The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night Volume XV Part 2

and the most imperious is the word of Almighty Allah, 'Verily Allah ordereth justice and well-doing and bestowal of gifts upon kith and kin';[FN#67] and the justest is the word of the Almighty, 'Whoso shall have wrought a mithkal (nay an atom) of good works shall see it again, and whoso shall have wrought a mithkal (nay an atom) of ill shall again see it';[FN#68] and the fullest of fear is that spoken by the Almighty, 'Doth not every man of them desire that he enter into the Paradise hight Al-Na'im?'[FN#69] and the fullest of hope is the word of the Almighty, 'Say Me, O My wors.h.i.+ppers who have sinned against your own souls, do not despair of Allah's ruth';[FN#70] and the verset which containeth ten signs is the word of the Lord which saith[FN#71] 'Verily in the Creation of the Heavens and the Earth and in the s.h.i.+fts of Night and Day and in the s.h.i.+ps which pa.s.s through the sea with what is useful to mankind; and in the rain which Allah sendeth down from Heaven, thereby giving to the earth life after death, and by scattering thereover all the moving creatures, and in the change of the winds, and in the clouds which are made to do service between the Heavens and the Earth are signs for those who understand'; and the verset wherein believe both Jews and Nazarenes is the word of Alimighty Allah,[FN#72] 'The Jews say the Nazarenes are on naught, and the Christians say the Jews are on naught, and both speak the sooth for they are on naught.' And the verset wherein Allah Almighty speaketh purely of Himself is that word of Almighty Allah,[FN#73]

'And I created not Jinn-kind and mankind save to the end that they adore Me'; and the verset which was spoken of the Angels is the word of Almighty Allah which saith,[FN#74] 'Laud to Thee! we have no knowledge save what Thou hast given us to know, and verily Thou art the Knowing, the Wise.' And the verset which speaketh of the Prophets is the word of Almighty Allah that saith[FN#75] 'And We have already sent Apostles before thee: of some We have told thee, and of others We have told thee naught: yet no Apostle had the power to come with a sign unless by the leave of Allah. But when Allah's behest cometh, everything shall be decided with truth; and then perish they who entreated it as a vain thing'; and the verset which speaketh of the Folk and the Fire is the word of Almighty Allah which saith[FN#76] 'O out Lord! Bring us forth from her (the Fire), and, if we return (to our sins), we shall indeed be of the evildoers'; and the verset that speaketh of the People of Paradise is the word of Almighty Allah,[FN#77] 'And they shall say: Laud to the Lord who abated to us grief, and verily our Lord is Gracious, Grateful'; and the verset which speaketh of Iblis (whom Allah Almighty accurse!), if the word of Almighty Allah,[FN#78] 'He said: (I swear) therefore by thy glory, that all of them will I surely lead astray.'"

Hereupon Al-Hajjaj exclaimed, "Laud to the Lord and thanksgiving Who giveth wisdom unto whoso He please! Never indeed saw I a youth like this youth upon whom the Almighty hath bestowed wits and wisdom and knowledge for all the tenderness of his age. But say me, who art thou, O young man?" Quoth the youth, "I am of the folk of these things,[FN#79] O Hajjaj." Resumed the Lieutenant, "Inform me concerning the son of Adam what injureth him and what profiteth him?" And the youth replied, "I will, O Hajjaj; do thou and these present who are longing for permanency (and none is permanent save Allah Almighty!) be early the fast to break nor be over late supper to make; and wear light body-clothes in summer and gar heavy the headgear in winter, and guard the brain with what it conserveth and the belly with what it preserveth and begin every meal with salt for it driveth away seventy and two kinds of malady: and whoso breaketh his fast each day with seven raisins red of hue"--And Sharazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was

