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"* 


THE  ADVENTURES 


OF    THE 


CALIPH  HAROUN  ALRASCHID 


LONDON:  PRINTED  BY  RICHARD  CLAY. 


Recounted  by 
THE  AUTHOR  OF  "MARY  POWELL. 


Scattered  Pearls  are  less  precious  than  when  they  are  strung, 
though  the  Thread  be  a  sorry  Twine. 


LONDON : 

Printed  for  ARTHUR  HALL,  VIRTUE  &  Co. 


25,  Paternofter  Row. 

i855. 


v>- 


S>* 


PR 


*  Of  the  Boyhood  and  Youth  of  the  Caliph  Haroun. 
And  of  his  Friendjhip  for  Giafar  the  Bar- 
mecide 


II. 


'Of  the  Caliph  Haroun's  Juftice  and  Judgment. 
Of  the  Punijhment  of  the  Butcher  and  of  the 

Baker  . 


22 


, 


III. 


Of  the  Avarice  of  the  Blind  Beggar •,  Baba  Abdala       31 


vi  Contents. 


IV. 

PAGE 

Of  the  Poverty  and  Profperlty  of  Cogia  HafTan 
the  Ropemaker «  51 

V. 

Of  the  Treachery  of  Haflan  the  Merchant^  In  the 
Matter  of  AH  Cogia 88 

VI. 

Of  the  extravagant  Profujion  of  Noureddin  .     .      113 

VII. 

Of  the  great  Peril  and  Diftrefs  of  Giafar  the 
Barmecide. 17* 

VIII. 

Of  the  Trick  played  by  the  Caliph  on  Abon  HafTan. 
And  of  the  Trick  played  by  Abon  Haflan  on 
the  Caliph 192 

IX. 

*  Of  the  Caliph's  beftowing  on  the  Emperor  Charle- 
magne the  Proteftorjhip  of  the  Holy  Places  .  22$ 


Contents. 


Vll 


X. 

PAGE 

*Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad      .......     246 

XI. 

*0f  the  Caliph's  tefting  the  Obedience  of  Giafar  .     258 

XII. 
*0f  the  Fate  of  Giafar  and  Abbafla     ....     269 


The   original    Chapters  are  distinguished  from  those  which  are   merely 
re- written  by  an  asterisk. 


I. 


Of  the  Boyhood  and  Touth  of  the  Caliph 
Haroun.  And  of  his  Friend/hip  for  Giafar 
the  Barmecide. 

THE  Caliph  Haroun,  to  whom  be 
perpetual  Fame,  was  the  fecond  of 
the  Sons  of  the  Caliph  Mohadi. 
As  an  Infant,  he  was  beautiful  as 
the  Day ;  as  an  Infant  of  feven 
Days,  you  might  have  fuppofed 

him 


Of  the 
Birth  of 
Haroun  the 
Just. 

Vearofthe 
Hegirai39,  | 
A.D.  761. 


Boyhood  and  Youth  of 


him    a    Year   old.     His    Face   was 
like  the  full  Moon,  his   Eyes   like 
the  Stars  Aifch  and  Kefil,  his  Lips 
like   twin  Pomegranates.     As  foon 
as    he   was    born,    the    Nurfe    pro- 
nounced in  his  Ear  the   Tecbir  and 
the   Adan,    and    wrapped    him    up 
and    gave    him     to     his     Mother, 
who    nourished    him    till     he    was 
fatiated  and  flept.    When  the  Caliph 
Mohadi  entered    and    congratulated 
his     Wife      on      her      Safety,     he 
faid,  "Where   is  GOD'S  Depofit? 
Whereon   me  withdrew  a  Veil   of 
white   Gauze,  and  recompenfed  his 
Eyes  with  the  Sight  of  the  Infant, 
furpafling  all  others  in   its  Loveli- 
nefs.     The  Caliph   blefTed  Heaven, 
and    faid    unto    his    Wife,    "What 
"  haft  thou  named  him  ?"    She  faid, 
"  Had  it  been  a  Girl,  I  had  named 
"her;  but  fince  it  is  a   Boy,  none 
"  (hall     name     him    but    thyfelf." 

Then 


the  Caliph  Haroun. 


Then  he  named  him  by  the  Name 
that  was  to  be  known  all  over  the 
World. 

The  Child  Haroun  was  left  to 
the  Care  of  the  Women  unto  the 
Age  of  feven  Years,  growing  each 
Day  more  of  an  Angel  in  Beauty 
and  Difcretion.  Then  he  had  male 
Officers  appointed  him,  and  Tahia 
the  Barmecide  for  his  Tutor,  to  teach 
him  all  Things  appertaining  to 
Religion  and  Wifdom  ;  and  he  con- 
ducted himfelf  as  fagely  as  though 
he  were  twelve  Years  old,  and 
learned  the  Koran  by  Heart,  and 
became  fkilful  in  Reading  and 
Writing,  and  Computation,  and  the 
Knowledge  of  Animals,  Minerals, 
and  Herbs,  and  the  Courfe  of  the 
Stars,  their  Names  and  Influences, 
and  the  Position  of  the  Kingdoms 
of  the  Earth  and  their  Cities  and 
!  Rivers,  and  the  Hiftory  of  the  Kings 

and 


Of  his 
Nurture 
and  Educa- 
tion. 
"  Know- 
ledge wait- 
eth  not  on 
any,  but  is 
itself  to 
be  waited 
upon." — 
MALEK. 


Is  over- 
taught. 
(Compare 
with    Boy- 


d/tan. 


Boyhood  and  Youth  of 


and  Sultans  by  whom  they  had 
been  governed  from  the  earlieft 
Times. 

But  the  Caliph  Mohadi  obferved 
that  as  his  Mind  expanded  with 
hoodofflS  I  Knowledge,  his  Health  and  Strength 
became  leffened  ;  wherefore  he  faid, 
"  It  is  not  fit  that  the  Boy  fhould 
"  continually  confort  with  aged 
"  Sheikhs,  without  having  a  Com- 
"  panion  of  his  own  Age ;  nor  is 
"  it  fuitable  that  he  fhould  be  too 
"  much  with  his  elder  Brother 
"  Hadi,  who  lately  fmote  him  in 
"  the  Eye.  There  are  some  Per- 
"  fons  who  remain  the  better 
"  Friends  the  lefs  they  are  to- 
"  gether.  Where  fhall  we  find  a 
"  suitable  Playmate  for  the  young 
"  Harouny  one  who  will  neither 
"  teach  him  evil  Words,  nor  infpire 
<c  malicious  Thoughts,  nor  impart 
"  Habits  detrimental  to  him,  nor 

"  finite 


the  Caliph  Haroun. 


fmite  him  on  the  Head,  nor  yet 
fawn  or  cringe  or  flatter  ?  " 
Then  one  of  the  Attendants  faid, 
O  Caliph !  such  a  Boy  as  thou 
feekeft  is  Giafar,  Son  of  Tahia 
the  Barmecide.  He  is  neither 
haughty  nor  cringing,  neither 
rough  nor  diffimulating,  but  in  all 
Things  truthful,  faithful,  brave, 
kind,  docile,  and  accomplifhed. 
He  can  read,  write,  and  compute  ; 
he  is  a  Devourer  of  Books,  and  of 
the  Sayings  of  wife  Men ;  he  can 
alfo  ride,  and  throw  the  Dart, 
and  hurl  the  Spear,  and  draw  the 
Bow ;  and  he  is  beautiful  in 
Perfon  and  of  good  Parentage. 
Are  not  the  Barmecides  among 
the  nobleft  Houfes  in  Bagdad? 
Wherefore,  O  Caliph!  there  is 
none  other  Companion  fo  meet 
for  the  young  Haroun  as  Giafar  " 
Then  the  Caliph  was  pleafed, 

and 


Boyhood  and  Youth  of 


and  his  Heart  expanded,  and  he 
commanded  the  young  Giafar  to  be 
brought  into  his  Prefence.  The 
Boy  came  blufhing,  for  he  knew 
not  wherefore  he  was  brought,  and 
he  feared  it  might  be  for  fome  in- 
advertent Fault,  or  to  be  pofed 
with  fome  hard  Queftion.  Never- 
thelefs,  he  kneeled  and  killed  the 
Hem  of  the  Caliph's  Garment  fpon- 
taneoufly,  without  any  Bafhfulnefs 
or  Awkwardnefs,  and  then  arofe  and 
flood  before  him  like  a  Statue,  not 
trembling,  but  with  his  Arms  folded 
acrofs  his  Breaft,  his  Head  bent,  and 
his  Eyes  burning  with  foft  and  fur- 
tive Light  under  their  downcaft 
Lames. 

Then  the  Caliph  faw  he  was  a 
Boy  to  be  efteemed,  and  a  Com- 
panion to  be  commended  ;  and  he 
faid  unto  him,  "  How  old  art 
thou  ? "  And  Giafar  anfwered  and 

faid. 


the  Caliph  Haroun. 


A.D.  770, 
Heg.  148. 


Boyhood  and  Youth  of 


"  that  GOD  fees  the  Heart ;  and 
"  let  Giafar  be  the  Eyelid  to  thine 
"  Eye."  Then  the  Boys  promptly 
embraced,  and  having  eyed  one 
another,  they  clave  unto  one  another 
from  that  Time  forth  for  evermore  ; 
and  they  went  forth  from  the 
Caliph's  Prefence  with  their  Arms 
about  one  another's  Necks. 

And  it  came  to  pass  that  the 
Commerce  between  the  Souls  of 
thefe  twain  led  to  all  manner  of 
Good  and  no  manner  of  Evil ;  and 
the  Boy  Giafar  incited  the  young 
Haroun  to  ride  and  moot  and 
wreftle,  and  alfo  to  read  and  to 
obferve  and  to  reflect.  And  when- 
ever he  faw  in  him  any  Tendency 
to  Wrong,  he  faid,  "  O  do  not  that 
"  Thing  which  my  Soul  hateth !  " 
And  Haroun  would  abftain,  becaufe 
he  loved  Giafar. 

Sometimes  when  they  were  feated 

together, 


the  Caliph  Haroun. 


together,  pouring  out  all  their 
young  Thoughts,  Giafar  would  fay, 
"  Ah,  fuch  and  fuch  a  Thing  in 
"  the  City  is  wrong,  and  unjuft, 
"  and  unequal.  If  I  were  a  Man 
"  and  of  great  Power,  I  would 
"  remedy  it."  Then  Haroun  would 
fay,  "  My  Brother  Hadi  is  older 
"  than  I,  and  will  doubtlefs  marry 
"  and  have  Sons,  and  will  rule  after 
"  my  Father  in  Bagdad,  and  his 
"  Sons  will  rule  after  him.  How- 
"  beit,  when  I  attain  unto  Man's 
"  Eftate,  it  may  be  that  my  Father 
"  will  beftow  on  me  the  Govern- 
"  ment  of  fuch  and  fuch  a  Pro- 
"  vince ;  and  then  thou  {halt  be  my 
"  Vizier." 

Then  the  two  Boys  would  imagine 
themfelves,  the  one  a  reigning  Sove- 
reign, the  other  his  Vizier ;  and 
would  invent  fuch  and  fuch  Laws 
and  Judgments,  and  frame  fuch  and 

fuch 


10 


Boyhood  and  Youth  of 


fuch  Adventures.  Haroun  would 
fay,  "  What  Judgment  wouldeft 
"  thou  give  in  fuch  a  Cafe  ?"  Giafar 
would  reply,  "  I  would  give  fuch 
"  and  fuch  a  Judgment.5'  "  That 
"  would  be  a  bad  Judgment,"  fays 
Haroun.  "Why?"  fays  Giafar. 
"  The  Guilty  would  not  fear  you, 
"  nor  delift  from  their  Guiltinefs," 
fays  Haroun.  "  It  were  better," 
fays  Giafar,  "  to  err  on  the  fide 
"  of  Mercy  than  of  Severity."  Then 
faith  Harouny  "  Clemency  is  fome- 
"  times  Cruelty,  and  Cruelty  is 
"  fometimes  Clemency."  And  Giafar 
made  Anfwer  and  faid,  "  A  juft  Man 
"  may  be  fevere,  but  never  cruel." 

In  procefs  of  Time  it  came  to 
pafs  that  Haroun  being  accom- 
plifhed  in  all  Science  and  all  Arts 
of  Peace,  the  Caliph  Mohadi  decreed 
that  he  (hould  begin  to  fludy  the 
Science  of  War,  and  go  forth  with 

an 


I 


the  Caliph  Haroun. 


an  Army.  Therefore,  he  put  him 
in  command  of  his  Forces  that  were 
prepared  to  make  War  on  Irene, 
Emprefs  of  the  Greeks,  giving  him 
wife  and  able  Captains  that  might 
aid  him  with  their  Judgment 
without  diminifhing  his  Renown. 
Therefore  while  Giafar  remained  in 
Bagdad)  applying  himfelf  to  Wis- 
dom and  Judgment,  Haroun  carried 
victorious  War  to  the  Gates  of  Con- 
ftantinople,  and  laid  waste  many  of 
the  Emprefs's  Provinces. 

Now  it  befel  that  Haroun,  being 
deftitute  of  the  Prefence  and  Advice 
of  his  Friend  Giafar,  and  thrown  into 
the  Companionfhip  of  many  young 
Nobles  and  Officers  neither  fo  good 
nor  fo  wife,  he  was  fometimes 
betrayed  into  Conduct  that  Giafar 
would  have  difapproved.  Never- 
thelefs,  though  he  efcaped  not  fome 
Blemifhes,  he  conducted  himfelf, 

on 


ii 


111    Com- 
pany worse 
than  None. 
See  Ebn 
Thophail, 
tr.  by  Rabbi 
Moses  of 
Narbun. 


1 2  Boyhood  and  Youth  of 

on  the  whole,  wifely,  and  the  Re- 
proaches that  now  and  then  fell 
upon  him  were  not  from  Men's 
Tongues  but  from  his  own  Heart. 
And  he  returned  to  Bagdad,  after 
a  prolonged  abfence,  covered  with 
Glory. 

Now,  when  Haroun  and  Giafar 
again  met,  they  were  fo  much 
altered  that  they  fcarcely  knew  one 
another,  and  could  not  refrain  from 
fmiling.  For  they  were  now 
bearded  Men,  and  Giafar  had 
efpoufed  a  Wife,  who  had  bleffed 
him  with  a  little  Daughter.  The 
Caliph  Mohadi  was  iick,  and  had 
fummoned  his  Sons  to  his  Bedlide. 
He  was  attended  by  a  Chriftian 
Phyfician  of  the  Family  of  Bakti- 
shua,  whofe  name  fignifieth  "the 
"  Servants  of  JESUS."  There  were 
none  others  like  unto  them  for 
healing,  throughout  all  the  Land. 

Then 


the  Caliph  Haroun. 


Then  faid  Haroun  privately  to 
Giafar,  "  I  am  difpleafed  that  my 
"  Father  mould  be  attended  by  a 
"  Chriftian  Dog."  "  What  fayeft 
"thou,  O  Prince?"  faid  Giafar, 
"  and  why  calleft  thou  the  good 
"  Phyfician  a  Dog?"  "He  is  of 
"  the  Infidels,  an  accurfed  Giaour/' 
faid  Haroun,  "  and  may  think  he 
"  doeth  a  laudable  Adlion  by  fecretly 
"  poifoning  my  Father."  "  Nay, 
"  O  Prince,  thou  wrongeft  a  Man 
"  of  a  noble  Spirit,"  faid  Giafar; 
"  I  would  that  all  Moflemin  were 
"  even  as  this  Chriftian,  as  far  as 
"  Purity  of  Life  and  Integrity  of 
"  Heart  extend."  "  You  are  de- 
"  ceived,"  fays  Haroun,  "  by  his 
"  eloquent  Tongue  and  fweet  Coun- 
"  tenance ;  I  believe  he  is  no  better 
"than  other  Men."  "Let  Time 
"  anfwer  for  him,"  fays  Giafar, 
"  and  if  it  prove  him  better,  re- 

"  member 


" 


" 


Boyhood  and  Youth  of 

"  member  my  Word.  Befides,  if 
he  were  to  harm  the  Caliph, 
would  not  Prince  Hadi  and  thou 
inftantly  put  him  to  Death,  and 
all  his  Houfe?"  "  Unqueftion- 
"  ably,"  faid  Haroun. 

Now  it  befel  that  the  Chriftian 
Phyfician  was  Ib  happy  as  to  heal 
the  Caliph;  wherefore  the  Caliph 
tormented  his  Soul  to  devife  how 
to  make  him  a  fuitable  Recom- 
pence.  Having  cogitated  much  in 
his  Mind,  he  inquired  of  one  of 
his  Servants  whether  Eaktljhua  were 
married.  "  Verily,  he  is  married," 
replied  the  Servant,  "  but  he  hath 
"  but  one  Wife,  and  me  is  ugly 
"  and  old."  Then  the  Caliph  bade 
his  Slave  Mefrour  carry  to  the  good 
Phyfician  a  Purfe  containing  three 
thoufand  Pieces  of  Gold,  and  alfo 
three  beautiful  Greek  Girls  to  re- 
place his  old  Wife. 

Mefrour 


the  Caliph  Haroun. 


Mefrour  repaired  to  the  Houfe 
of  the  good  Phyfician,  but  found 
him  not  at  Home.  In  his  Place, 
the  Door  was  opened  by  his  Pupil 
Ifa.  When  If  a  learnt  Mefrour's 
Errand,  his  Eyes  gloated  on  the 
Gold,  and  he  took  it,  and  likewife 
received  the  three  Damfels,  and 
promifed  to  deliver  them  to  his 
Mafler.  But,  in  the  Space  of  about 
an  Hour,  Eaktijhua  prefented  him- 
felf  to  Mefrour,  and  re-delivered  to 
him  the  three  Slaves  ;  faying  that 
he  thanked  the  Caliph  for  his 
Liberality,  but  that  Chriftians  were 
reftri&ed  to  one  Wife. 

Then  Giafar  laughed,  and  faid 
unto  Haroun,  "  Said  I  not  unto  thee, 
"  O  Prince,  that  this  Man  had  a 
"  Padlock  on  his  Heart?  "  "Thou 
"  hadft  Reafon,"  faid  Haroun,  "but 
"  why  have  they  this  fenfelefs  Cuf- 
"tom?"  "I  wifh  no  Cuftoms 


were 


1 6  Boyhood  and  Youth  of 

"  were  more  fenfelefs,"  returned 
Giafar.  "  Henceforth  efteem  not 
"  a  Man  to  be  evil,  folely  becaufe 
"  he  is  a  Chriftian." 

Meantime  the  Caliph  Mohadi 
having  been  made  acquainted  with 
Baktifhuas  Conduct,  efteemed  him 
the  more  for  it,  and  loaded  him 
with  Prefents  fuch  as  it  was  not 
unlawful  for  him  to  receive.  And 
the  following  Year,  when  the  good 
Phylician's  Health  failed,  and  he 
was  unable  to  heal  himfelf,  fave  by 
change  of  Air,  the  Caliph  permitted 
him  to  abfent  himfelf  from  Bagdad, 
and  fent  him  away  loaded  with 
Wealth  and  Honours. 

Now,  while  the  good  Phyfician 
was  abfent,  it  befel  that  the  Caliph 
Mohadi  was  in  very  deed  ftricken 
for  Death,  with  no  one  at  Hand  for 
his  Leech,  but  Baktlshuas  Difciple 
Ifa.  Feeling  himfelf,  therefore, 

to 


the  Caliph  Haroun. 


to  be  approaching  his  End,  he  fent 
for  his  Son  Hadi,  and  delivered 
unto  him  his  laft  Inftrudions,  and 
bade  him  renown  himfelf  and  in- 
creafe  the  Glory  of  the  Caliphate ; 
after  which  he  bleffed  him,  and 
became  chilly,  and  gathered  up  his 
Feet  and  died.  And  there  was 
made  for  him  great  Wailing.  And 
Hadi  his  Son  reigned  in  his  Stead. 

Now,  the  Prince  Haroun  was 
abfent  with  an  Army ;  and  it  was 
thought  that  the  Caliph  Mohadi 
would  have  made  greater  Provifion 
for  him  than  he  did,  had  he  not  been 
fuddenly  ftricken  with  the  mortal 
Coldnefs  of  Death.  Howbeit,  Hadi 
his  Brother  was  pleafed  to  keep  him 
at  a  Diftance  from  him  with  his 
Army,  left  he  mould  draw  afide 
from  him  the  Hearts  of  the  People ; 
wherefore  Haroun  remained  diftant 
from  Bagdad,  emulating  the  Achieve- 
ments 


i8 


Death  of 
Hadi. 

A.D.   786. 

Heg.  164. 


Boyhood  and  Youth  of 


mentsof  Saadi  Batthal  or  the  Worthy, 
otherwife  called  Giqfar  Sadak,  whofe 
Adventures  are  written  in  a  Book. 

Meantime  Hadi  the  Son  of  Mo- 
hadi  reigned  at  Bagdad;  and  what- 
foever  he  lifted  to  do,  and  whatfoever 
his  Fancy  inclined  him  to,  and 
whatfoever  his  Temper  incited  him 
to,  that  he  did.  He  reftrained 
himfelf  not,  either  in  the  Defire  of 
his  Eyes,  or  the  pleafing  of  his 
Palate,  or  the  Gratification  of  his 
Pride.  His  Harem  was  crowded 
with  Slaves,  his  Table  was  loaded 
with  Dimes,  his  Flatterers  accumu- 
lated Wealth.  Neverthelefs  all 
thefe  Things  hindered  not  that  he 
mould  be  cut  off  in  the  Flower  of 
his  Age.  Wherefore  he  died  and 
was  buried,  leaving  no  Son ;  and 
Haroun  his  Brother  became  Caliph 
in  his  Stead. 

Then  Haroun  the  Caliph,  attended 

by 


the  Caliph  Haroun. 


by  Al  Fadl  the  Barmecide  and  all 
his  inferior  Officers,  and  a  long 
Array  of  victorious  Warriors,  re- 
turned to  Bagdad,  and  all  the  People 
went  forth  to  meet  him.  And  the 
Poor  laid  their  Heads  in  the  Duft, 
and  he  fhowered  Handfuls  of  Gold 
upon  them,  and  they  cried,  "  BlefTed 
"  be  Haroun  the  Son  of  Mohadi, 
"  the  Defcendant  of  Abbas  the 
"  Kinfman  of  the  Prophet !  "  And 
the  Ladies  of  Bagdad  crowded  to 
their  Lattices  and  Houfe-tops,  and 
eyed  him  through  their  Veils,  and 
faid  one  to  another,  "  Is  not  this 
"  Haroun  the  Conqueror  of  Irene, 
"the  Champion  of  the  Eaft?" 
And  Tahia  the  Barmecide  came  forth 
to  meet  him,  and  faid,  "  Welcome, 
"  my  Son,  my  Pupil,  my  Pride,  and 
"the  Pride  of  Bagdad!"  Then 
Haroun  haftily  alighted,  and  kiffed 
the  old  Man  and  embraced  him ; 

and 


A.D.  786. 

Heg.  164. 
Haroun 
being  then 
twenty-  five 
Years  of 
Age. 


20  Boyhood  and  Youth  of 


and  all  the  People  cried,  "  Wonder- 
"  ful  is  GOD,  and  blefled  are  thofe 
"  who  glorify  Him,  and  are  juft  and 
"  clement,  and  who  refpecT:  grey 
"  Hairs !  " 

Then  Giafar  the  Son  of  Tahia 
the  Barmecide  drew  near,  and 
Haroun  embraced  him,  and  whif- 
pered  in  his  Ear,  "  Be  thou  hence- 
"  forth  ever  at  my  right  Hand : 
"  thou  art  my  Vizier !  " 

Then  when  he  entered  the 
Palace,  he  faw  Mefrour  at  the  Head 
of  all  the  Slaves  that  guard  the 
private  Apartments,  and  he  faid 
unto  him,  "  Be  thou  my  ftate  Exe- 
"cutioner."  And  he  faid  to  Al 
Fadl,  the  eldeft  Son  of  Tahia  the 
Barmecide,  "  Henceforth  thou  com- 
"  mandeft  mine  Armies,  fecond 
"  only  to  myfelf." 

Then  he  reforted  to  the  Women's 
Apartments,  to  falute  his  Mother; 

and 


the  Caliph  Haroun. 


and  he  gave  her  a  Palace  and 
Money,  and  Veflels  of  Gold  and 
Silver,  and  many  Slaves.  Alfo  he 
faluted  his  Sifter  Abbaffa,  and  gave 
her  Slaves  and  Treafure  and  Jewels, 
and  rich  Stuffs  of  Gold  and  of 
Silver,  and  appointed  her  Apart- 
ments adjoining  his  own  Palace. 
Now  AbbaJJa  was  very  young,  and 
beautiful  as  the  Day ;  even  as  the 
Rofe  and  the  Pomegranate. 


II. 


22 


A.D.  786. 

Heg.  164. 


Of  the 
Punish- 
ment 
of  the 
Butcher. 


Of  the  Caliph  HarounV 


II. 


Of  the  Caliph  Harouns  Juftlce  and  Judgment. 
Of  the  Punljhment  of  the  Butcher  and  of 
the  Baker. 

THEN  the  Caliph  Haroun  fat  on  his 
Throne  and  executed  Judgment  and 
Juflice,  and  liftened  to  the  Caufes 
of  them  that  made  their  Complaints 
and  brought  their  Petitions. 

And  it  came  to  pafs  that  a  Man 
was  brought  before  him  charged 
with  making  and  felling  Meat-pies 
of  the  Flefh  of  Dogs  and  of  the 
Flefh  of  Cats,  and  paffing  them  off 
for  good  and  wholefome.  Then 

the 


y  lift  ice  and  Judgment. 


23 


the  Caliph  commanded  that  his  Ear 
mould  be  nailed  to  his  Door-poft, 
and  his  Stock  caft  outfide  the  City 
Walls,  and  his  Shop  rafed  to  the 
Ground.  And  the  people  lift  up 
their  Voices  and  faid,  "  Wonderful 
"  is  the  Caliph  for  Wifdom  and 
"  Judgment !  "  And  they  hurried 
away  the  Cat's-meat  Man  with  Ex- 
ecrations, to  fulfil  his  Punifhment. 

Then  a  Baker  was  brought  before 
the  Caliph,  charged  with  felling 
Bread  light  of  Weight,  and  mixing 
his  Flour  with  Lime.  Then  the 
Caliph  faid,  "  O  Man !  is  it  fo  ? 
"  and  doft  thou  fill  my  People  with 
"  Lime  for  Food  ?  Where  is  the 
"  Bread  ?  Hath  it  been  tefted  ?  " 

Then  a  Loaf  of  Bread,  neither 
very  bad  nor  very  good,  was  brought 
before  the  Caliph ;  and  he  faid, 
"  Where  are  the  Scales?"  And  the 
Loaf  was  weighed,  and  found  one 

Pennyweight 


And  of  the 
Baker. 


Of  the  Caliph  Haroun'j- 


Pennyweight  fhort  of  Weight. 
Then  Giafar  whifpered  to  the 
Caliph,  "  Bread  wafles  in  the 
"  Oven,  for  the  Moifture  thereof 
"  evaporates."  The  Caliph  an- 
fwered  and  faid,  "  The  Bakers 
"  fhould  allow  for  the  Wafte ;  my 
"  People  fhall  not  be  mulcted  of 
"  their  Bread.  Let  it  be  tefted." 
Then  the  Bread  was  tefted  by  If  a 
the  Chemift ;  and  a  certain  Sub- 
ftance,  that  might  or  might  not  be 
Lime,  but  of  a  certainty  was  not 
Flour,  was  found  therein ;  as  much 
as  an  Infant  of  feven  Days  might 
cover  with  its  Hand.  Then  the 
Caliph  faid,  "  Bread  is  a  Man's 
"  Life :  this  Bread  is  neither  pure, 
"  nor  of  full  Weight.  Let  the 
"  Baker's  Shop  be  rafed  to  the 
"  Earth,  and  his  Flour  caft  into  the 
"  River,  and  let  the  Baker  be  baked 
"  in  his  own  Oven/'  Then  the 

People 


ce  and  Judgment \ 


People  without  the  Palace,  when 
they  heard  the  Judgment  of  the 
Caliph,  cried,  "  One  Weight  and 
"  one  Meafure  throughout  Bagdad! 
"  Happy  the  People  that  live  under 
"  Haroun  the  Juft  !  " 

But  the  Tongue  of  the  Vizier 
Giafar  clove  to  the  Roof  of  his 
Mouth. 

And  when  Giafar  went  Home  to 
his  Dinner,  his  Slaves  faid  unto  him, 
"  Why  is  thy  Countenance  fallen, 
"  O  my  Lord  ?  and  why  eateft  thou 
"  no  Bread  ?  "  And  he  faid,  "  My 
"  Heart  is  contracted  to-day;  I  can- 
"  not  eat  Bread."  And  Tears  that 
he  would  not  let  fall  gathered 
under  his  Eyelafhes.  Then  they 
faid  foftly,  one  to  another,  "  It  is 
"  becaufe  of  the  Matter  of  the 
"  Baker." 

Meantime  the  Caliph  rode  forth 
to  fee  certain  Troops,  newly  trained, 

draw 


26  Of  the  Caliph  Haroun'j- 

draw  the  Bow  and  hurl  the  Dart ; 
and  everywhere  the  People  hailed 
him  as  Al  Rafchid,  the  Juft. 
Wherefore  his  Heart  dilated:  and 
he  is  called  Air af chid  to  this  Day. 

As  he  returned  towards  his  Palace, 
he  looked  and  beheld  written  with 
the  Fingers  of  a  Hand  on  the  moifl 
Ground,  "  Blefled  are  the  Merciful, 
"  for  they  fhall  obtain  Mercy." 

Then  he  drew  his  Rein,  and  de- 
manded who  had  written  thofe 
Words.  His  Servants  anfwered, 
"  We  know  not,  O  Prince  of  the 
"Faithful!"  He  faid,  "Go,  in- 
"  quire,  and  let  Investigation  be 
"  made."  Al  Fadl  faid,  "  My  Lord, 
"  fome  wanton  Wretch  hath  written 
"  them,  intending  to  moleft  thee  .  . 
"  it  were  better  to  let  the  Matter 
"  drop."  The  Caliph  faid,  "  Thefe 
"are  not  written  by  a  wanton 
"  Wretch.  I  will  know." 

Then 


I 


Juftice  and  Judgment. 


Then  his  Servants  brought  before 
him  an  old  Woman  they  had  found 
by  the  Way-fide  covered  with  her 
Veil,  and  with  her  Head  on  her 
Knees.  They  faid,  "  O  Caliph,  the 
"  Words  were  written  by  this  ill- 
"  omened  old  Woman." 

Then  faid  the  Caliph,  "O  old 
"  Woman !  why  didft  thou  write 
"  thefe  Words  ?  And  who  art 
"  thou  ? " 

She  faid,  "  O  Caliph,  I  am  a 
"  Chriftian,  my  Name  is  Mary,  I 
"  am  the  Mother  of  the  Baker 
"  whom  thou  didft  caft  into  the 
"  Oven;  he  was  my  only  Son,  and  I 
"  am  ready  to  go  mad."  The  Caliph's 
Servants  then  faid  unto  him,  "  O 
"  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  {hall  we 
"  fmite  her  over  the  Mouth  ?  "  But 
he  faid,  "  Give  her  a  hundred  Pieces 
"  of  Gold,  and  let  her  go."  Never- 
thelefs  me  would  not  take  the 

Money, 


28 


Of  the  Caliph  Haroun'j- 


As  well 
expect  to 
find  the 
Spirit  of 
the  Koran 
in  "  The 
Book  of  Tes- 
timonies" 
by  that 
Fanatic 
Hamza  al 
Hadi. 


Money,  but  fled  with  a  wild  Shriek 
towards  the  Tombs.  Then  the 
Caliph  rode  flowly  Home,  and  his 
Face  was  darkened,  and  he  mufed  on 
the  Words, "  Blefled  are  the  Merciful, 
"  for  they  mall  obtain  Mercy." 

Then  he  fent  for  Giafar;  and 
Giafar  came  unto  him.  Then  faid 
the  Caliph,  "  O  Giafar  !  where  are 
"  thefe  Words  to  be  found  ?  « Blefled 
"  are  the  Merciful,  for  they  fhall 
"  obtain  Mercy/  '  Giafar  replied, 
"  O  Caliph !  they  are  certainly  not 
"  in  the  Koran!"  Said  the  Caliph, 
"  They  are  good  Words  neverthelefs : 
"  let  them  be  written  in  a  Book,  in 
"  Letters  of  Gold.  What  thinkeft 
"  thou,  O  Giafar  ?  Did  I  well  in 
"the  Matter  of  the  Baker?" 
Giafar  anfwered,  "  In  the  Name  of 
"Allah,  oh  my  Lord!  afk  me  not 
"  that  Queftion!  I  would  rather  not 
"  think  at  all  about  it." 

Said 


y  lift  ice  and  Judgment. 


Said  the  Caliph,  "But  what, 
"  then,  is  to  be  done  ?  My  People 
"  muft  not  be  cheated  in  their 
"Bread."  Giafar  replied,  "My 
"  Lord,  you  are  right,  they  fhould 
"  not  be:  however,  in  the  Matter  of 
"  the  Baker,  I  think  you  were  too 
"  fevere.  He  fhould  have  been 
"  punifhed,  but  not  fo  horribly. 
"Why  fhould  we  crufh  a  Moth 
"  with  a  Sledge-hammer  ?  for  it 
"  liveth,  O  Caliph,  but  a  Day. 

Then  faid  the  Caliph,  "  Go  to; 
"  in  executing  Juftice,  I  may  have 
"  been  too  unmindful  of  Mercy.  But 
"  yet  the  abufes  of  the  City  muft  be 
"  remedied.  Frame  me,  therefore,  LOT< 
"  O  Giafar !  a  Syftem  of  Police 
"  that  fhall  comprehend  all  ClafTes, 
"  and  when  we  fhall  have  eftablifhed 
"  it  a  little,  you  and  I  will  go  forth 
"  in  the  Evening,  difguifed  as  Mer- 
"  chants,  and  fee  how  it  works." 

Giafar 


29 


So,  like- 
wise, Cal. 
Motassem, 
in  re  Al 
Merouzi. — 
D'HERBE- 


30  Of  the  Caliph  Haroun's  &c. 

Giafar  faid,  "  I  hear  and  obey." 
And  he  went  forth  lefs  heavy  in 
Heart,  and  repaired  to  his  Palace, 
and  mufed  in  his  Mind  concerning 
the  new  Police. 

Afterwards  he  went  to  vifit  his 
Mother.  And  fhe  faid,  "  Bleffed 
"  art  thou,  O  my  Son  Giafar  !  to  be 
"  in  fuch  Efteem  with  the  Caliph, 
"  for  he  knows  how  to  prize  Virtue 
"  and  recompenfe  Merit ;  he  is  not 
"  fuch  an  One  as  the  Caliph  his 
"  Brother.  Thou  art  dear  and  de- 
"  lightful  in  his  Eyes." 

Giafar  anfwered  his  Mother  and 
faid,  "  O  my  Mother,  I  am  grateful 
"  for  the  Caliph's  Efteem,  and  I 
"  truft  that  I  mall  not  abufe  it;  but 
"  it  behoves  me  to  walk  as  if  I  were 
"  crofting  the  Bridge  of  a  fingle 
"  Hair,  for  he  is  like  a  young  Lion 
"  that  may,  any  Moment,  turn  on 
"  me  and  rend  me." 

III. 


Avarice  of  the  Blind  Beggar. 


. 

sf  9 


|  O/" 


m, 

Avarice  of  the   Blind  Beggar,   Baba 
Abdala. 


AFTER  this,  the  Caliph  received 
Embaffies  and  Congratulations,  and 
exchanged  Letters  and  Prefents  with 
foreign  Princes,  and  fent  Troops  in- 
to divers  Provinces,  and  revifed  the 
Cuftoms  of  the  State.  Throughout 
all  the  City  and  all  the  Land  and 
all  foreign  Lands,  he  became  re- 
nowned. His  Name  was  like  the 
Tigris,  rifmg  from  a  fmall  Source, 
and  rolling  onward  and  joining  the 

Euphrates, 


A.D.  787. 

Heg.  165. 


32 


Of  the 
Caliph's 


Of  the  Avarice  of 


Euphrates,  and  at  laft  becoming  Part 
of  the  mighty  Sea. 

One  Day  Giafar  came  in  unto 
Access  of  the  Caliph,  and  found  him  fitting 
choiyn"  alone  and  in  profound  Thought; 
and  he  welcomed  him  not,  nor  fo 
much  as  lift  up  his  Eyes  when  he 
drew  nigh  unto  him.  Then  Giafar 
remained  ilanding  where  he  was, 
and  at  length  the  Caliph  raifed  his 
Eyes  and  faw  him,  but  ftraitway 
looked  afide  and  took  no  Notice  of 
him. 

At  length  Giafar  faid,  "  O  Prince 
"  of  the  Faithful !  why  is  thy 
"  Countenance  fallen  ?  and  why  art 
"  thou  overcome  with  Dejection?  " 
The  Caliph  made  Anfwer  and 
faid,  "  O  Giafar !  there  are  Times 
"  when  we  are  overcome  with  the 
"  Shadow  of  Darknefs  without  being 
"  able  to  affign  any  Reafon  thereof, 
"  and  fuch  is  the  Cafe  with  me  at 

prefent. 


the  Blind  Beggar. 


"  prefent.  I  have  all  earthly  Glory  at 
"  my  Command — it  does  not  feem 
"  worth  an  Egg !  I  care  neither 
"  for  Friends,  nor  Wives,  nor  Chil- 
"  dren,  nor  Fame,  nor  Riches,  nor 
"  for  Life  itfelf !  All  appears  a 
"  vain  Dream." 

Giafar  replied,  "O  Caliph!  thefe 
"  Fluctuations  of  Spirit  are  natural 
"  to  all  Men ;  fave  thofe  who  never 
"  think,  and  who  are  unremittingly 
"  employed  in  Something  that  takes 
"  them  out  of  themfelves.  It  were 
"  better  that  I  came  to  thee  another 
"  Day  on  the  Bufinefs  in  Hand." 
"What  is  it?"  faid  the  Caliph. 
Giafar  anfwered,  "  I  have  organized 
"  the  Police  of  Bagdad,  and  I  came 
"  to  receive  thy  Commands  when 
"  we  mould  go  forth  in  Difguife  to 
"  obferve  how  it  works."  "  No 
"  Time  like  the  prefent,"  faid  the 
Caliph.  "  Go  thou  and  difguife 
D  "  thyfelf 


34 


Of  the 
blind  Man 
at  the 
Bridge 
Foot. 


Of  the  Avarice  of 


"  thyfelf  as  a  Merchant  from  Tibe- 
"  rias,  and  I  will  do  like  wife." 

Then  they  difguifed  themfelves 
fo  cunningly  that  it  was  impoifible 
they  ihould  be  recognifed  ;  for  the 
Caliph  painted  a  Furrow  between 
his  Eye-brows,  and  a  Line  from 
each  Noftril  that  made  him  look 
forty  Years  of  Age.  While  he  did 
thus,  he  fmiled  in  his  Heart,  and 
forgot  his  Melancholy.  They  went 
through  a.  private  Door  of  the 
Palace  Garden  which  opened  into 
the  Country.  They  pa/Ted  along 
the  Banks  of  the  River,  without 
noticing  any  Irregularity,  and  croffed 
the  River  in  the  first  Boat  they 
found,  and  reviewed  the  City  on 
the  oppofite  Bank;  after  which,  they 
returned  acrofs  the  Tigris  by  the 
Bridge  of  Boats. 

At  the  Foot  of  the  Bridge,  they 
obferved  a  blind  old  Man,  begging. 

The 


the  Blind  Beggar. 


The  Caliph  dropped  a  Piece  of 
Gold  into  his  Hand ;  whereon  the 
blind  Man  caught  him  by  the  Sleeve 
and  cried,  "  Whoever  thou  art,  who 
"  giveft  me  this  Alms,  give  me 
"  likewife  a  Blow  on  the  Head,  I 
"  befeech  thee;  for  I  have  deferved 
"  this  Punimment,  and  much 
"  greater." 

The  Caliph  would  have  plucked 
his  Sleeve  away,  but  the  Beggar 
held  him  faft;  whereon  he  faid,  "O 
"  blind  Man !  I  cannot  do  that 
"which  thou  requirest;  I  wim 
"  thee  Good,  and  thou  wouldft 
"  compel  me  to  do  thee  Evil."  "  O 
"  Mafter,"  rejoined  the  Beggar,  "  I 
"  befeech  thee,  deny  me  not,  other- 
"  wife  I  muft  return  thine  Alms  or 
"  break  mine  Oath."  Thereupon 
the  Caliph  gave  him  a  flight  Blow 
on  the  Head  and  went  on  his  Way, 
followed  by  the  blind  Man's  Bleffings. 

While 


Of  the 
newly  built 
House. 


Of  the  Avarice  of 


While  the  Caliph  mufed  in  his 
Mind  what  this  might  mean,  he 
obferved  in  a  Street  through  which 
he  had  not  lately  pafled,  a  newly 
built  House,  which  feemed  that  of 
a  rich  Man.  He  inquired  of  a 
Neighbour  who  dwelt  therein. 
"  O  Merchant,"  replied  the  Man, 
"  this  Houfe  belongs  to  Cogia 
"  Haffan  the  Rope-maker,  who  till 
"  lately  purfued  his  Trade  in  ex- 
"  treme  Poverty,  and  I  know  not 
"  by  what  Means  he  hath  become 
"  fo  rich/5  Then  the  Caliph  faid 
apart  to  Giafar,  "  I  would  fee  this 
"  Cogia  Haffan,  and  learn  of  him 
"  by  what  Means  he  hath  acquired 
"  fuch  Wealth  as  to  enable  him  to 
"  build  fo  large  a  Houfe.  Bid  him 
"  come  to  me  To-morrow,  when 
"  the  Afternoon  Prayers  are  ended; 
"  and  return  likewife  to  the  blind 
"  Man,  and  defire  him  to  come  alfo." 

Giafar 


the  Blind  Beggar.  37 


Giafar  faid,  "  I  hear  and  obey ;  " 
wherefore,  on  the  enfuing  After- 
noon the  two  Men  flood  before  the 
Caliph  and  proftrated  themfelves. 
Then  the  Caliph  bade  them  arife, 
and  inquired  of  the  blind  Man 
wherefore  he  had  refufed  to  take  an 
Alms  without  likewife  receiving  a 
Blow. 

"  O    Caliph,"   faid    the    Beggar,    story  of 
"  thy  Servant  is  named  Bab  a  Ab-    ddna. 
"  dalla.     From  my  Youth  up  I  was 
"  frugal     and     fond     of     Money ; 
"  wherefore  I  was  at  length  enabled 
"  to  buy  fourfcore   Camels,  which 
"  I  lent    on    Hire  to    the   Caravan 
"  Merchants,    accompanying    them 
"  myfelf  to  divers  Places,  for  Pur- 
"  pofes  of  Trade. 

