Now as regards the works of Mercury 'Ali; there lived once at Cairo, in the days of Salah the Egyptian, who was Chief of the Cairo Police and had forty men under him, a sharper named Ali, for whom the Master of Police used to set snares and think that he had fallen within it; but, when they sought for him, they found that he had fled like zaybak, or quicksilver, Why they dubbed him Ali Zaybak or Mercury Ali of Cairo. Now one day, as he sat with his men in his hall, his heart became heavy within him and his breast was straitened. The hall keeper saw him sitting with frowning face and said to him, "What ails you, O my Chief? If your breast be straitened take a turn in the streets of Cairo, for assuredly walking in her markets will do away with your irk." So he rose up and went out and threaded the streets awhile, but only increased in cark and care. Presently, he came to a wine shop and said to himself, "I will go in and drink myself drunken." So he entered and seeing seven rows of people in the shop said, "Harkye, taverner! I will not sit except by myself."
Accordingly, the vintner placed him in a chamber alone and set strong pure wine before him whereof he drank till he lost his senses. Then he sallied forth again and walked till he came to the road called Red, whilst the people left the street clear before him, out of fear of him. Presently, he turned and saw a water carrier trudging along, with his skin and gugglet, crying out and saying, "O exchange! There is no drink but what raisins make, there is no love delight but what of the lover we take and none sits in the place of honour save the sensible freke!" So he said to him, "Here, give me to drink!" The water carrier looked at him and gave him the gugglet which he took and gazing into it, shook it up and lastly poured it out on the ground. Asked the water carrier, "Why do you not drink?";
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 173 and he answered, saying, "Give me to drink." So the man filled the cup a second time and he took it and shook it and emptied it on the ground; and thus he did a third time. the water carrier said, "If you will not drink, I will be off." And Ali said, "Give me to drink." So he filled the cup a fourth time and gave it to him; and he drank and gave the man a dinar. The water carrier looked at him with disdain and said, belittling him, "Good luck to you! Good luck to you, my lad! Little folk are one thing and great folk another!" —,
When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninth night
Now when Mercury Ali heard this, he caught hold of the man's gaberdine and drawing on him a poignard of price, such an one as that whereof the poet speaks in these two couplets,
"Watered steel blade, the world perfection calls, Drunk with the viper poison foes appals, Cuts lively, burns the blood whene'er it falls; And picks up gems from pave of marble halls;"
cried to him, "O Shaykh, speak reasonably to me! Your waterskin is worth if dear three dirhams, and the gugglets I emptied on the ground held a pint or so of water." Replied the watercarrier "'Tis well," and Ali rejoined, "I gave you a golden ducat: why, then do you belittle me? Say me, have you ever seen any more valiant than I or more generous than I?" Answered the water carrier; "I have indeed, seen one more valiant than you and eke more generous than you; for, never, since women bare children, was there on earth's face a brave man who was not generous." Ali said, "And who is he you think braver and more generous than I?" the other said, "You must know that I have had a strange adventure. My father was a Shaykh of the Water carriers who give drink in Cairo and, when he died, he left me five male camels, a he mule, a shop and a house; but the poor man is never satisfied; or, if he be satisfied he dies. So I said to myself, 'I will go up to Al-Hijaz'; and, taking a string of camels, bought goods on tick, till I had run in debt for five hundred ducats, all of which I lost in the pilgrimage.
Then I said in my mind, 'If I return to Cairo the folk will clap me in jail for their goods.' So I fared with the pilgrims caravan of Damascus to Aleppo and thence I went on to Baghdad, where I sought out the Shaykh of the Water carriers of the city and finding his house I went in and repeated the opening chapter of the Koran to him. He questioned me of my case and I told him all that had happened me, whereupon he assigned me a shop and gave me a water skin and gear. So I sallied forth a morn trusting in Allah to provide, and went round about the city. I offered the gugglet to one, that he might drink; but he cried, 'I have eaten nothing on which to drink; for a niggard invited me this day and set two gugglets before me; so I said to him, 'O son of the sordid, have you given me anything to eat that you offerest me drink after it?' Why go your ways, O water carrier, till I have eaten somewhat: then come and give me to drink.' Thereupon I accosted another and he said, 'Allah provide you!'
And so I went on till noon, without taking hansel, and I said to myself, 'Would Heaven I had never come to Baghdad!' Presently, I saw the folk running as fast as they could, so I followed them and behold, a long file of men riding two and two and clad in steel, with double neck rings and felt bonnets and burnouses and swords and bucklers. I asked one of the folk whose suite this was, and he answered, 'That of Captain Ahmad al-Danaf.' I said, 'And what is he?' and the other said, 'He is town captain of Baghdad and her Divan, and to him is committed the care of the suburbs. He getts a thousand dinars a month from the Caliph and Hasan Shuman has the like. More over, each of his men draws an hundred dinars a month; and they are now returning to their barrack from the Divan.' And lo! Calamity Ahmad saw me and cried out, 'Come give me drink.' So I filled the cup and gave it him, and he shook it and emptied it out, like unto you; and thus he did a second time.
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 175
Then I filled the cup a third time and he took a draught as you did; after which he asked me, 'O water carrier, from where come you?' And I answered, 'From Cairo,' and he, 'Allah keep Cairo and her citizens! What may bring you there?' So I told him my story and gave him to understand that I was a debtor fleeing from debt and distress. He cried, 'You are welcome to Baghdad'; then he gave me five dinars and said to his men, 'For the love of Allah be generous to him.' So each of them gave me a dinar and Ahmad said to me, 'O Shaykh, what while you abide in Baghdad you will have of us the like every time you give us to drink.' Accordingly, I paid them frequent visits and good did not stop to come to me from the folk till, one day, reckoning up the profit I had made of them, I found it a thousand dinars and said to myself, 'The best thing you can do is to return to Egypt.' So I went to Ahmad's house and kissed his hand, and he said, 'What seek you?' I said, 'I have a mind to depart'; and I repeated these two couplets,
'Sojourn of stranger, in whatever land, Is like castle based upon the wind: The breaths of breezes level all he raised. And so on homeward way's the stranger's mind.'
I added, 'The caravan is about to start for Cairo and I wish to return to my people.' So he gave me a she mule and an hundred dinars and said to me, 'I desire to send somewhat by you, O Shaykh! Do you know the people of Cairo?' 'Yes,' answered I"; —
When it was the Seven Hundred and Tenth night
She pursued, when Ahmad Al-Danaf had given the water carrier a she mule and an hundred dinars and said to him, "I desire to send a trust by you. Do you know the people of Cairo?" "I answered (the water said,carrier), 'Yes'; and he said, 'Take this letter and carry it to Ali Zaybak of Cairo and say to him, 'Your Captain saluts you and he is now with the Caliph.' So I took the letter and journeyed back to Cairo, where I paid my debts and plied my water carrying trade, but I have not delivered the letter, because I know not the abode of Mercury Ali." Ali said, "O elder, be of good cheer and keep yours eyes cool and dear: I am that Ali, the first of the lads of Captain Ahmad: here with the letter!" So he gave him the missive and he opened it and read these two couplets,
"O adornment of beauties to you write I On a paper that flies as the winds go by: Could I fly, I had flown to their arms in desire, But a bird with cut wings how shall ever he fly?"
"But after salutation from Captain Ahmad Al-Danaf to the eldest of his sons, Mercury Ali of Cairo. You know that I tormented Salah Al-Din the Cairene and befooled him till I buried him alive and reduced his lads to obey me, and amongst them Ali Kitf Al-Jamal; and I am now become town captain of Baghdad in the Divan of the Caliph who has made me overseer of the suburbs. If you be still mindful of our covenant, come to me; Perhaps you will play some trick in Baghdad which may promote you to the Caliph's service, so he may appoint you stipends and allowances and assign you a lodging, which is what you would see and so peace be on you." When Ali read this letter, he kissed it and laying it on his head, gave the water carrier ten dinars; after which he returned to his barracks and told his comrades and said to them, "I commend you one to other." Then he changed all his clothes and, donning a travelling cloak and a tarboosh, took a case, containing a spear of bamboo cane, four and twenty cubits long, made in several pieces, to fit into one another. his lieutenant said, "Will you go a journey when the treasury is empty?"; and Ali said, "When I reach Damascus I will send you what shall suffice you."