The Five Hundred and Fourteenth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the youth continued to Al-Hajjaj: - "And whoso breaketh his fast daily with seven raisins red of hue shall never find in his body aught that irketh him; moreover, whoso each morning eateth on the spittle[FN#80] three ripe dates all the worms in his belly shall be slain and whoso exceedeth in diet of boucan'd meat[FN#81] and fish shall find his strength weakened and his powers of carnal copulation abated; and beware lest thou eat beef[FN#82] by cause that 'tis a disease forsure whereas the soured milk of cows is a remedy secure and clarified b.u.t.ter is a perfect cure: withal is its hide a succor for use and ure. And do thou take to thee, O Hajjaj, the greater Salve."[FN#83] Cried the Lieutenant, "What may be that?" and said the youth in reply, "A bittock of hard bread eaten[FN#84] upon the spittle, for indeed such food consumeth the phlegm and similar humours which be at the mouth of the maw.[FN#85] And let not the blood in the hot bath for it enfeebleth man's force, and gaze not upon the metal pots of the Balnea because such sight breedeth dimness of vision. Also have no connection with woman in the Hammam for its consequence is the palsy; nor do thou lie with her when thou art full or when thou art empty or when thou drunken with wine or when thou art in wrath nor when lying on thy side, for that it occasioneth swelling of the t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e-veins;[FN#86] or when thou art under a fruit-bearing tree. Avoid carnal knowledge of the old woman[FN#87] for that she taketh from thee and giveth not to thee. Moreover let thy signet ring be made of carnelian[FN#88]

because it is a guard against poverty; also a look at the Holy Volume every morning increaseth thy daily bread, and to gaze at flowing water whetteth the sight and to look upon the face of children is an act of adoration. And when thou chancest lose thy way, crave aidance of Allah from Satan the Stoned." Hereupon quoth Al-Hajjaj, "Allah hath been copious to thee, O young man, for thou hast drowned me in the depths of thy love, but now inform me, Where is the seat of thy dignified behaviour?"--"The two eyes." "And where is the seat of thy well-doing?"--"My tongue." "And where is the seat of thy hearing?"--"The sensorium of mine ears." "And where is the seat of thy smelling?"--"The sensorium of my nose." "And where is the seat of thy taste?"--"My palate." "And where is the seat of thy gladness?"--"My heart."

"And where is the seat of thy wrath?"--"My liver." "And where is the seat of thy laughing?"--"My spleen."[FN#89] "And where is the seat of thy bodily strenght?"--"My two shoulders." "And where is that of thy weakness?"--"My two calves." Hereupon Al-Hajjaj exclaimed, "Laud to the Lord and thanksgiving; for indeed, O young man, I see that thou knowest everything. So tell me somewhat concerning husbandry?"--"The best of corn is the thickest of cob and the grossest of grain and the fullest sized of shock."[FN#90] "And what sayest thou concerning palm-trees?"-- "The most excellent is that which the greatest of gathering doth own and whose height is low grown and within whose meat is the smallest stone." "And what dost thou say anent the vine?"--"The most n.o.ble is that which is stout of stem and big of bunch." "And what sayest thou concerning the Heavens?"--"This is the furthest extent of man's sight and the dwelling-place of the Sun and Moon and all the Stars that give light, raised on high without columns pight and overshadowing the numbers beneath its height." "And what dost thou say concerning the Earth?"--"It is wide dispread in length and breadth." "And what dost thou say anent the rain?"- -"The most excellent is that which filleth the pits and pools and which overfloweth into the wadys and the rivers." Hereupon quoth Al-Hajjaj, "O young man inform me what women be the best"--And Sharazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was

The Five Hundred and Sixteenth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that Al-Hajjaj said, "O young man, inform me what women be the best and the most enjoyable."[FN#91]--"One in winning ways excelling and in comeliness exceeding and in speech killing: one whose brow glanceth marvellous bright to whoso filleth his eyes with her sight and to whom she bequeatheth sorrow and blight; one whose b.r.e.a.s.t.s are small whilst her hips are large and her cheeks are rosy red and her eyes are deeply black and he lips are full-formed; one who if she look upon the heavens even the rocks will be robed in green, and if she look upon the earth her lips[FN#92] unpierced pearls shall rain; one the dews of whose mouth are the sweetest of waters; one who in beauty hath no peer nor is there any loveliness can with hers compare: the coolth of the eyes to great and small; in fine, one whose praises certain of the poets have sung in these harmonious couplets,[FN#93]

'A fair one to idolaters if she herself should show, * They'd leave their idols and her face for only Lord would know.

