It is related that the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, was one night restless with extreme restlessness, so he summoned his Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide, and said to him, "My breast is straitened and I have a desire to divert myself to night by walking about the streets of Baghdad and looking into folks' affairs; but with this precaution that we disguise ourselves in merchants' gear, so none shall know us." He answered, "I hear and I obey." They rose at once and doffing the rich raiment they wore, donned merchants' habits and sallied forth three in number, the Caliph, Ja'afar and Masrur the sworder. Then they walked from place to place, till they came to the Tigris and saw an old man sitting in a boat; so they went up to him and saluting him said, "O Shaykh, we desire you of your kindness and favour to carry us a pleasuring down the river, in this your boat, and take this dinar to your hire."—

When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty sixth night

he answered, "Who may go a pleasuring on the Tigris? The Caliph Harun al-Rashid every night comes down Tigris stream in his state barge and with him one crying aloud: 'Ho, you people all, great and small, gentle and simple, men and boys, whoever is found in a boat on the Tigris by night, I will strike off his head or hang him to the mast of his craft!'

The Mock Caliph 131

And you had well near met him; for here comes his carrack." But Caliph and Ja'afar said, "O Shaykh, take these two dinars, and run us under one of that arches, that we may hide there till the Caliph's barge have passed." The old man replied, "Hand over your gold and rely we on Allah, the Almighty!" So he took the two dinars and embarked them in the boat; and he put off and rowed about with them awhile, when behold, the barge came down the river in mid stream, with lighted flambeaux and cressets flaming within it. the old man said, "Did not I tell you that the Caliph passed along the river every night?"; and did not stop muttering, "O Protector, remove not the veils of Your protection!" Then he ran the boat under an arch and threw a piece of black cloth over the Caliph and his companions, who looked out from under the covering and saw, in the bows of the barge, a man holding in hand a cresset of red gold which he fed with Sumatran lign aloes and the figure was clad in a robe of red satin, with a narrow turband of Mosul shape round on his head; and over one of his shoulders hung a sleeved cloak of cramoisy satin, and on the other was a green silk bag full of the aloes wood, with which he fed the cresset by way of firewood.

And they sighted in the stern another man, clad like the first and bearing a like cresset, and in the barge were two hundred white slaves, standing ranged to the right and left; and in the middle a throne of red gold, on which sat a handsome young man, like the moon, clad in a dress of black, embroidered with yellow gold. Before him they beheld a man, as he were the Wazir Ja'afar, and at his head stood an eunuch, as he were Masrur, with a drawn sword in his hand; besides a score of cup companions. Now when the Caliph saw this, he turned and said, "O Ja'afar," and the Minister replied, "At your service, O Prince of True Believers." Then the Caliph said, "Perhaps this is one of my sons, Al-Amin or Al-Maamun." Then he examined the young man who sat on the throne and finding him perfect in beauty and loveliness and stature and symmetric grace, said to Ja'afar, "truly, this young man abats nor jot nor tittle of the state of the Caliphate! See, there stands before him one as he were yourself, O Ja'afar, that eunuch who stands at his head is as he were Masrur and those courtiers as they were my own. By God, O Ja'afar, my reason is confounded and I am filled with amazement at this matter!"—

When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty seventh night

and Ja'afar replied, "And I also, By God, O Commander of the Faithful." Then the barge passed on and disappeared from sight; whereupon the boatman pushed out again into the stream, saying, "Praised be Allah for safety, since none has fallen in with us!" The Caliph said, "O, old man, does the Caliph come down the Tigris river every night?" The boatman answered, "Yes, O my lord; and on such wise has he done every night this year past." "O Shaykh," rejoined Al-Rashid, "we wish you of your favour to await us here to morrow night and we will give you five golden dinars, for we are stranger folk, lodging in the quarter Al-Khandak, and we have a mind to divert ourselves." Said the oldster, "With joy and good will!" Then the Caliph and Ja'afar and Masrur left the boatman and returned to the palace, where they doffed their merchants' habits and, donning their apparel of state, sat down each in his several stead; and came the Emirs and Wazirs and Chamberlains and Officers; and the Divan assembled and was crowded as of custom. But when day ended and all the folk had dispersed and went each his own way, the Caliph said to his Wazir, "Rise, O Ja'afar, let us go and amuse ourselves by looking on the second Caliph."

