enjoy
+her, kissed a mole on her face, whereupon she started up from sleep,
+and cried out, "O Trusted of Allah,[FN#389] what may this be?" Replied
+he, "A guest who knocketh at thy door, hoping that thou wilt give him
+hospitality till the dawn;" and she answered; "Even so! I will serve
+him with my hearing and my sight." So she brought forward the wine and
+they drank together, after which she took the lute and tuning the
+strings, preluded in one-and-twenty modes, then returning to the first,
+played a lively measure and sang these couplets,
+
+"The tongue of love from heart bespeaks my sprite, * Telling I
+
+
+     love thee with love infinite:
+
+
+I have an eye bears witness to my pain, * And fluttering heart
+
+
+     sore hurt by parting-plight.
+
+
+I cannot hide the love that harms my life; * Tears ever roll and
+
+
+     growth of pine I sight:
+
+
+I knew not what love was ere loving thee; * But Allah's destiny
+
+
+     to all is dight."
+
+
+
+And when her verses were ended she said, "O Commander of the Faithful,
+I have been wronged!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel cried,
+"O Commander of the Faithful, I have been wronged!" Quoth he, "How so,
+and who hath wronged thee?" Quoth she "Thy son bought me awhile ago,
+for ten thousand dirhams, meaning to give me to thee; but thy wife, the
+daughter of thine uncle, sent him the said price and bade him shut me
+up from thee in this chamber." Whereupon said the Caliph, "Ask a boon
+of me," and she, "I ask thee to lie with me to-morrow night." Replied
+the Caliph, "Inshallah!" and leaving her, went away. Now as soon as it
+was morning, he repaired to his sitting-room and called for Abu Nowas,
+but found him not and sent his chamberlain to ask after him. The
+chamberlain found him in a tavern, pawned and pledged for a score of a
+thousand dirhams, which he had spent on a certain beardless youth, and
+questioned him of his case. So he told him what had betided him with
+the comely boy and how he had spent upon him a thousand silver pieces;
+whereupon quoth the chamberlain, "Show him to me; and if he be worth
+this, thou art excused." He answered, "Patience, and thou shalt see him
+presently.' As they were talking together, up came the lad, clad in a
+white tunic, under which was another of red and under this yet another
+black. Now when Abu Nowas saw him, he sighed a loud sigh and improvised
+these couplets,
+
+"He showed himself in shirt of white, * With eyes and eyelids
+
+
+     languor-digit.
+
+
+Quoth I, 'Doss pass and greet me not? * Though were thy greeting
+
+
+     a delight?
+
+
+Blest He who clothed in rose thy cheeks, * Creates what wills He
+
+
+     by His might!'
+
+
+Quoth he, 'Leave prate, forsure my Lord * Of works is wondrous
+
+
+     infinite:
+
+
+My garment's like my face and luck; * All three are white on
+
+
+     white on white.'"
+
+
+
+When the beardless one heard these words, he doffed the white tunic and
+appeared in the red; and when Abu Nowas saw him he redoubled in
+expressions of admiration and repeated these couplets,
+
+"He showed in garb anemone-red, * A foeman 'friend' entitulиd:
+
+
+Quoth I in marvel, 'Thou'rt full moon * Whose weed shames rose
+
+
+     however red:
+
+
+Hath thy cheek stained it red, or hast * Dyed it in blood by
+
+
+     lovers bled?'
+
+
+Quoth he, 'Sol gave me this for shirt * When hasting down the
+
+
+     West to bed
+
+
+So garb and wine and hue of cheek * All three are red on red on
+
+
+     red.'"
+
+
+
+And when the verses came to an end, the beardless one doffed the red
+tunic and stood in the black; and, when Abu Nowas saw him, he redoubled
+in attention to him and versified in these couplets,
+
+"He came in sable-huиd sacque * And shone in dark men's heart to
+
+
+     rack:
+
+
+Quoth I, 'Doss pass and greet me not? * Joying the hateful
+
+
+     envious pack?
+
+
+Thy garment's like thy locks and like * My lot, three blacks on
+
+
+     black on black.'"
+
+
+
+Seeing this state of things and understanding the case of Abu Nowas and
+his love-longing, the Chamberlain returned to the Caliph and acquainted
+him therewith; so he bade him pouch a thousand dirhams and go and take
+him out of pawn. Thereupon the Chamberlain returned to Abu Nowas and,
+paying his score, carried him to the Caliph, who said, "Make me some
+verses containing the words, O Trusted of Allah, what may this be?"
+Answered he, "I hear and I obey, O Commander of the Faithful."—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fortieth Night,
+
+She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abu Nowas
+answered, "I hear and I obey, O Commander of the Faithful!" and
+forthwith he improvised these couplets,
+
+"Long was my night for sleepless misery; * Weary of body and of
+
+
+     thought ne'er free:
+
+
+I rose and in my palace walked awhile, * Then wandered thro' the
+
+
+     halls of Haremry:
+
+
+Till chanced I on a blackness, which I found * A white girl hid
+
+
+     in hair for napery:
+
+
+Here to her for a moon of brightest sheen! * Like willow-wand and
+
+
+     veiled in pudency:
+
+
+I quaffed a cup to her; then drew I near, * And kissed the
+
+
+     beauty-spot on cheek had she:
+
+
+She woke astart, and in her sleep's amaze, * Swayed as the
+
+
+     swaying branch in rain we see;
+
+
+Then rose and said to me, 'O Trusted One * Of Allah, O Amin, what
+
+
+     may this be?
+
+
+Quoth I, 'A guest that cometh to thy tents * And craves till morn
+
+
+     thy hospitality.'
+
+
+She answered, 'Gladly I, my lord, will grace * And honour such a
+
+
+     guest with ear and eye.'"
+
+
+
+Cried the Caliph, "Allah strike thee dead! it is as if thou hadst been
+present with us.''[FN#390] Then he took him by the hand and carried him
+to the damsel and, when Abu Nowas saw her clad in a dress and veil of
+blue, he expressed abundant admiration and improvised these couplets,
+
+"Say to the pretty one in veil of blue, * 'By Allah, O my life,
+
+
+     have ruth on dole!
+
+
+For, when the fair entreats her lover foul, * Sighs rend his
+
+
+     bosom and bespeak his soul
+
+
+By charms of thee and whitest cheek I swear thee, * Pity a heart
+
+
+     for love lost all control
+
+
+Bend to him, be his stay 'gainst stress of love, * Nor aught
+
+
+     accept what saith the ribald fool.'"
+
+
+
+Now when he ended his verse, the damsel set wine before the Caliph;
+and, taking the lute, played a lively measure and sang these couplets,
+
+"Wilt thou be just to others in thy love, and do * Unright, and
+
+
+     put me off, and take new friend in lieu?
+
+
+Had lovers Kazi unto whom I might complain * Of thee, he'd
+
+
+     peradventure grant the due I sue:
+
+
+If thou forbid me pass your door, yet I afar * Will stand, and
+
+
+     viewing you waft my salams to you!"
+
+
+
+The Caliph bade her ply Abu Nowas with wine, till he lost his right
+senses, thereupon he gave him a full cup, and he drank a draught of it
+and held the cup in his hand till he slept. Then the Commander of the
+Faithful bade the girl take the cup from his grasp and hide it; so she
+took it and set it between her thighs, moreover he drew his scymitar
+and, standing at the head of Abu Nowas, pricked him with the point;
+whereupon he awoke and saw the drawn sword and the Caliph standing over
+him. At this sight the fumes of the wine fled from his head and the
+Caliph said to him, "Make me some verses and tell me therein what is
+become of thy cup; or I will cut off thy head." So he improvised these
+couplets,
+
+"My tale, indeed, is tale unlief; * 'Twas yonder fawn who play'd
+
+
+     the thief!
+
+
+She stole my cup of wine, before * The sips and sups had dealt
+
+
+     relief,
+
+
+And hid it in a certain place, * My heart's desire and longing
+
+
+     grief.
+
+
+I name it not, for dread of him * Who hath of it command-in-
+
+
+    chief."
+
+
+
+Quoth the Caliph, "Allah strike thee dead![FN#391] How knewest thou
+that? But we accept what thou sayst." Then he ordered him a dress of
+honour and a thousand dinars, and he went away rejoicing. And among
+tales they tell is one of
+
+
+
+THE MAN WHO STOLE THE DISH OF GOLD WHEREIN THE DOG ATE.
+
+Sometime erst there was a man, who had accumulated debts, and his case
+was straitened upon him, so that he left his people and family and went
+forth in distraction; and he ceased not wandering on at random till he
+came after a time to a city tall of walls and firm of foundations. He
+entered it in a state of despondency and despair, harried by hunger and
+worn with the weariness of his way. As he passed through one of the
+main streets, he saw a company of the great going along; so he followed
+them till they reached a house like to a royal-palace. He entered with
+them, and they stayed not faring forwards till they came in presence of
+a person seated at the upper end of a saloon, a man of the most
+dignified and majestic aspect, surrounded by pages and eunuchs, as he
+were of the sons of the Wazirs.When he saw the visitors, he rose to
+greet them and received them with honour; but the poor man aforesaid
+was confounded at his own boldness, when beholding——And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Forty-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the poor man
+aforesaid was confounded at his own boldness, when beholding the
+goodliness of the place and the crowd of servants and attendants; so
+drawing back, in perplexity and fear for his life sat down apart in a
+place afar off. where none should see him. Now it chanced that whilst
+he was sitting, behold, in came a man with four sporting-dogs, whereon
+were various kinds of raw silk and brocade[FN#392] and wearing round
+their necks collars of gold with chains of silver, and tied up each dog
+in a place set privy for him; after which he went out and presently
+returned with four dishes of gold, full of rich meats, which he set
+severally before the dogs, one for each. Then he went away and left
+them, whilst the poor man began to eye the food, for stress of hunger,
+and longed to go up to one of the dogs and eat with him, but fear of
+them withheld him. Presently, one of the dogs looked at him and Allah
+Almighty inspired the dog with a knowledge of his case; so he drew back
+from the platter and signed to the man, who came and ate till he was
+filled. Then he would have withdrawn, but the dog again signed to him
+to take for himself the dish and what food was left in it, and pushed
+it towards him with his fore-paw. So the man took the dish and leaving
+the house, went his way, and none followed him. Then he journeyed to
+another city where he sold the dish and buying with the price a
+stock-in-trade, returned to his own town. There he sold his goods and
+paid his debts; and he throve and became affluent and rose to perfect
+prosperity. He abode in his own land; but after some years had passed
+he said to himself, "Needs must I repair to the city of the owner of
+the dish, and, carry him a fit and handsome present and pay him the
+money-value of that which his dog bestowed upon me." So he took the
+price of the dish and a suitable gift; and, setting out, journeyed day
+and night, till he came to that city; he entered it and sought the
+place where the man lived; but he found there naught save ruins
+mouldering in row and croak of crow, and house and home desolate and
+all conditions in changed state. At this, his heart and soul were
+troubled, and he repeated the saying of him who saith,
+
+"Void are the private rooms of treasury: * As void were hearts of
+
+
+     fear and piety:
+
+
+Changed is the Wady nor are its gazelles * Those fawns, nor sand-
+
+
+    hills those I wont to see."
+
+
+
+And that of another,
+
+"In sleep came Su'adб's[FN#393] shade and wakened me * Near dawn,
+
+
+     when comrades all a-sleeping lay:
+
+
+But waking found I that the shade was fled, * And saw air empty
+
+
+     and shrine far away."
+
+
+
+Now when the man saw these mouldering ruins and witnessed what the hand
+of time had manifestly done with the place, leaving but traces of the
+substantial-things that erewhiles had been, a little reflection made it
+needless for him to enquire of the case; so he turned away. Presently,
+seeing a wretched man, in a plight which made him shudder and feel
+goose-skin, and which would have moved the very rock to rush, he said
+to him, "Ho thou! What have time and fortune done with the lord of this
+place? Where are his lovely faces, his shining full moons and splendid
+stars; and what is the cause of the ruin that is come upon his abode,
+so that nothing save the walls thereof remain?" Quoth the other, "He is
+the miserable thou seest mourning that which hath left him naked. But
+knowest thou not the words of the Apostle (whom Allah bless and keep!),
+wherein is a lesson to him who will learn by it and a warning to whoso
+will be warned thereby and guided in the right way, 'Verily it is the
+way of Allah Almighty to raise up nothing of this world, except He cast
+it down again?'[FN#394] If thou question of the cause of this accident,
+indeed it is no wonder, considering the chances and changes of Fortune.
+I was the lord of this place and I builded it and founded it and owned
+it; and I was the proud possessor of its full moons lucent and its
+circumstance resplendent and its damsels radiant and its garniture
+magnificent, but Time turned and did away from me wealth and servants
+and took from me what it had lent (not given); and brought upon me
+calamities which it held in store hidden. But there must needs be some
+reason for this thy question: so tell it me and leave wondering."
+Thereupon, the man who had waxed wealthy being sore concerned, told him
+the whole story, and added, "I have brought thee a present, such as
+souls desire, and the price of thy dish of gold which I took; for it
+was the cause of my affluence after poverty, and of the replenishment
+of my dwelling-place, after desolation, and of the dispersion of my
+trouble and straitness." But the man shook his head, and weeping and
+groaning and complaining of his lot answered, "Ho thou! methinks thou
+art mad; for this is not the way of a man of sense. How should a dog of
+mine make generous gift to thee of a dish of gold and I meanly take
+back the price of what a dog gave? This were indeed a strange thing!
+Were I in extremest unease and misery, by Allah, I would not accept of
+thee aught; no, not the worth of a nail-paring! So return whence thou
+camest in health and safety."[FN#395] Whereupon the merchant kissed his
+feet and taking leave of him, returned whence he came, praising him and
+reciting this couplet,
+
+"Men and dogs together are all gone by, * So peace be with all of them!
+dogs and men!'
+
+And Allah is All knowing! Again men tell the tale of
+
+
+
+THE SHARPER OF ALEXANDRIA AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
+
+There was once in the coast-fortress of Alexandria, a Chief of Police,
+Husбm al-Din highs, the sharp Scymitar of the Faith. Now one night as
+he sat in his seat of office, behold, there came in to him a
+trooper-wight who said, "Know, O my lord the Chief, that I entered your
+city this night and alighted at such a khan and slept there till a
+third part of the night was past when I awoke and found my saddle-bags
+sliced open and a purse of a thousand gold pieces stolen from them." No
+sooner had he done speaking than the Chief summoned his chief officials
+and bade them lay hands on all in the khan and clap them in limbo till
+the morning; and on the morrow, he caused bring the rods and whips used
+in punishment, and, sending for the prisoners, was about to flog them
+till they confessed in the presence of the owner of the stolen money
+when, lo! a man broke through the crowd till he came up to the Chief of
+Police,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Forty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Chief was
+about to flog them when lo! a man broke through the crowd till he came
+up to the Chief of Police and the trooper and said; "Ho! Emir, let
+these folk go, for they are wrongously accused. It was I who robbed
+this trooper, and see, here is the purse I stole from his saddle-bags."
+So saying, he pulled out the purse from his sleeve and laid it before
+Husam al-Din, who said to the soldier, "Take thy money and pouch it;
+thou now hast no ground of complaint against the people of the khan."
+Thereupon these folk and all who were present fell to praising the
+thief and blessing him; but he said, "Ho! Emir, the skill is not in
+that I came to thee in person and brought thee the purse; the
+cleverness was in taking it a second time from this trooper." Asked the
+Chief, "And how didst thou do to take it, O sharper?"; and the robber
+replied, "O Emir, I was standing in the Shroff's[FN#396] bazar at
+Cairo, when I saw this soldier receive the gold in change and put it in
+yonder purse; so I followed him from by-street to by- street, but found
+no occasion of stealing it. Then he travelled from Cairo and I followed
+him from town to town, plotting and planning by the way to rob him, but
+without avail, till he entered this city and I dogged him to the khan.
+I took up my lodging beside him and watched him till he fell asleep and
+I heard him sleeping; when I went up to him softly, softly; and I slit
+open his saddle-bags with this knife, and took the purse in the way I
+am now taking it." So saying, he put out his hand and took the purse
+from before the Chief of Police and the trooper, both of whom, together
+with the folk, drew back watching him and thinking he would show them
+how he took the purse from the saddle-bags. But, behold! he suddenly
+broke into a run and threw himself into a pool of standing
+water[FN#397] hard by. So the Chief of the Police shouted to his
+officers, "Stop thief!" and many made after him; but before they could
+doff their clothes and descend the steps, he had made off; and they
+sought for him, but found him not; for that the by-streets and lanes of
+Alexandria all communicate. So they came back without bringing the
+purse; and the Chief of Police said to the trooper, "Thou hast no
+demand upon the folk; for thou fondest him who robbed thee and
+receivedst back thy money, but didst not keep it." So the trooper went
+away, having lost his money, whilst the folk were delivered from his
+hands and those of the Chief of Police, and all this was of the favour
+of Almighty Allah.[FN#398] And they also tell the tale of
+
+
+
+AL-MALIK AL-NASIR AND THE THREE CHIEFS OF POLICE.
+
+Once upon a time Al-Malik al-Nбsir[FN#399] sent for the Wбlis or Chiefs
+of Police of Cairo, Bulak, and Fostat[FN#400] and said to them, "I
+desire each of you to recount me the marvellousest thing that hath
+befallen him during his term of office."—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Forty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth Al-Malik
+al-Nasir to the three Walis, "I desire each of you to recount me the
+marvellousest thing which hath befallen him during his term of office."
+So they answered, "We hear and we obey." Then said the Chief of the
+Police of Cairo, "Know thou, O our lord the Sultan, the most wonderful
+thing that befel me, during my term of office, was on this wise:" and
+he began
+
+
+
+The Story of the Chief of Police of Cairo.
+
+"There were in this city two men of good repute fit to bear
+witness[FN#401] in matters of murder and wounds; but they were both
+secretly addicted to intrigues with low women and to wine- bibbing and
+to dissolute doings, nor could I succeed (do what I would) in bringing
+them to book, and I began to despair of success. So I charged the
+taverners and confectioners and fruiterers and candle-chandlers and the
+keepers of brothels and bawdy houses to acquaint me of these two good
+men whenever they should anywhere be engaged in drinking or other
+debauchery, or together or apart; and ordered that, if they both or if
+either of them bought at their shops aught for the purpose of wassail
+and carousel, the vendors should not conceal-it from me. And they
+replied, 'We hear and obey.' Presently it chanced that one night, a man
+came to me and said, 'O my master, know that the two just men, the two
+witnesses, are in such a street in such a house, engaged in abominable
+wickedness.' So I disguised myself, I and my body-servant, and ceased
+not trudging till I came to the house and knocked at the door,
+whereupon a slave-girl came out and opened to me, saying, 'Who art
+thou?' I entered without answering her and saw the two legal-witnesses
+and the house-master sitting, and lewd women by their side and before
+them great plenty of wine. When they saw me, they rose to receive me,
+and made much of me, seating me in the place of honour and saying to
+me, 'Welcome for an illustrious guest and well come for a pleasant cup-
+companion!' And on this wise they met me without showing a sign of
+alarm or trouble. Presently, the master of the house arose from amongst
+us and went out and returned after a while with three hundred dinars,
+when the men said to me, without the least fear, 'Know, O our lord the
+Wali, it is in thy power to do even more than disgrace and punish us;
+but this will bring thee in return nothing but weariness: so we reck
+thou wouldest do better to take this much money and protect us; for
+Almighty Allah is named the Protector and loveth those of His servants
+who protect their Moslem neighbours; and thou shalt have thy reward in
+this world and due recompense in the world to come.' So I said to
+myself, 'I will take the money and protect them this once, but, if ever
+again I have them in my power, I will take my wreak of them;' for, you
+see, the money had tempted me. Thereupon I took it and went away
+thinking that no one would know it; but, next day, on a sudden one of
+the Kazi's messengers came to me and said to me, 'O Wali, be good
+enough to answer the summons of the Kazi who wanteth thee.' So I arose
+and accompanied him, knowing not the meaning of all this; and when I
+came into the judge's presence, I saw the two witnesses and the master
+of the house, who had given me the money, sitting by his side.
+Thereupon this man rose and sued me for three hundred dinars, nor was
+it in my power to deny the debt; for he produced a written obligation
+and his two companions, the legal witnesses, testified against me that
+I owed the amount. Their evidence satisfied the Kazi and he ordered me
+to pay the sum, nor did I leave the Court till they had of me the three
+hundred gold pieces. So I went away, in the utmost wrath and shame,
+vowing mischief and vengeance against them and repenting that I had not
+punished them. Such, then is the most remarkable event which befel me
+during my term of office." Thereupon rose the Chief of the Bulak Police
+and said, "As for me, O our lord the Sultan, the most marvellous thing
+that happened to me, since I became Wali, was as follows:" and he began
+
+
+
+The Story of the Chief of the Bulak Police.
+
+"I was once in debt to the full amount of three hundred thousand gold
+pieces;[FN#402] and, being distressed thereby, I sold all that was
+behind me and what was before me and all I hent in hand, but I could
+collect no more than an hundred thousand dinars"—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Forty-fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wali of Bulak
+continued: "So I sold all that was behind and before me, but could
+collect no more than an hundred thousand dinars and remained in great
+perplexity. Now one night, as I sat at home in this state, behold,
+there came a knocking; so I said to one of my servants, 'See who is at
+the door.' He went out and returned, wan of face, changed in
+countenance and with his side-muscles a- quivering; so I asked him,
+'What aileth thee?'; and he answered, 'There is a man at the door; he
+is half naked, clad in skins, with sword in hand and knife in girdle,
+and with him are a company of the same fashion and he asketh for thee.'
+So I took my sword and going out to see who these were, behold, I found
+them as the boy had reported and said to them, 'What is your business?'
+They replied, 'Of a truth we be thieves and have done fine work this
+night; so we appointed the swag to thy use, that thou mayst pay
+therewith the debts which sadden thee and deliver thee from thy
+distress.' Quoth I, 'Where is the plunder?'; and they brought me a
+great chest, full of vessels of gold and silver; which when I saw, I
+rejoiced and said to myself, 'Herewith I will settle all claims upon me
+and there will remain as much again.' So I took the money and going
+inside said in my mind, 'It were ignoble to let them fare away
+empty-handed.' Whereupon I brought out the hundred thousand dinars I
+had by me and gave it to them, thanking them for their kindness; and
+they pouched the monies and went their way, under cover of the night so
+that none might know of them. But when morning dawned I examined the
+contents of the chest, and found them copper and tin[FN#403] washed
+with gold worth five hundred dirhams at the most; and this was grievous
+to me, for I had lost what monies I had and trouble was added to my
+trouble. Such, then, is the most remarkable event which befel me during
+my term of office." Then rose the Chief of the Police of Old Cairo and
+said, "O our lord the Sultan, the most marvellous thing that happened
+to me, since I became Wali, was on this wise;" and he began
+
+
+
+The Story of the Chief of the Old Cairo Police.