"  It  came  to  pafs,  that  one  Day,  as 
"  I  was  returning  from  Ba/forawith 
"  my  Camels  unladen,  and  medi- 
"  tating  deeply  how  I  fhould  extend 

"my 


Of  the  Avarice  of 


"  my  Pofleffions,  I  came  to  a  con- 
"  venient  Pafturage,  where  I  turned 
"  them  to  graze,  while  I  fate  down 
"  to  reft.  Anon  I  was  accofted  by 
"  a  Dervifh,  who  fate  down  befide 
"  me,  and  inquired  whence  I  came, 
"  and  whither  I  was  going.  I 
"  fatisfied  him,  and  then  put  the 
"  fame  Queftions  to  him  ;  whereon 
"  he  told  me,  that  lince  I  feemed 
"  to  love  Money,  he  could  tell  me 
"  of  a  Place  he  had  lately  discovered 
"  by  Chance  in  his  Wanderings, 
"  where  lay  a  Treafure  fo  vaft,  that 
"  if  all  my  fourfcore  Camels  fhould 
"  be  laden  from  thence  with  Gold 
"  and  Jewels,  it  would  feem  as  if 
"  Nothing  had  been  taken  away. 

"Then  cried  I,  <O  Dervifh! 
"fhew  me  this  Place!'  'Prefently,' 
"faid  he,  « thou  fhalt  fee  it;"  and 
"  deliberately  finished  eating  some 
"  Food  I  had  given  him.  *  Let  us 

"not 


the  Blind  Beggar. 


66  not  lofe  Time/  faid  I  at  length ; 
"  f  thou  art  one  who  has  little  In- 
"  terefl  in  the  Things  of  this  World, 
"  and  Treafure  is  of  no  Value  to 
"  thee ;  but  to  me  it  is  of  infinite 
"  Confideration,  wherefore,  if  I 
"  indeed  find,  as  thou  fayeft,  that 
"  there  is  Treafure  enough  to  load 
"  my  fourfcore  Camels,  I  will  give 
"  one  of  them,  with  its  Burthen,  to 
"  thee. 

"  '  O  Man  ! '  replied  he,  with  a 
"  Smile,  and  a  Look  that  fearched  my 
"  Heart,  '  thou  knoweft  that  what 
"  thou  offereft  bears  no  Proportion 
"  to  the  Benefit  thou  expe&eft  to 
"  derive  from  me.  I  needed  not  to 
"  have  told  thee  of  this  Treafure, 
"  nor  needed  I  to  mew  thee  the 
"  Way.  Why  mould  I  concern  my- 
"  felf  at  all  with  fo  over-reaching  a 
"  Fellow?  However,  I  will  propofe 
"  an  Arrangement  which  thou  wilt 

"yet 


40  Of  the  Avarice  of 


"  yet  find  advantageous  enough. 
"  We  will  together  load  the  Camels 
"  with  as  much  as  they  can  carry, 
"  on  Condition  that  thou  fhalt  give 
"  Half  of  them  with  their  Burthens 
"  to  me ;  after  which  we  will  go  our 
"  feparate  Ways,  and  fee  each  other's 
"  Faces  no  more.  Thou  feeft  that 
"  by  this  Means,  though  thou  (halt 
"  have  given  me  forty  Camels,  I 
"  mall  have  fupplied  thee  with  the 
(<  Means  to  purchafe  a  thoufand.' 

"  I  faid,  'I  confent;  on  my  Head 
u  be  it;'  though  grudgingly  in  my 
"  Heart.  Then  I  haftily  collefted 
"  the  Camels,  and  drove  them  along 
"after  the  Dervifh.  After  fome 
"  Time  we  reached  a  Valley,  the 
"  Entrance  of  which  was  fo  narrow 
"  that  my  Camels  could  only  enter 
"  it  in  fingle  File ;  but  after  a 
"  While  the  Path  widened  and 
"  extended  into  a  little  Meadow, 

"  hemmed 


the  Blind  Beggar. 


"  hemmed  in  by  inacceffible  Rocks. 
"  Here  the  Dervifh  defired  that  we 
"  fhould  halt.  I  made  the  Camels 
"  lie  down,  and  then,  joining  him, 
"  found  that  he  had  kindled  a  little 
"  Fire  of  Brufhwood.  He  caft 
"  into  it  fome  Perfume,  uttering 
"Words  I  underftood  not;  where- 
"  on  a  thick  Smoke  arofe  into  the 
"  Air. 

"  When  the  Smoke  difperfed,  I 
"  perceived  what  I  had  not  ieen 
f<  before,  a  fmall  Fiffure  in  the  Face 
"  of  the  Rock,  juft  large  enough  to 
"  admit  a  Man  on  his  Hands  and 
"  Knees.  The  Dervifti  bade  me 
"  enter,  and  followed  me.  I  was 
"  foon  able  to  ftand  up  and  look 
"  around  me,  and  I  marvelled  to 
"  find  myfelf  in  a  huge  Cavern, 
"  lighted  by  what  Aperture  I  knew 
"  not,  and  filled  with  Heaps  of  Trea- 
"  fure  either  hidden  by  Robbers,  or 

"  placed 


42  Of  the  Avarice  of 

f  placed    there    by  evil    Spirits  for ! 
f  the  Temptation  of  Mankind. 

"  As  an  Eagle  darts  on  his  Prey, 
c  fo  flew  I,  O  Caliph,  to  the  neareft 
:  Heap  of  Gold,  and  began  to  fill 
:  a  Sack  with  it.  The  Dervish  was 

•  equally  busy,  but  confined  himfelf 
'  to  Jewels,  which,  as  he  explained 

•  to  me,  was  on  Account  of  their 
:  lying  in  fo  much  fmaller  Compafs 
'  than  their  Value  in  Gold.    There- 

•  upon    I    helped    myfelf    alfo    to 
f  Jewels,    even    until    my    Avarice 
f  was  fatiated ;    and  when  we  had 
f  with    Difficulty   and    for    a    long 
1  Time  employed  ourfelves  in  re- 

•  moving    them,    by    pulling    and 

•  pufhing    them    in    fmall     Loads 
f  through  the  Aperture,  we  loaded 
f  our  Camels  and  prepared  to  de- 
f  part. 

"  Now  it  came  to  pafs,  O  Caliph, 
'  that  before  we  left  the  Cavern, 

"the 


the  Blind  Beggar. 


"  the  Dervifh  placed  in  his  Bofom 
66  a  fmall  Pot  of  Ointment,  which 
"  he  found  among  the  Treafure. 
"  Then  he  kindled  a  Fire  and  ut- 
"  tered  certain  Words;  after  which, 
"  the  Entrance  to  the  Cavern 
"  was  no  longer  to  be  difcerned. 
"We  then  divided  the  loaded 
"  Camels,  placed  ourfelves  at  the 
"  Head  of  our  feparate  Divifions, 
"  returned  whence  we  came,  and 
"parted;  he  taking  the  Road  to 
"  B  a/for  a,  and  I  to  Bagdad.  Now, 
"  I  had  not  journeyed  far,  when, 
"  inflead  of  being  elated  at  the 
"  Treafure  I  had  fo  eaiily  fecured, 
"  I  began  to  envy  the  Dervifh  his 
"Share  of  the  Spoils.  <  Of  a 
"Surety/  thought  I,  'he  hath  no 
"  Need  of  it,  for  he  can  return  and 
"  help  himfelf  again  when  he  will.' 
"  Thereupon,  I  made  my  Camels 
"  halt,  and  ran  after  the  Dervim, 

"  calling 


44  Of  the  Avarice  of 

"  calling  to  him  as  loudly  as  I  could. 
"  He  heard  me  and  flopped.  As 
"  foon  as  I  came  up  to  him,  *  Bro- 
"  ther,'  faid  I,  panting,  '  I  have 
"  thought  of  what  did  not  occur  to 
"  me  before  we  feparated.  Thou 
"  art  an  holy  Man,  devoted  to  the 
"  Contemplation  of  heavenly  Things, 
"  and  haft  no  Concern  with  earthly 
"  Riches.  They  will  only  be  an 
"  Encumbrance  to  thee,  and  a  Snare 
"  unto  thy  Soul.  Be  content, 
"  therefore,  and  take  only  thirty 
"  Camels — thou  wilt  find  them 
"  fufficiently  difficult  to  manage/ 

"  He  looked  at  me  penetratingly, 
"  faid,  '  I  am  content; '  and  let  me 
"  take  them  without  a  Word.  I 
"  felt  a  little  Shame  as  I  drove 
"  them  away,  but  foon  forgot  it 
"  in  my  Regret  that,  while  I  was 
"  about  it,  I  had  not  afked  for 
"  twenty  Camels  inftead  of  ten. 

"  Wherefore, 


the  Blind  Beggar. 


"  Wherefore,  I  returned  unto  him 
"  again,  and  faid,  '  Brother,  I  am 
"  ftill  uneafy  for  thy  Comfort. 
"  Thou  art  unaccuflomed  to  driving 
"  Camels,  and  will  find  twenty 
"  require  all  thy  {kill ;  whereas  I, 
"  being  ufed  to  them,  can  drive 
"  fixty  as  well  as  one.'  '  That  is 
"  true/  replied  he,  and  he  fuffered 
"  me  to  take  ten  more  Camels  from 
"  him.  I  fhould  now  have  been 
"  content ;  but  like  a  Man  in  a 
"  Dropfy,  who,  the  more  he 
"  drinketh,  the  more  thirfty  he 
"  becomes,  I  grew  ftill  more  greedy 
"  for  the  twenty  Camels  which  the 
"  Dervifli  ftill  poffeffed. 

"  I  therefore  asked  him  for  ten 
"  more ;  he  was  in  no  Condition  to 
"  difpute  for  them  with  me ;  and 
"  I  then  afked  for  the  laft  remaining 
"  ten.  '  Make  a  good  Ufe  of  them, 
"  Brother,'  faid  he,  <  and  remember 

"  that 


46  Of  the  Avarice  of 


"  that  GOD  can  take  away  Riches 
"  from  us  as  well  as  beftow  them, 
"  if  we  do  not  dedicate  them  to  His 
"  Glory,  by  making  them  fervice- 
"  able  to  the  Poor,  whom  He  could 
"  eafily  enrich,  but  whom  He  is 
"  pleafed  to  leave  in  Poverty  for 
"  the  exprefs  Purpofe  of  giving  the 
"  Rich  an  Opportunity,  by  their 
"  Alms,  of  meriting  his  Favour  in 
"  a  better  World.' 

"  I  heard  him  with  little  Atten- 
"  tion,  my  Soul  being  athirft  to 
"  obtain  from  him  the  little  Pot  of 
"  Ointment.  '  Why  fhouldft  thou 
"  burthen  thyfelf  with  it  ? '  faid  I. 
"'A  Dervifh  can  furely  have  no 
"  Occafion  for  it;  and  it  is  such  a 
"  Trifle,  that  thou  wilt  hardly 
"  refuse  to  give  it  to  me/ 

"  O  Caliph !  would  that  he  had 
"  denied  my  Requeft !  Inftead 
"  whereof,  he  ftraightway  plucked 

"it 


the  Blind  Beggar. 


it  from  his  Bofom,  and  put  it 
into  my  Hands  with  a  Smile,  fay- 
ing, '  There,  Brother,  take  it,  and 
may  thy  Soul  be  fatisfied ;  it  is 
for  Application  to  the  Eyes. 
I  advife  thee,  neverthelefs,  not 
to  make  Ufe  of  it  unto  thine 
Hurt.' 

"  O  Caliph,  I  deemed  that  he 
would  keep  from  me  the  Power 
of  efpying  hidden  Treafure,  and 
haftily  rubbed  both  my  Eyes  with 
the  Ointment,  expecting  that  the 
Riches  of  an  unknown  World 
would  be  revealed  to  me.  In 
Place  of  this,  I  found  myfelf 
totally  blind!  *  Ah,  ill-omened 
Dervifh  ! '  cried  I,  '  what  Mif- 
chief  haft  thou  wrought  upon 
me  ! '  '  Unhappy  Man,'  faid  he, 
*  thou  haft  brought  it  on  thyfelf. 
I  advifed  thee  to  forbear,  but  thy 
infatiable  Covetoufnefs,  which 

"  made 


Of  the  Avarice  of 


"  made  thee  grudge  me  this  little 
"  Pot  of  Ointment  after  my  beftow- 
"  ing  on  thee  vaft  Riches,  has  met 
"  with  its  juft  Defert.  The  Blind- 
"  nefs  of  thine  Heart  has  brought 
"  upon  thee  the  Blindnefs  of  thine 
"  Eyes.  It  is  true  I  poflefs  many 
"  Secrets,  as  thou  muft  have  learnt 
"  even  during  the  fhort  Time  we 
"  have  been  in  Company ;  but  I 
"  have  not  one  that  will  reftore 
"  thee  to  Sight.  GOD  beftowed  on 
"  thee  Riches  of  which  thou  waft 
"  unworthy.  He  is  now  about  to 
"  withdraw  them  from  thee,  and 
"  diftribute  them,  by  my  Hands, 
"  among  thofe  who  will  be  more 
"  grateful  for  them.' 

"  So  faying,  he  departed,  taking 
"  with  him  my  fourfcore  Camels, 
"  which  I  had  no  Means  of  with- 
"  holding  from  him ;  and  I  groped 
"  my  Way  homeward,  pennilefs, 

"  blind, 


the    "Blind  Beggar. 


"  blind,  and  diftrafted  with  Sorrow. 
"  I  had  no  Refource  left  but  to  beg 
"  Alms,  and  this  has  been  my 
"  Employment  to  the  prefent  Hour; 
"  but  to  expiate  my  Crime  towards 
"  GOD,  I  have  impofed  on  myfelf 
"  the  Punifhment  of  a  Blow  from 
"  every  charitable  Perfon  who  mall 
"  relieve  me.  O  Caliph,  my  Story 
"  is  ended." 

The     Caliph     then     faid,     "  O 
"  Baba  Abdalla  !  thy  Sin  has  been 


The 

Caliph's 

Judgment 

"great;  but  thou  art  fenfible  of 
"  its  Enormity,  and  haft  fubmitted 
"  to  this  public  Penance  in  Token 
"  of  thy  Contrition.  Continue 
"  to  afk  Pardon  of  GOD  in  thy 
"  daily  Prayers,  but  abftain  hence- 
"  forth  from  begging ;  and  to 
"  fupply  thee  with  the  Means 
"  of  Subfiftence  I  will  beftow  on 
"  thee  four  Drachms  of  Silver 
"  daily." 

Then 


49 


50  Avarice  of  the  Blind  Beggar. 


Then  Baba  Abdalla  caft  himfelf 
at  the  Caliph's  Feet,  and  luffed 
the  Hem  of  his  Garments ;  after 
which  he  departed,  bleffing  him  as 
he  went. 


IV 


Of  Cogia  Haffan. 


IV. 

Of  the  Poverty  and  Profperity  of  Cogia  Haflan 
the  Ropemaker. 

THEN  fpoke  the  Caliph  to  Cogid 
Haffan  the  Ropemaker,  and  faid 
unto  him,  "O  Cogia  Haffan!  on 
"  paffing  thy  Houfe  yefterday,  I 
"  marvelled  at  its  Beauty,  and  in- 
"  quired  by  whom  it  was  built.  I 
"  learnt  that  its  Owner  was  a  Man 
"  of  an  excellent  Spirit,  who  had 
"  until  now  followed  an  Occupa- 
"  tion  which  barely  fupplied  him 
"  with  Bread.  Tell  me,  therefore, 
"  by  what  extraordinary  Means  it 

"  hath 


52 


Poverty  &  Profperity 


Story  of 

Cogia 

Hassan. 


Disciples, 
one  would 
think,  of 
the  subtle 
Abou  Ishak 
al  Nadhdn. 


"  hath  pleafed  Heaven  to  enrich 
"  thee." 

Then  Cogia  Haffan  proftrated 
himfelf  and  touched  the  Ground 
with  his  Forehead ;  after  which  he 
arofe  and  faid :  "  Prince  of  the 
"  Faithful,  to  the  proper  Under- 
"  ftanding  of  my  Story,  it  is 
"  neceffary  that,  in  the  firft  Place, 
"  thou  fhouldft  know  that  there 
"  are  in  Bagdad  two  Men,  named 
"  Saadi  and  Saad,  bofom  Friends, 
"  to  whom,  under  Heaven,  I  owe 
"  all  my  Profperity. 

"  Now,  Saadi9  who  is  exceed- 
"  ingly  rich,  early  acquired  the 
"  Opinion  that  great  Riches  are 
"  neceffary  to  Happinefs,  and  that 
"  the  only  Way  to  acquire  them  is 
"  to  have  a  good  Capital  wherewith 
"  to  ftart  in  Life.  But  Saad,  who 
"  hath  little  Wealth,  and  ftill  more 
"  moderate  Delires,  was  early  con- 

"  vinced 


ofCogia  Haffan. 


"  vinced  that  Gold  conferreth  not 
"  Happinefs,  and  that  a  Sufficiency 
"  may  commonly  be  attained  by 
"  moft  Men,  if  they  will  but  profit 
"  by  the  common  Accidents  and 
"  Opportunities  that  come  in  their 
"  Way. 

"  On  a  certain  Day,  it  befel  that 
"  thefe  two  Friends  were  difcourfing 
"  on  this  Matter  as  they  were  pafs- 
"  ing  my  Rope-walk.  Then  faith 
"  Saad,  '  O  Saadi,  behold,  here  is 
"  a  Man,  whom  I  have  long  feen 
"  purfuing  his  Trade  in  Poverty. 
"  Let  us  inquire  of  him  a  little  of 
"  the  State  of  his  Affairs.'  Then 
"  approaching  me  with  his  Friend, 
"  <  Peace  be  with  thee  ! '  faid  he. 
"  '  I  have  often  noticed  thee  at  thy 
"  Work,  and  fince  thou  art  laborious, 
"  no  Doubt  thy  Bufinefs  thrives,  and 
"  if  thou  haft  not  laid  by  Money, 
"  thou  haft  at  any  Rate  a  good 

"  Stock 


54 


Poverty  &  Prosperity 


"  Stock  of  Hemp  on  Hand,  and  art 
"  in  eafy  Circumftances.'  '  Ah,  my 
"Lord!'  returned  I,  'would  that 
"  it  were  thus  with  thy  Servant ! 
"  I  have  a  Wife  and  five  fmall 
"  Children,  and  though  I  labour 
"  continually,  I  can  barely  keep 
"  them  in  Clothing  and  Bread. 
"  Though  Hemp  is  not  expenfive, 
"  I  am  unable  to  purchafe  more  than 
"  I  require  for  immediate  Ufe, 
"  otherwife  I  mould  be  unable  to 
"  purchafe  Food ;  but  we  are  con- 
"  tent  with  the  Little  which  GOD 
"  is  pleafed  to  beftow  on  us,  and 
"  happy  among  ourfelves.' 

"  '  Said  I  not  fo,  O  SaadiT  whif- 
"  pered  Saad.  '  This  Man  is  peace- 
"  fill,  though  poor.'  '  But  he  will 
"  never  ceafe  to  be  poor  without  a 
"  Lift,'  rejoins  Saadi.  '  Hear  me, 
"  O  Ha/an!  What  fayeft  thou,  if 
'*  I  give  thee  two  hundred  Pieces 

"of 


of  Cogia  Haflan. 


"  of  Gold,  to  enable  thee  to  make 
"  a  good  Start  in  Bufinefs  ?  Would 
"  not  fuch  a  Capital  enable  thee 
"  foon  to  become  as  rich  as  the 
"  principal  Ropemakers  ? '  '  My 
"  Lord/  faid  I,  *  thou  art  perad- 
<e  venture  diverting  thyfelf  at  the 
"  Expenfe  of  thy  Servant.  A  much 
"  fmaller  Sum  would  doubtlefs  fuf- 
"  fice  for  the  Purpofe.'  '  Never- 
"thelefs/  faid  Saadi,  'that  Sum 
"  fhalt  thou  have.  Thou  wilt  find 
"  it  in  this  Purfe ;  take  it,  and 
"  may  God's  Blefiing  be  on  it  and 
"  thee!  Farewell!  when  next  I  fee 
"  thee,  may  I  find  thee  a  rich  Man ! ' 
"  O  Caliph  !  I  was  ftruck  dumb  ! 
"  My  Surprife  and  Pleafure  were 
"  fuch,  that  I  could  only  teftify  my 
"  Gratitude  by  feizing  the  Hem  of 
"  my  Benefactor's  Garment  to  kifs 
"  it;  but  he  haftily  withdrew  it,  and 
"  departed  with  his  Friend. 

"The 


5  6  Poverty  &  Profperity 


"  The  firft  Thing  that  occurred 
"  to  me  was,  where  fhould  I  put 
"  the  Purfe  ?  In  my  little  Houfe  I 
"  had  neither  Box  nor  Cheft  with  a 
"  Lock,  nor  any  Place  of  Security. 
"  In  this  Perplexity,  as  I  had  been 
"  ufed,  like  many  poor  Men,  to  hide 
"  the  Little  I  poffeffed  in  the  Folds 
"  of  my  Turban,  I  now  placed  my 
"  Purfe  therein,  only  taking  from  it 
"  ten  Pieces  of  Gold,  with  which  I 
"  immediately  proceeded  to  buy  a 
"  good  Stock  of  Hemp,  and  a  Piece 
"  of  Meat  for  Supper. 

"  I  was  returning  from  the  Mar- 
"  ket-place  with  the  Meat  in  my 
"  Hand,  thinking  how  over-joyed 
"  my  Wife  and  Children  would  be 
"  with  fo  unufual  a  Treat,  when  a 
"  ravenous  Kite  darted  down  at  it, 
"  and  would  have  carried  it  off  had 
"  I  not  held  it  fail.  Alas !  I  had 
"  better  have  let  it  go,  for  then 

"  fhould 


0/~Cogia  Haffan. 


"  fhould  I  not  have  loft  my  Purfe. 
"  The  Kite,  difappointed  of  the 
"  Meat,  bore  away  my  Turban, 
"  with  the  Purfe  in  its  Folds ;  and 
"  my  Cries,  inftead  of  ferving  to 
"  make  him  drop  it,  only  drew  forth 
"  my  Neighbours.  When  I  told 
"  them  the  Kite  had  flown  off  with 
"  my  Turban,  they  pitied  me  ;  but 
"  when  I  added  that  the  Turban 
"  contained  a  Purfe  of  Gold,  they 
"  only  laughed,  and  did  not  believe 
"  me.  I  therefore  went  Home, 
"  ftaying  myfelf  with  the  Reflec- 
"  tion  that  I  had  yet  feveral  of  my 
"  ten  Pieces  left,  and  a  good  Stock 
"  of  Hemp  for  my  Rope-making. 

"About  fix  Months  after  this, 
"  Saadi  and  Saad  again  approached 
"me.  'What,  Ha/an ! ''  cried 
"  Saadi  cheerfully,  '  ftill  at  thy 
"  Rope-making,  and  no  better  clad 
"  than  of  old  ?  How  goes  thy 

"  Bufmefs  ? ' 


Poverty  &  Profperity 


"  Bufinefs  ? '  «  Alas,  Mafter ! '  faid 
"  I,  '  I  am  as  thou  feeft  me,  juft  the 
"  fame  as  before.  I  hid  my  Gold, 
"  fave  ten  Pieces,  in  my  Turban ; 
"  and  a  Kite  flew  away  with  it/ 
"  '  This  founds  highly  improbable/ 
"  faid  Saadi  diftruftfully.  '  I  admit 
"  it,'  replied  I,  '  yet  it  is  the  Truth 
"  neverthelefs.'  '  Doubt  him  not, 
"O  Saadi!9  faid  Saad ;  '  the  Man 
"  is  ingenuous,  and  Cafes  are  re- 
"  corded  of  Kites,  equally  marvel- 
"  lous  with  this.'  *  I  cannot  help 
"  fearing,'  faid  Saadi,  ( that  he  may 
"  have  fquandered  the  Money,  and 
"  have  invented  this  Story  to  cover 
"  his  Shame ;  however,  I  will  try 
"  him  once  again.  Here,  HaJ/an, 
"  is  another  Purfe,  containing  two 
"  hundred  Pieces ;  be  more  careful 
"  of  it  than  of  the  laft.' 

"  I  was  afhamed  to  receive  it  of 
"  him,  but  he  infifted  on  my  doing 

«fo, 


of  Cogia  Haflan. 


"  fo,  and  immediately  departed  with 
"  his  Friend.  This  Time,  I  re- 
"  folved  not  to  hide  my  Purfe  in 
"  my  Turban ;  but  returning  to  my 
"  Houfe,  which  happened  to  be 
"  empty,  I  laid  alide  ten  Pieces  for 
"  prefent  Ufe,  and  wrapped  up  the 
"  Reft  in  a  Piece  of  Linen,  which 
"  I  put  at  the  Bottom  of  a  large 
"  earthen  Pot  full  of  Bran,  which 
"  had  long  been  on  the  Shelf  with- 
"  out  our  having  any  Occaiion  for 
"  it.  My  Wife  came  in  foon 
"  afterwards ;  and  as  I  was  nearly 
"  deftitute  of  Hemp,  I  told  her  I 
"  was  going  forth  to  buy  fome. 

"In  my  Abfence,  O  Caliph,  it 
"befel  that  a  Seller  of  Fuller's 
"  Earth,  fuch  as  Women  ufe  in  the 
Bath,  paffed  through  our  Street, 
crying  it  for  Sale.  My  Wife, 
wanting  fome,  and  having  no 
Money,  offered  him  the  Pot  of 

"  Bran 


60  Poverty  &  Profperlty 

"  Bran    in    Exchange     for     fome, 
"  which  he  accepted. 

"  I  returned,  laden  with  as  much 
"  Hemp  as  I  could  carry,  followed 
"  by  five  Porters  laden  as  I  was, 
"  and  I  flowed  away  their  Burthens 
"  and  my  own  in  a  little  Out-houfe 
"  I  fet  apart  for  that  Purpofe.  On 
"  returning  to  our  Kitchen,  I  fat 
"  down  to  reft,  and  raifed  my  Eyes 
"  to  the  Shelf  whereon  I  had  fet 
"  the  Pot  of  Bran;  but,  behold!  it 
"  was  no  longer  there  ! 

"  Prince  of  the  Faithful !    I  can- 
"  not  exprefs  what  was  my  Confter- 
"  nation  !     I  haftily  afked  my  Wife 
"  what  had  become  of  it,  and  fhe 
"  related    quite     fimply    what    had 
"happened.     When  I  told  her,  in 
my    Trouble,    what    the    earthen 
Pot     had     contained,     fhe     was 
grievoufly  vexed,  and  angry  with 
me  too.      'Why  didft  thou  not, 

"  my 


(( 


ofCogia.  Haflan. 


my  Hufband,'  cried  fhe,  '  tell  me 
what  thou  hadft  done,  at  the 
Time?  All  this  refults  from 
Want  of  Confidence  in  thy  Wife. 
As  for  the  Seller  of  Fuller's 
Earth,  I  know  him  not  by  Name, 
nor  where  to  feek  him — he  never 
came  here  before,  and  may  never 
come  again  ;  efpecially  if  he  hath 
found  the  Money/  <O  Wife/ 
faid  I,  '  we  muft  fupport  our 
Misfortune  with  Patience  ;  nor  is 
there  any  Good  in  communicating 
it  to  others.  Inflead  of  murmur- 
ing, let  us  be  thankful  for  the 
ten  Gold  Pieces,  with  fome  of 
which  I  have  fecured  a  good 
Stock  of  Hemp,  while  the  Re- 
mainder will  keep  us  in  Food  for 
fome  Time.' 

"  She  fubmitted  with  a  meek  and 
lowly  Spirit,  though  the  Difap- 
pointment  muft  needs  have  been 

"  great ; 


62 


Poverty  &  Profperity 


"  great ;  and  we  went  on  as  before, 
"  poor,  but  content.  At  the  End 
"  of  another  fix  Months,  Saadi  and 
"  Saad  again  vifited  me.  '  Peace 
"be  with  thee,  O  Ha/an ! '  faid 
"  Saadi ;  art  thou  a  rich  Man  by 
"  this  Time  ? '  <  Alas,  no,  Mafter ! ' 
"  replied  I ;  and  related  unto  him 
"  what  had  happened.  ( It  may  be 
"  faid/  I  concluded,  '  that  I  ought 
"  not  to  have  put  my  Purfe  in  fuch 
"  a  Hiding-place,  but  I  had  no 
"  better ;  the  Jar  had  flood  on  the 
"  Shelf  for  Years ;  we  had  long  had 
"  no  Occafion  for  Bran ;  and,  on 
"  former  Occafions,  when  my  Wife 
"  had  ufed  any,  the  Jar  had  always 
"  remained.  Certainly,  I  fhould 
"  have  told  my  Wife  of  the  Money, 
"  but  how  could  I  guefs  what  would 
"  happen  during  fo  fhort  an  Ab- 
"  fence?' 

"  I  would  fain  believe  thy  Story, 


of  Cogia  HafTan. 


"  O  Ha/jan?  faid  Saadi,  €  but  verily 
"  it  is  difficult !  I  do  not  regret 
"  the  Lofs  of  my  four  hundred 
"  Pieces  of  Gold,  but  I  regret  that 
"  I  have  been  unable  to  eftablifh 
"  my  Principle,  as  I  fhould  per- 
"  adventure  have  done,  had  I  chofen 
"  another  Man  for  the  Experiment. 
"  Know,  however,  O  Saad 7  '  con- 
"  tinued  he,  turning  to  his  Friend, 
"  *  that  I  do  not  give  up  my  Point. 
"  This  Man,  with  Capital,  hath 
"  failed  to  become  rich ;  but  I  will 
"  never  believe  that  he  may  be 
"  made  rich  without  it.'  *  It  may 
"  be  fo,'  replied  Saad,  ftooping  and 
"  picking  up  a  Piece  of  old  Lead 
"that  lay  on  the  Ground;  '  how- 
"  ever,  it  is  now  my  Turn ;  and  I 
"  begin  by  giving  this  Bit  of  Lead 
"  to  Haffan,  and  telling  him  to  ufe 
"  it  to  the  beft  Advantage.'  Here- 
"  upon  Saadi  laughed  immoderately, 

"and 


64  Poverty  &  Profperity 


"  and  cried,  *  Pardon  me,  O  Saad ! 
<f  for  my  Rudenefs,  but  the  Thing 
"  is  too  ridiculous !  Of  what  Ufe 
"  can  the  lixth  Part  of  a  Farthing's 
"  Worth  of  Lead  be  to  a  poor 
"  Ropemaker  ? '  *  That  remains  to 
"  be  feen,'  returned  Saad;  '  take  it, 
"  HaJJan,  and  defpife  it  not ;  but 
"  watch  thine  Opportunity.  May 
"  a  Bleffing  reft  on  it  and  on  thee ! ' 

"  Thereupon  they  departed, 
"  leaving  me  comfortlefs  enough, 
"  and  deprived  of  any  vague  Hope 
"  I  might  have  entertained  of  re- 
"  ceiving  any  more  Money.  I  care- 
"  leflly  put  the  Lead  into  my  Bofom, 
"  and  returned  to  my  Rope-making. 

<cThat  Night,  when  I  took  off 
"  my  Sam,  in  preparing  to  go  to 
"Bed,  the  Lead,  which  I  had 
"  ceafed  to  think  of,  fell  to  the 
"  Ground,  I  took  it  up  and  placed 
"  it  on  the  Shelf, 

"  That 


of  Cogia  Haffan. 


"  That  very  Night  it  happened 
"  that  a  Neighbour  of  ours,  a  poor 
"  Fifherman,  who  was  fitting  up 
"  late,  mending  his  Nets  for  the 
"  Morrow,  found  he  wanted  a  Piece 
"  of  Lead ;  and  as  all  the  Shops 
"  were  {hut,  he  could  not  buy  any. 
"  As  he  meant  to  go  fifhing  two 
"  Hours  before  Daylight,  for  the 
"  Support  of  his  Family,  he  men- 
"  tioned  his  Need  to  his  Wife,  who 
"  undertook  to  inquire  among  her 
"  Neighbours  if  they  had  a  Piece  of 
"  Lead  wherewith  to  fupply  him. 

"  The  firft  Perfon  me  applied  to 
"  was  my  Wife,  who  was  juft  pre- 
"  paring  for  her  Night's  Reft. 
"  The  Voices  of  the  two  Women 
"  awoke  me ;  I  inquired  what  was 
"  the  Matter,  and  fleepily  told  my 
"  Wife  there  was  a  Piece  of  Lead 
"  on  the  Shelf,  to  which  my  Neigh- 
"  hour  was  welcome. 

"  The 


66 


The  Lead 
proves  of 
Account. 


Poverty  £•?  Pro/verify 


" 


"  The  Fifherman's  Wife  was  very 
"  grateful  to  us  for  fupplying  her 
"  Need.  '  I  promife  you,'  faid  fhe, 
"  as  fhe  departed,  '  that  you  {hall 
"  have  all  the  Fifh  my  Hufband 
"  fhall  catch  in  the  firft  Throw  of 
"  his  Nets.'  Then  fhe  returned 
"  and  told  him  what  fhe  had 

faid  ;  and  he,  well  pleafed  to  get 

the  Lead,  was  fatisfied  with  her 
"  Promife. 

"  The  next  Morning,  he  brought 
"  me  a  Fifh  about  a  Yard  long, 
"  faying,  '  This  is  all  I  caught  in 
"  my  firfl  Throw,  though  after- 
"  wards  I  was  more  fuccefsful;  but 
"  though  I  have  caught  many  Fifh, 
"  none  of  them  are  fo  fine  as  this.' 
"  I  faid,  *  I  am  content,  Brother. 
"  It  is  of  more  Value  to  me  than 
"  the  Lead,  and  Neighbours  fhould 
"  help  one  another  with  what  they 
"  have,  and  be  accommodating,  with- 

"out 


of  Cogia  Haffan. 


"  out  looking  for  a  Return.'  Then 
"  I  gave  it  to  my  Wife  and  bade 
"  her  clean  it,  and  drefs  it  for 
"  Dinner.  She  was  furprifed  and 
"  full  of  Joy  to  fee  fo  large  a  Fifh; 
"  but  doubted  whether  fhe  had  a 
"  Kettle  large  enough  to  hold  it. 
"  In  cleaning  it,  fhe  found  in  its 
"  Infide  a  Diamond,  fo  large  that 
"  fhe  fuppofed  it  to  be  a  Bit  of 
"  Glafs,  and  gave  it  to  the  Children 
"  to  play  with.  Meantime  I  went 
"  to  my  Work,  and  when  I  returned 
"  to  Supper,  the  Lamp  was  lit,  and 
"  the  Children  were  playing  in  a 
"  Corner,  and  making  loud  Excla- 
"  mations.  '  What  makes  you  fo 
"  noify,  my  Children  ? '  faid  I. 
"  '  O  Father ! '  faid  the  eldeft,  '  we 
"  are  diverting  ourfelves  with  a  Bit 
"  of  Glafs,  which  my  Mother  found 
"  in  the  Infide  of  the  Fifh.  Before 
"  the  Lamp  was  lit,  it  fparkled  like 

"  Fire 


68  Poverty  &  Profperity 

"  Fire  in  the  Dark,  and  even  now, 
"  it  fhines  brighter!:  when  we  turn 
"  our  Backs  to  the  Lamp.'  '  Come,' 
"  faid  I,  '  let  me  fee  it.'  When  I 
"  beheld  it,  I  was  amazed  at  its 
"  Brilliancy  ;  but  ftill,  in  my  Igno- 
"  ranee  of  precious  Stones,  fuppofed 
"  it  to  be  only  Glafs.  <  Well,'  faid 
"  I,  '  this  is  better  than  the  Bit  of 
"  Lead  given  me  by  the  good  Saad, 
"  for  it  will  ferve  us  inftead  of  a 
"  Lamp.' 

"  Now,  it  happened,  that  my 
"  next  Neighbour  was  a  Jew  of 
"  penurious  Habits,  who  dealt  in 
"  all  Sorts  of  Curiofities ;  and  be- 
(( tween  his  Houfe  and  mine  was 
"  only  a  very  thin  Divifion  of  Lath 
"  and  Plafter.  He,  hearing  perhaps 
"  fomewhat  of  our  Converfation 
"  through  the  Wall,  fent  in  his 
"  Wife  the  next  Morning,  to  fay 
"  he  had  been  difturbed  by  our 

"  Noife. 


of  Cogia  Haflan. 


Noife.  My  Wife  promifed  it 
fhould  not  occur  again,  but  ex- 
cufed  it  by  faying,  that  the  Chil- 
dren had  been  diverted  by  a  Piece 
of  Glafs,  fhe  had  found  within  a 
Fifh ;  which,  at  the  Jewefs's 
Requeft,  fhe  fhowed  her.  The 
Jewefs,  ftraightway  perceiving  it 
to  be  a  Diamond  of  the  fineft 
Water,  and  furprifed  at  its  Size, 
kept  her  Difcovery  to  herfelf,  and 
returned  to  her  Hufband,  whom 
fhe  inflantly  informed  of  it.  He, 
doubtlefs  thinking  it  beft  not  to 
appear  too  curious  about  it  in  the 
firft  Inflance,  fent  back  his  Wife  to 
fay  that  as  the  Trifle  was  pretty,  he 
would  give  a  fmall  Price  for  it.  My 
Wife,  quickening  to  fome  Senfe 
of  her  Property  on  this,  afked, 
'How  much?'  The  Jewefs,  after 
a  little  Hefitation,  faid,  '  Twenty 
Pieces  of  Gold.'  This  appeared 

"  fuch 


69 


The  Sub- 
tlety of  the 
Jewess. 


7° 

Poverty  &  Profperity 

"  fuch  a  dazzling  Offer  to  my  Wife,  ! 

"  that    flie    was    tempted    to    clofe 

"  with  it  on  the  Inftant  ;   but,  re- 

"  fle&ing   that    the    Jew  was   con- 

"  lidered  feldom  to  give  for  a  Thing 

"  what  it  was  worth,   (he,   though 

"  frill  quite  unconfcious  of  the  real 

u  Value    of  her  Treafure,  refolved 

"  not  to  part  with  it  till  fhe  had 

"  fpoken  to  me. 

"  I  returned  to  Dinner,  O  Caliph, 

"  while  yet  they  were  talking.     My 

"  Wife  immediately  told  me  what 

"  had  paffed  ;  and  the  Jewefs,  think- 

"  ing    perhaps,  from    my    Counte- 

"  nance,  that  I  did  not  confider  fhe 

u  had  offered  enough,  haftily  faid, 

"  '  I   will  give  you  fifty  Pieces  for 

"  it/ 

The 

"  This  put  me  on  my  Guard,  and 

Caution 
of  Cogia 

"  I  told  her  fhe  fhould  not  have  it. 

Hassan. 

"  '  Say    a    hundred     Pieces,    then/ 

"  purfued  ihe,   '  though    I    am   not 

"  fure 

of  Cogia  Haffan. 

u  fure  my  Hufband  will  be  pleafed 
"  at  my  offering  fo  much/  c  He 
"  fhall  not  have  it  for  lefs  than  a 
<c  hundred  thoufand,'  faid  I  fhortly ; 
"  little  expeding  to  be  taken  at  my 
"  Word,  but  merely  naming  that 
"  extravagant  Sum  in  order  to  get 
"  rid*  of  her,  and  reflect  a  little  on 
"  the  Subject,  before  I  applied  to 
"  fome  Jeweller  of  Credit,  from 
"  whom  I  might  really  learn  the 
"  Value  of  my  Treafure. 

66  The  Jewefs,  flartled  by  my 
"  Propofition,  flopped  fhort,  and 
"  after  a  Paufe,  faid,  '  I  am  going 
"  beyond  my  Knowledge.  But  I 
"  requefl  of  thee,  O  Haffan,  not  to 
"  part  with  the  Stone  till  my  Huf- 
"  band  has  feen  thee  and  treated  for 
"  it/ 

"This  I  promifed;  and  when  the 
"  Jew  came  in,  which  was  not  till 
"  Night,  he  examined  the  Diamond, 

"  and 


Poverty  &  Profperity 


"  and  offered  me  for  it,  fifty  thoufand 
"  Pieces  of  Gold.  But,  O  Caliph, 
"  I  had  meantime  confidered  the 
"  Matter,  and  refolved  not  to  grafp 
"at  the  firft  Offer  from  fo  fuf- 
"  picious  a  Character ;  I  therefore 
"  remained  firm  to  my  Declaration 
"  that  I  would  not  take  lefs  than  a 
"  hundred  thoufand.  He  chaffered 
"  with  me  a  good  while  about  this ; 
"  and  at  laft  faid,  '  Sooner  than  thou 
"  fhouldeft  take  it  to  the  Jeweller's, 
"  I  will  confent  to  thine  extravagant 
"  Terms ;  however,  I  have  not  at 
"  prefent  fo  much  by  me  in  the 
"  Houfe,  but  To-morrow  I  will 
"  raife  it  among  my  Brethren,  and 
"  bring  it  thee  as  at  about  this 
"  Hour;  meantime  I  will  at  once 
"  give  thee  two  thoufand  Pieces  as 
"  earneft/ 

"  My  Heart  fluttered  as  he  pro- 
"  duced  two  Bags   each  containing 


"a 


of  Cogia  Haffan. 


a  thoufand  Pieces,  but  I  betrayed 
as  little  Emotion  as  I  could.  On 
the  following  Evening,  he  brought 
me  the  Remainder  of  the  Sum. 
I  delivered  to  him  the  Diamond ; 
and  as  foon  as  he  was  out  of  the 
Houfe,  I  proftrated  myfelf,  and 
gave  Thanks  to  GOD,  for  having 
thus  unexpectedly  raifed  me  from 
Poverty  to  Affluence. 
"  My  Wife,  whofe  Head  grew 
giddy  at  fo  fudden  an  Influx  of 
Riches,  was  impatient  to  begin 
fpending  them  in  a  Variety  of 
Luxuries.  *  It  is  not  in  this 
Manner/  faid  I,  *  that  we  ought 
to  begin,  or  we  ifhall  foon  come 
to  the  End.  Truft  to  me,  O  dear 
Wife,  and  in  due  Seafon  thou 
fhalt  have  all  thou  canft  need  or 
defire.' 

"  The  following  Day,  I  hired  a 
fet  of  good  Workmen  at  my  own 

"Trade, 


73 


Riches  ex- 
cite Grati- 
tude in 
Cogia 
Hassan : 


And  Gid- 
diness in 
his  Wife. 
"  Not  every 
Head  can 
bear  sud- 
den Pros- 
perity" 


74  Poverty  &  Profperity 


"  Trade,  whom  I  engaged  to  work 
"  for  me  in  different  Kinds  of  Rope- 
"  making,  for  ready  Money,  in 
"  Proportion  to  the  Work  they  did 
"  for  me.  From  Day  to  Day,  I 
"  took  on  more  Hands,  till  I  had 
"  one  of  the  firft  Bufineffes  in 
"  Bagdad.  I  hired  Warehoufes  in 
"  different  Places,  and  in  each 
"  Warehoufe  I  placed  a  Clerk,  as 
"  well  to  receive  the  Work,  as  to 
"  fell  it  wholefale  and  retail ;  and  in 
"  this  Way  my  Profits  foon  became 
"  conliderable. 