If in the Eastward she appeared unto a monk, for once * He'd cease from turning to the West and to the East bend low; And into the briny sea one day she chanced to spit, * a.s.suredly the salt sea's floods straight fresh and sweet would grow.'"

Hereupon quoth Al-Hajjaj, "Thou hast said well and hast spoken fair, O young man; and now what canst thou declare concerning a maiden of ten years old?" Quoth the youth, "She is a joy to behold." "And a damsel of twenty years old?"--"a coolth to eyes manifold." "And a woman thirty of age?"--"One who the hearts of enjoyers can engage." "And in her fortieth year?"--"Fat, fresh and fair doth she appear." "And of the half century?"--"The mother of men and maids in plenty." "And a crone of three score?"--"Men ask of her never more." "And when three score and ten?"--"An old trot and remnant of men." "And one who reacheth four score?"--"Unfit for the world and for the faith forlore."

"And one of ninety?"--"Ask not of whoso in Jahim be."[FN#94] "And a woman who to an hundredth hath owned?"--"I take refuge with Allah from Satan the Stoned." Then Al-Hajjaj laughed aloud and said, "O young man, I desire of thee even as thou describest womankind in prose so thou show me their conditions in verse;"

and the Sayyid, having answered, "Hearkening and obedience, O Hajjaj," fell to improvising these couplets,[FN#95]

"When a maid owns to ten her new b.r.e.a.s.t.s arise * And like diver's pearl with fair neck she hies: The damsel of twenty defies compare * 'Tis she whose disport we desire and prize: She of thirty hath healing on cheeks of her; * She's a pleasure, a plant whose sap never dries: If on her in the forties thou happily hap * She's best of her s.e.x, hail to him with her lies!

She of fifty (pray Allah be copious to her!) * With wit, craft and wisdom her children supplies.

The dame of sixty hath lost some force * Whose remnants are easy to ravenous eyes: At three score ten few shall seek her house * Age-threadbare made till afresh she rise: The fourscore dame hath a bunchy back * From mischievous eld whom perforce Love flies: And the crone of ninety hath palsied head * And lies wakeful o'

nights and in watchful guise; And with ten years added would Heaven she bide * Shrouded in sea with a shark for guide!"

Hereupon Al-Hajjaj laughed aloud and all who were with him in a.s.sembly; and presently he resumed, "O youth, tell me concerning the first man who spake in verse[FN#96] and that was our common sire, Adam (The Peace be upon him!), what time Kabil[FN#97] slew Habil his brother when her forefather improvised these lines,

'Changed I see my country and all thereon; * Earth is now a blackavice, ugly grown: The hue and flavour of food is fled * And cheer is fainting from fair face flown.

An thou, O Abel, be slain this day * Thy death I bemourn with heart torn and lone.

Weep these eyes and 'sooth they have right to weep * Their tears are as rills flowing hills adown.

Kabil slew Habil--did his brother dead; * Oh my woe for that lovely face, ochone!'"[FN#98]

Hereat Al-Hajjaj asked, "O young man, what drove our ancestor to poetry?" whereto answered youth--And Sharazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was

The Five Hundred and Eighteenth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the youth replied, "He was driven to poetry by Iblis (whom Allah accurse!) when he spake in this verse,

'Thou bewailest the land and all thereon * And scant was the breadth of Eden didst own, Where thou was girded by every good * O' life and in rest ever wont to wone: But ne'er ceased my wiles and my guile until * The wind o'erthrew thee by folly blown.'"[FN#99]

Whereupon quoth Al-Hajjaj, "O young man, inform me concerning the first couplet of verse spoken by the Arab in praise of munificence;" and quoth the youth, "O Hajjaj, the first Arabic distich known to me was spoken by Hatim of Tayy, and 'twas as follows,

'And the guest I greet ere from me he go * Before wife and weans in my weal and woe.'"