+
+"I once hanged ten thieves each on his own gibbet, and especially
+charged the guards to watch them and hinder the folk from taking any
+one of them down. Next morning when I came to look at them, I found two
+bodies hanging from one gallows and said to the guards, 'Who did this,
+and where is the tenth gibbet?' But they denied all knowledge of it,
+and I was about to beat them till they owned the truth, when they said,
+'Know, O Emir, that we fell asleep last night, and when we awoke, we
+found that some one had stolen one of the bodies, gibbet and all; so we
+were alarmed and feared thy wrath. But, behold, up came a
+peasant-fellow driving his ass; whereupon we laid hands on him and
+killed him and hanged his body upon this gallows, in the stead of the
+thief who had been stolen.'[FN#404] Now when I heard this, I marvelled
+and asked them, 'What had he with him?'; and they answered, 'He had a
+pair of saddle-bags on the ass.' Quoth I, 'What was in them?'; quoth
+they, 'We know not.' So I said, 'Bring them hither;' and when they
+brought them to me I bade open them, behold, therein was the body of a
+murdered man, cut in pieces. Now as soon as I saw this, I marvelled at
+the case and said in myself, 'Glory to God! The cause of the hanging of
+this peasant was none other but his crime against this murdered man;
+and thy Lord is not unjust towards His servants.'"[FN#405] And men also
+tell the tale of
+
+
+
+THE THIEF AND THE SHROFF.
+
+A certain Shroff, bearing a bag of gold pieces, once passed by a
+company of thieves, and one of these sharpers said to the others, "I,
+and I only, have the power to steal yonder purse." So they asked, "How
+wilt thou do it?"; and he answered, "Look ye all!"; and followed the
+money-changer, till he entered his house, when he threw the bag on a
+shelf[FN#406] and, being affected with diabetes, went into the chapel
+of ease to do his want, calling to the slave-girl, "Bring me an ewer of
+water." She took the ewer and followed him to the privy, leaving the
+door open, whereupon the thief entered and, seizing the money-bag, made
+off with it to his companions, to whom he told what had passed.—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Forty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the thief took
+the money-bag and made off with it to his companions to whom he told
+what had passed. Said they, "By Allah, thou hast played a clever trick!
+''tis not every one could do it; but, presently the money-changer will
+come out of the privy; and missing the bag of money, he will beat the
+slave-girl and torture her with grievous torture. 'Tis as though thou
+hast at present done nothing worthy of praise; so, if thou be indeed a
+sharper, return and save the girl from being beaten and questioned."
+Quoth he, ' Inshallah! I will save both girl and purse." Then the prig
+went back to the Shroff's house and found him punishing the girl
+because of the purse; so he knocked at the door and the man said, "Who
+is there?" Cried the thief, "I am the servant of thy neighbour in the
+Exchange;" whereupon he came out to him and said, "What is thy
+business?" The thief replied, "My master saluteth thee and saith to
+thee: 'Surely thou art deranged and thoroughly so, to cast the like of
+this bag of money down at the door of thy shop and go away and leave
+it.' Had a stranger hit upon it he had made off with it and, except my
+master had seen it and taken care of it, it had assuredly been lost to
+thee." So saying, he pulled out the purse and showed it to the Shroff
+who on seeing it said, "That is my very purse," and put out his hand to
+take it; but the thief said, "By Allah, I will not give thee this same,
+till thou write me a receipt declaring that thou hast received it! for
+indeed I fear my master will not believe that thou hast recovered the
+purse, unless I bring him thy writing to that effect, and sealed with
+thy signet-seal." The money changer went in to write the paper
+required; and in the meantime the thief made off with the bag of money
+and thus was the slave-girl saved her beating. And men also tell a tale
+of
+
+
+
+THE CHIEF OF THE KUS POLICE AND THE SHARPER.
+
+It is related that Alб al-Dнn, Chief of Police at Kъs,[FN#407] was
+sitting one night in his house, when behold, a personage of handsome
+appearance and dignified aspect came to the door, accompanied by a
+servant bearing a chest upon his head and, standing there said to one
+of the Wali's young men, "Go in and tell the Emir that I would have
+audience of him on some privy business." So the servant went in and
+told his master, who bade admit the visitor. When he entered, the Emir
+saw him to be a man of handsome semblance and portly presence; so he
+received him with honour and high distinction, seating him beside
+himself, and said to him, "What is thy wish?" Replied the stranger, "I
+am a highwayman and am minded to repent at thy hands and turn to
+Almighty Allah; but I would have thee help me to this, for that I am in
+thy district and under thine inspection. Now I have here a chest,
+wherein are matters worth some forty thousand dinars; and none hath so
+good a right to it as thou; so do thou take it and give me in exchange
+a thousand dinars, of thine own monies lawfully gotten, that I may have
+a little capital, to aid me in my repentance,[FN#408] and save me from
+resorting to sin for my subsistence; and with Allah Almighty be thy
+reward!" Speaking thus he opened the chest and showed the Wali that it
+was full of trinkets and jewels and bullion and ring-gems and pearls,
+whereat he was amazed and rejoiced with great joy. So he cried out to
+his treasurer, saying, "Bring hither a certain purse containing a
+thousand dinars,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
+say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wali cried
+out to his treasurer, saying "Bring hither a certain purse containing a
+thousand dinars; and gave it to the highwayman, who took it and
+thanking him, went his way under cover of the night. Now when it was
+the morrow, the Emir sent for the chief of the goldsmiths and showed
+him the chest and what was therein; but the goldsmith found it nothing
+but tin and brass, and the jewels and bezel stones and pearls all of
+glass; whereat the Wali was sore chagrined and sent in quest of the
+highwayman; but none could come at him. And men also tell the tale of
+
+
+
+IBRAHIM BIN AL-MAHDI AND THE MERCHANT'S SISTER.
+
+The Caliph Al-Maamъn once said to his uncle Ibrahim bin Al-Mahdн, "Tell
+us the most remarkable thing that thou hast ever seen." Answered he: "I
+hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful. Know that I rode out one
+day, a-pleasuring, and my ride brought me to a place where I smelt the
+reek of food. So my soul longed for it and I halted, O Prince of True
+Believers, perplexed and unable either to go on or to go in. Presently,
+I raised my eyes and lo! I espied a lattice-window and behind it a
+wrist, than which I never beheld aught lovelier. The sight turned my
+brain and I forgot the smell of the food and began to plan and plot how
+I should get access to the house. After awhile, I observed a tailor
+hard by and going up to him, saluted him. He returned my salam and I
+asked him, 'Whose house is that?' And he answered, 'It belongeth to a
+merchant called such an one, son of such an one, who consorteth with
+none save merchants.' As we were talking, behold, up came two men, of
+comely aspect with intelligent countenances, riding on horseback; and
+the tailor told me that they were the merchant's most intimate friends
+and acquainted me with their names. So I urged my beast towards them
+and said to them, 'Be I your ransom! Abu Fulбn[FN#409] awaiteth you!';
+and I rode with them both to the gate, where I entered and they also.
+Now when the master of the house saw me with them he doubted not but I
+was their friend; so he welcomed me and seated me in the highest stead.
+Then they brought the table of food and I said in myself, 'Allah hath
+granted me my desire of the food; and now there remain the hand and the
+wrist.' After awhile, we removed for carousel to another room, which I
+found tricked out with all manner of rarities; and the host paid me
+particular attention, addressing his talk to me, for that he took me to
+be a guest of his guests; whilst in like manner these two made much of
+me, taking me for a friend of their friend the house-master. Thus I was
+the object of politest attentions till we had drunk several cups of
+wine and there came into us a damsel as she were a willow wand of the
+utmost beauty and elegance, who took a lute and playing a lively
+measure, sang these couplets,
+
+'Is it not strange one house us two contain * And still thou
+
+
+     draw'st not near, or talk we twain?
+
+
+Only our eyes tell secrets of our souls, * And broken hearts by
+
+
+     lovers' fiery pain;
+
+
+Winks with the eyelids, signs the eyebrow knows; * Languishing
+
+
+     looks and hand saluting fain.'
+
+
+
+When I heard these words my vitals were stirred, O Commander of the
+Faithful, and I was moved to delight, for her excessive loveliness and
+the beauty of the verses she sang; and I envied her her skill and said,
+'There lacketh somewhat to thee, O damsel!' Whereupon she threw the
+lute from her hand in anger, and cried, 'Since when are ye wont to
+bring ill-mannered louts into your assemblies?' Then I repented of what
+I had done, seeing the company vexed with me, and I said in my mind,
+'My hopes are lost by me'; and I weeted no way of escaping blame but to
+call for a lute, saying, 'I will show you what escaped her in the air
+she played.' Quoth the folk, 'We hear and obey'; so they brought me a
+lute and I tuned the strings and sang these verses,
+
+'This is thy friend perplexed for pain and pine, * Th' enamoured,
+
+
+     down whose breast course drops of brine:
+
+
+He hath this hand to the Compassionate raised * For winning wish,
+
+
+     and that on hearts is lien:
+
+
+O thou who seest one love-perishing, * His death is caused by
+
+
+     those hands and eyne!'[FN#410]
+
+
+
+Whereupon the damsel sprang up and throwing herself at my feet, kissed
+them and said, 'It is thine to excuse, O my Master! By Allah, I knew
+not thy quality nor heard I ever the like of this performance!' And all
+began extolling me and making much of me, being beyond measure
+delighted' and at last they besought me to sing again. So I sang a
+merry air, whereupon they all became drunken with music and wine, their
+wits left them and they were carried off to their homes, while I abode
+alone with the host and the girl. He drank some cups with me and then
+said, 'O my lord, my life hath been lived in vain for that I have not
+known the like of thee till the present. Now, by Allah, tell me who
+thou art, that I may ken who is the cup-companion whom Allah hath
+bestowed on me this night.' At first I returned him evasive answers and
+would not tell him my name; but he conjured me till I told him who I
+was, whereupon he sprang to his feet"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
+of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Forty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ibrahim son of
+Al-Mahdi continued: "Now when the housemaster heard my name he sprang
+to his feet and said, 'Indeed I wondered that such gifts should belong
+to any but the like of thee; and Fortune hath done me a good turn for
+which I cannot thank her too much. But, haply, this is a dream; for how
+could I hope that one of the Caliphate house should visit my humble
+home and carouse with me this night?' I conjured him to be seated; so
+he sat down and began to question me as to the cause of my visit in the
+most courteous terms. So I told him the whole affair, first and last,
+hiding naught, and said to him, 'Now as to the food I have had my will,
+but of the hand and wrist I have still to win my wish.' Quoth he, 'Thou
+shalt have thy desire of the hand and wrist also, Inshallah!' Then said
+he to the slave-girl, 'Ho, such an one, bid such an one come down.' And
+he called his slave-girls down, one by one and showed them to me; but I
+saw not my mistress among them, and he said, 'O my lord, there is none
+left save my mother and sister; but, by Allah, I must needs have them
+also down and show them to thee.' So I marvelled at his courtesy and
+large heartedness and said, 'May I be thy sacrifice! Begin with the
+sister;' and he answered, 'With joy and goodwill.' So she came down and
+he showed me her hand and behold, she was the owner of the hand and
+wrist. Quoth I, 'Allah make me thy ransom! this is the damsel whose
+hand and wrist I saw at the lattice.' Then he sent his servants without
+stay or delay for witnesses and bringing out two myriads[FN#411] of
+gold pieces, said to the witnesses, 'This our lord and master, Ibrahim
+son of Al-Mahdi, paternal-uncle of the Commander of the Faithful,
+seeketh in marriage my sister such an one; and I call you to witness
+that I give her in wedlock to him and that he hath settled upon her ten
+thousand dinars.' And he said to me, 'I give thee my sister in
+marriage, at the portion aforesaid.' 'I consent,' answered I, 'and am
+herewith content.' Whereupon he gave one of the bags to her and the
+other to the witnesses, and said to me, 'O our lord, I desire to adorn
+a chamber for thee, where thou mayst sleep with thy wife.' But I was
+abashed at his generosity and was ashamed to lie with her in his house;
+so I said, 'Equip her and send her to my place.' And by thy being, O
+Commander of the Faithful, he sent me with her such an equipage that my
+house, for all its greatness, was too strait to hold it! And I begot on
+her this boy that standeth in thy presence." Then Al-Maamun marvelled
+at the man's generosity and said, "Gifted of Allah is he! Never heard I
+of his like." And he bade Ibrahim bin al-Mahdi bring him to court, that
+he might see him. He brought him and the Caliph conversed with him; and
+his wit and good breeding so pleased him that he made him one of his
+chief officers. And Allah is the Giver, the Bestower! Men also relate
+the tale of
+
+
+
+THE WOMAN WHOSE HANDS WERE CUT OFF FOR GIVING ALMS TO THE POOR.
+
+A certain King once made proclamation to the people of his realm
+saying, "If any of you give alms of aught, I will verily and assuredly
+cut off his hand;" wherefore all the people abstained from alms-deed,
+and none could give anything to any one. Now it chanced that one day a
+beggar accosted a certain woman (and indeed hunger was sore upon him),
+and said to her, "Give me an alms"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was Three Hundred and Forty-eighth Night
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that, quoth the beggar
+to the woman, "Give me an alms however small." But she answered him,
+"How can I give thee aught, when the King cutteth off the hands of all
+who give alms?" Then he said, "I conjure thee by Allah Almighty, give
+me an alms;" so when he adjured her by the Holy Name of Allah, she had
+ruth on him and gave him two scones. The King heard of this; whereupon
+he called her before him and cut off her hands, after which she
+returned to her house. Now it chanced after a while that the King said
+to his mother, "I have a mind to take a wife; so do thou marry me to a
+fair woman." Quoth she, "There is among our female slaves one who is
+unsurpassed in beauty; but she hath a grievous blemish." The King
+asked, "What is that?" and his mother answered, "She hath had both her
+hands cut off." Said he, "Let me see her." So she brought her to him,
+and he was ravished by her and married her and went in unto her; and
+begat upon her a son. Now this was the woman who had given two scones
+as an alms to the asker, and whose hands had been cut off therefor; and
+when the King married her, her fellow-wives envied her and wrote to the
+common husband that she was an unchaste, having just given birth to the
+boy; so he wrote to his mother, bidding her carry the woman into the
+desert and leave her there. The old Queen obeyed his commandment and
+abandoned the woman and her son in the desert; whereupon she fell to
+weeping for that which had befallen her and wailing with exceeding sore
+wail. As she went along, she came to a river and knelt down to drink,
+being overcome with excess of thirst, for fatigue of walking and for
+grief; but, as she bent her head, the child which was at her neck fell
+into the water. Then she sat weeping bitter tears for her child, and as
+she wept, behold came up two men, who said to her, "What maketh thee
+weep?" Quoth she, "I had a child at my neck, and he hath fallen into
+the water." They asked, "Wilt thou that we bring him out to thee?" and
+she answered, "Yes." So they prayed to Almighty Allah, and the child
+came forth of the water to her, safe and sound. Then said they, "Wilt
+thou that Allah restore thee thy hands as they were?" "Yes," replied
+she: whereupon they prayed to Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) and
+her hands were restored to her, goodlier than before. Then said they,
+"Knowest thou who we are?"; and she replied, "Allah is all
+knowing;"[FN#412] and they said, "We are thy two Scones of Bread, which
+thou gayest in alms to the asker and which were the cause of the
+cutting off of thy hands.[FN#413] So praise thou Allah Almighty for
+that He hath restored to thee thy hands and thy child." Then she
+praised Almighty Allah and glorified Him. And men relate a tale of
+
+
+
+THE DEVOUT ISRAELITE.
+
+There was once a devout man of the Children of Israel,[FN#414] whose
+family span cotton-thread; and he used every day to sell the yarn and
+buy fresh cotton, and with the profit he laid in daily bread for his
+household. One morning he went out and sold the day's yarn as wont,
+when there met him one of his brethren, who complained to him of need;
+so he gave him the price of the thread and returned, empty-handed, to
+his family, who said to him, "Where is the cotton and the food?" Quoth
+he, "Such an one met me and complained to me of want; whereupon I gave
+him the price of the yarn." And they said, "How shall we do? We have
+nothing to sell." Now they had a cracked trencher[FN#415] and a jar; so
+he took them to the bazar but none would buy them of him. However
+presently, as he stood in the market, there passed by a man with a
+fish,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Forty-ninth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the man took the
+trencher and jar to the bazar, but none would buy them of him. However
+there presently passed by a man with a fish which was so stinking and
+so swollen that no one would buy it of him, and he said to the Jew,
+"Wilt thou sell me thine unsaleable ware for mine?" "Yes," answered the
+Jew; and, giving him the wooden trencher and jar, took the fish and
+carried it home to his family, who said, "What shall we do with this
+fish?" Quoth he, "We will broil it and eat it, till it please Allah to
+provide bread for us." So they took it and ripping open its belly,
+found therein a great pearl and told the head of the household who
+said, "See ye if it be pierced: if so, it belongeth to some one of the
+folk; if not, 'tis a provision of Allah for us." So they examined it
+and found it unpierced. Now when it was the morrow, the Jew carried it
+to one of his brethren which was an expert in jewels, and the man
+asked, "O such an one! whence haddest thou this pearl?"; whereto the
+Jew answered, "It was a gift of Almighty Allah to us," and the other
+said, "It is worth a thousand dirhams and I will give thee that; but
+take it to such an one, for he hath more money and skill than I." So
+the Jew took it to the jeweller, who said, "It is worth seventy
+thousand dirhams and no more." Then he paid him that sum and the Jew
+hired two porters to carry the money to his house. As he came to his
+door, a beggar accosted him, saying, "Give me of that which Allah hath
+given thee." Quoth the Jew to the asker, "But yesterday we were even as
+thou; take thee half this money:" so he made two parts of it, and each
+took his half. Then said the beggar, "Take back thy money and Allah
+bless and prosper thee in it; I am a Messenger,[FN#416] whom thy Lord
+hath sent to try thee." Quoth the Jew, "To Allah be the praise and the
+thanks!" and abode in all delight of life he and his household till
+death. And men recount this story of
+
+
+
+ABU HASSAN AL-ZIYADI AND THE KHORASAN.
+
+Quoth Abъ Hassбn al-Ziyбdi[FN#417]: "I was once in straitened case and
+so needy that the grocer, the baker and other tradesmen dunned and
+importuned me; and my misery became extreme, for I knew of no resource
+nor what to do. Things being on this wise there came to me one day
+certain of my servants and said to me, 'At the door is a pilgrim wight,
+who seeketh admission to thee.' Quoth I, 'Admit him.' So he came in and
+behold, he was a Khorasбnн. We exchanged salutations and he said to me,
+'Tell me, art thou Abu Hassan al-Ziyadi?'; and I replied, 'Yes, what is
+thy wish?' Quoth he, 'I am a stranger and am minded to make the
+pilgrimage; but I have with me a great sum of money, which is
+burdensome to bear: so I wish to deposit these ten thousand dirhams
+with thee whilst I make my pilgrimage and return. If the caravan march
+back and thou see me not, then know that I am dead, in which case the
+money is a gift from me to thee; but if I come back, it shall be mine.'
+I answered, 'Be it as thou wilt, an thus please Allah Almighty.' So he
+brought out a leather bag and I said to the servant, 'Fetch the
+scales;' and when he brought them the man weighed out the money and
+handed it to me, after which he went his way. Then I called the
+purveyors and paid them my liabilities"—And Shahrazad perceived the
+dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fiftieth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth Abu Hassan
+al-Ziyadi: "I called the purveyors and paid them my liabilities and
+spent freely and amply, saying to myself, 'By the time he returns,
+Allah will have relieved me with one or other of the bounties He hath
+by Him.' However, on the very next day, the servant came in to me and
+said, 'Thy friend the Khorasan man is at the door.' 'Admit him,'
+answered I. So he came in and said to me, 'I had purposed to make the
+pilgrimage; but news hath reached me of the decease of my father, and I
+have resolved to return; so give me the monies I deposited with thee
+yesterday.' When I heard this, I was troubled and perplexed beyond
+measure of perplexity known to man and wotted not what reply to make
+him; for, if I denied it, he would put me on my oath, and I should be
+disgraced in the world to come; whilst, if I told him that I had spent
+the money, he would make an outcry and dishonour me before men. So I
+said to him, 'Allah give thee health! This my house is no stronghold
+nor site of safe custody for this money. When I received thy leather
+bag, I sent it to one with whom it now is; so do thou return to us
+to-morrow and take thy money, Inshallah!'[FN#418] So he went away and I
+passed the night in great concern, because of his return to me; sleep
+visited me not nor could I close my eyes; so I rose and bade the boy
+saddle me the she-mule. Answered he, 'O my lord, it is yet but the
+first third of the night and indeed we have hardly had time to rest.' I
+returned to my bed, but sleep was forbidden to me and I ceased not to
+awaken the boy, and he to put me off, till break of day, when he
+saddled me the mule, and I mounted and rode out, not knowing whither to
+go. I threw the reins on the mule's shoulders and gave myself up to
+regrets and melancholy thoughts, whilst she fared on with me to the
+eastward of Baghdad. Presently, as I went along, behold, I saw a number
+of people approaching me and turned aside into another path to avoid
+them; but seeing that I wore a turband in preacher-fashion,[FN#419]
+they followed me and hastening up to me, said, 'Knowest thou the
+lodging of Abu Hassan al-Ziyadi?' 'I am he,' answered I; and they
+rejoined, 'Obey the summons of the Commander of the Faithful.' Then
+they carried me before Al-Maamun, who said to me, 'Who art thou?' Quoth
+I, 'An associate of the Kazi Abu Yъsuf and a doctor of the law and
+traditions.' Asked the Caliph, 'By what surname art thou
+known?'[FN#420] and I answered, 'Abu Hassan al-Ziyadi;' whereupon quoth
+he, 'Expound to me thy case.' So I recounted to him my case and he wept
+sore and said to me, 'Out on thee! The Apostle of Allah (whom Allah
+bless and assain!) would not let me sleep this night, because of thee;
+for in early darkness[FN#421] he appeared to me and said, 'Succour Abu
+Hassan al-Ziyadi.' Whereupon I awoke and, knowing thee not, went to
+sleep again; but he came to me a second time and said to me, 'Woe to
+thee! Succour Abu Hassan al-Ziyadi.' I awoke a second time, but knowing
+thee not I went to sleep again; and he came to me a third time and
+still I knew thee not and went to sleep again. Then he came to me once
+more and said, 'Out on thee! Succour Abu Hassan al-Ziyadi!' After that
+I dared not sleep any more, but watched the rest of the night and
+aroused my people and sent them on all sides in quest of thee.' Then he
+gave me one myriad of dirhams, saying, 'This is for the Khorasani,' and
+other ten thousand, saying, 'Spend freely of this and amend thy case
+therewith, and set thine affairs in order.' Moreover, he presented me
+with thirty thousand dirhams, saying, 'Furnish thyself with this, and
+when the Procession-day[FN#422] is being kept, come thou to me, that I
+may invest thee with some office.' So I went forth from him with the
+money and returned home, where I prayed the dawn-prayer; and behold,
+presently came the Khorasani, so I carried him into the house and
+brought out to him one myriad of dirhams, saying, 'Here is thy money.'
+Quoth he, 'It is not my very money; how cometh this?' So I told him the
+whole story, and he wept and said, 'By Allah, haddest thou told me the
+fact at first, I had not pressed thee!; and now, by Allah, I will not
+accept aught of this money'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
+and ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fifty-first Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the
+Khorasani to Al-Ziyadi, "'By Allah, haddest thou told me the fact at
+first, I had not pressed thee!; and now, by Allah, I will not accept
+aught of this money and thou art lawfully quit of it.' So saying, he
+went away and I set my affairs in order and repaired on the
+Procession-day to Al-Maamun's Gate, where I found him seated. When he
+saw me present myself he called me to him and, bringing forth to me a
+paper from under his prayer-carpet, said to me, 'This is a patent,
+conferring on thee the office of Kazi of the western division of
+Al-Medinah, the Holy City, from the Bab al-Salбm[FN#423] to the
+furthest limit of the township; and I appoint thee such and such
+monthly allowances. So fear Allah (to whom be honour and glory!) end be
+mindful of the solicitude of His Apostle (whom may He bless and keep!)
