The Caliph al-Maamun once said to his uncle Ibrahim bin Al-Mahdi, "Tell us the most remarkable thing that you have ever seen." Answered he: "I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful. Know that I rode out one day, a pleasuring, and my ride brought me to a place where I smelt the reek of food. So my soul longed for it and I halted, O Prince of True Believers, perplexed and unable either to go on or to go in. Presently, I raised my eyes and lo! I espied a lattice window and behind it a wrist, than which I never beheld anything lovelier. The sight turned my brain and I forgot the smell of the food and began to plan and plot how I should get access to the house. After awhile, I observed a tailor close by and going up to him, saluted him. He returned my salam and I asked him, 'Whose house is that?' And he answered, 'It belongs to a merchant called such an one, son of such an one, who consorts with none save merchants.' As we were talking, behold, up came two men, of comely aspect with intelligent countenances, riding on horseback; and the tailor told me that they were the merchant's most intimate friends and acquainted me with their names.

So I urged my beast towards them and said to them, 'Be I your ransom! Abu Fulan awaits you!' and I rode with them both to the gate, where I entered and they also. Now when the master of the house saw me with them he doubted not but I was their friend; so he welcomed me and seated me in the highest stead. Then they brought the table of food and I said in myself, 'Allah has granted me my desire of the food; and now there remain the hand and the wrist.' After a while we removed for carousal to another room, which I found tricked out with all kinds of rarities, and the host paid me particular attention, addressing his talk to me, for that he took me to be a guest of his guests;

Ibrahim Al-Mahdi and the Merchant's Sister. 279 whilst in like manner these two made much of me, taking me for a friend of their friend the housemaster. Thus I was the object of politest attentions till we had drunk several cups of wine and there came into us a damsel as she were a willow wand of the utmost beauty and elegance, who took a lute and playing a lively measure, sang these couplets,

'Is it not strange one house us two contain And still you draw'st not near, or talk we twain? Only our eyes tell secrets of our souls, And broken hearts by lovers' fiery pain Winks with the eyelids, signs the eyebrow knows; Languishing looks and hand saluting glad.'

When I heard these words my vitals were stirred, O Commander of the Faithful, and I was moved to delight, for her excessive loveliness and the beauty of the verses she sang; and I envied her skill and said, 'There lacks something to you, O damsel!' Whereupon she threw the lute from her hand in anger, and cried, 'Since when are you wont to bring ill mannered louts into your assemblies?' Then I repented of what I had done, seeing the company vexed with me, and I said in my mind, 'My hopes are lost by me'; and I weeted no way of escaping blame but to call for a lute, saying, 'I will show you what escaped her in the air she played.' the folk said, 'We hear and obey'; so they brought me a lute and I tuned the strings and sang these verses

'This is your friend perplexed for pain and pine, Th' enamoured, down whose breast course drops of brine: He has this hand to the Compassionate raised For winning wish and that on hearts is lien: O you who see one love perishing, His death is caused by those hands and eyne!'

Whereupon the damsel sprang up and throwing herself at my feet kissed them and said, 'It is yours to excuse O my master! By God, I knew not your quality nor heard I ever the like of this performance!' And all began extolling me and making much of me, being beyond measure delighted, and at last the besought me to sing again. So I sang a merry air, whereupon they all became drunken with music and wine, their wits left them and they were carried off to their homes, while I abode alone with the host and the girl. He drank some cups with me and then said, 'O my lord, my life has been lived in vain for that I have not known the like of you till the present. Now, By God, tell me who you are, that I may ken who is the cup companion whom Allah has bestowed on me this night.' At first I returned him evasive answers and would not tell him my name; but he conjured me till I told him who I was; whereupon he sprang to his feet"—

When it was the Three Hundred and Forty seventh night

Then al-Maamun marvelled at the man's generosity and said, "Gifted of Allah is he! Never heard I of his like." And he bade Ibrahim bin al-Mahdi bring him to court, that he might see him. He brought him and the Caliph conversed with him; and his wit and good breeding so pleased him that he made him one of his chief officers. And Allah is the Giver, the Bestower! Men also relate the tale of