At this, Ja'afar and Masrur laughed, and the three, donning merchants' habits, went forth by a secret postern and made their way through the city, in great glee, till they came to the Tigris, where they found the greybeard sitting and awaiting them. They embarked with him in the boat and hardly had they sat down before up came the mock Caliph's barge; and, when they looked at it attentively, they saw within it two hundred Mamelukes other than those of the previous night, while the link bearers cried aloud as of wont. the Caliph said, "O Wazir, had I heard tell of this, I had not believed it; but I have seen it with my own sight." Then He said to the boatman, Take. O Shaykh, these ten dinars and row us along abreast of

The Mock Caliph 133 them, for they are in the light and we in the shade, and we can see them and amuse ourselves by looking on them, but they cannot see us." So the man took the money and pushing off ran abreast of them in the shadow of the barge,—

When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty eighth night

to which he replied, "I hear and I obey." And he fared with them and did not stop going in the blackness of the barge, till they came amongst the gardens that lay alongside of them and sighted a large walled enclosure; and presently, the barge cast anchor before a postern door, where they saw servants standing with a she mule saddled and bridled. Here the mock Caliph landed and, mounting the mule, rode away with his courtiers and his cup companions preceded by the cresset bearers crying aloud, and followed by his household which busied itself in his service. Then Harun al-Rashid, Ja'afar and Masrur landed also and, making their way through the press of servants, walked on before them. Presently, the cresset bearers espied them and seeing three persons in merchants' habits, and strangers to the country, took offence at them; so they pointed them out and brought them before the other Caliph, who looked at them and asked, "How came you to this place and who brought you at this tide?" They answered, "O our lord, we are foreign merchants and far from our homes, who arrived here this day and were out a walking to night, and behold, you came up and these men laid hands on us and brought us to your presence; and this is all our story." the mock Caliph said, "Since you be stranger folk no harm shall befall you; but had you been of Baghdad, I had struck off your heads."

Then he turned to his Wazir and said to him, "Take these men with you; for they are our guests tonight." "I hear and I obey, O our lord," answered he; and they companied him till they came to a lofty and splendid palace set upon the firmest base; no Sultan possesses such a place; rising from the dusty mould and upon the marges of the clouds laying hold. Its door was of Indian teak wood inlaid with gold that glowed; and through it one passed into a royal hall in whose midst was a jetting fount girt by raised estrade. It was provided with carpets and cushions of brocade small pillows and long settees and hanging curtains; it was furnished with a splendour that dazed the mind and dumbed the tongue, and upon the door were written these two couplets,

"A Palace on which be blessings and praise! Which with all their beauty have robed the Days: Where marvels and miracle sights abound, And to write its honours the pen affrays."

The false Caliph entered with his company, and sat down on a throne of gold set with jewels and covered with a prayer carpet of yellow silk; whilst the boon companions took their seats and the sword bearer of high works stood before him. Then the tables were laid and they ate; after which the dishes were removed and they washed their hands and the wine service was set on with flagons and bowls in due order. The cup went round till it came to the Caliph, Harun al-Rashid, who refused the draught, and the mock Caliph said to Ja'afar, "What matters your friend that he drinks not?" He replied, "O my lord, indeed 'tis a long while he has drunk nothing of this." the sham Caliph said, "I have drink other than this, a kind of apple wine, that will suit your companion." So he bade them bring the cider which they did directly; when the false Caliph, coming up to Harun al-Rashid, said to him, "As often as it comes to your turn drink you of this." Then they continued to drink and make merry and pass the cup till the wine rose to their brains and mastered their wits;—

When it was the Two Hundred and Eighty ninth night

But while they were talking privily the young man cast a glance upon them and seeing

The Mock Caliph 135 the Wazir whisper the Caliph said, "'Tis rude to whisper." He replied, "No rudeness was meant: this my friend did but say to me, 'truly I have travelled in most countries and have caroused with the greatest of Kings and I have companied with noble captains; yet never saw I a goodlier ordering than this entertainment nor passed a more delightful night; save that the people of Baghdad are wont to say, Wine without music often leaves you sick.' " When the second Caliph heard this, he smiled pleasantly and struck with a rod he had in his hand a round gong; and behold, a door opened and out came a eunuch, bearing a chair of ivory, inlaid with gold glittering fiery red and followed by a damsel of passing beauty and loveliness, symmetry and grace. He set down the chair and the damsel seated herself on it, as she were the sun shining sheen in a sky serene. In her hand she had a lute of Hindu make, which she laid in her lap and bent down over it as a mother bends over her little one, and sang to it, after a prelude in four and twenty modes, amazing all wits. Then she returned to the first mode and to a lively measure chanted these couplets,

"Love's tongue within my heart speaks plain to you, Telling you clearly I am glad of you; Witness the fevers of a tortured heart, And ulcered eyelid tear flood rains for you God's fate o'ertaks all created things! I knew not love till learnt Love's pain of you."

