I came to this your country with merchandise and Destiny stayed me here with you. But my place of birth was Cairo, in Egypt, where I also was brought up, for I am one of the Copts and my father was a broker before me. When I came to man's estate he departed this life and I succeeded to his business. One day, as I was sitting in my shop, behold, there came up to me a youth as handsome as could be, wearing sumptuous raiment and riding a fine ass. When he saw me he saluted me, and I stood up

The Nazarene Broker's Story. 263 to do him honour. Then he took out a kerchief containing a sample of sesame and asked, "How much is this worth per Ardabb?" I answered, "A hundred dirhams." He said, "Take porters and gaugers and metesmen and come tomorrow to the Khan al-Jawáli, by the Gate of Victory quarter where you will find me." Then he fared forth leaving with me the sample of sesame in his kerchief; and I went the round of my customers and ascertained that every Ardabb would fetch an hundred and twenty dirhams. Next day I took four metesmen and walked with them to the Khan, where I found him awaiting me. As soon as he saw me he rose and opened his magazine, when we measured the grain till the store was empty; and we found the contents fifty Ardabbs, making five thousand pieces of silver. He said, "Let ten dirhams on every Ardabb be your brokerage. Take the price and keep in deposit four thousand and five hundred dirhams for me. When I have made an end of selling the other wares in my warehouses, I will come to you and receive the amount." "I will do so," I replied and kissing his hand went away, having made that day a profit of a thousand dirhams. He was absent a month, at the end of which he came to me and asked, "Where are the dirhams?"

I rose and saluted him and asked, "Will you not eat something in my house?" But he refused, saying, "Get the monies ready and I will presently return and take them." Then he rode away. So I brought out the dirhams and sat down to await him, but he stayed away for another month, when he came back and said to me, "Where are the dirhams?" I rose and saluting him asked, "Will you not eat something in my house?" But he again refused, saying, "Get me the monies ready and I will presently return and take them." Then he rode off. So I brought out the dirhams and sat down to await his return. But he stayed away from me a third month, and I said to myself, "Truly this young man is liberality incarnate." At the end of the month he came up, riding a mare mule and wearing a suit of sumptuous raiment; he was as the moon on the night of fullness, and he seemed as if fresh from the baths, with his cheeks rosy bright, and his brow flower white, and a mole spot like a grain of ambergris delighting the sight; even as was said of such an one by the poet:—

Full moon with sun in single mansion In brightest sheen and fortune rose and shone, With happy splendour changing every sprite: Hail to what guerdons prayer with blissfull boon! Their charms and grace have gained perfection's height, All hearts have conquered and all wits have won. Laud to the Lord for works so wonder strange, And what th' Almighty wills His hand has done!

When I saw him I rose to him and invoking blessings on him asked, "O my lord, will you not take your monies?" "Why the hurry?" he said. "Wait till I have made an end of my business and then I will come and take them." Again he rode away and I said to myself, "By God, when he comes next time needs must I make him my guest; for I have traded with his dirhams and have gotten large gains by that." At the end of the year he came again, habited in a suit of clothes more sumptuous than the former; and, when I conjured him by the Evangel to alight at my house and eat of my guest food, he said, "I consent, on condition that what you expendest on me shall be of my monies still in your hands." I answered, "So be it," and made him sit down whilst I got ready what was needful of meat and drink and else besides; and set the tray before him, with the invitation "Bismillah"! Then he drew near the tray and put out his left hand and ate with me; and I marvelled at his not using the right hand. When we had done eating, I poured water on his hand and gave him wherewith to wipe it. Upon this we sat down to converse after I had set before him some sweetmeats; and I said to him, "O my master, please relieve me by telling me why you eat with your left hand?

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Perchance something ails your other hand?" When he heard my words, he repeated these verses:—

"Dear friend, ask not what burns in my breast, Lest you see fiery pangs eye never saw: Wills not my heart to harbour Salma in stead Of Layla's love, but need has not a law!"