+on thine account.' Then the folk marvelled at the Caliph's words and
+asked me their meaning; whereupon I told them the story from beginning
+to end and it spread abroad amongst the people." "And" (quoth he who
+telleth the tale) "Abu Hassan al-Ziyadi ceased not to be Kazi of
+Al-Medinah, the Holy City, till he died in the days of Al-Maamun the
+mercy of Allah be on him!" And among the tales men tell is one of
+
+
+
+THE POOR MAN AND HIS FRIEND IN NEED.
+
+There was once a rich man who lost all he had and became destitute,
+whereupon his wife advised him to ask aid and assistance of one of his
+intimates. So he betook himself to a certain friend of his and
+acquainted him with his necessities; and he lent him five hundred
+dinars to trade withal. Now in early life he had been a jeweller; so he
+took the gold and went to the jewel-bazar, where he opened a shop to
+buy and sell. Presently, as he sat in his shop three men accosted him
+and asked for his father, and when he told them that he was deceased,
+they said, "Say, did he leave issue?" Quoth the jeweller, "He left the
+slave who is before you." They asked, "And who knoweth thee for his
+son?"; and he answered, "The people of the bazar whereupon they said,
+"Call them together, that they may testify to us that thou art his very
+son." So he called them and they bore witness of this; whereupon the
+three men delivered to him a pair of saddle- bags, containing thirty
+thousand dinars, besides jewels and bullion of high value, saying,
+"This was deposited with us in trust by thy father." Then they went
+away; and presently there came to him a woman, who sought of him
+certain of the jewels, worth five hundred dinars which she bought and
+paid him three thousand for them. Upon this he arose and took five
+hundred dinars and carrying them to his friend who had lent him the
+money, said to him, "Take the five hundred dinars I borrowed of thee;
+for Allah hath opened to me the gate of prosperity." Quoth the other,
+"Nay; I gave them to thee outright, for the love of Allah; so do thou
+keep them. And take this paper, but read it not till thou be at home,
+and do according to that which is therein." So he took the money and
+the paper and returned home, where he opened the scroll and found
+therein inscribed these couplets,
+
+"Kinsmen of mine were those three men who came to thee; * My sire
+
+
+     and uncles twain and Sбlih bin Ali.
+
+
+So what for cash thou coldest, to my mother 'twas * Thou soldest
+
+
+     it, and coin and gems were sent by me.
+
+
+Thus doing I desired not any harm to thee * But in my presence
+
+
+     spare thee and thy modesty."
+
+
+
+And they also recount the story of
+
+
+
+THE RUINED MAN WHO BECAME RICH AGAIN THROUGH A DREAM.[FN#424]
+
+There lived once in Baghdad a wealthy man and made of money, who lost
+all his substance and became so destitute that he could earn his living
+only by hard labour. One night, he lay down to sleep, dejected and
+heavy hearted, and saw in a dream a Speaker[FN#425] who said to him,
+"Verily thy fortune is in Cairo; go thither and seek it." So he set out
+for Cairo; but when he arrived there evening overtook him and he lay
+down to sleep in a mosque Presently, by decree of Allah Almighty, a
+band of bandits entered the mosque and made their way thence into an
+adjoining house; but the owners, being aroused by the noise of the
+thieves, awoke and cried out; whereupon the Chief of Police came to
+their aid with his officers. The robbers made off; but the Wali entered
+the mosque and, finding the man from Baghdad asleep there, laid hold of
+him and beat him with palm-rods so grievous a beating that he was
+well-nigh dead. Then they cast him into jail, where he abode three
+days; after which the Chief of Police sent for him and asked him,
+"Whence art thou?"; and he answered, "From Baghdad." Quoth the Wali,
+"And what brought thee to Cairo?"; and quoth the Baghdadi, "I saw in a
+dream One who said to me, Thy fortune is in Cairo; go thither to it.
+But when I came to Cairo the fortune which he promised me proved to be
+the palm-rods thou so generously gavest to me." The Wali laughed till
+he showed his wisdom-teeth and said, "O man of little wit, thrice have
+I seen in a dream one who said to me: 'There is in Baghdad a house in
+such a district and of such a fashion and its courtyard is laid out
+garden-wise, at the lower end whereof is a jetting-fountain and under
+the same a great sum of money lieth buried. Go thither and take it.'
+Yet I went not; but thou, of the briefness of thy wit, hast journeyed
+from place to place, on the faith of a dream, which was but an idle
+galimatias of sleep." Then he gave him money saying, "Help thee back
+herewith to thine own country;"— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
+day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When It was the Three Hundred and Fifty-second Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wali gave the
+Baghdad man some silver, saying, "Help thee back herewith to thine own
+country;" and he took the money and set out upon his homewards march.
+Now the house the Wali had described was the man's own house in
+Baghdad; so the wayfarer returned thither and, digging underneath the
+fountain in his garden, discovered a great treasure. And thus Allah
+gave him abundant fortune; and a marvellous coincidence occurred. And a
+story is also current of
+
+
+
+CALIPH AL-MUTAWAKKIL AND HIS CONCUBINE MAHBUBAH.
+
+There were in the palace of the Caliph al-Mutawakkil ala'llah[FN#426]
+four thousand concubines, whereof two thousand were Greeks and other
+two thousand slave born Arabians[FN#427] and Abyssinians; and 'Obayd
+ibn Tбhir[FN#428] had given him two hundred white girls and a like
+number of Abyssinian and native girls. Among these slave-borns was a
+girl of Bassorah, hight Mahbъbah, the Beloved, who was of surpassing
+beauty and loveliness, elegance and voluptuous grace. Moreover, she
+played upon the lute and was skilled in singing and making verses and
+wrote a beautiful hand; so that Al-Mutawakkil fell passionately in love
+with her and could not endure from her a single hour. But when she saw
+this affection, she presumed upon his favour to use him arrogantly,
+wherefore he waxed exceeding wroth with her and forsook her, forbidding
+the people of the palace to speak with her. She abode on this wise some
+days, but the Caliph still inclined to her; and he arose one morning
+and said to his courtiers, "I dreamt, last night, that I was reconciled
+to Mahhubah." They answered, "Would Allah this might be on wake!"; and
+as they were talking, behold, in came one of the Caliph's maidservants
+and whispered him; so he rose from his throne and entered the
+Serraglio; for the whisper had said, "Of a truth we heard singing and
+lute-playing in Mahbubah's chamber and we knew not what this meant." So
+he went straight to her apartment, where he heard her playing upon the
+lute and singing the following verses,
+
+"I wander through the palace, but I sight there not a soul * To
+
+
+     whom I may complain or will 'change a word with me.
+
+
+It is as though I'd done so grievous rebel-deed * Wherefrom can
+
+
+     no contrition e'er avail to set me free.
+
+
+Have we no intercessor here to plead with King, who came * In
+
+
+     sleep to me and took me back to grace and amity;
+
+
+But when the break of day arose and showed itself again, * Then
+
+
+     he departing sent me back to dree my privacy?"
+
+
+
+Now when the Caliph heard her voice, he marvelled at the verse and yet
+more at the strange coincidence of their dreams and entered the
+chamber. As soon as she perceived him, she hastened to rise and throw
+herself at his feet, and kissing them, said, "By Allah, O my lord, this
+hap is what I dreamt last night; and, when I awoke, I made the couplets
+thou hast heard." Replied Al- Mutawakkil, "By Allah, I also dreamt the
+like!" Then they embraced and made friends and he abode with her seven
+days with their nights. Now Mahbubah had written upon her cheek, in
+musk, the Caliph's name, which was Ja'afar: and when he saw this, he
+improvised the following,
+
+"One wrote upon her cheek with musk, his name was Ja'afar highs;
+
+
+     * My soul for hers who wrote upon her cheek the name I
+
+
+     sight!
+
+
+If an her fingers have inscribed one line upon her cheek, * Full
+
+
+     many a line in heart of mine those fingers did indite:
+
+
+O thou, whom Ja'afar sole of men possesseth for himself, * Allah
+
+
+     fill Ja'afar[FN#429] stream full draught, the wine of thy
+
+
+     delight!"
+
+
+
+When Al-Mutawakkil died, his host of women forgot him, all save
+Mahhubah,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
+permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fifty-third Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
+Al-Mutawakkil died, his host of women forgot him all save Mahbubah who
+ceased not to mourn for him, till she deceased and was buried by his
+side, the mercy of Allah be on them both! And men also tell the tale of
+
+
+
+WARDAN[FN#430] THE BUTCHER; HIS ADVENTURE WITH THE LADY AND THE BEAR.
+
+
+There lived once in Cairo, in the days of the Caliph Al-Hбkim bi'
+Amri'llah, a butcher named Wardбn, who dealt in sheep's flesh; and
+there came to him every day a lady and gave him a dinar, whose weight
+was nigh two and a half Egyptian dinars, saying, "Give me a lamb." So
+he took the money and gave her the lamb, which she delivered to a
+porter she had with her; and he put it in his crate and she went away
+with him to her own place. Next day she came in the forenoon and this
+went on for a long time, the butcher gaining a dinar by her every day,
+till at last he began to be curious about her case and said to himself,
+"This woman buyeth of me a ducat-worth of meat every morning, paying
+ready money, and never misseth a single day. Verily, this is a strange
+thing!" So he took an occasion of questioning the porter, in her
+absence, and asked him, "Whither goest thou every day with yonder
+woman?"; and he answered, "I know not what to make of her for surprise;
+inasmuch as every day, after she hath taken the lamb of thee, she
+buyeth necessaries of the table, fresh and dried fruits and wax-candles
+a dinar's worth, and taketh of a certain person, which is a Nazarene,
+two flagons of wine, worth another dinar; and then she leadeth me with
+the whole and I go with her to the Wazir's Gardens, where she
+blindfoldeth me, so that I cannot see on what part of earth I set my
+feet; and, taking me by the hand, she leadeth me I know not whither.
+Presently, she sayeth, 'Set down here;' and when I have done so, she
+giveth me an empty crate she hath ready and, taking my hand, leadeth me
+back to the Wazir's Gardens, the place where she bound my eyes, and
+there removeth the bandage and giveth me ten silver bits." "Allah be
+her helper!" quoth Wardan; but he redoubled in curiosity about her
+case; disquietude increased upon him and he passed the night in
+exceeding restlessness. And quoth the butcher, "Next morning she came
+to me as of custom and taking the lamb, for which she paid the dinar,
+delivered it to the porter and went away. So I gave my shop in charge
+to a lad and followed her without her seeing me;"—And Shahrazad
+perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Wardan the
+butcher continued: "So I gave my shop in charge to a lad and followed
+her without her seeing me; nor did I cease to keep her in sight, hiding
+behind her, till she left Cairo and came to the Wazir's Gardens. Then I
+hid myself whilst she bandaged the porter's eyes and followed her again
+from place to place till she came to the mountain[FN#431] and stopped
+at a spot where there was a great stone. Here she made the porter set
+down his crate, and I waited whilst she conducted him back to the
+Wazir's Gardens, after which she returned and, taking out the contents
+of the basket, instantly disappeared. Then I went up to that stone and
+wrenching it up entered the hole and found behind the stone an open
+trap-door of brass and a flight of steps leading downwards. So I
+descended, little by little, till I came to a long corridor,
+brilliantly lighted and followed it, till I made a closed door, as it
+were the door of a saloon. I looked about the wall sides near the
+doorway till I discovered a recess, with steps therein; then climbed up
+and found a little niche with a bulls-eye giving upon a saloon. Thence
+I looked inside and saw the lady cut off the choicest parts of the lamb
+and laying them in a saucepan, throw the rest to a great big bear, who
+ate it all to the last bite. Now when she had made an end of cooking,
+she ate her fill, after which she set on the fruits and confections and
+brought out the wine and fell to drinking a cup herself and giving the
+bear to drink in a basin of gold. And as soon as she was heated with
+wine, she put off her petticoat-trousers and lay down on her back;
+whereupon the bear arose and came up to her and stroked her, whilst she
+gave him the best of what belongeth to the sons of Adam till he had
+made an end, when he sat down and rested. Presently, he sprang upon her
+and rogered her again; and when he ended he again sat down to rest, and
+he ceased not so doing till he had futtered her ten times and they both
+fell to the ground in a fainting-fit and lay without motion. Then quoth
+I to myself, 'Now is my opportunity,' and taking a knife I had with me,
+that would cut bones before flesh,[FN#432] went down to them and found
+them motionless, not a muscle of them moving for their hard swinking
+and swiving. So I put my knife to the bear's gullet and pressed upon
+it, till I finished him by severing his head from his body, and he gave
+a great snort like thunder, whereat the lady started up in alarm; and,
+seeing the bear slain and me standing whittle in hand, she shrieked so
+loud a shriek that I thought the soul had left her body. Then she
+asked, 'O Wardan, is this how thou requites me my favours?' And I
+answered, 'O enemy of thine own soul, is there a famine of men[FN#433]
+that thou must do this damnable thing?' She made no answer but bent
+down over the bear, and looked fondly upon him; then finding his head
+divided from his body, said to me, 'O Wardan, which of the two courses
+wouldst thou take; either obey me in what I shall say and be the means
+of thine own safety'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
+ceased saying her permitted say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the lady, "
+'O Wardan, which of the two courses wouldst thou take; either obey me
+in what I shall say and be the means of thine own safety and competency
+to the end of thy days, or gainsay me and so cause thine own
+destruction?'[FN#434] Answered I, 'I choose rather to hearken unto
+thee: say what thou wilt.' Quoth she, 'Then slay me, as thou hast slain
+this bear, and take thy need of this hoard and wend thy ways.' Quoth I,
+'I am better than this bear: so return thou to Allah Almighty and
+repent, and I will marry thee, and we will live on this treasure the
+rest of our lives.' She rejoined, 'O Wardan, far be it from me! How
+shall I live after him? By Allah, an thou slay me not I will assuredly
+do away thy life! So leave bandying words with me, or thou art a lost
+man: this is all I have to say to thee and peace be with thee!' Then
+said I, 'I will kill thee, and thou shalt go to the curse of Allah.' So
+saying, I caught her by the hair and cut her throat; and she went to
+the curse of Allah and of the angels and of all mankind. And after so
+doing I examined the place and found there gold and bezel-stones and
+pearls, such as no one king could bring together. So I filled the
+porter's crate with as much as I could carry and covered it with the
+clothes I had on me. Then I shouldered it and, going up out of the
+underground treasure- chamber, fared homewards and ceased not faring
+on, till I came to the gate of Cairo, where behold, I fell in with ten
+of the bodyguard of Al-Hakim bi' Amri'llah[FN#435] followed by the
+Prince himself who said to me, 'Ho, Wardan!' 'At thy service, O King,'
+replied I; when he asked, 'Hast thou killed the bear and the lady?' and
+I answered, 'Yes.' Quoth he, 'Set down the basket from thy head and
+fear naught, for all the treasure thou hast with thee is thine, and
+none shall dispute it with thee.' So I set down the crate before him,
+and he uncovered it and looked at it; then said to me, 'Tell me their
+case, albe I know it, as if I had been present with you.' So I told him
+all that had passed and he said, 'Thou hast spoken the truth,' adding,
+'O Wardan, come now with me to the treasure.' So I returned with him to
+the cavern, where he found the trap-door closed and said to me, 'O
+Wardan, lift it; none but thou can open the treasure, for it is
+enchanted in thy name and nature.'[FN#436] Said I, 'By Allah, I cannot
+open it,' but he said, 'Go up to it, trusting in the blessing of
+Allah.' So I called upon the name of Almighty Allah and, advancing to
+the trap-door, put my hand to it; whereupon it came up as it had been
+of the lightest. Then said the Caliph, 'Go down and bring hither what
+is there; for none but one of thy name and semblance and nature hath
+gone down thither since the place was made, and the slaying of the bear
+and the woman was appointed to be at thy hand. This was chronicled with
+me and I was awaiting its fulfilment.'[FN#437] Accordingly (quoth
+Wardan) I went down and brought up all the treasure, whereupon the
+Caliph sent for beasts of burden and carried it away, after giving me
+my crate, with what was therein. So I bore it home and opened me a shop
+in the market." And (saith he who telleth the tale) "this market is
+still extant and is known as Wardan's Market." And I have heard recount
+another story of
+
+
+
+THE KING'S DAUGHTER AND THE APE.
+
+There was once a Sultan's daughter, whose heart was taken with love of
+a black slave: he abated her maidenhead and she became passionately
+addicted to futtering, so that she could not do without it a single
+hour and complained of her case to one of her body women, who told her
+that no thing poketh and stroketh more abundantly than the
+baboon.[FN$438] Now it so chanced one day, that an ape-leader passed
+under her lattice, with a great ape; so she unveiled her face and
+looking upon the ape, signed to him with her eyes, whereupon he broke
+his bonds and chain and climbed up to the Princess, who hid him in a
+place with her, and night and day he abode there, eating and drinking
+and copulating. Her father heard of this and would have killed her;—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Sultan
+heard of this work he would have slain his daughter; but she smoked his
+design; and, disguising herself in Mameluke's dress, mounted horse
+after loading a mule with gold and bullion, and precious stuffs past
+all account; then carrying with her the ape, she fled to Cairo, where
+she took up her abode in one of the houses without the city and upon
+the verge of the Suez-desert. Now, every day, she used to buy meat of a
+young man, a butcher, but she came not to him till after noonday; and
+then she was so yellow and disordered in face that he said in his mind,
+"There must indeed hang some mystery by this slave." "Accordingly
+(quoth the butcher) one day when she came to me as usual, I went out
+after her secretly, and ceased not to follow her from place to place,
+so as she saw me not, till she came to her lodging on the edge of her
+waste and entered; and I looked in upon her through a cranny, and saw
+her as soon as she was at home, kindle a fire and cook the meat, of
+which she ate enough and served up the rest to a baboon she had by her
+and he did the same. Then she put off the slave's habit and donned the
+richest of women's apparel; and so I knew that she was a lady. After
+this she set on wine and drank and gave the ape to drink; and he
+stroked her nigh half a score times without drawing till she swooned
+away, when he spread over her a silken coverlet and returned to his
+place. Then I went down in the midst of the place and the ape, becoming
+aware of me, would have torn me in pieces; but I made haste to pull out
+my knife and slit his paunch and his bowels fell out. The noise aroused
+the young lady, who awoke terrified and trembling; and, when she saw
+the ape in this case, she shrieked such a shriek that her soul well
+nigh fled her body. Then she fell down in a fainting-fit and when she
+came to herself, she said to me, 'What moved thee to do thus? Now Allah
+upon thee, send me after him!' But I spoke her fair for a while and
+pledged myself to stand in the ape's stead in the matter of much
+poking, till her trouble subsided and I took her to wife. But when I
+came to perform my promise I proved a failure and I fell short in this
+matter and could not endure such hard labour: so I complained of my
+case and mentioned her exorbitant requirements to a certain old woman
+who engaged to manage the affair and said to me, 'Needs must thou bring
+me a cooking-pot full of virgin vinegar and a pound of the herb
+pellitory called wound-wort.'[FN#439] So I brought her what she sought,
+and she laid the pellitory in the pot with the vinegar and set it on
+the fire, till it was thoroughly boiled. Then she bade me futter the
+girl, and I futtered her till she fainted away, when the old woman took
+her up (and she unconscious), and set her parts to the mouth of the
+cooking-pot. The steam of the pot entered her slit and there fell from
+it somewhat which I examined; and behold, it was two small worms, one
+black and the other yellow. Quoth the old, woman, ''The black was bred
+of the strokings of the negro and the yellow of stroking with the
+baboon.' Now when she recovered from her swoon she abode with me, in
+all delight and solace of life, and sought not swiving as before, for
+Allah had done away from her this appetite; whereat I marvelled"—And
+Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
+say.
+
+When it was the Three Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night,
+
+She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young man
+continued: "In truth Allah had done away from her this appetite;
+whereat I marvelled and acquainted her with the case. Thereupon I lived
+with her and she took the old woman to be to her in the stead of her
+mother." "And" (said he who told me the tale) "the old woman and the
+young man and his wife abode in joy and cheer till there came to them
+the Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of societies; and glory be
+to the Ever-living One, who dieth not and in whose hand is Dominion of
+the world visible and invisible!''[FN#440] And another tale they tell
+is that of
+
+End of Arabian Nights Volume 4.
+
+                    Arabian Nights, Volume 4
+
+
+                           Footnotes
+
+
+
+[FN#1] The name is indifferently derived from the red sand about the
+town or the reeds and mud with which it was originally built. It was
+founded by the Caliph Omar, when the old Capital-Madбin (Ctesiphon)
+opposite was held unwholesome, on the West bank of the Euphrates, four
+days' march from Baghdad and has now disappeared. Al-Saffбh, the first
+Abbaside, made it his Capital—and it became a famous seat of Moslem
+learning; the Kufi school of Arab Grammarians being as renowned as
+their opponents, the Basri (of Bassorah). It gave a name to the "Cufic"
+characters which are, however, of much older date.
+
+[FN#2] "Ni'amat" = a blessing, and the word is perpetually occurring in
+Moslem conversation, "Ni'amatu'llбh" (as pronounced) is also a
+favourite P.N. and few Anglo-Indians of the Mutiny date will forget the
+scandalous disclosures of Munshi Ni'amatu 'llah, who had been sent to
+England by Nana Sahib. Nu'm = prosperity, good fortune, and a P. N.
+like the Heb. "Naomi."
+
+[FN#3] i.e. "causing to be prosperous", the name, corrupted by the
+Turks to "Tevfik," is given to either sex, e.g. Taufik Pasha of Egypt,
+to whose unprosperous rule and miserable career the signification
+certainly does not apply.
+
+[FN#4] Lane (ii. 187) alters the two to four years.
+
+[FN#5] i.e. "to Tom, Dick or Harry:" the names like John Doe and
+Richard Roe are used indefinitely in Arab. Grammar and Syntax. I have
+noted that Amru is written and pronounced Amr: hence Amru, the
+Conqueror of Egypt, when told by an astrologer that Jerusalem would be
+taken only by a trium literarum homo, with three letters in his name
+sent for the Caliph Omar (Omr), to whom the so-called Holy City at once
+capitulated. Hence also most probably, the tale of Bhurtpore and the
+Lord Alligator (Kumbhir), who however did not change from Cotton to
+Combermore for some time after the successful siege.
+
+[FN#6] BinYъsuf al-Sakafi, a statesman and soldier of the seventh and
+eighth centuries (A.D.). He was Governor of Al-Hij az and Al-Irak under
+the fifth and sixth Ommiades, and I have noticed his vigorous rule of
+the Moslems' Holy Land in my Pilgrimage (iii. 194, etc.). He pulled
+down the Ka'abah and restored it to the condition in which it now is.