Now when the mock Caliph heard these lines sung by the damsel, he cried with a great cry and rent his raiment to the very skirt, whereupon they let down a curtain over him and brought him a fresh robe, handsomer than the first. He put it on and sat as before, till the cup came round to him, when he struck the gong a second time and lo! a door opened and out of it came a eunuch with a chair of gold, followed by a damsel fairer than the first, bearing a lute, such as would strike the envious mute. She sat down on the chair and sang to her instrument these two couplets,

How patient bide, with love in sprite of me, And tears in tempest blinding sight of me? By God, life has no delight of me! How gladden heart whose core is blight of me?"

No sooner had the youth heard this poetry than he cried out with a loud cry and rent his raiment to the skirt: whereupon they let down the curtain over him and brought him another suit of clothes. He put it on and, sitting up as before, fell again to cheerful talk, till the cup came round to him, when he smote once more upon the gong and out came a eunuch with a chair, followed by a damsel fairer than she who forewent her. So she sat down on the chair, with a lute in her hand, and sang thereto these couplets,

"Cease you this farness, 'bate this pride of you, To whom my heart clings, by life tide of you! Have ruth on hapless, mourning, lover wretch, Desire full, pining, passion tried of you: Sickness has wasted him, whose ecstasy Prays Heaven it may be satisfied of you: Oh fullest moons that dwell in deepest heart! How can I think of anything by side of you?"

Now when the young man heard these couplets, he cried out with a great cry and rent his raiment, whereupon they let fall the curtain over him and brought him other robes. Then he returned to his former case with his boon companions and the bowl went round as before, till the cup came to him, when he struck the gong a fourth time and the door opening, out came a page boy bearing a chair followed by a damsel. He set the chair for her

The Mock Caliph 137 and she sat down thereon and taking the lute, tuned it and sang to it these couplets,

"When shall disunion and estrangement end? When shall my bygone joys again be kenned? Yesterday we were joined in same abode; Conversing heedless of each envious friend: Trickt us that traitor Time, disjoined our lot And our waste home to desert fate condemned: Would have me, Grumbler! from my dearling fly? I find my vitals blame will not perpend: Cease you to censure; leave me to repine; My mind ever finds thoughts that pleasure lend. O Lords of me who brake our troth and plight, Deem not to lose your hold of heart and sprite!"

When the false Caliph heard the girl's song, he cried out with a loud outcry and rent his raiment,—

When it was the Two Hundred and Nineties night

"from where know you that, O Commander of the Faithful?" asked Ja'afar, and the Caliph answered, "saw you not the whip scars on his ribs?" Then they let fall the curtain over him and brought him a fresh dress, which he put on and sat up as before with his courtiers and cup companions. Presently, he saw the Caliph and Ja'afar whispering together and said to them, "What is the matter, fair sirs?" Ja'afar said, "O my lord, all is well, save that this my comrade, who (as is not unknown to you) is of the merchant company and has visited all the great cities and countries of the world and has consorted with kings and men of highest consideration, says to me: 'truly, that which our lord the Caliph has done this night is beyond measure extravagant, never saw I any do the like doings in any country; for he has rent such and such dresses, each worth a thousand dinars and this is surely excessive unthriftiness.' " Replied the second Caliph, "Ho you, the money is my money and the stuff my stuff, and this is by way of largesse to my suite and servants; for each suit that is rent belongs to one of my cup companions here present, and I assign to them with each suit of clothes the sum of five hundred dinars." The Wazir Ja'afar replied, "Well is whatever you do, O our lord," and recited these two couplets,

"Virtue in hand of you has built a house, And to mankind you do your wealth expose: If an the virtues ever close their doors, That hand would be a key the lock to unclose."