And he put out his right arm from his sleeve and behold, the hand was cut off, a wrist without a fist. I was astounded at this but he said, "Marvel not, and think not that I ate with my left hand for conceit and insolence, but from necessity; and the cutting off my right hand was caused by an adventure of the strangest." Asked I, "And what caused it?"; and he answered:—Know that I am of the sons of Baghdad and my father was of notables of that city. When I came to man's estate I heard the pilgrims and wayfarers, travellers and merchants talk of the land of Egypt and their words sank deep into my mind till my parent died, when I took a large sum of money and furnished myself for trade with stuffs of Baghdad and Mosul and, packing them up in bales, set out on my wanderings; and Allah decreed me safety till I entered this your city. Then he wept and began repeating:—

The keen-eyed escapes the pits in which the lynx-eyed fall: A word the wise man slays and saves the natural: The Muslim fails of food, the Kafir feasts in hall: What art or act is man's? God's will obliges all!

Now when he had ended his verse he said, "So I entered Cairo and took off my loads and stored my stuffs in the Khan Al Masrur." Then I gave the servant a few silvers wherewith to buy me some food and lay down to sleep awhile. When I awoke I went to the street called, "Bayn al-Kasrayn"—Between the two Palaces—and presently returned and rested my night in the Khan. When it was morning I opened a bale and took out some stuff saying to myself, "I will be off and go through some of the bazars and see the state of the market." So I loaded the stuff on some of my slaves and fared forth till I reached the Kaysariyah or Exchange of Jahárkas, where the brokers who knew of my coming came to meet me. They took the stuffs and cried them for sale, but could not get the prime cost of them. I was vexed at this. However, the Shaykh of the brokers said to me, "O my lord, I will tell you how you may make a profit of your goods. You should do as the merchants do and sell your merchandise at credit for a fixed period, on a contract drawn up by a notary and duly witnessed, and employ a Shroff to take your dues every Monday and Thursday. Thus you will gain two dirhams and more for every one, and you will solace and divert yourself by seeing Cairo and the Nile."

I said, "This is sound advice," and carried the brokers to the Khan. They took my stuffs and went with them on 'Change where I sold them well taking bonds for the value. These bonds I deposited with a Shroff, a banker, who gave me a receipt with which I returned to the Khan. Here I stayed a whole month, every morning breaking my fast with a cup of wine and making my meals on pigeon's meat, mutton and sweetmeats, till the time came when my receipts began to fall due. So, every Monday and Thursday I used to go on 'Change and sit in the shop of one or other of the merchants, whilst the notary and money changer went round to recover the monies from the traders, till after the time of mid afternoon prayer, when they brought me the amount, and I counted it and, sealing the bags, returned with them to the Khan. On a certain day which happened to be a Monday, I went to the Hammam and thence back to my Khan, and sitting in my own room broke my fast with a cup of wine, after which I slept a little. When I awoke I ate a chicken and, perfuming my person, repaired to the shop of a merchant called Badr al-Din al-Bostáni, or the Gardener, who welcomed me; and we sat talking awhile till the bazar should open. Presently, behold, up came a lady of stately figure wearing a headdress of the most magnificent, perfumed with the sweetest of scents and walking with graceful

The Nazarene Broker's Story. 267 swaying gait; and seeing me she raised her mantilla allowing me a glimpse of her beautiful black eyes. She saluted Badr al-Din who returned her salutation and stood up, and talked with her; and the moment I heard her speak, the love of her gat hold of my heart. Presently, she said to Badr al-Din, "Have you by you a cut piece of stuff woven with thread of pure gold?" So he brought out to her a piece from those he had bought of me and sold it to her for one thousand two hundred dirhams; when she said, "I will take the piece home with me and send you its price." "That is impossible, O my lady," the merchant replied, "for here is the owner of the stuff and I owe him a share of profit." "Fie upon you!" she cried, "Do I not use to take from you entire rolls of costly stuff, and give you a greater profit than you expectest, and send you the money?" "Yes," rejoined he; "but I stand in pressing need of the price this very day." Hereupon she took up the piece and threw it back upon his lap, saying "Out on you! Allah confound the tribe of you which estimates none at the right value;" and she turned to go. I felt my very soul going with her; so I stood up and stayed her, saying, "I conjure you by the Lord, O my lady, favour me by retracing your gracious steps."