"  Afterwards,  in  order  to  bring 
"  my  Warehoufes  together,  I 
"  bought  a  very  large  Houfe,  oc- 
"  cupying  a  confiderable  Space  of 
"  Ground,  but  in  a  very  ruinous 
"  Condition.  I  pulled  it  down, 
"  and  built  in  its  Place  that  which 
u  thou,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful, 
"  obfervedft  Yeflerday.  It  com- 

"  prifes 


of  Cogia  Haffan. 


"  prifes  within  itfelf  Warehoufes 
"  for  my  Trade  and  an  excellent 
"  Dwelling-houfe  for  my  Family. 

"  I  had  not  long  left  my  old 
"  Abode,  when  the  two  Friends, 
"  Saadi  and  Saad,  to  whom,  after 
GOD,  I  owed  all  my  good  Fortune, 
again  directed  their  Steps  to 
my  Rope-walk.  Finding  me  no 
longer  there,  they  inquired  what 
"  had  become  of  me,  and  were  told 
u  I  had  become  a  rich  Man,  and 
"  were  directed  to  the  Quarter  in 
"  which  I  now  live.  On  their 
"  Way  thither,  they  amufed  them- 
"  felves  by  various  Conjedtures  re- 
"  fpedting  the  Origin  of  my  Wealth, 
"  which  Saadi  could  not  for  an  In- 
"  ftant  believe  was  in  any  Way 
"  attributable  to  the  Piece  of  Lead  ; 
"  nor  did  Saad  feel  very  hopeful  on 
"  the  Subjedt.  Arrived  at  my  new 
"  Houfe,  they  were  furprifed  at  its 

"  Appearance, 


75 


saadi  and 


Poverty  &  Profperity 


Appearance,  and  thought  they 
muft  have  been  mifdiredted. 
Saudi,  however,  knocked  at  the 
Door,  which  was  opened  to  him 
by  my  Porter.  f  Are  we  miftaken,' 
faid  Saadi,  'in  fuppofing  this  to 
be  the  Houfe  of  Cogia  Haffan, 
the  Ropemaker  ?  "  '  You  are  not 
miftaken,  O  my  Lords ! '  replied 
the  Porter,  who  inftantly  admitted 
him  and  his  Friend.  '  My  Mailer 
is  in  an  inner  Apartment,  and  if 
you  walk  forward,  you  will  find 
Servants  ready  to  prefent  you  to 
him.' 

"  When  the  two  Friends  entered, 
I  rofe  and  ran  towards  them  and 
kifled  the  Hems  of  their  Gar- 
ments. Then  I  led  them  to  the 
Sofa  whereon  I  had  been  fitting, 
and  placed  them  at  the  upper  End 
of  it. 

"Then   Saadi  fpoke  to  me  and 

"  faid, 


of  Cogia  HafTan. 


faid,  '  O  Cogia  Haffan  !  that  thou 
art  rich  is  a  Matter  of  rejoicing 
to  us  both,  but  by  what  Means 
thou  haft  become  fo,  we  are 
ignorant,  and  fain  would  know. 
Tell  me  honeftly ;  didft  thou  not 
in  the  firft  Inftance,  for  fome 
Reafon  of  thine  own,  conceal 
from  us  the  real  Fate  of  the  Gold 
I  gave  unto  thee,  and  employ  it 
in  trading  ? ' 

"This  Queftion  troubled  Saad, 
who  fixed  his  Eyes  on  the  Ground 
and  fliook  his  Head ;  but  I  made 
Anfwer,  and  faid,  '  O  my  Lord ! 
I  am  not  furprifed  that  you  mould 
be  unable  to  account  for  my  Pro- 
fperity  in  any  other  Manner ;  but 
be  affured  that  thy  Servant  fpake 
the  Truth  and  no  Lie,  with  regard 
to  the  Gold.  And  as  to  my  pre- 
fent  good  Fortune,  I  will  relate 
how  it  has  come  to  pafs.' 

"Then 


78  Poverty  &  Profperity 

"  Then  I  told  them  the  whole 
u  Narrative,  which  Saad  heard 
u  without  any  Appearance  of  Incre- 
"  dulity  ;  but  though  Saadi  congra- 
tulated me  on  my  good  Fortune, 
"  I  could  difcern  that  he  ftill  dif- 
"  trufted  my  Veracity.  Without 
"  being  perturbed  by  it,  I  faid, 
"  'Suffer  me,  O  my  Lords!  to  make 
"  known  my  Requeft  unto  you,  and 
"  deny  me  not.  It  is,  that  you  will 
"  honour  me  by  remaining  here  to 
"  fup  and  to  pafs  the  Night ;  and 
"  To-morrow,  if  it  be  convenient 
"  unto  you,  we  will  proceed  by 
"  Water  to  a  Country  Houfe  I  have 
"  hired  on  the  Banks  of  the  Tigris, 
"  whence  I  will  bring  you  back  by 
"  Land  the  fame  Day,  on  Horfes  fup- 
"  plied  from  my  own  Stable.'  They 
"faid,  'Good;'  and  I  defpatched 
"  a  Slave  to  their  feveral  Homes, 
to  fay  they  would  not  return  that 

"Night; 


u 


of  Cogia  Haflan. 


"  Night ;  after  which  we  fupped, 
"  and  converfed  till  it  was  Time  to 
"  retire  to  reft. 

"  The  next  Morning  we  em- 
"  barked  before  Sunrife,  in  a  Boat 
"  fpread  with  Carpets,  and  manned 
"  with  fix  Rowers ;  and  the  Cur- 
"  rent  being  in  our  Favour,  we 
"  reached  my  Country  Houfe  in 
"  about  an  Hour  and  a  half.  Then 
"  I  took  my  two  Friends  over  my 
"  Houfe,  which  was  convenient  and 
"  pleafant ;  after  which  we  pro- 
u  ceeded  to  the  Garden,  where  were 
"  Orange  and  Citron  Trees,  each 
"  watered  feparately  by  a  little 
"  Trough  of  Water  directly  from 
"the  River.  The  Shade,  the 
"  Freihnefs,  the  finging  of  nume- 
"  rous  Birds,  delighted  them  fo 
"  much,  that  they  continually  paufed, 
"  liftened,  and  looked  about  them, 
"  praifing  all  they  faw  and  heard, 

"and 


80  Poverty  &  P  r  offer  it y 

"  and    thanking    me    for    bringing 
"  them  to  fo  delightful  a  Place. 

"At  the  End  of  my  Garden,  I 
"  mowed  them  a  Wood  of  large 
"  Trees  that  bounded  it,  and  invited 
"  them  to  enter  a  Pavilion  where 
"  they  might  repofe  on  Carpets  and 
"  Cufhions. 

"  While    we    were  thus  refting, 
"  we  were  joined  by  my  two  eldeft 
"  Sons,  and  the  Tutor  I   had  pro- 
vided  for  them.     They  had  been 
bird-nefting    in  the   Wood;    and 
having    difcovered    a    very    large 
Neft  towards  the  Top  of  a  Tree, 
"  too  high  for  them  to  climb,  they 
"  had  fhown  it  to  a  Slave  who  was 
"  following  them,  and  defired  him 
"  to  get  it. 

"The  Slave  climbed  the  Tree, 
"  and  was  much  aftonifhed  to  find 
"  the  neft  made  in  the  Infide  of  a 
"Man's  Turban.  He  brought  it 

"  carefully 


of  Cogia  Haffan. 


carefully  down ;  and  my  Boys, 
thinking  I  fhould  like  to  fee  it, 
brought  it  to  me. 

"  How  furprifed  was  I,  O  Caliph ' 
to  recognife  the  old  Turban 
which  the  Kite  had  formerly 
borne  away  from  me !  I  afked 
Saadi  and  Saad  if  they  had  any 
Recollection  of  the  Turban  I 
wore,  when  they  firft  faw  me. 

"  '  I  do  not  fuppofe/  faid  Saadi, 
c  that  Saad  paid  any  more  Atten- 
tion to  it  than  I  did ;  but,  how- 
ever, if  it  be  the  fame,  which 
appears  hardly  credible,  doubtlefs 
the  hundred  and  ninety  Pieces  of 
Gold  you  hid  in  it  will  be  found 
in  its  Folds.'  '  Judge,  my  Lord, 
by  the  Weight,5  faid  I,  '  whether 
it  muft  not  be  fo  ! '  So  faying,  I 
placed  the  Neft  in  his  Hand ; 
after  which,  I  proceeded  carefully 
to  unwind  the  Linen  which  formed 

"  the 


8  2  Poverty  &  Projperlty 

"  the  Turban,  and  foon  drew  from 
"  it  the  Purfe,  which  Saadi  recog- 
"  nifed  for  the  one  he  had  given 
"  me.  As  he  was  not  one  of  thofe 
"  who  are  angry  at  being  proved 
"  miftaken,  he  fincerely  rejoiced  at 
"  having  his  Sufpicions  of  me  cleared 
"  up  in  fo  wondrous  a  Manner. 
"  '  Since  this  has  turned  out  to  be 
"  true/  faid  he, '  I  muft  take  on  thy 
"  Word,  the  Account  of  the  Man- 
"  ner  in  which  the  fecond  Purfe 
"  was  loft.5  '  Believe  that  or  not, 
"  as  thou  wilt/  interrupted  Saad, 
"  f  fo  long  as  thou  admitteft  that 
"  my  Piece  of  Lead  was  the  Means 
"  of  Cogia  Haffans  finding  the 
"  Diamond.'  c  Saad,y  replied  Saadi, 
"  '  I  will  admit  what  thou  wilt, 
"  fave  that  a  Fortune  can  only  be 
"  made  by  ftarting  with  a  Capital.' 
What !  '  cried  Saad,  '  when  a 
hundred  thoufand  Pieces  of  Gold 

"  have 


tt  ( 


of  Cogia  Haffan. 


"  have  been  made  by  trading  with  a 
"  Bit  of  old  Lead  ? '  <  The  Lead 
"  was  his  Capital/  faid  Saddi. 
"  Then  faid  Saad,  (  Thou  didft  not 
"  admit  that  when  I  gave  it  him, 
"  my  Brother ! ' 

"  They  were  growing  warm  in 
"  their  Difpute,  when  a  Slave 
"  announced  to  us  that  Breakfaft 
"  was  prepared ;  on  which  we  re- 
"  turned  to  the  Houfe.  After  fpend- 
"  ing  fome  Time  in  difcourfing  over 
"  our  Meal,  I  left  my  two  Guefts  to 
"  repofe  themfelves  during  the  Heat 
"  of  the  Day,  and  rejoined  them 
"  at  Dinner.  In  the  Cool  of  the 
"  Evening,  Horfes  were  brought 
"  out,  and  we  rode  back  to  Bagdad, 
"  which  we  reached  by  Moonlight. 

"  I  know  not  by  what  Negligence 
"  of  my  Slaves  it  happened,  that 
"  there  was  no  Corn  for  my  Horfes, 
"  on  my  return  Home.  The  Gran- 

"aries 


84  Poverty  &  Profperity 


"  aries  were  {hut,  and  would  not  be 
"  re-opened  before  Morning. 

"  In    this    Difficulty,    my    Slaves 

"  went    to    the    few    Shops    in   the 

"  Neighbourhood     that    were    ftill 

"  open ;    and  at  one   of  them,  one 

"  of  my  Slaves  procured  a  Pot  of 

"  Bran,    which    he     brought    away 

"  with  him,  promiling  to  return  the 

"  empty  Pot  in  the  Morning.      He 

"  emptied  the  Bran  into  the  Man- 

"  ger,    and,   in   fpreading   it  about, 

"  that    each  of  the    Horfes    might 

"  have  his  Share,  he  felt  under  his 

"  Hand  a   Piece  of   Linen  tied  up 

"  and  very  heavy.     He  immediately 

"  brought  it  to  me,  juft  as  he  had 

"  found  it,  and,  prefenting  it  to  me, 

"  faid  that  perhaps  it  might  be  the 

"  Linen  he  had  often  heard  me  fpeak 

"  of  in    relating   my   Story   to   my 

"  Friends. 

"  Immediately,  O  Caliph!   I  per- 

"  ceived 


of  Cogia  HafTan. 


"  ceived  that  it  was  fo ;  and,  turn- 
"  ing  to  my  two  Benefactors,  I  faid, 
"  '  O  my  Lords!  behold  the  Oppor- 
"  tunity  offered  to  me  of  completely 
"  eftablifhing  my  Word  !  I  recog- 
"  nife  this  Linen  Rag,  and  am 
"  certain  I  fhall  find  within  it  an 
"  hundred  and  ninety  Pieces  of 
"  Gold  ! '  Then  I  untied  the  Rag, 
"  and  found  the  Money  therein, 
"  and  counted  it  out  before  them. 
"  And  I  fent  the  earthen  Jar  to  my 
"  Wife,  to  afk  if  me  remembered 
"  it.  And  fhe  knew  it  for  the  old 
"  Jar  in  which  fhe  had  been  ufed 
"  to  keep  her  Bran.  Then  we 
"  all  rejoiced ;  and  Saadi  faid,  *  I 
"  give  up  my  Point,  that  Money 
"  can  only  be  made  by  Money, 
"  and  I  rejoice  to  find  my  Diftruft 
"  of  Cogia  Haffan  was  needlefs.' 
"  Then  we  talked  much  of  the 
"  Matter,  and  decided  that  the 

"  three 


86 


Poverty  &  Prosperity 


The 

Caliph's 
Sadness 
departeth 
from  him. 
Nothing  so 
calls  us  out 


(( 


three  hundred  and  eighty  Pieces 
"  of  Gold  fhould  be  given  in  Alms 
"to  the  Poor.  This,  O  Caliph! 
"  is  my  Story." 

Then  the  Caliph  faid,  "  Verily,  it 
"  is  wonderful.  Let  it  be  infcribed 
"  in  a  Book.  As  for  the  Diamond, 
"  it  is  now  in  my  Treafury,  where 
"  Saadi  and  Saad  may  fee  it  if  they 
"  will.  O  Cogla  Haffan!  it  is  long 
"  fince  I  have  heard  Anything  that 
"  has  given  me  as  much  Pleafure 
"  as  I  have  derived  from  thy  Story. 
"  Go  thy  Ways :  the  Bleffing  of 
"  Heaven  be  upon  thee,  good  Man ! 
"  and  multiply  thy  Riches,  and 
"  continue  thee  in  thy  good  Senfe, 
"  thy  Gratitude,  and  thy  Benevo- 
"  lence." 

Then  Cogla  Haffan  bowed  him- 
felf  to  the  Ground  before  the 
Caliph,  and  went  his  Ways.  As 
for  the  Caliph,  he  mufed  in  his 

Mind 


of  Cogia  Haflan. 


Mind  a  long  While  on  what 
he  had  heard;  and  his  Sadnefs 
departed  from  him,  and  his  Heart 
dilated. 


V. 


of  our- 
selves, as 
considering 
the  Affairs 
of  others. 


Of  the 
Dream  of 
Ali  Cogia. 


Of  the  Treachery 


V. 


Of  the   Treachery  0/^HafTan  the  Merchant,  in 
the  Matter  of  All  Cogia. 

Now  in  thofe  Days  there  dwelt 
in  Bagdad  a  Merchant  named  All 
Cogia.  To  this  Merchant  there 
appeared  in  a  Dream,  an  old  Man 
of  venerable  but  fevere  Countenance, 
who  bade  him  make  a  Pilgrimage 
to  Mecca. 

Ali  Cogia  was  unwilling  to  leave 
his  Merchandife  :  he  therefore  en- 
deavoured to  forget  the  Dream,  and 
to  make  Amends  for  his  Negled:  of 

the 


of  Haffan  the  Merchant. 

the  Pilgrimage,  by  giving  largely 
to  the  Poor.  Neverthelefs,  as  the 
Neglect  of  a  Duty,  admitted  for 
fuch  by  our  Confciences,  is  in  no 
wife  to  be  atoned  for  by  the 
Performance  of  other  Duties  lefs 
inconvenient  or  difagreeable  to  us, 
All  Cogia  found  no  Peace  in  his 
Mind;  he  therefore  fold  off  his 
Furniture,  difpofed  of  his  Shop  and 
his  Merchandife,  and  let  his  Dwell- 
ing-Houfe,  after  which  he  prepared 
to  accompany  the  next  Caravan  to 
Mecca. 

Now  he  had  a  thoufand  Pieces  or  his 
of  Gold,  over  and  above  the  Sum 
he  had  fet  afide  for  his  Pilgrimage ; 
and  not  knowing  how  to  fecrete 
them  more  fafely,  he  put  them  into 
a  Jar,  and  then  filled  it  up  with 
Olives.  Having  ftrongly  tied  down 
the  Jar,  he  took  it  to  a  Merchant 
named  Haffan y  who  was  his  Friend. 

"  Brother," 


9° 


Of  the  Treachery 


"  Brother/'  faid  he,  "  thou  knoweft 
"  that  I  am  about  to  ftart  for  Mecca; 
"  wherefore,  I  beg  of  thee  to  take 
"  Charge  of  this  Jar  of  Olives,  till 
"my  Return."  Ha/Jan  the  Mer- 
chant replied,  "Undoubtedly  I  will. 
"  Here  is  the  Key  of  my  Ware- 
"  houfe ;  take  thy  Jar  thither  thy- 
"  felf,  and  beftow  it  where  thou 
"  wilt.  As  thou  doft  leave  it,  fo 
"  fhalt  thou  find  it." 

Thereupon,  All  Cogia  depofited 
his  Jar  on  a  Shelf;  and  fhortly  after- 
wards departed  unto  Mecca,  taking 
with  him  the  Merchandife  he  had 
referved  to  fell  there,  when  his 
religious  Duties  fhould  be  accom- 
plifhed. 

It  befel  that  he  overheard  one 
Merchant  fay  to  another,  after  fur- 
veying  his  Goods,  "  This  Man 
"  knows  not  what  he  is  about,  for 
"  he  would  have  found  a  much 

"  better 


I 


of  HafTan  the  Merchant.  91 

"  better  Market  at  Cairo!'  There- 
fore, as  Ali  Cogla  had  a  great  Defire 
to  behold  Cairo,  he  abode  not  long 
at  Mecca,  but  packed  up  his  Bales, 
placed  them  on  Camels,  and  joined 
an  Egyptian  Caravan.  When  he 
arrived  at  Cairo,  he  difpofed  of  his 
Goods  to  great  Advantage,  and 
then  took  Pleafure  in  feeing  the 
Pyramids,  and  whatfoever  was 
worthy  to  be  feen ;  after  which, 
inftead  of  returning  flraight  Home, 
he  refolved  to  extend  his  Journey- 
ings  unto  Damafcus. 

Having  feen  Damafcus,  AH  Cogia  or  MS 
proceeded  to  Aleppo,  and  there  he 
tarried  fome  Time ;  then,  having 
crofled  the  Euphrates,  he  travelled 
to  Mouffoul,  intending  to  fhorten 
his  Journey  by  going  down  the 
Tigris.  But  he  met  fome  Mer- 
chants at  Mouffoul,  who  perfuaded 
him  to  alter  his  Courfe,  and  Journey 

with 


Of  Hassan 
the  Mer- 
chant: 


Of  the  ^Treachery 


with  them  to  IJpahan  and  Shiraz. 
From  Shiraz  he  proceeded  to  India ; 
and  he  did  not  fet  his  Face  home- 
ward till  the  End  of  feven  Years. 

Meanwhile  the  Jar  of  Olives 
had  remained  in  the  Charge  of  the 
Merchant  HaJ/an,  who  had  ceafed 
to  think  of  Ali  Cogia,  or  of  his  Jar. 
One  Evening,  about  the  Time  that 
Ali  Cogia  was  returning  to  Bagdad, 
HaJJan  was  fupping  with  his  Wife, 
when  it  occurred  to  her  to  fay  me 
was  fond  of  Olives,  and  had  not 
tafled  any  for  a  long  while. 

"O  Wife!"  then  faid  HaJJan, 
"  thou  remindeft  me  of  what  I  had 
"  long  ceafed  to  think  of,  that  Ali 
"  Cogia,  when  he  went  to  Mecca, 
"  left  a  Jar  of  Olives  in  my  Charge. 
"  Seven  Years  have  now  paffed;  we 
"  have  feen  Nothing  of  him,  and 
"  though  there  was  indeed  a  Report 
"  that  he  had  gone  to  Egypt,  I 

"  queftion 


of  Haffan  the  Merchant. 

queftion  not  that  he  is  dead. 
Surely  we  may  eat  the  Olives,  if 
ftill  they  are  good !  Give  me  a 
Difh  and  a  Light,  and  I  will  go 
and  fetch  fome." 

"  O  Ha/an,  will  this  be  well 
done  ? "  faid  his  Wife.  "  A  Charge 
is  no  lefs  to  be  refpe&ed,  be  it  for 
a  mort  or  a  long  Seafon,  be  it 
concerning  an  important  or  a 
trifling  Matter.  How  know  we 
that  Alt  Cogia  is  not  living,  and 
intending  to  return  to  Bagdad? 
Thou  wouldft  make  thy  Name 
infamous  among  Men,  if  he  were 
to  come  and  claim  his  Own  of 
thee,  and  thou  couldeft  not  reftore 
it  as  it  was  left.  Think  no  more 
of  the  Olives,  I  entreat  thee:  we 
have  left  them  alone  thefe  feven 
Years,  cannot  we  do  without  them 
ftill  ?  I  have  a  Foreboding  that 
if  we  touch  them,  All  Cogia  will 

"  come 


93 


And  of 
his  Wife. 


94  Qf  the  'Treachery 


"  come  back  and  require  them  at 
"  thy  Hand.  Befides,  after  fo  long 
"  a  Time,  can  they  be  good  ?  They 
"  muft  be  putrid  and  naught." 

Haffan  gave  no  Heed  unto  the 
Words  of  his  Wife,  but  provided 
himfelf  with  a  Lamp  and  a  Dim. 
Then  faid  his  Wife,  "  Remember, 
"  O  Ha fr an,  I  have  no  Share  in 
"  what  thou  art  about  to  do,  and 
"  do  not  confent  to  it,  or  approve 
"of  it." 

Thereupon,  Haffan  the  Merchant 
laughed,  and  went  forth  to  his 
Warehoufe,  where  he  opened  the 
Jar,  and  found  that  the  Olives  were 
fpoiled.  In  the  Hope  that  fome 
better  ones  might  be  found  under 
the  Reft,  he  emptied  the  Jar  into 
the  Dim,  and,  to  his  great  Surprife, 
faw  a  Heap  of  gold  Pieces  fall  out. 
As  HaJJan  was  of  a  fordid  Difpo- 
fition,  he  greedily  feized  on  the 

Money, 


of  Haffan  the  Merchant. 

Money,  put  the  Olives  again  in  the 
Jar,  and,  having  depoiited  the  Trea- 
fure  in  a  fecret  Place,  he  quitted 
the  Warehoufe. 

"  O  Wife,"  faid  he,  returning  to 
her,  "  thou  waft  in  the  right. 
"  The  Olives  are  naught,  and  I 
"  have  tied  down  the  Jar  again, 
"  that,  fhould  All  Cogia  return,  he 
"  may  not  perceive  I  have  opened 
"  it."  "Thou  haft  done  prudently," 
faid  his  Wife,  "  and  it  would  have 
"  been  yet  better  hadft  thou  abftained 
(<  from  meddling  with  the  Jar." 

Haffan  lay  awake  nearly  all  the 
Night,  deviling  how  to  employ  the 
thoufand  Pieces  to  the  beft  Advan- 
"  tage,  and  how  to  anfwer  AH 
Cogia,  fhould  he  ever  return.  The 
next  Morning,  very  early,  he  went 
out  to  buy  Olives  of  that  Year's 
Growth,  as  the  Jar  was  nearly 
empty,  now  that  the  Gold  was 

withdrawn. 


95 


AH  Cogia 
returns. 


Of  the  "Treachery 


withdrawn.  He  threw  away  the 
old  Olives;  then,  quite  filling  the 
Jar  with  thofe  that  were  frefh,  he 
tied  it  down  again,  and  fet  it  in  its 
Place. 

About  a  Month  after  this,  AH 
Cogia  returned  to  Bagdad,  and  en- 
gaged a  Lodging  at  a  Khan,  till  he 
could  procure  himfelf  a  Houfe. 
The  next  Day,  he  vifited  Haffan, 
who  appeared  rejoiced  as  well  as 
furprifed  to  fee  him  again.  After 
talking  for  forne  Time  about  his 
Travels,  Alt  Cogia  requefled  of  him 
that  he  would  give  him  the  Jar  of 
Olives  he  had  left  in  his  Charge. 
"Brother,"  faid  Haffan,  "I  have 
"  never  thought  of  it  from  that 
"  Day  to  this. — Behold  it  on  the 
"  Shelf  where  it  was  placed  by 
"  thine  own  Hands.  As  thou  didft 
"  leave  it,  fo  thou  findeft  it." 

Thereupon,  Alt  Cogia  gave  him 

Thanks, 


of  Haffan  the  Merchant.  97 

Thanks,  and  took  down  the  Jar,  and 
carried  it  Home  to  his  Khan. 
Having  fhut  the  Door  of  his  Lodg- 
ing, he  took  a  Difh,  and  poured  the 
Contents  of  the  Jar  into  it.  He 
found  no  Gold,  nor  aught  befides 
Olives.  On  this  he  became  ftupid 
with  Aftonimment ;  and  raifing  his 
Eyes  and  his  Hands  to  Heaven,  "  Is  it 
poffible,"  faid  he,  "  that  the  Man 
"  I  have  trufted,  can  be  treacherous 
"  and  difhoneft  ?  " 

Then  he  returned  with  Hafte  to  Falsehood 
Haffan 9  and  faid,  "  O  Haffan,  in  the 
"  Jar  of  Olives  I  gave  thee  to  keep, 
"  there  were  a  thoufand  Pieces  of 
"  Gold;  and  now  I  have  emptied 
"  the  Jar,  and  behold,  they  are  not 
"  there!" 

Then  faid  Ha/an,  "  O  Friend ! 
"  what  know  I  about  any  thoufand 
"  Pieces  of  Gold  ?  Didft  thou  fhew 
"  them  to  me  ?  or  tell  me  of  them ? 

(6    or 

TT  or 


Of  the  'Treachery 


Remon- 
strance of 
All  Cogia. 


or  did  I  require  the  Charge  of 
thy  Jar?  Did  I  not  give  thee 
the  Key  of  my  Warehoufe,  and 
bid  thee  fet  the  Jar  where  thou 
wouldeft,  and  didft  thou  not  this 
Morning  find  it  in  the  fame  Place, 
where  it  had  flood  in  the  Duft 
thefe  feven  Years?  Thou  faidft 
it  contained  Olives,  and  I  con- 
cluded it  contained  Olives.  Any 
Way,  as  thou  didft  leave  it,  fo 
didft  thou  find  it." 
Then  faid  All  Cogia,  "  O  Ha/an! 
I  have  not  found  it  as  I  left  it  ; 
and  if  thou  wilt  not  tell  me, 
between  thee  and  me,  what  has 
become  of  the  Gold,  I  fhall  re- 
luctantly be  compelled  to  have 
thee  examined  by  a  Magiftrate, 
for  the  Money  is  more  than  I  can 
afford  to  lofe.  Confefs,  then,  thou 
haft  it  by  thee,  O  my  Brother." 
But  Hajfan  anfwered  and  faid, 


of  Hafian  the  Merchant. 


"  I  have  it  not,  and  have  Nothing  to 
"  confefs.  What !  is  a  Man  to  leave 
"  Olives  in  my  Charge,  and  then,  at 
"  the  End  of  many  Years,  to  declare 
"  that  the  Jar  contained  not  Olives, 
"  but  Money  ?  Away  from  me, 
"  O  Man !  I  am  furprifed  thou 
"  didfl  not  fay  there  were  ten 
"  thoufand  Pieces,  while  thou  art 
"  about  it.  Draw  not  a  Crowd 
"  about  my  Door  by  thine  Expof- 
"  tulations." 

For  it  befel  that  Perfons  paffing 
the  Houfe  were  flopping  to  learn 
why  wrathful  Words  were  paffing 
between  the  two  Merchants ;  and 
fome  of  the  Neighbours,  being 
drawn  to  their  Doors,  came  forth, 
and  interfered,  and  endeavoured 
to  mediate  between  them.  Finding 
that  neither  would  yield  unto  the 
other,  they  faid,  "  Refer  the  Matter 
"to  the  Cadi!"  So  to  the  Cadi 

they 


IOO 


Judgment 
of  the 
Cadi. 


Of  the  'Treachery 


they  went,  accompanied    by  much 
People. 

All  Cogia  having  accufed  Haffan 
the  Merchant  of  ftealing  the  thou- 
fand  Pieces  of  Gold  which  were  in 
the  Jar  of  Olives,  the  Cadi  afked 
him  whether  he  had  any  Witnerfes. 
Thereupon  AH  Cogia  replied  that 
indeed  he  had  not  taken  the  Pre- 
caution to  have  any,  becaufe  that 
he  had  trufted  wholly  unto  the 
Honour  of  his  Friend. 

Thereupon  the  Cadi  defired  Haf- 
fan to  make  his  Defence;  and  he, 
having  declared  that  he  had  neither 
taken  the  Gold,  nor  fo  much  as 
opened  the  Jar,  offered  to  make 
Oath  to  the  fame  Effedt.  The 
Cadi  accepted  the  Oath,  and  dif- 
mifled  him  as  innocent. 

Then  was  AH  Cogia  exceedingly 
indignant  at  this  Judgment,  and 
faid  he  would  appeal  to  the  Caliph; 

but 


of  HafTan  the  Merchant. 


but  the  Cadi  heeded  not  his  Threat, 
confidering  that  he  had  done  Juftice 
in  acquitting  a  Man  whofe  Accufer 
had  no  Witnefles  to  bring  againft 
him.  For,  is  not  one  Man's  Word 
as  good  as  another's,  till  it  be  proven 
otherwife?  Only  their  own  Hearts 
knew  the  Matter. 

Now,  while  Haffan  was  glorying 
in  his  Acquittal,  AH  Cogia  was 
drawing  up  a  Statement  of  the  Cafe 
in  a  Petition  to  the  Caliph,  which 
he  prefented  to  one  of  his  Officers 
when  the  Caliph  returned  from  the 
Mofque.  When  Haroun  Air af chid 
reached  his  Palace,  the  Officer  pre- 
fented to  him  the  Petition,  which 
he  read,  and  deliberated  on ;  after 
which  he  commanded  that  AH  Cogia 
mould  appear  before  him  the  follow- 
ing Morning;  and  that  HaJJan  mould 
be  cited  to  appear  before  him  at  the 
fame  Time. 

On 


102 


Of  the  "Treachery 


On  the  Evening  of  the  fame  Day, 
the  Caliph,  attended  by  Giafar  and 
Mefrour,  went  in  Difguife  through 
the  City.  In  paffing  through  a 
certain  By-ftreet,  he  heard  a  great 
Clamour  of  Children's  Voices  in  a 
Court-yard;  and,  looking  in,  per- 
ceived a  dozen  or  more  Boys  at 
Play.  Then  faid  the  Caliph  to  his 
Vizier  in  a  low  Voice,  "  Giafar ! 
"  thou  and  I  once  played  together, 
"  even  as  thofe  Boys  !  Let  us  wait 
"  awhile  and  watch  them,  for  they 
"  pleafe  me."  So  they  flood  in  the 
Shadow  of  the  Gateway,  where 
was  a  Stone  Bench,  whereon  the 
Caliph  prefently  feated  himfelf ;  and 
they  remained  looking  at  the  little 
Boys  playing  in  the  Moonlight. 

One  of  the  Children  prefently 
faid,  "Let  us  play  at  the  Cadi! 
"  I  am  the  Cadi ;  do  you,  O  Play- 
"  mates,  bring  before  me  All  Cogia, 

"and 


of  Haflan  the  Merchant. 

"  and  the  Merchant  who  ftole  his 
"  thoufand  Pieces  of  Gold." 

Then  whifpered  the  Caliph  to 
Giafar,  "  We  fhall  have  fome  rare 
"  Sport;  I  am  about  to  receive  a 
"  Leflbn  in  Judgment ;  '  and  he 
ftroked  his  Beard,  and  fmiled. 

The  Boy-cadi,  having  taken  his 
Seat  with  great  Pomp  and  Gravity, 
another  Boy,  as  his  Officer,  pre- 
fented  two  others  to  him,  one  of 
whom  he  called  Alt  Cogia,  and  the 
other  Haffan. 

Then  the  Boy-cadi  fpoke  and 
faid,  "  O  All  Cogia !  wherefore 
"  comeft  thou  before  me,  and  what 
"is  thy  Complaint?"  Then  the 
Boy  All  Cogia  bent  low  before  the 
Cadi  and  related  his  Cafe.  After 
this,  the  Boy-cadi  defired  the  Boy 
Hajfan  to  mew  why  he  had  not  re- 
turned the  Jar  of  Olives  as  he  found  it. 
Then  the  Boy  Haffan  averred  that 

he 


Of  the  Treachery 


he  had  verily  done  fo ;  no  one  had 
intermeddled  with  it ;  as  he  was 
ready  to  make  Oath. 

Thereupon,  Haroun  the  Caliph 
jogged  the  Elbow  of  Giafar,  to  bid 
him  attend  to  what  mould  follow. 
"  Not  fo  fail,  O  Ha/an,"  faid  the 
Boy-cadi.  "  Before  we  proceed  to 
"  fwearing,  I  defire  to  fee  and  to 
"  tafte  thefe  fame  Olives.  O  All 
"  Cogia,  haft  thou  brought  the  Jar 
with  thee  ? " 

Then  the  Boy  All  Cogia  replied 
that  he  had  not ;  whereon  he  was 
defired  to  fetch  it,  which  he  made 
as  though  he  did,  without  Delay. 
Not  to  omit  any  Formality,  the 
Boy-cadi  then  faid,  "  O  Ha/an,  doft 
"  thou  admit  that  to  be  the  Jar  ?  " 
"  Yes,"  faid  Ha/an,  "  I  do." 
"  Open  it,  then,"  faid  the  Boy-cadi 
to  AH  Cogia,  who  immediately 
feigned  to  do  fo,  and  to  offer  it  to 

the 


of  Haffan  the  Merchant. 


the  Cadi.  Then  faid  the  Boy-cadi, 
feigning  to  look  into  the  Jar,  "Thefe 
"  are  indeed  Olives,  and  the  Jar  is 
"  quite  full,  which  appears  as  though 
"  none  could  have  been  taken  out." 
Then  he  made  as  though  he  tafted 
them,  and  faid,  "  Verily,  they  are 
"  excellent,  but  fomewhat  too  frefh 
"  to  have  been  in  this  Jar  feven 
"  Years.  Go,  fummon  fome  Olive 
"  Merchants ;  we  muft  have  their 
"  Opinion.'' 

Then  two  Boys  came  forward, 
who  faid  they  were  Olive  Mer- 
chants. "  Tell  me,  O  Olive  Mer- 
chants !  "  faid  the  Boy-cadi,  "  how 
"  long  can  Olives  that  are  preferved 
"  in  this  Manner  be  kept  undecayed 
"  and  fit  to  eat  ?  " 

"O  Cadi!"  faid  the  firft  Mer- 
chant, "  whatever  Care  may  be  taken 
"  to  preferve  them,  they  are  naught 
"  after  the  third  Year :  they  lofe 

"  both 


io6 


Of  the  Treachery 


"  both  their  Flavour  and  Colour,  and 
"  are  fit  only  to  be  caft  away." 

"Tafte  me  thefe  Olives,"  fays 
the  Boy-cadi ;  "  how  long  have 
"  they  been  kept?" 

"  O  Cadi !  "  faid  the  Olive  Mer- 
chants, after  pretending  to  tafte  them, 
"  they  are  frefh,  and  of  the  prefent 
"  Year." 

"  Ye  are  miftaken,"  faid  the  Boy- 
cadi,  "  for  they  have  been  kept  in 
"  this  Jar  for  feven  Years."  The 
Merchants  looked  at  one  another 
derifively,  and  faid  that  the  Thing 
was  impoffible,  and  not  to  be  be- 
lieved. "  Befides,"  faid  they,  "  the 
"  Olives  would  have  fhrunken, 
"  whereas  this  Jar  is  quite  full. 
"  We  can  declare  to  thee,  O  Cadi, 
"  that  thefe  Olives  are  of  this  Year's 
"  Growth,  and  our  Teftimony  will 
"  be  fupported  by  that  of  every 
"  Olive  Merchant  in  Bagdad:9 

Then 


of  Haflan  the  Merchant. 


Then  the  Boy  Hajfan  was  about 
to  interrupt  the  Merchants,  but  the 
Boy-cadi  exclaimed, "  Silence !  there 
"is  no  Appeal  from  fuch  Teftimony 
"  as  this.  HaJJan,  thou  art  a  Thief, 
"  and  fhalt  be  hanged  !  " 

"  Good  ! "  then  ejaculated  the 
Caliph,  whofe  Voice  was  unheard 
in  the  Acclamations  of  the  Boys. 
"  O  Giafar!"  faid  he,  riling  from 
his  Seat,  and  quitting  the  Gateway, 
"  What  thinkeft  thou  of  the  Judg- 
"  ment  of  this  Boy  ?  " 

"  Verily,  I  am  furprifed  at  his 
"  Wifdom  and  Acutenefs,"  replied 
Giafar;  "  which  exceed  what  we 
"  are  accuftomed  to  find  at  fo  early 
"  an  Age." 

"  Note  well  the  Houfe  where- 
"  in  this  young  Boy  lives,"  faid 
the  Caliph,  "  and  bring  him  to  me 
"  to-morrow,  that  he  may  judge 
"  the  Caufe  of  the  real  AH  Cogia. 

"  Require 


107 


Judgment 
of  the  Bov. 


io8  Of  the  Treachery 


"  Require  the  Cadi,  alfo,  who  ac- 
"  quitted  Hajfan,  to  be  prefent,  that 
"  he  may  learn  Sagacity  from  this 
"  Child,  and  correct  his  own  De- 
"  ficiencies.  Like  wife  defire  Alt 
"  Cogia  to  bring  his  Jar  of  Olives 
"  with  him ;  let  Haffan  be  cited  to 
"  appear,  and  let  a  couple  of  Olive 
"  Merchants  be  in  attendance." 

On  the  Morrow,  therefore,  Giafar 
repaired  to  the  Houfe  where  the 
young  Boy  dwelt,  and  accofted  his 
Mother,  and  faid,  "  How  many 
"  Children  haft  thou  ? "  She,  per- 
ceiving him  to  be  a  Man  'of 
Confederation,  replied  reverently, 
"  Thy  Servant  has  three."  "  Go, 
"  fetch  them  hither,"  fays  Giafar. 
She  went,  and  prefently  returned 
with  three  young  Boys.  Then  faid 
Giafar •,  "  Which  of  you  three  Lads 
"played  the  Cadi  laft  Night?" 
The  elder  of  them,  changing 


Colour, 


of  Haflan  the  Merchant. 


Colour,  ftepped  forward  and  faid, 
"  It  was  I."  "  Come  with  me, 
"  then/'  faid  Giafar,  "to  the  Prince 
"  of  the  Faithful." 

Then  the  Mother  trembled 
greatly,  and  faid,  "  O  my  Lord  !  has 
"  my  Boy  been  guilty  of  any  Fault, 
"  that  he  is  to  be  taken  to  the 
"  Caliph?  and  will  he  return  to  me 
"  no  more? "  "Fear  not,"  faid  Gia- 
fary  "he  {hall  return  to  thee  in  about 
"  the  Space  of  an  Hour,  and  then 
"  thou  fhalt  know,  with  Pleafure, 
"  on  what  Account  he  has  been  fent 
"  for."  "  Suffer  me,  at  leaft,  to  warn 
"  his  Face  and  change  his  Garment, 
"  that  he  may  more  fitly  appear 
"before  the  Caliph,"  faid  his 
Mother;  to  which  Giafar  readily 
confented.  Then  he  conducted  the 
young  Lad  to  Haroun  Alrafchid. 

The     Caliph,    feeing     the     Boy 
tremble  a  little,  faid  to  him  kindly, 

"  Fear 


no 


Of  the  treachery 


"  Fear  Nothing !  Remembereft 
"  thou  playing  the  Cadi  overnight  ? 
"  I  was  by ;  and  faw  and  heard 
"  thee,  though  thou  faweft  me  not, 
"  and  I  approved  thy  Judgment." 
Then  the  Boy  raifed  his  Eyes,  and 
looked  earneftly  at  the  Caliph,  and 
his  Fear  departed. 

Then    the    Parties   concerned    in 
the  Caufe  were  admitted,  and  each, 
as  his  Name  was  named,  touched 
the  Ground  before  the  Throne  with 
his    Forehead.     Then    the    Caliph 
faid  unto  them,  "  Let  each  plead  his 
"  Caufe ;   this  Child  will  hear  and 
give  Judgment ;    and  if  it  needs 
Amendment,  I  will  fupply  it." 
Then  All  Cogia  brought  forward 
his  Accufation,  and  Haffan  anfwered 
it;     offering,    as    before,    to    make 
Oath  of  his  Truth   and    Honefty. 
Hereupon,    the   young    Boy    inter- 
pofed,  faying  it  was  not  yet  Time, 

for 


of  Haflan  the  Merchant.  1 1  i 

for  that  the  Jar  of  Olives  muft  firft 
be  examined.  Then,  to  Haffarfs 
Surprife  and  Uneafinefs,  All  Cogia 
immediately  produced  the  Jar, 
placed  it  at  the  Caliph's  Feet,  and 
uncovered  it.  The  Caliph  tafted 
one  of  the  Olives,  and  found  it 
good  and  freih.  Then  fome  fkilful 
Olive  Merchants  were  called  for- 
ward, and  defired  to  examine  the 
Olives,  and  pronounce  their  Opinion 
of  them.  The  Olive  Merchants, 
after  trying  them,  pronounced  them 
to  be  undoubtedly  of  that  Year's 
Growth.  The  young  Boy  told 
them  that  Haffan  profeffed  them  to 
be  the  Olives  which  Alt  Cogia  had 
given  him  in  Charge  feven  Years 
before;  but  they  averred  it  was 
impoffible  that  the  Olives  could  be 
the  fame. 

Then  Haffan  the  Merchant  flood 
pale     and     trembling     before    the 

Judgment- 


112 


The  Judg- 
ment of 
the  Caliph. 


Follow  a 
Track 
across  a 
Morass, 
though  it 
be  but  that 
of  an  Ass  : 
also  recog- 
nise Wis- 
dom, even 
in  the 
Mouth  of 
a  Child. 


Of  Haffan  the  Merchant. 


Judgment-feat,  without  a  Word  to 
proffer.  But  the  Boy,  after  mufing 
in  his  Mind,  looked  up  into  the 
Face  of  the  Caliph,  and  blufhed. 
"  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful ! "  faid 
he,  "  this  is  no  Child's  Game,  but 
"  a  Matter  of  Life  and  Death :  I  gave 
"  Judgment  but  in  Play ;  thou  muft 
"  give  Judgment  in  Earneft." 