Then he set out and fared on, till he overtook a caravan about to start, whereof were the Shah-bandar, or Provost of the Merchants, and forty other traders. They had all loaded their beasts, except the Provost, whose loads lay upon the ground, and Ali heard his caravan leader, who was a Syrian, say to the muleteers, "Bear a hand, one of you!" But they reviled him and abused him. Ali in himself said, "None will suit me so well to travel as well as this leader." Now Ali was beardless and well favoured so he went up to and saluted the leader who welcomed him and said, "What seek you?" Replied Ali, "O my uncle, I see you alone with forty mule loads of goods; but why have you not brought
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 177 hands to help you?" Rejoined the other, "O my son, I hired two lads and clothed them and put in each one's pocket two hundred dinars; and they helped me till we came to the Dervishes' Convent, when they ran away." Ali said, "where are you bound?" and the Syrian said, "to Aleppo," when Ali said, "I will lend you a hand." Accordingly they loaded the beasts and the Provost mounted his she mule and they set out he rejoicing in Ali; and presently he loved him and made much of him and in this way they fared on till nightfall, when they dismounted and ate and drank. Then came the time of sleep and Ali lay down on his side and made as if he slept; whereupon the Syrian stretched himself near him and Ali rose from his stead and sat down at the door of the merchant's pavilion. Presently, the Syrian turned over and would have taken Ali in his arms, but found him not and said to himself, "Perhaps he has promised another and he has taken him; but I have the first right and another night I will keep him."
Now Ali continued sitting at the door of the tent till almost daybreak, when he returned and lay down near the Syrian, who found him by his side, when he awoke, and said to himself, "If I ask him where he has been, he will leave me and go away." So he dissembled with him and they went on till they came to a forest, in which was a cave, where dwelt a rending lion. Now whenever a caravan passed, they would draw lots among themselves and him on whom the lot fell they would throw to the beast. So they drew lots and the lot fell not save upon the Provost of the Merchants. And lo! the lion cut off their way awaiting his prey, Why the Provost was sore distressed and said to the leader, "Allah disappoint the fortunes of the far one and bring his journey to nothing! I charge you, after my death, give my loads to my children." Ali the Clever One said, "What means all this?" So they told him the case and he said, "Why do you run from the tom cat of the desert? I warrant you I will kill him." So the Syrian went to the Provost and told him of this and he said, "If he slay him, I will give him a thousand dinars,"
and said the other merchants, "We will reward him likewise one and all." With this Ali put off his mantle and there appeared upon him a suit of steel; then he took a chopper of steel and opening it turned the screw; after which he went forth alone and standing in the road before the lion, cried out to him. The lion ran at him, but Ali of Cairo smote him between the eyes with his chopper and cut him in sunder, whilst the caravan leader and the merchants looked on. Then he said to the leader, "Have no fear, O nuncle!" And the Syrian answered, saying, "O my son, I am your servant for all future time." Then the Provost embraced him and kissed him between the eyes and gave him the thousand dinars, and each of the other merchants gave him twenty dinars. He deposited all the coin with the Provost and they slept that night till the morning, when they set out again, intending for Baghdad, and fared on till they came to the Lion's Clump and the Wady of Dogs, where lay a villain Badawi, a brigand and his tribe, who sallied forth on them. The folk fled from the highwaymen, and the Provost said, "My monies are lost!"; when, lo! up came Ali in a buff coat hung with bells, and bringing out his long lance, fitted the pieces together.
Then he seized one of the Arab's horses and mounting it cried out to the Badawi Chief, saying, "Come out to fight me with spears!" Moreover he shook his bells and the Arab's mare took fright at the noise and Ali struck the Chief's spear and broke it. Then he smote him on the neck and cut off his head. When the Badawin saw their chief fall, they ran at Ali, but he cried out, saying, "Allaho Akbar God is Most Great!" And, falling on them broke them and put them to flight. Then he raised the Chief's head on his spear point and returned to the merchants, who rewarded him liberally and continued their journey, till they reached Baghdad. Thereupon Ali took his money from the Provost and committed it to the Syrian caravan leader, saying, "When you returnest to Cairo, ask for my barracks and give these monies to my deputy." Then he slept that night and on the morrow he entered the city and threading the streets enquired for
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 179
Calamity Ahmad's quarters; but none would direct him thereto, So he walked on, till he came to the square Al-Nafz, where he saw children at play, and amongst them a lad called Ahmad Al-Lakít, and said to himself, "O my Ali, you will not get news of them but from their little ones." Then he turned and seeing a sweet meat seller bought Halwa of him and called to the children; but Ahmad Al-Lakit drove the rest away and coming up to him said, "What seek you?" Ali said, "I had a son and he died and I saw him in a dream asking for sweetmeats: Why I have bought them and wish to give each child a bit." So saying, he gave Ahmad a slice, and he looked at it and seeing a dinar sticking to it said, "Begone! I am no catamite: seek another than I." Ali said, "O my son, none but a sharp fellow takes the hire, even as he is a sharp one who gives it. I have sought all day for Ahmad Al-Danaf's barrack, but none would direct me thereto; so this dinar is yours If you will guide me there." the lad said, "I will run before you and do you keep up with me, till I come to the place, when I will catch up a pebble with my foot and kick it against the door; and so will you know it." Accordingly he ran on and Ali after him, till they came to the place, when the boy caught up a pebble between his toes and kicked it against the door so as to make the place known. —
When it was the Seven Hundred and Eleventh night
Then the boy made off and Ali Zaybak went up to the door and knocked; whereupon Ahmad al-Danaf said, "O doorkeeper, open the door; that is the knock of Quicksilver Ali the Cairene." So he opened the door and Ali entered and saluted with the salam Ahmad who embraced him, and the Forty greeted him. Then Calamity Ahmad gave him a suit of clothes, saying, "When the Caliph made me captain, he clothed my lads and I kept this suit for you." Then they seated him in the place of honour and setting on meat they ate well and drink they drank hard and made merry till the morning, when Ahmad said to Ali, "Beware you walk not about the streets of Baghdad, but sit you still in this barrack." Asked Ali, "Why so? Have I come here to be shut up? No, I came to look about me and divert myself." Replied Ahmad, "O my son, think not that Baghdad be like Cairo. Baghdad is the seat of the Caliphate; sharpers abound within it and rogueries spring from it as worts spring out of earth." So Ali abode in the barrack three days when Ahmad said to him, "I wish to present you to the Caliph, that he may assign you an allowance."
But he replied, " When the time comes." So he let him go his own way. One day, as Ali sat in the barrack, his breast became straitened and his soul troubled and he said in himself, "Come, let us up and thread the ways of Baghdad and broaden my bosom." So he went out and walked from street to street, till he came to the middle bazar, where he entered a cook shop and dined; after which he went out to wash his hands. Presently, he saw forty slaves, with felt bonnets and steel cutlasses, come walking, two by two; and last of all came Dalilah the Wily, mounted on a she mule, with a gilded helmet which bore a ball of polished steel, and clad in a coat of mail, and such like. Now she was returning from the Divan to the Khan of which she was portress; and when she espied Ali, she looked at him fixedly and saw that he resembled Calamity Ahmad in height and breadth. Moreover, he was clad in a striped Abá cloak and a burnous,
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 181 with a steel cutlass by his side and similar gear, while valour shone from his eyes, testifying in favour of him and not in disfavour of him. So she returned to the Khan and going in to her daughter, fetched a table of sand, and struck a geomantic figure, by which she discovered that the stranger's name was Ali of Cairo and that his fortune overcame her fortune and that of her daughter. Asked Zaynab, "O my mother, what has befallen you that you have recourse to the sand table?" Answered Dalilah, "O my daughter, I have seen this day a young man who resembls Calamity Ahmad, and I fear lest he come to hear how you did strip Ahmad and his men and enter the Khan and play us a trick, in revenge for what we did with his chief and the forty; for I think he has taken up his lodging in Al-Danaf's barrack." Zaynab rejoined, "What is this? I think you have taken his measure." Then she donned her fine clothes and went out into the streets. When the people saw her, they all made love to her and she promised and sware and listened and coquetted and passed from market to market, till she saw Ali the Cairene coming, when she went up to him and rubbed her shoulder against him.