She turned back with a smile and said, "For your sake I return," and took a seat opposite me in the shop. I said to Badr al-Din, "What is the price they asked you for this piece?" He said, "Eleven hundred dirhams." I rejoined, "The odd hundred shall be your profit: bring me a sheet of paper and I will write you a discharge for it." Then I wrote him a receipt in my own handwriting and gave the piece to the lady, saying, "Take it away with you and, if you will, bring me its price next bazar day; or better still, accept it as my guest gift to you." "Allah requite you with good," answered she, "and make you my husband and lord and master of all I have!" And Allah favoured her prayer. I saw the Gates of Paradise swing open before me and said, "O my lady, let this piece of stuff be now yours and another like it is ready for you; only let me have one look at your face." So she raised her veil and I saw a face the sight of which bequeathed to me a thousand sighs, and my heart was so captivated by her love that I was no longer ruler of my reason. Then she let fall her face veil and taking up the piece of stuff said,

"O my lord, make me not desolate by your absence!" And turned away and disappeared from my sight. I remained sitting on 'Change till past the hour of afternoon prayer, lost to the world by the love which had mastered me; and the violence of my passion compelled me to make enquiries concerning her of the merchant, who answered me, "This is a lady and a rich: she is the daughter of a certain Emir who lately died and left her a large fortune." Then I took leave of him and returned home to the Khan where they set supper before me; but I could not eat for thinking of her and when I lay down to sleep, sleep came not near me. So I watched till morning, when I arose and donned a change of raiment and drank a cup of wine; and, after breaking my fast on some slight matter, I went to the merchant's shop where I saluted him and sat down by him. Presently, up came the lady as usual, followed by a slave girl and wearing a dress more sumptuous than before. She saluted me without noticing Badr al-Din and said in fluent, graceful speech (never had I heard a voice softer or sweeter), "Send one with me to take the thousand and two hundred dirhams, the price of the piece." "Why this hurry?" asked I and she answered, "May we never lose you!"

And handed me the money. Then I sat talking with her and presently I signed to her in dumb show, by which she understood that I longed to enjoy her person, and she rose up in haste with a show of displeasure. My heart clung to her and I went forth from the bazar and followed on her track. As I was walking suddenly a black slave girl stopped me and said, "O my master, come speak with my mistress." At this I was surprised and replied, "There is none who knows me here;" but she rejoined, "O my lord, how soon have you forgotten her! My lady is the same who was this day at the shop of such a merchant." Then I went with her to the Shroff's, where I found the lady who drew me to her side and said, "O my beloved, yours image is firmly stamped upon my fancy, and love of you has gotten hold of my heart: from the hour I first saw you nor sleep nor food nor drink has given me anything of pleasure."

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I replied, "The double of that suffering is mine, and my state dispenses me from complaint." Then she said, "O my beloved, at your house or at mine?" "I am a stranger here and have no place of reception save the Khan, so by your favour it shall be at your house." "So be it, but this is Friday night and nothing can be done till tomorrow after public prayers; go to the Mosque and pray; then mount yours ass, and ask for the Habbániyah quarter; and, when there, look out for the mansion of Al-Nakib Barakát, popularly known as Abu Shámah the Syndic; for I live there: so do not delay as I shall be expecting you." I rejoiced with still greater joy at this; and took leave of her and returned to my Khan, where I passed a sleepless night. Hardly was I assured that morning had dawned when I rose, changed my dress, perfumed myself with essences and sweet scents and, taking fifty dinars in a kerchief, went from the Khan Masrúr to the Zuwaylah gate, where I mounted an ass and said to its owner, "Take me to the Habbaniyah." So he set off with me and brought up in the twinkling of an eye at a street known as Darb al-Munkari, where I said to him, "Go in and ask for the Syndic's mansion." He was absent a while and then returned and said, "Alight." "Go before me to the house," I said, "and come back with the earliest light and bring me home." He answered, "In Allah's name," and I gave him a quarter dinar of gold, which he took and went his ways. Then I knocked at the door and out came two white slave girls, both young; high bosomed virgins, as they were moons, and said to me, "Enter, for our mistress is expecting you and she has not slept the night long for her delight in you."