Then  the  Caliph  with  Solemnity 
pronounced  Sentence  of  Death  on 
the  fraudulent  Merchant ;  who,  as 
he  was  led  away  to  Execution,  con- 
fefled,  with  great  Shame  and  Sorrow, 
where  he  had  fecreted  the  thoufand 
Pieces  of  Gold.  Thereupon,  they 
were  reftored  to  All  Cogia  ;  and  the 
Caliph  embraced  the  young  Boy, 
and  fent  him  Home,  with  an 
hundred  Pieces  of  Gold,  to  his 
Mother. 


VI. 


Extravagance  of  Noureddin. 


VI. 

Of  the  extravagant  Profufion  of  Noureddin. 

AFTER  this,  the  Caliph  made 
Wars,  and  fent  Troops  to  devastate 
the  Poffeffions  of  the  Emprefs 
Irene,  becaufe  me  had  broken  Faith 
with  him.  And  while  his  princi- 
pal Army  was  thus  employed,  the 
King  of  the  Khozars  made  War 
upon  the  Caliph,  and  committed 
great  Ravages  before  he  could  be 
conquered. 

Now,  the  Caliph  being  pleafed 

with 


A.  D.    790. 

Heg.  1 68. 

Of  the 
Sultan  of 
Balsora; 


And  of  his 
two  Viziers. 


The  extravagant  Profufion 

with  the  Conduct  of  his  Couiin 
Mohammed,  the  Son  of  Zeini,  made 
him  Sultan  of  Balfora,  which  was 
tributary  to  the  Caliphs.  Moham- 
med, for  the  better  ordering  of  his 
Government,  muft  needs  have  two 
Viziers,  inftead  of  one;  not  con- 
fidering  that  one  good  Vizier  is 
enough,  that  two  bad  are  worfe 
than  one  good,  and  that  a  bad  and  \ 
a  good  together,  either  make  each  j 
other  of  no  Effect,  or  the  bad  gets 
the  upper  Hand. 

The  Names  of  thefe  two  Viziers 
were  Fadladdin  and  Moivein.  Fad- 
laddin  was  mild  and  benevolent ; 
Mowein  was  cruel  and  crafty.  The 
Sultan  loved  Fadladdin  more  than 
Mowein,  and  converfed  with  him  on 
his  moft  private  Affairs.  One  Day 
he  faid  unto  him,  "  O  Fadladdin  ! 
"  is  there  fuch  a  Thing  as  a  fenfible 
"  Woman  to  be  found  on  the  Earth  ? 

"My 


L 


of  Noureddin. 


"  My  Harem  is  filled  with  Women 
"  who  are  deftitute  of  Intelligence, 
"  and  who  weary  me  to  Death  with 
"their  Prattle.  Where  fhall  one 
"  who  has  Intellect  and  Talents  that 
"  have  been  carefully  cultivated 
"  be  found,  that  one  might  have 
"  fome  Pleafure  in  hearing  her  ? " 

"  Doubtlefs,"  returned  Fadladdin, 
"  fuch  a  Woman  may  be  found ; 
"  but  her  Value  muft  fo  far  exceed 
"  that  of  Slaves  who  have  no  Re- 
"  commendation  but  their  Beauty, 
"  that  I  queftion  if  j(he  could  be 
"  obtained  for  lefs  than  ten  thoufand 
"  Pieces  of  Gold." 

"  Receive,  then,  ten  thoufand 
"  Pieces  of  Gold  from  my  Trea- 
"  fury,  and  buy  me  fuch  a  Slave, 
"if  thou  canft  find  her/'  faid 
the  Sultan,  "  for  fuch  an  one 
"  would  be  better  worth  ten  thou- 
"  fand  Pieces  of  Gold  than  ten 

"  inferior 


The  Cost 
of  a  sen- 
sible 
Woman: 


n6 


The  Extravagant  Profujion 


"  inferior  Slaves  would  be  worth 
"  a  thoufand  Pieces  each ;  even  as 
"  a  large  Pearl  is  worth  ten  Times 
"  the  Price  of  a  Clufter  of  fmall 
"ones/'  "Give  me  Time,  O 
"  Sultan !  "  faid  Fadladdm,  "  and  I 
"  doubt  not  I  fhall  content  thee." 
Then  he  went  about,  inquiring 
privately  among  the  Slave  Mer- 
chants for  fuch  a  Slave  as  the  Sultan 
defired ;  but  for  a  long  Time  no 
one  approaching  to  his  Require- 
ments could  be  found.  At  length 
a  Slave  Merchant  laid  hold  of  his 
Stirrup  one  Day  as  he  was  about  to 
ride  by  him,  and  faid  in  a  low 
Voice,  "  O  my  Lord !  fuch  a  Slave 
"  as  thou  art  in  Queft  of,  I  have 
"found.  She  is  a  Perfian  Girl, 
"  beautiful  as  the  Day ;  but,  what 
"  is  more  to  the  Purpofe,  me  is 
"  endowed  with  rare  Underftand- 
"  ing,  is  well  read  in  Hiftory  and 

"  Science, 


of  Noureddin. 


"  Science,  can  write  Verfes  and 
"  compute,  can  converfe  with  Wit 
"  and  Difcretion,  fing  well,  and 
"  play  on  divers  Inftruments.  Her 
"  Price  is  ten  thoufand  Pieces." 

Said  the  Vizier,  "  I  object  not  to 
"  the  Price,  if  fhe  be  all  that  thou 
"  fayeft.  Let  me  fee  her  ;  where  is 
"  fhe?"  Then  the  Slave  Merchant 
faid,  "  Follow  me,"  and  took  him 
to  the  Slave.  When  her  Veil  was 
raifed,  Fadladdin  faid,  "  She  is  lefs 
"beautiful  than  I  expeded." 
"  She  is  indeed  a  good  deal  tanned 
"  with  her  long  Journey,"  faid  the 
Merchant,  "  and  is  over-fatigued  and 
"  languid  ;  but  let  her  reft  quietly  in 
"  thy  Palace  for  ten  Days,  and  fhe 
"  will  recover,  and  thou  wilt  find 
"  her  all  I  have  faid."  "  Good," 
faid  Fadladdin ;  and  the  Slave  was 
fent  to  his  Palace,  and  he  put  her 
in  Charge  of  his  Wife,  ftridlly 

commanding 


1 1 8  The  extravagant  Profufion 

commanding  her  not  to  let  her  be 
feen  by  their  Son  Noureddin. 

Now  the  Vizier's  Son  was  a 
young  Man  endowed  by  Nature 
with  Everything  that  might  have 
made  him  great  and  good,  and 
withal  fo  comely  and  fweet- tem- 
pered, that  every  one  took  Pleafure 
in  him ;  but  being  an  only  Child, 
he  had  been  much  fpoiled  by  his 
Parents,  and  accuftomed  to  have 
every  Wim  gratified,  without 
counting  the  Coil.  He  was  ig- 
norant as  an  Infant  of  Seven 
Days  of  the  Value  of  Money,  or 
of  the  Pains  requifite  to  acquire  it ; 
and,  having  an  exalted  Opinion  of 
the  Virtue  of  Generoiity,  he  was 
And  the  lavifh  and  profufe  in  his  Donations 
a  Youth  to  others  (which  coft  him  Nothing), 

without  y*      i  T^  11  11 

sense.  to  men  a  Degree,  that  he  would 
have  given  away  his  Head,  had  it 
been  transferable,  to  the  firft  Perfon 

that 


of  Noureddin. 


that  afked  him.  His  Gifts,  fo 
reckleffly  beftowed,  were  little 
valued  by  the  Receivers,  the  more 
fo  that  they  were  feldorn  Perfons  in 
real  Want;  therefore,  while  he 
was  courted  and  flattered  by  de- 
figning  Companions,  he  had  no  real 
Friend. 

Now  it  chanced  that  Noureddin, 
going  haftily  one  Day  into  his 
Mother's  Apartments,  when  fhe 
was  abfent  at  the  Bath,  he  obtained 
a  Sight  of  the  Per/Ian  Slave,  who, 
through  Quiet  and  Kindnefs,  had 
recovered  her  good  Looks ;  and  was 
furprifed  into  Love.  He  imme- 
diately haftened  to  his  Father,  and 
requefted  him  to  give  him  the  Slave 
for  his  Wife.  The  Vizier,  afton- 
ifhed  and  very  angry  to  find  he  had 
feen  her,  denied  his  Requeft,  and 
faid  fhe  was  referved  for  the  Sultan, 
and  much  more  expenfive  a  Wife 

than 


119 


Of  the 
Wayward- 
ness of 
Noureddin. 


I2O 


The  extravagant  Projufion 


Query,  can    than   he  could   afford    him.     Nou- 

a  thrifty  .  . 

Woman  be  reddin  perlilting  in  entreating  for 
expensive  her,  his  Father  became  incenfed, 
and  forbade  him  his  Prefence. 
Thereupon  the  young  Man  retired, 
moody  and  difappointed,  refolving 
not  to  be  foiled. 

Before  the  Difference  was  made 
up  between  the  Father  and  Son, 
Fadladdin  took  Cold,  coming  out  of 
the  Bath,  and  prefently  fickened 
and  died.  Thereupon  Noureddin 
heartily  grieved  for  him,  'and  re- 
gretted having  thwarted  him.  He 
fhut  himfelf  up  in  his  Chamber, 
a  Prey  to  Grief;  but  as  this  was 
foreign  to  his  Nature,  he  at  length 
came  forth,  and  gave  Orders,  as 
Matter  of  the  Houfe,  that  a  Feaft 
fhould  be  prepared,  and  Guefls 
invited. 
His  Pro-  Now,  there  were  ten  of  his 

fusion  : 

chief     Companions,     who     gladly 

obeyed 


of  Noureddin.  121 


obeyed  his  Summons  when  they 
found  that  he  was  pofleffed  of 
Wealth :  they  cheered  him  with 
their  Mirth,  they  flattered  him,  they 
praifed  the  Service  of  his  Table ; 
and  whenever  any  one  of  them 
efpecially  commended  a  Cup  or  a 
Dim,  he  faid  to  his  Steward,  "  Set 
"  that  apart  for  my  Friend." 

The  faithful  old  Man,  who  had 
been  long  in  the  late  Vizier's  Ser- 
vice, beheld  with  Grief  his  young 
Mailer's  Table  thus  ftripped ;  the 
more  fo  as  his  cunning  Companions, 
finding  their  Defires  thus  anfwered, 
fcrupled  not  to  lay  Baits  for  Every- 
thing their  Hearts  coveted.  The 
next  Morning  the  old  Steward  pre- 
fented  himfelf  to  Noureddin  and  faid, 
"  O  my  Mafter !  haft  thou  not  heard 
"  the  Saying,  *  He  who  expendeth 
"  and  doth  not  calculate,  is  foon  re- 
"  duced  to  Poverty  ? '  This  profufe 

"  Extravagance 


122 


The  extravagant  Profujion 

"  Extravagance  and  thefe  magnificent 
"  Prefents  will  foon  exhauft  all  thy 
"  Property."  But  Noureddin  laughed 
in  his  Face,  and  faid,  "  Old  Man, 
"  fpeak  when  thou  art  fpoken  to. 
"  Of  all  that  thou  fayeft,  I  am  not 
"  going  to  attend  to  one  Word." 
Then  the  Steward  caft  up  his  Eyes, 
and  went  in  great  Trouble  to  Nou- 
reddin s  Mother,  who  was  ftill  in 
the  Houfe,  but  living  very  retired, 
mourning  her  Widowhood.  At 
the  Steward's  Recommendation,  me 
fent  for  her  Son,  and  earnestly 
befought  him  to  control  his  Ex- 
penfes ;  but  he  fmiled  without  fay- 
ing Anything,  and  went  out  and 
bought  her  fome  Jewels.  Then 
his  Mother  went  to  the  Per/ian 
Slave,  whofe  Name  was  Em's  Eljelis ; 
and  me  faid,  "  O  Enis  Eljelis  !  thou 
"  canft  wind  my  Son  round  thy 
"  Finger.  Perfuade  him  not  to 


rum 


of  Noureddin.  123 


"  ruin  himfelf,  I  pray  thee."  Then 
Enis  Eljelis  kifled  her  Hand  and 
faid,  "  O  Lady,  thy  Kindnefs  to- 
"  wards  me  has  been  fo  great,  that 
"  I  will  do  for  thee  whatfoever  I 
"  can :  howbeit,  I  fear  he  will  not 
"  liften  to  me  any  more  than  to 
"  thee." 

Noureddin  prefently  returned  from 
the  Bazaar,  bringing  Enis  Eljelis 
Gold  and  Silver  Stuffs,  Jewels, 
Perfumes,  and  all  Manner  of  rich 
Prefents;  whereupon  me  took 
Occaiion  to  tell  him  that  Happinefs 
depended  very  little  upon  Wealth, 
and  that  me  wifhed  he  would  be 
fomewhat  lefs  lavifh.  Then  he 
faid,  "  If  Happinefs  depends  very 
"  little  upon  Wealth,  why  mould  I 
"  be  careful  to  retain  it,  O  Enis 
"  Eljelis  ?  As  long  as  I  have 
"  enough  for  Dinner,  I  mall  con- 
"  cern  myfelf  very  little  about 

"  what 


124 


The  extravagant  Profujion 


And  its 
Conse- 
quences. 


"  what  will  be  left  for  Supper." 
And,  without  heeding  her,  he  con- 
tinued daily  to  feaft  his  Friends ; 
and,  whenfoever  they  admired  Any- 
thing fmall  or  great,  he  faid,  "  It  is 
"  a  Gift,"  and  fent  it  Home  to 
them.  Thus,  not  only  his  Table, 
but  his  Houfe  became  defpoiled ; 
his  Money  and  Credit  next  de- 
parted; and  he  found  himfelf  a 
ruined  Man. 

Then  he  remembered  the  Warn- 
ings of  the  Perjian  Slave ;  and  he 
went  to  her  with  Head  abafed,  and 
faid  unto  her,  "  O  Em's  Eljelis ! 
"  knoweft  thou  what  hath  befallen 
"  me  ?  I  have  not  a  Penny." 
She  faid,  "  O  my  Lord !  I  have 
"  long  forefeen  this ;  but,  now  it 
"  hath  befallen,  do  not  defpair,  but 
"  confider  of  fome  Remedy."  He 
faid,  "  I  will  apply  to  thofe  Friends 
"  whom  I  have  enriched  by  my 

"  Gifts. 


of  Noureddin. 


"  Gifts.  Peradventure,  they  will 
"  give  me  Something  in  Return/' 
She  faid,  "  It  will  be  loft  Labour ; 
"  thou  haft  not  one  true  Friend 
"  among  them.  However,  if  thou 
"  art  fo  minded,  go  and  try.'5 

So  he  arofe  inftantly,  and  went 
to  his  ten  Companions,  one  after 
another;  and  every  one  of  them 
denied  themfelves  to  him,  and  pre- 
tended to  be  from  Home.  Then 
his  Heart  defponded,  and  he  re- 
turned to  Enis  Eiljelis  and  faid, 
"  There  is  not  one  of  them  will 
"  give  me  fo  much  as  a  Cake  of 
"  Bread,  nor  even  fee  me."  Then 
fhe  anfwered  and  faid,  "  O  my 
"  Lord !  faid  I  not  that  they  would 
"  not  profit  thee  ?  "  "  Not  one  of 
"  them,"  rejoined  he,  "  would  fhew 
"me  his  Face."  Then  fhe  faid, 
"  Sell  off  all  thy  Furniture  that  is 
"  left,  little  by  little,  according  to 

"the 


126 


The  extravagant  Profuflon 


"  the  Wants  of  the  Day ;  fell  alfo 
"  my  Jewels,  and  fell  thy  Slaves ; 
"  till  we  confider  what  to  do." 
Then  he  did  fo,  and  when  he  had 
Nothing  left,  he  came  to  her  again, 
and  faid,  "  What  fhall  I  now  do  ? " 
She  faid,  "Apply  to  thy  good 
"  Mother,  if  haply  fhe  will  affift 
"  thee."  But  he  faid,  "  I  will  not 
"  impoverifh  my  Mother,  nor  let 
"  her  know  how  much  I  am  ftrait- 
"  ened,  for  fhe  herfelf  is  lefs  af- 
"  fluent  than  when  my  Father  was 
"  alive."  Ems  Eljelis  anfwered, 
"Well  faid;"  and  after  a  long 
Silence,  fhe  faid  to  him,  "  There  is 
"  but  one  Way  thou  now  haft  of  raif- 
"  ing  Money.  I  am  but  thy  Slave, 
"k\\me."  Then  the  Colour  rofe 
in  his  Face,  even  unto  his  Temples, 
and  he  faid  ,  "O  Em's  Eljelis!  is  it 
"  fo  eafy  for  us  to  part  ?  I  thought 
"thou  lovcdft  me!J>  She  faid, 


of  Noureddin. 


"  I  do  love  thee,  O  Noureddin, 
"  more  than  Words  can  exprefs ; 
"  but  what  elfe  canft  thou  do  ? " 
And  they  both  wept  fore. 

Then  Em's  Eljefc  faid,  "  It  muft  be 
"  done.  Go  and  do  it,  therefore,  at 
"  once,  for  the  longer  we  tarry,  the 
"  heavier  will  be  our  Parting." 
But  he  was  very  reluctant,  and  flung 
himfelf  on  the  Ground,  and  re- 
fufed  to  go.  At  length,  after  many 
,  Words,  me  perfuaded  him,  and  he 
went  forth  with  her  to  the  Slave 
Merchants,  with  Eyes  red  with 
weeping.  The  firft  whom  he  took 
aiide  was  the  Merchant  who  had 
fold  the  Perjian  Slave  to  Fadladdin. 
As  foon  as  he  heard  me  was  again 
in  the  Market,  he  raifed  his  Eyes 
and  Hands,  and  faid,  "  No  Need  to 
"  recount  to  me  her  Value.  Is  me 
"not  Ems  Eljelis?  She  will  not 
"  remain  long  on  thy  Hands." 

Then, 


128 


Of  the 
Wicked- 
ness of 
Mowein. 


The  extravagant  Profufion 

Then,  with  Noureddiris  Concur- 
rence, he  went  into  the  Slave  Mar- 
ket, where  were  Turkifh  and  Greek, 
Circajfian,  Georgian,  and  AbyJJinian 
Slaves  on  Sale ;  and  he  lifted  up  his 
Voice,  and  cried,  "  O  Merchants  ! 
"  Everything  that  is  round  is  not 
"  a  Nut ;  nor  is  Everything  long  a 
"  Banana ;  nor  is  Everything  that 
"  is  red,  Meat ;  nor  is  Everything 
"  tawny  a  Date !  O  Merchants, 
"  the  famous  Perjian  Slave,  Ems 
"  Eljelis  is  on  Sale ;  who  can  equal 
"her?  With  what  Sum  will  ye 
"  open  the  Sale  ?  " 

Then  one  of  the  Slave  Merchants 
faid,  "  With  four  thoufand  and  five 
"  hundred  Pieces  of  Gold." 

At  this  Time  it  befel  that  the 
evil-hearted  Vizier  Mowein  paffed 
through  the  Market;  and  feeing 
Noureddin  there,  who  was  leaning 
againft  a  Wall,  with  his  Heart 

ready 


of  Noureddin. 


ready  to  burft,  he  thought  within 
himfelf,  "  What  can  the  Son  of 
"  Fadladdm  do  here,  having  No- 
"  thing  left  wherewith  to  purchafe 
"  Slaves  ?  Is  he  compelled  to  fell 
"  one  ?  If  it  be  indeed  fo,  how 
"pleafant  to  my  Heart!"  Then 
he  heard  the  Merchants  talking 
among  themfelves  of  the  rare 
Qualities  of  the  Perjian  Slave,  who 
was  worth  ten  thoufand  Pieces  of 
Gold;  but  none  of  them  could 
afford  to  bid  more  than  four  thou- 
fand. Then  Moivein  thought  with- 
in himfelf,  "  Aha !  this  is  the  Slave 
"  that  Fadladdm  purchafed  for  the 
"  Sultan,  but  kept  by  him  on  Pre- 
"  tence  fhe  was  tanned  and  out  of 
"  Health.  I  mall  now  have  her 
"under  the  Price."  Then  he 
went  to  the  Slave  Merchant  who 
had  undertaken  the  Sale,  and 
faid  to  him,  "  What  need  of 

"  more 


130  The  extravagant  Profujlon 

"  more  Words  ?  I  bid  four  thoufand 
"  five  hundred  Pieces  of  Gold,  and 
"  thou  {halt  have  five  hundred  for 
"  thyfelf." 

The  Slave  Broker  hurried  to 
Noureddin,  and  faid  to  him  eagerly 
in  a  low  Voice,  "  Alas,  my  Lord ! 
"  the  Slave  is  loft  to  thee  without 
"  Price."  "  How  fo  ?  "  faid  Nou- 
reddin.  "  The  Vizier  Mowein" 
replied  the  Broker,  "  hath  defired 
"  to  have  her  for  four  thoufand  five 
"  hundred  Pieces  of  Gold ;  and  I 
"  know,  from  his  evil  Heart,  that 
"  he  will  write  thee  an  Order  upon 
"  one  of  his  Agents  for  the  Money, 
"  and  then  fend  privately  to  him, 
"  and  defire  him  to  give  thee 
"  Nothing.  If  I  were  in  thy 
"  Place,  I  would  approach  the 
"  Slave  Girl,  and  finite  her  on  the 
"  Head,  and  fay,  <  Woe  unto  thee ! 
"  art  thou  now  fufficiently  punifhed 

"for 


of  Noureddin. 


"  for  thine  evil  Temper  by  being 
"  put  up  to  Sale  ?  Come  Home, 
"  now,  and  conduct  thyfelf  better 
"  henceforth/  " 

Noureddin    inftantly    fprang    for- 
ward  and   did   as   the    Broker    had 
counfelled,    fo    that    it    feemed     as 
though  he  had  only  brought   Em's 
1  Eljelus  to  the   Market   for  a  mock 
I  Sale    for  the  Sake  of  Punifhment. 
The    Vizier    Mowein    ground    his 
,  Teeth  with  Defpite,  and  went  his 
|  Ways  and  made  Complaint  to  the 
Sultan  that  Noureddin  had  defrauded 
him  once  and  again  of  the  Perjian 
Slave.     Then  the  Sultan,  being  en- 
I  raged,  commanded   that  forty  Men 
I  fhould  inftantly  go  and    raze  Nou- 
\  reddins  Houfe  to  the  Ground,  and 
I  bring  him  and  Ems  Eljelis  to  him 
Captives. 

A     Friend    of    the    late    Vizier 
Fadladdin,  hearing  this    Command 

given, 


They 
escape  to 
Bagdad : 


132 


"The  extravagant  Profufion 

given,  took  Horfe  and  galloped  to 
Noureddiris  Houfe,  and  bade  him 
inftantly  fly  for  his  Life.  Where- 
fore Noureddin,  fcarcely  allowing 
himfelf  Time  to  fay  farewell  to  his 
Mother,  and  receive  from  her  a 
few  Pieces  of  Gold,  took  Ems 
Eljelis  by  the  Hand,  and  efcaped 
with  her  through  a  private  Door 
into  fome  By-ftreets  to  the  River- 
fide,  where  they  found  a  light 
Veflel  on  the  point  of  failing  for 
Bagdad,  the  Abode  of  Peace. 
Having  reached  Bagdad9  Noureddin 
paid  the  Shipmafter  five  Gold 
Pieces,  and  then,  with  Ems  Eljelis, 
walked  at  Hazard  from  the  Land- 
ing-place along  the  Bank,  till  they 
came  to  a  green  Alley  paved  with 
Pebbles,  having  a  light  Roof  of 
Trellis-work  of  Canes  extending 
the  whole  Length  of  it,  from  which 
depended  Water-pots  of  Water; 

and 


of  Noureddin. 


and  on  either  Side  the  Alley,  a  Stone 
Bench,  even  to  the  End,  which  was 
clofed  by  a  carved  Gate. 

Then  faid  Noureddin  to  the  Slave, 
"  Behold  !  this  is  pleafant !  "  and 
he  fate  down  to  reft  on  the  Stone 
Bench ;  and  in  another  Moment, 
fo  tired  was  he  and  fpent,  that  he 
fell  faft  afleep.  Then  Enis  Eljelis 
tenderly  covered  him  with  her  Veil, 
that  the  Mofquitos  fhould  not  affail 
him;  and  being  very  weary,  me 
alfo  refted  on  the  Bench,  and  fell 
afleep,  covering  her  Face  with  a 
Portion  of  her  Veil,  for  her  Heart 
was  heavy  with  Care  for  Noureddin, 
and  for  herfelf. 

Now  this  trellifed  Alley  was  the 
Paflage  from  the  River  to  the 
Caliph  Harouris  Garden,  called  for 
its  Beauty  the  Garden  of  Delights, 
and  containing  a  Banqueting-houfe 
with  eighty  latticed  Windows  and 

eighty 


'The  extravagant  Profujion 

eighty  Lamps.  This  Garden  was 
under  the  Care  of  an  old  Man  called 
Sheikh  Ibrahim;  and  it  had  lately 
happened  that  on  his  Return  to  it 
after  a  ihort  Abfence,  he  had  found 
fome  intruders  of  fufpicious  Cha- 
radler  diverting  themfelves  within 
it ;  whereon  he  gave  Information  to 
the  Caliph,  who  bade  him  keep  his 
Charge  more  carefully  for  the  Fu- 
ture, and  punifh  any  Intruders  as 
he  fliould  think  fit. 

Sheikh  Ibrahim,  entering  the 
Alley  foon  after  Noureddin  and  the 
Slave  had  fallen  afleep,  fpied  them 
out,  and  became  inflamed  with  In- 
dignation, exclaiming  within  him- 
felf,  "Ha!  do  thefe  infolent 
"  Wretches  take  this  Place  for  a 
"  Khan  ?  It  is  in  my  Power  to 
"  kill  them,  and  I  will  at  all  Events 
"  give  them  a  good  Beating."  He 
then  fetched  a  thick  Palm-flick, 

and 


of  Noureddin. 


and  wielding  it  over  his  Shoulder 
to  give  it  the  greater  Force,  was 
about  to  bring  it  down  upon  them, 
when  he  thought  within  himfelf, 
"  Hold !  I  will  juft  fee  who  they 
"  are  firft." 

Then,  gently  lifting  the  Veil  from 
Noureddin's  Face,  fo  as  not  to  waken 
him,  he  muttered,  "Ha!  a  comely 
"  young  Fellow !  from  the  Smooth- 
"  ness  of  his  Brow  and  the  Placidity 
"  of  his  Features,  I  mould  confider 
"  him  likely  to  be  a  well-nurtured 
"  Youth.  His  Drefs,  too,  though 
"  well  worn,  belongs  to  the  upper 
"  ClafTes.  His  Hands  are  too  white 
"  and  well  formed  to  have  been 
"  inured  to  Work.  His  Face  is  un- 
"  furrowed  by  Care;  what  a  good- 
"  looking  Youth !  Would  that 
"  Heaven  had  blefled  me  with  fuch 
"a  Son!" 

Then,  uncovering  the  Face  of 

Ems 


136  The  extravagant  Profujion 

Enis  Eljelis,  "  Ha !  "  faid  he,  "  this 
"  is  doubtlefs  his  Wife.  Poor 
"  Damfel,  me  is  more  care-worn 
"  than  he  is.  Even  in  Sleep,  her 
"  Face  is  full  of  anxious  Thought. 
"  A  Tear  trembles  on  her  long 
"  Eyelafhes,  like  a  Dewdrop  on  the 
"  Edge  of  a  Violet.  Verily  me  is 
"  comely :  I  would  me  were  my 
"  Daughter." 

Then,  his  Purpofe  towards  them 
having  quite  changed,  he  dropped 
his  thick  Stick,  and  tickled  their 
Hands  with  a  Flower  till  they 
awoke.  "Who  art  thou,  good  old 
"Man?"  faid  Noureddin,  fuddenly 
opening  his  Eyes  and  arifing. 
"  Nay,  who  art  thou,  my  Son  ? " 
faid  Sheikh  Ibrahim,  "  and  who  is 
"this  Damfel?"  Then  a  Tear 
trembled  in  Noureddirfs  Eye,  and 
he  faid,  "Alas,  my  Lord!  we  are 
"  Strangers  !  We  have  juft  arrived 

"  from 


of  Noureddin. 


"  from  Ba/fora,  and  know  not 
"  where  to  go."  Then  Sheikh 
Ibrahim  faid,  "  O  my  Son !  GOD 
"  hath  commanded  us  to  mew 
"  Kindnefs  unto  Strangers.  Will 
"  ye  enter  my  Garden,  and  take 
"  Refrefhment  therein  ?  "  And  they 
faid,  "  Readily/' 

Then  he  led  the  Way,  and  un- 
locked the  Gate,  and  admitted  them 
into  the  Caliph's  Garden,  wherein 
were  all  Manner  of  ftately  Trees, 
and  all  Manner  of  Fruits  and 
Flowers,  and  all  Manner  of  finging 
Birds.  When  they  had  fufficiently 
admired  the  Beauty  of  the  Garden, 
Sheikh  Ibrahim  conducted  them 
into  the  Banqueting-houfe,  and 
made  them  feat  themfelves  on 
Cumions  at  an  open  Window, 
while  he  fetched  from  a  Store-room 
of  which  he  had  the  Key,  Cakes 
and  Sweetmeats  of  various  Kinds. 

Then 


138 


The  extravagant  Profujion 

Then  they  ate,  and  were  refreshed, 
and  prefled  him  to  eat ;  and  he  ate 
like  wife.  Then  faid  '  Noureddin, 
"  Good  Sheikh !  we  cannot  eat 
"  without  drinking,  haft  thou  any 
"  Beverage  ? "  "  Truly,"  replied 
the  Sheikh,  "here  is  Abundance 
"  of  clear  Spring  Water."  "  O 
"Sheikh!"  then  faid  Noureddin, 
"  my  Strength  is  expended  and 
"  needs  Reftoration.  I  pray  thee, 
"let  us  have  a  little  Wine." 
"  Wine,  my  Son  ?  "  exclaimed 
Sheikh  Ibrahim,  "  what  Words  are 
"  thefe  which  I  hear  ?  Wine  have 
"  I  tafted  none  thefe  thirteen  Years, 
"  for  the  Prophet  hath  curfed  its 
"  Drinker  and  its  Preffer  and  its 
"  Carrier."  Then  faid  Noureddln 
laughing,  "If  thou  be  neither  its 
"  Drinker,  nor  its  Preffer,  nor  its 
"  Carrier,  will  aught  of  the  Curfe 
"fall  on  thee?"  "Truly  not," 

replied 


of  Noureddin. 


replied  Sheikh  Ibrahim.  Then  faid 
Noureddin,  "Take  this  Piece  of 
"  Gold  and  go  forth,  and  where- 
"  foever  Wine  is  to  be  had,  buy 
"  fome,  and  make  the  Man  bring  it 
"  hither  for  us.  So  fhalt  thou  be 
"  neither  its  Drinker,  nor  its  Prefler, 
"  nor  its  Carrier." 

Then  Sheikh  Ibrahijn  laughed 
and  faid,  "  Verily  thou  art  an  in- 
"  genious  Youth.  I  am  about  to 
"  be  too  indulgent ;  "  and  he  went 
forth  and  obtained  the  Wine.  It 
was  now  growing  dufk ;  and  when 
Sheikh  Ibrahim  returned,  Ems  Eljelis 
faid,  "Kind  Sheikh!  may  I  light 
"the  Lamps?"  "One  of  them 
"  will  be  enough,"  faid  he ;  and  he 
gave  her  a  Light.  But  me,  full  of 
Cheerfulnefs,  and  encouraged  by 
his  Indulgence,  went  on  lighting 
them  all,  faying,  "  Let  me  behold 
"  how  beautiful  the  Banqueting- 

"  houfe 


140 


The  Caliph 
is  offended ; 


The  extravagant  Profujion 

"  houfe  will  look,  though  it  be  but 
"  for  a  Moment."  Then  he  chid 
her,  but  without  Severity,  faying, 
"  Thou  muft  have  thy  Frolic,  my 
"  Daughter,"  Then  me  returned, 
and  fate  between  him  and  Noureddin, 
and  difcourfed  wittily,  and  related 
amufing  Stories,  fo  that  they  knew 
not  how  Time  went. 

Meanwhile,  the  Caliph  Haroun, 
happening  to  look  forth  from  one 
of  the  Windows  of  his  Palace  on 
the  Tigris,  it  being  now  Moonlight, 
was  amazed  to  behold  the  Glare 
of  many  Lamps  reflefted  on  the 
River  from  the  Windows  of  his 
Banqueting-houfe ;  and  he  haftily 
fummoned  Giafar  the  Barmecide, 
and  faid  to  him  angrily,  "  Giafar ! 
"  what  meaneth  this  ?  Who  has 
"  dared  to  light  up  my  Banquet- 
"  ting-houfe  ? " 

Giafar  looked  forth  and  was  con- 
founded ; 


of  Noureddin. 


founded ;  and  he  faid,  "  It  muft  be 
"  Sheikh  Ibrahim's  doing.  I  now 
"  remember  that  he  bade  me  requeft 
"  thy  Permiffion,  O  Caliph,  to  en- 
"  tertain  fome  of  his  refpe&able 
"  Friends  there,  on  an  Evening 
"  when  thou  fhouldeft  be  abfent ; 
"but  I  forgot  it."  "Then,  Gia- 
"far"  faid  the  Caliph,  "  thou  haft 
"  been  faulty  in  two  Inftances. 
"  Thou  haft  left  me  in  Ignorance 
"  that  my  Banqueting-houfe  would 
"  be  occupied,  and  thou  haft  left 
"  Sheikh  Ibrahim  in  Ignorance  that 
"  thou  haft  forgotten  to  prefer  his 
"  Requeft.  And  now,  for  thy 
"  Punifhment,  thou  malt  imme- 
"  diately  go  forth  with  me,  and  we 
"  will  privately  fee  how  the  good, 
"  fimple-hearted  old  Man  enter- 
"  taineth  his  refpedlable  Friends." 
Giafar  faid,  "  I  hear  and  obey." 
Then  they  went  forth,  and 

coming 


141 


solves  to 
investigate 
the  Matter. 


He  finds 
the  Gate 
open. 


142 


'The  extravagant  Profufion 


coming  to  the  Garden  Gate,  found 
it  open.  "  This  is  negligent,"  faid 
the  Caliph,  "  the  old  Man  in  ad- 
"  mitting  his  refpediable  Friends, 
"  needed  not  to  have  left  the  Gate 
"  open  for  all  Bagdad"  Giafar 
held  his  Peace.  "  Doubtlefs,"  faid 
the  Caliph,  "  the  Sheikh's  Friends 
"  are  Men  of  like  Age  and  Sobriety 
"  with  himfelf,  and  we  fhall  find 
"  them  gravely  difcourfing  on  Virtue 
"  and  Piety.  Whether  it  be  fo,  or 
"whether  it  be  not,  I  will  learn." 
Then,  having  reached  the  outer 
Wall  of  the  Banquetting-houfe, 
and  hearing  Voices  at  one  of  the 
Windows,  he  faid  to  Giafar  in  a 
low  Voice,  "  I  will  climb  this  tall 
"  Walnut-tree  and  look  in."  "  O 
"  Caliph !  "  faid  Giafar,  with  Mif- 
giving,  "is  it  certainly  for  thy 
"Safety?"  But  he  anfwered, 
"  Tut !  didft  not  thou  and  I  climb 

"  Trees 


of  Noureddin. 


"  Trees  when  we  were  Boys  ?  I 
"  truft  I  am  yet  fupple  and  fure- 
"  footed."  Then,  with  Eafe  he 
climbed  the  Tree,  fmiling  in  his 
Heart,  and  thinking,  "  This  Vizier 
"  of  mine  is  reluctant  I  mould 
"  look  in." 

Now  it  befel  that  the  Wine 
which  Sheikh  Ibrahim  had  bought, 
being  newly  made,  had  mounted 
into  Noureddin V  Head,  his  Stomach 
being  weak  from  Sorrow  and  fpare 
Living ;  and  he  had  perfuaded  the 
old  Man  to  pledge  him.  Sheikh 
Ibrahim  thought,  "  I  will  take  but 
"  one  very  little  Drop,  juft  to  grace 
"  my  Gueft ;  "  but  when  he  had 
taken  one  he  thought,  "  As  much 
"  Sin  in  one  Draught  as  in  twenty; " 
wherefore,  when  the  Caliph  looked 
in  upon  him,  he  was  repleniming 
his  own  Cup  and  Noureddiris,  and 
making  very  merry.  The  Caliph 

then 


H3 


The  Effect 
of  the 
Wine. 


144  Tfo  extravagant  Profufion 

then  beckoned  with  his  Finger  to 
Giafar,  who  forthwith  climbed  up 
into  the  Tree  after  him ;    and    he 
beheld   the  Caliph's   Eyes   burning 
like  Lamps  in  a  dark  Cavern ;  and 
the  Caliph  faid  unto  him,  "  O  Dog 
"  of  a  Vizier !  look  now,  and  behold 
with    thine     Eyes    how    Sheikh 
Ibrahim  and  his  refpeftable  Com- 
panions converfe    on  Virtue   and 
Piety.     What  feeft  thou  ?  " 
Giafar  replied  and  faid,  "  I  fee  a 
"  very  pretty  Girl  and  a  handfome 
"  young   Man   fitting  with   Sheikh 
"  Ibrahim ;   and  verily  they  appear 
"  to  be  drinking  Something  that  is 
"  not  as  colourlefs  as  Water.    What 
"can    it    be,   O    Caliph?     Let    us 
"  liften  and  hear  what  they  fay." 

Then  the  Caliph,  who  was 
fecretly  laughing,  liftened  and  heard 
the  Sheikh  fay  to  Enis  Eljelis,  "  O 
"  Damfel !  thou  art  as  entertaining 

"as 


of  Noureddin. 


"  as  thou  art  beautiful.  Whence 
"  comeft  thou,  and  who  is  thy 
"  Father  ? "  Then  the  Eyes  of 
Enis  Eljelis  fuddenly  filled  with 
Tears,  and  me  faid,  "  Afk  me  not, 
"  good  Sheikh.  Verily  the  Por- 
"  tion  of  a  Slave  is  hard.  I  was 
"  the  Darling  of  my  Father,  and 
66  the  Darling  of  my  Mother ;  but 
"  Misfortune  hath  long  feparated 
"  us."  The  Sheikh  faid,  «  Verily 
"  I  wifh  thou  wert  my  Daughter. 
"  I  knew  not  thou  waft  a  Slave. 
"  Is  thy  Mafter  kind  to  thee  ? " 
pointing  to  Noureddin,  who  was 
yielding  to  Sleep.  Enis  Eljelis  faid, 
"Truly  he  is  kind;  but  Misfor- 
"  tune  hath  overtaken  him,  and 
"  he  may  fell  me  To-morrow." 
Then  me  fwallowed  down  her 
Tears,  and  faid,  "  Let  us  talk  of 
"  thefe  Things  no  more.  Haft 
"  thou  a  Lute,  or  any  Inftrument 

"of 


146  The  extravagant  Profujion 

"  of  Mufic  ?     I  will  play  and  fing 
"  unto  thee." 

Sheikh  Ibrahim  arofe  and  brought 
a  Lute,  and  behold,  it  was  the  Lute 
of  the  Caliph's  principal  Mufician. 
Then  the  Caliph,  when  he  faw  it, 
whifpered  to  Giafar,  and  faid, 
"  What  Impertinence  is  herein 
"  manifeft !  If  the  Girl  fing  not 
"  well,  I  will  behead  you  all ;  but 
"  if  me  fing  well,  I  will  only 
"behead  thee!"  "O  Caliph," 
then  anfwered  Giafar,  "  Heaven 
"  grant  me  may  fing  badly ! 3J 
"Wherefore?"  faid  the  Caliph; 
"  That  thou  mayeft  behead  us  all," 
faid  Giafar,  "  and  then  we  mall 
"  keep  one  another  Company." 
The  Caliph  laughed  within  him- 
felf ;  and  Em's  Eljelis,  having  tried 
the  Lute,  began  to  fing  to  it  fo  well, 
that  the  Caliph  whifpered,  "  O 
"  Giafar  !  never  during  the  Courfe 

"of 


of  Noureddin. 


"  of  my  Exiftence  have  I  heard 
"  fuch  incomparable  Singing  as 
"  this !  Alternately  mournful  and 
"  gay,  me  melts  my  Soul  with  her 
"  Sweetnefs."  "  Perhaps,"  faith 
Giafar,  "  the  Caliph's  Anger  hath 
"  departed  from  him  ? "  "  Perhaps 
"  it  has,"  faid  the  Caliph.  Then, 
after  liftening  a  little  longer, 
"  Come,"  faid  he,  "  I  muft  defcend, 
"  and  approach  them  more  nearly." 
"  O  Caliph,"  faid  Giafar,  "if  you 
"  enter  upon  them  fuddenly,  they  will 
"  be  abafhed,  and  Sheikh  Ibrahim 
"  will  die  of  Fear."  "  Then,"  faid 
the  Caliph,  "  we  will  concert  fome 
"Difguife."  So  they  defcended 
from  the  Tree,  and  walked  along 
the  River-fide,  till  they  came  to  a 
Fifherman  about  to  throw  his  Nets. 
Now  the  Caliph  had  given 
Orders  that  Fifhermen  were  not  to 
come  to  that  Spot;  becaufe  the 

Noife 


148 


The 


"The  extravagant  Profufion 

Noife  of  their  Singing  difturbed  him 
in  the  Banqueting-houfe.  So  he 
went  foftly  up  behind  the  Fifher- 
man,  and  fuddenly  putting  his  Hand 
on  his  Shoulder,  addreffed  him  by 
Name,  and  faid,  "  Kerim  !  " 

The  Fifherman,  ftarting  violently 
when  he  faw  the  Caliph,  whom  he 
knew  by  Sight,  haftily  cried,  "  O 
"  Prince  of  the  Faithful  !  I  came 
"  not  here  in  Mockery  of  the  Man- 
"  date  ;  but  impelled  by  Poverty, 
"  and  the  Wants  of  my  Family." 
The  Caliph  replied,  "Thou  art 
"  forgiven.  Attend  now  to  my 
"  Commands,  and  let  us  change 
"  Garments."  The  Fifherman  was 
mute  with  Surprife,  for  the  Ca- 
liph's Robe  was  flowing  and  of 
rich  Satin  ;  whereas  his  own  was 
a  coarfe  woollen  Gown  patched  in 
a  hundred  Places.  However,  he 
obeyed  without  fpeaking  ;  and  the 

Caliph 


of  Noureddin. 


Caliph,  throwing  off  his  upper  Robe 
and  the  Veil  that  was  attached  to  his 
Turban,  haftily  buttoned  the  Fifher- 
man's  Gown  around  his  Neck,  and 
as  haftily  pulled  it  half  off  again, 
exclaiming,  "  O  Man !  this  Gown 
"  contains  Fleas!" 

