one of the learned, said, "I passed once by a school, in which a schoolmaster was teaching children; so I entered, finding him a good looking man and a well dressed; when he rose to me and made me sit with him. Then I examined him in the Koran and in syntax and prosody and lexicography; and behold, he was perfect in all required of him, so I said to him, 'Allah strengthen your purpose! You are indeed versed in all that is requisite.' thereafter I frequented him a while, discovering daily some new excellence in him, and I to myself, said, 'This is indeed a wonder in any dominie; for the wise are agreed upon a lack of wit in children's teachers.' Then I separated myself from him and sought him and visited him only every few days, till coming to see him one day as of wont, I found the school shut and made enquiry of his neighbours, who replied, 'Some one is dead in his house.' So I said in my mind, 'It behoves me to pay him a visit of condolence,' and going to his house, knocked at the door, when a slave girl came out to me and asked, 'What do you want?' and I answered, 'I want your master.'

She replied, 'He is sitting alone, mourning;' and I rejoined, 'Tell him that his friend so and so seeks to console him.' She went in and told him; and he said, 'Admit him.' So she brought me in to him, and I found him seated alone and his head bound with mourning fillets. So I said to him, 'Allah requite you amply! This is a path all must Of necessity tread, and it behoves you to take patience;' adding, 'But who is dead unto you?' He answered, 'One who was dearest of the folk to me and best beloved.' 'Perhaps your father?' 'No!' 'Your brother?' 'No!' 'One of your kindred?' 'No!' Then I asked, 'What relation was the dead to you?'; and he answered, 'My lover.' I said to myself,'This the first proof to swear by of his lack of wit.' So I said to him, 'Assuredly there be others than she and fairer;' and he made answer, 'I never saw her, that I might judge whether or no there be others fairer than she.' I to myself, said, 'This is another proof positive.' Then I said to him, 'And how could you fall in love with one you have never seen?' He replied, 'Know that I was sitting one day at the window, when lo! there passed by a man, singing the following distich,

'Umm Amr', your boons Allah repay! Give back my heart be't where it may!'"

When it was the Four Hundred and Third night

And they tell another and a similar tale of