I passed through the vestibule into a saloon with seven doors, floored with parti-coloured marbles and furnished with curtains and hangings of coloured silks. The ceiling was cloisonné with gold and corniced with inscriptions emblazoned in lapis lazuli, and the walls were stuccoed with Sultani gypsum which mirrored the beholder's face. Around the saloon were latticed windows overlooking a garden full of all kinds of fruits, with streams flowing and rilling, and birds trilling and shrilling. In the heart of the hall was a jetting fountain at whose corners stood birds fashioned in red gold, crusted with pearls and gems and spouting crystal-clear water. When I entered and took a seat,—

When it was the Twenty sixth night

She added, "Welcome and good cheer to you! By God, from the day I saw you, sleep has not been sweet to me nor has food been pleasant." I said, "Such has also been my case, and I am your slave, your devoted slave." Then we sat down to converse and I hung my head earthwards in bashfulness. But she delayed not long before she set before me a tray of the most exquisite viands—marinated meats, fritters soaked in honey, and chickens stuffed with sugar and pistachio nuts—of which we ate till we were satisfied. Then they brought basin and ewer and I washed my hands. We scented ourselves with rose water and musk and sat down again to converse. So she began repeating these couplets:—

"Had we wist of your coming, your way had been strown With the blood of our heart and the balls of our sight: Our cheek as a foot cloth to greet you been thrown That your step on our eyelids should softly alight.'

And she kept complaining of what had befallen her and I of what had happened to me. Love of her took so firm a hold of my heart that all my wealth seemed nothing in comparison with her. Then we fell to toying and kissing till nightfall, when the handmaidens set before us meats and a complete wine service. We sat carousing till midnight, when we lay down together. Never in my life had I seen a night like that night. When morning came I arose and took leave of her, throwing under the carpet bed the kerchief with the dinars. As I went out she wept and said, "O my lord, when shall I look upon that lovely face again?" "I will be with you at sunset," I answered. Going out, I found the donkey boy, who had brought me the day before, awaiting at the door. So I mounted the ass and rode to the Khan of Masrur where I alighted and gave the man a half dinar, saying, "Return at sunset." He said, "I will." Then I breakfasted and went out to seek the price of my stuffs. After which I returned, and taking a roast lamb and some sweetmeats, called a porter and put the provision in his crate, and sent it to the lady, paying the man his hire.

I went back to my business till sunset, when the ass driver came to me; and I took fifty dinars in a kerchief and rode to her house where I found the marble floor swept, the brasses burnisht, the branch lights burning, the grow candles ready lighted, the meat served up and the wine strained. When my lady saw me she threw her arms about my neck and cried, "You have desolated me by your absence." Then she set the tables before me and we ate till we were satisfied. The slave girls carried off the trays and served wine. We continued drinking till half the night was past. Being well warmed with drink, we went to the sleeping chamber and lay there till morning. I then arose and left her, leaving the fifty dinars with her as before. Finding the donkey boy at the door, I rode to the Khan and slept awhile. After that I went out to make ready the evening meal and took a brace of geese with gravy on two platters of dressed and peppered rice. I prepared colocasia roots fried and soaked in honey, candles and fruits and conserves and nuts and almonds and sweet-scented flowers, and sent them all to her. As soon as it was night I again tied up fifty dinars in a kerchief and, mounting the ass as usual, rode to the mansion where we ate and drank and lay together till morning when I threw the kerchief and dinars to her and rode back to the Khan. I did not stop doing this till, after a sweet night, I woke one fine morning and found myself beggared, with neither dinars nor dirhams. So I said to myself, "All this is Satan's work," and began to recite these couplets:—

Poverty dims the sheen of man, whatever his wealth has been, Even as the sun about to set shines with a yellowing light: Absent, he falls from memory, forgotten by his friends; Present, he shares not their joys, for none in him delight: He walks the market shunned of all, too glad to hide his head; In desert places tears he sheds and moans his bitter plight: By God, 'mid his kith and kin a man, however good, Waylaid by want and penury, is but a stranger and outcast!

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I fared forth from the Khan and walked down "Between the Palaces" street till I came to the Zuwaylah Gate, where I found the people crowding and the gateway blocked with folk. By the decree of Destiny I saw there a trooper against whom I pressed unintentionally, so that my hand came upon his bosom pocket and I felt a purse inside it. I looked and, seeing a string of green silk hanging from the pocket, knew it for a purse. The crush grew greater every minute, and just then, a camel laden with a load of fuel happened to jostle the trooper on the opposite side. He turned round to fend it off, lest it tear his clothes. Satan tempted me, so I pulled the string and drew out a little bag of blue silk, containing something which chinked like coin. But the soldier, feeling his pocket suddenly lightened, put his hand to it and found it empty. Thereupon he turned to me and, snatching up his mace from his saddle bow, struck me with it on the head. I fell to the ground while the people came round us and, seizing the trooper's mare by the bridle, said to him, "Do you strike this youth such a blow for a mere push?"