The  Fifherman  could  not  refrain 
from  laughing,  nor  could  the  Caliph 
and  Giafar.  "  O  my  Lord,"  faid 
the  Fifherman,  "  you  will  ceafe  to 
"regard  them  in  the  Courfe  of  a 
"  Week."  "  A  Week  !  "  then  re- 
peated the  Caliph,  "  however,  it  is 
*'  too  late  now  to  change  my  Pur- 
"  pofe.  Haft  thou  already  caught 
"any  Fifti?"  "Only  one,"  faid 
Kerim.  "  Give  it  me  then,"  faid 
the  Caliph ;  and  he  took  it  and 
proceeded  with  Giafar  to  the  front 
Entrance  of  the  Banqueting-houfe, 
where  he  had  left  Mefrour  waiting. 
When  Mefrour  faw  the  Caliph,  he 

took 


The  extravagant  Profujion 


took  him  for  a  real  Fifherman,  and 
faid,  "  O  Kerim!  what  brought  thee 
"  hither  ?  Save  thyfelf  by  Flight, 
"for  the  Caliph  is  at  Hand." 
Then  the  Caliph  nearly  deftroyed 
himfelf  with  Laughing,  and  he  faid, 
"O  Mefrour!  is  it  thus  that  thou 
"judgeft  of  a  Kernel  by  its  Shell? 
"  Return  to  the  Palace  and  bring  me 
"  frefh  Apparel,  for  I  (hall  not  defire 
"  to  wear  this  old  Garment  longer 
"  than  is  needful.  And  do  thou,  O 
"  Giafar,  remain  where  thou  art  till 
"  I  fummon  thee. "  Giafar  there- 
fore flood  beneath  the  Trees,  and 
Mefrour  departed,  while  the  Caliph 
advanced  and  knocked  at  the  Door 
of  the  Banqueting-houfe.  Sheikh 
Ibrahim  cried  aloud,  "  Who  is 
"  there  ?  "  "  It  is  I,"  replied  the 
Caliph.  "Who  is  I?"  faid  the 
Sheikh.  "  I  am  Kerim,  the  Fifli- 
"  erman,"  faid  the  Caliph,  "  and  I 

"  bring 


of  Noureddin. 


"  bring  thee  an  excellent  Fifh." 
"O  Sheikh!"  then  faid  Enis  El- 
jelis,  "  let  us  have  the  Fifh  for 
"Supper;  for  as  yet  we  have  had 
"  only  Fruit  and  Cakes."  On  this, 
Sheikh  Ibrahim  went  to  the  Door 
and  faid,  "Come  in  with  thee, 
"  then,  thou  Rogue,  thou  Robber, 
"  thou  Breaker  of  the  Caliph's 
"Laws!  Where  is  thy  Fifh?" 
The  Caliph  offered  it  without 
fpeaking.  "  O  Sheikh ! "  cried 
Enis  Eljelis,  "  this  Fifh  is  of  an 
"  excellent  Sort !  I  wifh  it  were 
"  fried."  "  I  wifh  it  were,"  faid 
the  Sheikh,  "  O  Kerim !  thou 
"  fhouldefl  have  fried  it  in  the  firft 
"  Inftance,  before  thou  broughteft 
"  it  hither.  Go,  fry  it  now,  in  the 
"  little  Kitchen  adjoining  this  Ban- 
"  queting-houfe ;  thou  wilt  find 
"  all  Things  ready  to  thy  Hand." 
"  On  my  Head  be  it ! "  faid  the 

Caliph. 


'The  extravagant  Profujion 


Caliph.     "  Be    quick  ! "    cried    the 
Sheikh  after  him.      So  he  returned 
haftily  to    Giafar.     "O    Giafar!" 
faid    he,  "  haft    thou    ever    fried    a 
"Fifh?     They  fay  I  muft  fry  it, 
"  and    fry  it  quickly.      Come    and 
"  mew  me  how."     "  Give  me  the 
"  Fifh,"  fays    Giafar,  "  I    think    I 
"  can  fry  it."     "  By  the  Tombs  of 
"  my  Anceftors,"  faid   the   Caliph, 
"I    will    fry   it    myfelf!"      Then 
they  repaired  to  the  Kitchen,  where 
they    lighted    a    Fire,    and    found 
Eggs,  Salt,  Marjoram,  and  Every- 
thing    needful;     and     the     Caliph 
tucked  up  his  Sleeves  and  fried  the 
Fifh  on  one  Side,  and  then  turned 
it  fkilfully  and  fried  it  on  the  other. 
Then   he  took  it  off  the  Gridiron 
and  laid  it  on  a  Banana  Leaf,  and 
carried    it    with    fome    Limes    to 
Sheikh  Ibrahim.     "  O  Kerim,  thou 
"  haft  done  well !  "  faid  the  Sheikh, 

"and 


of  Noureddin. 


"  and  fince  thou  art  but  a  poor 
"  Man,  here  are  three  Pieces  of 
"  Gold  for  thee."  The  Caliph 
kiffed  them  and  put  them  in  his 
Bofom.  "Why  departeft  thou  not, 
"  O  Kerim?"  faid  the  Sheikh.  "  I 
"pray  thee,  O  Sheikh  Ibrahim!" 
faid  the  Caliph,  "prevail  on  the 
"  Damfel  to  fing  me  a  Song  ere  I 
"  go,  for  I  am  exceedingly  fond  of 
"Mufic."  "Gratify  him,  then, 
"  Em's  Eljelis"  faid  Noureddin 
drowiily.  Therefore  Em's  Eljelis 
took  up  the  Lute  and  fang  him 
one  of  her  beft  Songs,  fo  that  the 
Caliph's  Soul  was  tranfported,  and 
he  cried,  "  Heaven  blefs  thee ! 
"  Heaven  blefs  thee !  "  "  Doft 
"  thou  admire  her  fo  much  ?  "  faid 
Noureddiny  rubbing  his  Eyes,  "  then 
"  take  her,  my  Friend,  as  a  Gift. 
"  I  make  her  a  Prefent  unto  thee ! " 
The  Caliph,  unaware  of  the 

extravagant 


1  54 


The  extravagant  Profujlon 


extravagant  Liberality  of  Noureddin 
which  in  this  laft  Inftance  he  carried 

din, 

to  Madnefs,  thought  he  muft  be 
intoxicated  or  dreaming,  and  looked 
at  him  with  Surprife;  but  Ems 
Eljelis,  who  too  well  knew  Nour- 
eddins  thoughtlefs  Difpofition,  burft 
into  Tears  and  faid,  "  O  my 
"  Mafter  .1  is  it  thus  thou  cafteft  me 
"off  like  a  dead  Leaf?  and  haft 
"  thou  no  Regard  for  me  ?  "  Then 
Noureddin  flood,  confufed  at  what 
he  had  done,  completely  fobered 
and  awakened.  The  Caliph,  per- 
ceiving his  Diftrefs,  faid,  "  What 
"  aileth  thee,  young  Man,  that  thou 
"  haft  done  this  ?  and  who  art  thou, 
"  and  how  comeft  thou  here  ?  >; 
forgetting  his  affumed  Character  in 
the  Intereft  he  took  in  him,  and 
fpeaking  with  Gentlenefs  in  his 
natural  Voice.  Noureddin,  without 
confidering  how  his  Manner  was 

inconiiftent 


of  Noureddin. 


inconfiftent  with  his  Apparel,  made 
Anfwer  and  faid,  fighing  deeply, 
"  O  Friend !  I  am  the  Victim  of 
"  Misfortune.  My  Father  was  one 
"  of  the  two  Viziers  of  the  Sultan 
"  of  Balfora,  and  died,  leaving  me 
"  confiderable  Wealth.  I  knew 
"  Nothing  of  Money,  and  by  my 
"  thoughtlefs  Profufion,  loft  all  my 
"  PofTeffions,  except  only  this  Slave, 
"  worth  all  the  Reft.  The  Friends 
"  I  had  enriched  in  my  Profperity 
"  refufed  to  fee  me  in  my  Adverfity ; 
"  and  the  Vizier  Mowein  by  his 
"  Mifreprefentations  induced  the 
"  Sultan  to  command  that  my 
"  Houfe  fhould  be  deftroyed,  and 
"  that  I  and  my  Slave  fhould  be 
"  taken  captive.  Thereupon  we 
"  fled,  and  reached  Bagdad  this 
"  Day,  without  knowing  any  one 
"  in  the  City ;  nor  fhould  we  have 
"  known  where  to  find  Food  or 

"  Shelter 


156 


The  extravagant  Profujlon 

"  Shelter  but  for  the   Kindnefs  o 
"  this    good    old     Man/'      "  And 
"  whither  wouldeft   thou   now  re- 
"pair?"     faid     the      Caliph.     ' 
"  know  not.     The  Earth  is  wide/ 
faid    Noureddin.      "  The    Prince    o 
"  the  Faithful  is  juft  and  generous 
"  but  I  know  not  how  to  prefen 
"  myfelf    unto     him.      He     migh 
"  think    fit    to    fend    me    back    to 
"Balfora."       "To     Balfora     thou 
"fhalt   go/'    faid    the    Caliph,   < 
"  will  write  a  Letter  to  the  Sultan, 
"  and  he  mall  do  thee  no  Injury/ 
"  Thou  ? "    repeated    Noureddin    in 
Surprife,     "  art     thou     not,     then 
"  a  poor   Fifherman  ?  "     "  Be  thai 
"  as  it  may,"  faid  the  Caliph,  * 
"  have   Power    to   do   what   I    fay 
"  Bring  me  Implements  of  Writing, 
"  O    Sheikh   Ibrahim."     Then   the 
Sheikh,    who    perceived     who    he 

obeyed 
without 


was    and    flood    trembling, 


of  Noureddin. 


without  a  Word.  The  Caliph 
then  began  to  write ;  and  Nour- 
eddin, who,  not  knowing  who  he 
was,  and  doubtful  whether  he 
could  write,  took  the  Liberty  of 
looking  over  his  Shoulder,  beheld 
him,  to  his  Amazement,  write  as 
follows : — 

"  In  the  Name  of  GOD  the  Com- 
"  paffionate,  the  Merciful ! 

"  To  proceed. — This  Letter  is 
"  from  Haroun,  the  Son  of  Mohadi, 
ft  to  His  Highnefs  Mohammed  the 
"  Son  of  Zeini,  who  hath  been 
"  encompaffed  by  my  Beneficence, 
"  and  whom  I  conftituted  Viceroy 
"  of  a  part  of  my  Dominions.  Be 
"  it  known  to  thee  that  I  am  highly 
"  difpleafed  at  certain  Things  which 
"  have  lately  occurred  at  Ealforay 
"  and  now  I  deiire  that  on  the 
"  Arrival  of  Noureddin,  the  Son  of 
"  Fadladdin,  who  is  the  Bearer  of 

"  this 


158  The  extravagant'  Profujlon 

"  this  Letter,  thou  wilt  divert  thy- 
"  felf  of  the  regal  Authority  and 
"  feat  him  in  thy  Place ;  fo  difobey 
"  not  my  Commands,  and  Peace  be 
"  with  thee  !  " 

The  Caliph  gave  the  Letter  to 
Noureddin,  who  kiffed  it  and  placed 
it  in  his  Turban,  and  then  bade  him 
immediately  depart,  faying,  "As 
"  for  thy  Slave,  thou  haft  given  her 
"  unto  me."  Noureddin  caft  a  rue- 
ful Look  at  Enis  E/jetis,  who  was 
bathed  in  Tears,  but  dared  not 
difobey  the  Caliph's  Orders,  and 
fet  forth  without  exchanging  with 
her  fo  much  as  a  Word.  Mefrour 
now  entering  with  the  Drefs  he 
had  been  fent  for,  the  Caliph 
flung  the  old  Fifherman's  Coat 
out  of  the  Window,  and  with 
Hafte  put  on  his  own  Robes; 
defiring  Mefrour  to  conduft  Enis 
Eljelis  to  the  Palace,  and  give  her 

an 


of  Noureddin. 


an  Apartment  to  herfelf,  with 
fuitable  Attendance.  Then,  be- 
holding her  Diftrefs,  he  faid  mildly 
unto  her,  "  Know  that  I  have 
"  appointed  thy  Mafter  Sultan  of 
"  Balfora,  and  in  due  Time  thou 
"  fhalt  fee  him  again,  and  become 
"  his  Wife.  Meanwhile,  I  but 
"  keep  thee  in  Ward." 

As  for  Noureddin,  he  obtained  the 
Means  of  performing  his  Journey 
with  the  few  Pieces  of  Gold  that 
yet  remained  unto  him ;  and  on 
reaching  Balfora,  he  went  ftraight  to 
the  Sultan,  kiffed  the  Ground  before 
him,  and  delivered  the  Letter.  The 
Sultan,  recognifing  the  Caliph's 
Writing,  kiffed  it  three  Times, 
faying,  "  I  hear  and  pay  Obedience 
"  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful ! " 
Then  when  he  opened  and  read  it, 
his  Countenance  fell ;  but  without 
a  Word,  he  fent  for  his  Emirs  and 

four 


i6o 


'The  extravagant  Profujion 

four  Cadies,  and  proceeded  to  diveft 
himfelf  of  the  regal    Office.      But 
the  Vizier  Mowein,  fuddenly  feizing 
the    Letter,    tore   it  in    Fragments, 
chewed  it  and  fwallowed  it.     The) 
Sultan,  amazed,   faid,  "What  hath' 
"  caufed  thee  to  act  thus  ?  "     Mo- 
wem    replied,   "  On    my   Head    be 
"  it.     This  is  no  true  Letter,  but  an 
"  impudent  Forgery  of  NouredJin'M 
"  who  can  lofe  Nothing  and  may' 
"  gain  Something  by  it :  would  noti 
"  the  Caliph  certainly  have  fent  his 
"  Mandate  by  an  accredited  Agent, 
"  or    at    the    leaft    have    bidden    a 
"  Chamberlain  to  accompany  Nou-. 
"  reddin?  but  he  hath  come  alone 
"  and    ignominioufly."     "  What   is 
"  to    be    done,    then  ? "    faid    the 
Sultan.     "  Give     him     in    Charge 
"  to  me,"  faid  the  Vizier,  "  and  I 
"  will    fend    him    back    with    an 
"  Officer     to     Bagdad,     to     know 

"  whether 


of  Noureddin. 


"  whether  he  be  a  true  Man  and 
66  the  Bearer  of  a  true  Mandate  or 
"  no."  So  the  Sultan  faid,  "Good!  " 
but  Mowein,  inftead  of  doing  as  he 
had  faid,  carried  Noureddin  away, 
and  caufed  him  to  be  beaten  till  he 
was  infenfible.  Then  he  carl  him, 
chained,  into  a  Prifon;  and  bade 
the  Jailor  torture  him  Day  and 
Night.  Howbeit  the  Jailor,  who 
had  loved  Fadladdin,  loofed  Nou- 
reddiri's  Chain,  and  gave  him  a 
Carpet,  and  fupplied  him  with 
Food,  and  treated  him  with  Lenity. 
Noureddin,  being  left  to  himfelf, 
in  Darknefs  and  Silence,  and  con- 
fidering  that  he  was  in  the  Power 
of  his  implacable  Enemy,  brooded 
over  many  Thoughts  in  his  Mind, 
and  reflected  how  unprofitable  and 
inconfiderate  had  been  the  whole 
Courfe  of  his  Life.  He  regretted 
having  fo  madly  fquandered  his 
M  Wealth, 


161 


Salutary 
Effect  of 
Seclusion 
on  Noured- 
din. 

Not  every 
one  that 
can  extract 
Sugar  out 
of  the 
Cane,  or 
Wisdom 
out  of  Mis- 
fortune. 


i6a 


extravagant  Profujlon 


Wealth,  a  fmall  Portion  of  which 
would  have  enabled  him  to  live  in 
Comfort  with  Em's  Eljelis,  and  he 
lamented  that  he  had  not  liftened  to 
her  Advice.  Thus  he  continued 
forty  Days  ;  and  on  the  forty-firft 
Day,  a  Prefent  arrived  from  the 
Caliph  to  the  Sultan,  which  the 
Sultan  took  as  a  Signal  that  he  was 
in  Favour  ;  but  one  of  his  Council 
faid,  "  Perhaps  it  was  defigned  for 
"  the  new  Sultan,  Noureddin", 
Then  faid  Mowein,  "  It  were  better 
"  to  have  {lain  Noureddin  out  of 
"  Hand,  for  then  there  would  have 
"  been  an  End  of  him."  "  Now 
"  thou  haft  reminded  me  of  him," 
faid  the  Sultan,  "  I  think  it  will  be 
"  beft  at  once  to  ftrike  off  his 
"  Head." 

Mowein  received  the  Order  with 
Joy,  and  proclaimed  throughout 
the  City,  "He  who  wimeth  to 

"  witnefs 


of  Noureddin. 


"  witnefs  the  Decapitation  of  Nou- 
"  reddin  the  Son  of  FaJIaddin,  let 
"  him  refort  to  the  Square  before 
"the  Palace."  On  this,  all  the 
City  lamented,  even  to  the  Boys 
in  the  Schools,  and  the  Tradefmen 
in  the  Shops.  Then  Noureddin  was 
brought  forth,  clad  in  Rags  and 
placed  on  a  Mule,  in  the  Prefence 
of  Mowein,  to  be  conduced  to  the 
Place  of  Execution.  The  Slaves 
who  led  him  forth,  whifpered  unto 
him,  "  Shall  we  fall  upon  Mowein, 
"  and  flay  him  ?  we  can  but  die 
"  once."  But  Noureddin  replied  to 
them,  "Let  us  not  refift  the  Will 
"  of  Heaven,  nor  do  Evil  that  Good 

may  enfue  to  us."     Then,  look- 
ing towards  Mowein,  he  faid,  "Ah, 

mine  Enemy !   art  not  thou   alfo 
"  liable  to  Misfortune  ?     Exult  not 

too  much  to-day,  left  Evil  befal 

thee  to-morrow."     The  revenge- 
ful 


164  The  extravagant  Profujlon 

ful  Mowein  replied,  "  He  who  liveth 
"  after  his  Enemy  a  lingle  Day, 
"hath  tafted  the  Cup  of  Sweet- 
"  nefs." 

Noureddin  was  then  paraded 
through  the  Streets,  the  Criers 
proclaiming  before  him,  "This 
"  is  the  fmalleft  Recompenfe  of 
"  whofo  forgeth  a  Letter  from  the 
"  Caliph  to  the  Sultan."  At  length 
they  reached  the  Place  of  Blood; 
where  the  Executioner  drew  near 
and  faid  unto  him,  "I  am  a  Slave 
"  under  Command.  If  thou  haft 
"  any  laft  Direction  to  give,  impart 
"  it  to  me,  for  there  remaineth  not 
"  of  thy  Life  more  than  until  the 
"  Sultan  mall  give  the  Signal." 
Noureddin  replied,  "  I  afk  but  a 
"  Cup  of  cold  Water,  for  I  am 
"  parched  with  Thirft." 

While  the  Water  was  being 
brought  to  him,  lo !  a  Cloud  of 

Duft 


of  Noureddin. 


Duft  in  the  Diftance,  and  the  Sound 
of  the  Trampling  of  many  Horfes' 
Feet,  and  a  Cry  among  the  People, 
"A  Meffenger  from  Bagdad!" 
Then  the  Sultan's  Heart  trembled, 
and  he  faid  to  Mowein,  "  Learn  the 
"  News."  But  Mowein  replied, 
"  After  that  thou  malt  firft  have 
"  beheaded  this  Man."  But  the 
Sultan  faid,  "  We  will  hear  the 
"  News  firft."  Meantime,  the 
Streets  leading  to  the  Square  re- 
founded  with  deafening  Shouts ; 
the  Crowd  parted  to  make  Way 
for  the  newly  arrived ;  and  Giafar 
the  Barmecide,  on  a  Horfe  covered 
with  Foam,  and  followed  by  feveral 
Attendants,  dafhed  into  the  Square, 
and  alighted  before  the  Palace. 

Now  the  Caufe  of  his  Coming 
was  this. — The  Caliph,  being 
occupied  with  State  Affairs  of 
Magnitude,  had  fpent  thirty  Days 

without 


The  extravagant  Profujion 

without  remembering  the  Affair  of 
Noureddin;  when,  one  Day,  hap- 
pening to  pafs  near  the  Apartment 
of  Em's  Eljelis,  he  was  arrefted  by 
the  Sound  of  her  fweet  and  mourn- 
ful Voice,  chanting  to  a  plaintive 
Air.— 

"  Thine  Image  is  ever  before  me, 
"  whether  by  Night  or  by  Day  ;  my 
"  Heart   never    ceafeth    to   think    of 
"  thee. 


" 


<(  O    thou   in  whom  my   Soul  de- 
light  eth  !  why  am  I  thus  negletted 

"as  a   Rofe-tree  that   hath    neither 

"Sun  nor  Water  ?" 

The  Caliph  immediately  entered 
her  Chamber,  and  found  her  bitterly 
weeping.  She  fell  at  his  Feet  and 
exclaimed,  "  O  Caliph,  always  juft 
"  and  always  happy  !  fuffer  thy 
"  Slave  to  remind  thee  of  thy 
"  Promife,  that  thou  wouldeft  fend 

"me 


of  Noureddin. 


"  me  to  Noureddin !  Lo,  thefe 
"  thirty  Nights  mine  Eyes  have 
"  known  no  Sleep ! "  Then  he 
faid,  "  Girl,  my  Heart  fmites  me, 
"  for  verily  I  had  forgotten  thee  ; " 
and  he  fummoned  Giafar  the  Bar- 
mecide. Then  faid  the  Caliph, 
"  For  thirty  Days  have  I  heard  no 
"  News  of  Noureddin,  and  it  is 
"  poffible  that  fome  Evil  may  have 
"  befallen  him  at  the  Hands  of  the 
"  Sultan  of  Balfora.  I  defire,  there- 
"  fore,  that  thou  journey  thither 
"  immediately,  and  fee  how  it  fares 
"  with  him,  and  whether  my  Com- 
"  mands  have  been  obeyed." 

Therefore  Giafar  proceeded  im- 
mediately to  Balfora;  and  when  he 
entered  the  City,  he  faid,  "What 
"means  this  Crowd?"  And  the 
People  replied,  "  It  is  becaufe 
"  Noureddin,  who  is  much  beloved, 
"  is  about  to  be  put  to  Death." 

Then 


i68 


The  extravagant  Profufion 


Then  Giafar  rode  forward  in  Hafte, 
and  went  into  the  Prefence  of  the 
Sultan,  and  confirmed  the  Caliph's 
Will  refpe&ing  him,  that  he  mould 
be  depofed  in  Favour  of  Noureddin, 
and  arrefted  the  Vizier  Mowein,  and 
liberated  Noureddin,  and  brought 
him  into  the  Palace  and  inftalled 
him  with  Honour ;  whereat  all  the 
People  rejoiced. 

Then,  after  three  Days,  Giafar 
prepared  to  return  to  Bagdad ;  and 
Noureddin  faid,  "  I  have  a  longing 
"  Defire  to  fee  and  fpeak  with  the 
"  Prince  of  the  Faithful."  Giafar 
faid,  "  Good.  Prepare  thyfelf  for 
"  Travelling,  and  after  Morning 
"  Prayers  we  will  proceed  to  Bag- 
"dad  together."  They  therefore 
travelled  to  the  Abode  of  Peace 
in  Company,  riding  Side  by  Side, 
and  difcourfing  by  the  Way ;  and 
when  they  prefented  themfelves  to 

the 


of  Noureddin. 


the  Caliph,  with  the  Sultan  and 
Vizier  as  Prifoners,  the  Caliph  gave 
his  jewelled  Sword  into  the  Hand 
of  Noureddin,  and  faid,  "  Strike  off 
"  the  Head  of  thine  Enemy."  But 
Noureddin  faid,  "  O  Prince  of  the 
"  Faithful !  I  cannot.  Pardon  the 
"Sultan,  I  befeech  thee,  for  he 
"  hath  been  beguiled,  and  reinftate 
"  him  atBalfora  before  me, and  fuffer 
"  me  to  live  under  thine  Eye.'* 
Then  the  Caliph  faid,  "  Be  it  fo ; 
"  but  Mowein  at  leaft  fhall  die. 
"  Advance  thou,  Mefrour,  and  ftrike 
"off  his  Head."  So  Mefrour 
advanced  and  ftruck  off  the  Head 
of  Mowem.  Then  faid  the  Caliph 
to  Noureddin,  who  had  turned  afide 
his  Head  fhuddering,  "  Afk  of  me 
"  what  thou  wilt."  He  faid,  "  O 
"  my  Lord !  I  defire  but  one  Thing 
"  — that  thou  wilt  give  me  Em's 
"Eljelis  for  my  Wife."  The 

Caliph 


170          The  Extravagance  of  Noureddin. 

Caliph  faid,  "  Be  it  fo.  Send  for 
"  Cadies  and  Witnefles,  and  bring 
"  Ems  Eljelis  from  the  Apartments 
"  of  my  Sifter  Abbaffa,  where  fhe 
"  hath  abode  fince  Giafar  departed 
"for  Bagdad"  Then  the  Cadies 
and  Witnefles  were  fent  for;  and 
the  Princefs  AbbaJJa$  who  had  con- 

dothPros-  ceived  a  great  Friendfhip  for  Enis 
Eljelis,  beftowed  on  her  Drefles  of 

Adversity.  Honour,  and  Jewels,  and  Gold. 
Then  the  Marriage  took  Place,  and 
the  Caliph  beftowed  on  Noureddin 
one  of  his  Palaces,  with  a  Penfion 
and  Attendants,  and  he  flood  con- 
tinually in  the  Prefence  of  the 
Caliph ;  and  his  Wife  flood  in  the 
Prefence  of  Abbaffa.  . 


VII. 


Peril  of  Giafar  the  Barmecide. 


VII. 

Of  the  great  Peril  and  Dlftrefs  of  Giafar  the 
Barmecide. 

IT  befel  that  one  Night  the  Caliph 
Haroun  faid  unto  Giafar ,  "  We  will 
"  go  down  into  the  City,  and  ob- 
"  ferve  how  Affairs  are  proceeding ; " 
and  Giafar  faid,  "  I  hear  and  obey." 
Therefore  they  difguifed  them- 
felves,  and  went  forth,  attended  by 
Mefrour;  and  having  paffed  through 
feveral  of  the  Market-ftreets,  they 
proceeded  along  a  Lane,  where  they 

came 


172 


And  en- 
counters a 
poor  Fish- 


Peril  &  Diftrefs  of 


came  up  with  a  poor  Fifherman 
going  to  the  River  with  his  Net 
and  Bafket,  and  finging  the  follow- 
ing Song : — 

"  How  full  of  Trouble  is  the 
Condition  and  Life  of  the  Poor! 

"  In  Summer  he  fails  to  earn 
fufficient  Food,  and  in  Winter  he 
barely  warms  himfelf  over  the  Fire- 
pot ! 

"  The  Dogs  follow  him  wherever 
he  goes,  and  the  Tongue  of  Contumely 
wags  againji  him. 

"  If  he  ftates  his  Caufe,  and  proves 
himfelf  wronged,  the  "Judge  barely 
admits  his  Plea." 

The  Caliph,  liftening  to  thefe 
Verfes,  faid  to  Giafar,  "  How  hard 
"  is  the  Burthen  of  this  poor  Man ! 
"Let  us  addrefs  him."  Then 
fpeaking  to  the  Fifherman,  he  faid, 
"  O  Friend,  what  is  thine  Occupa- 

"  tion, 


Giafar  the  Barmecide. 


"  tion,  and  what  thy  Succefs  ? " 
"  O  Mafter,"  faid  the  poor  Man, 
"  I  am  a  Fifherman,  the  Hufband 
"  of  one  Wife,  and  the  Father  of 
"  nine  Children,  the  youngeft  of 
"  whom  is  but  a  few  Hours  old. 
"  We  live  from  Hand  to  Mouth, 
"  in  great  Penury,  never  knowing 
"  how  we  fhall  fupport  ourfelves  on 
"  the  Morrow;  and  when  my  Wife 
"  faid  to  me  this  Morning,  '  O 
"Hufband!  find  Something  to  fill 
"  the  Children's  Mouths  and  make 
"  them  ceafe  from  Weeping/  I  re- 
"  plied  *  I  am  going  forth,  relying 
"  on  the  Bleffing  of  GOD,  whofe 
"  Name  be  exalted !  for  the  Luck 
"  of  this  new-born  Child,  that  we 
"  may  fee  its  Fortune.'  Then  me 
"  replied,  *  Place  thy  Dependence 
"  upon  GOD  ; '  and  I  took  my  Net, 
"  and  repaired  to  the  River,  and 
"  caft  it  in  the  Name  of  the  little 

"  Infant, 


74 


Peril  &  Dijlrefs  of 


Infant,  faying,  c  O  Allah !  make 
his  Subfiftence  eafy,  not  difficult ; 
and  abundant,  not  infufficient ! ' 
When  I  drew  in  my  Net,  it 
contained  Nothing  but  Weeds 
and  Rubbim.  Then  I  caft  it  a 
fecond  Time,  and  drew  it  in 
empty.  Then  I  thought,  'Hath 
GOD  created  this  new-born  little 
Child  without  intending  to  provide 
for  it  any  Subfiftence  ?  That  can 
never  be ;  for  He  who  created  the 
Jaws,  created  alfo  Food  where- 
with to  fupply  them,  and  He  is 
merciful,  not  unrelenting/  Then 
I  caft  my  Net  a  third  Time,  and 
drew  it  in,  finding  it  heavy ;  and 
lo !  it  contained  a  dead  Dog, 
fwollen,  and  of  difgufting  Odour! 
Then  my  Heart  funk,  and  I  faid, 
f  I  will  caft  my  Net  no  more ;  it 
pleafeth  GOD  for  our  Sins  to 
afflidlus.'" 

Then 


Giafar  the  Barmecide. 


" 


Then  faid  the  Caliph,  "  O  Man  ! 
GOD  never  tries  us  but  for  fome 
good  Purpofe  ;  and  when  His 
Judgment  feems  fevere,  He  is  yet 
providing  Mercy.  Return  now 
with  us  to  the  River,  and  caft 
thy  Net  yet  once  more  ;  and  for 
whatever  it  bringeth  up,  I  will 
give  thee  an  hundred  Pieces  of 
Gold."  Then  the  poor  Man's 
Heart  rejoiced,  and  he  faid,  "  Verily, 
"  GOD  is  good  !  I  thought  he 
"  would  not  forget  the  little  One  ;  " 
and  he  returned  and  caft  the  Net, 
and,  having  waited  till  it  fank,  he 
drew  the  Cords,  and  dragged  it 
back,  and  lo  !  there  came  up  in  it 
a  Cheft,  locked  and  heavy.  Then 
the  Caliph  gave  a  hundred  Pieces 
of  Gold  to  the  Fifherman,  who 
went  on  his  Way,  full  of  Gladnefs  ; 
and  Giafar  and  Mefrour  bore  the 
Cheft  to  a  Pavilion  in  the  Caliph's 

Garden, 


Thus 
Mahound : 
"  Tie  thy 
Camel,  and 
commit  it 
to  GOD;" 
i.  e.   Do  all 
thou  canst, 
He  will  not 
let  it  be  in 
vain. 


The 

Fisherman 
brings  up 
a  Chest, 


176  Peril  &  Dijlrefs  of 

which  Garden,  where  they  broke  it  open, 
after  lighting  a  Lamp.  They  found 
in  it  a  large  Bafket  of  Palm-leaves, 
fewn  up  with  red  Worfted ;  and 
they  cut  the  Threads  and  faw  within 
it  a  Piece  of  Carpet ;  and  they 
lifted  up  the  Carpet,  and  behold, 
a  Woman's  Veil;  and  they  opened 
the  Veil,  and  lo !  the  dead  Body  of 
a  beautiful  young  Woman,  white  as 
Silver,  and  hewn  in  Pieces. 
The  When  the  Caliph  beheld  this, 

?nad!gna-      Tears    burft   from    his    Eyes;    and 
tlon>  turning    haflily    to    his    Vizier,    he 

faid,  "  Giafar  !  I  am  indignant 
"againft  thee!  Shall  People  be 
"  murdered  in  my  City,  and  caft 
"  into  the  Tigris,  without  Know- 
"  ledge  and  without  Judgment  ? 
"  This  is  a  miferable  Departure 
"  from  Juftice.  To  thee  it  belong- 
"  eth  to  have  Overfight  of  all; 
and  oath.  "  and,  by  the  Truth  of  my  Defcent 

"  from 


Giafar  the  Barmecide. 


"  from  Abb  as ,  if  thou  bring  not  the 
"  Murderer  of  this  Woman  to 
"  Light,  thou  malt  be  beheaded, 
"  thou,  and  forty  of  thy  Kinf- 
"men!" 

"  Grant  me/'  faid  Giafar,  pale  as 
Marble,  "  a  Delay  of  three  Days/' 
"  I  grant  thee  the  Delay,"  faid  the 
Caliph.  Giafar  then  went  forth, 
his  Head  whirling  round,  and  his 
Mind  toffed,  to  think  what  he 
could  do.  He  faid  within  himfelf, 
"  How  mall  I  find  the  Murderer  of 
"  this  Woman,  and  prefent  him  to 
"  the  Caliph  ? "  and  no  Method 
occurred  to  him.  Then  he  went 
Home,  very  heavy,  and  told  all  his 
Family  what  had  occurred,  and 
they  gave  him  and  themfelves  up 
for  loft.  Three  Days  pafled  with- 
out their  being  able  to  obtain  any 
Tidings  of  the  Murderer;  and  on 
the  fourth  Day,  the  Caliph's  Officers 
N  came 


i78 


Peril  &  Dijlrefs  of 


came  to   Giafar's  Houfe   and    faid, 
"  Where  is  the  Culprit  ?  " 

Giafar  made  Anfwer,  "  My 
"  Life  for  his  Life.  Oh  that  the 
"  Caliph  would  be  content  there- 
"  with,  inftead  of  alfo  flaying  my 
"  Kinfmen  ! "  and  they  all  went 
forth,  forty  Men,  two  and  two, 
with  Giafar  at  their  Head,  leaving 
the  Houfe  full  of  Wailing.  And 
as  foon  as  they  appeared  in  the 
Streets,  the  People  took  up  the 
Lamentation  and  wept  bitterly ;  for 
Giafar  was  in  the  very  Prime  and 
Flower  of  his  Age,  a  Man  infinitely 
beloved,  the  Hufband  of  one  Wife, 
the  Defence  of  them  that  were  in 
Tribulation,  a  Covert  from  the  Sun, 
and  a  Wall  from  the  Tempeft,  and 
the  Barmecides  were  of  the  beft 
Lineage  in  the  Land;  there  were 
none  like  unto  them  for  Upright- 
nefs  and  Piety. 

Now, 


Giafar  the  Barmecide. 


Now,  when  they  reached  the 
Place  of  Execution,  where  the  Axe 
and  the  Block  flood  in  the  Square 
before  the  Caliph's  Palace,  a  hand- 
fome  and  well-attired  young  Man 
impetuoufly  forced  his  Way  through 
the  Crowd,  and  cried  to  Giafar, 
"  Safety  unto  thee  and  thy  Kinf- 
"  men,  O  beft  of  Viziers !  It  was 
"  I  who  flew  the  Woman !" 

When  Giafar  heard  this,  his 
Heart  was  flirred,  and  the  Hearts  of 
all  the  People  that  heard  him ;  and 
there  was  a  Murmur  among  them 
like  that  among  Pine-tree  Tops. 
And  lo !  at  the  fame  Inflant,  a 
venerable  old  Man,  well  appareled, 
reached  Giafar,  out  of  Breath,  cry- 
ing, "  Believe  him  not,  O  Refuge 
"  of  the  OpprefTed !  it  was  I  who 
"  flew  the  young  Damfel."  "  O 
"  Vizier !  "  interrupted  the  young 
Man,  "  give  him  no  Heed,  for  he 


is 


1 80  Peril  &  Diflrefs  of 


•"  is  imbecile  through  Age,  and 
"  knows  not  what  he  fayeth ;  I 
"  was  the  Slayer,  therefore  avenge 
"the  Death  on  me!"  "O  Boy, 
"  break  not  mine  Heart ! "  cries  the 
old  Man  ;  (€  thou  haft  many  Years  to 
"  live,  I  have  ripened  and  am  now 
"  withered,  and  fit  to  drop  into  the 
"  Earth.  I  mall  efteem  it  a  Privi- 
"  lege  to  be  a  Ranfom  for  thee  and 
"  for  the  Vizier  and  his  Kinfmen !  " 
On  this,  Giafar  was  filled  with 
Aftonifhrnent,  and  he  carried  the 
young  Man  and  the  old  Man  to 
the  Caliph,  whofe  Heart  was  con- 
tracted becaufe  of  his  Judgment. 
"  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful  !  " 
faid  Giafar,  "  I  bring  thee  the 
"Murderer!"  "Who  is  he?" 
cried  the  Caliph.  "  This  young 
"  Man,"  faid  Giafar •,  "  No,  I  am 
"  the  Murderer,"  faid  the  old  Man. 
"  Hear  me,  O  Caliph !  "  cried  the 

young 


Giafar  the  Barmecide. 


young  Man,  "and  believe  him  not. 
"I  will  confefs  unto  thee  the  Truth 
"from  firft  to  laft.  The  flain 
"  Woman  was  my  Wife,  the 
"  Daughter  of  my  Uncle,  even  this 
"  old  Man.  I  was  blefled  with 
"  three  Children  by  her ;  but  about 
"  a  Month  ago,  me  was  attacked 
"  by  a  grievous  Sicknefs.  One 
"  Day  I  faid  unto  her,  '  Is  there 
"  Anything  I  can  procure  for  thee, 
"  that  thou  defireft  to  have,  no 
"  Matter  at  what  Coft  ? '  She  re- 
"  plied,  (  O  my  Love !  I  am  exceed- 
"  ingly  thirfty,  and  there  is  Nothing 
"  I  incline  fo  much  to  eat  as  an 
"  Apple.'  I  went  out  immediately 
"  and  fought  for  an  Apple  in  the 
"  Markets  and  Fruiterers'  Shops, 
"  but  found  none,  though  I  would 
"  willingly  have  given  for  it  its 
"Weight  in  Gold.  At  length  I 
"  met  with  an  old  Gardener,  who 

"  faid 


1 82  Peril  &  Dijlrefs  of 


"  faid  to  me,  '  O  my  Son !  Apples 
"  are  rare  Things,  and  not  to  be 
"  found,  fave  only  in  the  Caliph's 
"  Gardens  at  Balfora.'  Then  I 
"  took  Horfe,  and  journeyed  incef- 
"  fantly  till  I  reached  B a/for a,  and 
66  procured  of  thy  Gardener,  O 
"  Caliph !  three  Apples,  for  which 
"  I  paid  three  Pieces  of  Gold  ;  and, 
"  without  taking  Reft,  I  returned 
"  with  them,  riding  Day  and  Night; 
"  and  the  Time  of  my  Abfence  was 
"  fifteen  Days.  O  Prince  of  the 
"  Faithful !  when  I  carried  to  my 
"  Wife  the  Apples  which  had  coft 

me  fo  much  Fatigue  and  Expenfe, 
"  her  Appetite  for  them  was  gone ; 
"  they  lay  befide  her,  and  fhe  could 
"  not  eat  them. 

"After  this,  her  Sicknefs  af- 
"  fwaged,  and  her  Life  was  fpared, 
"  and  her  Health  returned.  I  went 
"  forth  therefore,  and  returned  to 

"  my 


<c 


Giafar  the  Barmecide. 


"  my  Bufinefs,  which  I  had  neg- 
"  levied  while  I  was  in  Anxiety 
"  about  her.  As  I  returned  home- 
"  wards  at  Mid-day,  a  black  Slave 
"  pafled  me,  having  an  Apple  which 
"  he  was  lightly  tofiing  from  one 
"  Hand  to  the  other.  I  faid  to 
"  him,  *  Man,  where  didft  thou 
"  get  that  Apple  ? '  on  which  he 
"  laughed,  and  faid  with  Levity, 
"  '  From  whom  but  from  my  Sweet- 
"  heart  ?  She  had  three,  which 
"  coft  three  Pieces  of  Gold,  and 
"  I  took  it  from  her/  O  Caliph !  I 
knew  it  for  one  of  the  Apples 
I  had  brought  from  Ealfora ! 
My  Heart  became  fwollen  and 
ready  to  burft,  the  whole  World 
gathered  Blacknefs  !  This,  then, 
was  the  Reward  of  my  fifteen 
Days'  Journey  for  a  Wife  who 
defpifed  and  deceived  me,  and 
beftowed  my  Gifts  on  another! 


" 


(C 

I 

C( 


184 


Peril  &  Dijtrefs  of 


"  I  entered  my  Houfe  in  a  Rage, 
"  and  going  into  her  Apartment, 
"  perceived  two  Apples  remaining. 
"  I  faid  unto  her,  '  Where  is  the 
"  third  Apple  ? '  She  looked  up, 
"  as  though  in  Surprife  at  my 
"  Emotion,  and  faid  careleffly,  *  I 
"  know  not — I  had  not  miffed  it.' 
"  I  cried,  «  O  falfe  of  Heart ! '  and, 
"  feizing  a  Knife,  I  drove  it  into 
"  her  Breaft. 

"  O  Caliph!  I  was  petrified  at 
"  what  I  had  done.  .  .  I  believed 
"  her  unworthy,  but  I  felt  I  had 
"  afted  too  haftily.  I  knew  not 
"  where  to  beftow  her  Body.  I 
"  cut  it  in  Pieces,  wrapped  it  in 
"  her  Veil,  covered  it  with  a  Carpet, 
"  fewed  it  into  a  Bafket,  placed  it 
"  in  a  Cheft,  and  caft  it  into  the 
"  Tigris.  And  now  I  conjure  thee, 
"  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  to 
"  haften  my  Death  in  Expiation  of 

"her 


Giafar  the  Barmecide. 


"  her  Murder,  left  fhe  appeal  for 
"  Vengeance  on  me  at  the  Day  of 
"  Refurredtion.  Be  it  known  unto 
"  thee,  that  when  I  returned  Home, 
"  after  cafting  her  Body  into  the 
"  Tigris,  I  found  my  eldeft  Boy 
"  weeping,  though  he  knew  not 
"  he  had  loft  his  Mother ;  and 
"  when  I  faid  unto  him,  '  What 
"aileth  thee?'  he  replied,  "I  took 
"  one  of  my  Mother's  Apples,  un- 
"  known  to  her,  to  play  with  in  the 
"  Street,  and  a  black  Slave  fnatched 
"  it  from  my  Hand,  faying,  How 
"  cameft  thou  by  this  ?  I  faid, 
"  My  Father  gave  it  to  my  Mother 
"  with  two  others,  which  he  fetched 
"  from  Ealfora — return  it  to  me,  I 
"  pray  thee  ! '  but  he  laughed,  and 
"  walked  away  with  it,  and  I  pur- 
"  fued  him  not,  left  he  fhould  beat 
"  me ;  but  now  I  fear  to  return 
"  unto  my  Mother,  left  fhe  chide 


"me.' 