Then cried Al-Hajjaj, "Thou hast said well and hast spoken fair, O young man; and thy due is inc.u.mbent upon us for that thou hast drowned us in the deeps of thy wisdom." Presently the Lieutenant of Kufah turning towards one of his eunuchs said, "Bring me at this very moment a purse containing ten thousand dirhams[FN#100]

upon a charger of red gold and a suit of the rarest of my raiment and a blood mare the n.o.blest steed of my steeds with a saddle of gold and a haubergeon;[FN#101] and a lance of full length and a handmaid the handsomest of my slave-girls." The attendant disappeared for a while, and presently brought all this between the hands of Al-Hajjaj, who said, "O young man, this damsel is the fairest of my chattels, and this be the purse on a charger of gold, and this mare is the purest in blood of my steeds together with her housings, so do thou take whatever thou desirest thereof, either the mare with all upon her or the purse of gold or the concubine," presently saying to himself, "If the young man prefer the purse, 'twill prove he loveth the world and I will slay him, also if he choose the girl, he l.u.s.teth after womankind, and I will do him die: but if he take the mare and her furniture, he will show himself the brave of braves, and he meriteth not destruction at my hands." Then the youth came forward and took the mare and her appointments. Now the damsel was standing by the young Sayyid, and she winked at him with her eye as one saying, "Do thou choose me and leave all the rest;" whereupon he began to improvise the following couplets,

"The jingling bridle at Bayard's neck * Is dearer to me than what sign thou deign: I fear when I fall into strait and fare * Abroad, no comrade in thee to gain: I fear when lain on my couch and long * My sickness, thou prove thee nor fond nor fain: I fear me that time groweth scant my good * And my hand be strait thou shalt work me bane: A helpmate I want shall do what do I * And bear patient the pasture of barren plain."[FN#102]

Presently the handmaid answered his verse with the following couplets,

"Forfend me, Allah, from all thou say'st * Though my left with my right thou shalt hew in twain.

A husband's honour my works shall keep * And I'll wone content with his smallest gain: Didst know me well and my nature weet * Thou hadst found me mate of the meekest strain.

Nor all of women are like to sight * Nor all of men are of similar grain.

The charge of a mate to the good belongs; * Let this oath by Allah belief obtain."

Hearing these words Al-Hajjaj exclaimed, "Woe to thee, O damsel, dost thou answer him in his verse? and do thou O young man, take the whole, and may Allah give thee no blessing therein."[FN#103]

Answered by the young Sayyid, "Here with them, O Hajjaj, inasmuch as thou hast given them to me, I will not oppose the order of Allah through thee, but another time there is no union between us twain, me and thee, as there hath been this day." Now the city of Al-Hajjaj had two gates--the door of Destruction and the door of Salvation; and when the youth asked him, "O Hajjaj, shall I go forth from this or from that?" the Lieutenant of Kufah cried, "Issue by this outlet," and showed him the Gate of Safety. Then the youth took all the presents and fared forth by the pa.s.sage which had been shown him, and went his ways and was seen no more.

Hereupon the Grandees of the kingdom said to Al-Hajjaj, "O our lord, how hast thou given to him these gifts and he hath on nowise thanked thee, nor wished thee well[FN#104] for they favours, and yet hast thou pointed out to him the Gate of Salvation?" Hereupon he replied, "Verily, the youth asked direction of me, and it becometh the director to be trustworthy and no traitor (Allah's curse be upon him who betrayeth!), and this youth meriteth naught save mercy by reason of his learning."[FN#105]

NIGHT ADVENTURE OF HARUN AL-RAs.h.i.+D AND THE YOUTH MANJAB.[FN#106]