But the trooper cried out at them, "This fellow is an accursed thief!" Thereupon I came to myself and stood up. The people looked at me and said, "No, he is a comely youth and would not steal anything." Some took my part and others were against me, and questions and answers grew loud and warm. The people pulled at me and would have rescued me from his clutches. But as fate decreed, the Governor, the Chief of Police, and the watch entered the Zuwaylah Gate at that moment. Seeing the people gathered around me and the soldier, the Governor asked, "What is the matter?" "By God, O Emir," answered the trooper, "this is a thief! I had in my pocket a purse of blue silk lined with twenty good gold pieces and he took it while I was in the crush." The Governor said, "Was anyone by you at the time?" The soldier said, "No." Thereupon the Governor cried out to the Chief of Police who seized me. In this way the curtain of the Lord's protection was withdrawn from me. Then he said, "Strip him." When they stripped me, they found the purse in my clothes. The Wali took it, opened it and counted it. Finding in it twenty dinars as the soldier had said, he grew exceeding wroth and bade his guard bring me before him.

Then he said to me, "Now, O youth, speak truly: did you steal this purse?" At this I hung my head to the ground and said to myself, "If I deny having stolen it, I shall get myself into terrible trouble." So I raised my head and said, "Yes, I took it." When the Governor heard these words he wondered and summoned witnesses who came forward and attested my confession. All this happened at the Zuwaylah Gate. Then the Governor ordered the executioner to cut off my right hand, and he did so. After which he would have struck off my left foot also, but the heart of the soldier softened. He took pity on me and interceded for me with the Governor that I should not be slain. Thereupon the Wali left me and went away. The folk remained round me and gave me a cup of wine to drink. As for the trooper, he pressed the purse upon me and said, "You are a comely youth and it befits not you to be a thief." So I repeated these verses:—

"I swear By God's name, fair sir! no thief was I, Nor, O you best of men! was I a bandit bred: But Fortune's change and chance o'erthrew me suddenly, And cark and care and penury my course misled: I shot it not, indeed, 'twas Allah shot the shaft That rolled in dust the Kingly diadem from my head."

The soldier turned away after giving me the purse, and I also went my ways having wrapped my hand in a piece of rag and thrust it into my bosom. My whole semblance had changed, and my colour had grown yellow from the shame and pain which had befallen me. Yet I went on to my mistress's house where, in extreme perturbation of spirit, I threw myself down

The Nazarene Broker's Story. 275 on the carpet bed. She saw me in this state and asked me, "What ails you and why do I see you so changed in looks?" I answered, "My head pains me and I am far from well." At this she was vexed and concerned on my account and said, "Burn not my heart, O my lord, but sit up and raise your head and recount to me what has happened to you today, for your face tells me a tale." "Leave this talk," I replied. But she wept and said, "It seems to me you are tired of me, for I see you contrary to your wont." I was silent, and she kept on talking to me although I gave her no answer, till night came on. Then she set food before me, but I refused it, fearing lest she see me eating with my left hand, and said to her, "I have no stomach to eat at present." She said, "Tell me what has befallen you today, and why are you so sorrowful and broken in spirit and heart?" I said, "Wait awhile. I will tell you all at my leisure." Then she brought me wine, saying, "Drink this, it will dispel your grief. You must indeed drink and tell me of your tidings." I he asked, "Must I necessarily tell you?" She answered, "Yes." Then I said, "If it must be so, then give me to drink with your own hand." She filled a cup and drank, then filled again and gave me the cup which I took from her with my left hand. I wiped the tears from my eyelids and began repeating:—

When Allah wills anything to befall a man Who has ears and eyes and wits in full share, His ears He deafens and his eyes He blinds And draws his wits even as we draw a hair, Till, having wrought His purpose, He restores Man's wits, that warned, more circumspect he fare.

