Tales from the Arabic | Page 8

loss of our lives and the spoiling of thy wealth, [as will assuredly
betide,] if any hear this talk and carry it to the Khalif."
So he rose from his sleep and finding himself in his own saloon and his
mother by him, misdoubted of his wit and said to her, "By Allah, O my
mother, I saw myself in a dream in a palace, with slave-girls and
servants about me and in attendance upon me, and I sat upon the throne
of the Khalifate and ruled. By Allah, O my mother, this is what I saw,
and verily it was not a dream!" Then he bethought himself awhile and
said, "Assuredly, I am Aboulhusn el Khelia, and this that I saw was
only a dream, and [it was in a dream that] I was made Khalif and
commanded and forbade." Then he bethought himself again and said,
"Nay, but it was no dream and I am no other than the Khalif, and
indeed I gave gifts and bestowed dresses of honour." Quoth his mother
to him, "O my son, thou sportest with thy reason: thou wilt go to the
hospital and become a gazing-stock. Indeed, that which thou hast seen
is only from the Devil and it was a delusion of dreams, for whiles Satan
sporteth with men's wits in all manner ways."
Then said she to him, "O my son, was there any one with thee
yesternight?" And he bethought himself and said, "Yes; one lay the
night with me and I acquainted him with my case and told him my
story. Doubtless, he was from the Devil, and I, O my mother, even as
thou sayst truly, am Aboulhusn el Khelia." "O my son," rejoined she,
"rejoice in tidings of all good, for yesterday's record is that there came
the Vivier Jaafer the Barmecide [and his company] and beat the sheikhs
of the mosque and the Imam, each four hundred lashes; after which
they paraded them about the city, making proclamation before them
and saying, 'This is the reward and the least of the reward of whoso

lacketh of goodwill to his neighbours and troubleth on them their lives!'
and banished them from Baghdad. Moreover, the Khalif sent me a
hundred dinars and sent to salute me." Whereupon Aboulhusn cried out
and said to her, "O old woman of ill-omen, wilt thou contradict me and
tell me that I am not the Commander of the Faithful? It was I who
commanded Jaafer the Barmecide to beat the sheikhs and parade them
about the city and make proclamation before them and who sent thee
the hundred dinars and sent to salute thee, and I, O beldam of ill-luck,
am in very deed the Commander of the Faithful, and thou art a liar,
who would make me out a dotard."
So saying, he fell upon her and beat her with a staff of almond-wood,
till she cried out, "[Help], O Muslims!" and he redoubled the beating
upon her, till the folk heard her cries and coming to her, [found]
Aboulhusn beating her and saying to her, "O old woman of ill-omen,
am I not the Commander of the Faithful? Thou hast enchanted me!"
When the folk heard his words, they said, "This man raveth," and
doubted not of his madness. So they came in upon him and seizing him,
pinioned him and carried him to the hospital. Quoth the superintendant,
"What aileth this youth?" And they said, "This is a madman." "By
Allah," cried Aboulhusn, "they lie against me! I am no madman, but the
Commander of the Faithful." And the superintendant answered him,
saying, "None lieth but thou, O unluckiest of madmen!"
Then he stripped him of his clothes and clapping on his neck a heavy
chain, bound him to a high lattice and fell to drubbing him two bouts a
day and two anights; and on this wise he abode the space of ten days.
Then his mother came to him and said, "O my son, O Aboulhusn,
return to thy reason, for this is the Devil's doing." Quoth he, "Thou
sayst sooth, O my mother, and bear thou witness of me that I repent
[and forswear] that talk and turn from my madness. So do thou deliver
me, for I am nigh upon death." So his mother went out to the
superintendant and procured his release and he returned to his own
house.
Now this was at the beginning of the month, and when it was the end
thereof, Aboulhusn longed to drink wine and returning to his former

usance, furnished his saloon and made ready food and let bring wine;
then, going forth to the bridge, he sat there, expecting one whom he
should carouse withal, as of his wont. As he sat thus, behold, up came