1 86  Peril  &  Dtflre/s  of 

"me.'  O  Caliph!  when  I  heard 
"  this,  I  went  in  and  lay  on  the 
"  Ground,  weeping,  till  my  Uncle, 
"  the  Father  of  my  Wife,  returned, 
"  when  I  related  to  him  what  had 
"  happened.  He  reproached  me 
"  not,  but  bemoaned  with  me, 
"  fitting  on  the  Ground  befide  me 
"  Day  and  Night,  for  five  Days. 
"  At  the  End  of  that  Time,  we 
"  heard  that  my  Wife's  Body  was 
"  difcovered,  and  that  the  Barme- 
((  tides  were  to  fuffer  Death  becaufe 
"  the  Slayer  could  not  be  found. 
"  Wherefore,  I  furrender  myfelf, 
"  and  befeech  thee  to  take  my 
«  Life." 

The  Caliph  made  Anfwer  and 
faid,  "  It  were  more  juft  to  put 
"  to  Death  the  wicked  Slave  who 
"  hath  been  the  Caufe  of  all  this 
"  Mifchief.  Therefore  I  require 
"him  at  thy  Hands,  O  Giafar! 

"Thy 


Giafar  the  Barmecide. 


"  Thy   Life  for   his   Life,   if  thou 
"  find  him  not  in  three  Days." 

Then  Giafar  returned  to  his 
Houfe  full  of  Heavinefs,  and  when 
his  Houfehold  heard  what  had  been 
fpoken  by  the  Caliph,  they  renewed 
their  Mourning  and  Lamentation. 
Then  faid  Giafar  unto  his  Wife, 
"  Weep  not  in  mine  Ears,  O  Fet- 
"  nah  !  otherwife  thou  only  extend- 
"  eft  my  Sorrow.  What  is  written 
"  is  written ;  I  have  efcaped  from 
"  one  Snare,  I  may  from  another ; 
"  if  not,  let  us  not  refift  what  is 
"  decreed."  Then  faid  Fetnah  his 
Wife,  "Well  faidft  thou  unto  thy 
"  Mother,  that  the  Caliph  was  as 
"  a  young  Lion,  that  might  any 
"  Moment  turn  and  rend  thee.  What 
"  now  is  his  Friendship  ?  As  a 
"  Fountain  dried  up,  and  a  Well 
"  without  Water."  Giafar  faid, 
"  Speak  not,  O  Fetnah  !  againft  the 

"  Prince 


1 88  Peril  &  Dijirefs  of 


"  Prince  of  the  Faithful :  he  means 
"  to  be  juft ;  but  in  Juftice,  he 
"  forgetteth  Mercy." 

Then,  when  three  Days  were 
pail,  the  Caliph's  Officers  came, 
and  faid,  "  Where  is  the  Culprit  ? " 
Then  all  the  Houfehold  of  Giafar 
wept,  becaufe  the  Culprit  could  not 
be  found.  Therefore  Giafar  pre- 
pared to  embrace  for  the  laft  Time 
his  Mother,  his  Wife,  and  all  his 
Family.  Now  Giafar  had  married 
Fetnah  when  he  was  about  feven- 
teen  Years  old;  and  me  had  borne 
him  two  Daughters ;  Giahedh,  or 
the  Large-eyed,  who  was  now  ten 
Years  of  age,  and  Soul's  Delight, 
who  was  but  five.  This  little  Child 
but  imperfectly  underftood  the 
Danger  of  her  Father;  and  when 
me  was  brought  into  his  Prefence, 
me  darted  into  his  Arms  as  a  Bird 
into  its  Neft,  full  of  Mirth  while 

all 


Giafar  the  Barmecide. 


all  were  weeping.  He,  embracing 
and  luffing  her  for  the  laft  Time, 
with  Tears  in  his  Eyes,  felt  fome- 
thing  hard  and  round  within  the 
Folds  of  her  Garment.  Saith  he, 
"  Little  one,  what  is  this  ?  "  She, 
kiffing  his  Mouth,  replied  with 
great  Glee,  "  O  Father  !  it  is  an 
"Apple!  You  fhall  have  it!"- 
and  drew  it  forth  from  her  Bofom. 
"  Who  gave  it  thee?"  cried  Giafar. 
She  replied,  "  Our  Slave  Reyhan  — 
"  I  have  had  it  thefe  fix  Days  ;  he 
"  gave  it  me  for  two  Pieces  of  Gold 
"  —  is  it  not  a  nice  Apple,  O  my 
"  Father?"  He  exclaimed,  lifting  up 
his  Eyes  to  Heaven,  "  O  ready  Dif- 
"  peller  of  Trouble!  Ho  winfcru  table 
"  thy  Remedies!"  and  then,  "Where 
"  is  Reyhan  ?  go,  fetch  him  immedi- 
"  ately."  Then  Reyhan  was  brought, 
and  flood  trembling.  "  Whence 
came  this  Apple  ?  "  faid  Giafar. 


" 


190 


Peril  &  Dlftrefs  of 


"  O  Mafter ! "  faid  Reyhan,  falling 
at  his  Feet,  "  I  went  out  fix  Days 
"  ago,  and  in  the  Streets  faw  a  little 
"  Boy  playing  with  it.  I  fnatched 
"  it  from  him  in  Play,  and  he 
"  reviled  me  and  faid,  '  Give  it 
"  back  to  me  ;  wicked,  ugly  Slave  ! 
"  it  belongs  to  my  Mother,  and  my 
"  Father  brought  it  with  two  others 
"  from  Balfora.9  To  teaze  him,  I 
"  thought  I  would  keep  it  a  little, 
"  and  brought  it  Home  with  me ; 
"but  the  Lady  Soul's  Delight  fet 
"  her  Heart  upon  it,  and  tempted 
"  me  to  part  with  it  for  two  Pieces 
"  of  Gold." 

Then  the  Officers  faid,  "  Verily, 
"  this  is  wonderful !  "  and  Giafar 
faid  unto  his  Slave,  <(  Arife,  and 
"  accompany  me  to  the  Prince  of 
"  the  Faithful."  When  the  Caliph 
heard  the  Story,  his  Brow  cleared, 
and  he  faid  to  Giafar •,  "  Now  thou 

"art 


Giafar  the  Barmecide.  191 

"  art  free ;  and  thy  Slave  will  bear 
"  the  Penalty.  How  fhall  I  com- 
"  penfate  to  thee  for  the  Pain  thou 
"haft  fuffered?"  Giafar  replied, 
"  By  granting  me  the  Life  of  my 
"  Slave,  who  never,  to  my  Know- 
"  ledge,  wronged  me  or  any  Perfon 
"  before."  The  Caliph  faid, "  Good. 
"  Thy  Requeft  is  granted." 

And  he  commanded  that  the  Affair    Not  every 
mould  be  recorded  in  a  Book ;  and    burning, 
he  retained  Giafar  about  him,  and    every  Rope 
fpoke  pleafantly   to  him,  to  efface    ing. ai 
the  Memory  of  the  Paft.     Alfo  he 
told    Giafar   he   was   convinced   he 
had    acted   wifely    in    this    Matter, 
becaufe,    by    his    Severity,    he    had 
brought  the  Truth  to  Light.    How- 
beit,   Giafar  could  not  be  brought 
to   view    it    precifely    in  the    fame 
Manner. 


VIII. 


192 


A.  D.  792. 

Heg.  170. 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


VIII. 

Of  the  Trick  played  by  the  Caliph  on  Abon 
Haflan.  And  of  the  Trick  played  by  Abon 
HafTan  on  the  Caliph. 

AFTER  thefe  Things,  Bagdad  con- 
tinued to  increafe  in  Greatnefs  and 
Glory ;  and  the  Fame  of  the  Caliph 
drew  to  it  learned  and  enlightened 
Men  from  all  Quarters,  all  of  whom 
he  munificently  rewarded.  More- 
over, he  caufed  fome  of  them  to 
tranflate  the  beft  Latin  and  Greek 
Authors  in  Arabic,  that  their  Wif- 
dom  and  Eloquence  might  be  dif- 

perfed 


&ofAbon  Haffan. 


perfed  over  his  whole  Empire ;  and 
alfo  he  made  the  Iliad  and  OdyJJey 
to  be  ftudied  by  the  Court  Poets : 
but  they  appreciated  them  not. 

It  happened  one  Evening  that, 
Giafar  the  Barmecide  having  been 
employed  by  him  in  fome  fpecial 
Tranfaftions,  the  Caliph  went  forth 
in  Difguife,  attended  only  by  a 
Slave  named  Mufa,  to  fee  how  it 
fared  with  his  People.  As  he  was 
returning  acrofs  the  Bridge  of  Boats, 
a  Man  in  the  Prime  of  Life,  hand- 
fome  and  well  attired,  accofted  him, 
and  faid,  "  O  Stranger,  haft  thou 
"  any  Defire  for  a  Supper  and 
"  Night's  Lodging  ? "  "  I  am 
"  willing  to  be  thy  Gueft,"  faid  the 
Caliph.  "  Follow  me,  then,"  faid 
the  other,  who  immediately  led  the 
Way  through  feveral  Streets  till 
he  entered  a  Houfe  which  ap- 
peared that  of  a  rich  Merchant. 

o  TT 

Having 


194 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


Having  pafled  through  the  Court- 
yard, and  entered  a  Saloon,  he  placed 
the  Caliph  on  a  Couch,  and  fat 
befide  him,  and  Slaves  brought  them 
Water  for  their  Hands,  after  which 
a  Feafl  was  fpread,  and  the  Hoft 
helped  his  Gueft  to  the  beft  Morfels. 
Then  faid  the  Caliph,  "  O  Friend ! 
"  who  art  thou  ?  and  why  am  I 
"  indebted  to  thee  for  this  Kind- 
"  nefs  ? "  "  O  Stranger,"  replied 
the  other,  "  I  am  a  Merchant, 
"  named  Abort  Haffan  9  and  I  have 
"  fworn  an  Oath  never  henceforth 
"  to  entertain  more  than  one  Gueft 
"  at  a  Time,  nor  to  receive  him  or 
"  to  fpeak  to  him  again  after  having 
"  entertained  him  one  Night." 
"  Verily,"  faid  the  Caliph,  "  this  is 
"  a  fingular  Refolution.  What  has 
"  induced  thee  to  adopt  it  ?  " 

Abon  Haffan  replied  with  a  Sigh, 
"  My     Father,    who     was    a    rich 

"  Merchant, 


&  ofAbon  Haffan 


"  Merchant,  died  and  left  me  Heir 
"  to  all  his  Wealth,  which  I  im- 
"  mediately  divided  into  two  equal 
"  Parts,  one  of  which  I  fet  afide, 
"  the  other  I  refolved  to  fpend 
"  freely.  After  enjoying  myfelf 
"  and  entertaining  my  Friends  till 
"  it  was  all  gone,  I  repaired  to 
"  them  one  after  another,  and  faid, 
"  '  Behold  me  now  reduced  to 
"  Poverty  !  Beftow  Somewhat  on 
"  me,  I  pray  thee,  that  fhall  con- 
"  tribute  to  my  Neceffities  without 
"  impoverifhing  thyfelf.'  But  they 
"  one  and  all  refufed  me.  Then 
"  returned  I  to  my  Mother,  and 
"  told  her  what  had  happened. 
"  Then  replied  fhe,  '  O  Son !  thus 
"  are  the  Men  of  this  Age;  as  long 
"  as  thou  haft  Anything,  they  mare 
"  it  with  thee;  and  when  it  is  gone, 
"they  caft  thee  off.'  Then  me 
"  wept,  and  I  faid,  <  Cheer  up,  my 

"  Mother; 


1 96  "Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


"  Mother ;  Half  my  Fortune  is 
"  fecretly  referved ;  however,  not 
"  one  of  thofe  who  helped  to 
"  devour  the  firft  Half  of  it  fliall 
"  tafte  of  this ;  nor  will  I  ever 
"  henceforth  entertain  more  than 
"  one  Gueft,  nor  for  longer  than  a 
"  fmgle  Night/  "  Then  the  Caliph 
laughed  and  faid,  "  Verily  thou 
"  haft  had  Caufe." 

So  they  feafted  and  converfed, 
and  made  good  Company  for  one 
another,  till  the  Caliph  at  length 
thought,  "  I  will  fee  now  what  is 
"in  this  Man's  Heart."  So  he 
faid,  "  Is  there  any  Service  thou 
"  wouldft  have  performed,  or  any 
"  Defire  thou  wouldft  have  accom- 
"plifhed?"  "Truly,"  faid  Abon 
"  Haffan,  "  there  is  one  Thing  I 
"  fhould  be  glad  to  fee  accom- 
"  plifhed ;  for  in  this  Neighbour- 
"  hood  there  is  a  Mofque,  to  which 

"  belong 


&  of  Abon  HaiTan. 


"  belong  anlmaum  and  four  Sheikhs; 
"  and  thefe  abfurd  and  difagreeable 
"  old  Men  cite  me  before  the  Cadi 
"  and  irnpofe  Fines  on  me,  whenever 
"  they  hear  the  leaft  Sound  of  Mufic 
"  or  Cheerfulnefs  within  my  Houfe. 
"  Were  they  in  my  Power,  they 
"  fhould  each  get  a  hundred  good 
"  Ladies,  and  that  would  be  my 
"  Defire  accomplished  !  " 

"  May  thy  Wim  be  gratified !  " 
faid  the  Caliph ;  and  at  the  fame 
Moment,  unperceived,  he  put  a 
Lozenge  containing  a  ftrong  Nar- 
cotic into  Abon  Hajfarfs  Cup. 
Abon  Hajfan  prefently  drank  of  the 
Cup,  and  was  almoft  immediately 
overcome  by  profound  Sleep.  Then 
the  Caliph,  quietly  fummoning  his 
own  Slave,  bade  him  procure  a 
Mule,  and  place  Abon  Hajfan  upon 
it,  and  convey  him  to  the  Palace. 

When  they  reached  the  Palace, 

the 


Abon  Has- 
san. 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


the  Caliph  faid  unto  his  Attendants, 
"  Behold  now  this  Man  who  lies 
"  infenfible ;  place  him  on  the 
"  royal  Couch,  and  when,  in  the 
"  Morning,  his  Drowfinefs  mall 
"  have  departed  from  him,  falute 
"  him  and  obey  him  in  all  Refpects 
"  as  though  he  were  the  Caliph, 
"  and  whatfoever  he  commandeth 
"  you,  fulfil  it."  Likewife,  fo  faid 
he  to  his  female  Slaves ;  after 
which,  he  entered  a  private  Alcove, 
and,  having  let  fall  a  Curtain  over 
the  Entrance,  flept. 

Now,  the  next  Morning,  when 
Abon  Haffan  awoke,  he  found  him- 
felf  upon  the  royal  Couch,  with  the 
Attendants  ftanding  around ;  and  a 
Female  Slave  faid  unto  him,  "  O 
"  my  Lord,  it  is  Time  for  Morning 
"  Prayer."  On  this  he  opened  his 
Eyes  very  wide  in  Amazement,  and 
then  rubbed  them  violently,  believ- 
ing 


Gf  of  Abon  Haffan. 


ing  himfelf  yet  dreaming:  then, 
looking  about  him,  he  perceived 
himfelf  in  a  Pavilion  adorned  with 
Gold  and  Ultramarine,  and  feftooned 
with  Hangings  of  Silk;  and  rich 
Carpets  and  Veflels  of  Gold  and  of 
Cryftal  on  every  Side.  Then  faid 
he  to  himfelf  haftily,  "  Verily  I  am 
"  yet  dreaming,  or  elfe  this  is  Para- 
"dife."  And  he  bit  his  Finger, 
to  afcertain  whether  he  were 
awake,  and  when  he  felt  the  Pain, 
he  cried,  "  Ah ! "  and  made  a  wry 
Face.  Then,  accofting  the  Slave  who 
had  already  fpoken  to  him,  he  faid, 
"  Come  hither."  She  replied,  "  At 
"  thy  Service,  O  Prince  of  the 
Faithful!"  Said  he,  "What  is 
"  thy  Name  ? "  She  made  Anfwer, 
"Clujler  of  Pearls."  Then  faid 
he,  "  Knoweft  thou  who  I  am,  and 
"  where  I  am  ? "  She  replied, 
"  Undoubtedly,  my  Lord,  thou  art 

"  Prince 


200 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


"  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  fitting 
"  upon  thy  royal  Couch,  in  thy 
"  Palace."  Then  rejoined  Abon 
Haffan,  "  This  pafles  underftanding, 
"it  feems  to  me  the  Work  of 
"  Enchantment,  and  that  I  am 
"  bereft  of  Reafon."  Then,  turn- 
ing to  the  other  Attendants,  he 
cried,  "Who  am  I?"  They  re- 
plied, bowing  down  to  the  Ground, 
"  The  Prince  of  the  Faithful." 
Then  cried  he,  "You  lie,  one  and 
"  all,  for  I  am  Abon  Haffan,  the 
"  Merchant,  and  I  fufped:  the  Gueft 
"  I  entertained  overnight  hath  be- 
"  witched  me  !  " 

All  this  while,  the  Caliph  was 
narrowly  obferving  him  from  his 
Place  of  Concealment,  and  laughing 
in  his  Heart.  The  Slaves  now 
brought  Abon  Haffan  a  Pair  of 
Shoes  of  Gold  Stuff,  embroidered 
with  precious  Stones ;  which,  when 

he 


&  ofAbon  Ha/Tan. 


he  had  attentively  examined,  he 
put  into  his  Sleeve.  "  O  my  Lord," 
faid  one  of  the  Slaves,  "  the  Shoes 
"  are  for  walking."  "  I  know  it," 
replied  he  with  affumed  Careleffnefs, 
"  I  only  feared  they  might  be 
"  foiled."  So  he  withdrew  them 
from  his  Sleeve,  and  put  them  on 
his  Feet.  Then  they  brought  a 
Bairn  of  Gold,  and  an  Ewer  of 
Silver,  and  poured  Water  on  his 
Hands ;  after  which  they  fpread 
him  a  Prayer  Carpet.  He  faid  his 
Prayers  mechanically,  repeating 
within  himfelf,  "  All  this  is  the 
"  Work  of  Enchantment !  " 

While  he  was  in  this  State,  a 
Mamlouk  addreffed  him  and  faid, 
"O  Prince  of  the  Faithful!  the 
"  Chamberlain  is  at  the  Door,  re- 
"  quefting  Permiffion  to  enter." 
"  Let  him  enter,  then,"  faid  Abon 
Haffan.  The  Chamberlain,  there- 
fore, 


202 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


fore,  entered,  followed  by  many 
Officers  of  the  Court;  all  of  whom, 
according  to  the  Commands  they 
had  received,  made  their  ufual 
Obeifances.  When  the  chief  Judge 
drew  near,  Abort  HaJJan  exclaimed, 
"  O  Judge!  I  have  a  Word  to  fpeak 
"unto  thee!"  The  Judge  replied, 
"  At  thy  Service,  O  Prince  of  the 
"  Faithful !  "  "  Repair  immedi- 
"  ately,"  faid  Abon  Ha/an,  "to  fuch 
"  a  Street,  and  give  a  hundred 
"  Pieces  of  Gold  to  the  Mother  of 
"  Abon  HaJJan  the  Merchant,  with 
"  my  Salutation ;  then  take  the 
"  Imaum  and  the  four  Sheikhs  of 
"  the  adjoining  Mofque,  and  inflict 
"  on  each  of  them  a  hundred  Lafhes ; 
"  after  which,  thou  fhalt  parade 
"  them  through  the  Streets  mounted 
"  on  Mules,  with  their  Faces  to 
"  the  Tails,  and  proclaim  before 
"  them,  '  This  is  the  Recornpenfe 

"of 


&  of  Abon  Haffan. 


"  of  thofe  who  annoy  their  Neigh- 
"  hours,  and  moleft  them  with  im- 
"  pertinent  Inveftigations. ' 

The  Judge  faid,  "  I  hear  and 
"obey."  Then  Abon  Ha/an  dif- 
miffed  all  the  State  Officers ;  and 
turning  to  a  Slave,  faid,  "  I  am 
"  hungry,  and  defire  to  eat."  Im- 
mediately the  Attendant  took  him 
reverently  by  the  Hand,  and  con- 
ducted him  into  another  Apartment, 
where  a  Table  was  fpread  with  rich 
Viands.  Ten  Slave-girls  flood  be- 
hind him  to  wait;  and  Abon  HaJJan 
while  he  was  eating  faid  unto  one 
of  them,  "  What  is  thy  Name  ? " 
She  replied,  "  Branch  of  Willow" 
"  Tell  me,  Branch  of  Willow,"  faid 
he,  "  who  am  I  ?  "  "  The  Prince 
"of  the  Faithful,"  replied  the 
Slave.  "  What  a  Lie  !  "  muttered 
he  to  himfelf.  "  Thefe  Girls  are 
without  doubt  all  laughing  at  me." 

Then, 


204 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


Then,  mufing  within  his  Mind,  he 
confidered,  "  There  is  Nothing  too 
"  wonderful  for  the  unfeen  Powers 
"  to  effect.  Doubtlefs  the  Perfon 
"  I  entertained  laft  Night,  was  no 
"  other  than  King  of  the  Genii ; 
"  who  has  taken  this  Method  of 
"  requiting  my  Kindnefs  unto  him. 
"  I  will  enjoy  myfelf  while  the 
"  Freak  lafts."  So  he  ate  and 
drank,  and  difcourfed  gaily  with  the 
Damfels ;  one  of  whom  at  length, 
inftrudied  by  the  Caliph,  dropped 
a  Narcotic  Lozenge  into  his  Cup ; 
the  quick  Effect  of  which  was,  to 
reduce  him  to  as  entire  a  State  of 
Infeniibility  as  that  wherein  he 
had  been  brought  into  the  Palace ; 
and  while  he  was  flill  in  his  Torpor, 
the  Caliph  commanded  that  he 
ihould  be  carried  unto  his  Home, 
and  laid  on  his  own  Bed. 

Now,    when    Abort    Haffan    re- 
covered 


&  ofAbon  Haffan. 


covered  from  his  Infenfibility,  which 
was  not  till  towards  Midnight,  he 
found  himfelf  in  the  Dark.  He 
called  out,  "  Clufter  of  Pearls !  " 
but  no  one  anfwered  him.  Then, 
roufmg  himfelf  up,  he  called  loudly 
for  Branch  of  Willow,  and  all  the 
other  Damfels  whofe  Names  had 
become  familiar  to  him.  His 
Mother  hearing  him  thus  bawling, 
arofe  and  went  to  him,  and  faid, 
"  What  aileth  thee,  O  my  Son? " 

To  this,  he  roughly  replied, 
"Who  art  thou,  ill-omened  old 
"  Woman,  who  thus  addrefleft  the 
"  Prince  of  the  Faithful  ?  Know 
"  thine  own  Place,  and  keep  it !  " 
"  My  Son/'  then  faid  me,  ."  thou 
"  art  under  the  Influence  of  fome 
"  evil  Dream.  Come,  aroufe  thy- 
"  felf,  and  thou  malt  hear  the  good 
"  News  of  Something  that  hap- 
"  pened  to  me  Yefterday  in  thine 

"Abfence. 


206  Tricks  of  the  Caliph  y 

"Abfence.  What  thinkeft  thou  ? 
"  The  Caliph  fent  me  a  hundred 
"  Pieces  of  Gold !  Moreover,  he 
"  caufed  the  Imaum  and  the  Sheikhs 
"  whom  thou  hateft,  to  be  beaten 
"  and  paraded  ridiculoufly  through 
"  the  City."  "  O  Woman  ! "  cried 
Abon  Haffan,  "  it  was  I  who  gave 
"  Orders  for  thofe  Things  to  be 
"  done,  in  my  Capacity  of  Prince 
"  of  the  Faithful !  " 

His  Mother  here  began  to  make 
with  Laughter ;  on  which  he,  get- 
ting out  of  Bed  in  a  Rage,  feized  an 
Almond-flick  and  violently  ftruck 
her.  She,  fhrieking  with  Pain,  foon 
drew  the  Houfehold  about  her,  and 
they  beheld  him  defift  from  Time  to 
Time,  crying  furioufly,  "Say  now, 
"  O  Woman,  am  I  the  Caliph,  or 
"  am  I  not?"  on  which  me  vehe- 
mently cried,  "  Thou  art  not,"  and 
then  he  fell  to  beating  her  again. 

His 


&  ofAbon  Haffan. 


His  Servants,  beholding  him  acl: 
thus  to  their  Miftrefs,  faid,  "  Verily 
"  our  Matter  hath  become  Mad.55 
Wherefore  they  laid  hold  upon  him 
and  bound  him  with  Cords.  Then 
they  fummoned  a  Phyfician,  who 
directed  that  Abon  Haffan  fhould  be 
carried  to  a  Mad-houfe.  Herein 
he  continued  ten  Days,  chained  to 
the  Wall;  at  the  End  of  which 
Time,  his  Mother  came  unto  him 
to  vifit  him. 

"  O  my  Son,  how  fares  it  with 
"  thee  ? 55  faith  me,  "  art  thou  ftill 
"  Prince  of  the  Faithful  ? "  "  How 
"  can  I  be  otherwife  ? 55  replied  he. 
"  How  canft  thou  do  otherwife  than 
"  doubt  it,5'  rejoined  his  Mother, 
"  confidering  thy  prefent  Predica- 
"  ment  ?  Is  it  likely  thou  wouldeft 
"  be  thus  in  Bonds,  if  thou  wert 
"  indeed  Prince  of  the  Faithful  ?  " 
"  It  muft  have  been  all  a  Dream, 

"  then, 


2o8  Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


"  then,  I  fuppofe,"  faid  he  reluc- 
tantly, "  but  verily  I  appeared  unto 
"  myfelf  to  be  Caliph."  "  Ah,  my 
"  Son,"  faid  fhe,  "  the  Powers  of 
"  Darknefs  are  able  to  effect  even 
"  ftranger  Delufions  than  this. 
"  Come  Home  with  me  now,  I  pray 
"  thee,  and  behave  like  a  reafonable 
"Man."  "I  will  do  fo,"  replied 
he.  Whereupon,  they  releafed  him 
from  his  Bonds,  conducted  him  to 
the  Bath,  clothed  him,  and  gave 
him  Food. 

Having  returned  Home,  he  led  a 
quiet  Life  for  fome  Time,  falling 
into  great  Fits  of  Silence ;  but  at 
length  he  wearied  of  this,  and  of 
the  continual  Attempt  to  penetrate 
Myfteries  that  would  not  be  un- 
ravelled ;  wherefore,  to  find  Relief, 
he  returned  to  his  old  Poft  on  the 
Bridge,  to  look  out  for  a  chance 
Gueft. 

He 


&  of  Abon  Haffan. 


He  had  not  long  waited,  when 
lo!  he  beheld  the  Caliph  himfelf 
drawing  nigh,  in  the  Garb  of  a 
Merchant.  Immediately  recognif- 
ing  him  for  his  old  Gueft,  he 
plucked  him  by  the  Sleeve,  and 
laid,  "  A  friendly  Greeting  to  thee, 
"  O  King  of  the  Genii ! "  "  What 
"  have  I  done  unto  thee  ?  "  faid  the 
Caliph.  "What  couldeft  thou  do 
"  that  thou  haft  not  done  ? "  retorted 
Abon  Hajfan.  "  I  took  thee  Home 
"  and  fed  thee  with  my  beft,  and 
"  in  Return  for  this,  thou  be- 
"  witchedft  me,  and  made  me 
"  fuppofe  myfelf  what  I  was  not ; 
"  and  caufedft  that  I  fhould  be  caft 
"  into  a  Mad-houfe,  chained  to  the 
"  Wall,  and  beaten  with  a  leathern 
"Thong,  thou  Evil  One!"  The 
Caliph  laughed  and  faid,  "  O  my 
"  Brother !  when  I  left  thee  that 
"  Night,  I  inadvertently  left  thy 

"  Door 


210  Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


"  Door  open ;  and  doubtlefs  fome 
"  evil  Spirit  entered  in  and  effected 
"  all  this  Mifchief."  "  Come  Home 
"  with  me,  then,  and  fup  with  me 
"  again,"  faid  Abon  Haffan>  "  though 
"  it  is  contrary  to  my  Rule ;  but 
"  promife  me  not  to  leave  the 
"  Door  open  again."  "  I  promife," 
faid  the  Caliph.  Whereon  Abon 
HaJJan  took  him  home  and  feafted 
him  as  before,  faying,  "  Certainly 
"  I  know  not  why  I  mould  make 
"  an  Exception  to  my  Rule  in  thy 
"  Behalf;  but  there  is  Something 
"  in  thy  Company  which  delighteth 


me." 


As  they  fate  at  Meat,  Abon  Haffan 
could  not  refrain  from  relating  with 
great  Earneftnefs  and  Minutenefs 
all  that  had  befallen  him ;  to  which 
the  Caliph  gave  Ear  with  lively 
Attention,  drawing  him  on  from 
one  Thing  to  another  by  his 

Queftions 


&  of  Abon  Haffan.  211 


Queftions.  In  Conclufion  he  faid, 
"  O  my  Brother !  think  no  more 
"  about  this.  It  was  only  the 
"  Delufion  of  a  Dream."  And,  as 
he  fpoke,  he  dropped  a  narcotic 
Lozenge  into  Abon  Haffarfs  Cup. 
"  A  Dream  !  I  can  never  believe  it," 
faid  Abon  Haffan ;  and  raifing  his 
Cup  as  he  fpoke,  he  quaffed  deeply 
of  its  Contents,  and  almoft  inftantly 
became  infenfible.  The  Caliph 
immediately  arofe,  went  forth,  and 
fummoned  his  young  Men,  who,  at 
his  Command,  took  up  Abon  Haffan 
in  their  Arms,  conveyed  him  to  the 
Palace,  and  placed  him  on  the 
royal  Couch  as  before.  The  Caliph 
then  defired  a  Slave-girl  to  ftrike  a 
few  Chords  on  her  Lute,  clofe  to 
the  Couch,  while  the  other  Slaves 
accompanied  her  on  various  Inftru- 
ments  a  little  farther  off. 

Abon  Haffarij  awakened    by    the 

Sound 


212 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


Sound  of  Lutes,  Tambourines,  and 
Flutes,  cried  out,  "  O  my  Mother ! 
"  what  new  Surprife  is  this?"  The 
Slave-girls  faid,  "  What  are  thy 
"  Commands,  O  Prince  of  the 
"Faithful?"  "Wonderful,  moft 
"wonderful!"  exclaimed  he,  "Am 
"  I  again  dreaming  ?  or  have  I  been 
"  dreaming  till  now  ?  Which  is  the 
"  Dream,  and  which  is  the  Truth  ? 
"  Who  are  thefe  all  about  me  ? 
"  Unqueftionably  they  muft  be 
"  Spirits  .  .  .  Come  hither,  Slave ! 
"  and  bite  my  Ear !  "  A  Mamlouk 
approached  and  bit  him  pretty  hard. 
"  Ha !  "  cried  he,  "  thou  art  no 
"Spirit!  Hold,  hold,  I  fay!  or 
"  thy  Teeth  will  meet  together !  " 

Hereupon  the  Caliph,  unable  to 
contain  himfelf  any  longer,  iffued 
from  his  Concealment,  exclaiming, 
"  O  Abort  Haffan  /  thou  wilt  make  me 
"  exhauft  myfelf  with  Laughter  !  " 

Abort 


&  of  Abon  Haffan. 


Abon  Haffan,  recognifing  his  Voice 
and  his  Countenance,  and  feeing  all 
the  Slaves  fall  back  before  him, 
became  aware  that  he  beheld  the 
real  Caliph,  who  had  made  merry 
with  him,  and,  making  Obeifance 
before  him,  kifled  the  Ground  and 
prayed  for  his  long  Life.  Then 
the  Caliph  fpoke  pleafantly  to  him, 
and  gave  him  a  rich  Drefs  and 
a  thoufand  Pieces  of  Gold,  and  faid, 
"  What  more  mall  I  give  unto 
"  thee  ? " 

"  O  Caliph,"  faid  Abon  Ha/an, 
"  there  is  Nothing  that  my  Soul 
"  more  covets  than  to  have  per- 
"  petual  Accefs  to  thy  Prefence,  and 
"  look  upon  thy  Glory."  "  Be  it 
"fo,  then,"  faid  the  Caliph;  and 
from  that  Time  forth  Abon  Hajfan 
was  continually  in  the  Palace  and  in 
the  Prefence  of  the  Caliph  and  of 
his  Wife  the  Lady  Zobeide,  the 

Daughter 


214  Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


Daughter  of  Kajim.  And  in  Courfe 
of  Time,  Zobelde  faid  unto  the 
Caliph,  "  It  were  well  that  we  be- 
"  flowed  one  of  my  Handmaidens 
"  upon  Abon  HaJ/an  in  Marriage." 
Therefore  he  was  efpoufed  to  the 
favourite  Slave  of  Zobeide,  named 
Nouzatoulfuad. 

They  led  a  delightful  Life  to- 
gether, till  all  their  Money  was 
expended ;  and  then  Abon  Haffan 
faid  to  his  Wife,  "  O  Nouzatoulfuad! 
"  our  Funds  are  exhaufled  and  mufl 
"  needs  be  replenished ;  how  mall 
"we  manage?"  "I  know  not," 
faid  Nouzatoulfuad.  "  Liften  to 
"  me,  then,"  faid  Abon  Hajfan,  "  and 
"  for  the  Trick  which  the  Caliph 
"  played  aforetime  upon  me,  I  will 
"  now  play  a  Trick  upon  him." 
"  How  wilt  thou  proceed  ?  "  faid 
Nouzatoulfuad.  "  In  this  Manner," 
faid  Abon  Haffan.  "  We  will  feign 

"  ourfelves 


&  of  Abon  Haffan. 


"  ourfelves  dead.  I  will  die  before 
"  thee,  and  lay  myfelf  out :  then 
"  thou  fhalt  fpread  over  me  a 
"  Coverlet  of  Silk,  and  unfold  my 
"  Turban  over  me,  and  tie  my 
"  Toes  together,  and  put  upon  my 
"  Stomach  a  Knife  and  a  little  Salt; 
"  and  then  thou  fhalt  go,  loudly 
"  wailing,  to  the  Lady  Zobeide,  and 
"  tell  her  I  am  dead ;  whereupon 
"  me  will  give  thee  a  Piece  of  Silk 
"  and  a  hundred  Pieces  of  Gold  for 
"  my  Burial.  Then,  when  thou 
"  returner!,  thou  and  I  will  change 
"  Places,  and  thou  fhalt  feign  to  be 
"  dead,  and  I  will  go  and  lament 
"  thee  in  the  Ears  of  the  Caliph, 
"  and  I  likewife  fhall  obtain  from 
"  him  a  Piece  of  Silk  and  a  hundred 
"  Gold  Pieces."  "  O  my  Hufband ! " 
cried  Netizatoulfuad,  laughing,  "  thy 
"  Device  is  excellent ;  there  is  no 
"  End  of  thy  merry  Conceits. 

"  Lofe 


2l6 


'Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


"  Lofe  no  Time  in  ftretching  thyfelf 
"  out,  and  I  will  ad;  according  to 
"  thy  Inftruftions." 

So,  having  followed  all  his  Direc- 
tions, fhe  difhevelled  her  Hair,  and 
went,  beating  her  Breaft  and  making 
loud  Lamentations,  to  the  Lady 
Zobeide.  When  Zobeide  beheld  her 
in  this  Condition,  fhe  faid,  "  What 
"  is  this  State  in  which  I  fee  thee, 
"and  what  Evil  hath  befallen?" 
Then  faid  Nouzatoulfuad,  "  O  my 
"  Miftrefs !  may  thy  Life  long  ex- 
"  ceed  in  Length  the  Life  of  my 
"unhappy  Hulband,  Abon  Hajfan! 
"  How  fhort  is  all  earthly  Felicity  ! " 
and  then  fobbed  and  bemoaned  her- 
felf,  to  the  great  Trouble  of  Zobeide 
and  of  all  her  Attendants,  who  cried, 
"  Alas  for  the  poor  Abon  Haffan  !  " 
Then  faid  Zobeide  to  her  Treafurer, 
"  Go,  give  Nouzatoulfuad  a  Piece 
"  of  Silk,  and  an  hundred  Pieces  of 

"  Gold 


&  of  Abon  Haffan. 


"  Gold  for  the  Burial.  Depart,  O 
"  Nouzatoulfuady  and  let  not  thy 
"  Grief  be  immoderate.  Know  we 
"  not  all,  that  Death  is  the  Termi- 
"  nator  of  Delights,  and  Separator 
"  of  Companions  ? "  Then  Nou- 
zatoulfuad  departed,  full  of  fecret 
Rejoicing,  and  me  returned  to  her 
Hufband  with  the  Gold  and  the 
Silk,  and  cried,  "  Arife,  O  my  Love! 
"  and  make  merry,  for  thy  Stratagem 
"hath  fucceeded!"  So  he  fprang 
up,  and  danced  about  the  Room, 
and  fang,  and  rejoiced;  and  then 
he  faid  to  his  Wife,  "  Now  it  is  thy 
"  Turn !  " 

Thereupon  he  did  unto  her  as  me 
had  done  unto  him;  and  having 
left  her  ftretched  for  dead,  he  re- 
paired to  the  Caliph,  tearing  his 
Beard  and  Turban,  and  fmiting 
himfelf  violently  on  the  Breaft. 
Then  faid  the  Caliph,  "What 

"  aileth 


217 


2 1 8  Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


"aileth  thee,  O  Abon  Ha/an? 
"  Why  is  thy  Face  fmeared  with 
"  weeping  ?  "  Then  faid  Abon 
Ha/an,  "May  thy  Days,  O  Caliph, 
"  far  exceed  the  Days  of  Nouza- 
"toulfuad!"  and  appeared  unable 
to  fay  more,  on  Account  of  his 
being  choked  with  Grief.  Then 
faid  the  Caliph,  "  Be  comforted,  O  j 
"  Friend  !  there  is  one  Lot  appointed 
"  for  all.  I  will  give  thee  another 
"  Wife  ;  and  as  for  her  whom  thou 
"  haft  loft,  my  Treafurer  fhall  givej 
"  thee  a  Piece  of  Silk  and  a  hun- 
"  dred  Pieces  of  Gold  to  defray  the 
"  Charges  of  her  Burial."  Abon 
Haffan,  therefore,  with  many  Groans 
and  Sighs,  received  what  the  Trea- 
furer was  commanded  to  give  him  ; 
and,  returning  Home,  began  to 
dance  and  to  fing  as  before,  faying, 
O  my  Life  !  I  have  requited  the 
Caliph  !  with  his  own  Coin  have 

"I 


" 


&  of  Abon  Haffan. 


"  I  repaid  him  ! "  Then  me  jumped 
up  and  began  to  laugh  and  rejoice, 
and  they  converfed  together  and 
made  merry. 

Meanwhile,  the  Caliph  repaired 
to  the  Lady  Zobeide,  attended  by 
Mefrour,  and,  feeing  her  plunged 
in  Thought,  he  faid,  "  May  thy 
"  Life  be  extended  long  beyond  the 
"  Life  of  thy  Slave-girl  Nouza- 
"  toulfuad  / "  "  O  my  Lord  !  " 
cried  Zobeidey  "  no  Harm  has  be- 
"  fallen  my  Slave;  it  is  her  Hufband, 
"Abon  Hajan,  who  is  dead!" 
"  Abon  Haffan  was  with  me  but 
"  this  Moment,"  returned  the 
Caliph,  "  making  Lamentation  for 
"his  Wife;  it  is  fhe,  and  not  he, 
"who  is  deceafed."  "Thou  art 
"jefting  with  me,  O  my  Lord," 
faid  Zobeide,  "  unlefs  my  Slave-girl 
"  hath  died  but  quite  fuddenly. 
"  Even  in  that  Cafe,  Abon  Haffan 

"  cannot 


220 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


"cannot  be  alive."  "  I  gave  him 
"  a  hundred  Pieces  of  Gold,  and 
"  a  Piece  of  Silk,  for  the  Burial," 
laid  the  Caliph.  "  I  gave  her  a 
"  hundred  Pieces  of  Gold  and  a 
"  Piece  of  Silk  for  the  fame  Pur- 
"  pofe,"  faid  Zobeide.  The  Caliph 
then  began  to  laugh,  and  faid, 
"  None  is  dead  but  Nouzatoulfuad" 
Zobeide  became  angry,  and  faid, 
"  None  is  dead  but  Abon  Ha/an" 

At  length,  the  Caliph,  becoming 
impatient,  faid  to  Mefrour,  "  Repair 
"  immediately  to  the  Houfe  of  Abon 
"  Ha/Jan,  and  fee  which  of  the  two 
"  is  dead."  Mefrour  faid,  "  I  hear 
"  and  obey."  As  foon  as  he  had 
gone  forth,  the  Caliph  faid  to 
Zobeide,  "  Come,  let  us  lay  a  Wager. 
"  I  will  ftake  my  Garden  of  Delight 
"  againft  thy  Pavilion  of  Pictures, 
"  that  Nouzatoulfuad  is  dead."  "  I 
"  agree  to  it,"  faid  Zobeide ;  and 

they 


&  of  Abon  Haflan.  22i 


they  fate  at  oppofite  Ends  of  the 
Sofa,  awaiting  Mefrour9  s  Return. 

Now,  when  Abon  Haffan,  who 
was  reclining  againft  a  Window, 
faw  Mefrour  haftily  approaching, 
he  cried  to  Nouzafoulfuad,  "  O  my 
"  Love,  compofe  thyfelf  quickly 
"  under  thy  Shroud  ;  for  here  comes 
"  a  Meflenger  from  the  Caliph, 
"  doubtlefs  to  afcertain  which  of 
"  us  is  dead." 

Nouzatoulfuad  had  fcarcely  laid 
herfelf  out,  when  Mefrour  entered  ; 
and,  beholding  Abon  HaJ/an  bending 
over  her  in  a  Pofture  of  Grief,  he 
exclaimed,  "  How  fpeedy  is  the 
"  Stroke  of  Fate !  Great  is  thy 
"  Lofs,  O  Abon  Haffan  ;  but  deplore 
"  not  too  bitterly  that  which  is 
"  irreverfible."  Then,  returning 
to  the  Palace,  he  faid  to  the  Caliph, 
"O  my  Lord!  Abon  Haffan  is  in 
"  excellent  Health,  though  plunged 

"in 


222 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


"  in  Grief,  it  is  Nouzatoulfuadvfho  is 
"  dead.  I  have  feen  her  laid  out." 
"  Said  I  not  fo,  O  Zobeide?"  faid  the 
Caliph, "  thou  haft  loft  thy  Pavilion 
"  by  thy  Play."  Zobelde  pouted  and 
replied,  "  Who  would  believe  the 
"  Word  of  a  Slave  ?  "  Then  the 
Caliph  laughed,  and  Mefrour  was 
enraged ;  and  faid  in  a  low  Voice, 
"  He  fpake  Truth  who  faid  that 
"  Women  are  deficient  in  Senfe  and 
"  proper  Confidence." 