+Al-Siyuti (p. 219) accuses him of having suborned a man to murder Ibn
+Omar with a poisoned javelin, and of humiliating the Prophet's
+companions by "sealing them in the necks and hands," that is he tied a
+thong upon the neck of each and sealed the knot with lead. In Irak he
+showed himself equally masterful, but an iron hand was required by the
+revolutionists of Kufah and Basrah. He behaved like a good Knight in
+rescuing the Moslem women who called upon his name when taken prisoners
+by Dahir of Debal (Tathб in Sind). Al-Hajjaj was not the kind of man
+the Caliph would have chosen for a pander; but the Shi'ahs hates him
+and have given him a lasting bad name. In the East men respect manly
+measures, not the hysterical, philanthropic pseudo-humanitarianism of
+our modern government which is really the cruellest of all. When Ziyбd
+bin Abihi was sent by Caliph Mu'awiyah to reform Bassorah, a den of
+thieves, he informed the lieges that he intended to rule by the sword
+and advised all evil-doers to quit the city. The people were forbidden,
+under pain of teeth, to walk the streets after prayers, on the first
+night two hundred suffered; on the second five and none afterwards.
+Compare this with our civilised rule in Egypt where even bands of
+brigands, a phenomenon perfectly new and unknown to this century, have
+started up, where crime has doubled in quantity and quality, and where
+"Christian rule" has thoroughly scandalised a Moslem land.
+
+[FN#7] The old bawd's portrait is admirably drawn: all we dwellers in
+the East have known her well: she is so and so. Her dress and manners
+are the same amongst the Hindus (see the hypocritical-female ascetic in
+the Katha, p. 287) as amongst the Moslems; men of the world at once
+recognise her and the prudent keep out of her way. She is found in the
+cities of Southern Europe, ever pious, ever prayerful; and she seems to
+do her work not so much for profit as for pure or impure enjoyment. In
+the text her task was easy, as she had to do with a pair of innocents.
+
+[FN#8] Koran, xxv. 70. I give Sale's version.
+
+[FN#9] Easterns, I have observed, have no way of saying "Thank you;"
+they express it by a blessing or a short prayer. They have a right to
+your surplus: daily bread is divided, they say and, eating yours, they
+consider it their own. I have discussed this matter in Pilgrimage i.
+75-77, in opposition to those who declare that "gratitude" is unknown
+to Moslems.
+
+[FN#10] Cufa (Kufah) being a modern place never had a "King,"
+
+
+but as the Hindu says, " Delhi is far" it is a far cry to Loch
+
+
+Awe. Here we can hardly understand "Malik" as Governor or
+
+
+Viceroy: can it be syn. with Zъ-mбl-(moneyed)?
+
+
+
+[FN#11] Abd al-Malik has been before mentioned as the "Sweat of a
+Stone," etc. He died recommending Al-Hajjaj to his son, Al-Walid, and
+one of his sayings is still remembered. "He who desireth to take a
+female slave for carnal-enjoyment, let him take a native of Barbary; if
+he need one for the sake of children, let him have a Persian; and whoso
+desireth one for service, let him take a Greek." Moderns say, "If you
+want a brother (in arms) try a Nubian; one to get you wealth an
+Abyssinian and if you want an ass (for labour) a Sбwahнli, or Zanzibar
+negroid."
+
+[FN#12] Probably suggested by the history of Antiochus and
+
+
+Stratonice, with an addition of Eastern mystery such as geomancy.
+
+
+
+[FN#13] Arab, "Kбrъrah": the "water-doctor" has always been an
+institution in the east and he has lately revived in Europe especially
+at the German baths and in London.
+
+[FN#14] Lane makes this phrase "O brother of the Persians!" synonymous
+with "O Persian!" I think it means more, a Persian being generally
+considered "too clever by half."
+
+[FN#15] The verses deal in untranslatable word-plays upon women's
+names, Naomi (the blessing) Su'adб or Su'бd (the happy, which Mr.
+Redhouse, in Ka'ab's Mantle-poem, happily renders Beatrice); and Juml
+(a sum or total) the two latter, moreover, being here fictitious.
+
+[FN#16] "And he (Jacob) turned from them, and said, 'O how I am grieved
+for Joseph' And his eyes became white with mourning. … (Quoth Joseph to
+his brethren), 'Take this my inner garment and throw it on my father's
+face and he shall recover his sight.' . . . So, when the messenger of
+good tidings came (to Jacob) he threw it (the shirt) over his face and
+he recovered his eye-sight." Koran, xii. 84, 93, 96. The commentators,
+by way of improvement, assure us that the shirt was that worn by
+Abraham when thrown into the fire (Koran, chaps. xvi.) by Nimrod (!).
+We know little concerning "Jacob's daughters" who named the only bridge
+spanning the upper Jordan, and who have a curious shrine tomb near
+Jewish "Safe" (North of Tiberias), one of the four "Holy Cities." The
+Jews ignore these "daughters of Jacob" and travellers neglect them.
+
+[FN#17] Easterns, I have remarked, mostly recognise the artistic truth
+that the animal-man is handsomer than woman and that "fair sex" is
+truly only of skin-colour. The same is the general-rule throughout
+creation, for instance the stallion compared with the mare, the cock
+with the hen; while there are sundry exceptions such as the Falconidae.
+
+[FN#18] The Badawi (who is nothing if not horsey) compares the gait of
+a woman who walks well (in Europe rarely seen out of Spain) with the
+slightly swinging walk of a thoroughbred mare, bending her graceful
+neck and looking from side to side at objects as she passes.
+
+[FN#19] Li'llбhi (darr') al-kбil, a characteristic idiom. "Darr"=giving
+(rich) milk copiously and the phrase expresses admiration, "To Allah be
+ascribed (or Allah be praised for) his rich eloquence who said etc.
+Some Hebraists would render it, "Divinely (well) did he speak who
+said," etc., holding "Allah" to express a superlative like "Yah" Jah)
+in Gen. iv. 1; x. 9. Nimrod was a hunter to the person (or presence) of
+Yah, i.e. mighty hunter.
+
+[FN#20] Hamzah and Abbбs were the famous uncles of Mohammed often
+noticed: Ukayl is not known; possibly it may be Akнl, a son of the
+fourth Caliph, Ali.
+
+[FN#21] The Eastern ring is rarely plain; and, its use being that of a
+signet, it is always in intaglio: the Egyptians invented engraving
+hieroglyphics on wooden stamps for marking bricks and applied the
+process to the ring. Moses B. C. 1491 (Exod. xxviii. 9) took two
+onyx-stones, and graved on them the names of the children of Israel.
+From this the signet ring was but a step. Herodotus mentions an emerald
+seal-set in gold, that of Polycrates, the work of Theodorus, son of
+Telecles the Samian (iii. 141). The Egyptians also were perfectly
+acquainted with working in cameo (anaglyph) and rilievo, as may be seen
+in the cavo rilievo of the finest of their hieroglyphs. The Greeks
+borrowed from them the cameo and applied it to gems (e.g. Tryphon's in
+the Marlborough collection), and they bequeathed the art to the Romans.
+We read in a modern book "Cameo means an onyx, and the most famous
+cameo in the world is the onyx containing the Apotheosis of Augustus."
+The ring is given in marriage because it was a seal—by which orders
+were signed (Gen. xxxviii. 18 and Esther iii. 10-12). I may note that
+the seal-ring of Cheops (Khufu), found in the Greatest Pyramid, was in
+the possession of my old friend, Doctor Abbott, of Auburn (U.S.), and
+was sold with his collection. It is the oldest ring in the world, and
+settles the Cheops-question.
+
+[FN#22] This habit of weeping when friends meet after long parting is
+customary, I have noted, amongst the American "Indians," the Badawin of
+the New World; they shed tears thinking of the friends they have lost.
+Like most primitive people they are ever ready to weep as was Жneas or
+Shakespeare's saline personage,
+
+          "This would make a man, a man of salt
+
+
+            To use his eyes for garden waterpots."
+
+
+                                           (King Lear, iv. 6.)
+
+
+
+[FN#23] Here poetical-justice is not done; in most Arab tales the two
+adulterous Queens would have been put to death.
+
+[FN#24] Pronounce Aladdin Abush-Shбmбt.
+
+[FN#25] Arab. "Misr," vulg. Masr: a close connection of Misraim the
+"two Misrs," Egypt, upper and lower.
+
+[FN#26] The Persians still call their Consuls "Shah-bander," lit. king
+of the Bandar or port.
+
+[FN#27] Arab. "Dukhъl," the night of going in, of seeing the bride
+unveiled for the first time, etcaetera.
+
+[FN#28] Arab. "Barsh" or "Bars," the commonest kind. In India it is
+called Ma'jъn (=electuary, generally): it is made of Ganja or young
+leaves, buds, capsules and florets of hemp (C. saliva), poppy-seed and
+flowers of the thorn-apple (daiura) with milk and auger-candy, nutmegs,
+cloves, mace and saffron, all boiled to the consistency of treacle
+which hardens when cold. Several-recipes are given by Herklots
+(Glossary s.v. Majoon). These electuaries are usually prepared with
+"Charas," or gum of hemp, collected by hand or by passing a blanket
+over the plant in early morning, and it is highly intoxicating. Another
+intoxicant is "Sabzi," dried hemp-leaves, poppy-seed, cucumber heed,
+black pepper and cardamoms rubbed down in a mortar with a wooden
+pestle, and made drinkable by adding milk, ice-cream, etc. The Hashish
+of Arabia is the Hindustani Bhang, usually drunk and made as follows.
+Take of hemp-leaves, well washed, 3 drams black pepper 45 grains and of
+cloves, nutmeg and mace (which add to the intoxication) each 12 grains.
+Triturate in 8 ounces of water or the juice of watermelon or cucumber,
+strain and drink. The Egyptian Zabнbah is a preparation of hemp
+florets, opium and honey, much affected by the lower orders, whence the
+proverb: "Temper thy sorrow with Zabibah. In Al-Hijaz it is mixed with
+raisins (Zabнb) and smoked in the water-pipe. (Burck hardt No. 73.)
+Besides these there is (1) "Post" poppy-seed prepared in various ways
+but especially in sugared sherbets; (2) Datura (stramonium) seed, the
+produce of the thorn-apple breached and put into sweetmeats by
+dishonest confectioners; it is a dangerous intoxicant, producing
+spectral-visions, delirium tremens, etc., and (3) various preparations
+of opium especially the "Madad," pills made up with toasted betel-leaf
+and smoked. Opium, however, is usually drunk in the shape of "Kusumba,"
+a pill placed in wet cotton and squeezed in order to strain and clean
+it of the cowdung and other filth with which it is adulterated.
+
+[FN#29] Arab. "Sikankъr" (Gr. {Greek letters}, Lat. Scincus) a lizard
+(S. officinalis) which, held in the hand, still acts as an aphrodisiac
+in the East, and which in the Middle Ages was considered a
+universal-medicine. In the "Adja'ib al-Hind" (Les Merveilles de l'Inde)
+we find a notice of a bald-headed old man who was compelled to know his
+wife twice a day and twice a night in consequence of having eaten a
+certain fish. (Chaps. Ixxviii. of the translation by M. L. Marcel
+Devic, from a manuscript of the tenth century, Paris Lemaire, 1878.)
+Europeans deride these prescriptions, but Easterns know better: they
+affect the fancy, that is the brain, and often succeed in temporarily
+relieving impotence. The recipes for this evil, which is incurable only
+when it comes from heart-affections, are innumerable in the East; and
+about half of every medical-work is devoted to them. Many a quack has
+made his fortune with a few bottles of tincture of cantharides, and a
+man who could discover a specific would become a millionaire in India
+only. The curious reader will consult for specimens the Ananga-Ranga
+Shastra by Koka Pandit; or the "Rujъ 'al-Shaykh ila 'l-Sabбh fi Kuwwati
+'l-Bбh" (the Return of the Old Man to Youth in power of Procreation) by
+Ahmad bin Sulaymбn known as Ibn Kamбl-Bбshб, in 139 chapters
+lithographed at Cairo. Of these aphrodisiacs I shall have more to say.
+
+[FN#30] Alб al-Din (our old friend Aladdin) = Glory of the Faith, a
+name of which Mohammed who preferred the simplest, like his own, would
+have highly disapproved. The most grateful names to Allah are Abdallah
+(Allah's Slave) and Abd al-Rahman (Slave of the Compassionate); the
+truest are Al-Hбrith (the gainer, "bread winner") and Al-Hammбm (the
+griever); and the hatefullest are Al-Harb (witch) and Al-Murrah
+(bitterness, Abu Murrah being a kunyat or by-name of the Devil). Abu
+al-Shбmбt (pronounced Abushshбmбt)=Father of Moles, concerning which I
+have already given details. These names ending in -Din (faith) began
+with the Caliph Al-Muktadi bi-Amri 'llah (regn. A.H. 467= 1075), who
+entitled his Wazir "Zahнr al-Din (Backer or Defender of the Faith) and
+this gave rise to the practice. It may be observed that the
+superstition of naming by omens is in no way obsolete.
+
+[FN#31] Meaning that he appeared intoxicated by the pride of his beauty
+as though it had been strong wine.
+
+[FN#32] i.e. against the evil eye.
+
+[FN#33] Meaning that he had been delicately reared.
+
+[FN#34] A traditional-saying of Mohammed.
+
+[FN#35] So Boccaccio's "Capo bianco" and "Coda verde." (Day iv.,
+
+
+Introduct.)
+
+
+
+[FN#36] The opening chapter is known as the "Mother of the Book" (as
+opposed to Yб Sнn, the "heart of the Koran"), the "Surat (chapter) of
+Praise," and the "Surat of repetition" (because twice revealed?) or
+thanksgiving, or laudation (Ai-Masбni) and by a host of other names for
+which see Mr. Rodwell who, however, should not write "Fatthah" (p.
+xxv.) nor "Fathah" (xxvii.). The Fбtihah, which is to Al-Islam much
+what the "Paternoster" is to Christendom, consists of seven verses, in
+the usual-Saj'a or rhymed prose, and I have rendered it as follows:
+
+In the name of the Compassionating, the Compassionate! * Praise be to
+Allah who all the Worlds made * The Compassionating, the Compassionate
+* King of the Day of Faith! * Thee only do we adore and of Thee only do
+we crave aid * Guide us to the path which is straight * The path of
+those for whom Thy love is great, not those on whom is hate, nor they
+that deviate * Amen! O Lord of the World's trine.
+
+My Pilgrimage (i. 285; ii. 78 and passim) will supply instances of its
+application; how it is recited with open hands to catch the blessing
+from Heaven and the palms are drawn down the face (Ibid. i. 286), and
+other details,
+
+[FN#37] i.e. when the evil eye has less effect than upon children.
+Strangers in Cairo often wonder to see a woman richly dressed leading
+by the hand a filthy little boy (rarely a girl) in rags, which at home
+will be changed to cloth of gold.
+
+[FN#38] Arab. "Asнdah" flour made consistent by boiling in water with
+the addition of "Same" clarified butter) and honey: more like pap than
+custard.
+
+[FN#39] Arab. "Ghбbah" = I have explained as a low-lying place where
+the growth is thickest and consequently animals haunt it during the
+noon-heats
+
+[FN#40] Arab. "Akkбm," one who loads camels and has charge of the
+luggage. He also corresponds with the modern Mukharrij or camel-hirer
+(Pilgrimage i. 339), and hence the word Moucre (Moucres) which, first
+used by La Brocquiиre (A.D. 1432), is still the only term known to the
+French.
+
+[FN#41] i.e. I am old and can no longer travel.
+
+[FN#42] Taken from Al-Asma'i, the "Romance of Antar," and the episode
+of the Asafir Camels.
+
+[FN#43] A Mystic of the twelfth century A.D. who founded the Kбdirн
+order (the oldest and chiefest of the four universally recognised), to
+which I have the honour to belong, teste my diploma (Pilgrimage,
+Appendix i.). Visitation is still made to his tomb at Baghdad. The
+Arabs (who have no hard g-letter) alter to "Jнlбn" the name of his
+birth-place "Gilan," a tract between the Caspian and the Black Seas.
+
+[FN#44] The well-known Anglo-Indian "Mucuddum;" lit. "one placed before
+(or over) others"
+
+[FN#45] Koran xiii. 14.
+
+[FN#46] i.e.. his chastity: this fashion of objecting to infamous
+proposals is very characteristic: ruder races would use their fists.
+
+[FN#47] Arab. "Rбfizн"=the Shi'ah (tribe, sect) or Persian schismatics
+who curse the first three Caliphs: the name is taken from their own
+saying "Innб rafiznб-hum"=verily we have rejected them. The feeling
+between Sunni (the so-called orthodox) and Shi'ah is much like the
+Christian love between a Catholic of Cork and a Protestant from the
+Black North. As Al-Siyuti or any historian will show, this sect became
+exceedingly powerful under the later Abbaside Caliphs, many of whom
+conformed to it and adopted its tractices and innovations (as in the
+Azan or prayer-call), greatly to the scandal-of their co-religionists.
+Even in the present day the hatred between these representatives of
+Arab monotheism and Persian Guebrism continues unabated. I have given
+sundry instances m my Pilgrimage, e.g. how the Persians attempt to
+pollute the tombs of the Caliphs they abhor.
+
+[FN#48] Arab. "Sakkб," the Indian "Bihishtн" (man from Heaven):
+
+
+Each party in a caravan has one or more.
+
+
+
+[FN#49] These "Kirбmбt" or Saints' miracles, which Spiritualists will
+readily accept, are recorded in vast numbers. Most men have half a
+dozen to tell, each of his "Pнr" or patron, including the Istidrбj or
+prodigy of chastisement. (Dabistan, iii. 274.)
+
+[FN#50] Great granddaughter of the Imam Hasan buried in Cairo and famed
+for "Kirбmбt." Her father, governor of Al-Medinah, was imprisoned by
+Al-Mansur and restored to power by Al-Mahdi. She was married to a son
+of the Imam Ja'afar al-Sadik and lived a life of devotion in Cairo,
+dying in A.H. 218=824. The corpse of the Imam al-Shafi'i was carried to
+her house, now her mosque and mausoleum: it stood in the Darb al-Sabъa
+which formerly divided Old from New Cairo and is now one of the
+latter's suburbs. Lane (M. E. chaps. x.) gives her name but little
+more. The mention of her shows that the writer of the tale or the
+copyist was a Cairene : Abd al-Kadir is world-known : not so the
+"Sitt."
+
+[FN#51] Arab. "Farkh akrab" for Ukayrib, a vulgarism.
+
+[FN#52] The usual Egyptian irreverence: he relates his abomination as
+if it were a Hadis or Tradition of the Prophet with due ascription.
+
+[FN#53] A popular name, dim. of Zubdah cream, fresh butter, "creamkin."
+
+[FN#54] Arab. "Mustahall," "Mustahill' and vulg. "Muhallil" (=one who
+renders lawful). It means a man hired for the purpose who marries pro
+forma and after wedding, and bedding with actual-consummation, at once
+divorces the woman. He is held the reverse of respectable and no
+wonder. Hence, probably, Mandeville's story of the Islanders who, on
+the marriage-night, "make another man to lie by their wives, to have
+their maidenhead, for which they give great hire and much thanks. And
+there are certain men in every town that serve for no other thing; and
+they call them cadeberiz, that is to say, the fools of despair, because
+they believe their occupation is a dangerous one." Burckhardt gives the
+proverb (No. 79), "A thousand lovers rather than one Mustahall," the
+latter being generally some ugly fellow picked up in the streets and
+disgusting to the wife who must permit his embraces.
+
+[FN#55] This is a woman's oath. not used by men.
+
+[FN#56] Pronounced "Yб Sнn" (chaps. xxxvi.) the "heart of the
+
+
+Koran" much used for edifying recitation. Some pious Moslems in
+
+
+Egypt repeat it as a Wazifah, or religious task, or as masses for
+
+
+the dead, and all educated men know its 83 versets by rote.
+
+
+
+[FN#57] Arab. "Бl-Dбъd"=the family of David, i.e. David himself, a
+popular idiom. The prophet's recitation of the "Mazбmir" (Psalter)
+worked miracles.
+
+[FN#58] There is a peculiar thickening of the voice in leprosy which at
+once betrays the hideous disease.
+
+[FN#59] These lines have occurred in Night clxxxiii. I quote
+
+
+Mr. Payne (in loco) by way of variety.
+
+
+
+[FN#60] Where the "Juzбm" (leprosy, elephantiasis, morbus sacrum, etc.
+etc.) is supposed first to show: the swelling would alter the shape.
+Lane (ii. 267) translates "her wrist which was bipartite."
+
+[FN#61] Arab. "Zakariyб" (Zacharias): a play upon the term "Zakar"=the
+sign of "masculinity." Zacharias, mentioned in the Koran as the
+educator of the Virgin Mary (chaps. iii.) and repeatedly referred to
+(chaps. xix. etc.), is a well-known personage amongst Moslems and his
+church is now the great Cathedral-Mosque of Aleppo.
+
+[FN#62] Arab. " Ark al-Halбwat " = vein of sweetness.
+
+[FN#63] Arab. "Futъh," which may also mean openings, has before
+occurred.
+
+[FN#64] i.e. four times without withdrawing.
+
+[FN#65] i.e. a correspondence of size, concerning which many rules are
+given in the Ananga-Rangha Shastra which justly declares that
+discrepancy breeds matrimonial-troubles.
+
+[FN#66] Arab. "Ghurбb al-Bayn"= raven of the waste or the parting:
+hence the bird of Odin symbolises separation (which is also called
+Al-bayn). The Raven (Ghurab = Heb. Oreb and Lat. Corvus, one of the
+prehistoric words) is supposed to be seen abroad earlier than any other
+bird; and it is entitled "Abu Zajir," father of omens, because lucky
+when flying towards the right and v.v. It is opposed in poetry to the
+(white) pigeon, the emblem of union, peace and happiness. The vulgar
+declare that when Mohammed hid in the cave the crow kept calling to his
+pursuers, "Ghбr! Ghбr!" (cavern, cavern): hence the Prophet condemned
+him to wear eternal-mourning and ever to repeat the traitorous words.
+This is the old tale of Coronis and Apollo (Ovid, lib. ii.).
+
+—————" who blacked the raven o'er And bid him prate in his white plumes
+no more."
+
+[FN#67] This use of a Turkish title "Efendi" being=our esquire, and
+inferior to a Bey, is a rank anachronism, probably of the copyist.
+
+[FN#68] Arab. "Samn"=Hind. "Ghi" butter melted, skimmed and allowed to
+cool.
+
+[FN#69] Arab. "Ya Wadъd," a title of the Almighty: the Mac.
+
+
+Edit. has "O David!"
+
+
+
+[FN#70] Arab. "Muwashshahah;" a complicated stanza of which specimens
+have occurred. Mr. Payne calls it a "ballad," which would be a "Kunyat
+al-Zidd."
+
+[FN#71] Arab. "Bahбim" (plur. of Bahнmah=Heb. Behemoth), applied in
+Egypt especially to cattle. A friend of the "Oppenheim" house, a name
+the Arabs cannot pronounce was known throughout Cairo as "Jack
+al-bahбim" (of the cows).
+
+[FN#72] Lit. "The father of side-locks," a nickname of one of the Tobba
+Kings. This "Hasan of: the ringlets" who wore two long pig-tails
+hanging to his shoulders was the Rochester or Piron of his age: his
+name is still famous for brilliant wit, extempore verse and the wildest
+debauchery. D'Herbelot's sketch of his life is very meagre. His poetry
+has survived to the present day and (unhappily) we shall] hear more of
+"Abu Nowбs." On the subject of these patronymics Lane (Mod. Egypt,
+chaps. iv.) has a strange remark that "Abu Dбъd i' not the Father of
+Dбъd or Abu Ali the Father of Ali, but whose Father is (or was) Dбъd or
+Ali." Here, however, he simply confounds Abu = father of (followed by a
+genitive), with Abu-h (for Abu-hu) = he, whose father.