When I ended my verses I wept, and she cried out with an exceeding loud cry, "What is the cause of your tears? You burn my heart! What makes you take the cup with your left hand?" I said, "Truly I have on my right hand a boil." She said, "Put it out and I will open it for you." "It is not yet time to open it," I replied, "so worry me not with your words, for I will not take it out of the bandage at this hour." Then I drank off the cup, and she continued plying me with drink until drunkenness overcame me and I fell asleep in the place where I was sitting. Thereupon she looked at my right hand and saw a wrist without a fist. So she searched me closely and found the purse of gold and my severed hand wrapped up in a bit of rag. Such sorrow came upon her as had never overcome anyone, and she did not stop lamenting on my account till the morning. When I awoke I found that she had prepared a dish of broth of four boiled chickens, which she brought to me together with a cup of wine. I ate and drank, and laying down the purse, would have gone out.

But she said to me, "Where are you going?" I answered, "Where my business calls me." She said, "You will not go. Sit you down." So I sat down and she resumed, "Has your love for me so overpowered you that you have wasted all your wealth and have lost your hand on my account? I take you to witness against me, and also Allah be my witness, that I will never part with you but will die under your feet. Soon you will see that my words are true." Then she sent for the Kazi and witnesses and said to them, "Write my contract of marriage with this young man, and bear witness that I have received the marriage settlement." When they had drawn up the document she said, "Be witness that all my monies which are in this chest, and all I have in slaves and handmaidens and other property, is given in free gift to this young man." So they took record of this statement enabling me to assume possession in right of marriage, and then withdrew after receiving their fees. Thereupon she took me by the hand and, leading me to a closet, opened a large chest and said to me, "See what is in this."

I looked and behold, it was full of kerchiefs. She said, "This is the money I had from you. Every kerchief you gave me, containing fifty dinars, I wrapped up and cast into this chest. So now take your own, for it returns to you, and this day you have become of high estate. Fortune and Fate afflicted you so that you did lose your right hand for my sake, and I can never requite you. Nay, although I gave my life, it were but little and I should still remain your debtor." Then she added,

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"Take charge of your property." So I transferred the contents of her chest to my chest, and added my share to her wealth which I had given her. My heart was eased and my sorrow ceased. I stood up and kissed her and thanked her. She said, "You have given your hand for love of me and how am I able to give you an equivalent? By God, if I offered my life for your love, it were indeed but little and would not do justice to your claim upon me." Then she made over to me by deed all that she possessed in clothes and ornaments of gold and pearls, and goods and farms and chattels. She did not lay down to sleep that night, being sorely grieved for my grief, till I told her the whole of what had befallen me. I passed the night with her. But before we had lived together a month, she fell sorely sick and illness increased upon her by reason of her grief for the loss of my hand. She endured but fifty days before she was numbered among the folk of futurity and heirs of immortality. So I laid her out and buried her body in the earth and had a pious recitation of the Koran made for the health of her soul, and gave much money in alms for her.

After which I turned from the grave and returned to the house. There I found that she had left much substance in ready money, and slaves, mansions, lands and domains. Among her store houses was a granary of sesame seed, of which I sold part to you. I had neither time nor inclination to settle accounts with you till I had sold the rest of the stock in store, nor indeed have I even now made an end of receiving the price. So I beg you, do not refuse what I am about to say to you. Twice have I eaten of your food, and I wish to give you as a present the monies for the sesame which are in your hands. Such is the cause of the cutting off my right hand and my eating with my left." "Indeed," I said, "you have shown me the utmost kindness and liberality." Then he asked me, "Why should you not travel with me to my native country where I am about to return with Cairene and Alexandrian stuffs? Will you accompany me?" I answered, "I will." So I agreed to go with him at the head of the month. I sold all I had and bought other merchandise. Then we set out and travelled, the young man and I, to this country of yours. There he sold his venture and bought other investment of country stuffs and continued his journey to Egypt.

But it was my lot to abide here, so that these things befell me in my strangerhood which befell last night. Is not this tale more wondrous and marvellous than the story of the Hunchback?" "Not so," the King said. "I cannot accept it. There is no help for it but that you be hanged, every one of you." And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased her permitted discourse.

When it was the Twenty seventh night

The Reeve of the Sultan's Kitchen came forward and said, "If you permit me, I will tell you a tale of what befell me just before I found this Hunchback, and if it be more wondrous than his story, will you grant us our lives?" When the King answered, "Yes," he began to recount