It is told in various relations of the folk (but Allah is All-knowing of His secret purpose and All-powerful and All-beneficent and All-merciful in whatso of bygone years transpired and amid peoples of old took place) that the Caliph Harun al-Ras.h.i.+d being straitened of breast one day summoned his Chief of the Eunuchs and said to him, "O Masrur!" Quoth he, "Adsum, O my lord;" and quoth the other, "This day my breast is straitened and I would have thee bring me somewhat to hearten my heart and consume my care." Replied Masrur, "O my lord, do thou go forth to thy garden and look upon the trees and the blooms and the rills and listen to the warblings of the fowls." Harun replied, "O Masrur, thou hast mentioned a matter which palleth on my palate[FN#107] nor may my breast be broadened by aught thou hast commended." Rejoined the Eunuch, "Then do thou enter thy palace and having gathered thy handmaids before thee, let each and every say her say whilst all are robed in the choicest of raiment and ornaments; so shalt thou look upon them and thy spirits shall be cheered." The Caliph retorted, "O Masrur, we want other than this;" whereupon quoth the slave, "O Prince of True Believers, send after the Wazirs and thy brotherhood of learned men and let them improvise for thee poetry and set before thee stories whereby shall thy care be solaced." Quoth he, "O Masrur, naught of this shall profit me." Hereat cried the Eunuch, "Then, O my lord, I see naught for thee save to take thy sabre and smite the neck of thy slave: haply and peradventure this may comfort thee and do away with thy disgust."[FN#108] When the King Harun al-Ras.h.i.+d heard these words, he laughed aloud and said to him, "O Masrur, go forth to the gate where haply thou shalt find some one of my cup-companions." Accordingly he went to the porte in haste and there came upon one of the courtiers which was Ali ibn Mansur Al-Dimishki and brought him in. The Commander of the Faithful seeing him bade him be seated and said, "O Ibn Mansur, I would have thee tell me a tale somewhat rare and strange; so perchance my breast may be broadened and my doleful dumps from me depart." Said he, "O Prince of True Believers, dost thou desire that I relate to thee of the things which are past and gone or I recount a matter I espied with my own eyes?" Al-Ras.h.i.+d replied, "An thou have sighted somewhat worthy seeing relate it to us for hearing is not like beholding." He rejoined, "O Emir al-Muuminin, whilst I tell thee this tale needs must thou lend me ear and mind;" and the Caliph[FN#109] retorted, "Out with thy story, for here am I hearkening to thee with ears and eyes wide awake, so that my soul may understand the whole of this say." Hereupon Ibn Mansur related to him "The Loves of the Lovers of Ba.s.sorah."[FN#110] Now when Al-Ras.h.i.+d heard the tale of Ibn Mansur there fell from him somewhat of his cark and care but he was not wholly comforted. He spent the night in this case and when it was morning he summoned the Wazir Ja'afar ibn Yahya the Barmaki, and cried to him, "O Ja'afar!" He replied, "Here am I!