+
+[FN#73] Arab. "Samъr," applied in slang language to cats and dogs,
+hence the witty Egyptians converted Admiral-Seymour (Lord Alcester)
+into "Samъr."
+
+[FN#74] The home-student of Arabic may take this letter as a model even
+in the present day; somewhat stiff and old-fashioned, but gentlemanly
+and courteous.
+
+[FN#75] Arab. "Salнm" (not Sй-lim) meaning the "Safe and sound."
+
+[FN#76] Arab. "Halбwah"=sweetmeat, meaning an entertainment such as men
+give to their friends after sickness or a journey. it is technically
+called as above, "The Sweetmeat of Safety."
+
+[FN#77] Arab. "Salбt" which from Allah means mercy, from the
+
+
+Angels intercession and pardon; and from mankind blessing.
+
+
+Concerning the specific effects of blessing the Prophet, see
+
+
+Pilgrimage (ii. 70). The formula is often slurred over when a man
+
+
+is in a hurry to speak: an interrupting friend will say " Bless the
+
+
+Prophet!" and he does so by ejaculating "Sa'am."
+
+
+
+[FN#78] Persian, meaning originally a command: it is now applied to a
+Wazirial-order as opposed to the " Irбdah," the Sultan's order.
+
+[FN#79] Arab. " Mashб'ilн" lit. the cresses-bearer who has before
+appeared as hangman.
+
+[FN#80] Another polite formula for announcing a death.
+
+[FN#81] As he died heirless the property lapsed to the Treasury.
+
+[FN#82]This shaking the kerchief is a signal to disperse and the action
+suggests its meaning. Thus it is used in an opposite sense to "throwing
+the kerchief," a pseudo-Oriental practice whose significance is
+generally understood in Europe.
+
+[FN#83] The body-guard being of two divisions.
+
+[FN#84] Arab. "Hadbб," lit. "hump-backed;" alluding to the Badawi bier;
+a pole to which the corpse is slung (Lane). It seems to denote the
+protuberance of the corpse when placed upon the bier which before was
+flat. The quotation is from Ka'ab's Mantle-Poem (Burdah v . 37), "Every
+son of a female, long though his safety may be, is a day borne upon a
+ridged implement," says Mr. Redhouse, explaining the latter as a "bier
+with a ridged lid." Here we differ: the Janбzah with a lid is not a
+Badawi article: the wildlings use the simplest stretcher; and I would
+translate the lines,
+
+          "The son of woman, whatso his career
+
+
+           One day is borne upon the gibbous bier."
+
+
+
+[FN#85] This is a high honour to any courtier.
+
+[FN#86] "Khatun" in Turk. means any lady: mistress, etc., and follows
+the name, e.g. Fбtimah Khatun. Habzalam Bazazah is supposed to be a
+fanciful compound, uncouth as the named; the first word consisting of
+"Habb" seed, grain; and "Zalam" of Zulm=seed of tyranny. Can it be a
+travesty of "Absalom" (Ab Salбm, father of peace)? Lane (ii. 284) and
+Payne (iii. 286) prefer Habazlam and Hebezlem.
+
+[FN#87] Or night. A metaphor for rushing into peril.
+
+[FN#88] Plur. of kumkum, cucurbite, gourd-shaped vessel, jar.
+
+[FN#89] A popular exaggeration for a very expert thief.
+
+[FN#90] Arab. "Buka'at Ad-bum": lit. the "low place of blood" (where it
+stagnates): so Al-Bukб'ah = Cњlesyria.
+
+[FN#91] That common and very unpleasant phrase, full of egotism and
+self-esteem, "I told you so," is even more common in the naпve East
+than in the West. In this case the son's answer is far superior to the
+mother's question.
+
+[FN#92] In order to keep his oath to the letter.
+
+[FN#93] "Tabannuj; " literally "hemping" (drugging with hemp or
+henbane) is the equivalent in Arab medicine of our "anжsthetics." These
+have been used in surgery throughout the East for centuries before
+ether and chloroform became the fashion in the civilised West.
+
+[FN#94] Arab. "Durkб'ah," the lower part of the floor, opposed to the
+"liwбn" or daпs. Liwбn =Al-Aywбn (Arab. and Pers.) the hall (including
+the daпs and the sunken parts)
+
+[FN#95] i.e. he would toast it as he would a mistress.
+
+[FN#96] This till very late years was the custom in Persia, and Fath
+Ali Shah never appeared in scarlet without ordering some horrible
+cruelties. In Dar-For wearing a red cashmere turban was a sign of wrath
+and sending a blood red dress to a subject meant that he would be
+slain.
+
+[FN#97] That is, this robbery was committed in the palace by some one
+belonging to it. References to vinegar are frequent; that of Egypt
+being famous in those days. "Optimum et laudatissimum acetum a Romanis
+habebatur Жgyptum" (Facciolati); and possibly it was sweetened: the
+Gesta (Tale xvii.) mentions "must and vinegar." In Arab Proverbs, One
+mind by vinegar and another by wine"=each mind goes its own way, (Arab.
+Prov. . 628); or, "with good and bad," vinegar being spoilt wine.
+
+[FN#98] We have not heard the last of this old "dowsing rod": the
+latest form of rhabdomancy is an electrical-rod invented in the United
+States.
+
+[FN#99] This is the procиs verbal always drawn up on such occasions.
+
+[FN#100] The sight of running water makes a Persian long for strong
+drink as the sight of a fine view makes the Turk feel hungry.
+
+[FN#101] Arab. "Min wahid aduww " a peculiarly Egyptian or rather
+
+
+Cairene phrase.
+
+
+
+[FN#102] Al-Danaf=the Distressing Sickness: the title would be Ahmad
+the Calamity. Al-Zaybak (the Quicksilver)=Mercury Ali Hasan "Shuuman"=a
+pestilent fellow. We shall meet all these worthies again and again: see
+the Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo, Night dccviii., a sequel to The
+Rogueries of Dalilah, Night dcxcviii.
+
+[FN#103] For the "Sacrifice-place of Ishmael" (not Isaac) see my
+Pilgrimage (iii. 306). According to all Arab ideas Ishmael, being the
+eldest son, was the chief of the family after his father. I have noted
+that this is the old old quarrel between the Arabs and their cousins
+the Hebrews.
+
+[FN#104] This black-mail was still paid to the Badawin of Ramlah
+
+
+(Alexandria) till the bombardment in 1881.
+
+
+
+[FN#105] The famous Issus of Cilicia, now a port-village on the
+
+
+Gulf of Scanderoon.
+
+
+
+[FN#106] Arab. " Wada'б" = the concha veneris, then used as small
+change.
+
+[FN#107] Arab. "Sakati"=a dealer in "castaway" articles, such es old
+metal,damaged goods, the pluck and feet of animals, etc.
+
+[FN#108] The popular tale of Burckhardt's death in Cairo was that the
+names of the three first Caliphs were found written upon his
+slipper-soles and that he was put to death by decree of the Olema. It
+is the merest nonsense, as the great traveller died of dysentery in the
+house of my old friend John Thurburn and was buried outside the Bab
+al-Nasr of Cairo where his tomb was restored by the late Rogers Bey
+(Pilgrimage i. 123).
+
+[FN#109] Prob. a mis-spelling for Arslбn, in Turk. a lion, and in slang
+a piastre.
+
+[FN#110] Arab. "Maka'ad;" lit. = sitting-room.
+
+[FN#111] Arab. "Khammбrah"; still the popular term throughout Egypt for
+a European Hotel. It is not always intended to be insulting but it is,
+meaning the place where Franks meet to drink forbidden drinks.
+
+[FN#112] A reminiscence of Mohammed who cleansed the Ka'abah of its 360
+idols (of which 73 names are given by Freytag, Einleitung, etc. pp.
+270, 342-57) by touching them with his staff, whereupon all fell to the
+ground; and the Prophet cried (Koran xvii. 84), "Truth is come, and
+falsehood is vanished: verily, falsehood is a thing that vanisheth"
+(magna est veritas, etc.). Amongst the "idols" are said to have been a
+statue of Abraham and the horns of the ram sacrificed in lieu of
+Ishmael, which (if true) would prove conclusively that the Abrahamic
+legend at Meccah is of ancient date and not a fiction of Al-Islam.
+Hence, possibly, the respect of the Judaising Tobbas of Hiwyarland for
+the Ka'abah. (Pilgrimage, iii. 295.)
+
+[FN#113] This was evidently written by a Sunni as the Shн'ahs claim to
+be the only true Moslems. Lane tells an opposite story (ii. 329). It
+suggests the common question in the South of Europe, "Are you a
+Christian or a Protestant?"
+
+[FN#114] Arab. "Ana fн jнrat-ak!" a phrase to be remembered as useful
+in time of danger.
+
+[FN#115] i.e. No Jinni, or Slave of the Jewel, was there to answer.
+
+[FN#116] Arab. "Kunsъl" (pron. "Gunsul") which here means a well-to-do
+Frank, and shows the modern date of the tale as it stands.
+
+[FN#117] From the Ital. "Capitano." The mention of cannon and other
+terms in this tale shows that either it was written during the last
+century or it has been mishandled by copyists.
+
+[FN#118] Arab. "Minнnah"; a biscuit of flour and clarified butter.
+
+[FN#119] Arab. "Waybah"; the sixth part of the Ardabb=6 to 7
+
+
+English gallons.
+
+
+
+[FN#120] He speaks in half-jest а la fellah; and reminds us of
+
+
+"Hangman, drive on the cart!"
+
+
+
+[FN#121] Yochanan (whom Jehovah has blessed) Jewish for John, is
+probably a copy of the Chaldean Euahanes, the Oannes of Berosus=Ea
+Khan, Hea the fish. The Greeks made it Joannes; the Arabs "Yohannб"
+(contracted to "Hannб," Christian) and "Yбbyб" (Moslem). Prester
+(Priest) John is probably Ung Khan, the historian prince conquered and
+slain by Janghiz Khan in A.D. 1202. The modern history of "John" is
+very extensive: there may be a full hundred varieties and derivation'
+of the name. "Husn Maryam" the beauty (spiritual. etc.) of the B.V.
+
+[FN#122] Primarily being middle-aged; then aid, a patron, servant, etc.
+Also a tribe of the Jinn usually made synonymous with "Mбrid," evil
+controuls, hostile to men: modern spiritualists would regard them as
+polluted souls not yet purged of their malignity. The text insinuates
+that they were at home amongst Christians and in Genoa.
+
+[FN#123] Arab. "Sar'a" = epilepsy, falling sickness, of old always
+confounded with "possession" (by evil spirits) or "obsession."
+
+[FN#124] Again the true old charge of falsifying the so-called "Sacred
+books." Here the Koran is called "Furkбn." Sale (sect. iii.) would
+assimilate this to the Hebr. "Perek" or "Pirka," denoting a section or
+portion of Scripture; but Moslems understand it to be the "Book which
+distinguisheth (faraka, divided) the true from the false." Thus Caliph
+Omar was entitled "Fбrъk" = the Distinguisher (between right and
+wrong). Lastly, "Furkбn," meanings as in Syr. and Ethiop. deliverance,
+revelation, is applied alike to the Pentateuch and Koran.
+
+[FN#125] Euphemistic for "thou shalt die."
+
+[FN#126] Lit. "From (jugular) vein to vein" (Arab. "Warнd"). Our old
+friend Lucretius again: "Tantane relligio," etc.
+
+[FN#127] As opposed to the "but" or outer room.
+
+[FN#128] Arab. "Darb al-Asfar" in the old Jamalнyah or Northern part of
+Cairo.
+
+[FN#129] A noble tribe of Badawin that migrated from Al-Yaman and
+settled in Al-Najd Their Chief, who died a few years before Mohammed's
+birth, was Al-Hatim (the "black crow"), a model of Arab manliness and
+munificence; and although born in the Ignorance he will enter Heaven
+with the Moslems. Hatim was buried on the hill called Owбrid: I have
+already noted this favourite practice of the wilder Arabs and the
+affecting idea that the Dead may still look upon his kith and kin.
+There is not an Arab book nor, indeed, a book upon Arabia which does
+not contain the name of Hatim: he is mentioned as unpleasantly often as
+Aristides.
+
+[FN#130] Lord of "Cattle-feet," this King's name is unknown; but the
+Kбmъs mentions two Kings called Zu 'l Kalб'a, the Greater and the Less.
+Lane's Shaykh (ii. 333) opined that the man who demanded Hatim's
+hospitality was one Abu'l-Khaybari.
+
+[FN#131] The camel's throat, I repeat, is not cut as in the case of
+other animals, the muscles being too strong: it is slaughtered by the
+"nahr," i.e. thrusting a knife into the hollow at the commissure of the
+chest. (Pilgrimage iii. 303.)
+
+[FN#132] Adi became a Moslem and was one of the companions of the
+
+
+Prophet.
+
+
+
+[FN#133] A rival-in generosity to Hatim: a Persian poet praising his
+patron's generosity says that it buried that of Hatim and dimmed that
+of Ma'an (D'Herbelot). He was a high official-under the last Ommiade,
+Marwбn al-Himбr (the "Ass," or the "Century," the duration of Ommiade
+rule) who was routed and slain in A.H. 132=750. Ma'an continued to
+serve under the Abbasides and was a favourite with Al-Mansъr. "More
+generous or bountiful than Ka'ab" is another saying (A. P., i. 325);
+Ka'ab ibn Mбmah was a man who, somewhat like Sir Philip Sidney at
+Zutphen, gave his own portion of drink while he was dying of thirst to
+a man who looked wistfully at him, whence the saying "Give drink to thy
+brother the Nбmiri" (A. P., i. 608). Ka'ab could not mount, so they put
+garments over him to scare away the wild beasts and left him in the
+desert to die. "Scatterer of blessings" (Nбshir al-Ni'am) was a title
+of King Malik of Al-Yaman, son of Sharhabнl, eminent for his
+liberality. He set up the statue in the Western Desert, inscribed
+"Nothing behind me," as a warner to others.
+
+[FN#134] Lane (ii. 352) here introduces, between Nights cclxxi. and
+ccxc., a tale entitled in the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 134) "The Sleeper and
+the Waker," i.e. the sleeper awakened; and he calls it: The Story of
+Abu-l-Hasan the Wag. It is interesting and founded upon
+historical-fact; but it can hardly be introduced here without breaking
+the sequence of The Nights. I regret this the more as Mr. Alexander J.
+Cotheal-of New York has most obligingly sent me an addition to the
+Breslau text (iv. 137) from his MS. But I hope eventually to make use
+of it.
+
+[FN#135] The first girl calls gold "Titer" (pure, unalloyed metal); the
+second "Asjad" (gold generally) and the third "Ibrнz" (virgin ore, the
+Greek {Greek letters}. This is a law of Arab rhetoric never to repeat
+the word except for a purpose and, as the language can produce
+1,200,000 (to 100,000 in English) the copiousness is somewhat painful
+to readers.
+
+[FN#136] Arab. "Shakes" before noticed.
+
+[FN#137] Arab. "Kussб'б"=the curling cucumber: the vegetable is of the
+cheapest and the poorer classes eat it as "kitchen" with bread.
+
+[FN#138] Arab. "Haram-hu," a double entendre. Here the Barlawi means
+his Harem the inviolate part of the house; but afterwards he makes it
+mean the presence of His Honour.
+
+[FN#139] Toledo? this tale was probably known to Washington Irving. The
+"Land of Roum " here means simply Frank-land as we are afterwards told
+that its name was Andalusia the old Vandal-land, a term still applied
+by Arabs to the whole of the Iberian Peninsula.
+
+[FN#140] Arab. "Amбim" (plur. of Imбmah) the common word for turband
+which I prefer to write in the old unclipt fashion. We got it through
+the Port. Turbante and the old French Tolliban from the (now obsolete)
+Persian term Dolband=a turband or a sash.
+
+[FN#141] Sixth Ommiade Caliph, A.D. 705-716, from "Tбrik" we have
+
+
+"Gibraltar"=Jabal-al-Tбrik.
+
+
+
+[FN#142] Arab. "Yunбn" = Ionia, applied to ancient Greece as
+
+
+"Roum" is to the Grжco-Roman Empire.
+
+
+
+[FN#143] Arab. "Bahramбni ;" prob. alluding to the well-known
+
+
+legend of the capture of Somanath (Somnauth) from the Hindus by
+
+
+Mahmud of Ghazni. In the Ajб'ib al-Hind (before quoted) the
+
+
+Brahmins are called Abrahamah.
+
+
+
+[FN#144] i.e. "Peace be with thee!"
+
+[FN#145] i.e. in the palace when the hunt was over. The bluntness and
+plain-speaking of the Badawi, which caused the revelation of the
+Koranic chapter "Inner Apartments" (No. xlix.) have always been
+favourite themes with Arab tale-tellers as a contrast with citizen
+suavity and servility. Moreover the Badawi, besides saying what he
+thinks, always tells the truth (unless corrupted by commerce with
+foreigners); and this is a startling contrast with the townsfolk. To
+ride out of Damascus and have a chat with the Ruwalб is much like being
+suddenly transferred from amongst the trickiest of Mediterranean people
+to the bluff society of the Scandinavian North. And the reason why the
+Turk will never govern the Arab in peace is that the former is always
+trying to finesse and to succeed by falsehood, when the truth, the
+whole truth and nothing but the truth is wanted.
+
+[FN#146] Koran. xvi. 112.
+
+[FN#147] A common and expressive way of rewarding the tongue which
+"spoke poetry." The Jewels are often pearls.
+
+[FN#148] Ibrahim Abu Ishбk bin al-Mahdi, a pretender to the Caliphate
+of well known wit and a famed musician surnamed from his corpulence
+"Al-Tannнn"=the Dragon or, according to others (Lane ii. 336),
+"Al-Tin"= the fig. His adventurous history will be found in Ibn
+Khallikan D'Herbelot and Al-Siyuti.
+
+[FN#149] The Ragha of the Zendavesta, and Rages of the Apocrypha
+(Tobit, Judith, etc.), the old capital-of Media Proper, and seat of
+government of Daylam, now a ruin some miles south of Teheran which was
+built out of its remains. Rayy was founded by Hoshang the primeval-king
+who first sawed wood, made doors and dug metal. It is called Rayy
+al-Mahdiyyah because Al-Mahdi held his court there. Harun al-Rashid was
+also born in it (A.H. 145). It is mentioned by a host of authors and
+names one of the Makamat of Al-Hariri.
+
+[FN#150] Human blood being especially impure.
+
+[FN#151] Jones, Brown and Robinson.
+
+[FN#152] Arab. "Kumm ," the Moslem sleeve is mostly (like his trousers)
+of ample dimensions and easily converted into a kind of carpet-bag by
+depositing small articles in the middle and gathering up the edge in
+the hand. In this way carried the weight would be less irksome than
+hanging to the waist. The English of Queen Anne's day had regular
+sleeve-pockets for memoranda, etc., hence the saying, to have in one's
+sleeve.
+
+[FN#153] Arab. "Khuff" worn under the "Bбbъg" (a corruption of the
+Persian pб-push=feet-covers, papooshes, slippers). [Lane M. E. chaps.
+i.]
+
+[FN#154] Done in hot weather throughout the city, a dry line for camels
+being left in mid-street to prevent the awkward beasts slipping. The
+watering of the Cairo streets of late years has been excessive; they
+are now lines of mud in summer as well as in winter and the effluvia
+from the droppings of animals have, combined with other causes,
+seriously deteriorated the once charming climate. The only place in
+Lower Egypt, which has preserved the atmosphere of 1850, is Suez.
+
+[FN#155] Arab. "Hurбk:" burnt rag, serving as tinder for flint and
+steel, is a common styptic.
+
+[FN#156] Of this worthy, something has been said and there will be more
+in a future page.
+
+[FN#157] i.e. the person entitled to exact the blood-wite.
+
+[FN#158] Al-Maamum was a man of sense with all his fanaticism One of
+his sayings is preserved "Odious is contentiousness in Kings, more
+odious vexation in judges uncomprehending a case; yet more odious is
+shallowness of doctors in religions and most odious are avarice in the
+rich, idleness in youth, jesting in age and cowardice in the soldier."
+
+[FN#159] The second couplet is not in the Mac. Edit. but Lane's
+
+
+Shaykh has supplied it (ii. 339)
+
+
+
+[FN#160] Adam's loins, the "Day of Alast," and the Imam (who stands
+before the people in prayer) have been explained. The "Seventh Imam"
+here is Al-Maamun, the seventh Abbaside the Ommiades being, as usual,
+ignored.
+
+[FN#161] He sinned only for the pleasure of being pardoned, which is
+poetical-and hardly practical-or probable.
+
+[FN#162] The Katб (sand-grouse) always enters into Arab poetry because
+it is essentially a desert bird, and here the comparison is good
+because it lays its eggs in the waste far from water which it must
+drink morning and evening. Its cry is interpreted "man sakat, salam"
+(silent and safe), but it does not practice that precept, for it is
+usually betrayed by its piping " Kata! Kata!" Hence the proverb, "More
+veracious than the sand-grouse," and "speak not falsely, for the Kata
+sayeth sooth," is Komayt's saying. It is an emblem of swiftness: when
+the brigand poet Shanfara boasts, "The ash-coloured Katas can drink
+only my leavings, after hastening all night to slake their thirst in
+the morning," it is a hyperbole boasting of his speed. In Sind it is
+called the "rock pigeon" and it is not unlike a grey partridge when on
+the wing.
+
+[FN#163] Joseph to his brethren, Koran, xii. 92, when he gives them his
+"inner garment" to throw over his father's face.
+
+[FN#164] Arab. "Hajjбm"=a cupper who scarifies forehead and legs, a
+bleeder, a (blood-) sucker. The slang use of the term is to thrash,
+lick, wallop. (Burckhardt. Prov. 34.)
+
+[FN#165] The Bresl. Edit. (vii. 171-174) entitles this tale, "Story of
+Shaddбd bin Ad and the City of Iram the Columned ;" but it relates
+chiefly to the building by the King of the First Adites who, being
+promised a future Paradise by Prophet Hъd, impiously said that he would
+lay out one in this world. It also quotes Ka'ab al-Ahbбr as an
+authority for declaring that the tale is in the "Pentateuch of Moses."
+Iram was in al-Yaman near Adan (our Aden) a square of ten parasangs (or
+leagues each= 18,000 feet) every way, the walls were of red (baked)
+brick 500 cubits high and 20 broad, with four gates of corresponding
+grandeur. It contained 300,000 Kasr (palaces) each with a thousand
+pillars of gold-bound jasper, etc. (whence its title). The whole was
+finished in five hundred years, and, when Shaddad prepared to enter it,
+the "Cry of Wrath" from the Angel of Death slew him and all his many.