Then she turned and said, "Allah give long life to folk of discrimination!" He said, "How goodly is your form! To whom do you belong?"; and She said, "To the gallant like you;" and he said, "Are you wife or spinster?" "Married," said she. Asked Ali, "Shall it be in my lodging or yours?" and she answered, "I am a merchant's daughter and a merchant's wife and in all my life I have never been out of doors till to day, and my only reason was that when I made ready food and thought to eat, I had no mind thereto without company. When I saw you, love of you entered my heart: so will you deign solace my soul and eat a mouthful with me?" He said, "whoever is invited, let him accept." Thereupon she went on and he followed her from street to street, but presently he bethought himself and said, "What will you do and you a stranger? truly 'tis said, 'whoever does whoredom in his strangerhood, Allah will send him back disappointed.'
But I will put her off from you with fair words." So he said to her, "Take this dinar and appoint me a day other than this;" and she said, "By the Mighty Name, it may not be but you will go home with me as my guest this very day and I will take you to fast friend." So he followed her till she came to a house with a lofty porch and a wooden bolt on the door and said to him, "Open this lock." he asked, "Where is the key?"; and she answered, " 'Tis lost." He said, "whoever opens a lock without a key is a knave whom it behoves the ruler to punish, and I know not how to open doors without keys?" With this she raised her veil and showed him her face, at which he took one glance of eyes that cost him a thousand sighs. Then she let fall her veil on the lock and repeating over it the names of the mother of Moses, opened it without a key and entered. He followed her and saw swords and steel weapons hanging up; and she put off her veil and sat down with him. he said to himself, "Accomplish what Allah has decreed to you," and bent over her, to take a kiss of her cheek; but she caught the kiss upon her palm, saying, "This beseems not but by night."
Then she brought a tray of food and wine, and they ate and drank; after which she rose and drawing water from the well, poured it from the ewer over his hands, whilst he washed them. Now whilst they were in this way, she cried out and beat upon her breast, saying, "My husband had a signet ring of ruby, which was pledged to him for five hundred dinars, and I put it on; but 'twas too large for me, so I straitened it with wax, and when I let down the bucket, that ring must have dropped into the well. So turn your face to the door, the while I doff my dress and go down into the well and fetch it." Ali said, "'Twere shame on me that you should go down there I being present; none shall do it save I." So he put off his clothes and tied the rope about himself and she let him down into the well. Now there was much water within it and she said to him, "The rope is too short; loose yourself and drop down." So he did himself loose from the rope and dropped into the water, in which he sank fathoms deep without touching bottom, whilst she donned her mantilla and taking his clothes, returned to her mother —
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 183
When it was the Seven Hundred and Twelfth night
Presently, the Emir Hasan, the master of the house, who had been absent at the Divan, came home and, finding the door open, said to his Syce, "Why did you not draw the bolt?" "O my lord," replied the groom, "indeed I locked it with my own hand." The Emir cried, "As my head lives, some robber has entered my house!" Then he went in and searched, but found none and said to the groom, "Fill the ewer, that I may make the Wuzu ablution." So the man lowered the bucket into the well but, when he drew it up, he found it heavy and looking down, saw something within it sitting; whereupon he let it fall into the water and cried out, saying, "O my lord, an Ifrit came up to me out of the well!" Replied the Emir, "Go and fetch four doctors of the law, that they may read the Koran over him, till he go away." So he fetched the doctors and the Emir said to them, "Sit round this well and exorcise me this Ifrit." They did as he bade them; after which the groom and another servant lowered the bucket again and Ali clung to it and hid himself under it patiently till he came near the top, when he sprang out and landed among the doctors, who fell a'cuffing one another and crying out, "Ifrit! Ifrit!"
The Emir looked at Ali and seeing him a young man, said to him, "Are you a thief?" "No," replied Ali; "Then what do you in the well?" asked the Emir; and Ali answered, "I was asleep and dreamt a wet dream; so I went down to the Tigris to wash myself and dived, whereupon the current carried me under the earth and I came up in this well." the other said, "Tell the truth." So Ali told him all that had befallen him, and the Emir gave him an old gown and let him go. He returned to Calamity Ahmad's lodging and related to him all that had passed. Ahmad said, "Did I not warn you that Baghdad is full of women who play tricks upon men?" And Ali Kitf Al-Jamal said, "I conjure you by the Mighty Name, tell me how it is that you are the chief of the lads of Cairo and yet have been stripped by a girl?" This was grievous to Ali and he repented him of not having followed Ahmad's advice. Then the Calamity gave him another suit of clothes and Hasan Shuman said to him, "Do you know the young person?" "No," replied Ali; and Hasan rejoined, "'Twas Zaynab, the daughter of Dalilah the Wily, the portress of the Caliph's Khan; and have you fallen into her toils, O Ali?"
He said, "Yes," and Hasan said, "O Ali, 'twas she who took your Chief's clothes and those of all his men." "This is a disgrace to you all!" "And what think you to do?" "I purpose to marry her." "Put away that thought far from you, and console your heart of her." "O Hasan, do you counsel me how I shall do to marry her." "With all my heart: if you will drink from my hand and march under my banner, I will bring you to your will of her." "I will well." So Hasan made Ali put off his clothes; and, taking a cauldron heated within it somewhat as it were pitch, wherewith he anointed him and he became like unto a blackamoor slave. Moreover, he smeared his lips and cheeks and pencilled his eyes with red Kohl, Then he clad him in a slave's habit and giving him a tray of kabobs and wine, said to him, "There is a black cook in the Khan who requires from the bazar only meat; and you are now become his like; so go you to him civilly and accost him in friendly fashion and speak to him in the blacks' lingo, and salute him, saying, "Tis long since we met in the beer ken.'
He will answer you' 'I have been too busy: on my hands be forty slaves, for whom I cook dinner and supper, besides making ready a tray for Dalilah and the like for her daughter Zaynab and the dogs' food.' And do you say to him, 'Come, let us eat kabobs and lush swipes.' Then go with him into the saloon and make him drunken and question him of his service, how many dishes and what dishes he has to cook, and ask him of
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 185 the dogs' food and the keys of the kitchen and the larder; and he will tell you; for a man, when he is drunken, tells all he would conceal were he sober. When you have done this drug him and don his clothes and sticking the two knives in your girdle, take the vegetable basket and go to the market and buy meat and greens, with which do you return to the Khan and enter the kitchen and the larder and cook the food. Dish it up and put Bhang in it, so as to drug the dogs and the slaves and Dalilah and Zaynab and lastly serve up. When all are asleep, hie you to the upper chamber and bring away every suit of clothes you will find hanging there. And if you have a mind to marry Zaynab, bring with you also the forty carrier pigeons." So Ali went to the Khan and going in to the cook, saluted him and said, "'Tis long since I have met you in the beer ken." The slave replied, "I have been busy cooking for the slaves and the dogs." Then he took him and making him drunken, questioned him of his work. the kitchener said, "Every day I cook five dishes for dinner and the like for supper; and yesterday they sought of me a sixth dish, yellow rice, and a seventh, a mess of cooked pomegranate seed." Ali asked, "And what is the order of your service?" and the slave answered, "First I serve up Zaynab's tray, next Dalilah's; then I feed the slaves and give the dogs their sufficiency of meat, and the least that satisfies them is a pound each." But, as fate would have it, he forgot to ask him of the keys. Then he drugged him and donned his clothes; after which he took the basket and went to the market. There he bought meat and greens. —,
When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirteenth night
Thereupon he (dressed as a slave) turned and said to her, "What say you, O portress?" She asked, "What have you done with the slave, our cook?; say me if you have killed or drugged him?" He answered, "What cook? Is there here another slave cook than I?" She rejoined, "You lie, you are Mercury Ali the Cairene." And he said to her, in slaves' patois, "O portress, are the Cairenes black or white? I will slave for you no longer." Then said the slaves to him, "What is the matter with you, O our cousin?" Cried Dalilah, "This is none of your uncle's children, but Ali Zaybak the Egyptian; and meseems he has either drugged your cousin or killed him." But they said, "Indeed this is our cousin Sa'adu'llah the cook;" and she, "Not so, 'tis Mercury Ali, and he has dyed his skin." the sharper said, "And who is Ali? I am Sa'adu'llah." Then she fetched unguent of proof, with which she anointed Ali's forearm and rubbed it; but the black did not come off; whereupon the slaves said, "Let him go and dress us our dinner." Dalilah said, "If he be indeed your cousin, he knows what you sought of him yesternight and how many dishes he cooks every day."