Allah lengthen thy life, and make permanent thy prosperity." The Caliph resumed, "Verily my breast is straitened and it hath pa.s.sed through my thought that we fare forth, I and thou (and Eunuch Masrur shall make a third), and we will promenade the main streets of Baghdad and solace ourselves with seeing its several places and peradventure I may espy somewhat to hearten my heart and clear off my care and relieve me of what is with me of straitness of breast." Ja'afar made answer, "O Commander of the Faithful, know that thou art Caliph and Regent and Cousin to the Apostle of Allah and haply some of the sons of the city may speak words that suit thee not and from that matter may result other matter with discomfort to thy heart and annoyance to thy mind, the offender unknowing the while that thou art walking the streets by night. Then thou wilt command his head to be cut off and what was meant for pleasure may end in displeasure and wrath and wrongdoing." Al-Ras.h.i.+d replied, "I swear by the rights of my forbears and ancestors even if aught mishap to us from the meanest of folk as is wont to happen or he speak words which should not be spoken, that I will neither regard them nor reply thereto, neither will I punish the aggressor, nor shall aught linger in my heart against the addresser; but need must I pa.s.s through the Bazar this very night." Hereupon quoth Ja'afar to the Caliph, "O Viceregent of Allah upon earth, do thou be steadfast of purpose and rely upon Allah!"[FN#111] Then they arose and arousing Masrur doffed what was upon them of outer dress and bagtrousers and habited themselves each one of them in garments differing from those of the city folks. Presently they sallied forth by the private postern and walked from place to place till they came to one of the highways of the capital and after threading its length they arrived at a narrow street whose like was never seen about all the horizons.[FN#112] This they found swept and sprinkled with the sweet northern breeze playing through it and at the head thereof rose a mansion towering from the dust and hanging from the necks of the clouds. Its whole length was of sixty cubits whereas its breadth was of twenty ells; its gate was of ebony inlaid with ivory and plated with plates of yellow bra.s.s while athwart the doorway hung a curtain of sendal and over it was a chandelier of gold fed with oil of 'Iraki violets which brightened all that quarter with its light.

The King Harun al-Ras.h.i.+d and the Wazir and the Eunuch stood marvelling at what they saw of these signs and at what they smelt of the scents breathing from the clarity[FN#113] of this palace as though they were the waftings of the perfumed gardens of Paradise and they cast curious glances at the abode so lofty and of base so goodly and of corners so st.u.r.dy, whose like was never builded in those days. Presently they noted that its entrance was poikilate with carvings manifold and arabesques of glittering gold and over it was a line writ in letters of lapis lazuli. So Al-Ras.h.i.+d took seat under the candelabrum with Ja'afar standing on his right and Masrur afoot to his left and he exclaimed, "O Wazir, this mansion is naught save in the utmost perfection of beauty and degree; and verily its lord must have expended upon it wealth galore and of gold a store; and, as its exterior is magnificent exceedingly, so would to Heaven I knew what be its interior." Then the Caliph cast a glance at the upper lintel of the door whereupon he saw inscribed in letters of golden water which glittered in the rays of the chandelier,

"WHOSO SPEAKETH OF WHAT CONCERNETH HIM NOT SHALL HEAR WHAT PLEASETH HIM NOT."

Hereupon quoth Al-Ras.h.i.+d, "O Ja'afar, the house-master never wrote yonder lines save for a reason and I desire to discover what may be his object, so let us forgather with him and ask him the cause of this legend being inscribed in this place." Quoth Ja'afar, "O Prince of True Believers, yonder lines were never written save in fear of the curtain of concealment being withdrawn."--And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day, and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was

The Six Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that Ja'afar the Barmecide said to the King, "Verily the master of this house never wrote yonder lines save in fear lest the curtain of concealment be withdrawn." Hearing this the Caliph held his peace for a while and fell to pondering this matter then said he, "O Ja'afar, knock at the door and ask for us a gugglet of water;"

and when the Wazir did his bidding one of the slaves called out from within the entrance, "Who is it rappeth at our gate?"

Hereupon said Masrur to him, "O son of my uncle, open to us the door and give us a gugglet of water for that our lord thirsteth."

The chattel went in to his master, the young man, Manjab hight, who owned the mansion, and said, "O my lord, verily there be at our door three persons who have rapped for us and who ask for a drink of water." The master asked, "What manner of men may they be?" and the slave answered, "One of them sitteth under the chandelier and another of them standeth by his side and the third is a black slave between their hands; and all three show signs of staidness and dignity than which naught can be more." "Go forth to them," exclaimed the master, "and say to them, 'My lord inviteth you to become of his guests.'" So the servile went out and delivered the message, whereat they entered and found five lines of inscription in different parts of the hall with a candelabrum overhanging each and every and the whole five contained the sentence we have before mentioned; furthermore all the lights were hung up over the legend that the writing might be made manifest unto whoso would read it. Accordingly Harun al-Ras.h.i.+d entered and found a mansion of kingly degree[FN#114]

and of marvellous ordinance in the utmost that could be of beauty and ornament and five black slaves and as many Eunuchs were standing in the saloon to offer their services. Seeing this the Caliph marvelled with extreme marvel at the house and the housemaster who greeted them in friendly guise; after which he to whom the palace belonged sat down upon a divan and bade Al-Ras.h.i.+d sit over against him and signed to Ja'afar and Masrur to take their places in due degree,[FN#115] whilst the negroes and the eunuchs stood expecting their commands for suit and service.

