Tales from the Arabic, vol 3 | Page 2

marvels of the cities in their travels and heard them say, "He
who leaveth not his native land diverteth not himself [with the sight of
the marvels of the world,] and especially of the city of Baghdad."
So he was concerned with an exceeding concern for his lack of travel
and discovered this to his father, who said to him, "O my son, why do I
see thee chagrined?" And he answered, "I would fain travel." Quoth
Aboulhusn, "O my son, none travelleth save those whose occasion is

urgent and those who are compelled thereunto [by need]. As for thee, O
my son, thou enjoyest ample fortune; so do thou content thyself with
that which God hath given thee and be bounteous [unto others], even as
He hath been bounteous unto thee; and afflict not thyself with the toil
and hardship of travel, for indeed it is said that travel is a piece of
torment."[FN#5] But the youth said, "Needs must I travel to Baghdad,
the abode of peace."
When his father saw the strength of his determination to travel, he fell
in with his wishes and equipped him with five thousand dinars in cash
and the like in merchandise and sent with him two serving-men. So the
youth set out, trusting in the blessing of God the Most High, and his
father went out with him, to take leave of him, and returned [to
Damascus]. As for Noureddin Ali, he gave not over travelling days and
nights till he entered the city of Baghdad and laying up his loads in the
caravanserai, made for the bath, where he did away that which was
upon him of the dirt of the road and putting off his travelling clothes,
donned a costly suit of Yemen stuff, worth an hundred dinars. Then he
put in his sleeve[FN#6] a thousand mithcals[FN#7] of gold and sallied
forth a-walking and swaying gracefully as he went. His gait
confounded all those who beheld him, as he shamed the branches with
his shape and belittled the rose with the redness of his cheeks and his
black eyes of Babylonian witchcraft; indeed, thou wouldst deem that
whoso looked on him would surely be preserved from calamity; [for he
was] even as saith of him one of his describers in the following verses:
Thy haters say and those who malice to thee bear A true word, profiting
its hearers everywhere; "The glory's not in those whom raiment rich
makes fair, But those who still adorn the raiment that they wear."
So he went walking in the thoroughfares of the city and viewing its
ordinance and its markets and thoroughfares and gazing on its folk.
Presently, Abou Nuwas met him. (Now he was of those of whom it is
said, "They love the fair,"[FN#8] and indeed there is said what is said
concerning him.[FN#9] When he saw Noureddin Ali, he stared at him
in amazement and exclaimed, "Say, I take refuge with the Lord of the
Daybreak!"[FN#10] Then he accosted the young Damascene and
saluting him, said to him, "Why do I see my lord alone and forlorn?
Meseemeth thou art a stranger and knowest not this country; so, with
my lord's permission, I will put myself at his service and acquaint him

with the streets, for that I know this city." Quoth Noureddin, "This will
be of thy favour, O uncle." Whereat Abou Nuwas rejoiced and fared on
with him, showing him the markets and thoroughfares, till they came to
the house of a slave-dealer, where he stopped and said to the youth,
"From what city art thou?" "From Damascus," answered Noureddin;
and Abou Nuwas said, "By Allah, thou art from a blessed city, even as
saith of it the poet in the following verses:
Damascus is all gardens decked for the pleasance of the eyes; For the
seeker there are black-eyed girls and boys of Paradise."
Noureddin thanked him and they entered the slave-merchant's house.
When the people of the house saw Abou Nuwas, they rose to do him
worship, for that which they knew of his station with the Commander
of the Faithful. Moreover, the slave-dealer himself came up to them
with two chairs, and they seated themselves thereon. Then the
slave-merchant went into the house and returning with the slave-girl, as
she were a willow-wand or a bamboo-cane, clad in a vest of damask
silk and tired with a black and white turban, the ends whereof fell down
over her face, seated her on a chair of ebony; after which quoth he to
those who were present, "I will discover to you a face as it were a full
moon breaking forth from under a cloud." And they said, "Do so." So
he unveiled the damsel's face and behold, she was like the shining sun,
with comely shape