+It is mentioned in the Koran (chaps. Ixxxix. 6-7) as "Irem adorned with
+lofty buildings (or pillars)." But Ibn Khaldun declares that
+commentators have embroidered the passage; Iram being the name of a
+powerful clan of the ancient Adites and "imбd" being a tent-pole: hence
+"Iram with the numerous tents or tent-poles." Al-Bayzawi tells the
+story of Abdullah ibn Kilabah (D'Herbelot's Colabah). At Aden I met an
+Arab who had seen the mysterious city on the borders of Al-Ahkбf, the
+waste of deep sands, west of Hadramaut; and probably he had, the mirage
+or sun-reek taking its place. Compare with this tale "The City of
+Brass" (Night dlxv.).
+
+[FN#166] The biblical-"Sheba," named from the great-grandson of Joctan,
+whence the Queen (Bilkis) visited Solomon It was destroyed by the Flood
+of Mбrib.
+
+[FN#167] The full title of the Holy City is "Madinat al-Nab)" = the
+City of the Prophet, of old Yasrib (Yathrib) the Iatrippa of the Greeks
+(Pilgrimage, ii. 119). The reader will remember that there are two
+"Yasribs:" that of lesser note being near Hujr in the Yamбmah province.
+
+[FN#168] "Ka'ab of the Scribes," a well-known traditionist and
+religious poet who died (A.H. 32) in the Caliphate of Osman. He was a
+Jew who islamised; hence his name (Ahbбr, plur. of Hibr, a Jewish
+scribe, doctor of science, etc. Jarrett's El-Siyuti, p. 123). He must
+not be confounded with another Ka'ab al-Ahbбr the Poet of the (first)
+Cloak-poem or "Burdah," a noble Arab who was a distant cousin of
+Mohammed, and whose tomb at Hums (Emesa) is a place of pious
+visitation. According to the best authorities (no Christian being
+allowed to see them) the cloak given to the bard by Mohammed is still
+preserved together with the Khirkah or Sanjak Sherif ("Holy Coat" or
+Banner, the national oriflamme) at Stambul in the Upper Seraglio.
+(Pilgrimage, i. 213.) Many authors repeat this story of Mu'awiyah, the
+Caliph, and Ka'ab of the Burdah, but it is an evident anachronism, the
+poet having been dead nine years before the ruler's accession (A.H.
+41).
+
+[FN#169] Koran, lxxxix. 6-7.
+
+[FN#170] Arab. "Kahramбn" from Pers., braves, heroes.
+
+[FN#171] The Deity in the East is as whimsical-a despot as any of his
+"shadows" or "vice regents." In the text Shaddбd is killed for mere
+jealousy a base passion utterly unworthy of a godhead; but one to which
+Allah was greatly addicted.
+
+[FN#172] Some traditionist, but whether Sha'abi, Shi'abi or
+
+
+Shu'abi we cannot decide.
+
+
+
+[FN#173] The Hazarmaveth of Genesis (x. 26) in South Eastern Arabia.
+Its people are the Adramitae (mod. Hazrami) of Ptolemy who places in
+their land the Arabiж Emporium, as Pliny does his Massola. They border
+upon the Homeritж or men of Himyar, often mentioned in The Nights.
+Hazramaut is still practically unknown to us, despite the excursions of
+many travellers; and the hard nature of the people, the Swiss of
+Arabia, offers peculiar obstacles to exploration.
+
+[FN#174] i.e. the prophet Hud generally identified (?) with Heber. He
+was commissioned (Koran, chaps. vii.) to preach Al-Islam to his tribe
+the Adites who worshipped four goddesses, Sбkiyah (the rain-giver),
+Rбzikah (food-giver), Hбfizah (the saviouress) and Sбlimah (who healed
+sickness). As has been seen he failed, so it was useless to send him.
+
+[FN#175] Son of Ibraham al-Mosili, a musician poet and favourite with
+the Caliphs Harun al-Rashid and Al-Maamun. He made his name immortal-by
+being the first who reduced Arab harmony to systematic rules, and he
+wrote a biography of musicians referred to by Al-Hariri in the Sйance
+of Singar.
+
+[FN#176] This must not be confounded with the "pissing against the
+wall" of I Kings, xiv. 10, where watering against a wall denotes a man
+as opposed to a woman.
+
+[FN#177] Arab. "Zambнl" or "Zimbнl," a limp basket made of plaited
+palm-leaves and generally two handled. It is used for many purposes,
+from carrying poultry to carrying earth.
+
+[FN#178] Here we have again the Syriac ''Bakhkh -un-Bakhkh-un-''=well
+done! It is the Pers Бferнn and means "all praise be to him."
+
+[FN#179] Arab. "A Tufayli?" So the Arab. Prov. (ii. 838) "More
+intrusive than Tufayl" (prob. the P.N. of a notorious sponger). The
+Badawin call "Wбrish" a man who sits down to meat unbidden and to drink
+Wбghil; but townsfolk apply the latter to the "Wбrish."
+
+[FN#180] Arab. "Artбl"=rotoli, pounds; and
+
+               "A pint is a pound
+
+
+                All the world round;"
+
+
+
+except in highly civilised lands where the pint has a curious power of
+shrinking.
+
+[FN#181] One of Al-Maamun's Wazirs. The Caliph married his daughter
+whose true name was Bъrбn; but this tale of girl's freak and courtship
+was invented (?) by Ishak. For the splendour of the wedding and the
+munificence of the Minister see Lane, ii. 350-352.
+
+[FN#182] I have described this scene, the wretch clinging to the
+curtain and sighing and crying as if his heart would break (Pilgrimage
+iii. 216 and 220). The same is done at the place Al-Multazam'"the
+attached to;" (ibid. 156) and various spots called Al-Mustajбb, "where
+prayer is granted" (ibid. 162). At Jerusalem the Wailing place of the
+Jews" shows queer scenes; the worshippers embrace the wall with a
+peculiar wriggle crying out in Hebrew, "O build Thy House, soon,
+without delay," etc.
+
+[FN#183] i.e. The wife. The scene in the text was common at Cairo
+twenty years ago; and no one complained of the stick. See Pilgrimage
+i., 120.
+
+[FN#184] Arab. "Udm, Udum" (plur. of Idбm) = "relish," olives, cheese,
+pickled cucumbers, etc.
+
+[FN#185] I have noticed how the left hand is used in the East. In the
+second couplet we have "Istinjб"=washing the fundament after stool. The
+lines are highly appropriate for a nightman. Easterns have many foul
+but most emphatic expressions like those in the text I have heard a
+mother say to her brat, "I would eat thy merde!" (i.e. how I love
+thee!).
+
+[FN#186] Arab. "Harrбk," whence probably our "Carack" and
+
+
+"Carrack" (large ship), in dictionaries derived from Carrus
+
+
+Marinus.
+
+
+
+[FN#187] Arab. "Ghбshiyah"=lit. an йtui, a cover; and often a
+saddle-cover carried by the groom.
+
+[FN#188] Arab. "Sharбb al-tuffбh" = melapio or cider.
+
+[FN#189] Arab. "Mudawwarah," which generally means a small round
+cushion, of the Marocco-work well known in England. But one does not
+strike a cushion for a signal, so we must revert to the original-sense
+of the word "something round," as a circular plate of wood or metal, a
+gong, a "bell" like that of the Eastern Christians.
+
+[FN#190] Arab. "Tъfбn" (from the root tauf, going round) a storm, a
+circular gale, a cyclone the term universally applied in Al-lslam to
+the "Deluge," the "Flood" of Noah. The word is purely Arabic; with a
+quaint likeness to the Gr. {Greek letters}, in Pliny typhon, whirlwind,
+a giant (Typhњus) whence "Typhon" applied to the great Egyptian god
+"Set." The Arab word extended to China and was given to the hurricanes
+which the people call "Tee foong," great winds, a second
+whimsical-resemblance. But Sir John Davis (ii. 383) is hardly correct
+when he says, "the name typhoon, in itself a corruption of the Chinese
+term, bears a singular (though we must suppose an accidental)
+resemblance to the Greek {Greek letters}. "
+
+[FN#191] Plurale majestatis acting superlative; not as Lane supposes
+(ii. 224) "a number of full moons, not only one." Eastern tongues
+abound in instances beginning with Genesis (i. 1), "Gods (he) created
+the heaven," etc. It is still preserved in Badawi language and a
+wildling greatly to the astonishment of the citizens will address his
+friend "Yб Rijбl"= O men!
+
+[FN#192] Arab. "Hбsid" = an envier: in the fourth couplet "Azъl"
+(Azzбl, etc.) = a chider, blamer; elsewhere "Lawwбm" = accuser, censor,
+slanderer; "Wбshн,"=whisperer, informer; "Rakib"=spying, envious rival;
+"Ghбbit"=one emulous without envy; and "Shбmit"= a "blue" (fierce)
+enemy who rejoices over another's calamities. Arabic literature abounds
+in allusions to this unpleasant category of "damned ill-natured
+friends;" and Spanish and Portuguese letters, including Brazilian, have
+thoroughly caught the trick. In the Eastern mind the "blamer" would be
+aided by the "evil eye."
+
+[FN#193] Another plural for a singular, "O my beloved!"
+
+[FN#194] Arab. "Khayr"=good news, a euphemistic reply even if the
+tidings be of the worst.
+
+[FN#195] Abbбs (from 'Abs, being austere; and meaning the "grim faced")
+son of Abd al-Muttalib; uncle to Mohammed and eponym of the Abbaside
+Khalifahs. A.D. 749=1258.
+
+[FN#196] Katнl = the Irish "kilt."
+
+[FN#197] This hat been explained as a wazirial title of the time.
+
+[FN#198] The phrase is intelligible in all tongues: in Arabic it is
+opposed to "dark as night," "black as mud" and a host of unsavoury
+antitheses.
+
+[FN#199] Arab. "Awwбdah," the popular word; not Udнyyah as in Night
+cclvi. "Ud" liter.= rood and "Al-Ud"=the wood is, I have noted, the
+origin of our 'lute." The Span. 'laud" is larger and deeper than the
+guitar, and its seven strings are played upon with a plectrum of
+buffalo-horn.
+
+[FN#200] Arab. "Tabban lahu!"=loss (or ruin) to him. So "bu'dan
+lahu"=away with him, abeat in malam rem; and "Suhkan lahu"=Allah and
+mercy be far from him, no hope for him I
+
+[FN#201] Arab. "Бyah"=Koranic verses, sign, miracle.
+
+[FN#202] The mole on cheek calls to prayers for his preservation; and
+it is black as Bilal the Abyssinian. Fajran may here mean either
+"A.-morning" or "departing from grace."
+
+[FN#203] i.e. the young beard (myrtle) can never hope to excel tile
+beauties of his cheeks (roses).
+
+[FN#204] i.e. Hell and Heaven.
+
+[FN#205] The first couplet is not in the Mac. Edit. (ii. 171)
+
+
+which gives only a single couplet but it is found in the Bres.
+
+
+Edit. which entitles this tale "Story of the lying (or false kбzib)
+
+
+Khalнfah." Lane (ii. 392) of course does not translate it.
+
+
+
+[FN#206] In the East cloth of frieze that mates with cloth of gold must
+expect this treatment. Fath Ali Shah's daughters always made their
+husbands enter the nuptial-bed by the foot end.
+
+[FN#207] This is always done and for two reasons; the first humanity,
+that the blow may fall unawares; and, secondly, to prevent the sufferer
+wincing, which would throw out the headsman.
+
+[FN#208] Arab. "Ma'бni-hб," lit. her meanings, i.e. her inner woman
+opposed to the formal-seen by every one.
+
+[FN#209] Described in my Pilgrimage (iii. 168, 174 and 175): it is the
+stone upon which the Patriarch stood when he built the Ka'abah and is
+said to show the impress of the feet but unfortunately I could not
+afford five dollars entrance-fee. Caliph Omar placed the station where
+it now is; before his time it adjoined the Ka'abah. The meaning of the
+text is, Be thy court a place of pious visitation, etc. At the "Station
+of Abraham" prayer is especially blessed and expects to be granted.
+"This is the place where Abraham stood; and whoever entereth therein
+shall be safe" (Koran ii. 119). For the other fifteen places where
+petitions are favourably heard by Heaven see ibid. iii. 211-12.
+
+[FN#210] As in the West, so in the East, women answer an unpleasant
+question by a counter question.
+
+[FN#211] This "Cry of Haro" often occurs throughout The Nights. In
+real-life it is sure to colece a crowd. especially if an Infidel (non
+Moslem) be its cause.
+
+[FN#212] In the East a cunning fellow always makes himself the claimant
+or complainant.
+
+[FN#213] On the Euphrates some 40 miles west of Baghdad The word is
+written "Anbбr" and pronounced "Ambбr" as usual with the "n" before
+"b"; the case of the Greek double Gamma.
+
+[FN#214] Syene on the Nile.
+
+[FN#215] The tale is in the richest Rabelaisian humour; and the
+requisitions of the "Saj'a" (rhymed prose) in places explain the
+grotesque combinations. It is difficult to divine why Lane omits it:
+probably he held a hearty laugh not respectable.
+
+[FN#216] A lawyer of the eighth century, one of the chief pupils of the
+Imam Abu Hanifah, and Kazi of Baghdad under the third, fourth and fifth
+Abbasides. The tale is told in the quasi- historical-Persian work
+"Nigбristбn" (The Picture gallery), and is repeated by Richardson,
+Diss. 7, xiii. None seem to have remarked that the distinguished
+legist, Abu Yusuf, was on this occasion a law-breaker; the Kazi's duty
+being to carry out the code not to break it by the tricks of a cunning
+attorney. In Harun's day, however, some regard was paid to justice, not
+under his successors, one of whom, Al-Muktadir bi 'llбh (A.H. 295=907),
+made the damsel Yamika President of the Diwбn al-Mazбlim (Court of the
+Wronged), a tribunal which took cognizance of tyranny and oppression in
+high places.
+
+[FN#217] Here the writer evidently forgets that Shahrazad is telling
+the story to the king, as Boccaccio (ii. 7) forgets that Pamfilo is
+speaking. Such inconsequences are common in Eastern story-books and a
+goody-goody sentiment is always heartily received as in an English
+theatre.
+
+[FN#218] In the Mac. Edit. (ii. 182) "Al-Kushayri." Al-Kasri was
+
+
+Governor of the two Iraks (I.e. Bassorah and Cufa) in the reign of
+
+
+Al-Hisham, tenth Ommiade (A.D. 723-741)
+
+
+
+[FN#219] Arab. "Thakalata k Ummak!" This is not so much a curse as a
+playful phrase, like "Confound the fellow." So "Kбtala k Allah" (Allah
+slay thee) and "Lб abб lak" (thou hast no father or mother). These
+words are even complimentary on occasions, as a good shot or a fine
+recitation, meaning that the praised far excels the rest of his tribe.
+
+[FN#220] Koran, iii. 178.
+
+[FN#221] Arab. "Al-Nisбb"=the minimum sum (about half-a crown) for
+which mutilation of the hand is prescribed by religious law. The
+punishment was truly barbarous, it chastised a rogue by means which
+prevented hard honest labour for the rest of his life.
+
+[FN#222] To show her grief.
+
+[FN#223] Abъ Sa'нd Abd al-Malik bin Kurayb, surnamed Al-Asma'i from his
+grandfather, flor. A.H. 122-306 (=739-830) and wrote amongst a host of
+compositions the well-known Romance of Antar. See in D'Herbelot the
+right royal-directions given to him by Harun al-Rashid.
+
+[FN#224] There are many accounts of his death, but it is generally held
+that he was first beheaded. The story in the text is also variously
+told and the Persian "Nigбristбn" adds some unpleasant comments upon
+the House of Abbas. The Persians, for reasons which will be explained
+in the terminal-Essay, show the greatest sympathy with the Barmecides;
+and abominate the Abbasides even more than the latter detested the
+Ommiades.
+
+[FN#225] Not written, as the European reader would suppose.
+
+[FN#226] Arab. "Fъl al-hбrr" = beans like horsebeans soaked and boiled
+as opposed to the "Fъl Mudammas" (esp. of Egypt)=unshelled beans
+steamed and boiled all night and eaten with linseed oil as "kitchen" or
+relish. Lane (M.E., chaps. v.) calls them after the debased Cairene
+pronunciation, Mudemmes. A legend says that, before the days of Pharaoh
+(always he of Moses), the Egyptians lived on pistachios which made them
+a witty, lively race. But the tyrant remarking that the domestic ass,
+which eats beans, is degenerate from the wild ass, uprooted the
+pistachio-trees and compelled the lieges to feed on beans which made
+them a heavy, gross, cowardly people fit only for burdens. Badawis
+deride "beaneaters" although they do not loathe the pulse like onions.
+The principal-result of a bean diet is an extraordinary development of
+flatulence both in stomach and intestines: hence possibly, Pythagoras
+who had studied ceremonial-purity in Egypt, forbade the use, unless he
+referred to venery or political-business. I was once sitting in the
+Greek quarter of Cairo dressed as a Moslem when arose a prodigious
+hubbub of lads and boys, surrounding, a couple of Fellahs. These men
+had been working in the fields about a mile east of Cairo and, when
+returning home, one had said to the other, "If thou wilt carry the hoes
+I will break wind once for every step we take." He was as good as his
+word and when they were to part he cried, "And now for thy bakhshish!"
+which consisted of a volley of fifty, greatly to the delight of the
+boys.
+
+[FN#227] No porcelain was ever, as far as we can discover, made in
+Egypt or Syria of the olden day; but, as has been said, there was a
+regular caravan-intercourse with China At Damascus I dug into the huge
+rubbish-heaps and found quantities of pottery, but no China. The same
+has lately been done at Clysma, the artificial-mound near Suez, and the
+glass and pottery prove it to have been a Roman work which defended the
+mouth of the old classical-sweet-water canal.
+
+[FN#228] Arab. "Lб baas ba-zбlik," conversational-for "Lб jaram"= there
+is no harm in it, no objection to it, and, sometimes, "it is a matter
+of course."
+
+[FN#229] A white emerald is yet unknown; but this adds only to the
+Oriental-extravagance of the picture. I do not think with Lane (ii.
+426) that "abyaz" here can mean "bright." Dr. Steingass suggests a
+clerical-error for "khazar" (green).
+
+[FN#230] Arab. "Sharбrif" plur. of Shurrбfah=crenelles or battlements;
+mostly trefoil-shaped; remparts coquets which a six-pounder would
+crumble.
+
+[FN#231] Pronounce Abul-Muzaffar=Father of the Conqueror.
+
+[FN#232] I have explained the word in my "Zanzibar, City, Island and
+Coast," vol. i. chaps. v There is still a tribe, the Wadoe, reputed
+cannibal-on the opposite low East African shore These blacks would
+hardly be held " sons of Adam." "Zanj " corrupted to "Zinj " (plur
+Zunъj) is the Persian "Zany" or "Zangi," a black, altered by the Arabs,
+who ignore the hard g; and, with the suffixion of the Persian -bбr
+(region, as in Malabar) we have Zang- bar which the Arabs have
+converted to "Zanjibar," in poetry "Murk al-Zunъj"=Land of the Zang.
+The term is old; it is the Zingis or Zingisa of Ptolemy and the Zingium
+of Cosmas Indicopleustes; and it shows the influence of Persian
+navigation in pre-Islamitic ages. For further details readers will
+consult "The Lake Regions of Central-Africa" vol. i. chaps. ii
+
+[FN#233] Arab. "Kawбrib" plur. of "Kбrib" prop. a dinghy, a small boat
+belonging to a ship Here it refers to the canoe (a Carib word) pop.
+"dug-out" and classically "monoxyle," a boat made of a single
+tree-trunk hollowed by fire and trimmed with axe and adze. Some of
+these rude craft which, when manned, remind one of saturnine Caliph
+Omar's "worms floating on a log of wood," measure 60 feet long and
+more.
+
+[FN#234] i.e. A descendant of Mohammed in general-and especially
+through Husayn Ali-son. Here the text notes that the chief of the bazar
+was of this now innumerable stock, who inherit the title through the
+mother as well as through the father.
+
+[FN#235] Arab. "Hasab" (=quaneity), the honour a man acquires for
+himself; opposed to "Nasab" (genealogy) honours inherited from
+ancestry: the Arabic well expresses my old motto (adopted by Chinese
+Gordon), "Honour, not Honours."
+
+[FN#236] Note the difference between "Takaddum" ( = standing in
+presence of, also superiority in excellence) and "Takбdum" (priority in
+time).
+
+[FN#237] Lane (ii. 427) gives a pleasant Eastern illustration of this
+saying.
+
+[FN#238] A Koranic fancy; the mountains being the pegs which keep the
+earth in place. "And he hath thrown before the earth, mountains firmly
+rooted, lest it should move with you." (Koran, chaps. xvi.) The earth
+when first created was smooth and thereby liable to a circular motion,
+like the celestial-orbs; and, when the Angels asked who could stand on
+so tottering a frame, Allah fixed it the next morning by throwing the
+mountains in it and pegging them down. A fair prolepsis of the
+Neptunian theory.
+
+[FN#239] Easy enough for an Englishman to avoid saying "by God," but
+this common incident in Moslem folk-lore appeals to the peoples who are
+constantly using the word Allah Wallah, Billah, etc. The Koran
+expressly says, "Make not Allah the scope (object, lit. arrow-butt) of
+your oaths" (chaps. ii. 224), yet the command is broken every minute.
+
+[FN#240] This must be the ubiquitous Khizr, the Green Prophet; when Ali
+appears, as a rule he is on horseback.
+
+[FN#241] The name is apparently imaginary; and a little below we find
+that it was close to Jinn land. China was very convenient for this
+purpose: the medieval-Moslems, who settled in considerable numbers at
+Canton and elsewhere, knew just enough of it to know their own
+ignorance of the vast empire. Hence the Druzes of the Libanus still
+hold that part of their nation is in the depths of the
+Celestial-Empire.
+
+[FN#242] I am unwilling to alter the old title to "City of Copper" as
+it should be; the pure metal having been technologically used long
+before the alloy of copper and zinc. But the Maroccan City (Night
+dlxvi. et seq.) was of brass (not copper). The Hindus of Upper India
+have an Iram which they call Hari Chand's city (Colonel Tod); and I
+need hardly mention the Fata Morgana, Island of Saint Borondon; Cape
+Fly-away; the Flying Dutchman, etc. etc., all the effect of "looming."
+
+[FN#243] This sword which makes men invisible and which takes place of
+Siegfried's Tarnkappe (invisible cloak) and of "Fortunatus' cap" is
+common in Moslem folk-lore. The idea probably arose from the venerable
+practice of inscribing the blades with sentences, verses and magic
+figures.
+
+[FN#244] Arab. "'Ukбb," in books an eagle (especially black) and P. N.
+of constellation but in Pop. usage= a vulture. In Egypt it is the
+Neophron Percnopterus (Jerdon) or N. Gingianus (Latham), the Dijбjat
+Far'aun or Pharaoh's hen. This bird has been known to kill the Bбshah
+sparrow-hawk (Jerdon i. 60); yet, curious to say, the reviewers of my
+"Falconry in the Valley of the Indus" questioned the fact, known to so
+many travellers, that the falcon is also killed by this "tiger of the
+air," despite the latter's feeble bill (pp. 35-38). I was faring badly
+at their hands when the late Mr. Burckhardt Barker came to the rescue.
+Falconicide is popularly attributed, not only to the vulture, but also
+to the crestless hawk-eagle (Nisжtus Bonelli) which the Hindus call
+Morбngб=peacock slayer.
+
+[FN#245] Here I translate "Nahбs"=brass, as the "kumkum" (cucurbite) is
+made of mixed metal, not of copper.