Now when the young man heard these verses recited by the Minister Ja'afar, he ordered him to be gifted with a thousand dinars and a dress of honour. Then the cup went round among them and the wine was sweet to them; but, after a while the Caliph to said,Ja'afar, "Ask him of the marks on his sides, that we may see what he will say by way of reply." Answered Ja'afar, "Softly, O my lord, be not hasty and soothe your mind, for patience is more becoming." Rejoined the Caliph, "By the life of my head and by the revered tomb of Al-Abbas, except you ask him, I will assuredly stop your breath!" With this the young man turned towards the Minister and said to him, "What ails you and your friend to be whispering together? Tell me what is the matter with you." "It is nothing save good," replied Ja'afar; but the mock Caliph rejoined, "I conjure you, By God, tell me what ails you and hide

The Mock Caliph 139 from me nothing of your case." Answered the Wazir, "O my lord, truly this one here saw on your sides the marks of beating with whips and palm fronds and marvelled at that with exceeding marvel, saying, 'How came the Caliph to be beaten?'; and he would glad know the cause of this."

Now when the youth heard this, he smiled and said, "Know you that my story is wondrous and my case marvellous; were it graven with needles on the eye corners, it would serve as a warner to whoever would be warned." And he sighed and repeated these couplets,

"Strange is my story, passing prodigy; By Love I swear, my ways grow strait on me! An you desire to hear me, listen, and Let all in this assembly silent Heed you my words which are of meaning deep, Nor lies my speech; 'tis truest verity. I'm slain by longing and by ardent love; My slayer's the pearl of fair virginity. She has a jet black eye like Hindi blade, And bowed eyebrows shoot her archery; My heart assures me our Imam is here, This age's Caliph, old nobility: Your second, Ja'afar called, is his Wazir; A Sahib, Sahib son of high degree: The third is called Masrur who wields the sword: Now, if in words of mine some truth you see I have won every wish by this event Which fills my heart with joy and gladdest grace."

When they heard these words Ja'afar swore to him an ambiguous oath that they were not those he named, whereupon he laughed and said: "Know, O my lords, that I am not the Commander of the Faithful and that I do but style myself thus, to win my will of the sons of the city. My true name is Mohammed Ali, son of Ali the Jeweller, and my father was one of the notables of Baghdad, who left me great store of gold and silver and pearls and coral and rubies and chrysolites and other jewels, besides messuages and lands, Hammam baths and brickeries, orchards and flower gardens. Now as I sat in my shop one day surrounded by my eunuchs and dependents, behold, there came up a young lady, mounted on a she mule and attended by three damsels like moons. Riding up to my shop she alighted and seated herself by my side and said, 'Are you Mohammed the Jeweller?' Replied I, 'Even so! I am he, your Mameluke, your chattel.' She asked, 'Have you a necklace of jewels fit for me?' and I answered, 'O my lady, I will show you what I have; and lay all before you and, if any please you, it will be of your slave's good luck; if they please you not, of his ill fortune.'

Now I had by me an hundred necklaces and showed them all to her; but none of them pleased her and she said, 'I want a better than those I have seen.' I had a small necklace which my father had bought at an hundred thousand dinars and whose like was not to be found with any of the great kings; so I said to her, 'O my lady, I have yet one necklace of fine stones fit for bezels, the like of which none possesses, great or small.' She said, 'Show it to me,' so I showed it to her, and she said, 'This is what I wanted and what I have wished for all my life;' adding, 'What is its price?' I said, 'It cost my father an hundred thousand dinars;' and she said, 'I will give you five thousand dinars to your profit.' I answered, 'O my lady, the necklace and its owner are at your service and I cannot gainsay you.' But she rejoined, 'Needs must you have the profit, and I am still most grateful to you.' Then she rose without delay; and, mounting the mule in haste, said to me, 'O my lord, in Allah's name, favour us with your company to receive the money; for this your day with us is white as milk.' So I shut the shop and accompanied her, in all security, till we came to a house, on which were manifest the signs of wealth and rank; for its door was wrought with gold and silver and ultramarine, and thereon were written these two couplets,

'Hola, you mansion! woe never enter you; Nor be yours owner ever misused of Fate,. Excellent mansion to all guests are you, When other mansions to the guest are strait.'

The young lady dismounted and entered the house, bidding me sit down on the bench at the gate, till the money changer should arrive. So I sat awhile, when behold, a damsel came out to me and said, 'O my lord, enter the vestibule; for it is a dishonour that you should sit at the gate.'

