Tales from the Arabic | Page 2

the Khalifate of Haroun er Reshid, a
man, a merchant, who had a son by name Aboulhusn el Khelia.[FN#2]
The merchant died and left his son great store of wealth, which he
divided into two parts, one of which he laid up and spent of the other

half; and he fell to companying with Persians[FN#3] and with the sons
of the merchants and gave himself up to good eating and good drinking,
till all that he had with him of wealth[FN#4] was wasted and gone;
whereupon he betook himself to his friends and comrades and
boon-companions and expounded to them his case, discovering to them
the failure of that which was in his hand of wealth; but not one of them
took heed of him neither inclined unto him.
So he returned to his mother (and indeed his spirit was broken), and
related to her that which had happened to him and what had betided
him from his friends, how they, had neither shared with him nor
requited him with speech. "O Aboulhusn," answered she, "on this wise
are the sons[FN#5]of this time: if thou have aught, they make much of
thee,[FN#6] and if thou have nought, they put thee away [from them]."
And she went on to condole with him, what while he bewailed himself
and his tears flowed and he repeated the following verses:
An if my substance fail, no one there is will succour me, But if my
wealth abound, of all I'm held in amity. How many a friend, for
money's sake, hath companied with me! How many an one, with loss of
wealth, hath turned mine enemy!
Then he sprang up [and going] to the place wherein was the other half
of his good, [took it] and lived with it well; and he swore that he would
never again consort with those whom he knew, but would company
only with the stranger nor entertain him but one night and that, whenas
it morrowed, he would never know him more. So he fell to sitting every
night on the bridge[FN#7] and looking on every one who passed by
him; and if he saw him to be a stranger, he made friends with him and
carried him to his house, where he caroused with him till the morning.
Then he dismissed him and would never more salute him nor ever
again drew near unto him neither invited him.
On this wise he continued to do for the space of a whole year, till, one
day, as he sat on the bridge, according to his custom, expecting who
should come to him, so he might take him and pass the night with him,
behold, [up came] the Khalif and Mesrour, the swordsman of his
vengeance, disguised [in merchants' habits] as of their wont. So he

looked at them and rising up, for that he knew them not, said to them,
"What say ye? Will you go with me to my dwelling-place, so ye may
eat what is ready and drink what is at hand, to wit, bread baked in the
platter[FN#8] and meat cooked and wine clarified?" The Khalif refused
this, but he conjured him and said to him, "God on thee, O my lord, go
with me, for thou art my guest this night, and disappoint not my
expectation concerning thee!" And he ceased not to press him till he
consented to him; whereat Aboulhusn rejoiced and going on before him,
gave not over talking with him till they came to his [house and he
carried the Khalif into the] saloon. Er Reshid entered and made his
servant abide at the door; and as soon as he was seated, Aboulhusn
brought him somewhat to eat; so he ate, and Aboulhusn ate with him,
so eating might be pleasant to him. Then he removed the tray and they
washed their hands and the Khalif sat down again; whereupon
Aboulhusn set on the drinking vessels and seating himself by his side,
fell to filling and giving him to drink and entertaining him with
discourse.
His hospitality pleased the Khalif and the goodliness of his fashion, and
he said to him, "O youth, who art thou? Make me acquainted with
thyself, so I may requite thee thy kindness." But Aboulhusn smiled and
said, "O my lord, far be it that what is past should recur and that I be in
company with thee at other than this time!" "Why so?" asked the Khalif.
"And why wilt thou not acquaint me with thy case?" And Aboulhusn
said, "Know, O my lord, that my story is extraordinary and that there is
a cause for this affair." Quoth the Khalif, "And what is the cause?" And
he answered, "The cause hath a tail." The Khalif laughed at his words
and Aboulhusn said, "I will explain