+
+[FN#246] Mansur al-Nimrн, a poet of the time and a protйgй of
+
+
+Yahya's son, Al-Fazl.
+
+
+
+[FN#247] This was at least four times Mansur's debt.
+
+[FN#248] Intendant of the Palace to Harun al-Rashid. The Bres. Edit.
+(vii. 254) begins They tell that there arose full enmity between
+Ja'afar Barmecide and a Sahib of Misr" (Wazir or Governor of Egypt).
+Lane (ii. 429) quotes to this purpose amongst Arab; historians Fakhr
+al-Din. (De Sacy's Chrestomathie Arabe i., p. 26, edit. ii.)
+
+[FN#249] Arab. "Armanнyah" which Egyptians call after their mincing
+fashion "Irminiyeh" hence "Ermine" (Mus Ponticus). Armaniyah was much
+more extensive than our Armenia, now degraded to a mere province of
+Turkey, and the term is understood to include the whole of the old
+Parthian Empire.
+
+[FN#250] Even now each Pasha-governor must keep a "Wakнl" in
+
+
+Constantinople to intrigue and bribe for him at head-quarters.
+
+
+
+[FN#251] The symbol of generosity, of unasked liberality, the "black
+hand" being that of niggardness.
+
+[FN#252] Arab. Rбh =pure (and old) wine. Arabs, like our classics,
+usually drank their wine tempered. So Imr al-Keys in his Mu'allakah
+says, "Bring the well tempered wine that seems to be saffron-tinctured;
+and, when water-mixed, o'erbrims the cup." (v. 2.)
+
+[FN#253] There is nothing that Orientals relish more than these
+"goody-goody" preachments; but they read and forget them as readily as
+Westerns.
+
+[FN#254] Lane (ii. 435) ill-advisedly writes "Sher," as "the word is
+evidently Persian signifying a Lion." But this is only in the debased
+Indian dialect, a Persian, especially a Shirazi, pronounces "Shнr." And
+this is how it is written in the Bresl. Edit., vii. 262. "Shбr" is
+evidently a fancy name, possibly suggested by the dynastic name of the
+Ghurjistan or Georgian Princes.
+
+[FN#255] Again old experience, which has learned at a heavy cost how
+many a goodly apple is rotten at the core.
+
+[FN#256] This couplet has occurred in Night xxi. I give Torrens (p.
+206) by way of specimen.
+
+[FN#257] Arab. "Zбka" = merely tasting a thing which may be sweet with
+a bitter after-flavour
+
+[FN#258] This tetraseich was in Night xxx. with a difference.
+
+[FN#259] The lines have occurred in Night xxx. I quote Torrens, p. 311.
+
+[FN#260] This tetrastich is in Night clxix. I borrow from Lane (ii.
+62).
+
+[FN#261] The rude but effective refrigerator of the desert Arab who
+hangs his water-skin to the branch of a tree and allows it to swing in
+the wind.
+
+[FN#262] Arab "Khumбsiyah" which Lane (ii. 438) renders "of quinary
+stature." Usually it means five spans, but here five feet, showing that
+the girl was young and still growing. The invoice with a slave always
+notes her height in spans measured from ankle-bone to ear and above
+seven she loses value as being full grown. Hence Sudбsi (fem.
+Sudбsiyah) is a slave six spans high, the Shibr or full span (9 inches)
+not the Fitr or short span from thumb to index. Faut is the
+interval-between every finger, Ratab between index and medius, and Atab
+between medius and annularis.
+
+[FN#263] "Moon faced" now sounds sufficiently absurd to us, but it was
+not always so. Solomon (Cant. vi. 10) does not disdain the image "fair
+as the moon, clear as the sun," and those who have seen a moon in the
+sky of Arabia will thoroughly appreciate it. We find it amongst the
+Hindus, the Persians, the Afghans, the Turks and all the nations of
+Europe. We have, finally, the grand example of Spenser,
+
+"Her spacious forehead, like the clearest moon, etc."
+
+[FN#264] Blue eyes have a bad name in Arabia as in India: the witch
+Zarkб of Al-Yamamah was noted for them; and "blue eyed" often means
+"fierce-eyed," alluding to the Greeks and Daylamites, mortal-enemies to
+Ishmael. The Arabs say "ruddy of mustachio, blue of eye and black of
+heart."
+
+[FN#265] Before explained as used with camphor to fill the dead man's
+mouth.
+
+[FN#266] As has been seen, slapping on the neck is equivalent to our
+"boxing ears," but much less barbarous and likely to injure the child.
+The most insulting blow is that with shoe sandal-or slipper because it
+brings foot in contact with head. Of this I have spoken before.
+
+[FN#267] Arab. "Hibбl" (= ropes) alluding to the A'akбl-fillet which
+binds the Kъfiyah-kerchief on the Badawi's head. (Pilgrimage, i. 346.)
+
+[FN#268] Arab. "Khiyбl"; afterwards called Kara Gyuz (= "black eyes,"
+from the celebrated Turkish Wazir). The mise-en-scиne was like that of
+Punch, but of transparent cloth, lamp lit inside and showing
+silhouettes worked by hand. Nothing could be more Fescenntne than Kara
+Gyuz, who appeared with a phallus longer than himself and made all the
+Consuls-General-periodically complain of its abuse, while the dialogue,
+mostly in Turkish, as even more obscene. Most ingenious were Kara
+Gyuz's little ways of driving on an Obstinate donkey and of tackling a
+huge Anatolian pilgrim. He mounted the Neddy's back face to tail, and
+inserting his left thumb like a clyster, hammered it with his right
+when the donkey started at speed. For the huge pilgrim he used a
+ladder. These shows now obsolete, used to enliven the Ezbekiyah Gardens
+every evening and explain Ovid's Words,
+
+"Delicias videam, Nile jocose, tuas!"
+
+[FN#269] Mohammed (Mishkбt al-Masбbih ii. 360-62) says, "Change the
+whiteness of your hair but not with anything black." Abu Bakr, who was
+two years and some months older than the Prophet, used tincture of
+Henna and Katam. Old Turkish officers justify black dyes because these
+make them look younger and fiercer. Henna stains white hair orange red;
+and the Persians apply after it a paste of indigo leaves, the result is
+successively leek-green, emerald-green, bottle-green and lastly
+lamp-black. There is a stage in life (the youth of old age) when man
+uses dyes: presently he finds that the whole face wants dye; that the
+contrast between juvenile coloured hair and ancient skin is ridiculous
+and that it is time to wear white.
+
+[FN#270] This prejudice extends all over the East: the Sanskrit saying
+is "Kvachit kбnб bhaveta sбdhus" now and then a monocular is honest.
+The left eye is the worst and the popular idea is, I have said, that
+the damage will come by the injured member
+
+[FN#271] The Arabs say like us, "Short and thick is never quick" and
+"Long and thin has little in."
+
+[FN#272] Arab. "Ba'azu layбli," some night when his mistress failed
+him.
+
+[FN#273] The fountain in Paradise before noticed.
+
+[FN#274] Before noticed as the Moslem St. Peter (as far as the keys
+go).
+
+[FN#275] Arab. "Munkasir" = broken, frail, languishing the only form of
+the maladive allowed. Here again we have masculine for feminine: the
+eyelids show love-desire, but, etc.
+
+[FN#276] The river of Paradise.
+
+[FN#277] See Night xii. "The Second Kalandar's Tale " vol. i. 113.
+
+[FN#278] Lane (ii. 472) refers for specimens of calligraphy to Herbin's
+"Dйveloppements, etc." There are many more than seven styles of writing
+as I have shown in Night xiii.; vol. i. 129.
+
+[FN#279] Amongst good Moslems this would be a claim upon a man.
+
+[FN#280] These lines have occurred twice already: and first appear in
+Night xxii. I have borrowed from Mr. Payne (iv. 46).
+
+[FN#281] Arab. "Ya Nasrбni", the address is not intrinsically slighting
+but it may easily be made so. I have elsewhere noted that when Julian
+(is said to have) exclaimed "Vicisti Nazarene!" he was probably
+thinking in Eastern phrase "Nasarta, yб Nasrбni!"
+
+[FN#282] Thirst is the strongest of all pleas to an Eastern, especially
+to a Persian who never forgets the sufferings of his Imam, Husayn, at
+Kerbela: he would hardly withhold it from the murderer of his father.
+There is also a Hadis, "Thou shalt not refuse water to him who
+thirsteth in the desert."
+
+[FN#283] Arab. "Zimmi" which Lane (ii. 474) aptly translates a
+"tributary." The Koran (chaps. ix.) orders Unbelievers to Islamize or
+to "pay tribute by right of subjection" (lit. an yadin=out of hand, an
+expression much debated). The least tribute is one dinar per annum
+which goes to the poor-rate. and for this the Kafir enjoys protection
+and almost all the civil rights of Moslems. As it is a question of
+"loaves and fishes" there is much to say on the subject; "loaves and
+fishes" being the main base and foundation of all religious
+establishments.
+
+[FN#284] This tetrastich has before occurred, so I quote Lane (ii.
+444).
+
+[FN#285] In Night xxxv. the same occurs with a difference.
+
+[FN#286] The old rite, I repeat, has lost amongst all but the noblest
+of Arab tribes the whole of its significance; and the traveller must be
+careful how he trusts to the phrase "Nahnu mбlihin" we are bound
+together by the salt.
+
+[FN#287] Arab. "Alбma" = Alб-mб = upon what ? wherefore ?
+
+[FN#288] Arab. "Mauz"; hence the Linnean name Musa (paradisiaca, etc.).
+The word is explained by Sale (Koran, chaps. xxxvii. 146) as "a small
+tree or shrub;" and he would identify it with Jonah's gourd.
+
+[FN#289] Lane (ii. 446) "bald wolf or empowered fate," reading (with
+Mac.) Kazб for Kattan (cat).
+
+[FN#290] i.e. "the Orthodox in the Faith." Rбshid is a proper name,
+witness that scourge of Syria, Rбshid Pasha. Born in 1830, of the Haji
+Nazir Agha family, Darrah-Beys of Macedonian Draina, he was educated in
+Paris where he learned the usual-hatred of Europeans: he entered the
+Egyptian service in 1851, and, presently exchanging it for the Turkish,
+became in due time Wali (Governor-General) of Syria which he plundered
+most shamelessly. Recalled in 1872, he eventually entered the Ministry
+and on June 15 1876, he was shot down, with other villains like
+himself, by gallant Captain Hasan, the Circassian (Yarham-hu 'llбh !).
+
+[FN#291] Quoted from a piece of verse, of which more presently.
+
+[FN#292] This tetrastich has occurred before (Night cxciii.). I quote
+Lane (ii. 449), who quotes Dryden's Spanish Friar,
+
+          "There is a pleasure sure in being mad
+
+
+           Which none but madmen know."
+
+
+
+[FN#293] Lane (ii. 449) gives a tradition of the Prophet, "Whoso is in
+love, and acteth chastely, and concealeth (his passion) and dieth,
+dieth a martyr." Sakar is No. 5 Hell for Magi Guebres, Parsis, etc., it
+is used in the comic Persian curse, "Fi'n-nбri wa Sakar al-jadd
+w'al-pidar"=ln Hell and Sakar his grandfather and his father.
+
+[FN#294] Arab. "Sifr": I have warned readers that whistling is
+considered a kind of devilish speech by the Arabs, especially the
+Badawin, and that the traveller must avoid it. It savours of idolatry:
+in the Koran we find (chaps. viii. 35), "Their prayer at the House of
+God (Ka'abah) is none other than whistling and hand-clapping;" and
+tradition says that they whistled through their fingers. Besides many
+of the Jinn have only round holes by way of mouths and their speech is
+whistling a kind of bird language like sibilant English.
+
+[FN#295] Arab. 'Kнl wa kбl"=lit. "it was said and he said;" a popular
+phrase for chit chat, tittle-tattle, prattle and prate, etc.
+
+[FN#296] Arab. "Hadis." comparing it with a tradition of the
+
+
+Prophet.
+
+
+
+[FN#297] Arab. "Mikashshah," the thick part of a midrib of a palm-frond
+soaked for some days in water and beaten out till the fibres separate.
+It makes an exceedingly hard, although not a lasting broom.
+
+[FN#298] Persian, "the youth, the brave;" Sansk. Yuvбn: and Lat.
+Juvenis. The Kurd, in tales, is generally a sturdy thief; and in
+real-life is little better.
+
+[FN#299] Arab. "Yб Shatir ;" lit. O clever one (in a bad sense).
+
+[FN#300] Lane (ii. 453) has it. "that I may dress thy hair'" etc.
+
+
+This is Bowdlerising with a witness.
+
+
+
+[FN#301] The sign of respect when a personage dismounts.
+
+
+(Pilgrimage i. 77.)
+
+
+
+[FN#302] So the Hindus speak of "the defilement of separation" as if it
+were an impurity.
+
+[FN#303] Lane (i. 605) gives a long and instructive note on these
+public royal-banquets which were expected from the lieges by Moslem
+subjects. The hanging-penalty is, perhaps, a tattle exaggerated; but we
+find the same excess in the priestly Gesta Romanorum.
+
+[FN#304] Had he eaten it he would have become her guest. Amongst the
+older Badawin it was sufficient to spit upon a man (in entreaty) to
+claim his protection: so the horse-thieves when caught were placed in a
+hole in the ground covered over with matting to prevent this happening.
+Similarly Saladin (Salбh al-Din) the chivalrous would not order a cup
+of water for the robber, Reynald de Chвtillon, before putting him to
+death
+
+[FN#305] Arab. "Kishk" properly "Kashk"=wheat-meal-coarsely ground and
+eaten with milk or broth. It is de rigueur with the Egyptian Copts on
+the "Friday of Sorrow" (Good Friday): and Lane gives the recipe for
+making it (M. E. chaps. xxvi.)
+
+[FN#306] In those days distinctive of Moslems.
+
+[FN#307] The euphemism has before been noticed: the Moslem reader would
+not like to pronounce the words "I am a Nazarene." The same formula
+occurs a little lower down to save the reciter or reader from saying
+"Be my wife divorced," etc.
+
+[FN#308] Arab, "Hбjj," a favourite Egyptianism. We are wrong to write
+Hajji which an Eastern would pronounce Hбj-jн.
+
+[FN#309] This is Cairene "chaff."
+
+[FN#310] Whose shell fits very tight.
+
+[FN#311] His hand was like a raven's because he ate with thumb and two
+fingers and it came up with the rice about it like a camel's hoof in
+dirty ground. This refers to the proverb (Burckhardt, 756), "He comes
+down a crow-claw (small) and comes up a camel-hoof (huge and round)."
+
+[FN#312] Easterns have a superstitious belief in the powers of food: I
+knew a learned man who never sat down to eat without a ceremonious
+salam to his meat.
+
+[FN#313] Lane (ii. 464), uses the vile Turkish corruption "Rustum,"
+which, like its fellow "Rustem," would make a Persian shudder.
+
+[FN#314] Arab. "Darrij" i.e. let them slide (Americanicи).
+
+[FN#315] This tetrastich has occurred before: so I quote Mr. Payne (in
+loco).
+
+[FN#316] Shaykh of Al-Butnah and Jбbiyah, therefore a Syrian of the
+Hauran near Damascus and grandson to Isъ (Esau). Arab mystics (unlike
+the vulgar who see only his patience) recognise that inflexible
+integrity which refuses to utter "words of wind" and which would not,
+against his conscience, confess to wrong-doing merely to pacify the
+Lord who was stronger than himself. The Classics taught this noble
+lesson in the case of Prometheus versus Zeus. Many articles are called
+after Job e.g. Ra'arб' Ayyub or Ghubayrб (inula Arabica and undulata),
+a creeper with which he rubbed himself and got well: the Copts do the
+same on "Job's Wednesday," i.e. that before Whit Sunday O.S. Job's
+father is a nickname of the camel, etc. etc.
+
+[FN#317] Lane (in loco) renders "I am of their number." But "fн
+al-siyбk" means popularly "(driven) to the point of death."
+
+[FN#318] Lit. = "pathway, road"; hence the bridge well known as "finer
+than a hair and sharper than a sword," over which all (except Khadijah
+and a chosen few) must pass on the Day of Doom; a Persian apparatus
+bodily annexed by Al-Islam. The old Guebres called it Puli Chinбvar or
+Chinбvad and the Jews borrowed it from them as they did all their
+fancies of a future life against which Moses had so gallantly fought.
+It is said that a bridge over the grisly "brook Kedron" was called
+Sirбt (the road) and hence the idea, as that of hell-fire from
+Ge-Hinnom (Gehenna) where children were passed through the fire to
+Moloch. A doubtful Hadis says, "The Prophet declared Al-Sirбt to be the
+name of a bridge over hell- fire, dividing Hell from Paradise" (pp. 17,
+122, Reynold's trans. of Al-Siyuti's Traditions, etc.). In Koran i. 5,
+"Sirat" is simply a path, from sarata, he swallowed, even as the way
+devours (makes a lakam or mouthful of) those who travel it. The word
+was orig. written with Sнn but changed for easier articulation to Sбd,
+one of the four Hurъf al-Mutabbakбt, "the flattened," formed by the
+broadened tongue in contact with the palate. This Sad also by the
+figure Ishmбm (=conversion) turns slightly to a Zб, the intermediate
+between Sin and Sad.
+
+[FN#319] The rule in Turkey where catamites rise to the highest rank:
+C'est un homme de bonne famille (said a Turkish officer in Egypt) il a
+йtй achetй. Hence "Alfi" (one who costs a thousand) is a well-known
+cognomen. The Pasha of the Syrian caravan, with which I travelled' had
+been the slave of a slave and he was not a solitary instance.
+(Pilgrimage i. 90.)
+
+[FN#320] The device of the banquet is dainty enough for any old Italian
+novella; all that now comes is pure Egyptian polissonnerie speaking to
+the gallery and being answered by roars of laughter.
+
+[FN#321] i.e. "art thou ceremonially pure and therefore fit for
+handling by a great man like myself?"
+
+[FN#322] In past days before Egypt was "frankified" many overlanders
+used to wash away the traces of travel by a Turkish bath which mostly
+ended in the appearance of a rump wriggling little lad who offered to
+shampoo them. Many accepted his offices without dreaming of his
+usual-use or misuse.
+
+[FN#323] Arab. "Imбm." This is (to a Moslem) a most offensive
+comparison between prayer and car. cop.
+
+[FN#324] Arab. "Fi zaman-hi," alluding to a peculiarity highly prized
+by Egyptians; the use of the constrictor vaginж muscles, the sphincter
+for which Abyssinian women are famous. The "Kabbбzah" ( = holder), as
+she is called, can sit astraddle upon a man and can provoke the
+venereal-orgasm, not by wriggling and moving but by tightening and
+loosing the male member with the muscles of her privities, milking it
+as it were. Consequently the cassenoisette costs treble the money of
+other concubines. (Arranga-Ranga, p. 127.)
+
+[FN#325] The little eunuchs had evidently studied the Harem.
+
+[FN#326] Lane (ii. 494) relates from Al-Makrizi, that when Khamбrawayh,
+Governor of Egypt (ninth century), suffered from insomnia, his
+physician ordered a pool of quicksilver 50 by 50 cubits, to be laid out
+in front of his palace, now the Rumaylah square. "At the corners of the
+pool were silver pegs, to which were attached by silver rings strong
+bands of silk, and a bed of skins, inflated with air, being thrown upon
+the pool and secured by the bands remained in a continual-state of
+agreeable vacillation." We are not told that the Prince was thereby
+salivated like the late Colonel Sykes when boiling his mercury for
+thermometric experiments,
+
+[FN#327] The name seems now unknown. "Al-Khahн'a" is somewhat stronger
+than "Wag," meaning at least a "wicked wit." Properly it is the Span.
+"perdido," a youth cast off (Khala') by his friends; though not so
+strong a term as "Harfъsh"=a blackguard.
+
+[FN#328] Arab. "Farsakh"=parasang.
+
+[FN#329] Arab. "Nahбs asfar"=yellow copper, brass as opposed to Nahбs
+ahmar=copper The reader who cares to study the subject will find much
+about it in my "Book of The Sword," chaps. iv.
+
+[FN#330] Lane (ii. 479) translates one stanza of this mukhammas
+(pentastich) and speaks of "five more," which would make six.
+
+[FN#331] A servile name. Delicacy, Elegance.
+
+[FN#332] These verses have occurred twice (Night ix. etc.): so I give
+Lane's version (ii. 482).
+
+[FN#333] A Badawi tribe to which belonged the generous Ma'an bin
+
+
+Za'idab, often mentioned The Nights.
+
+
+
+[FN#334] Wealthy harems, I have said, are hot-beds of Sapphism and
+Tribadism. Every woman past her first youth has a girl whom she calls
+her "Myrtle" (in Damascus). At Agbome, capital-of Dahome, I found that
+a troop of women was kept for the use of the "Amazons" (Mission to
+Gelele, ii. 73). Amongst the wild Arabs, who ignore Socratic and
+Sapphic perversions, the lover is always more jealous of his beloved's
+girl-friends than of men rivals. In England we content ourselves with
+saying that women corrupt women more than men do.
+
+[FN#335] The Hebrew Pentateuch; Roll of the Law.
+
+[FN#336] I need hardly notice the brass trays, platters and
+table-covers with inscriptions which are familiar to every reader:
+those made in the East for foreign markets mostly carry imitation
+inscriptions lest infidel eyes fall upon Holy Writ.
+
+[FN#337] These six distichs are in Night xiii. I borrow Torrens (p.
+125) to show his peculiar treatment of spinning out 12 lines to 38.
+
+[FN#338] Arab. "Musбmirah"=chatting at night. Easterns are inordinately
+fond of the practice and the wild Arabs often sit up till dawn, talking
+over the affairs of the tribe, indeed a Shaykh is expected to do so.
+"Early to bed and early to rise" is a civilised, not a savage or a
+barbarous saying. Samнr is a companion in night talk; Rafнk of the
+road; Rahнb in riding horse or camel, Kб'id in sitting, Sharнb and
+Rafнs at drink, and Nadнm at table: Ahнd is an ally. and Sharнk a
+partner all on the model of "Fa'нl."
+
+[FN#339] In both lover and beloved the excess of love gave them this
+clairvoyance.
+
+[FN#340] The prayer will be granted for the excess (not the purity) of
+her love.
+
+[FN#341] This wailing over the Past is one of the common-places of
+Badawi poetry. The traveller cannot fail, I repeat, to notice the
+chronic melancholy of peoples dwelling under the brightest skies.
+
+[FN#342] Moons=Budъr
+
+[FN#343] in Paradise as a martyr.
+
+[FN#344] i.e. to intercede for me in Heaven; as if the young woman were
+the prophet.
+
+[FN#345] The comparison is admirable as the two letters are written. It
+occurs in Al-Hariri (Ass. of Ramlah).
+
+"So I embraced him close as Lбm cleaves to Alif:"
+
+And again;
+
+     "She laid aside reluctance and I embraced her close
+
+
+     As if I were Lam and my love Alif."
+
+
+
+The Lomad Olaph in Syriac is similarly colligated.
+
+[FN#346] Here is a double entendre "and the infirm letters (viz. a, w
+and y) not subject to accidence, left him." The three make up the root
+"Awi"=pitying, condoling.
