The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, vol 8 | Page 9

goldsmith told his mother what he had done with the Ajami and
cried, "I have learnt this art and mystery," she laughed at him, saying,
"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious,
the Great!"; and she was silent for vexation. Then of his ignorance, he
took a metal mortar and returning to the shop, laid it before the Persian,
who was still sitting there and asked him, "O my son, what wilt thou do
with this mortar?" Hasan answered, "Let us put it in the fire, and make
of it lumps of gold." The Persian laughed and rejoined, "O my son, art
thou Jinn-mad that thou wouldst go down into the market with two
ingots of gold in one day? Knowest thou not that the folk would
suspect us and our lives would be lost? Now, O my son, an I teach thee
this craft, thou must practise it but once in each twelvemonth; for that
will suffice thee from year to year." Cried Hasan, "True, O my lord,"
and sitting down in his open shop, set on the crucible and cast more
charcoal on the fire. Quoth the Persian, "What wilt thou, O my son?";
and quoth Hasan, "Teach me this craft." "There is no Majesty and there
is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" exclaimed the
Persian, laughing; "Verily, O my son, thou art little of wit and in

nowise fitted for this noble craft. Did ever any during all his life learn
this art on the beaten way or in the bazars? If we busy ourselves with it
here, the folk will say of us, These practise alchemy; and the
magistrates will hear of us, and we shall lose our lives.[FN#17]
Wherefore, O my son, an thou desire to learn this mystery forthright,
come thou with me to my house." So Hasan barred his shop and went
with that Ajamí; but by the way he remembered his mother's words and
thinking in himself a thousand thoughts he stood still, with bowed head.
The Persian turned and seeing him thus standing laughed and said to
him, "Art thou mad? What! I in my heart purpose thee good and thou
misdoubtest I will harm thee!" presently adding, "But, if thou fear to go
with me to my house, I will go with thee to thine and teach thee there."
Hasan replied, "'Tis well, O uncle," and the Persian rejoined, "Go thou
before me." So Hasan led the way to his own house, and entering, told
his mother of the Persian's coming, for he had left him standing at the
door. She ordered the house for them and when she had made an end of
furnishing and adorning it, her son bade her go to one of the
neighbours' lodgings. So she left her home to them and wended her
way, whereupon Hasan brought in the Persian, who entered after asking
leave. Then he took in hand a dish and going to the market, returned
with food, which he set before the Persian, saying, "Eat, O my lord, that
between us there may be bread and salt and may Almighty Allah do
vengeance upon the traitor to bread and salt!" The Persian replied with
a smile, "True, O my son! Who knoweth the virtue and worth of bread
and salt?"[FN#18] Then he came forward and ate with Hasan, till they
were satisfied; after which the Ajami said, "O my son Hasan, bring us
somewhat of sweetmeats." So Hasan went to the market, rejoicing in
his words, and returned with ten saucers[FN#19] of sweetmeats, of
which they both ate and the Persian said, "May Allah abundantly
requite thee, O my son! It is the like of thee with whom folk company
and to whom they discover their secrets and teach what may profit
him!"[FN#20] Then said he, "O Hasan bring the gear." But hardly did
Hasan hear these words than he went forth like a colt let out to grass in
spring-tide, and hastening to the shop, fetched the apparatus and set it
before the Persian, who pulled out a piece of paper and said, "O Hasan,
by the bond of bread and salt, wert thou not dearer to me than my son, I
would not let thee into the mysteries of this art, for I have none of the

Elixir[FN#21] left save what is in this paper; but by and by I will
compound the simples whereof it is composed and will make it before
thee. Know, O my son Hasan, that to every ten pounds of copper thou
must set half a drachm of that which is in this paper, and the whole ten
will presently become unalloyed virgin gold;" presently adding, "O my
son, O Hasan, there are in this