The Mock Caliph 141

Thereupon I arose and entered the vestibule and sat down on the settle there; and, as I sat, lo! another damsel came out and said to me, 'O my lord, my mistress bids you enter and sit down at the door of you saloon, to receive your money.' I entered and sat down, nor had I sat a moment when behold, a curtain of silk which concealed a throne of gold was drawn aside, and I saw seated thereon the lady who had made the purchase; and round her neck she wore the necklace which looked pale and wan by the side of a face as it were the rounded moon. At her sight, my wit was troubled and my mind confounded, by reason of her exceeding beauty and loveliness; but when she saw me she rose from her throne and coming close up to me said, 'O light of my eyes, is every handsome one like you pitiless to his mistress?' I answered, 'O my lady, beauty, all of it, is in you and is but one of your hidden charms.' And she rejoined, 'O Jeweller, know that I love you and can hardly credit that I have brought you here.' Then she bent towards me and I kissed her and she kissed me and, as she caressed me, drew me towards her and to her breast she pressed me."—

When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety first night

When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety second night

When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety third night

Then he wept copiously and repeated these couplets,

"By God! while the days endure never shall forget her I, Nor draw to any near save those who draw her to me near: Like to the fullest moon her form and favour show to me, Laud to her All creating Lord, laud to the Lord on high! She left me full of mourning, sleepless, sick with pine and pain And ceases not my heart to yearn her mystery to espy."

Now when Harun al-Rashid heard the young man's story and knew the passion and transport and love lowe that afflicted him, he was moved to compassion and wonder and said, "Glory be to Allah, who has appointed to every effect a cause!" Then they craved the young man's permission to depart; which being granted, they took leave of him, the Caliph purposing to do him justice meet, and him with the utmost munificence entreat; and they returned to the palace of the Caliphate, where they changed clothes

The Mock Caliph 147 for others befitting their state and sat down, whilst Masrur the Sworder of High Justice stood before them. After awhile, the Caliph to said,Ja'afar, "O Wazir, bring me the young man"—

When it was the Two Hundred and Ninety fourth night

"I hear and obey," answered Ja'afar and, going to the youth, saluted him, saying, "Obey the summons of the Commander of the Faithful, the Caliph Harun al-Rashid." So he returned with him to the palace, in great anxiety by reason of the summons; and, going in to the King, kissed ground before him; and offered up a prayer for the endurance of his glory and prosperity, for the accomplishment of his desires, for the continuance of his beneficence and for the cessation of evil and punishment; ordering his speech as best he might and ending by saying, "Peace be on you, O Prince of True Believers and Protector of the folk of the Faith!" Then he repeated these two couplets,

"Kiss you his fingers which no fingers are; Keys of our daily bread those fingers ken: And praise his actions which no actions are; But precious necklaces round necks of men."

So the Caliph smiled in his face and returned his salute, looking on him with the eye of favour; then he bade him draw near and sit down before him and said to him, "O Mohammed Ali, I wish you to tell me what befell you last night, for it was strange and passing strange." the youth said, "Pardon, O Commander of the Faithful, give me the kerchief of immunity, that my dread may be appeased and my heart eased." Replied the Caliph, "I promise you safety from fear and woes." So the young man told him his story from beginning to end, by which the Caliph knew him to be a lover and severed from his beloved and said to him, "Desirest you that I restore her to you?" "This were of the bounty of the Commander of the Faithful," answered the youth and repeated these two couplets,

"never cease your gate be Ka'abah to mankind; Long may its threshold dust man's brow beseem! That over all countries it may be proclaimed, This is the Place and you are Ibrahim."

Thereupon the Caliph turned to his Minister and said to him, "O Ja'afar, bring me your sister, the Lady Dunya, daughter of the Wazir Yahya bin Khalid!" "I hear and I obey," He answered and fetched her without let or delay. Now when she stood before the Caliph he said to her, "Do you know who this is?"; and she replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, how should women have knowledge of men?" So the Caliph smiled and said, "O Dunya, this is your beloved, Mohammed bin Ali the Jeweller. We are acquainted with his case, for we have heard the whole story from beginning to end, and have apprehended its inward and its out ward; and it is no more hidden from me, for all it was kept in secrecy." she replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, this was written in the Book of Destiny; I crave the forgiveness of Almighty Allah for the wrong I have wrought, and pray you to pardon me of your favour." At this the Caliph laughed and, summoning the Kazi and witnesses, renewed the marriage contract between the Lady Dunya and her husband, Mohammed Ali son of the Jeweller, by which there happened them, both her and him the utmost felicity, and to their enviers mortification and misery. Moreover, he made Mohammed Ali one of his boon companions, and they abode in joy and cheer and gladness, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of societies. And men also relate the pleasant tale of

Ali The Persian. 149