So they asked him of this and he said, "Every day I cook you five dishes for the morning and the like for the evening meal, lentils and rice and broth and stew and sherbet of roses; and yesternight you sought of me a sixth dish and a seventh, to wit yellow rice and cooked pomegranate seed." And the slaves said, "Right!" Then Dalilah said, "In with him and if he know the kitchen and the larder, he is indeed your cousin but, if not, kill him." Now the cook had a cat which he had brought up, and whenever he entered the kitchen it would stand at the door and spring to his back, as soon as he went in. So, when Ali entered, the cat saw him and jumped on his shoulders; but he threw it off and it ran before him to the door of the kitchen and stopped there. He guessed that this was the kitchen door;
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 187 so he took the keys and seeing one with traces of feathers thereon, knew it for the kitchen key and therewith opened the door. Then he entered and setting down the greens, went out again, led by the cat, which ran before him and stopped at another door. He guessed that this was the larder and seeing one of the keys marked with grease, knew it for the key and opened the door therewith; whereupon the slaves said, "O Dalilah, were he a stranger, he had not known the kitchen and the larder, nor had he been able to distinguish the keys of it from the rest; truly, he is our cousin Sa'adu'llah." She said, "He learned the places from the cat and distinguished the keys one from the other by the appearance: but this cleverness imposes not upon me." Then he returned to the kitchen where he cooked the dinner and, carrying Zaynab's tray up to her room, saw all the stolen clothes hanging up; after which he went down and took Dalilah her tray and gave the slaves and the dogs their rations. The like he did at sundown and drugged Dalilah's food and that of Zaynab and the slaves.
Now the doors of the Khan were opened and shut with the sun. So Ali went forth and cried out, saying, "O dwellers in the Khan, the watch is set and we have loosed the dogs; whoever stirrs out after this can blame none save himself." But he had delayed the dogs' supper and put poison within it; consequently when he set it before them, they ate of it and died while the slaves and Dalilah and Zaynab still slept under Bhang. Then he went up and took all the clothes and the carrier pigeons and, opening the gate, made off to the barrack of the Forty, where he found Hasan Shuman the Pestilence who said to him, "How have you fared?" Thereupon he told him what had passed and he praised him. Then he caused him to put off his clothes and boiled a decoction of herbs wherewith he washed him, and his skin became white as it was after which he donned his own dress and going back to the Khan, clad the cook in the habit he had taken from him and made him smell to the counter drug; upon which the slave awoke and going forth to the greengrocer's, bought vegetables and returned to the Khan. Such was the case with Al-Zaybak of Cairo; but as regards Dalilah the Wily, when the day broke, one of the lodgers in the Khan came out of his chamber and, seeing the gate open and the slaves drugged and the dogs dead, he went in to her and found her lying drugged, with a scroll on her neck and at her head a sponge steeped in the counter drug. He set the sponge to her nostrils and she awoke and asked, "Where am I?" The merchant answered,
"When I came down from my chamber I saw the gate of the Khan open and the dogs dead and found the slaves and you drugged." So she took up the paper and read within it these words, "None did this deed save Ali the Egyptian." Then she awoke the slaves and Zaynab by making them smell the counter Bhang and said to them, "Did I not tell you that this was Ali of Cairo?"; presently adding to the slaves "But do you conceal the matter." Then she said to her daughter "How often have I warned you that Ali would not forego his revenge? He has done this deed in requital of that which you did with him and he had it in his power to do with you other than this thing; but he refrained from it out of courtesy and a desire that there should be love and friendship between us. So saying, she doffed her man's gear and donned woman's attire and, tying the kerchief of peace about her neck, repaired to Ahmad al-Danaf's barrack. Now when Ali entered with the clothes and the carrier pigeons, Hasan Shuman gave the hall keeper the price of forty pigeons and he bought them and cooked them amongst the men. Presently, there came a knock at the door and Ahmad said, "That is Dalilah's knock: rise and open to her, O hall keeper." So he admitted her—
When it was the Seven Hundred and Fourteenth night
She pursued, when Dalilah was admitted, Hasan he asked, "What brings you here, O ill omened old woman? truly, you and your brother Zurayk the fishmonger are of a piece!"; and she answered, "O captain I am in the wrong and this my neck is at your mercy; but tell me which of you it was that played me this trick?" Calamity Ahmad said, " 'Twas the first of my lads." Rejoined Dalilah "For the sake of Allah intercede with him to give me back the carrier pigeons and what not, and you will lay me under great obligation." When Hasan heard this he said, "Allah requite you O Ali! Why did you cook the pigeons?"; and Ali answered, "I knew not that they were carrier pigeons." Then said Ahmad, "O hall keeper bring us the cooked pigeons." So he brought them and Dalilah took a piece and tasting it said, "This is none of the carrier pigeons' flesh, for I fed them on grains of musk and their meat is become even as musk." Shuman said, "If you desire to have the carrier pigeons, comply with Ali's will." she asked, "What is that?"
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 189
And Hasan answered, "He would have you marry him to your daughter Zaynab." She said, "I have not command over her except of affection"; and Hasan said to Ali the Cairene "Give her the pigeons." So he gave them to her, and she took them and rejoiced in them. Then Hasan to her said, 'There is no help but you return us a sufficient reply"; and Dalilah rejoined, "If it be indeed his wish to marry her, it availed nothing to play this clever trick upon us: it behoves him rather to demand her in marriage of her mother's brother and her guardian, Captain Zurayk, him who cries out, saying, 'Ho! A pound of fish for two farthings!' and who hangs up in his shop a purse containing two thousand dinars." When the Forty heard this, they all rose and cried out, saying, "What manner of blather is this, O harlot? Do you wish to bereave us of our brother Ali of Cairo?" Then she returned to the Khan and said to her daughter, "Ali the Egyptian seeks you in marriage." at which Zaynab rejoiced, for she loved him because of his chaste forbearance towards her, and he asked mother what had passed.
So she told her, adding, "I made it a condition that he should demand your hand of yours uncle, so I might make him fall into destruction." Meanwhile Ali turned to his fellows and asked them, "What manner of man is this Zurayk?"; and they answered, 'He was chief of the sharpers of Al-Irak land and could all but pierce mountains and lay hold upon the stars. He would steal the Kohl from the eye and, in brief, he had not his match for roguery; but he has repented his sins and foresworn his old way of life and opened him a fishmonger's shop. And now he has amassed two thousand dinars by the sale of fish and laid them in a purse with strings of silk, to which he has tied bells and rings and rattles of brass, hung on a peg within the doorway. Every time he opens his shop he suspends the said purse and cries out, saying, 'Where are you, O sharpers of Egypt, O prigs of Al-Irak, O tricksters of Ajam land? Behold, Zurayk the fishmonger has hung up a purse in front of his shop, and whoever pretends to craft and cunning, and can take it by sleight, it is his.'
So the long fingered and greedy minded come and try to take the purse, but cannot; for, whilst he fries his fish and tends the fire, he lays at his feet scone like circles of lead; and whenever a thief thinks to take him unawares and makes a snatch at the purse he casts at him a load of lead and slays him or does him a damage. So O Ali, were you to tackle him, you would be as one who jostls a funeral cortege, unknowing who is dead; for you are no match for him, and we fear his mischief for you. Indeed, you have no call to marry Zaynab, and he who leavs a thing alone lives without it." Cried Ali, "This were shame, O comrades; needs must I take the purse: but bring me a young lady's habit." So they brought him women's clothes and he clad himself within it and stained his hands with Henna, and modestly hung down his veil. Then he took a lamb and killing it, cut out the long intestine
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 191 which he cleaned and tied up below; moreover he filled it with the blood and bound it between his thighs; after which he donned petticoat trousers and walking boots. He also made himself a pair of false breasts with birds' crops and filled them with thickened milk and tied round his hips and over his belly a piece of linen, which he stuffed with cotton, girding himself over all with a kerchief of silk well starched. Then he went out, whilst all who saw him exclaimed, "What a fine pair of hind cheeks!" Presently, he saw an ass driver coming, so he gave him a dinar and mounting, rode till he came to Zurayk's shop, where he saw the purse hung up and the gold glittering through it. Now Zurayk was frying fish, and Ali said, "O ass man, what is that smell?" he replied, "It's the smell of Zurayk's fish." Ali said, "I am a woman with child and the smell harms me; go, fetch me a slice of the fish." So the donkey boy said to Zurayk, "What ails you to fry fish so early and annoy pregnant women with the smell? I have here the wife of the Emir Hasan Sharr Al-Tarik, and she is with child; so give her a bit of fish, for the babe stirrs in her womb. O Protector, O my God, avert from us the mischief of this day!"