+
+[FN#347] Showing that consummation had taken place. It was a sign of
+good breeding to avoid all "indecent hurry" when going to bed. In some
+Moslem countries the bridegroom does not consummate the marriage for
+seven nights; out of respect for (1) father (2) mother (3) brother and
+so forth. If he hurry matters he will be hooted as an "impatient man"
+and the wise will quote, "Man is created of precipitation" (Koran
+chaps. xxi. 38), meaning hasty and inconsiderate. I remark with
+pleasure that the whole of this tale is told with commendable delicacy.
+O si sic omnia!
+
+[FN#348] Pers. "Nauroz"(=nau roz, new day):here used in the Arab.
+plur.'Nawбriz, as it lasted six days. There are only four:
+universal-festivals; the solstices and the equinoxes; and every
+successive religion takes them from the sun and perverts them to its
+own private purposes. Lane (ii. 496) derives the venerable Nauroz whose
+birth is hid in the outer glooms of antiquity from the "Jewish
+Passover"(!)
+
+[FN#349] Again the "babes" of the eyes.
+
+[FN#350] i.e. whose glance is as the light of the glowing braise or
+(embers). The Arab. "Mikbбs"=pan or pot full of small charcoal, is an
+article well known in Italy and Southern Europe. The word is apparently
+used here because it rhymes with "Anfбs" (souls, spirits).
+
+[FN#351] i.e. martyrdom; a Koranic term "fi sabнli 'llahi" = on the way
+of Allah
+
+[FN#352] These rhymes in -y, -ee and -ie are purposely affected, to
+imitate the cadence of the Arabic.
+
+[FN#353] Arab. "Sujъd," the ceremonial-prostration, touching the ground
+with the forehead So in the Old Testament "he bowed (or fell down) and
+worshipped" (Gen. xxiv., 26 Mat. ii., 11), of which our translation
+gives a wrong idea.
+
+[FN#354] A girl is called "Alfiyyah " = A-shaped.
+
+[FN#355] i.e. the medial-form of m.
+
+[FN#356] i.e. the inverted n.
+
+[FN#357] It may also mean a "Sevignй of pearls."
+
+[FN#358] Koran xxvii. 12. This was one of the nine "signs" to wicked
+"Pharaoh." The "hand of Moses" is a symbol of power and ability (Koran
+vii. 105). The whiteness was supernatural-beauty, not leprosy of the
+Jews (Exod. iv. 6); but brilliancy, after being born red or black:
+according to some commentators, Moses was a negro.
+
+[FN#359] Koran iii. 103; the other faces become black. This explains I
+have noticed the use of the phrases in blessing and cursing.
+
+[FN#360] Here we have the naked legend of the negro's origin, one of
+those nursery tales in which the ignorant of Christendom still believe
+But the deduction from the fable and the testimony to the negro's lack
+of intelligence, though unpleasant to our ignorant negrophils, are
+factual-and satisfactory.
+
+[FN#361] Koran, xcii. 1, 2: an oath of Allah to reward and punish with
+Heaven and Hell.
+
+[FN#362] Alluding to the "black drop" in the heart: it was taken from
+Mohammed's by the Archangel Gabriel. The fable seems to have arisen
+from the verse ' Have we not opened thy breast?" (Koran, chaps. xciv.
+1). The popular tale is that Halнmah, the Badawi nurse of Mohammed, of
+the Banu Sa'ad tribe, once saw her son, also a child, running towards
+her and asked him what was the matter. He answered, 'My little brother
+was seized by two men in white who stretched him on the ground and
+opened his bellyl" For a full account and deductions see the Rev. Mr.
+Badger's article, "Muhammed" (p. 959) in vol. in. "Dictionary of
+Christian Biography."
+
+[FN#363] Arab. "Sumr," lit. brown (as it is afterwards used), but
+politely applied to a negro: "Yб Abu Sumrah!" O father of brownness.
+
+[FN#364] Arab. 'Lumб"=dark hue of the inner lips admired by the Arabs
+and to us suggesting most umpleasant ideas. Mr. Chenery renders it
+"dark red,' and "ruddy" altogether missing the idea.
+
+[FN#365] Arab. "Saudб," feminine of aswad (black), and meaning black
+bile (melancholia) as opposed to leucocholia,
+
+[FN#366] i.e. the Magians, Sabians, Zoroastrians.
+
+[FN#367] The "Unguinum fulgor" of the Latins who did not forget to
+celebrate the shining of the nails although they did not Henna them
+like Easterns. Some, however, have suggested that alludes to colouring
+matter.
+
+[FN#368] Women with white skins are supposed to be heating and
+unwholesome: hence the Hindu Rajahs slept with dark girls in the hot
+season.
+
+[FN#369] Moslems sensibly have a cold as well as a hot Hell, the former
+called Zamharir (lit. "intense cold")or AI-Barahъt, after a well in
+Hazramaut; as Gehenna (Arab. "Jahannam") from the furnace-like ravine
+East of Jerusalem (Night cccxxv.). The icy Hell is necessary in
+terrorem for peoples who inhabit cold regions and who in a hot Hell
+only look forward to an eternity of "coals and candles" gratis. The
+sensible missionaries preached it in Iceland till foolishly forbidden
+by Papal-Bull.
+
+[FN#370] Koran ii. 26; speaking of Abraham when he entertained the
+angels unawares.
+
+[FN#371] Arab. "Rakb," usually applied to a fast-going caravan of
+dromedary riders (Pilgrimage ii. 329). The "Cafilah" is Arab.:
+"Caravan" is a corruption of the Pers. "Karwбn."
+
+[FN#372] A popular saying. It is interesting to contrast this dispute
+between fat and thin with the Shakespearean humour of Falstaff and
+Prince Henry.
+
+[FN#373] Arab. "Dalak" vulg. Hajar al-Hammam (Hammam-stone). The
+comparison is very apt: the rasps are of baked clay artificially
+roughened (see illustrations in Lane M. E. chaps. xvi.). The rope is
+called "Masad," a bristling line of palm-fibre like the coir now
+familiarly known in England.
+
+[FN#374] Although the Arab's ideal-of beauty, as has been seen and
+said, corresponds with ours the Egyptians (Modern) the Maroccans and
+other negrofied races like "walking tun-butts" as Clapperton called his
+amorous widow.
+
+[FN#375] Arab. "Khayzar" or "Khayzarбn" the rattan-palm. Those who have
+seen this most graceful "palmijuncus" in its native forest will
+recognize the neatness of the simile.
+
+[FN#376] This is the popular idea of a bushy "veil of nature" in women:
+it is always removed by depilatories and vellication. When Bilkis Queen
+of Sheba discovered her legs by lifting her robe (Koran xxvii.),
+Solomon was minded to marry her, but would not do so till the devils
+had by a depilatory removed the hair. The popular preparation (called
+Nъrah) consists of quicklime 7 parts, and Zirnнk or orpiment, 3 parts:
+it is applied in the Hammam to a perspiring skin, and it must be washed
+off immediately the hair is loosened or it burns and discolours. The
+rest of the body-pile (Sha'arat opp. to Sha'ar=hair) is eradicated by
+applying a mixture of boiled honey with turpentine or other gum, and
+rolling it with the hand till the hair comes off. Men I have said
+remove the pubes by shaving, and pluck the hair of the arm-pits, one of
+the vestiges of pre-Adamite man. A good depilatory is still a
+desideratum, the best perfumers of London and Paris have none which
+they can recommend. The reason is plain: the hair bulb can be
+eradicated only by destroying the skin.
+
+[FN#377] Koran, ii. 64: referring to the heifer which the Jews were
+ordered to sacrifice,
+
+[FN#378] Arab. "kallб," a Koranic term possibly from Kull (all) and lб
+(not) =prorsus non-altogether not!
+
+[FN#379] "Habбb" or "Habб," the fine particles of dust, which we call
+motes. The Cossid (Arab. "Kбsid") is the Anglo-Indian term for a
+running courier (mostly under Government), the Persian "Shбtir" and the
+Guebre Rбvand.
+
+[FN#380] Arab. "Sambari" a very long thin lance so called after Samhar,
+the maker, or the place of making. See vol. ii. p. 1. It is supposed to
+cast, when planted in the ground, a longer shadow in proportion to its
+height, than any other thing of the kind.
+
+[FN#381] Arab. "Sulбfah ;" properly prisane which flows from the grapes
+before pressure. The plur. "Sawбlif" also means tresses of hair and
+past events: thus there is a "triple entendre." And again "he" is used
+for "she."
+
+[FN#382] There is a pun in the last line, "Khбlun (a mole) khallauni"
+(rid me), etc.
+
+[FN#383] Of old Fustбt, afterwards part of Southern Cairo, a
+proverbially miserable quarter hence the saying, "They quoted Misr to
+Kбhirah (Cairo), whereon Bab al-Luk rose with its grass," in derision
+of nobodies who push themselves forward. Burckhardt, Prov. 276.
+
+[FN#384] Its fruits are the heads of devils; a true Dantesque fancy.
+Koran, chaps. xvii. 62, "the tree cursed in the Koran" and in chaps.
+xxxvii., 60, "is this better entertainment, or the tree of Al-Zakkъm?"
+Commentators say that it is a thorn bearing a bitter almond which grows
+in the Tehamah and was therefore promoted to Hell.
+
+[FN#385] Arab. "Lasm" (lathm) as opposed to Bausah or boseh (a buss)
+and Kublah (a kiss,
+
+[FN#386] Arab. "Jufъn" (plur. of Jafn) which may mean eyebrows or
+eyelashes and only the context can determine which. [FN#387] Very
+characteristic of Egyptian manners is the man who loves six girls
+equally well, who lends them, as it were, to the Caliph; and who takes
+back the goods as if in no wise damaged by the loan.
+
+[FN#388] The moon is masculine possibly by connection with the
+
+
+Assyrian Lune-god "Sin"; but I can find no cause for the Sun
+
+
+(Shams) being feminine.
+
+
+
+[FN#389] Arab. "Al-Amin," a title of the Prophet. It is usually held
+that this proud name "The honest man," was applied by his
+fellow-citizens to Mohammed in early life; and that in his twenty-fifth
+year, when the Eighth Ka'abah was being built, it induced the tribes to
+make him their umpire concerning the distinction of placing in position
+the "Black Stone" which Gabriel had brought from Heaven to be set up as
+the starting-post for the seven circuitings. He distributed the honour
+amongst the clans and thus gave universal satisfaction. His Christian
+biographers mostly omit to record an anecdote which speaks so highly in
+Mohammed's favour. (Pilgrimage iii. 192.)
+
+[FN#390] The idea is that Abu Nowas was a thought-reader such being the
+prerogative of inspired poets in the East. His drunkenness and
+debauchery only added to his power. I have already noticed that "Allah
+strike thee dead" (Kбtala-k Allah) is like our phrase "Confound the
+fellow, how clever he is."
+
+[FN#391] Again said facetiously, "Devil take you!"
+
+[FN#392] In all hot-damp countries it is necessary to clothe dogs,
+morning and evening especially: otherwise they soon die of rheumatism
+and loin disease.
+
+[FN#393] =Beatrice. A fragment of these lines is in Night cccxv.
+
+
+See also Night dcclxxxi.
+
+
+
+[FN#394] The Moslems borrowed the horrible idea of a "jealous God" from
+their kinsmen, the Jews. Every race creates its own Deity after the
+fashion of itself: Jehovah is distinctly a Hebrew, the Christian Theos
+is originally a Judжo-Greek and Allah a half-Badawi Arab. In this tale
+Allah, despotic and unjust, brings a generous and noble-minded man to
+beggary, simply because he fed his dogs off gold plate. Wisdom and
+morality have their infancy and youth: the great value of such tales as
+these is to show and enable us to measure man's development.
+
+[FN#395] In Trйbutien (Lane ii. 501) the merchant says to ex-Dives,
+"Thou art wrong in charging Destiny with injustice. If thou art
+ignorant of the cause of thy ruin I will acquaint thee with it. Thou
+feddest the dogs in dishes of gold and leftest the poor to die of
+hunger." A superstition, but intelligible.
+
+[FN#396] Arab. "Sarrбf" = a money changer.
+
+[FN#397] Arab. "Birkah," a common feature in the landscapes of Lower
+Egypt: it is either a natural-pool left by the overflow of the Nile;
+or, as in the text, a built-up tank, like the "Tбlбb" for which India
+is famous. Sundry of these Birkahs are or were in Cairo itself; and
+some are mentioned in The Nights.
+
+[FN#398] This sneer at the "military" and the "police" might come from
+an English convict's lips.
+
+[FN#399] Lit. "The conquering King;" a dynastic title assumed by Salбh
+al-Dнn (Saladin) and sundry of the Ayyъbi (Eyoubite) sovereigns of
+Egypt, whom I would call the "Soldans."
+
+[FN#400] "Kбhirah" (i.e. City of Mars the Planet) is our Cairo: Bulak
+is the port suburb on the Nile, till 1858 wholly disjoined from the
+City; and Fostat is the outlier popularly called Old Cairo. The latter
+term is generally translated "town of leathern tents;" but in Arabic
+"fustбt" is an abode of Sha'ar=hair, such as horse-hair, in fact any
+hair but "Wabar"=soft hair, as the camel's. See Lane, Lex.
+
+[FN#401] Arab. "Adl"=just: a legal-witness to whose character there is
+no tangible objection a prime consideration in Moslem law. Here "Adl"
+is evidently used ironically for a hypocritical-rascal
+
+[FN#402] Lane (ii. 503) considers three thousand dinars (the figure in
+the Bres. Edit.) "a more probable sum." Possibly: but, I repeat,
+exaggeration is one of the many characteristics of The Nights.
+
+[FN#403] Calc. Edit. "Kazir:" the word is generally written
+
+
+"Kazdнr," Sansk. Kastira, born probably from the Greek .
+
+
+
+[FN#404] This would have passed for a peccadillo in the "good old
+days." As late as 1840 the Arnaut soldiers used to "pot" any peasant
+who dared to ride (instead of walking) past their barracks. Life is
+cheap in hot countries.
+
+[FN#405] Koran, xii. 46 — a passage expounding the doctrine of free
+will: "He who doth right doth it to the advantage of his own soul; and
+he who doth evil, doth it against the same; for thy Lord," etc.
+
+[FN#406] Arab. "Suffah"; whence our Sofa. In Egypt it is a raised shelf
+generally of stone, about four feet high and headed with one or more
+arches. It is an elaborate variety of the simple "Tбk" or niche, a mere
+hollow in the thickness of the wall. Both are used for such articles as
+basin. ewer and soap; coffee cups, water bottles etc.
+
+[FN#407] In Upper Egypt (Apollinopolis Parva) pronounced "Goos," the
+Coptic Kos-Birbir, once an emporium of the Arabian trade.
+
+[FN#408] This would appeal strongly to a pious Moslem.
+
+[FN#409] i.e. "the father of a certain person"; here the merchant whose
+name may have been Abu'l Hasan, etc. The useful word (thingumbob, what
+d'ye call him, donchah, etc.) has been bodily transferred into Spanish
+and Portuguese Fulano. It is of old genealogy, found in the Heb. Fulunн
+which applies to a person only in Ruth iv. I, but is constantly so
+employed by Rabbinic writers. The Greek use {Greek letters}.
+
+[FN#410] Lit. "by his (i.e. her) hand," etc. Hence Lane (ii. 507) makes
+nonsense of the line.
+
+[FN#411] Arab. "Badrah," as has been said, is properly a weight of
+10,000 dirhams or drachmas; but popularly used for largesse thrown to
+the people at festivals.
+
+[FN#412] Arab. "Allaho A'alam"; (God knows!) here the popular phrase
+for our, "I know not;" when it would be rude to say bluntly "M'adri"=
+"don't know."
+
+[FN#413] There is a picturesque Moslem idea that good deeds become
+incarnate and assume human shapes to cheer the doer in his grave, to
+greet him when he enters Paradise and so forth. It was borrowed from
+the highly imaginative faith of the Guebre, the Zoroastrian. On
+Chinavad or Chanyud-pul (Sirбt), the Judgement bridge, 37 rods (rasan)
+long, straight and 37 fathoms broad for the good, and crooked and
+narrow as sword-edge for the bad, a nymph-like form will appear to the
+virtuous and say, "I am the personification of thy good deeds!" In Hell
+there will issue from a fetid gale a gloomy figure with head like a
+minaret, red eyeballs, hooked nose, teeth like pillars, spear-like
+fangs, snaky locks etc. and when asked who he is he will reply, "I am
+the personification of thine evil acts!" (Dabistan i. 285.) The Hindus
+also personify everything.
+
+[FN#414] Arab. "Banъ Israнl;" applied to the Jews when theirs was the
+True Faith i.e. before the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, whose mission
+completed that of Moses and made it obsolete (Matrъk) even as the
+mission of Jesus was completed and abrogated by that of Mohammed. The
+term "Yahъd"=Jew is applied scornfully to the Chosen People after they
+rejected the Messiah, but as I have said "Israelite" is used on certain
+occasions, Jew on others.
+
+[FN#415] Arab. "Kasa'ah," a wooden bowl, a porringer; also applied to a
+saucer.
+
+[FN#416] Arab. "Rasъl"=one sent, an angel, an "apostle;" not to be
+translated, as by the vulgar, "prophet." Moreover Rasul is higher than
+Nabн (prophet), such as Abraham, Isaac, etc., depositaries of Al-Islam,
+but with a succession restricted to their own families. Nabi-mursil
+(Prophet-apostle) is the highest of all, one sent with a book: of these
+are now only four, Moses, David, Jesus and Mohammed, the writings of
+the rest having perished. In Al-Islam also angels rank below men, being
+only intermediaries (= , nuncii, messengers) between the Creator and
+the Created. This knowledge once did me a good turn at Harar, not a
+safe place in those days. (First Footsteps in East Africa, p. 349.)
+
+[FN#417] A doctor of law in the reign of Al-Maamun.
+
+[FN#418] Here the exclamation is= D.V.; and it may be assumed generally
+to have that sense.
+
+[FN#419] Arab. "Taylasбn," a turban worn hood-fashion by the "Khatнb"
+or preacher. I have sketched it in my Pilgrimage and described it (iii.
+315). Some Orientalists derive Taylasan from Atlas=satin, which is
+peculiarly inappropriate. The word is apparently barbarous and possibly
+Persian like Kalansuwah, the Dervish cap. "Thou son of a Taylasбn"=a
+barbarian. (De Sacy, Chrest. Arab. ii. 269.)
+
+[FN#420] Arab. " Kinyah" vulg. "Kunyat" = patronymic or matronymic; a
+name beginning with "Abu" (father) or with "Umm" (mother). There are so
+few proper names in Al-Islam that such surnames, which, as will be
+seen, are of infinite variety, become necessary to distinguish
+individuals. Of these sobriquets I shall give specimens further on.
+
+[FN#421] "Whoso seeth me in his sleep, seeth me truly; for Satan cannot
+assume my semblance," said (or is said to have said) Mohammed. Hence
+the vision is true although it comes in early night and not before
+dawn. See Lane M. E., chaps. ix.
+
+[FN#422] Arab. "Al-Maukab ;" the day when the pilgrims march out of the
+city; it is a holiday for all, high and low.
+
+[FN#423] "The Gate of Salutation ;" at the South-Western corner of the
+Mosque where Mohammed is buried. (Pilgrimage ii. 60 and plan.) Here
+"Visitation" (Ziyбrah) begins.
+
+[FN#424] The tale is told by Al-Ishбki in the reign of Al-Maamun.
+
+[FN#425] The speaker in dreams is the Heb. "Waggid," which the learned
+and angry Graetz (Geschichte, etc. vol. ix.) absurdly translates "Traum
+souffleur."
+
+[FN#426] Tenth Abbaside. A.D. 849-861
+
+[FN#427] Arab. "Muwallad" (fem. "Muwalladah"); a rearling, a slave born
+in a Moslem land. The numbers may appear exaggerated, but even the
+petty King of Ashanti had, till the last war, 3333 "wives."
+
+[FN#428] The Under-prefect of Baghdad.
+
+[FN#429] "Ja'afar," our old Giaffar (which is painfully like "Gaffer,"
+i.e. good father) means either a rushing river or a rivulet.
+
+[FN#430] A regular Fellah's name also that of a village
+
+
+(Pilgrimage i. 43) where a pleasant story is told about one Haykal.
+
+
+
+[FN#431] The "Mountain" means the rocky and uncultivated ground South
+of Cairo, such as Jabal-al-Ahmar and the geological-sea-coast flanked
+by the old Cairo-Suez highway.
+
+[FN#432] A popular phrase=our "sharp as a razor."
+
+[FN#433] i.e. are men so few; a favourite Persian phrase.
+
+[FN#434] She is a woman of rank who would cause him to be assassinated.
+
+[FN#435] This is not Al-Hakimbi' Amri'llah the famous or infamous
+founder of the Druze ((Durъz)) faith and held by them to be, not an
+incarnation of the Godhead, but the Godhead itself in propriв personв,
+who reigned A.D. 926-1021: our Hakim is the orthodox Abbaside Caliph of
+Egypt who dated from two centuries after him (A.D. 1261). Had the
+former been meant, it would have thrown back this part of The Nights to
+an earlier date than is generally accepted. But in a place still to
+come I shall again treat of the subject.
+
+[FN#436] For an account of a similar kind which was told to me during
+the last few years see "Midian Revisited," i. 15. These hiding-places
+are innumerable in lands of venerable antiquity like Egypt; and, if
+there were any contrivance for detecting hidden treasure, it would make
+the discoverer many times a millionaire.
+
+[FN#437] i.e. it had been given to him or his in writing, like the book
+left to the old woman before quoted in "Midian," etc.
+
+[FN#438] Arab. "Kird" (pron. in Egypt "Gird"). It is usually the
+hideous Abyssinian cynocephalus which is tamed by the ape-leader
+popularly called Kuraydati (Lane, M.E., chaps. xx.). The beast has a
+natural-penchant for women ; I heard of one which attempted to rape a
+girl in the public street and was prevented only by a sentinel's
+bayonet. They are powerful animals and bite like greyhounds.
+
+[FN#439] Easterns attribute many complaints (such as toothache) to
+worms, visible as well as microscopic, which may be held a fair
+prolepsis of the "germ-theory" the bacterium. the bacillus, the
+microbe. Nymphomania, the disease alluded to in these two tales is
+always attributed to worms in the vagina.
+
+[FN#440] Bestiality, very rare in Arabia is fatally common amongst
+those most debauched of debauched races, the Egyptian proper and the
+Sindis. Hence the Pentateuch, whose object was to breed a larger
+population of fighting men, made death the penalty for lying with a
+beast (Deut. xxvii. 21). C. S. Sonnini (Travels, English translation,
+p. 663) gives a curious account of Fellah lewdness. "The female
+crocodile during congress is turned upon her back ( ?) and cannot rise
+without difficulty. Will it be believed that there are men who take
+advantage of the helpless situation of the female, drive off the male,
+and supplant him in this frightful intercourse ? Horrible embraces, the
+knowledge of which was wanting to complete the disgusting history of
+human perversity!" The French traveller forgets to add the
+superstitious explanation of this congress which is the sovereignest
+charm for rising to rank and riches. The Ajбib al-Hind tells a tale
+(chaps. xxxix.) of a certain Mohammed bin Bullishad who had issue by a
+she-ape: the young ones were hairless of body and wore quasi-human
+faces; and the father's sight had become dim by his bestial-practice.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 4, by Richard F. Burton
+
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