Then  faid  Zobeide,  "  I  am  mocked 
"  at  by  thee  and  thy  Slave.  I  mall 
"  fend  one  of  my  own  Women,  on 
"  whom  I  can  depend,  to  afcertain 
"the  Truth."  "Do  fo,"  replied 
the  Caliph,  ftill  laughing.  Then 
me  called  an  old  Woman  and  faid, 
"  Repair  quickly  to  the  Houfe  of 
"  Nouzatoulfuad,  and  fee  whether 
"  me  or  her  Hulband  be  dead ;  and 
"  return  with  Speed." 

The 


&  of  Abon  Haffan. 


The  old  Woman  haftily  departed ; 
and  Abon  Haffan,  who  was  ftill  at 
his  Window,  cried  out,  "  O  my 
"  Soul !  an  old  Woman  is  running 
"  hither,  doubtlefs  fent  by  the  Lady 
"  Zobeide,  wherefore  it  feemeth 
"  that  I  had  better  appear  to  be 
"dead."  Then  he  laid  himfelf 
along,  and  his  Wife  covered  him 
up,  and  began  to  weep  and  bewail 
as  the  old  Woman  entered.  She, 
beholding  her  Diftrefs,  cried,  "Alas, 
"  my  Daughter,  what  Sorrow  is 
"  thine !  Verily,  Life  is  full  of 
"Tribulation."  "  Oh,  how  good 
"  he  was !  "  cries  Nouzatoulfuad, 
tearing  her  Hair.  "  Doubtlefs/5 
then  faid  the  old  Woman,  "thou 
"  hadft  become  habituated  to  him, 
"  and  he  had  become  habituated  to 
"  thee.  Confole  thyfelf,  however, 
"  my  Daughter;  for  the  fame  Event 
"  muft  happen  to  us  all,  foon  or  late." 

Then 


223 


224 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


Then  me  drew  the  Cloth  down  a 
little  from  his  Face,  and  beheld  it 
fwathed  and  fwollen.  Haftily  cov- 
ering him  up  again,  me  gave  a 
little  Shudder,  and  faid,  "Heaven 
"  comfort  thee,  my  Daughter ! " 
and  returned  to  the  Palace,  where, 
with  great  Garrulity,  me  recounted 
what  me  had  feen.  "  Hear  her, 
"  hear  her !  "  cried  Zobeide  to  the 
Caliph,  who  knew  not  what  to 
believe.  At  length  he  exclaimed, 
"  There  is  no  Refource  but  in  fatif- 
"  fying  our  own  Eyes.  Let  us  all 
"  four  go  to  the  Houfe  together/' 
So  they  fet  forth  on  Foot,  through 
the  Garden  of  the  Palace,  the  Gate 
of  which  was  but  little  removed 
from  the  Gate  of  Abon  Haffan's 
Houfe ;  and  Mefrour  and  the  old 
Woman  reviled  each  other  all  the 
Way. 

Abon  Hajfan,  ftill  looking  forth, 

exclaimed, 


&  of  Abon  Haffan. 


exclaimed,  "  O  my  Wife !  here 
"  come  the  Caliph  and  the  Lady 
"  Zobeide,  and  Mefrour  and  the 
"  old  Woman !  We  muft  both  of 
"  us  be  dead !  "  So  they  ftretched 
themfelves  out. 

When  the  Caliph  and  Zobelde  en- 
tered, they  were  amazed  to  behold 
two  Corpfes  lying  Side  by  Side. 
"Alas,"  faid  the  Caliph,  "how 
"melancholy  a  Sight!  One  has 
"  died  of  Grief  for  the  Lofs  of  the 
"other."  "That  may  be,  O  my 
"  Lord," faid  Zo6eide,fighing  deeply, 
"  but  I  am  convinced  that  my  Slave 
"  died  laft."  "  Do  not  difturb  me 
"  with  thine  Aflertions  on  that 
"Matter,"  faid  the  Caliph;  "for 
"  Abon  Haffan  came  to  me  imme- 
"  diately  after  her  Death ;  and  it 
"  appears  that  her  Lofs  was  infup- 
"  portable  to  him."  The  Lady 
Zobelde  would  not  concede  this,  and 

me 


226 


Tricks  of  the  Caliph, 


me  feated  herfelf  in  a  melancholy 
Pofture  befide  Nouzatoulfuad,  while  ! 
the  Caliph  fate  down  befide  Abon  \ 
Haflan. 

"  By  the  Tombs  of  my  Ancef- 
"  tors,"  at  length  cried  the  Caliph, 
"  I  would  give  a  thoufand  Pieces  of 
"  Gold  to  be  certified  which  of 
"thefe  two  died  firft!"  "Prince 
"of  the  Faithful,"  cried  Abon 
Haffan,  ftarting  up,  "  I  died  firft ! 
"  Give  me  the  thoufand  Pieces !  " 

Thereupon  the  Lady  Zobeide  gave  a 
Shriek  of  Surprife,  and  the  Caliph 
ftarted  back.  At  the  fame  Inftant, 
Nouzatoulfuad  arofe  likewife,  and 
caft  herfelf  at  the  Feet  of  her 
Miftrefs,  who,  recovering  from  her 
Surprife,  embraced  her  with  Affec- 
tion, and  then  chid  her  for  her 
Deception.  The  Caliph  likewife 
chid  Abon  Haffan,  and  demanded  an 
Explanation. 

"0 


of  Abon  Haflan. 


"  O  Caliph,"  faid  Abon  Ha/an, 
"  we  had  fpent  all  our  ready  Money, 
"  and  I  was  afhamed  to  afk  thee  for 
"  more ;  wherefore  I  devifed  this 
"  Method  of  obtaining  Somewhat  of 
"  thee,  till  Something  better  mould 
"  occur.  Before  thou  gaveft  me  a 
"  Wife,  I  was  not  covetous  of 
"  Money,  but  the  Expenfes  of 
"  Women  are  endlefs.  Moreover, 
"  I  owed  thee  a  Grudge  for  having 
"  formerly  caufed  me  to  be  caft  into 
"  the  Madhoufe ;  but  now  we  are 
"  quits,  and  I  pray  thee,  give  me  the 
"  thoufand  Pieces  of  Gold,  for  they 
"  are  fairly  mine."  Then  the  Ca- 
liph laughed ;  and  faid,  "  I  would 
"  have  given  thee  enough  and  to 
"  fpare,  without  all  this  Subterfuge. 
"  Receive  thy  thoufand  Pieces,  and 
"  henceforth  look  for  a  regular 
"  Salary,  and  live  in  Happinefs  with 
"  thy  Wife  as  long  as  Life  lafts." 

IX. 


227 


Not  always 
is  it  safe  to 
pluck  a 
Lion  by  the 
Tail;  nor 
to  retaliate 
a  Joke  up- 
on Princes. 


228  Charlemagne  the  Protestor 


IX. 

Of  the  Caliph's  left  owing  on  the  Emperor 
Charlemagne  the  Protettorjhip  of  the  Holy 
Places. 

ONE  Day  the  Caliph  noticed  among 
thofe  who  flood  in  his  Hall  of 
Audience,  a  hale,  weather-beaten 
old  Man,  of  dignified  Appearance  ; 
whofe  Beard  was  beginning  to 
whiten,  and  whofe  Face  was 
curioufly  interfered  by  a  Network 
of  fmall  Wrinkles ;  while  his  Eyes, 
which  were  flill  quick  and  lively, 
were  deep  fet  in  his  Head. 

The 


of  the  Holy  Places. 


The  Caliph,  who  knew  him 
well,  fent  a  Slave  to  defire  him  to 
remain  after  the  others  were  dif- 
perfed.  When,  therefore,  all  had 
departed  fave  Giafar,  the  Caliph 
beckoned  to  the  old  Man,  who 
drew  near  and  made  Obeifance. 

"O  Sindbad!"  then  faid  the 
Caliph,  "  I  have  not  feen  thee  for 
"  a  long  Time  ;  tell  me  what  thou 
"  haft  been  doing,  and  whether  thou 
"  haft  again  been  voyaging  and 
"  meeting  with  remarkable  Adven- 
"  tures." 

"  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful!" 
returned  Sindbad,  "  I  made  a  Vow 
"  within  myfelf  that  after  fo  many 
"  Perils  and  Difafters  I  would  re- 
"  main  quietly  in  the  Abode  of 
"  Peace  till  removed  by  the  Termi- 
"  nator  of  Delights  and  Separator 
"  of  Companions.  However,  a 
"  Nephew  of  mine,  who,  through 

"  my 


229 


The  Caliph 
discourses 
with  Sind- 
bad. 


230  Charlemagne  the  Protestor 

"  my  Means,  had  freighted  a  Ship 
"  at  Joppa,  was  defirous  I  fhould 
"  accompany  him  on  his  firft  Voyage 
"  to  the  Ifles  of  the  Sea ;  and  fome- 
"  what  reludtantly  I  confented.  We 
"  touched  at  Cyprus  and  Crete,  and 
"  went  from  Ifland  to  Ifland,  every- 
"  where  trading  with  great  Advan- 
"  tage ;  till,  as  we  approached  the 
"  extreme  Weft,  a  moft  violent 
"  Tempeft  arofe,  which  lafted  for 
"  feveral  Weeks,  and  drove  us  beyond 
"  the  Pillars  of  Hercules  into  the 
"  remote  and  unknown  Seas.  After 
"  drifting  many  Days  and  Nights 
"  without  Moon  or  Star,  without 
"  Sail  or  Maft,  without  Bread  or 
"  frefh  Water,  our  Crew  became 
"  exhaufted ;  and  I,  who  was  looked 
"  on  as  the  moft  experienced  Man 
"  in  the  Ship,  was  fo  overpowered 
"  by  my  continued  Wakefulnefs  as 
"  to  find  myfelf  frequently  dropping 

"to 


of  the  Holy  Places. 


"  to  Sleep  whether  I  would  or  no. 
"  Therefore  I  called  unto  me  a 
"  little  black  Boy,  and  gave  him 
"  a  large,  fharp-pointed  Needle, 
"  faying  unto  him,  *  Abide  con- 
"  ftantly  befide  me,  and  whenfoever 
"  thou  feeft  me  fall  afleep,  prick 
"  me  with  this  Needle,  and  if  I 
"  wake  not,  pierce  me  again  and 
"  again  with  it,  even  though  thou 
"  drive  it  into  my  Flefh  up  to  the 
"  Eye,  for  on  my  Wakefulnefs 
"  depends  the  Safety  of  the  Ship 
"  and  of  all  that  are  therein.' 
"  Therefore  he  obeyed  me,  and 
"  pricked  me  again  and  again  ;  and 
"  again  and  again  I  fell  afleep ; 
"  until  at  length,  amid  the  Dark- 
"  nefs  of  the  Night  and  the  ftupi- 
"  fying  Sound  of  the  Winds  and 
"  the  Waves,  Sleep  altogether  over- 
"  came  me,  and  doubtlefs  overcame 
"  the  Boy  alfo,  for  I  was  awakened 

"by 


232  Charlemagne  the  Protestor 


(( 


by  a  horrible  Crafh,  and  found 
"  that  the  Ship,  having  ftruck  upon 
"  a  Rock,  was  about  to  fink.  In 
"  another  Inftant  of  Time,  it  went 
"  down  with  all  on  Board,  fave 
"  myfelf  ;  but,  impelled  by  a  fudden 
"  Inftinct,  I  made  a  Leap  in  the 
"  Dark,  which  brought  me  Head 
"  foremoft  into  the  Sea  at  fome 
"  Diftance  from  the  Eddy  formed 
"  by  the  finking  Ship.  I  rofe  like 
"  a  Cork,  and  ftruck  out  and  fwam 
"  at  Hazard,  till  I  prefently  got 
"  into  a  raging  Surf,  which  hurried 
"  me  forward  with  prodigious  Swift- 
"  nefs,  and  dafhed  me  on  the  Shingle 
"  as  if  I  had  been  a  Straw  or  a 
"  Whifp  of  Hay.  Then  the  Surf 
"  ran  back,  raking  the  Shingle  with 
"  a  grating  Noife  ;  and  though  I  was 
"  half  ftunned  by  the  Violence  with 
"  which  I  had  been  caft  on  the 
"  Shore,  yet,  knowing  that  I 

"  fhould 


of  the  Holy  Places. 


"  fliould  be  loft  if  I  awaited  the 
"  Return  of  the  Wave,  I  fcrambled 
"  up  and  ran  away  from  it,  till  I 
"  dafhed  my  Head  againft  a  Rock 
"  in  the  Dark  and  fell  down  infen- 
"fible.  When  I  came  to  myfelf, 
"  Day  was  breaking,  and  I  found 
"  myfelf  lying  on  a  rocky  and 
"terrible  Coaft.  O  Caliph!  my 
"  Limbs  were  fo  benumbed  that 
a  I  could  fcarcely  crawl ;  however, 
"  I  made  my  Way  flowly  along 
"  under  the  Rocks  till  I  came  to 
"  a  Place  where  they  became  lefs 
u  precipitous,  fo  that  I  was  able  to 
"  afcend  them.  No  fooner  had  I 
"  done  fo  than  I  was  furrounded  by 
"  the  Natives  of  the  Country,  who 
"  crowded  about  me  and  addrefled 
"  me  in  an  unknown  Language. 
"  They  were  well  clad,  O  Caliph,  for 
"  Tillers  of  the  Earth,  though  their 
"  Garments  were  fhort ;  but  what 

"  (hewed 


234  Charlemagne  the  Protestor 

"fhewed  me    I    had    fallen  among 
"  Barbarians,  was  that  Women  were 
"  mingled  among  the  Men,  and  the 
"  Women  wore  no  Veils.  Howbeit, 
"their   Countenances   were  comely 
and  modeft ;  they  learnt  from  my 
Signs  that  I  had  been  fhipwrecked, 
and,    with    Compaffion   on   their 
Countenances,  conducted  me  to  a 
Fifherman's  Hut,  where  they  fed 
and    warmed    me    and   dried  my 
Garments.     The    men    prefently 
departed   to  their  Work,  leaving 
me    in    charge    of  the    Women ; 
and,    overcome   by    long    watch- 
ing,   I    foon    fell    into   profound 
Sleep.    When  I  awoke,  they  gave 
"  me  broiled  Fifh  and  Bread,  and 
"  offered    me    Wine,    which    they 
"  were    furprifed    at    my   refufing. 
"  O   Caliph,  I  foon  made  out  that 
"  they    were     Chriftiansy    for    they 
"  had     Crucifixes      and     Pictures ; 

"  alfo 


of  the  Holy  Places. 


"  alfo  I  beheld  them  crofs  them- 
"  felves.  When  the  Men  re- 
"  turned,  they  brought  with  them 
"  fome  Perfons  of  fuperior  Con- 
"  dition  to  examine  me ;  but  as  we 
"  could  not  underftand  one  another's 
"  Languages,  though  I  tried  them 
"  with  feveral,  we  could  arrive  at 
"  no  Conclufion  refpedting  one 
"  another.  However,  they  mounted 
"  me  on  a  good  Horfe,  and  made 
"  me  accompany  them  through  a 
"  fertile  and  populous  Country,  to 
"  a  magnificent  City,  in  the  Streets 
"  of  which,  to  my  great  Joy,  I  faw 
"  Moors  mingled  with  the  Chrijlians. 
"  I  pointed  them  out  to  my  Com- 
"  panions,  and  made  Signs  that  I 
"  wanted  to  fpeak  to  them.  They 
"  nodded  and  fmiled,  but  ftill  rode 
"  forward,  till  we  came  to  a  Houfe 
"  that  looked  like  a  Court  of 
"  Juftice.  Here  they  prefented  me 

"  before 


236 


Charlemagne  the  Protestor 


before  the  Tribunal  of  a  venerable 
Man  who  appeared  to  be  a 
Magiftrate.  Many  Perfons  were 
prefent,  both  Chriftians  and  Moors; 
and,  at  the  firft  Sentence  I  uttered, 
a  Jew  in  a  richly-furred  Gaberdine 
ftepped  forward  and  addrefled  me 
in  Arabic.  All  was  then  made 
plain :  I  told  him  who  I  was  and 
whence  I  came;  and  he  informed 
me  that  I  was  in  a  Part  of  Spam 
at  war  with  Charlemagne,  Emperor 
of  the  Weft,  to  whom  the  Moors 
had  offered  VafTalage,  but  the 
Chriftians  were  not  confenting 
thereto.  The  Governor,  finding 
I  flood  in  the  Sunfhine  of  thy 
Favour,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful! 
appointed  unto  me  a  Lodging  and 
Food  from  his  own  Table,  pro- 
mifing  that  I  fhould  be  affifted 
to  journey  homeward  at  the  ear- 
lieft  Opportunity.  However,  this 
"  Opportunity 


of  the  Holy  Places. 


"  Opportunity  was  long  of  arriving ; 
"  meantime  the  City  was  convulfed 
"  by  the  Approach  of  the  Emperor 
"  to  make  War  againft  it.  As  I 
"  was  an  old  Man,  a  Foreigner,  and 
"  a  Man  of  Peace,  I  could  not  be 
"  expected  to  take  any  Intereft  in 
"  thefe  Tranfadtions ;  neverthelefs, 
"when  the  Emperor  facked  the 
"  City,  I,  with  a  great  many  others, 
"  was  carried  captive  acrofs  the 
"  Mountains  to  the  Empire  of 
"  Frangiftan.  While  we  were  en- 
"  tangled  among  the  Mountain 
"  Pafles,  the  Army  being  much 
"  encumbered  with  Booty,  the 
"  Spaniards  fell  on  the  Emperor's 
"Rear-guard  in  a  certain-  Place 
"  called  Roncesva//es,  and  flaughtered 
"  it  to  a  Man,  including  the  Em- 
"  peror's  Nephew  Roland  and  many 
"  brave  Warriors. 

"  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  were 

"I 


237 


238 


Charlemagne  the  Protestor 

"  I  to  tell  thee  of  the  fabulous 
"  Deeds  attributed  to  thefe  Paladins, 
"  I  fhould  ceafe  to  be  accounted  by 
"thee  a  Man  of  Veracity.  Tre- 
"  mendous  Lamentation  was  made 
"  for  them  throughout  Frangiftan ; 
"  and  I  and  my  fellow  Captives 
"  efteemed  ourfelves  in  Danger  of 
"  being  flain  as  an  expiatory  Sacri- 
"  fice.  When  we  were  brought 
"  into  the  Emperor's  Tent,  bare- 
"  footed  and  with  Ropes  about  our 
u  Necks,  we  beheld  a  majeftic  old 
"  Man  with  a  long  white  Beard, 
"  Eyes  flaming  like  Fire,  and  a  moft 
"  terrible  Countenance.  This  was 
"  the  great  Charlemagne.  When 
"  he  faw  from  my  Appearance  that 
"  I  was  neither  a  Spaniard,  Jew,  \ 
u  nor  Moor,  he  queftioned  me  by 
"  Means  of  an  Interpreter ;  and 
"  again,  O  Caliph !  thy  Name  and 
"  Favour  were  unto  me  a  Shield  of 

"  Defence ; 


of  the  Holy  Places. 


"  Defence ;  for  I  was  fpared  while 
"  the  others  were  flain,  and  the 
"  Emperor  ordered  me  a  fuitable 
"  Attendance  and  -Equipage,  and 
"  entertained  me  with  Diftinction. 
"  After  fojourning  for  fome  Time 
"  at  his  Court,  and  feeing  Every- 
"  thing  worthy  of  Obfervation,  I  was 
"  difmiffed  with  noble  Provilion  for 
"  my  Journey  to  my  own  Country, 
"  which  I  have  made  at  Leifure, 
"  and  in  Safety.  Before  difmiffing 
"  me,  the  Emperor  offered  me  a 
"  permanent  Place  of  Importance 
"  in  his  Court,  if  I  would  renounce 
"  my  Religion  and  take  the  Oath 
"of  Allegiance  to  him.  This,  of 
"  courfe,  I  declined,  alleging  thy 
"  Difpleafure ;  he  did  not  prefs  it ; 
"  and  I  can  declare  to  thee,  O 
"  Caliph !  that,  confidering  what  a 
"  benighted  Barbarian  he  is,  in 
"  Comparifon  of  a  Mojlem,  he  hath 

"  attained 


239 


240  Charlemagne  the  Protestor 

"  attained  unto  a  wonderful  Height 
"  of  Civilization  and  Magnificence. 
"  Neither  did  I  perceive,  during  my 
"  Refidence  among  the  Chrtftians, 
"  though  I  watched  them  narrowly, 
"  that  any  of  them  were  Cannibals : 
"  albeit  the  Jews  aver  that  they  love 
"  the  Flefh  of  young  Children  at 
"  their  Feafts." 

"  It  appears  to  me,  O  Sindbad!" 
faid    the     Caliph,    "that    thy    laft 
"  Voyage,    though     fraught     with 
important    Events,   is    lefs    enter- 
taining than  any  of  the  preceding. 
What  fayeft  thou,  Giafar?"    "  It 
"  appears    to    me  lefs  entertaining, 
"  but  more  true,"  returned  Giafar. 
"Prince   of    the    Faithful!5'    faid 
Sindbad,    a    little    nettled     at    the 
Caliph's     Obfervations,    "  I    could 
"  have     diverfified     my     Narrative 
"  with  Incidents  fufficiently  furpri- 
"  fing,    but    that     I    feared    thou 

"  wouldft 


of  the  Holy  Places. 


\  "  wouldfl  not  believe   them.     For 

|  "  Inftance,   with    refpecl    unto   the 

;  "  Emperor  s     Nephew     Roland,     I 

j  "  beheld    with    my    own    Eyes    an 

j  "  enormous     Cleft     between     two 

I  "  Mountains,  which  he  had   made 

I  "  with  a  fingle  Stroke  of  his  Sword  ; 

"  and   this   Chafm  was    fufficiently 

"  wide  for  an  Army  to  pafs  through 

I  "  it,    an     hundred     Men     abreaft. 

"  After  this  Relation,  on  which   I 

"  flake  my  Word,  it  will  feem  to 

"  thee  the  lefs  incredible  that  with 

"  the  fame  Sword,  he,  fmgle-handed, 

"  flew  an  entire  Army  of  a  thoufand 

"  Men.     The  Fact,  however,  ceafes 

"to  be  aftonifhing,  when  I   admit 

"  that  his  Sword  was  enchanted,  as 

"was  likewife  his  Bugle-horn,  his 

"laft    Blaft    on    which   was    heard 

"from   Roncefvalles   to    Fontarabia, 

"  a  Dijflance  of  about  five  hundred 

"  Miles.     No  Wonder,   O   Caliph, 

R  "  that 


242 


Charlemagne  the  Protestor 


that  the  Bugle  burft  in  half.  But, 
without  the  Affiftance  of  Magic, 
he  could  root  up  Oaks  of  a  hundred 
Years'  Growth,  as  if  they  had  been 
Radifhes ;  and  roll  a  live  full- 
grown  Moor  into  a  Ball  and  fling 
him  at  the  Head  of  another.  It 
is  not,  therefore,  furprifing  that 
Charlemagne  mould  grieve  deeply 
for  his  Nephew,  who  was  in 
himfelf  a  Hoft. 

"  Then,  as  for  the  Women  of 
Frangiftan,  they  are  as  fingular 
for  Beauty  and  Goodnefs  as  the 
Men  for  Strength  and  Valour. 
Girls  without  Veils,  O  Caliph, 
go  to  the  Shops  and  Markets 
without  attracting  Notice,  the 
Value  of  each  of  whom,  in 
Bagdad,  would  be  ten  thoufand 
Pieces.  They  excel  in  all  Arts 
and  Sciences ;  are  taught  Logic, 
Rhetoric,  Divinity,  and  Aftro- 

"  nomy ; 


of  the  Holy  Places. 


nomy  ;  are  converfed  with  among 
Men,  as  Equals,  and  are  eligible 
to  the  higheft  Offices  of  the 
State.  Hence  it  comes  to  pafs 
that  they  not  only  are  fuperior  to 
Intrigue,  but  their  Minds  are 
uninfluenced  by  Envy,  Jealoufy, 
or  Malice.  None  of  the  petty 
Paffions  and  abfurd  Squabbles 
which  difturb  our  Harems  exift 
among  them ;  their  Minds  are 
devoted  to  lofty  Subjects,  their 
Hearts  are  pure,  and  of  wonderful 
conftancy,  and  their  Beauty  is 
only  one  among  many  Attractions. 
When  they  grow  old,  they  are 
ilill  charming,  and  when  they  die, 
they  are  lamented." 
"  Giafar,"  faid  the  Caliph,  "  canft 
thou  credit  what  our  Friend  Sind- 
bad  has  related  concerning  the 
Achievements  of  Roland 7"  "I 
am  a  Man  of  flow  Imagination," 

faid 


The  Caliph 
finds  Sind- 
bad's  Rela 
tions  incre- 
dible. 
Many  are 
unable  to 
swallow 
Fact,  that 
can  digest 
Fable. 


244  Charlemagne  the  Protestor 

faid  Giafar;  "I  cannot."  "  Canft 
"  thou  believe,"  faid  the  Caliph, 
"his  Report  of  the  Women  of 
"  Frangiftan  ?  "  "  Prince  of  the 
"Faithful,"  faid  Giafar,  "I  can." 
"  Thine  Imagination  is  not  then 
"fo  fluggifh,"  faid  the  Caliph. 
"  There  are  a  hundred  Women  in 
"  my  Harem,  but  among  them  all, 
"  not  one  like  thefe  of  Frangijlan" 
"  Perhaps,  if  there  were  fewer,  they 
"  would  be  better,"  faid  Giafar. 
"  It  may  be  fo,"  faid  the  Caliph, 
"  fince  the  only  Woman  I  thoroughly 
•"  efteem  is  one  who  lives  apart  and 
"  cultivates  her  Intellects — my  Sifter 
«  AbbaJJa? 

Then,  after  a  Paufe,  he  faid,  "  I 
"  think  it  will  be  well  to  fend  an 
"  Embaflage  and  a  Prefent  to  this 
"  Emperor  of  the  Weft.  What 
"  Favour  can  I  confer  upon  him 
"  that  will  give  him  Satisfaction  ?  " 

"  Prince 


of  the  Holy  Places. 


"Prince   of  the    Faithful,"   faid 
Sindbad,  "  the  Emperor  is,  in  refpedt 
of    his     benighted     Religion,    a 
complete  Devotee ;  there  is  No- 
thing he  will  fo  much  delight  in 
as  free  Accefs  to  the  Holy  Places 
in  Pale/fine."     "  Then,"  faid  the 
Caliph,   "I   will    make    him  their 
"  titular  Prote&or ;  and  he  and  his 
Pilgrims  fhall  refort  to  Jerufalem 
freely  and  unmolefted." 
'  And    he    fent   unto   Charlemagne 
an    Elephant,    and    a    Tent,  and    a 
Water-clock,  and  the  Keys  of  the 
City  Jerufalem;   which,  being  in- 
terpreted,   fignifieth    "  The    Vifion 
"  of  Peace." 


X. 


246 


Of  the 

Caliph's 

Sister. 


Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 


X. 

Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 

Now  the  Lady  Abbajfa  was  more 
learned  than  all  the  Ladies  of  the 
Eaft.  Alfo  me  fet  her  Face  wholly 
againft  Marriage,  and  devoted  her- 
felf  to  the  reading  of  many  Books, 
and  the  ftudy  of  many  Arts  and 
Sciences  ;  as  Mufic,  Poetry,  Gram- 
mar, Rhetoric,  Logic,  Aftronomy, 
Aftrology,  Geometry,  Chemiftry, 
and  many  Things  befides.  Alfo 
me  knew  the  Name  and  Properties 

of 


_ 


Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 

of  every  Flower,  and  the  Language 
of  Birds. 

The  Lady  Abba/a  highly  ef- 
teemed  Fetnah  the  Wife  of  Giafar, 
and  Em's  Eljelis  the  Wife  of  Nou- 
reddin,  and  Joanna  the  Wife  of 
George  Baktijhua,  the  Chriftian 
Phyfician.  Alfo  fhe  was  abun- 
dantly liberal  to  the  Poor,  fo  that 
her  Name  was  blefled. 

Now  in  the  Height  and  Glory 
of  the  Reign  of  the  Caliph  Haroun, 
a  Rumour  arofe  that  the  Plague 
had  been  brought  into  Bagdad  by 
certain  People  of  Kerkook  ;  and  the 
Rumour  proved  to  be  true.  Then, 
when  it  began  to  rage  in  the  City, 
many  opulent  Perfons  removed  to 
Balfora,  to  MouJJoul,  and  to  other 
Places,  to  be  out  of  its  Reach; 
and  many  poor  People  crept  a  little 
Way  into  the  Country,  but  foon 
returned,  preferring  to  die  in  their 

Homes. 


247 


Of  the 
Plague. 


248 


Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 


Homes.  All  rich  Perfons  largely 
contributed  of  their  Abundance  to 
relieve  thofe  who  were  fuffering ; 
and  the  Caliph  and  his  Wife 
Zobeide,  and  his  Mother  and  his 
Sifter  were  lavifh  in  their  Gene- 
rofity.  The  Phyficians  rifked  their 
Lives  in  Attendance  on  the  Sick, 
and  feveral  of  them  fell  Victims  to 
the  Difeafe.  Then  George  ~Bakti- 
Jhua  prefented  himfelf  to  the  Caliph 
and  faid,  "  O  Caliph  !  the  Sick  and 
"  the  Healthy  at  prefent  congregate 
"  together,  regardlefs  of  Infection  : 
"this  is  not  well."  The  Caliph 
replied,  "  What  can  be  done  ? 
"  Poverty  compels  them  to  it,  and 
"  what  is  written  is  written.  None 
"  will  die  but  thofe  whofe  Deaths 
"  are  decreed."  Therefore,  People 
continued  to  die  more  and  more  ; 
and  when  the  Caliph  faw  George 
Baktifliua  {hake  his  Head  upon  it, 

his 


Of  .the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 

his  Heart  fmote  him,  and  he  caufed 
many  Tents  to  be  erected  for  the 
Poor  beyond  the  Walls  of  the  City. 
However,  this  Benefit  to  them  did 
not  laft  long,  for  the  Euphrates  and 
Tigris,  being  fwollen  with  much 
Rain,  overflowed  their  Banks  far 
beyond  the  ufual  Water-marks,  and 
laid  all  the  Country  round  about 
Bagdad  under  Water,  even  unto 
the  Gates  of  the  City.  Therefore, 
People  could  no  longer  encamp 
beyond  the  Walls,  nor  even  bury 
their  Dead  in  the  Burial-places, 
but  were  obliged  to  inter  them  in 
their  own  Court-yards,  and  in  the 
Yards  of  Mofques  and  Stables,  and 
at  length,  even  under  the  Pave- 
ments of  the  Streets  ;  fo  that  the 
Stench  became  very  great  and  the 
Mortality  increafed.  At  length  the 
River  broke  down  the  north-weft 
Wall  of  the  City,  and  overflowed 

and 


250  Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 

and  wafhed  down  about  five  thou- 
fand  Houfes,  burying  beneath  the 
Ruins  Multitudes  of  poor  People, 
both  fick  and  well.  Therefore  the 
other  Parts  of  the  City  became 
over-peopled ;  every  one  ftriving 
who  fhould  fhow  moft  Humanity 
and  Generofity  to  the  Sufferers  that 
had  efcaped  ;  fo  that  even  the  Out- 
houfes  and  Stables  of  rich  Perfons 
were  crowded  with  poor  People, 
who,  but  for  them,  would  have 
miferably  perifhed. 

Inftead  of  long  Files  of  Camels 
and  Caravans  of  rich  Merchandize 
approaching  the  City  from  all 
Quarters,  all  Trade  was  now 
flopped ;  all  the  Shops,  except 
thofe  for  the  abfolute  Neceffaries 
of  Life,  were  clofed ;  even  the 
Water-carriers  difappeared  from  the 
Market-places;  the  Mofques  were 
mut,  the  Voices  of  the  Muezzins 

were 


Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 

were  no  longer  heard  calling  to 
Prayer;  and  inftead  of  them  were 
heard  the  piteous  Voices  of  number- 
lefs  little  Children  who  had  loft 
their  Parents  and  Friends,  and  were 
ftraying  comfortlefs  and  crying 
about  the  Streets. 

As  Provifions  became  more  and 
more  fcarce,  Robberies  were  com- 
mitted by  Perfons  whom  Hunger 
had  made  defperate.  The  Dead 
had  at  firft  been  decently  fwathed 
in  Grave-clothes  of  Cotton ;  but 
this  foon  became  impracticable,  for 
there  remained  only  one  Shopkeeper 
in  Bagdad  who  had  any  Winding- 
meets  left  to  fell ;  and  rich  Perfons 
might  frequently  be  feen  in  his 
Shop,  as  long  as  any  of  his  Stock 
remained,  buying  their  own  Shrouds. 

It  was  a  grievous  Sight  to  fee  the 
uncoffined  Dead  brought  forth  in 
Barrows  and  on  the  Backs  of  AfTes, 

and 


252  Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 

and  laid  in  the  Streets  until  a  Trench 
fhould  be  dug  to  bury  them  in.  As 
the  Trenches  were  not  always  dug 
fufficiently  deep,  the  Corpfes  were 
often  difmterred  at  Night  by  the 
lean  and  ravenous  Dogs  that  prowled 
about  the  City.  Wherefore,  fome 
Perfons  carried  their  Dead  to  the 
Tigris,  and  caft  them  in. 

Fetnah,  the  Wife  of  Giafar,  was 
in  much  Fear  of  the  Plague. 
Being  convinced  from  the  firfl,  that 
me  fhould  fall  a  Viftim  to  it,  me 
gave  Way  to  much  Weeping,  and 
took  infinite  Precautions.  In  vain 
Giafar  faid  unto  her,  "  O  Fetnah  ! 
"  to  what  Good  ?  What  is  written 
"  is  written ;  we  cannot  haften  nor 
"  retard  our  appointed  Time."  At 
length  one  of  the  inferior  Slaves 
died :  the  other  Slaves,  fearing  to 
alarm  their  Miftrefs,  concealed  the 
Event,  and  buried  the  Corpfe  fecretly 

by 


Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 

by  Night  under  the  Court-yard 
1  Pavement.  Prefently  after,  the 
Vizier's  younger!  Daughter,  Soul's 
Delight,  fickened :  her  Mother  was 
diffracted  with  Grief,  and  no  longer 
cared  about  her  own  Safety,  but 
attended  her  Day  and  Night  till  me 
died.  The  eldeft  Daughter,  the 
Star-eyed,  then  received  the  Infec- 
tion, and  in  like  Manner  was  tended 
by  her  Mother,  and  in  like  Manner 
died.  Before  me  was  placed  in  her 
Winding-fheet,  Fetnab  was  taken  ill. 
She  then  addrefled  her  Hufband  and 
faid,  "  O  Giafar,  beft  of  Men  !  I 
"no  longer  deplore  my  Fate,  but 
"  am  perfectly  refigned  to  it.  I 
"  feel  afTured  we  fhall  meet  again 
"  in  another  Exiftence.  Bury  me 
"  with  my  Children,  O  Hufband ! 
"  thy  Love  for  me  has  been  won- 
"  derful.  I  have  not  always  been 
"  as  deferving  of  it  as  I  fhould  have 

"been, 


254 


Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 


The  Grief 
of  Giafar. 


"  been,  but  my  Love  has  never 
"  abated  for  one  Moment.  Mourn 
"  for  me  awhile,  O  Giafar  !  but  not 
"  for  ever ;  elfe  wilt  thou  be  de- 
"  ftroyed  by  overmuch  Sorrow. 
"  Take  another  Wife  into  thy 
"  Harem,  elfe  wilt  thou  be  lonely ; 
"  but  love  her  not  to  the  Exclufion 
"  of  my  Memory." 

Then  fhe  departed,  and  Giafar 
fell  on  her  Face  and  wept ;  he  had 
loft  all  his  Harem  in  three  Days. 
For  a  Week,  he  {hut  himfelf  up  in 
Darknefs :  then  he  came  forth,  and 
gave  largely  to  the  Poor,  and  ad- 
miniftered  Juftice,  and  fhewed 
Mercy,  and  directed  the  rebuilding 
of  the  City  Wall,  and  the  repairing 
of  the  Houfes  and  the  more  decent 
burying  of  the  Dead.  In  Procefs 
of  Time,  the  Waters  aflwaged,  the 
Plague  abated,  the  Fugitives  re- 
turned to  their  Homes,  Trade  was 

reftored, 


Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 

reftored,  and  Buyers  and  Sellers  once 
more  went  about  the  Streets ;  how- 
beit  Giafar  the  Vizier  was  a  broken- 
hearted Man. 

Then  the  Caliph  faid  unto  him, 
"  How  long  fhall  it  be  ere  Sorrow 
"  departeth  from  thee  ?  The  Sun 
"  fets  to-night,  but  it  rifeth  again 
"  to-morrow.  Choofe  thee  another 
"  Wife,  and  I  will  pay  for  her 
"  though  me  coft  ten  thoufand 
"  Pieces."  But  Giafar  anfwered 
and  faid,  "  O  my  Lord  !  fuffer  me 
"  to  be  left  alone  in  this  Matter  ; 
"  a  cut  Finger  healeth  none  the 
"  fooner  for  our  bidding  it  not  to 
"  fmart." 

When  Abbajfa,  the  Sifter  of  the 
Caliph,  heard  how  Giafar  mourned 
and  refufed  Comfort,  me,  having 
known  and  loved  Fetnab,  addrefTed 
to  him  fome  Verfes  of  Confolation; 
and  they  ran  thus  :— 

"How 


256  Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 

"  How    great,     O     Giafar !      are  \ 
"  thine  Afflictions!  yet  GOD  dejigneth 
"  them  for  thy  Good. 

"  Though  the  Prophet  does  not 
"  reveal  it,  I  am  convinced  that  they 
"  who  love  truly  are  re-united  in 
"  Heaven. 

"  There  again  Jhalt  thou  behold 
"thy  Fetnah,  and  thy  Star-eyed,  and 
"  thy  Soul's  Delight. 

"  I  paffed  through  the  Garden,  and 
"  beheld  a  noble  Pomegranate-tree, 
"  almoji  cleft  in  twain  near  the  Root. 

"  Then  faid  I  to  the  Gardener, 
"  <  Why  is  this  ?  Why  haft  thou 
"  dealt  thus  with  the  Pomegranate  /' 

"  He  replied,  '  It  ufed  to  Jhoot  fo 
" ftrong,  that  it  brought  forth  too 
"  many  Leaves :  but  now  that  1  have 
"  nearly  cut  it  through,  it  will  bear 
"  a  great  Abundance  of  Fruit' 

"  O 


Of  the  Plague  at  Bagdad. 


"  O  Giafar !  thus  will  it  be  with 
"  thee :  thine  Afflictions  will  make 
"  thee  yet  more  refplendent  in  Vir- 
"  tues." 

Abbaffa,  having  written  thefe 
Verfes,  fhewed  them  to  the  Caliph, 
who  was  pleafed  with  them;  and 
he  took  them  and  gave  them  unto 
Giafar,  who  kept  them  next  his 
Heart. 


XI. 


258 


The 

Caliph's 
Sleepless- 
ness. 


Of  the  Caliph's  tefting 


%8flSiS»^4ff 

n^A  *A  *  ?ct£i^3^^M.  GL*  fejCL'^! 


XI. 

Caliph's  tefting  the  Obedience  of  Giafar. 

ONE  Night,  the  Caliph,  having 
caft  himfelf  on  his  Bed,  felt  no 
Difpofition  to  fleep ;  and  having 
turned  from  Side  to  Side  till  he 
was  weary,  he  called  Mefrour  unto 
him  and  faid,  "  O  Mefrour !  how 
"  fhall  I  obtain  Relief  from  this 
"Reftleflhefs?"  Mefrour  anfwered, 
"  The  Night  is  yet  but  little  ad- 
"  vanced,  will  my  Lord  have  the 
"  Singers  and  Dancers  ?  "  "  O 

"Mefrour" 


the  Obedience  of  Giafar. 

"  Mefrour"  anfwered  the  Caliph, 
"  my  Soul  inclineth  not  to  Anything 
"of  the  Kind."  Then  Mefrour 
faid,  "The  Garden  is  full  of 
"  Flowers,  fome  of  which  fend 
"  forth  their  fweeteft  Perfume  by 
"  Night.  Will  my  Lord  take  his 
"Paftime  therein?"  The  Caliph 
replied,  "  O  Mefrour ',  my  Soul 
"  inclineth  not  to  Anything  of  the 
"  Kind."  Mefrour  then  faid, 
"  There  are  Story-tellers  and  Jefters 
"  in  the  Ante-chamber ;  fliall  they 
"  divert  the  Caliph?"  The  Caliph 
anfwered,  "  O  Mefrour!  neither 
"  doth  my  Soul  incline  to  Anything 
"  of  that  Kind."  Then  faid  Mef- 
rour y  "  Perhaps  it  will  amufe  the 
"  Prince  of  the  Faithful  to  ftrike 
"  off  my  Head,  for  it  does  not 
"  contain  another  Suggeftion,  and 
"  poffibly  this  may  divert  his 
"  Uneafmefs."  Then  the  Caliph 

laughed 


260 


Of  the  Caliph's  tejling 


laughed  and  faid,  "  Where  is  Gia- 
"far?"  Mefrour  replied,  "He 
"  was  here  but  now,  and  was  about 
"  to  return  to  his  own  Houfe." 
The  Caliph  faid,  "Go,  bid  him 
"  repair  unto  me  on  my  Palace- 
"  roof,  and  we  will  difcourfe  con- 
"  cerning  the  Stars." 

Then  Mefrour  departed,  and  the 
Caliph  arofe,  and  went  forth  on  his 
Palace-roof;  and  behold!  the  Stars 
and  Planets,  red,  blue,  violet,  yellow, 
and  white,  were  flaming  in  the 
Sky,  which  looked  in  Comparifon 
of  them  like  the  Blacknefs  of  Dark- 
nefs :  and  the  Caliph  looked  and  re- 
garded them  fteadfaftly,  for  he  knew 
them  by  Name ;  whether  Alcor, 
Mizar,  Aldebaian,  Dubhe,  Merah, 
Alcoth,  Eenetnafchy  that  twinkled 
perpetually,  or  the  untwinkling 
Planets;  all  progreffing  at  their 
feveral  Rates,  from  Weft  to  Eaft. 

When 


the  Obedience  of  Giafar. 


When  Giafar  joined  the  Caliph, 
the  Caliph  faid  unto  him,  "  O 
"  Giafar !  how  glorious  is  Night ! 
"  There  is  a  particular  Star  under 
"  which  I  was  born,  and  yonder  it 
"  fhines  bright  as  a  Sun."  Giafar 
replied,  "  May  its  Luflre  be  un- 
"  dimmed  !  I,  too,  had  a  Star,  but 
"  it  is  fet." 