Thereupon Zurayk took a piece of fish and would have fried it, but the fire had gone out and he went in to rekindle it. Meanwhile Ali dismounted and sitting down, pressed upon the lamb's intestine till it burst and the blood ran out from between his legs. Then he cried aloud, saying, "O my back! O my side!" Whereupon the driver turned and seeing the blood running said, "What ails you, O my lady?" Replied Ali, "I have miscarried"; where upon Zurayk looked out and seeing the blood fled affrighted into the inner shop. the donkey driver said, "Allah torment you, O Zurayk! The lady has miscarried and you are no match for her husband. Why must you make a stench so early in the morning? I said to you, 'Bring her a slice,' but you would not." Thereupon, he took his ass and went his way and, as Zurayk still did not appear, Ali put out his hand to the purse; but no sooner had he touched it than the bells and rattles and rings began to jingle and the gold to chink. Zurayk said who returned at the sound, "Your perfidy has come to light, O gallows bird! Will you put a cheat on me and you in a woman's habit?
Now take what comes to you!" And he threw a cake of lead at him, but it went agley and lighted on another; whereupon the people rose against Zurayk and said to him, "Are you a trades man, or a swashbuckler? If you be a tradesman, take down your purse and spare the folk your mischief." He replied, "Bismillah, in the name of Allah! On my head be it." As for Ali, he made off to the barrack and told Hasan Shuman what had happened, after which he put off his woman's gear and donning a groom's habit which was brought to him by his chief took a dish and five dirhams. Then he returned to Zurayk's shop and the fishmonger said to him, "What do you want, O my master?" He showed him the dirhams and Zurayk would have given him of the fish in the tray, but he said, "I will have none save hot fish." So he set fish in the earthen pan and finding the fire dead, went in to relight it; whereupon Ali put out his hand to the purse and caught hold of the end of it. The rattles and rings and bells jingled and Zurayk said, "Your trick has not deceived me. I knew you for all you are disguised as a groom by the grip of your hand on the dish and the dirhams."—
When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifteenth night
So saying, he threw the lead at him, but he avoided it and it fell into the pan
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 193 full of hot fish and broke it and overturned it, fat and all, upon the breast and shoulders of the Kazi, who was passing. The oil ran down inside his clothes to his privy parts and he cried out, "O my privities! What a sad pickle you are in! Alas, unhappy I! Who has played me this trick?" Answered the people, "O our lord, it was some small boy that threw a stone into the pan: but for Allah's ward, it had been worse." Then they turned and seeing the loaf of lead and that it was Zurayk who had thrown it, rose against him and said to him, "O Zurayk, this is not allowed of Allah! Take down the purse or it shall go ill for you." Answered he, "I will take it down, God willing!" Meanwhile Ali returned to the barrack and told his comrades who cried, "Where is the purse?", all that had passed and they said, "You have exhausted two thirds of his cunning." Then he changed his groom's dress for the garb of a merchant and going out, met a snake charmer, with a bag of serpents and a wallet containing his kit to whom he said, "O charmer, come and amuse my lads, and you will have largesse."
So he accompanied him to the barrack, where he fed him and drugging him with Bhang, doffed his clothes and put them on. Then he took the bags and repairing to Zurayk's shop began to play the reed pipe. Zurayk said, "Allah provide you!" But Ali pulled out the serpents and cast them down before him; at which the fishseller, who was afraid of snakes, fled from them into the inner shop. Thereupon Ali picked up the reptiles and, thrusting them back into the bag, stretched out his hand and caught hold of the end of the purse. The rings again rang and the bells and rattles jangled, and Zurayk cried, "Will you never cease to play me tricks? Now you feignest yourself a serpent charmer!" So saying, he took up a piece of lead, and hurled it at Ali; but it missed him and fell on the head of a groom, who was passing by, following his master, a trooper, and knocked him down. the soldier said, "Who felled him?"; and the folk said, "'Twas a stone fell from the roof." So the soldier passed on and the people, seeing the piece of lead, went up to Zurayk and cried to him, "Take down the purse!"; and he said, "God willing, I will take it down this very night!"
Ali did not stop to practice upon Zurayk till he had made seven different attempts but without taking the purse. Then he returned the snakecharmer his clothes and kit and gave him due benevolence; after which he went back to Zurayk's shop and heard him say, "If I leave the purse here to night, he will dig through the shop wall and take it; I will carry it home with me." So he arose and shut the shop; then he took down the purse and putting it in his bosom set out home, till he came near his house, when he saw a wedding in a neighbour's lodging and said to himself, "I will hie me home and give my wife the purse and don my fine clothes and return to the marriage." And Ali followed him. Now Zurayk had married a black girl, one of the freed women of the Wazir Ja'afar and she had borne him a son, whom he named Abdallah, and he had promised her to spend the money in the purse on the occasion of the boy's circumcision and of his marriage procession. So he went into his house and, as he entered, his wife saw that his face was overcast and asked him, "What has caused your sadness?"
He said, "Allah has afflicted me this day with a rascal who made seven attempts to get the purse, but without avail;" and She said, "Give it to me, that I may lay it up against the boy's festival day." (Now Ali, who had followed him lay hidden in a closet from where he could see and hear all.) So he gave her the purse and changed his clothes, saying, "Keep the purse safely, O Umm Abdallah, for I am going to the wedding." But she said, "Take your sleep awhile." So he lay down and fell asleep. Presently, Ali rose and going on tiptoe to the purse, took it and went to the house of the wedding and stood there, looking on at the fun. Now meanwhile, Zurayk dreamt that he saw a bird fly away with the purse and awaking in affright, said to his wife, "Rise; look for the purse." So she looked and finding it gone, buffeted her face and said, "Alas the blackness of your fortune, O Umm Abdallah! A sharker has taken the purse." Zurayk said, "By God it can be none other than rascal Ali who has plagued me all day! He has followed me home and seized the purse; and there is no help but that I go and get it back."
She said, "Except you bring it, I will lock on you the door and leave you to pass the night in the street." So he went up to the house of the wedding, and seeing Ali looking on, said to himself, "This is he who took the purse; but he lodgs with Ahmad al-Danaf." So he forewent him to the barrack and, climbing up at the back, dropped down into the saloon, where he found every one asleep. Presently, there came a rap at the door and Zurayk asked, "Who is there!" "Ali of Cairo," answered the knocker; and Zurayk said,
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 195
"Have you brought the purse?" So Ali thought it was Hasan Shuman and replied, "I have brought it; open the door." Zurayk said, "Impossible that I open to you till I see the purse; for your chief and I have laid a wager about it." Ali said, "Put out your hand." So he put out his hand through the hole in the side door and Ali laid the purse in it; whereupon Zurayk took it and going forth, as he had come in, returned to the wedding. Ali stood for a long while at the door, but none opened to him; and at last he gave a thundering knock that awoke all the men and they said, "That is Ali of Cairo's peculiar rap." So the hall keeper opened to him and Hasan Shuman said to him, "Have you brought the purse?" Replied Ali, "Enough of jesting, O Shuman: did you not swear that you would not open to me till I showed you the purse, and did I not give it you through the hole in the side door? And, did you not say to me, 'I am sworn never to open the door till you show me the purse?' " Hasan said, "By God, 'twas not I who took it, but Zurayk!"
Ali said, "Needs must I get it again," and repaired to the house of the wedding, where he heard the buffoon say, "Bravo, O Abu Abdallah! Good luck to you with your son!" Ali said, "My luck is in the ascendant," and going to the fishmonger's lodging, climbed over the back wall of the house and found his wife asleep. So he drugged her with Bhang and clad himself in her clothes. Then he took the child in his arms and went round, searching, till he found a palm leaf basket containing buns, which Zurayk of his niggardliness, had kept from the Greater Feast. Presently, the fishmonger returned and knocked at the door, whereupon Ali imitated his wife's voice and asked, "Who is at the door?" "Abu Abdallah," answered Zurayk and Ali said, "I swore that I would not open the door to you, except you brought back the purse." the fishmonger said, "I have brought it." Cried Ali, "Here with it into my hand before I open the door;" and Zurayk answered, saying, "Let down the basket and take it within it." So Sharper Ali let down the basket and the other put the purse within it, whereupon Ali took it and drugged the child.
Then he aroused the woman and making off by the back way as he had entered, returned with the child and the purse and the basket of cakes to the barrack and showed them all to the Forty, who praised his dexterity. There upon he gave them cakes, which they ate, and made over the boy to Hasan Shuman, saying, "This is Zurayk's child; hide it by you." So he hid it and fetching a lamb, gave it to the hall keeper who cooked it whole, wrapped in a cloth, and laid it out shrouded as it were a dead body. Meanwhile Zurayk stood awhile, waiting at the door, then gave a knock like thunder and his wife said to him, "Have you brought the purse?" He replied, "Did you not take it up in the basket you did let down but now?"; and she rejoined, "I let no basket down to you, nor have I set eyes on the purse." He said, "By God the sharper has been beforehand with me and has taken the purse again!" Then he searched the house and found the basket of cakes gone and the child missing and cried out, saying, "Alas, my child!"
Where upon the woman beat her breast and said, "I and you to the Wazir, for none has killed my son save this sharper, and all because of you." Cried Zurayk, "I will answer for him." So he tied the kerchief of truce about his neck and going to Ahmad al-Danaf's lodging, knocked at the door. The hallkeeper admitted him and as he entered Hasan Shuman asked him, "What brings you here?" He answered, "Do you intercede with Ali the Cairene to restore me my child and I will yield to him the purse of gold." Hasan said
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 197
"Allah requite you, O Ali! Why did you not tell me it was his child?" "What has befallen him?" cried Zurayk, and Hasan replied, "We gave him raisins to eat, and he choked and died; and this is he." Zurayk said,"Alas, my son! What shall I say to his mother?" Then he rose and opening the shroud, saw it was a lamb barbecued and said, "You make sport of me, O Ali!" Then they gave him the child and Calamity Ahmad said to him, "You did hang up the purse, proclaiming that it should be the property of any sharper who should be able to take it, and Ali has taken it; so 'tis the very property of our Cairene." Zurayk answered, "I make him a present of it;" but Ali said to him, "Do you accept it on account of your niece Zaynab." And Zurayk replied, "I accept it." Then the Forty said, "We demand of you Zaynab in marriage for Ali of Cairo;" but He said, "I have no control over her save of kindness." Hasan asked, "Do you grant our suit?"; and he answered, "Yes, I will grant her in marriage to him who can avail to her mahr or marriage settlement." "And what is her dowry?" enquired Hasan; and Zurayk replied, "She has sworn that none shall mount her breast save the man who brings her the robe of Kamar, daughter of Azariah the Jew and the rest of her gear." —
When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixteenth night
Ali cried, "If I do not bring her the clothes this very night, I renounce my claim to her." Rejoined Zurayk, "O Ali, you are a dead man if you play any of your pranks on Kamar." "Why so?" asked Ali and the other answered, "Her father, Jew Azariah, is a skilful, wily, perfidious magician who has the Jinn at his service. He owns without the city a castle, whose walls are one brick of gold and one of silver and which is visible to the folk only whilst he is within it: when he goes forth, it disappears. He brought his daughter this dress I speak of from an enchanted treasure, and every day he lays it in a charger of gold and, opening the windows of the palace, cries out, 'Where are the sharpers of Cairo, the prigs of Al-Irak, the master thieves of Ajam-land? whoever prevails to take this dress, 'tis his.' So all the long fingered ones essayed the adventure, but failed to take it, and he turned them by his magic into apes and asses." But Ali said, "I will assuredly take it, and Zaynab shall be displayed within it." So he went to the shop of the Jew and found him a man of stern and forbidding aspect, seated with scales and stone weights and gold and silver and nests of drawers and so forth before him, and a she mule tethered close by. Presently, he rose and shutting his shop, laid the gold and silver in two purses, which he placed in a pair of saddle bags and set on the she mule's back.
Then he mounted and rode till he reached the city outskirts followed, with out his knowledge, by Ali, when he took out some dust from a pocket purse and, muttering over it, sprinkled it upon the air. No sooner had he done this than sharper Ali saw a castle which had not its like, and the Jew mounted the steps upon his beast which was a subject Jinni; after which he dismounted and taking the saddle bags off her back, dismissed the she mule and she vanished. Then he entered the castle and sat down. Presently, he arose and opening the lattices, took a wand of gold, which he set up in the open window and, hanging thereto a golden charger by chains of the same metal, laid in it the dress, whilst Ali watched him from behind the door, and presently he cried out, saying, "Where are the sharpers of Cairo? Where are the prigs of al-Irak, the master thieves of the Ajam land? whoever can take this dress by his sleight, 'tis his!" Then he pronounced certain magical words and a tray of food spread itself before him. He ate and conjured a second time, whereupon the tray disappeared; and yet a third time, when a table of wine was placed between his hands and he drank. Ali said, "I know not how I am to take the dress except if he be drunken." Then he stole up behind the Jew whinger in grip; but the other turned and conjured, saying to his hand, "Hold with the sword;" whereupon Ali's right arm was held and abode half way in the air hending the hanger. He put out his left hand to the weapon, but it also stood fixed in the air,
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 199 and so with his right foot, leaving him standing on one foot. Then the Jew dispelled the charm from him and Ali became as before. Presently, Azariah struck a table of sand and found that the thief's name was Mercury Ali of Cairo; so he turned to him and said, "Come nearer! Who are you and what do you here?" He replied, "I am Ali of Cairo, of the band of Ahmad al-Danaf. I sought the hand of Zaynab, daughter of Dalilah the Wily, and she demanded your daughter's dress to her dowry; so do you give it to me and become a Moslem, If you would save your life." Rejoined the Jew, "After your death! Many have gone about to steal the dress, but failed to take it from me; Why If you deign be advised, you will begone and save yourself; for they only seek the dress of you, that you may fall into destruction; and indeed, had I not seen by geomancy that your fortune overrids my fortunes I had smitten your neck." Ali rejoiced to hear that his luck overcame that of the Jew and said to him, "There is no help for it but I must have the dress and you must become a True Believer."
Asked the Jew, "Is this your will and last word," and Ali answered, "Yes." So the Jew took a cup and filling it with water, conjured over it and said to Ali, "Come forth from this shape of a man into the form of an ass." Then he sprinkled him with the water and At once he became a donkey, with hoofs and long ears, and fell to braying after the manner of asinines. The Jew drew round him a circle which became a wall over against him, and drank on till the morning, when he said to Ali, "I will ride you to day and give the she mule a rest." So he locked up the dress, the charger, the rod and the charms in a cupboard and conjured over Ali, who followed him. Then he set the saddle bags on his back and mounting, fared forth of the Castle, whereupon it disappeared from sight and he rode into Baghdad, till he came to his shop, where he alighted and emptied the bags of gold and silver into the trays before him. As for Ali, he was tied up by the shop door, where he stood in his asinine form hearing and understanding all that passed, without being able to speak. And behold, up came a young merchant with whom fortune had played the tyrant and who could find no easier way of earning his livelihood than water carrying. So he brought his wife's bracelets to the Jew and said to him,
"Give me the price of these bracelets, that I may buy me an ass." Asked the Jew, "What will you do with him?"; and the other answered, "O master, I mean to fetch water from the river on his back, and earn my living by that." the Jew said, "Take this ass of mine." So he sold him the bracelets and received the ass shaped Ali of Cairo in part payment and carried him home. Ali to him self said, "If the Ass man clap the pannel on you and load you with water skins and go with you half a score journeys a day he will ruin your health and you will die." So, when the water carrier's wife came to bring him his fodder, he butted her with his head and she fell on her back; whereupon he sprang on her and smiting her brow with his mouth, put out and displayed that which his begetter left him. She cried aloud and the neighbours came to her assistance and beat him and raised him off her breast. When her husband the intended water carrier came home, she said to him, "Now either divorce me or return the ass to his owner." He asked, "What has happened?"; and she answered, "This is a devil in the guise of a donkey. He sprang upon me, and had not the neighbours beaten him off my bosom he had done with me a foul thing." So he carried the ass back to the Jew, who said to him, "Why have you brought him back?" and he replied, "He did a foul thing with my wife." So the Jew gave him his money again and he went away; and Azariah said to Ali, "Have you recourse to knavery, unlucky wretch that you are, in order that"—
When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventeenth night
Then he mounted him and rode till he came without the city, when he brought out the ashes in powder and conjuring over it sprinkled it upon the air and immediately the Castle appeared. He entered and taking the saddle bags off the ass's back set up the rod and hung to it the charger
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 201 in which were the clothes proclaiming aloud, "Where be the clever ones of all quarters who may avail to take this dress?" Then he conjured as before and meat was set before him and he ate and then wine when he drank; after which he took a cup of water and muttering certain words thereover, sprinkled it on the ass Ali, saying, "Quit this form and return to your former shape." Ali At once became a man once more and Azariah said to him, "O Ali, take good advice and be content with my mischief. You have no call to marry Zaynab nor to take my daughter's dress, for 'tis no easy matter for you: so leave greed and 'twill be better for you; else will I turn you into a bear or an ape or set on you an Ifrit, who will cast you behind the Mountain Kaf." He replied, "I have engaged to take the dress and needs must I have it and you must Islamise or I will slay you." Rejoined the Jew, "O Ali, you are like a walnut; unless it be broken it cannot be eaten." Then he took a cup of water and conjuring over it, sprinkled Ali with somewhat of it, saying, "Take you shape of bear;" whereupon he instantly be came a bear and the Jew put a collar about his neck, muzzled him and chained him to a picket of iron.
Then he sat down and ate and drank, now and then throwing him a morsel of his orts and emptying the dregs of the cup over him, till the morning, when he rose and laid by the tray and the dress and conjured over the bear, which followed him to the shop. There the Jew sat down and emptied the gold and silver into the trays before Ali, after binding him by the chain; and the bear there abode seeing and comprehending but not able to speak. Presently, up came a man and a merchant, who accosted the Jew and said to him, "O Master, will you sell me that bear? I have a wife who is my cousin and is sick; and they have prescribed for her to eat bears' flesh and anoint herself with bears' grease." At this the Jew rejoiced and said to himself, "I will sell him to this merchant, so he may slaughter him and we be at peace from him." And Ali also said in his mind, "By God, this fellow means to slaughter me; but deliverance is with the Almighty." Then said the Jew, "He is a present from me to you." So the merchant took him and carried him to the butcher, to whom he said, "Bring your tools and company me." The butcher took his knives and followed the merchant to his house, where he bound the beast and fell to sharpening his blade: but, when he went up to him to slaughter him, the bear escaped from his hands and rising into the air, disappeared from sight between heaven and earth;
nor did he cease flying till he alighted at the Jew's castle. Now the reason of it was in this way. When the Jew returned home, his daughter questioned him of Ali and he told her what had happened; whereupon she said, "Summon a Jinni and ask him of the youth, whether he be indeed Mercury Ali or another who seeks to put a cheat on you." So Azariah called a Jinni by conjurations and questioned him of Ali; and he replied, "'Tis Ali of Cairo himself. The butcher has pinioned him and whetted his knife to slaughter him." the Jew said, "Go, snatch him up and bring him here, before the butcher cut his throat." So the Jinni flew off and, snatching Ali out of the butcher's hands, bore him to the palace and set him down before the Jew, who took a cup of water and conjuring over it, sprinkled him therewith, saying, "Return to yours own shape." And he At once became a man again as before. The Jew's daughter Kamar, seeing him to be a handsome young man, fell in love with him and he fell in love with her; and she said to him, "O unlucky one, why do you go about to take my dress, enforcing my father to deal thus with you?"
He said, "I have engaged to get it for Zaynab the Coney catcher, that I may wed her therewith." And she said, "Others than you have played pranks with my father to get my dress, but could not win to it," presently adding, "So put away this thought from you." But he answered, "Needs must I have it, and your father must become a Moslem, else I will slay him." Then said the Jew, "See, O my daughter, how this unlucky fellow seeks his own destruction," adding, "Now I will turn you into a dog." So he took a cup graven with characters and full of water and conjuring over it, sprinkled some of it upon Ali, saying, "Take you form of dog." Whereupon he straight way became a dog, and the Jew and his daughter drank together till the morning, when the father laid up the dress and charger and mounted his mule. Then he conjured over the dog, which followed him, as he rode towards the town, and all dogs barked at Ali as he passed, till he came to the shop of a broker, a seller of second hand goods, who rose and drove away the dogs, and Ali lay down before him. The Jew turned and looked for him, but finding him not, passed onwards.
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 203
Presently, the broker shut up his shop and went home, followed by the dog, which, when his daughter saw enter the house, she veiled her face and said, "O my papa, do you bring a strange man.in to me?" He replied, "O my daughter, this is a dog." She said, "Not so, 'tis Ali the Cairene, whom the Jew Azariah has enchanted;" and she turned to the dog and said to him, "Art not Ali of Cairo?" And he signed to her with his head, "Yes."
Then her father he asked, "Why did the Jew enchant him?"; and she answered, "Because of his daughter Kamar's dress; but I can release him." Said the broker, " If you can indeed do him this good office, now is the time," and she, "If he will marry me, I will release him." And he signed to her with his head, "Yes." So she took a cup of water, graven with certain signs and conjuring over it, was about to sprinkle Ali therewith, when lo and behold! she heard a great cry and the cup fell from her hand. She turned and found that it was her father's handmaid, who had cried out; and she said to her, "O my mistress, is't thus you keepest the covenant between me and you? None taught you this art save I, and you did agree with me that you would do nothing without consulting me and that whoever married you should marry me also, and that one night should be my and one night yours." And the broker's daughter said, " 'Tis well." When the broker heard the maid's words, he asked his daughter, "Who taught the maid?"; and she answered, "O my papa, enquire of herself."
So he put the question and she replied, "Know, O my lord, that, when I was with Azariah the Jew, I used to spy upon him and listen to him, when he performed his gramarye; and when he went forth to his shop in Baghdad, I opened his books and read in them, till I became skilled in the Cabbala science. One day, he was warm with wine and would have me lie with him, but I objected, saying, I may not grant you this except you become a Moslem.' He refused and I said to him, 'Now for the Sultan's market.' So he sold me to you and I taught my young mistress, making it a condition with her that she should do nothing without my counsel, and that whoever might wed her should wed me also, one night for me and one night for her." Then she took a cup of water and conjuring over it, sprinkled the dog therewith; saying, "Return you to form of man."
And he At once was restored to his former shape; whereupon the broker saluted him with the salam and asked him the reason of his enchantment. So Ali told him all that had passed—
When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighteenth night
but he answered, "Needs must I have Zaynab also." Now suddenly there came a rap at the door and the maid said, "Who is at the door?" The knocker replied, "Kamar, daughter of Azariah the Jew; say me, is Ali of Cairo with you?" Replied the broker's daughter, "O you daughter of a dog! If he be with us, what will you with him? Go down, O maid, and open to her." So the maid let her in, and when she looked upon Ali and he upon her, he said, "What brings you here O dog's daughter?" She said, "I testify that there is no god but the God and I testify that Mohammed is the Apostle of God." And, having thus Islamised, she asked him, " Do men in the Faith of al-Islam give marriage portions to women or do women dower men?" He said, "Men endow women." "Then," she said, "I come and dower myself for you, bringing you, as my marriage portion, my dress together with the rod and charger and chains and the head of my father, the enemy of you and the foeman of Allah." And she threw down the Jew's head before him. Now the cause of her slaying her sire was as follows. On the night of his turning Ali into a dog, she saw, in a dream, a speaker who said to her, "Become a Moslemah." She did so; and as soon as she awoke next morning she expounded al-Islam to her father who refused to embrace the Faith; so she drugged him with Bhang and killed him. As for Ali, he took the gear and said to the broker, "Meet we to morrow at the Caliph's Divan, that I may take your daughter and the handmaid to wife." Then he set out rejoicing, to return to the barrack of the Forty. On his way he met a sweetmeat seller, who was beating hand upon hand and saying,
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 205
"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Folk's labour has grew sinful and man is active only in fraud!" Then he said to Ali, "I conjure you, By God, taste of this confection!" So Ali took a piece and ate it and fell down senseless, for there was Bhang within it; whereupon the sweetmeat seller seized the dress and the charger and the rest of the gear and thrusting them into the box where he kept his sweetmeats hoisted it up and made off. Presently, he met a Kazi, who called to him, saying, "Come here, O sweet meat seller!" So he went up to him and setting down his sack laid the tray of sweetmeats upon it and asked, "What do you want?" "Halwa and dragees," answered the Kazi and, taking some in his hand said, "Both of these are adulterated." Then he brought out sweetmeats from his breast pocket and gave them to the sweetmeat seller, saying, "Look at this fashion; how excellent it is! Eat of it and make the like of it." So he ate and fell down senseless, for the sweetmeats were drugged with Bhang, whereupon the Kazi bundled him into the sack and made off with him, charger and chest and all, to the barrack of the Forty.
Now the Judge in question was Hasan Shuman and the reason of this was as follows. When Ali had been gone some days in quest of the dress and they heard no news of him, Calamity Ahmad said to his men, "O lads, go and seek for your brother Ali of Cairo." So they sallied forth in quest of him and among the rest Hasan Shuman the Pestilence, disguised in a Kazi's gear. He came upon the sweetmeat seller and, knowing him for Ahmad al-Lakit suspected him of having played some trick upon Ali; so he drugged him and did as we have seen. Mean while, the other Forty fared about the streets and highways making search in different directions, and amongst them Ali Kitf al-Jamal, who espying a crowd, made towards the people and found the Cairene Ali lying drugged and senseless in their midst. So he revived him and he came to himself and seeing the folk flocking around him asked, "Where am I?" Answered Ali Camel shoulder and his comrades, "We found you lying here drugged but know not who drugged you." Ali said, "'Twas a certain sweetmeat seller who drugged me and took the gear from me; but where is he gone?" his comrades said, "We have seen nothing of him; but come, rise and go home with us."
So they returned to the barrack, where they found Ahmad al-Danaf, who greeted Ali and enquired if he had brought the dress. He replied, "I was coming here with it and other matters, including the Jew's head, when a sweetmeat seller met me and drugged me with Bhang and took them from me." Then he told him the whole tale ending with, "If I come across that man of goodies again, I will requite him." Presently, Hasan Shuman came out of a closet and said to him, "Have you gotten the gear, O Ali?" So he told him what had befallen him and added, "If I know where the rascal is gone and where to find the knave, I would pay him out. Know you where he went?" Answered Hasan, "I know where he is," and opening the door of the closet, showed him the sweet meat seller within, drugged and senseless. Then he aroused him and he opened his eyes and finding himself in presence of Mercury Ali and Calamity Ahmad and the Forty, started up and said, "Where am I and who has laid hands on me?" Replied Shuman, "'Twas I laid hands on you," and Ali cried, "O perfidious wretch, will you play your pranks on me?"
And he would have slain him: but Hasan said to him, "Hold your hand for this fellow is become your kinsman." "How my kinsman?" Said Ali; and Hasan said, "This is Ahmad al-Lakit son of Zaynab's sister." Then said Ali to the prisoner, "Why did you thus, O Lakit?" and he replied, "My grandmother, Dalilah the Wily, bade me do it; only because Zurayk the fishmonger foregathered with the old woman and said, 'Mercury Ali of Cairo is a sharper and a past master in knavery, and he will certainly slay the Jew and bring here the dress.' So she sent for me and said to me, 'O Ahmad, do you know Ali of Cairo?' Answered I, 'Indeed I do and 'twas I directed him to Ahmad al-Danaf's lodging when he first came to Baghdad.' She said, 'Go and set your nets for him, and if he have brought back the gear, put a cheat on him and take it from him.' So I went round about the highways of the city, till I met a sweetmeat seller and buying his clothes and stock in trade and gear for ten dinars, did what was done." Thereupon Ali said, "Go back to your grandmother and Zurayk, and tell them that I have brought the gear and the Jew's head and tell them to meet me tomorrow
Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo. 207 at the Caliph's Divan, there to receive Zaynab's dowry." And Calamity Ahmad rejoiced in this and said, "We have not wasted our pains in rearing you, O Ali!" Next morning Ali took the dress, the charger, the rod and the chains of gold, together with the head of Azariah the Jew mounted on a pike, and went up, accompanied by Ahmad al-Danaf and the Forty, to the Divan, where they kissed ground before the Caliph —
When it was the Seven Hundred and Nineteenth night
And the Caliph loved him for the valour that shone from between his eyes, testifying for him and not against him. Then Ali rose and, casting the Jew's head down before him said, "May yours every enemy be like this one, O Prince of True Believers!" Said al-Rashid, "Whose head is this?"; and Ali said, " 'Tis the head of Azariah the Jew." "Who slew him?" asked the Caliph. So Ali related to him all that had passed, from beginning to end, and the Caliph said, "I had not thought you would kill him, for that he was a sorcerer." Ali replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, my Lord made me prevail to his slaughter." Then the Caliph sent the Chief of Police to the Jew's palace, where he found him lying headless; so he laid the body on a bier, and carried it to al-Rashid, who commanded to burn it. at which, behold, up came Kamar and kissing the ground before the Caliph, informed him that she was the daughter of Jew Azariah and that she had become a Moslemah. Then she renewed her profession of Faith before the Commander of the Faithful and said to him, "Be you my intercessor with Sharper Ali that he take me to wife."
She also appointed him her guardian to consent to her marriage with the Cairene, to whom he gave the Jew's palace and all its contents, saying, " Ask a boon of me." Ali said, "I beg of you to let me stand on your carpet and eat of your table;" and the Caliph said, "O Ali, have you any lads?" He replied, "I have forty lads; but they are in Cairo." Rejoined the Caliph, "Send to Cairo and fetch them here," presently adding, "But, O Ali, have you a barrack for them?" "No," answered Ali; and Hasan Shuman said, "I make him a present of my barrack with all that is within it, O Commander of the Faithful." How ever, the Caliph retorted, saying, "Your lodging is yours own, O Hasan;" and he bade his treasurer give the court architect ten thousand dinars, that he might build Ali a hall with four daises and forty sleeping closets for his lads. Then he said, "O Ali, have you any further wish, that we may command its fulfilment?"; and said Ali, ", be you my intercessor with Dalilah the Wily that she give me her daughter Zaynab to wife and take the dress and gear of Azariah's girl in lieu of dower."
Dalilah accepted the Caliph's intercession and accepted the charger and dress and what not, and they drew up the marriage contracts between Ali and Zaynab and Kamar, the Jew's daughter and the broker's daughter and the handmaid. Moreover, the Caliph assigned him a solde with a table morning and evening, and stipends and allowances for fodder; all of the most liberal. Then Ali the Cairene fell to making ready for the wedding festivities and, after thirty days, he sent a letter to his comrades in Cairo, in which he gave them to know of the favours and honours which the Caliph had bestowed upon him and said, "I have married four maidens and needs must you come to the wedding." So, after a reasonable time the forty lads arrived and they held high festival; he homed them in his barrack and entreated them with the utmost regard and presented them to the Caliph, who bestowed on them robes of honour and largesse. Then the tiring women displayed Zaynab before Ali in the dress of the Jew's daughter, and he went in unto her and found her a pearl unthridden and a filly by all save himself unridden. Then he went in unto the three other maidens and found them accomplished in beauty and loveliness. After this it befell that Ali of Cairo was one night on guard by the Caliph who said to him, "I wish you O Ali, to tell me all that has befallen you from first
Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 209 to last with Dalilah the Wily and Zaynab the Coney catcher and Zurayk the Fishmonger." So Ali related to him all his adventures and the Commander of the Faithful bade record them and lay them up in the royal muniment rooms. So they wrote down all that had befallen him and kept it in store with other histories for the people of Mohammed the Best of Men. And Ali and his wives and comrades abode in all solace of life, and its joyance, till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Societies; and Allah (be He extolled and exalted!) is All knowing! And also men relate the tale of