Presently was brought to them a huge waxen taper which lighted up the whole of the hall and the young house-master accosted the King and said to him, "Well come and welcome and fair welcome to our guests who to us are the most esteemed of folk and may Allah honour their places!" Hereupon he began to repeat the following couplets,[FN#116]

"If the house knew who visits it, it would indeed rejoice * And stoop to kiss the happy place whereon her feet have stood; And in the voice with which the case, though mute, yet speaks, *

Exclaim, 'Well come and many a welcome to the generous, and the good.'"

Presently Manjab the master of the house bade bring for his guests meats and viands meet for the great, of all kinds and of every colour, so they obeyed his orders, and when they had eaten their sufficiency they were served with confections perfumed with rose-water wondrous fine. Hereupon quoth the youth to Al-Ras.h.i.+d and those with him, "Almighty Allah make it pleasant to you[FN#117] and blame us not and accept our excuses for what Allah hath made easy to us at such time of night, and there is no doubt but that this be a fortunate day when ye made act of presence before us." They thanked him and Al-Ras.h.i.+d's breast was broadened and his heart was heartened and there fell from him all that whilom irked him. Then the youth s.h.i.+fted them from that place to another room which was the women's apartment; and here he seated them upon the highest Divan and bade serve to them a platter containing fruits of all descriptions and ordered his servants to bring roast meats and fried meats and when this was done they set before them the service of wine. Anon appeared four troops of singers with their instruments of music and each was composed of five handmaids, so the whole numbered a score and these when they appeared before the master kissed ground between his hands and sat down each one in her own degree. Then amongst them the cups went about and all sorrow was put to rout and the birds of joyance flapped their wings. This continued for an hour of time whilst the guests sat listening to the performers on the lute and other instruments and after there came forward five damsels other than the first twenty and formed a second and separate set and they showed their art of singing in wondrous mode even as was done by the first troop. Presently on like guise came set after set till the whole twenty had performed and as Al-Ras.h.i.+d heard their strains he shook with pleasure--And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was

The Six Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that when Al-Ras.h.i.+d heard their strains, he shook with pleasure and wonder and joyance and enjoyment until he rent his robes[FN#118] and the house-master beholding this said to him, "O our lord, be the heart of thine enemies thus rended asunder!" Now there was amongst the handmaids a songstress who began to sing and to improvise these couplets,

"My world goes strait when thou art a-gone * And when fled from my ken in my heart dost wone[FN#119]

And I love my love with a love as fond * As Jacob him who in pit was thrown."

Hereupon Ja'afar was delighted with exceeding delight and rent his raiment even as the Caliph had done, but when the house-master saw this from him he ordered for the twain a suit of clothes that befitted them and bade strip them of the rended garments and clothed them in the new. Presently the young man said, "O my lords, your time is gleesome and Allah make it to you gladsome and broaden your hearts and from you fend everything loathsome and lasting to you be honour and all that is blithesome." Hereupon he ordered another damsel to chaunt that was with her and when Masrur the Eunuch heard it he tare his garment as had been done by Al-Ras.h.i.+d and the Wazir, when the house-master bade bring for him a suit that besitted him and they donned it after doffing the torn clothes. Then the youth ordered a handmaid of the fourth set who sang a tune and spake these couplets,

"Thou hast a lover of looks lune-bright * And lighter than crescent[FN#120] he shows to sight; For the sheen of the crescent shall ever wane * But he shall grow to a perfect light."[FN#121]