Then  the  Caliph  looked  down 
on  the  River  wherein  the  Stars 
were  reflected ;  and  therein  he  alfo 
faw  reflected  a  bright  Light  from 
the  Windows  of  a  diftant  Wing  of 
his  Palace.  He  faid,  "  That  Light 
"  comes  from  the  Quarter  of  my 
"  Palace  belonging  to  my  Sifter : 
"  we  will  go  and  fee  why  it  now 
"  burneth.J> 

Therefore  he  walked  along  his 
Palace-roof  till  he  came  to  a  Flight 
of  Steps  defcending  to  a  Terrace. 
The  Caliph  went  down  thefe  Steps, 

followed 


261 


262 


Of  the  Caliph's  tejting 


followed  by  Giqfar,  and  arrived  at 
a  certain  Door,  which  he  opened  by 
a  fecret  Spring ;  and  within  it  he 
found  armed  Slaves  on  Guard. 
Thefe  fell  back  mutely  at  his  Ap- 
proach, and  he  paffed  through 
feveral  Apartments  dimly  lighted, 
and  then  drew  back  a  heavy  iilken 
Curtain  with  green  and  Gold 
Fringes ;  and  within  it  was  a  Blaze 
of  Light.  Divers  Women  belong- 
ing to  Abbajfa  were  iilently  em- 
ploying their  Needles  ;  and  Abbaffa 
herfelf  was  intently  reading  beneath 
the  pearl-like  Light  of  a  Lamp. 
When  the  Women  beheld  the 
Caliph  and  Giafar,  they  haflily 
arofe  and  ran  away  behind  a  Cur- 
tain, becaufe  they  were  unveiled; 
but  the  Princefs  Abbajfa,  though 
me  blufhed,  remained  ftanding 
where  me  was;  faying,  "Whence 
"is  this,  my  Brother?"  He  faid, 

«0 


the  Obedience  of  Giafar. 

"  O  my  Sifter,  I  beheld  thy  Lamp 
"  burning  and  reflected  in  the  River 
"  from  the  Roof  of  my  Palace,  and 
"  I  thought/  Why  does  AbbaJJavn&& 
"  herfelf  by  Over-ftudy  ?  A  Taper 
"  always  alight,  too  foon  it  expireth. 
"  I  will  now  go  and  reprove  her/ ' 
Abba/a  faid,  "  The  Words  of  the 
"  Wife  are  as  Honey  to  the  Mouth." 
The  Caliph  replied,  "  Too  much 
"  Honey  is  not  good  for  the  Digef- 
"  tion."  Giafar  faid,  "  Some  may 
"  eat  more  Honey  than  others,  and 
"  receive  no  Harm."  AbbaJJa  faid, 
"  Ignorance  is  unbecoming  in  every 
"  one;  how  much  more  fo  in  a  Prin- 
"  cefs !  "  The  Caliph  replied,  "  A 
"  little  Learning  is  dangerous  to  the 
"  Weak ;  how  much  more  fo  to  a 
"  Woman  !  "  Giafar  faid,  "  There 
"  are  Women  who  are  not  weak, 
"  and  there  is  Learning  which  is 
"  not  dangerous." 

Then 


264 


Of  the  Caliph's  tejling 


Then  faid  Abba/a,  "The  Lot 
"  of  a  Woman  is  in  many  Things 
"  hard ;  and  Wifdom  enableth  her 
"to  bear  it."  The  Caliph  faid, 
"  The  Lot  of  a  Woman  is  to  fubmit 
"  herfelf ;  and  Knowledge  teacheth 
"  Refiftance."  Glafar  faid,  "  It  is 
"  Temper,  and  not  Intellect,  that 
"  maketh  Men  and  Women  unruly; 
"  and  enlightened  Minds  are  thofe 
"  which  fubmit  to  the  Law  of  Cir- 
"  cumftance  with  moft  Obedience." 

Then  faid  the  Caliph,  "  Giafar 
"  is  an  Oracle;  and  if  all  kept  their 
"  Eyes  on  the  Ground  as  he  is 
"  doing,  there  would  be  no  Need  of 
"  Veils!  O  Sifter!  I  am  hungry, 
"  and  thou  offereft  me  no  Supper!" 
Then  Abbajfa  laughed,  and  clapped 
her  Hands  ;  and  her  Slaves  brought 
a  low  Table  of  Mother-of-pearl  on 
golden  Legs,  and  covered  it  with 
every  Variety  of  Viand  in  Dimes  of 

China-ware 


the  Obedience  <yrGiafar. 


China-ware  emboffed  with  Gold. 
After  they  had  flipped,  and  talked 
far  into  the  Night,  the  Caliph  and 
Giafar  arofe,  and  returned  as  they 
came ;  and  lo !  the  Stars  they  had 
previoufly  beheld  were  fet,  and 
others  were  rifen  in  their  Place. 

The  next  Day,  the  Caliph  re- 
ceived Letters  from  Balfora  which 
pleafed  him  not;  and  he  fhewed 
them  to  Giafar,  and  faid,  "  How  is 
"  it  that  I  am  Caliph,  and  King  of 
"  Kings,  and  thus  lightly  efteemed 
"  by  my  Coufin  Mohammed?  What 
"  thinkeft  thou  ?  is  it  not  proper  to 
"  fet  another  in  his  Place  ? "  Giafar 
faid,  "  Certainly  it  will  not  be  with- 
"out  Caufe."  The  Caliph  faid, 
"  I  will  therefore  write. — Where 
"  mall  I  find  a  proper  Perfon  to 
"  convey  the  Letter,  and  be  Viceroy 
"in  his  ftead?"  Giafar  faid, 
"  Some  Perfon  of  Judgment  and 

"  Integrity 


265 


Thus  one 
Generation 
of  the  Sons 
of  Men 
passeth  and 
another 
succeedeth. 


266  Of  the  Calip/is  tefting 

"  Integrity  fhould  be  found,  whom 
"  the  Caliph  is  willing  to  honour — 
"  There  is  Noureddin  of  Ba/fora." 
The  Caliph  faid,  "Meet  me  an 
"  Hour  hence  in  fuch  a  Quarter  of 
"  my  Palace." 

When  Giafar  repaired  to  this 
Apartment,  which  was  unknown  to 
him,  he  perceived  a  ftrong  Smell  of 
Frankincenfe  and  other  fweet  Per- 
fumes, and,  drawing  afide  the  Cur- 
tain, he  beheld  the  Caliph,  richly 
apparelled,  fitting  on  a  Mattrefs  of 
crimfon  Satin  embroidered  with 
Jewels,  under  a  Pavilion  hung 
with  Draperies  of  Cloth  of  Gold 
and  blue  Brocade.  By  his  Side  fate 
a  Lady  in  a  Silver  tiffue  Veil,  that 
covered  her  from  Head  to  Foot. 
There  were  also  four  Cadies  and 
four  Witneffes. 

The  Caliph  faid,  "  Giafar,  thou 
"  art  a  Man  whom  I  am  willing  to 

"  honour, 


the  Obedience  of  Giafar. 


"  honour,  to  teft,  and  to  prove.  I 
"  am  about  to  confer  on  thee  this 
"  Lady  in  Marriage.  Wilt  thou 
"  have  her ;  aye  or  no  ?  " 

The  Silver  Veil  trembled ;  and 
Giafar' 's  Heart  beat  violently.  He 
faid,  "  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  I  am 
"  thy  Servant  of  Servants.  I  take 
"  thee  gratefully  at  thy  Word !  " 

Then  the  Marriage  proceeded ; 
the  Cadies  and  Witnefles  retired. 
The  Caliph  faid,  "  Raife  her  Veil." 
Giafar,  trembling,  raifed  it  reve- 
rently ;  and  lo !  it  was  Abbaffa, 
bluming  and  beautiful  as  the  Morn- 
ing. Giafar  knelt,  and  kiffed  the 
Hem  of  the  Caliph's  Garment. 

Then  faid  the  Caliph,  "  Kifs  her, 
"  and  depart.  I  appoint  thee  Vice- 
"  roy  of  Ealforar 

At  thefe  Words,  Abba/a  uttered 
a  faint  Cry,  and  Giafar  ftaggered 
and  looked  imploringly  towards  the 

Caliph. 


267 


268 


Of  the  Caliph's  tefting  Giafar. 

Caliph.    "  Prince  of  the  Faithful—'' 
he  began. 

But  the  Caliph  again  faid,  "  Kifs 
"  her,  and  depart."  Whereon  Gia- 
far kifled  her  more  than  once,  and 
departed  without  a  Word.  Neither 
did  AbbaJJ'a  fay  anything,  but  fhe 
was  cold  and  white  as  a  Stone. 
She  flood  like  a  Statue  till  the 
Caliph  retired,  and  then  her  Maids 
came  about  her. 


XII. 


O/^  Giafar  and  AbbafTa. 


XII. 

Of  the  Fate  of  Giafar  and  Abbafla. 

Now  Balfora  is  feven  Days  from 
Bagdad.  The  Caliph  thought  with- 
in himfelf,  "  Giafar  is  a  faithful 
"  Servant,  and  of  high  Virtue  and 
"  Honour :  there  is  none  other  fuch 
"  in  my  Kingdom ;  but  yet  I  will 
"  fee  what  is  in  his  Heart.  If  he 
"  obey  me  for  a  whole  Year  in  this 
"  Matter,  well :  I  will  recal  him, 
"  and  give  him  my  Sifter,  and 
"  promote  him  to  yet  higher  Honour. 

"How 


269 


The  Ca- 
liph tests 
Giafar. 
To  the 
LORD  it 
belongeth, 
O  Man,  to 
try  Hearts. 


270  Of  the  Fate  of 


"  How  foon  pafles  a  Year !  It  is 
"  even  like  a  Halt  in  the  Defert." 

Howbeit,  the  Caliph  clofely 
watched  his  Sifter  during  this 
Period ;  and  fhe  troubled  him  with 
much  weeping,  and  entreating  him 
to  recal  her  Hufband,  faying,  "  It 
"  had  been  better  not  to  give  me  to 
"  Gt'afar."  He  faid,  "  Why  thefe 
".Tears?  Haft  thou  not  all  thou 
"  hadft  before  ?  and  waft  thou  not 
"  content  ?  Thou  faidft  all  Pleafure 
"  was  in  Books." 

She  replied,  "Thou  haft  fpoiled 
"  that  Pleafure :  I  now  behold  their 
"  Words  and  their  Letters,  but  they 
"  impart  no  Senfe.  Thou  haft  done 
"  very  cruelly  unto  me.  I  was  in 
"  Peace,  and  thou  troubledft  me. 
"  Thou  madeft  me  to  fee  and  hear 
"  Giafar,  and  I  found  him  highly 
"  to  be  prized,  and  thou  faidft,  Shall 
"  I  beftow  thee  on  him,  my  Sifter  ? 

"and 


Giafar  and  Abbaffa.  271 


"  and  I  thought  to  be  his  dear 
"  Companion  for  Life,  and  now 
"  thou  haft  fundered  us  altogether!" 
Then  the  Caliph  departed,  think- 
ing within  himfelf,  "  At  the  Year's 
"  End,  her  Joy  will  be  in  Proportion 
"  to  her  prefent  Sorrow."  And 
he  abftained  from  vifiting  her  again 
for  a  long  Seafon,  becaufe  he  knew 
not  how  to  anfwer  her.  When  he 
went  to  her  after  fome  Time,  behold, 
me  had  wafted  to  a  Shadow,  and 
was  drooping  like  a  broken  Lily ; 
wherefore  his  Heart  fmote  him,  and 
he  thought  within  himfelf,  "  Yet 
"  a  little  while,  and  though  I  tell 
"  not  Giafar,  I  will  tell  her  that  his 
"  Recal  is  intended  at  the  Year's 
"  End."  Howbeit,  Affairs  of  State 
drove  the  Matter  from  his  Mind  for 
a  few  Days  ;  and  when  he  viiited 
her  again,  me  was  reviving,  and 
fpoke  to  him  with  Cheerfulnefs ; 

wherefore 


272 


Of  the  Fate  of 


wherefore   he   faid  within   himfelf, 
"  I  will  let  the  Matter  remain." 

Now  the  Reafon  why  Abbaffas 
Countenance  had  changed  was  this. 
After  the  Caliph  had  ceafed  to  vifit 
her,  becaufe  me  wearied  him  with 
her  Tears  and  her  Sighing,  me 
declined  even  to  the  Point  of  Death. 
Wherefore  her  Nurfe  faid  unto  her, 
"  O  my  Miftrefs !  thou  art  even  atj 
"  Death's  Door  for  Sorrow  of 
"  Heart.  Write  now  a  few  fare- 
"  well  Lines  to  my  Lord  Giafar,\ 
"  and  I  will  convey  them  to  him 
"  privately."  Then  Abbajfa  wrote 
him  a  Letter  and  faid, — 

"  For  want  of  Sun  and  Dew,  the 

"  Rofe  periflieth ;  thus,  in  the  Abfence 
"  of  Giafar,  withers  my  Heart ! 

"  Pearls  fcattered  may  be  re- 
"  collected ;  but  a  broken  Heart  can 
"  never  be  mended. 

"  The 


Giafar  &  Abbaffa. 


"  'The  Mole  that  hath  never  feen  the 
"  Light  is  content ;  but  the  Eagle 
"  Jhut  up  in  Darknefs,  perijheth  ! 

"  How  cruel  is  my  Brother  !  It 
"  were  better  never  to  have  known 
"  Giafar,  than,  having  feen  him,  to 
"  lament  him. 

"  Perchance  at  Balfora  thou  art 
"  happy ;  and  I  cannot  wijh  thee 
"  otherwife,  though  my  Tears  are  my 
"Meat." 

When  Giafar  received  this  Letter, 
he  fpoke  privately  with  the  Mef- 
fenger  who  had  brought  it ;  and 
then  held  a  fecret  Conference  with 
a  faithful  Slave  who  had  lived  with 
him  from  Infancy.  The  next  Day 
the  Report  throughout  Balfora  was 
that  the  Viceroy,  having  eaten  of  an 
unripe  Melon  at  Supper,  was  taken 
ferioufly  ill,  and  confined  to  his  Bed. 
T  Meantime 


274 


Of  the  Fate  of 


Meantime  Giafar  was  riding  poft  to 
Bagdad.  When  he  at  length  reached 
the  Abode  of  Peace,  the  Darknefs  of 
Night  covered  his  Entrance  by  a 
private  Way  into  the  Palace.  Abbajfa 
was  amazed,  and  overwhelmed  with 
Joy  at  his  Arrival :  her  Slaves  were 
faithful,  they  did  not  betray  the 
Secret  unto  the  Caliph.  Giafar  dared 
not  remain  more  than  a  few  Hours ; 
he  counfelled  his  Wife  to  Fortitude 
and  Patience ;  me  promifed  Com- 
pliance ;  they  exchanged  a  thoufand 
AfTurances  of  Affection  and  Fidelity; 
and  an  Hour  before  Daybreak,  Gia- 
far was  on  his  Return  to  Balfora. 

Hence  the  reftored  Spirits  of 
Abba/a.  When  her  Gaiety  fubfided, 
it  gave  Place  to  Compofure  and  Pa- 
tience; me  returned  to  her  Needle 
and  her  Studies.  The  Caliph,  de- 
ceived by  her,  was  well«pleafed  ; 
he  thought,  "  For  every  Hour  of 

"  Self-control, 


Giafar  &  Abbaffa. 


"  Self-control,  thou  (halt  have  a 
"Year  of  Felicity."  He  fent  a 
Prefent  to  Giafar  by  a  truftworthy 
Meflenger,  whom  he  charged  to 
examine  and  report  on  the  Viceroy's 
Appearance.  Alfo,  Abbajfa  was 
permitted  to  exchange  Letters  with 
Giafar  by  the  fame  Envoy.  The 
Caliph  read  Giafar's  Letter  to  his 
Sifter;  it  was  full  of  Affedlion, 
Wifdom,  and  Patience.  The  Mef- 
fenger  alfo  reported  that  the  Viceroy 
appeared  well  in  Health,  and  in 
good  Spirits,  and  was  greatly  be- 
loved by  the  People  of  Balfora. 
Thereat  the  Caliph  was  content. 

About  this  Time,  new  Wars  in 
fome  of  the  Provinces  occupied 
much  of  the  Attention  of  Haroun 
Alrafchid.  When  he  was  again  at 
Leifure  to  attend  to  the  Affairs  of 
Giafar  and  Abbaffa>  the  Year  was 
nearly  ended.  Meantime,  Abbaffa\ 

lofing 


276 


Of  the  Fate  of 


lofing  the  Peace  of  Mind  imparted 
by  Giafar  s  Vifit,  had  walled  daily, 
and  was  reduced  to  great  Sicknefs 
and  Proftration.  Her  Nurfe  again 
urged  her  to  fend  for  Giafar,  but 
fhe  would  not.  At  length,  the 
Nurfe,  loving  her  beyond  all  Things, 
and  defirous  of  purchafing  her 
Happinefs  at  any  Hazard,  fent  the 
fame  Meflenger  as  before  to  Bagdad 
without  Abbaffas  Knowledge.  The 
Meffenger  fecretly  informed  Giafar 
that  Abbajfa  was  at  the  Point  of 
Death.  Now,  Giafar  had  all  this 
Time  been  fupporting  himfelf  by 
the  Belief  that  the  Caliph  would 
foon  recall  him ;  but  the  Time 
having  now  been  fo  long  without 
his  appearing  to  occupy  any  Portion 
of  the  Caliph's  Thought,  he  was  j 
much  fretting  and  charing  within 
himfelf.  Therefore,  when  he 
learned  that  Abbaffa  was  about  to 

die, 


Giafar  &  Abbaffa. 


die,  and  found  the  Caliph  did  not 
fend  for  him,  he  thought,  "  Surely 
"  me  is  my  Wife  to  all  Intents  and 
"  Purpofes,  and  I  have  a  Right  to  fee 
"  her,  and  I  will,  though  it  mould 
"  coft  me  my  Life."  Therefore,  he 
rode  Night  and  Day  till  he  reached 
Bagdad ;  and  he  entered  the  Palace 
as  beforetime  at  Night;  and  came 
into  his  Wife's  Prefence.  As  foon 
as  me  faw  him,  fhe  uttered  a  Shriek 
of  Joy ;  and  the  Colour  returned  to 
her  Cheeks  and  Lips,  and  her  mortal 
Sicknefs  paffed  away.  Then  fhe 
ordered  Refrefhment  for  him,  and 
they  converfed  with  one  another, 
Hour  after  Hour,  without  being 
fatiated ;  and  were  happy. 

Now  this  Night  was  the  very 
laft  of  their  Marriage-year ;  and  the 
Caliph  bearing  it  in  Mind,  thought 
within  himfelf,  "  Now  know  I  that 
"  Giafar  is  faithful  and  true :  a 

"Man 


278 


Of  the  Fate  of 


"  Man  to  be  entirely  efteemed ! 
"  His  Obedience  and  Submiffion 
"  are  wonderful ;  there  is  none 
"  other  like  him  in  the  Kingdom. 
"  Erroneoufly  fpake  the  Poet  who 
"  faid,  '  A  Monarch  has  no  true 
"  Friend ;  for  either  he  will  deceive 
"  him  and  circumvent  him,  or  elfe 
"  he  will  curfe  him  in  his  Heart.' ' 
Alfo  the  Caliph  faid  within  himfelf, 
"  This  Day  fhall  be  the  happieft  of 
"Days  to  Giafar  and  Abbaffa;  for 
"  already  have  I  defpatched  a  Mef- 
"  fenger  to  Balfora,  and  already 
"  muft  he  be  at  the  City-gates,  and 
"  Giafar  will  learn  that  he  is  re-  ; 
"  called,  and  AbbaJJa  fhall  learn  it 
"  too."  Then  the  Caliph  arofe  and 
drefTed  himfelf  as  if  for  a  Wedding- 
feaft,  in  Vefts  of  Silk  of  Alexandria 
and  Baalbec,  and  a  Faraijah  of  Silver 
Gauze,  and  he  proceeded  to  his 
Sifter's  Quarter  of  the  Palace, 

through 


Giafar  &  Abbaffa. 


through  the  private  Door.  As  foon 
as  the  armed  Slaves  on  guard  faw 
him,  they  made  a  Rum  towards  the 
Princefs's  Apartment,  for  they  knew 
that  Giafar  was  there ;  but  the 
Caliph  faid,  "Remain."  Then 
faid  one  of  the  Slaves,  proftrating 
himfelf  before  the  Caliph,  "  O  my 
"  Lord  !  her  Slippers  are  before  the 
"  Door,  none  may  go  in."  But 
the  Caliph  looked  at  the  Door,  and 
faid,  "  Liar,  they  are  not !  "  Then 
he  drew  back  the  Curtain. 

Now  Giafar  at  that  Moment 
held  his  Wife  in  his  Arms,  in  the 
very  Ad;  of  taking  leave.  As  foon 
as  the  Curtain  was  withdrawn, 
Abbajfa,  beholding  the  Caliph  firft, 
fell  into  a  Swoon.  Giafar,  fuppof- 
ing  it  caufed  by  Grief  at  their 
Parting,  kiffed  her  tenderly  and  laid 
her  on  the  Couch,  thinking  it  beft 
to  depart  while  me  was  infenlible. 

Then, 


28o  Of  the  Fate  of 


Then,  turning  about  with  a  deep 
Sigh,  fuddenly  his  Eyes  met  thofe 
of  the  Caliph,  inflamed  with  Rage, 
and  he  became  transfixed.  He 
eflayed  to  fpeak,  but  his  Tongue 
clove  to  the  Roof  of  his  Mouth. 
They  eyed  one  another  a  Moment, 
and  then  the  Caliph  dropped  the 
Curtain  and  withdrew  without  a 
Word.  The  next  Inftant,  Giafar 
was  in  the  Cuftody  of  his  Wife's 
Slaves,  all  weeping.  They  tied 
his  Hands,  and  led  him,  unrefifting, 
to  the  Caliph's  Officers.  In  another 
Half-hour,  every  Barmecide  in  Bag- 
dad was  on  the  Scaffold  before  the 
Palace,  and  Mefrour  with  his  terrible 
Sword  ftanding  befide  the  Block. 
He,  in  Tears,  whifpered  to  Giafar ', 
"  O  my  Lord !  I  would  make  it 
"  my  Requeft  to  the  Caliph  that 
"  I  might  depute  another  to  this 
"  Office,  but  that  I  know  there  is 

"no 


Giafar  &  Abbafla. 


"  no  other  equally  fkilful  Headf- 
"  man  in  Bagdad.'3  "  Deplore  it 
"  not,  O  Mefrour"  returned  Giafar, 
"  ftrike  firmly,  and  ftrike  me  firft, 
"  that  I  behold  not  the  Death  of 
"  my  Kinfmen.  Oh,  happy  for 
"  me  that  my  Father  and  Mother 
"  no  longer  furvive  !  I  will  but  re- 
"  peat  the  Confeffion  of  Faith/' 

Meanwhile  a  Herald  was  making 
Proclamation  in  the  Market-place, 
"  Whofo  will  recreate  himfelf  by 
"  beholding  the  Decapitation  of 
"  Giafar  the  Barmecide  and  of  all 
"  the  other  Barmecides ,  let  him 
"  repair  to  the  Court  which  is 
"  before  the  Palace.  Thus  dealeth 
"  the  Caliph,  the  Juft !  with  the 
"  Man  who  diffimulateth  and  who 
"  betrayeth  his  Truft,  even  though 
"  he  be  the  Friend  of  his  own 
"  Bofom.  This  very  Night  were 
"  the  Efpoufals  of  Giafar  and  of 

"the 


281 


The  Fate 
offheBar-  \ 
mecides. 


282 


Of  the  Fate  of 


"  the  Caliph's  only  Sifter  to  have 
"  been  publicly  declared  !  "  But 
the  People  all  wept.  Meantime, 
the  Execution  being  over,  the 
Officers  of  Juftice  proceeded  to  raze 
the  Houfes  of  all  the  Barmecides 
to  the  Ground,  and  fpoil  all  their 
Goods ;  and  Proclamation  was  made 
that  their  Names  were  never  more 
to  be  mentioned,  on  Pain  of  Death. 
Now  AbbaJJa,  having  been  more 
than  two  Hours  in  her  Swoon, 
recovered  not  till  Giafar's  Death 
had  taken  place ;  and  then,  all  wild 
with  Terror,  without  knowing  from 
her  Women  what  had  happened, 
me  flew,  without  fo  much  as  veiling 
herfelf,  into  the  Caliph's  Palace, 
every  one  falling  back  from  her 
Path  as  foon  as  they  faw  her.  Thus 
me  fled  on  till  me  entered  the  Hall 
of  Audience  juft  as  Mefrour,  weep- 
ing, entered  with  Giafars  Head. 

The 


Giafar  and  Abbaffa. 


The   Moment  fhe  faw  it,  fhe  loft 
j  her  Senfes,  and  with  a  wild  Shriek 
ran   out    into    the    open   Air    and 
through    the     Streets    of    Bagdad, 
filling   them    with    her    Cries,   and 
fearing    every    Man,   Woman,    and 
Child    from    her;     even    the    wild 
Dogs    flinking    away    out   of    her 
Path.     Thus,    all    Day    the     City 
rang    with    her    terrible   Voice,  no 
one  daring  to  intermeddle  with  her  ; 
till    towards    Nightfall    fhe    rufhed 
out  through  one  of  the  City  Gates, 
and    among    the    defolate    Tombs. 
With  bleeding  Feet  and  difhevelled 
Hair,  with  fiery  Eyes  and  parched 
Tongue,      fhe      wandered,     wildly 
laughing  and  muttering,  among  the 
Graves,    till    fhe    came    to    a    little 
Hovel  reared  in  the  midft  of  them. 
An  old  Woman,  ugly  and  haggard 
as  a  Ghoule,  came  out  to  the  Door. 
"  Turn  in,  turn  in  unto  me,  my 
"  Daughter ! " 


284 


Of  the  Fate  of 


"  Daughter !  "  faid  me  compaffion- 
ately,  "  for  why  fhouldeft  thou  be 
"  as  one  of  the  Defolate  ?  Turn  in 
"  unto  me,  and  eat  Bread  and  drink 
"  Water,  for  who  fhould  fhelter  the 
"  Caliph's  defolate  Sifter  but  the 
"  Mother  whom  he  hath  made 
"  defolate  ?  If  thou  art  driven 
"  mad,  fo  was  I,  for  I  am  Mary 
"  the  Chrijlian,  Mother  of  John 
"  the  Baker,  who  was  baked  in  his 
"  own  Oven ;  but  the  LORD  careth 
"  for  his  own.  Bleffed  be  for  ever 
"  the  Name  of  the  LORD  ! " 

Then  Abbaffa,  who  till  that 
Day  had  dwelt  among  the  Veils 
and  the  Curtains,  and  had  eaten  off 
Gold  and  trodden  Marble  Pave- 
ments, was  received  into  the  mifer- 
able  Hut  of  the  old  Woman ;  who 
laid  her  palpitating  and  fhuddering, 
like  a  Lamb  whofe  Throat  is  but 
half  cut,  on  her  own  Bed  of  Rags, 

and 


Giafar  and  AbbafTa. 


and  washed  her  bleeding  Feet,  and 
held  Water  to  her  Lips.  But 
Abbaffa  could  not  fwallow,  and  lay 
thrilling  like  a  wounded  Bird  that 
is  about  to  die,  when  a  Film  comes 
over  its  Eyes. 

That  Night,  the  Caliph  flood  on 
his  Palace-roof,  and  his  Heart  was 
defolate.  Beneath  him  lay  the 
Ruins  of  the  Manlions  of  the 
Barmecides :  clofe  at  Hand  were  the 
deferted  Apartments  of  his  Sifter. 
He  thought,  "  I  have  performed  a 
"  grand  Act  of  Juftice,  but  it  was 
"  very  terrible !  How  little  do 
"  thofe  who  envy  Princes  know 
"  their  Pains !  how  little  do  thofe 
"  who  blame  Princes  know  their 
"  Provocations  !  " — and  Tears  burft 
from  his  Eyes. 

While  he  yet  thus  wept,  behold ! 
the  ghoft-like  Shadow  of  a  Woman 
flood  between  him  and  the  Moon ; 

clofe 


285 


286 


Of  the  Fate  of 


clofe  at  his  Side,  making  all  his 
Joints  to  tremble,  and  the  Hair  of 
his  Flefh  to  ftand  up. 

The  Figure  fpake  and  faid, 
"  Shall  mortal  Man  be  more  juft 
"  than  GOD  ?  Yet  GOD  in  his 
"  Juftice  remembers  Mercy." 

The  Caliph  faid,  "  Woman,  who 
"  art  thou  ?  Whence  comeft  thou  ? " 
She  faid,  "  From  the  Tombs ." 

Then  he  faid,  "  Away  from  me  ! 
"  thou  fcareft  me  not !  Thou  art 
"  not  Abbajfa  !  " 

She  faid,  "  Abbaffa  is  departed— 
"  thou  wilt  fee  her  no  more.  O 
"  Caliph!  the  LORD  dealt  well  with 
"  thee,  and  gave  thee  many  good 
"  Things  —  why  was  thy  Heart 
"  hardened  in  Judgment  ?  He  that 
"  fheweth  Juftice  without  Mercy, 
"  mall  receive  Juftice  without 
"  Mercy  —  how  will  it  then  fare 
"with  thee,  O  Caliph?  Behold, 

"  thou 


Giafar  and  Abbafla. 


"  thou  haft  caufed  much  Sorrow ; 
"  wherefore  thou  fhalt  know  much 
"  Sorrow ;  thou  haft  cut  off  a  good 
"  Man  in  the  midft  of  his  Days ; 
"  wherefore  thy  Days,  O  Caliph ! 
"  fhall  be  cut  off." 

Then  me  departed  as  fhe  came, 
and  the  Caliph  knew  not  whether 
fhe  were  of  this  World  or  from  the 
Abode  of  departed  Spirits.  He 
heard  no  more  of  Abbaffa  unto  the 
Day  of  his  Death  ;  and  being  much 
troubled  in  his  Mind,  he  made  a 
Pilgrimage  on  Foot  to  Mecca,  which 
eafed  his  Confcience  and  diverted 
his  Thoughts,  befides  winning  for 
him  the  great  Reverence  of  all  his 
People.  After  his  Return,  he  abode 
much  at  his  Palace  of  Racca  on  the 
Euphrates,  from  whence  he  fre- 
quently vilited  his  moft  diftant 
Provinces ;  being  always  a  Man  of 
great  Activity  of  Body  and  Mind. 

At 


288 


Of  the  Fate  of 


At  length,  having  put  down  an 
Infurre<5tion  in  Perfia>  he  returned 
to  Bagdad.  In  palling  through  the 
Streets  one  Evening,  with  his  old 
Attendant  Mefrour,  he  heard  an 
aged  Man  faying  with  a  Sigh,  "Ah, 
"  that  was  in  our  profperous  Days 
"  — that  was  in  the  Days  of  the 
"  Barmecides  !  "  "  Knoweft  thou, 
"  old  Man,"  faid  the  Caliph,  "  that 
"  it  is  Death  to  name  their  Names?" 
"  I  know  that  it  is  Death  to  break 
"  that  Law,"  returned  the  old  Man, 
"  but  it  is  worfe  than  Death  to  keep 
"  it.  I  ov^ed  all  my  Well-doing 
"  and  all  my  Happinefs  to  them, 
"  and  their  Memories  live  in  my 
"  Heart.  Go  and  report  me,  if 
"  thou  wilt,  to  the  Caliph :  he  had 
"  never  a  Friend  like  Giafar,  and  fo 
"  I  would  tell  him  to  his  Beard." 

"  Mefrour?    faid    the     Caliph, 
give    this    old    Man    an    hundred 

v       "  Pieces 


Giafar  &  Abbaffa. 


A.D.  807. 


"  Pieces  of  Gold."  And  he  turned 
about  and  went  back  to  his  Palace, 
the  Tears  running  down  his  Cheeks 
and  down  his  Beard ;  and  he  was 
glad  of  the  Darknefs,  that  Mefrour 
might  not  fee  him  wiping  them 
away,  And  he  took  to  his  Bed  and 
lay  murmuring,  "  Oh  Giafar  and 
"  Abba/a  !  Oh  Giafar  and  Abba/a  !  " 
and  fo  died;  being  only  in  his 
Forty-fixth  Year. 

But  Mary  the  Chriftian>  who 
had  found  fome  Remains  of  Life  in 
Abbaffa  when  me  returned  from 
communing  with  the  Caliph  on  the 
Roof  of  his  Palace,  flickered  and 
cherimed  her  among  the  Tombs. 
Thus  thefe  two  Women  continued 
to  live  together ;  Abbajfa  s  high 
Mind  defcending  to  the  Humility 
of  her  Fate,  and  enabling  her  to 
fupport  it  with  Refignation.  Shortly 
after  the  Caliph's  Death,  Em's  E/jetis, 

the 


289 


ago 


Of  the  Fate  of 


the  Wife  of  Noufeddin,  in  be  flowing 
an  Alms  on  a  poor  Woman,  recog- 
nifed  in  her  the  once  beautiful  and 
profperous  Abbajfa,  and  melted  into 
Tears  at  the  Sight. 

"O  Ems  E/jeKs/"&id  Abbajfa, 
"  I  once  was  the  Miftress  of  four 
"  hundred  Slaves ;  I  have  now  no 
"  other  Property  than  two  Sheep- 
"  fkins,  one  of  which  ferves  for  my 
"  upper,  the  other  for  my  under 
"  Garment.  But  I  am  penitent  and 
"  content ;  and  attribute  my  Mif- 
"  fortunes  to  my  Want  of  Grati- 
"  tude  to  GOD  for  former  Bleflings. 
"  He  has  chaftened  and  corrected 
"  me,  but  has  not  given  me  over 
"  unto  Death.  I  was  too  im- 
"  patient ;  had  I  been  more  patient 
"  and  fubmiffive,  Giafar  had  not 
"  died.  But  the  LORD  giveth,  and 
"the  LORD  taketh  away;  bleffed 
"  be  the  Name  of  the  LORD  ! " 

Ems 


Giafar  &  Abbaffa. 


291 


Enis  Eljelis  wept,  and  gave  her 
five  hundred  Pieces  of  Silver.  She 
blefled  her,  and  faid,  "  You  have 
"  enriched  me  beyond  my  Wants ! 
"  I  fhall  even  have  Something,  once 
"  more,  to  beftow  upon  the  Poor  !  ' 


FINIS. 


LONDON  :  PRINTED  BY  RICHARD  CLAY. 


OTorlu!  ftp  tlje  Same 


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"  On  the  basis  of  the  true  history  of  Palissy,  the  writer  has  framed  the  present 
work ;  has  given  a  very  spirited  sketch  of  his  labours  ;  has  exhibited  the  extra- 
vagancies, amounting  to  crimes,  of  a  man  of  genius  driving  on  in  the  pursuit  of 
his  darling  object;  and  has  depicted,  as  the  title  promises,  with  a  good  deal  of 
power,  the  plagues  of  a  wife  who  has  such  a  husband."— Christian  Observer. 


Works  by  the  same  Author — continued. 


In  fcp.  cloth,  price  3s.  6d. 

THE     CHRONICLES 

OP 

MERRY      ENGLAND, 
Rehearjed  unto  her  People. 

"  We  have  here  the  records  of  old,  from  which  the  aged  reader  may  learn  as 
much,  and  with  which  he  may  be  as  much  amused,  as  the  young  students  who 
will  welcome  the  story-teller  and  be  grateful  lor  the  tale." — Church  and  State 
Gazette. 

"  The  work  bids  fair  to  become  a  great  favourite  with  the  young  in  schools 
and  families." — British  Quarterly. 

"  The  method  here  adopted  of  teaching  the  facts  of  bygone  times,  is  one 
which  will  most  assuredly  have,  a  considerable  influence  in  fixing  such  facts 
upon  the  memory,  and  rendering  them  ineffaceable." — Bell's  Messenger. 


RAILWAY    READING. 

Post  8vo.  cloth,  Is.  Gd.,  with  Frontispiece, 

JACK  AND  THE  TANNER 
OF  WYMONDHAM. 

A  Tale  of  the  Time  of  EDWARD  the  SIXTH. 

"  The  story  is  never  made  to  stand  still.  It  is  a  drama  of  sparkling  activity, 
wherein  the  scenery,  dresses,  appointments,  and  language  are  all  appropriate 
and  good." — Church  and  State  Gazette. 


Handsomely  bound  and  gilt, 

QUEENE      PHILIPPA'S 
GOLDEN    BOOKE. 

WITH  ILLUMINATIONS. 


Fcap.  cloth,  2s.  Gd. 

THE      HILL      SIDE: 

ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  SOME  OF  THE  SIMPLEST 
TERMS  USED  IN  LOGIC. 


Works  by  the  same  Author — continued. 


Recently  Published,  post  8vo.  7s.  6d.  antique, 

THE  OLD  CHELSEA  BUNHOUSE. 

A  Tale  of  the  Loft  Century. 

"  This  is  out  and  out  the  most  successful  of  those  diaries  of  the  olden  time, 
in  the  composition  of  which  th?  author  of  '  Mary  Powell '  excels.  Nothing  could 
be  more  graphic  than  the  picture  of  life  and  manners  in  the  different  classes  of 
society." — John  Bull. 

"  The  author  has  succeeded  in  giving  as  fair  a  picture  of  the  period  as  any  of 
the  authors  of  the  five-volume  novels  of  the  time,  with  this  additional  merit, 
that  the  picture  is  evolved  by  means  of  a  pretty  story  of  domestic  life." — The 
Press. 

"Essentially  a  winning  story,  which  leads  the  reader  on  quietly,  naturally,  and 
always  persuasively,  from  the  iirst  page  to  the  last." — Leader. 

"Abounding  in  pleasant  historical  allusions,  and  written  in  a  most  attractive 
and  agreeable  style." — Literary  Gazette. 

"  The  tale  is  simple,  the  incidents  well  strung,  and  the  style  unaffected,  with 
a  world  of  homely  wisdom  and  healthy  morality,  embodied  with  such  quaintness 
and  quiet  humour  that  the  reader  will  be  instructed  while  he  is  amused,  and 
amused  while  he  is  instructed.  We  must  not  conclude  without  a  word  of  com- 
mendation on  the  '  get-up  '  of  the  volume." — Church  and  State  Gazette. 


Second  Edition,  with  FRONTISPIECE,  &c.,  price  7*.  6d.  cloth,  antique, 

The  COLLOQUIES  of  EDWARD  OSBORNE, 

Citizen  and  ClotliworTcer  of  London. 

"  This  is  a  pleasant  little  volume,  relating  the  fortunes  of  a  London  apprentice 
in  the  sixteenth  century." — Athenceum. 

"  Of  the  many  attempts  at  delineating  the  manners  and  opinions  of  the  Stuart 
and  Elizabethan  times,  as  if  from  the  pen  of  a  contemporary  writer,  '  Edward 
Osborne'  is  the  best.  It  has  what  the  others  have  wanted,  an  actual  story  ;  it 
plunges  its  hero  more  completely  into  the  business  and  life  of  the  period,  and 

not  unskilfully  mingles  public  events  with  private  affairs The  secret  of  the 

author's  success  in  that  the  scenes  and  manners  of  the  Tudor  age  are  interwoven 
with  the  narrative,  or  where  they  are  merely  introduced  they  are  not  overdone." 
— Spectator. 

"  One  of  the  most  quaint  and  delightful  books  we  have  ever  read A  volume 

which  cannot  fail  to  achieve  the  popularity  it  so  eminently  deserves." — Art 
Journal. 

"These  'Colloquies'  consist  of  a  diary  kept  by  the  hero  of  that  romantic 
legend  of  old  London  Bridge,  the  clothworker's  'prentice,  Ned  Osborne,  who, 
saving  his  master's  beautiful  daughter,  Anne  Hewet,  from  drowning,  by  leaping 
from  the  windows  of  the  old  house  on  the  bridge  into  the  boiling  eddy,  was 
thereafter  rewarded  by  her  hand,  became  Lord  Mayor,  and  founded  the  Ducal 
house  of  Leeds.  There  is  much  tact  in  this  suppositions  diary,  and  the  amount 
of  antiquarian  lore  and  topographical  study,  unobtrusively  giving  life  and  like- 
ness to  its  pages,  is  far  more  than  goes  to  make  up  works  of  more  pretension 
and  greater  dulness." — Morning  Advertiser. 

"  The  domestic  history  of  the  household  of  a  citizen  of  London,  nearly  400 
years  ago,  is  most  delightfully  told,  and  there  is  a  reality  about  the  book  which 
renders  every  page  of  it  interesting." — Atlas. 


Works  ly  the  same  Author — continued. 


Third  Edition,  in  post  8vo.  price  Is.  6d.  ANTIQUE, 

YE    MAIDEN    AND    MARRIED    LIFE 

OF 

MARY    POWELL, 

AFTERWARDS     MISTRESS     MILTON. 

"  This  is  a  charming  little  book  ;  and  whether  we  regard  its  subject,  cleverness, 
or  delicacy  of  sentiment  and  expression—  to  say  nothing  of  its  type  and  ortho- 
graphy—it is  likely  to  be  a  most  acceptable  present  to  young  or  old,  be  their 
peculiar  taste  for  religion,  morals,  poetry,  history,  or  romance."—  Christian 
Observer. 

"  Unquestionably  the  production  of  an  able  hand,  and  a  refined  mind.  We 
recommend  it  to  all  who  love  pure,  healthy,  literary  fare."—  Church  and  Slate 
Gazette, 

"  This  quaint  narrative,  presented  in  ancient  binding,  and  in  the  type  of 
bygone  days,  is  a  most  acceptable  addition  to  the  literature  of  the  times."— 
Bell's  Messenger. 


Third  Edition,  with  Portrait,  &c.  price  7*.  6d.  cloth,  antique, 

YE    HOUSEHOLD 

OF 

SIR       T   H    QS.       MORE. 

LIBELLUS    A    MARGARETA    MORE, 
ftUINDECIM    ANNOS   NATA,    CHELSEA   INCEPTVS. 

"It  ends  with  musical  melancholy,  a  strain  of  exquisitely  simple  beauty, 
referring  to  the  judicial  slaying  of  one  of  England's  worthiest  sons.  There  are 
some  fine  portraits  ably  limned  herein.  There  are  family  pictures  so  graphically 
described  that  they  possess  the  mind  for  ever."  —  Church  and  State  Gazette. 

"  Clever  and  agreeable  reading  ......  We  can  give  the  book  unqualified  praise  for 

the  pleasant,  and  tolerably  accurate,  pictures  which  it  affords  of  the  domestic 
manners  of  the  period  ;  and  the  characters  of  some  of  the  personages  represented 
axe  drawn  with  distinctness,  and  with  the  features  of  nature."  —  Alhenoeum. 


Second  Edition,  this  day,  price  7s.  Gd.  cloth,  antique, 

CHERRY    AND    VIOLET: 

A  'Tale  of  the  Great  Plague. 

WITH  FKONTISPIECE. 

"  Without  wishing  to  detract  from  the  merit  of  Defoe,  we  are  bound  to  say, 
that  this  is  one  of  the  best  written  descriptions  of  London,  during  the  time  of 
that  awful  visitation,  that  we  ever  came  across." — John  Bull. 

"This,  like  all  her  stories,  is  sweet  and  graceful;  a  young  girl  innocently 
telling  all  her  youthful  feelings  and  adventures,  and  bringing  into  play  the 
interest  to  be  derived  from  a  picture  of  London  life  in  the  times  of  the  Protector 
and  Charles  II." — Guardian. 


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Manning,  Anne 

The  Adventures  of  the 
Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid